24Jul

Radiologist Has Scaled Mt Kinabalu 40 times

KOTA KINABALU: Climbing Mount Kinabalu is not just a passion for 63-year-old radiologist Dr K. Ravi Mandalam. It is an addiction. Since his first ascent in 1995, Dr Ravi has scaled Mount Kinabalu 40 times. “Mount Kinabalu is a very scenic mountain. It is hard not to be attracted to Mount Kinabalu.” His attraction to Mount Kinabalu is apparent. The walls of his clinic at KPJ Sabah are adorned with framed photographs of Mount Kinabalu, showing different captivating views of the mountain. “Mount Kinabalu is considered one of the top 10 biodiversity hot spots. “Some plants in Mount Kinabalu has more varieties than the whole continent of Africa. You can see so many species within one square kilometre. That is very astounding,” he said in an interview here. Dr Ravi has 41 years of experience as a radiologist. He came from India to join KPJ Sabah, formerly known as Sabah Medical Centre (SMC), back in 1994. One day when he was driving along the coastal highway, Dr Ravi noticed the silhouette of Mount Kinabalu and asked his friend what mountain it is. And the rest is history. “In the past 23 years, I have climbed Mount Kinabalu 40 times in different expeditions from different parts of the mountain.” His first climb to Mount Kinabalu was organized by his friend and ex-colleague Dr J. S. Sidhu in 1995. Dr Ravi was 39 years old then. “He said if I was reasonably fit, it would not be difficult to climb. “Since my first climb in 1995, Mount Kinabalu has become an addiction.” Dr Ravi admitted that he was worried about his ability to reach the summit during his first climb due to cold weather and heavy mist. “But as soon as I reached the summit, my spirit was bolstered. “I told myself that I must come back and try to climb Mount Kinabalu again. Now it has become an annual affair.” Dr Ravi initially followed the usual trail from Timpohon Gate to Low’s Peak but soon became interested in climbing expeditions from different parts of Mount Kinabalu when he joined The Sabah Society. In 2001, Dr Ravi joined a band of climbers from Sabah Society to retrace the original route of the first recorded ascent up Mount Kinabalu by British colonial administrator Hugh Low from Kampung Kiau in March 1851. Since then, Dr Ravi has taken part in many Mount Kinabalu climbing expeditions fueled by his interest in exploring the topography and biodiversity of the mountain. “People who usually follow the tourist trail to the peak have no idea of the topography of Mount Kinabalu. “Mount Kinabalu is enormous. It is two mountains joined together with Low’s Gully in the middle.” He is also an avid photographer, having taken many photographs of the mountain that decorated the walls of his clinic as well as featured in the books about Mount Kinabalu which he wrote independently or with the Sabah Society. One of the books, entitled ‘East Kinabalu: A Guide to the Eastern Part of Mount Kinabalu’, was written with Dr Chin Shui Hiung and Christopher Chin and published in 2013. For the purpose of writing the guide book, Dr Chin has led many expeditions to climb Mount Kinabalu, including Kotal route from the southern side, Kampung Melangkap Kapa in Kota Belud at the northern side and Poring Hot Springs at the eastern side. “All these are challenging trails. Some took four days while the Poring trail took nine days to complete,” he said. Fortunately for Dr Ravi, he has never encountered any life-threatening situations during his expeditions. “We have lost our way at least three times, but have never had any accidents.” He said Sabah Parks was also quite strict in ensuring the safety of climbers as it only allowed expedition climbers to enter remote areas of Mount Kinabalu with a guide. “We had no Global Positioning System (GPS) the first time we got lost. Our guide, an experienced park ranger, told us to stay put while he finds a way out. We were delayed by only two hours. “The second and third times, we plotted our way out using GPS.” On another note, Dr Ravi advised youngsters to practise a healthy lifestyle and participate in outdoor activities. “A lot of youths now are only keen on playing their phones. I often see a group of six people sitting together, all engrossed in their phones instead of talking to to each other. “We have a world class mountain here with so much vegetation. There are 250 species of birds in Mount Kinabalu!” Dr Ravi, who is also a Rotarian, said the Rotary Club had engaged an expert to train mountain guides to be bird guides for the past two years as there were many tourists from Korea, Japan and Europe who visited Mount Kinabalu to watch the bird species here. “Although bird tourism is a niche market, bird watchers are willing to pay big bucks for it.” After six months of training, he said these mountain guides would be able to spot and identify birds by the sound they emitted. Now at the age of 63, Dr Ravi has no intention of stopping anytime soon. Despite time constraints, Dr Ravi is committed to exercising daily. In fact, his daily exercise entails climbing 16 floors of staircase at the condominium he lives at least thrice a day to keep fit. “I am going to climb Mount Kinabalu again in November this year. “By God’s grace, as long as my health is okay, I will continue climbing Mount Kinabalu.” Source: TheBorneoPost
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20Jul

