CUtTinG eDge

Increase

2010-09-28T04:28:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday worship service our attendance increased to 30. Newcomers were Kim, the wife of Jazz who was still in jail awaiting trial for alleged murder. Jaccnitta also came. Bayard and Geoffrey came with two new friends. Gary and Rene also came. Jojo's mother came.

2010-07-20T14:17:00.000-07:00

clueless

2010-07-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

still no clue as to what is happening to me? i don't have the answer. my heart cried out to God for help but God seemed to be so far away. That kind of feeling makes me so very afraid. the only thing i can do is to trust in Him.

2010-07-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

what is happening?

LONG SELAAN LEASE 300-ACRE LAND TO COOPERATIVE FOR OIL PALM

2010-05-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

The Baram Ulu Cooperative had secured a 300-acre piece of land at Sebatu for the purpose of oil palm plantation for its 1,000 members from nine longhouses in Kedaya Telang Usan.

Its chairman Belawan Apoi said the land belonging to Long Selaan had been leased to the cooperative for the commercial purpose of planting oil palm.

“The Long Selaan Land committee had duly signed an agreement with the cooperative as we see the venture will benefit a lot of people in Kedaya Telang Usan who are members of the cooperative,” said Belawan in an interview with the Borneo Post yesterday.

He said with the agreement and the objective of the cooperative to work on the land, he advised outsiders to keep off the land.

“The land has been reserved for the cooperative for commercial purpose via oil palm plantation. We do not welcome any interference from anybody not a member of the cooperative from exploiting the land for their own individual gain, ” said Belawan

SIBU-Gateway to political tsunami in Sarawak

2010-05-17T02:24:00.000-07:00

MIRI: Two opposition leaders believed that the Sarawakians are ready for change and that the political tsunami that had swept the Peninsular Malaysia in the 2008 election had finally landed in Sarawak through Sibu.

“The victory to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) through the DAP in Sibu is a sweet confirmation that the political tsunami had finally landed in Sarawak. Both the rural and the urban areas are hungry and waiting for political change,” said the president of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) Edwin Dundang.

“The people in Sibu have voted for change. I believe that the people of Miri will emulate the courage of the people in Sibu in the next state election in voting for change,” said the chairman of Democratic Action Party (DAP) Fong Pau Teck.

Both of them were interviewed by the Borneo Post for their comments on the Sibu by-election which was won by Wong Ho Leng of DAP by a 398-vote majority against Robert Lau of Barisan Nasional (BN).

Fong was of the opinion that the state election will not be held soon.

“Had BN won the Sibu by-election, the state election would be held this year to capitalise on their win. As it turned out, the state government will definitely delay the state election to next year. But this will not stop the political tsunami that had started in Sibu from sweeping through the whole of Sarawak in the coming state election,” said Fong, who had stood as opposition candidate in Miri on at least two occasions but lost.

Edwin attributed the win by newly formed opposition pact in the state (PR) to three factors.

The PR made the right choice of candidate in Wong Ho Leng. The second factor was the overwhelming support of the people who are ready for change. The third factor was the level of unity shown by the PR and the hardworking PR leaders that had campaigned through the width and length of the constituency.

“This victory is indeed historic because this is the first time that PR contested in any election and won. This win has a far-reaching significance toward the two-party system in Malaysia,” said Edwin.

“The victory by PR was a feat in itself. Sibu has been the stronghold of BN and in spite of the billions of ringgit worth of projects being poured into Sibu during the by-election, this is the first time the people reject ''money politics'' that the law cannot control,” he added.

Edwin said the win by the opposition in the Sibu by election signalled that people in Sarawak had awakened from their political slumber. ENDS.

“There is hope on the horizon for a political change” said Edwin. ENDS.

SARAWAK'S SELLING POINT IS ITS FRIENDLY PEOPLE

2010-05-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

MIRI: Sarawak's strongest selling point in the tourism industry is its people, said the deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri George Chan Hong Nam.

“We like others, have exciting tourist destinations to offer to the world, but nothing beats the friendliness and outstanding hospitality of Sarawakians. Sarawakians have generous smiles to give to visitors to Sarawak. We are by nature,friendly people and this is our biggest asset as far as tourism is concerned,” said Chan, who is also the minister of tourism and heritage.

He said this when officiating the opening ceremony of the international conference: Linking Culture, Nature and Community Through Ecotourism yesterday.

Also present were the assistant minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is also the assistant minister of Social Development and Urbanisation; Pujut assemblyman Andy Chia, the Pro Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Ian Kerr, the director-general of Islamic Tourism Centre Zainuddin Abdul Wahab.

The inaugural international conference on the subject was jointly organised by the Curtin University of Technology Sarawak campus and the Islamic Tourism Centre.

Chan said the state government view ecotourism as very important for its relationship with conservation, sustainability and biological diversity.

“I agree wholeheartedly that local and indigenous community involvement is essential in ecotourism, as such communities-as inhabitants of the land and heirs to the local cultural heritage-should indeed have a stake and a major role to play,” said Chan.

“There are many examples of forward-thinking rural communities here in Sarawak that have embarked on ecotourism exploits on their won initiatives or with state support, established homestay programmes and building homestay dwellings so that tourists can experience life in their communities or learn more about their lifestyles and cultures,” added Chan.

More than 60 participants from 18 countries took part in the conference.

The keynote address was delivered by the deputy tourism minister Datuk Dr James Dawot Mamit.ENDS.

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Caption: ECOTOURISM THE LINK: Chan beating the gong to officially open the conference.Also seen from left are Chia, Lee, Kerr and Zainuddin.

