Sabah tourism ministry to crack down on unlicensed premises in Semporna

KOTA KINABALU (Feb 13): The Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) is cracking down on tourism premises and resorts operating without valid licences in the Semporna district.

KePKAS Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the ministry is taking the issue seriously to uphold safety standards, environmental sustainability, and the state’s tourism image.

“Yesterday, I chaired the Task Force meeting at the Semporna District Council to review the latest enforcement status, compliance challenges, and immediate actions required to address unlicensed tourism operations in the district,” he said in a statement.

According to current records, 190 tourism premises are currently operational in the district. However, only 45 hold valid licences, while 59 are still in the approval process.

A total of 86 premises were found to have taken no initiative to legalise their operations or are facing various compliance issues.

Jafry identified the failure to obtain the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) or Occupation Certificate (OC), along with land status complications, as the primary hurdles for these operators.

“In view of this, the ministry has instructed the Local Authorities (PBT) to halt the issuance of temporary licenses to any premises that do not meet existing regulatory requirements.

“At the same time, strict actions, including the cessation of operations, will be enforced against premises that continue to operate without legal compliance,” he said.

The minister noted that the ministry had granted an additional three-month grace period for operators to apply for licences since the Task Force was established in December last year.

“With less than two months remaining before this deadline, I urge all tourism operators to take immediate action and comply with existing regulations and laws to ensure the safety of visitors and the integrity of the tourism industry,” he said.

He emphasised that the state government will not compromise with any party that jeopardises tourist safety or the reputation of Sabah’s tourism industry.

Jafry added that KePKAS, alongside relevant agencies, will continue to strengthen enforcement coordination while assisting committed operators to comply with regulations to ensure Semporna’s tourism industry grows in an orderly and sustainable manner.