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Pairin wants successor to continue PBS’ original struggle BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Pairin wants successor to continue PBS’ original struggle

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 10:04 AM PDT

by Johan Aziz. Posted on August 26, 2014, Tuesday

TENOM: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has dropped a hint that he is going to retire soon.

The veteran politician, who has led PBS for nearly 30 years, told reporters after officiating the annual general meeting of PBS Melalap division on Saturday that his successor should continue the original struggle and traditions of the party after he has retired from politics.

"When I retire from the political arena someday, I want my successor to continue to be committed to the original struggle of PBS," he said.

He reminded the members of the party who were appointed to the highest positions in the party that they will have to prioritize unity and interests of the party and the people.

Pairin said the struggle for the interests of the party and the people should be a priority and not to boast and be proud when they assumed office.

"The question of who is replacing me is not so important but the party struggle in defending the fate and welfare of the people in this state should be given precedence.

"The focus and agenda of PBS in advancing and defending the rights of citizens of this state should be given priority because it is the original struggle of the party which was established 29 years ago in the state," he said.

Touching on who would be his successor, Pairin said he would only disclose the person when the time comes.

He said that the second and third line of leaders in the party must be sensitive to the current situation and find appropriate approaches for the party struggles so that it would continue to be relevant.

"The party members also need to be creative, committed and proactive in carrying out their duties, especially in conveying the party policies to the people, especially the members of the party.

"Do not make the party as a springboard to boast, which can affect the image and tarnish the good name of the party," he said.

Besides that, he said the spirit of unity and cooperation should be strengthened among party members so that PBS continued to gain ground in the hearts of the people and respected by their counterparts in other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties.

"I believe that in the absence of unity and respect in the PBS family, the party will not succeed in its mission and vision to continue the struggle to defend the fate and future of the people of the state," he said.

In another development, Pairin, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister and Infrastructure Development Minister, asked all levels of society regardless of ethnicity and religion to continue to pursue the government's role in helping to ease the people's burden.

He said without the support and cooperation of the people, the plans by the government will not materialize.

"The people need to understand the government's policy in order not to get the wrong perception, especially in the government efforts to provide aid and comfort to ease the burden and quality of life of the people in the rural areas," he said.

He said the government is committed to its responsibility to develop people, not only in the delivery but in the form of infrastructure facilities to raise their standards of living and socio-economic development so that they also developed along with a developed nation by the year 2020.

Also present at the meeting were the PBS Melalap head and Rural Development Minister Datuk Radin Malleh, members of Central PBS Supreme Council, PBS leaders from other divisions of the state and Melalap, including the Youth and Wanita movements.

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UMS should raise own fund, says former chief justice

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 10:03 AM PDT

by Jenne Lajiun. Posted on August 26, 2014, Tuesday

KOTA KINABALU: Higher public learning institutions (IPTA) have been urged to become lean organisations like higher private learning institutes (IPTS).

The call was made by Tun Dato Seri Zaid Tun Azmi, the IPTA universities board of directors chairman during the IPTA Human Resource Conference 2014 (PESUMA 2014) held at the Promenade Hotel here.

He added that the move is imperative for the IPTAs as they have been given the task to raise their own revenue and reduce their costs.

"Today, the government requires IPTAs to be autonomous and raise its own revenue. The government will reduce its contribution gradually," he said.

"IPTAs such as UMS (Universiti Malaysia Sabah) must seek donations and raise its own fund by going into business…some universities are faring well, but many are not," he said.

He cited that among the reasons the IPTAs were struggling were because they continued to retain inefficient staff.

"Inefficient staff cost money and may not increase revenue," he explained.

The cost of keeping an employee is not only confined to the salary paid to that person, but also the office space taken, electricity used, air conditioning, pension and medical benefits and so on, he said.

Zaid further mentioned that while human resources were assets to an organization, they also considered as liability at the same time.

"If an organisation has too many manpower, it tends to become less efficient…you have to get rid of inefficiency," he said.

Unfortunately, the government, including IPTAs, have a different approach when it wants to get more things done — when it becomes inefficient, it adds more manpower, he said.

