KOTA KINABALU: A special task force (STF) comprising representatives from Sabah’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, the federal Tourism and Culture Ministry, Immigration Department and other relevant agencies has been set up to ensure that only legal operators of any services, including lodging houses are allowed to operate coastal tourism ventures in Semporna.
In disclosing this, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said this was necessary in light of the recent murder-cum-kidnapping incident involving two Taiwanese nationals in Pulau Pom Pom, Semporna.
In this respect, Masidi called on tourism players to enhance security measures in and around their premises to raise the confidence of the people, particularly tourists over the security situation in the state.
“The homestay business has to meet specific conditions and lodging houses must be licensed by the authorities…we cannot allow or close eyes to illegal homestay ventures,” he told reporters after chairing a special dialogue session with state tourism industry players, here today.
Also present were Director-General of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) Datuk Mohammad Mentek and Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.
Masidi said the dialogue session was very educative, starting with briefings from ESSCOM and the police.
“Security is a challenging task, that’s why we need to be proactive to complement the security forces to enhance preventive measures for the good of the people, tourists and the state,” he said.
Urging tourism operators to take security matters seriously, Masidi said it was suggested that they should employ a security guard or at least a watchman in their respective tourism premises.
On preventive actions, he said tourism operators must comply with the stipulated regulations.
“Their staff must be fully documented and not illegals. All guests should also be fully documented irrespective of whether the guest desires to be anonymous or unknown for security reasons,” he said adding that resort owners were advised to inform the police of the presence of high profile people to avoid untoward incidents.
On Nov 15, a 58-year-old Taiwanese woman was kidnapped while her 57-year-old husband, also a Taiwanese, was shot dead while holidaying in the island.
Meanwhile, Hamza said the screening of islands off Semporna (in Sabah’s east coast) would be launched soon.
Hamza said the operation was aimed at checking and making sure all resorts and lodging houses hired locals and not illegal operators or workers.
He addeed that the police and other agencies must centralise their enforcement work to enhance security in certain areas. — BERNAMA