12Sep

Safety certificates for tourists in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism players in Sabah are urged to brief their guests, especially on “DOs and DON’Ts” when it comes to safety and security.

The call was made by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who noted that most drowning cases in the state involve foreign tourists, especially from China, who did not know how to swim.

“Sometimes, they get carried away or get too excited when they see the sea that they just jump into the waters and are swept away by strong current.

“In some cases, these things go unnoticed because the tourists move around on the own,” he said when addressing tourism players during an occupational safety and health seminar, here, today.

As such, Masidi urged tourist guides to convey safety tips to their guests, and ensure they are aware of any danger, before taking them to a location.

He also proposed for certificates to be given to every tourists to ensure that they had been briefed on security and health issues.

“It will be like a safety passport for them.”

Meanwhile, National Occupational Safety and Health chairman Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib said accidents at the hotels and tourist spots saw an increase from only 16 in 2012 to 22 last year.

“The numbers may look small but it is not good for tourism. As such, we would organise more seminars for tourism players in the state.”

Source:  The Rakyat Post
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12Sep

KiTA To Work Closely With Sabah Wildlife Department To Protect Hilir Kinabatangan

KINABATANGAN: The Kinabatangan-Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association (KiTA) will work closely with the Sabah Wildlife Department in conservation efforts at the Hilir Kinabatangan area.

Its president Alexander Yee said the cooperation would enable nature conservation awareness campaign activities among KiTA members and communities to be more effectively carried out to achieve its target and objective.

"The aim of setting up KiTA in 2008 will not be achieved without the cooperation of the related agency to help conserve wildlife and the natural forest in the Hilir Kinabatangan area," he told Bernama today.

KiTA comprise nine tourism entrepreneurs operating in Kampung Sukau, Bilit and Abai which provides accommodation centres and packages to tour the Kinabatangan River.

He said the latest activity, via the cooperation, was the organising of the Wildlife Honorary Warden Course, involving 34 personnel from tourism companies that are members of KiTA, and the three villages.

He said the course, on Sunday, conducted for the first time between KiTA and the Sabah Wildlife Department, would provide knowledge and skill to help in monitoring and enforcement efforts.

According to Alexander Yee, the organisation of the course was also in preparation by the members of KiTA to abide by the implementation of the Standard Operation Procedure for bird watching which would be implemented by the Sabah Wildlife Department in Hilir Kinabatangan.

Alexander Yee said all tourism entrepreneurs in Hilir Kinabatangan must become members of KiTA, starting next year, before their business licences are approved by the Sabah Wildlife Department and issued by the Kinabatangan District Office.

He said the move would provide a more effective mechanism for the tourism entrepreneurs in ensuring tourism activities downstream of the Kinabatangan River were sustainable and implemented in an environment friendly manner.

Source:  Bernama

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10Sep

SHELL Educational Excellence Awards

100914 YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun presented bursaries and scholarships sponsored by SHELL Malaysia to students from secondary schools and universities at the SHELL Educational Excellence Awards on 9th of  September 2014 at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa. Seen in the photo, YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun with university students who received their scholarships from SHELL Malaysia. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun telah menyampaikan Dermasiswa dan Biasiswa Tajaan SHELL Malaysia kepada para pelajar sekolah menengah dan juga beberapa pelajar universiti ketika acara Anugerah Kecemerlangan Pendidikan SHELL yang telah diadakan pada 9 September 2014 bertempat di Hotel Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort. Kelihatan dalam gambar, YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun mengambil gambar kenangan bersama-sama dengan pelajar-pelajar universiti yang telah mendapat tajaan biasiswa dari SHELL Malaysia. 
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09Sep

No property developments near KK Wetlands

KOTA KINABALU: No property developments are allowed within a kilometre radius of the KK Wetlands near here. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, after opening the international symposium on the conservation and management of Wetlands “Sustainable Conservation and Management of Wetlands” at the Le Meridien near here yesterday, said if property developers were allowed to develop the areas near the KK Wetlands, it would drastically reduce the environmental and habitat qualities of the site due to daily human activities. “The Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society has written a letter to the government asking the latter to interfere on several (property) development proposals. I am delighted to announce that with the cooperation of City Hall as a commitment of the state government, we will ensure the site remains sustainable by rejecting several proposed housing development projects at areas near the KK Wetlands,” he said. He mentioned that this included a condominium development project that has been proposed near the site. “This signifies the government’s seriousness in ensuring there is a balance between development and the effort to maintain and look after the environment. We see that there is something that needs to be done for this unique site and it can be inherited by the future generation.” Masidi further mentioned that any form of development should consider this issue and expressed that it was his hope that all developers would see it as their responsibility to ensure the site remains as pristine as it is now. “We have no objections for developers to reap profits from their property development activities but let the profits be accompanied with the feeling of responsibility towards sustaining the environment.” He also said property developments should not take place anywhere near the KK Wetlands as they were bound to scare away the migratory birds that were seeking refuge there. “It is bound to have an impact … we don’t see it at the moment but we shouldn’t risk it.” Masidi also commented on the symposium, describing it as a venue that provided an opportunity for the people in Sabah to learn of ways to look after the wetlands and also source for funds that will go towards sustaining and looking after the site. Meanwhile, Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society president Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa said the KK Wetlands is a 24-hectare mangrove swamp located in the heart of the city. Since its inception, the centre has attracted 130,000 visitors and has provided awareness on the roles played by wetlands as an ecological provider of precious resources such as food, timber, medicines and rich biodiversity and ecological services such as storm protection, erosion prevention, water retention, and nursery ground for juvenile marine creatures like fish, crabs and prawns. “Of this figure, more than 30,000 students have participated in various forms of environmental education programme specifically tailored to educate our younger generation on these important roles,” he said.
Source:  Borneo Post
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03Sep

Closing Ceremony of Sabah Classification and Identity Workshop

030914 YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun at the closing ceremony of  Sabah Classification and Identity  Workshop organised by Sabah Cultural Board at Ming Garden Hotel Kota Kinabalu on the 3rd of September 2014. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun telah merasmikan Majlis Penutupan Bengkel Klasifikasi Dan Identiti Penduduk Negeri Sabah anjuran Lembaga Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah pada 3 September 2014 bertempat di Hotel Ming Garden Kota Kinabalu Sabah
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