Tag - Culture

Kota Kinabalu: Some 15 university students from South Korea were in the State capital for a familiarisation trip to the islands and Ranau National Park, among others. The group's leader An Woo Jin @ Chuck, from Kongju National University, said it was their first time visiting Malaysia and were delighted to learn of many interesting places available and can be good packages for holiday destination. One of their main objectives of visiting Sabah was to explore the places of interest for their assignments in which they need to describe places that they visited. Modetour Company, a travel and tour agency based in Jung-Gu, Seoul, was responsible to bring the university students to the State. Kwanghwan Yang, its team manager, was with the group for four days. "We are from different universities in Korea but we major in the same subject which is tourism. We are sponsored by Modetour tour and travel agency company to visit tourism spots here and thereafter we are to write reports about the outcome of our visit," Chuck said. "Apart from visiting the interesting places, we are also visiting a primary school to get to know the local children. "We are very lucky that the local tour agency in Kota Kinabalu had arranged for us to visit the school." On their last day in the State capital, the students had the privilege to visit SK Bantayan in Inanam and spent two hours with the students. Among the activities they carried out at the school were face painting and bubble blowing. Source: Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: It is not often that one hears stories of Sabahan artists getting their works auctioned in China but David Liew is an exception. Liew is the chairman of the Chinese Ink Painting Society Malaysia, Sabah branch and the founder of Bamboo Art studio, whose works are valued up to RM32,000. He has held seven solo exhibitions locally and abroad and also picked up numerous awards, such as the Creative Award of "The World Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition" in China, the Selected Medal Award of The 99 Emperor Yan's International Exhibition in China's Hunan, and many more throughout his illustrious career over the past decades. He is expected to take part in an auction sale in China at the end of this year organised by the Chinese Culture Information Association from China. His works using mostly ink and water-based colour on paper, largely on traditional tableaus, mostly landscapes of Sabah's flora and fauna also captured the interest of Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. "Liew is not only an expert in Chinese ink, but his work is recognised in China where many of his artworks have been exhibited in the republic along with other renowned artists in the same Chinese ink… "This is what makes us proud as not many painters in Malaysia and Sabah for that matter, had been given such recognition (to see their work auctioned in China)," he said. Masidi said this during the opening of Liew's Chinese Ink Painting Solo Art Exhibition here on Friday at the Sabah Art Gallery. Also present were Sabah Cultural Board Chairman Tan Sri Wences Angang, Chinese consul-general Chen Peijie and also Sabah Art Gallery Director Jennifer P. Linggi. He said another thing that makes Liew's work deserve the recognition was that all of his art themes were based on Sabah's nature and animals. "This was the base of his art work and for example, Liew uses orchid, orang utan, mangrove trees and others. "This shows that although his name is now recognised in China, he is still proud to be a Malaysian from Sabah," he said. Towards this end, Masidi is confident that the exposure of his work in China would bring in more tourists from China to visit Sabah to explore the truth behind Liew's artworks. Liew's works will be exhibited at the Sabah Art Gallery until Sept 2. Source: Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: Two accomplished Sabahans were conferred honorific titles by the Senior Advisory Council of the Royal Institution (RI), Singapore, in recognition of their professional qualifications, significant achievements and contributions at the RI 8th Global Congress & Conferment Ceremony at the National Culture and Art Department Complex, Sabah, Friday. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun heads the list of four people who were conferred the title of Honorary Fellow of Royal Institution (HFRI). He was also honoured with Doctor Fellow of Royal Institution (FDr) and Doctor Fellow of Royal Institute of Tourism (DFRIT). Datuk Adeline Leong, who is Malaysia's Head of Mission to Taiwan as President of the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre (MFTC), Taipei, was bestowed the title of Doctor Fellow of Royal Institution (FDr) for prestigious membership in RI, Singapore, as well as Doctor Fellow of Royal Institute of Management (DFRIM) for her contribution to good governance and ethical standards in her chosen field. President of RI, Singapore, Dr Athena Georgene Ang, who performed the conferment ceremony together with Chancellor FDr Dr Samuel M. Salvador, said the HFRI is the most prestigious and highest membership grade accorded by RI, Singapore in recognition of the Minister's extensive expertise, exemplary achievements and significant contributions. In his acceptance speech, Masidi said he accepted the honour with humility, deep appreciation and responsibility. He believes that the best way to contribute for the betterment of society is to leave a legacy of good work. "Today, the world needs sincerity, honesty and the highest