Sarawak Latest News

Larry Sng, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Economic Planning) cum Assistant Minister of Industrial Development (Planning), said since the United Nations’ declaration of rights for women many years ago the lot of women in society had progressed much to catch on equality in comparison to the status of men.

“In the past, many years ago in the history, women were being discriminated and their roles were confined to merely family upbringing and in the kitchen. Today, their social status is on par with men as the society progress. Like their male counterparts, they too are playing prominent roles in society as they were also armed with the relevant knowledge and skills,” said Larry while speaking at the World Women Day Celebration last Saturday evening held at Chong Seng Food Court which was attended by some 150 guests.

The function was jointly organised by women from six bodies, namely, SUPP, Foochow Association, Chiang Chuang Association, Tai Chi Association, Lions Club and Kapit Chinese Women (KCWA) Association’s women’s wings respectively. Also taking part in the celebration were the Women Institute of Kampung Baru and OUNA (Orang Ulu National Association).

HAPPY WOMEN DAY … Larry (6th left) with the women members here to celebrate the occasion of World Women Day celebration.

“Some countries have recognised women rights better than Western countries; for example, China and Russia have declared women day as public holiday. I think this is quite a good move because they recognised the important the role played by women in the society.

“Our government also make sure that every ethnic group celebrates their festive seasons as Gawai Dayak, Hari Raya, Chinese New Year. We cater for every ethnic groups,” said Larry.
“We appreciate women’s effort just like tonight we feel very proud able to show the women of Kapit working together despite coming from different ethnic backgrounds. When everyone is great I am great also,” he said.

Larry also reminded the people of Kapit to be united and work together to bring progress to the community.

He added that Pusat Khidmat Pelagus (NADI) last year successfully organised a course on ‘Gender Against Violence’.

“It was a success and we will continue to organise more courses to be participated by women this year,” he assured.

Meanwhile, Organising Chairperson, Ma Bee Kuan, who also spoke at the function, said the theme of the celebration this year was, “Men and Women Together Against Violence”.
She said the celebration was not merely eating and merry making but “more importantly, we are able to work together, to motivate one another and train ourselves to enhance our knowledge and capacity to serve the community to the best of our ability”.

“It is not just fellowship and gathering but I urged the women to stand up to do something together not just for our family but the society and the country at large,” she said.

Those present at the function were the Chairlady of Kapit Chinese Women Association, Wong Ke Ing , the Chairladies of Foochow Women Wing Association, Tie Weng Fong , Hu Le He (Tai Chi), Moonly Tiang (Lions Club), Evely Biju (SIDS) and Jenny Yu (SUPP) respectively.
Among the invited guests were administrative officer-in-charge of social development at Kapit resident Office, Yii See Yong, ex-Temenggong Sng Chee Eng, Kapitan Micky Ngu, Kapitan Yong Thu Fook, Chairman United Chinese Association, Yong Hua Sying, Chairman Foochow Association, Liew Siong Swee, Chairman Chiang chuan Association, Yeo kim Teck and Chairlady of the Women Wing of Kwang Tung Association, Lee Kung Chen.

The Malaysian Ex-Servicemen’s Association (PBTM) Sarawak branch has appealed to the government to help members in Kapit who have been waiting 11 years to build homes here.

The ex-servicemen purchased land at KM9 over a decade ago but cannot build there until the Land and Survey Department surveys and sub-divides the land into individual lots.

“They have sacrificed their energy and time with their families to protect the country’s sovereignty and independence during the early days of Malaysia’s formation, particularly from 1963 to early 1980. Today they are old and they need the lot to build decent homes to settle down for the rest of their lives,” said PBTM chairman Abang Mohd Yassin.

He called on the government to sympathise with the plight of the ex-servicemen and to grant their simple request.

The chairman vowed to bring the matter to the attention of higher authorities in Putrajaya when he attended a national-level meeting there on March 26.

“We hope the Veteran’s Department in the Ministry of Defence will assist us to pursue the matter with the relevant authorities,” he said.

Mohd was speaking at the opening ceremony of PBTM Kapit branch’s 18th annual general meeting (AGM) yesterday.

