SEPUPOK is also known as Old Niah Town. Many people are often confused by its two names and unique history.
During the Brooke rule and the British colonial administration,
Sepupok was the gateway to the Niah Caves and therefore, the precious
birds’ nests as well.
Originally, it was a 12-woodenshop Chinese bazaar set up in the early
20th century and surrounded by Iban longhouses, Penan settlements and
Kedayan fishing villages.
Until very recently, people travelled to the Niah Caves by longboat
along the Niah River in the absence of no roads between Miri and Old
Niah or Sepupok.
(From third right) Yii, Ting, Lee,
Andrew, Nelly, Solomon and other visitors having group photo during
the Christmas Open House.
MIRI: Miri City particularly the Senadin constituency has grown by
leaps and bounds and is gearing itself well for more development
including in the tourism industry which is expected to be the niche
industry in 2017.
Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety Datuk
Lee Kim Shin said in terms of visitors coming to Miri through Sungai
Tujuh Border Post alone the number this year had increased by one
million visitors from last year.
IN the past three or four years, much attention has been focused on
the Kedayans, an ethnic group, found mainly on the sea coast between
Miri and Bintulu.
Their ancestors, being fisherfolk, were also well-known for making of belacan (shrimp paste) and salted fish.
Today, their villages are progressing fast with good roads and other infrastructures.
Much has also been planned for their future. Social and economic
transformation can be seen as one drives from Kampongs Bakam to Sungai
Peliau.
Indeed, many Mirians have been heading to these Kedayan kampongs to buy fish, camp out and even jungle-trek.
The toilet is out of order and the path
is covered in thick vegetation.
MIRI: The deteriorating condition of Tanjong Lobang Recreational
Park, notably its broken toilets and worn-out facilities, has angered
members of the public.
A resident, who only wanted to be identified as Chin, called up to complain about the matter.
“I know that after the park was reopened, it was put under the
management of a private company. However, I believe that the local city
council should advise the company on proper maintenance and the like so
that the place could continue to serve as a great recreational park for
the public,” he said over the phone yesterday.
The toilet is out of order and the path
is covered in thick vegetation.
Chin said he went to Tanjong Lobang with his family during the
Christmas holiday, and saw that the basic facilities such as public
toilets were in deplorable condition.
“When we went there to ease ourselves, we saw a notice that says
‘Toilet at Food Bazaar’. We were instructed to go to the toilet at the
far end of the park, which is about five to eight-minute walk away.”
Chin said the city council should not just leave it solely to the
private company to do whatever it wanted or did not want to do.
The council should also check the place and see that the company was complying with the rules and regulations.
MIRI: The Sungai Tujoh Immigration checkpoint
will be opening almost all counters for people entering or leaving this
city every weekend until the Chinese New Year celebration in January.
According to state Immigration Department deputy director Nor Azizah
Mohamad, the move is meant to accommodate the heavy traffic of visitors
passing the checkpoint during this period.
This year’s latest record shows an increase of almost one million
people entering and leaving Miri to 3,139,157, versus 2,28,1478
registered last year.
KUCHING: Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) is taking the
initiative to help food truck and food cart operators by issuing a
Master Licence to the Persatuan Peniaga dan Penjaja Bergerak Bumiputera
Sarawak and by designating business space for the operators.
Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said DBKU is the
first council in the state to allow food truck businesses to operate in
its area, as part of efforts to make the city more vibrant and to
improve the local economy.
“Food truck businesses are gaining popularity, and in order to keep
abreast with the development, we need to ensure that the industry is
regulated for the benefit of the operators and the community.
MIRI: Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri, is
holding Antique Collections Exhibition in collaboration with several
members of the Culture Arts and Antiques Collector Miri.
According to the library’s public relations officer Sofina Tan, the
three-month long exhibition on the ground floor foyer of the library has
attracted hundreds of visitors since it opened in early November.
The collectors are Jaludin Amat, Lee Zee Tack, Liew Nyim Joon, Lau
Hieng Bing, Rossna Mutang, Seldinna Jaludin, Stella Lee Da Jing, Julia
Pengiran and Lau Shi Chew.
