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Another quits Sabah DAP leader quits BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Another quits Sabah DAP leader quits

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 10:17 AM PST

by Chok Sim Yee. Posted on January 1, 2014, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: A senior member of DAP Sabah, Fred Fung  Kong Win, has resigned from as the state deputy chairman and Luyang branch chairman of the party.

Fung, who had served in DAP Sabah since 1986, has also quit the party.

"It is a painful decision to leave the party," he said yesterday, adding that his resignation would take immediate effect starting yesterday (December 31).

Reportedly, 20 Wanita members of P.172 Kota Kinabalu division headed by Candy Wong Sui Kyun have also resigned from their positions and quit DAP Sabah en masse.

Fung said his decision to quit DAP Sabah was because he could not work with some ungrateful leaders in the party. After the 13th general election (GE13), Fung said a series of events had occurred which rendered it impossible for him to work with the party leaders.

Fung stood as Api-Api and Luyang candidate in the 2004 and 2008 general elections respectively and had led DAP Sabah as state deputy chairman since 2009.

When asked what his plans were for the immediate future, Fung said he would take a temporary break for now.

Fung was the second Sabah DAP leader to quit the party this year after Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu.

Hiew resigned earlier as the state adviser after four of his colleagues called for disciplinary action to be taken against him for supporting Klias assemblyman Datuk Lajim Ukin as state opposition leader. The party's choice had been Tamparuli assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing.

Hiew is now an independent assemblyman.

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Ministry to focus on infrastructure, human resources devt – Radin

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 10:15 AM PST

TENOM: In efforts to develop the rural communities in Sabah, the Rural Infrastructure Development Ministry will be focusing more on the development of infrastructure and human resources as well as other facilities in 2014.

Its minister, Datuk Radin Malleh, said that the development focus would be an all-encompassing one that includes not only poverty eradication but also development of the rural folks.

"This is necessary to ensure that all rural folks in Sabah get to enjoy development brought to them by the government," he said when met at his Christmas open house cum wedding anniversary celebration held at his residence in Kampung Makakumpai here last Saturday.

Also there to join in the celebration were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, PBS deputy president Datuk Jamilah Sulaiman and PBS Youth chief Datuk Jake Nointien.

Meanwhile on a different note, Radin, when asked to comment on PBS secretary general Datuk Johnny Mositun's suggestion for the setting up of another state constituency under the Papar parliamentary area, said that it was a good proposal as it would give the government the opportunity to bring more development to the people.

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Peaceful protest against price hikes in KK

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 10:05 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: A group of eight people carrying placards and banners, protested against the increasing prices of goods at the junction near Centre Point along Jalan Coastal here yesterday.

However, the peaceful protest ended with the arrival of police around 11.45 am.

The protest, believed to be carried out by members of the TURUN movement, was over several issues, including the price hike of petrol, electricity, toll, sugar, school bus fares, property assessment, water and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Acting city police chief Superintendent M. Chandra said the gathering was conducted in a peaceful manner and the police were successful in controlling the situation by dispersing the group.

He said the police would investigate the incident under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

"Based on initial information, the individuals had gathered around the area at 11.15am and were dispersed by the police at 11.45am," he said, adding that the police were still identifying whether the protesters were university students.

Chandra reminded the public to obtain a permit from the police to hold any assembly to avoid action being taken against them.

"We do not want them to have an assembly that could disrupt traffic and public order," he said.

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Govt to fund major events organised by NGOs

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 10:04 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: The state government is willing to render financial assistance for major events of state or national level organized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), provided the applications are reasonable.

Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the state government was willing to extend its assistance if the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) or other NGOs organized major events.

Teo said this when attending an appreciation dinner on Monday for the working committee of the lantern contest and floats parade organized in conjunction with Sabah's 50th Year of Independence within Malaysia celebration.

Teo was the organizing chairman of the working committee for the event, which was held on August 30.

FCAS was tasked with organizing the floats parade while KKCCCI was responsible for the lantern contest.

Teo said the state government had been supportive in terms of logistics and funding in activities organized by Chinese NGOs, which made Sabah different from other states.

"The state government is always willing to assist if Chinese NGOs or NGOs of other races organize state-level activities," he said in response to FCAS president Dato' Sri Dr T.C. Goh's request for the state government's annual allocation to the federation.

Teo said Sabah had achieved a lot of progress, particularly in poverty eradication, economic and infrastructure developments, since 50 years ago.

"These are the results of cooperation between the government and the private sector, the government and the people."

He added that the floats parade and lantern contest were cultural events organized with the cooperation between the government and NGOs, especially Chinese NGOs.

Teo said the government, private sector and NGOs' collaboration could expand beyond the cultural sector, as lots of opportunities that the government and NGOs could work together, such as the education sector.

"We will have many opportunities to cooperate in organizing activities that are beneficial to the people in the future."

