MONDAY - 19 JANUARY 2009 - CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROADS TO BE GIVEN PRIORITY

CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROADS TO BE GIVEN PRIORITY

KOTA KINABALU:

Priority will be given to the construction of access roads in areas from Kepayan to the Putatan township which are affected by the ongoing railway upgrading project.

Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan said the decision was made during a meeting on Friday with all the parties involved in the project.

Those who attended the meeting were representatives from the Transport Ministry, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), State Railway Department, Sabah Public Works Department as well as the appointed contractor and consultant of the project.

It was also decided during the meeting that work on the project will be halted until the access roads are completed.

MONDAY - 19 JANUARY 2009 - LIEW PRESENTS HAMPER FOR ELDERLY

LIEW PRESENTS HAMPER FOR ELDERLY

KOTA KINABALU:

In conjunction with the coming Chinese New Year celebration, Likas Assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan presented hampers to the elderly in Likas.

Liew who is also the Sabah Progressive Party Deputy President and SAPP Likas Chief, said helping the elderly and the needy was among the Party’s objectives towards creating a loving and action oriented community.

“SAPP Likas members are always practical and extending their assistance to the needy, especially at this time of economic uncertainty,” he said, adding that giving out such hampers was an annual program for the division.

A total of 11 people who reside in Kampung Bukit Bendera benefited from the annual welfare program.

MONDAY - 19 JANUARY 2009 - MIDNIGHT BUS EXPRESS STILL NEEDED

MIDNIGHT BUS EXPRESS STILL NEEDED

TAWAU:

The proposal to end midnight express bus service is not suitable for implementation in Sabah currently, Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (SEBOC) president Donald Hanafi said yesterday.

The reason, he said, was that roads linking the east coast and west coast of the state were not expressways like in the peninsula.

“I’m for the proposal’s implementation in the peninsula to reduce fatal accidents on expressways.

However, the roads here (Sabah) are not so good. They are not expressways where express buses can be driven fast.

“Further more, there is almost no fatal accidents involving express buses in Sabah. What we have are just minor accidents. That too, was because another vehicle rammed into the bus,” he told Bernama here.

Donald said this in response to a statement by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat that the Transport Ministry was studying a proposal to end express bus service at midnight to avoid the loss of many lives on the road.

Ong said that the proposal by the Road Safety Department (JKJR) and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) was made as drivers were usually tired at night despite having adequate rest.

Donald said the proposal was also not suitable for Sabah because more than 80 per cent of express buses plying between the east coast and west coast were night service with departures at 7pm to 8pm.

— Bernama

SUNDAY - 18 JANUARY 2009 - YOUNG DRIVERS LUCKY ESCAPE

YOUNG DRIVERS LUCKY ESCAPE

KOTA KINABALU:

A local man in his 20s escaped unhurt when his Perodua Kancil car landed on its side after colliding with a Proton Saga at the Kingfisher roundabout along Sulaman Road here around 1pm yesterday.

It was learnt that the driver lost control of his Kancil when the Proton Saga in front suddenly braked at the roundabout.

All the three passengers and the driver of the Proton Saga also escaped unhurt.

“Although the driver of the Kancil escaped unhurt, the roundabout at the area is not safe for motorists,” said an eyewitness of the incident, who declined to be named.

He also said he fully supported the proposal made by Assistant Industrial Development Minister Datuk Hajah Jainab Ahmad that the roundabout be replaced with traffic lights.

“I agree that the size of the roundabout is too big and is therefore dangerous. The authority, especially the Public Works Department (PWD), should act fast to replace the roundabout with traffic lights. Don’t wait until something bad has happened,” he said.

Jainab, who is also the Assemblywoman for Karambunai, has urged the PWD to replace the roundabout with traffic lights. She said this would not only help to reduce the traffic flow but also prevent accidents.

“The traffic congestion is really bad due to the developments at the area such as more new housing estates, shops, 1Borneo and UMS. She also hoped that the PWD would widen the Kingfisher bridge, which is too narrow and dangerous.

SUNDAY - 18 JANUARY 2009 - OVER 4000 FLOOD VICTIMS ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME

OVER 4000 FLOOD VICTIMS ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME

PITAS:

The flood situation in Pitas has started to improve, and over 4,000 villagers were allowed to return to their homes starting yesterday.

District Officer Sapdin Ibrahim, in disclosing this, however said that 37 people from 11 families in Kampung Pusilab were still temporary sheltered at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pitas as the water had yet to recede.

“We have closed most of the temporary shelters since 11am and would probably deactivate the operations room at 6pm today (yesterday).

It will be re-activated as and when it is needed.

“For now, the weather had also somehow improved,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post.

He also disclosed that food assistance would be distributed to flood victims as soon as possible.

“We were allocated food assistance for at least 5,000 people. About 1,000 to 2,000 who have yet to receive their assistance, will receive them soon,” he said.

He added the distribution would be done based on the report and record from the affected villages.

“They are also welcome to contact the office if they have yet to receive their assistance,” he said.

SUNDAY - 18JANUARY 2009 - KEYS TO WISMA KIAN YAP GIVEN TO WELFARE DEPT

KEYS TO WISMA KIAN YAP GIVEN TO WELFARE DEPT

LABUAN:

The Welfare Department has been given the keys to Wisma Kian Yap which was bought by the Ministry of Social Welfare from the Wong Chik Lim Group of Companies for RM4,660,000.

The five-storeyed building with a total floor area of 35,800 square feet is at Mile 3 Jalan Tun Mustapha.

It will be renovated for use as offices for agencies under the ministry and non-governmental organisations whose activities are related to the agencies.

The ministry also purchased two land lots with a total area of about 10,000 square feet near the building for RM235,000 and a three-storeyed bungalow house at Taman Kian Yap, Jalan Ranca from the same company.

Staff quarters would be built on the land and the bungalow would be used as a temporary shelter for juveniles and women. At the key handing over ceremony yesterday, Welfare director Zulkifli Hassan said: “With these new facilities we would be able to better serve the local community”.

Wong Chik Lim Group chairman Norman Wong Shew Yam who officiated at the ceremony also donated RM3,000 to the Welfare Department’s Sports Club.

SATURDAY - 17 JANUARY 2009 - CIGARETTES/ FIREWORKS SEIZED

CIGARETTES/ FIREWORKS SEIZED

SEMPORNA:

Semporna police crippled a bid to distribute RM15,900 worth of contraband cigarettes and fireworks after raiding a house in Kampung Simunul, recently.

District police chief DSP Mohd Azim Khan Abdullah, when disclosing this yesterday, said they seized a total of 6,500 boxes of cigarettes and 1,530 boxes of fireworks during the 10.30pm raid on Wednesday.

“We reacted on a public tip-off. A team from the Marine Police led by Chief Inspector Mohd Rohaizad Mohd Nasir raided the house in Kampung Simunul.

“The team seized 5,000 boxes of Marvels and 1,500 boxes of Plaza cigarettes, and also the fireworks,” he said.

However, no arrest was made during the raid.

Mohd Azim thanked the public for the tip-off and hoped for continuous support in the future.

“We will keep our eyes open and fight smuggling activities here,” he said.