The Palace Hotel gives to the less fortunate

The recipeints of the Christmas gifts with the Palace Hotel team lead
by Ms Phang 5th right, back row.

KOTA KINABALU: The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu presented gifts to some 100 parishioners’ children and residents of the Mother of Divine Grace Hostel, Kota Belud, recently.

The gifts were collected from Hotel staff, guests and generous members of the public for the less fortunate, in conjunction with the Christmas celebration.

Ms Phang Joo See, the General Manager said a Christmas tree was placed  at their lobby where the names of the potential recipients were hung.

The tree aptly called ‘Angel tree’ was at the lobby for the whole month of December last year with the names hung on it, and guests as well as generous individuals were encouraged to pick a name off the tree as a recipient for their gifts,  she said.

According to her, the names were of children from the Mother of Divine Grace Hostel and children from impoverished families around the area.

“We collected and sent the gifts to the recipients recently,” she stated, adding that the hotel also brought food and drinks for the recipients and their family.

“We hope our gifts have given them joy. We are happy to have spent time with them in the spirit of giving.”

The collection of gifts for the less fortunate by way of an Angel tree has been carried out by the hotel for the last five years, with beneficiaries from various homes including Bondulu Orphanage Home, Toboh Tambunan, Don Bosco Orphanage Home, Bundu Tuhan and St Maria Goretti Hostel Keningau, among others.

This is one of the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) events where the hotel integrate social responsibilities and environmental concerns voluntarily into its business activities.

Ms Phang mentioned that the hotel Christmas Decorations were made up wholly with recycled materials collected from the various departments in the hotel.

“This included water bottles, egg trays and old newspapers as well as discarded containers and drums,” she stated.

According to her, this did  not only help the hotel in waste management but also instilled awareness among the young generation on the importance of employing the 4R hierarchy-reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Respect Culture in their everyday life.-AG

Ms Phang talking to the audience about the Angel Tree

Frankie Liew sumbang angpao dan makanan kepada warga tua

Frankie (barisan hadapan, sembilan dari kiri) bergambar bersama kakitangan
 Tukim, Nuga Best, Kian Teck dan YMM Cawangan Tanjung Aru 
yang menyertai program amal itu

KOTA KINABALU: Menjelang perayan Tahun Baru Cina, golongan warga emas di Rumah Warga Tua Sri Pritchard Kinarut tidak dilupakan oleh mereka yang prihatin khususnya syarikat-syarikat swasta dan juga individu.

Presiden Dewan Perniagaan Malaysia-Cina (Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce)(MCCC) Cawangan Sabah, Datuk Frankie Liew telah mengetuai kakitangan 2 buah syarikatnya iaitu Tukim Enterprise Sdn.Bhd dan Nuga Best (Sabah) Sdn.Bhd mengunjungi 94 penghuni warga emas rumah amal itu untuk menyampaikan sumbangan berupa makanan dan “Ang Pow”.

Frankie Liew merupakan Pengarah Urusan (MD) Tukim Enterprise dan Pengerusi Nuga Best (Sabah) Sdn.Bhd.

Turut menyertai rombongan Frankie dalam kunjungan mesra itu ialah Pengarah Kian Teck Sdn.Bhd, Encik Louis Tan, Pengarah Urusan Nuga Best, Francis Liew dan anggota Yong Malaysia Movement (YMM) Cawangan Tanjung Aru.

Menurut Frankie, lawatan ke rumah amal menjalang perayaan Tahun Baru Cina itu merupakan aktiviti tahunan syarikatnya sejak lebih 20 tahun lalu.

 “Lawatan amal yang diadakan setiap tahun ini, diharap dapat membawa sedikit keceriaan dan kegembiraan kepada para penghuni di Rumah Warga Tua Sri Pritchard menjelang perayaan Tahun Baru Cina”, katanya.

Beliau berkata, program amal itu juga selaras dengan konsep masyarakat penyayang dan tanggungjawab sosial korporat (CSR) yang dilaksanakan oleh syarikat-syarikatnya.
Menurutnya, generasi muda perlu diterap dengan cinta dan kasih kepada golongan warga emas bukan sahaja semasa menjelang sesuatu perayaan, tetapi sepanjang hayat.

Turut hadir di majlis itu ialah Penolong Penguasa Rumah Warga Tua Sri Pritchard, Puan Juddy George dan kakitangannya.-AG

Lion heads for Temple

 Bryan Chew (3rd left) and Mok (2nd right) recieving mementoes
from the Dance Troupe team during the event

CONTRIBUTION OF FOUR LION HEAD SETS….Tai Pak Gong Temple Tenom recieved four units of 'Lion heads' from entreprenuers Bryan Chew and Mok Sau Ngen, which would go to their Lion Dance Troupe, in conjunction with the Chinese New Year.

