Latest news with #BorneoFloraFestival
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Borneo Flora Festival 2025 draws 104,543 visitors, boosts eco-tourism
LABUAN: The Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 surpassed all expectations by attracting 104,543 visitors, more than double its initial target of 50,000. The five-day event drew plant enthusiasts and tourists from across Malaysia, Brunei, Kalimantan, and even Timor Leste. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, said the overwhelming response underscores Labuan's rising profile as a hub for eco-tourism and cultural events. 'The response was beyond our expectations. This shows how the Borneo Flora Festival has grown into a regional event of international interest,' she said during the closing ceremony. The festival celebrated Borneo's rich biodiversity, featuring rare orchids, giant pitcher plants, and exotic rainforest blooms. Over 100 exhibitors, including local growers, NGOs, and hoteliers, participated. Activities ranged from floral workshops to conservation-themed competitions, engaging visitors of all ages. Dr Zaliha highlighted the festival's economic benefits, noting a surge in business for hotels, restaurants, and homestays. 'This festival has not only beautified Labuan with nature's finest but also stimulated our economy,' she said. Many homeowners even offered temporary homestays to meet accommodation demand. Adding royal prestige, Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofia, the Queen of Malaysia, visited the event. Organisers attributed the festival's success to strong grassroots support for conservation and plans are underway to expand next year's edition with greater cross-border participation. - Bernama
Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Appointment of Labuan Corporation chairman must be based on merit - Zaliha
Zaliha (right) presenting a mock key of a motorcycle to the 100,000th visitor of the Borneo Flora Festival on Wednesday.-Bernama photo LABUAN (July 30): The appointment of the next chairman of Labuan Corporation must be based on merit and competence rather than local sentiment, to ensure the island's continued social and economic progress, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said. Dr Zaliha stressed that Labuan's development requires strong leadership with a clear vision, a solid grasp of policy implementation and the ability to drive growth for the benefit of the wider community. 'The position should not be politicised or reduced to a matter of local sentiment… What matters is the ability to bring meaningful progress to Labuan, strengthen its economic resilience, and improve the lives of its people,' she told reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the Borneo Flora Festival 2025 here on Wednesday. She said selecting a chairman based on capability and a proven track record is especially vital as Labuan navigates post-pandemic recovery, regional economic competition and national development priorities. 'Labuan, as a federal territory, has garnered increasing attention from both local and international investors, particularly in the logistics, oil and gas, tourism and financial sectors,' she said. Dr Zaliha said this momentum must be sustained with leadership that is proactive and strategic. 'We must appoint someone who can engage stakeholders, drive public-private collaboration and ensure that government initiatives translate into tangible outcomes for the rakyat,' she said. She said the Labuan Corporation chairman plays a key role in shaping policies, overseeing local government affairs and facilitating development projects. Dr Zaliha reiterated that while local perspectives are important, they must complement, not override the need for effective leadership grounded in merit, experience and performance. The post of chairman became vacant following former Kimanis MP Tan Sri Anifah Aman concluding his term last month.-Bernama
Barnama
5 hours ago
- Business
- Barnama
Borneo Flora Festival 2025 Exceeds All Expectations, Draws 104,543 Visitors
LABUAN, July 30 (Bernama) -- The Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 has exceeded all expectations, drawing a remarkable 104,543 visitors, more than double its original target of 50,000. The five-day event drew crowds not only from Labuan and across Malaysia, but also plant enthusiasts and tourists from Brunei, Kalimantan (Indonesia) and even as far as Timor Leste. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, said the overwhelming turnout highlights Labuan's growing reputation as a regional destination for eco-tourism and cultural events. 'The response was beyond our expectations. This shows how the Borneo Flora Festival has grown into a regional event of international interest,' she said during the closing ceremony today. She added that, due to the festival's tremendous success, the Federal government is considering the possibility of organising it again next year on an even greater scale and participation. Celebrating the vibrant biodiversity of the tropics, the festival showcased a stunning array of flora, including rare orchid species, some of the world's largest pitcher plants, and exotic blooms native to Borneo's rainforests. More than 100 exhibitors and florists participated in the event, ranging from local growers and government agencies to environmental NGOs, community groups and hoteliers. The festival also offered a range of floral-themed activities, hands-on workshops and competitions that appealed to visitors of all ages, all aligned with its central theme of conservation, culture, and community. Dr Zaliha noted the festival's substantial economic impact, saying the surge in visitor numbers brought a welcome boost to local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, homestays and transport operators.
