Limbang

Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The division has an area of 3,978.1 square kilometers, and a population (year 2000 census) of 42,600. Limbang was annexed by Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke, the second Rajah of Sarawak in 1890 from Brunei to become the fifth division of Sarawak. The annexation was strongly disputed by Brunei.[1]

Mode of Transport in Borneo

ATR 72-500 owned by Maswings commonly used as mode of transport in Borneo Island

General characteristics
Capacity: 68 passengers
Length: 89 ft 2 in (27.16 m)
Wingspan: 88 ft 9 in (27.05 m)
Height: 25 ft 1 in (7.65 m)
Wing area: 657 ft² (61 m²)
Empty weight: 28,660 lb (13,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 50,265 lb (22,800 kg)

Bidayuh Honoured Pandelela Rinong

KUCHING: The Bidayuh community in Sarawak last night honoured Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg and fellow Olympian Traisy Vivien Tukiet with monetary contributions from the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) and life membership.

Pandelela, 19, from Kampung Jugan, Bau, near here received RM30,000 while Traisy, 18, from Kampung Seromah, Bau, received RM8,000 at the DBNA Olympian appreciation dinner for the two Bidayuh lasses.

Speaking at the rousing reception, which was steeped in tradition, Pandelela said the journey to become Malaysia's first woman Olympic medallist from the age of nine had been a “very tough” one. “In every game, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but from the defeat you gain something and try not to be satisfied with your victory by improving and learn something new.” she said

She said the support shown by everyone, including her community, would spur her to achieve greater heights in the sport.

She won the bronze medal in the 10-metre platform dive event at the just-concluded 2012 London Summer Olympics.

In congratulating her and Traisy, who secured 22nd place in the same event, State Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin said both of them were among the best divers in Malaysia, making them not only the pride of the Bidayuh community but also of the state and the whole nation.

He also commended their parents who had been giving them relentless and total support and encouragement and, on top of all, for their great sacrifices. - Bernama

A Must Visit Places In Borneo

If you plan to visit Borneo Island, there are places that you should visit. I will list it out one by one in this blog.

Heavy Traffic Jam in Borneo

1. Keretapi Road
2. Satok Road
3. From Miles 7 to Airport Road

During peak period sometimes it took me more than one hour to reach my destination.

Mongkos Homestay

Mongkos homestay located 90 km from Kuching city. Kampung Mongkos is a Bidayuh village situated near Indonesian border.

The Most Remote Town In Borneo Island

Kapit town in Sarawak is the most remote modern town in Borneo. The only mode of transport is using mighty Rajang river by Express boat which take about 3 hours ride from Sibu town.

Song Town

Two hours ride to reach Song town

Trip To Kapit

Trip to Kapit using express boat RM30 first class at 9.30 am.

All passenger need to register with the Sarawak River Board for safety reason.

The only mode of transport using Rajang River.

Borneo Talk

Naturally yours- best of Borneo

Murum Hyroelectric Project

Murum Hydropower Plant Project is located at the Murum River, 200 km from the east of the Bintulu Town, in Sarawak, and in the upper Rajang basin, about 70 Km apart from the Bakun Dam at the Rajang River.

The hyro station is situated in the tropical rainforest, covers with trees and its dam controls about 2,750 square km of the catchment area.

The reservior's normal water level is 540m, while the minimum is 515m, and the total capacity of 12.04 billion cubic meter. There are 4 generating units in the hydropower plant, each has an installed capacity of 236MW, so the total installed capacity is 994MW.

The project started on 1 October 2008 and is estimated that the first power generating unit will begin operation by Jan 2013, and the project will be completed by Jan 2014.

Rainforest World Music Festival (RMWF)

EVERYBODY, DANCE: Visitors to the musical workshop, one of the daytime programmes at the Rainforest World Music Festival (RMWF) in Santubong near Kuching yesterday just could not refrain from dancing to the beat of the music. The festival proper kicked off last night. – Photo by Mohd Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is slated to be bigger in the near future as efforts are being made to upgrade it into a premier international event. Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Datuk Rashid Khan said efforts included making the event a platform to create awareness on environmental preservation.

