KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (Matta) has lambasted Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar for his callous remark and want him to solve the illegal immigrant and squatter issues in Semporna and along Sabah’s east coast instead.
Matta vice-president KL Tan said Wan Junaidi was “duty bound” to protect “every citizen including tourists”, and cannot just wash his hands off the matter by asking resort operators on islands off Sabah to cease operations because their safety was not assured.
“The suggestion by the Deputy Home Minister to close these resorts is an insult to all Malaysians.
“The enforcement of security at the islands off Semporna is weak due to the presence of squatter water villages and illegal immigrants making it difficult for Malaysian armed personnel to identify and nab the criminals.
“Solve the illegal immigrants issue and resettle the squatter water villages will enhance security and prevent further embarrassing and repeat abductions,” Tan said, reminding Wan Junaidi that the Wednesday kidnapping took place at Singamata Reef Resort which was barely five minutes away from Semporna town.
“He is duty-bound to protect every Malaysians including tourists rather “passing the buck” and shirking from responsibility.
“At this moment, the industry priority is the safety of the abducted Chinese victim and appealing to Esscom and the police to take whatever steps to prevent recurrence.
“There is no necessity to make premature assessments on the impact on the tourists arrivals at this juncture,” Tan added.
Meanwhile, Sabah Matta chairman Robert Chong has urged Wan Junaidi to retract his statement.
He said such negative statement would trigger serious repercussion on business confidence, investment and development in Semporna.
Chong advised the tourism industry to stay united and be resilient to face the challenges.
“It would be good for all stakeholders that the Deputy Home Minister retract and withdraw his statement.
“Sabah’s tourism industry is a market mix of tourism arrivals from various key destinations both from domestic, regional UK/ Europe and Australian arrivals,” he added.
Abu Sayyaf hand
On April 2, several armed gunned men kidnapped Gao Hua Yua, 29, from Shanghai, and the resort employee Marcy Dayawan alias Mimi, 40.
It was reported that a Muslim terrorist outfit Abu Sayyaf is responsible for the kidnapping. On Saturday BBC reported a massive manhunt for “Haji Gulam” former Moro National Liberation Front member, now a sub-leader for Abu Sayyaf in Simunul in southern Philippines.
The victims are reportedly safe and being held captive in Simunul. No ransom demands have been received thus far.
This is the second incident since Esscom was established following the Sulu invasion in February last year.
In that incident about 200 Sulu gunmen from southern Philippines arrived in Lahad Datu, Sabah, and killed several policemen in a bid to “reclaim” the Borneo state for the Sulu Sultanate.
Filipino’s Western Mindanao naval command chief Rear Admiral Jesus C. Millan told reporters that maritime patrols in the region had been intensified.
Following the Wednesday abduction, Wan Junaidi was reported to have urged resorts to cease operating in remote locations off Sabah as authorities cannot prevent repeats of the abduction near Semporna.
Wan Junaidi said the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) — tasked with coordinating security forces in the state — could not provide round-the-clock protection to these far-flung locations.
“If it were up to me, I would say these resorts on small, isolated islands should be closed.
“No one can guarantee the safety of these places when they are situated far off the coast. The police and military can’t be there all the time,” Wan Junaidi had said.
FMT
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