:Rotarian pledge to make dreams real

TAWAU, The Rotary Club of Tawau Tanjung will continue to support and move in unison with the Rotary International Theme `Make Dreams Real’ to help thousands of underprivileged children worldwide by providing a better life for them from malnutrition, diseases and victims of disasters.

`Improving the health of people in developing countries is a great humanitarian and environmental challenges of the 21th century as almost two million children and millions of adults die of waterborne disease every year’, stated president of the club Chua Kin Loong during the club’s 15th Installation Night held yesterday evening.

Chua added that more than 30,000 people die every day from lack of clean water worldwide and the emphasis put in by Rotary International on water, literacy, health and hunger has been resourceful in eradicating such problem. He said that they will also make clean water system in rural areas and this will improve health among consumers while increasing the opportunity to undertake agriculture, livestock and other produces to fight hunger.

Outgoing president of the club Peter Wong Siew Kion had earlier in his speech said that the club has completed various projects through their 5 avenue of services in organizing a number of fellowships among its’ member and participating in conference and assembly, medical camp service at Silimpopon in Kalabakan, eye screening exercise and sponsoring 17 pairs of spectacles in the process. Other projects include the donation of books to rural schools and uniforms to SMK Tawau school.

At the same time, Interact clubs at schools has also conducted project to instill patriotism and car wash fund raising project. Wong also lauded the generosity of the Lau Gek Poh Foundation for donating RM200,000 towards the club’s Haemodialysis centre

Witnessing the ceremony was Datuk Elbert Lim Yu Ming.

:Tarakan Chinese school board at Tawau

TAWAU, Board of Directors from the IndoTiongHua primary school in Tarakan, Indonesia, paid a visit to the district and met with three Chinese based schools’ representatives at a dinner held at a restaurant last night. Leading the team of seven was its’ chairman of the board Harry Salim. The primary school is the first Chinese language school in Tarakan meant to bring Chinese education to Chinese Indonesian and Indonesian alike while at the same time promoting understanding of culture and language to the rest of races living in Indonesia. Speaking to the floor, vice chairman Alex Heryanto said that the dinner is to show appreciation and exchanging information on Chinese education between them as the local Chinese schools in Tawau had assisted the IndoTiongHua when it began three years ago. The representatives from Tawau came from the Sabah Chinese High School, Sing Hwa primary school and Yuk Chin primary school. Among the chief guest at the dinner was Dato' Yong Chi Fui.

:Tawau team to China

TAWAU, A group of district councilors and engineers of the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) to be led by it’s president Haji Salsidu Ibrahim will travel to China under arrangement made by the Community of Overseas Exchange Association of GuangDong Province, China, to carry out an in-depth study on waste, traffic, tourist, beautification and other management system of Shenzhen, China.

The team with 33 members which include member of the association and the district’s Chinese Chamber representatives would be particularly interested in garbage management currently being used there.

A spokeperson for the team said that they are going for the trip to bring back knowledge and to prepare a report for relevant authorities.

Members of the team are paying for all expenses themselves.

He said that current district’s dumpsite located at Merotai could not sustain the rubbish and move is on the way to acquire an approximately 200 acres of land at Balung as a long term plan with plan to preserve the water at Balung river.

:Ex-convict jailed again

TAWAU, An ex-prison inmate found himself back in jail after tasting freedom for half year when he was caught committing his second offence in a robbery cum rape case.

For his second offence, the 28 year old accused was charged under Section 392/397 of the Penal Code and face a maximum jail sentence of 14 years with possible whipping and fine upon conviction.

Hamza Beddu was released from prison on December 21, 2007 .

Prosecuting officer ASP Habebah Abu Bakar presented the fact case in the court presided by Judge Egusra Mohd. Ali citing that Hamza was arrested on the same day he committed his crime on June 15, 2007 in a taxi at St. Patrick road around 9.15 am where a Bugis knife and a handphone were recovered from the accused.

The accused was charged with the rape and robbing of a 28 year old woman in a rented room where the victim works a the cleaner there.

:Man conned of RM13K for fear of ghost of lottery

TAWAU, A local man fearing the curse of a number prediction `ghost’ parted with RM13,000 before getting wise and report the scam to police resulting in the arrest of a man and a bogus `bomoh’.

