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Motor show targets 15,000 visitors BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Motor show targets 15,000 visitors

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:38 AM PDT

by Rebecca Chong. Posted on August 16, 2014, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: The Auto Traders Association of Sabah (ATAS), the organizer of motor show, is targeting 15,000 visitors for the ongoing three-day exhibition from yesterday, in view of the good response to its exhibition in the previous years.

Speaking at the launch of motor show yesterday, ATAS chairman Dr James Yong Chau Leong said he was expecting more more visitors this time than the 12,000 visitors two years ago (2012).

He said the exhibition, which is held once in every two years, serves as a platform for the participants to showcase their new products and at the same time promote their brands.

This year, the ATAS Motor Show is showcasing over 40 participants including car dealerships such as Sime Darby (Ford & Jaguar-Land Rover), Universal Motor (Isuzu), Right Power (Hyundai), Inti Deras (Big Bikes), Edaran Tan Chong (Nissan), Fook Loi/Anak Sabah (Great Wall Motors), Maxspeed Auto (Mazda), Boon Siew (Honda), Boston Auto (Chevrolet) and UMW Toyota, with new participants, Chevrolet and GreatWall.

Heavy vehicles firms taking part include Aulis Auto (Benteng), FF Auto (Hino) and Tan Chong Ind Equipment (Auman & UD Trucks), as well as tinting service shop The Tint Shop.

Banks and insurance companies participating in the exhibition are Maybank, RHB Bank, CIMB, AIG Insurance, UniAsia Insurance, Hwang Investment Mgmt Bhd, Toyota Capital and Public Bank.

"Since the sale volume of cars in Sabah is increasing every year, ATAS took the opportunity to gather the participants who are from various brands and products to be promoted to the people around the city," he said, adding that record from the Road Transport Department (RTD) showed an increasing rate of new cars being purchased.

Yong said that vehicle buyers today are very lucky as there are many new cars of different brands being produced by companies.

"As the choices increase, the price becomes competitive and drop, making it affordable for customers to buy cars.

"We can find cars more being offered at affordable prices in this exhibition as compared to thr previous years as customers will usually compare prices of cars of different companies . Therefore, cars here could be available for as low as RM70,000 and cheaper," he added.

"This is a must-visit exhibition as there are brands being offered with special promotions," Yong said and pointed out that Honda is one of the brands offering special promotion during the three-day-exhibition.

ATAS Motor Show will also have exciting activities for the public to enjoy such as a lucky draw whereby an LED TV plus other goodies will be given away daily.

The Hitz.fm, Era.fm and My FM cruisers will also be conducting fun games for everyone to enjoy.

Organizing chairman of the event, Francis Lim said: "This biannual event is a great place for car enthusiasts to convene as it is a one-stop centre for all your car solutions from the latest car models and accessory trends to insurance policies and loans by your local banks. Daring visitors will also get a chance to conquer the 30-foot high Isuzu giant ramp which is not to be missed".

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12,000 illegals deported this year

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:37 AM PDT

by Winnie Kasmir. Posted on August 16, 2014, Saturday

SANDAKAN: A total of 641 illegal immigrants from the Philippines were deported to their homeland via Sandakan Port to Zamboanga, yesterday.

According to the director of the Federal Special Task Force (Sabah/ Labuan), Rodzi Bin Md Saad, it was the biggest deportation to have been carried out at a time whereby it consisted of 293 men, 188 women and 160 children.

"From the total, 463 illegal immigrants were from the Temporary Detention Center (TDS) Sandakan while 178 were from TDS Papar.

"They are between one month to 75 years old, and had been detained at several locations around the state in June," he said during a press conference at Sandakan TDS, yesterday.

Rodzi, who is also the secretary of the National Security Council, said the group deported yesterday were those who had been detained under the Immigration Act 1959/1963 (revised 2002) during operations carried out by the Federal Special Task Force (Sabah/ Labuan), the Immigration Department, ESSCom, police and Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency.

For the record, a total of 12,000 illegal immigrants had been deported to their homelands from January to 15 August, consisting of 9,368 from the Philippines, 2,569 (Indonesia), 95 (Pakistan), 11 (India), 18 (Turkey), 31(China), two(Thailand) and one each from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Nepal, Uzbakistan and the Netherlands.

"This deportation is one of the government efforts to seriously curb the illegal immigrants issue in the state.

"The remaining illegal immigrants detained in several TDS around Sabah are 3,588, whereby 1,724 people are in TDS Papar, 376 in TDS Sandakan and 458 in TDS Tawau," Rodzi said.

