KOTA KINABALU: Rustic Kiulu, which sits on the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, is set to be Sabah’s example for a thriving agricultural and rural tourism destination, said Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, the Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister for Sabah.
Bangkuai, who is Kiulu assemblyman, said a strategic plan has been outlined to elevate Kiulu’s economic status in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan.
This comprehensive strategy will leverage Kiulu’s strengths in tourism and agriculture, and eventually manufacturing, to bring the district to new heights, he said at the launch of Mukim Nabalu Kaamatan Festival at Pekan Nabalu yesterday.
Emphasising the immense potential Kiulu holds, Bangkuai highlighted that Kiulu has established itself as a shining example of successful rural destinations and community-based tourism.
“We must aim to build on this success, especially when agriculture is also our key strength, with pineapple being the main crop.
“Our agricultural sector has shown great promise and we need to capitalise on this,” he said, adding that he would be apportioning a substantial amount of his state assemblyman’s allocation to repair and build agricultural roads in the constituency.
Preliminary discussions with the Kiulu sub-district office and People Development Leader’s office revealed that Kiulu has more than 70 agricultural roads.
By advancing the agricultural sector, Bangkuai said Kiulu creates opportunities to explore manufacturing that would not only add value to their produce but also create jobs and stimulate local businesses.
He said an integrated approach to enhancing tourism, agriculture and manufacturing is key to Kiulu’s future prosperity.
With each sector supporting the others, Joniston believes Kiulu could achieve balanced development for all. He revealed that rural tourism in Kiulu has generated some 400 employment opportunities.
Joniston said considering the large pineapple plantation in Kiulu, especially in Mukim Nabalu, it is not impossible for the area to venture into manufacturing one day with the setting up of a pineapple processing factory.
