Sepupok – a unique history

The Niah River flowing towards the Niah Caves.

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.

Lee acknowledges tremendous growth in Miri this year

(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.

Kampong Sungai Peliau — a hidden gem

The shallow rivermouth of Sungai Peliau.

A typical kampung sundry shop-cum-home.

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.

Visitors complain of deplorable condition at Tg Lobang Park

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.

Reported By: Cindy Lai, reporters@theborneopost.com

* Note: Newspaper cut from The Borneo Post who has the copy right for the above article.

Sg Tujoh checkpoint opens 20 counters every weekend till CNY 2017

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.

DBKU takes lead to help food truck, cart operators with issuance of master licence

Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai

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.

Current Food Trucks In Miri

Exhibition of antiques at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri

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.

Committee plans to entice tourists to Dorod Orad

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.

KitKotak comes to the aid of Shukri, Siti Khadijah

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.

On the ‘kaya trail’ in Miri

Soft bread with thick kaya and butter at WZT.

“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.

Kelabits going all out to preserve rich cultural heritage

(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.

Part of Piasau Nature Reserve closed for renovation, construction

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.

從他處增收入 地方議會不漲門牌稅

（本报古晋17日讯）尽管砂州地方议会今年面对3千零50万令吉的税收减少，但砂地方政府并无计划调涨门牌税。不过，当局将会探讨在不调涨门牌税前提下，透过其他方式以增加地方议会收入。
砂地方政府部长拿督沈桂贤是于今日移交国会上议员拨款后受询时，如是表示。
“首长阿德南沙登早前宣布降低门牌税，所以，砂地方政府部目前并无计划调涨门牌税。”
他披露，目前，地方议会尚有1亿零300万令吉被拖欠的门牌税收，为此，其部门暂无调涨门牌税的计划。

There’s opportunity in food truck business — Ting

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.”

提供當地旅遊資訊 美里市局推展新APP

（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。

3,000 attend highland folk music and culture fest

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.

罗东甘榜邦加兰河滨公园第一期工程顺利展开，预料将于今年年尾竣工，完工后预计会成为本市 受 欢迎的旅游景点之一。

罗东甘榜邦加兰河滨公园第一期工程顺利展开，预料将于今年年尾竣工，完工后预计会成为本市 受 欢迎的旅游景点之一。
砂土地及空运与安全助理部长拿督李景胜今早巡视罗东朋加兰河滨公园的工程进展，他向媒体记者表示，河滨公园第 一期河堤工程长95米，总共耗资了50万令吉，目前已经完成约90%工程。

DBKU saddled with 1.2 million unpaid compound notices

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.

Long Bedian expects 3,000 visitors for HFMDF this year

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.