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Curtin <b>Sarawak</b> receptive to educational links with China <b>...</b> Berita Sarawak - News 2 Sarawak

Curtin <b>Sarawak</b> receptive to educational links with China <b>...</b>

Posted: 23 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST

MIRI: Curtin Sarawak, with its metropolitan register of foreign students, is keen to explore its tertiary education potential for students from the Republic of China.

Assistant Minister of Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the educational aspiration can be made possible with assistance from China's consul-general in Kuching Liu Quan.

"With help from Liu Quan, we are looking forward to recruit more students to pursue tertiary studies at Curtin Sarawak.

"We are very keen to further develop cooperation in education development with China," he stated in welcoming the visit of Liu Quan to Curtin Sarawak at the university campus in Senadin on Saturday.

Lee, who is also chairman of Curtin Sarawak Management Board, said the university is an off-shore campus of Curtin University, a university based in Perth, Western Australia.

He said the university has come a long way since its establishment in 1999 and is now a leading tertiary education provider in the region, offering students from all over the globe the internationally-acclaimed Curtin degree at a most affordable cost.

At the moment, he pointed out that the university has about 3,500 students from 40 countries.

The university will continue strive towards improvement which in line with its effort to build a reputation as a dynamic and stimulating place for tertiary study.

On courses, he said the school of engineering and science is the most popular course in high demand among the students.

Curtin's engineering course has also received high recognition from the local industries here following with the outstanding performance of its engineering students.

Also present were Curtin Sarawak's deputy pro vice-chancellor Professor Yudi Samyudia cum chief executive and chief operating officer of Curtin Sarawak Nicholas Ching.

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<b>Sarawak</b> to have own Henry Gurney School by next year at the latest <b>...</b>

Posted: 23 Feb 2014 10:17 AM PST

SIBU: Sarawak will set up its own Henry Gurney School (SHG) next year so that juvenile prisoners no longer need to leave the state for education.

This was disclosed by state prisons director Abdul Kadir Rais, who said juvenile inmates from the state currently receive their education at SHG Keningau, Sabah, where 55 of the inmates are from Sarawak while the rest are Sabahans.

"Hopefully, SHG Sarawak will be built in Kuching by next year or the soonest this year," Abdul Kadir said at a Crime Prevention Education Programme at the Civic Centre here yesterday.

He learned that many parents had difficulties travelling to Sabah to visit their children due to the high expenses involved.

Saying that the juvenile prisoners would be sent back to Kuching once SGH Sarawak has been built, he disclosed that an inmate has to spend a minimum of three years in SHG or until they reach the age of 21 for rehabilitation.

When asked whether a new prison would be built in Sibu, he said a proposal had been brought to the highest authority at the headquarters but was not approved yet pending allocation from the government.

"Then we tried to apply to get the new prison under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

"We are now in the process of identifying a suitable location for the new building," he said.

Currently, Sarawak has 1,287 prisoners, out of which 25 per cent are illegal immigrants.

He said comparatively the number of prisoners in the state was considered low as a prison in Selangor had 5,000 prisoners.

He also said 41 inmates in the state were waiting to be executed by hanging, which would be carried out in Kuching.

"In Sarawak, majority of those to be executed were involved in drug and murder cases," Abdul Kadir said.

When asked how long those in death rows wait for the sentence to be carried out, he said it depends on the appeal period – it could be 10 and 12 years.

"It is not easy to execute the sentence. State authority has to go through every detail and there are other procedures involved," he said, adding that the procedures were the same throughout the country.

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Upcoming result season to be stronger for planters — except <b>Sarawak</b>

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 09:03 AM PST

KUCHING: The upcoming results season will be the strongest of recent quarters on higher crude palm oil (CPO), higher palm kernel average selling prices and stronger output — except for Sarawakian planters.

Analysts at Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank Research) said Malaysian planters recorded stronger quarterly growth of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) in the final quarter of 2013, with the exception of Sarawakian plantation players as their output has already peaked in the third quarter.

"Companies with greater exposure in Sabah, such as TSH Resources Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd and IOI Corporation Bhd posted their strongest output in 4Q13," it added.

"On a year-on-year comparison, Sime Darby Bhd and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd posted lower production due to biological tree stress."

Upstream planters are expected to outperform mid- to downstream players in the fourth quarter, Maybank Research said, adding that in the past three quarters, mid-to-downstream players enjoyed good operating margins benefitting from low feedstock costs.

"This is set to reverse in the fourth quarters as higer CPO price and new refining capacities that came on stream in Indonesia towards the end of 2013 have intensified competition and squeezed refining margins."

The jump in palm kernel prices will also compress oleochemicals operating margins too, it added, unless they have some hedging practices in place.

"We reiterate our view that CPO prices will remain relatively resilient in 1Q14 due to biological tree stress and that the industry enters into seasonally-lower production months between February and April.

"We also expect CPO prices to stay firm around RM2,600 per tonne, possibly trading up to RM2,800 per tonne."

Maybank Research took into account the market pricing in some weather risks for now, due to the lack of rainfall in Malaysia and parts of Brazil, while excess rainfall in Argentina has also led to some crop damage.

"Nevertheless, we caution that CPO prices will likely weaken to between RM2,400 to RM2,600 per tonne towards the May-June period as South American harvests hit the market."

This is in addition to US soybean planting starting – likely a record high given weakened corn prices – and the market pricing a stronger CPO output in 2H14.

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SEGi <b>Sarawak</b> calling for application from SPM school leavers <b>...</b>

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 11:16 AM PST

KUCHING: SEGi College Sarawak is urging all SPM school leavers to pursue further education as this opens doors and brings better opportunities for them in the future.

SEGi College Sarawak principal Elina Tiu emphasised that students need to keep an open mind and hold off on specialising in a certain field until they have truly explored their limitations and talents.

