Latest news with #AseanTravelExchange2025
Daily Express
21-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Asean travel meet as yearly event mooted
Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 Text Size: Liew (4th right) with other guests and the organisers at the welcome dinner. From left: Dr Maklarin, Julinus, Wong, Lai, Eddy, Tan, Noredah, and Captain Fareh. Kota Kinabalu: Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew suggests that the inaugural Asean Travel Exchange 2025 (ATEX 2025) be made an annual event. She raised the subject to the applause of 500 delegates from 15 countries at the welcome dinner hosted by her at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru (Star) on Thursday. 'An event of this nature is conducive to promoting travel and cultural exchanges, making new connections, building rapport and strengthening existing ties among Asean member countries,' Liew said, while urging the President of the Federation of Asean Travel Associations (FATA), Datuk Tan Kok Liang, who was present, to look into her suggestion. For tourism growth, the Minister, who was the guest of honour, also proposed reciprocal visits among the 10 member countries, saying ASEAN tourism must seize new opportunities and create new adventures. Speaking to the delegates, Liew said: 'If it's your first time in Sabah, I encourage you to explore beyond the venue. From the iconic Mount Kinabalu, a symbol of strength and unity, to vibrant markets and islands full of life, Sabah welcomes you with more than just beauty; it offers unforgettable experiences. 'As Malaysia is the Chairman of Asean this year, ATEX 2025 serves as a reminder that our greatest strength lies in the unity of its people and purpose. It invites us to celebrate the bonds of friendship and shared purpose that bring us together. Advertisement 'As the inaugural dinner of the Asean Travel Exchange, tonight also marks the beginning of a new tradition of unity through tourism.' The participating countries were Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan and South Korea. ATEX 2025 was jointly organised by Asean Tourism Association (Aseanta), Federation of AseanTravel Associations (FATA) and Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Sabah Convention Bureau (SCB) and Tourism Malaysia. Strategic partners included AirAsia and Jetama Water. Among the guests were Permanent Secretary to KePKAS Datuk Josie Lai, Deputy Permanent Secretary I Mary Malangking, President of ASEANTA Eddy Krismeidi, President of MATTA Nigel Wong, and CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, Datuk Captain Fareh Mazputra. Also present were Chairman of Sri Pelancongan Sabah, Ken Pan, Director of Sabah Parks Dr Maklarin Lajim, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, CEO of STB Julinus Jeffery Jimit, and CEO of SCB Noredah Othman. * 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
The Star
20-06-2025
- The Star
Tip off authorities on jumbo killings, Sabah villagers urged
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Christina Liew has issued an emotional plea to villagers to come forward with any information related to the recent spate of Borneo pygmy elephant killings in Tawau. Describing such killings as 'murder', the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said the perpetrators must be brought to justice as such cruelty must not go unpunished. 'I have spoken to the Wildlife Department director. Despite our efforts, we have not been able to identify the person responsible for this cruel act, although there are some suspicions,' she told reporters at the Asean Travel Exchange 2025 launch here yesterday. 'We offered RM10,000 for any information but so far, no one has come forward. I have clearly told the department that these acts cannot go unpunished. 'Killing an elephant is murder. We absolutely cannot allow this to happen,' Liew said. At least three cases of beheaded elephants were reported between January and April. Investigations so far have yielded no solid evidence, and a post-mortem was not possible in the latest case due to the advanced decomposition of the carcass. She believes the local community may hold the key to solving the killings but many are afraid to speak up. 'We are working with village heads and the district police in the area to try and obtain more information. I suspect the kampung people know but they are very hesitant to say anything. Still, I am hopeful,' she said. Liew dismissed a theory that a crime syndicate could be behind the killings. 'I don't believe it is a syndicate. They did not take anything valuable; not the tusks, not the organs. They just cruelly chopped off the elephant's head. Very cruel.' On whether the government would consider increasing the RM10,000 reward, she replied: 'Let's negotiate on that.' 'There have been no new incidents recently, and I truly hope it stays that way. I get very upset when these things happen. I am an animal lover and I cannot bear to see this kind of cruelty,' she said. The Borneo pygmy elephant, which is native to Sabah, is a fully protected species under state law, with an estimated population of just 1,500. Anyone convicted of harming or killing the animal faces a fine of up to RM250,000 and a five-year jail sentence.
Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Straits Times
Killing elephants is ‘murder', says Sabah minister in plea for info over recent decapitation cases
The Borneo pygmy elephant, native to Sabah, is a fully protected species under state law, with an estimated population of just 1,500. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM FENDYALWI91/TIKTOK Killing elephants is 'murder', says Sabah minister in plea for info over recent decapitation cases KOTA KINABALU - Sabah's Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew has issued an emotional plea to villagers to come forward with any information related to the recent spate of Borneo pygmy elephant killings in Tawau. Describing the brutal act as 'murder', Datuk Seri Liew said the perpetrators must be brought to justice, stressing that such cruelty must not go unpunished. 'I have spoken to the director of the Wildlife Department. Despite our efforts, we have not been able to identify the persons responsible for this cruel act, although there are some suspicions,' she told reporters at the Asean Travel Exchange 2025 launch on June 19. She noted that no one has yet come forward, and there have been no takers for the RM10,000 (S$3,025) reward offered for information on the killings. 'We offered a RM10,000 reward for any information, but so far, no one has come forward. I have clearly instructed the department that this kind of act cannot go unpunished. Killing an elephant is murder. We absolutely cannot allow this to happen again,' Ms Liew stressed. However, she believes the local community may hold the key to solving the case but suspects many are afraid to speak up. 'We are working with village heads and the district police in the area to try and obtain more information. I suspect the kampung (village) people know more, but they are very hesitant to say anything. Still, I am hopeful,' she said. When asked whether an organised syndicate could be behind the killings, Ms Liew dismissed the theory. 'I don't believe it is a syndicate. They did not take anything valuable, not the tusks, not the organs. They just cruelly chopped off the elephant's head. Very cruel,' she said. Asked whether the government would consider increasing the RM10,000 reward to encourage potential witnesses to come forward, she replied: 'Let's negotiate on that.' 'There have been no new incidents like this recently, and I truly hope it stays that way. I get very upset when these things happen… I am an animal lover myself, and I cannot bear to see this kind of cruelty.' At least three cases of beheaded elephants were reported between January and April 2025. Investigations so far have yielded no solid evidence, and a post-mortem was not possible in the latest case due to the advanced decomposition of the carcass. The Borneo pygmy elephant, native to Sabah, is a fully protected species under state law, with an estimated population of just 1,500. Anyone convicted of harming or killing the animal faces a fine of up to RM250,000 and a five-year jail sentence. Ms Liew urged the public not to turn a blind eye to the situation and come forward if they had any information on the matter. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
