mySandakan.net

13th January 2009;

Sandakan: Fifteen houses in three villages here were destroyed due to a high tide phenomenon on Sunday. However, there was no casualty. Many people panicked and ran to higher grounds thinking a tsunami had struck when waves as high as 2.8 metre pounded the coastline.

Seven of the houses were in Kampung Cahaya Baru and the others in Kampung Forest (six) and Kampung Tinusa 2 (two).

Sandakan fire and rescue operations officer Mohd Razali Awang Ahmad said 27 firemen went to the scene after receiving a call at 8.54pm and found that two water villages, Kampung Sim-Sim and Kampung Gas, were also affected.

The affected residents were forced to vacate their homes and were allowed to return to their houses at 3am Monday when the situation returned to normal.

At Kg Sim Sim, a connecting bridge at Lorong 24 Sim-Sim was also ruined at 10.30pm, resulting in 11 families trapped in their houses.

Deputy Chief Minister cum Tanjung Papat Assemblyman Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah urged the relevant department and agency to assist the affected families immediately.

He also urged the victims to look for a safer place while waiting for government assistance.

Accompanying him were chairman of Sandakan Natural Disaster Committee Hamsan Supain, district police chief ACP Rosli Mohd Isa and district Fire and Rescue Department chief, Alias Abu.

In KUDAT, more than 1, 000 residents from four villages were placed at two temporary flood centres after the water level rose between 1m and 1.5m following incessant rain since Sunday.

District Police Chief, DSP Dawi Ossen said starting 2.30pm, Monday, 1,168 villagers from Kg Korina, Kg Andap Jawa, Kg Narandang Darat and Kg Narandang were shifted to the Sikuati multipurpose hall while another 309 people from Kg Narandang to SK Lok Yuk, Sikuati.

“The water level started going up after non-stop rain since late Sunday morning,” he said. The downpour only stopped at about 3pm, Monday.

The water-level, up to the waist in some parts, had yet to recede and residents were advised to stay at the centres for the moment.

“Vehicles are unable to access the roads at the affected villages due to the flood,” he said.

Two minor landslips were reported in Kg Dampirit and Kg Sumandakon, resulting in two roads being cut off but the Public Works Department has taken efforts to clear the debris.

“The centres will be open round-the-clock while the authorities including the police, Fire and Rescue Department, District Office and Welfare Department, among others, are on standby and monitoring the situation,” he added.

In KOTA MARUDU, more than 500 people from the villages of Jorontung, Pancur Langkon, Marudu Laut and Marudu Darat were moved to four temporary centres after the water level in the Kinarom River breached the danger level.

“Continuous rain since about 2pm on Sunday caused the water in the river to overflow É it has gone above 8.1m, which is over the danger level,” said Kota Marudu District Officer Luvita Koisun, adding the water started going up at 6pm, Sunday.

She said it continued pouring through Monday morning all the way to 6pm, pointing out they were expecting worse. “Heavy rain is expected at midnight.”

The flood victims have been placed at temporary centres in KPD in Timbang Batu, SK Langkon, SK Ranau and the Marudu Darat balairaya.

Luvita, who is also the District Disaster Management and Relief Committee Chairperson, said more than 20 villages were affected by the flood but only residents from the four villages had to be moved for now.

“We are monitoring the situation 24 hours like the police operations room,” she said, adding a host of relief agencies were on standby.

Residents in the district are forced to go without water at least for the moment, as the Water Department water treatment plant in Simpangan had been shut down because the water is too dirty.

“At the moment the people in the centres are provided mineral water and food,” she said.

The Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms off Sarawak, Palawan, Labuan, west Sabah and east Sabah.

source: Daily Express, Sabah; www.dailyexpress.com.my

Sandakan was the former capital of British North Borneo from the years 1884-1946. Sandakan was one of the largest towns in Sabah in the early years with traders from Europe to Africa, from Arabia to China, from the Indies to Java and from local Dusuns to the Japanese. After WWII the capital was transferred to Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu). In the early years, Sandakan served as a major port for early settlers to Sabah, and most Chinese came through this port. With the many Chinese from Canton, Sandakan once earned the nick-name of “Little Hong Kong”.

