“It is a problem for us to generate our economy and it is also being made an issue. We get power disruption for three hours every day,” he said.

He added that the matter must be addressed as it has continued to be a major problem in Sandakan and in his constituency.

Au also stressed for the need of a new tourism attraction in Sandakan.

He said presently the attractions that lure tourists to Sandakan were the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Kinabatangan and the Selingan Turtle Island.

He proposed that the government develops the Berhala Island as an attraction in Sandakan.

“The island is merely 10 minutes away from Sandakan and it can be an attraction to tourists coming to Sandakan,” he said.

He added that the State targets three million tourists this year.

“But if the bulk of the tourists only concentrated on the West Coast of Sabah, then it is not good enough. Even if 20 percent comes to the East Coast, it will help us,” he said.

In his debate, he also mentioned that Sandakan now has enough rooms to cater for the tourism industry.

Meanwhile, Karamunting Assemblyman, Charles Pang Su Pin said that there were 600 unemployed graduates in Sandakan.

He urged the government to ensure that these graduates had job opportunities available upon completing their tertiary studies.

He also called for the establishment of the Fellow Perdana programme in Sabah.

The programme allows fresh graduates and undergraduates the opportunity to be mentored by Chief Ministers and even the Prime Ministers. It is an initiative by the Malaysian government and coordinated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports which functions as the main secretariat for the programme.

Chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Keong said the commission would want to look at the party’s proposal on clearly lined up procedures for the exercise before it can make any consideration or recommendation.

“You have made a general proposal on the recall of ICs exercise and it would be interesting if you can come up with a detailed mechanism in regards to this exercise.

“It is very important for us to consider, otherwise we would not know what exactly you are proposing and how to implement it,” he said to the party’s secretary-general, Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

The Tuaran Member of Parliament appeared before the commission as a witness yesterday, to share his knowledge as a former senior researcher for the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah, as well as his views and concerns as a politician regarding the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah.

Tangau, who served the IDS back in the 80s and 90s where he was directly involved in some studies on illegal immigrants, earlier reiterated UPKO’s stance that there is a need to reassess the whole system in issuing identity cards.

He said there were unanswered questions on the integrity of the whole system, the National Registration Department and the government as a whole on the alleged issuance of citizenship to illegal or unqualified immigrants.

He stressed that the whole system has to be reset and the government must come up with something that the people can trust, otherwise the question of integrity will always be in the mind of the people of Sabah.

The only way to do this, he said, is by recalling all the identification cards given in Sabah and reissuing them only to actual citizens.

“We need to recall all the ICs, and have everyone reapplied, to screen the dubious ones. There could be millions out there. We don’t know.

“I believe this is something that can be done because recalling ICs is not new. In fact, we have changed our ICs two to three times. This is about IC holders proving themselves to be actual citizens, otherwise how do we put to rest the question such as the sudden increase in population.

“There is an issue of integrity of the National Registration Department (procedures) and solving it should be through integrity also. We need to reset the whole thing, go back to ground zero. The government needs to re-issue ICs and genuine citizens would have nothing to be afraid of,” he said.

Tangau, in his testimony, noted that he has on many occasions made a general speech in Parliament, questioning the sudden increase of population in Sabah which started in the 80s.

However, the ministers concerned have not yet given him a satisfactory reply.

Among the explanations given to his question were that the people of Sabah are very fertile and the rural communities are gaining access to health facilities.

He also noted the statistics of the sharp population increase in Sabah saw the State overtaking Sarawak was from proper census carried out by department concerned.

Saliwa Madaya, 58, told Sessions Court judge Duncan Sikodol that initially he did not know that this case was brought to the court for the purpose of charging Amir Ali Khan Nawaty with causing the death of his 16-year-old daughter, Norikoh Saliwa.

The 40-year-old Amir, who is defended by counsel Rakhbir Singh, allegedly committed the offence on a moving lorry at Jalan KM2.8 Langkon from Kota Marudu between 11am and 12.30pm on Nov 25, 2012.

He was charged under Section 304 (b) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 10 years or with a fine or with both on conviction.

“I have no knowledge that this case will be brought to court for trial. I came to know this when a teacher by the name of Ernie, who took care of my daughter (Norikoh), told me that this case had been brought to court,” he testified during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharuddin.

He said even if he could afford to proceed with this case, he would never bring this case to court as he felt bad when people kept talking about his daughter who had passed away eight months ago.

“At first, our family felt so devastated over the death of our youngest daughter Norikoh, but now, I feel that with this trial it does not to lessen my burden but instead I need to travel from Kota Marudu to Kota Kinabalu, to attend court proceedings,” said Saliwa, who earns a living as a farmer in his village.

To a question from Raja Zaizul Faridah, Saliwa pleaded with the court to free Amir of the charge but with condition.

“Earlier, I did mention that I’m urging the court to free the accused but with the condition that he must pay me compensation as well as cost of repairing Norikoh’s grave,” he said, adding that Amir had paid him a sum of RM5,000.

Saliwa said no one had forced him to withdraw his report over Norikoh’s death.

When the court proceedings resumed at 2pm, counsel Peter Marajin, who holds a watching brief for the victim’s family, told the court that before hearing resumed in the afternoon, he had met with Saliwa outside the court premises in the presence of two other persons.

Marajin said Saliwa told him that the brother of the accused went to see him (Saliwa) and discussed about out-of-court settlement.

He said Saliwa told him that he (Saliwa) wanted a RM100,000 compensation but the family of the accused could not agree with the amount, and offered RM25,000, of which RM5,000 had already been paid to Saliwa.

He said Saliwa also told him that the remaining RM20,000 would be paid to Saliwa upon the termination of the case, but Saliwa needed to write a letter to agree with this settlement and to lodge a report to withdraw the police report on his daughter’s death.

Marajin however contended that Saliwa, who was still in the witness stand, was not telling the truth, and he urged the court to proceed with the trial in favour of justice.

In reply, Raja Zaizul Faridah said the prosecution had no knowledge about the monetary settlement between Saliwa and the accused’s brother.

She said they had called Saliwa to testify and it was the court’s jurisdiction to decide whether the witness was telling the truth or not.

She confirmed that the deputy public prosecutor here had received the police report lodged by Saliwa to withdraw his report on Norikoh’s death.

“But according to procedures, we have to wait for instructions from our headquarters, and so far we have not received any reply from our superiors,” she said, adding that the purpose of calling Saliwa to testify was because the prosecution had received the report lodged by Saliwa.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the accused said that since the report was lodged more than two weeks ago, if Marajin felt that Saliwa’s evidence was false, he should lodge a report regarding the alleged monetary settlement.

Rakbhir said the police report lodged by Saliwa to withdraw his report on Norikoh’s death had also been tendered in court.

Raja Zaizul Faridah, who was assisted by deputy public prosecutor Afzan Abd Kahar, had so far called 24 witnesses since the trial commenced on Feb 7.

The trial continues today.

Its secretary general, Stephen Chaw, said in a statement yesterday that up to May 22, 2013, they had experienced 510 hours of power related issues (equals to 21 days). In 2011, it was 662 hours (28 days) of power failure and in 2012, 106 hours (four days).

In comparison with 2012, he said, the situation was getting worse this year despite the announcement by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and relevant ministry that initiatives to improve the situation were undertaken but things were getting worse and the companies were suffering millions of ringgit of losses due to increased production costs, spare parts replacements and loss of competitiveness even compared with producers in West Malaysia.

Besides power disruptions, Chaw said the lack of raw material and labour and their high costs were also causing the industry to suffer tremendously.

“The situation is further aggravated by high transport costs and other port charges but there is no programme to upgrade the port facilities while shipping costs to various destinations remain very high.

“All these costs and failure of the government to back up the industry is causing more mills to close down or moving out from Sandakan, even from Sabah,” Chaw claimed.

He said STIA calls for urgent intervention of the State and Federal Governments by taking the following steps:

1. An immediate visit by the Minister of Industrial Development to Seguntor Integrated Timber Complex (ITC) area, and not send officers as this was done many times and issues remain unresolved. This will enable the minister to understand the problem on the ground and look for solution to ensure issues can be resolved.

2. SESB issues to be handled and settled by the new Energy Minister without further delay and no more excuses to be given by SESB as they should be the service provider and should know what to do. SESB must have proper planning, checking and problem solving system.

3. Incentive and grant to be given by MIDA, MITI, MTIB and other related government agencies to locally owned companies to cover the losses and to sustain the business.

4. Make Seguntor Integrated Timber Complex more attractive so that investors’ confidence in investing further will be restored along with the status of Seguntor ITC area as the top industrial complex in Sandakan.

5. Develop Seguntor ITC as a wood-based industrial cluster as part of Sabah Development Corridor so that facilities in the area can be further upgraded by the government.

6. Overcome insufficient infrastructure development in Sandakan:

a. Complete the drainage system in the whole Seguntor ITC area.

b. Provide complete streetlights at Seguntor road as currently part of area is unlit.

c. Household waste collecting service by Sandakan Municipal Council be improved.

d. Completely upgrade all roads to asphalt road.