BAU: Efforts are now being made to transform Dorod Orad or Mount Orad into the latest tourism spot in Bau.
To facilitate this, the Mount Orad management committee recently held
a meeting with Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry permanent secretary
Datu Ik Pahon to strategise their next move.
The committee is headed by Penghulu Gani Johnek and assisted by Kpg
Grogo village chief Gabriel Bain. Other exco members are representatives
from nearby villages such as Sibuluh and Opar.
Fatimah (front, fifth right) and Ting
(standing left at door) and others pose in front of the container
home. Also seen is Sarawak Islamic Education Service Bureau director
Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah (standing right at door).
KUCHING: An old shipping container has been transformed into a
compact house for a poor family
who has been living in very
unsatisfactory condition for over a decade at Kampung Buntal near here.
The KitKotak unit, funded by Elica Sdn Bhd as part of its corporate
social responsibility (CSR), is the first in Sarawak that aims to
provide affordable accommodation for the poor.
“Are you a kaya addict?” asked a friend at the supermarket.
I looked at the trolley she was pushing and noticed a few brands of kaya products in it.
Then she said: “I’m going to make some kaya puffs for a church meeting this week.”
Was this a surprise? Not really. As I remember, this friend of mine
normally makes a lot of kaya snacks — buns, puffs, serimukua and pulut
panggang (served with kaya).
Few things surprise me but admittedly, being spurred to a
kaya-searching adventure in Miri by the chance meeting with this
particular friend at the supermarket had taken me somewhat aback.
Kaya-hunting? Sounds like a quaint idea but that was what a friend and I did recently — with sweet results.
(Standing second row – from eight
left) Dr Philip, Gugkang, Dr Roland and Pearl (standing first row –
fourth left) and the workshop participants and facilitators.
MIRI: The Kelabits, an ethnic minority group in Sarawak, with a
population of some 6,000 are going all out to preserve and nurture their
rich cultural heritage and traditions.
Among their latest effort through the initiative of Rurum Kelabit
Sarawak (RKS) is conducting a workshop on Kelabit dances (Arang) and
beads (Nu’ uk Ba’o)-making.
MIRI: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has
issued a notice that part of Piasau Nature Reserve covering the site of
the former Tenby International School building has been cordoned off.
It is temporarily closed to the public with immediate effect to
enable renovation and other construction works to be carried out for a
new Visitors Centre and Office Complex.
MIRI: Sarawak United People’s Party (Piasau branch) is looking to boost the food truck business here.
According to the party’s secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting,
there had been a significant growth in the number of food trucks in
cities and major towns in Sarawak of late.
“This is something new here compared to Peninsular Malaysia,
particularly Kuala Lumpur. The trend is however picking up very fast
here. It’s an exciting and refreshing start-up business model initiated
by the creativity of our young entrepreneurs.”
（本报美里15日讯）由美里市政局所推出的美里城市手机应用程序（MIRI CITY APPS）在经过3个月的试跑阶段后，于今日正式进行推展礼，为民众提供有关美里的旅游及活动等详尽资讯，本市餐饮营业者也被鼓励在手机应用程序上推荐美食。
市长俞小珊在推展礼上表示，在有关手机应用程序上，民众可以获得非常全面的资讯，其中包括最新新闻、酒店和住宿、逛街的去处、旅游热点、餐饮美食、促销活动、网上电台、网上缴付泊车费及罚单，以及通讯录等。
A Penan woman weaving a rattan strap at her booth
while waiting for customers.
MIRI: Long Bedian was humming with lively activities last weekend as
over 3,000 visitors from various longhouses and ethnic groups flocked
there for the 3rd Highland Folk Music and Dance Festival from Dec 9-11.
KUCHING: The City North Commission (DBKU)
here revealed in a statement yesterday that 1.2 million compound notices
valued at about RM8 million for parking offenders remain unpaid as of
October this year.
Most of the unpaid compounds were parking offences for over parking
and parking without displaying coupon and several offenders have
outstanding parking compounds amounting to RM15,000.
DBKU is taking this matter seriously and advised the offenders to pay all their outstanding compounds or face prosecution.
Dennis (seated centre) has a group
photo taken with HFMDF committee members.
MIRI: Over 3,000 visitors including from outside the state are
expected to throng Long Bedian in Apoh, Baram for this year’s Highland
Folk Music and Dance Festival (HFMDF) from Dec 9-11.
It will coincide with the first anniversary of Telang Usan’s elevation to a district and Long Bedian to a sub-district.
SARAWAK is targeting five million visitor arrivals and RM10.68 billion in tourism receipt next year.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg
said the state received 3,785,175 (3.79 million) visitors from January
to October this year, an increase of 1.02 per cent from 3,746,933 (3.75
million) in the same period last year.
“It has generated an estimated tourism receipt of RM7.5 billion,” he
said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative
Assembly sitting yesterday.
MIRI: Visitors to Tusan beach have called on the authorities
concerned to provide better facilities as the area is becoming
increasingly popular.
May Ng, 27, a tourist from Kuala Lumpur said she heard a lot about Tusan beach and the Blue Tears phenomenon from her friends.
Dr Penguang (centre) speaking during the press conference while Jinep (left) and Rolland look on. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Improvement works on Miri-Marudi road has commenced and will
be completed by May 2019, disclosed Assistant Minister for Local
Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil.
According to him, the 44km road project, which is undertaken by CMS
Roads Sdn Bhd, will be tar-sealed, widened and will have proper drainage
particularly in low-lying areas.
“It will be a fully tar-sealed road but it won’t be of R1 standard.
It is R1 modified standard with some modification due to the budget
allocation.
Ling showing the WeEat app now
available on Playstore and AppStore.
KOTA KINABALU: Foodies rejoice as there is a new mobile app in town that serves to cater to your eating-out needs.
There may already be more than a handful of similar apps, but this
newly-launched app is developed by East Malaysians to encompass eateries
specifically in Sabah and Sarawak.
Developed by Dexus AP Marketing, WeEat is an app that helps users —
or in this case, food hunters, to locate restaurants, coffee shops,
cafes and the likes, across East Malaysia.
“The difference between our app and other food hunt is that it
provides information to users on where to find the food they are looking
for, with exact location accuracy,” said its managing director, SL
Ling.
The app is linked to other popular user apps such as giant location
finder Google Maps, and app-based ride-hailing services, Uber and Grab.
Rosey (right), with Sarkawi on her
right, presents a medal to the champion of the boat race.
MIRI: The people from villages in and around Bekenu should harness
the abundant culture, adventure and nature (CAN) prospects from their
surroundings to be turned into good tourism products.
Assistant Minister for Solidarity Rosey Yunus said the Bekenu folk
were blessed with a rich culture and also offerings from Mother Nature.
MIRI: Tusan beach – a beautiful stretch of white sand with cliff and
rock formations located about an hour’s drive from here – is a popular
getaway spot for outdoor picnics and family outings during the weekend.
Local and foreign visitors and beachgoers from as far away as Kuching
and Brunei drive out all the way there to witness the beautiful rock
formations and watch the evening sunset.
According to a foreign visitor, Roselyn Asentista Galeon, the beach
is very beautiful, attracting not only local tourists but also
foreigners who like to see the natural beauty of the sand, rocks, sunset
and blue seascape.
KUCHING: Kuching-based property developer Bobby Ting is creating a
foundation to deliver a unique housing solution to low-income families.
“I decided to find a way of creating a CSR (corporate social
responsibility) programme for Elica, which has a tangible and practical
outcome for needy people,” said Ting.
A promotional banner of the project team members: Lee, Ting and
Mackay.
Sapuan signs the plaque as a symbolic
gesture to launch Kuala Baram Wetland as a bird conservation area.
Musa is at second left, front row.