"We hope some 4,000 illegal immigrants will be deported to their homeland by the end of this year to give space for new detainees," he added.

The Temporary Detention Centers in Sabah can only accommodate a total 5,550 detainees at a time. However, the reconstruction of TDS Menggatal that is expected to be completed soon, can accommodate some 2,500 more detainees.

The construction of four additional building blocks for TDS Sandakan, can accommodate 1,000 more detainees upon completion.

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Schools can’t handle Duchenne boy

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:36 AM PDT

by Amy Dangin. Posted on August 16, 2014, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: Paul Wong lost his 26-year-old son, Albert, to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive muscle-wasting disease which gradually takes away a boy's ability to walk, move, talk, and eventually breathe.

Albert managed to read law and obtained his Master's Degree in Law before he passed on. He lost the battle to Duchenne earlier this year on February 15, exactly on Chinese New Year.

Paul of Kuala Lumpur said Albert was mainstream-schooled throughout his education period.

"Boys with Duchenne may be physically-challenged but they are mentally capable of learning and reasoning like any other person. They can even be very bright," said Paul, when met at the Coalition Duchenne Mt Kinabala Expedition flag-off ceremony, here yesterday.

Tham Chew Yen, 30, on the other hand is a mother to eight-year-old Eadmund Wong, from Menggatal, Sabah.

Her son, who was supposed to be in a Primary Two class by now, was subtly 'forced' out of a mainstream school, for being a Duchenne boy.

"It was difficult for me to get him to a school that would accept him. And when we finally did, it was because the primary school did not know of his condition until they saw him having trouble going up the stairs.

"I had to be in school to carry him up the stairs for their computer class. I discussed with the school to make some adjustments to the class such as having them at one of the classrooms on the lower ground.

"But the headmistress told me it's inconvenient to shift a whole class just because of Eadmund. Over time, they came to a point of asking Eadmund to walk on his own without assistance, forcing him to be physically independent, which is sad that they did not understand how the disease disables him.

"Over time, teachers started complaining to me about Eadmund's behaviour in school, getting more intensive by the day and I finally just decided that I take their advice to send Eadmund to a school that has Pendidikan Khas (Special Education) class," said Tham.

Tham expressed disappointment in the way the schools in Sabah found it inconvenient to make adjustments to cater to the needs of boys with Duchenne.

Paul, who is now the principal of SMK Laki-Laki Methodist, Kuala Lumpur, described how when a 14-year-old girl with a severe physical disability went to a school he headed, where classes were arranged so that they were conducted in classrooms that were closer to the car park so that it was accessible for her parents to push her in a wheelchair.

"Adjustments can be made. I'm not talking about reconstruction adjustments but just shift the classes around," he said.

He added that most schools refuse to make such adjustments due to worrying about the other students' parents who might find it inconvenient.

"Then it should be the responsibility of the school to create awareness among the students' parents and surrounding community about Duchenne, instead of simply denying Duchenne-boys' access to mainstream education," expressed Paul.

Paul added further that there was still lack of awareness about Duchenne, resulting in the misconception that once a person is physically disabled, they should be in a Special Education class.

"When in fact, Special Education classes in Malaysia provide the level of education that cater to those who have learning disability. But boys with Duchenne are completely mentally capable of the normal education levels," he said.

Hence, said Paul, a boy like Eadmund should not be in a Special Education class. Parents like Tham, he added, may have to go the extra mile in enrolling and keeping their sons in mainstream classes, due to the lack of willingness among schools.

Both Paul and Tham are among the 110 participants of the Coalition Duchenne Expedition Mt Kinabalu from all over the world who will be scaling Mt Kinabalu today, to raise global awareness on Duchenne.

This is their fourth year climbing, organised by American-based Sabahan, Catherine Jayasuria, whose now 21-year-old son, Dusty, has Duchenne.

This year's expedition will see the inaugural wingsuit flyby in Borneo, as two world-renowned wingsuit pilots, Chris "Douggs" McDougall from Australia and Scotty Bob Morgan from the United States take part in the climb to jump off a cliff from the mountain and "fly" using a wingsuit.

Flagging off the expedition at the Shangri-la Tanjung Aru Resort here yesterday was Sabah Parks Board of Trustees chairman Dato' Seri Tengku Dr Zainal Adlin, representing Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

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RM60,000 packs of fake ‘Tongkat Ali Ginseng’ coffee seized

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:35 AM PDT

by Elton Gomes. Posted on August 16, 2014, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: The Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Affairs (DTCCA) Ministry Sabah office has seized 39,381 packets of fake instant 'Tongkat Ali Ginseng" coffee valued at RM60,000 from four retail premises around the state capital.