Chaw said STIA also hopes the Chief Minister will personally listen to the problems faced by companies, particularly in the Seguntor Integrated Timber Complex and all the timber industry players in Sabah.

Siban (right) and a villager with the 2.5 meters long baby whale which was found dead at Nanamun beach.

KOTA BELUD: Hundreds of villagers from Kampung Nanamun were shocked at finding a dead baby whale on Nanamun beach near here yesterday morning.

The mammal, measuring about 2.5 meters, was believed to have stranded at the beach a few hours before it was discovered by the villagers at around 10 am.

Several injuries were found on the mammal’s body and its skin was noted to have peeled off.

According to a villager, Siban Antau, 55, they made several attempts to pull the whale back into the sea but all efforts failed.

“We were surprised to find a baby whale, measuring about 2.5 meters, stranded on the beach. We tried to assist by pulling the whale back into the sea, hoping it would be able to survive but failed,” he said, adding that villagers believed the whale had been dead couple of hours earlier.

Siban said, the villagers had contacted the relevant authorities including the Sabah Fishery Department for further action.

Susanah (left) handing over the warrants of arrest at the Penampang police station for further action.

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 67 summons cases pertaining to the City Provisions of Parking Places By-laws 2003 were mentioned in the Kota Kinabalu City Hall court recently.

According to City Hall’s director of enforcement department, Abdul Mukti Muchlish, the cases were brought by two prosecuting officers, namely sub-inspectors Latizah Latip and Susanah Lukas, before magistrate Nuruhuda Mohd Yusof.

Out of the 67 cases, Nuruhuda issued seven warrants of arrest for those who failed to attend the hearing. The court set July 24 this year for next mention of the cases.

City Hall also retracted eight summonses for the same offences as they had been settled by the offenders. A total of 52 cases, due for mention, were postponed to August 24, 2013.

City Hall urged traffic offenders who have been summonsed under the by-laws to respect the rules and regulations stipulated in the by-law and not to repeat the offences.

The body of Idris Pamiang, 18, was found by villagers about 6.55am, several meters from where the area he was first reported missing.

It is believed that the victim had gone to the river to fish when he slipped and fell into the river on June 16 around 7pm.

Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Senior Assistant Superintendent Mohd Affendy Ramin said said a search operation was carried out since Sunday but failed to locate the victim due to darkness.

“Around 7am this morning (yesterday) we received information that the victim’s body has been found by villagers who were helping in the search operation,” he said.

Mohd Affendy said the body was taken to the district hospital for a post-mortem.

The call came from Head of State, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, in his opening address while launching the 14th State Assembly sitting here, yesterday. The TYT also called on the assemblymen to highlight issues that is for the people’s best interest, as well as the state and nation.

“I hope that all plans will be executed successfully for the good of the people and state. And, with the blessings from Allah, we will continue to live in peace and harmony,” he said.

Tun Juhar noted that the existing good rapport had contributed to the quick action from both governments to the setting up of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) and the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZONE) at strategic locations to beef up security measures in the state.

“There was a need to rid the negative perception on economy following the stand-off in Lahad Datu besides regaining the trust of both the investors and foreign tourists to visit or do business in Sabah.

“But I believe that through the concerted efforts by all ministries, government agencies and relevant authorities, things would return to normal and we would once again win the trust of the people, our visitors and the investors,” he said.

Having said that, Tun Juhar noted that the number of tourist arrivals in the first four months this year had shown at least 6.6 per cent increase compared to the similar period in 2012.

“We have set a target of three million visitors that would generate RM5.42 billion to the state this year, and between January and April alone, we have already recorded 967,183 tourists arrivals. This positive increase showed that, in fact, the intrusion incident at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu is seen as an isolated case, thanks to the prompt action by the federal and state governments in setting up the Sabah Tourism Task Force to propose strategies and action plans to overcome the fallout from the incident,” he said.

One of its efforts was to talk with the foreign representatives on the negative travel advisories issued that were subsequently retracted by the United States of America and Britain.

On agriculture, Tun Juhar also hoped that paddy cultivation would be given priority in Sabah although the cost to produce local rice is more expensive than the price of imported rice.

He also encouraged the government to continue developing the ruminant industry in Sabah, considering that the biomass and existing food resources in the state are free from diseases.

“It is my hope that those involved in the livestock industry will take strict biosecurity and preventive steps to prevent the outbreak of zootonic, exotic and other diseases in the state. This is to ensure our competitive advantages in the livestock industry in this region,” Tun Juhar advised.

He also urged the state government to continue improving the infrastructure facilities in Sabah so as to encourage more investors to come and do business here, in line with the effort to meet the RM5.44 billion investment target for 2013.

Tun Juhar added that of the figure, some RM2.5 billion is expected to be realised through the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park, Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (RM1 billion), Lahad Datu Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (RM415 million), Sandakan POIC (RM328 million), and RM1.2 billion from the manufacturing sector.

“Oil and gas are the biggest contributor to the state’s Gross Domestic Product and it is expected to grow with the discovery of new oil fields within Sabah waters. This sector is expected to lure in at least RM30 billion worth of investment. Both upstream and downstream projects should continue to be given attention,” he said.

He said the state government’s good governance and good track record, especially in financial management, has placed Sabah third in the list of highest investments in the manufacturing sector last year, after Selangor and Johor.

Tun Juhar also noted that through the government’s various development programmes, it has successfully reduced the hardcore poor rate from 19.7 per cent in 2009 to 8.1 per cent last year.

Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi, who is also Lumadan assemblyman, feels that many do not realise but there is a lot of tourism product available in the district that can be promoted to both domestic and foreign visitors.

Speaking to reporters during the opening of the 14th State Assembly sitting here by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin yesterday, he said, there is, however, a need for better basic infrastructure development to facilitate the development of the tourism sector in the area.

“Infrastructures such as paths, boats and other facilities are needed to access the beautiful places in Lumadan,” he said.

He gave Weston as an example that is not only rich with its flora, but also with its fauna as well as the presence of proboscis monkeys and fireflies.

Kamarlin hoped these facilities can be implemented in the next two to three years time.

“It would eventually be inviting not only to visitors but also researchers to the area to learn the many species of animals found there,” he said.

He said, the increase in the number of tourists and researchers would improve the local people’s livelihood.

According to the report lodged at the Lahad Datu police station, the woman claimed that her niece had told her that she was tied up after being brought to the plantation near her house at about 1.30 pm on Monday.

“The men dressed in black and some armed, had asked her niece where the two other individuals (Bintor and Tasha) were,” she alleged.

The teenager reportedly responded saying that she didn’t know and the men then left her there, where thereafter she managed to escape and relate to her aunt about the matter.

Sabah police commissioner, Datuk Hamza Taib, said, the police had gone to the plantation immediately after the report was lodged at about 2 pm but found no traces of the men in black.

“We are somewhat skeptical about this report but nonetheless we will investigate from all angles,” he said when contacted on Monday night.

This was revealed in the findings of a research carried out by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) on several islands in Semporna a couple of years ago, the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah was told yesterday.

According to a senior lecturer on Social Science in UMS, Dr Dayang Suria Mulia, the study was done in 2010 upon the request of WWF.

“The respondents we interviewed said that they are motivated to come to Sabah because of several factors, including geographical and economical. They also said that they have an extensive network in Sabah through from which they would obtain information about the opportunities in the state.

“Most of the respondents say that they have relatives living in Sabah and will use the information obtained from these people to mitigate their entry into Sabah. According to these migrants they will be told about the how to avoid detection by Malaysian security authorities when entering the Sabah.

“The information includes the known ‘jalan tikus’ and other backdoor entries. This inside information makes it difficult for any law, no matter how strict, to prevent immigrants from entering the state,” Dr Dayang Suria said.

She also told the Panel that there is a very fine line between becoming a legal or illegal immigrant in Sabah because a foreigner may enter the state legally but become an illegal immigrant once his or her work or visit pass expires.

“We do not want to generalize but some of the respondents we interviewed said that they are not worried being an illegal. In fact some prefer to be undocumented as they feel that the status is more flexible,” she said, adding that this was preferred by those who are working as domestic help.

Dr Dayang Suria, who had published articles about the issue, added that foreigners employed as domestic help were more concerned about the wages they are paid than being in the state legally.

They said that what they earn is usually not as promised and they were more concerned about getting wages that justifies their work load, Dr Dayang Suria said and added, when asked how they avoid being arrested by the authorities, the immigrants said that all they had to do was stay at home.

She also said that in 2009 and 2010, there were many undocumented domestic help in Sabah, some who had just arrived in the state while some were those who have been here a long time.

To the question by Chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim about the recommendations she made in a research article about foreign workers in Sabah, Dr Dayang Suria said that most have been implemented by the Government.

“Most of the issues I raised in the article which was done in 1999 are still relevant and important,” she said.

Macarius, who was the 109th witness called to give a statement to the Royal Commission of Inquiry, told the Panel that the Government of the day which was Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) wanted to know how many immigrants there are in Sabah at the time.

Macarius said that he was involved in the registration exercise as he was seconded to the Chief Minister Department’s Settlement Unit from 1986 to part of 1988 where his job was to assist the unit conduct a survey and registration of immigrants in Sabah.

There were more than 12 teams comprising of 12 to 13 personnel each and he was among those who were sent to Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Tawau and Sapulut in the interior to collect data on the immigrants in the areas and register them, he said.

During the proceedings, Commissioner Tan Sri Herman Luping asked Macarius to explain the purpose of the exercise to which the latter replied, “to find out the number of immigrants both legal and illegal in Sabah. Purely that and nothing else as we do not know the Terms of Reference for the exercise.

“What the government of the day wanted was to record them (immigrants) because their numbers (in Sabah) were increasing,” Macarius said.

Under questioning by conducting officer, Manoj Kurup, Macarius also said that the immigrants themselves were curious about the exercise and had asked those involved in the survey and registration exercise as to its purpose.

“We informed them that it is only for survey and registration, not for the issuance of any Malaysian identification document. We did however issue those who had registered with ‘Kad Burung Burung’ which was issued by the Chief Minister’s Department as verification.

“There were also immigrants who were in possession of Blue Malaysian IC who came to register themselves. This was because, as I was informed, most of them were holding fake Malaysian IC and that they wanted to register because they felt that their identification document was not genuine,” he said.

When asked by Commissioner Datuk Henry Chin if he had reported to his superiors about the dubious documents, Macarius replied, “Yes, and every time we came across dubious Malaysian identification documents, we would refer the finding to our headquarters for further action.

The personnel carrying out the registration would also photocopy the identification document but did not confiscate it as they are not empowered to do so, he said and stressed that only the National Registration Department officer is authorized to do that.

Macarius also disclosed that his team had come across several cases of fake ‘Kad Burung Burung’ documents when they were conducting the registration exercise in Sandakan.

“The individuals who were in possession of the ‘Kad Burung Burung’ said that they obtained the document in Bongao, in the Philippines. So we checked the documents against those issued by the Chief Minister’s Department and found that the serial numbers as well as the stamp were not the same.

“We reported the matter to the headquarters and police’s special branch,” he said, adding that these people were registered and issued with the actual ‘Kad Burung Burung’.

Macarius also disclosed that the teams registered about 300 people daily during the almost two years exercise.

The proposal came to light after the Sarawak government announced the 300 per cent hike to the salaries of the chief minister, ministers, assistant ministers and assemblymen.

Pantai Manis assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said the review was vital and described their existing pay as not enough to support their ever-increasing expenses every year.

The Sabah State Assembly’s Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman also believed that the state government should consider the increment to suit their increased task as the people’s representatives, especially those with state portfolios.

“We are asked to work hard to fulfill our responsibilities to support the people’s welfare, but with just RM7,000 a month, it is impossible to carry such huge responsibility.

“If we cannot match the 300 per cent increase such as that done by neighbouring Sarawak, a 200 or 100 per cent increase in hike is good enough,” he told reporters after the official launch of the 14th state assembly sitting by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin here yesterday.

Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi said the extra Ringgit would be of great help, especially in financing various programmes to benefit their constituents.

The Lumadan assemblyman said it would also help the assemblymen to lighten their constituents’ burden.

“I do agree that the assemblymen’s allowances should be reviewed to enable to serve the people better,” he said.

Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid meanwhile said the state government would have to review the proposal thoroughly to identify its effects to the state’s financial standing.

“It needs to be discussed in the State Cabinet before coming up with a decision for submission to the federal government,” said the Karambunai assemblywoman.

Klias assemblyman Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin said the proposal must be studied thoroughly, as it involves the taxpayers’ money.

He said even though the elected representatives could carry out more programmes for their constituents, but the government must ensure that the hike was worthwhile.

Lajim also said a thorough study is needed to look at its relevance.

“If the allowance increase is suitable, we will give our fullest support, but if it is unreasonable, then it would invite debate,” he said.

However, he said the decision is under the prerogative of the state government and its finance officers should propose the hike amount.

Lajim, who was recently named as the opposition leader for Sabah, said the 300 per cent increase, which was announced by the Sarawak Government recently, was just too high.

On the sitting, he said the opposition team would be highlighting the people’s grouses for the past four years.

“It is our hope that the ruling government will hear us out as we are only exteding the people’s grouses at the House. We would also appreciate it if the government would also consider recommendation made by us to overcome these problems,” he said.

Lajim added he would be touching on the housing problem as many were still categorised as local squatters for being homeless after their houses were demolished.

“The local squatters should be prepared with a house, be it for purchase or rent, before their houses are demolished,” he said speaking through his experience as ministers in charge of housing, agriculture and livestock both in federal and state cabinets.

He also said that the cabinet ministers should also provide them with answers should questions from the opposition team were not read out in the House.

Tribunal president Datuk Dr Lawrence S.H. Thien, who made the order, heard that Ng bought return tickets to Istanbul for two for travel between April 28 and May 9.

However, he decided to return earlier due to the 13th General Election on May 5, but was asked to fork out an additional RM4,640 to make the change in his travel arrangements, thus he felt that he had paid too much.

In another case yesterday, Hairulrizam Salleh told the Tribunal he wanted a refund from HP Trading because the vacuum cleaner he bought from the company malfunctioned merely six months after it was bought.

He said he sent the vacuum cleaner for repairs in February 14, 2013 but by March, it was still not fixed.

In April, he was told that the device was still not repaired, and by then he decided to purchase a new vacuum cleaner.

“The service was very slow,” he said.

When told by the representative from the shop that they were willing to give him a new set, Hairulrizam said that he already purchased another vacuum cleaner and had no use for the new set. “I just want my money back,” he said.

Lawrence ordered the shop to refund RM200 to Hairulrizam.

Meanwhile, a telecommunication device shop called Great Communications was ordered to refund RM450 to Alladin Zainal Abidin in payment for a tablet bought by the latter.

Alladin told the Tribunal that he bought the ‘brandless’ tablet on May 4, and that 11 days later, it malfunctioned.

“I sent the tablet for repairs at the shop and they asked me to pay RM170 as the part that had malfunctioned was not under warranty. But as far as I know, the warranty period is one year,” he said.

He also told the Tribunal that the shop refused to sign the forms from the tribunal indicating that they have received their copy.

“So I enclosed herewith a picture as proof that I have submitted it to them,” he said.

The shop also asked him to surrender the tablet’s warranty card and receipt of payment when he sent the tablet for repairs.

The land was acquired by the cooperative in 1999 and subdivided into 150 lots of 8,000 square feet each, to be sold to members of the cooperative at a price of RM30,000 per lot.

The cooperative allegedly promised the members that the former would seek approval from the government to develop the land for the members to build their own homes on the subdivided plots, turning the area into a ‘Foo Chow Village’.

Some 150 of the over 400 members of the cooperative bought the plots of land and signed the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) in 1999.

The members reported that the cooperative had spent around RM1 million to clear the land and build basic infrastructure.

Fourteen years later, the land owners have yet to move into their land because the cooperative has yet to get approval on the necessary documents.

Yesterday, several members of the cooperative met up with Yii to convey their grievances that the 49.75 acres of land had allegedly been sold by the board of directors of the cooperative without their consent.

On June 14, the cooperative put up an advertisement in See Hua Daily News to discuss the disbursement of funds from the sale of the land.

Yii, who was also former president of Foochow Association Kota Kinabalu as well as one of the 150 buyers, urged the board of directors to give the members a reasonable explanation on the sale of the land.

“We do not wish to create trouble that affects the unity of the Foochowese.

“We hope the relevant party, that is the cooperative, based on the premise of mutual trust, will look after the interest of the members,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.

Meanwhile, a member of the cooperative, Lee Lei Ding, said she was informed by a leader of the cooperative that nine individuals took part in the bidding of the land, but only one submitted the tender, and successfully bought the land at a price of RM3 million.

Lee, who is one of the victims, said she attended the cooperative’s annual general meeting (AGM) on June 9 but the meeting was aborted due to lack of quorum.

Lee said Koperasi Serbaguna Masyarakat Foo Chow Sabah Berhad chairman Dr Ling Hie Sing then informed the members that the 49.75 acres of land had been sold via tender.

One of the members voiced out his objection but was not being responded to, she claimed when reporting the issue to Yii here yesterday.

The AGM will be held again on June 19 at 2pm at Kota Kinabalu Foo Chow building here.

On the other hand, Ling said everything was done according to procedures.

Ling, when contacted yesterday, added that he would call for a press conference to explain the issue.

The burnout train and tanker at the scene of the collision in Kepayan on 1 October 2011.

KOTA KINABALU: The driver of an oil tanker who was charged with two counts of negligence related to the collision between the tanker and a train in Kepayan almost three years ago was yesterday acquitted and discharged by the Magistrate’s Court here.

