Mark Louis with Masidi
Best Tourist Guide (Nature Guide) – Mark Louis with Masidi

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah won six golds at the 15th Malaysia Tourism Gold Awards night at the KLCC Convention Centre here, Sunday. The winners were TYK Adventure Tours Sdn. Bhd. voted “most innovative” for its Sandakan Death-march 3-days 2-nights package under the Best Tour Operator category. TYK Managing Director Tham Yau Kong and Lynette Silver,author of “Sandakan – A Conspiracy of Silence” jointly received the award from Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor. Sabah’s other golds went to:

  • Shangri La’s Rasa Ria Resort Sabah for the 5 – star resort category
  • Kinabalu Pine Resort Sabah won the gold in the 2-star range. Rosemary Wee, Area Director of Communications received the award for Shangri-La while Managing Director Albert Shim received for Kinabalu Pine Resort, Sdn. Bhd.
  • Mark Louis Benedict of Borneo Eco Tours Sdn. Bhd Sabah for Best Tourist Guide in the Nature Guide category.
  • Best Tour Programme category went to Touchdown Holidays (M) Sdn Bhd in the Luxury Tourism Award for its product ‘Touchdown Luxury Yachts’
  • Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts capped the night in with a grand slam by taking home one of the three Minister’s Special Award for the Organization category.

The other two winners under the same category were AirAsia and Boh Plantation Sdn. Bhd. The Minister’s Special Award for Individuals went to Datuk Idris Jala, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines and Peter Brokenshire, General Manager of Kuala Lumpur Convention centre.

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Some of Sabah’s winner with Adnan and Masidi at the KLCC. Albert Shim (Pines Resort), John Rees and Victoria Hilley (Touchdown), Lynette and Tham TYK Adventure), Mark Louis Benedict (bidden behind Masidi) and Taw Haw Bin (Pines Resort).

“The results show Sabah has what it takes to be the premier tourism destination in Malaysia.” said Datuk Masidi Manjun, Sabah Minister of Culture, Tourism and Environment. “All Sabahans should be very proud of the achievement,” Masidi added. “I think it speaks well of Sabah because we have won again and again over the years”, said Tengku Datuk Dr. Zainal Adlin, Chairman of the Sabah tourism Board. Datuk Irene Charuruks noted Sabah took the top 5-star resort award as indicative that the industry has the ability to keep the service at tip top international standard.

The winners were particularly ecstatic. “I am extremely, happy about this genuine success and achievement.’ said Tham. “What sparked our innovative was the day when Lynette Silver handed me a copy of the Recovery (skeleton) Team’s map containing directional information about the Death March Trail” added. An equally excited Lynette said: “This is a wonderful thing for Sabah and I think it is also a wonderful thing for Australia”.

“I am very, very happy we have won especially the Minister’s Special Award to our organization as a group,” remarked Rosemary Wee. Victoria Hilley, Director of Sales and Marketing for Touchdown Holidays said:” It’s fantastic. Sabah is fantastic.” “I am very happy I am chosen Best Tourist Guide,” said Mark Louis Benedict. “I hope to continue to do my best at the frontline as a small ambassador of Malavsia,” he added.”We are honoured.” said Albert Shim. “We’ll do our best again and hope to make sure our clients are happy”, Shim enthused. “The award actually hasn’t been so easy.” said architect and business partner Tan Haw Bin who sees a future in increasing services and facilities.

Source: Kan Yaw Chong, Daily Express, 24th July 2007