When Sabahan Meet Sarawakian

Kali ini saya berpeluang untuk menyaksikan majlis pertunangan nephew abang saya di Sarawak Cultural Village.

Majlis pertunangan ini ada kelainan & agak istimewa kerena Si Jejaka adalah berkerurunan Kadazan manakala Si Gadis pula dari keturunan Kelabit.

Persembahan berwarna warni dan tarian traditional siku kaum di Sarawak amat menarik perhatian.

Frayed nerves over daily jams by Lester Mekan Baha

KUCHING: The traffic jams from Kota Padawan in front of the Giant shopping mall to the T- junction traffic light next to Kuching Sentral at Kota Sentosa have become a daily hell for commuters travelling from up country to the city centre.

A regular traveller on the road claimed on bad days the bumper to bumper crawl could stretch up to six miles and drivers could take up to hours to clear that stretch.

Compounding the situation rogue drivers especially those driving heavy vehicles often weaved their way in and out of the lanes to get in front of the queue endangering other motorists, especially motorcycle riders.

Tempers often flared as drivers inched their way forward and on several occasions Road and Transport Department officials had to go to the road to calm the angry drivers who called the police to complain about these unscrupulous drivers.

An attendant of a petrol station near the Kota Sentosa junction recounted a horrific accident when a motorcyclist was run over by a truck.

“Last September a truck driver in his effort to go into the two-lane road after the traffic light brushed against a motorcyclist who fell under the truck rear wheel and was crushed to death.”
Some motorists detoured to the Samarahan road to avoid the jam but that route is a much longer route to city centre.
Some of those caught in the jam put the blame on a water mains and a power substation which eat slightly into the widened road as they were not removed to make way for the road expansion.
However, a Public Works Department senior engineer refuted the claim saying that it was inevitable that such massive jams occurred as people up country had to go to the city centre to work or shop especially during festive seasons and for most that was the only route to get there.
“Similar situations happen all over the state, especially on main roads leading to the city centres. The solution lies in proper organisation of the traffic flow,” he said.
Some motorists called for more alternative routes to the city centre to ease the congestions and bottle necks while others seemed to be resigned to live with this daily grind.



“I leave my home at Taman Greenwood at 6.00am daily and reach my school, a distance of around 15 kilometres, at 7.15am,” a teacher said when asked how he coped with the situation.
All drivers stuck in the jam recently when interviewed cried out for a quick solution to the daily traffic snarl and urged the police to rein in heavy vehicle drivers who bullied their way through the jam.

Massive flow of traffic into Kuching City centre causes bumper to bumper crawl stretching miles.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/24/frayed-nerves-over-dailyjams/#ixzz2FvO9u6eW

Bad Traffic Jam at KM12 to KM20 Seratau

Bad Traffic Jam at KM12 to KM20 Seratau

Santubong set for major transformation

KUCHING: Santubong MP Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is confident that his constituency will continue to receive development projects if he remains as its MP after the next general election.

The deputy speaker of parliament said he had many plans to transform the constituency through the implementation of various on-going and future projects.

“Yes, I have many plans for Santubong but I can only realize them if I were re-elected.”

He told reporters this after inspecting the on-going beautification and embankment project at Kampung Buntal near here yesterday.
He said among areas that were currently being developed were Kampung Buntal, Kampung Santubong, Sematan and Lundu.
Wan Junaidi added that as far as Kampung Buntal was concerned the village would be among the many tourist destinations in the area once the on-going beautification project was completed.

He said the government was initially thinking of putting up the embankment to protect the village from being washed away by the sea but later on there was a proposal to also develop a proper waterfront in the village.
The 800-metre Buntal waterfront is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year. With this, Buntal would be transformed into a centre for seafood restaurants in the city.
Wan Junaidi said the Tourism Ministry had allocated RM4.5 million to construct a concrete walkwayinthe village, complete with kiosks and pavilions for the villagers to carry out some business activities.

Apart from Buntal, similar projects would be implemented in Lundu and Sematan pending an additional allocation from the Tourism Ministry, he added.

“For Lundu we have requested for an additional RM7 million and Sematan another RM6 million. They already received RM3 million for building the embankment and drainage system,” he said.

