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Give them time to adjust - The Borneo Post Online Berita Sarawak - News 2 Sarawak

Give them time to adjust - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 12:02 PM PDT

KUCHING: State Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry (MDTCC) director Stanley Tan has urged folks in Kapit to give the newly appointed transporters some time to deliver the government subsidised goods to the 'Point of Sales' (POS).

"The transporters were just appointed to deliver the subsidised goods starting this month (March) so considering that they just started, we need to give them time," he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

Tan was responding to a statement by the leaders of Kapit Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who claimed that the transporters appointed by MDTCC had failed to deliver the government subsidised goods to the POS in their area.

The NGO leaders also questioned why the ministry only appointed one or two transporters and to make matters worse they were all from Kuching, Sibu and Bintulu. "If their services are good, able the deliver the subsidised essential goods to the 'Point of Sales', we will not complain but they failed.

" Our people in rural areas are suffering because the essential goods never reach them from the beginning of this year until now," said Kapit Dayak Iban Community Leaders' Association chairman Penghulu Stewart Sawing at a press conference at Meligai Hotel in Kapit yesterday.

Baleh Folks Social Social Welfare Committee chairman Bangsa Utang also claimed the transporters appointed by MDTCC had not delivered the subsidised goods such as cooking gas, fuel, rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil to the POS.

"These transporters received their Letter of Acceptance (LOA) on Feb 17, 2014 and the goods were expected to reach the POS latest by Feb 24. But until today, none of them reached the POS. This is
our concern because our rural folks suffer because of the transporters' failure to execute their jobs."

In view of the seriousness of this issue, Sarawak Dayak National Union Kapit branch chairman Joseph Jinggut called on the government to intervene to appoint 'local dealers' such as Tan Bian Seng, Joo Guan, Tintingmas, Syarikat Putra.

"Now the ministry appointed transporters from Kuching, Sibu and Bintulu. They not only failed to deliver but local dealers are also deprived of the opportunity and affected their businesses to supply cooking gas, diesel and petrol as in previous years.

"The ministry should appoint local transporters to handle the delivery of essential goods because they have the experience and are familiar with the rural transportation network."

In responding to the NGO leaders claims, Tan said the issue of where the transporters are from did not arise as they are all from Sarawak.

He also dismissed claim that MDTCC only appointed cronies to handle the transportation, stating that the appointed transporters were filtered by the ministry "based on the lowest transportation cost that they could offer to transport the subsidised essential goods".

"We are closely monitoring the transporters and we will see whether they deliver the subsidised essential goods or not. They will only be allowed to claim based on their delivery."

Tan also said that the ministry could only terminate the contract of the transporters who failed to execute their jobs after two of three months when their contract expired.

He added that all the 82 transporters had signed their letters of acceptance.

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Practical C++ programming projects - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 12:16 PM PDT

by Foad Motalebi. Posted on March 25, 2014, Tuesday

AMONG the many assessments that a programming student has to go through, submitting a programming project is considered a substantial assessment. These projects, commonly known as Project Based Learning (PBL), often enhance the learning process as students get to interact in teams, learn independently, take the lead, distribute tasks and manage their time efficiently.

Creating programming projects for students is a challenging task, particularly if the projects are designed for students who are new to programming. In every programming course, the students initially learn the syntax and semantics of the language, and thereafter using that knowledge to create problem-solving programmes.

Programming projects would be difficult to carry out if students have poor code tracing skills. Giving students simple yet practical project topics to which they can relate to may encourage students to learn this skill through collaborative learning or self-study.

It gives them an idea how programming can be used outside the classroom in the real world and also serves as motivation to complete their projects using the knowledge learned from the course.

At Curtin Sarawak, Foundation Engineering students study programming for a year. The programming language chosen for the students is C++. The programming course is divided into Programming in C++ 061 in Semester 1 and Programming in C++ 062 in the second semester.

In the first semester, C++ mainly deals with non-OOP content, which consists of the structural and procedural aspects of the language, whereas in the second semester, the OOP features of the language are introduced and its benefits elucidated.

Throughout the course, which consists of lecture sessions and lab sessions, students are taught with the aid of coding examples for each topic and how best to use the programming features to solve problems. During lab sessions, students solve lab questions by writing programmes that are unsubstantial programmes involving little or no group work.

However, at the end of the semester, they have to code a project and are given at least three weeks to complete the project. The students work in groups and divide the task accordingly, mirroring the real world of code development.

