Malay body to help former Labuan college students
LABUAN: Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia (DPMM) Labuan is prepared to assist the 11 former students of Labuan International College whose diploma is not recognized by the National Accreditation Board(LAN). Its deputy president, Mohd Alias Abd Rahman, said in a statement yesterday that the plight and predicament of the students had brought to the attention of the DPMM. ‘Therefore, being a Malay organization which struggles for the future of the Malay community in general, we feel that we are obliged to assist them,” he said. DPMM came forward after several media statements highlighted the issue of the ex-students who would be given compensation following an order from the Consumer Claims Tribunal recently. The former students were awarded RM275, 000, with each of them to be compensated of RM25,000. The college whose director is the Member of Parliament of Labuan, Datuk Suhaili Abd Rahman, is said to have ceased its operation.
Alias said that the DPMM was ready to struggle in the interest of Malay students. “We are even ready to help to bring the case to the civil court for them to be compensated a deserving amount due to the higher expenses they have incurred during their studies as well as the loans they have obtained from PTPTN and Mara,” he said. Alias, who expressed regrets over what had happened, said the course in question should have been accredited by the LAN before the students were recruited. He said the issue of the 11 students who are mostly from Sabah was a good lesson to parents. He also believed the number of victims was just ‘a tip of the iceberg’, as almost 100 students had enrolled in the college. “We are openly offering to assist the students to take further legal action. And they may liaise with us,” he said. Alias urged the relevant authorities, especially the various ministries dealing with education, to look into this matter seriously. “We cannot afford to have the issue recurring or more students will be victimized,” he said.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
TUESDAY-18TH DECEMBER 2007-Indiscriminate parking daily headache at KK central market
Indiscriminate parking daily headache at KK central market
• An unhappy motorist voiced his frustration over the inconsideration showed by drivers who parked indiscriminately along the road from the UNHCR Filipino market all the way to the central market. Julian, a marketing executive, said the inconsiderate action of these drivers had obstructed the traffic along the whole stretch of road causing a lot of inconvenience to other road users. “To make things worse, bus drivers are also seen double parking near the central market,” he said, adding that the area is congested throughout the day and even into the night. Julian also told Public Hotline that some of the vehicle owners act like they own the road by occupying almost half of the lane. “These drivers often park in a manner that makes section of the road impassable to other vehicles. And what made it worst is that the buses also often stop at the area to wait for or pick up passengers,” he said. He hoped the authority concerned will monitor the situation in the area and resolve the daily traffic congestion there. Julian also urged the relevant authorities to look into the matter seriously as it not only involves obstruction of traffic but also public safety. The spokesperson for Kota Kinabalu City Hall when asked to comment on the matter, said summonses would be issued to the drivers of buses or cars that are found obstructing traffic. He said the unavailability of parking lots is not an excuse for them to park wherever they like. He assured that the complaint would be forwarded to the enforcement unit for action to be taken. Meanwhile the City traffic police when contacted about the matter, said the police personnel are always monitoring the traffic along the road, especially during peak hours. “We try our best to reduce the congestion in the city by having a team of police personnel at areas where motorists are known to double park their vehicles but as soon as they leave the area, the problem happens again,” he said. The police spokesperson also appealed to the motorists to cooperate and abide by the law.
• An unhappy motorist voiced his frustration over the inconsideration showed by drivers who parked indiscriminately along the road from the UNHCR Filipino market all the way to the central market. Julian, a marketing executive, said the inconsiderate action of these drivers had obstructed the traffic along the whole stretch of road causing a lot of inconvenience to other road users. “To make things worse, bus drivers are also seen double parking near the central market,” he said, adding that the area is congested throughout the day and even into the night. Julian also told Public Hotline that some of the vehicle owners act like they own the road by occupying almost half of the lane. “These drivers often park in a manner that makes section of the road impassable to other vehicles. And what made it worst is that the buses also often stop at the area to wait for or pick up passengers,” he said. He hoped the authority concerned will monitor the situation in the area and resolve the daily traffic congestion there. Julian also urged the relevant authorities to look into the matter seriously as it not only involves obstruction of traffic but also public safety. The spokesperson for Kota Kinabalu City Hall when asked to comment on the matter, said summonses would be issued to the drivers of buses or cars that are found obstructing traffic. He said the unavailability of parking lots is not an excuse for them to park wherever they like. He assured that the complaint would be forwarded to the enforcement unit for action to be taken. Meanwhile the City traffic police when contacted about the matter, said the police personnel are always monitoring the traffic along the road, especially during peak hours. “We try our best to reduce the congestion in the city by having a team of police personnel at areas where motorists are known to double park their vehicles but as soon as they leave the area, the problem happens again,” he said. The police spokesperson also appealed to the motorists to cooperate and abide by the law.
TUESDAY-18TH DECEMBER 2007-Dept urged to look into claim over committee
Dept urged to look into claim over committee
MENGGATAL:
The Kampung Badulan’s Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) wants the State Information Department director to look into the alleged non-activation of the village’s Komuniti Bestari despite receiving allocation from the Government. Its chairman, Ustaz Ramli Ungking, said the committee had never implemented any Komuniti Bestari programmes in the village. “The JKKK has discussed the matter with village chief Zainah Godsung and he agreed that a new committee should be elected,” Ramli said. According to him, the officer in charge has failed to resolve the problem and therefore the Government should intervene as the villagers are wondering where the allocation went to. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the villagers, Zawawi Datuk Ahmad, also has requested the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) to conduct an investigation into the allegation. “The allocation was received by the Komuniti Bestari committee a year ago but we have yet to see any programmes implemented,” he said.
MENGGATAL:
The Kampung Badulan’s Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) wants the State Information Department director to look into the alleged non-activation of the village’s Komuniti Bestari despite receiving allocation from the Government. Its chairman, Ustaz Ramli Ungking, said the committee had never implemented any Komuniti Bestari programmes in the village. “The JKKK has discussed the matter with village chief Zainah Godsung and he agreed that a new committee should be elected,” Ramli said. According to him, the officer in charge has failed to resolve the problem and therefore the Government should intervene as the villagers are wondering where the allocation went to. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the villagers, Zawawi Datuk Ahmad, also has requested the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) to conduct an investigation into the allegation. “The allocation was received by the Komuniti Bestari committee a year ago but we have yet to see any programmes implemented,” he said.
Monday, December 17, 2007
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-Land applications top on Keadilan Govt agenda
Land applications top on Keadilan Govt agenda
INANAM:
Settling outstanding land applications would be top on the agenda of a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Government, promised PKR State Steering Committee Chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. “I promise you, the moment we come into power we would give land application matters top priority. In this computerized era, we should be able to settle problem-less land applications within three months. “We would also reinstate the power of all village chiefs to vet land applications in their respective areas so that only the rightful would get to apply for right purpose,” he said at the PKR’s meet-the-people session in Kampung Malawa near here on Friday night. Dr Jeffrey who is also PKR Vice President, promised to move a motion in the State Assembly to excise portions of State forest reserve lands that are occupied by natives so that those deserving and diligent would get to toil the lands. “Besides this, a PKR federal government would also give free textbooks, and abolish school fees. We are also studying the possibility to give scholarships to all first degree students in local universities,” said the maverick leader. Earlier, Datuk Chau Chin Tang, in his speech said PKR should study to reinstate the power Of Sabah Governor to appoint court judges which was taken away by the Federal since June 1994. “Look, if the power of our TYT could be taken away, what more other power? We must stop this rot, vote for Keadilan,” he said adding, a PKR Government would also look into injecting RM500 million into Saham Amanah Sabah to push its share to at least its original value at RM1. Both Dr Jeffrey and Chau also commended the more than 150 adults who turned out at the gathering despite police mounting a roadblock nearby, and a big presence of uniformed police force at the compound. Other PKR leaders present were State liaison deputy chairman Daniel John Jambun, liaison assistant secretary Peter Marajin, Edward Linggu, Kanul Gindol, Alex Kando and Paul Kuleling.
INANAM:
Settling outstanding land applications would be top on the agenda of a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Government, promised PKR State Steering Committee Chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. “I promise you, the moment we come into power we would give land application matters top priority. In this computerized era, we should be able to settle problem-less land applications within three months. “We would also reinstate the power of all village chiefs to vet land applications in their respective areas so that only the rightful would get to apply for right purpose,” he said at the PKR’s meet-the-people session in Kampung Malawa near here on Friday night. Dr Jeffrey who is also PKR Vice President, promised to move a motion in the State Assembly to excise portions of State forest reserve lands that are occupied by natives so that those deserving and diligent would get to toil the lands. “Besides this, a PKR federal government would also give free textbooks, and abolish school fees. We are also studying the possibility to give scholarships to all first degree students in local universities,” said the maverick leader. Earlier, Datuk Chau Chin Tang, in his speech said PKR should study to reinstate the power Of Sabah Governor to appoint court judges which was taken away by the Federal since June 1994. “Look, if the power of our TYT could be taken away, what more other power? We must stop this rot, vote for Keadilan,” he said adding, a PKR Government would also look into injecting RM500 million into Saham Amanah Sabah to push its share to at least its original value at RM1. Both Dr Jeffrey and Chau also commended the more than 150 adults who turned out at the gathering despite police mounting a roadblock nearby, and a big presence of uniformed police force at the compound. Other PKR leaders present were State liaison deputy chairman Daniel John Jambun, liaison assistant secretary Peter Marajin, Edward Linggu, Kanul Gindol, Alex Kando and Paul Kuleling.
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-English questions for Maths, Science should stay: Ex-school inspector
English questions for Maths, Science should stay: Ex-school inspector
TAWAU:
The Ujian Peperiksaan Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination should not only be maintained but the candidates also have to answer the questions for Science and Mathematics subjects in English, said a former school inspector. Haji Husain bin Perumal, who stated this, has expressed shock and regret over a statement that the answering of questions in English for Science and Mathematics in UPSR and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) 2008 still pending approval. Husain, who served in the education sector 35 years, said anwering questions in English for Science and Mathematics in two public examinations is very important in determining the competence and achievement level of student.
“Let us try to imagine if a student who is unable to read, write and count (3M), what will happen to them in the future as Malaysian?
How the Government could act to achieve their desires if the students do not know how to read and understand the art elements? “Hence, UPSR is the greatest examination for the primary students and we should not neglect it. It is a good chance for the students to learn English effectively as well as able to answer questions in English for Science and Mathematics subjects. Besides that, it will generate motivation and moral values among the students,” he pointed out to The Borneo Post. According to him, examination is the most effective method to educate the students to be more responsible, mature and develop a humankind module. “In generating a dynamic humankind module, it should start from education. Each party should act more rationally and be concerned over the children’s academic performance.
“After conducting a study, I suggest that those students who are anwering questions in English for Science and Mathematics subjects starting from next year onwards will be given 10% to 15% bonus marks from their academic results. “The teachers who are teaching Science and Mathematics will be given a one-month basic salary bonus. We are sure to get positive effects from the incentives,” Husain pointed out.
TAWAU:
The Ujian Peperiksaan Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination should not only be maintained but the candidates also have to answer the questions for Science and Mathematics subjects in English, said a former school inspector. Haji Husain bin Perumal, who stated this, has expressed shock and regret over a statement that the answering of questions in English for Science and Mathematics in UPSR and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) 2008 still pending approval. Husain, who served in the education sector 35 years, said anwering questions in English for Science and Mathematics in two public examinations is very important in determining the competence and achievement level of student.
“Let us try to imagine if a student who is unable to read, write and count (3M), what will happen to them in the future as Malaysian?
How the Government could act to achieve their desires if the students do not know how to read and understand the art elements? “Hence, UPSR is the greatest examination for the primary students and we should not neglect it. It is a good chance for the students to learn English effectively as well as able to answer questions in English for Science and Mathematics subjects. Besides that, it will generate motivation and moral values among the students,” he pointed out to The Borneo Post. According to him, examination is the most effective method to educate the students to be more responsible, mature and develop a humankind module. “In generating a dynamic humankind module, it should start from education. Each party should act more rationally and be concerned over the children’s academic performance.
“After conducting a study, I suggest that those students who are anwering questions in English for Science and Mathematics subjects starting from next year onwards will be given 10% to 15% bonus marks from their academic results. “The teachers who are teaching Science and Mathematics will be given a one-month basic salary bonus. We are sure to get positive effects from the incentives,” Husain pointed out.
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-Rhinos have quality to move up, says Dragic
Rhinos have quality to move up, says Dragic
KOTA KINABALU:
Premier League outfit Sabah have the quality to gain promotion to the Super League next season, said Dragic Dalidor. He said he was impressed with the existing Sabah squad and the arrival of several players have only further strengthened the team to face the 2007/2008 Malaysian League. “I think we are capable of doing well this season,” said the Bosnia-Herzegovina defender in halting English as chief coach Drago Mamic interpreted for him. “We have good players and a balanced team and what we must do now is work harder. With sheer determination nothing is impossible,” he said. “Having played in the last Malaysia Cup campaign for Sabah, I found out that there is not much different among the teams in Super League and Premier League. “Sabah is a good side… I really hope that we will be able to register good results and get the promotion,” he said, adding that Sabah should be able to end their title drought with the current team. Dragic, a father of 10-year-old son, started his professional career with FC Borac in the Bosnian League. This is a club where he met former Sabah tough tackling defender Veselin Kovacevic. The 35-year-old is expected to play a big part in Sabah defence this season where his experience playing in the UEFA. Championships and stints with some of the European top clubs such as FC Levski Sofia of Bulgaria will be of great help in bringing stability to the backline. Meanwhile, Dragic said he was impressed with several local players that he believes would have no problem plying their trade in Europe. “I believe players like Ejati (Azrul Ejati Damsah), Alif (Radzi Hussin) as well as Zulamri (Muhammad) who have explosive power as well as speed can even play in Europe, but before that they must keep improving in their game,” Dragic said, adding Malaysian football should improve with proper development planning.
KOTA KINABALU:
Premier League outfit Sabah have the quality to gain promotion to the Super League next season, said Dragic Dalidor. He said he was impressed with the existing Sabah squad and the arrival of several players have only further strengthened the team to face the 2007/2008 Malaysian League. “I think we are capable of doing well this season,” said the Bosnia-Herzegovina defender in halting English as chief coach Drago Mamic interpreted for him. “We have good players and a balanced team and what we must do now is work harder. With sheer determination nothing is impossible,” he said. “Having played in the last Malaysia Cup campaign for Sabah, I found out that there is not much different among the teams in Super League and Premier League. “Sabah is a good side… I really hope that we will be able to register good results and get the promotion,” he said, adding that Sabah should be able to end their title drought with the current team. Dragic, a father of 10-year-old son, started his professional career with FC Borac in the Bosnian League. This is a club where he met former Sabah tough tackling defender Veselin Kovacevic. The 35-year-old is expected to play a big part in Sabah defence this season where his experience playing in the UEFA. Championships and stints with some of the European top clubs such as FC Levski Sofia of Bulgaria will be of great help in bringing stability to the backline. Meanwhile, Dragic said he was impressed with several local players that he believes would have no problem plying their trade in Europe. “I believe players like Ejati (Azrul Ejati Damsah), Alif (Radzi Hussin) as well as Zulamri (Muhammad) who have explosive power as well as speed can even play in Europe, but before that they must keep improving in their game,” Dragic said, adding Malaysian football should improve with proper development planning.
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-Sabah set for winning start
Sabah set for winning start Rhinos face Armed Forces in opener tonight
KOTA KINABALU:
Sabah are all set to kick start their 2007/2008 Premier League campaign with a bang when they take on Armed Forces (ATM) at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium tonight. Team Manager Rahman Zakaria believed a winning start would be important in terms of boosting the players’ confidence in facing the challenges ahead of them this season. Rahman said the team have prepared well for the new season under chief coach Drago Mamic. “It is time to show our hard work preparing for the new season will not go down the drain… we are ready for the Premier League as well as the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup,” he said. “We will be playing our first game tomorrow (today) and a victory will be important. “I have confidence in the team to deliver the result as the players are in top shape and the spirit in the team is high… we will be going all out for the maximum points,” he added. Having said that, Rahman was however cautious and reminded the players of complacency against ATM who are no pushovers. “I want to remind here also that all the players will have to fight for their first team places and they are no automatic choice,” he said. “Fighting for first team places should create a healthy competition among the players that would eventually see them giving the best in training and most importantly during matches.
“I believe the coach has his best players to win the match,” he said. Drago has named an 18-member squad for the trip with Irwan Jamil expected to start in goal while Mohd Salawi Jasad, who makes the trip in place of the usual second choice Harold John who is down with fever, is his deputy. The rest of the squad are skipper Rosdin Wasli, Munir Imran, Wong Sai Kong, Zulamri Muhamad, Zuraindey Jumai, Chow Chee Wing, Nafuzi Zain, Zainizam Marjan. Bobby Gonzalez, Salvester Sindeh, Eddie Gapil, Radzi Hussin, Azrul Ejati Damsah and Hardy Parsi as well as foreign imports Dragic Dalibor and Jamie Phoenix. Thirteen teams, including debutants ProtonFC, Felda United FC and the national Under-19 squad, will be competing in the Premier League, which offers two automatic promotion spots to the elite Super League.
The rest of the teams are Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Kelantan, Selangor PKNS, Kuala Muda Naza, Shahzan Muda and KL Plus FC.
