Sarawak Latest News

Miri City Council has received the list of appointment of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors for the period of service from 1/1/2009 till 31/12/2009.

List of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors

1.	Encik Lawrence Lai Yew Son	-	Mayor
2.	Encik Mohd. Chee bin Kadir	-	Deputy Mayor
3.	Puan Suzanne Lee Tze Ha	-	Councillor
4.	Encik Yong Kar Seng	-	Councillor
5.	Puan Lim Shian Shiuh @ Bernice Lim	-	Councillor
6.	Encik Chin Fook Kim	-	Councillor
7.	Encik Gilbert Chin Yung Hua	-	Councillor
8.	Encik Koh Ek Chong	-	Councillor
9.	Encik Kong San Hoe	-	Councillor
10.	Puan Liew Mei Yin	-	Councillor
11.	Puan Chong Nyuk Lain	-	Councillor
12.	Encik Abau anak Nawing	-	Councillor
13.	Encik Chia Chhau Khiong	-	Councillor
14.	Encik Julaihi bin Haji Mohamad	-	Councillor
15.	Encik Mohamad Sardon bin Zainal	-	Councillor
16.	Encik Dennis Ngau	-	Councillor
17.	Puan Hajjah Khadija binti Datuk Muip	-	Councillor
18.	Puan Lila @ Laila binti Mohamad	-	Councillor
19.	Dr. Philip Raja	-	Councillor
20.	Dr. Nuing Jeluing	-	Councillor
21.	Encik Wendel Crocker	-	Councillor
22.	Encik Renggan ak. Belatong	-	Councillor
23.	Encik Narmal Singh	-	Councillor
24.	Encik David Tan Thiam Hua	-	Councillor
25.	Encik Robert Ayu	-	Councillor
26.	Puan Kijan Toynbee	-	Councillor
27	Encik Inging anak Wil @ Robert	-	Councillor

The Swearing In Ceremony was held on Saturday 14th February 2009 at the council office thereby the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillorshave declared acceptance of their appointments during the solemn ceremony held in the presence of YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, the Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak (1), the Minister of Industrial Development and Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture together with other localYang Berhormat, Datuk-Datuk, community leaders, local dignitaries, heads of government departments, council staff and theirfamily members.

The poor condition quality of road maintenance works along the Bintulu-Tatau road irked Bintulu Member of Parliament, Dato Seri Tiong King Sing.

According to Tiong, HCM Engineering a peninsular based Class A contractor was doing a poor job in repairing and maintaining the Bintulu-Sibu road.

“During fine weather, there are plenty of pot holes along the road, and the road condition worsens during the rainy season,” he told reporters yesterday after paying a site visit to the Bintulu-Tatau Road where a section of the road caved in last week.

He said he had received numerous complaints from motorists who had suffered punctured tyres while travelling between Bintulu and Sibu. Tiong admitted he was unhappy what the contractor had done in carrying out maintenance work along this stretch of road.

A visibly upset Tiong said the diversion constructed by the contractors should be compact and solid enough for motor vehicles to past through and should not be full of mud.

“The contractor should not justified poorly done works by blaming the weather” Tiong said.

“In Peninsula Malaysia, the diversions are constructed within days and are in tip-top condition, even for heavy vehicles,”
he said.

The Bintulu MP said he would brought up the problem in the next Parliament sitting and recommended that that their contract be reviewed or terminated.

In the early 1990's, the mere mention of Tanjung Manis would make people link the town with Sarawak's lumber industry. However, last Feb 18 marked the transition of Tanjung Manis into an industrial hub.

Among the industries set to flourish here are deep-sea fishing, palm oil, gas and petroleum as well as shipping.

At the launch of the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub last Feb 18 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, witnessed the signing of agreement between 11 companies, including six from Taiwan, and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) worth close to RM4.0 billion.

With the launch, the halal hub is expected to diversify the existing economic activities at Tanjung Manis.

