THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- HARBOUR TOWN TO TRANSFORM LAHAD DATU

Harbour Town to transform Lahad Datu

KOTA KINABALU:

Despite being the gateway to the world renowned Danum Valley Conservation Area, the abundant flora and fauna of Tabin’s wildlife reserve and the mysterious Madai Caves, for a long time there has been little public interest in the east coast town of Lahad Datu, especially as a retail and commercial hub for Sabah East Coast. At present, the township of Lahad Datu is lacking of a popular venue for leisure or shopping activities due to the absence of a suitable environment that encourages the trendsetting lifestyle enjoyed by residents of the West Coast. All this is about to change with the emergence of a new retail and commercial development, called Lahad Datu Harbour Town, which is poised to transform Lahad Datu into the prime destination for avid shoppers and trendsetters residing on Sabah’s East Coast. This new development promises not only to buoy Lahad Datu up to par with other up market retail and commercial development in Sabah, but will also introduce Sabahans to a brand new form of shopping experience and lifestyle. According to Datuk Chin Kain Sim, one of the Directors of Tower Lodge Sdn Bhd, the developer of the development project, the name Harbour Town was coined as a tribute to the origins of Lahad Datu and the maritime exploits of the early seafarers who came to settle in this area. “The origins of Lahad Datu’s settlement as a early trade port and the past maritime activities of the locals, was the impetus for our idea. We wanted to incorporate an appealing brand name for a retail and commercial development that relates back to Lahad Datu’s history, but with a modern and contemporary feel for the 21st century,” he explained. Tower Lodge Sdn Bhd is managed by Chin, and his two other partners, Datuk Christopher Lim and Fong Sin Lon. It is a subsidiary of the Seng Group of Companies based in Kuala Lumpur led by Datuk Dr Lim Lee Seng. The Group has recently expanded its interests in Sabah through its subsidiaries, Tower Lodge Sdn Bhd and KOPORIM Marketing Sdn Bhd, whose most recent project has been the development of KK Taipan Commercial Centre in Inanam New Township, a 14-acre commercial development comprising of 117 units of shop-office. It is currently under construction and is slated for completion in the end of 2008. The official launching of the Lahad Datu Harbour Town project is at 9am today at the project site office.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- BUREAU TO HELP STUDENTS TO FURTHER STUDIES

Bureau to help students to further studies

LAHAD DATU:

MCA Silam division’s Life-Learning Bureau has extended its assistance to PMR and SPM leavers who want to further their studies in local colleges. Divisional Secretary Chai Foo Loi said the bureau would particularly help students from poor families in their application for scholarships. “Poor parents need not be anxious about the future of their children as scholarship or loan is available for application,” he said. According to him, students with good results may apply directly for the scholarship or study loan. “Parents who are unsure about the application process can always come to the MCA office for assistance,” he said and added that they can also call him at 019-8435651 for any further inquiry.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- BETTER DISTRICT DELIVERY SYSTEM

Better district delivery system

Programs must reach target groups to overcome poverty, says Pairin

TAMBUNAN:

Greater commitment and dedication from civil servants at the district level are needed to ensure the Government’s development progrm.exe properly implemented, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan. He said it is necessary for the programmes to reach the target groups so that they can achieve the main mission of minimising the poverty rate, particularly the hardcore poor by 2010. “To achieve this, Government staff at the implementation level bear the same responsibility as the leadership in serving the community, by pooling our resources and working together,” he said. Pairin, who is also Rural Development Minister, said this at a briefing for heads of Federal and State departments at the Tambunan District Council meeting room here, recently. He said that apart from efforts to promote economic development for rural communities, the Government has also embarked on infrastructure development programmes to establish road networks and water and electricity supply to the entire district. “In this respect, the delivery system at the district level must be upgraded to ensure the ability and efficiency of the staff are at optimal level. This involves continuous effort in ensuring the projects achieve their goals,” he said. Pairin stressed that the Government, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) and the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), aims to create a . metropolitan centre in the interior through activities based on agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and human capital development. During the briefing, Pairin was informed of the progress of various road and electricity supply projects currently being implemented. Pairin, who is also Tambunan Assemblyman, urged the various villages involved n the Rural Electricity Supply development programme to ease the process of acquiring the access permit to ensure smooth implementation. For that purpose, he said officers from the District Council and the project implementor will hold a meeting with the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairmen from the affected villages to discuss the matter further.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- THREE MORE HELD OVER ILLEGAL LOTTERY OPERATION

Three more held over illegal lottery operation

KOTA MARUDU:

Three more people have been arrested here for involving in illegal four-digit lottery operation. District Police Chief Mohd Isa Yusof said the three local men in their 20s, were arrested during a raid on a premises in the town area around 1pm yesterday. He said police found a few documents believed to be containing four-digit gambling records at the premises and have detained all the three suspects for investigation. Police also confiscated a few notebooks and a small amount of cash. On Sunday, police arrested a 41-year-old woman in connection with their investigation into the alleged illegal lottery ticket operation in Pekan Baru. Police seized a few items together with RM1,193 cash and detained the woman for investigation under Section 4A(a) of the Common Gambling House Act which provides a fine of between RM20,000 and RM200,000 or a jail term up to five years, if found guilty. The police also warned the public not to buy illegal four-digit tickets as action can also be taken against them.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- 793 LITTERBUGS COMPOUNDED

793 litterbugs compounded

KOTA KINABALU:

A total of 793 people have been compounded since January this year under the Anti-Litter by-law 1984, said City Hall Enforcement Director Abdul Mukti Hj Muchlish. He said the total figure included 53 people who were compounded for littering during the Ops Litterbugs carried out by City Hall from March 24 to 26. Abdul Mikti said the operation was carried out in various locations around the City and involved a total of 13 enforcement officers led by Sub Inspector Hambali Jami and monitored by DSP Ernest Mojikon. “Each offender can be slapped with a RM100 maximum compound” he said in a statement yesterday. Abdul Mukti said they hoped the public would cooperate by not dirtying their surroundings and stop littering as it would badly affect the City’s image.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- UMS STUDENTS TO WORK PART-TIME IN RESORT

UMS students to work part-time in Resort
Shangri – La’s Tanjung Aru Resort to provide in-house training to Hotel Management Programme students

KOTA KINABALU:

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has sealed a smart partnership with Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa (STAR) to provide in-house training for its Hotel Management Programme students. UMS yesterday signed an MoU with STAR to allow the students taking the programme to experience real life exposure of the hotel industry through in-house training at the Resort’s facilities during their final year. Under the agreement, STAR will provide training in three critical areas, namely banquet service, restaurant and housekeeping. Upon completion of the training sessions, students would be employed on a part-time basis to serve at banquet functions. “It is vital for the final-year students to be exposed to and gain real-life training as well as practical training experience during their final academic year in addition to their practical training attachment. “The training is regarded as beneficial for our students and serves as a way to overcome the shortage of skilled human resources inthe hotel industry,” said UMS Vice Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Noh Dalimin at the signing ceremony at STAR yesterday. He said the signing of the MoU is timely and pertinent to the tourism industry in Sabah, particularly the hotel sector which is enjoying a continuous growth of demand from tourists but faced with difficulties of finding sufficient trained and skilled workers. “This MoU is regarded as the first strategic smart partnership between the hotel industry player and higher learning institution. It is also the first in Sabah and at the national level. Indeed, we hope to have more such MoU with other industry players for the mutual benefit of our students and the hotel industry,” said Mohd Noh. Apart from the training programme for UMS, STAR is also carrying out research developing sustainable resource framework for tourism and hospitality from the practitioner and academic perspectives. Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun in witnessing the signing of the MoU, said such collaborative move between the higher learning institution and the hotel industry players is a great way towards improving human capital to support the rapidly growing tourism industry. “Hopefully, with more training being provided for our workers such as through this collaboration between UMS and STAR, the quality of the State’s human capital would be further improved,” he said. He said workers from Sabah are highly sought after by hotel operators in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia due to their high professionalism and dedication. Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, Masidi said most of the hotels in Sabah, including the major-ones, are offering comparably good salary packages to their employees but there are still rooms for improvement. Answering a question, Masidi defended the hoteliers against allegation that they are more keen on hiring foreign staff compared to local and practises double standard in giving out managerial position, saying over 95 percent of the staff in all major hotels are local people. On another note, he said Sabah last year Sabah received more than 2.34 million tourists, contributed to more than 14 percent of the State’s Gross Domestic Product for 2007.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- MP MEETS MINISTER OVER PALM OIL CESS

MP meets Minister over palm oil cess

TAWAU:

Following a call by Malaysian Estate Owners Association for the abolition of oil palm cess imposed since June 2007 to subsidise the prices of cooking oil, Tawau Member of Parliament Datuk Chua Soon Bui met Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Chin Fah Kui recently, urging the latter to find an alternative to the cess. Chua said she met Chin on March 10 in Kuala Lumpur to raise the grouses of estate owners over the cess as palm oil producers are also paying 7.5% tax imposed by the State Government. The double taxation is a big burden to many among them, and they hope the Federal Government will abolish it as soon as possible, she said. Chua regretted that no alternative to the imposition of cess in subsidizing cook oil prices has been worked out despite several meetings, dialogues and correspondences between the Minister and the industry players, especially in Tawau and Lahad Datu. She said she would follow up on the good efforts by former Tawau MP Shim Paw Fatt in pursuing the matter in Parliament. “I hope the Minister and his Ministry would seriously consider the proposal made by the industry players in Sabah, especially those in Tawau. It is very unfair indeed to penalize them after they have contributed a lot in promoting the industry in Sabah,” she said.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- UPKO WON'T GIVE UP PEOPLE DEVT LEADER POST

