Pemuda UMNO KK persoal motif Shafie syor Pesta Kaamatan cuti Umum Kebangsaan

Mohd Bahrin

KOTA KINABALU: Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Kota Kinabalu hari ini mempersoalkan motif sebenar Presiden Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal menggesa Kerajaan Persekutuan mengisytiharkan 30 dan 31 Mei sebagai cuti kebangsaan Pesta Kaamatan.

Ketuanya  Mohd.Bahrin Abd.Karim berkata, tindakan Shafie seperti telah terdesak sehingga menggunakan cuti umum Pesta Kaamatan sebagai isu untuk kepentingan politiknya.

Beliau berkata, Shafie sepatutnya memperjuang dan mensyorkan agar Kerajaan Persekutuan mengiktiraf dan menjadikan sambutan Pesta Lepa-Lepa yang diraikan oleh masyarakat Bajau Semporna sebagai cuti umum kebangsaan dan bukan memainkan isu Pesta Kaamatan.

“30 dan 31 Mei setiap tahun adalah cuti umum bagi negeri Sabah dan Kerajaan  menerusi Pejabat Daerah dan KDCA juga menganjurkan sambutan Pesta Kaamatan di daerah-daerah di seluruh negeri sebagai mengiktiraf pesta yang penting bagi masyarakat KadazanDusun Murut (KDM) ini.

“Sambutan Pesta Kaamatan diraikan oleh masyarakat berbilang kaum sepanjang bulan Mei dan KDCA serta persatuan etnik yang lain juga ada menganjurkan sambutan itu di Semenanjung Malaysia seperti di Klang, Selangor bagi membolehkan masyarakat KDM yang berada di Semenanjung Malaysia bersama-sama meraikankan”, katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas syor yang dicadangkan oleh Shafie agar Kerajaan Persekutuan isytiharkan Pesta Kaamatan sebagai cuti kebangsaan.

Mohd.Bahrin berkata, cadangan Shafie bermotifkan politik kerana mahu memancing sokongan masyarakat KDM khususnya yang bekerja di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Katanya, Shafie selaku mantan menteri persekutuan sepatutnya mengemukakan syor menjadikan Pesta Kaamatan sebagai cuti kebangsaan masa beliau masih dalam kabinet persekutuan.

“Kenapa semasa Shafie memegang jawatan Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah (KKLW), beliau tidak pernah mengemukakan syor ini untuk pertimbangan Kerajaan Persekutuan?

“Kenapa pula sekarang, selepas mengetuai parti pembangkang baru beliau menggesa Kerajaan Persekutuan isytiharkan 30 dan 31 Mei sebagai cuti kebangsaan bagi menghormati Pesta Kaamatan? Ini jelas bahawa tindakan Shafie adalah berlandaskan kepentingan politiknya dan bukan berjuang untuk masyarakat KDM”, tegasnya.

Mohd.Bahrin berkata, cuti umum Pesta Kaamatan bukan satu isu bagi rakyat di Sabah, ianya seperti juga cuti umum Pesta Gawai di negeri Sarawak.

Serentak itu, Pemuda UMNO KK menggesa Shafie agar tidak mempolitikkan isu cuti umum Pesta Kaamatan semata-mata mahu merai sokongan KDM.

“Saya yakin masyarakat berbilang kaum di Sabah khususnya KDM begitu pintar dan tidak akan terpengaruh dengan isu-isu yang dimainkan oleh parti Warisan yang hanya lantang bersuara menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU)”, tegasnya.-AG/MSN

A Road Hard to Travel

The Muddy Road

By:Anna Vivienne

The start of the journey towards Long Pasia, from Sipitang, a township south of the State,  is somewhat exciting. The road meanders through the countryside where quaint little houses stand among larger more opulent abode. The greeneries around are picturesque, lending a tranquil atmosphere along the road.

One can enjoy the view indefinitely but this nicely asphalted road comes to an end an hour or so drive afterwards, and then it starts on gravel. Most people understand and have experienced how uncomfortable driving on or travelling on a four-wheel drive vehicle can be over gravelly road.  Its like being trundled and shaken in a tin can.

Bumping one’s head is a periodic occurrence where one definitely acquires a blazing headache after wards. To boot it all one bump up and down which is not very good for the back.

It helps if the vehicle slows down a little, but it is still quite bumpy nevertheless.

Long Pasia

The graveled road comes to an end too, but we are not there yet. The road ends into dirt road; no gravels anymore. Its just a dirt road that turns into slippery red clay when it rains.

The driver of the vehicle has to apply his driving skills here and it must be mentioned that it’s not a matter of just having passed a driving test by the licensing department. It needs skills and nerve.

Two feet of sloshy mud, with rocks and pieces of woods in it are main concerns. Getting stuck in the muddy sludge is another.

