EAST MALAYSIA SABAH SAFE TO VISIT, SAYS DEPUTY MINISTER

SIBU (Malaysia), Jan 22 (Bernama) -- East Malaysia Sabah state is safe to
visit, and the Southern Philippines-based Abu Sayaf terrorist group poses no
threat to the state, said Deputy Defence Minister Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.

He said the government had put in place, ample measures to ensure overall
and
around-the-clock security in the state.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Bumimas National Service
Training camp here Thursday.

Dr Abdul Latiff was asked to comment on the United States warden notice and
Sabah travel alert issued on Jan 15, through its embassy in the country.

The notice had advised travellers against travelling to Sabah's east coast,
especially Semporna and the islands of Mabul and Spadan.


According to Dr Abdul Latif, Sabah was one of the states in the country,
which constantly enjoyed very high tourist arrivals.

He said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was scheduled to visit
Manila in March this year.

While there, the deputy minister said, Najib would bring up for discussion
with the Philippine Government, the Cabinet proposal to set up a joint command
and special international military task force to look after the security along
the borders of the two countries.

Dr Abdul Latif said the Prime Minister's Department would oversee and
co-ordinate the task force for the country.

On the Bumimas camp, Dr Latif said the government had agreed that it should
be shifted to a new 18-hectare site near the Sibu Airport as the current site
was in a flood-prone area.

-- BERNAMA