Olympians from Sarawak UNIMAS Center for Excellence in ...

ISSN 1823-9625 | PPK380/03/2009(021227) 

Sarawak • Borneo • Malaysia 

VOL.9 JUL-SEPT 2008 

Endorsed by 

Ministry Of Urban Development & 

Tourism Sarawak 

Sarawak Tourism Board 

Also 

Olympians from Sarawak UNIMAS Center for Excellence in Education 

Training Centre for Youths Bintulu Development Authority OneTJ 

Sarawak 45 th Anniversary Rainforest World Music Festival Sarawak Regatta 2008

Minister of Finance (II) and Minister of 

Urban Development & Tourism, Sarawak 

Yang Berhormat 

Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh 

Once again, I warmly welcome everyone to Sarawak, the Land of the Hornbills! 

BorneoTalk is a new, improved and expanded edition of the two-year old quarterly magazine 

KuchingTalk with changes and additions reflecting the growing fields of interest covered by 

the magazine. In addition, the print copies have increased and will eventually cover Sarawak, 

Malaysia as well as our neighbours like Sabah, Brunei and Kalimatan. The extended coverage 

means that BorneoTalk will appeal to more people and visitors and this in turn will give our 

advertisers good return for their investments. BorneoTalk will continue to be a dedicated 

magazine to promote Sarawak to the world while also providing useful information on the 

happenings and events in the State. 

2008 is a special year for Sarawak; it is the 45 th Anniversary of her independence in Malaysia 

and a host of interesting and colourful events have been lined up for the occasion. These will 

be staged in various parts of the State, thereby giving visitors the opportunity to go and sample 

the diversed range of activities as well as cultural extravaganza of the various ethnic communities. 

The Rainforest World Music Festival as well as the Sarawak Regatta and other annual events 

will be further spiced up in lieu of the significance of the occasion. As usual, the sampling of 

the range of food available here should not be missed either as eating is a great way to get to 

know Sarawak and its people better. 

In spite of the changes in the political and economic landscapes of the country, Sarawak 

continues to be a harmonious State and its people friendly and warm to everyone. The State 

remains an attractive place for business and education while its status as a second home is 

certainly gaining recognition among many foreigners who value privacy, value for money 

and safe environment. Developments in the State are well planned and regulated resulting in 

even growth of both urban and rural centres which benefit the people and keeping natural 

areas in their protected state. In fact, Sarawak has one of the most number of nature parks 

and reserves in the country including the World Heritage Site and the majestic Gunung Mulu 

National Park in Miri. Whatever your choice, Sarawak is indeed a place that will exceed your 

expectations as the traditional and cultural heritage is well balanced with the modern lifestyles 

where styles, fashions and communications are both trendy and fast. 

Again, I bid you a warm welcome and hope you will have an enjoyable and memorable stay in 

Sarawak. 

Thank you and regards. 

Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh 

2 | BorneoTalkJul-Sept2008

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, 

NAIM CENDERA HOLDINGS BERHAD 

(Company No.585467-M) 

PLAZA HOTEL • BINTULU 

SARAWAK • MALAYSIA 

UPAK 

Jabatan Ketua Menteri 

To Advertise In This 

Publication Call 

6 082 427423 

www.borneotalk.com 

MAJL IS SUKAN NEGERI SARAWAK 

JKR 

Limbang Resident 

Office 

Fulltank 

Sarawak 

Islamic Centre 

ICATS 

Jong’s Crocodile 

Farm & Zoo 

Sdn Bhd 

w o r l d w i d e c o s m e t i c n e t w o r k i n g 

Mukah Youth 

Camp 

Inside 

SportsTalk (04–05) 

Charting The Way Forward for • 

Sarawak Sports 

Olympians from Sarawak • 

CultureTalk (06–07) 

Kebudayaan Land of • 

Ethnic Diversity 

SocialTalk (08–09) 

A Noble Act Sarawak’s Multi • 

Awards Corporation, Naim 

Cendera, Ensures Generous 

Donations Through its Naim 

Trust Fund 

EducationTalk (10–17) 

UNIMAS Center for Excellence • 

in Education 

Centre for Modern Management (CMM) • 

Training Centre for Youths • 

Ba’Kelalan Enters The Cyber Sphere • 

From Traditional Knowledge to • 

Natural Products Discovery 

DevelopmentTalk 

(18–22) 

Bintulu Development Authority • 

Sarawak Islamic Centre • 

Bridging to Prosperity • 

Stidc • 

PropertiesTalk (23–25) 

OneTJ - ICT Shopping Complex • 

Pelita • 

Medan Pelita • 

LocalityMap (26) 

What’sOn (27) 

PropertiesTalk (28) 

Desa Ilmu Lakeside • 

HealthTalk (29) 

Rehabilitation a Road to • 

Recovery After Stroke 

TourismTalk (30–41) 

45 th Anniversary: • 

Celebrating 45 Years of Growth 

and Development – Sarawak, 

The Pride of The Nation 

Rainforest World Music Festival • 

Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar • 

Folk Art Forum • 

Get Crafty at Promosi • 

Kraf Malaysia 

Sarawak Regatta 2008 • 

Limbang Fest • 

The Borneo International • 

Kite Festival 2008 Bintulu 

Splendour of Damai @ Sarawak • 

Hotel Meligai, Kapit • 

Ramadan Fare, • 

Regency Plaza Hotel Bintulu 

DiningOutTalk (42–44) 

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites • 

Sensational Sahara Café • 

Fulltank The One-stop Food Shop • 

Movies&BooksTalk (45) 

In.a.DayTalk (46) 

FashionTalk (48) 

BeautyTalk (49) 

PeopleTalk (50) 

ConferenceTalk (51) 

BorneoTalk is published by Bumi Serasi. The contents of the 

magazine may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior 

written permission. The publisher is not liable for statements 

made and opinions expressed in the publication. 

Editor-In-Chief Ivy Pan Editor Melvin Goh Public Relations Christina 

Mamora Marketing Ivy Pan, Nancy Shukri Administration Rebina 

Noh, Azariah Umar Contributors Lyn Ong, Yahya M Iskandar, M 

Goh, Christina Mamora, Roger Duyong, Letitia Samuel Design & Art 

Direction Steven Yap Photography Derek Tee, Gustino Basuan, 

Sarawak Information Department, Great Wall Studio Front Cover 

Image Beijing 2008 Olympic Games representatives from Sarawak 

(from left Daniel Bego, Pandalela Renong, Brian Nickson & Elizabeth 

Jimie) Printer Teknik Print Sdn Bhd, Malaysia 

Write to us at BorneoTalk, 242E, Lorong 3, Jalan Green, 93150 

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 082 427423/238968, Fax: (6) 082 

235152 email: iconnec@pc.jaring.my 

The next issue of BorneoTalk will be out in October 2008. 

Sukma XII 2008 

“agi idup agi ngelaban” (as long as i live i will fight) 

Jul-Sept2008BorneoTalk | 3

MAJL IS SUKAN NEGERI SARAWAK 

SportsTalk 

Sarawak State Sports Council (SSSC) 

Charting the way forward for 

Sarawak Sports 

Blessed with bountiful natural 

resources and rich ethnic and cultural 

diversity, Sarawak certainly is fortunate 

in comparison to other states in the 

nation. The developments here have 

made Sarawak a favourite place for 

many to live, work and visit and it 

also aims to be the nation’s sports 

powerhouse by 2010, as envisaged 

by the Sarawak State Sports Council 

(SSSC). Since its establishment in 

1985, the SSSC has set in motion 

the objectives of achieving success in 

the sports arena which would bring 

glory and fame to the state. Hence 

its motto “Forward with glory” 

which aims to produce athletes 

and administrators of sports who 

would attain international standards 

in their respective fields. These 

achievements would also lead to the 

social development of the state as 

well as building a healthy, cultured 

and disciplined society which is the 

envy of everyone. 

Among the activities of SSSC are 

sports development and research, 

sports incentives and rewards as 

well as sports facilities. Under sports 

development, athletes are trained 

under the centres of excellence and 

special sports programme while 

those managing these sports are 

provided with management skills 

through relevant courses and 

clinics. The research unit manages 

the research centre which houses the 

database of athletes and coaches, 

the sports associations and other 

information related to the sports. A 

strength training and health education 

YB Naroden Majais, Assistant Chef de Mission Sukma XII 2008 (left) admiring the gold medal 

of Daniel Bego looking on is Francis Ding, Director of Sarawak State Sports Council 

programme is also conducted by 

the unit. 

The incentives and rewards unit 

looks after the various schemes 

that reward deserving athletes with 

awards while also providing other 

assistance to those sportsmen 

and women who may need it. 

Athletes who need counseling or 

guidance in career development and 

advancements may also seek the 

unit’s assistance. To provide the best 

services possible, the sports facilities 

unit looks into giving advice and 

consultancy services on matters 

related to facilities planning and 

management. All these activities 

carried out by the various units are 

to enhance and bring the athletes to 

higher levels of achievements and 

excellence in their performances. The 

close cooperation and commitments 

of all involved bring about a conducive 

environment for the development of 

sports in the state. 

At present, the SSSC is managed 

by a board of management under 

the supervision of a director and 

his staff who reports to the board’s 

chairman. The chairman implements 

the direction and policies of the SSSC 

drawn up by a council which is the top 

decision making body. With a sound 

management team and long term 

development plans, the state’s sports 

achievements are set to improve and 

to become the sports powerhouse of 

the nation. 

For more information, please contact Sarawak State Sports Council at (6) 082 251330, fax at 

(6) 082 419029 or at Dewan Suarah Kuching, Jalan Taman Budaya, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 


SportsTalk 

era 1990 

100 meters sprint 

Watson Nyambek 

era 2000 • swimmer 

Daniel Bego 

era 1950 - 1960 • 110 meters hurdles 

Bala Ditta @ Kuda Ditta 

Olympians 

from Sarawak 

For any sportsman or woman, taking 

part in the Olympic Games is a 

dream comes true; winning or losing 

is just secondary. In Sarawak, eight 

athletes have the distinction of 

representing Malaysia at five Olympic 

Games to-date, a record that certainly 

speaks volume of the talents and 

dedication of all those involved in 

the pursuit of excellence in sporting 

activities. While a medal still eludes 

the state’s athletes at these games, 

their spirit and determination shown 

is testimony of the Sarawak State 

Sports Council (SSSC) drive towards 

achieving the vision of becoming 

the Nation’s Sports Powerhouse in 

the various sports arenas and also 

to gain international accreditation in 

the administrative aspects of sports 

development. 

The first Sarawakian Olympian was 

Kuda Dita who competed at the 

1964 Tokyo Games in the 110 meters 

hurdles. In the process, he also set 

the national record for the sport 

with a best time of 14.6 seconds. 

A highlander from the Orang Ulu 

group, Kuda amazed the rest of the 

nation’s hurdlers with his blazing 

run and also wrote his name in the 

record books as the first Sarawakian 

to compete in an Olympic Games! 

Watson Nyambek and Sapok Biki were 

among the athletes of the Malaysian 

contingent at the 1996 Atlanta Games 

in the United States of America, taking 

part in the 100 meters sprint and 

boxing events respectively. Watson, 

an Iban from Miri, was a naturally 

gifted sprinter; in 1994 he achieved 

the unbelievable task of breaking a 

29-year-old national record by clocking 

10.3 in the century sprint. In doing so, 

he also created the record of being the 

first Sarawakian to hold the national 

record in the event! However, Watson’s 

feat did not end with the Atlanta 

Games; he also qualified for the 2000 

Sydney Games in Australia in the same 

event. Bidayuh boxer Sapok Biki, made 

Sarawak proud by fighting bravely in 

the ring and even managing to win a 

couple of bouts before bowing out of 

the games. 

Also at the 2000 Sydney Games with 

Watson was another Sarawakian, 

swimmer Die Ung Mangang. He 

took part in short course events and 

despite not winning any medal, he 

nevertheless put up good times in the 

heats. Following the success of Die 

Ung in 2000 Sydney Games, two other 

swimmers from Sarawak represented 

Malaysia at the 2004 Athens Games in 

Greece. Brian Nickson Lomas and Daniel 

William Henry Bego took part in the 

diving and swimming events respectively 

and showed the coming of age of the 

swimming prowess of the State. 

This year at the Beijing Games, 

Sarawak will have four swimmers in 

the Malaysian team! They are Brian 

Nickson Lomas, Daniel William Henry 

Bego, Elizabeth Jimie and Pandalela 

Renong. The two female athletes 

will also be competing in the diving 

events and once again show that 

Sarawak has the ability to produce 

quality athletes of international 

standard and on the right track to 

achieving the status of Sports 

Powerhouse in the Nation. 

era 2000 • diving 

• Bryan Nickson Lomas 

• Elizabeth Jimie 

For more information, please contact 

Sarawak State Sports Council at 

(6) 082 251330, fax at (6) 082 419029 or at 

Dewan Suarah Kuching, Jalan Taman Budaya, 

93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 


CultureTalk 

Kebudayaan 

Cultures 

Land of ethnic diversity 

As the biggest state in Malaysia, Sarawak 

is also home to diverse groups of people 

of different cultures, traditions and 

religions. Among the ethnic groups are 

the Malay, Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh and 

Orang Ulu while others include Chinese, 

Indian and Serani. To ensure that these 

different cultures and traditions 

will not be lost, the Ministry of Social 

Development and Urbanisation Sarawak 

has set up a unit, Cultures Division to 

specifically oversee the task. 

As the main agency responsible for 

the conservation and preservation of 

these unique cultures and traditions of 

the peoples of the State, the Cultures 

Division has set its main mission to 

maintain, conserve, preserve and ensure 

these cultures in their traditional forms 

especially in the ethnic dances, music 

and performances. To achieve its aims, 

the division endears these cultures 

and traditions to the general public 

through various activities like arts and 

crafts exhibitions, shows and display at 

special events and functions. Hence the 

division actively takes part in numerous 

cultural shows and exhibitions in and 

outside the State over the years. 

Another component of the division is 

that of educating members of the public 

to appreciate the diverse cultures and 

traditions of the different groups. It 

brings these dedicated artists and 

craftsmen and women as well as dancers 

to events and shows to display their 

unique traditions and cultures. In this 

way, the division also exposes these 

exhibitors and artists and dancers to 

a wide audience and gain experience 

from these events. At the same time, 

they will improve their performances and 

become more professional in their jobs. 

To further promote the unique cultures 

and traditions of the State, the division 

also conducts courses, classes and 

seminars for enthusiasts and those 

interested in these activities. There are 

classes on acting, dancing and music 

for teachers and others and even festivals 

are organized to encourage more 

people to participate in these cultural 

activities. By regularly exposing the 

public to these arts and crafts of the 

different ethnic groups it is certain that 

the diverse cultures and traditions will 

not be lost in time to come. Furthermore, 

it will encourage more people to support 

these efforts by the government to 

conserve the diverse cultures and 

traditions. 


CultureTalk 

The different 

races in Sarawak 

The Malays 

Once mainly fishermen 

who lived near the 

coastal areas, the Malays 

are now mostly located 

in the main towns and a 

substantial number still 

reside near river tributaries. 

They formed the second 

largest groups in the 

State, with large numbers 

in Kuching and Limbang 

districts. Traditionally, 

the Malays are very creative in the art 

of songkok making and keringkam 

or sewing with gold strings. They are 

also very talented in the music scene, 

especially dancing like Burdah, Rodat, 

Hadrah, Zapin, Inang, Asli, Joget, 

Gendang and play musical instruments 

like the large drums, string instruments 

and violins. 

The Ibans 

Ibans formed the largest 

group of people in 

Sarawak and were mostly 

farmers of subsistence 

agriculture. Their 

longhouses are unique as 

these can accommodate 

more than forty to sixty 

families in a row, one 

next to the other and yet 

separated from each other 

by walls. These longhouses 

are mostly found along river tributaries, 

especially along the mighty Rejang 

River where they are mostly located. 

The most notable Iban artistic flair is 

the dancing of the Ngajat which can 

take various forms. The women-folk 

are well known for their cloth weaving 

prowess like the pua kumbu. They are 

also equally adapt in musical instruments 

like gongs and drums as well as other 

traditional instruments. The Ibans are 

also famous for their ‘tuak’ (rice wine) 

and food delicacies. 

culture is that of using 

sago in their diet which 

today has become a well 

known product of many 

different uses beside food. 

The terindak or multi 

coloured sun hat made 

from leaves, is one of the 

most distinguished aspect 

of the Melanau culture. 

They are also good musicians 

and use a number of instruments like 

the drums, gongs and others. 

The Bidayuhs 

One of the major groups 

in Sarawak, the Bidayuhs 

are a mild group of people 

found mainly in Kuching, 

Samarahan, Serian, 

Padawan, Penrissen, Bau 

and Lundu. Traditionally 

subsistence farmers, a 

unique aspect of the group 

is the roundhouse they 

build called the ‘Baruk’. 

They are also well known 

for food preservation and are adapt 

at playing many types of musical 

instruments. 

The Orang Ulus 

Mostly found in the 

highland areas of Sarawak, 

these groups of people 

were mostly located in 

Miri, Limbang and Kapit. 

Some like the Penan, move 

around different parts of 

the territory while groups 

like the Kayan and Kenyah 

are found in the main river 

tributaries near Kalimatan. 

