Compiled by C. ARUNO, JUNAID IBRAHIM and R. ARAVINTHAN

       ECOTOURISM operators in Kota Belud, Sabah can finally breathe a sigh of relief after an influx of local tourists started to visit the area after a three month hiatus due to restrictions, reported Utusan Malaysia.

       The business in campsites around the area improved once inter-district travel was allowed by the state government, said Polumpung Melangkap Camp Site supervisor Nora Sambatan.

       The campsite, featuring homestays with scenic views of Mount Kinabalu, had to limit its capacity to 100 people to ensure standard operating procedures (SOP) were followed.

       Adult visitors must also be fully vaccinated as stipulated in the SOP for tourism activities, said Nora.

       Meanwhile, Kundasang Tourism and Culture Association chairman Japiril Suhaimin said all homestay operators there reported good business.

       “Every weekend we received full bookings. However, on weekdays, bookings are still slow.”

       > Singer Najwa Latiff, 26 embarked on a new journey to continue her studies for a doctorate degree just a year after graduating with a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language, reported Berita Harian.

       Najwa, who is currently studying at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said she decided to pursue the PhD because she wants to be an educator.

       “After finishing my master’s degree, I really intended to continue to the PhD level. It’s just that I took a year off because before that, I studied continuously.

       “I want to challenge myself. Getting a PhD is not something easy.”

       The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.