Pilgrims flock to Singai’s holy mount during Lent BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » thesundaypost - New 2 Borneo |
- Pilgrims flock to Singai’s holy mount during Lent
- Padawan – a gateway to CAN
- The magic of handbound books
- Salahuddin — caring, humble and inspirational
- What’s new in the world of frogs?
- Petronas revs to first F1 victory at Sepang
| Pilgrims flock to Singai’s holy mount during Lent Posted: 19 Apr 2014 12:00 PM PDT by Joanna Yap, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 20, 2014, Sunday ON March 29, under mottled shade cast by large, leafy trees stretching into the bright light of the Saturday morning sun, dozens of young and old made their way steadily along the hardy belian (ironwood) walkway and sturdy staircases up a sacred mountain, located in the heart of Bidayuh country. For about an hour, this small procession of Roman Catholic pilgrims from St Peter's Church, Padungan – many with a rosary clasped in hand as they quietly recited prayers – patiently meandered its way up the sides of Mount Singai, only pausing briefly at each of the 14 Stations of the Cross to pray. Some pilgrims lit candles while others were content just to meditate and reflect on selected readings read out loud by volunteers during each stop. Their destination was the modest Catholic Memorial and Pilgrimage Centre (CMPC) which lies about one third of the way up the mountain, where they would celebrate Mass followed by a simple lunch prepared by the centre's handful of staff, before descending later in the day. One of the organisers, Michael Hii told thesundaypost the pilgrimage to Mt Singai was an annual affair. "Today we have 176 people comprising parishioners and our Sunday School although we usually have over 300 people," he said. Such groups are a common sight on Mt Singai during the Season of Lent, a 40-day period of penance and prayer which starts with Ash Wednesday (Mar 5 this year) and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday (April 20 this year) which is celebrated by Christians worldwide to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The St Peter's group was just one of at least half a dozen groups of pilgrims that day to visit the CMPC, not including individual trekkers and groups of hikers out to enjoy a day in nature's glory in the foothills of Bau. While the CMPC welcomes thousands of visitors all year round, it is during the season of Lent and the months of May and October (where Roman Catholics are encouraged to pray the Rosary) which attracts the highest concentration of pilgrims. Mt Singai is located about 45 minutes' drive from Kuching city centre and can be reached via the Matang-Sg Tengah road or through the Batu Kawah-Bau road. It's not the highest mountain in Sarawak — neither the most picturesque nor most challenging to climb. But what sets it apart is its historical and spiritual significance, not just to the local Bidayuh people but to the wider Sarawakian Roman Catholic community. A place of refuge Mt Singai is a relatively recent settlement, tracing its roots back to early Bidayuh settlers who arrived from Kalimantan Borneo in the early 1800's, seeking to escape attacks from their enemies, according to CMPC's current chairman Vincent Eddy, 64. The mountain's steep slopes and high elevation offered protection from enemies and made it an ideal spot for the people to set up a cluster of eight villages or kampungs – Daun, Giang, Moti, Puot, Sajong, Saga, Somu and Tuben – about a quarter of the way up the mountain. The villagers practised Adat Gawai, based on a form of ancestor spirit worship called leng Sumuk leng Babai while also believing in gods and supreme beings. Mt Singai is also the birthplace of Christianity among the Bidayuh community in Bau — thanks largely to a young Roman Catholic priest from Holland named Father Felix Westerwoudt who arrived in Kuching in 1885. He was to take the place of Brother Francis Dibona, a sub-deacon who had been called to Singapore to be ordained as a priest. Soon after, Fr Westerwoudt made his first trip to Singai, about a day's journey through swamps and jungles where he asked and received permission from the chief to build a house in the style of the locals just below Kampung Daun. For 13 years, he lived side by side with the Bidayuh, learning their language and culture and going from village to village to persuade the people to convert to Christianity. However, his efforts were largely unsuccessful as the people held on to their pagan practices. His attempts to teach some of the boys reading, writing and arithmetic were also not well-received. Five and a half years later, the arrival of Franciscan sisters brought much welcomed help and relief to Fr Westerwoudt who had until then, laboured on his own. It also meant the Bidayuh girls could also be taught proper hygiene and housework. "When the sisters first came, the villagers fled from them because of the sisters' white coifs and black tunics. The villagers thought they were ghosts," Vincent recalled. Slowly, after a number of years, only a handful of the Bidayuh boys and girls were baptised into Catholicism. Fr Westerwoudt would never get to witness the fruit of his efforts as he passed away in Kuching on April 13, 1898, at the age of 37 after a severe illness. At the time of his death, only seven Singai families had converted to Christianity. Fr Albert Reyffert, Fr Westerwoudt's childhood friend and also his successor at Singai, arranged for the seven families to start a new settlement at Kampung Sagah, Matang, where he also established a mission school. The Catholic families prospered in their new environment and before long, their former non-Catholic neighbours also began to send their children to the mission school. Many of the students became Catholics and chose to stay on at Sagah, gradually