» »Unlabelled » Fire razes nine houses in Tawau BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

07:05:00

Fire razes nine houses in Tawau BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Fire razes nine houses in Tawau

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 02:46 PM PST

Posted on November 25, 2013, Monday

TAWAU: A total of nine wooden houses were razed in a fire at Lorong Jati, Kampung Kinabutan Besar here yesterday morning.

Tawau Fire and Rescue Chief Rudy Fredzeh said the blaze occurred about 8.32 am and they arrived at the scene in about eight minutes.

"22 personnel and two fire engines managed to control the fire at 9.28am," he said when met at the site.

No casualties were reported however and the cause of the fire had yet to be determined, he added. — Bernama

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

‘Young generation should embrace spirit of volunteerism’

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 02:19 PM PST

Posted on November 25, 2013, Monday

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri wants the young generation to embrace the spirit of volunteerism to support government efforts to create a progresive nation with a moderate society.

"We do not want Malaysians to be too individualistic and materialistic just like what is happening in some developed countries," he said at a gotong-royong activity in Pitas, here yesterday.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Kudat parliamentary service centre and the National Service Volunteer Brigade. Also present were  National Service Training Department (JLKN) director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kecil, 200 volunteers and villagers.

Abdul Rahim lauded the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) for getting the alumni to form the National Service Volunteer Brigade to provide voluntary service. He said the volunteer brigade is ready to provide voluntary service and community work during emergency and natural disasters such as floods and landslides. — Bernama

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Understand need to retain sales tax — Jainab

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 02:19 PM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Retaining Sabah Sales Tax (SST) when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented in 2015 is a reasonable decision, said Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid.

Commenting on the recent statement by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman that the GST would not be replacing the SST which is under the jurisdiction of the Sabah and Sarawak governments, Jainab said there is a need to have a clear picture on both taxes before jumping to conclusion.

"Please understand that the sales tax which will be replaced by the GST is the one under federal jurisdiction through the Sales Tax Act 1972.  SST is a resource under the jurisdiction of the Sabah and Sarawak governments as stipulated under the Federal Constitution. Although we are retaining SST, the implementation of the GST is still a saving of six per cent. Under the new policy, there will be no tax on controlled items. Please remember that. We are a very concerned government," said Jainab.

The SST is imposed on crude palm oil, slot machines and lotteries.

Jainab added that SST is an important tax for the state to ensure the revenues are channeled to the people through various development projects.

"We are talking about Sabah's economy, we want to have enough revenues to build facilities. The state government is working hard to find resources to develop the state. Both taxes need to be understood, and we do not need speculations on this issue from the opposition," she said.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Musa launches ‘work with Esscom programme’, Esscom times portal

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 01:54 PM PST

SANDAKAN: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman yesterday launched the 'Work with Esscom' programme and Esscom Times portal to boost loyalty and patriotism.

He said the creation of Esscom (East Sabah Security Command) agency and East Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) had revived the people's confidence in the government's capability to defend them and the national sovereignty.

"We were shocked early this year, with the bloody incidents in Lahad Datu and Semporna which blighted the history of this country.

"That tragedy is a valuable lesson on the importance of unity and patriotism among the people to defend national sovereignty," he said during the function at the Sandakan Community Hall here.

Musa said the people of Sabah were very thankful to the federal government, specifically Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who promptly created Esscom

and Esszone, following the intrusion.

He also congratulated the Esscom management which published a special edition of Buletin Esscom and created the Esscom Times news portal containing valid and current information on Esscom, specifically on security in Esszone.

"The portal will also be able to help explain issues on security which are often manipulated by certain parties to create fear and discomfort among the people," noted the chief minister.

The Esscom Times portal can be surfed at www.esscom.gov.my.

Speaking to reporters later, Musa said the security in the state was under control. —Bernama

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Govt urged to fully recognise Taiwanese degrees

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 01:51 PM PST

TENOM: The Chinese communities look forward to seeing full recognition of Taiwanese university degrees by the Malaysian government and the Public Services Department (JPA), which will allow Malaysian graduates with Taiwanese degrees to work in the government sector.

Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang said although the Malaysian government has yet to fully recognize degrees conferred by Taiwanese universities, it was hoped that the government and the JPA could expand the recognition of degrees obtained in Taiwan in the near future.

"This will not only enable more Malaysians who graduated from Taiwanese universities to work in the public services sector, but also draw our talent back to the country," he said at the Taiwan Alumni Association of Sabah Mandarin Night cum 48th anniversary of the association at Tenom community hall on Saturday.

Nevertheless, Teo said many corporate organizations regarded Taiwanese graduates as valuable human resource and recruited them for various leadership positions in their companies.

"Many teachers in Chinese independent schools are also Taiwan alumni," he said, adding that Taiwanese graduates have recorded high achievements in other industries as well.

During his speech, Teo said the Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT) and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) have reached an agreement to expand the recognition of degrees conferred by Taiwanese universities and vice versa early this year.

"Taiwanese graduates can finally see light at the end of the tunnel, in terms of their prospects in Malaysia.

"It has also reignited the hope of many Chinese independent school students and Chinese students to further their studies in Taiwan."

Teo said the agreement achieved between HEEACT and MQA was a historical moment as it has solved a long-standing problem.

"Although both sides do not have a diplomatic relationship, the issue was resolved purely on academic grounds."

Teo said the Taiwan Alumni Association of Sabah was established by Datuk Yong Loi Thiam and a few other Taiwan alumni in 1965.

Back then, Malaysia and Taiwan did not recognize academic qualifications obtained from either side, causing employment issues for Malaysian students who graduated from Taiwanese universities.

Hence, the Taiwan Alumni Association of Sabah was established with the primary objective to provide assistance to Taiwan alumni in terms of employment and commerce.

Teo said the association, now led by Lawrence Ting Siew Haw, was concerned about students who were unable to further their tertiary studies due to various reasons.

Hence, the association organizes recruitment drives and arranges for students to undergo training courses in Taiwan annually, he said.

For the past two years, the association's members have flown to Taiwan numerous times to study courses that are suitable for Sabahan students.

Furthermore, Teo said the Taiwan Alumni Association of Sabah strived to obtain more quotas for Sabahan students in agriculture and livestock farming courses as their Taiwanese counterparts were very successful and technologically advanced in these areas.

"The agricultural and livestock farming industries in Sabah are booming, but we lack local talents in these fields.

"Apart from learning in Taiwan, I hope we can also bring back the technology and expertise from Taiwan to assist in the development of agricultural and livestock farming industries in the State."

Teo commended the association for the efforts done for Sabahan students and Taiwan alumni, and urged more Malaysians to return to the country upon graduating from Taiwan to contribute to the nation's development.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Man murders parents

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 01:50 PM PST

KOTA MARUDU: A man strangled his mother and killed his elderly father by stomping on him when his wife left him.

The 40-year-old suspect has a previous record of mental illness.

The victims were identified as Oding Lumping, 84, and Iyong Malong, 61, who operated a sundry shop at Kampung Mandamai in Pitas.

Kota Marudu police chief DSP Mohd Isa Yusof yesterday said the police had classified the case as murder.

It was learnt that the suspect woke his parents up around 11.45pm on November 22, demanding a machete to take revenge on his wife who left him.

When his parents refused, the suspect turned on his parents.

His parents managed to escape and hid in the bushes outside the house. They were found by their neighbours the next morning, who immediately sent them to Pitas Hospital.

Unfortunately, his father died on November 23 due to severe injuries.

The suspect was detained by Kota Marudu police in the village upon receiving a report.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.