TELANG USAN KOBERA

The Telang Usan cooperative body (KOBERA) was launched yesterday with the aim of reducing the rural poverty in the huge rural constituency.

“This is a historic moment for our people in Telang Usan for through this cooperative movement we hope to bring changes little by little to our rural community. We aim to bring socio-economic changes through our participation in this cooperative movement,” said the chairman of Telang Usan KOBERA Lihan Jok.

Lihan, who is also the Telang Usan assemblyman, said this during a simple launching prior to its inaugural annual general meeting at Dynasty Hotel yesterday.

Present were the Kayan community leader Penghulu Ajang Wan, the assistant director of Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) Miri Lily Fauziah Adenan.

Lihan disclosed  that in a study conducted in 2004, Telang Usan constituency was among the five areas in the state having its population living below the poverty level.

During the meeting, Lihan, as the chairman, also announced the committee line up namely Jok Eng Jok (secretary), councillor Jaraw Brahim (treasurer), Alexander Lian (deputy chairman) and the following members of the board of directors Dorus Katan, Howard Wan, Garry Hashim, Mulin, Robin Udau.

Three persons namely Francis Ding, Erang Ngang and councillor Dennis Ngau Jok were appointed as the internal auditors.

Lihan said this is a good opportunity to serve the needy in our community.

“This is the best opportunity I can give you all to be partners with me to serve our people. You will be the agents of change for our community. The very fact that you were willing to cooperate and be united is a profit in itself already. I hope this spirit of unity will bring the cooperative movement in our constituency to greater heights in the future. The rise and fall of any cooperatives body in the country depend on those who lead and manage the cooperative,” said Lihan.

For this year, Lihan hoped to be able to register 300 members.

“Priority will be given to handicapped persons (OKU) and single mothers in the constituency. I wish to clarify that this is not a welfare body. Even though we are targetting these groups of people as members, this is not a welfare exercise where these people expect handouts. They must be active and productive to be members. For example, the handicapped persons are capable of doing things like handicrafts,” explained Lihan. 

family tragedy

MIRI: Hundreds of friends and relatives came to pay their last respects to four in a family that were killed in a car accident near Marudi two days ago.

Even before the bodies of Ding Wan, his wife Uyang Emang, son 15-year old Gabriel Issac and daughter 11-year old Jacqueline Usun arrived at their home in Taman Tunku crowds of mourners had gathered to wait for their arrival by road from Marudi.

Among those that came were former SIB Sarawak president Reverend Justin Wan, who happened to come from the same longhouse as the deceased, Baram Orang Ulu paramount chief Temenggong Pahang Ding, Long Panai headman Gilbert Ding.

Surviving eldest daughter Beatrice Ding had arrived from Kuala Lumpur earlier. She is taking Business Administration in a college in the capital city. She was seen being comforted by friends from her former school in Miri.

Surviving son, Patrick Wan rushed to Marudi when he heard the news of the tragedy. He is still studying in Form 5 in a secondary school in Miri.

The pastor of SIB Kayan Taman Tunku where the family worship pastor Wan Ajeng said both the late Ding Wan and his wife were active in church work.

“Both of them served as deacons in the church and they were always eager to share their testimony in the church,” said pastor Wan Ajeng.

Most church members described the family as an exemplary family, having the compassion to help others in need.

“This family is a good family. It is such a tragedy. Both of the children that died with the parents are good in their studies, what a loss,” said Wan Jau.

The family were on their way to their longhouse Long Panai in Tutoh-Apoh. Long Panai was only recently accessible by road, and the family were eager to visit their home in the longhouse when they were involved in a self-accident before they could reach Marudi. ENDS.

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Caption: FAMILY PHOTO IN HAPPIER TIME: From left: patrick, Uyang (mother), Jacqueline, Gabriel, Ding (father), Beatrice.

PENAN HUSBAND MISSING MYSTERY

A Penan woman whose husband went missing mysteriously three months ago still believed her husband is still alive and well even though the authorities had ceased their search and rescue operation.

Thirty-year old Usun Malin from Ba'a Puak in Tutoh said the last time she saw her husband 33-year old Emang Moyong was on 2 November last year at Kilometre 6 Petronas camp near Lapok while having lunch there with her husband and her three brothers Nyagong, Bawing and Selapan.

According to Usun, the husband and her siblings were brought to the camp purportedly to do filming on the Penan's way of hunting monkeys with blowpipe at Loagan Bunut by a local man known to them.

