2021.02.21 Legend behind Makam Datuk Permaisuri of Miri

 

NOT far from Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu, along the Sungai Baong lies the tomb of a queen who gave up her life of royalty to live among commoners in Miri.

Buried at the site over 100 years ago was Datuk Permaisuri Kemala, a Johor Royal Family member of the Riau Empire which had close ties with the Brunei Sultanate.

The site can be reached by a four-minute boat ride from Pujut Tanjung Batu jetty or 10 to 20 minutes on foot through a forested area from a junction along Jalan Miri By-Pass.

Yii (third right) pouring ‘air mawar’ on Datuk Permaisuri Kemala’s grave during his visit there last year.

In the old days, the Sultanates of Brunei and Johor-Riau had been maintaining close ties which were strengthened by the arranged marriage between the Johor-Riau princess and a Brunei prince.

After the grand wedding celebration and being in Johor for quite a while, Datuk Permaisuri Kemala’s husband sought his in-laws’ permission to bring his wife back to Brunei.

KK Usman shows the Makam Datuk Permaisuri site.

According to accounts passed down the generations, during the journey, the ship carrying Datuk Permaisuri Kemala, her husband and her in-laws encountered bad weather and sank off the Miri coast.

Painful decision

As the royal members were struggling in the raging sea, the prince made a painful decision to rescue his mother instead of his wife.

He reasoned he could always get another wife but nothing could replace his mother who carried him in her womb for nine months.

Datuk Permaisuri Kemala had no choice and she left her fate in God’s hand. She eventually lost consciousness and floated to a nearby village.

On finding the princess who was washed ashore, the villagers took her in and nursed her back to health. She was accorded royal treatment after attesting her status to them.

Permaisuri can be reached by a four-minute boat ride from the Pujut Tanjung Batu jetty.

Not long after the incident, her husband who was, at that time, living in Brunei heard that his wife was still alive and living among Mirians. All this while he though his wife had drowned.

Overjoyed, he immediately sailed over to Miri to look for her and tried to persuade her to return to Brunei with him.

Datuk Permaisuri Kemala happily welcomed her husband’s arrival but she was still bitter at his desertion of her, and since she was well treated by the villagers, she decided to stay on in Miri till her last breath.

he jetty pavilion leading to the cemetery
was upgraded by Datuk Peter Chin.

She set up schools as well as devoted her remaining life to spreading the teachings of Islam in Miri. Because of these good deeds, the princess was greatly loved and respected by the people.

One version

When she passed away, she was laid to rest in a burial ground further inland, known today as Makam Datuk Permaisuri.

“This is one version of the legend as told by our elders. There is no verified version as they were all words of mouth passed from one generation to another,” said Pujut Tanjung Batu village headman KK Usman Sulaiman.

He said he was told by his grandparents Datuk Permaisuri Kemala was taken in by a Jatti Miriek family, a native community in Miri, and she lived until her demise at Kampung Dagang.

Usman added that Datuk Permaisuri Kemala was laid to rest at the old Jatti Miriek Muslim Cemetery, Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu, because in the old days if a person in the Miriek community passed away, he or she must be buried upstream.

“That’s why her tomb is located along the Sungai Baong, further upstream and far from Kampung Dagang where she actually lived her remaining life,” he explained.

A worn out signboard of Makam Datuk Permaisuri.

Failure to materialise

Meanwhile, the Miri City Council (MCC) is looking to revive a 2004 plan to develop the over 100 years old Makam Datuk Permaisuri site into a park and a tourist spot.

According to Miri Mayor Adam Yii, the initial project, estimated at RM5.7 million, didn’t materialise after it was first proposed due to lack of funding.

In 2004, the Council came up with a plan to develop, upgrade and beautify the place. At that time, Miri was preparing to become a city by 2005.

But the project did not take off as planned. Former Miri MP Tan Sri Peter Chin later arranged for some allocation to improve the wooden pavilion and the small bridge leading to the gravesite.

Since the plans and drawings all had been done in 2004, the Council will now reorganise it by reviewing the project papers and seeking funding.

“We’ll also form the project task force that will include the Majlis Islam, local community leaders and also NGOs (non-governmental organisations) which have been active in preserving and promoting this historical place.

