Belacan makers looking forward to shrimp season

A fisherman in Lutong and his wife selling ‘bubuk’ at their stall.

MIRI:  Belacan (shrimp paste) makers here are eyeing the return of the shrimp season to produce the popular food item, which is in high demand in the market.
Housewife Muslinawati Sirat, who hails from Lutong, sells her belacan to relatives staying in Kuching, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah as well as to buyers from Brunei who buy in bulk yearly.
“I’m now eager to earn side income as Miri belacan is not only in demand in the market but also the price per kilogramme can reach up to RM30 to RM35 during good times,” Muslinawati told The Borneo Post when met at Batu Satu Beach, Lutong yesterday.

Association sheds light on suspension of flight

John Teo sharing his opinion with The Borneo Post.

MIRI: The announcement on the suspension of Hong Kong-Kuching route by Hong Kong Airlines on Jan 17 may have shocked and caused much disappointment to many, especially tourism players.
But the truth is, this is just a tip of the iceberg.
Honorary secretary-general of Malaysia Association of Hotels (Sarawak Chapter) John Teo shared his opinion with The Borneo Post on the many problems leading up to the suspension.
“From the feedback I gathered from the travel agencies in Hong Kong, most of the passengers who booked their flight to Kuching are free independent travellers (FIT).”

Lee: State all out using IT to promote tourism industry

MIRI: Sarawak is going all out using information technology (IT) to effectively promote the state’s tourism products to the world.
Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the digital way of promoting Sarawak was a faster means to reach out to the world community
“Using the Internet is the fastest way of promoting Sarawak. Gone are the days of promoting Sarawak using pamphlets, now we use digital marketing.

侵入海域 走私軍火毒品 海事執法機構充公920船

（本报美里21日讯）大马海事执法机构总监拿督阿末普兹表示，该机构迄今已充公逾920艘船只，这些船只是违法、如外来者侵入我国海域、走私军火、毒品等被充公。
根据数据指出，马来西亚民防部队及大马还是执法机构在过去5年里，成功拘捕了约7千600名的非法渔民。他称，如果让非法渔民继续在我国海域上捕鱼，预料在一年内，他们可捕获200至300吨的鱼量，这将造成我国渔民的收入降低。因此，他呼吁倘若市民有海域上违法的资料，可以提供给该执法机构，联合打击违法活动。

Bekenu’s last shophouses face imminent demolition

The last row of wooden shophouses.

THE history, written on every plank of the wooden shophouses in Bekenu, will be buried under a rubble of dismantled building materials when the last row of these structures, built more than 80 years ago, is demolished after the Chinese New Year (2017).
Bekenu town will then take on a completely different complexion – modern perhaps but with a big chunk of its heritage effaced and gone forever.
Lamented K Suring, a regular visitor: “It’s sad knowing businesses run by the Chinese in these wooden shophouse are going to disappear from the social and economic landscape of Bekenu in less than two months.
“There is no sense of community in modern malls. I love the soul of old wooden shophouses where the legacies of our ancestors are felt in every nook and cranny.”

PNR to undergo major transformation

SFC chief executive officer Wong Ting Chung (centre) and Technicorps director Jessica Yong on his left with the project documents at the handover ceremony.

KUCHING: The Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR) in Miri is set to undergo major transformation, as works on state-of-the-art visitors’ centre complex there have commenced.
At the symbolic handover between Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and the main project contractor Technicorps Builder Sdn Bhd at SFC corporate office here recently, the two parties formally entered into a contract for the renovation, extension and reinstatement of associated infrastructure works related to the development of the complex.

Ministry working on ‘educational tourism’ with South Korea

Lee (seated centre) and Jin on his right with the visitors and Tourism Ministry staff.

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism is working to attract more teachers and students from South Korea to the state to attend educational programmes.
Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the state would work out ‘educational tourism’ with Malaysia-Korea Student Exchange Association.
“Here (in the state) we have nature for the teachers and students to do studies on. We also have foreign universities, Swinburne University of Technology in Kuching and Curtin University in Miri to offer intensive English courses to teachers and students from South Korea.

Proposed cultural, heritage museum to be ready soon

Rando complex to be developed as a cultural and historical museum for Miri

MIRI: The proposed cultural and heritage museum here will be by ready by June or July.
Curator of Sarawak Museum’s Natural History and Zoology, Dr Charles Leh, said they were now awaiting funds for the development of the museum – which is the existing Miri Resident and District Office (Rando) at Angsana Road.
The complex, which also houses the Islamic Religious Department (Jais) was built in 1912, soon after the first oil well in the country was sunk atop Canada Hill in 1910.
Staff of the complex are expected to move soon to the newly completed Baitulmal complex in Boulevard Commercial Centre, Pujut-Kuala Baram Road.