resulting in a declining population living on the mountain. After many years, the original Singai settlements fell deserted with villagers only returning to harvest fruit from their land during the fruit season. Return to Singai It wasn't until 1981, when the Catholic church in Sarawak celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Catholic missionaries that the Bidayuh returned to Mt Singai. Fr Josef Schmolzer (fondly known as Fr Sepp), an Austrian priest who was then serving in the Bau/Lundu parish, suggested returning to the original settlement to celebrate the event at the parish level (what is now St Stephen's Parish). His suggestion was well received by the Bidayuh community, especially among the elder generation. On July 12, 1981, about 400 Catholics representing all the Singai kampungs, returned for the first time to their ancestral home. With the help of the elderly members, the group found the remnants of the first church and house which Fr Westerwoudt had built. A site was cleared, a simple bamboo altar was erected and prayers offered. "Fr Sepp was a well-loved priest because of the way he reached out to the people. He also loved the mountain. It was Fr Sepp who really started the ball rolling on the idea of rebuilding the place," recalled Vincent who was among those who first returned to the site in 1981. "He knew the people revered the mountain as their ancestral home. He felt it was a good idea to bring the people back, at least occasionally to where they came from and to rediscover their roots, a place to say prayers of thanksgiving and intercession for the Parish and for the people." Pilgrimages begin The first pilgrimage to Mt Singai took place on August 10, 1981. The second on April 23-24, 1982, coinciding with Vocation Sunday, was the first over-night visit and an all-night vigil as there was no place to sleep. Under Fr Sepp's spiritual guidance and support, more pilgrimages were organised on important Feast Days of the church. "A group of us would come on Saturday afternoon where we would set up camp for the night. On Sunday morning, we would celebrate Mass and have fellowship before climbing down later in the day. "In those days, it wasn't easy to get here. There were no stairs like you see now. We had to climb through the jungle and use our parangs (knives with large multi-pupose blades) to clear the way," Vincent shared. As the number of pilgrims kept on increasing, it became clear some kind of plan and strategy was needed to develop facilities and oversee pilgrimages to the site. On August 15, 1983, the Pinginatong Pimuka Eklesia (PPE) (Remembrance of the Founding of the Church) committee was established. It was made up of church and kampung leaders of the Singai villages and chaired by Philip Juin, then the Penghulu of Singai. With financial aid from overseas obtained through Fr Sepp and other well-wishers as well as government grants, the PPE committee built a chapel, a Shrine dedicated to Mother Mary, a longhouse, a small kitchen and quarters for priests and religious. "Fr Sepp also gave spiritual guidance and support to the committee. During the construction, he would visit the site regularly — at least three times a week with his faithful dog, Lobo," recalled Vincent fondly. Fast growth The increase in the number of pilgrims continued to outpace the capacity of existing facilities, necessitating additional upgrades and development which required funds well beyond the RM15,000 Fr Sepp had left the committee before his return to Europe in 1991 after completing his service in Sarawak. The PPE was rebranded as the CMPC for the purpose of applying for a license from the government to enable the committee to raise and solicit funds from members of the public. Before Fr Sepp returned home, he entrusted the task of completing the CMPC's construction to Vincent who then headed the sub-committee for fund-raising and building. The target was to collect RM2 million which seemed like an outrageous sum at the time but with prayer, trust and hundreds of letters of appeal, the funds came pouring in, Vincent said. Community effort Another remarkable characteristic of the CMPC is that it was built by the community in the spirit of gotong-royong. Everything used to build the facilities – bricks, belian planks, sand, cement — was carried up by hand. All the churches in the Bau-Lundu parish participated in the construction and a roster was drawn up with the names of the volunteer teams. Their names would be read during the Sunday notices to remind them to come and carry building materials up the jungle trail on the slope of Mt Singai, Vincent added. Skilled labourers were recruited from the villages to take care of construction. Even visitors and pilgrims were roped in to help. Materials such as sand, packed in small bags, and bricks were placed at the foot of the mountain and whoever was heading up to the centre could just take up as much or as little as they wanted to carry. Even then, the work was hard and progress was slow. The CMPC was eventually completed and blessed by His Grace the Archbishop Datuk Peter Chung on Sept 5, 1995, as part of the Parish Double Jubilee Celebrations. Later, more facilities were added and expanded as funds became available. During the Jubilee Year 2000 programme, the centre was officially dedicated to Christ the King, blessed and declared as a place for pilgrimages by the same Archbishop on Nov 21, 1999. Since then, thousands of people have visited the centre, not only Catholics but also other Christian groups, both locally and from overseas. Among the facilities the centre has today are a church in the stylings of a Baruk (Bidayuh ceremonial house) with a 300- person capacity, a number of wooden longhouse hostels, an open-air canteen, toilets, and an open-air grotto. There are also 14 Stations of the Cross placed at various intervals, starting with the first at the foot of the mountain and the last at the centre itself. A mini-amphitheater with a capacity of 1,200 people was also added in 2004 but it is presently being repaired after suffering damage in Sept last year after a mango tree fell on it due to strong winds. During the same period, a longhouse and water tanks were also damaged when two durian trees fell on them. "For the time being, we do not have any plans to expand. We are giving priority to the amphitheathre to get fixed first," Vincent shared.   |
