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Special task force to screen <b>Sabah</b> coastal tourism operators <b>...</b> Berita Sabah - News 2 Sabah

Special task force to screen <b>Sabah</b> coastal tourism operators <b>...</b>

Posted: 25 Nov 2013 07:17 PM PST

KOTA KINABALU: A special task force (STF) comprising representatives from Sabah's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, the federal Tourism and Culture Ministry, Immigration Department and other relevant agencies has been set up to ensure that only legal operators of any services, including lodging houses are allowed to operate coastal tourism ventures in Semporna.

In disclosing this, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said this was necessary in light of the recent murder-cum-kidnapping incident involving two Taiwanese nationals in Pulau Pom Pom, Semporna.

In this respect, Masidi called on tourism players to enhance security measures in and around their premises to raise the confidence of the people, particularly tourists over the security situation in the state.

"The homestay business has to meet specific conditions and lodging houses must be licensed by the authorities…we cannot allow or close eyes to illegal homestay ventures," he told reporters after chairing a special dialogue session with state tourism industry players, here today.

Also present were Director-General of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) Datuk Mohammad Mentek and Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.

Masidi said the dialogue session was very educative, starting with briefings from ESSCOM and the police.

"Security is a challenging task, that's why we need to be proactive to complement the security forces to enhance preventive measures for the good of the people, tourists and the state," he said.

Urging tourism operators to take security matters seriously, Masidi said it was suggested that they should employ a security guard or at least a watchman in their respective tourism premises.

On preventive actions, he said tourism operators must comply with the stipulated regulations.

"Their staff must be fully documented and not illegals. All guests should also be fully documented irrespective of whether the guest desires to be anonymous or unknown for security reasons," he said adding that resort owners were advised to inform the police of the presence of high profile people to avoid untoward incidents.

On Nov 15, a 58-year-old Taiwanese woman was kidnapped while her 57-year-old husband, also a Taiwanese, was shot dead while holidaying in the island.

Meanwhile, Hamza said the screening of islands off Semporna (in Sabah's east coast) would be launched soon.

Hamza said the operation was aimed at checking and making sure all resorts and lodging houses hired locals and not illegal operators or workers.

He addeed that the police and other agencies must centralise their enforcement work to enhance security in certain areas. — BERNAMA

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No need for <b>Sabah</b> newspapers&#39; presence in KL – MP – BorneoPost <b>...</b>

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 01:50 PM PST

KOTA KINABALU: There is no need for Sabah's newspapers to have representatives in Kuala Lumpur to cover the Dewan Rakyat sitting, said Sepanggar member of parliament Datuk Jumat Idris.

He said this in response to the repeat call made by Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan for Sabah's local newspapers to have representatives in Kuala Lumpur, especially during Dewan Rakyat sitting.

"Every MP in the Dewan Rakyat has their own media officers, so issues concerning Sabahans which were said in the sitting will be emailed by the officers to the newspaper companies.

"Moreover, RTM is also having live broadcast from the Dewan Rakyat in the morning and there will be a repeat at night," he said to reporters after launching the 1Malaysia Family Day organized by Sepanggar Women at the Angkasa Apartment yesterday.

Jumat said the proposal by Rahman, urging Sabah newspapers to set up a bureau in the peninsula to provide national coverage from the state's perspective as well as to live up to the 1Malaysia aspirations is a good idea, but the need is not that urgent.

He added what is most important is that every MP media officer must work closely with the reporters in Sabah to ensure all issues related to the state will be published in the local newspapers.

Rahman who reiterated his call at his ministry's media appreciation night here on Saturday, said there are a big number of Sabahan MPs who have been very vocal on Sabah issues but have not received wide coverage in the newspapers.

"As we know, most of the local newspapers in Sabah are depending on Bernama (Malaysian National News Agency) when it comes to the national news, but when MPs are talking about issues in Sabah during the Dewan Rakyat sitting, the coverage seems limited.

"If we have each newspapers from Sabah covering the Dewan Rakyat, Sabah local newspapers will be able to provide national coverage from the state's perspective. I really hope the local newspapers in Sabah will consider this," he said.

During his speech, Rahman also expressed his appreciation to the media practitioners in Sabah for their support through his ministry and described Sabah's newspapers as more open compared to its counterparts in the peninsula.

"We cannot have someone criticizing the Chief Minister's statement on front page in peninsular but we always have balanced reporting in Sabah. Both government and opposition leaders will have their chance to be on front page whether to criticize or be criticized.

"I am sure the media practitioners in Sabah are responsible in their reports for the benefit of the people as a whole, no matter if it comes from the government or the opposition," he added.

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PKR gives more voice to party chiefs in <b>Sabah</b>, Sarawak <b>...</b>

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 02:18 PM PST

SHAH ALAM: Parti Keadilan Rakyat yesterday amended its constitution, the fourth time, which among others, is aimed at giving more voice and power to its leaders in Sabah and Sarawak in making decisions at the national and state levels.

The amendments were tabled by party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution and approved by  885 delegates who attended the PKR Special National Congress, here.

The amendments allocate one of the three vice-president posts for Sabah and Sarawak so as to encourage the involvement of party members from both states in the decision-making process.

Sabah and Sarawak PKR chairmen will also automatically be members of the party's political bureau, while the amendments also boost women's role in the party with up to 30 per cent participation in decision-making involving the interests of all in the party.