MIRI: Sarawak Forest Department wants to make Kuala Baram Wetland a bird conservation area for this city.
Its director Sapuan Ahmad said this is because the wetland is home to migratory birds from the northern atmosphere.
Speaking at a press conference here after chairing a meeting on the
Kuala Baram Wetland at Mega Hotel yesterday, Sapuan said to-date, a
total of 132 migratory bird species have been sighted and recorded by a
team of bird watchers from Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) Miri branch at
the site including the world’s very rare bird species – Chinese Tern –
which could hardly be found in other areas in the world.
MIRI: Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) Miri
suggests the state government get flyways recognition for the route of
migratory birds in the city.
Its chairman, Musa Musbah, said with this recognition, people would
look at Kuala Baram Wetland seriously as a conservation area for
migratory birds.
“People will then put in due effort to develop Kuala Baram Wetland as
a nature reserve for eco-tourism purposes,” he told reporters after
attending a meeting on Kuala Baram Wetland–Bird Conservation Area here
yesterday.
“We can then provide facilities such as homestay, resort, and a proper place for bird watching.”
Musa said the society had thus far documented 132 migratory bird species at the wetland.
“Kuala Baram Wetland is a haven for winter migrating birds from
Australia, and the whole world is watching us. That is why Sarawak
Forestry Department is serious to make the wetland a bird conservation
area.”
He added it was sad the wetland area had been alienated to the private sector for 20 years already.
Most of the areas, he added, have already been allocated for development activities.
“There are some areas which have yet to be developed. These are the
potential areas that we will look into as protected wetland area for
bird conservation.”
Thus, the society will support Sarawak Forestry Department on its initiative.
Note: Newspaper cut from The Borneo Post who has the copy right for the above article.
KUCHING: Loagan Bunut National Park has reopened its doors to overnight visitors with immediate effect.
In a press statement yesterday, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC)
said the park was off limits to overnight visitors since last Oct 4 due
to water supply problems caused by the dry spell.
Now that the dry season is over, the park’s operation has returned to
normalcy, including its hospitality services and accommodation.
Visitors who wish to stay overnight at the park can make online
reservations through http://ebooking.com.my. Alternatively, call Loagan
Bunut National Park at 019-8610994 or the national park booking office
(Miri Office) at 085-434184/ 435384, 085-431975 (Fax).
Note: Newspaper cut from The Borneo Post who has the copy right for the above article.
Charles pushes the longboat with Aping on board at Sungai Long Banga
Charles and Tracy having their photo taken with the Lang Tajit Waterfall as their background.
Charles and Tracy having their photo taken with the Lang Tajit Water as their background.
Charles and Tracy having their photo taken with the Lang Tajit Waterfall as their background.
Charles and Tracy having their photo taken with the Lang Tajit Waterfall as their background.
(From Left) Charles, Aping, Tracy and the rest of the MCC team enjoy their breakfast at Lang Tajit Waterfall
MARUDI: The Long Banga in the remote Upper Baram has a great potential to become one of the state’s ‘natural tourism treasures’.
This was highlighted by government pensioner, Charlie Tai Udau, who
was the guide for a familiarisation visit by Councillor Aping Trang and
her team from Miri City Council (MCC) to a number of interesting sites
in and around the area.
According to Charlie – a Saban ethnic group member who previously
served under the Marudi Agriculture Department – his home village has
many natural wonders that have yet to be seen and experienced by
tourists, especially those who are into eco-tourism.
Badlisham delivering his lecture on his challenges and experiences as a CEO yesterday.
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Miri Airport is ready for the greater influx of
Chinese tourists expected to arrive in the state following the
implementation of special passes which was announced by the state
government recently.
According to Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) chief executive
officer Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, the airport is prepared to receive the
visitors but flight times and types of aircraft needed to be taken into
account.
“Both Miri and Sibu airports now can receive slightly wider body
aircraft and we understand Sarawak’s priority to increase the number of
tourists coming to the state,” he said.
