TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007-CCM BHD TO BUILD FERTILIZER PLANT IN SABAH

KOTA KINABALU:
Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad (CCM Bhd), a company listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia, has confirmed its entry into Sabah to build a fertilizer plant by 2009. Its subsidiary, CCM Agriculture (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, signed a purchase agreement with State-owned POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd yesterday for a 16.65-acre plot in the palm oil industrial cluster in Lahad Datu. Industrial Development Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin witnessed the signing at POIC Sabah’s head office at the Sabah Trade Centre here led by the Chief Executive Officer of POIC Lahad Datu, Dr Pang Teck Wai, and CCM Agriculture director Haji Mohd Ali Sabri bin Mohd Ali Jaafar. Haji Mohd Ali Sabri is also the Chief Operating Officer of CCM Bhd. The land purchase price is about RM8 million and CCM Agriculture is expected to invest RM75 million in a fertilizer plant with an annual capacity of about 130,000 tonnes. Yesterday’s signing put the number of investors in POIC Lahad Datu at 16, three of which are major fertilizer companies. Other investors include those in biodiesel, logistics and bulking installations.
The combined investments these companies will bring into POIC Lahad Datu is more than RM1.2 billion. Two biodiesel plants in POIC Lahad Datu are in operation. They are the Australian-owned SPC Biodiesel Sdn Bhd and the Korean- controlled Global Biodiesel. Meanwhile, Dr Pang said the entry of a third fertilizer company in POIC Lahad Datu was proof of the confidence these companies have in the future of the Sabah oil industry and POIC Lahad Datu. According to him, Sabah imports about one million tonnes of fertilizers per year to feed its plantation and cash crop sector. The entry of the fertilizer companies would ensure that the Sabah consumers do not have to pay the costly shipping. This is especially significant in view of the impending rise in transportation charges caused by the sharp rise in petroleum prices. The CCM Bhd Group is Malaysia’s largest chemicals, fertilizers and health care companies specializing in chemical products and applications, fertilizers and technical advisory services, pharmaceutical and healthcare products.

TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007-SEVEN VILLAGES ROADS NOT BUILT DUE TO LACK OF ALLOCATION

Seven village roads not built due to lack of allocation THE lack of government allocation has been cited as the reason for the failure to build at least seven roads in villages within the Moyog area in Penampang. Moyog assemblyman Philip Lasimbang, who told the State Assembly sitting this yesterday was however asked to provide the Infrastructure Development Ministry with the list of the roads that have not been given government allocation. Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah said his Ministry will look into the matter and give due consideration to the request for allocation. “Please submit to us the list of roads and we will study and provide the necessary allocation if there is a need to do so,” said Tan. Earlier, Lasimbang asked whether the State Government was considering to take steps to overcome the overlapping of power between the State and Federal Government in the upgrading of State roads. In reply, Assistant Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Aklee Abbas asked Lasimbang to explain what he meant. “If it means overlapping responsibilities among the State Government departments/agencies and their counterparts in the Federal Government, then it does not exist as far as our Ministry is concerned,” said Aklee.

TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007-RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOP TOILETS TO BE GIVEN STAR RATING NEXT YEAR

KOTA KINABALU:
CityHall is introducing Toilet “Star Rating” at food premises in the City in its effort to continue upgrading and improving toilet cleanliness. Grading of toilets would he carried out by City Hall and the Quality Restroom Association Malaysia (QRAM) Sabah Chapter and those qualified will given “Star Rating” to hang on at their toilet door. City Hall is the first local authority in the country to introduce the Star Rating for toilets at food premises, which is separate from the existing grading system on food premises. Mayor Datuk Iliyas bin Ibrahim said this when launching the City Level World Toilet Day 2007 organised by City Hall and QRAM at City Hall Conference Hall yesterday, held in conjunction with the World Toilet Day celebrated throughout the world on November 19.
Among those present were City Hall Director General Datuk Dr Chua Kim Hing, QRAM Deputy Chairperson Nilakrishna James, who represented QRAM Sabah Chapter President Edward Yong Oui Fah who is the Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister, Sabah West Coast Coffee Shop Association president Yong Tzu Yoon and representatives from the Sabah Restaurant Association, Sabah Hotel Association and Sabah Bakery Association. Explaining the Toilet Star Rating system, Iliyas said apart from encouraging operators of food premises to upkeep their toilet cleanliness, it is also to inform their patrons that the toilets of the said premises are in order and clean for their use. “Those who scored less than 50 percent marks will he given a notice to upgrade and clean their toilets or face closure of their premises,” he said, adding that toilet cleanliness should be made a priority by all operators of food premises and expressed hopes that the program will be well received by them. Calling on the people to change their mindset and discard the general perceptions that toilets are dirty, he said City Hall recently came up with specifications to improve cleanliness on toilets applicable to all food premises in the City. “Operators of food premises who wish to renew their trading licence must have their toilets fixed with floor to ceiling tiles, bidet installed on the right hand side of toilet bowl, good flushing system, a hand dryer, a covered dustbin, soap, mirror, decorations as well as air freshener,” he explained. According to him, City Hall has given out many incentives to get operators of food premises to improve the condition and cleanliness of their toilets. “We even offered RM500 incentives for the food operators who upgraded their toilets according to our specifications. So far, we have received 22 applications,” said Iliyas and thanked those who have taken the incentives.
Towards this end, he said a clean toilet and clean premises would attract more customers and indirectly increase the income of food operators. In another development, Iliyas said the Federal Government had approved an allocation of RM2 million for City Hall to built new toilets in the City and upgrade existing ones. For the year 2007, City Hall constructed five new toilets and upgraded 10 existing toilets. The new toilets are located at Damai Plaza Phase 4, Wawasan Bus Terminal, Likas Sports Complex, Wisma Kosan area and one near the Sabah Tourism Board building. “The new toilet design and facilities are near five star standard and equipped with sensor tap and urinal sensor flusher,” he said, adding that all fundings for the projects were from the Federal Government through JPPS. As part of the City Day World Toilet Day celebration yesterday, a Toilet Awareness Walk was organized, which saw Iliyas together with his Director-General, City Hall officers and QRAM officials inspecting several toilets at Jalan Gaya, Jalan Pantai and Bandaran Berjaya.

TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007-SPORT BOARD MAKES RM2.7 MIL

Only three sport complexes register positive returns
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Sports Board (SSB) achieves an average of RM2.7 million collection per year from renting out its facilities at all the eight sport complexes in the State. However, out of the total amount of collection, only three of the eight sport complexes registered positive returns, namely the Kota Kinabalu Sport Complex. Keningau Sport . Complex & Kota Belud Sport Complex. But the rest of the sport complexes in Penampang, Sandakan, Tawau, Tenom and Tambunan achieved lower collection compared to maintenance expenditure. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah said despite the low collection compared to the overall Government . expenditure, the question of profit —. — is not the most important thing. According to him, the State Government has allocated RM41 million or RM6. 83 million per year from 2001 to 2006 for the purpose of paying salaries of the 319 staff, at the moment, of all the sport complexes in Sabah. “Whether it makes profit or incurs losses, the issue doesn’t arise. This is because the main responsibility of the complex mänägement is to provide the best services to people from all walks of life with minimum fees. “The services are the social responsibility of the State Government to produce a healthy, disciplined and united community,” he stressed when replying to a question from Likas Assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan at the State Assembly sitting yesterday.
He said, for the Tawau Sport Complex which started operating in May this year, the SSB collected RM165,000 as of Nov 15. “With the overwhelming amount, SSB is confident that if the trend of using facilities continues, the Tawau Sports Complex can contribute positively to the overall collection of SSB,” he said. Liew added that the Government is also making efforts to have two sport complexes — one each in Ranau and Sipitang. Construction of the complex in Ranau is currently in progress and is expected to be completed in early 2009 while works on the complex in Sipitang will start early next year.

TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007-15 COMPANIES BUY 167 ACRES OF LAND AT POIC LAHAD DATU

15 companies buy 167 acres of land at POIC Lahad Datu
KOTA KINABALU:
Fifteen companies have signed agreements with POIC Sdn Bhd to buy 267.39 acres of land worth RM 1. 364 billion at the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Lahad Datu. Industrial Development Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin said the companies, among other things, were involved in the production of bio-diesel, palm oil refinering, fertilizer productions, warehousing, logistics and other support services. Another 25 companies are now negotiating with POIC Sdn Bhd on the purchase of some 386 acres of land worth RM1 .806 billion, he said when replying to Membakut assemblyman Haji Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif. Ewon said 13 of the companies and POIC Sdn Bhd are expected to finalise the sales and purchase agreements by early next year. He added POIC Sdn Bhd also received serious enquiries from 62 companies which were keen to buy 732.4 acres with investment value of RM3,447. 19 million. “The overall transactions would involve 1,385.79 acres with investment amounting to RM6.819 billion. “The overwhelming response from investors has forced POIC Sdn Bhd to provide a bigger industrial land as the existing area through the Phase I and 2 development of the POIC in Lahad Datu are unable to meet the high demand for land,” Ewon told the State Legislative Assembly yesterday. As such, Ewon said his ministry and POIC Sdn Bhd were now planning to develop Phase 3 in order to cater for the demand from investors who are keen to set up biomass-based operation there. In another development, Ewon said the POIC Sandakan main development plan for 2006-2010 had been completed with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports already approved by the Sandakan Municipal Council and Department of Environment. He said the physical works on POIC Sandakan were being carried out, with the Phase lA site covering 350 acres already 60 per cent completed, while the 650-acre Phase lB is being tendered out. “The Phase 1 is expected to be fully ready by the end of 2008,” said Ewon. adding that the Phase 2 development covering 720 acres is under planning.

TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007- POOR ACCESS KEEPS TOURISTS AWAY FROM INTERIOR AREAS

THE State Government has been urged to expand the scope of its tourism development budget to include upgrading basic infrastructure in the interior to maximise Sabah’s tourism potential. Sook assemblyman Tan SriJoseph Kurup said poor access to the interior region is a contributing factor to the lack of interest among tourists to visit despite having numerous tourism sites. In his budget speech the Chief Minister (Datuk Sen Musa Aman) stressed on increasing hotel rooms but did not mention about other facilities, especially upgrading of roads,” he said when debating the 2008 State Budget at the State Assembly here, yesterday. “Providing hotel rooms to meet tourists’ needs is not enough to attract them to interesting sites. Tourists are mostly concentrated in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and National Park in Kundasang, while tourist arrivals in the interior are not very encouraging. “It could be because marketing of interesting places such as Mount Trus Madi and the Tenom Agriculture Park is not wide enough …. (poor access) is also a reason why tourists are not attracted to visit other districts even if there is much to see,” he said. Kurup also urged the Government to ensure employers in the tourism industry maintain a staff team with locals making up a minimum of 30 percent. “Many jobs have been created (in the industry but I WAS made to understand that those who are reaping the benefits of employment are not the locals. It has been said that employers prefer to hire foreigners instead of locals. “Contentions that locals are uninterested or are absent from work are the reasons, which I feel are unreasonable. I have constantly heard of these complaints but no action has been taken to rectify the situation. “I believe the problem can be overcome by providing training and also instilling a suitable attitude where they are responsible in their respective work,” he said.

TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007-ALLOCATIONS NEEDED FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO GIVE PAY HIKE

Allocations needed for local authorities to give pay hike
THE State Government was urged to also give grants or financial assistance to local authorities to help them cope with higher expenditure caused by the recent salary increment for the civil servants and to avoid additional financial burden for the public. Sekong Assemblyman Datuk Shamsuddin Yahya said that unlike other government agencies and departments whose staff are paid using government allocations, local authorities are responsible for paying their workers using the revenues generated from their operations. In order to pay the higher salaries to their employees, the local authorities would have to generate more income by increasing assessment rates and license fees, which are the main sources of their revenues, he added. This, he said, will burden the public as it is they who are actually absorbing the extra expenditure of local authorities. The increase will burden business operators and ratepayers and will definitely be opposed by the affected local residents,” he said. “The local authorities are the frontliners of the government machinery and whatever policy or action they implement will impact positively or negatively on the Government depending on the perception of the public of that policy or action,” he said.

TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007-FACTORIES FINED FOR ILLEGAL LOGGING

KOTA KINABALU:
The probe on the illegal logging case in Keningau has been completed with two factories charged and fined in the court for an offence under the Forest Enactment Act 1968. Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran said each of the factories was slapped a maximum fine of RM5O,000 and the seized logs were forfeited. “The minimum RM5O,000 fine was under the old rate because the maximum fine of RM500,000 under the amended Forest Enactment Act that was passed at the last State Legislative Assembly sitting has not been enforced yet,” he told the House when replying to Sook assemblyman Tan Sri Joseph Kurup yesterday. Replying to a question from Datuk Sairin Karno (Umno-Liawan), Nasir said the Forestry Department was planning to recruit more enforcement personnel but the matter was still being studied as it involved a high cost
However, he said various new approaches had been taken to reduce crime activities in the State forest reserves, particularly in the interior areas, which included the Forestry Department’s prohibition of transporting logs at night and during public holidays. He said the assessment and measurement of logs would be allowed within the licensed concession area only, apart from regular patrol rounds and stringent check at the gate by enforcement personnel. “These new approaches and specific terms and conditions will greatly reduce crime activities in the State’s forest reserves,” said Nasir. Nasir also told the House that the Illegal Logging Eradication Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department had taken proactive measures by carrying out investigations on State forest reserve and timber concession areas, including the Sabah Foundation’s areas and sawmill factories. “An integrated operation will be carried out by the Forestry Department regional offices in Nabawan, Sook and Keningau with the army from the Lok Kawi Army Camp soon following reports received from the public about illegal logging activities in the interior area.” Nasir said the Illegal Logging Eradication Unit had carried out investigations in the interior between September and this month but it did not find any illegal logging in the forest reserves at Kampung Sinsuron, Ulu Tambunan by a company as alleged. “No encroachment had been found on the forest reserves in Sri Bongawan and Batu 38 Nabawan as alleged by local residents,” he added.

TUESDAY-20TH NOVEMBER 2007- KURUP:SPEED UP NATIVE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS

KOTA KINABALU:
Sook assemblyman Tan Sri Joseph Kurup yesterday urged the State Government to expedite amendments to the Native Ordinance to prevent abuse and ensure the rights of Sabah natives are preserved. He said the current legal interpretation of the Ordinance, which. was established during British rule in 1952, no longer applies as the status of both State and population now differs greatly from when it first came in force 55 years ago. “Provisions under Sections 2(c) and (d) can no longer apply because under these provisions, it seems natives of Sarawak, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines can claim Native Certificates,” he said when debating the 2008 State Budget at the State Assembly here, yesterday. Kurup said the provisions under the Native Ordinance are in direct conflict with the definition of natives under Article 161A clause (b) of the Federal Constitution and Article 41 paragraph (10) of the State Constitution. “These articles define a native as a child or grandchild of a person indigenous to Sabah. The Oxford dictionary defines indigenous as belonging naturally to a place and as such when these laws are applied in current and future times, the people referred to (in the Native Ordinance) should not fall under the word indigenous,” he said. Kurup admitted that it would not be easy to find a solution to the current situation due to various sensitivities in society, but stressed that if it is not settled soon, the Government may face numerous legal implications due to the loophole in the Ordinance.
“Amendments to the law needs to be expedited because it poses the danger of not only leaving genuine applicants in a dilemma but also legal action against the Government. “We do not know the situation in Sabah where we are faced with illegal immigrants that may lead them to starting a reverse takeover because our law gives them a loophole they can take advantage of and it is not impossible that they will take legal action one day,” he stressed.

THURSDAY-19TH NOVEMBER 2007-1000 LOW COST HOUSES BUILT IN TELIPOK

1,000 low-cost houses built in Telipok

THE Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority had built 1,000 low-cost houses in Telipok. Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Edward Yong Oui Fah said the housing scheme is meant for locals with a monthly income of between RM500 and RM 1,800. He said that priority is given to those without house, living in squatter areas and victims of natural disasters such as flood. “About 70 per cent of the completed units are given to Bumiputera and the remaining 30 per cent to non-Bumiputeras,” said Yong when replying to Datuk Louis Rampas BN-Kiulu). He said the Federal Government. through the National Housing Department, had also completed two projects under the rental scheme. They comprise 2,400 units at Taman Telipok Jaya Ria phase two and 2,174 units at Taman Sri Rugarding.

SUNDAY-18TH NOVEMBER 2007-ONE DAY MEDICAL CAMP IN KALABAKAN

One day medical camp in Kalabakan
TAWAU:
A one-day medical camp will be held at the Kalabakan/ Serudung Laut this Sunday that will benefit the rural people in the area. Rotary Club of Tawau Tanjung President Peter Wong said each year the club organizes a community programme and in line with this year’s Rotary theme, ‘Rotary Shares’, the medical camp project would be a meaningful one for Rotary and Kalabakan. “One of the main items is eradication of polio and the club hopes to do more of such projects that will benefit the people in future,” he said. Project chairman Desmond Liew said the one-day project is held in collaboration with the hospital’s dental unit, Sabah Health Department and Sabah Family Planning Unit.
“Three dentists, 16 personnel and four doctors from the Health Department and five assistants and four personnel from the Family Planing Unit are taking part in the camp. They will do medical checks on children aged three to 12 years old and the adults at 11am at the Usahawan Borneo Plantation’s Ladang Selimpopon office,” he said. Desmond said the medical camp covers checks on health, blood pressure, dental and fillings, diabetes, polio vaccination for children under six years old, deworming for children, talk on family planning, oral cancer screening and talk on prevention. The club would also be donating used clothing, toothpaste and toothbrushes to the community there .
On the same day , the Rotary Club of Tawau Tanjung will conduct a literacy project which will be headed by the club’s Vocational Service Director, Past President Jimmy Lim. ‘Literacy is one of the Rotary International’s worldwide long-term projects to give the world community access to literacy program and learning skills. The Usahawan Borneo Plantation is operating an estate school catered for the estate community, which will be expanded to the nearby estate community in the near future,” said Peter. He said it provides basic learning program for young kids aged 6 to 10 at the estate with English and Bahasa Malaysia as the main subjects on top of Mathematics. “We will be providing textbooks and writing material for the estate students to improve their learning skills,” he said.