The unfortunate victim aged 42 lodged the report after he felt something was amiss when the suspect demanded `gift’ in the form of money for introducing him to the bogus bomoh and strike a RM1 million from a 6D lottery ticket. District police chief ACP Jaafar Bin Mohd. Yusof said that the incident began when the victim was approached by a suspect known only as Hassan claiming that he could connect the victim with a bomoh to predict the six digit number at a market at Hot Spring.

`The victim was convinced and went with the suspect to see the so called bomoh who predicted a six digit number for him’, he said.

Jaafar added that after purchasing the number based on the prediction of the bomoh, he was again contacted by Hassan who presented him with previous six digit result claiming that he had won and demanded that he give offering in cash worth 9 buffalos which is stated as at RM3,000 each.

The victim initially refused but was told that the `ghost of number’ would taunt him should he refuse to pay up and fearing the disturbing threat gave RM6,000 to the suspect and again gave RM7,000 when the suspect demanded more. Jaafar added that the suspect left but returned the next day asking for the balance of RM15,000 to purchase the buffalos for the `ghost’ but the victim became suspicious and refused to pay up and lodged a police report.

:Rumor of all kiosk closing tommorow not true

TAWAU, Panic stricken motorists franticly tank up their vehicle fuel tank after a rumor was spread citing that no petrol or diesel would be available in the next few days.

Vehicles again line up at all petrol kiosks rushing to fill up since around after the rumor spread like wildfire.

`I really don’t know what happen until cars kept coming to fill up today’, cited a pump attendant at a kiosk today.

It was reported the situation came about after Petroleum Dealer Association Malaysia (PDAM) might imposed limited time in opening kiosks belonging to its members numbering around 3,500 to oppose incentive on sales of petrol and diesel.

It was stated that petrol kiosk operators suffer from the price hike as the incentive of 3 percent allocated to them had not been reviewed causing hardship.

`It is supposed to happen on June 26 as we will open our kiosk from 7.00am to 4.00pm based on PDAM decision’, a kiosk operator stated when met.

A source said that there would be petrol and diesel and the rumor spread is untrue, a short text messaging issued around 6.00pm citing that the rumor was incorrect but it did not prevent vehicles from lining up fearing the worst.

:Tawau Sze Yap praised by Wong

TAWAU, The district’s Sze Yap Residency Association (TSYRA) received praises for their contribution and development in the effort to provide better prospect for their association in the future.

President of the Sabah Sze Yap association Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen said that they was the first to support and contributed in the drive to help earthquake victims of the Szechuan, China, by making contribution of RM14,148 for the effort.

Wong also praised the association since its humble beginning in 1977 where it was first led by Datuk Geoffrey Yee and change of office bearers continue to bring development.

Yee now hold the title as the honorary live chairman of the TSYRA.

Wong made her speech during the swearing in of office bearers for the association main committee, Women and Youth committees held at Cynthia Restaurant on the evening of June 21.

She also made contribution of RM5,000 for TSYRA aim of purchasing a new building for the association. Wong hailed the effort as this will ensure that future members could enjoy a stable income as the planned new building could be rented out or for other purpose to generate income.

Among those attending the event were Brigadier General Datuk Liew Yun Fah and representatives from the same associations from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Keningau and Lahad Datu as well as representative from the Tawau Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Among the entertainer engaged to trill the guests was Janet Kan Wan Yee who performed opera songs.

:Young Sabahan shows they care for earthquake victims

TAWAU, The generosity of the district’s communities shown toward the earthquake victims in Szechuan, China prove that the people of Sabah are aware of the calamity faced by victims and their strong support would create a better society especially among the youth and the young generation.

Brigadier General Datuk Liew Yun Fah who was the ex Minister of Youth and Sport of Sabah said that the collection made by four entertainment outlets in the district’s township shown that all level of society contributed in a big way to help reduce the burden of victims from the quake.

`This outlets are patron mostly by youngsters and the generosity given shows the big heart among this group of people’, Liew said in an interview.

