By EDDIE CHUA
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia wants the Australian government to retract its travel advisory cautioning its citizens from visiting the country, particularly the east coast of Sabah, due to risk of a potential terrorist attack.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there was no police intelligence of such a threat in Malaysia.
He disputed the alert issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade last Tuesday. The department had advised Australians not to travel to the east coast of Sabah, particularly dive resorts on its islands, “because of a high threat of kidnapping by terrorists.”
The department also advised Australians in Malaysia to be careful when visiting commercial and public areas frequented by foreigners such as hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, marketplaces, places of worship, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas.
Najib assured tourists that Malaysia was a safe place and visitors should not be taken in by the advisory. The Government has deployed the army and police to watch over the east coast of Sabah and its islands.
“We don’t know why Australia put up the travel alert. If they have information on the threat, they should have shared it with us. As far as we are aware, there is no such danger,” he said.
If Australia could not substantiate their report, the travel advisory should be retracted, Najib told reporters after meeting an Umno Youth delegation at his office here yesterday.
Earlier, some 30 Umno Youth representatives – led by its chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin – met Najib for about an hour.
Hishammuddin said among the issues discussed was the increase in fuel prices.
He said Umno Youth would explain to the grassroots the Government's rationale for taking such a drastic step.
“We will go around to advise the people to be more prudent in their spending and ensure there is no waste following the increase,” he said.
Source: The Star
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