Ministry hopes to turn Moyog River into tourist attraction

KOTA KINABALU: The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry hopes to turn the Moyog River into a tourist attraction with activities like scenic boat rides along the river.

But first, said its minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, the river has to be cleaned of its unsightly rubbish.

“Moyog River was once a beautiful river, with scenic views on both sides of its banks. We would like to develop the river for river cruises but only if it is clean,” he said.

Continue reading at: Ministry hopes to turn Moyog River into tourist attraction

Sarawak delights

VISITORS to Sarawak shouldn’t miss the chance to have a bowl of laksa Sarawak, bihun belacan or kolo mee. In fact, some regular visitors make a beeline for their favourite stalls or restaurants as soon as they get off the plane.

People from West Malaysia are slowly learning to appreciate these three Sarawak specialties.

These items are usually sold in family-operated businesses and you’d often find two or three generations working together.

Continue reading at: Sarawak delights

Mission to rescue tourism in Sarawak and Sabah

MIRI: The ongoing rural air services crisis in Sarawak and Sabah has brought about a near-collapse of the rural tourism industry in these states, and the Government must avoid another such debacle, said Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim.

Lim, who was in northern Sarawak with MPs, senators and tourism board officials to check on the ground situation, was shocked to find tour agencies, motels and resort operators, and local tourism-related players in Mulu National Park on the verge of “closing shop” after suffering two years of financial losses because of the flight woes.

Continue reading at: Mission to rescue tourism in Sarawak and Sabah

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary - Birth of a sanctuary

SANDAKAN: A prolonged dry spell in 1997 and the resultant lack of food impelled proboscis monkeys to venture out from their natural habitat.

In their desperation to search for food, some of the monkeys encroached into the workers’ quarters of an oil palm plantation belonging to Lee Weng Hing, now famous for the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary he created on the site, at mile 19 from the town.

“The proboscis monkeys come here by chance… it was during a dry season in this area and they had no food to eat,” said the general manager of the sanctuary, Sean Lee Vui Vun, the son of Lee Weng Hing.

“The plantation belonged to my father and together with my uncle Michael Lee, they actually wanted to clear the forest for the cultivation of oil palms,” Sean recalled.

“Actually, at that time, some 900 acres of the land had been planted with oil palm and when we wanted to reclaim the mangrove area which is about 470 acres, we discovered that it was the natural habitat of the proboscis monkeys,” he said.

Because of this, he said his father decided not to disturb the area and turned it into a reserve area to protect proboscis monkeys, now estimated at about 300.

Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary - Birth of a sanctuary

Royal Brunei Airlines to introduce Boeing 777

By Za'im Zaini

Royal Brunei Airlines will be acquiring Boeing 777 extended range aircraft on lease, with the first due to arrive in the third quarter of this year.

The B777 aircraft, to be used on the long-haul routes to Europe and Australia, will vastly improve RBA's capabilities by offering a higher passenger and cargo load capacity. It will also present the opportunity to operate direct flights to London.

The B777's seat capacity of 273 seats is significantly higher than the current Boeing 767's capacity. It will have a three-class configuration, encompassing Royal Executive Class with 12 seats, Darussalam Class with 46 seats and an Economy Class with 215 seats. The introduction of the new Royal Executive Class gives premium travellers the opportunity to upgrade to a class that offers "cocoon" flatbed sleeper seats, which provide plenty of space and privacy.

The leased B777 aircraft are an interim solution to the airline's re-fleeting programme. In line with RBA's Strategic Business Plan, it aims to phase out the current Boeing 767 aircraft. Under the re-fleeting programme, RBA will also acquire new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft that have been ordered and are due for delivery in late 2009.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin