Miss Earth Sabah to promote healthy lifestyles

KOTA KINABALU: Miss Earth Sabah is on a new mission to promote healthy lifestyles, said its founder, Mandy Nandu. While continuously practising its noble cause in educating young girls to help create awareness for the community to be more concerned in taking care of Mother Earth, they are now taking it to another level by promoting healthy lifestyles. “Blending a lifestyle of going green and staying fit at the same time; ‘Greenfit’ is the term that nicely puts these two into one. “Keeping fit and protecting the environment share a lot of things in common as the environment affects our health through the air we breathe, the water we drink, and not forgetting the food that we consume. “And as concerned citizens and as protectors of our environment, we can play our roles more effectively when we are physically fit and healthy,” she said. In line with this, Core Fitness is collaborating with Miss Earth Sabah to promote a healthy lifestyle through fitness and a cleaner, plus greener environment. With ‘GreenFit’ as the theme, the official kickoff of this collaboration took place at Core Fitness City Mall recently with the presence of Nandu, who is also the franchise holder of Miss Earth Sabah and MNE Productions director, and the founder and director of Core Fitness in Kota Kinabalu, Sam Tan. During the event, a one-year membership and brand partnership were officiated between Core Fitness and Miss Earth Sabah. In addition, the half-day event also featured the handing over of membership cards to the finalists who will be members of this green-initiated fitness program. Source : Borneo Post
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China Southern Airlines to fly direct to Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU: China Southern Airlines will fly direct to Kota Kinabalu from Guangzhou from Aug 31, 2012, said Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun. He said talks with the airline started two years ago and recently, it was given the nod to operate the route twice weekly. “It had previously operated chartered flights to Kota Kinabalu. The airline, which initially feared low passenger load, has opened bookings for the Aug 31 flight,” he told reporters after opening Rafflesia Spa Essentials, an outlet selling spa products here yesterday. Masidi said the state government had started talks with China Eastern Airlines on the possibility of flying direct to Kota Kinabalu. The airline had flown several chartered flights to the city last month, he said. However, he said, there were a number of issues to be addressed, including suitable flight times. — Bernama Source : Borneo Post
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Ministry to continue support for Coalition Duchenne – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment will continue to work together and support the Coalition Duchenne organization to promote Sabah and its cause. Its minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, said his ministry would continue to support the courageous efforts of Coalition Duchenne to help raise global awareness and funding for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Masidi, who was represented by assistant minister Datuk Ellron Angin, said this at the appreciation dinner for Coalition Duchenne Mount Kinabalu Expedition here, on Sunday. He urged the expedition be extended more, and experience Mountain Torq, the world’s highest and Asia’s first Via Ferrata, or ‘iron road’, at 3,200 metres to 3,800 metres above sea level. Masidi also encouraged the participants to visit the surrounding places of interest such as the Kundasang War Memorial during their visit here. On another note, Masidi expressed his appreciation towards Coalition Duchenne founder Catherine Jayasuria for continuing to use Mount Kinabalu for the Coalition Duchenne Expedition and getting 61 international participants from 13 countries to come to Sabah to join the expedition. Catherine founded Coalition Duchenne in 2011 to raise global awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to fund research and to find a cure for Duchenne. Coalition Duchenne climbed Mount Kinabalu as part of its second annual Mount Kinabalu Expedition on August 24-26. Meanwhile, Catherine thanked the climbers who came from various countries, including Sabah, West Malaysia, Europe, Philippines, Singapore and the United States. “The climb was tiring and challenging, but not as tiring and challenging for boys who have Duchenne. “They spend their lives in wheelchairs, dreaming of doing the things that we do.” She said the expedition would raise awareness of Duchenne, which would, in turn, attract more funding for treatment and cure for Duchenne. Catherine said the funds raised from Coalition Duchenne would go towards the research of the disease, adding that the organization had entered a research programme with a biotechnology company in the United States. Source : Borneo Post
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Many Sabah eateries now offering international cuisine due to demand

KOTA KINABALU: Known for its sandy beaches and seafood, Sabah is not only a seafood haven but also is fast becoming a place for great food and wine. Apart from local cuisine, there are now many eateries offering international fare ranging from Japanese, Thai, Italian and Mexican. Driving this development is Sabah's rapidly growing travel industry. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said demand for good food and wines had led to more diversity and quality in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. “Visitors want to enjoy good food, not just seafood but food similar to what they are accustomed to, and this is where the food and beverage industry needs to play its role well,” he said when opening Sabah's first Food and Wine Fair at a mall here yesterday. Event organiser Johnson Or, the director of operations of Vino Vino Bistro, agreed that the food sector had progressed. A telling sign, he noted, was that many people in Sabah no longer thought of wine as just a beverage. “Now that we have so many varieties of wine from all over the world, people are more knowledgeable about what good wine is all about,” said Or. He added that the organising committee was likely to hold a similar food and wine fair next year if this pioneer project received good response. “So far, visitors to the five booths here have exceeded initial expectations,” he said. The fair offered visitors a chance to familiarise themselves with varieties of imported beef, lamb, pasta, cheese, herbs and spices as well as taste various types of wine. The Food and Wine Fair at the City Mall is on until today. Source : The Star
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Coalition Duchenne courtesy visit

Coalition Duchenne courtesy visit
YB Datuk Masidi Manjun received a courtesy visit from Ms. Catherine Jayasuria, founder of Coalition Duchenne on the 28th of August 2012 at the minister's office. Film crews from Dreamquest Production of the United States of America were also present. Coalition Duchenne is a non profit organisation which aims to raise awareness on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to fund research and to find a cure for Duchenne. They have just conquered Mount Kinabalu recently in the Mt. Kinabalu Expedition on the 25th August 2012.
YB Datuk Masidi Manjun menerima kunjungan daripada Cik Catherine Jayasuriya, Pengasas Coalition Duchenne pada 28 Ogos 2012 bertempat di pejabatnya. Turut serta dalam kunjungan tersebut adalah krew filem Dreamquest Production dari Amerika Syarikat.  Coalition Duchenne adalah satu oranisasi yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran mengenai distrofi otot Duchenne, untuk membiayai penyelidikan dan mencari penawar untuk Duchenne. Mereka telah mendaki Gunung Kinabalu baru-baru ini di Ekspidisi Mt. Kinabalu pada 25 Ogos, 2012 yang lalu.
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