“The task force will look into ways to implement the project. The council will prepare the project papers and look for the funds needed,” Yii said.

The 2004 project plan included a proper jetty and boardwalk, water features, a courtyard garden, food stalls, a visitors’ complex, a fragrant garden, an orchard, an administrative office, chalets, a barbecue area and a viewing deck.

In 2004, there was a proposal to develop the over 100 years old Makam Datuk Permaisuri site into a park and a tourist spot.

“Datuk Permaisuri Kemala is a legendary figure in the history of Miri. Although there are a few versions of the legend, it’s historical in any case.

“We hope with the successful implementation of the project, this location will become one of the tourist and historical sites as well as an added attraction for Miri. We’ll work towards that objective,” Yii added.

2019.06.09 Keeping a dream vision alive

Sharzede (seated centre) with the STB team during the unveiling of angpow designs for Chinese New Year.

A band performance at last year’s BJF.

A night view of Miri.

A view of Niah Cave.

The green environment of Bario.

Miri has a laid-back ambience.

Sunset viewed from Miri Waterfront Jetty.

IN 2014, Miri City Council (MCC) launched its five-year corporate vision to make Miri the most liveable resort city.

Part of the plan involved three strategic thrusts – clean and green, vibrant and safe as well as community and culture.

This year should have been MCC’s fifth year of implementing the vision but there hasn’t been much notable headway  since the idea took shape.

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor spoke to thesundaypost recently on the challenges faced in pursuing the vision and what could be done to grow Miri to its full potential as a tourism destination and Sarawak’s resort city.

haring her first impression of Miri, Sharzede said it was, undeniably, a gem with a lot of potential.

“Since I joined STB in September last year, I have been here three to four times. Miri strikes me as a very clean city. The whole ambience of life there is more laid back and relaxed.

“There should be something and somewhere for everyone – locals, tourists, and travellers – to do or go to. Miri already has many attractions but a bit more is needed to facilitate a fully enjoyable experience and add vibrancy to the place.”

According to her, Miri is home to interesting cultures, cuisine, and some trademark festivals and events, as well as nature and adventure attractions.

As the northern gateway of Sarawak, Miri has much to offer such as the Bario Highlands, the Mulu and Niah Caves, and the lovely beaches, to name a few.

Masterplan

A masterplan to develop Miri into tourism destination is crucial as Sharzede believes suitable infrastructural facilities and amenities are essential to a resort city lifestyle. Some of the things worth considering are more food courts or eateries, more entertainment programmes, and more festivals and events.

Sharing her visit to Tusan Beach last month, Sharzede said a plan was in place to develop it. She lauded the initiative as a step in the right direction to attract tourists.

“When tourists go to the beach, they expect beach activities such as paragliding, diving and snorkelling. The expectations are there, the natural attractions are there as well. What we need now are the facilities to tie the experiences together.”

On the attractions of the Highlands and Mulu National Park, she said, “These should be promoted and packaged in such a way that meets the expectations of those who have never been there before. Make it as interesting as possible for them.

“The branding should highlight the uniqueness that makes Miri stand out against other places.”

Miri’s signature

Every destination needs a signature – a landmark like the KLCC Twin Towers, historical heritage like Melaka, or iconic events such as the Songkran Water Festival in Thailand – through which an attraction or product is instantly recognised as synonymous with the destination.

Miri has been known as an oil and gas town which, in itself, has a rich history but to switch from this identity to that of a resort city will take a lot of work.

Sharzede cited the Borneo Jazz Festival (BJF) as potentially a part of Miri’s internationally recognised musical, cultural and festive identity, similar to what Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is to Kuching.

“I always believe tourism is what the community should take pride and part in, particularly the events being organised, because there’re always economic spin-offs in any tourism activity. Hence, with an iconic event like BJF, locals should be supportive and proud of it.”

The three-day Borneo Jazz Festival is into its 14th edition this year and Sharzede has revealed STB is taking a different approach to promote and package the event.

“Innovation is necessary to make BJF an iconic event on par with RWMF. The latter started more than 21 years ago, playing, as I understand, to only a small audience of a few hundred people back then.

