Finally, MyKad for Choong

Wait in vain: Choong was to have receive his permanent resident and birth certificate soon



Choong Yik Sheng, 99, who passed away yesterday, will finally be issued his MyKad.

Special officer to the Home Minister Datuk Lau Yeng Peng said Choong’s red MyKad had been issued and he was to have received his permanent resident and birth certificate soon.

“When I heard the news of his death I was choked with emotions. It’s really unfortunate,” Lau told The Star.

“We gave his case priority and simplified procedures for him because of time constraint. But we still had to abide by certain procedures, otherwise he would have gotten his MyKad earlier,” he added.

Lau said he would be attending Choong’s funeral at the Nirwana Memorial Centre in Jalan Sg Besi today to pay his respects.

He will also present Choong’s MyKad to the caretaker of the old folks’ home at the Siri Jayanti Metta Welfare Association in Setapak where Choong lived.

Choong’s case was highlighted by the Chinese newspapers in early October and soon after, the registration department was instructed to collect his personal data to facilitate the issuance of the MyKad

The Star Wednesday October 21, 2009

Malaysia Day to finally become a national holiday

THE date Sept 16 will officially be celebrated as Malaysia Day and will become a national public holiday starting from next year.

> The day is currently a holiday in Sabah and Sarawak as the official birthdays of ther respective Yang di-Pertua Negeris.

> On Sept 16, 1963, Sabah and Sarawak, together with Singapore, joined the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia. Sarawak had earlier attained self government status on July 22, 1963, while Sabah and Singapore gained the status on Aug 31 the same year.

> Before that, Sarawak was ruled by the “White Rajahs” of the Brooke dynasty while Sabah was the British colony of North Borneo. Singapore was also a British colony.

> The Cobbold Commision was formed to get the views of the people of Sabah and Sarawak on the future of their territories and found that there was overwhelming support for joining Malaysia.



Sept 16 a day to mark unity

The Government has declared Sept 16 as a public holiday from next year in the spirit of 1Malaysia.

“We want the joys and sorrows of the people in Sabah and Sarawak to be felt by the people in the peninsula,” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Announcing this at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, he said Malaysia Day would be celebrated with events that would foster closer unity and understanding among the different races.

The Merdeka Day on Aug 31, on the other hand, would be marked with events to commemorate the historical moment and to remind Malaysians about the struggle for independence from the colonialists.

He said this in reply to a question by Putatan MP Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh, who had asked about the extent of public response to the 1Malaysia concept.

Najib said Sept 16, 1963 – the day Sabah and Sarawak became part of the nation – was a momentous time in Malaysian history.

On racial integration in Malaysia, Najib said the country had opted for the integration of its people even from the early days of the country’s birth instead of assimilating them.

“It is the best path because we portray a strength that is based on unity.

“There is no other country that is as unique as Malaysia.

“And because of that, we can say we have a country that is clearly based on an understanding among the races and we can accept other influences, which has been made into part of our culture.

“Everyone has a place under the 1Malaysia roof,” he added.

Teaching of Science and Maths in BM for Year One could possibly begin in 2011

The Education Ministry is looking into the possibility of implementing the teaching of Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia for Year One students beginning 2011, a year ahead of schedule.

Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Tuesday this would depend on several factors including the adequacy of teachers, how soon the new curriculum could be drafted and whether the text books for Science, Mathematics and English would be ready by next year.

“For Year Four, Form One and Form Four students, the policy will begin in 2012 to enable the Ministry to make the necessary preparations,” he said when replying Hulu Terengganu MP Mohd Nor Othman during the question-and-answer session in Parliament.

Muhyiddin also gave his reassurance that the Government was serious about abolishing the policy of Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) while prioritising the new strategy to uphold Bahasa Malaysia and strengthen English (MBMMBI).

Mohd Nor and 12 others had also asked for the Government’s rationale in waiting until 2012 to revert to teaching both subjects in Bahasa Malaysia and its efforts implementing MBMMBI.

He said the cost of implementing the PPSMI since it was introduced in 2003 was RM5bil, which included the cost of providing facilities and training teachers.

The ministry will ask for adequate allocation to make the MBMMBI a success besides using existing facilities, he said.

Over 610,000 out of Sabah’s 3.4 million population are foreigners

One out of every six people in Sabah is a foreigner.

Disclosing the latest statistics yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hi­­shammuddin Tun Hussein said foreigners comprised 610,104 of Sabah’s 3.4 million population.

He said the largest number comprised 317,837 undocumented migrant workers and their dependants while 230,000 more are working in the state legally.

Hishammuddin said statistics ob­­tained from the two-phase Ops Berse­padu carried out over the past two years showed that there were 57,197 people living in the state as refugees.

