06Mar

Tawau folks urged to work with Govt on tourism

TAWAU: Deputy Chief Minister-cum-State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew encouraged more Tawau folks to step out and work together with the State Government in developing Tawau’s tourism industry. Christina said the State government is always ready to cooperate with the Tawau community in seeking their opinions and suggestions on the growth of the tourism sector. They are always welcomed to submit their proposals or to participate in a brainstorming session with the Sabah Tourism Board. Apart from that, they could also write into the office of Tawau parliamentary office if they had any issues. She contributed RM20,000 in education aid for the Sabah Chinese High School (SCHS), here, Tuesday in a conjunction with the school’s Chinese New Year festival celebration. The fund was presented by Chief Communication Officer-cum-Apas Community Development Leader Fung Thin Yein to the Chairman of the School Board of Director Chia Yaw and his treasurer Wai Teck Chong.
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06Mar

Tawau Airport expansion may start year end

PUTRAJAYA: Prospects are bright for the proposed expansion and development of the Tawau Airport to cater to the influx of tourists from China and other countries.Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Christina Liew, said this after an inaugural official meeting with the Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, at the Federal Government Administrative Centre, here, Monday.“The Tawau Airport is the second largest airport in Sabah after KKIA. I am glad to have met the Minister of Transport. We have had a fruitful discussion,” she said.During their discussion, she disclosed that in 2018, the Tawau Airport recorded 1.64 million passengers with 19.7pc growth, the fourth highest in terms of passenger growth after KLIA, Kota Kinabalu and Penang airports. “This means that the airport has exceeded its capacity of 1.4 million passengers commencing operations as a domestic airport in 2001.”Liew, who is Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said the ball is at Sabah’s feet and if everything goes smoothly as planned, commencement of works should take place by the end of the year.Loke concurred with the Sabah Minister that Tawau is the gateway to the eastern part of Sabah, especially to the world-class diving sites at Sipadan and Mabul off Semporna, and to the world-renowned Danum Valley in Lahad Datu. The East Coast of Sabah has a huge potential for tourism development.“Infrastructure development, especially for airports, will never go wrong. If your tourism product is there, it will even be easier. We (Government) are changing the whole landscape of the airport industry in the country. MAHB can have a Sabah cluster,” he said.Meanwhile, the Transport Minister expressed support for Liew’s suggestion for Visa On Arrival (VOS) for tourist arrivals from China and India within a specific period. He, however, is in favour of having Visa Free facility to ensure that foreign tourists from China, India and Korea are hassle-free when entering the country. Liew was accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, William Baya, Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Ken Pan Ying On and General Manager of STB, Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani. Also present were the Minister’s Private Secretary, Helen Muhammari, STB Senior Marketing Manager, Tay Shu Lan, MAHB Director (Stakeholder Relations & Regulatory Affairs), Datuk Abdullah Kadir Bacha and Senior General Manager (Commercial Services), Mohammad Nazli Abdul Aziz.Earlier, Liew met with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Group Chief Executive Officer, Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin at the Malaysia Airports Corporate Office at KLIA.Tawau tops the list of six airports in the country that have been earmarked for expansion and development.He assured Liew that he is committed to the Tawau Expansion and Development Proposal for implementation as soon as possible.Raja Azmi, who had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Minister in Sabah earlier, reiterated that the proposal encompasses upgrading of the facilities at the airport, provision of a surau, increasing the number of immigration counters and improving the existing toilets, among other measures. Source: Daily Express
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04Mar