KOTA KINABALU:
Sabah are all set to kick start their 2007/2008 Premier League campaign with a bang when they take on Armed Forces (ATM) at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium tonight. Team Manager Rahman Zakaria believed a winning start would be important in terms of boosting the players’ confidence in facing the challenges ahead of them this season. Rahman said the team have prepared well for the new season under chief coach Drago Mamic. “It is time to show our hard work preparing for the new season will not go down the drain… we are ready for the Premier League as well as the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup,” he said. “We will be playing our first game tomorrow (today) and a victory will be important. “I have confidence in the team to deliver the result as the players are in top shape and the spirit in the team is high… we will be going all out for the maximum points,” he added. Having said that, Rahman was however cautious and reminded the players of complacency against ATM who are no pushovers. “I want to remind here also that all the players will have to fight for their first team places and they are no automatic choice,” he said. “Fighting for first team places should create a healthy competition among the players that would eventually see them giving the best in training and most importantly during matches.
“I believe the coach has his best players to win the match,” he said. Drago has named an 18-member squad for the trip with Irwan Jamil expected to start in goal while Mohd Salawi Jasad, who makes the trip in place of the usual second choice Harold John who is down with fever, is his deputy. The rest of the squad are skipper Rosdin Wasli, Munir Imran, Wong Sai Kong, Zulamri Muhamad, Zuraindey Jumai, Chow Chee Wing, Nafuzi Zain, Zainizam Marjan. Bobby Gonzalez, Salvester Sindeh, Eddie Gapil, Radzi Hussin, Azrul Ejati Damsah and Hardy Parsi as well as foreign imports Dragic Dalibor and Jamie Phoenix. Thirteen teams, including debutants ProtonFC, Felda United FC and the national Under-19 squad, will be competing in the Premier League, which offers two automatic promotion spots to the elite Super League.
The rest of the teams are Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Kelantan, Selangor PKNS, Kuala Muda Naza, Shahzan Muda and KL Plus FC.
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-
Family among 35 who pledge to donate organs
KOTA KINABALU: Thirty-five persons, including a family of four, have pledged to donate their organs and tissues. The family from Inanam, Lam Cheng Min, 48, his wife Choi Kui Fong, 43, and their two sons - Lam Huat Kiat, 16, and Lam Hong Kiat, 20, yesterday filled up the organ donor pledge forms after the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s blood and organ donation campaign yesterday. Hong Kiat was one of the 125 people who donated blood at the campaign held at the premises of the Foundation in Likas from 9am to 3pm. “I want to donate my organs as they will be of no use to me when I am dead. It’s better for me to donate my organs to other people to save their lives,” Choi said when asked why she pledged to donate her organs. Her husband said that when a person donated his or her organs and tissues, he or she could save the lives of a number of people. “I would like to encourage people to make a pledge to donate their organs and tissues as it is also the ultimate humanitarian act of charity and benevolence,” Lam said. The couple also encouraged people to donate their blood to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)’s blood bank. “By donating our blood, we can also save the lives of people,” said the couple who have donated blood 11 times but did not join yesterday’s campaign due to unavoidable reasons.
Brain dead patients can donate
Another organ donor pledger, Chen Mey Chung, a 51 year-old housewife, stressed the same reason for pledging to donate her organs and tissues. Chen said she was encouraged to donate her organs after seeing patients in Likas Hospital suffering from various illnesses such as Thalassaemia and cancer. “When I die, I wish to donate all my organs and tissues as long as they could be used,” Chen said, adding that she also encouraged her husband and her three children to make the same pledge to help other people. Meanwhile, Dr Lily Ng who gave a talk about the organs donation campaign, hoped that more people will make a similar pledge. “All teachings such as Islam, Christianity and Buddhism also encourage us to donate our organs and tissues,” said Lily who is the head of the anaesthesiology and intensive care department in the QEH. Lily also said that many people had died while waiting for organs for transplantation. “Until today, there are a few people who have donated their organs and tissues after their death and we need more organs and tissues for transplantation,” she said, adding the organ donor pledge forms could be obtained from the QEH. Dr Lily also said that if a person who is brain dead but his heart is still beating, his organs and tissues can be donated. If his heart is not beating, only his tissues can be donated. The commonly transplanted organs are kidney, heart, liver, lung and pancreas while the transplantable tissues are eye, bone, skin and heart valves. During the blood donation campaign, the foundation managed to collect 125 pints of blood. According to Connie Cheong, the coordinator of the campaign, 161 people actually turned up to donate their blood but only 36 were not allowed to do so. “We conduct a blood donation campaign once in every three months and our next campaign will be held on March 16, next year,” Connie said. Another 30 pints of blood were collected for the hospital’s blood bank at another blood donation campaign organized by the Che Sui Khor Uplifting Society yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Thirty-five persons, including a family of four, have pledged to donate their organs and tissues. The family from Inanam, Lam Cheng Min, 48, his wife Choi Kui Fong, 43, and their two sons - Lam Huat Kiat, 16, and Lam Hong Kiat, 20, yesterday filled up the organ donor pledge forms after the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s blood and organ donation campaign yesterday. Hong Kiat was one of the 125 people who donated blood at the campaign held at the premises of the Foundation in Likas from 9am to 3pm. “I want to donate my organs as they will be of no use to me when I am dead. It’s better for me to donate my organs to other people to save their lives,” Choi said when asked why she pledged to donate her organs. Her husband said that when a person donated his or her organs and tissues, he or she could save the lives of a number of people. “I would like to encourage people to make a pledge to donate their organs and tissues as it is also the ultimate humanitarian act of charity and benevolence,” Lam said. The couple also encouraged people to donate their blood to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)’s blood bank. “By donating our blood, we can also save the lives of people,” said the couple who have donated blood 11 times but did not join yesterday’s campaign due to unavoidable reasons.
Brain dead patients can donate
Another organ donor pledger, Chen Mey Chung, a 51 year-old housewife, stressed the same reason for pledging to donate her organs and tissues. Chen said she was encouraged to donate her organs after seeing patients in Likas Hospital suffering from various illnesses such as Thalassaemia and cancer. “When I die, I wish to donate all my organs and tissues as long as they could be used,” Chen said, adding that she also encouraged her husband and her three children to make the same pledge to help other people. Meanwhile, Dr Lily Ng who gave a talk about the organs donation campaign, hoped that more people will make a similar pledge. “All teachings such as Islam, Christianity and Buddhism also encourage us to donate our organs and tissues,” said Lily who is the head of the anaesthesiology and intensive care department in the QEH. Lily also said that many people had died while waiting for organs for transplantation. “Until today, there are a few people who have donated their organs and tissues after their death and we need more organs and tissues for transplantation,” she said, adding the organ donor pledge forms could be obtained from the QEH. Dr Lily also said that if a person who is brain dead but his heart is still beating, his organs and tissues can be donated. If his heart is not beating, only his tissues can be donated. The commonly transplanted organs are kidney, heart, liver, lung and pancreas while the transplantable tissues are eye, bone, skin and heart valves. During the blood donation campaign, the foundation managed to collect 125 pints of blood. According to Connie Cheong, the coordinator of the campaign, 161 people actually turned up to donate their blood but only 36 were not allowed to do so. “We conduct a blood donation campaign once in every three months and our next campaign will be held on March 16, next year,” Connie said. Another 30 pints of blood were collected for the hospital’s blood bank at another blood donation campaign organized by the Che Sui Khor Uplifting Society yesterday.
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-Vandals lack religious, moral education: Mayor
Vandals lack religious, moral education: Mayor
KOTA KINABALU:
Parents have been urged to provide religious and moral education to their children as most of the youths involved in vandalism are those who lack in religious and moral upbringing. Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim pointed this out yesterday when officiating the closing and prize presentation ceremony of a campaign to clean up graffiti in the city. “Members of the community should be more concerned and responsible when they witness any vandalism activities in their area. They should lodge complaints to the authorities concerned and not just keep quiet,” he said, adding most of the vandals were youths. According to the Mayor, the Government has to come out with a substantial amount of money every year to repair the public facilities damaged by vandals. These funds could be channelled for better use to improve the living standard of the city folks. “The community cannot use the public facilities that are damaged. The image of our city is also damaged and this will give a negative image to the foreign visitors and affect the tourism sector of our State,” he added. He also said the campaign was aimed at instilling a sense of responsibility among the younger generation on the need to protect public amenities and to get more City Friend members to play an active roles against vandalism. Iliyas also disclosed that the local authorities, including the Kota Kinabalu City Hall, are empowered to fine vandals up to a maximum of RM2,000. Those found guilty can also be jailed. Over 200 people divided into nine groups, including City Friend members, cleaned up the graffiti in the city areas from 7.3Oam to lOam yesterday. Among the areas they covered were Sembulan, Tanjung Aru, Kepayan, Luyang, Menggatal, Inanam, Telipok, Likas and the City centre.
Representatives from Government agencies and nongovernmental organizations; including Telekom Malaysia and Sabah Electricity Sdñ Bhd, also participated in the symbolic event. Rakan Muda Kolej Yayasan Sabah, which was chosen as the best group, received an appreciation certificate and RM500 cash while Tamnan Kemajuan Likas which sent 75 members, received a special award for having the most number of participants. The main sponsor for the event, Nippon Paint Sabah, donated 100 litres of paint worth RM3,000 to paint the walls and surfaces which were vandalised with graffiti.
KOTA KINABALU:
Parents have been urged to provide religious and moral education to their children as most of the youths involved in vandalism are those who lack in religious and moral upbringing. Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim pointed this out yesterday when officiating the closing and prize presentation ceremony of a campaign to clean up graffiti in the city. “Members of the community should be more concerned and responsible when they witness any vandalism activities in their area. They should lodge complaints to the authorities concerned and not just keep quiet,” he said, adding most of the vandals were youths. According to the Mayor, the Government has to come out with a substantial amount of money every year to repair the public facilities damaged by vandals. These funds could be channelled for better use to improve the living standard of the city folks. “The community cannot use the public facilities that are damaged. The image of our city is also damaged and this will give a negative image to the foreign visitors and affect the tourism sector of our State,” he added. He also said the campaign was aimed at instilling a sense of responsibility among the younger generation on the need to protect public amenities and to get more City Friend members to play an active roles against vandalism. Iliyas also disclosed that the local authorities, including the Kota Kinabalu City Hall, are empowered to fine vandals up to a maximum of RM2,000. Those found guilty can also be jailed. Over 200 people divided into nine groups, including City Friend members, cleaned up the graffiti in the city areas from 7.3Oam to lOam yesterday. Among the areas they covered were Sembulan, Tanjung Aru, Kepayan, Luyang, Menggatal, Inanam, Telipok, Likas and the City centre.
Representatives from Government agencies and nongovernmental organizations; including Telekom Malaysia and Sabah Electricity Sdñ Bhd, also participated in the symbolic event. Rakan Muda Kolej Yayasan Sabah, which was chosen as the best group, received an appreciation certificate and RM500 cash while Tamnan Kemajuan Likas which sent 75 members, received a special award for having the most number of participants. The main sponsor for the event, Nippon Paint Sabah, donated 100 litres of paint worth RM3,000 to paint the walls and surfaces which were vandalised with graffiti.
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-City Hall urged to look into claim against City Bus drivers
City Hall urged to look into claim against City Bus drivers
KOTA KINABALU:
The Sabah Bumiputera Bus Operators Association (PPBBS) has urged the City Hall to look into the allegation that City Bus drivers have been using the car park lots near the Bank Negara building to wait for passengers. Its information chief, Abdul Rahman Piut, yesterday many bus operators from Sepanggar had voiced their dissatisfaction over the alleged action by the City Bus drivers, saying it is unfair as bus operators are not allowed to wait for passengers anywhere in the City except at the main bus terminal near Wawasan Plaza. “If this is what is happening the City Hall should act promptly and consider relocating the rest bay to a more suitable area,” he said in a statement here yesterday. Rahman said they were made to understand that the lot next to KK Plaza was meant for City Bus drivers to park their buses during their rest hours. An operator providing services between the City and Sepanggar last Friday complained that City Bus had taken advantage of the area and used it as a terminal to wait and pick up passengers. Former policeman Ribin Bidong urged the authorities, including the City Hall and traffic police, to be fair to other bus operators and take due action against the City Bus drivers. The one-page statement said bus operators in the City often voiced their grouses to the related authorities, including by writing through the association.
KOTA KINABALU:
The Sabah Bumiputera Bus Operators Association (PPBBS) has urged the City Hall to look into the allegation that City Bus drivers have been using the car park lots near the Bank Negara building to wait for passengers. Its information chief, Abdul Rahman Piut, yesterday many bus operators from Sepanggar had voiced their dissatisfaction over the alleged action by the City Bus drivers, saying it is unfair as bus operators are not allowed to wait for passengers anywhere in the City except at the main bus terminal near Wawasan Plaza. “If this is what is happening the City Hall should act promptly and consider relocating the rest bay to a more suitable area,” he said in a statement here yesterday. Rahman said they were made to understand that the lot next to KK Plaza was meant for City Bus drivers to park their buses during their rest hours. An operator providing services between the City and Sepanggar last Friday complained that City Bus had taken advantage of the area and used it as a terminal to wait and pick up passengers. Former policeman Ribin Bidong urged the authorities, including the City Hall and traffic police, to be fair to other bus operators and take due action against the City Bus drivers. The one-page statement said bus operators in the City often voiced their grouses to the related authorities, including by writing through the association.
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-Death of woman: Man detained for investigation
Death of woman: Man detained for investigation
TUARAN:
Police have detained a 21-year-old man to facilitate investigation into the murder of an elderly woman in Kampung Raganan here last week. The suspect, a local from Kampung Kiwato, Topokon, Tamparuli was found hiding in an empty house about 100 metres from the scene of the crime. He was picked up by police about 3pm on Saturday. A police spokesperson said police received information that a suspicious character was seen hiding in the ceiling of the abandoned house. The spokesperson added that a team of police personnel was sent to investigate and found the suspect hiding in the house. He did not resist arrest. In the incident last week, Tebah Angkat, 67, was found dead with a belt around her neck about 9pm.
Tebah was staying with her 18-year- old grandson who was also detained to facilitate investigations into the woman’s death. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code and police have yet to determine the motive of the murder.
TUARAN:
Police have detained a 21-year-old man to facilitate investigation into the murder of an elderly woman in Kampung Raganan here last week. The suspect, a local from Kampung Kiwato, Topokon, Tamparuli was found hiding in an empty house about 100 metres from the scene of the crime. He was picked up by police about 3pm on Saturday. A police spokesperson said police received information that a suspicious character was seen hiding in the ceiling of the abandoned house. The spokesperson added that a team of police personnel was sent to investigate and found the suspect hiding in the house. He did not resist arrest. In the incident last week, Tebah Angkat, 67, was found dead with a belt around her neck about 9pm.
Tebah was staying with her 18-year- old grandson who was also detained to facilitate investigations into the woman’s death. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code and police have yet to determine the motive of the murder.
MONDAY-17TH DECEMBER 2007-Upko Shah Alam launching postponed
Upko Shah Alam launching postponed
KOTA KINABALU:
Sabahans in Peninsular Malaysia will have to wait a little longer for the formalisation of the Upko Shah Alam Division. Upko Secretary General Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said he received an early morning call yesterday about the latest turn of event. “We are all set. Our president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok is ready. A group of us from Sabah are to fly to Kuala Lumpur either today or tomorrow morning. Then the protern chief Jorius Rendie told us of the postponement,” he said. Rendie said they have to delay the soft launching due to unforeseen circumstances, adding: “My committee had been very excited and anxiously await the scheduled big do for us on Monday. Sad though it might be, we have decided to postpone it until further notice.” The businessman apologized for the eleventh hour decision, and assured that the division would definitely be launched not too long from now.
KOTA KINABALU:
Sabahans in Peninsular Malaysia will have to wait a little longer for the formalisation of the Upko Shah Alam Division. Upko Secretary General Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said he received an early morning call yesterday about the latest turn of event. “We are all set. Our president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok is ready. A group of us from Sabah are to fly to Kuala Lumpur either today or tomorrow morning. Then the protern chief Jorius Rendie told us of the postponement,” he said. Rendie said they have to delay the soft launching due to unforeseen circumstances, adding: “My committee had been very excited and anxiously await the scheduled big do for us on Monday. Sad though it might be, we have decided to postpone it until further notice.” The businessman apologized for the eleventh hour decision, and assured that the division would definitely be launched not too long from now.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
SUNDAY-16TH DECEMBER 2007-Villagers call for committee to be disbanded
Villagers call for committee to be disbanded
MENGGATAL:
The residents of Kampung Bandulan near here yesterday urged the Information Department to disband the village’s Komuniti Bestari Committee, saying it had failed to deliver its obligation since its formation seven years ago. Some 180 residents from the village have signed and sent a petition to the department urging for a new committee to be elected to replace the existing one. The group’s spokesperson, Zawai Datuk Ahmad, stressed that the department should look into the matter and reform the committee based on the request of the majority. “The residents of Badulan are very disappointed given the fact that the committee has been receiving allocations from the Government but has not implemented any programme or activity,’ he said. Village Development and Security Committee chairman Ramli Ungking when contacted, confirmed that the petition had been sent to the Information Department and urged the department to appoint new members for the committee as soon as possible. “We regretted that this committee has been misused by irresponsible individuals. Rectification measures should have long been taken to enable the committee to truly benefit the village,” he said. According to Zawawi, they were made to understand that the committee chaired by Ismail Montiroi has been suspended by the department but the residents have yet to receive any formal notification letter regarding the matter.
