MALAYSIA: Chinese Tourists May Sieze If East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) Is Scrapped

BN leader Najib Abdul Razak has warned that if the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) is ever scrapped, then China will take punitive actions against Malaysia.

At an election campaign stop in Kuala Berang, Terengganu, today, Najib said the ECRL contractor, the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), is fully-owned by the Chinese government.

The opposition said that if they are in power, they want to cancel ECRL.

CCCC is 100 percent owned by the Chinese government.

If the project is cancelled, China will stop sending tourists to Malaysia.

Duty-free shops in Kenyir will be empty.

The restaurant owners will be wiping tables every day with no customers.

Ini bukan main-main, kawan-kawan said this is not a joke, my friends, the caretaker prime minister added.

Najib then recalled how a spat between South Korea and China last year had resulted in the latter banning package tours to Jeju island.

Chinese tourists reportedly once accounted for 80 percent of the visitors to Jeju.

The island is now reportedly deserted after the spat.

Consider the possibility of palm oil boycott.

Najib also urged his audience to consider the possibility of palm oil boycott by China.

They are our biggest customers for palm oil. If they don't want our palm oil, Felda will have to fold.

This is what is happening now. If we don't have clear policies, we are done for, he said.

Kuala Berang is a state constituency and a town near Lake Kenyir, which is part of the Hulu Terengganu parliamentary constituency.

Najib said although the ECRL does not run through the constituencies, the state will benefit, particularly from the 80,000 in total jobs that the project would offer.

Opposition leaders and economists have questioned the need and viability of the RM55 billion project, the most ambitious and expensive public infrastructure project ever, which is funded with soft loans from China.

Pakatan Harapan has promised to review the ECRL project, among other mega projects undertaken by the Najib administration.

Once completed in 2024, the ECRL will link Tumpat with Kuantan and Port Klang.


Tourism Observer

MALAYSIA: Birds Can Be Good Tourism, Says Naturalist

Andrew J. Sebastian will be promoting birding and ecotourism in Malaysia at the first American Birding Expo - See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/birds-can-be-a-big-deal-in-tourism-says-naturalist#sthash.pjFq1n4e.dpuf

What Andrew J. Sebastian, naturalist, environmentalist and bird guide, really wants is for Malaysians to look at the photos of birds in Malaysia, and think, “Wow! our country has wonderful things to offer. Birds are a big deal.”

Sebastian’s days and nights are spent talking, educating, promoting and persuading everyone he meets to fall in love with birding, which is the hobby of watching birds.

Malaysia has many species of birds that many Malaysians are not aware of, but foreigners are. This is why he is setting on a new path: championing ecotourism, with a focus on birds.

Sebastian will be presenting Malaysia and promoting birding at the first American Birding Expo, which started yesterday. He is all psyched, to talk about birds, Malaysian birds, Malaysia and ecotourism.

“For the uninitiated, birding is a hobby for people who like to watch birds. It has become a fast growing product around the world and means big business.

“In the United Kingdom, there is a huge birding community, and the Royal Society for The Protection of Birds has over a million members.

“There’s a big market for us and loads of people to come to Malaysia. America has over 44 million bird watchers. USA is a good market. We want to woo them to come over to Malaysia.

“The American Birding Expo is fashioned after the UK bird fair. I will represent Malaysia and man the booth there to woo American birders to come over.”

Malaysia has a diverse species of birds, which cen be promoted to attract bird watchers from all over the world, says Andrew J. Sebastian. – Photo courtesy of Sebastian.Malaysia has a diverse species of birds, which cen be promoted to attract bird watchers from all over the world, says Andrew J. Sebastian. – Photo courtesy of Sebastian.It is said that birdwatching in the US, Canada, and Mexico generates US$25 billion (RM110 billion) per year and it employs over 60,000 people.


Malaysia has a diverse species of birds, which cen be promoted to attract bird watchers from all over the world, says Andrew J. Sebastian.

Livescience reported that, “Avitourism, as this particular sector of the industry is known, is one of the most lucrative sources of income in ecotourism. It accounts for the largest single group of ecotourists across the globe, and according to some estimates, three million international trips are taken each year for the main purpose of bird-watching.“

Malaysia could be an example of ecotourism success, Sebastian said, if only it could organise itself and focus on the wealth the country offers – hiking, nature reserves, the vast mountains and lush green padi fields and jungles, and the vibrant flora and fauna.

Then there are the white sandy beaches of Terengganu and renowned diving spots around the country.

Why is Malaysia’s ecotourism so underdeveloped? For one, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak have different things to offer.

The peninsula has no champion to promote ecotourism. There are a lot of local champions, but not one star promoter.

Across the pond, there is Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin, Sabah Tourism Board chairman, who has been pushing ecotourism for many years.

Peninsular Malaysia also has a different growth chart that needs to be developed. Each state has its own idea of ecotourism, and attempts have been rather half-hearted.

Sabah and Sarawak are blessed with nature, culture and heritage and both states are dedicated to ecotourism.

Andrew J. Sebastian says birding can be a lucrative industry in Malaysia. Malaysia does have her share of eco-champions such as Irshad Mobarak and Hymeir Kamaruddin, who promote their nature reserves up north. Still, there is room for more players in Malaysian ecotourism.

However, this could change, with Sebastian as a champion.

“Why me? Firstly I have the passion and interest. Secondly I have been doing birding and eco tourism for a long time.

“We still have a long way to go. I’m trying my best to promote eco-tourism and sustainability in our tourism industry.

"If we can show the government that ecotourism works, then we don’t have to work so hard to build up structures, for we have everything already.”

Sebastian’s passion for birds earned him an invitation from the organisers of the American expo. He then approached Tourism Malaysia who agreed to send him to the US.

“Malaysia is sitting on a gold mine when it comes to ecotourism. We should embrace this and be proud of our treasures. Our birds are our wealth.”