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Daily Express
3 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
RM72 million tourism boost for Sabah: 77 projects approved under 12th Malaysia Plan
Published on: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 29, 2025 By: Clarence Dol Text Size: Handover of the mock cheque for the Maintenance Project for the Year 2025 of Sabah by Khairul to Josie. RANAU: The Federal Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), has approved 77 development projects in Sabah totalling more than RM72 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan. Deputy Minister of Motac Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said one of the projects is the Tourism Facilities Improvement Project in Layang-Layang, Mount Kinabalu. Four other major projects that are currently underway covering the areas in Kinabatangan, Lok Kawi, Sipadan and Manukan. 'All of this demonstrates the government's commitment to ensuring Sabah is at the forefront of sustainable tourism, thus contributing to the economic and social progress of all the people,' he said. Khairul, who is also the Member of Parliament for Batu Sapi, said this when officiating the Handover Ceremony of the Tourism Facilities Improvement Project in Layang-Layang Area, Mount Kinabalu at the Interpretation Centre, Kinabalu Park, on Friday. He commended the State Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and Sabah Parks for successfully organising the programme. He also congratulated Sabah Parks for the efforts and initiatives of being the Project Manager for this project which was approved under the Fourth Rolling Plan, Eleventh Malaysia Plan (RP4, RMKe-11) with a project cost of RM13.8 million. 'Motac also expresses its appreciation and gratitude to the contractors and consultants for their efforts and commitment in completing this project. 'Indeed, this project that has been implemented is proof of the Ministry's commitment in its efforts to drive the tourism sector, especially ecotourism products, as a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic growth. 'In addition, it is to make Sabah a sustainable area as a main destination for tourists, especially for the ecotourism segment,' he said. Khairul believes that this project can have a significant impact not only on the people of Sabah, but also on the country itself, especially ahead of Visit Malaysia Year in 2026. 'Motac hopes that with the completion of this project, it will be able to further increase the number of domestic and foreign tourists coming to Sabah. 'Indirectly, it will not only boost tourism and climbing activities on Mount Kinabalu, but will also provide economic benefits to local residents such as restaurant owners and accommodation providers, as well as providing added value to various other industries,' he said. Meanwhile, he urged Sabah Parks as the Owner Agency, to continue to work with local residents so that all parties can together make this latest tourism product a success. 'I hope Sabah Parks can ensure diligent maintenance and proactive management so that this facility will continue to be able to provide value not only for today, but for future generations, in line with the Government's desire to manage resources prudently and with vision. 'I believe Sabah Parks cares about the importance of this periodic maintenance in ensuring that this project can operate optimally for the long term and can prevent any accidents,' he said. During the ceremony, there was also a signing ceremony of the Project Handover Document between the Permanent Secretary of KePKAS Datuk Josie Lai and Motac Secretary-General Dato' Shaharuddin Abd Sohot. Meanwhile, Josie said, the Layang-Layang area is located at an altitude of 2,744 metres, at kilometre 4 (KM4) of Mount Kinabalu and climbers will usually reach this area between twelve (12.00) noon or one (1.00) pm. 'Before this project, the existing facilities were very limited, with only one open rest hut that could only accommodate around 10 people in unpredictable weather conditions. 'Meanwhile, other climbers had to take shelter in the open, facing rain and cold temperatures,' she said. Looking at this need, she added, the Ministry through Sabah Parks took the initiative to plan to build restaurant and accommodation facilities in the Layang-Layang area. Apart from being a place to rest and eat, she said, it is an alternative to extend the length of stay for climbers on the mountain. 'The implementation of the Layang-Layang Area Tourism Facilities Improvement Project, Mount Kinabalu, Kinabalu Park, Ranau, Sabah began in December 2020 and was successfully completed in September 2024. 