WEDNESDAY-26 NOVEMBER 2008-PRICES OF TEH TARIK, ROTI CANAI CUT BY 10 SEN

PRICES OF TEH TARIK, ROTI CANAI CUT BY 10 SEN

KOTA KINABALU:

The prices of teh tarik and roti canai have been reduced by 10 sen at all Muslim restaurants in Sabah effective from yesterday.

Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Datuk Baisul Khan b Salman Faris said the price reduction is in line with the reduction in fuel prices in the country.

Speaking to the media at his head office in Sinsuran Complex here yesterday, Baisul said the new price of teh tarik is now RM1.20 while that of roti canai is RM1. 10.

“We have decided to reduce the price of teh tarik from RM1.30 to RM1.20 and roti canai from RM 1.20 to RM1. 10 even though the prices of raw materials in Sabah have increased tremendously, by more than 20 per cent, in the last six months,” he said.

He said this showed the lower fuel prices have prompted producers of raw materials to reduce their prices.

According to him, some of the supermarkets and hypermarkets in West Malaysia have reduced their prices.

A 25kg bag of.flour for making roti canai in West Malaysia is sold at RM43. 50 but in Sabah it is sold at RM7O, which is more than 60 per cent higher, he said, adding that 17kg of cooking oil (palm oil) which is produced in Sabah is priced at RM39.50,in the State and is sold at the same price in West Malaysia.

It is rather difficult to understand the pricing mechanism when the price of the cooking oil is the same despite the transportation cost involving, be said, adding that our cooking oil here should be priced lower than that in the West Malaysia.

Apart from the flour and cooking oil, the prices of other items like condensed milk, Milo, Nescafe, Horlicks and margarine in the State have been not only not reduced but increased during the last six months, Baisul said.

The suppliers blamed the manufacturers for the increase in prices, he said, adding that they would leave it to the Ministry concerned to check the source of the problem instead of merely monitoring the prices at retail outlets and restaurants.

Baisul said the price of eggs had also been increased due to the higher price of chicken feed.

“When we confront the poultry farmers over the increase in the price of chicken, they said it is due to the increase in the price of chicken feed,” he said.

A tray of 30 eggs was priced at RM8 six months ago but now it is sold at RM9. 50 and above, he said.

Baisul said that from their observations, most of the goods sold in Sabah are priced 20 per cent higher than those in West Malaysia.

“This may be due to the surcharge imposed by transporters who are charging RM15O per container. This is very unusual and it is only practised in Sabah,” he said.

“I appeal to the State Government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Musa Aman to intervene and abolish the so called surcharge,”. he said.

WEDNESDAY-FISHERMEN WANT KO-NELAYAN TO CONTINUE MANAGING E-DIESEL DISTRIBUTION

FISHERMEN WANT KO-NELAYAN TO CONTINUE MANAGING E-DIESEL DISTRIBUTION

KOTA KINABALU:

The Sabah United Fisheries and Fishing Boat Association (SUFFBA) has called for Ko-Nelayan, a State agency, to continually manage the distribution of e-diesel in Sabah.

SUFFBA Chairman Arsani Arsaf expressed optimism yesterday that Ko-elayan would be able to handle the situation as they have been dealing with the matter over the last two years.

Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) Chairman Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail recently announced that the Sabah Fishermen Association (Pengasah) would be taking over the wholesale of subsidised e-diesel in Sabah gradually, beginning January next year.

Abdul Rahim said that the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry had approved the proposal in principle and RM9. 8 million litres of subsidised diesel was expected to be allocated to Pengasah for distribution to Sabah fishermen.

“We realise that there have been a few hiccups in the distribution of subsidised e-diesel by Ko-Nelayan but believe that the Agency has improved over the years. Even the e-diesel card is also causing a lot of problems to commercial fishermen, so we hope the relevant Ministry will review and look into ways that could help overcome the existing problems,” he said.

Arsani stressed that the Association is not pushing any kind of development, adding: “In fact, we welcome development which would benefit us in many ways. However sometimes these new developments are causing a lot of problems. Therefore, it is our hope that the relevant authority would at least provide us the opportunity to express our views on the proposed programmes before implementing them.”

