Sabah Most Wanted

Miss Sabah Tourism aspirants set to climb Mount Kinabalu

Miss Sabah Tourism aspirants set to climb Mount Kinabalu
Published on: Friday, June 17, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Miss Sabah Tourism aspirants will have their work cut out for them in the second edition of the pageant, including having to climb Mount Kinabalu, even before they get to the grand finale next month. Miss Sabah Tourism Pageant Director Weena Marcus said the contestants will be involved in various beneficial programmes with the main objective of promoting the State's tourism sector.
"We are going big this year. Among the activities that the 12 contestants will participate is the Suria Sabah Fashion Week on July 2-3. It is one of the ways to promote Sabah as a shopping destination.
"We will also take part in a couple of fund raising campaigns which includes The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) as one of the beneficiaries.
"Apart from that, we will be working with Amazing Borneo to climb Mount Kinabalu to promote the new summit trail.
We were hit by a tragedy last year and that is why we focus on the mountain… we want to gain back people's trust," she said after the pageant's press conference, here, on Thursday.
Weena who was Miss Malaysia Tourism 2009 added that the safety of the contestants will be her priority and if any of them is not fit to climb Mount Kinabalu, then "I will not force them to do so."
"I know that they have to get their physical fitness checked… if all of them are fit enough for the climb then it will be good, if not, I will think of something else to promote the new trail."
Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Deputy General Manager Noredah Othman noted that the climb will offer a huge challenge for the participants.
"I think this will be the first pageant where all of the participants will climb the mountain.
"And there is nothing better than earning the experience (of climbing Mount Kinabalu), and then you come back and talk about it.
"You will have higher confidence to talk about it when you have a personal experience.
The more you appreciate what we have in Sabah, the more you can promote the State," she said.
Towards this end, she hoped that Miss Sabah Tourism will be a platform for the contestants to learn more about the State as well as enhancing their understanding on the local culture and appreciate the abundant natural assets in Sabah.
"The pageant is also an opportunity for the participants to promote tourism in a sustainable way."
Weena also hoped that the pageant will be fully endorsed by STB by next year.
"Last year was my first year (organising Miss Sabah Tourism) and that is why I did not ask for any endorsement as I know that I need to show them positive results.
"I hope this pageant can work closely with the government, especially in aiding the promotion of tourism and the winners can be the faces of Sabah," she said.
This year's contestants are Cindy Jennifer David, Haru Bo Yen Yee, Nikki Lavender De Souza, Alexsa Chin, Jamie Wong, Tatiana Milip, Deirdre Cassandra, Joanne Chong, Kimberly Vung, Sharon Chew, Illyka Chanty and Rachel Justin.
The grand finale, to be held at Hakka Hall, here, on July 29, will see the top three winners representing Sabah in the Miss Malaysia Tourism 2016 in August.
The winner for Miss Sabah Tourism will receive prizes worth RM14,199, including a cash prize of RM3,000.
The pageant is presented by SG Group and organised by Poise Productions. For more information, visit the Facebook page: Miss Sabah Tourism Official.

Musa Aman launches promotion for 11th SIFF

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman today launched the promotion for the 11th Sabah International Folklore Festival (SIFF) at the compound of Wisma Innoprise here today.
Also present were the three deputy chief ministers – Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin, Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah and Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan – and Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
The 11th SIFF, with the theme "Warrior", will be held on July 24 to 30 at the Sabah Cultural Centre, Penampang.
It is organised by the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry through the Sabah Cultural Board.
Meanwhile, Sabah Cultural Board chairman Datuk Wences Angang, when met by reporters after the event, said 11 countries had confirmed their participation at the festival.
"Although the fee is USD30 (RM123) per participant, the response from foreign countries is encouraging," he said.
The countries which have confirmed their participation include Australia, Ireland, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Estonia, South Korea and Russia. — Bernama