Tag - Tourism

SANDAKAN: Tourism in Sabah’s east coast is beginning to pick up again with the high level of security in place, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said. He said about 600 to 700 tourists were heading daily to the various island resorts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), proving that tourist confidence had been restored. He said the number of tourists heading to the various resorts would eventually hit about 1,000 daily, which was the figure before the area was hit by a spate of kidnappings. Shahidan, who is on a two-day visit to the Esszone islands off Sandakan, said the returning confidence was due to the increased presence of Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) forces. “Our forces are placed in areas where there are resorts, and this has resulted in increasing tourist arrivals,’’ he said after visiting Turtle Island (Pulau Selingan) and other islands here. Shahidan, who was accompanied by Esscom commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun, said every effort was being made by the Government to keep eastern Sabah safe but said there was still room for improvement. “We will take immediate steps to further boost and improve security,” he said. Between April and July, Filipino gunmen linked to Abu Sayyaf militants grabbed a total of six hostages in four separate raids in Semporna, Lahad Datu and Kunak. Kpl Ab Rajah Jamuan, 32, was killed while Kons Zakiah Aleip, 26, was taken hostage by Filipino gunmen when they struck at Mabul Water Bungalows in Semporna on July 12. Malaysian fish farmer Chan Sai Chuin, 32, who was grabbed from Kunak on June 16, is still being held by militants in the southern Philippines island of Jolo. On the sea curfew implemented at six districts in the east coast until Aug 17, Shahidan said that it was a necessary move to ensure overall security. The minister said there were also plans to increase the capacity of the three temporary immigration detention centres in Sabah that could now hold some 6,000 persons at any one time. Source: The Star

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian and Chinese Governments should create a platform to promote exchanges and understanding between East Malaysia and China, said Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching Liu Quan. Liu said there was still a lack of exchanges between East Malaysia and China, which caused a lack of understanding on both sides. He said that when paying a courtesy call on the Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang here yesterday. Liu said he had visited Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) in this trip, in which he learned about the enormous potential in Sabah, particularly in the oil palm, aquaculture, oil and gas industries as well as biodiversity. He said Sabah and China could potentially collaborate in these sectors. In recent years, China has been encouraging its entrepreneurs to venture out of the country. “China is expected to invest USD500 billion worldwide in the next five years. “If Southeast Asian countries can capture a fifth of the amount, that is equivalent to USD100 billion.” Liu said that Malaysia-China partnerships in the field of economic and culture have been more frequent as of late, while the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s recent visit to China was successful in which both leaders had engaged in in-depth discussions. “As China gears towards the development of its 21st century Maritime Silk Road, Malaysia’s strategic location would give our country geographical advantage,” he said. Even though there were incentives in place for investors, and that policies in Sabah were relatively open, there was still a lack of exchanges and understanding between Sabah and China, he said. Hence, Liu said the Sabah State Government could kick start a collaboration with a province in China. For instance, the Sabah Chief Minister could lead local investors to visit Shandong Province with the aim to establish good relations and vice versa. Eventually, the relations forged between both parties would lead to business partnerships, he said. “Although Sabah is a tourism state, collaboration between Sabah and China in the tourism industry is only a minor portion. “Both sides should expand their field of collaboration to agriculture, aquaculture, oil and gas sectors.” In addition, Liu said Sabah and China complement each other in the sense that what Sabah produced was needed by China, such as palm oil, petroleum and natural gas. On the other hand, China could provide Sabah with what it needed, including food products and manufactured goods. Furthermore, Liu said there were Chinese entrepreneurs who have excess supply of goods like steel and cement, both of which were in short supply here. Hence, Liu said there should be a project, such as technological research, to jump start the collaboration between Sabah and China. On another note, Liu hoped to see the setting up of a Chinese consulate in Kota Kinabalu as soon as possible, which would provide assistance to Sabahan businessmen who wished to invest in China. Although the Chinese consulate in East Malaysia is located in Kuching, Liu said the consulate served Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan. “We certainly cannot neglect Sabah. I have personally visited Sabah four times since the start of my tenure eight months ago.” Meanwhile, Liu also expressed his shock over the MH17 tragedy. He said Chinese President Xi Jinping has also expressed his condolences to families of the victims. “All the victims who perished in the plane were innocent citizens. “It is a painful ordeal for their families,” Liu said, adding that he hoped the perpetrators of the incident would be brought to justice as soon as possible. Source: The Borneo Post

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will explore new tourism markets in the eastern United States as part of an aggressive marketing strategy to increase tourist arrivals to the state. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the ministry through the relevant agencies will visit Portland, Oregon, U.S. To discuss joint ventures in various areas of tourism in September. “We are invited by the U.S. ambassador to do tourism marketing as well as sign an agreement whereby Kota Kinabalu and Portland in Oregon, will become sister cities,” he told reporters after officiating the Sabah MATTA Fair at the Suria Sabah shopping centre here, yesterday. Masidi also said that the ministry would be intensifying tourism promotions in other neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Indonesia to attract more tourists to the state. — BERNAMA Source: The Borneo Post