Usun, a mother of two children 8-year old Maria and 6-year old Mathew held the local man responsible for the disappearance of her husband by explaining the actual circumstances of her husband's disappearance.

According to her, the man never came to see the family after the incident.

“I have heard a lot of rumours regarding the mysterious disappearance of my husband. Some said he deliberately ran away, others said he had gone home and others said he was having affairs somewhere. I reject all such rumour,” said Usun.

She told this to the Borneo Post yesterday.

Meanwhile 37-year old Selapan the last man with Emang before his disappearance related that the group should have return to Ba'a tribe on 2 November.

"We arrived at Long Lama approximately 10.30 am and need to buy some essential goods . Suddenly the local man decided to return to camp 6, giving the reason of wanting to do filming at Loagan Bunut, " said Selapan.

According Selapan, the local man brought him and Emang while leaving three other Penan men behind after lunch at the camp. The local man brought them to Loagan Bunut.

"I saw two 4WD vehicles following us from behind which I thought were the film crew. But there was no filming instead the local man drove around for a while before he brought us to the Loagan Bunut hill," said Selapan.

Selapan alleged the local man then forced them to sign a document the content of which they did not know. They refused to sign the document.

"He forced us to sign the document and when we refused he forced us out of the vehicle but we refused to leave. Frustrated the man himself went out without saying anything, "

When the man did not return, both of them came out of the vehicle.

"At that time we saw 10 men from the vehicles that had been following us approached. They looked as if they wanted to frighten us, "

It was at this juncture that Emang ran into the jungle and never to be seen again.

"I tried to run after Emang but it was getting dark by the time," said Selapan.

The next day he continue tracking Emang in the jungle but his effort was futile and he returned to the camp.

Meanwhile, the Long Lama police chief Sergeant Wahid Abdullah, when contacted yesterday confirmed receiving a missing person report on November 7

"A search and rescue operation involving 14 officers was launched twice one in November and another one in December which lasted a total of three weeks," he disclosed.

"However, during the three week operation we cannot locate the missing person Emang Moyong," he added.

Asked whether the police still continue its search and rescue operation, he said the case had been closed since the previous operation were unsuccessful.

"The more we look, the more distant he fled. Hence we decided to close this case. We have been trying to do our best to find Emang, " he said.

Meanwhile, the headman of Long Sayan (another Penan longhouse) Ajang Kiew when met revealed a search and rescue committee involving 5 Penan longhouses had been set up to continue searching for Emang in the jungle.

"We viewed this incident seriously. We want the local man to come forward to explain exactly what had happened," said Ajang. ENDS.

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Caption: STILL WAITING: Usun with her two children hoping for a miracle.

ENROL IN CURTIN

MIRI: Students keen to further their studies at tertiary level may want to consider Curtin University of Technology Sarawak campus in Miri.

To help them decide if it is indeed the university for them, Curtin Sarawak is showcasing its academic programmes and academic calendar for the year, its campus facilities and more at its ‘Curtin Information Day’ events in Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching between 29 and 31 January 2010.

Senior lecturers and staff of the university will give talks on selected programmes, accreditation of courses, entry requirements, career prospects in various disciplines, as well as scholarships and study loans.

In addition, students of its school of foundation & continuing studies, school of engineering & science and school of business will be on hand to promote their fields of study and share their experiences of student life at the university.

SPM, STPM, UEC school-leavers and diploma holders in particular are encouraged to attend the events and bring along their transcripts for free assessments of eligibility.

Attractive door gifts will be presented to the first 30 walk-ins at each location.

The first event will be held from 6 pm to 9 pm at the ParkCity Everly Hotel in Bintulu on 29 January 2010.

The next stop will be Tanahmas Hotel in Sibu on 30 January 2010, where there will be two sessions (1 pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm).

The final event will be from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Hotel Grand Margherita, Kuching on 31 January 2010.

A similar event, which received considerable response from both school-leavers and working adults, was held at Bintang Megamall in Miri last Sunday.

Curtin Sarawak is situated on a sprawling 300-acre campus in Senadin about 20 kilometres from Miri City and currently has close to 3,000 students from some 40 different countries.

It is a popular choice for its international outlook, innovative courses, world-class teaching facilities, flexible study options, applied and practical subjects, use of advanced technology, partnerships with industry and government, conducive campus location, experienced academics and staff, and active community engagement.

Most significantly, it is the lower cost of studying and living in Miri compared to undergoing tertiary studies in Australia, coupled with the fact that the academic programmes at Curtin Sarawak are identical to those offered at its parent Bentley Campus in Perth, Western Australia, that attracts students to the university.

