On the campaign trail: Bangkuai mingling with traders at the Kiulu morning market. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KOTA KINABALU: Kiulu has seen substantial progress over the past decade, and locals must not be sidetracked by excessive regionalism that could derail ambitions to transform the sleepy village into an economically thriving tourist destination, says Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Bangkuai, the incumbent Kiulu assemblyman, said he is aware that the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment is the main issue in the state polls and assured that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will continue to fight for state rights under the Federal Constitution.
“At the same time, let’s not be distracted by too much of this (regionalism) and forget what our people want.
“There must be a balance where we ensure that our people are well taken care of while we continue to pursue what we should be rightly doing for the state,” said Bangkuai when met at the local morning market during a walkabout yesterday.
According to Bangkuai, there have been various efforts to transform the rural village into an agro-tourism destination, where it will soon be known as the first Cittaslow (Slow City) in Malaysia.
“Now, they (Cittaslow) are doing the final assessment. Once we get into that list, you know what it means; we will be the first in Malaysia to get that recognition,” he said.
“This is our thing – internationalising tourism in Kiulu.”
He added that the state government is collaborating with Nanhua University in Taiwan to provide a three-year training programme for 15 pineapple farmers from Sabah.
“Once they return (from Taiwan), they will come back and be mentors,” he added.
Bangkuai said that soon, Kiulu could see a small industry based on pineapples and other local products, where about 1,000 people could benefit from it.
“I want Kiulu to be the first to achieve all three pillars in the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) plan,” he said.
Under the SMJ plan, the three foundational pillars focus on Agriculture, Industry and Tourism; Investing in the People; and Enhancing Connectivity with a Green Approach, to develop Sabah over a five-year period from 2021.
Bangkuai also said that Kiulu only had about three to four tour operators when he first became the assemblyman in 2013.
“Now, there are about 80 tour operators,” he added.
Bangkuai also said that an RM1.5mil allocation has been approved this year for the construction and upgrading of 47 agricultural roads, which will benefit over 1,000 farmers in the region.
“I have a clear plan, our focus is to ensure we can empower the local economy and boost the people’s income,” he added.
Bangkuai said that as the two-term assemblyman for Kiulu, he wants to see the rustic village thriving economically.
“The people of Kiulu waited for years for this place to be elevated into a sub-district, and we managed to do that,” he said.
“We also want to be an example of rural tourism in Malaysia.”
Bangkuai is defending his Kiulu seat in a multiple-cornered fight against Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat’s (KDM) Henry Saimpon, Parti Kebangsaan Sabah’s (PKS) Dusi Gingging, Sabah STAR’s Terence Sinti, Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri’s (Anak Negeri) Trevor Kenneth Maringking, Warisan’s Saibin Gunsari, Upko’s Joisin Romut and Parti Impian Sabah’s (PIS) Niyky @ Niky J Bosikol.