8,000 Kenyahs in Belaga laid claim on ancestral land

2010-04-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

BELAGA: About 8,000 Kenyahs from four longhouses in Belaga laid claim on their ancestral land through a resolution to the land and survey department with the hope of jointly developing their land for their future generations.

Initially, only two longhouses joint forces but later two other longhouses were included reflecting a strong sense of unity among the Kenyahs in Belaga to work together to get things done.

“We wish to develop our land in line with the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) projects like fish rearing, planting of coconuts, ecotourism, goat and cow rearing. We welcome interested parties who wish to develop our area, but they must discuss and sign any memorandum of understanding with the joint committee first,” said the secretary of the joint committee of Lebu Kulit, Uma Bakah, Uma Balui Ukap and Uma Lesong Dennis Hang Bilang.

The resolution was handed over to the Kapit Land and Survey department superintendent Alfian Bawi during a simple ceremony on 28 April 2010 at Uma Bakah Belaga.

Present were the deputy chairman Edin Anyie and several Kenyah community leaders from the four longhouses.

Through the joint committee, Dennis said the Kenyahs in Belaga can together with the other communities in the state enjoy the rapid pace of development that is now taking place.
“We can develop our land like the rest in the state if our claim to our ancestral land is recognised. Our ancestors were given the land during the Brooke rule in the early 1950s and we have the map to show the land that were given to our ancestors,” said Dennis.

“We want to seize every business opportunities once the Bakun Dam on like going into fish rearing and tourism,” he added. ENDS.

Caption: RESOLUTION FOR A BETTER FUTURE: Edin (centre) with the committee members showing the resolution before handing it over to the department for consideration.

KILLER RETURNS TO FACE JUDGEMENT

2010-04-22T20:10:00.000-07:00

A man who escaped to Indonesia after killing a man had a change of heart and save enough money to return and face possible death sentence.

He was driven by consuming guilt conscience that his buddy was charge for the killing of the old man, while he himself was free at home.

With no peace of mind, the man made a great effort to come back to face the law.

When he first received the news from his brother who was in Miri about the friend being charged for murder in June last year, he wanted to make the trip immediately. However, he had no money to renew his passport.

He had to wait for a few months until November last year to save enough money to renew his passport and came back to Miri, knowing fully well he could possibly be hanged.

When he came back to Miri, he chose to work at his former place with the hope that he would be caught by the police.

He was finally caught by the police on 23 January 2010, exactly a year after the incident.

However, in court yesterday, he faced alternative charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, an offence under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code which if liable to imprisonment sentence not exceeding 30 years.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 years jail.

According to the charge, he caused the death of one Jaffar bin Mohammad on 25 January 2009 at 12:30 until 1:30pm at the area of Tamu Ikan Kampung Batu Satu.

According to the facts of the case, the accused Jepri Anggut and his friend by the name of Abdul bin Jahim went to meet Jaffar bin Mohammad (the deceased) at the area of Tamu Ikan, Kampung Tanjung Batu, Jalan Kuala Baram Miri to ask the deceased about one handphone and cash money amounting to RM1,200 belongs to the accused which were missing.

They went there using a motorcycle. When they arrived there, they saw the deceased was sewing a casting net inside a boat. Then, the accused went to approach the deceased and asked about the missing items. Abdul bin Jahirin remained on the motorcycle.

After that, there was a quarrel between the accused and the deceased pertaining to the missing items and later on the deceased alighted from the boat, pick up one piece of plastic pipe and walked toward the accused. Then the deceased hit the accused by using the plastic pipe but the accused managed to grab the plastic pipe from the deceased. During the fight, the accused managed to hit the deceased's head by using the helmet that he was holding. The accused also managed to hit the deceased's body and head by using the plastic pipe grabbed from the deceased. As a result, the deceased fell down on the ground.

After the deceased fell on the ground the accused saw a piece of wood and the accused took the piece of wood and hit the deceased's head several times while the deceased was lying on the ground. When the accused saw the deceased was motionless the accused ran away to Abdul who was sitting on the motorcycle and they left the scene using the motorcycle.

The body of the deceased was later found motionless by Saminan Matyasin at about 1:30pm. The body of the deceased was later brought to Miri Hospital by the police and a post mortem had been conducted by Dr Jamil bin Dolkadir. From the post mortem conducted, the cause of death was due to intercranial haemorrage with a large fracture of skull due to blunt head injury.

A representative of the Indonesian Embassy in Kuching, Monica Ari Wijayanti was in court to observe the court proceeding.

DIRTY COPS IN MIRI

2010-04-22T20:07:00.001-07:00

Five policemen were arrested in Miri on suspicion of extortion on Tuesday this week.

A foreigner made a police report against five policemen here Monday, alleging that he and a friend were extorted by the lawkeepers while they were waiting for their bus at the city centre.

A remand order of four days were placed upon the five suspects by the magistrate court yesterday.

The remand order was made by lower court registrar Dora Undau after allowing the request made by the investigating officer.

In the request, the investigating officer told the court on 19 April 2010, an Indonesian man made a police report at the Miri Central Police station.

In the report, the complainant alleged that at 11am on 4 April 2010 while waiting for bus with a friend at the bus stop infront of the Miri City Council, they were approached by five uniformed policemen.

According to the complainant, the five policemen proceeded to demand the Indonesian men to show their travelling document.

Both of them showed their work permits to the policemen, but the policemen were not satisfied and told them the work permits were not documents for them to come out to walk about.

The policemen then directed the two Indonesian men to enter a car to bring them to the police station, where they were forced to pay a certain amount of money to the policemen in order for them to be released.

Both of them had given each RM200 to the policemen involved, besides 19 prepaid handphone cards worth RM10 each were seized from them by the policemen.