MIRI: The teams from SMK Luak, SMK St Joseph and SMK Merbau are the
participants from here who are representing the state at the ‘Young
Innovate Malaysia 2016’ in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and today – one of the
events run during the annual Kuala Lumpur Engineering Science Fair
(KLESF).
Young Innovate Malaysia is a national-level science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based design competition open to
students of secondary schools across the country. Its primary objective
is to inspire students’ passion in STEM, while developing their living
skills and exposing them to open-sourced hardware and software.
MIRI: Miri and Sarawak stand to benefit from
the upcoming Internet movie ‘Blue Tears’ which will start filming on
location here next month.
As at press-time, more than 100 local talents turned up for the audition from 8am to 5pm at Meritz Hotel here yesterday.
Shooting for the movie by a production house from China Global Movies
is expected to start on Nov 26 at various locations, namely Tusan Beach
including Niah Caves and Gunung Mulu National Park here.
<br>
Anticipating that the movie will give bigger exposure to Miri and
Sarawak as a tourist and filming destination, Assistant Minister of
Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who made a brief stop during the audition,
said: “In Mainland China, there are more than 650 million Internet users
– and this does not include Chinese expatriates living overseas
including this country – who subscribe to the website.
The movie is expected to be distributed to cinemas in China and in cinemas with distribution rights in some countries.
Also present at the audition was the movie director Chu Tan. Chu was
impressed with good response from local talents who turned up for the
audition for supporting roles in the film which is the first China movie
in the love genre to be shot in in Miri.
Anthony Joseph,
reporters@theborneopost.com
Note: Newspaper cut from The Borneo Post who has the copy right for the above article.
MIRI: The casting audition for the highly-anticipated, first-ever
Malaysia–China jointly-produced movie ‘Blue Tears’ will be conducted
tomorrow (Oct 30) at Miri Marriott Hotel, running from 9am to 5pm.
The session is open for all local acting talents to be featured on
the online movie, of which the shooting will commence next month.
According to film director Zhu Dan, his side looks forward to having
local actors and actresses in the production, as the movie will also be
featuring the beautiful scenes across this city especially at places of
attractions.
“We are looking forward to not only shooting these beautiful places,
but also its beautiful people,” Zhu said at a press conference on ‘Blue
Tears’ here yesterday, which also coincided with the signing of an
agreement between the Malaysian and Chinese stakeholders of Global China
Film.
Adding on, Zhu highlighted the online movie as the latest Internet
trend, regarding it as a huge opportunity in that it capitalised on
online viewership platform that was significantly larger than the
traditional media of television and cinemas.
“With a capital investment of 500,000 to four million Chinese
renminbi (around RM310,000 to RM2.5 million), production costs are much
lower with shorter film processing (time) and more importantly, with
such interesting storyline, we are eyeing for a huge viewership of 650
million Internet users especially those in China,” he said.
China’s movie stars Ringo Yu and Sun Wei are set to play the leading roles.
Yu is already a big name in the Chinese movie industry, popularly
known for his roles in Jackie Chan’s ‘New Police Story’ and the 2010
remake of ‘Karate Kid’, whilst singer-actor Sun Wei has been featured in
five major television drama series on Beijing’s TV Channel Broadcast.
The 100-minute ‘Blue Tears’ tells a story of a young man, Ling Fu
Sheng (Sun Wei) who arrived on the shores of Miri and fell in love with a
local girl, Katrina.
However, Katrina’s parents vehemently objected to their relationship,
causing the frustrated Ling to return to China and end up marrying
someone else.
Years went by after that and one day, an ageing Ling (Ringo Yu) told
his grandson that he had never really forgotten his lovely Katrina. This
prompted Ling’s grandson to embark on a journey to Miri of which he was
determined to find Katrina – his grandfather’s first love.
History seemed to repeat itself as Ling’s grandson, in his mission to
find Katrina, met a local girl whom he fell in love with eventually.
‘Blue Tears’ is a joint venture between China–Malaysia Universal
Television Company of Malaysia and Global Business International Group
Ltd (China).
It is set for release between March and April next year via China’s major online movie sites.