In her reserved judgment, magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus ruled that that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case again Pauleh Dansun, 43.

On the first count, the father of four was accused of having, through his negligence, caused hurt by an act which endangered the lives of the five train passengers aged between 64 and 20 years, namely Asneh Papang, Norfaisma Ismail, Norafidah Jalani, Joseph Kulip, Bibiana Mojulat and Sapiah Masri, on Oct 31, 2011 between 5.30 pm and 5.45 pm in front of a fuel station at Km 8, Jalan Kepayan.

Dansun, who hails from Kampung Togung, Menggatal, was charged under Section 337 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum of six months’ jail or a fine or both upon conviction.

The second charge accused him of having, through his negligence, caused grievous hurt by an act which endangered the lives of the train passengers, namely to Rahmah Rahmat, 48, and Rauziah Ramli, 38, during the collision between the tanker and the train at the same time and place.

The second charge under Section 338 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both upon conviction.

When met outside the court, Dansun said he felt happy and grateful to his counsel Ram Singh and his boss who had been helping him since the case was brought to the court.

He said he will continue to work as a fuel tanker driver for the same company and this year would be his 11th year on the job.

In their submission, the prosecution had contended among other things that the police report made by Dansun stated that when he maneuvered his lorry into the access road, he heard a honking sound.

The prosecution had also submitted that Dansun had in fact crossed the railway track when the collision happened.

In his reply, Singh submitted that the full Train Accident Report from Sabah Railway Department (JKNS), which was not tendered, was needed to determine who was liable in the accident.

He argued that without the report it was premature to charge his client, adding that the train passengers’ injuries were due to the failure of the department to provide exit doors and safety precautions for passengers on board the train.

The prosecution had called 25 witnesses to testify in the trial which commenced on Jan 18 this year and closed its case on May 22 this year.

Counsel Nicholas Chong held a watching brief for the Shell company, while Ian Vun and DK Noranisah held a watching brief for Kurnia Insurance. The case was first brought to the court on July 6, 2012.

Said Daud from Basilan Mindanao, Philippines, who is now a permanent resident in Sabah residing in Labuan, said he believed most if not all Sulu refugees in Sabah are against the incursion.

According to Said, refugees, much like himself would rather choose Malaysia instead of their former home Philippines if they were forced to take sides.

“All of us in Labuan do not support them (Sulu armed intruders). In fact, we are angry with their action. Even if they call for us, we will never come to their support,” he said.

Asked why they are opposed to the persisting territorial claims by their fellow countrymen, he said the refugees who fled the conflict-stricken Mindanao in search of a better future in Sabah decades ago had become more Malaysian than Filipinos.

“We consider ourselves people of Malaysia, because we have lived here most of our lives, and our lives here are better (compared to Mindanao),” explained Said, who was the 114th witness called before the Commission since early this year.

Fellow refugee from Basilan, Bensar Sabtula, also expressed the same sentiment and rejected the act of aggression by Sulu Sultanate throne claimant, Jamalul Kiram III, who in his attempt to revive territorial claims on Sabah, had sent hundreds of men into battle with Malaysian forces.

Bensar, a resident chief of Labuan’s Kiansam refugee settlement, said he could attest for the people at the scheme that their loyalty was to Sabah and not the long defunct Sultanate.

“I too no longer consider myself a Filipino. I have stayed here for more than 30 years,” he said, adding that he came to Sabah in 1981 without any document through Sandakan using a Kumpit (small vessel).

In responding to questions from the Conducting Officer earlier, Bensar informed that the residents’ move to the scheme was with the consent from the Task Force after their previous settlements were gutted by fire.

The Kiansam settlement was opened in 2002 and today houses some 1,538 refugees, mostly from the Bajau, Suluk and Iyakan ethnics.

According to him, the majority of the residents have IMM13, Burung Burung, and Banci.

He also informed that some of the earlier residents had qualified for MyKad, with some 70 of them having registered as voters to embrace their rights as recognized citizens of Malaysia.

“There are however a few who still do not have any documentation,” he added.

The Commission also called two other witnesses to probe allegations in news portal last year that the Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry was involved in helping Indian nationals in Sabah gain Malaysian citizenship through the back door.

Former secretary general of the Chamber, Mohd Ansar Maidin, dismissed the allegation as unfounded claims from a disgruntled individual.

He explained that members of the association only helped workers from India get their work permits and not MyKads as reported.

The hearing will resume today with nine more witnesses scheduled to testify.

“Yes, there are no two ways about that. We will give 100 per cent to help the Government,” he said, when replying to a question from conducting officer, Manoj Kurup, during the RCI proceedings here yesterday.

Mohd Hasnol, however, stressed that at this point in time, there has yet to be any proposals for IDS to carry out a study on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah.

“But if the government wants us to do so, we will,” he said.

To the question by Commissioner Datuk Kamaruzaman Ampon on whether the role of IDS is still the same as when it was formed in the 1980s, Mohd Hasnol replied: “The objective in terms of how it serves the government is still the same but in terms of what we do, it is slightly different now.

“Now our main role is to look into the policies pertaining to the development of the state,” he said, adding that the issue of immigrants was also looked at by IDS.

This is because the government prioritizes the issue of security, he said, and pointed out that for now, there has been informal discussions on the matter and IDS will act upon it once instructed by the government to do so.

“We do have the discretion to give opinions and suggestions to the government,” he said.

In replying to Chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim, Mohd Hasnol said that any policies that comes from the institution takes into account the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah.

IDS, however, is looking more towards how to resolve the problems affecting the locals in Sabah and also towards the protection of native rights, he added.

“Whatever we do in IDS revolves around protecting the rights of the people in the state,” he said.

“We believe there is a lot to be done in the areas of peace and security in Sabah. Peace is everybody’s business and we must start early in our awareness campaign,” he said in a statement on the recent courtesy call by the association on newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan.

Omarali said the role of youth to help spread the message of peace in Sabah must not be overlooked.

He said the association was of the opinion that youth of Sabah would be one of the most effective tools for disseminating its messages.

“Young and old alike will need peace to achieve economic as well as political success, for without peace there is no hope. But the youth, being the future of the State, are particularly important. So, we call on youths in Sabah, irrespective of colour, race and religion to unite and help promote peace for Sabah,” he said.

On the meeting with the minister, Omarali said Tawfiq had suggested that they engage especially the Bumiputera Suluk and Bajau Sama communities directly by conducting seminars, talks and discussions in the vicinity where they mostly live like Kampung Hidayah in Tawau.

Tawfiq said the association should relay the official stand of the government of adopting non-violence approach and peaceful negotiations in dealing with conflicts.

“The Prime Minister did not want a single drop of blood shed in the Kampung Tondou incident, as he did not want any bad social and political repercussion for the State.

“Towards this end, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman took the initiative to call all the leaders of the affected communities to meet him at Sri Gaya to explain and help eradicate any negative perceptions or misunderstandings that may crop up from the incident.

“He (Tawfiq) stressed that there was a need to adopt damage control measures and he further advised the association to invite and include representatives from Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), the Home Ministry and the police in its peace awareness campaign,” he said.

GETTING A FEEL OF BIG BIKE: Jabu tries out a bike on display after launching the event.

Study on to ascertain safety concerns of residents in Voluntary Patrol Scheme areas

KUCHING: The National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) is conducting a study to ascertain the level of confidence of residents in Voluntary Patrol Scheme (SRS) areas over their safety.

JPNIN deputy director-general Ho Khek Hua said the initiative was one of several measures being undertaken by the department to assist the people to lead happier lives.

He added that questionnaires for the study were distributed to the respondents early this month.

“The study is important to us. The feedback will help us identify measures that can be taken to increase their confidence level,” he said at the launch of Sarawak Unity Week cum Love the Community programme at Kampung Hijrah Bako near here yesterday.

The event was officiated at by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu on behalf of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Meanwhile, Taib in his speech said politics of hatred, which is aimed at splitting the people, would not work in Sarawak as the majority of Sarawakians treasure the prevailing peace and harmony in the state.

He said the people knew very well that only the BN government was capable of delivering a balanced mix of peace, harmony and development all in one package.

“Sarawak is a good example for other states in terms of racial unity. We have 26 different ethnic groups living harmoniously together for more than 50 years,” Taib added.

Despite the push by certain groups to sow disunity in the state, the people of Sarawak continued to rally behind the BN, and this was clearly evident in the recent 13th general election, he added.

Jabu, in his speech, cautioned that development programmes meant for the benefit of the people would be disrupted if they supported the opposition.

“Development needs strong support, not indifference, from the people. The only way to successfully embrace change is to stand behind the government,” he said.

He later pledged a grant of RM15,000 for the village’s neighbourhood watch committee (RT) and the same amount for Borneo Islands Big Bikers Club (BIBBC) to enable them to organise road safety campaigns.

The three-day programme saw the participation of a number of RTs from various parts of the state.

They are staying with adopted families from the village.

During their stay, they would be involved in various programmes such as `gotong royong’, explorace, kite flying and a singing competition.

Among those present were Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni and state JPNIN director Dirwana Azool.

Lee recalled that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had stated that the nation’s progress and development lies in the ability of teachers to unite the young by encouraging them to inculcate the Rukun Negara principles.

He said the task of meeting these challenges has to be shouldered by teachers who are the agents or role models for inter-racial integration and unity.

“With every passing day the need to foster unity among students and to enhance their patriotism based on the principles of the Rukun Tetangga is all the more greater if we are to succeed in making Malaysia a truly united nation,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Besides the teachers, he stressed that parents also have to play a vital role in planting the seed for a 1 Malaysia by encouraging their children to mix around and have multiracial friends.

While the government has a major role to play towards achieving unity through its policies and actions, he said it is also necessary for our children to be educated on unity with the participation and involvement of the parents.

“Children are children and they are colour blind. They are innocent and their minds are not polluted by racial issues. They can mix and play with one another irrespective of race.

“I have on several occasions emphasized that children and young people must be completely unconscious of the fact that the person next to him or her is of another race or religion. They must be aware of only one thing that he or she is their friend,” said Lee.

With each passing day, he said Malaysian youths must relentlessly break down the racial divide, reach out and make friends with those from other ethnic groups.

Parents who themselves were brought up in a multiracial environment and who made friends from different races should encourage their children to mix with others of different races so that they are aware of the importance of inter-racial and inter-religious harmony.

Children and young people of diverse races should be taught to respect one another in the spirit of 1 Malaysia, he added.

According to Lee, unity should be the guiding principle for all schools in their activities ranging from sports to co-curricular activities in order to foster greater inter-racial understanding.

Programmes need to be introduced and initiated to bring together students from different schools such as the national, Chinese and Tamil primary schools allowing them to interact and make friends in the larger interests of nation building.

“Today’s students are our future leaders. Upon their shoulders lie the responsibility of building a united Malaysian nation with common and shared destiny for all.

“Unity and harmony must be embedded in our culture and there must be more opportunities for children and young people of diverse races to meet and forge closer friendship and understanding for the sake of our nation＊s future in the interest of 1 Malaysia,” he said.

The president of the UK-based Borneo Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BOPIM), Daniel John Jambun, said that a historic meeting between BOPIM and the Sarawak Sovereignty Movement (SSM) held in Kuching on June 11 was to commit to “fighting for the sovereignty of Sabah and Sarawak.”

Jambun in a joint statement with SSM’s spokesman, Dato’ Moshidi Abdul Rahman, said that the gist of the BOPIM-SSM approach is for the revival of the two states’ sovereignty as were achieved on August 31, 1963 for Sabah, and on July 22, 1963 for Sarawak.

The NGOs see 2013 as an opportune year for the united NGOs to commence pursuit of this long-overdue objective especially because 2013 marks the 50th year of the Malaysia Agreement.

“At the same time we want to explore further the deeper nature of the relationship that both Sabah and Sarawak should have with Malaya after the restoration of the sovereignties of the Borneo states,” they said.

“One idea is that when it comes to Sabah and Sarawak, the Federal Government should confine itself to defence, foreign affairs and national economic planning.

“We need to seriously re-look at the whole history and arrangement of the Malaysian federation. Firstly, we are of the position that there has not been a proper referendum conducted in Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Malaya prior to the formation of Malaysia,” the joint statement said.

Jambun explained that the BOPIM-SSM stance is that because of the absence of a referendum, the Government in Putrajaya/Kuala Lumpur saw no compelling reason to fulfill the provisions of the Malaysia Agreement, and this had led to a lot of what is now seen as non-compliance.

“We must be aware of the fact that the Cobbold Commission was not a referendum. It was merely a survey and this clearly was an open British and Malayan breach and transgression of the United Nation Protocols on Decolonization.”

BOPIM and SSM also asserted that there is no ‘Constitution of Malaysia’ but a ‘Federal Constitution’ which is a modified version of the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya 1957.’

ow what we have is the codified Constitution of the Federation of Malaya being passed off as the Constitution of Malaysia, which leads to the implication that the Federation of Malaya as masquerading as the Federation of Malaysia.

“This is perhaps the reason why the whole world, and even Malayans, still sees Malaya as Malaysia, without seeing Sabah and Sarawak as important components of the federation,” Jambun said.

“But within Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak are being referred to as the 12th and 13th states after the departure of Singapore which saw the definition of Federation in the Constitution being amended to the disadvantages of the Borneo states.

“We can then interpret that September 16, 1963 became the day that Malaya re-colonized Sabah and Sarawak. As such BOPIM-SSM tends to see this day more as ‘Colonisation Day’ instead of Malaysia Day.”

The two NGOs say they are fighting for sovereignty because it will bring immense benefits to both Sabah and Sarawak.

“For starters, it will help resolve the burning issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah in particular and their presence on the electoral rolls. It an open secret that these illegal immigrants and other foreigners have also been handed MyKads meant for citizens by operation of law. We will have much fairer share of our revenues and be more independent in formulating our own socio-economic planning and overall nation-building efforts,” he said

The biscuit baking and stall food cooking course, which was held in Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau dan Semporna, were conducted throughout the months of May and June.

YUM managing director, Freddy Rantau, hoped, through the programme, that participants will be able to learn new skills, besides finding out business opportunities available to help improve their livelihood.

“The programme is organised under the Felda’s special fund for the state this year. More of similar training programme will be organised until end of this year,” he said.

He therefore urged YUM members to take part in such courses to learn new skills, besides improving their existing knowledge.

“Among YUM’s objective is to produce more women entrepreneurs and we are gearing our programmes towards this objective.

“It is also our hope that participants would make full use of the knowledge and skills learned, which can be useful to them in the future,” he said.

Among their future courses are entrepreneurship and book keeping.

bpedit\Pictures\June 16\yum course

1.     Chef Ramlin sharing his expertise in cooking with the participants, recently.

2.     Among YUM members from Lahad Datu at the event, recently.

3.     Participants getting a few tips on biscuit baking from the experts, recently.

4.     Participants showing off the cooking skills.

5.     Participants jotting down notes during the course.

6.     One of the participants showing off skills in decorating the biscuit.

7.     Participants at the biscuit baking course.

8.     Participants showing off their cooking skills.

STAR Sabah chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said this in response to reports of MPs from Sabah and Sarawak meeting up with veteran lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Jeffrey said the position of MPs from Sabah and Sarawak as ingmakers?had been clear-cut in the political tsunami of 2008 and in the 13th General Election, more so in the latter, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had no choice but to appoint 21 ministers and deputies from the Borneo states.

“Even then, as there were subsequent disgruntlements from MPs in Sarawak, the PM had promised to make further Cabinet changes to accommodate other MPs from Sabah and Sarawak after the Umno elections later this year,” he said.

Jeffrey said the people of Borneo need to shed and discard their old mentality, which has been wrongly cast by decades of propaganda and brain-washing, to depend and rely on leaders from Malaya.

“With due respect to Tengku Razaleigh or better known as Ku Li who is not only eminently qualified and experienced to lead Malaysia and probably will do a better job as Prime Minister than many from Umno, he is in the wrong party and the wrong coalition.

Several disgruntled Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs from East Malaysia were reported to have met Razaleigh last Monday night to discuss their positions after not getting anything for their wins in the closely-fought 13th General Election.

A report in the Malaysian Insider said that about the dozen or so MPs from Sabah and Sarawak are not keen to cross the aisle to join Pakatan Rakyat (PR) but are also not happy with Putrajaya over the spoils of victory.

According to Jeffrey, the PM and Umno and the Sabah, Sarawak parties and their 47 MPs need to remember than without the four MPs from MIC and one from Gerakan, BN will still form the federal government. However, on the other hand, if the Sabah, Sarawak parties abandon BN without even joining Pakatan, there will be a change of the Umno/BN federal government.

This point is not lost when Ku Li did not pass up the opportunity to meet with the Sabah and Sarawak MPs who are not only kingmakers but also hold the trump card to change the PM. That is the strength of Sabah and Sarawak in the current political equation in Malaysia.

Jeffrey added there is no necessity for Sabah, Sarawak MPs to be diplomatic let alone beg to be given ministerial positions. Just lay the cards on the table and openly demand for their rightful positions in the federal Cabinet. These ministerial positions are not the possessions of Umno or their Malayan counterparts but equally belong to the Borneo states as equal partners in Malaysia, more so when these seats are needed for Umno/BN to remain as the federal government.

“Their demands should not stop at just ministerial positions.

“The MPs from Sabah and Sarawak need to realize that they have been elected by their own people and have a moral and legal obligation to safeguard and protect their homeland, Sabah and Sarawak, as well as to fulfill the legitimate expectations of their electorate.

“These obligations and expectations include the restoration of the rights and autonomy of Sabah and Sarawak, the return of the oil revenue and resources and to bring about development,” he stressed.