“But it has grown out of sight to attract more than 22,000 followers and fans now. RMWF took 22 years to achieve this. By comparison, BJF is still young with, I believe, a lot of room for improvement,” she said.

Sharzede added that scheduling BJF just a week after RWMF to make July the Festival Month was part of the plan.

“We’ll have a RWMF fringe festival to be followed by the main event (July 12-14) and BJF one week later (July 19-21).

“We want to package July as the Festival Month so that people who go to RWMF will probably take time to enjoy Miri and its popular spots and then head to BJF.

“We hope the number of tourists coming will be more than last year. In 2018, international attendees made up about 25 per cent of the total audience. We have a positive feeling about this.”

Promotions underway

She revealed promotions of BJF had already started Berlin, Germany, among several foreign countries, and interviews for both RWMF and BJF had also been carried out.

“We’ve started pushing the promotions and building up the interest and anticipation among music fans and curious people. The response and demand have been good so far,” she said, adding that BJF was targeting an audience of about 4,000.

Besides promoting BJF as a musical event, Sharzede also wants it viewed from the angle of building music tourism in Sarawak.

“This could lead to the unveiling of a lot of talents among young Sarawakians – plus ample opportunities for them as well.”

RWMF and BJF have encouraged a melding of traditional and contemporary performing arts among the youths of Sarawak, leading to a renaissance of cultural music.

Both festivals are also prioritising recycling with RWMF, in particular, focusing on reducing the carbon footprint and waste generation by restricting the use of non-biodegradable cutlery and plates during the festivals – apart from recycling and composting all waste products and using shuttle buses to and from the festival venue to cut carbon emissions from cars.

Niche markets

Viewed from the bigger picture, Sharzede felt Sarawak should be seen as a prime destination for niche tourism markets.

“It may have its limitations in terms of facilities and connectivity, yet some see it as uniquely interesting, both economically and culturally, compared to the peninsula.”

According to her, Sarawak’s uniqueness lies in its rich cultures from over 27 ethnic groups, 40 sub-category ethnic groups, the beautiful natural products and the food, among others. And maintaining the authenticity of these assets is one way for Sarawak to position itself and stand out among other parts of the world.

Sharzede stressed since travellers and tourists could be divided into different types of market segments, it was important to understand their needs.

“Sarawak may be the choice of one group but not another group. Hence, providing excellent tourism-related infrastructures, facilities and services is of utmost importance.

“We’ve both hardware and software, so we need all stakeholders, especially product owners, to really polish their gems to make Sarawak the preferred destination.

“The Tourism Ministry and STB will also endeavour to make the ecosystem in the tourism sector right for the industry to grow further.

“Exploring the natural environment and getting a feel of the daily routines of the locals can be a different experience for travellers, yet, at the end of the day, those willing to pay more for their hotels can also expect top-grade service in return.

“Therefore, I believe offering international standard service is the way to keep the tourists coming.”

She said although talks on tourism generally referred to either mass market or niche market, having proper infrastructures was paramount, regardless.

“If we’re looking at niche tourism, which I feel is the right direction for Sarawak and Miri, we should be focusing on and working towards high yield while trying to achieve a balance along the way.

“If we want to boost tourism in Miri, we should first develop the infrastructures and the products in tandem with efforts to position the city as a high yield destination.”

Creating a brand

Sharzede opined that creating the Sarawak brand would ultimately be the cumulative results of expectation and experience.

“In promoting Sarawak, we market what the state has to offer. The onus is on the product owners and service providers to offer the experience to match or exceed what the visitors anticipate.

“The ‘dream come true’ satisfaction turns first-time visitors into return visitors – and the stories they tell are powerful marketing tools.

“In this regard, we rely heavily on our stakeholders and product owners. They are the ones who give visitors the Sarawak — in this instant Miri – experience. This, in turn, will help to indelibly etch our branding in the visitors’ minds.”

She pointed out that for Miri or Sarawak as a whole, tourists, especially from the state’s closest – and more traditional – markets such as neighbouring Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and even Sabah, were the greatest assets.

Sharzede strongly believes niche tourism is the way to go for Sarawak, saying it allowed locals to enjoy the fruits of the development of the tourism industry.

She added that focusing on niche tourism also discouraged over-tourism which would eventually become mass tourism.

