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Daily Express
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
‘Hand post back to Labuan-born'
Published on: Monday, May 19, 2025 Published on: Mon, May 19, 2025 By: Sohan Das Text Size: Jalali (right) recalled that when Anifah (left) was appointed to the position, it sparked outrage as Anifah was seen as an 'outsider' who lost his deposit when his Parti Cinta Sabah was also wiped out in the previous Sabah election. LABUAN: The post of Chairman of Labuan Corporation should be handed back to a Labuan-born when the term of Tan Sri Anifah Aman, who is from Sabah, expires next month. Activist Hj Abdul Haji Jalali Hj Ghani said there are qualified and capable local leaders who should not be denied the opportunity as very few locals hold top positions on the island. Advertisement Jalil recalled that when Anifah was appointed to the position, it sparked outrage as Anifah was seen as an 'outsider' who lost his deposit when his Parti Cinta Sabah was also wiped out in the previous Sabah election. But some quarters urged that he be given a chance to prove what he could do for the island. 'Next month he completes his two-year term but has he anything to show from all his overseas missions to bring in investors?' said Hj Abdul Haji Jalali. He said being a Foreign Minister previously should not automatically qualify someone to be Chairman of LC which 'needs different requirements to face different challenges'. 'It is so far also unclear if Anifah who is also Special Advisor to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, was the one who brought in multi-billion ringgit investors to Sabah like e-steel, Kibing and Nexilis. Advertisement 'Or else, he could also have brought such investments to Labuan as well,' he said. Due to lack of his presence on the island last year, Chairman of Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Datuk Wong Kii, told him to decide whether he was really interested in serving Labuan. Anifah was also appointed Senator representing Labuan. Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh also said he heard complaints that Anifah was seldom in Labuan. 'Besides, with state elections looming in Sabah, Hajiji would be depending on Anifah and the Parti Cinta Sabah to help GRS win,' he said. The previous Chairmen of LC were all Labuan residents and they include Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (2001-2009), Datuk Rozman Isli and Datuk Bashir Alias. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Over 50,000 visitors expected in Labuan for Borneo Floral Festival 2025 in major tourism push
Invited guests and volunteers in a group photo during the pre-BFF event. KUCHING (May 5): Labuan will be hosting the BORNEO FLORA FESTIVAL (BFF) 2025 from July 26 to 30, which is expected to draw more than 50,000 local and foreign tourists to the duty-free island. Organised by Department of Federal Territories, Labuan Corporation and Putrajaya Corporation, the BFF 2025 will also engage several other government agencies and relevant private parties. BFF is inspired by Floria Putrajaya and aims to promote Labuan as a tourist attraction in Borneo. The festival will take place at the Labuan Sea Sports Recreational Park where more than 200,000 species of flora and fauna will be showcased for visitors. Among the 20 floral themes to be exhibited are 'Borneo Rainforest Gem', 'Magical Park', 'Night Light Park', 'Underwater World', 'Instagram Park', 'Artistic Bazaar', 'Duty Free Bazaar', and 'Luxury Oasis Camp'. A promotional booth was launched at the Labuan Airport on May 3 to serve as the pre-BFF event. Meanwhile, a group of more than 1,200 volunteers including local undergraduates took part in the preparation of a seedling nursery and the transplant of 200,000 flower seedlings at Tapak Semaian Pulau Buah. Official BFF ambassador Farah Nadeera (fourth left) in a group photo with the invited guests at the pre-BFF event. A special announcement was also made on the appointment of local artiste Farah Nadeera Zaini as the official ambassador of Borneo Floral Festival 2025 Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said this year's Borneo Floral Festival is one of the major tourism events promoted by the government to uplift Labuan's economic development, giving a boost to hoteliers, eatery operators and local entrepreneurs. She said Labuan has great potential in tourism development as well as other industries such as finance and oil and gas. She believes the upcoming event will further enhance the island's economic development, bringing about more business to various sectors including hotels, transportation, food and beverage, and accommodation. The government encourages all Malaysians, particularly those from Sabah, Sarawak, as well as Bruneians to actively take part in the BFF 2025. Under the leadership and planning of the Madani Government, several transformation programmes are being implemented to further develop the economy and tourism sector in Labuan. The current scenarios and future development for Labuan include: Official Borneo Floral Festival 2025 ambassador Farah Nadeera poses during the promotional event. 