With the different nationalities of early settlers and traders, Sandakan was rich with early traces of foreign cultures. Places of interest in Sandakan include the Puu Gih Jih Chinese Temple – a majestic temple erected on top of a hill facing Sandakan Bay; St Michael and All Angels Cathedral, erected in late 19th century and one of the oldest stone buildings in Sabah. Other places of interest that can be visited are the world famous Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary which is located just 26 km from Sandakan. The Sandakan Crocodile Farm located on the Labuk Road near the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary is also a major attraction.

Source: http://www.sabah.edu.my/itma026/index.php

Luxury Deco and Renovation was officially open on 26th of January 2009, which is also the eve of Chinese new Year. Year of the Ox.

For the Chinese, lion dance to compliment the opening ceremony brings good luck and prosperity. I manage to capture a few pictures with my K618i Sony-Ericsson mobie phone.

Kota Kinabalu: Anugerah Kedai Pilihan Pengguna atau secara ringkasnya dikenali sebagai AKPP merupakan satu program yang dilaksanakan oleh Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna dengan tujuan untuk dijadikan sebagai panduan oleh pengguna supaya berbelanja secara bijak dan berhemah ketika membeli barangan keperluan.

Melalui program ini, premis-premis yang menepati penilaian dari segi harga barangan, keualiti barangan, kualiti perkhidmatan dan suasana premis perniagaan diberkan pengiktirafan sebagai kedai pilihan pengguna.

Pada tahun ini sebanyak 2005 buah premis telah menerima pencalonan, namun hanya 761 yang berjaya disenarai pendek. Manakala 170 berjaya menerima anugerah di seluruh negara. Bagi negeri Sabah cuma ada 9 pemenang.

Premis-premis tersebut ialah Warung Saji (Putatan), dan Giant Hypermarket (Kolombong) di Kota Kinabalu. Bagi Sandakan, pemenang-pemenang ialah Parkwell Department Store, Restoran Alice’s, Restoran Hidayah, dan Restoran Ajmeer. Tiga lagi pemenang ialah dari Daerah Semporna iaitu Gan Eng Hua, D’Mart Pasaraya, dan Restoran Seri Melor.

Petikan dari New Sabah Times, Khamis 22 Januari, 2009, m/s 8

Sandakan: The search for the three remaining missing passengers of last Tuesday’s boat capsize tragedy off Pulau Tebangka, was called off three days ago.

According to Head of Sandakan Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Captain Maritime Mohamad Onn Khalil, MMEA ships and those from the navy, marine police and fire and rescue services department had been searching for them since Jan 14.

“Our ships which have been involved in the search in the choppy seas off Sandakan, have been recalled to base on Monday after failing to find the missing passengers,” Onn said.

In the incident on the evening of Jan 13, 12 people were onboard the ill-fated boat when it capsized off Pulau Tebangka in rough sea while heading to Sandakan from a Philippine island close to the border with Malaysia.

Five survived while the bodies of three children and a woman were recovered and sent to Sandakan on Jan 14 evening.

Two children and another woman remained missing and reared drowned.

- By James Leong; New Sabah Times; Thursday, January 22, 2009, p/3

SANDAKAN: The bodies of four Filipinos were recovered at a beach in Kampung Tinosa near here, about 24 hours after their boat capsized in choppy waters while trying to illegally enter Sabah from Langan island at the Philippines-Malaysia border.

District marine police acting head Assistant Superintendent Muhammad Sallam Spawi confirmed that the bodies of three children and a woman were discovered at 6.30pm on Wednesday by villagers.

However, police only removed their remains after midnight.

The victims were identified as Madeline Ahamal, 19; three-year-olds Bibi Lain Mokhtar and Nagd Faikal Bastri; and Nagd’s two-month-old brother, Rajimal Bastri.

“The bodies have been sent to Duchess of Kent Hospital and we will continue to look for the three who remain missing.”
Marine police received a call from the public on Wednes-day morning about the incident.

Several of them survived but police have not been able to determine their actual numbers as no report has been lodged.