"But, despite adding more manpower, it doesn't address the efficiency issue as no one is monitoring to improve it," he said.

Zaid shared that when he was serving as the Chief Justice of Malaysia, they reduced the supporting staff by about 310 people and yet, the efficiency improved.

"Everything improved because we introduced multi-tasking," he said.

Through multi-tasking, excuses that are often heard at government offices such as, "the officer/person in charge is not around. Can you come back tomorrow?" will cease to exist, he said.

"You will never hear such an excuse in let's say, a bank. No one say that the task belongs to someone else."

Zaid then urged IPTAs to set a key performance index (KPI) for all its staff and for its leaders to show good examples. At the same time, he also urged all supervisors to demand efficiency from all his or her subordinates.

"Learn to delegate your staff; encourage employees and subordinates to contribute their ideas," he said.

He added that supervisors and heads of an organisation must take the blame if their subordinates failed to deliver.

"Don't put the blame on people…as chairman, if I don't make my vice chancellor and my people work, I have failed," he said.

He also stressed that it was the role of leaders of an organisation to be daring in implementing policies, or else, nothing will ever change.

"Listen to ideas from your people. Don't be the only smart person around," he said.

He also urged managers to empower their staff and to define proper boundaries for their staff.

Zaid also urged IPTAs to constantly invest in training for their staff and for bonus and increment to be given based on the performance and achievements of their employees.

Also present was Universiti Malaysia Sabah registrar Datuk Abdullah Mohd Said.

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Prawn disease in Sabah negligible, under control

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 10:02 AM PDT

by Christy Chok. Posted on August 26, 2014, Tuesday

TAWAU: Incidence of disease affecting shrimps or prawns in Sabah is almost negligible and under control as there has been no reported outbreak of any such disease so far, says the Department of Fisheries Malaysia.

Its director general, Dato' Ahamad Sabki bin Mahmood, disclosed that a bio-survey unit had been set up in Sabah to monitor and carry out sample testing of prawn production from time to time to detect the disease, if any, on the prawns here. They will undertake sampling on soil, water and prawn for detection of any disease.

Besides that, the research and development (R & D) unit is also carrying out research to prevent or eliminate disease, such as the white spot disease on tiger prawns (penaeus monodon).

Ahamad Sabki said this at a press conference after officiating at the shipment of the 200th container of prawns for export under a National Key Economic Area project at Pegagau Specialty Farming Sdn Bhd, Umas-Umas near here yesterday morning.

"In recent years, we have initiated efforts to culture another species, called White Prawn (udang putih). We have, so far, not confronted any problem with this white prawn production (for phase one), but generally, we have achieved considerable success for almost 10 years now in this industry.

"We have also been carrying out R & D on the early mortality syndrome (EMS) of white prawns since two years ago and thus far, we have been able to control this disease from affecting production. Today, Pegagau Specialty Farming Sdn Bhd is able to maintain its high prawn production over the last six years and have not confronted any problem with disease affecting the prawns throughout its operation," Ahamad Sabki pointed out.

Touching on the effect of the curfew implementation in the east coast, he said it did not pose any problem or restrict the operation of the seaweed industry, especially in Semporna, as the seaweed cultivations were within three nautical miles. However, it would have some effect on the aquaculture market during the curfew period.

Sabah Fisheries Department deputy director Azhar Kassim disclosed that more than 100 permits have been issued to the fishermen recently to carry out commercial fishing within five to ten nautical miles off the coast.

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Trained domestic helpers to earn RM800

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 10:01 AM PDT

by Mariah Doksil. Posted on August 26, 2014, Tuesday

KOTA KINABALU: Domestic helpers, who complete their four-month course with the Human Resource Development Department, will take home a starting salary of RM800 a month and with at least one off day in a week.

Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Siringan Gubat, who disclosed this when presenting course completion certificates to 25 newly graduated domestic helpers, said the demand for domestic helpers had been increasing not only in Sabah but also in Peninsular Malaysia and Brunei.

"The next course will start early next month, and we are keeping to the number of 25 participants only, to ensure the relevant department will have time to train them in four months.