AQUACULTURE

Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the companies would venture into projects like aquaculture, biotechnology, farming, halal food processing apart from research and development.

"The state government welcomes foreign investors Sea Party Group to implement large-scale aquaculture, fish and prawn breeding projects as well as poultry and seaweed farming using modern and environmental-friendly technology", the minister said in his speech at the function to launch Tanjung Manis Halal Hub here recently.

The six Taiwan companies are Sea Party Microbes Sdn Bhd with RM1.04 billion investment, Sea Party Aquaculture Sdn Bhd (RM113 million), Sea Party Technology Sdn Bhd (RM480 million), Sea Party Industry Sdn Bhd (RM90 million), Sea Party Biotech Industry Sdn Bhd (RM150 million) and Sea Party Technology R & D Centre Sdn Bhd (RM20 million). The total amount is RM1.8 billion.

PROJECT PROPOSALS

The five Malaysian companies investing there are Najee Brothers Sdn Bhd (RM2.0 billion), Golden Priority Sdn Bhd (RM45 million), Intigrati Sdn Bhd (RM100 million), Pertanza Sdn Bhd (RM10 million) and Musyati Sdn Bhd (Sarawak) (RM30 million) and the total investments is worth RM2.1 billion.

Awang Tengah said the STIDC has been entrusted to develop Tanjung Manis and it has been allocated RM135 million to provide the basic infrastructure for the halal hub.

Since the announcement on the Tanjung Manis project during the World Halal Forum in Kuala Lumpur May last year, STIDC has received many project proposals on halal-based industries that would cover 16,000 hectares of area and providing job opportunities for 3,000 people.

Apart from Tanjung Manis, the country has three more halal hubs in the 'pipeline'. They are Malaysia International Halal Park (MIHP) in Selangor (2,756 hectares), Zamcorp Niaga (Kumpulan Halal Hub) also in Selangor (2,000 hectares) and Halal Park Hadhari Cattle in Kedah (1,000 hectares).

Malaysia's existing halal hubs are at Pulau Indah (Selangor) launched in 2003 and Tanjung Pelepas Fee Trade Zone (Johor) unveiled in 2006. The country also has halal parks at Gambang in Pahang (100 hectares), Pedas in Negeri Sembilan (55 hectares), Serkam in Melaka (127 hectares) and Perda in Pahang (10 hectares).

INFRASTRUCTURE

In line with the move to develop Tanjung Manis as Malaysia's biggest halal hub, the Sarawak Government has tasked the STIDC to provide more facilities and basic infrastructures for this township.

Among the infrastructures is the 20km-long Jalan Serdeng at the cost of RM121 million that would link Sibu and Tanjung Manis.

STIDC also plans to spend almost RM5.0 billion to upgrade the port, airport and roads as well as banking facilities at Tanjung Manis.

The move to make Tanjung Manis a halal hub is timely as non-Muslim countries like Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, China and Thailand dominate almost 80 percent of the globe's halal food products.

Currently Malaysia produces US$10.0 billion worth of halal products but some 85 percent is from non-Bumiputera companies.

With the world Muslim population reaching 1.61 billion, West and South Asia with 584 million Muslim population is the globe's major market for halal products at US$175 million a year while for Africa (461 million population), the market is worth US$115 million annually.

Malaysia, as a Muslim country has the ability and advantage to be among the world's major producer of halal goods and services

Kuching Divisional Education Officer (PPBK), Bedui Une urged all schools to remain focused in achieving excellence in both academic and co-curricular activities.
He pointed that there might be some reshuffling of education officers in the district but it should not affect the administration of the schools in adverse ways. In fact, he added, changes should be for the better.

“A school as an institution doesn’t change but the way it is administered ought to change for the better towards nurturing quality human capital,” he stressed.

He also said that sports should not be regarded as an annual event alone but an arena whereby athletes, coaches, managers and enthusiasts shared common objectives outlined by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to nurture pupils to become physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually resilient beings.

