Organiser expects 3,000 visitors for first-ever Kg Taee Cultural

Kg Taee renowned tuak brewers all set for the premier of the festival.

KUCHING: The usually sleepy Kampung Taee in Serian, about a 45-minute drive from here, turns lively as preparations are underway ahead of the Bidayuh Culture and Tradition Carnival this Dec 6.

The ground of the village headhouse – known as Balu Gambang Bukar – will host the inaugural festival, filled with music and colours like never before.

“With the majestic Mount Sadong as the backdrop, Balu Gambang Bukar provides a perfect setting for a carnival of this kind.

“The streets of this rustic village, inhabited by about 2,000 Bukar Bidayuhs, will be thick with guests, who are expected to come in droves, wanting to experience the colour and energy of this cultural event’s premier,” said organising chairman Andriesse Ridu in a publicity release yesterday.

The one-day extravaganza, running from 10am onwards, is expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors including international tourists.

Various activities have been lined up for the day including traditional games of coconut bowling, tug-of-war, blowpipe, and a 30m ‘sarong’ run.

Other highlights will include performances by some of the state’s top artistes and cultural icons in the likes of Claudia AF7, Stanley AF, sapé maestro Mathew Ngau and Michael Gayut, as well as Kampung Taee’s very own cultural troupe and their counterparts from Kampung Gahat, Kampung Tarat, Kampung Kakeng and Bau.

Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in traditional dances open karaoke sessions, dangdut, pocho-pocho and joget and at the same time, sample Bidayuh traditional food and drinks such as the delicious homemade ‘tuak’ (rice wine).

Moreover, there will also be a special demonstration on tuak making to be conducted by the village’s top tuak brewers.

Orchard produce like fruits and plants, as well as handicraft and souvenir items will also be on sale during the festival.

Additionally the carnival will have various organisations such as Red Bull and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus taking part in exhibitions and promotion of products.

Themed ‘Celebrating the Diversity of Bidayuh Culture, the event promises to give guests a truly memorable experience.

“It will be filled with fun, sounds and dances. Our objective is to give our guests, especially foreign tourists, something uniquely Bidayuh – something that they will cherish for a long time,” said Andriesse.

“As sidelines, the more adventurous ones can go jungletrekking up the mountain and rejoin the celebrations in the evening.

“We also encourage guests to bring their sleeping bags and mats to the festival in case they want to sleep over, or to relax on the open grassy compound as they enjoy the performances on stage.”

Andriesse, however, reminded all that there would be limited number of homestay available at the village.

For booking, contact Carol Price at 014-692 5820.

“We also encourage tour operators to bring tourists to the festival to sample the beautiful culture and traditional of the Bidayuh community.”

Admission is free.

Guests can purchase coupons for food, drinks and souvenirs from the organiser at the venue, or by calling Andriesse at 019-847 1408 or other organising committee members Jo (019-261 2832) and Kembi (019-887 7815).

Kampung Taee is located at KM6 Baki-Riih Road off Mile 32 Kuching-Serian Road.

From the city, make a U-turn to the right at the new Haji Baki Bazaar Mile 32 and go left to Baki-Riih Road, which will lead visitors straight to the village.

The event is organised by Girumpung Baatan Asal Kampung Taee, supported by Serian police, Serian District Council, Rela, Serian Hospital and Kampung Taee Security and Development Committee, with Red Bull as the sponsor of promotional materials.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/11/23/organiser-expects-3000-visitors-for-first-ever-kg-taee-cultural-carnival/#ixzz3JrdKsSe0

Tasks Start to pave the way to turn Serian district into a division

KUCHING: The State Secretary’s office has started work on the necessary processes for the elevation of Serian District to a division.

State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani yesterday confirmed that they had already started to work on the subject, as directed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

“Yes, we have started to work on it now, but how fast it can be, that we can’t tell. This is because we need to really go to the ground. We cannot do it from our office and just based on the drawing, and usually this kind of thing will take a bit of time,” he said.

