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Petronas gives Sabah 10 pct stake in LNG 9 BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Petronas gives Sabah 10 pct stake in LNG 9

Posted: 20 Aug 2014 12:00 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has agreed to give the Sabah state government a 10 per cent stake in Liquefied Natural Gas Sdn Bhd 9 (LNG 9) in Bintulu, Sarawak.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said as announced in Sabah's State Assembly sitting in July, Petronas had then in principle agreed to give Sabah a five per cent stake in the LNG operation but the state had said it would push for a 10 per cent stake.

"I am pleased to announce today that Petronas has agreed to give Sabah greater participation by increasing our stake to 10 per cent," he said in a statement here yesterday.

Musa, who is also state finance minister, said the offer was the result of several negotiations between the state government and Petronas.

He said the state government was committed to developing Sabah's oil and gas industry, clearly demonstrated by high-impact projects such as the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial, that also housed, among others, the RM4.5 billion Sabah Ammonia Urea Plant Project, Sipitang.

"I am confident that through the close cooperation with Petronas, Sabah can expect more exciting development in the oil and gas industry," he said. — Bernama

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Govt working with MACC to stem corruption – CM

Posted: 20 Aug 2014 10:25 AM PDT

by Murib Morpi. Posted on August 21, 2014, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will continue to place emphasis on fighting corruption by working closely with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to promote and strengthen integrity among civil servants.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the government fully recognized the importance of curbing corruption to ensure the country's social and physical development are not hampered by unethical officers.

"The state government has always been very supportive of MACC's efforts to fight corruption. This is because we understand that fighting corruption is not just a principle but a key factor in the development of the country," he said.

Speaking at the MACC 1Suara 1Jalinan Programme here yesterday, Musa called on all public servants to play their part in supporting the National Key Result Area (NKRA) on corruption.

Serious and committed actions are needed to address misconduct and abuse of power among government servants, he added.

"I also welcome the initiative and noble effort by MACC to give recognition and special awards to enforcement agencies involved. I hope this recognition will be an example to be emulated and an encouragement to civil servants and enforcement agencies to continuously improve their services," he said.

Seventeen agencies, including five from Sabah, participated in the programme.

At the event, Musa presented Integrity Awards to several officers in recognition of their outstanding contribution in fighting corruption.

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92 litter-free premises now – Mayor

Posted: 20 Aug 2014 10:24 AM PDT

by Jenne Lajiun. Posted on August 21, 2014, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: Masterskill Global College Kota Kinabalu is once again recognised as a litter-free higher learning institution by City Hall.

The recognition was made by Mayor, Datuk Abidin Madingkir at the Masterskill Global College near here yesterday.

Abidin commended the college for its achievement to retain the litter-free premise status and acknowledged that it was not easy to continue to retain the recognition.

"Masterskill Global College is the second higher learning institute in the city to be recognised with the status by City Hall. It first received the recognition on August 23, last year. Today, the college received its second recognition. Congratulations," Abidin said in his speech.

He said the participation of higher learning institutes in the anti-litterbug campaign initiated by City Hall was imperative as it will help City Hall realise its aspiration to become a litter-free city.

"Such collaboration is the best strategy to widen City Hall's 5K mission of cleanliness, beautification, safety, systematic and well-being. Aside from supporting the campaign, higher learning institutes are also active in recycling activities and other environmental related activities," he said.

He said, presently there were 92 litter-free premises since the campaign was launched by City Hall in 2008. The recognition can be recalled by City Hall if it found those given the recognition throw their garbage indiscriminately, he said.

At the same time, participants of the plastic bag usage reduction campaign have increased to 320.

Abidin said his most challenging task as a mayor was figuring how to deal with the garbage issue. He said that he has been approached and have received comments from foreign visitors, who were mesmerised with the city, but was put-off by its garbage.

"A German tourist came to me, commented on how beautiful the city was and asked me to deal with the floating garbage which she saw while going to the island near the city. I also received an email from a 12-year-old boy who said he enjoyed KK (Kota Kinabalu) but suffered from stomach ache after consuming a fish in the city. He felt that he was ill because the fish has eaten garbage," he said.

Abidin said, the garbage issue was not just the responsibility of City Hall but the entire population. He cited that a city in London which was free of litter at one time, Birmingham, was now overridden with it.

