Resident’s, DO building to become a museum

Antonio (centre), Dayang (second left) and Miri district officer Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf (right) signing the handing-over documents for the building, witnessed by others.

MIRI: Sarawak Museum Department will carry out an in-depth research before commencing renovation works on the former Miri Resident’s and District Office building and turning it into a museum.
The curator of Sarawak Museum Department, Dayang Norzanah Awang Haddy, said the renovation project, which will be carried out in two phases, will include the Sarawak Islamic Department (Jais) Miri office which is located at the end of the building.

Niah Cave collection to be returned to Sarawak

Ipoi (left) shows slides containing images on Niah Cave. With him is Sherman.

KUCHING: A Niah Cave collection which is kept at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, USA, will be returned to the state by 2019.
This was announced by State Museum Department director Ipoi Datan, who said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the museum on behalf of the state government and the university’s Department of Anthropology was signed earlier this month.

Making ‘Manah’ a living legacy

Alena and The Storyteller

THE first time I saw Alena Murang, she was on stage at Calvary Convention Centre, standing barefoot in front of a famous red-and-white sign, telling the audience about old Kelabit songs and playing the sape.
Half a year after her talk at TEDxKL 2016, I met Alena again at Galeri Petronas Suria KLCC where she was one of the participating young contemporary artists featured in an exhibition called ‘Manah: A Living Legacy’.
The exhibition seeks to challenge the notion that indigenous culture is mysterious, inferior or backward. Manah means “ancient” or “old way” in the Temiar (Orang Asli) language.

Planting vegetables at home

Phe started hydroponics gardening more than 20 years ago and aquaponics more than two years ago.

These vegetables are ready to be harvested.

MIRI: As a mother and chef of the house, it has become this reporter’s routine to buy groceries every week. Amid the slow economy, increase in fuel price and climate change, I have witnessed the rather drastic price increase of fruits and vegetables.

RM60 million boost for state tourism

Lee (second right), Ik Pahon (second left) showing off the 2017 Sarawak tourism strategies document as Yong (right) and Suriya (left) look on.

KUCHING: The state government has approved RM60 million to boost the Sarawak tourism industry this year.
This was revealed by Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin yesterday after chairing the Annual Sarawak Tourism Steering and Co-ordination Committee Meeting for 2017 on the behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg who is also Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister.
“The ministry’s 2017 directions are to concentrate on key result area implementation to create new growth in the service sector. The key result projects for 2017 include branding for Sarawak, product enhancement, new product development and variety, promotions and marketing, and connectivity and capacity building.

Lee: Sarawak to focus on digital tourism

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture will focus on digital tourism to bring the state’s tourism industry to greater height.
Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin said this after chairing the annual Sarawak Tourism Steering and Co-ordination Committee meeting on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture here yesterday.
“We are getting marketing intelligence to do digital tourism. This is one of our areas of focus because this is the way forward.

‘14 to 15 km of Miri-Marudi road to be tar-sealed by Aug’

Penguang (seated centre), Chong (seated third right) and others give the thumbs-up to the latest progress of Miri-Marudi road upgrading works.

MIRI: Marudi folks including visitors can expect 14 to 15 kilometres of the Miri-Marudi road to be tar-sealed by August this year.
This assurance came from Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, who said this was to give commuters and those coming for the Baram Regatta 2017 from Aug 25-27 convenience and safety.

重點發展都山海邊 砂旅部引民眾非議

（本报美里7日讯）对于砂旅游部将重点发展都山海边，民众纷纷发出非议声，认为本地海边或景点基建尚未健全，便急将发展延伸至外围地区。
民众均认为，务必将本地的海边及旅游景点提升后，方才将发展计划延伸至本市的外围地区，并嘲讽挪喻尚未学走路的小孩，已心急地想奔跑。
砂首长拿督阿玛阿邦佐哈里尚是砂副首长兼旅游、艺术及文化部部长时，于去年前往都山海边后向媒体表示，都山海边风景优美，具有旅业发展潜能，除了推广地方人文特色与传统美食的卖点来推动旅游业，提供完善的水、电供应与提高网速才能为旅客提供优质服务。

李景勝：打造新旅遊景點 撥500萬發展都山海邊

（本报美里6日讯）砂土地与空运及安全发展助理部长拿督李景胜表示，政府已拨款500万作为重点发展杜山海边的基本设施，以将该海边打造为另一个旅游景点。
他说，欲发展都山海边的基本设施包括建造阶梯，以方便民众或旅客步行至沙滩，同时也在该海边建造饮食中心、停车场及瞭望台。
拿督李景胜今日协同美里市长俞小珊、市议员、美里旅游局代表，以及本地旅行社代表约40人前往巴甘海边、都山海边，以及布艾海边进行了解实况，并在尼亚石山国家公园会议室进行简报会，于下午约4时许返回美里。