Hishammuddin said a total of 5,643 illegal immigrants were detected in the first phase of Ops Bersepadu that focused in the state’s west coast and interior and 4,427 more were uncovered in the second phase in the east coast districts.

He said a notable achievement of Ops Bersepadu was the registration of 317,837 migrant workers and their dependants who were illegals.

Of this number, he said, just over half or 192,723 migrant workers had legalised their stay by paying the necessary levies while 120,114 more had yet to do so even after the Immigration Department extended the deadline for the process from May 31 to Oct 31.

“We have also reduced the levy by half. Thus if these foreign workers and their employers still refuse to regularise their stay, we will take stern action.

“So many opportunities have been provided to legalise their presence in Sabah. After October, we will be embarking on a more aggressive operation to nab illegal migrant workers,” Hishammuddin added.

PM isytihar 16 September cuti umum Hari Malaysia mulai tahun depan

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, mengumumkan 16 September sebagai cuti umum Hari Malaysia di seluruh negara mulai tahun depan.

Ini bermakna rakyat Malaysia akan merayakan dua hari kebangsaan secara berkembar.

Corruption blocks growth

As diverse as Malaysian youths are, they agree that corruption holds back national progress.

YouthSays.com, the nation’s largest independent online youth community, in an ongoing survey to gauge its members’ attitudes towards corruption found that, at press time, 97% of 523 respondents agreed that corruption impeded the country from progressing.

The survey will end after 3,000 members have responded.

Asked whether they would support leaders who can prove they stand against corruption, 92% of respondents agreed.

However, 58% of the respondents think corruption in the country would get worse while 73% agreed that Malaysia does not have a clear anti-corruption agenda and strategy.

“This suggests corruption is a significant electoral issue for young Malaysians, and a lack in confidence in both the political will and the current strategies to address it,” said Khailee Ng, executive director of Youth Asia, which owns the YouthSays blog.

Only 28% of the respondents polled could name current Malaysian leaders who support anti-corruption.

Two out of the top five names held positions in the Government.

They are Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

The three individuals are from the Opposition – PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

The results of the poll can be found on http://blog.youthsays.com/.

We don’t have ‘express PhD’, says Unimas

Vice-chancellor says university has strict vetting procedure when assessing candidates

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid answered with a firm “no” when reporters asked yesterday if there were shortcuts to getting a degree in the university.

“We, as a university, place great emphasis on the quality of our students. There is a strict procedure and process before an applicant is accepted to do his PhD in this university. We look at his academic qualifications as well as other relevant experience, if any.

“Depending on which area of research he wants to pursue, we will appoint the relevant faculty to take him in,” Khairuddin said during the university’s Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri yesterday.

Khairuddin also pointed out that an applicant would also have to prepare a research proposal and a committee would evaluate the proposal to decide whether he had the ability and standard to do a PhD.

He said the university would only allow him to register as student if the committee was satisfied.

“The duration of study for a PhD is three years full-time at the minimum. It will take five to seven years if a student does it part-time. We do not just give away PhD to people,” he elaborated, adding there was no such thing as “express PhD” in Unimas.

Earlier in his welcoming speech, Khairuddin congratulated the chairman of the Unimas board of directors Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohd Noor, who was present at the

open house, on his being awarded as Tokoh 1Malaysia by the prime minister recently.

He also announced that Unimas had won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals during the International Research and Inventions Expo for Institutions of Higher Learning (PETICTA) this month.

Unimas also won first prize at the recent Asia Pacific ICT Awards, he added.

According to Khairuddin, the theme for this year’s open house was based on the concept of ‘Melayu Tradisional’ which was why food and drinks were placed in stalls that were decorated to look like Malay houses.

These stalls were creatively decorated by faculties, institutes, centres and departments from the university.

The purpose of the open house was to inculcate the spirit of togetherness and cooperation among staff who mingled around and enjoyed the open house delicacies.

Guests were entertained with games, Hari Raya songs and karaoke sessions.

Also present at the event were deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Fatimah Abang and deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs and alumni Prof Madya Mohd Fadzil Abd Rahman.

bp 151009

Kadar indeks jenayah Sarawak turun 7.86%

8 Okt.2009 - Kadar indeks jenayah di Sarawak bagi tempoh sembilan bulan pertama tahun ini menurun 7.86 peratus iaitu kepada 10,252 kes berbanding 11,126 kes bagi tempoh yang sama tahun lalu.

Pesuruhjaya Polis Sarawak, Datuk Mohmad Salleh berkata, daripada jumlah berkenaan, polis berjaya menyelesaikan 48.27 peratus kes atau sebanyak 4,949 kes jenayah bagi tempoh tersebut.

