Special incentive package will be made available to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state once a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is sealed on June 27.
The MoU, to be signed between SME Bank Bhd and state government, will offer special incentives to SMEs, especially those possessing permits from the state Industrial Coordination Committee (ICC).
Industrial players, who have already obtained supportive document from the Ministry of Industrial Development, will also stand to benefit from the MoU.
At a press conference here yesterday, Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the forthcoming move represented an additional effort of the state government to assist SMEs.
“The signing of MoU will be a proactive step towards widening the scope of services and facilities offered for the industry of SMEs.
“It is hoped that such an effort will bring about better impact to entrepreneurs in Sarawak,” he said at Wisma Sumber Alam in Petra Jaya near here.
The MoU signing will take place at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre during the SME Week from June 24 to 30.
Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment, believed that the collaboration would provide added value to ICC and relevant document holders.
by Lim How Pim, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 23, 2012, Saturday
The MoU, to be signed between SME Bank Bhd and state government, will offer special incentives to SMEs, especially those possessing permits from the state Industrial Coordination Committee (ICC).
Industrial players, who have already obtained supportive document from the Ministry of Industrial Development, will also stand to benefit from the MoU.
At a press conference here yesterday, Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the forthcoming move represented an additional effort of the state government to assist SMEs.
“The signing of MoU will be a proactive step towards widening the scope of services and facilities offered for the industry of SMEs.
“It is hoped that such an effort will bring about better impact to entrepreneurs in Sarawak,” he said at Wisma Sumber Alam in Petra Jaya near here.
The MoU signing will take place at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre during the SME Week from June 24 to 30.
Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment, believed that the collaboration would provide added value to ICC and relevant document holders.
by Lim How Pim, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 23, 2012, Saturday
LAWAS: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government ignores accusations or other efforts by the opposition to discredit the programmes meant to help the people to tide over the global economic uncertainties.
Accusations the BR1M was a waste, a political bribery or money borrowed from outside the country had failed to dent the confidence and support of the people towards the BN government, said Minister of Resource Planning and Env i ronment Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Tengah explained this was because the BR1M and various other assistances given by the government had benefited the people, including the opposition members.
Speaking at a BR1M presentation ceremony for recipients of Punang, Merapok and Kuala Lawas here on Sunday, he said the opposition was using a rather extreme approach in politics as they viewed whatever done by the government to help the people as negative.
“Their only hope is to topple the government,” he said.
On their Orange Book, the Mini ster said they were not realistic unlike the BN government which was working hard to attract more investments to the country to uplift the living standard of the people.
“Because of the BN government’s ability, it can distribute the BR1M to the people to lessen their burden.
“There is nothing to shout about the RM100 assistance given by the Penang government.
The BN government, on the other hand, has given more to the people,” he said.
Tengah added that the Prime Mini s ter and Sarawak Chief Minister are experienced leaders and they should continue to lead the nation and state.
He therefore called upon the people in Lawas to ensure that their incumbent MP, Dato Henry Sum Agong, would continue to be their representative at the next general election and win with a good victory.
“He is a proven good leader,” he added.
Al so present at the funct ion were Datuk Henr y Sum Agong, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Awangku Jamuddin Pengiran Haji Kon, Lawas District Officer Haji Mohd Supaih Hamdan, Lawas Perkim Chairperson Datuk Hajah Dayang Morliah Datuk Haji Awang Daud, Temenggong Haji Sabli Hamid, Temenggong Par is Kaya and Pemanca Tan Yong H’ng.
Member s of Par t i Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Bukit Sari Youth Wing were there to help the recipients fill up the BR1M vouchers.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 Written by Adeng Idrus
Accusations the BR1M was a waste, a political bribery or money borrowed from outside the country had failed to dent the confidence and support of the people towards the BN government, said Minister of Resource Planning and Env i ronment Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Tengah explained this was because the BR1M and various other assistances given by the government had benefited the people, including the opposition members.
Speaking at a BR1M presentation ceremony for recipients of Punang, Merapok and Kuala Lawas here on Sunday, he said the opposition was using a rather extreme approach in politics as they viewed whatever done by the government to help the people as negative.
“Their only hope is to topple the government,” he said.
On their Orange Book, the Mini ster said they were not realistic unlike the BN government which was working hard to attract more investments to the country to uplift the living standard of the people.
“Because of the BN government’s ability, it can distribute the BR1M to the people to lessen their burden.
“There is nothing to shout about the RM100 assistance given by the Penang government.
The BN government, on the other hand, has given more to the people,” he said.
Tengah added that the Prime Mini s ter and Sarawak Chief Minister are experienced leaders and they should continue to lead the nation and state.
He therefore called upon the people in Lawas to ensure that their incumbent MP, Dato Henry Sum Agong, would continue to be their representative at the next general election and win with a good victory.
“He is a proven good leader,” he added.
Al so present at the funct ion were Datuk Henr y Sum Agong, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Awangku Jamuddin Pengiran Haji Kon, Lawas District Officer Haji Mohd Supaih Hamdan, Lawas Perkim Chairperson Datuk Hajah Dayang Morliah Datuk Haji Awang Daud, Temenggong Haji Sabli Hamid, Temenggong Par is Kaya and Pemanca Tan Yong H’ng.
Member s of Par t i Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Bukit Sari Youth Wing were there to help the recipients fill up the BR1M vouchers.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 Written by Adeng Idrus
LIMBANG: The construction of a bridge across Pandaruan River which is to start this year will not only be a welcome addition to the Pan Borneo Highway connecting Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam but also will be the catalyst for more development in Limbang Division.
Limbang Resident Maria Hasman said when completed, the bridge would open greater opportunities for economic and tourism tie-ups between the two neighbouring countries, which in turn would benefit the local people.
“We are optimistic that in 2012 and beyond, we will see a number of high impact projects implemented in the district,” he said yesterday.
Maria also hoped that the construction of the bridge would start by April at the latest and be completed on schedule.
The five-metre high, 14-metre wide and 200-mtere long bridge would cost RM23 million to build.
At the same time, he revealed that other development projects including the construction of a hydro dam in the Limbang valley are also expected to kick off this year.
“The hydro project is significant to more than 40,000 people in Limbang and we are confident that the contractor will carry out site research for the dam construction,” he added.
He said it was among the projects under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) which also aimed to reduce flood problems in rural areas including Medamit, Batu Danau and Kubong.
In addition, he said the hydro dam would realise the government’s intention to make Limbang a rice producer.
Apart from infrastructure development, Maria pointed out that it was important for the education sector here to be upgraded to produce quality human capital.
“To achieve the target, the role of Giat Mara will be expanded to attract more students to enrol in vocational and technical skills courses,” he stressed.
On economy, he said the domestic tourism sector was being vigorously promoted to introduce exciting places and destinations in the division.
With the availability of MASwings flights between Limbang and Brunei, tourists would find it easier to reach Limbang, he added.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/03/bridge-across-pandaruan-to-generate-economic-spin-offs/#ixzz1iS0QrAz4
by Salena Pail, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 3, 2012, Tuesday
Limbang Resident Maria Hasman said when completed, the bridge would open greater opportunities for economic and tourism tie-ups between the two neighbouring countries, which in turn would benefit the local people.
“We are optimistic that in 2012 and beyond, we will see a number of high impact projects implemented in the district,” he said yesterday.
Maria also hoped that the construction of the bridge would start by April at the latest and be completed on schedule.
The five-metre high, 14-metre wide and 200-mtere long bridge would cost RM23 million to build.
At the same time, he revealed that other development projects including the construction of a hydro dam in the Limbang valley are also expected to kick off this year.
“The hydro project is significant to more than 40,000 people in Limbang and we are confident that the contractor will carry out site research for the dam construction,” he added.
He said it was among the projects under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) which also aimed to reduce flood problems in rural areas including Medamit, Batu Danau and Kubong.
In addition, he said the hydro dam would realise the government’s intention to make Limbang a rice producer.
Apart from infrastructure development, Maria pointed out that it was important for the education sector here to be upgraded to produce quality human capital.
“To achieve the target, the role of Giat Mara will be expanded to attract more students to enrol in vocational and technical skills courses,” he stressed.
On economy, he said the domestic tourism sector was being vigorously promoted to introduce exciting places and destinations in the division.
With the availability of MASwings flights between Limbang and Brunei, tourists would find it easier to reach Limbang, he added.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/03/bridge-across-pandaruan-to-generate-economic-spin-offs/#ixzz1iS0QrAz4
by Salena Pail, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 3, 2012, Tuesday
The briefing held at Awang Tengah’s office was aimed at providing information on grants and loans these agencies provide for the small and medium entrepreneurs in the state.
Also present at the briefing were Assistant Minister of Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Datuk Haji Naroden Majais, permanent secretary of Industrial Development Datu Liaw Soon Eng and other top government officials.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/26/awang-tengah-briefed-on-loans-by-govt-agencies/#ixzz1fdwzLdhB
LAWAS: Kerajaan pusat diminta mempertimbangkan permohonan beberapa projek mega dilaksanakan di daerah ini bagi memberi kemudahan serta keselesaan kepada lebih 40,000 penduduk Lawas.
Ahli Parlimen Lawas Datuk Henry Sum Agung berkata, senarai permohonan keseluruhan projek terbabit sudah diserahkan kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada pertemuan pertama ketua-ketua masyarakat Bario dan Ba’Kelalan di Putrajaya kelmarin.
Henry berkata, antaranya melibatkan pembinaan Lapangan Terbang Lawas yang baru bagi menggantikan lapangan terbang sedia ada yang sudah uzur, mengalami hakisan dan sering dilanda banjir.
“Kami berharap kerajaan dapat melihat semula projek-projek mega yang kami mohon untuk penduduk di Lawas terutama sebuah lapangan terbang di Lawas yang baru.