MENGGATAL:
The residents of Kampung Bandulan near here yesterday urged the Information Department to disband the village’s Komuniti Bestari Committee, saying it had failed to deliver its obligation since its formation seven years ago. Some 180 residents from the village have signed and sent a petition to the department urging for a new committee to be elected to replace the existing one. The group’s spokesperson, Zawai Datuk Ahmad, stressed that the department should look into the matter and reform the committee based on the request of the majority. “The residents of Badulan are very disappointed given the fact that the committee has been receiving allocations from the Government but has not implemented any programme or activity,’ he said. Village Development and Security Committee chairman Ramli Ungking when contacted, confirmed that the petition had been sent to the Information Department and urged the department to appoint new members for the committee as soon as possible. “We regretted that this committee has been misused by irresponsible individuals. Rectification measures should have long been taken to enable the committee to truly benefit the village,” he said. According to Zawawi, they were made to understand that the committee chaired by Ismail Montiroi has been suspended by the department but the residents have yet to receive any formal notification letter regarding the matter.
SUNDAY-16TH DECEMBER 2007-New junction gives easy access to residents
New junction gives easy access to residents
KOTA KINABALU:
The residents of Taman Sri Kepayan Phase 6, 7 and 8 now have easy access into their residential area with the completion of a new junction along the Kepayan By-pass. Kepayan assemblyman Datuk Edward Khoo said residents of the housing estate no longer need to make a “U” turn in order to enter the junction into Tanam Sri Kepayan. He said this after visiting the road junction which was completed about three months ago. Khoo who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, said the residents had written to him about their plight. Previously, those who travelled from the city had to make a “U” turn before they could enter the junction to the housing estate.
“After receiving a letter about their problem, I made the proposal to the Public Works Department (PWD) to have a junction built and it was approved,” he said. Meanwhile, 21 low income families from Kepayan constituency yesterday received a special contribution from their assemblyman. The assistance was part of the special State Government allocation given to each assemblyman to assist the needy, including the poor in their respective constituency. Khoo said part of the financial aid had been given to students from poor families to lessen the burden of their parents. “For those who were not present today, we will send the assistance personally to them,” he said.
KOTA KINABALU:
The residents of Taman Sri Kepayan Phase 6, 7 and 8 now have easy access into their residential area with the completion of a new junction along the Kepayan By-pass. Kepayan assemblyman Datuk Edward Khoo said residents of the housing estate no longer need to make a “U” turn in order to enter the junction into Tanam Sri Kepayan. He said this after visiting the road junction which was completed about three months ago. Khoo who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, said the residents had written to him about their plight. Previously, those who travelled from the city had to make a “U” turn before they could enter the junction to the housing estate.
“After receiving a letter about their problem, I made the proposal to the Public Works Department (PWD) to have a junction built and it was approved,” he said. Meanwhile, 21 low income families from Kepayan constituency yesterday received a special contribution from their assemblyman. The assistance was part of the special State Government allocation given to each assemblyman to assist the needy, including the poor in their respective constituency. Khoo said part of the financial aid had been given to students from poor families to lessen the burden of their parents. “For those who were not present today, we will send the assistance personally to them,” he said.
SUNDAY-16TH DECEMBER 2007-KEADILAN SABAH PRAISES POLICE
Keadilan Sabah praises police
KOTA KINABALU:
Sabah Keadilan had nothing but praises for the police on December 14 when Bersih decided to hand over a memorandum to Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah at the Istana. The memorandum which among others seeks a clean electoral roll, abolish the postal voting system and for a fair access to media, was received by the Governor’s deputy secretary, Ibrahim Mohd Asri. Bersih is an election watchdog and an umbrella organisation for 64 non governmental organisations and six political parties, including Keadilan. “When I read the report in the Borneo Post, I am so happy to note that the Bersih group was allowed to voice out their points contained in the memorandum by Acting City Police Chief Superintendent Rowell Marong and was allowed to head to the Istana to hand over the memorandum to His Excellency which was received by his deputy secretary. “I also like to congratulate Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim for his wisdom and patience. We have put meaning to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which gives right to Malaysians to freedom of assembly,” said Sabah Keadilan information chief Dr Edwin Bosi ma statement yesterday. Commenting on the statement of Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s political secretary in a local paper (not the Borneo Post) on December 15, entitled “Sabah PKR: We don’t condone street demos”, Dr Edwin said that it is Kanul Gindol’s personal comment, and not the view of the party. “In the first place there was no street demonstration. It was a peaceful gathering with a very important mission to seek help from His Excellency concerning about electoral fraud. Sabah Keadilan believes in changing the Government via the ballot box. As stated by Keadilan Vice President Sivarasah a/l Rasah, all we want is a transparent election, not a transparent box.”
KOTA KINABALU:
Sabah Keadilan had nothing but praises for the police on December 14 when Bersih decided to hand over a memorandum to Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah at the Istana. The memorandum which among others seeks a clean electoral roll, abolish the postal voting system and for a fair access to media, was received by the Governor’s deputy secretary, Ibrahim Mohd Asri. Bersih is an election watchdog and an umbrella organisation for 64 non governmental organisations and six political parties, including Keadilan. “When I read the report in the Borneo Post, I am so happy to note that the Bersih group was allowed to voice out their points contained in the memorandum by Acting City Police Chief Superintendent Rowell Marong and was allowed to head to the Istana to hand over the memorandum to His Excellency which was received by his deputy secretary. “I also like to congratulate Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim for his wisdom and patience. We have put meaning to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which gives right to Malaysians to freedom of assembly,” said Sabah Keadilan information chief Dr Edwin Bosi ma statement yesterday. Commenting on the statement of Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s political secretary in a local paper (not the Borneo Post) on December 15, entitled “Sabah PKR: We don’t condone street demos”, Dr Edwin said that it is Kanul Gindol’s personal comment, and not the view of the party. “In the first place there was no street demonstration. It was a peaceful gathering with a very important mission to seek help from His Excellency concerning about electoral fraud. Sabah Keadilan believes in changing the Government via the ballot box. As stated by Keadilan Vice President Sivarasah a/l Rasah, all we want is a transparent election, not a transparent box.”
SUNDAY-16TH DECEMBER 2007-Govt fair in giving assistance: Rosnah
Govt fair in giving assistance: Rosnah
PAPAR:
The Barisan Nasional (BN) Government has always been fair and transparent in providing assistance to the people, especially when it comes to helping them improve their socio-economy and standard of living. Papar Member of Parliament Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said to ensure the people’s problem and grouses are heard, the Government has appointed its agents such as the village chiefs and the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) to be its eyes and ears. “Therefore any problems should be forwarded to these agents as they can assist in finding the solutions as well as giving the rakyat the right information about the BN Government’s policies,” she said at a meet-the-people session at Kampung Limbahau here recently.
PAPAR:
The Barisan Nasional (BN) Government has always been fair and transparent in providing assistance to the people, especially when it comes to helping them improve their socio-economy and standard of living. Papar Member of Parliament Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said to ensure the people’s problem and grouses are heard, the Government has appointed its agents such as the village chiefs and the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) to be its eyes and ears. “Therefore any problems should be forwarded to these agents as they can assist in finding the solutions as well as giving the rakyat the right information about the BN Government’s policies,” she said at a meet-the-people session at Kampung Limbahau here recently.
Friday, December 14, 2007
FRIDAY-14TH DECEMBER 2007-STENCH FROM SEWERAGE SYSTEM:ANJUNG SENJA
Stench from sewerage system:
Anjung Senja
The sewerage system located near the Anjung Senja food court in Kota Kinabalu is the cause of the stench in the area. Awang Shariff, the supervisor of Anjung Senja and Anjung Selera in Likas told Public Hotline that the smelly air is not originated from Anjang Senja. An observation by Public Hotline found that some of the restaurants at the area discharged their waste directly into the sea and this also caused the sea to produce the stench. According to Awang who has been working at the place for almost 10 years, Anjung Senja has become a victim of circumstance because it is located near the sewerage system. He said many people who did not know about the actual matter, would blame Anjung Senja for the problem. “It is not fair to us. The smelly air is not from Anjung Senja. It is from the sewerage system and the sea. Some of the restaurants in this area discharged their waste directly to the sea causing it to produce the smelly air. We cannot do anything because it is out of our jurisdiction. We do our best to maintain Anjung Senja,” he said. “The smelly air has nothing to do with our place. We have installed our sewerage system and always maintain it to ensure the cleanliness of the place. For the public information, the sewerage system in our premises goes to the DBKK sewerage and not directly to the sea,” he added. Meanwhile, the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (KKCH) confirmed that the area is under its jurisdiction. Its spokeswoman also said that action had been taken to overcome the matter. “KKCH is now in process of ensuring that all the premises at the area do not discharge their waste directly to the sea,” she said, adding that they would also monitor the matter in stages. Earlier Public Hotline received a complaint from a member of the public about the stench at Anjung Senja area. It was published on December 6 under the heading “Anjung Selera dirty and smelly”. However, the headline should read “Anjung Senja dirty and smelly” and not what was published. Public Hotline apologies to the management of Anjung Senja and Anjung Selera for the error.
Anjung Senja
The sewerage system located near the Anjung Senja food court in Kota Kinabalu is the cause of the stench in the area. Awang Shariff, the supervisor of Anjung Senja and Anjung Selera in Likas told Public Hotline that the smelly air is not originated from Anjang Senja. An observation by Public Hotline found that some of the restaurants at the area discharged their waste directly into the sea and this also caused the sea to produce the stench. According to Awang who has been working at the place for almost 10 years, Anjung Senja has become a victim of circumstance because it is located near the sewerage system. He said many people who did not know about the actual matter, would blame Anjung Senja for the problem. “It is not fair to us. The smelly air is not from Anjung Senja. It is from the sewerage system and the sea. Some of the restaurants in this area discharged their waste directly to the sea causing it to produce the smelly air. We cannot do anything because it is out of our jurisdiction. We do our best to maintain Anjung Senja,” he said. “The smelly air has nothing to do with our place. We have installed our sewerage system and always maintain it to ensure the cleanliness of the place. For the public information, the sewerage system in our premises goes to the DBKK sewerage and not directly to the sea,” he added. Meanwhile, the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (KKCH) confirmed that the area is under its jurisdiction. Its spokeswoman also said that action had been taken to overcome the matter. “KKCH is now in process of ensuring that all the premises at the area do not discharge their waste directly to the sea,” she said, adding that they would also monitor the matter in stages. Earlier Public Hotline received a complaint from a member of the public about the stench at Anjung Senja area. It was published on December 6 under the heading “Anjung Selera dirty and smelly”. However, the headline should read “Anjung Senja dirty and smelly” and not what was published. Public Hotline apologies to the management of Anjung Senja and Anjung Selera for the error.
FRIDAY-14TH DECEMBER 2007-Farmers Association Board urged to improve
Farmers Association Board urged to improve
KOTA KINABALU:
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail has urged the Sabah Farmers Association Board (LPP) to grab every opportunity to improve and equip themselves with the necessary skills. He also encouraged every LPP member to practise working principles in organization as well as perform all their duties conscientiously. “I would like to say here that you must do it right the first time, never settle for less than the best,” said Abdul Rahim when launching the Quality Day for the Sabah Farmers Association Board here yesterday. “It is very important to enhance your skills and implement the latest technology in the agricultural sector so that you can make positive contribution to the State and country,” he added. According to Abdul Rahim, the Government is focusing on the agriculture sector to help improve the living standard of the people, especially the rural folks. Thus, he urged farmers and livestock breeders to constantly improve their paddy and livestock yields in order to improve their family’s economy. “The Government is seriously developing the agriculture sector and this can been seen from the establishment of the Sabah Development Corridor,” said Rahim. During the event, Abdul Rahim presented the Sabah Farmers Association Board Quality Award 2007 to 11 LPP branches.
Kamisah Ahmad received the Quality Leadership Award and Jamdin Abdullah the Best Speaker Award. Kamisah was the only woman who received an award during the Quality Day celebration.
During the event, Abdul Rahim also launched a book entitled “Apa Kata Y.B. Menteri Pertanian & Industri Makanan Negeri Sabah Jilid 10”.
Also present were both, Assistant Agriculture and Food Industry Ministers, Datuk Bobbey Suan and Datuk Japlin Akim as well as Sabah Farmers Association Board director Kamalrul Badri Mat Ali.
KOTA KINABALU:
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail has urged the Sabah Farmers Association Board (LPP) to grab every opportunity to improve and equip themselves with the necessary skills. He also encouraged every LPP member to practise working principles in organization as well as perform all their duties conscientiously. “I would like to say here that you must do it right the first time, never settle for less than the best,” said Abdul Rahim when launching the Quality Day for the Sabah Farmers Association Board here yesterday. “It is very important to enhance your skills and implement the latest technology in the agricultural sector so that you can make positive contribution to the State and country,” he added. According to Abdul Rahim, the Government is focusing on the agriculture sector to help improve the living standard of the people, especially the rural folks. Thus, he urged farmers and livestock breeders to constantly improve their paddy and livestock yields in order to improve their family’s economy. “The Government is seriously developing the agriculture sector and this can been seen from the establishment of the Sabah Development Corridor,” said Rahim. During the event, Abdul Rahim presented the Sabah Farmers Association Board Quality Award 2007 to 11 LPP branches.
Kamisah Ahmad received the Quality Leadership Award and Jamdin Abdullah the Best Speaker Award. Kamisah was the only woman who received an award during the Quality Day celebration.
During the event, Abdul Rahim also launched a book entitled “Apa Kata Y.B. Menteri Pertanian & Industri Makanan Negeri Sabah Jilid 10”.
Also present were both, Assistant Agriculture and Food Industry Ministers, Datuk Bobbey Suan and Datuk Japlin Akim as well as Sabah Farmers Association Board director Kamalrul Badri Mat Ali.
FRIDAY-14TH DECEMBER 2007-KPD TAMU THIS SUNDAY
KPD Tamu this Sunday
KOTA KINABALU:
Korporasi Pembangunan Desa (KPD) will hold its tamu this Sunday at the KPD Marketing Complex, Tanjung Lipat, Teluk Likas, here from 6.3Oam to 1pm. Various types of rural products will be available such as fresh Shiitake mushroom, Tenom pamelo, honey, fresh beef and chicken. The public are also encouraged to donate generously used clothings, books or children toys at the Charity Corner for the needy rural folks. The Health Corner will also be having blood pressure check-up and blood sugar test for tamu customers.
KOTA KINABALU:
Korporasi Pembangunan Desa (KPD) will hold its tamu this Sunday at the KPD Marketing Complex, Tanjung Lipat, Teluk Likas, here from 6.3Oam to 1pm. Various types of rural products will be available such as fresh Shiitake mushroom, Tenom pamelo, honey, fresh beef and chicken. The public are also encouraged to donate generously used clothings, books or children toys at the Charity Corner for the needy rural folks. The Health Corner will also be having blood pressure check-up and blood sugar test for tamu customers.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
THURSDAY-13TH DECEMBER 2007-Polytechnic director pays farewell call on TYT
Polytechnic director pays farewell call on TYT
KOTA KINABALU:
Outgoing Sabah Polytechnic director Datuk Azizi Lin and his wife Datin Zuraidah Mohd Daud called on the Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah and his wife Toh Puan Hajah Dayang Masuyah Awang Japar at the Istana Negeri here yesterday. Azizi has been seconded to the Higher Education Ministry in Kuala Lumpur as the Director of Examination and Evaluation in the Polytechnic Studies and Community College Department at Putrajaya, effective Dec 1. During the meeting, Azizi also introduced Mustafar Kamar Ujung, who succeeds him as the director of Sabah Polytechnic and the latter’s wife, Nurizan Suhaimi and Deputy Director (Support Division) Sahul Hamid Wahab, and Trade Department head Charim Ibrahim. He also briefed the Governor on the current development of polytechnics in Sabah in terms of administration and the courses offered for next year intake.
KOTA KINABALU:
Outgoing Sabah Polytechnic director Datuk Azizi Lin and his wife Datin Zuraidah Mohd Daud called on the Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah and his wife Toh Puan Hajah Dayang Masuyah Awang Japar at the Istana Negeri here yesterday. Azizi has been seconded to the Higher Education Ministry in Kuala Lumpur as the Director of Examination and Evaluation in the Polytechnic Studies and Community College Department at Putrajaya, effective Dec 1. During the meeting, Azizi also introduced Mustafar Kamar Ujung, who succeeds him as the director of Sabah Polytechnic and the latter’s wife, Nurizan Suhaimi and Deputy Director (Support Division) Sahul Hamid Wahab, and Trade Department head Charim Ibrahim. He also briefed the Governor on the current development of polytechnics in Sabah in terms of administration and the courses offered for next year intake.