Menurutnya, penurunan indeks jenayah berkenaan banyak dibantu oleh penurunan kadar jenayah terutamanya di bandar-bandar besar di Sarawak.

''Namun kejayaan yang dicapai itu tidak akan terhasil sekiranya tiada usaha keras yang menyeluruh atau tindakan secara kolektif secara berterusan daripada semua pegawai dan anggota dalam melaksanakan tugas mereka.

''Saya percaya dengan adanya kesedaran dan penghayatan terhadap amanah dan tugas bagi setiap pegawai dan anggota, prestasi polis kontinjen Sarawak akan terus cemerlang pada masa akan datang," katanya di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap pada perhimpunan bulanan Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen (IPK) Sarawak di sini.

Turut hadir, timbalannya, Datuk Hamza Taib dan Komander Briged PGA Sarawak, Datuk Law Hong Soon dan Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah negeri, Senior Asisten Komisioner II (SAC II) Huzir Mohamed.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Mohmad memberitahu, mana-mana pegawai dan anggota yang didapati melakukan perkara yang bercanggah dengan disiplin pasukan boleh dikenakan tindakan buang kerja sekiranya didapati bersalah.

Projek lulus 14 hari

Tempoh kelulusan permohonan bagi semua projek kendalian Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) daripada pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) kini dipercepatkan kepada 14 hari berbanding tiga hingga enam bulan sebelum ini.

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor, berkata langkah berkuat kuasa serta-merta itu diputuskan selepas mendapat persetujuan Kabinet menerusi Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kerja Tindakan Negara pada April lalu dan Mesyuarat Majlis Negara, bulan lalu.

Beliau berkata, semua projek yang sebelum ini diuruskan dan diselia oleh JKR tidak perlu lagi dikemukakan kepada Pusat Setempat PBT untuk mempercepatkan pemerosesan.
Katanya, urusan mengemukakan senarai cadangan projek, pelan dan dokumen berkaitan kepada Pengarah Jabatan Perancang Bandar dan Desa Negeri (JPN) juga dibuat sendiri oleh JKR.

Selain itu, rundingan mengenai perkara teknikal projek yang dikemukakan melalui JKR akan dinilai oleh Jawatankuasa Teknikal JPN melalui mesyuarat khas yang akan dipengerusikan Pengarah JPN bersama PBT, Pejabat Tanah dan Galian, JKR, Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran, Jabatan Alam Sekitar, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat, Indah Water Konsortium, Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia, badan berkuasa air negeri dan jabatan teknikal lain yang berkaitan.

"Pengarah JPN yang juga setiausaha jawatankuasa itu perlu mengadakan rundingan dalam tempoh tidak melebihi 14 hari selepas menerima senarai projek yang mengandungi maklumat perancangan lengkap daripada JKR.

"Kita harap proses ini akan memberikan lebih banyak kemudahan kepada pemaju, manakala JKR mudah untuk memantau projek yang dilaksanakan," katanya selepas menghadiri Majlis Sambutan Aidilfitri kementeriannya, di sini semalam.

Shaziman berkata, langkah itu untuk memastikan tidak timbul masalah kelewatan dalam melaksanakan projek dan kegagalan menyiapkan projek sehingga menyulitkan pelbagai pihak.

Ia juga bagi menyahut seruan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak untuk memastikan gagasan 'Rakyat didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan' berjaya dicapai.

"Kita kenal pasti kelewatan kelulusan disebabkan beberapa perkara. Jadi, kita sudah mencapai kata sepakat menggantikan prosedur yang kita gunakan sebelum ini," katanya.

Lelaki ditahan kerana cuba masuki Sarawak guna MyKad yang palsu

Jabatan Imigresen menahan seorang lelaki setibanya di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuching kelmarin (Khamis) ketika cuba memasuki negeri ini menggunakan MyKad palsu.Lelaki berusia dalam lingkungan 30-an itu tiba dari Kuala Lumpur pada kira-kira jam 5.15 petang dan ketika pemeriksaan di kaunter imigresen seorang pegawai imigresen yang bertugas mendapati MyKad dipegang lelaki itu adalah milik lelaki lain yang berusia 26 tahun.

Selepas pemeriksaan lanjut ke atas MyKad itu, pegawai berkenaan mendapati gambar pemilik sebenar kad pengenalan itu telah ditukar dengan gambar suspek.

Suspek kemudiannya ditahan untuk disoal siasat dan dalam soal siasat itu lelaki berkenaan mengakui dia telah menggunakan MyKad orang lain dalam usaha untuk memasuki negeri ini.

Suspek diserahkan kepada polis untuk membolehkan siasatan lanjut dilakukan.

