Serian Division to officially have its first Resident this Oct 1

TEBEDU: Serian will finally function as a full-fledged administrative division of the state this Oct 1 with the official appointment of its first Resident.

Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin said the ceremony in Serian would see the official handover of duties from the Residents of Kuching and Samarahan.

He pointed out that such ceremony was necessary as Serian – which was announced as the state’s 12th and newest administrative division on April 11 – was carved out from Kuching and Samarahan divisions.

He also revealed the Oct 1 function would also see the appointment of the first district officer for Tebedu, which was elevated to a full district status also on April 11.

“The ceremony will be witnessed by myself and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani, and attended by community leaders from Serian Division.

“The Resident will be a Bidayuh, while the district officer for Tebedu will be from the Punans or Penans, which is special for us,” he told reporters after launching the ‘I Want Sihat’ programme at Kampung Temong Putah yesterday, conducted by the Health Department.

He also explained the offices of Serian Resident and his deputies would be temporarily housed at Serian District Office until the completion of their own office block this December.

In response to a question, Manyin did not deny the possibility of Serian having its own Walikota, who would be appointed at a much later date.

He also mentioned that for now, Serian District Council would be the sole local authority for Serian Division, which covers the districts of Serian and Tebedu as well as the sub-district of Siburan.

On a related matter, Manyin announced the Health Ministry had agreed to build a Level-4 government clinic here.

“Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, state Health Department director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan and I went to meet Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam in Kuala Lumpur recently for this proposal, and he (Dr Subramaniam) agreed.

“The government clinic, to be headed by a doctor, will have its own X-Ray Unit. It will serve people of Tebedu so they need not travel all the way up to Serian or Kuching anymore (for treatment).”

Manyin, who is Tebedu assemblyma, also disclosed plans to set up a Fire and Rescue Department station here.

“Both the proposed clinic and station would be in Bandar Mutiara – the nerve centre of Tebedu,” he added. Meanwhile, Manyin saw the efforts on holding the ‘I Want Sihat’ programme as one that could raise awareness of health among the people.

He said modern lifestyle and use of chemical input in agriculture had led to more people suffering from cancer and other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

The event yesterday was also attended by Serian district officer Sinde Muling, Serian district health officer Dr Sharifah Norashikin Wan Ahmad and local community leaders.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/09/23/serian-division-to-officially-have-its-first-resident-this-oct-1/#ixzz3vf6BvOlo

Two new state seats to be added in Bidayuh areas

SERIAN: Two new state seats of Serumbu and Bukit Semuja will be added to increase majority in Bidayuh community areas.

Chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem highlighted this during a handing over ceremony of land titles under Section 6 and Section 18 to landowners at Serian Community Hall today (Dec 22).

“The opposition party PKR has objected to the increase of seats and brought the matter to court,” he said.

“Why? Because they are afraid of the Barisan Nasional,” he added.

Adenan emphasised that the Bidayuh community was an important group in Sarawak whose status should be recognised.

“The small town Serian with Bidayuh-majority community has been elevated to a division. More such areas will be elevated in the future because the Bidayuh people deserve it,” he said.

The two new state seats will increase the majority in existing areas of Bengoh, Kedup, Tarat, Tasik Biru, Opar and Tebedu.

Meanwhile, Adenan also shared that construction for a 70km road connecting Serian-Pantu will be kickstarted in January of next year.

“This is not an empty promise. The project is worth RM16 billion,” he said.

“Today we prove to you that the government delivers its promises, not only with handing over of land titles but many others to benefit the people in Sarawak,” he added, pointing out efforts in decreasing electricity tariff, construction of Pan Borneo Highway, freedom to worship and making English an official language alongside Bahasa Malaysia.

As such, Adenan hopes the Bidayuh people can fulfill their promise when the state election comes.