THURSDAY-13TH DECEMBER 2007-SEPA hails building of biomass fired power plant in Lahad Datu
SEPA hails building of biomass fired power plant in Lahad Datu
KOTA KINABALU:
The Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) has hailed the plan by the State Government to build the Sabah’s first biomass-fired power generation plant in Lahad Datu. “We welcome the State Government’s initiative in bringing in technology and investors to implement a project that is in line with the Clean Development Mechanism,” said SEPA chairman Datuk Sue Jayasuriya. “Perhaps the State Government can apply to have the capacity of the combined head and power plant enlarged so that there will be no need to pursue the construction of the proposed coal- fired power plant at Silam near Lahad Datu,” she said. According to her, the combined head and power plant (CHP) will be able to help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by the oil mill effluent or POME. She acknowledged the fact that before the CHP, a number of oil palm players in Sabah have been using empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shells for the production of electricity or as feedstock for firing their boilers. She said the oil palm industry in Sabah, which is the main revenue earner for the State, is a major producer of methane gas, one of the four main greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The proposed 24 megawatt and 150 tonne-per-hour steam plant at the Lahad Datu palm oil industrial cluster is expected to be commissioned in 2010. State-owned POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, the developer of the Lahad Datu palm oil industrial cluster, signed an agreement with Korean company Eco Biomass Energy Sdn Bhd for the purchase of 20 acres of land for the CHP plant. Other than POME, the methane gas also comes from rotting empty fruit bunches. At present, only a small fraction of empty fruit bunches are used as feedstock for energy production. Much of it is spread onto oil palm plantations for mulching. Empty fruit bunches emit emthane when they rot, and rotting takes places within several days after being left in the open.
KOTA KINABALU:
The Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) has hailed the plan by the State Government to build the Sabah’s first biomass-fired power generation plant in Lahad Datu. “We welcome the State Government’s initiative in bringing in technology and investors to implement a project that is in line with the Clean Development Mechanism,” said SEPA chairman Datuk Sue Jayasuriya. “Perhaps the State Government can apply to have the capacity of the combined head and power plant enlarged so that there will be no need to pursue the construction of the proposed coal- fired power plant at Silam near Lahad Datu,” she said. According to her, the combined head and power plant (CHP) will be able to help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by the oil mill effluent or POME. She acknowledged the fact that before the CHP, a number of oil palm players in Sabah have been using empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shells for the production of electricity or as feedstock for firing their boilers. She said the oil palm industry in Sabah, which is the main revenue earner for the State, is a major producer of methane gas, one of the four main greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The proposed 24 megawatt and 150 tonne-per-hour steam plant at the Lahad Datu palm oil industrial cluster is expected to be commissioned in 2010. State-owned POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, the developer of the Lahad Datu palm oil industrial cluster, signed an agreement with Korean company Eco Biomass Energy Sdn Bhd for the purchase of 20 acres of land for the CHP plant. Other than POME, the methane gas also comes from rotting empty fruit bunches. At present, only a small fraction of empty fruit bunches are used as feedstock for energy production. Much of it is spread onto oil palm plantations for mulching. Empty fruit bunches emit emthane when they rot, and rotting takes places within several days after being left in the open.
THURSDAY-13TH DECEMBER 2007-NRD to probe claim of Sandakan girl
NRD to probe claim of Sandakan girl
Rositah says officer asked her to apply for new identity
KOTA KINABALU:
The National Registration Department (NRD) will conduct an investigation into a 19-year-old local girl’s claim that she was asked by one of its officers to apply for a new identity after her MyKad was issued to another person. Putrajaya NRD public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor said that under no circumstances would a person be asked to change his or her identity if their MyKad had fallen into wrong hands. “We don’t have such a system whereby someone takes another identity if their personal particulars had been used by another person,” she said, adding that the MyKad was issued based on the particulars of the applicant’s birth certificate. Local Sandakan girl Siti Rositah Mustapah highlighted her problem to the media after she was told by a NRD officer in Kota Kinabalu to apply for a new identity as her MyKad had been issued to another person, She was also called an impostor. Rositah, whose parents and seven others siblings are all Malaysians, lodged a police report on Friday after she refused to take up a new identity as all school certificates were under her name as per her birth certificate. She had made a late application for a MyKad in 2005 but every time she checked, the NRD told her it was not ready and she was finally asked to go directly to the State NRD headquarters here last week. Jainisah advised Rositah to check with the State NRD headquarters again on the matter and assured that her case would be investigated and resolved quickly.
Rositah says officer asked her to apply for new identity
KOTA KINABALU:
The National Registration Department (NRD) will conduct an investigation into a 19-year-old local girl’s claim that she was asked by one of its officers to apply for a new identity after her MyKad was issued to another person. Putrajaya NRD public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor said that under no circumstances would a person be asked to change his or her identity if their MyKad had fallen into wrong hands. “We don’t have such a system whereby someone takes another identity if their personal particulars had been used by another person,” she said, adding that the MyKad was issued based on the particulars of the applicant’s birth certificate. Local Sandakan girl Siti Rositah Mustapah highlighted her problem to the media after she was told by a NRD officer in Kota Kinabalu to apply for a new identity as her MyKad had been issued to another person, She was also called an impostor. Rositah, whose parents and seven others siblings are all Malaysians, lodged a police report on Friday after she refused to take up a new identity as all school certificates were under her name as per her birth certificate. She had made a late application for a MyKad in 2005 but every time she checked, the NRD told her it was not ready and she was finally asked to go directly to the State NRD headquarters here last week. Jainisah advised Rositah to check with the State NRD headquarters again on the matter and assured that her case would be investigated and resolved quickly.
THURSDAY-13TH DECEMBER 2007-‘Back-from-dead’ Briton in court, police to quiz wife
‘Back-from-dead’ Briton in court, police to quiz wife
LONDON:
A British man who resurfaced more than five years after being presumed dead in a canoeing accident appeared in court Monday on fraud charges, as police prepared to question his wife. John Darwin was given a brief hearing before magistrates in Hartlepool, northeast England, and was remanded in custody until Friday. The 57-year-old is accused of lying to obtain a passport and obtaining a 25,000- pound life insurance payout by deception. The former teacher and prison officer was arrested last Tuesday, three days after walking into a central London police station and telling officers he thought he was a missing person but had amnesia. Darwin’s appearance in court -a procedural hearing at which he spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth - came as detectives prepared to interview his wife, Anne. The 55-year-old former receptionist at a doctor’s surgery was arrested Sunday on her return to Britain from Panama, where she moved nearly two months ago. She was to undergo a medical examination before any formal interviews took place, police said. A news conference is scheduled for later Monday, they added. John Darwin had been declared legally dead in 2003, a year after he disappeared from the family home in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, and his battered red canoe was washed up on the shore.
He was arrested last Tuesday after the publication of a photograph of him and his wife in Panama in July 2006, prompting a rash of revelations from his wife in interviews with British newspapers. She told the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail she went along with her husband’s faked death to escape huge debts, and lived with him in secret for years. She said the couple had about 12 houses as rental investments and began to run up debts of tens of thousands of pounds (euros, dollars). Her husband told her faking his own death was the only way out. But she said she did not think his disappearance was fake, because they had not spoken about his plans for sometime. “I really thought that he was dead,” she said. Then in February 2003, he returned, looking dishevelled. He moved back in, hiding in the adjoining bedsit the couple owned when their two grieving sons visited. When going outdoors he used a woolly hat, upturned collar, walking stick and limp to disguise himself. He successfully applied for a passport in the name of John Jones. At one point the couple travelled to Cyprus with a view to moving there, before turning to Panama City, where they bought an apartment for 97,000 dollars in April this year. But when Darwin had to return to Britain as his visa was running out, he told his wife he was going to reemerge and claim memory loss. -AFP
LONDON:
A British man who resurfaced more than five years after being presumed dead in a canoeing accident appeared in court Monday on fraud charges, as police prepared to question his wife. John Darwin was given a brief hearing before magistrates in Hartlepool, northeast England, and was remanded in custody until Friday. The 57-year-old is accused of lying to obtain a passport and obtaining a 25,000- pound life insurance payout by deception. The former teacher and prison officer was arrested last Tuesday, three days after walking into a central London police station and telling officers he thought he was a missing person but had amnesia. Darwin’s appearance in court -a procedural hearing at which he spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth - came as detectives prepared to interview his wife, Anne. The 55-year-old former receptionist at a doctor’s surgery was arrested Sunday on her return to Britain from Panama, where she moved nearly two months ago. She was to undergo a medical examination before any formal interviews took place, police said. A news conference is scheduled for later Monday, they added. John Darwin had been declared legally dead in 2003, a year after he disappeared from the family home in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, and his battered red canoe was washed up on the shore.
He was arrested last Tuesday after the publication of a photograph of him and his wife in Panama in July 2006, prompting a rash of revelations from his wife in interviews with British newspapers. She told the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail she went along with her husband’s faked death to escape huge debts, and lived with him in secret for years. She said the couple had about 12 houses as rental investments and began to run up debts of tens of thousands of pounds (euros, dollars). Her husband told her faking his own death was the only way out. But she said she did not think his disappearance was fake, because they had not spoken about his plans for sometime. “I really thought that he was dead,” she said. Then in February 2003, he returned, looking dishevelled. He moved back in, hiding in the adjoining bedsit the couple owned when their two grieving sons visited. When going outdoors he used a woolly hat, upturned collar, walking stick and limp to disguise himself. He successfully applied for a passport in the name of John Jones. At one point the couple travelled to Cyprus with a view to moving there, before turning to Panama City, where they bought an apartment for 97,000 dollars in April this year. But when Darwin had to return to Britain as his visa was running out, he told his wife he was going to reemerge and claim memory loss. -AFP
THURSDAY-13TH DECEMBER 2007-PKR shares concern of CASH
PKR shares concern of CASH
KOTA KINABALU:
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) also shares the concern of CASH President Datuk Patrick Sindu that one day Sabah might see street protests like the ones in Peninsular, if the State’s perennial problems continue to worsen and unresolved. Problems of overflowing illegal immigrants, dubious citizens, rising crimes and weak economy of the natives are fuelling uneasiness and anger among bona fide citizens of Sabah and this could spark open demonstration in future, said PKR Keningau division deputy chairman Jius Awang. “What Datuk Patrick said is true, and the Federal Government should not wait till such a time when the people, including the natives, take it to the streets to demand correction of policies and protection from the Government,” he added in a statement yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU:
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) also shares the concern of CASH President Datuk Patrick Sindu that one day Sabah might see street protests like the ones in Peninsular, if the State’s perennial problems continue to worsen and unresolved. Problems of overflowing illegal immigrants, dubious citizens, rising crimes and weak economy of the natives are fuelling uneasiness and anger among bona fide citizens of Sabah and this could spark open demonstration in future, said PKR Keningau division deputy chairman Jius Awang. “What Datuk Patrick said is true, and the Federal Government should not wait till such a time when the people, including the natives, take it to the streets to demand correction of policies and protection from the Government,” he added in a statement yesterday.
THURSDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2007-Unfair to blame Govt, says Liew
Unfair to blame Govt, says Liew
KOTA KINABALU:
It was unfair for a certain community in the country to accuse the Government of marginalizing them, when in the first place they were the ones who failed to embrace and participate in the development programs catered by the Government. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah pointed this out yesterday when asked to comment on the series of events that took place in Kuala Lumpur of late. He noted that the present Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Abdullah Badawi’s leadership has been fair to all the communities in this country, with special focus given to the youths. Liew is thus of the opinion that the issue of “racial marginalisation” does not exist in this country but merely an issue exploited by the opposition to undermine the present Government, especially when the election is just around the corner. He thus called on the people of Sabah, the youths especially, not to be easily influenced and misled by such a gimmick, instead to actively take part in the various development programs provided by the Government.
KOTA KINABALU:
It was unfair for a certain community in the country to accuse the Government of marginalizing them, when in the first place they were the ones who failed to embrace and participate in the development programs catered by the Government. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah pointed this out yesterday when asked to comment on the series of events that took place in Kuala Lumpur of late. He noted that the present Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Abdullah Badawi’s leadership has been fair to all the communities in this country, with special focus given to the youths. Liew is thus of the opinion that the issue of “racial marginalisation” does not exist in this country but merely an issue exploited by the opposition to undermine the present Government, especially when the election is just around the corner. He thus called on the people of Sabah, the youths especially, not to be easily influenced and misled by such a gimmick, instead to actively take part in the various development programs provided by the Government.
THURSDAY-13TH DECEMBER 2007-RM275,000 AWARD FOR 11 EX-STUDENTS OF LABUAN COLLEGE
RM275,000 AWARD FOR 11 EX-STUDENTS OF LABUAN COLLEGE
KOTA KINABALU:
The Consumer Claims Tribunal here yesterday awarded RM2 75,000 in compensation to 11 former students of Labuan International College (KAL), formerly known as Institut Teknologi Sara (ITS), which offered a course to them that is not recognized by National Accreditation Board (LAN). The President of the Tribunal, Datuk Lawrence S H Thien ordered the college to compensate each of the students RM25,000.
The claimants were Mohd Saiful Bahari, Emmanuel Kian Seng Henry, Zarina Zainal, Nur Farizah Raina Yahya, Abdul Halim Noor Sotimin, Maxly Robert, Nur Shazilinah Abdullah, Remawarnih Awg Tanjong, Clement Dindo Peruh, Rozaini Laksaman and Shariffah Nortasha. In July this year, Tribunal President Johari Hassan had ordered the college to pay the damages to the claimants but the order was put on hold in October after KAL director Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman asked to be given one month to settle the accreditation issue with the Public Services Department (PSD). Suhaili told the Tribunal that the course in question was offered under a joint programme between KAL and Universiti Putera Malaysia (UPM) and the University would study the matter. He said that as an established national public university, UPM should have been accredited by LAN and PSD, and he would discuss the matter with the relevant authorities. In their claims, the former students said KAL had failed to deliver this promise and should pay the compensation without further delay. On July 30, one of the students, Mohd Saiful said they were offered a diploma course by the college which was spread over a six-semester period. However, at the end of the fourth semester, he said they came to know that the college did not obtain the LAN accreditation for the course from PSD, thus the diploma issued by the college was not recognised by the Government. He said they had approached the principal who assured them that the college had received the LAN accreditation for the course, but the college’s website on the Internet stated that it did not receive the LAN accreditation. “We approached the principal again and he told us that the college has the LAN accreditation but that it would take a while for it to be posted on its website,” said Mohd Saiful, who took a Diploma in Science Computer course in the college. To a question from Johari, Mohd Saiful said they did not lodge a complaint with the Education Department nor the Higher Education Ministry, as they felt it would be a waste of time. The college did not send any officials during the Tribunal hearing yesterday, while some of the students were represented by their parents.
KOTA KINABALU:
The Consumer Claims Tribunal here yesterday awarded RM2 75,000 in compensation to 11 former students of Labuan International College (KAL), formerly known as Institut Teknologi Sara (ITS), which offered a course to them that is not recognized by National Accreditation Board (LAN). The President of the Tribunal, Datuk Lawrence S H Thien ordered the college to compensate each of the students RM25,000.
The claimants were Mohd Saiful Bahari, Emmanuel Kian Seng Henry, Zarina Zainal, Nur Farizah Raina Yahya, Abdul Halim Noor Sotimin, Maxly Robert, Nur Shazilinah Abdullah, Remawarnih Awg Tanjong, Clement Dindo Peruh, Rozaini Laksaman and Shariffah Nortasha. In July this year, Tribunal President Johari Hassan had ordered the college to pay the damages to the claimants but the order was put on hold in October after KAL director Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman asked to be given one month to settle the accreditation issue with the Public Services Department (PSD). Suhaili told the Tribunal that the course in question was offered under a joint programme between KAL and Universiti Putera Malaysia (UPM) and the University would study the matter. He said that as an established national public university, UPM should have been accredited by LAN and PSD, and he would discuss the matter with the relevant authorities. In their claims, the former students said KAL had failed to deliver this promise and should pay the compensation without further delay. On July 30, one of the students, Mohd Saiful said they were offered a diploma course by the college which was spread over a six-semester period. However, at the end of the fourth semester, he said they came to know that the college did not obtain the LAN accreditation for the course from PSD, thus the diploma issued by the college was not recognised by the Government. He said they had approached the principal who assured them that the college had received the LAN accreditation for the course, but the college’s website on the Internet stated that it did not receive the LAN accreditation. “We approached the principal again and he told us that the college has the LAN accreditation but that it would take a while for it to be posted on its website,” said Mohd Saiful, who took a Diploma in Science Computer course in the college. To a question from Johari, Mohd Saiful said they did not lodge a complaint with the Education Department nor the Higher Education Ministry, as they felt it would be a waste of time. The college did not send any officials during the Tribunal hearing yesterday, while some of the students were represented by their parents.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
WEDNESDAY-12TH DECEMBER 2007-SOLO ART EXHIBITION
Solo art exhibition
KOTA KINABALU:
The Sabah Art Gallery will hold a solo exhibition under the theme of “Tarot of the Fallen Ones” by Sabrina Majuakim from December 13 till January 13. Most of Sabrina’s art works were executed in surrealist style in oil colour depicting her own perception and thought of the humans who are committing sin. The opening ceremony will be officiated by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Karim bin Haji Bujang on Thursday.
KOTA KINABALU:
The Sabah Art Gallery will hold a solo exhibition under the theme of “Tarot of the Fallen Ones” by Sabrina Majuakim from December 13 till January 13. Most of Sabrina’s art works were executed in surrealist style in oil colour depicting her own perception and thought of the humans who are committing sin. The opening ceremony will be officiated by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Karim bin Haji Bujang on Thursday.