He disclosed this when asked on the status of the proposal put forward by mostly Serian people for the district to be made a ‘division’, after opening the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) Integrity and Innovation Day 2014 in Petra Jaya here yesterday.

Adenan, at the Bidayuh symposium here recently, gave a positive consideration for Serian to become the latest division in the state.

Speaking to reporters at the occasion then, he said he would discuss the matter with Morshidi as it would involve a lot of processes including boundary, population and other legal requirements.

The state now has 11 divisions and if the proposed elevation of Serian becomes a reality, it would be the 12th division, and the first with Bidayuh predominance.

Right now, Serian is one of the districts under the administration of Samarahan Division, and prior to that, it was served by Kuching Division.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/10/25/ss-gets-cracking-on-serian/#ixzz3HE08wrCO

Fadillah says Pan Borneo Highway to be built under Ukas initiative

By Lim How Pim

KUCHING: The much-anticipated Pan Borneo Highway, now under the Public Private Partnership Unit (Ukas) of the Prime Minister’s Department, is ‘still at the finalising stage’.

Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof

According to Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, the Ukas initiative is to speed up the implementation of the said project, which aims at upgrading the present trunk road into a dual-carriageway, from Sematan all the way up to Serudong, Sabah.

At a news conference here yesterday, Fadillah did not mention when the Pan Borneo Highway project would commence but said the cost was reviewed from the estimated RM22 billion in 2010 to RM27 billion as announced in Budget 2015.

He pointed out the initial cost estimation of RM22 billion was based on the Highway Network Development Plan (HNDP) published in 2010, provided to the Parliament by the Works Ministry in 2013.

He said the cost was later estimated at RM27 billion because the prime minister was more committed to implementing the project sooner rather than later.

“Under the Ukas initiative, the private sector will be expected to fork out money to build the highway within an agreed period of time, and the government will pay back the cost upon the completion of project.”

Fadillah, also Petra Jaya MP, believed through Ukas, the Pan Borneo Highway would be completed in a speedier manner given that if it were wholly a public initiative, the government would have to allocate over RM3 billion every year for the project.

In Budget 2015, he said the Ministry of Works was allocated RM3.8 billion for development projects in the country and not just for a couple of states.

“The allocation is for the whole of Malaysia for the year 2015 whereas more than RM3 billion is required for the Pan Borneo Highway project alone each year once it commences.”

Recently, Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen quoted the HNDP as saying that the total costs to upgrade the full stretch of Pan Borneo Trunk Road into a highway was estimated at RM22 billion, and that the government should implement the project from 2011 to 2025.

He said the ministry in 2013 told Parliament that the “full length of Pan Borneo is 2,239 km out of which 248km has four or six lanes while the remaining 1,991 km is still single carriageway.”

Chong, also state DAP chairman, also pointed out that according to Budget 2015 the government intended to construct the 1,663km highway comprising 936km in Sarawak and 727km in Sabah at a total cost of RM27 billion.

“If one were to compare the answer given in 2013 and the figure stated in the Budget 2015, it is shocking to note that the stretch of Pan Borneo Highway that will be upgraded has shortened by 328km but the costs of construction has increased by RM5 billion.”

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/10/17/fadillah-says-pan-borneo-highway-to-be-built-under-ukas-initiative/#ixzz3GOvxDhxr

Bidayuh elation for Serian division a ‘joy shared by all’

SERIAN: Serian folk are very happy and excited with Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s recent announcement that the government was seriously considering elevating Serian to a division.

Manyin shakes hands with the dinner attendees upon arrival at the function hall.

Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawaong said he was thrilled the Chief Minister had responded positively to his open request on Saturday for Serian to be made a division.

“But this will not be immediate because the whole process involves things such as budget and assigning of officers. Nevertheless, we believe we are ready.

