KUCHING: The state government will support and work closely with industries to encourage the innovation and commercialisation of ideas, whether they have commercial applications or not. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang gave this assurance in his text of speech read by Modernisation of Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Assistant Minister Mong Dagang at the closing of the R&D Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) 2015 Expo. Jabu said the government would continue investing in quality and high impact research at all levels, and he encouraged higher education institutes to put more time and money into new research and innovation according to the needs of the industry. This will narrow the gap between research and commercialisation, said Jabu ...

(Seated from left) Emannuel Ze Meka, Sapuan and Professor Dr Qu Quilin signing on behalf of ITTO, Sarawak Forest Department and APFNet respectively, witnessed by Awang Tengah (standing centre). Awang Tengah (fourth right), flanked by Emanuel on his right and Dr Qu, launching the Pulong Tau National Park buffer zone management project. MIRI: Sarawak welcomes local and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who are sincere in wanting to contribute towards sustainable forest management and conservation efforts. Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this willingness to work with NGOs was also recommended by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO). He said this at a tripartite agreement signing ...

KUCHING: The Kuching Wetlands National Park (KWNP) is gaining popularity especially among tourists, with an estimated four to five tourist boats visiting the area daily. According to Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, the 6,610-ha sanctuary located 15 km from the city centre is host to a variety of inhabitants such as crocodiles, Irrawaddy dolphins and proboscis monkeys which have been recorded in KWNP. “The uniqueness of KWNP is an important tool as a marketing point to promote KWNP to the outside world,” said Dr Abdul Rahman. He was speaking at the state-level World Wetlands Day at KWNP yesterday. “Apart from being the habitat to various species, the wetlands also act as a natural sponge that traps and slowly release surface water, ...

Idris (centre) fielding questions at the press conferece. With him are Zaini (left) and Hatta. KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education), expected to be launched next month, will focus on 10 important shifts to transform the education sector. Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said among the most important shifts was creating holistic entrepreneurial and balanced graduates. “This is important because we want better quality students and lecturers in the coming years. Besides that, the blueprint will also give more autonomy to universities, besides providing them with more sustainable financial management,” he told a press conference after moderating a townhall meeting (Sarawak Zone) on the blueprint with stakeholders ...

KUCHING: The state Welfare Department (JKM) is confident that it will be able to register a total of 38 nurseries throughout the state within this year. Currently, 57 nursery operators are still in the midst of various evaluation processes involving agencies such as the Land and Survey Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Health Department, Local Council and the state Welfare Department. “It is very important that a nursery is registered with JKM as it guarantees safety and quality childcare services,” said Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah during a press conference at her office yesterday. Fatimah earlier chaired a meeting with the heads from each JKM divisional departments and various agencies which will be providing ...

Fatimah (seated second right) with Dorge (standing fourth left), Noriah (seated far left), Serina (seated second left) and representatives from State Welfare Department, State Education Department and BPIEF. KUCHING: The sixth Borneo Post International Education Fair (BPIEF) 2015 will focus on support services to help a school leaver make the leap from secondary to tertiary education. Services include psychometric tests to help students find their aptitude, counsellors who can speak to students unsure about what they want to do, and a section for institutes that can provide loans. “Even a small loan can mean a plane ticket paid off,” pointed out Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah. Fatimah who is patron of BPIEF was speaking ...

KUCHING: The Women, Welfare and Family Development Ministry is looking forward to having more childcare centres in the workplace this year. Its Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the government had been emphasising on this very vital support system for working parents a facility where their young children would have access to quality childcare. She noted that Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) recently received their operation licence for a childcare centre, having fulfilled various conditions required for its registration under the ministry. “There is a government grant of RM200,000 available to any ministry, government department or agencies to set one (childcare center) up. Fees will be subsidised. The community childcare centres also get subsidies but only if ...

KUCHING: There is a need to relook at issues affecting Bumiputera entrepreneurs, such as expediting approval and issuance of business licences, coordination and consolidation of information as well as improvement on competency and quality of entrepreneurs. State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani mentioned this when officiating the ‘Bumiputera Entrepreneurship Roundtable’ organised by Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development Unit (UPUB) under the Chief Minister’s Department and Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) at a hotel here recently. It saw participation of 40 individuals from community associations, business bodies and chambers, universities, government agencies, local authorities and non-governmental organisations. It was moderated ...

Financial Aid for Attendance to Private Pre-schools The government provides financial aid for low income families to send their children to private preschools registered with the State Education Department. The amount of financial aid given is based on the school’s fee and the family’s income. For families with a household income of RM300 per month, the maximum aid is RM150. For those earning up to RM400 a month, the maximum aid is RM112.50, while those whose income is not more than RM500 the maximum amount is RM75. The amount for physically-challenged pupils is different. For those families with a household income of RM300 per month, the maximum aid is RM500, for family income of up to RM400 per month it is RM400, and for family income of up to RM500 per month it ...

KUCHING: Prospective students looking for places to continue their studies can apply for a place at Institut Pertanian Sarawak (IPS) which is now open for its 2015/2017 intake. They should not miss this opportunity as IPS offers quality technical courses in different aspects of agriculture, such as management and crop production technology, processing of agricultural products, livestock, plantation, farm mechanisation as well as landscaping. Application forms can be obtained at all Agriculture Department district offices as well as Farmers’ Associations or from the Sarawak Agriculture Department website. Applications are open to unmarried youths who are between 17 to 25 years old when the course begins. The course, fully paid by the Sarawak Agriculture Department, is ...