Sabah investigates alleged attack on tourist from China — Channel NewsAsia
Authorities in the Malaysian state of Sabah have ordered a full investigation following reports of alleged harassment and an attack on a 25-year-old tourist from China at a resort establishment in Semporna. As Channel NewsAsia reports, the incident occurred early in the morning on September 19 at an establishment on Jalan Kamiri.
Suspect detained
According to Malaysian and Chinese media, the tourist was sleeping alone when she noticed an unfamiliar man in her room. She managed to escape and hide in nearby bushes, where a resort employee found her the following morning. The woman was reported to have sustained injuries. Photos published by Chinese news websites and provided by the victim show abrasions and bruises on her arms and legs.
Semporna district police chief Superintendent Tan Hieap Wah said law enforcement officers detained an 18-year-old suspect in connection with the case the day after the incident.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Resort security review
Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Jafry Ariffin on September 21 instructed tourism authorities and law enforcement agencies to examine possible shortcomings in the security system that may have contributed to the incident, as well as the resort's licensing status. According to him, the authorities will not compromise on visitor safety as the Visit Sabah 2027 campaign approaches.
China's Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu contacted the resort's management, state authorities and people connected with the case, Chinese media reported. The news also prompted reactions on Chinese social media, where some users said they were reconsidering travel plans to Semporna or cancelling bookings.
Semporna is known for its beaches, diving and sea excursions and is a popular destination among tourists from China. According to statistics Jafry Ariffin published on Facebook, the number of Chinese tourist arrivals in Sabah during the first seven months of 2026 increased by 25.5% year on year. During the same period of the previous year, 484,699 arrivals were recorded.
