23Feb

K’batangan riparian restoration event

Kota Kinabalu: A tree-planting activity, funded by the European Union-Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (EU-REDD+) Project, will be held in Kinabatangan today (Thursday). This is part of a continuous effort to further support the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life (K-COL) objectives of riparian restoration, covering upstream of Kinabatangan River. In conjunction with the launch of the tree planting activity, a handing-over ceremony of a patrol boat was also held. Datuk Sam Mannan, the Chief Conservator of Forests, Sabah Forestry Department, received the patrol boat from the Vice President of the Kinabatangan – Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association (Kita), Johnny Lim. During the handing-over ceremony, Mannan expressed his gratitude to Kita for their continuous support, this time in the form of a patrol boat. Back in 2011, the Sabah Forestry Department had facilitated the implementation of the RiLeaf Project, opting to restore 2,400ha of degraded riparian within the K-COL. To date, about 2,310ha of Kinabatangan Riparian had been successfully restored by RiLeaf. The Department, having secured financial support from the Eu–REDD+ Project, is now working closely with Kopel Berhad and Sawit Kinabalu Group to carry out sustainable livelihood programme of riverine communities along the Kinabatangan River and riparian restoration activities. This is part of the six-year Eu–REDD+ Project that commenced in 2013, which aims at contributing to the sustainable and low carbon development of Sabah. The specific objective is to enhance Sabah's REDD+ readiness and implementation through REDD+ demonstration activities to strengthen communities' engagement in forest protection and pro-poor sustainable forest management. Source: Daily Express
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23Feb

Pitas poised to become Sabah’s emerging tourism growth centre

PITAS, Feb 18 — With untapped beaches and other tourist attraction spots, Pitas is set to be Sabah’s new tourism growth centre. State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said there would be a focus given to the district for the implementation of tourism infrastructure. “I will call Pitas Assemblyman Datuk Bolkiah Ismail, and Datuk Seri Dr Ruddy Awah, who is the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Pitas chairman, for a discussion soon on how we can turn Pitas to be Sabah’s northern region new tourism growth area,” he said at the Chinese New Year 1 Malaysia Fiesta Pitas Level, here last night. He said his ministry would play its role in ensuring the tourism development in the district especially at Kg Solimpodon Laut would take place. “Sabah is moving in tandem with national development in the area of tourism due to its attraction and the people’s friendliness as well as the leadership unity,” he said. Masidi disclosed some 3.7 million tourist arrivals were recorded last year, contributing to tourism receipts amounting to almost RM7.8 billion. “With the increase in tourist arrivals, the number of hotel also increased but still could not cope with the demand which led to the emergence of the rural tourism sector through the development of homestays and hotels,” he said. He said the state’s booming tourism industry has turned Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) into the second busiest airport in the country after KL International Airport (KLIA). “We recorded at least 184 international flights landing at KKIA every week, 410 domestic flights and we have 86 direct flights from China, which is more than the figure recorded in KLIA,” Masidi said. He said the part of the Pan-Borneo Highway Sabah projects from Tuaran to Kudat would commence soon and that would give economic benefits to Pitas and its surroundings. “We hope the local business community would take advantage of the ongoing development projects and my advice to landlords is not to sell their land as their property value will increase,” he said. — Bernama Source: Bernama
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15Feb

Sabah’s oldest bookstore now a heritage centre for unique local food, handicraft

KOTA KINABALU: When the state's oldest bookstore, Tung Nan Bookstore, closed down last year, it was thought to be the end of such an iconic part of Sabah's history. But the 66-year old establishment has undergone a dramatic transformation. It re-opened today as Tung Nan Heritage - a centre for unique local food and handicraft. "For me and others my age, as a child growing up, Tung Nan was the place to get our books during the 60s. It holds a special place in many Sabahans' hearts," said State Tourism, Cultural, and Environmental Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who officiated the store's launching. "It is admirable to see its owners opt to continue the store's legacy, rebranding itself as a store for local products, instead of taking the easy way out by simply leasing to other businesses.

When the state's oldest bookstore, Tung Nan Bookstore, closed down last year, it was thought to be the end of such an iconic part of Sabah's history. Pic by NSTP/MALAI ROSMAH TUAH

Masidi said that Gaya Street, where the store was located, was a bustling hotspot for tourists, especially China nationals. "There has been a huge increase in tourists from China recently. I believe that there are 86 scheduled flights from China alone to Kota Kinabalu. “In fact, Kota Kinabalu International Airport is now the busiest airport after Kuala Lumpur International Airport. "Much of it is due to our tourism success stories and the selling power of our local products. So I hope many other Sabahans can capitalise on this opportunity," he said. Tung Nan Bookstore was established in 1952 by George Wong Tung Chee, whose wife also founded Kota Kinabalu's first kindergarten, Chung Hwa kindergarten. Their grandchildren Patrick and Katherine Wong are the current owners of the rejuvenated establishment, which now offers a myriad of local products including wild honey, coffee, and durian.

