Adenan prepares to flag off the powerboat race participants as (from second left) Alexander, Jamilah, Gramong, Jabu and Masing look on. KANOWIT: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said he will look for more funds for rural schools in Sarawak. He said the schools in the state are either in bad condition or need urgent repair. “I want to get more money either from state or federal government for our rural schools,” he said when officiating at the powerboat race held in conjunction with Kanowit Festival. It was revealed in the Third Series of the 2014 Auditor-General’s Report that a total of 124 schools in the state were in deplorable condition and needed to be repaired immediately. The Report tabled in Dewan Rakyat revealed ...

Jabu (centre) posing with the VIPs and Penan community leaders upon his arrival at Long Latei RSC. MARUDI: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government is serious in wanting to develop the Penan community and its leaders mean what they say when they promise projects. It was for this very reason that he made a visit to Long Latei, a Penan village in Apoh, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, adding it was his second visit to a Penan village. He said his first visit was in December 2012. “I promised a Rural Service Centre (RSC) for the Penan Community in Apoh in December, 2012 and now the promise is fulfilled with the completion of the RSC at a cost of more than RM700,000 by the government through Samling. “Now the Penans have one ...

Jabu (from eighth left), Adi and Manyin jointly hold the framed photo of old TLC images. They are joined by other VIPs and the organising committee for a group photograph. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa KUCHING: Sarawakians must continue to support Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s call to make English language a priority in this state, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang. Representing the chief minister to officiate at the Tanjong Lobang College (TLC) grand reunion dinner on Saturday, he said Adenan had specifically told him to remind those present on the importance of English language as the way forward for the state. Jabu also commented that such a focus was now necessary since a recent study carried out ...

An artist’s impression of Mujong Bridge . KAPIT: The state government has allocated RM35 million for building the 170-metre Mujong Bridge that will be the final link to Sungai Tunoh in the newly minted Bukit Mabong district. Revealing this when officiating at the ceremony to declare Bukit Mabong as a new district in Kapit Division yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said works on the project would start early next year. At the same function, Adenan also approved RM5 million to build a new water reticulation system for Kapit. “The total cost is RM10 million, half of it will be funded by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and another half from the state government. “Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi told me ...

CM calls for stricter surveillance of state’s waters, lauds planting of artificial reefs to thwart illegal trawlers Adenan (second right) and Shabery (right) checking the artificial reefs on display at the exhibition yesterday. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi SEMATAN: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has been told to improve its enforcement against illegal fishing to protect the state’s marine resources against rampant encroachment by foreign fishermen. In making the call yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said the authority concerned should buck up or outsiders would continue to encroach into the state’s waters. “Those responsible to safeguard our waters and marine resources should conduct more frequent ...

The Sematan Super team listening to Adenan’s address yesterday. — Photo by Mohd Rais Senusi SEMATAN: Fisheries Volunteers (Super) have been reminded to monitor fish resources closely. In making the call, Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Super teams, comprising fishermen, were set up in the country to protect fish resources. “Being the eyes and ears of the government (in looking after fish resources), you must play more prominent roles to monitor the situation from time to time,” he said at the launching yesterday of both artificial reefs for Sematan District and the state-level Super team. The event was officiated at by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem. Some 50 fishermen ...

Adenan presenting the Successful Entrepreneur Award (Manufacturing) to Dayang Salhah while Naroden and others looked on. Zunainah Zaini receiving the Promising Woman Entrepreneur Award (Service). Adenan arriving at the Bumiputra Entrepreneurs Award ceremony last night. Janang Bungsu receiving the Successful Entepreneur Award (Professional). Henry Harry Jinep is this year’s Excellent Bumiputra Entrepreneur. — Photos by Chimon Upon Successful Entepreneur Award (Construction and Properties) went to Rewi Hamid Bugo. KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem assures Sarawakians that he would request for another RM500 million from the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) this year to increase business opportunities ...

Jabu and Nogeh (left) listen to a briefing on sample gathering methods from coastal sea bed. KUCHING: Things are looking optimistic with regards to the state’s request for the state-of-the art fishery research vessel to conduct studies on its rich marine resources. The state has been looking to acquire a new research vessel – as it intensifies efforts to develop its deep-sea fishing industry – since the previous research vessel, KK Manchong, was decommissioned and boarded off more than five years ago. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said response had been positive from Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in pursuing the matter. The ...

Kadim releases fish fry to the river as launching gimmick for the project. — Photo by Chimon Upon SERIAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is now working on a ‘tagang’ system for Terubok to replenish the population of this iconic fish of Sarawak. If successful, this could lead to conservation of this fish known for its delicious and sweet taste and improve the income of the local people especially those in coastal areas. The university’s vice chancellor Prof Dato Dr Kadim Suaidi said Unimas was studying the system and identifying the feasibility of its implementation in Belawai, Sebuyau and other coastal areas. Although the tagang system is mainly for riverine conversation, Kadim explained the system can also be applied for Terubok which ‘return’ ...

Jabu (centre), flanked by Rayong on his left and Nyalau on his right being greeted on his arrival at the Engkilili Festival closing ceremony on Sunday. ENGKILILI: The state government has approved a budget of RM3.6 million for the construction of seven bridges along the Ulu Skrang road. This was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu during the closing of the Engkilili Festival at the Engkilili town centre on Sunday. He said the allocation was one of the testimonies that the state Barisan Nasional (BN) government really cared for the rural people and that it understood their wants and needs. As such, he called on the people of Engkilili to rally behind BN and support the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem. “Opposition ...