Tourism Malaysia chairperson Wee Choo Keong has denied allegations that a police personnel had demanded a bribe from a Taiwanese tourist.

He said the incident had in fact involved a Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) security guard, not the police, and that eyewitnesses had claimed that they did not hear any kind of demand for money.

Wee ( photo ) explained that the incident had taken place on June 16 at the Victoria’s Secret outlet at the Penang International Airport.

The shop assistants there were suspicious about three Taiwanese tourists at the lingerie shop, he said, and had summoned MAHB’s security team to assist.

“Upon questioning, the security personnel let the tourists go in absence of any evidence against them.

“The shop assistants have also verified that at the relevant time, they did not hear anything about monetary compensation,” Wee is quoted as saying in Sin Chew Daily today.

Wee was responding to a report in the Taiwanese media on Monday that a Taiwanese tourist was confronted by a Malaysian police personnel while he was looking at goods in a Victoria’s Secret outlet at an airport’s duty-free shopping area.

Accused tourist of stealing women’s underwear

According to the report by the Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS, the police accused the tourist of stealing two pieces of women’s underwear, took his passport, and demanded about TW$1,000 (RM121.50) as ‘compensation’ to be let off.

He also allegedly refused requests to allow the tourist to view the CCTV footage.

The tourist had maintained his innocence, and the argument went on until the shop assistants decided to let him off, the report said.

It added that the tourist and his tour group of about 40 had almost missed their flight due to delays caused by the incident.

The TVBS report only identified the tourist as 'Mr You', a sporting goods shop owner, and did not give the time and location of the incident.

However, some Malaysian news reports in the Chinese-language media based on the TVBS report claimed that the incident had taken place in Langkawi.

Wee said the incident could not have taken place in Langkawi Airport as there is no Victoria’s Secret shop there.

In the meantime, he said MAHB and Tourism Malaysia are taking the matter seriously, with MAHB looking into complaints against its security personnel.

“With regard to complaints from tourists, we (Tourism Malaysia) will thoroughly investigate and take the action necessary,” he said.