Curtin Sarawak offers a wide variety of high-quality courses, including foundation courses in commerce, arts, engineering and science; diploma courses in process plant technology, occupational safety and health, and business; undergraduate courses in arts, commerce, engineering and science; and postgraduate studies in project management, business, engineering and science. In addition, it offers pre-university and intensive English Language courses.

Curtin Sarawak’s teaching staff drawn from a number of countries besides Australia and Malaysia are frequently recognised for their teaching excellence, often at international level. They keep up with the latest development in subject areas and integrate the newest advancements in educational technology into their classes.

Indeed, Curtin Sarawak emphasises the need for staff and students to remain at the very forefront of technological and educational progress, so that when its graduates step out into the industry, they are equipped with the most up-to-date information and skills relevant to their new careers.

For further information on the upcoming Curtin Information Day events, contact Michael Kong of Curtin Sarawak’s Marketing Department at 085-443939 or 013-8018656, or log on to the university’s website at www.curtin.edu.my. ENDS.

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CAPTION: BE PART OF A VIBRANT UNIVERSITY CLOSE TO HOME: Students from countries around the world made Curtin Sarawak their first choice.

Lemeting kenyahs extend well-wishes to Borneo Post reporter

MIRI: The Lemeting Kenyahs extended aid to one of its own recently the Borneo Post reporter Lucas Jalong Bato who fell sick while covering the blood donation by the group before last Christmas at the Miri Blood Bank.

Led by its branch chairman the Lemeting branch of the Kenyah National Association (PKKS) Michael Sabang with a few committee members visited Lucas at his home recently to extend well-wishes from members of the branch.

“We sympathised with Lucas and felt it was our social obligation to help in any way we can as he fell sick while covering our activity last year. So we pass the hat among our members as a token of our appreciation and sympathy,” said Michael.

“Although the amount may not be much it is the hearts that give that matter. This is the tradition of our people that we need to preserve among us even though we no longer live in longhouses that is to care for one another,” he added.

Lucas, a veteran reporter with the Borneo Post for over a decade was admitted to hospital and was diagnosed to suffer from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).  ENDS.

 Caption: KEEPING THE TRADITION ALIVE: Michael (second left) presenting the donation to Lucas as other committee members look on.

NONSENSE CLAIM OF LITTLE DEVELOPMENT IN TELANG USAN

MIRI: A few youth leaders from Telang Usan dismissed claims made by two constituents that there had been little development in the huge rural constituency as baseless.

The secretary of PBB Telang Usan youth Usat Bilong when contacted for his comments on the statements made by Philip Kalang and Danny Lawai on December 29 in the Borneo Post refuted their claims that there had been little development in Telang Usan for the last 9 years as baseless, to say the least.

“They failed to see that the constituency had been under the opposition for one term prior to the 9-year period they are talking about when independent candidate Kebing Wan defeated Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Robert Anyie in the state election of 1996. It was only in 2001 when BN candidate Lihan Jok defeated incumbent Kebing Wan that BN wrested the seat from the opposition. Therefore, for the first five years after BN regained Telang Usan there was literally no development for the constituency because of the government's five-year plan. Even the Baram member of parliament Dato Jacob Dungau Sagan admitted this fact in his speeches to the people in his constituency many times. So, people like Philip and Danny should stop making insinuations that the state assemblyman Lihan Jok should be blamed for what they claimed to be lack of development in the constituency,” said Usat.

Usat, a self-employed man from Long Banga one of the farthest Kenyah longhouse in Telang Usan observed that the last ten years had seen tremendous development coming right to the doorsteps of the remotest part of the interiors.

“When I was just a child living in the longhouse I never dreamed that one day vehicles could come right to our doorsteps in Long Banga like now. In those days it would take our people maybe ten days to travel to the nearest town by river. Now, it only takes ten hours to travel to Miri city by road and only a few minutes by air with thrice weekly flight. Similarly, for Philip and Danny who were from Long San and Long Semiyang respectively. Long San nowadays is accessible both by air and by roads. Long Semiyang is accessible by roads. Long San has a rural clinic and a secondary school and a primary school. So why are they complaining that there had been lack of development with all these infrastructures in place right in their own backyard? I believe they have a subtle smear campaign against the incumbent assemblyman prior to the coming state election,” asserted Usat.

Usat came to the defense of incumbent assemblyman pointing out that Lihan has proven to be the most hardworking assemblyman the constituency had ever known.

