PETALING JAYA: Other foreign missions, besides the United States Embassy in Malaysia, have also issued travel advisories to their citizens to avoid the eastern coast of Sabah, particularly Semporna and the islands of Mabul and Sipadan, due to possible threats from the notorious Abu Sayyaf terror group.

The alert was issued after ambassadors and representatives of foreign missions in Kuala Lumpur were briefed by the US Embassy on its advisory to Americans to avoid to Sabah because of possible threats from terrorist and criminal groups.

The US Embassy in KL issued the advisory on Jan 15 and on the same day, the US State Department’s Consular Affairs Bureau upgraded it to a travel alert. The alert expires on April 15.

A diplomatic source told The Malay Mail that following the US Embassy briefing, the other diplomats agreed the threats from terrorist and criminal groups were "credible" and therefore issued similar advisories to their citizens.

The Foreign Ministry on Monday urged the US to review the travel alert for the popular tourist destination of eastern Sabah in light of the “sound security arrangement” and assurances from Malaysian leaders.

The Malay Mail was informed that most foreign missions in Kuala Lumpur, including those from Europe, Canada and Australia, attended the briefing.

The source said although the US did not share details of the threat, the briefing was credible enough to convince the diplomats to bar their staff from travelling to Sabah and to warn their citizens of "a clear and present danger".

The threat, according to the source, was not possible terrorist attacks but "fund raising activities", a clear reference to the huge ransom payouts to the Abu Sayyaf for the kidnapping of 21 people, including 10 foreigners, at a diving resort in Sipadan island on April 22, 2000.

Meanwhile, an author of articles and books on terrorism in Southeast Asia told The Paper That Cares he believed the impending 10th anniversary of the Sipadan raid was the motivation behind the travel alert and not credible intelligence.

Zachary Abuza, a professor of political science at Simmons College in Boston, US, said: "I don't know what is behind the travel warning.

It is coming up to the 10th anniversary of the Sipadan raid. But the Abu Sayyaf has never really attacked on specific dates."

On April 22, 2000, Abu Sayaff terrorists abducted 21 tourists and workers from the Sipadan island diving resort and seized dozens of other hostages in subsequent raids in nearby islands. Many were released for ransoms that amounted to millions of dollars, though the specific sums were never revealed.

"My guess is that they are simply looking at the trend lines. The Abu Sayaff goes through clear swings between terrorism and kidnapping. Between 1991 and 1996 it was terrorism, 1996-2004 kidnapping and 2004-2007 terrorism.

Beginning in 2007, kidnappings went up. They were up in the first half of 2008, higher in the second half and continued throughout 2009, while bombings and other acts declined," Abuza said.

"Last year two US soldiers were killed in an explosion. I think this is part of the normal Abu Sayyaf pendulum swinging. And, as usual, it took the US Government a few years to notice the trend," he added.

On whether the alert was related to stepped-up operations against Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leaders thought to be hiding in jungles of southern and central Mindanao, Abuza said: "The Jemaah Islamiah has added little to the Abu Sayyaf. Some attacks, sure. These guys are constantly on the run in the jungle. It is hard for them to stage attacks."

Malaysian Zulkifli Hir is among several JI leaders believed to be hiding with Abu Sayyaf leaders Radullah Shahiron, Khair Mundos and Isnilon Hapilon the last five years.

The US is offering a reward of US$5 million (RM16.9 million) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the four.