Inanam can be developed as community-based tourism hub
INANAM: Most of the areas in the Inanam constituency are in the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR) which is one of the three Unesco recognition sites in Sabah, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
The CRBR was declared a Unesco site in June 2014.
As such, she said the Inanam area has great potential to be developed as a communitybased tourism centre.
Situated south of the Kinabalu Park Unesco World Heritage Site, the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve forms chain mountains in western Sabah.
The rocky topography constitutes mainly mountains and hills.
This biosphere reserve covers an area of 350,584 hectares, encompassing rich biodiversity and tropical hill-montane landscape.
Speaking at the launching of the Chinese New Year celebration for the Inanam constituency here on Sunday, Liew said: “As minister in charge of tourism, I will try my best to promote the area to be one of the best tourism hubs in Sabah.
“Therefore, I call on the community in Inanam, regardless of race, ethnicity and religion, to continue to support the development agenda of the
State Government led by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and also the Federal Government, especially the efforts of our Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim to bring our country to the world stage.
“If we can achieve our aspiration together, then our endeavour will generate huge socio-economic benefits for the people in the Inanam constituency.”
Meanwhile, Liew said the dragon in the Chinese zodiac signifies prosperity, good luck and positive energy, and symbolises the values of perseverance, courage and unity.
The event was sponsored by the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Peto Galim, who is also Inanam assemblyman.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Higher Education cum Sepanggar MP Datuk Ts Mustapha Sakmud, Assistant Minister of Finance Tan Lee Fatt, Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Deputy DirectorGeneral (Finance) Lifred Wong, who represented the Kota Kinabalu Mayor, Datuk William Majinbon who represented Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), organising chairman Leslie Chin, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Datuk Dr Roland Chia, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Pelancongan Sabah Thonny Chee, and Chief Executive Officer of Sabapak Eco Remysta Taylor.