Sabah firmly committed to tourist safety: Liew
Published on: Wed, Aug 13, 2025 Text Size: Tiong (second left) presenting a memento to Liew. Looking on from left are Shaharudin, Joniston and Lai. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah remains firmly committed to maintaining the highest standards of tourist safety, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. She gave the assurance in her welcome address at the Coordination Meeting on Tourism with Federal and State agencies, chaired by Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Dauk Seri Tiong King Sing, here, Tuesday. 'On behalf of the State Government, I extend my sincere appreciation to Motac for your continuous support in strengthening Malaysia's tourism industry. 'With strong collaboration between Motac, the State Government and our enforcement agencies, I am confident that we can make Sabah not only one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, but also one of the safest,' Liew said.. She thanked Tiong for his continuous concern over important safety issues affecting Semporna, in particular, saying 'We believe we share the same commitment, and the progress we've made is aligned with the Federal Government.' 'For us, ensuring a safe tourism environment is not just about protecting lives and prioritising well-being, but it is also about safeguarding Malaysia's reputation as a world-class travel destination. Your (Federal Minister's) continued attention and commitment to this pertinent matter means a lot,' Liew added. She reiterated that tourist safety is critical in maintaining the confidence of both domestic and international travellers as well as potential tourism investors. 'In this age of social media, even news of an isolated safety incident can spread rapidly and adversely impact our tourism image. That is why we must always remain vigilant.' Acknowledging that in recent times, Sabah has faced several safety concerns involving accidents during activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling and stand-up paddle-boarding in marine and island areas, Liew emphasised that these underline the pressing need for stronger safety protocols, strict compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and enhanced training for guides and boat operators. To address these, she asserted that the State Government has taken decisive action. 'For instance, we have strengthened collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to boost patrols and monitoring,' said Liew. Multilingual safety signage has been installed at high-risk tourist locations such as at the arrival hall of the Tawau Airport and Sandakan Airport, she added. Also present were Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Motac Secretary-General Datuk Shaharudin Abu Sohot, Deputy State Secretary (Administration), Datuk Norlija @ Norlijah Danin, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), Datuk Josie Lai, Deputy Permanent Secretary I to KePKAS, Mary Malangking, Sabah Parks Director Datuk Dr Maklarin Lakim and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) CEO Julinus Jeffery Jimit. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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