Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Rod Smith said the advisory would remain as long as the threat of cross-border kidnappings existed in the area.

However, the advisory encouraged visitors to visit Kota Kinabalu and other areas of the state, the report added.

Smith said the increased security on the east coast of Sabah would hopefully reduce the threat.

“We are very encouraging of Australians visiting Kota Kinabalu and the western part of Sabah,” he was quoted as saying by the local daily.

The east coast of Sabah has in the past few years, seen cases of kidnappings for ransom carried out by Abu Sayyaf militants from the southern Philippines.

Smith spoke to reporters during his three-day visit to Sabah.

He also expressed concern over China’s reclamation activities in disputed areas in the South China Sea.