By Peter Sibon
Dato Peter Minos
BN facing daunting odds in Kuching, expects tough battles in 10 other seats
KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) has categorised the state’s 31 parliamentary seats into ‘black’, ‘dark grey’, ‘white grey’ and ‘white’ areas.
White is for safe seats, black for areas where the coalition faces overwhelming odds, dark grey for seats where it faces very strong opposition while constituencies where there are opposit ion candidates capable of causing an upset are white grey.
State BN secretariat spokesman Dato Peter Minos in revealing the ratings of the seats at a media briefing at PBB headquarters here yesterday said only Bandar Kuching, where voters seemed to have made up their mind, had been graded black.
He added that fi ve constituencies listed as dark were Stampin, Sarikei, Sibu, Lanang and Miri while another five seats – Mas Gading, Saratok, Lubok Antu, Selangau and Hulu Rajang – were considered white grey.
Despite the rating, Minos who is state BN deputy information chief said with concerted efforts in the grey areas, BN was confi dent of winning at least 25 seats in the polls.
He pointed out that the situation in these areas was still very fl uid and with 10 more days to go before the polling date the odds could swing either way.
“It ’s too early to make an accurate assessment on these ‘dark grey’ and ‘white grey’ areas now as we still have 10 days to go before polling.” On the chances of each BN component party, Minos said the 14 seats allocated to PBB were considered secure due to the party’s strong discipline and leadership.
As for SUPP which has been al located seven seat s, only Serian is considered ‘white’ as the constituency is a Bidayuh majority area.
“The Bidayuhs have been very supportive of the BN so Serian is considered a safe seat.
“But for the other six urban seats, the vast majority of voters have more or less made up their minds on who to vote for as shown by the 2011 state election results,” said Minos.
In the last state election, SUPP lost 13 of the 19 seats it contested.
As for PRS which is contesting in six seats, Minos said the party was facing formidable opposition from SWP candidates as they
were formerly from the same party.
“And with considerable resources, SWP led by the Sng family could cause an upset in Lubok Antu, Hulu Rajang and Selangau,” said Minos.
In Lubok Antu, BN incumbent William Nyallau Badak is facing SWP president Larry Sng. In Selangau, Larry’s father Dato Sng Chee Hua is challenging incumbent Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun and PKR’s Joseph Joshua Jabeng. In Hulu Rajang, Wilson Ugak Kumbong is facing SWP deputy president and Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong.
As for SPDP which has four seats to fight for, it is facing strong challenges from PKR as well as their former members.
Mas Gading has been identified as the toughest for SPDP where incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, a former senior official of SPDP, is standing as an independent candidate against newcomer Anthony Nogeh.
In Saratok and Baram, BN-SPDP candidates Tan Sri William Mawan and Anyi Ngau respectively could be undermined by the undercurrent of resentment from supporters of the incumbents who had
been dropped in their fight against PKR and independent candidates.
“In Saratok, we hoped Tan Sri William Mawan can win against strong PKR candidate Ali Biju who has been rumoured to receive support from
incumbent Jelaing Mersat,” said Minos.
Anyi who is making his debut in the election has to deal with issues on NCR land as the Baram Dam is being played up by the opposition in Baram.
“But being a new face, Anyi Ngau may pull through as he is seen as not being a party to any of the issues,” said Minos.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/26/white-black-and-shades-of-grey/#ixzz2RWDxVVtI
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
KUCHING: The task to turn the present single way Pan-Borneo trunk road into an over 1,000-km dual-carriageway in Sarawak in five years' time is a realistic target, as far as the State government is concerned. Read more: Awang Tengah: 1,000km pan-Borneo dual carriageway in 5 years a realistic pledge
Sarawak Second Minister of Planning and Environment, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, today said that the plan to upgrade the trunk road into a highway had long been made and would just be a matter of implementing it.
He said in fact, several parts of the Pan-Borneo road had already been upgraded to dual carriageways and the plan by the State would expedite the process of upgrading the rest.
"We are very realistic (about completing the project in five years' time). The main issue now is we are giving priority to this project," he told a press conference here.
He was asked to comment on one of the pledges made under Barisan Nasional's 13th general election manifesto on building a 2,300km Pan-Borneo Highway from Sematan, Sarawak to Serudung, Sabah.
Awang Tengah said Sarawak had been getting special attention from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ever since the latter became the Prime Minister.
He said between 2008 and early 2013, the Federal government had approved RM32.17 billion to carry out development projects in the state.
"Never before had Sarawak enjoyed such a big allocation from the Federal government," he added.
Meanwhile, the State's Infrastructure Development Minister, Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong, who was also present at the press conference said about RM9 billion would be required to upgrade the remaining single-lane road to dual-carriageway.
At the moment, he said out of the total 1,010km road, about 300 km had been upgraded into dual carriageways while about 710km were still single lanes.-- BERNAMA
Read more: Awang Tengah: 1,000km pan-Borneo dual carriageway in 5 years a realistic pledge - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/awang-tengah-1-000km-pan-borneo-dual-carriageway-in-5-years-a-realistic-pledge-1.250912#ixzz2RKeyIIvT
He said in fact, several parts of the Pan-Borneo road had already been upgraded to dual carriageways and the plan by the State would expedite the process of upgrading the rest.
"We are very realistic (about completing the project in five years' time). The main issue now is we are giving priority to this project," he told a press conference here.
He was asked to comment on one of the pledges made under Barisan Nasional's 13th general election manifesto on building a 2,300km Pan-Borneo Highway from Sematan, Sarawak to Serudung, Sabah.
Awang Tengah said Sarawak had been getting special attention from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ever since the latter became the Prime Minister.
He said between 2008 and early 2013, the Federal government had approved RM32.17 billion to carry out development projects in the state.
"Never before had Sarawak enjoyed such a big allocation from the Federal government," he added.
Meanwhile, the State's Infrastructure Development Minister, Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong, who was also present at the press conference said about RM9 billion would be required to upgrade the remaining single-lane road to dual-carriageway.
At the moment, he said out of the total 1,010km road, about 300 km had been upgraded into dual carriageways while about 710km were still single lanes.-- BERNAMA
Read more: Awang Tengah: 1,000km pan-Borneo dual carriageway in 5 years a realistic pledge - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/awang-tengah-1-000km-pan-borneo-dual-carriageway-in-5-years-a-realistic-pledge-1.250912#ixzz2RKeyIIvT
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sarawak Election 2013
MIRI, Sarawak - Punters are cashing in as excitement over Malaysia's general election campaign builds up, with some placing bets of upto RM200 (S$81) in the hope of striking the jackpot.
A Bernama news agency report on Monday cited Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) publicity and information chief Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew as saying that the election betting had started soon after the nomination process last Saturday.
"It is very worrying as the betting can influence the election results and ultimately, those who suffer for the next five years will be the people at large," he said at a news conference, here.
"We advise those who may want to bet on the election results to stay away from it and do not waste your future by gambling," he said.
Mr Ting, who is the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Miri parliamentary seat, said the party would not lodge a police report since the police had assured them that betting activities were under scrutiny.
Sarawak, that has 31 parliamentary seat, has long been considered BN's "fixed deposit". But that grip could be loosening amid unhappiness with its long-time Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, accused of corruption and nepotism during his three-decade rule.
People are also angry over alleged land grabs by the state government. Natives have set up blockades to stop loggers from clearing their ancestral hunting grounds.
Sarawak is not holding state elections on May 5 because it held them in 2011.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Candidates off the blocks by Jonathan Chia
KUCHING: The GE13 countdown is ‘on’ to polling day on May 5 — triggered when nomination day was over — with candidates from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition jostling for the hearts and minds of the voters.
In Sarawak, notably in Bandar Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu, big names have wasted no time springing into campaigning and hustings.
While the overall mood is electrifying for candidates navigating judiciously within the folds of manifestoes from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, Marudi town yesterday had yet to stir from slumber with little life of a poster war between PKR’s Roland Engan and BN’s Anyi Ngau.
But in the state capital, Bandar Kuching BN candidate Tan Kai fired the early salvo yesterday when he launched his personal election manifesto, which he described as “the pledges of a fishing village boy in building a vibrant and harmonious Kuching City.”
In line with his election campaign tagline of “Clean and Just,” Tan said his ultimate struggle for the constituents of Bandar Kuching is to fight for clean governance and a just society.
Besides that, he pledges in his manifesto to bring transformation to Kuching City in business, tourism and safe city.
“I pledge to create and boost opportunities for the business community, especially for young entrepreneurs,” said Tan.
“Among the plans are to initiate and establish a new night market in Padungan area as well as to create a more vibrant commercial hub along pedestrian streets stretching from India Street, Main Bazaar and from Waterfront to Padungan,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.
The launching of Tan’s manifesto was also attended by SUPP secretary-general Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, women chief Tnay Li Ping and youth secretary-general Wilfred Yap. Knowing the potential of the tourism industry, his aim for the next five years if elected as an MP, will be to strengthen the state’s tourism industry as well as to increase direct flights from major cities around the world to Kuching.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/22/candidates-off-the-blocks/#ixzz2R8ryaPrQ
In Sarawak, notably in Bandar Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu, big names have wasted no time springing into campaigning and hustings.
While the overall mood is electrifying for candidates navigating judiciously within the folds of manifestoes from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, Marudi town yesterday had yet to stir from slumber with little life of a poster war between PKR’s Roland Engan and BN’s Anyi Ngau.
But in the state capital, Bandar Kuching BN candidate Tan Kai fired the early salvo yesterday when he launched his personal election manifesto, which he described as “the pledges of a fishing village boy in building a vibrant and harmonious Kuching City.”
In line with his election campaign tagline of “Clean and Just,” Tan said his ultimate struggle for the constituents of Bandar Kuching is to fight for clean governance and a just society.
Besides that, he pledges in his manifesto to bring transformation to Kuching City in business, tourism and safe city.
“I pledge to create and boost opportunities for the business community, especially for young entrepreneurs,” said Tan.
“Among the plans are to initiate and establish a new night market in Padungan area as well as to create a more vibrant commercial hub along pedestrian streets stretching from India Street, Main Bazaar and from Waterfront to Padungan,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.
The launching of Tan’s manifesto was also attended by SUPP secretary-general Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, women chief Tnay Li Ping and youth secretary-general Wilfred Yap. Knowing the potential of the tourism industry, his aim for the next five years if elected as an MP, will be to strengthen the state’s tourism industry as well as to increase direct flights from major cities around the world to Kuching.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/22/candidates-off-the-blocks/#ixzz2R8ryaPrQ
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Mawan dicabar oleh Ali Biju dari PKR
SARATOK: Kerusi Parlimen Saratok bakal menyaksikan pertembungan tiga penjuru di antara calon Barisan Nasional (BN) Tan Sri William Mawan, Ali anak Biju (PKR) dan Rosli Bin Lek @ Abang Roselie Abang Paleng (Bebas).
Mawan, 64, presiden Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak (SPDP), menggantikan tempat penyandang kerusi Saratok, Jelaing Mersat yang tidak dicalonkan semula untuk Pilihan Raya Umum ke 13 (PRU13) pada 5 Mei ini.
Proses penamaan calon yang bermula jam 9.00 pagi semalam menyaksikan Ali Biju, 45, dengan diiringi oleh Elley Chandi selaku pencadang dan Basan Karim selaku penyokong merupakan calon pertama yang menghantar borang pencalonan.
Ia kemudian diikuti oleh calon Bebas, Rosli Bin Lek, 74, bersama pencadang Samawi Nusi dan Musa Junaidi selaku penyokong menghantar borang pencalonan.
Mawan, bersama Datuk Haji Abdul Wahab Aziz selaku pencadang dan Lim Kheng Huat selaku penyokong merupakan calon terakhir yang memasuki ruang penamaan calon bertempat di Pejabat Daerah Saratok.
Di BAU, proses penamaan calon bagi kerusi Parlimen Mas Gading berjalan lancar tanpa sebarang perkara tidak diingini berlaku walaupun berlaku sedikit provokasi dari penyokong parti yang bertanding.
PRU13 kali ini bakal menyaksikan persaingan sengit empat penjuru bagi mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Mas Gading.
Calon BN Nogeh Gumbek yang merupakan muka baru akan ditentang oleh bekas penyandang kerusi Mas Gading, Datuk Tiki Lafe yang bertanding sebagai calon Bebas.
Turut mencabar dua orang calon parti pembangkang, Mordi Bimol yang bertanding atas tiket DAP manakala Patrick Anek Uren mewakili Parti Reformasi Negeri (STAR).
Ini bermakna calon BN, Nogeh Gumbek akan berhadapan dengan dua orang bekas penyandang kerusi parlimen Mas Gading yang sudah pasti mempunyai pengalaman luas dalam bidang politik.
Satu lawan satu di Batang Lupar
Di SRI AMAN, Parlimen Batang Lupar bakal menyaksikan pertembungan satu lawan satu di antara calon BN Datuk Hajah Rohani Abdul Karim yang mempertahankan kerusi itu dengan calon PKR Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh.
Rohani ketika ditemui pemberita selepas proses penamaan calon semalam berkata perjuangan untuk rakyat, negara dan bangsa telah bermula.
Katanya, BN akan meneruskan program transformasi yang telah diperkenalkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sekiranya rakyat kembali memberi mandat kepada mereka pada PRU13 ini.
“Kita akan berjuang demi rakyat agar segala kemudahan serta kesenangan hidup dapat dikongsi bersama,” katanya.
Di SERIAN, kerusi Parlimen Serian pula menyaksikan perlawanan tiga penjuru antara calon BN, Datuk Richard Riot Jaem, 61, calon DAP, Edward Andrew Luwak, 61, dan calon STAR, Johny Aput.
Penyandang Parlimen Serian, Riot dari Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (SUPP) tiba di Pusat Penamaan calon pada jam 8.40 pagi semalam dengan diiringi kira-kira 500 penyokong. Calon DAP tiba 20 minit kemudian bersama kira-kira 100 penyokong manakala calon STAR tiba jam 9.20 pagi.
Terdahulu, Riot mengingatkan penyokong beliau supaya tidak menggunakan kekerasan semasa berkempen kerana BN disegani selain menganggap PRU sebagai satu peperangan.
Mawan, 64, presiden Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak (SPDP), menggantikan tempat penyandang kerusi Saratok, Jelaing Mersat yang tidak dicalonkan semula untuk Pilihan Raya Umum ke 13 (PRU13) pada 5 Mei ini.
Proses penamaan calon yang bermula jam 9.00 pagi semalam menyaksikan Ali Biju, 45, dengan diiringi oleh Elley Chandi selaku pencadang dan Basan Karim selaku penyokong merupakan calon pertama yang menghantar borang pencalonan.
Ia kemudian diikuti oleh calon Bebas, Rosli Bin Lek, 74, bersama pencadang Samawi Nusi dan Musa Junaidi selaku penyokong menghantar borang pencalonan.
Mawan, bersama Datuk Haji Abdul Wahab Aziz selaku pencadang dan Lim Kheng Huat selaku penyokong merupakan calon terakhir yang memasuki ruang penamaan calon bertempat di Pejabat Daerah Saratok.
Di BAU, proses penamaan calon bagi kerusi Parlimen Mas Gading berjalan lancar tanpa sebarang perkara tidak diingini berlaku walaupun berlaku sedikit provokasi dari penyokong parti yang bertanding.
PRU13 kali ini bakal menyaksikan persaingan sengit empat penjuru bagi mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Mas Gading.
Calon BN Nogeh Gumbek yang merupakan muka baru akan ditentang oleh bekas penyandang kerusi Mas Gading, Datuk Tiki Lafe yang bertanding sebagai calon Bebas.
Turut mencabar dua orang calon parti pembangkang, Mordi Bimol yang bertanding atas tiket DAP manakala Patrick Anek Uren mewakili Parti Reformasi Negeri (STAR).
Ini bermakna calon BN, Nogeh Gumbek akan berhadapan dengan dua orang bekas penyandang kerusi parlimen Mas Gading yang sudah pasti mempunyai pengalaman luas dalam bidang politik.
Satu lawan satu di Batang Lupar
Di SRI AMAN, Parlimen Batang Lupar bakal menyaksikan pertembungan satu lawan satu di antara calon BN Datuk Hajah Rohani Abdul Karim yang mempertahankan kerusi itu dengan calon PKR Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh.
Rohani ketika ditemui pemberita selepas proses penamaan calon semalam berkata perjuangan untuk rakyat, negara dan bangsa telah bermula.
Katanya, BN akan meneruskan program transformasi yang telah diperkenalkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sekiranya rakyat kembali memberi mandat kepada mereka pada PRU13 ini.
“Kita akan berjuang demi rakyat agar segala kemudahan serta kesenangan hidup dapat dikongsi bersama,” katanya.
Di SERIAN, kerusi Parlimen Serian pula menyaksikan perlawanan tiga penjuru antara calon BN, Datuk Richard Riot Jaem, 61, calon DAP, Edward Andrew Luwak, 61, dan calon STAR, Johny Aput.
Penyandang Parlimen Serian, Riot dari Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (SUPP) tiba di Pusat Penamaan calon pada jam 8.40 pagi semalam dengan diiringi kira-kira 500 penyokong. Calon DAP tiba 20 minit kemudian bersama kira-kira 100 penyokong manakala calon STAR tiba jam 9.20 pagi.
Terdahulu, Riot mengingatkan penyokong beliau supaya tidak menggunakan kekerasan semasa berkempen kerana BN disegani selain menganggap PRU sebagai satu peperangan.
Senarai Calon Parlimen Sarawak
Calon Parlimen Saratok (P205)
1) Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk Wahab Aziz Penyokong: Lim Kheng Huat.
2) Ali Biju (PKR)
Pencadang: Elley Chandi
Penyokong: Basan Karim.
3) Datuk Abg Rosli Abg Palei (Bebas)
Pencadang: Samawi Nusi
Penyokong: Musa Junaidi
Calon Parlimen Lubok Antu (P203)
1) William @ Nyallau Badak (BN)
Pencadang: Johnichal Rayong Ngipa
Penyokong. Jampi Tutong
2) Larry Sng Wei Shien (SWP)
Pencadang : Jawah Gerang
Penyokong : Semijie Janting
3) Nicholas Bawin (PKR)
Pencadang : Maling Luna
Penyokong : Barodi Mawong
Calon Parlimen Santubong (P193)
1) Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (BN)
Pencadang: Rokiah Temben
Penyokong: Dalijah Jool
2) Zulrusdi Hol (PKR)
Pencadang: Bolek Maludin
Penyokong: Sobey Daud
3) Affendi Jeman (Bebas)
Pencadang: Majid Meta
Penyokong: Ramlan Ismail
4) Mura Kadir (STAR)
Pencadang: Habibah Kadir
Penyokong: Fatimah Deng
Calon Parlimen Mas Gading (P192)
1) Anthony Nogeh Gumek (BN)
2) Datuk Dr. Tiki Lafe (Bebas)
3) Mordi Bimol (DAP)
4) Patrick Anek Uren (STAR)
Calon Parlimen Kanowit (P210)
1) Aaron Ago Dagang (BN)
Pencadang: Kujat Dudang
Penyokong: Lau Khong Kui
2) Ellison Ludan Muyan (SWP) Pencadang: Medan@Nyalu Muyan Penyokong: Emperang Bangau.
3) Thomas Laja Besides (PKR) Pencadang: Chen Nguk Fa
Penyokong: Blantau Entili
Calon Parlimen Selangau (P214)
1)
Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk John Sikie Tayai
Penyokong: Joseph Mauh Ikeh
2)
Datuk Sng Chee Hua (SWP)
Pencadang: Manja Ganggang
Penyokong: Angga Nali
3)
Joshua Jabeng (PKR)
Pencadang: Jengging Radin
Penyokong: Menda @ Minda Jepun
Calon Tanjung Manis (P206)
1)
Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman (BN)
Pencadang: Ir Zawawi Embong
Penyokong: Dora Joseph
2)
Jurina Mut (PAS)
Pencadang: Salman Reozeni
Penyokong: Wan Japar Wan Sen
Calon Parlimen Kota Samarahan (P197)
1)
Rubiah Wang (BN)
Pencadang: Mahani Sahari
Penyokong: Jemat Abak
2)
Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus (PAS)
Pencadang: Zulkipli Ramzi
Penyokong: Mahathir Ahmad
Calon Parlimen Batang Sadong (P200)
1)
Nancy Shukri (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais.
Penyokong: Datuk Wahab Suhaili.
2) Dr Mohamad Jolhi (PAS)
Pencadang: Adam Ahid.
Penyokong: Yusof Babin
Calon Parlimen Serian (P199)
1)
Datuk Richard Riot Jaem (BN) Pencadang: Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong
Penyokong: Martin Ben
2)
Johny Aput (STAR).
Pencadang: Francis Uli
Penyokong: James Nyungkin
3)
Edward Andrew Luwak (DAP)
Pencadang: Cyrill Langin
Penyokong: Bunsin Kalum
Calon Parlimen Mambong (P198)
1)
Dato Sri James Dawos Mamit (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk Roland Sagah.
Penyokong: Dr Jerip Susil
2)
Dr Dripin Sakoi (STAR)
Pencadang: Lyennen Lensem
Penyokong: Lensem Sandah.
3)
Wille Mongin (PKR)
Pencadang: Mangan Ngandok.
Penyokong: Iana Akam.
Calon Parlimen Mukah (P213)
1)
Dato Sri Muhammad Leo Toyad (BN)
Pencadang: Hadiah Jeraie
Penyokong: Ardi Matan
2)
Hai Merawin (DAP)
Pencadang: Ting Yu Pang
Penyokong: Lim Yu Siew
3)
Sylvester Ajah (Bebas)
Pencadang: Micheal Baton
Penyokong: Masni Joll
Calon Parlimen Stampin (P196)
1.
Datuk Yong Khoon Seng (BN)
Pencadang: Tan Joo Phoi
Penyokong: Lo Khere Chiang
2.
Julian Tan Kok Ping (DAP)
Pencadang: Desmond Pui Hong Hui
Penyokong: Bong Kuet Vui
3.
Soo Lina (STAR)
Pencadang: Kong Nai Eng
Penyokong: Mesah Suhaili
Calon Parlimen Lanang (P211)
1)
Datuk Tiong Thai King (BN) Pencadang: Wong Chin Ho
Penyokong: Ting Mee Huong
2)
Alice Lau (DAP)
Pencadang: Lawrence Hii
Penyokong: Yap Hoi Leong
Calon Parlimen Sibu (P212)
1)
Vincent Lau Lee Ming (BN)
Pencadang: Ting Hoong Hua
Penyokong: Augustine Ngu Liong Ing
2)
Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP)
Pencadang: Adeline Kiu
Penyokong: Irene Chang
3)
Narawi Haron (Bebas)
Pencadang: Yusoff Karikap
Penyokong: Ali Karikap
Calon Parlimen Bintulu (P217)
1)
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk Talib Zulpilip
Penyokong: Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom
2)
Dr John Anthony Brian
Pencadang: Philip Chan Hwa Tat Penyokong: Sengok Sabang
Calon Parlimen Petra Jaya (P194)
1)
Datuk Fadillah Yusof (BN)
Pencadang: Irwan Zulkarnean Hasbi
Penyokong: Ahmad Nahab.
2)
Ahmad Nazib Johari (PKR)
Pencadang: Mohd Yusof Baharuddin
Penyokong: Muhammad Suffian Jamel
Calon Parlimen Julau (P209)
1)
Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (BN)
Pencadang: Jerry Clement
Penyokong: Jana Sawing.
2)
Wong Judat (SWP)
Pencadang: Jimmy Jarub
Penyokong: Wong Liong Ring.
3)
Andy Wong Hong Yu
Pencadang: Gruka Bujit
Penyokong: Sibat Ayong
Calon Parlimen Sri Aman (P202)
1)
Masir Kujat (BN)
Pencadang: Jiram Gendang
Penyokong: Ronald Chengir Bugak
2)
Wilfred Stephen Landong (SWP)
Pencadang: Michael Kang Akon
Penyokong: Edward Landong
3)
Nicholas Munjah Ason (PKR)
Pencadang: Lias Julai
Penyokong: Iso Sidu
4)
Donald Lawan (Bebas)
Pencadang: Lawren Buda
Peyokong: Suring Drisa
Parlimen Igan (P207)
1. Ajiji Fauzan (PAS)
2. Wahab Haji Dolah (BN)
Parlimen Betong (P204)
1) Dato Sri Doulas Uggah Embas
2) Cecelia Siti Una (PKR)
Parlimen Bandar Kuching (P195)
1) Tan Kai – BN
2) Chong Chieng Jen – DAP
Parlimen Batang Lupar (P201)
1) Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim – BN
2) Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh – PKR
Parlimen Betong (P204)
1) Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas (BN)
2) Cecilia Siti Una (PKR)
Parlimen Sibuti (P218)
1) Ahmad Lai Bujang (BN)
2) Robby @ Muhammad Zaid Tandang (PAS)
Parlimen Miri (P219)
1) Datuk Sebastian Ting
2) Dr Michael Teo (PKR)
3) Chong Kon Fatt (STAR)
Parlimen Baram (P220)
1) Anyi Ngau (BN)
2) Roland Engan (PKR)
3) Patrick Sibat (Bebas)
Parlimen Limbang (P221)
1) Hasbi Habibollah (BN)
2) Baru Bian (PKR)
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/20/senarai-calon-parlimen-sarawak-update/#ixzz2R3KXnHjW
1) Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk Wahab Aziz Penyokong: Lim Kheng Huat.
2) Ali Biju (PKR)
Pencadang: Elley Chandi
Penyokong: Basan Karim.
3) Datuk Abg Rosli Abg Palei (Bebas)
Pencadang: Samawi Nusi
Penyokong: Musa Junaidi
Calon Parlimen Lubok Antu (P203)
1) William @ Nyallau Badak (BN)
Pencadang: Johnichal Rayong Ngipa
Penyokong. Jampi Tutong
2) Larry Sng Wei Shien (SWP)
Pencadang : Jawah Gerang
Penyokong : Semijie Janting
3) Nicholas Bawin (PKR)
Pencadang : Maling Luna
Penyokong : Barodi Mawong
Calon Parlimen Santubong (P193)
1) Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (BN)
Pencadang: Rokiah Temben
Penyokong: Dalijah Jool
2) Zulrusdi Hol (PKR)
Pencadang: Bolek Maludin
Penyokong: Sobey Daud
3) Affendi Jeman (Bebas)
Pencadang: Majid Meta
Penyokong: Ramlan Ismail
4) Mura Kadir (STAR)
Pencadang: Habibah Kadir
Penyokong: Fatimah Deng
Calon Parlimen Mas Gading (P192)
1) Anthony Nogeh Gumek (BN)
2) Datuk Dr. Tiki Lafe (Bebas)
3) Mordi Bimol (DAP)
4) Patrick Anek Uren (STAR)
Calon Parlimen Kanowit (P210)
1) Aaron Ago Dagang (BN)
Pencadang: Kujat Dudang
Penyokong: Lau Khong Kui
2) Ellison Ludan Muyan (SWP) Pencadang: Medan@Nyalu Muyan Penyokong: Emperang Bangau.
3) Thomas Laja Besides (PKR) Pencadang: Chen Nguk Fa
Penyokong: Blantau Entili
Calon Parlimen Selangau (P214)
1)
Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk John Sikie Tayai
Penyokong: Joseph Mauh Ikeh
2)
Datuk Sng Chee Hua (SWP)
Pencadang: Manja Ganggang
Penyokong: Angga Nali
3)
Joshua Jabeng (PKR)
Pencadang: Jengging Radin
Penyokong: Menda @ Minda Jepun
Calon Tanjung Manis (P206)
1)
Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman (BN)
Pencadang: Ir Zawawi Embong
Penyokong: Dora Joseph
2)
Jurina Mut (PAS)
Pencadang: Salman Reozeni
Penyokong: Wan Japar Wan Sen
Calon Parlimen Kota Samarahan (P197)
1)
Rubiah Wang (BN)
Pencadang: Mahani Sahari
Penyokong: Jemat Abak
2)
Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus (PAS)
Pencadang: Zulkipli Ramzi
Penyokong: Mahathir Ahmad
Calon Parlimen Batang Sadong (P200)
1)
Nancy Shukri (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais.
Penyokong: Datuk Wahab Suhaili.
2) Dr Mohamad Jolhi (PAS)
Pencadang: Adam Ahid.
Penyokong: Yusof Babin
Calon Parlimen Serian (P199)
1)
Datuk Richard Riot Jaem (BN) Pencadang: Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong
Penyokong: Martin Ben
2)
Johny Aput (STAR).
Pencadang: Francis Uli
Penyokong: James Nyungkin
3)
Edward Andrew Luwak (DAP)
Pencadang: Cyrill Langin
Penyokong: Bunsin Kalum
Calon Parlimen Mambong (P198)
1)
Dato Sri James Dawos Mamit (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk Roland Sagah.
Penyokong: Dr Jerip Susil
2)
Dr Dripin Sakoi (STAR)
Pencadang: Lyennen Lensem
Penyokong: Lensem Sandah.
3)
Wille Mongin (PKR)
Pencadang: Mangan Ngandok.
Penyokong: Iana Akam.
Calon Parlimen Mukah (P213)
1)
Dato Sri Muhammad Leo Toyad (BN)
Pencadang: Hadiah Jeraie
Penyokong: Ardi Matan
2)
Hai Merawin (DAP)
Pencadang: Ting Yu Pang
Penyokong: Lim Yu Siew
3)
Sylvester Ajah (Bebas)
Pencadang: Micheal Baton
Penyokong: Masni Joll
Calon Parlimen Stampin (P196)
1.
Datuk Yong Khoon Seng (BN)
Pencadang: Tan Joo Phoi
Penyokong: Lo Khere Chiang
2.
Julian Tan Kok Ping (DAP)
Pencadang: Desmond Pui Hong Hui
Penyokong: Bong Kuet Vui
3.
Soo Lina (STAR)
Pencadang: Kong Nai Eng
Penyokong: Mesah Suhaili
Calon Parlimen Lanang (P211)
1)
Datuk Tiong Thai King (BN) Pencadang: Wong Chin Ho
Penyokong: Ting Mee Huong
2)
Alice Lau (DAP)
Pencadang: Lawrence Hii
Penyokong: Yap Hoi Leong
Calon Parlimen Sibu (P212)
1)
Vincent Lau Lee Ming (BN)
Pencadang: Ting Hoong Hua
Penyokong: Augustine Ngu Liong Ing
2)
Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP)
Pencadang: Adeline Kiu
Penyokong: Irene Chang
3)
Narawi Haron (Bebas)
Pencadang: Yusoff Karikap
Penyokong: Ali Karikap
Calon Parlimen Bintulu (P217)
1)
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN)
Pencadang: Datuk Talib Zulpilip
Penyokong: Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom
2)
Dr John Anthony Brian
Pencadang: Philip Chan Hwa Tat Penyokong: Sengok Sabang
Calon Parlimen Petra Jaya (P194)
1)
Datuk Fadillah Yusof (BN)
Pencadang: Irwan Zulkarnean Hasbi
Penyokong: Ahmad Nahab.
2)
Ahmad Nazib Johari (PKR)
Pencadang: Mohd Yusof Baharuddin
Penyokong: Muhammad Suffian Jamel
Calon Parlimen Julau (P209)
1)
Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (BN)
Pencadang: Jerry Clement
Penyokong: Jana Sawing.
2)
Wong Judat (SWP)
Pencadang: Jimmy Jarub
Penyokong: Wong Liong Ring.
