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Daily Express
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah tourism created 380,000 jobs: Hajiji
Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Liew officiates the event while others look on. Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor reaffirmed that tourism remains a key economic driver for Sabah, underscoring its role in job creation, rural empowerment and sustainable development. 'In 2023, the sector contributed RM13.1 billion to Sabah's economy and supported more than 380,000 jobs across various sectors,' he said, when launching the Asean Travel Exchange (Atex) 2025, here, Thursday. His speech was delivered by State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew. Advertisement Hajiji also praised the growth of community-based tourism, particularly in rural districts where local villagers curate authentic Sabahan experiences. 'In 2024 alone, this sector generated RM7 million in revenue from 18 active districts,' he said and reiterated the State Government's commitment to supporting the sector through infrastructure development and digital enhancement. 'We are upgrading Kota Kinabalu International Airport, improving road access to rural destinations, and expanding digital platforms to manage and promote tourism more effectively,' he said. Hajiji said Sabah is on track to build a future-ready, resilient tourism economy driven by sustainability, technology and cultural identity. Advertisement 'Our vision is for Sabah to be a peace hub, a place where development goes hand in hand with conservation, heritage, and harmony.' He said Atex 2025 marks a turning point for Sabah, serving not only as a platform to showcase the state but also to position it as a strategic partner in shaping the future of Asean tourism. It was organised by the Asean Tourism Association (Aseanta), Federation of Asean Travel Associations (Fata), and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) and brought together over 400 delegates, including more than 200 international buyers from 15 countries and is seen as a strategic platform to strengthen regional tourism cooperation and business linkages. Atex 2025 is the first tourism trade platform led by the private sector under the Asean umbrella. Meanwhile, Sabah is confident of reaching its target of 3.5 million tourist arrivals this year, said Liew. Liew revealed that over one million tourists had already visited Sabah between January and April 2025, generating RM1 billion in tourism revenue. This marks an 18 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. She said the strong start to the year reflects growing interest in Sabah as a destination, which is further supported by the confidence shown by Asean partners through their participation in Atex 2025. 'This is the first time all 10 Asean countries are represented in a tourism event hosted in Sabah, with around 500 delegates attending. 'It's a wonderful programme and a clear sign of the trust and confidence Asean countries have in Sabah,' she said. Liew also stressed that Sabah's strategic location in the heart of Asean positions it as a natural gateway for connectivity and collaboration within the region. 'Sabah is ideally located and increasingly serves as a bridge between regional travel markets. 'I believe this event will lead to stronger ties and more cooperation that will benefit Sabah's tourism sector,' she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
No leads yet in Kalabakan elephant beheadings - Liew
Christina Liew KOTA KINABALU (June 19): There have been no takers of the RM10,000 reward offered for information leading to the capture of those responsible for beheading several elephants in Kalabakan, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew. 'So far, no one has come forward. We have our suspicions, but without solid evidence, we can't charge them in court. We want to charge them, actually. So anything we can do — just to investigate, maybe? We are reaching out to the local community, the kampung people around the area where the elephant was killed,' said Liew. She added that they are contacting villagers in the area, including the village head and the district police. 'Hopefully, we can work together. We've asked them to call our rescue line at any time so that we can follow the tracks and catch them. But I suspect the kampung people know something — they're just hesitant to come forward,' she alleged. Liew also said she does not believe the perpetrators are part of a syndicate. 'I don't believe it is. What do they gain? What do they get from killing these elephants? It's not for the organs or anything. There's nothing they got. They just chopped the head off. Very cruel.' When asked if the government would consider increasing the reward, she replied: 'We can negotiate.' On whether there have been any recent cases of headless elephants, she said, 'No, no. We hope this will stop. I get seriously angry every time I see something like this happen. It's no good, no good. I'm an animal lover myself — I do not like to see these things.' She said she has spoken to Wildlife Department director Soffian Abu Bakar, who informed her that despite the department's best efforts, they have not been able to identify the culprits. 'Hopefully, these kinds of incidents will not happen again. I've already instructed the Wildlife Department director that we cannot allow this to go unpunished. We must make sure this never happens again. This is murder — you are murdering the elephant. We do not allow that,' she stressed. On April 9, Soffian reported that six elephants had been found decapitated in Sabah since July 2024, suspected to be driven by market demand. 'Just in 2024 alone, 32 elephants have been recorded dead due to various causes such as illness, poisoning, suspected murder and shooting, and four of them were beheaded,' he said. 'As of today, two more elephants have been killed the same way — beheaded. That brings the total to six. All these incidents occurred along Kalabakan Road. The most likely reason for these killings, we assume, is ivory,' he added.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Tourism remains Sabah's economic driving force
