SIBU: An allocation of RM314,400 has been set aside as festive aid for 2,096 needy students of 13 schools in Nangka constituency in conjunction of the festive season. Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee said the selection criteria for the aid would be based on that of Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pelajar Miskin (KWAPM). On Wednesday, he gave out such aid to students of three schools here, namely SK Bahagia Jaya, SMK Kampung Nangka and SK Ulu Sungai Merah. Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health and Nangka assemblyman, said the Gawai-Raya Assistance Committee for Needy Students presented the aid to the remaining 10 schools Wednesday. Members of the public have contributed substantially to the fund, while the ...

KUCHING: Let religious freedom continue to prevail and be strengthened in Sarawak, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. The Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development said Sarawakians are all free to follow and practise their chosen faith. “This is the beauty of our lovely state. Let this religious freedom continue to prevail and to be strengthened. I believe the constant holdings of inter-faith gatherings, celebrations or prayer sessions will allow this to be achieved,” he said at the Wesak Day Celebration 2019 held at the Sarawak Buddhist Association (SBA) here on Sunday. The text of his speech was read out by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian during the celebration themed ‘Collective ...

THE state government has implemented a programme known as Resettlement Scheme (SPS) and the Village Expansion Scheme (SPK) to ease the financial burden of those in the low and medium income group in Sarawak to get residential lot. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan in his winding-up speech during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday disclosed that as of January this year, a total of 47,988 residential lots have been successfully provided and out of that number, 36,578 lots have been distributed to those eligible. Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Urban Development and Second Minister of Natural Resources, said under the 11th Malaysia Plan and Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan, the total allocation approved for the implementation ...

MINISTRY of Local Government and Housing received RM3.16 million from the federal government to implement 211 house repair projects. Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said in addition, RM700,000 had been allocated to Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) to implement various ‘Safe City’ programmes at Demak Laut (under DBKU) and Batu Kawah New Township (under MPP). In his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting yesterday, Dr Sim also said the Sarawak government had allocated RM16.925 million this year to implement four drainage improvement projects – those in Kampung Gita in Kuching, Kampung Jeriah and Kampung Bahagia in Sibu, and Taman Tunku in Miri. He also said the federal government had set aside RM14.7 million for flood ...

AN allocation of RM81.58 million has been approved for the 24 local councils, including Kuching South City Council (MBKS), to implement 303 infrastructure projects. Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, in disclosing this in his winding-up speech, said the projects comprise street lighting, traffic lights, footpaths, public toilets, libraries, jetties and recreational parks. He told the august House that 17 projects had been completed, 97 projects were at various stages of implementation and 189 projects were at pre-contract stage. Dr Sim also said that RM657.13 million had been approved to implement 88 ‘projek rakyat’, of which 12 projects had been completed. The projects would be implemented by Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), ...

KUCHING: The Visit Sarawak Campaign 2019 launched last December has seen the arrival of more ‘quality tourists’ to the state in the first four months of this year, particularly from Singapore and China. Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the term ‘quality tourist’ refers to those who stay overnight for a few days, as opposed to those who enter the state during the weekend to shop during the day but head back in the evening without spending the night. “How tourists are counted is after they cross the border. We want more quality tourists and so far, the campaign is successful and we hope to hit the target by year end,” he said when met after the grand opening of Aeroville Shopping Mall, ...

KUCHING: Centre of Technical Excellence (Centexs), which was established by Sarawak government through Yayasan Sarawak in 2014, is cooperating with Huawei in skills training in digital fields. Its chief executive officer Syeed Mohd Hussien Wan Abdul Rahman said a number of digital data courses are now provided by the centre for students interested in this line. “Students can obtain international certification issued by Huawei (upon completion of the course),” he said at the Centex and Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) Safari  (Centexs-SMA Safari) at Kampung Sinar Budi Baru, Batu Kawa on Saturday. Commenting further, Syeed Mohd Hussein said Centexs currently offers 28 courses in six fields, including oil and gas, electronics and ports, construction, textiles ...

KUCHING: The Sarawak government always keeps its promises especially when it comes to education, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. Speaking when handing over an allocation of RM8 million to 14 Chinese independent secondary schools in the state, he cited Sarawak’s recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and the one-for-one matching of funds raised to relocate SJK Chung Hua Bako which amounted to RM3 million, as proof of promises made being kept. “Some people promise (to recognise UEC) but until today don’t recognise UEC, but the Sarawak government is different. We keep our promises, we deliver,” he said during a ceremony to present the grant at Chung Hua Middle School No 1, here yesterday. Realising the importance ...

SARIKEI: The new Sungai Pasi, Sarikei coastal road link to Tanjung Manis, Mukah will shorten the journey to just 45 minutes from the current two and a half hours through Sibu. During the ground-breaking for the project yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the coastal road network would improve Sarawak’s economy. “Being one of the Coastal Road Network packages, the construction of the 17km road from Jalan Pasi, Sarikei to Tanjung Manis, Mukah, which includes the 1.2km Batang Rajang Bridge, will serve as the connector of the missing link between Sarikei and Tanjung Manis,” he said. The new road would shorten the road journey between Sarikei and Tanjung Manis from 141km currently, to 50km.   Abang Johari reiterated ...

SIBU: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak government will build 2,500 affordable houses comprising bungalow single/double storey, semi-detached single/double and single and double-storey terrace in the next two years throughout the state. “Out of this, 813 lots have been alloted for development in Kemuyang,” he said when visiting Rumah Spektra Permata development project in Kemuyang here yesterday afternoon. The others are at Darul Hana, Kuching (560 units), Bunga Rampa, Kuching (122), Lundu (26), Sematan (25), Igan, Mukah (22), Tian, Matu (20) and Rangau, Limbang (128). In addition to this development, the areas that are under planning include Selipar Putus, Tabuan Melayu (200 units apartment), Permjaya, Miri (278), Lundu ...