SATURDAY-17TH NOVEMBER 2007-ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S PRODUCES MORE 5A ACHIEVERS

St Francis Xavier’s produces more 5A achievers
KENINGAU:
Seven of the 141 ST Francis Xavier’s Primary School students who sat for the UPSR this year achieved 5As compared to only two last year.
They are Daryll Evan Alexius Shirley Lidovicus, Lionelson Norbert Yong, Livani Chanthirasekar, Nurul Farhana Safran, Shirlee Sazalee and Ainnur Nasreen. The school registered a 61.3 percent percentage passes compare to 60.4 percent last year, said it headmistress, Helena Edirin.

SATURDAY-17TH NOVEMBER 2007-TOP ACHIEVERS RECEIVE RM100 EACH

Top achievers receive RM100 each
TAWAU:
SK Holy Trinity was the top UPSR achiever in the district with 22 of its students scoring 5As. Its passing rate also increased from 84 percent to 86.2 percent. The top scorers were Aezalia A Malek, Andi Muhammad Amin, Andi Muhammad Basri Pojojongi, Ariel Logujin Premus, Asyraaf Yusuf, Benny Aguspare Masse, Bezalee Ginsos, Dzulfa Jiplin, Ersey Flourish Jefrin, Kasing Webbly, Melvira Malson, Mohd Zairin Mohd Zainurin, Mohd Safian Salim, Nur Adilah Syahirah Rasid, Nur Hidayah Farhana Radzi, Nur Azlin, Hasbullah, Nur Shafiqah Sabir, Nurul Atiqah Sady, Sharifah Noor Baizura Ahmad and Siti Nazaliah Ahmat Jailani. Meanwhile, the Senior Assistant of the school, Nagula Arul, will be retiring at the end of this year. Nagula has served in the education sector for 35 years and she has been teaching at the school for 10 years. Previously, she was a teacher at SK St Patrick here for 11 years.
In conjunction with her retirement, her husband T Arulanathan, who is managing director of Hashena Plantations Sdn Bhd cum director of Plus-Bumimas Sdn Bhd, gave RM100 each to the 22 top UPSR scorers.

SATURDAY-17TH NOVEMBER 2007

34 7As achievers from Shan Tao

KOTA KINABALU:
The teachers’ dedication and hard work were instrumental in the outstanding achievement of SJK (C) Shan Tao in this year’s UPSR, said its principal, Goh Teck Seng. Speaking at the school’s 53rd graduation ceremony yesterday, he said out of the 239 students who sat for the UPSR this year, 34 of them scored 7As while another 27 obtained 6As He said the school also scored an overall passing rate of 80.75 per cent, a slight improvement of last year’s 80 per cent. “Among the high achievers were some Bumiputera children,” said Goh, adding that the school also excelled in Mathematics with a passing rate of 99.58 per cent.
In another Development. Goh said the school management had recently submitted the building plan for its proposed new building to the Kota Kinabalu City Hall for approval. Lamenting that the school classrooms are overcrowded, he said that compared to the other schools which have a maximum of 35 students per class, each of its 33 classrooms is currently packed with between 61 to 62 students and that it has been giving a lot of pressure to its teachers. Out of the 33 classrooms catering for its 1,670 students, 28 of them are temporary ones. Once completed, the proposed RM4 million four-storey building is expected to create an additional 25 classrooms, said Goh, adding that 30 per cent of its students are Bumiputera. Also present at the occasion were Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister cum Luyang assemblywoman Melanie Chia: Catherine Yong, the chairlady of the school board; Dr Hiew King Cheu, chairman of its Alumni Association; Thomas Tham. chairman of its Parents and Teachers Association and William Chu, chairman of the Sabah Chinese Primary Schools Working Committee.

SATURDAY-17TH NOVEMBER 2007-SABAH SUDENTS STILL WEAK IN ENGLISH, MATHS, SCIENCE

Sabah students still weak in English, Maths, Science
KOTA KINABALU:
Sabah recorded a slight increase in this year’s UPSR performance with 895 of the 44,832 students from Government and vernacular primary schools who sat for examination scoring straight 5As and 7As. The State’s overall passing rate increased by 1.32 per cent from 44.4 per cent in 2006 to 45.72 per cent this year, State Education Department Evaluation and Examination Sector Head Jr Datu Jamigul Datu Salim disclosed yesterday. He said 20,497 students achieved Grade C or the minimum passing grade in all the subjects taken. “The results showed students across the State are still weak in English, Mathematics and Science subjects with less then 50 per cent of them scoring grade A,” said Datu Jamigul in a statement. Of the 19 top students from Sabah, 10 were from Kota Kinabalu, four from Tawau, three from Kota Belud and two from Sandakan. They are Serena Marissa Karnail (SK Stella Maris) Nurfarahin Rambedan (SK Kepayan), Charlene Chee Shao Ling (SK St Francis Convent) Lim Han Liang (SK St Agnes. KK), Aizuddin Aguse (SK Luyang, KK), Joan John (SK Mutiara), Shera Jane Peter (SK St Joseph, Penampang), Mohd Hamizan Farhan Mohd Jeffri (SK Kg Contoh Petagas , Nur Farhana Ahmad (SK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud), Scholastica Dumat (SK Giok, Tamparuli), Mohd Uwais Roslan (SK Narawang), Kasmia Parussangi (SK Sungai Manila, Sandakan), Phang Wei Terd (SK St Monica, Sandakan), Awanis Zakaria (SK Kalabakan), Nur Ain Syafiera Yusman (SK Jambatan Putih, Tawau), Foo Yee Zin (SJKC Shan Tao, K.K Maxmillian Chia Ka Cheng (SJKC Yuk Chin Jalan Kuhara, Tawau), Sia Zheng Cheng (SJKC Sin Hwa, Tawau) and special student Wong Fui Jing Crystal (SJKC St Peter, KK). Wong Fui Jing Crystal, who is a spastic, scored 6A and lB. said Datu Jamigul. Among the Government primary schools that produced a big number of straight 5As achievers were SK St Monica with 32 students, followed by SK St Francis Convent (27), SK Sri Gaya (25), SK St Agnes (24) and SK Mutiara Kota Kinabalu (21). Six of the top vernacular primary schools were SRJK (C) Shan Tao with 34 students followed by SRJK (C) Chung Hwa Kg Air (32), SRJK (C) St James Likas (20), SRJK (C) Yuk Chin Tawau (18), SRJK (c) Chung Hwa Likas (13) and 13 students from SRJK (C) Sin Hwa Tawau. Students who were not satisfied with their results could contact their schools headmaster before Dec 16 to have their results - rechecked, added Datu Jamigul,

FRIDAY-6th November 2007-NEW SEWERAGE MAINS TO MAKE KK CLEANER CITY

KOTA KINABALU:

City dwellers can expect a cleaner environment and beachfront with the new sewerage mains that would replace the current system along the Coastal Road from Tanjung Aru to Tanjung Lipat. The City Hall through funding from the Sabah State Government, will replace the existing undersized sewers, and expected to solve the frequent occurrences of overflowing manholes, blockages and pipe breakage problem due to old pipes.
Mayor Datuk Iliyas bin Ibrahim in announcing this yesterday, said with the installations of the new sewerage line that begins from the first manhole at Tanjung Aru First Beach, all the way to the Tanjung Aru Township and surrounding areas, it will divert sewage from these areas to the newly completed sewage pumping station at Harbour City in Sembulan.
The project is expected to be completed in 18 months. The first phase consisting of laying an additional main from Habour City to Tanjung Lipat, was completed on schedule and can be utilized once the whole network is completed.
Explaining the existing sewerage network, Iliyas said the current system catering for area ranging from Tanjung Aru Beach Hotel, Tanjung Aru Township and surrounding areas, is connected to the existing pump station near Wisma Muis. He said this old sewerage network is undersize and near its life span.
Thanking the State Government for the allocation to fund the new sewerage line from Tanjung Aru to Tanjung Lipat Coastal Road, lliyas said the project is also based on the City Hall Sewerage Masterplan which was completed by its own staff.
“Once the sewerage system is upgraded and completed based on our sewerage master plan, KK City shorelines will be cleaner as the new sewerage system will reduce direct discharge of sewerage from the drains into the sea,” he added. According to Iliyas, the sewerage system of the Tanjung Aru water village, which has been earmarked for tourism, will also be connected to the new sewerage system.
Meanwhile, Iliyas called on the business establishments in the surrounding areas of Tanjung Aru such as Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru, Kinabalu Yacht Club, Waikiki Condominium, and others to connect their sewerage line to the new sewerage system after it is completed. He said the new sewerage line is laid out close to the old system to enable easy connections to the new system.

FRIDAY-16TH NOVEMBER 2007-HIGHER CRIME RATE, LOWER SOLVING RATE

Higher crime rate, lower solving rate But over 80 per cent of violent crime solved: CP
KOTA KINABALU:
The crime rate in the State between January and October this year rose by 8.25 percent compared to that during similar period in 2006, but State Police Commissioner Datuk Noor : Rashid Ibrahim is happy with the performance of his team. “I believe we have worked hard to ensure the safety and security of the people in Sabah is maintained. There may be an increase in crime rate but there is nothing that we cannot handle,” he said. Noor Rashid was speaking during the presentation of awards to the five best police stations in Sabah by the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation at the Senior Police Officer’s Mess in Kepayan here, yesterday. The five police stations are Tuaran, Ranau, Semporna, Menggatal and Tawau. There were 6,140 cases in the first 10 months this year, 468 more than the 5,672 cases registered between January and October last year. Violent crime rate in the first 10 . months this year increased by 9.7 per cent or 136 cases more than the 1,402 during similar period in 2006.
Property crime rate increased by 7.78 per cent or 332 cases more than the 4,270 cases in 2006. The solving rate, however, fell to 37.4 per cent in the first 10 months this year from the high of 55.7 per cent in the same period last year, but Noor Rashid stressed that it was still higher than the international standard of 20 per cent. “What is more impressive is that the solving rate for violent crime between January and October this year stood at 80.7 per cent, higher than that recorded in the same period last year at 61.4 per cent. Noor Rashid said transparency and more quality investigations were the key behind the increase in solving rate for violent crime, which averaged about 25 cases a day statewide. However, he stressed, they cannot be satisfied with the current performance but will strive harder to achieve a better crime statistics, maybe one to rival their counterparts in Singapore. Noor Rashid also stressed the importance of public cooperation in preventing and combating crime. “The police would never succeed by only relying on ourselves. Instead, they must have the help of the public. There was a time when police worked in isolation but now we have to work together; we thought that crime prevention was exclusively for the police to shoulder but not anymore,” he explained. He said the situation has changed as police are required to take on a more proactive approach instead of just reacting when a crime is reported. Police force needs to be able to anticipate crimes, thus the need for policemen to be constantly prepared, he said. “But we need the public to cooperate with us, including the State Government, its agencies and non-governmental organisations,” he said. Noor Rashid also applauded the efforts by MCPF, through its Sabah chairman Datuk Henry Chin, in spreading crime prevention awareness especially among school students statewide. The MCPF has so far managed to convince 176 out of the 204 secondary schools to set up their own Crime Prevention Clubs.

FRIDAY-16TH NOVEMBER 2007-HIGHER COMPENSATION FOR SIGNAL HILL RESIDENTS

Higher compensation for Signal Hill residents
KOTA KINABALU:
The residents of the Signal Hill squatter area are asking for a higher compensation from the company engaged to do road expansion work and a further extension to the eviction order issued by City Hall. Chin Fui Fu, a resident and spokesman for the group, said the current offer from the company is insufficient for them to rebuild their lives and they do not have enough time to move their belongings despite the extended eviction deadline on Monday. According to Chin, the initial eviction deadline was extended to Nov 3 with assistance from Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai and Likas assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan. “We sent another letter asking for further extension of the deadline but we did not get any official reply from City Hall. Suddenly they come in this morning (yesterday) and start tearing down our houses,” he said when met yesterday during a joint operation to tear down the houses. “We can understand that the Government wants to implement the (road expansion) project, but we have been living here for so long. This area has been up since 1963 and some of us have been here up to four generations.”
Chin, 42, said of the 18 families residing in the area, three have already left after receiving compensation of RMI5,000 each for two of the families and RM30,000 for the third. He added that they were offered new houses at the Telipok Ria low- cost housing estate, but many had rejected the offer as the area is too far from their workplace. “Since the company has given compensation, we are asking for that and also an extension to the eviction order so that we have enough time to move our belongings. “Initially the company promised RM15,000 each in compensation, but now they are only willing to give RM100,000 for all the 15 families which we don’t agree ... we need between RM4O,000 to RM5O,000 because we will have to rebuild our lives,” he said. City Hall enforcement division director Abdul Mukti Muklish confirmed the operation, which involved 10 City Hall enforcement officers, two police officers, two officers from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd and machinery contractors. “The eviction notice was issued in early October before HariRaya, The residents have been offered houses in Telipok Ria and while some accepted the offer, some of them rejected it,” he said when contacted yesterday. “The deadline was extended for two weeks (until yesterday). So far we have torn down two houses but the residents requested for an extension so they have two more days before we resume our operation on Monday. “I believe the rest of the residents have opted to take up houses at another low-cost housing project in Bukit Padang, which I was made to understand is expected to be completed by early next year ... until then the residents will either be renting houses or staying with relatives,” he said.

Thursday 15th Nov 2007 - Ministry plans Complaints Bureau to listen to youths

KOTA KINABALU: If everything goes as planned, youths will have an alternative to turn to for help when they are in trouble.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah said they are currently preparing a working paper on the setting up of Youth Complaints Bureau to provide certified counselors to listen to problems faced by the younger generation.

“There are times when youths choose to talk to someone else rather than confiding in their parents, siblings or friends. By having the Bureau, youths may have someone else to talk to and share their problems,” said Liew during a courtesy call by delegates from Sabah Journalists Association at his office here, yesterday. The visitors were led by SJA president Datuk Jonistan. Bangkuai. Also present was the Ministry’s permanent secretary, Suzanna Liaw.

Liew explained that the Bureau would work like the Rakan Cop programme of the police in that besides providing an avenue for youths to share their problems, it would also serve as a monitoring group.

“The Bureau will provide counseling over the phone and it will be handled by professionals,” he said.

He said that about half of Sabah’s population of some 1.3 million people are below 40 years old.

“It will be a waste if these people are not given proper guidance; we need to prepare the young for future challenges and to be future leaders,” he said.

“I believe we will be able to help many young people through the Bureau and hopefully they would make full use of it,” he said.

Liew also stressed that the media should play its role in shaping the youths, helping them to be better persons and creating awareness on the importance of staying out of trouble.

Thursday 15th Nov 2007 - RM 5 bln investment

Boost for East Coast as POIC in Lahad Datu set to attract 80 new investors

KOTA KINABALU: The Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Lahad Datu is expected to pull in some 80 new investors with investment potential of up to RM5 billion, said POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Dr Pang Teck Wai.

He said the new investors are very “keen” on participating in the POIC, especially a Korean company which is planning to set up a central steam power plant to supply power to the entire POIC area.

“The central steam plant will greatly reduce the cost of production at the POIC. Large (processing) plants normally have to build their own steam plants and that would be more expensive than purchasing the power supply,” he said.

Pang was speaking at a press conference after inking a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd and Union Harvest (East Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, which was represented by Union Harvest Group (UH) Managing Director Wong Yu.

He said the other investors will participate in various sectors in the POIC, such as production of oleo-chemical and food-based products, refineries, biodiesel, fertilisers and a pulp and paper mill.

“Currently 250 acres out of the 800 acres at the POIC have already been bought. Among others there are already two biodiesel plants up and we expect more to be set up soon,” he said.

Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin meanwhile said he expects progress at the POIC to pick up, especially after the launch of the Sabah Development Corridor next month.

“Progress has been a bit slow due to the current CPO (crude palm oil) prices, but things will be coming up. Hopefully when the Sabah Development Corridor is launched, the POIC will become an anchor for the East Coast,” he said.

On the entry of Union Harvest Group, Ewon said they will be setting up a plant valued at between RM5O- RM6O million to manufacture fertiliser.

“We wanted it in Lahad Datu because it is a natural port that has great potential and can provide the facilities to do business. It would be more cost effective to build a plant here rather than ship (products) from West Malaysia to East Malaysia,” he said.

The Union Harvest Group is the 15th company to confirm purchase of land at POIC Lahad Datu, where it will set up its fifth fertilizer manufacturing and storage facility in Malaysia on a 23.24-acre plot.

Its Lahad Datu facility, scheduled to begin operations at the end of 2009, is also expected to produce industrial chemicals.

The group is partly-owned by Sumifert Sdn Bhd, which is linked to Japanese multi-national Sumitomo Corporation, and has a global network of suppliers and customers spanning Jordan, Japan, Singapore, Germany and China.

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - Youths achieve success in livestock breeding

20 earn about RM30,000 a month after venturing into industry

KOTA KINABALU: About 20 livestock breeders from the State have been raking in a monthly earning of about RM30,000 in a few years after venturing into the industry.

Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said they were among the few local youths who heeded the government’s advice and took up the challenge by starting their own livestock breeding activities commercially.

He said many of these young entrepreneurs come from the rural areas such as Keningau an Lahad Datu.

“Actually, some of these breeders have exceeded the RM30,000 mark in their monthly income,” said Abdul Rahim yesterday.

He said one of the 20 successful breeders is a 29-year-old youth from Lahad Datu who took out a RM800,000 bank loan to commence his operation a few years ago.

“He is now drawing a monthly income of about RM28,000 and faces no problem in repaying the loan at RM6,000 per month. Recently, he approached the bank for a further loan to expand his operation,” Abdul Rahim said at the presentation of certificates to 220 breeders who received a total of 4,748 head of ruminant liverstocks under the ministry’s 100 Breeders Scheme to start their operations.

He said many Sabahan youths have been shunning job and business opportunities in the agriculture sector saying that “it is dirty and has no standard.”

Abdul Rahim said the time has come for the people to change their mindset and perception and regard the agriculture sector s a lucrative business if it is carried out commercially.

From next year onwards, he said his ministry is focusing on achieving the goal set in the 100 Breeders Scheme by increasing Sabah’s self-sufficiency in beef production from 26 per cent presently to 35 per cent by 2010.

He said about 40,000 of the 100,000 hectares of reserved grazing land in Sabah have been earmarked for development through the Department of Veterinary and Animal Industry (DOVSAI).

Efforts are also being made to increase fresh milk production from seven million liters per year now to eight million litres by 2010, said Abdul Rahim, adding that Sabah has achieved self-sufficiency in the production of chicken and chicken eggs.

“Sabah is currently producing 500 million eggs and 50 million chickens annually.”

Abdul Rahim added the agriculture sector, one of Sabah’s three main engines of economic growth along with tourism and the processing sectors, contributed RM532 million to the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2004.

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - Special body to monitor NS training programs

KOTA KINABALU: A special body has been set up by the Government to monitor the National Service (NS) training programmes in all the camps throughout the country.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah, when disclosing this, said the monitoring body or ‘Naziran’, chaired by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, would conduct spot checks at all camps to ensure smooth implementation of all programmes.

“In Sabah, the monitoring body will be conducting weekly or monthly checks to look into the training development, including the trainees’ health status or the food quality in all camps,” he explained.




Apart from this, the body will also be checking on the job performance of the camps’ commandants and a report on those who failed to carry out their duties would be submitted to the State NS before the case is referred to the central committee.

Liew also assured parents that they need not worry about their children who were called up for the NS training programme because to date, no reports on any camp commandants who failed in their duties have been received.

Speaking to reporters after officiating the Sabah National Service Special Community Services Module workshop here, he said the NS programme is an avenue to train youths to be independent as well as boosting their self-confidence.

He therefore urged parents to be proud when their children are selected to undergo the training programme and added, “The Government has spent millions of ringgit to implement the NS, and apart from gaining a lot of the experiences, the trainees are also being paid an allowance of RM300 each.” Liew also urged the media not to highlight any incident happening at NS camps, adding that the commandants are taking every possible step to ensure that the trainees’ safety and security are well taken care of.

“There are times when a trainee falls sick, he or she would not inform their respective commandant until matters become worse,” he said.

Touching on the workshop, Liew said the event was held to find way to further improve the implementation of the NS programme, besides ensuring that it meets the objectives.

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - Sabahans to benefit if Mt Kinabalu joins network

LANGKAWI: Communities living in the vicinity of Mount Kinabalu are likely to enjoy socio-economic benefits if the mountain, Malaysia’s tallest, joins the Global Geopark Network.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah School of Science and Technology’s Associate Prof Dr Felix Tongkul said with the Geopark concept, the surrounding communities could enjoy the benefits of tourism by participating in related economic activities such as opening stalls or curio shops.

“Currently, they are mere spectators observing the comings and goings of tourists and, except for providing manpower, they contribute nothing as the tourist agencies bringing in visitors to Mount Kinabalu Park are based in Kota Kinabalu,” he said.

He said geoparks should belong to the people, with the government assisting them to reap the benefits from the implementation of the concept.

Among the unique aspects of Mount Kinabalu in terms of geoscience is that it is one of the youngest intrusive igneous rock in the region with many glacial features and older oceanic rocks which can be found on the mountain itself.

Geopark Network (GGN) Bureau committee member Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo said Malaysia is a hot favourite to lead the Asia-Pacific geoparks network that will be set up during the inaugural Regional Conference on Asia-Pacific Geoparks and Business Dialogue 2007.

He said that although Malaysia has only one geopark, it had a strong base in geology with the support of a solid group of researchers and experts.

“In terms of knowledge, we are actually more advanced compared to China which has 18 geoparks.

“This is also among the reasons why Unesco wanted the inaugural conference to be held here,” he said after delivering a keynote address at the conference held at the Mahsuri International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIEC) yesterday.

Dr Ibrahim said that a step further would be to set up an Asia-Pacific Geoheritage and Geoparks Network as the Asia-Pacific Geopark Network only has a membership of three countries.

“We have to remember that currently in the Asia-Pacific region, there are only three countries - China, Iran and Malaysia - which have areas accorded geopark status by Unesco.”

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - Senior citizens competing for honours in sports carnival

KOTA KINABALU: A sports carnival has brought together champions among senior citizens representing their respective teams under the Council of Sabah Senior Citizens Association (COSCA).

The carnival which started yesterday featured table-tennis, Chinese chess and snooker competitions.

“It will be the ninth time that we are holding the carnival and we are proud that the event received support from the Youth and Sports Minister,” said COSCA president Robert Foo when met at the carnival opening officiated by Youth and Sports Ministry Political Secretary Chin Yun Seng who represented Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas.

Also present were officials from the Sabah Sports Board (SSB) Jerry Joachim and Living Masini, representing SSB General Manager Mahmood Kalong.



The table tennis and Chinese chess competitions were held at the Sports Complex while snooker will take place at the King’s Snooker & Billiard Centre at Alamesra, Jalan Sulaman.

COSCA comprise 10 affiliates, namely two in Kota Kinabalu and the rest in Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Beaufort, Keningau, Tenom and Kudat.

“Every affiliate are represented by winners selected after holding their own tournament at affiliate-level.

“Apart from the tournaments, we have also lined up several programmes such as singing contest and tour... we will be going to the Zoo in Lok Kawi tomorrow (today),” Foo added.

Meanwhile, organising chairperson for the women’s category Jenny Wong was given the honour to declare open the snooker event.

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - Tough challenges for women if economic growth becomes vital focus: Shahrizat

KOTA KINABALU: Women will be facing tough challenges both as individuals and as members of a productive society if economic growth becomes a vital focus today, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jail.

“However, it is also vital to find a balance of life between preserving our sense of identity, culture and community while venturing into the global economy,” she stressed when closing the International Women Executive Congress here yesterday.

Shahrizat, while assuring that a woman through her natural talent of inner strength and efficient negotiator has the ability to venture into the global economy, said challenges must be shared equally both by the Government and the people, because achieving a global economy must go together with a social responsibility.

Speaking to over 1,000 participants from Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia, Australia, Egypt, China, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, US, Singapore, Thailand and other countries, Shahrizat urged the women to speak up on any issues, especially those relating to the fairer sex, that they feel concerned about and need the assistance of the relevant authorities to overcome.

Sharing her personal experiences on how she faced the ups and downs of her life to become who she is now, Shahrizat firmly believes that individuals, especially women, should not give up on what they desired in achieving a balance of life both financially and personally (preserving their family and the community value.)

“I refused to give up building my career and I worked hard to overcome any challenges that came my way,” said Shahrizat.

“I may have weaknesses and made mistakes but I learnt from them. Remember, we do not have to sacrifice our values and our beliefs to fight our way,” she pointed out.

According to her, most workplaces that hire more women are more productive, especially in businesses and in environments where men value and support the success of smart women.

Shahrizat added, “Smart men always support smart women, this is the reality happening in more advanced countries where men and women work hand in hand to build up various successful public and private sectors.”

She also said that the responsibility of bringing up a family has to be shared by both men and women.

Shahrizat also mentioned that she felt dissatisfied with certain laws, especially with regard to maternity leave for both mothers and fathers and added that she will propose better ways to cope with the allowances, maternity leaves or paid leaves regardless of gender and income.

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - Govt to ask for higher pay for private sector staff: CM

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will urge employers in the private sector to increase the salary of their workers to the same level as in Peninsular Malaysia.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman acknowledged that the salary rate being offered by the private sector in Sabah is lower compared to other states in the country.

“A higher pay will encourage our youths to return and provide their services in Sabah. I have asked the employers, especially the hoteliers, to offer appropriate wages,” he said after launching the Sabah Job Centre and Career Expo 2007 at Wisma Bandaraya here yesterday.

Commenting on the newly launched Sabah Job Centre, the Chief Minister said it is poised to assist in reducing unemployment rate and help job seekers in the State find their dream job.

According to him, the unemployment rate in Sabah is currently at 5.7 percent, a figure which the Government wants to reduce to four percent by 2010.

The Government’s determination to achieve this target can be seen as the Sabah Job Centre under the Resource Development and Information Technology Ministry has the main objective of assisting job seekers get employment and is also an avenue for employers to seek out potential employees.

Its minister, Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, said 787 people have registered with the Sabah Job Centre and 506 of them are women seeking help to get jobs.

Those who have signed up are from all over the State, including from the State Capital, Keningau, Kudat, Papar, Penampang, Ranau, Sandakan, Tamparuli and Tuaran.

According to him, the Sabah Job Centre has successfully arranged 200 job interviews for those who had registered for its assistance.

He added 67 companies were registered with the Sabah Job Centre and were offering 71 vacancies.

Those interested to register with the Sabah Job Centre can do so online at www.joblink.sabah.gov.my or contact 088-270451.

They can also write directly to its premises at Tingkat Bawah, Bangunan Wisma Bandaraya, Jalan Masjid Lami, 88000 Kota Kinabalu.

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - 30% target for women to remain priority, says CM

KOTA KINABALU: The vision of having women representing at least 30 percent of the decision-making positions in the State will remain a priority for Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

As the State undergoes an unprecedented pace of development which presents new areas of opportunities, he said the State Government will continue to ensure that everyone, irrespective of gender, will benefit from being in the mainstream of development.

In his welcoming remarks at the closing ceremony of the International Women Executive Congress 2007 (IWEC-2007) here yesterday, Musa stressed that mainstreaming women would call for commitment by all quarters — the Government, the private sector and more importantly, the women themselves.

In this regard, he said the Malaysian Government is considered probably one of the most women-friendly Governments in the world as manifested by various policies and programmes as well as laws that incorporate the women’s perspective.

On the part of the State Government, he said efforts to implement affirmative multi-sector programmes to further enhance gender equality will be continued.

With the people’s support and the continuing political stability in the State and the country as a whole, the effort would be possible, he said.

“With Datuk Seri Shahrizat at the helm of her ministry, I am confident that Malaysia will continue to be a role model in its gender-sensitive development programmes.

“Nevertheless, the real challenges lies in the women themselves who must possess the will to make things happen,” Musa who is also the organising chairman for IWEC-2007, stressed.

The closing ceremony of the three-day congress was officiated by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil.

Meanwhile, Musa said the State Government will continue with its various social transformation programs, particularly in the area of education.

This is in the form of study loans and scholarships for the needy in order to ensure that a wide spectrum of society has access to education, he said.

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - Sandakan Hospital refutes negligence claim

SANDAKAN: The Duchess of Kent Hospital director has refuted a claim by a woman that a doctor’s negligence in advising the date of birth had caused the death of her twin babies.

Dr Zorina Khalid explained that Alberta Sarail’s twin babies had most probably died in the uterus for more than 12 hours before she delivered them macerated stillbirth on November 4.

The babies had most probably died on November 2 when she could not feel fetal movement. Both babies were born macerated confirming this probability, she said in a statement yesterday in reply to recent news reports on the case.

“For maceration to occur, the babies must have died in the uterus for more than 12 hours. The doctor had explained this to her after the delivery,” she continued.

Dr Zorina was responding to newspaper reports dated November 10 regarding Madam Alberta Sarail whose twin pregnancy ended in death.

“She stated she had gone to see our doctor at the clinic on November 1, 2007, where she was informed by the doctor her fetuses were all right.

“When she went into labour on November 3, she claimed the twins she delivered died 24 hours later. She also stated her due date for delivery was October 30, 2007,” Dr Zorina added.

“Here, I wish to put the incident into its correct perspective. Alberta’s due date is not October 30, 20073 but November 25, 2007 as her last menstrual period was February 18, 2007,” she said.

Dr Zorina said when Alberta came to the hospital’s 0 & G Specialist Clinic on November 1, 2007, she was seen by a medical officer who also did an ultrasound on her, even showing her the ultrasound images of her fetuses. The fetuses were alive then and she was not admitted as she was only 36 weeks plus two days pregnant.

“She had labour pains on November 3, 2007 and she came for admission to our maternity

ward at 11.50pm. She was first seen by our nurse who detected that there was no fetal heart heard. The nurse immediately alerted the doctor-on-call who attended to her.

“The mother spontaneously delivered the first twin at 12. O4am and the second twin at 12.11am on November 4, 2007. Both babies were macerated stillbirth. The history obtained from the mother by our medical officer was that she had not felt any fetal movement since November 2, 2007,” explained Dr Zorina.

Wed 14th Nov 2007 - Budget for all: Musa

Prudent spending, fair allocation to all sectors

KOTA KTNABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the State Budget to be announced this Friday will be a budget for all.

Met after launching the Sabah Job Centre and Career Expo 2007 at Wisma Bandaraya here yesterday, Musa declined to elaborate on the budget but assured that it is going to be a comprehensive one, characterized by prudent spending and fair allocation to all sectors.

Musa who is also the State Finance Minister, said Sabah as usual will be prepared should there be any increase in fuel prices following the Prime Minister’s proposal to shift more money from fuel subsidy to be spent on development programmes.

“We will wait and see. Whether there is going to be any increase in fuel prices or not, it is up to the Federal Government. We will see what are the ways to cope with it,” said Musa.

He assured that the Government will come up with a measure to balance the hike in fuel prices.

Musa noted that Sabah was among the first State to follow suit the Federal’s move in increasing civil servants’ salary as a way to help the people cope with the higher cost of living.

“Apart from that we will also be prudent in our spendings and remind the people not to be wasteful too,” he said.

Meanwhile, Musa said youths in Sabah are too choosy when looking for jobs and their attitude is among the contributing factors resulting in the State’s high unemployment rate.

Musa in advising school leavers and fresh graduates not to be too picky when applying for jobs, said there are a lot of job opportunities readily available in various sectors in Sabah and job seekers should not limit their options by focusing only on their dream job.

“We advise the youths not to be too choosy. If there is a job, they should take it.

“The problem is not so much on limited job opportunities, rather, we are too choosy in looking for jobs,” he said.

The one-day Sabah Job Centre and Career Expo 2007 was organized by the Resource Development and Information Technology Ministry involving 120 exhibitors comprising mostly higher learning institutes.

Also participating were several Government agencies and private companies looking for new recruits.

Musa said some employers, including those in the tourism sector, even faced difficulties in finding workers as job seekers were sometimes not interested in the positions being offered.

“The tourism sector is rapidly growing. In addition to the existing hotels, many new hotels are being built. What we need to do is to provide sufficient skilled workers to fill the jobs which will be created,” he said.

In this regard, he said the Government through the Resource Development and IT Ministry would provide more programmes to train youths in the tourism sector to cater for the increasing need for trained workers in sector in future.

“Apart from the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, we will make sure that a lot of jobs are available for our youths in the tourism sector,” he added.

He said the State Government through various human resource development programmes is aiming to reduce the current unemployment rate of 5.7 percent to four percent by the year 2010.

Therefore, he said the Resource Development and IT Ministry would ensure that necessary training is in place to polish the youths into quality and competent workers.

Meanwhile, Resource Development and IT Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said his ministry is currently providing comprehensive training for the graduates to help them acquire the necessary and additional skills they need for the jobs they are applying for.

“There are jobs in the market but people are not trained for it. So at the moment we provide a six to 12-month training in which the graduates are also given a RM500 allowance, in addition to industry exposure,” he said.

He noted that a majority of the unemployed group in Sabah are those aged between 16 and 21.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - Probe on alleged poor tourist facilities in Kiulu

KOTA KINABALU: An investigation will be carried on complaints that the condition of the restroom facilities for visitors and tourists at the white water rafting point in Kiulu was pathetic and virtually unusable due to poor maintenance and disgusting state and the public toilets were filthy.

Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Louis Rampas said he would inform the Tuaran District Council to investigate the matter.

He assured that appropriate action would be taken if the allegations were found to be true.

“The public toilets are under the jurisdiction of the Tuaran District Council and I will ask for an explanation from the council about the matter,” said Louis yesterday.

He said such cases should not happen because the white water rafting activities in Kiulu have been popular among local and foreign visitors.

“Toilets are important public amenities and we have to keep them clean at all times,” Louis added.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - Asian Cartoon Exhibition

KOTA KINABALU: The Japan Foundation and Sabah Art Gallery will co-organize the 11th Asian Cartoon
Exhibition under the theme of “Asian Youth Culture” at the main gallery for two weeks from November 14.

This exhibition is featuring 75 pieces of artworks from 10 leading Asian cartoonists depicting the youth culture in their respective nations for our entertainment as well as for promoting awareness of Asian commonalities and diversity.

The 10 Asian countries are Malaysia, Japan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Malaysia is represented this year by Mohd Tazidi bin Yusof, a cartoonist from Gila-Gila magazine and Berita Harian.

Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Haji Karim bin Haji Bujang is expected to open the exhibition at the Sabah Art Gallery at 9am tomorrow.

The exhibition will open from 9am-5pm daily.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - Dinner to raise RM100,000 for blind, kids with heart disease

KOTA KINABALU: The public are invited to play a part in helping the blind and children with congenital heart disease by attending the Charity Dinner organised by the Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu at the Pacific Sutera this Nov 16.

The organizers of the dinner are hoping to raise some RM100,000 in aid of the Lions Club International Campaign SightFirst II for the Blind and also to cover the travel expenses for some 16 children who underwent corrective surgery for various heart disorders at the Bucheon Sejong Hospital in Korea.

While helping the needy, generous patrons who buy tickets for the dinner can also expect an entertaining night out with top-class performers lined up for the night’s entertainment.

Headlining the nights entertainment will be professional vocalist and guitarist Simon Sun, who will be flown in all the way from Australia by Stardust Entertainment Sdn Bhd.

Also performing are the Sabah Institute of Arts Jazz Syndicate who recently won the Jimmy Boyle Jazz Competition Sabah qualifying leg, reigning Unduk Ngadau and singer Joanna Sue Henley Rampas and Bodycare Events Workshop who will put on modern dance performances.

A fund-raising auction will also be held later in the night, with two oil paintings contributed by veteran artists Christianne Goonting and Tina Rimmer respectively going under the hammer in aid of the Lions’ causes.

So far 28 tables have been sold. Tables are still available at RM 10,000 for the first string, RM5,000 for the second string and RM2,000 for the third string.

For more information or to purchase tickets; contact Dr Lee at 013-8509816, Alice Chin (016-8302223), Margaret Lau (012-8026282), Dr Kheng (012-8282002), Simon Lee (019-5359900) or Emily Koh (016-8411499).

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - 9MP projects to give Bingkor a facelift

KENINGAU: Bingkor will get a facelift after the implementation of several development projects earmarked for the constituency under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), said its assemblyman, Justin Guka.

Among the projects are the ongoing shop house project in Bingkor township, implementation of water and electricity supply as well as construction of roads to several remote villages in the area, he said.

Brushing aside talks that he has not been carrying out his duties as Bingkor assemblyman, Justin said, “Maybe some people think I am not doing my job but I have done a lot in terms of development and progress for Bingkor.”

Justin is confident Bingkor will become more developed and progressive under the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government and the residents in the constituency, through the various facilities and infrastructure implemented, will enjoy an improved standard of living.

Justin also said the State BN Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is committed to developing the rural areas in Sabah which are still lacking in infrastructure development.

“Rural areas in the interior, including Bingkor, is the focus in the 9MP and Budget 2008 and infrastructure development of basic facilities will be the priority,” he said and expressed his gratitude to the BN Government, especially Musa for approving several mega development projects for the constituency.

The approval of the RM220 million allocation to upgrade the water supply in the district announced by the Chief Minister when he visited Bingkor recently is part of the measures to resolve the water shortage in this district, including in Bingkor and Apin-Apin areas.

Justin said several villages in the area are still dependent on gravity water or rivers such as the Sungai Bayoyo or Sungai Apin-Apin for their daily supply.

He also expressed his appreciation to Keningau Umno chief Datuk Sairin Haji Karno who set up the proposed Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) campus in Apin-Apin as this is a boon for parents there who are too poor to send their children to Peninsular Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu or overseas to continue their studies.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - Sabah needs more hotels, says French ambassador

KOTA KINABALU: The French ambassador to Malaysia, Alain Du Boispean, said Sabah has the potential to attract higher-end tourists and businessmen with spending power.

“You have Mount Kinabalu, Sipadan Island and diverse wildlife. There is much to see,” Boispean said.

However, he said Sabah needed to have more four to five star hotels to attract this group of tourists.

“Sabah also needs to create greater awareness on what it has to offer as a tourism destination. When people think of Borneo, they think it is still backwards and undeveloped but this not the case when you come to Sabah ,” he added when paying a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman at his office in Wisma Innoprise yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the Government was putting in a lot of effort to develop tourism in Sabah since it was designated as one of the economic drivers for the State.

“It is also one of the sectors that we will aggressively promote under the Development Corridor.”

He also said it was important to have more hotel rooms to support flourishing tourism sector.

“In this regard, I am proud to note that more hotels are being built in the State and hope more will be built in the near future. This is where the private sector can play a role.”

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - 37,340 sitting for SPM

KOTA KINABALU: Some 37,340 students from throughout the State are sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination this year from Nov 12 to Dec 6.

State Education Director Normah Gagoh said of the total number of candidates, 30,464 are from Government schools. The others comprise 1,595 students from private schools, 189 from State Government-run schools, 143 from Mara Junior Science College and 4,949 individual candidates.

A total of 306 examination centres have been set up across the State, said Normah yesterday.

She said 65 regional supervisors have been appointed along With 2,765 inspectors.

“Candidates are advised to come early to the examination centres and bring along their identity cards and comply with the standing orders,” Normah said.

She also advised the candidates to closely follow current development that can bring any changes to examination schedule or centre due to unexpected problems such as flood.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - Third tsunami warning buoy in Philippines waters

KOTA KINABALU: A third tsunami warning buoy is expected to be set up in the Philippines waters by the end of this year, said Malaysian Meteorological Department Deputy-Director General (Application) Alui Bahari.

He said the Malaysian Government is currently in the final stages of negotiations with its Philippines counterpart to decide among other things the exact location of the buoy, called a tidal gauge.

“We expect to install the buoy by year-end. Of course, aside from waiting for the outcome of the negotiations, we would also have to look at the weather. If the waves are high we cannot go out to install the buoy,” he said after the launch of the State-level Tsunami Warning Awareness programme at the Pacific Sutera here, yesterday.

The Government has currently set up two tsunami warning buoys, one each in Rondo in the northern region of Sumatra and another at Layang Layang Island near here. The third buoy is expected to be placed north of Sabah in the waters off Palawan island in the Philippines.

All three buoys are outfitted with technology from Norway, along with additional instruments to measure weather conditions, wind and air pressure while it serves its principal function as a tsunami warning device.

“The buoy will give us early information. When the waves reach the buoy and it is confirmed a tsunami is coming, we will have time before the waves reach the shore to give warning to the agencies related to natural disasters and the public that a tsunami will happen,” said Alui.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin, who launched the awareness programme, stressed that it is important for the public to be aware that the country has a tsunami warning system in place.

“People tend to forget... when we were hit in the past everyone was asking when will we install (a system). Now we have already taken step one which is installing an alarm. After that awareness is very important, if we have an alarm but no awareness there is no point,” he said in an interview after launching the programme.

“We can be hit anytime, we don’t know. In today’s world weather changes are not uncommon, in fact they are very uncertain.

“Out of the blue you have strong winds, or stormy weather, or it gets really hot, we get storms... we don’t know. The weather is just unpredictable nowadays,” he said.

Yahya stressed that it is important for the community leaders attending the awareness programme to spread the information in their respective areas to increase the effectiveness of the tsunami alarm system.

On a separate issue, Yahya, who is also Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, urged consumers to come forward and make it known to the authorities if they come across any cases of price manipulation.

“We do monitor but when we reach the traders the price is still the same so it’s okay. But we don’t know when we are not there, when there is no officer, the trader may just increase the price,” he said when asked if his Ministry is monitoring the recent surge in the price of bread in Sabah.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - Justin ready to face Jeffrey in polls if retained as candidate

KENINGAU: Bingkor Assemblyman Justion Guka is leaving it to UPKO President Tan Sri Bernard

Dompok to decide who will contest in the constituency in the coming election.

“If the party president is of the opinion that the present wakil rakyat should be changed and replaced with a new face, then the newcomer should be given the support and opportunity to do so,” he said.

“But if I am given the opportunity to defend my seat in the constituency, I will do my best for the people and ensure a Barisan Nasional victory here,” Justin said.

According to him, lobbying for candidacy is a norm in politics and anyone including those from other BN component parties can do so.

“However, the candidate from UPKO will be decided by the party president and so far, no leader from UPKO has lobbied to become a candidate,” he said, adding that the party president will, before making a decision, evaluate the performance of the present elected representatives.

Justin said that if he is retained, he is ready to face anyone, including Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

“I am ready to face any candidate from the opposition, including Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. In the last election, it was a five-cornered fight with opposition candidates and I won with a comfortable majority. I am confident, in the coming election, BN will, based on its performance in terms of development in the constituency, repeat its victory,” he said.

Justin said support for BN is strong in Bingkor which shows that the people still need the coalition and the support is proof that BN’s chances of repeating its victory in the coming election is bright.

The people, he pointed out, are now matured and they are able to evaluate who is the best leader to represent them and resolve their problems.

“When I am with them, I am a ‘rakyat biasa’ and there is no need to make any appointments to see me.. that is not the way I operate,” he said.

Commenting on the opposition’s claims that their support was getting stronger in Bingkor, Justin said the talks were just political propaganda and gimmick to influence the people to support them.

“But the rakyat know better and they are matured enough to make the right choice of government that can bring development to them,” he said, adding that cooperation between BN component parties in the constituency will ensure a resounding victory for the coalition in the coming election.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - Probe on street kids

Ministry, UMS in joint study to determine exact number, nationality: Shahrizat

KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has taken a multi pronged approach to address issues related to street children in Sabah.

The Minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil yesterday said various initiatives have already been launched by the Ministry to tackle the problem, including a joint study with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to determine the exact number of street children and their nationalities.

Shahrizat She noted that it is difficult to establish an exact figure on the number of street children in Sabah, which is why it will take time for UMS to conduct an in-depth study and investigate the matter on the ground.

“We will also launch a pilot project with the Ministry of Education to identify street children who are citizens and send them back to school. The question is why are they on the streets and not in school,” she said at a press conference when hosting an open house gathering at the Sutera Harbour Marina Club here, yesterday.

Shahrizat said that there are those among the street children who are locals, and questioned why their parents are not fulfilling their responsibilities by sending them to school.

“This is where we hope the Ministry of education can come in and find a mechanism to tell the parents that they must send their children to school. Under the Education Act, it is an offence not to send your children to acquire primary education,” she said.

Shahrizat said the process of identifying which street children are locals and which are foreigners or undocumented is done so that they can be sent accordingly to either the Rumah Perlindungan Ihsan or the Temporary Detention Centre in Menggatal.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who attended the open house, said the assistance from Shahrizat’s ministry is most welcome, especially the RM250,000 financial assistance to upgrade the existing child shelter in Menggatal and the RM5 million budget to build a permanent shelter in Inanam.

Musa stressed that the shelter will be specifically for children identified as citizens while non-citizens will be placed in the Temporary Detention Centre in Menggatal for deportation in line with the Government’s stand to repatriate illegal immigrants when caught.

Meanwhile, during the open house Shahrizat presented contributions worth RM 100,000 each to Masyarakat Penyayang (Mayang), Nadi and the Women and Family Development Council Sabah branches.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - Bungalow up for grabs at Patron’s Cup

KOTA KINABALU: A two-storey link-bungalow valued at RM675,800 located at Signal Hill, Kota Kinabalu is up for grabs at the Patron’s Cup Golf Championship 2007.

The bungalow courtesy of Gracemart Resources Sdn Bhd, a member of the SBC Corporation Berhad Group at Signal Hill Park is a luxurious landed and gated community at Signal Full, part of the new master plan community code name Signal Hill Collection consisting of The Peak Condo, The Peak Suites and other million ringgit homes.

The championship is offering more than RM1 million worth of hole-in-one prizes to the lucky golfer and SBC Corporation tops the list of he sponsors in terms of value. Golfers who are interested to take part in the championship are reminded to register early, as space is limited.

The Patronis Cup will be held on November 17.

Participations in the championship is open to all Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf & Country Club golfing members and their guests with a handicap index of 23.0 and below for men and 31.0 and below for women.

The entrance fee for the championship is RM380 nett per golfer for members and RM420 nett per golfer for guests, inclusive of tickets to the gala dinner.

The closing date was on November 10.

To commemorate this prestigious event, a grand gala dinner will be held on the evening of the same day to present the prizes to the deserving winners. The auspicious event will be at the Grand Ballroom of the Magellan Sutera, Sutera Harbour Resort at 7pm.

The grand gala dinner will feature Jaclyn Victor, winner of Malaysian Idol and Ikon Malaysia.

Tickets for gala dinner alone are available at RM200 nett per person for members and RM 220 nett per person for non-members.

Tuesday 13th Nov 2007 - It’s a miracle as man emerges from lake alive after 24 hours!

PAPAR: A man who was feared drowned while collecting balls at a golf resort here on Sunday evening suddenly emerged from the 16 metres deep lake alive.

Awang Simyor Mamit, 38, from Kampung Pimping, Membakut, was reported missing for 24 hours by his friend who went to collect golf balls in a separate lake.

Head of District Traffic and Public Order, Chief Inspector Fauzi Sahat, when contacted, said that policemen and villagers who were stationed at the area were shocked to hear a voice coming from the lake after calling off their search and rescue operation.

“They went to check and was surprised to see him struggling and shouting in the water at about 7.15 pm yesterday, some 20 feet from where he was last seen. He was taken ashore and immediately rushed to the Beaufort Hospital for treatment,” Fauzi said.

“This is truly a miracle.. .everyone said so. However, we will wait for him to gain his strength before carrying out investigation,” he said.

Earlier, District Police Chief DSP Charles Labung Lawai said Simyor and his friend had trespassed onto the golf resort at around 3pm with the intention to collect golf balls for sale.

“At around 5pm, the friend went to look for Simyor but he was nowhere to be seen. His clothing, shoes and spare shirt were seen lying by the lakeside. Fearing something bad had happened, the friend immediately contacted the police for help,” said Charles.

A search and rescue operation was launched immediately by the police, Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Department.

Simyor’s anxious wife and two children were at the scene the whole time waiting for his safe return.

Monday 12th Nov 2007 - Rafidah: Set up women executive caucus

KOTA KINABALU: International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz has proposed the setting up of a women executive caucus at the national and regional level to discuss strategic solutions for the benefit of women in socioeconomic development.

She said the caucus should not discuss women issues, but instead focus on identifying issues that limited women’s involvement in the country’s development.

According to Rafidah, the issues included narrowing the prevailing gender gap at executive positions, increasing the number of women executives in both the public and private sectors, formulating effective capacity building programmes, and measures to optimally utilize existing programmes provided by the government for executives and entrepreneurs.

She said the caucus should also look into organising regular brainstorming sessions to enhance awareness on opportunities and potentials, facilitating regional and global reach to other women executives, and undertaking programmes on information dissemination and information exchange.

“Certainly the list is not exhaustive, but with the right focus, the caucus can help shape the profile of women executives of the future,” she told reporters after opening the International Women Executive Congress 2007 yesterday.

Rafidah said it was vital for the caucus to become a venue for women to look for ways of achieving their targets and moving forward.

“Much has been discussed and concluded on the issues and problems of achieving the global target of at least 30per cent of decision-making positions to be allocated to women,

“Experience in the past has pointed out to a variety of reasons as to why many countries have not been able to meet this target, although governments have accepted it as a policy objective.

“There are reasons to legal and regulatory discrimination, lack of political support, the infrastructure in places inhibiting women in some countries from moving up the ladder of authority and social prejudices and cultural norms amongst some societies which do not readily accept or approve of women in positions of authority,” she said.

Rafidah said it was the duty of women in executive positions to proactively work towards changing such regulations and to identify on an on-going basis what the existing constraints were that prevented women executives from reaching their optimum potential in their respective organisations.

Monday 12th Nov 2007 - Police urged to do more to protect women, children

KOTA KINABALU: The police must do more to check the crimes against women and young children, said LDP Women chief Datin Naomi Chong Set Mui.

Naomi in making the call yesterday, noted that there have been worrying increases in the number of crimes against women and young children which lead to tragic deaths.

“LDP Wanita is aware that the police are working hard to address this problem, but the public need to be assured of their safety whenever they may be and not be vulnerable to be victims of a lack of police presence or inaction.

“Malaysia must remain a place where our people continue to live without fear of their personal safety.’ As such the police must do more and come out on top of the criminal elements at all times,” Naomi said at the opening of the LDP Youth and Wanita’s joint congress here yesterday.

Naomi stressed that public confidence in the police force as their protectors must be restored immediately at all costs.

Meanwhile, Naomi said the relevant authorities should come up with a more effective measure to effectively resolve the ever increasing illegal immigrant presence in the State.

‘The authorities should not carry out operations to catch illegal immigrants when the election is around the corner and forget about it or place less importance on it for the next four or five years.

“We must protect our national sovereignty and not to allow the illegals to one day overwhelm us with their sheer number in which case will then be too late already,” she said.

On another issue, Naomi hoped that more Wanita leaders and members will be selected as BN candidates in the coming election to reflect on the increasing important women’s role in the present context of Malaysian society.

“Women must be given more prominent roles and positions in the Government if they have proven to be capable and not just being positioned for window dressing to make up the target percentage.

“At the same time, those who have been placed in position of importance must strive to excel so that the image and respect of women can continue to enhance so that more women will be given a chance to serve,” she said.

Naomi urged all Wanita LDP members to work as a team to further strengthen the party and called on women, especially those with tertiary education, to make personal sacrifices by joining politics to serve the State and the country.

Monday 12th Nov 2007 - Abdullah gives top marks to Liew

PM says LDP president will be successful political leader

KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Datuk VK Liew will be a successful political leader, said Prime Minister cum Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“I will tell you this as a man who has been in politics for many many years, if you hold on strongly to the Rukun Negara, you will succeed well as a political leader,” Abdullah said when opening the LDP 18th congress at Menara Tun Mustapha here yesterday.

Abdullah also said when Liew said it was his maiden speech in the party’s congress since taking over as LDP president last year, he was reminded of how he felt when delivering his first speech as Umno’s president.

“I know how he feels to give his first speech as the party president. Liew ... the feeling is the same,” Abdullah said to the applause and laughter of dignitaries, invited guests and delegates.

He said Liew had through his speech which was clear, frank and delivered with full confidence, revealed his leadership qualities as the president of LDP.

“Liew received such spirited support from those here and for me this is a relief if this is the attitude of LDP,” he added.

According to Abdullah further, Liew is a God-fearing man, a characteristic he shares and both of them hold strongly to the Rukun Negara.

The Rukun Negara, he pointed out, has become a philosophy to strengthen unity among the various races in Malaysia.

LDP, he added, as a BN component party, is part of a bigger family which represents the various races and religions throughout the country.

“But the feeling of kinship is very obvious and those who are used to sitting in at the BN supreme council meetings and involved in the discussions there know that we all have a common commitment.

“We also have a strong commitment and a high level of cooperation as well as understanding to protect what we have because we know that the future is for all of us.

“We have a common destiny and we have a responsibility to be together because we know that we will decide …we will determine what our future is going to be,” Abdullah said.

He also assured Malaysians in East Malaysia that they will not be neglected in the country’s development programmes and added, “Malaysia has celebrated 50 years of independence and we have a right to be proud of our achievements but we also understand the plight, of those in Sabah and Sarawak.”

Abdullah agreed that there were weaknesses in terms of implementing development due to the vastness of the two East Malaysian states, both which are bigger than any states in Peninsular Malaysia.

The rural and interior areas are large and the population scattered but the BN Government, he said, will do everything to implement development in the two states, especially in areas with the potential to be turned into new growth centers that provide better quality opportunities to the people there.

“The Government will work hard to overcome any obstacles in the way of implementing development and with this in mind, the development corridors for Sabah and Sarawak will be implemented,” he said, adding this will bring the development in Sabah and Sarawak on par with the states in Peninsular Malaysia.

“Of course in some areas, it will take more time to implement what the Government has planned due to the lack of infrastructure but this does not mean that we are not giving the areas due attention or priority.

Maybe the delay was due to the lack of logistics or because of the physical location but we will do all our best. Even if it takes some time to achieve what we want but the determination to achieve results as soon as possible is what we will do,” he said.

Abdullah added the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) would hold its final meeting on the development corridors in Kuala Lumpur on November 16.

“Then after that, the corridor development will be launched in Sabah and Sarawak before the end of the year.”

According to him further, the success of the development plan will be a challenge to everyone, especially the State Governments which must have the strength and influence to mobilize the rakyat’s support to work together with the Government.

To get the people’s support is a priority, he said, adding, “I believe Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri ‘Musa Aman will be able to do this.”

Abdullah also spoke about how important it was to have understanding and cooperation between the BN component parties as there will always be problems, difficulties, challenges as well as obstacles which will appear before them.

“There is no easy way, even as the Prime Minister and this is what we will face when we choose to develop our multi-racial and multi-religious nation this way. Forceful requests might give rise to dissent but we must overcome this if we are to maintain our strength which is the result of unity and understanding between each other,” he stressed.

He also said that to attain success in the future, there is a lot more hard work to be put in by the Government, including to value add to what it has achieved so as to be better.

“If we are passionate in carrying out our mission to succeed, we can succeed,” Abdullah said