“While we are very happy and applaud the announcement, we should also be more vocal in supporting this dream (so that it can be realised sooner). Voice out your support through social media and the print media,” he said at the 7th anniversary dinner for Pertubuhan Penduduk Kampung Pichin at Dewan Chung Hua Serian here on Sunda.

Manyin, also Tebedu assemblyman, was commenting on the announcement made by Adenan during the Bidayuh Symposium at Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) headquarters in Kuching on Saturday.

Adenan said he would discuss the matter with State Secretary Tan Sri Morshidi Ghani on the administrative processes involved.

At present, Sarawak has 11 divisions: Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Mukah, Sibu, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang.

Previous news reports had it that the proposed Serian Division would be carved out of both Samarahan and Kuching Divisions – from Balai Ringin, Serian, and Tebedu to Teng Bukap, Padawan, Tapah, Beratok, and Siburan – and would involve a population of some 200,000.

The idea to elevate Serian into a division was said to have been floated around for quite some time, but talks intensified lately due to the general feeling that Serian itself fits the requirement to become an administrative division due to its big population, many schools, and facilities such as hospitals and public health clinics. Manyin, in his speech, also said that while the proposed Serian Division would be the first Bidayuh-majority division, he said the dream to see the elevation of Serian was shared by the Bidayuhs, Chinese, Malays, and Ibans in the area.

He said the inception of Serian Division would not just accelerate development in the areas, but would also create employment opportunities for the growing number of graduates there.

On another matter, Manyin, also DBNA chief advisor, said they were very happy with the assurance given by Adenan that individual land titles would be issued to Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands already documented by the association.

Manyin said DBNA had been requesting this ever since the association started its NCR Land Documentation Project in 2007.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/10/14/bidayuh-elation-for-serian-division-a-joy-shared-by-all/#ixzz3G52hukT8

Serian will be upgraded to 14th Division

By Jacop Achoi.

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem yesterday indicated that Serian district will be elevated to be the 14th Division in the state.

Speaking to reporters after launching a Bidayuh symposium at Dayak Bidayuh National Assocition (DBNA) headquarters here, Adenan all but confirmed the formation of a new state division when he told reporters that he would discuss with the State Secretary, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani, the administrative process of elevating Serian to a division.

The exercise will involve drawing up boundary for the proposed new division and determining the size of its population.

He added that the preparation to establish the new division would be similar to the exercises carried out to turn Kapit and Mukah into divisions in the past.

“For a division to be set up, we have to establish a boundary, determine the population, a divisional capital and other requirements.”

Earlier speaking the launching of the symposium, Adenan assured that titles would be issued to untitled Bidayuh Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.

He commended the initiative by DBNA to survey Bidayuh NCR land, to complement the surveys carried out by Land and Survey Department.

“Those (Bidayuh) who have NCR land and without title will be issued with one (title)…no doubt about that, so I must compliment the effort by DBNA to survey the land and that must continue,” Adenan stressed.

Adenan stressed that the government would never neglect minority groups but added that they must attach themselves with the majority.

He lauded DBNA for organising the symposium and bringing the members of the community from different political affiliations to discuss issues affecting them.

“I feel honoured to be invited to this event and able to see the community, in spite of the political differences able to come together for the sake of the Bidayuh community,” he said.

The symposium was attended by more than 1, 000 participants.

Present at the event were Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin, who is also DBNA advisor, State Legislative Assembly (DUN) deputy speaker Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Assistant Minister of Community Development Datuk Peter Nansian, DBNA president Datu Ik Pahon Joyik and Bidayuh community leaders.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/10/12/14th-division-in-the-offing/#ixzz3Fsqv09qG

Bidayuh Miss Malaysia World hopes to inspire

KUCHING: Miss Malaysia World 2014 Dewi Liana Seriestha is hoping her success will inspire the younger generation, especially those from the Bidayuh community.

The talented 25-year-old, who was crowned in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 30, was clearly touched by the hundreds who showed up at the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) headquarters yesterday to warmly welcome her.

