New Year Supplement 2014

2014 W E L C O M I N G

Visit Malaysia 2014 officially begins Malaysia will celebrate its fourth Visit Malaysia Year with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia” to reflect the diversity in unity of all Malaysians. The Proboscis Monkey has been chosen as the mascot while the promotional campaign has started in 2013 with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. This time around, VMY 2014 will be the biggest and grandest ever tourism celebration with hundreds of events and festivals all lined up to welcome the world. Overall, it is hoped that VMY 2014 will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.

Scheduled opening of KLIA2 KLIA2 is being constructed to replace the current LowCost Carrier Terminal, which was constructed in 2006. The new terminal is expected to be completed in first quarter of 2014 and according to owners, Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the total cost to build the KLIA2 is estimated at RM4.0 billion.

KLIA2 is located just two kilometres from the main KLIA Terminal. Upon completion, it will be the largest LCC Terminal in the region with a total area of 242,000 sq metres.

T H E

Y E A R

The Borneo Post did our annual review a bit differently this year, choosing to go with a New Year supplement to usher in the year 2014, instead of our normal yearender published on Dec 31.

Here’s what you can expect in the year ahead.

JANUARY

The 20th FIFA World Cup will be played in 12 Brazilian cities from June 12 – July 13, 2014. It will also be the second-time Brazil will be hosting the competition since 1950.

The World Cup will be played in 12 host arenas, six of which were delivered for the Confederations Cup in June.

The other six are to be completed by late December under a firm deadline set by FIFA, football’s world governing body.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said Monday he had no doubt that Sao Paulo’s Itaquera stadium would be ready in time to host the opener of the 2014 World Cup. Football’s governing body FIFA on Tuesday announced a record first allocation of tickets after overseeing a random distribution of almost 900,000 tickets to fans from 188 nations.

FIFA announced it to be “by far the highest number of tickets to be allocated during a first sales window”.

FIFA said it had allocated a total of 889,305 tickets with 71.5 percent going to Brazilians.

Overall, 6.2 million requests for tickets have been registered – almost double the total available.

Aside from the host nation, the United States received the largest number of tickets with 66,646, followed by Britain (22,257), Germany (18,019) and Australia (15,401).

Spain is the defending champion, having defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the 2010 World Cup final to win its first World title. The previous four World Cups staged in South America were all won by South American teams.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said Monday he had no doubt that Sao Paulo’s Itaquera stadium would be ready in time to host the opener of the 2014 World Cup. -AFP

Pope Francis announced he would declare Pope John XXIII and John Paul II as saints in a single ceremony on April 27 this year.

Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Catholic Church for 27 years and witnessed the fall of communism and Pope John XXIII, who called the reforming Second Vatican council, will be declared saints.

The announcement of the date for the canonisations had been expected since July when Francis approved a second miracle attributed to John Paul, opening the way to the fastest canonisation in modern times.

He also approved sainthood for John, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and who oversaw sweeping reforms to modernise the Church, even though he has only been credited with one miracle since his death.Reuters

FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY

Brazil Football World Cup

Canonisation of popes John Paul II, John XXIII

AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

Syria Geneva International peace conference on the Syrian conflict An international peace conference for Syria will begin on January 22, the first direct talks between President Bashar al-Assad’s government and rebels seeking to overrthrow him.

Ban Ki-Moon, the UN secretary-general, said the goal was to agree on a mutually acceptable transitional administration as well as the other elements of an outline peace plandrafter by the Western powers and Russia at Geneva in June 2012.

— Reuters

DECEMBER

PBSMR to be held next year for first time The Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah Menengah Rendah (PBSMR) examinations replacing the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examinations will be held for the first time.

Starting this year, the PBSMR or Lower Secondary School Based Assessment, will assess a student’s proficiency in four subjects – Bahasa Melayu, English, Science and Mathematics.

Students can take the papers in either BM or English (except for Bahasa Melayu paper). Meanwhile, subjects such as History, Geography, Islamic Education and Life Skills will be assessed under the PBS system as course work, practicals and projects.

The examination questions will be prepared by the Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia (LPM) or Malaysian Examinations Board.

We each start the new year hoping to achieve something greater and bigger than the year before.

The Borneo Post would like to wish all our readers the most prosperous new year ahead.

cmyk

E2

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

REVIEWING special supplement

2013

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Top 10 viewed news on bponline 2013 credits Editors Phyllis Wong Francis Chan Margaret Apau Pherirera Kolony

Writers Sarawak

The founder of Bangsamoro separatist group the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Nur Misuari has claimed that Sarawak is also part of his clan’s ancestral lands.

Misuari was reported saying he and his clan were the true owners of Sabah and Sarawak and that history would bear out that both states were the original properties of his great, great grandfather.

US scientists predict Universe change, total blackout of planet for three days from Dec 23, 2012.

It is an alignment of the Universe, where the Sun and the earth will align for the first time.

The earth will shift from the current third dimension to zero dimension, then shift to the fourth dimension. During this transition,

instigating the invasion.

Misuari’s denial seemed to be a response to Philippines President Benigno Aquino’s claim that there was a conspiracy behind the decision of Sultan Sulu Jamalul

Kiram III and his followers to use force to press their claim on Sabah.

Read more: http://www. theborneopost.com/2013/03/05/ sulu-claims-spread-to-sarawak/ #ixzz2n8uUJaSU

the entire Universe will face a big change, and we will see an entire brand new world.

NASA denied the claim and further explained that the “alignment” was probably the passing of the sun, as seen from earth, across the approximate center of our galaxy on Dec. 21, 2012.

This happens every year at

about the same time and portends nothing in terms of earthly events — good or ill — given that the galactic center is some 28,000 light years (165,000 trillion miles) away. It’s a cosmic non-event.

Read more: http://www. theborneopost.com/2012/11/22/ claim-nasa-predictstotal-blackout-in-dec2012/#ixzz2n8uF26JE

4 Inferno razes 100 Sibu houses 3 Businessman shot in murder attempt A businessman who runs several pubs and reflexology outlets in Miri was shot by an unidentified assailant at Jalan Merbau at about 5pm on March 8.

The victim was rushed to hospital with two serious gunshot wounds, one which grazed his right cheek and another one hitting his eye.

He was alone in his black Nissan Murano SUV at the traffic light near Miri Polyclinic and petrol station when a motorcyclist pulled

AirAsia offered 10,000 free seats for flights between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia for all Malaysians as part of the ‘1Malaysia Integration Programme with AirAsia’ launched on January 9 by Prime Minister Datuk Sri Najib Abdul Razak.

These free seats were for the immediate travel period from January 14 to February 4, 2013.

The offering generated much interest amongst local travellers.

Read more: http://www. theborneopost.com/2013/01/09/ airasia-offers-10000-free-seats/

The leader, who is also former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, also admitted that his relatives and MNLF group members were among those who went to Lahad Datu, but denied

2 NASA ‘predicts’ total Blackout in December 2012

Graphic Designers

6 AirAsia offers 10,000 free seats

From an international intrusion, family tragedy and an underwater curiosity, 2013 has not been short on news and incidents. Here is a list of the Top Ten news which received the most pageviews by our online readers at our BPOnline site.

1 Sulu claims spread to Sarawak

Antonia Chiam Eikman Teo Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith Jonathan Chia Karen Bong Lim How Pim Marilyn Ten Lian Cheng Ronnie Teo

Debby Nawie @ Debbie James Greg Aaron Tan Izzudin Ajibah Leonard Michael Merni Nicholas DC Ho Noriezam Drahman Norhazwan Afiq Nur Syauqina Nurasyiqynn Mohd Haroun

E3

up on the driver’s side and fired three shots with a hand gun before fleeing.

Lim managed to make a phone call for help but members of the public, including staff from the polyclinic immediately came to his aid and rushed him to the Miri Hospital.

Read more: http://www. theborneopost.com/2013/03/09/ business-shot-in-yet-anotherdaylight-street-incident-latest/ #ixzz2n8uAYCaA

5 Express boat sinks near Belaga The Belaga District Office has confirmed that the Belaga to Kapit express boat which departed at 8am on May 28 sank near Tanjong Giam Bungan about an hour’s boat ride from Belaga.

The express boat was likely to have struck a rock before it sank.

A total of 181 passengers of an overloaded express boat travelling from Belaga to Kapit

which sank near Giam Tukok, Bungan Tanjung this morning had been rescued.

He said the authorities believe 23 passengers were missing, following interviews with family members and survivors.

Read more: http:// www.theborneopost. com/2013/05/28/181-saved-inbelaga-express-boat-tragedy/ #ixzz2n8tTI6ie

The history of two Malay settlements in Sibu which were erected more than a century ago was partially erased when at least 100 wooden houses in Kampung Dato and Kampung Hilir were razed in the worst fire to hit the state in 2013.

As at 8.30pm, a total of 653 people from 107 families had been registered as fire victims of the 3.40pm blaze which was believed to have started from a house in Kampung Hilir which was vacated about six months ago.

Fanned by strong winds, the fire spread rapidly to Kampung Dato and almost reached the nearby Paramount Hotel.

The road serving both kampungs became impassable when raging fire along the river bank spread across the road to continue its trail of destruction.

The state government had hasten the resettlement of families affected by the fire.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the site for the new resettlement would be in the

Bandung area, further downriver from the site of the fire.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu announced in Sibu that the State Government would give RM500,000 to victims of the fire.

He said the money would

be channeled to the fire relief operations centre set up at Lembaga Amanah Kabajikan Islam Sibu (LAKIS).

Read more: http://www. theborneopost.com/2013/06/20/50houses-razed-in-sibu-fire-stillspreading/#ixzz2n8th7u5i

7 Police arrest family killer A man who fled after killing his wife and their two children by gassing them in a sealed room in their double-storey detached house in Sibu on July 5 had been arrested in Bintulu. Tiang, the suspect was spotted by a man while sleeping at a petrol station in his wife’s car which he drove to escape from his house at Lane 1B, Pulau Li Hua. The man, who apparently knew Tiang, immediately alerted the police who rushed to the scene to make the arrest.

Read more: http://www. theborneopost.com/2013/07/06/ man-kills-wife-two-children-insibu/

9 Singapore haze PSI reads record high of 400 8 Penan woman killed on trip to apply for MyKad A Penan woman was killed in a horrific accident while crossing Lutong-Pujut road with her husband on October 9.

Julan Batang and her husband Upek Usan from Long Palai, Ulu Baram had wanted to go to the National Registration Department (JPN) to apply for MyKads after dropping by a relative’s house in Piasau.

Upek said minutes before the accident occurred at around 9am, they were holding hands before crossing the road near the Pujut flyover. He crossed the road first and waited for Julan, but she was hit by a bus in the middle of the road.

Read more: http://www. theborneopost.com/2013/10/10/ penan-woman-killed-ontrip-to-apply-for-mykad/ #ixzz2hefVwdZ0

Haze levels in Singapore escalated to a new high as reading of PSI by National Environmental Agency Singapore hit 400.

According to NEA Singapore, PSI of 101-200 is considering unhealthy, 201-300 is very

unhealthy, and is rated Hazardous for any reading above 300.

Singaporean Ministry of Health advised residents of Singapore to limit prolonged and heavy activities outdoor, especially

children, the elderly, or residents with respiratory illness.

Read more: http://www. theborneopost.com/2013/06/21/ singapore-haze-psi-readsrecord-high-of-400-as-of-11am/ #ixzz2n8s52dwv

10 Angler catches bizarre mystery fish An angler from Miri caught a bizarre yet to be identified fish on November 3.

The mystery fish has a large head and is covered with sharp spines on the top and bottom of its body.

Its body gets progressively smaller towards the tail.

The fish measuring over one foot in length has two tusk-like spikes

near its mouth.

The alien fish was later identified as an armoured searobin.

http://www.theborneopost. com/2013/11/06/angler-catchesbizarre-mystery-fish/

cmyk

E4

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

REVIEWING special supplement

2013

E5

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Lahad Datu Stand-off

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom)

LahadDatu incident a black spot for country this year

Sulu Sea

Kudat

Philippines

Kota Kinabalu

BLOOD was shed in Lahad Datu and Semporna, Sabah, March 1 and 2 when a group of militants from south Philippines fired at members of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) who were tracking down the group who claimed to be from the Sulu Sultanate.

The Sulu militants aligned to the Jamalul Kiram III royal household landed in and attacked Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu on Feb 12 to seize back their territory on Sabah’s east coast.

The incident claimed the lives of two members of the Malaysian Armed Forces, while 68 militants were killed while battling with local security forces.

Two days after some 120 militants arrived in Kampung Tanduo, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was reported as saying the Malaysian government would do its best and negotiate to tackle the issue.

Malaysia practised gentle negotiations with the militants who refused to leave the country despite being asked to do so by

Feb 26.

Three days later, on a Friday, Kampung Tanduo saw more bloodshed when a shootout between policemen and militants killed two VAT 69 commandos, Insp Zulkifli Mamat and Corporal Sabaruddin Daud.

The shootout also killed 12 militants. Six other policemen died in an ambush at Kampung Simunul, Semporna. Eight militants were killed in the 8pm incident.

Shocked by the violence shown by the group, the Prime Minister ordered a massive offensive move and the country’s security forces targeted their stronghold through air strikes and land offensives in Ops Daulat. At the same time, the Malaysian government realised that many Sabah residents were of Sulu ethnicity and Najib visited the state on March 7 to meet with community leaders to say how the government did not doubt their loyalty to the country.

During a news conference

in conjunction with his visit, Najib also announced the establishment of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) which comprises the districts of Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, Sandakan and Lahad Datu.

This was followed by the formation of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE) as a legal foundation to the ESSCOM. Ops Daulat also led to the arrest of individuals who abetted the militant group and members who came out from hiding after the attacks.

On March 21, eight Filipinos were brought to court and faced either the death sentence or life in prison for waging war on the the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and taking part in the militant group.

Up to that date, 443 people were reported to have been arrested for entering the Ops Daulat red zone and other offences, while 173 were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act

2012 (SOSMA). As a token of appreciation for the fallen heroes, the Prime Minister announced their promotion.

Insp Zulkifli was posthumously promoted to ASP and Sabaruddin to Sargeant. Six others were Supt Ibrahim Lebar (ACP), ASP Michael Padel (DSP), Sargeant Abdul Aziz Sarikon (SargeantMajor), Lance Corporal Mohd Azrul Tukiran (Corporal), Sargeant Baharin Hamit (Sargeant-Major) and Corporal Salam Tugiran (Sargeant).

Two members of the armed forces who died were Private Ahmad Hurairah Ismail, 24, killed in battle and Private Ahmad Farhan Ruslan, 21, who died in a road accident, were promoted to Corporal.

The Prime Minister described the militant intrusion in Lahad Datu as not only a wake-up call for the government, but also for Malaysians, especially those in Sabah, about the importance of being ready for external threats.

— Bernama

Sandakan

Sabah

Lahad Datu

Kunak

Tawau

Semporna

International Boundary

thesundaypost graphic The special security area covers Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, Sandakan and Lahad Datu - 1,400km coastline.

Lahad Datu will be central command.

Modelled after Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) in Sarawak.

Government will station five additional battalions comprising the army and police in the area.

Six police stations and three more customs, immigration and quarantine stations to be established.

Key figures in the Lahad Datu conflict: Royal Security Force of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo • Sultan Jamulul Kiram III • Crown Prince Agbimuddin Kiram Malaysia • Tan Sri Ismail Omar – IGP • Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin - Armed Forces Chief • Datuk Hamza Taib – Sabah Police chief “We will not allow an inch of Malaysia’s land to be at stake or encroached by anyone.”

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister, March 5, 2013 “Why should we leave our own home? Our followers will stay in (the Sabah town of) Lahad Datu. Nobody will be sent to the Philippines. Sabah is our home.”

Sultan Jamalul Kiram, February 18, 2013

Fallen Heroes

Killed in Action March 1 Insp Zulkifli Mamat, Cpl Sabarudin Daud March 3 ASP Michael Padel, Supt Ibrahim Lebar, Sjn Baharin Hamit, Sjn Aziz Sarikon, Cpl Salam Togiran, L/Cpl Mohd Azrul Tuliran March 12 Pbt Ahmad Hurairah Ismail Eight villages listed under Red Zone • Kpg Tanduo, • Kpg Tanjung Labian, • Kpg Tanjung Batu, • Kpg Lok Buani, • Kpg Lok Sembuang, • Kpg Sungai Nyamuk, • Kpg Sungai Bilis, • Kpg Sungai Merah

Supt Ibrahim Lebar

ASP Michael Padel

Insp Zulkifli Mamat

Late Michael given a hero’s burial ABOUT 1,000 close relatives, friends, dignitaries and well-wishers paid their last respects to the late DSP Michael Padel, 36, during his burial at the Heroes Cemetery in Jalan Budaya here March 6.

Michael had served with the police force for over 10 years in Kota Kinabalu and Kunak before his promotion to the rank of assistant superintendent of police recently.

He was transferred to Semporna, where he was killed in the ambush by armed terrorists from Sulu.

He was said to have wanted to join

the police force since young, having inherited the warrior’s blood from his soldier father, who died in 1983.

‘Ops Daulat’ in action

Sjn Aziz Sarikon

L/Cpl Mohd Azrul Tuliran

Over 2,000 villagers relocated to evacuation centres: • Fajar Harapan, • Gemala Pura, • Cenderawasih, • Empara Budi

Chronology Feb 12: Some 200 Sulu militants from Simunul Island in Philippines arrive in Lahad Datu Feb 14: Najib says government to resolve instruction without bloodshed.

Feb 15: Philippines Government urges some 180 armed Filipino in Lahad Datu to leave for home peacefully.

Feb 18: Sultan Jamalul Kiram says followers won’t leave Sabah and reclaims the area as their ancestral territory.

Feb 19: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin says Malaysia government still open for negotiations to find best solution for Lahad Datu intrusion.

Feb 23: Home Ministry has left it to the Foreign Ministry to decide on Philippines government’s request of extension of the intruders.

Feb 24: Manila prepares to send a mercy ship to pick up the intruders.

Feb 25: Agbimuddin Kiram who is leading the so-called Royal Security Force of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo declares they will stay on to pursue their claim on land in Sabah.

Sabah police chief Datuk Hamza Taib says there would be no more negotiations with the group. The police will take necessary actions to end the intrusions.

Feb 26: President Aquino warned the sultan that he would face the ‘full force of the law’ unless he withdraws his gunmen from Sabah.

Sultan insists the standoff would continue unless his demands were met.

Feb 28: Intruders fire their guns to warn off the security forces approaching their hideout.

March 1: Curfew imposed in Lahad Datu after two Vat 69 police commandoes and 12 intruders die in skirmish in Kpg Tanduo. Three police commandoes also injured.

March 3: Six policemen killed in ambush during operation at Kampung Seri Jaya Siminul in Semporna. Six attackers also killed. One attacker was beaten to death by villagers at Kpg Senallang Lama.

March 5: Ops Daulat launched. Armed forces and police launch joint operation involving 2,000 personnel to dislodge Sulu intruders from Kpg Tanduo.

KL considers Sulu intruders as terrorists.

March 7: Police recovered 13 bodies of Sulu gunmen during their ‘mopping up’ and search operations at Kampung Tanduo.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 12 of the bodies were found buried in shallow graves in two separate locations within the red zone, while the other was that of an intruder killed during a shoot-out around 6.45am.

March 8: Malaysia rejects ceasefire call.

March 9: GOF personnel Lance Corporal Mohd Effendey Rosli from Sarawak injured in shootout.

March 10: Eight foreigners arrested under Sosma Act 2012 charged with terrorism and waging war against Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

March 11: Police retrieve the body of Sulu terrorists’ commander Musa Abdulla.

March 12: A Malaysian soldier Pvt Ahmad Hurairah Ismail killed in action during battle in Sg Nyamuk. Three terrorists killed.

March 12: A soldier, Cpl Ahmad Farhan Ruslan, is killed when a three-ton military vehicle in the convoy from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu for ‘Ops Daulat’ skidded.

March 16: President Aquino says negotiations only way to resolve Philippines sultanate’s claim and armed intrusion to Sabah.

March 17: Sultan Kiram instructs remnants of the gunmen he sent to Sabah to conduct guerrilla warfare against our security forces.

The security forces shoot dead a Sulu terrorist in Tanjung Batu.

March 18: The implementation of Esscom starts in the Felda Sahabat scheme by upgrading its logistic structure.

March 19: Four clashes take place between terrorists and the security forces in the mopping up operations in Tanjung Batu. No casualties reported.

March 20: Eight people from southern Philippines are charged in the magistrate’s court which sat at the Lahad Datu police headquarters with engaging terrorism and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

MILF refutes Nur Misuari claim over Sabah.

Bukit Aman CID chief heads probe into Sulu terrorists’ intrusion.

March 21: Eight Filipinos are charged in the Tawau High Court for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

March 23: Commander and coordinator of the Sulu army Datu Amir Baha Hushin Kiram and his wife are captured in Semporna. He is detained under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

March 24: A soldier suffers light injury during shootout. Four bodies of foreigners and one injured boy found.

March 25: Government announces the establishment of Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) - covering 10 districts - Kudat, Kota Murudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.

March 26: Kpg Tanduo villagers are taken by the security forces to enter the village and to check on their houses for first time after the intrusion.

March 27: Three Sulu escape during exchange of fire. Police manage to seize weapons.

March 28: Sulu militant ‘Iman Tua’ is shot dead after he assaults security forces with barong during a search operation in Kpg Simunul.

March 29: Kpg Tanduo is declared closed.

April 2: Ops Daulat enters stabilisation stage after 28 days April 19: Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram is charged with waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and being member of terrorist group.

cmyk

E6

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

REVIEWING special supplement

2013

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

SARAWAK NEWS & EVENTS

E7

FAREWELLS Jan 4

March

The country’s most decorated war hero - the late Temenggong Datuk Kanang Langkau - passed away at the age of 68.

He collapsed while watching television at his home at Sg Apong shortly after complaining of chest pains. He was immediately rushed to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) but attempts to revive him were to no avail before being pronouced dead at 1.45am. The retired Warrant Officer One (WO1) was among the few recipients of the country’s highest gallantry medal Sri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) and Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB) while still alive.

Kanang served in the 8th Royal Ranger Regiment until his retirement after serving the military for 21 years.

He was honoured for his bravery during an encounter with communist insurgents at Tanah Hitam, Perak in 1980 which he was shot three times.

He was conferred the SP and PGB medals by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agung Sultan Ahmad Shah on June 3, 1981.

Kanang was laid to rest on Jan 6 in full military honour at the Heroes Grave, Jalan Budaya, Kuching.

Asean International Film Festival and Awards (Aiffa) January

Malaysians held hostage in Algeria T

WO Sarawakians were among five Malaysians held hostage by Islamist Militants after an attack on a gas facility complex at in Amenas, Algeria, as reprisal over the country’s cooperation with the French military intervention in Mali on Jan 16. The five hostages held captives at the complex were Lau Seek Chiang from Kuching, Patrick Purait Awang from Miri, Ravi Kuppusamy from Penang, Tan Ping Wee of Port Dickson,

Negri Sembilan) and Chong Ngen Chung from Ipoh, Perak who was killed in the attack.

At the time, the Malaysian hostages were employees of Japanese oil and gas entity JGC Corporation and were said to be on their way (together with their colleagues) to a natural processing plant site when their bus was ambushed by the militants.

According to state-run Algeria Press Services, 573 Algerians and more than half of the 132 foreign

workers were freed the next day after Algerian forces stormed the plant jointly run by BP, Statoil of Norway and Sonatrach of Algeria.

The five Malaysians were among 130 workers from various nations at the In Amenas Oil and Gas Production Complex in eastern Algeria taken hostage by the militant group. International media reports stated that 69 people, including 39 nonAlgerians, were thought to have died in the siege.

Disbursement of BR1M2.0 The second edition of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M2.0) began its nationwide disbursement.

The government spent RM2.9 billion for the distribution of the second wave of BR1M. From the total number of recipients, 4.8 million had a household income of less than RM3,000 and two million others were bachelors earning below RM2,000.

The first batch of 61,691 recipients in the Kuching

division received their RM500 one-off vouchers from Feb 4. Distribution of BR1M vouchers at the Kuching and Miri divisions at various centres throughout the month went smooth and orderly. Miri division recorded some 51,800 BR1M2.0 recipients.

Pandemonium broke loose during its first day disbursement at Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Islam Sibu kindergarten hall as an

unruly crowd pushed their way to the counters, ripping away tapes, removing barricades and disregarding instruction from authorities.

Two senior citizens fainted at the people’s aid disbursement at Sibu Town Square on Feb 5.

The total first and second batch recipients of BR1M2.0 in the Sibu division was 77,040.

In Kapit, some RM7.6 million were distributed to about 16,000 successful applicants.

It marked the inaugural year for the state to host the Asean International Film Festival and Awards (Aiffa) for which a gala dinner was held Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on March 30.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud handed out the Lifetime Achievement Award to Malaysia’s International actress Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh for her outstanding talent and contribution to the region’s film industry.

Four Special Jury awards of Aiffa went to Kayan Beauties of Myanmar, Rectoverso of Indonesia, Ada Apa Dengan Rina of Brunei and Taxi! Taxi! of Singapore. The night also saw a Special Honour Award presented to Hanyut of Malaysia while the Asean Spirit Award went to Cinta Tapi Beda of Indonesia.

Bunohan by Dain Iskandar Said of Malaysia was awarded Best Screenplay while Sang Martir

by Cesa David Luckmansyah of Indonesia won Best Film Editing and Rayya by Rahmatipung Syaiful of Indonesia won the Best Film Photography award. Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards went to Bugoy Carino (on Alagwa) and Anita Linda (Sta.Nina) respectively, both from the Philippines.

Malaysian Shaheizy Sam (Songlap) walked away with Best Actor Award while Alessandra De Rossi (Sta.Nina) of the Philippines was awarded Best Actress. Malaysia’s Istanbul Aku Datang produced by Tengku Lesta Tengku Alaudin and Lina Tan won Best Picture (Comedy), Sta. Nina by producer Rodel Naciancero of the Philippines was awarded Best Picture (Drama) and Songlap by Lina Tan of Malaysia won Best Picture (Action).

Jan 21 Former Anglican Bishop of Kuching and Brunei Right Rev Datuk Made Katib passed away at the age 71, around 5.50pm at the Sarawak General Hospital.

Enthroned as the 12th Bishop of Kuching on Nov 20, 1995, he was the predecessor to current Bishop of Kuching Diocese Most Rev Datuk Bolly Lapok. Bolly who is also the Archbishop of the province of South East Asia, took over the role of Bishop of Kuching and Brunei in 2007.

The late Made, a Bidayuh from Annah Rais, Padawan, dedicated 38 years of his life to the ministry before retiring on Jan 23, 2007 on his 65th birthday. He started as a deacon on Sept 22, 1968 and a year later, he was ordained a priest by the Diocese of Kuching’s first indigenous bishop, the Right Rev Datuk Basil Temenggong.

Before being ordained as a priest, he studied at the University of Leeds in Yorkshire, England. He was laid to rest at the Anglican Cemetery at Jalan Batu Kitang on Jan 23. Born on Jan 23, 1942, his funeral coincided with his birthday.

Feb 2 ASP (Rtd) Wilfred Gomez Malong, the youngest recipient of the country’s second highest gallantry award the Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB), passed away at 7.05 am beside his family and friends at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) after almost a year battling colon cancer. Gomez, 64, was a retired law practitioner and former secretary of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS). The late Gomez received his PGB at the age of 24, following his heroic effort in a skirmish with 18 communists in the deep interiors of Ulu Poi, Kanowit, at the

Viral cases go up The state Health Department was alarmed by a sharp increase in viral disease cases since January, calling on the public to take necessary precautions.

Two deaths were reported due to dengue fever, which was at the epidemic level in the state.

Cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) increased by nearly three-fold, from 287 cases in January 2012 to 723 cases in the same corresponding period this year.

As of Jan 29, a total of 12 confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) had been reported when

compared to only 12 cases for the whole of 2012.

As of Feb 19, a total of 342 dengue cases have been reported this year which was more than double the number of cases during the corresponding period last year at 158 cases. As of February, Sarawak remain the second highest state with dengue cases behind Selangor.

On Feb 24, the authorities revealed they are investigating the “unusual surge” in the number of HFMD cases in the state, particularly in the Betong and

Sarikei Divisions.

Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil explained the increase of HFMD cases was not normal because it happened outside the two-year cycle.

However, he did not consider the unusual surge as a new outbreak because HFMD was an endemic problem. HFMD reached epidemic level in Miri and Sibu divisions. A total of 1,907 cases has been recorded in the state thus far, with Miri (564 cases) and Sibu (342) the hardest hit.

continue on Page 5

Timeline

January

29

A 14-foot crocodile weighing more than 600 kg was caught along Sungai Selang, Matang, using dog meat as bait. Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah who lived nearby, were among the first to go to the scene to toke a look at the sizable reptile.

The crocodile was caught by 63-year-old labourer Johari Resal who had set up the trap a week earlier. Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) sent the crocodile to the Matang wildlife centre. Norkiah later on named the crocodile “Bujang Selang”, after the river.

March

23

March

27

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said state government might sue London-based human rights NGO Global Witness regarding a ‘corruption’ video - recorded by a hidden camera - showing two women, who claimed to be his cousins, discussing the sale of 5,000 hectares of plantation land owned by their companies. As the video went viral online, Taib said Global Witness was supporting the opposition following the 13th general election.

A man lost control of his car and virtually drove through the wall of Tua Pek Kong Temple in Sibu. Luckily no worshippers were in the yard as the car landed next to a large bronze incense urn where worshippers used to gather to place their incense offerings.

May

3 May

11 May

28

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud declares open the 18.3km Biawak road at the Customs and Immigration Quarantine Station (CIQS) in Biawak.

July

4

Over 300 made homeless as 30-door Rumah Agan Minggat near Sungai Sesibau Bridge at Jalan Bukit Goram in Kapit was destroyed by a fire.

Sanmina-SCI Corporation ( M ) Sdn Bhd (Sanmina) agreed to pay US$870,000 (RM2.61 million) as additional compensation to the 856 workers they retrenched in October 2012.

State government approves 2,000-hectares of land at Sungai Silat/Sungai Salutan/Sungai Agan in Miri for the Sarawak United Association of Chinese Secondary School Management Board.

2013 February

18

Continuous heavy rain over a few days caused three sections of Jalan Entaroh at Kapit to collapse on Friday and Saturday. Thousands of longhouse folks from Rh Juntan, Rh Mikal and Rh Taing as well as several longhouses along Sg Sut have been completely cut off by road.

April

1 April

6

The search-and-rescue team, looking for 15-year-old missing boy Mohamad Hiswandi Dollia, found a dead 12-foot long female crocodile floating near the spot where Hiswandi disappeared into Saramahan River. However, no human bones were found in the reptile’s stomach. The dead crocodile was taken away by Sarawak Forestry Corporation to determine the cause of death.

