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New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Liew: Avoid over-commercialisation in Sabah's tourism development
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's approach to tourism development must avoid the pitfalls of over-commercialisation, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. Liew also cautioned against uncontrolled visitor numbers that could harm the environment or cultural assets over time. "As one of the speakers mentioned, we should focus on value rather than volume when it comes to tourism. "We do not want to experience over-tourism or over-marketing. I read a book that warns tourism players and countries not to oversell their tourism packages, as it may not yield the kind of positive effect they are hoping for," she said after launching the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Expo at a shopping mall here. As such, the ministry is collecting visitor data and ensuring that the community is involved to avoid the negative impacts of mass tourism. To mitigate the adverse effects of mass tourism, Liew said the state would focus on sustainable tourism growth that benefits rural communities economically, including helping them rise out of poverty. She said that CBT is gaining traction in several districts beyond Kota Kinabalu. "Some very popular districts, when international tourists visit, they return home and talk about it. That attracts more visitors. We are now seeing growth in places like Tuaran, Tenom, and Kota Belud as well," she said. She attributed the success to strong collaboration with local communities, particularly in converting homes or products into tourist-friendly offerings. "When we cooperate with local people, assisting them in converting their houses or products into tourism attractions, it also brings in elements such as cleanliness, safety, and food hygiene. "They understand that to participate in CBT, they must meet these expectations, and I find them responding positively." In 2023, the 18 active CBT districts in Sabah generated RM6 million. This figure rose to an estimated RM7 million in 2024. "Our goal moving forward is to increase income through tourism to levels above the poverty line index. "We are also working closely with the Department of Statistics to assess how CBT contributes to gross domestic product and whether it effectively lifts communities out of poverty." Also present were the state Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, and Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer, Julinus Jeffrey Jimit.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Malaysia strengthens civil registration at Asia-Pacific ministerial conference
BANGKOK: Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah is representing Malaysia at the Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific. The event, which runs until June 26, aims to enhance the region's civil registration systems for more accurate policy planning. Shamsul Anuar highlighted Malaysia's commitment to refining its registration processes for births, deaths, and marriages. 'All recorded information is used to generate statistics that serve as crucial input for policy formulation and programme planning in areas such as population development, health, education, and employment,' he said during a meeting with Malaysians in Thailand. The conference provides a platform for participating nations to exchange best practices and improve data accuracy. Sarinah Apisah, Deputy Director-General (Operations) of the National Registration Department, joined the delegation alongside officials from the Ministry of Health and the Department of Statistics. Beyond registration reforms, Shamsul Anuar reaffirmed the government's dedication to protecting Malaysians overseas. 'Through close cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs, Wisma Putra, and relevant agencies, the government is committed to ensuring the protection of Malaysian citizens, their access to identification documents, and strengthened consular support for the Malaysian diaspora,' he added.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia's services trade hits RM497.4b in 2024, deficit shrinks sharply on export surge
KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Malaysia's total trade in services rose by 14.6 per cent to RM497.4 billion last year from RM434.0 billion in 2023, contributing 25.8 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices. In a statement today, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said exports of services grew by 24.6 per cent to RM242.9 billion from RM195.0 billion in the previous year. Similarly, imports of services increased by 6.5 per cent to RM254.5 billion against RM239.0 billion in 2023. 'As services exports grew faster than imports, the deficit narrowed substantially from RM44.0 billion to RM11.7 billion,' it added. DOSM said that Asia continued to be the main destination for Malaysia's services exports, constituting RM164.0 billion or 67.5 per cent of total services. Singapore, the United States (US) and China were the three main destinations for Malaysia's services exports. The agency said that Asia also remained the major source of imports with a share of 58.6 per cent or RM149.0 billion. The main sources of services imports were from the US, Singapore and China. — Bernama
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore's core inflation dips back to 0.6% in May; headline inflation at 0.8%
[SINGAPORE] Singapore's inflation nudged back down in May, driven by slower price increases in food and private transport, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Monday (Jun 23). Core inflation, which excludes accommodation and private transport, was 0.6 per cent – in line with private-sector economists' median forecast, according to a Bloomberg poll. It was also lower than the previous month's reading of 0.7 per cent. Headline inflation was 0.8 per cent, also in line with economists' median forecast. May's reading was also down from April's 0.9 per cent. On a month-on-month basis, core inflation was flat while headline inflation rose 0.7 per cent. 'Singapore's imported inflation should remain moderate,' said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in a statement. While global crude oil prices have risen in recent weeks, they are still close to the average in 2024. Meanwhile, food commodity price increases should stay contained. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'Although the trade conflicts and the increase in global energy prices could be inflationary for some economies, their impact on Singapore's import prices is likely to be offset by the disinflationary drags exerted by weaker global demand,' MAS and MTI added. On the domestic front, labour costs are expected to rise gradually as nominal wage growth continues to ease. At the same time, enhanced government subsidies for essential services will continue to dampen services inflation. MAS and MTI still expect core inflation to average 0.5 to 1.5 per cent in 2025. This is while they note that uncertainties have risen amid the increased risks in the external environment. Key CPI categories In May, most consumer price index (CPI) categories saw easing prices, except for accommodation and services inflation which was unchanged from the month's before. Food inflation eased to 1.1 per cent, from 1.4 per cent previously, as the prices of non-cooked food rose at a slower pace. Meanwhile, electricity and gas inflation fell further to 3.7 per cent, from a fall of 3.5 per cent, due to a larger decline in electricity prices. Retail and other goods prices continued to fall, but at a slower pace of 1 per cent, compared to a decline of 1.2 per cent previously, due to increases in the prices of household appliances which offset a smaller decline in the cost of personal effects. Private transport inflation rose at a slower pace of 1.1 per cent, from 1.3 per cent previously, on the back of a smaller increase in car prices. Meanwhile, both services and accommodation inflation were unchanged from the previous month, at 1.1 per cent respectively.
