‘Stronger ties between peninsula, East Malaysia start with the media’

KOTA KINABALU – Strengthening the ties between the public in Peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysian states can start with media practitioners from these regions forming better relationships and understanding with each other, said Sabah assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment minister, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.  

Bangkuai was echoing the call from the National Press Club (NPC) to formally create a pact involving journalists from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia in line with harmonising the relationship with the respective state governments as well as the federal government.   

“I think we have to take this (NPC’s proposal) seriously. 

“The media plays an important role in spreading information, so when the media from the three regions know and understand each other, they spread the same understanding and spirit of togetherness to the public,” he said.  

He said this during the NPC Goodwill Games dinner programme attended by about 80 journalists from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sarawak and Sabah, yesterday.  

Bangkuai, who also chairs the Sabah Tourism Board, said the programme is a good start to promote national integration, in line with the prime minister’s aspiration of “Keluarga Malaysia” (Malaysian family).  

The NPC Goodwill Games, which is aimed at strengthening the relationship with media professionals in Sabah and Sarawak, was held here starting from Friday and ending yesterday.  

Meanwhile, the programme’s participants were taken to Bangkuai’s state constituency, Kiulu, Tuaran, about an hour’s drive from here, to experience the longest white-water rafting trip in Borneo at Sg Kiulu, yesterday.   

After the rafting session, the participants were briefed about rural and community-based tourism in Sabah.  

Bangkuai said he first introduced rural tourism in Sabah in 2014, starting from Kiulu and Kadamaian, Kota Belud.  

In 2019, rural tourism in Kiulu generated RM5.54 million with 54,000 visitors, while Kadamaian generated RM2.57 million with 217,000 visitors.  

“Not only that rural tourism creates jobs and helps locals to earn an income, but it also makes the community take care of the environment – like the rivers clean,” he said.  

To date, there are about 60 rural tourism products in Kiulu and over 300 statewide. – The Vibes, July 17, 2022