Acting on the information, at 4:05pm on 20 April, a team of policemen led by chief inspector Jeffrey Guhak arrested the suspects at the Miri Central Police station on suspicion of involvement in the case.

The court allowed the remand application according to Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code to detain the suspects four day to facilitate police investigation.

The remand expired on 25 April 2010

2010-04-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

Long Jawe at a crossroad

2010-04-09T01:51:00.000-07:00

The Kenyahs Lebu Kulit of Long Jawe are at a crossroad of their history as a people, fighting for their rightful position in this land while defending their inheritance from encroachment by vested interests, said the secretary for action committee of Long Jawe Dennis Hang Bilang.

Long Jawe has a historic significance in the history of the country.

During the rule of the third Rajah Brooke on 1 April 1946, the ancestors of the Kenyah Lebu Kulit migrated from Long Jelarai in Indonesia to Tasak Aram in ulu Balui in Sarawak.

From there they were led by Nyipa Lawai, Pasan Abo and Pato Usat to move to Long Item. From Long Item they finally move to Long Jawe where Pasan Abo was appointed as the headman.

During the Indonesian Confrontation after Malaysia was formed in 1963, Long Jawe became a battleground when the British soldiers who were placed in the longhouse fought against invading Indonesian soldiers.

The people of Long Jawe were caught in the crossfire, their longhouse was fired upon with bullets and some of the able-bodied men of Long Jawe were conscripted as border scouts by the British army. A few men of Long Jawe were worth mentioning because they put their lives on the line fighting for the country, men like Liu Maling, Ubang Kasau, Along Tanyit and many more.

These men fought to defend the land they thought were their own.

It was the British that moved the people from Long Item to Long Jawe for military strategy- to defend the border, since Long Jawe was close to the border between Sarawak and Indonesia.

At first the Lebu Kulit refused to move but after being promised by the British that they would be given land, they relented but only on condition that a “surat tanah” be issued to them as proof.

At that time, there was no land and survey department, all administrative things were done through the district officer who at that time was assisted by a native officer.

On 15 June 1953, the Brooke government issued only a sketch map showing the boundary where the Lebu Kulit could settle freely.

During present day, the Kenyah Lebu Kulit were once again asked to move out of Long Jawe to make way for development vis-a-vis Bakun Dam.

While the Kenyah Lebu Kulit were resettled at Sungai Asap, albeit reluctantly, their ancestral land at Long Jawe were encroached upon.
“There were massive illegal logging being done on our land to extract timber such as meranti,” said Dennis.

According to him, they had brought the matter to court. ENDS.

Caption:
ILLEGAL LOGGING: A group of young men from Long Jawe were dejected seeing what's happening to the forest where their ancestors roamed about.

TELANG USAN KOBERA

2010-03-13T02:34:00.000-08:00

The Telang Usan cooperative body (KOBERA) was launched yesterday with the aim of reducing the rural poverty in the huge rural constituency.

“This is a historic moment for our people in Telang Usan for through this cooperative movement we hope to bring changes little by little to our rural community. We aim to bring socio-economic changes through our participation in this cooperative movement,” said the chairman of Telang Usan KOBERA Lihan Jok.

Lihan, who is also the Telang Usan assemblyman, said this during a simple launching prior to its inaugural annual general meeting at Dynasty Hotel yesterday.

Present were the Kayan community leader Penghulu Ajang Wan, the assistant director of Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) Miri Lily Fauziah Adenan.

Lihan disclosed that in a study conducted in 2004, Telang Usan constituency was among the five areas in the state having its population living below the poverty level.

During the meeting, Lihan, as the chairman, also announced the committee line up namely Jok Eng Jok (secretary), councillor Jaraw Brahim (treasurer), Alexander Lian (deputy chairman) and the following members of the board of directors Dorus Katan, Howard Wan, Garry Hashim, Mulin, Robin Udau.

Three persons namely Francis Ding, Erang Ngang and councillor Dennis Ngau Jok were appointed as the internal auditors.

Lihan said this is a good opportunity to serve the needy in our community.

“This is the best opportunity I can give you all to be partners with me to serve our people. You will be the agents of change for our community. The very fact that you were willing to cooperate and be united is a profit in itself already. I hope this spirit of unity will bring the cooperative movement in our constituency to greater heights in the future. The rise and fall of any cooperatives body in the country depend on those who lead and manage the cooperative,” said Lihan.

For this year, Lihan hoped to be able to register 300 members.

“Priority will be given to handicapped persons (OKU) and single mothers in the constituency. I wish to clarify that this is not a welfare body. Even though we are targetting these groups of people as members, this is not a welfare exercise where these people expect handouts. They must be active and productive to be members. For example, the handicapped persons are capable of doing things like handicrafts,” explained Lihan.

family tragedy

2010-02-18T04:05:00.000-08:00

MIRI: Hundreds of friends and relatives came to pay their last respects to four in a family that were killed in a car accident near Marudi two days ago.

Even before the bodies of Ding Wan, his wife Uyang Emang, son 15-year old Gabriel Issac and daughter 11-year old Jacqueline Usun arrived at their home in Taman Tunku crowds of mourners had gathered to wait for their arrival by road from Marudi.

Among those that came were former SIB Sarawak president Reverend Justin Wan, who happened to come from the same longhouse as the deceased, Baram Orang Ulu paramount chief Temenggong Pahang Ding, Long Panai headman Gilbert Ding.

Surviving eldest daughter Beatrice Ding had arrived from Kuala Lumpur earlier. She is taking Business Administration in a college in the capital city. She was seen being comforted by friends from her former school in Miri.

