The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has strongly condemned the outrageous and disrespectful behaviour of two foreign tourists dancing on the perimeter wall of the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, which went viral on social media recently.

Assistant minister Assafal Alian said the despicable deed of the foreign tourists in the vicinity of a religious structure showed a lack of respect to Muslim worshippers, as well as the state’s hospitality extended to them.

He emphasised that Sabah was a multi-racial and multi-religious state, where religious harmony was Sabah’s fundamental stand.

“Although incidents with tourists like these happen everywhere in the world, we will not stand by and do nothing,” he said in a statement here today.

Assafal said action would be taken against the tourists once their identity and nationality were determined, adding that their tour operator would not be spared, either, for failing to brief the tourists on the correct mannerism when visiting a holy site.

In the wake of the incident, the Council of the City Mosque has put up a temporary ban on foreign visitors.

Close to a thousand foreign tourists visit the mosque daily, which is one of the must-visit places in Kota Kinabalu.

“The ministry will continue to have regular engagements with tour operators and tourism stakeholders, including owners of tourist attractions in Sabah, in particular, sensitive areas like religious buildings and sacred venues,” said Assafal.

Meanwhile, the Pertubuhan Penyatuan Islam Sabah (PPIS) has called for appropriate action against the two tourists.  

Its president Nani Sakam said the association had also lodged a police report against the tourists at the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters today.

"We lodged a police report today to urge relevant quarters especially the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry to take appropriate action against the two individuals," he told reporters after lodging the report.

Nani also urged the authorities to uphold the image and sanctity of Islam and the mosque.

- Bernama