Malaysia plays down risks after US advisory on Borneo
Posted: 16 January 2010 1523 hrs
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has moved to reassure foreign visitors
after a United States travel advisory warned of the risk of terrorist
attacks in a Borneo tourist destination.
Thousands of Westerners visit the state of Sabah annually,
attracted by its scenery and world class diving, especially in waters
off Sipadan, close to the troubled southern Philippines.
The United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur said Friday there was
"present concern" over resorts in isolated areas in eastern Sabah
including Sipadan, where foreign hostages were snatched in 2000.
"There are indications that both criminal and terrorist groups are
planning or intend acts of violence against foreigners in eastern
Sabah," the embassy said in a notice on its website.
"The Abu Sayyaf group, based in the southern Philippines, has kidnapped foreigners in eastern Sabah in the past."
But the Malaysian government sought to limit the damage, telling potential visitors procedures had been ramped up.
"Security and intelligence there has been tightened tremendously
and there have been no reported attempts or acts of terror, including
against foreigners," Mohamed Tajudeen Abdul Wahab, national security
council secretary was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times
newspaper Saturday.
The US advisory identified the destinations of Semporna, Mabul and
Sipadan and called on citizens to "please avoid or use extreme caution
in connection with any travel in these areas or locations."
Mohamad Shafie Apdal, MP for Semporna dismissed the threat of
attacks by Islamic militants and said the government had established a
military base in his constituency to ensure security for tourists.
"At least one or two platoons patrol our tourist-centred islands in Sabah," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
In 2000, the Abu Sayyaf militant group snatched 21 people,
including 10 foreigners, in Sipadan. It held them hostage on Jolo
island for several months.
- AFP/yb
Malaysia says US terrorist attack warning on Sabah "misleading"
Posted: 19 January 2010 1226 hrs
UALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has urged the United States to review a
travel advisory that warned terrorists are targeting Borneo tourist
destinations, describing it as "wrong and misleading".
The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said last week there were
indications that criminal and terrorist groups are planning strikes in
isolated areas of eastern Sabah state on Borneo island, including the
diving resort of Sipadan.
Malaysia summoned US ambassador James Keith on Monday to register
its concern, and insisted the security situation in Sabah "was not as
perceived" in the travel alert, the foreign ministry said in a
statement late Monday.
"The travel alert had generated anxiety, confusion and surprise
from Malaysian leaders and the public over the alleged security
situation in the popular tourist resorts of eastern Sabah," it said.
"(It) could create a wrong, misleading and negative impression to
the outside world on the security situation in Malaysia as a whole in
relation to terrorist threats."
The foreign ministry said its deputy secretary-general Radzi Abdul
Rahman urged the ambassador at the meeting "to review the warden's
notice and travel alert in light of the existing sound security
arrangement".
US embassy officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Malaysian authorities have played down the warning, saying that
security measures and intelligence-gathering in the area have been
dramatically increased since foreign hostages were snatched there in
2000.
Other foreign countries have warned their citizens of the threat of
attacks in Sabah -- which lies in Malaysia's half of Borneo, an island
split with Indonesia -- but the US advisory was more specific on the
areas targeted.
It identified the destinations of Semporna, Mabul and Sipadan and
called on US citizens to "please avoid or use extreme caution in
connection with any travel in these areas or locations."
In 2000, the Abu Sayyaf militant group kidnapped 21 people,
including 10 foreigners, in Sipadan and took them to their base on Jolo
island in the Philippines, holding most of them for several months.
Tens of thousands of Westerners visit Sabah annually, attracted by
its scenery and world-class diving, especially in the waters off
Sipadan, which lies close to the troubled southern Philippines.
Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for Malaysia, which has
seen its export-dependent economy hit hard by the global recession,
contracting by a forecast 3.0 percent in 2009.
- AFP/ir