‘Travel packages should be informative’ — Tourism bureau director

Participants at the Taiwan Leisure Farms Workshop pose for a group photo.

MIRI: Strategies to promote a country’s tourism industry should not merely focus on the business opportunity as offering special and informative travel experience as well as improving the country’s safety help keep tourists coming back.
Director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau (Kuala Lumpur) office, Tony Wu, said this during an interview with The Borneo Post at the bureau’s Miri roadshow on Monday.
“We realised that travel packages that are offered by travel agencies years ago no longer meet the demand of tourists. It is not only about good food and shopping; they are looking for a spectacular experience that they are unable to get in their own home.

朝2035年宏願邁進 資源旅遊部推5年計劃

（本报斯市9日讯）主要资源与旅游部今日推展其2016-2020策略计划，全面开启推动国内主要资源与旅游领域发展计划项目，让农业、渔业局、森林局、旅游业能成为国家经济发展的支柱。
主要资源与旅游部长拿督阿里今早听取该部属下各个单位部门的未来策略计划重点报告后，推介了此策略计划书。
上述策略计划全盘目标在于致力提升有关领域项目的产量，并让此些领域的发展 达到足以让汶莱国实现其2035年宏愿所设定的程度。
此策略也将透过对产量、科技运用的注重并将焦点放置在外销上，吸引更多来自国内的投资进入此些领域，让主要资源领域取得大幅度的成长，使这些领域项目能成为国内生产总值的贡献方。
该部就此指出，以此为大方向，在各个领域的开发上，焦点将被放置在领域项目的增长、产量、可持续开发与外销环节中。

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汶放眼未來4年  農漁林業年增長28.8%

都九關卡舊建築 獲撥款52萬重建

（本报美里9日讯）砂旅游局今日批准拨出52万令吉作为美里都九关卡旧建筑的重建与基本设施工程，其中也包括改善入境道路的扩建工程，此工程预料将于今年3月建竣，并由公共工程局负责。
砂旅游、艺术及文化部部长拿督阿玛阿邦佐哈里表示，砂旅游局与马来西亚旅游局将携手推广砂旅游业，砂拉越旅游工作委员会主要任务将进一步探讨美里市在旅游业上所面对的难题，进而提升砂拉越经济，以达到在2030年成为高收入国的目标。
他今早在美里万豪酒店与相关单位闭门商讨有关美里的旅游业发展，在新闻发布会上表示，希望各相关单位能帮助提升美里市的知名度，刺激砂州旅游业所带来的经济发展。

移民局沒錢 聯邦不撥款 砂自掏百萬提升美里關卡

（本报美里9日讯）移民局没钱，联邦不拨款，砂州政府掏腰包出100万令吉提升美里关卡。
砂拉越副首席部长兼砂旅游、艺术及文化部部长拿督阿玛阿邦佐哈里今日宣布，由砂州旅游部拨出100万拨款提升美里双溪都九移民局关卡。
以上100万令吉拨款包括扩建边界至美里移民局关卡道路、拆除旧移民局建筑物、以及LED电子告示板和其它设施。
砂旅游、艺术及文化部部长拿督阿玛阿邦佐哈里副首长今午前往美里双溪都九移民局关卡巡视后作出以上宣布。陪同者包括砂旅游部助理部长拿督李景胜、卑尔骚区州议员拿督陈超耀、市长俞小珊、省公署、美里旅行社、中华商会、砂拉越旅游联合会、美里酒店代表、交通局、马来西亚机场管理、移民局高级官员、国家旅游局及砂拉越旅游局代表陪同巡视。
李景胜过后向记者指出，他是在12月期间特地前往上述关卡进行巡视，这是他之前接到旅行社和移民局官员所反映的问题，为了提升砂州旅游业，他将此问题向副首长拿督阿玛阿邦佐作出要求。

砂政府撥20萬 維修石油博物館冷氣

（本报美里9日讯）砂政府拨出20万令吉，作为美里石油博物馆的冷气维修工程费用，让前往观光的游客不再忍受闷热之苦。
砂旅游、艺术及文化部部长拿督阿玛阿邦佐哈里今早在美里万豪酒店与相关单位闭门商讨美里旅游业发展，在新闻发布会上如此宣布。
由于美里石油博物馆是本市旅游景点之一，但冷气设施已经坏了几个月，且其它设备不齐全也没有定期维修，许多游客因此对该博物馆留下了不好的印象。

Tourism and services sector state’s new economic growth engine, says Abang Jo

MIRI: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MTAC) is aggressively promoting Miri and other parts of the northern region in order to push tourism and services as the new engine of economic growth for Sarawak.
Its Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state cabinet has identified tourism and services sector as the new economic growth engine for Sarawak in tandem with the government’s emphasis on the importance to diversify the state’s economy by 2030.

