Safety in Sabah

Sabah, Borneo

Malaysia is generally a safe country to travel to, but there have been frequent reports of violent crime in relation to Sabah. So what is the security situation in Sabah?

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Cross-border kidnappings and attacks in Sabah

In the recent past, the east coast of Sabah has become notorious as an area with very frequent attacks by South Philippine armed groups. The most significant event, even for foreigners, was the kidnapping of 21 tourists and hotel staff from a diving resort on Sipadan.

In the area you will see many armed representatives of the Malaysian military, which strictly supervises to ensure that similar situations do not recur. The last kidnapping occurred in 2019, and the area is currently quiet.

In the past, many Western embassies have warned against travel to the Semporna and Sandakan area, but these warnings are no longer valid.

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