Six fishermen were saved after drifting for three hours near Pulau Burong, about 30 nautical miles from Kuching.

April

14

Two Indonesian rubber tappers, aged 21 and 27, were found murdered at a rubber estate in Rantau Panjang near Sibu.

June

2 June

9

Statewide power failure which struck at 5.40pm when workers were rushing home caused traffic havoc in cities and towns in Sarawak as the traffic lights could not function.

The long-awaited access road from Sibu to Kapit is closer to realisation after the federal government agreed to expedite the construction of a bridge at Kanowit and complete the road to Song for RM400 million.

June

20

June

22

At least 100 wooden houses in Kampung Dato and Kampung Hilir were razed in the worst fire to hit the state this year, leaving 653 homeless.

A disabled man was killed in a fire that razed two Kampung Litong houses, making him the first fire fatality of the year.

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2013

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SARAWAK NEWS & EVENTS

FAREWELLS

April

June

Sarawakian made it to Taiwanese documentary ‘Shi Jie Di Yi Deng’ TIONG Ching Choi discovered his extraordinary ability some 20 years ago when he successfully broke an iron wire with his teeth. He has gradually developed his talent since, and today, he can pull a car with his strong teeth.

The 41-year-old chef from Serian, on April 5, performed his stunt at KTS Garden in front of the crew members of Gala Television from Taiwan.

It took seconds for Thong to move a Proton Savvy with three

E9

peak of the insurgency in Sarawak.

He started his police stint when he was seconded to the Border Scouts in 1971 after attending jungle warfare training in Bukit Siol in Kuching. He formed the Special Branch Probing Unit during the height of the insurgency.

After 1976, he was posted to the Crime Investigation Department and Special Branch. After his resignation from the police force in 1980, Gomez went on to read law at the University of Buckingham, London. He was subsequently called to the Bar of Malaya and also Bar of Sabah and Sarawak. While still a lawyer, Gomez served as the third secretary-general of PBDS from 1995 to 1997.

The nation’s most decorated police veteran was laid to rest with full police honour at the Kpg Entinggan Christian Cemetery, Kota Samarahan.

Colonial buildings razed by fire Fire gutted a row of five shophouses housing 20 business outlets and offices at Blacksmith Road on the morning of July 16. Fire and Rescue Department chief Rafie Sapar said the fire was believed to have started from the middle of the two-storey row of shops at about 10.50am. It spread so fast that within an hour all five units built during the colonial rule were gutted.

Fire strikes again

passengers inside. He managed to get the car, which weighs about 1,500kg to move about 20 metres merely with his teeth.

In the stunt, which had been shown in a documentary called ‘Shi Jie Di Yi Deng’ produced by Gala Television, Thong also showcased his talent of breaking iron wire with his teeth. It was the second public performance by him. The year before, the man, who weighs about 70kg successfully pulled a Perodua Viva with four people in it with his teeth.

People were stunned as another fire broke out at about 1am razing six wooden houses, rendering 21 people homeless at Lane 13, Tiong Hua Road here just 14 hours after another fire had gutted five shophouses at Blacksmith Road. The blaze was the fourth major fire to strike the town within a month, since the fire at Kampung Hilir and Kampung Datu which destroyed 60 houses on June 19.

Feb 15

Plans for Golden Bridge unveiled

Former Katibas assemblyman (Kapit) Felix Bantin Jibom, 62, passed away peacefully at the Miri General Hospital on Friday night after battling a long illness. The late Bantin, who was a former Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO), won the Katibas seat under the then Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in the 1987 state election beating Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Ambrose Enturan.

He lost the seat in the next state election to BN candidate Datuk Ambrose Blikau. His was laid to rest at Rantau Tekuyung, Katibas. He is survived by his wife Tida, three children and four grandchildren.

Golden Bridge, when completed, is expected to encourage better interaction between people from the southern and northern parts of Kuching City. Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the idea behind the bridge was to encourage and foster healthy social integration with the interests of the people at heart. Speaking at the launch of the project at the new State Legislative Assembly building he said as people get more advanced they would have very little time to socialise, which would not be healthy for the development of a city.

State marks 50th year of independence within Malaysia Thousands of Sarawakians marked 50 years of their state’s independence through the formation of Malaysia with a grand celebration of Malaysia Day at Padang Merdeka on September 16.

The Malaysia Day celebration themed ‘Sarawak Harmony, Prosperity Blessed’ was graced by Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that Sarawak had progressed well since agreeing to form Malaysia half a century ago, and would continue to prosper for the next 50 years.

“With Sarawak’s achievements thus far and so many people coming together for this Malaysia Day celebration, we can determine it was a very right decision Sarawak made 50 years ago.

“What we have is not just a journey of 50 years as we are confident Malaysia as well as Sarawak will record more achievements under the leadership of Barisan Nasional (BN) for another 50 years.”

Najib also expressed his pride to see the people of Sarawak and Sabah, despite their diversity in ethnicity, living in seamless harmony, which should be emulated by their counterparts throughout the country.

Among those present were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Haminah, Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah, Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib.

INDELIBLE: A total of 272,387 policemen, army personnel and members of the General Operations Force and their spouses eligible to vote at 544 polling stations throughout the country were among the inaugural batch of early voters.

May 1, 2013

Early voters prove ink truly indelible The inaugural batch of early voters, consisting of security and armed forces personnel and their spouses, prove indelible ink could not be removed. The security personnel lined up as early as 8am at designated polling centres in contingent headquarters and military camps across Kuching to cast their votes. They were among a total of 272,387 policemen, army personnel and members of the General Operations Force and their spouses eligible to vote at 544 polling stations throughout the country. Altogether, 53 polling centres with 69 streams were opened for them throughout the state.

August 5

Church appeals against ban of the word ‘Allah’

May 29, 2013

The Catholic Church has filed an application for leave to appeal to the Federal Court the decision of the Court of Appeal which had allowed the government’s appeal to ban its weekly publication the Herald from using the word “Allah” to refer to God on November 13.

Benjamin Dawson, one of the counsels representing the church, said they had filed the application at the Federal Court registry on Nov 11.

“The church has raised 26 questions of law in the leave application to appeal to the Federal Court,” he told Bernama when contacted.

Boat tragedy: 14 missing, 170 saved Fourteen passengers were missing and feared drowned while 170 others were rescued after an express boat, Kawan Mas, overloaded more than twice its capacity limit hit a rock and capsized in the upper reaches of the Rajang River. The large number of survivors was due to the quick action of Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang who witnessed the boat capsizing from a helicopter as he was flying from Belaga to Kuching to attend the State Legislative Assembly sitting. Sarawak Hidro chief executive officer Zulkifle Othman ordered the spillways of the Bakun HEP Dam to be closed at 12 noon for the water to recede in an attempt to assist in the search and rescue operations. Search and Rescue efforts were launched immediately.

Former principal Brother Albinus whose real name was Michael O’Flaherty, 83, passed away peacefully in Kuala Lumpur at 11.28 am Aug 4.

Brother Albinus, who was born on May 23 1930 in Ireland, started teaching at St Joseph’s Kuching in 1960 and later became its principal.

After 10 years at St Joseph’s Kuching, Brother Albinus was transferred to Sacred Heart Secondary School in Sibu, first as teacher and later as principal.

After 17 years of serving in Sacred Heart, he retired from Sacred Heart in 1987 but was immediately appointed director of the A-Level of St Patrick’s Private School here.

In 1992, Brother Albinus was appointed principal of St Joseph’s Parish Tuition Centre until 1997 when he was invited to help out in China.

After an arterial by-pass in Australia in 1998, Brother Albinus accepted an invitation to teach World Religions at Inti College Kuching, where he “spent two fruitful years.”

Thereafter, he went back to the St Joseph Parish Tuition Centre and later started his own tuition class in English and Literature for Form Four and Five students.

In 2002, Brother Albinus - with some former students of St Joseph’s and Sacred Heart - started Yayasan Lasallian Kuching for “educating the least, the lost, and the last.”

Brother Albinus devoted 52 years of his life to education. His dedication is hard to match, his contributions immeasurable. Thousands have benefitted from his work academically but more importantly, in their development as well-rounded persons steeped in strong moral values.

Timeline

August

12 August

15 August

16

Uniformed bodies and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were told to stop sending children to solicit donations in public places.

Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism in the state retained the licences of 11 petrol stations whose owners have been found selling subsidised diesel to syndicates reselling the fuel for industrial use.

The State Health Department admitted that 26 cases of ‘superbug’ Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobaceriacae (CRE) infections was recorded between January and July in Sibu Hospital after initially denying any outbreak of these cases in an earlier statement.

October

11

The resettlement of 72 families from Long Malim Kenyah and Long Malim Penan affected by the RM4 billion Murum hyrdroelectric damn project to Tegulang Resettlement Area was completed.

December

3 December

October

15

Sarawak Christians need not worry about using Allah to refer to God as the Court of Appeal’s ruling does not cover East Malaysia.

8

The state government plans to establish permanent food production areas outside Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) area.

Meter tampering is still rampant in the state, evidenced after a twoweek statewide power theft operation

by Syarikat Sesco Berhad found out that 12 per cent of the 4,576 meters inspected were already being tampered with.

December

9

December

11

The RM20.8 million Friendship Bridge across Sungai Pandaruan connecting Brunei to Sarawak was jointly opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei.

December

Over 200 people staged a peaceful assembly at Padang Merdeka in Kuching

December

14

16

The United States has finally expressed appreciation for the sacrifices and contributions of Malaysian peacekeepers for saving their soldiers in Mogadishu, Somalia on Oct 3, 1993.

More native customary rights (NCR) land will be titled next year to enable their owners to participate in economic programmes such as commercial crop planting.

2013 September

3 September

16 September

21 September

27

RON95 petrol and diesel price goes up 20 sen.

November

5

Sarawakians mark the state’s 50th year of independence through the formation of Malaysia with a grand celebration of Malaysia Day at Padang Merdeka.

The ashes of the last Rajah Muda (Crown Prince) of Sarawak Anthony Walter Dayrell Brooke were buried at the Brookes’ Graveyard near Fort Margherita.

Piasau Camp to be gazetted as a nature reserve in light of the killing of Piasau Camp resident hornbill Faridah.

November

9

• About 800 residents of eight villages around Melikin and Karangan Melikin are living in fear of constant harassment by thugs who encroached into their water catchment area to log the area illegally.

• The decision to fully implement the national minimum wage effective Jan 1, 2014 is final.

Minister of Land Development Tan Sri James Masing hands over detailed account of the alleged intimidation and assault of villagers at Melikin by gangsters hired by plantation companies to the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

November

13 November

15

The Catholic Church has filed an application for leave to appeal to the Federal Court the decision of the Court of Appeal.

The Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) 2013 results saw Sarawak achieving its best ever record in the exam in 11 years

November

18 November

20 November

21

Some 1,000 people representing 26 Bukar villages staged a peaceful demonstration to protest the encroachment of their sacred ancestral home of Darud (Mount) Sadong.

Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali was sentenced to one day’s jail and imposed a RM20,000 fine or another two weeks’ imprisonment by the High Court here yesterday for contempt of court.

Tebedu assemblyman Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong announced the issue at Mount Sadong solved and the private company’s license to cut down trees in the area has been revoked.

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POLITICS SARAWAK

LONG LIVE PBB: PBB top leaders to cheer for the party during its closing ceremony on Oct 22.

The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng casting his vote at SK Temenggong on May 5.

The year that was GE13

By Lian Cheng

O

n May 5, 2013, Malaysia held its 13th General Election where 828,893 out of 1,083,972 voters in the state cast their ballots. The State Barisan Nasional (BN) maintained its status as the ruling coalition’s “fixed deposit” by retaining 25 out of the total 31 parliamentary seats.

State BN backbone party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) won all the 14 seats it contested and so did Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) which won all in all its six constituencies. Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) managed to retain all its four constituencies of Saratok, Mas Gading, Bintulu and Baram but Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) lost all its urban seats, defended only its rural constituency of Serian through its Deputy President Datuk Seri Richard Riot.

The opposition alliance — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) — failed in all its attempts to win in Bumiputera-majority areas, managing to make gains only in the urban constituencies where the State DAP won five seats of Kuching, Stampin, Sibu, Lanang and Sarikei and its ally PKR won one, namely Miri.

Its other component party PAS, failed to unseat PBB in Kota Samarahan, Batang Sadong,

New vice president of Bumiputera wing: Datuk Talib Zulpilip.

EXPECTED OUTCOME: Taib expressed that the result of 13th General Election was expected with support for BN in rural areas still intact while that in urban areas had shifted to the opposition.

DOUBLE HAPPINESS: The wedding day of Bride Wong Lu Yieng and her bridegroom fell on the same day as May 5 General Election. The couple went to cast their ballots at SK Abg Haji Matahir of Sarikei.

Tanjong Manis, Igan and Sibuti.

Both Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) and the State Reform Party (STAR) failed to make any headway in this election, losing in all the six and seven seats they contested respectively. All seven independents like SWP and

STAR, drew blanks.

State BN chairman Pehin Sri Taib Abdul Mahmud said the outcome was expected with support for BN in rural Sarawak still overwhelming while it was against the tide for BN in urban areas.

PERFORMING DUTY: Voters queued to vote at various polling stations across the state on May 5 to choose their leaders.

New vice president of Bumiputera wing: Datuk Julaihi Narawi.

The only vice president who retained his post: Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz.

PBB convention sees posts unchallenged Chief Minister Pehin Sri Taib Abdul Mahmud who has been at the helm Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) since 1981 was again given the mandate by party members to continue leading the party for the next three years.

He won the post uncontested in PBB’s 13th Convention. The Convention which was held between Oct 18 to 22 also saw other top posts of this backbone party of state Barisan Nasional remained unchallenged.

Other top leaders who won uncontested included deputy presidents Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg as well as senior vice presidents Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan

and Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Both Youth chief Datuk Fadillah Yusof and woman chief Dato Sri Empiang Jabu also reran unopposed. Both of them automatically became the vice presidents by virtue of their posts. Pesaka wing top leaders Dato Sri Michael Manyin and Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi also won unopposed as vice presidents.

The only contest was for the three vice-president posts in the Bumiputera wing and supreme council member posts.

For the three Bumiputera vice president posts, incumbent Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman and Dato Sri Mohd Leo Michael Toyad were ousted with only Datuk

Abdul Wahab Aziz managed to retain his post. Out of the three challengers for Bumiputera vice president posts, Datuk Talib Zulpilip and Datuk Julaihi Narawi were successful in their bid but not Datuk Bolhassan Di. About 5,000 delegates from 71 branches across the state attended the 13th Convention, themed ‘50 Glorious Years Leap Forward, Our Struggle for the Future’ which was held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

The convention was kicked off with the general meetings for youth and woman wing while national BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is also the Prime Minister arrived to grace the party’s convention on Oct 21.

IN UNISON and UNITY: PBB has grown from strength to strength because of the three parties that joined to form PBB learnt from their experience – united we grow but divided we falter.

Major political events in 2013 January 18 Deregistration of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) February 21 State PKR chief Baru Bian was confident of winning 13 parliamentary seats in GE13 March 2 Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) president Larry Sng announced the candidacy of George Lagong in Hulu Rajang and Wong Judat in Julau April 1 SWP confirmed Larry Sng’s candidacy for Lubok Antu 3 Dissolution of Parliament 6 Taib said BN candidate list finalised, waiting for instruction from Najib to unveil.

10 Election Commission announcing dates of nomination, early voting and polling 15 Taib Mahmud announcing state BN candidate list for GE13 at PBB headquarters. Eight new faces identified.