In another development, a Filipino vessel with 19 crew members has arrived safely at Taganak island in the Philippines.

The vessel was earlier believed to have sunk in Malaysian waters after it encountered engine problems on Wednesday.

Sallam said marine police received a report from Filipino authorities about 4pm yesterday to say the vessel, known as a “kumpit”, had reached Taganak, just across the border from Malaysia.

The boat was carrying essential items purchased in Sandakan.

source: The New Straits Time; www.nst.com.my

Daerah Sandakan telah dipilih sebagai tuan rumah penganjuran Sukan Sabah IV 2009

Tarikh pertandingan akan diadakan pada 2 – 6 Jun 2009 bertempat di Kompleks Sukan Sandakan

Antara sukan yang akan dipertandingkan adalah seperti berikut

AHLI JAWATANKUASA

Ahli Jawatankuasa Pelaksana

Jawatankuasa-Jawatankuasa Kecil

Dipetik dari Laman Web Majlis Perbandaran Sandakan

Sandakan: The State Government yesterday gave the assurance that aid for flood and other disaster victims in the State will be channlled immediately.

Chief minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said he had instructed State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman to provide the necessary allocations as soon as he received applications and reports from the local authorities in the event of disasters.

“The Government will provide food, clothes, mats and other necessities speedily and work to repair damaged infrastructure such as bridges and road in the affected areas.” he told reporters after visiting several villages which were inundated by floods due to the high tide phenomenon here.

Musa said although the State Government had already set aside an allocation to help disaster victims in the State, the payout would depend on the assessments made by the local authorities.
The Chief Minister also reminded the people to adhere to the local authority’s instructions if they were asked to evacuate.

“Take the advice for the safety of your family. We can help where you properties are concerned later,” he said.

“I am more concerned for the safety of my fellow residents and it is very important for them to obey and follow precisely the instructions of the Police and other relevant departments to leave their homes,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister was given a briefing by Sandakan Municipal Council President Yeo Boon Hai on the damages and the number of affected victims in Kampung Tinosa 2, Kampung Sim-Sim, Kampung Bokara, Kampung Air, Pulau Berhala and Pulau Trongliman.

Musa was accompanied by State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Peter Pang En Yin, Gum Gum Assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Hj mohd Edris and Sekong Assemblyman Datuk Samsudin Yahya.

The Borneo Post, Thursday January 15, 2009

Sibuga Sports Complex (Sandakan) will undergo a major face lift with the allocation of RM 10 million to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Sandakan. This is to cater for the upcoming Sabah Games (Saga) 2009 to be hosted in Sandakan. Again, congratulation Sandakan.

Kompleks Sukan Sibuga di Sandakan akan diubah-suai dan diberi imej baru sebagai tuan rumah kepada Sabah Games (Saga) yang akan berlangsung pada tahun 2009. Tahniah kepada Sandakan.

Sandakan: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the Government has allocated RM 16 million to implement preliminary works on the Education Hub here under the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC).

He said the establishment of the Education Hub is one of the State Government’s efforts to develop the human capital sector in Sabah.

Most of the funds would be from the Federal Government which has allocated RM 60 million this year in developing the human capital sector in the State, Musa said when launching the district-level Mall Hijrah celebrations here yesterday.

He assured the State Government would not let up in its efforts in developing human capital with a “first-class mentality” in Sabah.

He said a strong and efficient human capital is crucial in realising the Government’s efforts to transform Sabah into a progressive and developed State.

Towards this end, Musa said Sabah has made a huge investment in developing the education sector and diversifying research and development (R&D) activities.

“The State Government’s commitment can be seen from the State Budget 2009 allocation of RM 118.14 million for the development of human capital through various programmes”, he said.

Also present were outgoing Sandakan Municipal Council President Yeo Boon Hai, State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman, MUIS Chairman Datuk Syed Abbas bin Syed Ali, Gum-Gum Assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Edris and Sukau Assemblyman Saddi Abdul Rahman.

By Yusop Teppo; The Borneo Post; Sunday, January 4, 2009