The hand over ceremony held at the same time as 'opening the Lions' eyes' ceremony was carried out at the Temple ground. It was witnessed by the Chairman of Tai Pak Gong Tenom, Kapitan Yong Yaw Chen and his deputy Chong Vun Kiong.

Yong  expressed his appreciation and thanks to Bryan dan Mok for their contribution to the temple's Dance Troupe.

According to Bryan, he presented two units of 'Lion head' annually so the Tai Pak Gong Lion Dance Troupe can perform well during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

“This is one of my corporate social responsibilities, with my friend, Mok”, he said.-AG

Rubber smallholders windfall

Datuk Yahya Hussin

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Sabah,  Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Yahya Hussin today express his happiness for the rubber smallholders in the state for the higher income enjoyed by them. 

Yahya said,  the International price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) has increased from its low of RM4.70 cents per kilogram early last year to today at RM9.68 per kilogram.  The increase in price is due to a short supply in the world market due to flooding in Southern Thailand.  He expressed his hope that the International rubber price will be maintained.

Yahya said, as a result, the smallholder rubber prices in Sabah  has increase from a low of RM1.50 per kilogram for cuplumps at 50% dry rubber content to a high of RM3.75 per kilogram as of today.  The increase has resulted in rubber smallholders earning between RM2,500.00 per month to RM7,000.00 per month.

Yahya reminded the smallholders that the government has a social safety net policy in place for rubber smallholders called the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG). The IPG is paid when the farm gate price falls below RM2.20 per kilogram for cuplumps (50% dry rubber content) or when the international SMR20 price is below RM5.50 per kilogram.  It means that if the actual price of cuplumps (50% dry rubber content) is RM1.50 per kilogram, the Government will top up the difference of 0.70 cents per kilogram.  The Federal Government has paid RM22,001,182.00 to rubber smallholders in Sabah from September 2015 to October 2016 through Sabah Rubber Industry Board under this programme. 

Yahya thank the Federal Government specially The Prime Mininter, Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak for assisting rubber smallholders in Sabah during the difficult times.   A total of 13,426 smallholders benefit from this policy.

Yahya also gave examples of the earnings of smallholders in December 2016 in the various districts.

Districts                      Smallholders                                    Amount

                                                                                      RM

Tuaran                       Podok bin Sualan                            6,476.75

Nabawan                   Angkimis Ampait                              6,935.30

Tenom                      Tham Swee Min                               5,946.35

Keningau                  Michael bin Asang                             8,547.95

Kota Marudu              Patrik Kambingi                                5,823.75

Kota Belud                Sail bin Serlesig                                4,971.90

Sipitang                    Alis bin Baru                                      4,035.45

Yahya also expresed his thanks to Prime Minister for giving funds to rubber smallholders for replanting and newplanting of rubber through the Sabah Rubber Industry Board amounting to RM321,217,238.00  from 2012 to 2016 to plant  26,518 hectares of rubber in Sabah.  A total of 8,540 smallholders were assisted under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) programme.-AG

In 2017, the Federal Government has allocated RM65,500,000.00 to further replant  and new plant 3,856  hectares and maintain planted areas through Sabah Rubber Industry Board.  A total of 1,285  additional smallholders will be assisted in 2017.

Yahya thank the Prime Minister for all assistance provided to Sabah Rubber Smallholders through Sabah Rubber Industry Board.

Mesyuarat Badan Perhubungan UMNO Sabah

UNTUK ALBUM…Timbalan Ketua Menteri,Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Yahya Hussin (bersongkok) yang juga Setiausaha Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri, Bendahari UMNO Negeri, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Haji Noor (empat dari kanan) yang juga Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Perumahan Negeri, Menteri Pembangunan Masyarakat dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Negeri, Datuk Hajah Jainab Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmad Ayid bergambar kenang-kenangan bersama Ketua-Ketua UMNO Bahagian sebelum mesyuarat Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri Sabah di Bangunan UMNO Sabah, Kota Kinabalu.

Turut kelihatan dalam gambar, Datuk Seri Panglima Abd.Ghapur Haji Salleh (tengah), Datuk Abd.Rahim Ismail (dua dari kiri), Datuk Sri Haji Nasir Tun Sakaran (tiga dari kiri), Datuk Bolkiah Ismail (kanan), Datuk John Ambrose (empat dari kiri), Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (dua dari kanan) dan Datuk Nilwan Kabang (kiri).-AG

TYT rasmi ulang tahun jubli intan Maktab Sabah

RASMI…Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Juhar Haji Mahiruddin telah berkenan merasmikan Majlis Ulang Tahun Jubli Intan ke-6 Maktab Sabah, Kota Kinabalu di dewan sekolah itu, kelmarin.