Among those who accompanied Wan Junaidi to Buntal yesterday were Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) deputy director Mohamed Khaide Abang and the project contractors.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/14/santubong-set-for-major-transformation/#ixzz2F4cll7Qr

Tourism sector in Sarawak to see vibrant growth ahead

KUCHING: The number of tourist arrivals next year is expected to go beyond the four million targeted for 2012 as the Sarawakian tourism industry expands under the many initiatives taken to attract visitors.

ICONIC: Photo shows a worker cleaning the pond nearby the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building in Kuching, a city undergoing a facelift to attract more visitors in the near future. — Bernama photo
“Sarawak has a lot of unique offerings, geographical advantages and many other attractions which can attract tourists.
“Kuching is already in the process of a facelift to attract more tourists, with the iconic Dewan Undangan Negeri or Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building now standing as a major landmark in the city,” said Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation chairman during an exclusive interview with The Borneo Post.
Talib believed that the city’s close geographical proximity with Singapore provided Kuching with a lot of opportunities to be successfully marketed as a convenient, inexpensive and safe destination, especially to the student market.
“We could additionally supplement Singapore’s city themes with our culture, adventure and nature themes to create a win-win situation.”
The chairman also joked that he had been to many cities and towns in the state and had never faced any problems with crime or chaos, a further testament to the peaceful environment the state possesses.
With regards to the Meeting Incentive Conference and Exhibition (MICE) segment, he pointed out that the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) had been positive about growth.
“As such, this indicates that Kuching is well known as a convention centre amongst event planners. This city is unique as an international convention venue because it can offer packages that other bigger cities cannot,” he said, in reference to the cultural experience of visiting the rainforest and a river cruise.
Talib said that he was optimistic that visitor arrivals into Sarawak would continue to grow. For 2012, he is confident that Sarawak would reach its four million visitors arrivals targeted for the year, which is a five per cent increase from the 3.8 million arrivals in 2011.
As of October 2012, the state has already registered 3,269,629 arrivals.
“Next year will be an exciting year for Sarawak. The nation will be embarking on various activities in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2013 and this celebration will coincide with Sarawak’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
He went on to point out many of Sarawak’s festivals which would also continue to successfully attract an influx of visitors, such as the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, Borneo Jazz Festival in Miri, Sarawak Regatta and Borneo International Kite Festival in Bintulu.
“There will be plenty of events lined up and it is the perfect time to visit Sarawak,” the chairman explained.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/12/tourism-sector-in-sarawak-to-see-vibrant-growth-ahead/#ixzz2EmzAUs00

Penan Murum Festival in Borneo

The Murum HEP project is about 70 per cent completed. It will have a generating capacity of 944 MW.
Works on the project started on Oct 1, 2008, and it is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
But before they are resettled, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), which is the developer of the dam, has given the Penans and the Badengs a sense of belonging and comradeship by organising the carnival.

According to SEB officers who organised the 2-day event beginning on Dec 6, the primary objectives of the carnival were to bring together those who are affected by the HEP project so that they would be accustomed with their neighbours whom they had not come into contact with; give them the opportunity to discover a more settled lives, and to keep unity among them intact.

Assistant Minister of Native Adat and Penan Affairs Datuk John Sikie Tayai, who officiated at the event, said the carnival might be held at the resettlement areas in Metalun and Tegulang in future.
Among the activities and sporting events were football, Penan wrestling, arm wrestling, boat racing, blowpipe competition, ‘ngajat’, tug-of-war, motorcycles’ slow race and karaoke competition.

The highlight of the carnival was a beauty contest. It was won by Dora Gurka, with Mentili Tujok as first runner-up and Angela Lahoi as second runner-up.

Belaga assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang in his speech, said the ‘ritual compensation’ or ‘penti pemali kubur’ had been paid in full.

The government recently disbursed some RM4.3 million in compensation to the community as ‘penti pemali kubur’.

He assured that the government would look into their other claims seriously.
Liwan urged them to adopt a cooperative stance rather than a confrontational one as it was easier to solve problems that way.

More than 1,000 Penans from nearby villages converged on the two-day festival. Meanwhile, Wilson Ugak Kumbong, PRS nominated candidate for Hulu Rajang in the impending general election, assured the people that he would do more to transform their communities if he were to be their MP in future.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/11/first-and-last-pesta-penan-murum-leaves-indelible-mark/#ixzz2EkXiXo7su

A peek at the past-The Borneo

By Chang Yi
VISITING a wooden barok (traditional Bidayuh roundhouse) at a village homestay on the bank of Sungai Sarawak opposite some imposing high-rise five-star hotel is quite an experience.

