Shops, houses and warehouse razed in pre-dawn fire BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo |
- Shops, houses and warehouse razed in pre-dawn fire
- Motorcyclist survives plunge into drain
- ‘Have a ministry specifically to look after resettled people’ Masing
- DNC lodges report on seditious FB remarks
- Ikmas helps spread, share and teach Islam more effectively
- Mawan unwell, declines ice bucket challenge
| Shops, houses and warehouse razed in pre-dawn fire Posted: 02 Sep 2014 12:35 PM PDT KUCHING: Two motorcycle repair-cum-sales shops were gutted along with two squatter houses and a warehouse during a pre-dawn fire at Kota Sentosa yesterday. No injuries were reported in the 5am incident, which resulted in an estimated loss of more than RM600,000. The fire is believed to have started at one of the two motorcycle shops before spreading to the warehouse and two wooden houses located on an adjacent plot of land. One of the owners of the affected houses, who gave her name as Fan, said she woke up around 5am after hearing 'crackling' sounds and looked out her window to see flames shooting out from one of the motorcycle shops. She said she quickly woke up her younger brother as well as her daughter and hurried to safety as the flames spread to her house and another house belonging to a family-of-three, who were also escaping to safety at that same moment. None of the two families could save any of their belongings and could only watch helplessly as their homes were engulfed in a matter of minutes. It is learned that the two motorcycle shops collectively contained hundreds of motorcycles which comprised new units as well as those sent for repair by customers. The warehouse, meanwhile, was said to contain stock, mostly soft drinks. Kuching fire chief Tiong Ling Hii said that 21 personnel from the Batu Lintang, Tabuan Jaya and Padungan stations were despatched to the scene following a distress call received at 5.08am. The fire, he said, spread rapidly because all the affected structures were made of wood. "The situation was brought under control at 6.09am and we faced no problem with the water pressure in the area," said Tiong, adding he did not receive any reports of injury. Although the owner of one of the motorcycle shops claimed to have suffered losses of RM5 million, Tiong disclosed that initial statements gathered from the victims regarding their losses put the overall figure at over RM600,000. Meanwhile, Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang, who arrived at the scene after being notified of the incident, said his side would provide aid to those affected, and advised them to seek assistance from the Welfare Department. "I already referred them (victims) to Jabatan Kebajikan (Welfare Department) and I have also called the department to assist them," he told reporters. Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen was also present at the scene to survey the devastation and speak to the victims.   |
| Motorcyclist survives plunge into drain Posted: 02 Sep 2014 12:34 PM PDT SIBU: A motorcyclist was flung into a cement drain when knocked by a car whose driver was trying to avoid hitting another car yesterday afternoon. He emerged from the drain at Deshon Road with only scratches although his motorcycle and the car that hit him also ended up in the drain. The 3pm incident occurred near the Customs Department building. Both the woman and the motorcyclist were travelling on the same lane before the accident. According to the lady driver, another car had crossed her path, so she steered her car away to avoid hitting it but ended up hitting the bike in front, sending both vehicles into the drain. The woman was unhurt while the man was taken to hospital in an ambulance. We encourage commenting on our stories to give readers a chance to express their opinions; please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. While the comments here reflect the views of the readers, they are not necessarily that of Borneo Post Online. Borneo Post Online reserves the right not to publish or to remove comments that are offensive or volatile. Please read the Commenting Rules. |
| ‘Have a ministry specifically to look after resettled people’ Masing Posted: 02 Sep 2014 12:33 PM PDT by Lian Cheng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on September 3, 2014, Wednesday KUCHING: It is suggested that the state government set up a ministry or an agency to look after the needs of people who are resettled due to mega projects. Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing will make the proposal to the cabinet so that a ministry or an agency could be set up to take care of those re-settlers. He believed the setting up of such a ministry or agency was important with the state developing fast and many mega projects being either implemented or were in the pipeline. "The ministry or the agency can then take care of those people displaced by mega projects such as the building of HEP dams, reservoir dams or other projects that would affect large number of people," Masing told The Borneo Post yesterday. He said any major development in the state would involve resettlement of people and the needs for them to be given special attention. Citing the recent case of the Penans in Tegulang who had to resort to demonstration to get their message across, Masing said the problems would not have cropped up if there was an official agency to take care of these people. The Penans of Tegulang held a peaceful protest at the Murum HEP Dam site last week demanding that basic infrastructure and amenities such as road, school and clinic be built in their midst. As an GLC undertaking the Murum HEP Dam project, Sarawak Energy Bhd has been blamed for not providing the necessary infrastructure and basic amenities. Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, said SEB was not a charitable organisation, and as such, should not be penalised, as it's not its responsibility. "It is the state government's responsibility to provide roads, schools and clinics, not SEB," Masing said. Meanwhile, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Dato Sri Michael Manyin said the state Public Works Department had yet to receive any request from the people's local representatives with regards to the needs of road connecting Metalun and Tegulang to the main road. "The local representatives must write and propose to us about the needs of road linking Metalun and Tegulang to the main road. Until now, we have not received any official proposal on such needs." Masing concurred with Manyin's response saying there were many areas of resettlements that remained unresolved because there was no official ministry or agency responsible to deal with the resettled people. "Apart from those in Metalun and Tegulang, issues faced by people affected by the Bengoh Dam are also not resolved. "As a consequence, the state had to experience severe water shortage because of the unresolved resettlement issue," he said. |