“In such a case, locals will feel the pinch when the costs of living are beyond them to meet the demands of tourists. Moreover, the product can become over commercialised.

“The downside is that this will cause the product to lose its authenticity and originality – which leads me to conclude that to boost tourism, we need to be bold but, at the same time, keep it niche-based so that the product can develop and offer both locals and foreign visitors alike the same enjoyment. Such balance will sustain the product for a long time.”

Sharzede said the involvement of industry players was crucial in that all stakeholders needed showcase and package the product before selling it to potential customers.

She also underscored the benefits industry players in Miri could derive through a consortium-like relationship, noting that a pricing equilibrium could be found to ensure fair play in the tourism industry.

“Investing in tourism is an on-going effort since tourism is one of the biggest contributions to the country’s GDP,” she added.

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都山美景無敵 李景勝打卡留念

難得見著馬頭山，拿督李景勝猶如
遊客般興奮的“打卡”留念。

都山海邊馬頭山，猶如一頭野馬
俯身喝水，景色幽美。

詩華日報

 

（本報美里20日訊）都山海邊美景美不勝收，尤其聞名的馬頭山，更吸引拿督李景勝眼球，並不忘“打卡”留念。

砂旅游、藝術與文化部助理部長拿督李景勝今日前往都山海邊進行巡視，適逢天氣晴朗，因此在眾人陪同下，從山崖人造斜梯走下至海灘，除了沿著海灘巡視一睹海邊景色，也趁著難得的機會一覽杜山海邊地標-馬頭山。

拿督李景勝沿路為海灘的潔淨度感到高興，並表示此行非常難得，因為可以有幸近距離親眼見著馬頭山，猶如一頭野馬俯身喝水，也不忘拍照留念。

同時，他也撫摸馬頭山，打趣稱將會帶來好運，寓意好意頭，而陪同的媒體也相互“模仿”觸摸馬頭山岩石，非常有趣。

李景勝：旅遊部撥款 600萬改善都山設施

拿督李景勝表示將會在馬頭山旁邊打造防浪堤，形成一個防護牆以免侵蝕情況繼續

惡化。

美里都山海邊建設基本旅游設施整體工程的藍圖。

承包商將在都山海邊山崖建造安全人行上下階梯。

拿督李景勝和縣議員和承包商合影。

眾人巡視海邊崖壁處土崩情況。

因“藍眼淚”聞名的都山海邊獲得砂旅游部斥資600萬令吉建設基本設施，借此打造安全與舒適的休閒環境，推動海邊的旅游業發展。

  詩華日報
（本報美里20日訊）砂旅游部斥資600萬令吉為美里都山海邊建設基本旅游設施，而首要工程將優先為馬頭山建造防浪堤以及從山崖建設安全人行階梯砂旅游。

砂旅游、藝術與文化部助理部長拿督李景勝今日在承包商和蘇必士縣議員的陪同下巡視都山海邊基建發展時向媒體們披露，是項由砂旅游部撥款﹑蘇必士縣議會負責招標和監督的工程，目前已完成發展工程的招標程序，得標的承包商也已經開始施工，預計工程需耗時1年時間竣工。

預計1年竣工

全程長600米的發展工程，建設項目包括了填土、拆除、清理所有飲食攤位、建設完善的小販與飲食中心、公共廁所與停車場、從山崖建設安全的人行階梯以及為馬頭山建造防浪堤。

工程也包括建設休閒亭子及燒烤設施以及兒童游樂園，同時也進行海邊的環境美化工程，包括設施休閒椅子﹑桌子以及垃圾桶。

都山海邊因藍眼淚和馬頭山聞名，成為本地知名的度假與休閒好去處。拿督李景勝表示，尤其馬頭山已成為都山海邊的地標，尤如一頭野馬俯身喝水，美不勝收。但因擔心馬頭山山體侵蝕問題日益嚴重，必要採取緊急防護措施，因此他吩咐承包商將優先發展為馬頭山打造防浪堤，形成一個防護牆以免情況繼續惡化；以及山崖建設安全人行階梯保障遊客安全上下階梯。

申請撥款解決土崩

在施工期間，承包商將會暫時關閉部份地段，惟將不會對遊客造成影響。

另外，針對都山海邊崖壁處泥土流失土崩問題，拿督李景勝表示將會申請額外撥款，由公共工程部負責研究解決方案，避免土崩情況加劇。

“土崩問題和海邊硬體設施是需要相互配合，如果土崩問題沒有設法解決，即使硬體設施做得再好也是徒勞。”

Fishermen capitalise on social media to seek bountiful ‘bubuk’ spots

A local villager sells the ‘bubuk’ at her stall in
Kampung Batu Satu Fishermen’s Market.