“It won’t be long from now, maybe in two to three months’ time. I hope you will show your gratitude so that together we can do more to ensure Sarawak continue to progress and become successful,” he urged.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/12/22/two-new-state-seats-to-be-added-in-bidayuh-areas/#ixzz3vJeOqYRV

YB Dato Sri Richard Riot Menyambut Ulang Tahun ke 25

YB Dato Sri Richard Riot Menyambut Ulang Tahun ke 25  menjadi Ahli Parlimen di Kampung Pichin

Malaysian birdnest product maker in US$200 million distribution agreements

KUALA LUMPUR Nov 8 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Swiftlet Eco Park Group (IPO-SWEP.N), one of the country's largest makers of products developed from edible bird nests, has signed distribution agreements worth $200 million to sell its products to China, India and the United Arab Emirates.

The company, which makes coffee, skin care products, puddings and candies with nests made from swiftlets' saliva, on Saturday made the agreements with Hong Kong Yooly International Trading Company, India's Knight Associates and Dubai's Total Support Holdings respectively, it said in a statement.

Cooperation welcomed to facilitate perimeter survey of NCR lands

KUCHING: The Land and Survey Department (LSD) appreciates cooperation from any party, including Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), in implementing native customary rights (NCR) perimeter survey programme under the new initiative.

In a statement yesterday, the LSD said application to join the programme could be submitted through DBNA, but NCR land claimants from the Bidayuh community could also submit their application directly to the department.

LSD said this was in line with the existing procedure publicised during the dialogue, and through brochures distributed from time to time.

“For example, survey works in Ri’ih area in Samarahan had been successfully implemented for both phases of survey through direct application to LSD.

“Whereas for applications done through DBNA such as Skuduk and Pisa, Kuching, both phases of survey were successfully implemented.

“This means that the LSD is open to cooperation from any party in the effort to ensure the NCR perimeter survey under this programme can be implemented smoothly.”

The LSD was responding to a Borneo Post article yesterday entitled ‘Bidayuhs encouraged to let DBNA document their NCR lands’.

LSD said for the whole state covering the Bumiputera community, 436 areas covering 654,223 hectares (1,616,585 acres) of land had undergone perimeter survey.

This comprised 90 per cent of areas targeted or 730,000 hectares as of end of this year.

“Individual lot survey could normally only be conducted after completion of perimeter survey, but due to requests from NCR land claimants, LSD conducted the individual lot survey
earlier.”

LSD said 14 areas had been individually surveyed involving a total of 3,772 lots, and they had been issued individual land titles under Section 18 of the state Land Code.

As for the Bidayuh community as a whole, a total of 50 areas covering 98,810 hectares (244,060 acres) of land had been surveyed in the first phase of perimeter survey under this programme.

Besides that, 14 areas are undergoing perimeter survey that involves areas estimated to be 36,504 hectares (90,164 acres).

As for the individual lot survey, three areas covering 1,141 land titles under Section 18 of the state Land Code had been issued through the same
programme.

“One more area, that is Kpg Gorog/Sibuloh Bau is in the process of being individually surveyed to cover an area of 2,303 hectares (5,691 acres).”

LSD said this new initiative NCR land survey is a continuous effort by the government in recognising native customary rights that will be continued in the 11th Malaysia Plan.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/11/12/cooperation-welcomed-to-facilitate-perimeter-survey-of-ncr-lands/#ixzz3rISruNRX

Bayoi wants Bukit Semuja

SERIAN: Former five-term assemblyman Frederick Bayoi Manggie is making a serious bid to contest the new state seat of Bukit Semuja.

Bayoi, who was Tarat assemblyman for two terms before then chief minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud asked him to contest for the newly-created seat of Kedup in 1996, is heading the PBB Triboh/Bukit Semuja Project, a committee tasked with lobbying for the seat to be allocated to PBB in the coming state election.

Committee secretary Johnny Gondok said as of today, Bayoi is the only serious contender with a real chance to win Triboh or Bukit Semuja for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 11th state election which many believe will be held in the first quarter of next year.