1. International Business and Financial Centre Labuan will continue to play its role as an International Business and Financial Centre (IBFC), attracting global financial institutions. The Labuan IBFC has provided a conducive environment for entrepreneurs particularly in the fields of Islamic finance, digital banking, and fintech. The government aspires to transform Labuan into a digital banking and Islamic finance hub so as to provide a strong ecosystem for the digital banking and fintech industry players. A section of the volunteers help to transplant flower seedlings at Tapak Semaian Pulau Buah. 2. Duty Free Island Labuan is a paradise for duty-free shopping aficionados. As a free port, Labuan offers substantial savings on a plethora of items, from luxury goods to everyday essentials. Labuan is scattered with numerous duty-free outlets, especially around the ferry terminal and Financial Park area. These shops are treasure troves for discounted perfumes and cosmetics from renowned brands like Chanel and Dior, liquor and tobacco products at significant savings, and a variety of chocolates and confectioneries. 3. Infrastructure development The Madani government has set aside RM58 million to develop several major infrastructure projects in Labuan, with emphasis on the improvement of social economy and tourism. One of the major development projects is the first phase of the Labuan Waterfront, which is aimed at drawing in more tourists to give a boost to local tourism. In addition, the government is in the midst of upgrading the utility infrastructure to support economic activities. Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim (front row, third left) poses with the BFF Ambassador team. 4. Digital and Islamic Finance The Labuan Development Blueprint includes the aspiration of seeing the federal territory emerge as the digital and Islamic finance centre. Such plan includes attracting investments in fintech, digital banking, and asset management, with a stronger emphasis on investments for Islamic finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG). These strategic initiatives in terms of tourism and economic development are aimed at positioning Labuan as a vibrant and sustainable tourist destination, creating growth and opportunities for the locals and tourists alike. In a nutshell, Labuan has long become a global business and financial centre that attracts several financial institutions and corporations. Additionally, the federal territory is equipped with modern basic infrastructure including the Labuan Financial Park, Labuan War Memorial, Labuan Airport, and Labuan Ferry Terminal. Apart from the recently-concluded Labuan International Sea Challenge and the forthcoming BFF, the Borneo Arts Festival which will be held in September is expected to attract both local and international participants. Previously, Dr Zaliha had stated that the federal government will continue to give due attention to the economic development in Labuan towards ensuring its development progress is on par with its counterparts in developing countries.
Daily Express
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Express
230kg rare black Marlin loses battle
230kg rare black Marlin loses battle LABUAN: The star attraction of this year's Labuan International Sea Challenge (LISC) was a hefty 230kg rare black Marlinbut the fact that it fetched only RM3,000 in reward did not matter for the nine Labuan anglers who hooked the fish after a herculean battle at sea. 'It's not the money. There was greater satisfaction in finally catching the prized fish which is regarded as the Rollsroyce of the seas for its scarcity and swimming speed of 80km per hour. To catch it is the dream of every angler,' said Wyner Vilus Boijohn, spokesman for his nine-member team which travelled in three boats to hit the 'jackpot' some 160 nautical miles from Labuan. Advertisement The RM 3,000 was because the marlin was caught under the bill fish category. Over-all champions won between RM45,000 and M10,000. The popular marlin is also the original symbol of Labuan's premier game fishing challenge which started in 1979. The marlin hauled in last week was at Ardaser Reef off the Spratlys. SPONSORED CONTENT Wyner said the marlin put up fierce resistance at some point diving as deep as 500 meters. 'We finally managed to subdue it after an hour and won the tug-of-war. 'Six anglers were involved in pulling up the giant' Advertisement The trolling fishing method was used with a 130lb fishing rod and size 130 fishing reel filled 900m of monofilament was used to lure the targeted fish. Wyner said the team was glad the record-breaking catch confirms Labuan remains the ideal regional destination for such events which organised yearly by Labuan Corporation with the support of other agencies. Advertisement The eight other anglers in the Labuan team were - Teddy Eric Alfred,Anthony Tony Dominic,Ker Chin Cheang, Shamsuri A Rahman,Kairudin Hamidun, Armat Mosidin,Zainulariffin Julkapli ,M Yusof Manan and three crew. Labuan is no stranger to such super-sized fish. In 2017 an amateur fisherman hooked a 205kg grouper and sold it to a restaurant for more than RM 10,000 and another 241 kg was caught in 2019 and sold for RM12,255 more recently another 160kg monster fetched RM8,000 in the market.
