Travel Alert: Eastern Sabah in Malaysia Upgraded to Orange; Western Coast Remains Grey

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

A Taiwanese couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hsu, were recently murdered in Sabah, Malaysia. Starting immediately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of Consular Affairs has raised the travel alert level for the eastern part of Sabah to "Orange," advising the public to avoid non-essential travel there. Currently, most tour packages to Sabah offered by domestic travel agencies are focused on the western region near Kota Kinabalu, the state capital, which remains at the safe "Grey" alert level, so those tours will continue as scheduled.

▲ Sabah boasts stunning seascapes and is one of the popular Malaysian vacation destinations for Taiwanese travelers. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Malaysia, archival image)

The orange travel alert covers areas in eastern Sabah including Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Tawau, and surrounding islands—regions that are near the borders of the Philippines, East Malaysia, and Indonesia, often considered lawless zones. The Travel Industry Association notes that if travelers still wish to visit Sabah, they should choose better-secured developed areas such as downtown Kota Kinabalu, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, and well-established islands like Sipadan, while also arranging for professional local guides.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs classifies travel alerts into four levels: Grey, Yellow, Orange, and Red—indicating increasing levels of risk. These assessments are based on factors such as domestic security, public health, and natural disaster conditions in the destination country. A Yellow alert warrants heightened caution, Orange means non-essential travel should be avoided, and Red indicates high danger where travel is not recommended.