Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Sri Bung Moktar Radin has urged the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to carry out a thorough investigation as to how Sabahan landmarks are being placed under the Philippines’ sovereignty on Google Maps. Previously, we reported how someone changed the name of Sandakan Airport in Sabah to ‘Sandakan Airport of the Philippines’ on the web mapping platform.
In fact, that’s not the only Sabahan landmark that was wrongly tagged on Google Maps, whereby the Tawau Tanjung Market and Tangkulap Forest Reserve were also labelled as belonging to the Philippines on the platform. As reported by Bernama, Bung Moktar stressed that such an act was unhealthy and unethical because it can confuse the public throughout the world about the status of such destinations and locations.
He asserted,
“Such an act will raise doubts among tourists and the local community who intend to travel to such places. For example, if a foreigner intends to go to Sandakan and decides to search for the destination on Google Maps, it will show that Sandakan is in the Philippines,”
However, as of today, the platform has changed the name and status of the aforementioned landmarks to belong to Sabah. Nevertheless, Bung Moktar is still urging the police to nab those responsible for such an irresponsible act.
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Also read: Someone Changed Sandakan Airport (Sabah) To ‘Sandakan Airport Of The Philippines’ On Google Maps