Others like the Kelabit and 

Lun Bawang, are found in the hilly areas 

of the interior. Traditionally farmers, the 

Orang Ulus also excel in woodcrafts and 

beads making. Their unique instrument 

is the sape, a wooden, guitar-shaped 

instrument but makes distinctive sounds. 

The Melanaus 

Traditionally also fishermen, Melanaus 

were mainly located along coastal 

stretches and river tributaries, especially 

at the mouth of the Rejang to the 

Baram Rivers. A characteristic of their 

Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation, Sarawak (KPSU) 

Rumah Sarawak, Jalan Taman Budaya, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 082 415894, 235418 Fax: (6) 082 252098 


SocialTalk 

A noble act 

Sarawak’s multi awards corporation, 

Naim Cendera, ensures generous 

donations through its Naim Trust Fund 

In Sarawak Naim Cendera Holdings 

Berhad is synonymous with excellence 

in building industry and its credentials 

can be seen from the numerous awards 

it has received over the years. These 

awards come from Sarawak and Malaysia 

as well as from overseas in numerous 

categories as a master builder but one 

award that the corporation is justifiably 

proud of, is the Corporate, Social and 

Environmental Responsibilities award 

received in 2005. Since its establishment, 

Naim had been donating to various 

social and charitable organizations, 

lending a helping hand to those in most 

need as well as trying to do its part in 

the protection and conservation of the 

environment. 

Environmental 

Responsibility 

Under its environmental responsibility, 

the company takes positive steps to 

ensure that in the course of its work, there 

is minimal impact on the environment. 

Contractors for the company must also 

heed the environmental guidelines 

set, including the ban on burning of 

wastes at its construction sites. As in 

all construction activities, a substantial 

amount of waste is created and Naim 

has the policy of using these wastes 

for landfill wherever feasible in the 

construction plans. Furthermore, the 

company also favours conserving the 

natural environment at its sites so as to 

have as little an impact on the ecosystem 

as possible. In some cases where such 

avoidance is not possible or practical, the 

company has resorted to the creation 

of landscaped parks and other green 

spreads in efforts to make the area 

beautiful again. 

At some construction sites, in particular 

places where residents are located 

nearby, the company emphasized on 

maintaining cleanliness during the 

course of its work so as to minimize the 

level of dust, waste and water pollution 

on the surrounding areas which may 

cause inconvenience and health related 

illness. Through these integrated and 

conscious efforts to promote conservation 

of the environment, the company instills 

a sense of responsibility on all its staff 

and contractors to always try and find 

environmentally sound ways to carry 

out their activities. The company firmly 

believes in the protection and conservation 

of the environment as part of its social 

responsibilities towards the people and 

the state as well as the nation. 

Christmas Party . . . for children of Salvation Army Home. 

1. 

2. 



For charity . . . Tabung Amanah NAIM raised RM200,000 from the 

Miss Tourism Pageant 2005. The proceeds were given to Sekolah 

Menengah Bantuan Chung Hua Tudan, the Miri Home For Aged and 

the Sunflower Centre Miri (a centre for handicap children) 

For Jereme . . . Tabung Amanah NAIM donated a brand new 

wheelchair to 8 year old Jereme Sikad who is paralyzed after having 

suffered Japanese Encephalitis (JE). The former Primary Two bubbly 

boy is also suffering permanent brain damage and relies on powder 

milk and Nestum for his daily food. To fund the purchase of these 

foodstuff, Naim staff members in Kuching and Miri passed the hat 

around to raise the necessary cash for the strong willed boy who still 

can manage to smile despite his sufferings. 


SocialTalk 

3. 

4. 5. 

6. 

7. 8. 

Social Responsibility 

Following the group’s listing in the Kuala 

Lumpur Stock Exchange, the management 

set up the Naim Trust Fund which would 

principally look into the aspect of social 

and charity contributions for the whole 

group. This further adds to the transparency 

necessary for a listed company in its 

dealings with other social bodies and 

agencies in and outside the country. In 

the initial stage, the trust fund received 

contributions from the group, its 

subsidiaries as well as the directors and 

the amount is topped up periodically. 

The fund is controlled by a Board of 

Trustee who determines the amount 

of funds to be donated to social, 

charitable, religious, educational and 

sporting organizations. Among the 

considerations of the board of trustee 

is that of providing for the excellence in 

educational and research work in Malaysia 

by giving incentives, scholarships and 

awards to individuals and organizations. 

Another noble consideration is that of 

providing for relief in times of distress, 

especially where tragedies and loss of 

lives and properties have occurred. 

One such sad episode was the tsunami 

which swept across most of Asia and 

causing considerable loss of lives and 

properties and Naim was one of those 

which made generous contributions to 

the national effort of providing relief to 

the hundreds of thousands affected. 

Locally, the fund also assists in programs 

that promote unity through sports, arts 

and culture among Malaysians. It regards 

these activities as wholesome and 

contributing positively to nation building 

efforts in line with the company’s 

objectives and principles. Similarly, some 

allocations have also been made for 

contributions towards religious worship 

and advancements of religion in the 

nation. Moral discipline of respect and 

tolerance are some of the tenets of 

the nation where different religious 

practices are observed by people of 

different origins and beliefs. Where 

funds for patriotic and charitable 

purposes are sought, the board of 

trustee will also consider such requests 

as these are excellent activities for the 

nation and its people. 

Sales Office: 

Ground Floor, Wisma Naim, Lot 2679, Rock Road, 


Tel: 6 082 422001 / 422236 Fax: 6 082 412001 

H/P: 6 019 8566738 

Headquarters: 

9 th Floor, Wisma Naim, Jalan Rock, 


Tel: 6 082 411667 Fax: 6 082 429869 

Email: cendera@po.jaring.my 

Website: www.naimcendera.com 

1. 

Naim’s Kuching, Miri, Sibu & Bintulu Staff 

made a collection to fund the purchase of 

10 wheel chairs for the Persatuan Bekas 

Prajurit Malaysia (Sarawak). 

2. 

Sarawak Heart Foundation . . . Tabung 

Amanah NAIM donated RM100,000 to 

the Foundation. 

3. 

Hari Raya Cheers . . . students from School 

for Mentally Retarded Children at Jalan Ong 

Tiang Swee receiving Hari Raya Hampers 

and Duit Raya in conjunction with the 

Ramadhan month. 

4. 

Donating blood. 

5. 

As part of its social responsibility NAIM 

carried out repairs to a dilapidated 

kampong house at Kpg. Semengok Batu 

12 Jalan Kuching Serian. The occupants 

of the house are categorized as hardcore 

poor. 

6. 

Naim sponsors one team from Sarawak 

taking part in the Malaysian F1 In Schools 

Tourney 2007. 

7. 

As in past years Naim through its Tabung 

Amanah NAIM donated RM50,000 to 

the Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Melayu 

Miri (LAKMM) at its Majlis Ramah Tamah 

Aidilfitri. The money is to fund the activities 

of the Lembaga for the coming year. 

8. 

For Badminton Development …The 

Sarawak Junior Badminton Development 

Programme receives a sponsorship from 

Naim Trust Funds as part of its contribution 

towards the development of sports and 

games among the youngsters. The annual 

development programme organized jointly 

with Sarawak Badminton Association 

(SBA) has received overwhelming response 

from school children. 

2007 

2005 

The Malaysian Construction Malaysia Corporate 

Industry Excellence Awards & Social Environment 

Contractor Award : Grade G7 Responsibility Award 

2005 

Spain 17th International 

Construction Award 

New Millennium Award 

2004 

KPMG Shareholder 

Value Awards 

2004 

The Malaysian Construction 

Industry Excellence Awards 

Builder of The Year 

2004 



Medium Engineering Project 

2004 

Malaysia Canada Business 

Council Industry Excellence 

for Construction Award 

2003 

2003 

2002 

SCCI Annual Corporate The Malaysian Construction CIDB Contractor 

Report Awards 

Industry Excellence Awards Industry Award 

Best Annual Report 

Medium Building Project 

Institutional 

Award 

Building Project 


EducationTalk 

UNIMAS 

Center For Excellence In Education 

Ultra modern campus, state-of-the-art research and 

teaching facilities, 54 international partners worldwide, 

great indoor and outdoor activities, and to top it all, an 

enclave surrounded by a world of natural wonders and 

an explosion of cultural diversity. So why not choose 

UNIMAS 

UNIMAS is located at Kota Samarahan, the administrative 

centre of the Samarahan Division. It is linked to Kuching 

(the capital city of Sarawak) via a modern highway. 

The 15km car ride from Kuching city centre to UNIMAS 

takes between 20 to 30 minutes. 

UNIMAS is a university committed to being contemporary 

in character and forward looking in outlook in developing 

its education system. The university employs innovative 

approaches to the teaching-learning, and offers academic 

programmes which cater to the demands of the mainstream 

market. 

UNIMAS is an ISO-certified university. It was granted the 

prestigious MS ISO 9001:2000 certification for excellence 

in its core management processes -- from the intake 

of new students to certification of its graduates. Our 

strong emphasis on technology has awarded us with 

the prestigious Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Status 

on 17 th November 2003. An award granted for our 

role and ability in developing manpower for MSC and 

related needs through our strategic learning and training 

programmes. 

UNIMAS commitment to research has already been 

recognised by the stakeholders and partners in industry 

by the provision of endowments for the establishment 

of eight research chairs; these include the Tun Zaidi 

Chair for Medicinal Chemistry, the Tun Openg Chair 

for Sago Technology, the Shell Chair for Environmental 

Studies, and the Sapura Chair for ICT. 

UNIMAS students are trained to be proficient in their 

respective disciplines through the offering of core courses. 

A curriculum based on the concept of total development of 

individual moulds students to be all-rounded individuals. 

Our graduates are able to cope not only in the existing 

workplace of today, but also in the newly emerging work 

situations in the future. 

10 | BorneoTalkJul-Sept2008 

UNIMAS research strength is recognised by peers in at 

least three niche areas of research: 

• Biotechnological research in epidemiology (dengue, 

JE, FMHD, malaria), biogeography (phylogenetics) 

and agriculture (sago); 

• ICT, specifically on rural communication and image 

analysis; and 

• Biodiversity, natural resource and environmental 

management.

EducationTalk 

We provide full accommodation to all of our students. 

UNIMAS student colleges are designed based on the 

concept of apartment. Each college has several blocks, 

and each block keeps a number of apartments. And 

each apartment is designated to accommodate 8 

students. The rooms are sufficiently furnished and each 

apartment is attached to communal facilities such as a 

common living hall, pantry, computer room, gymnasium, 

public telephones, washing machine, electric kettle, iron 

and a privatised laundry service. 

Our International College is in the centre of the campus 

and provides a range of sports facilities, on top of those 

available in campus, which include a 12-lane bowling 

alley. In addition to the standard facilities, each apartment 

in the International College is equipped with refrigerator, 

microwave and washing machine. The college has 

perimeter fencing and security–guard on duty, as well as 

a cafeteria, indoor games, common lounges, TV rooms 

and a privatised laundry service. 

UNIMAS welcome students from its partner universities 

to study as exchange students. Students could come 

and study for one or two semesters in relevant courses 

approved by UNIMAS and the partner institutions. 

Students under the exchange programme generally do 

not have to pay for tuition fees. This opportunity will 

give the student invaluable experience to enrich and 

broaden their educational learning experiences in a 

different culture and country. 

So while you are here, take the time out to explore and 

be fascinated. Sarawak is endowed with the richest and 

most diverse ecosystem. Its ancient rainforest is home 

to countless species of flora and fauna. Get out of your 

comfort zone and head into Sarawak’s interiors and be 

fascinated with the dances of the multi-ethnic tribes 

living harmoniously with each other. Or one may choose 

to explore the various national parks, cascading waterfall, 

pristine beaches or enjoy the multitude of festivals 

throughout the year. 

For further information on UNIMAS, please contact: 

Corporate Communication Unit, Chancellery Division • 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. 

Tel: (6) 082 581000 Fax: (6) 082 665088 Email: dhajijah@cans.unimas.my Website: www.unimas.my 


EducationTalk 

Administration Block 

CMM 

Centre for 

Modern 

Management 

In Sarawak, CMM or Centre for Modern Management is synonymous with 

human resource and organizational development (HROD) of the public sector; 

in fact, it has been the facilitator in developing the human capital for the 

State Civil Service to fulfill the aspiration of the State Government to achieve 

a fully developed State by 2020 in line with the Nation’s Vision 2020. Since 

its inception in 1994, CMM has steadfastly marched forward in its quest and 

Vision to be the Centre of Excellence for human resource and organizational 

development for the State Civil Services. 

40 Seater Coach 

CMM is today recognized as training provider of human resource and 

organizational development for the state civil service in key areas of public 

values, integrity, professionalism and innovation. CMM has acted as the agent 

of change, advisor, facilitator, consultant and implementor in carrying out its 

mission which has resulted in one of the most efficient, exemplary, friendly 

and professionally run state civil services in the Nation. While its core business 

is to work closely with the State Civil Service, nevertheless, CMM is also providing 

similar services to the private sector; in fact, it works in smart partnership with 

numerous local and foreign partners in a win-win effort in carrying out its many 

conferences, seminars, public courses and Human Resource and Organizational 

Development (HROD) consultancy services. 


Lecture room 

Human Resource and 

Organizational 

Development (HROD) 

Consultancy services 

This is one of CMM’s most notable 

services offered to both the public 

and private sectors. As work 

demands change as well as business 

transactions and expectations, 

continuous training is the way to 

ensure organizations keep up with 

the changing environment. Specially 

designed courses developed with 

experts in the field of HROD provide 

any organization the opportunity to 

further strengthen and improve their 

quality, productivity, efficiency and 

effectiveness. 

necessary for training needs is available 

at its premises. These include training 

rooms, auditorium, audio and visual 

equipment, computer laboratory, 

recreational/sport facilities, hostel 

facilities as well as transportation 

services. When you partner with 

CMM, there is absolutely nothing 

that you will have to worry about 

in terms of training needs for your 

organization as the experienced and 

qualified personnel from CMM will 

ensure that everything is well planned 

and implemented to the customers’ 

satisfaction. 

Our location 

For those who come to our premises 

for their courses, the setting is just 

captivating as the surroundings are 

lush greenery and tranquility, providing 

the perfect ambience for training 

purposes. Located in the Semongok 

area, it is home to secondary forest 

and just about half an hour’s ride 

from the city, with no traffic congestion 

or crowded buildings. 

EducationTalk 

Lecture Hall 

Syndicate room 

Classroom 

In-house training 

For effective and practical training 

of personnel in an organization, 

in-house training is the best and this 

is where CMM excels. Providing the 

right consultants for organizations 

in terms of their specific needs 

ensures that the training programmes 

are tailored to the real and highly 

individualized needs. Organizations 

that have undertaken these courses like 

individual, team and organizational 

developments, show marked 

improvements in the capabilities and 

competencies of their personnel. 

CMM also conduct the courses at 

the organisation’s premise. 

Auditorium 

Facilities 

There is no shortage of facilities at 

CMM; almost everything that is 

Library 

Discussion room 

Hostel 

For further enquiries and information on the training and consultancy services, please contact 

Centre for Modern Management (Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd. at (6) 082 625166 / 625266, fax at (6) 082 625766, 625966, 

email to services@cmm.com.my or check out our website at www.cmm.com.my 


EducationTalk 

Mukah Youth Camp 

Training centre 

for youths 

Located just 8 kilometers outside Mukah town is 

a training camp ideal for a range of activities for 

both public and private organisations. Strategically 

and beautifully situated along Sarawak’s coast 

facing the South China Sea, the 51.67 hectare 

site youth training camp also has some uniquely 

shaped roofs among its buildings. Styled based 

on Minangkabau architecture, these buildings 

have distinct three-layer roofs which makes them 

outstanding and quite imposing too. 

Operational since 1999, the camp has played host 

to a number of government agencies as well as 

educational institutions and private organisations. 

Apart from the majestic views the camp offers, the 

facilities available are quite extensive too. These 

include the obstacle course, zip tower, low, middle 

and high rope courses, wall and beam, jungle 

tracking, solo or mass camping, kayaking, repelling/ 

abseiling, spider wave, blasting the boom, acid river 

crossing, pool and tyres and silence arrangement. 

All these facilities provide interesting and challenging 

aspects to those who come for the training and 

there are also a badminton hall, football field, sepak 

takraw court as well as a volleyball/basketball court. 

The main objectives of the training camp are to 

instill confidence to face life’s challenges, heighten 

spirit of harmony and cooperation among the 

different races, loyalty to the nation and cultivating 

highly disciplined individuals for the future of the 

state and nation. In conducting these trainings, 

the camp provides all the necessary facilities and 

equipment and trainers, food and sleeping quarters 

for up to 100 participants at any one time. The 

camp has good water and electric supply amid 

a clean environment. The 5 hostels together can 

accommodate 92 participants while the two 

bungalow style houses have 6 bedrooms with 

single and double beds. There is also a surau, 

dining hall as well as conference rooms that easily 

sit 50 people at one time. 

Mukah Youth Camp comes under the management 

of the Ministry of Social Development and 

Urbanisation and strives to become the top training 

centre to bring forth youths of exceptional qualities 

and positive thinking to become leaders of 

tomorrow. 


