Sabah Information Dept, State Railway organise Nostalgic Merdeka train ride

BEAUFORT, Sept 8 -- The Tanjung Aru-Beaufort 'Kembara Merdeka’ train ride organised by Sabah Information Department and Sabah State Railway today to celebrate the National Month received encouraging response from the public.

Sabah Information Department deputy director Yunus Saprin said the programme was also to promote the Sabah state rail service which was once the main link and economic contributor for the villages around Beaufort, Membakut, Bongawan, Kimanis, Papar, Kawang, Kinarut and Kota Kinabalu.

"Some of the activities throughout the programme include stopping at selected stations to meet with the waiting public and holding quizzes and distributing leaflets on Independence.

"We want to share with Malaysians in Sabah on the times we went through pre and post independence, that have now become our history," he said at the closing of the programme here today.

The closing ceremony was officiated by Beaufort Member of Parliament Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun who was joined by state Agriculture and Food Industry Assistant Minister Dr Daud Yusof and Bongawan Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.

“The history of Sabah's railway dates back to the British North Borneo Chartered Company era. It was officially established in August 1914 and was the main mode of transport in Sabah,” Azizah noted.

-- BERNAMA