Surviving son, Patrick Wan rushed to Marudi when he heard the news of the tragedy. He is still studying in Form 5 in a secondary school in Miri.

The pastor of SIB Kayan Taman Tunku where the family worship pastor Wan Ajeng said both the late Ding Wan and his wife were active in church work.

“Both of them served as deacons in the church and they were always eager to share their testimony in the church,” said pastor Wan Ajeng.

Most church members described the family as an exemplary family, having the compassion to help others in need.

“This family is a good family. It is such a tragedy. Both of the children that died with the parents are good in their studies, what a loss,” said Wan Jau.

The family were on their way to their longhouse Long Panai in Tutoh-Apoh. Long Panai was only recently accessible by road, and the family were eager to visit their home in the longhouse when they were involved in a self-accident before they could reach Marudi. ENDS.

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Caption: FAMILY PHOTO IN HAPPIER TIME: From left: patrick, Uyang (mother), Jacqueline, Gabriel, Ding (father), Beatrice.

PENAN HUSBAND MISSING MYSTERY

2010-01-29T22:13:00.000-08:00

A Penan woman whose husband went missing mysteriously three months ago still believed her husband is still alive and well even though the authorities had ceased their search and rescue operation.

Thirty-year old Usun Malin from Ba'a Puak in Tutoh said the last time she saw her husband 33-year old Emang Moyong was on 2 November last year at Kilometre 6 Petronas camp near Lapok while having lunch there with her husband and her three brothers Nyagong, Bawing and Selapan.

According to Usun, the husband and her siblings were brought to the camp purportedly to do filming on the Penan's way of hunting monkeys with blowpipe at Loagan Bunut by a local man known to them.

Usun, a mother of two children 8-year old Maria and 6-year old Mathew held the local man responsible for the disappearance of her husband by explaining the actual circumstances of her husband's disappearance.

According to her, the man never came to see the family after the incident.

“I have heard a lot of rumours regarding the mysterious disappearance of my husband. Some said he deliberately ran away, others said he had gone home and others said he was having affairs somewhere. I reject all such rumour,” said Usun.

She told this to the Borneo Post yesterday.

Meanwhile 37-year old Selapan the last man with Emang before his disappearance related that the group should have return to Ba'a tribe on 2 November.

"We arrived at Long Lama approximately 10.30 am and need to buy some essential goods . Suddenly the local man decided to return to camp 6, giving the reason of wanting to do filming at Loagan Bunut, " said Selapan.

According Selapan, the local man brought him and Emang while leaving three other Penan men behind after lunch at the camp. The local man brought them to Loagan Bunut.

"I saw two 4WD vehicles following us from behind which I thought were the film crew. But there was no filming instead the local man drove around for a while before he brought us to the Loagan Bunut hill," said Selapan.

Selapan alleged the local man then forced them to sign a document the content of which they did not know. They refused to sign the document.

"He forced us to sign the document and when we refused he forced us out of the vehicle but we refused to leave. Frustrated the man himself went out without saying anything, "

When the man did not return, both of them came out of the vehicle.

"At that time we saw 10 men from the vehicles that had been following us approached. They looked as if they wanted to frighten us, "

It was at this juncture that Emang ran into the jungle and never to be seen again.

"I tried to run after Emang but it was getting dark by the time," said Selapan.

The next day he continue tracking Emang in the jungle but his effort was futile and he returned to the camp.

Meanwhile, the Long Lama police chief Sergeant Wahid Abdullah, when contacted yesterday confirmed receiving a missing person report on November 7

"A search and rescue operation involving 14 officers was launched twice one in November and another one in December which lasted a total of three weeks," he disclosed.

"However, during the three week operation we cannot locate the missing person Emang Moyong," he added.

Asked whether the police still continue its search and rescue operation, he said the case had been closed since the previous operation were unsuccessful.

"The more we look, the more distant he fled. Hence we decided to close this case. We have been trying to do our best to find Emang, " he said.

Meanwhile, the headman of Long Sayan (another Penan longhouse) Ajang Kiew when met revealed a search and rescue committee involving 5 Penan longhouses had been set up to continue searching for Emang in the jungle.

"We viewed this incident seriously. We want the local man to come forward to explain exactly what had happened," said Ajang. ENDS.

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Caption: STILL WAITING: Usun with her two children hoping for a miracle.

ENROL IN CURTIN

2010-01-26T23:10:00.000-08:00

MIRI: Students keen to further their studies at tertiary level may want to consider Curtin University of Technology Sarawak campus in Miri.

To help them decide if it is indeed the university for them, Curtin Sarawak is showcasing its academic programmes and academic calendar for the year, its campus facilities and more at its ‘Curtin Information Day’ events in Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching between 29 and 31 January 2010.

Senior lecturers and staff of the university will give talks on selected programmes, accreditation of courses, entry requirements, career prospects in various disciplines, as well as scholarships and study loans.

In addition, students of its school of foundation & continuing studies, school of engineering & science and school of business will be on hand to promote their fields of study and share their experiences of student life at the university.

SPM, STPM, UEC school-leavers and diploma holders in particular are encouraged to attend the events and bring along their transcripts for free assessments of eligibility.

Attractive door gifts will be presented to the first 30 walk-ins at each location.

The first event will be held from 6 pm to 9 pm at the ParkCity Everly Hotel in Bintulu on 29 January 2010.

The next stop will be Tanahmas Hotel in Sibu on 30 January 2010, where there will be two sessions (1 pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm).

The final event will be from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Hotel Grand Margherita, Kuching on 31 January 2010.

A similar event, which received considerable response from both school-leavers and working adults, was held at Bintang Megamall in Miri last Sunday.

