Too soon to know impact on Chinese tourists: Consul

Kota Kinabalu: The Consulate of China in Sabah said it was still too soon to know whether there will be any significant impact on Chinese tourist arrivals in Malaysia, including Sabah, following the recent devaluation of the Chinese currency.Chinese Consul-General Chen Peije said it was hard to gauge whether the changes in the currency's position which only recently happened will have an immediate effect on the numbers of Chinese tourists coming to the country.

"From a general sense maybe more (Chinese tourists) will come because the (Malaysia Ringgit) currency has also experienced some changes. Also I know Sabahans wish that this situation can help (encourage) more Chinese tourists to come to Sabah."

"I'm sure that more Chinese tourists will come to Sabah because they now know more about the State.

This is because in Eastern Sabah the security situation is already secure, in addition to the (Ringgit) currency devaluation.

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Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government continued its momentum in managing the economy in line with the commitment and spirit of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) when it posted record high state revenue of RM6.973 billion last year.

"So I believe that tourist arrivals (will increase) in the future but whether it will be so quick (as a result of the recent changes to the currency), I am not sure but hopefully yes (it will be increased soon).

She said this when met after a ceremony by the Consulate to donate RM50,000 for laptops to primary schools in the State affected by the recent earthquakes at Wisma Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Sabah, Likas on Tuesday.

In her speech earlier, Chen said the Consulate General and the Embassy had made the decision to provide the donation following the recent earthquakes in the State. She said in addition they were also in the process of sending books and reading material on disaster management including on earthquakes from China to be distributed to (Chinese) schools in the State and also visited SJKC Paiwen Ranau in July to see for themselves the condition of the children who were affected by the earthquake there to provide them comfort and assistance.

Chen also took the opportunity to thank the Sabah Education Department and its Director for the development of Chinese education in the State and the cultural exchange between China and Sabah.

Sabah Education Director Datuk Jame Alip extended his sincere appreciation to Chen and the Consulate for their concern and goodwill in donating the laptops to the affected primary schools.

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He said SJKC Paiwen received the laptops two weeks earlier in a special ceremony attended by Chen herself, while the remaining 27 primary schools will receive the laptops today. The selected primary schools are from six districts, namely nine schools in Ranau, seven in Kota Belud, five in Tuaran, three schools in Penampang and one school each in Kota Kinabalu, Tambunan and Nabawan.

Jame added that the Chinese consulate was also the first overseas consulate to offer assistance to schools affected by the earthquake on June 5.

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