Kota Kinabalu: Ensuring the safety of tourists visiting Sabah is not a choice but a fundamental responsibility of the state, said Sukau Assemblyman Datuk Jaffry Ariffin, as he emphasized the urgent need for clear safety guidelines and upgraded tourism infrastructure.
As Sabah positions itself as a leading tourist destination, Jaffry stressed that the safety of visitors must be the highest priority.
He called for the establishment of robust safety protocols alongside the development of safer, better-equipped infrastructure to meet the growing demands of the tourism sector.
“Tourists are our guests; their safety is not optional—it is our responsibility,” he said, urging the state government to implement clear safety procedures, strengthen emergency communication systems, and introduce mandatory disaster response and first aid training across the tourism industry.
With high-risk activities such as climbing Mount Kinabalu and scuba diving in the waters off Semporna drawing growing numbers of tourists, Ariffin called for immediate and coordinated action.
His remarks follow a series of fatal incidents involving tourists in Sabah earlier this year, including the death of a British tourist on February 25 and a Malaysian man on February 9 while climbing Mount Kinabalu. On March 9, a Chinese national drowned while diving near Pulau Mabul.
While the state’s natural beauty attracts travellers, he pointed out that a lack of essential amenities and modern facilities limits its growth potential.
“To compete on a global scale, Sabah must offer not only stunning landscapes but also the infrastructure to match,” stressed Jaffry.
For instance, he pointed the deplorable condition of a jetty at an island managed by Sabah Parks, which can no longer cope with the increasing number of visitors.
“Many tourism players have long bemoaned how tourism infrastructure in many of the tourism hotspots in the state simply did not fulfil a satisfactory criteria to support the industry,” he said
Other facilities, including toilets and information centres, remain outdated and fall short of international standards. “
Jaffry also called for immediate funding to repair and upgrade tourism infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
“Supporting community-based tourism initiatives, could significantly boost local economies if provided with the necessary resources,” he said
As Sabah works to revive its tourism sector, Jaffry calls for improved safety protocols, better infrastructure, and targeted development are vital to maintaining the state’s competitiveness in the global tourism market.
In the same vein, Jaffry raised concern how bad infrastructure such as poor road conditions pose a major hindrance to tourism development, among examples in his constituency include the road connecting Batu 8 to Bukit Garam and Sukau.
Despite a site visit by the Minister of Works last year, Jaffry noted that no action has been taken to resolve the issue.
“It is hoped that immediate action can be taken to improve these crucial road links to ensure better access to key tourism areas in Sukau.