KK Jazz Festival organizing committee extending an invitation attend the upcoming festival on 2nd and 3rd Aug 2019, Sutera Harbour
01Aug
01Aug
Luxury yacht boost to Semporna tourism
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo Serenity, a luxury yacht offered by Lazy Cat International Travel Service Co. Ltd. for high-end catering in Sabah, is a shot in the arm for Semporna’s tourism sector, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
Lazy Cat International is a prominent online travel company in China.
Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, noted that the company has always had a strong relationship with the tourism industry in Sabah as reflected in its continuity of bringing a large number of young tourists to Sabah.
“I congratulate Lazy Cat Travel on its investment and collaboration with local companies in Sabah. The yacht will soon offer day trips in Semporna which is a great idea to diversify its tour offerings. I understand the company will start its operation in two weeks’ time,” she said when officiating at the Borneo Serenity Maiden Voyage Ceremony at the Marina Jetty, Sutera Harbour Resort on Monday.
Built in China with a European design and capacity of 50 to 60 people, Borneo Serenity was completed two months ago at a cost of 10 million RMB.
From Liew’s observation, the acceleration of tourism development in Sabah in recent years somewhat coincides with the growth of Chinese tourists visiting Sabah every year.
Quoting statistics from Sabah Tourism Board (STB), she said in 2018 alone, some 593,623 Chinese tourists visited Sabah. “To date, we have 93 scheduled flights from China into Kota Kinabalu and several charter flights throughout the year.”
According to the Minister, Sabah is seeing more free independent travellers (FITs) who are eager to explore more of Sabah.
“Many of them may have already come to Kota Kinabalu on their first trip and now, I reckon they have expanded their adventures to the East Coast of Sabah,” she said.
Liew attributed the Chinese tourists’ enthusiasm for Sabah to its rich tourism resources such as Semporna dubbed “Little Maldives” with its white and fine sandy beaches, and a crystal-clear blue sea and sky; Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, has one of the three most beautiful sunsets in the world; famous mangroves and fireflies; and Sandakan with a variety of wildlife and nature encounters.
“In addition, the simple folk customs and diverse culture also make Sabah a favourite among Chinese tourists.”
Also present were the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide, Vice Consul-General Wu Xiaoqing, STB Chairman Ken Pan Ying On, STB General Manager Noredah Othman, Chairman of Lazy Cat International Travel Service Co. Ltd, Zhao Jun and Company CEO Yang Jing, STB Senior Marketing Manager Tay Shu Lan and Tourism Malaysia Representative (China Market) Sharon Ho.
Source: Borneo Post Online
30Jul
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25Jul
13th KK Jazz Festival returns to raise funds for community projects
KOTA KINABALU: One of the longest running jazz festivals in Malaysia, the Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival (KKJF), returns for the 13th time next week, where part of its proceeds will go to community projects in Sabah.
To be held over two days on August 2 (Friday) and August 3 (Saturday) at the Covered Tennis Court of Sutera Harbour Resort, it will feature talented jazz bands from the Sabah music community and Kuala Lumpur's Rainbow Children and Xianghai Divas.
The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has approved an allocation of RM60,000 in support of the non-profit event, according to Minister Datuk Christina Liew in a statement on Wednesday (July 24).
Part of the money raised will fund community projects of Kota Kinabalu Rotary Club, which include medical outreach camps for health screening of rural folks, building toilets for rural communities, water gravity feed projects to provide clean water supply and helping out poor children in remote villages.
"The inclusion of the Festival as a premier event in the Sabah Tourism Board's annual calendar of events reflect the government's support for KKJF," Liew said, following a courtesy call by KKJF 2019organising committee led by organising chairman, Jack Ong.
Among Sabah's performing groups will be Jamstation, SWAG (comprising professional musicians from RTM Sabah, lecturers from Universiti Malaysia Sabah Music Faculty, tutors and students of Sabah Institute of Arts as well as musicians from the Royal Malaysian Police Band), Blues Summit and AC Duo.
Others are Take 2 (vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Tse with Peter Lau on percussion and handsonic), Rikki and Friends, Sunrise Jazz Ensemble, Project Trio, Lawalah from the Sabah Institute of Arts' Music Department and Calypsoul.
Liew, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, rated the KKJF as a tourism event for both domestic and international tourists, as well as local music enthusiasts to enjoy.
"Support our Malaysian musicians ... KKJF (founded in 2007) is the only jazz festival in the region that was set up to raise funds for charity and develop the performing arts," she said.
Source: The Star Online
22Jul
Concert celebrates 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations Malaysia, China
KOTA KINABALU: The Maritime Silk Road Legend Concert is designed to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
Speaking to a 1,200-strong audience at the opening of the piano concert, she said: “On behalf of the State Government and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, I look forward to fostering our friendship ties further between Malaysia, in particular the State of Sabah, and the People’s Republic of China.”
The concert was co-organised by the Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment at the Sabah State Administrative Centre (PPNS) Auditorium.
It featured world acclaimed pianist, Malaysian-born Claudia Yang, together with the 87-member Guangxi Symphony Orchestra from China, conducted by Mr Tao Lin.
Yang, who lives in Beijing, composed the concert of “Dream of the Red Chamber”, which is a Chinese novel portraying a Chinese Romeo and Juliet love story of ancient China.
The one-and-a-half-hour concert was attended by the Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima (Dr) Haji Juhar bin Datuk Haji Mahiruddin and his Consort Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima (Dr) Hajah Norlidah binti Tan Sri Datuk R.M. Jasni as guests of honour, together with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Mohd Shafie Haji Apdal and wife Datin Seri Panglima Shuryani Shuaib.
Also present were Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau and Datuk Jaujan Sambakong, Minister of Health and People’s Well-being, Datuk Frankie Poon, Minister of Youth and Sports, Ginger Phoong, Assistant Minister of Finance, Kenny Chua and State Secretary Datuk Hashim Paijan.
Meanwhile, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide, said the friendly relation between China and Malaysia has become a role model for other China-ASEAN countries with fruitful cooperation in various fields.
He said Malaysia was an important country along the Maritime Silk Road.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1974, he said China and Malaysia have been good neighbours, good friends and good partners.
“The friendly relation has become a role model for other China-ASEAN countries with fruitful cooperation in various fields. ”
As an important node of the Maritime Silk Road, Liang said Sabah had witnessed vigorous development in recent years.
“Especially in April this year, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Mohd Shafie has led a large delegation to China and signed more than 10 agreements on investment intentions which has opened a new chapter of pragmatic cooperation between China and Sabah.”
On another note, Liang said Yang and the Guangxi Symphony Orchestra had been invited to perform at the concert.
Played with the piano and orchestra, he said ‘The Piano Concert of the Dream of Red Chamber’ composed by Yang interprets a romantic love story of the ancient China, which presented a sumptuous feast of the audio-visual art to the people of Sabah.
“Today’s performance is also a grand cultural exchange activity between China and Sabah.
“I believe that music will enhance the bonding and bring the hearts of the people of China and Sabah closer together.”
He thanked the Sabah State Government for extending its huge support to the concert and providing such a magnificent venue.
Source: Borneo Post Online
