Miro (front, sixth left), Ik Pahon (third right) and Wong (right) in a photo-call with local community leaders and visitors at Siniawan town. BAU: Siniawan town near here will have a mobile stage that will enable more activities to be run towards providing a more vibrant environment to both locals and visitors. Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh said the project, including tarsealing works on the site, would be implemented by Bau District Council (BDC), while works to demolish an old building to give way to the project would be carried out  by the locals on a ‘gotong-royong’ (work party) basis. He pointed out that the stage which could be dismantled when not used would benefit the locals because many activities like stage shows could be held, while the site ...

Len (centre) receives a token of appreciation from Hamden. Also seen is State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala. KUCHING: Sarawak is considering extending the area covered by the Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative from the current 2.1 million ha. Assistant Minister of Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh said while the total area to be extended has not been confirmed, the Forest Department is studying the proposal. At present Sarawak has set aside 2.1 million ha for the initiative, which is around 15 per cent of the total area under HoB. “It is about time for us to extend the area of HoB, from Batang Ai to the western part of Sarawak along the border which covers the Kelingkang range, Bengoh range, Gunung Gading National ...

SIBU: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government had spent RM2.1 million to build and upgrade Sebedil Road under the Rural Transformation Project (RTP) from 2014 until 2017. Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said the upgrading works of the 5km road had benefited about 600 people from six longhouses in Sungai Sebedil. He was speaking at a  Pre-Gawai Appreciation Night organised by Sg Bedil Area Development Committee (ADC) recently. The Bawang Assan assemblyman also said the government has approved a RM100 million allocation to build a road linking Tg Kibong to Tutus, Sebedil and Kg Bungan Kecil under 11th Malaysia Plan and constructed a bridge linking Rh Braoh, two pontoons and a multi-purpose hall with a total cost of about RM850,000. “The people will ...

  MUKAH: Mukah can be Sarawak’s version of Cannes in France if marketed properly for its tourism traits. In saying this, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg stated that Cannes, now famed worldwide for its filming location, was just a small town with a population of only 70,000. “It is my hope that Mukah with about the same population as Cannes added with good infrastructure and environment can be marketed like Cannes. This is my hope but I need the cooperation of all stages because we can attract tourists to come to Mukah through our cultural heritage that we have here,” he said when officiating at the closing of the 17th Kaul Festival here on Sunday. His wife Datin Amar Datuk Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Minister of Welfare, ...

  An aerial view of the razed longhouse. MIRI: The government will help Long Seridan fire victims to rebuild their longhouse through various programmes. Nine families lost their homes in the fire, which occurred around 5pm on Sunday. “I sympathise with the fire victims on the unfortunate incident and am also thankful there are no casualties,” said State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala, who flew to Long Seridan on Monday. Gerawat said the fire victims have received immediate relief assistance such as food and clothing, while the school-going children will also receive uniforms and books. The Mulu assemblyman praised the villagers for their quick action, which prevented the fire from destroying a nearby church and ...

Manyin (second left) pats the back of up and coming Bidayuh golfer Immanuel David after presenting him with a cash incentive. Looking on are DBNA president Datu Ik Pahon Joyik (first left) and Immanuel’s father David Philip Jerol. KUCHING: Youth, Sports and Solidarity Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong believes the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) system will bring a lot of benefits especially to Serian division once implemented. The LRT system will cut short traveling time from Kuching to Serian to probably 20 minutes only and vice versa, which would make it an attractive place for those looking for residential homes. “The Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, during the last cabinet meeting on Thursday, said he was committed to build the ...

(From left) Liwan, Masing and Abang Johari look at the model of the bridge to be built across Sungai Kapit. KAPIT:  About 500 pupils and teachers of SK Sungai Kapit here will benefit from the construction of a new bailey bridge linking the school to Bukit Goram road. The groundbreaking of the project was performed by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday in conjunction with his two-day working visit to Kapit. According to Public Works Department (PWD) Kapit divisional engineer Anding Unchi, the project cost RM12 million and will take 18 months to complete. “The project component includes building a 2-lane single carriageway bailey bridge over Sungai Kapit about 42.67 metres long,” he said. Presently, pupils have to cross ...

Fatimah (centre) speaking during the press conference. With her are Dr Abdul Rahman (right) and Hasidah. — Photo by Jeffrey Mostapa KUCHING: Sarawak is the first state in the country to establish a special committee to address issues concerning identification documents of students at government and government assisted schools in the state. Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the committee consists of the state National Registration Department (JPN) and State Education Department, and was formed following a letter of proposal issued on Jan 17 by JPN headquarters and Ministry of Education. “With the establishment of this special committee, we hope to address and solve issues on children without proper documentation ...

Penguang (6th left), flanked by Mohd Aliff (on his right) and Edward, giving the thumbs-up to the rollout of the RM3-million worth of projects under the Prime Minister’s Department for Marudi. BELURU: All projects under the RM3-million fund allocated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for Marudi constituency must be completed within three months. Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil gave this reminder in his speech at the project briefing and meeting of the special project implementation monitoring committee at Beluru Community Hall, saying the projects would be done under the ‘Gotong Royong’ concept. “As a departure from past practices, I have formed this monitoring committee to ensure that funds allocated to ...

SADONG JAYA: The state government has approved the construction of a coastal highway, and priority will be given to upgrade the existing roads. In pointing this out, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the project would include the construction of bridges along the highway. “The government has approved in principle for the construction of a coastal highway and priority will be given to upgrade the existing roads to become a dual-carriage way. “And for the bridges which are yet to be built, we will build,” Awang Tengah told reporters yesterday. Earlier, he performed the earth-breaking ceremony of a Village Extension Scheme at Kampung Jemukan, here. Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Industrial ...