He said with the extended curfew, those living in the affected areas were advised to remain indoors and were prohibited from entering the waters between 6pm and 6am throughout the period.
“Outsiders will not be allowed to enter or be in these areas between 6pm and 6am during the period,” he said in a statement here today.
The curfew covers the waters off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.
He said the curfew was extended to prevent terrorists from threatening international researchers in the area and tourists visiting the resort islands.
He added that militant group Abu Sayyaf and kidnap-for-ransom groups were planning kidnappings and other cross-border crimes.
“I am also delegating powers to all district police chiefs to issue permits for eligible applicants to go out to fish or to attend to urgent matters during curfew,” he said.