Kota Kinabalu: Seven celebrities from Zhejiang TV China are in town for a film shooting exercise for a reality show dubbed “Star Chasers” in their country.
They are singer-turned actor Raymond Lam, actors Wu Chi-Lung, Ding Zhou Jie, Chen Li-Nung, Cai Wen Jing and Zhou Jie Qiong, and singer-actor Ah-Niu (a Malaysian artiste).
As the famous group arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) at 6pm on Sunday, several hundred fans worked themselves into a frenzy. On hand to welcome them was Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew who garlanded them with native bead necklaces, presented by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB).
The same evening, their first location shooting was at the Masakan Sedap Restaurant in Hilltop, Luyang. On Monday, the celebrities had a brief stint at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu before departing for Manukan Island for the next shooting schedule, followed by a tour of Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Tuaran.
SPONSORED CONTENT Shell’s Access to Energy helps power lives of isolated communities in Sabah Kota Kinabalu: In 2017, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (SSPC) launched Access to Energy (A2E), a Shell Social Investment programme aimed at providing affordable and continuous supply of electricity from renewable sources for communities who live without connection to the electricity grid. Read more The celebrities’ itinerary today (Tuesday) takes them to Mari Mari Cultural Village (Inanam), Cabana Retreat Resort and 101 Firefly Eco Park (Kawa Kawa Village). They leave for home tomorrow (Wednesday).
Liew said the team’s nine-day activities in Malaysia (including Sabah) are coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac).
Speaking to reporters on Monday at Star, the Minister said:
“As Tourism Minister, I welcome the team of celebrities to Sabah. I am happy that they have selected Sabah as one of the three Malaysian states (after Melaka and Pahang) for their film-shooting destination.
“They are aware that Kota Kinabalu is one of the best spots in the world for viewing a beautiful sunset.”
Liew is optimistic that their upcoming reality show in China would make Sabah known to a wider audience there, and thus encourage more Chinese nationals to choose Sabah for their holiday destination.
“While Sabah is better known to the people in first-tier cities in China, there is a need to promote the State to second-tier or even third-tier cities.”
President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) Tan Sri T.C. Goh also welcomed the celebrities’ mission in Sabah, saying he would support any endeavour that would benefit the State and its people, economically speaking. “They have heard so much about Sabah, so they decided to come and explore the land.”
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