Fatimah (fourth right) beside her new keropok lekor machine. With her are Dr Mohammad (third left), Hadijah (third right) and other Dewanita members. MIRI: A local entrepreneur can expect to produce and market more ‘keropok lekor’ from now on, thanks to the new machine given to her under the Public-Private Research Network (PPRN) – a special programme run by the Ministry of Higher Education. Fatimah Abdul Hamid received the machine during a simple handover  in Malacca recently, where Women’s Section of Chamber of Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs (Dewanita) Miri chairperson Hadijah Sheikh Kassim and representative of the ministry Dr Mohammad Halim Ibrahim were also present. The PPRN is an initiative by the ministry to encourage innovativeness ...

Fatimah (second right) in a discussion with (from right) Assistant Minister for Welfare and Community Wellbeing Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education and Family Development Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and state NRD director Jasni Jubli. KUCHING: The special taskforce handling the issue of stateless children in Sarawak has exceeded its target of conducting 50 operations a year. As at Dec 31 last year, the taskforce ran 63 operations where it received a total of 4,098 late birth certificate registrations and approved 2,885 applications. Of the total applications, 1,213 were rejected. “This year, the taskforce has so far conducted 15 operations where 549 late registrations for birth certificates were received. Of the ...

Sabariah (seated centre) and Kadim (seated second left) with civil servants who received their awards and other officials during the event at Unimas yesterday. KOTA SAMARAHAN: All civil servants should equip themselves with digital knowledge to fit into the new era of information technology in the public service. Deputy State Secretary (Performance and Service Delivery Transformation) Datu Dr Sabariah Putit said this is in line with the vision of Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg to enhance the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the state such as in e-Government (e-Kerajaan) service. “The Chief Minister (Abang Johari) is serious in developing the Internet facilities and has provided a huge budget to upgrade the Internet infrastructure ...

Awang Tengah (second row, sixth left) and other VIP guests with the pupils and teachers in a group photo after the presentation of certificates. LAWAS: The state government is gearing towards making 2017 the ‘Year of Internet Economy’. Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said such commitment was in line with the national target set by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. “The fast growth in today’s digital world has slowly changed the conventional way of living of the people, including those in the rural areas. Thus, it is important to be adaptable to digital technology; otherwise, we would be left behind particularly in the fields of business and trading,” he said in his opening address ...

Dr Annuar (front row, second left) launching the ‘Laman Ilmu’ at Rumah Bungan, while headman Bungan Jaya (second right) and others look on. SIBU: A preparatory night class will be implemented at six longhouses in Nangka state constituency to provide a conducive environment for school children to revise their lessons and complete their homework. Assistant Minister for Science Research and Biotechnology Dr Annuar Rapaee, who is also Nangka assemblyman, said the method is similar to that in residential schools, where students study in a supervised environment. He explained that the class is meant to prepare students for the following day’s class by ensuring that they studied and completed their homework. “We will start with the six longhouses ...

Henry (second right) being briefed by site manager Tan Lip Kern (right) during the site visit. BAU: The SMK Singai project is now 55 per cent completed after its construction was re-commenced by a new contractor since April 24 last year. Tasik Biru assemblyman Dato Henry Harry Jinep, who visited the project site yesterday, said the progress of the school project was very encouraging and he was optimistic the school would be ready for student intake in 2019. He also informed that the school, which can accommodate up to 1,500 students, will be a full boarding school and the fourth secondary school in Bau district. “Within just more than 10 months, the progress of construction is now two per cent ahead of schedule. So far, the rate of completion is 55 per cent. ...

Julaihi (seated, third left) with participants of the Interdisciplinary Field Course programme during the closing ceremony. SEBUYAU: Local universities and institutions of higher learning are urged to conduct more field studies and research projects in the rural areas in order to assist the government with its rural transformation programmes. In making the call, Assistant Minister for Rural Economy (Coastal Areas) and Fisheries Datuk Julaihi Narawi said the studies could provide additional information and data to help the government in transforming the rural areas. “While the government has  data and information about the rural areas, more studies and research on the landscape and rural community are very welcome to assist the state government to bring development ...

  Manyin (second left) hands over the first prize to the lucky draw winner as Anthony (first left) and others look on. SERIAN: The 43-year-old SMK Tebakang will finally have a new dining hall to accommodate the big student population in this boarding school. Youth, Sports and Solidarity Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong announced an allocation of RM600,000 to build this new dining hall this year. He informed that with this new dining hall, boarders will not have to take their meals at the school’s multi-purpose hall anymore which served as their dining place. “I was once the principal of this school, for eight years. I understand how troublesome it is to arrange tables for dining time at this school hall and then  having to shift and ...

Administrative officer of Bakun Charitable Trust Romio Ding (second right) presents a tentative programme for the ‘Jom Masuk U’ to Masing in the presence of Liwan (third left) and other committee members at Masing’s office. KUCHING: Education is a key factor for the Penans to get into the mainstream of development, says Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang. He said the Bakun Charitable Trust (BCT) was thus now offering incentives to Penan children to attend classes at Murum Resettlement Scheme in Tegulang and Metalun. “We are giving a chance to Penan children to attend school. That’s why we are not focusing on their academic performance now. “Last year, with the fund from SEB, we gave incentives to Penan pupils to go to school by ...

  Fatimah (front row, second right), Chan (front row, second left) together with members of the OKU community after the launch of the parking space and sticker. — Photo by Tan Song Wei KUCHING: Individuals with disabilities (OKU) need the support of other citizens to live an independent life. In pointing this out, Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah stressed that those under this category would also want to lead dignified lives and be independent but the community must help create a friendly environment for them. “If the environment is not supportive of people with disabilities, especially those with mobility issues, then it disables them further. They want to move around and enjoy life just like everyone else,” ...