16 State PKR announcing 11 candidates

16 State DAP unveiled all its 9 candidates of central and northern regions 17 DAP receiving letter from ROS de-recognising its CEC leadership 18 State PKR announces three more candidates 18 SWP announced Sng Chee Hua, Wilfred Landon and Ellison Ludan as candidates for Selangau, Sri Aman and Kanowit 19 State DAP announcing the use of PAS or PKR logo in case the party is not allowed to contest due to flaws in its party election 20 Nomination Day for GE13 20 DAP using its own logo to contest 27 Najib campaigning for state BN in Saratok, Lubok Antu, Kuching and Sibu and dismissed SWP as BN-friendly 30 Early voting May 5 Polling Day for GE13 12 State DAP chief Wong Ho Leng announcing stepping down during party delegates’ conference due to brain cancer

20-29 State Assembly sitting 21 State Assembly approved the motion to triple state assemblymen’s salary by three fold June 9 State DAP delegates’ conference where DAP sec-gen Chong Chieng Jen assumed party top leadership after Wong Ho Leng gave way due to brain cancer 9 Wong Ho Leng: DAP may contest in 32 seats in coming state election (due in 2016) 13 State ROS confirming that 2 show cause letters date June 6 had been sent to SUPP July 1 Politicians from both sides of the divide agreed that there should be an odd number of representatives in state assemblies and parliament to avoid hung meeting 30 PRS offer G5 a parking spot, inviting G5 to join August 28 SWP ended its BN-friendly

stance

October 7 Sarawak Democratic Progressive Party (SPDP) Annual General Meeting 18-22 Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Convention (where Taib was given another mandate to lead PBB for three years) 25 Najib announcing 2014 Budget

likely to stand in Pelagus, his former seat 17 Perkasa sec-gen Syed Hassan Syed Ali announcing party interest in setting up a branch in Sarawak 18 Local leaders and NGOs told Perkasa to keep off from Sarawak 18-27 State Assembly sitting 18 DAP Pujut assemblyman Fong expelled by its disciplinary committee 19 Syed Hassan said Perkasa is already in Sarawak with 3000 members.

20 State ROS denied any Perkasa branch in Sarawak 26 More than 100 PKR leaders and members defected to join SPDP 26 Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen of DAP was suspended indefinitely for uttering “objectionable” words to Satok assemblyman Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg.

November 4 SWP announcing contesting in seven seats for next state election. Its president Larry Sng

December 1 Fong Pau Teck appeals to DAP central 6 A show cause letter issued

September 3 ROS announces the approval of five new political parties in Sarawak: Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru), Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (Persb) and People’s Alliance for Justice of Peace (Peace Party-Sarawak).

19-20 Triennial General Assembly of Parti Rakyat Sarawak

to SUPP Sibu branch chief Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and four other leaders including Chan Phan Chan, Wong Yew Nung, Thomas Hii King Hing and Sia Jii Ming 6 Yang di-Pertuan Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin’s latest appointment was only for a short period of three months - up to February 2014 13 Soon Koh declaring that he would not respond to the letter claiming that the leadership formed on TDC of Dec 2011 was not legitimate as it is under ROS’ investigation 18 None of the five leaders receiving show cause letters including Soon Koh showed up at the SUPP Central Desciplinary Committee hearing 24 Nine leaders within Soon Koh’s faction - Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Datuk Francis Harden , Ranum Mina, Dr Johnical Rayong and political secretaries Andrew Shilling, Suzanne Lee, Ku Fut Po and Phang Da Nan claimed quit should Soon Koh be sacked.

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2013

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E13

CRIME

Sibu tragedy struck at home T

he deaths of Ling Yung Ming and her two children, Christine, 14, and Victor, 2, in their home at Pulau Li Hua here on the morning of July 5 was likely to have been a botched suicide pact hatched by husband Tiang Lee Yee. Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail said the police believed the 43-year-old contractor could have initially planned to commit suicide with his family.

Tiang was handed over to the police station here by the police from Bintulu, where he was caught, on July 5. The case was considered closed.

Shafie said they would decide whether to charge Tiang with the attempted murder of his eldest son Soon Tai, 17, who survived the attempt to kill the entire family, after they had discussed the case with the deputy public prosecutor.

Soon Tai had told the police that his father had a debt of RM3.5 million.

Tiang was believed to have borrowed money from loan sharks and had refinanced his house and sold the Toyota Hilux belonging to his wife to repay part of the loan.

Apparently Tiang was in the midst of committing suicide in his

car when he was apprehended by police in Bintulu.

Tiang was said to have given two sleeping pills to Ling, two to Christine and one to Victor after they returned from a lavish dinner meant to be the family’s “last supper”.

Soon Tai survived because he did not take the pills and woke in time to escape to a neighbour’s house. He is now hospitalised for treatment on the injuries inflicted by his father with a bamboo stick in his attempt to kill him..

The police were probing whether Tiang channeled the gas into the room at 6am through two hoses from the cylinders outside the bedroom. There was a claim Tiang suffocated Ling with a pillow.

Tiang was spotted in Bintulu at 5pm by a relative of Ling’s after he fled from his house. The relative then tried to call Ling to inform her of her husband’s presence in Bintulu as he was not aware she had been killed then.

The relative only knew of the murders when he called Ling’s brother who was then with the police to have his statement recorded.

An Indonesian was arrested April 13 on suspicion of killing one of his countrymen at a

shipyard in Rantau Panjang.

Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail confirmed this to reporters when investigating another murder case involving Indonesian workers at a rubber estate in Rantau Panjang.

The deceased was identified as Syahrudin Yahya, 28, who was also a worker at the shipyard since several months before.

Six witnesses were called to the police station to have their statements recorded.

Before the incident on Friday, the suspect was said to be looking for Syahrudin to ask if he had taken his handphone.

The duo met again at 7.30pm the next day at the canteen of their workers’ quarters and the suspect again asked Syahrudin about the missing phone.

A quarrel ensued, which led to a fight.

The suspect chased after Syahrudin with a knife until a guard house. Syahrudin suffered two stab wounds, one in his stomach and the other on his back, while the suspect sustained injuries to his right ear. Syahrudin was pronounced dead at Sibu Hospital at 9.15pm. Police found the handle of a knife at the crime scene.

Miri hit by murders A businessman who runs several pubs and reflexology outlets here was shot by an unidentified assailant at Jalan Merbau at about 5pm on March 8.

The victim, 42, surnamed Lim, from Perak, was rushed to hospital with two serious gunshot wounds, one which grazed his right cheek and another one hitting his eye.

He was alone in his black Nissan Murano SUV at the traffic light near Miri Polyclinic and petrol station when a motorcyclist pulled up on the driver’s side and fired three shots with a hand gun before fleeing.

Lim managed to make a phone call for help but members of the public, including staff from the

polyclinic immediately came to his aid and rushed him to the Miri Hospital.

The body of a man was found lying by the roadside near Sekaloh junction at KM 86, Miri-Bintulu Road on Oct 17 around 6.30am by a passerby.

Its head slashed and left ear severed, a parang or machete was found about 20 metres away.

The deceased was identified as Muhammad Azarul Mohamad Sapi’ee, 20, from Kampung Wireless, Miri. The second eldest of six siblings — had been working in a hardware shop in Krokop for about a week. The deceased left his home at around 7pm and was not seen after that.

It was believed Muhammad

Azarul was killed by assailants at the scene as drops of blood were found starting from the main road, and heading towards the junction where the body was found.

Sources believed the assailants had pursued him from the main road to the junction.

In November, Miri police were on the trail of a family of seven in connection with Muhammad Azarul’s murder.

Their initial investigation revealed that all individuals in the family (of seven) were possessing fake identification (MyKad).

All of them went ‘missing’ right after the body of the dead body was discovered.

Chronology of crime in Kuching January 15: A storekeeper was found strangled at an unfinished commercial shoplot in Taman Samarindah, Kota Samarahan during a robbery-cum-murder.

The body of Tan Hoon Pheng, 62, was found lying face down on the floor inside his living quarters with a length of nylon rope around his neck.

Initial police investigation revealed that Tan, originally of Green Road in Kuching, was killed and robbed about six to seven hours prior to the discovery of his body.

Blood stains on the wall of the room indicated the victim had put up a struggle before being strangled to death, while his wallet, personal documents and a television set were found to be missing from the room.

February 11: A foreign plantation worker dies after being stabbed in the chest by a fellow countryman during a fight in Serian.

The deceased, a 21-yearold Indonesian named Riyan, succumbed to serious injuries as a result of being stabbed with a sharp object during a drinking session at a plantation in Balai Ringin.

The suspect, a 25-year-old Indonesian of Sundanese decent, surrendered himself at the police station immediatedly following the fight.

February 17: Masked men carrying machetes rob a 7-Eleven outlet at Tabuan Plaza in Kuching, making off with several hundred ringgit in cash after threatening an employee inside.

The 6am incident proved to the beginning of a string of similar robberies over the following few months targeting the 24-hour convenience store chain at its outlets in Green Road, Jalan Song, Jalan Tun Jugah, Tabuan Laru, Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching and Jalan McDougall.

Though the police were not able to initially score a breakthrough in each case, they eventually apprehended several different groups responsible for the heists.

The groups were all believed to be operating separately from each other, often taking advantage when the stores were relatively empty in the early hours of the morning.

March 21: A contract worker is brutally murdered in a suspected vehicle robbery attempt at an oil palm plantation located two kilometres from the Malaysia-Indonesia border in Lundu.

The victim, identified as Liew Siong Fatt, 42, of Batu Kawah in

Kuching, was found dead with slash wounds on his head and his left arm severed at the LITAT oil palm plantation in Raso around 10.30am.

Lundu police chief DSP Wong Chee Kiong said initial investigation revealed the victim was murdered during a suspected robbery involving his four-wheel drive vehicle.

Police investigators at the crime scene found tyre tracks belonging to a motorcycle- thought to be a scrambler- heading towards the Malaysia-Indonesia border located some two kilometres away.

March 26: The state narcotics police score big with the seizure of RM226,500 worth of drugs following the arrest of a salesman and his pregnant girlfriend.

The 31-year-old salesman and his 21-year-old girlfriend, who is seven months’ pregnant, were nabbed in a rented room at a house in Taman Midway in Kota Samarahan and found in possession of 10,540 Erimin 5 pills with a street value of RM158,000, 385 grammes of ketamine powder valued at RM38,500, and 500 Ecstacy pills worth RM30,000.

Police believe the drugs were sent by a syndicate from Peninsular Malaysia via courier service, and then distributed by the male suspect in Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Bau and Serian.

State Narcotics Crime Investigation Department chief Supt Moses Agat also revealed the salesman was a previous drug offender who had was jailed for 16 months after being arrested in the middle of 2010.

April 22: An argument between a group of youths at the grounds of the Baitulmakmur building in Petra Jaya ends with one person being bashed to death.

The deceased, identified by police as Mohammad Syamsul Izwan Mohammad Suhaili, 24, of Kampung Bintawa Ulu in Petra Jaya was believed to have been bashed using motorcycle helmets by five youths over a misunderstanding.

Immediate action by police following the murder- the first in Kuching for 2013- saw the case being solved in less than seven hours with the arrest of all five youths believed to be responsible for the killing.

May 10: Police smash an international Internet scam syndicate with the arrest of 84 foreigners and a local in Kuching following a joint operation with Taiwan and China police.

Known as the ‘Macau Scam’ syndicate, the suspects are believed to have raked in some RM4 billion in the first four months of the year by scaring their victims- all from China and Taiwan- into believing they were being investigated by police and needed to transfer their money into a temporary account.

Once the victims transferred their money into the temporary account, the suspects would then become unreachable.

The foreign suspects were initially remanded in Kuching before being deported to their respective countries to face trial there.

June 25: Police announce the arrest of nine African nationals and eight local women for allegedly conning a local beautician lost over RM1.3 million in an intricate online ‘romance scam’.

The foreigners, comprising a businessman and eight others who were registered at higher learning institutes, were detained in Peninsular Malaysia by Bukit Aman personnel while the locals were picked up in Kuching.

The ‘romance scam’ began four months earlier after the 34-yearold victim, who is married with children, visited an online dating site and struck up a relationship with who she thought was a Caucasian man.

Despite never having actually met the man, the victim agreed to business and investment prepositions made by him in which she stood to gain RM7.8 million.

After patiently wooing her with the non-existent business offers using forged documents, the ‘Caucasian man’ claimed the deal was in peril and needed her financial assistance to ensure it did not fall through.

The beautician then proceeded to make a number of deposits to the tune of RM1.3 million over a period of three months, sensing something was amiss and lodging a police report.

July 14: A local man is found dead at his home in Kampung Sampadi, Lundu after an apparent argument with his friends.

The 41-year-old deceased was having a meal at his house when two men showed up on a motorcyle and demanded him to exit.

Once outside, the two men attacked him with sticks and hard objects before fleeing the house.

The victim’s frined, who was in the house when the incident occured, sent him to the Lundu hospital but he was pronounced death upon the arrival.

Police believe the attack stemmed from a

missunderstanding a few days earlier when the deceased damaged the inside of one of the suspects’ house during a quarel over an unknown issue.

August 16: Perlis State Mufti Dato Dr Juanda Jaya and his wife are bound and robbed by two armed men at their residence at Jalan Bakti, off Jalan Sultan Tengah, in Kuching during the wee hours.

The hour-long robbery saw the samurai-wielding robbers carting away cash, jewellery and other valuables worth an estimated RM40,000.

The robbers first assault and bind the family’s domestic helperbefore heading upstairs to the master bedroom and gently knocking on the locked door to trick those inside into opening it.

The ploy worked as Dr Juanda’s wife, Shanti Ahmad Bulan, thought that one of their children was calling for her and got up to open the door, only for the robbers to burst inside.

Dr Juanda, who had arrived back the week before to celebrate Hari Raya, said the robbers bound the couple’s hands behind their backs with towels before ransacking their bedroom.

The intruders, who even complied with Dr Juanda’s request for the return of his wallet, and SIM and memory cards from the mobile phones, went on to apologise for their actions prior to escaping by climbing over the front gate of the house.

August 16: A 44-year-old man plunges to his death from the top of the Civic Centre, leaving behind a suicide note seeking forgiveness from his family members.

The noon incident occured when a security guard patrolling the Civic Centre tower spotted a man climbing over the security railing and, realising what was about to happen, immediately called out to him to stop.

However, there was nothing the guard could do when the victim briefly turned back to look at him before leaping off the ledge.

The victim’s Perodua Kembara was later found parked not far away from where his body had landed, with a handwritten letter spotted on the front passenger seat signed by the deceased.

The letter, in part, stated that he was experiencing stress and that no one could help him, and also asked for forgiveness from his family and requested that they pray for him so that he may rest in peace.

September 15: A 21-year-old man is found

lying lifeless in the middle of the road after he fell to his death from the Medan Pelita multi-storey carpark.

The deceased, Phang Zhen Sen, was believed to be suffering from depression following the recent demise of his buddy that prompted him to leap off the eight floor of the carpark.

His body was discovered by a worker at the carpark who initially thought a drunk youth had passed out on the road.

Police personnel arrived at the scene after being notified and quickly cordoned off the area pending the arrival of investigators, who proceeded to check a security camera installed at a lodging adjacent to the carpark.

Based on the CCTV recording, the police confirmed Phang had jumped off the multi-level carpark at about 1.05am.

They later found letteraddressed to Phang’s family- in which the deceased stated that had been hearing the voice of his recently deceased friend, and that he had chosen to end his life in order to reunite with his buddy in the afterworld.