Curtin Sarawak is situated on a sprawling 300-acre campus in Senadin about 20 kilometres from Miri City and currently has close to 3,000 students from some 40 different countries.

It is a popular choice for its international outlook, innovative courses, world-class teaching facilities, flexible study options, applied and practical subjects, use of advanced technology, partnerships with industry and government, conducive campus location, experienced academics and staff, and active community engagement.

Most significantly, it is the lower cost of studying and living in Miri compared to undergoing tertiary studies in Australia, coupled with the fact that the academic programmes at Curtin Sarawak are identical to those offered at its parent Bentley Campus in Perth, Western Australia, that attracts students to the university.

Curtin Sarawak offers a wide variety of high-quality courses, including foundation courses in commerce, arts, engineering and science; diploma courses in process plant technology, occupational safety and health, and business; undergraduate courses in arts, commerce, engineering and science; and postgraduate studies in project management, business, engineering and science. In addition, it offers pre-university and intensive English Language courses.

Curtin Sarawak’s teaching staff drawn from a number of countries besides Australia and Malaysia are frequently recognised for their teaching excellence, often at international level. They keep up with the latest development in subject areas and integrate the newest advancements in educational technology into their classes.

Indeed, Curtin Sarawak emphasises the need for staff and students to remain at the very forefront of technological and educational progress, so that when its graduates step out into the industry, they are equipped with the most up-to-date information and skills relevant to their new careers.

For further information on the upcoming Curtin Information Day events, contact Michael Kong of Curtin Sarawak’s Marketing Department at 085-443939 or 013-8018656, or log on to the university’s website at www.curtin.edu.my. ENDS.

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CAPTION: BE PART OF A VIBRANT UNIVERSITY CLOSE TO HOME: Students from countries around the world made Curtin Sarawak their first choice.

Lemeting kenyahs extend well-wishes to Borneo Post reporter

2010-01-20T00:41:00.000-08:00

MIRI: The Lemeting Kenyahs extended aid to one of its own recently the Borneo Post reporter Lucas Jalong Bato who fell sick while covering the blood donation by the group before last Christmas at the Miri Blood Bank.

Led by its branch chairman the Lemeting branch of the Kenyah National Association (PKKS) Michael Sabang with a few committee members visited Lucas at his home recently to extend well-wishes from members of the branch.

“We sympathised with Lucas and felt it was our social obligation to help in any way we can as he fell sick while covering our activity last year. So we pass the hat among our members as a token of our appreciation and sympathy,” said Michael.

“Although the amount may not be much it is the hearts that give that matter. This is the tradition of our people that we need to preserve among us even though we no longer live in longhouses that is to care for one another,” he added.

Lucas, a veteran reporter with the Borneo Post for over a decade was admitted to hospital and was diagnosed to suffer from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). ENDS.

Caption: KEEPING THE TRADITION ALIVE: Michael (second left) presenting the donation to Lucas as other committee members look on.

NONSENSE CLAIM OF LITTLE DEVELOPMENT IN TELANG USAN

2009-12-29T20:30:00.000-08:00

MIRI: A few youth leaders from Telang Usan dismissed claims made by two constituents that there had been little development in the huge rural constituency as baseless.

The secretary of PBB Telang Usan youth Usat Bilong when contacted for his comments on the statements made by Philip Kalang and Danny Lawai on December 29 in the Borneo Post refuted their claims that there had been little development in Telang Usan for the last 9 years as baseless, to say the least.

“They failed to see that the constituency had been under the opposition for one term prior to the 9-year period they are talking about when independent candidate Kebing Wan defeated Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Robert Anyie in the state election of 1996. It was only in 2001 when BN candidate Lihan Jok defeated incumbent Kebing Wan that BN wrested the seat from the opposition. Therefore, for the first five years after BN regained Telang Usan there was literally no development for the constituency because of the government's five-year plan. Even the Baram member of parliament Dato Jacob Dungau Sagan admitted this fact in his speeches to the people in his constituency many times. So, people like Philip and Danny should stop making insinuations that the state assemblyman Lihan Jok should be blamed for what they claimed to be lack of development in the constituency,” said Usat.

Usat, a self-employed man from Long Banga one of the farthest Kenyah longhouse in Telang Usan observed that the last ten years had seen tremendous development coming right to the doorsteps of the remotest part of the interiors.

“When I was just a child living in the longhouse I never dreamed that one day vehicles could come right to our doorsteps in Long Banga like now. In those days it would take our people maybe ten days to travel to the nearest town by river. Now, it only takes ten hours to travel to Miri city by road and only a few minutes by air with thrice weekly flight. Similarly, for Philip and Danny who were from Long San and Long Semiyang respectively. Long San nowadays is accessible both by air and by roads. Long Semiyang is accessible by roads. Long San has a rural clinic and a secondary school and a primary school. So why are they complaining that there had been lack of development with all these infrastructures in place right in their own backyard? I believe they have a subtle smear campaign against the incumbent assemblyman prior to the coming state election,” asserted Usat.

Usat came to the defense of incumbent assemblyman pointing out that Lihan has proven to be the most hardworking assemblyman the constituency had ever known.

“He was known to travel from Miri in the wee hours of the morning by 4WD vehicle just so he could be with his constituents in ulu Telang Usan. He did not have the privilege of travelling by helicopters as some assemblymen or members of parliament who are ministers. I believe his record would show that he had visited his constituency more often than most and coincidentally he was instrumental in bringing micro hydroelectricity power supply to Long San and Long Semiyang together with Long Beruang, a Penan longhouse. So, Philip and Danny should be grateful to Lihan for his efforts because their longhouses are the direct beneficiaries of government projects,” said Usat.

