Over 450 runners for Borneo Bird Run

SANDAKAN: More than 450 people yesterday took part in the second edition of the Borneo Bird Run that promoted bird conservation and bird watching. The 7km run around the Rainforest Discovery Centre here was flagged off by Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Sam Mannan. The participants came from Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Beluran and Kota Kinabalu. Borneo Birds Club chairman Gary Albert said the activity, which was supported by the Forestry Department and the Sabah Tourism Board, was also to promote a healthy lifestyle, besides the conservation aspect. The men’s open category was won by Saibee Mohd. In second and third place respectively were Addy Zonius and Azrul Bombo. Christina Donale won the women’s open category while On bte Paris was in second place and Vidia Lee was in third. In the men’s veteran category, first place was won by Alexander Lee, while Kirin Lumpakis and Ibra Sirah were in second and third respectively. Sahria Daraup won the women’s veteran category, followed by Thoen Sim Yee in second place, and Wong Kim Lan in third.   Source: New Sabah Times
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Focus on rural tourism: Masidi

Kota Kinabalu: State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said his Ministry will be focusing on rural tourism next year. "It is my hope that the Chief Minister's intention in the 2018 State Budget to focus on rural tourism will become a reality next year. "I am confident that we in Sabah have an excellent tourism product. We want the community in the rural areas to also enjoy the spill-over from the tourism industry. "We don't want those in the urban areas, hotels and airlines only to profit but also those in the rural areas. There is an interest from foreign tourists to go to the rural areas in the State to enjoy the tourism attractions there," he said to reporters at the 11th Sabah Tourism Awards, here, Saturday. He also took the opportunity to acknowledge the people at Kadamaian in Kota Belud who built their tourism industry from scratch without or little assistance. "I have given special mention (Ministers Special Award) to the Kadamaian Tourism Association Sabah (Kata) to emphasise that focus. We found that we have achieved a good level tourism wise in the urban and city areas and that there is also a need to focus on rural tourism. "What made me happy is that the local people themselves were actively involved in promoting rural tourism products," he said, adding that up to September, the Kadamaian people had earned up to RM500,000 and that they had fully embraced technology to promote their destination. Masidi also announced that there will be direct commercial flights between Kota Kinabalu and Beijing latest by early next year. "I have spoken to the Consul General of China, Liang Caide, and he informed me that he is arranging to have direct flights between Beijing and Kota Kinabalu. "This is good news for me as it reflects the confidence of Chinese government in our capabilities to give the best service to Chinese tourists," he said, adding that the route which would be facilitated by Xiamen Airways was under discussion. "This will happen perhaps before end of the year or early next year." Masidi also urged banks to facilitate investment in hotel construction, especially four and five-star hotels, to cater to the rising number of Chinese tourists amid concerns raised over the availability of accommodation with more tourists expected from Beijing. "We are running out of hotel rooms, so while I am very happy that the Chinese government is trying its best to help us to get direct Beijing-Kota Kinabalu flight service, at the same time, I am also quite apprehensive if we have enough rooms to cater to their demands. "My message is to all investors and banks, please facilitate the investment in hotels, especially four and five-star hotels, as there is a real need for them." Masidi said as of October this year, Sabah has welcomed 363,977 tourists from China. He said 2016 was an outstanding year for tourism in Sabah with total arrivals of 3.427 million. "That year, we surpassed the results for 2013, known as the 'best year in tourism'. "This year up to last October, we have recorded 2,929,181 arrivals or an 11.8 per cent increase compared to the same time last year. "From January to October, over a million international tourists (1,004,354) have visited Sabah, up 7.67 per cent compared to last year. Domestic arrivals have reached 2,011,258 (up 10.5 per cent). "So far, tourism receipts have been estimated at RM6.396 billion, a robust nine per cent growth compared to the same period last year. That's around more than half a million ringgit extra income earned for Sabah this year. He said Kota Kinabalu international Airport (KKIA) is the second busiest airport after KLIA, serving 171 international and 410 domestic nights weekly. "We are connected to 16 international destinations brought in by 13 foreign airlines, the busiest route coming from 84 nights from China and 35 nights from Korea weekly. "In a few weeks (December 20), a new airline, Batik Air (lndonesia) will commence direct Jakarta -Kota Kinabalu flights. It will be the 14th international airline served by KKIA. "For the next quarter next year, Kota Kinabalu will be connected to three more Chinese cities. Chengdu, Changsha and Tianjin. What used to be charter flights coming from these three cities will now be scheduled flights, showing that the routes have 'matured'. He said up to October, 190 charter flights from Northern Asia (China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan) arrived in KKlA. "The cruise season have started. Last week over 3,000 passengers from the European cruise arrived at our port in Kota Kinabalu. We are expecting three more cruises up to the year-end or a total of at least 10,000 more arrivals from all over the world. "If we continue with this trend, we could exceed the targeted 3.55 million this year with total arrivals estimated between 3.6 -3.7 million. That could very well be the best achievement in history." On the Sabah Tourism Award 2017, Masidi said he was happy with it, adding the biennial awards was important to appreciate all tourism players and a testimony they had played their role to help boost the industry. Among the winners for this year were Ministers Special Awards (Robert Lo and Kadamaian Tourism Association Sabah), Best Tourism Attraction (Borneon Sun Bear Conservation and Mari Mari Cultural Village, Excellence in Hotel Services: (Shangrila Rasa Ria, Ming Garden Hotel, Hotel Sixty3, Borneo Nature Lodge, Koposizon Homestay Papar, Sipadan Mabul Resort Water Bungalow), Best Inbound Tour Operator: (Amazing Borneo Tours and Events ), Best Inbound Tour Package (3D2N Bird Watching Kinabatangan-Kinabatangan Jungle Camp), Best Tour Guide: Napoleon Dimus (Borneo Rainforest Lodge), Most promising Tour Guide: Mohd Shirou (S.I. Tours), Best Food Outlets: Naan- flavours of India, Shangrila Rasa Ria and Hokkaido Sakagura Restaurant, Best Shopping Complex: Imago, Best Night Spot Experience: (Shamrock Irish Bar), Best SPA Reflexology: (Helen Beauty Reflexology and CHI, The Spa Shangrila Tg Aru) , Best Airline Partners: (China Southern Airlines, Eastar Jet, Spring Airlines, Airasia), Best Community Based Tourism Initiative (Rural): (Padas Farmstay Tenom -TYK Adventure Tours), Best Golfing Experience: (Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club). - Neil Chan   Source: Daily Express
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15,000 Sabah jobs linked to coffee