Liew also congratulated the efforts made by the entertainment outlets in promoting such campaign. Collection from the four outlets began with Junction 8 which collected RM15,508, Golden City Karaoke Lounge garnered RM10,560, Hometown Steak House collected RM10,596 with another outlet with amount still undisclosed.

The amount were all handed over to the district’s Chinese Chamber representatives to be delivered to China ambassador in Kuching, Sarawak. Liew who also made contribution toward the cause through the outlets said that this is his way to lead by example as the calamity in another part of the world should be responded with concern and care from people of other countries and Malaysia is not excluded from such obligation.

`It is a generous contribution by the young generation and I believe that such action would one way or the other enhance their ethic’, he added.

Another contributor toward the cause was Dato’ Yong Chi Fui who said that it is the responsibility of every human to help those facing hardship and the China earthquake had proven that Sabah people are capable in doing so as the four outlets conducted such exercise to garner fund from generous community leaders and their respective patrons.

`This calamity brought out the generosity and true colors of Malaysian especially the young generation for being sensitive toward helping others unknown to them’, he added after making a contribution at Hometown Steak House.

Leaders and patrons contributed through generous contribution, games competition such as pool game and karaoke singing competition apart from drinks paid for two days.

:Planned demonstration cancelled

TAWAU, A planned demonstration by a group of people set to be held at the front of the Al Kauthar mosque was cancelled after it was supposedly opposed the Sabah Action Progressive Party (SAPP) statement over the vote of no confidence toward the country's Prime Minister. The premature termination of the demonstration was supposed to take place around 1.30 pm however brought members of the press and police into the area. It was reported that the demonstration was to ask the Member of Parliament for Tawau who is a member of the party to resign.

As precautionary measure, police patrol the area to ensure that no untoward incidence can take place.

:MCA Tawau election face contest

TAWAU, The district Malaysia Chinese Associations (MCA) will see a contest for the chairmanship set on July 27 in which a number of top seats will be contested.

Goh Chit Chuan who is the Tawau MCA deputy chairman announced yesterday evening that he would contest the seat currently being held by Datuk Charlie Chang Chau Lap.

He made the statement at a dinner together with Yap Kheng Fah, Lim Yun Thai, Kong Lee Kyun and Liew Bao Jin added that he will announce on the reason to contest the seat in due time.

`We have 37 out of the 40 branch leaders attending this dinner and we urges them to support us in our effort’, he stated in the press statement.

Yap will contest the Deputy Chairman and Youth Chief seats of MCA Tawau, Lim will challenge for the seat of Deputy Chairlady of the MCA Wanita Tawau with Kong contesting for the MCA Wanita Tawau chairperson seat and Liew to contest in the Youth Deputy Chief seat.

The election for the Wanita and Youth wil be held on July 26 with nomination date set on July 22.

:23 people arrested by ACA this year: Ahmad

TAWAU, A total of 23 people had been arrested since the beginning of 2008 until today from the state of Sabah as compared to 57 people in the whole of 2007 by the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) with majority of the cases under forging of document cases contributing about 60 percent of the total cases. At the same time, 98 case files were opened so far this year as compared to 180 case files opened last year.

`Our gratification is at RM13.5 million with further property confiscation worth RM36 million’, Director Chief of ACA Malaysia Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmad Said Hamdan stated in a press conference during the closing of a workshop organized jointly by the State Secretary office and ACA held at Hotel Marco Polo here this afternoon.

He said that half of the arrest involved those offering bribes.

Ahmad added that cases of corruption report rate is getting lower and this is due to a better public services sectors. But he also said that there is still room for such sectors to be improved.

Ealier, Ahmad in his closing speech of the two days workshop said the objective of the workshop was to improve the integrity and confidence to enhance the productivity of the public service sector, to increase the knowledge of participants in the Internal Control System (ICS) and to improve sectors in line with the role of ACA under Section 8 (c), (d) and (e) of the Corruption Prevention Act 1997.

He also said that the 9th Malaysia Plan is now in its third phase where Sabah was allocated some RM20.6 billion for development projects.

`It is therefore our responsibility to ensure that the amount reach the group targeted’, he stated in the workshop attended by 50 representative from various government agencies..