Sabah to Protect Another Four Shark and Two Ray Species

KOTA KINABALU: Four shark and two ray species are to be protected as endangered under federal fisheries regulations. The state government, through its Fisheries Department, has proposed that the great hammerhead shark, smooth hammerhead shark, winghead shark, oceanic whitetip shark, oceanic manta ray and reef manta ray be covered. According to the Sabah Shark Protection Association (SSPA) advocacy group, the move to include the six species under the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999 was a major step forward in the conservation of marine life. SSPA president Aderick Chong said it was important to protect the species, which were being fished in large numbers. The current list of protected marine species includes whale sharks and sawfish, as well as several species of dolphin, whale, dugong and clam. Under the regulations, no person shall fish for, disturb, harass, catch, kill, take, possess, sell, buy, export or transport any of the specified endangered species without written permission from the director-general of fisheries.
Chong said inclusion of the six, listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), in Malaysian federal regulations should be finalised quickly. “We are keen to continue our support for federal and state agencies to list these species within this year. “We were present at the multi-stakeholder consultation to draw up this list and view this as a positive step to obtain protection for sharks and rays in Sabah waters,” he said in a statement. The SSPA also hoped the scalloped hammerhead, silky shark, three species of thresher shark and nine species of devil ray – all listed in Appendix II of CITES – will be given similar protection. “These species always feature high on the wishlist of divers, particularly scalloped hammerheads and devil rays. Many divers come to Sabah in the hope of encountering one of these incredible animals,” Chong said. “Sadly, they are being landed on a daily basis so we need the Government to act now before they disappear forever.”
He said SSPA wants to work with the authorities to identify other species that might benefit from such protection, and on the enforcement of laws that regulate activities related to sharks and rays. Based on Fisheries Department data, Sabah waters have 48 out of the 70 shark species in Malaysia and 65 out of 85 ray species. Source: TheStar
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20Jul

KK Jazz Festival Committee Meets Mayor

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival (KKJF) 2017 organising committee led by its organising chairman Rotarian Jack Ong, paid a courtesy call on Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, recently . Jack briefed Yeo on the programme for the upcoming 11th KK Jazz Festival at the  Sutera Harbour Marina & Country Club Covered Tennis Courts on July 21-22 The two-night concert will feature international and local talents and bands to perform on either the centre or main stage. Malaysian celebrity, personality and TV anchor, Sabahan Daphne Iking, is back by popular demand to emcee again this year. Performers on the first night includes 2017 Bakat Interact winner from SM St Francis Convent; Butod Project (KKJF Talent Search winners);  Gordon Chin with his complex fingerstyle technique; the energetic pop fusion band – Dominant 5th of Borneo (D50B);  Sabahan Jazz piano Alton Wong and jazz ensemble Kangkung Belacan; the infectious rhythm driven sound of Nafas; Sada Borneo’s musical fusion of traditional, modern, ethnic and nature elements; and ending the night with the winner of Tiger Jams 2016 – Rozella. The line-up for the second night begins with sophisticated jazz, dance and Latin music by Borneo Big Band led by Joan Jim; Talent Search finalists – Zuhaili and Culumus; Good Messenger – professional musicians from Taiwan with their mix of jazz, blues, gospel and classical music; the first authentic Spanish Flamenco ensemble to perform in Sabah – Origen; the unique and virtuosic style of Shun Ng & The Shunettes, comprising of Stellar Award nominee Deon Mose, with their special guest – China’s The Voice finalist Melody Tan; a UK chart topper and daughter of the legendary Loganathan of the Alleycats – Dasha Logan; and Asia’s first and only Prince-inspired tribute band – Rainbow Children, to bring the festival into a spectacular ending. The festival opens at 6pm on both nights and ends at about 11 pm each night. There are tables and chairs provided at the venue but availability is on a first come first serve basis. This year  KKJF will have some of the best restaurants in Kota Kinabalu serving their best food and beverages such as The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Outlet, Party Play, Adelphi & Co, Alexys, Borenos, Fruto, Wine Shop, Carlsberg, and many more. F&B coupons of RM20 and RM50 per book are sold at the festival. Tickets will be available at the door on both days but purchase them now via website and at selected outlets in KK at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Party Play, Adelphi & Co, Alexys Cafe and Borenos Fried Chicken. Prices for the tickets are RM100 for a one-day pass (per pax per night) and RM150 for a two-day pass (per pax for two nights). Both tickets are for regular seating on a first come first serve basis. The price for one Premier table is RM1,000 per table per night (maximum of six pax) or RM200 per pax per night (maximum of four pax) for a premier seating on sharing basis where table and seats are specially reserved. F&B is not included but waiters are on standby to assist on getting your food and beverages. To avoid the hassle of parking, the festival will partner with Uber Malaysia this year. Ticket holders can ride with Uber to/from the festival by entering the promo code 11KKJAZZF in the Uber app and enjoy two  free rides worth RM5 each to/from the festival on July 21-22 only. The main sponsor of KKJF is Yayasan Sime Darby. Other sponsors are the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, Pacificity and  supported by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and Carlsberg. KKJF is jointly organised by RCKK and SPArKS, and the festival is an annual fund-raising festival, where money raised from ticket sales is used to fund deserving community projects of RCKK. For more information on KKJF, please log onto www.kkjazzfest.com or check out FB page @KK Jazz Festival. Source: The Borneo Post Online
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17Apr

