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Medical tourism industry growing in <b>Sabah</b> - The Borneo Post Online Berita Sabah - News 2 Sabah

Medical tourism industry growing in <b>Sabah</b> - 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 <b>Sabah</b> – 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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Don&#39;t end up like <b>Sabah</b>, Sarawak told - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 27 Apr 2014 03:30 PM PDT

KUCHING: Sarawakians should learn from the bitter experience of Sabah, which no longer has control of the state due to Umno's domination.

State Reform Party (Star) Sabah chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said that unlike Sabah, Sarawakians still have the right to determine who controls the state.

"The difference between Sabah and Sarawak now is you can still preserve control of your state," he said in his keynote address at the 'Forum: Malaysia Agreement 1963 – Past, Present & Future' held here yesterday.

Jeffrey also expressed his admiration for former chief minister (now Yang di-Pertua Negeri) Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, whom he said had left a 'very powerful message' to Sarawakians prior to handing over his duties to his successor Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem.

"In his message, he stressed for the people to safeguard Sarawak's interest in Malaysia and not allow Umno to come into the state. Now that is a very powerful message.

Jeffrey noted that Sabah had since moved from being one of the most progressive states in the country to the very bottom of the ranking.

"According to a study by the World Bank (WB) in Washington, Sabah is currently the poorest state in Malaysia and it is likely to stay that way for a considerable length of time given the current efforts in poverty eradication.

"This is an irony because Sabah is actually a very rich state. We have oil and gas just like Sarawak although presently Sarawak is producing more at the moment."

Organised by the Sarawak Association for People's Aspiration (Sapa) and Borneo Heritage Foundation of Sabah (BHF), the forum also saw Sabah Progressive Party president and former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, PBDS Baru deputy president Patrick Uren as well as human rights lawyer and activist Waythamoorthy Ponnusamy among the speakers.

Earlier at a press conference, Jeffrey, who is also BHF president, explained that the forum was organised with the aim of providing an atmosphere of open and sincere discussions.

"There should be no fear because if we were not allowed to discuss our views on the Malaysia Agreement, then we will never be able to resolve whatever disagreement we have," he stressed, and proposed for Sarawak to work with Sabah in addressing the matter.

"Now we are out of tune, because Sarawak is controlled by the state's political party, where even though they are in Barisan Nasional (BN), they can still make a stand on state matters compared to Sabah which is run by Umno and even the chief minister is appointed by Umno."

Also present at the event was Sapa president Lina Soo.

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Musical show among <b>Sabah</b> Fest highlights - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 22 Apr 2014 05:45 PM PDT

by Jenne Lajiun. Posted on April 23, 2014, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Fest will be returning with another spectacular show to highlight Sabah's diverse people, cultures and traditions in the form of a musical performance, 'Aki Nabalu'.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, told a press conference held at the Le Meridien Hotel here yesterday, the musical performance will be held at the Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara Sabah complex (JKKNS) auditorium between May 2 and May 4.

The performance will showcase a religious and solemn ceremony through a series of actions performed in accordance with a prescribed order.

The Sabah Fest this year will showcase seven ethnic groups in Sabah that look to Mount Kinabalu as a central feature in their traditional, cultural and religious beliefs, said Masidi.

The Kadazandusun community will open the curtains with the presentation of 'Pampang' which tells of the origin of Mount Kinabalu and mankind. The Bajau, Dusun Tindal and Iranun will then gather at the meeting point or Badi, or today known as the Tamu or open air market.

During these social gatherings, Mount Kinabalu would appear tall and majestic as a backdrop as the people go about with their daily lives.

The audience will also be treated to the Mogkodim do hatod, the Rungus ritual performed to call upon the spirit of a sick person.

The Dusun Lotud will perform the Mohlukas, a housewarming ceremony. The spectacular Sabah Fest stage performance will wrap up with a healing ritual of the Murut Nabal, called Mansilad.

Tickets for the performance are sold at RM50 each and seats limited to 560 per day are available. The performances start at 8 pm. For more information, please contact Susan Shahira, Sri Pelancongan Sabah event manager at 6088-232121.

Also present at the press conference were Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, Sabah Tourism Board chairman, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Sabah Tourism Board general manager, Datuk Irene Charuruks.

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DAP <b>Sabah</b> will uphold late Karpal&#39;s spirit to reject Hudud law – Jimmy

Posted: 20 Apr 2014 04:04 PM PDT

GEORGE TOWN: DAP Sabah will uphold the spirit of Karpal Singh to reject the implementation of Hudud law in the country, said its chairman, Jimmy Wong.

"Karpal had spent his whole life upholding the spirit of being a Malaysian and had never compromised his principles, especially on the Hudud law controversy," Wong, who is also Kota Kinabalu member of parliament, said.

"We must tell the world and all citizens of Malaysia that we will continue to uphold his spirit and the DAP Malaysian Malaysia ideology and stand firm to reject the Hudud law without compromising our principles and Karpal's last will," he said.

Wong, DAP Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi and DAP Sabah deputy chairman cum Sandakan member of parliament Stephen Wong yesterday paid their last tribute to the late Karpal Singh, DAP Malaysia chairman, here.

Karpal was killed in a car accident on Thursday and he was cremated yesterday.

Wong reminded that DAP will never agree to the implementation of Hudud law as it is not under the Constitution and is against the Malaysia Agreement.

He took Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Teo Chee Kang to task for accusing DAP without any basis, of allowing the Hudud law to be passed seemingly under consensus of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

"Let me remind you that we, DAP, pulled out from Barisan Alternative in 2001 as our dedication to reject Hudud law, and we will do the same again to leave PR if this Bill is going to pass in parliament without consensus and compromise our principles whereby Malaysia should be a secular state," he stressed.

"We wish to reiterate that we will continue the late Karpal's struggle and unfulfilled dream to make Malaysia a democratic, equal and free state, with freedom of religion."

Wong also assured Sabahans that DAP MPs in Sabah will not tolerate or compromise Sabahans' and Malaysians' interest, and will certainly vote "nay" or reject thoroughly the Hudud Bill.

He also said that DAP has been fighting for a Malaysian Malaysia for more than 40 years. It is obvious the Hudud Bill is against the spirit of Malaysia which comprises Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya.

"As it is not in the Malaysia Agreement and Constitution, not only Sabahans must reject it, but all Malaysians should reject it," he reiterated.

Wong challenged Teo and the rest of the BN component parties to show their political will and courage to leave BN, just like DAP will leave PR, should Umno support the Hudud Bill and not carry on 'politicking'

"We wish to remind Teo that we will not tolerate this issue. Be serious when you simply want to talk anything. This is our (DAP) principle and we will definitely not compromise on this, now and forever.

"If Teo and the other BN component parties have no guts to tell Umno that Hudud law is not appropriate, then they are in no position to tell DAP what we should do! Instead, it would appear that they are the real traitors who betray Sabahans and compromise Malaysians' interest," he added.

National DAPSY publicity secretary Junz Wong also said that DAP would never agree to the implementation of the Hudud law.

He said that Teo's comment that DAP seemed powerless to do anything (about Hudud law) was both superficial and not true.

Responding to Teo's remarks that DAP has the most parliamentarians in PR, so all DAP needs to do is to vote against Hudud, Junz asked if the BN Sabah parliamentarians would do the same.

"DAP is a party with principles and has been consistent in its struggles for the people. If PAS strongly insisted on Hudud, DAP would rather choose to part ways with PR than to agree to Hudud implementation. I'm positive," Junz affirmed.

"I would leave PR if Hudud implementation is strongly insisted through PR even if there is consensus because my ultimate struggle is for Sabah and Sabahans cannot accept the implementation of Hudud law," he said in a statement yesterday.

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