Gaya villages undergoing vibrant transformation
Published on: Wed, Jul 02, 2025 Text Size: Joniston launching the 2025 Project Picaso Art Competition under the Meraki Daat Initiative. Also seen are Sabah Tourism Board product division senior manager Effendi Mahany (left) and Meraki Daat Initiative President Michelle De La Harpe (third left). Kota Kinabalu: A vibrant transformation is taking shape on Gaya Island, where water villages are turning their homes into colourful, community-driven tourism attractions. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai commended the Meraki Daat Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, for actively involving Gaya residents in transforming their living spaces into potential community tourism attractions. This follows Joniston's first meeting with the Meraki Daat Initiative in 2022, where he encouraged the group to incorporate a community-based tourism approach into their project to ensure greater local involvement and shared economic benefits. Joniston, also Sabah Tourism Board Chairman, said such commitment aligns with the State's vision to promote sustainable tourism, particularly through community-based attractions that showcase Sabah's unique identity. On Tuesday, the Meraki Daat Initiative team, led by its President Michelle De La Harpe, briefed Joniston on the progress of their ongoing Project Picasso, which aims to revitalise water villages and turn them into Instagram-worthy tourist spots. The project focuses on creatively painting stilt houses and working closely with the Sabah Tourism Board to promote these water village destinations. In June, the Sabah Tourism Board conducted a workshop that brought together five water villages on Gaya, namely Lok Urai, Torong Logong, Lobong, Kesuapan and Kampung Pondoh. Joniston was briefed that these villages are now working towards formal registration to form Community-Based Tourism Gaya Island. 'This is a positive step forward. Pulau Gaya is a unique settlement with its own story to tell. 'Developing community-based tourism on the island will create value for the villagers, especially given its proximity to the city centre. 'However, it is crucial to foster a cleaner, safer and more sustainable tourism environment. Local participation and ownership are key to this effort,' he said. During the meeting, Joniston launched the 2025 Project Picasso Art Competition themed Ocean Creatures, as part of the initiative to encourage creative community participation to further beautify their villages. Michelle said the goal includes transforming public spaces into vibrant community-owned tourism attractions, adding the project combines youth development, art and environmental sustainability. 'We are currently building a 200-metre pathway towards the volleyball court using eco-bricks, made from recycled plastic waste. This innovation won the United Nations Development Programme's Island Waste Innovation Challenge last year,' she said. The art competition runs from June 30 to July 31, 2025. The judging is scheduled for Aug 1–7, followed by site painting from Aug 20–27 and the official opening and mural launch on Aug 31. The public can follow updates on the Meraki Daat Initiative via their website www.merakidaat.org and social media platforms. * 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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Daily Express
Consul General calls on Liew
Consul General calls on Liew Kota Kinabalu: Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Zhu Xinglong paid a courtesy call on Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew on Monday. Consul General Zhu said under the strategic guidance of the leaders of China and Malaysia, bilateral relations have reached a historic high, and the prospects for cooperation between the two countries are broad. Advertisement 'China is Sabah's largest source of international tourists,' he said. The Consul General expressed willingness to work closely with the Minister to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, and to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between China and Sabah in areas such as governance, civilisational dialogue, cultural industries, tourism, and poverty alleviation, in a joint effort to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. SPONSORED CONTENT Minister Liew warmly welcomed Consul General Zhu's assumption of office in Sabah and noted that China's rapid development in recent years is remarkable. Advertisement She expressed her readiness to maintain close communication and coordination with the Consul General, learn from China's governance experience, and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Sabah and China. 'Let us work together to usher in the next 'Golden 50 Years' of China-Malaysia relations,' Liew added. Advertisement Also present were Deputy Consul General Xue Xiaoning and other officials, and Sabah Tourism Board Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tay Shu Lan.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Daily Express
Gaya villages undergoing vibrant transformation
Published on: Wednesday, July 02, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 02, 2025 Text Size: Joniston launching the 2025 Project Picaso Art Competition under the Meraki Daat Initiative. Also seen are Sabah Tourism Board product division senior manager Effendi Mahany (left) and Meraki Daat Initiative President Michelle De La Harpe (third left). Kota Kinabalu: A vibrant transformation is taking shape on Gaya Island, where water villages are turning their homes into colourful, community-driven tourism attractions. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai commended the Meraki Daat Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, for actively involving Gaya residents in transforming their living spaces into potential community tourism attractions. This follows Joniston's first meeting with the Meraki Daat Initiative in 2022, where he encouraged the group to incorporate a community-based tourism approach into their project to ensure greater local involvement and shared economic benefits. Joniston, also Sabah Tourism Board Chairman, said such commitment aligns with the State's vision to promote sustainable tourism, particularly through community-based attractions that showcase Sabah's unique identity. On Tuesday, the Meraki Daat Initiative team, led by its President Michelle De La Harpe, briefed Joniston on the progress of their ongoing Project Picasso, which aims to revitalise water villages and turn them into Instagram-worthy tourist spots. The project focuses on creatively painting stilt houses and working closely with the Sabah Tourism Board to promote these water village destinations. In June, the Sabah Tourism Board conducted a workshop that brought together five water villages on Gaya, namely Lok Urai, Torong Logong, Lobong, Kesuapan and Kampung Pondoh. Joniston was briefed that these villages are now working towards formal registration to form Community-Based Tourism Gaya Island. 