DCM to launch LHDN Pulau Manukan Marine CSR Program
KOTA KINABALU: Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in Sabah, said Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN Malaysia) Sabah director, Datuk Hajam Lajah Alam.
“This is reflected in the fact that the tourism sector is the second largest income contributor in the State after agriculture,” he said during a courtesy call on Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Christina Liew, on Thursday.
Christina, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, concurred with the director that tourism is doing well in Sabah and contributing to the State’s economy in terms of gross domestic product (GDP).
“That being the case, it means the industry is creating business opportunities and providing jobs for our locals,” she said, adding that 90 percent of our key tourism operators employ locals.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, 16.5 million domestic visitors visited Sabah in 2016 compared with 15.7 million the previous year (2015), registering a 5.1 percent increase.
Christina has been invited to launch the Pulau Manukan Marine Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme and flag off the divers mission at the Segama Waterfront, here, on Saturday (March 23). Some 30 divers from LHDN Malaysia will participate in the programme.
“I am happy that LHDN Malaysia is continuing the CSR programme in collaboration with the Sabah Parks Board of Trustees and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK),” she said.
She noted that the programme, which was initiated in 2013, had earned a place in the Malaysia Book of Records for having put in place 50 frames for coral cultivation off Pulau Manukan.
“LHDN Malaysia’s CSR contribution to the State is laudable,” she said.
Briefing the Minister, Hajam said, Saturday’s programme entails checking out the existing coral frames for damage (if any) and replacing them besides coral replanting by the divers.
“It is part of a yearly monitoring exercise to inspect the condition of the frames and the corals,” he said.
This time around, some 30 officers from LHDN Malaysia will join hands in a gotong royong to clean up the beach.
Also present were the Ministry’s permanent secretary, William Baya, Sabah Parks director, Dr. Jamili Nais, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park manager, Anthony Tinggal, LHDN Malaysia senior tax executive 1, Shamrol Azly Azmi and tax executive, Farouk Nazli Khan Kumar.