LOCATION: Signboard of My Village Barok homestay.

One moment you are having coffee in a lovely restaurant, served by uniformed waiters or waitresses, the next moment you are whisked back in time to 1820’s.

An authentic photo of James Brooke in the living room and other historical artefacts and antiques around the building literally “encapsulate” you in a frozen timeframe.

What did James Brooke see when he landed in Kuching in 1824?
Did he see Sungai Sarawak and the little wooden Malay kampung houses standing on stilts on the left bank as he sailed up the river?
Did he notice the small Malay perahu sailing slowly in the river?
Did he have the gut feeling that he would have a castle built on top of the knoll (where the Astana now stands)?
Did he see Malay families on the riverbanks getting on with their lives?
Did he also notice how the womenfolk dried their corns and clothes?
Perhaps, when you visit this particular village homestay, you might get a feel of life in 1824. For me, the best part was checking out the place (My Village Barok B and B). That was when I felt I was stepping into an interesting longhouse-cum-barok with the crew of the Royalist.

Old Iban antiques create a 19th century ambience while old photos from a different era grace the living room.

A very cheerful Gary, the assistant, said the owner (Sophian) of the My Baruk B and B had travelled deep into the interior and bought many of the antiques to fill up his house more than 20 years ago while he was still in government service. The owner had carefully utilised his ‘antique collection’ as décor for the homestay, making each room really comfortable for guests.

Gary was very forthcoming with answers and explanations. Indeed, a huge eyeful! One could not actually see many of these artefacts all at once in one longhouse. And indeed, the owner, with an artistic eye for things of beauty, has made a grand display of his collection.
Noble Savage principle


Seeing is believing. Perhaps that was what James Brooke saw in the longhouses and barok he visited. He, therefore, deemed it necessary to strategise his Noble Savage principle. His knowledge of the native and the Malay populations and the Chinese traders led him to form the principle of Divide and Rule.

Simply put, while ruling Sarawak, James Brooke provided for the Malays to be administrators via their Majlis Adat Istiadat, the Chinese to be given the rights to commerce and the natives (Noble Savages) of Sarawak to be given the rights over the forests and the natural resources.

The Rajah and his European ‘servants’ kept the peace and made laws. Religious freedom was a matter of fact. While the locals were given freedom of worship, European churches also appeared.

James Brooke brought to Sarawak current European concepts of politics and social obligations of the time. His outlook was fairly global. Political life then was “simple and manageable” as the saying goes.

Several photos in My Barok B and B also show the old days
when Chinese shophouses were in their infancy. Other photos show Malay dancers in their splendid costumes.
The most attractive artefact in the baruk is the grand photo of James Brooke with his youthful looks.
The tiny curls on his head make him appear so approachable and interesting.

No wonder, the European ladies of the Court of London found him attractive and were eager listeners of his stories about Sarawak! But alas, no one married the Rajah- who died a bachelor – and his Kingdom of Sarawak was inherited by a nephew.
Original decor
Sophian had painstakingly travelled into the interior to gather the décor from the longhouses in the 1980’s and 1990’s. A few of the pieces can even make some museum curators envious.
The 1880’s lamps, for example, are still functional and placed in the right places to give out low soft lights, filling the rooms with a very welcoming glow.

LOCAL STYLE: Dining the Sarawakian way at My Village Barok B and B.
There are three rooms for customers in My Barok B and B, set amidst Kampung Moyan across Sungai Sarawak from the Penkalan and a visitor can enjoy the “village feel” within hours of touching down at Kuching International Airport.
The family room is very “Sarawak” in appearance. So staying a night there is already a good experience for those in a hurry or who do not have the time to travel inland (which may take three days).
There is also a family room with three beds and another room for two.
Through word of mouth, even foreign tourists have come to stay. Some make friends with their neighbours and exchange emails.
According to Gary, most customers are very happy with their arrangements.
He is well-versed in local culture and history. A short visit – not even a stay – is already well worth one’s time provided Gary is not busy with other visitors.
It’s not often one can have a great conversation at a tourist spot with so many things going on.
But here at the My Barok B and B, you can have a great evening of warm conversation and a nice meal. You can have a very personal experience with Sarawak history and also stay in a room just a stone’s throw from the Astana.
With the portrait of James Brooke looking down from the wall, you can sit down quietly in the living room and view the comings and goings of the modern travellers – both foreign and local – as Malay music plays softly in the background.
Do you think you would have the same dreams as James Brooke? Or would he appear in your dreams and tell you where some treasures are hidden – if he were really the pirate as many people had theorised?