3)
Andy Wong Hong Yu
Pencadang: Gruka Bujit
Penyokong: Sibat Ayong
Calon Parlimen Sri Aman (P202)
1)
Masir Kujat (BN)
Pencadang: Jiram Gendang
Penyokong: Ronald Chengir Bugak
2)
Wilfred Stephen Landong (SWP)
Pencadang: Michael Kang Akon
Penyokong: Edward Landong
3)
Nicholas Munjah Ason (PKR)
Pencadang: Lias Julai
Penyokong: Iso Sidu
4)
Donald Lawan (Bebas)
Pencadang: Lawren Buda
Peyokong: Suring Drisa
Parlimen Igan (P207)
1. Ajiji Fauzan (PAS)
2. Wahab Haji Dolah (BN)
Parlimen Betong (P204)
1) Dato Sri Doulas Uggah Embas
2) Cecelia Siti Una (PKR)
Parlimen Bandar Kuching (P195)
1) Tan Kai – BN
2) Chong Chieng Jen – DAP
Parlimen Batang Lupar (P201)
1) Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim – BN
2) Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh – PKR
Parlimen Betong (P204)
1) Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas (BN)
2) Cecilia Siti Una (PKR)
Parlimen Sibuti (P218)
1) Ahmad Lai Bujang (BN)
2) Robby @ Muhammad Zaid Tandang (PAS)
Parlimen Miri (P219)
1) Datuk Sebastian Ting
2) Dr Michael Teo (PKR)
3) Chong Kon Fatt (STAR)
Parlimen Baram (P220)
1) Anyi Ngau (BN)
2) Roland Engan (PKR)
3) Patrick Sibat (Bebas)
Parlimen Limbang (P221)
1) Hasbi Habibollah (BN)
2) Baru Bian (PKR)
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/20/senarai-calon-parlimen-sarawak-update/#ixzz2R3KXnHjW
Friday, April 19, 2013
Calon Pilihanraya Sarawak
SARAWAK
P192 MAS GADING
DAP
Mordi Bimol
BN
Nogeh Gumbek
STAR
Patrick Anek Oren
BEBAS
Datuk Dr Tekhee @Tiki Anak Lafe
P193 SANTUBONG
BEBAS
Affendi Jeman
STAR
Mura Kadir
BN
Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
PKR
Zulrusdi Mohamad Hol
P194 PETRA JAYA
PKR
Ahmad Nazib Johari
BN
Datuk Fadillah Yusof
P195 BANDAR KUCHING
BN
Tan Kai
DAP
Chong Chieng Jen
P196 STAMPIN
DAP
Julian Tan Kok Ting
STAR
Soo Lina
BN
Datuk Yong Khoon Hiang @ Yong Khoon Seng
P197 KOTA SAMARAHAN
BN
Rubiah Wang
PAS
Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus
P198 MAMBONG
STAR
Dripin Anak Sakoi
BN
Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit
PKR
Willie Anak Mongin
P199 SERIAN
DAP
Edward Anak Andrew Luwok
STAR
Johnny Anak Aput
BN
Datuk Richard Riot Anak Jaem
P200 BATANG SADONG
PAS
Mohamad Jolhi
BN
Nancy Shukri
P201 BATANG LUPAR
PKR
Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh
BN
Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim
P202 SRI AMAN
BN
Masir Kujat
BEBAS
Donald Lawan
PKR
Nicholas Mujah Ason
SWP
Wilfred Stephen
P203 LUBOK ANTU
SWP
Larry Soon @ Larry Sng Wei Shien
PKR
Nicholas Bawin Anak Anggat
BN
William @ Nyallau Anak Badak
P204 BETONG
PKR
Cecelia Siti Una Anak Sittie Endek
BN
Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas
P205 SARATOK
PKR
Ali Anak Biju
BEBAS
Rosli Lek @ Abang Roselie Abang Paleng
BN
Tan Sri William Ikom
P206 TANJUNG MANIS
PAS
Jurina Mut
BN
Datuk Norah Abd Rahman
P207 IGAN
PAS
Ajiji Fauzan
BN
Wahab Dollah
P208 SARIKEI
BN
Ding Kuong Hiing
DAP
Wong Ling Biu
P209 JULAU
BN
Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
SWP
Eong Judat
PKR
Wong Hong Yu
P210 KANOWIT
BN
Ago Anak Dagang
SWP
Ellison Ludan Anak Muyan
PKR
Thomas Laja Anak Besi
P211 LANANG
DAP
Alice Law Kiong Yieng
BN
Datuk Tiong Thai King
P212 SIBU
DAP
Oscar LIng Chai Yew
BN
Lau Lee Ming
BEBAS
Narawi Haron
P213 MUKAH
DAP
Hai Merawin @ Bonaventure
BN
Datuk Sri Muhammad Leo Micheal Toyad Abdullah
BEBAS
Sylvester Ajah Sibah @ Ajah Subah
P214 SELANGAU
BN
Datuk Jospeh Bintulu Anak Belaun
PKR
Joshua Anak Jabing @ Joshua Jabing
SWP
Datuk Sng Chee Hua
P215 KAPIT
BN
Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi
DAP
Ramli Anak Malaka
P216 HULU RAJANG
PKR
Abun Sui Anyit
SWP
George Anak Lagong
BN
Ugak Anak Kumbong
P217 BINTULU
BN
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing
DAP
John Brian Anthony Anak Jeremy Guang
P218 SIBUTI
BN
Ahmad Lai Bujang
PAS
Muhammad Zaid Tandang
P219 MIRI
BN
Datuk Sebastian Ting Chew Yew
PKR
Micheal Teo Yu Keng
STAR
Chong Kon Satt
P220 BARAM
BN
Anyie Ngau
BEBAS
Patrick Sibat Sujang
PKR
Roland Engan
P221 LIMBANG BUKIT MAS
PKR
Baru Bian
BN
Hasbi Habibollah
P222 LAWAS
STAR
Alirahman Kamseh
DAP
Baru Langub
BN
Datuk Hendry Sum Agong
P192 MAS GADING
DAP
Mordi Bimol
BN
Nogeh Gumbek
STAR
Patrick Anek Oren
BEBAS
Datuk Dr Tekhee @Tiki Anak Lafe
P193 SANTUBONG
BEBAS
Affendi Jeman
STAR
Mura Kadir
BN
Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
PKR
Zulrusdi Mohamad Hol
P194 PETRA JAYA
PKR
Ahmad Nazib Johari
BN
Datuk Fadillah Yusof
P195 BANDAR KUCHING
BN
Tan Kai
DAP
Chong Chieng Jen
P196 STAMPIN
DAP
Julian Tan Kok Ting
STAR
Soo Lina
BN
Datuk Yong Khoon Hiang @ Yong Khoon Seng
P197 KOTA SAMARAHAN
BN
Rubiah Wang
PAS
Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus
P198 MAMBONG
STAR
Dripin Anak Sakoi
BN
Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit
PKR
Willie Anak Mongin
P199 SERIAN
DAP
Edward Anak Andrew Luwok
STAR
Johnny Anak Aput
BN
Datuk Richard Riot Anak Jaem
P200 BATANG SADONG
PAS
Mohamad Jolhi
BN
Nancy Shukri
P201 BATANG LUPAR
PKR
Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh
BN
Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim
P202 SRI AMAN
BN
Masir Kujat
BEBAS
Donald Lawan
PKR
Nicholas Mujah Ason
SWP
Wilfred Stephen
P203 LUBOK ANTU
SWP
Larry Soon @ Larry Sng Wei Shien
PKR
Nicholas Bawin Anak Anggat
BN
William @ Nyallau Anak Badak
P204 BETONG
PKR
Cecelia Siti Una Anak Sittie Endek
BN
Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas
P205 SARATOK
PKR
Ali Anak Biju
BEBAS
Rosli Lek @ Abang Roselie Abang Paleng
BN
Tan Sri William Ikom
P206 TANJUNG MANIS
PAS
Jurina Mut
BN
Datuk Norah Abd Rahman
P207 IGAN
PAS
Ajiji Fauzan
BN
Wahab Dollah
P208 SARIKEI
BN
Ding Kuong Hiing
DAP
Wong Ling Biu
P209 JULAU
BN
Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
SWP
Eong Judat
PKR
Wong Hong Yu
P210 KANOWIT
BN
Ago Anak Dagang
SWP
Ellison Ludan Anak Muyan
PKR
Thomas Laja Anak Besi
P211 LANANG
DAP
Alice Law Kiong Yieng
BN
Datuk Tiong Thai King
P212 SIBU
DAP
Oscar LIng Chai Yew
BN
Lau Lee Ming
BEBAS
Narawi Haron
P213 MUKAH
DAP
Hai Merawin @ Bonaventure
BN
Datuk Sri Muhammad Leo Micheal Toyad Abdullah
BEBAS
Sylvester Ajah Sibah @ Ajah Subah
P214 SELANGAU
BN
Datuk Jospeh Bintulu Anak Belaun
PKR
Joshua Anak Jabing @ Joshua Jabing
SWP
Datuk Sng Chee Hua
P215 KAPIT
BN
Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi
DAP
Ramli Anak Malaka
P216 HULU RAJANG
PKR
Abun Sui Anyit
SWP
George Anak Lagong
BN
Ugak Anak Kumbong
P217 BINTULU
BN
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing
DAP
John Brian Anthony Anak Jeremy Guang
P218 SIBUTI
BN
Ahmad Lai Bujang
PAS
Muhammad Zaid Tandang
P219 MIRI
BN
Datuk Sebastian Ting Chew Yew
PKR
Micheal Teo Yu Keng
STAR
Chong Kon Satt
P220 BARAM
BN
Anyie Ngau
BEBAS
Patrick Sibat Sujang
PKR
Roland Engan
P221 LIMBANG BUKIT MAS
PKR
Baru Bian
BN
Hasbi Habibollah
P222 LAWAS
STAR
Alirahman Kamseh
DAP
Baru Langub
BN
Datuk Hendry Sum Agong
Nomination Day
PREPARING FOR NOMINATION DAY: Students walk past Election Commission workers putting up a banner at Dewan Al Muneerah in SMK Petra Jaya, Kuching, on the eve of Nomination Day. — Bernama photo
Candidates have one hour from 9am today to register for the polls
KUCHING: Candidates accompanied by their proposers and seconders will converge on nomination centres throughout the nation today to register for the 13th General Election (13th GE).
A total of 31 nomination centres in the state will open from 9am to 10am today for candidates to submit their nomination forms.
Although the lists of candidates from all parties are supposed to have been finalised, there is still a possibility of some surprises today.
The state Barisan Nasional (BN) named all their 31 parliamentary candidates including eight new faces, on April 16 but several incumbents who were dropped continued to harbour hopes they would be re-nominated.
This issue has been resolved except in Mas Gading and Saratok where the incumbents and their supporters have not been appeased.
The Mas Gading incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe has declared he will be defending his seat despite being dropped by BN while in Saratok supporters of Jelaing Mersat continue to protest against his omission from the list.The opposition front, Pakatan Rakyat( PR), only managed to resolve their bickering over allocation of seats among its component parties; PKR, DAP and PAS yesterday.
Both PKR and DAP only finalised their lists after much bargaining and horse trading over overlapping claims on several seats.
Sarawak Workers party (SWP) announced its full line-up on Thursday while STAR unveiled its candidates yesterday.
It is expected that every seat in the nation will be contested with BN and PR as the main proponents and several smaller parties and independents trying their luck.
The last parliamentary election was held in March 2008 and the parliament was dissolved on April 3.
In Sarawak BN will contest in 31 seats while PKR (15), DAP (11), PAS (7), SWP (6) and STAR (8).
The seats where the contests are expected to be very keen are Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Mas Gading, Saratok, Sibu, Selangau, Lubok Antu, Hulu Rajang, Miri, Baram and Julau.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/20/nomination-day/#ixzz2QyjrKevB
Candidates have one hour from 9am today to register for the polls
KUCHING: Candidates accompanied by their proposers and seconders will converge on nomination centres throughout the nation today to register for the 13th General Election (13th GE).
A total of 31 nomination centres in the state will open from 9am to 10am today for candidates to submit their nomination forms.
Although the lists of candidates from all parties are supposed to have been finalised, there is still a possibility of some surprises today.
The state Barisan Nasional (BN) named all their 31 parliamentary candidates including eight new faces, on April 16 but several incumbents who were dropped continued to harbour hopes they would be re-nominated.
This issue has been resolved except in Mas Gading and Saratok where the incumbents and their supporters have not been appeased.
The Mas Gading incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe has declared he will be defending his seat despite being dropped by BN while in Saratok supporters of Jelaing Mersat continue to protest against his omission from the list.The opposition front, Pakatan Rakyat( PR), only managed to resolve their bickering over allocation of seats among its component parties; PKR, DAP and PAS yesterday.
Both PKR and DAP only finalised their lists after much bargaining and horse trading over overlapping claims on several seats.
Sarawak Workers party (SWP) announced its full line-up on Thursday while STAR unveiled its candidates yesterday.
It is expected that every seat in the nation will be contested with BN and PR as the main proponents and several smaller parties and independents trying their luck.
The last parliamentary election was held in March 2008 and the parliament was dissolved on April 3.
In Sarawak BN will contest in 31 seats while PKR (15), DAP (11), PAS (7), SWP (6) and STAR (8).
The seats where the contests are expected to be very keen are Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Mas Gading, Saratok, Sibu, Selangau, Lubok Antu, Hulu Rajang, Miri, Baram and Julau.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/20/nomination-day/#ixzz2QyjrKevB
The Tentative list of candidates in Sarawak
PREPARING FOR NOMINATION DAY: Students walk past Election Commission workers putting up a banner at Dewan Al Muneerah in SMK Petra Jaya, Kuching, on the eve of Nomination Day. — Bernama photo
Candidates have one hour from 9am today to register for the polls
KUCHING: Candidates accompanied by their proposers and seconders will converge on nomination centres throughout the nation today to register for the 13th General Election (13th GE).
A total of 31 nomination centres in the state will open from 9am to 10am today for candidates to submit their nomination forms.
Although the lists of candidates from all parties are supposed to have been finalised, there is still a possibility of some surprises today.
The state Barisan Nasional (BN) named all their 31 parliamentary candidates including eight new faces, on April 16 but several incumbents who were dropped continued to harbour hopes they would be re-nominated.
This issue has been resolved except in Mas Gading and Saratok where the incumbents and their supporters have not been appeased.
The Mas Gading incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe has declared he will be defending his seat despite being dropped by BN while in Saratok supporters of Jelaing Mersat continue to protest against his omission from the list.The opposition front, Pakatan Rakyat( PR), only managed to resolve their bickering over allocation of seats among its component parties; PKR, DAP and PAS yesterday.
Both PKR and DAP only finalised their lists after much bargaining and horse trading over overlapping claims on several seats.
Sarawak Workers party (SWP) announced its full line-up on Thursday while STAR unveiled its candidates yesterday.
It is expected that every seat in the nation will be contested with BN and PR as the main proponents and several smaller parties and independents trying their luck.
The last parliamentary election was held in March 2008 and the parliament was dissolved on April 3.
In Sarawak BN will contest in 31 seats while PKR (15), DAP (11), PAS (7), SWP (6) and STAR (8).
The seats where the contests are expected to be very keen are Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Mas Gading, Saratok, Sibu, Selangau, Lubok Antu, Hulu Rajang, Miri, Baram and Julau.
Fact File:
The tentative list of candidates in Sarawak.
1) Mas Gading
BN – Anthony Nogeh Gumbek
DAP – Mordi Bimol
STAR – Patrick Anek Uren
Bebas – Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe
2) Santubong
BN – Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
PKR – Zulrusdi Hol
STAR – Mura Kadir
3) Petra Jaya
BN – Datuk Fadillah Yusof
PKR – Ahmad Nazib Johari
4) Bandar Kuching
BN – Tan Kai
DAP – Chong Chieng Jen
5) Stampin
BN – Datuk Yong Khoon Seng
DAP – Julian Tan
STAR – Lina Soo
6) Kota Samarahan
BN – Rubiah Wang
PAS – Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus
7) Mambong
BN – Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit
PKR – Willie Mongin
STAR – Dr Dripin Sakoi
8) Serian
BN – Datuk Richard Riot Jaem
DAP – Edward Luwak
STAR – Johnny Bob
9) Batang Sadong
BN – Nancy Shukri
PAS – Dr Mohammad Jolhi
10) Batang Lupar
BN – Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim
PKR – Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh
11) Sri Aman
BN – Masir Kujat
SWP – Wilfred Landong
PKR – Nicholas Mujah
12) Lubok Antu
BN – William Nyalau Badak
PKR – Nicholas Bawin Anggat
SWP – Larry Sng
13) Betong
BN – Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas
PKR – Cecilia Siti Una
14) Saratok
BN – Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom
PKR – Ali Biju
15) Tanjung Manis
BN – Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman
PAS – Jurina Mut
16) Igan
BN – Datuk Abdul Wahab Dolah
PAS – Ajiji Fauzan
17) Sarikei
BN – Ding Kuong Hiing
DAP – Andrew Wong Ling Biu
18) Julau
BN – Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
PAS – Dr Ambrose Labang Jamba
SWP – Wong Judat
PKR – Andy Wong Hong Yu
19) Kanowit
BN – Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang
PKR – Thomas Laja
SWP – Ellison Ludan
20) Lanang
BN – Datuk Tiong Thai King
DAP – Alice Lau Khiong Yieng
21) Sibu
BN – Vincent Lau Lee Ming
DAP – Oscar Ling
22) Mukah
BN – Dato Sri Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad
PAS – Nani Sahari
DAP – Hai Merawin
23) Selangau
BN – Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun
PKR – Joshua Jabeng
SWP – Datuk Sng Chee Hua
24) Kapit
BN – Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi
DAP – Ramli Malaka
25) Hulu Rajang
BN – Wilson Ugak Kumbong
PKR – Abun Sui Anyie
SWP – George Lagong
STAR – Dr Elli Luhat
26) Bintulu
BN – Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing
DAP – Dr John Brian Anthony
27) Sibuti
BN – Ahmad Lai Bujang
PAS – Mohd Zais @ Robby Tandang
28) Miri
BN – Datuk Sebastian Ting
PKR – Michael Teo
STAR – Chong Kon Fatt
29) Baram
BN – Anyie Ngau
PKR – Roland Engan
30) Limbang
BN – Hasbi Habibollah
PKR – Baru Bian
31) Lawas
BN – Datuk Henry Sum Agong
DAP – Dr Bob Baru Langub
STAR – Ali Rahman Kamseh
Nomination centres in Sarawak.
P.192 MAS GADING – Bau Civic Centre
P.193 SANTUBONG – Institut Kemahiran MARA
P.194 PETRA JAYA – Dewan Al-Muneerah SMK Petra Jaya, Kuching.
P.195 BANDAR KUCHING – MBKS Auditorium, Kuching
P.196 STAMPIN – Padawan Municipal Council
P.197 KOTA SAMARAHAN – Kota Samarahan Civic Centre
P.198 MAMBONG – Court Room of the Siburan Sub District
P.199 SERIAN – Meeting Room of the Serian District Office
P.200 BATANG SADONG – Dewan Mesra, Simunjan
P.201 BATANG LUPAR – Sri Aman Civic Centre
P.202 SRI AMAN – Meeting Room of Sri Aman Resident Office
P.203 LUBOK ANTU – Lubok Antu Sports Complex, Lubok Antu
P.204 BETONG – Dewan Sukan Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan, Betong
P.205 SARATOK – Meeting Room of Saratok District Office
P.206 TANJONG MANIS – Dewan Masyarakat Sarikei
P.207 IGAN – Daro Government House
P.208 SARIKEI – Sarikei Civic Centre
P.209 JULAU – Julau District Office
P.210 KANOWIT – Kanowit District Office
P.211 LANANG – Meeting Hall of Sibu Public Library
P.212 SIBU – Sibu Civic Centre
P.213 MUKAH – Mukah Mesra Civic Centre
P.214 SELANGAU – Selangau District Office
P.215 KAPIT – Main Briefing Room of State Government Complex Kapit
P.216 HULU RAJANG – Kapit Civic Centre
P.217 BINTULU – Bintulu Civic Centre
P.218 SIBUTI – Meeting Room of Subis District Council Office
P.219 MIRI – Miri Civic Centre
P.220 BARAM – Marudi District Office
P.221 LIMBANG -Limbang Civic Centre
P.222 LAWAS – Lawas Indoor Stadium
Thursday, April 18, 2013
GE13: Many battlefronts of Sarawak The Star
KUCHING: Sarawak is expected to see far more multi-cornered fights in GE13 compared to previous polls.
It is likely that none of the 31 parliamentary seats will be won uncontested and there will be fewer straight fights.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) alone is guaranteed at least a three-cornered fight in all of its six seats Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Julau, Kanowit, Selangau and Hulu Rajang.
Besides Pakatan Rakyat candidates, the Sarawak Workers Party's (SWP) will contest too.
In Lubok Antu, incumbent William Nyalau Badak will face PKR's Nicholas Bawin Anggat and SWP president Larry Sng, while in Selangau, Larry's father Sng Chee Hua will contest under the SWP emblem against incumbent Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, who is PRS deputy president, and PKR's Joshua Jabang.
In Hulu Rajang, Barisan's new face Wilson Ugak Kumbong will face SWP deputy president George Lagong, who is Pelagus assemblyman, and PKR's Abun Sui Anyit.
Some Pakatan leaders view SWP's candidates as spoilers because they claim to be a Barisan-friendly party, although Barisan leaders have rejected them.
Another multi-cornered fight is Mas Gading where Barisan incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe is considering contesting as an independent after he was dropped.
If that happens, Mas Gading could be in for a multi-cornered fight between Barisan's new face Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, DAP's Mordi Bimol, State Reform Party's (Star) Patrick Anek Uren and Dr Tiki.
Apart from PRS, the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) expects to see multi-cornered fights in Stampin and Miri due to the inability of PKR and DAP to come to an agreement on both seats.
Five-term Stampin incumbent Datuk Yong Khoon Seng could face DAP's Dr Tang Sie Hing and PKR's Voon Shiak Ni, while Barisan's new face in Miri, Datuk Sebastian Ting, could face DAP's Ling Su Kien and PKR's Michael Teo.
In Santubong, incumbent Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was Parliament Deputy Speaker, is preparing for a possible four-cornered fight against PKR's Zulrusdi Hol, Sarawak Umno Promoters Protem Committee chief Affendi Jeman and, possibly, former state Education Minister Datuk Bujang Ullis as an independent.
It is likely that none of the 31 parliamentary seats will be won uncontested and there will be fewer straight fights.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) alone is guaranteed at least a three-cornered fight in all of its six seats Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Julau, Kanowit, Selangau and Hulu Rajang.
Besides Pakatan Rakyat candidates, the Sarawak Workers Party's (SWP) will contest too.
In Lubok Antu, incumbent William Nyalau Badak will face PKR's Nicholas Bawin Anggat and SWP president Larry Sng, while in Selangau, Larry's father Sng Chee Hua will contest under the SWP emblem against incumbent Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, who is PRS deputy president, and PKR's Joshua Jabang.
In Hulu Rajang, Barisan's new face Wilson Ugak Kumbong will face SWP deputy president George Lagong, who is Pelagus assemblyman, and PKR's Abun Sui Anyit.
Some Pakatan leaders view SWP's candidates as spoilers because they claim to be a Barisan-friendly party, although Barisan leaders have rejected them.
Another multi-cornered fight is Mas Gading where Barisan incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe is considering contesting as an independent after he was dropped.
If that happens, Mas Gading could be in for a multi-cornered fight between Barisan's new face Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, DAP's Mordi Bimol, State Reform Party's (Star) Patrick Anek Uren and Dr Tiki.
Apart from PRS, the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) expects to see multi-cornered fights in Stampin and Miri due to the inability of PKR and DAP to come to an agreement on both seats.
Five-term Stampin incumbent Datuk Yong Khoon Seng could face DAP's Dr Tang Sie Hing and PKR's Voon Shiak Ni, while Barisan's new face in Miri, Datuk Sebastian Ting, could face DAP's Ling Su Kien and PKR's Michael Teo.
In Santubong, incumbent Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was Parliament Deputy Speaker, is preparing for a possible four-cornered fight against PKR's Zulrusdi Hol, Sarawak Umno Promoters Protem Committee chief Affendi Jeman and, possibly, former state Education Minister Datuk Bujang Ullis as an independent.
Sarawak BN touts its good governance
STATE MANIFESTO: Taib also pledges more jobs, business opportunities through Score
SARAWAK Barisan Nasional launched a five-point state supplementary manifesto pledging good governance; transformation of the state economy; transformation of the rural areas to ensure that people there are not left behind and marginalised; preserving peace, harmony and stability in the state and a sustainable environment.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who launched the manifesto after meeting all the 31 Sarawak BN parliamentary candidates at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters at Jalan Bako in Petra Jaya, said the state's accountable and prudent fiscal and financial management was what kept Sarawak abuzz.
"Sarawak's good financial management has been acknowledged by the Auditor-General for 10 consecutive years until now."
He said ratings by international rating agencies like Moody's and Standard & Poors had given the state a positive investment grade credit rating.
"No other state in Malaysia has received these ratings. Sarawak's track record in good governance is crucial to gain the confidence of international investors."
Pointing out that the state's economy was "growing very steadily", due to its efficient and responsive delivery system and strict adherence to financial procedures, Taib said foreign direct investment in 1980 was a mere RM0.1 billion.
In 1990, the FDI in Sarawak was RM1.7 billion and in 2009, it jumped nearly five-fold to RM8.4 billion.
From 2010 to 2020, it is estimated that FDI into the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) alone would balloon to RM147.5 billion.
Taib said to transform the state's economy, the BN would create more business and job opportunities for all in the coming years through Score.
The manifesto stated that Score would provide 836,000 direct employment by the year 2030. The spin-off industries would create another 800,000 jobs.
He pointed out that if Bintulu could be transformed by just one trigger industry -- liquefied natural gas (LNG) -- he asked to "just imagine" what transformation could take place in the state with the 10 trigger industries of Score.
The pace of the transformation of the state's economy was such that it would make Sarawak a developed state "earlier than 2020" and the state's GDP per capita was projected to more than double by the year 2030.
Sarawak projects its GDP per capita to be RM45,00 in 2020 and RM97,500 by 2030.
Taib said in transforming the state's economy, the state BN places top priority on education, particularly in producing people with technical skills.
"We will achieve the high income, developed nation status earlier than 2020."
In its pledge on rural transformation, the supplementary manifesto gave a guarantee of the people's rights over their lands.
It stated the BN government recognised genuine Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands and was committed to bring 1.5 million ha of these NCR lands into the land register.
The state BN government also pledged to continue to provide a network of roads, electricity supply and water supply in the rural areas so people here were not left behind in the mainstream of development.
It added it would continue to improve health services, housing facilities, continue to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas and continue to improve the socio-economic conditions in the rural areas through agricultural entrepreneurship and poverty eradication programmes.
The manifesto also promised a sustainable development.
It also highlighted that Sarawak BN has an excellent record in environmental management where 84 per cent of the state's total land areas of 12.4 million ha is still under forest cover.
Read more: Sarawak BN touts its good governance - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/sarawak-bn-touts-its-good-governance-1.258114#ixzz2QocVHBoY
SARAWAK Barisan Nasional launched a five-point state supplementary manifesto pledging good governance; transformation of the state economy; transformation of the rural areas to ensure that people there are not left behind and marginalised; preserving peace, harmony and stability in the state and a sustainable environment.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who launched the manifesto after meeting all the 31 Sarawak BN parliamentary candidates at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters at Jalan Bako in Petra Jaya, said the state's accountable and prudent fiscal and financial management was what kept Sarawak abuzz.
"Sarawak's good financial management has been acknowledged by the Auditor-General for 10 consecutive years until now."
He said ratings by international rating agencies like Moody's and Standard & Poors had given the state a positive investment grade credit rating.
"No other state in Malaysia has received these ratings. Sarawak's track record in good governance is crucial to gain the confidence of international investors."
Pointing out that the state's economy was "growing very steadily", due to its efficient and responsive delivery system and strict adherence to financial procedures, Taib said foreign direct investment in 1980 was a mere RM0.1 billion.
In 1990, the FDI in Sarawak was RM1.7 billion and in 2009, it jumped nearly five-fold to RM8.4 billion.
From 2010 to 2020, it is estimated that FDI into the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) alone would balloon to RM147.5 billion.
Taib said to transform the state's economy, the BN would create more business and job opportunities for all in the coming years through Score.
The manifesto stated that Score would provide 836,000 direct employment by the year 2030. The spin-off industries would create another 800,000 jobs.
He pointed out that if Bintulu could be transformed by just one trigger industry -- liquefied natural gas (LNG) -- he asked to "just imagine" what transformation could take place in the state with the 10 trigger industries of Score.
The pace of the transformation of the state's economy was such that it would make Sarawak a developed state "earlier than 2020" and the state's GDP per capita was projected to more than double by the year 2030.
Sarawak projects its GDP per capita to be RM45,00 in 2020 and RM97,500 by 2030.
Taib said in transforming the state's economy, the state BN places top priority on education, particularly in producing people with technical skills.
"We will achieve the high income, developed nation status earlier than 2020."
In its pledge on rural transformation, the supplementary manifesto gave a guarantee of the people's rights over their lands.
It stated the BN government recognised genuine Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands and was committed to bring 1.5 million ha of these NCR lands into the land register.
The state BN government also pledged to continue to provide a network of roads, electricity supply and water supply in the rural areas so people here were not left behind in the mainstream of development.
It added it would continue to improve health services, housing facilities, continue to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas and continue to improve the socio-economic conditions in the rural areas through agricultural entrepreneurship and poverty eradication programmes.
The manifesto also promised a sustainable development.
It also highlighted that Sarawak BN has an excellent record in environmental management where 84 per cent of the state's total land areas of 12.4 million ha is still under forest cover.
Read more: Sarawak BN touts its good governance - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/sarawak-bn-touts-its-good-governance-1.258114#ixzz2QocVHBoY
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
8 new faces in State BN lineup
KUCHING: Eight new candidates are in the the State Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates list unveiled by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here yesterday.
Speaking after announcing the candidates, Taib disclosed that the constituencies which will see new faces were Mas Gading, Kota Samarahan, Bandar Kuching, Saratok, Sibu, Miri, Baram and Hulu Rajang.
“Of the 31 parliamentary seats we are going to contest, eight of our candidates are new faces. Out of the eight one is a female, Rubiah Wang, who is our candidate for Kota Samarahan,” he said.
Taib, who is State BN chairman, revealed that the seats with the change of candidates were three each from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and one each for PBB and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
SPDP dropped Jelaing Mersat in Saratok and Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan in Baram while it has chosen Anthony Nogeh Gumbek for the Mas Gading seat.
Jelaing was replaced by the party president and Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom while in Baram Sagan was replaced by Anyie Ngau.
Nogeh’s inclusion ended speculations that now-partyless Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe could be re-nominated to stand as a direct BN candidate.
The change in PBB is the fielding of Rubiah in Kota Samarahan in place of Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib while for PRS the party dropped Datuk Billy Abit Joo and replaced him with Wilson Ugak Kumbong in Hulu Rajang.
The new faces from SUPP are Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming for Sibu, the party’s youth chief Tan Kai (Bandar Kuching) and Datuk Sebastian Ting the political secretary to Datuk Seri Peter Chin (Miri).
“The changes are made based on the assessment carried on the performance of the respective parliamentarians over the past few months and we believe the candidates we have will be able to assist our Prime Minister to get better mandate from the people following the political swing in the 2008 general elections,” he said.
Taib also said with the combination of old and new faces in the line-up the state BN was confident that it would contribute towards BN’s overall success in the polls.
“We believe we can win at least 23 to 27 out of the 31 seats we are going to contest in this general election,” he said.
Met at the lobby when leaving the PBB headquarters, he again reaffirmed his confidence by telling The Borneo Post that the state BN should be able to win two thirds of the parliamentary seats in Sarawak.
In the 2008 general election Sarawak only lost Bandar Kuching to the DAP but in 2010 it lost another seat when Wong Ho Leng, also from DAP won the by-election in Sibu following the death of its incumbent the late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew.
Of the 31 parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak, PBB as the backbone of the state BN, held 14 seats followed by SUPP (seven), PRS (six) and SPDP (four).
Among those present at the media conference that was held after a state BN leaders meeting were presidents of the component parties except for SUPP who was represented by its deputy Datuk Richard Riot who will be defending his seat in Serian and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/17/8-new-faces-in-state-bn-lineup/#ixzz2QfjqEHcj
Speaking after announcing the candidates, Taib disclosed that the constituencies which will see new faces were Mas Gading, Kota Samarahan, Bandar Kuching, Saratok, Sibu, Miri, Baram and Hulu Rajang.
“Of the 31 parliamentary seats we are going to contest, eight of our candidates are new faces. Out of the eight one is a female, Rubiah Wang, who is our candidate for Kota Samarahan,” he said.
Taib, who is State BN chairman, revealed that the seats with the change of candidates were three each from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and one each for PBB and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
SPDP dropped Jelaing Mersat in Saratok and Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan in Baram while it has chosen Anthony Nogeh Gumbek for the Mas Gading seat.
Jelaing was replaced by the party president and Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom while in Baram Sagan was replaced by Anyie Ngau.
Nogeh’s inclusion ended speculations that now-partyless Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe could be re-nominated to stand as a direct BN candidate.
The change in PBB is the fielding of Rubiah in Kota Samarahan in place of Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib while for PRS the party dropped Datuk Billy Abit Joo and replaced him with Wilson Ugak Kumbong in Hulu Rajang.
The new faces from SUPP are Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming for Sibu, the party’s youth chief Tan Kai (Bandar Kuching) and Datuk Sebastian Ting the political secretary to Datuk Seri Peter Chin (Miri).
“The changes are made based on the assessment carried on the performance of the respective parliamentarians over the past few months and we believe the candidates we have will be able to assist our Prime Minister to get better mandate from the people following the political swing in the 2008 general elections,” he said.
Taib also said with the combination of old and new faces in the line-up the state BN was confident that it would contribute towards BN’s overall success in the polls.
“We believe we can win at least 23 to 27 out of the 31 seats we are going to contest in this general election,” he said.
Met at the lobby when leaving the PBB headquarters, he again reaffirmed his confidence by telling The Borneo Post that the state BN should be able to win two thirds of the parliamentary seats in Sarawak.
In the 2008 general election Sarawak only lost Bandar Kuching to the DAP but in 2010 it lost another seat when Wong Ho Leng, also from DAP won the by-election in Sibu following the death of its incumbent the late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew.
Of the 31 parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak, PBB as the backbone of the state BN, held 14 seats followed by SUPP (seven), PRS (six) and SPDP (four).
Among those present at the media conference that was held after a state BN leaders meeting were presidents of the component parties except for SUPP who was represented by its deputy Datuk Richard Riot who will be defending his seat in Serian and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/17/8-new-faces-in-state-bn-lineup/#ixzz2QfjqEHcj
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Seeing tourism through the eyes of Sarawak’s ‘big village' by Justin Calderon
Kuching is a big village, a kampung besar. This is an honest perspective from an outsider after spending two weeks in Sarawak’s capital, a remote outpost of Borneo that is somewhat more than a town but less than a city.
It is this intimacy, bred of an idiosyncratically Borneo reclusiveness, that has lured in visitors from near and far through Kuching, or ‘Cat City’, the aptly domesticated gateway to more primal unknowns.
FASINATING PLACE: Photo of a Bidayuh longhouse, one of the last remaining of the Bidayuh ethnic group. Tourism has been a part of Sarawak’s DNA for the decades that have elapsed since foreigners began penning their fascination with this slice of Borneo, today still a byword for exotic flora and fauna of an alien kind.
Tourism has been a part of Sarawak’s DNA for the decades that have elapsed since foreigners began penning their fascination with this slice of Borneo, today still a byword for exotic flora and fauna of an alien kind.
“Before Malaysia’s formation as an independent state, Sarawak was very much isolated – a place that writers would romanticise, describing a far-flung land rich in biodiversity and home to over 30 ethnic groups,” deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu recently reminisced with Inside Investor.
Today, Sarawak still embodies this timeless allure, and foreigners are predicted to increasingly continue making the haul through Kuching and other international gateways.
By 2014, the State of Sarawak is targeting six million tourist arrivals, up from more the more than four million that came in 2012.
Yet hoteliers in Kuching have become wont to bemoan the lack of flight connectivity to their quaint home, as well as the fact that human capital has been sucked out of the domestic tourism biosphere.
“We suffer from a severe manpower shortage,” Rosemarie Wong, director of The Ranee, a luxury boutique-style hotel in Kuching, told Inside Investor.
“Those experienced in the hospitality industry are working overseas or on international cruise ships,” she added.
Helpful in part, Sarawak will soon seriously shape up on the connectivity side of the problem.
This year, a major boost for tourism will come from extended flight connections, first of all through the newly launched airline, Malindo Air, which started flying its inaugural Kuala Lumpur-Kuching and Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu routes in March 2013.
Malindo Air chief executive officer Chandran Ramamuthy had said that efforts would continuously be made to step up connections, starting with 12 routes by end-2013, making big waves for the young airline, which had already begun creating a word-of-mouth buzz with its low-cost model that paradoxically offers great service and amenities.
Additionally, Malindo Air, 49 per cent owned by Indonesia’s Lion Air, has ordered a sizeable number of aircraft to expand its services, with a fleet that is slated to increase to 12 by end-2013 to match the new routes planned.
Now here is the part really worth zooming in on – if all goes as hoped, the Indian capital of New Delhi would become Malindo Air’s maiden international destination some time in the middle of 2013, followed by direct flights from Kuching to Indonesia, Japan, China and South Korea within two years.
The fresh link to New Delhi is most significant because it offers a cure to the other hurdle impeding Sarawak’s potential for growth in the tourism sector.
Through a connection to India, Malindo is actually whipsawing at the blocade facing tourism by opening up a bridge for human capital from the overpopulated, yet educationally credible, South Asian nation.
The effects could be equally manifold: Indian workers could be given a hand to fill the void not just in the tourism sector, but also in other areas where human capital has become critically low in supply, such as research centers, technically advanced heavy industries and agriculture – namely oil palm, a business that suffers from a shortage of labourers and currently depends on 80 per cent of its workforce from neighbouring Indonesia.
Evidently, Sarawak’s allure of natural wonder doesn’t attract high-end visitors, who often prefer to spend their time moving from mall to mall shopping for luxury brands and eating in five-star restaurants.
Yet much like wild safaris best exemplified in east Africa, Sarawak has great potential for personalised eco-tourism, where customised explorations through the hinterlands can be run by business savvy entrepreneurs who are keen to capitalise on the projected 50 per cent increase in tourist arrivals.
This may be the next fascinating chapter of the state, but countless variables still stand in the way. One thing can be said for certain, however; Sarawak will always be a place worth penning about, no matter the story that unfolds.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/14/seeing-tourism-through-the-eyes-of-sarawaks-big-village/#ixzz2QPWEKXM2
It is this intimacy, bred of an idiosyncratically Borneo reclusiveness, that has lured in visitors from near and far through Kuching, or ‘Cat City’, the aptly domesticated gateway to more primal unknowns.
FASINATING PLACE: Photo of a Bidayuh longhouse, one of the last remaining of the Bidayuh ethnic group. Tourism has been a part of Sarawak’s DNA for the decades that have elapsed since foreigners began penning their fascination with this slice of Borneo, today still a byword for exotic flora and fauna of an alien kind.
Tourism has been a part of Sarawak’s DNA for the decades that have elapsed since foreigners began penning their fascination with this slice of Borneo, today still a byword for exotic flora and fauna of an alien kind.
“Before Malaysia’s formation as an independent state, Sarawak was very much isolated – a place that writers would romanticise, describing a far-flung land rich in biodiversity and home to over 30 ethnic groups,” deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu recently reminisced with Inside Investor.
Today, Sarawak still embodies this timeless allure, and foreigners are predicted to increasingly continue making the haul through Kuching and other international gateways.
By 2014, the State of Sarawak is targeting six million tourist arrivals, up from more the more than four million that came in 2012.
Yet hoteliers in Kuching have become wont to bemoan the lack of flight connectivity to their quaint home, as well as the fact that human capital has been sucked out of the domestic tourism biosphere.
“We suffer from a severe manpower shortage,” Rosemarie Wong, director of The Ranee, a luxury boutique-style hotel in Kuching, told Inside Investor.
“Those experienced in the hospitality industry are working overseas or on international cruise ships,” she added.
Helpful in part, Sarawak will soon seriously shape up on the connectivity side of the problem.
This year, a major boost for tourism will come from extended flight connections, first of all through the newly launched airline, Malindo Air, which started flying its inaugural Kuala Lumpur-Kuching and Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu routes in March 2013.
Malindo Air chief executive officer Chandran Ramamuthy had said that efforts would continuously be made to step up connections, starting with 12 routes by end-2013, making big waves for the young airline, which had already begun creating a word-of-mouth buzz with its low-cost model that paradoxically offers great service and amenities.
Additionally, Malindo Air, 49 per cent owned by Indonesia’s Lion Air, has ordered a sizeable number of aircraft to expand its services, with a fleet that is slated to increase to 12 by end-2013 to match the new routes planned.
Now here is the part really worth zooming in on – if all goes as hoped, the Indian capital of New Delhi would become Malindo Air’s maiden international destination some time in the middle of 2013, followed by direct flights from Kuching to Indonesia, Japan, China and South Korea within two years.
The fresh link to New Delhi is most significant because it offers a cure to the other hurdle impeding Sarawak’s potential for growth in the tourism sector.
Through a connection to India, Malindo is actually whipsawing at the blocade facing tourism by opening up a bridge for human capital from the overpopulated, yet educationally credible, South Asian nation.
The effects could be equally manifold: Indian workers could be given a hand to fill the void not just in the tourism sector, but also in other areas where human capital has become critically low in supply, such as research centers, technically advanced heavy industries and agriculture – namely oil palm, a business that suffers from a shortage of labourers and currently depends on 80 per cent of its workforce from neighbouring Indonesia.
Evidently, Sarawak’s allure of natural wonder doesn’t attract high-end visitors, who often prefer to spend their time moving from mall to mall shopping for luxury brands and eating in five-star restaurants.
Yet much like wild safaris best exemplified in east Africa, Sarawak has great potential for personalised eco-tourism, where customised explorations through the hinterlands can be run by business savvy entrepreneurs who are keen to capitalise on the projected 50 per cent increase in tourist arrivals.
This may be the next fascinating chapter of the state, but countless variables still stand in the way. One thing can be said for certain, however; Sarawak will always be a place worth penning about, no matter the story that unfolds.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/14/seeing-tourism-through-the-eyes-of-sarawaks-big-village/#ixzz2QPWEKXM2
Friday, April 12, 2013
Waiting game continues for BN candidate-wannabes
KUALA LUMPUR: The high hopes and excitement of many to learn the list of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the 13th general election (GE13) turned into disappointment as the most anticipated announcement did not materialise yesterday.
To those of interest, especially candidate-wannabes, it seems that they just have to wait for a few more days.
“…yet to be finalised. Will be announced in a few days’ time,” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told reporters after meeting with the BN election machinery at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.
Najib, who is also BN chairman, said the process of finalising the list had yet to be completed because it was a complex and difficult process and several factors must be taken into account in deciding the seats and candidates.
He said it was not possible for the party to accommodate the requirements of everyone or to satisfy all individuals.
Hence, he also called on BN members to understand the actual fact that the objective of this general election was not merely to be selected as candidates, but also to form a strong government at the national and state levels. — Bernama
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/11/waiting-game-continues-for-bn-candidate-wannabes/#ixzz2QG9J5JD5
To those of interest, especially candidate-wannabes, it seems that they just have to wait for a few more days.
“…yet to be finalised. Will be announced in a few days’ time,” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told reporters after meeting with the BN election machinery at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.
Najib, who is also BN chairman, said the process of finalising the list had yet to be completed because it was a complex and difficult process and several factors must be taken into account in deciding the seats and candidates.
He said it was not possible for the party to accommodate the requirements of everyone or to satisfy all individuals.
Hence, he also called on BN members to understand the actual fact that the objective of this general election was not merely to be selected as candidates, but also to form a strong government at the national and state levels. — Bernama
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/11/waiting-game-continues-for-bn-candidate-wannabes/#ixzz2QG9J5JD5
Monday, April 8, 2013
‘Golden Ring Ladies’ awed by Golden Triangle meikeng@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Coming from a village located 1,000m above sea level, Singai anak Nikan was reasonably captivated by the sight of the soaring KL Tower.
The 62-year-old Bidayuh from Kampung Semban – a remote settlement on top of a hill in Padawan, Sarawak – said: “I wanted to visit KL Tower because I think its height is amazing.”
Singai is one of seven “Golden Ring Ladies” in her village who still keep to the dying tradition of wearing long copper bangles on their hands and legs as a symbol of beauty and respect.
It is said that those who wear the luyang (hand bangles) and lasung (leg bangles) should wear them for life.
Singai, a padi farmer, said the hustle and bustle of the city did not put her off.
“I don’t find it very noisy. I also like shopping and seeing the interesting clothes here,” said the grandmother of 30, who also tried roti canai for the first time.
Singai is on a four-day visit to Kuala Lumpur with two other “Golden Ring Ladies”.
They have been invited to speak to Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim at Angkasapuri at 10am today.
Singai, who has been wearing the bangles since she was six, said they did not hurt as she was “used to it”.
Andrew Teyok Gudang, 51, who escorted the women, said those who wear the bangles could become a dayung lanyak, a respected elder in the community.
“Only the dayung lanyak can lead the beris or prayers for a good harvest and other matters including good health,” he said.
Andrew lamented that young women were reluctant to continue the tradition of wearing the bangles.
The 62-year-old Bidayuh from Kampung Semban – a remote settlement on top of a hill in Padawan, Sarawak – said: “I wanted to visit KL Tower because I think its height is amazing.”
Singai is one of seven “Golden Ring Ladies” in her village who still keep to the dying tradition of wearing long copper bangles on their hands and legs as a symbol of beauty and respect.
It is said that those who wear the luyang (hand bangles) and lasung (leg bangles) should wear them for life.
Singai, a padi farmer, said the hustle and bustle of the city did not put her off.
“I don’t find it very noisy. I also like shopping and seeing the interesting clothes here,” said the grandmother of 30, who also tried roti canai for the first time.
Singai is on a four-day visit to Kuala Lumpur with two other “Golden Ring Ladies”.
They have been invited to speak to Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim at Angkasapuri at 10am today.
Singai, who has been wearing the bangles since she was six, said they did not hurt as she was “used to it”.
Andrew Teyok Gudang, 51, who escorted the women, said those who wear the bangles could become a dayung lanyak, a respected elder in the community.
“Only the dayung lanyak can lead the beris or prayers for a good harvest and other matters including good health,” he said.
Andrew lamented that young women were reluctant to continue the tradition of wearing the bangles.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Borneo to enjoy further development under BN
KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah and Sarawak are assured of more progress under a Barisan Nasional (BN) government, with numerous projects expected to take off in the next five years if the coalition is returned to power.
According to the BN election manifesto launched by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here last night, one of them is the construction of the 2,300-km Pan-Borneo Highway stretching from Sematan in Sarawak to Serudung in Sabah.
The highway is expected to spearhead new growth areas, better business opportunities and enhanced communications.
Themed ‘People First’, the manifesto was unveiled in the wake of the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat on April 3, paving the way for the country’s 13th general election.
There is also the pledge to build 2,500 kilometres of paved roads in Sabah and 2,800 kilometres in Sarawak, while the rural electrification project will benefit 60,000 households in Sabah and 80,000 in Sarawak.
The BN is also committed to extending clean water supply to another 320,000 homes nationwide in the next five years.
In a bid to provide better access to quality healthcare services, the BN, in its manifesto, pledges to set up a heart centre and cancer centre in every major hospital in both states.
The coalition also promises to improve access to quality education for rural and minorities communities, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak.
Meanwhile, in the economic sector, the 31-page manifesto said the effectiveness of the bumiputera agenda, including for bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak, will be enhanced by providing business opportunities, a stronger eco-system and institutional support.
The BN, meanwhile, pledges to gazette all native customary land in close consultation with state governments should it be returned to power in the upcoming general election.
The coalition is also committed to providing more income-generating opportunities within indigenous communities and increasing the intake of indigenous youth into tertiary and vocational education.
In addition, the BN promises to set up special courts with the same status as the High Court under the present justice system to deal specifically with native customary rights issues. — Bernama
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/07/sabah-sarawak-to-enjoy-further-devt-under-bn/#ixzz2PlM1ssNT
According to the BN election manifesto launched by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here last night, one of them is the construction of the 2,300-km Pan-Borneo Highway stretching from Sematan in Sarawak to Serudung in Sabah.
The highway is expected to spearhead new growth areas, better business opportunities and enhanced communications.
Themed ‘People First’, the manifesto was unveiled in the wake of the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat on April 3, paving the way for the country’s 13th general election.
There is also the pledge to build 2,500 kilometres of paved roads in Sabah and 2,800 kilometres in Sarawak, while the rural electrification project will benefit 60,000 households in Sabah and 80,000 in Sarawak.
The BN is also committed to extending clean water supply to another 320,000 homes nationwide in the next five years.
In a bid to provide better access to quality healthcare services, the BN, in its manifesto, pledges to set up a heart centre and cancer centre in every major hospital in both states.
The coalition also promises to improve access to quality education for rural and minorities communities, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak.
Meanwhile, in the economic sector, the 31-page manifesto said the effectiveness of the bumiputera agenda, including for bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak, will be enhanced by providing business opportunities, a stronger eco-system and institutional support.
The BN, meanwhile, pledges to gazette all native customary land in close consultation with state governments should it be returned to power in the upcoming general election.
The coalition is also committed to providing more income-generating opportunities within indigenous communities and increasing the intake of indigenous youth into tertiary and vocational education.
In addition, the BN promises to set up special courts with the same status as the High Court under the present justice system to deal specifically with native customary rights issues. — Bernama
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/07/sabah-sarawak-to-enjoy-further-devt-under-bn/#ixzz2PlM1ssNT
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Is there no salve Sarawak can apply to Sabah's scars? By Justin Calderon
LIKELY AID: Photo shows a view of Kuching city’s waterfront. Sarawak can act as a third-party to slave the rising tensions in Sabah.
The Sabah incident has instigated an unfortunate wave of ground-up acrimony in two prominent Asean nations – unfortunately because it whittles down at the foundation of an already intrinsically disparate group that is a central clog in global growth; evidently acrimonious because of the parading caskets of the fallen and scores of other preventable deaths.
The claims exhumed by -styled Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III over Sabah serve as a vivid reminder that the 10-nation Asean bloc has disturbingly potent skeletons in the closet that can ebb away at the economic credibility of the US$2.3 trillion powerhouse.
For all its economic prowess, the factious nature of Southeast Asian politics – both visible through infighting and international conflicts – has the ability to offset intra-trade, bilateral communication and tourism, ultimately fraying the fabric of the Asean dream.
Directly in Sarawak’s backyard of eastern Borneo, tensions are at times equally as palpable as if the incident had occurred within the state, namely because of the showering attention the bloodiest of the conflict had gotten in national and local media.
As an observer, Sarawak can act as a third-party to salve the rising tensions, but in order to do this Sarawakians must not succumb to the kind of myopic tendencies that have now geared the Philippines to take a more defined stance.
It is important for Sarawak to act as a mediator in this sense, kneading the bruises of the situation through clear-headed discussions that inform people of just how crucial maintaining healthy bilateral sentiment is.
Resulting bias against Filipino visitors, both on the tourism and business level, would bring back hopes of sound integration a notch. Treating the incident as isolated while maintaining a business outlook that promotes trade in the face of ongoing political dialogue is how Sarawak can act as a leader on Borneo.
There are doubtless challenges to mount in achieving this goal. Despite the incident being far-flung from Kuala Lumpur and Manila, ground-up parochialism has engendered jingoist sentiment, prodding governments to make political gestures to appeal to their respective electorates – especially crucial during the precarious election year in both Malaysia and the Philippines.
EASING TENSION: Photo shows scenic view of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It is crucial for the tension in Sabah to be settled in a rational manner.
Stepping into a cab in Manila one week ago, my Catholic taxi driver, who was born in the capital told me, “Sabah belongs to the Philippines. It is ours.”
While this is a sentiment not carried by the upper-middle class in Makati, Manila’s financial district, it is apparently an interpretation of some Filipinos that has caused enough noise to give the central government headaches.
Acting on cue, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs recently called on all government agencies of the nation to no longer refer to Sabah as part of Malaysia due to the Royal Sultan of Sulu’s pre-existing claims.
Pointing to a 2008 memorandum, Foreign Affairs Spokesman Raul Hernandez said that the request was an ‘existing regulation’ and must be complied with by all government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities.
On an insidious note, unconfirmed rumours – and specifically just that – abound that Aquino’s opposition armed the Sulu rebels with the intent of spurring chaos in the lead up to mid-term elections on May 13.
In response to the ongoing events, President Benigno Aquino III announced that he would spend his Holy Week vacation to “draw up a peaceful (solution) to Sabah claim” instead of on retreat in Baguio City now that his administration had taken its new position.
Indeed, any gestures made to mitigate further damage are not to be overlooked, whilst the region find itself in an every deepening schism. Observers need only look to other examples of deteriorating bilateral relations in Asean to see the damage at the cross hair – as well as the solutions that have been found.
Thailand and Cambodia have had a rollercoaster history, underscored by their on-again, off-again bickering claims over a clutch of temples on Cambodia’s northern border.
Yet the two nations have witnessed increased bilateral trade and investment, with Thailand business associations promoting investment deals in their eastern neighbour as a destination where manufacturing is cost-effective and cultural norms similar – all this in spite of the festering temple incident.
Here is how Sarawak can guide Sabah forward by example. If Malaysian states continue to promote trade with the Philippines through their respective associations, then Asean will stick to what it does best while leaving the politics to those locked away on weekends.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/31/is-there-no-salve-sarawak-can-apply-to-sabahs-scars/#ixzz2P51ggrxG
Friday, March 29, 2013
Orangutan at Semenggoh Wildlife
KUCHING: Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is abuzz with sightings of Minah’s newborn baby orangutan.
The 25-year-old female Pongo pygmeaus was first seen with her baby on Feb 23, the centre revealed in a press statement issued yesterday.
“The baby orangutan is named ‘Jubilee’ meaning celebration and this is in commemoration of Sarawak’s golden jubilee celebration this year.
“In fact, his birth this year also coincides with Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s 10th anniversary of its establishment,” said Datu Ali Yusop, the controller of wild life.
Jubilee is the fourth child of Minah, who was surrendered in 1993 from Lubok Antu, Sri Aman.
The birth of ‘Jubilee’ means that there are now a total of 27 orangutans in Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.
Orangutan offspring are dependent on their mothers till they are at least five years old but the adult male will have no contact with infants. Orangutans are totally protected in Sarawak and hence may not be kept as pets, hunted, captured, killed, sold, imported or exported, or disturbed in any way; nor may anyone possess any recognisable part of these animals.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/15/25-year-old-captive-orangutan-gives-birth-to-4th-offspring/#ixzz2OylYx9rf
The 25-year-old female Pongo pygmeaus was first seen with her baby on Feb 23, the centre revealed in a press statement issued yesterday.
“The baby orangutan is named ‘Jubilee’ meaning celebration and this is in commemoration of Sarawak’s golden jubilee celebration this year.
“In fact, his birth this year also coincides with Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s 10th anniversary of its establishment,” said Datu Ali Yusop, the controller of wild life.
Jubilee is the fourth child of Minah, who was surrendered in 1993 from Lubok Antu, Sri Aman.
The birth of ‘Jubilee’ means that there are now a total of 27 orangutans in Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.
Orangutan offspring are dependent on their mothers till they are at least five years old but the adult male will have no contact with infants. Orangutans are totally protected in Sarawak and hence may not be kept as pets, hunted, captured, killed, sold, imported or exported, or disturbed in any way; nor may anyone possess any recognisable part of these animals.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/15/25-year-old-captive-orangutan-gives-birth-to-4th-offspring/#ixzz2OylYx9rf
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday March 26, 2013 GE13: BN out to prove a point in Sarawak . The Star
Barisan has always counted on Sarawak to ensure victory in the past, but will this election be different?
SARAWAK'S reputation as Barisan Nasional's stronghold will be tested in the coming general election by a more confident Pakatan Rakyat.
The state Barisan coalition now holds 29 of the 31 parliamentary seats but there has been talk that the Opposition could win up to six seats.
Buoyed by their success in the state election of 2011 when they bagged 15 of the 71 seats contested, the Opposition parties seem confident that the sentiments of the people would still be in their favour.
In recent weeks, however, some Barisan leaders believe there has been a swing in support back to the ruling coalition. However, it remains to be seen whether the support is enough to stop the Opposition.
Unlike the 2008 polls when the state Barisan managed to win five seats Tanjong Manis, Igan, Kanowit, Selangau and Kapit uncontested, the coming election is expected to be a crowded affair. It's quite likely that there will be no uncontested wins.
In the hot seat
SUPP, the state's oldest party, is likely to be the party most Sarawakians will be watching with interest. After its failure in the last state election where it lost nearly all its Chinese-majority seats, there are those who believe SUPP will be struggling in the coming polls.
Among the casualties in the state election was its then party president Tan Sri Dr George Chan in Piasau. He consequently quit his party post and stepped down as a Deputy Chief Minister. It was a huge blow to the party because in the following state Cabinet reshuffle, the Deputy Chief Minister's post was not returned to the party.
SUPP's poor performance caused a split in the party when Sibu SUPP chief Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, a contender for the president's post, and a group of elected representatives boycotted the triennial delegates conference at the end of 2011, citing irregularities during branch meetings and their elections.
As a result of the boycott, Datuk Seri Peter Chin won the president's post uncontested. Until today, Wong and his group refused to recognise Chin, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, as the party president although they appeared to have reached a ceasefire and understanding on who gets to call the shots during the polls.
Unlike the seats in Kuching or Sibu, Dr Chan's defeat in Piasau is indeed a breakthrough for DAP which is hoping to repeat its success in the Miri parliamentary constituency. Piasau is one of two state seats in Miri.
Although Chin, a four-term Miri MP, had announced he wanted to step down, he has said recently that he could still contest.
In the meantime, SUPP has nominated Chin's political secretary Datuk Sebastian Ting as its candidate for Miri while DAP has named its Senadin chief Lim Su Kien as the candidate, much to the dissatisfaction of party members in Miri, who want state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, the Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
State DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng has decided to take a back seat and will not be defending Sibu after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. So, Chong is now running the show.
SUPP is contesting in seven parliamentary seats this elections but it is said to have only one safe seat in Serian. Despite the gloomy outlook, the party is expected to wrest Sibu back from DAP through its prominent community leader, Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau.
He is expected to face Ho Leng's special assistant Oscar Ling.
Familiar foes
The bumiputra seats are very likely to stay as Barisan's fixed deposits.
PBB, for one, is expected to deliver a clean sweep of all its 14 contested seats. The party is expected to see at least one new face joining the fray since Kota Samarahan incumbent Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib will not be defending his seat. It has been speculated that a female senior government official could be the candidate.
Barisan, however, could face tough fights in the native seats of Mas Gading, Lubok Antu, Hulu Rajang and Baram. Mas Gading and Baram will be contested by SPDP, while PRS will defend Lubok Antu and Hulu Rajang.
The Mas Gading incumbent is Dr Tiki Lafe, who left SPDP last year with five other elected representatives after a fallout with party president Tan Sri William Mawan. Although Dr Tiki is now partyless, he is still very much a Barisan man and has insisted on defending his seat.
SPDP has nominated Anthony Nogeh, a deputy general manager of a state agency, but it is believed that Dr Tiki could still be fielded as a direct Barisan candidate.
PRS, meanwhile, has to contend with the Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) which is led by Larry Sng. Sng was sacked from PRS by party president Tan Sri Dr James Masing for insu-bordination, and has made it SWP's mission to wipe out PRS in the state.
Of PRS' six seats, Sng is expected to contest in Lubok Antu which is currently represented by Willliam Nyallau Badak.
In Hulu Rajang, Masing has found himself in quite a pickle. He decided to drop MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo but like Dr Tiki, Abit is also insisting on defending his seat.
SARAWAK'S reputation as Barisan Nasional's stronghold will be tested in the coming general election by a more confident Pakatan Rakyat.
The state Barisan coalition now holds 29 of the 31 parliamentary seats but there has been talk that the Opposition could win up to six seats.
Buoyed by their success in the state election of 2011 when they bagged 15 of the 71 seats contested, the Opposition parties seem confident that the sentiments of the people would still be in their favour.
In recent weeks, however, some Barisan leaders believe there has been a swing in support back to the ruling coalition. However, it remains to be seen whether the support is enough to stop the Opposition.
Unlike the 2008 polls when the state Barisan managed to win five seats Tanjong Manis, Igan, Kanowit, Selangau and Kapit uncontested, the coming election is expected to be a crowded affair. It's quite likely that there will be no uncontested wins.
In the hot seat
SUPP, the state's oldest party, is likely to be the party most Sarawakians will be watching with interest. After its failure in the last state election where it lost nearly all its Chinese-majority seats, there are those who believe SUPP will be struggling in the coming polls.
Among the casualties in the state election was its then party president Tan Sri Dr George Chan in Piasau. He consequently quit his party post and stepped down as a Deputy Chief Minister. It was a huge blow to the party because in the following state Cabinet reshuffle, the Deputy Chief Minister's post was not returned to the party.
SUPP's poor performance caused a split in the party when Sibu SUPP chief Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, a contender for the president's post, and a group of elected representatives boycotted the triennial delegates conference at the end of 2011, citing irregularities during branch meetings and their elections.
As a result of the boycott, Datuk Seri Peter Chin won the president's post uncontested. Until today, Wong and his group refused to recognise Chin, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, as the party president although they appeared to have reached a ceasefire and understanding on who gets to call the shots during the polls.
Unlike the seats in Kuching or Sibu, Dr Chan's defeat in Piasau is indeed a breakthrough for DAP which is hoping to repeat its success in the Miri parliamentary constituency. Piasau is one of two state seats in Miri.
Although Chin, a four-term Miri MP, had announced he wanted to step down, he has said recently that he could still contest.
In the meantime, SUPP has nominated Chin's political secretary Datuk Sebastian Ting as its candidate for Miri while DAP has named its Senadin chief Lim Su Kien as the candidate, much to the dissatisfaction of party members in Miri, who want state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, the Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
State DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng has decided to take a back seat and will not be defending Sibu after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. So, Chong is now running the show.
SUPP is contesting in seven parliamentary seats this elections but it is said to have only one safe seat in Serian. Despite the gloomy outlook, the party is expected to wrest Sibu back from DAP through its prominent community leader, Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau.
He is expected to face Ho Leng's special assistant Oscar Ling.
Familiar foes
The bumiputra seats are very likely to stay as Barisan's fixed deposits.
PBB, for one, is expected to deliver a clean sweep of all its 14 contested seats. The party is expected to see at least one new face joining the fray since Kota Samarahan incumbent Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib will not be defending his seat. It has been speculated that a female senior government official could be the candidate.
Barisan, however, could face tough fights in the native seats of Mas Gading, Lubok Antu, Hulu Rajang and Baram. Mas Gading and Baram will be contested by SPDP, while PRS will defend Lubok Antu and Hulu Rajang.
The Mas Gading incumbent is Dr Tiki Lafe, who left SPDP last year with five other elected representatives after a fallout with party president Tan Sri William Mawan. Although Dr Tiki is now partyless, he is still very much a Barisan man and has insisted on defending his seat.
SPDP has nominated Anthony Nogeh, a deputy general manager of a state agency, but it is believed that Dr Tiki could still be fielded as a direct Barisan candidate.
PRS, meanwhile, has to contend with the Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) which is led by Larry Sng. Sng was sacked from PRS by party president Tan Sri Dr James Masing for insu-bordination, and has made it SWP's mission to wipe out PRS in the state.
Of PRS' six seats, Sng is expected to contest in Lubok Antu which is currently represented by Willliam Nyallau Badak.
In Hulu Rajang, Masing has found himself in quite a pickle. He decided to drop MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo but like Dr Tiki, Abit is also insisting on defending his seat.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Palm oil declines as export tax seen curbing demand
Palm oil dropped on speculation that stockpiles in Malaysia will hold near a record as an export tax curbs demand and on concern that a levy on Cyprus’s bank deposits may throw Europe back into crisis.
The contract for May delivery, with the most open interest, declined as much as 0.8 percent to 2,395 ringgit ($765) a metric ton on the Malaysia Derivatives Exchange, and ended the morning session at 2,399 ringgit in Kuala Lumpur. The June contract, with the highest volume, fell 0.7 percent to 2,399 ringgit.
Commodities measured by the Standard & Poor’s GSCI Index fell as much as 1 percent today after Euro finance ministers agreed to force depositors in Cypriot banks to share the cost of a bailout. While Cyprus accounts for less than half a percent of the euro economy, the concern is that the one-time tax may trigger bank runs across Europe.
“Prices are likely to show weakness on Cyprus fears,” Ker Chung Yang, an analyst at Phillip Futures Pte., said today by phone from Singapore. “Crude palm oil prices are likely to track the overall market at least for this coming week.”
Malaysia’s exports may be unchanged in March after the government retained a 4.5 percent tax for a second month in April, Ker said. Shipments fell 14 percent to 1.4 million tons in February, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. While inventories dropped to 2.44 million tons, they were near an all- time high of 2.63 million tons reached in December.
Soybean oil for May delivery lost 0.7 percent to 49.58 cents a pound on the Chicago Board of Trade, while soybeans declined 0.9 percent to $14.1275 a bushel. Refined palm oil for September fell 1 percent to 6,300 yuan ($1,013) a ton on the Dalian Commodity Exchange. Soybean oil retreated 1 percent to 8,054 yuan a ton.
To contact the reporter on this story: Ranjeetha Pakiam in Kuala Lumpur at rpakiam@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net
The contract for May delivery, with the most open interest, declined as much as 0.8 percent to 2,395 ringgit ($765) a metric ton on the Malaysia Derivatives Exchange, and ended the morning session at 2,399 ringgit in Kuala Lumpur. The June contract, with the highest volume, fell 0.7 percent to 2,399 ringgit.
Commodities measured by the Standard & Poor’s GSCI Index fell as much as 1 percent today after Euro finance ministers agreed to force depositors in Cypriot banks to share the cost of a bailout. While Cyprus accounts for less than half a percent of the euro economy, the concern is that the one-time tax may trigger bank runs across Europe.
“Prices are likely to show weakness on Cyprus fears,” Ker Chung Yang, an analyst at Phillip Futures Pte., said today by phone from Singapore. “Crude palm oil prices are likely to track the overall market at least for this coming week.”
Malaysia’s exports may be unchanged in March after the government retained a 4.5 percent tax for a second month in April, Ker said. Shipments fell 14 percent to 1.4 million tons in February, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. While inventories dropped to 2.44 million tons, they were near an all- time high of 2.63 million tons reached in December.
Soybean oil for May delivery lost 0.7 percent to 49.58 cents a pound on the Chicago Board of Trade, while soybeans declined 0.9 percent to $14.1275 a bushel. Refined palm oil for September fell 1 percent to 6,300 yuan ($1,013) a ton on the Dalian Commodity Exchange. Soybean oil retreated 1 percent to 8,054 yuan a ton.
To contact the reporter on this story: Ranjeetha Pakiam in Kuala Lumpur at rpakiam@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net
Esscom: Learning from Sarawak's experience
By Edward; SIBU: In early 1972, the communist threat in Sarawak, especially in its central regions (Sibu, Kapit, Sarikei, Mukah and Bintulu), was fast approaching breaking point.
The estimated 500 militant communist terrorists from the Northern Kalimantan People’s Party (Party Rakyat Kalimanatan Utara or Paraku) not only laid ambushes on the security forces but were intimIdating, harassing and killing innocent civilians at will. Curfews which at times were round the clock, were the order then.