He also called on the Government to reduce the RM1 .43 per-litre subsidised diesel price as soon as possible.

“We understand the current price is very much influenced by the global market, but many of our members are complaining that it was too much to bear, stressing that currently, the cost has also escalated.

“It is our hope that the Government could reduce the price to RM1 per litre ... fish output has not been that encouraging lately. Fishing is no longer as easy as anyone would think it is,” Arsani said.

He added that the fishermen are all waiting for good news from the relevant authority and hope that the Government would also take into consideration of their grouses.

There are five Associations representing 1,200 fishermen’s boats that are affiliated to SUFFBA with 700 members throughout the State.

WEDNESDAY-26 NOVEMBER 2008-CONSUMERS TOLD TO WATCH SPIRALLING PHONE BILLS

CONSUMERS TOLD TO WATCH SPIRALLING PHONE BILLS

KOTA BELUD:

Families are advised to watch out their spiralling mobile phone bills and check their children’s spending spree on unnecessary calls.

This advice came from Assistant Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Herbert Timbon Lagadan, especially for families who hardly have any cash left at the end of the month for other bills.

“In this modern day, everybody uses hand phone, even while tapping rubber, because it is convenient. However we must be discreet. Don’t let your family suffer just because too much of your hard-earned money is spent on phone bills.

“There is a study by CASH (Sabah Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan) that shows some families even spent as high as 40 percent of their income on handphone bills alone! This is alarming and could have devastating effect on poor families,” Timbon said.

He said this while giving a talk at a dialogue between kampung folks with officers of a Government department and a bank in Kampung Lasau Lama near here yesterday.

Timbon who is the Kadamaian Assemblyman, also called on the villagers to make full use of opportunities provided by the various Government departments in the district.

“There are so many assistance schemes from the Government. You only need to go to the departments concerned. The Government even provides free fruit seedlings, fish fry, chicks and ducklings for those qualified, but not many know because they don’t ask or look for the departments,” he said.

Timbon said the good news for the Lasau folks is the on-going asphalting of the 15km stretch of road to Lasau. When completed it would enable the villagers to bring their agricultural produce to the town faster and cheaper.

WEDNESDAY-26 NOVEMBER 2008-MAN ACQUITTED OF MURDERING DAUGHTER

MAN ACQUITTED OF MURDERING DAUGHTER

KOTA KINABALU:

The High Court here yesterday acquitted a local man charged with murdering his three-year-old daughter two years ago.

“On hearing the foregoing evidence, I find the accused, Freddy Marginim, not guilty of the offence as charged by reason of his unsoundness of mind as contained in Section 84. He is therefore acquitted under Section 347 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), under which I specifically find that he did commit the act in question,” said Datuk Nurchaya Hj Arshad in acquitting Freddy, 28, of the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides the death sentence on conviction.

“Pursuant to Section 348 (i) of the CPC, I order that the accused be kept in safe custody in the Kepayan Prison and I shall report the orders herein to the Yang di Pertua Negeri of Sabah so that an order may be made by the TYT pursuant to Section 348 (ii) thereof which reads; the ruler may order that person to be confined in a psychiatric hospital during the pleasure of the state,” Nurchaya added.

During the proceedings, Freddy’s parents and his close family members were present in the court.

After the court delivered the judgement, Counsel Arthur Bornie who represented the accused, explained to his client the outcome of the judgment. Freddy was accused of murdering his daughter Diana bt Freddy at a room of an unnumbered house in Kampung Pogunon, Penampang about 11pm on August
17, 2006.

He was ordered to enter his defence of the murder charge on Sept 3 this year after the court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.

Two witnesses were called during the trial before the defence closed its case. The accused was currently remanded under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code as the alleged offence provides no bail.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jamil Aripin prosecuted the case.

WEDNESDAY-26 NOVEMBER 2008-FILIPINO JAILED FOR STEALING FROM HANDICRAFT MARKET

FILIPINO JAILED FOR STEALING FROM HANDICRAFT MARKET

KOTA KINABALU:

A Filipino was jailed five days by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for stealing from a handicraft market.

Magistrate Dana Arabi Wazani imposed the sentence on 28-year- old Abdullah Tajib b Ahmad after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 380 of the Penal Code which provides a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine on conviction.

