Pairin wants villagers to participate in Visit Keningau Year
KENINGAU: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan described the tourism industry as a local economic driver for the state and urged the residents of this district to take part in the tourism industry in conjunction with Visit Keningau Year (VKY2018) this year.
“There are many products in this area that can attract tourists, including agriculture, nutrition, artistry, culture and clean and beautiful environment as well as unique historical places,” he said in his speech when opening a meet-the-people session at the Kampung Merampong hall here on Saturday.
According to Pairin, various exciting programmes can also be created in their respective villages in order to attract tourists and generate economic progress for the locals.
Pairin said he was also confident that the VKY2018 tourism industry in the district will continue to grow, especially since the economic activities of the people in the area were too important as well as the upgrading of infrastructure for the comfort of tourists visiting the state and district every year.
He noted that the industry not only progressed smoothly in major cities in the state but progress was also enjoyed by rural residents in the interior.
“Every year, our state attracts an ever-increasing number of tourists and places of interest are also being upgraded for the comfort of visitors.
“The government is also upgrading infrastructure for tourists visiting the interior and at the same time, locals also benefit from this industry by providing local products that can become tourist attractions,” he said.
Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister and Keningau member of parliament, added tourist arrivals had increased to more than three million last year and this showed that tourists feel at ease when visiting this state with its diversity of food, handicrafts, arts, culture, historic and unique attractions places, and more.
He then assured that the Barisan Nasional government will continue to strive to help the people in the interior by channelling sustainable development with a strong economy.
BN had taken steps to increase facilities especially to address poverty through the establishment of the Prosperity Mini Estate (MESEJ) project throughout the state, said Pairin.
He further stressed that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak always paid attention to this state and its people.
“These include the question of the welfare and well-being of the people, the state’s security, as well as the development of facilities that became the priority of the federal government’s concern.
“Any action for the benefit of Sabah and the people is taken into account along with our problems, but the Prime Minister has also taken a drastic action in relation to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) that any of Sabah’s rights taken by the federal government will be returned to Sabah.
“This is the guarantee given by the Prime Minister who is committed to the future, welfare and well-being of Sabah’s people,” said Pairin.
He added that the timely response to the state’s problems was a result of the people’s high expectation of the Prime Minister’s leadership.
At the event, Pairin approved 200 chairs for the Kampung Merampong open hall in addition to presenting water tanks, zinc and chairs funded by his parliamentary allocation to the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) in the Keningau constituency.
He also handed over a set of kitchen equipment for the Kampung Merampong open hall.