WELCOME TO MIRI: Lee (sixth left) with some of the foreign anglers and members of the organising committee before the flagging off.

This is regrettable, Infrastructure Development and Communication Assistant Minister Lee Kim Shin said yesterday.

“Miri is still unknown or very new to the other parts of the world, even to those in the peninsula, where some of them don’t even know where it (Miri) is,” he said.

In view of that, he said, various programmes and activities had been arranged by tourism bodies as well as the private sector and non-governmental organisations to promote and ‘market’ the city as one of the tour destinations in the state and the country in general.

The Miri International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament was one of the activities and programmes aimed at promoting Miri as a destination for sport fishing as well as a tourist destination, he said when flagging off participants of the tournament at Marina Bay wharf here.

“International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament is one of the tourism events for Miri.

“We have a series of events and programmes to cater to the needs and interest of our tourists. Different tourists have different interests such as fishing, golfing and enjoying our nature and wonders,” the assistant minister said.

Lee believed that the annual tournament organised by Miri Anglers Club would be able to promote Miri as a sport fishing haven in the region and country in general and hoped that the participants would help to promote the city.

A total of 72 anglers from the country including from Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia as well as from Singapore, Brunei and Iran are taking part in the tournament.

“Miri as a tourist destination is a place for tourists to have fun and enjoy themselves and relax.

“We hope those who come to Miri will return as Miri people are very special people, hospitable, friendly and warm towards tourists and visitors,” he said.

Speaking to reporters later, Lee, who is Senadin assemblyman and chairman of Tourism Committee of Miri City Incorporated, urged agencies such as the Fisheries Department and the Marine Police to intensify their enforcement activities to ensure the waters off Miri remained pristine with both marine life and corals.

Apart from the enforcement agencies, Lee said the fishing community as well as the public must also play their part.

On the tournament, Lee said it was getting popular and was attracting anglers from different countries.

“I have the confidence that Miri International Deep Sea Tournament will continue to grow and be able to attract more anglers from different part of the world.

“In this context, we are hoping the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) will also help to promote this event as we see it has a great potential,” he added.

By Anthony Joseph taken in Bornoe Post online 

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