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Leadership crisis in <b>Sarawak</b> Rangers Veteran Association comes to <b>...</b> Berita Sarawak - News 2 Sarawak

Leadership crisis in <b>Sarawak</b> Rangers Veteran Association comes to <b>...</b>

Posted: 24 Apr 2014 12:25 PM PDT

KUCHING: The Registrar of Societies (RoS) may have to 'referee' a leadership crisis brewing in the Sarawak Rangers Veteran Association (SRVA) which has become personal in nature.

Both the president Colonel (Rtd) Robert Rizal Abdullah and the secretary-general Captain (Rtd) Mohd Johari ' Ibrahim whom he had sacked in November last year are insisting that their actions were based on the constitution.

Rizal told The Borneo Post yesterday that he was still the legitimate president because the 'so-called extraordinary general meeting that Johari and few others called was null and void' as it was done without his presence.

"Moreover, he (Johari) does not have any authority to run the association's business anymore after being sacked in November for abusing his position as secretary-general.

"He was sacked after a thorough investigation by the board of inquiry and after I was really satisfied with its finding. I sacked him in accordance with Clause 20 (m) of our constitution," he said.

He said the clause clearly spelt out that the appointment and termination of a secretary-general was the prerogative of the president.

Rizal added that following Johari's sacking, he appointed Major (Rtd) Zainuddin @ Sharkawi Dawi as the new secretary-general.

"Taking note of what have transpired, particularly the unofficial EGM, Sharkawi and our lawyer have gone to the RoS office in Kuching to brief its director Ken Leben on what have actually happened."

He added that Johari even ignored the termination notice served on him with a copy sent to RoS.

"He refused to leave office despite the wrongdoing he has committed," Rizal said.

Johari, meanwhile, countered that he disregarded the president's termination order because it was not done in a correct manner.

"My comment is this…sacking of secretary-general is a serious matter and it should be decided by the executive committee members and not by one person alone. Therefore, I consider my sacking as invalid."

He also claimed the EGM last Sunday was constitutional as it was done in accordance with their constitution.

"We followed very closely the constitution. Even the RoS had been informed prior and after the meeting during which the president was removed and replaced by Lt Colonel (Rtd) James Tomlo Isa. The minutes of our meetings have also been submitted to the authority," he said.

Johari also denied that the association was in disarray and claimed that the association was still very much intact.

"The problem is only between Rizal and I, a personal kind of problem," he said.

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Medical tourism industry growing in Sabah - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 27 Apr 2014 04:15 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The medical tourism industry in Sabah is starting to grow with the opening of the Swiss Wellness Centre located at the ground floor of Le Meridien Hotel here yesterday.

The wellness centre is dedicated for non-invasive and holistic Swiss biological treatments and therapies.

In his opening speech, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun pointed out that Sabah is perfectly positioned to capitalise on medical tourism initiatives due to its unique and prime tourism assets found predominantly within Sabah, coupled with its perfect geographical location and international airport.

He noted that the global medical industry was worth an estimated USD40 to USD60 billion with the total number of healthcare travellers increasing to 594,000 from 392,000 in 2010.

Masidi added that the Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) had reported that foreign investments in hotel and tourism projects within the state of Sabah had increased from RM11 million to RM70 million from January to August 2012.

"Private sector initiatives such as the opening of the Swiss Wellness Centre augured well for the state as it would create a niche for Sabah in its foray into the medical tourism sector, and the transfer of knowledge to equip local medical practitioners with the Swiss biological therapies was a welcome initiative," he said.

The founder of Swiss Wellness International, Dato Seri Dr Mike Chan, said that Swiss biological medicine had been practised in Europe for over 100 years and was considered one of the most advanced forms of anti-aging programs in the world.

He added that with the launch of the Swiss Wellness Centre in Le Meridien here, Sabahans, as well as medical tourists alike, will now be able to access world-class health scans, youth restoration and wellness therapies that promise holistic wellness, inside and out.

"Chronic disease can be treated and reversed with the right protocols, and as such, founded on the clinical experience and treatment success in Switzerland, the Swiss Wellness Centre has developed the Swiss Revitalisation Program," he said.

He added, "In order to provide you with world-class treatment, the Swiss Wellness Centre has an international team of medical experts and professional  caregivers, who are well-versed and trained in the emerging field of Swiss Biological Medicine, to implement specialised modalities of detoxification, glandular stimulation and up-building therapies for private patients."

The Swiss Wellness Centre will offer individualised therapy protocols for treatment of various diseases, including male and female rejuvenation, management of congestive heart disease, liver disorders, kidney function impairment, diabetes and other metabolic and auto immune disorders.

Following the official grand opening, a public health forum was held where members of the public were given the chance to learn from invited medical advisers, about various aspects of biological therapies and topics that are currently only known by top anti-aging doctors in the world.

Also present at the event was medical advisor Dr Dina Tukhvatullina.

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Not enough naval ships in Sabah – commander – BorneoPost <b>...</b>

Posted: 27 Apr 2014 04:18 PM PDT

by Rebecca Chong. Posted on April 28, 2014, Monday

KOTA KINABALU: The commander of Naval Region Two, Rear Admiral Dato' Pahlawan Mohammad Rosland Omar, yesterday said that the number of combat ships and submarines in Sabah is not enough for conducting security operation.

Rosland pointed out that there are currently eight patrol ships and six CD90 deployed in Sandakan and another seven patrol ships, six CD90 and two submarines at the Sepanggar base.

"Generally, the number of ships we have in Sabah is not enough. However, we are constantly utilizing ships from Lumut on a rotation basis, so we do not face any shortage problem," he said during a press conference held yesterday at the Sepanggar's Royal Malaysian Navy Base.

Rosland then gave an example of the recent rescue of a fisherman boat in Sandakan, where a ship from Lumut was involved.

He revealed that RMN planned to have two practice ships by this year to be placed in Lumut, and another six littoral combat ships to be completed in 2019.

"Unlike the typical commercial ship, combat ships are equipped with electronic equipment which make these ships take a longer time to be built. The littoral ships that we are building are over 100 meters in length, and this will take four to five years to be completed for each ship" he added.

During the press conference, the commander clarified that the RMN submarines had proven they could function well when one of them sailed from Sepanggar base on April 17 this year and reached Lumut in seven days.

"The submarines could not be used in the search for the missing flight MH370 in Malacca due to the depth of water of 50 to 60 metres there which is considered too shallow. If the submarines were used at that time, they could put other commercial ships around the area in danger," Rosland explained.

"Our submarines are just not built for that, and if they are used for the search, it would not be of much help," he said.

Rosland also clarified that the submarine that Singapore sent for the search for MH370 was not a submarine, but a Submarine Support and Rescue Vessel, which is a ship.

"In fact, we sent a similar ship for the MH370 search and rescue operation, named Megabakti," he added.

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&#39;Preserve state&#39;s heritage for posterity&#39; - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 22 Apr 2014 12:27 PM PDT

by Anasathia Jenis, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 23, 2014, Wednesday

KUCHING: The rich and diverse heritage of Sarawak's more than 28 ethnic groups must be preserved for posterity, said Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.

She said the language, literature, culture, artefacts and crafts ought to be extensively researched and documented.

"Our heritage is precious and local professionals in various fields, such as those who are experts in local dialects, cultures, writings, handicrafts, arts, agricultural practices, history, customs, traditional medicines, music, philosophy, psychology and tourism, must come forward to give a helping hand.

"All these knowledge and findings should be patented so that it will be ours forever," Fatimah said when launching a `local wisdom' programme organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) on Monday.

Also present was DBP director Datuk Dr Awang Sariyan.

"Sarawak is a state that still has hidden treasures. All these treasures need to be highlighted and exposed to the local society, as well as for outsiders," she added Fatimah said the government gave a grant of RM215,690 to enable DBP to implement the programme.

Awang Sariyan, in his speech, said there were more than 30 local dialects in the state that should be give due attention.

"This is to avoid them becoming extinct," he said, adding that DBP kicked start the programme last year.

"More than 100 writers are contributing based on their respective fields of expertise. They are working closely with the editors of DBP."

