Tourists temporarily barred from Kota Kinabalu mosque.
Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry is taking measures to identify the tourists caught dancing disrespectfully in a viral video taken in front of the City Mosque in Kota Kinabalu.
Assistant minister Assafal Alian said, in a statement, that their actions were outrageous and disrespectful, especially as it was done at a place of worship.
“The actions of these tourists at a religious structure show the lack of respect to our Muslim worshippers as well as the hospitality extended to them,” he said.
Assafal said the ministry will not treat this matter lightly as Sabah is a multi-racial and multi-religious state.
He said Sabah will not stand and do nothing although similar incidents involving tourists happen everywhere in the world.
“Once we identify the nationalities of the people involved, strong action will be taken against them and the operator of the group,” he added.
He said everyone needed to work together to ensure that visitors enjoy their stay in Sabah, and show their respect for local cultures, beliefs and the people here.
“The ministry will continue to engage tour operators and stakeholders regularly, including owners of tourist attractions in Sabah, and in particularly sensitive areas like religious buildings and sacred places,” Assafal said.
“We also plan to introduce a maximum capacity at tourism attractions – including places of worship – to allow a smooth flow between worshippers and visitors going the area,” he added.
Meanwhile, the management of the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque has decided to close its doors to tourists for the time being, with immediate effect.
Its chairman, Datuk Jamal Tun Sakaran, said the decision came after a video, depicting a group of foreign tourists climbing on the concrete fence of the mosque and showed some dance moves, went viral on social media recently.
“The top management has expressed utmost disappointment with the action of some of the tourists despite having been briefed on the code of conduct while being in the mosque compound.
“Our immediate action is to close this mosque to visitors. All express buses, Grab cars and taxis are not allowed to bring tourists to the mosque compound,” he said in a statement today.
These vehicles were now prohibited from parking outside the mosque which had been the practice before this.
Jamal added that only taxis registered with the mosque management are allowed to bring visitors to the mosque.
The management will also deploy more Rela members to guard the building and its compound, he added.
Jamal added in order to uphold the image and sanctity of Islam and the mosque, the management would hold further discussions with tour operators to find the best way to benefit all parties as well as to ensure the sustainability of Sabah’s tourism industry.