News & Updates from KePKAS

20Mar

International artiste to promote coral reef restoration

The Bunga Raya Island Resort spa will fly into the State the world-renowned Irish artiste, Ronan Keating, as part of their effort to promote the Marine Ecology Research Centre’s (MERC) work in coral reef restoration and giant clam propagation.

“Keating has agreed to perform and is excited to become part of it and has expressed eagerness to promote the cause,” said Bunga Raya Island Resort Spa’s owner, Gillian Tan, who pins the hope that the message to save the sea through coral reef restoration and giant clam propagation will spread throughout the world following Keating’s involvement in the effort.

Keating will give a dine-and-song performance at the resort on April 21, which is exclusive for in-house guests between 7.30pm and 11pm.

Tickets for the event is priced at RM1,000 per person.

He will appear the next day as a guest performer at the resort’s Marine Day Beach party which will take place between 9am and 5pm.

Tickets for this event are sold at RM200 each and are available at the Gayana Eco Resort’s office at Jesselton Point.

Patrons of the beach party will be provided with lunch, lucky draw prizes, a beach kit, music performances by local artistes and Keating, and Zumba with local fitness coach, Michelle Koh.

Patrons will also learn about the MERC’s effort in saving the sea through coral reef restoration and giant clam propagation and will bear witness to the release of 500 giant clam juveniles bred and raised since 2007 into selected ocean nurseries.

MERC will also transfer 1,000 planted corals to selected reefs surrounding the resort.

A total of 1,000 people are expected to turn up for the event and the proceeds derived from this event will be donated to MERC to ensure sustainability and a healthy environment for the future.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/20/international-artiste-to-promote-coral-reef-restoration/#ixzz1pe069v40

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20Mar

More recreational facilities for Lahad Datu

More recreational and ecotourism facilities are in store for Lahad Datu in line with the fast development pace taking place in this east coast district of Sabah, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.

Apart from meeting an increasing demand for such facilities, Musa said it would also bring about benefits to the conservation areas in the district.

“Tourism sector is the second largest contributor to Malaysia’s economic growth after petroleum, therefore, it could not be denied that this sector could generate income to stimulate the state’s economic growth.

“It is for this reason that the state government approved RM4.2 million to develop Mount Silam,” he said in his speech at the launch of Menara Kayangan Lahad Datu (Lahad Datu Tower of Heaven) at Mount Silam, here yesterday.

His text of speech was read by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

Musa said that the facility would complement existing ecotourism attractions in the east coast of Sabah such as Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Sanctuary.

According to the Chief Minister, the tower is appropriate for recreational activities as it is located inside a forest ecosystem that is free from environmental pollution.

“I am also confident that this area has the potential to be one of the unique tourist destinations,” he added.

Meanwhile, State Forestry Director Datuk Sam Mannan in his speech said that Lahad Datu had proven that development does not necessarily mean environmental degradation.

He said Lahad Datu is one of the rapid developed districts in Sabah, yet still rich with natural resources. It also has the biggest area of forest reserves and all are protected forests and not opened for logging.

“We should be grateful as all the forest areas are reserves for conservation and people’s interest and able to be used for research, tourism, education and others,” he added.

Masidi said at a press conference later that the state government would strive to accelerate the establishment of a tourist information centre in Lahad Datu to promote the district as one of the important tourism destinations in Sabah.

“The establishment of the tourist information centre is seen as a need to provide information to tourists as many tourists visit this district without using travel agents,” he said.

Masidi added that he would recommend to the Chief Minister in the next Cabinet meeting on the fund to set up the information centre and hoped that the allocation would be released in the mid-term review of the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Also present were Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Datuk Maznah Abdul Ghani, Tabin Wildlife Holidays Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Yusoff Datuk Haji Mohd Kasim, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, Kunak assemblyman Datuk Nilwan Kabang and State Forestry deputy director Fidelis Edwin Bajau.

Source: Borneo Post (by Azmie Lim)

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20Mar

Domestic tourism on rise

A recent survey conducted by LivingSocial found that domestic tourism is on the rise with close to 60 per cent of Malaysians voting Sabah, Sarawak and Langkawi as the ideal local escape destinations in a recent survey.

More than 40 per cent of respondents chose Taiwan, Korea and Japan for Asian destinations while Europe received the highest vote followed by Australia for international destinations.

