Sarawak, Brunei & Kalimantan
We dedicate this site to share with you a collection of stories, news and updates related to Borneo particularly Sarawak (& Malaysia), Brunei and Kalimantan; this site covers a wide spectrum of information related to socio-culture, political scenario, economic development and environmental issues.
RAUB: The Tourism Ministry is targeting an increase of 25 million tourists visiting the country this year, compared with 24 million last year, with a projected tourism revenue of RM60 billion.Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said in order to achieve the target, her ministry would continue efforts to woo more visitors to visit Malaysia. She also added that efforts would include continuing discussions with local and foreign airlines to provide more direct flights to major towns in the country.
KUALA LUMPUR: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said demand statistics last year for international scheduled air traffic showed an 8.2 per cent increase in the passenger business and a 20.6 per cent increase in freight.
Demand growth outstripped capacity increases of 4.4 per cent for passenger and 8.9 per cent for cargo, IATA said in a recent statement.
SIBU: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is confident that Sibu will enjoy more development, progress and prosperity soon.
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SIBU: A hundred participants have signed up for the much-awaited ‘Kenyalang Head Hunter Jamboree Ride 2011-Gathering Of The Weekend Warriors’ which is scheduled to be held from Feb 26 to 27.
“Out of the 100 participants who have signed up thus far, 10 are from Canada, Venezuela and Switzerland,” said the technical director of the event Albert Chung.
KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president Audry Wan Ullok yesterday received a courtesy call from German Technical Corporation (GTZ)’s BIMP-EAGA Business Council senior advisor Susan Chan and Sabah Industrial Development and Research Investment Promotion head Tseu Kei Yeu.
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KUCHING: The recent decision made by AirAsia Bhd (AirAsia) to defer deliveries of ten A320 aircraft from 2012 to 2015 was generally seen by analysts as a good decision, bearing long term benefits to the low cost carrier.In its research report yesterday, ECM Libra Capital Sdn Bhd (ECM Libra) believed the decision was made to allow the group to switch from its order of the classic Airbus A320s to a newer variant, the A320 NEO (New Engine Option), which was designed to reduce fuel consumption by eight to 15 per cent.
KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Maulidur Rasul parade here yesterday was quite unique for a reason that three of the contingents taking part were non-Muslims
They were among the 188 contingents, comprising government departments and agencies, institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), schools and villages.
MIRI: Malaysian beauties in Australia have again done Malaysia proud in the Miss Chinese Western Australia (WA) Beauty Pageant.
Gemma Taylor, 27, a Malaysian Chinese from Ipoh and of Australian mix parentage came second after Eva Li, 20, from China at the Miss Chinese WA 2011 held at Gloucester Park, Australia.
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KUCHING: Kuching will play host to the Fourth ICASE World Conference on Science and Technology Education 2013, scheduled to be held at Borneo Convention Centre (BCCK) from Sept 29 to Oct 3, 2013.
The conference will put Sarawak on the world map for world-class science education.
KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has transformed to be an effective and efficient organisation, effectively marketing the eco-tourism products available in Sarawak to the rest of the world.
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KUCHING: Sarawak is targeting some 7.5 million tourist arrivals in 2015 which will churn in a staggering RM15 billion, said Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Datuk Rashid Khan.
This year alone, Sarawak is expected to attract some 4 million tourists and rack in some RM8.68 billion to the state coffers.
BINTULU: Sarawak is delighted with Tokuyama Corporation opening a polycrystalline silicon factory in Samalaju Industrial Park as their investment could help woo other investors to the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) area.
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KUCHING: US Ambassador to Malaysia Paul W. Jones can consider himself very lucky for being able to view the oldest and biggest orangutan during his visit to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre near here yesterday.
Staff at the centre said that the orangutan, named Ritchie, had not appeared for feeding over the last two weeks or so but surprisingly almost as soon as Jones arrived at the feeding area Ritchie also suddenly emerged from the jungle of the rainforest.
SIBU: The major thrust of Sarawak politics is to give people opportunities to rise from being a moderate to high income group, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
He said today’s politics was not merely to safeguard unity, build roads and provide basic facilities but produce knowledgeable people.
KUCHING: The Malaysian economy registered a total growth of 7.2 per cent for 2010 as a whole, on the back of economic sectors, with the exception of primary sectors, continuing to expand further during the fourth quarter of 2010.
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SIBU: IT all began with the demolition of the Sibu Lau King Howe Hospital in the early 2000’s.
The Clinic for Children with Special Needs, which started at the Hospital on Jan 7, 1998, suddenly found itself without a home.
MIRI: Air connectivity and high airport charges have always been among the major problems in developing the tourism industry in Sarawak even though the state has numerous unique products that could attract more tourists’ arrival.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan said in view of these obstacles, the state government would relentlessly find solutions to the problems and expect all the tourism players to play their part.
KUCHING: The opening day of this year’s Borneo Post International Education Fair (BPIEF) was exciting for educators and trainers as swelling crowds turned up for the exhibition yesterday.
BPIEF 2011 is held for two days from yesterday to today from 11am to 7pm.
KUCHING: The night comes early to the lowland dipterocarp forest of Gunung Gading National Park.
The tree-clad mountain slopes stop the fading daylight and long shadows play on the forest floor.
The creatures of the day hunker down and the night ones emerge to rule the dark hours.
BAU: The paddy planting activity in Bario is about to go through an agriculture revolution.
This year, the highly successful government introduction to mechanise paddy farming scheme in the state would soon be introduced to the farming community of the northern region highlands.
