Latest news with #Lepa
7NEWS
14-07-2025
- General
- 7NEWS
Lepa Flaiban shares how to make delicious Balkan cheese burek the easy way
Lepa Flaiban is the owner of Burek On Wheels. It's a Balkan food truck and catering business. Today, Lepa will be making cheese burek which is a traditional Balkan dish. Recipe below: 🧀 Cheat's Cheese Burek – Lepa Style Make a delicious, flaky burek in under 40 minutes using store-bought filo pastry. Let's be honest, perfecting the traditional dough takes time and practice, and I get it. Today we're making a quick and easy cheese burek using filo pastry. It's the shortcut my mama approves of when time's tight! 🛒 What you'll need: • 1 packet of filo pastry (any brand – I love Art of Pastry from Woolies) → Tip: Let it thaw for at least 2 hours before using. • Your favourite round or square baking tray (traditionally, burek is round) • Vegetable oil (or any oil you like) • Baking paper (optional) 🧀 Cheese Filling (my mum's mix, always): • 100g ricotta • 100g feta • 1 tub cottage cheese Mix all three together in a bowl until creamy and well combined. 👉 Tip from me to you: Don't overdo it with the cheese — too much filling can make your burek mushy and heavy. But hey, it's your kitchen! Add as much or as little as you like depending on your vibe. 🥄 Let's build the burek: 1. Prep your tray: Drizzle oil and brush it across the base and up the sides. You can use baking paper too if you prefer. 2. Base layers: Layer 8 filo sheets into the pan, letting the edges hang over (these will fold over at the end to lock in your burek). Drizzle a little oil between the sheets, using a brush or your hands. 3. First cheese layer: Spread a generous spoon of your cheese mix evenly. 4. Repeat: Add 4–5 more sheets of filo, then cheese. Repeat until your filling is used up. Each layer can criss-cross - don't stress, it's rustic and perfect that way. 5. Final fold: Finish with a few sheets on top, then fold over the hanging edges to close it up nicely. Brush with oil on top. 🔥 Bake it up: • Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (fan forced) for around 30 minutes or until golden brown top and bottom. • Once baked, flip it carefully onto a cooling rack and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Daily Express
05-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Culture of the Bajau Laut a tourism plus
Published on: Saturday, July 05, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 05, 2025 Text Size: The Lepa dancers performing a traditional dance. SEMPORNA: The state government continues to strengthen Sabah's tourism products on the international stage, said Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan. According to him, various measures and initiatives have been implemented to highlight and promote the uniqueness of Sabah's culture, religion, and natural environment to the global community. Advertisement The Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development roadmap, introduced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, identifies tourism as one of the key sectors capable of generating economic returns for the state, alongside agriculture and industry. Therefore, the state government is formulating and implementing various strategies and initiatives to further enhance and promote the tourism sector. Among these efforts is the organisation of the Regatta Lepa, which showcases a variety of unique elements , not only in terms of religious diversity but also cultural heritage and natural beauty and to the international community. 'We view the Regatta Lepa as a tourism product that has clearly received the government's attention, and I would like to commend the Ministry of Tourism for its consistent efforts in organising this event every year. Their dedication continues to introduce the state of Sabah , especially the Semporna district to the international community,' he said to the media during the Lepa Parade in conjunction with the 30th Semporna Regatta Lepa celebration here. In this regard, Nizam also revealed that his ministry has submitted a request for increased funding to further strengthen the tourism sector. The government has also requested additional allocations, and we hope that the Ministry of Tourism, as the responsible authority, will ensure that all tourism-related infrastructure can be further improved. 'I am confident that if all such requests are based on solid foundations and given priority, with the state's revenue increasing day by day, we will also ensure that allocations for tourism can be further enhanced and strengthened,' he explained. Regarding the Bajau Laut community, Nizam stated that their culture has also been utilised as a tourist attraction to encourage visits to the islands in the district. 'The Bajau Laut community has long existed in the waters of Sabah and naturally represents a significant tourism attraction. Therefore, I hope the Ministry of Tourism will take this into consideration and study whether it can yield positive tourism outcomes. We must establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that everyone will be required to follow.' 'We want to make sure the ocean stays clean and protected, so it's important to have clear rules and laws that everyone respects. Since this community doesn't always fall under any one country's laws, we need to carefully figure out the legal side of things. If everything aligns with our national regulations, then I truly believe there's great potential to develop tourism in Sabah and create income for the local people,' he shared. A total of eight lepa boats competed for the Traditional Lepa championship, including Lepa Abisa, Lepa Legasi, Lepa Dorogaan, and Lepa Makasali, successfully attracting more than 50,000 visitors to the festival. Also present to watch the parade were District Officer Alexander Liew, who also chairs the committee organizing the 30th Regatta Lepa celebration, and Deputy Minister of Finance II, Datuk Tan Lee Fatt. * 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
