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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Masidi must address Korean-speaking tour guides shortage

TAWAU, September 19, 2012: State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has been urged to immediately look into the dilemma facing the local tour guides, instead of putting their fate in the hands of his Federal counterpart.

Urging this was MP for Tawau Datuk Chua Soon Bui, while commenting on the Sabah Tour Guides Association (STGA) objection to the Federal Tourism Ministry's decision to allow Koreans to be employed as tourist guides to make up for the shortage of foreign speaking guides in Sabah.

Ng had recently noted that the Korean government had through its Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, made a request to have more Korean speaking guides in Sabah and that allowing Koreans to be trained as tour guides was just a temporary measure until the STGA could increase the number of its Korean speaking guides.
She said this was important because in the case of Korean tourists, there are simply not enough Korean-speaking tour guides in Sabah, which at the moment number only eight.
More than 40,000 Koreans came to visit Sabah this year between January and June with only eight Korean-speaking guides to cater to them.

Hence, there is a need and demand for Korean-speaking guides in Sabah. Last year, 36,422 Koreans visited Sabah while this year, 43,873 for the first six months, respectively.

However, Chua said Ng's failure to consult her Sabah counterparts including the STGA on the matter before making such an important decision, which could have far-reaching detrimental impact on the local tour guides, again revealed the usual arrogance of the Federal leaders, besides being a big slap to the State government, Masidi in particular.

She added that this also reflected on Masidi's incompetence and failure to address the perennial issue of shortage of Korean-speaking local tour guides, thus giving his federal counterpart the opportunity to dictate the fate of the local tour guides.

Chua who is also a Vice President of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) contended that there was no excuse for Masidi for failing to address the problem, since it has been there for quite some time.

"I believe the problem could have been long resolved if our state Minister concerned (Masidi) had given his due attention to it. He certainly owes the Sabah tourism fraternity a good explanation as to why he failed to address the problem," she said.

She further reminded the fact that Masidi who was once the Chairman of Institute for Development Studies Sabah (IDS) had in 2010 announced that his ministry had commissioned the IDS to undertake a review of the current 15-year Sabah Tourism Master Plan (STMP) and formulate the second STMP for 2011-2025.

"What had happened to the said studies and review? Doesn't it also cover the problem of shortage of Korean-speaking local tour guides?" she questioned.
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45 comments:

  1. sabahecoSeptember 22, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    It is a case of going to the public before informing the relevant parties.

    In this case, Ng Yen Yen failed to inform Masidi's ministry about the suggestion, instead choosing to inform the media first.

    But Masidi, who is known to be a professional & cold-headed leader, responding professionally through local media that his ministry will go to KL & discuss about it.

    I'm pretty sure that Masidi & his team will solve this issues soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 4:50 PM

      How come NYY failed to inform Masidi's ministry first? Otherwise, this issue will not get speculated.

      Delete
    2. Hamdan HadillahSeptember 24, 2012 at 10:08 PM

      Kerajaan perlu memberikan bahasa tambahan kepada pemandu pelancong tempatan.

      Delete
    3. Hamdan HadillahSeptember 24, 2012 at 10:11 PM

      Ini demi kebaikkan pemandu pelancong tempatan itu sendiri. Semoga masalah ini akan dapat diselesaikan.

      Delete
    4. Hamdan HadillahSeptember 24, 2012 at 10:12 PM

      Cadangan rasanya ini cuma meminta pandangan dari semua pihak. tapi jika negatif diberikan maka pasti akan dibatalkan cadangan ini.

      Delete
    5. Nadia ArliahSeptember 24, 2012 at 10:14 PM

      Betul kata mereka diatas ini. Kalau boleh berikan keutamaan kepada penduduk Sabah. Janganlah ambil dan mengupah pemandu pelancong dari luar seperti Korea. Tapi sebaiknya berikan ilmu lebih kepada pemandu tempatan.

      Delete
    6. Hamdan HadillahSeptember 24, 2012 at 10:16 PM

      Apa pun cari penyelesaian yang terbaik mengenai perkara ini. Kerajaan pasti tahu apa yang terbaik perlu dilakukan.

      Delete
    7. kiliSeptember 25, 2012 at 1:21 PM

      pstikan kepentingan pemandu pelancong tempatan tidak terjejas, kepentingan mereka kena dijaga.

      Delete
    8. venaSeptember 26, 2012 at 12:58 PM

      Datuk Masidi pasti akan cari jalan penyelesaian.. kepentingan pemandu pelancong tempatan di utamakan.

      Delete
    9. YangSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:38 PM

      Lets wait for the better solution.

      Delete
    10. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:34 AM

      Masidi has made his announcement in recent days. So I think this problem has been solved.

