Sea tourism in Sabah suspended because of kidnapping threats? It's fake news, says govt.

Malaysia’s National Security Council says the fake memo has gone viral and confused the public.

Security personnel patrol a beach in eastern Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, in October 2022. (Esscom pic)

SABAH: Malaysia’s National Security Council (NSC) has dismissed as fake a “memo” saying sea tourism activities are suspended on the east coast of the Borneo state of Sabah, which was a hotspot for transborder kidnapping activities and transit point for foreign terrorists heading to southern Philippines.

The NSC said the “memo” had gone viral and confused the public.

“Referring to a memo entitled ‘Temporary Closure of Any Tourism Activity in the Eastern Waters of Sabah’, the Sabah National Security Council hereby completely denies ever issuing such an order,” said the NSC in a statement.

“NSC would like to emphasise that the memo is a fake document and not true at all.

“Therefore, the public is advised to always refer to authentic sources of information regarding the security situation in the state of Sabah and not to share fake news that could threaten national security through any channels.”

Sabah had recorded a spate of kidnapping-for-ransom activities by the Filipino Abu Sayyaf terror and criminal group over the last few years, the last of which occurred in January 2020.

Police also reported earlier that Sabah was a transit point for foreigners joining terror groups in the southern Philippines, the most notable of which was an Indonesian couple who, after transitting Sabah’s Semporna district, committed the 2019 Jolo church suicide bombing in the southern Philippine province of Sulu that killed 23 people. 

In 2013, militants from Sulu intruded into eastern Sabah’s Lahad Datu district to stake their territorial claim, resulting in an armed clash that killed 10 members of the Malaysian security services and dozens of militants.

After the 2013 intrusion, Malaysia incepted the Eastern Sabah Security Command to beef up security in the eastern region also designated as the Eastern Sabah Security Zone or Esszone.

Esszone’s maritime areas remain under nighttime curfew since 2013 due to the persistent Abu Sayyaf kidnapping threats, somewhat worrying nations such as the US whose travel advisory urged their citizens to exercise caution when visiting eastern Sabah.

Tourism was also down during the peak period of the pandemic but domestic tourism has boomed after movement restrictions were lifted while international arrivals are increasing with borders reopened and resumption of international flights.

Ed.: Fake news on national security has serious impact on society. What do you think? Like and leave your comments below.