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Vibrant Bajau festival makes waves in Sabah
SEMPORNA: The inclusion of the iconic traditional festival of the Bajau community in Sabah – the Regatta Lepa – in the state's official tourism calendar has attracted more tourists, offering them the opportunity to witness the vibrant spectacle of colourful traditional boats, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. The Chief Minister said the festival not only celebrates the rich culture of the Bajau people but also serves as a platform to showcase Sabah's enduring maritime heritage to visitors. 'What makes it more special is that this year marks the 30th year the Regatta Lepa Semporna is held, proving the strong commitment of the Semporna community in upholding their cultural heritage. 'With the inclusion of the festival in the tourism calendar, it is hoped this event will reach a new level and be able to attract more tourists to come and experience its vibrancy. 'Through the Regatta Lepa, we can showcase the beauty of the Bajau culture and the community's efforts to preserve its seafaring heritage to tourists from around the world,' he said at the closing of the Regatta Lepa Semporna at Padang Bandaran here on Sunday, Bernama reported. The text of Hajiji's speech was read out by state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. The Chief Minister said this year's Regatta Lepa featured a variety of exciting events, such as the traditional Lepa parade, Sambulayang flag hoisting, crowning of the Lepa Queen and the awarding of the Tokoh Regatta Lepa. He also congratulated the organisers of the Igathon event, which featured a one-hour performance of the traditional Bajau dance, Igal-Igal, involving dancers from various cultural groups and communities. It was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the longest Igal-Igal dance performance on June 21. 'Upholding the cultural treasures and ethnic heritage of the state is one of the key elements that makes it a popular tourism product. 'This is because Sabah is a state rich in diverse ethnicities and cultures. 'The people of Sabah comprise 35 ethnic groups, each with its own unique culture, language and festivals, making the state one of the most favoured tourist destinations, both for domestic and international visitors,' Hajiji added.
The Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Regatta Lepa in Sabah tourism calendar boosts Bajau culture promotion
SEMPORNA: The Regatta Lepa, a celebrated festival of Sabah's Bajau community, has gained significant traction after being listed in the state's official tourism calendar. The event has successfully drawn more visitors, offering them a firsthand experience of the dazzling display of traditional boats and cultural performances. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor highlighted the festival's dual role in preserving Bajau heritage while promoting Sabah's maritime legacy globally. 'This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Regatta Lepa Semporna, reflecting the community's dedication to safeguarding their traditions. Its inclusion in the tourism calendar aims to elevate the event's profile and attract even more tourists,' he said. His speech was delivered by State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew during the closing ceremony at Padang Bandaran. This year's festivities featured highlights such as the Lepa boat parade, Sambulayang flag-raising, the crowning of the Lepa Queen, and the Tokoh Regatta Lepa awards. Another standout was the Igathon, a record-breaking one-hour Igal-Igal dance performance, now recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records. Hajiji emphasized Sabah's cultural diversity as a key tourism draw, noting the state's 35 ethnic groups, each with distinct traditions. 'Preserving these cultural treasures enhances Sabah's appeal as a top destination for local and international travelers,' he added.
Barnama
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Listing Regatta Lepa In Tourism Calendar Boosts Promotion Of Bajau Culture
SEMPORNA, June 30 (Bernama) -- The inclusion of the iconic traditional festival of the Bajau community in Sabah, the Regatta Lepa, in the state's official tourism calendar has successfully attracted more tourists, offering them the opportunity to witness the vibrant spectacle of colourful traditional boats. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the festival not only celebrates the rich culture of the Bajau people but also serves as a platform to showcase Sabah's enduring maritime heritage to visitors from around the world. 'What makes it more special is that this year marks the 30th year the Regatta Lepa Semporna is held, proving the strong commitment of the Semporna community in upholding their cultural heritage. 'With the inclusion of the festival in the tourism calendar, it is hoped this event will reach a new level and be able to attract more tourists to come and experience its vibrancy. 'Through the Regatta Lepa, we can showcase the beauty of the Bajau culture and the community's efforts to preserve its seafaring heritage to tourists from around the world,' he said at the closing of the Regatta Lepa Semporna at the Padang Bandaran here last night. The text of Hajiji's speech was read out by the State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew. The chief minister said this year's Regatta Lepa featured a variety of exciting content, such as the traditional Lepa parade, Sambulayang flag hoisting, crowning of the Lepa Queen and the awarding of the Tokoh Regatta Lepa. He also congratulated the organisers of the Igathon event, which featured a continuous one-hour performance of the traditional Bajau dance, Igal-Igal, involving dancers from various cultural groups and communities. The event has been entered into the Malaysia Book of Records as the longest Igal-Igal dance performance on June 21.
