10 festivals funded by ministry for RM700,000

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, through the Sabah Tourism Board, funded 10 annual festivals at the cost of RM700,000 at district level in the first half of this year.

Assistant Minister Datuk Ellron Angin said as of last month, the ministry had contributed RM80,000 to assist in organising four festivals as requested by the districts.

“In addition, the ministry also aided eight festivals at district level with a total allocation of RM210,250 last year,” he said in reply to a question by Datuk Ramlee Marahaban (BN-Bugaya) yesterday.

Ellron said the assistance was based on the impact of the festival through a set of criteria, including the ability of the festival to attract local and foreign tourists.

“Apart from that, the generation of tourism revenue as well as the preservation of local culture and traditions were also considered.”

Meanwhile, Sabah Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, when replying to a question by Ahmad Bujang (BN-Sindumin) on the setting up of the 1Malaysia People’s Store in Sipitang, said several locations in the district had been identified after a visit by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry and Mydin. Bernama

Source : New Straits Times