Invention of sandfly repellent earns SMK Lutong spot in Petronas’ AAY 2017 grand finale

Chloe (front, centre) and her team show the processes involved in making their organic sandfly repellent during the state-level AAY 2017 round in Miri.

KUCHING: Necessity is indeed the mother of invention, as demonstrated by 16-year-old Chloe Yeo Lok Yee and her SMK Lutong team.
The Form 4 student, whose school is just a stone’s throw from the sandfly-infested Lutong beach in Miri, is allergic to the insect’s bite.
It is because of this that she has been avoiding the beach.
“I get skin inflammation every time I get bitten. The repellents available in the market are not effective.”

Student inventions AIR-MACS, Aelius have potential to be commercialised

Rakin (second row centre), flanked by Ekni (on his right) and Mohd Dzul, together with Hasimah (right) and Salmah (left) gesture during the presentation of AIR-MACS.

MIRI: Two projects undertaken by students under Petronas All About Youth (AAY) programme this year would provide cheaper and eco-friendly alternatives to air conditioners and powerbanks if they could be refined and patented.
AIR-MACS, an alternative to air conditioner was invented by 20 students from SM Sains Miri while Aelius, an alternative to powerbank is a project of 20 students from Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang.

Blue Tears – a concern to nature watchers

MANY Mirians and tourists to the Resort City, especially photographers, were bedazzled by the discovery of ‘Blue Tears’ — a sparkling bioluminescent — at Tusan Beach, some 40km from Miri, a couple of years ago.
Since then, the beach has gained a reputation as one of the must-visit tourist spots in Miri.
Visitors flock to Tusan Beach every day. They come with their best photography equipment — even on the darkest night — just to catch a glimpse of the sparkling blue lights from the sea. The beauty of Blue Tears, as many have described it, is rather magical.

Business signboard not advertisement of service — Dr Sim

Dr Sim (seated, fourth left) and members of associations and representatives of local councils in a photo-call after the meeting.

KUCHING: Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian does not agree with the argument that a business name signboard is an advertisement of service.
Contemplating an amendment to by-laws that are apparently peculiar, Dr Sim said the local council by-laws should be ‘people-friendly’.
Short of saying the law on business name signboards requiring an advertisement licence is absurd, Dr Sim said the law would be amended to provide clarity when the time comes.

Entrepreneur creates Sarawak version of keropok lekor

Machinery has speeded up the production of keropok lekor.

MIRI: There is no dispute that keropok lekor, a favourite snack among Malaysians, is originally from East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia – Terengganu and Kelantan.
Despite many similar products produced in all corners of the country, the original version is the tastiest.

Keropok lekor entrepreneur Fatimah Abdul Hamid, 57, has a vision to create Sarawak’s own version of keropok lekor.
“Keropok lekor is made from ingredients like fish, sago flour and salt; cooked and later deep-fried, it is best eaten hot. Connoisseurs of lekor can detect any subtle differences in taste.

Ali, dubbed the coconut man.

Ali, dubbed the coconut man.

ALI’s coconut stall is situated at the corner of the Saberkas Complex in Miri and people are happy to buy from him.
He not only sells coconuts but also cuts the fruits up for customers and chats with them under the tree as they savour the soft tender coconut flesh and the refreshing water.
Sometimes, three or four people would sit down for a chat — or just one man might drive by and order a fruit directly from the driver’s seat!
Dubbed the coconut man, Ali has been selling fresh coconuts for some years now. He built up his stall from a small wooden shack to a fairly reasonable kiosk with a storeroom, reinforced by wire mesh and grilles, and an open space with a stove for frying fritters.
He has a section for coconut shakes, a new product. There is a little banner here – an old one by the looks of it. But he is not worried about it.

The untold tale of Pua Kumbu

Cutting Rengat leaves for the blue dye.

THE 1865 fantasy novel ‘Alice in Wonderland’ written by Lewis Carroll, tells the story of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole — entry into the unknown, of adventure and beauty. Such was the case of Dr Weylene Jeffery Jehom when she stumbled into the enigmatic world of the Pua Kumbu, only that this time it was not the fictional fantasy adventures but an authentic and sacred journey.
The Pua Kumbu, the Iban hand-woven textile, represents the heart of the Iban culture. And just like the Alice in the Wonderland — Weylene became ‘curiouser and curiouser’ towards the art of Iban weaving, that she spent two years just searching for the weavers and master weavers. Her sole desire was to experience the traditional culture and raw skills of dyeing and weaving.

Kelabit museum highlights megaliths

The launching of the Kelabit community museum was graced by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas during the 12th Pesta Nukenen (Food Festival) in Bario recently.

MIRI: Bario, located in the Highlands of Borneo and homeland of the indigenous Kelabit tribe, is not only known for its peaceful agricultural atmosphere but also famous for its megalithic monuments.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts deputy dean (student affairs and alumni) Dr Yakup Mohd Rafee said the Kelabit community in the highlands of Bario should be proud that they are rich with all sorts of fascinating heritage and culture.

Bario – a Highlands experience

The town centre where dignitaries watch the traditional performances.

A SINGAPOREAN tourist stepped on the scale to have his body weight verified by the counter officer as he checked in for a Twin Otter flight, operated by Sarawak’s Rural Air Service, to the Bario Highlands.
His fellow Singaporeans and Kuala Lumpur friends travelling with him, were amused they had to weigh in for their first-ever flight aboard the 19-seater light aircraft to the highlands for the Bario Food and Cultural Festival 2017 (Pesta Nukenen) from July 27-29.
Apparently, they did not expect this, at least not at Miri Airport which is classified as an international airport. But it was all taken in good spirits and their trip to the Bario Highlands turned out to be an enjoyable and memorable one.

Paragliders take to the skies at Sg Pagar

Paragliders and paramotorists from Brunei, Sabah and Malaysia in a group photo at Beraya beach.

MIRI: The Sungai Pagar paragliding site at Beraya in Sibuti has the potential to become a hub for aerial sport tourism due to the location of its takeoff site from a cliff facing the South China Sea and the Beraya seafront.
This sport needs wind and height for takeoff and landing, and this makes cliffs such as the Sungai Pagar site at Beraya beach the best location for paragliding.
Paramotor sports is increasingly well-known among tourists and locals alike in Miri and Sarawak as a whole. This sport started in Miri at the old Lutong Airstrip as far back as the early 90’s, with paragliding starting in 2012.