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State’s development on the right track — Head of State BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

State’s development on the right track — Head of State

Posted: 05 May 2014 12:58 PM PDT

by Lim How Pim, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on May 6, 2014, Tuesday

KUCHING: Sarawak will continue to move forward with the successful implementation of mega project Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), says Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

"I am happy to see the economic transformation of the state of Sarawak is on the right track," he added

The head of State noted that the state government, through SCORE, was intensifying the state's development by building roads and bridges in rural areas.

"The development of the energy potential is not only to meet the requirement of industries but to open up more development opportunities in remote rural areas.

"As a result, the communities benefit from the projects that are being carried out in their areas," he said in his opening address for the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday.

Taib was pleased with the state government's continued efforts to attract more foreign investors to the state.

"The arrivals of foreign investors will be able to create more business and employment opportunities for the local people. I suggest local entrepreneurs including Bumiputera entrepreneurs grab the opportunities offered at SCORE."

He said people must equip themselves with the necessary skills to land jobs in the industrial and service sectors of the mega project.

"SCORE will also create employment and business opportunities for the people outside its development areas. It is for this reason the people are urged to give their support to the project so that it will be further intensified for the prosperity of the state.

"The state's industrialistion will require more skilled workers in technical fields."

He urged parents to encourage their children to pursue engineering courses and technical training to help meet the job requirements of Score, adding the industries in SCORE areas could promise jobs with a decent pay.

On the Balingian by-election, Taib said Barisan Nasional's victory was clear proof that the people of Sarawak were confident with the present federal and state leadership.

"The outcome of the Balingian by-election is proof of the fact that the people are getting more mature and wiser in choosing their own leader for their own future."

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Taib, Adenan attend first DUN sitting as Head of State, CM

Posted: 05 May 2014 12:57 PM PDT

KUCHING: Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem attended the opening of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting together for the first time in their capacity as the Yang di-Pertua Negri and Chief Minister respectively.

Adenan, who is the Tanjung Datu assemblyman, was sworn in as the state's fifth chief minister on Feb 28. He took over from Taib who was sworn in as the seventh Head of State on March 1.

Adenan accompanied by his wife Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu arrived at the DUN compound at 9.25am, while Taib and wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib arrived about five minutes
later.

Both Taib and Ragad were received by Adenan, Jamilah, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar and wife Datin Amar Fatimah Iskandar and Deputy Speaker Datuk Roland Sagah Wee
Inn.

After the greetings, the state anthem 'Ibu Pertiwiku' was played by the Royal Malaysian Police brass band.

Taib then inspected the guard of honour comprising officers and men from the Royal Malaysian Police.

In the DUN chamber, Asfia on behalf of the august House congratulated Taib and Adenan for being appointed as the head of state and chief minister respectively.

Asfia also congratulated newly elected Balingian assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo and Barisan Nasional for their victory in the recently concluded by-election.

The house also welcomed Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Salleh Tun Said and his entourage who were present at the opening of the DUN sitting.

After the Speaker's welcoming speech, Taib was invited to give his opening address in the chamber.

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Taib calls for better public transport

Posted: 05 May 2014 12:56 PM PDT

KUCHING: An efficient public transportation will not just ease gridlocks and lessen travel time for commuters but will help tourists go around the state see more places.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who pointed this out yesterday, said the government must improve the quality of public transportation in rapidly-developing main towns to facilitate easy mobility of the community.

"Public transportation that is efficient will reduce traffic jam and travel time for people. At the same time, the tourism industry will be able to increase their revenue from an efficient public transport service," he said at the opening of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here.

Taib said the Visit Sarawak Year 2014 is the catalyst to spur the tourism industry and attract more tourists to the state. He appealed to Sarawakians to welcome tourists with warmth and goodwill and reflect the harmony of various ethnic groups in the state.

"Sarawak is already well known among tourists not only for its unique tourism products but for the friendliness and goodwill of our people."

To attract more visitors, he said it was imperative for the people to keep their homes and workplaces as well as public places clean and hygienic.

"The aspect of environmental cleanliness must also be given the necessary emphasis as it reflects the character and identity of the people of Sarawak."

Taib asserted the state's development plan and economic programme must take security and public order into consideration.

He said people of Sarawak must remain alert and not get easily disrupted by both local and foreign elements particularly those having an issue with the progress and prosperity being enjoyed by the people.

With security and public order in place, he said more investments and tourist arrivals could be expected.

"As Sarawak has a huge land surface, the long boundaries and coastline, the security at the entry points must be tightened to prevent illegal activities like smuggling, human trafficking and organised crime coming from across the border.

"Enforcement agencies like the Army, Police and Maritime must build their defence assets and intensify efforts to patrol along the border areas and coasts."

To ensure the locals would feel safe at home, he said the authorities concerned including Police and Rela ought to increase their patrols in residential areas.

Local councils, he said, must install modern surveillance system and technology such as the CCTVs at strategic locations to prevent criminal activities.

Concluding his speech, Taib reminded all honorable members of their responsibility to observe and adhere to the decorum of the august House during the coming debates.

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BioBorneo 2014 Conference and Exhibition focuses on community development

Posted: 05 May 2014 12:56 PM PDT

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Communitiy development through a bioeconomy agenda was the focus of the BioBorneo 2014 Conference and Exhibition (BioBorneo) which was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu on behalf of Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) yesterday.

This year's theme 'Sustaining the Bioeconomy Community' will see the two-day conference and exhibition, which is held for the second time in the state, cover topics on research advancement, intellectual property and commercialisation potential of biotechnology innovation that will positively impact the community development in Borneo.

In his welcoming address, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said that the government hoped that BioBorneo can serve as a platform to disseminate information on research and development as well as the business and investment potentials in bioeconomy.

"Apart from serving as an excellent platform to explore bioeconomy opportunities here, it also provides an avenue for industries and field experts to share ideas, experience and opportunities in bio-related research and business activities," he said.

Meanwhile, the opening ceremony also witnessed two exchanges of collaboration that will aid in the acceleration of bioeconomy development for Borneo.

The first exchange was a Collaboration Proposal between Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation's (BiotechCorp) Technology Management Office and Koperasi Pembangunan Desa (KPD) for the development of high quality ginger utilising fertigation method and the supply of dried processed ginger.

This collaboration sought to identify and prepare the necessary infrastructure and operational requirements relating to farming of high quality ginger and combining the biotechnological applications and technologies at BiotechCorp's Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) Facility situated in Universiti Putra Malaysia and KPD's subcritical HFC Gas Extraction Facility situated at Lok Kawi, Sabah for production of validated and certified high quality ginger extract.

The second exchange was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on promoting the diffusion of knowledge on intellectual property between Unimas and Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).

Witnessed by Jabu and Abu Bakar, the MoU was exchanged between MyIPO director general Dato Azizan Mohamad Sidin and Unimas deputy vice chancellor (research and innovation) Prof Dr Kopli Bujang in an understanding that both MyIPO and Unimas will be committed to work together closely towards the continuous efforts in promoting the diffusion of knowledge on Intellectual Property (IP).

Jointly organised by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti), Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), Unimas and BiotechCorp, with support from the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture, BioBorneo also featured an exhibition comprising more than 30 exhibitors from various sectors including the government agencies, corporate agencies, research institutions, higher learning institutions as well as those from relevant industries.

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Mawan dismayed by Wanita wing’s vote of no confidence

Posted: 05 May 2014 12:55 PM PDT

KUCHING: SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan yesterday expressed dismay over party Wanita chief Datuk Chiew Yen Chew's call for a vote of no confidence against him.

Mawan, who is Barisan Nasional (BN) vice chairman, initially did not want to wash dirty linen in public but when pressed further by reporters at the sideline of the state legislative assembly, he pointed out that Wanita SPDP is the first ever women wing in the country to take such an action.

As much as he encourages freedom of expression and democracy, Mawan yesterday appeared to imply that such display of disrespect was not politically correct.

The Social Development Minister said he was disappointed with the wing for disagreeing to the re-admission of four former party leaders into SPDP because earlier on they were among the party members who agreed and consented to the readmission of the four at a meeting with Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem.

He said he was surprised because he thought that the wing exco members were "good people" but little did he realise that they would turn their back on him.

"I have spoken to them (dissenting Wanita exco members) with the aim to explain (on the readmission of the four former leaders) but later on they took an unreasonable action," said Mawan, who is also Pakan assemblyman and Saratok MP.

"Due to their action, they are now responsible for it because if you (Wanita wing exco members) call yourselves leaders, then you should have seen clearly (the consequences)," he said.

Mawan added that, if they (dissenting Wanita wing exco members) do not treasure unity within the BN frame work, then they need to consider getting out of BN.

As there is no issue which could not be settled between him and the wing, Mawan said he believed the wing is part of a bigger agenda of some party leaders.

He was responding to recent news report which quoted a party insider as claiming that 20 of the SPDP Wanita held a meeting chaired by their chief Datuk Chiew Yen Chew at a hotel in April 25, during which 18 of those present wanted Mawan out.

They were said to be unhappy with Mawan for re-admitting the Group of Four (G4), comprising four assemblymen who were sacked by the party for gross insubordination in November 2011 and January 2012.

Prior to yesterday, several SPDP divisional chiefs also expressed their dismay at Chiew and some of her exco members in calling for the vote of no confidence against Mawan.

To another query by reporters yesterday, Mawan said he had no qualms if Adenan, who is also state BN chairman, wished to intervene in settling problems besetting SPDP.

"I have no problem with the CM intervening in SPDP affairs in his capacity as the state BN chief and as long it is for the good of the BN as a whole.

"I believe he would not like to see any crisis to prolong in SPDP," he pointed out.

Mawan said he believed the current crisis would pass on and that Adenan was capable of settling the issues splitting the party.

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Chong to table ‘oil and gas royalty’ motion today

Posted: 05 May 2014 12:54 PM PDT

KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen will move a motion to request the state to get the federal government to raise oil and gas royalty from five to 20 per cent.

Chong, who is state DAP chairman and Bandar Kuching MP, said he had submitted the notice for the motion under Standing Order 23 to the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) secretary and it was received by the DUN secretariat on April 25.

He said under normal circumstances, the motion is supposed to be moved in the DUN sitting today.

In the motion, Chong is seeking for a resolution from the august House that the state government make a formal demand to the federal government to increase royalty payable in lieu of oil and gas rights to 20 per cent of the gross value of oil and gas extracted from Sarawak and its surrounding waters.

"I'm moving this motion as there is no other appropriate avenue to make this resolution.

"DAP will fully support this motion and I hope BN will do the same. I also hope BN will adopt this motion," Chong told a press conference after the opening of State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here yesterday.

He said that Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem had openly supported the notion of requesting for the royalty rates in lieu of its oil and gas rights to be increased to 20 per cent.

"Having this august House pass a resolution to demand the federal government to increase oil and gas royalty to 20 per cent is different from having the chief minister meeting the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) (in a closed discussion)."

Chong argued that the present five per cent oil and gas royalty received by the state was insufficient and unjustifiably low, given that oil and gas were Sarawak's natural resources and that the state needed the oil and gas money to alleviate Sarawak out of its backwardness.

"The federal government's annual development allocation for Sarawak is grossly insufficient to bring the level of infrastructural and economic development of Sarawak to be at par with West Malaysia. We are 20 years behind them."

He said despite the state being rich in its natural resources, especially oil and gas, it is the fourth least developed state in the country in terms of composite development index ranking.

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