Johnny said his assessment is based on Bayoi’s movements in the area including meeting up with PBB unit leaders in all the six polling districts which make up the new seat since the day the Election Commission (EC) proposed the creation of the seat among 10 others.

“From day one we have continued to work the grounds, meeting people and holding dialogues.

“Besides Bayoi we have yet to see any other personalities working the grounds of the new seat.

“With hardly six months to the election, anyone who hopes to make any impact on the voters in Triboh or Semuja at the 11th hour cannot hope to achieve what Bayoi has achieved,” Johnny told The Borneo Post in an interview yesterday.

Under EC’s initial proposal, the new seat was to be called Triboh. It was to consist of the polling districts of Triboh with 2,465 voters, Slabi (3,335), Pasar Serian (2,841), Kakai (755) Serian Hulu (1,163) and Sedihan (2,919).

Under EC’s second proposal, Triboh was renamed Bukit Semuja. Bukit Semuja retained all the polling districts except Sedihan which was replaced with Antayan (2,385 voters).

Bayoi has made all the necessary preparations in terms of ground machinery. It does not matter if it is Triboh or Bukit Semuja, the fact is he is ready for the election any time it is called.

“Until today, no one else has come out in the open, let alone gone to the ground, ready and willing to become the BN flag bearer in Triboh or Bukit Semuja,” Johnny said.

“This coming weekend (Sunday), if the police are satisfied with the security issue, we will be having a big dialogue in Kampung Riih Daso,” Johnny added.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/10/21/bayoi-wants-bukit-semuja/#ixzz3p9k2gQFD

BN can win all Bidayuh seats — Manyin

KUCHING: Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) chief advisor Dato Sri Michael Manyin is confident that BN can defend all the eight Bidayuh-majority seats in the coming state election.

The eight state constituencies are Bengoh (to be renamed Mambong), Opar, Tebedu, Tarat, Kedup, Tasik Biru and the newly created Serembu and Bukit Semuja seats.

“The support for BN is still solid among the Bidayuh community. I am confident that BN will retain all the Bidayuh-majority seats and winning the new ones if they are to be given to Bidayuh leaders,” Manyin, who is also PBB vice-president, told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He said the Bidayuh community was fortunate to be given a lot of attention by the government. Though he was not sure if the two new seats would be given to Bidayuh candidates, he was very certain that the Bidayuh community in the two new constituencies of Serembu and Bukit Semuja would give their support to BN candidates.

“For Bidayuh areas, facilities and infrastructure are there. There is no reason for the Bidayuhs not to support BN. In view of our small number, the Bidayuh community has also no choice but to support BN. That is the only way for us to survive. We have to continue to support BN if we want development to be continued in our areas,” said the Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister.

Out of the current six Bidayuh majority seats, candidacy for three of them had been announced: Manyin himself for Tebedu, Martin Ben for Kedup and Datuk Roland Sagah for Tarat. The fate of the other incumbents; namely Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Datuk Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru) and Ranum Mina (Opar), is yet to be known.

On the candidacy of Dr Jerip and Nansian as well as Ranum, Manyin said it depended on their respective party leadership, and the state BN chairman who has the prerogative to make the final decision.

“I don’t have the authority to nominate any candidate for any election. But once candidates are decided by their respective parties and BN leadership, then it is our duty and responsibility to make sure that they win the seats.

“But when a Bidayuh leader stands in an election, we always stand as a representative of the Bidayuh community, through the BN,” Manyin elaborated.

Due to the strong allegiance the Bidayuh community has for BN all this while, he believed that the opposition would have no chance in the Bidayuh-majority areas.

“Let them (PKR and DAP) squabble among themselves. They can contest in those areas but they pose no threat to us.

“I am confident that the Bidayuhs will give Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) and BN full support in the coming state election. BN will win all Bidayuh seats. We are very confident,” Manyin reiterated, referring to recent reports that PKR and DAP were on a collision course over Bukit Semuja, Kedup and Tebedu seats.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/10/20/bn-can-win-all-bidayuh-seats-manyin/#ixzz3p81fsljd