The worsening situation forced the government under the leadership of the then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein to declare the central region a ‘Special Security Area’ which happened on March 25, 1972.
This was to allow its machinery to be fully geared and mobilised with the imperative aim of maintaining public security and safety.
A day later Rascom or the Rajang Security Command was formed.
“It was a bold experiment. For the first time in Sarawak and in the country, a joint Civil, Police and Military establishment was formed. It was to allow policising and decisions to be made and executed fast and efficiently, particularly where their coordinated services were necessary,” wrote one of its chief executive officers, the late Ignatius Angking.
Rascom was then administered by the then Sarawak chief minister as its director of operations.
He co-ordinated and controlled the functions and activities of the security forces and all civilian departments in the Rascom areas and was assisted by a joint Civil, Military and Police Command headquarters.
In the words of Tun Abdul Razak, he said:” Under the new set-up, the machinery of the government would be streamlined from district to divisional level.
“The civil administration, police and military will work as a team. This will ensure that whatever measures the government intends to take to counteract the CT (communist terrorist) activities would be taken by all.”
Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Yaakub, the then chief minister, said it was “now an established fact that in the type of war that we are fighting aganist the communist terrorists, guns alone are not enough.”
“It is a battle for the hearts and minds. It is a battle that is fought not only by the soldiers, but by all. It is a war in which no matter what they are and where they are in Sarawak, all must play their part,” said Abdul Rahman Yaakub, before he became Rascom’s first director of operations.
Immediately, new strategies and tactics to fight the CTs were formulated in parallel with civil counter-measures in an all out war.
Among the very first major measure was the resettling of folks living in longhouses scattered deep in the interiors into regrouping and resettlement schemes.
This was to stop them from being harrassed by the terrorists who would come to them looking for food, logistics and recruits.
Altogether, five regrouping and resettlement schemes were formed. The major ones are the Nanga Ngungun with 23 longhouses and over 3,000 people, Nanga Tada (16 with 2,000 people) and Nanga Jagau(also 24 with 3,000 ) all in the Kanowit district and Nanga Sekuau (also 24 and over 6,000) in the Selangau District.
The other two are minor ones, at Nanga Dap(five with about 480) and Rantau Panjang (three and more than 300).
Bascially, while the Police Special Branch and Military Intelligence Unit hunted for intelligence, the military/border scouts/police field force would hunt down the terrorists or persuade them to surrender.
The civillian component would provide medical, adult education and other social services to the settlers beside organising
civic assemblies and security briefings to warn the people on the dangers of supporting the communists.
They were also engaged in monitoring people movement and food denial excercises to restrict the flow of food, medicine and other essential items to the CTs within the Rascom areas.
Rascom soon proved itself to be a most effective strategy in the fight aganist the terrorists. Its turning point came on March 4, 1974.
Under a move known as ‘Operation Sri Aman’, some 585 terrorists in the whole state decided to come out of their jungle hideouts and surrendered, leaving some 100 hardcore remnants behind.
And on March 3,1990, about 50 of them finally chose to follow suit which finally closed the state communist insurgency problem of more than three decades.
From then on, Sarawak begun to enjoy peace and security and with federal government support focused on pursuing economic and infrastructure development progress. Without Rascom, which was eventually disbanded on April 6, 1995, the state would not be what it is now.
Now 41 years later, on March 7, 2013 and by sheer coincidence, the son of the man who had announced the formation of Rascom also announced the formation of a “Special Security Area (SSA)” for Sabah’s east coast.
It was later named Esscom or the Eastern Sabah Security Command covering a coastline of 1,400 kilometres from Kudat to Tawau.
Esscom came about due to the intrusion on February 12 of some 150-odd armed Sulu terrorists from the southern Philippines, who had landed in stages in traditional barter trade boats in Silabukan and Sungai Merah, close to Kampung Tanduo in Felda Sahabat 17, about 110 kilometres from Lahad Datu.
In a month since they intruded into the area, 56 of of the terrorists have been killed in gunfights.
Malaysia lost nine men, eight policemen and a soldier in the skirmishes. Another soldier died when his truck overturned while ferrying supplies to the troops.
Esscom will protect more than 1.4 million Sabahans via land and sea with the deployment of not less than five batallions from the armed forces and police’s General Operations Force (GOF).
Its headquarters will be based in Lahad Datu.
“There is much Esscom can learn from the Rascom exprience. Esscom is a step in the right direction,” said Brig-Gen Datuk Stephen Mundaw, the commanding officer of the Ninth Infantry Brigade here. The brigade replaced Rascom.
Mundaw had served in Rascom for several years, as a young military officer where among his fellow officers is the current armed forces chief, General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.
Speaking to Bernama here, he said he personally believed “Esscom is a very excellent move and very timely as well in the light of what had happened in Sabah’s east coast.”
“It is in the same vein as Rascom which was a very successful model in the fight against the communist terrrorist insurgency in Sarawak.
“I am sure there is much that Esscom can learn from Rascom’s approach and exprience since both are, firstly, security areas. Esscom’s structure may be slightly different but many of its objectives and elements may reflect what Rascom was all about,”he said.
“Secondly, it will be about inter-agencies co-operation and operations. It is commanded by a civilian while the military and police will do the enforcement duties. The civilian component, to include the local authorities and the relevant state and federal agencies, can be tasked with the non-combatant but equally important community development services and the area’s growth and prosperity,” he added.
“What we all want is peace and stability so that development and progress can come in uninterupted. Again, above all the country’s sovereinty must be upheld at all times.
“I also personally believe in Sarawak, particularly in the Ninth Infantry Brigade areas covering all the state’s central region and Miri division areas, we must not neglect its long porous border and coast which we must manage very well like in eastern Sabah. People can come in and go out anytime. The Lahad Datu incident like what our prime minister had said, is a wake-up call,” he said. — Bernama
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/18/esscom-learning-from-sarawaks-experiences/#ixzz2NtwOGHkt
The estimated 500 militant communist terrorists from the Northern Kalimantan People’s Party (Party Rakyat Kalimanatan Utara or Paraku) not only laid ambushes on the security forces but were intimIdating, harassing and killing innocent civilians at will. Curfews which at times were round the clock, were the order then.
The worsening situation forced the government under the leadership of the then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein to declare the central region a ‘Special Security Area’ which happened on March 25, 1972.
This was to allow its machinery to be fully geared and mobilised with the imperative aim of maintaining public security and safety.
A day later Rascom or the Rajang Security Command was formed.
“It was a bold experiment. For the first time in Sarawak and in the country, a joint Civil, Police and Military establishment was formed. It was to allow policising and decisions to be made and executed fast and efficiently, particularly where their coordinated services were necessary,” wrote one of its chief executive officers, the late Ignatius Angking.
Rascom was then administered by the then Sarawak chief minister as its director of operations.
He co-ordinated and controlled the functions and activities of the security forces and all civilian departments in the Rascom areas and was assisted by a joint Civil, Military and Police Command headquarters.
In the words of Tun Abdul Razak, he said:” Under the new set-up, the machinery of the government would be streamlined from district to divisional level.
“The civil administration, police and military will work as a team. This will ensure that whatever measures the government intends to take to counteract the CT (communist terrorist) activities would be taken by all.”
Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Yaakub, the then chief minister, said it was “now an established fact that in the type of war that we are fighting aganist the communist terrorists, guns alone are not enough.”
“It is a battle for the hearts and minds. It is a battle that is fought not only by the soldiers, but by all. It is a war in which no matter what they are and where they are in Sarawak, all must play their part,” said Abdul Rahman Yaakub, before he became Rascom’s first director of operations.
Immediately, new strategies and tactics to fight the CTs were formulated in parallel with civil counter-measures in an all out war.
Among the very first major measure was the resettling of folks living in longhouses scattered deep in the interiors into regrouping and resettlement schemes.
This was to stop them from being harrassed by the terrorists who would come to them looking for food, logistics and recruits.
Altogether, five regrouping and resettlement schemes were formed. The major ones are the Nanga Ngungun with 23 longhouses and over 3,000 people, Nanga Tada (16 with 2,000 people) and Nanga Jagau(also 24 with 3,000 ) all in the Kanowit district and Nanga Sekuau (also 24 and over 6,000) in the Selangau District.
The other two are minor ones, at Nanga Dap(five with about 480) and Rantau Panjang (three and more than 300).
Bascially, while the Police Special Branch and Military Intelligence Unit hunted for intelligence, the military/border scouts/police field force would hunt down the terrorists or persuade them to surrender.
The civillian component would provide medical, adult education and other social services to the settlers beside organising
civic assemblies and security briefings to warn the people on the dangers of supporting the communists.
They were also engaged in monitoring people movement and food denial excercises to restrict the flow of food, medicine and other essential items to the CTs within the Rascom areas.
Rascom soon proved itself to be a most effective strategy in the fight aganist the terrorists. Its turning point came on March 4, 1974.
Under a move known as ‘Operation Sri Aman’, some 585 terrorists in the whole state decided to come out of their jungle hideouts and surrendered, leaving some 100 hardcore remnants behind.
And on March 3,1990, about 50 of them finally chose to follow suit which finally closed the state communist insurgency problem of more than three decades.
From then on, Sarawak begun to enjoy peace and security and with federal government support focused on pursuing economic and infrastructure development progress. Without Rascom, which was eventually disbanded on April 6, 1995, the state would not be what it is now.
Now 41 years later, on March 7, 2013 and by sheer coincidence, the son of the man who had announced the formation of Rascom also announced the formation of a “Special Security Area (SSA)” for Sabah’s east coast.
It was later named Esscom or the Eastern Sabah Security Command covering a coastline of 1,400 kilometres from Kudat to Tawau.
Esscom came about due to the intrusion on February 12 of some 150-odd armed Sulu terrorists from the southern Philippines, who had landed in stages in traditional barter trade boats in Silabukan and Sungai Merah, close to Kampung Tanduo in Felda Sahabat 17, about 110 kilometres from Lahad Datu.
In a month since they intruded into the area, 56 of of the terrorists have been killed in gunfights.
Malaysia lost nine men, eight policemen and a soldier in the skirmishes. Another soldier died when his truck overturned while ferrying supplies to the troops.
Esscom will protect more than 1.4 million Sabahans via land and sea with the deployment of not less than five batallions from the armed forces and police’s General Operations Force (GOF).
Its headquarters will be based in Lahad Datu.
“There is much Esscom can learn from the Rascom exprience. Esscom is a step in the right direction,” said Brig-Gen Datuk Stephen Mundaw, the commanding officer of the Ninth Infantry Brigade here. The brigade replaced Rascom.
Mundaw had served in Rascom for several years, as a young military officer where among his fellow officers is the current armed forces chief, General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.
Speaking to Bernama here, he said he personally believed “Esscom is a very excellent move and very timely as well in the light of what had happened in Sabah’s east coast.”
“It is in the same vein as Rascom which was a very successful model in the fight against the communist terrrorist insurgency in Sarawak.
“I am sure there is much that Esscom can learn from Rascom’s approach and exprience since both are, firstly, security areas. Esscom’s structure may be slightly different but many of its objectives and elements may reflect what Rascom was all about,”he said.
“Secondly, it will be about inter-agencies co-operation and operations. It is commanded by a civilian while the military and police will do the enforcement duties. The civilian component, to include the local authorities and the relevant state and federal agencies, can be tasked with the non-combatant but equally important community development services and the area’s growth and prosperity,” he added.
“What we all want is peace and stability so that development and progress can come in uninterupted. Again, above all the country’s sovereinty must be upheld at all times.
“I also personally believe in Sarawak, particularly in the Ninth Infantry Brigade areas covering all the state’s central region and Miri division areas, we must not neglect its long porous border and coast which we must manage very well like in eastern Sabah. People can come in and go out anytime. The Lahad Datu incident like what our prime minister had said, is a wake-up call,” he said. — Bernama
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/18/esscom-learning-from-sarawaks-experiences/#ixzz2NtwOGHkt
Friday, March 8, 2013
Sarawak eyeing six million tourists during VMY 2014
KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism is targeting six million tourist arrivals to Sarawak during Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014.
Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said yesterday that VMY 2014 promotions and campaigns would be rolled out after the impending 13th general election.
Tourist arrivals in Sarawak surpassed the four million mark last year.
“The state and federal governments will pick up momentum along the way by developing more unique and authentic tourism products to cater for foreign tourists,” he said at a `VMY 2014 Briefing and Dialogue with State Tourism Industry Players’ here.
“We will implement effective strategies to entice tourists to stay in the country longer.”
To ensure the success of VMY 2014, Dawos hoped that all stakeholders, including members of the public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) would give a helping hand.
“Contribute innovative and creative ideas so that we can achieve our objectives.
“We need everyone to be committed and take their roles seriously. We must not forget there’s competition from other Asean countries.”
Dawos said Malaysia was currently ranked number nine on the World Tourism Organisation’s list of most visited countries by international tourist arrivals.
He thus urged all players to work closely together and share their resources to help push the tourism industry higher.
Using the recent `Chap Goh Mei’ cultural parade at Siniawan, Bau, as an example, Dawos said the crew of China’s broadcasting station (CCTV) was shooting a video there and this was the kind of thing which would benefit the country.
“We are also targeting China as a potential market.”
The Visit Malaysia Year programme had been hosted for three times thus far. The first was in 1990 themed ‘Fascinating Malaysia, Year of Festivals’ which recorded 7.4 million arrivals and yielded RM4.5 billion in receipts.
The second was in 1994 themed ‘Fascinating Malaysia, Naturally More’ which recording 7.2 million arrivals and receipts climbed to RM8.3 billion.
The third was in 2007 to commemorate 50 years of nationhood. Tourist arrivals soared to 20.9 million and receipts totalled RM46.1 billion.
Dawos said the growth in tourist arrivals was in line with the target of the Malaysian Tourism Plan 2020 to achieve 36 million tourist arrivals and a tourism revenue of RM168 billion by year 2020.
Last year, a total of 25,032,708 foreign tourists visited Malaysia, surpassing the figure of 24,714,324 arrivals in 2011.
The total arrivals yielded RM60.6 billion on revenue in 2012, compared to RM58.3 billion in 2011.
The national target for this year is 26 million tourists.
Also present at the event were Ministry of Tourism Malaysia secretary-general Dato Dr Ong Hong Peng and the ministry’s deputy director-general (Marketing) Chong Yoke Har.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/09/sarawak-eyeing-six-million-tourists-during-vmy-2014-dawos/#ixzz2MznwL7kk
Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said yesterday that VMY 2014 promotions and campaigns would be rolled out after the impending 13th general election.
Tourist arrivals in Sarawak surpassed the four million mark last year.
“The state and federal governments will pick up momentum along the way by developing more unique and authentic tourism products to cater for foreign tourists,” he said at a `VMY 2014 Briefing and Dialogue with State Tourism Industry Players’ here.
“We will implement effective strategies to entice tourists to stay in the country longer.”
To ensure the success of VMY 2014, Dawos hoped that all stakeholders, including members of the public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) would give a helping hand.
“Contribute innovative and creative ideas so that we can achieve our objectives.
“We need everyone to be committed and take their roles seriously. We must not forget there’s competition from other Asean countries.”
Dawos said Malaysia was currently ranked number nine on the World Tourism Organisation’s list of most visited countries by international tourist arrivals.
He thus urged all players to work closely together and share their resources to help push the tourism industry higher.
Using the recent `Chap Goh Mei’ cultural parade at Siniawan, Bau, as an example, Dawos said the crew of China’s broadcasting station (CCTV) was shooting a video there and this was the kind of thing which would benefit the country.
“We are also targeting China as a potential market.”
The Visit Malaysia Year programme had been hosted for three times thus far. The first was in 1990 themed ‘Fascinating Malaysia, Year of Festivals’ which recorded 7.4 million arrivals and yielded RM4.5 billion in receipts.
The second was in 1994 themed ‘Fascinating Malaysia, Naturally More’ which recording 7.2 million arrivals and receipts climbed to RM8.3 billion.
The third was in 2007 to commemorate 50 years of nationhood. Tourist arrivals soared to 20.9 million and receipts totalled RM46.1 billion.
Dawos said the growth in tourist arrivals was in line with the target of the Malaysian Tourism Plan 2020 to achieve 36 million tourist arrivals and a tourism revenue of RM168 billion by year 2020.
Last year, a total of 25,032,708 foreign tourists visited Malaysia, surpassing the figure of 24,714,324 arrivals in 2011.
The total arrivals yielded RM60.6 billion on revenue in 2012, compared to RM58.3 billion in 2011.
The national target for this year is 26 million tourists.