“Kami juga meminta kerajaan agar menggantikan jambatan gantung di Sungai Pengalih ke kawasan strategik kerana kedudukannya yang tidak kukuh untuk menampung keperluan sekarang,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Borneo semalam.
Henry berkata, kedudukan jambatan gantung yang berada di laluan Pan Borneo tidak sesuai selain struktur jambatan yang agak lama.
“Kami ada meminta kerajaan untuk menggantikan jambatan ini dan ia terpulang kepada Perdana Menteri untuk membina jambatan di kawasan baharu bagi melancarkan lagi laluan di sepanjang Pan Borneo,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, isu pendidikan turut dikemukakan pada pertemuan sama termasuk keperluan sebuah sekolah teknikal untuk dibina di daerah Lawas.
“Kita memerlukan sebuah institusi berstatus diploma untuk dibina di Lawas bagi mengurangkan penghijrahan pelajar ke luar.
“Pada masa ini pelajar tidak mempunyai pilihan lain untuk melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang teknikal di sini kerana Lawas hanya mempunyai GIATMARA untuk anak-anak tempatan,”jelasnya.
Selain itu, Henry turut berharap kerajaan dapat membina sebuah sekolah menengah di kawasan tanah tinggi di Ba’Kelalan.
Lawas hanya mempunyai empat sekolah menengah pada masa ini dan pelajar di Ba’Kelalan terpaksa menyambung persekolahan di peringkat sekolah menengah sama ada di SMK Sundar atau SMK Lawas.
Dengan adanya sekolah menengah di Ba’Kelalan ia akan dapat menjimatkan kos penduduk di tanah tinggi yang sebelum ini terpaksa berulang-alik ke bandar Lawas.
Pada pertemuan tersebut beliau mahu kerajaan meneruskan projek pembinaan jalan raya dari Ba’Kelalan sehingga sempadan Indonesia dan jalan raya menghubungkan Ba’Kelalan ke kawasan Bario.
Katanya pembinaan jalan raya di bawah Projek Jiwa Murni yang sudah dilaksanakan sekarang hanya menghubungkan Long Lopeng ke Ba’Kelalan sejauh 75 kilometer.
Selain projek mega, Henry menjelaskan beliau turut menyenaraikan beberapa projek kecil untuk dilaksanakan di daerah Lawas.
“Kami sudah menyerahkan senarai beberapa projek kecil melibatkan pembinaan jalan-jalan kampung, jeti dan jambatan untuk dilaksanakan di daerah ini,” jelasnya.
Beliau optimis Perdana Menteri akan memberi perhatian terhadap senarai permohonan berkenaan untuk dibina di Lawas selari dengan hasrat kerajaan yang memberi tumpuan kepada Program Transformasi Luar Bandar dan gagasan 1Malaysia.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/24/kerajaan-diminta-pertimbang-beberapa-projek-di-lawas/#ixzz1ej0qljO0
Posted on November 24, 2011, Thursday
Ahli Parlimen Lawas Datuk Henry Sum Agung berkata, senarai permohonan keseluruhan projek terbabit sudah diserahkan kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada pertemuan pertama ketua-ketua masyarakat Bario dan Ba’Kelalan di Putrajaya kelmarin.
Henry berkata, antaranya melibatkan pembinaan Lapangan Terbang Lawas yang baru bagi menggantikan lapangan terbang sedia ada yang sudah uzur, mengalami hakisan dan sering dilanda banjir.
“Kami berharap kerajaan dapat melihat semula projek-projek mega yang kami mohon untuk penduduk di Lawas terutama sebuah lapangan terbang di Lawas yang baru.
“Kami juga meminta kerajaan agar menggantikan jambatan gantung di Sungai Pengalih ke kawasan strategik kerana kedudukannya yang tidak kukuh untuk menampung keperluan sekarang,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Borneo semalam.
Henry berkata, kedudukan jambatan gantung yang berada di laluan Pan Borneo tidak sesuai selain struktur jambatan yang agak lama.
“Kami ada meminta kerajaan untuk menggantikan jambatan ini dan ia terpulang kepada Perdana Menteri untuk membina jambatan di kawasan baharu bagi melancarkan lagi laluan di sepanjang Pan Borneo,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, isu pendidikan turut dikemukakan pada pertemuan sama termasuk keperluan sebuah sekolah teknikal untuk dibina di daerah Lawas.
“Kita memerlukan sebuah institusi berstatus diploma untuk dibina di Lawas bagi mengurangkan penghijrahan pelajar ke luar.
“Pada masa ini pelajar tidak mempunyai pilihan lain untuk melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang teknikal di sini kerana Lawas hanya mempunyai GIATMARA untuk anak-anak tempatan,”jelasnya.
Selain itu, Henry turut berharap kerajaan dapat membina sebuah sekolah menengah di kawasan tanah tinggi di Ba’Kelalan.
Lawas hanya mempunyai empat sekolah menengah pada masa ini dan pelajar di Ba’Kelalan terpaksa menyambung persekolahan di peringkat sekolah menengah sama ada di SMK Sundar atau SMK Lawas.
Dengan adanya sekolah menengah di Ba’Kelalan ia akan dapat menjimatkan kos penduduk di tanah tinggi yang sebelum ini terpaksa berulang-alik ke bandar Lawas.
Pada pertemuan tersebut beliau mahu kerajaan meneruskan projek pembinaan jalan raya dari Ba’Kelalan sehingga sempadan Indonesia dan jalan raya menghubungkan Ba’Kelalan ke kawasan Bario.
Katanya pembinaan jalan raya di bawah Projek Jiwa Murni yang sudah dilaksanakan sekarang hanya menghubungkan Long Lopeng ke Ba’Kelalan sejauh 75 kilometer.
Selain projek mega, Henry menjelaskan beliau turut menyenaraikan beberapa projek kecil untuk dilaksanakan di daerah Lawas.
“Kami sudah menyerahkan senarai beberapa projek kecil melibatkan pembinaan jalan-jalan kampung, jeti dan jambatan untuk dilaksanakan di daerah ini,” jelasnya.
Beliau optimis Perdana Menteri akan memberi perhatian terhadap senarai permohonan berkenaan untuk dibina di Lawas selari dengan hasrat kerajaan yang memberi tumpuan kepada Program Transformasi Luar Bandar dan gagasan 1Malaysia.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/24/kerajaan-diminta-pertimbang-beberapa-projek-di-lawas/#ixzz1ej0qljO0
Posted on November 24, 2011, Thursday
MIRI: Sarawakians should take a leaf from India’s indomitable spirit to excel despite the odds to be the next global economic giant, said Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
“One of the university campuses we visited in Bangalore is using rudimentary facilities which we used to see in the 70’s for students to learn the basics, but this is one of the top in India and there is an unmistakable steely determination, enthusiasm and spirited attitude of students and lecturers aiming for excellence,” he said.
He said the campus was one of several run by a Bangalore-based software giant company which started with US$250 and is now posting an annual turnover of over US$1 billion.
Awang Tengah, who is also Industrial Development Minister, said the visit was made during the recent state government trade promotion to India, where they also visited universities and technical institutions in four cities, including New Delhi, Bangalore and Lucknow.
“There is even talk of India taking over as leader of G20 group, and this shows the clout of India and her people in the international stage although poverty is still evident due to the huge population of 1.2 billion people,” he said.
“China has made it, and next is India,” he added.
He said the state was now looking up to India due to its strength in agriculture, ICT and technical expertise to complement the big demand for skilled manpower required for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
The state delegation also met up with one of the top software companies in India that employed a whopping 180,000 workers, including 25,000 placed in one of the campuses where the company trained graduates to upgrade their skills and knowledge in high technology.
“We have much better facilities than the polytechnic institution we visited in Bangalore, but what we need is the determination to excel like our Indian counterparts” he pointed out.
He also said although some parts of India were still mired in poverty, the country had embarked on urban renewal programmes and recorded one of the highest in GDP growth in the world.
He said he was also impressed by the religious harmony in the country as evident in the universities where Muslims and non-Muslims studied together.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/10/learn-from-india-awang-tengah-tells-sarawakians/#ixzz1ej5d35RL
Posted on November 10, 2011, Thursday
“One of the university campuses we visited in Bangalore is using rudimentary facilities which we used to see in the 70’s for students to learn the basics, but this is one of the top in India and there is an unmistakable steely determination, enthusiasm and spirited attitude of students and lecturers aiming for excellence,” he said.
He said the campus was one of several run by a Bangalore-based software giant company which started with US$250 and is now posting an annual turnover of over US$1 billion.
Awang Tengah, who is also Industrial Development Minister, said the visit was made during the recent state government trade promotion to India, where they also visited universities and technical institutions in four cities, including New Delhi, Bangalore and Lucknow.
“There is even talk of India taking over as leader of G20 group, and this shows the clout of India and her people in the international stage although poverty is still evident due to the huge population of 1.2 billion people,” he said.
“China has made it, and next is India,” he added.
He said the state was now looking up to India due to its strength in agriculture, ICT and technical expertise to complement the big demand for skilled manpower required for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
The state delegation also met up with one of the top software companies in India that employed a whopping 180,000 workers, including 25,000 placed in one of the campuses where the company trained graduates to upgrade their skills and knowledge in high technology.
“We have much better facilities than the polytechnic institution we visited in Bangalore, but what we need is the determination to excel like our Indian counterparts” he pointed out.
He also said although some parts of India were still mired in poverty, the country had embarked on urban renewal programmes and recorded one of the highest in GDP growth in the world.
He said he was also impressed by the religious harmony in the country as evident in the universities where Muslims and non-Muslims studied together.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/10/learn-from-india-awang-tengah-tells-sarawakians/#ixzz1ej5d35RL
Posted on November 10, 2011, Thursday
MIRI: Para peniaga khususnya yang terlibat dengan perniagaan makanan dan minuman dinasihatkan supaya tidak mengejar keuntungan semata-mata tanpa mengetahui status halal produk yang digunakan.
