» »Unlabelled » Solar, wind energy can change power generation in Sabah BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

07:20:00

Solar, wind energy can change power generation in Sabah BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Solar, wind energy can change power generation in Sabah

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 10:02 AM PST

KUDAT: Renewable energy from solar and wind turbine is not only an excellent power alternative for the future but it can also revolutionise electricity generation in Sabah, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin.

He said Sabah had its own uniqueness as it endowed was rich natural resources which could be used to generate renewable energy and contribute to economic development.

"Operational cost for power generation is extremely high and power producers like Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd face a great challenge and the problem  has been further aggravated by the inconsistent hike in fuel prices.

"As such, the government always welcomes any party that can come foward to explore and apply green energy and simultaneously support the government's move to develop sustainable energy," he said when launching two TechnoFund Mosti projects here yesterday.

The projects, the Application of Wind Technology System for Energy Generation and the Sustainable Thin Film PV Building and the Renewable Energy Generation, have been entrusted to Sirim Bhd by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for research and development.

Overall, the projects can generate 25 kw of wind turbine power and 9.8 kw of solar energy.

The power generated can light up a resort near the project site in Tg Simpang Mengayau and can be supplied and stored in a battery system.

Ewon said the research findings can be developed on a large scale, commercially, and can contribute towards reducing the number of power interruptions in Sabah.

It can also bring cheer to the many rural residents who live far away from grid areas.

In the long-term, renewable energy can become a big alternative to the current practice of generating electricity from fuel oil, charcoal, diesel and  hydro reservoirs which incur huge operational costs.

TechnoFund is a grant scheme funded by Mosti which covers 13 projects under the Renewable Energy Task Force.

Established by the Cabinet, the scheme provides funding for technology development, up to pre-commercialisation stage, with the commercial potential to create new businesses and generate economic wealth for the nation. — 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.

Housing developers urged to use solar thin-film PV photovoltaics technology

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST

KUDAT: Sirim Bhd is proposing that housing developers use Solar Thin-Film Photovoltaics (PV) technology in their construction to further develop the use of green technology and add value to new buildings.

Solar Thin-Film PV is the state-of-the-art renewable energy technology which uses thin layers of semiconductors to absorb solar energy which can be transformed into electricity.

Renewable Energy Research Centre general manager Mohd Fauzi Ismail said besides encouraging developers to be

more competitive, house owners would also be able to enjoy cost savings in electricity consumption.

"The use of this technology can have a far reaching impact on the buildings as indirectly the building structure will have a dual-function.

"Solar Thin-Film PV not only can be used for roofing, walls and ceilings, but also as a source of power generation," he told Bernama after the launch of the Application of Wind Technology System for Energy Generation and Sustainable Thin Film PV Building and, the Renewable Energy Generation projects here yesterday.

Mohd Fauzi said the Solar Thin-Film PV technology had many advantages compared with other technologies as it required only low raw material input, was highly automated and efficiently produced.

The technology can be easily integrated with buildings, had a high performance level and as less sensitive under high temperatures, he added.

He said Sirim was ready to share its expertise with any housing developer who wished to apply the renewable energy in their construction. — 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.

Sabahan songwriters runners-up of international songwriting contest

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Sabahan songwriting duo Rene Barrow and Rozella Mahjhrin aka CoffeeVersusEvil (CVE) were awarded the runner-up placement in the international Song of the Year competition for their original composition 'Shattered Dreams.' Song of the Year receives entries from all over the world and only the top songwriters receive a runner-up placement in the competition.

For over 14 years, Song of the Year has been a leader in offering songwriters great opportunities through the contest and by networking top writers with music insiders.

Songwriter's submissions are judged by a panel of music professionals.

The preliminary-judging staff consists of individuals who have showed leadership in music related fields as well as notable songwriters.

CVE is a songwriting collaboration that was formed in 2012 after Mahjhrin started having guitar lessons under Barrow's tutelage.

Barrow eventually suggested that Mahjhrin try to sing instead, and proposed a collaboration where Mahjhrin would write the lyrics and Barrow would write the music.

Their entry for the Song of the Year competition, 'Shattered Dreams', was the first song that they wrote together.

Mahjhrin said, "This song is very personal to me.

I wrote the lyrics at a difficult period in my life because I needed an outlet to release all the emotions that were trapped inside.

The funny thing is that I used to be Rene's guitar student and this song was the outcome of the first songwriting assignment he gave me!" Barrow added: "Rozella is such a talented lyricist.

"And I'm very happy with the result of the competition.

"It shows that we have a lot of potential for the future.

"I took the basic idea that she came up with and readapted anything that I thought would make it more musically interesting."

CVE made their debut performance at the Voices from the Asylum (Vol 2) in March 2013.

Since then, they have performed at various events including the Mango Jazz Night, KK Jazz Festival fringe event, TACKit art exhibitions, SPCA fund-raising dinner, launch of The Loft, the Perodua Media Nite 2013, KKIS Haiyan Typhoon fund-raising event, and KK Webcamp Christmas Edition.

CVE also wrote a song especially for Green Leaf Theatre House's play 'The Sumandak Movement: My Name is Not Hey Baby' which will be performed live during the show on Dec13 and 15 (6.30pm) at the JKKN auditorium.

The CVE concept seeks to collaborate with other Sabahan and international artists to expose their work to the world.

As a songwriting collaboration, they not only work with other singers and musicians, but also visual artists, dancers, videographers, actors and etc, to develop the arts scene in Sabah.

CVE will be launching their Double-song release on Jan 1 (8pm) at El Centro, Kota Kinabalu and it will feature their Song of the Year Competition submission 'Shattered Dreams' along with another original composition 'Blackbird.' Admission is free and the public is invited to join in the celebration.

They are collaborating with other artists for the launch including woodcutting artist Rizo Leong from Pangrok Sulap (who designed the cover of the CD).

The launch will feature special guest performances by International jazz pianist Asif Pishori and social participatory art group TackIt.

Daphne Wong from Simply Sweet will also be sponsoring coffee cupcakes.

Print Friendly

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

Easy movement for Agriculture Park visitors

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 08:11 AM PST

by Johan Aziz. Posted on December 9, 2013, Monday

TENOM: Visitors will be able to move around the Sabah Agriculture Park (TPS) Lagud Sebrang easily in a 23-seater electric car which was presented by Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) here on Saturday.

The electric car will serve as a bus to take visitors around the park.

"With this contribution, I believe our visitors will be able to enjoy the beauty and surroundings of the park more comfortably with the quiet engine of the vehicle carrying them around," said State Agriculture Department director Datuk Haji MC Ismail Salam when launching the Bah… Ke Taman Kita program at the park.

It will also lift the image of TPS as an eco-friendly park with first class facilities, he said.

The contribution made last year was officially handed over by Sedco deputy general manager Jani Isa to Ismail during the program.

Ismail said a total of 24,482 visitors came to the park last year and if each visitor spent an average of RM50, last year's income for TPS would be about RM1.2 million.

He said the budget's revenue last year was much lower than the estimated total revenue from the state tourism sector in 2012, which was estimated at RM5.17 billion for 2.9 million tourist arrivals to the state.

"Basically, the focus or objective of the State Agriculture Department is for TPS to be a centre for plant conservation, learning and as a tourist attraction based on agrotourism.

"As a centre for plant conservation, the department is very proud of the effort and commitment shown by all the staff of TPS though agricultural activities associated with opening and cutting of various types of trees. We should be proud that we never forget the importance of conservation of plants so that they can continue to be seen and appreciated by generations to come, as implemented by the department through the park.

"Although TPS is a relatively small entity in the State Agriculture Department, the park has shown remarkable achievement. TPS has received recognition not only at state and national levels for the beauty of its landscape, but at a global level as well for its conservation efforts," he said.

He added TPS is the only park in the world that has so far succeeded in planting Rafflesia. To be able to cultivate the flower is certainly the dream of every park in the world for tourist attractions and the public to learn about the natural world.

"I hope TPS will have multiple locations to fully utilize the landscape for the purpose of learning, especially for students.

"A wide variety of tropical fruits can be found in the park museum, which exhibits more than 100 kinds of rare and exotic fruits, such as African Breadfruit, Burahol, Mabolo, Pachira, Pogoh and Jaboticaba.

"Various types of crops, herbs, salads and fragrances are also available at TPS. The park also has expertise that can be shared with those who are interested in plant propagation and planting techniques," he said.

Ismail added for learning activities geared towards agriculture, TPS has agricultural farms where visitors, especially students, can gain experience through hands-on activities in the fields of agriculture such as planting and harvesting corn, peppers, pumpkin, papaya and so on.

Though this activity seems easy, he believed this experience will bring students closer to agricultural activities and it may prove useful to them in the future.

In terms of learning about the honey bee farming, he said through the Agriculture Research Station, Lagud Sebrang, the Agriculture Department is willing to share experience and knowledge with those who are interested in the various aspects of honey bee breeding.

In short, he said there are a lot of knowledge and information available that can be shared with visitors who come to the park.

"The department will continue to strive to ensure that TPS continues to perform its functions and that various plans are implemented, including improvements to existing infrastructure and construction of new infrastructure for the convenience of visitors.

"This year, a bridge connecting the multi-purpose hall and TPS restaurant was built in Rundum Lake that will not only help visitors move around the lake, but would also be an attractive landscaping and focal point for visitors to keep the memory of their visit to the park.

"For next year, the department has approved an allocation of RM1 million to implement a number of other developments in TPS such as to upgrade the livestock farm, open an agriculture farm, upgrade signboards and plant labels, upgrade the arrival hall and office, installation of fences and gates around the park and to build a laboratory at the water plant," he 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.