Sarawak: Hanya dua mohon lesen ternak burung walit

Hanya dua daripada 1,000 permohonan yang dibuat oleh penternak burung walit di negeri ini bagi mendapatkan lesen menternak burung berkenaan dari Jabatan Perhutanan diluluskan setakat ini.

Pengarah Perhutanan Sarawak, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, berkata dua lesen itu dimiliki penternak burung di Bahagian Mukah, selepas jabatan itu berpuas hati dengan permohonan dibuat.

Beliau yang juga Pengarah Urusan dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) berkata, kegagalan 998 lagi permohonan bagi mendapatkan lesen itu ekoran mereka gagal memenuhi semua syarat yang ditetapkan oleh jabatan terbabit memindahkan supaya memindahkan operasi ke pinggir atau luar bandar.
Katanya, selagi mereka gagal memenuhi semua syarat ditetapkan permohonan bagi mendapatkan lesen menternak burung walit tidak akan dilayan.

"Jabatan Perhutanan dan SFC sudah memberi masa yang cukup kepada penternak burung walit untuk memindahkan operasi mereka dari bandar ke pinggir atau luar bandar.

"Arahan itu dikeluarkan berikutan bantahan orang ramai terhadap penternakan burung walit yang dikatakan mencemarkan persekitaran serta boleh memudaratkan kesihatan," katanya kepada pemberita pada Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri di kediamannya, di sini, semalam.

Galak anak kuasai kemahiran

Gagal dalam bidang akademik tidak seharusnya dijadikan faktor untuk tidak berusaha dalam bidang lain bagi mencapai kejayaan dalam kehidupan masing-masing.

Dalam era dunia globalisasi ini, masih banyak ruang serta peluang yang boleh diteroka untuk menjadi insan yang mampu berdaya saing.

Apa yang penting adalah usaha dan kesungguhan untuk memperbaiki diri bagi menyertai segala peluang yang disediakan oleh kerajaan mahupun sektor swasta.

''Ibu bapa pula jangan berasa malu untuk menghantar anak ke mana-mana institut kemahiran untuk memperoleh ilmu pengetahuan jika anak mereka kurang cemerlang dalam bidang akademik.

''Jangan marah anak tetapi buka minda seluas-luasnya untuk mencari jalan bagaimana untuk menjadikan mereka berjaya meskipun tanpa kelulusan akademik yang baik iaitu dengan cara memperoleh kemahiran,"

MASwings perkenal tambang serendah RM77 untuk Sibu-KK

Bermula 21 September ini, MASwings akan mengenakan tambang baru bagi penerbangan Sibu-Kota Kinabalu daripada serendah RM77 sehingga RM255.

“Tambang baru kami adalah serendah RM77 sehingga RM255 dengan mengenakan diskaun daripada 40 peratus sehingga 70 peratus. Walaupun ia masih mahal berbanding tambang AirAsia dahulu tetapi MASwings turut menyediakan perkhidmatan percuma dalam penerbangan tersebut,” kata Pengarah Urusan MASwings Mohd Salleh Ahmad Tabrani.

Katanya lagi, MASwings juga menyediakan perkhidmatan makanan percuma, bebas memilih tempat duduk, muatan barangan percuma 20kg, penyediaan bahan bacaan dan hiburan percuma termasuk penerbangan empat kali sehari ke Sibu.

Dengan adanya penerbangan empat kali sehari Sibu-Kota Kinabalu ia memboleh-kan penumpang melakukan perjalanan ulang-alik tanpa bermalam dalam satu masa.

“Kepada ahli perniagaan, ia amat sesuai bagi anda untuk menjalankan urusan perniagaan berulang-alik ke Sabah. Selain itu, ia menjimatkan masa termasuk belanja,” katanya semasa mengadakan sidang media dengan pemberita di sini, semalam.

Orang ramai katanya boleh membuat tempahan tiket di internet, mana-mana ejen pelancongan atau pejabat MASwings bagi mendapatkan perkhidmatan tersebut.

Isu penerbangan di Sarawak dibangkitkan oleh Gabungan Persatuan Cina (UCA) berikutan perkhidmatan penerbangan di Sarawak mempunyai masalah setelah syarikat AirAsia tidak meneruskan lagi pe-nerbangan ke Kota Kinabalu.

Setelah AirAsia tidak lagi meneruskan perkhidmatan penerbangan Sibu-Kota Kinabalu, MASwings dan MAS akan mengambil alih penerbangan tersebut.

Selain itu UCA turut men-dakwa tambang penerbangan MAS terlalu membebankan sehingga membawa isu ini ke Kementerian Pengangkutan.

