Dr Chan offers to resign over mayors post Mar 1, 2008
KUCHING: Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam has offered to resign as Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president and Deputy Chief Minister if the vacancy for city south mayor is not filled by a Chinese. The new mayor will be appointed after the parliamentary election,'' he said in response to a challenge from Bandar Kuching incumbent Chong Chieng Jen (of the DAP) ... Asked about the possibility of city councillor Alan Sim Yaw Yen becoming the new mayor, Dr Chan said Sim hoped to be a full-time... (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
HSL seeking 9MP jobs Mar 1, 2008
KUCHING: Hock Seng Lee Bhd (HSL) expects to secure more infrastructure projects to boost its order book, which now stands at a record RM1 ... These projects include Miri flood mitigation, Alam Sanctuary housing development in Kuching as well as reclamation and infrastructure works for industrial estates in Tanjung Manis and Kota Samarahan. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Economic development key to RI border improvements Feb 28, 2008
Abdul Khalik, Kuching, Malaysia. Indonesia and Malaysia conjoin at the Entekong border office complex in Borneo where West Kalimantan meets Malaysia's Serawak, but conditions in the countries' border areas could not be further apart. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Best-looking in a cheongsam Feb 25, 2008
KUCHING: Hairstylist Yek Loon Vui from Miri, Sarawak, was crowned Miss Cheongsam Malaysia 2008 on Sunday night. The 23-year-old, who wore an elegant red cheongsam, beat 17 other contestants for the title to take home RM8,000. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Kedah wary of threat posed by Sarawak at their own turf Feb 23, 2008
Instead, the treble champions are more concerned on overcoming a resurgent Sarawak in their own backyard in Kuching tonight ... Azraai admitted that Sarawak are doing great at home and have been scoring a lot of goals in Kuching this season ... We took them lightly and paid the price when Sarawak held us to a draw in both Kuching and Alor Star, said Azraai prior to leaving to Kuching yesterday. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Sports)
Sarawak: PKR, DAP agree on Stampin seat Feb 21, 2008
KUCHING: The Sarawak DAP has given in to PKR's demand to withdraw from contesting in the Stampin parliamentary seat ... The other is Bandar Kuching, where the party's incumbent MP Chong Chieng Jen will defend his seat ... Ng, who is also Padungan assemblyman, had earlier this week threatened DAP that he would fight Chong in Bandar Kuching if DAP did not withdraw its candidate in Stampin. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Sarawak BN still finalising list Feb 20, 2008
KUCHING: The twice-postponed press conference to announce state Barisan Nasional candidates on Wednesday has given rise to speculations of last minute changes to the list. Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was scheduled to announce the list at 10am but postponed it to 2pm. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Opposition to take on opposition Feb 19, 2008
KUCHING: A battle of the giants is shaping up in Bandar Kuching with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Padungan assemblyman Dominic Ng Kim Ho likely to take on DAP incumbent MP Chong Chieng Jen ... PKR has shortlisted its Stampin chief See Chee How, former political secretary to then DAP Bandar Kuching MP Sim Kwang Yang, to challenge Yong ... PKR has asked the DAP to give way to its candidates in either Bandar Kuching or Stampin (in Kuching), Sibu or Lanang (in Sibu) and Miri. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Discounts on MASwings tickets Feb 18, 2008
KUCHING: MASwings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, is offering 20,000 discounted seats to Sabah and Sarawak during the Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair (MATF) to be held from Friday till Sunday ... MATF will be held at the Permata Exhibition Centre in Kuching, Wisma Sanyan in Sibu, Mega Hotel in Miri and Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu simultaneously. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
SUPP picks Ding for Sarikei Feb 15, 2008
KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) has picked Ding Kuong Hiing, a political secretary to the Chief Minister, as its compromise candidate for the controversial Sarikei parliamentary seat ... Sim will challenge DAPs incumbent Chong Chieng Jen in Bandar Kuching ... Admitting that there were internal party troubles in Sarikei, he expects a tough fight with the opposition in both Sarikei and Bandar Kuching. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Uncertain fate for six MPs in Sarawak Feb 14, 2008
KUCHING: The fate of the six Dayak MPs who won on the Barisan Nasional-PBDS (Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak) ticket in the 2004 elections is hanging in the balance. Uncertainty remains if they will be re-nominated by the coalition to defend their seats, and if so, under which party they would contest. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Naim Cendera gets nod for units listing on main board Feb 5, 2008
