Promote Tagal festival to boost ecotourism, says Sabah minister

KOTA BELUD: Sabah’s unique Tagal system, where a stretch of river is declared off-limits for fishing, must be aggressively promoted as one of the main tourism products in rural areas, said state Rural Development Minister Ewon Benedick. Speaking to reporters after the Tagal harvest programme in Terintidon village here today, Benedick said Tagal committees should coordinate with their tourism committee and village community management councils to include Tagal harvest day in the district’s tourism calendar. “The programme can be promoted through various media platforms. “I am confident there are many tourists interested in taking part in the traditional fish harvesting on a river that is part of the Tagal system,” said the Kadamaian assemblyman. Tagal is a Kadazandusun word loosely translated as “do not” or “no need”. Locals practise this traditional concept to allow nature to replenish its resources, in this case the fish population. Disturbing a Tagal area is enforced through the Native Courts and heavy penalties (including payment by money, chickens and pigs) can be imposed, depending on the severity of the offence. Benedick said the Tagal harvesting programme promotes the Tagal law as part of the native laws which are important for preserving the river ecosystem and making it an interesting eco-tourism product for rural areas. “I was told that Terintidon village has recorded more than 2,000 tourist arrivals since it was opened. “That means tourists are attracted to this place because of the river and forest conservation efforts by the villagers,” he said. Benedick also said he was committed to ensuring the villages were equipped with the infrastructure needed to improve their eco-tourism industry. He has helped to upgrade the concrete roads leading to ecotourism areas in several villages in Kadamaian, including to Terintidon village. He has also put up signboards to indicate the washrooms and changing rooms for visitors. Source: FMT News
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Sabah traditional dancers perform in London

KOTA KINABALU: The Royal Commonwealth Society has recently invited Sabahan Abroad UK to perform Sabahan traditional dances ‘Sumazau, Daling-Daling, Magunatip’ at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Family Day 2019. This Commonwealth Family Day is to celebrate diverse range of cultures and wide variety of art forms from across the Commonwealth. Hundreds of families with children attended the event to enjoy traditional performances from Commonwealth countries and folk stories from around the world. The Pangkis, a piercing shout of the lead male dancer, filled the hall. The sound of the gongs soared up gloriously. The dancers took their places and embraced the music. With grace and poise, they slowly swayed rhythmically in sync to the rhythm of the gongs. Like the waves and wind pushing through the wild sea, they danced as if it was the only way to be. With every beat of the gong, one could almost feel, understand the love story of a beautiful history, and just like that, enchantingly, the audience were transported back to North Borneo – every essence of the beat speaks of the beauty of the home they call Land Below the Wind. The Commonwealth Family Day Celebration at Westminster Abbey, London was a fun-filled family event showcasing great performances from various groups representing some of the Commonwealth countries. Performers included London’s Maori Choir with their traditional Fijian dance, sega dancers from Mauritius and classical Indian Kuchipudi dance. The Kulintangan Dance Group from Sabahan Abroad UK had the honour of representing Malaysia. They highlighted the traditional dances of the three largest ethnic groups in Sabah. After some brief introduction from Maya and Christian, the dancers performed the Penampang and Papar sumazau, followed by the Bajau’s famous courtship dance, endearingly known as the Daling Daling. Their performance ended on a high with the Magunatip , a Murut tribal bamboo dance to celebrate the homecoming of victorious warriors. As the dancers took heir last pose, an abrupt wave of cheers and applause echoed the hall. They did their motherland proud! The guests were then invited to try the Magunatip bamboo dance. Kids and adults happily volunteered to join and experience the fun. The Kulintangan Dance Group, consisting of Alfred, Laura, Jessie, Izman, Marie, Joel, Leona, Fred and Denis, with Nelda acting as group manager, is a sub division of Sabahan Abroad UK, a non- profit organisation based in England. Sabahan Abroad UK hopes that by participating in events such as the Commonwealth Family Day, it can help promote Sabah’s cultural and social diversity at an international level. The Kulintangan Dance Group are looking forward to being present at many future cultural and tourism related events. They hope by showcasing the cultural beauty of Sabah’s various ethnic groups, this will encourage more tourists from the UK and Europe to choose Sabah, and Malaysia in general, as their next travel destination. As for the Kulintangan Dance Group, it was a surreal and proud moment to have been given the opportunity to represent their country and culture, and share the love of their heritage at the renowned Westminster Abbey. This is one experience they will treasure for a lifetime. Sabahan Abroad UK believes this performance and activity can allow many visitors to pay more attention at the indigenous groups in Borneo. It is looking forward to being present at many other cultural and tourism related events in future and is confident the impacts of visual information and visual communication can be a great motivating factor to lead travellers with different cultural background to select Malaysia to be their travel destination. Sabahan Abroad UK is a community organisation and a non-profit organisation based in  the United Kingdom. It is the first established community organisation in the United Kingdom  since 2000. As of today, there are at least 700 Sabahans residing in the UK with 54 students under the scholarship of Public Service Department, Mara and self-sponsored. The aims of the organisation are to create a sense of belonging for  many Sabahans who live in the UK through social gatherings, sports and festival celebrations. Another aim is to promote Sabah’s cultural and social diversity by organising and participating in various cultural and social events in the UK. It hopes its events and activities in London, United Kingdom can help develop cultural tourism and offer new opportunity to promote Sabah cultural tourism in the United Kingdom and Europe. Its ambition is to set up a cultural centre in London to enhance friendship, amity and understanding between Malaysia and the UK through cultural and education activities. It believes its dedication towards this programme can help further develop established its cultural projects, introduce new opportunities to expand our Malaysian events for many visitors from the UK and Europe. Source: The Borneo Post
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Sabah, Malaysia’s favourite destination at Matta Fair

