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Penjawat awam, pekerja syarikat pelancongan ditahan SPRM berhubung tuntutan palsu RM1.3 juta
KOTA KINABALU: Empat penjawat awam dan dua pekerja syarikat pelancongan ditahan oleh Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) Sabah kerana disyaki mengemukakan tuntutan palsu berhubung pembelian tiket penerbangan melalui waran perjalanan udara.
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Choose travel agencies wisely when visiting South Korea, Malaysian told
Only Motac, authorities can act: State Tourism lacks enforcement powers
KOTA KINABALU: Illegal tour operators, including foreigners, have been cashing in on the profitable tourism business in Sabah and are believed to be behind many of the untoward incidents over the years.
Two tourism organisations – Malaysian Tourism Foundation (MTF) and Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) – said it is the Federal Tourism Ministry of Tourism (Motac) and the relevant uniformed agencies that can do something about it.
Official Portal Ministry Of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC)
Tourist Accommodation Premises Premis Penginapan Pelancong
Register your tourist accommodation premises!!!
Daftar Premis Penginapan anda sekarang!!!
Registration Pendaftaran at MOTAC and download guidelines form.
Lim shows a copy of the official letter submitted to Tiong.
Motac urged not to make it mandatory for licensed tour guides to attend CTRE courses
KUCHING (Jan 4): The federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) has been urged to abolish the mandatory requirement for all licensed tour guides to attend three continuing tourism related education (CTRE) courses a year before being allowed to renew their yearly .
Holy Nativity
‘O Come Let Us Adore Him’: European Crèches
Nativity scenes have been part of the Catholic tradition since St. Francis of Assisi created a living Nativity scene, complete with an ox, a donkey and a manger full of straw in the Italian mountain town of Greccio in 1223.
Tourism industry chiefs have called upon the government to tighten regulation following the latest reports of unscrupulous agent
PETALING JAYA: Travel agencies should be scrutinised by the government to ensure they are financially sound to combat scams and improve standards, a trade group said.
Batik paintings
Motac to get ready for Malaysia as Asean chairman in 2025, VMY 2026.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) will step up activities in the craft sector, especially batik production, next year in preparation for Malaysia assuming the chairmanship of Asean in 2025 and the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) in 2026.
Some officers of both agencies checking the boot of the white van suspected operating without valid licence to ferry tourists.
Use licensed tour buses: Motac
KOTA KINABALU: Tourists should only engage vans or big tour bus coaches that have valid licence or permit, indicated by one-third of the vehicles’ body painted green.
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (Motac) Undersecretary of Tourism Licensing and Enforcement Division Roslan bin Mohammad said many tourists are not aware of this colour code on permitted vehicles.
All homestay operators or owners registered under Airbnb to pay serious attention to discipline and check the background of their respective employees.
Motac wants stern action
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) views foreign tourists’ claim that a hidden camera was installed inside a wall socket at a homestay where they were staying seriously.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the Sabah Government, the State Motac and related agencies have been asked to take stern action against the allegations which were revealed on a Shanghai-based social media platform Xiaohongshu on Sept 14 and later shared by local news portals.
“Stern and appropriate punishment should be imposed on any party found guilty because this kind of reprehensible act not only violates the laws but also affects the image of the country’s tourism industry.
I would like to remind all homestay operators or owners who are registered under Motac and obtain a grading from the Ministry that if they are found to be breaking the law and convicted, stern action will be taken such as revoking their registration and grading,” he said.
Tiong also reminded all homestay operators or owners registered under Airbnb to pay serious attention to discipline and check the background of their respective employees.
“There is no denying that things such as this may happen due to the personal actions of irresponsible homestay or Airbnb workers. Motac will not compromise on such an incident and will continue to monitor from time to time,” he said.
Hidden camera in the Air Bnb
‘Motac views claim of hidden camera installed in Sabah homestay seriously’
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) views foreign tourists’ claim that a hidden camera was installed inside a wall socket at a homestay where they were staying seriously.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the Sabah government, the state Motac and related agencies have been asked to take stern action against the allegations which were revealed on a Shanghai-based social media platform Xiaohongshu on Sept 14 and later shared by local news portals.
“Stern and appropriate punishment should be imposed on any party found guilty because this kind of reprehensible act not only violates the laws but also affects the image of the country’s tourism industry.
“I would like to remind all homestay operators or owners who are registered under Motac and obtain a grading from the ministry if they are found to be breaking the law and convicted, stern action will be taken such as revoking their registration and grading,” he said in a Facebook post here today.
Tiong also reminded all homestay operators or owners registered under Airbnb to pay serious attention to discipline and check the background of their respective employees.