Its chief enforcement officer Suhaimi Mat Sari said the 11am raids on Thursday were made following complaints made by CNI Global Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, the main distributor of the product, claiming that the fake products were sold in public.

According to Suhaimi, the fake products are similar to the original items, making it difficult for enforcement personnel to carry out their investigation.

"Investigation revealed that the imitation products have the same packaging, size, colour and quality information as the authentic products.

"But the fake products do not have the company's code number and the logo is slightly blur," he said yesterday.

No arrests were made during the operation but statements were taken from the shop owners and operators, he said.

"We will investigate the case under the Trade Description Act 2011, which provides for a jail term of up to three years and a fine of between RM100,000 to RM250,000," he added.

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Illegal estate agents never charged – MIEA

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:34 AM PDT

by Jenne Lajiun. Posted on August 16, 2014, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: No action has been taken on any illegal estate agents anywhere in the country, including Sabah, even though the Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents Act 1981 has been implemented, said Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) president, Siva Shanker.

During the Property Hunter Agent Talk dubbed 'How to Establish a Leading Edge Against Illegal Estate Brokers' held at the Celyn Hotel City Mall near here yesterday, he said that there have been no cases of illegal real estate brokers being charged in court or arrested by the police to date.

Additionally, there have also been no investigations carried out by the police so far against illegal real estate brokers despite the numerous complaints that have been lodged, said Shanker.

He said that the Act has clearly stated that agents who were unregistered cannot transact properties for fees and that if they did, they would be breaking the law.

"This was enforced in 1981. Prior to that, everyone can do real estate but illegal real estate has been allowed to flourish due to the lack of enforcement," he lamented.

The role of MIEA is to promote awareness amongst genuine estate agents and members of the public.

"Make a report against any person who set up illegal real estate agents," he said. Illegal real estate agents are those that are not registered members of the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, and Estate Agents.

He cited that the perception that the activities of illegal real estate agents were victimless crime was what encouraged the enforcement agencies against taking action against the perpetrators.

But this perception is wrong, said Shanker, and he stated several reasons as to why he thought in such a way.

"Registered agents are the victims. We follow the rules and we take only three per cent fees, while they (the illegal brokers) don't abide by any rules," he said.

In such cases, buyers were also victims as they have to pay more for the property if they deal with illegal brokers.

Sellers are also victims as they gained less from the properties sold, while the government was victimised because illegal brokers do not have to pay taxes, he said.

"So why is this perception that it is a victimless crime? It is a crime with many victims. If someone practiced as a lawyer illegally, you can be certain that person would be arrested the next day, and the same goes for illegal doctors. So we need to ask why there is a lack of enforcement when it comes to illegal real estate brokers," he said.

He alleged that there were thousands of illegal real estate brokers and he classified them as opportunists rather than criminals.

Shanker also said that it would be easy to eradicate the practice of illegal real estate brokers.

"Just catch one or two and make an example out of them. The moment that happens, they (illegal real estate brokers) will run and hide.

"They will immediately join the real estate agency," he said.

At the same time, he also urged genuine real estate agents to differentiate themselves from those practicing illegally.

"Wear your tags. It differentiates the genuine agents from those illegally operating," he advised.

There are presently 100 registered estate agents and 300 registered negotiators in Sabah.

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Musa welcomes New Colombo Plan initiative

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 10:33 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman welcomes the initiative to introduce the New Colombo Plan, which is essentially a reverse of the original Colombo Plan, whereby the Australian government will support Australians to study in universities in the Asia Pacific region.

"This will certainly further strengthen the educational ties between Australia and Malaysia as well as pave the way for other forms of networking and linkages between the two countries," he said during a courtesy call by Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, His Excellency Rod Smith who is in Sabah for the Sandakan Memorial Day.

Musa also hoped to see further cooperation in the economic sector namely in tourism, adding that Australians were always welcomed in Sabah.

"We have historical ties that date back to World War II, namely during the Sandakan Death March," he said.

Meanwhile, Rod said the inclusion of Malaysia in the New Colombo Plan was greatly supported by both Australia and Malaysia's foreign ministers as it would not only build stronger educational ties but also promote cultural exchanges.

"I hear a lot of success with Sabah's conservation efforts. There is a lot you an teach the world about conservation," he said.

He was also pleased to see the heightened security measures undertaken in the east coast.

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