June 2010 Archives

Kota Kinabalu: The odds of Sabah getting a casino licence are probably a million to one but that's not stopping a Member of Parliament from trying his luck.

Batu Sapi MP Edmund Chong Ket Wah (PBS) made the call while debating the 10th Malaysia Plan at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Chong urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to consider approving a casino licence for the state to help boost its tourism industry.

He said the existing law that allows Genting Highland could also be applied to allow a casino in Sabah and the stakes are high.

"Kundasang in Sabah has the same climate and environment like in Genting. In Sabah now, there are 44 jackpot licences and 425 jackpot machines. If all these 425 jackpot machines are placed in one building, it is already a casino," said Chong.

"If not for the casino in Genting, there would be no indoor and outdoor theme parks. If not for the casino in Genting, there would be no Arena of Stars for international stars and shows.

"If not for the casino in Genting, there would not be thousands of rooms up there and if there is no casino up there, there would be no millions of people going up there and no millions of ringgit earned," he said.

Continue reading Casino in Sabah

Come next year, plans are underway to notch up a record for the first paragliding flight from the vicinity of the summit of Mount Kinabalu to the Tip of Borneo, in the northern-most district of Kudat.

Local paragliding company Borneo Air Sport Ozone Adventures is now working with the Sabah Tourism Board to see the attempt by a local in either March or April.

The company's instructor, Bruce Patrick Soimil, said the idea came about after a German had hang-glided from Laban Rata at Mount Kinabalu to Masilau in 1985.

Only this time, Soimil wants to take it a step further, and set a record for a local, instead.

In an interview with Bernama Sunday, he said the company had identified a person for the record attempt and that the board's response to the idea was "most welcoming".

Meanwhile, the Sabah Malaysian Borneo XC (Cross Country) 2010, the first worldclass paragliding event held at Tamparuli, ended today.

During the event, weather and wind conditions proved challenging to the participants since last Friday.

Borneo Air Sport Ozone Adventures, together with the Tuaran District Office and Tamparuli Sub-district office, have jointly organised the three-day event at Ruhiang Hill, Tamparuli.

It is aimed at boosting the tourism industry there, while promoting paragliding as a sport.

Soimil said more than 40 participants from 11 countries were expected to turn up at the event, but only 20 international paragliders, namely those from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Nepal, China, Korea and India, showed up.

"Since this is our first time organising such an event, there are bound to be glitches here and there, but as we go along, the organisation will be smoother," he said, hoping to see more foreign participants next year.

Source: Bernama

Kuala Lumpur: An endangered pygmy elephant calf that was rescued on Borneo island early this month has died, a minister said Sunday.

Masidi Manjun, eastern Sabah-state tourism, culture and environment minister said the two-year-old female calf died from severe internal bleeding.

On June 4, the wildlife rescue unit saved the highly dehydrated pygmy elephant from a moat at an oil palm estate. She was one of two calves found starving in Sabah.

"The lesson we learn from this tragedy is that the best place for the animal to survive is in its natural habitat and not in human captivation," Masidi said.

Pygmy elephants on Borneo form a sub-species of the Asian elephant. The creatures have a rounded appearance and are smaller than their mainland cousins.
Authorities say there are around 1,500-2,000 left on Borneo island.

Wildlife activists have warned that Borneo Pygmy elephants are fast losing their natural habitat to deforestation and human encroachment.

Source: AFP

Kota Kinabalu: City Hall Director-General Yeo Boon Hai said he is confident people will gradually get used to not depending on plastic bags.

"Since the 'No Plastic Bag Day On Monday' campaign was launched on June 7, we are proud to see more than 20 supermarkets participating and more will be joining," he said at the Lido Milimewa Superstore, Monday.

Though it is hard and may be a little bit of hassle for consumers at this early stage, he is confident they would gradually get used to it as time went by.

"For plastic bags used by customers who do not bring their own on Mondays, 20 sen will be charged and all the money collected will go to the Sabah Environmental Action Centre for awareness activity and other similar purposes," Yeo said.

He also said these campaigns are held nationwide so that people start doing something seriously for the environment and the State and country become a cleaner place to live in.

"We always get the same complaints from tourists when it comes to the cleanliness of the city.

"Most say there is too much rubbish especially plastic bags in the rivers, drains, roadside and other regular tourist sites," he said, adding it is a shameful fact to swallow and, thus, has to be changed.

Meanwhile, Milimewa Superstore West Coast Region 2 Senior Manager, Gui Cheng Oo, said participating in this campaign is one way to prove they really are trying to do something to save the environment.

