SECURITY AT SARAWAK-KALIMANTAN BORDER TIGHTENED FOLLOWING BENDERA THREAT

KUCHING (Malaysia), Oct 8 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysia Police have
stepped up security at all entry points from West Kalimantan to Sarawak as a
precaution following threats from an Indonesian extremist group to attack
Malaysia Thursday.

East Malaysia state of Sarawak Police Commissioner Mohmad Salleh said
patrols by the General Operations Force had been doubled starting Thursday,
especially at the Tebedu and Serikin border posts and several illegal trails at
the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.

"So far, we have not received any report of moves by the group known as
Bendera to enter Sarawak," he told reporters after the Sarawak police
contingents's monthly assembly at its headquarters here.

Mohmad said police would also set up roadblocks at major roads leading in
and out of the state besides monitoring the industrial and plantation areas
where many Indonesians were employed.

He said a police team from the Criminal Investigation Department had
surveyed the areas and so far nothing unusual had happened.

He also said that so far there had been no reports of Malaysians going to
Kalimantan being threatened or those there being distrubed.

Malaysian Consul in Pontianak M.Zairi M.Basri, when contacted by Bernama,
said the situation in Pontianak was calm and there were no signs of
anti-Malaysia activities.

He said that based on surveillance yesterday at the Pontianak main bus
terminal, which provides transportation service from Pontianak to Kuching,
nothing unusual happened.

"The situation here is peaceful and there are no unsual activities involving
Bendera's campaign although we are given to understand that Benderal has its
members here," said Zairi.

"There's no problem here. We will hold a Malaysian Hari Raya (Eid Al-Fitr
-celebration to mark the end of Ramadan fasting month) open house in Pontianak
this weekend and we have invited the governor of West kalimantan because
Malaysia-Indonesia relations are very good," he said.

There are about 200 Malaysians in Pontianak comprising workers and
businessmen who commute between Pontianak and Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA