KUANTAN: The United States’ move to include Malaysia in the ‘K’ indicator to their travel advisories could affect the country's tourism sector.
Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said every nation, including Malaysia, has its own public travel advisories but to include Malaysia in the ‘K’ list is like putting it in a different league.
“When Malaysia is included into the ‘K’ list, it is as though that we’re in the same league as the other 34 countries that are famous for kidnapping incidents. This is not good for our tourism.
“We urge United States to immediately remove Malaysia from the ‘K’ list,” he told reporters after opening the Prime Minister's Department Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) sports carnival at Wisma Belia Indera Mahkota here today.
On April 9, the US State Department announced the introduction of a ‘K indicator’ to convey the risk of kidnapping to travelling US citizens.
On April 18, acting Foreign Ministry secretary-general Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin handed a protest note to US ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, expressing the Malaysian government’s objection to the US decision.
He said the move does not reflect the reality on the ground, particularly with the improved security situation in Eastern Sabah.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin, who is also the Indera Mahkota memberof parliament, said the Malaysian tourist who was injured during the Hualien earthquake in Taiwan is in stable condition.
“Our officers have visited the victim and he is reported stable. He is covered by insurance and we will assist to ensure that he receives proper medical care,” he said.
Saifuddin was commenting on a Malaysian identified as Choo Yip Chean, 40, who suffered injuries when he was hit by falling rocks at Taiwan’s Taroko National Park during the magnitude 6.1 earthquake yesterday.