EducationTalk 

activities for both public and 

private organisations 

Those interested can get more information from The Principal, Mukah Youth Camp at (6) 084 805689, Fax at (6) 084 805680 

(km 8, Jalan Oya - Mukah, P.O. Box 230, 96400 Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia) or Youth Section, Ministry of Social Development 

and Urbanisation at (6) 082 440441 


EducationTalk 

Ba’Kelalan 

enters the 

cyber sphere 

Way up north of Sarawak is the remote village 

of Ba’Kelalan, situated in the highlands region 

of the Baram. Picturesque and cool throughout 

the year, this is one of Sarawak’s ‘Shangri-La’, 

with fresh mountain air and pristine spring water 

making it an idyllic place to get away from it 

all and enjoy the serene surroundings. Once 

only accessible by air or trekking on foot up the 

mountain, today the village is connected to the 

World Wide Web, thanks to the efforts of the 

Universal Service Provision project. Utilizing solar 

energy, the village now act as a mini multimedia 

corridor for the village folks to reach out to the 

world and the vast fields of knowledge on the 

virtual highway. 

With this connectivity, 

Ba’Kelalan now enjoys 

the benefits of the 

Outreach Program 

organised by Pustaka 

Negeri Sarawak which 

enables the local 

community to pick up 

skills to utilize the 

internet. Suddenly, 

a whole new world 

has opened to them 

as they now can chat 

directly with their children, siblings or friends 

and exchange information with just the click of 

a mouse. More importantly, the two computers, 

a scanner, printer and connection to the internet 

using Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) give 

students and teachers here access to the endless 

possibilities the internet can offer in terms of 

knowledge and information. The latest news 

from around the world and local happenings can 

now be viewed as they happen and distances 

from towns now become less conspicuous and 

even unnecessary, especially the traffic problems 

and stress of the city lifestyle! 

E-Pustaka 

in Lawas and Sarikei 

Bridging the digital divide goes mobile 

Outside of the cities and main towns in Sarawak, 

another Pustaka project is actively providing 

some rural communities the necessary links to 

the internet and also skills to undertake these 

tasks. e-Pustaka comes to these areas in the form 

of a 25-seater bus equipped with computers, local 

area network and connections to the internet, 

a mobile multimedia library as it has a small 

collection of books and CDs on ICT inside the 

electronic classroom. 

Serving schools and nearby communities, Pustaka’s 

well trained staff teach information literacy 

skills inside e-Pustaka encompassing computer 

101, information searching, online databases, 

evaluating information and web publishing. There 

is no shortage of the fascination and enthusiasm 

among the rural folks whenever the mobile unit 

drops by, providing even more spirit for the staff 

to share their expertise and knowledge with the 

young and old alike. 

There are two e-Pustaka buses stationed at 

Lawas Public Library and Sarikei Public Library 

respectively. The units were financed by The 

National Library of Malaysia and operated by 

Pustaka Negeri Sarawak with the cooperation of 

the local councils. 

For more information, please contact Pustaka Negeri Sarawak at (6) 082 442000, fax at (6) 082 449944 or check out our website at 

www.pustaka-sarawak.com 


Extraction of useful plants 

Biotech R&D requires skilled researchers 

& state of the art equipment Field documentation of useful plants Propagation of useful plants within the communities 

From Traditional Knowledge to 


The race is on. The world’s most 

prominent pharmaceutical companies 

have headed back into the tropical 

forests of the world in their quest for 

new novel compounds for natural 

products development. For modern 

pharmaceutical research, biodiversity 

equals chemical diversity. 

Taking cognizance of this, as well as 

the fact that Sarawak’s rainforest is 

still abundant with unique flora and 

fauna, the State of Sarawak has entrusted 

the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) 

to facilitate the documentation 

of Traditional Knowledge of its 

indigenous communities and carry 

out bioprospecting (R&D) on its natural 

heritage – namely useful plants. This 

mandate for SBC is stipulated under 

the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre 

Ordinance (Amendment) 2003. These 

functions are carried out through SBC 

Traditional Knowledge Documentation 

Programme and SBC R&D 

(Bioprospecting) Programme. 

Traditional Knowledge 

Documentation 

Programme: 

In SBC’s context, Traditional Knowledge 

or TK as it is popularly known, refers 

to the centuries of the indigenous 

communities’ practices on how they 

have utilized biological resources 

around them for medicinal, healthcare, 

cosmeceutical purposes and food. 

Such knowledge is often handed down 

to the next generation via word of 

mouth, observation and practice and 

is seldom documented in any written 

or recorded form. 

While many of the older generation in 

these communities still retain their 

TK, the concern for the loss of such 

knowledge is growing - as a result 

of changing lifestyles, priorities, 

diminishing dependence of indigenous 

communities on natural resources and 

the availability of modern amenities. 

The rush for natural products 

development and bioprospecting from 

the world’s natural resources based on 

TK of indigenous communities have 

made it even more vital that TK is 

documented. TK documentation is 

based on the 3Rs concept – recognition 

towards the value of TK as heritage, 

promotion of respect for traditional 

knowledge and rewards that cater 

to the needs of the TK holders who 

have shared their knowledge, should 

the TK become basis for product 

development. 

To-date, Sarawak is the only State 

in Malaysia that has put in place, 

a structured and systematic 

documentation method. SBC’s efforts 

in facilitating the documentation of TK 

amongst the indigenous communities 

are carried out through awareness 

within the communities, capacity 

building workshops that provide 

the communities with necessary 

documentation skills, and constant 

follow up through site visits, seminars 

and dialogue sessions with the 

communities. 

Passing on valuable Penan TK to the younger 

generation 

The communities are also encouraged 

to set up their respective gardens of 

useful plant within their villages as 

a conservation activity to “bring 

the forest closer to home”. SBC has 

reached out to 12 communities in 

28 locations throughout Sarawak in 

regards to TK Documentation. 


R&D (Bioprospecting) 

Programme: 

The natural world is recognized as 

a veritable haven for new and novel 

compounds which chemists have not 

synthesized. Many top selling drugs in 

the world such as penicillin and the 

anti-cancer drug Taxol were derived 

from nature. The TK of the indigenous 

people can help point the way for 

scientists to new drug development. 

As such, SBC’s R&D strategy is to 

extract plants that have been utilized 

and documented by the indigenous 

communities in the State for medicinal 

and healthcare purposes, under the 

Traditional Knowledge Documentation 

Programme. These extracts are 

stored in the Library of Natural Products 

and are screened for bioactivity with 

hopes of identifying novel compounds 

that can be used for the development 

of pharmaceutical and healthcare 

products, and industrial applications. 

Other than plants that have been 

used by the indigenous communities, 

SBC is also carrying out screening 

of microorganisms from unique 

environments in the State for medicines 

and industrial applications. 

SBC also carries out extraction of 

essential oils from plants that contain 

scents and fragrances. These oils are 

screened for their therapeutic and 

cosmeceutical properties and could 

potentially be developed into 

aromatherapy and personal care 

products such as lotions and soaps. 

The field of biotechnology based R&D 

is new and exciting – one that requires 

time, adequate investment and much 

patience. There are many challenges 

that face both the TK and R&D aspects 

in this long and winding road to natural 

products discovery, for example, the 

legal issues of access & benefit sharing 

for the indigenous communities if a 

product is commercialised from TK, as 

well as matters pertaining to intellectual 

property rights for discoveries of new 

and novel compounds. 

Sarawak Biodiversity Centre 

KM20, Jalan Borneo Heights, Semengoh, 

Locked Bag No. 3032, 93990 Kuching, 

Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 082 610610, 617050 

Fax: (6) 082 611535 

Email: biosar@sbc.org.my 



Bintulu 

Development 

Authority 

Leading Bintulu to greater heights 

In just a matter of 30 years, Bintulu, 

a once sleepy fishing village, became 

the world’s largest producer of 

liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a 

single location and site of the first 

middle distillates synthesis plant, 

transforming it into Sarawak’s 

premier Gas Town . From a mere 

5,000 population of mostly seafaring 

folks, today it is home to over 

200,000 people from all walks of 

life and also nationalities. The 

remarkable transformation owes 

its success to the foresight of those 

who realized the potential of the 

area and put in place the blueprint 

for its growth and development, 


culminating in the setting up of 

the Bintulu Development Authority 

(BDA) in 1978. 

With just a staff strength of 30 when 

it was launched, BDA now has 657 

strong force to oversee the rapid 

growth of the town and its many 

related developments in industrial, 

agricultural, and infrastructures. 

The orderly developments of the 

mega industries as well as the rapid 

expansion of the town in business 

and residential properties will 

continue for the next 30 years 

with the launching of the Sarawak 

Corridor of Renewable Energy 

(SCORE). Harnessing the hydro-power 

of the interior of Sarawak as well 

as the large coal reserve, the entire 

corridor area stretching from Bintulu 

to Mukah, will see the rapid rise of 

energy intensive industries which will 

boost the revenue of the deepwater 

port as well as make demands on 

land for their locations. It is even 

projected that the town will have 

more than 350,000 people by 2020! 

First boom period of growth for 

Bintulu 1980 – 1983 

Major infrastructure projects during 

the period were the Bintulu 

Deepwater port and the liquefied 

natural gas plant which attracted 

people from all over the state as 

well as from overseas. It was once 

remarked that the number of 

foreigners then outnumbered the 

locals in the town! To facilitate 

these developments, BDA was 

active in building the connecting 

infrastructural needs like roads and 

bridges as well as residential needs. 

The other major employer during 

the same period was the timber 

based industries which had already 

been long established here.

Second boom period for Bintulu 

1998 – 2000 

Sparked mainly by the timber-based 

industries, the setting up of the first 

Timber Processing Zone at Kemena 

Industrial estate saw the huge influx of 

mainly Indonesian workers to the mills 

producing plywood and veneers. Initially 

located along the left side of the main 

road leading to the new airport, a 

new site or phase two was soon set 

up on the opposite side of the road 

due to the huge demand of industrial 

property. In fact, the Kemena Industrial 

Park was overwhelmed by the demand, 

prompting the BDA to set up another 

park on the opposite bank of the river 

which was to be later known as the 

Jepak Industrial Estate. 


“I witnessed the great transformation of Bintulu from a small fishing village in the 

1960’s into a modern city of today. Such a rapid progress is a dream come true for 

the people of Bintulu. Much more is in the pipeline to make Bintulu a great place 

to live in. Being Sarawak’s sole government development agency, BDA has been 

highly responsible for this great achievement and success.” 

- Dato Sri Celestine Ujang Ak Jilan, 61, Deputy Chairman of BDA, Former Senior Cabinet Minister and 

political leader of Bintulu 

“When I first settled in Bintulu, there was a row of 12 timber shophouses. The 

main economic activities, then, were related to rubber tapping, fishing and swamp 

logging. Transportation was mainly by river, on foot and by bicycle. Occasionally, people 

traveled by air through an airfield in town. In the 1950’s, my children could study 

only up to Standard Six in Bintulu and had to continue their secondary education 

in Sibu or Miri.” “Bintulu has experienced unprecedented industrial development under 

the co-ordination and promotion of Bintulu Development Authority with properly 

zoned industrial, commercial and residential areas and beautifully landscaped 

roads. Rapid population growth and increasing affluence of its people has brought 

in modern malls, supermarkets and hotels. There are also now several primary, 

secondary and vocational schools in Bintulu. University Putra Malaysia has also set 

up its branch campus in Bintulu. 

- Dato’ Sri Yek Min Ek, 95, Businessman and Philantropist, who resided in Bintulu since 1 st August 1941. 

He lived through the Japanese Occupation, saw Sarawak becoming a British Crown Colony and witnessed 

its participation in the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September, 1963. He also remembered the time 

when there were only two cars in Bintulu. 

Being born in Pandan ,a village about four hours by motorboat in the old days along 

Kemena River from Bintulu, I went to school in Pandan, Bintulu and Miri and had my 

tertiary education in New Zealand under the Colombo Plan Scholarship. Having worked 

in Bintulu since August 1977, when such projects as LNG and Bintulu Port were being 

planned, I have seen the progress of development from day one. Nothing is more 

meaningful than to see Bintulu progress well in the last 30 years. I’m confident that 

with SCORE, the progress will be even greater to take Bintulu into new heights and will 

continue to be known internationally”. 

- Hj. Mohidin Hj. Ishak, 56, General Manager, BDA 

Lure of Bintulu 2001 – 2008 

Population growth is a real indicator 

of the attractions of an area and this 

is clearly seen in the case of Bintulu. 

By 1983, the number was more than 

28,000, double its size from the census 

done in 1978! As mentioned, this 

northern Gas Town is poised for further 

growth in the next 30 years and will 

continue to be the centre of attraction 

for many from far and near. The potential 

for growth and development under the 

direction of the BDA is huge and though 

majority of the folks now are residents 

in transit due to their work commitments 

here, the trend for people to settle 

permanently is gaining momentum. 

With its well-planned and orderly 

developments, Bintulu is well on its 

way to become the premier residential 

location for many as the amenities, 

infrastructure and natural attractions 

are testimony to its unique array of 

wonders! 

“Among my early jobs in BDA was to record the development of Bintulu. In doing 

so, I needed to look at the past, the present and the future. In pursuit of the 

true record, I went to the mountains and valleys in Bintulu and in the interior of 

Bintulu, the sea and on the air -- many times -- to get the best angles of observing 

Bintulu. I managed to put into print the unprecedented development of Bintulu. I 

am proud to be part of that change .and the change is recognized by others like 

the Asian Institute of Management who awarded BDA with the ‘Development 

Management Award’ in 1994.” 

- Hj. Shukarmin Hj. Chasemon, 52, Assistant General Manager/Acting Deputy General Manager, BDA 

For further information, please contact: 

Bintulu Development Authority 

No.1, Jalan Tg. Kidurong, P.O.Box 55, 97007 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 086 332011 (15 lines) Fax: (6) 086 332255, 336066 Hotline: (6) 086 332277 

Email: bda@bda.gov.my Website: www.bda.gov.my 




Islamic Centre 

When the new Sarawak Islamic Centre 

in Kuching opens its doors to the public 

on 17 th August 2008, it will be creating 

a number of firsts in the history of the 

State of Sarawak! The unique architecture 

of the Centre, featuring a combination 

of the various ethnic identities, will be 

the first physical confluence of ethnic 

designs and matrices – underlying a 

bedrock of the true Islamic universality, 

with no distinction between racial and 

cultural differences or territorial isolation 

and parochial sentiments. 

It will also be the first in opening its 

doors to other faiths to foster a better 

understanding and appreciation of each 

other’s belief systems. 

Foremost though will be that the Centre 

aims to be an internationally recognised 

Centre of Excellence in communicating, 

educating, disseminating, learning, 

sharing and acquiring information and 

knowledge on and about Islam. This 

is to contribute towards K-society and 

to correct Islamophobia, bringing the 

Islamic faith to greater civilisational 

dimensions in line with the changing 

lifestyle of modern societies around the 

world where Islam is a global religion. 

Sited at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee in Kuching 

City, the Centre will also play a role as a 

depository for data and information on 

Islam while at the same time acts as a 

virtual library for the global community. It 

is going to be an outward looking centre; 

it will forge partnerships with other 

organisations within the state, nation as 

well as regionally and internationally so 

as to strengthen its position as a catalyst 

for knowledge and learning. These key 

principles of the Centre are pertinent in 

fostering better understanding among 

peoples of all religions around the world 

while providing a better understanding 

of Islam. 


In its efforts to engage in current issues 

and concerns at both national, regional 

and international arena, the Centre 

will be an information provider and 

contribute positively towards achieving 

greater understanding and resolving 

of misconceptions and bias statement 

that brings negativity and ill feelings 

in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural 

society like Sarawak. To achieve these 

objectives, the Centre will as much as 

possible utilise information technology 

and the new media to reach out to the 

younger and more IT-savvy audience 

within and outside the nation. 

It is expected that these challenges will 

become more critical in time to come as 

more and more people seek information 

through the alternative media and webbased 

channel. With these innovative and 

virtual action plans, the Centre expects 

to become an important avenue to share 

and explore knowledge and know-hows 

leading to a better world for everyone 

regardless of religious beliefs and origins. 

For further information, please contact Sarawak Islamic Centre 

at (6) 082 420798 or fax at (6) 082 414809


Bridging 

to prosperity 

After checking out from the Kuching 

International Airport, visitors to the 

city invariably go past a fly-over in their 

vehicles and get their first view of the 

Kenyalang, an impressive metal sculpture 

standing near the centre of the 

crisscrossing flyovers. Building of these 

crisscrossing lanes started in 2006 to ease 

the traffic flow in the surrounding areas 

just a short distance from the airport 

where housing estates and commercial 

lots dominate the landscape. The Public 

Works Department commissioned Global 

Upline Sdn Bhd, a company renowned 

for its fast, timely and impressive work 

in mega building projects, to design and 

build the flyovers in anticipation of the 

heavy traffic utilizing the roads here. 

Foremost, these roads not only link the 

airport to the city but also serve as the 

main arteries for those driving out of the 

city towards the outlying districts and 

towns as well as to the major housing 

estates and commercial lots surrounding 

the city’s fringes. 

