News & Updates from KePKAS

More China firms keen to invest in Sabah – CM

Several China companies have expressed interest in investing in Sabah, particularly in tourism, agriculture and aquaculture, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. He said this was a positive sign as it would help further grow some of the state’s key economic sectors. “We are open to hearing what investors are interested in. As long as the intentions are genuine, we will facilitate the creation of new businesses in Sabah,” he said when launching the Third World Youth Congress of Jiangmen, China, here yesterday. The text of his speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai. Musa said Sabah was drawing investments from a range of nations with the most recent being Darden Incorporated, a seafood giant from the United States, which has committed to a US$2 billion investment to develop lobster farming in the state. He said that the chief executive officer of the company was attracted to Sabah by the stable economic and political climate, as well as the environment, which was very much in good condition. He said that Dole, another US-based food giant, had expressed an interest in developing large-scale fruit and vegetable farming. In this respect, he hoped youth at the Congress would learn more about Malaysia, especially the various opportunities that they could explore in Sabah, including that on a joint venture basis. About 1,000 youths from various countries attended the congress, themed ‘Together in Sabah for a Brilliant Gathering’. The biennial congress was first held in 2008 in Jiangmen and then in Macau in 2010. Musa said the congress not only opens doors for youths to network and exchange ideas, but also helps strengthen ties between nations. “This event has also brought Malaysia and China closer together, and I believe that the link between the two nations will only grow stronger in years to come.” He noted that two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) would be signed at the congress to promote friendly exchanges between Kota Kinabalu City Hall and Jiangmen City, and to promote tourism between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Jiangmen Tourism Ministry. “These partnerships will go a long way in creating new sources of growth in tourism and culture, and I commend all of those involved for the effort in bringing these MoUs to the table,” Musa said. Meanwhile, Jiangmen Mayor Pang Guomei said Jiangmen is a renowned hometown of about four million overseas Chinese, who are scattered over five continents and 107 countries. “After years of hardwork, overseas Chinese of Jiangmen origin not only gathered wide business network and financial asset, but are also rich in intellectual resources,” he said. Pang said overseas Chinese nationals are concerned about and supportive of the economic development back in China. “Since China opened its doors to the world, overseas Chinese have contributed over HKD 6 billion towards charities in Jiangmen,” he said. “A lot of overseas Chinese also returned to their hometown to set up their businesses. Currently Jiangmen houses more than 3,600 enterprises with investment value up to USD 17.8 billion. ” Also present at the event were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, organizing chairperson of the congress Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, and Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir. Source : Borneo Post
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Sutera Harbour 7K Run on July 7

Kota Kinabalu: Double seven is the date to remember for the participants in this year's Sutera Harbour 7K Run as it will be held on July 7 at the covered tennis courts in Sutera Harbour Marina and Country club. This year's event, in its 12th year, was officially launched on Thursday by Sutera Harbour Resort director Foo Kia Inn who initiated the run back in 2000. The sunset charity run is one of Sabah's biggest community charity events and is also part of Sutera Harbour Corporate Social responsibility initiative to raise funds for the 7K beneficiaries namely the Sabah Thalassaemia Society and Special Olympics Sabah. It also aims to gather the community of Kota Kinabalu in the spirit of giving, friendship and at the same time encourage and promote a healthier lifestyle in a fun environment. It is also a litter free event in line with the City's go green efforts. The registration fees are RM28 per adult and RM18 per child/student inclusive of a fun event t-shirt. Runners who complete the 7km route in less than 77 minutes are entitled to win lucky draw prizes at the post run concert. Top Singaporean artist Aliff Aziz who recently launched his latest album 'Jangan Ganggu Pacarku' will be the star attraction in the concert. In addition to that, there will be food and games stalls with nett proceeds going to the 7K beneficiaries as well. Emceeing the run this year are DJ Velvet from Suria KK and DJ Myra of Suria FM KL. The event is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Kota Kinabalu City Hall and the run will be flagged off by Datuk Peter Pang Minister of Youth and Sports while Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir will flag off the second run for the VIPs and patients of Sabah Thalassaemia Society and the Special Olympic Sabah. The official drink is F&N/100Plus while the official radio station is Suria FM through Suria Pagi Kinabalu segment at 105.9fm from Monday - Friday. The main sponsors are BMW FM Autohaus and Maxis. Other sponsors include Air Asia, Fuji Xerox and Milo. The 7K collection cards for the school were also distributed to the schools in Kota Kinabalu through the headmasters 'council of Kota Kinabalu where a certain percentage of the gross amount collected will be divided between the schools for their educational funds and the 7K beneficiaries. The entry forms are now available at the Member relations Counter at Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf and Country Club. For registration and more information please contact Clara Lim at the 7K Hotline (088) 303341. Source : Daily Express
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Pesta Bengkoka Can Promote Pitas As Tourism Destination: Musa

PITAS, May 27 (Bernama) -- Pesta Bengkoka, a local annual fiesta celebrated simultaneously with Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival), can help promote the district as a new state tourism destination, according to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. He said this was because the district was also blessed with a beautiful and unique natural environment apart from being rich in culture and traditions. "I believe Pitas will be a popular tourism destination one day," he said in his speech delivered by state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor while launching the dual celebrations here Sunday. Source : Bernama
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Trio reel in 80.5kg catch, win RM15,000

