Tourists urged to dress modestly

Kota Kinabalu: Members of the public have called on tourists to dress appropriately in public after a photo circulated on social media showing a woman (pic), believed to be a tourist, walking through the city centre wearing only a bikini on Monday.

“Sabah is a tolerant state and we welcome tourists, but that does not mean anything goes,” said one.

“There is a difference between the beach and the city centre, and visitors should respect that,” he said.

Residents said while the State prides itself on its open and welcoming culture, sensitivity toward locals remains important.

They said walking around the city centre in a bikini is not the norm and falls outside accepted public behaviour in Kota Kinabalu.

They also raised concern about the impact on children, saying such sights in a public urban setting are inappropriate for young eyes and set a poor example in shared community spaces.

They hope visitors will take heed of local ethics and dress modestly when outside of beach or resort areas, saying respecting the host community is part of being a responsible tourist.