Sabah first to launch policy on environment

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman launched the Sabah State Policy on the Environment during the 14th State Assembly Sitting here yesterday, making Sabah the first state to have initiated the formulation of the policy. The policy outlines strategies and action plans based on five thematic aspects of the environment, namely land, air, water, biodiversity and social dimension. To ensure effective implementation of the policy, the state government through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment has just completed 83 strategies and 195 action plans based on the thematic aspects. The action plans for the Sabah State Policy on the Environment will be implemented for 15 years from 2018 to 2033. The policy outlines three objectives, namely to provide a vision for environmental conditions and standards, an environmental framework for regulatory mechanisms, and guidance for all decision makers and implementing agencies in the execution of the mandates and duties. The policy principles are based on clean air, healthy rivers and forests, productive land, bountiful seas and cohesive communities. To ensure relevancy, the policy includes up-to-date global concepts and values such as a green economy, balanced production and consumption, preservation of environmental and cultural heritage, protection of biodiversity, participation in global efforts for carbon balancing and other aspects of good governance. Musa said the state’s policy on the environment was an important landmark for Sabah in managing the environment and its natural resources. “It is formulated to take into account the importance of environmental stewardship and for the state of Sabah to practise environmental governance. The formulation of the policy is timely for Sabah, in view of the necessities to improve environmental performance in all sectors of the state economy as well as the society. “The state’s robust economic developments have depended closely on the utilisation of natural resources which has brought immense benefits to  society. Thus, the state government has continuously endeavoured to harmonise the escalating challenges in the management of the environment and the natural resources,” he said. Musa added that the environmental problems faced today were increasingly complex and required a broader cross sectoral and societal response. He said he was proud to announce that Sabah was the first state to have initiated the formulation of the State Environmental Policy after the National Policy on the Environment was adopted in 2002. The processes of getting views and opinions from all stakeholders started as early as 2011 and the policy formulation process completed in 2014. The state will continue to gear up as Sabah’s abundant natural resources and the environment are very delicate, thus requiring complete sets of strategic planning, management and implementation. “The policy serves as guidance for our Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and other related ministries to carry out our respective responsibilities in managing the state’s natural resources and environmental affairs.” With clear policy objectives, he urged all parties to work closely together to ensure successful implementation of the policy for the people of Sabah. He congratulated the Environment Protection Department, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment for the successful formulation of the timely policy. “I note that the policy will form as catalyst to make the state of Sabah a liveable state based on its strategic location, high diversity natural resources, cultures and heritage of the people and a clean and healthy environment,” Musa said.   Source : The Borneo Post
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17Apr

Sabah to get two new museums, says state assistant minister

KOTA KINABALU: Two museums – in Kudat and Ranau respectively - are currently being developed as an addition to the existing 11 museums and galleries in Sabah. The new facilities are Tun Mustapha Museum (in Kudat) and Ranau Dusun Civilisation and Ethnic Heritage Museum, said State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming during the question and answer session at the state assembly sitting here. In response to Datuk Mohamad Alamin's (BN-Bongawan) question on possibility of building mini museums in each district, he said there is no such plans at this moment. "The development of these two new museums will boost research, documentation and publication fields to uplift the functions of museums as knowledge building institution in the form of exhibition, collection, history, culture as well as nature besides becoming a tourist attraction at that area. “While we have no immediate plans for mini museums, my ministry via State Museum Department welcomes any initiative by any communities in Sabah that wished to create their own museums in respective districts,” he said. State Agriculture and Food Industry Assistant Minister Datuk Musbah Jamli replying to a separate question, said 104 individuals from 12 countries have been caught for attempting to bring in animals and various animals produce through Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) last year. “From the total, 40 percent of 42 are individuals from China, 24 from Hong Kong, 10 from Taiwan and nine from the Philippines, among others. “Total value of seizure is 282.84 kilogrammes worth RM23,143,” he said in response to Datuk Ahmad Bujang’s (BN-Sindumin) inquiry on how many have been detained for breaking the laws in bringing in animals and plants through the state’s entry points. In the same year, 44 fighting cocks worth RM16,000 and 33 poultry (chickens and chicks) worth RM6,790 have been confiscated through Sandakan entry point and Tawau ferry jetty. “No individuals have been detained on committing the offence of bringing plants from outside into the state’s official entry points.” he added. Source: New Straits Times
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