Pitas is prospering slowly but surely
Published on: Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Pitas: Sabah has two distinct "ears". The one on the west side boasts the Tip of Borneo and Kudat District and township, while the one on the east is less publicised Pitas district and township without a port, unlike Kudat. Separating the two 'ears' is Kota Marudu.Pitas is seeing a trickling of tourists since the road was paved, with only some sections still in gravel condition," said resident Pias Nubil. ADVERTISEMENT
"The opening of the Marak Parak connectivity with the Ranau Highway also helps as tourists to and fro the Tip of Borneo attraction came up from Kota Marudu enroute to Sandakan or KK."Sea water of the Marudu Bay between the "ears" is clear, and teeming with sea creatures, being part of the Tun Mustapha Marine Park, he pointed out, adding that, "our rocky beach is unique".Pitas with some 40,000 Rungus, Orang Sungai and Tambanuo folks, besides others, is prospering from tourism, fishery and oil palm cultivation.There is a need to publicise the district to feature some of its tourism attractions.
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In the month of May, a Pitas folklore will entertain the annual Sabah Fest visiting public on an adapted stage musical Supirak - The Legendary Stone Ark. It is about a young mariner Ragam and his ship, transformed into a stone sculpture formation named Supirak after his heartbroken mother cursed him.Reportedly Pitas is one of the poorest district in Sabah and seaside and sunset tourism can be a game changer for some folks here due to its geographical isolation and the general unsuitability of the land for agriculture, Pitas has one of the highest rates of poverty in Malaysia.
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This folklore of the Suluk Tombonuo people describes the Supirak rock island near Kampung Malubang, Pitas that looks like a ship with its geographical coordinates 6° 43' 0" North, 117° 4' 0" East.The district recently held the Pitas seven-day non-stop Chinese New Year celebration listed as Sabah's latest tourist attraction, endorsed by the Malaysia Book of Records.Organising chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ruddy Awah said it was recognised in a letter from the Sabah Tourism Board, besides the fishermen festival Pesta Bengkoka held at Mempakad Beach.However, some of the business motels or lodges here were unaware that the government is to collect tourism tax from their establishments other than a licensed homestay business.Even cheapest budget backpacker lodges would be liable to collect and pay RM2.50 per room from tourists to the Royal Malaysia Customs.Offshore in the Marudu Bay, one can see many costing more than RM10,000 traditional fishing structures built with seawater resistant wood used by Pitas fishermen - "Bagang," platform has a small hut on it with a light at night. Fishermen place a big fishing net in the sea bottom, using light to attract the fishes gathering above the net before lifting the net and catching the fishes inside the net.Ikan bilis is a renowned product of Pitas used in many local dishes, and sold throughout Sabah and at the fish and wet market in Manggatal town in the state capital, the highest pricing noted was RM20 for the smaller fish fries and RM10 for the bigger sizes.Mina, one of its entrepreneurs, explained that the fresh catch from the sea is processed by boiling with seawater with added salt before set out to dry under the hot sunlight in the open.Kudat and Pitas should have been developed as Sabah's South China Sea deep sea fishing bases as the Marudu Bay is calm and sheltered from violent sea condition. From them, fleets of fishing trawlers can sail the sea that is now dominated by Vietnamese and others.The district certainly with its laid back charm is prospering slowly but surely as more come to visit or do business. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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