http://www.miricommunity.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=35132&start=0
Kelabit Cooking for Charity
by LadyBird®
Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:55 pm
Get set to go on a gastronomical journey during the Kelabit Food Cooking Competition on Saturday, January 29 to be held at Café Tauh in Miri from 10am to 1.30 pm.
Organised by Kelabit ladies of Miri, the cooking competition is open to all Kelabit ladies with food entered for competition to be sold and proceeds will be donated to MRCS Sunflower Centre, Miri. According to the Organising Chairp person, Lilla Raja-Hodder, there are two categories for the competition. Participants can prepare one dish per category.
In Category One (Authentick Kelabit Recipe) – participants can chose from the following dishes – kikid kerid pering, puluh, udung ubi and labo narar sinutuk.
While in Category Two (Innovative Kelabit Recipe) participants can enter an innovative dish using the following ingredients – chicken, pork, fish (ikan sultan) and Bario Rice (eg nuba’ kedap, nuba’ ubi, nuba’ with mince meat etc).
Those interested to participate can contact the organizers before January 27. Winners of the competition will receive cash prizes.
A special treat for guests and participants at the event will be the presence of Datuk Michael Bong Ah Kow, Malaysian Chef and owner of renowned LAUT restaurant in New York. Famous for providing Manhattan with the most authentic Malaysian and Thai cuisine. LAUT is the first Malaysian restaurant star to be awarded the Michelin one star worldwide. Michelin stars are the highest honour the Michelin Guide New York City 2011 can bestow on a restaurant.
Also expected to attend the event is Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam and Miri Mayor, Lawrence Lai. The event’s patron is Datin Sri Mariam Balan Seling. All prizes are being sponsored by Datuk Lorna Enan Muloon.
For more information, please contact the organizers Lilla Raja-Hodder at 019-8060710 or email lillaraja@gmail.com, Mary Peter at 019-8785406, Nancy Lumie at 019-8159581, Caleena Pasang at 013-8342906.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
AirAsia’s Singapore-Miri direct flight is back
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=89091
AirAsia’s Singapore-Miri direct flight is back
by Chin Kee Leong.
Posted on January 22, 2011, Saturday
MIRI: The Singapore-Miri route by AirAsia has been reinstated with the first batch of visitors brought in from Singapore yesterday.
After many months of hard work and persistence by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, AirAsia finally relented.
“With the reinstatement of the AirAsia Singapore-Miri route, it’s time to actively promote what Miri has to offer to keep Singaporean visitors coming,” Dr Chan said after welcoming passengers who disembarked from AirAsia’s AK6067 at Miri Airport.
Mirians finally have something to cheer about after false starts that lead to suspension of Miri-Singapore flights that barely lasted half a year from early March last year; and a reinstatement that did not turn out as anticipated late March last year.
“Singaporeans can now fly direct to Miri in about an hour, and do not have to transit at Kuching or Kuala Lumpur,” said Dr Chan who is also Tourism and Heritage Minister.
The direct flight is expected to save visitors several hours in transit time and much hassle, which will boost inbound tourism for Miri and Sarawak.
In conjunction with the reinstatement, AirAsia is also offering promotional fares of RM33 and S$33 from May to June this year.
Present to welcome visitors at the airport were Miri mayor Lawrence Lai, Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Datuk Rashid Khan, and Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia marketing manager Victor Leow Khian Ngean.
AirAsia’s Singapore-Miri direct flight is back
by Chin Kee Leong.
Posted on January 22, 2011, Saturday
MIRI: The Singapore-Miri route by AirAsia has been reinstated with the first batch of visitors brought in from Singapore yesterday.
After many months of hard work and persistence by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, AirAsia finally relented.
“With the reinstatement of the AirAsia Singapore-Miri route, it’s time to actively promote what Miri has to offer to keep Singaporean visitors coming,” Dr Chan said after welcoming passengers who disembarked from AirAsia’s AK6067 at Miri Airport.
Mirians finally have something to cheer about after false starts that lead to suspension of Miri-Singapore flights that barely lasted half a year from early March last year; and a reinstatement that did not turn out as anticipated late March last year.
“Singaporeans can now fly direct to Miri in about an hour, and do not have to transit at Kuching or Kuala Lumpur,” said Dr Chan who is also Tourism and Heritage Minister.
The direct flight is expected to save visitors several hours in transit time and much hassle, which will boost inbound tourism for Miri and Sarawak.
In conjunction with the reinstatement, AirAsia is also offering promotional fares of RM33 and S$33 from May to June this year.
Present to welcome visitors at the airport were Miri mayor Lawrence Lai, Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Datuk Rashid Khan, and Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia marketing manager Victor Leow Khian Ngean.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
No more mission impossible
Sunday January 16, 2011
No more mission impossible
By IZATUN SHARI and HARIATI AZIZAN
sunday@thestar.com.my
Idris: ‘What we promised, we have more than delivered’
HE may be a Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Department, but Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala’s workload is no lighter than his other colleagues’.
