Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun recently said it was the prerogative of the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office to issue travel advisory against all but essential travel to islands off Sabah.
But it was regrettable that the British media sparked unfounded fears by setting the terrorism threat level from “general” to “high”, following warnings issued by the Malaysian government.
He said the sensationalised news reports were based on old travel advisory issued by the British government.
Eastern Sabah State Security Command commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid confirmed that there were no imminent threats or untoward incidents in regard to safety and security, and tourists were flocking to popular resorts in Sabah’s east coast.
For the sake of our tourism industry and also allow more tourists to enjoy our tropical paradise and hospitality, ministers and senior government officials should stop issuing unilateral statements on security just to be in the limelight.
For example, in January last year, then Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Phesal Talib said he feared tourism in the city would be affected by a “bomb threat” City Hall had received.
It was a letter demanding RM20 million be deposited into four separate local bank accounts or the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers would be bombed. It was more of a prank but the mayor chose to publicise it and the matter was widely reported.
Officials of foreign embassies and consulates in the city raised their concerns with police after the case was highlighted in the media.
As the British government will continue to issue travel advisories and the media carry on reporting, it will be up to our Malaysian High Commission and Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (TM) based in London to counter misinformation.
Have our diplomats being engaging with those that issue travel advisories and TM issuing press statements? Such endeavours are more effective than reports in the local media. – February 22, 2016.
* C.Y. Ming reads The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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