LAWAS: Travel for folk in Lawas and southern Sabah would be a breeze when the proposed new Lawas airport is completed under the second rolling of the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP).
KUCHING: Wind Cave Nature Reserve in Bau, which temporarily closed due to serious flooding last month, reopened to the public on Monday (Feb 21).
In a press statement yesterday, Sarawak Forestry said all the necessary rectification and repair work for damage due to the flood had been carried out at the nature reserve and they are ready to receive visitors again.
MIRI: The State is monitoring closely the situation on the earthquake development in New Zealand’s second-largest city of Christchurch, to ascertain whether there are any Sarawakians affected.
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MIRI: The official Homestay Malaysia logo can only be used by operators certified by the Ministry of Tourism Office Malaysia, Sarawak (Motour).
Thirty nine people participated in the five-day four-night Basic Course for Homestay 1/2011 organised by Motour which consisted of theory sessions in Mega Hotel that ended yesterday.
SANTUBONG: Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi hoped the government would ensure that the Sg Salak flood mitigation channel project would not adversely affect the ecosystem of the surrounding fishing areas.
Although saying that the mitigation project would only bring good to the people, he hoped that further studies could be done so that the project could be more sustainable to avoid disrupting the ecosystem and ruin Sg Salak as a fishing sanctuary.
KUCHING: MASwings will be promoting all-inclusive fares on special deals, offering 250,000 seats for travel on its network within East Malaysia.
According to head of commercial MASwings, Azlan Awang Tanjong, MASwings participation in Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair (MATF) sales was to showcase the group’s appreciation to the people of Sabah and Sarawak who have been very supportive to the airline.
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It is no secret. Sarawak tourism industry lags behind Sabah’s.
In fact, we should be ashamed our jewel in the crown, Mulu, is nowhere near as popular as Mount Kinabalu. (And the less said about Sarawak’s sea, surf and sand offerings the better.)
KUCHING: Sarawak and Sabah are not willing to relocate their orang utan to a new sanctuary for the primate in Kuala Lumpur.
Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said both states wanted their orang utan to stay where they were and, therefore, the government now had to look for orang utans from a small island in Perak.
It was a night of artistic endeavour as five local artists were at Grazie Mauri to showcase their work alongside the restaurant's new Mediterranean menu.
Brunei's artistic talents truly did take the spotlight last night as many people came to see the art on offer, and Grazie Mauri's doors were literally wide open, ready to welcome visitors.
The arrival of Australia and New Zealand tourists are set to increase by 20 per cent this year after Brunei Tourism officially appointed Walshe Group to be Brunei Tourism's first ever marketing and public relations representative office to further boost marketing efforts to attract more tourists from the oceanic region to come to Brunei Darussalam.
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There has been an increase in the number of visits Bruneians have made to Malaysia last year (2010), where an increase of almost six per cent was recorded compared to 2009, Tourism Malaysia statistics revealed recently.
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Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia have agreed to change the system of travel facilities from the Frequent Travellers Card (FTC) - which involves the use of the MyKad for Malaysian travellers and identification cards for Brunei travellers - to the Frequent Travellers Facility (FTF), by which travellers can use their international passports.
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KUCHING (Bernama) - The Lambir Hills and Niah National Parks reopened to visitors yesterday after having been closed temporarily due to serious flooding last month.
The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) said the necessary rectification and repair of the damage caused by the flood had been carried out at both parks.
MIRI: Cyclists from China and Singapore would be among the over seventy cyclists competing in the Subis Cycling Challenge Championship 2011 held today at 7 am at Bekenu town, Subis.
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KUCHING: Sarawak has won the bid to stage the 2011 Wakeboard World Cup Stop this year, beating high powered bidders including Barbados, Croatia, Colombia, Singapore and China.
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Germany has offered its assistance to the Government of Brunei Darussalam, particularly in the field of renewable energy, which the country has been working hard to realise in order to wean the nation off its dependency on oil and natural gas.
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Director of Civil Aviation Awg Hj Omarali Hj Mohd Jaafar yesterday officiated the launching of the Health, Safety and Environment Programme (KEKAS) Edition 2 at the Airport Fire Services, Department of Civil Aviation premises.
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A reception for an official delegation from the Federal Republic of Germany comprising five members of the German Federal Parliament (DEUTSCHER BUNDESTAG) was hosted at the residence of the German Ambassador to Brunei.
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Subsea commercial diver is perhaps one of the most unknown professions available but this highly skilled vocation is one of the highest remunerated professions today with daily rates in Brunei reaching US$700.
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KUCHING: The federal government has approved a RM15 million grant to upgrade the city’s tourist heritage trail.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed that the project would start as soon as the money was made available.
SIBU: Swiftlet farming in residential areas is prohibited, and those involved are advised to cease the operation or face stern action.
Sibu Municipal Council deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng gave the warning when speaking at a dialogue session with Sarawak Bird’s Nest Supply and Merchants Association (SBNSMA).
KUCHING: From hot bossa nova to sambas, Cunha and Piper will be performing at the Borneo Jazz 2011 featuring contemporary and traditional compositions that have won them fans on three continents.
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KUCHING: French cuisine is being promoted at Cafe Majestic in the Riverside Majestic Hotel Kuching this month.
Cafe Majestic Bon Appetit buffet lunch and dinner feature delightful appetisers, main courses and a long line of desserts.
RAUB: The Tourism Ministry is targeting an increase of 25 million tourists visiting the country this year, compared with 24 million last year, with a projected tourism revenue of RM60 billion.
