: No compromise when it comes to security: Syed Zahiruddin

TAWAU, The security of the country should not be compromised by any matter and the upgrading of the district KD Sri Tawau is no exception in any ways as the country need to be prepared despite peace time.

The recent conclusion of the OSTEX East 3/08 naval training has proven the capability of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in protecting the coast of Sabah, Sarawak and Federal Territory of Labuan from any possible threat involving around 800 officers and personnel.

Speaking during a press conference held at KD Sri Tawau, First Admiral Syed Zahiruddin Putra bin Syed Osman, the Panglima for Wilayah Laut 2, said all equipment used during the training which include seven warships and one tow ship went without any breakdown or facing difficulties thus proving the ability of the force in executing their duties.

`As stated, we include a training scenario on the recent hijacking case which occurred at Somalia and this is enhancing our ability’, he stated.

He said the Wilayah Laut 2 now has some seventeen ships, two helicopters and a dozen combat boats apart from the various support equipment and for the first time next year, the force will also obtain two submarines to compliment the existing equipment.

He also said the base defend scenarios which include the scene on the Somalia’s incident is aim at preventing intrusion and sabotage efforts.

He also said that KD Sri Tawau will become the third largest naval base in the state after Sepanggar and Sandakan naval base after upgrade which will begin to take place next year and will be expected to be completed in two years time.

Caption: Syed Zahiruddin (right) during the press conference with KD Sri Tawau commanding officer Lieutenant commander Wan Alias bin Wan Mamat.

: Navy conduct medical health check at Pasir Putih Baru

TAWAU, The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) will close its last training exercise for the East Coast of Sabah under the theme `OSTEX East 3/08’ which is the largest and involved training to prevent similar incident taking place in Somalia where a ship hijacking took place.

The last training exercise for 2008 under this theme involves 7 warships and a single tug ship took on new training scenario which was the hijacking scenario to test the readiness of the naval force in the training which began on November 3.

First Admiral Syed Zahiruddin Putra bin Syed Osman who is the chief of the Wilayah Laut 2 stated the incident scenario which took place in Somali was taking into account as part of the effort to boost the capability of the force.

Syed Zahiruddin was in the district to close the training event on November 8 to be held at the ground of the district naval base KD Sri Tawau said the training would again show the readiness of the force in protecting the sea coast of Sabah and Sarawak with the available equipment.

At the same time, he also said the district naval base will be rebuild beginning next year at an undisclosed amount and is estimated to take two years for its’ completion.

Syed Zahiruddin added the newly completed buildings of the naval force is expected to compliment logistic and technical supports for the RMN forces in Sabah apart from providing training ground to the force’s reserve.

He is in the district to today to observe the Navy’s health check for villagers at Pasir Putih Baru village where the free service including providing free medicines catered for rural folks.


Caption: Syed Zahiruddin (standing in white naval uniform) looking at the service rendered.

: Police seek man over cheating cases

TAWAU: Two individuals fell for a trick after they were promised to have whatever money they gave will be doubled in yet another con job where a con man involved believed to have pocket in a sum of RM30 thousands from the two victims.

District police chief ACP Jaafar Mohd. Yussof in a press conference said that the duo made their respective police report on October 18, 2008, upon finding that their money indeed doubled in the form of hell’s money used in Chinese ritual.

He said the first victim, a Bugis lady aged 43 went to see the so called magic man in a hotel room on February 12, 2008 around 3.05pm and handed over RM25,000 and was asked to go outside the room until called upon by the suspect. `The suspect was later called in and was handed a school bag and was instructed to go home and not to open the bag until four days later or the magic will turn harmful’, he explained.

The victim followed the instruction and opened the bag four days later only to find the hell’s money in bundles. The second victim, a Bugis man aged 50 fell for the same scam when he visited the suspect on February 13, 2008 and again was asked to conduct the same course of action where he handed over RM5,000 thousand around 3.00pm.

He stated that there is possible other victims being con by the same suspect and urges them to report the matter to police where they can contact the commercial crime department by calling 089-75222.