“Malaysia has a great deal to offer tourists, and we are delighted that the unique Malaysian travel experiences offered by LivingSocial are very popular among our subscribers,” LivingSocial Malaysia marketing director Irene Foo said in a statement yesterday.

The survey was conducted among 2,000 respondents across four Malaysian states.

She said the survey also revealed that a majority of people planned their travels at least six months ahead, and 98 per cent of the people who travel do it for leisure, 35 per cent search for family-oriented holidays, while 31 per cent look for romantic breakaways.

The survey found that 55 per cent buy travel packages from online group buying sites while 44 per cent buy from online travel agencies.

“More and more Malaysians are buying travel packages online and LivingSocial is committed to providing the best travel deals and experiences,” Foo added.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/17/domestic-tourism-on-rise/#ixzz1pdzEyQT0

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20Mar

Accurate info needed to manage natural resources?

Tourism Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun wants the interlinking social and ecological systems in Sabah to be thoroughly investigated. He said this was important for gathering accurate information that could be used in properly managing the State’s natural resources, which were the key element in the development of Sabah’s tourism industry.

“We are well known for our rich cultural heritage, but a lot more could be done to examine how the socio-ecological systems have been evolving over a long time in our history.

“Perhaps, such information, if collected and investigated, can help in formulating strategies for successful management of at least the key environmental resources,” said Masidi in his speech for the International Annual Seminar on Marine Science and Aquaculture here, yesterday.

The text of his speech was read by Assistant Minister Datuk Ellron Angin, who officiated at the seminar on his behalf.

Masidi said the State Government wanted to make knowledge-based decisions on environmental management for human welfare and mitigating the effects of climate changes.

However, since socio-ecological systems were complex, he said serious analysis and expert opinions were necessary for examining the issues at stake and formulating policies.

“In this connection, I support innovative scientific information as well as lessons from the past. I certainly would like to see that our decisions today have elements of long term sustainability and will in no way become a negative legacy for future scenarios,” he added.

He said scientific evidences suggesting that the climate is changing and ocean ecosystems are undergoing changes as a result, have implications for policies and strategies for responding to the unfolding situations.

This, he added, calls for smart policy decisions at the global level, involving all countries, but while there were serious discussions the countries involved have not walked the talk.

Fortunately in Malaysia, said Masidi, there has been a rapidly growing attention towards environmental conservation, and because of the country’s vast coastline, the concern over climate changes on marine ecosystem was also growing.

He stressed that the government was serious about marine biodiversity and was trying to expand the marine protected areas, control the destructive fishing practices, and increase rehabilitation efforts.

“I intend to support the development of new perspectives of socio-ecological systems which respond to climate as well as social and economic stresses.

“We need to have sufficient information on this aspect, to evolve optimum strategies for managing ecosystems on sustainable basis. Human activities and ecological systems are evolving entities but the direction they take need to adapt to changing realities,” he said.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/14/accurate-info-needed-to-manage-natural-resources/#ixzz1pdypWP3N

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20Mar

Shark-ban draft law gets the nod

The state government has approved a draft amendment to a provision in the Fisheries Act that would ban shark hunting and finning in Sabah waters. Tourism, Culture and Environ-ment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun confirmed the state cabinet’s decision for a ban on shark hunting.

“The state Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry has submitted the amendments to its federal counterparts.

“We hope they can take the necessary action to get the proposed provisions enacted,” he said yesterday.

Masidi said that the state was hoping that the process would not take long as Sabah was eager for the ban to be enforced and it could only be done if the federal Fisheries Act was to be amended.

The state government, over a year ago, proposed a ban on shark hunting and finning in an effort to conserve the shark population.

However, the state was unable to impose the ban on its hunting as such a law involved amending the federal Fisheries Act.

The state Fisheries authorities subsequently worked out a draft amendment to the Fisheries Act that would put in place a ban on shark hunting in Sabah waters.

The draft was approved by the state cabinet at its recent meeting and handed over to the federal authorities.

As an interim measure, the Tourism Ministry supported campaigns initiated by NGOs for people to avoid shark fin soup at restaurants.

They also concentrated on raising awareness among target groups like fishmongers to stop selling sharks and shark fins.

Source: The Star (By MUGUNTAN VANAR)

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