KK & Sabah News Flash

Tambunan district, which is about 80 kilometers east of Kota Kinabalu, is being prepared to be the next premier eco-tourism and recreational center.  It has existing attractions that the Sabah government can include in its various promotional programmes.  One such attraction is the Crocker Range National Park which is within the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR).  The reserve was recognized by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 2014.  Other attractions include the Mahua Waterfall and the Mount Alab Substation.

Visit Tambunan

At the celebration of the district’s third anniversary of Crocker Range as MAB Saturday, State Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has announced that the year 2017 is “Visit Tambunan” Year as set by the district council as a way of promoting Tambunan to become an eco-tourism and recreational center known all over the world.

He also said that a new 12-kilometer Minduk-Siring Hiking Trail is ongoing in connection with the new tour package to cater to those who love hiking and jungle trekking.  The launching of the trail is expected to increase the amount of visitors aside from being advantageous to the local community.

During the celebration, a memorandum between Sabah Parks and the Tambunan district council was signed for the promotion of the identified tourist sites.

Qualification Mismatching Still Affecting Graduates

Unemployment still faces graduates when they leave school due to qualification mismatch and lack of English communication skills.   This was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Raymond Tan in his speech delivered by the political secretary of the Industrial Development Ministry during the opening ceremony of the Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School (STTSS) Education Fair 2017.

An understanding of the country’s economic condition will give students guidance on what course to take if they will continue further education after secondary school studies.  He emphasized the advantage of understanding the state’s direction for economic development so that future manpower requirements may be forecasted.  Thus, the students may have the time to prepare themselves to be job-ready when they graduate.

The educational fair has been going on for seven years now and is aimed to provide students with information and opportunities in various international and local colleges and universities that participated.  This year, the fair is joined by educational institutions from Australia, USA, the UK as well as from Asian countries.

Cancellation of Import of Animals After Rabies Scare

The Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industry (DOVSAI) has announced the cancellation of all licenses for import of dogs, cats and other live animals from Sarawak and other infected areas.   This was mainly due to reports of three rabies incidents in Serian, Sarawak even though no recent cases have been reported.

Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin also announced that Instructions were given to all entry points to tighten inspection of veterinary items to prevent entry of live animals, especially dogs and cats.  He also called on the Health Department to continue coordinating with DOVSAI on cases of animal bites and on the public to do their share should they observe suspicious dog behavior.