Latest news with #Liew
The Star
20 hours ago
- The Star
Tip off authorities on jumbo killings, Sabah villagers urged
KOTA KINABALU: 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 such killings as 'murder', the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said the perpetrators must be brought to justice as such cruelty must not go unpunished. 'I have spoken to the Wildlife Department director. Despite our efforts, we have not been able to identify the person responsible for this cruel act, although there are some suspicions,' she told reporters at the Asean Travel Exchange 2025 launch here yesterday. 'We offered RM10,000 for any information but so far, no one has come forward. I have clearly told the department that these acts cannot go unpunished. 'Killing an elephant is murder. We absolutely cannot allow this to happen,' Liew said. At least three cases of beheaded elephants were reported between January and April. 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. She believes the local community may hold the key to solving the killings but 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 people know but they are very hesitant to say anything. Still, I am hopeful,' she said. Liew dismissed a theory that a crime syndicate could be behind the killings. '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.' On whether the government would consider increasing the RM10,000 reward, she replied: 'Let's negotiate on that.' 'There have been no new incidents recently, and I truly hope it stays that way. I get very upset when these things happen. I am an animal lover and I cannot bear to see this kind of cruelty,' she said. The Borneo pygmy elephant, which is 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.
Daily Express
a day 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
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Asean urged to set minimum wage standard, provide stronger support to keep women in workforce
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and other Asean member countries should collectively establish a minimum wage standard to prevent the bloc from undercutting one another with lower salaries. 'It is important that Malaysia and Asean economies collectively set a floor to ensure there is no race-to-the-bottom in wage suppression as women will be most hurt,' Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong said in his speech at the Women Economic Forum Asean 2025 today. He pointed out that the theme for Malaysia's Asean chairmanship in 2025 is 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', reflecting its commitment to ensuring shared progress and prosperity across the region, leaving no one behind as it aims to achieve stability and resilience. Liew said Malaysia's female labour participation rate remains low at 56%, compared to 82.9% for men, which is lower than many of the Southeast Asian economies. He said the Malaysian economy has been depending on unskilled and cheap foreign labour for the last three decades, which has kept wages low and made businesses less likely to hire women. 'If there are too many foreign workers, the salaries will be lower, and it will no longer be attractive to women entering the formal sector. That is a challenge that we have to deal with as a nation.' Liew said the nation needs more skilled workers and a higher wage level to attract more women into the formal labour market. 'A tight labour market will encourage employers to pay more attention to making it more attractive for women to join the workforce.' Liew highlighted that 65% of Malaysian public university students are women, indicating a higher enrolment rate of women compared to men. 'However, the balance changes upon these graduates entering the workforce.' Therefore, Liew called for stronger support systems to help women remain in the workforce over the long term. 'We need to have a stronger childcare, aged care and overall healthcare structure to support women in the workforce. We need a strong care economy.' Liew also said Malaysia is an example of high women's participation in economic decision-making at the higher level, but a low overall female labour participation rate. In Malaysia, women account for 58% of the civil service, and 42% of senior positions (JUSA/Super Scale C and above), a figure Liew described as 'quite high among developing countries'. Liew said 69% of staff are women within the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. He added that Malaysia mandates 30% female representation on public-listed company boards since 2023, with high compliance so far. The Women Economic Forum Asean 2025, organised by Yayasan Bina Kesejahteraan with the support of Miti was graced by Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, wife of the prime minister, and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Shariff.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Miri chef wins World National Tapas competition with bold Sarawak laksa twist
Liew (right) and Jack pose for photographs during the closing ceremony of the World National Tapas and World Asia Tapas Competition Exhibition and Seminar 2025. – Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad KUCHING (June 19): Chef Liew Kit Kiet from Miri was crowned champion of the World National Tapas Competition 2025, beating 20 fellow Sarawakian chefs for the coveted spot to represent Malaysia at the prestigious World Tapas Championship in Spain this November. The 24-year-old culinary talent wowed judges with his innovative take on the beloved Sarawak Laksa, reimagining the iconic dish with a daring twist of dark chocolate and coconut cheese. 'I am very surprised and happy to be named this year's champion,' he said when met at the closing ceremony of the World National Tapas and World Asia Tapas Competition Exhibition and Seminar 2025 held at KTS Garden here today. 'It is an honour, and I am really proud of myself, especially since this is my first time ever participating in a cooking competition.' What made Liew's Sarawak Laksa stand out was not just its bold reinterpretation, but the respect he retained for the dish's traditional flavours. 'I stayed true to the traditional flavour of the laksa, but reimagined it in a more modern tapas style,' he said. 'I added dark chocolate to balance the spices, and fermented coconut 'santan' to make coconut cheese.' The result was a nostalgic and comforting yet inventive bite – a tribute to his Sarawakian roots infused with a refreshing touch of innovation. 'For me, Sarawak Laksa is a flavour I always crave for when I miss home. It really comforts me,' said the chef, who is currently based in Kuala Lumpur. Second place went to Chef Jack Owen Atit from Kuching's Kyujin restaurant, who brought his heritage and culinary experience into the spotlight through a dish inspired by 'kasam', a traditional method of indigenous fermentation. The 36-year-old's creation, 'Golden Gem', is shaped into a delicate golden ball, which features Kasam Wagyu at its core while coated with lacto-fermented Terung Dayak. 'The Golden Gem represents our indigenous vegetable Terung Dayak, otherwise known as Terung Asam, which is not really well-known outside of Sarawak. 'So, I wanted to let people know that there are many ways we can use this native vegetable,' he explained. Rather than serving the Terung Dayak, known for its distinctive sour taste, in the typical soup or stew, Jack turned the humble native ingredient into a sophisticated, cold dish that surprised the judges. 'I wanted to highlight how fermentation has always been a part of our way of preserving food long before the existence of refrigerators. 'This dish brings that technique into a modern context,' said Jack, who has been a chef for 15 years. chef Liew Kit Kiet miri Tapas
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.
