KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today said that he regretted Australia’s move to issue a travel advisory cautioning Australians heading to the Malaysian capital to be on the alert for possible terror attacks.

Khalid said that the Australian government should have consulted their Malaysian counterparts and shared any information they may have before issuing such a travel alert.

“I think they issued this unilaterally. They did not consult us.

“Referring to the travel advisory by Australia and the UK, actually we ourselves do not know what was the basis [sic],” Khalid told reporters here after joining Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on his walkabout here in Pavilion Mall.

“I am disappointed, because if they know what’s happening then they must share it with us in the spirit of togetherness,” he added.

The Australian government had yesterday posted a travel advisory on its website that terrorists may be planning attacks in and around Kuala Lumpur.

International business wire Bloomberg reported the Australian government saying attackers may target Western interests or locations frequented by Westerners.

The UK also warned its citizens last week against travel to coastal islands in Sabah’s east coast bordering the Philippines, citing kidnapping and other criminal threats against foreigners.

Australia advises its citizens to exercise normal safety precautions across Malaysia.

It urged them to avoid all travel to the coastal resorts of eastern Sabah, including islands, dive sites and associated tourist facilities owing to the high threat of kidnapping. New Zealand has similarly classified travel to the area as “high risk”.

“We know that on Sabah’s side, especially the east coast there are still criminal threats.

“But we will continue taking proactive steps on this,” Khalid said today.

Khalid said that the joint patrol initiative with the armed forces at several possible hotspots identified as being at risk of terror attacks will also continue until people are confident about their safety and the security.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed who was also present at the walkabout also expressed confusion over the terror alert issued by Australia and the UK.

“I don’t understand why the Australian and UK governments issued the travel advisory.

“We know more about our security situation,” he said adding that the travel advisory therefore was an unnecessary move by the two countries.

“Of course after Jakarta, KL is next. That is the logical conclusion but they should have taken up the advisory then and not now,” he said referring to terrorist attacks which took place in the Indonesian capital last month.