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/02/a-peek-at-the-past/#ixzz2DqfUlEia

Dual carriageway for state trunk road ideal but costly

A state trunk road with dual carriageway would be ideal but costly.

Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin said the amount allocated by the Federal Government so far was not enough to redevelop the 1,077km road.

“It costs an estimated RM16bil to upgrade the entire road, and in the last 15 years the Government has allocated RM1.5bil to upgrade it,” he said in his winding-up speech.

“My ministry will continue to seek more money for the road,” he said.

Five stretches — 137km or 12.7% of the total length — have been turned into dual carriageways.

These are Kuching-Serian (52km), Sibu-Julau (29km), Bintulu-Bintulu Airport (23km), Miri-Miri Airport (9km) and Miri-Lutong-Kuala Baram (24km).

A project to upgrade the stretch from Sematan to Merapok is estimated to cost RM9.369 bil. It will be implemented in three phases.

“Sarawak is a large state with a sparse population of 2.5 million. As our population density is only about 20 persons per sq km, road construction should not be based on economic returns and traffic volume alone but rather on social responsibilities,” said Manyin.

Villagers mystified by strange animal

SERIAN: An Indonesian plantation worker and a 75-year-old farmer got the shock of their lives when they were attacked by an unknown animal species in two separate occasions earlier this month.

The farmer, Aris Kuna of Kampung Paon Gahat, was attacked by the rare animal while attending to his pepper garden about noon. The foreigner, however, was attacked a week later at a plantation near Kpg Baing while gathering oil palm fresh fruit bunches around 9am.

The animal that attacked the duo was described as having a ‘bear and wild boar’ resemblance. Fellow workers and villagers who saw the carcass, brought by the Indonesian, could not identify the animal species.

“It’s a rare species. None of the villagers could identify it when we saw the body and pictures of it. Some even took to the Internet to find out but to no avail. Could it be one of those already considered extinct?

“In all my life venturing into the jungle, hunting and such, I’ve never come across this species,” 62-year-old Louis Nyaoi said when met at his house in Kpg Mentung Marau, some 50km from here yesterday.

His son Jimmy Tubo, 27, believed that the rare animal could have reappeared due to the opening of the nearby jungle for agriculture and other developments.
When relating the ordeal of the foreign worker, Jimmy said the Indonesian had claimed that the animal gave a strange noise, firstly sounding like a hen followed by a wild boar sound, before proceeding to attack.

The victim alleged that the animal stood up on its hind legs when charging at him. He immediately swung his sickle, killing the animal instantly.

Jimmy, who works with the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) added that the animal which attacked the Indonesian measured two feet long.

The animal also spotted a long mane and sharp wolverine-like claws. Another mysterious attribute to the animal was that it gave out foul smell only hours after it was killed.

Another local expert jungle trekker and hunter Paul Hnrnp, 41, said he never smelled anything like the stench. He also said that one could smell the stench from some 10 metres away when the Indonesian brought the carcass to the plantation’s FFB pick up ram for observation by fellow workers and villagers.

On Aris’ encounter, Paul, a security guard at SK St John, Kpg Mentung Murau said his grandparents were resting at a hut after tending to their pepper crops at the time.
“My grandfather (Aris) heard an unfamiliar animal outside the hut, so he went out to check. At first, he could not see where the animal was coming from although he anticipated that danger was lurking.

RARE SPECIES: A picture of the dead animal that attacked the Indonesian worker. None of the villagers who saw the animal could identify the species.

