07Nov

Sabah and other states to benefit from tourism

KOTA KINABALU: The move to return half the tourism receipts to major contributing states in the country is seen to hugely benefit Sabah. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said this was because one of Sabah’s largest economic contribution comes from tourism activities, and Sabah is actively involved in promoting the industry. “For example if the federal government records a RM50mil tourism receipt, then I am confident the related states will get RM25mil, and if the federal government gets RM100mil from tourism, then states will also get more,” he said after the Budget 2019 announcement on Friday. Shafie said this budget will see a boost in tourism activities in many states, not only Sabah. Meanwhile, he said the RM5bil allocation for Sabah could develop various aspects in the state but he wants to see its distribution details to know clearer which are the areas which would be involved. He said though Sabah actually needed more than RM5bil for the various long needed developments, he understood that this was what the government could give at the moment in view of the limited funds and current economic situation. “I hope the allocations for Sabah would cover security, education and health developments,” Shafie said. The Semporna MP hopes that the allocation can be used to also develop infrastructures such as roads, water, electricity and health facilities such as purchase of medications. “This is because apart from doctors and specialists as well as bigger hospitals, we need more medicines,” he said. Among the other aspects that is expected to see improvement and benefit the state include the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), reduction of levy on workforce in estates, the continuation of the Pan Borneo Highway, and stabilization of prices of goods in Sabah and Sarawak.   Source: The Star Online
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31Oct

Philanthropist proposes pangolin sanctuary in Sabah

This is the pangolin that was surrendered to the Sabah Wildlife Department by a member of the public.

KOTA KINABALU: A Malaysian-born retired engineer now engaged in philanthropic work, has offered to help set up a pangolin sanctuary in Sabah in the belief that Sabah can lead in pangolin conservation efforts. Peter Chan, who has been working in the United States for 30 years, made the offer during a courtesy call on Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Christina Liew, on Tuesday. The Samaritan, who expressed his desire to work with nature, is also willing to make a substantial contribution from his endowments in the US, in funding the project dubbed Pangolin Conservation Initiative. Given that the pangolin is now a totally protected species, Liew is elated that if Sabah blazes the trail in this endeavour with the support of the philanthropist, the proposed pangolin sanctuary will have the distinction of being the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. She said it is a most timely move as pangolins are highly poached in this part of the region. “It is a good proposal which will generate immense interest among nature lovers and conservationists. I am excited about this laudable cause. We thank Mr Chan for his initiative and unprecedented proposal.” He and Sabah’s very own pangolin expert, Elisa Panjang, will be working on the proposal paper. Elisa is a well-known pangolin biologist. “The paper will be presented formally to my ministry by the end of November. The Permanent Secretary (Datuk Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai) and Sabah Wildlife Department will study the paper whether the project is financially viable before we submit it for the State Government’s consideration,” she said in a statement. Liew also emphasised the need to educate the public on the importance of conserving the pangolin, described as a secretive, rare and unique mammal. Chan told the minister that although he is not a career conservationist, he is very passionate about conservation work, and three months ago, friends recommended that he go to East Malaysia for pangolin conservation work. “And that’s how I found out about Elisa. I think with her expertise, she can run the programme. It can be a kind of public-private partnership and ideally, to be managed by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD). As far as I am concerned, I want to do something good for Sabah and there is no financial gain. “Let’s work together to achieve this goal. I don’t want this thing to fail. That’s why I am here. Other concerned Malaysians’ help to attain this goal will be greatly appreciated. Once we get this project running, the next step is corporate sponsorship to make it financially sustainable. That’s just the way to do it,” he said. Briefing Liew on the pangolin, Elisa said one of the species, Sunda pangolin, is found throughout Sabah but concentrated in the pristine forests in Kinabatangan and Central Sabah in the Danum area. “It is estimated that there are more than 1,000 pangolins left in Sabah. The pangolin is about 110cm long and weighs less than 15kg. It is a natural heritage but the population is severely threatened by poaching for the international illegal wildlife trade. This mammal is hunted for its meat (exotic food), scales (traditional medicine) and skin (accessories). If no conservation work is in place, we may ultimately lose them,” she cautioned. According to Elisa, the pangolins’ habitat destruction in favour of development is a threat to their survival but poaching is the main threat. It is an open secret that Chinese tourists go for pangolin meat which is served illegally in some restaurants known to illegal tour operators. It is difficult for the relevant authorities to catch the errant restaurant owners as the latter are usually tipped off about would-be raids on their premises. However, director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, Augustine Tuuga, said offenders have been convicted of illegal possession of pangolin parts. “Pangolins are easily targeted by poachers by virtue of their slow movement. It is a solitary mammal (living alone). Its only protection lies in the scales,” he added. Last week, a member of the public surrendered a pangolin weighing 12kg to the department, and it has since been released into the forest. Currently, Sandakan-born Elisa is conducting research on pangolins at the Danau Girang Field Centre in Kinabatangan. The University Malaysia Sabah graduate, who holds a Master’s degree in Ecological Process, is pursuing her PhD in Biosciences – Organisms and Environment at the Cardiff University, United Kingdom.   Source: Borneo Post Online
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22Oct