KUCHING: Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd has obtained Securities Commission approval for the flotation of its 45%-owned oil and gas outfit Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd (DEHB). Deputy managing director Dr Sharifuddin Wahab expects DEHB was expected to be listed on Bursa Malaysia main board in late April. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Marrybrown to open first outlet in Tanzania Feb 2, 2008
Liew also said the company planned to open 20 outlets in the country this year, with an outlet opening at the Kuching Airport this month and another at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang next month. Targeted sites were airports, shopping malls and hospitals. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
AirAsia flies to Singapore from KL Feb 2, 2008
SINGAPORE: AirAsia will push for more flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route as well as for services from Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi and Penang into the island republic. Its chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said this here after landing with 180 passengers on the budget airline's inaugural flight into Changi Airport yesterday. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
UBG sets aside RM500m for more acquisitions Feb 2, 2008
KUCHING: UBG Bhd believes the way forward is to grow via acquisitions and it will set aside about RM500mil to acquire more companies. But any purchase would likely be made only by the end of the third quarter and future purchases would have to amplify what UBG has, deputy chairman Syed Ahmad Alwee Alsree. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
News in brief Feb 1, 2008
KUCHING: Amanah Saham Sarawak Bhd (Assar) has announced a 6 sen dividend per unit for its unit trust holders that will involve a total cash payout of RM30. 8mil. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
AirAsia and MAS offer promo tickets Jan 31, 2008
Offered exclusively through online bookings () until Feb 3, the highly popular destinations include Phuket, Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuching and Macau. The free seats are offered from all its hubs in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu ... Meanwhile, MAS will put six million seats on offer during the Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair (MATF) to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching from Feb 22 to 24. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Malaysia Airlines' travel fair is back Jan 30, 2008
Around six million seats will be up for grabs at the travel fair which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang, Kuala Terengganu and also in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. The offers will also be available at all Malaysia Airlines ticketing offices and its 24-hour callcentre at 1-300-88-3000. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Consumer sector resilient Jan 28, 2008
She said the string of incentives introduced in Budget 2008, coupled with the opening of five new major shopping malls (The Pavilion, The Gardens, Sunway Pyramid Annexe, The Spring, Kuching and AEON Bukit Tinggi), should drive the retail sector for the year. In 2006, when consumer sentiment was low due to petrol price hike, the retail sector still registered satisfactory results. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
HSL opens 3rd outlet in Kuching Jan 25, 2008
KUCHING: Hock Sin Leong Group Bhd opened its third HSL outlet here and fourth overall in Sarawak. Located at The Spring shopping mall, the outlet under the Circuit City brand name is HSL's largest in Sarawak to date. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Thrills and spills at competition Jan 14, 2008
KUCHING: Lion and dragon dance teams wowed the crowd at the inaugural Sarawak Open Lion Dance Championship here recently as they displayed their energetic and acrobatic skills. Organised by the Chinese Martial Arts Association, the championship comprised of three events traditional lion dance, lion dance on poles and dragon dance. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
RM400mil sales target for The Regalia Jan 11, 2008
We hope to launch our Plaza Damas project in March and Sri Putramas in Jalan Kuching in May, Won said. The projects would have an estimated GDV of RM600mil and RM300mil respectively, she added. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Truly memorable 80th birthday Jan 11, 2008
KUCHING: It was a birthday party like no other for Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub, one of Malaysias most fiery politicians in his heyday. He used the occasion of his 80th birthday bash at the Kuching Hilton here last Thursday to publicly display that his 20-year-old strained relationship with Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is a thing of the past. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Hour-by-hour forecast Jan 3, 2008
Melbourne, FL 32935 Last Updated: 01/03/08 07:15:48 EDT. C) Relative Humidity: 55% Visability: 10 miles (16 km). (Florida Today)
Football: Perak bank on Khalid, Caceres to deliver Jan 1, 2008
