Press Statement from Chairman of Tourism Malaysia Regarding the Taiwanese Tourist | Ini kenyataan media yang dibuat oleh Pengerusi Tourism Malaysia yang baru, YB Wee Choo Keong, mengenai pelancong Taiwan yang disyaki mencuri di Victoria Secret, Penang Airport.

Mereka melaporkan perkara ini berlaku di Langkawi tetapi telah disahkan bahawa Victoria Secret tiada premis perniagaan di sana. Para pelancong ini mengatakan polis meminta rasuah untuk menutup kes sedangkan staf VS tu tak dengar pun macam tu. Jadi sekarang kes ini masih disiasat.

Komen aku:

Belum tahu lagi mana pihak yang benar. Kalau ikut pergaulan dengan mereka baru-baru ni, orang Taiwan tidaklah pandai berbahasa Inggeris jadi kemungkinan untuk miscommunication itu ada.

Jika mereka salah ambillah tindakan, jangan dibela pulak hanya kerana mereka pelancong asing. Jika di Singapura tak kira kita orang tempatan ke pelancong dengan duit berkepuk ke tetap akan diambil tindakan sebab itu undang-undangnya dihormati. Kita tak perlukan pencuri di sini. Dah ramai penyamun datang negara kita ni dengan mudah.

Jika polis kita (tak kisahlah polis bantuan ke) yang salah, berikan hukuman berat. Buat malu je. We are in the world's media again for the wrong reasons since 2014. Sudah-sudahlah tu.

PUTRAJAYA, 24 JUNE 2015

PRESS STATEMENT

BY YBRS. EN. WEE CHOO KEONG

CHAIRMAN OF TOURISM MALAYSIA

A Taiwanese tourist alleged that he had been accused of stealing at a Victoria Secret outlet in Langkawi airport and was subsequently approached by policemen for monetary compensation. The news appeared in an exclusive report by TVBS, and has now been covered by the Malaysian media.

Tourism Malaysia has been alerted by its officers about the report and has investigated the matter.

We can confirm that the incident did not take place in Langkawi as has been clarified yesterday. Reference was made to a Victoria Secret outlet at Langkawi Airport and this is definitely an error as we do not have such an outlet there.

However, our investigation shows that the incident did take place at the Victoria Secret outlet in Penang International Airport on 16 June 2015.

It has been confirmed by Victoria Secret that it has lodged a report with the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Security Task Force at the airport following the incident on the same day. According to feedback from Victoria Secret, its staff had become suspicious of three Taiwanese tourists and had called MAHB Security Task Force officers to investigate the alleged theft. After some questioning without finding any evidence, the Task Force officers released the tourists. The Victoria Secret staff also confirmed that they did not hear of any mention of monetary compensation at that material time.

However, we have brought this matter to the attention of MAHB in charge of the Security Task Force. MAHB is taking a serious view of the allegation made against its officers and are making a thorough investigation into the matter.

Tourism Malaysia is concerned for the well-being of every tourist who visits Malaysia as they are our customers. Tourism Malaysia takes a very serious view of any untoward incident affecting its customers, the tourists.

Rest assure that all complaints by tourists will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action will be taken.

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia.