Sarawak Latest News

FOR live soccer matches, a game of pool, live music, and a selection of easy and good grub to go with, the Rainforest Sports Bar may be a place to check out.

Located at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the bistro has a trendy, hip feel with two pool tables, a projector screen and 12 television sets to cater to sports fans, a dart corner, as well as a deejay console and a small stage for live bands.

As for the lower level it is furnished like a lounge, perfect for a cigar and wine session.

The outlet, which is part of the Rotol Food-Chain (a subsidiary of Rotol Group of Companies) was opened last April.

Rotol Food-Chain general operations manager Anil Sharma said the food served here are mainly western and local, and is popular for its sizzling dishes of lamb or chicken.

A selection of wholesome main courses are also available, making for a real meal.

For this month and March, the outlet is one of the UOB Hotpicks for the month.

UOB cardmembers are entitled to a 50% discount when they order any of the 10 selected items, ranging from appetisers to main courses and desserts.

First on the list was the Mix Combo Platter, which comprises fried items like potato cheese ball, fish cake, vegetarian spring rolls, and prawn fritters, served with Thai chilli and mayonnaise sauce.

A recommended item is the Sizzling Fajitas (choice of beef or chicken). It is served with tortilla wraps and sides like chopped greens and cheese.

We were also served the vegetarian version, that came with different coloured bell peppers. It came sizzling and fragrant while its gravy was somewhat like bolognaise sauce which made perfect pairing.

A popular dish with guests is the Rainforest Fried Rice.

"A lot of guests like having rice and when they see that it comes with the piece of chicken, they see value-for-money," Anil said.

The BBQ Pineapple Chicken was a favourite with many of us as the meat was juicy and tender.

Anil said the chicken was roasted in a special combi oven, which releases both heat and moisture that ensured the meat remained moist and tender.

Also on the list was the Tropical Jungle Curry Pizza, which interestingly uses Thai green curry paste and tasted rather spicy, so make sure you indicate to the staff your preferred level of spiciness.

The dessert was Mango Pudding, topped with fruit cubes, which was smooth in texture and not too sweet.

Anil said all food served were MSG free and cooked using low-cholesterol oil, to promote healthy eating.

The in-house DJ spins every night from 8pm onwards, while the live band performs every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from 9pm onwards.

For Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, a solo artiste will perform live.

The outlet also provides for catering services for birthdays and weddings.

> RAINFOREST SPORTS BAR, Lot C4.07, Level 4 Connection, Pavilion KL, Jalan Bukit Bintang. (Tel: 03-2163 0163). Business hours:

Muslims should avoid conflicts with each other so that they will become good examples for the followers of other religions, said Mukah Member of Parliament, Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad.

He said this while officiating at the Maulidur Rasul Celebration organised by Dalat/Mukah District Council (MDDM) at Pehin Setia Raja Square here yesteray.

Dr Muhammad added that the history had proven that the civilisation of a race would not last long if the people were not united and always at loggerheads with one another.

Muhammad (sixth from right) and others leading the Mukah Maulidur Rasul procession at Pehin Setia Raja Square on Monday.

“A nation will not become strong and progress if the people and leaders are not united.

“In Islam, wahdatul ummah (unity among ummahs) is very important and must be given special attention. Hence, we find a lot of sentences (ayat) in the Al-Quran and Al-Hadis which urge the ummah to be united and to avoid any division,” he said.

Good Ummah

“Our government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has targeted to make Muslims good ummah,” he added.

Meanwhile, MDDM Walikota, Ali SuhailI, who also spoke at the event, thanked all those involved in making the occasion meaningful.

He said the celebration was not only to commemorate the birth of the prophet but also his achievement as a great leader.

Muhammad then led more than 3,000 Muslims from 48 contingents on a 2.4 km procession from the square to the Setia Raja Mosque.

Also present were Mukah District Officer, Mohamad Nawawi, MDDM Secretary, Gustian Haji Durani, Mukah Division Imam, Uztaz Mohd. Fauzi Khairani, Mukah Division Public Works Department Divisional Engineer, Hipani Haji Alwi, Mukah Divisional Health Officer, Dr. Haji Othman Rafaiee and Mukah Combined Education Department Officer, Abdul Wahab Haji Sapawi.

If parents come across their children getting hooked on drugs, they must immediately report to the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK).

Head of National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) District Office Eva Anak Lichok said that some parents did not seek help until it was too late to save the children.

“AADK District office at Jalan Ong Kee Hui will always welcome the public seeking help to overcome the drug problem among youths,” she said, advising parents to refer their children to the agency for urine tests if they suspected that their children were on drugs.

“The agency has a programme where all the patients under monitor must report to AADK District Office weekly until they are free from the influence of drugs.

“Besides monitoring drug addicts, the agency also works with the Education Department to hold talks and seminars for students to warn them of the dangers of drug taking,” Eva said, adding that AADK statistics showed in 2005, out of the 669 cases referred to the agency, 71 were females.

“In 2006, 712 cases (79 females) were referred to the agency and in 2007 and 184 cases (17 females),” Eva added.

Minister of Housing, Datuk Amar Abang Johari bin Tun Abang Haji Openg, said his Ministry will work with the Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development in implementing longhouse projects in the state.

Under the federal government hardcore poverty eradication programme, he said the Ministry of Rural and Regional Develoopment had requested the Ministry of Housing to help build not only PPRT houses (Housing Programme for the Hardcore Poor) but also longhouses.

“Because Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has the experience in implementing longhouse project with standard design, the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development has requested my Ministry to assist in implementing the development of these longhouse projects,” he said when asked to comment on the federal government’s allocation of RM102 million for building houses and longhouses in Sarawak.

Rural and Regional Development Minister, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, in a statement in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday, said that the federal government had allocated RM202 million on projects to build 5,050 houses and longhouses for hardcore poor families in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said of the allocation, RM102 million would be used for 2,550 houses in Sarawak, while the remainder RM100 million for 2,500 houses in Sabah under the housing aid programme (PBR).

“The projects will include 145 longhouses worth RM6.38 million at Sedeku Baru and Batang Lupar and eight longhouses worth RM6.4 million at Limbang, Miri, Bintulu, Kapit, Mukah, Sarikei, Betong and Sri Aman, destroyed in a fire recently,” he was quoted in the statement.
Muhammad Muhd Taib said his Ministry would discuss with the Sarawak Public Works and Housing Development Corporation on the standard plan for longhouses.
Commenting on the RM102 million allocation from the federal govern ment, Johari said,”It is good. We are very thankful because now we can assist the poor community especially the community in the rural areas.”

“Actually, we want to build modern longhouses. The longhouse to be built will be according to standard design so that they will not be destroyed by fire again. Secondly, we want to build longhouses that are comfortable for the dwellers,” he said.

“That is why the Chief Minister has directed my Ministry, the Ministry of Planning and Resource Management and also Majlis Adat Istiadat to hold a seminar about the new concept of longhouses and eventually will also be related to issuance of title to the owners.

“This is a new concept and need to be debated and discussed among Dayak community leaders and also with the Land and Survey Department,” he said.

As to when the seminar will be held, he said it would be within these few months.
“We are still in the process of planning it. It will involve the Ministry of Planning and Resource Management, the Ministry and Majlis Adat Istiadat, he said, when interviewed by reporters at the opening of Kafe Riang at Lot 5, Sukma Commercial Centre, Jalan Sultan Tengah here Sunday night.

Kafe Riang’s owner Mohd Shukri said the outlet started operation in January this year. “It is based on the concept of partnership where spaces are allocated to stall holder to operate.”
He disclosed at present there were seven stalls selling Roti Canai, Nasi Lemak, Nasi Ayam Salad, Nasi Ayam Penyet, Nasi Goreng Kampung, Laksa Inot, Mee Jawa, Mee Sapi and other types of food.

According to him, there is also plan to operate satay and ‘ayam pagang’ stalls at night.
Johari congratulated Mohd Shukri for venturing out to set up the business.
He said more members of the Bumiputera community should venture into business.

The Sibu Kidney Foundation (SKF) here will be organising free blood pressure checking from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm on March 15 at Delta Mall Shopping Centre.

This blood test would be on a first-come-first-served basis as it would only accept 200 persons only for uric acid test and 100 persons for blood glucose test.

The event would be held in conjunction with its exhibition day.
There would also be a poster exhibition on what is renal failure, its causes, the type of treatment available for end stage renal failure available in the country and how to prevent renal failure.

The exhibition would also include different types of recycling programmes the people could undertake in helping to save the earth from global warming.

Meanwhile, it would also hold an Electro Somato (ESG) body scan. The scan could be done in only four minutes and the result would be available instantly.

The normal price is RM200 but on that day the foundation is only charging RM120. Besides that, the participants would also be given a RM20 voucher for future scan.

All monies collected on that day would donated to the foundation for its running cost.

Booking for the RV Orient Pandaw Rajang River Cruise is already full for this year and beyond the expectation of the company, the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company.
The founder of Pandaw Cruises, Paul Strachan, in an email to Eastern Times yesterday, said although the Pandaw Cruise would only start in July, bookings for the upcoming cruise was already full.

He said response was that overwhelming due to the active selling of the cruise by company to their long established list of clients who had experienced such cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia.