Christina beats the gong to mark the launch of the event. KOTA KINABALU (June 19): Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said tourism remains the driving force of Sabah's economy, creating more than 380,000 jobs across various sectors. He said that Sabah's tourism industry contributed approximately 15 per cent of the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year and recorded a significant achievement in 2023, contributing RM13.1 billion to the state's economy. 'Yet, statistics alone do not tell the whole story. Behind each number lies a livelihood, a family and individuals who have contributed to the tourism economy. 'We have witnessed firsthand how tourism uplifts communities, and we take pride in our progress in community-based tourism here in Sabah,' he said at the launching of the ASEAN Travel Exchange (ATEX 2025) at Magellan Sutera Resort here on Thursday. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew delivered his speech. He said Sabah is home to many community-based tourism operators, and these initiatives were spearheaded by individuals and families from local villages, particularly rural communities, who create experiences that are distinctly Sabahan. 'As we speak, community-based tourism continues to expand in Sabah due to its immense potential to grow the economy, especially in the rural areas of Sabah. 'In 2024, the total state revenue contribution from this sector amounted to RM7 million from 18 active districts. More community-based initiatives in the rural districts are being introduced to benefit the rural communities,' he said. Hajiji said the State Government is committed to the tourism industry's development. 'We are investing in infrastructure with ongoing upgrades to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, improved road conditions giving access to rural tourism areas and enhanced digital platforms designed to promote and manage visitor experiences effectively. 'We are laying the foundation for a resilient and future-ready tourism economy. Sabah's strategy includes embracing green economy principles, advocating for digital transformation, and enhancing our profile as a premier venue and host for international tourism events,' he said. The Chief Minister said Sabah envisioned itself as a peace hub – a state where businesses thrive, culture, history, and nature exist harmoniously, and development is always balanced with responsibility and sustainability. 'We aspire to be a model demonstrating how tourism can succeed while preserving the very elements that make it unique – our environment, cultures and communities,' he said. Hajiji said ATEX 2025 marked a significant milestone for Sabah as it presents an opportunity to position the state not only as a destination but also as a strategic partner in shaping ASEAN's tourism future. 'We warmly welcome industry leaders from across the region to our shores, inviting all of them to deepen friendships to spark new business ventures and share in the journey ahead,' he said. At the same time, he noted that ATEX 2025 serves as a reminder of just how powerful the combination of tourism, travel, hospitality and aviation can be. 'It creates a robust engine of growth and movement that generates vast opportunities for shared experiences. 'Hosting ATEX 2025 in Kota Kinabalu is not just an honour for us in Sabah, but it is also a platform brimming with potential. It offers us the chance to learn from one another, forge new connections, and collectively shape the future of tourism in this region,' he said.
Daily Express
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah confident of hitting tourism target this year
Published on: Thursday, June 19, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 19, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is confident that they can reach their target of 3.5 million tourist arrivals for Sabah this year. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew ( pic ) said over one million arrivals and RM1 billion in revenue were recorded from January to April, marking an 18 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Advertisement She made the remarks after officiating the Asean Travel Exchange (Atex) 2025 on behalf of the Chief Minister, noting this is the first time all 10 Asean countries are represented in such an event held in Sabah. An estimated 500 delegates are attending the tourism exchange, signalling growing regional interest in Sabah as a strategic travel hub. The Minister said Sabah's central location within Asean positions it well for stronger travel market ties and regional cooperation. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Killing elephants is 'murder', says Sabah minister over spate of deaths in Tawau
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew has issued an emotional plea to villagers to come forward with any information related to the recent spate of Borneo pygmy elephant killings in Tawau. Describing the brutal act as "murder," Liew said the perpetrators must be brought to justice, stressing that such cruelty must not go unpunished. 'I have spoken to the director of the Wildlife Department. Despite our efforts, we have not been able to identify the persons responsible for this cruel act, although there are some suspicions,' she told reporters at the Asean Travel Exchange (ATEX) 2025 launch here on Thursday (June 19). She noted that no one has yet come forward, and there have been no takers for the RM10,000 reward offered for information on the killings. 'We offered a RM10,000 reward for any information, but so far, no one has come forward. I have clearly instructed the department that this kind of act cannot go unpunished. Killing an elephant is murder. We absolutely cannot allow this to happen again,' Liew stressed. However, she believes the local community may hold the key to solving the case but suspects many are afraid to speak up. 'We are working with village heads and the district police in the area to try and obtain more information. I suspect the kampung (village) people know more, but they are very hesitant to say anything. Still, I am hopeful,' she said. When asked whether an organised syndicate could be behind the killings, Liew dismissed the theory. 'I don't believe it is a syndicate. They did not take anything valuable, not the tusks, not the organs. They just cruelly chopped off the elephant's head. Very cruel,' she said. Asked whether the government would consider increasing the RM10,000 reward to encourage potential witnesses to come forward, she replied: 'Let's negotiate on that.' 'There have been no new incidents like this recently, and I truly hope it stays that way. I get very upset when these things happen … I am an animal lover myself, and I cannot bear to see this kind of cruelty.' At least three cases of beheaded elephants were reported between January and April this year. Investigations so far have yielded no solid evidence, and a post-mortem was not possible in the latest case due to the advanced decomposition of the carcass. The Borneo pygmy elephant, native to Sabah, is a fully protected species under state law, with an estimated population of just 1,500. Anyone convicted of harming or killing the animal faces a fine of up to RM250,000 and a five-year jail sentence. Liew urged the public not to turn a blind eye to the situation and come forward if they had any information on the matter.