THURSDAY-13TH DECEMBER 2007-Change of name for Cooperative Devt Dept
Change of name for Cooperative Devt Dept
KENINGAU:
The Malaysia Cooperative Development Department (JPK) will be known as the Malaysia Cooperative Commission (SKM) beginning next year, State Cooperative Development Department director Umar Sarim Saidin said yesterday. “JPK will be abolished and become SKM starting January 1, 2008,” he said when officiating the RM47,000 Kampung Panoi and Marasak Cooperative Berhad new shop building at the village here. Umar Sarim said following the change of its name, SKM would become one of the Federal Government corporations. According to him, cooperatives are recognized by the Government as the third sector that generates the country’s economy. He said the recognition given by the Government showed the important role played by cooperatives in the nation’s economy development. Umar Sarim hoped cooperative members would grab the opportunity to implement activities which had been planned and could give better returns to the members. “There are various activities that could be taken part by cooperatives but those members who have been trusted to carry away the cooperative business and administration must be efficient in implementing them. “Various challenges will be faced by the cooperative movement in the present globalization era and its administration should be strengthened for the future challenges,” he said. Umar Sarim also urged cooperative members to upgrade their knowledge by participating in courses and seminars organized by JPK, Malaysia Cooperative College and ANGKASA. Present at the function were Keningau Regional Cooperative Development Department assistant director Jeffrey Chong, JPK officer Rosemary Gitang and Kampung Panoi Marasak Cooperative Berhad chairman Juinol Manggor.
KENINGAU:
The Malaysia Cooperative Development Department (JPK) will be known as the Malaysia Cooperative Commission (SKM) beginning next year, State Cooperative Development Department director Umar Sarim Saidin said yesterday. “JPK will be abolished and become SKM starting January 1, 2008,” he said when officiating the RM47,000 Kampung Panoi and Marasak Cooperative Berhad new shop building at the village here. Umar Sarim said following the change of its name, SKM would become one of the Federal Government corporations. According to him, cooperatives are recognized by the Government as the third sector that generates the country’s economy. He said the recognition given by the Government showed the important role played by cooperatives in the nation’s economy development. Umar Sarim hoped cooperative members would grab the opportunity to implement activities which had been planned and could give better returns to the members. “There are various activities that could be taken part by cooperatives but those members who have been trusted to carry away the cooperative business and administration must be efficient in implementing them. “Various challenges will be faced by the cooperative movement in the present globalization era and its administration should be strengthened for the future challenges,” he said. Umar Sarim also urged cooperative members to upgrade their knowledge by participating in courses and seminars organized by JPK, Malaysia Cooperative College and ANGKASA. Present at the function were Keningau Regional Cooperative Development Department assistant director Jeffrey Chong, JPK officer Rosemary Gitang and Kampung Panoi Marasak Cooperative Berhad chairman Juinol Manggor.
WEDNESDAY-12TH DECEMBER 2007-Move to turn run-down Natikar Building into hotel
Move to turn run-down Natikar Building into hotel
KOTA KINABALU:
The City Hall is all set to assist developers wishing to redevelop the Natikar Building, which has been an eyesore after being left abandoned since the early 1990s. To date, two developers have shown interest to develop the 11 -storey building near Padang Merdeka here and turn it into a hotel, said City Hall Building Engineer, Kalvin Liaw. In this respect, the City Hall is trying to trace some of the 24 private lot owners of the building to enable works to be done on it, he said, adding that the project can be done immediately after all the lot owners have been located and given their consent.
“It would be easier for us to develop the abandoned building. Turning it into a hotel would also be good considering there is a lack of hotel rooms to accommodate the growing number of tourists entering Sabah,” he said. The building is in bad shape and is believed to be occupied by both locals and immigrants, as well as drug addicts. “Those occupying the building have even built their own personal rooms illegally, and made illegal electricity and water connections,” he said. Kalvin said that to enable the building to be certified fit for use, all facilities such as sewerage, water piping, electricity supply and elevator must be fixed and upgraded.
KOTA KINABALU:
The City Hall is all set to assist developers wishing to redevelop the Natikar Building, which has been an eyesore after being left abandoned since the early 1990s. To date, two developers have shown interest to develop the 11 -storey building near Padang Merdeka here and turn it into a hotel, said City Hall Building Engineer, Kalvin Liaw. In this respect, the City Hall is trying to trace some of the 24 private lot owners of the building to enable works to be done on it, he said, adding that the project can be done immediately after all the lot owners have been located and given their consent.
“It would be easier for us to develop the abandoned building. Turning it into a hotel would also be good considering there is a lack of hotel rooms to accommodate the growing number of tourists entering Sabah,” he said. The building is in bad shape and is believed to be occupied by both locals and immigrants, as well as drug addicts. “Those occupying the building have even built their own personal rooms illegally, and made illegal electricity and water connections,” he said. Kalvin said that to enable the building to be certified fit for use, all facilities such as sewerage, water piping, electricity supply and elevator must be fixed and upgraded.
The City Hall is ready to assist the developers in their applications and would give approval to those wishing to develop the Natikar Building, but first, the 24 lot owners must be located. “To ensure that the building structure is still strong, a registered professional engineer is required to carry out a thorough investigation and certify whether it is fit or otherwise,” Liaw said. Meanwhile, City Hall architect Sally Edward Ghani, when met, said the Natikar Building has four housing units at each level, meaning there are 48 units altogether. Twenty-four of them are under the Insolvency Department, while 24 others belong to private owners. In 1999, City Hall, in collaboration with Health and Water departments, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and police, inspected the building in a move to overcome a host of perennial problems such as cleanliness. Another inspection was conducted in 2003, followed by the issuance of letters to the owners based on their income tax addresses but only 24 of them responded. On Oct 6, 2004, the Legal Department and City Hall Urban Development Department issued a notice to the occupants to vacate the building. The City Hall and the police, Water Department, Immigration and SESB discussed on Oct 13, 2004 a proposal to obtain a court order to seal the building. The court order was obtained on Feb 28, 2005, following which barbed wires and fences were built around the building to prevent intruders from entering it.
WEDNESDAY-12TH DECEMBER 2007-Six houses demolished in Inanam, Sri Tanjung
Six houses demolished in Inanam, Sri Tanjung
KOTA KINABALU:
City Hall demolished six illegally built houses in Kampung Bambangan, Inanam and Sri Tanjung here yesterday. Its enforcement chief, Abdul Mukti Muchlis, said the demolition exercises which started about 9.3Oam, were carried out simultaneously. At Kampung Bambangan, two of the illegally built structures were torn down in a two-hour operation which saw the participation of eight City Hall personnel, three policemen, two Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) staff and two City Hall Health and Services Department personnel In the operation at Sri Tanjung, three City Hall enforcement personnel and two policemen dismantled four houses, while one illegal structure was torn down by its own owner. Mukti said the exercise was part of their on-going operation to get rid of illegal structures in the City.
KOTA KINABALU:
City Hall demolished six illegally built houses in Kampung Bambangan, Inanam and Sri Tanjung here yesterday. Its enforcement chief, Abdul Mukti Muchlis, said the demolition exercises which started about 9.3Oam, were carried out simultaneously. At Kampung Bambangan, two of the illegally built structures were torn down in a two-hour operation which saw the participation of eight City Hall personnel, three policemen, two Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) staff and two City Hall Health and Services Department personnel In the operation at Sri Tanjung, three City Hall enforcement personnel and two policemen dismantled four houses, while one illegal structure was torn down by its own owner. Mukti said the exercise was part of their on-going operation to get rid of illegal structures in the City.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
TUESDAY-11TH DECEMBER 2007-MESRA RAKYAT AND CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMME
RELA MEMBERS ..... The RELA members personnel at the program
Mesra Rakyat and crime prevention programme
TAMBUNAN:
More than 350 people attended the Mesra Rakyat and crime prevention programme organized by Tambunan police at the community centre here recently. The participants were village headmen, Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairmen, RELA personnel, Government department staff and youths. During the function, a drugs exhibition and multi-media show were held. District Police Chief DSP Zahari Mohammad officiated the function and chaired a dialogue session with the participants. Various issues were raised by the participants such as crime cases drugs, rape, illegal immigrants and road accidents among others. Also present at thç function were District Chief OKK Augustine Kandawai, District Police Management Department head ASP Rahim Abdul Rahman, Logistics Department head Inspector Inspector Sharul Haji Harun, Narcotics Department head Chief Department Inspector Edrian, Special Branch head Chief Awang Damit Suanda and Tambunan OCS Sergeant Major Kasmin Saiman.
TUESDAY-11TH DECEMBER 2007-26 YOUTHS ATTEND INTEGRATION PROGRAMME
26 YOUTHS ATTEND INTEGRATION PROGRAMME
KENINGAU:
Twenty-six youths nationwide participated in three- day national integration program held at kampung Kota Ayangan here recently. Eleven of them were from Peninsular Malaysia, seven from Sarawak, six from Sabah and two from Labuan. The State-level program jointly organized by the Federal Youth and Sports Ministry was officiated by Liawan Assemblyman Datuk Haji Sairin Haji Karno. During the programme, all the participants stayed with their adopted parents in the kampung. The objective of the program is to expose youths in Malaysia to the socio-culture, political and economy development nationwide. It is also to increase the understanding and unity spirit among the Malaysian youths from various ethnics, cultures and religions. The program is also aimed at increasing the patriotic spirit and strong self-confidence value and to get closer with the community through interaction and community service programmes. The participants also carried out community service activities like gotong royong, Sukaneka games and showing their talent in the cultural shows. District Officer Haji Zulkifli Nasir, District Federal Youth and Sports Department officer Haji Idris Mohd Taufeck, Government officers and local community leaders attended the programme which was closed by Bingkor Assemblyman Justin Guka.
KENINGAU:
Twenty-six youths nationwide participated in three- day national integration program held at kampung Kota Ayangan here recently. Eleven of them were from Peninsular Malaysia, seven from Sarawak, six from Sabah and two from Labuan. The State-level program jointly organized by the Federal Youth and Sports Ministry was officiated by Liawan Assemblyman Datuk Haji Sairin Haji Karno. During the programme, all the participants stayed with their adopted parents in the kampung. The objective of the program is to expose youths in Malaysia to the socio-culture, political and economy development nationwide. It is also to increase the understanding and unity spirit among the Malaysian youths from various ethnics, cultures and religions. The program is also aimed at increasing the patriotic spirit and strong self-confidence value and to get closer with the community through interaction and community service programmes. The participants also carried out community service activities like gotong royong, Sukaneka games and showing their talent in the cultural shows. District Officer Haji Zulkifli Nasir, District Federal Youth and Sports Department officer Haji Idris Mohd Taufeck, Government officers and local community leaders attended the programme which was closed by Bingkor Assemblyman Justin Guka.
TUESDAY-11TH DECEMBER 2007-WOMAN DIES, HUSBAND INJURED IN ROAD CRASH
Woman dies, husband injured in road crash
KINABATANGAN:
A woman was killed while her husband was in critical condition when their car crashed into the rear of a stationary lorry at Km 74 Sandakan-Lahad Datu Road on Sunday night. Front seat passenger Lai Tit Lin, 38, died of serious injuries at the scene. Police and members of the public removed her body and her injured husband identified as Chin Tee Ting, also aged 38, from the wreckage of the vehicle. Their five-year-old daughter, Chin Wan Wai, who was seated in the rear of the car, was unhurt. They were travelling from the direction of Sandakan and heading towards Lahad Datu when the tragedy occurred about 7.4Opm. The lorry was said to have stalled and left on the road. The woman’s body was sent to the district hospital while her husband was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Duchess of Kent Hospital here. OCPD DSP Jaini Abdul Kadir confirmed the incident when contacted.
KINABATANGAN:
A woman was killed while her husband was in critical condition when their car crashed into the rear of a stationary lorry at Km 74 Sandakan-Lahad Datu Road on Sunday night. Front seat passenger Lai Tit Lin, 38, died of serious injuries at the scene. Police and members of the public removed her body and her injured husband identified as Chin Tee Ting, also aged 38, from the wreckage of the vehicle. Their five-year-old daughter, Chin Wan Wai, who was seated in the rear of the car, was unhurt. They were travelling from the direction of Sandakan and heading towards Lahad Datu when the tragedy occurred about 7.4Opm. The lorry was said to have stalled and left on the road. The woman’s body was sent to the district hospital while her husband was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Duchess of Kent Hospital here. OCPD DSP Jaini Abdul Kadir confirmed the incident when contacted.
TUESDAY-11TH DECEMBER 2007-CHAN TO PROPOSE S'PORE AIRLINE FLY TO LABUAN
Chan to propose S’pore airline fly to Labuan
LABUAN:
Any airline is welcome to operate here and a proposal would be made for a low-cost carrier from Singapore to make Labuan a destination. Transport Minister Datuk Sri Chan Kong Choy disclosed this when asked to comment on the open sky policy that has been proposed for the island, after he was briefed on the progress of the RM365 million upgrading project of the Labuan Airport, upon his arrival here on Sunday evening. The proposal for the open sky policy and the redevelopment of the terminal building and runway, first announced by Prime Minister Datuk Sri Abdullah Badawi in September 2004, is aimed at enabling direct international flights and bigger wide- bodied planes to land, a move to enhance the status of Labuan as an International Offshore Financial Centre, an oil and gas hub as well as to boost its tourism potential. “I want to make it very clear that there would be no problems at all for any airlines wanting to operate here. The Ministry of Transport will facilitate,” he stressed. Chan added that in view of the bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore, he would suggest and make a proposal during the next round of aviation talks, for a low- cost carrier from Singapore to include Labuan as a destination. “So far no international airline has applied to operate in Labuan yet, but we will welcome them,” he said. Tan Sri Ting Pik Kiing, the advisor of Global Upline Sdn Bhd - the main contractor of the airport upgrading works, welcomed the minister who arrived in a private jet. Upon being briefed by the project director Dr Shafie Karimin of KLIA Premier Holdings Sdn Bhd that the terminal building and landside of the airport were completed way ahead of time and the airside would be completed and handed over to Malaysia Airport Berhad by March 2008, eight months ahead of schedule, he commented: “I am very happy with the progress of the work”. When asked if a new date has been fixed for the official opening, he answered in the negative. It was earlier announced that the Prime Minister would officiate the opening on October 26 this year and plans were made for him to witness the first landing of a MAS Airbus 330 here.
LABUAN:
Any airline is welcome to operate here and a proposal would be made for a low-cost carrier from Singapore to make Labuan a destination. Transport Minister Datuk Sri Chan Kong Choy disclosed this when asked to comment on the open sky policy that has been proposed for the island, after he was briefed on the progress of the RM365 million upgrading project of the Labuan Airport, upon his arrival here on Sunday evening. The proposal for the open sky policy and the redevelopment of the terminal building and runway, first announced by Prime Minister Datuk Sri Abdullah Badawi in September 2004, is aimed at enabling direct international flights and bigger wide- bodied planes to land, a move to enhance the status of Labuan as an International Offshore Financial Centre, an oil and gas hub as well as to boost its tourism potential. “I want to make it very clear that there would be no problems at all for any airlines wanting to operate here. The Ministry of Transport will facilitate,” he stressed. Chan added that in view of the bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore, he would suggest and make a proposal during the next round of aviation talks, for a low- cost carrier from Singapore to include Labuan as a destination. “So far no international airline has applied to operate in Labuan yet, but we will welcome them,” he said. Tan Sri Ting Pik Kiing, the advisor of Global Upline Sdn Bhd - the main contractor of the airport upgrading works, welcomed the minister who arrived in a private jet. Upon being briefed by the project director Dr Shafie Karimin of KLIA Premier Holdings Sdn Bhd that the terminal building and landside of the airport were completed way ahead of time and the airside would be completed and handed over to Malaysia Airport Berhad by March 2008, eight months ahead of schedule, he commented: “I am very happy with the progress of the work”. When asked if a new date has been fixed for the official opening, he answered in the negative. It was earlier announced that the Prime Minister would officiate the opening on October 26 this year and plans were made for him to witness the first landing of a MAS Airbus 330 here.
TUESDAY-11TH DECEMBER 2007-AIRPORT UPGRADE PROGRESSESS NICELY
AIRPORT UPGRADE PROGRESSESS NICELY
Existing operations to shift to new main building soon
KOTA KINABALU:
The operation at the existing Terminal One of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) will be shifted in stages to the new terminal main building starting next month to help ease congestions, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy. He said starting January 22, passengers will be boarding their planes from the nearly completed main terminal but all check- ins will still remain at the existing building until all works are fully completed in April. “Once the new international terminal block is ready, the current old terminal will be closed fully to allow for the upgrading,” said Chan. The new terminal building which will be connected with the old terminal block is part of the upgrading project on the KKIA which also involves a runway extension and construction of a new low cost terminal costing RM1.2 billion. Speaking to reporters after visiting KKIA yesterday, Chan said he was very happy with the progress of both Package One and Two of the upgrading project. He said progress on Package Two which includes the construction of air-side infrastructures is now at 65 percent, about eight percent ahead of plan and expected to be fully completed by April next year. However works on Package One, which includes the building of the main terminal building and landslide infrastructure and facilities, has experienced a slight delay, according to him. “Despite a slight delay in some part of the Package One, we are catching up and everything will be completed by May as planned,” he said. Works on Package One is currently 49.35 percent completed. It involves the extension of the runway from the current 2,988 metres to 3,780 metres to enable Boeing 747 aircraft to land; construction of parking aprons which can accommodate four Boeing 747s, one AB330, seven Boeing 737s, three F50s and three Dorniers. It also includes the upgrading of existing taxiway the northern side, stretched 1,474 metres while the south some 792 metres, and the construction of new Traffic Control tower and cargo terminal and transmail cargo centre and new Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) office. “There are still some issues (to be solved) including the relocation of equipment from the existing terminal to the new one but I’m confident that with the very close cooperation between all the parties such as Malaysia Airports Berhad, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and the two main contractors, it can be settled without problem. “So we can expect to have a very efficient and state-of-the-art airport by May 2009, and this is very important for the development of the State,” he said. Chan expressed his appreciation to the Sabah Government for its support and assistance for the upgrading project, particularly in successfully relocating Sri Tanjung squatters to pave the way for the expansion of the runway. He also thanked the public for their support in bearing with the inconvenience since the upgrading works started, adding, it is not easy to carry out a massive upgrading works on an operational airport.
