Archive for the 'Program@Miri' Category
Last night I attended the 44th Installation Ceremony of the Lions Club of Miri Host. I noticed a pleasant change within the Club of which I became a member in 1973 and still an annual dues paying one. Leadership is provided by both male and female members who win the support of the majority of members. The IPP is a lady and there are two other ladies in the Board (including the Treasurer). Congratulations to the newly installed President and his team and I wish them every success in the future undertakings.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Long Banga, Ulu Baram in the Miri Division, Sarawak was indeed an eye-opener for the various tribes living in the area. The Baram Parliamentary Constituency (P. 220) is so vast that it took the PM one hour by helicopter to reach the settlement of more or less 300 people (adults and children included). But on 22nd July when PM’s helicopter landed at the pre-determined location, the crowd that had gathered to meet the Nation’s most important leader, had swelled to nearly 2,000. These people came from all walks of life but mainly from various settlements in the region.
On account of wanting to meet the PM, many had travelled long journeys to Long Banga and it is to the credit of these rural folks that they came to listern to the PM with an expectation that the PM could give them better infrastrutures such as roads, mini hydro for electricity, bridges and the like. Of course, the PM did not disappoint them as he was generous in his grants to help the various tribes of the area. What is even more important is that those who came and heard PM had placed their complete trust on the PM to deliver the goods as announced. 1 Malaysia was the taken to heart by these orang ulu folks; it is good for the PM and it is good for the BN State Government going towards the state elections.
Tahniah dan Syabas.
The Miri City’s fifth anniversary celebration kicked off on 1st May 2010 with new record being endorsed by the Malaysia Book of Records for the most eco-bag used for outdoor shopping in a stadium in one hour.
The response for the outdoor shopping was overwhelming, attracting a record-breaking participation from 6,366 people, well above the initial target of 5,000.
The event also marked the city council’s no-plastic bag for shopping. The main objective of the campaign was to reduce the usage of plastic in everyday activities.
Present at the function were Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, myself, YB Datuk Lee Kim Shin, YB Andy Chia, YB Ahmad Lai and Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai.
My Miri parliamentary constituency is allocated RM1 million each year for the implementation of MRP projects at the village level. The fund is channeled through the Residents and District Offices.
Last Sunday, 10th January 2010, accompanied by Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Pujut Assemblyman YB Andy Chia, Mayor of Miri City Council, Mr Lawrence Lai, and District Officer Boniface Intang, I visited several project sites i.e. the road upgrading works in Tudan, Kuala Baram, Pujut/Sg Adong, and Luak to have a closer look at the work progress of development projects. I am satisfied with the scope and quality of work done by the contractors for these MRP projects.
However, I reminded local authorities to monitor closely the implementation of other development projects under their respective jurisdiction, particularly minor rural projects in the villages, so as to ensure the planned and approved projects were implemented and completed as scheduled. These projects are for the benefit of the people and should be done properly and on time. I am happy that the village leaders expressed their confidence on the government.
One obvious thing about 1Malaysia Concept first put up by Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib soon after he took over office as PM is that ordinary folks in Sarawak has been practicing it daily.
Here is an example from my own constituency P219 Miri.
Last saturday evening (21st November) I was invited to attend a ‘pemimpin bersama rakyat’ function at Kpg Luak, Miri.
My colleage, ADUN Datuk Lee Kim Shin, was present.
Apart from Datuk Lee and myself, the entire gathering (about 200) was from the kampong and all are Malays.
Significantly the theme for the night was: ‘Majlis Mesra Sepayung Sebumbung’ and the Ketua Kaum pledged support on behalf of the kampong for Datuk Lee and myself.
It did not matter to him one bit that Datuk Lee and myself are non Malay.
Thus 1 Malaysia is embodied in the way ordinary kampong folks react and do things without a thought about racial origin.
To me it is this type of spontaneous reactions and actions that really matters and not some ‘cooked up’ and pretentious activities that do not have real ‘roots’.
What are your feelings on this issue?
I was at Kampong Tanjong Batu, Padang Kerbau, Miri to launch a futsal tournament amongst the youth teams.
What struck me was the resourceful way the organisers went about clearing a sandy pitch from a plot of unused land in front of the kampong’s surau so that the tournament can take place. What is glaring is that our youthful participants are happy enough to play futsal on simple sandy patch roughly hacked out of unused kampong land!
But the land though unused is owned by a co-operative and there is no other land reserved for recreational purposes.
The point here is that our land use planners should have seen to it that there be some plots reserved for recreational purposes in every kampong and housing estate in the country.
How else do the authorities keep our youth away from unhealthy activities unless they can have a place to play games like futsal?
By the way, I pledged to build a futsal court for the young as well as the not so young futsal enthusiasts of Kpg Tanjong Batu by next March.
Last Thursday 17th September 2009 evening, I attended the ‘Berbuka Puasa’ or breaking of fast event organised by Kampung Haji Wahed village’s chief Encik Salleh Santol at Canada Hill.
I also presented Raya Gifts to 17 single mothers, widowers, orphans and the elderly people from the village.
In my speech, I told the audience that as Sarawakian, we are indeed very proud with YAB Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak’s statement that Sarawak and Sabah are the best models for reference in the development on unity under the 1Malaysia concept.
Sarawak is unique as she has more than 26 ethnic groups comprising different religions and cultures with exceptionally high level of understanding.
In viewing this uniqueness as a precious asset, I reminded the people not to take the existing peace and unity for granted.
I told them that we should stay united and continue to further enhance the existing good understanding and uphold the spirit of unity among each other.
I joined YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr.George Chan Hong Nam, SUPP President and my fellow comrades at the funeral of philantrophist Chia Chan Shin, the father of Pujut assemblyman Andy Chia, at his residence, Lot 59, Piasau Garden on 17th September 2009.
The late Chan Shin was passionate about the environment and mangrove swamps are one of the things the late Mr Chia Chan Shin was passionate about.
I offered my condolence to YB Andy Chia and his family.
I chaired a meeting on Friends of the Environment- FE (Rakan Alam Sekitar) for Miri Parliamentary constituency at Miri City Council 3rd September 2009.
Also present were Mayor of Miri City Council, Lawrence Lai, senior officials from Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Land and Survey Department and Environmental Department.
A sum of RM60,000 has been allocated for the implementation of Friends of the Environment (Rakan Alam Sekitar) projects.
A special task force has been formed to help enhance public participation and support toward environment-based projects.
Five sub-committees has been set up under the task force comprising River Cleanliness, Public Health, Recycle, Community and School.
For a start, an allocation of RM15,000 has been approved for the taskforce to give priority on the Miri River Cleaning Campaign project which is now under Class 3 standard, which is heavily polluted by domestic and industrial wastes.
I was invited by both the school principal, Mr. Marcus Hugo Matu Lejau and Chairman of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Ms Sandra Demi Chong to officiate the 2009 SMK Lutong’s Co-Curriculum Awards at the school premises on 5th of September 2009.
I urged the students to strike a balance between their studies and co-curriculum activities to achieve both excellent academic and co-curriculum performances. Co-curriculum activity is vital as it forms 10% of the requirement for entering public institutions of higher learning.
I also called on parents and teachers to play their respective roles in the development of education to produce quality students.
Later, at the function, I gave away awards to students who excelled in their co-curriculum activities.
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