Justeru, Presiden Persatuan Peniaga Bumiputera Miri Sarawak (PBMS) Abdul Hadie Arbi menyeru peniaga supaya lebih bertanggungjawab terhadap pengguna beragama Islam dengan menyemak terlebih dahulu kesahihan sesuatu produk sama ada halal atau tidak.
“Kebelakangan ini, kita sering mendengar status halal sesuatu produk di pasaran sama ada didapati tidak halal atau diragui statusnya,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Borneo semalam.
Menurutnya, jika para peniaga berasa waswas tentang sesuatu produk, lebih wajar statusnya dirujuk kepada pihak bertanggungjawab.
“Janganlah hendak untung sahaja, kualiti sesuatu produk sama ada mendapat pengiktirafan (halal) atau tidak, tidak dipedulikan.. tidak boleh begitu,” ujar beliau.
Pada masa sama, beliau turut menasihati para pengguna agar turut bekerjasama jika terdapat keraguan mengenai status halal sesuatu produk.
Bagi pihak berkuasa yang bertanggungjawab ke atas hal-hal berkaitan pula, Abdul Hadi menyarankan aspek pemantauan diperhebatkan.
“Dalam hal ini ,sebenarnya semua harus bekerjasama demi kesejahteraan semua pihak,” kata beliau.
Baru-baru ini, mentega ‘Golden Churn Creamery Butter’ yang dijual di pasaran Sarawak dikesan mengandungi DNA babi melalui satu laporan daripada Jabatan Kimia Malaysia bertarikh pada 19 Julai 2011.
Ia serta-merta menimbulkan pelbagai reaksi dan kesan sama ada di kalangan peniaga mahupun pengguna terutamanya yang beragama Islam.
Sementara itu, kelmarin pula dilaporkan bahawa Advance Meat Fabtication Co Ltd, sebuah syarikat pengeluar sosej Thailand kehilangan pelanggan Islam 100 peratus di negara ini selepas laporan berhubung penjualan sosej pulut dan kek ayam yang turut mengandungi asid deoksiribonukleik (DNA) babi di beberapa bazar Ramadan di Perlis.
Laporan berkenaan mengatakan bahawa pada 3 Ogos lalu, sebuah akhbar melaporkan bahawa dua daripada tujuh sampel sosej dan kek ayam yang dikumpul oleh Jabatan Kesihatan Perlis disahkan mengandungi DNA babi manakala Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) menasihati umat Islam menghentikan pembelian makanan yang diragui status halalnya.
Namun, pengurus syarikat berkenaan memberitahu syarikatnya yang diasaskan sejak 2002 adalah pengeluar sosej dan kek ayam yang halal dengan menunjukkan sijil halal yang dikeluarkan oleh Jawatankuasa Pusat Islam Thailand yang berkuat kuasa 14 Mac 2011 sehingga 13 Mac 2012.
Borneo Post:August 10, 2011, Wednesday
KUCHING: Seven out of 10 Sarawakian youths feel they lack exposure and opportunities to get high-income jobs and experiences.
In The Youth Report, a major study spanning eight months and backed by Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry, it was revealed that only 23% of Sarawa-kians between 18 and 24 years old were happy with what they were doing now.
More than ever, authorities needed to provide better guidance and education programmes to enable long-term higher productivity, the study said.
“Due to the lack of knowledge and exposure, youths have limited choices when it comes to career progress and developments. Importance must be given to the state’s human capital development.”
Seeking challenges: The Youth Report is based on a cross section of 1,000 youths and was conducted during the youth assemblies in the past year.
The study is based on a cross section of 1,000 youths and was conducted during the youth assemblies in the past year.
It noted that Sarawakian youths were “amazingly” ambitious, but some were affected by social woes like drug addiction and female abuse. The study also found that 89% of respondents were largely unaware of government programmes aimed at tackling social issues.
On job prospects, the study said: “About 70% of Sarawakian youths feel they are under-exposed to opportunities that are currently available here. Youths are asking for more exposure, especially to contribute to — not just to participate in.
“Empowerment and a proper strategy to encourage mindset shifts are crucial factors. Youths are eager to diversify from their current jobs, hoping to move on to opportunities that are bigger and better.”
The study said, by and large, youths shared an overwhelming preference to work for multi-national corporations (MNCs). Indeed, the study found that 35% wanted to work for MNCs — more than the 26% who preferred to earn a living based on their passions.
On the lack of communication between government and youths, particular blame was placed on the authorities’ “offline” approach.
The situation had played a discouraging role between young people and authorities, the study said. Only 15% of respondents said they had properly communicated with authorities.
The report said Sarawakians had turned to social media like Facebook and Twitter to express dissatisfaction.
As an example, the study quoted Jarvis Ling from Kuching as saying: “Most of us know about Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy but not many know what it actually means and what benefits it can bring”.
In the report’s summary, it concluded that the local demographic was different from other states. Sarawak faced its own set of unique challenges in social, economy and living lifestyles, it said.
“Sarawakians have an eccentric identity. With an open mind and heart, many will find that locals are humble and portray an identity that is constantly seeking new ideas, opportunities and experiences.”
In The Youth Report, a major study spanning eight months and backed by Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry, it was revealed that only 23% of Sarawa-kians between 18 and 24 years old were happy with what they were doing now.
More than ever, authorities needed to provide better guidance and education programmes to enable long-term higher productivity, the study said.
“Due to the lack of knowledge and exposure, youths have limited choices when it comes to career progress and developments. Importance must be given to the state’s human capital development.”
Seeking challenges: The Youth Report is based on a cross section of 1,000 youths and was conducted during the youth assemblies in the past year.
The study is based on a cross section of 1,000 youths and was conducted during the youth assemblies in the past year.
It noted that Sarawakian youths were “amazingly” ambitious, but some were affected by social woes like drug addiction and female abuse. The study also found that 89% of respondents were largely unaware of government programmes aimed at tackling social issues.
On job prospects, the study said: “About 70% of Sarawakian youths feel they are under-exposed to opportunities that are currently available here. Youths are asking for more exposure, especially to contribute to — not just to participate in.
“Empowerment and a proper strategy to encourage mindset shifts are crucial factors. Youths are eager to diversify from their current jobs, hoping to move on to opportunities that are bigger and better.”
The study said, by and large, youths shared an overwhelming preference to work for multi-national corporations (MNCs). Indeed, the study found that 35% wanted to work for MNCs — more than the 26% who preferred to earn a living based on their passions.
On the lack of communication between government and youths, particular blame was placed on the authorities’ “offline” approach.
The situation had played a discouraging role between young people and authorities, the study said. Only 15% of respondents said they had properly communicated with authorities.
The report said Sarawakians had turned to social media like Facebook and Twitter to express dissatisfaction.
As an example, the study quoted Jarvis Ling from Kuching as saying: “Most of us know about Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy but not many know what it actually means and what benefits it can bring”.
In the report’s summary, it concluded that the local demographic was different from other states. Sarawak faced its own set of unique challenges in social, economy and living lifestyles, it said.
Ikan tahai, dadah tahai mendapat sambutan hebat daripada pengunjung, kata Awang Tengah
LAWAS: Keunikan produk makanan tempatan yang sinonim dengan masyarakat Lawas seperti ikan tahai dan dadah tahai mendapat sambutan hebat daripada pengunjung yang datang menyaksikan Pesta Lawas dan Lawas Kitchen.
Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber Kedua Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan berkata Lawas Kitchen mampu mengetengahkan keunikan dan kepelbagaian produk makanan yang terkenal di daerah ini.
Beliau berkata selain menjadi tumpuan dan memenuhi selera orang ramai dan pengunjung, masyarakat tempatan berpeluang mempromosikan masakan mereka.
“Penganjuran Lawas Kitchen merupakan wadah penting dalam usaha mengetengahkan keunikan masakan tempatan dan tradisi yang sukar diperolehi di tempat lain di negeri dan negara ini.
“Justeru pengunjung yang hadir ke daerah ini untuk memeriahkan Program Sejiwa Senada dan Pesta Lawas dijemput untuk mencuba keenakan resipi tempatan,” katanya ketika merasmikan Program Lawas Kitchen di sini kelmarin.
Hadir sama ialah Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri dan Menteri Muda Perancangan Sumber Mohd Naroden Majais, Pengerusi Perkim Cawangan Lawas Datuk Dayang Morliah Datuk Awang Daud, Ahli Parlimen Lawas Datuk Henry Sum Agong, ADUN Ba’kelalan, Nelson Balang Rining, Pegawai Daerah Lawas Mohd Supaih Hamdan dan Pegawai Pertanian Daerah Zulkifli Sahari.
Awang Tengah berkata selain Lawas Kitchen pelbagai program lain turut menjadi tumpuan termasuk Regata Lawas, pertandingan bot laju kawalan jauh, karaoke, poco-poco dan cabutan bertuah yang menawarkan sebuah motosikal.
Beliau turut memuji usaha pelbagai pihak yang berjaya menganjurkan program berkenaan bagi memeriahkan Pesta Lawas yang diadakan serentak dengan Sejiwa Senada.
Beliau yakin melalui pendekatan ini akan lebih merapatkan hubungan antara rakyat dengan parti dalam satu semangat kerjasama yang jitu yang menjadi amalam sebelum ini.
Sementara itu Mohd Naroden Majais berkata Lawas Kitchen berjaya mempromosikan masakan terkenal daerah Lawas kepada orang luar khususnya pelawat dari Kuching, Brunei dan Sabah.
Pada masa yang sama beliau optimis, masakan tradisional daerah ini berpotensi dikembangkan jika dipromosikan dengan sempurna.
Naroden yang Menteri Muda Pembangunan Usahawan Bumiputera terus memberi galakan kepada penduduk tempatan untuk melibatkan diri dalam sektor ini bagi meningkatkan kualiti hidup masyarakat luar bandar.
