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Taiwan woman kidnapped in Semporna returns home BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Taiwan woman kidnapped in Semporna returns home

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 03:04 PM PST

TAIPEI: A Taiwanese tourist whose husband was killed by gunmen in a kidnapping at a Malaysian island resort returned to Taiwan yesteday after she was rescued in the southern Philippines.

Television footage showed Evelyn Chang An-wei, 58, dressed in a loose T-shirt and wearing sunglasses, walking to a minibus parked at an airport near Taipei after she arrived in the early afternoon, waving briefly to the media and giving a thumbs-up sign.

Local media said she is expected to go to a hospital in Taipei for medical check-ups later Saturday.

Chang was found by Philippine marines at a village near Talipao, a town on the remote Philippine island of Jolo where Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants are known to operate, and was taken to a local military hospital for a medical check-up on Friday.

"I think I just want to say I deeply appreciate the Philippine military for giving me such a big help and assistance to rescue me. Thank you very much," Chang said in English in a pre-recorded message aired by several Taiwanese news channels on Saturday.

Chang and her husband Hsu Li-min were holidaying on Pom Pom island in Sabah state, which is near the Sulu island group that includes Jolo, when gunmen attacked on November 15, kidnapping her and killing her husband, according to Taiwanese officials and media.

Foreign ministry officials in Taiwan said that Hsu's body was cremated in Malaysia and that his family brought back his ashes to Taiwan last month.

Taiwanese media said Chang's family allegedly paid the kidnappers around $300,000 in ransom to secure her release.

Philippine authorities said the identities of Chang's kidnappers were unknown, though Abu Sayyaf gunmen who are known to carry out kidnappings operate in the area.

A Jordanian television reporter, Bakr Atyani, walked free from a Jolo jungle earlier this month, 18 months after he was abducted by the Islamist militants. The Abu Sayyaf is a small Islamist movement that has been blamed for a string of terrorist attacks and kidnappings of foreigners in the Philippines.

US Special Forces have been rotating through Jolo and other parts of the southern Philippines for more than a decade to train local troops battling the group, which is on Washington's list of "foreign terrorist organisations".

Abu Sayyaf gunmen are believed still to hold a number of foreign as well as Filipino hostages on Jolo, including two European birdwatchers and a Japanese treasure hunter, according to Philippine officials. – AFP

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Esscom DG thankful kidnapped Taiwanese safe

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 03:02 PM PST

KOTA KINABALU: East Sabah Security Command (Esscom) director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek is thankful that the Taiwanese woman who was kidnapped on Pulau Pom Pom, Semporna, Sabah, on Nov 15 was saved by the Philippine authorities.

"I congratulate the security forces of the Philippines for successfully rescuing the woman," he said in a statement here yesterday.

In this regard, Mentek said he hoped the incident would not be repeated and that the security forces would work hard to ensure the East Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) is safe.

"We also hope tourist resort operators would also cooperate with the security forces especially those working in the areas where the resorts are located," he said.

The confirmation of the news was made by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar via his Twitter account.

Khalid said the woman, who was saved in Sulu, was now at the Merin Hospital, Sulu and would be flown to Zamboanga City yesterday.

At 1am on Nov 15, a 57-year-old Taiwanese man was found dead with gunshot wounds while his 58-year-old female companion went missing, apparently abducted by a group of armed men who burst into their hotel room on the island. — Bernama

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Fatal accident rate in Sabah cause for concern — Pairin

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 02:52 PM PST

TAWAU: A total of 354 people were killed in road accidents between January and October in Sabah this year, according to state police statistics.

Of the number, 37 per cent involved motorcyclists and pillion riders, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

He said, based on the statistics, Kota Kinabalu recorded the highest casualties at 49 deaths, followed by Lahad Datu (46), Tawau (34) and Sandakan (23).

"According to the Sabah traffic police, the number of fatal accidents in the state was occurring at an alarming rate.

"To reduce accidents, various efforts are being taken primarily by the Road Safety Department and the police to raise awareness among road users," said Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister, in his speech at the Christmas Festive Season 2013 Road Safety Campaign and Seminar on Road Safety here yesterday.

The speech was delivered by state infrastructure development assistant minister Datuk Gulam Haidar Khan Bahadar. — Bernama

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Cop breaks ribs as suspects reverse vehicle into him

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 02:44 PM PST

by Nancy Lai. Posted on December 22, 2013, Sunday

KOTA KINABALU: A policeman was injured when car theft suspects reversed the vehicle into him at Kampung Air here on Friday night.

Acting city police chief Supt M Chandra said the impact of the reversing vehicle broke the 37-year-old police corporal's ribs and caused him to sustain bodily injuries.

Chandra, who was met at a meet-the-people session in Lintas yesterday, said the incident occurred at about 8.30pm when the policemanl together with his colleagues from the Criminal Investigation Department went to Kampung Air to investigate a car theft report.

They managed to track down the suspected thieves driving around in a luxury vehicle which they believed was stolen nearby in Kampung Air.

As the police team approached the suspects, the driver reversed the vehicle, hitting the corporal who was walking behind the car, Chandra said, adding that the two men in the vehicle managed to evade capture as the driver sped off.

Chandra said the injured policeman received treatmnent at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and his condition was reported to be stable.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 353 and Section 338 of the Penal Code.

Touching on the meeting with community leaders in Lintas and Luyang, Chandra said that the City Police is considering to expand its Sector System to more communities in the state capital next year.

This is part of the City Police's cooperation with local communities in combating crime, he said, adding that the public can relay information on criminal activities to the appointed Sector Heads who will in turn pass on the details to the police for further action, he stressed.

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‘Defections’ dampen Sabah opposition’s gains

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 02:43 PM PST

by Nancy Lai. Posted on December 22, 2013, Sunday

THE Opposition in Sabah made a very good showing at the 13th General Election which was held on May 5 this year where it won a total of 12 state constituencies and three parliamentary seats.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) component party Parti KeADILan Rakyat Sabah (PKR) won seven state and one parliamentary seats while its fellow component party DAP Sabah was voted as the elected representatives for four state and two parliamentary seats.

Sabah STAR won one seat making the total seats of 12 for the opposition.

The victorious PKR candidates were Datuk Jelani Hamdan (Matunggong), Jeremy Malajad @ Malazad (Kadamaian), Datuk Seri Pangliman Wilfred M Bumburing (Tamparuli), Dr Roland Chia (Inanam), Christina Liew (Api Api), Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin (Klias), Terrence Siambun (Moyog) and Darell Leiking (Penmpang).

DAP candidates who kept Barisan Nasional (BN) and the incumbents at bay were Junz Wong (Likas), Hiew King Cheu (Luyang), Dr Edwin Bosi (Kapayan), Chan Foong Hin (Sri Tanjong), Wong Thien Fatt (Sandakan) and Jimmy Wong (Kota Kinabalu).

Sabah STAR chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan won the Bingkor state seat.

But although it strengthened its footing in Sabah, the Opposition was dealt with a blow when three of Pakatan Rakyat's elected state assemblymen, namely Hiew, Jelani and Jeremy resigned from their respective parties in the coalition.

Jelani and Jeremy who resigned in November have announced their support for Barisan Nasional (BN) while Hiew who quit DAP in September has declared that he is an 'Independent' elected representative.

Speculations about Hiew leaving DAP was rife following his resignation as the state adviser on Aug 12 after four of DAP Sabah leaders called for disciplinary action to be taken against him for supporting Klias assemblyman Lajim as Sabah Opposition leader instead of the party's choice, Bumburing.

For Jelani and Jeremy, they claimed to have lost confidence in the opposition party as their reason for leaving and felt that only BN can bring development to Sabah.

Together with some divisional leaders who had attended PKR's special congress in Kuala Lumpur, they met with BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to inform the latter of their intention to resign from PKR and support BN.

Sabah PKR experienced its fair share on internal problems other than just the resignation of Jelani and Jeremy.

The state leadership saw a change when Lajim was appointed to replace Ahmad Thamrin Jaini as Sabah PKR Liaison chairman. Lajim in turn named Christina as deputy state liaison chief, Datuk James Ghani as secretary and Terrence as treasurer.

Jelani together with Dr Roland were appointed to fill two of the three vice chairmen posts while Jeremy was appointed as the state PKR information chief.

Jelani has also accused Lajim of sidelining the KDM in the state PKR line-up after the latter reshuffled the line-up following his appointment as Sabah PKR Liaison chief, replacing Ahmad Thamrin Jaini.

Lajim who claimed to have the support of most of the Sabah PKR divisional chiefs said that Jelani was wrong to say that because 40 per cent of the state leaders are KDM and the number may increase in the future, Lajim.

Lajim also said state PKR leaders and division heads had signed a resolution refuting Jelani's claim that he did not get any support from them.

