KOTA KINABALU: An investigation into the tour operator that brought the Chinese and Malaysian tourists arrested for entering Philippines waters illegally is ongoing, says Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
She said that an investigation into the licence of the operator is underway, and added that it is being handled by the Tourism Ministry at the federal level.
This comes in the wake of claims that the tour operator involved in the incident does not possess a valid licence and had been operating illegally.
“Since the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry is responsible for issuing licences, we are leaving the investigation to them. They will conduct the necessary follow-up,” Liew said.
In the interim, the ministry has suspended the operating licence of a tour company in Sabah related to the case.
A final decision will be made once the ministry completes its investigation.
On Sunday (Sept 1), the Philippine coast guard detained eight Chinese nationals and three Malaysians for illegally entering their waters from Sabah.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group announced onteh Facebook page the arrest of these individuals, who were on vacation in Semporna, Sabah, and were reportedly fishing in Malaysian waters when they inadvertently crossed into Philippine territory.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told reporters on Tuesday (Sept 5) that there were in fact 15 people, including seven Malaysians, arrested in the incident.
He said the 11 detainees - including three Malaysians - will be flown from Tawi-Tawi in southern Philippines to Manila on Friday morning (Sept 6) for documentation verification before being deported to Malaysia.
Saifuddin Nasution then said that four additional Malaysians remain in the southern Philippines, with ongoing investigations concerning the ownership of the vessels involved.