“Unlike in other places, we are doing works on a live airport. Moreover, this is the second busiest airport in the country after KLIA,” he said. He said the existing terminal is designed to handle around three million passengers but has so far handled more than four million passengers this year. On the decison of Malaysia Airports to move operations of all airlines to the new terminal once completed in 2009, he said they would be looking at AirAsia’s request to remain at Terminal Two instead of moving to the international terminal complex. “They have written in. We have to hear them out before we make any decision,” he said, adding that the new complex when completed would be handling the needs of all airlines and would be convenient in terms of operations.
Existing operations to shift to new main building soon
KOTA KINABALU:
The operation at the existing Terminal One of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) will be shifted in stages to the new terminal main building starting next month to help ease congestions, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy. He said starting January 22, passengers will be boarding their planes from the nearly completed main terminal but all check- ins will still remain at the existing building until all works are fully completed in April. “Once the new international terminal block is ready, the current old terminal will be closed fully to allow for the upgrading,” said Chan. The new terminal building which will be connected with the old terminal block is part of the upgrading project on the KKIA which also involves a runway extension and construction of a new low cost terminal costing RM1.2 billion. Speaking to reporters after visiting KKIA yesterday, Chan said he was very happy with the progress of both Package One and Two of the upgrading project. He said progress on Package Two which includes the construction of air-side infrastructures is now at 65 percent, about eight percent ahead of plan and expected to be fully completed by April next year. However works on Package One, which includes the building of the main terminal building and landslide infrastructure and facilities, has experienced a slight delay, according to him. “Despite a slight delay in some part of the Package One, we are catching up and everything will be completed by May as planned,” he said. Works on Package One is currently 49.35 percent completed. It involves the extension of the runway from the current 2,988 metres to 3,780 metres to enable Boeing 747 aircraft to land; construction of parking aprons which can accommodate four Boeing 747s, one AB330, seven Boeing 737s, three F50s and three Dorniers. It also includes the upgrading of existing taxiway the northern side, stretched 1,474 metres while the south some 792 metres, and the construction of new Traffic Control tower and cargo terminal and transmail cargo centre and new Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) office. “There are still some issues (to be solved) including the relocation of equipment from the existing terminal to the new one but I’m confident that with the very close cooperation between all the parties such as Malaysia Airports Berhad, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and the two main contractors, it can be settled without problem. “So we can expect to have a very efficient and state-of-the-art airport by May 2009, and this is very important for the development of the State,” he said. Chan expressed his appreciation to the Sabah Government for its support and assistance for the upgrading project, particularly in successfully relocating Sri Tanjung squatters to pave the way for the expansion of the runway. He also thanked the public for their support in bearing with the inconvenience since the upgrading works started, adding, it is not easy to carry out a massive upgrading works on an operational airport.
“Unlike in other places, we are doing works on a live airport. Moreover, this is the second busiest airport in the country after KLIA,” he said. He said the existing terminal is designed to handle around three million passengers but has so far handled more than four million passengers this year. On the decison of Malaysia Airports to move operations of all airlines to the new terminal once completed in 2009, he said they would be looking at AirAsia’s request to remain at Terminal Two instead of moving to the international terminal complex. “They have written in. We have to hear them out before we make any decision,” he said, adding that the new complex when completed would be handling the needs of all airlines and would be convenient in terms of operations.
Monday, December 10, 2007
MONDAY-10TH DECEMBER 2007-CONTINUE TEACHING OF SCIENCE, MATHS IN ENGLISH, SAYS MAIJOL
Continue teaching of Science, Maths in English, says Maijol
KOTA MARUDU:
The Education Ministry has been urged to continue with the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English and give it a chance to succeed. UPKO vice president Senator Maijol Mahap made the call in his speech when officiating the presentation of certificates to 500 pre-school children. “The teaching of Science and Mathematics in English should be continued and be given the chance to succeed. This does not mean that we are sidelining the Bahasa Malaysia language in school. “Bahasa Malaysia has been and will always be the mainstream language to be used to teach all other subjects but since most English terminologies in Science and Mathematics are in English and they were adopted into the Bahasa Malaysia language, it would only be appropriate if we just use the English language to teach these two subjects. I believe many parents would be supporting this by starting to expose their children at the very young age to the use of the English language. “I also urge the Government to provide more educational facilities for pre-school children to start their early education in areas where such facilities are far from their villages. The Kota Marudu Districts has more than 80 villages and only 26 villages have pre-schools provided by KEMAS. If we take the 500 pre-school children who received their certificates as coming from 26 villages, I believe there could be even more children from the other remaining villages who are unable to get pre-school education,” he said. Maijol also urged all parents to send their children to a kindergarten nearest to them as much as possible.
KOTA MARUDU:
The Education Ministry has been urged to continue with the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English and give it a chance to succeed. UPKO vice president Senator Maijol Mahap made the call in his speech when officiating the presentation of certificates to 500 pre-school children. “The teaching of Science and Mathematics in English should be continued and be given the chance to succeed. This does not mean that we are sidelining the Bahasa Malaysia language in school. “Bahasa Malaysia has been and will always be the mainstream language to be used to teach all other subjects but since most English terminologies in Science and Mathematics are in English and they were adopted into the Bahasa Malaysia language, it would only be appropriate if we just use the English language to teach these two subjects. I believe many parents would be supporting this by starting to expose their children at the very young age to the use of the English language. “I also urge the Government to provide more educational facilities for pre-school children to start their early education in areas where such facilities are far from their villages. The Kota Marudu Districts has more than 80 villages and only 26 villages have pre-schools provided by KEMAS. If we take the 500 pre-school children who received their certificates as coming from 26 villages, I believe there could be even more children from the other remaining villages who are unable to get pre-school education,” he said. Maijol also urged all parents to send their children to a kindergarten nearest to them as much as possible.
MONDAY-10TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2007-107 PINTS OF BLOOD COLLECTED
107 pints of blood collected
KOTA KINABALU: One hundred and seven pints of blood were collected in a blood donation campaign jointly organized by the Kota Kinabalu Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Likas and City Hall at Lintasan Deasoka here yesterday. According to organizing chairman Benjamin Batindal, the blood donation campaign which was held from 7am to 1. l5pm, was the church’s annual activity to increase the supply of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s blood bank. “As the year before, our target is to collect 100 pints of blood. We are so happy as we managed to reach the target. I thank those who donated their blood to save the people’s lives,” Benjamin said. “I hope the people will continue to donate their blood when we organize a similar program next year,” he said, adding they managed to collect 103 pints of blood in last year’s campaign which was held at the same place. “Next year, we are planning to organize a similar activity, with the cooperation from the drug agency and City Hall. For this future program, there will be a talk about the danger of drugs,” he said.
KOTA KINABALU: One hundred and seven pints of blood were collected in a blood donation campaign jointly organized by the Kota Kinabalu Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Likas and City Hall at Lintasan Deasoka here yesterday. According to organizing chairman Benjamin Batindal, the blood donation campaign which was held from 7am to 1. l5pm, was the church’s annual activity to increase the supply of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s blood bank. “As the year before, our target is to collect 100 pints of blood. We are so happy as we managed to reach the target. I thank those who donated their blood to save the people’s lives,” Benjamin said. “I hope the people will continue to donate their blood when we organize a similar program next year,” he said, adding they managed to collect 103 pints of blood in last year’s campaign which was held at the same place. “Next year, we are planning to organize a similar activity, with the cooperation from the drug agency and City Hall. For this future program, there will be a talk about the danger of drugs,” he said.
MONDAY-10TH DECEMBE 2007-HAEMODIALYSIS ASSOCIATION HOLDS FOOD AND FUN FAIR
Haemodialysis association holds food and fun fair
KOTA KINABALU:
A food and fun fair was held in conjunction with the second anniversary of the Kinabalu Haemodialysis Association at The Cruise in Tanjung Aru here yesterday. The main objective of the event, which was officiated by Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim, was to raise funds to support the operation cost of the association. President of the association, Lim Hoek Chye, said the centre needed about RM10,000 a month to maintain its four dialysis machines and pay the workers’ salary. According to him, the centre sources its funds from the public and other parties. Presently there are four patients seeking dialysis treatment at the centre which charges RM13 to RM15 per session. Lim said the centre is hoping to increase the number of patient to eight with the availability of new machines. “To achieve the target, we need support from the public, especially the Government, private sector and also non-governmental organisations,” he said.
KOTA KINABALU:
A food and fun fair was held in conjunction with the second anniversary of the Kinabalu Haemodialysis Association at The Cruise in Tanjung Aru here yesterday. The main objective of the event, which was officiated by Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim, was to raise funds to support the operation cost of the association. President of the association, Lim Hoek Chye, said the centre needed about RM10,000 a month to maintain its four dialysis machines and pay the workers’ salary. According to him, the centre sources its funds from the public and other parties. Presently there are four patients seeking dialysis treatment at the centre which charges RM13 to RM15 per session. Lim said the centre is hoping to increase the number of patient to eight with the availability of new machines. “To achieve the target, we need support from the public, especially the Government, private sector and also non-governmental organisations,” he said.
MONDAY-10TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2007-MAN SURVIVES FALL FROM BUILDING
Man survives fall from building
KOTA KINABALU:
Another local man is believed to have jumped down from a building in Damai on Saturday evening, jut three days after a businessman leapt to his death in the area. Hamzah Ismail, 27, suffered serious injuries and was put under observation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The victim, believed to be a RELA member, was said to have jumped from the third floor of a building in an attempted suicide around l1.l5pm. His condition has become stable. Police are still waiting for him to regain consciousness to record a statement from him. A security guard on duty, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, said the man was unconscious and barely breathing after he landed on the road.
On Wednesday, a 61-year-old businessman, believed to be suffering from depression, died on the spot after jumping from the fifth floor of a building there. The businessman from Taman Friendly was said to have become depressed after learning his wife had cancer. He decided not to wait for her wife to die before him and took his own life.
KOTA KINABALU:
Another local man is believed to have jumped down from a building in Damai on Saturday evening, jut three days after a businessman leapt to his death in the area. Hamzah Ismail, 27, suffered serious injuries and was put under observation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The victim, believed to be a RELA member, was said to have jumped from the third floor of a building in an attempted suicide around l1.l5pm. His condition has become stable. Police are still waiting for him to regain consciousness to record a statement from him. A security guard on duty, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, said the man was unconscious and barely breathing after he landed on the road.
On Wednesday, a 61-year-old businessman, believed to be suffering from depression, died on the spot after jumping from the fifth floor of a building there. The businessman from Taman Friendly was said to have become depressed after learning his wife had cancer. He decided not to wait for her wife to die before him and took his own life.
MONDAY-10TH DECEMBER 2007-YEE URGES GRADUATES TO CONTINUE TO LEARN
Yee urges graduates to continue to learn
KOTA KINABALU:
Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai has urged graduates to continue their learning and grab every opportunity to improve and equip themselves with the necessary skills. He said learning did not end after they have fmished their courses. “I would like to say here that you must continue your learning and not to be satisfied with what you have achieved today. It is very important to enhance your skills so that you can make a positive contribution to the society, the State and the country,” Yee said in his keynote address during the Sabah Skills and Technology Centre (SSTC)’s certificate presentation ceremony at ShangriLa’s Tanjung Aru Resort here yesterday. A total of 289 trainees received their certificates for completing their programs in Industrial Skills Enhancement Program (INSEP) and Workforce Technical Transformation Program (WTTP). The INSEP is for graduates while the WTTP is for SPM leavers. Yee added the State and Federal Governments had spent a lot of money to develop human capital as one of the key emphasis in the Ninth Malaysia Plan is the development of the country’s human capital.
Thus he hoped that the graduates could grab the opportunity to enhance their skills and could go to a higher level.
“We have also set up a job centre and I believe that there is some relevancy for your career,” said Yee who congratulated the SSTC Management Council and management team for making every effort to ensure these young people receive relevant skills training.
SSTC is a non-profit organisation set up jointly by the industry and Government to focus on the training of Sabah’s workforce. The centre is presently offering various courses such as technical, manufacturing, and management skills and continuing education. For 2006, the Federal Government had increased its commitment to skills training by fully sponsoring training for both graduates and schoolleavers.
KOTA KINABALU:
Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai has urged graduates to continue their learning and grab every opportunity to improve and equip themselves with the necessary skills. He said learning did not end after they have fmished their courses. “I would like to say here that you must continue your learning and not to be satisfied with what you have achieved today. It is very important to enhance your skills so that you can make a positive contribution to the society, the State and the country,” Yee said in his keynote address during the Sabah Skills and Technology Centre (SSTC)’s certificate presentation ceremony at ShangriLa’s Tanjung Aru Resort here yesterday. A total of 289 trainees received their certificates for completing their programs in Industrial Skills Enhancement Program (INSEP) and Workforce Technical Transformation Program (WTTP). The INSEP is for graduates while the WTTP is for SPM leavers. Yee added the State and Federal Governments had spent a lot of money to develop human capital as one of the key emphasis in the Ninth Malaysia Plan is the development of the country’s human capital.
Thus he hoped that the graduates could grab the opportunity to enhance their skills and could go to a higher level.
“We have also set up a job centre and I believe that there is some relevancy for your career,” said Yee who congratulated the SSTC Management Council and management team for making every effort to ensure these young people receive relevant skills training.
SSTC is a non-profit organisation set up jointly by the industry and Government to focus on the training of Sabah’s workforce. The centre is presently offering various courses such as technical, manufacturing, and management skills and continuing education. For 2006, the Federal Government had increased its commitment to skills training by fully sponsoring training for both graduates and schoolleavers.
MONDAY-10TH DECEMBER 2007-RIVER POLLUTED BY WASTE FROM DETENTION CENTRE
River polluted by waste from detention centre:
MENGGATAL
More than 1,000 residents of five villages here have stopped using the water from a river in their area as they claimed it has been polluted by waste from the temporary detention centre here. According to Inanam people development leader Ayem Sambuling, the residents are worried of getting skin diseases and falling ill if they use the water.The affected residents informed him that there is no septic tank system at the centre and this causes all the waste to discharge directly to the river. “All the villagers who depend on the river water are feeling unhappy over the situation. They call for immediate action from the authority to make the river useful again,” he said. He also disclosed that the villagers had complained about the matter two years ago but no action had been taken. “We hope the authority can help the residents in the area who are worried of getting skin diseases if they continue to use the river water,” Ayem added.
More than 1,000 residents of five villages here have stopped using the water from a river in their area as they claimed it has been polluted by waste from the temporary detention centre here. According to Inanam people development leader Ayem Sambuling, the residents are worried of getting skin diseases and falling ill if they use the water.The affected residents informed him that there is no septic tank system at the centre and this causes all the waste to discharge directly to the river. “All the villagers who depend on the river water are feeling unhappy over the situation. They call for immediate action from the authority to make the river useful again,” he said. He also disclosed that the villagers had complained about the matter two years ago but no action had been taken. “We hope the authority can help the residents in the area who are worried of getting skin diseases if they continue to use the river water,” Ayem added.
MONDAY-10TH DECEMBER 2007-I DID NOT SEE BLEEDING WOUNDS:AMINAH
I did not see bleeding wounds: Aminah
KOTA KINABALU:
Datin Aminah Ambrose, the mother of the late Datu Azlan Datu Amir Kahar, yesterday clarified that she did not see bleeding wounds on his son’s body and head before he was taken to the mortuary of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). “When I arrived at the QEH Critical Zone, opened the door and pulled the curtains, I did not see any blood as the wounds had coagulated. “It was only at the QEH mortuary that I saw fresh blood at the back of my son’s head,” said Datin Aminah who was correcting the reports in the Borneo Post on December 5 and 6 which stated that she had seen bleeding wounds on his son’s body and his head before he was taken to the mortuary of the QEH.
KOTA KINABALU:
Datin Aminah Ambrose, the mother of the late Datu Azlan Datu Amir Kahar, yesterday clarified that she did not see bleeding wounds on his son’s body and head before he was taken to the mortuary of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). “When I arrived at the QEH Critical Zone, opened the door and pulled the curtains, I did not see any blood as the wounds had coagulated. “It was only at the QEH mortuary that I saw fresh blood at the back of my son’s head,” said Datin Aminah who was correcting the reports in the Borneo Post on December 5 and 6 which stated that she had seen bleeding wounds on his son’s body and his head before he was taken to the mortuary of the QEH.