Slipping down a slope with a vehicle horizontal on the road is a sight that’s almost mundane. Getting thrown every which way is another. The breath-stopping occasion is when the vehicle buck on the road with a deep ravine on one side.

After going through that for four hours, Long Pasia Village comes into view.  The breath taking view of the village is worth it, although back in one’s mind is the niggling thought that a day or so afterwards, the four hours’ drive will be repeated when one leaves to go home.

Long Pasia is a village in Sipitang Sabah which is synonymous with nature and as home to the Lundayeh people. They are mostly paddy planters and hunters. In their plantations they usually plant catch crops like yams, tapioca and sweet potatoes.

The village is nestled in the valley, with houses built on the gentle slopes. At the flat land on the valley where the schools, clinic and shops are, runs a river.

The village is participating in the homestay programme and many houses are earmarked as such. This is especially for houses that have good clean modern toilets, a compulsory requirement.

Tour Guide, Maxson Balang who resides in that village says the village can attract a lot of tourists who want to experience life there but the road condition is a major deterrent.

The Villagers are also finding it difficult to go to town to sell their wares or buy essentials.

“We have been facing difficulties through the years because of the lack of good road. We hope that the Government through our State Assemblyman will be informed about this problem and rectify this as soon as possible.”

One of the waterfalls

On the homestay programme activities, there are many and various. The Balang Homestay for instance offers a wide array of activities, according to.

“We have a river cruise that takes about 40 minutes. We take our guests down the river to bird watch and generally see the wild life along the river,” Maxson shares adding that they also get to walk around the village experience the cool ambiance there.

“Besides that we also take them rafting. Not white water rafting but rafting slowly down the river on a bamboo raft. It’s an experience and also pit one’s prowess against nature.”

“Our highlight is the trek to the waterfalls. It is a good walk, a little challenging to those unused to the terrain.  I have guided many people to the waterfalls and they have nothing but praises for the sights.”

“Along the way, I showed them edible plants and herbs. This is of great interest to most of our guests, especially those who are not accustomed to the jungles.”

Balang (right) and his guests

Maxson says the villagers have knowledge of jungle food and medicinal plants  as they have always lived with nature and their their ancestors had garnered so much of such knowledge through the generations.   

Besides that, the people there also accord their guests with a taste of their traditional food, gathered from the forests.

“We serve them local food or  whatever we have, so they know what we eat here. I believe this enriches their homestay experience.”

This way guests will go home with a rich knowledge of the people in their host country, he adds.

Those who wish to visit this village may call Maxson at 011 17598169 for more information.- AG/MSN

Windbell Lido, Dining in Comfort

Windbell Restaurant

Most people want a cosy ambiance and comfortable sitting arrangement when they want to have a good and filling dinner without any hassles.

An overcrowded restaurant may be indications that the eatery serves good food, but it does not offer much in terms of comfort for diners.

Sometimes fellow diners pass by and hit or kick the chair of their dining neighbours, due to overcrowding. This is one of the most irritating things to happen, not only because of the discomfort of sudden unmitigated moves, but at times one end up with soup on the face, or a whole fork full of noodles.

Some of the food available

The other thing that diners want is good and swift service. Slow service is very annoying. There are times when diners have to wait for half an hour to get their order and at times the order might not even be correct. This happens often, not only in coffee shops but in good restaurants including those fast food franchises.

I believe these issues that bother me and others, will not happen in Windbell, a restaurant that serves steamboats in the evenings. It may be crowded, but the tables are set in such a way that you will not jog your dining neighbour off their soup. You will not wait for the waitress to come over, which takes almost half hour in some places I know, as this restaurant serves buffet steamboat. And that of course ensure that your order never goes wrong, as you pick it yourself.

With all these comforts and assurance in place, the food as all steamboat goes is boiled by diners. In Windbell there are about 40 items that one can choose from.

These include a variety of seafood such as prawns, fish and crabs. Processed sea food and vegetables, meats and noodles are also available. To boot this all, there are precooked items like fried chicken, chicken feet a personal favourite, noodles and rice. The desert is grass jelly drinks, a variety of fruits and cakes. Oh, and ice-cream.

Pre-cooked items

This is an eat all you can buffet, so you can relax and eat what you want. Tips for eating buffet; take it slow, take it little by little.

Windbell restaurant which was formerly sited at Tanjung Aru Beach several years ago is well known for its seafood and it seems to be continuing this tradition at its new site in Lido, Penampang.

It is open for breakfast and lunch too with offerings from their ala carte menu.

Easy and simple breakfast and lunch are served from 7am to 2pm. The steamboat dinner is served from 5.30pm to 10pm. The price is at RM35 to RM42  per pax, with special discounts for senior citizens aged 65 and above. Children aged 6 to12 are charged 50 percent less.

For those who wish to carry out their social gatherings here, they can accommodate up to 400 people at any one time.

More information may be acquired from them 088 222305.-AG