Prior to the building of these flyovers, 

the area surrounding these roads were a 

constant headache to the residents and 

commuters as traffic jams and delays 

caused by the heavy utilizing of the 

roads. The situation got worse whenever 

it rains or during the morning, afternoon 

rush hours and was recognized by 

the department as a priority area for 

development and rid the city of a major 

bottle-neck. Careful planning and timely 

execution of the massive development 

of the project which cost RM98,000,000 

resulted in the now beautifully landscaped 

and pleasing crisscrossing flyovers which 

in total contain more than 4666m of 

roads! These include the approach roads 

in and out of the area as well as the 

flyovers. 

Emerging from the development of the 

project, a number of prime housing 

estates have sprung up in the surrounding 

areas with more commercial premises 

set to spring up here in the near future. 

Among these will be a major hotel 

located adjacent to the flyovers and 

making it the closest home away from 

home premise near the airport. Currently, 

the area is also the main transit point 

for those commuting between the 

education hub at Samarahan and the 

city, making it the ideal shopping centre 

for those coming from there. 



Stidc 

35 years of excellence in timber and related industries 

Tanjung Manis new township 

Tanjung Manis Halal Park 

An aerial view of Tanjung Manis 

Tanjung Manis Deep Water Fishing Complex 

STIDC building 


Sarawak Timber Industry Development 

Corporation (STIDC) 

Wisma Sumber Alam, 

Jalan Stadium, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, 

Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: 6 082 443477 Fax: 6 082 442 691 

E-mail: stidc@pusaka.gov.my 

Website: www.sarawaktimber.org.my 


Since its inception in 1973, the Sarawak 

Timber Industry Development 

Corporation (STIDC) has been at 

the forefront of the timber industry 

in Sarawak. Celebrating its 35 th 

anniversary this year, the Corporation 

can look back at its achievements in 

various aspects of the timber industry 

and as a catalyst for growth in the 

state. Apart from its core activity 

of regulating the timber trade and 

ensuring the future growth of the 

industry here, the Corporation has also 

ventured successfully in other areas 

like development of the main deep sea 

fishing complex at Tanjung Manis and 

the setting up of the Tanjung Manis 

township. The aim of the Corporation 

is to see that this port develops into 

an Industrial Port City by 2030 and 

towards this end, every effort has 

been put into establishing its existing 

facilities. The building of roads linking 

the port to the vast hinterland is well 

underway while the airport has already 

been completed and housing for the 

people is gaining pace here. 

With an estimated 30,000 hectares of 

land available for utilization, Tanjung 

Manis Halal Park has all the potential 

to become the largest Halal Park 

in Malaysia for Halal products in 

both the upstream and downstream 

processing and manufacturing. With a 

well-planned structure for the growth 

of the park, the strategic location of 

the venue further enhanced its 

potential and complemented by 

the port facilities available. More 

importantly, this one-stop Halal Park 

will grant fast-track approval for 

Halal certification and endorsement 

which will save time and cost for 

investors. The growing market for 

Halal products worldwide makes 

this park a timely venture and the 

hassle free procedures will add to 

its attractions for foreign and local 

manufacturers. 

Due to its favourable location, the 

Halal Park is well poised for marine 

based food industries like bio-tech 

aquaculture prawn and eel farming 

as well as aquaculture processing 

industries. Other industries suited 

to the area include feed-milling 

and fertilizer, organic chicken and 

egg production, fruit and vegetable 

farming, herbal plantation and R & D 

centre. The vast landscape with ideal 

marine ecosystem enables the area 

to support these key industries which 

will spearhead the growth of the 

Halal Park here. With the growth 

of these industries and others, the 

surrounding areas will likely experience 

tremendous growth too in time to 

come and socio economic developments 

will further add to the influx of 

population here. 

Tanjung Manis Coastal Wharf

PropertiesTalk 

Sarawak’s premier 

one-stop ICT hub 

You have heard of specialty shopping 

centres in big cities where exclusive 

range of merchandises are sold; now 

there is OneTJ, Sarawak’s premier 

one-stop ICT hub located at Heights 

Drive Commercial Centre along Jalan 

Stutong in Kuching. Just about all 

your ICT components and accessories 

are found here and this unique ICT 

shopping complex will also feature 

other electrical and electronic gadgets 

as well as fashion shops to food court. 

In short, it is a complete shopping 

centre by itself and a haven for those 

heavily into ICT related fields. 

The building is a four-storey shopping 

complex with 20 units of shoplots per 

level. Level 4 is reserved exclusively for 

an international and local food court 

affectionately called ‘Samba Zone‘. In 

addition, there is also a bloggers station 

which caters exclusively to those into 

the art and passion of blogging! 

You can be sure that this will be one 

interesting station for those into all 

sorts of techno stuff and opinions on 

the state of our world. Also on level 

4 are bookstores, lifestyle shops and 

other fashion houses. Level 3 and Level 

2 will be the main ICT product areas, as 

well as telecommunication and other 

ICT related outlets. The ground 

floor will comprise restaurants and 

eateries and will also feature shops in 

telecommunication related products. 

Convenience is the word when visiting 

OneTJ – there are escalators from Level 

1 to Level 4, 3 sets of lifts to all levels, 

clean comfortable walkways and ample 

parking facilities. The whole building 

has 24 hours security CCTV while the 

individual shop units come with toilet 

facilities and individually controlled 

air-conditioning. Due to the close 

proximity to the Kuching International 

Airport , major housing estates and a 

host of other commercial developments 

around the area, OneTJ is bound to be 

the main shopping centre for the trend 

setting generations. 

Watch out for the announcement of 

the grand opening of OneTJ soon – it is 

nearer than you think! It is certain the 

opening day will be the talking point of 

the city and expect a big rush as special 

promotions and other paraphernalia 

will also be awaiting the lucky shoppers 

who get in first! 

For further information, please call 

Kenbest Sdn. Bhd. 

1st Floor, Lot 10503, Taman Stutong Indah, Jalan 

Setia Raja, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 082 362226, 362726 

H/P: (6) 012 8893226 

Fax: (6) 082 360170 

Website: www.kenbest.com.my 

Email: kenbest@streamyx.com 

to BDC 

Jalan Tabuan Laru 

to Tabuan Laru 

Jalan Stutong 

Jul-Sept2008BorneoTalk | 23 

to Kota 

Samarahan


Kasuma, Kuching 

Pelita 

The ideal locations for businesses 

The Land Custody and Development 

Authority (LCDA) is a state agency set 

up to oversee the orderly development 

of urban and rural areas in Sarawak. 

It is often the catalyst for developments 

in areas that other public or private 

sectors have not ventured into as often 

these developments are quite massive 

and requires extensive planning and 

foresight. 

In addition to its role as planner and 

developer, LCDA also lease out its 

properties to interested parties as 

well. Businesses which do not wish 

to buy properties or are looking for 

properties with the right location in 

towns and cities, can always rent 

these prime location properties from 

the agency. For example, the Medan 

Pelita building in the centre of Kuching 

city, has targeted an interesting range 

of tenants like international recognized 

food outlets to specialized vendors of 

coffees and even optician to mobile 

phone sellers. Other prime properties 

that are for rent by the agency include 

Kasuma Resort and Riverine in 

Kuching City . The Kasuma Resort 

comprise of high rise apartments in 

a secluded area with private modern 

amenities and just a short drive from 

the city centre while the Riverine suites 

are right in the heart of the city but 

sheltered from the hustle and bustle 

due to its riverbank location. Other 

properties available for immediate 

rental are listed in the following list. 

Mukah 

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AVAILABLE 

KUCHING 

Tabuan Park 

Ground Floor, 4-storey Shophouse,11E 

Ground Floor, 4-storey Shophouse,11F 

1 st Floor, 4-storey Shophouse,11E 

2 nd Floor, 4-storey Shophouse,11F 

Desa Ilmu, Kota Samarahan 

3 storey shophouses ( SL 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 

60, 61, 62, 63) 

Phase 25 

2 storey shophouse (SL 4), 1 st & 2 nd Floor 

Asajaya New Township Phase III 

(Lot 520 Block 32 Muara Tuang LD Samarahan) 

Intermediate Unit 2 storey shophouse (Lot 14) 

KAPIT TOWN 

Lock-Up Shoplots (SL1-7) 

3-Storey Shophouses (SL7, 8, 16, 23, 24, 38, 39, 

40, 41, 42) 

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AVAILABLE 

KUCHING 

Tabuan Park (11E & 11F) 

4-storey Shophouse 3 rd Floor, (Apartment) 

4-storey Shophouse 3 rd Floor, (Apartment) 

4-storey Shophouse 4 th Floor, (Apartment) 

4-storey Shophouse 4 th Floor, (Apartment) 

Tabuan Park 

2-Storey Semi-D (SL 59-62) 

Kasuma Resort 

BLOCK A - AZALEA 

Condominium - Parcel 1-5-A, Level 5 


Condominium - Parcel 1-15-D1, Level 15 

BLOCK B - BEGONIA 

Condominium - Parcel 2-6-B, Level 6 

Condominium - Parcel 2-9-D, Level 9 

Condominium - Parcel 2-10-A1, Level 10 

Condominium - Parcel 2-15-C1, Level 15 

MUKAH 

1 st Floor, SL 19, DALAT TOWN DISTRICT, MUKAH 

2 storey shophouse (corner) 

LONG LAPOK 

2 storey shophouse (int) - SL6 

SUNDAR NEW TOWNSHIP, 

LAWAS 

2 storey shophouse at Sundar Bazaar (cor) - (SL63) 

2 storey minishop at Sundar Bazaar (int) - (SL37) 

2 storey minishop at Sundar Bazaar (int) - (SL38) 

Riverine, Kuching 

BLOCK C - CAMELIA 

Condominium - Parcel 3-4-F, Level 4 


Condominium - Parcel 3-10-E1 

BLOCK D - DAHLIA 

Condominium - Parcel 4-8-D, Level 8 

Condominium - Parcel 4-13-D1, Level 13 

Condominium - Parcel 4-14-A1, Level 14 

Riverine Resort 

Condominium - Parcel RE 09-07, Type 2B 

Condominium - Parcel RE 11-07, Type 2B 

Condominium - Parcel RE 06-12, Type 3F 

Condominium - Parcel RE 07-13A, Type 3H 

Kapit 

Taman Pelita 



Land Custody & Development Authority 

Pelita Holdings Sdn. Bhd. 

Level 5, 8 & 12 Wisma Satok, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 082 235944 ext 316

Shop lots 

now open 

for rent 


The New Look! 

All you want in a shopping centre & more! 

A new shopping landmark in the 

City, Medan Pelita is the place for 

wide selection of food, fashion and 

accessories, telecommunication and 

multi-media providers as well as optical 

wear to souvenirs, medical and health 

needs plus the quiet ambience of a 

bookstore. All these and more will 

soon be found in this latest addition 

to the city’s shopping spots and most 

assuring for customers will be the 

presence of CCTV 24-hour security 

surveillance and its cleanliness within 

the shopping centre. 

What you will find 

Lower Ground Floor 

The food haven – there’s hardly any 

other centre in the city where you will 

find the wide choices available here, all 

in one place! Internationally renowned 

fast food chains will give visitors and 

patrons the range of food that will 

please every member of the family or 

group with their array of burgers to 

crispy, finger licking chicken and fries in 

cool, clean surroundings. 

The food court serves cuisines from 

different regions and tastes – Korean, 

Thai, Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, can 

all be found under one roof. The 

numerous varieties make eating here a 

pleasurable experience for those who 

enjoy different tastes and cooking styles! 

In addition, an ice cream parlor is 

just the right place for some cold, 

refreshing scoops during the hot 

afternoon plus a side order of wafers 

and some pop corn for the children. 

It’s the ideal place for children’s 

parties and relaxation for the whole 

family on weekends to spend time 

together. Also found on the ground 

floor are various convenient stores 

and snack shops which provide even 

wider range of finger food items. 

Upper Ground Floor 

Caffeine getaway – International 

coffee chain outlets are expected to be 

opening here too, providing the finest 

choices of cold, hot coffees, teas and 

snacks, this is the perfect spot for 

everyone to enjoy the ambient 

surroundings and soothing music. 

Whether with friends or business 

partners, these outlets offer the 

tranquil setting for a quiet evening 

together or venue for all important 

business negotiations; the decision is 

yours to make. 

Fashion and accessories – A number 

of shops here caters to ladies fashion 

and accessories as well as some men’s 

attire too. There are accessories outlets 

offering wide range of trinkets to 

browse through, the alternative activity 

after lunch or dinner here. 

Drop by the hair and beauty saloons 

to give your hair that shine and 

glamour by the professionals’ touch. 

It’s convenient and certainly relaxing 

getting the right look for your beautiful 

hair at these outlets with their 

experienced and ever smiling stylists. 

The right frame – Glasses or contact 

lens Sun glasses or colour lens Get 

answers for all your eye-care needs 

at the optical outlets here. They have 

just about any glass frame you need, 

from the fashionable teen and young 

at heart to shades for the bright 

sunny afternoon, pick out the right 

frames from their endless range on 

display here. 

Doctors in the house – Check with 

the friendly staff of the pharmacy 

outlet for your personal health care 

items and you can be sure to get all 

you need in this outlet. Look around 

to stock up on essential items in case 

of emergency needs while shopping in 

Malaysia’s most favourite pharmacy. 

Wrap those gifts! – Gifts, souvenirs 

for any occasion; the choices of cards 

to small cuddly toys and local crafts 

to imported ones often make choosing 

a gift a difficult but pleasurable 

experience! Anytime there is a special 

occasion or for someone special, this is 

the place to pick out a memorable and 

impressive gift that says it all! 

If books, magazines and the likes are 

your favourite hunting ground, then 

check out the books and magazine 

outlet located here. 

The extras – Medan Pelita is a 

convenient and pleasurable place 

for all your needs and with its new 

contemporary design, it is easily the 

one-stop commercial shopping center 

in the city. What’s more, it is also an 

environmentally friendly venue with 

wi-fi facilities and 24-hour CCTV 

security surveillance system for safety 

and peace of mind when inside the 

building. 

This is the place to set up your new 

business and become a member of the 

Medan Pelita tenants to provide good 

choices for customers in the city. 

Come, see for yourself the city’s 

one-stop convenient shopping 

center and book now to reserve 

your shoplot in the city’s central 

shopping hub. 

For more information, please contact Land Custody & Development Authority 

Pelita Holdings Sdn. Bhd. • Level 5, 8 & 12 Wisma Satok, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 082 235944 (ext. 316) 


W 

E 

JALAN 

I 

H 

T 

A 

J 

V 

R 

S E 

M 

I 

S A R A W A K 

R I V 

E R 

Kampung Boya 

Kampung Gersi Kampung Surabay Kampung Panglima 

Seman Lama 

Kampung Semaran 

Wet Market & 

Hawker Centre 

JALAN 

ABELL 

JALAN 

PADUNGAN 

JALAN PETANAK 

H E N G H O 

J A L A N A N G C 

JALAN DATUK ABANG ABDUL RAHIM 

JALAN PADUNGAN 

Khatuistiwa 

Dewan 

Masyarakat MBKS 

Swimming Pool 

JALAN 

JUBILEE 

RECREATION 

GROUND 

PENDING 

JALAN CENTRAL TIMUR 

JALAN ELLIS 

J A L A N D A T U K 

J A L A N F O O C H O W 

W I 

N 

T A 

L L 

A 

J A L A N L U M B A K U D A 

JALAN SEKAMA 

JALAN 

Riverbank Suite 

RAHMAN 

Wisma 

Ting Pek 

King 

Top Spot 

Food Court 

CAT 

Statue 

CAT 

Statue 

Chung Hua 

No. 3 School 

CHEOK 

JALAN SONG THIAN 

H 

H 

H 

H 

BAN HOCK 

JALAN 

H 

Hockey Stadium 

JALAN DESHON 

JALAN SIMPANG TIGA 

J A L A N P A D U N G A N 

JALAN TAN SRI ONG KEE HUI 

ABDUL 

(JALAN CENTRAL BARAT) 

F R O N T 

H 

Crowne 

Plaza 

Riverside 

Kuching 

H 

Sri Shan 

H 

CAT 

Statue 


Plaza 

Malaysia 

Airlines 

H 

Centrepoint 

Shopping Centre 

Tun Jugah 

Great Wall 

Cozzi 

Crossway 

Thiam Ming 

Secret Recipe 

Choon Hui 

Cafe 

Tom’s 

H 

Sarakraf Pavilion 

Carus Wood 

4 

at&a Home 

Ideas Sdn. Bhd. 

Mian Ann 

Buan Kua Hng 

Sara Fruits 

Sdn. Bhd. 