"All 25 women from the previous batch are currently working with local families, while some trainees from this batch have been booked by the consulate office of Malaysia in Brunei. There are also a number of bookings from Peninsular Malaysia.

"With all the demand we are receiving from our local people and also from beyond Sabah, I am sure this career will be another platform for our locals to find jobs instead of just waiting for job offers and not doing anything," he said.

All the trainees were given three months of in-house and one-month on-the-job training conducted by the department.

They will also be monitored by the ministry's special committee, protected under the Sabah Labour Ordinance and working under the Minimum Wage Policy.

One of trainees, who received her certificate yesterday, said she was very lucky to be chosen to do the course.

Vellnah Dulasim, 21, from Ranau, said the four-month training gave her the opportunity to look after a house and family with children, and she also learned how to cook healthy food.

"The most important experience that I really appreciate from this training is how to look after disabled children and how to prepare their food.

"Looking after special kids was something new to me and I really appreciate that particular precious experience. I hope more women will take the opportunity because the job demand is very big," she said.

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Mitsubishi Red Peak Challenge to tour Sabah, Sarawak soon

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 09:50 AM PDT

PENANG: The Mitsubishi Red Peak Challenge, inspired by the automaker's victory in the 2014 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Challenge, is expected to arrive at the East Malaysian shores very soon.

Making its debut here last Saturday, visitors can witness Mitsubishi Triton pick-up, Pajero sport utility vehicle (SUV) and ASX Compact going through a wide range of obstacles installed on a massive truck.

According to Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia chief executive officer (CEO) Tetsuya Oda, the event will travel to several locations in Peninsular Malaysia first.

"For those in East Malaysia, no need to worry as Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia plans to bring this special showcase to them as well," Oda said at the launch on Saturday.

Oda said Mitsubishi produced some of the world's most exciting yet durable vehicles, where the likes of Triton and ASX came with the most advanced 4WD control system able to handle any terrain.

"The Red Peak Challenge obstacle truck presents different 4WD challenge to our models. Apart from the roller ramp, side traverse and uneven ramp test, the most spectacular challenge is definitely the giant 'Sky Ramp' – a 45-degree, 25-feet incline that points up to the sky.

"This extreme obstacle will surely put both man and machine to the test," said Oda.

The fully-electric MiEV Evolution 3 4WD race car on June won the 2014 Pikes International Hill Climb Challenge in the electric category.

The same automobile also commanded the second and third overall places, beating many of its more powerful petrol-powered counterparts.

Mitsubishi Red Peak Challenge will move on to Tesco Extra Mutiara Damansara, Selangor on Sept 6-7, Plaza Angsana Car Park A in Johor Bahru (Sept 13-14) and the outdoor car park of Stadium Kota Bahru, Kelantan (Sept 26-27).

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Federal govt urged to emulate Sabah govt

Posted: 24 Aug 2014 04:42 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui has urged the Federal Government to emulate the Sabah State Government in supporting the development of Chinese kindergartens.

Lui said the chamber was thankful to the State Government for its continuous support and annual allocation for Chinese schools, including Chinese kindergartens, in the State.

He hoped the Federal Government could also allocate funding to Chinese kindergartens as they relied solely on State Government's allocation currently.

Lui said this at the 30th anniversary celebration of Putatan Hwa Shiong Kindergarten yesterday.

At the same time, Lui called on individuals who were passionate about Chinese education to safeguard the preservation of Chinese education.

"KKCCCI manages a conforming secondary school, four Chinese primary schools and three Chinese kindergartens. We will do our level best to promote Chinese education with the aim of preserving Chinese culture and education," he said.

Besides providing a conducive environment for the learning of the Chinese language in the eight schools under KKCCCI, Lui said the chamber also actively promote Chinese festivals and cultural activities.

"To be honest, there are many issues and challenges in safeguarding Chinese education. However, thanks to the strong support from the society and the Chinese community, we have broken out of our difficulties and entered a stage of stable development."

Lui believed that the kindergarten, under the leadership of the board of governors chairperson, Datuk Mary Ling, would see the upgrading of hard infrastructure in the next few years in order to cope with future development demands.

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