KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin (pic) said a multi-agency task force has been set up to address long-standing tourism issues in Semporna that have affected the destination’s image, safety and sustainability.
He said the task force, overseen by Assistant Minister Dr Andi Rizal, will submit fortnightly progress reports to ensure actions are focused, phased and accountable rather than reactive.
Jafry said the approach is meant to resolve problems structurally by aligning roles, authority and enforcement among agencies, amid overlaps involving the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, local councils and the district office.
Key challenges include unlicensed or illegal structures, safety concerns, cleanliness and weak tourism infrastructure management, which he warned could undermine Sabah’s wider tourism sector if left unaddressed.
He said immediate steps begin with industry engagement in Semporna and added that he will personally go to the ground to ensure pending issues are tackled in a coordinated and practical manner.