“There is no denying that things such as this may happen due to the personal actions of irresponsible homestay or Airbnb workers. Motac will not compromise on such an incident and will continue to monitor from time to time,” he said.
https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/220457/motac-views-claim-of-hidden-camera-installed-in-sabah-homestay-seriously-/
Sabah travel package scam
8 people fall for Sabah tour package scam, losing thousands
At least eight people lost about $6,000 in total after falling for a travel scam online, Shin Min Daily News reported on Tuesday (May 16).
They had seen an advertisement on Facebook promoting a tour package to Kundasang Mountain in Sabah.
One of the victims, surnamed Chan, 52, told Shin Min she booked a three-night tour package for herself and a friend in April, through an agent named Alvin.
“The package included the flight and accommodation, and cost $678," said Chan, who also provided the agent with their passport details.
A photo of their text conversation in Chinese showed a message initiated by the agent on April 13.
Chan said that Alvin had told her he would send an e-mail confirmation after purchasing the tickets. But up till a week before the trip, they had not received any such email.
Chan said that whenever she questioned Alvin, he would come up with various excuses for the delay.
In the end, the tickets weren't bought, and Chan said the agent informed her that she would receive a full refund.
"I did not get the money, and now I'm not even able to contact Alvin," said Chan, who eventually found out about others online who fell victim to the scam.
"The eight of us suffered losses of about $6,000 in total and we all have yet to receive a single cent," said Chan, adding she and the others have made a police report.
Chan believes that there are even more victims, as she had seen agents responding to more than 100 queries on their Facebook page.
According to Shin Min, the Facebook page has since been removed.
Another victim told the Chinese daily that they received details of the flight and accommodation after badgering the agent for a response.
They later learnt, however, that the flight details were bogus.
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Lists of Local Malaysian news media.
Berita Harian - National Malay newspaper, BH Online
Website: http://www.bharian.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bhonline
Bernama - Malaysian National News Agency
Website: http://www.bernama.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernamaofficial
Borneo Post - Sabah, Sarawak, East Malaysia newspaper, Utusan Borneo
Website: http://www.theborneopost.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borneopost.online
China Press 中國報 - National Chinese newspaper
Website: http://www.chinapress.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChinaPressCP
Daily Express Sabah - East Malaysian newspaper
Website: http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/
Digital News Asia - Technology & IT industry news, DNA
Website: http://www.digitalnewsasia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalnewsasia
Free Malaysia Today - Online news portal, FMT
Website: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freemalaysiatoday
Guang Ming Daily 光明日報 - National Chinese newspaper
Website: http://www.guangming.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GuangMingDaily
Harian Metro - National Malay newspaper, myMetro
Website: http://www.hmetro.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metroonline
Ipoh Echo - Ipoh community news
Website: http://www.ipohecho.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IpohEcho
Malay Mail Online - Online news portal with sister newspaper
Website: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themalaymailonline
Malaysia Chronicle - Online news portal
Website: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MalaysiaChronicle
Malaysiakini - Online news portal, Mkini, malaysiakiniTV
Website: http://www.malaysiakini.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MalaysiaKini
MyCen News - Aggregated Malaysian, regional and world news, also science, health, lifestyle & tech
Website: http://www.mycen.com.my/news/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mycenews
Nanyang Siang Pau 南洋网 - National Chinese newspaper, 南洋商报
Website: http://www.nanyang.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nanyangsp
New Sarawak Tribune - Sarawak daily
Website: http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/
New Straits Times - National English newspaper, NST
Website: http://www.nst.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nstonline
Oriental Daily 马来西亚东方日报 - National Chinese newspaper
Website: http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrientalDailyNewsMalaysia
Overseas Chinese Daily News 华侨日报 - Sabah Chinese newspaper, OCDN
Website: http://www.ocdn.com.my/
Sin Chew 星洲网 - National Chinese newspaper, mySinChew
Website: http://www.sinchew.com.my/ or http://www.mysinchew.com/ (English)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SinChewDaily or https://www.facebook.com/mysinchew (English)
Tamil Nesan - Tamil newspaper
Website: http://www.tamilnesan.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamilnesan1924
The Ant Daily - Online news & commentary
Website: http://www.theantdaily.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theantdaily
The Edge Markets - Business, share market & financial news
Website: http://www.theedgemarkets.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theedgemarkets
The Heat Online - Online news & commentary
Website: http://www.theheatonline.asia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheatonline88
The Malaysian Insider - Online news portal, TMI
Website: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themalaysianinsider
The Rakyat Post - Online news portal
Website: http://www.therakyatpost.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRakyatPost
The Star - National English newspaper, Staronline
Website: http://www.thestar.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStarOnline
The Sun Daily - National English newspaper, theSundaily
Website: http://www.thesundaily.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thesundaily/*
Utusan Malaysia - National Malay newspaper, Utusan Online
Website: http://www.utusan.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utusanmalaysia
