The Sabah Tour and Travel Agents Association (Satta) has filed an official complaint with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Sabah against a local social media operator for allegedly soliciting tours without a valid licence.

Satta chairman Datuk Seri Winston Liaw stated that the unlicensed operator had been using the name of Xinjiang China International Travel Service (Xinjiang CITS) to attract tour participants, despite Xinjiang CITS not being a recognised or authorised entity under Malaysian tourism regulations.

Liaw emphasized that under Section 5(2) of the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482), it is illegal for any individual to operate or promote a tour or travel agency business without being a licensed company approved by MOTAC. Offenders face fines up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both. Continued offences may incur daily fines of RM5,000.

“Satta urges the authorities to reinforce existing laws and consider imposing a RM10,000 fine on individuals who knowingly participate in such illegal activities, adopting a ‘No Buyers, No Hunters’ approach,” said Liaw, accompanied by Satta secretary-general Henry Yee.

He also called on Xinjiang CITS to refrain from engaging with unauthorized individuals on social media and to ensure any China-Sabah tourism collaboration is conducted through legally recognised platforms.

“We welcome all China–Sabah tourism initiatives, but they must operate within the legal framework,” Liaw added after submitting the complaint at MOTAC Sabah’s office.