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Only DCA DG can issue statement on Bintulu copter crash BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Only DCA DG can issue statement on Bintulu copter crash

Posted: 13 Dec 2013 12:30 PM PST

KUCHING: The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) said only the director general could issue official statements on the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crash that happened off the coast of Bintulu on Thursday.

A Kuching DCA regional office III spokesman stressed that any development on the incident, such as whether or not the helicopter owned by MHS Aviation Berhad had been successfully lifted out of the sea as claimed by an unofficial source here, could only be confirmed by the director general.

"The official statement will only be issued when the report is sent to the DCA's headquarters.

"Kuching DCA is also not at liberty to issue any statement as the case has been classified as a government secret," he told Bernama yesterday.

Bernama had earlier contacted MHS Aviation Berhad headquarters in Petaling Jaya for more information, but was told that only the company's CEO could issue a statement on the mishap.

In Thursday's incident, a helicopter carrying two pilots and six workers assigned by a contractor of Malaysian oil and gas company, Petronas was forced to make an emergency landing on the water about 159 kilometres off Bintulu.

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Christmas trees transform square into wonderland

Posted: 13 Dec 2013 11:36 AM PST

by Othman Ishak, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 14, 2013, Saturday

SIBU: The Town Square here has become a picturesque public place adorned with 21 giant Christmas trees.

The trees are entries of the various corporations in theChristmas Tree Design Contest organised by the Sibu Municipal Council. They will be there until Dec 31.

The contest was launched by Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King on Thursday evening.

Despite being there for just a couple of days, the trees had already attracted a huge crowd, among whom were tourists.

The trees have also made into Facebook pages.

The contest was first held in 2010 for non-governmental organisations.

In the second contest, 12 churches took part, and last year, 14 schools were among the contestants.

Judging is based on creativity, aesthetics, day view, night view and durability of the Christmas tree.

The top five winners will pocket RM2,000, RM1,500, RM1,000, RM750 and RM500 respectively and a certificate each.

Prize-giving will be held during the council's new year countdown.

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Man downs weedkiller following quarrel with grandchild

Posted: 13 Dec 2013 11:35 AM PST

KUCHING: A man from Demak Laut was hospitalised Thursday night after he downed weedkiller following a quarrel with his three-year-old granddaughter over which television channel to watch.

The incident was said to have initially begun around 7pm when the 68-year-old man, who lives with his son at RPR Demak Laut, changed the channel to watch a sports news programme while his granddaughter was midway watching her favourite cartoon show.

According to sources, the little girl grabbed the TV remote from her grandfather and switched the channel back, only for him to do the same.

This led to the two of them shouting at each other with each wanting to watch the programme of their choice, forcing the man's son to take his daughter out of the house and tooke her for a car ride in order to let the old man watch his show.

When they returned about an hour later, the old man, who was apparently still upset over the initial confrontation, flew into a fit of rage and threatened to consume a bottle of weedkiller.

His son, however, grabbed the bottle from him and locked it inside a cabinet, resulting in the man picking up an axe and threatening to harm his son.

Fearing his safety, the son fled the house and returned several minutes later after not hearing any sound coming from inside.

He soon saw that the cabinet where he had locked the weedkiller in had been hacked open with the axe, with the bottle of poison no longer there.

He then heard his father groaning in pain in the bathroom and, after finding him lying on the floor clutching the half-empty bottle, rushed him to the Sarawak General Hospital.

The elderly man is currently being treated at the hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

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New kid waiting round the street

Posted: 13 Dec 2013 11:34 AM PST

MBKS mayor, DBKU member linked to new party as SUPP braces for ROS show-cause letter

KUCHING: Two surprise names, Kuching South City mayor Datuk James Chan and Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) member Datuk Wee Hong Seng, are linked to a new political party waiting in the wings to replace Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) in the event it was de-registered.

The state's oldest party is likely to receive a show-cause letter from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) within this month requiring it to explain alleged branch election irregularities which took place before its Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) in Dec 2011.

A concerned political observer yesterday disclosed the new party had already been approved by the ROS and it was just a matter of time before it was announced.

He went on to divulge that the organisation would most probably be backed by prominent businessmen from Sibu and Miri even though it was linked to Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, SUPP Sibu branch chairman and Minister of Local Government and Community Development.

"Wong will not be leading the new organisation given the fact he has said he wanted the elderly SUPP leaders to step down and give the opportunity to young blood."

Asked who would lead the new party, the observer dropped a bombshell by mentioning Chan and Wee.

"It is said these two are very keen. What is certain is that the new organisation will not see old faces especially those involved in the political games which had done much harm to the Chinese community."

When asked the likely name for the new party would be, the observer gave a 'no brainer' answer – SUPP Baru.

Meanwhile, a reliable source revealed that the ROS had prepared the show-cause letter sometime ago but had to wait for a final decision by higher authorities before issuing it.

With Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud having publicly suggested that it was time for a new party to be formed to represent the Chinese if SUPP could not solve its internal conflicts, political pundits believed the death knell would soon toll for the party.

The observer said it was evident that efforts to reconcile the two factions locked in the dispute – one led by Wong and another by Tan Sri Peter Chin – were doomed to fail.

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‘Road safety campaigns a continuous effort’

Posted: 13 Dec 2013 11:33 AM PST

by Wilfred Pilo, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 14, 2013, Saturday

SERIAN: The state government will continue to carry out road safety awareness programmes especially during festive seasons.

Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said this at a press conference after distributing helmets and road safety pamphlets in Serian yesterday.

Dr Jerip was representing Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication, Dato Sri Michael Manyin who is the State Road Safety Council chairman.

Calling on motorists to exercise extra caution while driving during the festive season and advising them not to drive after drinking, Dr Jerip pointed out that road accidents was the third biggest killer in the country.

He also advised road users to have a good rest in between journeys if they were to go on long trips.

During yesterday's campaign the Road Safety Department gave out 100 helmets for adults and children as part of its road safety awareness programme.

Also present were Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben, Director General of Road Safety Department Dato Dr Tam Weng Wah, state director of Road Safety Department Davina Agnes Enteli, Serian District Officer Sinde Muling, officers from Road Transport Department, Police and local community leaders.

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AirAsia flight makes emergency landing in Kuching

Posted: 13 Dec 2013 11:31 AM PST

Posted on December 14, 2013, Saturday

KUCHING: An AirAsia flight from Kota Kinabalu to Penang made an emergency landing here yesterday afternoon after an elderly female passenger complained of chest pain.

The passenger, identified as 71-year-old Annie Dunlop from Sandakan, was however pronounced dead by doctors upon arrival at Kuching International Airport (KIA).

It was learned that the deceased had boarded flight AK5323 at 1.20pm to Penang when she complained of chest pain midway through the journey.

The aircraft then made an emergency landing at KIA where a medical team from Sarawak General Hospital, which received a distress call at 2.50pm, inspected her and found she had already passed on.

It is understood that the body has been flown back to Kota Kinabalu.

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