Spring Organic 

Spring Florist & 

Gifts 

itFusion 

AbSolutely 

Sayang 

Police 

Station 

Fire 

Station 

Pamela 

H 

Hindu Temple 

Kua Ning 

Temple 

H 

Hock Lee Centre 

Crown Square 

LocalityMap 

St. Peter’s Church 

Kuching South City 

Council (MBKS) 

Police 

Station 

B 

C 

S 

E 

Astana 

R 

E 

R I V 

S 

Wet Market 

K 

A R 

Fort Margherita 

Square Tower 

A 

JALAN GAMBIER 

A 

A 

India Mosque 

INDIA STREET 

PEDESTRIAN MALL 


Police 

Tourist Booth 

3 

K U 

R 

C H I N G 

T 

W A 

JALAN MAIN BAZAAR 


Tourism 

Complex 

JALAN BARRACK 

Open Air 

Market 

Little Lebanon 

Electra 

House 

MARKET 

Souvenirs Shops 

Siang Ti 

Temple 

JALAN KHOO 

HUN YEANG 

L E B U H 

CARPENTER STREET 

Chinese Museum 

CHINA STREET ULU CHINA STREET 

2 

Divisional Mosque 

Police 

Station 

General Post 

Office 

JALAN 

Residen Office 

Yayasan Sarawak 

D 

JALAN 

J A L A N TUN 

LEBUH WAYANG 

W AWASAN 2020 

OPENG 

PADANG 

MERDEKA 

1 

JALAN MOSQUE 

H 

L EBUH TEMPLE 

DATUK 

AJIBAH ABOL 

H 

Medan 

Pelita 

Hong San Si 

Temple 

Tua Pek 

Kong Temple 

St. Thomas Church 

Sikh Temple 

Poliklinik 

BARRACK 

H H 

JALAN McDOUGALL 

Kuching 

Plaza 

ABANG HAJI 

TAHA 

St. Mary’s 

School 

H 

H 

Merdeka Palace 

Hotel & Suites 

Dewan Tun Abdul 

Razak Muzeum 

HAJI 

M 

A L A N 

H 

St. Thomas’s 

School 

Sarawak Museum 

State & DBKU 

Library 

Red Crescent 

Building 

I R 

O 

R E 

JALAN TUN 

Islamic Museum 

J A L A N R A M L E E 

JALAN 

H 

Aquarium 

Chung Hua 

School 

Kuching High’s 

School 

N 

J A L A 

Radio 

Television 

Malaysia 

Hopoh 

Shopping 

Centre 

JALAN KULAS 

Aroma 

Café 

Heroes’ 

Monument 

Islamic 

Garden 

Syariah 

Court 

Bank 

Negara 

Wisma Satok 

JALAN SATOK 

JALAN SATOK 

RESERVOIR 

PARK 

JA L A N TABUAN 

SUNDAY 

MARKET Mirama 

Chung Hua 

No. 1 School 

Telekom 

Malaysia 

H 

Pasar Tamu 

JALAN TAMAN 

St. Theresa’s 

School 

St. Joseph’s 

School 

JALAN RUBBER 

St. Joseph Church 

JALAN PARK 

BUDAYA 

Amphitheatre 

JALAN NANAS 

Sarawak Club 

JALAN 

JALAN BADRUDDIN 

BUDAYA 

Planetarium 

CROOKSHANK 

JALAN BAMPFYLDE 

JALAN PALM 

JALAN 

JALAN TUN ABANG HAJI OPENG 

Police 

Contingent HQ 

H 

to Magenta 

SRB Chung 

Hua No. 4 

Tunku Putra 

International 

School 

Land & Survey 

Divisional Office Intan 

Civic Centre 

hodist Church 

JALAN PISANG 

Kuching Area 

H 

Green Road

H 

LEGENDS 

Hotel / Motel Shop House / Office 

H 

Sarawak Transport 

Food Outlet / Restaurant 

H Co. Station 

/ Entertainment Outlet 

H 

Kuching Matang 

Transport 

Chin Lian Long 

Petra Jaya Transport 

Taxi Station 

Bank / Money Changer 

Shopping Complex 


Visitors’ Information 

Centre 

Sarawak Tourism 

Federation 

Tourism Malaysia Office 

Sarawak Craft Council 

Tourism Malaysia-Sarawak 

082-246575 / 246775 

Infoline 1300-88-5050 


082-423600 

MAS Office 

082-244144 / 246622 

Air Asia 

082-283222 

KCH International Airport 

082-454255 / 454242 

Immigration Department 

082-245661 / 230280 

Custom 

082-333133 

24-hour Public Service Line 

082-555999 

OTHER ENQUIRIES (KUCHING) 

Taxi Service 

082-480000 / 341818 

Police Station 

082-245522 / 999 / 241222 

Traffic Police 

082-241133 

JPJ 

082-258811 / 628700 

DBKU 

082-446688 

MBKS 

082-238080 / 242311 

Telekom 

082-429191 / 255994 

Post Office 

082-244141 / 339937 

WhatsOn 

Normah Medical Centre 

082-440055 

General Hospital 

082-230689 / 257855 

Padawan Council 

082-615566 

SESCO 

082-333111 

Kuching Water Board 

082-240371 

BOMBA (Fire Brigade) 

082-241033 / 994 / 

417712 

Rescue 991 

082-256685 

JKR 

082-203100 

27 th June – 5 th July 

Borneo Cultural Festival 2008 

Venue: Sibu Town Square, Sibu 

1 st – 7 th July 

Sarawak Handicraft Week 2008 

Venue: Sibu 

4 th – 6 th JULY 

Borneo Highlands Nature 

Challenge 2008 

Venue: Borneo Highands Resort, Padawan, Kuching 


Folk Arts Forum ‘Our People Our Culture’ 

Venue: Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching 


Rainforest World Craft Bazaar 

Venue: Sarawak Tourism Complex & Sarawak Cultural 

Village, Kuching 


Rainforest World Music Festival 

11 th Anniversary 

Venue: Sarawak Cultural Village, Santubong, Kuching 

12 th JULY 

Official Opening of World Martial Arts 

Gallery Exhibition 

Venue: Kuching 


World Amateur Inter Team Golf 

Championship 2008 

Venue: Miri Golf Club & Eastwood Valley Golf & 

Country Club, Miri 

24 th – 27 th July 

Limbang FEST 

Venue: Limbang Town 


International Nanyang Wushu ‘Kung-Fu, 

Dragon & Lion Dance’ Festival 



Miri International Beach Volleyball 

Challenge 2008 

Venue: Parkcity Everly, Miri 

27 th JULY 

5th World Martial Arts Black Belt Hall 

of Fame 


What’sOn July – September 2008 

28 th JULY 

World Martial Arts Seminar 


AUGUST (Whole month) 

Borneo Highlands Flower 

Extravaganza 2008 

Venue: Borneo Highland Resort, Padawan, Kuching 

1 st – 31 st AUGUST 

Miri International 

Food Festival 

Venue: Grand Palace Hotel, Miri 

AUGUST 

Miri International Motorcycle 

Sprint Challenge 

Venue: Lutong Airstrip, Miri 

1 st AUGUST 

Kuching Festival 


1 st – 3 rd AUGUST 

Sarawak Regatta 

Venue: Kuching Waterfront, Kuching 

1 st – 10 th AUGUST 

Promosi Kraf Malaysia 

Venue: Kuching Waterfront (Square Tower), Kuching 

2 nd AUGUST 

Kuching Street Parade 


15 th – 17 th AUGUST 

‘The Colours of Nature’ - Borneo 

Highlands Photography Challenge 

Venue: Borneo Highlands Resort, Padawan, Kuching 


Baram Regatta 

Venue: Marudi 


Pesta Sibu Jaya 

Venue: Sibu Jaya, Sibu 


Borneo International Kites Festival 

Venue: Old Airport Compound, Bintulu 

22 nd AUGUST 

Culture Show 

(Persembahan Kebudayaan Kanowit) 

Venue: Kanowit 

23 rd – 25 th AUGUST 

Pakan Festival (Pesta Pakan) 

Venue: Pakan, Sarikei 

23 rd AUGUST 

Kanowit Power Boat Formula 2 Race & 

Paddling Boat Race 

Venue: Kanowit 

24 th AUGUST 

Borneo International Sprint Race 

Venue: Lutong Old Airstrip 

28 th AUGUST 

4th World Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of 

Fame Awards Banquet 2008 


30 th – 31 st AUGUST 

Miri International Kart Prix 

Venue: Miri Go-Kart Stadium, Miri 

30 th AUGUST 

Merdeka Auto Show 

Venue: Suria Permata Commercial Centre, Sibu 

SEPTEMBER 

The Unveiling of the Memorial Malaysia 

monument for the fallen veterans who 

fought and died for Malaysia during the 

Confrontation and Communist Insurgency 

and memorial service 


7 th – 14 th September 

Borneo International Yachting Challenge 

Venue: Miri 

10 th September 

Sarawak Longest Charity Moon-Cake 

Venue: India Street Pedestrian Mall, Kuching 


Ramadhan Aidilfitri Sale Festival 

Venue: India Street Pedestrian Mall, Kuching 


Sibu Moon Cake Festival 

Venue: Sundai Bidut, Sibu 


Borneo Sape Festival 

Venue: Marudi Town, Baram, Miri 

26 th – 30 th September 

Miri International Beads Exhibition 

Venue: Miri Handicraft Centre, Miri 

(Note: Event dates are subject to change without prior notice) For further enquiries, please contact: 

Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Tel: (6) 082 446688 • Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Tel: (6) 082 242311 • Padawan Municipal Council Tel: (6) 082 615566 

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) Tel: (6) 082 423600 • Miri City Council (Tel: (6) 085 424111) • Sibu Municipal Council (Tel: (6) 084 333411) 

Month (Kuching) Temperature Rainfall 

July 2008 20.2˚C - 35.7˚C moderate 

August 2008 20.2˚C - 36.4˚C moderate 

September 2008 20.7˚C - 36.5˚C moderate 

Weather Forecast (July-September 2008) For Kuching, Miri & Sibu 

Month (Miri) Temperature Rainfall 




Weather forecast provided by courtesy of Meteorological Services Department of Malaysia. 

Month (Sibu) Temperature Rainfall 






Desa Ilmu Lakeside 

Luxurious living for Zen like lifestyle 

A home is the place for family to 

enjoy and relax within the privacy 

of their own domain. Naim’s Desa 

Ilmu Lakeside exclusive bungalows 

are the perfect home for those who 

want tranquility, serenity and yet 

within easy reach of the city! Just a 

mere twenty minutes drive from the 

city, this lakeside view property has 

everything that you will want in a 

home – detached, wide area, fully 

furnished to compliment today’s 

modern lifestyle and surroundings 

that are environmentally pleasing 

and refreshing for everyone. 

At Desa Ilmu, you have a choice of 

either single-storey or double-storey 

detached bungalows, all with lakeside 

view and more importantly, giving 

residents the opportunity to enjoy the 

benefits of taking leisurely walks, going 

for a jog or cycle around the lake. It 

naturally is the perfect home for those 

who want to spend quality time with 

their children or those who want to 

spend quiet moments during their 

retirement years. With five options to 

choose from, there is certainly one 

home that will fit your needs and 

give you the opportunity to enjoy 

privacy. 

The single-storey bungalows are of four 

designs and concepts, each specially 

built to suit the taste of the discerning 

city folks in a modern concept. Boronia 

style homes have Oriental design and 

layout with land-size of 25.72 points 

and a built up area of 1,278 sq ft. 

With Country style interior design, the 

Cosmos home come with a land area 

of 21.89 points and built up area of 

1,867 sq ft. For those with inclination 

towards Modern design interiors, 

Batavia concept homes is the 

obvious choice, each with a land area 

of 42.58 points and built up size of 

1,988 sq ft. Vanilla home of Balinese 

design and layout with land size of 

15.23 points and built up area of 1,171 

sq ft is another type to choose from. 

The double-storey home comes in 

an exclusive design; the Tulip Gold 

concept has Spanish interior layout 

and deco. 

All these homes come with their own 

exclusive contemporary furnishings 

and it’s like moving into a house where 

everything is already in place! 

With Naim’s reputation as a master 

builder of modern homes, you can 

expect only quality finishings for these 

exclusive bungalows in an area where 

the top varsities in the state are located 

nearby. Take a pleasure ride to the lake 

and see these exclusive homes and 

experience the relaxing atmosphere 

there; you will surely agree that this is 

the place where you want your home 

to be! 

Cosmos 



Tulip Gold 

Sales Office: 

Ground Floor, Wisma Naim, Lot 2679, Rock Road, 


Tel: 6 082 422001 / 422236 

Fax: 6 082 412001 H/P: 6 019 8566738 

Email: cendera@po.jaring.my 

Website: www.naimcendera.com 

2007 



Contractor Award : Grade G7 

2005 

Malaysia Corporate 

& Social Environment 

Responsibility Award 

2005 

Spain 17th International 

Construction Award 

New Millennium Award 

Developer License No: L0801/KP/HD/9/57 Advertising & Sales Permit No: P0767/KP/HD/9/57 

‘The information, perspective drawing, plans & specifications contains in this leaflet / advertisement are subject to amendment as may be required by the authorities or the project consultants 

and cannot form part of an offer or contract. Whilst every care has been taken in providing this information, the developer cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies.’ 


2004 

KPMG Shareholder 

Value Awards 

2004 



Builder of The Year 

2004 



Medium Engineering Project 

2004 

Malaysia Canada Business 

Council Industry Excellence 

for Construction Award 

2003 

SCCI Annual Corporate 

Report Awards 

Best Annual Report 

Award 

2003 



Medium Building Project 

2002 

CIDB Contractor 

Industry Award 

Institutional 

Building Project


TourismTalk 


Celebrating 45 years of growth and development 

– Sarawak, the pride of the nation 

2008 is indeed a special year for Sarawak 

as it will be the 45 th year of its formation 

into the federation of Malaysia. On 22 nd 

July 1963, the then Tan Sri Datuk Amar 

Stephen Kalong Ningkan was appointed 

the first Chief Minister of Sarawak and 

on the 16 th September, the then Tun 

Abang Haji Openg bin Abang Sapiee was 

made the first Governor of Sarawak. The 

statewide 45 th Anniversary celebration will 

therefore commence on this coming 22 nd 

July. This celebration is going to be on for 

a year ending on 21 st July 2009. Various 

activities and programmes have been 

drawn up for this year-long celebration 

and these include activities and programmes 

from each of the 13 Divisions of the State. 

One unique aspect of Sarawak is the 

multi-racial composition of its population, 

comprising Iban, Malay, Melanau, 

Chinese, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and others. 

Within these large groups are again 

subtle differences between the sub-groups 

which add further to the number of 

ethnic composition in the State. The 

harmonious interactions between these 

groups of people in the State is the key 

to the development of the State over 

the years, sharing and respecting each 

other’s ethnic and racial differences, 

while working together towards the 

growth of the State and Nation. 

From these different groups in the State, 

cultural heritage is again evident here, 

especially in the costumes, dances, 

languages, food and architecture of 

traditional homes. Nowhere else in 

Malaysia would you find the tall houses 

of the Orang Ulus or the Baruk of the 

Bidayuhs, the longhouses of the Ibans 

or the simple huts of the Penans. Try a 

sample of the different range of local 

ethnic food and also be amazed by the 

range of international flavours in the cities 

and towns. If there is something that you 

will always remember about a visit to 

Sarawak, it is most likely to be the varieties 

of food you have tried here! 


TourismTalk 

The main activities of the 45 th Anniversary 

celebration are also mentioned within 

the pages of this edition. The Divisional 

activities and programmes will also be 

published in a book to be released on the 

22 nd July 2008. 

Visitors who plan to participate or go to 

these various venues should check with 

the various agencies or organizers on 

the logistics involved and accommodation 

facilities available as it takes time to 

travel in this vast land! The hot and 

humid conditions here require extra 

care for those unfamiliar with the tropics. 

Keeping the body hydrated is important. 

Modern amenities are mostly available 

in the towns and banking facilities are 

usually present too. Naturally, food is not 

a problem for most but care should be 

taken when in the rural areas where the 

facilities and choices may be limited. 

Enjoy your stay here and be sure to 

check out the various events lined up 

for the grand celebration this year in 

Sarawak. Wherever you go, Sarawakians 

of all walks of life are always a generous 

lot and you can be sure that you will 

always get a smile from them! Happy 

holidays! 

Main Activities 

21 st July (evening) 

- Thanksgiving in conjunction with 

Sarawak’s 45 th Anniversary 

22 nd July 

- Launching of Sarawak’s 


July - August 

- State Development Exhibition 

July - August 

- Cultural Symposium in conjunction 

with 45 th Anniversary Celebration 

17 th August 

- Launching of National Merdeka 

month celebration and flying of the 

Jalur Gemilang Flag 

30 th August (evening) 

- Thanksgiving in conjunction with 

National Merdeka Day 

- Eve of National Day Celebration 

(Ambang Merdeka) 

31 st August 

- National Merdeka Day Parade 

12 th September (evening) 

- Thanksgiving prayer in conjunction 

with the 87 th Birthday of the Tuan 

Yang Terutama Yang Di-Pertua Negeri 



- State Celebration in conjunction 

with the 87 th Birthday of the Tuan 

Yang Terutama Yang Di-Pertua Negeri 


18 th October 

- Closing of 50 th National Merdeka 

Celebration 

- Launching 51 st National Merdeka 

Celebration 

UPAK 


Public Relations & 

Corporate Affairs Unit 

Chief Minister’s Department 


Tingkat 8, Wisma Bapa Malaysia 

Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching 

Sarawak, Malaysia 

Tel: (6) 082 441326, 441192 

Fax: (6) 082 443888, 443532 

www.upak.sarawak.gov.my 


TourismTalk 

2008 

11 th - 13 th July, Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching, Sarawak 

Beat of the rainforest 

It’s a phenomenon that just gets bigger and 

better each year – the Rainforest World Music 

Festival (RWMF) kicks off again for its eleventh 

edition from 11 th – 13 th July 2008 with more 

than 10 foreign groups and a host of local ones 

too. Again, the venue for this spectacular event 

will be the Sarawak Cultural Village and this 

year’s entertainment crowd will include groups 

from UK, Gambia/Guinea, Philippines, Palestine, 

Greece, Portugal, Congo, Japan, Columbia, 

Brazil/USA and India . 