Daily Express
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Express
Labuan siblings secure third straight win
Published on: Monday, April 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Apr 28, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Nadzmar (right) and Shahdan line up with the other competitors before the race on Sunday. LABUAN: Local siblings Nadzmar Sukarno and Shahdan Sukarno continued their remarkable dominance in sea sports by clinching their third consecutive victory in the Labuan International Round Island Kayak Challenge 2025. Representing the Labuan Canoe Association, the brothers showcased outstanding endurance and determination by winning the 51.2-kilometre race, despite undergoing only three months of training ahead of the competition. The Labuan Round Island Kayak Challenge, renowned for its demanding course that circumnavigates Labuan Island, drew 48 participants from various states across Malaysia, and neighbouring Brunei. Competitors battled strong sea currents, unpredictable weather, and open-water conditions, making it a true test of physical and mental strength. Labuan Corporation chief executive officer, Mohd Sukuran Taib praised the brothers' achievement, noting that their success underscores the growing strength of Labuan's athlete development programmes. He said their achievement reaffirmed their status as among Malaysia's top kayak athletes. 'The victory of Nadzmar and Shahdan for the third year in a row is a testament to their exceptional discipline, skill, and perseverance. 'Winning an event of this scale and difficulty with only three months of preparation is simply remarkable. 'This success also reflects the effectiveness of Labuan's ongoing efforts to nurture sporting talent, particularly in sea sports. It is achievements like these that inspire young athletes to strive for excellence,' he said after the event's closing ceremony on Sunday. Their latest triumph at the Labuan Round Island Kayak Challenge marks another proud milestone for Labuan, inspiring the next generation of sea sports champions from the island. Mohd Sukuran highlighted the Labuan International Round Island Kayak Challenge is one of the four flagship events of LISC 2025, alongside the International Deep Sea Fishing Challenge, the Regatta International Race, and the Labuan Kayak Mini Marathon Challenge. Meanwhile, Sarawak teams once again proved their prowess in extreme sea sports, sweeping top honours in the Labuan International Sea Challenge (LISC) 2025 15hp speed boat race. In the Original Engine category, Team Laser Line from Lawas powered their way to victory, securing first place, while their counterparts Laser Line 1st Runner Up took second, with local Labuan team TM Online third. The Engine Modified category saw another Sarawak-based team, Laser Lind of Limbang, dominate by clinching both first and second places and Superman from Lawas in third place. The thrilling event, which offered a total prize pool of RM25,000, was one of the highlights during the closing day celebrations of the LISC 2025. Held from April 22 to 27, it featured 12 exhilarating events and attracted thousands of visitors. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Barnama
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Rare Black Marlin Catch Sets New Milestone At LISC 2025 Flagship Event
LABUAN, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Labuan International Deep Sea Fishing Challenge, a flagship event of the Labuan International Sea Challenge (LISC) 2025, has made history with a record-breaking catch — a Black Marlin weighing 230 kg, the largest ever recorded since the event's inception in 1997. The remarkable achievement left both participants and organisers in awe, setting a new milestone for the prestigious deep-sea fishing competition. Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib described the catch as 'overwhelming' and a significant boost to Labuan's standing as a premier destination for sport fishing. 'This historic catch of a rare Black Marlin certainly enhances LISC's prestige. It reflects the rich marine resources of our waters and will surely attract even more international anglers in the future,' he told Bernama after the auction of catches at the Labuan International Sea Sport Complex here today. This year's challenge drew a strong turnout, with 212 participants from Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. On April 22, anglers set sail from Labuan towards the rich fishing grounds off Layangan Island and the Spratly Islands. The Hong Kong team emerged as overall champions, recording the highest cumulative catch weight of 101.70 kg, taking home a cash prize of RM45,000. Malaysia's 360 Anglers 1 team finished second with a total catch of 67.12 kg, earning RM15,000, and the CK Team secured third place with 75.98 kg, receiving RM10,000. The angler who caught the extraordinary Black Marlin was awarded a cash prize of RM3,000 under a special category.