Source: New Straits Times

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15Feb

Getting citi-zens interested in farming

Kota Kinabalu: City Hall is introducing My Farmville to promote urban recreational farming as a community activity. The project held at Kingfisher is the first attempt by City Hall to involve the community as a whole and is aimed at introducing efficient use of resources through organic compost and to help lessen the cost of living. State Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs Datuk Jainab Ahmad who officiated the project at the City Hall Learning Centre in Kingfisher on Saturday supported the programme as it involved the community. "We want the people to take part in any project involving the community that is being carried out by City Hall in their area. "This will not only give benefit to the mind, physical health but it also could reduce the cost of kitchen expenses when the crop could be harvested and shared among local communities. "In addition, this community activity will increase interest of urban residents to farm through Urban Recreational Farming. This activity helps reduce the daily expenses from the collection of crops and introduces more effective resource management. "It is a social activity that we have to take which designed to be implemented in other places to create a Healthy Recreation Centre for the city residents," said Jainab. She also announced an allocation of RM10,000 from her Ministry for the programme. "I hope the urban community could benefit from the activities being undertaken in developing local communities," she added. Jainab also give support to the City Hall to cooperate so that such programme would be applied in other housing areas such as Indah Permai as suggested by the City Hall which will involve residents in the area to equally safeguard the environment and to cultivate. Meanwhile, Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said the programme was an activity leading to agricultural activities. "In the future there are three biggest challenges which we would face namely housing, food production and clean water production. He said the Farmville concept came from the Federal Government. Almost 95 per cent of the crops at the My Farmville @ Kingfisher could be eaten. He also said that advice and assistance from the Community Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry is needed because such activity require the cooperation of the ministry to be developed among the community. In the event, the City Hall and the Agriculture Ministry signed a memorandums of understanding at the event witnessed by Jainab and Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah who is also in charge of the DBKK. Jainab hoped that through the MoU, both agencies will assist each other in identifying suitable areas within their respective administrative areas for Urban Recreational Farming. Yeo said the agreement is a proof of close cooperation between the parties through the NBOS approach to empower the potential of economy development of the population and the environment in the city and at Taman Kingfisher as well. He also said that through the MoU, they would discussed with the Agriculture Department and the Community Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry for another programme to supply three fruit trees to each house in every village in the city so that in the next four to five years the people could harvest the fruits. Also present were State Agriculture Department director Idrus Shapie, City Hall Director-General Joannes Solidau, City Hall Deputy Director-General of Operations, Noorliza Awang Alip who is also the organising chairwoman of the My Farmville Open Day. - Jo Ann Mool Source: Daily Express
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15Feb

Consul believes Sabah may have 1mln China tourists soon

KOTA KINABALU: As the state is experiencing an influx of Chinese tourists, the number of Sabahans going to China has also increased tremendously. Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide, said more and more people from Sabah-Labuan went to China for business, family visits and sightseeing. “Last year, the Consulate General issued over 25,000 visas,” Liang said at the Consul-General’s Chinese New Year reception at Hakka Hall on Friday. He revealed that more and more Chinese companies have shown  interest in Sabah by setting up offices and participating in major local projects here. “In the New Year, both China-Malaysia cooperation and  China-Sabah cooperation will see new opportunities and will progress to new levels. “China’s ‘Two Centenary Goal’ is highly compatible with Malaysia’s 2050 National Transformation plan. The Belt and Road Initiative promoted by China can be fully coordinated with the Sabah Development Corridor plan. “Owing to the complementary advantages of the two sides, the prospect of cooperation is broad,” Liang further asserted. Liang also believes that Sabah may very well achieve its goal of having one million visitors coming  to the state in the near future. He said this was possible due to the rapid cooperation and exchanges between China and Sabah-Labuan in various fields, which had ultimately led to the close relationship among the people of the two places. “Last year, some 430,000 Chinese tourists visited Sabah and the number of direct flights between Kota Kinabalu and the cities in China had increased to nearly one hundred per week. “This has greatly boosted the development of tourism and other related industries in Sabah,” Liang said at his Consul-General’s Chinese New Year reception at Hakka Hall on Friday. “I believe, in the very near future, the goal of reaching one million Chinese tourists coming to Sabah, as set by the Chief Minister (Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman) will soon be realized,” he added. China-Malaysia relation, which is at the best time in history, has entered a fast lane of maturity, stability and all-round development, Liang said. The Consulate General will also continue to devote itself to promoting the China-Malaysia relation and the China-Sabah win-win cooperation to benefit the people of both places. He added that he was pleased to hear that the China-Malaysia friendship had gained new achievements at the beginning of 2018. “Giant pandas from China Liang Liang and Xing Xing gave birth to the second cub in Malaysia, which a good sign and a good start for relations between the two countries this year,” he said. Chinese had made great contributions to the economic development and social harmony of Sabah, as well as the friendship between China and Malaysia, Liang said. Among those present at the event were Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman and other state leaders. Source: Borneo Post Online
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