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Curtin <b>Sarawak</b> bids for funds to run rural devt projects – BorneoPost <b>...</b> Berita Sarawak - News 2 Sarawak

Curtin <b>Sarawak</b> bids for funds to run rural devt projects – BorneoPost <b>...</b>

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 11:54 AM PST

MIRI: Curtin University (Curtin Sarawak) is bidding for funds to finance its various rural development projects.

Curtin Sarawak Research Institute acting director Professor Clem Kuek said their development plan is an integrated approach to the development of rural communities where after the initial introduction of electrification via micro-hydro or solar energy, other initiatives can follow.

"Two sites, one in Ulu Lawas and the other in Ulu Baram, have been selected for electrification. Integrated into the plan is the provision of town-grade water and 'tagangs' to rear high value indigenous fish.

This first phase will cost RM9.4 million. Its implementation will draw on the expertise of the university's Departments of Civil and Construction, Electrical and Computer and Mechanical Engineering. Public Works Department engineer Sidney Wee will be the project advisor," said Professor Kuek who is also the Dean of Research and Development (R&D).

He said these when briefing permanent secretary of State Ministry of Rural Development, Datuk Chaiti Bolhassan and principal assistant secretary for Federal Ministry of Rural Development Ramdan Baba, during their visit to the university recently to hear and discuss on the projects.

Also attending were the university's Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Yudi Samyudia, and director of Government and Corporate Affairs, Alex Chung and assistant director Andrew Wang, Wee; and Senior Sarawak Energy Berhad Renewable Energy manager Goh Chin Chai.

Professor Kuek added that follow-up initiatives enabled by the establishment of supply of electricity will be the marketing of Geographical Indication Borneo Highland rice, the plan for which will be developed through collaboration between the state Department of Agriculture and Curtin Sarawak's School of Business.

For example, he said a fish business from harvests of mature tagangs will be a project involving the inland fisheries section of the state Department of Agriculture, LTT Aquaculture Sendirian Berhad and Curtin Sarawak's School of Business.

There were plans for green septage treatment by Curtin Sarawak's Department of Civil & Construction Engineering and a bottled drinking water business with contributions from Departments of Applied Geology and Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, and the School of Business.

According to Professor Kuek, Curtin Sarawak is expanding its engagement with the region and, even though the development plan was initially a corporate social responsibility project involving volunteer staff and students of the university, there will be plenty of opportunities for R&D in follow-on activities which require information before implementation can take place.

He added that an example of research associated with the plan is the socio-economic impact study of communities before and after the introduction of 24/7 electricity by staff in the community engagement module of the plan.

"Curtin Sarawak has received great support from the state Ministry of Rural Development for its backing of the plan and in getting it heard at the federal level. For this we are extremely grateful to Datuk Chaiti," said Professor Kuek.

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Brunei and <b>Sarawak</b> mull connectivity for tourism – BorneoPost <b>...</b>

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 11:44 AM PST

KUCHING: The Brunei government has agreed to join Sarawak in enhancing tourism connectivity between the sultanate and the northern region of the state.

Permanent secretary to Ministry of Tourism Datu Ik Pahon disclosed that the agreement came from a closed-door discussion with his ministry and ministerial officials of the neighbouring country.

"The discussion raised several issues on how both can benefit from these activities and boost tourism especially for the towns of Miri and Limbang," he told reporters before the two government's ministerial officials adjourned to the dinner hosted by the Sarawak government at a leading hotel on Wednesday.

"The discussion was carried out between our state government represented by the Minister of Tourism Sarawak Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg while Brunei was represented by Minister of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar," he added.

Ik Pahon also disclosed how Brunei can be the connectivity hub in the northern region through its international flight connections to become an entry point for tourists who then can enter Sarawak.

"This is because the country's official airline Royal Brunei Airline (RBA) flies to and from Melbourne and also from Brunei to and from London. The idea is that if these passengers can stop in Brunei for two to three days, then they can visit Miri and also Limbang by hinterland transport," he enthused.

