Malaysia is becoming increasingly concerned about a spate of fatal shootings across the country.
Tourism and culture minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, quoted by the Borneo Post, said media reports on the shootings had the potential to harm the tourism sector.
"I am concerned that if this situation is prolonged it may have a negative impact on our tourism industry," he said.
In the latest gun attack, a 44-year-old resort owner from Kuching was shot from close range by an assailant outside a coffee shop in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
A recent news report in Singapore’s The New Paper titled, "Welcome to Malaysia where…Death is Cheap and Staying Alive Costly", has angered Malaysia, but tourism minister Mohamed Nazri said the newspaper could not be blamed for its opinion.
"If we ourselves are fearful, you cannot blame them. I feel it’s a fair report," he said.
The fatal shooting in Sabah was the eighth shooting case in the country in a week.
