Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar does not agree with Tourism and Culture Minister Mohd Nazri Aziz that Sabah is not safe.

On the contrary, the police chief said, the state which has been troubled by a spate of kidnappings is safe and tourists continue to flock in.

"I do not want to say Sabah is not safe, but we have taken, taking and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that Sabah, especially the eastern coast, is safe.

"Safe not only for tourists but also for the locals," Khalid told reporters on the sidelines of a forum.

On Monday, Nazri told Parliament that certain places in Sabah remained unsafe for tourists and he was not willing to guarantee their safety as long as the kidnapping cases remained unresolved.

"I will not order tourism officers abroad to promote Sabah. Personally, I will not visit Lahad Datu. I do not want to ask for trouble," he had said.

IGP tightlipped on kidnapping cases

Nazri's remarks also drew flak from Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun.

Masidi ( right ) said Nazri's statement threatened to undo the hard work by the Sabah tourism authorities to lure tourists to the state.

"For him to say that he will not guarantee the safety of tourists in Lahad Datu until the two cases of kidnapping are solved does not make any logical sense.

"It is like saying he cannot guarantee the safety of passengers to travel on our national airline  until MH370 case is solved or that he cannot guarantee that snatch thieves will not attack tourists in Kuala Lumpur since many cases remain unsolved," said the Umno MP.

Meanwhile, Khalid refused to divulge details on the development concerning the kidnapping case of a businessman and policeman in Sabah.

"I have always said that such issues cannot be discussed with the media because it involves the safety of the victims, so I do not wish to discuss it," he stressed.

Last week, an opposition lawmaker had asked the government to fork out the more than RM6 million ransom but Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dismissed this.

Malaysia to participate in MH17 investigations

On another matter, the IGP said that he and the Attorney General will go to the Netherlands on Dec 3 for a meeting with the MH17 Joint Investigation Team.

He said Malaysia is a participant of the investigations.

"Malaysia must be included in the Joint Investigation Team as it is difficult for us to cooperate if we are not part of the investigating team. Hence, what is needed is we must be included in the investigation team," said Khalid.

When asked over investigations on police officers involved in corruption, Khalid said that the question should instead be directed to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.

He said the police are in discussion with the Attorney General Chambers over the online gambling menace to discuss laws to curb such activities.

"I hope that the online gambling activity could be rooted out as soon as possible," said the IGP.

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