Jeffrey said they need to ensure that for every ringgit spent on Malaya, a minimal equivalent ringgit is spent on Sabah and Sarawak and for every kilometre of road built in Malaya, another kilometre is built in Sabah and Sarawak and the basic amenities should be upgraded within the next five years to bring them on par with Malayan standards. This minimal equivalent is already a big concession to Malaya considering the lop-sided development for the past 50 years and the RM35 billion oil revenue taken from Sarawak and another RM18 billion taken from Sabah yearly.

A better option for the MPs from Sabah and Sarawak is to abandon BN and to be united as a Borneo coalition and to forge a genuine partnership with their counterparts from Malaya to form the Malaysian federal government and not be dictated by Umno or their Malayan counterparts, he added.

“There is no better alternative to a United Borneo Alliance to safeguard the rights, autonomy and future of the Borneo States. Then, the true spirit of the formation of Malaysia would be respected and the intentions of the founding fathers of Malaysia fulfilled,” he said.

The collaring team (members of Wildlife Rescue Unit and DGFC) with Putut.

KINABATANGAN: Five Bornean elephants were fitted with a satellite collar from June 4 to 6 near Danau Girang Field Centre, in Lot 5 of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (LKWS) as part of a collaborative project between the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), the NGO HUTAN and the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC).

This project is funded by the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Elephant Family, Houston Zoo and Columbus Zoo.

The collaring operations were led by two amazing young women, Malaysian PhD student Nurzhafarina Othman registered at Cardiff University and attached to DGFC and Mexican wildlife veterinarian Dr Diana Ramirez attached to SWD’s Wildlife Rescue Unit and DGFC.

Dr Ramirez said in just three days, their team managed to collar four females and one male.

“I would like to congratulate my team and especially all the boys from our Wildlife Rescue Unit, as well as the River Keeper Unit boys and DGFC staff and students who did an amazing job,” added Dr Ramirez.

They recollared a female that was previously tagged in October 2011 and named Putut, three new females selected by Nurzhafarina for her PhD on the social behaviour of the Kinabatangan elephants, and named Ita, Bell and Tess; and one male of 30-40 years old named Sejati.

Nurzhafarina said these five individuals bring the number of currently tracked elephants to eight.

“The main purpose of collaring is to collect additional movement data from different individuals to facilitate the management of the Bornean elephant in the Kinabatangan, but also to determine the social associations among females using GPS points, especially highly related females, an important component of my PhD.

“Three females, Putut, Bell and Tess were fit with collars provided by a colleague of ours, Dr Shermin de Silva, from Sri Lanka, with whom we are collaborating on female behaviour,” she explained.

“To find the elephants in the forest, we were communicating by text messages with my supervisor, Dr Benoit Goossens, who, from his office in Kota Kinabalu, was providing real-time GPS positions of Aqeela, Puteri and Liun, three females from the same her that were collared back in 2010, 2011 and 2012,” she added.

DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens praised the dedication for wildlife conservation and the commitment of two great women and congratulated them for a job well done.

“Having taken part in elephant collaring operations before, I know how difficult it is to track, dart and collar an elephant. Here, in three days, the team managed to collar five individuals, including a male. This is possible only under a strong leadership in the field.

“Finally, I would like to acknowledge the special relationship that DGFC and Wildlife Rescue Unit have. For three years now, we have been working closely together in a number of projects, and I can only congratulate Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu and Dr Sen Nathan from Sabah Wildlife Depatment for their vision and for setting up such an important team dedicated to wildlife conservation in Sabah. These young boys and girls are amazing!” said Goossens.

Unique arrangement of music performed by Moscow Fish of Canada.

KOTA KINABALU: For two days, the covered tennis courts of Sutera Harbour Marina Golf and Country Club were packed with jazz aficionados, enthralled to the renditions of Mia Palencia In Good Company, and sounds from Moscow Fish, Humanfolk and Kekko Fornarelli Trio among others.

The Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival (KKJF) held on June 14 and 15 returned bigger, better and bolder this time around with rhythm and beats that offers festival goers a toe-tapping good time.

Apart from the wonderful music showcased from 7 pm to 11 pm on both nights, local and foreign jazz lovers were served with thousands bottles of beer sponsored by Carlsberg.

Among the performers on Friday night were Funkafize, Albert Sirimal, Lazz United, Kekko Fornarelli Trio, Moscow Fish, Shanghai Jazz Redefined with Janet Lee and Johnny Alegre Trio.

On the second night, Kian Kok School Big Band, Appy Tot, Gee Mojina and Elixir, KK Jazz Half Marching Brass Band, Mega Boogies Blues Buster, Mia Palencia in Good Company, HumanFolk and Moscow Fish showcased their enthusiasm for all forms of improvised music.

The festival, which is in its seventh year, has so far proved a reliable mirror of international trends in jazz music.

Moscow Fish, one of the international bands performed an electronic and an acoustic show that wowed the audience with their unique and very versatile music.

In a short introduction during the event, Moscow Fish thanked the organizers of KKJF for giving them the chance to perform.

“I am very thankful for being invited to Sabah, and I am very touched with the appreciation of music by the people here. It is very rare in the world,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sabah-born Mia Palencia and her group, Mia Palencia In Good Company, as expected succeeded in mesmerizing the audience who had been waiting year long for the event.

On the first day, Mia sang several jazz numbers while on Saturday she swayed the audience with her rendition of sexy bossa nova songs.

Mia Palencia In Good Company is a unique collaboration between two islands. While pursuing her music degree on the Island Of Tasmania, Australia, Mia approached Tasmanian Jazz arranger and keyboardist Kelly Ottaway with the idea of forming an ensemble to explore both her original music and improvised jazz.

The duo recruited double bassist Hamish Houston and drummer Liam O’Leary, thus completing the line-up.

“Super excited at our Malaysian debut tonight. Hope to see some friendly faces in the audience,” wrote Mia, in her Facebook page before the show.

GruAvenue, featuring Poova Pachciak, concluded the two-days event with singer, songwriter and composer Poova showcasing her powerful voice.

bprep/ photos/ June 16/ audience1, audience2

Some of the audience enjoying their beer and the wonderful sounds of jazz.

The new committee members comprise Yong Ah Ngau @ Yong Wei Kiong as association chairman, Lim Ho Ching @ Richard Lim as vice chairman, Faezah Chin Tsun Gi as secretary, Mah Sui Yin @ Helen Mah as treasurer and Mohd Syarie Abdul Latiff as assistant secretary.

Other committee members who were sworn in during the association’s swearing-in ceremony at the Cherry Restaurant near here Saturday night include Lee Yan Fong, Ho Kah Heng @ Edward Ho, Bong Pit Sie Jimmie, Abdul Halim Mohamad, Yong Kwet Kiong, Chong Fui Yin, Kenneth Hiew Ket Leong, John Liew, Ronald Aloysius Paut and Eric Bansalad.

Newly re-appointed chairman Yong Ah Ngau told the members of the association prior to the swearing-in ceremony that the association has nearly 100 members now.

The association was registered with the Registrar of Society on April 2002 and had recently celebrated its 12th anniversary, he said.

Yong added that even though there are only 100 members in PERKAS, there were between 150 to 200 agents who dealt directly with PUSPAKOM and the Commercial Vehicle Licencing Board (CVLB) with issues related to vehicles handling.

He also urged those in need of PERKAS’ services to opt for the association members instead of approaching non-members as the former were registered with PUSPAKOM and could easily be contacted if any problem arose.

The guest of honor during the event, Dr James Yong Chau, who had served as permanent advisor for the association, also made the same call and said that it was better for companies which require the services provided by the association’s members to seek them instead of other non-registered members.

“For one thing, they will not run away with the monies you have paid to have the services provided to you,” he said.

Aside from dealing with PUSPAKOM, the members can also assist in paying for road taxes, trading licenses and so on, James added.

Also present during the event were Inanam assemblyman Dr Roland Chia and Api-Api assemblywoman Christina Liew.

Irene (left) and Rietta (right) after the competition.

KOTA KINABALU: The 28th Sabah Dragon Boat Race, which is an annual international event, has over the years been attracting both foreign and local competitors.

The Dragon Boat Race festival this year, held in conjunction with the Chinese Duanwu festival also known as the Dumpling Festival, was no different in that it had attracted international competitors from Singapore, Australia, and Brunei.

These teams competed in the 200 metres and 800 metres boat racing events, in addition to a special Breast Cancer Survivors Women category.

Singapore’s ‘Paddlers in Pink’ team stood as the defending champions in the Breast Cancer Survivors Women category, having attended last year’s 27th Sabah Dragon Boat Race as well.

Team captain, Irene Chui, and vice-captain, Rietta Teo, of the Singapore team of 33 people were both clad in full pink apparel, a color symbolizing breast cancer awareness. Their team represented the Breast Cancer Foundation of Singapore in the competition.

Both women were ecstatic to have won the title again this year and proudly stood as the race champions in addition to being breast cancer survivors.

“We want to show that we can still enjoy life to the fullest despite the ordeal we had to go through,” Irene said.

Dragon boat paddling is a great form of exercise which helps to keep survivors in good health, according to Irene.

Both had also hoped to send the message that “early detection saves lives, saves breasts” as the age of breast cancer patients grow younger each year.

They also said that the team intends to join another dragon boat race in Putrajaya, Malaysia next June.

It was learnt that the victim, Akram Hajiri, had gotten into an argument and subsequently a fight with a man at the community hall at Kg Buit Hill at around 7.30 pm on Saturday.

However, soon after he escaped home, the victim returned to the venue armed with a machete (parang) and searching for the man that he had argued with earlier.

A fight broke out again and the victim was beaten up by friends of the man that he had differences with.

The victim’s wife reportedly rushed to the scene upon hearing the news and immediately requested the men to leave her husband alone. She then called for an ambulance to take her husband to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. However, the victim succumbed to his injuries.

Penampang OCPD, Deputy Superintendent Ratan Kumar Singh, said, the police have arrested two suspects in the village believed to have been involved in the case at 12.15 am yesterday.

The suspects, aged 23 and 32 years old respectively, have been detained for further investigation. The case will be investigated under murder.

The site of the accident near a Shell station at Jalan Kebajikan.

KOTA KINABALU: A Perodua Kancil driver escaped unhurt from a side collision with a Proton Waja that left his vehicle badly damaged.

It was learnt that the Kancil driver, believed to be in his 50s, was turning into the Jalan Kebajikan junction from Jalam Kolam when the Waja, coming from Luyang, collided with the Kancil.

The incident happened around 9.50pm on Saturday.

The Kancil also hit a Perodua MyVi after the first collision but the second collision was not serious.

The Waja was driven by a 32-year-old man.

The festival, supposedly a symbolic race to remember a heroic poet in China named Qu-Yuan who was banished from the court when the ruler heeded the counsel of corrupt officials who conspired against him, was celebrated by the locals of Sabah in the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship.

A mother of four, Rohaiza Mayon, was among thousands of locals who enjoyed the festival atmosphere at Likas Bay.

She drove all the way from Tuaran with her husband and their children and said they are excited to come to support their friends who are competing at the finals.

“My husband and I have been following this event since three years ago. We have never missed the finale because it always falls on Sunday where we can enjoy our weekend with something interesting.

“As parking space is very scarce, we always come early. We also did not worry about getting hungry because there are many stalls selling food,” she said.

As for the food stalls operators, the annual event is an opportunity to make money.

Alisa Jay, 34, who is currently operating a canteen at the Tuaran Hospital, managed to booked one space to sell mixed rice, Indonesian noodle soup called Soto and ABC, or Ais Batu Campur, literally meaning ‘mixed ice’ for dessert.

“This year is our 10th year selling food during the Sabah Dragon Boat Race festival. We started arranging the seats and temporary kitchen since Friday as the race began on Saturday.

“We woke up as early as 3 am to prepare the food and drinks, and we slept at 12am in a canvas camp on the beach,” she said.

Alisa, who was accompanied by her family members to run the stall said, Sabah Dragon Boat Race is very important for them because they can make a healthy profit, triple from what they earn in the canteen.

She was satisfied with the location arranged by the organizers, which is located a few steps from the main stage.

Another food stall operator, Siti Razmah Abdul Salleh, said the visitors to the event prefers pre-cooked food, so that they do not have to wait for so long.

“We made available fried rice, noodles, chicken wings and nuggets. All will be sold out by the afternoon, and if the demands require, we can cook more food because we have our own portable kitchen.

“We also have many options of drinks such as coconut, Milo, mineral water and Cincau sold at only RM1 per cup,” she said.

Siti Razmah is only does the business during main festivals occasions around the city like Harvest Festival and Ramadhan Bazaar.

Apart from local and foreign visitors, Siti Razmah also provided food and drinks to the participants and organizers who arrived at the venue since Friday.

Sabah PKR secretary Dr Roland Chia when making the announcement yesterday also disclosed that Api Api assemblywoman Christina Liew, with the consensus and agreement of the party’s leadership, will be PKR Sabah chief whip.

Dr Roland himself will be the opposition secretariat that is being set up on the recommendation of its leader Lajim.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Dr Roland who is Inanam assemblyman said  on June 12, Pakatan Rakyat Sabah Secretariat had a meeting which was attended by all three state liaison chairmen, Ahmad Thamrin Jaini for PKR Sabah, Aminuddin Aling for Pas Sabah and Jimmy Wong from DAP Sabah.

“On June 13th, the PKR and DAP lawmakers had a lunch meeting after the swearing in ceremony for the final selection of the opposition leader. One of the recommendations made by the state opposition chairmen was that voting should be made among the lawmakers.

“The vote was taken and the opposition leader was selected based on the majority votes garnered, which is Datuk Lajim. This is in line with the State Assembly Speaker Datuk Salleh Said’s statement that the appointment of an opposition leader was not stipulated in the state constitution or in the state assembly standing orders.

“That is why we proceeded on June 13 to select based on votes and Datuk Lajim who garnered the majority of the votes was declared as the opposition leader for Sabah. The letter of recommendation and notification has been issued by the secretary general of Parti KeADILan Rakyat Malaysia, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, and was also sent to Sabah State Speaker,” he said.

Dr Roland added that the recommendation was by PKR secretary general because Lajim is a PKR member and that Pakatan Rakyat is not a registered party.

On the opposition secretariat, Dr Roland said its role was to coordinate with the two party chief whips and other opposition lawmakers with regard to issues raised in the state assembly.

The other role of the secretariat is to ensure the proper setting up of an opposition office in the state assembly building.

“At the moment we do not have a proper office, we do not have a proper conference room, library, staff, but these are all provided for the BN lawmakers. We feel that this privilege should also be accorded to opposition lawmakers because we represent the voice of the constituents who gave us their mandate.

“This has been communicated to the State Assembly secretary Datuk Bernard Dalinting as a matter of urgency because we need to prepare ourselves for the state assembly sitting. The setting up of the secretariat is vital and if you look at parliament, the 14th floor is allocated to the opposition office for its leaders. This is to ensure the proper separation of powers of judiciary parliament as well as the executive,” he said.

Lajim also said he would be announcing the opposition’s shadow cabinet on Monday.

The 75 outstanding students of Inti College Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: Seventy-five outstanding students of Inti College Sabah (ICS) received their ICS Award during its presentation and Discovery Day at Sabah Trade Centre in Likas yesterday.

The awards ceremony acknowledged the hardwork and accomplishments of ICS’s high achieving graduate students and student leaders who performed as excellent role models that the schoolchildren could look up to and emulate.

Over 300 secondary school students who were invited to participate in the ICS Discover Day took the opportunity to witness the awards presentation ceremony.

ICS’s close industry partner, IOI Corporation was at hand to present the IOI Most Outstanding Student Award to deserving recipients from ICS School of Business and School of Hospitality.

The IOI Award is a testimony of the long-standing relationship between the institution and IOI Corporation, and industry recognition of ICS’s excellent track record in producing high quality students and employable graduates.

True to its name, ICS’s Discovery Day also presented an opportunity for the students to learn about many academic and career options available in business, accountancy and hospitality.

After the award presentation ceremony, an established and well-respected member of the international academic community with over 25 years of experience working with higher education institutions across the globe, Dr Malcolm Mclver, spoke on the unique business and accounting degree programme available at ICS.

Mclver spoke on the advantages of acquiring a prestigious degree from the United Kingdom’s leading business university without having to leave the country.

Meanwhile, operation supervisor of Inti International College Subang School of Hospitality, Gobien Selva spoke on the insight into dynamic hospitality education and industry.

Pang (center), Lucilla (fourth left), Aminah (third right), and Dr Zaharah (fourth right) with committee members of Kota Kinabalu Pink Ribbon, Kuala Lumpur Pink Challengers, Singapore Paddlers in Pink and Australia Pink Victory

KOTA KINABALU: Breast cancer awareness is an issue that is close to my heart, said Assistant Tourism Minister Datuk Pang Nyuk Ming said at Suria Sabah Mall, here yesterday.

He had come to show support to Kota Kinabalu Pink Ribbon’s ‘The Power is Pink’ breast cancer awareness event on the invitation by the organization president Lucilla Pang, who is also his sister.

“Lucilla is my elder sister and also a breast cancer survivor. I am proud of her for having managed to brave it through,” he said.

Pang also congratulated the Kota Kinabalu Pink Ribbon ladies for a commendable job in providing support and advice to patients and survivors.

He said group support was important for those going through the ordeal.

In addition, the event was intended to gather signatories for a petition directed to the Ministry of Health to obtain a new radiotherapy machine for Sabah hospitals.

Lucilla said there was only one radiotherapy machine in Sabah located at Likas Hospital here, while Kuala Lumpur had a total of four machines within the federal territory.

