KOTA KINABALU: Recreational activities can boost local incomes while strengthening community ties, says Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
He said locally organised leisure events create economic opportunities through food and beverage sales, participation fees and merchandise, while also bringing residents together.
“Recreational activities can strengthen the local economy in various ways, and such efforts should be intensified to build a more competitive community in the future,” he said.
Shahelmey was speaking after officiating at a night fishing programme at Kg Tanjung Aru in Putatan on Saturday.
The event, organised by the Tg Aru Youth Community Club and Al Khauthar youth group, drew about 50 participants.
Shahelmey said that if held on a larger scale, similar events could spark greater interest in fishing and draw tourists to the area.
He noted a growing trend of people taking up hobbies and recreational activities in groups, through community events and larger-scale programmes.
“These healthy activities should be further explored and encouraged because they not only bring people together but also generate social and economic benefits for the community,” he added.
