Four Sandakan eco-tourism attractions to be upgraded
Liew at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre with founder Dr Wong Siew Te.
SANDAKAN (May 14): Four key eco-tourism sites in Sandakan will undergo significant upgrades with a RM1.25 million allocation aimed at enhancing visitor experiences and supporting conservation efforts.
The funding — comprising RM750,000 from the federal government and RM500,000 from the Sabah government — will benefit the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Agnes Keith House and the upcoming Martin & Osa Johnson Gallery.
The development of the Martin & Osa Johnson Gallery at the PWD 2002 Building, Agnes Keith House, to be carried out this year, is a joint effort by the state government to highlight the history of the exploration of the husband-and-wife duo, Martin and Osa Johnson, in the Kinabatangan region during the 1930s.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew who visited the centres on Wednesday, said these projects form part of the State Government's initiative to ensure Sabah is fully prepared for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
The minister emphasized the Sabah government's commitment to ensuring that facilities provided for tourists, both domestic and international, are of the highest quality, safe, environmentally friendly, and of international standards.
At the same time, she noted that these upgrades would enhance the visitor experience while preserving the ecological value of the area for the long term.
The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, one of the oldest orangutan rehabilitation centres in the world, has drawn visitors from across the globe since its establishment in 1964. It plays a vital role in wildlife conservation efforts and serves as an educational centre for younger generations and international tourists alike.
Meanwhile, the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre remains the only sun bear conservation facility in the world. It provides sanctuary for this endangered species and serves as a hub for environmental education and scientific research.
With infrastructure improvements, both centres are expected to attract more visitors and raise awareness about biodiversity conservation in Borneo.
These efforts are aligned with Sabah's broader commitment to advancing sustainable ecotourism, where environmental preservation and economic development go hand in hand.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
16 UK-Bred Dogs To Join JBPM K9 Unit By November
KOTA BHARU, June 5 (Bernama) -- A total of 16 dogs from the United Kingdom (UK) to be received by the Fire and Rescue Department's (JBPM) K9 Unit are expected to begin duties in November. JBPM director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said each dog costs around RM150,000, adding that five will be deployed to Sabah, two to Sarawak and the remainder to the department's K9 unit base at Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur. 'We expect all the dogs to arrive in Malaysia by October, before commencing duties in November after undergoing several processes and training. 'For the selection process, three officers from JBPM, the Veterinary Department, and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will be sent to the UK. Upon arrival in Malaysia, the dogs will undergo a familiarisation process with their new handlers,' he said. He was speaking to reporters after officiating the 2025 Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption forum here today, also attended by Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan. It had been reported that the JBPM K9 Unit will receive 16 new dogs from the UK, valued at RM2.4 million, this year to replace approximately half of the 34 K9 dogs that have reached 10 to 12 years of age, equivalent to 60 years in human age. -- BERNAMA
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
16 UK-bred dogs to join JBPM K9 unit by November
KOTA BHARU: A total of 16 dogs from the United Kingdom (UK) to be received by the Fire and Rescue Department's (JBPM) K9 Unit are expected to begin duties in November. JBPM director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said each dog costs around RM150,000, adding that five will be deployed to Sabah, two to Sarawak and the remainder to the department's K9 unit base at Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur. 'We expect all the dogs to arrive in Malaysia by October, before commencing duties in November after undergoing several processes and training. 'For the selection process, three officers from JBPM, the Veterinary Department, and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will be sent to the UK. Upon arrival in Malaysia, the dogs will undergo a familiarisation process with their new handlers,' he said. He was speaking to reporters after officiating the 2025 Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption forum here today, also attended by Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan. It had been reported that the JBPM K9 Unit will receive 16 new dogs from the UK, valued at RM2.4 million, this year to replace approximately half of the 34 K9 dogs that have reached 10 to 12 years of age, equivalent to 60 years in human age.
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Fire and Rescue Department adds 16 new UK-bred K9 dogs this October
Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah KOTA BARU: The Fire and Rescue Department will strengthen its search and rescue capabilities with the addition of 16 new K9 dogs from the United Kingdom this October, costing RM2.4mil. Its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said the procurement, each costing RM150,000 inclusive of training, is part of the department's ongoing efforts to enhance operational readiness in critical areas. He said the dogs would be deployed to three key centres: five will be stationed in Sabah, two in Sarawak, while the remaining nine will be based at the K9 unit in Klang Lama, Selangor. "Three officers will be sent to the UK to undergo handler training alongside the dogs. "Once they return, they will be responsible for training other local handlers," he said. Nor Hisham was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Governance, Integrity, and Anti-Corruption Dialogue Programme here today. He added that the K9 unit is expected to be operational by November, in time to support various national-level search and rescue missions, particularly in disaster-prone regions. "This move will significantly improve our detection and rescue capabilities, especially in difficult terrain and during emergencies involving missing persons or natural disasters," he said. It is learnt that the additional dogs will complement the existing 20 across the country. The dogs include breeds such as the English Springer Spaniel and Labrador Retriever, which are more suited to Malaysia's tropical climate and have more effective specialised functions.