'This is a positive step forward. Pulau Gaya is a unique settlement with its own story to tell. 'Developing community-based tourism on the island will create value for the villagers, especially given its proximity to the city centre. 'However, it is crucial to foster a cleaner, safer and more sustainable tourism environment. Local participation and ownership are key to this effort,' he said. During the meeting, Joniston launched the 2025 Project Picasso Art Competition themed Ocean Creatures, as part of the initiative to encourage creative community participation to further beautify their villages. Michelle said the goal includes transforming public spaces into vibrant community-owned tourism attractions, adding the project combines youth development, art and environmental sustainability. 'We are currently building a 200-metre pathway towards the volleyball court using eco-bricks, made from recycled plastic waste. This innovation won the United Nations Development Programme's Island Waste Innovation Challenge last year,' she said. The art competition runs from June 30 to July 31, 2025. The judging is scheduled for Aug 1–7, followed by site painting from Aug 20–27 and the official opening and mural launch on Aug 31. The public can follow updates on the Meraki Daat Initiative via their website and social media platforms. * 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
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Borneo Post
China, Sabah pledge closer ties in tourism, culture, development
Zhu (right) and Liew discuss the enhancement of bilateral relations, among other matters of common interest. KOTA KINABALU (July 1): The new Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Zhu Xinglong, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew on Monday. Consul General Zhu said under the strategic guidance of the leaders of China and Malaysia, bilateral relations have reached a historic high, and the prospects for cooperation between the two countries are broad. 'China is Sabah's largest source of international tourists,' he said. The Consul General expressed willingness to work closely with the minister to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, and to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between China and Sabah in areas such as governance, civilisational dialogue, cultural industries, tourism and poverty alleviation, in a joint effort to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. Liew warmly welcomed Zhu's assumption of office in Sabah and noted that China's rapid development in recent years is remarkable. She expressed her readiness to maintain close communication and coordination with the Consul General, learn from China's governance experience, and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Sabah and China. 'Let us work together to usher in the next 'Golden 50 Years' of China-Malaysia relations,' she added. Also present were Deputy Consul General Xue Xiaoning and other officials, and Sabah Tourism Board Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tay Shu Lan. The Chinese Consulate General also expressed its willingness to further strengthen cooperation with the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah, with the shared aim of assisting local businesses in expanding into the Chinese market, establishing government-to-business dialogue platforms, promoting intergovernmental exchanges, and enhancing interactions in education, youth development and cultural engagement to create new momentum for bilateral collaboration. On Monday night, Zhu, accompanied by Xue and Consuls Fan Yichang, Liang Yutai and Wen Desi, held an in-depth exchange session with representatives of MCCC Sabah. The two sides engaged in extensive discussions on deepening bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and China, enhancing subnational and local-level connectivity, and promoting economic, trade and cultural exchanges. The exchange dinner was jointly facilitated by MCCC Sabah's Public Relations Officer Edmund Goh and Assistant Public Relations Officer Yong Wei Hau, in collaboration with the Chinese Consulate General, reflecting a high degree of mutual understanding and a shared vision for regional cooperation. Zhu noted that the Chinese government attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Malaysia. In particular, President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia in April 2025 marked the beginning of the 'Golden 50 Years' era in bilateral relations. During the visit, both countries signed multiple agreements covering trade, technology, agriculture, education, and culture, injecting new vitality into bilateral ties. He emphasized that Sabah occupies a key strategic position in the broader framework of Malaysia–China cooperation. In recent years, from palm oil exports to tourism services, Sabah's trade with China has seen steady growth, highlighting its vast potential. Datuk Dexter Lau, president of MCCC Sabah, shared that the chamber remains committed to its guiding principle of 'communication, cooperation, and mutual benefit,' and will continue to lead its member enterprises to actively participate in various levels of Malaysia–China collaboration. Over the coming months, the Chamber has planned a series of exchange visits to China — including trips to Chongqing, Yunnan University, Zhengzhou in Henan Province and Xinjiang — to attend economic forums, engage in business matchmaking, and explore cooperative opportunities, with the aim of expanding business prospects and integrating cross-border resources. He also expressed hope that the Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu would continue leveraging its networks and resources to support the Chamber, assist its members in expanding into the Chinese market, connect with potential partners, and gain access to strategic platforms — ultimately helping Sabah entrepreneurs, particularly the Chinese business community, to grow stronger and enhance their overall competitiveness and visibility. This exchange dinner not only highlighted the Consulate's strong commitment to supporting MCCC Sabah but also injected fresh impetus into strengthening strategic cooperation between China and Malaysia. Both sides agreed on the need to maintain close communication, promote practical cooperation mechanisms, and enable Sabah to play an even more active bridging role under the evolving framework of Malaysia–China relations — working together to achieve more high-quality collaborative outcomes. Also present at the event were MCCC Sabah representatives, including Life Honorary Adviser Datuk Lau Kok Sing, Honorary Adviser Dato' Soh Poh Soon, former president Datuk Michael Chin, Deputy President Kapitan Dr Callee Tan, Vice President Lau Jiin Woei, Vice President Loius Su, Treasurer Shawn Tan, Deputy Treasurer Tommy Lo, Women Entrepreneurs Committee (WEC) Committee Members Angelina Zhang and Liu Li Rong, as well as members Datuk Lim Su Chung, Dr Wong Tze Sheng, Dexter Yeh, Bernard Chu and Douglas Chong.