'The implementation of the project in the Mount Kinabalu area is different from other development projects because of its location at high altitude and in an environmentally sensitive area recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site. 'This challenging geographical position requires more careful logistical planning; for example, delivery of building materials must be done manually by porters, the use of low-impact construction methods, as well as strict adherence to existing biodiversity conservation guidelines and park regulations,' she said. In addition, she said, the unpredictable weather factors; rain and fog affect the contractor's working time as well as limited physical access, namely no regular road access to the project site. According to Josie, these factors greatly influence and contribute to the implementation period, delays and completion date of this project. 'Now, this new facility can accommodate more than 50 people, complete with restaurant facilities, accommodation, and treatment rooms, control centre and checkpoint areas. 'I believe these facilities can not only improve the comfort of Mount Kinabalu climbers, but also support more systematic visitor management and further enrich the tourism experience on Mount Kinabalu,' she said. Also present were the Director of Sabah Parks, Datuk Dr. Maklarin bin Lakim, heads of departments, Officers from Motac, Park managers and others. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * 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
New Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia's haj quota unchanged, no cost increase for 2025, Dewan Rakyat told
KUALA LUMPUR: No additional haj quota was granted by the Saudi government to any country, including Malaysia, for this year's pilgrimage season, the Dewan Rakyat heard today. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said the additional quota had only been provided to Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) during the previous year and had been fully utilised, including by authorised haj organisers. Na'im also said that no Malaysian official haj quota has gone unused from 2020 up to this year. "The official annual haj quota allocated by the Saudi government to Malaysia is 31,600 pilgrims. "This is based on the decision by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which sets the quota at 0.1 per cent of a country's Muslim population. "Meanwhile, there is no increase in haj costs for the year 2025, with the amount remaining the same as the previous year at RM33,300," he said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. Na'im said this in response to Datuk Dr Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa), who enquired on the justification for the increase in haj costs for 2025, the status of TH investments, and the number of unused haj quotas allocated to Malaysia from 2020 to 2025. Commenting further, Na'im said TH's 3.25 per cent profit distribution for the 2024 financial year, the highest in the past seven years, was due to pilgrims voluntarily rejecting haj financial aid. He added that 263 pilgrims declined the haj subsidy last year, while 396 rejected it in 2023. "As a result, we received a relatively higher dividend for last year, due to both the returns on investment and the savings from the rejected haj subsidies," he said. Na'im added that the government is also exploring a proposal to place matters relating to umrah under the jurisdiction of TH instead of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) to curb fraudulent agents offering fake umrah packages, though he does not view it as a major issue. He said this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) regarding the need to curb fraudulent agents offering fake haj packages, which recently led to 47 pilgrims being stranded. Na'im also said the government has established a special committee involving the police, TH and Motac, aimed at preventing any individual or company from arranging haj trips without proper permits. "As for the question of whether umrah falls under the jurisdiction of Motac or TH, I do not see it as an issue. "While we are discussing the best way forward, including the possibility of placing umrah under TH, that is something we can explore further in discussions with Motac, but what is more pressing is the awareness of the public. "If we receive credible information, we can act to stop such attempts. However, in the case of the 47 stranded pilgrims, we were unable to stop them because they were travelling to other countries. "That group appeared to be on holiday to countries like Turkiye or the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and from there, proceeded to Makkah to perform the haj," he said.