Beliau turut berterima kasih dengan Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan, Lembaga Pemasaran Pertanian Persekutuan (FAMA) dan Jabatan Pertanian dalam menjayakan Program Lawas Kitchen.
by Mastura Ismail. Posted on February 14, 2011, Monday
LAWAS: Keunikan produk makanan tempatan yang sinonim dengan masyarakat Lawas seperti ikan tahai dan dadah tahai mendapat sambutan hebat daripada pengunjung yang datang menyaksikan Pesta Lawas dan Lawas Kitchen.
Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber Kedua Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan berkata Lawas Kitchen mampu mengetengahkan keunikan dan kepelbagaian produk makanan yang terkenal di daerah ini.
Beliau berkata selain menjadi tumpuan dan memenuhi selera orang ramai dan pengunjung, masyarakat tempatan berpeluang mempromosikan masakan mereka.
“Penganjuran Lawas Kitchen merupakan wadah penting dalam usaha mengetengahkan keunikan masakan tempatan dan tradisi yang sukar diperolehi di tempat lain di negeri dan negara ini.
“Justeru pengunjung yang hadir ke daerah ini untuk memeriahkan Program Sejiwa Senada dan Pesta Lawas dijemput untuk mencuba keenakan resipi tempatan,” katanya ketika merasmikan Program Lawas Kitchen di sini kelmarin.
Hadir sama ialah Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri dan Menteri Muda Perancangan Sumber Mohd Naroden Majais, Pengerusi Perkim Cawangan Lawas Datuk Dayang Morliah Datuk Awang Daud, Ahli Parlimen Lawas Datuk Henry Sum Agong, ADUN Ba’kelalan, Nelson Balang Rining, Pegawai Daerah Lawas Mohd Supaih Hamdan dan Pegawai Pertanian Daerah Zulkifli Sahari.
Awang Tengah berkata selain Lawas Kitchen pelbagai program lain turut menjadi tumpuan termasuk Regata Lawas, pertandingan bot laju kawalan jauh, karaoke, poco-poco dan cabutan bertuah yang menawarkan sebuah motosikal.
Beliau turut memuji usaha pelbagai pihak yang berjaya menganjurkan program berkenaan bagi memeriahkan Pesta Lawas yang diadakan serentak dengan Sejiwa Senada.
Beliau yakin melalui pendekatan ini akan lebih merapatkan hubungan antara rakyat dengan parti dalam satu semangat kerjasama yang jitu yang menjadi amalam sebelum ini.
Sementara itu Mohd Naroden Majais berkata Lawas Kitchen berjaya mempromosikan masakan terkenal daerah Lawas kepada orang luar khususnya pelawat dari Kuching, Brunei dan Sabah.
Pada masa yang sama beliau optimis, masakan tradisional daerah ini berpotensi dikembangkan jika dipromosikan dengan sempurna.
Naroden yang Menteri Muda Pembangunan Usahawan Bumiputera terus memberi galakan kepada penduduk tempatan untuk melibatkan diri dalam sektor ini bagi meningkatkan kualiti hidup masyarakat luar bandar.
Beliau turut berterima kasih dengan Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan, Lembaga Pemasaran Pertanian Persekutuan (FAMA) dan Jabatan Pertanian dalam menjayakan Program Lawas Kitchen.
by Mastura Ismail. Posted on February 14, 2011, Monday
Support pledged for lower secondary school and hostels to meet needs of Lun Bawang community
SERENE: The 10 villages at Ba Kelalan are nestled in a valley 973 metres above sea level within Lawas District.
A SENIOR official from the Education Ministry last week saw for herself the acute lack of learning facilities at a remote primary school and the sacrifices made by teachers assigned to serve in the rural areas of the state.
During a visit to SKK Ba Kelalan in the highlands of northern Sarawak, Dato Hajah Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim, deputy director general of Education (Operations) learned of the urgent need to build a lower secondary school and hostels in the area.
Empathising with the hardships faced by the teachers, pupils and parents, she pledged her support for the proposal to upgrade the facilities in the school.
She was also impressed by SKK Ba Kelalan’s initiative to teach love and respect for the environment by arranging jungle excursions for the pupils and encouraging them to learn about insects, plants, soil conditions, animals and even domestic skills.
Noor Rezan had to endure a bumpy nine-hour road journey from Lawas to get to the primary school.
Accompanied by a few Ministry officials, she deliberately chose to travel to her destination along a long and winding road in a 4×4 vehicle.
With the current wet season, the road, formed mostly by old logging tracks, is made all the more difficult to negotiate when many depressed parts become treacherous and almost impassable due to heavy downpours and hilly terrain.
Even during the dry season, it takes experienced drivers five to six hours to complete the journey.
Noor Rezan could have opted for the easier travel mode — a 40-minute flight by MASwings from Lawas — or Miri which is slightly farther.
But in the end, she was happy with the overland drive and left with many favourable impressions of the school and the supportive spirit of the Ba Kelalan community.
On arrival, her team was given a warm welcome by a long line of SKK Ba Kelalan pupils.
The villagers also put up dance and bas suling (flute) performances for the occasion.
Later, the ministry officials and guests, including community leaders, department heads and teachers, were entertained by the pupils to traditional dances and their unique 1Malaysia “choral speaking.”
In his welcome address, the headmaster, Pudun Tadam, said so far, a total of 1,321 persons had been educated at the primary school.
One went on to become an MP while two others were elected to the State Legislative Assembly.
One of the latter was appointed a deputy minister in the State Cabinet.
Pudun disclosed two of the school’s former pupils are now serving in the Chief Minister’s Office, another from a village in the area is with the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) of the Prime Minister’s Department while a fourth is the first from the Lun Bawang community to pursue a course at Harvard University in the US.
“Although the community here is small and remotely located, it has vast human resource potential to be tapped for the state and the nation.
“That’s why the school dares to dream dreams that others consider impossible to achieve. Our slogan is ‘One Legacy, One Destiny’.”
Pudun told the visitors the school’s long-term vision is to produce scientists from Be Kalalan by 2030.
He said the school began conducting pre-school classes in 2009 and these have been progressing very well since.
Pudun also took the opportunity to bring to the attention of the Ministry officials the need to build a lower secondary school in the area.
He said it was not only costly for parents to send their children to the town for secondary education but also disadvantageous for the children to be separated from their parents “at this young transitional period of their lives”.
He also touched on the “great difficulty” of parents in sending their children to pre-school classes from the villages, saying in some cases, they had to walk four hours to and fro each day.
For this reason, he requested the Ministry to consider building hostels and increasing the allowance for each pre-school pupil to RM3.50 to compensate for the transport problem and the remoteness of the villages.
He also asked for the infrastructure of SKK Ba Kelalan to be upgraded or expanded.
Presently, the school has 109 pupils with 13 teachers and eight non-academic staff.
It has won many awards, including the Commonwealth Education Good Practice Award in 2009, the Chief Minister’s Award, the School of Excellence Award and the National Hope School Award last year.
In her address, Noor Rezan assured she would look into the proposal to build a lower secondary school and hostels in the area as she realised inadequacy of learning facilities and the problems facing the teaching staff and pupils in SKK Ba Kelalan had to be addressed.
She recognised the importance of getting pre-schoolers to stay in a hostel near the school because of the long distance between their villages and the school.
On a brighter note, she was impressed with the primary school’s efforts to raise awareness of environmental preservation among its pupils, and the extent of community involvement in affairs of the school.
She acknowledged that community involvement was “a very effective model and a distinguished factor” for the success of the school that had won so many awards in the past.
Noor Rezan also emphasised the need for UPSR achievers from the Ba Kelalan area to enroll in fully residential schools, the nearest being SM Sains Miri or Tuanku Haji Bujang College also in Miri.
She congratulated Pudun and Cikgu Sang Sigar and their fellow teachers on bringing SKK Ba Kelalan to what it is today, saying it was not the material gains that mattered but the good leadership.
Noor Rezan encouraged Pudun to share his experience with other schools so that they too could adopt some of the learning approaches of SKK Ba Kelalan.
Among those who accompanied her were Zulkarnai Fauzi, chief assistant director (pre-school management) and community leaders, Pak Tagal Paran, owner of the Apple Orchard and the Apple Lodge, and Penghulu George Sigar who maintains customary rights and is a judge of the local Native Court.
The residents of Ba Kelalan which comes under the administration of Lawas District, belong to the Lun Bawang tribe living in 10 villages in a valley 973 metres above sea level.
The villages are Buduk Bui, Long Langai, Long Lemutut, Long Ritan, Long Rusu, Buduk Aru, Long Rangat, Pa Tawing, Buduk Nur and Long Ubau.
Mainly because of the difficult terrain, these villages are isolated.
Last year, the federal government approved RM50 million for the construction of the first phase of a road from Lawas to Ba Kelalan.
Promise of help
by Joe Leong. Posted on January 16, 2011, Sunday
SERENE: The 10 villages at Ba Kelalan are nestled in a valley 973 metres above sea level within Lawas District.
A SENIOR official from the Education Ministry last week saw for herself the acute lack of learning facilities at a remote primary school and the sacrifices made by teachers assigned to serve in the rural areas of the state.
During a visit to SKK Ba Kelalan in the highlands of northern Sarawak, Dato Hajah Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim, deputy director general of Education (Operations) learned of the urgent need to build a lower secondary school and hostels in the area.
Empathising with the hardships faced by the teachers, pupils and parents, she pledged her support for the proposal to upgrade the facilities in the school.
She was also impressed by SKK Ba Kelalan’s initiative to teach love and respect for the environment by arranging jungle excursions for the pupils and encouraging them to learn about insects, plants, soil conditions, animals and even domestic skills.
Noor Rezan had to endure a bumpy nine-hour road journey from Lawas to get to the primary school.
Accompanied by a few Ministry officials, she deliberately chose to travel to her destination along a long and winding road in a 4×4 vehicle.