The press conference yesterday was also attended by Assistant
Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Piasau assemblyman Datuk
Sebastian Ting, Global China Film (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd chairman Oliver
Yong Tiing Hieng, Global Business Club (China) president Chen Yu He,
Miri Housing Group of Companies executive chairman Datuk Lau Siu Wai and
key investors.
The agreement was signed by Yong and Chen in representing the respective stakeholders from Malaysia and China.
Cindy Lai,
reporters@theborneopost.com
*Note:
I added to this site with the reason of keeping the information like
newspaper cut. This news is from The Borneo Post ( www,theborneopost.com
) who carried the copy right. Thanks
Food
trucks are staunchily going ahead with their businesses, remaining
undeterred by the lack of help of legislative push in the state while
encouraged by local food enthusiasts critical of a new business model in
town.
While
there are still no specific licenses that can be applied for the
operation of a food truck in Kuching, this has not stopped entrepreneurs
from going forth and making a name for themselves in the local F&B
scene.
Persatuan
Penjaja dan Peniaga Bergerak Sarawak (PPPBS) president Kelvin Chong
revealed to BizHive Weekly that the association had recently paid a
visit to a local government minister on this matter, in addition to
having sent proposals to the council to keep pushing for the matter.
On
the feeback given thus far from authorities, Chong said they are in the
midst of proposing a better system for food truck operators in the
state.
MIRI: Scheduled for completion end of next year, community-oriented Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR) is poised to consolidate the image of Miri City in global tourism and environmental conservation.
According to Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), currently works are being carried out on two main components of the project – site restoration and Visitor Centre Complex.
The launch of the ‘Bring Back the Rainforest’ (BBtRF) Project on Sept 11 this year by the Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, marked a new era in site restoration of PNR – landscape restoration and conservation.
“BBtRF Project is to rehabilitate degraded forest areas in PNR, formerly called Piasau Camp, a residential area for Shell staff since 1950s.
“The target is to bring back the forest and hopefully within 20 to 30 years this forest will become a rainforest,” said SFC, the government agency managing the nature reserve.
Guests posing in front of the fort
during the Garden Tea Party with FoSM. — Photos by Georgette Tan
KUCHING: Friends of Sarawak Museum (FoSM) is eager to welcome more
willing hands and creative minds to help out with their upcoming
heritage projects.
FoSM President Rebecca D’Cruz said that in
January next year, they would launch their Three-Year Strategic Plan and
to continue their work of the last four years, which consisted, among
others, of organising public talks and events.
Abang Johari (centre) looks on as Jason
and Ipoi exchange mementos at the opening of the Brooke Gallery at
Fort Margherita opposite the Kuching Waterfront. — Photo by Jeffrey
Mostapha
KUCHING: The iconic Fort Margherita, which now has been turned into
Brooke Gallery, opened its doors to the public yesterday after it was
officiated by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
A
collaboration between the State Museum Department, Tourism Cultural and
Heritage Sarawak and the Brooke Trust, the gallery showcases belongings
from the Brooke family and artefacts during their time as the White
Rajah.
Three main areas of research, conducted
by Curtin University in Baram and the sea offshore Miri. — Photos
by Curtin Sarawak and Cecilia Sman
MIRI: Curtin University is actively conducting research in the Baram
Region to ascertain the status and the underlying mechanisms operating
within the ecosystem.
The research project titled Curtin Baram
Project is an integrated series of studies, covering some 24,000 square
kilometres of the Baram region from the highlands to the Miri-Sibuti
Coral Reefs National Park (MSCRNP) offshore Miri.
A crane lowers an artificial reef ball
into the sea.
The 12,200ha coral reef complex to get 1,750 artificial ‘ultra’ reef balls over 5 years
MIRI:
The RM8 million Petronas Eco-Marine Conservation Project aims to place
1,750 artificial ‘ultra’ reef balls in stages at the 12,200ha
Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef Complex over the next five years.
Yesterday,
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and Petronas placed the first 170 of
these artificial modules from this initiative in the area.
