30Oct

Traditional Food Fest planned next year

KOTA BELUD: Organising cultural festivals based on local cultures and ethnic traditions in the State should be able to attract tourists.State Rural Development Minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said rural areas had a variety of attractive products to attract tourism in addition to its natural beauty, Sabah’s cultural festivals and ethnic traditions.“In Kota Belud, we hold the annual Tamu Besar Kota Belud event which showcases the various ethnic cultures of the district including the Traditional Food Festival. But it will be more interesting and successful if we can attract foreign tourists to see the uniqueness and the special privileges of culture, traditional foods and more that we have to offer. “I commend the efforts of the organisers of the Traditional Food Festival in conjunction with the Tamu Besar Kota Belud and I hope that it will continue in the future. But to this day, we are the only ones celebrating the festival and cannot be featured outside tourists. introducing this traditional food to outside tourists and our entrepreneurs can turn it into a commercial enterprise,” he said at the opening of the Kota Belud Traditional Food Festival in conjunction with the Tamu Besar Kota Belud hed at the Sosondoton View Tamu market in Kg Piasau, here, on Saturday.Also present were Kota Belud District Officer, Diyanah Abdullah, board member of the Sabah Tourism Board, Mustapha Sakmud and former Kota Belud MP, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.Ewon, who is also the Kadamaian Assemblyman, agreed with the Kota Belud District Officer’s proposal for a Traditional Food Festival to be held outside Kota Belud next year.“If we cannot attract overseas travellers to Kota Belud to see the festival, let us approach them in collaboration with the shopping centres or hotels in Kota Kinabalu so that tourists can see some of the tourism products we offer in the district, “he said.He said the government through ministries and district offices could play a role in upgrading public infrastructure facilities in villages undertaking tourism activities, while tourism associations could play a role in tourism promotion and marketing activities. Earlier, Ewon was launching a Fitness Awareness Programme in conjunction with the Taginambur area level National Sports Month at the Sweat Factory Centre gymnasium in Kg Taginambur Jaya.Speaking at the event, he said the Taginambur Badi Festival, which will be held from December 12 to 13, 2019, being delayed from the same date in August and will be officiated by Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Christina Liew.The delay will allow for the completion of the bustling Kadamaian Square community hall, which is currently under construction, but almost nearing its completion.“The State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment has agreed to award an annual grant of RM30,000 to the Taginambur Tourism Association to organise the festival.“I hope the festival will be a new identity of the Kadamaian area and highlight the unique and interesting privileges that are not present at any other festival in Kota Belud,” he said.According to Ewon, the redevelopment of the Taginambur township is underway including the completion of the Kadamaian Square community hall which serves as the main activity centre in the Kadamaian State Assembly constituency, the upgrading of Taginambur Tamu market facilities and the construction of the Rural Entrepreneurial Complex which will soon begin“This will be supplemented by riverbank improvements, residential walkway construction and the construction of Walai Kadamaian tourist complex which will serve as a resthouse, accommodation and future tourist cafeteria.“This is part of the Kadamaian Development Plan, 2020-2035 which I have initiated for the tourism industry related facilities in Kadamaian. What is good for Kadamaian is also good for Kota Belud in general and also good for Sabah as a whole,” he said. Source: Daily Express30
By Inside KePKAS, , , Comments Off
Read more...
22Oct

Odou Bakanjar potential as tourism product

KUALA PENYU: The Odou Bakanjar celebration of the Tatana community has the potential to become a tourism product, especially in Kuala Penyu district. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the richness of the country’s ethnic and cultural treasures is an important asset in the tourism industry, which in turn drives the economy of Sabah’s people and state. He said Sabah had many ethnicities and was rich in its cultural traditions. For example, the Tatana ethnic community in Kuala Penyu  is one of the most important ethnic groups in Sabah. “As such I hope that ethnic festivals like Odou Bakanjar will be a tourism product as it will attract more tourists from within and outside to Sabah,” he said, at the 6th Odou Bakanjar Celebration, at the Cultural Village, here, Saturday. The text of his speech was delivered by Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick. Shafie said the Odou celebration also serves as a field to showcase the customs, art and culture of the Tatana people so that this heritage continues to be passed on to the younger generation. “I hope the younger generation has a strong interest in learning and inheriting this valuable culture. The younger generation should not be overwhelmed by the sophistication of gadgets and social media alone. “I believe this effort will preserve the ethnic culture which includes food, dance, traditional music, clothing, language, literature, customs and so on which is an ethnic identity,” he said. Shafie hopes through the Odou Bakanjar, the spirit of friendship and unity among the community would continue to thrive and be preserved. “This is because unity is an important asset to drive the development of the state,” he said. In addition, understanding the culture of a society and ethnicity is important as it will foster a sense of brotherhood within the community.“The high spirit of brotherhood will further strengthen the friendship and unity among all ethnic groups in the state. This unity will ultimately help to maintain a peaceful environment in Sabah and Malaysia in general,” he said. Source: Daily Express
By Inside KePKAS, , , Comments Off
Read more...
22Oct