And the past year has been quite a marathon for Idris, who is also the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) CEO. As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s designated “chief reformist” in his Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Idris has had to move and shake, depending on where you stand, the widely torpid social and economic institutions of the country.
This he had to do amid reverberating criticism from the naysayers both online and offline, who felt that he was too inexperienced and politically naive to turn things around.
Yet the pressure was hardly visible on the face of the affable and energetic 52-year-old, non-political Cabinet member who was at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya recently to give The Star editors a briefing on the GTP and ETP.
It was a few days before the Christmas and New Year holidays but the man from Bario, Sarawak, was focused on his task as he rapidly spewed out facts and figures to sell the government’s grand plans of change.
When asked for his thoughts on how efforts to realise the six National Key Result Areas (NKRA) under the GTP – crime; corruption; education; low-income households; public transport and rural basic infrastructure – are progressing so far, he was upbeat.
“I’m very happy. What we promised, we have more than delivered,” he unhesitatingly declared.
The NKRAs have not only met the targets set for the first year of the three-year national makeover plan, but also surpassed them, added Idris.
Top of the “success list” is crime-reduction NKRA.
The initiatives in the last 11 months – the mobilisation of 14,222 police officers to 50 hotspots, installation of 496 CCTVs in those hotspots, and ranking of 753 police stations for their achievements - have begun to bear fruit and crime incidents in those areas have fallen.
“The progress on crime is fantastic because this is the first time in three years we’ve been able to bring down crime rates. It has never overall gone down before,” Idris pointed out.
Police figures show that the overall crime index fell by 16% while street crime dropped to 38% between January and November this year as compared to the corresponding period last year.
Another achievement that he was pleased about was the improving education NKRA. Idris said that to date, it has exceeded its target for preschool enrolment with 55,056 children going to pre-schools compared to between January and November.
“I’m very excited about education. I’m very pleased with the work that we’ve done ranking 9,814 primary and secondary schools and 20 high performing schools and their principals, teachers and non-academic staff receiving incentives. We’ve also seen improvement in the results of the students at the bottom end of the schools.”
He said he was even heartened when he saw the modest achievement in what he considered the most “complex” NKRA – combating corruption.
As revealed in a survey conducted by Transparency International (TI) Global Corruption Barometer 2010, there was a slight improvement in the public’s perception on government’s efforts in fighting graft.
“I was impressed by the results in TI’s survey, which showed that 48% of Malaysians think that government efforts on corruption are effective (up from 28% in 2009).
“For an independent survey to show such positive response, it gives me hope that the people in this country can look at what is good and criticise what is not good. Only then can the Government respond adequately,” he said.
He is also optimistic that the newly-passed Whistleblower Protection Act will be a big deterrent to graft while promoting more transparency in the process of awarding government contracts and tenders.
What Malaysians need to do now is to recognise the good performances, he said.
“The civil servants need to be applauded because it is their work. I always tell people when the civil servants do a good job, we should recognise that they have done a good job.”
Idris nevertheless conceded that the greatest challenge in implementing the initiatives under the GTP was to get the rakyat to be aligned along the same thinking and convincing them that the new methodologies introduced would deliver results.
He hoped the Netizens, in particular, would also begin to recognise some of the positive performances. They have been particularly hard on him in the last 12 months but Idris has taken it all in his stride.
He said he does not disregard the negative views, however, and has taken time to reply to the comments and queries on the blogs with the necessary facts and details.
“I believe the rakyat only believe in results. It is the results that count. When people see reduction in crime, improvement in urban transport, children attending pre-school classes, eventually people will believe.”
Idris believe that this is largely due to Pemandu’s bottom-up strategy in implementing programmes – where public concerns are sought and heeded.
As seen in Pemandu’s subsidy rationalisation programme, which has received some flak after it led to a reactionary increase in prices of essential goods, he said Pemandu’s original recommendation for the fuel price increase was 15sen but after listening to the people it only went up 5sen per litre.
The public had indicated that it (fuel subsidy) could be reduced but done gradually and in small doses, Idris pointed out, and he is confident that it will not affect public support for the GTP.
“Gauging from the public opinion, they can accept it (the increase in fuel price). It was not sudden. People can adjust to it. At the same time, it allows us to improve urban transport so that people can have alternatives.”
Asked about Pemandu’s hope for the GTP initiatives for next year, he quipped: “Three key words describe the transformation we are pursuing: big results fast!”
We will keep working, he pledged.
“The GTP is a three-year programme. We’ve finished one year. We have two more years to go. After that I believe we should go back to the public and ask them for areas of focus. If they say there should be additional areas of focus such as health, we will do it.”
