Sabah

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Flag

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Coat of arms
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Sabah State Legislative Assembly Building

Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its south-west. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south. In spite of its status as a Malaysian state, Sabah remains a disputed territory; the Philippines has a dormant claim over much of the eastern part of the territory. The capital of Sabah is Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton. Sabah is often referred to as "The land below the wind", because of its location just south of the typhoon-prone region around the Philippines.

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Divisions
West Coast Division
Interior Division
Sandakan Division
Kudat Division
Tawau Division


Sabah FA

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The Football Association of Sabah (Malay: Persatuan Bola Sepak Sabah) is a registered football association affiliated with the Football Association of Malaysia. The association's football team competes in Malaysia's football league representing the state of Sabah in Borneo. Sabah FA is a professional football club and one of the big name teams of the Malaysian football structure. They were in the Malaysia Premier League but promoted to Malaysia Super League in 2011. The team's home matches are played at the 30,000 capacity Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah.
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Ground: Likas Stadium
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
(Capacity: 30,000)


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High Achievers
Sabah has produced a fair number of well-known high achievers. With the advent of communications and development in Malaysia, Sabah produced well known personalities compared to 4 decades before.

Actors: Marsha Milan Londoh, Farid Amirul Hisham('Gerak Khas' as Lim), Fung Bo Bo, Chung Shuk Wai, Tony Francis Gitom (filmmaker)
Broadcasting: Daphne Iking, Kamaruddin Mape, Farish Aziz
Radio Disc Jockey: Maryanne Raymond(Mary), Constantine Anthony(Constantine), Shahrizan Ferouz(The Shaz), Fadhil bin Luqman(Fad Da Dillio); all from TraXX FM. DJ Johnboy Lee of hitz.fm, DJ Othoe of Suria FM
Modelling: Guess model Amber Chia
Musicians & Composers: Guitarist Roger Wang, Composer Julfekar and Asmin Mudin
Singers: Nazrey Johani of Raihan, Azharina Azhar, Peter Dicky Lee, Pete Teo, Jerome Kugan, Mia Palencia, Yan Qing, Gary Cao, Stacy Anam
Band & Groups: JIAJA , E-Voke, One Nation Emcees, B.A.D. Boys, Lotter & Divine Masters, Richael Gimbang with Estranged
Interior & Furniture Designer: TL Bong
Internet Star/Internet Celebrity: Abangben & Moonboy (Melbourne Shuffle)
International Artists: Chenelle
Journalist: Ruben Sario
Wildlife Photographer: Ced Prudente

Gateway for Sabah
BKI | Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Sabah, Malaysia

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UPDATE:
Local Flights | International Flights
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
AirAsia Bandar Seri Begawan, Clark,
Hong Kong, Johor Bahru,
Kuala Lumpur, Kuching,
Labuan, Miri, Penang,
Sandakan, Shenzhen,
Singapore, Taipei, Tawau,
Macau, Jakarta

Malaysia Airlines Hong Kong, Johor Bahru,
Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur,
Kuching, Labuan, Singapore
Osaka-Kansai, Perth,
Sandakan, Seoul, Sibu
Tawau, Taipei, Miri, Mulu
Bandar Seri Begawan, Lahad Datu
Tokyo-Haneda, Kudat

MASwings Bandar Seri Begawan,
Bintulu, Kuching, Kudat,
Labuan, Lahad Datu,
Lawas, Miri, Mulu,
Sandakan, Sibu, Tawau

Firefly Kuala Lumpur [begins 15 January]

NOTE: NEW

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png South Korea
Asiana Airlines Seoul-Incheon
Korean Air Seoul-Incheon
Eastar Jet Seoul-Incheon

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Flag_of_Singapore.svg/22px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png Singapore
Jetstar Asia Airways Singapore
Silkair Singapore

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png Indonesia
Indonesia AirAsia Jakarta

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Flag_of_Brunei.svg/20px-Flag_of_Brunei.svg.png Brunei
Royal Brunei Airlines Bandar Seri Begawan

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Flag_of_Hong_Kong.svg/20px-Flag_of_Hong_Kong.svg.png Hong Kong
Dragonair Hong Kong

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/20px-Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png Philippines
Cebu Pacific Manila
NOTE: NEW

Tawau Airport
Tawau, Sabah
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Airlines and destinations
Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
Air Asia Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
MASwings Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan

Sandakan Airport
Sandakan, Sabah
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Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
AirAsia Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
MASwings Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Tawau
Sandakan Airport upgrading & extension

source:www.e-sabah.com

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Oil, Gas Industrial Park in Sipitang
by Mariah Doksil. Posted on April 1, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=112848

KOTA KINABALU: Plans are afoot to build an oil and gas industrial park in Sipitang that is expected to create more than 34,000 jobs and contribute more than RM10 billion to the State GDP, according to Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan.

The State Government has identified an area with the ideal attributes and logistics for developing the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), Tan said at the launch of the first annual Deepwater Offshore Conference & Exhibition World Asia 2011 at Nexus Resort Karambunai yesterday.

“The industries expected to be placed in SOGIP when it is fully developed will contribute greatly to the GDP of Sabah about RM10.62 billion or about 36.61 percent of the current GDP of Sabah at RM29 billion,” he said.

About 34,350 jobs will be created directly or indirectly by the industries, he added.

Tan said Malaysia has targeted Gross National Income (GNI) growth of 5.9 percent per annum and achieving this economic growth is expected to raise consumption by 3 percent, which will have a knock-on effect on the oil, gas and energy sector.

He said the increased consumption will require an additional two gigawatts of installed capacity to be built at a cost of RM9.6 billion, creating an estimated 2,500 jobs and adding RM11.2 billion to GNI.

“The additional transmission and distribution of this energy will create a further RM5.6 billion in GNI and require an investment of RM12.4 billion.

“In the downstream sector this increased consumption will boost GNI by RM1.5 billion and create 3,200 jobs. An estimated 90 new petrol stations will also need to be built at a total cost of RM3.2 billion.

“The most important enabler to ensure the successful realisation of the mentioned business opportunities is adequate supply of qualified domestic human capital.

“The government has to increase the supply of graduates in the next decade to staff the approximately 21,000 new jobs created at or above graduate level by 2020,” he said.

Tan added it is an exciting time for the oil and gas industry in Malaysia, since Sabah has 11 trillion cubic feet of gas and 1.5 billion barrels of oil in reserves.

It has been announced at the convocation of the Institut Teknologi Petroleum Petronas (Instep) here recently that Petronas will build a training school in Kimanis in two years. About 7,000 have graduated from Instep as skilled petroleum technicians and engineers since its inception in 1988.

Mount Kinabalu (Malay: Gunung Kinabalu) is a prominent mountain in Southeast Asia. It is located in Kinabalu National Park (a World Heritage Site) in the east Malaysian state of Sabah, which is on the island of Borneo in the tropics. It is the tallest mountain in Malaysia.
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Northwest view from observation tower @ Sabah AgroPark, Tenom

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Free internet access for 580 villages
8th April, 2011
http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/47841

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 580 villages in Sabah will get to enjoy wireless broadband access to the internet for free under the “Kampung Wifi” programme this year.

Minister of Information, Culture and Communications, Datuk Dr Rais Yatim said it is about the same number of villages in Sarawak that will also get to enjoy the same facility.

There are 40 villages in Sabah that are already in the stages of implementation and the number will increase to 200 by the end of the year.

Dr Rais made the announcement at a breakfast event with the Sabah Hakka Association here yesterday.

In an effort to increase broadband penetration in the rural parts of the state, the ministry will erect more telecommunication towers this year.

“Broadband penetration will be more effective with more towers and the implementation of Kampung Wifi,” he said.

The rate of broadband penetration in the country now stands at 58 per cent while in Sarawak and Sabah it is 42 and 40 per cent respectively.

Dr Rais was also confident that with collaboration from Astro and TV Interaktif (TVi), which will be launched next week, there will be less communication infrastructure problems in Sabah.

PEKADIN To Be Launched In Sabah Soon
5 Apr 2011
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=576542

KOTA KINABALU, April 5 (Bernama) -- Newly-formed Sabah Kadazandusun Murut Welfare and Education Association (PEKADIN) will be launched soon.

In announcing this, its advisor Latif Kandok said the association received its registration from the Registrar of Societies Malaysia (ROS) today.

"Our main objective is to help protect and safeguard the interests of the Kadazandusun Murut community with regard to the welfare and education in Sabah.

"We are now in the process of conducting membership drive and we plan to launch our association soon either here or in Kota Marudu," he told Bernama, here.

PEKADIN is open to the Dusuns, Kadazans and Muruts or related ethnic groups in the state, said Latif, adding that the association was only meant to complement the efforts by the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) led by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Meanwhile, the Sabah public which lost a strong consumer voice following the deregistration of the Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan (Cash) in 2009 due to a technicality has a new representation.

Named the Consumer Front of Sabah (Cfos), it was approved by the Registrar of Societies on March 11 this year, "after two years of waiting", revealed its President Nordin Thani, a satellite TV engineer, to Bernama here, today.

Nordin, a consumer activist even while a student in the United Kingdom and upon returning to Sabah in 2006, said the Cfos as a consumer mouthpiece will without fear or favour speak out and defend the rights of consumers be it pertaining to goods or services.

"We will work with both government and private agencies to constantly promote consumerism among Sabahans and make it a culture especially which the next generation of consumers and goods and service providers will treat seriously."

According to him, Cfos currently has 11 registered branches throughout the state with five more in the process of being registered.

"Currently we have 105 members and we are targeting a membership of 500 by year end; We are open to Malaysians residing in Sabah aged 18 and above."

He said Cfos also received and was considering a request to expand to Labuan although there is already a consumer association there.

Cfos has planned a road show to introduce itself to the general public.

-- BERNAMA

All 182 unnamed Sabah islands given names
by Murib Morpi. Posted on April 12, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=118513

KOTA KINABALU: All the 182 previously unnamed islands in Sabah have been gazetted and given names to avoid other countries staking claim on them, according to Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM) deputy director Ahmad Fauzi Nordin.

He said this brought the official number of islands within the state’s territory to 394.

“The naming of the islands has been completed and the State Cabinet will be notified before it is presented at their meeting,’ he said.

“Sabah has the largest number of islands in the country and is one of the most active states in naming islands and other geographical features,” he said at a state level seminar on Geographical Names here, yesterday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said all the remaining unnamed islands in the country will be gazetted by June 2011.

Based on JUPEM’s statistics, he said Malaysia has a total 878 islands and there are still about 100 of them in the peninsular which have yet to be named.

“The islands need to be named and gazetted quickly before other countries stake a claim on them. This is important as any country can claim the boundaries of their territorial waters up to a 200-nautical mile radius from an island, including its economic resources,” he said after officiating at the seminar..

Apart from islands, Malaysia also has 510 geographical features including rocks, sandbanks and ridges.

SPNB approves 645 affordable housing schemes in Sabah
14th April, 2011
http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/48038

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Idris (second left) and SPNB officials look at a
building plan for the Putatan Platinum Apartment project

PENAMPANG: Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) has approved 645 affordable housing schemes in Sabah worth RM44 million.

Its chairman Datuk Idris Haron said the projects had stringent requirements that called for developers to own the land for development.

Only applicants with a monthly household income of less than RM1,500, married and do not already own a house can qualify to purchase the houses.

Idris was speaking to reporters after attending a ceremony to hand over letters of intent to 28 contractors here yesterday.

The houses offered by SPNB under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) programme are the most attractive thus far because 30 per cent of the cost is subsidised by the government.

Buyers only need to pay between RM42,000 to RM45,000 or 75 per cent of the house cost.

“Normally, they will pay a monthly instalment of RM150 for 22 to 25 years and that is why this housing project appeals to the low-income group,” he said.

Idris assured that qualified buyers will not be disappointed by the product.

He, therefore reminded contractors given the task to build the houses to carry out their jobs strictly according to specifications and not to compromise on the quality of building materials.

“Contractors who fail to implement their jobs well will be blacklisted and will not be given anymore contracts from SPNB,” he said.

Idris, however, expressed regret at the lack of revolving fund to meet the overwhelming demand for such housing from buyers.

Govt allocates RM19mil to reduce poverty
Monday April 18, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/18/nation/8477232&sec=nation

MIRI: The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry has allocated RM19mil for the eradication of poverty in Sabah and Sarawak.

Its minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, said RM7mil would be used to provide housing for the poor in urban areas, RM4mil for rental subsidies, RM3mil to fund capacity building programmes and RM5mil to fund entrepreneur development programmes.

Raja Nong Chik said he was confident that the allocation, which was under the GTP's Low-Income Households (LIH) NKRA, would substantially reduce extreme poverty in the two Borneo-based states.

Raja Nong Chik said his ministry had also revised the urban poverty programme to improve the quality of life through special projects, in addition to increasing the income of the urban poor.

Kemas to set up 220 pre-schools
Monday April 18, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/18/nation/8477329&sec=nation

KOTA KINABALU: The Depart-ment of Community Development (Kemas) will set up 220 pre-schools in Sabah this year.

This will provide a proper foundation for pre-school education in the state, which is in line with the aspirations of the GTP's Education NKRA to increase access to basic education and significantly improve student performances nationwide.

Out of the 220, 130 pre-schools have started operation in the state.

Kemas deputy director-general (management and development) Hassan Amin said that the need for early childhood education in Sabah was overwhelming.

Hassan added that the setting up of these pre-schools would provide 2,500 pre-school classes within three years. This initiative began last year.

It is the Government's aspiration to ensure that every child receives a proper foundation in education and this can only be done through the provision of early childhood education beginning at the pre-school level.

Consortium to spend RM9.6b on Sabah resort
Published: 2011/04/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110419123351/Article/index_html

Prism Crystal Enterprise Ltd, Chen Lip Keong and partners will form a consortium to undertake a RM9.6 billion integrated resort development in Karambunai, Sabah, according to a Malaysian government statement. - Bloomberg

Tawau to be first energy efficiency district
by Christy Chok. Posted on April 20, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=123766

TAWAU: Tawau can be the first district in the state or even in the country to practise the energy efficiency (EE) culture, said the director general of Centre for Education, Training and Research in Renewable Energy and Energy (CETREE), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Dr Haslan Abu Hassan.

In this respect, Haslan urged the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) to make plans for creating awareness among the people here on EE practice.

“It is important to hold various campaigns in promoting EE culture and implementing new EE technologies in daily life.”

He said the people in the district should possess EE characteristics in their various sectors in order to achieve the EE district.

“I have distributed many sets of EE book to the Sabah Education Department and schools throughout the country. Maybe TMC can discuss with the Education Department and use the EE books as guidelines in educating the people on EE practices,” Haslan said.

According to him, Sabah is a virgin country with sufficient bio-mas production which could be produced to generate energy.

Hence, everyone plays a role in practising EE culture for the beneficial of all.

Meanwhile, Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan Tawfiq encouraged everyone to adopt EE in their daily lives.

He made the call after officiating at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between SESB and the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) at Promenade Hotel here yesterday. It was the third MoU signed by SESB.

“Local authorities may consider promoting special incentives in promoting the adoption of EE,” Tawfiq pointed out.

He said EE not only could bring advantages but also provide positive impacts to the environment.

According to Tawfiq, the proposed tariff review should be looked into properly as it not only involves the government but also the private sector and the people.

In fact, it is easy to increase the tariff, but it could bring untold misery on the people, businesses and industries.

However, the government will soon start to be concerned over this matter and studies should be carried out to look into the feasibility of generating efficient and cheap energy.

Be more active – Sabah TYT
Posted on April 22, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=124985

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/A0057989002.jpg
NEW SESSION: Juhar and wife Tun Norlidah RM Jasni (front left) arrive at
Sabah legislative Assembly. Assembly speaker Datuk Salleh Tun Said is on
second right, second row. — Bernama photo

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin has urged the private sector to be more involved in sectors identified under the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) in the country.

He said Sabah had an edge and good potential in developing sectors such as tourism, agriculture and commodities.

“In the government efforts to assist the private sector to drive the NKEA and implement entry point projects (EPP), the Facilitation Fund had been set up to develop supporting infrastructure for private sector investments in these projects.

“As such, it is the aspiration of the state government to see the active involvement of the private sector in the state and to utilise all the new creative financing approaches introduced by the government under the Public-Private Partnership Programme (PPP),” he said in his policy speech at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here yesterday.

He also hoped that the development of human resources could be further strengthened in achieving the status of a developed nation with high income.

He said innovative and creative human capital formed the main catalyst in innovation development of a particular country. — Bernama

Jerneh Asia eyes Sabah developer
Written by Chua Sue-Ann
Friday, 22 April 2011 11:39
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/185524-jerneh-asia-eyes-sabah-developer.html

KUALA LUMPUR: After hiving off its core insurance business in Malaysia, cash-rich Jerneh Asia Bhd has now set its sights on acquiring Sabah-based property developer Sagajuta (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, whose flagship project is the massive 1Borneo mixed development in Kota Kinabalu.

Jerneh Asia announced to Bursa Malaysia yesterday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sagajuta’s 60% shareholder, Generasi Cipta Sdn Bhd, to start exclusive discussions for the proposed acquisition.

If the talks bear fruit, it will be a backdoor listing of Generasi Cipta, whose main assets include the 1Borneo project that has a gross development value of RM1.2 billion, encompassing a 1.5 million sq ft shopping mall, four hotels and four condominium towers.

However, the value of the acquisition is not known.

In the announcement, Jerneh Asia said the proposed acquisition formed part of its regularisation plan pursuant to its PN16 and PN17 status. Also, it noted the talks would look into the prospective participation of Sagajuta’s shareholders in Jerneh Asia’s proposed restructuring scheme.

According to Jerneh Asia, the talks will also look into the possibility of a restricted offer for sale of shares in Jerneh Asia held by Sagajuta’s shareholders and/or placement to be identified at a later date, following the proposed restructuring scheme.

Jerneh Asia, which is 36.5%-owned by tycoon Robert Kuok, has until Dec 1 this year to submit its regularisation plan for approval.

Sagajuta is part of the Ramajuta Group, which has various property development projects in Sabah, including the Warisan Square mixed development project in Kota Kinabalu.

Apart from Generasi Cipta, Sagajuta’s substantial shareholders include Chu Li Tan (6.77%), the company’s executive chairman and managing director Datuk Raymond Chan Boon Siew (8.71%), Bumivesa Sdn Bhd (3.76%) and Sagajuta director Tan Tiang Lai (2.96%), according to data from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM).

For FY08 ended Dec 31, Sagajuta posted net profit of RM59.28 million and revenue of RM293.71 million. The private company then had liabilities of RM208 million and assets of RM343.2 million.

The 1Borneo project is a joint-venture between Sagajuta and the landowner, United Sabah Islamic Association, and co-developer Warisan Harta Sdn Bhd.

Generasi Cipta was incorporated in 2008 as a investment holding company, according to CCM information.

Generasi Cipta’s shareholders are Anchor White Sdn Bhd (69.65%), Camaxcorp Sdn Bhd (11%), Bumivesa (9.4%) and Chen Siew Kim (5.92%). Chan and Tan are also listed as directors of Generasi Cipta.

The announcement by Jerneh Asia has also raised eyebrows given that the property development business is unrelated to its prior mainstay of insurance provision.

Investors had been expecting a bumper dividend from the proceeds of the sale of Jerneh Asia’s 80% stake in Jerneh Insurance Bhd for RM523.2 million cash to ACE INA International Holdings last October.

The divestment of Jerneh Insurance boosted Jerneh Asia’s cash pile by 46% to RM635.34 million, translating into gross cash per share of RM3.51.

However, Jerneh Asia recently denied a newspaper report on a possible dividend payout, noting that the proceeds from the Jerneh Insurance sale had been placed with a custodian.

The proceeds are not to be withdrawn except to acquire a new core business approved by the Securities Commission or for pro rata distributions to shareholders if the company fails to regularise its condition, Jerneh Asia added.

After the divestment of its local insurance businesses, Jerneh Asia still owns overseas insurance operations and a takaful operating licence here via its 31% stake in HSBC Amanah Takaful (M) Sdn Bhd.

Pekadin calls for fast-track education transformation in Sabah
Posted on April 23, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=125434

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Kadazandusun Murut Welfare and Education Association (Pekadin) has called on the Education Ministry to fast-track education transformation in Sabah, particularly in rural areas.

Pekadin advisor Latif Kandok said such a move would contribute to achieving the high-performance school status.

He noted that the absence of such schools in Sabah showed that the state was

still lagging behind in terms of performance in the field of academia, co-curriculum and niche areas.

“We’re now moving towards Vision 2020. That means something needs to be done to fast-track education transformation in Sabah.

“Of course we appreciate efforts by the state Education Department towards this goal but Pekadin feels that there’s an urgent need for a paradigm shift to change the state of affairs for the better,” he told Bernama here yesterday.

Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that 14

secondary and six primary schools had been accorded the high-performance school status, none of them from Sabah.

However, Latif said the task of moulding such schools should not be shouldered by educators or teachers alone, as it must also be shared by parents.

Parents, he said, played a pivotal role in nurturing and creating interest among children in a bid to spur them towards excellence and educational success. – Bernama

Pharmaceutical industry worth RM4.2 bln annually and growing
Posted on April 24, 2011, Sunday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=125713

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the pharmaceutical sector in Sabah is worth about RM300 million and represents roughly over 7.1 per cent of the overall national pharmaceutical industry presently worth RM4.2 billion per annum.

According to Rosnah, “Malaysia is a country with very successful primary healthcare programmes and the government has taken several initiatives such as the establishment of 1Malaysia clinics, the postal delivery service of medicines and the 1Care for 1Malaysia Programme.

“The programmes will undoubtedly continue to provide new opportunities for development and progress,” she said in a speech at the opening of Medical Supplies Sabah’s (MSS) new warehouse in Kolombong yesterday.

The text of her speech was delivered by the senior director of the Pharmaceutical Services division of the Ministry of Health, Datuk Eisah A Rahman who officiated at the opening on her behalf.

Rosnah said the pharmaceutical industry is an integral part of the country’s healthcare programme and an important part of the National Transformation Programme (NTP) as well as the National Key Result Areas (NKRA).

The transformation of the country’s healthcare has been identified as one of the main focus under the programme.

Meanwhile, MSS managing director, Datuk Nancy Ho said, the potential for growth in the pharmaceutical domain is huge especially in the manufacturing of halal medicines.

