12Jun

A wedding in Ranau

A wedding in Ranau YB Datuk Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Assemblyman for N30 Karanaan, attended a few wedding ceremonies  on the 9th of June 2012 in Ranau. Seen on the photo, YB Datuk Masidi Manjun taking a photo together with one of the newlyweds. YB Datuk Masidi Manjun, merangkap ADUN N30 Karanaan menghadiri beberapa majlis perkhawinan di Ranau pada 9 Jun 2012. Kelihatan dalam gambar, YB Datuk Masidi Manjun mengambil gambar kenang-kenangan bersama-sama dengan salah seorang pasangan pengantin.
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12Jun

Homestay tour package a hit

KUDAT: A tour package introduced by an award-winning homestay outfit and an airline company has boosted arrivals here in Sabah since last September. The combined effort by the Misompuru Homestay and MASwings has attracted the attention of many people, including Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Dr Ng, who launched the package here yesterday, said the combination appeared to be a winner because the number of people who opted for homestays had almost doubled from 17,528 in 2010 to 34,578 last year. The Misompuru-MASwings package alone has attracted 14,912 tourists and generated more than RM700,000 for 42 families, mostly Rungus people from 15 villages in three districts. The package is listed by the ministry as one of the top three homestay programmes in the country. "I believe the homestay package will attract more visitors to this district and stay with Minsompuru Homestay here," Dr Ng said. "Such a package is not just about providing accommodation, but is a lifestyle experience where outsiders can explore the local flavours." MASwings is helping to promote the Misompuru Homestay programme that will expose guests to the Rungus lifestyle in 15 villages in Kudat, Pitas and Kota Marudu. It is called the MasWings Adventure Misompuru package. The homestay programme focuses on visitors arriving by the twice- weekly MASwings flights to Kudat. MASwings sales and marketing manager Zamanimaran Abdullah said they had received positive feedback from tourists since the package was introduced last year. "At the moment, we are focusing on Kudat, but we are also looking at exploring other areas, including in Sarawak. We are working closely with the Tourism Ministry and hope to bring more visitors into the country and especially to experience the local culture." Source : New Straits Times
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12Jun

Warrior names for collared proboscis monkeys

KINABATANGAN: Two male proboscis monkeys were given warrior names after they were fitted with tags by the Sabah Wildlife Department’s (SWD) Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) and Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC). Jibius Dausip from WRU and the expert darter of the team, explained the two animals collared in Menanggul tributary and on the Kinabatangan river, near Sukau, weighed 23 and 19 kgs, respectively, and were named Monso (short for Monsopiad who was a Kadazandusun warrior and a famous headhunter) and Gambu (short for Gambunan who was a Dusun group leader from Tambunan). Danica Stark, PhD student at Cardiff University and DGFC, said the aim of the satellite tagging programme is to understand the ranging patterns of proboscis monkeys and the factors impacting their movements and density in order to determine the adequate amount of habitat available in order to sustain a continuous viable population in the Kinabatangan region. “As the collars record locations automatically, it is collecting movement data that is completely natural and not influenced by human presence. “Moreover, the collars are set with a drop-off and therefore the monkeys will not wear them forever. The drop-off is set to release the unit after 52 weeks,” added Danica. DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens said the project was funded by Sime Darby Foundation (Malaysia) and Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation (USA). “The support for the palm oil industry is extremely important. Yes, mistakes have been made in the past, like in every country in the world during their economic development, but it is never too late to realise where we have been wrong and I believe that in Sabah the industry, the government, NGOs, wildlife conservationists and local communities can work together to make a better environment for our wildlife,” said Goossens. SWD director Dr Laurentius Ambu said this project is extremely important for the conservation of the proboscis monkeys in Sabah. One of the main outputs of the programme will be the first State Action Plan for the species and its launching at an international workshop on the conservation of proboscis monkeys in Borneo that will be organised in Kota Kinabalu in two or three years. Source : Borneo Post
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12Jun

City Hall supports KK Jazz Festival

KOTA KINABALU: City Hall has once again given its full support to the organisers of the Kota Kinabalu Kinabalu Jazz Festival 2012 which will be held on June 15 and 16. Commending the organisers for their sixth Kota Kinabalu (KK) Jazz Festival, Mayor Abidin Madingkir said he welcomed such an interesting event which not only adds colour and livens the city but also helps bring more tourists to Sabah. He noted that the Jazz Festival has now become a signature event in Sabah’s annual calendar of events and also a key component of the Kota Kinabalu Arts Festival. Thanking the mayor for his support, organising chairman Jack Ong said the festival is an annual fund-raising jazz extravaganza jointly organized by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) and the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS). The jazz festival, he added, brings together a musical melting pot of talents from around the world and last year recorded a crowd of over 4,000 people during the two nights of performance. One of the striking differences about KK Jazz Festival, he explained, is its line up of artistes, who include international names and highly talented local bands and singers. Some of the artistes that will be performing this year are Raisa (Indonesia), Rio Sidik (Bali, Indonesia), Johnny Rodgers Band (United States of America) and Roger Wang (Malaysia). Held in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu 60th anniversary, this year’s festival also serves as a stage in showcasing local artistes. Local celebrity DJ Rica and Cheryl will also be hosting the evening as emcees. Ong said this year’s event is sponsored by Yayasan Sime Darby, Sabah Development Bank, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Carlsberg. The festival is also supported by City Hall and the Embassy of the United States of America. He added that the money from ticket sales would be used to fund deserving community projects run by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu, such as providing clean water project and literacy programme in the rural areas of Sabah, as well as environmental protection programme. According to Ong, with the collaboration of AirAsia under AirAsia RedTix, tickets are now on sale at www.airasiaredtix.com at RM100 for two-night pass and RM70 per-night pass. Tickets are also available at various outlets in Kota Kinabalu – Party Play Lifestyle Cafe, Playground, The Chocolate Factory, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, BB Cafe, Firefly, Hotel Sixty3, Jarrod & Rawlins, Texas Grill Restaurant & Bar. The event will be held from 7pm to 11pm at the Covered Tennis Court, Sutera Harbour Marina. Source : Borneo Post
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12Jun

Bridge for Sabah’s primates

KINABATANGAN: Volunteers from three zoos in Japan have just made its easier for the isolated groups of the endangered orangutan population in the state to access a wider area near their habitat. The group from Asahiyama Zoo, Kyoto City Zoo and Fukuoka Zoo, with the support from KOPEL Bhd, a community-based tourism cooperative in Lower Kinabatangan, recently strung a rope bridge for the primates to cross over a section of the Sungei Pin, allowing them to move freely on either side of the river. Nobuo Nakanishi, a director with BCT Japan who coordinated the work, said the project was part of a programme developed by the Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) to assist the Sabah Wildlife Department to improve habitat connectivity for the orangutan in Lower Kinabatangan. BCT’s Head of Conservation and Research, Raymond Alfred said that while the material used for the bridge may only last for several years, it at least provides immediate means for the orangutan population and other primates in this area to migrate into other isolated forest habitats. Alfred also emphasised the need to re-establish a long term biodiversity corridor with the support from land developers such as oil palm plantations and timber companies. Dr Laurentius Ambu, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, highlighted the importance of retaining the existing riparian reserve along the Kinabatangan River, including areas such as Sungai Pin, as wildlife corridors. These vital corridors will allow species such as elephants and orangutans access to food sources and establish crucial genetic links between populations, he said. BCT is in the process of working closely with several major stakeholders to develop a follow-up action plan to re-establish a biodiversity corridor from Batu Puteh to Sg. Lokan Forest Reserve. Source : Free Malaysia Today
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