Tag - Culture

KUDAT: A tour package introduced by an award-winning homestay outfit and an airline company has boosted arrivals here in Sabah since last September. The combined effort by the Misompuru Homestay and MASwings has attracted the attention of many people, including Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Dr Ng, who launched the package here yesterday, said the combination appeared to be a winner because the number of people who opted for homestays had almost doubled from 17,528 in 2010 to 34,578 last year. The Misompuru-MASwings package alone has attracted 14,912 tourists and generated more than RM700,000 for 42 families, mostly Rungus people from 15 villages in three districts. The package is listed by the ministry as one of the top three homestay programmes in the country. "I believe the homestay package will attract more visitors to this district and stay with Minsompuru Homestay here," Dr Ng said. "Such a package is not just about providing accommodation, but is a lifestyle experience where outsiders can explore the local flavours." MASwings is helping to promote the Misompuru Homestay programme that will expose guests to the Rungus lifestyle in 15 villages in Kudat, Pitas and Kota Marudu. It is called the MasWings Adventure Misompuru package. The homestay programme focuses on visitors arriving by the twice- weekly MASwings flights to Kudat. MASwings sales and marketing manager Zamanimaran Abdullah said they had received positive feedback from tourists since the package was introduced last year. "At the moment, we are focusing on Kudat, but we are also looking at exploring other areas, including in Sarawak. We are working closely with the Tourism Ministry and hope to bring more visitors into the country and especially to experience the local culture." Source : New Straits Times

KOTA KINABALU: City Hall has once again given its full support to the organisers of the Kota Kinabalu Kinabalu Jazz Festival 2012 which will be held on June 15 and 16. Commending the organisers for their sixth Kota Kinabalu (KK) Jazz Festival, Mayor Abidin Madingkir said he welcomed such an interesting event which not only adds colour and livens the city but also helps bring more tourists to Sabah. He noted that the Jazz Festival has now become a signature event in Sabah’s annual calendar of events and also a key component of the Kota Kinabalu Arts Festival. Thanking the mayor for his support, organising chairman Jack Ong said the festival is an annual fund-raising jazz extravaganza jointly organized by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) and the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS). The jazz festival, he added, brings together a musical melting pot of talents from around the world and last year recorded a crowd of over 4,000 people during the two nights of performance. One of the striking differences about KK Jazz Festival, he explained, is its line up of artistes, who include international names and highly talented local bands and singers. Some of the artistes that will be performing this year are Raisa (Indonesia), Rio Sidik (Bali, Indonesia), Johnny Rodgers Band (United States of America) and Roger Wang (Malaysia). Held in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu 60th anniversary, this year’s festival also serves as a stage in showcasing local artistes. Local celebrity DJ Rica and Cheryl will also be hosting the evening as emcees. Ong said this year’s event is sponsored by Yayasan Sime Darby, Sabah Development Bank, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Carlsberg. The festival is also supported by City Hall and the Embassy of the United States of America. He added that the money from ticket sales would be used to fund deserving community projects run by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu, such as providing clean water project and literacy programme in the rural areas of Sabah, as well as environmental protection programme. According to Ong, with the collaboration of AirAsia under AirAsia RedTix, tickets are now on sale at www.airasiaredtix.com at RM100 for two-night pass and RM70 per-night pass. Tickets are also available at various outlets in Kota Kinabalu – Party Play Lifestyle Cafe, Playground, The Chocolate Factory, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, BB Cafe, Firefly, Hotel Sixty3, Jarrod & Rawlins, Texas Grill Restaurant & Bar. The event will be held from 7pm to 11pm at the Covered Tennis Court, Sutera Harbour Marina. Source : Borneo Post

PENAMPANG: The Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) is no longer celebrated just in Sabah but also around the world, according to Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. With the assistance of the state and federal governments, the festival is now a tourist attraction as it introduces the culture, tradition and rites of the KadazaDusun Murutas well as those of other ethnicities in Sabah to the world, he said. Pairin, who is the Huguan Siou (Paramount Leader) of the KadazanDusun and also the state level Pesta Kaamatan main organizing committee chairman, said details about the Harvest Festival celebrations have been spread far and wide with today’s information and communication technology. This directly means the information has been recorded in a database that will become important reference materials for the future generation, he said in his speech at the launch of the annual Traditional Sports by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at the KDCA grounds here yesterday. Pairin expressed hope that dying or rarely used practices will be revived for the benefit of all, especially the younger generation. “As I have said earlier, the state and federal governments have given their full support to the effort in organizing the annual celebration. Other than that, they have also given support to the development of the KadazanDusun Murut community by including them in the country’s development agenda,” he said. “This include the federal government’s agreement to set up a KDM College in Kampung Kaingaran, Tambunan,” he said. Pairin said he is confident Musa will continue to lead the state government towards dynamic and realistic development in order to improve the socio-economy of the people in Sabah. “The presence of the Chief Minister and wife is a firm testament of the Kaamatan celebrations and how close this cultural event is to the heart of the Chief Minister,” he said. “Coming from a mixed background, he is indeed a fine example of a true one Malaysian citizen. Your attendance and participation in the Kaamatan celebration indeed helps to intensify the meaning of our cultural understanding and reflect the kind Malaysian unity that we need to work together for a better future of Sabah and also Malaysia. “On behalf of the state and implementing Kaamatan committee, I would like to extend our most sincere thanks and gratitude for the financial support given to make the whole Kaamatan celebration achievable and most certainly enjoyable,” Pairin said. Source : Borneo Post