News & Updates from KePKAS

08Oct

Orangutan named “Tiger” released into the wild

KOTA KINABALU: A male Bornean orangutan nicknamed “Tiger” was released into the wild after 18 years in the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.

Tiger, aged 20, was translocated to the Tabin wildlife reserve in Lahad Datu yesterday, through a joint effort between Sabah Wildlife Department and a UK-based charity Orangutan Appeal UK.

State wildlife director Augustine Tuuga, in a statement today, said Tiger was brought to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center some 18 years ago as a very timid two-year-old orphaned baby orangutan.

“He spent the next few years undergoing the rehabilitation process there. Ironically, Tiger was actually rescued from a logging camp somewhere in Lahad Datu and now is being translocated back to Tabin Wildlife Reserve’s Core Area, also in Lahad Datu.

“The department would like to thank Orangutan Appeal UK for funding this whole translocation operation which cost more than RM50,000,” he said.

Tuuga added that Tabin Wildlife Reserve was an ideal place to release Tiger as it was a large area for him to comfortably forage in.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council for funding the department’s Wildlife rescue Unit, which played a critical role in making the translocation operation a success.

Meanwhile, Orangutan Appeal UK founder and chairperson Sue Sheward said the release of Tiger from Sepilok to the Tabin reserve made history, with everyone in the organisation and wildlife department pooling their resources to achieve the goal.

“With the assistance of good friends within Sabah and the UK, yet another magnificent orangutan was saved,” concluded Sue.

  Source: New Straits Times
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08Oct

Sabah wants Mt Kinabalu in Unesco geopark list

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has set its sights on getting Mount Kina­balu and its surrounding districts listed in Unesco Global Geoparks by 2020. Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew said Sabah Parks was on track to getting the geopark recognised as a National Geopark (Malaysia) before it could be declared a Unesco Global Geo­park. Dubbed “Aspiring Kinabalu Geopark”, the proposed Kinabalu geopark covers the entire Kina­balu Park and either as a whole or parts of the Ranau, Kota Belud and Kota Marudu districts. Kinabalu Park itself is a Unesco World Heritage Site and has an area of 75,370ha. Liew, who is State Tourism, Culture and Tourism Minister, said after a meeting with officials from the Sabah Parks, Depart­ment of Minerals and Geosciences Malaysia, Sabah, Universiti Keb­angsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah here that the proposal was a new concept of tourism and that her ministry would prepare a Cabinet paper for consideration and app­roval. “We want to conserve Kinabalu Park for the present and future generations not only for its ecological functions, but also for education, recreation and economic development purposes,” she said. She added that a Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark Site would put Sabah on the world map and boost tourism growth, as well as bring socio-economic benefits to local communities. UKM Prof Emeritus Dr Ibrahim Komoo, a geologist who was responsible for introducing the Unesco Global Geopark label to Malaysia, said a Unesco Global Geopark has three main elements. “Firstly, it is a single and unified geographical area. Secondly, it has sites and landscapes of international geological significance. “Thirdly, it must be managed in a holistic manner by offering protection, education and sustainable development. “Geotourism does not mean geology alone. “Here, we look at geological, biological and cultural aspects together so that we can provide information to the tourists and give them a complete picture of the history of the geopark,” he added. Dr Ibrahim said the Tawau Hills Park also had the right attributes to be declared a Unesco Global Geopark. The Langkawi Unesco Global Geopark is the first in Malaysia and was set up in 2007.   Source: The Star Online  
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08Oct