MIRI: The use of social media like Facebook and WhatsApp is now more far-reaching than ever before, in that these applications can even help local fishermen find locations offshore that have bountiful supply of ‘bubuk’ (krill shrimps).
According to Daud Lamat, a fisherman from Kampung Pulau Melayu here, many of them (fishermen) own smartphones and have WhatsApp groups. Whenever one of them spots an area with a large presence of ‘bubuk’, he would notify others about it.

Social media have indeed made our lives a bit easier,” he told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
Daud and his fellow fishermen are now enjoying the ‘bubuk’ season, where a kilogramme of the catch can fetch up to RM7.
Typically, the annual ‘bubuk’ season here is between February and April.
The ‘bubuk’ is the primary ingredient in ‘belacan’ (local shrimp paste) and also ‘cincalok’ (fermented bubuk).
“During this season, we fishermen can only get between four and five hours of sleep as we spend most of our time inside our boats.
“But this is our livelihood, and we must take advantage of the abundance supply of ‘bubuk’ this time around,” said Daud, observing that every time the fishermen arrive at the fish markets in Kampung Batu Satu in Lutong, Kampung Piasau Utara, Kampung Luak, and Kampung Kuala Bakam, there are already long lines of customers eagerly waiting to get their basketfuls of krill shrimps.

A fisherman brings a bucket full of ‘bubuk’ onshore at Batu Satu Lutong Beach.

According to Daud, the ‘bubuk’ caught in the waters off here is known to make the best ‘belacan’ and ‘cincalok’.
Meanwhile, the Marine Fisheries Department has issued its reminder for all fishermen to follow strictly all the regulations relating to their operations.
“We are happy that the fishermen are enjoying great catch this season, but they must also observe strictly the dos and don’ts.
“We assure the fishermen community of our support, relating to the proper methods of catching the ‘bubuk’, which aims to preserve ample supply of catch and ensure that the marine life would continue be bountiful,” said a department spokesperson.

Nature preservation on wings

Whistling duck spotted at the Kuala Baram wetlands. — Pictures by CH Phui

IT has become quite common for young people to spend less time, participating in outdoor activities, but more time, playing electronic games and browsing social media indoor with their mobile phones and computers.
While it’s admittedly harder getting them to unplug from virtual world and re-connect with the real world, two young nature advocates, Batrisyia Teepol and Ng Jia Jie, believe bringing nature to the Internet is one way to connect mellinnials to both worlds.
Batrisyia, a Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) field trainer, feels nurturing interests in nature should start from a young age — with constant exposure to interesting and easy-to-understand topics.
“For example, climate change. It’s real and young people should be made aware of it through positive information on climatic changes, global warming, and the need for less pollution. This will send a powerful message on the necessity to raise awareness of enviromental care.
“Personally, I was inspired by an incident during my teen years. My father had saved a bird, trapped in a net, near my house at Kampung Padang Kerbau, Pujut.
“It recovered fully three days later and was freed. There and then, I started to take a keen interest in protecting wildlife, especially those vulnerable to human activities,” the 22-year-old said.

Participants of the Shorebirds Watching Course with Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin.

Zoology degree
She took up bird-watching as a hobby and her passion for wildlife conservation led to the purusit of a degree in zoology at Unimas.
She studied animal science and through field trips, learned to understand and appreciate the importance of sustainable and safe habitats to wildlife.

“Whenever I had the chance, I would share interesting facts on birding and topics relating to nature with my friends. Though they often told me I was different from ordinary teenagers, mt friends still supported me in pursuing my interests,” she recalled.
Batrisyia said ‘weird’ was how her relatives and friends described the single-minded extent of her passion for conversation but then she always has strong opinions when it comes to protecting the environment.

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to protect nature. I always thought it is something that has to be done but few are prepared to take the first step. So I tell myself why not give it a try?”
Presently an active MNS bird surveyor, Batrisyia noticed there was now only a handful of young people taking an interest in environmental issues.
“I want to reach out to more people of the same age or even younger. I could use catchy phrases and eye-catching photos online to capture their attention. Whenever possible, I would blog interesting contents relating to birds and nature on my social medial account.
“Netizens, my friends among them, have expressed interests and even enquired about joining our birding event. It has spurred me to do more —- like organising talks in schools,” she enthused.

At the Shorebirds Watching Course.

Nature conservation
Her internship at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan, Sabah, has taught her a lot about promoting nature conservation and helped with her other internships at Bako-Buntal Bay in Kuching and MNS.
With her zoology degree, she is now serving as an intern at Bako-Buntal Bay, studying shore-birds in the Conservation Leadership Programme under the wings of BirdLife International.
Bako-Buntal Bay, a semi-circular bay, bordering Gunung Santubong to the west and Bako National Park to the East, is one of the wintering sites for migratory waterbirds.
Apart from being the first site in the country to be inscribed on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Site Network in 2012, it’s also the first flyway network, established in Malaysia.
“My work at Bako-Buntal Bay is birds surveying, understanding the situation, tracking and managing data before making recommendations to the Sarawak Forestry Department and the government,” Batrisyia said.
Her internship at MNS is more than bird-watching as it also involves field works and learning to identify different species of birds.

“When we have ‘ID’ a new arrival, we’ll start collecting data on its species. We also take note whether its numbers have increased or decreased. The species identified could have come from countries like Alaska and Russia — we know from their tags,” she added.
Batrisyia hoped she could set an example to her peers and younger people as a nature advocate, strongly believing it’s crucial for the younger generation to understasnd and appreciate the importance of preserving nature.
“When I am collecting data, and knowing the numbers of some of the birds are declining, I feel sad because once they are gone, it’s forever — we cannot find them anymore. It’s very sad because the future generations may not know about them or see them in real life, except in books and photos.
“Every living thing is a part of the ecosystem but it’s humans who are actually consuming the Earth’s resources excessively.
“Other creatures are merely doing what they have to survive. Instead of ‘disturbing’ other animals that want to survive and live, it’s time to ask why can’t humans stop hunting them,” she stressed.

Social media sharing
Ng Jia Jie, a MNS trainer, opined that a modern way to catch the attention of the young was through social media.

Batrisyia Teepol

“Blogging the information and sharing it on social media platform like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is a good way to connect many young users, especially when they spend a lot of time on the Net,” Ng, fondly known as JJ, said.
According to Pew Research Centre, for more than six months in 2017, 30 science-related Facebook pages had drawn millions of followers. There were over 130,000 science-related stories which Facebook users tended to like, read and share.
It’s not hard to imagine how impactful the messages liked, read and shared by millions around the world have been.
Pew Research Centre is a non-partisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.

It originated from a research project in 1990 before going through several transformations. Now, it focuses on public opinion polls, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research.
“I do know there are enthusiasts and talents who are good at doing this — which I am also now learning. It’s important to share all this information and present it in an interesting way so that it can spread as far as possible,” JJ said.
The 21-year-old from Kuching pointed out that it was crucial learning to understand birds, their importance to the ecosystem and how some species were slowly being driven to extinction due to human activities.

Ng Jia Jie

A paradox
“First of all, birds keep the ecosystem in balance such as by pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, scavenging carrions and recycling nutrients back to nature.
“I find it paradoxical that whenever a new or rare species is discovered, there are also plenty of others on the verge of extinction.
“If you were to ask someone who had been bird-watching since 40 years ago, he or she would tell you some species used to be so common but have now become so rare. It’s a wake up call that humans have been taking nature’s gift for granted,” JJ said.
MNS, he noted, provided local nature and bird-watching enthusiasts a platform to learn about birding through its waterbird workshop — which was JJ’s first MNS activity.
“While making friends at MNS, I was told many stories by senior birdwatchers. According to them, hornbills used to fly around freely but have become endangered and will disappear from Borneo island without protection.”
JJ who has a diploma in animal health from UPM, Bintulu, plans to study veterinary medicine and hopes to open a wildlife rescue centre.
“Birding is my hobby but I hope I can do more — like rescuing wildlife. I believe both work the same way towards conservation,” he said.
JJ and Batrisyia attended the Shorebirds Watching Course at Kampung Masjid, Kuala Baram, last December.