UPKO won’t give up People Devt Leader post

KENINGAU:

UPKO will be keeping the Bingkor People Development Leader (PDL) post which was held before by Bingkor Assemblyman Justin Guka even though the other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties are vying for it. A reliable source from UPKO said the present Community Development Officer (CDO), Baidi Ariffin, will take over the Bingkor PDL post which was held by Justin for one term. “I believe UPKO will maintain this post instead of surrendering it to the other BN components,” said a reliable source from UPKO here yesterday. Last week, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) had urged the Government to appoint someone from the other BN component parties for the Bingkor PDL post. PBS also wanted the elected people representative to practise power sharing among the components by giving PBS a bigger role and responsibility for the interest of the people in the area. “All the posts in the Bingkor area, especially in the PDL unit, must be shared equally through the BN spirit among all the component parties,” said PBS Bingkor Chief Majabin Dalinus. “Through the power sharing concept, the Ninth Malaysia Plan and Sabah Development Corridor can be implemented successfully,” he said. Meanwhile, it was learnt that people in Bingkor want the ‘Pemaju Mukim’ post to be increased to seven from the current three as the current political scenario warrants an increase.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- SABAH ART GALLERY WORKSHOPS GETTING POPULAR

Sabah Art Gallery workshops getting popular

KOTA KINABALU:

In its effort to stimulate a greater interest and participation among members of the public in the visual art, the Sabah Art Gallery continues to organize various forms of art activities. Among them are the popular painting workshops conducted at the Gallery’s compound every weekend. Presently at least four different workshops are being organized every Saturday and Sunday morning from 9am till 12.3Opm. There are two painting workshops and two caricature or comic workshops being conducted by tutors. The workshops are free of charge. All the participants need to do is to bring along with them the necessary painting equipment and materials such as pencils, pens, brushes, crayon, pastel and water colour. Drawing cartoon or comic and caricature are new activities at the Sabah Art Gallery. However the activity is becoming enormously popular, particularly with the younger generation who are attracted to the present Japanese cartoon craze. As a result the members of the local cartoon association (Pakatun) with the help of the Sabah Art Gallery, have positioned themselves at various venues where they draw and sell their quick sketches to the public. As the workshops are conducted free of charge, the attendance at these venues fluctuates greatly. However most of them show great interest and eagerness in participating in the quarterly exhibition especially organized for them.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- 11 HOUSES DESTROYED AFTER LIGHTING STRIKE

11 houses destroyed after lightning strike

100 people in Kampung Inanam Laut made homeless

KOTA KINABALU:

Some 100 people from 11 families in Kampung Inanam Laut were made homeless after a fire destroyed their houses early yesterday evening. The fire, according to the residents in the village, started after lightning struck one of the wooden houses. All the 11 homes were burnt to the ground in less than an hour. Three fire engines and a tanker from the Kolombong, Sembulan and Penampang fire stations rushed to the village to stop the fast spreading fire from destroying the other houses. No casualties were reported and the Fire and Rescue Services Department had yet to confirm the actual cause of the fire. Meanwhile, ten squatter houses were razed to the ground when a fire broke out in Kampung Bersih, near Semporna yesterday. However, no casualties were reported in the incident. Semporna Fire and Rescue Chief Abdul Kadir Abdul Halalan said 11 firemen in two fire engines extinguished the flames at 1. 35pm after receiving a distress call at 11.03am. He said the cause of the fire and losses had yet to be determined.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- PLASTIC USE IN MAKING PISANG GORENG CRISPIER : NO REPORTS IN SABAH

Plastic use in making pisang goreng crispier: No reports in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU:

How about some plastic shreds to make pisang goreng (banana fritters) and keledek crispier and tastier? There is no evidence to suggest Sabah’ own pisang goreng hawkers, popularly sought after for the snacks they are producing, are doing that dangerous and unbecoming thing here. But in Peninsular Malaysia, that is exactly what some pisang goreng hawkers are doing, having borrowed the idea from Thailand where the popular snack is common too. Consumers Association of Sabah and Labuan (CASH) President Datuk Patrick Sindu said he has personally - received similar complaints about the matter from consumers here. “This is an unhealthy practice and is hazardous to the health of consumers,” he said, adding that the Government must take action against unscrupulous hawkers for causing such health hazard to consumers. In fact, stern action must be taken against these hawkers, he said when asked to comment on a report by New Straits Times on Feb 29 that consumers’ demand for crispy snacks like pisang goreng and keledek has caused some hawkers in Peninsular Malaysia to use plastic in making banana fritters crispier. Meanwhile, the Sabah Health Department and Kota Kinabalu City Hall, when asked to comment on the report, said they haye yet to receive any complaints from the public about hawkers in the State resorting to the unhealthy practice. They however urged the public to report to them if they come across hawkers doing that as banana fritters produced that way are detrimental to the health of consumers. A number of pisang goreng stall operators in Kota Kinabalu who were approached in a random survey said they were not aware of such practice by hawkers in Peninsular Malaysia and also they did not know of any hawker doing it here. Nor Selina of Kepayan, who has been selling pisang goreng for more than five years, said it is irresponsible of the hawkers involved and their action could affect the business of innocent hawkers. “I love my business and would not do anything to harm it. The pisang goreng I make is not only for sale but also consumed by my family and myself, so why should I endanger their health,” she said. Nor Selina said she had never thought of adding plastic or any inedible stuff in making her pisang goreng crispier. “A good goreng pisang businesswoman knows what to do to make it crispy and delicious. For me, I have a secret recipe to make it delicious and crispier than normal,” she said. Nor Selina prepares her pisang goreng in full view of her customers so that they know that the popular tea-time snack for Malaysians is prepared inawholesome and hygienic manner. “I have heard my customers complaining about not being able to see the food being prepared in some other stalls. So I appeal to those in the same line of business not to follow what is being done in Peninsular Malaysia as it would not only harm their business but also other people’s business,” she said. Another pisang goreng maker, Mina, said she would never do anything harmful to the health of her customers. She said using plastic shreds to boost one’s business is just unthinkable. A consumer who declined to be named said she has yet to come across such a practice by pisang goreng hawkers in the State Capital. “I hope this will not happen in Sabah,” she said.

THURSDAY-27 MARCH 2008- NO HOPPERS FROM UMNO

No hoppers from UMNO

Middlemen just frying to do business: Masidi

KOTA KINABALU:

No Umno leaders in Sabah are crossing over to the Opposition, said State Umno Liaison Committee Assistant Secretary Datuk Masidi Manjun. He said although there are no laws that prevent them from hopping, Umno leaders in Sabah would not leave their course and will continue their struggle under Barisan Nasional for the benefit of the people they represent. “I don’t believe they would cross over simply because the Opposition invite them to do so. Politicians today are much smarter,” he said. Masidi was commenting on the claim that some Umno leaders had met Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Adviser Datuk Sen Anwar Ibrahim and expressed their willingness to cross over to the Opposition party. “I don’t think so lah; I think this is just about Malaysian politics being full of emotion. People can claim what they want,” he said. “The middlemen can claim anything they want, but basically they are just trying to do ‘business’. That’s all. They see a business proposition in the game of politics. That’s is they are claiming that they can arrange for people to ‘lompat’,” he said. On whether the Anti-Hopping Law should be enacted to legally prevent elected representatives from switching parties, Masidi said it is inconsistent with the freedom of choice and therefore unconstitutional, but it can still be done as seen in Bangladesh. He said the issue has been exhaustedly discussed in the media with some people harshly shooting down the idea while some others giving a more supportive view. The main argument lies with the question of whether it is consistent with the principle of freedom of choice, he said. “Legally, any law that stops people from hopping is unconstitutional as it goes against the principle of freedom of choice. But if you look at Bangladesh, the only country which practises Anti-Hopping Law, this idea can actually be done,” he said. “But what is important is that whatever law to be enacted, it has to be in line with and not against the principles enshrined in the Constitution. In this case, the freedom of choice.”

WEDNESDAY-26 MARCH 2008- 75 SUMMONED IN ILLEGAL RACING OPERATION

75 summoned in illegal racing operation

KOTA KINABALU:

Seventy five summonses were issued by the district’s traffic police during the three-day Ops Lumba Haram operation here which started last Friday. On the first day of the operation aimed at curbing illegal motorcycle racing, police mounted road blocks at several main roads around the City,namely Jalan Lintas,Jalan Tun Fuad and Jalan Tuaran. Six motorcycles were stopped and checked during the two- hour operation which saw three summonses issued to motorists for various traffic offences. On Saturday, the law enforcers continued their operation and focused their attention along Jalan Kepayan where they stopped and checked 35 motorcycles. Twenty- two summonses were issued. The operation ended on Sunday with road blocks being mounted in Jalan Coastal, Jalan Pasir, Jalan Lintas and a few other strategic locations in the City centre. The operation which started at 9pm, lasted for five hours and of the 80 motorcycles inspected, 50 were slapped with summonses.