Besides that, the PKR Central Leadership Council (CLC) needs to set up the Central Election Committee comprising a chairman and at least six members appointed by the CLC to conduct and supervise the party elections.

The amendments to the party constitution allow the deputy president to assume the post of president if there is vacancy instead of being acting president like before.

The CLC is also given the power to appoint a vice-president and a member of the CLC for the posts of deputy-president and vice-president respectively when there are vacancies for the two posts.

The special congress, however, rejected a proposal from the PKR Youth movement to exempt age limit for the post of Youth head at the national, state and divisional levels.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali in his speech at the congress said a similar proposal had been rejected before by the party's CLC and political bureau. — Bernama

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Special operation in <b>Sabah</b> - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:12 AM PST

by Chok Sim Yee. Posted on November 19, 2013, Tuesday

KOTA KINABALU: The police will be launching a special operation soon that would involve other security enforcement agencies in Sabah, including the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), to ensure that security in Sabah, particularly the east coast, is maintained.

Bukit Aman police headquarters internal security and public order director Datuk Salleh Mat Rashid said the police would be carrying out an integrated operation in specific locations to ensure criminal elements that could disrupt safety and peace were eliminated.

"We hope the people, especially Sabahans, will cooperate and provide information so that we can overcome criminal cases that have happened or may happen," Salleh said at a press conference with Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib and Esscom defence director Major General Dato' Abdul Halim Hj Jalal at the police headquarters here yesterday.

Salleh said his visit to Sabah was to inspect the development of security in Sabah, especially in the east coast, including on the murder-kidnap of a Taiwanese couple on Pom Pom Island off Semporna.

"After my meeting with Hamza, we plan to take follow-up actions, some of which we have taken, and expand the actions to ensure the security in Sabah is maintained," he said.

Salleh said Esscom's involvement in the special operation would help to more effectively overcome security issues in Sabah and added that the police believed such cases happened because the locals who lived in the locations were involved.

"We will take drastic action on those who protect the criminals," he warned.

Hamza will also discuss with the State Government regarding Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar's recommendation to ban pump boats from being used in shallow waters in Eastern Sabah.

Hamza said pump boats were part of the people's way of life in Sabah, to navigate on shallow waters and travel between islands.

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<b>Sabah</b> to retain State Sales Tax when GST implemented – Musa <b>...</b>

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:50 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will continue to collect revenues from the State Sales Tax (SST) when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented in 2015.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman yesterday said the Malaysia Tax Review Panel had informed the state government that GST would not be replacing the SST which is under the jurisdiction of the Sabah and Sarawak governments.

"As such, the state government will continue to collect its revenue like usual because SST is a resource under the jurisdiction of the Sabah and Sarawak governments as stipulated under the Federal Constitution.

"The sales tax which will be replaced by the GST are the ones under the federal level through the Sales Tax Act 1972," said Musa, who is also the Finance Minister, in his winding-up speech on the last day of the State Assembly sitting.

He was replying to a question from Sri Tanjong assemblyman Chan Foong Hin (DAP) who took part in debating the 2014 State Budget.

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

"Expansion of the SST may burden the people, and this is the concern of the government, so we should be cautious in imposing any new taxes.

"Nevertheless, we are grateful for the concern of the Federal Government for not sidelining the state's development by channeling billions of ringgit to improve the well-being of the people in the state," he said.

Touching on the need for the government to issue new bonds in Budget 2014, Musa said the state government could not rely solely on traditional sources of finance as the pricing and commodity production were influenced by the global market and is beyond the control of the State Government.

"Therefore, the planned bond issuance in the 2014 Budget is essential to continue to develop the state," he said.

On another development, Musa said the people's interests and state's progress were the basis taken into consideration when planning for the Sabah State Budget 2014.

"That is why the allocation for the Supply was higher compared to the state's expenses. But, we believe that what is more vital is to ensure the delivery system is at a high level and efficient so the people would be able to enjoy the progress and well-planned development," said Musa.

He added that in preparing the state budget, priorities were given to ensure that there is sufficient allocation on operations or recurrent expenditure.

"The recurrent expenditure is very important to ensure the maintenance and operation performed on the government's service systems that have been developed and made available.

"It is unwise for the government to prepare and develop infrastructure and public facilities, but do not carry out maintenance.

"Under the allocation for the Supply Budget, it also includes provisions for the development of human capital and youth development. The government is giving serious attention to the development of both our human capital and youth as they are the backbone to the development of the present state, and ensure continued prosperity in the future.

"Therefore, there is no need to worry about the reduced spending and the perception that it would hinder the development of the economy as supply expenses also contribute to the state's economy and bring positive economic chain," said Musa.

He added that since 2014, that is the end of the 10th Malaysia Plan, the allocation for development was reduced by RM126.05 million or 9.5 per cent compared to this year's funds.

"Most of the high-scaled projects planned under the 10MP are either completed or in the final stages of completion, thus contributing to the reduced allocation for development projects. Among the projects are the Sandakan Education Hub, Ranau Sports Complex, Kingfisher Bridge, construction of the Riverlock Segaliud Water Treatment Plant and Muka Saur or Water Intake Kasigui, to mention some.

"I would like to reiterate that the federal government has allocated a huge amount of allocation for development of the state over the years, and this has enabled to offset the expenses of the state's development. This privilege is in return for our good relationship with the federal government."

He said the RM4.62 billion state budget for next year would ensure better development for the sate and the well-being of the people.

"I hope everyone will play a role to ensure the 2014 State Budget's objectives are met," he said.

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