Turut hadir ialah Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Norlidah Tan Sri R.M.Jasni, Menteri Pembangunan Masyarakat dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Negeri, Datuk Hajah Jainab Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmad Ayid, Pengarah Pendidikan Negeri, Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul, Pengerusi Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru-Guru (PIBG), Datuk Fatimah Shara Ahmad Noor, Pengetua Cemerlang Maktab Sabah, Datin Hajah Nuinda Haji Alias dan Pengarah Jabatan Tanah dan Ukur Negeri, Datuk Hajah Safar Untung.

Pengerusi PIBG, Fatimah Shara berkata, majlis itu diadakan bertujuan memperingati genapnya 60 tahun usia penubuh Maktab Sabah selain untuk menghimpunkan mantan-mantan pelajar.

Kelihatan, Juhar (enam dari kiri) dan Norlidah (tujuh dari kiri) bersama Jainab (empat dari kiri), Fatimah (dua dari kiri), Nuinda (empat dari kanan) dan jemputan lain memotong kek sambutan Ulang Tahun ke-60 Maktab Sabah di majlis itu.-AG

Yahya rasmi co-opbank persatuan cawangan KK

Yahya (bersongkok) menandatangani
plak perasmian sambil diperhatikan oleh Yusra (tiga dari kanan),
Sani (dua dari kiri), Umar (kiri)
dan Mohamad Azmi (dua dari kiri) di majlis itu.

KOTA KINABALU: Timbalan Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Yahya Hussin telah merasmikan Koperasi Co-opbank Persatuan Malaysia Berhad (Co Opbank Persatuan) Cawangan Kota Kinabalu di Alamesra Plaza Utama, Jalan Sulaman, baru baru ini.

Yahya yang juga Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Makanan Negeri berkata, Kerajaan Negeri amat mengalu-alukan pembukaan Co-opbank Persatuan di Sabah yang telah pun mula beroperasi pada 23 September 2016.

Katanya, Co-opbank Persatuan sehingga kini telah mencapai modak syer berbayar lebih RM343.1 juta, sementara sebanyak 531 buah koperasi daripada seluruh negara telah menganggotainya dan anggota individu melebihi 75,000 orang.

“Dengan adanya 20 cawangan merentasi semua negeri di seluruh Malaysia, Co-opbank Persatuan bukan sahaja berjaya menampatkan dirinya sebaris dengan institusi kewangan lain di negara ini malahan mampu mengangkat martabat dan kedudukan sosio ekonomi para anggotanya”, tegasnya.

Turut hadir di majlis itu ialah Pengerusi Co-opbank Persatuan, Datuk Haji Yusra Sabar, Naib Pengerusi Eksekutif Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM), Dato’ Sani Abd.Hamid, Naib Presiden ANGKASA, Haji Mohamad Azmi Omaruddin, Pengarah SKM Negeri Sabah, Umar Sarim Saidin dan Pengerusi Perhubungan ANGKASA Sabah, Datuk Hajah Noraini Datuk Panglima Haji Salleh.-AG

Yahya menerima cendrakenangan dari Yusra

Yahya raikan rakan media

Yahya (lima dari kanan) bersama Ewon (tiga dari kanan)
dan Ketua-ketua Pengarang Akhbar mengaul “Yee Sang” di majlis itu.

 KOTA KINABALU: Timbalan Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Yahya Hussin telah meraikan pengamal media dengan majlis makan tengahari di Hibiscus Garden, The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Kota Kinabalu.

Liaw Sin Kuang (tiga dari kanan) mengaul yee sang dengan
pengamal media dan tetamu 

Majlis tahunan itu yang bertujuan mengeratkan lagi hubungan silatul rahim dan kerjasama itu telah dihadiri oleh Ketua-Ketua Pengarang akhbar-akhbar tempatan, Ketua-ketua Biro akhbar national dan para pengamal media cetak dan eletronik.

Antara yang hadir ialah Ketua Pengarang akhbar Daily Express, James Sarda, Ketua Pengarang The Borneo Post,  Chiu Nai Wen, Ketua Pengarang New Sabah Times,  C’hng Boon Heng, Ketua Pengarang Utusan Borneo,  Lichong Angkui, Ketua Biro Berita Harian,Wan Faizal Ismayatim, Ketua Biro Utusan Malaysia,  Rodelio Junjun Taucan, Pengarah Bahasa Malaysia New Sabah Times,  Mohd.Amin Muin dan lain-lain. Turut hadir ialah Setiausaha Politik Yahya,  Ewon Benedick dan Setiausaha Akhbar Yahya,  Liaw Sin Kuang.-AG

Yahya terima kunjungan CP baharu

Yahya (kanan) bersalaman dengan Ramli

KUNJUNGAN…Timbalan Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Yahya Hussin telah menerima kunjungan hormat daripada Pesuruhjaya Polis Sabah (CP), Dato’ Ramli Din di pejabatnya di Wisma Pertanian Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, baru baru ini.

