Homes at Gaya Island to be colourful soon, says Bangkuai
State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai praised the Meraki Daat Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, for actively involving local residents in revitalising their villages as part of a community-based tourism (CBT) effort.
This follows Bangkuai's first meeting with the Meraki Daat Initiative in 2022, where he encouraged the group to adopt a CBT approach to ensure stronger community engagement and shared economic benefits.
'This commitment aligns with the state's push to promote sustainable tourism through initiatives that highlight Sabah's unique identity and culture,' said the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman after a meeting with Meraki Daat Initiative president Michelle De La Harpe on Tuesday (July 1).
De La Harpe briefed Bangkuai on the progress of their ongoing Project Picasso, which aims to rejuvenate Gaya Island's water villages and turn them into Instagram-worthy destinations.
The project involves creatively painting stilt houses and working with the Sabah Tourism Board to promote these villages as tourism hotspots.
In June, STB facilitated a workshop involving five water villages on Gaya Island, namely Lok Urai, Torong Logong, Lobong, Kesuapan, and Kampung Pondoh.
The villages are now working towards formal registration under the Community-Based Tourism Gaya Island umbrella.
'This is a positive step forward. Pulau Gaya is a unique settlement with its own story to tell. Developing community-based tourism here will add value for the villagers, especially given the island's close proximity to the city centre.
'However, it is essential to create a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable tourism environment, and that starts with strong local participation and ownership,' Bangkuai said.
During the meeting, he also launched the 2025 Project Picasso Art Competition, themed Ocean Creatures, aimed at encouraging community creativity and enhancing the visual appeal of the villages.
De La Harpe shared that the project also integrates youth development, environmental sustainability, and the arts to transform public spaces into vibrant, community-owned tourism attractions.
'We are currently building a 200m pathway leading to 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 added.
The art competition runs from June 30 to July 31, with judging scheduled for Aug 1–7.
Site painting will take place from Aug 20–27, culminating in the official mural launch and opening ceremony on Aug 31.
The public can follow updates on the Meraki Daat Initiative via their website at www.merakidaat.org and on their social media platforms.
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Daily Express
32 minutes ago
- Daily Express
All spending transparent and subject to audit, says Masidi
Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025 By: Larry Ralon Text Size: Masidi (seated) looking at the Supplementary Supply Bill (Amendment) 2025 while Sindumin Assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob looks on. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun firmly denied any suggestion that the State Government is attempting to conceal its expenditure ahead of the coming state election, stressing that all spending is fully transparent and subject to audit. He said the tabling of the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill was grounded in experience and the best practices of State budget preparation. 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Borneo Post
11 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Sabah legislators unite behind supplementary budget
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Addressing specific concerns raised during the debate, Masidi responded to Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob's proposal to channel at least RM500,000 in disaster relief funds through district offices via a dedicated disaster trust fund. He explained that while the proposal is acknowledged, the establishment of such a trust fund would involve a lengthy process as it must be tabled in the State Assembly under Section 10 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957. 'Therefore, the ministry believes it is more appropriate for the fund to be centralised under the Chief Minister's Department and managed by the State Disaster Management Committee,' said Masidi. He also said that the ministry is also aware of the need to enhance tourism assets and preserve historical heritage buildings, not only in the Sindumin district but throughout the state. 'However, such efforts remain subject to the State Government's financial capacity.' 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The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
Sabah tourism earns RM3.3bil in receipts for the first five months of 2025
SEMPORNA: Sabah's tourism sector has shown strong growth in the first five months of 2025, generating RM3.3 billion in tourism receipts from 1.44 million visitor arrivals. The state's improving security and international appeal have contributed to this upward trend. Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai credited the rise in tourist numbers to enhanced security measures, particularly the efforts of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom). He noted that Sabah has had no kidnapping-for-ransom incidents in recent years, reinforcing its reputation as a safe destination. 'This complements the continuous efforts of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to position Sabah as a safe and welcoming destination,' he said. According to STB data, international visitors made up 559,150 arrivals, while domestic tourists accounted for 879,420. China remained the leading international market with 243,688 visitors, followed by South Korea with 76,685. European arrivals also saw a significant increase, rising by 25.6 per cent to 35,240 visitors. The United Kingdom and Ireland led with 13,910 arrivals, followed by Germany (3,854) and France (2,750). The United States contributed 9,356 arrivals, while Canada recorded 2,949. - Bernama
