THE Walai Tokou Homestay in Kundasang, Ranau, had made its presence felt nationwide in recent months through various promotion campaigns but lately, it was in the news for something completely different.
The Homestay chairman Kohadie Watiman, who is also Homestay Association Malaysia vice president, was in Italy on a promotion trip last month when he lost his wallet and mobile phone while on his way back to his hotel.
His passport was said to be held by the hotel as a result of the loss and would only be released to him after he settled his bills.
His families and friends back in Sabah were, of course, shocked to learn of his predicament, knowing it would put him under tremendous stress with no one to turn to for help in a foreign country he was visiting for the first time.
Soon, the folks back home received the following email: “Hope you get this on time. Sorry I didn’t inform you about my trip to Italy for a programme. I’m having some difficulties here because on my way to the hotel,I lost my wallet where my money and cellphone were kept. My passport and my things are being held by the hotel management, pending settlement of my bills.”
According to the email, Kohadie needed his families and friends to help him with a loan of €2,850 to pay his hotel bills so that he could return home. The email also stated he had been to the embassy and the police station but they were not responding effectively.
“I’d appreciate whatever you could afford – I promise to repay the money as soon as I get home. Let me know if you can be of any help? ASAP. I also did not have a phone and am “very confused right now. Please let me know immediately. Thank you. Regards,” the email concluded.
Needless to say, the email sparked a flood of frantic calls but the truth is that Kohadie had nothing to do with it because he never sent the email – and he even called the Borneo Post to confirm it.
“I have since been inundated with calls but honestly, I never sent the email,” he clarified.
Kohadie who actively promotes his homestay and the Malaysian Homestay programmes overseas, said he had never been to Italy before.
He did visit Britain for a week in November this year to promote the Sabah and Malaysia Homestay programmes.
During the trip – which he described as quite successful – he met 65 tour and travel agents from all over the world, including those from Latin America, the US and Australia.
“I gave away my business cards to many people and it could be that one of these cards was used to access his email address.”
Kohadie said many of his friends at home and his overseas contacts had called him over the incident.
“I hope all of them have ignored the email – and if any such email reaches anybody after this, please ignore and delete it as I believe it was sent out by a scamming syndicate. These unscrupulous people should be ignored. Just thrash the emails,” he said.
He has since shut down his website and will create a new one for his homestay. He has also changed his personal email to koch_wth.com.my. and hoped his friends and correspondents will use it in future.
On the Sabah Homestay Association, he said it will carry out various promotional programmes next year.
“We have started to compile a cultural CD of 10 ethnic groups in Sabah. This CD will contain their dances, costumes and music and the compilation will be used as a promotional medium for us in our domestic and overseas tour promotions.”
He said the first batch was expected to consist of 1,000 CDs, adding that some of which will be “distributed to overseas tour and travel friends while the rest will be sold to the public.”
The current compilation, filming and recording are carried out by Skyline Sdn Bhd and will be completed soon.
This promotional CDs and other programmes will be launched by the Tourism Minister next year.
According to Kohadie, the 2012 December promotion is centred on students wishing to experience village life as well as Nature.
“I’m putting the email incident behind me to concentrate on promoting our state and nation as a tourism destination to the world, especially in the homestay sector,” he said.
His passport was said to be held by the hotel as a result of the loss and would only be released to him after he settled his bills.
His families and friends back in Sabah were, of course, shocked to learn of his predicament, knowing it would put him under tremendous stress with no one to turn to for help in a foreign country he was visiting for the first time.
Soon, the folks back home received the following email: “Hope you get this on time. Sorry I didn’t inform you about my trip to Italy for a programme. I’m having some difficulties here because on my way to the hotel,I lost my wallet where my money and cellphone were kept. My passport and my things are being held by the hotel management, pending settlement of my bills.”
According to the email, Kohadie needed his families and friends to help him with a loan of €2,850 to pay his hotel bills so that he could return home. The email also stated he had been to the embassy and the police station but they were not responding effectively.
“I’d appreciate whatever you could afford – I promise to repay the money as soon as I get home. Let me know if you can be of any help? ASAP. I also did not have a phone and am “very confused right now. Please let me know immediately. Thank you. Regards,” the email concluded.
Needless to say, the email sparked a flood of frantic calls but the truth is that Kohadie had nothing to do with it because he never sent the email – and he even called the Borneo Post to confirm it.
“I have since been inundated with calls but honestly, I never sent the email,” he clarified.
Kohadie who actively promotes his homestay and the Malaysian Homestay programmes overseas, said he had never been to Italy before.
He did visit Britain for a week in November this year to promote the Sabah and Malaysia Homestay programmes.
During the trip – which he described as quite successful – he met 65 tour and travel agents from all over the world, including those from Latin America, the US and Australia.
“I gave away my business cards to many people and it could be that one of these cards was used to access his email address.”
Kohadie said many of his friends at home and his overseas contacts had called him over the incident.
“I hope all of them have ignored the email – and if any such email reaches anybody after this, please ignore and delete it as I believe it was sent out by a scamming syndicate. These unscrupulous people should be ignored. Just thrash the emails,” he said.
He has since shut down his website and will create a new one for his homestay. He has also changed his personal email to koch_wth.com.my. and hoped his friends and correspondents will use it in future.
On the Sabah Homestay Association, he said it will carry out various promotional programmes next year.
“We have started to compile a cultural CD of 10 ethnic groups in Sabah. This CD will contain their dances, costumes and music and the compilation will be used as a promotional medium for us in our domestic and overseas tour promotions.”
He said the first batch was expected to consist of 1,000 CDs, adding that some of which will be “distributed to overseas tour and travel friends while the rest will be sold to the public.”
The current compilation, filming and recording are carried out by Skyline Sdn Bhd and will be completed soon.
This promotional CDs and other programmes will be launched by the Tourism Minister next year.
According to Kohadie, the 2012 December promotion is centred on students wishing to experience village life as well as Nature.
“I’m putting the email incident behind me to concentrate on promoting our state and nation as a tourism destination to the world, especially in the homestay sector,” he said.
