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1st April, 2009
KOTA KINABALU: Sipadan Island, Sabah’s pride with its amazingly diverse coral and marine life, needs votes to ensure it is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
The island off Semporna has already passed the first round when it earned national qualification on Dec 31, 2008.
It was selected from a pool of 261 entries from 222 participating countries.
The second round of selection from January to 7 July 2009 will see qualified entries divided into seven categories. Each category will have 11 nominees. Currently, Sipadan is in the 17th position for the island category and requires more votes to make it to the top 11.
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment is therefore appealing to Sabahans to help place Sipadan Island in the list of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
At a press conference yesterday, Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said with the help of government agencies and travel companies, they hoped the island would garner enough votes to be included in the list.
Together with the Sabah Tourism Board, the ministry will embark on a “Vote for Sipadan” campaign to urge people to vote for the island.
Voting is easy and no charges are involved. Anyone above the age of 13 can cast their votes by simply visiting the websites www.sabahtourism.com or www.new7wonders.com/nature.
“Our major strength lies in our eco-treasures that includes our idyllic islands and world class dive spots such as Sipadan Island. Located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, it has one of the richest marine habitats in the world with more than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species,” Masidi said.
Unlike reality TV shows that charge 50 sen or more for a vote through SMS, voting for Sipadan would not cost a sen and would be really worthwhile if the island made it to the top seven, he added..
Even if the island failed to be named as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the interest generated would be good in terms of promoting Sipadan Island.
“We will work together with Tourism Malaysia, dive operators, hotels and travel agents, the press and government agencies in disseminating information to the public and tourists to vote for Sipadan. We will also be going to schools and colleges,” he said.
The recent Professional Association of Diving Instructor (PADI) Course for Director Training Course (CDTC) at Pacific Sutera Harbour also encouraged people to vote for Sipadan. Masidi said Sabah was an incredibly beautiful destination with a very strong eco-image which appealed to discerning travellers.
“This is our golden opportunity to put Sabah and Malaysia on the map of the world’s natural wonders. Let us show the world that Sipadan has what it takes to become one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature,” he said.
Also present at the press conference were Assistant Ministers Datuk Ellron Angin and Bolkiah Ismail, permanent secretary Suzannah Liaw, STB chairman Tengku Zainal Adlin and general manager Datuk Irene Chaururuks.
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