Sabahan songwriters runners-up of international songwriting contest

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 08:11 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Sabahan songwriting duo Rene Barrow and Rozella Mahjhrin aka CoffeeVersusEvil (CVE) were awarded the runner-up placement in the international Song of the Year competition for their original composition hattered Dreams.?

Song of the Year receives entries from all over the world and only the top songwriters receive a runner-up placement in the competition.

For over 14 years, Song of the Year has been a leader in offering songwriters great opportunities through the contest and by networking top writers with music insiders.

Songwriter's submissions are judged by a panel of music professionals. The preliminary-judging staff consists of individuals who have showed leadership in music related fields as well as notable songwriters.

CVE is a songwriting collaboration that was formed in 2012 after Mahjhrin started having guitar lessons under Barrow tutelage. Barrow eventually suggested that Mahjhrin try to sing instead, and proposed a collaboration where Mahjhrin would write the lyrics and Barrow would write the music. Their entry for the Song of the Year competition, hattered Dreams? was the first song that they wrote together.

Mahjhrin said, his song is very personal to me. I wrote the lyrics at a difficult period in my life because I needed an outlet to release all the emotions that were trapped inside. The funny thing is that I used to be Rene guitar student and this song was the outcome of the first songwriting assignment he gave me!?

Barrow added: ozella is such a talented lyricist. And I very happy with the result of the competition. It shows that we have a lot of potential for the future. I took the basic idea that she came up with and readapted anything that I thought would make it more musically interesting.?

CVE made their debut performance at the Voices from the Asylum (Vol. 2) in March 2013. Since then, they have performed at various events including the Mango Jazz Night, KK Jazz Festival fringe event, TACKit art exhibitions, SPCA fund-raising dinner, launch of The Loft, the Perodua Media Nite 2013, KKIS Haiyan Typhoon fund-raising event, and KK Webcamp Christmas Edition.

CVE also wrote a song especially for Green Leaf Theatre House play he Sumandak Movement: My Name is Not Hey Baby?which will be performed live during the show on December 13 and 15 (6.30pm) at the JKKN auditorium.

The CVE concept seeks to collaborate with other Sabahan and international artists to expose their work to the world. As a songwriting collaboration, they not only work with other singers and musicians, but also visual artists, dancers, videographers, actors and etc, to develop the arts scene in Sabah.

CVE will be launching their Double-song release on January 1 (8pm) at El Centro, Kota Kinabalu and it will feature their Song of the Year Competition submission hattered Dreams?along with another original composition lackbird.?Admission is free and the public is invited to join in the celebration.

They are collaborating with other artists for the launch including woodcutting artist Rizo Leong from Pangrok Sulap (who designed the cover of the CD). The launch will feature special guest performances by International jazz pianist Asif Pishori and social participatory art group TackIt.

Daphne Wong from Simply Sweet will also be sponsoring coffee cupcakes.

Print Friendly

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

Four men detained, 243 grams of syabu seized in Lahad Datu

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 08:11 AM PST

LAHAD DATU: Police from the Narcotic Unit and General Operation Force (GOF) detained four men and seized 243 grams of drugs, believed to be syabu worth RM60,000, in three separate raids in the district recently.

District police chief Superintendent Shamsudin Mat said in the first raid around 11.50pm on Friday, the GOF arrested two men aged 28 and 29 at an unnumbered house in a plantation at Tungku area.

Shamsudin said during the raid, one of the suspects took a small black bag from his underwear and threw it to the floor.

"Further inspection on the bag found three clear plastic packets containing crystal powder believed to be syabu weighing 44.1 grams. We also seized a mobile phone and cash worth RM600 from the suspects.

"Although both suspects tested negative for drug abuse, they remain in our custody for further investigation under Section 39A (2) of the Dangerous Drug Act," he said when contacted yesterday.

Meanwhile, in other raids conducted by the narcotic unit on Saturday, two foreigners were detained and 198.75 grams of drugs, believed to be syabu, were seized at Kampung Silam and Kampung Bakau.

In the first raid at Kampung Silam, the narcotic unit detained a foreigner at the surau around 6.40pm.

The suspect threw a green plastic to the ground when police appeared at the scene. Further inspection found that the plastic contained 53.7 grams of drugs, believed to be syabu. The suspect also tested negative for drug abuse.

"Following a tip-off from the public, another foreigner was nabbed by the narcotic unit at Kampung Bakau around 10.30pm.

"During the raid, the suspect threw a packet to the ground and attempted to flee after becoming aware of police presence. After a struggle, the suspect was arrested and further inspection on the packet found three clear packets containing 145.05 grams of drugs, believed to be syabu," he said.

According to Shamsudin, the suspect tested positive for consuming methamphetamine and amphetamine.

He said both of the suspects were being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 which provides for the mandatory death sentence on conviction.

Print Friendly

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