Another youth leader, the Telang Usan PBB youth exco Dominic Nyurang said the people of Telang Usan must give their support to the government for whatever development plan the government has for the constituency.

“Supporting the government would mean supporting the incumbent assemblyman who is in the government. On the other hand, making baseless claims of lack of development for the constituency is saying that the government is not developing the constituency which is not true. We have the Long Lama Rural Growth Centre (RGC) coming up and the Kedaya Telang Usan is a government project of developing ulu Telang Usan. I believe more is expected in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) for Telang Usan because the effect of the era of opposition is gone. That means, more rural projects can be submitted now that BN had been in power for two terms in Telang Usan. Even now, the constituency had seen a lot of development such as internet access and telephones in many parts of the constituency like the e-bedian, the e-jekitan and the e-bruang. Our people must take one thing at a time. We can't expect drastic change. But I believe more developments in the constituency in three or five years. I appeal to the people especially to support the mega-project the Baram dam project because with the implementation of this project a lot of infrastructure projects such as road water and electricity supply project will follow. If the people of Baram reject this project, the government can always pull the project elsewhere. This was what happened when the people of Baram voted against BN both in parliamentary election and state election during Harrison and Kebing eras respectively,” said Dominic.

Dominic is from Akah-Patah the area that is going to be affected by the dam project. ENDS.

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Caption: BASELESS: Usat Bilong

PAKATAN RAKYAT LOGO

2009-12-17T22:31:00.000-08:00

MIRI: The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is throwing a dinner on 9 January 2009 to celebrate the registration of the alternative alliance to the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the launching of the party's logo tomorrow. (Saturday 19 December).

The launching of the logo will be in Shah Alam before about 500 delegates.

“ This is a historic occasion for the alliance because this is the first dinner under PR in Sarawak, for that matter in the country. And with the registration of the opposition political alliance of PAS, DAP, PKR and at the state level SNAP the country is witnessing the emergence of a two-party system in the country,” said the PKR Miri branch chairman Dr Michael Teo.

The venue for the dinner is the Boulevard restaurant and it is scheduled to start at 6:30pm,disclosed Teo.

The organising committee is targeting about 90 tables for guests and tickets for the dinner are on sale now. The price is RM38 per person.

He told this to reporters during a press conference at the party's office yesterday.

Also present were the DAP Miri branch chairman Fong Pau Teck, the SNAP president Edwin Dundang, the PAS Miri branch chairman Suan Sambas, PKR bureau chief from KL Dr M.R. Summugam.

Teo said the alliance political leaders will feature during the dinner giving political talks. Among the speakers are the former Perak state assembly speaker Sivakumar, former health minister Dr Chua Jui Meng who is now in PKR, newly appointed PKR state chief Baru Bian and PKR advisor Daniel Tajem. From SNAP, speaking to the crowd will be Dundang himself and senior vice president Kebing Wan.

“This will be one of the many avenues which we willuse again and again to promote, popularise and strengthen PR as a new political alliance between PKR, DAP, PAS and SNAP. The birth of PR after more than 50 years of democracy in the country is the birth of the two-party system in Malaysia.PR is a loyal opposition of the DYMM Agong's government. It is established to operate and behave within the limits of democracy and freedom as provided by the Federal Constitution. It is not against the government. Those who allege so does not understand how a parliamentary democracy operate. Therefore, PR is to provide the people with the choice which political party they want to rule the country. Now with the era of a two-party system on the horizon, the people have a clear choice between BN and PR,” said Dundang.

During the press conference, Teo also explained the meaning of the PR logo.

He said the logo with the orange colour depicts sunrise which means the dawning of a new day for Malaysian politics. The five petals symbolised the five major races in Malaysia that is Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusuns and Dayaks.

On another matter, the PR is gearing up for the state election which is due in 2011 but most political observers believe it will be held next year.

“We definitely will work on consensus as far the choice of candidates from the alliance is concerned,” pointed out Teo. ENDS.

Caption: PR LOGO: Teo showing the logo with from left Fong and Dundang.

Calling OKU from Orang Ulu community

2009-12-17T01:10:00.000-08:00

The “We Love, We Care, We Share” programme launched collaboratively last year by PBB Wanita & Pemuda Telang Usan and PDK Eda Beran continue its project of helping the needy in society specifically in the Baram parliamentary constituency by giving out Christmas goodies to registered special people or known as Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) locally this Saturday 19 December 2009.

“We invite the target groups to come to the venue which is at Dynasty Hotel from 9am until 5pm to register themselves. Please bring along relevant documents like IC, birth certificate and OKU certificate from the Welfare Department. This project is for the hardcore poor in the huge Baram district,” said the organising chairlady Elizabeth Deng who is also the PBB Telang Usan Wanita chief.

She told this to the Borneo Post during a press conference yesterday. Also present were the PBB Telang Usan youth chief councillor Dennis Ngau Jok.

The main objective of this programme this year is to register the target group who are from Baram district but currently staying in Miri.

"This is to enable the target group receive assistance from the government through the Welfare Department. There are a lot of OKU from the Orang Ulu community who have yet to register themselves with the department. By not doing so, they deprive themselves from receiving government assistance," explained Dennis.

Last year this programme saw the organising committee receiving hundreds bags of rice from generous members of the public in Miri for distribution to the OKU in the Baram district.

Next year, the organising committee may take a different approach to assist the needy in society.

The Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok is expected to officially launched the programme at 4pm on the same day. ENDS.