The court also ordered Tajib to be referred to the Immigration Department for further action after his release from prison.

The jobless accused admitted to stealing eight wrist watches, 15 hooks of key, two pens, a bracelet and a calculator altogether worth RM200 from the handicraft market in Sinsuran here about 3.3Oam on Nov 22, this year.

The facts of the case stated that a security guard patrolling at the place saw the accused bringing a shoulder bag.

He then stopped the accused and checked inside the bag and found the stolen items.

Meanwhile another man was also jailed five days for stealing a box of chainsaw blades altogether worth RM450 which belonged to his employer.
Afiq Jahari, 21, was accused of stealing the box which contained 100 pieces of chansaw blades from Syarikat Ing Tat Hardwares Trading Sdn Bhd in Kolombong about 1 lam on Nov 22, this year.

The offence under Section 381 of the Penal Code provides a jail term of up to seven years and a fine on conviction.

According to the facts of the case, while the complainant, Margaret Tsang Mei Ling, was inspecting her workers, he saw the accused hiding something under an abandoned lorry in the compound of the premises.

She then approached the accused and upon checking, he found a box containing the 100 pieces of chainsaw blades.

Margaret then brought the accused to the Kota Kinabalu Police Station for further action.

In another case, Chew Chee Chan, 35, was fined RM2,000 in default six months’ jail for possessing 0.15 gram of cannabis.

The accused was arrested by Police about 11pm on Sept 16 this year at a house in Kobusak Villa, Jalan Kobusak following the discovery of the drug in his possession.

Inspector Zamri Zakaria prosecuted all the cases.

TUESDAY-25 NOVEMBER 2008-BUNDUSAN ROAD PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED APRIL

BUNDUSAN ROAD PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED APRIL

PENAMPANG:

Residents and business operators along Jalan Bundusan will be relieved to know that the road upgrading project will be completed in April next year.

“It was the consensus from all quarters involved, the contractor, Public Works Department (PWD), utilities companies, telecommunication companies, City Hall and the Penampang District Council, among others during a meeting here today,” Kapayan Assemblyman Datuk Edward Khoo said.

Speaking to reporters after attending the meeting which was held at the Penampang District Council building yesterday, Khoo said he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.

“We have ironed out some of the technical problems involving the agencies and it was the consensus that the project will be completed in April. There will be no more delays,” Khoo who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, said.

According to him, the current delay was because Telekom Malaysia has requested addition time to recast its underground cables and the extra wet spell in the past few months had also played its part in making it very difficult for the work to proceed smoothly.

Earlier in the meeting, Khoo also asked that the road signages, especially those informing roadusers of diversions, to be placed accordingly.

“Diversion of traffic must also be planned properly and implemented smoothly because traffic flow there seems to change, making it very confusing for the roaduser” he said.

Khoo pointed out that the contractor and PWD should not assume that the road is only used by locals who would be familiar with the diversions and potholes and know how to avoid them.

“You must remember that there are tourists from outside Sabah like Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam who also drive here. So in the course of doing your work, treat yourself like a roaduser then you will understand how they feel and do what is right,” he said.

He also reminded the contractor meeting, and PWD to ensure that all the signages are installed with blinkers which are lit up at night.

“Already it is difficult to manoeuvre along the road with the ongoing upgrading works but it is extra dangerous for roadusers at night because they cannot see the diversions,” he said when stressing the need to have the blinkers as it can prevent any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, PWD Engineer Mohd Shamsul Nizam who chaired the meeting, said the project was 68 percent completed.
Section 1 (KDCA to jalan Penampang Lama roundabout), Section 2 (Jalan Penampang Roundbout to JPJ) and section 5 (Jalan Kolam) are completed.

Only Section 3 (JPJ to Atlantis Restaurant) and Section 4 (Atlantis to SGCC roundabout) are still in progress, he said.

To a question if the electricity supply would be severely affected as the project continues, Mohd Shamsul replied that there would no be major power problem.

“There will however be two shutdowns but rest assured, notices will be published in the media so that the public is informed in advance,” he said.

He also said completed parts of the road will be lit up by mid December as streetlights would be installed by then.