It was attended by some 300 members.

THE clamour for a road link to Kapit in the upper reaches of the Rajang River in central Sarawak is not new. A request for it was first made a long time ago but for some reason, has never been carried through.

At one stage, it was thought that linking Kapit with the rest of the state would not be desirable socially in that it might lead to people bypassing the then district. This may have been true, considering the town and the surrounding areas back then did appear to have little to offer to entice people to stay on.

But things have changed, the economic and geographical landscape in particular, and Kapit Division today is not only one of the most important timber-producing areas in the state but also has a growing population, and on top of that, is politically and socially linked to the rest of Sarawak, especially with the development of hydro power and commercial oil palm projects.

It’s, therefore, to be noted from the disclosure by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, Larry Sng, who is also state assemblyman for Pelagus, that during a recent meeting in Kuching, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Najib Tun Razak had promised to look into the request for this long overdue road link as well the necessary funding for its construction.

What this indicates is a change of priorities which is to be welcomed, and since the proposed road link from Sibu to Kapit is only a short stretch, its construction deserves due consideration not because it isn’t very long but more importantly, the fact that it will connect the existing road from the lower part of Kapit to the rest of the township in the Upper Rajang.

Later as more funds become available, the entire stretch between Sibu and Kapit can be upgraded and made part of the internal highway system. Among others, this will improve accessibility from the interior to the other parts of Kapit and Bintulu divisions.

The benefits to derive from the proposed road link will be enormous both economically and socially. It will, inter alia, open up opportunities to bring in greater development to benefit the state and private sector investments … and ultimately the people as a whole.

Roads are vital economic lifelines and eminently important in a predominantly agriculture-based society like Sarawak, providing market access for farm produce and improving the mobility of the largely agrarian population.

The lack of a road link to Kapit has brought about a sense of inadequacy among the local populace, particularly when much of rural Sarawak, except for the deep interior near the Indonesian border, is already connected by roads of various grades.

While it is important to upgrade the existing highway from Lundu to Lawas and develop a parallel highway along the coast, the laying of secondary roads deserves no less attention if nearby growth centres and towns are to be integrated into the main highway system so that more people, especially those in the vast hinterland, can benefit from equitable economic growth and development.

This is especially important when the emphasis now is on agricultural development and increasing food production from which farmers, large corporations coming in as investors, the state and its people can benefit.

Food production is becoming critical in view of the rapid growth in world population. And from this perspective, Sarawak is blessed in that it is less affected by natural calamities, allowing for virtually uninterrupted development of the commercial agriculture sector.

To sustain this, it is imperative to have an excellent road network linking all the population centres – for instance Kapit Division which has traditionally served as the main goods and services distribution hub and trading point for the population around the division and the regions in Upper Rajang right up to Belaga and even Bakun.

The benefits already reaped from the present road link between Bintulu and Bakun are self-evident and a new road to be built soon from Bakun to Murum, the site of the new hydro electric power plant, will serve to enhance the economic potential of the area.

In the light of the foregoing, it is to be hoped that work can start soon on the new road link that will bring Kapit even closer to the rest of the state and country.

Sarawakian may know Kapit by word only, and some of non local Kapit are less info about this place. Kapit is one of the smallest city that i know la.. Till now the main transport to get their is by express boat, that u can get it from Sarikei Port or Sibu Port.

Kapit Division is a mountainous region mostly (80%) covered by dense primary forests. Low lying plains are found in Sungai Tunoh, Sungai Melinau, Sungai Tiau, Sungai Mujong, Nanga Merit and Nanga Lajan areas.

Undulating low hills are also found in areas between Bakun Resettlement Scheme in Sungai Asap and Tabau.

From Sibu, you can start travelling to Kapit and Belaga. There is no road and air access to Kapit. The town is accessible only by fast riverboats (locally called express boats) plying between Sibu, Song and Kapit. The services start as early as 0545 (from Sibu) / 0640 (from Kapit) and end at 1430 (from Sibu) / 1515 (from Kapit) daily. The express boats berth at Sibu Express Boat Terminal beside Rejang Esplanade. The one-way fares for Sibu-Song trip are between RM17.00-RM20.00 and for Sibu-Kapit trip, the fares are between RM20.00-RM40.00.











