Sabah – News Flash

New Route Connecting South Korea and Malaysia

Eastar Jet, South Korea’s budget airline, added another route to connect to Malaysia.  Arriving at Kota Kinabalu, the ZE941 flight that originated from Busan arrived late in the evening Thursday and was the inaugural flight for the second route linking the two countries.  Busan has the potential of increasing tourist arrivals at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) as it is the second largest place in South Korea.

South Korean tourist arrivals have been increasing during the past year with its Incheon (Seoul) – Kota Kinabalu flights which started in July 2010.  With the new flight, they are targeting families and couples and promoting Kota Kinabalu, or Sabah, has the MICE (Meetings, Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions).  Only four and a half hours in the air separates the two countries.

Sabah Weightlifters Win Four More Golds

The National Invitation Weightlifting Championship is being held in Kota Kinabalu at the Manggatal Community Centre.  On its second day, Thursday, the Sabah contingent continues to show their might by winning more medals, totaling their medal tally with 12 golds, 11 silvers and five bronze.  Most of the gold on that day were won by the lady lifters.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan issued a call to the state body to promote the group at the grassroots level where potential athletes can be discovered.  Being active will improve quality and performance of athletes.

Sabah has produced quite a number of weightlifters in the past and it is the hope of the officials that these that state former athletes will encourage the youth to take up this sport.

Christmas Carols by Candlelight

A different kind of Christmas was organized by the Manggata Basel Christian Church every weekend.  There will be carols by candlelight on Saturdays and Sundays at the Food Street neat the Manggatal CKS Hypermarket every 7:30 pm.

In addition to the caroling, there are other activities lined up by the organizer.  The audience will be entertained by live performances of Christian bands, choir presentation of sacred Christmas music and songs while dance troupes of the Lok Yuk Kindergarten, Lok Yuk Primary and Sunday school will also give their rendition of cultural dances. Children will also be treated with free Christmas gifts depending upon availability.

Padang Merdeka Christmas Celebration Ends Friday

Christmas celebrations at Padang Merdeka will end Friday.  The 12^th Christmas Celebration organized by the Sabah Council of Churches and co-sponsored by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) features various presentations and programmes which started Tuesday.  Among the activities to see at the celebration are dances and dramas performed by members of the churches and gymnastics, among others.

The celebration also features a 50-foot Christmas tree that fascinates old and young alike, the manger scene with the baby child and the hundreds of blinking colored lights are everywhere.  Christmas items, products and food are also displayed outside. A big TV screen was also placed outside for the public to see the different projects and programmes featured at the stage.