MONDAY-10TH DECEMBER 2007-TWO GIRLS DROWN IN SANDAKAN
Two girls drown In Sandakan
SANDAKAN: Two girls drowned in separate incidents near Jalan Labuk over the past two days. Nursinah Madu, a 17-year-old Form Five student who recently sat for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, drowned when she was swept away after falling into a drain while crossing a wooden bridge near her house in Kampung Pertanian, Mile 25 Jalan Labuk, about 7am yesterday. Some parts of the area were flooded due to the downpour on Saturday night. Villagers and her family recovered her body not far from where she fell 30 minutes later. Her remains were brought to the Duchess of Kent Hospital. Family members later claimed the body for burial. Gum Gum Assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Haji Edris accompanied by his aides, was at the mortuary to convey his condolence to the family. In another case, six-year-old Saturia Samsuri drowned while bathing in a pond at a quarry in Mile 16 Jalan Labuk late Saturday afternoon. Her body was recovered and sent to the hospital by her family. The police were informed of the incident by the hospital around 9pm.
SANDAKAN: Two girls drowned in separate incidents near Jalan Labuk over the past two days. Nursinah Madu, a 17-year-old Form Five student who recently sat for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, drowned when she was swept away after falling into a drain while crossing a wooden bridge near her house in Kampung Pertanian, Mile 25 Jalan Labuk, about 7am yesterday. Some parts of the area were flooded due to the downpour on Saturday night. Villagers and her family recovered her body not far from where she fell 30 minutes later. Her remains were brought to the Duchess of Kent Hospital. Family members later claimed the body for burial. Gum Gum Assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Haji Edris accompanied by his aides, was at the mortuary to convey his condolence to the family. In another case, six-year-old Saturia Samsuri drowned while bathing in a pond at a quarry in Mile 16 Jalan Labuk late Saturday afternoon. Her body was recovered and sent to the hospital by her family. The police were informed of the incident by the hospital around 9pm.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
SUNDAY-9TH DECEMBER 2007-INANAM, MENGGATAL AMONG ACCIDENT-PRONE AREAS
Inanam, Menggatal among accident-prone areas
KOTA KINABALU:
Inanam and Menggatal are among the areas listed as accident-prone areas here with over half of the fatal mishaps happening in these two places. As of November, of the 36 deaths in the City, 22 people were killed in accidents in Inanam and Menggatal. Acting City Traffic and Public Order Chief, ASP Mohd Nordin Mohd Noor, in disclosing this yesterday, said 11 of those fatal accidents involved pedestrians. “This is unique in Sabah; normally in other states pedestrians are the lowest in the list of victims in mishaps but over here, they made up the bulk of it,” he said in response to a question on the frequent mishaps in Menggatal and nearby areas by a resident during a crime prevention dialogue at the Menggatal community hall, Saturday. A resident had voiced out his concern over the big number of mishaps taking place in the areas, asking whether it was due to the lack of enforcement or the bad road conditions. Mohd Nordin explained that over 80 per cent of the time, motorists were to be blamed for the mishaps. “Most of the mishaps occurred because of the attitude of motorists. There were many instances when they were found driving under the influence of alcohol.” He stressed that the road conditions or enforcement aspect should not be blamed for the situation. “The enforcement cannot look after the safety of every motorist all the time. There were many occasions where we found drivers only putting on their seatbelts when they spotted the police or during roadblocks. This shows that they are more worried about getting booked rather than looking after their safety,” he said. As a solution to this, Mohd Nordin said they are creating an awareness among the young people on the importance of road safety. “Frankly, it is hard to tell older motorists to change their attitude but it is not too late to instil a sense of responsibility in the young …we hope they will learn and abide by traffic regulations at all times,” he said. On another issue, Mohd Nordin said the police are trying their best to ensure that the people’s needs are met. He was responding to a comment by a Telipok resident who felt the City Police had failed to do a follow-up on a report he lodged in August. The complainant said the thieves not only carted his belongings away but also parts of the house like the zinc roofs and planks. “Since the day I made the report, I have not been informed if it has been solved ... it is preferably we are informed on the progress of the investigation,” he added.
Acting City Police Chief, Superintendent Rowell Marong, who led the dialogue, later responded that he does not deny the police have its weaknesses. “But sometimes my personnel could fail to understand the gravity of the crime and subsequently the matter did not reach the higher ups,” he said, adding that he understands the public’s frustrations but the police are trying their best even with very limited manpower. He also urged the public to understand the problems they face and be patient. Also present at the dialogue were CID Senior Investigating Officer II, ASP Mohd Nazri Abd Razak , City Marine Police Commanding Officer, ASP Fauzi Ibrahim, City Anti-Narcotics chief, ASP Abd Halim Ahmad and Commercial Crime Department investigating officer Chief Inspector Abang Faizal.
KOTA KINABALU:
Inanam and Menggatal are among the areas listed as accident-prone areas here with over half of the fatal mishaps happening in these two places. As of November, of the 36 deaths in the City, 22 people were killed in accidents in Inanam and Menggatal. Acting City Traffic and Public Order Chief, ASP Mohd Nordin Mohd Noor, in disclosing this yesterday, said 11 of those fatal accidents involved pedestrians. “This is unique in Sabah; normally in other states pedestrians are the lowest in the list of victims in mishaps but over here, they made up the bulk of it,” he said in response to a question on the frequent mishaps in Menggatal and nearby areas by a resident during a crime prevention dialogue at the Menggatal community hall, Saturday. A resident had voiced out his concern over the big number of mishaps taking place in the areas, asking whether it was due to the lack of enforcement or the bad road conditions. Mohd Nordin explained that over 80 per cent of the time, motorists were to be blamed for the mishaps. “Most of the mishaps occurred because of the attitude of motorists. There were many instances when they were found driving under the influence of alcohol.” He stressed that the road conditions or enforcement aspect should not be blamed for the situation. “The enforcement cannot look after the safety of every motorist all the time. There were many occasions where we found drivers only putting on their seatbelts when they spotted the police or during roadblocks. This shows that they are more worried about getting booked rather than looking after their safety,” he said. As a solution to this, Mohd Nordin said they are creating an awareness among the young people on the importance of road safety. “Frankly, it is hard to tell older motorists to change their attitude but it is not too late to instil a sense of responsibility in the young …we hope they will learn and abide by traffic regulations at all times,” he said. On another issue, Mohd Nordin said the police are trying their best to ensure that the people’s needs are met. He was responding to a comment by a Telipok resident who felt the City Police had failed to do a follow-up on a report he lodged in August. The complainant said the thieves not only carted his belongings away but also parts of the house like the zinc roofs and planks. “Since the day I made the report, I have not been informed if it has been solved ... it is preferably we are informed on the progress of the investigation,” he added.
Acting City Police Chief, Superintendent Rowell Marong, who led the dialogue, later responded that he does not deny the police have its weaknesses. “But sometimes my personnel could fail to understand the gravity of the crime and subsequently the matter did not reach the higher ups,” he said, adding that he understands the public’s frustrations but the police are trying their best even with very limited manpower. He also urged the public to understand the problems they face and be patient. Also present at the dialogue were CID Senior Investigating Officer II, ASP Mohd Nazri Abd Razak , City Marine Police Commanding Officer, ASP Fauzi Ibrahim, City Anti-Narcotics chief, ASP Abd Halim Ahmad and Commercial Crime Department investigating officer Chief Inspector Abang Faizal.
SUNDAY-9TH DECEMBER 2007-AZLAN'S CASE PROBE COMPLETED, HANDED OVER TO DPP OFFICE
Azlan’s case probe completed, handed over to DPP office: CP
KOTA KINABALU:
The Deputy Public Prosecutor is expected to decide on the next move on the baffling death of 24-year-old Azlan Amir Kahar last week. Police have turned in all the investigation notes concerning the high profile case to the DPP’s office, according to Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim. “All concerns and doubts raised by the family were noted by us and we have explained it to the family,” he said yesterday. “We have completed our investigations and the matter is now in the hands of the DPP. The next course of action is up to them.” Rashid said this when responding to the “unhappiness” of Azlan’s mother Datin Aminah Ambrose who questioned the police investigations that allegedly failed to look at the various injuries found on Azlan’s body. Aminah is the wife of Banggi assemblyman Datuk Amir Kahar Tun Mustapha, who is the son of Sabah former Chief Minister, the late Tun Datu Mustapha Harun. The shocking death of Azlan sent shockwaves through the local community, more so when the tragedy was said to have taken place in the home of his fiancee, a fellow student and part- time model. The 21-year-old fiancee was remanded for five days by police after she lodged a police report and was later released on police bail. Police have said that Azlan died of heart failure following a post-mortem, but his family is disputing the finding, as they claimed that the victim’s body bore bruise marks all over and there were gashes in the back of his head. Rashid said that based on the postmortem report, the injuries sustained were not the cause of death though the victim was assaulted. “It will be up to the DPP to decide whether to hold an inquest or charge her for assault. I think things would become clearer then,” he said, adding that police classification of the case remains under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
KOTA KINABALU:
The Deputy Public Prosecutor is expected to decide on the next move on the baffling death of 24-year-old Azlan Amir Kahar last week. Police have turned in all the investigation notes concerning the high profile case to the DPP’s office, according to Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim. “All concerns and doubts raised by the family were noted by us and we have explained it to the family,” he said yesterday. “We have completed our investigations and the matter is now in the hands of the DPP. The next course of action is up to them.” Rashid said this when responding to the “unhappiness” of Azlan’s mother Datin Aminah Ambrose who questioned the police investigations that allegedly failed to look at the various injuries found on Azlan’s body. Aminah is the wife of Banggi assemblyman Datuk Amir Kahar Tun Mustapha, who is the son of Sabah former Chief Minister, the late Tun Datu Mustapha Harun. The shocking death of Azlan sent shockwaves through the local community, more so when the tragedy was said to have taken place in the home of his fiancee, a fellow student and part- time model. The 21-year-old fiancee was remanded for five days by police after she lodged a police report and was later released on police bail. Police have said that Azlan died of heart failure following a post-mortem, but his family is disputing the finding, as they claimed that the victim’s body bore bruise marks all over and there were gashes in the back of his head. Rashid said that based on the postmortem report, the injuries sustained were not the cause of death though the victim was assaulted. “It will be up to the DPP to decide whether to hold an inquest or charge her for assault. I think things would become clearer then,” he said, adding that police classification of the case remains under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
SUNDAY-9TH DECEMBER 2007-TERRIBLE BRUISES ON AZLAN'S BODY-MUM
Terrible bruises on Azlan’s body: Mum
PENAMPANG:
Datin Aminah Ambrose, the mother of Datu Azlan, said she received a call on December 1 from the mother of Azlan’s fiancee that her son was suffering from a stroke and he was in pain but still alive and in the hospital. However, when Aminah arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), she saw Azlan’s body was covered with a cloth and the hospital staff informed her that her son was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital at 7. l5am. “Why give me hope to see my son alive when actually he had died? Why did the mother of my son’s fiancee call me at 7.38am, saying that ‘Azlan is sick, please come to the hospital quickly, his face is pale’?” Aminah asked. “I want to know the truth as to what really happened to my son and why she (fiancee’s mother) lied to me,” the grieving mother said in an interview at her residence, yesterday. According to Aminah, she was aware of the time when the mother of her son’s fiancee called her, as it was recorded in her hand phone. “At the mortuary, seeing that my son had left us and nothing could be done, I kissed his forehead and touched his palm but they felt so cold like ice, not even a slight warmth on his skin. Any normal body of a person who has just passed away would not have felt so cold. It looked like my son had passed away for quite some time,” she said. “When Sheena’s mother (mother of Azlan’s fiancee) had left us, I felt concerned about my son’s condition... I opened the white cloth slowly that covered him and noticed scratches on some part of his face as if caused by nails. “I was shocked and continued opening the white cloth and was so surprised to see wounds on the head, at the back, and terrible bruises all over his body and his arms... my God, his arms had bruises that left some kind of holes on the skin and dry blood. To me, it looked like something painful had gone into his arms. “When I checked his legs, I noticed something which was so saddening,
as if something had been done to his two legs... it was so shocking! How could he had all those bruises, dried blood and marks if he only had a stroke only, tell me how?” Asked if she saw the sign of blood on arrival at the mortuary, Aminah said, “At first, I did not see any sign of blood because his body was covered with the cloth, and his shirt was so clean, not a drop of blood. But after uncovering the cloth slowly, after a while, I saw stains of blood coming from the back of his head, prompting me to call the doctor saying, ‘doctor, my son was battered!’ Asked if anyone else noticed the bloodstains, she said three other persons also saw them. Aminah said she had immediately asked her niece to take photographs of what they noticed on Azlan’s body, and the photographs were shown to the Borneo Post. “I have been informed by the authorities that the case is still under investigation... I am hoping for justice, please,” she said. Datuk Amir Kahar Aminah’s husband said: “Even someone who are much older, for example, over
60 would still have a chance to stay conscious after a stroke. My son was healthy and never had stroke, and he was just 24. “When Azlan was still with us and when Sheena visited us, I noticed Azlan was quite gentle towards her, opening the door for her and taking the chair for her. He treated her nicely. He was a gentleman,” said the father. According to Aminah, Azlan left the house around 1pm on the day he was reported dead. “Before he left, as usual we were in the computer room talking happily. He always prepared all kinds of nutritious shakes for the family, especially vanilla and chocolate shakes, and on that day he excitedly prepared some and served us. He was a very loving brother and a gentle son,” the mother said “I remembered that last day while he was making the shake, his fiancee kept calling him.., then he left, that was the last time I saw him alive,” she said, while showing Azlan’s neat room with a book, some cupboards and a TV beside his bed.
PENAMPANG:
Datin Aminah Ambrose, the mother of Datu Azlan, said she received a call on December 1 from the mother of Azlan’s fiancee that her son was suffering from a stroke and he was in pain but still alive and in the hospital. However, when Aminah arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), she saw Azlan’s body was covered with a cloth and the hospital staff informed her that her son was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital at 7. l5am. “Why give me hope to see my son alive when actually he had died? Why did the mother of my son’s fiancee call me at 7.38am, saying that ‘Azlan is sick, please come to the hospital quickly, his face is pale’?” Aminah asked. “I want to know the truth as to what really happened to my son and why she (fiancee’s mother) lied to me,” the grieving mother said in an interview at her residence, yesterday. According to Aminah, she was aware of the time when the mother of her son’s fiancee called her, as it was recorded in her hand phone. “At the mortuary, seeing that my son had left us and nothing could be done, I kissed his forehead and touched his palm but they felt so cold like ice, not even a slight warmth on his skin. Any normal body of a person who has just passed away would not have felt so cold. It looked like my son had passed away for quite some time,” she said. “When Sheena’s mother (mother of Azlan’s fiancee) had left us, I felt concerned about my son’s condition... I opened the white cloth slowly that covered him and noticed scratches on some part of his face as if caused by nails. “I was shocked and continued opening the white cloth and was so surprised to see wounds on the head, at the back, and terrible bruises all over his body and his arms... my God, his arms had bruises that left some kind of holes on the skin and dry blood. To me, it looked like something painful had gone into his arms. “When I checked his legs, I noticed something which was so saddening,
as if something had been done to his two legs... it was so shocking! How could he had all those bruises, dried blood and marks if he only had a stroke only, tell me how?” Asked if she saw the sign of blood on arrival at the mortuary, Aminah said, “At first, I did not see any sign of blood because his body was covered with the cloth, and his shirt was so clean, not a drop of blood. But after uncovering the cloth slowly, after a while, I saw stains of blood coming from the back of his head, prompting me to call the doctor saying, ‘doctor, my son was battered!’ Asked if anyone else noticed the bloodstains, she said three other persons also saw them. Aminah said she had immediately asked her niece to take photographs of what they noticed on Azlan’s body, and the photographs were shown to the Borneo Post. “I have been informed by the authorities that the case is still under investigation... I am hoping for justice, please,” she said. Datuk Amir Kahar Aminah’s husband said: “Even someone who are much older, for example, over
60 would still have a chance to stay conscious after a stroke. My son was healthy and never had stroke, and he was just 24. “When Azlan was still with us and when Sheena visited us, I noticed Azlan was quite gentle towards her, opening the door for her and taking the chair for her. He treated her nicely. He was a gentleman,” said the father. According to Aminah, Azlan left the house around 1pm on the day he was reported dead. “Before he left, as usual we were in the computer room talking happily. He always prepared all kinds of nutritious shakes for the family, especially vanilla and chocolate shakes, and on that day he excitedly prepared some and served us. He was a very loving brother and a gentle son,” the mother said “I remembered that last day while he was making the shake, his fiancee kept calling him.., then he left, that was the last time I saw him alive,” she said, while showing Azlan’s neat room with a book, some cupboards and a TV beside his bed.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
SATURDAY-8TH DECEMBER 2007-EARTHQUAKE JOLTS JAPAN ISLAND
Earthquake jolts Japan island
TOKYO:
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6 jolted a tiny island about 500 km south of Tokyo on Friday, a Japanese government agency said. The quake, at 9:48 a.m. (0048 GMT), was felt in the capital and areas further north.
The epicentre of the tremor was near the island of Torishima and its depth about 50 km, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on its Web site (http://www.jma.go.jp). There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage and no tsunami warning was issued.
TOKYO:
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6 jolted a tiny island about 500 km south of Tokyo on Friday, a Japanese government agency said. The quake, at 9:48 a.m. (0048 GMT), was felt in the capital and areas further north.