“We are looking at ways to turn the event to include partnerships to champion environmental issues,” said Rashid. He also highlighted RWMF’s success for being listed as one of the top 25 best music festivals by Songlines, a United Kingdom world music magazine.

ETHNIC TRANSMISSION: Gramong (second left) strumming the sape during the opening ceremony. Also in the photo are Rashid (right) and Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip (centre). — Photo by Mohd Rais Sanusi

“RWMF has been recognised as among the

 top 25 best music festivals for three consecutive years and we are deeply honoured by the acknowledgement,” he said at the opening ceremony of RWMF at Sarawak Cultural Village near here on Thursday night.

Rashid also drew attention to the new direction taken by the festival, saying plans in the next five years might see the event being held in other cities in Sarawak. Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Tourism (Local Events and Products) Datuk Gramong Juna, in his welcoming address to delegates, performers and members of both local and international media said RWMF is the best opportunity for outsiders to indulge in everything related to Sarawak.

“I would also like to call for first timers to the festival to discover the wonders of Sarawak and discover why people keep coming back for more,” said Gramong. He said that apart from enjoying the festival, visitors should not miss the opportunity to indulge in the warm hospitality of the local people, which is what they are known best for. The festival kicked off last night with Le Trio Joubran, String Sisters, La Zikabilo and Zee Avi among the performers.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/07/14/rwmf-to-become-premier-international-event/#ixzz20bj9ingc

The 10 Miles Roundabout

This picture was taken near the Baruk St Ann, Catholic Church, 10th Miles. You can go to Semongok Wildlife which is about 5 KM from here. Predominantly Bidayuh Town, 10th miles is under the jurisdiction of Padawan Council.

Gua Madai, Lahad Datu

Visited this interesting cave in Lahad Datu. This cave capable of producing 7 tonnes of edible birdnest annually. It benefited more than 1000 people who manage and owned the cave. The Sabah Wildlife Department has done a good job maintaining the swiftlets population.

Baru: Time to set up native land commission

by Johnson K Saai reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 28, 2011, Tuesday

ORANG ULU TIES: (From left) Baru Bian (PKR - Ba Kelalan), Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis and Dennis Ngau (BN - Telang Usan) at the DUN lobby after attending the day’s session. – Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: The setting up of an independent native land commission is now getting more crucial as obviously the court and state government have different ideas on native customary rights (NCR) land, Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) media centre, Baru said the stand of the government was that only areas farmed before January 1, 1958 or ‘Temuda’ were considered as NCR whereas the court had ruled that NCR also included the ‘Pemakai Menua’ and ‘Pulau’.

“This is the big problem and the crucial aspect of it is we have a basis for setting up a native land commission to address the encroachment and trespassing of NCR land by companies either for the extraction of timber or plantations.

“This is because the commission which comprises both private and public sectors will have to determine the status of any particular land before licences are issued,” he said. He earlier on mentioned a recent case where the High Court in Sibu ruled in favour of the landowners, after they as plaintiffs complained that a company licensed to extract timber had trespassed into their NCR land. Baru, who was the counsel for the plaintiffs, also said this was not the first and only case where the natives had won in their claims over land rights.

“We have several similar cases in the past and for this reason we feel that there is a crucial need to have an independent native land commission,” he stressed. He revealed that in the recent case, which was heard in Sibu, the High Court Judge Yew Jen Kie had ruled that the plaintiffs had the rights over the land in question and the timber company, its servants or agents had trespassed into the plaintiffs’ land.

Following the court ruling, the timber company, its employees, servants or agents were also ordered to restrain from entering, clearing, using or occupying the said land.Also present at the media conference yesterday were Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How and other state PKR leaders.

No need to establish native land commission, enough provisions in Sarawak Land Code, says Adenan

The Borneo Post by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith, Zoee Hillson, Johnson K Saai, Jacob Achoi, Nurul Amarlina, Simon Ingka Crown, Peter Sibon and Antonia Chiam. Posted on June 29, 2011, Wednesday

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem - Photographers: Johnathan Bullet, Jeffery Mostapa and Tan Song Wei

KUCHING: There is no need for a native land commission to be established in the state, Minister with Special Functions in the Chief Minister’s Office Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem said yesterday. He said this when delivering his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in response to the proposal by Baru Bian (PKR-Ba Kelalan) for the commission to be set up to solve native customary rights (NCR) land issues as apparently the government and the courts have different opinions on NCR.

