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Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Queen graces Borneo Flora Festival
Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah (front, left) visiting the Borneo Flora Festival on Saturday.-Bernama photo LABUAN (July 26): The inaugural Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 drew a massive crowd of thousands eager to experience the vibrant showcase of tropical flora on Saturday. Held at the International Sea Sports Complex, the event, themed 'Borneo Tropical Flora', runs from 8 am to midnight for five days, until July 30. Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, graced and officiated at the event. Present were the wife of the Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi; Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa; Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim; Kuala Lumpur City Hall Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif and Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib. A total of 31 exhibitors are participating in the festival, including those from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan, showcasing 12,000 ornamental plants with hundreds of tropical flower species from across the country. Exhibitors include the Sabah Parks Board of Trustees, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), and local communities such as the Labuan Women Farmers Association and higher learning institutions. Free transport is provided at five pick-up points, while on-site facilities include a surau, information centre and food truck stalls. Over 1,000 volunteers wearing 'Ask Me' badges are available to assist visitors attending the event. The Queen arrived here on Saturday for a two-day official visit, her second to Malaysia's international business and financial centre. She was welcomed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abd Rahman and Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim, upon her arrival at the Labuan Airport at 11.27 am. Also present were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib and Labuan Police chief Supt Mohd Hamizi Halim. Her Majesty is accompanied by the Tunku Temenggong of Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim. On Sunday, Her Majesty will open the Labuan Handicraft Gallery. Dr Zaliha said the inaugural event is more than just a vibrant showcase of tropical blooms and landscape artistry. It is part of a broader strategy under the MADANI Government's reform agenda to realign Labuan's development priorities and steer the island towards a more inclusive and sustainable economic future. Dr Zaliha said that the festival was designed not merely to add to Labuan's event calendar, but to serve as a catalyst for diversification and socioeconomic revitalisation. 'Labuan recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of RM87,000 in 2024, the second highest in Malaysia…however, as I've often reiterated, this economic figure does not reflect the lived experiences of the people. 'The island's economic reliance on the oil and gas sector has waned compared to 10 to 15 years ago,' she said. Dr Zaliha said as part of the government's reformist approach, Labuan's development focus has been recalibrated and the outcome is already evident; Labuan's GDP per capita grew by 5.4 per cent in 2024, outpacing the national average. The island also recorded over one million visitors last year, a 15.7 per cent increase from the previous year, signalling the growing potential of its tourism industry. 'To capitalise on this momentum, we have, over the past year, intensified our focus on developing the tourism sector, which is more sustainable and closer to the people. The BFF is one of the key drivers of this strategic shift,' she said. The minister said the festival's impact is expected to go beyond tourism, generating local socioeconomic opportunities, particularly for the hotel, food, and small business sectors. 'We are targeting 50,000 visitors with an anticipated RM20 million in direct economic impact, while aiming to attract returning visitors in the long run,' she said. Dr Zaliha said beyond its local economic goals, BFF 2025 also champions regional collaboration under the theme of 'Strengthening Borneo Regional Cooperation.' The festival features 31 landscape exhibitors, including participants from the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan, as well as neighbouring states Sabah and Sarawak, and international partners from Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan, Indonesia. 'This cross-border participation reflects our collective commitment to positioning Borneo as a new reference point for the development of the tropical landscape and horticulture industries in the region,' she said. She noted the festival conveys a message far beyond flowers and landscaping; it represents a collective readiness to enhance economic, cultural, and community networks across borders, fostering a complementary and resilient regional ecosystem. 'The diversity of this region is our strength. BFF 2025 will open new avenues for knowledge exchange, investment promotion, and regional trade integration in tourism, landscape, and horticulture sectors. It will also reinforce Malaysia's commitment to ASEAN goals and the BIMP-EAGA cooperation framework,' she added.-Bernama
Borneo Post
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025: Volunteers successfully sow seeds of beauty in Labuan
Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim, KP JWP (third right) with the flower distribution volunteers. LABUAN (July 13): The much-anticipated Borneo Flora Festival @ Labuan (BFF) 2025 is nearing its climax, thanks to the unwavering dedication of nearly 2,000 volunteers, who have formed the backbone of the festival's success. Since last May, three series of volunteer program organised by Department of Federal Territories have been successfully implemented, not just to sow flower seeds, but to display a spirit of togetherness and love for nature in Labuan. The first series saw volunteers working alongside BFF's official ambassador, Nadeera, to sow seeds and prepare planting mediums. A cheerful atmosphere filled the air as participants diligently ensured each seed received the best start. In the second series, volunteers transferred the sprouted seedlings to Padang Membedai, where they were carefully transplanted into polybags in preparation for their next journey. BFF volunteers work together to transplant the flower trees. The culmination of this effort was achieved in the third series which brought together more than 800 volunteers from 43 government agencies including TUDM, Labuan Fire Department, Labuan PDRM, Labuan Navy, private companies and the community of villagers to move 250,000 polybags of seasonal flower plants from Padang Membedai to the BFF Site at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex. This effort not only highlights the commitment of volunteers, but also ensures that Labuan is ready with colorful and stunning flowers for visitors to BFF 2025. 'BFF 2025 is not just a flower festival, but also a celebration of the spirit of togetherness and responsibility towards the environment. We call on everyone to participate in this special event,' said Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim, Director General of the Federal Territories Department at the BFF site. Volunteers from Brunei Darul Salam. With only a few days left before BFF 2025 begins, various interesting attractions await visitors. Among the highlights include interesting photo spots such as the highlight BFF mural, Tombiruo statue, stunning night lighting, concerts by pop artists, coloring competition, and DJ Corner that will definitely add to the excitement. As a complement, the Doulos Hope ship, famous for its diverse collection of reading materials, will dock in Labuan until 28 July 2025, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the world of knowledge alongside the beauty of flowers. Various members of associations, communities, and government agencies join hands to make the BFF 2025 program a success. For domestic and foreign tourists planning to join BFF 2025, don't miss the opportunity to enjoy a 15% discount from official airline partners, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly, by using the promo codes MYBFF15 (Malaysia Airlines) and FYBFF15 (Firefly). In addition, various hotels in Labuan are also offering attractive promotions throughout BFF 2025, making your travel experience more meaningful. Borneo Flora Festival community flowers Labuan
