US embassy advises caution

While Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen has reportedly said Sabah is safe, the US embassy here thinks otherwise.

KUALA LUMPUR: The US Embassy here has warned its citizens against travel to the east coast of Sabah. This area includes the towns of Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna, and Tawau.

Warning that authorities had restricted movement in parts of the east coast of the state, it advised its citizens to carry their passports at all time anywhere in the country.

Those residing in or visiting Sabah should obey any evacuation and curfew orders announced by Malaysian officials, the advisory said, but added that the embassy is not aware of specific threats to US citizens in Malaysia.

Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen however said that there is no reason for tourists to feel unsafe in any part of Sabah including Sipadan, the world famous diving spot that lures thousands of foreigners each year.

“There are army officers guarding the islands like Sipadan who have been there all this time,” she said during a press conference at the Malaysia International Tourism Bloggers Conference and Awards Tuesday.

“There are some who don’t want to go to Sabah but instead change their destination to places like Langkawi,” she said quoting Malaysia Airlines as saying that some tourists had changed destinations to elsewhere in the country.

She said her ministry had been in in close communication with the Sabah Tourism Board on the crisis in Lahad Datu.

“They update us on a daily basis,” she said.