KKIA expands role with ‘Cheerful Campaign’

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Masidi (second left) with Wan Abd Aziz (left) visiting the artwork exhibition by Sabah Art Gallery after officiating at the launch of the Cheerful Campaign.

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is set to do more beyond the functions of an airport, hosting cultural performances, artwork exhibitions and historical artifacts displays, through its Cheerful Campaign.

Organised in collaboration with agencies under the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, the performances and exhibitions would be held periodically, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

“The Sabah Cultural Board, State Museum and Sabah Art Gallery will all be working together with Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to make this happen. We thank MAHB for their responsiveness towards our suggestion to make KKIA as the leading airport in bringing about changes on the types of activities that can be held at airports.

“We believe this will add value to KKIA’s image and role,” said Masidi, after launching the KKIA Cheerful Campaign at KKIA here yesterday.

He added such effort was apt considering KKIA’s position as the gateway to the state, making it important to set good impressions on tourists, “and to give them an idea of what Sabah is all about.”

Masidi further said the state government had urged that Malaysia Airports ensured that existing airport facilities were in good condition at all times so that normal airport operations would not be disrupted.

He also said the state government had proposed that the MAHB top management should allocate some traditional funds for KKIA to organise events during festive seasons such as Chinese New Year, Harvest Festival, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Chrismas.

“I hope Malaysia Airports and other tourist industry players will be able to work together to materialise these events,” he said.

In a separate development, Masidi again expressed confidence that the glory days of high numbers of tourist arrivals from China would be revived in time.

He said the Federal Minister of Transport, Dato’ Seri Liow Tiong Lai, would be making the necessary announcements on chartered flights from China to Sabah, soon.

“I remember at one time we used to have about 64 chartered flights during CNY; we need to push ourselves slightly harder but I believe over time, the Chinese will come back,” he said.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali who was also present at the launching ceremony yesterday, concurred with Masidi’s remarks.

“I just came back from China on Tuesday with Transport Minister Dato’ Seri Liow, and we were there to visit China-based airlines. One of the states they constantly asked about while we were there the last two days was, of course, Sabah.

“We are confident that, after last year’s (aviation) tragedies, there is optimism that the uptake of Chinese arrivals will definitely bounce back,” commented Badlisham.

Also present at the launching ceremony yesterday was MAHB chairman Tan Sri Dr Wan Abd Aziz Wan Abdullah.