"If this is implemented, then this flight connectivity can bring in tourists to spend time here and help our eco-tourism and other tourism products in the northern region," he added.

He also said to ensure that the present discussion is fruitful, a task force from Brunei and the state government will be formed to see how this can be implemented for the mutual benefit of the two countries in tourism.

The other issue discussed in the nearly half an hour meeting between the royal state and the Sarawak government was the border crossing, especially at the Sg Tujuh immigration check-point and customs.

Ik said no decision was made but both ministers agreed that their ministries will take up these matters to be discussed at administrative level on how to address the issue.

The idea is how to make travel seamless, on how to overcome the issue of daily crossing of vehicles and buses at this border point and to let tourists enter and exit Brunei for Sarawak with ease, he said.

He also said that they will bring in the relevant agencies like immigration and customs departments to join the task force group for further discussion with the officials from Brunei.

Also present were Brunei Consul to Sarawak Kamsari Noordin, Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talip Zulpilip, Assistant Minister of Communication and Sports Datuk Lee Kim Shin and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Ghani and officials from both ministries and invited VIPs from Sarawak and Malaysian tourism agencies.

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Issuance of land title in final stages - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 27 Jan 2014 11:00 AM PST

With setting up of trust fund, state government ready to hand over land to Private Chinese Schools Management Board

MIRI: The state government is ready to issue the letter of approval and title for the alienation of 2,000 hectares of land to the trust fund of Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese Schools Management Board.

This was disclosed by Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who added that the land was approved for this purpose shortly after the announcement on Dec 2010 by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Mahmud during a dialogue with the Chinese community in Kuching.

"Actually, we (ministry) were waiting for the trust fund to be set up, and with proper documents furnished to the Land and Survey, the letter of approval could be issued any time thereafter," he told The Borneo Post in an exclusive interview yesterday.

Awang Tengah added that he was happy that the board had already established the trust fund which was a pre-requisite for the alienation of the land for Chinese Independent Schools to reduce their financial burden.

He was met at Miri Airport en route to Kuching from Lawas after attending the wedding reception of the daughter of Liaw Ho Peng, SUPP Lawas branch chairman, at Lawas Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

On Sunday, the board's president Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming called upon the Land and Survey Department to expedite the alienation of the land to the trust fund as a body to manage the property as approved by the State Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Land and Survey Department state director Datuk Sajeli Kipli said the department was finalising the process of approval and issuance of title.

"Our Miri office has already been instructed to work closely with the trust fund which is now ready as Temenggong Vincent Lau has done it," he said in a telephone interview.

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Johor keen to work with <b>Sarawak</b> to promote tourism – BorneoPost <b>...</b>

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 11:42 AM PST

KUCHING: The Johor government is keen to cooperate with travel agencies in Sarawak to promote tourism for mutual benefit.

Johor Tourism public relations and publicity officer Ahmad Nizam Ahmad said yesterday that Johor and Sarawak had many similar tourism products, especially in the eco-tourism market segment.

"For instance, Johor has three Ramsar bases, namely Tanjung Piai National Park, Pulau Kukup National Park and Sungai Pulai," he told a press conference at the Asean Tourism Forum 2014 held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here.

"In the Iskandar Johor area alone, there are more than 30 Inap Desa or homestay that emphasise the way of life and cultures of local residents."

Sarawak, he noted, also had great eco-tourism products such as the Sarawak Cultural Village and ethnics longhouses.

He believed cooperation between both states could spur the growth of domestic travels as there were no air connectivity issues.

In fact, it could also increase tourist arrivals from Johor to Sarawak and vice versa during Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

"As such, we welcome visitors from Sarawak to Johor, especially in February for the Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival 2014 to be held from 19 to 25.

"Other than that, visitors from Sarawak can also visit various existing and new tourism destinations in Johor such as Legoland Malaysia Resort and Hello Kitty."

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