Travel agents in Sabah have been reminded to brief tourists about being properly dressed after photographs were circulated online showing two scantily dressed women in Kota Kinabalu.
Sabah police chief Jauteh Dikun said authorities were aware of the tourists’ behaviour, the Borneo Post reported.
Tell Tourists To Dress Properly, Cops Tell Travel Agents in Kota Kinabalu
“Therefore, I advise travel agents and operators to properly brief the tourists on the etiquette practised in our country, including dress codes.
This should include cultural compliance and information on the appropriate way of dressing when visiting our country,” he said.
He said any foreign tourist found to behave indecently was at risk of a three-month jail term or a fine or both if found guilty of obscene behaviour.
Jauteh said the travel agents or operators who brought the tourist would also be detained if such an incident happened. “This responsibility also rests with the tour operators, and the police will investigate to ensure they comply with the advice given.”
Kota Kinabalu police chief Zaidi Abdullah had previously said investigations were being made into two cases of women photographed in revealing clothing.
 |
| The viral photos of the tourist walking around in a bikini along Gaya Street in KK. |
One photo taken at night showed a woman with bare breasts and buttocks, while another photo showed a woman strolling down Jalan Gaya in a bikini and carrying her luggage.
Datuk Christina Liew, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment for Sabah, said,
“You can tell by observation that the city center is still for business dwellers with a mix of tourist accents.”
“I would like to remind all travelers to be mindful of the dressing culture in any destination. Be mindful of your surroundings,” she added.
“Through the Sabah Tourism Board, we often remind travelers of the dress code and customary practices. Nevertheless, travelers should also be mindful of the customs and traditions of the destination they are visiting.”
“It has also come to our attention that several distasteful photos have been taken by the Sabah Tourism Board building. It is disheartening to know that there is such malicious intention.
“We are investigating the authenticity of the account and image. Nevertheless, we seek public consideration to report the image and account if you happen to come across it to minimize any other occurrence.”
Conclusion
Christina Liew also contacted Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun to further probe the distasteful tourist photos.
This is also not the first time it has happened, and previously, two other cases were reported by the mainstream media. They also went viral on social media, namely Twitter or X as it is called now.