Ramli mengambil alih tugas sebagai CP berkuatkuasa 3 Januari 2017. Beliau diiringi oleh Timbalan CP, Dato’ Razarudin Husain@Abd Rasid.-AG

Beauty of Kundasang and Mount Kinabalu: A Pictorial

A flower common in the Kundasang area

Kundasang Township under the brooding Mount Kinabalu

The road towards Kundasang

Crocker Range

The Kundasang Highland

KUNDASANG is a scenic area, comprising 16 villages sited on the ridge of the Crocker Range in Sabah.

It is very well known for producing highland vegetables and when one mention vegetables, thoughts of cabbages, capsicums and tomatoes always come to mind. They are usually found being sold in stalls sited besides the road.

Kundasang is a tourism site due to its scenic panorama. The mountains here look very interesting and photography buff will like their 'crumpled' looks, as well as the highest of them all, Mount Kinabalu.

Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the highest mountain in the Malay Archipelago as well as the highest mountain in Malaysia.

Other sites of interest here is the War Memorial, which is located near Kundasang Township. It commemorates the soldiers who died during the infamous Death March during the Second World War.

At that time 2,345 Allied prisoners of war held captive by the Empire of Japan  died after they were marched to Ranau from Sandakan POW Camp. Only six survived.

Other places that are of interest besides throwing down the gauntlet for Mount Kinabalu are trekking and visiting the Kinabalu Parks.

For those who wish to stay the night in Kundasang, there are no dearth of accommodations, which includes good chalets, hotels and homestay.

Kundasang is about one and a half hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, the State Capital.-AG

Frankie rasmi Restoran makanan laut

Frankie (tengah) memotong riben bersama Jack Loh semasa perasmian itu

KOTA KINABALU: Presiden Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Cawangan Sabah, Datuk Frankie Liew telah merasmikan Restoran Makanan Laut baharu- Ocean City Seafood Restaurant di Star City, Kota Kinabalu, baru baru ini.

Bercakap kepada pemberita, Frankie berkata  Sabah yang kaya dengan sumber perikanan dan marin merupakan syurga makanan laut (seafood heaven) di negara ini.

“Keistimewaan Sabah yang kaya dengan sumber perikanan menyebabkan ia jadi pilihan pelancongan asing terutama dari China, Jepun, Korea, Hong Kong, Amerika Syarikat dan lain-lain datang melawat Sabah semata-mata mahu menikmati makanan laut Sabah yang segar”, katanya.

Justeru katanya, keistimewaan Sabah sebagai syurga makanan laut perlu dipertahankan kerana ia merupakan salah satu daya tarikan pelancong selain keindahan alam semulajadi yang dimiliki negeri ini.

“Langkah Kerajaan Negeri melarang pengeksportan ikan-ikan segar dan hidup amat dialu-alukan kerana pelancong asing dan juga rakyat Sabah berpeluang menikmati bekalan makanan laut yang segar”, tambahnya.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Ocean City Seafood Jack Loh berkata restoran itu beroperasiv mulai 20 Disember 2016 dan kini menawarkan harga istimewa untuk hidangan ketam dan udang sehingga 15 Januari 2017.-AG

Beauty through Grooming

Jainab (5th right) with owners and staff of the salon

KOTA KINABALU: Beauty through grooming can be a mission statement for those who are passionate about looking good.

This could well be the statement for a salon named Hair Culture Revolution (HCR) which opened its door to the public at Imago Shopping Mall recently.

The salon, owned and run by a Kuching based company boasts contemporary setting and elegant furnishings. It offers various types of services for hair, including cutting, styling and treatments.

Featuring branded products for customers who are concerned about the health of their hair, this salon also provide services for those who wear head-covers or tudung.

The salon was officially opened by the  Sabah Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk HajahJainab Haji Ahmad Ayid recently.

The salon

During the event, she said that such outlet can contribute to the tourism industry in the State as the tourists demand do non only include visits to sites of interest but also grooming.

She stated that after a day out in the sun, they want to have a place to wash or style their hair in comfort and as such HCR meet the criteria due to its location and well appointed space.

“I appreciate the fact that they have an enclosed area for hair treatments and styling for those who wear tudung,” she stressed.

On another note, she lauded the group of people running the hair salon for their business venture.

The seats waiting to be taken

“Business enterprise is a lucrative means of earning and I believe our youth here, with determination and perseverance can be successful in this venture,” she stressed, adding that the locals should emulate the Sarawakian group in their endeavours.

She also urged the HCR group to transfer knowledge to locals through employment so that they too can learn more about hairdressing and grooming.

HCR is sited on the second floor at Imago Shopping Complex, Kota Kinabalu.-AG