Manyin (fourth right), flanked by his wife Datin Sri Mary on his left, joins others including Wong (second right) and Wee (left) in showing some of the mock cheques of contributions received for the SJK Chung Hua No. 2 expansion project. KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg believes the state government has been doing the right thing by continuing its policy to assist and recognise Chinese education. He said the late chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem allocated a few million ringgit to independent Chinese schools in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and this was continued this year when he (Abang Johari) gave RM6 million last month. He pointed out that previously, the independent Chinese schools did not receive even a single sen in government aid. As ...

Abang Johari (left) belts out a number – ‘Kasih Sayang’ – to raise RM1 million for the construction of the new RM3.5 million building for SK Abang Ali. SIBU: The state has a new mechanism to address the issues of dilapidated schools in rural areas by making use of the funding from the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS). Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg who disclosed this said the state-owned bank will obtain funding to develop the dilapidated schools. “Through this bank (DBOS), we have a new model to get funding to address the issues of dilapidated schools in rural areas of the state. “This bank will do collection (reimbursement) from the federal government on the funds drawn out (used) by the state government. ...

(From third left) Morshidi, Abang Johari, Najib, Awang Tengah and Aziz join the consortium officials for a photo-call. BEIJING: Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg arrived here yesterday to join Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to witness the exchange of memorandum of understanding (MoU) instruments between Yayasan Hartanah Bumiputera Sarawak (YHBS) and a consortium between China Huanqiu Engineering, Co Ltd, Contracting and Engineering Co Ltd (HQC) and MACfeam Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Pegasus Diversified Bhd. The MoU was for the procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) of a methanol plant and methanol derivatives plant in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu. It was one of the nine agreements exchanged yesterday to coincide with the official ...

Abang Johari (fifth left) and Morshidi (fourth left) with the signatories of the MoU and others after the signing of the MoU. KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak will undertake a methanol and methanol derivatives project with the first plant worth US$800 million (US$1=RM4.40)  expected to be ready by 2021, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said. The project will play a significant role in Sarawak’s economic transformation and extend the oil and gas downstream value-chain to transform the state into a petrochemical hub in the region. “We must go downstream, rather that just use it for energy. When we go downstream, a lot of byproducts will give great impact to our economy. “The project is expected to create huge job opportunities to Sarawakians, ...

Abang Johari (second left) presents a certificate to a school principal. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa KUCHING: The development of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in Sarawak is done for the sake of the young generation. In this regard, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg is serious about the ICT drive to develop the state’s economy. “The landscape of our economy has changed and I want young people in Sarawak to have opportunities to seek higher knowledge and upgrade their skills in any field through the Internet. “It’s not only for their future but also for the future of Sarawak,” he said at Yayasan Sarawak’s education excellence award presentation here yesterday. Abang Johari ...

Juma’ani (fourth right) and Fatimah (fifth right) together with others gesture to put a stop on violence against women and children. Among those in the picture are Enn (second right), Doreen (third right), Noriah (second left) and Sharifah Hasidah (fourth left). KUCHING: Women are still very much under-represented in politics and leadership roles in Sarawak as is shown in the Cabinet make-up. Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the uphill struggle would still continue for women despite Sarawak or Malaysia as a whole, making some commendable steps towards gender equality. Only eight of 82 elected representatives in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) are women, making up only 9.7 per cent. “Only one full minister, ...

Fatimah (front row, fifth left) and the delegates from Dalat with Azmi to her right during the visit to Centexs on Feb 20. KUCHING: Dalat assemblywoman Datuk Fatimah Abdullah led delegates from N56 Dalat Education Committee on a visit to Centre Of Technical Excellence (Centexs) at Jalan Sultan Tengah on Monday. “The purpose of the visit was to see for ourselves the facilities available and the type of courses on offer at the centre, and secondly, to foster a closer working relationship within the education committee from Dalat District,” the committee said through a press statement yesterday. Research done by the committee had identified 525 unemployed youths from Dalat district who had degrees or diplomas or had left secondary school. It was proposed ...

  Morshidi placing a safety helmet on one of the welding graduates while Anthony (third left), Sabariah (second left), Azmi (right) and others look on. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi KUCHING: Sarawak will need an estimated 500,000 technical workers over the next 10 years when its industries are fully developed by then. In view of this, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani said the state government is stepping up its human capital development by giving priority to Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for the youths in Sarawak. “We need to prepare the youths and train them in various skills so as to meet the state’s needs to be an industrialised state by 2030,” he told reporters when met after witnessing ...

Ahmad Zahid and Dr Sim (left) walk down the stage together after the tossing of the ‘yee sang’. KUCHING: The Ministry of Education will carry out a thorough study to evaluate the Unified Examination Certification (UEC) used by Chinese independent schools. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the results of the study would be presented to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. “I understand the important and crucial recognition of UEC has yet to be resolved to this day. Furthermore, it was an issue close to the heart of the late (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri) Adenan (Satem), which he had put much commitment into,” Ahmad Zahid said during a Chinese New Year celebration with the community yesterday. “I will ask for ...