She said the Kota Kinabalu Pink Ribbon hoped to improve the situation for cancer treatment in Sabah.

The Kota Kinabalu Pink Ribbon advises women from all walks of life to get mammograms as early detection was still the best prevention.

Lucilla remarked that for women it was of utmost importance to take care of oneself regardless of life and family.

In attendance were also Dr Zaharah Aiyub of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Kuala Lumpur and Datin Aminah Ambrose.

The event also hosted a congregation of activists and supporters from several breast cancer non-profit organizations such as Kuala Lumpur Pink Challengers, Singapore Paddlers in Pink and Australia Pink Victory.

Victim lying on the road with his left leg nearly severed.

KOTA KINABALU: A local man’s left leg was nearly severed after his motorbike collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle at the Indah Permai traffic lights in Sepanggar on Friday night.

In the 11.30pm incident, the victim, in his 20s, was believed to be travelling towards Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park from Menggatal when he lost control of his motorcycle and rammed into the Toyota Hilux while its driver was waiting for the green light.

The impact caused the victim to fall with his leg apparently run over by the machine.

He was later taken to the hospital by security forces personnel.

City police chief ACP Jauteh Dikun when contacted yesterday said the victim was reported to be in stable condition.

He said the Toyota Hilux driver, in his 40s, was not hurt in the incident, which would be investigated under Section 43 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

LAUD resting on his hospital bed accompanied by Setia (seated left).

SIPITANG: Laud Adau is probably a living testimony that miracle does happen.

Probably it was also his quick thinking that saved him from bleeding to death when he covered the slash wounds on his chin and neck with a shirt, and survived for about 12 hours before receiving treatment.

The 68-year old silat (traditional martial arts) teacher, who taps rubber for a living, was attacked at his house in Kampung Susuk Sapok at around 11pm on Wednesday and robbed of over RM1,000 cash. Laud is single and lives alone.

A neighbour, who came to clean up the grass near the victim’s house, found him lying at the verandah in a pool of blood, and rushed him to the hospital for medical attention.

His attacker, a local man in his 20s, was however arrested by police in less than 24 hours following investigation and public tip-off in the same village.

“We picked up the suspect near the area at around 5pm on Thursday,” said district police chief DSP Mustapha Othman.

The suspect, who did odd jobs, is currently detained to facilitate investigation.

“We have yet to recover the weapon used in the attack and the cash. The suspect is investigated under Section 397 of the Penal Code for armed robbery,” he said.

Mustapha said they received a report at around 10am from the district hospital when the victim came to seek treatment. Laud was later referred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the state capital for further treatment.

The victim was hacked twice with a scythe-like weapon.

He appeared to be in stable condition when met at his hospital bed. There beside him was his younger sibling.

“My brother is a nice man and I do not know of anyone who has any ill feelings towards him,” said Setia Adau, who was sitting next to Laud’s hospital bed.

The 57-year-old said she nearly lost her mind after learning of her brother’s condition, but kept calm by saying her prayers, hoping for the best.

“Only God knows our feelings after learning of the incident, especially knowing that he was attacked while sleeping on Wednesday night. I am just glad that he is stable despite the severe injuries.

“I was told that he could only make some noise when the neighbour called out his name. I am grateful to the Good Samaritan for helping and sending him to the hospital to seek treatment. Only God can repay his deeds,” said Setia.

Speaking to reporters after launching the ‘Giving the Gift of Hearing 2013′ programme by the US-based Starkey Hearing Foundation (SHF) at Wisma Pertanian here yesterday, Baranting said these ‘persons with disabilities’ are classified into seven categories.

“The Sabah Welfare Department has classified 3,514 as hearing impaired, 8,760 as physically challenged, 10,202 as those with learning disabilities, 2,522 as visually impaired, 101 as those with speech difficulties, 543 as mentally challenged, and 903 as with various other disabilities,” said Baranting.

“With these numbers, the state government could certainly use some help from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like SHF, which we hope other NGOs would emulate, to work together with the government in helping those in need,” said Baranting.

She added that such assistance is needed as equipment such as the hearing aids are costly while PWDs in the country and in the state come mostly from low and middle income families who could not afford it.

Sabah chief enforcement officer Suhaimi Mat Sari said the Louis Vuitton distributor had lodged a complaint with the ministry on the premises that sell fake Louis Vuitton goods.

He said a team of enforcement officers and the company’s representative carried out raids on six premises at a shopping mall that were believed to have sold the fake goods in the city last Wednesday.

Among the goods confiscated were woman handbags, purses, wallets, belts, shoes, phone casing, bracelets, hair clips and earrings worth RM57,350.

The ministry conducted another raid on three premises at Alam Mesra, Putatan and Segama on Thursday, which led to the seizure of RM23,553 worth of fake Louis Vuitton goods, including cloths printed with the brand logo.

Suhaimi said the confiscated goods from the nine premises were worth a total of RM80,903.

He said the case would be investigated under Section 8 of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011.

An organisation will face a fine up to RM15,000 for every counterfeit product or fine not more than RM30,000 for its second offence; while an individual will be fined not more than RM10,000 for every counterfeit product sold or face a jail term up to three years, or both.

The three-man panel chaired by Justice Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif, who sat together with Justices Datuk Clement Allan Skinner and Dato’ Azahar Mohamed unanimously set aside Justin Mark Rumizar’s conviction and custodial sentence which was imposed by the lower court last year.

The same court also dismissed a cross-appeal by the prosecution who appealed to enhance the sentence.

On May 4, 2012, the Sessions Court sentenced Justin to seven years’ jail after finding him guilty of raping the woman at a rubber estate in a village in Pitas on Jan 7, 2010.

He was convicted under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and is also liable to whipping upon conviction.

After that Justin appealed to the High Court which dismissed his appeal to set aside the rape conviction on Nov 6, 2012.

Counsel Saban Sawayan represented the appellant.

Meanwhile, the same court dismissed a local man’s appeal against his conviction and sentence of seven years’ jail for causing the death of his 79-year-old father-in-law.

The court affirmed the conviction and sentence imposed by the Sessions Court here on Sinun Bukusoi, 51, who was defended by counsel Wotti Junius.

On Oct 21, 2011, the Sessions Court sentenced Sinun to seven years’ jail after finding him guilty of causing the death of Osman @ Garungup Abdullah at a house in Kg Datong, Pitas at about 7.30pm on July 30, 2006.

The offence was framed under Section 304 (a) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum of 30 years’ jail and also liable to a fine on conviction.

On Nov 1, 2012, the High Court here upheld his conviction and sentence for committing the offence.

Yayasan Sime Darby yesterday announced the sponsorship of the popular festival jointly organised by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) and the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS).

The sponsorship is in line with the Yayasan Sime Darby’s guidelines under the arts and culture pillar to promote programmes that benefit the development of arts and culture amongst the diverse multicultural society of Malaysia and to foster the development of artistic talents among the young and old alike.

The sponsorship covers the festival expenses including fees for artistes and performances, logistics expenses as well as marketing and promotion costs.

During the press conference before the event started yesterday, Yayasan Sime Darby governing council member Datin Paduka Zaitoon Datuk Othman praised the organizers of KKJF, calling the event a celebration of diversity through music as this year would see the inclusion of bands from as far as Canada, Italy, Australia and the Philippines.

“KKJF is everything a good music festival should be and more. Aside from being a place for like-minded fans to gather and be entertained over the course of two nights, KKJF is also a place where new local talents are born, providing them with a launchpad that will catapult them to international audiences and stardom,” she said.

Zaitoon added that establishments such as hoteliers as food and beverages outlets also looked to KKJF as a ‘scouting’ ground for local acts to hire to entertain guests at their premises.

“Events such as KKJF also contribute to the tourism of Kota Kinabalu, which is already famous among tourists for its eco-tourism, environmental and cultural heritage which are unique to this part of the world,” said Zaitoon.

The event organizer also ensures that at least 40 per cent of KKJF’s performers are Sabahans to give the event a more definitive, localised flavour.

In addition to the benefits that Yayasan Sime Darby’s sponsorship of KKJF brings to the music scene, the sponsorship creates a cascading effect as proceeds from ticket sales also go towards benefiting the underprivileged communities in an around Kota Kinabalu.

Among performers last night are Funkafize, Albert Sirimal, Lazz United, Kekko Fornarelli Trio, Moscow Fish, Shanghai Jazz Redefined with Janet Lee and Johnny Alegre Trio.

Tonight, Kian Kok School Big Band, Appy Tot, Gee Mojina and Elixir, KK Jazz Half Marching Brass Band, Mega Boogies Blues Buster, Mia Palencia in Good Company, HumanFolk and Moscow Fish will be performing at the covered tennis court at Sutera Harbour Marina, from 7pm to 11pm.

MixFM current announcer Charlene Cynthia Wong will be the emcee for this year KKJF.

Present at the press conference yesterday were organizing chairman and co-organizer Jack Ong and Roger Wang. Founder of KKJF Datuk Adeline Leong also attended the event.