"According to him I was appointed by de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but that is far from the truth because I was given the mandate by the division heads who signed a memorandum which was handed to party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail," Lajim had told the media.

For Sabah STAR, its sole elected representative, Dr Jeffrey had been quoted as saying that he is an independent who is not supporting BN or PR.

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Politician’s wife launches handbag line

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 02:40 PM PST

by Mariah Doksil. Posted on December 22, 2013, Sunday

KOTA KINABALU: Fifty eight year-old Puan Sri Edna Khan, founder of ladies handbag label LiPi, remembers seven years ago, when she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus).

"The first question that crossed my mind was 'Why me?" I was devastated and traumatized. I felt miserable as every question I asked gave nothing but negative answers.

"What made it even worse was I kept asking myself, what have I done to deserve this, then little did I know that this disease does not spare even the young and innocent. Children as young as 14 can acquire Lupus," she said.

"Nothing was as simple as it could have been as I was not willing to share my feelings. I didn't know exactly what I wanted and where I was heading nor did I see what was possible or what stood in my way. My platelet plunged as low as 23 and my kidneys were badly affected. There was no clear or straight path," she said.

Somehow, Edna, who is also the wife of veteran politician Tan Sri Majid Khan, learned to get in touch with the silence within herself that everything that happened had a reason behind it. "That in life, we must never take things for granted because if we do, we will be disheartened and disappointed all our lives. With faith, hope and belief, good things do happen too," she added.

Lupus was a wakeup call for Edna to challenge herself to do the impossible in order to boost her self-esteem. She decided to make lemonade out of lemons.

"That is how I came about with this idea of making my own brand and label, turning my dreams into reality. It was not easy as I wanted to do it on my own.

"I gathered my courage and followed my heart to satisfy the thirst of my soul. With optimism and determination, I found the courage to give my bag an identity," said Edna at the launching of LiPi, at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu yesterday.

As a longtime handbag lover, Edna knew that a branded bag made of canvas could cost RM2,000 to RM3,000 only because of the brand name.

"So why don't I go for the real thing and also give it a name," she said.

After a year of struggle, today LiPi has a variety of handbags and clutches mostly made from snake-skin leather which comes in many sizes and designs.

"You may see some of them come in the same design but different colours, meaning there are no duplicates. I believe the bags are priced very reasonably as they are of very good quality, creative designs and genuine snake-skin leather.

"You will also have lamb and calf leather bags if you are not a fan of snakes' skin," she said, adding most of her customers are from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.

Hundreds of LiPi handbags are available at genuine leather bags website http://www.lelipi.com/. She is planning to approach various hotels in the city centre to sell her high quality handbags, which are priced below RM2,000.

Apart from handbags, Edna also introduced her clothing label Ed's which is her new 'baby' after the success of LiPi.

Luire by Raden Sirait from Indonesia was the guest designer who also showcased her collection at the event yesterday.

As an effort to raise awareness on Lupus disease, Edna said LiPi's customers will have the opportunity to support a good cause as their purchase of the bags will partly contribute to Persatuan SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) Malaysia, Sabah Chapter.

She said the association is in need of funds for their share and care programme.

During the launching yesterday, the event managed to collected RM20,000 in donations for Persatuan SLE Malaysia, Sabah Chapter from LiPi and also the invited guests.

Today (22nd December), LiPi, Ed's and Luire by Raden Sirait will be having a special appearance and promotion at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu (Keembong Room) from 10am to 5pm with special offers of its handbags and clothing collections.

Present yesterday were Edna's husband Majid, Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens and representative of Persatuan SLE Malaysia, Sabah Chapter Jean Chan Chok Fun.

Jean, in her speech shared information about Lupus disease, and urged more women to learn more about it as about 90 per cent of people with Lupus are women, while only 10 per cent are men and children.

"Lupus in women commonly begins in childbearing years. It is a complex disorder, and its cause is unknown. It is likely that a combination of genetics, environmental and possibly hormonal factors work together.

"Each Lupus patient has slightly different symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms include painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever and extreme fatigue.

"A characteristic red skin rash or a butterfly rash may appear across the nose and cheeks. Other symptoms include chest pain, unusual hair loss, anaemia, mouth ulcers, headaches, dizziness, depression, confusion or seizures," she said.

On behalf of the association, she thanked Edna for sharing her experience and appreciated what she had done in giving positive attitude to Lupus patients.

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