Tourist arrivals double due to peace in Sabah

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KOTA KINABALU: Tourist arrivals in Sabah have doubled due to the peace in the state.

Deputy Sabah police commissioner SAC Datuk Tan Kok Liang attributed the the rise in tourist arrivals to the peace factor and said the crime rate in Sabah had dropped by 10 per cent this year.

“The crime rate in Sabah is also quite low,” he said during the Hari Raya cakes presentation by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan at the Kepayan police headquarters near here yesterday.

He expressed his gratitude to the community for their cooperation and said without the cooperation from all parties, the aim to maintain peace in the state would not be possible.

The peaceful environment has also lured investors to come to Sabah, he said.

Meanwhile, Pairin expressed his gratitude to the police and said their contribution was greatly appreciated.

Pairin, who was representing Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), distributed 500 packets of cakes during the event.

He also commented on the infrastructure development that had taken place in Sabah between 49 years ago and now.

He said changes in infrastructures could be seen between then and now.

He cited his own village as an example, saying that 49 years ago, there were no roads going into his village and the people had to walk on foot through the hilly terrains. There were also no water and electricity supplies.

“But now, you can see the changes – there are water, electricity supplies. It shows that the government cares about the welfare of the people. It also knows that it is important to bring about infrastructure development as that will improve economic development,” he said.

In the context of tourism, he cited that 49 years ago, the sector was non-existent.

“Yet now, it is a different story … tourism has strengthened the economic activities (in Sabah),” he said.