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah will be the designated as ‘Malaysia’s Favourite Destination’ this year at the MATTA Fair which will be held 15 – 17 March at Kuala Lumpur, as announced at a press conference today. “Sabah Tourism Board (STB) will be leading its delegation of 30 co-exhibitors comprising of 25 tour operators, two dive operators, two hotels and one hotel association,” said Chairman of the Board, Ken Pan who was present at the press conference. As part of the highlight as Malaysia’s Favourite Destination, STB will be introducing ‘Cuti-Cuti Tawau’ to emphasize tourism in the East Coast of Sabah and further promote the State beyond the already popular Kota Kinabalu in the West Coast. The Sabah Chief Minister is expected to officiate MATTA Fair on 16th March. Pan stated that Sabah’s East Coast, mainly the towns of Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, and Sandakan have many unique nature-based attractions as well as a historical heritage that is not found in the West Coast. There is also an island off Lahad Datu that is being promoted as the easternmost point of Malaysia where the ‘first sunrise’ of Malaysia can be witnessed, the STB Chairman added again. STB has been participating in the MATTA Fair for more than a decade as the platform to reach out to the consumers in the Klang Valley and surrounding States. The Sabah Cultural Board will be showcasing rarely seen cultural performance during the fair. Consumers can check STB’s social media for special vouchers on Sabah packages to be redeemed during the Fair. Source: Borneo Post Online
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Ministry’s support for SMK Limbanak student delegation to Sweden

KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment will sponsor souvenirs from Sabah for a student delegation attending the Swemun 2019 Conference in Sweden next month. Its Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the six students of SMK Limbanak, Penampang deserved support as they will be playing the role of Ambassadors for Malaysia, Sabah in particular. They are Form Six students Jeromie Lam Chung Pei (Group Leader), Xlee Jude and Jennelle Jess Jammy and Form Four students Melfrance Jill Jouting, Ivan Nicholas Norrand and Carmen Darius Joiwin who will be representing Malaysia. “I am happy for you. Given that there will also be participants from 20 other countries, I am certain you will have a great cultural exchange. While you gain exposure and enrich your experience in Sweden, do capitalise on the golden opportunity to promote Sabah as you exchange notes. Tell the world what Sabah has to offer to tourists and visitors,” the Minister told them during a courtesy call. The students were accompanied by Assistant Minister of Education and Innovation, Jenifer Lasimbang and Moyog Kapitan Cina David Ng Chi Fong. The conference will be held at the Falun Frigymnasium in Falun, Sweden. Other participating countries are United Kingdom, USA, Russia, France, Canada, China, Japan, Sudan, South Sudan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Germany, Portugal,, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Czech Republic, Spain and Netherlands. The students will be chaperoned by four teachers – Anita Asin (Delegation Chief), Doris Kok (Student Welfare), Jovita Claudius (Finance) and Norberta Jualin (Student Welfare). Briefing the Minister on their “Fly Us and Our Culture to Sweden” proposal, presenter Ivan Nicholas said Swemun stands for Sweden Model United Nations (MUN). “MUN is a role-play of the actual United Nations (UN). It is an extracurricular activity that stimulates delegates to debate and discuss the current issues that are happening around the world,” he explained. He said the objectives of the trip are to promote Sabah’s traditional dances and costumes, food and handicraft products, to experience the Swedish culture, to develop leadership skills and to enhance vital skills in communication, public speaking, negotiation, conflict resolution and research. “We want other people from all around the world to know where Sabah is located and about our different ethnic groups. We will be wearing our traditional costume and performing the Sumazau.  In our sharing session, we will let our counterparts from other countries know that Sabah offers unique destinations such as Danum Valley, Kinabatangan River, Mount Kinabalu, Sepilok Naure Resort, Lankayan Island and Sipadan Island,” he added. Source: Borneo Post Online
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Tourism being empowered in Kunak

KUNAK: Tourism is being empowered in Kunak especially involving interesting destinations in the area under the management of Sime Darby Plantation (Sabah) Sdn Bhd here, said Sabah Health and People’s Wellbeing Assistant Minister Norazlinah Arif (pic). She said investors keen to enter into a co-operation to develop the tourism sector in Kunak could send their working papers. “We are waiting for the working papers of several companies, namely, investors who are interested to manage attractive places with tourism potential in the Sime Darby area.   “The working papers must be handed to the district tourism committee latest by the end of February,’’ she said. Norazlinah, who is also Kunak State Assemblywoman, said this when met at the Sabah level National Anti-Drugs celebration, here. Norazlinah said Sime Darby itself would also be involved in the discussions on the working papers in March. “The joint discussions are to arrive at agreements on the selections of suitable companies who are capable and can afford to develop and look after the tourism areas in question,’’ she said. - Bernama   For the record, several attractive tourism spots in the Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd area include a mud pool (Binuang), site of Japanese rule, Japanese army tunnel, oldest oil palm museum in Borneo and natural hot spring (Sungang). Among the interesting tourism destinations in Kunak included Madai Cave and Madai Waterfall, Seven Wells, pre-historic site (existence of the first man) in Tingkayu. Source: Daily Express
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