CLOSER VIEW: The portion of the animal’s foot.
“Sensing that the animal was near, he said a prayer before starting to swing his machete numerous times to fend off as what he described as an ‘invisible’ attack. Only after he felt he had slashed something that he saw a limb of the animal’s leg on the ground. Moments later, he saw the lifeless animal.”
Aris immediately dispersed the body at the jungle. As for the one that attacked the Indonesian worker, the body was partly buried at the plantation.
Not ruling out the fact that the animal could have been an endangered species, Louis believed the actions of both men as self-defense.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/15/villagers-mystified-by-strange-animal/#ixzz2CIzfpMvC

Rural tourism business to narrow income gap — Dawos

KUCHING: Tourism can narrow the income disparity gap between rural and urban communities, says Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Dr James

Met during a meet-the-people session at Kpg Jambu near here yesterday, he said cultural and eco-tourism involving mountain trekking and homestay which involves bed-and-breakfast type accommodation could help raise the income of the operators, not to mention the many job opportunities available to local people.

He said tourism was one of the fastest growing industries in developing countries like Malaysia, which had mountains and jungle for jungle trekking and people of diverse background who are culturally rich.
“Sarawak is blessed in that its population is made up of people of various races who practise different religions yet are able to mix freely with each other. Sarawak is also home to flora and fauna not found elsewhere. Its mountains offer scenic beauty making them prime tourist destinations.”

Quoting Unesco researchers, he said community-based tourism which was driven by homestay programme, the operators could easily generate income of not less than RM2,000 a month.

As such, he recommended that bio-tourism activities be included in the (homestay) programme.

“Bio-tourism can include visits to farms and gardens where tourists can involve themselves in the traditional farming practices while the homestay operators can bring tourists to natural attractions in their areas or engage them in river cruises, kayaking, rafting or fishing.”

He said tourism-based activities should be expanded to the rural areas as one way to alleviate poverty, reduce rural-urban migration and preserve the cultural and natural heritage of the rural community.

“On the part of my ministry, we are always finding ways to promote community participation as a way of generating employment opportunities for the rural populace and to get them out of the cycle of poverty as well as their isolation and marginalisation due to their remoteness,” he said.

Drawing on experiences gained from regional and Himalayan community-based eco-tourism projects, Dawos said their methodology could be promoted and expanded to Sarawak, whose mountainous areas were homes to communities that could well benefit from eco-tourism.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/15/rural-tourism-business-to-narrow-income-gap-dawos/#ixzz2CHevaOfo

One Cable Car In Borneo

KUCHING: Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing yesterday expressed deep regrets over an alleged clearing of the mangrove swamp in Santubong by One Cable Car (Santubong) Development Sdn Bhd in September for the proposed cable car project.

Ting, who is advisor of the company, told a press conference here that ‘they were just cleaning the bush and not clearing the land’ and ‘did not involve any tree cutting’ as claimed by certain parties.

“I dare say that not even a single root of mangrove has been cut during the cleaning process. We were just clearing the grass and rubbish at the land because (potential) investors want to see the condition of the land.
“The two-hectare state land has been cleared for investigation. We call it investigation on the land because investors want to put up RM2.5 billion. Since the bush is so thick, how are we going to use the machete to cut?” he asked.

He also said that an area on the mountain slope opposite Santubong Resort cleared by the company was private land, which he claimed to be the location of a house that belonged to the Sultan of Brunei.
He said people who made noise about the issue, including ‘very high ranking people’ were not aware of what was happening.

“If they can go and see for themselves, I don’t think they will talk like what they had said to the press. I hope that after this press conference, those who have said something untrue should take back their statements,” he said.
Ting, who is also advisor of Global Upline Sdn Bhd, pointed out that the proposed cable car project was part of a bigger development plan in Santubong called Santubong Beach City and Resort Centre.
“Cable car business is economically not viable but it will supplement the whole development of the area. We will not able to make money from operating the cable car business because the fee for the cable car ride would unlikely to be above RM30 per adult for the 6km trip.
The cable car project would be run by One Cable Car (Santubong) Development Sdn Bhd, which is owned by Budi Kenyalang Sdn Bhd and Evergreen Earth Sdn Bhd.
On the proposed Santubong Beach City and Resort Centre, Ting claimed that some investors from China and Europe had expressed their interest in the project, which would take five to 10 years to complete.
The centre would have hotel, commercial centre, residential area, park as well as fisherman wharf apart from the cable car.
The project would help to transform Santubong into a trully tourist attraction, said Ting.
“Tourists arrivals to Sarawak are limited. Most of hotels are running at low occupancy. There were days when hotels
in Santubong had no customer at all. It is very difficult to keep the hotel and tourism industry alive if we do not have new things.
“I believe the Santubong Beach City and Resort Centre will be able to change the situation just like the Langkawi Island.”
Ting said that a similar plan in Langkawi Island had successfully transformed the island into a big tourist attraction.