So just what makes the RWMF so special that 

it annually attracts thousands of visitors to the 

picturesque site which is a mere 45-minute drive 

from the capital city, Kuching Most repeat fans 

are attracted by the choice of groups and their 

repertoire of music in an exotic setting; others 

point to the afternoon workshop, close-up 

sessions with the artists followed by the nightly 

display of sensational music and dance routine 

on stage. To cap it all, the RWMF was recognized 

with the Pacific Asia Travel Associations 2006 

Gold Award! So get ready to meet Ross Daly 

Quartet from Greece, Kasai Masai (Congo/UK), 

Hiroshi Motofuji (Japan), Oikyataan (India), Cholo 

Valderamma (Colombia), New Rope String Band 

(UK), Yakande (Gambia/Guinea), Pinikpikan 

(Philippines), Adel Salameh (Palestine), Beltaine 

(Poland), Sheldon Blackman & The Love Circle 

(Trinidad & Tobago) and Fadomorse (Portugal) 

with performances from local Malaysian/Sarawak 

bands. 

A special treat awaits the first 500 guests who 

purchase two 3-day pass – they will be entitled 

to a free copy of the soft cover, 508-page RWMF 

anniversary book entitled “Music Without Borders - 

The Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak”. 

Please note that the tickets have been on sale 

since December 2007 (www.ticketcharge.com.my). 

In addition to the unique musical extravaganza, 

there are also two other main events to spice 

up the visit to Kuching. The Rainforest World 

Craft Bazaar 2008 (July 9 th to 15 th ) and Folk 

Art Forum (July 10 th to 13 th ) will feature master 

craftsmen from various countries at the bazaar 

while the forum is more on showcasing works of 

renowned local and international artists. These 

events are happening in July, the month that you 

have to be in Sarawak to experience it all! 

Details and update on RWMF 2008 are available on 

the website www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com. 

For more information on the Rainforest World Music Festival 2008, those interested can call the Sarawak Tourism Board at (6) 082 423600, 

fax at (6) 082 416700, e-mail at stb@sarawaktourism.com or check out its website www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com 


TourismTalk 

Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar 

This brilliant event will add entertainment, interest and 

cultural value to the world-renowned Rainforest World 

Music Festival. Craftworkers of Sarawak, well known for 

their skills rooted deep in the rainforest tradition, will 

be joined by fellow-artisans from all over the world. The 

pick of each continent will be showcased; participants are 

expected from all parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, 

Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Japan, Denmark, the Philippines, 

Indochina, India and Australia. 

Organised by: 

Supported by: 

The main focus of this new event is the use of traditional 

materials and traditional skills enhanced by competent 

modern design. Modern materials, in well-designed 

applications, also have a place; there is particular interest 

in the novel use of recycled substances such as metals, 

plastic, textiles etc. 

The Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar will be held from 

9 th to 15 th July at the Sarawak Cultural Village, Santubong, 

near Kuching, which is the site of the Rainforest World 

Music Festival itself. 

Targeting students and art 

enthusiasts, the talk and forum will 

be conducted by renowned local and 

foreign artists. Among them is Sylvester 

Jussem, a famous local artist whose 

paintings are now decorating the 

offices of corporate companies and 

homes of the affluent nationwide. 

Folk Art Forum 

The celebration of the people and 

the rich culture of the world will be 

showcased at the Folk Art Forum 

which will be held in conjunction 

with the Rainforest World Music 

Festival 2008. 

Organised by Galleria and in 

collaboration with Sarawak Tourism 

Board (STB), the Folk Art Forum will 

be staged from July 10 th to 13 th at 

the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV). 

The itinerary for the four-day event 

includes Art Talk and Workshop and 

Art Exhibition. 

With the theme Our People Our 

Culture, the highlight of the Art 

Exhibition is on the works of various 

Sarawak’s artists showcasing the rich 

and colourful culture and heritage of 

the local community. 

The exhibition will be at the Orang 

Ulu House at SCV from July 10 th to 

13 th . It opens from 10am to 5pm 

during the four days. The exhibited 

paintings will also include works of 

international artists. 

The Art Talk and Forum will be held on 

July 10 th at Dewan Lagenda at SCV. 

For further information, please call the Sarawak Tourism Board at (6) 082 423600, fax at (6) 082 416700, 

e-mail at stb@sarawaktourism.com or check out its website www.sarawaktourism.com 

Another well-known local artist Tan 

Wei Kheng will conduct the workshop. 

Tan is known for his skill in portraying 

finer details on his work. 

Those keen to attend the art talk and 

forum are to fill in the form available 

at Rainforest World Music Festival 

website (www.rainforestmusic-borneo. 

com). Seats are limited. 

Aim at creating a venue for intercultural 

exchange, the Folk Art Forum is also 

for economic sustainability of folk art 

and folk artists. Expect a contemporary 

experience. The Folk Art Forum is also 

for sharing the aesthetic values of the 

virtual folk art that has been deeply 

rooted in traditions of the community 

and their cultural identity. 

All the paintings and other artifacts 

displayed at the exhibition will be on 

sale. 


TourismTalk 

The annual Promosi Kraf Malaysia is 

back and this year’s line-up of events 

promise to showcase the mesmerising 

handicrafts from various states throughout 

Malaysia. 

Organised by Kraftangan Malaysia 

(Sarawak), one of the leading agencies 

in Malaysian craft industry, the event 

will take place from August 1 st to 10 th 

at Kuching Waterfront and features 

an exhibition of handicrafts as well as 

demonstration of ethnic crafts that include 

the likes of Penan weaving, ‘songket 

weaving’ and ‘anyaman begerang’, a 

traditional method of weaving by the 

local Malay communities here. 

According to Kraftangan Malaysia 

(Sarawak) Director, Mohd Latif Dirun, 

this year marks the seventh year Promosi 

Kraf Malaysia is being organised with 

the objective of raising awareness of the 

traditional handicrafts of Malaysia. 

“Apart from Sarawak, we have managed 

to rope in craftsmen and operators from 

various states such as Johor, Malacca, 

Sabah and Kelantan,” said Latif. 

Get crafty at 

Promosi 

Kraf Malaysia 

1 st -10 th August 2008 • 10.00am to 10.00pm 

Kuching Waterfront (Square Tower) 

and implementing colour schemes on 

the products. 

“This year, our target is aimed towards 

raising awareness amongst locals here 

of the crafts such as batik from Kelantan. 

The state, which will be represented 

by Koperasi Batik Kelantan, will be 

showcasing its highly in demand batik. 

At the same time, we are also looking 

forward to promote the uniqueness of 

the batik generally worn by Malaysians 

and government officers,” he explained. 

“Besides observing the live demonstration, 

members of the public will also be able 

to participate in interactive demonstrations 

whereby they can experience how to 

make various woven fabrics or even 

make the local ceramic pottery known 

as ‘pasu Iban’ (Iban pottery),” he added. 

Latif also said that in addition to traditional 

handicrafts, there will also be emphasis 

on the usage of new materials and 

transforming them into contemporary 

crafts using mediums such as ceramic 


“Due to the overwhelming response 

from visitors last year with the introduction 

of new products, we are once again 

bringing back a number of these unique 

crafts made especially by our incubators at 

Kraftangan Malaysia,” he said, adding 

that not only does the event emphasises 

on producing local crafts, the development 

of new products by locals are high in 

quality, original and unique. 

Another highlight of Promosi Kraf 

Malaysia is the handicraft sale from 70 

operators throughout the country. 

“Visitors will be able to purchase various 

handicrafts ranging from products such 

as baskets, bags, mats made from rattan 

to fabrics filled with intricate ‘batik’ and 

‘songket’ designs,” revealed Latif. 

Other activities which will be held during 

the nine-day event include cultural 

performances and traditional games. 

For further information, 

please contact: 

Malaysian Handicraft 

Development Corporation, 


Lot 3057, Blok 18, Daerah Salak, 

Petra Jaya, Jalan Stadium, 


Tel: (6) 082 444205, 441329, 442436 

Fax: (6) 082 440003

Paddling 

towards history 

2008 

As Sarawak celebrates its 45 th 

Anniversary within Malaysia this year, 

the annual Sarawak Regatta is poised 

to add another feather to its cap; as 

the oldest regatta of its kind in the 

country, the event scheduled for (1 st - 

3 rd August 2008) will mark another 

milestone in the annals of the State 

and Nation. The significance of the 

race will make the teams involved 

even more determined to win and 

hence a great spectacle is in store for 

the thousands of faithful followers of 

the race here each year. With teams 

from other divisions participating 

too, the races will be more keenly 

fought than before in light of the 

auspicious occasion. 

The Kuching Waterfront will be the 

venue for the regatta and so expect 

a larger crowd than before as it 

also coincide with Kuching City Day 

celebration and many visitors will be 

here. It is going to be another colourful 

race as just about every team tries to 

outdo one another in these races! 

TourismTalk 

Uniforms too will be another talking 

point for some at the end of the races. 

Prepare also for wild excitement as the 

paddlers celebrate their wins after 

the prize presentations. For spectators, 

the most appropriate dress code is 

casual to light as the blazing sun and 

water reflection can be really hot. 

So for all spectators, a hat is a useful 

accessory. 

Try to see the race from the other 

side of the river if you have been 

here before. There are other activities 

like traditional dances and culture 

shows for visitors and expect huge 

and generous servings of traditional 

food when there. Some may even 

consider trying out the homestay at a 

traditional Malay home and sample the 

lifestyle and food of the hosts. Taking 

the leisurely ride across the river in the 

sampan or water taxis is something 

that ought not to be missed when here 

for the regatta. Be sure also to sample 

some of the food available when the 

regatta is on as some are specially made 

for the occasion. 2008 will be another 

historic year for the Sarawak Regatta 

as many sponsors have signed in to 

join the fun in making this year’s event 

another success. Among the sponsors 

confirmed are Ministry of Tourism, 

Malaysia, Ministry of Urban Development 

and Tourism, Sarawak, Sarawak Shell 

Bhd., Petronas, Telekom Malaysia Bhd., 

Ta Ann and Global Upline Sdn. Bhd. 

Have fun and enjoy yourself at the 

regatta as it is going to be a special 

one this year and for many more 

years to come! 


Organised by: 

RESIDENT’S OFFICE 

KUCHING DIVISION 

Jalan Barrack, 93300 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 082 422263 Fax: (6) 082 244435 

Website: www.sarawakregatta.com 

Supported by: 

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) 

Tel: (6) 082 423600 Fax: (6) 082 416700 

Website: www.sarawaktourism.com 

www.sarawakregatta.com 


TourismTalk 

The northern extravaganza 

LIMBANG 

08 FEST 

Come, experience the Limbang Fest 

2008 in this, Sarawak’s most northern 

town, from 24 th -27 th July 2008! See, 

touch, taste and enjoy the hosts 

of activities during this festival like 

exhibitions and sale of goods from 

the town, Sabah, Labuan and Brunei, 

cultural dance performances, poetry 

recital, futsal competition, fireworks 

and the ever thrilling, exciting Limbang 

Regatta along the Limbang River. As 

the northern gateway for Sarawak, 

Limbang is always the favourite 

destination for visitors from the nearby 

states of Sabah, Labuan and also 

Brunei. Together with the multi-ethnic 

groups of locals, be prepared to meet 

people from all walks of life when at 

the festival. 

Tourism is the main focus of the 

Limbang Fest as the division has 

beautiful scenic places, unique diversity 

of ethnic groups and cultures, and 

agricultural wealth. As part of 

Sarawak’s 45 th Anniversary celebration 

within Malaysia this year, the Limbang 

Fest 2008 holds even more significance 

as the place for visitors to enjoy the 

activities and events lined up with 

the traditional hospitality that the 

town is well known for. Limbang is 

also the main industrial centre for 

Sarawak’s northern flank and the 

anniversary celebration gives the 

perfect opportunity for the multi-ethnic 

groups of people to showcase the 

developments in the area. The rich 

traditions and cultures of the area 

will be on display for all to see and 

many will surely agree that Limbang 

is indeed the ideal place for a variety 

of water sports activities due to its 

close proximity to the river and sea. 

The Limbang Regatta from 26 th -27 th 

July is naturally the most exciting 

event during the festival as there will 

be lots of participants from Sarawak, 

Sabah, Labuan and Brunei in the 

various events, which comprise of two 

main categories, namely the longboats 

and motor-powered boats. All the 

events will be along the Limbang 

river, right in the centre of the town. 

The longboats from 15 different 

categories of men and women in 

either 15, 20, 25 or 30 paddlers, will 

be aiming for the coveted prizes up 

for grabs. In the motorized group, 

there will also be 15 categories 

comprising different engine capacities 

ranging from 15, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 

SST 60 horsepower. The events will 

start from 8am to 12:30pm for the 

morning sessions and from 2-5pm 

for the afternoon sessions. 


Limbang Resident Office, Tingkat 6, Bangunan Limbang Plaza, 98700 Limbang, Sarawak. 

Tel: (6) 085 215802, 202106 Fax: (6) 085 211005 

The cultural performances on 26 th July 

will be at the Limbang Sports Complex 

featuring artists from neigbouring 

Brunei, Sabah and Labuan, starting 

from 8pm. This rich assembly of 

cultural performances will end with 

the display of fireworks starting from 

11pm onwards. This year’s Merdeka 

celebration will be a special occasion 

for Limbang and so make this most 

northern destination in Sarawak your 

choice from 24 th -27 th July 2008! 


TourismTalk 

The Borneo 

International Kite Festival 2008 Bintulu 

A festival of fun, colour and skills 

Everyone knows that Sarawak will be 

celebrating its 45 th anniversary within 

Malaysia this coming 31 st August and a host 

of interesting events will be held throughout 

the State to mark the occasion. One interesting 

annual event held in Bintulu is the Borneo 

International Kite Festival, to be on from 

18 th -24 th August 2008 in this northern Gas 

Town. Ever since 2005 when it all started, the 

number of participants as well as spectators 

have been rising each year as more became 

aware of the spectacular and beautiful kites 

from different parts of the world! 

To be staged at the old Bintulu airport 

which happens to be right in middle of the 

town, this is one event that nobody wants 

to miss. The incredible stunts that some of 

these strange flying objects are capable of, 

can really astound you! There are just so 

many types fluttering all over the sky during 

the festival; the colourful creations also 

come in all shapes and sizes, the traditional 

Malaysian Wau is always present with modern 

versions side by side. All these flying beauties 

do need some masterly control and in 

experienced hands, these kites just respond 

to every slight twists and pulls from the 

ground control. 

A showcase event like this is definitely the 

place for everyone in the family, young and old 

and those who are young at heart! The earlier 

part of the event will be mostly dominated 

by the experts with their multi-string flying 

wonders, showing the skills needed to control 

and at the same time, entertaining spectators. 

Children’s kite flying can be seen during the 

later part of the day and for the early part, 

they will be enjoying themselves with the 

abundant partying goodies available at the 

venue, including lollipops in their mouths and 

ice cream cones in their hands! Apart from the 

kite flying activities, there are also colouring 

contests, Nescafe tarik competition held in 

conjunction with the Bintulu Trade and Food 

Fair at the same venue. There is something 

for everyone to see and do when visiting the 

festival site. So make a point of bringing the 

entire family for an enjoyable and fun day at 

the Borneo International Kite Festival. It’s on 

from 18 th -24 th August! 

For further information, please contact Bintulu Development Authority at (6) 086 334680 / 332277 or fax to (6) 086 330099 


TourismTalk 

Splendour of 

Damai @ Sarawak 

as specially prepared dishes that are 

unique to the country. Just remember 

that spicy and hot is a common feature 

of many of these local recipes which 

prompt you to sleep without the 

blankets later at night! 

July-September specials 

@ 25% discounts 

Roast & Grill will be offered at the 

Café Satang in the main dining outlet 

in the Resort. Guests will have the 

choice of roast or grill of their favorite 

food and you can be certain that the 

aroma of these freshly roasted or 

grilled dishes will fill the air with their 

distinctive smell!. 


Also during this promotion period, 

the Treez will have its ‘Malaysian 

Treasure’ special whereby the 

delights available will be at special 

rates and some of these will only be 

served during the special promotion. 

Picture the perfect setting for your 

holiday – beautiful sunshine, wide open 

beach, excellent hotel accommodation 

and services plus a dinner menu that 

is irresistible! Welcome to Damai 

Beach Resort in Kuching, Sarawak 

where the complete holiday package 

comes with a host of extras. For the 

new visitors, Damai Beach Resort is a 

90 acres seafront property located on 

a natural bay facing the South China 

Sea with the lush tropical rainforest 

in the background. What’s more, the 

newly renovated rooms and facilities 

of this four-star resort is packed with 

a number of high-value retreats and 

packages to pamper and rejuvenate 

you during your entire stay here! 