When the students divide their project tasks in the group, they are told to be aware of each other's coding and explain their contribution code to the rest of the group. This collaborative learning encourages each student to share his or her logic and thinking with another student, thus elevating the overall problem-solving, logic and programming knowledge of the group.

This is an integral part of the project as it involves a group assessment component. In addition to the actual project marking, the group assessment components include Self and Peer Assessment as well as Viva Interview, which assess individual contribution of coding to the group.

Practical projects can also generate the attention and interest of students who are not keen on learning programming but rather the end product that the coding would produce. It also shows the students the relevance and importance of learning a programming language.

Finding practical topics on programming projects requires having an idea for a programming project and then trying to simplify it in the coding process. Keeping this in mind, the points to take into consideration while creating a project are:

1.The topic and its requirements should be easy to understand. 2. The topic should be contemporary and something that the students can relate to. 3.The developed programme should have a practical use, serving as an interesting and useful tool. 4.The programme code should incorporate features that were taught during the semester as outlined in the Unit Outline.

Though attempts have been made to create and design practical projects throughout all the semesters for
the past three years, students found some projects more practical and interesting than others.

The next step would be to carry out a research study that shows the types of variables that can be used to make the project topics more interesting and replicate those variables for future projects.

Foad Motalebi is the head of Department of Foundation Engineering at Curtin Sarawak's School of Engineering and Science.

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Indian classical blends well with contemporary dance – BorneoPost <b>...</b>

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 12:14 PM PDT

by Marilyn Ten, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on March 25, 2014, Tuesday

KOTA SAMARAHAN: The spirit of contemporary dance can flourish alongside traditional form of Indian classical dance.

Such instances can be found through Sutra Foundation's brand of Indian classical dance which exemplified its belief that the contemporary spirit can actually thrive side by side with the traditional, said Sutra Foundation chairman Datuk Ramli Ibrahim.

In his keynote address prior to the showcase of Sutra Foundation's 'Krishna, Love Re-invented (Odissi)' at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Faculty of Applied & Creative Arts Panggung Eksperimen here on Sunday, the guru of Indian classical dance pointed out that Sutra's production appealed not only to Indian audiences but also non-Indians.

"Sutra has a great multi-racial following everywhere and what is persuasive about Sutra's production is not only the dancing but the concept of with which classical Indian dance is presented such that it appeals to all," he said, adding that 'Krishna, Love Re-invented (Odissi)' served as the perfect manifestation of an Asian traditional form whereby the modern and the classical manifested in seamless continuum.

"We offer a classical tradition which will hopefully be able to stir the imagination of an audience who is keen to find the indigenous dance motives and idioms explored to redefine what is perceived as modern within a traditional framework especially with regards to Asian contemporary artistic sensibilities," Ramli expressed.

Performed by Ramli and his 12 students, 'Krishna, Love Re-invented (Odissi)' is a mystical presentation in tribute to Krishna, one of the most popular Indian divinities who is the embodiment of love and divine joy.

Audiences which also included National Department for Culture and Arts Sarawak (JKKN) director Salehhuddin Salleh, Unimas deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Prof Fadzil Abdul Rahman and Unimas Faculty of Applied & Creative Arts dean Assoc Prof Dr Hasnizam Abdul Wahid among those present, were treated to a discovery of modern ideas within the creative and innovative presentation through its dance composition and choreography that still maintained the authenticity of the original spirit.

'Krishna, Love Re-invented (Odissi)' is currently on its national tour where they will next be performing in Kota Bahru on April 18, Kuala Terengganu on April 19, Melaka on April 26 and Seremban on May 10.

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PMS smelting plant in Balingian clean - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 22 Mar 2014 04:55 PM PDT

by Conny Banji, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on March 23, 2014, Sunday

MUKAH: Press Metal Sarawak (PMS) has refuted an allegation by the opposition that its smelting plant in Balingian is polluting the environment.

Its group chief executive officer Datuk Paul PK Koon said yesterday its plant there was using the latest technology and adhered strictly to World Bank standard and Department of Environment (DOE) requirements.

"We have been very committed in following all necessary requirements and approved standard since our establishment in 2009.

"We have records to show our compliances.

"The DOE has very stringent requirements, which we have been able to observe all the time," he told a press conference at PMS Balingian smelting plant here.

In fact, he said, emissions from the plant were monitored via online connection by DOE.

"We have external auditors coming once every three months to check on our compliances.

Koon said there were many perceptions regarding aluminium smelting industry, but over the last 20 to 30 years the technology used in the industry had evolved a great deal.