According to sources, Phang was supposed to further his studies in Australia after having completed a course at a university in Simpang Tiga here.

October 31: The body of a fully-developed infant girl is discovered along the riverbank beneath the Isthmus bridge in Pending, Kuching.

The body, with the umbilical cord still intact, was spotted around 11am by a Penan youth and his friends who had planned to fish beneath the bridge.

A police team comprising investigators from the Sexual Crimes unit and Forensics Department were swiftly at the scene to gather evidence, and later transported the remains to the Sarawak General Hospital for a post-mortem.

Sources said that the body was in the early stages of decomposition and had probably been dumped between 24 to 36 hours earlier.

No arrest has been made in connection with the case.

November 30: An elderly woman is found dead with ligature marks on her neck in a suspected robbery-cum-murder at her house in Green Road in Kuching.

The victim, identified by police as 58-year-old Kam Pit Chin, was found lifeless near the kitchen door of the double storey wooden structure by her elder sister – a retired teacher- who arrived at the house at 9.50pm after being out the whole day.

Sources revealed that the 60-year-old sister had sensed something was wrong as none of the lights in the house had been switched on and, upon entering, was shocked to find the victim’s body lying face-up next to the kitchen door.

Police later found a hole in the perimeter wire mesh fencing at the side of the house and also a sickle, which Kam’s sister identified as belonging to the victim, discarded in a bush beyond the fence by the main road.

It was speculated that the perpetrator(s) may have carried along the sickle while exiting the compound and then discarding it in the bush prior to fleeing the scene.

The deceased could have been dead as early as 4pm as she was found wearing a gardening glove on her left hand, indicating may have been about to attend to her garden at the back of the house when she was waylaid.

A post-mortem conducted on the victim at the Sarawak General Hospital yesterday concluded that the cause of death was due to strangulation, while two of her right ribs were also fractured.

No arrest has been made to date in connection with the case.

December 12: A seemingly minor traffic accident in Kenyalang Park, Kuching, ends with the murder of a motorcyclist who is slashed to death with a cockspur by the car driver.

The deceased, 25-year-old Mohd Ilfan Daud, was heading back to his rented house round with his cousin riding pillion when they are knocked down by a car exiting a juction around 1am.

An argument ensues between Ilfan and the driver, resulting in the latter slashing the victim’s neck, arm and torso with a cockspur before speeding away from the scene.

Police arrest a 28-year-old man in connection with the case later the same night and remanded him the followin g day for five days to facilitate investigation.

December 16: Assistant minister for Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang is slightly injured following a carjacking incident in Kota Sentosa, Kuching.

The Belaga state assemblyman had just exited a pharmacy after buying a newspaper and was about to enter his Toyota Fortuner when two masked men threatened him with a knife.

A struggle ensues between them before the robbers escape with his vehicle, leaving Liwan with cuts to his right leg and other bodily injuries.

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2013

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

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BUSINESS

M’sia to spread its wings further on global map 2014 SO LONG: Najib before his flight to London to attend the 9th WIEF held between Oct 29-31. — Bernama photo

COMFORTABLE LIVING: Visitors looking at the Rumah Mesra Rakyat display during the UMNO General Assembly 2013 at the Putra World Trade Centre.

LISTENING INTENTLY: People in Georgetown, Ipoh watching the live broadcast of Najib unveiling the details of Budget 2014 at Parliament on Oct 25. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, which continued to spread its wings and presence especially in the international arena this year, is expected to flourish further come 2014.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s presence at international economic forums such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January, as well as, World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in October, has further boosted the country’s image on the global landscape.

During WEF in Davos, Switzerland, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, together with several Cabinet ministers, presented and marketed Malaysia’s success stories, which were mostly driven by the country’s transformation programmes.

Since the implementation of these programmes, Malaysia has successfully attracted increased investments to its shores while stepping up investments abroad, value of the stocks and employment.

Besides, Najib also presented the business community with the country’s aspiration to become a high-income economy by 2020 with a per capital income of US$15,000.

The per capital income jumped to US$9,750 by end-2012 from US$6,700 four years ago, he said.

“We presented all these as one package to the international community at the WEF here.

There is no other platform as big and strategic as WEF,” he said at the end of the trip.

Najib said at ‘Malaysia Night’, the culmination of the country’s participation in the WEF, investors saw a ‘shadow’ of what investors could enjoy and achieve if they were to visit Malaysia,

what more if they decided to invest in the country.

“In gloomy conditions, especially in Europe and the United States, Malaysia is one of the few places that radiates success in managing its economy which brings about the transformation which we promised,” he said.

In London, the prime minister wooed foreign investors with Malaysia’s capabilities in Islamic banking and finance.

That made the city, which is among the biggest financial markets in the world, to take bold steps into the Islamic finance landscape.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said London wants to become the hub for Islamic finance outside the Muslim world.

“I don’t just want London to be a great capital of Islamic finance in the Western world. I want London to stand alongside Dubai and Kuala Lumpur as one of the great capitals of Islamic finance anywhere in the world,” he said.

To further prove his commitments, he announced several moves including becoming the first sovereign outside the Islamic world to issue sukuk, the creation of new Islamic indices on the London Stock Exchange Group, as well as, offering ten new Chevening Scholarships for Islamic finance for 2014-2015 period.

That, of course, did not come out blindly. It was proof of a stronger bond and relationship between Malaysia and Britain that has grown over the years.

Not only that, Cameron also praised and commended Najib on promoting moderation against extremism.

“Prime Minister Najib is a newly re-elected leader whose pioneering Global Movement of

Moderates is uniting and inspiring people across the world in the fight against extremism and whose commitment to business with Britain is delivering millions of pounds of new investment and hundreds of new jobs here and in Malaysia,” he said.

This has certainly boosted existing ties between the two countries and taken it to another level since 2011 compared with the “benign neglect” level between 1997 and 2010.

Meanwhile, in terms of ranking, Malaysia has set another record this year, being the only Muslim country among the top 10 global economies in terms of ease of doing business.

According to the World Bank’s Doing Business 2014 report, Malaysia jumped to sixth position in the ease of doing business from 12th previously among the 189 economies in the World Bank’s report.

This, according to the Prime Minister, was due to the effectiveness of the government’s reform programmes.

Due to several fiscal consolidation moves by the government, international rating agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s also revised their ratings to “positive” and “stable”, respectively, on Malaysia’s sovereign rating.

Turning back to the regional front, Malaysia has been very committed in Asean’s regional integration in 2015 with 88 per cent of the measures already implemented.

With another year to go, certainly Malaysia has the tenacity and the drive to make the Asean Economic Community (AEC) a reality.

AEC, with a population of 600 million, will become the next

growth driver for Asean member countries as they become a single market and production base.

Asean will then become a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy, attracting possible investments around the world.

This AEC would also transform Asean into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour and freer flow of capital.

3M Malaysia Sdn Bhd Managing Director Michael Wu said moving forward to 2014, the company was confident Malaysian businesses would seek to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the global market.

This included continued growth in demand in the key fields of oil and gas, electronics, automotive, metal fabrication, consumer and healthcare.

“Malaysia must also recognise the emerging strength of the automotive industries of our neighbours in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. We must be able to compete with them especially with their participation in the AEC,” he told Bernama.

With the wealth of opportunities to be found within these industries alone, he said Malaysia would be able to significantly enhance both its productivity as well as position along industry supply chains so as to move the country towards gaining significantly higher value.

“Innovation will be the key that allows the nation to unlock this untapped potential and 3M is ready to partner both the Malaysian government, as well as, private enterprises to achieve our nation’s goal of becoming a successful, developed and highincome nation,” Wu added.

Malaysia’s energy consumption to record moderate growth in 2014 MALAYSIA’S energy consumption is expected to record moderate growth next year on the back of marginal population growth and moderate economic expansion, said the International Energy Agency (IEA) IEA said Malaysia is the third largest energy consumer in the Association of South-East Asian Nations, with population increasing at an average annual rate of 1.2 per cent and gross domestic product (GDP) growth at an average of four per cent per annum.

“These factors help drive an increase in Malaysia’s primary energy demand by an annual growth rate of 2.3 per cent,” it said in its ‘South-East Asia Energy Outlook’ special report.

IEA said growth in Malaysia’s energy demand would slow over time as growth in population and GDP moderates.

It said Malaysia’s per capita energy consumption is currently relatively high for the region, at 61 per cent of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average.

The energy agency said Malaysia’s gas production is expected to rise in the medium term to about 70 billion cubic metres by 2020 with almost half of it to feed the export market.

“The prospects for continued exports remain strong in the medium term, with recent discoveries and new developments set to keep the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal operating at full capacity through at least until 2018,” it said.

IEA said Malaysia’s proven gas reserves stood at 2.4 trillion cubic metres.

The agency said Malaysia’s oil supply is projected to rise to 740,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the short term compared with 670,000 bpd recorded last year.

It said the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects and the ramp up in oil output from deepwater projects in offshore Sabah are expected to

EXEMPT FROM GST: Najib, who is also Finance minister, announced during the reading of Budget 2014 that Mass transportation like the bus, trains, LRT, taxis, ferries, boats, tolls as well as education and health services would be exempted from GST. — Bernama photo reverse Malaysia’s falling output but will not be enough to stem declining oil output in the longer term.

It said with a proven oil reserves of four billion barrels as of last year, Malaysia is the second largest oil producer in Asean and a net exporter of oil, though rising demand has narrowed the gap, with exports falling to 70,000 bpd in 2012.

On 2013, he said, among the major developments in Malaysia’s oil and gas industry were the commissioning of Sungai Udang regasification terminal in Malacca in April.

The RM3 billion project with the maximum capacity of 3.8 million tonnes per annum of LNG will be channelled mostly to power generation.

The 2014 Budget, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in October, said Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) will set up another regasification plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

The Budget also highlighted other projects to be undertaken by Petronas -- Sabah Ammonia Urea Project in Sipitang; integrated oil

and gas production development project in Kebabangan; and, Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) in Pengerang, Johor.

According to Petronas, Rapid is in the detailed feasibility study phase and a final investment decision is expected in March next year.

The project will double Petronas’s LNG regasification storage to seven million tonnes per annum once operational in 2017, it said.

Another development in the local oil and gas industry this year is the completion of EOR Topside

by Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Bhd for Tapis oilfield offshore Terengganu.

The RM10 billion EOR project, which is undertaken by ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and Petronas, would boost Tapis production to 35,000 barrels per day from just between 3,000 and 4,000 bpd currently.

Petronas also awarded contracts for a massive block of 13 work packages worth a combined RM10

billion to six local companies — Kencana HL Sdn Bhd, Dayang Entreprise, Petra Resources Sdn Bhd, Carimin Engineering Services Sdn Bhd and Sigur Ros Sdn Bhd. A month later, on Dec 13, Petronas awarded another RM10 billion integrated hook-up and commissioning and topside major maintenance contract to TL Offshore Sdn Bhd, PBJV Sdn Bhd and GOM Resources Sdn Bhd. Another breakthrough in 2013 is the discovery of oil and gas field onshore, 20km off Miri, the first onshore field discovered after 24 years.

Petronas has also awarded Salamander Energy Malaysia Ltd and Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd a production-sharing contract (PSC) for block PM322, in the Straits of Malacca, which marked the 100 active PSCs in Malaysia since the system was introduced in the country 37 years ago.

On global scene, Norwegian investment bank, DNB Bank ASA, expects oil prices to decline next year to US$102 per barrel, from US$108 projected for the whole of this year, as geopolitical issues affected oil-producing countries.

LUCRATIVE: Another breakthrough in 2013 is the discovery of oil and gas field onshore, 20km off Miri, the first onshore field discovered after 24 years. — Bernama photo Its Analyst, Torbjorn Kjus, said the key factors that will pull oil prices lower are how quick major oil producing nations affected by the crisis, such as Libya and Iran, return to the market, especially the latter which recently received sanction relief for six months in exchange for scaling back its nuclear activity.

“If a broad-based deal with Iran can be reached during the next six months of negotiations, the price picture could turn out to be much more bearish than our forecast of US$102 per barrel for 2014,” he said in the ‘2014 Oil Market Outlook’ report.

He said global oil production has been reduced by about two million bpd due to the political unrests in Libya and sanctions in Iran.

Kjus said global supply and demand balance for next year is expected to be weak with demand increasing 1.1 million bpd while

supply from non-Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) up 1.7 million bpd to mitigate 600,000 bpd reduction in supply from Opec.

Kjus said demand in the 34country Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which constituted over 50 per cent of global oil consumption, is expected to see a small growth.

He said the outlook is based on the improvement in efficiency in the US car fleet and better sentiment in the macroeconomic indicators in Europe in the last couple of months.

Meanwhile, in the non-OECD countries, he said, oil demand growth is expected to weaken to one million bpd from 1.1 million bpd this year on the back of lower total GDP growth coupled with lessening investment-oriented growth.

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Wednesday, January 1, 2014

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Wednesday, January 1, 2014

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BUSINESS

Full of ups and downs in the economy MALAYSIA has seen its share of ups and downs in 2013, what with the 13th General Elections, Fitch rating downgrade and a slow pickup in listings on Bursa Malaysia filling the year’s headlines. Below is a timeline of the major movers and shakers both national and state-level.

January 18 Nasional Bhd (Petronas) announced the discovery of oil and gas via Adong Kecil West-1 well in Block SK333, located about 20 kilometre northeast of Miri town, drilled by JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (onshore Sarawak) Ltd, together with its joint venture partner Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd. January 30 l China Automobile Parts Holdings Ltd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM0.68 per share.

February 4 l Petronas offered RM5.30 per share to buy out minority shareholdings in MISC Bhd with the intention of taking the latter company private.

February 20 l A high speed rail link will be initiated between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in a bid to enhance connectivity between the two neighbouring countries. l Tune Ins Holdings Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an offer price of RM1.55 per share.

February 21 l The Malaysian economy grew faster than expected in the fourth quarter of 2012, expanding 6.4 per cent on a resilient domestic demand and contributing to a full year growth of 5.6 per cent for 2011.

February 25 l AirAsia Bhd made its announcement of its entry into the Indian airspace market via a tie-up with Tata Sons Ltd and Arun Bahtia of Telestra Tradeplace Pvt Ltd. AirAsia would hold a 49 per cent stake in AirAsia India.

March 1 l International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, announced that import duties on cars from Japan will be reduced to zero per cent by the year 2016.

March 3 l Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd (Malindo Air), Malaysia’s first hybrid airline, received the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) which paved the way for the airline to launch its first flight in Malaysia.

April 12 l The Employees Provident Fund has accepted that Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s enhanced takeover offer for its stake in MISC Bhd for RM5.50 per share.

April 10 l CLIQ Energy Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an offer price of RM0.75 per share. It is the second special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) to list on the bourse, after Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd last year.

April 22 l Petronas failed in its bid to take MISC private, with acceptance from shareholders amounting to 86.1 per cent, of 3.9 per cent short of the 90 per cent shareholding level to make the offer unconditional.

April 29 l Progress Energy Canada Ltd, Pacific Northwest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Ltd, and Petronas closed an LNG investment transaction with Japan Petroleum Exploration Co Ltd (JAPEX) for a 10 per cent interest in natural gas assets in northeast British Columbia and it secured its first LNG buyer via JAPEX. May 6 l After the elections, foreign investors were net buyers of equities traded on Bursa Malaysia for 21 consecutive days.

July 30 Fitch Ratings downgraded Malaysia’s outlook from stable to negative as the prospects for addressing weaknesses in its public finances have worsened in May 2013. l As the third SPAC, Sona Petroleum Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM0.50 per share.

August 16 l Moody’s Investors Services kept its stable outlook on Malaysia’s sovereign rating, but may revise upward its outlook should the country make economic reforms.

August 22 l Malaysia’s economic growth accelerated slightly to 4.3 per cent in the second quarter from a dismal 4.1 per cent seen in the first quarter. However, this was below consensus estimates of 4.7 per cent year on year.

August 27 l The RAPID project in Pengerang, Johor is said to be on track for final investment decisions which will be made in the first quarter of 2014. It is noted that the project can be scrapped should cost reviews show the project not being feasible.

August 28 l Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced an additional RM4.2 billion worth of opportunities for Bumiputera companies to participate in four megaprojects.

September 3 l The government announced fuel price hike for RON95 by 20sen to RM2.10 per litre and diesel by 20sen also to RM2 per litre effectively.

September 5 l Affin Holdings Bhd signed an exclusivity agreement with HeangDBS (M) Bhd to acquire the latter’s financial service businesses.

September 12 l Solid Automotive Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM0.56 per share.

October 3 l IOI Corporation Bhd launched a RM1 billion takeover of Unicorn Desa Plantations Bhd at RM1.17 per share.

October 14 l Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd has agreed to l

lPetroliam

TRANSPORTATION: A high speed rail link will be initiated between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in a bid to enhance connectivity between the two neighbouring countries.

FLYING HIGH: Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd (Malindo Air), Malaysia’s first hybrid airline, received the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) which paved the way for the airline to launch its first flight in Malaysia.

May 15 CIMB Group Holdings Bhd announced the acquisition of most of Royal Bank of Scotland’s cash equities and associated investment banking business in Asia Pacific for RM949 million. l Additionally, SP Setia Bhd and Rimbunan Hijau entered into a joint venture agreement with China’s Qinzhou Jingu Investment Co Lt to develop, construct and operate the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in China.

May 28 l Property player Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an offer price of RM2.20.

May 6 l Malaysia’s first quarter gross domestic product expanded by 4.1 per cent year on year, showing a sharp decline from 6.5 per cent seen year on year the previous quarter.

June 5 l Leon Fuat Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM0.60 per share.

June 6 l Celcom Axiata Bhd announced that it will allocate circa RM45 million in network expansion and upgrades in Sarawak over the next 12 to 18 months, as part of its continued commitment towards its investment in East Malaysia.

June 7 l Petronas announced that is was taking over the Pengerang water supply project worth RM1 billion to aid in its development.

June 14 l Bursa Malaysia and the FTSE Group announced that MISC and SapuraKencana Petroleum will replace Bumi Armada Bhd and YTL Power International in the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index.

June 21 l Whitman Independent Advisors (Whitman), became the first Corporate Private Retirement Scheme Advisor (CPRA) to sign with six Private Retirement Scheme (PRS) providers enabling it to market and distribute PRS funds from any PRS provider, thus offering Malaysians more choices and accessibility under one roof.

June 26 l AirAsia Bhd terminated its AirAsia Japan joint venture with ANA Holdings Inc. The airline called off its partnership due to differences in management.

June 28 l MPHB Capital Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM1.00 per share. l

July 4 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and UK Prime Minister David Cameron officiated a redevelopment project of Battersea Power Station in London under Malaysian consortium comprising of SP Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Property, and Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

July 8 l Malaysia’s exports fell by 5.8 per cent year on year in May, worse than the prior month’s contraction of 3.3 per cent on weak external demand.

July 10 l Long-haul carrier AirAsia X Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM1.45 per share.

July 19 l Sabahan oil and gas player Ranhill Energy and Resources Bhd withdrew plans to list on Bursa Malaysia for RM753 million after Petronas suspended an affiliace license following a review of a construction project.

July 23 l Sarawakian player ABM Fujiya Bhd listed on Bursa Malaysia’s main market at an issue price of RM0.60 per share.

July 25 l Delegates from US and countries involve in the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) gathered in Kota Kinabalu to hold the 18th round of TPP negotiations.

July 29 l Genting Malaysia Bhd expects to spend at least RM3 billion over the next five years to revamp its sole casino resort and plans to tie up with 21st Century Fox Inc for a theme park to attract more visitors. l

NEW COUNTER: Independent non-executive chairman of AirAsia X Berhad, Rafidah Aziz (right) points to a digital display showing share prices after the listing debut of AirAsia X as chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani (left) and co-founder and director, Kamarudin Meranun (second left) look on at Malaysia Stock Exchange in Kuala Lumpur. — AFP photo buy from Koperasi Permodalan Felda Malaysia Bhd for the 51 per cent stake that it does not own in Felda Holdings Bhd for a total price of RM2.2 billion.

October 17 l Crowe Horwath Sarawak and Tan Jin Kok & Co in Miri, agreed to merge to enhance their services.

October 18 l Port operator Westports Holdings Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM2.50 per share.

October 22 l Global service residence owner and operator The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has officially launched its 215-unit Citadines Uplands Kuching, which marks its maiden Citadines project in Malaysia.

October 23 l SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd won a tender to buy US player Newfield Exploration Co’s oil and gas assets in Malaysia for a price of RM2.85 billion.

October 24 l Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced Budget 2014 which points towards a gross domestic product growth of five per cent to 5.5 per cent and a deficit of 3.5 per cent. l This also included the announcement of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which is set for implementation by April 1, 2015. The Malaysian government is expected to collect RM23.1 billion via GST from April to December 2015, and RM32 billion for the whole of 2016.

GREATER MALAYSIA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced Budget 2014 which points towards a gross domestic product growth of five per cent to 5.5 per cent and a deficit of 3.5 per cent.

RETIREMENT SCHEMES: Whitman Independent Advisors (Whitman), became the first Corporate Private Retirement Scheme Advisor (CPRA) to sign with six Private Retirement Scheme (PRS) providers enabling it to market and distribute PRS funds from any PRS provider, thus offering Malaysians more choices and accessibility under one roof.

October 30 Malaysia advanced for the first time into a Top 10 ranking in the World Bank’s ease of doing business as Singapore continued to lead the annual competitiveness scorecard for an eighth straight year.

November 1 l UMW Oil & Gas Corporation Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM2.80 per share.

November 6 l Condom manufacturer Karex Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM1.85 per share.

November 13 l Local pharmacy player Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM1.25 per share.

November 18 l Malaysia’s economy gathered strength in the third quarter of 2013, rising upwards to five per cent from the 4.4 per cent seen in the second quarter and its low of 4.1 per cent in the first quarter. The result topped consensus estimates of 4.8 per cent. l Berjaya Auto Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM0.70 per share.

November 21 l Miidy’s Investor Services upgraded the outlook for Malaysia’s A3 rating to positive from stable amidst improved prospects for the fiscal consolidation moves and reforms in the face of esternal headwinds.

November 27 l Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd received a RM1.46 billion cash takeover offer from Aspire Insight Sdn Bhd at RM3.30 per share. l Property player Titijaya Land Bhd listed on the main market of Bursa Malaysia at an issue price of RM1.50 per share.

November 28 l Standard & Poor’s slashed its credit outlook to negative from stable for four Malaysian banks, namely CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, AmBank (M) Bhd, RHB Bank Bhd and sister company RHB Investment Bank Bhd. December 3 l Tenaga Nasional Bhd announced the increase in electricity tariff by an average 15 per cent in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan effective from January 1 next year.

December 13 l Standard & Poors has affirmed its a- long term issue credit rating on Sarawak with a stable outlook. It also affirmed the axAA long term Petronas announced new hydrocarbon discoveries from its exploration activities in Malaysia (via Sintok-1 well in offshore Block SK320 about 240km northwest of Bintulu) and Indoneisa.

December 17 l Genting Malaysia Bhd launches its Genting’s Integrated Tourism Plan to revamp its sole casino resort and Twentieth Century Fox World Theme Park tie up.

December 18 l AirAsia X placed the largest single order for 25 more A330300 with Airbus, making it the world’s largest single ‘airline’ firm order in a single purchase valued at US$6 billion for the A330-300 type fleet.

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World Sports

PERFECT SEASON: The All Blacks won it all in 2013.

SO LONG: Retiring Alex Ferguson bids farewell.

The World of Sports: Review of 2013

By Eikman Teo

Sports is a mirror of society, say sociologists. So do nice guys always finish last, according to cynics? Or do good guys win in the end, as most of us would prefer? 2013 provided its fair share of sporting highs and lows.

But it was extraordinary in telling compelling stories with fairy tale endings.

We start with the year’s chief villian. For years cyclist Lance Armstrong denied drug use and pursued his critics with impunity.

Finally in January, confronted with irrefutable evidence, the sports multi-millionaire confessed, was promptly stripped of his seven consecutive Tour de France titles and now faces financial ruin.

He was followed by three top sprinters - ex-world record holder Tyson Gay (US), another exworld record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown (Jamaica) - who were exposed as drug cheats in the run-up to the World Athletics Championships in August as drug cheats.

Thankfully, the World Swimming Championships held in the same month escaped scandal.

History’s greatest

swimmer Michael Phelps has retired. But another American took centre stage. 18-year-old Missy Franklin - 1.85 m tall with size 13 feet or “built-in flippers” - swept six gold medals.

It was also in August that another 18-year-old girl created headline stories at the World Badminton Championships with a fairy tale ending. Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, who grew up in abject poverty, became the youngest ever world singles champion, men or women, when she upset China’s Olympic champion Li Xuerui in a thrilling three setter in Guangzhou.

When she sank onto her knees in tears at the point of victory and dedicated the win to her mother and the

IT’S THE END: Lance Armstrong finally gets his due.

Thai Queen, the partisan Chinese crowd could not help but join the world-wide audience in

applauding the gracious upstart who had defied all the odds.

Unlike swimming, teenage champions are rare in badminton and golf. Tiger Woods was 23 when he became golf’s youngest ever world No. 1, but he may have started a trend. Top female amateur Lydia Ko from New Zealand was 16 when she turned pro in October. Earlier in April, China’s 14-year-old Guan Tianlang became the youngest player in history to make the cut in a major championship. Woods was right in describing these teenage prodigies as “frightening” - many of them like Guan were not even born when he first rose to No. 1 in 1999.

In October, German Formula 1 Grand Prix ace Sebestian Vettel, 26, became the youngest man to win four world championship

titles back-to-back. But what really set Vettel apart was his dominance of the sport. His supremacy actually attracted boos from fans when he wrapped up his fourth and latest title with three races left to spare.

How about the most dominant sports team in 2013? The New Zealand All Blacks completed 14 international test rugby matches over the past twelve months undefeated.

The curtains closed in 2013 for four iconic sports personalities who had defined their generation in their own style. David Beckham, 37, played his last pro football match and thus ended the career of the world’s most recognisable sports celebrity.

SPEED MONSTER: No one does The ‘god of cricket’ in the Indian it better than Sebastian Vettel. sub-continent Sachin Tendulkar, 40, played his last and 200th test match. Alex Ferguson, 71, victory podium with the white retired after 26 years and 13 Springboks captain to lift the English Premier League titles as World Cup, he exemplified all manager of Manchester United. the positive values that sport And Belgian Jacques Rogge, also represents. That 71, stepped down as International was a classic fairy Olympic Committee president tale ending for the after a 12-year reign during which ages. he restored the dignity of the Who is to say Olympic movement after decades good guys of worsening corruption and don’t scandals. win?

The sporting world mourned the loss of two heavyweights in 2013. Ken Norton, 70, fought in the ring alongside Muhamad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman during the golden age of heavyweight boxing in the 1970s.

Bodybuilder and entrepreneur Joe Weider, 93, will be remembered as the pioneer whose vision grew into today’s multi-billion dollar fitness industry.

The year ended with the passing of anti-apartheid and freedom icon Nelson Mandela. The avid boxer and life-long sports fan left a powerful sporting legacy. He successfully campaigned for South Africa to host the 1995 World Cup in rugby - the sport most visibly associated with race segregation during his 27 FAIRY TALE ENDING: Ratchanok years of incarceration. But Intanon is the new world champion. when Mandela shared the

ROOKIE PRO: 16-year-old Lydia Ko starts pro career.

INDIA’S GREATEST: Tributes rain on Sachin Tendulkar.

POSTER BOY: David Beckham calls it a day.

FLYING START: Missy Franklin begins her six-gold quest at the World Championships 2013.

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Sarawak Sports

DOMINANT: Sarawak women’s team triumphant at Sukma volleyball competition.

DIVING DIVA: Pandelela Rinong is Malaysia’s Sportswoman of the Year 2013.

A STAR IS BORN: Esmelda Arecia Menti steals the limelight at Sukma 2013.

Review of 2013

By Eikman Teo

S

arawakians celebrate 50 years of independence in Malaysia this year. The sporting events and achievements of 2013 provide a yardstick to measure how far we have progressed since 1963. Here are the year’s highlights: Malaysia boleh! We share in the glory of our national champions just as we mourn the passing of three sporting icons who departed in 2013. Eddy Choong (b. 1930) was four-time All England badminton singles champion and key member of Malaya’s first Thomas Cup victory in 1955. Istiaq Mobarak (b. 1948), was a top sprint hurdler in Asia and the second Malaysian to qualify for the Olympic semi-final in athletics.

Finally, Chua Boon Huat (b.

1980), veteran anchor in our national hockey team since he earned the first of his 321 caps as a 17-year-old.

The nation’s three truly world-class athletes continue to shine in 2013. Lee Chong Wei and Nicol David reigned again as world No. 1 in badminton and squash respectively. Sarawak’s very own Pandelela Rinong, also kept pace with the world’s elite divers. The 20-year-old Universiti Malaya undergraduate started the year by claiming the nation’s 2013 Sportswoman of the Year in recognition of her historic achievement as Malaysia’s first female Olympic Games medalist. She ended the year ranked No. 2 in the world in the 10 metre platform event.

But we bid farewell to Bryan Nickson Lomas, the first world-class diver in the nation’s history. The three-time Olympian and world junior champion in 2004 is only 23 but he announced his retirement in May to focus on his studies.

Sarawak’s performance in Sukma continue to disappoint.

The final medal tally for all the

FAREWELL: Bryan Nickson competed in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

STELLAR PERFORMANCE: Diana Bong was Malaysia’s pride at the World Championship and SEA Games. states showed we are fourth from the bottom. In fact, two of our four gold medals came courtesy of rhymic gymnast Esmelda Arecia Menti who was crowned Sportswoman of Sukma 2013.

Sarawak athletes performed commendably in the just concluded SEA Games. Diana Bong’s win in wushu was Malaysia’s first gold at the 27th edition of the games. Daniel Bego made a comeback from injury to win the 400m freestyle.

Mohd Jironi won the 800m and 1,500m to contribute two of Malaysia four gold medals in athletics. Casier Renee Kelly and Jackie Wong continued our proud tradition of throwers with a silver and bronze in the

hammer event.

The loudest cheers for the year were heard at Stadium Negeri, Petra Jaya. Sarawak lifted the Premier League title after playing 22 matches - 18 wins, 4 draws and no loss. The Crocs continued their unbeaten run at home in the subsequent Malaysia Cup campaign to end up among the final four.

Sarawak’s dominance in the sport of volleyball was proven once again in 2013. Our female spikers swept all the national titles: Open, Sukma, Under-16 and Under-14. The boys were Under-16 and Under-14 national champions while the men finished second (Sukma) and third (Open).

The future looks bright in the

next few years. No stronger case can be made than that of track and field. Sarawak as overall champions of the Malaysia Schools Championships in 2013 the 17th time in the last 21 years - on the back of exceptional talents such as thrower Grace Wong and sprinter Norris Foo. A new generation of swimmers led by the likes of Nee Gui Ping are set to rule the waves.

