KOTA KINABALU: Local talents are encouraged to use their artistic works to promote the beauty of Sabah through songs and music videos.
Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said such a strategy would be effective in drawing tourists.
“Sabah, for example, features a plethora of picturesque landscapes that can entice visitors to the state.
“Local creative industry players should incorporate them into their works, whether through songwriting, dance choreography, or video production, among others,” he said at the launching of Oh Kinabalu song and music video yesterday.
Justin Lewis, a West Malaysian artiste, was inspired by Mount Kinabalu to write and compose the song in the Malay language.
In the Oh Kinabalu music video, viewers will see shots of the iconic Mount Kinabalu, the Melangkap River, highland Kundasang, Kudat’s Tip of Borneo, and the islands.
It also features a group of traditional-dressed dancers of several major ethnicities in Sabah while Justin clad in a traditional Kadazan costume complete with a headgear.
Joniston, who is also Sabah Tourism Board chairman praised Justin’s dedication and expressed hope that the Oh Kinabalu song will gain wider recognition.
“It is admirable to see a non-Sabahan singing about our state’s beauty.
“At Sabah Tourism, we’d like to see other artistes follow suit and use music to promote places of interest, particularly in rural areas,” he added.
Justin, also referred to as the One and Only JLewis, comes from a musical family; his father plays the guitar, and his uncle Lewis Pragasam is Malaysia’s most well-known drummer.
“I have never climbed Mount Kinabalu but I will always stop by at Pekan Nabalu to view the majestic mountain. I hope to do more music with talented Sabahans,” he said.
“I also hope my song can inspire other West Malaysian artistes to come to Sabah and write more about Mount Kinabalu which is so inspirational,” he said.
Two additional singles from Justin were also launched concurrently at the event. The songs are titled ‘Lonely’ featuring local talents Hezron Diman and Akmal Hadi Jensa, and ‘My Lady’ (Malaysia’s first kizomba song).