Binoculars for bird-watching.

And JJ who has been showing a keen interest in birding since a teenager, has won several prizes in local bird races held at Borneo Highlands Resort.

Reported By : Cindy Lai, reporters@theborneopost.com

The Borneo Post Copy Right Reserved

The Link : http://www.theborneopost.com/2019/01/13/nature-preservation-on-wings/

Interesting encounters at Piasau Utara Fish Market

FISHMONGER Kassim (name has been changed) called out excitedly to customers at the Piasau

Utara Fish Market.

To the Malay women who stopped by his stall, he was happy to introduce tenggiri (Spanish mackerel) and prawns.

“Sliced or whole before I pack up for tomorrow,” he said to them. To the Chinese woman who just walked in with a camera, he recommended ‘pah tiek poh’.

“Madam, the Chinese love this fish, which has good firm flesh and the head is best for soup. Buy for Chap Goh Meh.”

Kassim then walked over to a fish tray on the table and to the surprise of my friend and I, pulled out a huge garoupa, prompting several customers to gather around.

The garoupa looked like a little baby elephant and could easily have weighed 50kg.

“I can only cut it up for tomorrow. Just hooked early in the morning — still very fresh. Maybe someone will call me this afternoon to sell it,” he said.

Miri Airport upgrading to be completed end of 2019 — Lee

Lee gestures during the walkabout at Miri Airport
with MAHB officials to check the proposed upgrades
of facilities under the optimisation plan.

MIRI: The Miri Airport upgrading project will be completed by the end of 2019.
Upon completion, the airport would be able to cater for three million passengers per annum and have more modern facilities to better serve domestic and international passengers.
Among the new facilities would be a separate departure hall for domestic passengers and more immigration clearance counters and an arrival gate for Rural Air Service (RAS) passengers, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said.
“These would be carried out under Miri Airport Optimisation Plan pending the upgrading and rebuilding of Miri Airport in the long term plan,” he said at a press conference before a walkabout at the airport yesterday.

‘Policies up for review to make S’wak tourism more vibrant’

Abdul Karim stresses a point in his presentation on ‘Sarawak Tourism Blueprint’ at Sarawak Dialogue.

KUCHING: Sarawak is relooking at its strategies and policies to address several issues in the tourism sector and to improve what the state has to offer to visitors.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out the need to improve the overall standard and quality of products and services within the tourism industry – from accommodation, restaurants, tour guides to packages – so as to grow the sector and make Sarawak a preferred tourism destination.
“Our national parks are very popular with both local and foreign visitors but there is still room for improvement as I notice that the facilities are not up to expectations.

Sultan of Brunei yes to Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah seamless travel

MIRI: Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has made travelling through Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah smoother by putting up the request to the Sultan of Brunei.
The present system whereby passports are stamped 14 times at the CIQs of Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah respectively will be a thing of the past when  Malaysia and Brunei introduce digital scanning at their respective Immigration checkpoints.
On Nov 1, the chief minister at the earth-breaking and launching of second Limbang Bridge project at Pabahanan in the Ranggau Valley Development area said he would like to see travellers to and from Brunei enter both countries without too much hassle.

Much to be done to keep Tusan beach clean

Beach cleaning conducted by Rotary Club of Miri Oil Town recently.

View of Tusan Beach.

MIRI: Tusan beach may have been identified as the latest place of interest in Miri, thanks to the ‘Blue Tears’ that had helped Tusan to gain popularity through social media.
However, visitors to the beach strongly feel that more should be done to make the beach attractive. A local, who wanted to be identified as Wilson, recently told The Borneo Post that his foreign friends whom he brought to Tusan beach were unhappy with the filthy condition of the tourist spot.
“They told me they were very upset that instead of a beautiful beach which they expected, they were greeted by rubbish scattered everywhere along the beach,” he said.