Idris believes that the key for further achievement is for the Government to look at areas of improvement and always return to what the public want.
Dispelling the fast-growing notion that the GTP initiatives are merely aimed at propelling Barisan Nasional’s popularity among voters, specifically in view of the looming general election, he insisted, “We are not into politics. We are just doing our job.”
And when pressed if he planned to offer himself as a candidate in the coming Sarawak elections, he adamantly stated, “I will not get involved in politics. That is something I will never do.”
No more mission impossible
By IZATUN SHARI and HARIATI AZIZAN
sunday@thestar.com.my
Idris: ‘What we promised, we have more than delivered’
HE may be a Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Department, but Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala’s workload is no lighter than his other colleagues’.
And the past year has been quite a marathon for Idris, who is also the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) CEO. As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s designated “chief reformist” in his Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Idris has had to move and shake, depending on where you stand, the widely torpid social and economic institutions of the country.
This he had to do amid reverberating criticism from the naysayers both online and offline, who felt that he was too inexperienced and politically naive to turn things around.
Yet the pressure was hardly visible on the face of the affable and energetic 52-year-old, non-political Cabinet member who was at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya recently to give The Star editors a briefing on the GTP and ETP.
It was a few days before the Christmas and New Year holidays but the man from Bario, Sarawak, was focused on his task as he rapidly spewed out facts and figures to sell the government’s grand plans of change.
When asked for his thoughts on how efforts to realise the six National Key Result Areas (NKRA) under the GTP – crime; corruption; education; low-income households; public transport and rural basic infrastructure – are progressing so far, he was upbeat.
“I’m very happy. What we promised, we have more than delivered,” he unhesitatingly declared.
The NKRAs have not only met the targets set for the first year of the three-year national makeover plan, but also surpassed them, added Idris.
Top of the “success list” is crime-reduction NKRA.
The initiatives in the last 11 months – the mobilisation of 14,222 police officers to 50 hotspots, installation of 496 CCTVs in those hotspots, and ranking of 753 police stations for their achievements - have begun to bear fruit and crime incidents in those areas have fallen.
“The progress on crime is fantastic because this is the first time in three years we’ve been able to bring down crime rates. It has never overall gone down before,” Idris pointed out.
Police figures show that the overall crime index fell by 16% while street crime dropped to 38% between January and November this year as compared to the corresponding period last year.
Another achievement that he was pleased about was the improving education NKRA. Idris said that to date, it has exceeded its target for preschool enrolment with 55,056 children going to pre-schools compared to between January and November.
“I’m very excited about education. I’m very pleased with the work that we’ve done ranking 9,814 primary and secondary schools and 20 high performing schools and their principals, teachers and non-academic staff receiving incentives. We’ve also seen improvement in the results of the students at the bottom end of the schools.”
He said he was even heartened when he saw the modest achievement in what he considered the most “complex” NKRA – combating corruption.
As revealed in a survey conducted by Transparency International (TI) Global Corruption Barometer 2010, there was a slight improvement in the public’s perception on government’s efforts in fighting graft.
“I was impressed by the results in TI’s survey, which showed that 48% of Malaysians think that government efforts on corruption are effective (up from 28% in 2009).
“For an independent survey to show such positive response, it gives me hope that the people in this country can look at what is good and criticise what is not good. Only then can the Government respond adequately,” he said.
He is also optimistic that the newly-passed Whistleblower Protection Act will be a big deterrent to graft while promoting more transparency in the process of awarding government contracts and tenders.
What Malaysians need to do now is to recognise the good performances, he said.
“The civil servants need to be applauded because it is their work. I always tell people when the civil servants do a good job, we should recognise that they have done a good job.”
Idris nevertheless conceded that the greatest challenge in implementing the initiatives under the GTP was to get the rakyat to be aligned along the same thinking and convincing them that the new methodologies introduced would deliver results.
He hoped the Netizens, in particular, would also begin to recognise some of the positive performances. They have been particularly hard on him in the last 12 months but Idris has taken it all in his stride.
He said he does not disregard the negative views, however, and has taken time to reply to the comments and queries on the blogs with the necessary facts and details.
“I believe the rakyat only believe in results. It is the results that count. When people see reduction in crime, improvement in urban transport, children attending pre-school classes, eventually people will believe.”
Idris believe that this is largely due to Pemandu’s bottom-up strategy in implementing programmes – where public concerns are sought and heeded.
As seen in Pemandu’s subsidy rationalisation programme, which has received some flak after it led to a reactionary increase in prices of essential goods, he said Pemandu’s original recommendation for the fuel price increase was 15sen but after listening to the people it only went up 5sen per litre.
The public had indicated that it (fuel subsidy) could be reduced but done gradually and in small doses, Idris pointed out, and he is confident that it will not affect public support for the GTP.
“Gauging from the public opinion, they can accept it (the increase in fuel price). It was not sudden. People can adjust to it. At the same time, it allows us to improve urban transport so that people can have alternatives.”
Asked about Pemandu’s hope for the GTP initiatives for next year, he quipped: “Three key words describe the transformation we are pursuing: big results fast!”
We will keep working, he pledged.
“The GTP is a three-year programme. We’ve finished one year. We have two more years to go. After that I believe we should go back to the public and ask them for areas of focus. If they say there should be additional areas of focus such as health, we will do it.”
Idris believes that the key for further achievement is for the Government to look at areas of improvement and always return to what the public want.
Dispelling the fast-growing notion that the GTP initiatives are merely aimed at propelling Barisan Nasional’s popularity among voters, specifically in view of the looming general election, he insisted, “We are not into politics. We are just doing our job.”
And when pressed if he planned to offer himself as a candidate in the coming Sarawak elections, he adamantly stated, “I will not get involved in politics. That is something I will never do.”
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Picture perfect
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Pictureperfect/Article/
Picture perfect
2011/01/15
jehan@nst.com.myShare |
PHOTO: (From left) Wo Su Shyan, Daniel Ting, Arindam Sarkar and Lau Shyh TzerA photography contest inspires students to do their bit for society, writes
NURJEHAN MOHAMED
MOTHER Nature is a great teacher.
And a group of Taylor’s University students recently learnt some valuable lessons by capturing her in all her glory.
Some 40 students made their way to Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) for a photography contest organised by the School of Computing and IT (SOCIT) last August.
The competition, titled IT’s Green @ FRIM, was open to all students of the university to educate them on green computing habits.
Aside from sponsored prizes, the 12 best entries got spots in Taylor’s 2011 calendar, which is being sold to raise funds for the 1Taylor’s-Bario Community Engagement Project.
The Bario project is part of Taylor’s Education Group’s corporate social responsibility initiative to help rural schoolchildren in Sabah and Sarawak.
Since 2007, the group has built hostels at SK Mengaris and SK Koromoko, both in Kota Marudu, Sabah.
Last year, the aim was to build one at SK Bario, Kelabit Highland, Sarawak.
The result of the photography competition is the 2011 desktop calendar, which is available from the Taylor’s Corporate Communications Department.
The calendar features 12 photos and accompanying captions conveying green messages from nine students.
The photos look professional, belying the fact that they were taken by young photography enthusiasts. One student’s entries were taken with an entry-level compact digital camera.
In keeping with the environmental theme, the dominant colour throughout, unsurprisingly, is green.
Aside from the first two pages that give information on the institution and the project, there is hardly any indication that this is an institution’s calendar.
The only blemish is the lack of details on Malaysian public holidays — it only indicates the ones celebrated nationally or in the Klang Valley, which may limit its appeal.
Still, the eye-catching graphics and the fact that the proceeds of the RM20 calendar goes entirely to the Bario project may encourage sales.
Daniel Ting, Wo Su Shyan, Lau Shyh Tzer and Arindam Sarkar — whose pictures are featured in the calendar — say they had joined the competition because of a love for photography.
“Besides photography being one of my hobbies, I had signed up to support a SOCIT event,” says Ting, a Foundation in Computing student.
Arindam, a Bachelor of IT student from Calcutta, India, had joined because he felt the natural surroundings at FRIM was a good place to test out his new compact camera.
For Lau, the motivation to take part was the venue — he had never visited FRIM prior to the contest. Wo, on the other hand, was happy to do something for charity, albeit indirectly.
Although the four initially had one goal in mind — to get winning shots — they came away with a keener interest to help solve social and environmental problems.
“After learning about the Bario project in Sarawak and the issues affecting SK Bario schoolchildren, I realise how lucky we are in Kuala Lumpur.
“The people there don’t even have proper infrastructure such as reliable water and electricity supply,” says Wo, who has just completed her degree in Computer Science.
She has since started saving energy whenever she can and persuading her friends to do the same.
Arindam has practised water and power conservation from childhood because India is an energy deficient country.
“I was glad to know that a place such as FRIM exists here; I wish the city had this greenery everywhere rather than just in an enclosed area,” he says.
Ting says the competition gave him a better appreciation for nature.
“Looking at things we normally overlook and capturing the many faces of Mother Nature made me realise this is something I want future generations to have too,” he says.
As the use of technology increases in the world, he feels it is up to Computing students to spearhead the green IT movement.
“There are always cheaper ways of doing things but they are not necessarily ethical or environmentally friendly,” he says.
The 20-year-old has started practising some of the lessons learnt during the event — such as putting his computer into hibernation instead of standby mode and finding the most efficient way to complete tasks as opposed to taking short cuts.
This change in habit goes beyond computing. For instance, he is now also more careful about the amount of water he uses while washing his hands or brushing his teeth.