| Posted: 19 Apr 2014 11:30 AM PDT by Rintos Mail, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 20, 2014, Sunday TOURISM offering an exciting encounter with Culture, Adventure, Nature (CAN) awaits discovery in the unspoilt landscape of Padawan. You may choose to experience the lifestyle of the friendly Bidayuh community through homestay programmes, visit Rafflesia sites, hot springs and longhouses or go jungle trekking, kayaking and caving. In spite of their deprivations and remoteness, some rural settings have registered a lot of tourism activities. You may call it the bush, the wild, the village or the countryside but the landscape in Padawan is of real significance to tourism. In the developing world, the rural setting may typically lack good road, potable water and reliable health facilities but Padawan is just the opposite. With almost all basic infrastructures in place, its rural setting has great potential to compete with the city for tourists. To those looking for traditional and cultural values, the rural setting in Padawan is worth a visit. Unlike the city, family values in the countryside reflects the people's culture. Rural dwellers appear warmer and more caring – an attribute vastly different from the impersonal trait of city life. There are two popular Bidayuh longhouses under Padawan's jurisdiction – Bunuk Longhouse and Annah Rais Longhouse. Bunuk Longhouse is located at 50km, Jalan Puncak Borneo, with some 80 Bidayuh families living under its roof. A round-shaped ceremonial building, known as Pangah, is one of its attractions. A mini museum there, displaying a private collection of antiques, belonging the ceremonial chief named Peka, is open to the public. A one-and-half hour coach trip from Kuching along Jalan Puncak Borneo takes you to a clean and beautiful longhouse built at the foot of a mountain near the Indonesian border called Annah Rais longhouse. It has about 120 doors and a natural stream with cool sparkling water adds to the idyllic charm of the place. Padawan has, indeed, a wide variety of attractions in terms of culture, adventure and ecotourism. The Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) has been very supportive of the Community Based Eco-tourism (CBET) programme and aggressively developed and promoted the region, working closely with groups, government agencies and individuals in the tourism business. The eco-adventure in Padawan may start from its Pitcher Plant and Wild Orchid Centre at Mile 10 bazaar, about 1km from the PMC main office. The Centre displays one part of local protected plants and a number from neighbouring countries and the region. There are about 30 sub-species of pitcher plants (Nepenthes) — from the commonly known Nepenthes ampullaria to hybrids such as Nepenthes x hookeriana(Nampullaria x and N rafflesiana). Wild orchids found there include Angraecum eburneum, Dendrobium species and Zygopetalum species. Besides pitcher plants and wild orchids, the Centre also has a collections of Platycerium superbum (staghorn ferns) and Asplenium nidus (bird's nest). The Centre is temporarily closed to give way for upgrading works and is expected to be reopened next year. After the tour at the centre, tourists can visit Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, a famous tourism attraction featuring the man of the forest – the orangutan. The Centre is listed in TripAdvisor as the top attraction site in Kuching. The star is, of course, 30-year-old Ritchie, a 150kg alpha male orangutan named after the journalist who saved it in 1989. If the visitors are lucky, they may be able to spot Ritchie during feeding time at 9am and 3pm, otherwise they may see his bevy of wives and offspring, of which their acrobatic moves will be an entertaining spectacle. From there, visitors may proceed to Bunuk longhouse, about 16km up Jalan Puncak Borneo or to the Annah Rais longhouse and its famous Hot Spring, some 3km from the longhouse. For outsiders – from peninsular Malaysia or foreigners – it will be a truly interesting experience to tour the old Bidyauh longhouses, home of several hundred villagers. Meanwhile, Annah Rais Hot Spring is one of the famous local tourist spots in Kuching area. It is found in the middle of the river. Developed by PMC in 2011, it is a place where you can go and unwind in scenic environment, surrounded by tropical rainforest. You can swim in the river as well. There are no crocodiles or leeches. During the dry season, the river water is crystal clear. As there is no bridge connecting the river bank to the spring pond, one will have to put on shorts to get to the pond. The Hot Spring is said to have been discovered about 250 years ago. According to the anecdotal accounts, the early settlers would soak their feet in the hot mineral spring to treat diseases, heal injuries and improve blood circulation. Another interesting destination in Padawan is the Borneo Highlands Resort. There, you can enjoy a cool and amazingly green ambience – thanks to Mother Nature. Aside from a golf course, there are also a herb garden with over 100 types of plants, a Horticulture Nursery housing a variety of flowers and providing the resort with Agriculture Department-certified organic produce, and an organic farm. While there, you can also have a breathtaking view of West Kalimantan, one of Indonesia's largest provinces, from the Kalimantan border lookout point, or visit to the Simangas Waterfall. PMC tourism and community development officer Ng Siang Wei said there were many more tourist activities and places of interests in the Bidayuh area of Padawan, including Rafflesia gardens, caves, man-made pools, river-adventure and jungle trekking. He said some of the places had been developed, some on the way and some awaiting funding. "These places will be developed under the CBET programme where PMC serves as the implementing agency. "PMC's task is to provide facilities such as shelters, toilets, washrooms and such like. We either build new ones or upgrade the existing ones," he said. Ng added that to date, the PMC had implemented CBET projects at Annah Rais (hot spring), Kampung Begu (Rafflesia Garden), the Kampung Chupak (cave trail) and Kampung Belimbing (Rafflesia Garden). He said laying trails to the Rafflesia Garden and caves in Kampung Timurang at Jalan Puncak Borneo, about 50km from here, is expected to take off soon. He disclosed a sum of RM1.95million had been approved for the two-phase project, expected to be completed next year. The first phase involves the construction facilities, leading to the Rafflesia Garden, the two caves near Kampung Semadang, the Rambus Cave and the waterfall while the second phase sees the conduction of rams at seven villages – Kampungs Annah Rais, Timurang, Bengoh, Danu, Semadang, Giam and Git, located along Sungai Semadang or Sungai Sarawak Kiri. Ng said under the CBET concept, PMC only built or upgraded the facilities and then surrendered them to the committee representing the community which would then manage the facilities. He added that these developments would facilitate the homestay programme in the area. Homestays are now operated in Kampungs Bunuk, Annah Rais, Belimbing Darul Islam and Telaga Air. PMC's role is to help the local community gain something from the CBET projects. "Actually, we are helping to develop the rural setting through tourism. It's going to be a long process. "Through the CBET programme, we are preparing the community to be part of development process. "In the past, only a few people were involved in the development process but now the community is part of it and will manage the facilities and tourists," Ng explained. He said to ensure the community did well in tourism, PMC, together with the agencies concerned, would try to help promote its tourism products such as waterfalls at Kampungs Sanah Rayang and Timurang. Aside from providing basic facilities, PMC has been organising the annual Borneo Height Resorts (BHR) run and the PMC raft safari as part of efforts to help promote tourism in the area. Both events have attracted some international participants. Ng pointed out that equal attention was being paid to the Malay areas within PMC jurisdiction, adding that PMC had built a waterfront at Kampung Telaga Air. In fact, in Matang, PMC proudly offers a wildlife centre – Matang Family Park, the Red Bridge picnic spot and a beautiful beach at Kampung Trombol. |
| Posted: 19 Apr 2014 11:28 AM PDT by Antonia Chiam, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 20, 2014, Sunday IF magic exists in this world, it exists in the form of books. There is something absolutely enchanting about books, even in this digital age of e-books and everything online. Besides the stories contained inside the pages, books are magical because of their very physical presence that can be touched and held. In the realm of book magic, lies the art of bookbinding that produces uniquely hand-crafted books which hold more sentimental and long-term values compare to mass-produced books from factories. Two bookbinders could stand side by side to make a book each with the same materials and the results will be different. Nothing is more charming than to buy or receive a journal or notebook that has been artfully put together by hand, making handbound books truly magical gifts. As a local bookbinder Monita Ngo observed, it is really about how much love a person has for handmade products in order to be able to churn out something unique. "I think bookbinding is a return trend. Despite the modern technology of communications gadgets, people are still into paper and pen method. Of course, the appreciation for handbound books is also improving. "I had received numerous orders for handstitched diaries last year despite competition from factory-printed diaries," the 41-year-old told thesundaypost. Monita, a finance manager by profession and a dedicated enthusiast in crafts, started making wire-bound and handstitched notebooks after attending a bookbinding workshop in Kuala Lumpur two years ago. Her interest in crafts started when she was in secondary school. She made cards for families and friends purely for fun. "It was difficult then to get supplies for card-making locally, so I just made use of whatever stationery we had in Kuching. After shopping on online crafts sites and going on several overseas trips, I decided to turn this into a business. "It was only recent years after a workshop in Kuala Lumpur that I decided to make notebooks in addition to what I have been making such as cards, stationery and pin badges," she said. Monita enjoys working alone when she is in a crafting mood. And it has to be at her workstation at home where all tools and materials are within reach. "A quiet moment is when the brain juice starts working," she said. According to her, in bookbinding, papers of the right size are needed to form signatures which are folded stacks of papers. The signatures are bound together by stitching and then glued to covers. Covers are made by wrapping them in either decorative papers or fabrics. "While there are many styles in bookbinding methods, especially in stitching, my