He also thanked City Hall, Royal Malaysian Police, Sabah Cultural Board and the participants who were involved, for their cooperation in the event.

Earlier, Goh said he hoped the state government would include FCAS in its annual allocation as the federation had no source of income.

"I hope the state government would provide allocation to the federation as funding for events."

Goh said the inaugural event proved that Chinese NGOs and Chinese clans could work with the government in organizing events.

He further said FCAS had many sub-committees, including economic, education, cultural, welfare, religion, youth and women.

"Only a small part of FCAS was involved in the floats parade. Hence, we hope that Datuk Teo could offer us other tasks to allow FCAS to be more involved in government programmes."

On the other hand, KKCCCI president Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang said the collaboration between the government and the people in organizing events could foster better relationship and communication between both parties.

He said KKCCCI would continue to partner with the government in organizing activities, especially Chinese-culture related programmes.

"With the good relationship with the government and proper channels to air our opinions, we believe we can positively reflect the needs and demands of the Chinese community."

Lui added that the Chinese community, particularly the Chinese in Sabah, have been enjoying national stability, economic prosperity, racial harmony, fair progress and peace since our country achieved independence.

He urged the people to treasure and appreciate the stability and progress the nation has achieved.

KKCCCI will be jointly organizing a Chinese New Year carnival with City Hall in January.

Also present at the appreciation dinner was City Hall director general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai.

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21% increase in tourist arrivals in Sabah

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 10:02 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded a 21 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in January to October this year, as compared to the corresponding period last year.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said official figure for November and December was not available yet but the encouraging figure for the first 10 months lend confidence that the State will well exceed the targeted three million visitors by year-end.

Speaking at the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Countdown here last night, Masidi said the sharp increase was contributed mainly by domestic tourists.

He noted over 1.82 million from the 2.55 million tourists that visited Sabah as of October were Malaysians from Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

This represents an increase of 17 per cent for domestic arrivals as compared to the previous year.

A sharp increase of 307,325 people or 84.7 per cent was also recorded for international tourists segment, with China and Hong Kong as main contributor.

Masidi noted Sabah also recieved 237 specially chartered flights during the period, the highest in the country to date.

The increase was also supported by several new direct flights to Kota Kinabalu, including from Hangzhou, Shenzen and Shanghai in China, Kota Baharu in Kelantan, and Cebu in The Philippines.

He noted flight frequency from Tokyo amd Perth has also been increased to three and two times a week, bringing the total number of non-stop flights from international destinations to Kota Kinabalu to 18.

Additionally, Kota Kinabalu is also now a homeport for Star Cruises Aquarius.

"We have also recorded several notable success at international level for the private sector.

"For the first time this year, we recieved TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and the Agoda Golden Circle Award through Bunga Raya Resort.

"Also, Mabul Water Bungalows won Dive Resort of the Year while other five-star resorts such as Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort, Hibiscus Villa Kudat also won excellence awards, including Best of Malaysia Awards from Expatriate Lifestyle," said Masidi.

He added Kota Kinabalu was listed as "Top 10 Rising Asian Destinations" by TripAdvisor, following consistent positive feedback from visitors every year.

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Mechanic fined for inciting fear

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 10:02 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: The Magistrate's Court here yesterday imposed a RM25 fine, in default, two days' jail on a mechanic for inciting fear.

Fedelis Dagok, 37, pleaded guilty to causing fear to a 35-year-old victim and the victim's family on Oct 20 along Kionsom Road, Inanam.

The offence, under Section 8 (1) (e) of the Minor Offences Ordinance, carries a maximum penalty of RM25, in default, seven days' jail, on conviction.

Magistrate Herlina Muse was told that the victim was driving on the road with his family in a car when the accused sounded his vehicle's horn.

The victim then stopped his car near a roundabout along the road and the accused then left his own vehicle and hit the mirror of the victim's car a few times.

The accused, in an inebriated state, also filmed the incident and threatened to post it on social media website, Facebook while saying "Oi kau ingat (kau) ini apa?" (Hey, who do you think you are?).

After that, Fedelis continued to trail the victim's vehicle, even into a residential area.

As the victim left his car to enter a house, the accused also left his car with a steel rod and baseball bat and then followed the victim from behind.

In mitigating for a lenient sentence, the accused, represented by counsel Rashidi Rashid, said it was a first-time offence and he was remorseful of his actions.

Deputy public prosecutor Chan Qin Yee pleaded for a deterrent sentence for the accused.

Meanwhile, Herlina fixed Jan 28, 2014 for the trial of a 63-year-old man accused of molesting his six-year-old granddaughter.

The charge under Section 354 of the Penal Code provides for ten years' jail or with fine or with whipping or any two of such punishments on conviction.

The accused allegedly outraged the modesty of the victim in the bedroom of a house at a village in Penampang, in May between 4pm and 7pm.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Azaman Hamat prosecuted the case.

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