Former KePKAS Minister Thanks Journalists for Support and Cooperation

Goh (fifth from right) and members of the KKJA delegation extending Lunar New Year greetings to Liew (centre).

5 February 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah media has been highly supportive of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), said its former Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew.

She said that through their reports and creative writing, journalists, reporters and photographers had effectively highlighted the ministry’s policies, programmes and projects for public information during her tenures from 2018 to 2020 and from 2023 to 2025.

“We have enjoyed a good working relationship with media practitioners in Sabah. I take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the print and electronic media, as well as online news portals, for their excellent coverage,” she said during a courtesy visit by a Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association (KKJA) delegation led by its chairman, Jimmy Goh, at her legal office on Thursday.

Liew, who is also the Life Honorary Adviser to KKJA, encouraged media practitioners to continue carrying out their duties with sincerity, a strong sense of responsibility and high professional integrity.

She noted that despite rapid advances in digital technology, newspapers remain relevant, particularly in the Sabah context. While younger and more IT-savvy readers may favour digital platforms, she said many older readers continue to prefer traditional print newspapers.

“From time immemorial, newspapers have served as an effective communication tool for both the public and private sectors in disseminating useful and important information to the wider public,” she added.

Meanwhile, Goh thanked Liew for her longstanding support of KKJA’s activities, describing her as approachable and consistently supportive whenever assistance was sought.

Also present at the meeting were KKJA secretary Teo Jinn Jiun, assistant secretary Lester Joseph Bingkasan, assistant treasurer Yvonne Ho Yin Yin, recreation officer Yik Lai Ming, training officer Yap Siong Han, and executive committee members Elton Gomes and Lo Teck Loong.