“He was known to travel from Miri in the wee hours of the morning by 4WD vehicle just so he could be with his constituents in ulu Telang Usan. He did not have the privilege of travelling by helicopters as some assemblymen or members of parliament who are ministers. I believe his record would show that he had visited his constituency more often than most and coincidentally he was instrumental in bringing micro hydroelectricity power supply to Long San and Long Semiyang together with Long Beruang, a Penan longhouse. So, Philip and Danny should be grateful to Lihan for his efforts because their longhouses are the direct beneficiaries of government projects,” said Usat.

Another youth leader, the Telang Usan PBB youth exco Dominic Nyurang said the people of Telang Usan must give their support to the government for whatever development plan the government has for the constituency.

“Supporting the government would mean supporting the incumbent assemblyman who is in the government. On the other hand, making baseless claims of lack of development for the constituency is saying that the government is not developing the constituency which is not true. We have the Long Lama Rural Growth Centre (RGC) coming up and the Kedaya Telang Usan is a government project of developing ulu Telang Usan. I believe more is expected in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) for Telang Usan because the effect of the era of opposition is gone. That means, more rural projects can be submitted now that BN had been in power for two terms in Telang Usan. Even now, the constituency had seen a lot of development such as internet access and telephones in many parts of the constituency like the e-bedian, the e-jekitan and the e-bruang. Our people must take one thing at a time. We can't expect drastic change. But I believe more developments in the constituency in three or five years. I appeal to the people especially to support the mega-project the Baram dam project because with the implementation of this project a lot of infrastructure projects such as road water and electricity supply project will follow. If the people of Baram reject this project, the government can always pull the project elsewhere. This was what happened when the people of Baram voted against BN both in parliamentary election and state election during Harrison and Kebing eras respectively,” said Dominic.

Dominic is from Akah-Patah the area that is going to be affected by the dam project. ENDS.

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Caption: BASELESS: Usat Bilong

PAKATAN RAKYAT LOGO

MIRI: The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is throwing a dinner on 9 January 2009 to celebrate the registration of the alternative alliance to the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the launching of the party's logo tomorrow. (Saturday 19 December).

The launching of the logo will be in Shah Alam before about 500 delegates.

“ This is a historic occasion for the alliance because this is the first dinner under PR in Sarawak, for that matter in the country. And with the registration of the opposition political alliance of PAS, DAP, PKR and at the state level SNAP the country is witnessing the emergence of a two-party system in the country,” said the PKR Miri branch chairman Dr Michael Teo.

The venue for the dinner is the Boulevard restaurant and it is scheduled to start at 6:30pm,disclosed Teo.

The organising committee is targeting about 90 tables for guests and tickets for the dinner are on sale now. The price is RM38 per person.

He told this to reporters during a press conference at the party's office yesterday.

Also present were the DAP Miri branch chairman Fong Pau Teck, the SNAP president Edwin Dundang, the PAS Miri branch chairman Suan Sambas, PKR bureau chief from KL Dr M.R. Summugam.

Teo said the alliance political leaders will feature during the dinner giving political talks. Among the speakers are the former Perak state assembly speaker Sivakumar, former health minister Dr Chua Jui Meng who is now in PKR, newly appointed PKR state chief Baru Bian and PKR advisor Daniel Tajem. From SNAP, speaking to the crowd will be Dundang himself and senior vice president Kebing Wan.

“This will be one of the many avenues which we willuse again and again to promote, popularise and strengthen PR as a new political alliance between PKR, DAP, PAS and SNAP. The birth of PR after more than 50 years of democracy in the country is the birth of the two-party system in Malaysia.PR is a loyal opposition of the DYMM Agong's government. It is established to operate and behave within the limits of democracy and freedom as provided by the Federal Constitution. It is not against the government. Those who allege so does not understand how a parliamentary democracy operate. Therefore, PR is to provide the people with the choice which political party they want to rule the country. Now with the era of a two-party system on the horizon, the people have a clear choice between BN and PR,” said Dundang.

During the press conference, Teo also explained the meaning of the PR logo.

He said the logo with the orange colour depicts sunrise which means the dawning of a new day for Malaysian politics. The five petals symbolised the five major races in Malaysia that is Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusuns and Dayaks.

On another matter, the PR is gearing up for the state election which is due in 2011 but most political observers believe it will be held next year.

“We definitely will work on consensus as far the choice of candidates from the alliance is concerned,” pointed out Teo. ENDS.

Caption: PR LOGO: Teo showing the logo with from left Fong and Dundang.