“It seems that hundreds of our old passengers are just waiting for a really exciting new product like this to come along,” he said, adding that Pandaw Cruise was also actively promoting stop-over in the state capital of Kuching and other towns in Sarawak to be added to the Rejang river cruise.

The cruise would be Malaysia’s first luxurious cruise when the Pandaw Cruise began operation in July this year.

Operated by on the RV Orient Pandaw, a ship that is a replica of the old colonial river steamer, this cruise will sail along the Rejang River.
The RV Orient, with 30 staterooms, will make a nine-day voyage along the Rejang which is adorned with picturesque scenery provided by the lush rainforest and longhouses by the riverbank.

The founder of Pandaw Cruises ,Paul Strachan, described the journey as a rich eco paradise and this is a true reflection of Sarawak’s new destination tagline “Sarawak-the paradise within”.

Starting from Sibu,the cruise will sail up-river to smaller towns of Kanowit and Kapit before turning into Rejang River’s main tributary of Balleh and heading towards the Pelagus Rapid.
From Pelagus, the cruise will return downstream to the town of Song and continue on to Sarikei and Tanjung Manis towns before returning to Sibu.

Apart from stopping and enjoying the rustic attractions in Sibu, Kanowit, Song, Kapit, Sarikei and Tanjung Manis, passengers can also take a smaller boat to visit the longhouses and enjoy the hospitality of the Iban community living along the river.

Steeped in tradition, the Ibans are known for their friendliness and rich cultural heritage. Other activities that passengers can do during the cruise include jungle trekking and visit to farmland where fruits, rice and pepper are grown. For the adventurous ones, they can also go shooting the rapid. Sibu is accessible by direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching provided by Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia.

The flight from Kuching to Sibu only takes an hour and Kuching being the main gateway to Sarawak, is also connected by direct flight from Brunei, Jakarta, Pontianak, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

These flights are currently operated by Malaysia Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Air Asia, Tiger Airways and Batavia air. In March Kuching will see another airline, Jetstar Asia, making a direct flight into the city from Singapore.

Muslims are urged to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to upgrade themselves while helping to revive the glorious era of Islam.

Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud said Islamic teachings could produce strong and high quality Muslims in future.

“Emphasis on knowledge as the cornerstone of progress and strength, as taught in the Al-Quran, is as relevant and essential in present times as in a past civilisation that the world looked up to for advances and leadership in many fields” added Taib.

Salahuddin (right), accompanied by (from left) Daud, Awang Tengah and others, leading the procession in Bintulu.

He stated this at a mass gathering held at the Civic Centre here yesterday morning in conjunction with the state-level Maulidur Rasul (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) celebration here.

His text of speech was read by Second Resource Planning and Management Minister and Public Utilities Minister, Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

As such, Taib said they should be smart and work diligently to grab every opportunity made
available.

“Only those who can identify their weaknesses and redress them in the efforts to revive the glorious days of Islam will be able to prove that they are the best and the chosen
ones.”

Taib pointed out that this called for revival of the basic, as taught in the Al-Quran, to pursue knowledge and excellence which were the past foundations of success, as spelt out in the teaching of Islam which called for determination and commitment to progress.
He added that Prophet Muhammad’s exemplary leadership and teachings emcompassed all the values of Islam which united people and factions while emphasising unity, justice and progress based on knowledge in all fields.

Main asset

“Consolidation and unity are still the main asset. In the context of Malaysia, various agenda and programmes have been drafted to overcome the various problems affecting the ummah and the multi-religious society,” remarked Taib.

Earlier, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs), Datuk Haji Daud Abdul Rahman exhorted the Muslims to cooperate among themselves and work closely with other non-Muslim communities for greater progress, unity and harmony.
He said the teachings of Islam should spur the Muslims to live exemplary lives and become role models for others since Islam was one of the main religions in the world.

Later, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin and wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajjah Norkiah, Tengah and wife, Datin Amar Dayang Mordiah binti Datuk Haji Awang Daud, Daud and other dignitaries led the procession around Bintulu Town which started and ended at the Civic Open Field. It covered a distance of 3.5 kilometres.

An estimated 10,000 p articipants from 113 contingents from various government departments and agencies, private sector, statutory bodies, corporate bodies, mosques, suraus, clubs, associations, learning institutions and hadrah groups took part in the procession.

Among those present were Assistant Environment Minister, Dr Abang Rauf Abang Zain, State Secretary Datuk Amar Wilson Baya, Sarawak Islamic Council, Datuk Haji Putit Martzen, State Director of JAIS, Datu Misnu, Jepak State Assemblyman, Datuk Haji Talip Zulpilip and Kemena State Assemblyman, Dr Stephen Rundi anak Utom.