SIBU: Sabah is safe for foreign tourists to visit, including those from the US.
Deputy Minister of Defence Datuk Abdul Latif Ahmad said the warning issued by the US to her citizens not to visit Sabah due to the terrorist threat from a neighbouring country should not be taken seriously.
Abdul Latif was speaking to the media during his visit to Bumimas National Service Training Camp, Lanang here yesterday.
“This is not the first time the US had issued such a statement. Malaysia is not the only country issued with such a statement,” he said.
“Citizens from the US are seen not to care much about the warning, with Sabah a favourite destination for foreign tourists, including from the US,” he pointed out.
“Sabah is safe to visit. So far, the government has not been directly informed about anything related to the travel advice from the US Ambassador in Malaysia,” Abdul Latif added.
“If they take the matter seriously, the US Ambassador in Malaysia should have directly informed the government about it.
“However, so far the government has not been directly informed about it. The travel advice only appeared on the website,” he said.
Abdul Latif said an integrated programme on security along the coast especially Sabah has been carried out involving the armed forces, police and Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency.
“We received reports related to the security level daily and we have adequate security personnel to safeguard security in the country and Sabah as well,” he said.
The travel advice among others warn US citizens not to visit Mabul, Sipadan and Semporna in Sabah.
Meanwhile Abdul Latif announced that for the sake of safety of all the trainees, Bumimas National Service (NS) Training Camp trainees and trainers, the present Bumimas NS Training Camp will be relocated to a safer and appropriate location nearby Sibu Jaya.
In relation to that, the Letter of Award will be given soon after all the things necessary to built the camp have been fulfilled by the camp operator.
The new location about 30 acres in size will take 24 months to complete and will be ready for operation by 2012.
The present Bumimas NS Training Camp has to be relocated due to serious flooding.
The director-general of NS Training Department, Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil, Nangka assemblyman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Pelawan assemblyman Vincent Goh and the Region 2 Military Commander Major General Datuk Awie Suboh were among those present.