Promoting Labuan as tourism hub

The island of Labuan boasts several tourist spots which are as popular as its free shops.

For starters, the War Cemetery is a must-visit with its war graves and memorials to the soldiers who died fighting the Japanese occupiers during World War II.

Among the fallen were British, Australian, Indian, Sarawakian, Bruneian, North Borneo and Empire troops.

There are more than 3,000 graves at the Ceremery and they are commemorated on Warriors Day each year.

Another place of interest is the Surrender Point on the beach where Lieutenant-General Masao Baba, commander of the 37th Japanese Southern Army, surrendered to Major General George F Wootten of the 9th Australian Division on Sept 9, 1945, marking the end of Japanese occupation in Sarawak and the then British North Borneo.

At the Memorial Park which faces the sea, visitors can picnic at a quiet spot with a seafront view.

The lovely beach and duty-free shopping for chocolates, liquor and cigarettes are also crowd pullers.

Soon, holiday makers may have good reason to stay overnight or even longer in Labuan as a new theme park is in the offing.

Peter Kong, proprietor of Billion Pavilion Hotel, is looking forward to setting up the park, preferably at a site where the facility can be expanded to utilise the island’s major resource — water.

He visualises the park in the mould of Sunway Lagoon — only better since Labuan has more natural advantages, among them the blue sea.

“I have been mulling this for a long time and I believe it is a doable project. The theme park will incorporate chalets and water sports such as jet skiing and kayaking, among others,” he said.

There will also be facilities for children to play in the water during family outings.

However, Kong pointed out that all these attractions could end up under-utilised if not fully promoted.

“We can start by making sure ferries coming to Labuan have good facilities. I’m thinking especially about the ferry terminal in Menumbok. It should be well-equipped to give travellers comfort and confidence.”

He said there should also be a shaded terminal which – apart from providing shelter from the sun and rain — could double as a complex with proper food outlets as well as lodging and related facilities.

“Sometimes when travellers are already within a gated area, it’s a hassle for them to go outside again just to eat at the nearby stalls,” he noted.

“They should be in a place with integrated facilities such as eateries, good toilets and a waiting area with proper seats. If possible, accommodation should also be provided for those who have to stay overnight at the terminal. It’s all very well for them to sleep in their cars but it’s certainly better if they have a proper place to stay.”

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Kota Kinabalu International Airport to get ILS 2014

KOTA KINABALU: A new Instrument Landing System (ILS) will only be installed at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) by the end of 2014, said the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

This means commercial and private aircraft pilots landing at KKIA have to use VOR (VHF Omnidirectional range) and the DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) to guide them for the time being.

A DCA press statement said the installation and commissioning of the new ILS was part of a project package that included civil and electrical works after an opposition member of parliament said the lack of an ILS had delayed landings to Malaysia’s second busiest airport.

But the department also came out to defend the usage of VOR/DME as it said the procedure is similar to ILS.

“This procedure, designed and certified by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), permits pilots to approach the runway even in poor weather conditions or at night.

“Similar to the Instrument Landing System approach procedure, the VOR/DME approach procedure requires the pilot to sight the runway by a certain height/distance from the runway to continue the landing,” the DCA statement said.

The department also pointed out that if the pilot was unable to sight the runway, the landing would be discontinued.

“It is a standard procedure practised worldwide and therefore certified safe to be used,” the statement said.

Some commercial pilots have confirmed that there has been delays because the ILS was not commissioned in the KKIA.

As a regulator, the DCA said it would not certify KKIA for operational use if the facilities did not fulfil the safety requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Malaysian Civil Aviation Regulations.

The DCA also said the lack of ILS should not be compared to the Asiana plane crash at the San Francisco airport last month, noting “suggesting that a similar accident can occur can be very misleading as the causal factors at every accident vary ranging from physical layout of the airport, procedures, the equipment and people”.

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Decisions on Sabah islands difficult but right

KOTA KINABALU: The state government needs to have the courage to make difficult but right decisions to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy all the beautiful islands in Sabah.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun said this when referring to the large number of complaints by local and foreign tourists on overcrowded and dirty islands in the state, especially on Sapi Island.

Asked if to limit visitors to the islands was the best way to protect the beauty of the island parks in the state, Masidi said Sabah Parks needed to decide how to manage them better.

“We will have to decide how to manage them better after my meeting with the management of Sabah Parks. The Park under its enactment is empowered to make its own rule on the type of activities that are allowable on areas (including the islands) under its jurisdiction.

