Masidi hopes 2013 Budget focuses on tourism infrastructures
He said more allocations should be channelled to ensure that more attractive places in the state are promoted, as Sabah is known as the ‘natural paradise’ with several spots that are a draw for tourists.
“We hope for more funding for infrastructure because in Sabah the product is not an issue as we have a lot of tourism products, but access to the tourism products,”
he told reporters at the Petronas Aidilfitri celebration, here yesterday.
He said among the tourist attractions that can be developed in Sabah is the Gunung Trusmadi in Tambunan, which is the second highest mountain in Malaysia after Mount Kinabalu.
He said, if there is a concerted campaign, the number of tourists who visit the country is expected to increase.
Commenting on the visit of the British royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for a four-day stay in Malaysia from today, which include the scheduled visit to Danum Valley, Masidi said, it proves the conservation and research of tropical rainforest in Sabah has received much attention from outsiders.
He said the state government is proud of the visit of Prince William and Duchess Kate and welcomed the visit of the royal couple who are interested in seeing with their own eyes the conservation efforts and the tropical rain forest research.
He said royal couples from other countries such as Norway and Denmark are also expected to visit Malaysia, including visiting the attractions in the Land Below The Wind.
Regarding the Preliminary Report on the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday, Masidi, who is also the minister responsible for state education, believes the plan which would focus on improving infrastructure in Sabah and Sarawak would be able to produce more excellent students from the state comparable to students in the peninsula.
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Sabah looks to KL to boost tourism accessibility
KOTA KINABALUSeptember 13, 2012: While Sabah may not be short of tourism products, accessibility to these areas seem to be the biggest challenge for the state.
Tourism, Culture a nd Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun hoped for more allocation to improve infrastructure in Sabah in the coming national budget, which is expected to be tabled end of this month.
“The issue in Sabah is not because we do not have products, we have many tourism products. But it is about accessibility to these products.
“For instance Mount Trusmadi, which is the second highest mountain in Malaysia, has its own specialised beauties and slightly different from Mount Kinabalu. We should not neglect this fact.
“And I am sure there are a lot people who want to go there but the road condition needs to be improved. Let’s not forget that the top three mountains (in Malaysia) are in Sabah,” he told reporters when met at the Petronas Raya open house here yesterday.
He added that there are talks to turn the whole coast between Tuaran to Kota Belud to something like the Gold Coast in Australia.
“This can happen provided we have the infrastructure, and I believe that is actually the main contention of many investors. We just need to improve the accessibility to all these beautiful places to further improve our tourism sector,” said Masidi.
by Sandra Sokial
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Royal visit testimony of our good conservation work – Masidi
The upcoming Budget 2013 will not only be an annual budgetary allocation but instead will create a concrete base to develop longer term plans and policies to ensure sustainable economic growth for the future, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
BalasPadamAs Masidi said, he hopes the Blueprint will include Sabah as well.
PadamJanji harus ditepati.
PadamHe said the Government, through the Finance Ministry, was considering all focus areas in the budget very seriously, taking into account all external factors such as the economic slowdown in the United States and Europe.
BalasPadamPengurusan bujet harus bijak dan memastikan semua berjaya.
PadamThe budget will set longer term policies, to ensure quality growth in the coming years.
BalasPadamTan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop is positive and optimistic that this budget will feed the needs of the day and times.
BalasPadamHe said despite the uncertainties in the external market and amidst slowing growth in economic powerhouses like China and India, Malaysia had registered a commendable gross domestic product growth for the first half of this year.
BalasPadamIf the external factors are fine, then imagine the level of growth that Malaysia can achieve. The current growth is actually limited due to the external factors that we have to indirectly face too.
BalasPadamPrime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, is expected to table Budget 2013 in Parliament on Sept 28, 2012.
BalasPadamMeanwhile, he also dismissed allegations that Malaysia will be on the verge of bankrupcty if the government announced more financial goodies for Malaysians to ease the rising cost of living, in the upcoming budget.
BalasPadamdiharapkan kerajaan dapat menguruskan kewangan dengan baik. kebajikan rakyat jangan dipinggirkan.
PadamNor Mohamed, who had previously served as economic advisor to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and later as the Second Finance Minister to the then premier, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, described the allegation as “total nonsense”.
BalasPadamHe said since being in power in 1955, the Barisan Nasional government is known for its prudence in its financial spending and planning. “Why we can stand this long is mainly because we are prudent even during the hard times. We only spend on projects that can bring prosperity and better earnings in the future.
BalasPadam“We have never borrowed from anybody to manage our financial expenditure. Not even during the difficult times such as 1971 and 1986. We cannot stop those who spread lies. But one thing is for sure. The Barisan Nasional government was prudent, is prudent and will always be prudent when it comes to finance,” he said.
BalasPadamIndustri pelancongan merupakan penyumbang terbesar kepada pendapatan Sabah selepas kelapa sawit. memang wajar jika peruntukan untuk 2013 lebih banyak ditumpukan kepada industri pelancongan.
BalasPadamrasanya industri pelancngan tetap akan diberikan perhatian dalam bajet kerana sektor ini menjadi penyumbang besar dalam ekonomi.
PadamIndustry tourism can contribute better state income.
PadamKita tunggu saja apa yang akan dinyatakan dalam bajet 2013 akan datang ini.
BalasPadamBajet 2013 ditunggu penuh debaran.
Padamya, semua pasti menanti intipati bajet itu nanti.
PadamLet see whether budget 2013 will consider more in Sabah development too??
PadamNampaknya bajet 2013 ini menjadi penantian semua pihak. Semoga banyak berita baik akan didengar daripada pengumuman ini nanti.
BalasPadamOf course, we expect good thing to come.
PadamPembangkang juga pasti menantikan bajet ini. Kerana ingin mencari kesilapan dan kesalahan kerajaan.
BalasPadamyang penting bajet haruslah mendatangkan kebaikan kepada rakyat.
PadamThe Education Blueprint is vital for not only the nation but also in rural areas of Sabah.
BalasPadamindustri pelancongan di Sabah memang menjadi semakin penting dan berkembang.
BalasPadamsemoga bajet kali ini akan dapat menjadikan negara lebih maju dan kebajikan rakyat akan terus diutamakan.
BalasPadamSabah berpotensi menjadi pusat pelancongan yang pesat dan terkenal di mata dunia.
BalasPadamNo surprise to budget 2013, its not benefit to the people either.
BalasPadamtidak rugi jika kerajaan memberikan peruntukkan lebih kepada industri pelancongan sabah kerana industri ini banyak menyumbang kepada ekonomi negeri Sabah..
BalasPadambukan sahaja infrastruktur bagi industri pelancongan malah semua infrastruktur di negeri ini juga patut diambil perhatian.. pelabur dan pelancong juga menggunakan infrastruktur lain selain infrastruktur yang terdapat di mana2 destinasi pelancongan..
BalasPadam