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China firm to build Labuan Bridge BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

China firm to build Labuan Bridge

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST

by Adrian Nandu. Posted on December 4, 2013, Wednesday

LABUAN: The proposed bridge to link Labuan and Sabah is now possible after it was merely talked about by the people years before.

Representing former chief minister Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh at a briefing session for the committees of Malay, Kadazandusun, Chinese and Indian chambers of commerce at Tiara Hotel here, Raden Kakung said both the people of Labuan and Sabah were looking forward to have the bridge built.

"The bridge is possible as a company from China is willing to build it for a land swap without cash payment.

"An entreport with an integrated bridge has also been planned. The Labuan side will provide sea land for reclamation, which will be developed into commercial and residential properties especially for retired overseas people.

"This is also the plan for the Sabah side. To realise this aspiration, the Federal Government should formulate a policy allowing foreigners to have permanent residence permits in exchange for their investment on the island," he said before the briefing session.

Reading a speech on behalf of the former chief minister, Raden said that Harris recalled a concept initiated by the British to make Labuan like a little Singapore or Hong Kong, which remains a dream to the people of Labuan.

"Indeed, Labuan is just like Singapore. The economic activities of Singapore are tied up with the financial centre as well as oil and gas. Tourism, property management and other businesses just simply follow.

"Nevertheless, Singapore is far away from Labuan. Therefore, it is not a direct competition as Singapore is a well-established oil and gas centre. Any establishment trying to compete with it in the same business will fail.

"Its friendly neighbours of Sabah and Sarawak recognise the fact that Labuan with a population of 100,000 can only survive and thrive with the presence of oil and gas industries, which will guarantee employment," he said.

He said further that in order to make Labuan a fully integrated and functional oil and gas centre as well as tourist destination especially from the mainland of China, there were discussions currently in progress to make Labuan the hub for tourists to visit Borneo Island.

"There has been a proposal by a company to take over the management of Labuan Airport to extend its runway by another 1,000 meters in order to accomodate larger aircraft. Plans are also underway to build large new International Terminal and to move the Air Force to Tawau.

"Labuan Airport will then be a 100 per cent civilian airport and Tawau Airport will become partly a military airport. The proposal to develop Labuan into a major transit point for the whole island of Borneo is logical," he said.

Raden explained that the Airbus A380 aircraft would fly directly from China to Labuan while the Boeing 737 aircraft would bring transit passengers to whichever destination in Borneo they wished to spend their holiday.

The airline company is expecting these developments to happen within a few years of managing Labuan Airport.

Raden was optimistic about the plans as the funds were available for the physical development of Labuan.

He estimated that in three years' time, there would be around 120 million Chinese visitors going overseas.

"If twenty million or one sixth of these tourists visit Borneo through Labuan, it means that there will be about 55,000 Chinese tourists a day passing through Labuan.

"These numbers could be doubled taking the return journeys into account. The people of Labuan must work to catalyse the completion of the physical and economic development of Labuan.

"At the same time, the free port status must be maintained in Labuan alongside with its vision to be an economically viable island," he said.

Raden said that Harris remained personally committed to the survival of Labuan, as he was responsible for the handing over of Labuan to the federal government for administration.

Also present at the event was the architect for the Labuan Bridge, Sim Sie Hong.

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Man in suicide bid drama nabbed

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:29 PM PST

by Elton Gomes. Posted on December 4, 2013, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: A man who is said to be mentally ill caused a stir when he not only tried to take his own life by jumping from a 50-foot tower crane but also threatened rescue personnel with an iron rod at a construction site at Signal Hills here on Monday.

The incident happened at around 7.30pm when the man, a foreigner in his 20s, climbed up the tower crane and attempted to jump to his death.

Family members and workers at the construction site immediately alerted the police and personnel of the Fire and Rescue Department and the Sabah Civil Defence Department (JPAM) for assistance, arriving at the scene within several minutes.

Rescue personnel and family members tried to coax the man to come down but he refused as he was determined to jump.

However, after about two hours later, the man finally gave up and came down from the tower crane possibly due to hunger and thirst.

As rescue personnel approached him, the man immediately turned violent and started chasing after the rescue personnel and anyone within his path with an iron rod.

He was yelling and chasing away anyone who tried to help him and was also heard talking to himself.

To prevent any untoward incident from happening, an ambush was set-up and the man was detained about 30 minutes later.

He was immediately taken to the city police headquarters in Karamunsing for investigation before being taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

According to a family member, who declined to be identifed, this was the second time that the victim had tried to commit suicide.

"He tried to take his own life once, several months back but we managed to stop him.

"Yes, he is suffering from mental illness," said a family member who is working at the construction site.

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Not right time to raisepower tariff – SUCCC

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:28 PM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Increasing electricity tariff will not only affect the industrial sector and businesses, but also have a far-reaching impact on the people's lives.

Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SUCCC) president Datuk Seri Panglima Gan Sau Wah opined that it was not the right time to restructure the electricity tariff yet in view of the global economic slowdown.

Gan said this in response to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili's announcement on the increase in electricity tariff effective January 1. The electricity tariff in Sabah and Labuan FT will be increased by five sen/kWh from 29.52 sen/kWh to 34.52sen/kWh.

He said the global economy has led to a downturn in the local market and a slight inflation in the price of goods, thus the restructuring of electricity rates would certainly put much pressure on the industrial and business sectors.