Malay Mail
19-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Amid tourism industry crackdown, Tourism Ministry issues 13 notices
PUTRAJAYA, July 19 — The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) has issued 13 notices for various offences during 22 enforcement operations conducted nationwide in the first two weeks of this month. Motac, in a statement, said that the enforcement operations involved inspections of 180 vehicles, 30 tourism companies, four accommodation premises, and 33 tour guides at several key locations. It added that inspections were also conducted on entities suspected of operating tourism businesses without valid licences in Perak, based on public tip-offs. 'If convicted, the parties involved can face a maximum fine of RM500,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both, under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482),' it said. The ministry also reminded individuals or companies providing tourism services, including transportation, accommodation, or the organisation of tourism activities, either physically or online, to immediately apply for a licence at the nearest state Motac office to avoid strict legal action. Additionally, Motac said it will continue strengthening strategic cooperation with enforcement agencies such as the Road Transport Department, Royal Malaysia Police, National Anti-Drug Agency, and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to ensure full compliance with tourism-related laws. The ministry also welcomed cooperation from the public and industry players to report any tourism activities suspected of violating regulations through the Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA) at — Bernama
Hype Malaysia
14-07-2025
- Hype Malaysia
Selangor Forest Park Now Recognised As UNESCO World Heritage Site
Many of Malaysia's famous landmarks and even its local dishes have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites or listed under UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage. These prestigious accolades are not easily earned; each must meet strict criteria to receive such recognition. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) announced over the weekend that the FRIM Selangor Forest Park has now been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here's the story: In case you're unfamiliar with the term, a UNESCO World Heritage Site refers to any landmark or area inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) World Heritage List. In short, these are places of cultural, historical or scientific significance. FRIM Selangor Forest Park is one such site, a unique example of large-scale tropical forest restoration, achieved through the replanting of trees in a former tin mining area. It's little surprise, then, that it has now been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The inscription was revealed in a statement by Motac during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held from 6th to 16th July at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris. According to The Star, the listing was approved by the 21 member states of the World Heritage Committee, following a nomination process that began in 2013. With this latest achievement, Malaysia now has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Sarawak's Gua Niah and Sabah's Kinabalu National Geopark. 'The ministry is confident that this recognition will add significant value to FRIM Selangor Forest Park as a key tourism product in Selangor. This achievement is expected to boost international tourist arrivals and contribute to Malaysia's economy, particularly benefiting local communities,' Motac added. This is truly an incredible milestone for Malaysia. We look forward to seeing which other landmarks in our homeland will be recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the future. Sources: TheStar, UNESCO, MalayMail
Malaysian Reserve
12-07-2025
- Malaysian Reserve
24-hour accident reporting rule not realistic, says Matta
by AZALEA AZUAR THE Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) has raised concerns over the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry's (Motac) proposal in requiring agencies to file an accident report within 24 hours. Failure to do so will result in their licences being forfeited. The ministry's decision to come up with this proposal was followed by a spate of recent tragic incidents involving tour buses. Matta president Nigel Wong acknowledged the importance of timely accountability and safety, but said it is not realistic. 'During our recent town hall sessions, members expressed that more time is needed for us to provide the information that is required by Motac and we would be happy to comply. 'We urge the authorities not to take punitive action immediately. Instead, investigations should be allowed and due process must be followed,' he said during a press conference today. Additionally, Matta sought clarification from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) regarding its policy on suspending drivers involved in road accidents. The association also wants to know whether the suspension applies only to fatal accidents or if it also includes minor incidents. Wong warned that if a travel company's licence is revoked due to a single incident — before it is even clear who is at fault — it could have serious consequences. If such actions continue without proper checks, it could spread industry-wide and not only harm businesses but also Malaysia's tourism reputation. 'We also would like to call again for the ministries involved, not just Motac, but also the Transport Ministry (MOT) and other agencies to engage in more structured dialogue with the industry in order to find the pain points for the industry itself and to come to a solution which will both protect the interests of the industry, as well as tourists,' added Wong. Moreover, Matta has started developing its own initiatives in response to the recent incidents which include a safety driving course and other training programmes which will be launched soon. It is also introducing a data collection programme to gather information on incidents reported by its members. To address these concerns, Matta held a series of town hall sessions to engage directly with its members in Johor and Kuala Lumpur (KL), which will continue in Sabah, Penang and Terengganu. On July 8, Motac announced that travel agencies with a Travel Operating Business and Travel (Tobtab) licence are required to file an accident report within 24 hours of the incident. On July 7, JPJ decided to immediately suspend the vocational licence of commercial vehicle drivers involved in road accidents while police investigations are underway. JPJ DG Aedy Fadly Ramli reportedly said that if a driver is found guilty or issued a notice for violating any part of the Road Transport Act 1987, their vocational licence will be revoked under Section 56(4)(b) of the same Act. MOTAC recently urged for the return of its regulatory authority over tourism transport. This followed a tragic bus accident in Gerik, Perak, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students. Meanwhile, two men were killed while 16 others were killed in a collision on July 3, which involved a tour bus and two lorries at 80.7km of the Southbound North-South Expressway (PLUS) near Ayer Hitam, Johor.
