Muhyiddin (centre) purchasing some freshwater prawns from hawker Japar Tamit of Kampung Seberang Kedai at Tamu Limbang. Muhyiddin (second left), flanked on his right by Awang Tengah and Jabu on his left, checking out the ‘kupang’ sold at Tamu Limbang. LIMBANG: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin approved RM1 million for upgrading of Tamu Limbang during his walkabout there yesterday. He hoped the project would be implemented soon. Earlier he and his entourage were given a warm welcome when they arrived at the market dubbed ‘Badudun’ where he joined the crowd of 1,000 for breakfast. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Minister of Housing Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Second Minister ...

Muhyiddin (second right) receiving a memento from Dr Haili in the presence of others including Jabu (right). Trainees from the Sarawak Teachers Training Institute singing the newly launched new song of SPP. MIRI: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is glad to note that the Education Service Commission (SPP) has set up a think tank to evaluate the procedure to recruit new staff for the Education Service. “I hope that through this think tank, SPP can identify a recruitment procedure which is comprehensive so that only credible and qualified candidates are recruited in the education service,” he said. Muhyiddin, also Education Minister, was officiating at the 2015 Education Service Conference here on Wednesday night. Among those present ...

Muhyiddin takes two remote villages under his wings, pledges federal support for Baram Growth Node Muhyiddin (second left) taking a closer look at a development map after attending a briefing on Baram Growth Node by Jabu (second right). Also seen are Abang Johari (left) and Ose. – Bernama photo MIRI: Penan village Long Bruang and Kelabit village Long Peluan Baram in the interior of Baram get to receive special attention from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. “I am adopting these two villages as test bed for socio-economic development for villages in remote or rural areas in Baram and Sarawak in particular,” Muhyiddin said after attending a briefing on the Baram Growth Node by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang ...

SIDS committee members with Jabu (centre) after the presentation of MRP grants. KUCHING: Dayak Cultural Foundation will be providing educational assistance to Dayak students who achieved excellent results in this year’s SPM and STPM examinations. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said two students each from the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities would be selected to receive assistance from the foundation to allow them to pursue tertiary education. “This assistance is strictly for students who have scored 10As in their SPM or Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0 in their STPM,” Jabu said after presenting Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant at his office here yesterday. The criteria of each student, he said, would be ...

Masing planting a rubber tree at the estate to commemorate his visit. KUCHING: The Land Development Ministry is looking at some 30,000 hectares (ha) of idle Native Customary Rights (NCR) land around Sungai Sut and Sungai Mujong in Kapit, to be turned into rubber plantation as part of the state’s reforestation programme. Planting rubber trees on non-productive NCR land would fully tap its potential and help raise the income of local communities, apart from improving local economic growth, said minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing. He initiated the idea after visiting a rubber estate at Keningau, Sabah managed by Bornion Timber Sdn Bhd – a company from Sarawak. Since 2005, the company has planted about five million rubber trees on some ...

Jabu (centre) making a stop at a booth that displays handicraft items made by the Penans of Long Rayeh, during his round at the carnival. LIMBANG: The state government will undertake in-depth studies on soil suitability, including the proposal of double-cropping, towards the aim of making Limbang the ‘rice bowl’ of the state. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said experts from the Agriculture Department would be helping in realising this verdant dream of local leaders and communities. He said this when officiating at the opening of the ‘Agriculture Produce and Agro-based Products Carnival’ here yesterday. “If studies show that the soil is feasible for paddy planting, then Limbang would have the potential to be the ...

KUCHING: The state government will support and work closely with industries to encourage the innovation and commercialisation of ideas, whether they have commercial applications or not. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang gave this assurance in his text of speech read by Modernisation of Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Assistant Minister Mong Dagang at the closing of the R&D Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) 2015 Expo. Jabu said the government would continue investing in quality and high impact research at all levels, and he encouraged higher education institutes to put more time and money into new research and innovation according to the needs of the industry. This will narrow the gap between research and commercialisation, said Jabu ...

Shafie (third left) handing over a mock cheque for the allocation to Adenan, while other state dignitaries look on. — Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi KUCHING: The federal government, through the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, has allocated RM121 million as allowance of village security and development committee (JKKK) members. Its minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said the allocation includes monthly allowance of RM800 for JKKK chairman, RM200 for the secretary and RM50 for each committee member. He also pointed out the vital roles played by community leaders. “The federal government has decided to appoint every JKKK member in the country to help with voter registration. “This will ensure they can help in registering eligible voters in ...

Adenan (third left) with Shafie (left), Jabu (front right) and others after chairing the first coordination committee meeting of 2015 with state Rural Exco chairmen. — Bernama photo KUCHING: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development plans to give an additional RM51 million grant to Sarawak this year for rural development projects. Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the money was meant for constructing houses under the Hardcore Poor Housing Programme (PPRT) and longhouses across the state. “We will submit the proposal to the Ministry of Finance for Sarawak to receive an additional grant of RM51 million, while Sabah will also be allocated an additional RM50 million grant. “With the grant, almost 1,000 housing units costing RM50,000 each ...

KUCHING: The government will find more effective and innovative approaches to improve the income of smallholders. Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said there were more than 500,000 smallholders nationwide, and their average income was RM1,200 to RM2,500 per month. “The income of commodities smallholders relies very much on the current market price. When the price depreciates, their earnings will be affected. “Therefore, our main agenda for the commodities sector is to look for more effective approaches to ensure the income of smallholders is not less than RM4,000 per month,” he said at the National Smallholders and Commodities Entrepreneurs Conference 2015 (NSCEC), officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi ...