Attack me but leave your baseless attacks against MOTAC officers at the door.

I urge relevant parties to refrain from attacking the measures by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture without basis through all kinds of channels for their personal agendas or to gain political capital. A certain opportunist, with just a few words, had published biased and misleading comments, blindly and needlessly belittling the long-standing efforts and struggles of MOTAC officials for Sabah tourism. This is highly insulting to the decades-long work MOTAC has put in.

Since assuming this office, I have been fortunate to have a group of dedicated colleagues who have worked tirelessly alongside me to promote Malaysian tourism, including boosting Sabah’s tourism and economic development. Now their efforts have been inexplicably attacked and belittled, which is highly regrettable.

Today, I have no intention of starting any ‘war of words’. I simply want to defend my officials. If there are doubts or dissatisfaction with any measures implemented by my ministry, feel free to contact me directly. I am willing to have constructive discussions with anyone. What I emphasise is that while I am willing to answer criticisms, do not take this to mean that anyone can insult MOTAC officials.

“Pioneering Sabah Chartered Flights
Priortising Tourism Safety Discussions

The ministry recognises Sabah as a prominent tourist destination for Malaysia. We strive to enhance its competitiveness, convenience, and tourism safety, including opening chartered flights to connect to Sabah. This will attract more international tourists from around the world and promote economic growth.

From August 2023 to May 2024, the department actively engaged with relevant parties, including a crucial meeting on 24 May 2024, with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji, to discuss enhancing Sabah’s tourism quality, strengthening safety guidelines, and improving airport clearance efficiency.

Furthermore, MOTAC has requested the local government to provide a master plan for tourism development. However, over the past 8 to 9 months, we haven’t seen a single page of this master. So, I ask, who is really not supporting Sabah’s tourism industry?

We are focused on the issues, not the individuals. We are not seeking credit, but simply trying our best to solve problems as they arise. Therefore, I hope everyone can speak honestly and provide ‘reasonable evaluations’ of our department officials.

Diligently Optimising the Latest MM2H Framework

With the new MM2H regulations released, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture is once again under fire from many parties. Perhaps certain regulations do not favor some people’s financial prospects, leading to drastic measures, elaborate news articles, or even ‘seeking protection’, with no concern about senior Sabah officials not attending important meetings?

I hope those involved can honestly ask themselves: are their statements truly for the local government and the country, or are they stirring up trouble for no reason? This includes an article by Datuk John Lo of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC), published in the Daily Express under the title ‘MOTAC Has Rendered Little Assistance To Sabah On Tourism Promotion Since 1980s To Now’, wholly dismissing the efforts of MOTAC and insulting our officials.

After all, the new MM2H regulations had consumed much time and effort of my ministry official, only after numerous adjustments did it come into effect smoothly. I sincerely hope it will encourage people from around the world to choose Malaysia as their second home, thereby contributing to national economic growth and improving people’s lives. We welcome constructive criticism from all sectors, but we will absolutely not tolerate the deliberate spreading of baseless accusations.” -MalayaDailyToday