Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz came under attack for describing Sabah as 'not safe' for tourists. Sabahans, especially were disappointed at his statement.
I think both have valid standpoints. For Nazri, his worry was based on the spat of kidnappings over this, whom among the victims is a Chinese national. And it has affected (a bit) the arrival of Chinese tourists to eastern Sabah (but not in Kota Kinabalu and other parts of the state).
Khalid, meanwhile is confident with the level of security in Sabah, notably in the eastern front. With new facilities and more police personnel, of course he doesn't want anybody to undermine or belittle them.
But coordination is the keyword here. When security and tourism meet, both sides have to share information as to avoid misleading statement reach the public, especially potential foreign tourists who wish to come to Sabah and Malaysia.
When two government departments clash over a 'petty issue', it only reflects the lack of info exchange and collaboration among them, and it will put the government's image in limbo.
Oh, please stop issuing irrelevant statements just for the sake of making headlines!
An Umno lawmaker in Sabah has heavily criticised Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz for saying that the safety of tourists in the state could not be guaranteed until two recent kidnappings were resolved.However, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said Sabah is safe, and that tourists have nothing to worry about their safety and security in the state.
Datuk Masidi Manjun, who is the state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister, said his Federal counterpart’s statement threatened to undo the hard work undertaken by the Sabah tourism authorities to bring back tourists to the state.
“For him to say that he will not guarantee the safety of tourists in Lahad Datu until the two cases of kidnapping are solved does not make any logical sense.
“It is like saying he cannot guarantee the safety of passengers to travel on our national airline (Malaysia Airlines) until MH370 case is solved or that he cannot guarantee that snatch thieves will not attack tourists in Kuala Lumpur since many cases remain unsolved,” Masidi said on Tuesday.Masidi maintained that Lahad Datu is a safe place despite Nazri’s statement that he would not personally visit the district in Sabah troubled by a hostile intrusion by Sulu gunmen last year.
"...on Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz's remarks that Sabah is unsafe for tourists, Khalid denied the minister's allegation.Which is which now?
He said the coastal areas under the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone is safe, and the police have taken all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of not only tourists visiting the area, but also the community residing there.
I think both have valid standpoints. For Nazri, his worry was based on the spat of kidnappings over this, whom among the victims is a Chinese national. And it has affected (a bit) the arrival of Chinese tourists to eastern Sabah (but not in Kota Kinabalu and other parts of the state).
Khalid, meanwhile is confident with the level of security in Sabah, notably in the eastern front. With new facilities and more police personnel, of course he doesn't want anybody to undermine or belittle them.
But coordination is the keyword here. When security and tourism meet, both sides have to share information as to avoid misleading statement reach the public, especially potential foreign tourists who wish to come to Sabah and Malaysia.
When two government departments clash over a 'petty issue', it only reflects the lack of info exchange and collaboration among them, and it will put the government's image in limbo.
Oh, please stop issuing irrelevant statements just for the sake of making headlines!