The Star
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Labuan in full bloom
Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah (front, left) watching musicians performing with a set of small gongs, known as 'kulintangan' and 'togunggak', and a bamboo flute at the Borneo Flora Festival 2025. — Photos: Bernama and courtesy photos THE inaugural Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 in Labuan drew 48,132 visitors during the first two days of the four-day event. The flower festival was launched by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, in her keynote speech at the launch, said BFF was designed not merely to add to Labuan's calendar of events but also serve as a catalyst for diversification and socioeconomic revitalisation, Bernama reported. The festival themed 'Borneo Tropical Flora' features floral parades, garden installations and music performances. The event, which also saw traditional dance performances and ushers dressed in floral fantasy-themed costumes, showcased the uniqueness and beauty of Borneo's flora and fauna through themed garden exhibitions. A perfect spot to take selfies and wefies. The festival showcased 200,000 varieties of tropical flowering plants across 30 themed gardens. These included exotic species such as orchids, Rafflesia, medicinal herbs and native ferns. Participants from the public and private sectors, local community, schools and higher education institutes contributed to the success of the event. The festival also attracted foreign participants from neighbouring Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia. This is the first time the festival is held in Labuan, following 13 previous editions held in Putrajaya. BFF ends today.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
World's largest pitcher plant on display at Borneo Flora Festival in Labuan
A Tombiruo replica is a centre of attraction at the Borneo Floral Festival in Labuan. – Bernama photo LABUAN (July 29): Seven types of pitcher plants, including the world's largest, were brought in specially from Kinabalu Park to be exhibited at the Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) here. Sabah Parks (TTS) Botanist Sukaibin Sumail said the largest pitcher plant known as 'Nepenthes rajah' is placed in an air-conditioned tent at the Permata Hutan Borneo. 'This pitcher plant, locally known as Kukuanga, can hold about 3.5 litres of water,' he told Bernama when met at the BFF site here. The event, which runs for five days, is set to conclude today (July 30). The BFF, which involves 31 exhibitors from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan, is being held for the first time at the Labuan International Marine Sports Complex. He said other pitcher plants exhibited at BFF are Nepenthes villosa, Nepenthes edwardsiana, Nepenthes stenophylla, Nepenthes burbidgeae, Nepenthes lowii and Nepenthes reinwardtiana. Sukaibin said visitors showed great interest in learning about the pitcher plant,s and he was delighted to share information about the rare species, which is seldom seen in public. In the same tent, a Bernama survey found that the Borneo Tropical Flowers section featured a tree decorated with fresh blooms and illuminated by light-emitting diode (LED) lights, creating a magical ambience within the enclosed space. At the base of the tree, various fresh flowers, including orchids, sunflowers and lilies, are beautifully arranged and accentuated with LED lighting. To preserve the condition of the fresh flowers, only 25 visitors were allowed in at a time. Guests are also welcomed by the natural, sweet fragrance of the 'sundal malam' flower upon entering the tent. Outside the tent, a three-meter-high replica of Tombiruo stands as a powerful symbol and reminder for humans to respect nature, uphold taboos and maintain harmony with nature. Crafted from driftwood, the striking sculpture is the result of a collaboration between local residents, members of the Faculty of Arts and Creative Multimedia at the Sabah Foundation College University, and carving, art and Borneo Heritage enthusiasts. The Tombiruo replica, along with a mural container installation, mural, will remain on display in the area, serving not only as a cultural attraction, but also a a draw for more tourists to Labuan. – Bernama
