Sarawak and Indonesia to continue fighting border crime

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/18/sarawak/9318276&sec=sarawak


Thursday August 18, 2011


KUCHING: Relations between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, Indonesia, have been described as good despite the occurrence of illegal cross-border activities.

Sarawak Immigration Department director Datuk Robert Lian said these activities would instead foster closer cooperation between authorities from both sides to work together against crimes such as smuggling.

“This (smuggling) is the work of individuals. If there are smugglers in Malaysia, there are also smugglers in Indonesia. This (smuggling) should not create any tension between both countries because the battle is against these smugglers,” he told reporters when met at the Indonesian Consulate Office here after attending the 66th Indonesian Independence Day celebration yesterday.

Robert went on to say that both sides continued to strenghten border ties because of the common aim of wanting to maintain national security.


National loyalty: Suprapto witnessing the raising of the Sang Merah Putih at the Indonesian Consulate in Kuching in conjunction with Indonesia’s Independence Day yesterday.

Even now, he said, both sides were seeking cooperation through the bilateral Sosek-Malindo and BIMP-EAGA, an economic cooperation initiative between Southeast Asian nations to foster good ties.

Indonesian Consul-General to Sarawak, Joko Suprapto, said Indonesia had often looked forward to good relation and cooperation between the authorities of both sides.

“We are neighbours and we need to work hand in hand if we are to combat these (ill activities). We will therefore continue to do our part to strenghten relations.”

There are nine gazetted entry points — Sematan, Biawak, Serikin, Bunan Gega, Padawan, Tebedu, Batu Lintang, Lubok Antu and Bario — along the border of Sarawak with West Kalimantan. Four other gazetted entry points are shared with Brunei.

Yesterday’s celebration saw the raising of the Indonesian flag Sang Merah Puteh, the reading of the proclamation text and also Act 1945.

A breaking of fast and the celebration of Nuzul Al-Quran were scheduled for the evening.

Traditional craft can draw international visitors to boost rural economy

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/18/sarawak/9319183&sec=sarawak


Thursday August 18, 2011


By SHARON LING sharonling@thestar.com.my

KUCHING: Sarawak’s traditional beads have the potential to be a tourist attraction besides boosting the rural economy.

Tourism and Heritage Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state’s bead-making industry, mainly found in the northern region, had yet to reach wide exposure beyond local shores.

“I feel it is time for us to expose the value of our beads in terms of their heritage and potential economic value,” he said when announ-cing the second Borneo International Beads Conference yesterday.

Johari said his ministry was currently in the planning stages of developing the rural economy through ecotourism, and that beads could play a part.

Interesting: Sarawak Museum honorary curator of beads Heidi Munan showing Johari pictures of beads at the press conference. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star

“One of the economic activities in rural areas is making beads. If we add value to bead-making, such as ensuring quality and good design, it can be an attraction that will lure tourists to visit the rural areas. The community can participate in rural economy by producing high quality beads that have a certain value,” he said.

As such, Johari said the conference from Oct 7 to 9 was a platform for the ministry to work with bead enthusiasts in promoting and developing the local bead industry.

“They can do research on the economic potential of beads and whether beads can become a designer item. A lot of research also needs to be done on bead making itself.

“Ultimately, if we have the infrastructure, Kuching or Sarawak will be known as a regional centre for bead research. That is the long-term plan,” he said.

Themed “Beads and Heritage”, the conference aims to showcase Sarawak’s bead culture to an international audience, preserve the state’s bead tradition in a commercially viable manner, encourage the production of quality beads, promote competent modern design in beads and beadwork and improve the earning power of cottage workers in the state.

It is also a platform to facilitate creative interaction between Sarawak’s bead craftsmen and internatio-nal counterparts and to share knowledge and expertise with international bead scholars and researchers.

Malaysia’s Heritage Commissioner Datuk Dr Zuraina Majid-Lowe will deliver a keynote address titled “Protecting our Assets and Pride”.

Papers will be presented by international speakers from the United States, India, Australia, Canada and South Africa as well as local speakers. About 200 participants are expected to attend the conference.

MASwings to adopt ‘unique’ water village

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/18/maswings-to-adopt-unique-water-village-latest/

by Sandra Sokial. Posted on August 18, 2011, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: MASwings, which sees the potential of Kampung Tanjung Aru Baru as a tourist destination, has expressed interest to adopt the village.

Describing the water village as unique, MASwings managing director Datuk Captain Mohd Nawawi Awang said they have agreed in principal to adopt the village in response to the call yesterday by its Village Security and Development Committee chairman Matsah Saad.

“I do believe that the village has potential to be developed into a tourist destination. It is a water village and houses are built on stilts above the sea.

“It is very unique and is not available in many places,” Mohd Nawawi told reporters after presenting Hari Raya goodies to 100 underprivileged people from the village and Kampung Tanjung Aru Lama.

He said the adoption programme may be extended to two schools in Kundasang and Kudat, and currently talks are ongoing to discuss details of the programme which is expected to take off by this year end or early next year.

“This is part and parcel of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, dubbed the ‘Wings of Love’ which is aimed at reaching out to those in need, and focusing on three main fields, namely community service, education and environment,” said Mohd Nawawi.

He said similar project is carried out in Sarawak where MASwings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, has adopted two schools, one in Bekalalan and the other in Bario.

Touching on yesterday’s event, he said the two villages were selected due to its proximity to Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

In his speech earlier, Mohd Nawawi said he is willing to act as the middle person to bring the villagers’ grouses and concerns to the highest authority.

“We understand there are a lot of expectations from the people when we adopt a village, but it is part of our CSR. A lot of funds are needed to reconstruct a village, so being a corporate company, we can only help to forward what they need to the higher authorities,” he said.