"Of course there are some plants still using 20 to 30 years old technologies, but they are in the remote areas in Siberia and China.

"So, maybe this is how this kind of perception came into being. But these old plants are almost gone because today's environment will not allow old technologies."

Koon said the aluminium industry was very important to Malaysia, especially to push its industrialisation drive.

"There are now more and more demands for products like billets and ingots from around the world. Sarawak is exporting US$1 billion annually. This is a great source of foreign exchange to the country.

"The industry is also about technology transfer. We are slowly getting more Sarawakians to be trained as engineers and workers.

"Out of the 850 workers in our Balingian plant, half are Sarawakians. We intend to increase the numbers soon."

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<b>Sarawak</b> Museum Dept mulls over decision to display WWII plane <b>...</b>

Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:20 PM PDT

LIMBANG: The Sarawak Museum Department is mulling whether to bring for display at the museum here the wreckage of the US aircraft shot down by the Japanese forces during the Second World War at Kampong Telahak here.

Its director, Ipoi Datan, said inspection done earlier at the site showed that the wreckage had historical value.

"We are trying to bring to the museum the engine pieces of the aircraft left at Kampong Telahak now that a road has been built near the site," he said when met by reporters yesterday after the official opening of the upgrading works on the Limbang Museum by Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang.

Liwan represented the Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

Among those present were the Bukit Kota assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, representative of the chief executive officer of SEB, Aisah Eden, and Deputy Resident (Development) Selamat Jati.

He said besides Limbang, Lawas too has many historical artefacts such as aircrafts of the Japanese at Kampong Pa Puti Merapok Lawas which have been brought to Lawas town because the Pa Puti residents wanted them to be placed near their area.

We might have to set up a museum too in Lawas for displaying these artefacts and other items of historical value from Long Semadoh, Ba Kelalan and Bario, Ipoi added.

On efforts to popularise Limbang Museum among the people, Ipoi said various activities will be organised. Among them are 'Bicara Warisan' on the cultures in Limbang and educational talks for students.

"We hope that with these activities, more people will come to the museum. Currently, there is a slight decrease in the number of visitors," he said.

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Local banks urged to complement government&#39;s efforts to help <b>...</b>

Posted: 23 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: The Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) has urged local banks to complement the government's efforts in helping the shipping sector by providing financing to deserving companies within it.

In October last year, the government announced the establishment of a RM3 billion maritime development fund aimed at providing soft loans to industry players, especially those hit by the slump in seaborne trade and the global economic downturn.

MIMA senior fellow Nazery Khalid told Bernama that through the local public-private banks partnership, more funds can be made available to the "capital expenditure (capex) hungry" shipping sector to help players amid a very challenging operations landscape.

"Without the shipping industry's ports, the country's economy will be paralysed.

"As such, deserving players in the maritime supply chain should be given assistance, given this strategic importance of the industry to the nation's economic well-being," he added.

He reiterated the need for the government to lend stronger support to the shipping sector, drawing attention to the fact that it helps facilitate 95 per cent of Malaysia's trade and 80 per cent of global trade.

Against such a backdrop, having a roadmap for the maritime industry can help create what Nazery termed as, a "complete maritime industry ecosystem" like in neighbouring Singapore.

"Local shipping companies should look beyond just carrying cargo and focus greater attention to providing value-added services to customers.

"They must be prepared to compete internationally and explore untapped areas across the maritime supply chain and within global trade to create differentiation in services," he said.

He called upon financiers and other stakeholders to view shipping using a "long term lens" to appreciate its growth potential.

"The shipping sector is among the first economic sectors to be affected when there is a recession. But it also among the first to recover when the economy rebounds and trade volumes pick up.

"This accentuates the need for the government to have a strategic plan to help shipping companies grow and face the challenges of their volatile and ultra competitive operating environment," he said.

Since the world was hit by an economic crisis, brought on by the sub-prime crisis emanating from Wall Street in 2008, the shipping sector has borne the brunt of the slump in global demand for goods and raw materials, alongside a drop in business and industrial activities.

"As a result, shipping companies worldwide faced losses and difficulties in raising substantial capital to maintain capacity, pay overheads and stay profitable from seaborne operations," said Nazery.

Amid the prevailing challenging scenario, the country's maritime industry has been doing well as evidenced by the growing volume of cargo handled at the main ports, namely Port Klang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas.

Both are listed among the top 20 busiest container ports in terms of throughput handled. — Bernama

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