books are mostly done in the French and Coptic stitching methods. Depending on the complexity, I'm able to complete one project between one and two hours. "I get materials and supplies from specialised crafts stores and general stationery stores, locally and overseas. I will buy when I come across nice fabrics and papers and keep them for use later. Some fabrics are ordered online, especially imported linen," she said. With the convenience of the Internet, it's not difficult to reach out to customers as Monita found hers through her Facebook page (Papermint Cards) as well as bazaars. "I am fortunate to have understanding customers. Basically, they will tell me their desired theme and leave the rest to me to complete. My favourite items are personalised notebooks where names of recipients are stitched on the covers. I introduced them for Christmas 2012 and they have been a hit since then. "However, I think public awareness and appreciation for handmade products is still lacking, even though it is picking up. I hope to come up with more handmade products and create awareness on their value," she said. Her sentiment on handbound books and handmade products in general is echoed by a fellow craftsmaker, Ngu Siew See. "The response to handbound books depends on how much people appreciate handmade products. "I believe it's a skill that should be brought down from generation to generation, which is why I plan to organise more bookbinding workshops for more people to experience the art and satisfaction of making something by hand," said the 36-year-old owner of a crafts shop selling scrapbooking and crafts supplies. Siew See, who started in the art of scrapbooking, tried her hands on other crafts three years ago. Her interest in bookbinding was piqued during this time of exploring other crafts and eventually, she signed up for the same workshop together with Monita to learn handstitching methods in November 2012. "When I give friends my handmade books as gifts, their first reaction would be You made this? You stitched them? Wow! For those who buy them as gifts, their recipients will find them unique as they seldom see these in the market. "My most memorable works are mini handstitched notebooks. I love the size as they are cute and handy. I find the size useful as we ladies can easily keep one in our handbags to jot down important notes. Since it's small, more types of patterned papers and leftover fabrics can be used to wrap the covers," she added. Siew See's ideal bookbinding setup is having a clear and tidy table with all the things she needs for a project ready. As stitching takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on how big and how thick the book is, she will sometimes stitch in front of her laptop because she needs to reply to queries from customers in my online business. Sometimes, she would stitch in the company of her children and there are times she prefers concentrating fully in stitching. "My bookbinding process depends on the kind of order. If it's a bulk order, I usually prepare the covers all in one go, then moving on to the inner pages. After all these are prepared, then I start stitching. "Each stitching has its basic steps. I usually follow the basics, altering a little to get slightly different patterns. Sometimes, I will combine Kettle stitch and French stitch for one book," she explained. Her handbound books are mostly stitched together, using Kettle stitch, French stitch and Coptic stitch. Sometimes, she uses ring-binding method which is decidedly more straightforward than handstitching method. There is another stitching method known as the Long stitch but she seldom uses it as she could not find suitable leather to make the cover. "The design of a custom-made project depends on the customer's requirements. I do take request for custom orders but I have to consider whether I can fulfill the request within the time given. I have a few regulars whose preference I am already familiar with, so I will definitely accept those orders. "Other customers usually buy my finished notebooks online after I uploaded photos of them. Either that or they buy from me when I take part in bazaars," she said, adding that those interested in handmade products and crafts supplies can take a look at her Facebook page (See's Scrapbooking Land). Despite using similar materials and methods as well as learning from the same bookbinder, both Monita and Siew See produce books that are markedly different in style and appearance. For customers, there is a sense of satisfaction in browsing through the finished products and choosing a handbound notebook that would make the perfect gift for oneself or a dear friend. It might serve more than just as a stationery item to jot things down. Perhaps, it might inspire our inner Muse to engage in creative journaling as we record life's journey in words and pictures. After all, the magic of handbound books is all about how they are created and used to touch lives. |