Hadir sama pada sidang media tersebut ialah Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan Datuk Robert Lau, Menteri Kewangan Kedua Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh dan Pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Sibu Datuk Tiong Thai King.

AirAsia out of Sibu-KK route effect October 25, 2009

Deputy minister assures without budget airline, passengers can still expect attractive discounts

AirAsia will stop flying the Sibu-Kota Kinabalu-Sibu route with effect from Oct 25, Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Robert Lau announced yesterday.

Speaking at a dialogue session, Lau referred to an agreement between his ministry and MASwings which excluded the Sibu-KK-Sibu route from the seven shared routes of MAS, MASwings and AirAsia.

Despite cutting the budget airline out, he said his ministry and MAS had worked out discounts for passengers of this route.

“Passengers can now get discounts of up to 70 per cent if they book the tickets online. The cheapest airfare per route can cost only RM77 while passengers still enjoy full in-flight services,” Lau said.

Environment and Public Health Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Sarawak United Chinese Association president Datuk Lau Cheng Kiong and representatives of Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and various Chinese associations and travel agents were present at the dialogue.

Also present were Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and Nangka assemblyman Datuk Awang Bemee.

Lau said although the contract between his ministry and MASwings only agreed on providing two direct flights daily, MASwings had increased the flight frequency to four daily.

“MASwings is at the same time looking into the possibility of having the fifth direct flight in the late evening from Kota Kinabalu,” he said, adding that there were many tourists from China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea entering Kota Kinabalu.

He said the fifth later evening flight could help connect these passengers to Sibu to help boost tourism here.

Lau said his ministry, under the request of the Ministry of Finance, was conducting a study on reviewing the Rural Air Services (RAS) contract in Sabah and Sarawak to possibly redefine the RAS routes.

He also touched on air connectivity between Sibu and Limbang, adding that in the past, passengers from Sibu would have to wait in Miri for a considerable time before they could fly to Limbang.

“With the new arrangement, passengers can now stay in the plane at Miri Airport while waiting for the same aircraft to take off for Limbang in 25 minutes. This has helped cut the travel time.”

He said the same applied to passengers travelling from Limbang to Sibu via Miri.

More good news came from the Transport Ministry when Lau said arrangements with MAS had added two more daily flights between Sibu and Kuala Lumpur beginning Oct 25.

He said the early additional flight would fly from Sibu at 7am, arriving at the national capital at 8.50pm.

“The other additional flight, non-stop, will fly from KL at 7.30pm and arrive Sibu at 9.25pm. These additional flights will enable businessmen to make day trips instead of having to stay overnight in the national capital,” he said.

Another good piece of news from Lau’s ministry is the route of Sibu and Kuching. According to him, MASwings has added an early flight from Kuching to Sibu, flying out at 6.10am and arriving Sibu at 6.55am.

“The same aircraft will carry passengers from Sibu to Kuching, departing at 7.25am and arriving at 8.20am. This introduction will also enable businessmen and government officials to make day trips between the two places,” he said.

Lau said he was also working with MAS and MASwings on the possibility of operating international flights from Sarawak into BIMP-EAGA region (destinations in Indonesian Kalimantan and South Philippines) next year.

He said this request had come from the Minister of Tourism and Urban Development Datuk Michael Manyin, to help with the development of tourism in the region.

“During a recent cabinet meeting on tourism chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, I brought this up. The deputy prime minister has instructed MAS and MASwings to study the viability of this proposal,” Lau said.

Lau hoped this would be realised soon as it would be a big boost to the tourism industry and the business community.

Kapal selam pertama Malaysia mula kawal perairan negara bulan depan

Kapal selam pertama negara, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman (KD TAR) mula beroperasi menjaga kedaulatan perairan negara pertengahan Oktober ini, selepas membuat ujian dan penyesuaian di kawasan laut tropika.

Panglima Tentera Laut, Laksamana Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, berkata KD TAR tiba di Pangkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) di Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah, esok dan pada persiapan akhir bagi tujuan itu.

Serentak itu, katanya, TLDM mengesyorkan kepada Majlis Angkatan Tentera (MAT) menimbang kelulusan beberapa insentif perkhidmatan kepada krew kapal selam untuk kelulusan.

"Insentif dalam bentuk elaun sudah diluluskan dan kita berhasrat memohon insentif perkhidmatan untuk mereka.

"Insentif perkhidmatan itu termasuk seseorang krew kapal selam yang bersara selepas berkhidmat 10 tahun, kita menganggap perkhidmatannya ialah 20 tahun.

"Pada asasnya insentif yang kita syorkan itu berdasarkan apa yang diberikan negara maju kepada krew kapal selam mereka," katanya selepas menyempurnakan majlis Pentauliahan Kapal Diraja (KD) Sri Gombak di sini, semalam.

Pada 3 September lalu, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin berkenan berangkat ke majlis sambutan ketibaan KD TAR di pangkalan KD Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Pulau Indah, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor.

KD TAR yang dikendali 32 pegawai dan anggota diketuai Pegawai Memerintah, Komander Zulhelmy Ithnain. Kapal selam kedua, KD Tun Razak kini melakukan pelayaran percubaan di lautan Perancis.

Satu kumpulan krew kapal selam dikenali Skuadron Sokongan juga giat menjalani latihan di negara sama.

Apabila kumpulan itu menamatkan latihan, TLDM akan memiliki 96 krew kapal selam bertauliah semuanya.

Sementara itu, Abdul Aziz menyifatkan pentauliahan KD Sri Gombak pengiktirafan tidak ternilai oleh Seri Paduka terhadap unit berusia 10 tahun itu yang selama ini menyumbang khidmat bantuan kepada 700 warga TLDM di Lembah Klang.

KD Sri Gombak unit keempat TLDM ditauliahkan dan unit seterusnya yang ditauliahkan ialah KD Sri Langkawi, Disember ini.

Program Mengagih Bubur Lambuk 1Malaysia Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia Sibu Sarawak

Sempena bulan Ramadan dan menjelang tiba 1 Syawal tidak lama lagi, Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia Sibu, Sarawak menganjurkan majlis menyedia bubur lambut yang dinamakan Bubur Lambuk 1Malaysia di perkarangan Wisma Persekutuan Blok 3, Sibu. Majlis tersebut disertai berbagai jabatan yang turut berkerja secara gotonng royong menyediakan ramuan dan memasak bubur berkenaan.

Sedia kit H1N1 ketika raya

Elak jangkitan wabak pada Aidilfitri
Bimbang dengan kemungkinan Influenza A (H1N1) merebak pantas ke seluruh negara berikutan pergerakan besar-besaran rakyat ketika cuti Aidilfitri hujung minggu ini, orang ramai disaran membawa bersama kit pencegahan H1N1 sepanjang masa dan ke mana saja mereka pergi.

Mereka yang akan pulang berhari raya di kampung halaman atau bercuti sempena cuti panjang Aidilfitri minggu depan juga diminta menjaga kebersihan diri dan sentiasa peka terhadap tanda-tanda kemungkinan dijangkiti penyakit itu.

Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, berkata kit mengandungi topeng mulut dan hidung, tisu serta pencuci tangan antikuman yang tidak perlu dibilas boleh disediakan sendiri atau dibeli di farmasi.

"Ia perlu dianggap sebagai barang perlu dimiliki oleh semua yang bercadang balik kampung sama ada menggunakan kenderaan sendiri atau perkhidmatan awam.

"Kit H1N1 boleh disediakan sendiri dan perlu sentiasa dibawa. Hanya perlu ada tiga komponen untuk melengkapkan kit itu yang mempunyai pencuci tangan antikuman, topeng penutup mulut serta hidung dan tisu," katanya semalam.

Sungai Merah : Island at river mouth disrupts drainage

An island has formed at the mouth of Seduan River in Sungei Merah, disrupting the drainage system that flushes the water out into the main Rejang River.

The island, measuring 400 by 200 metres, has turned the river mouth into a bottle neck, and water flowing out takes a left turn around the island before entering the Rejang River.

The island’s formation is caused by erosion of the river that results in tonnes of loose soil being brought down from the upper reaches of the Rejang.

A resident of Sungei Merah told The Borneo Post yesterday that there is a whirlpool where Seduan and Rejang Rivers meet.

“Soil has deposited at the mouth where the river current weakens after hitting the whirlpool.”

A contractor said the island was made of mud brought down by the river and had little commercial value.

“We’ve never been interested to get the soil from the island. Grasses have grown there now.”

Although the contractors are not interested in the island, the authorities are not sitting there doing nothing.

Rajang Port Authority and Public Works Department have cleared the blockage in the river several times in the last two years, but more soil would be quickly deposited to reform the island.

“The island has grown by the day,” noted the resident, saying that he had watched it grows in the last four years.

The resident said this was the reason floods had occurred in Seduan, and it had prompted DID to remove the island as a flood mitigation measure.

A source from the DID said a tender had been called for the multi-million ringgit project to be announced later this week.

“This will be the first major river dredging work carried out.”

Several factors had caused the flooding in Seduan in recent years.

Flood experts said deforestation and development in the upper reaches of the Rejang was one.

The fast-paced development at Seduan water catchment areas that stretches to Mile 9, Jalan Oya is another.

On the heavy flooding in Seduan during the Chinese New Year this year, DID said it was caused by unusually heavy rain that was made worst by the king tide.

The DID had told The Borneo Post last February that heavy rain amounting to 180 to 200mm - the equivalent of a month’s rain - poured in just two days.

“Serious flooding followed,” it said.

Sarawak: Bangkai, ramuan langkau (samsu)

Ragi, beras serta gula dikukus tiga hari, hasilkan minuman keras lebih 'power'

Bangkai biawak, ular, kucing atau anjing yang direbus bersama daun lalang.

Itulah rahsia ramuan untuk membuat ‘langkau’ sejenis arak buatan tempatan yang agak murah di Sarawak dan proses pembuatannya hampir sama dengan samsu haram yang terkenal di India.

Lima ramuan rahsia itu adalah antara pelbagai resipi tambahan yang digunakan oleh pembuat ‘langkau’ untuk menghasilkan minuman keras itu supaya ia lebih ‘power’.

Ramuan utama lain ialah ‘ragi’ sejenis adunan tepung beras yang dimasak dan dicampur dengan lengkuas, halia, bunga cengkih dan kayu manis. Turut digunakan ialah beras, air dan gula.

Seorang bekas pembuat ‘langkau’ yang sudahpun tidak terbabit dalam aktiviti berkenaan sejak lima tahun lalu berkata, pembuat minuman keras itu mencampurkan pelbagai ramuan rahsia untuk menjadikannya lebih 'power'.

Beliau yang hanya mahu dikenali sebagai Martin, 59, berkata, kejayaan pembuat ‘langkau’ bergantung kepada ‘umph’ (ketinggian paras alkohol) yang ada pada minuman berkenaan.

"Pembeli sebenarnya tidak akan tahu apa ramuan rahsia yang kita gunakan untuk menjadikannya lebih power.

“Apa yang penting bagi pembeli ialah tahap kekuatan minuman itu. Lebih kuat lebih baik,” katanya ketika membuat pendedahan itu kepada Berita Harian.

Martin seorang daripada pembuat langkau agak popular di kalangan penduduk di utara Sarawak ketika zamannya berkata, selain bangkai haiwan ramuan lain yang turut digunakan bagi menjadikan minuman itu lebih ‘umph’ ialah mencampurkannya dengan pelbagai jenis pil.

Tanpa menyatakan pil yang dimaksudkan itu, beliau berkata, banyak resepi rahsia dan pendekatan berbeza digunakan pembuat minuman keras itu untuk melariskan jualan mereka.

Katanya, empat komponen utama diperlukan membuat minuman keras itu iaitu ragi, beras, gula dan air.

Ragi dijual secara terbuka dengan harga RM12 sekilogram dan bahan sama turut digunakan membuat ‘tuak’ sejenis lagi minuman keras popular di kalangan masyarakat Dayak di Sarawak dan kerap dihidangkan ketika perayaan seperti Gawai Dayak dan perayaan lain.

Proses membuat langkau katanya, mengambil masa seminggu.

Bagi menghasilkan 10 liter ‘langkau’ mereka memerlukan lima kilogram beras, tujuh kilogram ragi dan lima kilogram gula.

“Adunan ragi, beras dan gula dicampurkan, kemudian dikukus dalam bekas khas berterusan sekurang-kurangnya tiga hari.

“Ketika proses memasak, pembuat langkau akan memasukkan ramuan rahsia mengikut kehendak masing-masing supaya ia lebih 'power'. Biasanya tiada siapa tahu ramuan rahsia ini.

"Proses membuat 'langkau' dilakukan secara bersembunyi,” katanya sambil menambah air ‘langkau’ terhasil daripada air sulingan yang menitis perlahan daripada paip kecil dibuat khas daripada tangki utamanya.

Titisan awal daripada proses sulingan itu, katanya, adalah paling berkualiti dan mendapat permintaan tinggi.

Beliau yang tidak menafikan minuman ini memudaratkan kesihatan berkata, air sulingan pertama boleh dijual dengan harga sekitar RM10 hingga RM15 seliter.

“Harganya tidak tetap. Lain daerah, lain pula harganya,” katanya dan menambah minuman itu akan diisi dalam bekas air mineral untuk memudahkan ia dijual.

Seorang pakar perubatan di Miri berkata, masalah ketagihan ‘langkau’ di Sarawak bukan perkara baru.

“Apa yang membimbangkan kita tidak tahu ramuan rahsia yang digunakan pembuat minuman keras berkenaan. Jika mereka gunakan bangkai haiwan termasuk ular pasti kesannya terhadap kesihatan lebih serius, berbanding penggunaan kaedah tradisional.

“Bisa ular tidak mudah hilang begitu saja walaupun dimasak pada suhu panas. Ia pasti memudaratkan kesihatan untuk jangka panjang termasuk mengakibatkan kanser,” katanya.

Timbalan Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, ketika menghadiri majlis perkahwinan di Kampung Lusut Jaya, dekat sini, baru-baru ini turut merasa bimbang terhadap budaya minum arak termasuk ‘langkau’ di kalangan masyarakat Dayak sekarang.

Sarawak: Budak sekolah di pub

Kebanyakan remaja ke pusat hiburan bersama teman menaiki kereta mewah

"Semua yang datang ke sini budak sekolah, sebab itu mereka sangat takut bila ternampak kelibat kereta peronda polis yang kadangkala hanya melakukan rondaan biasa," kata Rita, 26, pelayan sebuah pusat hiburan yang menjadi tumpuan pelajar sekolah di sekitar Kuching pada setiap hujung minggu.

Tanpa disedari, kebanjiran pusat hiburan di Kuching seperti kelab malam, pusat karaoke atau pub turut menarik perhatian golongan pelajar sekolah yang mahu melarikan diri dari tekanan belajar, selain meluangkan masa bersama rakan sebaya.

Walaupun di setiap pintu masuk pusat hiburan berkenaan terpampang papan tanda hanya 18 tahun ke atas dibenarkan masuk, ia tidak menjadi halangan kepada remaja berkenaan untuk memasuki premis terbabit kerana kebanyakan mereka berasal dari keluarga mewah dan wang bukan masalah.

Ada remaja ini datang ke pusat hiburan menaiki kenderaan mewah atau sekadar mengikut rakan lebih tua dengan yang perempuan tidak segan silu berpelukan dan bercumbuan bersama pasangan masing-masing.

Mereka kelihatan bebas untuk berbuat apa saja termasuk menari, melompat, menjerit dan mengambil minuman keras tanpa ada guru sekolah atau ibu bapa yang dapat menghalang mereka.

Rita berkata, dia mengetahui kebanyakan pelanggan pusat hiburan berkenaan adalah pelajar sekolah kerana jika operasi polis dilakukan, taukenya akan teruk dimarahi pegawai polis kerana membenarkan pelanggan di bawah umur masuk ke premis berkenaan.

Katanya, alasan yang sering digunakan taukenya ialah dia tidak mengetahui pelanggan berkenaan adalah di bawah umur, selain mereka enggan menunjukkan kad pengenalan ketika diminta.

"Setiap minggu ramai pelajar akan berkumpul di kelab ini untuk berhibur bersama rakan mereka dengan tempoh operasi pusat hiburan boleh dilanjutkan hingga jam 4 pagi sekiranya pelanggan masih ramai.

"Walaupun mengetahui menjadi kesalahan membenarkan pelanggan bawah umur masuk ke premis ini, tauke masih membenarkannya kerana mereka mempunyai banyak wang dan tidak teragak-agak untuk berbelanja," katanya ketika ditemui Berita Harian.

Pusat hiburan di Kuching dibahagikan kepada beberapa kawasan tumpuan dengan pengunjung dibezakan mengikut had usia dan kemampuan berbelanja, berikutan ada kelab elit hanya membenarkan pelanggan tertentu masuk selain caj mahal.

Berikutan itu golongan remaja akan memilih pusat hiburan mengikut kemampuan mereka atau bergantung kepada rakan yang mempunyai banyak duit memutuskan ke mana hendak pergi.

Tinjauan Berita Harian di kelab itu di tengah-tengah pusat bandaraya Kuching mendapati hampir separuh pengunjungnya kelihatan terlalu muda dan mereka bertempiaran lari selepas dimaklumkan satu operasi polis akan dilakukan di kawasan berkenaan.

Ketika pemeriksaan polis dilakukan, kebanyakan pusat hiburan berkenaan telah lengang dengan hanya pengunjung dewasa masih kelihatan minum tanpa rasa bimbang seperti pengunjung remaja yang melarikan diri.

Rita berkata, beliau pernah melihat seorang pelanggan remaja bersama rakannya dihantar pemandu dan dia berbelanja lebih RM1,000 bagi membeli minuman keras dan makanan ringan.

"Harga minuman dan makanan ringan di sini mahal kerana kelab ini dianggap eksklusif dan pengunjung tidak perlu bimbang kerana jarang diperiksa berbanding di kawasan lain.

"Namun apa yang menyusahkan kami remaja minum terlalu banyak minuman keras dan apabila mabuk, mereka mula mencetuskan pergaduhan mengakibatkan gelas, kerusi dan meja rosak," katanya.