Abang Johari tries out a hydrogen filling facility displayed at the exposition. A group photo with a hydrogen train manufactured by CRRC in the background. FOSHAN: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has regarded his five-day fact-finding visit to China to explore the possibilities of cooperation on the development of an LRT line in greater Kuching as meaningful and enlightening. Addressing the management of CRRC Corporation Ltd at their train manufacturing facility here yesterday, Abang Johari said: “Sarawak is seeking a trustful collaboration with reputable companies to acquire the hardware and software to build the LRT line which will be undertaken by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation – as the implementing agency.” Abang ...

  Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi KUCHING: Water from the Bengoh Dam is not contaminated and is safe for consumption. Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi said Kuching Water Board (KWB) has been monitoring the quality of the raw water from Bengoh Dam very closely since February last year. He added that raw water samples from the dam reservoir are sent regularly on a monthly basis to the Department of Chemistry for compliance tests. The tests include those for microbiology, heavy metals including lead, and biocides which encompass pesticides, insecticides and weedicides. “For raw water, the samples are taken from the bottom, middle and top levels of the dam. The average values ​​lead content in the raw water in 2017 at these three levels are ...

Dr Abdul Rahman (fifth left) and delegation members are seen during a photo-call at the Department of Animal Husbandry in Mumbai. Ismawi is at third right, while Paul is at right. MIRI: A delegation from the state Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development is currently on a working visit to India to study the buffalo industry. Led by Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, the visit until next Monday will focus specifically on dairy buffalo. “This visit covers the whole supply chain starting from farm production to marketing, including wholesomeness and food safety of buffalo products,” said Dr Abdul Rahman in a statement. Included in the programme are the Department of Animal Husbandry of the Government ...

  (From third left) Site manager for SMK Tudan project, Low Ing Huat, Dr Hassan, Lee and others during the visit to the site. MIRI: The construction of the RM48.3 million SMK Tudan is on track and is about 50 per cent completed, while that of the RM33.2 million SK Tudan Jaya adjacent to it has just begun and is currently at the piling stage. Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said SMK Tudan is expected to be completed by July next year while SK Tudan Jaya, which started construction last November after land-clearing, is scheduled to be completed by January 2020. “Once the schools are completed, they will cater for the increased number of students in Tudan and Senadin,” he told reporters during a visit to the schools’ ...

  Roslan (second left) presents a souvenir to Third Brigade Commander Brigadier General Mohd Bustaman Mat Zin after the opening of the event. KUCHING: The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism (KPDNKK) is working with the armed forces to curb smuggling activities along the border with Indonesia. According to the ministry’s Enforcement director Datuk Mohd Roslan Mahayudin, the collaboration will enable the army to monitor and arrest those who smuggle subsidised items like gas cylinders, sugar and cooking oils, among others, from the state across the border to Indonesia. “The working relationship will also assist the ministry to monitor the prices of goods, especially controlled items,” he said. Yesterday, the ministry held ...

  Anyi (back row, fifth right) and Shoib on his left with other dignitaries and recipients of aid at Loagan Bunut Palm Oil Mill yesterday. LOAGAN BUNUT, Baram: Seventy-seven students from six primary and secondary schools in Baram parliamentary constituency received monetary assistance from Baram MP Anyi Ngau yesterday. According to Anyi, the monetary assistance was under the ‘Back to School’ programme, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative spearheaded by Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club  (BNBBC) in collaboration with government-linked companies (GLCs). “The objective of this programme is to lighten the burden of families preparing children for the new school session in year 2018 in several parliamentary areas,” Anyi ...

  Abang Johari (sixth left) and his entourage in a group photograph with CREC officials. BEIJING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on his second and final day of visit in Beijing yesterday called on the office of China Railway and Engineering Corporation (CREC) to gain better insight into train and light rail technologies in China. The Chief Minister has announced plan to build a light rail transit (LRT) system to connect Kuching with Serian, Kota Samarahan and Damai and this current visit to China is part of the effort to explore the potential and suitable technology for the LRT system. Top in the choice of technology is hydrogen power which is sourced from water and converted into electricity via fuel cells. Abang Johari also visited a ...

Noh and Fadzil (seated fourth and fifth right) with the Border Regiment officers and villagers in a group photo after the ‘gotong-royong’ at Al-Jabbar Mosque in Niah. MIRI: The ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme continues to be the main activity of the Malaysian Armed Forces which not only builds partnership with the public, but also provides an opportunity for its members to contribute to the community. According to the 31st Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Datuk Fadzil Tajuddin, the ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme which was held at Al-Jabbar Mosque in Niah here was part of the Border Regiment’s inaugural Kenyalang Cycling Expedition activity which started from Sungai Tujuh Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex here on Tuesday. “The ...

  Man Tai speaking to reporters at the STB conference room. KUCHING: WeChat Pay, an app payment system, is one of the ways for Sarawakians to do business with China or vice versa, especially when making payment for goods and services, said Digilink Asia Limited general manager Man Tai. “WeChat Pay app payment is widely used in China in getting what you need without the use of cash and it is the trend now,” he told reporters at a press conference on Chinese Social Media Insight with Digitalink Asia Limited at Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) office here yesterday. “We want to assist Sarawak in getting ready with this form of app payment application system as there is huge potential and to be ready for the influx of Chinese visitors from mainland China ...

MIRI: Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has made travelling through Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah smoother by putting up the request to the Sultan of Brunei. The present system whereby passports are stamped 14 times at the CIQs of Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah respectively will be a thing of the past when  Malaysia and Brunei introduce digital scanning at their respective Immigration checkpoints. On Nov 1, the chief minister at the earth-breaking and launching of second Limbang Bridge project at Pabahanan in the Ranggau Valley Development area said he would like to see travellers to and from Brunei enter both countries without too much hassle. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak brought the matter up during the government-to-government meeting with the Sultan of Brunei ...