Architectural wonder 

The Resort’s fishing-village theme 

architectural setting is authentic in 

its outlook and blends harmoniously 


with the existing landscape. It gives 

visitors and guests a pleasant look 

and welcomes them in the graceful 

way that’s typical of such villages in 

the State. Everything is within easy 

walking distance and facilities are for 

guests to enjoy daily while children 

will naturally flock to the swimming 

pools and the Kid’s Village. 

Exciting corners 

The Fishermen’s Catch is a beachfront 

seafood haven where fresh catch of 

the day are featured in its daily 

offerings. While here, try out the 

various cooking styles offered by 

the chefs and be surprised by their 

delicious recipes. 

Deli’s Corner is definitely one place that 

is hard to walk past without stopping 

for a look and being tempted by the 

array of mouth-watering cakes and 

pastries. Better still, try out some of 

these and then think about going to 

the gym! 

Treez is a restaurant that specializes 

in Malaysian cuisine and you can be 

sure to find the local favourites as well 


‘It’s All About Seafood’ will be featured 

at The Fishermen’s Catch during this 

special promotion period which means 

delicious array of the sea’s bounty will 

be made available, at affordable prices 

that you will be surprised. 

Serenade the night away 

Every Thursday evening at the 

Headhunters’ outlet will feature a 

cultural themed dinner complete with 

authentic samples of interesting food. 

Make your bookings early to avoid the 

disappointment of not being able to 

enjoy the cultural shows presented also 

during these interesting evenings with 

the family and friends. 

Check your watches – daily from 

5:30 – 8:30pm is the Ecstatic Hour 

where you will get a ‘1-1’ offer of all 

house-pouring beverages. There is 

simply no other place like this at the 

Damai peninsula!

TourismTalk 

On every Friday and Saturday, the 

Resort’s Santubong Bar will feature 

beautiful tunes by ‘Trust Illusions’, 

a band headed by renowned artiste 

Safar Gafar. This is the place for 

relaxation after a long day in the sun 

or hiking around the trails. 

Merdeka 2008 promotion – from 1 st 

August till 15 th September, enjoy the 

special promotion of rooms at the 

Resort. Priced as low as RM185 nett 

per room per night with breakfast for 

2 with the added 25% discount on 

food orders from the premise, this is 

one offer that is hard to resist! 

Damai Beach Resort • Teluk Bandung Santubong, 93756 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 082 846999 Fax: (6) 082 846777 

Email: general@damaibeachresort.com 

Damai Golf 

and Country Club 

Why pay a premium for a round of the 

beautiful game when you can get the 

extremely picturesque golf ‘Mecca’ at 

Damai Golf and Country Club, voted 

as one of the top 5 Golf Course in East 

Malaysia. It is a must visit golf course 

for golf enthusiasts. It provides the finest 

test for the game of golf. The only 18 

hole Championship Course in East 

Malaysia designed by the golfing 

legend, Arnold Palmer boasts a majestic 

view of the vast blue sea on one front 

while the imposing Mount Santubong 

becomes the backdrop. Aptly named 

‘Ocean nine’ and ‘Mountain nine’ for this 

18-hole course of par 72, the exhilarating 

view and serene surroundings makes 

concentrating on the ‘job’ just that 

much more difficult! 

Visitors take note that on every 

Mondays to Wednesdays, the Damai 

Golf and Country Club has its ‘Early 

Week Golfer’s Promotion’ whereby 

the green fees of RM80 per pax 

(including buggy) is applicable on a 

twin-sharing basis. So, there is no 

need to join the mad rush on the 

weekends at the Club as you can 

spend your leisure time with special 

friends during the special promotion 

days. Call for more details and grab 

this fantastic offer. 

Damai Golf & Country Club • Jalan Santubong, 93862 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 082 846088 Fax: (6) 082 846044 

website: www.damaigolf.com.my 

to the tunes below the stage under 

the clear night sky. It is truly an 

experience that should not be 

missed! 

Sarawak Cultural Village 

Welcome to South East Asia’s finest 

‘Living Museum’, the Sarawak Cultural 

Village, just a stone’s throw away 

from the Damai Beach Resort. Each 

year on the second week of July, the 

place is filled to the brim with visitors 

for the thrilling Rainforest World Music 

Festival. It is one event that is a must 

for every music lover, especially those 

who treasure ethnic and cultural 

music from around the world. The 

music extravaganza is noted for the 

high quality of its foreign and local 

teams performing to the crowd each 

evening while fans get to meet these 

artists in the afternoons. The evening 

performance is on a stage specially 

built for the purpose and fans dance 

Moving around at the Sarawak 

Cultural Village is itself another exciting 

experience! The unique architectures 

of the homes of various ethnic groups 

of Sarawak are all found here and 

open to all for a visit. Climb the long 

staircase of the Orang Ulu High House 

or admire the Bidayuh’s Baruk which 

is a circular building with a sharp 

roof. Or you may choose to walk the 

length of the Iban Longhouse and 

peep into the various ‘bilik’ or rooms 

that stretches along the length of 

the longhouse. When the visits to 

the various ethnic homes are done, 

sit back and relax while watching the 

dance performances of the various 

ethnic groups in the air-conditioned 

auditorium. After the show, try out 

some of the delicacies prepared at 

the premise as most are authentic local 

delicacies of the groups. 

Sarawak Cultural Village • Pantai Damai, Santubong, 93752 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 082 846108, 846816 

Fax: (6) 082 846988 Email: info@scv.com.my Website: www.scv.com.my 


TourismTalk 

Kapit is the largest district in Sarawak. It is situated 

along the longest and most extensive river system in 

Sarawak, the mighty Rejang River. 

To travel to Kapit, one has to take an express boat from Sibu 

for an exhilarating upriver ride which takes about two and a 

half hours. Along the way, one will pass through scenic small 

towns of Kanowit and Song before reaching Kapit town. 

Kapit is a bustling town with a diverse range of people passing 

through each day for trade, leisure, official visits by government 

servants, and for those on transit before their journey into the interiors 

of the virgin rainforests to isolated villages. 

Hotel Meligai Kapit, a Two Star Business Class hotel, is located 

within walking distance from the town centre. 

Facilities 

• Accommodation – consists of 37 tastefully decorated 

rooms & 9 suites 

• Individually controlled air-condition 

• Minibar (Deluxe & Suites rooms) 

• Colour TV 

• IDD telephone 

• Laundry service 

• Conference / Meeting rooms & packages available 

• Group & Corporate rates available upon request 


TourismTalk 

Ramadan 

Fare 

Regency Plaza Hotel Bintulu 

Make this Ramadan extra special by giving you 

and your family a treat by breaking fast at the 

Kemena Coffee House of the Regency Plaza 

Hotel Bintulu. A trusted name over the years 

for its range and choices of Ramadan specials, 

the Kemena Coffee House will be serving fresh 

prepared meals daily for families, friends and visitors 

from 1 st September to 27 th September starting 

from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Certainly, the normal 

specials and selections of food from the menu 

are still available; the vast majority who frequent 

here specially like ulam ulam, beef rending, ayam 

masak merah, ayam masak hitam, kurma, sambal 

prawns, pangang fish, mee goreng, signature 

dish bubur pedas, drinks like air bandung, air 

selasih, all prepared for the occasion and also the 

varieties that can only be found during this special 

season of the year! 

As in previous years, the favourites like desserts, 

curries and choices of grilled and barbequed 

meat and seafood will tempt the crowd while 

the more adventurous ones will be on the lookout 

for something new being offered. It is expected 

that each year the chefs will be preparing something 

to catch everyone’s attention and to find out 

the special, drop by the coffee house during the 

holy month and treat the family and friends or 

business partners to the great fare available here. 

As everything is prepared fresh daily, you can be 

assured that the meals will be wholesome and 

nutritious while not adding a bulge to the waist! 

The friendly kitchen staff know how important 

these meals are for those fasting and hence every 

meal is carefully selected to give patrons the 

necessary nutrients and goodness after a long 

day of abstinence. 

services expected of the hotel. With its central 

location, the hotel is the ideal place to drop by for 

the early morning meal before starting the day. 

Visitors who are new to the fasting and breaking 

of fast during the holy month of Ramadan will 

certainly find the choices of food a refreshing 

change from the daily ones. The type of main 

dishes served would be different everyday. 

Make your reservations to taste these creations 

of the chefs this Ramadan at Regency Plaza Hotel 

Bintulu and be astounded by choices available, 

especially the buffet offering. Reservations for 

private dinner of 50 persons and above can be 

arranged. Remember, the Ramadan fare is only 

available once a year so make it one to remember 

for you and your family! 

For information and reservations, contact the hotel at: 

PLAZA HOTEL • BINTULU 

SARAWAK • MALAYSIA 

116, Taman Sri Dagang, Jalan Abang Galau, 97000 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 086 335111 Fax: (6) 086 332742 Email: rihbtu@tm.net.my 

For hotel guests and also for visitors, the hotel can 

also prepare meals for them in the early hours of 

the day before the start of daily fasting. This is to 

facilitate their stay in the hotel and to provide the 


DiningOutTalk 

51 st Merdeka Celebration 

Aurora Court 

Citrarasa Malaysia/ 

Flavours of Malaysia 

Buffet Dinner 

Friday, 29 th August to 

Sunday, 31 st August 

6.30 pm to 10.00 pm 

RM 51++ per adult 

Ristorante Beccari 

Citrarasa Italia/ 

Flavours of 

Italy Buffet Dinner 

Sunday, 31 st August 

51% discount for children aged 5 to 12 years old 

51% discount for senior citizens aged 55 years old and above 

(Verification required) 

Victoria Arms 

Merdeka Countdown Party 

Saturday, 30 th August 

For 51 minutes i.e. from 11.09 pm to 12.00 midnight, get your 

favourite draught beers (Carlsberg, Heineken and Tiger) at only 

RM 51++ per jug 

Your birthday falls on the 

31 st August 

Great! Come and celebrate your birthday with us at Aurora 

Court or Ristorante Beccari and receive . . . 

• Complimentary birthday cake. 

• Complimentary buffet for birthday celebrant when you dine 

in with minimum 5 full paying adults consuming the buffet. 

• Advance reservation is required. 

Beccari’s Wine Pairing 

Set Dinner 

Available daily except Sunday throughout the 

month of July and August 

An exquisite combination of fine wine and 

spectacular food. 

Featuring 2 tasting glasses of our new 

house wines paired with a 3-course meal at 

only RM 88++ per set. 

Weekend Buffet Dinner Treats 

La Habana Cigar Divan 

Lifestyle Evening 

every Friday 

7.00 pm to 10.00 pm 

RM 88++ per person 

Aurora Court 

Fresh & Fabulous 

every Friday & Saturday 

6.30 pm to 10.00 pm 


RM 25++ per child (5 – 12 years old) 

(Fresh & Fabulous buffet dinner will take a month break in 

September for ‘Berbuka Puasa’ buffet dinner) 

Ristorante Beccari 

La Casetta Etoile’ Buffet 

every Sunday 

6.30 pm to 10.00 pm 


RM 25++ per child (5 – 12 years old) 


. . . at Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites 

For further information or reservation, please contact: 

Telephone: (6) 082 258000 • Aurora Court ext. 8061 • Ristorante Beccari ext. 8080 

Victoria Arms ext. 8070 • La Habana Cigar Divan ext. 8098 • F&B Office ext. 8054 

Facsimile: (6) 082 425400 • E-mail: info@merdekapalace.com • Website: www.merdekapalace.com


Sensational Sahara 

Café 

Why do I enter the Sahara I do not 

go to seek the oasis. I enter the desert 

to find my own spring. Antoine 

de Saint-J’Exupery’s poem comes to 

mind on stepping into the Sahara 

Café. Highlighting that the Sahara 

is not an empty desert, but a desert 

spring with endless possibilities where 

anything can be created. Such is the 

case with the restaurant that shares 

its name. It’s a wonderful surprise to 

find this gem to gastronomy nestled 

amid the housing estates at Tabuan 

Laru. Nothing beats quality cooking 

at reasonable prices, and this is what 

is also synonymous with this Café. It 

boasts the most popular char siew (or 

roast pork) in town. The aroma of the 

honey basted meat is heavenly and 

the melt in your mouth sensation is 

what makes this dish legendary. 

Sahara Café prides itself in serving 

only the best cuts and the freshest 

meats. This can be savoured when 

eating the fish and chips. This is no 

ordinary fish and chips mind you. The 

big difference is that no imported 

fish was used to create this meal. The 

chef uses only the choicest Garupa 

or Red Snapper. Those who enjoy 

seafood will definitely appreciate the 

difference. Lovers of poultry must 

experience the Chicken Chop. 

The portions are just right. Take the 

lamb shank as an example. By most 

standards it can be a heavy meal, but 

at Sahara Café, even the light eaters 

will be appeased. The food does not 

over-power the eater. Instead the 

taste sensations do that. There’s space 

for a multitude of salads to choose 

from too. Of course the Caesar’s Salad 

comes highly recommended. If salads 

aren’t your thing, there’s an equally 

delicious cream of potato soup. 

Those who enjoy a cheesy rice meal 

will find it here. It can be eaten with 

chicken, fish or pork. Garlic rice with 

barbequed pork is another to die for 

delicacy. As steaks go nothing beats 

a New Zealand Ribeye. There’s also 

Oxtail Stew and Pork Cordon Bleu 

to tickle the taste buds. Pasta lovers 

will rejoice while eating spaghetti 

Cabonara or Olio Olio. For the 

traditionalist, there are also meatballs. 

from Stutong 

Traffic Light 

The Mix Grill at Sahara Café comes 

on a huge platter and the diner 

gets New Zealand Rib eye, pork ribs, 

pork sausages, lamb cutlets, bacon, 

and french fries. That’s what good 

eating is all about. 

The Sahara Café is a wonderful 

place to have a romantic meal or 

entertain friends and family. For 

special occasions, the restaurant 

seats forty people. Just make sure 

to call two day’s in advance to 

avoid disappointment. There is 

a full bar and a fine selection of 

Chilean and Australian wines. So let 

it be said that anyone seeking to 

appease their hunger will find their 

oasis at Sahara Café. 

Country-Side 

Market 

Eastern 

Times 

from Jalan Song to Tabuan Laru 

Sahara 

Café 

We Are 

Here 

Sahara Café • Lot 9642, Block 11, Ground Floor, MTLD, Tabuan Laru, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 082 366263 • Open 11am to 10:30pm daily (Closed on Tuesday). 



Fulltank 

the one-stop food shop 

When in Sarawak, always be prepared 

for surprises when it comes to food 

and choices – you’ll never know what 

you will encounter at each corner 

of the towns and cities here! And 

surprise is exactly what you will find 

when you drop by Fulltank Chicken 

Rice, the latest fast food shop in Sibu 

located at Jalan Permai, Soon Hup 

Garden. Here, when you order the 

chicken rice, you will find yourself 

facing huge portions of rice, roasted 

chicken which also comes with 

cucumber slices and gravy. One thing 

is for sure; the average person will 

find the servings fulfilling! 

If chicken is not your favourite dish, 

there are other delicacies that you 

could choose from in this coffee shop 

which is also operated as a fast food 

outlet in this riverine town. There are 

barbeque pork noodle, roasted pork, 

roasted sweet duck and pork among 

the obvious choices and each comes 

in fairly large portions to satisfy most 

people. The choice of ‘Fulltank’ as 

its name is not accidental; it means 

specifically that you will most likely 

get your fill when you eat here. 

Another attraction of the shop is that 

the prices here are very competitive 

for the portions they are serving so, it 

is high time that you drop by when in 

Sibu to try out the food. 

“Sibu is becoming an attractive 

destination for tourists now due to 

the numerous places for adventure 

and sightseeing in and around the 

surrounding areas so the town is the 

obvious point for visitors to drop by,” 

explained Golden Hii, the proprietor 

of the shop. “Due to this, we decided 

to open our shop to cater to both 

local and foreign visitors who want 

to sample local food at reasonable 

prices and we also try to provide more 

choices. With more food outlets in 

town, there will be greater attractions 

for people to come here and also 

makes it convenient too for everyone,” 

he added. So remember that Sibu 

now has another food outlet that 

will add to the choice of food you 

can have when in the town. 


FULLTANK CHICKEN RICE 

Star Garden Coffee Shop 

32 Jalan Permai, Taman Soon Hup, 

96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia 

Tel: (6) 016 3618898 

Fulfilling Chicken Rice With An 

Unforgettable Distinct Taste That 

Suits Every Pocket! 


f i l m review 

Tel: 6 082 234 077 

Tuesday | Ladies Day, Ticket only RM6 

(not applicable for male and public holiday) 

Movies&BooksTalk 

Wednesday | Movie Day, Ticket only RM5 

(not applicable for movie marked (“) and public holiday) 

*All booked tickets must be collected 45 min before show times. 

THE DARK KNIGHT 

Genre: Action Rated: PG-13 Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger On Cineplex: 17 th July 2008 

Synopsis: The follow-up to the action hit Batman Begins, The Dark Knight reunites director 

Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne. 

In the new film, Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant 

Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining 

criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but 

they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind 

known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker. 

