» »Unlabelled » Support charitable bodies if you can, people urged BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

17:16:00

Support charitable bodies if you can, people urged BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Support charitable bodies if you can, people urged

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:46 AM PST

by Irene C, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 19, 2014, Sunday

KUCHING: Those who can afford to support charitable bodies should do so as it fosters the spirit of caring and sharing in our society.

In saying this, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato James Chan added in fact, some charities in the world are supported by foundations or trusts that run businesses.

"One great way for a successful company to contribute back to the society is by 'adopting' a charitable home or institution. The company can budget a regular sum for the adopted home or institution," Chan pointed out at Sports Toto Chinese New Year 'ang pow' donation campaign held at Che Hia Khor Moral Uplifting Society yesterday.

He said that it was essential for the captains of the industry to reach out to the less fortunate through the act of giving and supplementing grants normally given out by the government.

This in turn will create a compassionate society with has a great sense of community spirit.

The company's charity campaign which began on Jan 16 until Jan 23 is currently being held in 41 locations throughout the country.

Marking the 26th year of the significant charitable cause, about 17,000 needy old folks aged 60 and above from all races benefit from this year's campaign. Every recipient received an 'ang pow', a mini hamper and Mandarin oranges.

The company spent RM900,000 on the campaign.

Among those present were Kuching area sales executive Helen Tan and assistant administrative manager Tee Kim Liang.

Print Friendly

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

Boat capsize: 3 die, 8 missing

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:38 AM PST

by Raymond Tan & Peter Boon, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 19, 2014, Sunday

The longboat was carrying a wedding entourage of 27 passengers when it fl ipped in Batang Lassa in Kampung Kut

SIBU: Folk of Kampung Kut, about 20-minute boat ride from Daro town, were rudely shaken yesterday afternoon when chilling screams for help reverberated through their normally quiet village.

The alert villagers immediately looked towards Batang Lassa and were horrified to see that a longboat had capsized and a large number of its passengers screaming for help in the choppy waters.

The villagers immediately jumped into their boats and set out to lend a helping hand even though the tide was high and it was raining heavily then.

They managed to pluck 16 passengers from the fast fl owing river to safety.

But the six-foot by 40-foot longboat, which sank at about 1.30pm, was carrying a wedding entourage of 27 persons, and at last count three were confi rmed drowned and eight missing.

All drowned victims are women aged between 40 and 50 years.

One of them was found by villagers underneath the capsized boat, and the other two were found nearby.

Of the eight still missing, five are men and three women.

All the passengers are from Kampung Tekajong and they were returning from the wedding reception at Kampung Saei when the tragedy struck.

It is believed that the longboat, which used to double as a fishing boat and for ferrying passengers, overturned after being hit by big waves.

Sibu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) chief Abdul Mutalib Rashid confi rmed that three passengers had drowned and eight still missing.

Bomba Mukah fi rst picked up the distress call from Malacca at 1.52pm after the centre there received the emergency call.

Fire stations in Sibu, Mukah and Sarikei immediately rushed four teams to the scene.

Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) also despatched a team of six men, and joining in the searchand- rescue (SAR) operation were Civil Defence Dept (JPAM) and voluntary fire personnel from Daro.

Abdul Mutalib said a helicopter from their base in Miri and a bigger boat from Sibu would join in the SAR operation today.

In addition, SRB would be sending another rescue boat from Tanjung Manis today.

All the rescuers camped out at Kampung Kut last night, waiting for dawn to break before resuming the SAR operation.

Reporters from here who rushed to the scene yesterday were held back by the choppy waters.

Authorities had advised them against going out.

Meanwhile, Semop assemblyman Abdullah Saidol, who is also the chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, said an operation room had been set up at Kampung Kut to coordinate rescue efforts.

It is manned by personnel from Daro District Office, Sarikei Marine Operation Force, JPAM and Bomba.

"I am arranging food and other aids for the survivors and their family members right now," he said when contacted at Daro Hospital.

"I have also taken steps to arrange for funeral arrangements in Kampung Tekajong."

Print Friendly

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

SUPP sec-gen: Let me know if you want my job

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:36 AM PST

KUCHING: SUPP secretarygeneral Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian says he is ready to resign if anyone is keen to succeed him.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, he stressed he never clinched to any party post and would rather step down if given the chance.

"I will not hold on to the post. In fact, I will be more than happy to let go of it. Anyone who says that I do not want to let go should let me know who is going to take over," he said at the party's headquarters here.

After the Registrar of Societies (ROS) slapped the party with a show-cause last January 6, a few sub-branch leaders had publicly chided Tan Sri Peter Chin and Dr Sim for hanging onto their posts instead of seeking reconciliation to resolve conflicts besieging the party.

