These 3 Countries Have Warned Its Citizens To Be Careful While In Malaysia
There is a high threat of terrorism in the country.
Following the grenade attack in Puchong on 28 June, which has since been linked to ISIS, at least three foreign governments have issued fresh travel advisories to its citizens while in Malaysia
Advising them to "exercise a high degree of personal security awareness", the advisories say more terror attacks are a possibility
The advisories are issued by the British Government, the Canadian Government, and the New Zealand Government. All three advisories, however, vary in marking the threat level of terrorism in the country.
The advisory from the British Government says there is a "high" threat from terrorism in Malaysia. The "high" status is the highest of four levels of terrorist threat used by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), defined as a "high level of known terrorist activity".
Meanwhile, Canada has asked its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution" as there is a "threat of terrorism in Malaysia, including in Kuala Lumpur."
The advisory from the New Zealand Government, on the other hand, says "there is a heightened threat of terrorism in Malaysia, including in Kuala Lumpur and other major cities", asking New Zealanders in Malaysia to be "vigilant at all times".
British citizens are also advised against travel to islands off the Sabah east coast, citing a threat to foreigners of kidnapping
There is a threat from kidnapping in East Malaysia, particularly on the islands off eastern Sabah due to its proximity to the Sulu archipelago in the southern Philippines. There has also been a case in Sandakan on mainland Sabah.
The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.