KOTA KINABALU: Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew applauds FOSTER (Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research) for organising Sepilok Jazz 2024 (3rd Edition) to be held on September 6 and 7 in Sandakan in aid of the organisation’s sea turtle protection and conservation work on the island of Libaran (off the coast of Sandakan).
She urged the Sandakan community and visitors to support FOSTER’s noble effort to maintain sustainability of sea turtle conservation by participating in the music festival, noting that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) has released about 45,000 baby turtles from the award-winning Walai Penyu Conservation Park thus far.
Walai Penyu Conservation Park is FOSTER’s initiative, which was incepted in November 2011 in collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD).
“With a more spacious venue this time around (Rainforest Discovery Centre), coupled with extensive publicity for Sepilok Jazz, I am certain the event will attract a bigger crowd than last year’s.
“My Ministry fully supports the 3rd Edition of Sepilok Jazz, and I have accepted the organisers’ invitation to grace this meaningful event,” Liew said in a statement, Friday.
To help promote the event, MASwings, one of the sponsors, carries the promotional flyers in all their nine planes within Sabah.
Chairman of FOSTER Alexander Yee extended the invitation to the minister during a courtesy call on the latter on Thursday.
Yee and Music Director Cheong Kok Ann briefed Liew on the objective and programme for the two-day event in collaboration with Sepilok Jazz Academy. This Academy, which serves as a platform for budding musicians, also offers competitions and workshops for local and international musicians.
“We expect an audience of more than 1,000 from far and near. Through this jazz setting, we want to educate the public, the younger generation in particular, on the importance of conserving marine turtles,” said the duo, adding that all proceeds go towards funding the operations of FOSTER.
During the courtesy call, budding trumpeter Krischelle Jade Cheong (Cheong’s youngest daughter), a Primary Four pupil of Anglo-Chinese School, Penampang, played the tune of “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” for the minister.
Also present were the ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary I Mary Malangking and Pauline Chin who represented Borneo Excursions, the official travel agent for Sepilok Jazz 3rd Edition.-pr/BNN