The identity of the suspect was released to the press in the attempt to seek help from the general public in capturing him. Jaafar said that the suspect is known as Darick Mosipil @ Alex with identity card number 64126-12-5323 and believed him to be a Kadazan man.

PIX SHOWS THE MAN SEEK BY POLICE.

: Assistant Minister open house

TAWAU, Despite leaving the fold of the Barisan Nasional (BN), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) member of Parliament for the district Datuk Chua Soon Bui and entourage continue their visit to homes of BN leaders in the usual traditional manner.

Chua visited the open house event organized by the Assistant Minister of Finance Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan who is also the State Assemblyman for Apas where thousands of guests attended the open house held on the 4th October, 2008 at Banyan Drive. She also did not fail to visit the home of Datuk Hamisa Samad, the State Assemblywoman for Tanjung Batu, Datuk Syed Abbas Syed Ali, the State Assemblyman for Balung.

`Difference in political stand does not mean we can’t practice our tradition of visiting open houses as we are all Malaysian’, she stated.

Caption: Chua with other distinguish guests having a photo taken with host Tawfiq. Pic 2

: Speedy action led to recovery of missing two teenagers

TAWAU, A quick and determined effort by friends of the former Minister of Youth and Sport Sabah had resulted in the safe return of two underage youth in good health after they were found missing for the past three days and two nights.

The hunt began when the ex-Minister Brigadier General Datuk Liew Yun Fah and close friend Dato’ Yong Chi Fui took the initiative with close collaboration with police found the one boy aged 15 and a girl aged 12 at a secluded place apparently fleeing their homes.

`Liew’s effort had brought about the recovery of the two youth and they had been returned to their families safe and sound’, Yong said after the case came to an happy ending.

Liew was in the state capital when he received the call for help two days after the youth were found missing and had initiated a number of moves resulting in the search for the two youth.

Yong added that it was a speedy and concise moves by them led to the quick result. He also urges parents to play a more productive role in knowing their respective children and to prevent such a case from taking place again. `We don’t know yet why both the youth fled their homes but still parents need to be aware of their needs and prevent such thing from happening’, he explained later.

At the same time, Yong who took part in the search with another friend of Liew, Chen Fen Kyun and others seek out friends of the two youths to obtain their possible whereabout. He added that friends of the duo had given their fullest co-operation despite being called upon during early morning of the third day.

`We wish to apologize to them and thank them for their information leading to the recovery of the two children’, he added. Yong said this after they began their search to friends of the duo on the second evening until 4.00 am waking up their friends to obtain clues and moving on to seek the next information.

Yong and Chen continued their effort early in the morning on the next day after obtaining more information of the possible whereabout of the duo and they were finally found around 1.30pm.


Caption: Yong (right) and Chen with others at the house of a friend of the missing boy seeking information at 3.10am. pic 1

: Minister of Youth and Sport Sabah on a Raya visit

TAWAU: Minister of Youth and Sport Sabah YB Peter Pang En Yin paid a visit to the district which was once his home and visited a number of open houses.

Pang visited Assistant Minister of Finance for the state and Apas State Assemblyman, Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan, Datuk Syed Abbas Syed Ali, the State Assemblyman for Balung, Datuk Hamisa Samad, the State Assemblyman for Tanjung Batu and Merotai State Assemblyman YB Pang Nyuk Ming.

Earlier during his participation of a Raya open house held at the district sport complex, he said such celebration constantly mark yet another unique opportunity for Malaysian to come together and enhance unity.

PICTURE SHOWS PANG AND TAWFIQ WITH OTHER HOSTS AND GUESTS AT THE EVENT.

: PBS continue to promote unity: Fung

TAWAU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will continue to promote unity among the various races in the country in particular Sabah.

Division chairman for PBS Sri Tanjung, Fung Len Fui who led the visiting group said PBS will continue to remain relevant for the sake of Sabahan despite the changing political scenario seen today.

He added that unity among the races in the country must continue to be promoted as it is part of the essence which built Malaysia into a well known country seen by the world. `Our party leader and us all will continue to remain strong for Sabahan’, he added during one of such visit.

