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Resort launches clownfish mascot BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Resort launches clownfish mascot

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 05:55 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa has unveiled Jaga, its official mascot.

Jaga is a customised clownfish, also known as anemonefish. The word jaga means "to care for and look after" in Malay.

Jaga's main purpose is to promote marine conservation and restoration of Sabah's ecosystems in oceans and seas, such as coral reefs that have been badly damaged by coral bleaching, pollution, destructive fishing practices, coral mining and careless tourism.

For this purpose, Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa has launched its latest corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative involving coral reef planting in January at the STAR Marina under the supervision of the resort's resident marine biologist, Joyce Murang.

"The coral reefs of Sabah are home to an amazing and diverse underwater kingdom, from the occasional baby whale shark to the beautiful shoals of clownfish and flamboyant cuttlefish. With this long-term endeavour, we are excited to contribute to coral reef conservation through reef-rebuilding, construction and coral planting," said Craig Powell, general manager of Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa.

A range of merchandise featuring Jaga the clownfish is in development and will be made available for sale to the public at STAR Marina and the resort's retail shop.

For more information on Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu's coral reef planting project, please email marina.tah@shangri-la.com.

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Immigration explains incident involving Sarawak minister

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 05:52 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Immigration Department has denied claims that Sarawak Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing was detained at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

Its director, Noor Alam Khan Abdul Wahid Khan, pointed out that the officer on duty at the KKIA immigration counter had only conducted a regular identification screening procedure when he asked Masing to present his identification card to verify his use of the Special Identification document on March 30 at about 6pm.

"It was simply a misunderstanding as the immigration officer on duty was just conducting a documentation screening as he would other passengers' identification cards and passports.

"Although the minister did present his 'Pengenalan Istimewa' (Special Identification) document, it was not immediately explanatory and not all of our officers are used to seeing such documents.

"Hence, our officer had asked him (Masing) to present his identification card," said Noor Alam when contacted here yesterday.

Noor Alam disclosed that the officer on duty during the incident had been contacted and had clarified the situation at that point of time, whereby Masing had presented his Special Identification document to the immigration officer.

Masing was then asked to present his identification card to verify his identity, which is part of the normal procedure, he added.

He said Masing was not detained as he was not brought into a special room at the airport. The incident took place at the immigration counter when Masing was exiting the state and not on entry, as previously reported in the media.

Masing on March 31 was reported as saying that he was detained by Sabah Immigration Officers on March 30 for being mistaken as an imposter.

He had shown his Special Identification document, a special pass used by political representatives and ministers at the counter but was reportedly not allowed in, in the mistaken belief that he was using a fake pass.

The confusion apparently was due to his attire, as Masing was in jeans and tee-shirt.

Masing was quoted as saying that he had a tough time convincing the officers that he was genuine despite his clothing.

"I was detained probably because I was wearing jeans. I did not realise that YBs and ministers must use smart attire in Sabah.

"It was embarrassing. I have to prove that I am James Masing as shown in the identity card," said Masing.

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30,000 visitors expected for Kalimaran Festival in Tenom

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 05:52 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The 11th Kalimaran Festival, an annual Murut cultural celebration, will be held at the Sabah Murut Cultural Centre in Tenom from April 11 to 13.

Kalimaran refers to craftsmanship by the Murut ethnic.

The festival celebrates the richness of culture of the Muruts and presents most of their cultural aspects.

Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman was expected to officiate at the event at 7pm on April 13 at the Sabah Murut Cultural Centre.

The festival is co-organized by the state government through the Sabah Cultural Board and Tenom District Office in collaboration with the Sabah Murut Association.

Kamarlin said a new programme was added to the three-day event this year, that is the Tolak Bala ceremony to be held at 2pm on April 11.

He said the aim of the ceremony was to fend off any undesirable elements like bad weather to ensure the programme ran smoothly.

The 10th Kalimaran Festival held over three days in 2012, attracted 15,000 visitors.

"This year, we are targeting 30,000 visitors," Kamarlin said in a press conference here yesterday, adding that the event was not held last year due to the 13th General Election.

"The event not only draws visitors from Keningau, Tenom and Nabwan, but also from Lawas and Sarawak as well."

As of now, hotels in Tenom are reportedly fully booked during the duration of the festival.

He also believed that foreign tourists would participate in the festival.

The state government has adopted Kalimaran Festival as a state-level event since 2003, the first being held on April 4-5, 2003.

The objectives of organizing the event are to preserve the uniqueness and beauty of the Murut ethnic culture in Sabah as well as to elevate Murut arts and culture at district, state, national and international levels.

The event also aims to promote Tenom as an attractive tourism destination, in addition to boost local economy through the sale of handicraft, food and traditional tools by the locals.

A range of programmes has been lined up for the three-day event, including an exhibition on the eight Murut sub-ethnics, namely Tagol, Timugon, Bookan, Nabai, Kolor, Paluan, Sebakung and Tangala. There are also a contest on traditional hut, sale and exhibition of handicraft, Ralaa Kalimaran competition, cultural parade, drawing contest and more.

When asked whether the organizing committee will cut down on entertainment elements due to the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Kamarlin said the event was a cultural festival.

He said the organizing committee understood the circumstances and thus would tone down the festival.

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Illegal mini casino busted

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 05:48 PM PDT

KOTA MARUDU: An illegal mini casino operation was busted by the police with the arrest of nine men at Kampung Bilangan Darat in Pitas near here on Saturday night.

District police chief Superintendent Mohd Isa Yusof said the arrests were made after police were tipped off about an illegal gambling activity at Kampung Bilangan Darat community hall at 11.50am on March 29.

"Upon receiving such information, a police team immediately rushed to the area and arrested nine men at the scene," he said yesterday.

Mohd Isa said police also seized RM122 cash and several gambling paraphernalia that were believed used in the illegal casino operation.

He said the suspects, aged between 21 and 56 years, had been remanded to facilitate police investigation into the case under Section 7 (2) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953.

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Tangau’s statement is April Fool’s joke – DAP

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 05:45 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: DAP Sabah said it is a joke for United Pasokmomugum Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) to say that it is not Barisan Nasional's way to table a motion in Parliament for an increase in oil royalty.

"What a way to kick start jokes for April Fools' Day!" National DAPSY publicity secretary Junz Wong said yesterday.

He said that no wonder UPKO could not fulfill the people's aspirations, or understand their struggles because they do not even know their main role as elected representatives.

"As an elected representative, your most important job is to speak up for the people in Dewan Rakyat and State Assembly where it really matters, not making publicity by making press statements in newspapers," he said in a statement yesterday.

Junz was commenting on UPKO's incoming president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tnagau's statement that it was not Barisan Nasional's way to table a motion in Parliament for an increase in oil royalty. Tangau was responding to DAP Sabah chairman Jimmy Wong's call to elected representatives to table the motion.

Junz, who is Likas assemblyman, said if the BN's way of struggling was to submit memorandum to its headquarters, then why must UPKO or other BN component parties contest in general election.

"If speaking up for the people in Dewan Rakyat is not UPKO's way of fighting for the people, then don't contest in coming election. There's no need to anyway since you won't table motion nor speak up in Dewan Rakyat.

"Just submit your memo/request will do," he said.

Tangau said on Monday that tabling a motion in parliament is the opposition's tactic and not the BN's way.

He said UPKO will continue to pursue its request for an increase in the oil royalty paid to Sabah.

He reiterated that UPKO before the 13th General Election had submitted to the BN headquarters a request for a 20 per cent increase in the oil royalty.

"It is a struggle that we will continue to pursue and there is no need to go to parliament. When you go to parliament it is not necessarily will be done. We are fighting for the issue within the BN framework and we are quite sure that other BN component parties will support," the Tuaran member of parliament said after taking over from his predecessor Tan Sri Bernard Dompok at the party's headquarters here.

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Bung Mokhtar backs racial voting proposal

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Kinabatangan member of parliament Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin supported a proposal that voting should be along racial lines as it would ensure justice for every race in Malaysia.

Bung Mokhtar said that those with mixed race parentage would benefit most from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim's proposal.

"Those with two or three ancestries as a result of mixed marriages can choose which one they prefer. There is no issue of electoral apartheid," he said while debating on the Supplementary Supply Bill at the committee stage in Parliament yesterday.

He said apartheid referred to oppression by a larger ethnic group of a smaller group, which did not reflect the situation in Malaysia.

"Why can't we have something like this? Every tribe and race will have their respective representatives," he added.

In a reply to Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) in Parliament on Monday, Shahidan said the principle of equal legislative representation of "one person, one vote" was not suitable for Malaysia unless it was implemented in accordance with the country's multiracial composition.

"We want to give fairness to the rakyat and 'one person one vote' does not necessarily ensure that," he said in response to the opposition's proposal for a "one person one vote" system.

Dr Ong Kian Ming (DAP-Serdang) then called for Shahidan's resignation, while other opposition leaders also criticised the Arau MP for bringing a racial dimension into the matter.

At a press conference at the parliament lobby yesterday, Ong called on Shahidan to give details of any countries that chose their elected representatives according to race.

"His proposal would affect stability and harmony of the country and worsen race relations in the country.

"If Malay representatives are only voted in by Malay voters, they will more than likely only represent the views of their Malay electorate. Similarly for the Chinese representatives who are voted in by Chinese voters, Indian representatives by Indian voters, Iban representatives by Iban voters, Kadazan representatives by Kadazan voters and so on.

"This means that there will be no electoral incentives for representatives to consider the views of voters who are not from their own race. This will inevitably increase racial polarisation rather than reduce racial problems," he said.

G. Manivannan (PKR-Kapar) said Shahidan's proposal was regressive while Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) felt this showed BN did not know how to handle racial problems.

"If implemented, it will worsen racial polarisation," said Khalid.

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