“We have to dare to dream big. That is what drove me to this level,” said Dewi, who started to show her talents in singing, acting and modelling from a very young age.

“It is now not only about me as I will be representing Malaysia, Sarawak and the whole Bidayuh community,” she said of the Miss World pageant to be held in London on Dec 14.

Dewi, who hails from Kampung Tematu near here, defeated 20 other finalists to win the Miss Malaysia World title — the first Bidayuh woman to do so.

She also won the subsidiary titles of Miss Talent, Miss Personality and Miss Dr Alice.

On her preparations for the global competition, Dewi said she would fly to the United Kingdom in early November for a month-long coaching programme to prepare her mentally and physically for the Miss World grand finale.

Prior to the Miss Malaysia 2014 pageant, Dewi also won a gold medal for classical opera and three silver medals for her vocals in the Contemporary, World Music and Variety categories during the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California in July.

During the same championship, she also won a medal for the Industry Award and a plaque for the Classical Champion of the World.

Meanwhile, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said Dewi’s success is a reflection of the Bidayuh community’s efforts to succeed at national and international level.

He thanked Dewi’s parents for their endless support in helping her reach major milestones.

“The competition in London will take a whole new perspective as there will be more competitors from all over the world,” said Manyin, who is also DBNA chief advisor.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/09/14/bidayuh-miss-malaysia-world-hopes-to-inspire-others/#ixzz3FoC3Kfld

Tebakang Bazaar

Tebakang (also known as Tebekang or Tabekang) is a village in the Seriandivision of Sarawak, Malaysia,^[1][2] between Serian and Tebedu. It is about 15 minutes drive from Serian Town. Tebakang lies approximately 56.9 kilometres (35 mi) south-south-east of the state capital Kuching.^[2]

The population of Tebakang, over 2000, is predominantly Bidayuh bukar Sadong and Malays, and the village is divided into two villages by the Sadong River (Sungai Sadong - in Malay). The settlement on the main road side is named Kampung Bidayuh Tebakang and on the other side of the Sadong River is Kampung Melayu Tebakang.

During Charles Vyner Brooke’s era, Fort Tebakang was built as an administrative centre in 1929.

Serian to become a Division

(Seated front row from left) Martin, Snowdan, Manyin and Sagah during the media conference after the briefing on the Serian mini sports complex project yesterday. 

Their representative councillor Sunny Kon, in giving the assurance that the community strongly supported the idea, said it was time for the district to be made a division to enable Serian and its people to progress at a faster rate.

“It has been our hope to see that Serian will one day become a division, probably the 12th division in the state. Elevation of Serian from a district to division will certainly see greater growth and development here.

“As such, on behalf of the entire Chinese community in Serian and also its surrounding areas, I would like to thank the elected representatives for Tebedu (Dato Sri Michael Manyin), Tarat (Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn), Kedup (Martin Ben) and Balai Ringin (Snowdan Lawan), especially Dato Sri Michael Manyin, for working very hard to get the papers
ready for putting up the proposal to the state government,” he
said.

He told reporters this when responding to a remark made by Manyin at a news conference at the Serian mini sports complex yesterday.

Manyin, who is Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister, earlier pointed out that the papers on the proposal to make Serian a division were now ready and would be submitted to the state cabinet next month for consideration.

“We will submit our proposal to the state government and we hope that before the next state election we will get some good news. For the time being let us all pray hard for it.

“All of us, Datuk Roland Sagah, Martin, Snowdan and myself, we are very optimistic that this will become a reality since all the criteria are being complied with. Moreover, it is not just for the interest of any particular race alone but for the benefit of everyone, inclusive of all races,” he explained.

He said the idea of elevating the district was in fact long overdue, and the first draft was brought up to the attention of the state government when the present Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was chief minister.

“At that time probably the government thought we were still not ready but now I should say we have met all the criteria,” he said, adding that the size of Serian was 2,000 sq ft with a population of 120,000 people.

