10Jul

Poles the early birds

Kota Kinabalu: Polish cultural troupe, Poligrodzianie, became the first of 18 groups to arrive, Saturday, for the 7th Sabah International Folklore Festival 2012. "This is our first visit to Sabah as well as Malaysia," troupe leader, Marzenna Biegala-Howorska, told Daily Express. Students of the Folk Dance Ensemble of Poznan University of Technology represents Poland. "We have visited Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong and had such a nice experience. So we are very interested in the cultures of Asia and we decided to come to find out about your country." On what aspects of Polish folkdance the troupe plans to showcase in Sabah, she said: "Special polish culture, two types of dances, very popular typical national dances and also the region of Polish highlanders because it is the region where Polish culture and costumes are still alive, which they still use in wedding ceremonies, in church and special holidays," Marzenna said. Due to fly in today are Sri Lanka, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, South Korea, East Timor, Kuwait, Egypt, Papua New Guinea, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, China, Indonesia and Nigeria. Uzbekistan, Mexico and Morroco were originally listed to come but unable to make it, according to Chief Liaison Officer, Joisin Rombut . A series of activities which begin Monday include technical and programme briefing, tourism briefing, city tours, welcome dinner, Folkart exhibition (Sabah Arts Gallery), cultural exchange workshop (SCC), Sabah traditional food fair (Penampang sports complex), KK City Folklore Parade (2pm, 10 July), Folkart workshop, courtesy call on TYT, local folk dance competition (11-12 July), Folkart demonstration Sabah Arts Gallery (13 July), Prime Show (13 July, Magellan Sutera), two nights of folkdance competition 14-15 July at the Sabah Cultural Centre (SCC), Folkart dialogue and farewell dinner on July 16. For further details and tickets contact Joisin Rombut at 6088-259457 or hp 0198218718 or email borneosiff@gmail.com Source : Daily Express
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10Jul

UMS ready for role in BIMP-EAGA – VC

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is prepared to play an important role in assisting member countries in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-The Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) grouping in achieving its objectives in numerous ways. Its vice-chancellor, Professor Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah, said the role could be through an exchange of lecturers and students, conducting joint research and development, joint publications, collaborating conferences and seminar, especially in relation to forestry and marine resources. “Other areas where we urgently need to combine our expertise in are tropical biology and conservation, marine science, fisheries, food security, marine resource management, bio-technology, sustainable tourism development and poverty eradication. “UMS has the potential to become an excellent centre of reference for major topics and issues relating to the BIMP-EAGA grouping in the areas of sustainable tourism, bio-diversity, aqua-culture and poverty eradication, which is in line with the university’s core research niches. Harun said that at the BIMP-EAGA conference 2012, themed ‘Enhancing Sustainability, Competitiveness and Innovation’ at the Pacific Sutera Harbour yesterday. The establishment of the BIMP-EAGA unit for Tourism Development (BE-UTD), said Harun, was officiated by former president Fidel Ramos of The Philippines last year. The unit is responsible for promoting inter and intra BIMP-EAGA tourism through research activities, capacity building, facilitating information exchange, promoting tourism investment and developing strategic partnerships between universities, non-Governmental organisations and tourism stakeholders in the BIMP-EAGA region. The recently-appointed vice-chancellor of UMS added, that the BIMP-EAGA’s potential as an economic trade and investment zone has been recognised and is no longer an issue for debate. The sub-region within the ASEAN entity has a ‘domestic’ population of more than 60 million. Harun said, BIMP-EAGA presents itself as a very viable market. “The availability of abundant natural resources gives it huge potential for tourism development, marine and agri-based industries, as well as varied levels of economic development. “There are however numerous issues which need to be addressed in order to achieve its full potential and these include climate change, safety and security, poverty eradication, terrestrial and marine issues and infrastructure development. “To address these challenges, the concepts of innovation and sustainability provides long-term solutions for the BIMP-EAGA region. “Our ability to innovate is an essential component to increase not only the competitiveness of our economies, but also improving our quality life,” he said, adding the goal highlights the strong social and environmental dimension in which innovation incorporates. He expressed belief that it favours the capacity for growth while respecting the need to preserve natural assets and secure social cohesion. According to Harun, sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future generation. Sustainable activities, he said, should involve economic, social and environmental issues. In the context of BIMP-EAGA, Harun asserted that resulting priorities would include combating climate change, ensuring sustainable transport, addressing demographic and social inclusion issues and managing responsibly of the natural resources. The conference which was officiated by Tourism, Culture and Environmental Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, saw UMS and the Palawan State University and UMS and the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), signing Letters of Intent towards formalising the relationship between the institutions in a bid to intensify joint researches and publications benefitting the BIMP-EAGA region. The intended formalisation of relationship would stimulate and facilitate the exchange of ideas and findings among academicians and industry leaders to propel towards future collaborative efforts in ensuring sustainable development. Source : Borneo Post
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10Jul

Mega Sale Carnival now a top draw

Kota Kinabalu: The 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (1MMSC) has been a signature tourism event in Malaysia and successful in positioning the country as a value-for-money tourist destination, said Malaysia Tourism Board Director, Datuk Dr Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahmood. Adlin, who is also Sabah Tourism Board Chairman, said the 1MMSC is among mportant events in Malaysia's tourism calendar due to the lure of shopping in the country. "As a shopping destination, Malaysia's earns points for its excellent currency exchange rate affordable-priced goods, great variety of local and international brands, landmark shopping mall, etc," he said, when launching the 1MMSC 2012 - Fly! Stay! Shop! at the 1Borneo Hypermall, Saturday. The 1MMSC, which will run from July 1 to Sept 30, is organised to promote the country as a shopping heaven and increase tourist arrivals to the country. "This year, its an extra special since it coincides with several major and exciting events such as Euro 2012 (June 8 to July 1), 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival (from July to September) Ramadhan month (July 21 - Aug 18 and Aidilfitri (Aug 19)," he said. Adlin said several other efforts have been initiated by the Government to enhance Malaysia's position as a shopping destination such as duty-free shopping destination status beginning 2011 - with the abolishment of import duties on 328 items including cosmetics and perfumes, leather goods, jewellery and clothing among others. "Its marks the country's efforts to be a heaven for luxury shopping. This move gives the Malaysian retail industry a boost and that it will attract a wider range of international retailers to invest in Malaysia. This in turn will ad variety and diversity to our retail landscape," he said. According to him, as a result of public and private partnerships and initiatives in tourism, a total of 24.7 million tourists visited Malaysia in 2011, generating a revenue of RM58. 3 billion. "Of this, shopping expenditure registered about RM17.5 billion compared to RM16.2 billion in 2010, signifying a growth of 1.3 per cent. "It constituted about 30 per cent of total tourist expenditure in 2011 compared to 28.7 per cent in 2010. In 2000, when the first Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival was organised, shopping only constituted 23.1 per cent of total tourist expenditures," he said. Adlin said that for this year's 1MMSC, 1Borneo Hypermall will be part of the campaign and an exciting instant redemption mechanism-Fly Stay! Shop! Fly with MASWings, Stay with Novotel Hotel/Grand Borneo Hotel/Courtyard Hotel and Shop at 1Borneo Hypermall will be a special reward to all shoppers or tourist to Sabah. This instant redemption is divided into two different segments which are catered for local customers and foreign shoppers or visitors. Also present were Deputy Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board Datuk Sari Suhut, State Director of Tourism Malaysia Mohd Roslan Abdullah, 1Borneo Hypermall Director Jefveleon Rengga and its operations manager Leben Siddarth Kuppusamy. Source : Daily Express
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10Jul

Sabah to preserve its folk art – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is trying its best to preserve its folk art and other expressive form of arts. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said during the third Folk Art Exhibition opening ceremony at Ming Garden Hotel and Residences near here yesterday that folk art continued to be a reflection of the rich cultures of the people and needed to be perpetuated. As such, he said the study of local culture had been made into part of the state co-curriculum so that the young would continue to know some aspects of Sabah culture as they are part of the school system. He also told patrons of the event yesterday which comprised of participants of the 7th Sabah International Folklore Festival that Sabah was one of those places in the world where race and religion were never made into issues. “It is interesting that while some countries in the world still grapple with all sorts of ethic clashes and religious clashes, somehow in Sabah, we manage to stay true to the adage that all human beings are the same. Inter-marriages are common in Sabah, and in a single family unit, there are Christians, Muslims, Buddhists living in the same house…this is perhaps some form of achievement in Sabah,” he said. He added that despite being culturally diverse, the people remain integrated, even though they may practice different culture. Source : Borneo Post
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10Jul

Sabah International Folklore Festival 2012

Sabah International Folklore Festival 2012 YB Datuk Masidi Manjun presented a souvenir to the delegates who took part in the Sabah International Folklore Festival 2012 during a dinner function on the 9th of July 2012 at Ming Garden Hotel, Kota Kinabalu. YB Datuk Masidi Manjun menyampaikan cenderakenangan kepada delegasi-delegasi yang mengambil bahagian dalam acara Sabah International Folklore Festival 2012 ketika majlis makan malam yang diadakan pada 9 Julai 2012 bertempat di Hotel Ming Garden Kota Kinabalu.
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