"The earth is now facing serious global warming issues and our country is among contributing to it," he said.

Continue reading 'No plastic bags on Mondays': growing response

Sibu: Justice Yew Jen Kie became Sarawak's first woman High Court Judge yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after the elevation ceremony in the morning at the High Court here, Justice Yew said she was mindful of her duty as a judge and promised to do her best.

The first woman High Court Judge of Sabah and Sarawak said she was privileged and honoured to be appointed to the post, which was announced on April 14 but took effect yesterday. She was a judicial commissioner previously.

Justice Yew said she was not aware that she was the first woman High Court Judge in Sabah and Sarawak until someone mentioned it to her.

"Only then I realised I am the first woman to be appointed to this position," she added.

She believed that with more women reading law there would be more women judges in the country soon.

In her speech at the ceremony, she talked of the importance of the public having confidence in the courts.

Looking back, she said she took up law in 1973 with no intention to pursue a legal career.

"My original intention was to pursue law as a stepping stone to another profession, which was a chartered secretary.

"After a very short stint with a legal firm, I embarked on a judicial career which spanned over three decades, culminating in the elevation to a high court judge.

Continue reading on AsiaOne News

Sabah, Kedah, Johor and Terengganu beat their respective opponents to qualify for the rugby semifinals at the 13th Malaysia Games (Sukma), here Wednesday.

In the quarterfinal matches at the Politeknik Merlimau Melaka, Merlimau near here, defending champions Terengganu were the first to make it to the semifinals when they beat Federal Territories 12-5.

Terengganu will meet Sabah in the semifinals Thursday.

Sabah sprang a surprise when they beat seeded Kelantan 12-7.

Kedah beat Negeri Sembilan 14-10 while Johor beat hosts Melaka 24-0.

Kota Kinabalu: All proceeds from the 10th Sutera Harbour 7K Sunset Charity Run 2010 on July 10 at Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf and Country Club will go towards the Special Olympics Sabah (SOS) and Sabah Thalassaemia Society (STS).

The 7K Run aims to raise funds and awareness for the beneficiaries in a fun and exciting way as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle among the public.

Students who signed up for the event will receive a T-shirt and an Adidas voucher worth RM20.

Those keen to take part can obtain the entry forms at Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf and Country Club as well as at the Gaya Street Sunday Market.

The SOS provides year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with mental disabilities.

The STS, on the other hand, provides medical services to thalassaemia patients, an inherited blood disorder that requires regular blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants as treatment options.

For more information, contact 088-303036 or 088-303341.

Source: Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: The Kota Kinabalu Wetlands Centre celebrated the World Environment Day 2010 by inviting the public to its open day.

A statement from Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society (SWCS), Wednesday, said the activity was aimed at educating the public and increasing their awareness on the importance of wetlands as part of the ecosystems.

The celebration theme this year is "Many Species. One Planet, One Future" which reflects the important of raising awareness about the vital importance of the millions of species that inhabit the planet and that their wellbeing and sustainable future depend very much on biodiversity.

The theme this year also urges the public to conserve the diversity of life that exists on the planet.

It said every living thing on this planet is ecologically connected and that if even one species is taken out from the ecological system, the results could be catastrophic.

"With this same concept, the survival of the living organism within the wetland's ecology is very much dependent on the survival of the wetland," it said.

Continue reading the article Here

Sabah and Sarawak will get more new roads and basic amenities under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Under the five-year blueprint, a total of 2,540km of roads will be built in Sabah and 2,819km in Sarawak.

"This will help ensure mobility of goods and people from rural areas to urban markets and beyond," said the 10th Plan report.

Also, 98% of those in Sabah and 95% of people in Sarawak will have access to clean water with supply reaching an additional 112,700 houses in Sabah and 87,000 houses in Sarawak.

The states will also enjoy 99% electricity coverage with supply in the rural areas to be extended to 59,000 houses in Sabah and 76,000 houses in Sarawak by 2015.

In Sabah, three new power plants will be commissioned with a combined capacity of 700MW. Two are gas-based plants in the west coast and one coal-based in the east coast using clean coal technology.

In Sarawak, the 2,400 MW Bakun hydroelectricity project will be commissioned in stages.

Air and water transportation will also be improved to increase connectivity and accessibility in rural areas and this includes upgrading the short take off landing (STOL) airstrips.

River transportation will be enhanced as a mode of public transport particularly in Sarawak and promoted as a tourism product.

Continue reading New roads planned for Sabah and Sarawak

Kota Kinabalu: Dog owners in Sabah and their pets now have an internationally affiliated association to assist them in all matters concerning man's best friend.

