Tourists returning to Semporna
Published on: Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Semporna district which bore the brunt of security issues following several kidnappings in recent years is slowly gaining back its tourists based on hotel and resort bookings.Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Ramlee Marahaban said such accommodation are almost fully booked until end of this year. He said that the district had received an additional 20,000 visitors in February and they aim to draw more tourists during the forthcoming 23rd Semporna Regatta Lepa festival.ADVERTISEMENT The district suffered a tourism decline due to the spate of kidnappings by cross-border militants but security has since being stepped up by Esscom.He said the programme which will be held from April 22-23, is jointly organised by the Sabah Museum Performing Art Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and State Public Sector Training Institute and will involve 200 participants. "Among the activities are Lepa Decorated Car Competition, Lepa Parade, Sea Sports competition, and exhibition of Bajau traditional house," he said after paying a courtesy call to Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, Monday. He also said that there will be an International Convention of Bajau Samah, Maritime and Transmigration of Southeast Asia Culture, which will involve 21 paper presentations of various topics, including Bajau arts and culture from six countries namely the Philippines, Hawaii, Japan, Argentina, France and Malaysia. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, Juhar had also received a courtesy call from SMA Kota Kinabalu Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), which was led by Adzhar Mohd Ibno. The school has been chosen by the Education Ministry to be the 'model school' for 'Tahfiz Model Ulul Albab' programme.
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Adzhar said 125 students have been recruited under the programme and the school is expecting more recruitment next year as they had received about 1,000 applications this year. He added that the school's PTA will enlarge the existing prayer hut for the comfort of future Tahfiz students, especially during Al-Quran group recital.