The Crocs had been the whipping boys in the top flight before producing a surprise 4-1 win over UPB MyTeam in Kuching last Saturday. It is so difficult to predict a team's form in the Super League. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Organized religion Dec 31, 2007
PA ALEXANDER Kuching, Malaysia. Tourism promotion Dec. 27, p. 4. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Sains speeds up its Net access Dec 26, 2007
KUCHING: Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (Sains) is the first organisation in the state to subscribe to the 45Mbps (megabits per second) TM Direct broadband leased line. Telekom Malaysia Bhd has signed a service agreement with Sains to upgrade the ICT (information and communications technology) systems integrator's broadband leased line capacity from 8Mbps to the new speed. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Two buried alive in Kapit landslide (updated) Dec 26, 2007
KUCHING: Two villagers were buried alive in a major landslide, which destroyed nine wooden houses in Lorong 1, Kampung Baru Cina, Kapit town in upper Rejang River early Wednesday. Rescuers are still searching for two others, believed to be from the same family, who were still missing but feared dead. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
20 vie for Mr. International title in Malaysia Dec 25, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- For the first time in Malaysia, the Mister International 2007 will be held in Kuching, capital city of eastern Sarawak state, local media reported on Tuesday. Twenty participants from Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, India, Italy, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, China's Taiwan, the United States and Venezuela will join the contest on Dec. 31. (Xinhuanet, China)
Tune Hotels making big waves Dec 24, 2007
However, we are not limiting our openings to destinations that budget carrier AirAsia flies to, he said, adding that the next hotel would be opened in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. The company now runs a flagship hotel at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, while about 20 hotels are under refurbishment or development. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
New RM50 note from Jan 30 Dec 22, 2007
Each will cost RM60 and will be available from Dec 26 at the headquarters and branches in Penang, Johor Baru, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Dr Zeti said the current RM50 notes would continue to be legal tender even with the introduction of the new notes, adding that they would be phased out in a few years. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Direct AirAsia flights to Guangzhou from Jan 16 Dec 18, 2007
Your browser does not support script. Tuesday December 18, 2007 MYT 4:04:10 PM. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Tiger roars with order for 20 planes Dec 18, 2007
He said the carrier also planned to serve cities such as Kuching, in eastern Malaysia, when air restrictions are lifted. Bloomberg. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
SAINS gets more broadband bang Dec 17, 2007
KUCHING: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) have signed a service agreement that will see SAINS upgrading its broadband leased line capacity from the current 8 Mbps to 45 Mbps. By upgrading its Internet access capacity, state-owned SAINS would be able to offer more effective and innovative communications network solutions to the Sarawak state government and its other government agencies through the SarawakNet system, the company said. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Pandelela becomes youngest winner, thanks to her family Dec 15, 2007
The Kuching lass first served notice of her potential when she bagged three gold and two silver medals in Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Alor Star last year. The 17-year-old Jun Hoong expressed satisfaction over her performance with a new partner. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Sports)
Exciting year ahead for corporate Malaysia Dec 15, 2007
We are now in pursuit to make all our airports achieve worlds best status in their respective categories, and we will start with the Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Langkawi airports. More News. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Malaysia's crackdown on dissent widens Dec 12, 2007
Still, the string of arrests have not deterred another small group of five lawyers and opposition politicians from marching in Kuching, East Malaysia on Monday morning in a symbolic gesture to mark Human Rights Day, reported the independent news portal Malaysiakini. Some analysts believe that the widening gap between rich and the poor in Malaysia is fueling the growing number of protests. (Asia Times Online)
Pelikan to unveil new product range Dec 8, 2007
KUCHING: Pelikan plans to introduce its Hardcopy range of printer supplies in the country and Asia in the first quarter next year ... We plan to launch the products in Malaysia in January, he said at the opening of Pelikans first east Malaysia branch in Kuching yesterday. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Alternative printer supplies from Pelikan Dec 7, 2007