The proposal of the development plan had been put forward to the state government but he refused to disclose the latest progress.
He assured that the mega project would not harm the natural environment in Santubong but declined to say whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the project had been submitted to the relevant authorities.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/02/ting-denies-cutting-any-tree-in-mangrove-swamp/#ixzz2B3uPzrlt

No Clear Division Between State And NCR Land

SIBU: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Supreme Council is concerned that a lot of areas do not have clear division between state and NCR land.
Party president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said yesterday this was problematic when it came to planting oil palm and rubber on NCR land.
Masing pointed out that the perimeter survey must be completed within the next six months while ensuring there was enough funds to prevent any delay.
To remedy the problem, he said they suggested the authority concerned and the federal government provide enough allocation for the perimeter survey to be completed expeditiously.
“PRS Supreme Council is worried about the perimeter survey. It is important to ensure this is done quickly in areas needing such service. In a lot of areas, they are not sure of the division between the state and NCR land as there is no clear indication.
“This becomes a bit problematic now for a lot of NCR areas to be planted with oil palm and rubber. We will appeal to the authority concerned and the federal government to give us enough allocation so the perimeter survey could be carried out expeditiously. Once the division is clearly identified, the rest is easy.
“This would ensure the cash crops could be planted within the NCR land,” Masing told thesundaypost after their supreme council meeting at a hotel here, adding that this was among the issues discussed at their meeting.
Towards this end, Masing, who is Land Development Minister, thanked the federal government for giving sufficient assistance in planting oil palms.
Asked about the impact should there be a delay in completing the perimeter survey, he said the process must be continuous.
“To me, it has to be completed within the next six months or by middle of next year. Perimeter survey must not stop just because of lack of funds. Otherwise when there is a delay, people will ask why the exercise is stopped. They will ask if you are practising favouritism. Now, this is what we are worried about. Hence, it is most important to ensure funds are always available,” he said.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/28/masing-no-clear-division-between-state-and-ncr-land/#ixzz2AY4MLwfc

Kuching Waterfront

Aptly called The People Place, Kuching Waterfront was built for the people of Sarawak and visitors alike. It is their place to enjoy, to entertain and be entertained. A heritage to be proud of, and a legacy to pass on to generations to come. Stretching approximately 1 km, with a riverside walk linking the hotel precinct with downtown Kuching, the Waterfront is 'self-contained' with facilities for entertainment, refreshment, relaxation, cultural enjoyment and arts appreciation. It is also a great place for family gatherings, corporate outings and school and community projects.

Coolies bustling over berthed junks. Hawking of wares, Indian chettiars haggling. Natives selling jungle produce. That was Sarawak River to Kuching. Then time intervened. Sarawak River was not what it used to be. Quietness settled in. The godowns deserted, the merchants shifted.

Thus, Kuching Waterfront was rebuilt to return the frontage to the people. Officially opened in 1993, it spans 890 metres, each step rich in local history and culture.

Structures are preserved. The frame of the amphitheatre was originally part of a godown built in 1929. Other testimonies of this endeavour are the buildings of Sarawak Steamship Company and Chinese Museum.

Tradition radiates from the Chinese Pavillion. Each step of the way is paved with mosaic panels depicting ethnic motifs.

Kuching of by-gone days is revealed on plaques along the promenade floor. Trace the White Rajah’s reign. Read about rebellions. And piracy.

Come evening, see the abstract Hornbill Fountains, and try some of the wide variety of food there.

Penans, Kenyahs blockade RM3bil-Murum dam construction site in S'wak

MIRI: Penans and Kenyah Badeng blockading the RM3bil-Murum Hydroelectric Dam construction site is running into its eighth day with no sign of fizzling out.

In fact, the number of those involved has risen from 200 to 320, made up of people from eight villages directly or indirectly affected by the dam who claim that their appeals regarding their ancestral land and compensation had been ignored since work on the dam began in 2008.