standard of integrity. The world will be better because the policies made by people of the highest integrity will always be policies that are going to benefit Mankind," he asserted. Masidi graduated with a Bachelor of Law (Honours) degree at London University in 1977, and Barrister-at-Law (Honours) at Lincoln's Inn, London in 1979, and was admitted as Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Borneo at the Sandakan High Court in May 1980. The former Chairman of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) started his career in the civil service in 1977 as a Legal Adviser/Prosecutor in the Forestry Department, and was subsequently appointed as Tuaran District Officer and then Sandakan District Officer in 1982. In his meteoric rise, he was made Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports before assuming the post of Senior State Counsel in the State Attorney-General Department in 1987. He left the government service in 1990 to join the private sector. Masidi has held the ministerial portfolio of Tourism, Culture and Environment since 2007, after his appointment as Minister of Youth and Sports, and presently, is the State Minister responsible for education matters in Sabah. The Minister is also a strong advocate for regional cooperation in tourism, especially in the Borneo region. Under his leadership, many airlines are now connecting Sabah with many major cities in Asia with 154 international flights weekly. Masidi's long involvement in youth-related organisations culminated in his selection as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM) in 1987. Described as a passionate and strong advocate for conservation and the environment, he has worked closely with international NGOs to raise funding for conservation and environmental projects in Sabah. Other Honorary Fellows of Royal Institution (HFRI) were Ar. Yolanda David-Reyes (Commissioner, Professional Regulation Commission Philippines); FDr. Joel L. Tan-Torres (Chairman, Board of Accountancy, Philippine Professional Regulation Commission); and FDr. Dr Danilo V. Ayap (President, Lyceum of Alabang, Philippines). Leong has an illustrious 32-year career in the State Civil Service with a string of "firsts", rising from her appointment as the first woman Director of the Sabah State Library in 1975 to being President of Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council (MPKK), now Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), in 1998, the first Malaysian woman to head a municipal council in the country. She went on to serve as the first woman President of the Sandakan Municipal Council for five years before her retirement at the end of 2004. The Executive Director of IEC is also the Founding Chairperson of the Sabah Women's Advisory Council (MPWS, 1988-1990). She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Asian Studies from the Australian National University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Last year, Leong was appointed Malaysia's Head of Mission to Taiwan (with Ambassador status), the first Sabahan woman to be elevated to the post. She is the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl, Founding President of the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu (SPArKS) and a Past President of Sabah Women Entrepreneurs & Professionals Association (Swepa). "It is a great honour to be conferred Doctor Fellow of the Royal Institution (FDr). I owe this accolade to all the women in Sabah who have supported me all the way in my quest to break the glass ceiling and to pave the way for other young women to accomplish even more. "I am proud to be inducted into a global, multidisciplinary, professional membership institution (RI), which also serves as a premier platform for more effective global networking," she said when met after the conferment ceremony. Fourteen other FDr conferees comprised FDr. Gloria T. Baysa, FDr. Dr Carmencita L. Castolo, FDr. Dr Ellinor F. Geronimo, FDr. Ceng Dr Sam Man Keong, FDR. Prof Jose David Lapuz, FDr. Attorney Nasser A. Marohomsalic, FDr. Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, FDR. Dr Horacio M. Montefrio, FDr. Dr Adela Cristeta J. Ruiz, FDr. Dr Ruperto P. Somera and FDr. Dr Maria M. Vicente. For conferment of Doctor Fellow of the Royal Institution (FDr), Dr Ang said nominees have to fulfil a number of criteria such as having a Doctorate Degree (highest level of academic degree) or its equivalent, or having 16 years of experience in a top executive or professional position or its equivalent, or having 32 years of relevant academic or professional experience. Dr Ang said all nominations were screened and highly evaluated by a select panel with conferment approved by the RI Board of Directors. "We have very strict criteria. Academic qualification is only one of the many criteria. We look at the nominee's performance, experience, talent, achievement, contribution, everything. Anybody can gain a doctorate through academic pursuit but not everybody can get the Doctor Fellow title (FDr). Even if you have a PhD, it does not mean you can be conferred the Doctor Fellow membership (FDr). It is not PhD equal to Doctor Fellow (FDr)," she explained. Altogether there were 118 conferees from Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Maldives, including titles of Senior Fellow of Royal Institutes (constituents of RI, Singapore); Fellow of Royal Institutes; Senior Member of Royal Institutes; Member of Royal Institutes; Associate Member of Royal Institutes; and Student Members of Royal Institutes. Source: Daily Express