Several businesspersons today protested against Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz over his remarks in the Chinese press that Cameron Highlands was unsafe.

 

Some 50 people gathered at Tanah Rata at noon before marching some 500m to the bus station there to protest against his statement.

 

"We want the tourism minister to withdraw his statement and apologise, said the march's organiser Cheng Hon Nan when contacted.

 

Cheng said the minister's claim that Cameron Highlands was not safe could potentially hurt the tourism industry there.

 

He said the protesters comprise several businesses including hawkers, night market operators, restaurant operators and budget hotel operators.

 

Cameron Highlands was on Nov 5 hit by mud floods, claiming five lives. 

The repeated incident was attributed to uncontrolled development on the highlands. It was also hit by a mud flood on Oct 23 last year, claiming three lives.

 

Nazri had also come under criticism by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after declaring Sabah's East Coast unsafe for tourism after repeated kidnapping incidences.

 

Earlier this week, Ahmad Zahid challenged Nazri to accompany him to the area without bodyguards to prove his point that it was safe.