The epicentre of the tremor was near the island of Torishima and its depth about 50 km, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on its Web site (http://www.jma.go.jp). There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage and no tsunami warning was issued.
SATURDAY-8TH DECEMBER 2007-DEAD MAN'S WIFE FACES ARREST WHEN SHE RETURNS TO BRITAIN FROM PERU
‘Dead’ man’s wife faces arrest when she returns to Britain from Peru
LONDON:
A woman who admitted knowing her husband was alive despite his apparent death five years ago faces arrest when she returns to Britain, police said amid reports she was heading home Friday. Anne Darwin is likely to be arrested “at some point” after she arrives from Panama, a police spokesman said, as her husband John remained in custody after being detained on suspicion of fraud Panamian officials said late Thursday they had no information on whether Anne Darwin had left the central American country, prompting speculation she may have gone into hiding before heading home. The twists and turns of the case have dominated the British media, with focus on a statement from the couple’s sons, who disowned their parents for keeping them in the dark about the truth. “How could our mum continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?” Anthony Darwin, 29, and his brother, Mark, 31, said Thursday. “We have not spoken to either of our parents since our dad’s arrest and at this present time, we want no further contact with them.” Anne Darwin, 55, was quoted as saying in newspaper interviews published Friday that she blamed her husband for the elaborate pretence and pleaded for her sons’ forgiveness. “I should never have listened to John, but he can be very persuasive. Of course, I’m to blame, too. I know I have done wrong. I just wish I had told the boys when I found out,” she told the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail newspapers. “I’m sure they would have talked some sense into me. But I didn’t. I didn’t tell anyone. And one lie led to another. “How can they ever forgive me for what I’ve done to them?” Former teacher and prison officer John Darwin, 57, was declared dead in 2003, a year after the remains of his canoe were washed up on the shore near the family home in Seaton Carew, in north-east England. But he turned up unexpectedly at a central London police station last Saturday, telling officers he thought he was a missing person, and had no memory of the last five years.- AFP The story began to unravel after a photograph of him posing with his wife and an estate agent in Panama City last July that appeared on the property company’s website was published in the British media. Confronted by reporters who tracked her down to her new home there, Anne Darwin—who initially hailed her husband’s re-appearance — broke down and confessed, admitting she knew he was not dead and had cashed in life insurance. John Darwin, whose sons said he had no memory of anything since June 2000, was arrested Wednesday. Police said they were to apply to a local magistrate Friday for an extension to keep him in custody for further questioning. The case has attracted massive media attention not only for its unusual nature, but also because of the questions that remain unanswered. It is still not clear why John Darwin disappeared in the first place, where he has been for the last five and a half years, how he travelled to Panama, and why he gave himself up. Detectives have said they began investigating his case three months ago after receiving information that suggested there was something suspicious of a “financial” nature about his disappearance. Anne Darwin told newspapers he used a false passport to travel to Panama, speculating that her husband missed their sons “tremendously”. “Maybe he wanted his old life back,” she said -AFP
LONDON:
A woman who admitted knowing her husband was alive despite his apparent death five years ago faces arrest when she returns to Britain, police said amid reports she was heading home Friday. Anne Darwin is likely to be arrested “at some point” after she arrives from Panama, a police spokesman said, as her husband John remained in custody after being detained on suspicion of fraud Panamian officials said late Thursday they had no information on whether Anne Darwin had left the central American country, prompting speculation she may have gone into hiding before heading home. The twists and turns of the case have dominated the British media, with focus on a statement from the couple’s sons, who disowned their parents for keeping them in the dark about the truth. “How could our mum continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?” Anthony Darwin, 29, and his brother, Mark, 31, said Thursday. “We have not spoken to either of our parents since our dad’s arrest and at this present time, we want no further contact with them.” Anne Darwin, 55, was quoted as saying in newspaper interviews published Friday that she blamed her husband for the elaborate pretence and pleaded for her sons’ forgiveness. “I should never have listened to John, but he can be very persuasive. Of course, I’m to blame, too. I know I have done wrong. I just wish I had told the boys when I found out,” she told the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail newspapers. “I’m sure they would have talked some sense into me. But I didn’t. I didn’t tell anyone. And one lie led to another. “How can they ever forgive me for what I’ve done to them?” Former teacher and prison officer John Darwin, 57, was declared dead in 2003, a year after the remains of his canoe were washed up on the shore near the family home in Seaton Carew, in north-east England. But he turned up unexpectedly at a central London police station last Saturday, telling officers he thought he was a missing person, and had no memory of the last five years.- AFP The story began to unravel after a photograph of him posing with his wife and an estate agent in Panama City last July that appeared on the property company’s website was published in the British media. Confronted by reporters who tracked her down to her new home there, Anne Darwin—who initially hailed her husband’s re-appearance — broke down and confessed, admitting she knew he was not dead and had cashed in life insurance. John Darwin, whose sons said he had no memory of anything since June 2000, was arrested Wednesday. Police said they were to apply to a local magistrate Friday for an extension to keep him in custody for further questioning. The case has attracted massive media attention not only for its unusual nature, but also because of the questions that remain unanswered. It is still not clear why John Darwin disappeared in the first place, where he has been for the last five and a half years, how he travelled to Panama, and why he gave himself up. Detectives have said they began investigating his case three months ago after receiving information that suggested there was something suspicious of a “financial” nature about his disappearance. Anne Darwin told newspapers he used a false passport to travel to Panama, speculating that her husband missed their sons “tremendously”. “Maybe he wanted his old life back,” she said -AFP
SATURDAY-8TH DECEMBER 2007-CREMATOR DUMPS BODIES TO SAVE FUEL
Cremator dumps bodies to save fuel
HONG KONG:
China’s worst fuel crunch in years has led a crematorium to dump half-burnt corpses to try to save on diesel costs, a Hong Kong newspaper said on Friday. Villagers in Hengyang county, in the southern province of Hunan, discovered the practice when an “unbearable stench” started coming from the site, and tried to block a road on Wednesday to stop funeral vehicles from delivering more bodies. The village sent people to investigate the smell and the South China Morning Post said they saw “crematorium workers putting half burnt human remains and organs in plastic bags and throwing them into a nearby ditch”. “As the price of diesel rose, we saw more and more bags thrown out from the crematorium,” the paper quoted Xiao Gaoyi a village representative and one of the witnesses, as saying. China was hit by its worst fuel supply crisis in four years from October to November, as a widening gap between low, state-regulated domestic prices and market-driven international prices forced Chinese refiners to cut output. Fuel in many parts of the country was rationed and there were long queues at petrol stations. An increase of nearly 10 percent in the prices of domestic diesel and gasoline from Nov. 1, the first in almost a year and a half, failed to lift refining margins back into the black -Reuters
HONG KONG:
China’s worst fuel crunch in years has led a crematorium to dump half-burnt corpses to try to save on diesel costs, a Hong Kong newspaper said on Friday. Villagers in Hengyang county, in the southern province of Hunan, discovered the practice when an “unbearable stench” started coming from the site, and tried to block a road on Wednesday to stop funeral vehicles from delivering more bodies. The village sent people to investigate the smell and the South China Morning Post said they saw “crematorium workers putting half burnt human remains and organs in plastic bags and throwing them into a nearby ditch”. “As the price of diesel rose, we saw more and more bags thrown out from the crematorium,” the paper quoted Xiao Gaoyi a village representative and one of the witnesses, as saying. China was hit by its worst fuel supply crisis in four years from October to November, as a widening gap between low, state-regulated domestic prices and market-driven international prices forced Chinese refiners to cut output. Fuel in many parts of the country was rationed and there were long queues at petrol stations. An increase of nearly 10 percent in the prices of domestic diesel and gasoline from Nov. 1, the first in almost a year and a half, failed to lift refining margins back into the black -Reuters
SATURDAY-8TH DECEMBER 2007-TODDLER THROWN OUT OF WINDOW TO HER DEATH
Toddler thrown out of window to her death
VIENNA: A two-year-old girl died Thursday evening after she was thrown out of the window of a first-floor flat in northern Austria, police said. The girl was seriously injured after the fall in the town of Ybbs and died on her way to hospital in nearby Linz, said regional police chief Franz Wendler. The child’s 22-year-old father has been arrested, he added. The incident occurred during a fight between the man and his girlfriend, both asylum seekers from the war-ravaged Russian province of Chechnya, police said.
VIENNA: A two-year-old girl died Thursday evening after she was thrown out of the window of a first-floor flat in northern Austria, police said. The girl was seriously injured after the fall in the town of Ybbs and died on her way to hospital in nearby Linz, said regional police chief Franz Wendler. The child’s 22-year-old father has been arrested, he added. The incident occurred during a fight between the man and his girlfriend, both asylum seekers from the war-ravaged Russian province of Chechnya, police said.
SATURDAY-8TH DECEMBER 2007-PARENTS FEAR NS MILITARY NATURE
Parents fear NS military nature
KOTA KINABALU:
Some parents are reluctant to let their children undergo the National Service programme as they liken it to military training. National Service Council (MSC) Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, in disclosing this yesterday, said he welcomes parents to the NS camps and judge for themselves whether the type of training carried out is military or otherwise. “I believe the perception exists because most of the NS trainers are ex-army officers and personnel,” he said. “NS is a programme to build the trainees’ discipline and prepare them to face future challenges,” he told reporters after a special interview with Sabah FM radio channel at Wisma Radio Televisyen Malaysia, yesterday. Lee said the MSC encourages ex-trainees to join the army after completing the training programme, but it should be on their own will. “We are not forcing them to join the army,” he stressed. Lee said about 110,000 more youths will be attending the NS training programme at 81 camps throughout the country next year, and the first group of 37,000 trainees would register themselves on Dec29 at the camps where they have been assigned to. “Of the 9,144 trainees to undergo training at seven camps in Sabah, 2,733 are from the first batch,” he said, adding that some 280,000 youths have attended the training programme nationwide since it was introduced three years back. Lee said efforts would continue to be made to improve the programme management and services to build confidence among trainees and their parents in the quality of training and safety of trainees in all the camps. He said although a random survey in 2006 involving 2,000 respondents (NS trainees) found that 94 per cent were supportive of the programme, the organisers still welcome views from all quarters, including the parents. Lee said the placement of 350 trained medical assistants and nurses at the NS training camps by the Health Ministry next year was the latest effort aimed at improving the programme, especially medical care. He said in the past, the medical units at the training camps were only manned by paramedics from the Defence Ministry. “We are aiming for ‘zero death’ at the training camps from next year,” said Lee, adding that a directive has also been issued to all the camp commandants that: “Any trainee who remains sick for 24 hours after being treated at the camp must be referred to the nearest government clinic or hospital, while the trainee’s parents or family must be informed about the matter.”
KOTA KINABALU:
Some parents are reluctant to let their children undergo the National Service programme as they liken it to military training. National Service Council (MSC) Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, in disclosing this yesterday, said he welcomes parents to the NS camps and judge for themselves whether the type of training carried out is military or otherwise. “I believe the perception exists because most of the NS trainers are ex-army officers and personnel,” he said. “NS is a programme to build the trainees’ discipline and prepare them to face future challenges,” he told reporters after a special interview with Sabah FM radio channel at Wisma Radio Televisyen Malaysia, yesterday. Lee said the MSC encourages ex-trainees to join the army after completing the training programme, but it should be on their own will. “We are not forcing them to join the army,” he stressed. Lee said about 110,000 more youths will be attending the NS training programme at 81 camps throughout the country next year, and the first group of 37,000 trainees would register themselves on Dec29 at the camps where they have been assigned to. “Of the 9,144 trainees to undergo training at seven camps in Sabah, 2,733 are from the first batch,” he said, adding that some 280,000 youths have attended the training programme nationwide since it was introduced three years back. Lee said efforts would continue to be made to improve the programme management and services to build confidence among trainees and their parents in the quality of training and safety of trainees in all the camps. He said although a random survey in 2006 involving 2,000 respondents (NS trainees) found that 94 per cent were supportive of the programme, the organisers still welcome views from all quarters, including the parents. Lee said the placement of 350 trained medical assistants and nurses at the NS training camps by the Health Ministry next year was the latest effort aimed at improving the programme, especially medical care. He said in the past, the medical units at the training camps were only manned by paramedics from the Defence Ministry. “We are aiming for ‘zero death’ at the training camps from next year,” said Lee, adding that a directive has also been issued to all the camp commandants that: “Any trainee who remains sick for 24 hours after being treated at the camp must be referred to the nearest government clinic or hospital, while the trainee’s parents or family must be informed about the matter.”
SATURDAY-8TH DECEMBER 2007-DATU AZLAN'S MOTHER WANTS TO KNOW TRUTH
Datu Azlan’s mother wants to know truth She is not satisifed with post-mortem on death of her son
KOTA KINABALU:
Datin Aminah Ambrose, the mother of the late Datu Azlan Datu Amir Kahar, is not satisfied with the post-mortem on the death of her son. “My son is healthy and never had a history of stroke or heart attack. I saw all the bruises on his back and cuts and wounds on his skin that looked like he had been beaten. “I am also not satisfied with the information I read in a newspaper disclosing that my son had a heart attack,” she told The Borneo Post in a phone interview yesterday evening. “I am the mother. I should be informed first and why only one newspaper reporter was informed?” Aminah said she had seen bleeding wounds on his son’s body and his head before he was taken to the mortuary of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. “I had also seen a bad wound on his head,” she added.
Aminah was also surprised to read the statement of his late son’s fiancee that Datu Azlan could drive the car to the hospital when he was badly hurt. “Furthermore, why his shirt was so clean when he was in the hospital? I mean why there was not a drip of blood when I saw that he was Datu Azlan bleeding? To me, I think something was not right with the information. “The fiancee informed that my son had taken a shower before going to the hospital. How could he have the time to take the shower when he was hurt and bleeding? Please, I want to know the truth what had really happened? I am not satisfied!” said Aminah. “Earlier, before they disclosed (my son had a stroke or heart attack), I was informed by the authority that my son had a healthy organ but why suddenly the information was different? “All this while I have been patient enough by cooperating in the investigation. I am still hoping for the truth from that investigation, but I am surprised why they disclosed that my son had a stroke or heart attack and I was not told about it?” she said. The Magistrate’s Court on Thursday released a 21-year-old part-time model who was remanded to assist police investigation into the death of Datu Azlan, the son of Banggi Assemblyman Datuk Amir Kahar. The Inti College student was first remanded for three days on December 2 to enable the police to investigate the case. Her remand was extended for another two days on December 4. Acting City Police Chief Superintendent Rowell Marong said on Thursday that the police were still investigating the case and hoped to find new leads. Datu Azlan was pronounced dead on arrival at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on December 1. There were four superficial wounds on his head, believed caused by a belt buckle, and bruises on the body. Initial investigation revealed that the deceased and his fiancee were fighting over a misunderstanding. On Wednesday, State Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim disclosed that the autopsy report confirmed that Datu Azlan had died of heart attack. Noor Rashid added that they would probably continue investigating the case under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, or Section 324 of the same Code for voluntarily causing hurt by using dangerous weapons or means.
KOTA KINABALU:
Datin Aminah Ambrose, the mother of the late Datu Azlan Datu Amir Kahar, is not satisfied with the post-mortem on the death of her son. “My son is healthy and never had a history of stroke or heart attack. I saw all the bruises on his back and cuts and wounds on his skin that looked like he had been beaten. “I am also not satisfied with the information I read in a newspaper disclosing that my son had a heart attack,” she told The Borneo Post in a phone interview yesterday evening. “I am the mother. I should be informed first and why only one newspaper reporter was informed?” Aminah said she had seen bleeding wounds on his son’s body and his head before he was taken to the mortuary of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. “I had also seen a bad wound on his head,” she added.
Aminah was also surprised to read the statement of his late son’s fiancee that Datu Azlan could drive the car to the hospital when he was badly hurt. “Furthermore, why his shirt was so clean when he was in the hospital? I mean why there was not a drip of blood when I saw that he was Datu Azlan bleeding? To me, I think something was not right with the information. “The fiancee informed that my son had taken a shower before going to the hospital. How could he have the time to take the shower when he was hurt and bleeding? Please, I want to know the truth what had really happened? I am not satisfied!” said Aminah. “Earlier, before they disclosed (my son had a stroke or heart attack), I was informed by the authority that my son had a healthy organ but why suddenly the information was different? “All this while I have been patient enough by cooperating in the investigation. I am still hoping for the truth from that investigation, but I am surprised why they disclosed that my son had a stroke or heart attack and I was not told about it?” she said. The Magistrate’s Court on Thursday released a 21-year-old part-time model who was remanded to assist police investigation into the death of Datu Azlan, the son of Banggi Assemblyman Datuk Amir Kahar. The Inti College student was first remanded for three days on December 2 to enable the police to investigate the case. Her remand was extended for another two days on December 4. Acting City Police Chief Superintendent Rowell Marong said on Thursday that the police were still investigating the case and hoped to find new leads. Datu Azlan was pronounced dead on arrival at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on December 1. There were four superficial wounds on his head, believed caused by a belt buckle, and bruises on the body. Initial investigation revealed that the deceased and his fiancee were fighting over a misunderstanding. On Wednesday, State Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim disclosed that the autopsy report confirmed that Datu Azlan had died of heart attack. Noor Rashid added that they would probably continue investigating the case under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, or Section 324 of the same Code for voluntarily causing hurt by using dangerous weapons or means.
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