Caption: Dennis Ngau Jok

holistic approach to education:Hou

2009-12-10T01:20:00.000-08:00

MIRI: The ministry of higher education is taking a holistic approach in education to ensure the right quality and quantity of graduates are produced at the right time to meet the demand in the job market.

“We make sure all the courses offered in the institutions of higher learning are of the right quality and we have the mechanism to screen the courses made available to our students to avoid job mismatch,” said the deputy minister of higher education Dr Hou Kok Chung.

He told this to reporters during a press conference after officiating the inaugural Curtin International Business Conference 2009 held at Curtin University of Technology Sarawak Campus.

He said the jobless graduates scenario in the country is not that alarming, pointing out at least 76 per cent of graduates land a job after six months of graduation.

"We are happy with this statistics because the remainder of the students may be continuing their further studies taking their masters degree and even to doctorate level," explained Hou

He said the government is making the effort to reduce the gap between jobless graduates and the employment available in the market.

One of the strategies is to offer courses that are relevant to the current market needs so that graduates are more employable when they seek for job in a competitive work environment.

"We also advise students to choose courses properly in the universities so that they are marketable," said Hou

The government have a programme under the ministry of human resource called Train and Place programme currently going on for jobless graduates in the country seeking to reduce the unemployment rate among fresh graduates in the country.

At one time, the jobless graduates was said to hit a record high of 80,000.

Earlier in his speech at the official opening ceremony of the conference, Hou said the government recognises the need for successful human capital development and is committed to spearhead a concerted effort to transform the national education system at all levels from pre-school through higher education.

“Developing human capital with attributes such as desire for knowledge, critical and innovative thinking, creativity and competitiveness, reinforced with high moral and ethical values, to meet both the national and international level demands, becomes a national mission,” said Hou.

Present at the opening ceremony were the Pujut assemblyman Andy Chia, the pro vice-chancellor and chief executive of Curtin Sarawak Professor Dr John Evans, the dean of Curtin Sarawak Professor Joan Gribble, the conference convenor Shamsul Kamariah Abdullah, the chairman of Curtin Sarawak Sdn Bhd Datu Dr Hatta Solhee and the city mayor Lawrence Lai.

There were about 100 participants and a total of 108 paper presented during the conference, themed “Business Sustainability in the Era of Globalisation”. ENDS.

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Caption: OFFICIAL LAUNCHED: Hou beating the gong to signal the start of the conference with other guests looking on from left Chia, Evans, Kamariah and Hatta.

Curtin's researcher wins big

2009-12-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

MIRI: Lew Tek Yew, a lecturer in marketing and management at Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak campus was presented the Best Paper Award at the recent International Conference on Business and Information (BAI 2009) held in Kuala Lumpur.

The award was presented to Lew in recognition of the high quality of his research paper submitted to the conference entitled ‘The Relationships between Perceived Organisational Support, Felt Obligation, Affective Organisational Commitment and Turnover Intention of Academicians Working with Private Higher Educational Institutions in Malaysia’.

Lew’s paper was among 16 papers shortlisted for the award from a total of 500 paper submissions from 32 countries throughout the world. Each submission was peer-reviewed by at least two anonymous reviewers.

The aim of the annual BAI Conference is to serve as a forum for scholars of the business and information disciplines to discuss and exchange views. It is jointly organised by the International Business Academics Consortium, Academy of Taiwan Information Systems Research, and College of Business, National Taipei University.

Last year, Lew also won the best paper award at the 4th National Human Resource Management Conference 2008 organised by the Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, and the State Government of Negeri Sembilan.

Lew’s research interests lie in human resource management (HRM) practices, services marketing, job satisfaction, organisational commitment, perceived organisational support (POS) and employer-employee relationships.

He has produced a large volume of publications including book chapters, refereed journals and conference proceedings, at the national and international levels.

His publications have covered varied subjects such as urban tourism marketing, the relationships between HRM practices, POS, affective organisational commitment and turnover intention; transformational leadership amongst enterprises in Miri, antecedents of needs and job satisfaction among bank employees, managing expectations and perceptions of service quality among local and international students in an offshore branch campus of an Australian university, enhancing Miri's image as a new tourist destination through the media, and adoption of deep learning approaches by students pursuing higher education in Sarawak.

At Curtin Sarawak, Lew teaches management and marketing related subjects, including Principles of Management, Organisational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Marketing of Services, Consumer Behaviour and others.

Prior to joining Curtin Sarawak, he was engaged in the banking industry, dealing in commercial credit processing and evaluation, management and marketing of financial services.

“This award recognises not only my own achievements but also the exceptional research performance and significant research contributions of Curtin Sarawak academic staff as a whole. Since establishing its first offshore campus in Miri, the university’s research output has been recognised at the national and international levels. Such awards will motivate our academic staff to continually excel in research and contribute towards Curtin’s reputation of producing quality research and its strategic aim of becoming one of the top 20 universities in Asia,” said Lew.

Kenyah Sarawak Cultural Festival at Usun Apau-Lihan

2009-11-28T00:08:00.000-08:00

MIRI: The Kenyahs in Sarawak have been given the challenge to host the Sarawak Kenyah Cultural Festival in Usun Apau if they want to see their signature event be included in the nation's tourism calendar by the president of the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations of Malaysia (Forum) Lihan Jok.

He was responding to the request made by the Kenyah National Association (PKKS) that he support the community's bid for the event to be included in the tourism calendar of the ministry of tourism.

“I will support your call for the cultural festival to be included in the tourism calendar on one condition that the event will not be held in Kuching, not in Sibu, not in Bintulu, not in Miri but in Usun Apau, ” said Lihan who is also the Telang Usan assemblyman.

He said this when launching the association Jogerthon Card yesterday.