WEDNESDAY-26 MARCH 2008-PENAMPANG TO HAVE NEW DISTRICT OFFICE BUILDING

Penampang to have new District Office building

KOTA KINABALU:

A RM9.8 million new Penampang District Office building to accommodate more than 100 workers will be built to replace the one which is already 33 years old. The ground breaking ceremony for the new building site was yesterday officiated by Assistant Information Technology and Resource Development Minister Donald Peter Mojuntin who represented Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Haji Hajiji Haji Mohd Noor. Speaking at the event, Mojuntin said that the plan to build a new office was proposed in 1995 which was included in the Ninth Malaysia Plan as the old building was no longer safe for use. “Because of the worst condition of the building, the Local Government and Housing Ministry had approved the proposal to build the new office in December 2007 since the Penampang District Council can afford to pay for the costs,” he said. Penampang District Council Chairman William Sampil said that the cost to build the new four-storey building was RM6.9 million. “The new building will be used by one third of the 383 workers of the Council. “The existing building cannot accommodate all the workers where some 50 workers from the Enforcement Division have to use the rest house at the back of the hall as their office while the workers at the Evaluation Division and Poverty Eradication in Town Division have to use the empty spaces in the hall as their office,” he said. According to Sampil, the costs for the new building will be RM9.825 million where the amount will be used to .build the office and another RM600,000 will be donated to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, Telekom and Water Department. Sampil added that the new building is expected to be completed in 18 months. Also present at the ceremony were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Deputy Chief Minister cum Food Industry and Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Yahya Hussin, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Khoo and Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Edward Yong Oui Fah.

WEDNESDAY-26 MARCH 2008- SANDAKAN, KENINGAU, LAHAD DATU POLICE RECEIVE COMMENDATION CERTIFICATES

Sandakan, Keningau, Lahad Datu police receive commendation certificates

SANDAKAN:

Ninety-three police officers and personnel received commendation certificates from State Police Commissioner Datuk Rashid Noor in conjunction with the nationwide Police Day yesterday. Another 48 officers and nine members of the public received commendation certificates from District Police Chief ACP Rosli Md Isa during a ceremony here which was attended by Youth and Sports Minister Peter Pang, Batu Sapi Member of Parliament Datuk Edmund Chong, Sekong Assemblyman Datuk Samsudin Yahya and ElopuraAssemblymanAuKam Wah. Meanwhile, at a similar ceremony held at the 15th Battalion of the General Operation Force (GOF) at Karamunting, 25 officers and five individuals from the Police Family Association received commendation certificates from Commanding Officer Superintendent Lee Moh Lee. The District Marine Police also held a similar ceremony officiated by State Marine Police Deputy Chief Superintendent Wan Shazali Haji Wann Abdul Rahman. In Keningau, 27 police personnel, public services staff, Perkep members and media representatives here received appreciation certificates at the district police headquarters. The three media representatives were Johan Aziz (Borneo Post), Marutin Ansiung (New Sabah Times) and Francis Andin (Berita Harian). District Police Chief DSP Zahari Mohammed presented the certificates to all the recipients. Earlier, Zahari inspected a parade involving 28 police personnel and read the message from the Inspector General of Police followed with the Police Day pledges. In Lahad Datu, District Police Chief Superintendent Kamis Damina presented certificates of honour to 30 policemen for their excellent performances. The spouses of the police led by Puan Kamzilah Sharuddin, the Deputy Chairperson of the Lahad Datu Police Families Association, went to the general hospital and gave away goodies to the patients at the children wards

WEDNESDAY-26 MARCH 2008- DCP:NO COP IN SABAH HELD FOR GRAFT

DCP: No cop in Sabah held for graft

KOTA KINABALU:

No police personnel or officer has been arrested or charged with corruption in Sabah since July last year, said State Deputy Commissioner of Police Datuk Ab Razak Ab Ghani. “To the best of my knowledge, since I became the State DCP in July, no personnel or officer in Sabah has been arrested for corruption,” he said during a press conference in conjunction with the police parade and blood donation drive at the Kepayan Police Headquarters here yesterday. However, he reminded police members not to take bribe or involve in any other illegal and unethical activities that may jeopardize the image of their Department. Ab Razak said the police must also ensure quality in their services and be professional when upholding the law or dealing with the people. He pointed out that everyone is now aware of their rights and expects nothing less than a good service from the police. In order to keep the police force relevant, he said every police member must play their part and deliver their duties to the best level. To another question, Ab Razak without going into details, said police had investigated and forwarded to the Anti- Corruption Agency some alleged corruption cases in connection with the recently concluded general election. On the current hot topic of opposition parties buying Government elected representatives, he said police would be monitoring any unlawful activities and would channel information to the ACA should corruption take place. However, he said all information or tip off channelled to the police would be thoroughly scrutinized to avoid false allegation that could cause unnecessary inconveniences to anyone.

WEDNESDAY-26 MARCH 2008-LANSLIDE CUTS OFF NEW KENINGAU-KIMANIS ROAD

Landslide cuts off new Keningau-Kimanis Road

KENINGAU:

The new Keningau-Kimanis Road is no longer passable to traffic after a landslide at Km 16 early yesterday morning. The landslide which occurred at 4am, left a 50-metre gap on the road. District Public Works Department (PWD) Engineer Edward Lingkapo said it would take some time to repair the road and he advised motorists to use the Keningau-Tambunan-Kota Kinabalu Road for the time being. “I was told by the contractor that the repair will take some time, depending on the weather. However, a temporary bypass will be created as soon as possible,” he said. Signboards would be put up at both the Keningau and Papar ends of the road to warn road users of the landslides, he said. Meanwhile, a motorist in his 60’s cheated death when a Vigo four wheel drive vehicle he was driving, ploughed onto the mud and slid down the hill early yesterday. The motorist said he was on his way from Tawau to Kota Kinabalu and was taking the Kimanis-Keningau Road. “The vehicle got stuck in the mud and slid down. There was nothing I could do except to get out of the vehicle and watched it sliding down the hill,” he said. Confirming the incident, Keningau OCPD DSP Zahari Mohamad said the vehicle was found about 100 metres from the road, and had been pulled out by a crane at 11am yesterday. Zahari advised the public not to go to the affected area because the risk of another landslide occurring is high with the continued rainfall. He also said they should use either Tambunan Road, Sipitang Road or Ranau Road to get to the West Coast. Meanwhile, District Officer Zulkifli Nasir urged the PWD to put up the road closure signs at strategic locations before the affected area. One of the locations is Kampung Bulu Silou, he said. It was learnt that the road which was opened to road users about two years ago has yet to be handed over to the PWD. The road is preferred by going to the Keningau, Tenom and other districts nowadays as it reduces travelling time by at least one hour.

WEDNESDAY-26 MARCH 2008- JAPANESE TO NAME, DOCUMENT MT.KINABALU'S UNKNOWN CLIMBING ROUTES

Japanese to name, document Mt Kinabalu’s unknown climbing route

KOTA KINABALU:

Way back in 1975, a Japanese mountaineer used several unknown routes to scale Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest summit. While most mountaineers might have been proud of such an achievement, it was not so with Tsutsumi Nobuowho. He felt that in scaling Southeast Asia’s highest summit, he might have forgotten something more important — to name and document the routes he took 33 years ago, when he reached the World Heritage Site’s highest peak — Low’s Peak. That might be one of the reasons why the man is back on a mission. Tsutsumi, now 57, wants to revisit his old rock-climbing playground, Mount Kinabalu to complete that mission to further promote the world heritage in the eyes of the mountaineering fraternity. Tsutsumi is also here to try the Mountain Torq Via Ferrata, a mountain path (via ferrata is Italian for ‘iron road’) opened on Dec 15, last year and was certified by the Malaysia Book of Records as the world’s highest and Asia’s first to be built on Mount Kinbalu. “I am very happy to be here again. Mount Kinabalu has a lot of potential to attract rock climbers all over the world. However, its potentials were not fully documented,” he told reporters here yesterday. “Some attractive potentials of the world heritage site were not fully developed and not popular among rock climbers. I think the unpopulr (unknown) routes will attract more climbers,” he added. According to Tsutsuix mission was to identify the unknown routes he made in 1975,name them and subsequently compile the routes as a document which might prove useful to promote Mount Kinabalu climbers in the world. Tsutsumi, who has also climbed various other popular summits the world, including Everest, said in 1984, he had an unexplored gully on Kinabalu, known as ‘Commando Cauldron’. The 400-metre deep gully located right of Low’s between the Tunku Abdul Rahman peak and another unnamed peak down the Donkey’s Ears on Mount Kinabalu. Tsutsumi, who is now president of Rope Rescue Association of Japan, said during the expedition he and two other Japanese climbers failed to conquer the 1. 2km Low’s Gully, and had to stop at Commando Cauldron due to weather factors.