With the current wet season, the road, formed mostly by old logging tracks, is made all the more difficult to negotiate when many depressed parts become treacherous and almost impassable due to heavy downpours and hilly terrain.
Even during the dry season, it takes experienced drivers five to six hours to complete the journey.
Noor Rezan could have opted for the easier travel mode — a 40-minute flight by MASwings from Lawas — or Miri which is slightly farther.
But in the end, she was happy with the overland drive and left with many favourable impressions of the school and the supportive spirit of the Ba Kelalan community.
On arrival, her team was given a warm welcome by a long line of SKK Ba Kelalan pupils.
The villagers also put up dance and bas suling (flute) performances for the occasion.
Later, the ministry officials and guests, including community leaders, department heads and teachers, were entertained by the pupils to traditional dances and their unique 1Malaysia “choral speaking.”
In his welcome address, the headmaster, Pudun Tadam, said so far, a total of 1,321 persons had been educated at the primary school.
One went on to become an MP while two others were elected to the State Legislative Assembly.
One of the latter was appointed a deputy minister in the State Cabinet.
Pudun disclosed two of the school’s former pupils are now serving in the Chief Minister’s Office, another from a village in the area is with the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) of the Prime Minister’s Department while a fourth is the first from the Lun Bawang community to pursue a course at Harvard University in the US.
“Although the community here is small and remotely located, it has vast human resource potential to be tapped for the state and the nation.
“That’s why the school dares to dream dreams that others consider impossible to achieve. Our slogan is ‘One Legacy, One Destiny’.”
Pudun told the visitors the school’s long-term vision is to produce scientists from Be Kalalan by 2030.
He said the school began conducting pre-school classes in 2009 and these have been progressing very well since.
Pudun also took the opportunity to bring to the attention of the Ministry officials the need to build a lower secondary school in the area.
He said it was not only costly for parents to send their children to the town for secondary education but also disadvantageous for the children to be separated from their parents “at this young transitional period of their lives”.
He also touched on the “great difficulty” of parents in sending their children to pre-school classes from the villages, saying in some cases, they had to walk four hours to and fro each day.
For this reason, he requested the Ministry to consider building hostels and increasing the allowance for each pre-school pupil to RM3.50 to compensate for the transport problem and the remoteness of the villages.
He also asked for the infrastructure of SKK Ba Kelalan to be upgraded or expanded.
Presently, the school has 109 pupils with 13 teachers and eight non-academic staff.
It has won many awards, including the Commonwealth Education Good Practice Award in 2009, the Chief Minister’s Award, the School of Excellence Award and the National Hope School Award last year.
In her address, Noor Rezan assured she would look into the proposal to build a lower secondary school and hostels in the area as she realised inadequacy of learning facilities and the problems facing the teaching staff and pupils in SKK Ba Kelalan had to be addressed.
She recognised the importance of getting pre-schoolers to stay in a hostel near the school because of the long distance between their villages and the school.
On a brighter note, she was impressed with the primary school’s efforts to raise awareness of environmental preservation among its pupils, and the extent of community involvement in affairs of the school.
She acknowledged that community involvement was “a very effective model and a distinguished factor” for the success of the school that had won so many awards in the past.
Noor Rezan also emphasised the need for UPSR achievers from the Ba Kelalan area to enroll in fully residential schools, the nearest being SM Sains Miri or Tuanku Haji Bujang College also in Miri.
She congratulated Pudun and Cikgu Sang Sigar and their fellow teachers on bringing SKK Ba Kelalan to what it is today, saying it was not the material gains that mattered but the good leadership.
Noor Rezan encouraged Pudun to share his experience with other schools so that they too could adopt some of the learning approaches of SKK Ba Kelalan.
Among those who accompanied her were Zulkarnai Fauzi, chief assistant director (pre-school management) and community leaders, Pak Tagal Paran, owner of the Apple Orchard and the Apple Lodge, and Penghulu George Sigar who maintains customary rights and is a judge of the local Native Court.
The residents of Ba Kelalan which comes under the administration of Lawas District, belong to the Lun Bawang tribe living in 10 villages in a valley 973 metres above sea level.
The villages are Buduk Bui, Long Langai, Long Lemutut, Long Ritan, Long Rusu, Buduk Aru, Long Rangat, Pa Tawing, Buduk Nur and Long Ubau.
Mainly because of the difficult terrain, these villages are isolated.
Last year, the federal government approved RM50 million for the construction of the first phase of a road from Lawas to Ba Kelalan.
Promise of help
by Joe Leong. Posted on January 16, 2011, Sunday
SITIAWAN: Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir mahu Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat meneliti semula kaedah sedia ada dalam mengenal pasti golongan miskin tegar melalui data e-Kasih kerana terdapat kelemahan dan kurang tepat.
Beliau memberikan contoh di Perak iaitu kementerian berkenan mengeluarkan laporan mengatakan sehingga November tahun lepas, tidak lagi wujud keluarga miskin tegar di negeri ini.
“Bagaimanapun, hasil pemerhatian kerajaan negeri termasuk melalui rekodrekod kita yang sedia ada, sebenarnya masalah itu (miskin tegar) sebenarnya masih lagi wujud,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyerahkan kunci Program Bantuan Rumah di Batu 9, Lekir di sini semalam. Katanya beliau tidak pasti bagaimana kementerian berkenaan mengatakan isu kemiskinan di Perak sudah tidak wujud lagi.
Beliau berkata kerajaan negeri juga turut mengesan sejumlah penerima di bawah program e-Kasih di negeri ini sebenarnya tidak layak menerima bantuan di bawah program berkenaan.
“Sehubungan itu, kerajaan negeri sedia berbincang dengan kementerian berkenaan bagi memastikan kaedah yang sesuai untuk mengenal pasti mereka yang benar-benar layak untuk disenaraikan sebagai penerima bantuan di bawah program e-Kasih,” katanya.
Zambry berkata ini bagi menjamin supaya bantuan disalurkan kepada mereka yang benar-benar layak. Beliau juga meminta semua agensi dan jabatan kerajaan yang terlibat dalam usaha membasmi kemiskinan di Perak supaya tidak hanya membantu menyediakan rumah semata-mata malah usaha mereka sepatutnya lebih daripada itu.
Minda dan sikap keluarga miskin tegar turut perlu diubah bagi memastikan mereka berasa tidak lagi mahu menjadi miskin dan terus diletakkan dalam kelompok itu lagi di masa depan, katanya.
Pada majlis itu, seramai 17 orang dari kawasan Parlimen Lumut dan 20 orang dari kawasan Parlimen Beruas menerima kunci rumah dan barangan keperluan harian.
Kos pembinaan setiap rumah itu yang bernilai RM33,000 ditanggung sepenuhnya oleh Felcra Berhad Wilayah Perak. — Bernama
Posted on January 17, 2011, Monday
Beliau memberikan contoh di Perak iaitu kementerian berkenan mengeluarkan laporan mengatakan sehingga November tahun lepas, tidak lagi wujud keluarga miskin tegar di negeri ini.
“Bagaimanapun, hasil pemerhatian kerajaan negeri termasuk melalui rekodrekod kita yang sedia ada, sebenarnya masalah itu (miskin tegar) sebenarnya masih lagi wujud,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyerahkan kunci Program Bantuan Rumah di Batu 9, Lekir di sini semalam. Katanya beliau tidak pasti bagaimana kementerian berkenaan mengatakan isu kemiskinan di Perak sudah tidak wujud lagi.
Beliau berkata kerajaan negeri juga turut mengesan sejumlah penerima di bawah program e-Kasih di negeri ini sebenarnya tidak layak menerima bantuan di bawah program berkenaan.
“Sehubungan itu, kerajaan negeri sedia berbincang dengan kementerian berkenaan bagi memastikan kaedah yang sesuai untuk mengenal pasti mereka yang benar-benar layak untuk disenaraikan sebagai penerima bantuan di bawah program e-Kasih,” katanya.
Zambry berkata ini bagi menjamin supaya bantuan disalurkan kepada mereka yang benar-benar layak. Beliau juga meminta semua agensi dan jabatan kerajaan yang terlibat dalam usaha membasmi kemiskinan di Perak supaya tidak hanya membantu menyediakan rumah semata-mata malah usaha mereka sepatutnya lebih daripada itu.
Minda dan sikap keluarga miskin tegar turut perlu diubah bagi memastikan mereka berasa tidak lagi mahu menjadi miskin dan terus diletakkan dalam kelompok itu lagi di masa depan, katanya.
Pada majlis itu, seramai 17 orang dari kawasan Parlimen Lumut dan 20 orang dari kawasan Parlimen Beruas menerima kunci rumah dan barangan keperluan harian.
Kos pembinaan setiap rumah itu yang bernilai RM33,000 ditanggung sepenuhnya oleh Felcra Berhad Wilayah Perak. — Bernama
Posted on January 17, 2011, Monday
LAWAS: Hotel Seri Malaysia Lawas, the latest in the chain of hotels under Hotel Seri Malaysia Sdn Bhd, will start operating in this nothernmost town of Sarawak in February next year.
A ceremony to mark the handing over of the hotel by the project developer, Borneo Development Corporation (Sarawak) (BDC), and the Works Department to Rangkaian Hotel Seri Malaysia was held at the new hotel here yesterday.
Deputy Tourism Minister, Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit witnessed the event where BDC general manager, Dr John Panil made the official handover of hotel to managing Director of Rangkaian Hotel Seri Malaysia, Zahriah Abdul Kadir.
Located in the centre of Lawas town, the hotel offers 104 rooms including two VIP rooms as well as a main hall, meeting rooms, seminar rooms and a swimming pool.
Work on the hotel started last year and it was fully completed in November this year with a cost of RM35 million. Dawos said the hotel will complement other tourism facilities in the area and help to drive the growth of the industry in northern Sarawak.
