LAWAS: The state government has identified and approved a site for the new Lawas Airport. Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the site is located near Kuala Lawas, about 20 minutes from the town. “The existing airstrip is very limited. We cannot extend the present airport anymore because there is a river surrounding it and sometimes, it is badly eroded and subject to flooding,” he told BAT IV at his Hari Raya open house here yesterday. Awang Tengah, who is also Public Utilities Minister, said the new site is strategic to cater for the people not only from Lawas, but other areas like Sabah. “The (passenger) catchment is quite good besides catering for passengers from Lawas, it can also cater for those ...

KUCHING: Every individual can acquire greatness if he works hard to reach his true potential. Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah highlighted this yesterday at the opening of ‘From Passion to Profession’, an experience-sharing session by professional Arab woman photographer Susan Baaghil at Wisma Wanita here. Fatimah was inspired by Susan’s accomplishments in photography despite coming from a conservative Saudi Arabian society. “We are extremely honoured to meet a woman photographer who has a long list of international awards under her belt,” she said. “Her experience tells us that it is possible to become someone great if you have passion and work hard to develop and polish the talent in order to really ...

Wong (second right) presents a mock cheque for RM50,000 to Sarawak Heart Foundation deputy chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Association (STA) has set aside RM1.39 million as financial contribution for a noble cause this year. Its chairman Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik said the allocation was meant for activities such as conservation efforts carried out by government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), environmental care, community services especially those living in the interior and in the vicinity of forest management units and facilitating the pursuit of education of the youth through the award of scholarships. “STA Mutual Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company of STA, has been involved in projects to ...

Sarawak has a literacy rate of over 90 per cent. The Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) overseas schools at primary and secondary levels. Primary education usually begins in the child’s seventh year and continues for six years. Students usually enter secondary school in their 13th year, where they can continue for seven years until Upper Six to sit for Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) or Malaysian Higher School Certificate. This is required to enter public universities and is equivalent to A-Levels. Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or Malaysian Certificate of Education is taken in the fifth year of secondary school and is equivalent to O-Levels. SPM can be used to enter public and private pre-university and matriculation courses. Early education Having ...

KUCHING: Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) Sarawak will continue to provide a platform for youths in the state to participate in development programmes. According to its general manager Rosalind Yang Misieng, Azam would be strengthening its role as the leading communicator for students to obtain added information and knowledge outside their campus. “Most of our programmes are to expose students to the real world in addition to what they have studied,” Rosalind told The Borneo Post during the a youth entrepreneurship talk organised by Azam together with the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur at Four Points Hotel yesterday. Participated by around 80 youths, the talk will provide youths a chance to mingle and create new business network among themselves. The participants are ...

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Communitiy development through a bioeconomy agenda was the focus of the BioBorneo 2014 Conference and Exhibition (BioBorneo) which was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu on behalf of Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) yesterday. This year’s theme ‘Sustaining the Bioeconomy Community’ will see the two-day conference and exhibition, which is held for the second time in the state, cover topics on research advancement, intellectual property and commercialisation potential of biotechnology innovation that will positively impact the community development in Borneo. In his welcoming address, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad ...

KUCHING: The upcoming Bio Borneo 2014 Conference and Exhibition on May 5 to 7 will highlight discussions on community involvement in bioeconomy. Themed ‘Sustaining the Bio-economy Community’, the conference will feature five sessions revolving around the topics of bringing community on board, treasuring intellectual property, demand driving strategies, premium value add products and strategies for sustainability. Experts in the areas of bioeconomy related activities, intellectual property as well as research and development of bioproducts have been invited to share their experiences in working with communities in bioeconomies. The speakers featured are from the corporate and government sectors, as well as non-governmental organisations, universities and research institutions ...

Awang Tengah launches the construction of Mukah Peryatim Complex and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Agama Mukah at the Civic Centre. Also seen are Daud (right) and Asfia (fourth right). Awang Tengah takes a closer look at the SK Agama and Peryatim Complex model. MUKAH: The government’s plan to establish educational institutions here proves that the government is committed to raising the level of public education. Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, said it was in line with the state government’s plan to make Mukah a ‘Smart City’ in 2020. “The government is very concerned about the education of the people because the government knows that through education, people can improve ...

Fadzil (centre) and Morikawa (third right) exchanging documents after signing the agreement. —Photo by Jeffery Mostapa KOTA SAMARAHAN: Long Puah, a Penan village in Ulu Tinjar, will be getting electricity thanks to a grant from the government of Japan. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (Unimas) Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations (Isiti) secured a grant assistance of RM168,200 from Japan’s Grassroots Grant Assistance for Human Security Project to finance the Solar Energy Electrification project. The project involves the installation of solar home lighting system for a longhouse and a church, benefiting 27 families at Long Puah. The environment-friendly power system will not only reduce the level of pollution, but educate the ...

The romance of pastoral deity Krishna (centre) and the Gopis (milkmaids). — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi KOTA SAMARAHAN: The spirit of contemporary dance can flourish alongside traditional form of Indian classical dance. Such instances can be found through Sutra Foundation’s brand of Indian classical dance which exemplified its belief that the contemporary spirit can actually thrive side by side with the traditional, said Sutra Foundation chairman Datuk Ramli Ibrahim. In his keynote address prior to the showcase of Sutra Foundation’s ‘Krishna, Love Re-invented (Odissi)’ at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Faculty of Applied & Creative Arts Panggung Eksperimen here on Sunday, the guru of Indian classical dance pointed out that ...