Kota Kinabalu: The United States is encouraging more Americans to visit Sabah following improved security and the easing of its travel advisory for the State earlier this year.
US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires to Malaysia, David Gamble, said mainland Borneo is now placed under a more relaxed travel status.
“Many countries are following America’s lead and reviewing their travel advisories as well, to reflect the increased security and how safe it is to come to Sabah.
“We want to see more tourists, American and from around the world, come here because Sabah is a fantastic place to visit,” he said after the launch of the Freedom 250 campaign at the Tanjung Aru Library, here.
In February, the Embassy lowered its travel advisory for Eastern Sabah to Level 1, advising its citizens to exercise normal precautions, while maintaining a Level 2 advisory for islands and maritime areas off Eastern Sabah.
Four months later, Japan also lowered its travel advisory for coastal areas from Kudat to Tawau, including Banggi and Balambangan islands, from Level 2 to Level 1.
The advisories had been tightened following a series of kidnapping-for-ransom incidents involving foreigners off Sabah’s east coast since 2000.
Gamble said the US continued to value its relationship with Sabah and was keen to strengthen engagement with the State through cultural, educational and sports programmes.
“We spend a lot of time out here in Kota Kinabalu,” he said. About 50 Americans from the US Embassy were in Sabah for the programmes.
David said there were currently no immediate plans to establish a US consulate in Sabah, as the process would require several steps and ultimately fall under the authority of US Congress.
“For now, we are here,” he said, adding that the large US presence in Kota Kinabalu reflected the importance Washington placed on its relationship with Sabahans.
Also present were Assistant Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Jordan Jude Ellron and US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Cate Dillon.
Cate said the Freedom 250 programmes formed part of global celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence and presented opportunities to deepen people-to-people ties between the US and Malaysia.
She said the US was also looking for further opportunities to cooperate with Malaysia and Sabah in cultural preservation through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Heritage.
The fund supports preservation projects by combining American expertise with local skills, including the employment of local construction workers and artists to ensure communities can continue preservation work using their own expertise.
Freedom 250 Sabah is a three-day series of programmes being held across Kota Kinabalu from Tuesday until today (Thursday) in partnership with the Sabah Government, City Hall, local organisations and corporate sponsors.
Throughout the celebration, the Tanjung Aru Library will host the travelling Freedom 250 Exhibition, outreach by Fulbright Malaysia and US higher education institutions, STEM workshops supported by McDermott and ConocoPhillips, English Access Scholarship Programme activities and American Film Showcase workshops for emerging Sabahan filmmakers.
Sports diplomacy is also a key component of the programme, with prominent American athletes leading the Freedom 250 Sabah Football Clinic Powered by ConocoPhillips for up to 500 young Sabahan footballers.
Among those participating are Shannon Boxx, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and Fifa Women’s World Cup champion, Tony Sanneh, who played in the 2002 Fifa World Cup; and former professional footballer Maren Hendershot McCrary.
Jordan said Sabah could benefit from American expertise in sports development and expressed hope that greater exposure and cooperation could help produce more world-class athletes from the State.
He also called for more cultural exchanges between Sabahans and Americans, saying such programmes would allow people from both sides to better understand each other beyond what they see through films, products and popular culture.
Today (Thursday), the celebrations will culminate in the family-friendly Great American Sabah State Fair and Freedom 250 Fun Run at Padang Merdeka from 3pm to 10pm.
The public event will feature American-style food, local vendors, contests, classic games and a live performance by the US Pacific Band, comprising Navy sailors from the US and partner countries.
Other sporting activities include flag football clinics, while the programme also features a 2.50-mile road race in conjunction with the Freedom 250 celebrations.
Film screenings of American classics, including Back to the Future, Mission: Impossible and The Incredibles, will also be held at City Cineplex, City Mall, highlighting American storytelling, creativity and technological innovation.
The Freedom 250 celebrations coincide with the 22nd Pacific Partnership mission in Sabah, involving about 400 US service members and personnel from eight partner nations, including Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom.
The personnel are working with local communities on engineering projects, medical outreach and disaster preparedness, further reflecting the broadening relationship between the US and Sabah.
