Drastic steps to document 'forgotten' ethnic groups
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2008
Kota Kinabalu: The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has embarked on an endeavour to document "forgotten" ethnic groups in Sabah in the hope of saving them from extinction. Its Assistant Minister, Bolkiah Haji Ismail, on Tuesday said drastic steps have to be taken to preserve their culture and tradition because not only would they die away, the community might also be wiped out from Sabah's demography. There are 32 ethnic groups that have been identified to be heading towards this direction, he said, citing the Bongi community in Banggi Island, which is in danger of extinction. He appreciated that Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka (DBP) is playing a significant role in tandem with the Unity, ...

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MAS To Fly Direct To Tawau Jan 1, 2009
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will fly direct on the Kuala Lumpur-Tawau-Kuala Lumpur route from Jan 1, 2009. In a statement here Friday, MAS said it would offer an all-inclusive fare from RM99 one-way to celebrate the launch of the new service. It said the offer was available exclusively on www.malaysiaairlines.com and tickets would be on sale from now until Dec 21, 2008 for travel from Jan 1, 2009 until Feb 28, 2009. Senior general manager (sales), Datuk Bernard Francis, said the non-stop service aimed to provide better connectivity between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah as well as enhance international and domestic tourist arrivals in the east coast of ...

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Sabah aims to lure tourists in regional market
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2008
KUALA LUMPUR : Sabah's tourism plan will target the regional market specifically the wealthy in Jakarta,Indonesia.Minister of Tourism,Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun said other targets are Singapore,Guangzhou and Hong Kong.He anticipated a drop in tourist arrival in view of the global financial crisis citing an example in Hong Kong where the number of tourists visiting the island has declined by 8.4 per cent."I will not be honest if I say that Sabah is not going to be affected. The state is also going to be affected although it has yet to be seen and we expect the real impact will probably be felt in the first quarter of next year," he said.Masidi was speaking after a tourism ...

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Azalina: Keep malls open until midnight
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2008
KOTA KINABALU: Shopping mall managements have been urged to keep their centres open until midnight at least once a week to make the country a popular shopping destination. Tourism Minister Datuk Azalina Othman said it would be good for the malls to be open for a few more hours after the closing time of 10pm. "Perhaps the managements can consider doing it once a week, say on weekends," she said while launching the Sabah-level Malaysian Mega Sale Carnival at the 1Borneo mall here recently She said that Malaysia was becoming well known as a shopping destination as prices of goods here were more reasonable than in other countries. Azalina said that concerted efforts should be made to ...

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Next Monsoon Cup in Sabah?
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2008
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Monsoon Cup will be held in Sabah next year. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said international events, such as the yacht tour, should not be held at the same place over the years. "The Monsoon Cup has been held in Terengganu for the past four years and I think foreigners would love to see other parts of the country as well. The same goes for the Formula One race. I wish I could take it (Formula One race) everywhere rather than just hold it in Sepang so that people won't get bored," she said at the Sutera Harbour Resort here yesterday. The minister, on a two-day visit to Sabah, said she had invited state Tourism, Culture and Environment ...

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Invitation to holiday here
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2008
SANDAKAN: Tourists who have cancelled their holiday trips to either Mumbai or Bangkok should consider holidaying in Malaysia. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said Malaysia was attractive and peaceful, and visitors are assured of their safety when they holiday here. "Amid the crisis that is happening in other countries, we are a peaceful nation," she said after launching the Zoom! Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok here yesterday. Azalina said tourists need not worry about flight cancellations because local airlines were safe and reliable. On domestic tourism, Azalina said state governments should focus on niche markets rather than anchor markets. ...

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