Also present at the event were City Hall's deputy director general, Joannes Solidau, City Hall's hygiene and environmental health director, Robert Lipon and Masterskill Global College Kota Kinabalu chief executive, Arnold Junior Augustine @ Aaron.

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UPKO’s internal issues resolved – Tangau

Posted: 20 Aug 2014 10:23 AM PDT

by Nancy Lai. Posted on August 21, 2014, Thursday

TAMPARULI: United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (UPKO) is on the road to recovery after resolving its internal issues.

According to the party's acting president, Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, all those involved have agreed to settle their differences for the sake of party's unity.

Speaking to reporters after officiating at the UPKO Tuaran and Kota Belud joint convention here yesterday, Tangau said that there was an internal conflict after the party's election last year.

"For the first time in UPKO's history, it was a very close party election and we do not deny that what happened had shocked us and it was a tumultuous time that has somewhat affected the party's unity.

"Five months on, we have taken steps to resolve the issues and all those involved in the election are in agreement that the party's unity is the top priority," he said, adding everything would be finalized in the next UPKO Supreme Council meeting.

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on federal Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin's call to the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to field 30 per cent of candidates who are aged below 40 in the 14th General Election, Tangau pointed out that it had been done in the 13th General Election.

In fact, the request was not only made by the youth movements in BN. The women movements in the coalition had also been making the same request all this while, he said.

"The BN leadership agreed to the request and in fact this was implemented in the last election but we have to remember not all the young candidates won. For example, UPKO fielded a ketua pemuda (divisional youth chief) in Bingkor but he lost. So this means that, in the matter of candidacy, we not only look at a person's age and gender, but also leadership qualities," he stressed.

To the question of the steps UPKO has taken and will take to hone its young members' leadership qualities, Tangau said that the party had initially set up its Komulakan movement which is quite unique.

"We have also set up a Training and Research Bureau, which is conducting leadership training for the party's young leaders. We are also looking at opening up the training to the KDM community in the future," he said.

In his speech earlier, Tangau, who is also UPKO Tuaran chief, paid tribute to former UPKO president and founder, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, who resigned from his post in March this year.

"Yes, we were shocked and UPKO was in denial when Tan Sri Bernard made his decision to resign known, but we respect his decision and to show our appreciation, we appointed him as the party's honorary president.

"I would like to record the party's highest appreciation to Tan Sri Bernard for his contributions, commitment and support for 20 years which we in UPKO will use to guide us as we soar to greater heights," he said.

Tangau, who is also Tuaran member of parliament, said that as the new UPKO leader, he is renewing the party's vow to the country's highest echelons that the party will continue to be in the arena with the Prime Minister and also pledged to work harder to enhance the people's support for the BN, particularly from the KadazanDusun, Murut and native communities.

He also proposed that in the interest of the people's welfare, UPKO institutionalized seven issues which must be made into resolutions and debated at each of its conventions.

The seven issues are education, religious and racial harmony, infrastructure, citizenship, economy, governance and strengthening UPKO, he said, adding that these issues would be the basis of UPKO's struggles and to be championed consistently until successful.

Tangau pointed out that the challenge UPKO faces now is finding ways to increase the people's support for the party and BN.

"Based on the GE13 results, the KDM community's support for BN was only between 35 per cent to 45 per cent, which is lower than what we had in the past. The result was due to several sensitive issues which the constituents felt were not beneficial to their welfare and had made them felt left out.

"UPKO accepts this challenge and will resolve the problems because UPKO is an institution that can bring the message across via various mediums, including the social network," he stressed.

Tangau also called in the party's Youth, Women and Komulakan movements to take steps to increase their members as the rule of the thumb is that the party's membership in an area, especially in the constituency it is contesting in, should be more than half the number of voters there.

He also said that UPKO would continue to push the government so that it makes the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah public.

"The RCI is among the struggles that has set UPKO apart from other parties in BN and Tan Sri Bernard was very vocal in the matter… this cannot be denied. I would like to stress here that Tan Sri Bernard's stand on the issue is also UPKO's stand. It is also as my personal stand as UPKO's leader now," he said.

