Tag - Culture

The Sabah Nite 2012 which aims to foster friendship, business networking and promote tourism and culture, as well as honour top achievers from Sabah in the Klang Valley, will be held in Shah Alam next month.

What started as an idea less than two weeks ago has now become a certainty, with preparations going at full steam to get the event going on March 17 at the Selangor Youth and Culture Complex in Section 7, Shah Alam.

The gala night -- with the popular Sabah catchphrase "Ini Kali Lah" (This Is It) as the tagline -- is the brainchild of two Sabah businesswomen based here, Marilyn Mona Pamajah and Kartini Ibrahim, who are spearheading the organising committee.

They told Bernama that the event, to be held in collaboration with the Sabah Liaison Office here, targeted 1,500 people.

"We can accommodate up to 1,800, depending on the response," said Kartini, the managing director of TechnoTrend Global, an event management and training provider.

"Through this event, we aim to provide a platform for Sabahans, particularly those in the Klang Valley, to get together and for corporate leaders in Sabah and their counterparts here to network with one another," she said.

Top achievers who have carved a name for themselves in the corporate world here, as well as students who excel in their studies will also be honoured at the event. "We are identitying the candidates," said Marilyn Mona, a partner at Berembang Akuakultur Sdn Bhd.

On the networking for businessmen, she said, the event would provide an excellent platform for businessmen in the peninsular and those from Sabah to establish contacts.

The event will also feature performances by artistes from Sabah such as the Akademi Fantasia alumni Noni, Ebi, Yaser, Ekin and Felix. The organising committee is currently negotiating with several more Sabah artistes to perform during the event which will also feature cultural performances as interludes.

Tickets are priced from RM100. More information can be obtained from Kartini at 018-9188030, Marilyn Mona at 016-2398484 and the Sabah Liaison Office at 03-92851372.

Source: Bernama

Reminisce and learn more about Gaya Street, known as Bond Street in the past, with ‘Bonding with Gaya Street’ programme will be held at Lintasan Deasoka and Gaya Street on February 11 and 12. Bonding with Gaya Street is a community heritage exhibition co-organized by City Hall and North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE) in conjunction with Kota Kinabalu City Day celebration.   NBHE is a group on Facebook that was created by Beaufort entrepreneur Justin Sunam Wong on May 7 last year, whereby its members comprise history enthusiasts dedicated to discovering, preserving and sharing the rich heritage of Sabah.   Organizing chairperson of the programme, Datin Fazar Datuk Arif, said it is Gaya Street’s 61st anniversary this year. Many might not know that the first 17 shophouses built along an area called Bond Street are what we know as Gaya Street now.   On the communal level, the organizers will be collaborating with Gaya Street shop owners to host mini exhibits which include stories, photographs and artifacts contributed by the public for Gaya Street’s community heritage and history.   The exhibition will encompass the Gaya Street area, including an ‘A Go Go’ inspired concert called ‘Together Again’ to celebrate our veteran musicians and musical heritage.   “NBHE’s creative team intends to set Gaya Street abuzz from February 2 with the community heritage exhibition.   “The launch of the event and soft launching of a coffee table book will be on February 11, with the ‘Together Again’ music concert charting the popular musical journey of Sabah circa the 50s, and 60s in the evening,” said Fazar.   NBHE encourages members of the public to participate in the event by contributing their personal stories and photographs of Gaya Street. Stories and photographs can be emailed to bergaya2012@gmail.com, with full name and contact details included for accreditation purposes.   A collection dropbox with an on-location photocopier machine will be set up specifically for public contribution purposes at Kedai Kopi Sen Chong Wah on Gaya Street. The dropbox will be open from 11.30am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday.   NBHE needs old photographs depicting a variety of subjects from weddings and babies, to fashionable youngsters, at the cinema, music band photos, depictions of banking, shipping and commerce, architectural details of old shops and life around Gaya Street in general.   For more information, visit NBHE.blogspot.com or email to bergaya2012@gmail.com.   Apart from ‘Bonding with Gaya Street’, the Ctiy Day celebration includes the launching of City Carnival by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai on Feb 3, at 7pm at City Square. The carnival will begin every Friday and Saturday from January 20 onwards with the aim to liven up KK Waterfront and to promote the City Square as a popular nightspot. Stalls selling local products will start operating from 5.30pm to 2am while entertainment performances will start from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.   In a press conference yesterday, Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir said a total of 12 events have been organized to celebrate the 12th City Day anniversary.   Abidin added that all the events will be litter free.   There will also be free movie shows ‘Sammy’s Adventures’ on Feb 12 and ‘Spy Kids 4′ on Feb 19, 10.30am at GSC Suria. To obtain free tickets, please contact Elizabeth Borubui at 088-521800.   Meanwhile, the 11th KK Tourism Treasure Hunt 2012 will be held on June 10. The event is jointly organized by City Hall and Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, Sabah, and around 150 teams nationwide are expected to take part in the activity.   Other activities include Mount Kinabalu Climbing Expedition by City Hall Enforcement Department in January, Bacaan Surah Yasin, Tahlil and Doa Kesyukuran ceremony on Jan 31, a parade and flag-raising ceremony on Feb 2, 7.30am, at Padang Merdeka, KK City Day Karate Open 2012 from Feb 24 to 26 at Kota Kinabalu Community Hall, Seventh International Sabah Open Dart Tournament 2012 from March 2 to 4 at City Hall, City Run 2012 on April 1 at Padang Merdeka at 7am, and Open Bowling Championship from May 25-27 at CPS Bowl, Centre Point Sabah.   Also present at the press conference were deputy director-general (corporate) of City Hall, Bahari Haji Hassan, director of Corporate Affairs Department of City Hall, Faradillah Hj Abdul Rani, and Kapitan Chin Tek Ming.   Source: Borneo Post