"The daily lives of the people will definitely be affected, and the hardest hit is the salaried class."

Gan urged the government to re-examine its decision and postpone the restructuring of the electricity tariff.

He also queried the reason for the higher increase of electricity tariff in East Malaysia, which was two per cent more than that of West Malaysia.

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City Hall adopts SOP to curb substance abuse, AIDS

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:27 PM PST

by Murib Morpi. Posted on December 4, 2013, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: City Hall has adopted a standard operating procedure (SOP) for preventing drug and alcohol abuse and management of HIV/AIDS at the workplace.

Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir in launching the SOP yesterday, said it will not only serve as a guideline for City Hall but also as a clear message to stress its stand and commitment in preventing drug and alcohol abuse and HIV/AIDS infection.

In conjunction with the launch, a one-day awareness campaign was held to educate City Hall employees on HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

The campaign, which included talks and discussions on prevention, symptoms and management of the disease, also had a paperwork presentation on the negative impact of drug abuse and rehabilitation of drug addicts at the workplace.

"I believe the topic being discussed is relevant, not because DBKK staff are drug addicts, alcoholics or infected with HIV/AIDS but to increase their knowledge and awareness on these problems, and as a gentle reminder to the staff to be more careful and to stay away from them," he said at the launch held at Kota Kinabalu Community Hall, yesterday.

HIV is a lentivirus (slowly replicating retrovirus) that causes AIDS, a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.

Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk.

Madingkir said City Hall's policy specified that management and employees are responsible towards creating a safe and conducive workplace, including setting in place effective measures for monitoring HIV/AIDS infection.

"The management will ensure that information on employees infected with HIV/AIDS are protected. They also have the right to conduct random sampling or test any employee suspected to be infected by virus or have drug or drinking problems. The results will be classified," he said.

He stressed that it was important not only to ensure the health of employees but also to provide necessary measures to assist those having problems, to ensure that they remain productive.

About 500 City Hall workers attended the talks.

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Probe on TB at hypermall rumour

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:26 PM PST

by Amy Dangin. Posted on December 4, 2013, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: Several people have received a message 'advising' them to avoid one of the city's most prominent hypermalls due to the alleged spread of tuberculosis (TB).

The 'copy-and-paste' text message claimed that there had been several staff and students working or studying within the premises contracting the disease, said to have orginated from the settlements near the hypermall.

State Health Director, Dr Christina Rundi when contacted for comments advised the public not to simply believe in rumours, as there had yet to be any confirmation on the matter.

She said that although there haf been TB cases identified in the area mentioned, the Health Department had yet to confirm the source of the infection.

"We are also investigating the rumour. But as of now, we advise the public not to listen to rumours first," said Rundi.

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Sabah-Labuan Bridge almost ready to be built

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:25 PM PST

LABUAN: A new bridge linking Sabah with Labuan Island is timely to cater for the continuous growth of the oil and gas industry and its related businesses, said architect of Labuan Bridge, Sim Sie Hong.

The need for the bridge was long overdue, he said yesterday during a briefing session for the leaders of Malay, Kadazandusun, Chinese and Indian chambers of commerce at Tiara Labuan Hotel.

"When the bridge is completed, the new integrated entreport in Labuan and the Sabah-Labuan Bridge will bring business opportunities to both Sabah and Labuan.

"There will be many economic spin-offs from the region especially in the Kuala Penyu peninsula stretching from Menumbok to Kuala Penyu town and toward Beaufort and Sipitang areas," he said.

Gaya House Sdn Bhd and Shandong Laigang Construction Co. Ltd. have entered into a joint venture agreement to set up a local incorporated company named Shandong Laigang Gaya Sdn. Bhd. to undertake the development of the two projects.

Hong disclosed that the combined asset of the two companies exceeded the value of RM50 billion.

"Gaya House Sdn. Bhd. possess local management expertise and the chairman of the company, Tan Sri Harris Salleh has an outstanding working relationship with the present government of Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

"Shandong Laigang Construction Co. Ltd has assets in China exceeding RMB80 billion with a paid up capital of RMB1 billion. Shandong Laigang is also part of Shandong Steel, which is listed in the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

"They are one of the largest steel companies in China. They have been involved in the construction of the longest bridge in China, Jiaozhouwan Bridge, which is 37 Km crossing the Jiao Zhou Bay from Qingdao to Huangdao in the Shandong Province," he said.

He said Shandong Laigang Construction Co. Ltd would undertake the financing and construction of the Labuan Integrated Entreport and the Sabah-Labuan Bridge.

The payment for the project from Sabah government and Labuan Corporation would be in lieu of land of 3,400 acres from Labuan Corporation and 2,000 acres from Sabah for various commercial, residential and marina development.

He said the Sabah government would benefit from 2,100 acres of reclaimed land and the 30 years of operation concession right of the Labuan Entreport and the Sabah-Labuan Bridge to be assigned by the developer.

The overall construction cost of the bridge, port and reclamation of the islands with basic infrastructure are estimated at US$5.4 billion and the overall development cost over 20 years is estimated at US$20 billion.

Hong said the 13Km Sabah-Labuan Bridge would not only benefit Labuan, but also to Menumbok, Kuala Penyu and its vicinity.

Currently, he said there was no problem funding the projects, but they were still waiting for the approval from the Sabah and Federal governments before they can move further in implementing the projects.

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