Kota Kinabalu: The local coffee industry is contributing a big chunk to the economic pie with some 15,000 locals being employed throughout its value chain generating over RM250 million of the State's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan said agriculture, manufacturing and general service comprised almost 67 per cent of Sabah's GDP in 2016, with quantifiable value of RM49 billion. He said the local coffee industry also played an important role in servicing the ever growing tourism sector; not counting the exports of products once they return to their respective home countries. "It goes without saying that a successful coffee culture will serve as lead for Sabah's other agricultural products such as tea and cocoa to go higher too. "My Ministry has tirelessly focused on Sabah's industrial development by looking into the complete value chain, from raw materials to manufacturing and service at the other end. "We believe Sabah should utilise its natural advantage of abundant resources and value-add to transform into products and services. "Sabah imports almost 1,000 tonnes of raw coffee beans yearly, as needed by over 15 factories big and small, to churn out products for consumers and over 3,000 food and beverage outlets to serve customers. "This is expected to grow further with locals demanding better products and better service quality, as well as higher expectations from tourists visiting the State," he said at the opening of the second KK Coffee Festival at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, here, Friday. According to him, his Ministry welcomes proposals for collaboration or assistance, if needed, in expanding the value chain in the areas of manufacturing, logistical support and any services to improve efficiency and productivity. Tan also congratulated Borneo Cafe Alliance, a subdivision of Federation of Sabah Industries, in organising the successful event which, according to him, reflected the entire coffee value chain. "Your event certainly assists in bringing more sophistication to the industry by not just providing a platform to showcase latest products and promote higher service quality but also by having competition of this sort to bring up the skill levels of local coffee players. "This exposition event together with the Latte Art competition, I'm sure, have elevated the coffee standard here in Sabah to the benefit of not just locals but international tourists. "Therefore, I encourage Borneo Cafe Alliance to organise more events to better serve Sabah's food and beverage industry," said Tan. Meanwhile, Borneo Cafe Alliance Chairman Frankie Liew said there were 21 exhibitors occupying 30 booths, covering raw materials and equipment suppliers and cafes. "This event presents a good spectrum of products and services to guests as well as visitors in terms of exposure, increasing awareness and elevating the standard of coffee in the State and beyond. "We believe that the coffee industry contributes tremendously to the State's economy as well as completes the value chain from plantation to production to services," he said. Also present at the event was Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) Honorary Life President Datuk Seri Wong Khen Thau. - Cynthia D Baga   Source: Daily Express
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Safeguarding the Corridor of Life

GREETED by the sweet sound of nature, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA) transports you to a different world. Surrounded with lush greenery, you might wonder how this virgin rainforest remained unscathed throughout the years.With every step you take into this tropical treasure, it unveils secrets that will lure you deeper into its grounds. Dubbed as the 'Living Pharmacy' in the heart of Sabah, ICCA is located in the central interior of Sabah just immediately to the north of Maliau Basin Conservation Area. The canyon is a 27,599 ha complex of rainforest habitats within a 25 km long valley, hemmed in on three sides by sandstone ridges. At their highest point, the ridges exceed 1,000m with the highest reaching 1,128m. ICCA is one of the largest contiguous pristine lowland dipterocarp forest left in Sabah. According to Yayasan Sabah Director Datuk Sapawi bin Haji Ahmad, ICCA is named a botanical gene bank. "ICCA has rich plant biodiversity with over 600 species recorded to date. ICCA is also home to mammal species with both lowland and montane species present in a limited geographic area. "Among them, Orang utan, Proboscis monkey, Banteng and Borneo Pygmy elephant," said Sapawi. He also said Imbak Canyon was formerly part of the forest concession assigned to Yayasan Sabah Group. "In 2003, Yayasan Sabah Group voluntarily designated ICCA as a conservation area for purposes of research, education, training and nature recreation. "Six years later, in 2009, ICCA was upgraded to Class 1 (Protection) Forest Reserve by the Sabah State Legislative Assembly," Sapawi said. "The day-to-day management of ICCA is carried out by Yayasan Sabah Group on behalf of an inter-agency Imbak Canyon Management Committee which also includes Sabah Forestry Department, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and several other agencies. "ICCA is conserved both for its function as a gene – bank as well as in helping to protect the quality of our river system." The grounds for the protection of this unique area include biodiversity, particularly botanical diversity; geological including the scenic amenity associated with the site; and the neighbouring indigenous communities and the unique range of forest knowledge they possess – which as yet remains to be fully documented. "The key conservation values for ICCA among others are its high biodiversity and endemism; in situ conservation of threatened species; undiscovered species; undisturbed functioning ecosystems; corridor of life and climate change refuge; monitoring climate change; natural monument and scenic amenity; basic resource needs for neighbouring indigenous communities; cultural and heritage values; and bio-prospecting reserve," he said. ICCA provides protection for a series of ecosystems ranging from lowland rainforest to lower montane forest – all are found within a relatively small geographical range – and provide a home to high biodiversity with early evidence of high endemism. Many species found within the ecosystems afforded protection by ICCA are endangered and vulnerable. Many species have also yet to be discovered and described as less than 50pc of ICCA's 27,599ha has been explored to date. "In addressing the ecosystems in ICCA, they are undisturbed and important in terms of maintaining and securing evolutionary processes – this has particular relevance given the ongoing climate change." ICCA is also a corridor of life and climate change refuge where it provides functional protection for part of the upper Kinabatangan catchment and compliments the conservation initiatives in the lower Kinabatangan i.e. to maintain a "corridor of life" along the river length through to the Sulu Sea. As such, protection is provided from coastal and lowland rainforests through to the montane forests in ICCA – and indeed MBCA," said Sapawi. During the most recent glacial episodes, central Borneo, including Sabah, provided sanctuary (refuge) for many species of flora and fauna. ICCA maintains the potential to provide a key site for refuge from impacts during contemporary and future climate change. Species may move inland and upwards along an altitudinal gradient. ICCA also provides an important 'stepping stone' between lowland and montane forests, when viewed in terms of the larger conservation landscape. The isolated and pristine nature of the site also makes it ideal for monitoring climate along a gradient of altitudes. "As part of a landscape – combined with the ecosystems provided protection – ICCA is a feature of national and international importance and outstanding conservation value and on its own, qualifies to be considered a natural monument," Sapawi added. ICCA also provides scenic amenity within the broader conservation and national landscape. Waterfalls within ICCA also provide local scenic amenity. In addition, the protected area maintains the potential to satisfy the basic natural resource needs of the neighbouring communities – if the connection and intervening forest cover is maintained. Similarly, ICCA provides protection for a range of cultural and heritage values, including ethno-botanical, for the neighbouring communities. Besides this, the protection provided by ICCA and its management areas secures the forest for bio-prospecting now and in the future – thus setting the scene for biodiversity conservation through bio-prospecting potentially with local community partners.   Source: Daily Express
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‘Huminodun’ complements Sabah’s creative industry aspiration — Musa

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman commended producers of the Kadazan-language film ‘Huminodun’ which premiered at a local cinema yesterday for their effort which complemented the Sabah government’s aspiration to develop the creative industry in the state. “The state government has identified the creative industry as an important area of development and seeing the work of so many Sabahans brought to life through this film complements our aspiration. “The effect of the creative industry on development is something that policymakers around the world have been waking up to with countries such as South Korea and New Zealand, making it the cornerstone of their economic growth,” he said in his speech text delivered by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. Musa was also glad to note that the filmmaker, Siung Films Sdn Bhd, comprised of 99 per cent of Sabah talents and had worked closely with various organisations in the state to ensure a true depiction of Sabah’s heritage displayed in the film. Among the organisations involved were State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Cultural Board, Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), KDCA Women’s Council and Kadazandusun Language Foundation. — Bernama   Source: Borneo Post
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