Kiram standoff site in Sabah now offers turtle conservation to attract tourists

The site of a deadly standoff between followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and Malaysian forces earlier this year is now one of the areas where Sabah authorities are promoting turtle conservation to attract tourists.

 

A report by Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency said Sabah's Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry is intensifying promotions on smaller tourism products.

 

"Turtles are iconic for tourism and can be an added attraction to the diving havens in Sabah which are famous around the world," it quoted assistant minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming as saying.

 

He said programs like turtle conservation are among the smaller tourism products that could attract tourists.

 

The official launched the state-level World Turtles Day 2013 in Pulau Mabul near Semporna on Thursday.

 

Such conservation is being eyed to attract tourism in areas such as Semporna, Tawau, Kunak and Lahad Datu, Bernama added.

 

Lahad Datu was the site of a three-week standoff between Kiram's followers and Malaysian security forces last February.

 

That standoff was broken on March 1 and 2 with deadly clashes between the two sides.

 

In turn, the clashes triggered offensives by Malaysian security forces to flush out Kiram's followers from the area.

 

Several Filipino followers of Kiram had been charged with terrorism, which carries a life sentence upon conviction, while some were also charged for waging war on the King, which carries the death sentence upon conviction. — ELR, GMA News