Mobile app to promote tourism in Sarawak set for year-end launch

ASIASOFT Business Solutions representative James Bong (third right) and Shim (fourth left) showing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) they signed for the mobile phone app ‘SARraider – Sarawak Raiders’, witnessed by Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian (sixth left).

KUCHING: A mobile phone application to promote tourism in Sarawak called ‘SARraider – Sarawak Raiders’, specially designed by Young Malaysians Movement (YMM) in collaboration with local technology company ASIASOFT Business Solutions, is expected to be launched this year-end.
In a press statement issued yesterday, YMM said the dedicated mobile phone app will be a reference guide for tourists which will allow them to learn more about the harmony, culture, food and eco-tourism sites in the state.

Miri Cultural and Heritage Museum to open early 2018

Lee (second right) and others enjoying the sound of English oldies being played on an antique gramophone at the exhibition.

MIRI: The Miri Cultural and Heritage Museum —the first community-based museum in the city—is expected to open its doors to visitors by early next year.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the current effort to convert the old Miri Resident Office into a museum is still in progress.

Piasau Boat Club offers Firefiles Evening Cruises

27 sworn in as political secretaries to CM

The newly appointed political secretaries pose for the album with Abang Johari (seated centre).

KUCHING: A total of 27 people were sworn in as political  secretaries to the chief minister before the Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
Leading the swearing-in ceremony were Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy secretary-general Abu Seman Jahwie and John David Nyauh, also from PBB, who were reappointed.

推動旅遊發展計劃 3千萬進行北砂10工程

（本报美里18日讯）砂旅游，艺术及文化助理部长拿督李景胜披露，在第十一大马计划（RMK11）下，砂州旅游、艺术、文化、青年及体育部将拨款超过3千万令吉在北砂区进行10项与部门相关的工程项目，以便推动旅游发展计划。
他今日出席在美里省公署会议厅召开砂州旅游、艺术、文化、青年及体育部属下第11大马计划工程项目汇报暨工作会议后的记者会说，上述工程项目其中美里市占7项、马鲁帝县有2项，以及苏必士县1项。

Sarawak takes step towards virtual tourism

MIRI: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports will go global digitally when a virtual tourism project is implemented to promote Sarawak to the outside world.
Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said it is timely for the ministry to step into the digital world to ensure it will not be left behind in promoting Sarawak tourism through digital means.
“With the Internet virtual reality project introduced at Niah National Park, I suggested to the ministry to explore digital tourism promotions including through websites,” Lee told members of the media yesterday.

‘Paula’ to be tested in remote Sarawak

Dr Rundi (fifth left) giving his thumbs-up to the Paula system at a village collecting treated water from the said system at Da Nang, Vietnam. Liwan is seen at fourth left.

KUCHING: If all goes according to plan, Portable Aqua Unit Lasting Affordable (Paula) systems will soon be a permanent feature in the state’s remotest and most isolated settlements in the very near future.
According to Minister of Rural Electricity and Water Supply Datuk Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Paula will be tested in two remote locations in Sarawak to see whether it will be viable for local conditions.

科廷大學工程師學會 移交 60盞太陽能檯燈

（本报美里8日讯）科廷大学砂拉越分校电气电子工程师学会（IEEE）今日上午移交60盏学生自制充电式太阳能台灯给甘榜埔奕湾木屋区居民。
出席移交仪式的有卑尔骚区州议员拿督陈超耀律师、美里市长俞小珊、甘榜埔奕湾木屋区村长阿巴斯Ambas Anak Semadak，以及科廷大学砂拉越分校电气电子工程师学会（IEEE）主席江先豪等。
该学会主席江先豪除了向民居们详细解说太阳能灯的具体构造及应用外，也非常感谢拿督陈超耀律师，他除了精神上全力支持，也在经济上资助这项公益项目，让他们能完成他们的小发明，自制充电式太阳能台灯，贡献社会，造福人类。
他说，太阳能的最大好处是不可耗竭、可再生、环保，希望每户甘榜居民都有一盏由学生自制的太阳能节能环保灯和黑夜相伴，让他们携手为绿色明天和子孙后代做当下改变。
江先豪：太陽能檯燈
冀提倡環境保護社會責任

Five-foot way – a micro culture in Miri

An Itinerant hawker plying his wares on the five-foot way in Miri.

THIRTY years ago, a couple met for the first time outside the Park Hotel in Miri, introduced by a well-known Foochow match-maker.
The young man had come all the way by car from Sibu while the young lady had been working in a small restaurant in Miri.
Soon, they tied the knot and had a very happy marriage.
Asked where they met, they would unhesitatingly say at “a five-foot way (ngo ka ki or kali lima) in Miri.”
The term five-foot way describes the width of the sidewalk projected from the wall of the building into the street. The overhanging roof extension or the upper first floor provides a cover for pedestrians from the elements — so practical in our equatorial region when convection rain can suddenly come in the afternoon.

SeCS, the state’s very own e-commerce association

Chew (seated fourth left), Lee Shieng Wei (seated third left) and other officer bearers in a group photograph.

KUCHING: With the establishment of a brand new ministry – The Ministry of International Trade and E-Commerce (MITeC) – and the launch of Sarawak’s very first digital economy conference – the International ICT, Infrastructure and Digital Economy Conference Sarawak – it has been made abundantly clear that the state government is aggressively pushing to bring the economy into the digital era.