KOTA KINABALU – Sabah police have revised the number of Pulau Gaya residents who fled when they were being taken to a quarantine centre from 69 to 71.
Kota Kinabalu police chief Mohd Zaidi Abdullah told a press conference today that the Health Department and relevant authorities have located five individuals, all of whom are positive for Covid-19 and said to be at their homes.
Prior to the revision, Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said 10 of the 69 islanders who fled had been detained in several locations here.
“They were oblivious to the requirement to present themselves at the designated gathering area at the Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centre on the island on Tuesday.”
Zaidi said the 71 runaways are Bajau Laut, or Palau, folk, and most are still in Kg Pondo on the island. The rest are in Kg Wakaf and Kg Laban.
“Some of them are staying with relatives in nearby villages.
“They are from the Palau community, and their understanding of Covid-19 is low.
“Many of them were unreachable as they are undocumented and do not have a phone number or ‘official’ name.”
Police and health officials have their photographs and addresses, provided during a mass swab test on communities on Pulau Gaya, he said.
Of the 71 residents who fled, he said, 66 have yet to come forward.
“Photofits of the escapees will be distributed soon.” – The Vibes, July 7, 2021
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