KOTA KINABALU: Three fishing buddies bagged the top prize of RM15,000 in the annual Sabah International Fishing tournament here. Chock Vui Min, David Teo and Ng Soon Hin, who called themselves "Team My One", landed three game fishes with a combined weight of 80.5kg to win the top prize in the tournament. Chock landed a 54kg Giant Grouper, Teo reeled in a 14.7kg Amber Jack while Ng caught a Ruby Snapper that weighed 11.8kg. The trio beat 140 other participants in the tournament, organised by the Sabah Anglers Association and the Sabah Tourism Board, which was held in waters off Pulau Mengalum, about 50km off here, from Friday to Sunday. Team Sungkadon came in second place with a combined catch weighing 32.7kg and won RM3,000, while Team MM1 finished third with a total catch of 32.2kg and received RM1,500. There were five winners in the individual category, which was divided based on the heaviest catch for various species of game fish. Kent Soh won in the Ruby Snapper category for reeling in one that weighed 7.6kg, Nicholas Chong in the Grouper category with a catch of 7.0kg, Kun Swee Sieng with a 3.1kg Barracuda, Ahmadul Tahir with a 12kg Cobia and Liau Ying Kun with a 4.1kg Trevally. Each won RM250 and fishing tackles. There were no winners in the Tuna, Billfish and Mackerel categories. Source : New Straits Times
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RM35m Federal grant for geothermal plant

Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia's first geothermal power plant project that would be built at Apas Kiri in Tawau is expected to have the capability of generating over 100 megawatt (MW) of electricity, once all its development phases are completed. Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd (TGE), the project's developer, is presently going for the phase one development of this project, which is expected to complete and begin operation in 2014, with a generation capacity of 30MW. The company is seeing the possibility of continuing to the following phases of the project's development, which would increase further the electricity generation capacity, once it has successfully achieved the objective of its phase one development. Its Managing Director, Ramzi Raad, told reporters this during a press conference after the signing of a Facilitation Fund Agreement between the company and Public-Private Partnership Unit of the Prime Minister's Department at the Ming Garden Hotel, here. Earlier, he together with the unit's Director-General Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa, who represented the Federal Government, and Zakaria Saad, representing Bank Pembangunan Malaysia, which is entrusted with disbursing the grant, signed and exchanged the agreement documents. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun was also there as guest of honour and witness to the ceremony. The RM35 million grant provided by the Federal Government to TGE under this agreement is meant to help fund construction costs of the project's preliminary infrastructure. The Apas Kiri geothermal prospect had been identified by the Minerals and Geosciences Department as having the potential for electricity generation through studies commissioned by the department in the early 1990s and more recently, in 2008-2009. The survey covered an area of about 50kmÅ centered around the Apas Kiri geothermal manifestations. This survey led to the discovery of sub-surface heat water field of 12 square kilometres at the northern half of the surveyed area. Based on this discovery, it is estimated that this area has potential for development of a geothermal power plant with the capacity of 67MW at a depth of 2.5km. The Apas Kiri area experienced volcanic activities about 1.5 million years ago, during the Pleistocene age. As such, the area is under-laid by the Pleistocene formation, predominately covered with sandstone, mudstone, siltstone, shale and lignite. TGE had earlier on signed a Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement (REPPA) with state utility Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) in November 2011, where under it terms, TGE will export 30MW to the Sabah Grid from its geothermal power plant for a 21-year concession period at a fixed tariff of RM0.21/kWh. This project, involving estimated capital expenditure of RM419 million with the preliminary infrastructure and interconnection accounting to almost RM120 million, is not only expected to reinforce SESB's generation capacity in Sabah's east coast but also enhance Malaysia's green energy portfolio and support greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives. The project would also qualify to receive carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Its current development being undertaken by TGE would basically comprise preliminary infrastructure for access to the project site, steamfield development including geothermal exploration, 36MW (gross) power plant, 132kV interconnection to SESB Grid including transmission lines, new 132/33kV Main Intake Substation and extension of two existing SESB Main Intake Substations, and operation and maintenance of the steamfield and power plant. Thanking the Federal Government for providing financial assistance to TGE to help fund this capital intensive project, Ramzi said the grant would go a long way to ease the project's cash flow and partially cover initial infrastructure costs. Assuring there would be minimal impacts to the environment from the implementation of this project, he said the project would also not affect the Apas Kiri (volcanic) mud pool, which is one of places of attraction for visitors in the areas. The geothermal power plant project is one of strategic projects supported by the Facilitation Fund in Sabah, said Dr Ali, adding that altogether RM500m of the total RM2 billion allocation provided to the unit for this purpose went to the State. He said the Federal Government, under its Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), had reviewed TGE's project and qualified it to receive the grant as the project would not only exploit a renewable energy resource, thereby contributing to the Government's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but would also help reinforce the state utility's generation capacity in the East Coast. Masidi, when asked, said the project is another proof to the world of the State Government's true commitment to the environment. "This shows that Sabah walks the talk in terms of environmental conservation and Sabahans should be proud of this," he said. Meanwhile, Ramzi said they have also entered into a shares Sales and Purchase Agreement with Vancouver (Canada)-based Continental Energy Corporation (CEC) to enable it to become a 10 per cent shareholder in TGE. CEC is listed on the OTC Bulletin Board in the United States and has been actively involved in the oil and gas industry, particularly in Indonesia. "As a new shareholder, Continental is expected to play a major role in our future success. Continental brings a considerable amount of valuable geological and drilling technical expertise to the table, in addition to its financial commitment," said Ramzi. He said Continental's technical expertise and its long track record of oil and gas-operating experience in nearby Indonesia is the perfect complement to TGE's proven expertise and experience in electrical power generation in Sabah. This transaction also demonstrates Continental's confidence in the technical and commercial viability of the project and will also contribute towards Foreign Direct Investment in Sabah, he said. Continental's CEO, Richard McAdoo, said the acquisition of a 10 per cent stake in TGE is a milestone event for the company and it represents that all important, first big-step of its planned expansion into the renewable electrical power generation sector in a high growth region. Source : Daily Express  
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