KOTA KINABALU: No licences have been issued to Chinese tourists in order for them to run businesses while they are holidaying in the east coast Semporna district, says Datuk Christina Liew.
The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said only the local government, in this instance the Semporna district council, can issue business licences.
Addressing the issue of Chinese tourists working illegally in Semporna, she said any application by foreign nationals to work in Malaysia was at the discretion of Immigration authorities under the Immigration Act 1957/63 and the Passport Act 1966.
“If foreign nationals open up businesses, any action taken would be under the the Immigration Department’s jurisdiction,” she said in her winding up speech of the state Budget 2025 here on Wednesday (Nov 20).
“However, the local government must issue a licence as well before they can operate.
"Based on the data we obtained, the Semporna district council has never issued any business licences to Chinese tourists, in line with the present government policy,” Liew added.
She said these two agencies were important when it comes to the issue of foreigners working illegally in the district, adding they would be the only ones, and not her ministry, to have the records on those who have committed violations.
Sabah Opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Parti Warisan-Senallang) however questioned how the state government planned to manage the issue if there was no coordination between the state and federal authorities.
“I understand that the Immigration Department comes under the Federal government and the district council under the state but you cannot just say ‘it’s not my responsibility’.
“It shows that the state government doesn’t have coordination (with the federal authorities), even the state doesn’t know the figures,” said the former chief minister.
As such, Shafie urged the state government, through the ministry, to inform Chinese tourism companies to clearly spell out to their tourists the dos and don’ts on the laws in the country.
"I hope this matter will be overcome, you (the ministry) must have your own structure,” he added.
Seven China nationals were arrested for misusing their social visit pass to work at a resort construction site in Semporna during an operation by the Immigration Department on Oct 15.
Sabah Immigration director Datuk Sharifah Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the department was identifying the owners of the resort under construction for further action.
On Oct 4, Semporna police said they received five reports from local tour operators that China nationals were abusing their visit passes to work in the district.
They added that the case had been referred to the federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
It was reported that local operators were unhappy with Chinese nationals who were allegedly taking over their businesses despite being in the district as tourists.
