LONG SELAAN LEASE 300-ACRE LAND TO COOPERATIVE FOR OIL PALM

The Baram Ulu Cooperative had secured a 300-acre piece of land at Sebatu for the purpose of oil palm plantation for its 1,000 members from nine longhouses in Kedaya Telang Usan.

Its chairman Belawan Apoi said the land belonging to Long Selaan had been leased to the cooperative for the commercial purpose of planting oil palm.

“The Long Selaan Land committee had duly signed an agreement with the cooperative as we see the venture will benefit a lot of people in Kedaya Telang Usan who are members of the cooperative,” said Belawan in an interview with the Borneo Post yesterday.

He said with the agreement and the objective of the cooperative to work on the land, he advised outsiders to keep off the land.

“The land has been reserved for the cooperative for commercial purpose via oil palm plantation. We do not welcome any interference from anybody not a member of the cooperative from exploiting the land for their own individual gain, ” said Belawan

SIBU-Gateway to political tsunami in Sarawak

MIRI: Two opposition leaders believed that the Sarawakians are ready for change and that the political tsunami that had swept the Peninsular Malaysia in the 2008 election had finally landed in Sarawak through Sibu.

“The victory to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) through the DAP in Sibu is a sweet confirmation that the political tsunami had finally landed in Sarawak. Both the rural and the urban areas are hungry and waiting for political change,” said the president of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) Edwin Dundang.

“The people in Sibu have voted for change. I believe that the people of Miri will emulate the courage of the people in Sibu in the next state election in voting for change,” said the chairman of Democratic Action Party (DAP) Fong Pau Teck.

Both of them were interviewed by the Borneo Post for their comments on the Sibu by-election which was won by Wong Ho Leng of DAP by a 398-vote majority against Robert Lau of Barisan Nasional (BN).

Fong was of the opinion that the state election will not be held soon.

“Had BN won the Sibu by-election, the state election would be held this year to capitalise on their win. As it turned out, the state government will definitely delay the state election to next year. But this will not stop the political tsunami that had started in Sibu from sweeping through the whole of Sarawak in the coming state election,” said Fong, who had stood as opposition candidate in Miri on at least two occasions but lost.

Edwin attributed the win by newly formed opposition pact in the state (PR) to three factors.

The PR made the right choice of candidate in Wong Ho Leng. The second factor was the overwhelming support of the people who are ready for change. The third factor was the level of unity shown by the PR and the hardworking PR leaders that had campaigned through the width and length of the constituency.

“This victory is indeed historic because this is the first time that PR contested in any election and won. This win has a far-reaching significance toward the two-party system in Malaysia,” said Edwin.

“The victory by PR was a feat in itself. Sibu has been the stronghold of BN and in spite of the billions of ringgit worth of projects being poured into Sibu during the by-election, this is the first time the people reject ''money politics'' that the law cannot control,” he added.

Edwin said the win by the opposition in the Sibu by election signalled that people in Sarawak had awakened from their political slumber. ENDS.



“There is hope on the horizon for a political change” said Edwin. ENDS.

SARAWAK'S SELLING POINT IS ITS FRIENDLY PEOPLE

MIRI: Sarawak's strongest selling point in the tourism industry is its people, said the deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri George Chan Hong Nam.

“We like others, have exciting tourist destinations to offer to the world, but nothing beats the friendliness and outstanding hospitality of Sarawakians. Sarawakians have generous smiles to give to visitors to Sarawak. We are by nature,friendly people and this is our biggest asset as far as tourism is concerned,” said Chan, who is also the minister of tourism and heritage.

He said this when officiating the opening ceremony of the international conference: Linking Culture, Nature and Community Through Ecotourism yesterday.

Also present were the assistant minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is also the assistant minister of Social Development and Urbanisation; Pujut assemblyman Andy Chia, the Pro Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Ian Kerr, the director-general of Islamic Tourism Centre Zainuddin Abdul Wahab.

The inaugural international conference on the subject was jointly organised by the Curtin University of Technology Sarawak campus and the Islamic Tourism Centre.

Chan said the state government view ecotourism as very important for its relationship with conservation, sustainability and biological diversity.

“I agree wholeheartedly that local and indigenous community involvement is essential in ecotourism, as such communities-as inhabitants of the land and heirs to the local cultural heritage-should indeed have a stake and a major role to play,” said Chan.

“There are many examples of forward-thinking rural communities here in Sarawak that have embarked on ecotourism exploits on their won initiatives or with state support, established homestay programmes and building homestay dwellings so that tourists can experience life in their communities or learn more about their lifestyles and cultures,” added Chan.

More than 60 participants from 18 countries took part in the conference.

The keynote address was delivered by the deputy tourism minister Datuk Dr James Dawot Mamit.ENDS.

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Caption: ECOTOURISM THE LINK: Chan beating the gong to officially open the conference.Also seen from left are Chia, Lee, Kerr and Zainuddin.