Facilities at Kinabalu Park, Poring Hot Spring privatised in 1999 – Masidi
RANAU June 8, 2012: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has quashed rumours that the management of Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring has been taken over by Singapore companies.
Masidi said however the accommodation and the facilities at the park have been privatised in 1999 and this fact has been publicised.
He said STAR Sabah is intelligent enough to take the initiative to check with the Registrar of Companies on the owners and nationalities of the company that operates these facilities.
Masidi was commenting on the call by STAR Ranau chief Jalibin Paidi for a clarification on rumours that the management of Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring had been transferred or surrendered to Singapore companies.
Jalibin said Ranau folk had expressed their concern over the alleged change of management of Kinabalu Park.
He said there were rumours that the foreign companies had taken over the management of the facilities at Kinabalu Park from the previous management, Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.
Therefore, he called on Masidi to clarify on the status of the management for the two tourist attractions in Ranau.
“I would also like the minister to reveal how privatisation of the two tourism attractions has contributed to the state economy before and after privatisation,” he said.
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Tourism jewels under foreign control?
Has the Musa-administration surrendered two of Sabah tourism's hot-spots to Singapore companies?
RANAU June 7, 2012: The Star Reform Party (STAR) has asked the Barisan Nasional-ruled Sabah state government to clarify allegations that the management of a two popular tourist attractions in Ranau had been “surrendered” to Singaporean interests.
Ranau STAR division chief, Jalibin Paidi, said the transfer or takeover of the management of money-making Kinabalu Park or parts of it as well as the popular Poring Hot Spring near here had become a hot topic among people in Ranau and they want to know the truth.
The state government, he said, should prevent speculation that the management of state assets are being outsourced and if indeed the two are now controlled by foreign interests, Chief Minister Musa Aman has to explain why.
“Though many are still taking this as mere rumour, the talk is worrying,” he said.
“I would like the State Tourism and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun, who is also Keranaan assemblyman, to clarify immediately the status of the two popular tourist attractions in Ranau,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
“Please be specific in your explanation. Have they been surrendered by this Umno-led state government to foreign companies?
“Many in Ranau are concerned that the management is no longer under the authority of Sutera Harbour and instead is under a Singapore company,” he said.
According to Jalibin, who is seen as a potential STAR candidate in either Keranaan state constituency or Ranau parliamentary seat in the next general election, Masidi needs to dispel misgivings that such a transfer of management had occurred.
He said that if it was true, the state government needs to “tell us when were they transferred and how”.
“Does it have something to do with Singapore controlling the current company or what? Please clarify,” said Jalibin, who has resigned as a teacher in a secondary school near here recently.
He also asked Masidi to reveal how privatisation of the two tourism spots had contributed to the state economy.
“I am sure the minister would be generous enough to share with us the data if they have nothing to hide from the people,” he added.
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