Malaysia summons US envoy over ‘high-threat’ label

US ambassador to Malaysia, Kamala Shirin Lakhdir.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia today summoned the US ambassador over Washington’s decision to include Malaysia in a list of countries it says have a high risk of kidnapping and hostage taking.

Ambassador Kamala Shirin Lakhdir today met the foreign ministry’s acting secretary-general Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, who delivered a protest note from the Malaysian government over the move to include Malaysia in the “K” indicator list.

“The protest note was to express the Malaysian government’s objection to the US decision which does not reflect the reality on the ground, particularly the improved security situation in eastern Sabah,” Wisma Putra said in a statement

The statement said during the meeting, Lakhdir explained that the travel advisory was based on the US government’s assessment of “safety and security situation” of each country.

She said Malaysia as a whole has been placed under the Tier 1 – one of four tiers – which groups together the “safest” countries.

Lakhdir, said the statement, also explained that kidnappings in eastern Sabah contributed to the decision on the K label due to US concerns over potential kidnappings and hostage taking.

A total of 253,384 Americans visited Malaysia last year, a 28% increase from the previous year.

Wisma Putra said both countries agreed that in future, the Malaysian government is kept informed before any similar announcement is made in future.

“Malaysia has been taking proactive measures to ensure the security of eastern Sabah. This is reflected in the significant drop of kidnapping cases to almost nil last year,” it said.

The others in the list are Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russian Federation, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Russian-controlled east Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The release of the list followed the kidnapping of American tourist Kimberly Sue Endicott and her safari guide in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. They were held captive for five days before they were rescued by security forces. - FMT