Travel advisories

Australia – The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has advised its citizens "against all travel to coastal areas of eastern Sabah, as well as nearby islands and dive sites" and that they should "exercise of a high degree of caution for other areas of Sabah." The Department added that they "continue to advise Australians to exercise normal safety precautions in Malaysia overall.

Canada – Canada advised its citizens to avoid travels to Eastern Sabah, especially to the towns of Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau, as well as nearby islands and dive sites, including Sipadan. It urged its citizen already in the area to leave immediately as possible and monitor developments and comply with the orders of the local authorities.

New Zealand – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that "there is high risk to [their citizens'] security in coastal areas and offshore Islands and dive sites remote from the main towns of eastern Sabah (from Kudat in the North and around the coast to Tawau)." The Ministry also advised against all tourist and other non-essential travel to these areas.

Taiwan (Republic of China) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised the level of its travel warning to Sabah to "yellow" following the incident in the Malaysian state. A "yellow" travel warning reminds people to pay special attention to personal safety while travelling to affected areas and to reconsider any plans to travel to these areas. The Ministry said it will continue to keep a close watch on the development of the incident and will provide updated travel information for its citizens.

United Kingdom – The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised its citizens "against all but essential travel to the area of Sabah running east along the coast from Lahad Datu to Sabah’s most easterly point and running south and east from a line joining Lahad Datu to Tawau through Kunak. This area includes Semporna and the islands immediately off the coast." It also advised "those currently in the region to consider leaving as soon as practicable and to follow the advice of the local police authorities."

United States – On 1 March, the Embassy of the United States in Kuala Lumpur stated that "U.S. citizens are advised to avoid the Lahad Datu area for the foreseeable future, and monitor media reports regarding possible continued violence."[89] On 4 March, a more detailed message included various precautions and advised against travel in "the coastal region extending from the eastern most tip of Sabah south to the border with Indonesia [including] the towns of Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna, and Tawau."

Germany – The Foreign Office issued a travel warning on 3 March, that raised the travel risk for the eastern districts of Sabah. Germany advised its citizens against "all non-absolute travel into the districts of Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan and Sandakan."

Hong Kong – On 5 March, the Security Bureau issued a "yellow" travel warning that advised its nationals who were planning to go to Sabah and those who were already in Sabah to exercise caution and to monitor the situation. Hong Kong residents were also advised to avoid travelling to Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna.

Poland – On 4 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel warning for Malaysia "due to “civil unrest and the continuing high level of terrorist threat in the eastern part of the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, including areas of localities of Lahad Datu and Semporna”.

Singapore – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Singaporeans going to eastern Sabah to "comply with the advice of Malaysian security authorities, keep themselves informed about the situation through local news and avoid travel to Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna."


Mana Cina and India??

Philippines President Aquino in a bind over Sabah crisis


Justice department reviewing legality of claims


Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III


Manila: Philippine president Benigno Aquino has been doing a balancing act in handling the violence that has ensued following the occupation by more than 200 followers of a Filipino Sultan who occupied a village in Sabah, observers said.


“The government cannot be forced to take a stand with the crisis ongoing,” said Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. “Negotiations on the Saba claim are possible [only] if the crisis there is over. It’s impossible to hold talks while there’s an ongoing crisis.”


The justice department has been reviewing the policies of previous presidents about the legality of the claims by the Sultanate of Sulu and the Philippine government over Sabah. “Hopefully, this will be used as guide to peacefully resolve the Sabah conflict,” said the justice secretary.


But Aquino has been criticised for allegedly not expressing concern for members of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu, led by Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, who have been targeted by full ground and air operations by Malaysian forces in Tanduao village since last week. Aquino has also been accused of not making an independent foreign affairs policy with Malaysia and for not protecting the Philippines’ claim over Sabah, which began in the early 1960s.

“If the president wants a peaceful solution to the Sabah crisis, he should have made a stronger move with the Malaysian leaders,” said Rene Sta. Cruz, a broadcast journalist, on his television programme.


There are several reasons why Aquino has been in a bind. He could not countenance a non-government initiative that was unilaterally done by Kiram’s group and he is limited to diplomatic engagement with Malaysia, a fellow member of the Philippines in the 10-state Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) and also the peace broker (since 2004) in the ongoing peace settlement being forged by the Philippine government and the formerly secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf).


As a result, Aquino could not match the strategic moves made by Philippine government officials in pushing for the Sabah claim since the early 60s, observed a professor of the University of the Philippines who requested anonymity.


In 1962, Sultan Esmail Kiram (born 1907), who held the position from 1947 to 1973, granted the Philippine government the right to claim Sabah. In response, former Philippine president Diosdado Macapagal filed the Philippine government’s claim at the United Nations.


On July 31, 1963, presidents Tunku Abdul Rahman of Malaysia, Macapagal and Suharto of Indonesia held talks and signed the Manila Accord, which granted respect for “the claim of the Philippines over Sabah, even if Sabah had been included in the Federation of Malaysia”.


Even earlier, from January 28, 1963 to February 1, 1963, a Philippine delegation led by former vice president Emmanuel Pelaez, who was also foreign affairs secretary, joined the so-called London Talks and presented to the British delegation the historical and legal claim of the Philippines over Sabah.


But the United Kingdom decided to give up North Borneo, after it was turned over by the British North Borneo Company to the Federation of Malaysia, in favour of Malaysia’s independence. Results of the UN’s Malaysia Mission firmed up the establishment of the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.

PNOY NEWS, LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE STILL DILUSSIONAL ON SABAH CLAIM.

Not like this?

i pernah guna m16 tembak kat kemboja. damn syok wehhh..... the kickback is almost non.

too bad i am bad at aiming, empty whole mag without hitting anything.

They are no traitor, why keep saying they are traitor??!!!
They did not betray their country, in fact are doing dirty work for them.

To us they are pirates, terrorist, pandan invaders.