The government today insisted that the Borneo coast in Sabah was safe for tourists to visit, after Australia warned its citizens to avoid travelling there due to the risk of kidnapping.

"We have enough strength to ensure security and safety in the area," Deputy Defense Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told AFP .

In an updated travel warning, Australia advised its citizens to avoid travelling to the east coast of Sabah in light of "credible" reports that terrorists were planning to kidnap foreigners there.

"Australians are advised to avoid all travel to coastal resorts, islands and dive sites off the east coast of Sabah" on Borneo island, Australia's foreign affairs department said in the advisory issued late Wednesday.

"We have received credible reports that terrorists are planning kidnapping attacks targeting resorts frequented by foreigners," it said.

Exercise high degree of caution

The travel warning also urged Australians to exercise a high degree of caution throughout Malaysia as "the risk of terrorist attack against Western interests in Malaysia remains".

Zainal criticised the warning, saying that the Australian government "should release such information to us so we can investigate and prevent such incidents from occurring."

Tourists should not be afraid to visit Sabah, he said adding that the armed forces and the police were on alert for any terrorist attacks in the area.

Sabah's Sipadan island came under the international news spotlight in 2000 when 21 people including 12 foreigners were abducted by Philippines-based Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels.

The Abu Sayyaf, which is believed to have ties to the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group responsible for deadly bombings in Indonesia, released the captives after large ransoms were reportedly paid.