Monday 29th Oct 2007 - Tuaran capture taekwondo title

KOTA KINABALU: Tuaran exponents emerged as the overall champions in the 34th State Taekwondo Championships at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex multi-purpose hall in Likas, yesterday.

They bagged 11 gold, five silver and seven bronze medals to edge their nearest rivals Kota Kinabalu for the Youth and Sports Minister’s Trophy.

Kota Kinabalu collected 10 gold, four silver and five bronze medals followed in third spot by last year’s champions Universiti Malaysia Sabah, (UMS) with five golds, five silvers and four bronzes.

Tuaran dominated both the men and women’s open besides placing second in both boys and girls’ events.

In the men’s open, they won three golds, one silver and two bronzes while UMS took two golds, two silvers and two bronzes to finish second. Papar were third with one gold and one silver.

Tuaran bagged four golds, one silver and one bronze in the women’s open, followed by UMS with three golds, three silvers and two bronzes and Kota Kinabalu with one gold and one silver.

Kota Kinabalu were however unstoppable in the junior competitions for exponents aged 14-17, scooping five golds, one silver and two bronzes to edge Tuaran (two golds, two silvers) and State Prisons Department (two golds).

In the girls’ event, Kota Kinabalu also proved superior with three golds and two silvers, while Tuaran bagged two golds, one silver and four bronzes.

Sandakan were third with two golds. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk
Liew Yun Fah presented the prizes. Also present were United Sabah Taekwondo Association (USTA) president Datuk David Chong Ket Sui, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Suzannah Liaw and USTA deputy president cum organising chairman Datuk James Sabinus.

Fourteen teams with 150 exponents from across the State took part in the two-day championships.

Monday 29th Oct 2007 - Couples get wedding tips at bridal fair

KOTA KINABALU: Hyatt Regency Kinabalu yesterday once again organised a bridal fair to give an opportunity for couples to plan their special event and choose their wedding outfits from local top designers who displayed their exquisite collections.



The Bridal Fair October 2007 gave the public, especially those who plan to get married, more opportunities to meet up with the resort’s wedding specialists to get some information on ideas and service to meet the most practical budget, photography, flowers, wedding decoration and view a
collection of the latest bridal gowns. They also offered valuable tips and advice for the couples and helped them to plan for their special day as well as to give insights into how to make their marriage occasion more memorable.


“Along with the bridal show, the event also has a spread of other attractions designed to offer valuable tips and advice for the couples and others,” said Tina Goh, the Public Relations Manager of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu.

Among the local wedding professionals present during the event were De Paris Wedding Gallery, The Wedding Planner and Event Management, Allure Hair Salon, Sound Tech Engineering, Traditional Wedding Auspicious Service, Florina Florist, Kwong Hin and Asiaeuro Wines & Spirits.

A stunning fashion and hair show featuring various up-styles for bridal hairdo was also held during the event at the Atrium Lounge from 11am to 5pm.
“Couples who make a booking with deposit at the event will be given special benefits such as corkage, special accommodation rate for family members attending the wedding and a chance to win a honeymoon to Bali with return airfares courtesy of Royal Brunei Airlines and accommodation at a Hyatt property in Bali,” Tina said.

Monday 29th Oct 2007 - Tamu Besar makes Kota Belud known internationally: CM

KOTA BELUD: The residents in the district should take pride of the fact that the Tamu Besar here has been featured in the annual tourism calendar event to promote Sabah overseas, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.





He said that because of the Tamu Besar, the district is now known internationally.

As such, Musa urged the residents here to take greater efforts in coming up with quality tourism products, apart from preserving their unique Cultural heritage.



“The uniqueness of the customs and traditions of the various local communities here is actually a great attraction to visitors from overseas,” he said at the launch of the annual Iamu Besar here yesterday.


He expressed his confidence that locally-made products such as the unique headgears, food covers and mattresses as well as other handicraft products held great potential for exports.

Musa was represented by Deputy Chief Minister cum Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin.


Also present were Assistant Agriculture and Food Industry Minister cum Usukan Assemblyman Datuk Japlin Hj Akim, Tempasuk Assemblyman Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Hj Mulia, Kadamaian Assemblyman Herbert Timbon Lagadan, District Officer Mohd Najib Muntok and other senior civil servants and community leaders.

Musa said that the Tamu Besar had transformed from a barter trade centre that depicted the way of life of the various ethnic groups into a commercial event that showcased the cultural heritage and locally-made products from the district.

“I hope that the festival will be fully exploited by the residents here to enhance their economy and wellbeing, apart from preserving their cultural heritage from the influence of external elements,” he said.

Musa commended the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and its subsidiary, Seri Pelancongan Sdn Bhd, for spearheading the efforts of promoting the Tamu Besar as one of the tourist attractions for visitors from overseas.

Monday 29th Oct 2007 - CM: Govt to upgrade rural health services

Standard of rural health in Sabah still lagging behind

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government aims to improve and diversify suitable methods to upgrade the standards of health and health services to rural communities, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

He said the standard of rural health here is still lagging behind most of the other states in Malaysia, as shown by the increasing prevalence of communicable diseases.

“Communicable diseases in rural areas are not a new phenomenon, and is on the rise, especially among those who suffer from lifestyle-related diseases. Hence, there is a need for exposure to quality medical education,” he said at the welcoming dinner for participants of the 1st International Conference on Rural Medicine (ICORM) 2007.


In his speech, delivered by Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai at the Magellan Sutera here last night, Musa said it is imperative for the medical fraternity to approach rural health with a holistic view anchored on knowledge and exposure.

“The reality that we have to face is that the status of health in this State is still lagging behind and statistics show that there is no indication of a reduction in the percentage of communicable diseases in rural areas here.

“This conference provides the ideal stage for those concerned to fulfill the current wants and needs.

“The exchange of ideas among medical experts is necessary because in the end it would benefit and enrich their respective experience and abilities in contributing to universal health and medical research.

“The issues raised can become a guide in developing ideas to raise awareness on the importance of developing and widening the scope of knowledge in various diseases and suitable health services and methods
for residents of rural areas.

“A holistic approach is needed in applying knowledge and exposure in handling these problems, specifically for the local populace which comprises many different races and cultures,” he said.

Around 250 medical professionals and students are participating in the Oct 28-31 conference, jointly organized by the School of Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the United Nations University
(UNIJ).

At least 23 local and international speakers will present papers during the three-day conference, including from UMS, UKM, UNU, WONCA, the WHO, the United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand.

Among the topics that will be covered include Issues and Challenges in Rural Medicine, Health Promotion Initiatives in Rural Medicine, Perspectives of Rural Medicine in the Asia-Pacific Region and also clinical skills and workshop sessions.

During the dinner, Yee also launched the first edition of the Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences in conjunction with the conference.

Monday 29th Oct 2007 - Horror crash kills brothers

Vehicle crashes into tree and split in two, killing the two youths instantly

KOTA KINABALU: Two brothers on a night out with friends were killed when the car they were traveling in split in two after crashing into a tree at Km 3.5, Jalan
Kolam in Luyang, near here early yesterday.

Eighteen-year-old Ho Chun Seong and his brother Ho Chun Leong, 21, were thrown out of the car and were killed instantly due to serious head injuries.

The brothers had only recently started work as apprentices, with Chun Leong attached to a workshop and Chun Seong at a furniture factory.

Family members said the brothers were on their way to have a meal with their friends in town.

It was believed the two were traveling at a high speed from Luyang direction when the car skidded and smashed into the tree at the road divider around 3.30am.

The impact of the crash broke the car into two with the front section hurled to the other side of the road where it hit a Hilux four-wheel drive coming from the opposite direction.

The Hilux was badly damaged but its driver sustained only minor injuries, said City Police Chief ACP Ahmad Sofi Zakaria when confirming the incident.

He said the victims’ bodies had been sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for a postmortem.

The police were investigating to determine whether the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol.

Monday 29th Oct 2007 - M’sia’s first spaceman returns home

SEPANG: Malaysia’s first man in space Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha returned to the country yesterday, happy to have accomplished his mission well but sad over the death of his brother.

Soon after his arrival at the KL International Airport (KLIA) at 5.30pm, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was whisked off to Seremban to visit the grave of his brother, Sheikh Mustapha Al Masrie, at the Tuan Haji Said Muslim cemetery.


Sheikh Mustapha Al Masrie, 32, had died on Saturday without regaining consciousness from a coma which he had lapsed into after hitting a pillar outside a restaurant in Jalan Klang Lama on Sunday.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor had missed the flight out of Bangkok after his flight from Russia was delayed and the brother’s funeral had to go on in his absence.

He was greeted at the KLIA by Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary- general Datuk Abd Hanan Alang Endot, about 100 Umno Youth members from the Sepang Branch and a number of students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and UKM Hospital.

In Seremban, after visiting his brother’s grave, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor told reporters he needed some time to recover from the sadness over his brother’s death, and would return to inspire Malaysians with stories of his space venture.

He said his family, particularly his mother Datin Zuraidah Sheikh Ahmad, needed his support most of all now.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor had arrived at the state mosque at 6.15pm in a convoy of vehicles of the National Astronaut Programme and some policemen.

He was greeted by his father, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha, mother, elder brothers Sheikh Ahmad and Sheikh Taufik, and youngest brother Sheikh Awiz and other close relatives. He hugged his father and carried the son of his late brother, Sheikh Aiman Shukor, three.

The family then proceeded to the cemetery.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is expected to be on leave for three days to observe the “tahlil” prayers for his late brother.

Meanwhile, the country’s other astronaut, Major Dr Faiz Khaleed, is scheduled to return home at 6am today.

Monday 29th Oct 2007 - ACA needs original video clip: DG

KOTA KINABALU: The Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) needs the original video clip purportedly showing a prominent lawyer brokering the appointment of top judges in 2002 to complete their investigation.

Its Director-General, Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmad Said Hamdan, said their investigation would not be complete unless the full length of the original video clip is handed over by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Otherwise we cannot determine the authenticity of the video clip as we only have part of it.

“He claimed that he (Anwar) has a 14-minute video clip but had only given us the first sixth minute of the said clip. We need the remaining part of it,” said Ahmad.

ACA who is assisting the panel set up by the Government to determine the authenticity of the video clip, had earlier this month issued an order for Anwar to hand over the full length original video clip.

However, the former deputy prime minister has not been cooperative and has filed for a court order to quash off the ACA order instead, said Ahmad.

“Whatever evidence he has, he should submit them to us.

“If he wants to help the panel to verify the authenticity of the video clip, he should come forward and give us the original clip, not to ask the court to quash off the order,” added Ahmad when met after presenting excellence awards to 21 ACA personnel and officers for their examplinary performances here last night.

He said the claim that ACA had cancelled a meeting previously set up to collect the original video clip from Anwar was untrue as no such meeting - had actually been set up.

He said the order issued by ACA is that Anwar has to deliver the clip to the agency and the agency does not have to go to him to collect the evidence.

“He claimed that ACA officers did not turn up. This is just an excuse. Now he is filing a court order to quash off the order for him to hand over the clip,” he said.

According to Ahmad, all names mentioned in the first part of the clip have been recorded, but the ACA has yet to be able to determine the authenticity of the clip.

All of the 12 individuals have had their statements taken, he added.

“You cannot determine who is who. The clip is blur and its authenticity cannot be determined so it is hard for us to submit to it.

“As far as we are concerned, we are assisting the panel. But if the other party is not cooperative, it would be very difficult for us,” he added.

Whether or not Anwar hands over the original clip, the ACA would forward a report to the investigation panel headed by former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor.

According to him, the panel which also includes former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mahdev Shanker and National Service Council chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, will meet today.

The three-man panel was set up o Sept 27 after the video clip was made public on Sept 19, and has been give a 30-working day deadline to submit their report on the authenticity oft I video clip on Nov 8.