All articles of environment in Sabah

17Nov

Marine Protected Areas to be gazetted – Pang

KOTA KINABALU: Efforts are now underway to submit for the State Cabinet consideration additional areas throughout Sabah that are to be gazetted as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and this will definitely go beyond the 10 percent threshold recommended by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming said Sabah currently has about 1.02 million hectares of MPAs. As had been announced by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, during the Pacom Conference recently, Pang said the waters around Mantanani would soon be submitted to the State Cabinet to be gazetted as a MPA. “This move is the first among many more to come in efforts to meet IUCN recommendation for all nations to have at least 10 percent territorial waters to be conserved through MPAs,” he said in a statement yesterday. Pang, who chairs the Sabah Anti Fish Bombing Committee, lauded the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on its seizure of close to 50 pieces of explosives used for fish bombing during a raid on five pump boats at Mantanani Kecil in Kota Belud recently. “I would like to dearly congratulate the MMEA Sabah and Labuan branch under the capable leadership of First Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som and Kota Kinabalu MMEA director, First Admiral Adam Aziz, on the seizure. “This latest apprehension will surely go a long way to safeguard the waters around Mantanani, which is currently a hotspot for tourism activities,” he said. Pang said MMEA’s recent string of success against criminals operating in our territorial waters, especially the detention of foreign vessels caught fishing in our waters, has greatly helped the State in its efforts to protect our precious marine environment and its precious resources. “We applaud the commitment of MMEA and know that they will continue do the best in discharging their duties. “With the recent budget announcement by the Prime Minister cum Minister of Finance, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, allocating quite a handsome amount for our security forces, I hope additional assets will be deployed to MMEA so that they can achieve the same success in the north and east coast region of Sabah, especially on turtle poaching, as they have done here in the west coast,” he added.   Source: Borneo Post
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15Nov

Sabah government focuses on safety of tourists

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will focus more on the tourism sector, especially the safety of tourists. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Raymond Tan Shu Kiah said the booming tourism sector required operators, hoteliers and other industry players to put in place safety protocols to better protect tourists. “We take visitors to the mountains and islands, (because) those are our attractions, but they should not be compromised in terms of safety protocols. “Tourism is not only about where we take tourists to, but it also involves food and lodging,” he said, adding that transportation was a huge safety concern in the industry. Tan, who is also the state industrial development minister, said this after the launch of the two-day Fifth Borneo Occupational Safety and Health Conference and Exhibition (BOSH 2017) here today. He said all tour operators must put in place safety measures apart from making sure their businesses were doing well. “We will work with the small- and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector, with the collaboration of the National Occupational Safety and Health, to conduct training and provide certification in safety protocols to enhance the quality of services.” Present were NIOSH chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, executive director Ayop Salleh and state manager Mohd Hussin Abd Salam. Hussin said NIOSH was working closely with the Tourism and Culture Ministry and the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Department to tackle safety measures issues. “Some tourists are not particular about their safety, that is why NIOSH wants to engage industry players to cope with the influx of tourists into the state. Safety is important, especially in water activities such as diving and snorkelling, and transport such as water taxis. “More workshops will be held next year to assist hoteliers, operators and taxi operators to come up with procedures to suit their nature of business.”   Source: New Straits Times
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10Nov

Promoting Sabah to backpackers

SEMPORNA: Members of Sabah Backpackers Association (SBA) are working together to offer diversified tourism products to attract travellers to stay longer in the state. Its president Richie Lee said backpackers would get the opportunity to know Sabah more as they tend to stay longer. “Backpackers rely heavily on word-of-mouth, social media and the Internet to choose and decide on their travelling destinations. “After their visit to Sabah, we want them to go back to their countries and write good reviews that will attract more people to the state,” he said at an “End in Sipadan” programme, here, recently. The programme is organised by the Tourism and Culture Ministry. SBA is a strategic partner that helps the ministry promote dive trails in Sabah. Lee added that each operator should offer different products to allow divers to explore more. “People usually fly to Semporna (in Tawau) and end up diving only in Sipadan, but Sabah is blessed with three seas (South China Sea, Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea) and there are definitely more diving trails to experience in the state. “The ‘End in Sipadan’ is a voluntourism programme designed to encourage tour operators to offer packages for divers to build artificial reef conservation,” he said. He added that divers engaged in the work could return to check the progress of the reef. Besides that, the association had also been engaging education institutions to be a part of their programmes. “College students are involved in internship programmes with our members. Through this, the younger generation gets hands-on experience and learning opportunity. “After their graduation, the association hopes to help produce quality frontliners in the tourism industry.”   Source: New Straits Times
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10Nov