Among those present at the news conference which was held after a briefing by the Public Works Department (JKR) on the latest progress of the upgrading of Serian mini sports complex were Sagah who is also State Legislative Assembly deputy speaker,
Martin, Snowdan and heads of various government departments. The Borneo Post

DBNA receives more applications for NCR land documentation

KUCHING:   The Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) is experiencing a surge of applications for its land documentation initiative as the deadline looms.

Its president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik said after four years, the initiative that facilitated land title processing and native customary land (NCR), has finally been acknowledged as a success but would end by 2013.

“After four years, only now do all the Bidayuh villages demand to be included, asking DBNA to train their representatives on land documentation.

“I just received 300 new applications from villages where we have already done the documentation.  These are from those who did not want to participate in the initiative earlier,” he told reporters when met at DBNA premises yesterday.

 He said the task was not an easy one and so far, the initiative has taken flight in 40 of the targeted 338 Bidayuh villages.

He said the initiative under the guidance of Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin was carried out to speed up survey works instead of waiting for the Government to do the job.

“Some people asked us why they should pay when they can get it free through the Government, but they don’t realise that they would need to wait for it because Sarawak is a vast state.

“What we are doing is taking the initiative.  I personally don’t like the ‘everything free’ mentality, so if we can take our own initiative, why not?” he said.

Ik Pahon said the efforts started in Kampung Skuduk, of which villagers there had already been granted their land titles.

He said the initiative worked in such a way that each village would send three representatives for training at DBNA; one to do the global positioning system (GPS) reading, another to do the pegging and the other to document the readings in the field book.

 

(Source:  The Star, 25 Mac 2012)

Plans afoot to 'rejuvenate' Tebekang Bazaar

Dato' Sri Michael Manyin aiming a blowpipe to shoot at a balloon at Kampung Tebakang Melayu field to officiate at the Telematch and Rafting Challenge Exhibition.

SERIAN: Tebakang Bazaar along Jalan Serian-Mongkos, which used to be  bubbling with local residents, is set to be given a new breath of life with better infrastructure.

Among others, Serian District Council (SDC) planned to erect food stalls to help push the local economy in the area forward.

Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin suggested that SDC allocate RM1 million for the project.

“The market (in Tebakang Bazaar) has been quiet for a long time due to the lack of proper road infrastructure, which caused members of the public and residents in Serian to stop coming here,” he lamented when met after officiating at the Serian Telematch and Rafting Challenge Exhibition yesterday.

“Last time, this place was a very bright and jovial place, but after the construction of roads most of the local community flocked to Serian. My suggestion is that we hold some activities like opening stalls around here, which would lead people to come and eat here.”

Dato Sri Michael Manyin noted that the only eatery here at present belonged to Serian Chinese Pemanca Choo Kun Hian.

“But I believe that after the stalls are positioned here, more people will flock back because of the variety of food. This is one of the ways to attract more people to come back.”

Manyin, who is also Tebedu assemblyman, also said a bridge costing about RM300,000 would be built in Kampung Tebakang, latest by the end of the year. “For the time being, we are filling up the road from Mongkos to Tebakang Melayu and the Public Works Department has carried out surveys and studies as well as given suggestions on building a sturdy bridge that is capable of carrying the weight of a 20 tonne lorry.

“I am reviewing the budget and some of the bridge equipment are already there, we only need to add more, so, hopefully, we can finish it within the year.”

At the event, Manyin handed out prizes to the telematch winners. He also visited the stalls and the old site of Tebakang town.

Also present were SDC chairman Sinde Muling, SDC deputy chairman Dr Simon Sinang Bada and SDC acting secretary Muzaimah Sumar.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/05/11/plans-afoot-to-rejuvenate-tebakang-bazaar/#ixzz31MfyXbdW

Road to Daha finally tar sealed

Good road system linking Daha to Tebedu.