And have you seen eight-yearold squash phenomenon Chris Lau? The next three years will be exciting ones in the sports calendar. Sarawak will host the 2016 Sukma. We will also host acquatics events for the SEA Games if Malaysia wins the bid to organise the region’s largest multi-sports event in 2017.

DOUBLE GOLD: Mohd Jironi wins the 800m and 1,500m at the SEA Games.

TRIUMPHANT: Sarawak players celebrate 22 consecutive matches undefeated.

LET IT FLY: Grace Wong hammered all opposition in the throwing cage.

FORTRESS SARAWAK: Electric atmosphere at Stadium Negeri where the Crocs beat off all comers.

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WORLD JANUARY 4 STARTING YOUNG: An Indian instructor (right) shows a self defence technique to a school girl during a self-defence classes at a school in Mumbai on January 4, 2013. After nearly three weeks of lurid reporting on a horrifying gang-rape in New Delhi, women in the Indian capital say they are more anxious than ever, leading to a surge in interest in self-defence classes.

JULY 23 ROYAL BABY: Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge show their new-born baby boy to the world’s media, standing on the steps outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London on July 23, 2013. The baby was born on a Monday afternoon weighing 3.8 kilogrammes. The baby, titled His Royal Highness, Prince George of Cambridge, is directly in line to inherit the throne after Charles, Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son and heir, and his eldest son William.

NOVEMBER 18 TYPHOON SURVIVORS: Survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan march during a religious procession in Tolosa on the eastern Philippine island of Leyte on November 18, 2013 over one week after Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated the area. The United Nations estimates that 13 million people were affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan with around 1.9 million losing their homes.

Major events in 2013

l Andree Putman, internationally acclaimed French designer, aged 87, on Jan 19.

l Ieng Sary, Cambodian Khmer Rouge co-founder who was on trial for genocide and war crimes, aged 87, on March 14. l Zillur Rahman, Bangladesh president, aged 84, on March 20. l Boris Berezovsky, exiled Russian oligarch and Kremlin critic, in London aged 67 of hanging, on March 24. l Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister known as the “Iron Lady”, aged 87, on April 8.

VATICAN Argentinian Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis

CHINA Xi Jinping is named new president of China

l Ray Manzarek, co-founder of legendary 1960s group The Doors and creator of their signature organ sound, aged 74 from cancer, on May 20.

November 8

December 5

SOUTH AFRICA Nelson Mandela, the country’s first black president, dies at age 95

November 24

July 3

KENYA Somalian Al-Qaeda-linked militants besiege Nairobi Westgate shopping mall for 4 days 67 dead October 1

June 9

The leaks say NSA and FBI had direct access to servers of 9 Internet giants in a program called PRISM August 21

SADDENED: Supporters of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cry in front of the Military Hospital a day after his death in March 6, 2013, in Caracas.

Venezuela was plunged into uncertainty Wednesday after the death of President Hugo Chavez, who dominated the oil-rich country for 14 years and came to embody a resurgent L a t i n American left.

UNITED STATES Two blasts near finish line of Boston Marathon 3 killed, more than 100 injured

April 24

MARCH 7

April 15

January 16

ALGERIA Islamists take hundreds of Algerian and foreign workers hostage in gas complex 37 foreigners killed

HONG KONG US intelligence technician Edward Snowden reveals in interview he is the source behind leaks on US spying

September 21

l General Jorge Videla, Argentinian dictator at the height of its “Dirty War” against leftist activists, aged 87 in prison, on May 17.

FEBRUARY 20 GUILTY OR NOT?: South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius appears on February 20, 2013 at the Magistrate Court in Pretoria. Pistorius battled to secure bail as he appeared on charges of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, Valentine’s Day. South African prosecutors will argue that Pistorius is guilty of premeditated murder in Steenkamp’s death, a charge which could carry a life sentence.

l Nagisa Oshima, Japanese filmmaker, directed ‘Furyo’, aged 80, on Jan 15.

l Robert Edwards, British scientist, Nobel laureate for work on developing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), aged 87, on April 10.

March 14

IN COMBAT: Malian soldiers fight while clashes erupted in the city of Gao on February 21, 2013 and an apparent car bomb struck near a camp housing French troops as Malian and foreign forces struggled to secure Mali’s volatile north against Islamist rebels.

Some of the notable figures who have died in the year just ending:

l Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan president, aged 58 from cancer, on March 5.

PHILIPPINES Super Typhoon Haiyan hits central islands More than 7,000 killed or missing

March 13

FEBRUARY 21

Notable deaths in 2013

UNITED STATES Government shuts down for first time in 17 years amid budget standoff in Congress, lasts 16 days

l Esther Williams, US swimming champion and Hollywood star, aged 91, on June 6. l Fatai Rolling Dollar, Nigerian musician, aged 86, on June 12. l Jiroemon Kimura, world’s oldest person and the oldest male ever known to have lived, aged 116, on June 12.

JULY 21 NEWLY THRONED: King Philippe of Belgium kisses the hand of his wife Queen Mathilde as they pose on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Brussels on July 21, 2013. Prince Philippe took the oath as Belgium’s seventh king on July 21, shortly after Albert II abdicated, amid hopes he can live up to his father’s work in keeping the fragile country united.

OCTOBER 9 FIERCE: Opposition fighters open fire taking cover from behind a car during fightings in the Salaheddin district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on October 9, 2013.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fierce fighting in Damascus province between rebels and troops backed by pro-regime militias and fighters from Lebanon’s Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah.

EGYPT Army ousts Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically-elected leader Hundreds killed in ensuing protests BANGLADESH Rana Plaza garment factory complex collapses 1,129 people killed, thousands injured

l Marc Rich, controversial founder of Swiss commodities giant Glencore, aged 78, on June 26. l Douglas Engelbart, US engineer who invented the computer mouse, aged 88, on July 2. l JJ Cale, US singer-songwriter whose music was covered by Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Johnny Cash, aged 74, on July 26. l Berthold Beitz, patriarch of German industrial giant ThyssenKrupp, who saved hundreds of Jews from Nazi persecution, aged 99, on July 30. l Laszlo Csatari, most wanted Nazi war criminal, aged 98, on Aug 10. l Dutch Prince Johan Friso, who regained only minimal consciousness after being buried in an avalanche in February 2012, aged 44, on Aug 12. l Seamus Heaney, celebrated Irish poet and Nobel laureate, aged 74, on Aug 30. l David Frost, British TV giant, aged 74 of a heart attack on board the Queen Elizabeth cruise liner, on Sept 2. l Ray Dolby, pioneered noisereducing and surround-sound audio technologies, aged 80, on Sept 12. l Tom Clancy, best-selling author of spy novels, aged 66, on Oct 1.

SYRIA Troops are accused of chemical weapons strikes around Damascus Hundreds killed US and Russia agree in Sept on plan to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons, averting threat of US military strike

IRAN World powers reach agreement with Iran to limit its nuclear programme, 5 months after Hassan Rouhani is elected president

JULY 17

l Vo Nguyen Giap, Vietnamese general who defeated French and US forces, aged 102, on Oct 4. l Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual leader of Israel’s Sephardic Jewish community, aged 93, on Oct 7. l Erich Priebke, Nazi war criminal, aged 100, on October 11. l Manna Dey, legendary Bollywood singer, aged 94, on Oct 24. l Lou Reed, US singer-songwriter, aged 71 of complications following liver surgery, on Oct 27. l Doris Lessing, British author and Nobel laureate, aged 94, on Nov 17.

GRIEVOUS LOSS: Family members react over the bodies of their children who died after consuming a free mid day meal at a school at Gandaman in Saran District, India’s Bihar state, on July 17, 2013. Twenty-two children have died after eating a free lunch feared to contain poisonous chemicals at an Indian primary school, officials said, as the tragedy sparked angry street protests.

l Frederic Sanger, British biochemist, double Nobel laureate, aged 95, on Nov 19. l “The Fast and the Furious” actor Paul Walker, aged 40, in a car crash on Nov 30. l Nelson Mandela, apartheid icon, Nobel laureate and former South African president, aged 95, on Dec 5. l Peter O’Toole, the Irish actor, aged 81 on Dec 14.

MAY 10 ASSISTANCE: Bangladeshi rescuers retrieve garment worker Reshma from the rubble of a collapsed building in Savar on May 10, 2013, seventeen days after the eightstorey building collapsed. The death toll from last month’s collapse of a garment factory complex in Bangladesh rose past 1,000 as piles of bodies were found in the ruins of a stairwell where victims had sought shelter.

l Joan Fontaine, the British Oscarwinning actress aged 96, on Dec 16.

JULY 28 RENEWED PASSION: Catholic pilgrims attending World Youth Day (WYD) crowd Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on July 28, 2013 after spending the night sleeping here following a prayer vigil headed by Pope Francis. The city’s mayor said he expects up to three million people to pack the beach on Sunday for the final mass of the pope’s weeklong visit to the tropical city. — AFP photo

l Ronnie Biggs, the British Great Train Robber, aged 84, on Dec 18. l Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of fabled AK-47 automatic rifle, aged 94, Dec 23.

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SABAH

A dark year for Sabah ah T

RAGEDY broke the tranquility of a resort on Pom-Pom island near Semporna - when a 57-year-old Taiwanese tourist was shot dead, while his companion and compatriot,Chang An Wei, 58, was abducted in the early hours of Nov 15.

The couple was holidaying off Sabah’s east coast when Abu Sayyaf-linked gunmen stormed their villa and took her by boat to the Philippine island of Jolo.

On Dec 20, Chang’s abductors freed her in Southern Philippines before the Philippine authorities found her on the same day in a forested area between Maimbung and Indanan in Jolo.

Earlier, the Malaysian Government had assured of Chang’s safety as it was liaising with its Philippine counterpart.

About that time, ESSCom director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek had made an impassioned call to island resort operators in the state, especially those in Sabah’s east coast, to cooperate with security personnel patrolling their areas.

In light of the incident, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said a special task force comprising representatives from his ministry, the federal tourism and culture ministry, immigration department and other relevant agencies had been set up to ensure that only legal operators of any services, including lodging houses, were allowed to operate coastal tourism ventures in

SHOCKED: Meanwhile, as a state rich in biodiversity, Sabahans were shocked to hear that 14 endangered pygmy elephant carcasses were found at Gunung Rara Forest Reserve in Tawau.

Semporna.

Early this year, the muchanticipated Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah

SAFE AT LAST: Taiwanese woman Chang An-wei (right), 58, is escorted by a policewoman upon arriving at the Taoyuan International airport on December 21, 2013. Chang, 58, also known as Evelyn Chang, was kidnapped while holidaying with her husband in Malaysia, returned to Taiwan after she was rescued by Philippine marines in the southern Philippines. Her husband was reported killed by gunmen during the kidnapping. — AFP photo

SAFE AT LAST: Chang An-wei (right) is escorted by a policewoman upon arriving at the Taoyuan International airport on December 21, 2013. — AFP photo

1 dead 1 missing

finally saw its first sitting on Jan 14.

It was presided by a five-man panel led by former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong as chairman of the commission.

This came a little over five months since the RCI was set up and the appointment of Shim and his fellow commissioners were announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in a sincere move to solve the longstanding problem faced by Sabah, with terms of reference to be observed, including the investigation of the number of immigrants in the state who were issued identity cards (ICs) or citizenship.

The other commissioners appointed to preside over the proceeding were former Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) vicechancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kamaruzzaman Ampon, former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu, former Sabah deputy chief minister Tan Sri Herman J. Luping, who was also the state attorney-general, and former Sabah state secretary Datuk KY Mustapha.

Since then, a series of proceedings were held and concluded on Sept 20 without much hassle to which, on the last day of proceeding, Shim quipped: “It has been a smooth process.

There had been no tantrums, no throwing of chairs.

All arguments were done in civilised order.”

The RCI saw 211 witnesses giving their testimonies, including high-profile politicians, namely former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as well as vocal state leaders on the issue such as Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan

PERISHED: One of victims, a man in his 50s, who was the driver of the vehicle, died while receiving treatment. and United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

Meanwhile, as a state rich in biodiversity, Sabahans were shocked to hear that 14 endangered pygmy elephant carcasses were found at Gunung Rara Forest Reserve in Tawau.

Initially, state wildlife director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu said

two highly-decomposed carcasses were found in early January, while 12 more carcasses of the rare sub-species of the Asian elephant were found after further inspection of the area.

The pachyderms were believed to have been poisoned.

In relation to the gruesome discovery, the authorities stumbled on a living threemonth-old pygmy elephant which

In the 1am incident, a 57-year-old Taiwanese tourist was shot dead while his 58-year-old wife was abducted by gunmen from Pulau Pom-Pom resort.

Sabah

Pulau Sibuan Pulau Mantabuan

Lahad Datu Pulau Maiga Pulau Tetagan

Pulau Pom Pom

Pulau Larapan

Baturua Reef

Kunak

Semporna

Pulau Kalapuan

Pulau Bum Bum Pulau Omadal

Pulau Pom Pom Beaufort Reef

Semporna The Borneo Post graphic

TRAGIC: On June 19, the state was jolted with news of three tourists from Hong Kong, including two women, injured when their vehicle was hit by a train near the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 1 at Jalan Lintas in Petagas near here.

tried to revive its dead mother.

The story of the orphaned young elephant moved many to tears, but joy soon came when the calf, nicknamed ‘Joe’, was reported to be healthy and doing well at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Zoo near here under the care of the zoo’s staff, Augustine David.

Meanwhile, news of a 12-yearold schoolgirl allegedly raped by a 40-year-old man at a roadside near Kionsom Waterfall in Inanam in February caused fury among the people of Sabah, with women’s movements voicing out outrage. The case has gone to the court which will give its decision on Jan 24.

On June 19, the state was jolted with news of three tourists from Hong Kong, including two women, injured when their vehicle was hit by a train near the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 1 at Jalan Lintas in Petagas near here.

In the 5.35pm incident, the tourists were on their way to KKIA to catch a flight that night, while the train was travelling from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort.

The victims were sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here, but one of them, a man in his 50s, who was the driver of the vehicle, died while receiving treatment. – Bernama

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NATIONAL NEWS

Genting Bus Crash: Worst Tragedy In 2013 KUALA LUMPUR: The bus crash in Genting Highlands, Pahang last August was the worst road crash recorded in the country over the past 17 years.

The tragedy claimed 37 lives.

The crash occurred when the Kuala Lumpur-bound stage bus which ferried 53 people, skidded and plunged 60 metres into a ravine at the 3.5km Jalan Genting Highlands.

The mishap occured at 2.45pm on Aug 21.

A study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) found several factors which caused the crash. One of them was that the bus which was going downhill was being driven at break-neck speed, exceeding 50kmph.

The other factor was its dysfunctional brake system.

The rescue operation which followed, involving more than 150 firemen and personnel from various agencies, was hailed as the most organised and efficient.

Fire and Rescue Department Director-General Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said 16 injured victims were rescued from the wreckage within six hours of the rescue operation.

On May 28, a boat, packed with more than 100 people returning to celebrate the annual Gawai Dayak festival, capsized in Sungai Rejang, near Jeram Giam in in Sarawak, after hitting a log and developing engine problem.

Three passengers died, while the others managed to swim to safety or were rescued by villagers.

Another mishap reported this year happened in Penang on June 6, in which four people were killed when a section of the Second Penang bridge, which was under construction collapsed onto a Perodua Kelisa car they were travelling in.

CONCERN: This file photo show Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein visits Noor Hazwin, one of the survivor sof the Twin Otter plane operated by MASWings after it crashed in Kudat. — Bernama photo In Kudat, two people were killed and 16 others injured when a MASWings Twin Otter plane crashed while attempting to land at Kudat Airport last Oct 10.

