KL says it's safe despite travel warnings<\/p>\n
Reuters, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Malaysia said on Monday the country was peaceful and security
\nremained good, despite travel warnings issued by the Australian
\nand British governments in the wake of this month's bomb blasts
\nin neighboring Bali.<\/p>\n
Australia and Britain have told their nationals traveling in
\nSoutheast Asia to be extra vigilant after the bomb attacks that
\nkilled more than 180 people, mainly tourists from the two
\ncountries, in the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n
But Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
\nsaid other governments should check with Malaysia first before
\nsounding alarms.<\/p>\n
"Foreign governments should be able to get a convincing
\nfeedback that this country is safe and peaceful," the Bernama
\nnews agency quoted Abdullah as telling reporters.<\/p>\n
Abdullah's comments came after Australia announced on Sunday
\nit was postponing two events in Kuala Lumpur over worries about
\nsecurity risks after the Bali bombings.<\/p>\n
Australia withdrew from a film festival and canceled an
\neducation fair promoting its schools and colleges, after issuing
\nnew travel warnings late last week for several countries in the
\nregion, including Malaysia.<\/p>\n
"I sincerely regret that we have to make this decision,"
\nAustralia's acting High Commissioner Nic Brown said in a
\nstatement announcing the postponements.<\/p>\n
The British travel advisory told travelers to be extra careful
\ncongregating in public places like nightclubs, bars, restaurants
\nand places of worship.<\/p>\n
Australia took a similar line, but stopped short of urging its
\ncitizens to leave Malaysia, as it did for neighboring Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Fear of traveling to the region also forced a U.S.-Malaysia
\njoint-venture to put off plans for an international gathering to
\nmark the recent opening of a chemicals plant on Malaysia's
\nnortheast coast.<\/p>\n
Optimal Chemicals (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a venture between
\nMalaysian state oil firm Petronas and U.S.-based Dow Chemical
\nCo., canceled plans to bring around 300 international clients to
\nits plant in Kertih, after several Australians and Americans
\ndecided not to make the trip.<\/p>\n
"Since the people are not traveling, the company has decided
\nto postpone the event," one source told Reuters.<\/p>\n
Optimal officials could not be reached for comment.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kl-says-its-safe-despite-travel-warnings-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }