KOTA KINABALU: Jazz lovers are in for a delightful experience next month as Sepilok Jazz 2024 promises to blend the soulful rhythms of live music with a meaningful cause — sea turtle conservation. Organised by Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research (Foster), the third edition of the festival is set to take place at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sandakan on Sept 6 and 7. Foster chairman Alexander Yee said all proceeds from the event will go towards marine turtle conservation efforts on Libaran Island, located off the coast of Sandakan.
Since its inception in November 2011, Foster, in collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department, has successfully released around 45,000 baby turtles from the award-winning Walai Penyu Conservation Park. “The funds raised through Sepilok Jazz will ensure the continuation of this vital conservation work. “We expect an audience of over 1,000 people, both local and international.
Our goal is to inspire a deeper commitment to marine conservation through this unique jazz event,” Yee said. During a courtesy call on Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew on Friday (Aug 9), Yee and music director Cheong Kok Ann briefed her on the festival’s objectives. They highlighted that the event, in collaboration with Sepilok Jazz Academy, will also serve as an educational platform, particularly for the younger generation, on the importance of preserving marine turtles.
Liew praised Foster's efforts and urged the public to support the event for its dual purpose of entertainment and conservation. “Sepilok Jazz not only celebrates the beauty of music but also raises crucial awareness about the need to sustain our sea turtle populations. I encourage the Sandakan community and visitors to participate in this noble cause by attending the festival.
“With a larger venue at the RDC and extensive publicity, I’m confident that this year’s event will attract a bigger crowd than ever before,” said Liew, confirming the ministry’s full support for the festival and her attendance at the event. MASwings, one of the festival’s sponsors, is actively promoting Sepilok Jazz by distributing flyers on all its flights within Sabah. Also present at the meeting were the ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary I Mary Malangking and representatives from Borneo Excursions, the official travel agent for Sepilok Jazz 2024.
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