Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Is Set To Lift The Tourist Ban Effective 1 August

In late June, two tourists from China created quite a stir at the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque after a video of them dancing and dressing inappropriately on the mosque’s low-rise stone wall went viral.

The duo received backlash from Malaysians regardless of their religion as they were seen disrespecting a sacred place of worship.

Be mindful wherever you are in the world, guys.

Following the controversial incident, the Kota Kinabalu City Council decided to ban tourists from entering or visiting the mosque and fined the duo RM25 each.

After a month, the Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu management has decided to lift the ban and welcome back tourists beginning this 1 August.

The two China mainland tourists were seen dancing here.

The management will be implementing stricter rules and also impose a RM5 admission fee.

“Only tour operators licensed by the state Tourism and Culture Ministry (Motac) will be allowed to bring tourists to the mosque,” City Mosque chairman Datuk Jamal Sakaran told The Star.

These operators will have to follow the mosque’s new SOP as well if they plan to bring in tourists. They will first have to register with the mosque's tourism management unit and then submit an application with details of their tour group three days before their planned visit in order to enter the mosque.

Well, we think this is a good move although it may be a hassle for the tour operators, but at least it will prevent unwanted incidents from happening again.