Malaysia plays down risks after US advisory on Borneo

Chew Bakar SG

Malaysia plays down risks after US advisory on Borneo
Posted: 16 January 2010 1523 hrs

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has moved to reassure foreign visitors after a United States travel advisory warned of the risk of terrorist attacks in a Borneo tourist destination.

Thousands of Westerners visit the state of Sabah annually, attracted by its scenery and world class diving, especially in waters off Sipadan, close to the troubled southern Philippines.

The United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur said Friday there was "present concern" over resorts in isolated areas in eastern Sabah including Sipadan, where foreign hostages were snatched in 2000.

"There are indications that both criminal and terrorist groups are planning or intend acts of violence against foreigners in eastern Sabah," the embassy said in a notice on its website.

"The Abu Sayyaf group, based in the southern Philippines, has kidnapped foreigners in eastern Sabah in the past."

But the Malaysian government sought to limit the damage, telling potential visitors procedures had been ramped up.

"Security and intelligence there has been tightened tremendously and there have been no reported attempts or acts of terror, including against foreigners," Mohamed Tajudeen Abdul Wahab, national security council secretary was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper Saturday.

The US advisory identified the destinations of Semporna, Mabul and Sipadan and called on citizens to "please avoid or use extreme caution in connection with any travel in these areas or locations."

Mohamad Shafie Apdal, MP for Semporna dismissed the threat of attacks by Islamic militants and said the government had established a military base in his constituency to ensure security for tourists.

"At least one or two platoons patrol our tourist-centred islands in Sabah," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

In 2000, the Abu Sayyaf militant group snatched 21 people, including 10 foreigners, in Sipadan. It held them hostage on Jolo island for several months.

- AFP/yb

Chew Bakar SG

Malaysia says US terrorist attack warning on Sabah "misleading"
Posted: 19 January 2010 1226 hrs

UALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has urged the United States to review a travel advisory that warned terrorists are targeting Borneo tourist destinations, describing it as "wrong and misleading".

The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said last week there were indications that criminal and terrorist groups are planning strikes in isolated areas of eastern Sabah state on Borneo island, including the diving resort of Sipadan.

Malaysia summoned US ambassador James Keith on Monday to register its concern, and insisted the security situation in Sabah "was not as perceived" in the travel alert, the foreign ministry said in a statement late Monday.

"The travel alert had generated anxiety, confusion and surprise from Malaysian leaders and the public over the alleged security situation in the popular tourist resorts of eastern Sabah," it said.

"(It) could create a wrong, misleading and negative impression to the outside world on the security situation in Malaysia as a whole in relation to terrorist threats."

The foreign ministry said its deputy secretary-general Radzi Abdul Rahman urged the ambassador at the meeting "to review the warden's notice and travel alert in light of the existing sound security arrangement".

US embassy officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Malaysian authorities have played down the warning, saying that security measures and intelligence-gathering in the area have been dramatically increased since foreign hostages were snatched there in 2000.

Other foreign countries have warned their citizens of the threat of attacks in Sabah -- which lies in Malaysia's half of Borneo, an island split with Indonesia -- but the US advisory was more specific on the areas targeted.

It identified the destinations of Semporna, Mabul and Sipadan and called on US citizens to "please avoid or use extreme caution in connection with any travel in these areas or locations."

In 2000, the Abu Sayyaf militant group kidnapped 21 people, including 10 foreigners, in Sipadan and took them to their base on Jolo island in the Philippines, holding most of them for several months.

Tens of thousands of Westerners visit Sabah annually, attracted by its scenery and world-class diving, especially in the waters off Sipadan, which lies close to the troubled southern Philippines.

Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for Malaysia, which has seen its export-dependent economy hit hard by the global recession, contracting by a forecast 3.0 percent in 2009.

- AFP/ir