PRESS RELEASE: “Sabah
Tourism Being Hijacked” - Junz Wong Demands Immediate Crackdown on
Illegal Foreign Operators
KOTA
KINABALU, 12 April 2026: Parti Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong
has warned that Sabah’s tourism industry is being “hijacked in
plain sight”, calling for an immediate statewide crackdown on
illegal foreign business/tour operators draining the state’s
economy.
Citing
a recent Bernama report on Semporna entitled “Semporna: An Illusion
of Paradise”, Wong said the issue is not isolated, but reflects a
wider structural breakdown across Sabah’s tourism sector, including
in Kota Kinabalu.
“This
is no longer about one district. What we are seeing is a systemic
failure - Sabah’s tourism industry is being taken over by illegal
foreign operators,” he said.
Tourists
Come, But Money Leaves Sabah
The
Tanjung Aru Assemblyman highlighted a growing pattern of economic
leakage, where tourism revenue fails to benefit Sabah despite strong
visitor arrivals.
“Tourists
are coming to Sabah, but the money is not staying here. It is being
siphoned out through foreign-controlled networks,” he said.
He
explained that many foreign illegal business/tour operators:
*
Sell tour packages overseas
*
Collect payments abroad
*
Control transport, accommodation, and retail locally
Often,
these operations are masked through local proxies (“Alibabas”) to
bypass Malaysian laws.
“This
is not tourism growth — this is economic leakage on a massive
scale. Sabahans are left with the crumbs while others take the
profits,” he stressed.
‘Free-for-All’
Industry Undermining Safety and Fair Competition
Wong
warned that the unchecked rise of illegal operators has created a
“free-for-all” environment, compromising safety, quality, and
regulatory order.
“Safety
standards are being eroded, service quality is declining, and
legitimate local businesses are being pushed out,” he said.
He
added that many illegal foreign business/tour operators:
*
Do not pay taxes or licence fees
*
Do not contribute to EPF or SOCSO
*
Do not create jobs for Sabahans
Enforcement
Failure Raises Serious Questions
Wong
stressed that the problem lies not in the absence of laws, but in
weak and increasingly questionable enforcement.
“The
laws are already there. The problem is enforcement. Illegal operators
are functioning openly, and that raises serious questions about
accountability,” he said.
He
noted that despite widespread public awareness and repeated media
exposure - including enforcement checks in Semporna and Tawau —
there has been no visible crackdown or decisive action on the ground.
“It
does not take a task force to identify what is already obvious.
Everyone can see these illegal operations - except the authorities,”
he said.
Wong
questioned whether enforcement failures have allowed illegal
operators to act with impunity.
“When
illegal businesses can operate openly without consequence, it sends a
dangerous signal — that Sabah has zero enforcement and zero
deterrence. This must be addressed immediately,” he stressed.
Sabah
at Risk of Losing Control of Its Tourism Industry
Wong
warned that Sabah risks becoming a “safe haven” for illegal
operators, with long-term consequences for the state’s economy and
global reputation.
“If
we do not act now, we risk losing control of our own tourism
industry. This is about protecting Sabah’s economy, our businesses,
and our future,” he said.
Call
for Immediate Action
Wong
urged the State Government and relevant agencies to act decisively,
including:
*
Immediate crackdown on illegal operators
*
Stricter screening and verification of new tourism-related licence
applications to prevent abuse by proxy operators
*
Comprehensive audit of existing operators
*
Strict action against “Alibabas” tour operations
*
Blacklisting and deportation of offending foreign operators
“We
do not need more task forces. We need enforcement, accountability,
and the political will to act,” he said.
Tourism
Must Benefit Sabahans First
“Sabah’s
tourism industry belongs to Sabahans. It must not be allowed to be
hijacked and exploited by illegal foreign interests,” Wong
concluded.
END
Press
Statement Released by:
YB
Datuk Junz Wong
Party
Warisan Vice President cum N22 Tanjung Aru Assemblyman
Contact:
017-8188801