Ho said there was still a lot of scope and avenues to be explored in the industry as the push towards meeting the growing demand from the health-conscious society increases.

Ho also said that the standard of practice of healthcare in Malaysia is considered world class where stringent tests are imposed by the National Drug Control centre to ensure the quality of the pharmaceutical sector.

Protect your rich natural treasures, Sabah cautioned
Posted on April 25, 2011, Monday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=125864

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/4820.jpg
HELPING HANDS: Some of the 847kg rubbish being salvaged from the seabed.

SANDAKAN: A world renowned environmental scientist who is now on the final leg of a 10-day study tour of Sabah has cautioned the state to protect its rich treasures of natural environment.

Professor Ross K Dowling, the foundation professor of tourism at the Edith Cowan University (ECU) of Western Australia, said that its parks and marine environment are among the richest treasures that he had seen anywhere in the world.

Acknowledging that Sabah “is really an ecotourism paradise”, he said there is an opportunity for this Malaysian state on Borneo to have a very strongly developed eco-tourism.

He said other opportunities in the state, based on the natural environment, include geo-tourism, wild-life tourism, as well as bird watching tourism.

“You would have to protect those areas. They go, the tourism will go,” the Australian professor of tourism cautioned.

“Sabah, as a state of Malaysia, is probably the prime example of a state that has focused its attention to conservation. It still has quite a bit of its natural assets and raw materials here,” he added in an interview.

He said to maintain that, the government of Sabah would have to recognize that it has to invest money in conservation to realize the rewards which would come from the baby boomers around the world.

These globetrotters of the future, he noted, would be searching for natural environments that are shrinking around the world.

Prof Ross is an environmental scientist who did a lot of work in his home country of New Zealand and did a lot of work to establish environmental education for the government there for about 20 years.

He has now moved to Australia, based in Perth where he undertook the first ecotourism PhD in the world and for the last 20 years, he has worked extensively in ecotourism development around the world, including Borneo.

“I get invited all over the world to speak about ecotourism. A lot of countries don’t really have the raw, natural assets to develop ecotourism.

“Ecotourism, by definition, has to be based on natural environment. And many countries in the world now have very little of the pristine natural environment left,” he observed.

“Sabah is very proud of the fact that it is attracting a large number of tourists, but these are of mass tourism.

“It has to recognize, does it want to be in the game of mass tourism or does it want to have a more balanced approach to tourism development?” he asked.

“Yes, you do have a large number of Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and other Asian visitors from Singapore, Australia and New Zealand coming here for mass beach tourism, golf tourism.

Prof Ross has made regular visits to Sabah at least once a year and has taken note of changes that have taken place.

“Definitely since the first time about a decade ago, I have seen a loss of natural assets. I have seen of course the extensive development of towns and cities like Kota Kinabalu.

“Look I am not against development; I think you have to have it. But, there is definitely this move towards clearing land for oil palm is extensive, and it is growing and so some decisions will have to be made there.”

He points out that if Sabah were to keep clearing land of natural vegetation for human-made oil palm plantation, then, there would be a loss of quality and integrity of natural environment.

“You are going to drive the orang utans into fewer areas. You can’t support the natural environment, the birds, the plants, the animals if you just shrink with an ever increasing palm oil and clearing.

“You just can’t do it. So there’s got to be some balance there. I have seen a loss of habitat in the

last decade,” Prof Ross added. He has been in Sabah for a week now, leading a group of 17 students from ECU to study ecotourism “as it occurs”.

They are due to attend the Anzac Day ceremony here today before returning to Perth on Tuesday.

18 new fish landing jetties to be built
Posted on April 27, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126215

EIGHTEEN new fish landing jetties will be built by the Sabah Fisheries Department around the state this year.

Assistant Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Musbah Jamli said RM300,000 had been allocated for the project, adding that the government would consider the application from fishermen from Kampung Likas and Bakau to set up jetties in their areas.

“Since Likas Bay is under the jurisdiction of City Hall, we would like to advise fishermen to inform their local authorities before pursuing with their project,” he said.

Responding to a question by Bugaya assemblyman Datuk Ramlee Marahaban, Musbah said the government was aware of the need to set up jetties to enable fishermen to land their catch.

“There are certain criteria before we can approve the setting up of a jetty which among others include the requirement of such facility in the area, suitability of location and approval from the local authorities,” he said.

In another development, the House was also told that RM20.5 million had been allocated under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry’s Social Amenities Programme (SAP) to implement minor projects in the state.

Assistant Rural Development Minister Datuk Sairin Karno, however, said that under the First Rolling Plan of the 10th Malaysia Plan, no allocation had been approved under the SAP.

Answering a question from Likas assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan, he said under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, a total of RM215,228,979 had been channelled for rural road projects while another RM435,380,030.98 had been spent for rural water supply projects.

Better water supply for Kudat, Matunggong villagers next year
Posted on April 27, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126200

VILLAGERS in Kudat and Matunggong can expect better water supply by July next year.

Assistant Infrastructure Development Minister Pang Yuk Ming said to date, studies were being carried out, including the mechanical and electrical system check, site guarantees as well as quality of both raw and treated water. They were all expected to be completed by June this year.

Replying to a question by Tanjong Kapor assemblyman Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Pang said the proposal to supply water from the Milau dam and water treatment plant to surrounding villages had also been approved under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA).

“The project is expected to begin next month after documentation and tendering process are completed,” said Pang.

Meanwhile, the House was also told that the six roads have been listed under the NKRA and that works are expected to be completed by end of 2012.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan in reply to a question by Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Louis Rampas, explained that the six stretches were Jalan Pukak-Mantob and Jalan Gonipis-Tebobon in Kiulu; Jalan Tomis-Tiong-Lokos-Kotunuan-Wasai and Jalan Batu 28 Tambunan-Tudan-Pantai-Poring, Tuaran; Jalan Poring-Tebobon; and Jalan Mantob-Gonipis.

Of the six roads, the Jalan Pukak-Mantob and Jalan Tomis-Tiong-Lokos-Kotunuan-Wasai were completed this year while the Batu 28 Tambunan-Tudan-Pantai-Poring is 60 per cent completed.

“Works on the remaining stretches are expected to begin in June this year,” said Pairin, who is also the Infrastructure Development Minister.

48,000 computers for Sabah students
Posted on April 26, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126127

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will distribute an additional 48,000 units of computers in Sabah under the second phase of 1Malaysia computer programme currently being implemented.

Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad said this is in continuation to the programme’s first phase where a total of 10,000 units of computers have been distributed among eligible recipients in Sabah.

She said the additional computers will be distributed in stages among students from 223 schools across the state.

“A total of 172,000 units of computers has been allocated for Sabah,” she said when answering a written question from Datuk Arifin Mohd Arif (BN Membakut).

She added that the remaining 112,800 units will be given out in the third phase of the programme which will commence soon.

Meanwhile, Infrastructure Development Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan informed the House that a project to build a water treatment plant in Kundasang was expected to commence next year should the funding be approved by the Finance Minister.

He said a proposal to provide a detailed plan for the construction of the facility, which has a capacity of producing 15 million litre of treated water daily, has been approved under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the agency involved was in the process of acquiring the land for the project.

“The land acquisition exercise is expected to be completed by the end of this year and my Ministry has proposed the construction phase of the plant to be implemented under the Second Rolling Plan (2012-2013) of the Tenth Malaysian Plan (10MP),” he said.

Communal land title beneficiaries to benefit from development projects
Posted on April 27, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126216

VILLAGERS in three areas where communal land titles have been given will significantly benefit from the various development projects to be developed on the land involved.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said three communal land titles had been issued in the state so far involving a total area of 17,935 acres and 1,702 villagers in two districts, namely Nabawan and Tongod.

He said a joint venture project had already been agreed for the Lalampas area in Tongod where the Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) would carry out oil palm planting activity within a 25-year period.

The project, he said, would benefit the natives residing in the area economically, as they were given 40 per cent share of the dividends to be derived from the crops planted.

Apart from oil palm, which will be planted on 8,000 acres of land to be called Major Agriculture Zone, the project would also involve planting cash crops on 1,000 acres of land under the Community Economic Zone.

“Among the benefits that will be enjoyed by the title beneficiaries include employment and business opportunities that are suitable for their skills and abilities,” said Musa in answering a question from Abdul Mijul Unaini (BN Banggi).

He reported that several activities for developing the project had already started, including the planting of oil palm saplings and the construction of a road from Lalampas to the nursery site.

He said other preliminary works for preparing the plantation site would commence in August at an estimated cost of RM74 million.

The project to develop the plantation is expected to be fully completed in four years.

The government is also planning to develop two other communal lands in Nabawan in collaboration with SLDB.

Musa also informed that the government is in the process of issuing another 43 communal land title grants for 38,994 acres of state land across the state.

He said the titles would involve 4,161 beneficiaries and had been processed at the district level and now awaiting approval from the Land and Survey Department head office.

In addition, he said the government was also planning to utilize another 60,770 acres of state land for issuing communal titles.

Musa who is also the Finance Minister, said the issuance of communal land title grants is a positive effort from the state government to expedite the process of issuing land titles to the natives which also allowed the optimal development of the land involved.

“It is hoped that these lands would help in eradicating poverty through the dividend payments and creation of employment and business opportunities for the local communities. The approach has also resolved most of the native customary rights (NCR) issues pertaining to land in the state,” he said.

Kuala Penyu a growing town
Thursday March 1, 2007
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/3/1/southneast/20070301072756&sec=southneast

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/3/1/southneast/04wtaerside.jpg
Developing: Kuala Penyu town seen from the air.

KUALA PENYU: About 50 years ago, Kuala Penyu town was made up only of a row of shops built with palm trees and nipah leaves and surrounded by muddy mangrove forest.

The present Kuala Penyu district, covering a 45,326 square km and 80km of beaches, has an entire infrastructure on par or probably better than some other districts in Sabah.

Previously, Kuala Penyu only had a health clinic and the nearest hospital was in Beaufort, about 40km away. Now, it has its own RM76 million hospital,” said District Officer Hasbi Abdul Ghaffar.

The 76-bed hospital, built on a 13ha site, was opened in March last year and presently had 180 employees including two doctors, he said. Kuala Penyu district is located within the Beaufort parliamentary constituency.

It has a 22,000 population mainly of indigenious people like Dusun Tatana, Bisaya, Kadayan and Bajau and Chinese and Bruneians.

Their children go to 26 primary schools, four secondary schools, 15 Kemas kindergartens and a Mara vocational institute.

The newest primary and secondary schools in Kuala Penyu are Sekolah Kebangsaan Pekan Kuala Penyu and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pekan Kuala Penyu that were built on a 10ha site costing RM56mil. The schools have a capacity for 1,500 and 1,000 students respectively.

“For the Kuala Penyu community, facilities like schools and hospitals are very important for the development of quality human capital needed by the country,” said Hasbi.

The Fire and Rescue Department will have a new RM22mil office building in Kuala Penyu expected to be start operations by yearend. A police complex costing RM9mil is also being built.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/3/1/southneast/04redroof.jpg
Education: An aerial view of SMK Pekan Kuala Penyu
(with red roofs) built on 10ha at a cost of RM56mil.

A RM2mil jetty for vehicles has been completed for people who use ferries to travel between Labuan and Menumbok which is also an entry point from Brunei.

Kuala Penyu community leader Drs Monih Epin said all the facilities enjoyed by the people showed that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government cared about their needs.

Though the elected representative is an independent, the BN did not neglect the constituency and allocated development funds for the well being of constituents.

However, he said, the delivery system would be more effective if the constituency was represented by someone from BN.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/3/1/southneast/04ship.jpg
Fast travel: The ferry is the main means of transport to Kuala Penyu town.

Sabah Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director Datuk Dr Yassin Amit said that Kuala Penyu, which hosted the Information Ministry’s Meet the Customers Day on Tuesday, could promote the district as a tourist destination.

Besides nearby Pulau Tiga which is well known for its mud volcano and was a shooting location for the popular American TV reality programme “Survivor”, Kuala Penyu has other interesting sites like Tasik Sitompok that can be developed as a tourist destination, he said.

“The beaches are beautiful and clean while Tasik Sitompok is suitable for visitors who love mangrove swamp forests,” Hasbi said.

Those interested in rumbia (sago palm) should go to Kuala Penyu because there is a Rumbia Information Centre the Rumbia Fiesta is held annually here in July, he said.

“I hope the private sector will invest in the district, especially the hotel industry as such facilities are needed,” he said. — Bernama

Water shortage in Kuala Penyu to end
Posted on April 28, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126727

THE completion of laying 22 kilometres of transmission piping between Limbawang and the pumping station at Kayul in Kuala Penyu is expected to end the water shortage in the district and surrounding areas.

Deputy Chief Minister cum Infrastructure Development Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan however said they are resubmitting an application to the federal government for the project to be included under the second Rolling Plan of the Tenth Malaysia Plan.

“If everything goes according to plan, the construction will begin next year. When completed, the production capacity will increase the current 7.5 million litres per day (lpd) to 13 million (lpd),” he said in reply to a question by Kuala Penyu assemblyman John Teo Mau Sing.

Pairin said the government is aware of the water shortage in Kuala Penyu and Menumbok and is taking concrete steps to overcome the problem.

He also told the State Assembly that the upgrading of a road estimated at RM69 million from Kampung Tarawas to Kampung Timbua is also being considered to be listed under the second Rolling Plan.

Pairin was responding to Kundasang assemblyman Dr Joachim Gunsalam’s question on the status of the 22.9km road.

Call to implement second phase of Kemabong-Rundum road
Posted on April 28, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126716

THE government must implement the second phase of the Kemabong-Rundum road which the people have been waiting for, said Kemabong assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang.

According to him, the allocation for the road was approved last year but the work has yet to commence.

Rubin also urged the government to look into upgrading the road from Kuala Tomani and Ulu Tomani which he had spoken of repeatedly since the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP).

“State Public Works Department director Datuk John Anthony had visited the road in the Tomani sub-district in 2009 but till today, we have not received any good news,” he said.

“We know that the PWD is trying its best to resolve the matter but maybe the department is not getting the necessary cooperation from the other departments,” he added.

Rubin said the government’s failure to repair the road has now turned into a political issue where the people are blaming the government and elected representatives for being unable to address the problem.

He said he had repeatedly raised the issue, adding, “this time, I am bringing the matter up directly to the Chief Minister cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman’s attention and hope he will help in addressing the problem.”

Rubin also brought up the conflict between the people in Rundum and the Sabah Forestry Department and urged the government to help them resolve the problem.

“I implore the Chief Minister and state cabinet to find a solution to the perennial problem because as an assemblyman, I am inundated with complaints from the villagers that they are being harassed by Forestry Department personnel,” he added.

Ministry confident can solve rural problems by end of 2012
Posted on April 28, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126729

RURAL Development Minister Datuk Ewon Ebin is confident that the lack of basic amenities in the rural areas could be solved by the end of next year.

“My ministry is confident that basic amenities in the rural areas such as roads, water and electricity supplies can be solved by the end of 2012,” he said in his winding-up speech yesterday.

Ewon said last year, about 206.15km of roads involving 97 projects in the rural areas were completed.

“About 368.58km of roads are expected to be completed this year. For water supply in the rural areas, as of March 31, about 21 projects had been carried out,” he said adding that the other projects under the approved allocation ceiling were in the various stages of implementation.

He also pointed out that the federal government, through the Regional and Rural Development Ministry in 2010 had allocated RM105,632,800 to build 2,348 new houses under the House Aid Program and also to repair 319 houses.

“For 2011, about RM110,270,000 has been allocated to the state to build 2,364 new houses and to repair 77 houses which would be implemented by the district offices, sub-district offices, Kota Kinabalu City Hall, and municipal councils of Tawau and Sandakan,” he said.

He said this amount did not involve another RM6,741,000 allocation which would be implemented by Giat Mara.

On the suggestion by the Balung assemblyman Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali that the responsibility to eradicate poverty must be centralized under one agency only, Ewon said poverty eradication involved the enhancement of quality of life such as the building and repairing of houses and other basic infrastructures and these programmes could not be implemented by only one agency or department.

“Multi-agency is vital to ensure the holistic method in tackling the poverty problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ewon dismissed claims that the government had failed to eradicate poverty in targeted areas in Sabah as claimed by Sri Tanjong assemblyman Jimmy Wong.

He said poverty had been solved in Tawau, including Jimmy’s constituency of Sri Tanjung that has been declared as zero poverty.

The government, said Ewon, has implemented various poverty eradication programmes, including the introduction of estates for the hardcore poor for which each participant received RM400 dividends from January 2010 onwards.

He also dismissed Jimmy’s allegation that the channelling of dividends to the hardcore poor was not practical as through this dividend, it had increased the income of heads of hardcore poor households in the district and had moved them out of the hardcore poor category.

Sabah needs more skills training centres – Rep
Posted on April 28, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126484

KOTA KINABALU: The state has been urged to encourage more private institutions to set up skills training centres in Sabah.

Datuk Karim Bujang (BN-Bongawan) said this was for human capital development, especially in medium and small-scale entrepreneurship and as skilled manpower in agriculture and the agro-based industry.

“The establishment of private skills training centres in the state would encourage the youths to further their studies and become more self-reliant, and not to depend on government assistance and subsidies,” he added when debating on the address by Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, at the state assembly meeting, here, yesterday.

Karim said Sabah was well known for its beautiful natural environment, rich natural resources and lots of fertile agriculture land.

“Geographically, Sabah’s location is strategic and together with its natural resources, the state could generate economic returns through agro-tourism and the agro-based industry,” he added.

Karim proposed that the job vacancies in the expanding plantation industry be filled by skilled local youths so that the hiring of foreign workers could be reduced.

“Sabah is now in the final stage of the first phase implementation of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) programme which required first-class human capital in agro-business involving the food, timber product, agro-tourism and fisheries sectors.

“The SDC’s goal towards 2025 is increasing the agriculture sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product from RM4.1 billion to RM17 billion and value of agriculture export from RM9.1 billion to RM60 billion, as well as reducing the negative balance of trade in food products from RM955 million to RM353 billion.

“So, I urge the private skills training institutions to take the opportunity of investing in human capital development and undertake corporate social responsibility in Sabah by assisting our youths improve their skills and income,” he said. — Bernama

272,157 foreign workers registered in Sabah
Posted on April 28, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126753

THERE were 272,157 registered foreign workers in Sabah

There were also a large number of foreigners from these two countries found entering Sabah illegally to seek employment, and sent home, said Bongawan assemblyman Datuk Karim Bujang yesterday when debating on the Head of State’s speech during the State Assembly sitting.

As of December last year, 13,175 illegal immigrants had been deported to their countries of origin, with the Philippines accounting the largest number of deportees at 8,625 individuals, he said.

However, 4,190 other immigrants convicted of illegal entry are still detained at Temporary Detention Centres in Sabah. They comprise 3,684 Filipinos, 450 Indonesians and 56 other nationals.

Karim gave the figures to support his argument against the claims by the opposition that the government gives priority to foreign workers in the plantation sector.

He said strict conditions are imposed on employers in hiring foreign workers, including having them give priority to locals in filling vacancies at their plantations.

“Foreign workers are the last resort, only when the employers cannot find workers among the locals,” he said.

Karim said the State Government is also strict on regulation in allowing foreign workers to work for only five years in oil palm plantation.

Under the regulation, workers whose five-year period has ended can only be extended for another five years should they be required by the employers, but the workers have to be sent home after the maximum 10 years in Sabah.

Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Karim has urged the State Government to support the call from the Malay Business Chamber of Malaysia (DPMM) Sabah to have a special lab set up for assisting the development of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the State.

According to him, the participation of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the business sector in Sabah was still very low, at only about five percent, as compared to their Malay counterparts in the Peninsular Malaysia who own 30 percent of the equities in the country.

He also suggested that Bumiputera be given priority in awarding large scale projects in Sabah.

He also called on Petronas to find a way to encourage better participation from the Bumiputera in the oil and gas industry, saying the number of Bumiputera entrepreneurs involved in the industry was still very low.

RM10 mln to teach foreign languages
Posted on April 29, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126990

CLOSE to RM10 million is allocated annually to teach four foreign languages, namely English, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin in Sabah.

Of the total, Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid said RM8,420,000 is budgeted annually for English course and RM400,00 each for the three other subjects.

Replying to a question by Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Justin Guka during the question and answer session on the final day of the State Assembly sitting yesterday, Jainab added that the courses were carried out for 100 hours or three months.

“The English course was introduced in 2006 and as of April this year, it has benefited a total of 6,909 people, while the Japanese and Korean language courses were first done in 2009, attracting 213 people and 221 people respectively,” she said, adding the Mandarin class was only established this year and had since attracted 107 people.

She added that the English course is currently conducted in 24 districts while the three other languages are only taught in Kota Kinabalu due to the availability of teachers.

International cruise terminal at KK Port proposed
Posted on April 29, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=126984

KOTA KINABALU: Suria Capital Holdings Bhd is hoping the Federal Government will approve its proposal to build an international cruise terminal at Kota Kinabalu Port within this year.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Ibrahim Menudin, said there are plans to turn the main wharf of Kota Kinabalu Port into a proper facility for international cruise ships, including a dedicated berth, air-conditioned arrival hall and souvenir shops.

“Turning Kota Kinabalu Port into an international cruise terminal will further spur tourism growth in Sabah and at the same time provide diversity to the group’s activities,” he said.

“It will offer services such as a dedicated berth for international cruise liners, international standard terminal, including ground handling services and logistics support,” he said after chairing the company’s annual general meeting at Sapangar Container Port Terminal yesterday.

He said currently, the port receives about two to three international cruises a month.

Sabah to produce 150,000 mt seaweed by 2020
Posted on April 29, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=127065

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is targeting to increase its seaweed production to 150,000 metric tonnes (mt) per annum by 2020 through enhanced research and development (R&D) activities.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin said this would create some 12,700 jobs and contribute RM1.4 billion to the state Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Winding up during the state assembly sitting yesterday, Yahya who is also the Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, said seaweed farming has been identified as one of the Entry Point Projects (EPP) to be given focus under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA).

The project, he said, would be implemented in several identified areas such as in waters around Pulau Omadal, Pulau Bum Bum and Pulau Sebangkit in Semporna.

He added a new area of 3,000 hectares has also been earmarked as Aquaculture Industry Zone (AIZ) specifically for developing mini seaweed estates.

