BN MP: What if they kidnap 'valuable' me?

PARLIAMENT Expressing concern over the security situation in Sabah, a BN parliamentarian pointed out that "valuable" people like himself could fall prey to kidnappers as well.

And if that happened, Abdul Ghafur Salleh said Sabah’s economy and tourism sector would be adversely affected. 

"The intruders want to kidnap people who have value. From Kg Titingan (coast) to my house, it only takes five minutes. 

"I can be kidnapped, it's huge publicity," he said after asking a question about the value of the ringgit.

"This can be reported and picked up by CNN, BBC. And then the value of our ringgit will fall," added the Kalabakan MP. 

Abdul Ghafur's question was based on the recent abduction and murder of Taiwanese tourists on Pom Pom island off Semporna in Sabah.

Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan said that there had been "little impact" on the country's economy and tourism due to the case. 

He told Parliament that the incident happened in Sabah and that Malaysia still had Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia as possible destinations.

"KL is still the fourth best shopping destination in the world," he said.

Ahmad Maslan was responding to a question from Abdul Ghafur about the impact of the abduction and kidnap case on the national economy.