Association says not involved in protest

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Bumiputera Licensed Tourist Guides Association (PBB) was not involved in the protest against illegal China tour guides at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) on July 15, said its president, Dabalun bin Hj Balau.

However, he admitted some of PBB members joined in the protest on an individual basis.

Dabalun yesterday said that the members received news that a group of China tourists who bought the tour packages from an agent in China, did not engage any local Mandarin-speaking licensed guide from Sabah. They also heard from sources that this tour agent in China employed ‘tour leaders’ or local English speaking tour guides instead. The members then went to the airport to find out the actual fact.

Meanwhile, Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu understands the feelings of the local tour guides for staging the protest but regrets their action.

He said there are other proper channels to bring the matter to the attention of the authorities and to deal with the presence of illegal China tour guides operating in Sabah.

Hiew urged the authorities to be stern and carry out strict enforcement on all tour groups coming in to visit Sabah, especially in respect of local tour operators.

“The existing tour operation guideline and ruling on tour operators must be further scrutinized to ensure that there are no abuses or bypassing of existing laws. A clear directive from the Federal and State Tourism Ministries must be issued to all the tour operators. This will allow them to understand in depth the tourism rules before tourism enforcement officers come to check and take action. At the same time it is also important to protect the interest of our much valued foreign tourists,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He added the protest by members of the Sabah Tour Guide Association (STGA) and the Sabah Native Registered Tourist Guide Association (PBBNS) at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on July 15 may be uncalled for as the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) Sabah State Office director Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar had mentioned that the issue could resolved if they had come to meet him for more details and further action.

Ahmad Zaki said on Sunday that those involved in the protest may be subject to investigation, and if confirmed that their action is illegal, further action may be taken against them.

He also disclosed that the incident had caused many cancellations of future tour groups from China and Korea into Sabah.