To minimize the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Malaysia has issued a Restricted Movement Order which includes temporary closure of all government premises starting March 18 to May 12, 2020.
However, tourist information services are still available as follows:
Monday – Friday: 9am to 6pm
Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays: 9am to 3pm
Visitors’ Information Centre:
Kuching
Sibu
Miri
Mr Loji Tungging (+6012-8821711)
Ms Angela Linsam (+6013-5396787)
Ms Jane Chong (+6013-8165566)
Ms Nujaimi Laudin (+6011-19832186)
Mr Alfonso McKenzie (+6016-8785947 – National Parks)
Ms Affisiah Sijali (+6014-2086488 – National Parks)
Kayaking, a water sport which involves paddling using a double-bladed oar and a kayak, has been gaining popularity as one of the must-try activities among adventure lovers and thrill seekers while visiting Sarawak.
The experience will become more valuable when kayaking and enjoying the beautiful sight of our Borneo rainforest canopy, encountering wildlife and sharing the experiences with the people of the area.
The package started out as a family-based business in 2011, the Semadang Borneo Adventure, also known as Semadang Kayak, features their tour focusing on adventures along the Upper Sarawak River with products ranging from river kayaking, bamboo rafting, caving and jungle trekking.
Semadang Kayak has well trained, friendly professional staff and certified guides to ensure the safety of all their guests during any of its activities.
With the risk assessments duly undertaken, Semadang Kayak has been consistently providing an adventure of a lifetime for all guests.
With their motto, “Arrive as guests and leave as a friend”, Semadang Kayak provides a personalised service and having you to leave home with memorable experiences in Borneo.
At present, tours have been temporarily suspended since March 18 to adhere with the government’s decision of the restricted movement order due to the current Covid-19 outbreak.
To know more, visit its homepage at https://www.semadangkayak.com/ to get an insight of what are the tours and adventures available.
Picture shows the kayaking and bamboo rafting tour. (Photo courtesy of Semadang Kayak)
KUCHING – Accommodation facilities at Niah National Park, including the Madu and Bukit Kasut Trails, will be temporarily closed for major renovation and upgrading works until January 2021.
The project to upgrade facilities at the Park will take a period of approximately a year to complete.
The public is advised to adhere strictly to all the safety notices at all time while undertaking activities within the National Park area and any inconvenience caused is very much regretted.
For further inquiries and clarifications, the public may contact the Niah National Park’s office at +6085-737454/450.
Photo of the Great Cave, Niah National Park. (Photo courtesy of Borneo Adventure)
KUCHING – A team of committed staff and individuals will continue to take care of more than 30 animal species at the Matang Wildlife Center during the current Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed due to the current COVID-19 outbreak.
With minimum manpower present, they will still continue to give attention to these animals particularly feeding, cleaning the enclosures, behavioral enrichment exercise and minor maintenance works at the center.
BINTULU – For the third time, a local company, Adap 4orty Global presented personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the hospitals, polyclinics and quarantine centres in Bintulu, as well as the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) in Kuching for the frontliners involved in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.
Previously, the organisation donated about 11,000 hand gloves, 688 disposal suits, 200 pairs of shoes and 40 boxes of face masks.
Apart from that, they also presented electrical equipment such as fans, refrigerators, spraying machines and toiletries.
“This is one of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. We are always ready to help, and we recommend the hospitals to continue contacting us for futher assistance”, said Adap 4orty Global spokesperson Francis Ngu Hown Hua.
Photo shows the donations presented by Adap 4orty Global to Hospital Bintulu. (Photo by New Sarawak Tribune)
KOTA SAMARAHAN – On March 6, 2020, four medical institutions in Sarawak received health equipment from University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to assist the front-liners who were battling against COVID-19.
The recipients were Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Sarawak Heart Centre, Samarahan Health Clinic and Kuching Specialist Hospital (KPJ).
SGH received 23 litres of hand sanitiser, nine intubation boxes, and 100 face shields; Sarawak Heart Centre received one intubation box and 30 face shields; Samarahan Health Clinic received two sampling boxes, five litres of hand sanitiser and 50 face shields; while KPJ received two intubation boxes and 50 face shields.
Previously, UNIMAS had also delivered two self-manufactured intubation boxes and 100 custom-made face shields to SGH, hand sanitiser to their own Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM), the UNIMAS Health Centre, residential colleges and the Kota Samarahan Royal Malaysia Police.
The intubation box was customised by Dr Charles Bong Hin Joo, a lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering UNIMASN and his team so that it would have sliding doors on both sides for easy tube insertions.
The hand sanitiser was developed by researchers from the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology led by Associate Prof Dr Samsur Mohamad and his team, while the face shields were jointly constructed by the Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Faculty of Built Environment, and Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology.
Photo shows Prof Dr Wan Hashim, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation handing over the items to Aida Aminah, Science Officer at SGH. (Photo by UNIMAS News)
It is no doubt that millions of people across the globe are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, which has alarmed countries to take extensive measures to prevent further spread of the virus.
Here are some of the tips that you can help yourself and the community to prevent spreading and catching the coronavirus:
Most importantly, stay at home, avoid any social gatherings and keep your hygiene in check. By staying home today, we can travel tomorrow. And travelling tomorrow will support jobs, celebrate culture, promote international friendship and understanding which will lead to a country’s future recovery.
Up until March 31, Sarawak recorded a total of 156 confirmed cases and 8 deaths, which marks a total of 2,766 confirmed cases and 43 deaths in Malaysia. With the increasing number of cases each day, the Malaysian Government has declared a Restricted Movement Order (RMO) that urged the public to stay at home from March 18 to April 14, 2020.
Sarawak Tourism Board and their travel trade partners will be participating in ITB Berlin on March 4 to 8, 2020 at Messe Berlin, Germany.
The trade partners include Amogha Tours and Travel, Borneo Adventure, Paradesa Borneo (One Wayang Tours), Cove 55, Riverside Majestic Hotel Astana Wing and the Damai Beach Resort.
At the trade show, STB will launch four tourism products, highlighting Sarawak’s unique proposition of Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF). These include the Sibu Swan City Tour, the Trans-Borneo Cycling, the Damai Destination and the launch of the 23rd edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2020, which will be happening in Kuching, Sarawak from 10 to 12 July, at the Sarawak Cultural Village.
Sarawak will participate with a bigger space under Tourism Malaysia at Booth 117, Hall 26A. This is to give prominence for the State’s respective branding and to continue its promotion of Visit Sarawak Campaign (VSC), as well as to tie with Visit Malaysia Year 2020.
Sarawak will also showcase few of its cultural heritage such as the Sarawak Tattoo (body art) and Sarawak Cultural dances, along with a Sape musician.
Photo shows Sarawak’s booth during ITB Berlin 2019
SIBU – Bukit Lima Nature Reserve (BLNR) will be gazetted as ‘Urban Green Area’, as part of Sarawak’s effort in conserving the State’s natural habitat, while developing Sibu town.
It was announced by the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the launching of the World Wetlands Day 2020 on February 8.
“This place will not be used for development; it will be a green area in Sibu. Once we gazette, we will improve the infrastructure here, re-do the drainage around Bukit Lima area and it will become a tourism area”, he added.
Sarawak is one of the states in Malaysia with positive and innovative policies in development plans whereby the government has identified green areas for conservation.
The decision to gazette the area is also part of the effort to educate the people in Sibu, particularly the younger generation on sustainable development.
Photo shows Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (left), Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) Zolkipli Mohamad Aton (right) and others walking along the trail at BLNR. (Photo by The Borneo Post)