UPKO, he added, reiterates its call to the government to recall all Malaysian identity cards issued in Sabah and re-issue them to those who pass the screening by stakeholders.

The process may take two to three years, but it will be one that reflects the government's sincerity in resolving the issue and reviving the people's trust that it is sincere in protecting the state's security, he stressed.

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Emergency medical services at both QEH and QEH2

Posted: 20 Aug 2014 10:22 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The emergency medical services in Sabah have improved tremendously over the years, said Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) director Dr Heric Corray.

Dr Heric said there were now seven emergency medical specialists at QEH, two at QEH 2 in Damai and two at the Women and Children's Hospital in Likas where patients requiring emergency medical attention could be stabilized before they were transferred to the respective hospitals.

"QEH and QEH 2 can work independently, meaning patients who end up at either one of the hospitals can receive full treatment there," he said in an interview after taking reporters on a tour at the new Emergency Medical and Trauma Department (EMTD) at QEH here yesterday.

Besides the 11 trained emergency specialists in Kota Kinabalu, there are two in Sandakan, two in Lahad Datu, two in Tawau, one in Keningau and very soon, one in Labuan hospitals.

He said the EMTD was the first department which started operating at the new twin towers at QEH.

"We have three operating theatres here for ear, nose and throat (ENT), ophthalmology and trauma patients, which are expected to be operational by September 1."

Besides the EMTD, the twin towers also house several wards such as the medical ward, ENT ward, ophthalmology ward and rehabilitation department.

In addition, Dr Heric said all patients at Lingzhi Medical Centre had moved to QEH as the place had been shut down.

There were 52 beds at Lingzhi Medical Centre which catered for general medical, geriatric and infectious disease patients.

"We hope the twin towers will be fully functional by the end of this year," he said, adding that the move of various departments into the twin towers would be carried out in stages.

The Forensics Department has also moved into the twin-tower.

Dr Heric added that QEH would be capable and prepared in handling infectious diseases such as Ebola the virus disease (EVD), which he assured there was no such case yet.

Also present was EMTD head of emergency physician consultant Dr Ahmad Hashim.

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ESSzone curfew extended

Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:48 PM PDT

by Azmie Lim. Posted on August 20, 2014, Wednesday

LAHAD DATU: State Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman yesterday announced the extension of dusk-to-dawn curfew in the six districts in Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) from August 20 to Sept 2, but a change in time from 7 pm to 5 am instead of 6 pm to 6 am.

He told a press conference at the police headquarters here yesterday that the phase three curfew order would begin on August 20 (today) until September 2, from 7pm to 5am at the same areas that have been fixed during the first phase.

"The decision was made after considering all factors, including the latest security situation in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

"After receiving information from ESSCom commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun, with the power given to me under Section 31(1) Police Act, I declare the extension of curfew with time change," he said.

Present at press conference were Abdul Rashid and District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Hamzah Ahmad.

Jalaluddin said a letter had been sent to Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and he had agreed to extend the curfew order from August 20 to September 2, beginning at 7pm to 5am instead of 6pm to 6am which was implemented during the first and second phase.

He said his party was satisfied with the cooperation given by the public, especially in the areas involved and hoped the cooperation will continue for the benefit of all parties.

Jalauddin also urged the public, including fishermen, to comply with the curfew to avoid being arrested for violating the curfew order.

"During the implementation of the second phase curfew, 14 men aged between 25 and 40 were charged under Section 31(2) of Police Act for not complying with the curfew order. They were sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment and fined RM500 each.

"Therefore, I hope the public will provide cooperation to the enforcement agency, including the police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and ESSCom to avoid any untoward incident," he added.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rashid said the curfew order was to facilitate the security forces to implement enforcement and identify criminals.

He added that good cooperation from the public during the curfew was needed to ensure the security in our country is guaranteed, especially in Sabah.

The areas affected by the curfew order starts three nautical miles from the coastal areas along the east coast waters beginning from Sandakan through Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna until the Tawau jetty.

The first phase of the curfew order was declared by Jalaluddin on July 19 following the attack incident in Pulau Mabul, Semporna that claimed the life of a policeman and saw another police officer kidnapped on July 12.

It was later extended to the second phase which took effect on August 3 and ended yesterday by Abdul Rashid following the situation in the ESSZone.

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