Lawas has its own tourist attractions and can be touted as among the main tourism products of Sarawak, he added. — Bernama
SPREADING ITS WINGS: Photo shows the Hotel Seri Malaysia in Ayer Keroh, Melaka. The chain’s latest hotel in Lawas, Sarawak is set to commence operations in February next year.— Photo by melakasite.webatu.com
Posted on December 29, 2010, Wednesday
A ceremony to mark the handing over of the hotel by the project developer, Borneo Development Corporation (Sarawak) (BDC), and the Works Department to Rangkaian Hotel Seri Malaysia was held at the new hotel here yesterday.
Deputy Tourism Minister, Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit witnessed the event where BDC general manager, Dr John Panil made the official handover of hotel to managing Director of Rangkaian Hotel Seri Malaysia, Zahriah Abdul Kadir.
Located in the centre of Lawas town, the hotel offers 104 rooms including two VIP rooms as well as a main hall, meeting rooms, seminar rooms and a swimming pool.
Work on the hotel started last year and it was fully completed in November this year with a cost of RM35 million. Dawos said the hotel will complement other tourism facilities in the area and help to drive the growth of the industry in northern Sarawak.
Lawas has its own tourist attractions and can be touted as among the main tourism products of Sarawak, he added. — Bernama
Posted on December 29, 2010, Wednesday
OYA: Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (SCORE) bakal menjadikan Sarawak sebuah negeri maju menjelang 2030 di samping mewujudkan sebanyak 1.6 juta peluang pekerjaan daripada 10 industri yang berimpak tinggi.
Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Dalat Datin Fatimah Abdullah yang berkata demikian semasa majlis doa selamat dan ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ pada 27 disember lepas di Kampung Senau menambah bahawa bahagian Mukah akan menyaksikan pelbagai industri bakal ditempatkan di situ.
Antara industri-industri tersebut adalah hAb pemprosesan makanan halal, stesen arang batu, industri besi dan taman sains.
Beliau berkata bahawa industri-industri yang bakal wujud akan menyediakan peluang ekonomi dan pada masa yang sama dapat mempertingkatkan taraf hidup penduduk tempatan.
Fatimah turut berkata bahawa kerajaan BN akan memastikan kemenangan dengan majoriti yang besar dalam pilihan raya yang akan datang dan memastikan mandat yang diterima untuk pembangunan akan dilaksanakan.
Selain itu, beliau menyeru kepada penduduk Kampung Senau untuk terus menyokong kerajaan BN sambil memberi komitmen bahawa beliau akan memberi geran sebanyak RM75,000 untuk tujuan pembinaan dewan masyarakat pada tahun 2011.
Semasa majlis tersebut, seorang pegawai dari Jabatan Tanah dan Survei Mukah memberi penerangan kepada penduduk kampung tentang penyukatan tanah kampung tradisional yang akan diadakan pada tahun 2011.
Pegawai tersebut turut memberitahu penduduk kampung bahawa terdapat 100 lot baru akan diwujudkan di bawah skim pembesaran kampung.
Seramai 12 penerima dianugerahkan dengan pingat gangsa dan perak ‘Jasamu Dikenang’.
Posted on January 1, 2011, Saturday
Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Dalat Datin Fatimah Abdullah yang berkata demikian semasa majlis doa selamat dan ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ pada 27 disember lepas di Kampung Senau menambah bahawa bahagian Mukah akan menyaksikan pelbagai industri bakal ditempatkan di situ.
Antara industri-industri tersebut adalah hAb pemprosesan makanan halal, stesen arang batu, industri besi dan taman sains.
Beliau berkata bahawa industri-industri yang bakal wujud akan menyediakan peluang ekonomi dan pada masa yang sama dapat mempertingkatkan taraf hidup penduduk tempatan.
Fatimah turut berkata bahawa kerajaan BN akan memastikan kemenangan dengan majoriti yang besar dalam pilihan raya yang akan datang dan memastikan mandat yang diterima untuk pembangunan akan dilaksanakan.
Selain itu, beliau menyeru kepada penduduk Kampung Senau untuk terus menyokong kerajaan BN sambil memberi komitmen bahawa beliau akan memberi geran sebanyak RM75,000 untuk tujuan pembinaan dewan masyarakat pada tahun 2011.
Semasa majlis tersebut, seorang pegawai dari Jabatan Tanah dan Survei Mukah memberi penerangan kepada penduduk kampung tentang penyukatan tanah kampung tradisional yang akan diadakan pada tahun 2011.
Pegawai tersebut turut memberitahu penduduk kampung bahawa terdapat 100 lot baru akan diwujudkan di bawah skim pembesaran kampung.
Seramai 12 penerima dianugerahkan dengan pingat gangsa dan perak ‘Jasamu Dikenang’.
KUCHING: Syarikat penerbangan Firefly Sdn Bhd (Firefly) menyasarkan untuk meliputi sepenuhnya laluan penerbangan di seluruh negeri ini menjelang 2011.
Bakal memulakan operasi tiga minggu lagi, Firefly dijangka akan memperkenalkan perkhidmatannya ke Sibu, Miri dan Bintulu secara berperingkat pada tahun depan.
Pada 15 Januari depan, Firefly dijangka memulakan perkhidmatan penerbangan ke Sarawak dan Sabah iaitu dari terminal utama Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) ke Kuching dan Kota Kinabalu dua kali sehari.
Bermula 24 Januari pula, kemungkinan terdapat pilihan baru yang akan ditampilkan memandangkan syarikat bakal membuat penerbangan empat kali dan tiga kali sehari masing-masing ke Kuching dan Kota Kinabalu.
“Kami yakin Firefly memberi saingan di sini. Sejak kami mula membuka tempahan bagi laluan Kuching dan Kota Kinabalu, respons adalah amat memberangsangkan. Kesemua jualan laris dan kami menerima banyak pertanyaan.
“Miri dan Sibu menjadi sasaran seterusnya kerana laluan dipertimbangkan sebagai pasaran yang amat baik.
“Namun kami akan terus melakukan kajian dan penyelidikan pasaran sebelum kami memutuskan untuk membuat perancangan pada masa akan datang. Maklum balas orang ramai amat penting,” kata Pengurus Komunikasi dan Pemasaran Raja Sa’adi Raja Amrin ketika ditemui pemberita selepas melancarkan Pejabat Tiket Lapangan Terbang (ATO) baru Firefly di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuching (LTAK) di sini, semalam.
Beliau menjelaskan semasa Firefly memperkenalkan 50,000 tempat duduk dengan tambang RM9 sebagai promosi pengenalan terbaru laluan dari KLIA ke Kuching dan KLIA ke Kota Kinabalu baru-baru ini, kesemua jualan tiket laris dalam masa satu hari.
Bagi promosi terkini, Firefly menawarkan kadar tambang RM59 bagi penerbangan sehala untuk tempoh 5 Januari hingga 31 Mac 2011.
Jangka masa tempahan tamat pada 31 Disember 2010.
Selepas menjelajah di Sabah dan Sarawak, Raja Sa’adi memberitahu Firefly menyasarkan laluan ke destinasi terkenal dalam wilayah ASEAN yang menjadi pilihan kepada pelancong temasuk Bali, Bandung dan Jakarta dan beliau yakin Firefly dapat mencapai sasaran berkenaan.
Pada masa yang sama beliau memohon kepada orang ramai agar menyemak secara online Firefly dalam laman sesawang seperti rangkaian sosial Facebook.
Beliau berkata jualan tiket penerbangan secara online amat menggalakkan dan mencapai kira-kira 70 peratus daripada keseluruhan jualan tiket.
“Laman sesawang seperti Facebook dapat memberikan lebih banyak maklumat lanjut kepada pelanggan,” katanya.
Firefly telah memulakan operasi pada 2007 dengan tujuh pesawat ATR 72-500 yang dijangka akan bertambah menjadi 10 pesawat kesemuanya pada 2011.
Kini ia melakukan penerbangan ke 19 bandar raya dan beroperasi di 24 laluan dalam Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia dan Singapura.
Syarikat baru-baru ini mengumumkan membuka lembaran baru bagi perkembangan ini dengan memperkenalkan operasi kapal terbang jet bersama pesawat Boeing 737-800 yang akan beroperasi daripada terminal utama KLIA menjelang 2011.
Posted on December 22, 2010, Wednesday
BINTULU: Masyarakat luar bandar perlu mengubah mentaliti terhadap subsidi sebaliknya perlu lebih berdikari dan proaktif jika ingin maju.
Menteri Muda Majlis Daerah Luar Bandar, John Sikie Tayai berkata penduduk terutama di kawasan luar bandar pada hari ini tidak harus ada lagi mentaliti lama yang terlalu bergantung kepada bantuan kerajaan.
“Dalam usaha untuk mencapai sasaran ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi, masyarakat hari ini perlu lebih berdikari,” ujarnya.
Sikie yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Kakus berkata menjelang tahun 2020, keseluruhan pendapatan penduduk di negeri ini dalam ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi adalah sekitar RM48,000 setahun iaitu kurang daripada RM4,000 sebulan.
“Berdasarkan pendapatan itulah mengapa penduduk perlu merubah mentaliti mereka menuju ke arah perspektif yang
lebih besar khususnya dalam pembangunan,” katanya semasa berucap merasmikan Info Bestari di Rumah Luvak, Kilometer 3 Jalan Tatau-Sangan di sini, semalam.
Program tersebut adalah anjuran bersama Komuniti Bestari Pekan Tatau dan Jabatan Penerangan Daerah Tatau.
Menurut Sikie lagi, masyarakat Iban adalah kumpulan etnik yang tekun dan tidak mustahil untuk mereka menjadi satu daripada generasi yang boleh berjaya.
Beliau merujuk kepada sumber asli seperti tanah yang boleh menjana pendapatan dengan memajukannya dalam pelbagai bidang pertanian dan apa yang lebih penting masyarakat perlu bersedia berubah sikap lama mereka.