TUESDAY-25 NOVEMBER 2008-GAS-FIRED PLANT WILL BENEFIT WEST COAST FOLKS: CM

GAS-FIRED PLANT WILL BENEFIT WEST COAST FOLKS: CM

KOTA KINABALU:

The proposed 300MW gas-fired power plant in Kimanis will benefit the people in the West Coast of Sabah, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.

“Gas which will land at the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis will be used to fire the 300MW plant and those living in the West Coast will benefit when the additional power is channelled to an existing grid system,” he said here yesterday.

Musa said this in his speech at the Shareholders Agreement (SHA) signing ceremony between Petronas Gas Bhd and Yayasan Sabah for the development of the plant.

According to him, by having better electricity supply, Sabah can also push for more investment for its industrial sector and other development initiatives which aim to bring growth in the long run.

“I wish to state here that the Government is concerned about power shortage and is committed to doing what it can to improve the situation. Allow me to assure the people of Sabah that we are not sitting on our laurels but instead working hard with parties such as Petronas to make sure that there will be sufficient power supply for the people and development requirements,” he said.

He added that the State Government is constantly looking for solutions because it understands that demand for electricity will continue to rise not just in the more developed urban areas but also in the outskirts and a large number of rural areas.

Sabah, Musa pointed out, has been an oil and gas producer for a long time and in the last six years, new discoveries were made in deepwater areas off the coast of the State.

He said that although oil and gas found off Sabah is considered a national resource, the State too is serious about developing its own oil and gas industry.

“This is one way of diversifying our economy, creation of supporting industries and employment opportunities for locals,” he said and added that returns from the lucrative industry can also be used to a certain extent for poverty eradication programmes in Sabah.

The State Government, he stressed, has been in discussions with Petronas since 2006 on the concept for a petrochemical plant that includes a master plan for downstream gas industries and it intends to work closely with Petronas to develop all possibilities in the oil and gas sector, including in downstream industries.

The fact that we have not publicised all these initiatives does not mean that we are not doing anything. All announcements on Government plans will be done at an appropriate time when key aspects of projects have been finalized and can be implemented.

“We do not want to make announcements for political mileage or vested interests,” he said adding that State agencies like Yayasan Sabah are currently working closely with Petronas to develop petrochemical projects such as the ammonia and urea plant.

According to Musa, a comprehensive study undertaken by Petronas on the development of the oil and gas industry in line with the requirements of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

“We are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the study and we want to assure Petronas that the State will give its full support to Petronas to invest in Sabah. We also welcome Petronas’ commitment to invest billions of ringgit in developing the SOGT in Kimanis and we have the highest confidence that the small towns in the State’s west coast will be the catalyst for future growth of the oil and gas industry in Sabah,” he said.

He expressed hope that the investment will bring more development in the area and that spin-offs will eventually trickle down to the local community.

Musa also said that the State Government is looking forward to the establishment of a training centre at the SOGT as those trained’ there can be absorbed into the SOGT, the Kimanis power plant and for other downstrean industries.

This, he said, fits in well with one of the SDC aims of creating 900,000 jobs by the end of the plan in 2025.

“Today’s signing is very significant as it marks the first project in Sabah to utilise the gas which will land at the SOGT. It is our hope that more projects will come on stream after this to make use of gas from Sabah’s own fields,” he said.

Meanwhile Petronas Gas Chairman Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin in his opening remarks said that the SHA was signed following a Joint Development Agreement inked between Petronas and Yayasan Sabah on June 13 this year.

Under the SHA, the partners will form a joint venture company (Petronas 60 percent and Yayasan Sabah 40 percent) to develop, operate and maintain the proposed gas-fired power plant and its related facilities as well as infrastructure.

The joint venture company would also undertake the sale and delivery of electricity from the proposed power plant to meet the growing demand for electricity in Sabah, he said, adding that the first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2012.

“Once completed, the first phase will be able to produce 150MW and the second phase is expected to be completed between six to 12 months later,” he said.

The ceremony which was held at a leading hotel here were also attended by State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Jainab Ahmad, Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman, Sabah Foundation Director Tan Sri Khalil Jamalul, his Deputy, Dr Johan Ariffin, Petronas Gas Bhd CEO Samsuddin Miskon and Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim.