Sandakan Harbour Square wins Asia Pacific award

Kota Kinabalu: The Sandakan Harbour Square has picked up the much-coveted Asia Pacific Property Awards 2009, in association with CNBC Arabiya, for the Commercial Redevelopment/Renovation category.

Developed by ICSD Ventures Sdn Bhd, a unit of London-listed Aseana Properties Ltd, and project managed by Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd, the Sandakan Harbour Square is a seafront urban renewal project spanning over 12 acres, located within the Central Business District in Sandakan.

Launched in early 2003, the Sandakan Harbour Square has an estimated Gross Development Value of US Dollar 141 million (RM500 million).

"We are indeed honoured the Sandakan Harbour Square project has received this prestigious recognition from the CNBC-Asia Pacific Property Awards 2009," said president cum CEO of Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd, Lai Voo Hon.

"Being at the heart of the Sandakan Central Business District, the Sandakan Harbour Square will certainly craft its mark in the revitalisation of Sandakan town, bringing sustained growth and prosperity both economically and socially."

He said aside from providing international standard retail and hospitality and lifestyle facilities, the Square also represents the revival of Sandakan as a new hub for commerce and tourism in Sabah.

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Sarawak potential in air tours

MIRI: The Sarawak government has called on aviation companies operating in the state to venture into aerial tourism.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu anak Numpang said there were groups of rich tourists who could afford to rent helicopters for swift aerial tourism.

“There are rich business people who come to Sarawak often for business. They want to see Sarawak, but don’t have much time to travel extensively by land. They will certainly love to fly in a helicopter and take a whirlwind tour.

“They have the money and all they need is the service. Aviation companies should come up with packages for these very rich businessmen-tourists,’’ he said recently.

Jabu was here to launch two helicopters purchased by Layang-Layang Aerospace, an aviation company contracted by the Health Ministry to handle the flying doctor service.

The company purchased the two twin-engine BO-105 Bolkow designed and manufactured in Germany.

During a briefing, Jabu was told that the company spent RM5mil on each helicopter, including RM2mil to fit each of them with the equipment to treat patients at remote settlements and fly them to urban centres in emergency cases.

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Visit Sibu Year 2009 well received

SIBU:The recent launching of Visit Sibu Year 2009 (VSY09) by Second Minister of Finance Dato’ Sri Wong Soon Koh, at the Sibu Gateway created interest among the people in Mukah, recently.

“We received a lot of queries from those who walked into our booth during the recent Kaul Festival in Mukah. Most of them told us that they were not aware of the many interesting events lined-up and places to visit during the Visit Sibu Year,” Rudy Anoi of Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) told Eastern Times here, yesterday.

“I guess since this is the first time Sibu has launched this kind of programme, members of the public are curious and even expressed surprise that there were many things to see and placeS to visit in Sibu,” he said.

(STB), a marketing and promoter of tourist products in the state, set up a booth in Mukah from April 24 to 26 in conjunction with this year’s Mukah Kaul Festival.

The site of the Mukah Kaul Festival was at Taman Kala Dana and one of the highlights of the three-day event was promoting VSY09, Rudy said.

“The orange-coloured Visit Sibu Year Calendar of Events stood out among other brochures that were on display. This made it easier for the visitors to pick and went through them. Many were impressed with the events listed in the Calendar,” he added.

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RM200m federal grant for Mukah airport

MUKAH: Mukah will get a new airport as part of a long-term plan to develop its infrastrucure.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the Federal Government had approved the project and given a RM200mil grant to initiate the airport.

He was speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony for a new state administrative centre here that will house the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) headquarters.

Taib said the airport, which would accommodate Boeing 737 aircraft, would be built by Juara Cahaya Sdn Bhd, a bumiputra building and civil engineering contractor.

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Ba’Kelalan to host Apple Fiesta

MIRI: Ba’Kelalan will be busy again for hosting its annual “Ba’Kelalan: The Heart of Borneo Escapade 2009 (HOB)” from May 10 to 13.

Also known as Apple Fiesta, the event, organised by Borneo Jungle Safari (BJS) Sdn Bhd, has entered its third year. It will be held immediately after the Miri International Jazz Festival (MIJF) 2009 on May 8 and 9.

According to BJS Managing Director, Mutang Tagal, some 50 guests comprising several local and international media as well as tourists will be joining the unique annual event which has the full support from Tourism Malaysia, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and MasWings.

Speaking at the press conference at BJS office yesterday, Mutang pointed out that the event and the programme itself had been supported by Sarawak Tourism Action Council (STAC) for three years in a row.

“Thanks to Tourism Malaysia, STB, MasWings and STAC for their full support in the great promotion of Apple Fiesta in Ba’Kelalan.

Such support has helped us a lot and Ba’Kelalan has now become popular in the eco-tourism industry via the Apple Fiesta,” he remarked.

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