Baru, a lawyer by profession dubbed by many as a land expert, in his debate had said it was now more crucial to establish an independent land commission as seemingly the stand of the government was that only areas farmed before Jan 1, 1958 or ‘Temuda’ were considered as NCR whereas the court had ruled that NCR also included the ‘Pemakai Menua’ and ‘Pulau’ which often led to land disputes.

He believed that with the commission issues like encroachment and trespassing by companies issued with timber or plantation licences could be avoided. However, in response to that, Adenan said such commission was not necessary because the government had long recognised and respected native’s rights to their customary land provided they were created in accordance with the law.

“The Sarawak Land Code has adequate provisions to better achieve the same objectives of investigating, recognising rights and issuing titles to NCR land,” he said, adding that Section 2 of the Sarawak Land Code offered clear definition of NCR, Section 5 (2) outlined the methods by which NCR may be created while Part V of the same law detailed out the process by which land titles may be issued to the natives under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code.

“The above law is administered by the Land and Survey Department which has established procedures to deal with all aspects of the NCR issues. In implementing these procedures the department has always adopted a fair and professional approach. “For instance, in the often quoted matter of NCR being wrongly alienated to others, the government through the Land and Survey Department had taken action to either return the land to the rightful owners or compensate them,” he noted.

On the settlement of land disputes, be they among the natives, between natives and plantation owners, or between natives and the government, he stressed that the elected representatives of the respective areas were duty bound to give correct explanation to their electorates on government policies as well as to assist them in settling disputes amicably at the local levels without resorting to the courts.

He also advised NCR land owners, should they have issues with regards to their NCR such as encroachment by other parties, to report the matter to the appropriate agency, which is the Land and Survey Department.

“Reporting to other parties such as the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will only result in your plight being politicised rather than resolved,” he noted. Therefore, he said, the government was not of the opinion that a native land commission would be able to resolve issues pertaining to NCR. “In short, there are no benefits to be gained by all parties especially by the claimants with the setting up of the commission,” said Adenan.

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH: BN assemblymen (from left) Liwan Lagang (Belaga), Malcolm Mussen Lamoh (Batang Ai), Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (Pantai Damai) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) on their way for lunch during the break of the DUN sitting yesterday. - Photographers: Johnathan Bullet, Jeffery Mostapa and Tan Song Wei

Kaamatan, Gawai Dayak festivals worthy of world attention – PM

Posted on May 31, 2011, Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Kaamatan and Gawai Dayak festivals celebrated by ethnic communities in Sabah and Sarawak this week serve as an opportunity for Malaysians to showcase the country’s cultural and ethnic diversity to the world.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that Malaysians living in Borneo would share their rich culture with other people with pride, including with fellow Malaysians from the peninsula. Najib said peninsular Malaysians should take the opportunity to learn more about the country’s cultural heritage.

“We shouldn’t forsake our age-old traditions that bind us as one race, as we strive to transform Malaysia into a developed nation of high income. “It all starts with our homeland, the need for us to appreciate our rich cultural heritage,” Najib wrote in a posting on his www.1malaysia.com.my blogsite today.

He described Kaamatan and Gawai Dayak festivals of the ethnic communities in Sabah and Sarawak as unique, as no other place in the world celebrated the events. Najib wished them “Kotobian tadau tagazo do Kaamatan” and “Selamat Hari Gawai ‘gayu guru gerai nyamai’”, hoping that they would be blessed with long life, health and prosperity. – Bernama

Three Unduk Ngadau aspirants win subsidiary titles

by Mariah Doksil. Posted on May 30, 2011, Monday

Shirly Arichat (front second right) with Bo Tiza Arthur S. Disimon (front second left) and Gurjit Gonsilau (right). At left is reigning Unduk Ngadau queen Crystel Eve Huminodun M. Majinbon.

PENAMPANG: The winners of three subsidiary titles in the State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan were announced during the heat at Hongkod Koisaan last night. They are Bo Tiza Arthur s. Disimon from Penampang (Miss Natural Beauty), Shirly Arichat Enggoh from Kuala Penyu (Miss Friendly) and Gurjit Gonsilau from Putatan (Miss Pink).

Both Miss Friendly and Miss Natural Beauty are subsidiary titles accorded to the Unduk Ngadau participants who are quietly observed by the organizing committee as soon as they register for the contest. The committee judged the participants based on observations and made a collective decision on who they think deserves the titles. Bo and Shirly received a crown, a sash and a bouquet of flower from Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin’s wife Puan Sri Genevieve Kitingan.

Meanwhile, Miss Pink will be an ambassador of Kota Kinabalu Pink Ribbon, the beneficiary of a donation from last night’s Sodop Unduk Ngadau. All the 40 State Unduk Ngadau contestants will be parading today on an open stage at Hongkod Koisaan, during which 15 of them will be chosen for the final tomorrow.

Velentine wins Iban 2011 Kumang Gawai title

Borneo Post by Mary Francis. Posted on May 18, 2011, Wednesday

KUMANG GAWAI: Velentine (centre), flanked by Elizabeth (left) and Shandra.

MIRI: Twenty-one-year-old Velentine Hellyiza Stephen from Ulu Sebauh, Bintulu was adjudged ‘2011 Kumang Gawai’ of Miri City.  Velentine outshone five other contestants in the Iban category of the Kumang Gawai (Dayak Harvest Festival Queen) contest at the ‘2011 Miri Divisional Gawai Dayak Celebration’ at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club here on Monday night.

The first runner-up was 22-year-old Elizabeth Gia Amui of Kanowit, while Shandra Petrus Juline, 25, from Nanga Geremai, Kanowit was the second runner-up. In the Bidayuh category, the Gawai Kumang title went to 23-year-old Jennifer Ubung Nawan of Kampung Skiat, Bau.

She beat five others, including 20-year-old Venezia of Kampung Benuk, Padawan and 18-year-old Marie Paye Steve of Kampung Tanjong Poting, Singai who were second and third place winners respectively.

18-year-old Stephanie Singa from Trusan, Lawas was adjudged ‘Gawai Keligit’ in the Orang Ulu category, defeating five others.

Jessica Bulan Stephen, 20, of Long San, Baram took the second place and 19-year-old Karen Disa from Long Selawan, Ulu Baram came up third. The three ‘Kumangs’ each brought home RM1,000 in cash plus a sash, a trophy, a certificate of participation, a hamper by Maggi and bouquet.

As for the first runners-up in each category, everyone received RM800 and the second runners-up RM600 each, plus a trophy, sash, hamper and bouquet. All consolation winners of the three categories walked away with RM300, a hamper and certificate of participation each. They were Bebe Shee, Lessie John and Newn John Tait (Iban category); Fauziah Rapu, Michelle Johny and Priscilla Likau (Bidayuh); Brenda Litad Bobby, Sharene Ormilla Ngilo and Karen Laleng David (Keligit/Orang Ulu).

Meanwhile, 29-year-old Julian Jantum of Nanga Nansang, Sg Poi, Kanowit was picked as the 2011 Gawai Keling/Belawan (Hero) of the celebration. He took home RM700 cash, a hamper and a certificate of participation. Ricky Kimwah, 28, a teacher from Lawas was the first runner-up, while 24-year-old Kemmy John of Mamut, Sibuti was second runner-up.

They received RM600 and RM500 respectively, in addition to a hamper and a certificate. The three consolation winners – 18-year-old Tony Benson of Siang longhouse in Suai, Murphy Epoi, 22, of Long Terawan and 21-year-old Grahan Agan Lim of Barion – took home RM250 and a certificate each.

The celebration was organised by Dayak Association Miri (DAM) in collaboration with Miri Resident’s and District Office, assisted by various ethnic associations in Miri. This is a yearly event which is organised on a rotation basis among the different associations. This year DAM was the leading organiser. Next year will see Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) leading the celebration. The main sponsors for this year’s gathering were Maggi and Nescafe.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang was the guest-of-honour while Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas was the head of the Gawai. Organising chairman Ellison Ludan Muyang, Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau and Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat were among those present.