Protests won't affect HK tourist arrivals to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The protests in Hong Kong will not affect tourists from the city coming to Malaysia and vice versa, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.

He said that connectivity between Hong Kong to Malaysia were still good and tourists travelling between these two places would not be affected.

"If you want to speak about connectivity, there is a lot, so I don't think it will affect the number of tourists coming to our country.

"It is my guarantee on behalf of the government.

"I don't see it giving a bad impact for tourists coming to Malaysia, " Mohamaddin told reporters after the Pameran Raja Kita event at the Royal Museum here on Monday (Aug 5).

He was asked to comment on the situation in Hong Kong with multiple flights being cancelled and train services suspended as protesters call for a territory-wide strike, crippling parts of the city on Monday (Aug 5).

Mohamaddin said there had been no warning issued by the government to stop Malaysians from going there.

"This just happened, so we are not going helter-skelter to give warning to people saying, "You don't come here, or you don't go there".

"We will observe the situation first, " said Mohamaddin, adding that he also did not see an issue with Malaysians travelling there.

The mass demonstrations in Hong Kong, which are now entering the ninth week, were held to voice opposition against the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill proposed by the government of Hong Kong.