Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has invited Culture and Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz to travel with him to Sabah, without his bodyguards.

The former claimed that the state is now safer compared to before and more tourists from China are heading there.

According to a report in The Star Online today, Zahid had disagreed with his cabinet colleague who felt that the state was still unsafe.

"I would like to invite (Nazri) to accompany me to the state without bodyguards so that he can see (the situation) for himself," he said at the sidelines of the Umno general assembly.

"I would agree with Nazri if this was six months or a year ago but the situation has changed now that the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esscom) is being spearheaded by a senior police officer.

"As home minister, I myself had gazetted these curfews at designated times," he added.

Yesterday, Nazri was reported as saying that he felt Eastern Sabah is unsafe and that he would not travel there without his bodyguards.

"Without bodyguards, I won’t even go to eastern Sabah and that even with bodyguard protection, I could not sleep soundly," he added.

Nazri said it was his responsibility to ensure the safety of tourists who visit the country.

Meanwhile, Zahid further said he had ordered curfews there and it seemed the confidence of the tourists had returned, especially those from China.

"I was informed that there have been many more tourists especially from China. This shows that they are reassured by Esscom's presence," he added.