The East Malaysia Dogowners Association (EMDA) will be assisting local authorities, state agencies and departments in matters related to canines," said its president William Chang.

Chang said that after many years of planning and delays in founding a canine club in the state, the EMDA inally got off the ground last week.

EMDA, he said, is the first canine club registered with the ROS in Sabah and is affiliated to The Federacion Canina International (FCI) which is an international canine federation.

EMDA is placed under the Asian Kennel Club Union of the Philippines Inc. (AKCUPI) as the head of the Asian section.

Chang said EMDA will work towards making Sabah internationally known for its canine activities and bring in international dog enthusiasts as well as conduct dog shows in the state.

The first event will an 'All Breed Dog' show scheduled for Dec 12 in the state capital to be judged by panel of international judges.

Chang said EMDA is now on a campaign to encourage dog owners in Sabah and Sarawak to join the association.

Continue reading the article Here

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah will host the prestigious World Tourism Conference (WTC) on Oct 4-6, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.

He said the event would provide opportunities for the state's tourism sector to showcase Sabah's assets to the international delegations and provide avenue for stakeholders to participate.

Musa said the federal government had approved an allocation of RM500,000 to the Tourism Ministry to organise the event.

"We welcome and thank the federal government, especially the Tourism Ministry, for suggesting that the event be hosted by Sabah," he told reporters after chairing the state cabinet meeting, here Wednesday.

He said the WTC 2007, hosted by Kuala Lumpur, attracted 826 participants from 72 countries, including 13 ministerial-level participations.

"This will bring about positive impact to the state's tourism sector. We hope that participations would be as many as the WTC 2007 in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

According to the WTC website, the conference, organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, was held for the first time in Manila, the Philippines in 1980, followed by Acapulco, Mexico in 1982.

After an absence of 25 years, the WTC returned for the third time in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.

Source: The Star

Kota Kinabalu: Popular local singer Kimin Mudin, whose song 'Sayang Kinabalu' was named the Sabah tourism promotional theme song, died early yesterday due to a heart ailment.

Kimin, 46, the elder brother of top Malaysian songwriter Asmin Mudin, breathed his last at the Likas Hospital here at 1.35am.
Asmin said his brother was admitted to the hospital just before midnight after complaining of breathing difficulties after taking a bath in his house in Kampung Rampaian, Menggatal, near here at about 10pm.

"His wife sent him to the hospital. While there he passed out and pronounced dead at 1.35am," he said when met at the Jalan Kepayan Muslim Cemetery here.
Also at the cemetery were several local artistes including Abu Bakar Ella.
Kimin, from Kampung Kelatuan, Papar and the father of seven children, shot to fame in Sabah through the song 'Sayang Kinabalu' composed by Asmin in 2000.

It was made the Sabah tourism theme song in 2008.
Asmin, who composed some of the country's most memorable songs such as Kau Ilham Ku, Anggapanmu and Gemilang sung by Man Bai, Ziana Zain and Jaclyn Victor respectively, said the Sayang Kinabalu album sold 50,000 copies so far.

Source: The Borneo Post

Penampang: Datuk Seri Musa Aman hoped the spirit of the Pesta Kaamatan will keep encouraging Malaysians in Sabah to strengthen unity and cohesiveness to ensure continued stability, peace and prosperity in the State.

He said traditionally the festival was for the KDM community to express thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and the fact is that the festival is a platform to unite the people in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

"We can see and feel this with the attendance, participation and commitment of the other ethnic races not only in making this festival successful but also to make us better understand, know each other and accept the culture as well as customs of the KDM community as a treasure that must be preserved by us together," he said.

Speaking at the closing of the two-day State level Pesta Kaamatan celebration at Hongkod Koisaan, KDCA, Monday, Musa said apart from giving the opportunity for the KDM community to commemorate their cultural heritage the festival also assists the Government in promoting tourism.

He said the State Government through the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry as well as the Information, Communication and Cultural Ministry had given the highest recognition to Pesta Kaamatan by elevating it to a national celebration through the Malaysia Open House concept.

"This is the uniqueness and speciality of Malaysians in Sabah that have been our traditions all this while," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who was the main organising committee chairman, believed the harmony and joyful feeling of the people of Sabah during the Pesta Kaamatan could not be felt by many others in the country.

"Living harmoniously in a multi-racial in Malaysia is a huge pleasure which must be viewed at seriously by all quarters to be the thrust of the nation's strength and stability," he said.

Continue reading Harvest Festival 2010