Among the home visited during the Raya day celebration was the resident of Reilly Kho who is a member of the party.

PICTURE SHOWS FUNG WITH OTHERS INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SABAH PROGRESSIVE PARTY (SAPP) AND KHO AND FAMILY.

: Hard core poor asked to seek government's help

TAWAU: Those living in the urban area in need of assistance should the relevant authorities in making their plight known and qualify them to obtain assistance from the various government programs initiated to help them.

Member of Parliament for Tawau, Datuk Chua Soon Bui said the government’s programs has many small scale programs set to assist unfortunate families having to face hard times.

`Those in need of help can register themselves at my office at Takada complex and they could obtain help if they are qualified’, she stated during the breaking of fast held at Ranggu village recently.

Chua added that small scale programs such as provision of seedlings and livestock to help unfortunate families to build up their economy apart from other kind of assistance.


She also hailed the effort by the officer tasked with handling the program, Surianah Salleh who is attached to the district municipal council for her zeal and determination in helping those in need.

`So far around 400 families received assistance in the form of payment to settle their home payment or children’s school fees and this assistance is for all Malaysian regardless of race in the district.

Touching on the breaking of fast event help by Muslim, Chua said that such event is an opportunity for government leaders to meet with community at grassroot level and receive input on the problems faced by them.

She said that government leaders including government departments’ chiefs could use such an event or other celebration practiced in the country such as Chinese New Year or Christmas to meet with communities practicing different religion to listen to their problem.

Chua also said the event was the first held at the village and it would be a yearly event for her as part of her effort to fulfill her pledge made during the election campaign.

She also said the co-existence between the various races in the country through practicing the need to upheld peace and respect each others’ belief and culture is essential for the country and its’ prosperity. `We have been practicing such unity since independent and let us keep this culture for the sake of our future generation’, Chua added.


PICTURE SHOWS CHUA PRESENTING A PACKAGE TO A QUALIFIED RECIPIENT.

: Regiment 516 Territorial Army open house

TAWAU: Members of the Territorial Army are told to continue their commitment in safekeeping the peace of the country with diligent despite being far from family members during festive season as their effort is lauded.

Brigadier General Datuk Liew Yun Fah, the commanding officer of the 516th Territorial Army said that their commitment to maintain peace through their work shows the seriousness of their attitude in this respect.

`Your sincerity and diligent in performing your duties could not be compared’, he stated this during the Regiment’s 516th Open house event held on the first day of Raya at the camp at North road.

In his opening speech, Liew also said that the their commitment had brought the respect of Malaysian to the regiment and this need to be continued regardless of place and time.

Liew added that trainers and those involved in training new volunteers for the regiment had resulted in some of the volunteers being drafted into the regular army establishment for postings and this is something which the regiment could be proud of.

`This regiment had achieved the stage and excellence as laid out by our top military leaders’, he added.

Also conducted during the event was the presentation of Raya cakes to members who could not be home for the holiday especially those from West Malaysia.



PICTURE SHOWING LIEW WITH SOME OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE OPEN HOUSE.

: Minister held breaking of fast with youth representatives

TAWAU: Minister of Youth and Sport Sabah YB Peter Pang En Yin hosted a breaking of fast at the hostel of the district sport complex yesterday.

In his opening speech, Pang said that the event a golden opportunity for his ministry to get to know better youth in the district as well as to ensure that programs initiated by the government could reach the targeted youth.

At the same time, he also urges youth to continue to maintain a high degree of discipline in their daily life so that they could be well prepared to become leaders of the country in the very near future.

Pang also handed out grand to two registered youth associations and gave clothing packages to 20 youth associations.

Among those present Datu Rosmadi bin Datu Sulai, the Deputy Permanent Secretary 1 of the Ministry, Jamil Jilap, officer of the Ministry in Tawau and other guests.


PICTURE SHOWS PANG PRESENTING A GRAND TO A REPRESENTATIVE OF A YOUTH ASSOCATION.