Secession: Police Widen Probe On "Doris Jones"

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police have expanded the investigation into the case of a woman, believed to be a Sabahan living abroad, who is reportedly the spokesman for a group that wants Sabah to secede from Malaysia.

State Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said they had requested for assistance from several quarters to assist in the investigation.

He, however, said he could not divulge anything more as the matter was confidential. "The police have expanded the investigation wide and to a higher level," he told a news conference after attending an Aidiladha reception at the Nur Islam Mosque at the Sabah Police headquarters, here, Sunday.

The woman, who goes by the name of Doris Jones, has a Facebook account that proposes seceding Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia. Asked whether Doris was still abroad, Jalaluddin said she was.

It had been reported that the police were looking for Doris to assist in the investigation into the issue of Sabah seceding from Malaysia. Meanwhile, Jalaludin advised people not to spread rumours, particularly where security is concerned.

He said the police were in the midst of detaining a local woman for allegedly spreading rumours on an abduction and intrusion in Tungku, Lahad Datu.

"We have identified the woman, in her 40s who is from Tungku, to facilitate investigations into the circulation of a three-minute voice recording to several quarters and the local media on Sept 25," he said.

Jalaluddin said the woman claimed that it was meant as a joke and that she had no intention of spreading the rumour. "She recorded the statement on a handphone and the statement was apparently picked up by someone who started to circulate it on social media," he said.

"I urge the people, particularly those in the East Coast, not to spread rumours because it could cause unrest and jeopardise security and peace," said Jalaluddin.

"The situation in Sabah is safe. Our manpower, enforcement agencies and logistics support are ever ready and always on the alert for any possibility," he added.

Meanwhile, the police are also investigating a report on another individual for spreading false news on the same incident, in Pitas.

"We have sought help from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to trace those responsible for spreading the news through WhatsApp and the Internet," said Jalaluddin.

Also present were State Special Branch Chief SAC Datuk Awang Sahari E.M Nadzeer and State Criminal Investigations Department Chief SAC Salehhudin Abd Rahman. - (SAJ) Daily Express