      Delete
    11. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:36 AM

      Masalah ini telah menemui jalan penyelesaian.

      Delete
    12. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:38 AM

      There is nothing to be brag about Melanie. After all, we entrust Masidi for giving his best effort to ensure a better way for sit in local guides.

      Delete
    13. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:39 AM

      Yes you're right. We should see this issue in more rational way instead of emotionally attached to it.

      Delete
    14. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:40 AM

      Apa pun trima kasih ucap kepada Masidi pasal keperihatinannya dalam menyelesaikan masalah ini.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    Hopefully Masidi will solve this problem.

    ReplyDelete
  3. VictoriaSeptember 23, 2012 at 5:12 PM

    There is need to address this matter on time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 1, 2012 at 12:01 PM

      Of cause, right procedure create better communication.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2012 at 5:12 PM

    We need more Korean-speaking local tour guides in the state.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 10:53 AM

      i think its took a long period for someone to be fluent in speaking Korean language.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 4:52 PM

      How about using leaflets that have been translated into Korean language?

      Delete
    3. AnonymousOctober 1, 2012 at 12:02 PM

      They estimated 1 year to well train qualify tour guides.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    I believe they know how to carry out the solution of this problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 10:55 AM

      They are profesional. i also believe they can find the best solution for this matter.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    Ensure to educate the up coming tour guides properly on speaking foreign languages.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 10:59 AM

      Much better if they can communicate with the international language-English.not only Sabah's local guide, foreign tour guide but also the tourist.

      Delete
    2. LeonardSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:42 PM

      Latihan bahasa mungkin perlu diberi.

      Delete
    3. BirundaSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:46 PM

      Gunalah bahasa antarabangsa untuk berkomunikasi.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousOctober 1, 2012 at 12:04 PM

      Korean jarang sangat boleh cakap english, kalau tidak kan tidak akan timbul bgt banyak masalah...

      Delete
  7. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2012 at 7:14 PM

    Do a promotion to call more youngster to learn korean language.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 11:02 AM

      kebolehan untuk menguasai pelbagai bahasa akan memberi kelebihan kepada seorang pemandu pelancong. jadi, tingkatkanlah kemahiran.

      Delete
    2. juntaSeptember 25, 2012 at 1:24 PM

      jadi pemandu pelancong perlu kuasai pelbagai bahasa asing.

      Delete
    3. carieSeptember 26, 2012 at 1:05 PM

      Itu sebabnya anak-anak muda perlu rajin belajar untuk menguasai banyak bahasa.

      Delete
    4. NelsonSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:49 PM

      Apa akan terjadi jika ada pelancong dari Vietnam? Myanmar dll aygn tidak boleh bertutur bahasa Inggeris, adakah pemandu tempatan kena juga belajar bahasa mereka juga.

      Delete
    5. danielSeptember 27, 2012 at 9:48 AM

      Lebih baik guna bahasa English untuk berinteraksi dengan pelancong, itu lebih mudah.

      Delete
  8. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2012 at 7:15 PM

    i hope the problem can be solved very soon

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2012 at 7:18 PM

    hope for the best, and best of luck to Masidi in finding the solution to the matters.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 2:53 PM

    Cari penyelesaian yang terbaik selain daripada ambil orang asing jadi pemandu pelancong di Sabah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 25, 2012 at 1:25 PM

      moga ia dpt diselesaikan dgn jln terbaik.

      Delete
    2. ekaSeptember 26, 2012 at 1:11 PM

      Sebenarnya kehadiran orang asing sebagai pemandu pelancong di Sabah ada kebaian dan keburukan juga.

      Delete
  11. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    Respon dari Masidi mengenai hal tu perlu kita tahu

    ReplyDelete
  12. PhilSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:43 PM

    Jika kemasukan pemandu asing akan menyebabkan pemandu tempatan menghadapi masalah yang serius, harus juga mencari kaedah lain yang lebih berkesan.

    ReplyDelete
  13. HeadhunterSeptember 26, 2012 at 8:17 PM

    itulah penyelesaiannya.. bawa masuk pemandu pelancong korea untuk sementara waktu..

    ReplyDelete
  14. HeadhunterSeptember 26, 2012 at 8:19 PM

    sepatutnya pemandu pelancong tempatan sudah memperbaiki kelemahan mereka sejak isu pelancong korea ni timbul awal tahun ini..

    ReplyDelete
  15. DelilahSeptember 28, 2012 at 4:54 PM

    It is crucial for local players to work with the government to ensure there is enough Korean speaking guides to cater for the rapidly growing number of tourists from Korea.

    ReplyDelete

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