04Jul

Sabah’s Tambunan set to become premier eco-tourism destination

TAMBUNAN: Various programmes are currently underway to promote Tambunan as a major eco-tourism and recreational centre. The district, located 80 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, is home to many attractions, including the Crocker Range National Park, which the Sabah government hopes to capitalise on. "In 2014, the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR), which includes the park, was recognised as a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). "This gave us a platform to elevate Tambunan to an internationally-acclaimed eco-tourism and recreational centre, and we are planning to promote its attractions more aggressively. "In fact, 2017 has already been announced by the district council as 'Visit Tambunan Year'," enthused State Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister, visited the district yesterday to officiate the third anniversary of the Crocker Range as MAB. He said that aside from already-established attractions such as the Mahua Waterfall and the Mount Alab Substation, new sites, such as the 12-kilometre Minduk-Siring Hiking Trail, have been developed, inspired by the rising trend in hiking and jungle trekking among tourists. "A new tour package will offer visitors the challenging hiking and jungle trekking (adventure), in addition to the cool weather and scenic imagery of Mount Alab and the Mahua Waterfall, (not to mention) accommodations and meals. "With the official launch of the hiking trail, and by stepping up efforts to further promote this package, the amount of visitors will increase, which will subsequently benefit the local community here," Pairin added. As a biosphere reserve, the CRBR will serve as a centre for international conservation efforts, as well as biodiversity research, training, and recreation. Yesterday’s event also saw the signing of a memorandum between Sabah Parks and the Tambunan district council to promote the district's tourist sites. Source: New Straits Times
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04Jul

‘Ant House’ a new attraction

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism industry players should think out of the box to come up with unique and fun products so that tourists will not get bored seeing the same things when visiting Sabah, a state minister said. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said Sabah has a lot of potential in the industry, and it is more than just snorkelling, islands and mountains. “Yes, we have many tourists coming here every year but if we keep telling them to go up the mountain, go to the islands and try snorkelling, they would probably feel bored after some time,” he said at the opening of the Borneo Ant House theme park in Tuaran, 35km from here. Masidi said there were about 3.24 million visitors to Sabah last year, generating revenue of about RM7.5bil, showing the state’s popularity as a destination. That is why, he said, Sabah’s tourism products need diversity and creativity. “The more products (we have) and the more diverse they are, the better it is for us and for tourists,” he said. He also urged tourism players to incorporate homestays and hotels into their products as these are some aspects of tourism where there is demand and room for growth. Masidi commended the operators of the Borneo Ant House for daring to be different by offering underground walkways and tunnels, simu­lating an ant nest, as well as canopy walkways. “This is a family business and I am proud to see Sabahans tap into this industry,” he said, adding that the ministry would help promote the Borneo Ant House through its Tourism Board. “We will assist where possible for this place to be marketed and maybe expanded in future,” he said. The Borneo Ant House will be open to the public from July 1. The entrance fee is RM9 for the disabled, senior citizens aged 60 and above as well as children aged seven and below. Malaysian adults are charged RM18 per entry while non-Malaysian visitors are charged double the fee for each category. Borneo Ant House executive director Sufiah Abd Rahim Lee, 59, said the underground walkways and mini-tunnels will educate visitors a little about ants, as well as some unique aspects of Borneo culture. Visitors can also take in the nature via the canopy walks, said the mother of five. “The name ‘Ant House’ is taken from the concept of living underground, like an ant,” said Sufiah, a retired teacher. She said her family wanted to come up with something no one had done before. In the three underground galleries for visitors to explore, the first features ants; the second showcases the cultures of the Bajau, Dusun Lotud, Iban and Bidayuh peoples; and the third focuses on swords. “The Bajau and Dusun Lotuds make up the majority of the population in Tuaran while the Iban and Bidayuh people are the largest ethnic groups of Sarawak,” she said. Sufiah added that the sword gallery also includes weapons from headhunter days of yore. Source: Star Online
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28Jun