Sabah currently has a total 8,000 hectares of seaweed farm areas, with production capacity at 15,500 mt per year.

In addition to seaweed, Yahya said the ministry would also focus on developing caged-fish farming in the AIZ area especially for high value species such as grouper, “siakap” (barramundi) and tilapia.

Other programmes that have been identified for transforming the state economy are production of high quality bird nests and integrated cattle rearing activities, he added.

Meanwhile, towards improving the state food security, he said emphasis would be given to increasing rice output to an average of six metric tons per hectare.

The ministry was also working to increase the state fresh milk production from 10 million litres per year at the present to 30 million litres per year by 2015.

“The ministry is also trying to develop premium fragrance rice planting activities in areas that has no irrigation infrastructures,” he added.

On a separate issue, Yahya said no foreign fishing vessel had been given license to operate in Sabah deep waters as claimed by certain quarters.

He explained only local operators are allowed to fish in Malaysian waters, where encroaching foreign vessels could be confiscated and its operator fined up to RM1 million or imprisoned up to two years.

He noted there were currently 49 deep-sea fishing vessels with licence to operate in Sabah, with 39 of them owned by local operators and 10 by a Bursa Malaysia-listed company QL Resources.

Thirty-one of these vessels were bought from Vietnam by four companies but all have been registered as local ships fully owned by local operators.

Sabah invites investors to tap oil & gas, palm oil sectors
Joniston Bangkuai Published: 2011/04/30
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/sabba/Article/

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is keen to see more local and foreign investors tapping the vast business opportunities in its oil and gas as well as oil palm indutries.

State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah said that based on estimates, Sabah is endowed with a whopping reserve of 2.3 billion barrels of oil and 12.1 trillion cu ft of gas.

Speaking at the "Oil, Gas and Palm Oil Supply Chain Forum 2011" here, he revealed that the estimated depletion period of the state's oil reserves is 43 years and 30 years for its gas reserves.

In the plantation sector, Sabah has planted 1.4 million hectares of oil palm, producing some 6.5 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO), about a million tonnes of palm kernel oil and some 30 million tonnes of valuable biomass.

"Sabah's oil palm industry can potentially generate a direct economic value of more than RM100 billion when downstream value adding is fully explored through initiatives such as the palm oil industrial clusters," Tan said.

With the current prices of CPO hovering between RM3,500 and RM4,000 per tonne, the oil palm industry is set to be a driving force in the state's economic development.

Tan said the Palm Oil Industrial Clusters (POIC) in Lahad Datu have thus far attracted 23 companies, with investments totalling about RM2 billion.

On the development of the state's oil and gas industry, Tan said national oil company, Petronas, is expected to start landing its oil and gas at the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGt) in Kimanis by 2014.

He also said that the state government plans to develop an oil and gas industrial park in Sipitang, with emphasis on downstream gas activities.

"Gas available in Sabah will provide the fuel for the generation of electricity for both our domestic and industrial use," he said, adding that plans are already in the pipeline to use gas both in the west coast and east coast of the state.

Tan said Petronas is also planning to obtain 1.7 billion barrels of oil through enhanced oil-recovery technology and development of marginal oil fields.

There are about 106 marginal fields in Malaysia and some are located off Sabah's shores.

"I was told that Petronas will put their investment in the development of the fields with a view of creating a pool of development and production companies," he said.

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/sabba/pix_bottom

57 Sabah primary schools have Young Doctors’ Club
Posted on April 30, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=127148

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/4849.jpg
YOUNG APPRENTICE: Members of Young Doctor Club looking a replica of a
mosquito after the closing ceremony of the fourth convention of Young
Doctor Club at Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu.

KOTA KINABALU: About 57 primary schools in the state had implemented the Young Doctors Club programme involving 1,498 pupils.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said in Sabah, about 24,000 pupils had benefited from the programme.

“The objective of this programme is to empower students with health knowledge and skills in order to improve their own health and also their peers’,” she said.

Rosnah’s speech was read by assistant director of the state Health Department Dr Enoch Tan at the closing of the fourth convention of the Young Doctors’ Club at Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu, Bukit Padang Luyang here yesterday.

The objectives of the Young Doctors’ Club in primary schools are to help students, their peers and family members adopt a healthy lifestyle, develop students as role-models, as a guide towards the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, encourage students to help health staff and teachers organise healthy activities in schools, strengthen the schools’ effort in improving the health of students, encourage parents or guardians to give appropriate attention to students’ health and strengthen the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Education Department in an effort to encourage good health practices among students.

Meanwhile, the activities planned for the students include helping schools promote a clean, healthy and safe environment, helping health staff and teachers organise health activities in school, inform the school authorities of the occurrence of diseases or health problems and treat simple injuries.

Rosnah said the Ministry of Health and state health department are looking at this programme as an activity that should be implemented in other primary schools to share the benefits with other students.

She said the state health department will be taking the initiative to train more teachers to be the students’ guide when practising their programmes.

DPMM Sabah Told To Capitalise On Halal Food Need By China's Muslims
30 Apr 2011
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=583125

KOTA KINABALU, April 30 (Bernama) -- The Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) Sabah has been encouraged to invest in the halal food industry where there is a growing demand in China.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said apart from halal food, DPMM Sabah should also venture into tourism in view of the increasing number of Chinese visitors coming to the state.

"Build hotels, not necessarily five-star, just two or three-star, and set up homestay," he told reporters after opening the chamber''s 13th annual general meeting here today.

He said the visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Malaysia on April 28 was very fruitful, culminating in an undertaking to increase among others, trade and investment between both countries.

Anifah also told DPMM Sabah members that they must transform themselves to be bold in asking for the support they wanted to ensure success of their businesses.

"Nothing comes easy. It''s an uphill task no doubt. But otherwise, opportunities will pass you by and you will be left behind," he said.

He said it was worrisome to see businesses in Sabah being taken up by outsiders.

"For example, less than 10 percent of Bumiputera entrepreneurs are involved in the oil palm industry. No Bumiputera company is involved directly in the billion ringgit property industry. I worry that one day we will be foreigners in our own business realm," he said.

Meanwhile, Anifah presented the DPMM Entrepreneur Award 2010 to Dayang Nuripah Awang Tinggal, 44, from Putatan and Manjor Mastan, 56, from Tawau (Usahawan).

-- BERNAMA

Kolej Yayasan Sabah Set To Become A University In 2013
May 05, 2011 15:52 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=584117&cat=sbe

KOTA KINABALU, May 5 (Bernama) -- Kolej Yayasan Sabah (KYS), wholly owned by the state government agency -- Yayasan Sabah Group, is set to become a university, almost two decades after it was founded.

Towards this end, Chairman of KYS Sdn Bhd Datuk Kamal Quadra said KYS had embarked on its development plan to acquire a university college status by the year 2013.

He said the physical development on the plan had already started last year on its location, adjacent to the present KYS building, in Sembulan.

"We are confident that KYS will be accorded a university status soon," he said at a KYS press luncheon at Dewan PPS, here today.

Also present was the CEO of KYS Dr Dayang Aminah Ali.

Kamal also thanked the Sabah government, especially Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman for providing special allocation for the proposed University College Yayasan Sabah.

He said this showed the government's seriousness in uplifting the standard of education in the state.

Kamal said KYS, which was established since 1990, provides academic, technical and skill training programmes involving eight diploma and 11 certificate courses.

Currently, there are 2,155 students enrolled in KYS, pursuing various fields of study while the diploma, technical and skill courses and all KYS programmes are accredited by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA), he said.

He said KYS had also ventured into the creative content industry focusing on artist multimedia animation, artist multimedia visual and artist multimedia film and documentary courses.

-- BERNAMA

Sabah launches mobile courtroom for remote areas
2011/05/09
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Sabahlaunchesmobilecourtroomforremoteareas/Article/

PENAMPANG: The Sabah Judicial Department makes history with the launch of its mobile courtroom today.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman when launching the bus-turned-courtroom here today, said he was proud that Sabah had become the leader in offering such a service, which was indeed convenient for the people, especially in the remote areas.

"The idea of this mobile courtroom was mooted by Chief Justice for Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum from his observation of the problems faced by witnesses and the public living in remote areas when dealing with the courts," he said.

With the mobile courtroom in place, he said the government would also be able to save millions of ringgit by not having to build a court building in all
districts in the state.

"This is because a court building and its courtrooms will cost between RM5 million and RM8 million, while creating a mobile courtroom by modifying a bus will only cost RMRM250,000 to RM300,000," Musa said at the launch held within the grounds of the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) building in Donggongon town.

The bus-turned-courtroom is donated by the state government through its subsidiaries, SCC and Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd.

It is an improvement to the Mobile Court concept introduced four years ago. Meanwhile, Sabah Courts director Ismail Brahim told reporters that the mobile courtroom had been used in Donggongon, Tuaran and Bongawan since April and 99 cases had been heard in the courtroom so far.

"Over the next three months, we have identified several small towns along the west coast of Sabah that will be visited by the mobile courtroom.

"It will not only hear small cases like traffic offences and summonses, but is also capable of hearing crime cases," he said.

At present, he said the mobile courtroom would convene in front of a bank or police station as these spots could easily be located by the local residents.

Meanwhile, Malanjum, who is also present at the launch, said in future the public would also be able to spot the mobile courtroom at a "tamu" market.

"This approach is not ony convenient for the public, but will also help curb crime because when people see this mobile courtroom, they will think twice about committing a crime," he said.

To a question, Malanjum said Sabah and Sarawak would probably need four such mobile courtrooms to meet the demand in each state. -- Bernama

Sabah top in capital appreciation
Posted on May 6, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=128403

KOTA KINABALU: The latest house price index shows that Sabah tops the rest of the country in capital appreciation.

This is one of the points that a leading property investment consultant will be sharing with the audience during the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM) Sabah Chapter’s upcoming public seminar in Sandakan and Tawau on May 7 and 14 respectively. Most working adults buy at least one property in their life for own use. Apart from property for their families, many will buy property as an investment for rental income and capital appreciation.

“While there are many who reap handsome returns from their property investments, there are also many who lose money in silence or did not get as much as they wish.” the organiser of the seminar said yesterday.

“For example, a person may purchase a property in 1978 for RM50,000 and then sold it for RM170,000 in 2008. Only to find out later that the buyer sold it two years later for RM280,000.

“To make things worse, he did not even know that his compounded return is only 4% per annum,” it said in a statement.

In view of the above and the rapid appreciation of property price in Sabah, the organiser said it is important that investors know factors that influence the property price and know how to plan their property investment.

“A simple mistake in property investment can be very costly as it is a large investment that also involves paying interest to the bank,” it cautioned.

Two property experts, namely Mr Ho Chin Soon, a consultant and a pioneer in providing feasibility studies for property developers including database, population and income mapping work and Mr Michael Geh, Senior vice-president of Raine & Horne International Zaki & Partners Sdn Bhd are invited to share their knowledge on property investment.

The public seminar titled “Smart Property Investment Strategies” will be held from 9am – 5pm in Sandakan on 7 May 2011 at Sabah Hotel; and 14 May 2011 at Promenade Hotel in Tawau.

This seminar will help the participants to establish the key factors influencing the property sector and evaluate the historical performance of property in terms of risk, return and correlations with other asset classes.

It also will help them identify how property may fit into your investment portfolio; analyze the risk and return potential of properties; identify the finer points in securing optimal performance by delving in-depth into financing options and landlord-tenancy strategies.

Further information about the seminar can be obtained from Mr Wilfred Lim (016-83178320) Or Tom (016-833307).

Intrade Malaysia to help promote Sabah products
Posted on May 12, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=129585

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KOTA KINABALU: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sabah have been asked to explore trade opportunities available at the International Trade Malaysia (Intrade) to be held in Kuala Lumpur from November 22 to 24, 2011.

In making the call, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Sabah director Syed Zahirulddin Syed Ali said there was a huge potential for them as exhibitors would be able to showcase their local products and services to the expected 9,000 visitors from 80 countries.

“At the same time, they can build contacts with other exhibitors from Malaysia, Asean countries and the rest of the world as well as traders from 60 countries.

“We also want them to meet agents and distributors who can market their products or services in new markets,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Syed Zahirulddin said the Intrade 2011 would give SMEs in the state the chance to explore join venture opportunities with prospective players at the global level and interact with business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors to gain insights into global business prospects.

“They can also have discussions with trade counsellors from various partner countries and understand their local market conditions,” he said.

Syed Zahirulddin said last year’s event, which drew 440 trade buyers, 8,000 trade visitors and 342 exhibiting companies from 12 countries, generated RM4.23 billion in potential sales.

He said the fifth Malaysia international event for exporters was the ideal platform to enhance networking and business matching to exchange trade ideas and bring the global market to the business community of different countries.

The Malaysian government fully supported and endorsed this event and has strategically positioned Intrade as one of the leading general trade fairs in the Asean region, he added. — Bernama

Set up oil refinery in Sabah – PBS
by Murib Morpi. Posted on May 14, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=130325

KOTA KINABALU: An oil refinery is needed in Sabah for the State to truly benefit from the operation of the soon-to-be developed Sabah oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

PBS vice president Datuk Herbert Timbun Lagadan said Sabah through the Federal Government, should request Petronas to build such a facility in the State, to allow the huge potentials created by the industry to be fully tapped by local companies and the people.

Lagadan when making the call yesterday, said as a ‘fixed deposit’ state, Sabah has the merit to ask for the refinery plant to be set up here for processing oil and gas extracted from its own soil.

In addition, the State should be equipped with an oil refinery based on the fact that it is a major oil producer of the country, he added.

“Why can’t Sabah have its own oil refinery when Sarawak has its own? Since Sabah is a fixed deposit state for the BN government and a major oil producer of oil and gas, then surely we possess the merit to ask for the facility to be built here,” he said.

According to him, Sabahans find it hard to swallow the reasons given by the central government that gas from the State is be siphoned to the terminal in Bintulu, Sarawak to save cost.

He said the decision not to allow Sabah to have its own oil refinery could be viewed as an attempt to sideline Sabahans from participating in the mega oil and gas industry, by piping the State’s natural resources out to another state.

The lack of opportunities in the State for the people to directly and actively participate in the development of the oil and gas industry has been the source of discontent among local leaders in Sabah, both from within BN and the opposition alike.

Apart from PBS, United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) was also unhappy with the Federal Government’s decision to give Petronas the go-ahead to build the gas pipeline to send gas to Bintulu.

The party’s president, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, had said that Sabahans have been dispirited by the current situation where the SOGT project was seen as not beneficial to Sabahans except for the landowners involved.

He pointed out that although Sabah is an oil and gas producing state, there is no related activity whatsoever to suggest that. There is no refinery, no university and no petro-chemical or other related industries in the State.

Dissatisfaction has brewed up from among State Umno leaders too, with Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman taking Petronas to task on the poor participation from among local companies in the State’s oil and gas industry.

The Kimanis member of parliament firmly told Petronas to ensure more locals could benefit from the industry or their presence in the State shall be limited and controlled.

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) had also joined the chorous, rejecting the idea of piping gas from Kimanis to Bintulu as ‘ironic and unnecessary’.

Its president, former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee, said the State should not send gas to Sarawak only to buy it back for fuelling the power plants needed to address its electricity woes.

Natural gas to be landed at Kimanis will be piped through a RM1.6 billion 500km pipeline to Petronas’s LNG complex in Bintulu.

The complex, with a production capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum, is one of the biggest of its kind in the world and exports LNG to three lucrative markets, namely Japan, South Korea and China.

With Sabah in need of the product to run its power plants, there were concern that the State may have to compete with these international buyers, who are able to offer much higher prices.

Sabah keen to develop tourism in rural areas
Monday May 16, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/5/16/southneast/8663861&sec=southneast

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is hoping for more companies to develop the tourism sector in the rural areas.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said his ministry is ready to provide assistance to the private sector who wanted to conduct their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the sector.

“With limited resources and human resource capacity, the government can only do so much to assist the people. But you and your organisation can complement these government efforts by being the bridges that breach the gaps and spaces.

“All of you have different skills and resources at your disposal,” he said in his keynote address at a forum on strategic CSR here.

The forum titled ‘Strengthening your organisation: Market recognition, competitive advantage and risk management and competitive advantage,’ was organised by the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stifting Foundation (KAS), a non-government organisation based in Germany.

Later, Masidi said tourism sector in the rural areas, especially in the business of homestay operations and handicraft, was facing a number of challenges in order for it to be on par with other countries in the world.

Among them, he said, were the absence of good infrastructure, the lack if skills in manpower and poor marketing.

He added that there was a need to improve tourism products as well as create new ones in the rural areas. – Bernama.

Kimanis Power to ink EPCC contract
Published: 2011/05/20
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110520154817/Article/index_html#ixzz1MuQrch00

Kimanis Power Sdn Bhd will be signing an engineering, procurement, construction and commission (EPCC) contract with a consortium led by CTCI Corporation of Taiwan on Monday.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman was scheduled to witness the signing ceremony here, said Yayasan Sabah Group Corporate Communications Manager Linah Robert in a statement today.

Other members of the consortium are CTCI Overseas Corporation Ltd, CTCI Malaysia Sdn Bhd, SYNERLITZ (M) Sdn Bhd (formerly known as STEAMLINE (M) Sdn Bhd) and SCHB Engineering Services Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Suria Capital Holdings Bhd.

Under the agreement, the consortium will develop, construct and commission the 300MW combined cycle gas turbine gas fired power plant in Kimanis, Papar, and its related facilities and infrastructure.

The Kimanis power plant is a 60:40 joint-venture project between Petronas Gas Bhd and Yayasan Sabah’s wholly-owned subsidiary, NRG Consortium (Sabah) Sdn Bhd.

Located on a land area of approximately 41 acres, the first generation block is scheduled to be completed in December 2013. The power plant will also be an important component of the state's electricity supply grid.

The Kimanis power plant is one of the major spin-offs of the proposed Sabah oil and gas terminal (SOGT) project being implemented by Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd in Kimanis. -- Bernama

http://www.travelplus.com.my/images/Sabah/SABAHMAP_Master.jpg

Kimanis is a town and also a parliamentary constituency in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. It is located approximately 45 kilometres south of the city of Kota Kinabalu.

Computers for students in Putatan
Friday May 20, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/5/20/southneast/8689815&sec=southneast

KOTA KINABALU: The Informa*tion Communication and Culture Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had allocated some 2,716 units of the ‘1Malaysia’ laptop computers for eligible students in the Putatan parliamentary constituency said deputy minister Datuk Joseph Salang.

Speaking presentation ceremony to 350 units laptops in conjunction with the Kaamatan festival at Kampung Duvanson, near here, Salang urged the people of Sabah to preserve their heritage like the Kaamatan festival and traditional sports and games.

He also reminded them to preserve unity and harmony at both the state and national level. – Bernama.


Putatan is a town and a suburb of Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah

Pulau Sebatik to be upgraded to boost economy
Friday May 20, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/5/20/southneast/8656875&sec=southneast

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/5/20/southneast/se_4baots.jpg
Big development: The development in Pulau Sebatik will bring a positive
impact to Tawau as the islandis divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

TAWAU: The government plans to develop a small town on Pulau Sebatik to spur the economy and uplify the living standard of residents on the island.

Sebatik assemblyman Abdul Muis Picho said the proposal was made by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor in the state assembly recently.

“This matter is currently under study and when implemented, will bring benefits in terms of development and improvement of living standards,” he said in a statement.

Muis said that if implemented, it will bring positive impact to Tawau as Pulau Sebatik is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

“Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) plans to build eight shophouses to uplift the economic status of residents on the island.

Muis also said 89 people in Kampung Bergosong and Sungai Tongkang on Pulau Sebatik will get their land titles after the Land and Survey Department completed its work.

A RM2.5mil jetty is also under construction so that Pulau Sebatik residents can take their agriculture products to processing factories in Tawau. – Bernama.

http://www.travelplus.com.my/images/Sabah/SABAHMAP_Master.jpg

Sebatik Island (Pulau Sebatik) is an island off the eastern coast of Borneo, partly within Indonesia and partly within Malaysia. It has an area of approximately 452.2 square kilometres. The minimum distance between Sebatik Island and the mainland of Borneo is about one kilometer.

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Allocation for various developments
Friday May 20, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/5/20/southneast/8702012&sec=southneast

TUARAN: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has allocated RM237mil to implement various development projects in Tuaran this year.

Most of the allocation, or approximately RM140mil, said its minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, would be used for the construction of roads in rural areas, while the rest would be spent for providing electricity supply and housing aid.

“We want the people in the rural areas in Sabah to be able to enjoy and benefit from the development, especially in terms of infrastructure,” he said after visiting the project site under the housing aid programme in Kampung Mengkabong, near here.

Also present at the event was Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Bumburing.

Shafie said the ministry had so far spent about RM78.6mil to build 600 houses under the programme in Mengkabong and the project was expected to be completed early next year.

“We want to develop a well structured housing area for the people and create a healthy village. We will also provide them with systematic infrastructure like water and electricity supply and roads,” he said. – Bernama.

http://www.travelplus.com.my/images/Sabah/SABAHMAP_Master.jpg

Tuaran is a town as well as a district located in West Coast Division, in the northwest of Sabah

Sabah crime index dips
by Murib Morpi. Posted on May 21, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=131822

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s security is showing signs of improvement with less criminal activities recorded in the first quarter this year.

State police commissioner DCP Datuk Hamzah Taib said the state’s crime index had dropped significantly with only 2,343 criminal cases reported across the state between January and April.

“This represents a decrease of 11.75 per cent as compared to 2,655 cases recorded in the corresponding period in 2010,” he said during the Royal Mess Nite held in conjunction with the 204th Malaysia Police Day celebration here last night.

The event was graced by Head of State Datuk Juhar Mahiruddin. Accompanying the governor was Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman and other state ministers and assistant ministers.

Of all the cases recorded in the first four months, Hamzah said 52.51 per cent were petty crimes (jenayah jalanan).

The investigations throughout the period were also commendable, with 41 per cent of cases reported solved, he added.

“We believe all the steps that had been taken have helped in reducing the crime rate in Sabah and further assured the community on the role of the police as the leading enforcement authority in the country,” he said.

He noted the state police had taken a number of proactive measures in its effort to prevent criminal activities in Sabah.

This includes organizing crime prevention campaigns that involve the active participation from non-governmental organizations, trade associations and local communities.

“We have worked towards strengthening community-oriented policing and smart partnership with the local communities, apart from improving our delivery system by reducing red tape,” he said.

Celebrated every March 25, Police Day is to commemorate the setting up of the first Malaysian police contingent in Pulau Pinang on this that in 1807.

New college to be built for Tambunan
Wednesday May 25, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/5/25/southneast/8736354&sec=southneast

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/5/25/southneast/se_03nenas.jpg
Sign of pr osperity :
Pairin (left) displaying twin pineapples at the harvest fest at Tambunan.

TAMBUNAN: Kadazandusun Huguan Siou (paramount leader) Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan had announced that the Kadazandusun Murut College (Kolej KDM) would be built in Kaingaran near here.

Pairin, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, said he had instructed the Tambunan district officer to identify a suitable site for the college.

“I will personally follow on this to ensure the college becomes a reality,” he said at the official opening of the Tambunan-level Kaamatan (harvest) festival at Pisompuruan Square.

The college had been mooted by the Persatuan Kebajikan dan Pendidikan Kadazandusun dan Murut (Pekadin), a non-governmental organisation that champions welfare and educational causes of the Kadazandusun and Murut (KDM) communities of Sabah.

The move has also received the support of other KDM leaders including United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) head Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup. – Bernama.

http://www.pemandu.gov.my/

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/5398/64709106.jpg

Sandakan

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Sandakan to have 131 WiFi villages
Wednesday May 25, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/5/25/southneast/8736359&sec=southneast

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/5/25/southneast/se_03justin.jpg
Into technolo gy: Trainee teacher Justin Nanta (right) assisting his students
to access the internet outside the classroom of SK Kampung Bahagia Jaya.

SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Communications and Multi-media Commission (MCMC) is expected to complete the setting up of 131 WiFi villages in the state this month.

MCMC director for Sabah and Labuan, Bukhari Yahya said that at the moment the project was at 50% completion.

“Upon completion, people in those villages will be able to access the Internet and are no longer left behind in terms of ICT development,” he said.

Bukhari said the project – through the Information Communication and Culture Ministry was an effort to narrow the digital gap between the urban, rural and interior population.

He added that some 300 more WiFi villages would be set up in the state in the next phase of the project.

Those using the service, he said, would only be given a minimal charge.

On the 1Malaysia netbook project, Bukahri said the MCMC had so far distributed 49,800 units to students in Sabah. – Bernama.

First block of Kimanis Gas Turbine Power Plant expected to be completed in 2013
Posted on May 24, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/05/24/first-block-of-kimanis-gas-turbine-power-plant-expected-to-be-completed-in-2013/

KOTA KINABALU: The first generation block of 100 megawatts (MW) of the proposed 300MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant in Kimanis, Papar, is expected to be completed in December 2013, said state Minister of Industrial Development, Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

He said the power plant and its related projects, costing about RM1.6 billion, was expected to supplement Sabah’s increasing demand for electricity. This he added, was in tandem with its industrial and economic growth, thus spurring further investments in the state.

Tan said the project would ensure Sabah’s energy plan provided sufficient electricity for both the short and long term as well as domestic and industrial use.

“The Kimanis power plant is taking off and will certainly boost electricity supply in Sabah,” he added. He was speaking to reporters after witnessing Kimanis Power Sdn Bhd sign the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract award with the consortium of CTCI Corporation of Taiwan, here yesterday.

Tan represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman in witnessing the signing ceremony.

Managing director Mohd Ali Hashim signed on behalf of Kimanis Power and CTCI chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) John T Yu, for the consortium.

Under the contract, the consortium would develop, construct and commission the gas-fired power plant and its related facilities and infrastructure.

Tan said the Kimanis power plant was designed in a such a way that it can be expanded up to a maximum 400 MW, if necessary, in future.

In addition, he said, there was also an Independent Power Producer (IPP) sited in the area with the ability to produce up to 100 MW.

“That means in Kimanis alone, there will be an additional power supply of about between 400-500MW and another 300 MW gas-fired plant on the east coast. I believe, in future, there will be sufficient electricity supply to cater to the needs of the people and the industry throughout Sabah,” he added.

Kimanis Power Sdn Bhd is a 60:40 joint-venture initiative between Petronas Gas Berhad (PGB) and NRG Consortium (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, a business arm of the Yayasan Sabah Group. Apart from CTCI Corporation, the other members of the consortium are CTCI Overseas Corporation Ltd,CTCI Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Synerlitz (M) Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Steamline (M) Sdn Bhd) and SCHB Engineering Services Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Suria Capital Holdings Bhd).

The project, located on a 16.59-hectare site in Kimanis, is a major spin-off from the proposed Sabah Offshore Gas Terminal (SOGT) project.

He said a training centre to cater to the oil and gas industry would also be established in Kimanis, thus giving an opportunity to young locals to be trained in this specialised field.

On the recent call by the Sabah Oil and Gas Contractors’ Association to the government to review the Petroleum Act 1974, Tan said every Sabahan including himself, would support such a review if it can bring about positive results in favour of the state.

However, he said there must be a basis for such a review, and not just be politicised for political gains. — Bernama

FINAS (www.finas.gov.my/) wants quality Sabah documentaries
by Jenne Lajiun. Posted on May 24, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/05/24/finas-wants-quality-sabah-documentaries/

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) is looking for 15 documentaries on Sabah and Sarawak.

FINAS production director Mustazha Mustafa said at a documentary workshop held at a leading hotel near here yesterday that FINAS would want world class quality documentaries to be produced by industry players from the two states.

The theme for the documentaries is ‘Eye on Borneo.’

“We have had a lot of documentaries on the two states produced by companies from Peninsular Malaysia but this time around, we want to see Sabah viewed from the eyes of Sabahans. This is the best way to view the perspective of the locals,” he said.

Mustazha urged local directors to steer away from the topics that have been incorporated into previous documentaries numerous times in the past.

“Documentaries on the Bajau community, Mt Kinabalu, the Lepa-Lepa festival, Sipadan Island and so many others are among topics which have been heavily used. We would prefer something new,” he said.

He added that those interested could ask FINAS for the list of topics that have already been used in the past.

“Sabah is rich and there are so many untold stories unknown to us – matters that are related to traditions and cultures of the local folks, their cuisines and so many others. However, we urge that the stories to be documented to be true. Don’t make up stories that do not exist,” he said.

To ensure the topics selected are factual, the local producers will be required to produce their research on the items they intend to incorporate in the documentaries.

“We would also require endorsements – not from politicians, but key people who know about the authenticity of the topics to be covered. You can talk to academicians, the historians, the local practitioners,” he said.

The producers had been advised to abstain from researching for materials via the internet.

“We don’t want facts from the internet because they may not be correct,” he said.

The documentaries to be produced are categorised into culture, environment, community, wildlife, historical issues and mystical phenomenon.

“We don’t want general topics, educational and children programmes, magazine programmes such as tourism related and experimental videos,” he said.

Interested parties are to submit their proposal papers in two copies before June 24, 2011 to the FINAS branch here situated at Block A of KWSP building.

They can also call 088-233252 for more information.

Mustazha added that those selected for the ‘Eye on Borneo’ will each receive a financing of between RM30,000 and RM60,000 from FINAS to produce their documentaries.

The documentaries must be completed by this year end.

Ministry wants to promote Sabah’s third highest peak
by Jenne Lajiun. Posted on May 25, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/05/25/ministry-wants-to-promote-sabah’s-third-highest-peak/

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said that Kinabalu Park is not the only spot offering the best view of Mount Kinabalu.

Equally impressive sights of the highest mountain in South East Asia can be seen from Tamparuli, Ranau, Kota Belud and Tuaran.

He said this at the EAC photography competition prize giving ceremony held at the State Library near here yesterday.

According to Masidi, only 192 people are allowed to climb up the mountain daily to avoid overcrowding and to protect the heritage site.

To avoid disappointing those eager to experience the mountain, he urged the introduction of packages which allow visitors to explore the foot of Mount Kinabalu.

His ministry, through the Sabah Parks, hopes to divert visitors eager to ascend the highest peak in Sabah to other places within Sabah that offer equally remarkable sightings and experiences of the mountain.

Masidi explained that this was something new and should be explored by those in the relevant industry.

“Climbing Mount Kinabalu is a day’s experience, but exploring the foot of the mountain will take five to six days, and will bring the visitors to several villages,” he said.

At the same time, the ministry wants to promote Mount Tambuyukon, Sabah’s third highest peak, which is also sited within the Ranau district.

Masidi added that they hope to create interest among climbers to scale up Mount Tambuyukon aside from concentrating on Mount Kinabalu alone.

Sabah forestry’s survival plan
by Joe Leong. Posted on May 25, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/05/25/sabah-forestry’s-survival-plan/

SANDAKAN: Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) director Datuk Sam Mannan has come up with a survival plan that would help the state endure the financial pains in the next two decades when government revenues from the forestry sector of the economy would be drastically reduced.

He said the top challenge of his department is to remain financially equipped, solvent and a viable going concern.

“It is not that we do not have valuable resource – they are there by the billions (of ringgit), but these have not been translated into real market value, cold cash.

“It is mere ‘paper value’. The only significant resource from our forests remains, as before, their standing timber.

“The other perceived resources are largely insignificant in market terms. You can feel them but they cannot be touched.

“The survival plan is to prevent us from begging,” he explained at the department’s annual dinner here last weekend.

Among components of the survival plan, based on current and future innovative forestry financing, includes the selling of steam.

Elaborating, he said it involves the establishment of a geothermal plant at the Andrassy Forest Reserve that would eventually generate 60mw of green energy for the east coast region of Sabah.

“For occupying about 40 hectares (ha) of degraded forests, we charge RM300,000 annum, negotiable every five years.

“This is equivalent to harvesting 3,000 cubic metres of virgin logs per year, and which would have consumed 60 ha of logging area per year.

“As the occupation is for 50 years, this means we save 3,000 ha of virgin forests in the process,” he explained.

He noted that previously the Andrassy Forest Reserve had not been earning anything, and instead lots of funds had to be pumped in for its protection.

The SFD director recalled how he had learned about geothermal plants and to understand its concept during his younger days at a place in New Zealand, known as Wairaki.

As for the 400,000 litres of raw water that would be needed per day for the geothermal plant, he said this would come from the streams within the forest reserve.

“We negotiated a deal (with the promoter of the plant) and this culminated in them paying us RM4,000 per month, RM50,000 per year for untreated water.

“This is about the same price as what the Water Department charges for treated water,” he told the audience, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, the guest of honour at the dinner.

Aside from selling steam and water as part of the forestry survival plan, Sam Mannan said his department is also engaged in “selling love” via the Malua BioBank project.

Although he did not elaborate, he was obviously referring to the love of wildlife, particularly orang utans. The conservation area on which the Malua BioBank sits on is home to nearly half of Malaysia’s remaining orangutans.

The Malua Forest Reserve has become the refuge to one of the world’s highest concentration of orangutans. A total of 650 individuals are believed to live there.

For the conservation of Malua, the bio-diversity credits are estimated to be worth USD34 million, he said.

At the same time, the SFD proposes to sell hydro power at the foothills of Trusmadi Forest Reserve, for a “run of the river” mini hydro-dam.

“We charge RM300,000 per year, for an occupation of about 10 ha. of river bank, again negotiable every five years.”

Sam Mannan also spoke of other financial avenues such as imposing tourism concessions on two locations that are now earning RM100,000 per annum and the possibility of more such tourism sites.

Earlier, he explained why it was important to put into practice the concept of innovative financing during these 20 years of “temporary financial famine” whilst waiting for the fruits of present forestry plans to materialize.

“And failure is not an option,” he stressed.

Kota Kinabalu Structure Plan
by Sandra Sokial. Posted on May 25, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/05/25/kota-kinabalu-structure-plan/

State capital to be Nature, Resorts and Maritime City by 2030

KOTA KINABALU: City Hall is on the right path towards making the state capital a Nature, Resorts and Maritime City by 2030.

Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir in expressing his confidence yesterday, said City Hall had carried out a comprehensive study on the plan, which they hope will take off soon.

“We spent RM2.7 million to carry out the study on the Kota Kinabalu Structure Plan 2030, and we expect it would incur us billions of ringgit to see the actual physical implementation,” he said after the launch of a workshop to strengthen ties with its strategic partners here.

He said the Kota Kinabalu Structure Plan 2030 is part of the five master plans that would help to bring the city closer to its vision. The other four are Public Transport, Solid Waste Management, Kota Kinabalu Landscape and Sewerage.

Earlier in his speech, he said the City Hall Strategic Plan aims at strengthening its organisational development, as well as improving its delivery system in line with the government’s aspiration.

“The plan comprises four main perspectives, namely, its customers, finance, internal processes, and education and development. All these are part of the process of our work in providing the best services to our customers,” he said.

Under the City Hall Strategic Plan 2011-2015, they hope to strengthen City Hall’s ability and capacity, its administration, to improve the city dwellers’ quality of life and to promote Kota Kinabalu as a nature tourism destination.

“With the implementation of this plan, it is my hope that the people will be able to benefit and feel its effects and impacts. We realise that the implementation of these programmes will require huge fundings, therefore the federal and state governments’ support is very much needed,” he said.

Madingkir said it was important to further enhance the existing ties between City Hall and its partners.

“The workshop is also aimed at getting the support from our stakeholders and the public at large. We are very much concerned of the needs of the city dwellers. Any development plan is based on a thorough study and research which City Hall believes will be able to meet the needs of the residents of the city.

“We welcome feedback from the people. This is the kind of cooperation that should continue to exist,” he said.

In 2006, City Hall had appointed consultants to carry out studies on the KK Structure Plan 2030. The study was divided into two phases to cover the northern and southern parts of the city.

Under Phase I, a total of RM1.2 million was spent while RM1.5 million was allocated to carry out the Phase II study, which was completed in 2009.

Meanwhile, the Kota Kinabalu Structure Plan 2030 will be open for public viewing and consultation for three months beginning July this year to get feedback.

All views will be compiled and submitted to the Central Board before it is passed to the Head of State for approval.

“We are confident that by the end of this year, the master plan is ready for the stakeholders,” he said.

When developing a luxury resort is a hobby
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2011/05/30
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/inyior/Article/

KUALA LUMPUR: Cardiologist Dr N.S. Dhaliwal has ventured into a hobby which most people would call a business.

Sixty-five-year-old Dr Dhaliwal has decided to turn his passion for building houses into a project.

Together with two other partners, Michiel Leo Philip and Roger Mauclair Deslorieux, the team is building a luxury development with a gross development value of RM200 million in Kudat, Sabah. It is called the The Nyior Luxury Villas Borneo Beach Resort.

The project, which is expected to be launched in the third quarter of this year, will have 43 villas and 57 serviced suites. It will include a club house.

The project is being developed by Borneo Eco-Green Resorts Sdn Bhd, in which Dr Dhaliwal has a 40 per cent equity interest, Leo Philip 30 per cent and Deslorieux 30 per cent.

Built on a 10.13ha fronting the Marudu Bay, the two-, three- and four-bedroom villas will have a built-up of between 2,500 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft. However, each lot in itself is double the size of the built-up.

"They will be sold from RM2.5 million to RM5 million," Dr Dhaliwal, who is the managing director of the property, said.

It has already hired a marketing firm in the UK to handle the sale of the property.

The company is targeting to sell the property to specific markets like the UK, Russia, the Middle East and other high-profile buyers.

The Nyior, he said, is not to be confused with an earlier project called Kudat Riviera, launched by another developer. This project is said to have been abandoned.

The Nyior resort is said to be private and exclusive, and those who land at the Kota Kinabalu airport will then be transported via a 20-minute helicopter ride.

"We were looking for a place for us ... and realised this was quite big and decided to develop a resort instead," Dr Dhaliwal said.

The sea-front resort, he said, would give access to diving, particularly wreck-diving where shipwreck is explored.

The entire project could take three years to complete.

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/inyior/pix_bottom

RM50mil for social responsibility programmes
Friday June 3, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/6/3/southneast/8765995&sec=southneast

LAHAD DATU: Felda had allocated RM50mil to carry out its social responsibility programmes in Sabah.

Its chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said among the programmes include building new homes or repairing old ones for the poor in the state to give them a more comfortable life.

“The selection process for this is determined by the state,” he said after officiating a house repair programme for the poor in Tungku, near here.

Isa said the allocation known as the Felda Special Allocation, was only given to Sabah as it was felt that the people in the state really needed the assistance.

He said the building of new homes and repairing old ones, and complete with water and electricity supply and roads for the poor in Sabah would be implemented in stages. Isa said the initiative by Felda was part of the agency’s contribution in helping the Sabah government eradicate poverty in the state. - Bernama

Another secondary school to be built in Batu Sapi
Posted on June 5, 2011, Sunday

Batu Sapi is a rock formation beside the river to the south of Sandakan, Sabah.

SANDAKAN: Another secondary school will be built in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency to cater for the increasing number of students in the area.

Deputy Minister of Education Dr Puad Zarkashi said, the decision to build another secondary school was based on the request from the local residents.

“The construction of this school has been approved by the government, and will be included in the Second Rolling plan of the Tenth Malaysia Plan. The new secondary school is expected to be completed in two years,” he said.

The new SMK Batu Sapi 2 will be beneficial to students in the area of Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency, especially those from the rural areas and the nearby islands.

“One of the major issues faced by students in the rural areas of the Batu Sapi constituency is that most of the students had been unable to further their studies to the secondary level,” he said after visiting several schools in Batu Sapi recently.

Since SMK Batu Sapi had been unable to accommodate anymore students, the rural students had to enrol in other secondary schools located far away from their homes.

“Some students have to take shuttle buses twice before reaching the schools. Bus fares have become an issue as most of these students come from low income families,” Puad said adding that bearing the cost of transportation and the distance involved have made some of these students to become unmotivated to further their studies.

Puad expressed hope that there will be no more excuse for parents not to enrol their children in a secondary school after the new school is completed soon.

www.pemandu.gov.my/

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/5398/64709106.jpg

Federal govt instrumental in improving Sabah’s power supply infrastructure
Posted on June 10, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/10/federal-govt-instrumental-in-improving-sabah’s-power-supply-infrastructure/

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal government, through capital investment, has played a crucial role in the rapid improvement of power supply infrastructure in Sabah.

Power demand in Sabah was forecasted to increase by eight per cent between 2010 and 2015.

A Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) statement said yesterday that over the past 10 years, the goverment had channelled RM1.849 billion to improve power supply infrastructure throughout Sabah.

It said RM727.87 million was allocated to the state under the Eighth Malaysia Plan between 2000 and 2005 and RM800.2 million under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“In addition, the government, through the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, has allocated RM186.9 million to SESB under the Economic Stimulus Package,” the statement added.

The government had also provided RM2.06 billion as fuel subsidy to SESB power stations between 2004 and 2010. SESB also said 382 projects were being extensively carried out throughout Sabah now and was expected to be fully completed by end-2012.

“The completion of this project (infrastructure improvement) will also have a positive impact on the power supply situation in Sabah and result in less power interruption to customers.

“With greater improvements in technology and in-depth technical know-how by SESB, the company is confident power supply to customers in Sabah will improve tremendously over the coming years,” SESB said.

With the determination to perform beyond the expectations of many, SESB has implemented many strategic projects that saw the System Average Interruption Duration Index (Saidi) pick up considerably in Sabah to 687 minutes per customer in 2010 from 2,867 minutes per customer in 2009.

As of June 6, 2011, the index for Sabah was 216.9 minutes per customer, the statement added. — Bernama

Nearly RM3 bln spent to boost Sabah power – SESB
Posted on June 10, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/10/nearly-rm3-bln-spent-to-boost-sabah-power-sesb/

KOTA KINABALU: Capital investment from the Federal Government has played a big part in the rapid improvement of power supply infrastructure in Sabah, especially in meeting the state’s growing power demand, said Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Baharin bin Din.

It is forecasted that the power demand in Sabah will increase by eight percent in the next five years (2010-2015), he said in a statement yesterday.

Over the past 10 years, the Government has channeled RM1.849 billion to solely help improve power supply infrastructure throughout Sabah, he said.

“RM727.87 million was allocated to the state under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (RMK-8 from 2000-2005), and RM800.2 million under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (RMK-9).

“In addition, the Government through the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water Malaysia had allocated RM186.9 million to SESB under the Economic Stimulus Package.”

Baharin said the Government has also provided a total of RM1.06 billion as fuel subsidy to its power station from 2004 to the end of last year (2004-2010).

He said 382 projects throughout Sabah are now being extensively carried out and are expected to be fully completed by the end of 2010.

“The completion of this project will also have positive impact on the power supply situation in Sabah whereas there will be less power interruption.

“With greater improvements in technology and in-depth technical know-how by SESB, the company is confident that power supply to customers in Sabah will improve tremendously over the coming years.

“With the determination to perform beyond the expectation of many, SESB implemented many strategic projects that saw the System Average Interruption Duration Index or SAIDI in Sabah picking up considerably from 2,867 minutes per customer in 2009 to 687 minutes per customer in 2010, surpassing the set target of SAIDI 700.

“AS of 6 June 2011, SAIDI in Sabah is at 216.9 minutes per customers.

UMS to host Symposium on Society and Natural Resources
Posted on June 11, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/11/ums-to-host-symposium-on-society-and-natural-resources/

KOTA KINABALU: About 200 participants from 18 countries will be attending the 17th International Symposium On Society and Natural Resources (ISSRM 2011) organised by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) from June 14-17.

The inaugural symposium will be held for the first time in Asia, at Le Meridien Hotel to act as a hub for information sharing towards brainstorming and discussing social issues and the environment such as the use or abuse of natural resources and its consequence on social, economic and political effects around the world.

Sabah is seen to be an ideal location as it is blessed with natural resources at its best.

Besides, UMS’ development and strength in the field of social knowledge research, especially those that are linked to natural resources and the environment helped the university to win the bid to host the symposium.

ISSRM 2011 will see managers of natural resources, forestry professionals and environment planners from regions of central and North America, Eastern and Western Europe, Australia and the South Pacific, Southeast and South Asia congregate and work towards a common interest and goal.

For programme details and further information, visit the website: http://www.issrm 2011malaysia. iasnr.org or contact associate prof Dr Fadzilah Majid Cooke Email: Fadzilah@ums.edu.my or 088-32000 ext 1771/1777/1836.

Sabah to tap hot spring resources
By DURIE RAINER FONG Friday June 17, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/17/nation/8917270&sec=nation

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is expected to be the first state in the country to harness geothermal power and tap this kind of renewable energy.

“The feasibility study has been completed by the Minerals and Geoscience Department, and the technology to harness it needs to be fine-tuned,” said Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.

Interest in geothermal power gathered momentum in August 2009 when reports said that Sabah was studying the possibility of generating energy from a hot spring in the state's east coast district of Tawau.

Kurup said studies on the potential power generation of up to 67mw from geothermal resources discovered at Apas in Tawau had been completed.

He said his ministry would make the recommendations to the state government, which could then identify the experts to develop the site.

Also on the cards are plans to tap solar power.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said a proposal had been drawn up to build a solar power station at Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in the northern district of Kudat.

He said Sirim and his ministry held discussions on the possibility of venturing into the experimental project, which would see power being generated to the vicinity of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau where the famed Tip of Borneo is located.

“However, we need to discuss this because while we want to supply power to the people, we don't want to spoil the environment there,” he said.

Young scientists to interact with laureates in Germany
By LIZ LEE Friday June 17, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/17/nation/8919452&sec=nation

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/6/17/nation/n_14mohd.jpg
The chosen delegates: (from left) Dr Mohd Izzuddin, Wee, Dr Ling, Dr
Jayanthi and Dr Loh congratulating each other on being selected to attend
the 61st Meeting of Nobel Laureates with Young Scientists in Germany.

KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Jayanthi Maniam from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (www.ums.edu.my/) is excited about the opportunity to interact with fellow scientists from across the world.

She is among five promising Malaysian scientists who were selected to attend the 61st Meeting of Nobel Laureates with Young Scientists in Lindau, Germany from June 26 to July 1.

The Johor native said she hoped to “return to Sabah and stir the minds of the young ones so that they will go on to build an interest in the sciences.”

The others selected include Dr Ling King Hwa from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Dr Loh Han Chern from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Dr Mohd Izzuddin Hairol from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Wee Siang Teo from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

They will participate in an informal forum with 24 Nobel Laureates and interact with leaders, thinkers and 570 young scientists in the physiology and medical fields.

They will be sent under the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) Lindau Programme.

Wee, who is currently pursuing his PhD in cancer biology, was encouraged to apply for the programme by his supervisor who was a student of a Nobel laureate.

“My university sent me an invitation to apply for it but I was not an Australian so they could not nominate me.

“Fortunately my supervisor was really encouraging, he went on to sponsor my flight back to Malaysia for the interview,” he added.

Chairman of the Medical and Health Sciences Discipline Group at ASM, Professor Datuk Dr Khalid Yusoff, said this delegation was selected not only for their expertise but also their communication skills.

Sabah’s first geothermal power plant
16th June, 2011
http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/49620

http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/mediafiles/picture/10392/160611_2b.jpg?1308180189
Local media at the site visit yesterday

KOTA KINABALU: The proposed geothermal site in Tawau has the potential to generate a geothermal power plant with a capacity of 67MW, an SESB official said yesterday.

Its general manager of system operation, Addie Ahmad said if the plant gets off the ground, it would be the first in Sabah.

“It uses renewable green energy, is eco-friendly and does not require fuel-burning to produce heat or electricity,” he said during a site visit and briefing on the importance of Sabah Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) at Jalan Bundusan in Penampang near here.

Addie said it will be good news when the plant is up and running because the geothermal power is considered to be sustainable energy production, clean and provides continuous power round the clock.

Meanwhile, he said the responsibility of the SLDC is to control and operate the Sabah Grid System (SGS) in a safe, reliable and economical manner.

The control of generation and load demand in the SGS is centralised at the SLDC.

Load dispatch under normal operation or real time operation is to ensure that Grid System frequency is at a nominal level and this is done by balancing the availability of generation capacity throughout Sabah against requirement of load demand, he said.

Surplus of generation provides adequate spinning reserve and in the event of grid supply interruption, the data acquisition and generation supply for station can now be obtained directly from Petronas through phone.

“Previously, these data were obtained manually from the individual Independent Power Producers (IPP). This has minimised the control on the dispatch regime,” he explained.

Addie also said that contingency plan to restore unexpected events was taken in order to bring back the grid system back into stability.

Under frequency load shedding, the process of disconnecting selected 11kV (kilovolt) feeders runs automatically.

He also explained on the Demand Side Management (DSM), which is a process of disconnecting the power supply to selected Large Power Consumers (LPC) with their own generators.

“It is very important to ensure that the grid system frequency is back to normal level otherwise the grid system may experience total collapse due to cascading generating sets tripping,” he said.

SIRIM helping Sabah Bumiputeras develop cosmetic products
2011/06/21
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/SIRIMhelpingSabahBumiputerasdevelopcosmeticproducts/Article/

SANDAKAN: The Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia Berhad is helping five Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sabah to develop cosmetic products from natural resources.

SIRIM Berhad Sabah general manager Khairon Untoh said today that the products were made from natural resources easily available in the state such as honey, hill rice, seaweed, cinnamon and ginger.

The rice-based cosmetic products were already in market while the others

were in the packaging stage, he told reporters after launching an introductory
biocosmetic and natural products programme.

Khairon said that SIRIM had a programme to help Bumiputeras venture into the cosmetic products industry. - Bernama

SIRIM at Bukit Jalil
www.sirim.my/

http://www.sunflowerengineering.com/images/sirimBJ.jpg http://www.sunflowerengineering.com/images/new20.jpg http://www.sunflowerengineering.com/images/new5.jpg http://www.sunflowerengineering.com/images/projects/completed/sirim-at-bukit-jalil-02-s.jpg

Kadazandusun and Dayak chambers team up to boost economic strength
Posted on June 28, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/28/kadazandusun-and-dayak-chambers-team-up-to-boost-economic-strength/

KUCHING: The Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) signed a Cooperation Agreement to forge and strengthen business relations in Kota Kinabalu last Saturday.

Sabah Assistant Minister of Finance Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin witnessed the agreement signed by DCCI president Tan Sri Leo Moggie and KCCI president Alli Matajam.

According to a press release from DCCI yesterday, both parties had undertook to share opportunities for information exchange on chamber management and development, economic development including important public and private opportunities, as well as trade and investment information.

They will also explore ways and means of promoting trade and industrial cooperation as well as facilitate joint venture arrangements, technical cooperation, market networking and linkages and other similar arrangements between the two chambers.

“The objectives of the agreement are to forge, promote and strengthen inter-chamber relationship in order to enhance and boost economic prosperity among the respective communities of the chambers.

“It is hoped that such arrangement and understanding will create a positive synergy between the two chambers for the overall benefit of their respective communities,” said the statement.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has commended the close cooperation between the Kadazandusun and Dayak Chambers of Commerce and Industry in producing successful, quality and resilient Bumiputera entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the 5th Pesta Kaamatan/Gawai Dayak celebrations jointly organised by the two business chambers here last Saturday night, he said this strong collaboration would hopefully see more Bumiputera firms getting listed on Bursa Malaysia and competing at the global level.

“This success is very important and in line with the New Economic Model’s objective to achieve high-income country status by 2020,” he said.

He also congratulated the business chambers for their initiative and commitment in taking turns to host the annual celebration since 2007.

“It clearly proves the role and contribution as well as support of the chambers to the spirit and concept of 1Malaysia inspired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” Musa said.

The chief minister also announced a RM100,000 special grant for KCCI.

More than 500 people including KCCI and DCCI members attended the joint Gawai-Kaamatan Celebration 2011.

CCM expects Lahad Datu plant to satisfy extra demand latest!
by Ghaz Ghazali ghazghazali@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 28, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/28/ccm-expects-lahad-datu-plant-to-satisfy-extra-demand-latest/

KUCHING: Chemical Company of Malaysia Bhd (CCM) hopes that its new plant in Lahad Datu in Sabah will capture the potential extra demand from the Borneo market and boost revenue further.

Its executive director Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir stated this via e-mail today, following the conclusion of the group’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday.

The Lahad Datu plant would be planned for commissioning in the second half of this year. It was one of three pipeline plant projects commissioned by the group under its fertiliser division in 2007. The other two facilities were in Bintulu and Medan, Indonesia.

Amirul Feisal remarked, “As for the fertilisers division, the company will keep its focus on improving operational efficiency in all of its plants. Despite the competitive industry, we are confident that the demand for the company’s fertilisers can be sustained due to the buoyant prices of crude palm oil, strategic location of the group’s plants, coupled with weather conditions and rising labour costs that will induce higher usage of compound fertilisers.”

Amidst the challenging and competitive environment, CCM posted commendable results for the fiscal period ended December 31 last year with consolidated revenue of RM1.64 billion, up by 4.4 per cent from RM1.57 billion in 2009.

Such positive revenue growth was driven by its chemicals division, which grew by six per cent from RM432 million to RM457 million; followed by a three per cent and 3.7 per cent increases in its pharmaceuticals and fertilisers divisions, respectively.

As for profit before tax, earnings grew by almost four-fold from RM15.6 million to RM59.2 million within the same period.

Despite such unfavourable circumstances, Amirul Feisal remained optimistic on the future performance of the company, stressing that there were various factors that could push these divisions’ performance even further.

“The CCM Group will continue to deliver value added products and services that consistently exceed customer’s expectations, in tandem with our change from being a process-driven business to a knowledge-based enterprise. We will also build a strong workforce instilled with our core values such as integrity, being responsible andexcellence.

“There are no shortcuts to driving change but we hope to get some quick wins in the next 12 months,” he underlined.

Apart from its fertilisers division, the executive director outlined the company’s plans for its pharmaceuticals division.

“It (pharmaceutical division) can take advantage of our ‘state-of-the-art’ plant in Bangi to efficiently scale production and enlarge its geographical penetration. Future growth will come from the business expansion in neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia, along with the venture into newer markets such as the Middle East in the forthcoming years.

“Our inert vaccine fill-and-finish facility, which will be ready for operation in 2012/13, will open up opportunities in new areas such as biologics and vaccines,” he explained.

“We are also planning to come out with a wider and better product range within our chemicals division to serve our customers needs through our own label products and homegrown formulation. We are also in the midst of integrating our chemical business to better serve our customers.”

Currently, CCM remains as the nation’s largest generic pharmaceutical and compound fertiliser manufacturer, and listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia.

Petronas helps needy Sabah students to pursue academic dreams
Posted on June 30, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/30/petronas-helps-needy-sabah-students-to-pursue-academic-dreams-latest/

KOTA KINABALU: A farmer, Duakin Jaikol, has travelled many times from his remote hometown in Keningau to Kota Kinabalu, but about a fortnight ago on June 20 he made an extra effort to make sure that he did not miss a very special and important trip to the Sabah state capital.

The 130-km journey, snaking through the rugged Crocker Range mountain, was indeed very eventful for Duakin as he was invited to attend a special gathering-cum-luncheon at Menara Petronas.

It was there that he proudly watched his eldest son, Raysieo Duakin, 18, receiving the prestigious Petronas scholarship or Petronas Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP) along with 12 other bright students from Sabah.

READ MORE

Petronas Chemicals to build fertiliser plant in Sabah
Posted on June 30, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/30/petronas-chemicals-to-build-fertiliser-plant-in-sabah-latest/

KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PCG) has proposed to build a new world-scale fertiliser plant in Sipitang, Sabah, at an estimated cost of US$1.5 billion

In a statement today, PCG said the construction of the plant, which would have urea production capacity of 1.2 million metric tons per annum (mmtpa), was expected to start in the second quarter of 2012 with commissioning targeted in 2015.

It said the project was conditional upon reaching agreement with the Sabah state government on land related matters.

It would boost PCG’s total production capacity to 2.6 mmtpa, it said.

Currently, PCG operates two urea plants comprising a 750,000 mtpa urea plant in Bintulu, Sarawak and a 683,000 mtpa urea plant in Gurun, Kedah.

PCG chairman, Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, said it was part of PCG’s strategy to grow its fertiliser business as Asia-Pacific was a key market.

“We are in an advantageous position as we have close proximity to the growth markets in the region,” he said.

President and chief executive officer Dr Abd Hapiz Abdullah said PCG would potentially be the second largest urea producer in South-East Asia, as the new Sabah fertiliser plant would almost double the current capacity.

The project will be undertaken by a special-purpose vehicle, Styrene Monomer (M) Sdn Bhd, which will be renamed Petronas Chemicals Fertiliser Sabah Sdn Bhd. – Bernama

Sabah records 40.5 pct trade surplus for 2010 latest!
Posted on July 5, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/05/sabah-records-40-5-pct-trade-surplus-for-2010-latest/

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded a trade surplus of 40.5 per cent last year compared to the year before, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said today.

He said export of merchandise grew by 17.39 per cent to RM43.62 billion, while imports increased by 7.5 per cent to RM27.9 billion.

“Sabah’s total trade in 2010 accounted for 6.1 per cent of Malaysia’s total and this is is a positive transformation after the economic downturn in 2008,” he said at the Malaysia International Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Sabah Annual Luncheon here.

The text of his speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai.

Musa said in the first quarter of this year, total trade amounted to RM18.9 billion with exports amounting to RM11.8 billion, in which 82.6 per cent was contributed by palm oil, crude petroleum, palm kernel oil, plywood and methanol, while imports amounted to RM7.1 billion.

He also noted Sabah’s tourism sector continued to perform positively with the state registering an increase in visitor arrivals by 12.5 per cent reaching 870,197 in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.

“We are confident of growth in the tourism sector and expect five million tourist arrivals and a yearly receipt of RM8 billion by 2015,” he said.

Meanwhile, Musa said the state government was commited to address global concerns over a changing climate by taking positive steps to contribute towards environmental sustainability.

Among the state government initiatives, he said, was to venture into renewable energy by building a RM280 million biomass plant with a South Korean firm at the Lahad Datu Palm Oil Industrial Cluster scheduled for commissioning by late next year.

“The plant will use vast quantities of palm oil waste for energy generation, helping us reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing power supply in the state.

“Turning biomass into energy makes perfect sense and will help position ourstate as one that truly cares for the environment,” he said. – Bernama

Petronas centre to train Sabah youths
Posted on July 9, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/09/petronas-centre-to-train-sabah-youths/

KOTA KINABALU: Petronas will be setting up a technical training centre soon to expose youths in Sabah to the oil and gas-related subjects as part of the effort to meet the industry’s manpower demand.

Built on a 10-acre land close to the Sabah Gas and Oil Terminal in Kimanis, Petronas Corporate Affairs Department senior general manager Mohammad Medan Abdullah said the centre is expected to be ready by 2013.

“Currently, the first intake of 25 trainees have started their training at our temporary centre in Membakut since July 4. The duration of this instrumentation and management course is for two years,” he said during the Petronas media luncheon here yesterday.

Apart from this, Petronas is also collaborating with five local technical training centres namely Institut Latihan Perindustrian, Institut Kemahiran Mara, Kolej Yayasan Sabah, Pusat Giat Mara Kimanis and Institut Latihan Perdagangan dan Kemahiran Papar, to train youths in the oil and gas industry.

They are also working closely with the State Education Department and several local authorities to carry out community programmes such as the Sentuhan Kasih programme, Science Education Camp and workshop on how to answer examination questions.

“Overall, we believe that these programmes are based on a partnership concept to support common benefits that bring good and in line with the religious needs,” he said.

Mohammad Medan said its Sabah office plays an important role, especially with the state being one of their main operation locations in Malaysia which houses important infrastructures such as oil and gas platforms and terminals, petrol kiosks and depot.

Touching on the event, he said it is part of their way to show gratitude to the media practitioners in the state for their roles in disseminating information on Petronas as well as its activities.

“Media plays an important role in moulding the people’s perception towards current issues, especially with today’s borderless world where news is available via websites or cell phones in within seconds. Therefore, we appreciate the media’s contribution in disseminating information on Petronas’ business initiatives and social activities in the state,” he said.

He also hoped the existing collaboration will continue.

Also present at the event were Petronas Regional Office for Sabah and Labuan general manager Joseph Podtung, and Sabah Journalists Association president Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

Tun Mustapha Park will be largest park in region
by Winnie Kasmir. Posted on July 20, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/20/tun-mustapha-park-will-be-largest-park-in-region/

SANDAKAN: Efforts to proclaim new parks in the state are being carried out actively, said Sabah Parks Board of Trustees director Paul Basintal.

The process to gazette several new parks in the state, such as the waters off Sipadan Island and Tun Mustapha Park in Kudat are being intensified, he said.

“If Tun Mustapha Park is gazetted, it will be the largest park in South East Asia at 1.1 million hectares,” he said.

As for the Sipadan Island, he said efforts to gazette the waters off Sipadan Island would be submitted to the relevant ministry as the process had received strong cooperation from the Semporna District Council and the public. It needed to be gazetted as it has 12 hot spots for scuba diving activities.

“We hope these could be gazetted before 2015,” he said during a Sabah Parks seminar and launching of a book at Sabah Hotel yesterday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Paul said the seminar was organised to gain information from every department in Sabah Parks which will be developed as a model in parks management.

“Sabah Parks staff are given the opportunity to share their knowledge and information besides sharing their opinions towards the modernization of the Sabah Park management system, in line with this year’s theme: ‘Toward a model of protected area management’,” he said.

There were several presentations conducted by the park’s Operation and Management Division, Research and Education Division, Administration, Financial and Human Resource Management Division and Development Management.

“With the strategic and solid management, we are able to face challenges in line with the changing work environment,” he said, adding that ICT applications in management ensured that management information could be obtained accurately and faster.

During the ceremony, a book entitled ‘Prosiding Seminar Julai 2008-2009′ was also launched. The book is a documentation of previous seminars which would be a reference not only for Sabah Park staff but also the public, especially the students.

Bina Puri (www.binapuri.com.my/) awarded RM388m job
Published: 2011/07/21
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110721172251/Article/index_html

Bina Puri Holdings Bhd said it won a RM388.7 million contract to build an administrative center in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, according to a company statement today.

With the award, the current unbuilt order-book stands at RM2.4 billion, it said. -- Bloomberg

Eight areas of focus in improving education in Sabah
by Murib Morpi. Posted on July 27, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/27/eight-areas-of-focus-in-improving-education-in-sabah/

KOTA KINABALU: The State Education Department has set eight strategic focuses as its Key Performance Indicator (KPI) in improving the education level in Sabah.

Among these include the improvement of management leadership at school level, said its director, Datuk Dr Muhiddin Yusin.

“Close cooperation between various parties, such as parents, the community, private sector and local leaders is essential in ensuring excellent education services.

“This is in line with the ‘education for all’ and ‘all for education’ concepts towards producing a quality human capital, and of course this requires an effective mechanism to be set in place,” he said at the department’s Excellent Service Award (APC) 2010 ceremony held at Dewan MAKSAK, Likas.

Also present was deputy director general (Operation Sector) of Education Malaysia, Dr Zahri Aziz.

For this purpose, he said the department was committed to implement quality management system based on MS ISO 9001:2008 while at the same time adopting the 5S concept, besides Star Rating system as required by MAMPU.

Other focuses include improving the overall performance of public examinations, namely UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM.

Also to be given emphasis are the development and upgrading of school infrastructures and facilities, compliance of the financial procedures at all levels and implementation of the Standard Primary School Curriculum (KSSR).

The department, he added, would also give attention to reducing the backlog of disciplinary cases, reducing absenteeism among students and achieving the sub-NKRA (National Key Results Area) that had been adopted by the Ministry of Education.

As of July 18, there were 499,684 students with 40,276 teachers and 6,654 supporting staff at 1,070 primary and 213 secondary schools in Sabah.

Meanwhile, Dr Zahri who presented the APC awards to 204 recipients at the ceremony, said the element of recognition at workplace was becoming more important nowadays as shown by studies on the contributing factors to individual motivation and work performance.

He said besides salary and incentives, workers also desire respect, to be entrusted to have autonomy in carrying out their duties as well as social and moral support.

“In this respect, recognition such as the APC could help in bringing out the best in the individual worker,” he said.

He added that the ministry had high hopes on education practitioners in Sabah to play their part as a medium for generating development in the country through education in the various fields.

In today’s globalised world, the task of an educator in guiding the younger generation into a competitive, innovative and creative human capital that has high integrity values and patriotism has become more challenging and complicated.

Teachers, therefore must possess not only sound knowledge in education but also charismatic and able to be a role model that help mould the next generation.

“The ministry would like to express its greatest appreciation to teachers who have sacrificed to teach not only in the urban but also in the rural areas, including remote islands in Sabah,” he said.

Risda ready to develop Sabah’s natural rubber industry
3rd August, 2011
http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/51082

KOTA MARUDU: The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) (www.risda.gov.my/) is ready to spearhead Sabah’s natural rubber industry, especially the development of smallholdings.

Risda Holding Sdn Bhd Chairman Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said a dynamic mechanism was required to bring the rubber industry in Sabah to the forefront of development and Risda had the experience and expertise to carry out the mammoth task.

“Risda has already surveyed the entire state and has received positive feedback from rubber smallholders towards the agency’s developmental programmes.

“Many smallholders in the state are keen to seek our assistance to develop their smallholdings.

“For this purpose, 48,000 hectares of rubber smallholdings belonging to an individual will be involved in 14 development programmes implemented by Risda in Sabah,” he told Bernama here yesterday.

The programmes include land development and replanting of old rubber trees with high-yielding clones.

It also involved efforts to diversify sources of income for smallholders which among others, included providing training in oil palm cultivation.

“Risda is prepared to consider applications from smallholders with commercial lease land and communal grant to undertake these programmes,” he added.

Abdul Rahim also said Sabah currently had only 70,000 hectares of land under rubber cultivation.

Ministry to develop, conserve Marudu Bay
Posted on August 6, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/06/ministry-to-develop-conserve-marudu-bay/

KOTA MARUDU: Marudu Bay, which is rich in biodiversity, mangrove swamps and marine resources, can contribute to enhanced economic activities for Kota Marudu through eco-tourism and fishery activities.

Marudu Bay covers Kudat, Pitas and Kota Marudu districts right up to Pulau Banggi. Its valuable resources have been recognised and Marudu Bay is part of the five-country continental shelf and the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security, as well as part of the proposed one million hectares Tun Mustapha marine park in northern Sabah.

Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said his ministry is funding studies conducted with Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sabah to develop, conserve and manage Marudu Bay while identifying sustainable economic activities.

“The ministry is initiating these scientific studies to ensure that the rich resources are protected and also utilised for economic activities through sustainable development. But these efforts must involve the people who must be aware of the need to protect and conserve the environment and natural resources,” he said.

Dr Ongkili said this at an event of the Forestry Department to hand over funds to 26 secondary schools, primary schools and NGOs in Kota Marudu to conduct environmental conservation and awareness programmes.

Each of them received between RM1,000 and RM500 from the allocation given by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to members of parliament to encourage such activities in their constituencies.

Dr Ongkili stressed that physical and economic development is hollow if it does not go hand in hand with emphasis on conservation and protection of the environment.

The member of parliament for Kota Marudu said that appreciation of the environment must also be a priority and a part of life for all Malaysians in the nation’s quest to become a developed nation by 2020.

He said that there needed to be societal awareness on environmental issues so that everyone could work together to protect the environment and eco-system which also impacted people’s lives.

“Phenomenon like floods, which has become a yearly occurrence in Kota Marudu, could be a man-made problem due to illegal logging.

Destructive fishing methods such as using bombs can cause a decline in the marine resources.

“We need to be aware that our actions can disrupt the eco-system, leading to a chain reaction that affects ourselves,” he said.

Dr Ongkili added that one way to promote the awareness of environmental protection was through schools where the young are taught to appreciate the environment.

Towards this end, he proposed a committee to be set up involving the Forestry, Education and Environment Departments to draw up a syllabus for the schools using localised examples of environmental issues.

“Kota Marudu schoolchildren will be able to appreciate more the need to conserve and protect the environment when they learn about it through local examples such as the Marudu Bay which they can relate to. Environmental conservation must be a priority for Kota Marudu as we strive to become the economic hub and administrative centre of northern Sabah,” he added.

Petronas Urged To Enhance CSR Programme To Help Sabah's Hardcore Poor
August 06, 2011 16:52 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=606403&cat=sbe

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- Sabah Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Jahid Jahim, has urged Petronas to enhance and intensify its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, to help the hardcore poor in the state.

He said Petronas, which has a well-established presence and contributed significantly to the development of Sabah since in 1975, could probably complement the government's efforts to provide housing for the poor.

"There are still hardcore poor in Sabah and I believe Petronas, through its CSR programme, can help fast-track a solution to address hardcore poverty.

"We hope that Petronas can seriously look into this," he told Bernama, here today.

Jahid also urged Petronas to give more opportunities for locals to undergo training courses for the oil and gas industry in the state.

He said he was particularly happy with the participation of Sabahans in the oil business, particularly Petronas retail (petrol) stations and its transportation services.

"All of those involved in Petronas retail stations are local Sabahans.

"Obviously, Petronas' commercial presence helps provide business opportunities for the people in Sabah," he added, in elaborating on the contribution of the national oil company towards improving the quality of life of Sabahans.

-- BERNAMA

Great plans in store for Mt Kinabalu — Masidi
Posted on August 7, 2011, Sunday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/07/great-plans-in-store-for-mt-kinabalu-—-masidi/

KOTA KINABALU: The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has great plans for Mount Kinabalu.

Its Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun disclosed this in his Facebook wall yesterday, explaining that the ministry through Sabah Parks was in the process of finalising the blueprint of adventure trail at the base of Mount Kinabalu and construction of a 40- to 50-bed hostel near Panar Laban to be operated by the park.

“The adventure trail is to provide a more challenging experience within the base of the mountain while providing a catalyst for the development of homestays at kampungs (villages) located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu.

“I believe there are many options of admiring Kinabalu, not necessarily climbing it. Thus, the idea of enjoying pristine nature of the park down below. Adventure trail could take anything from one to four days’ journey. For birders, this would be something to look forward to,” he said.

Masidi said he has been listening to the grouses of locals about the high cost of climbing Mount Kinabalu.

“I have instructed Sabah Parks two years ago to do a viability study, including environmental compliance, for the construction of a new hostel at Panar Laban to ease the financial burden of locals wanting to climb the mountain.

“The consultant is finalising the drawing to comply with our specifications and hopefully construction can commence soon,” he said.

However, Masid warned: “Sorry, this one is not for privatisation guys! It is for the convenience of the people of Sabah.”

Sandakan to get better with BEST
Wednesday August 17, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/17/nation/9312251&sec=nation#13135485420841&if_height=513

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/8/17/nation/n_pg28matius.jpg

Major development: Matius (second from left) and Wong (left) being briefed
on the progress of the BEST International Training Hotel at Bandar Samudera
Elopura in Sandakan yesterday.

SANDAKAN: This Sabah east coast town will soon achieve another milestone in placing itself on the global map with the completion of a world-class training hotel in November.

The hotel is equipped with state-of-the-art demonstration and production kitchens, accommodation, food and beverage outlets and function rooms.

Local Government and Housing Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Matius Sator was briefed on the training hotel which will provide hands-on skills training to students and apprentices in the hospitality industry.

He was given a tour of the facilities at the BEST International Training Hotel at Bandar Samudera Elopura, Jalan Buli Sim Sim here on Monday.

The project is the first parcel of Phase 1 of the proposed mixed development project under the Sabah Development Corridor that is being implemented under a public-private sector partnership between the Sandakan Municipal Council and Pembangunan Samudera Sabah Sdn Bhd, a Sabah-based private corporation.

Matius, who was accompanied by Sabah Municipal Council president Datuk James Wong, said he was astonished with the development and urged the developer to continue with the good work.

“It is good to see the support and participation of a federal government agency such as Felda in efforts to uplift the living standards of the people of Sabah through human capital development,” he said.

The training hotel has 36 apprentices who recently graduated from a Felda-sponsored programme and are now undergoing an 18-month programme that will award them upon completion, an internationally-recognised certificate in collaboration with ROC Zeeland, a well-established institution in the Netherlands.

Another 40 students, also under the Felda sponsorship programme from its sister company BEST International College in Bandar Sahabat, Lahad Datu, will join the apprentices for their training after Hari Raya.

Wong said MPS had not only been working closely with the developer to ensure the smooth and speedy implementation of the project, but was also involved in efforts initiated by the developer to help clean and beautify the neighbouring area of Kampung Forest.

Petronas Gas terminal to light up lives of Sabahans upon completion in 2015
Posted on August 15, 2011, Monday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/15/petronas-gas-terminal-to-light-up-lives-of-sabahans-upon-completion-in-2015/

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/5740.jpg

GREENFIELD PROJECT: Image displays Kasi Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s (Kasi) 3D
model of the Kimanis SOGT project. The SOGT is a greenfield project due for
completion in 2013, and Kasi is commissioned to conduct research and
analysis on the marine infrastructure and operations

LAHAD DATU: Since decades, thousands of residents in the east coast of Sabah have experienced frequent power disruption. The situation had affected the business community and caused inconvenience to customers so much so the utility had come under flak recently because of frequent power outages in the area.

But in four years, their predicament would probably be a thing of the past, thanks to Petronas, which would estab*lish a liquefied natural gas re-gasification terminal and a new 300-megawatt power plant in Lahad Datu.

The whopping RM2.2 billion Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) and power plant would be scheduled for completion in 2015 and would not only light up the lives of the residents, who would enjoy uninterrupted electricity supply but also meet the spiralling power demand created by enhanced economic activities in Sabah.

“For decades, we have endured a very challenging life with frequent power disruptions. It never crossed my mind that one day our area, especially in Lahad Datu, will have better electricity supply.

“We have waited for this for decades, thanks to Petronas and thanks to the 1Malaysia National Key Result Area initiative taken by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” said Darvel Lahad Datu Club chairman, Ahmad Syawal in an interview with Bernama.

He said the proposed gas terminal and the power plant would surely generate significant direct and indirect economic spin-offs including new employment and business development opportunities.

“It will not only benefit the people of Lahad Datu but also those in Tawau, Semporna, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran. There will be more job opportunities for our people here once construction of the terminal begins,” he said. In this respect, Ahmad hoped Petronas would speed up the implementation of the gas terminal designed to feed natural gas to the proposed power plant.

He said with a steady supply of electricity, it would help boost the state government’s Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) project in Lahad Datu, particularly biomass factories.

“I believe with good infrastructure facilities like water and electricity, more investors would invest in POIC hence creating more employment opportunities for locals,” he said, urging them to take advantage of this golden opportunity. — Bernama

RM130 Million Allocated For Silam Rural Infrastructure Development
August 13, 2011 22:48 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=608002&cat=sbe

TAWAU, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has allocated RM130 million this year for the development of basic infrastructure in the Silam parliamentary constituency, said its minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He said the projects included rural roads, and water and electricity supplies in the Kunak and Lahad Datu districts, and the Tungku sub-district.

"The allocation also includes the construction of 200 houses under the hardcore poor housing scheme, which are partly completed," he told reporters at the breaking of the fast hosted by the Youth Movement of the United Sabah Islamic Association and the Silam Umno Youth Division here.

Shafie said roads projects implemented through the allocation were Jalan Putatan, Tungku worth RM27 million, Jalan Ulu Teburi (Lahad Datu)-Tungku (RM18.8 million) and Jalan Bakapit (RM15.6 million).

The ministry has also approved a solar-powered electricity supply station costing RM80 million in Tanjung Labian for the benefit of its residents, he added.

-- BERNAMA
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/5398/64709106.jpg

Call for Petronas-UMS partnership
Monday August 22, 2011
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/22/business/9342812&sec=business#13139807354801&if_height=557

KOTA KINABALU: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) should form a collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to train manpower for the oil and gas industry, said Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) dean of engineering and information technology Assoc Prof Dr Rosalam Sarbatly.

Rosalam said Sabah, with a huge amount of oil and gas reserves, had a great potential to become a major economic force in the country.

However, he said oil and gas development in Sabah was progressing slowly due to limited expertise and trained manpower.

“Therefore, there is every reason to forge ties between Petronas and UMS to complement each other’s strength,” he said.

Rosalam said Petronas’ expertise and practical capabilities and UMS’ strong academic programme would be of great contribution for the growth of a high value chain in the industry.

“UMS can produce the well-equipped and much-needed trained human capital for the wide range of Petronas activities such as exploration, production and downstream operations. Petronas can provide space for students to learn about the real challenges in the industry,” he said.

In addition, he said, Petronas’ expertise and practical capabilities were needed to help strengthen such ties by giving industrial lectures and through staff exchanges.

Last year, Sabah contributed 26.9% of the country’s crude oil production. — Bernama

Sabah moves forward with REDD+ road map
by Joe Leong. Posted on August 24, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/24/sabah-moves-forward-with-redd-road-map/

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has taken another step forward in developing a road map that would serve as a strategic framework for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the enhancing of carbon stocks (REDD+) for 2011-2013.

A two-day workshop to kick-start this REDD+ framework development process was conducted here last week, coordinated by the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) with the assistance of WWF-Malaysia.

The move to produce this REDD+ preparedness roadmap is a follow-up action after a commitment was made in November last year when the state hosted an international conference on ‘Forests and Climate Change: Decoding and Realizing REDD-plus in the Heart of Borneo, with Specific Focus on Sabah’.

Representatives of over 30 stakeholders attended the workshop to review the proposed roadmap that would form the state’s sub-national strategy and that would eventually become the framework for participating in an evolving international mechanism for REDD-plus.

Workshop chairman Frederick Kugan, Deputy Director (Forest Sector Planning) of the SFD, disclosed that the objectives of the workshop had been achieved.

He pointed out, however, that this was an initiation workshop and more such workshops would have to be conducted involving more stakeholders.

He said once the roadmap was improved and finalized after such consultations, it would be tabled to the State Cabinet for consideration and approval by the end of this year.

Kugan also announced that the workshop had identified a number of pilot projects that could be carried out during the 2011-2013 period in Sabah.

“We are going ahead because we have funding from partners for the initiation and also from the European Union (EU),” he said.

“We expect to have more partners coming up in the future. This is another aspect that we will be looking into, the matter concerning sustainable funding.”

During his visit to Sabah in March this year, Vincent Piket, the ambassador and head of the European Union’s delegation to Malaysia, announced that member states of the EU would finance a three-year REDD programme in Sabah starting next year.

He said a sum of four million Euros (about RM17 million) would be made available for carbon enhancement activities in the state like sustainable forest management, reduced impact logging (RIL) and forest restoration often referred to as REDD-plus.

During last week’s workshop, participants were told that the roadmap aims to promote the elaboration and development of sub-national REDD+ strategies to achieve REDD+ readiness, including the transformation of land use to sustainable development and sustainable forest management.

The workshop also gave participants the opportunity to brainstorm the criteria for EU’s site selection programme and identification of potential demonstration sites for the programme in Sabah.

Kugan also announced that tentatively, two task forces have been set up, one operational and the other technical.

The operational task force shall be responsible to oversee the development of REDD-plus strategies, improvement of inter-agency coordination, meaningful stakeholder engagement and consultation, and the demonstration of project establishment.

The technical task force, on the other hand, would see to the development of an effective and efficient monitoring, reporting and verifying framework for the state.

Another component of the road map is the development of a Sabah Carbon Stock Map by the end of 2012.

Aside from officials of SFD and WWF-Malaysia, other stakeholders represented at the workshop included non-governmental organizations like PACOS, Hutan, Borneo Conservation Trust, the Malaysian Nature Society, LEAP and the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society.

Also there were officials from the European Union’s delegation to Malaysia, the Sabah Wildlife Department, the Drainage and Irrigation Department, the Sabah Biodiversity Council, Sabah Parks and the Environmental Protection Department.

Private sector players in the forestry industry also participated, including license holders of forest management units (FMUs), and the New Forest Asia.

200,000 jobs available in plantation sector — Minister
Posted on August 27, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/27/200000-jobs-available-in-plantation-sector-—-minister/

LOKKAWI: There are 200,000 vacant jobs available for locals in Sabah in the plantation sector.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok said the jobs available range from hard labour to supervisory levels.

“Some of the jobs would require applicants that have gone for tertiary education and are degree holders,” he said.

He added that jobless graduates can forward their names to his ministry to be enrolled in a four-month certificate course conducted by the Impact Institute of Plantation and Commodities under his ministry.

At the end of their training, the trainees will be interviewed by interested employers in the plantation sector, he said, adding that he had been given 40 names of unemployed graduate recently and of the 40, only 12 were still unemployed.

Petronas’ RM6 million contribution a boost to Imbak Canyon conservation
Posted on August 30, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/30/petronas-rm6-million-contribution-a-boost-to-imbak-canyon-conservation-latest/

KOTA KINABALU: Infrastructural facilities for research at Imbak Canyon, dubbed as one of Sabah’s last remaining ‘paradises’, will be upgraded.

This follows a RM6 million contribution from Petronas for its conservation during the launch of Yayasan Sabah-Petronas Imbak Canyon Conservation Partnership recently.

Yayasan Sabah group manager (conservation and environmental division) Dr Waidi Sinun said the Petronas contribution was aimed at creating public awareness, environmental education and community outreach programmes.

He said, the contribution included the setting up of an Imbak Canyon studies centre, equipped with laboratory facilities.

“Basically, it is a masterplan for an introduction of Imbak Canyon,” he told Bernama here yesterday.

Waidi hoped the setting up of the facilities would encourage more foreign and local researchers, in collaboration with local universities, to come to the Conservation Area to carry out research activities.

“While our aim is to make Imbak Canyon a world-class research centre, we will also ensure that the area remain environment-friendly,” he said.

The Imbak Canyon is part of the Sungai Pinangah Forest Reserve, a Class 11 Commercial Forest Reserve in Yayasan Sabah’s Forest Management Area.

“As a pristine forest, Imbak will have a key role as a gene bank or seed source for forest rehabilitation in the future, as well as being an ideal site for research,” he said.

At the launching of the Yayasan Sabah-Petronas Imbak Canyon conservation partnership recently, Petronas senior general manager (Group Corporation Affairs Division) Mohamad Medan Abdullah had said that the RM6 million contribution would cover a three-year period to help conserve the Canyon’s unique biodiversity.

Currently, facilities at Imbak Canyon, a five-hour journey from Kota Kinabalu, include the Tampoi Base Camp which is open to researchers and visitors, hostel-type accommodation and camping ground. – Bernama

Imbak Canyon
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1123/1000689165_82e5d68921_z.jpg?zz=1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deehong/1000689165/)
Imbak Canyon Conservation area map (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deehong/1000689165/) by deehong (http://www.flickr.com/people/deehong/), on Flickr
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/1001440262_7a0589d714_z.jpg?zz=1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deehong/1001440262/)
Crossing Imbak Canyon river (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deehong/1001440262/) by deehong (http://www.flickr.com/people/deehong/), on Flickr
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/1001440978_62fe5f9d38_z.jpg?zz=1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deehong/1001440978/)
Crossing Imbak Canyon river view (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deehong/1001440978/) by deehong (http://www.flickr.com/people/deehong/), on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5494218081_546d774d22_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/malaysia-asia/5494218081/)
imbak-canyon-waterfalls-sabah (http://www.flickr.com/photos/malaysia-asia/5494218081/) by MalaysiaAsia (http://www.flickr.com/people/malaysia-asia/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5494810826_f7a1c72347_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/malaysia-asia/5494810826/)
imbak-canyon-waterfall-sabah (http://www.flickr.com/photos/malaysia-asia/5494810826/) by MalaysiaAsia (http://www.flickr.com/people/malaysia-asia/), on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5494848444_dd0c9f4219_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/malaysia-asia/5494848444/)
Imbak Canyon Expedition 2011 4x4 Vehicles (http://www.flickr.com/photos/malaysia-asia/5494848444/) by MalaysiaAsia (http://www.flickr.com/people/malaysia-asia/), on Flickr

Energy plants in Kimanis, Lahad Datu to power more investments into Sabah
Posted on September 10, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/09/10/energy-plants-in-kimanis-lahad-datu-to-power-more-investments-into-sabah/

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/A006031.jpg

HIGH IN DEMAND: Photo shows one of SESB’s grid connector systems. Based
on the projected power demand of seven per cent a year in Sabah by the
Energy Commission, the demand for electricity in the state is expected to hit
1,500MW by 2020. — Bernama photo

KOTA KINABALU: The construction of two multi-billion ringgit power plants in Kimanis and Lahad Datu will make Sabah a more attractive investment destination.

“The extra energy capacity not only will help Sabah to become an attractive place for investments but most importantly, will provide electricity supply security to the state,” said Daud Abdillah, former deputy general manager of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (formerly Sabah Electricity Board).

The two power projects, which will boost Sabah’s electricity supply by 600MW, are spearheaded by Petronas, the national oil corporation.

The RM1.5 billion Kimanis Power Plant will be operational in 2014 while the Lahad Datu Power Plant, costing RM2.2 billion, will be completed in 2015 and will include a liquefied natural gas (LNG) re-gasification terminal to provide natural gas feedstock.

Both the power plants will get their feedstock from the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal, which is also being developed by Petronas.

“Petronas’ decision to invest in power plants in Sabah is indeed very timely and most welcomed,” said Daud, who is a power engineer by profession.

He said the additional power supply expected to come on-stream within the next three to four years would not only stabilise power supply within the state but also provide power supply to rural areas.

The Kimanis Power Plant is jointly developed by Petronas Gas Berhad in partnership with Yayasan Sabah through NRG Consortium (Sabah) Sdn Bhd.

The Lahad Datu Power Plant is being built by a Tenaga Nasional Berhad-led consortium together with Petronas and a Sabah state entity.

SESB is currently generating 866.4MW, of which, 50.3 per cent are purchased from independent power producers (IPPs).

SESB said its installed capacity (excluding IPPs) within the Sabah grid, which supplies electricity to major towns, stretching from the Federal Territory of Labuan to Tawau is 490.9MW, while the maximum demand is 760MW (as of June 2010).

Based on the projected power demand of seven per cent a year in Sabah by the Energy Commission, the demand for electricity in the state is expected to hit 1,500MW by 2020.

Under the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs), electricity supply has been identified as a challenge.

The challenging tasks of providing reliable electricity supply in Sabah have been given priority under the NKRAs.

To enhance reliability of electricity supply, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry implemented the System Average Interruption Duration Index or SAIDI last year.

SAIDI is a method used to measure the length of interruption experienced by a customer in a year, calculated in minutes.

According to the ministry, SAIDI for Peninsular Malaysia in 2009 was 72 minutes a customer while Sabah’s was 2,867 minutes per customer.

As at end of last year, SESB had reduced Sabah’s SAIDI to 361.81 minutes per consumer through implementation of various power plant projects. — Bernama

New website further promotes Sabah to the world
30th September, 2011
http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/52676

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman lauds the launch of a new dedicated website that helps travellers worldwide understand and appreciate the diversity of culture, people and natural attractions that Sabah offers.

The “Destination Malaysia – Sabah” website is by Accor, a giant business group with 4,100 hotels worldwide and 500,000 rooms in 90 countries.

“Indeed, Sabah is the perfect destination for travellers. I am confident that the ‘Destination Malaysia – Sabah’ website will allow Accor to reach a wider segment who may not fully understand the magic and mystery of Sabah yet,” he said in his speech read out by Minister of Tourism, Culture & Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun here yesterday.

The website was officially launched yesterday at Novotel Kota Kinabalu.

“I am convinced this website will play an integral role in promoting both Sabah and your hotels. This two-pronged strategy that inter-weaves Sabah’s potential in tourism and Accor’s proven capabilities in the hospitality industry, is bound to provide both entities exposure to a wider market,” said Musa.

He added that the Sabah government is constantly looking at new incentives to further boost the industry and make it one of the pillars of the Malaysian economy in years to come.

“We regularly receive feedback from industry players, and take necessary steps to ensure this sector will continue to grow,” he pledged.

Laws and regulations that govern the hospitality industry, availability of a trained English-speaking workforce and ancillary services have proven effective in creating a conducive environment for international hotel groups to do business here.

Musa believes it is that winning formula that drew Accor into Sabah through Novotel 1Borneo.

“The success of the hotel, I believe, is a catalyst to persuade the group to invest in more hotels in Sabah and Malaysia,” he said.

Meanwhile, the event also saw the launch of the “Plant for the Planet” environmental initiatives.

The Chief Minister assured that the government advocated sustainable development of its tourism sector without compromising the environment.

“Preserving Sabah’s environment is the bread and butter of the State’s tourism especially ecotourism. It only makes sense for us to protect this gift of nature, not to mention a rich cultural heritage that the State has been blessed with,” he said.

