17Aug

Serene moment at Memorial Day

SANDAKAN: The shared wartime history between Malaysia, Australia and Britain is a reminder of not only the sacrifice and endurance of those who perished but also the loss and longing of family members. “Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the end of World War Two. We remember the prisoners-of-war and what history tells us they endured at this very site and on the death marches to Ranau,” Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman said in his speech during Sandakan Day Memorial at the Sandakan Memorial Park yesterday. “On this serene morning in this memorial park, we pause to reflect our continued desire for freedom and peace, and remind ourselves that there is nothing noble about wars. “We also remember the local communities who took risks and lost their lives in helping the Allied Forces soldiers,” Musa said. “Today, we enjoy peace in our respective countries. It is my hope that the peace we have will never be compromised by wars and disputes. “There is much to learn from the painful history that we share. Let us all uphold unity and peace in our respective countries and let us not let the sacrifices of those before us be in vain,” he said. The Chief Minister’s speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Raymond Tan Shu Kiah. Meanwhile, Sandakan Municipal Council president Datuk James Wong said the loss of those Australian and British Prisoners of War and the local people who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our future freedom, should always remain in our collective memories. “As we continue to honour their memory and recognize their sacrifice, we also ensure that future generation will continue to appreciate the sacrifices of these fallen heroes and the true meaning of the words “Lest We Forget”,” Wong said. The special friendships that have grown out of this tragedy should and will always be continued, he added. Among those who attended the ceremony were Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Rod Smith, British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Pang Nyuk Min, Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Karamunting Assemblyman Datuk Charles O. Pang. Source: New Sabah Times m
By Inside KePKAS, Comments Off
Read more...
16Aug

UMS marine researchers to visit dugongs in Kampung Sim-Sim

KOTA KINABALU: It is normal for dugongs to be found in pairs such as the ones reported in the waters of Kampung Sim-Sim since last week. Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) researcher Dr John Madin from its Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) said this of the pair who were spotted at the shallow waters of the coasal village last weekend. Previously, the village folk were abuzz when the marine mammal appeared there, and returned every time during high tide over the last few days. More than one dugong was spotted on one occasion. “We will go to the village in Sandakan tomorrow, for now I cannot ascertain as of why they keep coming back to the shores there. “While it is common for dugongs to be spotted in Sandakan waters, I was informed that was the first for the species to make an appearance at Sim-Sim. “I have been in contact with the villagers and have asked them if there was seagrass (at the shallow waters). They could not be certain but they said some plants were visible,” he said when contacted by New Straits Times. He was asked whether the dugongs came to that area because of food, as dugongs were known to feed on seagrass. The Sabah Wildlife Department has told the public not to disturb the dugongs, which are listed as one of the totally protected species under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. Dugongs are in the same totally protected category with Sumatran rhinoceros, orang utans, sun bears, proboscis monkeys, clouded leopards as well as green turtles and hawksbill turtles. “Maybe the representatives from the Wildlife Department could lodge a police report so that the public will not get close to the animals and disturb them,” said John Source: Borneo Post Online
By Inside KePKAS, Comments Off
Read more...
15Aug

China kids shooting reality show in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: China’s reality show entitled ‘Youth of China 3 – Nanyang Classroom’ has arrived in Sabah to shoot four episodes featuring the local tourism and culture here. A group of eight children from China visited Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School (STTSS) yesterday, where they joined the students in writing Chinese calligraphy as well as cycling with Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai. The children just returned from their trip to Keningau and Tenom on August 12. A total of 32 selected children from different provinces in China are coming to Sabah to shoot the reality show, co-produced by China Central Television (CCTV) and Dino Brandwork. The Chinese youths will be shooting a total of eight episodes – four in West Malaysia and four in Sabah in the month of August. Each episode features a different group of eight children. Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) president Datuk Seri Winston Liaw said four episodes would be filmed in Sabah for more than 10 days. Liaw said CCTV orginally wanted to spend three days to film in Kota Kinabalu, but he had recommended the film crew to visit Keningau, Tenom and Sandakan as well. “Many of our travel agencies in Sandakan have requested Satta to promote the area more. “Hopefully more Chinese tourists will start going to Sandakan in 2018 after the reality show is broadcasted in December this year in China, as well as other rural towns as the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) has undertaken efforts to promote rural tourism.” He said the filming not only promoted our rural tourism, but also provided a platform for cultural exchange between the local and Chinese participants. Liaw said Yeo was included in the filming of the reality show to promote cycling as a leisure activity for tourists given that the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has 120 bicycles for tourists to utilize free of charge. Source: The Borneo Post
By Inside KePKAS, Comments Off
Read more...
15Aug

Stargazers blessed to catch meteor shower

KUDAT: The Rungus in Matung­gong, near Kudat, are perhaps the only people in the country to have had an unhindered view of the Perseid meteor shower. As the rest of the country, including a large part of Sabah, was blanketed by thick cloud cover and rain on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, the small town, located halfway between Kota Belud and Kudat town, enjoyed the best view of the celestial display. Stargazers came out as early as 10pm on Saturday as Christianto Mogolid, the co-founder of Big Picture Photography – an online digital photography education and workshops site – said Rungus elders view the meteor shower as a blessing. “In Rungus tradition, we believe those who see falling stars are blessed with good fortune and would also have their wishes granted,” he said.
He said the meteor shower peaked at 1.30am and lasted until dawn. “There were trails of shooting stars every now and then. I lost count of the number,” he said. Mogolid said they managed to photograph many “fireballs” entering the atmosphere. Starfinder Astronomical Society adviser Pang Kip Pin, 58, also got a glimpse of meteors with friends, in Kepong.
“I saw two meteors after the clouds dispersed,” he said. Zabidi Majid, 30, and his wife Nursolehah Shahruddin, 29, were left disappointed after driving all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson only to find it raining. “When we arrived in PD, there were already a few groups of people at the beach. We decided not to wait too long and drove back home at around 1am,” said the biotech­nologist. Source: The Star
By Inside KePKAS, Comments Off
Read more...
15Aug

Trans Borneo expedition to bring Sabah, S’wak, Indonesia closer

KOTA KINABALU: The Trans Borneo 2017 expedition will not only introduce Sabah to the world, but also bring the people of Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia closer. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun hoped that the activity would integrate the people of different states and countries and could possibly be expanded to commercial relationship in future. He said the participants would be covering a wider area this year travelling through Sabah, Kalimantan, Sarawak and Brunei in 15 days. “The participants will be travelling on a new route which is even more challenging compared to the previous years,” said Masidi. He said the participants would also be taking a special route from Tawau to Indonesia without boarding the ferry, made possible by the Malaysian and Indonesian governments. “We hope that the route they travel on will not only suit their taste for adventure, but also enable people-to-people interaction from all the states and countries involved,” Masidi said after flagging off the participants in front of Sabah Tourism Board (STB) here yesterday. The event involved 16 4×4 vehicles and about 60 participants from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Australia, China, Thailand and Japan. Hailed as the ‘mother’ of all 4×4 events in Borneo, the expedition organized by North Borneo Explorer Sdn Bhd is held from August 13 to 27. The road adventure will start from Sabah, crossing into Kalimantan Utara and Kalimantan Timur, and back to Sarawak through the last frontiers in Borneo, from Malinau to Ba’kelalan, before ending at Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei. The event will cover approximately 2,000 kilometres of on-road and off-road experience, ending in Brunei Darussalam where a dinner will be hosted by the Brunei 4×4 association. Masidi said the foreign media who were covering the event would also give tourism mileage to Sabah as the organizer for the event. “All these are part of our effort to introduce Sabah to the world. “More than that, it is our initiative to bring the people in Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia closer. “We hope the event will integrate the people in all the areas involved, and possibly expand the relationship to commercial (ties) in the future,” he said. Masidi added that the Pan Borneo Highway would also integrate the people in this part of the world as travelling would be much easier. “The Trans Borneo is obviously going to be an initiative to make people realize that travelling between Kalimantan, Indonesia, or rather the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak will become easy. “Hopefully along the way travellers can tell our neighbours more about our State. It will only be good for the tourism industry in the future.” Also present were Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Jimmy Wong, STB general manager Gordon Yapp and Sabah Land Rover Club president Datuk Henry Hing. Source: The Borneo Post
By Inside KePKAS, Comments Off
Read more...