He spoke as he officiated at the Divisional-level Primary Schools Sports Meet at a mini stadium near here recently. Some 350 athletes from Kuching Zone A and B, Padawan, Lundu and host Bau district participated in the one-day event, organised by Bau District Primary School Sports Council (MSSRDB).

He also urged the athletes to prove their worthiness by breaking and creating more meet records. The event would also select candidates for the state-level sports championship to be held end of March in Kota Samarahan.

Meanwhile, he expressed sadness over poor student discipline citing a secondary school in Oya, Dalat, which involved a case of bullying.

In his welcoming address, Bau District Education Officer, Bihud Apok, urged all athletes to participate in a true spirit of sportsmanship.

“The spirit of sportsmanship must prevail in sports. It should also enhance closer rapport among the athletes,” he said, while adding that winning was not the sole aim.

Bihud also thanked Bedui for his presence, and the Organising Committee for their success in holding the event.

He also thanked SMK Lake and SMK Bau for sending their respective scouts and Red Crescent members to help in the event and Nestle’ Sdn Bhd for supplying free Milo drinks.
Also present were Mohd. Ilahi B. Julaihi, Principal of SMK Bau,Wahap Haji Bujang, Principal of SMK Lake, Jaminah Haji Alias, Principal of SMK Paku, and Padawan District Education Officer’s representative, Tan Joon Chua.

The police will provide extra security in Batang Ai during the by-election.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Tan Sri Haji Ismail Haji Omar, stated this at a press conference held after the passing out ceremony at PULAPOL, Jalan Puncak Borneo yesterday.

“We are confident that we can fulfil our duty as the law enforcer and guarantee the safety of the people in exercising their right,” he said.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Tan Sri Haji Ismail Haji Omar (right) with the Commandant of PULAPOL Kuching, ACP Shah Gzali Khan Shadad at the press conference.

He said providing the security during a by-election was just a routine job for the police as for the responsibility was the same elsewhere, be it in Kedah, Perak or Sarawak.

On the need to increase in number of police personnel to maintain the security during the Batang Ai by-election, Ismail commented that the situation would be examined from time to time.

“Assistant Commissioner of Police in Sarawak had already drawn up a strategy to tackle the situation and Bukit Aman had a meeting with the Police Commissioners of the states involved in the by-elections,” he disclosed.

“Our concept is to make sure the peace is in order so that members of the public will be safe to do their everyday chores during the by-elections,” he added.

On other matter, the DIG disclosed that the police this year aimed to recruit 10,000 to the force, made up of 1,000 Inspectors with degree qualifications and 9,000 constables with SPM qualification.

He said the police were currently working on a plan to train sergeants who had diploma qualifications to assist in crime investigation, but the plan had not been approved yet by the cabinet.

On the plan to increase the force, the police have been setting up Divisional Basic Training Centre in every state to train more recruits.

“We have also increased the number of PULAPOL and the latest one in Langkawi will be operational in July,” said Ismail.

The Sarawak Forestry will put signboards at certain sites along the river bank at Kampung Pulau Melayu here to warn the public of the presence of crocodiles in the river.
Sarawak Forestry General Manager, Wilfred Landong, when contacted yesterday, said a spot check had been conducted at the area last Wednesday, including interviewing several of the villagers.

“Four Wildlife Rangers have been deployed to continue their surveillance, especially at night, at Kampung Pulau Melayu and along the river banks from Kuala Miri to Pujut Adong,” said Wilfred.

He added that the surveillance would be conducted at certain intervals.
Wilfred pointed that so far, no crocodile had been captured in the area.

He disclosed on last Tuesday, an English daily reported about the sudden presence of crocodiles in the river, causing concerns among the residents of Kampung Pulau Melayu.
The villagers had claimed at least four of the reptiles of different sizes had been spotted in the river, especially during low tide, or basking on the river banks since end of January.