Kalimaran Fest finally fixed for every March 31

KOTA KINABALU: Pesta Kalimaran of the Muruts will be included in the Sabah calendar with the date fixed on March 31, instead of being celebrated on different dates without consistency. The festival’s Main Committee Organising Chairman Datuk Peter Anthony said it is timely for such recognition. “We found that since the Murut festival was organised in 2003, it has not been managed in a consistent manner where there is no fixed date to celebrate the festival. In the past, it was celebrated in April, or March and even in October. “The present State government is serious in upholding the dignity of all races and their respective celebrations by giving full commitment in the conservation aspect of cultural art and traditions. “This has been done with Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival, Hari Raya celebration and Chinese New Year, thus, we need also to empower Pesta Kalimaran to respect the Murut ethnic group in Sabah and giving due recognition of the festival to be celebrated every March 31,” he said. Speaking after chairing the Pesta Kalimaran main committee meeting at JKR headquarters here, Peter who is also the Infrastructure Minister said the 16th celebration of the festival would begin on March 26 until March 31 at the Tenom Murut Cultural Centre.  He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal would officiate the closing ceremony on March 31 at 1pm while the opening would be officiated by himself on March 26 at 2.30pm. “The six-day Pesta Kalimatan celebration would be joined and participated by 10 sub-ethnic Murut in various activities planned for the festival. “This festival would be celebrated in a moderate manner due to State’s funding constraints. “However, it is expected to attract about 10,000 visitors, including luring tourists to go to the interior part of Sabah in Tenom. “I have asked the management committee to take out several sport events that are seen as not suitable and focus on events and activities that reflect Murut culture and tradition,” he said. Peter who is also Melalap Assemblyman, advised visitors who wish to stay several days for the Pesta Kalimaran in Tenom to make early reservations. For more information on accommodation, they can contact the secretariat at Sabah Cultural Board at 088-258762. Source: Daily Express
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04Mar

Sabah views seriously illegal wildlife trade on social media sites

LAHAD DATU: The Sabah government takes a serious view of illegal wildlife trade, including the sale of exotic meats on social media sites. Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Assaffal P. Alian said to address the issue, Sabah Wildlife Department should be aggressive and impose strict action and proper penalties on individuals found guilty of being involved in such activities. “Enforce regulations, impose penalties (sufficient) so that individuals found guilty have no choice and let the law be firmly applied on these offenders,” he said when met by reporters after officiating the state-level Department of Wildlife Day here today. Assaffal was representing Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew. According Assaffal, the government does not prevent wildlife-related transactions online but there is a need to seek advice and laws and regulations should be adhered to. — Bernama Source: The Sun Daily
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04Mar

Four Sabah golf courses in the world spotlight from Oct 19-26

KOTA KINABALU: This year’s World Amateur Golfers Championship (WAGC) will be played at four major golf courses in Sabah, from Oct 19-26. They are Sutera Harbour Marina Golf & Country Club, Sabah Golf & Country Club, Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai and Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club. Golfers contesting in the WAGC represent their countries after emerging as winners of national tournaments. The World Amateur Golfers Invitational (WAGI), a separate tournament for invited VIPs, business leaders and corporate sponsors, will also be played alongside the WAGC. WAGC 2019 is organised by Delta Trend Golf & Leisure Holidays, the official partner and licensee for Malaysia. It has been organising the qualifying rounds and national tournaments in Malaysia for the 8th consecutive year, and the WAGC Finals in Malaysia for three successive years from 2017-2019. Mexico will be the next host for WAGC 2020, and Delta Trend will again be sending a national team to represent Malaysia. Our Malaysian teams were crowned World Champions in 2012 and 2015, and twice 2nd runner-up in 2016 and last year. Vietnam was the Team Champions in 2017 and 2018 and aiming for a hattrick this year. Malaysia’s success in the WAGC was made possible through sponsorships, with Perodua being the title sponsor, and also strong support from many government agencies, with Tourism Malaysia playing a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth running of a major sport cum tourism event that showcases the best of Malaysia. “Tourism Malaysia is pleased to support the World Amateur Golfers Championship as we are keen to promote Malaysia as a golfing paradise with world-class facilities and value-for-money destination,” said Tourism Malaysia Chairman Datuk Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau. “We welcome the competing teams to Malaysia and look forward to winning them over with our Malaysian hospitality and charm, as well as beautiful golfing destinations.” WAGC offers a great opportunity for amateur golfers, golf courses, suppliers and corporations to rally together to promote the game and foster fellowship among the golf fraternity, both nationally and internationally. Holding the WAGC Final here allows the locals to play host to national teams and their entourage from over 40 countries. Source: The Sun Daily
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