| Salahuddin — caring, humble and inspirational Posted: 19 Apr 2014 11:27 AM PDT by Lian Cheng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 20, 2014, Sunday ON February 28, 2014, Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng bade goodbye to the people of Sarawak as their sixth post-Independence Yang di-Pertua Negeri — with tears in his eyes. Wearing an emerald green Baju Melayu, the much loved 92-year-old former Head of State was leaving office upon expiry of his gubernatorial term. At an emotional farewell ceremony on the Astana grounds, Salahuddin shook hands with state leaders, their wives and his relatives and personal friends. He took his time bidding an impassioned goodbye to everyone present before getting into his car bound for his new residence at Telaga Air. Salahuddin's fate has strangely inter-twined with that of the people of Sarawak. As early as 1977, he was already appointed the third Head of State for a four-year term. In 2001, he was reappointed the sixth Head of State and stayed longer this time around — for a total of 14 years — until his term ended on February 28, 2014. Time seemed to have stood still that morning. It was an emotional moment. Salahuddin is, after all, well loved by Sarawakians who know him personally and by those who may just see him from a distance but have been touched by his humble and affable personality. For Datuk Naroden Majais who served as Salahuddin's Minister-in-Attendance on many occasions since 2001, February 28, 2014 meant something more. It was an occasion infused with a great sense of void for Naroden and his family. "He has left many indelible marks on my political career, especially with his warm, affectionate and down-to-earth nature. It is this quality in him that makes me and my wife (Messenah Ahmand) feel he is like a father to us. "To me, Tun Salahuddin's altruistic poise, compassion, magnanimity and piety are incomparable. As a towering figure with restrictive verbal expression, his body language, fatherly gesture, charm and magnetism speak louder than his words," said Naroden who is Assistant Minister in Chief Minister's Office (Entreprenial Development). Despite his high social stature, Salahuddin seldom turned down personal invitations from friends and relatives. Naroden said he feels greatly indebted to the former Head of State for gracing the weddings of his three children. Salahuddin's love for Sarawakian of all races has been exemplary. He visited them without fail, especially during the festive seasons of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Gawai Dayak, Chinese New Year and other religious or cultural festivities. Having great respect for tradition and culture, Salahuddin made it a point to attend major cultural events such as the Regatta in Kuching. Despite his advanced age, he often traversed Sarawak to attend events of cultural and traditional significance as Head of State. One such event is the annual International Tidal Bore Festival in Sri Aman. Salahuddin not only dutifully fulfilled his social obligations but had also gone further by getting involved personally in wherever undertakings he deemed helpful to the people. He has adopted five needy children, providing them not only food and shelther but also much love, care and attention — as if they are his own. "His care for poor children is almost unmatched, extending them a fatherly hand when and wherever he can. "Along with Tun Abang Openg Abang Sapiee, Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman, Tun Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Yaakub, Tun Datuk Patinggi Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mumhammed Noor and present Head of State Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Tun Salahuddin has been a blessing to Sarawak," Naroden said. The Assistant Minister considers himself blessed to be Minister-in-Attendance to a man who finds joy in bringing happiness to people around him with his positive and optimistic outlook. One thing not known to many is Salahuddin's sense of humour which can be rib-tickling. Naroden said such a trait has kept the loving bond between Salahuddin and his wife, Toh Puan Norkiah, very much intact – as can be gleaned from one small humorous incident. During a trip back from Kota Kinabalu, Salahuddin decided to continue the journey by road to Lawas for an official function before taking the flight back to Kuching. On the way, the entourage stopped over for lunch at a restaurant in Beaufort on the western coast of Sabah. One of the dishes served was ikan keli (catfish). After enjoying a sumptuous meal, Salahuddin wrapped up what remained of the fishhead with some serviettes and quietly tucked it in his pocket. On reaching the guest room at a hotel in Lawas, he shoved the wrapping into his wife's hand. Norkiah accepted it, thinking it was some special delicacy Salahuddin had kept for her. However, when opening the wrapping, she found to her horror a fish head staring straight back at her. Salahuddin had a good laugh. "The next day when the story was related to the rest of us, he was still very much impressed with the stunt he pulled on Toh Puan Norkiah. His affection for his wife comes in many forms. The ikan keli joke was one of his ways to keep their relationship 'warm'. That is Tun Salahuddin — always jovial and enjoying every moment of his life," Naroden noted. What the assistant minister finds most admirable about Salahuddin is that despite his status as Head of State, he remained down to earth and exuded a persona that in no way accentuated his exulted position. After performing his official function in the national capital (Kuala Lumpur), for example, he would just go out with his small entourage to the city, looking for something to eat — and durian was always the favourite. He would ask the driver to stop at any durian stall by the roadside, then select a few fruits himself before sitting on a plastic stool (provided by the stall) to enjoy a 'durian feast' with his retinue. On such outings, he never stood on ceremony. Naroden has fond memories of such impromtu walk-about with the former Head of State. But imbedded deeper in his mind perhaps was a small event in June last year during an official trip with Salahuddin to Kuala Lumpur. It was already midnight. Naroden and Messenah were about to retire when an aide-de-camp knocked on the door to deliver a message that Salahuddin was summoning Naroden to his room immediately. "Thinking something had happened to the Head of State, I rushed to his room on the same floor. The other members of the entourage had already gathered there. And as I entered, I was greeted by a birthday song. "How he found out that my birthday — 60th – was on that day, I'd never know. But it was such a pleasant surprise for me — a gesture I will never ever forget." Naroden wishes Salahuddin a long and healthy life. "He will surely be missed not only by my family and I but also the people of Sarawak for his personal charm, grace and exemplary service to the state." |