Reduce plastic bag use August

Kota Kinabalu: Come Aug. 1, members of the public will be encouraged to bring their own bag when going out shopping in supermarkets and business premises that take part in the City Hall's "Bawa Beg Bah'" or 3B campaign. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the initiative is City Hall's rebranding of a previous campaign launched in 2010 to reduce the use of plastic bags. He hoped all 384 business premises that took part in the previous campaign would again support and take part in current 3B initiative. "Among the objectives are to raise consumer awareness on the need to reduce the use of conventional plastic bags and to promote green practices through the 3R concept of reduce, reuse and recycle," he said during the "Bawa Beg Bah" and Clean City Healthy Community campaign launch with Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu on Tuesday. His speech was delivered by Asst Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi. The event was held in conjunction with the World's Environment Day that carries the theme 'Connecting People to Nature.' Masidi said just like the previous campaign, the upcoming one will be held every Saturday, Sunday and Monday. "If customers request for a plastic bag during the campaign, they will be charged 20 sen for every purchase. This means that even though they are given a few plastic bags for every purchase, they'll only be charged 20 sen for all the plastic bags," he explained. He added that the 20 sen charge is not to penalise customers or to make profit but to give a certain value to it so that the can re reuse instead of being thrown away. "This is a way to remind customers to bring their own shopping bag," he said. The 20 sen charge he said will be collected by the Environmental Action Committee (EAC) Kota Kinabalu and managed by the City Hall which will be used to finance environmental projects. "I urge members of the public to support this campaign because by reducing or recycling the use of plastic we're helping to reduce environmental pollution which is often caused by plastic materials such as bags and bottles," advised Masidi. During the event, a signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Clean City, Healthy Community programmme between the City Hall and Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu. The adoption programme which involves a maintaining cleanliness of a monsoon drain near Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu and the surrounding areas aims at raining the image of the Kota Kinabalu as a clean, green and livable city. "We at Gleneagles KK sees corporate social responsibility as an important part of our business activities and consistent with being a responsible organisation. "Caring for our communities and taking care of the welfare of our employees and business partners while delivering our commitments to our customers, are in harmony with our values," said the private hospital's Chief Executive Officer Jean-Francois Naa. He also said a team of 58 employees from Gleneagles KK participated in the first clean-up and the activity will be done on a regular basis. Also present during the launch were City Hall Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, City Hall Director General Datuk Joannes Solidau and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Datuk Ginun Yangus. - Leonard Alaza Source: Daily Express
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28Jun

50,000 attend Sabah cabinet Aidilfitri open house

KOTA KINABALU: About 50,000 people attended the Aidilfitri ‘open house’ hosted by the Sabah Cabinet at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas here yesterday. Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Juhar Mahiruddin also attended the open house. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and several other state and federal leaders exchanged greetings with the well-wishers. The others leaders included Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Federal Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan. Musa said the large number of guests reflected the spirit of unity among the people of various races and religions. “Alhamdulillah (Peace be to God), we were able to celebrate Hari Raya this year with joy … not only Muslims attended (the open house) but also people of various other races and religions in the spirit of a strong sense of belonging. This shows that Sabah is always peaceful. Hopefully, this festival will be able to strengthen relations, brotherhood and the sense of belonging among us,” he said. — Bernama Source: Borneo Post
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28Jun

Sabah devt to remain priority – Rahman

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s development agenda will continue to be given priority, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, yesterday. Speaking at his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house held at Taman Kingfisher yesterday, Rahman stressed that Sabah still needed a lot of development. “Since I am the EPU (Economic Planning Unit) minister, various discussions are being carried out on Sabah development needs,” he said. He added that there have been several major projects that have already been approved, such as the expansion of the Sandakan airport worth RM80 million, as well as RM400 million for road upgrading along Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the clean water project in Ranau worth RM29 million. He thanked Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, who is also the Karanaan assemblyman for bringing to his attention the water problem faced by the people of Ranau. Rahman also commented on the Hari Raya celebration, stating that the open house was the best platform to strengthen ties between one another. Through the holding of open houses, he said people from all walks of life could come and enjoy the festivity together. “Today, we can see the feeling of togetherness of all the people who come from all backgrounds,” he said, including members of the opposition. He stressed the need to preserve such an environment where everyone could find a point that unites all. Meanwhile, visitors expressed happiness on being able to attend the open house. Ray Jackson shared that the open house concept was one of the uniqueness of the people of Sabah. “The people of Sabah could unite despite their differences in religion and race; they come together to celebrate such festivity,” he said. Maribel Cruz said the open house allowed her to enjoy the various delicious cuisines that were served. At the same time, it is a place where people could sit together and enjoy a meal onthe same table and get to know one another, she said. Dexter Lim said that such a show of unity had been prevalent in the Sabah society since time immemorial. “The unity between the different ethnic people in Sabah has existed for a long time and is part and parcel of the lives of the people here,” he said. Affidah Ariff, who came with her children and husband, said that they were thankful to be able to savour such moments in a peaceful and harmonious environment. “We can see countries that are now facing crisis due to war resulting in the death in many of their citizens,” she said. “But here we are, sitting peacefully to enjoy the Hari Raya celebration and our meal,” she said. Also present were Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife, Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hai Aman, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin, Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Salleh Said Keruak, Sabah Gerakan chairman Datuk Gordon Leong and MIC Sabah chairman Datuk V. Jothi. Source: Borneo Post
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