The warnings were issued after kidnappings in the area years ago.

State assistant tourism, culture and environment minister Joniston Bangkuai appealed to nations like Australia, the US and the UK to rescind the travel advisories as security problems had been resolved.

“Sabah’s east coast, including Sandakan, is safe. Comprehensive security measures have been implemented to ensure the highest level of safety for both residents and visitors.

“No untoward incidents have occurred over the years,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

The authorities had established the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to curb kidnappings in past decades, with night-time curfews also imposed on islands bordering the south of the Philippines.

In May 2015, Sarawakian engineer Bernard Then was kidnapped at a seafood restaurant in Sandakan before he was taken to southern Philippines. He was beheaded in November 2015.

However, the home ministry said in November last year that there had been no cases of kidnapping for ransom in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone since January 2020.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also said 40 kidnapping for ransom cases involving the Abu Sayyaf militant group had been solved through the arrests or killing of its members.