"We (DBP) aim to publish 30,000 books in 2020."

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SMK Tiong Hin wins choral speaking contest - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 24 Apr 2014 12:07 PM PDT

SIBU: The Sibu district inter-school choral speaking competition held at SMK Tung Hua here yesterday saw SMK Tiong Hin emerging the champion.

SMK Methodist came in second and SMK St Elizabeth, third.

SMK Kampung Nangka, SMK Sibu Jaya, SMK Ulu Balingian, SMK Bandar Sibu and SMK Lanang each bagged a consolation prize.

SMK Tiong Hin also won the 'Best Conductor' award.

Eighteen secondary schools in Sibu district took part in the competition which selects representatives for the divisional level meet.

Oscar Gandik Stanie of the Sibu District Education Office gave out the prizes.

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UPKO Komulakan fully behind acting president – BorneoPost Online <b>...</b>

Posted: 20 Apr 2014 08:43 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: UPKO's Komulakan questions the motive of the party's Supreme Council members who claimed of irregularities in the reappointment of fellow council members by acting president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

The movement's chief, Ewon Benedick, in a statement yesterday said: "I wonder what is their motive in bringing this up now, especially when they had not objected to it when Tan Sri Bernard Dompok first made the appointments last year and again when he recommended the appointments to be made during the last Supreme Council meeting he chaired on March 19."

"As the elected UPKO Komulakan chief, I would like to express our undivided support to the acting president, Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, to lead and command the party as he is constitutionally elevated to the position.

"Being UPKO Kota Belud chief too, I would like to mention that our recent divisional meeting made a resolution to support Datuk Madius and I would like to reiterate the same level of support to him," Ewon said.

Ewon added that it was therefore regretful that certain members of the Supreme Council had made a public statement questioning Madius' recent decision, which actually was in accordance with the party's constitution.

UPKO vice president Datuk DrMarcus Mojigoh has explained what transpired in the Supreme Council meeting on March 31, he said, adding that by making public the group's complaint, their spokesperson's credibility as a leader has to be questioned.

"This has exposed a question of credibility in UPKO Youth chief Arthur Sen's leadership as he was part of the meeting on March 31, knowing well the constitution and had then expressed his opinion.

"But on another day, he seems to be in the dark on the role he had played and the constitution itself. This applies too to all those who were purportedly named in Arthur's statement because they too were also at the March 31 meeting.

According to Ewon, he also noticed that several divisional chiefs, who are also new faces in the Supreme Council, were reported to be in the group led by Arthur.

Ewon said in his opinion, they should be focusing on strengthening the party service and their leadership in their own division.

Otherwise, it will raise questions as to whether they really command the support in their respective divisions, he said.

In Ewon's opinion, the group's action appears to be an attempt to destabilize the party and it should serve as a lesson that self-damage and destruction of a party can be due to internal factor.

"I therefore would like to remind all members to remember this and stand united against this kind of move. I agree with Marcus that Madius must be given a chance to prove his ability to lead the party and that we should give him all our support," he said.

Ewon pointed out that there are certain leaders in the party who were given more than enough terms of authority in the government and members of the party know very well about his performance. Madius should be given his chance too.

"I notice that they have been proposing Datuk Ewon Ebin as one of the party's vice presidents. But as much as I can recall, his (Ewon) last public statement was that he objected to the result of our party's election in October last year.

"He has yet to make any public statement that he had since accepted the result. It brings a question to me whether you should appoint someone who objects to the decision by the very delegates who voted clearly who should lead the party," Ewon said.

He stressed that UPKO Komulakan will be at the frontline to safeguard the interest of the party.

"All these while, we, the younger ones, had felt that the UPKO leadership was very diplomatic and accommodating. The time has come, we strongly believe, that we should be more aggressive. A tooth for a tooth. Fight we will and we will even deliver the first blow.

"And as long as I am UPKO Kota Belud chief, we will play that role to the best of our capabilities. We are here to serve the rakyat and the nation, not the agenda of certain individuals. We subscribe to the objective of the party clearly mentioned in the constitution with focus, daring and sincerity," Ewon said.

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