| What’s new in the world of frogs? Posted: 19 Apr 2014 11:20 AM PDT by Tom McLaughlin. Posted on April 20, 2014, Sunday THE range of the Wrinkled Frog, Limnonectes rhacodus, has been extended thanks to the hard work of Indraneil Das and Pui Yong Min of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). The specimens were collected along the Belian Trail at Kubah National Park and the Batu Panggar region below the summit of Gunung Penrissen. The discoveries extend the range of the frog 220km northwest of its last reported locality and to an elevation of 1,120 meters. This is the first time the amphibian has been reported in Sarawak. The authors speculate the species could probably be widespread throughout western Borneo. In other frog news, the Masked Swamp Frog, Limnonectes paramacrodon, which lack vocal sacs, were observed calling in a Singapore marsh. The sounds were described as "fairly loud, sharp, rubbery squeaks of five to eight notes in rapid succession". The calls are repeated at intervals of five to 10 seconds. To produce the sound the frog "thrust its head forward with the hind part of the throat partially inflated, simultaneously vibrating the sides of the body". The frogs were observed and recorded by Kelvin KP Lim of the National University of Singapore. In still more frog news, another new species of frog has been discovered in Sabah. A Japanese team from Kytoto University headed by Dr Masafumi Matsui stated the frog closely resembles the Sarawak species Leptolalax dringi found in Mulu, but differs in body size, calls and mDna sequencing. Species of frogs are discovered annually in Borneo even in well-documented sites. At present there are 178 known species with 130 of these (73.3 per cent) only found in Borneo. Another 43 are also found in Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and Bali. The geological history and size of the island of Borneo has contributed to the frog species diversity on the island. But frogs here, as with the rest of the world, face a bleak future. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2013 (www.iucnredlist.org), 27 species are classified as not evaluated so there is no information regarding them. Of the remainder, 15 are classified as data deficient, 54 least concern, 40 are near threatened, 30 are vulnerable, nine are endangered and three are critically endangered. Habitat destruction due to deforestation, changing land use patterns as forests are cut for oil palm plantations, small-scale agriculture and settlements, have contributed to the loss of suitable habitats. Hunting and poaching also take a toll. Non-indigenous species of amphibians have been imported for the pet trade and some have been linked to the spread of the devastating fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. It is fatal because the fungus coats the delicate amphibian skin blocking the pores, which are used for water and moisture, transfer, thus killing the frog from dehydration and heart failure. Next Saturday is International Save the Frog Day because as mentioned, worldwide populations of frogs are plummeting. On this day, from 12 noon to 12 midnight, the Bornean Frog Race 2014 is being jointly organised with Unimas and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation at Kubah National Park. No the frogs are not racing, but participants are racing to photograph the frogs. This event aims to create awareness of the diversity of frog populations in Sarawak, their importance and to increase our appreciation of frogs and nature in general. To learn more about Bornean Frog Race or to register go to theinternationalborneanfrograce.weebly.com. For more information about the recently discovered frogs visit www.checklist.org.br, http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg, or www.mapress.com. The Malaysian Nature Society |
| Petronas revs to first F1 victory at Sepang Posted: 12 Apr 2014 11:45 AM PDT by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 13, 2014, Sunday PETRONAS waited 16 years to record its first Formula One (F1) home victory. The script couldn't have been written any better than the first-and-second finish chalked by the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team at Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang last Sunday (March 30). Britain's Lewis Hamilton broke an eight-month drought with flawless driving, streaking away from pole position to take the chequered flag 17 seconds ahead of his German teammate Nico Rosberg for a 23rd career win. Petronas' home victory was especially uplifting for Malaysia in the light of MH370's mysterious disappearance on March 8. A minute's silence was observed before the race. "Incredible, incredible. I just feel so grateful, particularly after such a tragedy three weeks ago. I would like to dedicate it to the passengers people and their families. "This is my first win in Malaysia after eight attempts and to do it for our Petronas family in their home country makes it even more special. It's all down to the team," Hamilton said. It was already an emotional week for the country when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced MH370 was lost "beyond any reasonable doubt" in the Indian Ocean.There were 239 people on board the Beijing-bound flight. The day after the F1 race, Petronas which sponsors the Mercedes F1 racing team, called off a Malaysian Grand Prix concert as a sign of respect to families of the crew and passengers. The concert to be held Friday and Saturday