Travel Alert: Malaysia

[DrDave]

Travel Alert: Malaysia
Consular Affairs Bulletins

East Asia / Pacific – Malaysia
15 Jan 2010

U.S. Department of State released the following Travel Alert on January 15:

The State Department alerts U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to eastern Sabah, in Malaysia, due to threat of violence against foreigners, and urges extreme caution if traveling there. This Travel Alert expires on April 15, 2010.

U.S citizens should consider the risks associated with travel to eastern Sabah in Malaysia due to the threat from both terrorist and criminal groups. There are indications that both criminal and terrorist groups are planning or intend acts of violence against foreigners in eastern Sabah, notwithstanding the Government of Malaysia’s increased ability to detect, deter and prevent such attacks. The Abu Sayyaf Group, based in the southern Philippines, has kidnapped foreigners in eastern Sabah in the past. Criminal elements are also responsible for kidnapping and piracy committed against foreigners. Of present concern are the resorts (and transportation to and from them) located in isolated areas of eastern Sabah, including Semporna and the islands of Mabul and Sipadan. Please avoid or use extreme caution in connection with any travel in these areas or locations.

The Department of State remains concerned about the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world. The Worldwide Caution reminds U.S. citizens that terrorism can occur anywhere.

The Department strongly encourages U.S. citizens in Malaysia to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur through the State Department’s travel registration website in order to obtain updated information on travel and security. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in the case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, tel. 03-2168-5000. The American Citizens Services (ACS) section’s fax number is 03-2148-5801.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s internet website where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings can be found. U.S. citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 from the United States and Canada, or 202-501-4444 from overseas. The Department also encourages U.S. citizens to read the Country Specific Information Sheet for Malaysia, available on the Embassy’s website and also on the Department’s website.

[vagabond22]

I think it’s been quite a while since those kidnappings. Most people don’t stray outside of going to Sepilok for the orangutans or diving in Sipadan. More likely that they’ll step on a sea urchin or have poop thrown at them. Glad our alerts continue to screw other peoples’ main industries.

[ROB]

That’s what I was thinking too vagabond.

I think you would have far more problems with other areas like in southern Thailand.

[vagabond22]

@ROB wrote:

That’s what I was thinking too vagabond.

I think you would have far more problems with other areas like in southern Thailand.

Maybe so w/ one of the more ignored conflicts in the region :-(

http://www.pataninews.net/

But yeah, Malaysia is a cake walk, and I don’t see any reason why someone would be taking a ferry through the Sulu archipelago, esp. given the recent record for such ferries in the Philippines.

I did consider going up through Palawan when I was in that part of Borneo but we Americanos only get a 21 day visa so more hassle than it’s worth to get in and get out.

[flipflop]

Malaysia dangerous?

Odd

[ROB]

The problems with the Muslims in the north kind of goes back and forth accross the border somtimes, but again – not exactly a heart of darkness.

[DrDave]

Another indication of the validity (or lack thereof) of travel warnings. Sometimes they have nuggets of information but I have noticed it is quite common that there is a political agenda to have an impact on another nation.

I know that the advisories for Honduras during our most recent “disagreement” made it sound like you were dropping into a free fire zone and collapse into anarchy was eminent. In reality it was a great time to visit. There were a few times when the curfews bogged life down a bit, but that wasn’t too bad if you were outside of the two biggest cities.

Bottom line, the travel advisories caused massive tourist cancellation and financial hardship for the Hondurans. It had the desired effect of causing negative economic impact in an effort to put pressure on the de facto government to cave to world demands. The Hondurans took the pressure until everyone gave up and then the advisories were changed after the elections.

Not really the US government concerned for its citizen’s safety, strictly a political tool.

[Stiv]

They are very alarmist on the other hand America is a litigious society and the Feds may be pulling a bit of CYA so some genius whom might survive a bad situation doesn’t attempt to persue something legally under the context that they weren’t warned or some such nonesense.

Face it, on some forms of commercial bait used for fishing they have to put a disclaimer on the package that says “Not to be used for human consumption” well because you know…… :roll:

Best,
Stiv

[vagabond22]

flip – yeah, I know right?

ROB – Yep, and doubtful it would be resolved unless those Thai pieces joined back up with Malaysia or if the Thais maybe treated other Asians as equals (so also doubtful). There were some train bombings when I was in Malaysia but nothing to severely effect tourism, esp now that the Perhentians are a new backpacker enclave.

DrDave – I’d have to agree but more so with the ‘covering their asses’ aspect of it. Maybe in Honduras it was used as a political tool but after the Mumbai attacks there was a blanket statement to cover the whole country (as well as one from the UK gov’t) that severely fucked a lot of the tourist industry (which is great if you’re a tourist there for prices but sucks for those that depend on it). I met a group from UCL that studied geography and were doing research in Goa and Kerala and they said that bookings were down by half immediately after the attacks and at one of the high times of the year (Christmas). Doubt we wanted to hamper the small-scale tourism industry there but it did have that effect.

Stiv – I wonder if you could actually get away with that, esp. given the massive amounts of info on the internet now. I feel like it’d be more like a go there at your own risk and don’t expect us to bail you out situation.

[jamesintheworld]

I call BS on all US State Department issued Travel Warnings

It has more to do with politics than the chances of you getting blown up by a suside bomber

~James

[Stiv]

James! Nice to hear from you!

Vegabond, it would’t be easy yet it isn’t unheard of Governments coming to the rescue of it’s citizens, not so much the American (except for B. Clinton lol) but some European Governments have paid ransoms and then debated and decided to attempt at charging the citizens for the retroactive expenses or rescue and ransom.

I think that was the case with some German citizens in the Mahgreb

Best,
Stiv

[vagabond22]

That’s true, as I recall there were some complaints that made the news during the recent war in Lebanon when ppl got airlifted by the US gov’t (if I’m remembering correctly) and charged for it. I was thinking more about the lawsuit aspect. I don’t really have much expectations in the way of gov’t at home so about the only thing I’ve used them for abroad was to vote last yr.

[Stiv]

@vagabond22 wrote:

That’s true, as I recall there were some complaints that made the news during the recent war in Lebanon when ppl got airlifted by the US gov’t (if I’m remembering correctly) and charged for it. I was thinking more about the lawsuit aspect. I don’t really have much expectations in the way of gov’t at home so about the only thing I’ve used them for abroad was to vote last yr.

Right but the charging for services is another way that the government is kind of doing a premptive strike CYA in case anyone did get the creative idea to try and sue over say lack of warnings or something like that…….ahh don’t listen to me I’m just a conspiracy minded Libertarian lol

8)

Best,
Stiv

[vagabond22]

Given recent Supreme Crt decisions, it’d be more likely to have to sue Pfizer or Dow Chemical,etc depending on who buys any coming elections

[coldharvest]

@vagabond22 wrote:

Given recent Supreme Crt decisions, it’d be more likely to have to sue Pfizer or Dow Chemical,etc depending on who buys any coming elections

I’m voting Boeing/Kraft in the next election but I do hear good things about
the Pfizer “Pills for ills and chills” campaign.

[vagabond22]

I’ll support local industry and vote RJR Nabisco and Krispy Kreme

[Author]

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