WEDNESDAY-26 MARCH 2008- NINE SUSPENSION BRIDGES DAMAGED OR SWEPT AWAY

Nine suspension bridges damaged or swept away

SIPITANG:

Nine suspension bridges at Sungai Meligan, Sungai Ibul and Sungai Laugon, located about 82 kilometres from here, have either been damaged or swept away by severe floods. A spokesman for the villagers, Samson Imui, said the floods that hit the area last Wednesday also destroyed crops, particularly paddy. He said five suspension bridges were swept away by strong currents at Sungai Ibul, three at Sungai Meligan and one at Sungai Laugon. “It’s the second time the villages were badly hit by floods; the first time was about 15 years ago,” Samson told The Borneo Post yesterday. He said since the affected villagers were relying on the suspension bridges to carry out their daily activities, the Government should build new suspension bridges as soon as possible. The villagers are willing to build the new suspension bridges through gotong royong effort, if the Government provides the funds for them to buy the materials. The villagers had brought the matter up with Sindumin Assemblyman Hj Ahmad Bujang during his inspection visit to the villages, according to Samson. Some 1,000 residents were affected during the last bad flood that hit the area 15 years ago, he said.

TUESDAY - 25 MARCH 2008 - DANISH GOVT KEEN ON BIOFUEL PROJECTS IN SABAH : AMBASSADOR

Danish Govt keen on biofuel projects in Sabah : Ambassador

KOTA KINABALU:

The Danish Ambassador to Malaysia, Borge Petersen has described the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) Blueprint as an impressive initiative that addresses many areas of concern in the State, including environment. Petersen made the remark after he attended a briefing on the SDC given by IDS Executive Director Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Haji Johari at the IDS Conference Room here recently. The Ambassador was pleased to note that environmental conservation is one of the three key principles of the SDC and remarked that it augurs well for the sustainable development of Sabah for future generations. He was also pleased to know that the State Government has been collaborating with philanthropists, the corporate sector and NGOs to provide technical expertise, technologies and funding vital for protecting and conserving Sabah’s natural resources. He said Denmark is interested in supporting clean development mechanism (CDM) projects in Sabah. The CDM is one of the systems introduced in the Kyoto Protocol to assist countries in achieving their greenhouse gases (GHG) emission reduction targets. The Kyoto Protocol, under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, is an international agreement to reduce the emission of GHG binding industrialised countries to specific reduction targets. The Kyoto Protocol came into force in February 2005. “We are interested in supporting projects that turn biomass, particularly oil palm waste, such as empty fruit bunches (EFB) into biofuel,” be said, adding projects that utilise enzymes to transform biomass into biofuel. Petersen said that the Danish Government not only buys certified emission reductions (CER5) from owners of CDM projects but also assists companies in developing CDM projects. CDM allows emission reduction projects that contribute to the sustainable development objectives of the host country to capitalise on the emission reduction through the sale of CERs from the project. Projects that have been recognised as CDM under the Kyoto Protocol will qualify for CERs. In the case of the CDM project supported by the Danish government, the project owner can sell back the obtained CERs to the Government of Denmark. “We will be talking to palm oil millers in Sabah about CDM projects and we plan to sign agreements with CDM project proponents,” he said. Petersen disclosed that Danish Government had already supported the development of a number of successful CDM projects in Malaysia since the establishment of the Danish CDM Project Development Facility (PDF) in 2003. They included the Lumut Biomass Energy Plant and Jendarata Steam and Power Plant in Peninsular Malaysia. In Sabah, the Ambassador noted that the Sandakan Edible Oils (SEO) Sdn. Bhd. Biomass Steam and Power Plant uses biomass boiler manufactured by ENCO Systems, a Malaysian company based on a design developed by a Danish company, B&W Volund. Petersen said other potential CDM projects include those involving the utilization of wood residue, solid waste management and landfill gas. Landfill is a potential energy resource. Garbage decomposing in landfills creates landfill gas. This gas consists of methane, which can be used as fuel for industrial heating or converted into electrical power. Methane is among the greenhouses gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol. Although the Danish government will phase out funding for Malaysia by 2O1O Mr Petersen said it is not leaving Sabah yet. He pointed out that the Danish government has supported several environmental projects in Sabah by way of funding and transfer of environmental technology and know-how since 1 996 through the Danish Co-operation for Environment and Development (DANCED). The projects included the Sabah Biodiversity Conservation, Maliau Basin Management Plan, Integrated Coastal Zone Management and a peat swamp forest project with support from Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA), the ‘successor’ to DANCED. Petersen said that with the implementation of SDC, he expected more Danish companies to come and invest in Sabah. Earlier in his briefing to the Danish Ambassador, Dr Mohd Yaakub gave an overview of the SDC goals, implementation phases, key principles and sectoral focus. Dr Mohd Yaakub ended his presentation by highlighting the SDC initiatives on protecting and conserving the environment. They included key environmental issues and challenges, strategies to enhance the conservation and protection of the environment in Sabah, and main programmes and ongoing projects that contribute towards the preservation of Sabah’s environment for future generations.

TUESDAY - 25 MARCH 2008 - PAINTING DEMONSTRATION AND EXHIBITION AT KADAIKU

Painting demonstration and exhibition at Kadaiku

KOTA KINABALU:

Kadaiku, Sabah Tourism’s souvenirs and handicraft retail outlet managed by its subsidiary, Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd, will be holding a month-long painting demonstration and exhibition starting this Thursday. Sabah Art Gallery’s Awang Fadillah bin Ali Hussein, whose works are dedicated to abstract art, will be painting and exhibiting pieces with the central theme of nature until the last week of April. Awang Fadillah has been involved art for 10 ears now, participating in local and international art exhibitions and competitions. Besides earning several Choice Awards at the annual Sabah Choice Arts Competition and at the Labuan Art Festival, Awang Fadillah’s achievements also include a third placing in the UNESCO Asia Pacific Noma. Concours for Picture Book Illustration art competition in Japan in 2006. The public will have the chance to observe and gain tips from the artist at work, as well as from another artist, Husman bin Razak whose specialties are in portrait and airbrush painting. The demonstration and exhibition will run three times a week for four weeks, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. This event is the first of its kind to be held at Kadaiku, with the purpose of promoting and increasing public interest in local artists and their works.

TUESDAY - 25 MARCH 2008 - FISH BOMBINGS AND ENCROACHMENT REDUCED

Fish bombings and encroachment reduced

KOTA KINABALU:

A concerted drive among the authorities in Sabah against fish bombings and encroachment to offshore oil installations has gained reasonable successes, with a reduced number of incidents in the recent months around the waters off the oil- producing operational areas of Shell Malaysia’s Exploration & Production (SM-EP) in North Sabah. These efforts will continue in the form of engagements with local fishing communities in Kota Belud, Tuaran and other districts to disseminate information and awareness on the dangers of fish bombings and encroachments, just as the fishing season has begun again in earnest. One such engagement was conducted last Saturday at Kampung Baru-Baru, Tuaran, by the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency MMEA), Tuaran District Office and Shell Malaysia. MMEA’s Director of Operations for Sabah and Labuan, Captain Mohd Amir Haji Hamzah who led the awareness session, reminded fishermen to observe existing laws, especially on fish bombings and encroachments to offshore oil installations. He also briefed the villagers on the role and responsibilities of MMEA, which incorporates enforcing the existing maritime laws as well as being the coordinator for any search and rescue operations at sea. Speaking at the gathering, Tuaran Assistant District Officer Anyi Mahmud advised the fishermen on the need to co-exist with the natural environment to ensure a sustainable livelihood from the marine resources. “Fish bombings not only endanger the lives of those working in nearby oil installations and the infrastructure, it also destroys the corals which are fish-breeding grounds,” he explained. Shell Malaysia EP’s Head of Security, Mohd Kassim, also briefed the gathering regarding the danger of fishing around the offshore installations, giving a few highlights of past instances of such occurrences. At the same gathering, Shell Malaysia EP’s Sabah Asset General Manager, George Ling, commended the concerted efforts by the authorities in addressing the fish bombing and encroachment issues together with Shell and promised to step up this sort of engagement in other districts as well, particularly during the fishing season. “We are pleased with this close cooperation and support and from the engagements that we had with the fishing communities in Mantanani and Tuaran, there has been a good awareness regarding the risks around our offshore oil installations,” Ling added.

TUESDAY - 25 MARCH 2008- NEED FOR SMART POLICIES TO REALISE SDC OBJECTIVES : STATE SECRETARY

Need for smart policies to realise SDC objectives: State Secretary

KOTA KINABALU:

Much needs to be done to better formulate the State Government policies, especially with the addition of Sabah Development Corridor to the list of main agendas for Sabah. State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman said that apart from the optimal use of resources, smart policies need to be in place before the development goals under the development plan can be achieved. Further stressing the importance of formulating smart policies in shaping the halatuju of the SDC, he said government policies must reflect two main characteristics. Firstly, it must be based on the idea of fulfilling the main needs of the community and secondly able to be a driver that leads the community towards prosperous and progressive life. Apart from that, he said the determination of objectives, form, steps and implementation of a certain policy must be based on the set long-term vision and planning. “With the formulation of policies that support and drive us towards the objectives (under the SDC), I am confident and even more optimistic that we will not only be able to place ourselves on par with the other states, but also capable to become a ‘benchmark’ in terms of effective management and administration,” said Sukarti at the opening of a Research and Evaluation of Policy Workshop at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort (STAR) here yesterday. “An effective administration also starts from the efficient formulation of policies. Filling the policy is also the same as important as implementing it in which both must be clear and parallel. Fine-tuning can only be made when we are willing to learn about each other so that in the end the end- product enjoyed by the ‘external clients’ that is the rakyat will only be the best,” he added. Apart from looking for room for fine-tuning, the workshop organised by the Cabinet and Policy Unit of Chief Minister’s Department also aims to provide for a learning process for the participating government officers. A total of 35 officers from randomly selected ministries and departments that are directly related to the implementation of SDC as well as State halatuju attended the two-day workshop. Unit director Haji Yusof Abd Abbas and principal assistant director Dr Ismail S. Charles, were also present. The workshop, which is the second in the series on policy analysis organised by the unit, involves scrutiny and evaluation of the policies of randomly selected state ministries to enable the participants to identify room for fine-tuning and then absorb what they have experienced from the process.

