KOTA KINABALU: The Tourism and Culture Ministry (Motac) Sabah office issued show cause letters to 24 tourist guides yesterday for the purpose of cancellation of their licences for protesting at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) on July 15.
When contacted yesterday, the office said the tourist guides were given a week till next Wednesday (August 16) to respond to the show cause letter.
After the deadline, Motac Sabah office will send its recommendation to the headquarters for the cancellation of the licences.
About 40 protesters showed up at KKIA just past midnight on July 15, alleging that a tour company had engaged illegal tour guides in their operations. The protest led to two of the three licensed local tourist guides fleeing the scene, leaving their big group of tourists stranded at the airport for about two hours.
Motac Sabah has refuted the claim of illegal tour guides operating in the state.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has requested tourism non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to organize a seminar for tourism industry players, and local products and specialty shops in order for its officers to explain the MACC Act 2009 in relation to whether acceptance of commission by tourist guides violated the Act.
After the seminar, any tourist guides or local products and specialty shops that violated the MACC Act would be taken action against by the commission.
Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) president Datuk Seri Winston Liaw said this when contacted by the media after paying a courtesy visit to MACC Sabah director Datuk Sazali Salbi led by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk KL Tan here yesterday.
Seven tourism NGOs attended the courtesy visit, including Matta, Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah branch, Sandakan Tourism Association, Satta, Sabah Native Registered Tourist Guide Association (PBBNS) and others.
Under the Tourism Industry Act 1992, Liaw said tourist guides could only receive their salaries and tips. They are not allowed to accept commission from local product or specialty stores, he said.
“The seven NGOs made the courtesy call on MACC today in order to clarify whether tourist guides who accepted commissions are in violation of the MACC Act.”
As such, he said Sazali requested the relevant tourism NGOs to hold a seminar for the industry players and local products and specialty outlets in order for MACC officers to explain the Act.
Liaw said the MACC officers would explain in detail the do’s and don’ts for tourist guides and the local products and specialty outlets.
“MACC Sabah will take stern action against any tourist guides or shop operators who are found to violate the MACC Act after the seminar,” he said.