KOTA KINABALU: MARITIME communities off Semporna remained calm during the 12-hour curfew that started on Saturday. The 6pm-6am curfew was enforced in six districts within the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone), involving waters off Semporna, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Kinabatangan and Kunak. Semporna district officer Dr Chacho Bulah said fishermen had taken precautionary measures after they were briefed about the curfew by the Fisheries Department. “All resorts have been informed and they are happy about it (the curfew). The feedback is very positive because this is how we can monitor the situation and maintain peace,” he said when contacted yesterday. The dusk to dawn curfew was implemented following a shootout at Pulau Mabul on July 13, which saw marine personnel Corporal Abd Rajah Jamuan killed and his colleague, Constable Zakiah Aleip, kidnapped from Mabul Water Bungalow Resort. The designated curfew area is between the Malaysia-Philippines sea border and encompasses a 5.5km distance from beach or land. Anyone found outside after dark within the designated 224,592 square kilometre curfew area in the waters off Sabah’s east coast can be detained and charged in court. Mataking Reef Dive Resort spokesperson said guests had been advised not to wander along the beach at night for their safety. “There are security forces on the island and all resort staff as well as tourists have been told to abide by the curfew.” Mataking is the closest island to the Malaysia-Philippines border. Other resorts that took extra precaution by observing the time limit were Pom Pom Island Resort and Mabul Borneo Divers Resort. “Most dive operators are no longer carrying out night diving activities. “We have advised our guests to stay in the resort room after 6pm and to not walk on Mabul island alone,” said a Borneo Divers Resort spokesperson. Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said it was still too early to evaluate the impact the curfew had on tourism. In Lahad Datu, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Abd Rashid Harun said no arrests were made on the first day of the curfew. “The situation is under control. All parties, especially fishermen, have given their full cooperation. “We hope they will continue to do so until the curfew is lifted,” he said in a statement Abd Rashid reminded the people, particularly coastal residents and fishermen in the affected districts, to abide by the curfew order to avoid any untoward incident. On Saturday, state Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said the curfew would be enforced off the east coast of Sabah until Aug 2. He had said that security forces could also “shoot on sight“ any intruder they knew to be involved in kidnapping or murder cases. Source: New Straits Times

KOTA KINABALU: The central organising committee for this year’s Sipitang International Top Festival (Pesta Gasing) cum 2014 Tamu Besar has decided to include an off-road 4×4 challenge as one of the highlights. Through the Sipitang District Office, the chairman of the central committee, Datuk Haji Sapawi Ahmad, who is also the Member of Parliament for Sipitang has invited the Whiskey Four Wheel Drive Club (WRS) to organise the two-day 4×4 event to coincide with the annual festivities. The Yayasan Sabah Chairman, who is also the WRS 4×4 Club patron hopes with the inclusion of the 4×4 challenge in this year’s event, it will act as a crowd puller in making the festival a grander affair, scheduled for August 29-31. He believes by including the 4×4 off-road challenge this year, it will surely be one of the highlights not only for Sipitang and its surrounding populace to come and witness the event, but also off-road and 4×4 enthusiasts from all over Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei. He said, visitors, like many of the foreign gasing competitors along with their families and friends will also be able to see the thrills and spills during the 4×4 event, which will be held at a close proximity to the township. Meanwhile, WRS president Thompson Teo said yesterday, they were proud to be part of this year’s Sipitang festivities and have gladly accepted the invitation from the committee to stage a much bigger event, apart from the last one that they organised in Sipitang two years ago. “We have met and discussed all the necessary arrangements including inspection of the site with the Sipitang District Officer, Latip Haji Amat (organising chairman) and Haji Jaafar Haji Jalaf (4×4 organising committee) recently,” he said. He said, the 4×4 challenge will commence at 2pm on August 29 after registration of competitors is complete, and called on all interested participants to register early to avoid delays. The five-Special Stage (SS) challenge is open to all amateurs or novices (drivers and co-drivers), including those who did not get any of the top three placing (1, 2, 3) in the annual International Borneo Safari challenge. The top three winners in each of the categories (two-door and four-door) will receive cash prizes of RM3,000, second RM2,000 and third RM1,000 plus trophies, while consolation prizes will also be given away to the fourth to sixth finishers. All competitors have been reminded that the event is an open event, except that they are not allowed to fit super or axel winches (for safety reasons), but they are allowed to use standard electrical or PTO winches in their vehicles (valid road tax is compulsory). Source: New Sabah Times