TUESDAY-25 MARCH 2008- BASIC NECESSITIES NEEDED TO ERADICATE POVERTY: UNDP

Basic necessities needed to eradicate poverty: UNDP

PENAMPANG:

It is imperative for the Government to build basic infrastructure in rural areas if it hopes to eradicate poverty, said United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Representative Dr Richard Leete. He said projects aimed at developing the economy of poor villagers would be unsustainable if they are not provided with basic necessities such as sealed roads, clean water, electricity and communication. “For example in Mangkuwagu, if the community produces a large quantity of high-quality rubber but the roads are so bad that the middlemen are more worried about fixing their vehicles, how will they move their produce? “We must have movements to seriously develop the roads ... it is a human right to have good access,” he said at a press conference yesterday. Leete said this to reporters after launching the UNDP’s advocacy report, “Sustainable Community Forest Management in Sabah”, at the State Forestry Department’s Kota Kinabalu office in Lok Kawi here. He explained that the report is based on the Mangkuwagu Social Forestry project, jointly developed by the UNDP and the State Forestry Department, which is a “demonstration project” on sustainable conservation and rural economic development. “What, is important is to balance the two sides of the equation, to conserve the vast biodiversity and try to make a difference in the lives of those who live in the margins of the forests. “The community in Mangkuwagu don’t have pens to write with, they don’t have the basic tools that we have when we wake up in the morning or go to sleep, things like electricity which we take for granted here ... they are yesterday’s world living in modern Malaysia,” he said. State Forestry Department Director Datuk Sam Mannan revealed that a total of RM7.2 million has been allocated for the two-year Mangkuwagu project, including RM3 million each from the State and Federal Governments and RM1.2 million from UNDP. “Mangkuwagu is part of FMU 17, and the focus is purely on social forestry. A management plan has been prepared for the area, to ensure that we can make a difference for the residents and it is sustainable,” he said. Earlier in his speech, Leete highlighted the lack of equitable distribution of development that has contributed greatly to Sabah’s poverty rate of 23 percent, which is the highest in the country. “The problem in Sabah is not one of economic growth. It is quite high compared to other countries in the world. The problem is the inequality in the distribution of growth. “The UNDP would also like to appeal for the localisation of basic infrastructure as a key prerequisite for poverty eradication, and this includes paved roads, water supply, electricity, communication and safe sewerage. “Without these infrastructure, development projects become unsustainable in the long run. We still have people who do not have electricity, and this is a blight on the excellent record of development in Malaysia where development is brought to the people but rural communities in Sabah and Sarawak are largely ignored,’’ he said.

TUESDAY-25 MARCH 2008- FOREIGNER CLAIMS KEPT SHARLINIE IN SABAH

Foreigner Claims kept Sharlinie in Sabah

PETALING JAYA:

Police have detained a foreigner for sending an SMS claiming that he had abducted five-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar and demanding RM25,000 for her release. They picked up the 26-year-old IT expert at 2pm on Saturday in Kajang after the person he forwarded the message to informed the policesSharlinie went missing after going to a playground near her PJS2 home in Taman Medan on Jan 9. Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Mazian Mansor said the man, who has been in the country with valid documents since Jan 29, had sent the SMS claiming that he was keeping the girl in Sabah. “The person who received the SMS contacted the police and we picked up the suspect immediately,” he said here on Sunday. SAC Mazian said he man would be remanded until Wednesday. He cautioned the public not to send false messages about the girl’s disappearance.

TUESDAY-25 MARCH 2008- BUSINESSMAN IN DRIVE AGAINST COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT PROJECT

Businessman in drive against coal-fired power plant project

LAHAD DATU:

A local businessman had written to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd with copies to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman on 18 March calling for the proposed RM1 billion coal-fired power plant project at Darvel Bay in Silam to be scrapped. Tio Chee Hing, who described the setting up the power plant as akin to dropping a hydrogen bomb on the people in the district, said the operation of such a plant would cause extensive irreversible damage to the surrounding ecologically sensitive environment and pose a serious threat to the livelihood and health of thousands of people. He said it would severely affect marine life in Darvel Bay and the people living here, and even their future generation would have to pay the potentially enormous price. Tio strongly suggested the power plant project be relocated to a more suitable place with the least environmental impact. He insisted that the welfare, health and future of the people must be protected at all costs, and he is prepared to take his fight to the court for an injunction to prevent the project from being implemented.

TUESDAY-25 MARCH 2008- 25,000 APPLYING FOR 1,500 RTD ENFORCEMENT POSTS

25,000 applying for 1,500 RTD enforcement posts

KOTA KINABALU:

The Road Transport Department (RTD) is vetting some of the 25,000 applications received from across the country for the posts of assistant enforcement in the department. Sabah RTD Director Haji Wan Idrus Wan Sharif said out of the total figure, only 1,500 applicants would be recruited after the interview and physical test were carried out. “The recruitment of additional enforcement personnel will further strengthen the RTD enforcement, in particular the RTD Sabah, in ensuring vehicle owners and public transport operators comply with the RTD rules and regulations,” he said yesterday. Wan Idrus was speaking to reporters after paying a courtesy call on the Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah at the Istana Negeri here. He was accompanied by Sabah RTD Assistant Director Abdul Rahman Datuk Hj Zakaria and Public Relations Manager Ahmad Zaky Mokhtar. Wan Idrus commenced his duties in Sabah on Feb 18 this year, replacing Yahya Basimin who has been transferred to the Pulau Pinang’s State Federal Secretary Office. He said the RTD would continue to monitor the services provided by the public transport operators in the State. “This is to ensure the operators comply with the rules and regulations as stipulated under the Road Transport Act 1987,” said Wan Idrus, adding that the department is giving priority to the safety of the public who is relying on public transport. During the meeting, Wan Idrus presented a memento to Ahmadshah.

TUESDAY-25 MARCH 2008- RAZALEIGH: I'M NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SITUATION

Razaleigh: I’m not taking advantage of situation

KUALA LUMPUR:

Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah said he offered to play a role in restoring Umno for the sake of the Malay race and the party’s own survival. He said he was not in any way taking advantage of the situation following the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) dismal performance in the March 8 general election. The former Finance Minister said his suggestion that a special Umno assembly be convened to evaluate the poor performance in the election, and his offer to contest the president’s post, was made to enable the party to get back on its feet and not stumbled further. “I stated my readiness to lift the spirit of Umno members which has been weakened after the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) defeat in four states and the failure to wrest Kelantan from PAS in the general election. It’s my sincere wish to see the party regain its strength. “I feel that I’ve been called forth to help restore the party,” he told Bernama at his residence here on Sunday night. Earlier he met several grass root leaders from Johor who came to see him to get further clarification about his suggestion that a special Umno meeting be held to discuss the BN’s defeat in Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Perak and Kelantan. Tengku Razaleigh said the special assembly was appropriate so that grass root leaders of Umno can voice out their views about the poll results. He said Umno members wanted to see the party regained strength and remained the umbrella for the Malays, whom he said were feeling disheartened because certain party members were only fighting for personal gain. -Bernama

TUESDAY-25 MARCH 2008- SHOWDOWN OVER TERENGGANU MB

Showdown over Terengganu MB

KUALA LUMPUR:

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is locked in a showdown on Monday with the country’s largely ceremonial King over who will lead the oil-rich northeastern state of Terengganu. Malaysia’s royalty is posing its biggest challenge to the Government since the powers of the hereditary Rulers were clipped 25 years ago, and comes when Abdullah’s authority has been wounded following elections that handed unprecedented gains to the Opposition. The confrontation goes beyond the division of powers between figurehead Rulers and the elected Government and is also about the cosy relationships between business and politics in Malaysia, analysts say. “This is not just politics,” said political analyst Rustam Sani. “I think financial interests have to do with it. They (the Sultans) are not happy since the politicians are having a free hand in business.” Some of the nine royal families are involved in business. Malaysia has nine Sultans who take turns ruling for five years as King. Their mostly ceremonial duties include appointing the Chief Ministers of their states. The current King is the 46-year-old Terengganu Ruler, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin. Other Rulers have also begun to speak out on issues of governance. The Sultan of Selangor State last year reprimanded a town councillor for building a house without required permits. The Rulers, whose powers were sharply curtailed in 1983 by then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, are seeking to reclaim a stake in politics - along with a resurgent Opposition in a more robust Parliament. In the watershed elections, Abdullah’s Barisan Nasional (National I rout) coalition was ousted in five of Malaysia’s 13 states (Penang, Perak, Kedah, Selangor and Kelantan) and lost the two-thirds majority in Parliament it had held for nearly four decades at the elections. The BN coalition retained power in Terengganu hut the Sultan there refused to swear in incumbent Chief Minister Datuk Idris Jusoh, whom Abdullah said had the support of the majority of the State’s Assemblymen. On Sunday, the palace appointed its own candidate Datuk Ahmad Said, the Kijal Assemblyman-only to be snubbed by the Prime Minister who said that appointing anyone but Idris was unconstitutional. Malaysia’s Law Minister was quoted as saying on Monday that everyone, including the King, should respect the law. “The discretion of the Monarch in appointing the Chief Minister is not an absolute personal discretion,” Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said. Analysts said there were other reasons why Idris fell out of favour with the Sultan, including allegations he had been disrespectful to the Ruler and his family. The Sultans have reasserted themselves in other states, too. In the state of Perlis, the Raja overruled Abdullah’s nominee for Chief Minister and appointed his own candidate. The Sultans are meant to represent Malay Muslim sovereignty and at one time were a powerful counterweight to the elected Government. But in amendments to the Constitution in 1983, the King’s veto power was abolished and the Monarch could no longer block bills in Parliament. Another amendment in 1993 took away the immunity from prosecution the nine Sultans once enjoyed. “After a decline of power and influence between 1983 and 1994, the spirals of history are in motion again,” said constitution expert Shad Saleem Faruqi. “The last few years have seen a discernible upsurge in popular perception that the Rulers constitute a vital check and balance mechanism of the Constitution,” he wrote in the local Star newspaper. — Reuter.

MONDAY - 24 MARCH 2008 - SHELL, UMS PROMOTES SAFETY CULTURE AMONG UMS ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Shell, UMS promote safety culture among UMS engineering students

KOTA KINABALU:

Shell Malaysia Gas & Power and the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) held a two-day workshop for 50 final-year engineering students on the importance of Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) in the workplace on March 15 and 16. This capacity building programme, known as PRESTIGE or Practical Environmental, Safety and Industrial Guidance for Engineers, is now in its second year. “Our objective is to share the importance of health and safety in the workplace with these future engineers using Shell’s HSE tools and best practice to enable them to not only see its importance in the workplace but make it part and parcel of their work culture,” said Mark Pattenden, General Manager - Manufacturing, Shell MDS (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. The workshop was run in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in Kota Kinabalu. It was designed to be interactive, covering practical Shell HSE knowledge, tools and best practice to help these future engineers identify HSE risks present in the workplace and manage them accordingly. The 50 students were divided into small groups and were given a case study that required them to apply the HSE knowledge, tools and best practice that they were taught over the weekend to various real life scenarios. The event also featured speakers from the DOE, the DOSH, UMS and Shell Malaysia.

MONDAY - 24 MARCH 2008 - MAKTAB NASIONAL'S STUDENTS INSTALLATION DAY

Maktab Nasional’s Students Installation Day

KOTA KINABALU:

Maktab Nasional organised its 13th Students Installation Day to honour the students who have been identified and selected by the school authority as the most capable of being the future leaders. Its Principal, Mr Michael Baikan, said in his speech he hoped to see the newly appointed Student Council carry out their duties and responsibilities entrusted to them with full confidence, commitment and diligence and without any fear and favour. “They are entrusted to help the school management to execute the various duties and responsibilities, such as to enforce the school rules and regulation, student discipline and to organize club and games activities, academic inputs and charity works,” he said, adding the installation ceremony was one of the school’s yearly activities. He disclosed that the selection process for the various posts in the board was done through various criteria such as students’ potential and achievement in academic and extra curricular activities, positive attitudes, high degree of commitment, creativeness, disciplines, responsibleness and diligence. “Having fulfilled these criteria, they are then sent for a leadership training camp. During the training, they are given a variety of activities to train their mental and physical fitness,” he said, adding that at the end of the training, the students were assessed by the trainer to qualify for the certificate. The ceremony was officiated by guest of honour Mr John Paujik who is a member of the Board of Governors. Kohinoor Kaur was appointed as the new Chief Minister of the school.

MONDAY - 24 MARCH 2008 - CITY HALL TOLD TO ACT AGAINST ILLEGAL VENDORS AT LIDO MARKET

City Hall told to act against illegal vendors at Lido Market

KOTA KINABALU:

The Kota Kinabalu City Hall has been urged to immediately act against foreigners hawking illegally at the vicinity of the Lido Market in Lido township here, as they are affecting the livelihood of the legitimate hawkers. Simon Tsen, the Chinese Kapitan for Lido, said he had been receiving numerous complaints from the hawkers at the Lido Market complaining over the presence of these illegal vendors who are foreigners as they were posing an unfair competition to them. “This was because unlike the legitimate hawkers who are paying the monthly rental as well as the trading licence, these foreigners are operating freely without having to pay anything, thus they can afford to sell their goods at a much lower price and this is affecting the business of the legitimate hawkers,” he explained. Simon stressed that since the legitimate hawkers are paying for the trading licence thus contributing to the City Hall’s income, it is only appropriate and fair that the City Hall must come up with effective measures to curb the illegal vendors from operating there, so as to protect the interest of the legitimate hawkers. “Failing which, it may only cast doubt on the credibility and integrity of the City Hall, its Enforcement Unit especially,” he pointed out. He also noted that these illegal vendors usually start operating at the market as early as 4.30am until 7.30am on normal days and until 10am on Sundays. Hence, if the City Hall enforcement is serious about tackling the issue, it should then station its personnel there at early hours.

MONDAY - 24 MARCH 2008 - LEADERS AGREE JPPS SHOULD BE ABOLISHED

Leaders agree JPPS should be abolished

KOTA KINABALU:

Local leaders from within and outside the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) Government here yesterday voiced their support for the call to abolish the Federal State Development Department (JPPS). Both the BN and opposition leaders agreed with the contention raised by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee that the Department has outlived its purpose. Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Donald Mojuntin said that the continued presence of the Department implies a “lack of trust” from the Federal leadership. “As far as I am concerned, there is no need for JPPS because in the last election we have proven that Sabah is very much for BN. “As such, they (Federal leadership) should listen to the opinions of our leaders, because if the Department remains it indicates a lack of trust, not only in our leaders but also our people,” he said when contacted yesterday. Donald, who is also an Upko Supreme Council Member, noted that while he agrees with the abolishment of the JPPS, there must be a mechanism to ensure that any and all Federal development funds allocated goes “directly to the ground”. “A monitoring system must be in place. It’s very simple, even without an audit ur MPs (Members of Parliament) will know how much money will be allocated for which area, so the Federal Gvernment must be transparent. “There must be a mechanism to make the transfer as smooth as possible and make it as direct as possible. Whichever (State) department that takes over will be there just to facilitate the transfer,” he said. Parti Keadilan Rakyat State Information Chief Dr Edwin Bosie meanwhile questioned the rationale behind the Federal Government’s insistence to retain the JPPS all this while. “We have a State Government, so we have the mechanism to develop the State. I do not see the need for the JPPS. “It should be left to the State Government to implement the projects. The Federal Government has its auditors, so they act as the check and balance to ensure the money goes where it should be,” he said. Kota Kinabalu MP cum DAP Kota Kinabalu Chief Dr Hiew King Chew on the other hand charged that the JPPS has been a haven for abuse and wastage of funds. “The Department overlaps a lot of departmental jurisdiction, for example with JKR (Public Works Department) or the Rural Development Department. “The State does not have a hand on the Federal funds. It is all with the JPPS and there is a lack of transparency and fairness. “For example, the RM5 million MP fund goes directly to JPPS and MPs can take RM20,000, no questions asked. All they need to do is putdown their signature without any explanation,” he said. The Consumer Association of Sabah and FT Labuan (Cash) President Datuk Patrick Sindu reiterated Hiew’s claims, saying that the duplication of functions between the JPPS and the various State departments would only lead to numerous complications. “In the entire country, only Sabah has this problem. The Federal funds should be monitored by one department only. “As it is, there is too much red tape, a lot of people are being overtaken with overlapping claims over the same projects and there is too much hanky panky... everything has gone upside- down and it costs a lot of money,” he said. On Yong’s suggestion that the JPPS be established in the opposition-led states in Peninsular Malaysia, Donald said it is a logical progression considering the JPPS’ initial purpose when it was set up in Sabah in 1985, when it was governed by the then opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah. “That was the purpose of JPPS’ establishment here in the first place, to ensure that Federal funds are not misused. However, we need to remove any weaknesses to the system,” he said. Edwin however disagreed with the suggestion, branding the move as regressive. “The JPPS was sent to Sabah for a reason. It was to frustrate the State Government at the time which was not the BN and I don’t think that he is being fair to Malaysians. If he (Yong) thinks it is not beneficial at all to the State Government, why suggest to send it to opposition states?” he said. Hiew avoided a direct answer, saying only that if the opposition were to take over the Government as rumoured, the Department “will definitely be scrapped”. Patrick meanwhile stressed that the Federal Government needs to set its priorities, saying that what is important is for the Federal Government to develop Sabah. “There is too much politicking and I don’t understand why they still want things to remain this way,” he said.

