Awang Tengah (second right), assisted by Morliah (on his right) and Sum (on his left) presenting Raya goodies to the poor and needy at Perkim Lawas annual Ramadan charity programme in Ulu Merapok. LAWAS: The state government has approved RM3 million for the initial phase of Merapok mini service centre which will house lockup shops, government departments and agencies, cottage industries and other activities. Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who is also Bukit Sari assemblyman said this at the presentation ceremony of Raya goodies to the poor and needy people in Merapok hosted by Perkim Lawas at Datul Ma’mur mosque here yesterday. “The promotion of cottage industries, particularly food processing, is ...

Ahmad Shabery (left) presents the logo of this year’s National Day celebrations to Adenan at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Kuching. — Bernama photo KUCHING: The Kuching city is ready for the launch of the Merdeka Month celebrations and the ‘Fly the Jalur Gemilang’ campaign on Aug 8. Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said yesterday as the launch venue of the two events, the city would be more resplendent to be seen. He said this to reporters after paying a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem at his office and later introducing the logo of this year’s National Day celebrations. “We encourage all quarters to fly the Jalur Gemilang at homes, offices or even business premises. “We ...

KUCHING: State power company Sarawak Energy is offering 50 scholarships this year to high performing students. Sarawak Energy launched the external scholarship programme in 2014. According to Sarawak Energy’s vice-president for People and Leadership Development, Siti Aisah Adenan, young Sarawakians who have done well academically in school and are active in extra-curricular activities are encouraged to apply. “Last year, when we first introduced the external scholarship programme, we received over a hundred applicants and upon selection, 30 were granted scholarships totalling RM1.35million. “Sarawak Energy will provide funds for tuition and examination fees for tertiary level scholars in various technical and non-technical disciplines at recognised ...

Khairunisa (sixth from left) presents the contributions to a recipient, while Ishak (fourth from left) and members of the Neighbourhood Women Committee look on. MIRI: Eight widows from Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu have received Ramadan welfare assistance from the village’s Neighbourhood Women Committee at the Voluntary Patrolling Scheme Centre of the village recently. The assistance in the form of cash and food items was given under a programme dubbed ‘Untaian Kasih Ramadan’. The recipients were Rosni Seli, Jamayah Jaini, Fatimah Lilai, Jamilah Abu Bakar, Madinah Awang mat Salleh, Endon Awi, Jamilah Ludin and Jaisa Imran. According to the committee’s chairman Hamidah Abu, the assistance was given to selected recipients who were members of ...

Juliet holding the exhibits which were tendered to court while walking out of the court after the proceedings. Sim (centre) flanked by Chan (left) and Azrin.Juliet holding the exhibits which were tendered to court while walking out of the court after the proceedings. KUCHING: A septuagenarian was released on a bond of good conduct in the sum of RM5,000 without surety for two years yesterday after he pleaded guilty to possessing illegal aphrodisiac products. Sim Ban Huat, 76, from Chawan Road appeared before Sessions Court Judge Dayang Ellyn Narisa Abang Ahmad, who made the decision after taking into account the character, age, health and mental condition of the accused. He admitted possessing 12 items containing illegal substances believed to be able ...

Jamilah (right) presents gifts to a heart patient. Also seen are Teng (left) and Kon. — Photo by Chimon Upon   KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sarawak Heart Foundation (SHF) has donated close to RM40 million worth of healthcare equipment and assistance to heart patients in the state since 1988. The foundation first set up the cause at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) before proceeding to the SGH Heart Centre here, having transformed itself to be more than just a financial provider by running health-related events such as seminars, exhibitions, public forums, health screenings and physical campaigns. “These are the platforms for us (SHF) to reach out to the people to raise public awareness on heart-related diseases more effectively and also to identify patients ...

Dayang Morliah and Awang Tengah present Raya goodies from SEB to a person with disabilities at the SEB ‘Buka Puasa’ event in Lawas. LAWAS: The state government spends some RM14.4 million a year in subsidies for about 100,000 domestic consumers with monthly electricity bills of RM20 and below. Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan disclosed this at the breaking of fast and presentation of Raya goodies by Sarawak Electricity Berhad (SEB) to people with disabilities, orphans and senior citizens at Hotel Seri Malaysia here on Saturday. “The government absorbs RM1.2 million each month for about 100,000 consumers who practically pay nothing,” he said. The minister pointed out that the lower power tariffs had also led to tangible ...

Alexander switches on the light to officially commission the power supply to the longhouse as Veronica (third right), Susan (fourth right), Basil (fourth left) and others look on. KANOWIT: The commissioning of a power supply at Rumah Veronica Silas in Nanga Bawan here has ended the longhouse residents’ wait of more than 20 years for a round-the-clock electricity. Tuai Rumah Veronica Silas, 50, said the residents of her 14-door longhouse celebrated their Gawai Dayak last month for the first time with 24-hour power supply after it was commissioned in April this year. She recalled her longhouse faced difficulties in getting connected to the state’s power grid when they first received the project implemented under Rural Electrification Scheme (RES). This ...

Fatimah (right) presents Raya goodies to a child, as Kamarulzaman (second left) and others look on. KUCHING: There are 56,869 individuals receiving welfare aid in the state as at May this year, and `Old Folks’ (those aged 60 years and above) top the list with 22,602 recipients. Coming in second are those in the Children’s Aid category for single parents who are poor at 13,956. This is followed by General Assistance with 10,869 people. Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah gave these figures during the `Breaking of fast with orphans’ and REDfm Best Eh Raya live recording here on Saturday. The event was organised by Musyati Sdn Bhd and the 30 children from SK Pulo received goodies and `duit raya’. “The ...

SMK Katibas.     SONG: The situation in SMK Katibas has reverted to its miserable state, barely a month after the issue of lack of power and water was said to have been addressed.   Students of this boarding school now survive on two 500ml of bottled drinking water each day, rationed by the school. Longhouse headman Jabu Braok, from Ulu Katibas, claimed these two bottles of water were insufficient for his granddaughter, a Form 2 student of SMK Katibas. It gets worse for his granddaughter when there are extra co-curriculum activities.   “Water is still a problem in SMK Katibas. This is the situation that she had to endure for the last two months.   “It is quite hard for many children, but since they wanted to study, they remained ...