Author - Trainee STB/KePKAS

Kota Kinabalu: Efforts must be made to attract more investments in the hotel sector to cater to the increasing demand for accommodation in the State, said Head of State Tun Dr Juhar Mahiruddin. "I am very pleased that the tourism industry in Sabah stays strong and the response is very encouraging. "I was made to understand that the Government will intensify efforts to upgrade environmental management and rehabilitation of cultural heritage that are main tourism assets in Sabah," he said. Speaking in his policy speech when opening the 15th sitting of State Legislative Assembly here, Monday, Juhar said the Government will also develop many tourism products and services, including tourism hubs such as a seafood hub in the East Coast of Sabah. He said the State Government recorded its gratitude to the Federal government for giving net tax revenues to Sabah. Furthermore, he said the State Government will empower management of Sabah Parks covering nine parks including six marine parks with total acreage of 1.2 million hectares. He said efforts would be intensified to increase acreage of protected marine areas in Sabah waters towards maintaining sustainable of unique marine life in the State. Juhar said the Government will develop, rehabilitate and preserve ethnic cultures in Sabah so that all 36 ethnic groups and 217 sub-ethnic could be studied and documented. He said this initiative will further improve cultural tourism industry that will benefit various ethnics and sub-ethnic groups in the State. On wildlife, he urged all relevant quarters to take steps so that wildlife in Sabah continue to be protected and stay in its natural habitats. "Therefore, the government needs to make sure each development activity is properly planned and take account the aspect of protecting the environment that is in tandem with the State's Environment Policy. Juhar also noted that Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) in Sabah have total acreage of 1.9 million hectares which is more than 26 per cent of the State's land acreage and the largest protected areas in the South East Asia. He said efforts will be taken to achieve the target TPAs to reach 30 per cent or 2.2 million hectares by 2025. He supported the government's efforts to develop the agriculture sector where focus is on rising production of food crop that has high value by using latest agriculture technologies. Apart from that, he said quality and food safety is also being emphasised so as to produce nutrient and quality food items. "On fishery, the focus would be on an effort to increase production of fishery products including seaweed aquaculture and ornamental fish as well as carrying on programmes to help the fishermen to increase their earnings. "The strategic location of Sabah in the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecology Region and marine biodiversity centre have made Sabah rich with various fishery sources. "Hence, it is important to ensure the State's fishery source is sufficient and sustainable so that these could cater rising demand of seafood and reach premium prices," Juhar said. To expedite development of industrial sector, he said the government will encourage more downstream activities from potential sources like the oil and gas industry, oil palm and wood downstream industry. Juhar also commended a new policy by the new State government to temporary ban export of timber logs which is the right and accurate move to encourage development of wood downstream industry in Sabah. In addition, he said efforts have been carried out to improve infrastructure and facilities in industrial areas as well as empowering enabler to drive downstream activities and attract more investors to Sabah. In reducing poverty rate in Sabah, he said the Government has carried out many programmes to increase income and enhance wellbeing level of the people including various efforts to empower women in rural areas so that they could effectively contribute to economic development in their respective areas. Juhar said the government is committed with given initiatives to empower youth in many aspects like in education, skills, entrepreneurship and other positive values that have been inculcated. In fact, he said the State government will focus on efforts to make society engage in sports, empower athletes' development, strengthening sport bodies and increase participation of volunteers actively in sport programmes and empower contribution and involvement private and corporate sector in sponsoring sport programme and providing ecosystem of holistic sport development. - Hayati Dzulkifli Source: Daily Express