KUCHING: Pelikan plans to introduce its Hardcopy range of printer supplies to the Malaysian and Asian markets in the first quarter of next year. Products in the range include ink and toner cartridges, typewriter ribbons and thermal transfer rolls. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Complete weather forecast Dec 7, 2007
Jackson, MS 39201 Last Updated: 12/07/07 07:45:24 EDT. C) Relative Humidity: 74% Barometer: 30. (The Clarion-Ledger)
For China, Even a Beauty Pageant Must Toe the Party Line Dec 7, 2007
Lobsang Wangyal, the director of the Miss Tibet pageant, said from Dharmsala Thursday that an official from the Chinese consulate in the Malaysian city of Kuching called the organizer of the Miss Tourism competition "expressing their disapproval of a Miss Tibet." ... A diplomat at the Chinese consulate in Kuching Thursday referred queries to the Malaysian tourism authorities, saying "they know the reason" for the consulate's intervention. (CNSnews.com)
More Malaysia-Singapore flights Nov 30, 2007
MAS now flies to Singapore daily from Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu while SIA has a daily flight to Penang but its subsidary Silk Air operate flights to Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu from the republic. It was reported that AirAsia was also keen to fly on these routes to Singapore. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Chance to get full value of RM500, RM1,000 notes Nov 27, 2007
A statement issued Tuesday said the public could exchange the RM500 and RM1,000 notes for their equivalent in RM100 or RM50 notes at Bank Negara or its branches in Johor Baru, Pulau Pinang, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Bank Negara had announced on Sept 12 1998 the demonetisation of the RM500 and RM1,000 notes and the notes ceased to be legal tender effective July 1, 1999. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Be bolder, property developers told Nov 26, 2007
KUCHING: Property developers in Sarawak must be bolder in designing market strategies to attract foreign house buyers under the Malaysia My Second Home programme, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said. He urged local developers to form smart partnerships with their counterparts outside the country, such as in Singapore and the Middle East, to ensure that the second home programme was a success. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Kedah eye their fourth title of the year in curtain raiser Nov 18, 2007
The league s new boys Police begin life in the top flight with a trip to Kuching to face Sarawak, while Johor FC entertain Terengganu in Pasir Gudang. UPB MyTeam will only make their Super League debut on Wednesday. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Airline award sparks ticket rush Nov 16, 2007
An AirAsia official said the popular period of travel was January and March while the top-selling destinations including Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi, Shenzen, Bali and Bangkok. Besides this, AirAsia-X tickets to the Gold Coast in Australia are also being snapped up, she said. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Hock Seng Lee proposes share split Nov 15, 2007
KUCHING: Hock Seng Lee Bhd has proposed a share split of one existing ordinary share of RM1 into five shares of 20sen each. The company said the share split would improve the liquidity and marketability of the stock. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Sarawak ready for rainy season Nov 8, 2007
KUCHING: Nearly 500 boats are on standby for fast evacuation of any flood victims as Sarawak gears up for the rainy season. Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the state had prepared various types of boats that could reach flood victims faster. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
AirAsia hopes to fly to Spore next month One-way ticket to cost RM150 Nov 2, 2007
from Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, he told reporters at the 4th Annual Asia Pacific and Middle East Aviation Outlook Summit here yesterday. He hoped that Singapore would also open up the route as it would benefit both countries. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Sarawak to double timber production Nov 1, 2007
KUCHING: Sarawak aims to double its timber production to 25 million cubic metres a year by creating one million hectares of planted forests in 13 years time. To achieve that, the state government has issued 38 licences for planted forest projects, said Sarawak Forestry Applied Forest Science and Industry Development general manager Nigel Lim Poon Teck. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Malaysia's AirAsia eyes 25 more new A320 planes for Singapore expansion Nov 1, 2007
The airline hopes to get more routes to Singapore serving other Malaysian cities such as northern Penang state, and Kota Kinabalu and Kuching on Borneo island, he said. "No one can stop the ball rolling now. It's started," he said. (International Herald Tribune)
Zecon gets nod for RM614mil project Oct 30, 2007
