KL says it's safe despite travel warnings
KL says it's safe despite travel warnings
Reuters, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia said on Monday the country was peaceful and security
remained good, despite travel warnings issued by the Australian
and British governments in the wake of this month's bomb blasts
in neighboring Bali.
Australia and Britain have told their nationals traveling in
Southeast Asia to be extra vigilant after the bomb attacks that
killed more than 180 people, mainly tourists from the two
countries, in the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Oct. 12.
But Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
said other governments should check with Malaysia first before
sounding alarms.
"Foreign governments should be able to get a convincing
feedback that this country is safe and peaceful," the Bernama
news agency quoted Abdullah as telling reporters.
Abdullah's comments came after Australia announced on Sunday
it was postponing two events in Kuala Lumpur over worries about
security risks after the Bali bombings.
Australia withdrew from a film festival and canceled an
education fair promoting its schools and colleges, after issuing
new travel warnings late last week for several countries in the
region, including Malaysia.
"I sincerely regret that we have to make this decision,"
Australia's acting High Commissioner Nic Brown said in a
statement announcing the postponements.
The British travel advisory told travelers to be extra careful
congregating in public places like nightclubs, bars, restaurants
and places of worship.
Australia took a similar line, but stopped short of urging its
citizens to leave Malaysia, as it did for neighboring Indonesia.
Fear of traveling to the region also forced a U.S.-Malaysia
joint-venture to put off plans for an international gathering to
mark the recent opening of a chemicals plant on Malaysia's
northeast coast.
Optimal Chemicals (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a venture between
Malaysian state oil firm Petronas and U.S.-based Dow Chemical
Co., canceled plans to bring around 300 international clients to
its plant in Kertih, after several Australians and Americans
decided not to make the trip.
"Since the people are not traveling, the company has decided
to postpone the event," one source told Reuters.
Optimal officials could not be reached for comment.