Liew (right) handing over 500 reusable bags to Wilson (middle). Looking on at left is Lai.
SANDAKAN: The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (KePKAS) distributed 1,000 reusable bags for the use of the public here and in the Kinabatangan district at the recent Sabah Tourism Board’s (STB) Dinner and Dialogue Session with the Sandakan Tourism Industry held at the Sabah Hotel here.
On hand to receive 500 bags each from its Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew were the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) Deputy President 1 Wilson @ Terence Thomas and Kinabatangan Assistant District Officer (Development) Mohammad Halidun Salleh, witnessed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai.
Liew said the exercise carried out by KePKAS in collaboration with its agency, the Environment Protection Department (EPD), is part of the Ministry’s initiative to support the Government’s effort to reduce single-use plastics.
“This campaign aims to encourage the public to reduce the usage of single-use plastic bags in Sabah and to promote the use of reusable bags during shopping.
“It is one of the Government’s efforts to reduce environmental pollution caused by the use and disposal of single-use plastics,” she explained.
Meanwhile, in her presentation at the Dinner and Dialogue Session, STB Senior Marketing Manager Josephine Chai disclosed that the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre topped the list of places of interest visited by local visitors and tourists in the post-pandemic period until 2024.
“From 89,471 visitors in 2022, the figure increased to 134,958 the following year (2023) and then to 136,225 last year,” she said. This is followed by the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre which recorded 78,963 visitors in 2024 compared to 75,220 visitors the previous year, she added.
Also present were KePKAS Deputy Permanent Secretary 1 Mary Malangking, Sabah Parks Director Dr Maklarin Lakim, Sabah Wildlife Department Director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, Responsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT) Chairman Alexander Yee Kok Tsen and President of Sandakan Tourism Association Teo Chee Kim.
