- July 12, 2018 @ 3:08pm
KOTA KINABALU: Tourists and tour operators in Semporna should avoid giving handouts to sea gypsies, Sabah's Assistant Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment Assaffal Alian said.
This, he said, was to avoid incidents similar to the recent viral video of sea gypsies children climbing onto tourist boats asking for food.
“Whether it happened in or outside Sabah waters, we don't have the evidence yet. It is still early to conclude and the case is still being investigated.
“However, we do not encourage (tourists and guides) to give anything to them,” he said after closing ceremony of "Retrospective Exhibition Remembering Francis Cheong" at Sabah Art Gallery here.
He was commenting on a video of a tourist boat being surrounded by a group of Bajau Laut women and children that went viral since a few days ago, which had received mixed reactions among social media users.
In the video, they were seen climbing into the boat asking for food.
Meanwhile, on the exhibition, Assafal said this was the second time the gallery held such event, after last year's “Retrospective Exhibition Remembering Tina Rimmer”.
Late Cheong, who was awarded Visual Arts Special Awards by the governor in 2009, had his 155 paintings and more than 100 pottery wares on display at the gallery since May 8.
Assafal added that Cheong’s artworks, be it paintings or pottery, were inspired by the culture and landscape of Sabah including orang utan, water villages and Murut or Rungus patterns.
Meanwhile, during the closing speech, state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew said the new government appreciated contributions from local artists.
“This exhibition is a platform to ensure the legacy of artists including Francis Cheong continues.” said Liew, whose speech was read by Assanal.
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