Dr Hazland (centre) witnesses Liew (second left) and D’orville (second right) exchanging documents during the ceremony. Also seen are iCube director Melvin Liew (left) and SEGi College academic deputy principal Dr Susie Lau. — Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING: More entities with expertise are encouraged to partner with iCube Innovation Sdn Bhd (iCube) in the effort to develop more young entrepreneurs for the state. With such cooperation they can share expertise, knowledge and experience that contribute to the results of more than one entity, said Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Saleh. “iCube is an incubator innovation centre for young entrepreneurs, providing an incubator collaboration platform with ...

KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) has submitted 29 projects ahead of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) for 2021-2025, to strengthen the timber industry at a cost of RM1.7 billion. Its general manager Hashim Bojet said seven projects are for management and facility maintenance, three for research, three for research and development, nine for T-Mega infrastructure projects and seven for infrastructure projects. “Among the 12MP budget strategy is to obtain sufficient funds to carry out STIDC’s main function which is to regulate and facilitate the development of timber industry. “The research and development is to develop high-value products from planted forest, bamboo and tree species for planted forest estate. Other objectives are to ...

Lee (front third left) hands over the Unifor allocation to Philip. MIRI: The Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) has presented RM100,000 to St Anthony of Padua in Tudan for the construction of its new church building. Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin presented the grant on behalf of Unifor to parish priest Father Philip Empalah at the church recently. Lee said he had previously handed over RM600,000 for the project to accommodate the increasing number of parishioners. However, he said church chairman Hendrick Rosli had informed him that the amount was insufficient. “So today I am presenting an additional RM100,000 from the state government through Unifor. “I was also informed that the church is still short of about RM400,000 and we will ...

Julaihi operates a backhoe loader during the earth-breaking ceremony. On his right is Rubiah. KUCHING: The higher traffic witnessed along the state’s coastal roads is evidence that the project is a better alternative to the multi-billion-ringgit Pan Borneo Highway project, says Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi. “We know very clear the state’s coastal roads are not only being used by the community in the surrounding areas, they are also considered among the best, if not the best, compared to the Pan Borneo Highway project,” he said. In a press conference after an earth-breaking ceremony of a pavement rehabilitation project for the areas of Kota Samarahan and Sadong Jaya yesterday, Julaihi said in light ...

Mastapha (second left) presents a memento to Abang Johari. From left are Lee, Ting, Asfia, Jaul, Gerawat, and Yii. MIRI: The Sarawak government will set up more trading centres like Miri Wireless Walk to enable young people to venture into small businesses and generate some income for themselves. When launching Miri Wireless Walk on Wednesday, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the project sought to provide a venue for locals to trade while also functioning as a tourist attraction. “First of all, I want to congratulate those selected to trade at Wireless Walk. As the area is not big, it cannot cater for more traders. But based on feedback, there is much interest from our youth to go into small businesses. “If this is the case, ...

Sempurai (third left) poses for the camera with (from left) Justani, Teo, Lau and Kong. SIBU: Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) has gone digital with Scan & Pay for council bills, including assessment rates since this Feb 7. Its chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai said SRDC’s digital initiative is in line with the state government’s digital development. “We want to make it hassle-free for the public under SRDC’s jurisdiction to pay their council bills including assessment rates through Sarawak Pay,” he told a press conference after the council’s monthly meeting here yesterday. He pointed out Paybills Malaysia (https://www.paymentgalaxy.com/paybillsmalaysia/) as another mode of payment. Those who prefer payment over the counter ...

Rosey (standing eight from right) poses with grant recipients and others. MIRI: Department of Women and Family Sarawak (JWKS) will implement two digital literacy programmes this year to boost women entrepreneurship in the state. Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus said this is part of the state government’s effort in preparing women entrepreneurs to be more competitive in online business development. The Literacy Programme for Women (CL4W) is a rebranding programme from ICT for Women (ICT4W). The CL4W is more specific to digital literacy on entrepreneurship. The second programme dubbed Women in Digital Entrepreneurship (WIDE) involves digital marketing where participants would be given hands-on tips how to market their ...

(From front fourth left) Dr Abdul Rahman, Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat, and Tuai Rumah Untat Pengiran. KAPIT: A total of 56 Sarawak Alternative Water Supply (Sawas) projects will be built throughout the state this year and next year. Assistant Minister of Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the ongoing Sawas projects are being carried out in remote villages and longhouses. “This is an ongoing project till all the remote longhouses or clusters of villages are supplied with clean and reliable water. The vision of the Sarawak government under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg by 2025 is that every Sarawakian, regardless urban or how remote the setting, benefits from clean and reliable water supply. “Those ...

Len (third right) presents a cheque to a landowner, as (from right) Allan, Alexander and others look on. KANOWIT: The Nanga Machan Bridge, upon its completion, will not only provide convenient access to the local community, but will also boost the economic development in the area. In highlighting this, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan says once open to public, the structure will connect the longhouse villagers on the other side of Sungai Kanowit with other places which currently, are only accessible via river transportation. According to him, the works kicked off in April last year and should reach completion within two years after that. “The project is under Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA). “At the moment, the people ...

Abdul Wahap (right) and other LAKMNS staff showing off the ‘Scan and Donate’ services on their smartphones. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi. KUCHING: Muslims here can now make cashless donations or ‘sedekah’ from e-wallet services, says Sarawak State Mosques Welfare Trust Board (LAKMNS) chief executive officer Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai. He said that they could do so via Sarawak Pay, Maybank’s QRPay or RHB’s Boost by scanning the QR code that will be displayed at Masjid Jamek and Masjid Bandaraya Kuching. Speaking at the ‘Scan and Donate’ launching ceremony at the Baitulmakmur Complex, Abdul Wahap said that the move by the board to introduce cashless donations was part of their initiative to better serve ...