| DNC lodges report on seditious FB remarks Posted: 02 Sep 2014 12:32 PM PDT KUCHING: Sarawakians are once again the subject of seditious remarks on facebook, this time through postings containing elements of racial insults on an account named 'JIM – Jemaah ISIS Malaysia' which targeted the Dayaks. Following this incident, the Dayak National Congress (DNC) has lodged a police report against the said account holder. The non-governmental organisation (NGO) feared that such seditious remarks could incite racial tension in this country and the state in particular. DNC executive secretary Alim Mideh said he first came across the controversial posting last Thursday (Aug 28) at his home in Kota Samarahan. At the time of viewing, the posting had garnered eight 'likes' and 111 comments. "This thing, that the facebook account owner has done, should be investigated and stopped at once. The Federation of Malaysia is made up of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. As such, we have citizens from various racial ethnic groups and religions. "We do hope that leaders from Sabah and Sarawak in particular look seriously into this matter," he told reporters when met after making his police report at Sungai Maong Police Station here yesterday. Strongly condemning the irresponsible act, Alim pointed to the danger of such postings which could influence minors who might take the remark at face-value. He feared that if the police and other relevant authorities did not take action against these individuals, the public would take matters into their own hands and others would be encouraged to boldly post similar remarks on facebook accounts and various other online channels. He thus called on the government to investigate what instigated such sentiments. At the same time, he urged all NGOs of other races to come out and lodge police reports "What we see so far, at the surface, are actions of insensible people. They should not have done this," he continued. As reported in the media on Aug 8, the police are tracing facebook account holders Vignamona VM, Kelvin Yip, Mohd Adam Asyiq Balasubramaniam and Persatuan Kongsi Gelap Melayu (Association of Malay Secret Societies) to assist in their investigation. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh was reported as saying that action would be taken against them for allegedly posting seditious remarks, as well as statements containing elements of racism and religious insults. |
| Ikmas helps spread, share and teach Islam more effectively Posted: 02 Sep 2014 12:31 PM PDT by Wilfred Pilo, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on September 3, 2014, Wednesday KUCHING: The setting up of Institut Kemahiran Islam Malaysia Sarawak (Ikmas) in Sarawak 13 years ago helps to spread, share and teach Islam to the faithful more effectively. Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud also said that people with Islamic qualification were better equipped to uphold the (Islamic) principles and its teaching. He said this at Ikmas' 12th Convocation held at its premises in Telaga Air near here yesterday. "Without such institute, we may be left behind in the way we portray Islam in this country as the pace of development is fast, which if one is not aware, can affect our multi-racial and multi-religious societies and the way we think and live," he added. Taib said with the qualification one could set a standard of sorts to ensure that the teaching of Islam was taught and shared in the right manner. He believed other religions too do have the same (standard) to ensure that the faithful could live together harmoniously. He acknowledged that Ikmas had done a great work and produced graduates who were well equipped with the knowledge suitable for today's environment. He, however, reminded the graduates not to be complacent and stop learning new things and skills. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom told a press conference later that a survey found that 90 per cent of Ikmas graduates were employable. "Many are employed while some chose to do their own business. The picture we have is that Ikmas graduates are highly demanded in the job market." He added that three new courses related to Islamic and missionary studies were being offered by Ikmas this year to strengthen their programme. He also said this year Ikmas produced 13 graduates who collected their Diploma in Tahfiz wa Dakwah at Darul Quran Convocation held at Kuala Kubu Baru in Selangor recently. "They are the first batch of graduates with such a diploma in the country," he added. At the convocation here yesterday, 99 Ikmas graduates received their diplomas and certificates. Six of them (four diploma and two certificate) received special awards and achievements. The receiver of Award in the Prime Minister's Department is Nurul Syafawani Junaidi, Azmin Saptu recieved Jakim Head Awards, Muhammad Fadhli Dawek (Maljis Islam Sarawak Award) and Kuzaifah Hafazzilah Ador (Ikmas Award). The two students who received the Basic Certificate In Ikmas Islamic Studies Award are Ricky Hambali Jifrion and Dzullyza Rapaiee. |
| Mawan unwell, declines ice bucket challenge Posted: 02 Sep 2014 12:30 PM PDT KUCHING: Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom declined to take up the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Ice Bucket Challenge as he is "down with very bad flu and sore throat". Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How had nominated Mawan to participate in the challenge. "I have been down with very bad flu and sore throat. That was why I could not respond to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge as challenged by See Chee How," Mawan told reporters after attending the closing and prize presentation ceremony for the 1st Sarawak Grand Championship at the Sarawak Golf Club (KGS) on Monday. Mawan said he would always respond to causes in the name of goodness, kindness and compassion. "I will continue to donate the way I have always done. "But at the moment, I'm not ready to pour ice on myself because I'm not well," he said. See nominated Mawan after he participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge together with Assistant Culture and Heritage Minister Liwan Lagang last Thursday. The Borneo Post organised the event after the newspaper was challenged by Interhill Group of Companies. Besides Mawan, See also nominated Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Chong Chieng Jen and Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing. Liwan nominated Batang Ai assemblyman Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Hulu Rajang Member of Parliament Wilson Ugak Kumbong and Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent, while The Borneo Post nominated Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Local Government and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais. Naroden was the first to respond to the challenge last Friday, with two buckets of ice water, but instead of donating to the US-based ALS Association, he donated to three local charitable organisations. Masing and Ugak took up the challenge in Kapit last Saturday, with Masing pledging to donate RM10,000 to the Sarawak Children's Cancer Society. Awang Tengah said he would take up the challenge, while Wong, who had helped raise funds for a local ALS patient previously, opted to donate. Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman, also turned down the challenge saying he would contribute as much as he could to the cause. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sarawak To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |