17th August, 2011

SANDAKAN: The east coast town of Sandakan will soon achieve another milestone in placing itself on the global map with the completion of a world-class training hotel this November.

The training hotel is well-equipped with state-of-the-art demonstration and production kitchens as well as accommodation, food & beverage outlets as well as function rooms.

Matius (second from left) and Wong (left) being briefed on the progress of the training hotel during their visit to the site

Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Matius Sator was briefed on the training hotel that provides hands-on skills training to students and apprentices in the hospitality industry.

He was given a tour of the facilities at the BEST International Training Hotel at Bandar Samudera Elopura, Jalan Buli Sim Sim here yesterday.

This project is the first parcel of Phase 1 of the proposed mixed development project under the Sabah Development Corridor that is being implemented under a public-private sector partnership between the Sandakan Municipal Council and Pembangunan Samudera Sabah Sdn Bhd, a Sabah-based private corporation.

Matius, who was accompanied by Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) president Datuk James Wong, said that he was astonished with the development and urged the developer to continue carrying on the good work.

"It is good to see the support and participation of a Federal Government Agency such as FELDA in the efforts to uplift the living standards of the people of Sabah through human capital development.

"I am very impressed with the standards of service that was demonstrated by the apprentices during the visit and at a function hosted by MPS later in the evening," he said.

"Apart from the first-class facilities of the training hotel, I am impressed with the carefully planned landscape that instantly beautifies the whole place," Matius added.

The training hotel has 36 apprentices who had recently graduated from a FELDA-sponsored programme. They are now undergoing an 18-month programme that will award them upon completion, an internationally recognised certificate in the said profession under collaboration with ROC Zeeland, a well-established institution in Netherlands.

Another 40 students, also under the FELDA sponsorship programme of its sister company, BEST International College in Bandar Sahabat, Lahad Datu will join the apprentices for their training there soon after the Aidil Fitri holidays.

Meanwhile, Wong said that MPS has not only been working closely with the developer to ensure the smooth and speedy implementation of the project, but is also directly involved in the CSR (corporate social responsibility) efforts initiated by the developer to help clean and beautify the neighbouring area of Kampung Forest.

"Developers should always give serious attention to the cleanliness in and around their sites and not pose any hardships to those working or living in the surrounding areas" he added.

(Source: New Sabah Times)