The blockade has stalled construction work at the dam, which is about 75% completed.

The peaceful human blockade at Sungai Seping, which started on Sept 26, was organised by Hal Ehwal Penan Peleiran-Murum (PEMUPA) Belaga chairman Surang Alung as part of their last ditch effort to be heard by all parties concerned in the construction and development of Sarawak Energy Board (SEB) when contacted by The Star on Wednesday indicated that they were monitoring the development at Murum closely.

SEB Corporate Communications Senior Manager Haniza Abdul Hamid said "We (Sarawak Energy) are working closely with the State Government to resolve the matter."

Most of the blockade participants are Penan and Kenyah Badeng from Long Wat, Long Luar, Long Tangau, Long Menapa, Long Singu, Long Malim, Long Jaik.

The 944MW Murum Hydroelectric Dam is the first of the 12 new mega dams to be built in Sarawak after Bakun and will flood about 245,000ha (245 sq km) of land.

Related Stories:
Sarawak Energy in US$500mil deal to provide power to ferro-alloy plant
Government writes off housing loans of those affected by Bakun Dam (Updated)

Unimas students enter book of records in caving expedition Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/12/unimas-students-enter-book-of-records-in- caving expedition

KUCHING: The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Reserve Officers Training Unit (Palapes) marked a milestone when its members entered the Malaysian Book of Records by holding the ‘Largest Participation in Caving Expedition’ at Fairy Cave on Oct 5 to 6.
With a total of 751 participants consisting of Unimas students, the event started at 5pm with the first group set out to mark the path along the cave, which took over one and a half hours.
The last group of 149 set off the next day and came out of the caving expedition at 7.53pm.
The expedition set the record that was registered under 28 hours and was participated by students from eight faculties.
Programme director Abdul Rahman Nanyan said the success is a major achievement for Unimas and is a benchmark for others to break.
The event was jointly organised with the Unimas 16th convocation committee.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/12/unimas-students-enter-book-of-records-in-caving-expedition/#ixzz298QOOzCR

Damai Beach Resort, Kuching, Sarawak

Imagine lush rainforest, glorious sun and sea, a private sandy beach and an array of interesting activities delighting the senses at Damai Beach Resort, Sarawak.

Located on Teluk Bandung’s sandy beach facing the South China Sea and comprising 90 acres of sea frontage, the 4-star Resort is majestically nestled within the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, a mere 40-minute drive from Kuching the capital city of Sarawak and 50-minute drive from Kuching International Airport.

The Regency Rajah Court

The Regency Rajah Court, Kuching, where old Sarawak meets new.

Traffic Jam At 7th Miles

Bad traffic jam at 7 miles, Kuching. Driving can be very stressful.

More Motorcycle Lane Needed

More motorcycle lane should be build in Sarawak to avoid traffic jam and improve road safety.

Planning For Kinabalu Trip

Day One (Packed Lunch, Dinner)
07:00am Pick up from your hotel for leisurely drive to Kinabalu Park @ 1,500m
08:30am Meet your Mountain Guide (in front of the souvenir shop) at Park HQ
09:00am Set off and up Mt Kinabalu
02:30pm Arrive at Laban Rata @ 3,200m
03:00pm Check into Pendant hut @ 3,250m & meet your Mt Torq trainer
03:30pm Via Ferrata familiarization and briefing
06:00pm Dinner at Laban Rata restaurant @ 3,200m. Overnight - Pendant Hut

Day Two (Breakfast)
01:30am Wake up for supper and pack up
02:00am Hike up to Low's peak @ 4,095m
05:30am Summit Low's peak and catch the beautiful sunrise
05:45am Descent Low's peak
07:00am Meet MT Trainer at Sayat Sayat Hut @ 3,600m for Walk the Torq or at 7.5km mark for Low's Peak Circuit - Asia's first Via Ferrata
09:30am - 10:30am Arrive Pendant Hut, have breakfast and check out
11:00am Descent to Kinabalu Park HQ
04:00pm Transport pick up to KK City / airport (late ETD - after 09:00pm)

Mukah, The Melanau Town

Mukah Division prosper

Sago Worms The Most Exotic Food in Borneo

Sago worms the Most Exotic Food in Borneo which can be eaten raw or cook.

Borneo To The World

Borneo to the world product