Abang Johari flanked by Sikie (third right) Lee, Ik Pahon (fourth left) and others during the press conference.

RM750,000 set aside for upgrading works on Sungai Tujoh CIQ, says Abang Johari

Abang Johari (front, second left) discusses upgrading works on Sungai Tujoh CIQ with local leaders and officers.

MIRI: The Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Centre (CIQ) at Sungai Tujoh will be upgraded in view of the high volume of people from both Miri and Brunei passing the checkpoint. According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, a total of RM750,000 has been allocated for the planned works to ease traffic flow at this northern gateway to the state.

Penguang: Be careful when using Miri-Marudi road

Datu Dr Penguang Manggil

MIRI: Road users are advised to be careful when using the Miri-Marudi road as the improvement works are still on-going.
The 44km Marudi Road Rehabilitation Project, costing RM77.4 million which started in Nov last year and is expected to be completed by May 2019, will be tar-sealed, widened and will have proper drainage particularly in low-lying areas.
“I understand currently the condition (of the road) is not that good especially where they (the contractors) are not doing it yet but I was informed that they have put the gravels at the first few kilometres from Miri junction going in.

‘MCC backs efforts to promote city’

Ernest (sixth left) and Chua (fourth right) and representatives of sponsors as well as the organising committee releasing confetti to mark the launching of the 13th Mitraf.

MIRI: Mayor Adam Yii calls on tourism and business operators to come up with quality products and regular promotions to attract tourists and invertors to the city.
He assured that the Miri City Council (MCC) would fully support their efforts.
However, he admitted that the infrastructures needed to be improved to enhance the tourism industry in the city and he pledged that MCC would do its best to improve them.
“Miri has its own attractions. Apart from shopping complexes there are varieties of food the tourists can enjoy here,” he said.

Hazelynn handmade jewellery crafted with love

The beads used to make Hazelynn jewellery.

MIRI: Hazel Teo has always been attracted to gemstone jewellery while Violynn Siaw has an innate love of working with her hands.
Both have never studied jewellery-making but resigned from their jobs in marketing and human resources to start their signature line of handmade jewellery.
They named their collaboration ‘Hazelynn’, launching their handmade jewellery online via their website www.hazelynn.com in 2015.
They drew inspiration for their creations from the places they visited, people they met at their weekly pop-up booth, as well as love stories they heard.
Craftsmanship is an integral part of the business. Not only do Teo and Siaw go from design to production under one roof, every piece is hand-strung by both of them who care about each piece and love what they do.

Tourist arrivals in Malaysia expected to rise by 4.3 pct

ALOR GAJAH: The number of tourist arrivals in Malaysia is expected to increase by about 4.3 per cent to 31.8 million this year with the implementation of Visit Pahang, Perak and Terengganu Year 2017.
Tourism and Culture Deputy Minister, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the initiative in line with the ‘Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Dekat Je’ campaign could draw more domestic and foreign tourists as these three states were interesting destinations with their own uniqueness.

Kenyah festival a big buzz in Ulu Baram

MIRI: Over 700 people from all eight Kenyah longhouses in Ulu Baram thronged Kampung Lio Mato to take part in the inaugural ‘Pesta Lumba Rakit and Sukaneka’ from Dec 21-22.
The two-day festival attracted not just those living in the rural areas but also visitors from Kuching, Bintulu and the peninsula who headed back to their longhouses for the festival.

Balan Nyanding and Bungan Lisu beauty pageant competition.

Organising chairlady Annia Selalang Lawai said the festival received huge support from the communities, it being held for the first time.

‘All-media promotions to boost Miri tourism in Chinese market’

Lee presents a prize to a lucky draw winner.

MIRI: More measures will be carried out to promote local tourism this year, including the introduction of tourism products to foreign markets such as China.
Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin said many tourists from China were interested to visit Malaysia, particularly this city due to its natural attractions such as the seaside and beaches.
“They (Chinese tourists) loves the beaches that we have in Miri – they are even producing a movie here, taking advantage of the ‘Blue Tears’ phenomenon at Tusan beach,” he told reporters at the ‘New Year Countdown’ in Permymall.

Aries’ brush with fame – Murals to bring city to life

Kong says most of his murals are based on client’s demands and much of his artwork is commercial art.

MIRI: Since young, Aries Kong has been told that to become an artist is to be condemned to a poor man’s life, instead of picking up a stable career to pay the bills.
So upon leaving school, he did odd jobs as a clerk, a cashier and even an insurance agent – hoping to find the path to ‘success’.
“I wasn’t making much at the time, but I was taking one step at a time, focusing on my job and hopefully to make more money to bring home,” he told The Borneo Post.
Eventually, he yearned for something else.