Tawau: Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan wishes that the inaugural Border-Sports event between Tawau (Malaysia) and Nunukan (Indonesia) will become an annual event.He said while the economic and family ties between Tawau and Nunukan has long been established, the organising of sports events between these two 'border towns' is expected to strengthen the mutual understanding between them."This initiative by the Department of Youth and Sports Sabah of organising this Border-Sports is a good idea and should be supported.
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"This is a program that is welcomed by the state government in our efforts to bridge the two governments (Government to Government - G to G) and its people (People to People - P to P)," he said during the sending off ceremony of 50 contingent members to Nunukan at the Tawau port jetty.He urged the Youth and Sports Ministry would voice their intention to the Nunukan side for a return visit of the youths there to Tawau.He said sports teams from Nunukan could be invited as a special invitational team at the upcoming Sabah Games (Saga) to be held in Tawau next year.
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"The previous Saga held in Kota Kinabalu, invited teams from Brunei and as the host of Saga in 2015, we may invite participation from Nunukan teams," he said.
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Meanwhile, Deputy Consul-General at the Republic of Indonesia Consulate, Johan J. Mulyadi said that his party welcomed the proposal of a return visit and said that it was a good idea.