MOTAC vows to take stern action on protesting tourist guides

KOTA KINABALU: Foreign tour companies from China and Korea have cancelled its future Sabah tours because of the ‘unfounded’ protest staged by Sabah Tourist Guides Association ( STGA) and Sabah Native Registered Tourist Guide Association ( PBBNS) at Kota Kinabalu International Airport ( KKIA) after midnight on July 15.

In revealing this here yesterday, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia ( MOTAC) Sabah State Office director Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar confirmed that the association had caused the ruckus because of a baseless claim that illegal tour guides from China were involved in the operation.

He said this has been done at the expense of not only the involved ‘ terrified’ tourists and local tour operator but also STGA’s own ‘ frightened’ licensed tourist guide.

Zaki further affirmed that MOTAC, in charge of tourismrelated licensing in Malaysia, will not hesitate to revoke immediately the licenses of all parties involved should the police deem the assembly as illegal.

“MOTAC condemns such action and attitude, especially from the least expected STGA and PBBNS for organising an assembly at the airport, taking into consideration that they are the frontliners of the tourism industry.

“In response to this matter, an investigation was made with the alleged ( local) tour company immediately today. We found that the company had conducted their business legally according to the Tourism Industry Act 1992. At that point of time, they had a licensed tourist guide and tour buses waiting at the airport to receive the tourists upon arrival,” he said yesterday.

“The allegation of STGA and PBBNS, accusing the tour company of not complying with the law, is totally unfounded. It was also reported that their threats had caused the tour company’s appointed licensed guide to flee the airport before the arrival of his guests for fear of his life,” added Zaki

The MOTAC Sabah director said STGA and PBBNS’ ‘ uncalled for’ conduct has painted an immediate and very negative image to arriving tourists from China and tarnished the image of ‘Friendly Sabahans’.

“Their action had caused the tourists to be stranded for two hours at the airport during the wee hours upon their arrival. These tourists are also terrified for their safety. To make matters worse, we have received many complaints of their actions from many tour companies, local and international, especially China and Korea. These companies have also cancelled their future tours to Sabah because of this incident,” disclosed Zaki.