Among those attending the closing were Haji Nordin Siman, the director of the Sabah Public Services department, IR. Anjin Ajik, the director of Public Work Department Kota Kinabalu, Hajjah Latifah Md. Yatim, the director of ACA Sabah and Tawau Municipal Council president Haji Salsidu Ibrahim.

:Don't report price hike of goods to police: Ramli

TAWAU, District police today urges members of the public forward their complains on price hike of goods to the related agencies such as those involve in consumers’ affair..

Acting district police chief Supt. Haji Ramli Ali Mat said that they had received a number of complains made by the public over such matter and police dutifully hand over the report to the related agencies.

`We delivered all the complains to the related agencies but we are urging the public to direct their complain to them and not police’, he explained.

At the same time, he also urges the public not to spread rumors about the possibility of price hike on any goods as this would create panic. He said that they should report instead of any price hike on any goods.

In another matter, the collection of rebate on fuel price hike at the district post office is currently running smoothly as police are taking precaution to prevent any snatch theft taking place there.

Ramli added that they are placing plainclothes police officers and there has been no report of such cases taking place.

`We are doing this to ensure that everybody can collect their rebate safely’, he said.

Ramli also said that co-operation between police and handphone proprietors are improving with an estimate 80 percent of such shops helping police curb sales of stolen handphones.

:Rape suspect caught within hours

TAWAU, District police believed they had solved a rape and robbery case after a 28 year old man was held in a taxi at St. Patrick road yesterday based on information received.

District Police Chief ACP Jaafar Bin Mohd. Yusof said police received a report by a 22 year old lady working in a lodging house in Sabindo on June 15 around 9.30 am claiming that she was raped by the suspect in one of the room of the lodging house earlier on the same day.

He said that the married Tatur lady works for the house as a cleaner and was cleaning one of the room when the suspect came in and pretended to ask her questions. `The lady was wearing a short skirt and a towel while cleaning the room when the suspect entered’, he added.

Jaafar also said that the suspect suddenly pointed a Bugis knife at her neck and warn her not to shout for help and lock the room’s door before relieving her of her necklace, a ring and a Nokia handphone before raping her. He said that the husband of the victim was sleeping in another room and woke up and began searching for his wife by calling her name and the suspect fled the scene and the victim was later found resulting in the police report being made.

Jaafar said that the suspect was caught with a similar knife and a Nokia handphone believed to belong to the victim while no identification document could be found on him. The suspect will be charged under Section 379/396 of the Penal Code for robbery and rape.

:Fajar club visit senior citizens

TAWAU, Senior citizens welcomed the visit made by the district’s Fajar Club today where they were entertained to goodies, lunch and a generous contribution by the club in the form of a check for the Hot Spring Senior Citizens’ Home.

Leading the team were Jacky Lim, the area manager and Nicholas Hong, the club’s manager with 20 other staffs visited the 34 residents there around 10.30am. Welcoming the team was the officer of the home Tawfiq Leong with staffs and residents.

Leong said that such a visit is greatly welcome by the home as it gives the residents a chance to be with the general public and enhance their activities in the effort to diversify the living style of senior citizens residing there.

The club donated a sum of RM2,001 in the form of a check to the home represented by Leong.

Hong said that the money was collected from members of the club and visitors who supported the contribution. `This is a yearly event for us and we did it without fail for years’, Hong added.

:SM Teknik celebrate Oscar night 2008

TAWAU, The SM Teknik recently launched their Oscar Night 2008 held at the school’s hall where the guest of honor was the director of Teknik and vocasional under the Ministry of Education Malaysia, Dato’ Haji Yusoff Bin Harun. Yusoff said in his speech that there is a need to upgrade all such schools in the country and SM Teknik had proven itself to have shown the changes. The event saw the launching of `Tender Loving Care’, `One Stop Merit’ and `Student Voice Council’ meant to help students to better excel in their education. Among the guest for the event was Datuk Liew Yun Fah and Datuk Chua Soon Bui who is the patron of the school.

:Dragon boat team pledge to do their best.

TAWAU, The district’s Teo Chew Association dragon boat team will represent the district to compete in the coming Kota Kinabalu International this coming weekend and pledge to be competitive in the race.

Its chairman, Patrick Chin said this at the flag handling over ceremony held at the Tawau Yatch Club where he hand over the flag to the team leader witnessed by ex Member of Parliament for Tawau Shim Paw Fatt who is also the first vice chairman of the association.

The team had won first place during the district’s dragon boat race in 2007 and took second place in the same event held this year.

`We qualified to compete and we will be competitive this time’, Chin stressed.

:Malaysia bound by international law on deportation of illegal immigrant

TAWAU, The country is under the international law thus deportation of illegal immigrant require planning to be taken based on existing international law.

Minister of Home Affair Dato’ Syed Hamid Albar said the country where the illegal came from must first acknowledge them before any deportation could take place.

`Should the country where they (illegal immigrant) came from do not acknowledge them, then we can’t deport them under the law’, he stated in a press conference held at the district’s police headquarter.

He added that this would create socio economy problem for the country resulting in the build up of illegal squatters and increase the rate of crime. Syed also said that it is therefore important for the country to have a concerted effort in tackling the matter.

At the same time, he said that arrest and deportation require more detainment centre and logistical and enforcement capabilities for such exercise to take place.

`The government is serious in achieving a zero illegal immigrant for the country but this is not possible due to the mobility of human from a country to another’, he cited.

Syed also said that the government is also keen in protecting the integrity of Malaysian in this matter and it is important that every Malaysian play their part to solve it. He said that there are some 2.1 million legal foreign workers in the country which include some 220,000 such workers in Sabah and this shows the attraction the country is to foreign workers.

Syed added that there is an estimate one million illegal immigrant in West Malaysia while Sabah has around 90,000 such foreigners.

`between 2001 to 2008, we deported 122,266 illegal immigrant while during the period between 2000 to 2008, we detained some 161,000 illegal’, he said.

In the effort to check on the illegal immigrant, five checkpoints has or will be build and improve costing some RM200,000 each where the places identified are Sipitang, Beaufort, Pensiangan to Kalabakan, Tawau to Kunak and Sandakan to Telupid. Earlier, Syed said that he saw three major issue which need to be address for the state namely illegal immigrant, illegal drug and contraband.

:Two drug pushers caught

TAWAU, Two men believed to be foreigners were detained separately in the district after they were found to have in their possession packages of suspected syabu drug yesterday.

A 28 man was apprehended at the vicinity of Pisang village at Hill Top yesterday for possessing 28 packages containing substances believed to be syabu around 1.40pm.

District police chief ACP Jaafar Bin Mohd. Yusof said that the suspect which carries no identification document was found with the packages estimated to weight around 0.7 gram in total. He said that the suspect will be charge under Section 12 of the Dangerous Drug Act.

In another arrest made yesterday, a 22 year old man was caught in having a total of 280 packages believed to contain syabu with an estimate weight of around 9.4 grams at around 2.30pm and his urine test revealed the suspect being a drug user. The suspect was held at the vicinity of a building at Kuhara road.

For the second case, Jaafar said that the suspect will be charged under Section 39A.

`We believe both suspect were small time pushers and we are investigating the cases’, he added.

:Love senior citizen: Muszaphar

TAWAU, Residents of the district’s Hot Spring Old Folk’s Home welcome Malaysian Astronaut who describe his visit to the home as part of his mission to inspire every level of society which include senior citizens.

Astronaut Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie Bin Sheikh Mustapha said his message to inspire does not goes only to youth but other level as every Malaysian deserve to be inspired by the space program and spur a stronger patriotism among them.

`It is important that the country produces more scientist and mathematician as well as aerospace engineer’, he said in his speech during a Parent’s Day celebration.

He also urges students attending the meet there to not only pursue their education but should also honor their parent.

Muszaphar who visited the district for the second time under the invitation from the ex Minister of Youth and Sport Sabah Brigadier General Datuk Liew Yun Fah.

Among those present were the wife of Liew, Datin Ah Nyuk Len who is the chairperson for the home’s visiting board, President of the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) Haji Salsidu Ibrahim and the home’s officer Taufiq Leong.

:YMM support three matters on youth

TAWAU, The Young Malaysian Movement (YMM) Sabah branch supported three motion raised by the Sabah state branch held at Shan Shui Golf and Country Resort here recently.

Its chairman Chiew Heng Hock said in a press conference that among the matter which received full approval is Sabah youth leaving the state and the need by the state government and YMM to look for solution to keep them in the state by providing sufficient work suited for their qualification. `This skilled and highly educated youth leaving the state meant that we will continue to have shortage of such manpower’, Chiew stated during the YMM yearly annual general meeting held during their dinner and carnival held there between July 7 to 8.

He added that they will put up suggestion on setting up of a special committee to include youth to counter the matter.

The second matter raised was the need for the government and private sectors to conduct more recycle of waste to protect the environment as well as reducing the present raw resources. The suggestion on this according to Chiew is to have a joint effort by the government, YMM, NGOs and schools to create a stronger awareness to the general public on the need to recycle waste.

The third matter was to simplify and approve more loans to qualified youth as this will ensure youth would benefit and the state gain to reap the harvest from the pool of youth which would be highly experienced in businesses at present and near future. Chiew cited that they would raised the matter with the state government on this.

:Dream became a reality: Muszaphar

Malaysian first astronaut Doctor Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie Bin Sheikh Mustapha became the first celebrity to penned his signature as remembrance to I-Sabah E-Media during his trip to Semporna. Muszaphar stayed for two days at Mabul island for rest and diving at the Sipadan Water Village Resort.

:Sheikh Muszaphar visit Semporna

SEMPORNA, The arrival of Malaysia sole Astronaut Dr. Sheikh Muzaphar Shukor Al Masrie Bin Sheikh Mustapha never fail to trill anyone and the district is not exempted from it. Muzaphar, accompanied by Brigadier General Datuk Liew Yun Fah made the visit and met with Malaysian there on the morning of July 7, 2008. Also accompanying Muzaphar were Datin Ah Nyuk Len (wife of Liew) and Datuk Jimmy Pang, Semporna district police chief DSP Azim Khan and commanding officer of the Assault Boat Company, Royal Malaysian Navy base at Azumi camp. Among those playing host to the national hero was Datuk Seri Panglima Gan Sau Wah.

:Man jailed for killing eight year old boy over failed relationship

TAWAU, A man was sentenced to fifteen years jail term after he was found guilty of killing an 8 year old boy over a failed love affair. Magistrate Equsra Mohd. Ali meted out the judgement after the prosecuting site presented their case facts yesterday. Ben Jalad, 22, was arrested on August 14, 2006 at Sibuan island, Semporna.

Ben was found guilty to the offence of killing one Mohd. Bakri Karim, 8, at Ibak village under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code. Habebah said that Ben had broken his relationship with the aunt of the deceased and later threatened to kill all the family members.

The court was told this resulted in the accused taking victim to the site.

:Fuel price hike a shock to public

TAWAU, The announcement over petrol price increase brought vehicles lining up at petrol stations in the district and rationing was later introduced to every vehicle nearing midnight.

The increase brought responses on the hike in particular medium and low income group. Expressing his dismay over the price of petrol up to RM2.70 per liter, a 53 year old taxi driver met at a petrol station cited that it would be much harder to earn a living as the price jumped from RM1.92 to RM2.70 on petrol while the price of diesel stood at RM2.58 today compared to previous price of RM1.58 per liter.

`The cost of living is getting higher and we cannot survive at this rate’, he stated. Another taxi driver also lining up to fill up his tank echoed the same worries citing that the hike in fuel cost would not benefit them. The increase of around 40 percent on the price brought much anticipation on increase of prices on other goods.

:Robbers robbed two passengers on a bus and fled

TAWAU, A group of three robbers robbed an old lady and later robbed a young lad on the same bus before making their escape before their crime was detected. Acting district Police Chief Supt. Haji Ramli Ali Mat said that the group boarded the bus bound for the township from Ranggu at around noon time on June 3. `The robbers believed to be in their teens surround the lady in her fifties and one of them pointed a knife on her’, he added.

Ramli said that the victim was ordered to hand over her handbag containing cards of various kind and cash RM140. The robbers then went up to a youth who just got onto the bus and again robbed him by taking his handphone before fleeing from the bus around the vicinity of mile 3 Apas road.

Ramli however said that the robbers could not be the members of a gang called `3 Junction gang’ and investigation is ongoing.