KOTA BELUD: The Tourism and Culture Ministry (Motac) has the authority to take action against travel and tour operators that jeopardise the safety of their guests at any time.
Sabah’s Motac director Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar said the Ministry could take necessary action as stipulated under the Tourism Act if operators are found to have breached any existing statute.
He was commenting on complaints of overloading of tourist and passenger boats and ferries here, and whether Motac could penalise tour operators for their transgressions.
Among the complaints is that legal action on overcrowding is imposed only on ferry operators.
“Just because we (Motac) don’t say it out loud, it doesn’t mean we are not doing anything. In the case of the Mengalum (boat tragedy), we took action against the boat and travel operators,” he said, brushing off claims of Motac’s inaction on the overcrowding issue.
Ahmad Zaki was speaking to reporters at the Ministry’s year-long End In Sipadan campaign on Pulau Mantanani off here, yesterday.
He explained that Motac could take action if boat or ferry operators were found guilty of breaching written laws by other relevant agencies, such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the Marine Department, or the Ports and Harbours Department.
“If these agencies have confirmed that a boat has exceeded its capacity and the complaint is extended to Motac, we will take necessary action against the tourism company involved for neglecting the safety of tourists.
“Every (travel) company must abide by all written laws, or else they will have their license revoked,” stressed Ahmad Zaki.
He also reiterated that Sabah Motac is moving aggressively to identify dubious tour operators in an effort to curb money laundering activities in the state’s tourism industry.
Thus far, he said Motac has inspected 200 premises suspected of using fishy tourism operators, and has issued showcause letters to 23 companies for operating without a proper office.
“This is an ongoing operation, and we are also working closely with the Inland Revenue Board to see if there is any money laundering or commission involved (following price dumping in the travel and tourism market),” Ahmad Zaki added.