Lau, like his peers, has become more aware of his carbon footprint.
“Everyday actions such as turning off the power of electrical products when they’re not in use may seem small but every single simple step makes a difference,” says the Bachelor of Computer Science student.
Taking part in the photography contest also inspired the 20-year-old to do more for society.
Lau initiated a Children Behind Us programme with some friends to educate Somalian refugee children in Puchong. Children Behind Us is a youth-led initiative which aims to provide underprivileged children with basic education.
“We met with the founder who did the pilot in Jakarta and he guided us on how to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,” he says.
For him, the most pertinent lesson he learnt from SOCIT’s event was the importance of caring for the planet and taking action.
For details on the Bario project and Taylor’s 2011 calendar, contact Caren Lee at 03-5629-5197 or caren.lee@taylors.edu.my
Picture perfect
2011/01/15
jehan@nst.com.myShare |
PHOTO: (From left) Wo Su Shyan, Daniel Ting, Arindam Sarkar and Lau Shyh TzerA photography contest inspires students to do their bit for society, writes
NURJEHAN MOHAMED
MOTHER Nature is a great teacher.
And a group of Taylor’s University students recently learnt some valuable lessons by capturing her in all her glory.
Some 40 students made their way to Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) for a photography contest organised by the School of Computing and IT (SOCIT) last August.
The competition, titled IT’s Green @ FRIM, was open to all students of the university to educate them on green computing habits.
Aside from sponsored prizes, the 12 best entries got spots in Taylor’s 2011 calendar, which is being sold to raise funds for the 1Taylor’s-Bario Community Engagement Project.
The Bario project is part of Taylor’s Education Group’s corporate social responsibility initiative to help rural schoolchildren in Sabah and Sarawak.
Since 2007, the group has built hostels at SK Mengaris and SK Koromoko, both in Kota Marudu, Sabah.
Last year, the aim was to build one at SK Bario, Kelabit Highland, Sarawak.
The result of the photography competition is the 2011 desktop calendar, which is available from the Taylor’s Corporate Communications Department.
The calendar features 12 photos and accompanying captions conveying green messages from nine students.
The photos look professional, belying the fact that they were taken by young photography enthusiasts. One student’s entries were taken with an entry-level compact digital camera.
In keeping with the environmental theme, the dominant colour throughout, unsurprisingly, is green.
Aside from the first two pages that give information on the institution and the project, there is hardly any indication that this is an institution’s calendar.
The only blemish is the lack of details on Malaysian public holidays — it only indicates the ones celebrated nationally or in the Klang Valley, which may limit its appeal.
Still, the eye-catching graphics and the fact that the proceeds of the RM20 calendar goes entirely to the Bario project may encourage sales.
Daniel Ting, Wo Su Shyan, Lau Shyh Tzer and Arindam Sarkar — whose pictures are featured in the calendar — say they had joined the competition because of a love for photography.
“Besides photography being one of my hobbies, I had signed up to support a SOCIT event,” says Ting, a Foundation in Computing student.
Arindam, a Bachelor of IT student from Calcutta, India, had joined because he felt the natural surroundings at FRIM was a good place to test out his new compact camera.
For Lau, the motivation to take part was the venue — he had never visited FRIM prior to the contest. Wo, on the other hand, was happy to do something for charity, albeit indirectly.
Although the four initially had one goal in mind — to get winning shots — they came away with a keener interest to help solve social and environmental problems.
“After learning about the Bario project in Sarawak and the issues affecting SK Bario schoolchildren, I realise how lucky we are in Kuala Lumpur.
“The people there don’t even have proper infrastructure such as reliable water and electricity supply,” says Wo, who has just completed her degree in Computer Science.
She has since started saving energy whenever she can and persuading her friends to do the same.
Arindam has practised water and power conservation from childhood because India is an energy deficient country.
“I was glad to know that a place such as FRIM exists here; I wish the city had this greenery everywhere rather than just in an enclosed area,” he says.
Ting says the competition gave him a better appreciation for nature.
“Looking at things we normally overlook and capturing the many faces of Mother Nature made me realise this is something I want future generations to have too,” he says.
As the use of technology increases in the world, he feels it is up to Computing students to spearhead the green IT movement.
“There are always cheaper ways of doing things but they are not necessarily ethical or environmentally friendly,” he says.
The 20-year-old has started practising some of the lessons learnt during the event — such as putting his computer into hibernation instead of standby mode and finding the most efficient way to complete tasks as opposed to taking short cuts.
This change in habit goes beyond computing. For instance, he is now also more careful about the amount of water he uses while washing his hands or brushing his teeth.
Lau, like his peers, has become more aware of his carbon footprint.
“Everyday actions such as turning off the power of electrical products when they’re not in use may seem small but every single simple step makes a difference,” says the Bachelor of Computer Science student.
Taking part in the photography contest also inspired the 20-year-old to do more for society.
Lau initiated a Children Behind Us programme with some friends to educate Somalian refugee children in Puchong. Children Behind Us is a youth-led initiative which aims to provide underprivileged children with basic education.
“We met with the founder who did the pilot in Jakarta and he guided us on how to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,” he says.
For him, the most pertinent lesson he learnt from SOCIT’s event was the importance of caring for the planet and taking action.
For details on the Bario project and Taylor’s 2011 calendar, contact Caren Lee at 03-5629-5197 or caren.lee@taylors.edu.my
Rare cat photographed in Borneo not believed to be extinct
http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0115-bay_cat.html
Picture: rare cat photographed in Borneo not believed to be extinct
mongabay.com
January 15, 2011
Photograph released by the Sarawak forestry department
Camera traps have photographed a rare small cat species in Borneo, but contrary to claims in The Telegragh, which reported on the story, the Bornean bay cat was not believed to be extinct, only rare.
"No one thought this species was extinct," said Andrew Hearn, a small cat specialist at Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) who works in Borneo. "Very rare, yes, and probably always naturally rather rare, even relative to other Bornean felids."
"Not one of us believes the bay cat is extinct," confirmed Jim Sanderson, a cat expert at the Small Cat Conservation Alliance. "Certainly we believe the bay cat is rare."
According to Hearn, since first photographed by Vladimir Dinets in 2002 in Sarawak and then Azlan Azad in 2003, the bay cat has been photographed on multiple occasions in several Sabah forest reserves in Malaysian Borneo.
"It takes a really quite large effort to get this species to appear on the cameras, but of 5 forest sites I've surveyed so far, 4 of which were previously logged, we were only unable to detect this cat in one, the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary."
The latest images were captured in 2009 and 2010 by camera traps set by the forest department on the edge of Pulong Tai national park in northern Sarawak. Two or three individuals were photographed.
Wilhelmina Cluny, a research officer with the forest department, told AFP she was "encouraged" by the sighting.
"I do feel encouraged, this photograph was taken in a logged forest," she is quoted as saying. "When we saw this it made us wonder whether this kind of habitat can sustain wildlife, even for rare and important species like the bay cat."
"We had been looking for any mammals and this bay cat came up, it's quite exciting that we got the photograph."
Sanderson said the reason the bay cat is typically photographed in logged forests is that "it's easier to travel a logging road and set a camera than it is to trek through forest and set a camera."
Picture: rare cat photographed in Borneo not believed to be extinct
mongabay.com
January 15, 2011
Photograph released by the Sarawak forestry department
Camera traps have photographed a rare small cat species in Borneo, but contrary to claims in The Telegragh, which reported on the story, the Bornean bay cat was not believed to be extinct, only rare.
"No one thought this species was extinct," said Andrew Hearn, a small cat specialist at Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) who works in Borneo. "Very rare, yes, and probably always naturally rather rare, even relative to other Bornean felids."
"Not one of us believes the bay cat is extinct," confirmed Jim Sanderson, a cat expert at the Small Cat Conservation Alliance. "Certainly we believe the bay cat is rare."
According to Hearn, since first photographed by Vladimir Dinets in 2002 in Sarawak and then Azlan Azad in 2003, the bay cat has been photographed on multiple occasions in several Sabah forest reserves in Malaysian Borneo.
"It takes a really quite large effort to get this species to appear on the cameras, but of 5 forest sites I've surveyed so far, 4 of which were previously logged, we were only unable to detect this cat in one, the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary."
The latest images were captured in 2009 and 2010 by camera traps set by the forest department on the edge of Pulong Tai national park in northern Sarawak. Two or three individuals were photographed.
Wilhelmina Cluny, a research officer with the forest department, told AFP she was "encouraged" by the sighting.
"I do feel encouraged, this photograph was taken in a logged forest," she is quoted as saying. "When we saw this it made us wonder whether this kind of habitat can sustain wildlife, even for rare and important species like the bay cat."
"We had been looking for any mammals and this bay cat came up, it's quite exciting that we got the photograph."
Sanderson said the reason the bay cat is typically photographed in logged forests is that "it's easier to travel a logging road and set a camera than it is to trek through forest and set a camera."
Thursday, January 13, 2011
'Extinct' wild cat spotted in Borneo
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/extinct-wild-cat-spotted-in-borneo/story-e6frf7jx-1225987366411
'Extinct' wild cat spotted in Borneo
From: AFP January 13, 2011 7:34PM
ONE of the world's rarest wild cats, an elusive creature once thought to be extinct, has been spotted in camera traps in Malaysian Borneo for the first time since 2003, researchers say.
The Bornean Bay Cat, a long-tailed reddish or grey feline the size of a large domesticated cat, was sighted in the northern highlands of Malaysia's Sarawak state, the forest department said today.
Three photographs showing two or three individuals were captured, bringing new hope for the future of the endangered animal about which very little is known, said research officer Wilhelmina Cluny.
"This species is very secretive... it was classified as extinct until a photograph of it was taken in 2003," she said.
"I do feel encouraged, this photograph was taken in a logged forest... when we saw this it made us wonder whether this kind of habitat can sustain wildlife, even for rare and important species like the bay cat."
"We had been looking for any mammals and this bay cat came up, it's quite exciting that we got the photograph."
There has been very little research into the bay cat, and there is no indication as to whether its numbers are rising or falling.
The images were captured in 2009 and 2010 but not released until the study was completed.
The animals spotted were the grey variety, which are even more rare than the reddish type.
The camera trap was positioned next to the Pulong Tai national park in northern Sarawak, one of the two Malaysian states that make up part of Borneo.
The vast island is shared with Indonesia and the small sultanate of Brunei.
The 2003 photographs were taken in the Lanjak Entimau wildlife sanctuary in southern Sarawak.
Other than these handful of images, most other information on the species consists of "historical records, morphological descriptions and anecdotes", according to the Sarawak Forest Department.
Rampant logging in timber-rich Sarawak has removed much of the state's forest cover, threatening the survival of animal and plant species as well as indigenous tribes whose way of life is increasingly in peril.
'Extinct' wild cat spotted in Borneo
From: AFP January 13, 2011 7:34PM
ONE of the world's rarest wild cats, an elusive creature once thought to be extinct, has been spotted in camera traps in Malaysian Borneo for the first time since 2003, researchers say.
The Bornean Bay Cat, a long-tailed reddish or grey feline the size of a large domesticated cat, was sighted in the northern highlands of Malaysia's Sarawak state, the forest department said today.
Three photographs showing two or three individuals were captured, bringing new hope for the future of the endangered animal about which very little is known, said research officer Wilhelmina Cluny.
"This species is very secretive... it was classified as extinct until a photograph of it was taken in 2003," she said.
"I do feel encouraged, this photograph was taken in a logged forest... when we saw this it made us wonder whether this kind of habitat can sustain wildlife, even for rare and important species like the bay cat."
"We had been looking for any mammals and this bay cat came up, it's quite exciting that we got the photograph."
There has been very little research into the bay cat, and there is no indication as to whether its numbers are rising or falling.
The images were captured in 2009 and 2010 but not released until the study was completed.
The animals spotted were the grey variety, which are even more rare than the reddish type.
The camera trap was positioned next to the Pulong Tai national park in northern Sarawak, one of the two Malaysian states that make up part of Borneo.
The vast island is shared with Indonesia and the small sultanate of Brunei.
The 2003 photographs were taken in the Lanjak Entimau wildlife sanctuary in southern Sarawak.
Other than these handful of images, most other information on the species consists of "historical records, morphological descriptions and anecdotes", according to the Sarawak Forest Department.
Rampant logging in timber-rich Sarawak has removed much of the state's forest cover, threatening the survival of animal and plant species as well as indigenous tribes whose way of life is increasingly in peril.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Producing highly skilled child educators
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=86535
Producing highly skilled child educators
by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith. Posted on January 12, 2011, Wednesday
KUCHING: National Permata (Early Childhood Education Development Programme) centres will be set in every parliamentary constituency in the country as part of the government’s plan to produce many world class early childhood education teachers.
PHOTO: MALAYSIA BOLEH: Fatimah (front, third right) poses with (from right) Abu Bakar Marzuki, Dr Sabariah and Saidatul and course participants as they give a 1Malaysia sign to symbolise that each would succeed during the three-week programme.
To be implemented under the 10th Malaysia Plan, this would ensure proper running and development of the programme throughout the country, said Prime Minister’s Office National Permata Department secretary Saidatul Akhma in her speech yesterday.
Pointing out that it was important to have sufficient high skilled educators in the early childhood education sector, Saidatul said that the course would have world class syllabus and that it was important to promote and attract as many individuals (teachers) to attend Permata’s courses.
She was representing Special Officer in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod at the launch of ‘Series 18 and 19, 2011 Educators’ Course’ held at the Sarawak Foundation auditorium at Jalan Sultan Tengah, Petra Jaya near here.
“When it comes to the development of early childhood education and care, Sarawak is among the most committed and aggressive states in the country.
“Sarawak is the only state that has the full commitment and back up from its state government. Permata’s objective would be difficult to materialise and would not have succeeded if not for the full cooperation from the Chief Minister’s Department here which was given the mandate to administrate and develop this programme,” she continued.
Saidatul also expressed her admiration for the Chief Minister’s Department, which has managed to give quality education to the rural communities such as those in the interior of Song and Bario.
