No action to be taken against 'dancing tourists', says Liew

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism authorities have decided not to take any legal action on two tourists who were filmed dancing in front of the city mosque here recently.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew said they have decided not to pursue the case in court because they believe the tourists were unaware of the severity of their actions.

"But we want to identify and find them so that we can explain that something they deemed as ‘fun’ was actually disrespectful and not right in Sabah, especially at places of worship,” she said when met during an event here Monday (June 25).

Liew, who is Deputy Chief Minister, said they would also find the tour operator who had brought the tourists to the mosque on that day.

She said they want to find out why the tourists were allowed to dance in front of the mosque, and whether they have been briefed of the dos and don’ts when visiting holy sites.

“We want to remind and warn all tour operators to inform their customers to refrain from acting disrespectfully at holy sites, all places of worships and areas of sensitivity in Sabah,” Liew said.

She hopes that such an incident will not be repeated.

On Sunday (June 24), a viral video clip showing two women, believed to be tourists, dancing and acting “disrespectfully” in front of the iconic building, which is a popular tourist spot, causing uproar among netizens.

The city mosque management had later issued a temporary ban for visitors and vehicles to the area, except for taxis registered with them.