The aircraft overshot the airport runway and crashed into a house in Kampung Sinsan, killing the co-pilot and a passenger.

On Oct 23, the serenity in the Cameron Highlands was interupted following a landslide and mud flood in the Bertam Valley. Three people were killed, one injured and another reported missing in the incident which also caused damage to 80 houses and about 100 vehicles.

The incident occurred after Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), which operates the Sultan Abu Bakar hydroelectric dam power plant di Ringlet, released water from the dam to avoid it from bursting, following continuous rain since Oct 22.

Cameron Highlands police chief DSP Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said TNB released water from the first

dam at midnight, and then at 1am and latter at 2.45am, causing water from Sungai Bertam to spill its banks and cause flash flood.

Subsequently, TNB clarified that the water was released, according to procedures.

A week later, on Oct 30, three people returning from a haj pilgrimage were killed and three others were injured when the van they were travelling in, crashed into a lorry at the East Coast Expressway.

Early this month, more than 40,000 residents in Pahang had to be evacuated to relief centres due to flood. Three people were killed in the floods, said to have been caused by ‘unusual rainfall’.

Even Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who hails from Kemaman, described the flood which battered Kuantan, as unusual.

The flood caused 1,072 TNB sub-stations to be submerged, resulting in TNB to stop

SHATTERED: The serenity in Cameron Highlands was interrupted following a landslide and mud flood in the Bertam valley. — Bernama photo

LOSS: More than 40,000 residents in Pahang had to be evacuated to relief centres. — Bernama photo electricity supply to 62,907 consumers.

TNB was also forced to cease operations of more than 382 sub-stations in Pahang and Terengganu because of the

flood situation in the two states, affecting 19,356 consumers.

In one aspect, the flood united Malaysians, with the people of various races, religions and political beliefs coming together to

donate cash and the necessities to flood victims.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also announced a special aid of RM500 to the flood victims. — Bernama

2013 sees contention over word ‘Allah’ KUALA LUMPUR: The year 2013 saw disputes over the use of the word ‘Allah’ which set off protests and court battles.

On Oct 14, the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling of 2009 that allowed the word ‘Allah’ to be used by a Christian publication.

It upheld the appeal from the government to bar the publication, The Herald, from referring to God as ‘Allah’.

The panel of judges - Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali and Court of Appeal judges Mohd Zawawi Salleh and Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim – were unanimous in their decision.

Mohamed Apandi, who led the three-member panel, said it was the court’s common finding that the word “Allah” was never an integral part of the faith of practice of Christianity. He said that taking into consideration the historical and religious facts, he could not find any plausible reason why the respondent (the Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur) was “adamant” on using the word ‘Allah’ in the weekly newsletter.

“The name ‘Allah’ does not appear, even once, in either the Old or New Testaments. In the

Bible world, God has always been known as Yahweh,” said Justice Apandi.

The contention has not fizzled out as the Catholic Church’s leave to appeal against a ruling prohibiting The Herald from using the word ‘Allah’ will be heard by the Federal Court on Feb 24 next year.

Apart from the hullabaloo over the word ‘Allah’, a controversy was stirred up by bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee when they uploaded a photograph of themselves eating pork stew while conveying greetings to Muslims for the breaking of fast in the month of Ramadan. They were jointly charged under subsection 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 (Act 620), Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act and Section 298A(1) of the Penal Code.

They were accused of displaying pornographic images on their blog “alviviswingers.tumblr.com” at Kompleks Mutiara, Jalan Ipoh here, between July 6 and 7 from 9 pm to 2 am.

On July 26, the High Court allowed them to be released on RM30,000 bail each in two sureties and the trial has been fixed for Jan 8 to 10.

On Oct 25, the High Court

CONTROVERSIAL: Bloggers Vivian Lee and Alvin Tan caused a stir earlier this year. — Bernama photo

OVERTURNED: On Oct 14, the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling of 2009. — Bernama photo

acquitted and discharged former transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, 70, on a charge of having cheated the government over the Port Klang Free Zone project after a lengthy trial.

Judge Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi said the defence had raised a reasonable doubt against all the charges brought against Ling.

Meanwhile, Corporal Hassan Ali Basari was among 31 people linked to the terrorist intrusion in Lahad Datu in February and charged in the Tawau High Court with waging war against the Yang

On June 18, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led

by Justice Datuk Seri Abu Samah Nordin allowed the prosecution’s appeal to set aside their acquittal on the charges.

On Aug 23, two police special action unit personnel Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar escaped the gallows after the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted them from the charge of murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu seven years ago.

A three-member panel of judges comprising justices Datuk Seri

di-Pertuan Agong.

On Aug 6, the Kota Kinabalu High Court sentenced Hassan Ali to seven years imprisonment, the maximum jail sentence under Section 130M of the Penal Code, for withholding information on terrorist activities in Sabah.

In another alleged terror case, former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Yazid Sufaat and cafeteria helper Muhammad Hilmi Hasim may have to go back to the High Court to face charges of respectively promoting and abetting terrorist activities in Syria.

Mohamed Apandi Ali, Datuk Linton Albert and Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat unanimously set aside the death sentence imposed by the Shah Alam High Court after allowing their appeal against conviction and sentence.

On July 22, lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was given the authority by the Attorney-General to lead the prosecution team in its appeal against the acquittal of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over his sodomy charge.

— Bernama

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Happy New Year

REVIEWING special supplement

2013

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

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THE YEAR AHEAD

Things to look forward to in 2014 Sports stars to watch in 2014 From the World Cup stage in Brazil to the wintry peaks at Sochi’s Winter Olympics, here are some of the biggest stars to watch in the coming year.

Shaun White

Sarah Hendrickson

American two-time Olympic gold medalist snowboarder Shaun White holds the X-Games records for gold medals and highest overall medal count and has grown into a virtual enterprise. But the question remains: at 27 is he past his flamed-haired glory? At Sochi, White is taking on the new slopestyle discipline yet reducing his training time to keep his hand in his many projects.

Neymar Brazil is set to serve up its newest hero, Neymar, who at only 21 shoulders the expectations of his countrymen this June. Famed for his quick feet and astonishing passing abilities, Neymar, who plays for Barcelona, is one main reason Brazil is expected to take all the glory this year.

Cristiano Ronaldo

This 19-year-old American ski jumper is considered one of the favorites for the event in Sochi, the first-ever Olympic competition for female ski jumping. Hendrickson already won nine of the 12 World Cup titles in 2012 and medaled at the US Championships at the age of 13.

Kim Yu-Na South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na, the 2010 Olympic Figure Skating Champion, is favored to win the gold in Sochi. Known as “Queen Yu-Na,” she scored more than 10 points ahead of the silver winner, Carolina Kostner, at the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships.

Novak Djokovic

A favorite to win the 2013 Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid’s star is set to play for Portugal at the World Cup, where his quick pace and stunning athletics are sure to make an impact.

Currently ranked No. 2 in the world behind the Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic expects to take early glory in 2014 by earning the main prize for the Australian Open. Already proud owner of six Grand Slam singles titles, he has won the last three Aussie Opens. So why not another?

Wayne Rooney

Adam Scott

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney is set to serve as the main man up front for Roy Hodgson at next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. At 28, Rooney is at the top of the his game, which is saying a lot for one of the sport’s greatest talents.

Australian golf star Adam Scott has won 23 official money tournaments around the world, with experts saying he’s only getting stronger and stronger — and with 2014 expected to be his year on the links. At 33, he is currently ranked number two in the world.

Lionel Messi Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who has already scored four Ballon d’Or trophies and 86 goals last year, is considered by many to be the best player in the world. No doubt, he’ll be a force to reckon with in Brazil this summer.

Leonardo DiCaprio Hollywood star and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio is stepping into the world of sports with the announcement that he has cofounded a Monaco-based team, Formula E, with Gildo Pallanca Pastor, owner of electric carmaker Venturi Automobiles. Formula E racing kicks off in 2014 with races in 10 of the world’s leading cities, including Beijing, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Berlin, and London, and promises to boost the electric vehicle market.

Dennis Rodman In news of the weird, retired American basketball star Dennis Rodman has reportedly bought a one-way ticket to return to North Korea to powwow with his proclaimed “friend for life” dictator, Kim Jong Un, and host an exhibition basketball tour in the country.

— AFP/Relaxnews

Artists to watch in 2014 KATY PERRY, Miley Cyrus, One Direction: We can count on them continuing to make headlines in 2014, but what musicians can you expect to hear more from in the new year? Here, both rising stars and seasoned acts set to take center stage.

The Who The British rock band celebrates its 50-year anniversary in 2014, with a worldwide tour in the works that Pete Townshend has said would likely be the group’s last -- at least of that scale. Dates have yet to be announced.

Adele Even when she steps away from the spotlight, the Grammywinning British singer continues to garner praise — her 2012 track “Skyfall” just received a Grammy nomination. Having spent some time relatively off the radar after giving birth in 2012, Adele is widely expected to release a third album in 2014 — following up “21,” which reportedly sold 26 million copies worldwide.

Sam Smith London-based R&B crooner Sam Smith had a good year in 2013, with high-profile collaborations with Naughty Boy and Disclosure

putting his name on the map.

Coming in 2014: his debut solo album, highly anticipated by those who’ve come to love his soulful sound.

Lorde 2013 was a breakout year for Kiwi singer-songwriter Lorde, culminating in a quartet of Grammy nominations for song “Royals” and debut album “Pure Heroine.” Continue to expect big things from Lorde, who only recently turned 17.

Broods Could this brother-sister duo follow in Lorde’s footsteps before the year is out? Auckland-based Georgia and Caleb Nott created a huge buzz in October with their debut indie pop single, “Bridges.”

That track was produced by Joel Little, the man behind Lorde’s “Pure Heroine,” and Lorde herself gave her seal of approval to the track. In December the duo signed to Polydor/Capitol Records and a Little-produced EP and LP are on the horizon (in February and August, respectively).

Disclosure UK electronic duo Disclosure soared to the top of the charts in 2013 with debut album “Settle.”

WHO?: British rock band, ‘The Who’ celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Having capped off the year with a Grammy nod for that LP, and with plenty of live dates on the horizon, 20-something siblings Guy and Howard Lawrence seem destined for more greatness in the coming year.

Banks After sharing several tracks online over the past year, LA singer Jillian Banks released an acclaimed debut EP, “London,” earned praise from Katy Perry and Ellie Goulding and toured with The Weeknd. Expect more of her dark indie pop/R&B on the horizon, as she’s said to be at work on a debut full-length album.

The Avalanches Australian electronic group The Avalanches released their highly influential first album, “Since I Left You,” in 2000, making Pitchfork Media’s list of the top ten albums of the decade. A second album has been anxiously awaited ever since. In June 2013, a tweet from Guardian reporter Nosheen Iqbal announced that, per record label Modular, a new album would be out in February 2014, with a single preceding it in September. There’s been no word of the single (aside from

a September remix of Hunters & Collectors’ “Talking to a Stranger”), but anticipation remains high.

Solange Solange Knowles has steadily risen in the music world with two previous LPs, and her third is creating major anticipation, as it’s to release on her own newly launched Saint Records. The first release on that label, “Saint Heron,” was a compilation of rising R&B artists that also put Solange on the map as a producer.

Nile Rodgers The disco master was ubiquitous in 2013: he co-wrote and performed on Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories,” including the runaway hit “Get Lucky”; worked on Avicii’s album “True”; and collaborated on the much-buzzed track “Together” with Disclosure, Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes. Having recently been given a clean bill of health after a serious brush with cancer, Rodgers is performing with his band Chic (The Guardian called his December performance

at the Sydney Opera House “lifeaffirming”). Will he impart his golden touch to another year of hit records?

Say Lou Lou The Swedish-Australian twin sisters of Say Lou Lou are hotly tipped to be the rising stars of 2014. Their dream pop -- most recently the single “Better in the Dark” -- has been making waves in the blogosphere over the past year, and a debut LP is expected in early 2014. – AFP/ Relaxnews

Tech trends set stage for mobile, playful 2014 TWITTER’S triumphant market debut, the rise of smart fashion and a new generation of game consoles highlighted the tech world this year, portending more mobile and social trends in 2014.

Meanwhile Apple regained some lost momentum and Microsoft sought to reboot by announcing it was seeking a new chief executive.

Twitter The one-to-many messaging service made the most hotlyanticipated stock market debut of the year in early November. The San Francisco company, which has yet to make a profit, saw its shares leap out of the gate and is credited with helping to fuel a stock market rally along with fears of a new Internet bubble.

Netflix Faith that the online streaming television and film service showed

in digital content is paying off, along with its investment in original shows such as hit “House of Cards” starring Kevin Spacey. “House of Cards” became the first exclusive online production to win an Emmy Award, the highest prize given to US television. Netflix competes with HBO and its share price more than tripled in 2013, but growing competition includes a streaming video service by Amazon.com.

Video Games “Grand Theft Auto V” set new records in production cost as well as speedy sales. The title published

by Take Two Interactive cost as much to make as a Hollywood blockbuster, but racked up more than $1 billion in sales in the three days after its release. In November, Microsoft and Sony released new-generation Xbox One and PlayStation 4 video game consoles, respectively, each selling more than

a million units in the first 24 hours on the market and getting status on holiday gift wish lists.

Bitcoin This digital currency weathered a mini-crash and rebounded by year’s end, at one point soaring above $1,000. Popular with geek treasure hunters who “mine” bitcoins online, the Internet version of cash is also tempting to criminals. It was used for payments at online drug black market Silk Road, which was shut down by US police in October.

Google Google’s Android software has come to dominate a smartphone and tablet market once ruled by Apple gadgets. But spins put on Android devices by ranks of device makers frustrate “app” developers, and titan Samsung has started to pull away from the California company by emphasizing its own

platform. Google is also getting attention for innovations such as Internet-linked eye wear, robotics, and high-speed cable lines. Google shares broke the $1,000 mark.

Phablets Big screens on smartphones have become big hits with users, with handsets growing nearly as large as tablets.

Personal Computers Global PC sales continued to slump as smartphones and tablets became more central to accessing the Internet. Microsoft, which built its technology empire on packaged software for PCs, is under pressure from the trend and its Windows 8 operating system overhauled with mobile and cloud computing in mind received a mixed reception.

Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer announced plans for an early departure to give the helm to

someone better able to navigate the tides of change.

of the boss and other leaders, the group is at the brink.

Apple The culture-changing California company rolled out slick new iPhones, iPads, and Macintosh computers while an arguably spoiled marketplace watched in vain for “the next big thing,” such as an iWatch or revolutionary iTV box. If Apple sticks to its pattern, the time to wow the world will be in 2014. Meanwhile, iPhone remains a bestseller and appeared poised to debut on the colossal China Mobile network.

Wearable computing Bracelets, pendants, eyeglass frames and other accessories infused with sensors, computing power, and connections to the Internet through smartphones or other means kicked off a “quantified self” movement.

The merging of fashion, wardrobe and computing is likely to accelerate in 2014, with devices promising to help people stay fit, informed, comfortable, and more.

BlackBerry The smartphone that pioneered the market, and once ruled workplaces, missed with a new BB10 platform seen as crucial to its revival, if not its survival.

Between job losses, an aborted sale of the company and departure

Startups Tumblr was bought for more than $1 billion by aging Internet pioneer Yahoo and Snapchat reportedly turned down a multi-billion-dollar offer from Facebook as established Internet giants seek to stay young and hip by snapping up promising new technology enterprises.

— AFP/Relaxnews