KOTA KINABALU: Sabah hopes other nations will follow the UK government's decision to amend its travel advisory for its citizens visiting the state, says its chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The British High Commission in Malaysia, in a separate statement, said the update was the result of a rigorous review by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The decision represents the first major change to the UK's travel advice for Sabah since 2013.
In welcoming the decision, Hajiji, who is also State Security Council chairman said, Sabah was a safe place to visit and to do business.
"Following the latest security assessment by the Malaysian Security Council, Home Ministry and the Sabah State Government, the police has given its assurance that the level of security in Sabah remains under control.
"Curfew orders have been lifted. Sabah is a safe place to visit and to do business," he said, adding that more than 150,000 foreign tourists had visited the east coast of Sabah from January to September this year.
"I hope more British nationals will visit Sabah. Other countries which have issued travel advisories should also take the cue from the UK government's decision," he said in a statement.
Earlier during Hajiji's winding-up speech at the state assembly sitting, he said various integrated operations were held throughout this year to combat the smuggling of controlled goods.
Sabah Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDN) Ministry seized goods worth RM5,092,083.48 were seized in 31 cases involving 931 inspections; Eastern Sabah Security Command (seizure value RM17,273,174.50, involving 1,763,836 inspections); Customs Department (RM2,345,306.821, 618 patrol activities and 643 raid cases); and police (RM119 million, opened 460 investigation papers) between January and last month.