“That is why Sabah Parks limit the number of divers per day at Sipadan at 120 and climbers (of Mount Kinabalu) at 192. These are their carrying capacity. Numbers are good business for business operators but if we are not careful, we may end up killing the goose that lay the golden eggs,” he said.

“In any case, a gazetted park (in the case of Sapi Island, which is part of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park) is supposed to be clean and pristine. The principal purpose of gazetting it is to protect its natural environment, and any human activity on the island should only be to facilitate visitors to enjoy its beauty and pristine nature.

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To the Tip of Borneo, Kudat

Just prior to my physical transfer to Sabah, a fellow colleague of mine recommended this place as the tip of Borneo - to which, frankly speaking and admitting, I have no friggin' idea what she meant when she first told me.

Suffice to say, I just nodded my head in agreement with the wonders of Sabah she has to say as she spent quite a lot of time studying her premed there.

It only came to light when I actually visited the place and fully understood that the Tip of Borneo actually represents the first tip of the ear of Sabah - our personal tour guide told us that the map of Sabah resembles the head of a dog and that the first tip of the ear is in fact the Tip of Borneo.

Like the travel to Kundasang's cattle farm, the journey from Kota Kinabalu was arduous, painfully long and for certain sections of the road leading into Kudat being unpaved, it was a definite obstacle posing as a challenge for many tourists to give up.

I was told by my girlfriend that only a handful of people would visit this place prior to it being made known to the wide populace throughout Asia - and it's quite convenient to believe her as the route leading into the tip of Borneo itself is well hidden and may not be something a normal tourist would be able to find or need I say, drive on the hardened gravel unpaved road. 

Then again, there are well-placed signs in strategic turns of location pinpointing to the desired destination.

The tip of Borneo in Kudat commands a breathtaking view of two seas meeting head-on at the washed out rock surface which makes its imprint as the first ear-tip of Sabah. With the South China Sea on your left and the Sulu Sea on your right and meeting in the middle, such phenomenon need I say more, is one that is within reach of many Malaysians who are yet to witness this marvel.

The travel from KK to Kudat may take about 2.5 to 3 hours journey totalling up to nearly 4 hours, in taking into account the fact that rest stops are made at Kota Belud while on the way there.

Most visitors can opt to rent a car and drive by themselves up to Kudat, but I suppose the best and recommended method is to hire a tour guide who is more than happy to get you there and back in a full day's trip. There are stops on the way back and they are included in your package tour.

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Desa Cattle Farm, Kundasang

I've got to admit that going up to the Desa Cattle Farm in Kundasang was no easy task. As the place is located right at the foothills of Mt Kinabalu, or at least in its surrounding area, one would have to expect an uphill task of traveling with a slow speed and a harsh engine sound.

Thankfully, we rented a car to manoeuvre through the hilly trail. The roads leading up to the farm is paved throughout and that makes things better for once however the other portion of the road that branches out of the main road that leads into the farm itself isn't.

The road is filled with stones and rocks of all sizes and if you are not careful or are not slow enough, you might just leave a permanent mark on your tyres rendering yourself being stuck in the middle of nowhere. Be it a rented vehicle, no more or less, one would still feel the creeps in manoeuvring the car through the almost 1.5-2 km length of unpaved and uneven road.

It's not one task that would bring on the adventure habit out of you or the adrenaline junkie you have hidden inside. In fact, it was more of an experience filled with palpitations, trepidations and cold sweat.

Right in my mind, I was just praying hard that the tyres don't burst as it grates upon the spiky rocks every now and then. I was moving so slowly at a snail's pace that getting to the farm itself was a pain in the neck.

I have to confess that there was this feeling of giving up hope and turning back at each bend of the road that unrelentingly introduces more of these sections of unpaved trails.

Then again... the experience upon reaching the cattle farm was indeed breathtaking. The green meadow and the lush sceneries with a landscape that extends beyond the horizon before meeting up with the mountains was an unforgettable experience altogether.

One that you have to promise yourself of witnessing before going back if ever, you do travel to Sabah. The cool weather and the windy breeze makes up for lost time traveling through the rocky road that some people would hilariously termed it as experiencing a full body massage for free whilst seated in your car.

We were however, slightly unfortunate as there weren't any cows grazing on the meadows as we have expected and anticipated prior by looking at the travel brochures.

Then again, there are specific set times in order for one to be able to enjoy certain luxury, so make sure that you check it up properly or choose a travel agent that knows best before heading on out to the meadows.

We do see quite a lot of tourist agencies taking up tourists from countries like China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in vans that are more tolerant towards the road conditions.

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