Tag - Military

KOTA KINABALU: The State government will work together with the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to make military tourism as another tourism product in Sabah. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that the RMN’s Eastern Fleet based in Sepanggar, near here, has become a permanent feature in Kota Kinabalu and is an attraction. Speaking at a press conference at the RMN Freedom of Entry to Kota Kinabalu ceremony at Lintasan Deasoka (city square) here yesterday, he said that the State government will discuss with RMN Eastern Fleet to expand the ceremony which was last held in 2009, to a yearly event. The two-day event was clearly attracting local visitors as well as foreign tourists, and has contributed to the local economy. “We will see how the navy can play a bigger role in tourism in the city, and what sort of allocation the government can provide so they can organise such events more often. “We would also support the RMN to get closer to the public so the public may see them more like friends instead of only cannons and guns,” he said. Meanwhile, Eastern Fleet commander, Vice Admiral Datuk Syed Zahiruddin Putra Syed Osman said that the Eastern Fleet is expanding in terms of its personnel and assets and is becoming synonymous with the city. He said that Kota Kinabalu may one day be known as naval city like Lumut in Perak or San Diego in the United States. According to him, it has also been playing a role in military tourism in the city when its base in Sepanggar became a favourite stop for foreign navies around the world. “This year alone, five foreign naval fleets visited the base including from Australia, Japan, South Korea and USA, carrying some 3,000 personnel who shopped and dined in the city. “This number does not include their family members who sometimes fly over to the city to join them when they have a stop over,” he said. Freedom of Entry is an old military tradition dating back to the ancient Rome where soldiers were banned from entering the city unless they won a battle. The soldiers needed special permission to enter the ancient city, and thus giving of honour ceremony evolved to the modern and entirely ceremonial Freedom of Entry. The RMN Freedom of Entry to Kota Kinabalu was ceremoniously given to Eastern Fleet commander by City Mayor, Datuk Yeo Boon Hai. Syed Zahiruddin also invited members of the public to attend the navy open day at Sepanggar Naval Base on April 28 and 29 where they could board the naval vessels including the submarines and other assets. “It is not easy to enter the base for civilians on normal day but during the open day this weekend, everyone is invited and they can see for themselves what we have in the base,” he said. Source: New Sabah Times