Kota Kinabalu: State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said it is up to the State Government whether the Mazu (Goddess of the Sea) statue in Kudat, construction of which was halted midway 17 years ago, gets completed as wished by the people there.
“The matter is out of my hands. I have visited the site and met with locals. Some want construction to be expedited. Some, as they did previously, still oppose. I can only convey this matter to the State Cabinet for consideration and approval,” she said.
On another matter, she said the outrageous flight prices imposed by airlines every holiday season would deter Sabah’s tourism industry. She said it would be better if airlines increased their flight frequencies instead.
“It is not fair to expect students or those working abroad to pay expensive prices every time they want to come home and see their families during the holidays.
“Sabahans especially, must not go on ignored. I will raise this matter with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Transport Minister Anthony Loke,” she said.
“If we use the same number of flights, then what happens to the tourists? We have many domestic tourists who want to use the holidays as a chance to visit Sabah.
“It’s a good time to come but the flight tickets are too expensive,” she said.
Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) in a recent statement told fliers to book their tickets early before the peak season and that prices were automated based on demand. Christina was met at a breaking fast event at a hotel where RM20,000 was evenly donated to the Kinabalu Pink Ribbon, Sabah Cheshire Home, Pusat Pengajian Tahfiz Al-Quran Assyatibiyah and Rumah Amal Kasih.
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