6,000 expected at Tanjung Aru Beach Fest this weekend

Kota Kinabalu: The second edition of the Tanjung Aru Beach Festival is expected to attract about 6,000 visitors, this weekend (Oct 26-27).Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Assaffal P Alian said the event will be held at Prince Phillip Park, Tanjung Aru Beach, here.Sabah Tourism Board (STB)’s subsidiary Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd (SPS) is the main organiser of the event which will see a collaboration with local associations and non-governmental organisations for the two-day festival. “Tanjung Aru Beach has always been one of the favourite beaches for the public to have the perfect view of the sunset and its formation,” he said during a press conference, here, Monday. “It is our duty to promote our public beaches as a tourism product with an amazing sunset view all year round…we have to capitalise the natural beauty that we have.”The festival, he said, aims to create public awareness on the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of the beaches.To this end, a beach clean-up programme will be coordinated by Trash Hero Borneo on Saturday, starting 8am. “Everyone is encouraged to come and lend a hand in this beach clean-up. “The Tanjung Aru Beach Festival is a trash-free event and we hope to promote a clean city as well as to have a healthy lifestyle among the communities,” he said.Among the activities that will be held during the festival are a music concert featuring local performers, dance competition, sandcastle building competition, art installations, and beach soccer.Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew will officiate the festival, Sunday.To avoid traffic congestion in the area, visitors are advised to use e-hailing services where a special promotional code will also be offered by Borride. Source: Daily Express
By Inside KePKAS, , Comments Off
Read more...
13Sep

Sabah’s first-ever week-long visual arts festival Oct 27

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will have its first ever week-long visual arts festival soon, thanks to Visual Communication Association KK (VCA KK) and Salt x Paper Stationery & Gifts who have teamed up to organise the festival dubbed as North Borneo Design Week (NBDW). The event will be held from Oct 27 until Nov 2 at Riverson, here aimed at fostering the growth of the state capital’s creative industry as well as to position Kota Kinabalu as a strategic creative hub to connect countries in the East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) through the showcase of Malaysia’s creative industry. “This week-long event aims to promote and elevate the local arts and design through a wide range of activities such as artisan markets, art exhibitions, workshops and design talks by prominent speakers in the art and design industry,” said Aaron Lam, the owner of Salt x Paper Stationery & Gifts. Aaron explained that the big scale art festival would feature over 100 creative vendors including local artists and some from Kuala Lumpur, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, France, USA and more at the artisan market to showcase their creations. “The creative artworks include fine art, art & crafts, handmade body care products, jewelleries & accessories, home decorations and many more,” he said. Meanwhile, VCA KK president Noah Lee said the event would be an ‘eye opener’ for Sabahans. “Design weeks or design festivals are held regularly all over the world. Sabah’s first ever design week will be an eye opener for local creative practitioners as professionals from all over the world are invited to share about their respective fields, vice versa from our local creative industry to the public,” Noah said. As for the workshops, Noah highlighted that the organizers had invited local and overseas artists, such as Hong Yi (known as Red) and Chua Soon Min (known as Katak) to conduct master classes and share their knowledge through design talks in order to raise the standards of local creative practitioners and make a mark on the global stage. Showing support for the upcoming event, Kota Kinabalu MP, Chan Foong Hin has contributed RM10,000 while Luyang Assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe sponsored RM2, 000. According to Chan, although Sabah tourism relies on its natural assets, the arts and culture play a major role by adding value to it. “By developing the arts and culture and encouraging creative entrepreneurship, we are building a good and diversified image of the state and leave a unique impression to visiting tourists. Phoong also expressed that tourists come to Sabah not just for its well-known natural tropical beauty and local delicacies, but if presented with Sabah’s local artworks, clothing, handicrafts, it will be a major contribution to Sabah’s tourism. Further details on North Borneo Design Week and tickets for Design Talks and Workshops are available on www.nbdesignweek.com.   Source: New Sabah Times
By Inside KePKAS, , , Comments Off
Read more...
02Jul

9th Tugu Budaya Etnik Sabah-International Youth Folk Dance Festival July 10-14

KOTA KINABALU: The unique and diverse culture of Sabah will be showcased at the upcoming 9th Tugu Budaya Etnik Sabah-International Youth Folk Dance Festival 2018 on July 10-14. This is a very attractive programme to promote the rich culture of Sabah, said Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew. “The programme also provided an opportunity for us to exchange and express our culture with other countries,” said Liew during the launch of the festival promotional event at Wisma Tun Fuad here yesterday. The cultural dance can be instilled in the student lives so when they grow up they will always remember this cultural heritage, she said. “We hope the top three winners will have the opportunity to represent Sabah to overseas competition. The ministry will always support them,” assured Liew. Sabah Cultural Board general manager William Baya said the festival is participated by primary and secondary schools and unlike previous years, it was only competed by national teams, this year they decided to open for international competitors. And they have received the confirmation from Raduga, Russia; Sanggar Tari Bali Legong (Indonesia); Tarlac National High School (Philippines); Zamin (Uzbekistan); Ranranga Dance Academy (Sri Lanka). The festival aims to raise the cultural awareness among the students the importance in preserving our cultural heritage as well as to foster friendship and understanding through culture, he said. “It is also to promote the tourism destination of Sabah based on culture and also provide a platform for the students to showcase their cultural dance talents and skills,” said William. The five-day event featuring 24 teams from Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Selangor as well as five international teams will kick-off at Imago Shopping Mall on July 10, before the rest of the competition is held at the Sabah Cultural Centre in Penampang. Also present was Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister permanent secretary Datu Rosmadi Sulai. Source: New Sabah Times
By Inside KePKAS, , Comments Off
Read more...