at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, would have featured international star Christina Aguilera, Korean icon Rain and R&B artist Craig Davis, among others. Rosberg was among the first to pay tribute to the victims and the family members of MH370 after arriving in Kuala Lumpur. He said on Twitter "all my prayers go to friends and families of the passengers on #MH370." Petronas motorsports Petronas has been involved in motorsports from as early as 1988 before making a foray into the pinnacle of motorracing – Formula 1 — in 1995 following its sponsorship of the Red Bull-Sauber Petronas F1 team. This was seen as the first bold step towards positioning Petronas as a global brand and putting Malaysia on the world map. The effort was further enhanced in 1999 when the company secured the title sponsorship rights of the F1 Grand Prix in Malaysia. "Petronas' involvement in motorsports is more than just promoting its image and a brand-building exercise. The Petronas Motorsports sponsorship programme serves as an effective platform for enhancing its technological and human capabilities through research and development (R&D) of Petronas' fuel and lubricant products. "This as well as the nurturing of indigenous technological capabilities in the field of automotive engineering within the Petronas Group, particularly its powertrain R&D," Petronas said in its official website. In 2005, Petronas extended its long-standing partnership with Sauber when it became the Premium Partner to the BMW Sauber F1 Team, following BMW's acquisition of majority interest in Sauber Holdings. In 2009, Petronas signed a five-year agreement with major auto-manufacturer Mercedes, making it the title partner to the Mercedes GP Team. From the 2010 season, the team was known as Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team. Sepang International Circuit The 80,000 capacity Sepang International Circuit was first included in the F1 World Championship for the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1999. The inaugural Grand Prix at Sepang was the most notable as it saw the return of Michael Schumacher from a broken leg injury sustained at the British Grand Prix. The seven times world champion dominated the race but lost to title-hopeful team mate Eddie Irvine. However, both Schumacher and Irvine's Ferraris were disqualified due to technical irregularity, handing the title to Mika Hakkinen of McLaren Mercedes. In 2001, a heavy storm hit in the middle of the race, making conditions difficult. The Ferraris, driven by Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, spun off almost simultaneously but both recovered to score a one-two finish for their team. The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix had to be called off due to heavy rainfall and could not restart due to the low light. The race ended on Lap 33 with the victory going to Jenson Button of team Brawn-Mercedes. To date, Ferrari has the most victories at Sepang with a total of six, including in 2000, 2001, 2004 (Schumacher), 2008 (Kimi Raikonnen) and 2012 (Fernando Alonso). Schumacher's younger brother Ralf won in 2002 for Williams-BMW while Raikkonen's first Sepang title was in 2003 for McLaren-Mercedes. Double world-champion Alonso first won at Sepang with Renault in 2005. The following year, Renault repeated its triumph with Giancarlo Fisichella taking the chequered flag. Spaniard Alonso, this time driving for McLaren-Mercedes, reclaimed the title for his third Sepang win in 2007. Four times and current world champion Sebastian Vettel won in Malaysia for Red Bull-Renault in 2010, 2011 and 2013. What they say Commenting on Mercedes AMG Petronas one-two finish, team executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe said: "It's hard to overstate the crucial role of Petronas fluid technology solutions in the development of the new 2014 Power Unit and we are especially proud to have delivered our first one-two finish at the home race here in Malaysia." Neil Mark from Sheffield, England, has been following F1 since 1992, throwing his support behind the legendary Nigel Mansell. He cited 1996 champion Damon Hill as another long-time favourite but now, he is rooting for Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. "The atmosphere at Sepang was fantastic. Despite all the critique about the noise of these new F1 engines, I really don't see the fuss here. Now the cars are more environment-friendly but also faster," the 55-year-old Briton told thesundaypost after the race. Mark who works as a builder, said he would save up to watch F1 races. Apart from Sepang, his passion for the sport has taken him to Australia, Singapore, China and the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. Australian Jonathan Graham, 42, gave a double thumb's up to the new turbo-charged 1.6-litre V6 engine compared to the F1's ear-splitting V8 engine of the past. Travelling with his wife and kids, Graham said spectators now need not worry about missing earplugs or suffering from hearing damage. "It's not all quiet, still smooth as ever — and just different. When you see these cars flashing past you at full throttle, the sense of excitement is still there. You would still be in awe," he added. Graham was happy Mercedes scored a one-two finish in a fitting tribute to the home crowd. Louise from Finland touched on MH370, saying: "The home win for the Mercedes Petronas team will surely lift the spirits and morale of Malaysian racing fans at least for the week. Our prayers go to the families of crew and passengers of the missing flight." Rosberg remains at the top the drivers' standings on 43 points, with Hamilton now second on 25 points. Mercedes AMG Petronas currently sits atop the Constructors Championship with 68 points ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. |
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