CM says it will be done through urban renewal programme like in Singapore Abang Johari (left) performing the earth-breaking for the construction of SJK(C) Kiew Nang new school building. Also seen are (from right) Thai King, Soon Koh and others.     SIBU: The state government is planning to implement an urban renewal programme modelled along a similar programme in Singapore to re-develop Bukit Assek area, according to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. He said the area to be covered by the programme is about 300 acres. He told reporters this when met at the earth-breaking for the construction of a new school block for SJK(C) Kiew Nang here yesterday. “I think the whole area has to be revamped. We will use the model in ...

Awang Tengah (fourth left) leads the gimmick launch of the entrepreneurship programme. Flanking him are Jamit (third right) and Nanta.   KAPIT: The emergence and provision of many technical and vocational education and training (TVet) facilities and assistance programmes signifies the state government’s focus on developing ‘technopreneurship’. According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the approval of RM20 million by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for the establishment of a ‘Digital Village’ in Samajaya Free Industrial Zone in Kuching, indicates the opening of opportunities for young, creative and innovative entrepreneurs to develop and promote their products, towards generating a ...

Goledzinowski (left) and Taib making toasts to the monarch of each other’s countries during the formalities at the Australia Day celebration in conjunction with Goledzinowski’s first official visit to Sarawak.     KUCHING: The new Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski pledged to take Australia and Sarawak’s relationship to the next level in his term. Speaking during an Australia Day dinner here on Sunday night, Goledzinowski said that he was making it a personal goal to promote Sarawak to his fellow countrymen. “Thousands of Australians visited Sarawak last year and it is a personal goal of mine to increase the numbers,” he said, adding he had been tweeting photos of his trip to Sarawak ever since ...

Dr Annuar (centre) receives a token of appreciation from Fedrick while Charles looks on.     SIBU: Sarawak’s palm oil product export increased from RM4.04 billion in 2007 to RM12.17 billion last year, says Assistant Minister for Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee. He added that until Dec 2017, the total area planted with oil palm in the state spanned 1.556 million hectares. “The state government has targetted to increase the total area planted to two million hectares by 2020 as there are still large areas of native customary rights (NCR) land yet to be developed,” said Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health. The Nangka assemblyman was speaking at the closing of the ‘Awareness ...

Dr Sim (centre) flanked by Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang on his right and Sahol (holding the #kita plate) in a photo with all the high-spirited youths gathered at the Education Roadshow.     KUCHING: School leavers including Chinese attempting to enter public universities or colleges need to head down to the Education Roadshow 2018 being set up at MJC Batu Kawah now as a special fast track lane has been opened and promised placements for Sarawakians for today only. The special roadshow initiated by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is brought here and Sarawak for the very first time to give the best of opportunities to Sarawakian children, especially those who have missed the boat to secure placement in public higher education ...

Ting (centre) tests a science project by a group of students at the carnival while Subah (on his right) and others look on.     MIRI: Mastery of science and technology would enable students to hold their own anywhere in the world. Piasau Assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting said this when officiating at SMK St Columba Miri’s Curriculum and Co-academic Carnival Day 2018 at the school premises yesterday “Understanding the importance of education and with the right exposure, I’m sure our students are capable of achieving great success in the global arena,” he stated. Ting who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for P.219 Miri in the forthcoming 14th General Election (GE14) advised the students to strive to do well not only academically ...

  Manyin (second right) hands over education incentive to Cheris Weilton, who did well in his Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) last year.     SERIAN: Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong has proposed for primary schools to be renamed as ‘sekolah utama’ (main school), to reflect their importance in the formative years of children aged seven to 12. According to him, the present term ‘sekolah rendah’, which translates as ‘lower school’, may indicate that such schools are ‘not so important’, which may explain why there are many dilapidated primary schools, due to lack of both attention and financial assistance. “If I had the power, I would change ...

  MIRI: Students should practise speaking English in their daily conversation as a way to improve their command of the language. Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin made the call when launching the Highly Immersive Programme (HIP) at SJK(C) Chung Hua Krokop Miri yesterday. “We commonly know that practice makes perfect. However, I also know that many of those who come from Chinese-speaking families and attending Chinese schools are too shy to speak English, for fear they will be laughed at due to grammatical mistake. But you must understand that without practice, you’ll never achieve the perfection when conversing in English and the more you use it, the more confident you will be,” he advised. He added that the state government’s ...

  Abang Johari (centre), flanked by (from right) Wan Junaidi, Masing, Juma’ani, Fadillah and Dr Sim, officiates the four-lane road connecting Stapok in Batu Kawa and E-Mart Matang.     KUCHING: A stretch of Matang Road, between Courts Mammoth and the junction of Taman Malihah here, will be upgraded to a four-lane road soon. Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in announcing this, said the proposed upgrading project had been approved for the convenience of road users. “If the federal government does not have the money, I will use the state fund to implement the project. After all, the stretch is not too long. I’m sure after we have upgraded the road, new housing estates will be developed in the area,” he ...

Len Talif (second left) presents the certificate of appointment to Tuai Rumah Mengkang from Sebayang, witnessed by others.   MUKAH: Community leaders and village chieftains have been urged to equip themselves with knowledge of information technology (IT) to carry out their duties and responsibilities better. Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh made the call before presenting certificates of appointment to eight new community leaders and village chieftains in Belawai here yesterday. In the state government’s effort to develop Sarawak through digital economy, he reminded all that it was crucial for rural folk to be able to use online services and participate in digital economy. “Social ...