Kota Belud villagers urged to make healthy lifestyle a culture
KOTA BELUD: The progress and achievement of any country is much determined by its healthy society.
UPKO Komulakan chief Ewon Benedick in saying, urged the people to take up sports and other recreational activities to make healthy lifestyle a culture.
“The present global challenges have created a new form of stress to society. Therefore, adopting a healthy lifestyle is an important form of stress management to ensure we carry out our daily task with strong body and mind. A healthy society is an element of a progressive country,” he added.
Ewon, who is also UPKO Kota Belud chief, also congratulated the villages in Kota Belud for developing their kampung as tourism spots for eco-tourism and recreational activities, including adventure sports and hiking.
“Dohubang Trail Kg Mandap to the Minonggui Peak is one of the main attraction centres in Kota Belud with its own adventure challenge for hiking. I was informed that a month after its opening, it recorded more than 1,000 visitors. This, to me, is a significant achievement which definitely boosts the tourism industry in Kadamaian,” he said.
Ewon was speaking after launching a Hiking Recreational Programme co-organised by Mandap Youth Club and UPKO Kota Belud on Saturday afternoon.
Dohubang Trail which begins in Kampung Mandap, provides a 1.5-kilometre length of trail to Minunggui Peak.
Ewon also reiterated his call for the villagers to stay united and cooperate as a team in managing the tourism activities in their respective kampungs.
“The success in this tourism industry will be determined by your unity and cooperation. It is never easy to start this industry, but no success can be achieved without first going through hardship. As long as you are united in maintaining the security, peace, cleanliness and natural beauty of this place, certainly tourists will never stop from visiting your kampung,” he said.
“I know that the villagers have been asking for better infrastructure and other developments for this kampung. But it will be the tourists that will complement the efforts by the JKKK, youth club and kampung leadership in voicing the need for better development. They will speak on your behalf,” he further added.
In the program, Ewon was joined by more than 100 other participants, including a volunteer from Japan.
Ewon also presented a contribution amounting RM1,000 from UPKO Kota Belud to Kampung Mandap Youth Club to help develop the adventure sports and hiking in the kampung.