Sabah to tap more markets from Europe, US, Australia, New Zealand

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is planning to “balance” the tourism sector, especially among foreigners, said State Tourism and Culture minister Datuk Christina Liew. “Sabah has been putting focus on China market which takes about 50 per cent of tourist arrivals in the state. “The (Tourism, Arts and Culture) ministry, through Sabah Tourism Board, needs to balance influx of tourists to the state through participation in roadshows to explore and tap more markets from Europe, United States, Australia and New Zealand,” she said, adding that the Board would be sending representatives to World Travel Market in London next month to promote Sabah. Liew, who is also Api-Api state assemblyman, was speaking at a press conference after site inspection at Sinsuran, Segama, Bandaran and Kampung Air here. It was reported that Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents had said the occupancy rate of hotels had fallen to 50 to 60 per cent in October, as compared to an average of 80 to 85 per cent occupancy in the same period last year. Liew, however, said the ministry was optimistic with the oriental market as China knows the State’s attractions such as the mountains, sea and food. “Next week there will be a press conference on this (tourists from China) whereby Southern China Airlines will have more flights (coming into Sabah),” she said. On the site inspection, Liew said it was to fulfil her election promise to solve issues on hygiene, and repair works, among others, in the constituency. She said the constituency’s Community Development Leaders unit office and website would be established soon for people to lodge complaints and check on distribution of development fund. Meanwhile, on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s announcement on two terms limit for people’s representatives, Liew said there were many things that could be done within the period. “However, whether it is sufficient (to bring significant changes), I will leave it to wisdom of top leadership and the time they need to repair the country’s debts,” she added.   Source: New Straits Times
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17Oct

New air route between Indonesia and Sabah proposed

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Christina Liew welcomed the proposal to open up a new air route between Indonesia (Manado) and Sabah (Kota Kinabalu) operated by Batik Air. “I fully support the proposal which is good for both Sabahans and Indonesians in the interest of air connectivity and further tourism growth for mutual benefits,” she said. During a courtesy call by the Consul-General of Indonesia in Kota Kinabalu, Bapak Krishna Djelani, he proposed a direct flight from Manado (capital of North Sulawesi) to Kota Kinabalu, in addition to the existing direct flight from Jakarta to Kota Kinabalu. “It takes only two hours to fly from Manado to Kota Kinabalu. The idea is to boost the level of tourism and enhance people-to-people ties. It is our desire to strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia in general, and between Sabah and Indonesia in particular, in all fields of endeavour except for politics,” he told the minister. Given the current direct flight from Manado to China, the Consul-General, who was accompanied by Vice-Consul Sartono Hendrarso, was looking at the possibility of a China-Manado-Kota Kinabalu route and a China-Kota Kinabalu-Manado route. Bapak Krishna, who was aware of the soaring number of Chinese tourist arrivals to Sabah, spotted the potential for tourism collaboration between Sabah and Indonesia. “I have read about it (Chinese tourists) in the media,” he said. In response, Liew suggested further discussion on the proposal before raising the matter with both the State and Federal Governments. On another note, she broached the subject of loaning a Sumatran rhinoceros from Indonesia for the State’s rhino breeding programme. “As it is, we have only got a pair left and the female rhino is sickly and presently put on 24-hour surveillance. It has lost about 50kg since July this year,” she said. Currently, the two rhinos are kept at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu. Bapak Krishna said he would follow up on the matter with the relevant Indonesian authorities as there had earlier been a MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) on bilateral relations between Indonesia and Malaysia. It is believed that the MOA had touched on the Transboundary Conservation Project on Sumatran Rhinoceros. It is also understood that the subject will be discussed among high-level officials of both countries at a bilateral meeting scheduled to be held in Malaysia next month. Meanwhile, Consul Ibu Hendro Retno Wulan, who was present, briefed Liew on efforts to start a tourism-related vocational curriculum at Sekolah Indonesia Kota Kinabalu in Sepanggar. It has an enrolment of 900 students from kindergarten level to junior high school. “It is a free three-year skill diploma training course sponsored by the Indonesian government. Intake starts this month. We are teaching them useful skills in the culinary arts to ensure they have a good future,” she said. Ibu Hendro was seeking support from the Sabah State Government for the students’ internship with local hotels here prior to their graduation. “We hope the Immigration authorities will consider issuing a temporary pass for the interns to complete their internship,” she said. There are also 227 schools called Community Learning Centres (CLCs) for children of registered workers of oil-palm plantations throughout Sabah. Of the figure, 80 are registered with the Sabah State Education Department.   Source: Borneo Post Online
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16Oct

UK charity helping out Lok Kawi zoo

Kota Kinabalu: A wildlife park in Sabah has accepted help from an UK animal welfare charity, following concerns raised over the welfare of animals under its care. Following concerns raised in social media, the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Penampang invited UK animal welfare charity Wild Welfare to visit and carry out a welfare audit. Wild Welfare's Field Director Dave Morgan observed the Park's facilities and all its animals and held meetings with key people from the Park and Sabah Wildlife Department. The charity has since offered to help work with the Park to make improvements for its animals. "We discovered a number of areas where there are concerns, in particular the current controlling methods used to manage their elephants. Changes need to be made to improve conditions for the animals," he said. Following the three-day audit, a meeting was held with Nur'Ain Acheh, the Park's Manager, Augustine Tuuga, the Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, the Department's Deputy Director and Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit's chief veterinarian. All parties agreed the need for positive changes to improve animal welfare at the Park. Up to 90 per cent of the Park's animals were rescued as a result of injury or are confiscations from the illegal pets and wildlife trades. Wild Welfare has experience working in similar wild animal facilities across the world, putting in place a series of practical, long-term changes wherever necessary, that enable staff and management to provide good animal care and welfare. "We don't just come in and audit a facility, point out all that is wrong and expect changes to happen overnight. "Our charity will work with the Park to help solve the problems and issues that are giving cause for concern, ensuring the staff can create a place where all the animals receive a high standard of care," added Morgan. Wild Welfare is generating a full report for the Park, which will lay out the changes that need to be made, and has made a commitment to return next year with additional expertise. - Hayati Dzulkifli   Source: Daily Express
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