Foreigners visiting Sabah and its islands for diving continue to increase, prompting authorities to step up measures to ensure that visitors enjoy an incident-free holiday.
"The number of visitors continue to rise despite the numerous travel advisories issued," said Sabah Assistant Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Karim Bujang.
"Despite such advisories, the number of Australians and other foreigners visiting Sabah has been increasing, especially after connecting flights were introduced last year between Melbourne and Kota Kinabalu."
His response comes in the wake of a travel advisory issued by the Australian Government yesterday, warning its citizens against travelling to Sabah following what it claimed were "credible reports" that terrorists were planning to kidnap foreigners.
The advisory was also carried over CCN and ABC’s online news portals today.
"Australians are advised to avoid all travel to coastal resorts, islands and dive sites off the east coast of Sabah on Borneo island," the advisory read.
Karim said the Australian Government was merely exercising its duty by issuing the advisory.
Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Musa Hassan also stressed that the safety of tourists at popular spots off Sabah was always emphasised.
Aerial surveillance by the Air Wing and sea patrols along the Philippines and Indonesian maritime borders continue to be carried out.
In addition to this, General Operations Force personnel are stationed on numerous islands to keep a lookout for suspicious movements.
Musa said numerous crime prevention operations were also conducted to put citizens and foreigners here at ease.
He added the Malaysian police had good ties and shared information with intelligence agencies in the region, including Australia, in its efforts to win the war against terrorism.
Courtesy of The New Straits Times
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