Also present at the event were Ministry of Tourism Malaysia secretary-general Dato Dr Ong Hong Peng and the ministry’s deputy director-general (Marketing) Chong Yoke Har.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/09/sarawak-eyeing-six-million-tourists-during-vmy-2014-dawos/#ixzz2MznwL7kk
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Natural ingredient from the jungle
NATURAL INGREDIENT
David Senan, 70, a vendor at the Kota Sentosa wet market, said the soft stems of the tepus were traditionally used as an ingredient for delicacies prepared by the Dayak community.
“They can also be eaten raw as salad — just dip them in prawn paste sauce – or cooked with chicken or other meat in bamboo,” he told thesundaypost.
Cooking soft tepus stems with fresh water snails (tekuyung) is David’s favourite method of using the ginger plant in his cooking.
“It gives out a special aroma – very appealing and appetising,” he said.
The stems can also be used as an ingredient for steaming freshwater fish.
“For me, this goes really well with freshwater catfish. It helps eliminate that strong raw fishy smell as well,” he added.
David’s favourite dish is sayur rebus or bamboo shoot soup, using dried ikan bilis (dried anchovies) as a substitute for the traditional dried or smoked fish or meat, often consumed by the natives in the old days.
He said before cooking, the bamboo shoots had to be sliced and boiled until the water turned brownish (like tea), and then placed in a sieve to drain the water.
Tepus is still plentiful in his kampung along Borneo Highland Road, growing mostly at the foothills of the village.
“The plant can be found at cooler spots, especially under a canopy of trees,” he noted.
SAVOURY: Tepus, boiled-bamboo shoot and sawi Dayak fried with dried anchovies and slices of red onion and garlic with soya sauce.
According to David, the soft tepus stems are well liked by the Dayak community who also use them for other dishes.
“It’s really up to individual choice,” he added.
David believes in the goodness of naturally grown jungle plants, saying they are free from pesticides or chemicals.
“They have their own nutritional and maybe even medicinal values,” he reckoned.
“For me, I naturally like the soft tepus stems as they can be used in all Dayak dishes and cooking. If you want to make them tastier, you can always add other ingredients.”
Revealing another recipe, he said one could fry bamboo shoots with soft tepus stems and anchovies, and add soya sauce to the mix for a fusion of traditional and current tastes.
“I believe this recipe is nicer to many people, especially the younger generation,” he said, referring to his children and grandchildren who prefer dishes that are different from his.
David said there were many types of jungle produce now being sold by the villagers.
He understood more and more eateries were being opened in the city that included wild jungle plants in their menu, especially limindin (ferns), a much sought after leafy vegetable.
“If these places can lure customers with a taste for edible wild plants, it would be good for vegetable sellers like us.”
Apart from tepus, David also sells other jungle produce such as bamboo and fern shoots which are plentiful in his village.
Out of curiosity, I cooked a dish, using a recipe, shared by David, and discovered that the soup of tepus I prepared with boiled bamboo shoots, sawi
Dayak and dried anchovies reeked of the ginger plant – not unlike the bitter smell expelled by some insects.
However, there is a slight difference with bamboo shoots prepared with tepus and sawi Dayak, fried with dried anchovies, or slices of red onions and garlics with soya sauce. It is more savoury and smells less of tepus.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/03/natural-ingredient-from-the-jungle/#ixzz2MRsJtsKK
David Senan, 70, a vendor at the Kota Sentosa wet market, said the soft stems of the tepus were traditionally used as an ingredient for delicacies prepared by the Dayak community.
“They can also be eaten raw as salad — just dip them in prawn paste sauce – or cooked with chicken or other meat in bamboo,” he told thesundaypost.
Cooking soft tepus stems with fresh water snails (tekuyung) is David’s favourite method of using the ginger plant in his cooking.
“It gives out a special aroma – very appealing and appetising,” he said.
The stems can also be used as an ingredient for steaming freshwater fish.
“For me, this goes really well with freshwater catfish. It helps eliminate that strong raw fishy smell as well,” he added.
David’s favourite dish is sayur rebus or bamboo shoot soup, using dried ikan bilis (dried anchovies) as a substitute for the traditional dried or smoked fish or meat, often consumed by the natives in the old days.
He said before cooking, the bamboo shoots had to be sliced and boiled until the water turned brownish (like tea), and then placed in a sieve to drain the water.
Tepus is still plentiful in his kampung along Borneo Highland Road, growing mostly at the foothills of the village.
“The plant can be found at cooler spots, especially under a canopy of trees,” he noted.
SAVOURY: Tepus, boiled-bamboo shoot and sawi Dayak fried with dried anchovies and slices of red onion and garlic with soya sauce.
According to David, the soft tepus stems are well liked by the Dayak community who also use them for other dishes.
“It’s really up to individual choice,” he added.
David believes in the goodness of naturally grown jungle plants, saying they are free from pesticides or chemicals.
“They have their own nutritional and maybe even medicinal values,” he reckoned.
“For me, I naturally like the soft tepus stems as they can be used in all Dayak dishes and cooking. If you want to make them tastier, you can always add other ingredients.”
Revealing another recipe, he said one could fry bamboo shoots with soft tepus stems and anchovies, and add soya sauce to the mix for a fusion of traditional and current tastes.
“I believe this recipe is nicer to many people, especially the younger generation,” he said, referring to his children and grandchildren who prefer dishes that are different from his.
David said there were many types of jungle produce now being sold by the villagers.
He understood more and more eateries were being opened in the city that included wild jungle plants in their menu, especially limindin (ferns), a much sought after leafy vegetable.
“If these places can lure customers with a taste for edible wild plants, it would be good for vegetable sellers like us.”
Apart from tepus, David also sells other jungle produce such as bamboo and fern shoots which are plentiful in his village.
Out of curiosity, I cooked a dish, using a recipe, shared by David, and discovered that the soup of tepus I prepared with boiled bamboo shoots, sawi
Dayak and dried anchovies reeked of the ginger plant – not unlike the bitter smell expelled by some insects.
However, there is a slight difference with bamboo shoots prepared with tepus and sawi Dayak, fried with dried anchovies, or slices of red onions and garlics with soya sauce. It is more savoury and smells less of tepus.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/03/natural-ingredient-from-the-jungle/#ixzz2MRsJtsKK
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Sultan of Sulu won't leave Sabah
MANILA: Philippines President Benigno Aquino warned the Sulu sultan on Tuesday that he would face the "full force of the law" if he did not end a stand-off involving his armed followers in Sabah.
Aquino told Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to recall 180 of his followers, about 30 of whom were armed, from a fishing village near Lahad Datu where they have been facing off with Malaysian security forces since Feb 9.
"If you choose not to cooperate, the full force of the laws of the state will be used to achieve justice for all who have been put in harm's way," Aquino said in a statement aired on national television.
"This is a situation that cannot persist. If you are truly the leader of your people, you should be one with us in ordering your followers to return home peacefully."
He warned Kiram that he had also ordered an investigation "into possible violations of laws by you, your followers, and collaborators engaged in this foolhardy act".
Aquino cited a constitutional provision renouncing war as an instrument of policy and a law prohibiting citizens against inciting war, which is punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
Kiram's followers made a boat trip from their homes on remote islands in the southern Philippines to occupy the Malaysian fishing village two weeks ago, after the sultan gave them a blessing to live there.
Kiram says he is the head of the Sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled parts of Borneo, including the site of the stand-off, as well as southern Philippines islands.
Aquino said his government was working with Malaysian authorities in an effort to peacefully resolve the stand-off. - AFP
Aquino told Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to recall 180 of his followers, about 30 of whom were armed, from a fishing village near Lahad Datu where they have been facing off with Malaysian security forces since Feb 9.
"If you choose not to cooperate, the full force of the laws of the state will be used to achieve justice for all who have been put in harm's way," Aquino said in a statement aired on national television.
"This is a situation that cannot persist. If you are truly the leader of your people, you should be one with us in ordering your followers to return home peacefully."
He warned Kiram that he had also ordered an investigation "into possible violations of laws by you, your followers, and collaborators engaged in this foolhardy act".
Aquino cited a constitutional provision renouncing war as an instrument of policy and a law prohibiting citizens against inciting war, which is punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
Kiram's followers made a boat trip from their homes on remote islands in the southern Philippines to occupy the Malaysian fishing village two weeks ago, after the sultan gave them a blessing to live there.
Kiram says he is the head of the Sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled parts of Borneo, including the site of the stand-off, as well as southern Philippines islands.
Aquino said his government was working with Malaysian authorities in an effort to peacefully resolve the stand-off. - AFP
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Mydaus Javanensis
“Another local expert jungle trekker and hunter, Paul Hnrnp, said he never smelled anything like the stench. He also said one could smell the stench from 10 metres away…” The Borneo Post, Nov 15, 2012.
The recent report of an attacking animal killed by a worker in an oil palm estate in Kampung Baing brought attention to one of the least known and sighted critters of the rainforest – the badger.
Identified by Forest Department research officer Ahmad Apeng as the Stink Badger [Mydaus (from the Greek meaning stinking) javanensis] because of its smell, this animal is rarely seen because it only wanders at night.
In scientific literature, there have been only eight sightings of the animal in Sarawak. An account in 2010 at Kuala Lawas stated one was stuck between a refrigerator and the kitchen wall. Rescue efforts failed when the critter sprayed a milky green liquid. The team from Sarawak Forestry had to retreat because the odour resulted in severe vomiting. The Stink Badger managed to free itself and wandered off. Cleansing the area with strong detergents did not remove the smell. Finally, a very strong bleach was employed and, even then, the smell lingered a year later.
In 1921, three skins were reported in native houses in Mount Murud stretched for sitting on the floor. (I feel this record must be suspect because I doubt anyone would purposely capture and skin one.)
Since the 1920s, there have been scattered field sightings and road kills. Recent camera traps designed to observe other species have not yielded any images and none have shown up on small mammal surveys in Sarawak. The Stink Badger has not been, understandably, studied by scientists to any extent.
For many years, the Stink Badger was placed with the other badgers but has been moved to the skunk family after DNA testing. There are only two Asiatic members; our stinky friend and the more studied, accessible and ‘not as stinky’ Palawan. One of the Java subspecies is named Lucifer after a possible nasty encounter with a researcher.
The life history can only be surmised. It is thought that this skunk relative lives in a burrow with a straight tunnel that leads to a small chamber. There could possibly be around two to four offspring based on the number of teats. Nutrition could be grubs and worms.
A real badger, the Bornean Ferret Badger (Melogale everetti), has also been in the science news recently. It was reported to have been sighted in the Kinabatangan Flood Plain in Sabah. The badger had previously been thought to only occupy an ecological niche of 1,070 to 3,000 metres in the Mount Kinabalu area. However, like the Stink Badger-Skunk, there have been very few sightings made known to science.
Remains of the Borneo Badger found in the Niah Caves in deposits that date back to 40,000 years ago suggest a much wider distribution. The sequencing of weather changes since that time indicates the animal moved to the highlands and now could be migrating to lower altitudes. However, many more sightings must be recorded before any trend can be established.
The badger was collected and sent to England by Alfred Everett (the everetti in the scientific name) who was collecting for Charles Brooke at the behest of Alfred Wallace and Charles Darwin. Local birders will know his name as he had 10 birds named for him. His personal collection was sold to the Natural History Museum in 1872. The badger was subsequently described by Oldfield Thomas and made known to the western scientific community in 1895.
In a fascinating aside, Alfred Everett was part of an expedition searching for a missing link to modern man. While surveying the Niah Caves, he collected and sent back to the museum the jawbone of an orangutan. This bone could very probably have become part of the infamous Piltdown Man, who was assembled 15 years after Everett’s death. The scientific hoax combined the jaw of an orangutan with the skull of a modern human to show modern man could have evolved in Britain and not far flung places like Asia or Africa. The fraud would not be exposed until 1953, 40 years later.
The Malaysian Nature Society
Established in the 1940, the Malaysian Nature Society is the oldest scientific and non-governmental organisation in Malaysia. Our mission is ‘to promote the study, appreciation, conservation and protection of Malaysia’s nature heritage’. Our 5,000-strong membership, spread across 12 branches nationwide, come from all walks of life, bound by a common interest in nature. For further information on membership or our activities in Kuching, call Kwan on 019-8349499. For information on our activities in Miri, call Nazeri Abghani on 085-453185. You can also visit www.mns.org.my or
http://mnskuching@blogspot.com.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/02/24/a-bad-smell-throughout-history/#ixzz2LmPM3tpC
Thursday, February 14, 2013
‘Highway’ no better than village road, says humanitarian worker
KUCHING: Humanitarian worker Syed Ahmad Abdul Hadi Syed Hussein, who has travelled on a motorcycle to three different continents, is appalled at the road conditions in the state.
Having just completed his two-month 2012 Equator Challenge on a 130cc bike, 41-year-old Hadi said road conditions in some parts of the state were no different to the ones in neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“I drove from Brunei to Kuching and what I saw appalled me. I paid toll of RM1 and I asked where the highway was? I was shocked to see the ‘highway’ because it’s just like any village road. I pity the locals who have to pay and use the ‘highway’ daily.
“They deserve better roads. I’m in my own country but I feel like I’m still in Kalimantan when travelling along the road. Our country is not poor but why do we still have such poor infrastructure,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
A few years ago, Hadi created history when he travelled from Kuala Lumpur to London on his motorcycle.
Hadi said while riding around the world, he would tune in to local radio stations for information.
“Having travelled the world and worked in various places, I believe in access to information. Without information, we cannot make decisions, even on the road,” he said.
On an unrelated matter, Hadi said Malaysians of different backgrounds had learnt to live in peace and harmony with each other since decades ago.
As such, he said it was everyone’s job to take good care of the country without putting any labels on it, including political parties.
By Zora Chan, The Star
Having just completed his two-month 2012 Equator Challenge on a 130cc bike, 41-year-old Hadi said road conditions in some parts of the state were no different to the ones in neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“I drove from Brunei to Kuching and what I saw appalled me. I paid toll of RM1 and I asked where the highway was? I was shocked to see the ‘highway’ because it’s just like any village road. I pity the locals who have to pay and use the ‘highway’ daily.
“They deserve better roads. I’m in my own country but I feel like I’m still in Kalimantan when travelling along the road. Our country is not poor but why do we still have such poor infrastructure,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
A few years ago, Hadi created history when he travelled from Kuala Lumpur to London on his motorcycle.
Hadi said while riding around the world, he would tune in to local radio stations for information.
“Having travelled the world and worked in various places, I believe in access to information. Without information, we cannot make decisions, even on the road,” he said.
On an unrelated matter, Hadi said Malaysians of different backgrounds had learnt to live in peace and harmony with each other since decades ago.
As such, he said it was everyone’s job to take good care of the country without putting any labels on it, including political parties.
By Zora Chan, The Star
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Panchor Hotspring
Panchor Hot spring located 48km away from Kuching along the Kuching-Serian Rd. Pass The town of Tapah drive a farther 300m and make right turn (only at the second right turn).
Friday, February 8, 2013
Borneo Talk
BorneoTalk is published by Bumi Serasi. The contents of the magazine may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior written permission. The publisher is not liable for statements made and opinions expressed in the publication.
Editor-In-Chief Ivy Pan
Executive Editor S C Goh Marketing Ivy Pan, Jasmine Wong Administration Ribena Noh
Contributors S C Goh, Mark Jacobson, A. Chua, KPJ, M. Ong, Roslan Mutu, Heidi Munan
Design & Art Direction Steven Yap,
Photography David Joseph, Mark Jacobson, Mohd Termidzi, UNIMAS, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), Brunei Tourism, State Planning Unit (SPU), Forest Department Sarawak
Front Cover Image ‘ideally SCORE’ - SPU
Printer Weng Chuan Creatives Prints, No. 28, Jalan 30B/146, Desa Tasik, Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Write to us at BorneoTalk, 2
42E, Lorong 3, Jalan Green, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: +6082 427423, 238968, Fax: +6082 235152 email: ivypan.bumiserasi@gmail.com
The next issue of BorneoTalk will be out in April 2013
Editor-In-Chief Ivy Pan
Executive Editor S C Goh Marketing Ivy Pan, Jasmine Wong Administration Ribena Noh
Contributors S C Goh, Mark Jacobson, A. Chua, KPJ, M. Ong, Roslan Mutu, Heidi Munan
Design & Art Direction Steven Yap,
Photography David Joseph, Mark Jacobson, Mohd Termidzi, UNIMAS, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), Brunei Tourism, State Planning Unit (SPU), Forest Department Sarawak
Front Cover Image ‘ideally SCORE’ - SPU
Printer Weng Chuan Creatives Prints, No. 28, Jalan 30B/146, Desa Tasik, Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Write to us at BorneoTalk, 2
42E, Lorong 3, Jalan Green, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: +6082 427423, 238968, Fax: +6082 235152 email: ivypan.bumiserasi@gmail.com
The next issue of BorneoTalk will be out in April 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)