In 2009, the National Permata Department allocated about RM17.9 million for the building, repair and upgrade of about 49 pre-schools in the state, which in turn strengthened the educational and co-curriculum programme here.
Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah who officiated at the launching said that a total of 94 pre-school teachers would be taking part in ‘Series 18 and 19, 2011’ of the Permata Educators’ Course starting Jan 9 till Feb 3 here.
The almost one-month course, held at Sarawak Foundation, is made possible with contribution from the Prime Minister’s Office National Permata Department.
“This course is very much welcomed here as it would give new perspective to pre-school educators in producing a paradigm leap in the teaching and learning process of early childhood education, especially in its agenda to increase the quality of early childhood education in this country,” she continued.
Fatimah, who is also chairperson of Sarawak Early Childhood Education Development Council (MPAKS), further said the state realised the importance of early childhood education for a cognitive and effective development of children, which also included the development of socio-emotion of children from all ages.
Last year, a total of 74,610 children in the state received early childhood education in 81 pre-schools and 2,015 kindergartens. About 85 per cent of the centres were managed by the public sector.
Fatimah also announced that for this year, the sixth annual ‘Pre-school Educational Convention’, organised by the state government, would take place in Bintulu and its focus would be on ‘Multiple Intelligence Development’ among the children.
The ceremony yesterday also saw Fatimah launching Sarawak Early Childhood Education and Care online portal on social networking site Facebook.
Also present at the launch yesterday were director of Human Resource Development and Quality Unit of the Chief Minister’s Department Dr Sabariah Putit, Sarawak Foundation director Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and Sarawak Islamic Council’s Education Services Bureau director Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah.
Producing highly skilled child educators
by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith. Posted on January 12, 2011, Wednesday
KUCHING: National Permata (Early Childhood Education Development Programme) centres will be set in every parliamentary constituency in the country as part of the government’s plan to produce many world class early childhood education teachers.
PHOTO: MALAYSIA BOLEH: Fatimah (front, third right) poses with (from right) Abu Bakar Marzuki, Dr Sabariah and Saidatul and course participants as they give a 1Malaysia sign to symbolise that each would succeed during the three-week programme.
To be implemented under the 10th Malaysia Plan, this would ensure proper running and development of the programme throughout the country, said Prime Minister’s Office National Permata Department secretary Saidatul Akhma in her speech yesterday.
Pointing out that it was important to have sufficient high skilled educators in the early childhood education sector, Saidatul said that the course would have world class syllabus and that it was important to promote and attract as many individuals (teachers) to attend Permata’s courses.
She was representing Special Officer in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod at the launch of ‘Series 18 and 19, 2011 Educators’ Course’ held at the Sarawak Foundation auditorium at Jalan Sultan Tengah, Petra Jaya near here.
“When it comes to the development of early childhood education and care, Sarawak is among the most committed and aggressive states in the country.
“Sarawak is the only state that has the full commitment and back up from its state government. Permata’s objective would be difficult to materialise and would not have succeeded if not for the full cooperation from the Chief Minister’s Department here which was given the mandate to administrate and develop this programme,” she continued.
Saidatul also expressed her admiration for the Chief Minister’s Department, which has managed to give quality education to the rural communities such as those in the interior of Song and Bario.
In 2009, the National Permata Department allocated about RM17.9 million for the building, repair and upgrade of about 49 pre-schools in the state, which in turn strengthened the educational and co-curriculum programme here.
Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah who officiated at the launching said that a total of 94 pre-school teachers would be taking part in ‘Series 18 and 19, 2011’ of the Permata Educators’ Course starting Jan 9 till Feb 3 here.
The almost one-month course, held at Sarawak Foundation, is made possible with contribution from the Prime Minister’s Office National Permata Department.
“This course is very much welcomed here as it would give new perspective to pre-school educators in producing a paradigm leap in the teaching and learning process of early childhood education, especially in its agenda to increase the quality of early childhood education in this country,” she continued.
Fatimah, who is also chairperson of Sarawak Early Childhood Education Development Council (MPAKS), further said the state realised the importance of early childhood education for a cognitive and effective development of children, which also included the development of socio-emotion of children from all ages.
Last year, a total of 74,610 children in the state received early childhood education in 81 pre-schools and 2,015 kindergartens. About 85 per cent of the centres were managed by the public sector.
Fatimah also announced that for this year, the sixth annual ‘Pre-school Educational Convention’, organised by the state government, would take place in Bintulu and its focus would be on ‘Multiple Intelligence Development’ among the children.
The ceremony yesterday also saw Fatimah launching Sarawak Early Childhood Education and Care online portal on social networking site Facebook.
Also present at the launch yesterday were director of Human Resource Development and Quality Unit of the Chief Minister’s Department Dr Sabariah Putit, Sarawak Foundation director Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and Sarawak Islamic Council’s Education Services Bureau director Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah.
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