KUCHING: Zecon Bhd has obtained approval from the Sarawak authorities for a RM613. 9mil property development project in Semenanjung Demak near here. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Women want more decision-making posts Oct 27, 2007
KUCHING: Women should hold a third of all decision-making positions in Malaysia in the next few years. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said this was the target the ministry hoped to achieve. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Flights to Macau for RM39.99 Oct 24, 2007
PETALING JAYA: AirAsia will begin its first international route to Macau from its Kuching hub beginning Nov 15. The flights will commence with three weekly flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Hari Raya brings all races together, says Abdullah Oct 20, 2007
KUCHING: The Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration in Malaysia is unique in the Muslim world as it brings together people of different races and religions, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The Prime Minister said Hari Raya has become a national event for Malaysians and is celebrated by all. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
MASWings receives 3,000 bookings in two weeks Oct 16, 2007
KUCHING: Sarawak has made a headstart in drawing back tourists from long haul destinations with the recent launch of the new airline, MASWings ... Shauqi said with Royal Brunei Airline resuming its Kuching-Bandar Seri Begawan service on Dec 1, MAS expected stiff competition as both airlines served similar long-haul destinations. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Hockey: U-turn on plan to send juniors to Korat Oct 16, 2007
The Malaysian team resume training tomorrow after the Hari Raya break and they will go to Kuching on Oct 26 for a six-day mental training stint under psychologist Fred Tan. The team will also play four friendly matches against China (Nov 23, 24 and 26) and Canada (Nov 25). (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Malaysia, Thailand pledge to work together on health issues Sep 28, 2007
KUCHING: Malaysia and Thailand have pledged to work together on public health issues such as the surveillance and control of diseases like influenza and the avian flu. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said since northern Malaysia and southern Thailand shared a common border, it was important for both countries to collaborate on the matter. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Football: Sarawak players finally get paid Sep 22, 2007
KUCHING: Cash-strapped FA of Sarawak (FAS) paid the first salary instalment for its local and foreign imports this week after receiving an RM150,000 grant from the FA of Malaysia (FAM). Despite the payment, the FA still owes the players five months' salary -- it owed about seven months' salary totalling RM600,000. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Sports)
AirAsia to launch Kuching-Macau route on Nov 15 Sep 20, 2007
KUCHING: Budget carrier AirAsia will launch its first international connection from Sarawak when it inaugurates the Kuching-Macau daily flight on Nov 15. Its Kuching station manager Shanmugamnathan Suppiah said the carrier would add more flights if there was more demand from travellers ... "If the Kuching-Macau flight is a success, we may consider introducing a Kuching-Shenzen route," he said when meeting state Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh on Thursday. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Tele Dynamics aims big with notebooks Sep 19, 2007
At present, the company has four branches located in Penang, Ipoh, Johor and Kuching. More News. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Sports council did not keep track of equipment purchase Sep 18, 2007
KUCHING: The Sarawak State Sports Council spent RM2. 67mil on sports equipment from 2004 to 2006 but did not keep track of purchases to prevent wastage or abuse. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Swee Joo working to become total logistic provider Sep 17, 2007
KUCHING: Swee Joo Bhd, which has ventured into the transportation of crude palm oil (CPO), is working towards becoming a total logistic solution provider. Group chairman Alexander Nanta Linggi said the company would build more warehousing facilities as it expanded its shipping networks to serve more intra-Asean ports. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Grand Malaysia Day celebrations in Sabah and Sarawak Sep 16, 2007
In Kuching, a flag hoisting ceremony marked Malaysias 44th birthday at Padang Merdeka. Padungan assemblyman Dominic Ng Kim Ho read the Proclamation of Sarawak attaining independence as a state in Malaysia (which in 1963 was read by Sarawak first Chief Minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan) before he raised the Sarawak flag. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Hartz Chicken to expand Sep 15, 2007
KUCHING: Fast-food buffet chain operator Hartz Chicken (M) Sdn Bhd is targeting 10 more restaurants in Malaysia in the next three years. Executive director Margaret Sie said establishing more franchise restaurants would be the fastest way to expand its network. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)