SIBU: Rajang Port Authority’s (RPA) total revenue continues to grow by six per cent, achieving RM30.9 million last year and posting a net profit after tax of RM6 million, advocating total quality. RPA general manager Helen Lim Hui Shyan who disclosed this at its Quality Day 2013 here on Wednesday added their only remaining operation centre in 2012 posted a growth of 4.5 per cent in throughput, registering 1,815,000 tonnes to the previous year of 1,742,000 tonnes. “Our strategic business unit in the handling of containers has proven to be successful again as we have achieved an increase in total containers, up to almost 90,000 TEUs last year. “It is with this that I am proud to inform that RPA’s Sibu centre has been able to continue in its streak of improved ...

BAU: Sarawak attracted more than RM3 billion-investment in the first two months of this year, the highest among the states in Malaysia. From the figure, RM2.89 billion was foreign investment and the rest domestic, says Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan. “According to Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the investment flowing into Sarawak in Jan and Feb was the highest, followed by Perak (RM377 million), Selangor (RM366 million) and Penang (RM351 million),” he said at the opening of a programme on opportunities in commerce and industry at the civic centre here yesterday. “This shows that the government, particularly the state government, is in the right track to attract more investment. This must be continued ...

  IT’S OPEN: Fatimah signing the plaque after opening the centre, accompanied by Wan Junaidi (left) and Wang (right). Also seen behind (from left) are Rodziah, Wan Junaidi’s wife Datin Feona, Noorul and Ranum. KUCHING: Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the Welfare Department goes to the ground to reach out to the needy and disabled (OKU). “In addition to that we call on community leaders to furnish us with a report of needy or disabled people in their areas to ensure nobody is left out. “Together with various agencies, we provide integrated and holistic assistance for the disabled in Sarawak,” she said when officiating at the opening of Pakma Gading Community Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) ...

BINTULU: Fishermen in the state will be further assisted in various aspects based on their current needs to ensure their welfare is being taken care of, said Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip. He said though they may be small in numbers, the fishermen deserved assistance because they are the most important contributors of a protein source in this country and be given appropriate help, in terms of fishing equipment and other schemes. “Here, we can see the government is very concerned with the plight of the fishermen who are willing to take the high risk of going out to sea,” said the Jepak assemblyman when speaking at the appointment of the Fisheries Community Council chief (KKP) for 2013-2016 session and touch point 2013 project presentation to the Department ...

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism plans to set up a subsidiary unit involving the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to promote the state’s national parks and inventory. Its minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the proposal would be brought to the Cabinet soon for its approval. “This subsidiary will look at listing all species available in our national parks and seek ways to promote our national parks as a tourism destination. This can be achieved by rebranding our natural forest reserve to the outside world,” he said at the closing of ‘Kubah Week’ at Kubah National Park yesterday. On a related matter, Abang Johari urged SFC to improve the knowledge of its forest tour guides so that they could market the ...

  FOR THE RAKYAT: Abang Johari (standing) briefing on development for Kpg Nangka and Kpg Hilir. SIBU: A total of 1,100 houses will be built at Mile 10 Oya Road to accommodate extended families from Kpg Nangka and Kpg Hilir. Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said this when addressing residents of Kampung Datu here yesterday. “We have secured a new site at Mile 10 Oya Road to accommodate the extended families from Kpg Nangka and Kpg Hilir,” he said, adding that lots presently available at the villages were insufficient to meet the needs. He said the new site was also to resettle those living along the banks of  the Batang Igan who were affected by erosion. “If there are new generations, we will find a new place ...

  THANK YOU: Fatimah presents a donation to a recipient on crutches. BINTULU: Educational opportunity provided by the government and personal commitment has enabled  women to lead in many areas previously dominated by men. Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said according to records from the Ministry of Higher Education in 2010, the ratio of men to  women who successfully graduated from higher learning institution is 29:71 for mastery of literature and 46:54 for technical subjects and science. She said this was evidence that along with the men, women can participate in all levels: social, economic, education, cultural, management, politics, medicine, and science and technology. “Most notable is the participation ...

  THIRD BRIDGE COMING: Taib launches a gimmick in a symbolic gesture to announce the site where the RM145 million Matang-Batu Kawa bridge project will begin. The project was targeted to be completed within two years. Also seen are (from left) Abang Johari, Manyin (partly hidden), Yong, Fadillah and Daud. — Photo by Tan Song Wei.   KUCHING: The state has applied to build five more flyovers in various locations in the city including one over the Datu Temenggung Abang Kipali bin Abang Akip roundabout, to ease the fast growing traffic congestion here. Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said the proposals have been officially submitted for consideration by the federal government. The elevated ...

  Truly at home: Taib putting on a Melanau traditional sunhat which locals call 'terendak'. MUKAH: The first sign that a rural place is developing in the right direction is when there is no more brain drain. “This is what Mukah is currently experiencing. The Melanaus are coming back home because there are jobs here,” said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also Sarawak Barisan Nasional chief. In the past, he said, most young educated youths went away from here to seek employment because there was nothing promising for them. But times had changed, he said, after Mukah became the administrative centre for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) which has attracted multi-billion ringgit investments. Today, Mukah has ...

SIBU: This town is well on its way to becoming one of the state’s education hubs through the setting up of University College of Technology Sibu (UCTS). According to Local Government and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, the establishment of the higher learning institution is the key phase to achieve this objective. “The entire plan ignited about 15 years ago through the setting up of United College Sarawak (UCS), which was later renamed Laila Taib College. This was followed by the establishment of Sarawak Maritime College. “Following suit were an international school and now UCTS, both of which are also located at the site of the old Sibu airport,” he said here yesterday at the swearing-in of new office-bearers of the United Association ...