Petronas to build fertiliser plant for Sabah
By Roy Goh Published: 2011/10/07
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/truna/Article/

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/truna/pix_topright

KOTA KINABALU: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) will build a fertiliser plant in Sabah that will almost double its fertiliser output in the country.

Construction will start before the middle of next year, with natural gas from Sabah's offshore wells powering the production complex.

The project, dubbed the Sabah Ammonia-Urea or Samur, will take three years to complete with an estimated cost of RM4.5 billion. It will be built on a 60ha site within the Sipitang oil and gas industrial park about 150km south of Kota Kinabalu.

This was announced after Petronas Chemicals Fertiliser Sabah Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Petronas Chemicals Group, signed an agreement with a consortium to undertake the project.

The consortium comprises Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd of Japan, Indonesia's PT Rekayasa and Kuala Lumpur-based Apex Energy Sdn Bhd.

In keeping the Sabah interest, the consortium has appointed state-owned Sabah Energy Corp as its associate, a move that will provide greater participation among Sabah companies in Samur.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said Samur will boost economic growth in the state "dynamically and holistically."

"The appointment of Sabah Energy as an associate to the consortium will help secure various scope of work for local contractors."

He added that some RM600 million worth of contracts will be dished out to Sabah companies.

The work includes site preparation, landscaping, security services, civil works, manpower supply, temporary facilities, inland transportation and process buildings as well as development of a jetty and bagging plant.

"These will be distributed to eligible contractors representing the various chambers of commerce and industries in the state.

"Through such a move, Petronas will not only allow local companies to participate but more importantly, it will create employment opportunities and economic spinoffs for the people," Musa said.

Petronas Chemicals chairman Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said once operational, Samur will boost the production of fertiliser from 1.4 million tonnes annually to 2.6 million tonnes.

The company runs two other fertiliser plants, the Asean Bintulu Fertilizer Sdn Bhd in Sarawak and Petronas Fertilizer (Kedah) Sdn Bhd in Gurun, Kedah.

New Petronas training centre in Kimanis
Monday October 10, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/10/nation/9666183&sec=nation#13182637190661&if_height=384

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will be home to a new RM50mil oil and gas training centre in south-western Kimanis about 80km from here.

Petronas is setting up Kimanis Petroleum Training Centre by 2013. Currently, the centre is operating from temporary premises in Membakut Jaya.

The temporary facility was opened yesterday by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who is the Kimanis MP.

Petronas vice-president (exploration and production business) Ramlan A. Malek said: “The centre is another step by Petronas in our efforts to develop the capability here and create a pool of skilled personnel among Sabahans who will participate in and contribute towards the development of the oil and gas industry.”

He said the company hoped that the facility would help qualified Sabahan youths find employment.

At present, he said 25 Sabahans were undergoing training at the Membakut Jaya centre.

Petronas is expecting to spend about RM45bil in large-scale projects in Sabah and these include the power plants in Kimanis and Lahad Datu, an oil and gas terminal, a 512km gas pipeline between Sabah and Sarawak and a fertiliser plant in Sipitang.

Kosmopolito Hotels (www.kosmohotels.com/) looks to Sabah
Published: 2011/09/07
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110907192148/Article/index_html

Hong Kong-based Kosmopolito Hotels International Ltd (KHI) is eyeing Sabah to strengthen its foothold in Malaysia.

Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur general manager, Christina Toh, said KHI's focus was on Asia-Pacific.

"We want to grow and see opportunities in China, Thailand and Indonesia.

"In Malaysia, the consideration is looking into the Sabah market," she said.

Toh said this to reporters after a graduation ceremony of the Coaching and Mentoring Professional (CCMP) Programme.

KHI owns and manages four key hotel brands in different market segments -- upscale Hotel Kosmopolito, boutique series by Kosmopolito, mid-scale business hotel Dorsett Regency and economy hotel Silka. In Malaysia, KHI managed five hotels -- Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Grand Dorsett Subang, Grand Dorsett Labuan, Dorsett Johor and Maytower hotel and serviced residences.

Toh said KHI would managed two hotels in Jalan Imbi and Cheras early next year.

In Jalan Imbi, she said, KHI would convert a serviced residences into a budget hotel.

She said, however, the company has yet to decide whether to brand it under Silka or a truely budget hotel.

"Approval has been given by the local authority and construction works would start early next year," she said. For the hotel in Cheras, Toh said, it would be under the Silka brand.

"It would be a three-star hotel in Cheras (Phoenix Plaza). Malaysia Land Properties Sdn Bhd (Mayland) is opening a shopping mall and it is scheduled for soft opening early next year," she said.

The Phoenix Plaza shopping mall is undergoing a makeover and Mayland plans to reopen the 16-year-old complex under a new name -- Cheras Central Shopping Mall.

Mayland, which has Hong Kong-based tycoon Tan Sri David Chiu as its major shareholder, acquired the 880,000 sq ft mall in 2008.

Besides Malaysia, Toh said, KHI operated 22 hotels throughout Asia, including Shanghai, Wuhan and Hong Kong, adding that Dorsett Regency Singapore would be opened end-2012. On the CCMP Programme, Toh said, KHI was the first hotel operator in Malaysia to participate, collaborating with renowned international training provider, Institute of Training and Development.

The CCMP Programme was conceptualised to enhance the leadership abilities of managers within the KHI Group and its chain. -- Bernama

95% of Sabah to have power supply by 2013
By MUGUNTAN VANAR Saturday October 15, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/15/nation/9702645&sec=nation#13186480174871&if_height=419

KOTA KINABALU: Most Sabahans will receive power supply by the end of 2012 as nearly RM1bil has been allocated for the state's electricity connection under Budget 2012.

Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) expects electricity coverage to hit more than 95% of the state from the current 80% with the RM962.5mil allocation.

“This is indeed a high commitment of the Federal Govern- ment to meet Sabah's electricity needs,'' SESB managing director Datuk Baharudin Din said yesterday.

“We can further boost coverage by the end of 2012,'' he said.

Baharudin said the RM20 rebate for power consumers in Sabah, which was to expire in December, would be continued in 2012 under the Budget.

On the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry's SAVE programme that gives a rebate of RM200 for the purchase of energy-efficient electrical items, Baharudin said response in the state was poor.

He said Sabah was granted RM564,300 for the purpose.

“Only about RM70,000 has been claimed between August and September,” he said.

“The lukewarm response may be due to lack of public knowledge about the scheme.”

Consortium to spend RM9.6b on Sabah resort
Published: 2011/04/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110419123351/Article/index_html

Prism Crystal Enterprise Ltd, Chen Lip Keong and partners will form a consortium to undertake a RM9.6 billion integrated resort development in Karambunai, Sabah, according to a Malaysian government statement. - Bloomberg

Location
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamestung/6376388647/

RM4 bln budget shows Sabah not poor – MP
Posted on November 27, 2011, Sunday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/27/rm4-bln-budget-shows-sabah-not-poor-–-mp/

KOTA BELUD: Sabah’s RM4 billion 2012 Budget which was announced by Chief Minister cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has refuted all claims that Sabah is a poor and under-developed state.

According to Sabah Barisan Nasional secretary, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, the RM4 billion budget was a historical one.

“I urge those who question the budget to look at the bigger picture because the state’s 2012 budget is better when compared to the most developed and richest state in Malaysia which is Selangor as its budget is only RM1.6 billion,” Abdul Rahman pointed out.

He congratulated Musa for tabling the historic RM4 billion budget as it reflects Sabah’s strong financial position and disclosed that there is more than RM3 billion in Sabah’s reserve compared to Selangor which has slightly more than RM1 billion.

“This strong budget is a loud and clear answer to the allegations that the BN government and its leaders have been spending the state’s money freely,” Abdul Rahman told reporters after presenting 457 Primary One to Primary Six pupils each with the RM100 education assistance from the federal government at SK Tempasuk I here recently.

Abdul Rahman who is also Kota Belud member of parliament pointed out that the Auditor General praised the State Government for its financial management for three years running.

“The answer is clear-cut and cannot be doubted by anyone as the Auditor General’s report has given recognition to the State Government under the leadership of Datuk Musa,” he said and added that he believed the State BN Government will continue to reap success after success in the coming years.

RM6m upgrade for Rainforest Discovery Centre
Monday November 28, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/28/nation/9989004&sec=nation

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/11/28/nation/n_20artist.jpg

Green attraction: An artist’s impression of the proposed environmental
education activity centre at the Rainforest Discovery Centre that is
currently under construction.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's award-winning Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sandakan is set to become better next year with additional facilities, including an environmental education activity centre.

The RM6.5mil upgrading of the Sabah Forestry Department-run RDC would also include an 80m extension of its existing 147m-long treetop walkway.

Department director Datuk Sam Manna said an outdoor stage and the facility's car park would be upgraded.

“These new developments will further enhance the standing of the RDC as a top environmental education facility in Sabah,” he said yesterday, adding that work would be completed next November.

Mannan said funding for the work was provided by grants from the federal Tourism Ministry and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

Located some 24km from San-dakan town, the RDC is located adjacent to the internationally renowned Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre.

The RDC, with its 800m trail among dipterocarp trees, is also the venue of Sabah's annual bird-watching festival.

Among the recent additions to the RDC was a new 120-seat theatre early this year.

The RDC was named the state's best tourist attraction in the nature category at last week's Sabah Tourism Awards event.

Opened in 2007, the RDC attracted some 40,000 visitors last year, Mannan said.

He also said the department had commissioned the building of a jungle lodge along the Kawag River in the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, an area known for its rich wildlife.

He said the contractor had taken possession of the site and was expected to begin work on the lodge before the end of the month.

“We hope the proposed new facility will create more opportunities for forest recreation and tourism in the Lahad Datu area,” he said.

Cadangan Pusat Pentadbiran Negeri Sabah, Teluk Likas, Kota Kinabalu
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Cadangan Pusat Pentadbiran Negeri Sabah, Teluk Likas, Kota Kinabalu
http://www.binapuri.com.my/Projects/Current/Building/cmoffice2.htm

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http://www.binapuri.com.my/Projects/Current/Building/CMOffice/2.jpg

^^Very ugly design...not creative at all!! Please lah...put in some modern designs !! this is 80s or 90s design!!:ohno: spoil the whole site by this lousy design

‘Feedback vital for Tanjung Aru rehab plan’
Tuesday January 3, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/3/nation/10193391&sec=nation

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government needs to get the public's views before embarking on its mammoth re-development plan for the city's famous Tanjung Aru beachfront.

“Public consultation is key to the re-development of the beach,” said Sabah Environmental Protection Association president Wong Tack, commenting on the New Year's Day announcement by the Chief Minister on the project.

Datuk Musa Aman had said that the Tanjung Aru beachfront would be re-developed following the state's legal victory in taking back the area from a private company that had failed to develop it.

Dubbed the Tanjung Aru Regeneration Planner, Musa said that while the re-development would involve international planners, local stakeholders would also be consulted.

Wong said the involvement of the public and all concerned groups was crucial in the re-development of the 52ha beachfront, which was neglected after a failed development plan over 15 years ago.

Wong said Tanjung Aru was not only a Sabah icon but that of the country as the beach provided one of the best sunset views in the world.

“We hope the focus would be towards creating a green lung for the city without over-commercialisation of the popular tourist area,” he said, adding that companies that were given the job must be credible and able to complete the project.

Tanjung Aru
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3212/2517022121_fdb17cfd74_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thienzieyung/2517022121/)
Aerial View Of Kampong Tanjung Aru (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thienzieyung/2517022121/) by thienzieyung (http://www.flickr.com/people/thienzieyung/), on Flickr
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2076/2517021319_780bd37989_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thienzieyung/2517021319/)
Tanjung Aru View (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thienzieyung/2517021319/) by thienzieyung (http://www.flickr.com/people/thienzieyung/), on Flickr

Sabah's Rural Schools Have Potential As High Performance Schools
January 14, 2012 22:17 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=640138&cat=sbe

PAPAR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Rural schools in Sabah have the potential to be developed into high performance schools, said Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

He said despite their limitations, rural schools were also capable of producing students who were excellent in academic and co-curriculum.

"I propose that rurul schools in Sabah make benchmark visits to see and learn about the strengths of high performance schools like SK Ulu Lubai in Limbang.

"I believe the beautiful location in which these schools are set up will attract the international community to forge educational and cultural relationships," he told reporters after visiting SK Mandalipau near here Saturday.

He said among the criteria which determined a high performance school was its good relations with the student's parents, as well as ability to discipline and train students to maintain a balance in academic and co-curriculum.

Meanwhile, Mohd Puad said the Barisan Nasional government was committed towards expediting development through education.

He said the government was trying to attract local teachers to teach local students, adding it would not only resolve the problem of teacher exchange, but also give local teachers a chance to develop and be an example for their community.

Mohd Puad also visited SK Tanaki, SK Gana, SK Mook and SK Kaiduan here, which were in need of upgrading and maintenance.

He said RM164.1 million would be spent for 821 schools in Sabah for structure and wiring repairs.

-- BERNAMA

Sabah trade jumps to RM82.4b
By By Kristy InusPublished: 2012/02/15
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/14SHU/Article/#ixzz1mQBqFlDW

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's external trade saw a 15 per cent growth to RM82.4 billion in 2011 from RM71.5 billion recorded the previous year, following increases in both exports and imports.

"In 2011, total exports increased to RM49.6 billion from RM43.6 billion previously, while imports rose to RM32.8 billion from RM27.9 billion in 2010," State Industrial Deve-lopment Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah said when officia-ting a Small and Medium Enter-prises (SMEs) seminar here, yesterday.

Tan's speech was read out by his representative, Industrial Development and Research Department director Patrick Tan.

He said despite this, exporting has been made more challenging due to the weak demand in the US and the economic problems in Europe, coupled with intense competition from newly developing countries.

In view of that, Tan said, SMEs which are the backbone of the coun-try's economy, must be prepared for challenges ahead as Malaysia begins its transforma-tion towards a high-income economy.

"It is important for our SMEs to review their strategies, upgrade the skills of their workers, adopt new technology to produce higher quality products in less time and start exploring further into untapped or emerging markets," he added.

He said SMEs from Sabah who did well after being "adopted" by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) under one of its programmes, was because of their willingness to progress themselves.

"They proved to the government that they have the capabilities and abilities to improve and more importantly, their willingness to strive to a higher level.

"Success is not just waiting for government help alone," he reminded.

Meanwhile, Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) president Datuk Seri Wong Khen Thau reiterated FSM's idea that Sabah be transformed into a hub for the Far East as it commands the ideal geographical location for trade in this region.

He said the state government has been receptive to this proposal, which could help propel Sabah to be a business hub.

PM to launch Sabah college
12 March 2012 | last updated at 01:12am
http://www.nst.com.my/local/general/pm-to-launch-sabah-college-1.59154

PENAMPANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is expected to perform the ground-breaking for the permanent campus of a community college or Universiti Kadazandusun in Kaingaran, Tambunan in June, said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

He said the Sabah cabinet had agreed to assist the establishment of the proposed college or university.

"We are grateful to the government for approving the Universiti Kadazandusun and a site has been identified in Tambunan.

"We hope the state or Federal Government would provide allocation for the purpose.

"We expect the ground-breaking to be performed by the prime minister in June," he said at the tri-annual Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association at Dewan Hongkod Koisan here yesterday.

On May 22 last year, Pairin who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah president announced that the Kadazandusun Murut College or KDM College proposed by the Sabah Kadazandusun Murut Welfare and Education Association (Pekadin) would be built in the Kaingaran area.

Pairin said: "I have followed up on the matter with the authorities to ensure that the setting up of KDM College would be realised.

Pekadin had earlier proposed the KDM College to assist the Kadazandusun and Murut communities excel in education in line with the country's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2020. Bernama

Yayasan Sabah to develop RM2 bln lobster park with US firm
Posted on March 24, 2012, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/24/yayasan-sabah-to-develop-rm2-bln-lobster-park-with-us-firm/#ixzz1q8A2zirT

KOTA KINABALU: Inno Fisheries Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned company of Yayasan Sabah, and Darden Aquafarm, a subsidiary of Darden Inc, owner of Red Lobster and other US seafood restaurant chains, will jointly develop a RM2 billion Integrated Lobster Aquaculture Park (iLAP) project off Pulau Timbun Mata, Semporna in eastern Sabah.

In announcing this, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the proposed project, the world’s first iLAP, will cover 9,300 hectares (ha), comprising 6,000ha for commercial tropical lobster production, 700ha for research and development, training farm and demonstration farm, and 2,600ha for mussel (feed) production.

“This project is a vertical integration in nature including hatchery, production, feed and processing, and this will be part of 15,000ha to be gazetted as a Lobster Aquaculture Zone and regulated by the Sabah Fisheries Department,” he told reporters after meeting Darden Aquafarm Inc president Bill Herzig at Sri Gaya near here yesterday.

Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, said the iLAP would comprise the core entity, small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) and contract farming.
The project is expected to generate 12,000 job opportunities when fully completed by 2020, and locals can participate as contract farmers or as entrepreneurs through a buy-back scheme, he said.

Welcoming this cooperation to develop the aquaculture industry in the state, Musa said the industry has promise for greater growth in Sabah.

“To further tap this industry, we must collaborate with the right people who have the experience and technological know-how,” he said, adding the project fitted in with what the state government was looking for in terms of joint ventures with foreign companies.

“Not only are we attracting foreign direct investments through this project, but we are also creating job opportunities for locals and create economic spin-offs in Semporna.

“What is even more significant is that locals are allowed to participate directly in the project through contract farming or through buy-back schemes,” he added.

The Chief Minister urged the players in the project to work closely with the locals to ensure that everyone involved would benefit.

Meanwhile, Herzig hoped that the iLAP would become a commercial lobster grow-out project which can supply the Asian market in the future.

“We also hope that the iLAP would eventually help ensure a steady supply of lobsters which are ‘natives of Borneo’ for our restaurants as well as for the world market.

“At the moment we have almost 2,000 restaurants in North America (the US and Canada),” he said.

Sales of lobsters from the project are expected to reach RM3 billion by 2025. Darden Inc, located in Orlando, Florida, is the world’s biggest chain of full-service restaurants, with an annual sale of US$7.2 billion and some 180,000 workers. — Bernama

Najib: Govt will set up Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe issue of illegals in Sabah
Posted on 1 June 2012 - 06:32pm
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/396098

http://img.thesundaily.my/sites/default/files/imagecache/article//thesun/Catalogue/KL03_290512___c396096_1261_292.jpg

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1, 2012): The government has agreed to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate problems related to illegal immigrants in Sabah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak (pix) announced today.

He said the government was committed to resolving the issue as it could affect the well-being of the people of Sabah.

"It is hoped that the people of Sabah will take advantage of this RCI and together with the Government find the strategies and best approaches to tackle the problems concerned," he said in a statement here.

Najib said the decision was made after taking into consideration the views of all quarters.

"The Attorney-General's Chambers has been entrusted with the responsibility to come up with the Terms of Reference (TOR) and the initial draft has been prepared.

"To ensure the RCI functions smoothly, I have asked the AG's Chambers to get views and feedback from all quarters on the draft before the TOR is finalised," he said.

The Prime Minister said the setting up of the RCI was a manifestation of the determination of the government in upholding the constitution and the rule of law.

It was reported that the number of illegal immigrants in Sabah is estimated to be above 500,000 people. – Bernama

LBI to develop high-end condos
Published: 2012/09/12
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120912214020/Article/index_html

LBI Capital Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, Goldmount Resources Sdn Bhd, proposes to acquire four parcels of land measuring 0.9 hectare in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for RM6.699 million.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, LBI said Goldmount plans to develop high-end condominium project on the land.

The acquisition will increase the development land of the group and is expected to contribute higher earnings in the near future, it said. Bernama

P1 launches Sabah’s 4G broadband service in Sabah
Posted on September 14, 2012, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/09/14/p1-launches-sabahs-4g-broadband-service-in-sabah/

http://cdn.theborneopost.com/newsimages/2012/09/000000526085.jpg

LAUNCHING 4G: (From left) Malaysian Communications and Multimedia
Commission deputy director (Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan) Aaron
Tan, Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture Malaysia deputy
secretary general of communications Che Azemi Haron, Salang, Lai and P1
vice president and head of regulatory Md Radzi Din are seen at the official
launch of P1 broadband in Sabah.

KUCHING: Southeast Asia’s leading 4G high speed broadband pioneer, Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (P1) has officially launched its commercial service in Sabah.

The launch was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, Datuk Joseph Salang in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.

The company had announced earlier this year that it would invest RM30 million to kick-start its East Malaysia service deployment followed rapidly by a debut in Kota Kinabalu in August.

P1’s aggressive rollout plan intended to cover approximately 80 per cent of households in Kota Kinabalu within six months.

P1 chief executive officer Michael Lai said, “With our entry into Sabah, P1 is passing another key milestone in our goal to deliver broadband for all.

“We want Malaysia to quickly reach broadband penetration levels enjoyed by developed nations and will heed to the country’s call for strong private sector participation to achieve this.

“We also believe there is a pent-up demand for high performance and affordable high speed broadband in Sabah which our 4G services can fulfill,” he added.

P1 services are powered by 4G wireless technology, said to be a more efficient ‘data highway’ when compared to either conventional copper wire asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) or 3G.

P1’s product range includes fixed-access home broadband with fixed phone service and on-the-go broadband for both consumers and businesses.

Salang added, “It is the government’s target to further raise household broadband penetration to 75 per cent by 2015 and to address the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

“I am confident that we can achieve and even surpass this target with the key initiatives that the government has put in place and with the support by the private sector.” P1 would continue to cover more areas in Kota Kinabalu, followed by Sandakan and Tawau. The company would also be introducing their cutting-edge 4G services to Kuching by year-end.

RM1 billion to upgrade 3 Sabah roads
16 September 2012 | last updated at 01:03AM
http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/rm1-billion-to-upgrade-3-sabah-roads-1.144210

KUDAT: The Works Ministry has allocated more than one billion ringgit to improve and upgrade three main roads covering 132.7km in Sabah.

Minister Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor said the projects, to be implemented at the end of the year, involved upgrading the Donggongon road to Papar Spur junction, which stretches 42km, at a cost of RM600 million.

Also in the plan is the upgrading of the 9.2km Kota Kinabalu-Sindumin road at a cost of RM2.18 million.

Lastly, the 81.5km Tawau-Semporna road will be upgraded from two to four lanes at a cost of RM430 million.