BusinessToday
20-06-2025
- Business
- BusinessToday
DOSM Report Shows Ramadan Bazaars Drove RM3.2 Billion In Sales, 280,000 Jobs In 2025
Malaysia's vibrant Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars generated an impressive RM3.2 billion in total sales and engaged 281,876 workers in 2025, according to a report released today by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DOSM). The 'Report on Statistics Ramadan & Aidilfitri Bazaars 2025' highlights a notable improvement in performance compared to 2023. The total sales value for both bazaars in 2025 rose by 12.9% from RM2.5 billion in 2023. This growth was accompanied by a 17.6% increase in the number of persons engaged, underscoring the significant economic activity and local entrepreneurship fostered by these festive markets. The DOSM survey, conducted from March 2 to March 30, 2025, covered bazaars registered with Local Authorities (LAs) nationwide. State and District Highlights Selangor emerged as the top-performing state, recording the highest combined sales value of RM0.7 billion and engaging 38,811 persons. Johor followed with RM0.5 billion in sales and a leading 44,525 persons engaged, while W.P. Kuala Lumpur registered RM0.4 billion in sales with 16,142 persons engaged. Collectively, these three states contributed 47.5% of the total national sales value for Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars. At the administrative district level, Johor Bahru recorded the highest combined sales value at RM261.1 million, surpassing Petaling (RM184.7 million) and Gombak (RM122.0 million). Ramadan Bazaar Performance Specifically, Ramadan bazaars contributed RM2.6 billion in sales in 2025, reflecting a positive growth of 14.9% compared to 2023. Selangor led state-level sales for Ramadan bazaars at RM558.0 million, followed by W.P. Kuala Lumpur (RM361.9 million) and Johor (RM331.5 million). Petaling district topped the Ramadan bazaar sales with RM163.9 million. The number of persons engaged in Ramadan bazaars also saw a sharp increase of 18.7% to 241,379. Johor registered the highest number of persons engaged at 37,415, while Johor Bahru district led with 21,295 workers. Aidilfitri Bazaar Performance Aidilfitri bazaars also performed well, with total sales increasing by 5.1% to RM0.6 billion compared to RM0.5 billion in 2023. Johor led state-level sales for Aidilfitri bazaars with RM144.3 million. Johor Bahru district again recorded the highest sales at RM99.0 million. The number of persons engaged in Aidilfitri bazaars increased by 12.0% to 40,497, with Johor recording the highest number at 7,110 persons. Vendor Satisfaction and Food Waste Management A survey conducted by DOSM indicated high satisfaction among Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaar vendors: 83.0% were satisfied with the bazaar locations. were satisfied with the bazaar locations. 70.5% were satisfied with promotional activities by organizers. were satisfied with promotional activities by organizers. 69.3% were satisfied with traffic control measures. were satisfied with traffic control measures. 73.2% expressed satisfaction with visitor turnout. In a commendable effort to reduce food waste, 56.0% of Ramadan Bazaar vendors reported offering discounted prices to minimize surplus. Furthermore, 77.3% expressed willingness to donate unsold food to selected institutions, and 84.2% were open to sharing excess food with fellow vendors. Systematic food waste management also saw 3.9% of vendors channeling surplus to processing factories, 6.2% collecting for organic composting, and 7.4% utilizing recycling methods for leftovers. These findings highlight the continuous efforts by vendors and organizers to improve both the economic and operational aspects of these culturally significant bazaars. Related
