KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has called on the relevant authorities, tourism operators and the local residents of Semporna, to pay serious attention to complaints from the tourists, and to take immediate action to improve the three key aspects of tourism industry i.e. the natural beauty, security and hygiene of popular tourists destinations in Semporna.
“Security and hygiene are especially the most important aspects which should be given serious attention to, constantly!” stressed its President Tan Sri T.C Goh.
He expressed this while supporting Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing’s recent instruction, instructing the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to pull its socks up and to come out with a proposal to improve Semporna’s hygiene conditions, following complaints from tourists on the town’s filthy conditions and lack of hygiene.
Goh also hopes the other tourism operators in the country could treat the Semporna fiasco, as a wake-up call, for them to pay serious attention to the maintenance of hygiene and amenities in various tourist spots, so as to avoid complaints and poor rating by international tourists and visitors.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) expressed this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the torch run for Kota Kinabalu, held in conjunction with the 38th National Chinese Cultural Festival (NCCF), at the Padang Merdeka here, today. Also in attendance were Goh’s spouse Puan Sri Joanne Ho, Chan Foong Hin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security cum MP for Kota Kinabalu, Huang Shifang, Chinese Consul-General in Kota Kinabalu, Datuk Susan Wong, FCAS Deputy President cum Organising Chairman for 38th NCCF, her deputy cum FCAS Vice President, Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt, and various Chinese community leaders, among others.
Goh noted that among complaints from tourists received by Tiong include food poisoning due to poor hygiene in Semporna. This had resulted in some tourists suffering diarrhea and others having to be admitted to hospital.
Besides this, Tiong had also received several complaints from travellers who visited Sempona regarding poor cleanliness there with rubbish left strewn about, causing a foul stench, as well as poor conditions at certain lodging facilities. Tiong had also requested his deputy, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, to personally go down to Semporna to better evaluate the actual situation there and to help solve the issues.
“The Minister had also warned that a red notice would be issued if the situation persisted,” said Goh.
He thus hoped all quarters concerned could seriously look into the issues and take necessary measures to rectify them.
He also opined that cleanliness of various tourist destinations in Semporna should be the shared responsibility of all quarters including the local authorities, tourism and hotel operators, as well as the local residents and the tourists.
As for the food poisoning issue, he opined that the business operator involved should bear the responsibility and take immediate action to rectify it, as it had seriously put people’s life and health at risk.
He also hoped Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor could pay special attention to this issue, especially to instruct the State Cabinet to instruct all the relevant government agencies to come out with concrete measures to tackle the problem, effectively.-pr/BNN