Sabah tourism receipts expected to hit RM8b

Kota Kinabalu: Tourism receipts for the State are expected to reach RM8 billion this year and will continue to grow in the years ahead if tourists have a safe, comfortable and memorable stay in Sabah. "This will not happen by chance but it requires both public and private sectors to work in sync. We are happy to work closely with the State Government to achieve the aspirations of Sabah," the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) said. The association also agreed that Sabah has the potential to be a home port in the region for cruise ships and it is for this reason that both the State Government and all the players in the tourism industry should work in unison for the good of the State, country and all Malaysians. Matta President Datuk Tan Kok Liang also acknowledged the need to cap domestic airfares which had adversely impacted travellers during festive seasons, and strategies to bring back long haul tourists from Europe. He said Matta and the Sabah Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal had meaningful deliberations on Tuesday on the importance of sound tourism infrastructure, promotions on rural tourism, maintenance on cleanliness of tourism sites such as beaches, safety and security of tourists, high airfares between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. "We are very pleased to be assured by Shafie that his government will continue to collaborate with the association for the betterment of our State and country," he stressed. During the deliberation held at the office of the Chief Minister, Tan said the association also invited Shafie to officially launch the forthcoming Matta Fair 2019 scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur. In the travel event, he said, Sabah will be the preferred domestic destination. "This will help boost domestic arrivals to the State," Tan said, adding that Matta was delighted that the Chief Minister accepted the invitation. On the potential of Sabah being a home port for cruise ships in the region, Tan said to achieve the desired goal, tourism players and State Government should focus on cruise tourism in their efforts to develop more tourism products. Tan said Sabah is strategically located in the region and sees no reason why the State cannot achieve its ambition. "We need to look into this segment of emerging market which is getting popular among Asians. Sabah has the advantage because the cruise ship(s) using the State as a home port can cover the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. "But to make the proposal a reality, a proper cruise terminal like Port Klang or Penang's Swettenham Pier must be built in Sabah to be the home port. This terminal can be constructed in Sapanggar or as a matter of fact anywhere in the State's west coast," he pointed out. According to Tan, not only having the cruise terminal in Sabah would increase the number of tourist arrivals in the State, the economic spillover for other port-related services such as handling, docking, engineering and refuelling will be good for the State. "There will be business opportunities and jobs for locals," he added. - Nikko Fabian Photo Source: Sabah Tourism   Source: Daily Express
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04Oct

Kota Belud, Kadamaian and Kiulu a focal point for rural tourism

By NOOR ZAFIRA SHAFIE KOTA KINABALU: Kiulu, Kadamaian and Kota Belud will be the focal point for rural tourism in two years’ time after being chosen by Sabah Tourism Board as pioneer districts for rural tourism development. Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister, Assaffal @ Samsul Kamal P. Alian said that the rural sites have great potential to be promoted as unique, attractive and authentic tourism places and products. He said improvement of services in promoting rural tourism must be continuously enhanced and upgraded. “We must have the relevant knowledge, skills in operating and managing rural tourism, especially in the areas of language/communication, conservation, sustainable and responsible consumption as well as local youth participation in the rural tourism development,” he said to reporters here yesterday after witnessing a MoU signing ceremony between University Malaysia Sabah and Almacrest International College, Kadamaian Tourism Association and Kiulu Association. According to him, Sabahans and industries players should make efforts to offer more diverse products for eco-tourism and nature tourism as well. “It is important that we shift our focus to sustainable tourism development and responsible consumption, as these are vital in making Sabah as global competitive sustainable tourist destination. “Rural tourism consists of rural heritage and activities such as visiting villages, local architecture, hiking, fishing, horse riding, participating in local festivals and tradition as well as territory, like mountains, rivers and any more natural scenery,” he said. Assaffal also stressed that Sabah with interesting geographical landscape have all the important components in developing and promoting tourism. “I believe the local communities can benefit in terms of employment and income generation, and thus will enhance the economic security of the community,” he added. “All these can be prosperous and flourish through rural tourism development,” he added.   Source: New Sabah Times
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03Oct

Sabah can be home port for cruise ships – Matta

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah too has the potential to be a home port in the region for cruise ships, opined Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang. Therefore the state government and tourism players should also focus on cruise tourism in their efforts to develop more tourism products, he said. Tan told The Borneo Post that Sabah’s advantage is in its strategic location in the region. “We need to look into this segment of emerging market which is getting popular among Asians. Sabah has the advantage because the cruise ship(s) using the state as a home port can cover the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. “But to make the proposal a reality, a proper cruise terminal like Port Klang or Penang’s Swettenham Pier must be built in Sabah to be the home port. This terminal can be constructed in Sepanggar or as a matter of fact anywhere in the state’s west coast,” he pointed out. According to Tan, not only would having the cruise terminal in Sabah increase the number of tourist arrivals in the state, the economic spillover for other port-related services such as handling, docking, engineering and refuelling will be good for the state. “There will be business opportunities and jobs for locals,” he said. Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Matta Fair Penang on Saturday, Tan said the association had proposed that Penang be turned into a home port for cruise ships to cater to the growing cruise market in the region. He urged Matta members to play a significant role to do marketing promotions not only among Malaysians but also tourists from the region. Tan firmly believes that making Penang a home port will create a better option for large cruise ships to call to, rather that docking in other countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong. “The Penang home port stands out from home ports in other countries such as Singapore, as Penang is closer to Thailand, one of the favourite travel destinations in the region,” he said.   Source: Borneo Post Online
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