U.S. backs Australian warning on KL

U.S. backs Australian warning on KL

MALAYSIA: The United States on Saturday backed a warning from Australia advising against traveling to Malaysia's Kalimantan coast, saying it was also concerned that terrorists planned to kidnap foreigners there.

The Malaysian government criticized Wednesday's Australian travel warning on the east coast of Sabah state, saying that tourist destinations there are safe and that Canberra had failed to consult Malaysia over the announcement.

But the U.S. embassy here noted that several kidnappings and piracy incidents had already occurred in the area this year, perpetrated by criminals and the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf group.

"There are indications of continued planning of kidnappings, including of foreigners, in eastern Sabah's coastal areas and offshore islands," it said in a statement which reiterated an ongoing U.S. State Department warning.

"Emergency assistance in the area may not always be available. For this reason, American citizens should defer all non-essential travel," it added.

Australia said in its travel warning dated June 22 that its citizens should avoid all travel to coastal resorts, islands and dive sites off the east coast of Sabah on Kalimantan island. "We have received credible reports that terrorists are planning kidnapping attacks targeting resorts frequented by foreigners," it said. -- AFP