Many artistes in the State believe that a Sabah-based TV channel will be the best platform to nurture singing talents among Sabahans. Representatives of Sabah local artists, Janrywine J.Lusin and Jimmy Palikat in a joint press conference yesterday, shared their concerns and support for a proper TV channel that Sabahans can watch and listen, as an option to the entertainment industry in Malaysia.   “My latest single ‘Macam di KK’ has been uploaded to the Internet through YouTube, but it has created several negative comments among fans throughout the country. Most of them love the song, but those who do not like it especially those from the peninsula expressed their negative comments that offended Sabahans.   “I am very open minded. It is normal if people don’t like my song because it might not be close to their heart, but in this case the song has become a tool for some fans to create unwelcome critics. I don’t want this to get worse,” said Janrywine at the press conference held at D Junction Lido, here yesterday.   He said simple comments in the Internet, especially racist comments have no place in a multi-racial country such as Malaysia.   Janrywine said such a situation is one example why Sabah should have its own TV channel immediately as a platform to expose the singing talents of Sabahans and not just to upload it to the Internet because entertainment in Sabah deserves to be watched.   Lusin said Sabah music and film will be more appreciated by Malaysians if the watch them on TV.   Meanwhile, Jimmy who is famous for his song ‘Tanak Kampung’ which has been translated into Kelantanese, Bidayuh or even adopted into a Rock version by one of bands in Peninsular Malaysia, said it is not fair to treat Sabahans as a stepchild in the Malaysia music industry, especially when they are as equally talented as music players in the peninsula.   Palikat said his single ‘Tanak Kampung’ took more than one year to reach out to the whole country because there is no platform to promote, unlike songs from the peninsula that could easily be promoted on TV and national radio because most channels are peninsula-based.   “There is an urgent need for our own TV channel. We have the demand, we even have the market and talent. The current TVi channel on channel 108 in Astro that is supposed to be promoting Sabah is not enough because our slots are only for a few hours.   “Sabah-based TV channel will help not only the musicians but also film makers and politicians to highlight their talent and struggle to the Sabahans,” he said.   He stressed that Sabah and Sarawak could combine in the effort to promote the variety in its language, culture, tourism attraction or even calling for support from many potential advertisers.   Palikat’s statement was echoed by one of Sabahan singers, Rozza Rothman who lauded the move by Palikat and Lusin to hand over a memorandum to the Local Artistes’ Association of Sabah (Pertisa) on the proposal for a Sabah-based TV channel.   Rozza said she would support any suggestion made by local artistes to uplift the singing industry in Sabah as long as it is channeled to the right audience and in a proper way.   Pertisa deputy president, Narsisius Justin Misin who attended the press conference welcomed the joint effort by Lusin and Palikat and that they should be supported by the other artistes in Sabah because having a Sabah-based TV channel will be something that is interesting and meaningful.   “I look at this effort as a positive move by them as we are already on par with the other talents in the peninsula.   “We only need the right platform to show what we have in Sabah. We have many interesting performers and stories from Sabah that will attract many investors,” said Misin who is waiting for the memorandum to be handed over to the association.   Sabahan film director, P. Dik Ganai (Fdam) said Sabah and Sarawak film makers should be treated equally by TV stations based in the peninsula.   He said many TV channels are treating Sabah and Sarawak as their option in the film and music industry due to the long geographical distance.   “This is why this proposal is very important because we want Sabah-based TV channel that is managed by our own people. This is the time for the government to help us by giving us the green light.   “If certain people question our talent and quality, they haven’t discovered our talent to the maximum yet because our problem is we do not have any proper channel to showcase our talent to the people. TV channel will be the only way to help us,” he added.   DJ Othoe, a former DJ in a national radio station, said he had experienced many negative responses from many Sabahans who did not believe in what Sabahans can offer.   “I have been on air for two years in the national radio station with my Sabah dialect. Many people called me crazy at that time but I never gave up. I saw the potential and I want to be the medium for Sabahan singers to show their talent.   “After being called crazy along the way in my career, now we all witness that not only my former radio station but many other radio stations have set up Sabah-based radio stations that are now competing against one another,” he said.   DJ Othoe believes that Sabah-based TV channel will be able to showcase the whole of Sabah, as another interesting development in the country’s broadcasting industry.   He said the government should play its role to be a part of the proposal as TV channel will also help the policy makers to spread the government’s messages to the people.   Source: Borneo Post (by Mariah Doksil)

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai attended a memorial service at the Petagas War Memorial here in remembrance of the 176 Sabahan guerrillas that lost their lives defending Sabah against the Japanese occupation in the Second World War.   The ceremony takes place on Jan 21 every year. Yee, representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, also performed the wreath-laying ceremony.   Prior to that, the attendees observed a 20-minute silence. The ceremony ended with the sounding of the Last Post and Rouse.   The memorial was built on the very spot where the 176 guerrillas were massacred.   Among the crowd was war survivor, Lee Min, 91, from Menggatal. His eldest son, Lee Yaw Koo, 61, said his father would make it a point to pay homage to his fallen comrades each year despite his health conditions.   Meanwhile, Datuk Fung Khyam Shen, 82, from Singapore, whose elder brother Fung Khung Shen was among those killed in the massacre, said the sacrifices of the fallen guerrillas should be remembered and appreciated.   “Khung Shen was one of the first to be killed by the Japanese with seven others.   “I can forgive them but I just can’t forget…I still feel bitter and my family is very sad about the tragedy,” said Fung who lived in Sabah, then known as North Borneo, during the war.   Source: New Sabah Times