SANDAKAN – Sabahans were taken aback after more locations within the state showed up under the Philippines on Google Maps and in results on the search engine.
In the latest instance, Sandakan Airport is now labelled as “Sandakan Airport of the Philippines” on Google Maps, with the update being shared by many Sabahans who called it absurd and ridiculous.
Calling the matter “insulting”, Kota Kinabalu DAP MP Chan Foong Hin said in a Facebook post: “Sabah is a sovereign state within the Federation of Malaysia. I will write a protest letter to The Philippines Embassy and Google!”
In a brief response, Malaysia Airports Bhd (MAB) senior manager Sunif Naiman told The Vibes that he had taken note of the matter and had made the necessary follow-up with relevant officers in MAB to fix the problem.
However, he said he is not in a position to comment further, especially since the matter involves security.
About two weeks ago on August 8, a similar incident happened when Kota Marudu Hospital on Sabah’s east coast was identified as “Hospital Kota Marudu Philippines” on Google Search. The issue has since been rectified.
Today, other than Sandakan Airport, other places that have been tagged with “the Philippines” include “Tawau Tanjung Market, Sabah, Philippines” and “the Philippine Republic Tangkulap Forest Reserve” in Kinabatangan.
Many have linked the incorrect information to the Sulu claimants’ case in the French arbitration court.
Last month, Malaysians were surprised by the news that a Luxembourg court ordered the seizure of two Petronas subsidiary firms.
Supini@Sopiah Jimi, 60, a local here, is questioning the motivations of the individuals who had changed the information on Google.
“I don’t know how it works or how some people can change information on Google Maps, but why are they doing it? Why provoke Sabahans?
“This is such a sensitive matter right now, especially when the Sulu claim over Sabah is a hot topic right now…something that Sabahans are very concerned about,” she said. – The Vibes, August 18, 2022
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