Sikie turut menyeru pemilik tanah Hak Adat Bumiputera (NCR) untuk memberikan kerjasama penuh kepada agensi kerajaan berkaitan seperti Jabatan Tanah dan Survei (JTS) yang melakukan kerja ukur keliling tanah mereka
supaya kerja-kerja tersebut berjalan lancar dan secara tidak langsung membantu memudahkan mereka membangunkan tanah berkenaan kelak.
Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Sikie turut menyeru agensi kerajaan untuk menyampaikan maklumat dengan lebih kerap di peringkat bawahan mengenai dasar-dasar kerajaan.
“Masyarakat khususnya di kawasan luar bandar perlu sentiasa diberikan maklumat terkini mengenai dasar-dasar terbaru yang dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan.
“Terdapat banyak projek yang dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10 (RMK-10) yang bernilai berbilion ringgit,” jelasnya.
Katanya, kerajaan memperuntukkan sejumlah wang yang besar dalam usaha meningkatkan taraf hidup penduduk di Sarawak khususnya di kawasan luar bandar dan pedalaman.
Ia membabitkan pelaksanaan projek penyediaan bekalan elektrik dan air untuk penduduk di rumah panjang yang belum menikmati kemudahan asas tersebut, tambahnya.
Posted on October 25, 2010, Monday
Menteri Muda Majlis Daerah Luar Bandar, John Sikie Tayai berkata penduduk terutama di kawasan luar bandar pada hari ini tidak harus ada lagi mentaliti lama yang terlalu bergantung kepada bantuan kerajaan.
“Dalam usaha untuk mencapai sasaran ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi, masyarakat hari ini perlu lebih berdikari,” ujarnya.
Sikie yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Kakus berkata menjelang tahun 2020, keseluruhan pendapatan penduduk di negeri ini dalam ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi adalah sekitar RM48,000 setahun iaitu kurang daripada RM4,000 sebulan.
“Berdasarkan pendapatan itulah mengapa penduduk perlu merubah mentaliti mereka menuju ke arah perspektif yang
lebih besar khususnya dalam pembangunan,” katanya semasa berucap merasmikan Info Bestari di Rumah Luvak, Kilometer 3 Jalan Tatau-Sangan di sini, semalam.
Program tersebut adalah anjuran bersama Komuniti Bestari Pekan Tatau dan Jabatan Penerangan Daerah Tatau.
Menurut Sikie lagi, masyarakat Iban adalah kumpulan etnik yang tekun dan tidak mustahil untuk mereka menjadi satu daripada generasi yang boleh berjaya.
Beliau merujuk kepada sumber asli seperti tanah yang boleh menjana pendapatan dengan memajukannya dalam pelbagai bidang pertanian dan apa yang lebih penting masyarakat perlu bersedia berubah sikap lama mereka.
Sikie turut menyeru pemilik tanah Hak Adat Bumiputera (NCR) untuk memberikan kerjasama penuh kepada agensi kerajaan berkaitan seperti Jabatan Tanah dan Survei (JTS) yang melakukan kerja ukur keliling tanah mereka
supaya kerja-kerja tersebut berjalan lancar dan secara tidak langsung membantu memudahkan mereka membangunkan tanah berkenaan kelak.
Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Sikie turut menyeru agensi kerajaan untuk menyampaikan maklumat dengan lebih kerap di peringkat bawahan mengenai dasar-dasar kerajaan.
“Masyarakat khususnya di kawasan luar bandar perlu sentiasa diberikan maklumat terkini mengenai dasar-dasar terbaru yang dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan.
“Terdapat banyak projek yang dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10 (RMK-10) yang bernilai berbilion ringgit,” jelasnya.
Katanya, kerajaan memperuntukkan sejumlah wang yang besar dalam usaha meningkatkan taraf hidup penduduk di Sarawak khususnya di kawasan luar bandar dan pedalaman.
Ia membabitkan pelaksanaan projek penyediaan bekalan elektrik dan air untuk penduduk di rumah panjang yang belum menikmati kemudahan asas tersebut, tambahnya.
Posted on October 25, 2010, Monday
LAWAS: Ramadan stall operators should be ethical and steer clear of profiteering as it could cause their business to suffer.Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said this when officiating at the launching of Lawas Ramadan Bazaar 2010 Monday evening.
He said reasonable pricing, attractive products and good service should be the benchmark for operators during Ramadan month, where creativity can make a big difference in their business.
“You must make profits, but do not price your goods so high that it drives away your customers,” he said.
Muslims and non-Muslims in Lawas can work together to give a creative spark to the Ramadan Bazaar and emulate the very successful model in Singapore in Geyland Park which is better even than the one in Kuala Lumpur, he said.
He said Lawas Ramadan Bazaar could be also serve as a tourist attraction and non-Muslims could also be involved in trading here, particularly during this fruit season which coincides with the fasting month.
Tengah also urged locals to buy essentials like sugar, cooking oil and other items in Lawas while calling upon traders to come up with attractive prices to give the locals cash liquidity and economy a Ramadan boost.
“Do not go all the way to KK to buy simple essential items as there are costs involved in travelling and accommodation while traders should put up attractive prices so that their customers will not just head across the border,” he said.
The month-long bazaar is organised by Lawas District Council for traders to ply their goods, particularly food and drinks for Muslims to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan which started yesterday.
The council made available 101 trading lots this year and organising chairman, Mohd Supaih Hamdan, who is also Lawas District Officer, said it had received overwhelming response from locals.
A wide array of choices of unique local cuisine, cakes and fruits are available together with other items such as smoked fish Tahai and other products from the cottage industries in the district.
The bazaar was a brain child of Awang Tengah, who has contributed financial assistance annually in providing proper sheds in allocated trading lots for the benefit of both traders and patrons.
Supaih advised traders to be ethical and adhere to the fasting month obligations as spelt out by their religious teachings.
Also present at the function were local Muslim and non-Muslim community leaders and heads of government department in the district.
‘Steer clear of profiteering’/ August 12, 2010, Thursday
He said reasonable pricing, attractive products and good service should be the benchmark for operators during Ramadan month, where creativity can make a big difference in their business.
“You must make profits, but do not price your goods so high that it drives away your customers,” he said.
Muslims and non-Muslims in Lawas can work together to give a creative spark to the Ramadan Bazaar and emulate the very successful model in Singapore in Geyland Park which is better even than the one in Kuala Lumpur, he said.
He said Lawas Ramadan Bazaar could be also serve as a tourist attraction and non-Muslims could also be involved in trading here, particularly during this fruit season which coincides with the fasting month.
Tengah also urged locals to buy essentials like sugar, cooking oil and other items in Lawas while calling upon traders to come up with attractive prices to give the locals cash liquidity and economy a Ramadan boost.
“Do not go all the way to KK to buy simple essential items as there are costs involved in travelling and accommodation while traders should put up attractive prices so that their customers will not just head across the border,” he said.
The month-long bazaar is organised by Lawas District Council for traders to ply their goods, particularly food and drinks for Muslims to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan which started yesterday.
The council made available 101 trading lots this year and organising chairman, Mohd Supaih Hamdan, who is also Lawas District Officer, said it had received overwhelming response from locals.
A wide array of choices of unique local cuisine, cakes and fruits are available together with other items such as smoked fish Tahai and other products from the cottage industries in the district.
The bazaar was a brain child of Awang Tengah, who has contributed financial assistance annually in providing proper sheds in allocated trading lots for the benefit of both traders and patrons.
Supaih advised traders to be ethical and adhere to the fasting month obligations as spelt out by their religious teachings.
Also present at the function were local Muslim and non-Muslim community leaders and heads of government department in the district.
‘Steer clear of profiteering’/ August 12, 2010, Thursday
Berdasarkan maklum balas daripada golongan terbabit, pengerusi DPIM Haidel Heli berkata, ada di kalangan mereka tidak dapat memasarkan produk di luar Bahagian Samarahan atau Kuching.
“Dari aspek operasi, saya amat percaya perniagaan di bahagian ini beroperasi meng- gunakan teknologi terkini.
“Bagaimanapun, perkara yang menyebabkan produk mereka tidak dapat menembusi pasaran, misalnya ke Semenanjung atau pasaran yang lebih jauh berikutan kelemahan dalam pelan pemasaran,” katanya kepada pemberita ketika berkunjung ke kilang pemprosesan tebaloi di Kota Samarahan, dekat sini, kelmarin.
Hadir sama setiausaha DPIM, Sha’arani Marzuki.
Kunjungan itu adalah untuk menambahkan pengetahuan tentang perusahaan tebaloi.
Justeru, katanya, DPIM akan menghulurkan bantuan bagi mengatasi masalah mereka dalam bidang pemasaran.
“Bagaimanapun, pada masa yang sama para usahawan perlu menggunakan strategi terkini dalam memasarkan produk mereka. Sebagai contoh, dalam pemasaran tebaloi, ia mungkin dapat dipromosikan sebagai makanan ringan dan bukan sekadar cenderamata dari Sarawak,” katanya.
Haidel berkata, pada peringkat ini DPIM bercadang untuk membantu usahawan sedia ada di bahagian tersebut agar mampu memasarkan produk masing-masing.
“Langkah seterusnya ialah menyemai semangat keusahawanan di kalangan belia di kawasan ini. Kita berharap mereka mendapat manfaat dari usaha kita dalam membuka pasaran baru,” katanya.
Haidel berkata, DPIM akan berbincang dengan para usahawan mengenai pelan pemasaran yang dirasakan sesuai untuk perniagaan mereka.
August 11, 2010, Wednesday
LAWAS: Each and every community must not keep to themselves as such attitude will not help them to progress in today’s borderless world, said Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
He said every community must be prepared to accept globalisation and allow foreign investors to help them develop all aspects of the local economy, especially the small and medium industries sector.
Speaking at the opening of the Lawas Chinese Commerce and Industries building on Saturday, Tengah said that with the involvement of outside investors, the private sector and the local business community would be able to focus on economic growth to uplift the income of every community in the district, regardless of race and belief.
He also wanted to see the local business community and the Bumiputeras to develop the small and medium industries (SMIs) which have great potential for development as proven by small nations like Taiwan and others.
“All aspects of development in the agriculture, plantation, fisheries and SMIs sectors can be promoted via our neighbouring country which has good communication and marketing network for halal products with the Middle East countries.
“Networking cooperation without borders will hopefully help to develop Lawas District economically without so much dependency on the government which will continue to provide basic infrastructure facilities like roads and others,” said Tengah.
He said that at the same time, the construction of the new airport, a coastal port and good road network to link Limbang and Lawas with Brunei and Sabah would spur more development in the northern region of Sarawak.
Besides that, enhanced cooperation with Brunei and Sabah in the communication aspect would witness better links in both districts with the outside world than previously, he added.
“Current development in relationships with our neighbours in the region promises plenty opportunities in the tourism sector because the top leaders in Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak have agreed in turns to host various cultural carnivals and events with promotions conducted together to attract more tourists to the region,” explained Tengah.
He reminded the business community in the district to fully utilise allocations for development projects to enhance their income and indirectly contribute to the growth of the local economy.
“We want to see the Lawas Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries as the pulse for development projects and to ensure that the business community here would work out solutions to prevent price hikes in building materials so that outflow of cash can be prevented and ploughed back to benefit the local community,” he said.
He called on all communities in the district to help reduce the price of building materials by using local materials and products which would be cheaper than imported ones.
On the hydro projects in Limbang and Lawas, electricity produced would be sold to Brunei and Sabah which currently were having supply problem, while the water treatment project in Trusan would resolve water supply problems in the district.
Also present at the ceremony were Members of Parliament for Lawas Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Ba’ Kelalan state assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining, Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries chairman Sia Hieng Ngie, Lawas CCCI chairman Cr Tan Hua H’ng and local dignitaries.
Sarawak tribune @ Adeng Idrus
Monday, 02 August 2010
Mayor Lawrence Lai has challenged the opposition to produce evidence within 24 hours that the city council’s enforcement officers were rough with illegal hawkers, or else they should apologise.“I will take disciplinary action against enforcement officers who acted as alleged by the opposition,” said Lai during a press conference yesterday.
Deputy mayor Mohd Che Kadir, head of enforcement Robert Ayu, Councillor Kho Ek Chong and several senior council officers were also present at the conference.
He was commenting on allegations that enforcement officers acted like rascals, forcibly taking away vegetables from illegal hawkers; throwing them on the ground and stomping on them during ‘Ops Patuh 2’ last Tuesday.
The head of enforcement Robert Ayu said it was an illegal hawker herself who threw her vegetables on the ground in anger and challenging the enforcement officers to take action against her.
“The opposition claimed they have videotaped the rough action of the enforcement officers. I say to them, produce this evidence. If not, I say the opposition has made a baseless, malicious claim against our enforcement officers. I demand that the opposition apologise within 24 hours because they have tarnished the professionalism of our enforcement officers,” said an angry Lai.
The mayor also shot down the opposition’s claim that the illegal hawkers were taken by surprise, saying ample time had been given to them to comply but they chose to ignore warnings.
The council had issued at least 120 written notices to these illegal workers prior to the ‘Ops Patuh 2’, said Lai.
He pointed out for more than a year the council had also advertised trading spaces at various markets in the city.
“Our records showed that even though there were vacancies these illegal hawkers chose not to apply but continue to trade illegally by the roadside and car parks, which may be strategic but dangerous,” Lai pointed out. Lai, who said the opposition was encouraging lawlessness in society by supporting the illegal hawkers, stressed that no one is above the law.
“If the opposition is really sincere they should help these illegal hawkers apply for trading licences,” said Lai. He said if he wanted popularity as a mayor he would not take action against the illegal hawkers but work to please everybody.
“We enforce the law without fear or favour. We don’t go around picking on the opposition hawkers and letting go Barisan Nasional hawkers,” he said.
Borneo Post by Lucas Jalong Bato
July 29, 2010, Thursday
Deputy mayor Mohd Che Kadir, head of enforcement Robert Ayu, Councillor Kho Ek Chong and several senior council officers were also present at the conference.
He was commenting on allegations that enforcement officers acted like rascals, forcibly taking away vegetables from illegal hawkers; throwing them on the ground and stomping on them during ‘Ops Patuh 2’ last Tuesday.
The head of enforcement Robert Ayu said it was an illegal hawker herself who threw her vegetables on the ground in anger and challenging the enforcement officers to take action against her.
“The opposition claimed they have videotaped the rough action of the enforcement officers. I say to them, produce this evidence. If not, I say the opposition has made a baseless, malicious claim against our enforcement officers. I demand that the opposition apologise within 24 hours because they have tarnished the professionalism of our enforcement officers,” said an angry Lai.
The mayor also shot down the opposition’s claim that the illegal hawkers were taken by surprise, saying ample time had been given to them to comply but they chose to ignore warnings.
The council had issued at least 120 written notices to these illegal workers prior to the ‘Ops Patuh 2’, said Lai.
He pointed out for more than a year the council had also advertised trading spaces at various markets in the city.
“Our records showed that even though there were vacancies these illegal hawkers chose not to apply but continue to trade illegally by the roadside and car parks, which may be strategic but dangerous,” Lai pointed out. Lai, who said the opposition was encouraging lawlessness in society by supporting the illegal hawkers, stressed that no one is above the law.
“If the opposition is really sincere they should help these illegal hawkers apply for trading licences,” said Lai. He said if he wanted popularity as a mayor he would not take action against the illegal hawkers but work to please everybody.
“We enforce the law without fear or favour. We don’t go around picking on the opposition hawkers and letting go Barisan Nasional hawkers,” he said.
Borneo Post by Lucas Jalong Bato
July 29, 2010, Thursday
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 12 Julai (Bernama) -- Malaysia dan Brunei mempunyai kesungguhan dari segi hubungan dua hala untuk meninjau peluang kerjasama dalam pelbagai bidang, terutamanya di Sarawak dan Sabah, kata Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Malaysia ke Brunei Datuk Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari.
Beliau berkata Brunei telah mengadakan banyak perbincangan dengan kedua-dua negeri berkenaan bagi meninjau peluang bidang tenaga, telekomunikasi dan pertanian, termasuk hub halal, yang boleh diterokai bersama-sama.
"Kita dapati hubungan dua hala semakin bertambah erat dan kedua-dua pihak cukup serius dari segi pelaburan, terutamanya di antara Brunei dan Sarawak serta Sabah," katanya kepada Bernama dan RTM sempena lawatan kerja dua hari Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ke sini mulai Isnin malam.
Perdaganan dua hala bernilai RM1.8 bilion dicatatkan pada tahun lepas dengan Malaysia mengeksport kebanyakan barangan elektronik, barangan pengilangan, kereta Proton dan sektor pertanian termasuk sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan ke Brunei.
Kini, katanya, ada dua atau tiga syarikat Malaysia yang menjalankan beberapa projek pembinaan, terutamanya projek perumahan kebangsaan Brunei di mana kerajaannya akan membina 20,000 unit rumah untuk rakyat.
UEM Builders mendapat projek untuk membina 4,000 unit di bawah projek berkenaan manakala Bina Puri Holdings Berhad terlibat dalam 2,000 unit, katanya.
Beliau juga berkata pengurnian Darjah Kerabat Laila Utama Yang Dihormati (D.K), satu penganugerah Brunei yang cukup tinggi, oleh Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah kepada Najib di sini esok menunjukkan betapa eratnya hubungan di antara kedua-dua pemimpin itu.
Ia dikurniakan oleh Sultan Brunei kepada kerabat diraja atau ketua negara sahaja atas dasar perhubungan baik kedua-dua negara seperti Malaysia dan Brunei yang berjiran selain merupakan anggota rantau Asean.
Oleh Caroline Jackson
-- BERNAMA
Beliau berkata Brunei telah mengadakan banyak perbincangan dengan kedua-dua negeri berkenaan bagi meninjau peluang bidang tenaga, telekomunikasi dan pertanian, termasuk hub halal, yang boleh diterokai bersama-sama.
"Kita dapati hubungan dua hala semakin bertambah erat dan kedua-dua pihak cukup serius dari segi pelaburan, terutamanya di antara Brunei dan Sarawak serta Sabah," katanya kepada Bernama dan RTM sempena lawatan kerja dua hari Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ke sini mulai Isnin malam.
Perdaganan dua hala bernilai RM1.8 bilion dicatatkan pada tahun lepas dengan Malaysia mengeksport kebanyakan barangan elektronik, barangan pengilangan, kereta Proton dan sektor pertanian termasuk sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan ke Brunei.
Kini, katanya, ada dua atau tiga syarikat Malaysia yang menjalankan beberapa projek pembinaan, terutamanya projek perumahan kebangsaan Brunei di mana kerajaannya akan membina 20,000 unit rumah untuk rakyat.
UEM Builders mendapat projek untuk membina 4,000 unit di bawah projek berkenaan manakala Bina Puri Holdings Berhad terlibat dalam 2,000 unit, katanya.
Beliau juga berkata pengurnian Darjah Kerabat Laila Utama Yang Dihormati (D.K), satu penganugerah Brunei yang cukup tinggi, oleh Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah kepada Najib di sini esok menunjukkan betapa eratnya hubungan di antara kedua-dua pemimpin itu.
Ia dikurniakan oleh Sultan Brunei kepada kerabat diraja atau ketua negara sahaja atas dasar perhubungan baik kedua-dua negara seperti Malaysia dan Brunei yang berjiran selain merupakan anggota rantau Asean.
Oleh Caroline Jackson
-- BERNAMA