Kiulu tourist arrivals up sharply

KOTA KINABALU: Promoting the uniqueness of Kiulu with the objective to make it a prime ecotourism destination has been bearing fruit so far, according to Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai. Tourist arrivals to Kiulu came up to 27,000 last year and their numbers surged to nearly 40,000 between January and September this year alone, he told reporters in a press conference for the third Kiulu Adventure Challenge (KAC), yesterday. “What we want to highlight and promote through the KAC is the uniqueness that Kiulu has to offer. “The run itself is unique, because it does not only combine cycling and running, but rafting as well. “We also made sure to include family involvement, with the introduction of a 5km Family Fun Run this year, in addition to the existing Kiulu Mini Carnival,” he added. Joniston said the KAC was organised as one of the many efforts to promote rural tourism and empower the local community by creating tourism and business opportunities in Sabah. “Kiulu locals are heavily involved in organising the KAC because we want them to really be able to feel the benefits of expanding ecotourism opportunities in their hometown. “We don’t want Sabah to be known only for our Mount Kinabalu. We want Sabah to also be associated with richness in traditions and culture from its interior parts,” he added. Earlier, KAC race director Auther J Kimon said flag-off would be at 6.30am on December 3, at Rumah Tradisi Kiulu. The route includes 13 kilometres of running and 30 kilometres of cycling along the hilly earth trails passing through villages and hanging bridges, alongside white-water rafting along the scenic Kiulu River. “The first five kilometres of the run will be on asphalt road while the second part will be on gravel. It’s all undulating surfaces so that’s why we call it a challenge. “There are even some parts of the route where participants will have to carry their bicycles, hence the term ‘mini challenge,'” said Auther, adding that the highest peak of the route reaches up to 140 metres. He also said each checkpoint is complete with markers and crew, and that the route was chosen due to its low risk and convenience for emergency evacuation, which provides accessibility to injured participants. The Kiulu Mini Carnival will also be held on the same day in Kiulu town, featuring stalls operated by locals selling authentic local food and handicrafts. Other activities include traditional games, catch-a-duck competition, stone painting, coconut bowling and tug-of-war. Approximately 430 adventure enthusiasts have registered for the challenge so far, while interested parties can still register till November 25. Those interested can submit registration at the Kiulu Tourism Association office in Tamparuli Point, Chanteek Borneo in Tamparuli, KLK Ponohuon Lodge in Kiulu, Riverbug office in Wisma Sabah here or through WhatsApp at 017-7698862 (Suzie).   Source: Borneo Post
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09Nov

Beautiful Sabah 3.0 contest attracts int’l participants

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism Board’s Beautiful Sabah 3.0 online photography and video contest, ended on October 8 and attracted participation from eleven countries through social media. The countries were Australia, China, France, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Philippines, UK and Malaysia. This is the third edition of the contest and has the most submissions from overseas. A total of 800 photographs and 15 videos were submitted during the two-month online contest. “The participation from most (of the) international countries is through the power of social media. Through social media, every post shared can lead to a site visit and eventually a conversion,” said Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, chairman of Sabah Tourism Board at the prize presentation ceremony, yesterday. Winners of the competition were presented with their prizes yesterday at Sabah Tourism Board by Joniston, who urged the participants to use their talents and skills to keep promoting Sabah through their lenses and video making skills. Also present at the event were general manager of Sabah Tourism Board Gordon Yapp, deputy general manager (support services) Noredah Othman and communications manager Hana S. Harun The top five winners of the photography competition were Tsen Lip Kai, Rustam Razali, Clement Liew, Tirado Jupirin and Mohd Erwin Mohd Ussdek, and the top five winners of the video competition were Sharif Putra Sharif Ubong, Leon Kuan, Danny Daniel Nguai, Sharif Putra Sharif Ubong and Ivan Ong Jian Hau. The Beautiful Sabah 3.0 sponsorship, worth about RM15,000 were from the private sector, namely the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort,  Sutera Harbour Resort, Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu, Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, Grandis Hotel and Resorts, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan, Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai, Techfix, Canon Marketing (Malaysia), Syarikat Percetakan Suria, Toppoint Company Sdn Bhd, Ebiz Design & Communications, and Videographics Productions Sdn Bhd.   Source: Borneo Post
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