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