Dr Sim said he appreciated "professional advice" and promised to make time for any individual who offered impartial comments.

"I never turn down anyone who comes to see me. I am always available and ready to listen."

He lamented that way too many leaders and members had gone to the press, and they spewed emotional outburst rather than wisdom.

Dr Sim said the party would not issue a gag order for it would not stop people from speaking their mind.

"There are so many emotional people. Even if we place a gag order, people still talk, so there is no point. If you are sincere about helping the party, come and talk to us. Unless you have other agenda, I do not see why we cannot talk."

Asked whether Chin had met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to resolve the party crisis, he said: "The prime minister, being the national Barisan Nasional chairman, knows everything."

When pressed, Dr Sim said: "That you have to ask Tan Sri Peter Chin yourself."

In a media statement, he said he would always be available at party headquarters on Mondays, at the hospital on Tuesdays and at SUPP Pending branch on Saturdays.  (Dr Sim heads the Pending branch).

"Any other day, I am travelling in Kuching, Sarawak and Malaysia," he said, urging party members to stay calm and stop being emotional.

Print Friendly

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

Alcoholic drinks seized in Marine Operations Force raid

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:35 AM PST

KUCHING: Contraband beer of various brands worth RM56,700 were seized when a Marine Operations Force (MOF) raided a warehouse in Kampung Rantau Panjang, Batu Kawa, near here on Friday.

The contraband items comprise 5,040 bottles of Tiger beer, 1,200 bottles of Budweiser, and 7,200 cans of Leo Smooth and Great Taste.

State MOF Intelligence/Operations chief DSP Mohd Razlin Abdul Manaf told a press conference at the Marine Base in Bintawa yesterday that the morning raid was launched following a tip-off and a local man was arrested.

"Acting on information from the public, MOF personnel conducted the raid at about 10am and the team found a sizeable number of alcoholic drinks that were not duty paid.

"A local, aged 47 years old, was arrested to assist with investigations after he failed to produce customs documents. He is suspected of possessing non duty paid alcoholic drinks.

"The case has been handed to the Customs Department, and it will be investigated under the Customs Act 1967."

The latest raid was the third successful one carried out by MOF this month.

The first raid in Bintulu on Jan 7 under the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Act netted RM690,000 worth of goods, while the second one in Sibu on Wednesday resulted in RM6,000 worth of items seized under the Forestry Ordinance.

Razlin said MOF were involved in the seizure of RM5.69 million worth of items last year.

On another matter, he said MOF would launch a special operation code-named Ops Tango Papa in conjunction with the coming Chinese New Year celebrations.

To be conducted a week before and a week after the CNY celebration, he said such operations were commonly carried out by MOF during festivities and school holidays to check on any criminal activity.

Print Friendly

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

Asean institutions of higher learning mull over forming tourism network

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:34 AM PST

KUCHING: Asean's higher learning institutions want to form a network for closer collaboration in tourism and hospitality services that have bright prospects for the future.

The network is expected to become a reality following the setting up of the Asean Tourism Research Association (Atra) on Nov 29 last year.

Atra term president Pradeep Nair said the association also served as a driving force to develop skilled and knowledgeable workers in the hospitality field.

"The influx of tourists to Asean countries is increasing and we need a skilled workforce, which, admittedly, is in short supply at the moment.

"Atra members comprise institutions of higher learning in the tourism sector, who wish to share their knowledge and conduct research in neigbouring countries.

"Besides working together and having exchanges, as well as knowledge sharing," he told Bernama when met at the Asean Tourism Forum 2014 here.

Ten Asean member countries, as well as dialogue partners, including China, India, Russia and South Korea and 1,600 delegates are attending the eight-day forum which began last Thursday.

Nair, who is also Taylor's University deputy vice-chancellor, said Atra had 10 members since it was established about three months ago.

Among its members are Pariwisata Bandung High School (Indonesia), Prince of Songkla University (Thailand), The Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia), University of Yangon (Myanmar) and Brunei Institute of Technology (Brunei Darussalam) and Taylor's University (Malaysia).— 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.

Law catches up with thieving mechanic

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:33 AM PST

Posted on January 19, 2014, Sunday

MIRI: Police on Friday evening nabbed a 31-year-old man for suspected involvement in stealing a motorcycle which was reported missing last year.

The suspect, a mechanic, was apprehended around 7pm at a workshop in Tudan, following a public tip-off.

He was later brought to Miri Central Police Station (CPS) to facilitate police investigation.

A motorcycle, believed to be stolen, was also seized by police.

Print Friendly

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