Orang-utan statue S’kan’s latest icon

Sandakan: A statue of the orang-utan was unveiled to the public on Monday at The Piazza, Sandakan Harbour Square (SHS), becoming the district’s newest icon.

The orang-utan was chosen after a statue competition was held last year in conjunction with the SHS project.

Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd as the development management of the SHS jointly organised the competition with ICSD Ventures Sdn Bhd with support from the Sandakan Municipal Council.

President of Sandakan Municipal Council, Datuk James Wong, officiated at the launching of the statue, which was held also in conjunction with Sabah’s 50th Independence anniversary.

Wong said the orang-utan icon is hoped to attract tourists to Sandakan.

On SHS and Harbour Mall Sandakan, there are branded stores and an international-standard hotel in it, which is another latest attraction in the district.

ICSD Ventures Managing Director Lai Voon Hon said the orang-utan statue is to inform the tourists about the uniqueness of culture in Sandakan.

“The statute is synonymous with the conservation of orang-utan here as well as a symbol of Sandakan’s tag as an eco-tourism destination in Southeast Asia,” he said.

The designer of the orang-utan statue, Michael Kwa, 28, who came from Taiping, Perak, won RM18,000 for his effort, while second place winner, Daniel Tiong, received RM5,000 and Husna Adlyna, RM5,000.

Kwa, a former Creative Art graduate from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), now teaches at SM Sri Tenby, Shah Alam.

Source: Daily Express