"Sabah deserves to get such allocation as it is the second biggest state in the country," he told reporters after opening the Umno Kudat delegates meeting at Dewan Tun Mustapha here yesterday. Bernama

UMS to host first international workshop on biofuels
Posted on September 19, 2012, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/09/19/ums-to-host-first-international-workshop-on-biofuels/

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is hosting the first ever International Workshop on Advances in Biofuels (IWABF2012) here for two days beginning September 26.

Prof Dr Pogaku Ravindra, from UMS’ School of Engineering and Information Technology, said the workshop would look at both recent trends and the outlook for the future in terms of potential biofuels production.

He said it would also examine the benefits, Biofuels’ costs and policy issues to replace petroleum fuel.

“It takes an international perspective, assessing regional similarities and differences and recent activities around the world,” he told Bernama.

Pogaku said the distinguished delegates and eminent speakers from different countries would attend the workshop.

“The salient feature is the panel discussion involving councillors from 10 countries who can play proactive role in establishing network in the field of biofuels among their respective countries,” he said.

Pogaku said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman was expected to open the gathering.

“The valedictory session will be officiated by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili on Sept 27.

UMS’ Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah and the Dean of the School of Engineering and Information Technology and IWABF2012 chairperon, Assoc Prof Dr Rosalam Sarbatly, would attend the workshop along with other important personalities from the UMS, federal and state governments.

On biofuels’ potential, Pogaku said Biofuels might be easier to commercialise than other alternative fuels, considering performance, infrastructures and other factors.

“Biofuels have the potential to leapfrog traditional barriers to entry because they are liquid fuels, largely compatible with current vehicles and blend-able with current fuels.

“In fact, low-percentage ethanol blends such as E10 (10 per cent ethanol by volume) are already dispensed in many service stations worldwide, with almost no incompatibility with materials and equipment,” he said.

He said the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has initiated application of biofuels in a big way.

It was just one of the many renewable energies NASA studied, he said.

Pogaku also said biofuels could be used in today’s vehicles to reduce global petroleum consumption by 10 per cent or more. — Bernama

Slew of projects will keep Sabah economy robust
Published: 2012/10/27
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/MEGAT/Article/#ixzz2AYpkDaT7

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/MEGAT/pix_middle

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah's economy will remain robust with more projects coming up in the oil and gas (O&G), oil palm, construction and tourism sectors, businessman Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas said.

In the O&G sector for example, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) plans to invest around RM45 billion in the upstream and downstream activities, following the discovery of new gas fields offshore.

The federal government is spending several billion ringgit on infrastructure development and tourism, he added.

Megat Najmuddin - who sits on the board of Petronas, Dialog Group Bhd, Formis Resources Bhd, Tradewinds Corp Bhd and MajuPerak Holdings Bhd is bullish that the local economy will continue to be strong, attracting local and foreign investors.

"Despite being in backwaters, Sabah's gross domestic product (GDP) for the worst two years of the global crises in 2008 and 2009 has been strong, at 7.7 per cent and 3.3 per cent.

"Going forward, the state's GDP is projected to be above seven per cent per annum for the next few years," he said on Tuesday, after the launch of Imago, a retail mall project in Kota Kinabalu by Asian Pac Holdings Bhd.

Megat Najmuddin, who is chairman of Asian Pac, said investors can no longer ignore Sabah.

He added that well-planned developments will also be sought after as the Sabahans now have higher disposable income.

Imago is part of Phase 2 of the on-going KK Times Square project by Asian Pac, its flagship integrated development in Kota Kinabalu.

Phase 2 includes The Loft Residences, comprising 631 units of serviced apartments. So far, Asian Pac has launched 531 units and 65-70 per cent have been sold.

The company will be launching the final 100 units next month, ranging between RM700,000 and RM2.5 million.

KK Times Square, which is being developed at a cost of RM565 million comprising 12 blocks of 5-8 storey signature offices, was first built in 2007.

Megat Najmuddin said the price for the signature offices had gone up steadily in the last five years.

Sabah Seaweed Cluster Project launched in Semporna
Posted on November 4, 2012, Sunday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/04/sabah-seaweed-cluster-project-launched-in-semporna/

SEMPORNA: The Sabah Seaweed Cluster Project launched here yesterday will be part of a high-impact sector by 2020, said Agricuture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar.

He said based on the plans for the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) project, the seaweed industry in Sabah, especially in Semporna which has been recognised as a national seaweed producing district, will be transformed into an important national industry.

“We want to make it a high-impact programme, and although it was previously carried out traditionally on a small scale, today we are planning on a value chain not just in the technology of production but also upstream products.

“Seaweed can be processed into beauty care ingredients, our plan is not just to help fishermen, but we must also have a seaweed processing plant and a national research institute,” he told reporters after launching the project here yesterday together with a show to promote the biennial Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture & Agrotourism (MAHA) exposition.

Yayasan Sabah to develop RM2 bln lobster park with US firm
Posted on March 24, 2012, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/24/yayasan-sabah-to-develop-rm2-bln-lobster-park-with-us-firm/#ixzz1q8A2zirT

KOTA KINABALU: Inno Fisheries Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned company of Yayasan Sabah, and Darden Aquafarm, a subsidiary of Darden Inc, owner of Red Lobster and other US seafood restaurant chains, will jointly develop a RM2 billion Integrated Lobster Aquaculture Park (iLAP) project off Pulau Timbun Mata, Semporna in eastern Sabah.

In announcing this, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the proposed project, the world’s first iLAP, will cover 9,300 hectares (ha), comprising 6,000ha for commercial tropical lobster production, 700ha for research and development, training farm and demonstration farm, and 2,600ha for mussel (feed) production.

“This project is a vertical integration in nature including hatchery, production, feed and processing, and this will be part of 15,000ha to be gazetted as a Lobster Aquaculture Zone and regulated by the Sabah Fisheries Department,” he told reporters after meeting Darden Aquafarm Inc president Bill Herzig at Sri Gaya near here yesterday.

Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, said the iLAP would comprise the core entity, small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) and contract farming.
The project is expected to generate 12,000 job opportunities when fully completed by 2020, and locals can participate as contract farmers or as entrepreneurs through a buy-back scheme, he said.

Welcoming this cooperation to develop the aquaculture industry in the state, Musa said the industry has promise for greater growth in Sabah.

“To further tap this industry, we must collaborate with the right people who have the experience and technological know-how,” he said, adding the project fitted in with what the state government was looking for in terms of joint ventures with foreign companies.

“Not only are we attracting foreign direct investments through this project, but we are also creating job opportunities for locals and create economic spin-offs in Semporna.

“What is even more significant is that locals are allowed to participate directly in the project through contract farming or through buy-back schemes,” he added.

The Chief Minister urged the players in the project to work closely with the locals to ensure that everyone involved would benefit.

Meanwhile, Herzig hoped that the iLAP would become a commercial lobster grow-out project which can supply the Asian market in the future.

“We also hope that the iLAP would eventually help ensure a steady supply of lobsters which are ‘natives of Borneo’ for our restaurants as well as for the world market.

“At the moment we have almost 2,000 restaurants in North America (the US and Canada),” he said.

Sales of lobsters from the project are expected to reach RM3 billion by 2025. Darden Inc, located in Orlando, Florida, is the world’s biggest chain of full-service restaurants, with an annual sale of US$7.2 billion and some 180,000 workers. — Bernama
US based Darden to invest RM1bil in world’s first integrated lobster aquaculture park in Sabah
By TEE LIN SAY Tuesday November 6, 2012
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/11/6/business/12275820&sec=business

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2012/11/6/business/b_01shahfaiez.jpg

PETALING JAYA: Darden Aquasciences Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of US-based Darden Restaurants Inc, will pump in some US$300mil (RM1bil) to join forces with two Malaysian companies to develop the world's first integrated lobster aquaculture park, or iLAP, in Sabah under a US$600mil (RM1.86bil) deal.

The two Malaysian companies are Ever Nexus Sustainable Seafood Sdn Bhd and Inno Fisheries Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Yayasan Sabah Group.

In a project supported by Invest KL, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Biotech Corp and Yayasan Sabah, 40 million pounds of lobster are expected to be produced annually once it reaches full capacity, with projected annual sales of RM3bil by 2029. All lobster output produced will be taken up by Darden.

The tropical spiny lobster, also known as the King Lobster' will be the breed of lobster that is bred in Sabah.

Presently, iLAP will have a sea space of 9,300 ha, supported by three lobster hatcheries. It will create 14,000 jobs by 2022, in line with the Economic Transformation Program.

Jobs created include a wide specturm of skills ranging from PhD and Masters level scientists and engineers, to aquaculture specialists and skilled aquaculture technicians. iLAP will also partner Malaysian universities, TalentCorp and other government entities to develop talent.

“The first stage of commercial hatchery will begin in June 2013 while the first batch of lobsters for commercial consumption is anticipated to be ready by June 2015. The iLAP project will start to see significant production in eight years time,” said Darden Aquafarm Inc President Bill Herzig

Darden will also make Malaysia its hub in Asia-Pacific, and intends to eventually introduce its chain of restaurants such Red Lobster here. It plans to establish a regional operations hub in the country to assist with potential future restaurant growth in the Asian market.

“We definitely see lots of potential in this part of the world. We are looking to expand in Asia Pacific and bring in some of our brands here.

“We'll probably start in Malaysia. Right now we are mostly in North America, but we have also started to have a presence in the Middle East and Mexico,” said Darden Inc chairman and chief executive officer Clarence Ortis Jr.

Ortis added that the global demand for seafood was increasing, particularly for shrimp, fin fishes and lobsters.

Darden International president Kim Lopdrup said that should it introduce its restaurants in Malaysia, it will most probably be halal' certified with some 10% of the menu consisting of local food.

“However for consistency purposes there will still be a high degree of standardization with our chain of restaurants in the United States,” said Lopdrup.

Club Med plans to expand into Sabah, Sarawak
By Sharen KaurPublished: 2012/11/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/clubmed/Article/index_html#ixzz2CltsVaND

PETALING JAYA: France's Club Mediterranee, which operates the Club Med resort chain worldwide, is assessing opportunities to expand into Sabah and Sarawak.

The Paris-listed group, which has 80 properties in its portfolio, has owned and operated Club Med Cherating in Kuantan, Pahang, since 1979.

Malaysia was the group's first stop in Asia Pacific, as part of its global expansion plan.

Sprawled within an 80ha enclave, Club Med Cherating is also the largest resort under the "Club Med" banner in Asia Pacific, by land size.

Its country sales and marketing manager for Malaysia, Steven Tan, said the group is mulling setting up a replica of Club Med Cherating in Sabah.

"It is always in our discussion to expand in Malaysia. Tourism is great here. We love to have more resorts in our portfolio as we move along," Tan told Business Times in an interview recently.

Club Med Cherating has 297 traditionally-designed Malay kampung-style rooms in 15 three-storey buildings built on stilts. The structures are all made of teak.

Each room is selling from RM620 per person a night, which includes accommodation, three meals, snacking and free flow of alcohol and non-alcohol beverages and entertainment.

According to Tan, more than RM100 million has been invested in the development of Club Med Cherating since its opening.

Tan said despite the global financial turmoil, the resort has been achieving revenues of around RM40 million to RM45 million per annum.

The resort has around 25,000 active members, made up mostly of locals. To be a member (coupled with insurance coverage), one has to pay only RM95 for the first year and RM65 for year-on-year renewal.

"Revenue has been increasing steadily over the past few years. Last year was a challenge because of the global economic crisis. Prices of goods and services had eroded. It is a challenge faced by any business.

"But things have improved now. We see more families and honeymooners staying at our place."

In 2004, when there was turmoil in the global market, the resort went through a RM30 million overhaul, which has helped to increase its occupancy rates from 50 per cent to between 60 per cent and 65 per cent.

Tanjung Lipat Bay gets a clean-up
17 December 2012 | last updated at 12:20AM
http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/tanjung-lipat-bay-gets-a-clean-up-1.187299

http://www.nst.com.my/polopoly_fs/1.187351.1355674827!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_454/image.jpg

Volunteers picking up rubbish at the Tanjung Lipat Bay in Kota Kinabalu recently.

KOTA KINABALU: Volunteers helped to transform dirty Tanjung Lipat Bay into a clean beach recently.

University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students took the initiative to clean up the beach. They spent three hours picking up rubbish along the bay in Likas, near here.

Besides the students, 30 other volunteers, comprising locals and foreigners, also took part in the initiative.

UMS student Wong Jiunn Yi said the beach appeared abandoned, with no facilities and littered with rubbish.

He said it was important to keep the beach clean as people may prefer to have a picnic or go for a walk there.

"There are many vehicles that pass by Tanjung Lipat daily while on the way to 1Borneo Hypermall, Indah Permai, King Fisher, Sulaman and UMS. If the beach is dirty, it will give Kota Kinabalu a bad image."

For information about the volunteers' activities, visit their Facebook page at Kota Kinabalu Volunteers.

RM5.178 bln from tourism in 2012
Posted on January 26, 2013, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/01/26/rm5-178-bln-from-tourism-in-2012/

KOTA KINABALU: The lucrative tourism industry continues to be one of Sabah’s major income earners as Sabah increased its target arrivals by 1.1 per cent totaling 2.875 million visitors compared to 2011.

This was an estimated RM5.178 billion revenue earned, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment reported yesterday.

“The industry has proven to be resilient, rising from turbulent times and gaining strength from adversity from the beginning of 2012 with challenges faced especially on flight uncertainty,” said its minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun.

International arrivals recorded an overall positive growth of 11.3 per cent with double digit growth from China and Hong Kong (44.3%) and South Korea (26.1%).

European arrivals especially from the United Kingdom and Ireland (growth of 39.9%) were also making a comeback to Sabah, indicating confidence in long-haul travelling and strong focus on nature-based tourism, Sabah’s stronghold in the industry.

Domestic tourism remained as the main contributor making 67% of the total arrivals or 1.933 million to Sabah in 2012.

However, this was a decrease of 3.2% compared to 2011 mainly due to a reduction in total domestic seat capacity from both Sarawak and the peninsula.

“For the first time in fourteen years domestic arrivals were affected due to less competitive airfares offered to the domestic outbound market as well as opening of new routes by low cost carriers to other regional destination. This year we continue to keep our partners, the airlines, close to support our destination as 96% of our arrivals come by air,” said Masidi.

“Sabah’s tourism industry will have a roaring start in 2013. We will benefit from Malaysia Airlines’ reinstatement of direct international routes to Sabah and MASWings’ focus on BIMP EAGA region.

“AirAsia’s commitment in increasing domestic flight frequencies and very soon the introduction of a new airline, MALINDO, can strengthen our industry and create a more competitive landscape that will benefit the domestic market.

“Looking ahead, we are targeting to increase arrivals from 3% to 4.3% or from 2.96 million to 3 million arrivals,” Masidi reiterated.

Sabah lad tops skills contest
By Mohd Sah Muda 25 March 2013| last updated at 11:41PM
http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/sabah-lad-tops-skills-contest-1.241124

MERSING: Christopher Goiron, a student from the Mersing Industrial Training Institute, here, recently emerged the winner of the pre-qualifying round of the Malaysian Skills Competition 2013 in the southern zone automobile category.

MERSING: Christopher Goiron, a student from the Mersing Industrial Training Institute, here, recently emerged the winner of the pre-qualifying round of the Malaysian Skills Competition 2013 in the southern zone automobile category.

Goiron, 21, beat 12 other contestants to win the first prize. The second and third places went to Muhamad Fitri Ahmad Zamri from the Pasir Gudang Industrial Training Institute and Muhamad Reduan Nasri from the Kuala Lumpur Industrial Training Institute, respectively.

Goiron, from Keningau, Sabah, said he was "very happy" to have won.

"My trainer, Zakariah Saaban, helped me a lot. I would not have won if not for his guidance. Besides my trainer, my family and friends were also highly supportive," he said.

Mersing Industrial Training Institute director Sarman Rawang said the winner would be competing in the second qualifying round of the competition.

Sarman added that the three-day competition involved students from industrial training institutes from Pasir Gudang, Mersing and Kuala Lumpur, and four from the Malacca Advance Technology Training Centre.

"Each contestant was given three hours to assemble a car engine and they were judged by a panel of experts in the field," he said.

"We found all the contestants to be competent, but there could only be one winner."

Meanwhile, Human Resource Department deputy director Syed Mohamad Noor Syed Mat Ali said in his closing speech that the competitors had shown a keen interest in the automotive industry.

"Our department is committed towards producing skilled and competitive people. One of the ways to do this is through such competitions," he said.

http://www.nst.com.my/polopoly_fs/1.241280.1364139671!/image/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/landscape_454/image.JPG

Participants of the Malaysian Skills Competition 2013, southern zone
automobile category, with Syed Mohamad Noor Syed Mat Ali (back row,
fourth from left). Pix by Mohd Sah Muda

Putatan will continue to develop rapidly – CM
Posted on March 31, 2013, Sunday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/31/putatan-will-continue-to-develop-rapidly-cm/#ixzz2P5oFZAqm

http://cdn.theborneopost.com/newsimages/2013/03/B5686.jpg

1MALAYSIA SONG: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman, Umno and Barisan Nasional component party leaders as well as villagers singing the
1Malaysia song after launching the Yayasan Sabah roadshow for West Coast South Division at the Putatan multipurpose hall yesterday. Musa also
performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Putatan new multi-purpose hall and witnessed several contributions for the Lahad Datu Warriors Fund.

PUTATAN: The bustling town of Putatan which was upgraded to a full district over a year ago, will continue to see rapid development in the coming years, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

Strategically located right next to and serving as the gateway the City, Musa said the district needed to grow parallel with Kota Kinabalu.

“Putatan is an important district because of its location just next to the state capital. The development here should be in tandem with that in the City,” he said when launching the Yayasan Sabah roadshow for West Coast South division hosted by Putatan at the Pasir Putih multi-purpose hall yesterday.

“A lot of development has been brought to Putatan under the Barisan Nasional (BN). This included elevating Putatan from a sub-district into a district with its own municipality.

“In line with this new status, the road network in the district will continue to be improved, with the federal government allocating RM140 million for this purpose,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to the federal government leadership for its continuous commitment towards Sabah’s development, he said various other allocations had been given under the Putatan constituency.

As such, he called on the people in the area to make the right decision comes the 13th General Election, to ensure there will be a continuation of the development efforts being implemented for the district.

At the event, Musa approved an unspecified allocation for installing an air conditioning system at the multi-purpose Hall and witnessed several contributions for the Lahad Datu Warriors Fund.

He also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for another multi-purpose hall to be built near the existing one.

Touching on Yayasan Sabah’s future strategic plan, he said three core programmes had been identified for implementation starting this year until 2023.

Tourists returning to Sabah
Tuesday April 2, 2013
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/4/2/nation/12914998&sec=nation#13651564978752000&if_height=202

http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2013/4/2/nation/lahad-datu-sabah-tourism-n4.jpg

Back to normal: Foreign tourists walking around the Jesselton Point
ferry terminal to travel to islands in Sabah.

PETALING JAYA: Tourism in Sabah which had taken a hard hit from the Lahad Datu conflict is beginning to recover, according to industry players who say tourists are coming back.

Sabah Hotel sales and marketing director Anthony Kong said cancellations were fewer compared to early March, and groups who had postponed trips were reinstating their bookings.

“In order to portray the actual situation here, we launched a series of YouTube videos where our guests provide testimonies, and we uploaded them for circulation,” he said.

One of the videos featured four children speaking of their favourite food and their experience there as they swam in the hotel pool.

Another featured a delighted couple describing their “relaxing family holiday”, and their Sandakan tour.

Kong added that there had been several visitors who chose Sabah despite travel advisories warning them against it.

Although Sandakan is over 230km away from Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu, a number of tourists had postponed or cancelled their holiday plans during the height of the conflict.

Sabah Hotel had recorded over RM120,000 in losses from cancellation of room and event reservations in March alone.

Meanwhile, tour operators were busy promoting the state's various places of attraction, which include the Kinabalu National Park, Layang-Layang island, Lok Kawi Wildlife Park and diving spots like Sipadan and Mabul islands.

Popular Express Travel Sdn Bhd Operations Manager Christopher Chung said there had been a noticeable drop in tourist numbers but they had since increased and were now close to the monthly average number of Sabah tours they arranged.

“When the conflict was at its peak, a group of international school students had diverted their destination from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching as their parents objected to the tour,” he said.

The Sabah Tourism Board, in its latest travel advisory, confirmed all tourism activities in the state were operating as usual, including those on the east coast.

The infamous Mount Kinabalu, taken on one of the clearest days I've seen ever. The granite peaks are visible even from 50 km away,as I was in Tanjung Aru!
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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/6981541045_27cf5eac4d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peinlee/6981541045/)
_DSC1187 copy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peinlee/6981541045/) by JediSavant (http://www.flickr.com/people/peinlee/), on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7059/6835415210_c7c4048636_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peinlee/6835415210/)
_DSC1154 copy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peinlee/6835415210/) by JediSavant (http://www.flickr.com/people/peinlee/), on Flickr

Sabah Ports earmarks RM229m to improve facilities over 2 years
Published: 2013/05/07
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/jrsuria/Article/#ixzz2ScVwgH7u

KUALA LUMPUR: Suria Capital Holdings Bhd's subsidiary Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd will spend RM229 million over the next two years to improve its facilities and equipment.

The boards of Suria Capital and Sabah Ports had approved three new projects, the company said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

This includes berth extension at Sandakan Port, jetty extension at Sapangar Bay Oil Terminal and the acquisition of container and cargo handling equipment.

"Sabah Ports is looking forward to providing better berthing facilities at Sandakan Port and Sapangar Bay oil terminal, in view of the increase in berth occupancy.

"Both projects are expected to start sometime this year and will be completed within two years time.

"With the completion of these jetty extensions, the two ports will be able to provide additional berthing facilities for working vessels and overcome any potential congestion," it said.

Sabah Ports is also increasing its container handling equipment fleet at Sapangar Bay Container Port, Sandakan Port and Tawau Port.

This includes one additional unit of ship-to-shore gantry crane at Sapangar Bay Container Port, in addition to the existing two units at the port.

Sabah Ports will also buy a new mobile harbour crane for Sandakan Port in addition to the existing unit, which will further improve the loading and discharging of containers at the port.

The three ports, together with Lahad Datu Port, will also be provided with additional transfer and yard container handling equipment by end-2013.