Travel Warning East Sabah

At the end of 2005, the Beetle was diving around Sipadan, East Sabah, so she was particularly interested in an Australian travel issued 28th Feb warning to its nationals: “We strongly advise you not to travel to coastal resorts and other centres on and islands and dive sites off the east coast of Sabah because of the high threat of kidnapping by terrorists. Terrorists have, in the past, kidnapped foreigners from the eastern coast of mainland Sabah, and from the islands and sea off its east coast. If you are in these areas you should consider leaving. We cannot rule out the possibility of kidnappings.

Now at the beginning of March, the Malaysian authorities are a little upset by this warning and have asked Australia to retract its advisory to its nationals against visiting Sabah because of the risk of a terrorist threat. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the statement that Sabah was at risk of a terrorist threat was inaccurate. He said Malaysia had no knowledge of any report that might have been referred to by the Australian government for it to issue such a travel advisory.

“We can't do anything if a foreign country wants to issue travel advisories but, in the case of Sabah, we're sure the security situation there is under control, with many police and military personnel being deployed there. There are no untoward incidents happening in Sabah,” he said after receiving about 30 Umno Youth leaders led by Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, at his office.

“Any travel advisory would cause worry among foreign tourists and, therefore, it's our responsibility to do something so that this will not continue.

“Though we don't agree, though we're not happy with what has been done by Australia, we've to do something so that they can withdraw the travel advisory as soon as possible,” he said.


One thought on “Travel Warning East Sabah

  1. Unforunately traveling has become somewhat more limited at this day and age. There are many destinations that I would like to visit (Petra – Jordan being one of them). It seems that all this hatred and activity will make me postpone travel plans indefenitely.

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