"It is important for them to ask themselves – do I need to just get a job, or do I need to continue my education to get a better job and start building a long-term, successful career?" she said in a press statement yesterday.

"Self-assessment can be tricky for anyone, but all it takes is a little work to gauge a realistic understanding of a person's individual skill" Tiu added.

The college also stressed that during the studying period, students will find it to be the perfect time for self-awakening and discovering talents because they begin to see who they are, who they want to be and take the necessary steps to get there.

SEGi College Sarawak is giving SPM and STPM students the opportunity to further their academic qualification by gaining their diploma or degrees when they register for their programme with only RM500.

Meanwhile, the Promising Minds Fund (PMF) initiated by SEGi University Group also offers RM 5,000 to all Malaysian students enrolling in selected programmes providing students the chance to undertake further education that they previously may not be able to afford.

"Because students have the option to complete their entire degree or diploma programme in Kuching, they can save thousands of ringgit especially when gaining a UK honours degree or an American Bachelor of Science degree," Tiu pointed out.

She also said that the golden opportunity will enable SEGi students to complete their UK honour degree up to one year ahead of their peers. Another partner university of SEGi, Upper Iowa University in the USA, also allows direct entry from the SPM level into the foundation year for the 4-year bachelor degree.

"SEGi has structured its programmes by linking itself with many reputable overseas universities in UK, USA and Australia to give its students maximum career options without the financial worries," explained Tiu.

In addition, selecting the option of studying in Kuching will shave off additional expenditures like accommodation and living expenses overseas, not to mention the higher currency exchange rates.

Since the degree is issued by internationally recognised universities, there is no difference in the degree certification that graduates are getting here compared to those studying on-campus overseas.

Registration for this year's intake is now in progress.

Interested applicants can contact SEGi toll-free at 1-300-88-7344 or 082-252566 or via email at infoswk@segi.edu.my, or walk-in to its main campus at 211, Jalan Bukit Mata here on its Open Day which will be held until Sunday (from yesterday).

Alternatively, visit the campus from Mondays to Fridays from 8.30am to 8pm, Saturdays from 8.30am to 4.15pm and Sundays from 10am to 3pm for immediate registration.

Enquiries can also be made to www.facebook.com/segiswk or www.segi.edu.my.

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GOF to form East Brigade battalion in Sabah, <b>Sarawak</b> – BorneoPost <b>...</b>

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 08:52 AM PST

IPOH: The General Operations Force (GOF) will form a GOF East Brigade battalion in Sabah, and in Samalaju, Sarawak following approval from the government, said Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rasid.

He said the proposal was in line with plans to extend the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESScom) to Sarawak to beef up the nation's security against foreign threats.

"The Royal Malaysian Police and the GOF were ready to face intruders into the country," he told reporters after closing the Basic Course of the GOF Series 1/2013 here yesterday.

On the syllabus and training provided in the GOF basic course, Salleh said they would be improved, in line with the scope and duties of maintaining public order, while providing support to the relevant bodies and agencies in specific operations.

He also called on the younger generation who loved challenges to undergo GOF training which would give them general training in defending the country.

At the ceremony, Inspector Mohamad Puat Shafie, who is stationed at the GOF Fifth Battalion in Simpang Renggam, Johor was selected best overall trainee in the Officer Category.

Corporal Ahmad Fithi Abu Bakar won in the Rank and File Category.

A total of 290 trainees comprising officers and rank-and-file personnel who underwent training, beginning Nov 25, completed the course.

The course included 13 training modules which were conducted in Ulu Kinta here and the Tupah Outdoor Training Camp in Bedong, Kedah. — Bernama

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Over RM25m for upgrade of longhouse homestays – BorneoPost <b>...</b>

Posted: 23 Feb 2014 10:40 AM PST

SRI AMAN: Sarawak has been allocated RM6.7 million in the 10th Malaysia Plan (RMK-10) for the construction and upgrading of tourism facilities in the state, stated Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talip Zulpilip.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Department allocated as much as RM25.8 million for upgrading of infrastructure in 13 longhouse homestays throughout Sarawak under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) Micro Credit Public Partnership Project (PPP).

The allocations would help homestay operators improve their facilities as well as upgrade accommodation infrastructure in the state, he said.

"It is to my understanding that Homestay Wilson Bana in Po Ai is being constructed, and the addition of more rooms, kitchen, bathrooms and toilets will help bring in more visitors to this longhouse upon completion," Talip said when speaking at a press conference held after officiating at the NBOS-1 Malaysia Green 11 Malaysia Clean (1MG1MC) here at Rumah Wilson Bana, Po Ai here yesterday.

A total of 100 participants comprising students and teachers from SMK Simanggang, SMK Sri Aman, SMK Melugu, SMK St Luke as well as Sri Aman Malaysian Royal Police (PRDM) and Sri Aman Immigration Department joined the two-day programme held at the longhouse.

Meanwhile, Talip also suggested that the homestay  whip up exciting activities in conjunction with the upcoming Benak Festival to be held in Sri Aman town.

"Since the homestay is not very far from Sri Aman town area, I suggest that more exciting activities be carried out during the upcoming Benak Festival. This is to attract more tourists to visit the longhouse as well as to promote it to local and foreign visitors," he said.

In the same development for the other 13 homestays in the state, some popular and active homestays are the Ibans' Ali Kanowit and Bawang Asan homestays, the Santubong homestay run by the Malay folks and Annah Rais homestay run by the Bidayuhs.

Also present at the officiating ceremony were Agriculture (Research and Planning) Assistant Minister Datuk Mong Dagang, Sri Aman MP Masir Kujat, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture (Motac) director Suriya Charles Buas and Sri Aman Resident Jonathan Lugoh.

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