UNDER the 1Malaysia Computer Programme, 64,120 units out of a total of 182,168 units allocated for Sarawak had been distributed to the secondary school students in the state up to 3 Nov this year. Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah said this in answer to a question from Jemoreng Assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie who wanted to know the number of 1Malaysia Computer units distributed in the state. “Up to 3 Nov this year, the number of 1Malaysia Computers distributed throughout the state are as follows: Kuching (17,465 units), Samarahan (4,692), Sri Aman (3,570), Betong (3,100), Sarikei (3,400), Sibu (7,100), Kapit (2,735), Mukah (4,246), Bintulu (6,122), Miri (9165) and Limbang (2,525),” informed Fatimah during the morning session ...

KUCHING: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Sarawak Region is targeting to set up a total of 600 Internet hotspots using satellite service, mainly in rural areas, throughout the state next year. Its director Ahmad Nor Hisham Mod Yusop said with the increased number of Internet hotspots it is hoped that more people, especially students in rural places and villagers, will have Internet access, saying currently 205 hotspots are now available in rural places. He also acknowledged that students who received the 1Malaysia netbooks could use the Internet access in the hotspots and community broadband service centres as well as broadband libraries in their villages. “We have given away 14,500 netbooks during the Phase 1 last year, and in the second phase ...

    HAPPY DEEPAVALI: Yong helps Indian Association Kuching president Anthony Ramanair to distribute the gifts to a recipient. KUCHING: The Indian Association Kuching will receive a RM20,000 grant for the development of its new building at Rock Road. Deputy Minister of Works Datuk Yong Khoon Seng announced the grant when presenting Deepavali gifts from the association yesterday. “With a premises of their own, the association will be better able to hold activities, including charity works,” he said. A total of 30 needy households and single mothers received daily essentials such as rice, sugar, cooking oil and curry powder, as well as RM50 per household. The annual charity event aims to remember the less fortunate during the festive ...

  DEFT HANDS: Taib and Ragad each cut slices of ‘ayam percik’ as part of a symbolic food presentation while officiating at the ‘Majlis Ramah-Tamah Aidilfitri’. KUCHING:  Muslim parents are reminded to fervently practise their religious faith and be role models to their children. This is especially pressing now as the young generation needs to have strong knowledge of Islamic teachings, which they should practise, to ward off distractions and temptations brought about by today’s modern society, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. “We must understand the social changes that come with development and the evolution of our society, and change our mindset and adapt our religious teachings to the changes ...

KUCHING: Sarawak is fully committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the Malaysian government, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud. However, he said all the relevant stakeholders in both the public and private sectors would be required to collaborate to create synergised efforts to achieve the targets. The MDGs were adopted by world leaders in 2000 and have become the shared global commitment for both local and global communities in eradicating poverty and improving the quality of life of the people by 2015. The MDGs have set eight development targets to improve the social and economic conditions in different dimensions. The goals are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, to achieve universal primary education, to promote gender ...

KUCHING: Sarawak is targeting to increase the coverage of rural electricity supply to 95 per cent of the state’s rural population from the current 66 per cent under the National Key Results Area (NKRA) for rural basic amenities, said Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Planning and Resource Management II, said 1,144 projects were being implemented at a cost of RM1.7 billion throughout the state. “This involves additional connection of electricity supply to about 77,000 houses while 14,729 out of the 19,000 targeted households have been connected,” he said in a statement here yesterday. On rural water supply, he said 457 projects were implemented at a cost of RM1.73 billion as part of efforts ...

  THE development of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and the state’s drive for expansion of industry is bringing with it a growing number of increasingly mobile expatriate staff. From senior management to consultants and specialist technical staff, expatriates can bring valuable skills and international experience to both multinational and Malaysian companies operating in the state. However, the costs of employing such people are high; direct costs alone include relocation costs, housing and travel allowances, school fees for accompanying children, as well as internationally competitive salaries. In addition to the direct costs of employment are the potential costs arising from failed expatriate postings, such as loss of market share, negative ...

  WE CARE: Abang Johari (second left) presents a contribution to a recipient as others look on. KUCHING: The Housing and Urban Development Ministry says it will source for funds to build a new dormitory at Sarawak Hun Nam Siang Tng Home for the Aged. Its minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said a fund-raising activity for the building, estimated to cost RM3 million, would commence soon. The 6-storey building will be used to house the elderly residents of the non-profit organisation located at Sekama Road here. “In addition to federal and state government funding, I hope kind-hearted members of the public will also take part in the fund raising,” said Abang Johari during a visit to the premises yesterday. He pointed out that charity ...

LAWAS: Compensation of land acquired by the government in the state is based on market value and titles are issued for any remaining portion of land not affected by the alienation exercise. Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said this in the presentation of land compensation cheques and presentation of land titles to 104 of the 188 recipients whose land were acquired in Limbang Division yesterday. Commending the recipients for their co-operation, he said the rate of compensation calculated by Land and Survey Department is based on average of current transactions in their record in their respective areas. “In Australia, land owners affected by small village access roads are not given compensation while  in Singapore ...

  KUCHING: Sarawakians can expect to pay more in sales tax to the state government in the future as it is now exploring new ways to fatten its coffers while minimising its reliance on revenue from natural resources. Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh announced the government’s plan in his winding-up speech but he did not specifically mention whether it would entail a hike in a current sales tax or the implementation of a new sales tax. “The state will further explore the possibility of getting additional income from the state’s sales tax without putting unnecessary burden on the people and having negative impact on the economy. “The state is always mindful of the need to balance between generating additional revenue and ensuring ...