MONDAY - 24 MARCH 2008 - DON'T WASH DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC :PKR

Don’t wash dirty linen in public: PKR

KOTA KINABALU:

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah Information Chief Dr Edwin Bosi yesterday urged its disgruntled leaders to exercise care when airing their grouses to the media. Political leaders going to the media must be extra careful, he said, adding, “I urge Keadilan leaders such as Pensiangan Keadilan Deputy Chief Affendy @ Lukan Anginduh who was not selected as a candidate in the 12th general election, to refrain from complaining and wash his dirty linen in public. “By doing so, one is exposing one’s character. For the public it will mean that the top leadership has made the right decision in not fielding ‘you (Affendy) as a candidate,” he said. Edwin was replying to the calls for Sabah PKR Chief Ansari Abdullah to take the blame for the party’s failure to win any seats in the 12th general elections. According to Edwin, as PKR Sabah’s Information Chief, he has not heard of any complaints blaming Ansari for the party’s failure to obtain any representation in the Dewan.

MONDAY - 24 MARCH 2008 - WHO SAYS I DID NOT HELP PENAMPANG PEOPLE? - JOHN

Who says I did not help Penampang people? - John

PENAMPANG:

Penampang Umno Divisional Head Datuk John Ambrose Dumpangol said he had done his part in helping the people of Penampang. He said he had built eight hanging bridges, provided computers to schools and school bags to pupils in schools here, and some of the funds came from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. John was responding to the statement made by the head of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Penampang Division, Dr Edwin Bosi who asked what had the former done to help the people of Penampang (in a statement in a local newspaper yesterday), instead of asking opposition people to join Umno. Last Saturday, John had asked opposition leaders and members to join Umno in order to continue their struggle for the good of the people of Sabah. Dr Bosi also asked what did John do to help the Maang residents when the Government decided to re-settle people to their area. John said his intention to call upon Kadazan leaders and their supporters in the opposition to join Umno was ‘sincere”. “I only broached the subject because I know the opposition would not make any headway in the State, as shown in the recently-concluded polls. “But if Dr Edwin would not want to budge from the opposition, there is no forcing business from Umno,” John explained. On the Maang issue, he said there was a committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan entrusted to screen and verify the authenticity of the people to be resettled. “And what had Dr Bosi done to resolve the Maang issue or to help the local populace in terms of infrastructural aspects, for instance bridges and so forth? “When somebody’s house was gutted by fire, Dr Bosi was not seen around. Talk less and do more empirical works for the people because rhetoric alone would not help solve any problem faced by the people of Penampang,” he said. John also said Dr Bosi should now ask for help to further develop Penampang district from his PKR leaders in Kuala Lumpur.

MONDAY-24 MARCH 2008- 10,000 TO EXCERCISE BY COLLECTING RUBBISH

10,000 to exercise by collecting rubbish

KOTA KINABALU:

City Hall is targeting about 10,000 people to join the “Exercise While Campaigning” event to make the City clean f r o m rubbish on May 3. Its Director General, Datuk Dr Chua Kim Hing, said that the program is the highlight of the on-going big scale anti-littering campaign towards making Kota Kinabalu a litter-free City. “On that day, we do exercise by collecting rubbish and at the same time doing campaign to stop throwing of rubbish,” he said, adding the event would also be put in the Malaysia Book of Records. Apart from the City areas, Chua said several villages and smaller towns like Tanjung Aru and Foh Sang would also be involved. “I hope individuals, students, State and Federal Government staff as well as City Friends will be joining this big event to make the City free of rubbish,” Chua said when met at Lintasan Deasoka where an anti-litterbug operation and stop smoking campaign were held. To date, Chua said more than 10,000 people have registered as City Friends. “We are still recruiting more people to become City Friends,” he said. However, he was upset with the attitude of some of the City Friends who littered the City. “Maybe they do not know their actual role as City Friends,” he said. Explaining on how to become a City Friend, Chua said firstly the person must promise not to throw rubbish anywhere. “Secondly, they must advise close friends and relatives not to litter. The third step is they must tick off and educate litterbugs not to throw rubbish,” he said. The fourth step is joining the City Hall’s anti-litterbug operation and lastly practise ‘Life’ - the acronym for ‘Litter free event’. Chua said that these are the actual roles of City Friends. “After the registration, they will be given a City Friend card,” he added. Meanwhile, he urged all shop operators in the City to place dustbins under their tables to make their shops clean. “I notice that people used to throw tissues onto the floor after cleaning their tables. By placing these dustbins, rubbish can be thrown into them,” he said. He also suggested shop operators put up a notice to remind customers to throw rubbish into the right place. Chua added they would also cooperate with the Tourism Ministry to plan and organise more cleanliness programs to make the State clean.

MONDAY-24 MARCH 2008- TOURIST AMONG 55 COMPOUNDED FOR LITTERING IN KK

Tourists among 55 compounded for littering in KK

KOTA KINABALU:

A total of 55 persons, including tourists from Brunei and China, were compounded RM1O each by the City Hall’s enforcement personnel yesterday for littering. All the 55 comprising men and women were compounded on the spot during ‘Ops Kutu Sampah’ conducted along the Gaya Street Sunday Market here when the enforcement unit saw them littering. The operation which stated from 8am until 1pm, involved 46 enforcement staff and several volunteers wearing plainclothes, according to Assistant Enforcement Officer Mohd Amir Izat Romeo b Abdullah who led the operation. “Most of them were found littering paper-cups and cigarette butts,” Amir said, adding that apart from the tourists from Brunei and China, also compounded were visitors from Peninsular Malaysia. The ‘Ops Kutu Sampah’ was held in conjunction with the City Hall’s big scale anti-littering campaign to make Kota Kinabalu a litter-free city. To a question, Amir said a person who was found littering could be actually compounded up to RM500 under Section 3(a) of the Anti-Litter By-law 2005. He said the RM10 compound would be imposed within the period of the anti-littering campaign. “After this campaign, the minimum compound imposed on those found littering is RM50,” Amir said. Asking on the reaction of the 55 persons when they were compounded, Amir said, “Some of them were shocked and the others refused to pay the compound”. “However, when we introduced ourselves by showing our authority cards and explained to them our ongoing campaign, they were willing to pay the compound,” he added. Amir also said the “Ops Kutu Sampah” would be conducted daily. Meanwhile, a man welcomed the move by the City Hall to compound the litterbugs. “I agree with the move carried by the City Hall to compound those found littering. It can teach them and other people a lesson not to simply throw rubbish,” said the man in his 40s.

MONDAY-24 MARCH 2008- SURADY VOWS TO WORK HARDER TO SOLVE PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS

Surady vows to work harder to solve people’s problems

BELURAN:

Sugut Assemblyman Datuk Surady Kayong has assured his constituents that he will work harder to resolve their problems. In thanking them for giving him the mandate a fourth term, Surady said he will get the relevant Government agencies to help out in seeking resolutions to the problems of residents in Sugut. Speaking at the Barisan Nasional (BN) thanksgiving ceremony organised by Umno Kampung Terusan Sugut, Surady who is also Umno Beluran Divisional Chief, said the people’s support was the reason for BN’s victory in the area. “Therefore as your elected representative, I will continue to give my best service in ensuring residents here continue to enjoy development and better socio-economy,” he said. He added that the people continued to support BN because they know only the coalition can provide them with the facilities and infrastructure they need. “BN Assemblyman are always willing to work for the rakyat and do their best to resolve their problems unlike the Opposition who only make empty promises,” he said.

MONDAY-24 MARCH 2008- 29,300 PACKETS OF CIGARETTES SEIZED

29,300 packets of cigarettes seized

KOTA KINABALU:

The marine police seized 29,300 packets of smuggled cigarettes worth RM142,094 while patrolling at Tanjung Wakong in Pulau Gaya on Saturday night. City Marine Commanding Officer ASP Fauzi b Ibrahim yesterday said the marine police saw several boats at the beach about 10.3Opm. As they were approaching the boats to have a closer look, they saw a few people escaping in a boat and later found the smuggled cigarettes inside another boat. Meanwhile, the marine police also seized two boats filled with fish, believed to be caught by using poison, last month. Fauzi said a team of personnel who were conducting an operation at Tanjung Tenghilan, came across two boats about 12.3Opm on Feb 27. They found 20 live fish in the first boat and 19 live fish in the second boat. During investigation, the skippers of the boats admitted they had caught the fish by using Sodium, a type of poison. The boats and the skippers were then brought to the City marine base for further investigation. The case will be investigated under the Fishery Act.

MONDAY-24 MARCH 2008- LOCAL KILLED, ANOTHER HURT IN BEAUFORT FIGHT

Local killed, another hurt in Beaufort fight

BEAUFORT:

A local man was killed while another man was injured in a fight between two groups in Wisma Arjuna here on Saturday night. According to sources, the victim died due to stab injuries on the stomach. Meanwhile, the injured man was sent to the district hospital for treatment. It was not sure whether the police have made any arrest but investigation and operation to trace those involved in the case were being carried out. The police when contacted yesterday, promised to give the details of the incident today. Meanwhile in Kota Marudu, eight men from the Philippines were arrested by a marine police team while trying to enter the State illegally on Saturday night. The eight Filipinos aged between 17 and 51, were apprehended in a boat about 10. 2Opm at the river mouth of Kampung Kanibongan in Pitas during “Ops Barracuda” led by Kota Kinabalu Marine Police Chief Chief Inspector Aziz b Siyon. All the men did not have any documents when they were arrested. Also found in the boat was 10 packs of rice, 10 cartons of Mighty Full Slavor cigarette and 42 cartons of Mighty Menthol cigarette. They are believed to be smuggled items and were seized. All the Filipinos were then detained at the Kota Marudu police station lock-up for further investigation under Section 6(1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for illegal entry and under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act for allegedly possessing smuggled items. If convicted under the Immigration Act, they can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed up to five years, or both, while the Customs Act provides a maximum fine of RM50,000 or 20 times of he amount of unpaid duty on conviction.

MONDAY-17 MARCH 2008- MUKHRIZ'S STATEMENT DISRESPECTFUL, SAYS JAPLIN

Mukhriz‘s statement disrespectful, says Japlin

KOTA KINABALU:

Sabah Umno Youth has taken the party’s National Youth Exco member Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir to task for asking Prime Minister and Umno President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign. The movement’s chief, Datuk Japlin Akim, described Mukhriz’s statement as “disrespectful and uncalled for” as it does not reflect the stand of an Umno Youth leader and urged the latter to withdraw the statement. Japlin in a statement pointed out that its was strange that Mukhriz had earlier openly expressed his support for Abdullah’s leadership but then sent a letter to him calling for his resignation. “I don’t understand how he can stab Pak Lah in the back... this is not the Umno Youth’s way,” said Japlin who is also the Usukan State Assemblyman. He also reiterated Sabah Umno Youth’s stand of undivided support for Pak Lah as well as State Umno Liaison Chief Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. “Sabah Umno Youth has confidence in Pak Lah’s leadership and administration of the country and he can do better with the support of the rakyat, Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and Umno leaders,” he added.

MONDAY-17 MARCH 2008- MELANIE FINDS NEW POST MORE CHALLENGING

Melanie finds new post more challenging

KOTA KINABALU:

Newly appointed Assistant Finance Minister Melanie Chia Chui Ket said the new post would be more challenging than her previous position as Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister. “It is more challenging if compared with my previous post as it deals with the policy and development of the State and covering all the other ministries,” she said when contacted yesterday. However, Melanie who is the Luyang Assemblywoman, said that the new post is actually a new experience for her. Asked to elaborate on her new role, Melanie said she had yet to be given any specific task. “I have just been appointed to this post. Normally, the task will be given after the first State Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. I will know what is my role in this ministry after the meeting,” said Melanie who thanked Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman for giving her the trust in holding the post. “I thank Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman who is also Finance Minister, for giving me the opportunity and trust to play my role in another ministry. It is an honour for me and I will give my best,” she said. Melanie added that appointing her to the important post was also a recognition of women’s contribution to the development of the State. Meanwhile, Melanie and Likas Assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan have called on the people to continue to give them the necessary feedback, suggestions and advice so that they could better improve their service to them. They made the call after making their rounds at the Sunday Gaya Street fair here yesterday, to thank their voters and supporters for retaining them in the 12th General Election. Melanie who has been appointed as Assistant Finance Minister together with Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan in the new State Cabinet, reckoned that the people’s cooperation is absolutely crucial towards improving the living condition in their constituency. She vowed to do her best to improve the communication system between the relevant authorities and the people, so as to better improve the delivery system of the relevant authorities. Both she and Liew also promised to fight for greater attention from the relevant authorities to better improve the infrastructures, especially the drainage system in and around their constituencies, so as to effectively address the perennial flash flood problem which had been affecting the residents for many years each time when there was a heavy downpour. Melanie was convinced that the delivery system of the relevant authorities can be improved, if they are really committed to their tasks of serving the people as demonstrated by the Immigration Department in expediting the issuance of passports. Meanwhile, Liew who is also the Deputy President of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), also pledged to improve the traffic situation in Likas and its vicinity, especially the stretch along the All Saints Secondary School. He also called on his constituents to look for him either at his office at the Progressive Centre in Inanam or at the SAPP weekly mobile service booth in Gaya Street, every Sunday if they need any assistance.

MONDAY-17 MARCH 2008- UMS STUDENTS COMPLETE WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY SHELL

UMS students complete workshop organised by Shell

KOTA KINABALU:

In its effort to promote better industrial safety management, Shell Malaysia Gas and Power has held a two-day workshop for University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students on the importance of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) in the workplace. The workshop held under Shell Malaysia’s capacity building programme PRESTIGE (Practical Environmental, Safety and Industrial Guidance for Engineers), was participated by 50 final-year students from UMS Faculty of Engineering. The interactive workshop organized in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Kota Kinabalu covered practical Shell HSE knowledge, tools and best practice aimed to help these future engineers identify HSE risks at workplace and manage them accordingly. “Our objective is to share the importance of health and safety in the workplace with these future engineers using Shell’s HSE tools and best practice to enable them not only to see its importance in the workplace but make it part and parcel of their work culture,” said Shell MDS Malaysia Manufacturing General Manager Mark Pattenden. “At Shell, health, safety and environmental issues are managed as critical part of our business activity. We are committed to pursue the goal of zero harm to people, to protect our environment and to manage HSE matters so that we achieve continuous performance improvement. This is our commitment as a responsible company to our staff, contractors and the communities we operate in,” he added when speaking at the workshop closing dinner here last night. During the workshop, participants were given lectures by speakers from DOE, DOSH, UMS and Shell. Towards the end of the workshop, the group were divided into small groups and given a case study that required them to apply the HSE knowledge, tools and best practice that they were taught over the weekend to various real life scenarios. Three teams who provided the best solution to the problem given to them received the PRESTIGE Award and prizes from Shell, including a study trip to the world’s first commercial Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) plant in Bintulu, Sarawak. UMS Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kamaruzzaman Ampon who witnessed the presentation of prizes, said the programme allowed the students not only to enhance their awareness on HSE issues but also their understanding on Shell’s business operations and its commitment to sustainable development. “It also presented the scholars with an overview of the job opportunities available in the company and within the energy industry,” he added. According to Kamaruzzaman, UMS is on the final stage of providing industrial training to its students that directly attaches them with the industry. Shell is the first company to offer its professional staff to give lecture to UMS students under the industrial attachment programme, he said.

MONDAY-17 MARCH 2008- CASH TO BRING CONSUMER ISSUES TO NEW MINISTER

CASH to bring consumers issues to new minister

KOTA KINABALU:

The Consumer Association of Sabah and FT Labuan (CASH) would forward and highlight the issues of consumers to the new Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Hajah Azizah Mohd Dun. Its Deputy President, Nordin Thani, said CASH is looking forward to working very closely with the minister to resolve the consumers’ problems. He hopes that Hajah’s Ministry would be more effective in solving the disputes between business owners and consumers after the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s landslide victory in the 12th General Election in the State. Nordin was asked to comment on the appointment of Azizah who won the Klias State seat under a BN ticket. “I would address the important roles of the consumers who are actually voters that involve everybody in the country,” he said. “I am certain that Datuk Hajah Azizah realize the roles that empowering consumers can play and I am certain of her capability in helping not only individuals but the economy, businesses and the general well-being of our society. “With her appointment, I congratulate her on being appointed as the new Minister of the Community Development and Consumers Affairs,” he said. Nordin added CASH would also ensure that the less informed and vulnerable consumers are always protected from unscrupulous traders and businesses and the role of enforcement and the right regulations and systems are in place for this. “With Azizah’s ministerial experiences obtained and achieved at the federal level, I am confident she could deliver and contribute towards the future development of Sabah. “I have read her statements too in The Borneo Post that she would want to really help the consumers with the complaints and single parents issues,” he said. Nordin pointed out the ministry’s role as a whole is so broad. However, it is expected by many to be transparent and effective. When asked for the worst complaints received before the election which has become one of the major issues in Sabah, he mentioned illegal money lending by a long who impose unbearable interest on their customers.

MONDAY-17 MARCH 2008- BEAUTY PAGEANT HELPS TO PROMOTE KK: MAYOR

Beauty pageant helps to promote KK: Mayor

KOTA KINABALU:

Staging of the Miss Sabah Malaysia Universe can help further promote the Nature Resort City of Kota Kinabalu as a hub for international activities. Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim said this in his welcoming address during the beauty pageant’s State-level final here on Saturday night. Wishing the best luck to Borneo Events who is bidding to stage the national level Miss Malaysia! Universe here in Sabah, he said the competition is seen as one way of promoting the State tourism. “One of the criteria required from the contestants is good knowledge of their State tourism industry. As such this event is also in line with the Visit Malaysia Year 2007/2008. “For the contestants themselves, I am sure they will be promoting the uniqueness of Sabah through this event, while at the same time, build their self-confidence and prepare them as future ambassadors for the State,” he said. Iliyas witnessed the crowning of Miss Sabah/Malaysia/Universe Cassey V Pilos who will be representing the State at the national level expected to be held in Kuala Lumpur in April.