Also present were the president of the association Marcus Gau Lian, the organising chairman Kennedy Chuk Pai Ugon, the Kenyah community leader Paul Kalang, the Telang Usan PBB youth chief councillor Dennis Ngau Jok.

“In order for the event to have its significance and be able to draw tourists especially foreign tourists you must have it in Usun Apau, the original home of the Kenyah. Although now it may seem an impossible dream for your association to have the event in Usun Apau, which is practically inaccessible due to its mountainous region but that is the challenge I put forth to the Kenyah renowned for their adventurous and persistence spirit,” said Lihan.

“It is in line with your festival's theme, The Spirit, Pride and Patriotism of Usun Apau. Your ancestors started in Usun Apau and now you the descendants of the mighty Kenyah warriors of Usun Apau must make an annual pilgrimage to the land of your ancestors to celebrate the spirit of Usun Apau,” he added.

Lihan gave the meaning to the acronym APAU by saying A stands for Adventurous, P stands for Persistence, A for Accommodating and U for United.

“These are the characteristics of the Kenyahs, said Lihan and he urged the Kenyahs to strive hard like their forefathers in order to progress like the other races, never to give up but to strive on for excellence in life. The Kenyahs are well known to be accommodating that is you like to be friends to everybody. Above all, the Kenyahs must be united even though there are so many sub-groups within the community. You must be proud to be a Kenyah, that is the patriotism of Usun Apau. If you are not proud to be a Kenyah, you are not a Kenyah,” said Lihan who is a Kayan, consider historically the cousins of the Kenyahs, for these two tribes traditionally live side by side harmoniously until this day.

The 2nd cultural festival organised by the association saw more than 700 participants from its eight branches taking part in the three-day event held at the Civic Centre.

Lihan announced a grant of RM10,000 to the association for next year. ENDS.

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Caption: USUN APAU FOR KENYAH: Lihan (fourth from left) receiving a souvenir from Marcus. Also seen are Dennis (3rd from left), Paul (3rd from right).

Native issues taken up by international NGO-star reports

2009-11-27T21:03:00.000-08:00

International NGO sees red over 'green projects'
By STEPHEN THEN

MIRI: A London-based organisation wants the international community and governments to stop classifying energy-production projects as “green” if such projects affect the lives of native communities.

The latest report from Survival International, a global organisation involved in protecting tribal people, said native people and the environment were suffering more now because of so-called green projects being implemented by governments and rich corporations.

Survival International director Stephen Corry, in an e-mail to The Star yesterday, furnished a copy of the latest report entitled The Most Inconvenient Truth of All, in which the RM9bil Bakun Dam and RM3bil Murum Dam projects in central Sarawak were cited as among global projects that had harmed the indigenous people and environment.

The report also criticised similar projects in places in Africa and other continents.

“Bio-fuel is being promoted all over the world as the alternative green energy to fossil fuels.

“However, in the pretext of going green, the reverse is actually happening.

“From South America to Borneo, we are seeing the destruction of massive areas of jungles and the ruin of ancestral homes belonging to tribal people.

“Projects that victimise the people and harm the environment cannot be promoted or marketed as green projects,” said Corry.

Corry said the world community must see through the hidden agendas.

The report called for a complete global re-look of hydro-electric dam and bio-fuel projects because these were causing even more harm to the people and environment than previously.

Orang Ulu request for ministerial post

2009-11-27T00:18:00.000-08:00

myy-bp-271109-lj-berawan

By Lucas Jalong Bato

MIRI: The Berawans supported the request made by the delegation led by Orang Ulu Baram paramount chief Temenggong Pahang Ding to the top BN leadership to include an Orang Ulu assemblyman in the state cabinet.

On Thursday the delegation made the request through the deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu whom they met at Miri airport before his departure to Kuching. He was in Miri to officiate the Sarawak Kenyah Cultural Festival.

A Berawan headman TK Edmund Abang of Long Terawan said the Berawan community would like to see the assemblyman from Telang Usan Lihan Jok be included in the state cabinet at least holding the assistant minister post.

“Among the four Orang Ulu assemblymen Lihan is the most senior and deserved a shot at serving the community as an assistant minister. He has proven to be a hard working assemblyman for our constituency and if appointed as an assistant minister he would be more effective in serving the people,” said Edmund.

A councillor from Baram district council Garry Hashim believed Lihan would make a good assistant minister representing the Orang Ulu since the last time the community was represented was during the late Dr Judson Tagal who was the Ba Kelalan assemblyman.

A free lance tour operator Mathew Mawit agreed that an Orang Ulu should be included in the state cabinet in the spirit of 1Malaysia.

A youth leader from the Berawan community Alexander Laing supported the call for Lihan to be appointed as an assistant minister.

“I believe he will be a dynamic assistant minister because even while as an assemblyman he has served the people in his constituency tirelessly,” said Alexander.

During the recent minor cabinet reshuffle, the Orang Ulu was not included even though all its assemblymen are in the Barisan Nasional.

During the last state election in 2006 the Orang Ulu constituencies of Telang Usan, Ba Kelalan, Belaga and the new constituency of Batu Danau saw all BN candidates from the Orang Ulu community winning comfortably against the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Meanwhile a former state cabinet minister from the Orang Ulu community Datuk Joseph Balan Seling when contacted by phone, pointed out that it is not easy for the top BN leadership to please everybody when it comes to appoint ministers in the cabinet.

“I am confident that the chief minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib has his reason because he has to see the overall political situation,” said Balan.

The Orang Ulu community has a political secretary to the chief minister Robert Laing Anyie.

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Caption: HOPING: From left: Edmund, Garry, Mathew, Alexander.