Express Boat

Passenger Express Vessel Daily Operation Schedule Sibu/Song/Kapit

No. Vessel ETD (Sibu) ETA (Song) ETA (Kapit) Passenger Capacity Remarks 1. Asian Vision 0545 0745 0845 94 2. Success Vision 0615 0815 0915 90 3. Wah Wah No.3 0700 0900 1000 76 4. Sarawak Boleh 168 730 - 1015 131 Direct 5. Khai Kiong Express 0830 1030 1130 85 6. Kapit Boleh 268 0930 1130 1230 96 7. Bahagia 2002 1000 1200 1300 97 8. Husqvarna Kita 1045 1245 1345 60 9. Wawasan Kapit 1145 1345 1445 100 10. Sibu Boleh 168 1230 - 1515 96 Direct 11. Public Express 95 1300 1500 1600 114 12. Bahagia 2020 1345 1545 1645 104 13. Good Success 818 1430 1700 1815 96

Passenger Express Vessel Daily Operation Schedule Kapit/Song/Sibu

No. Vessel ETD (Kapit) ETA (Song) ETA (Sibu) Passenger Capacity Remarks 1. Wawasan Kapit 0640 0725 0925 100 2. Public Express 95 0715 0800 1000 114 3. Sibu Boleh 168 0730 - 1000 96 Direct 4. Good Success 818 0800 0845 1045 96 5. Bahagia 2020 0900 0945 1145 104 6. Asian Vision 0930 - 1200 94 Direct 7. Success Vision 1030 1115 1315 90 8. Wah Wah No.3 1130 1215 1415 76 9. Sarawak Boleh 168 1230 - 1500 131 Direct 10. Khai Kiong Express 1315 1400 1600 85 11. Bahagia 2002 1345 1430 1630 97 12. Kapit Boleh 268 1415 - 1645 96 Direct 13. Husqvarna Kita 1515 1600 1800 60

Passenger Express Vessel Daily Operation Schedule Kapit/Belaga

No. Vessel ETD ETA Passenger Capacity Remarks 1. Bakun Mas No.3 / Bakun Mas No.4 / Burung Mas 5 / Burung Mas 8 / Kawan Mas 0900 1430 64 Only one vessel departs daily

Passenger Express Vessel Daily Operation Schedule Belaga/Kapit

No. Vessel ETD ETA Passenger Capacity Remarks 1. Bakun Mas No.3 / Bakun Mas No.4 / Burung Mas 5 / Burung Mas 8 / Kawan Mas 0730 1230 64 Only one vessel departs dailyily

What's Attract Kapit

There are few most attractive place when u planning to go to Kapit,
The place are as follows.. you may click to the link below for more details

1. Belaga
2. Fort Sylvia
3. Handicrafts Shop
4. Iban Tattoo Studio
5. Kapit Museum
6. Longhouse Tour
7. Pelagus Resort
8. Rumah Lulut Homestay
9. Sebabai Park
10. Teresang Market
    

The best memory that i never forget is when i was in medical trip jobs. During that time i was helping my oldest brother to finished his studied about soil virus, we both staying every single longhouse in Kapit for a period of 2month!!!, taking all blood sample for his study. From that particular time, i get myself to learned and to get know everything they have. They bring me fishing, collect some Durian, and what really surprissed me that one of the family long house member at age of 11-years-old boy owned a porcupine with weigth of 3kg(very big!!!) as his Pet!! wow.. 1st time i saw it i was too afraid of it.. wonder if the porcupine shot me by its torn!!!



The cool thing about Kapit is, even this place were far from big city like Sibu or Kuching, they got their own website and that showed Kapit is not 'DI ANAKTIRIKAN' in Sarawak development. You may click to the link for more details about Kapit. All information were there, just a click away! ... >>> Go To Kapit Now!!! <<<

Have a nice trip guys!

P/s - Once u visit there u will know how cool it was.. even ur mind set ala... sama la di kampung aku.. hahaha.. no no.. this is diferent. Totally different.