WALL-E 

Genre: Family Rated: PG Cast: Jeff Garlin, Benjamin Burtt, Fred Willard On Cineplex: 7 th August 2008 

Synopsis: What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn the last robot 

off WALL-E, a robot, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover 

what he was meant for. From Academy Award-winning writer-director, Andrew Stanton 

(“Finding Nemo”), Disney-Pixar’s “WALL-E” is the story of one robot’s comic adventures as 

he chases his dream across the galaxy. 

THE SHINJUKU INCIDENT 

Genre: Action Rated: PG-13 Cast: Jackie Chan, Daniel Wu, Xu Jinglei, Fan Bing Bing, Naota Takenaka 

On Cineplex: 25 th September 2008 

Synopsis: In the early 1990’s, a tractor mechanic from China nicknamed Steelhead enters 

illegally into Japan to search for his girlfriend Xiu Xiu. To make ends meet, he joins his friend, 

Jie, in Shinjuku in doing menial labor. Steelhead finds out that Xiu Xiu has married Eguchi, 

a Japanese Yakuza leader. Steelhead decides to stay on in Japan and to obtain citizenship, 

he agrees to work for Eguchi as a killer. Soon, Steelhead gets used to the power and finds himself 

embroiled so deeply in the ways of the underworld that there is no turning back. 

VALKYRIE 

Genre: History, Drama Rated: PG-13 Cast: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, 

Christian Berkel, Thomas Kretschmann, and Carice van Houten On Cineplex: 2 rd October 2008 

Synopsis: The “July 20 Plot” on Hitler’s life is one of the most heroic but least known 

episodes of World War Two. Severely wounded in combat, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg 

returns from Africa to join the German Resistance and help create Operation Valkyrie, the 

complex plan that will allow a shadow government to replace Hitler’s once he is dead. 

RWMF BOOK - music without borders 

on Sale at The Rainforest World Music Festival 

Entitled “Music Without Borders…The 

Rainforest World Music Festival in 

Sarawak”, the book is authored by Heidi 

Munan and published by Marshall 

Cavendish (M) Sdn Bhd for Sarawak 

Tourism Board. The publication of the 

book was to coincide with the 10 th 

anniversary celebration of the festival. 

Booking can be made at 

www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com. 

The book is also available on Amazon. 

com. 

Available only in soft-cover the book is 

priced at RM125 each and its content 

includes more than 500 pictures 

taken at the RWMF over the last 

nine years as well as the chronology 

of the development of the festival 

since 1998. It also has chapters on 

comments from volunteers, the 

media members who had covered 

the event previously and the festival 

followers. 

A chapter is also dedicated to all the 

performers who had took centre stage 

at the RWMF from 1998 till last year. 

Written in a casual style for leisure 

reading, this full-colour book is an 

ideal collector’s item. 

Books are on SALE during The Rainforest World Music Festival at Sarawak Cultural Village from 11 th - 13 th July. For further information, please 

contact Sarawak Tourism Board at (6) 082 423600, fax at (6) 082 416700, e-mail at stb@sarawaktourism.com or check out its 

website www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com or www.sarawaktourism.com 


In.a.DayTalk 

As this is the month of celebration here in Sarawak, we have 

concentrated on spending the day within Kuching city, the capital. 

The excursion to the croc-farm just outside the city is to get out 

for a change of scenery and we are certain that your relaxing stroll 

through the shopping complex will culminate in a gourmet 

dinner at Tom’s for a satisfying experience! 

in a day 

Thank you! 

email: iconnec@pc.jaring.my 

8.00 am 10.30 am 

Authentic Rich Aromatic Southern Indian Restaurant 

Come, Spice up your Palate at Sri Shan 

Roti Canai (Indian Bread) with Potatoes and Cheese 

A combination of roti canai with western combo of 

parmesen & cheddar cheese dipped with fish curry makes an 

excellent meal or sometime as a dessert. 

Roti Canai with Banana and Jackfruit 

Slices of banana and jackfruit lightly fried and wrapped in 

roti canai gives a fragrance with natural sweetness to the 

bread. 

Thosay (Indian Rice Pancake) with Potatoes and Cheese 

Healthy mixture of rice flour and seed flour lightly pan fried and 

wrapped with potatoes along with generous helping of cheese 

to give a sumptuous meal guaranteed to satisfy your palate. 

Curry Mutton Shank 

Generous size shank cooked for 4 hours in our very own 

spices and herbs recipe and cooked to a thick delicious curry 

known to be the best in Malaysia! 

Sri Shan 

No.383, Persiaran Ban Hock Kuching, Sarawak 

Tel: 6082-244118 Email: sri_shan@streamyx.com 

Website: srishan.webs.com 

Opening Hours: Tue – Sat 7.30am – 10.00pm 

Sun & Mon 7.30am – 3.00pm 

Jong’s Crocodile Farm 

A mere twenty minutes drive from Kuching City is Jong’s 

Crocodile Farm, an established centre for breeding of 

crocodiles as well as a mini zoo where many different 

animals can be found. The large compound, with its well 

built fencing and walls, provide a good close up look at 

these reptiles, some of which are so menacingly huge, 

while the newly hatched ones are so cute. As an animal 

that outlived the dinosaurs, crocodiles are survivors that can 

adapt well to the changing environment. The crocodiles 

found here are also breeders. 


In.a.DayTalk 

At specific hours of the day, the feeding 

time shows feature crocodiles jumping 

for their meals, a spectacle that can be 

awe inspiring. Walking around the farm 

provides visitors the opportunity to 

view the other animals kept here. These 

include monkeys, cats and iguanas. It is 

a good place for the family to visit and 

learn about these creatures which are 

fast disappearing from the face of the 

earth. A leisurely stroll is recommended, 

as the idea of the visit is to have fun and 

learn something, especially for the kids. 

Light meals are available at the in-house 

canteen. 

Jong’s Crocodile Farm & Zoo Sdn Bhd 

Tel: (6) 082 242790(Off) Farm:(6) 082 863570 H/P: (6) 019 8878822 (Johnson Jong) 

Email: jongscrocfarm@yahoo.com Website: jongscrocodile.com 

Opening Hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm (Daily) 

Sarawak Plaza 

Having spent the morning at the croc-farm, it is nice to spend 

the afternoon out of the hot sun. Plan for some shopping 

at the Sarawak Plaza where you can get anything from daily 

necessities to fashionable clothes or even sporting wear. 

Located right in the middle of the Golden Triangle of the City, 

it is a convenient shopping centre for guests of the major 

hotels in the area. Fully air-conditioned, there are specialty 

shops as well as fast food outlets like KFC and Harts Chicken 

while Coffee Bean is also found here. For those driving, there 

are ample parking bays and all around the plaza are other 

shopping avenues as well as eateries for a relaxing afternoon 

in the city. 

2.30 pm 7.30 pm 82, Jalan Padungan, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Back in the city after an enjoyable day 

and it’s time for dinner. So what’s a good 

place to dine with fine food and relaxing 

atmosphere Come to Tom’s, at Padungan 

Street where you can be assured of the 

freshest, delicious food prepared piping 

hot for you. Start with the soup or salad 

and be tantalised by their flavours. The 

main course from the western menu is 

something that will not only please the 

eyes but also the palate. Tom’s meals are 

always beautifully served and the reviews 

have always been excellent! Dessert is 

not to be missed when at Tom’s as all the 

tempting cakes and pastries are all home 

made and fresh so you can be assured 

of quality in this aesthetically decorated 

restaurant. 

Tel: (6) 082 247672 

Opening Hours: 11.00am – 10.30pm (closed on Sunday) 


FashionTalk 

Affordable clothes all year round 

Not everyone out there has an unlimited wardrobe 

budget. Therefore, when the opportunity to purchase 

affordable yet fashionable clothes comes along, you 

can be sure that ladies will certainly welcome it with 

open arms. 

Pamela boutique offers women just that sentiment. 

Its collection of fashionable merchandise does not 

only boast the trendiest cuts and designs but are also 

tagged with prices that are guaranteed not to burn a 

hole in your pocket. 

The boutique’s collection of clothing caters to all 

occasions whether you are looking for a simple pair of 

pants for work or a casual yet eye-catching blouse to 

wear while out and about in town. For office attire, 

Pamela offers the latest selection of formal wear 

which provides ladies with endless options of versatile 

pieces such as straight-cut black slimming pants that 

come adorned with ribboned belts or even vertically 

striped shirts that give the illusion of a slimmer figure 

while casual attire at the boutique comprise of various 

styles of fashion blouses bearing beaded or lace trimmings 

for that extra pizzazz. On the other hand, what ladies 

should also look out for while at the boutique is their 

collection of traditional wear namely the baju kurung 

and kebaya, two popular cultural attire worn generally 

by the locals here. 

The selection of baju kurung and kebaya here can be 

purchased in sets or separately for a more modern intake 

of the traditional outfit. For instance, the knee-length 

top of the baju kurung, which is available in cotton, linen 

or satin, can be paired with a pair of long, sleek pants 

for a casual, relaxing look. The kebaya, a traditional 

attire worn by women not only in Malaysia but also in 

Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore, comes in various designs 

which also include hand-embroidered motifs, a signature 

characteristic of this ethnic wear. Like the baju kurung, 

the kebaya top can be worn with a mermaid skirt, sarong 

wrapped around the waist or even a pair of jeans for a 

chic, feminine touch. 

Other range of clothings and accessories 

available here are the jubah, a long, flowing 

attire which originates from the Arabs as 

well as kain tudung, otherwise known as 

headscarf, which is available in a multitude 

of colours and embroidered designs. 

The best part about shopping at Pamela, 

is that sizes for the tailor-made collection 

also cater to plus sizes and 

nothing costs more than RM200! 

Now that’s what we call a 

bargain. The brand is also 

available at Boulevard 

Departmental Store. 

Level 1 (Tower Block), Lot 376, DUBS Commercial Centre, Jalan Petanak, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 082 231288 Fax: (6) 082 247251 email: pamelasb18@hotmail.com.my Operating hours: 10am to 7pm (daily) 


BeautyTalk 

Beauty, as they say, is in the eyes of the beholder 

but everyone knows that good complexion is the 

key to timeless beauty. In the harsh environment 

of the tropics, the natural elements of sun, heat 

and pollution take a toll on the skin; wrinkles 

appear much earlier, giving the premature ageing 

look. Poor diet does play a role too in the process 

as well as a lifestyle that fails to take proper care of 

our skin. However, do not despair, the professionals 

at Lady Jenn has the right solution to bring back 

the shine to your skin and looks. 

Using only all natural, noninvasive and gentle 

ingredients in their products, the natural beauty 

of your skin can be restored and maintained. 

The main components include Vitamin C, Alpha 

hydroxyl and beta hydroxyl acids, a high potency 

form of vitamin-E. These work together to give 

your skin the right elements to stay healthy and 

functioning at top condition but this cosmeceutial 

programme only works well with the right healthy 

living habits like eating properly, getting enough 

sleep, taking essential vitamins like A, C and E, and 

no excessive smoking and drinking of alcohol. 

& 

Superb Skin Care 

It must be remembered that our skin is a vital 

organ of our body; it protects us from bacteria, 

viruses and regulates body temperature, all the 

more reason to look after it well. Stress, poor 

diet and over exposure to the natural elements 

can prematurely age our skin and wrinkles start 

appearing as a result of the ageing process. 

Some people may even be using very harsh soaps 

and other detergent-based moisturizers without 

knowing about them thereby causing more 

damage to their skin. Come and have a chat with 

our professionals to get a better understanding of 

what makes the skin healthy and strong and also 

see the range of products available to give you 

that special look! 

before 

Complexion 

FUNCTIONS OF THE PROGRAMME 

1) It works as a desquamator due to its proteolytic enzyme content. It 

enhances the removal of dead skin cells, thus resulting in an increase 

in new skin cell formation. It also has a cleansing effect. 

2) It has an anti-inflammatory and germicidal property that protects the 

newly formed skin layer against invasive organisms such as bacteria, 

viruses, and fungi. In effect, it can be soothing to the skin. 

3) It has an auto-healing function that works through the induction of 

collagen synthesis by way of artificial traumatisation. It also has a 

“tretinoin-like effect” which aims at acne treatment. In addition, it 

has an anti-aging property by inhabiting the enzyme elastase. 

4) It induces a natural hydroquinone protection and inhibits the 

tyrosinase enzyme, hence producing a corrective measure for 

pigmentation and blemishes. 

5) It provides a sun protection factor, preventing the harmful effects 

of UV rays from damaging the skin. 

6) It reduces sebum production by way of alpha-reductase inhibition. 

PRODUCT INDICATION 

These products have been designed for wrinkles, acne, pigmentation, 

age spots, sagging skin, eye bags, and dark eye circles. It also serves as 

a skin whitener. 

PRODUCT DOSAGE AND USAGE 

As prescribed. 

after 

We will provide 500 sets of products for those who are interested in partnership. Please call (6) 012 2339032 

w o r l d w i d e c o s m e t i c n e t w o r k i n g 

For further information, please call 

KUALA LUMPUR 

Lady Jenn Bioscience (m) Sdn Bhd 

C-0-7, Block C, Plaza Damas, No.60, Jalan Sri Hartamas 

1, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Tel: (603) 6203 9409 Fax: (603) 6203 5721 

KUCHING 

Lady Jenn Face & Figure Centre 

No. 166, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching, 

Sarawak, East Malaysia. 

Tel: (6082) 410 723 Fax: (6082) 412 660 

Email: enquiry@ladyjenn.com.my Website: www.ladyjenn.com.my 

M A L AY S I A • I N D O N E S I A • T H A I L A N D • V I E T N A M • T A I W A N • C H I N A 


PeopleTalk 

Alexander Nanta 

Linggi 

He was 23 when he first ran for public 

office in 1981. Although it was a dismal 

performance at his debut election, it 

was to be the beginning of a political 

career that saw him returning to win 

by a huge majority in his home ground, 

Kapit, 19 years later. Since then, he has 

been the Member of Parliament for 

Kapit for three consecutive terms. 

Alexander Nanta Linggi’s political inclination 

must have been inborn. The grandson 

of the great Iban paramount Chief Tun 

Jugah who became a Federal Minister 

following Sarawak’s independence within 

Malaysia, Alex carries on with the family 

tradition in politics. His own father Datuk 

Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah was an elected 

representative himself before retiring from 

active politics to spend more time on his 

business. 

Alex’s involvement in politics was not 

planned. Born in Kapit, he basically 

grew up in a political environment. 

When his grandfather died, he was in 

his early twenties pursuing a degree 

in Business Studies in London. He had 

heard much from his grandfather of his 

political dealings with other leaders. 

Alex has come a long way since his first 

election. As he looks back to where he 

started, he learns how important it is 

for the people of Sarawak to treasure 

the peace and harmony that the state 

has been blessed with. “As a state with 

26 ethnic groups, I can’t imagine how it 

would be like if we are not together. But 

look, we never have racial problems,” 

he says with pride. 

As history has it, his grandfather was a 

principal contributor to the formation 

of the Federation of Malaysia. He was 

described in a biography on him as a 

bridge between East and West Malaysia. 

The legacy of the founding fathers of 

Malaysia lives on in the Land of the 

Hornbills. As a leader, Alex does well 

to take on what his grandfather had 

started – particularly in helping to 

promote the existing peace and harmony 

not only in Sarawak but also Malaysia 

at large. 


Politics brings him closer to both people 

and nature. To go to his constituency, 

one has to take a boat. The longhouses 

in Kapit are far from each other. Hence, 

Alex is used to traveling long hours 

to reach out to the people, and he is 

not complaining, as he says, “I enjoy 

longhouse visits. The people may make 

one thousand and one requests, so to 

speak, but the journey itself is therapeutic. 

The people I meet along the way, the 

streams and the so-called jungles make 

me feel good. At one time, we walked 

for about five hours, going over two big 

hills and crossing streams but it was fun.” 

He adds, “When we know people, we 

learn about them, their way of thinking 

and their needs. At the same time, they 

may get to know me better.” 

Being in the midst of it all, he saw Kapit 

as having the potential to be a tourist 

destination in the near future. One of the 

latest tourism projects in the division is 

the Tagang System Project, at Sungai Tisa, 

Yong. With the help of the Agriculture 

Department and the longhouse involved, 

more than 100,000 indigenous fish of 

different species have been released into 

the river for tourist activities. 

Thus far, Alex has learned one important 

thing – life is beautiful if we know how 

to love simple things. 

Keeping 

The 

Malaysian 

Spirit 

Alive

Asia Pacific Technical 

HRD Conference and 

Career Expo 2008 

Corporate Social Responsibilities and 

Technical Vocational Education & Training 

(TVET) for Sustainable Development: 

“Promoting Economic Development and 

Social Equity” 

ConferenceTalk 

The current trend of economic development around 

the world is focused on sustainable development as well 

as the concept of Education For All. These challenges are 

aimed at creating a better environment for everyone 

regardless of where they are, and in line with these 

developments, corporate social responsibility is now a 

major consideration for all businesses wherever they 

operate. Hence it is imperative that the workforce of 

the future be made aware of these changes and to 

prepare to adapt these values in the places where they 

work. The International College of Advanced Technology 

Sarawak (ICATS) will be holding the ‘Asia Pacific 

Technical HRD Conference and Career Expo 2008’ 

on 6 th -7 th August 2008 in Kuching, Sarawak which will 

specifically focus on these issues. 

Regardless of the nature of businesses, the workforce 

is becoming more international in composition while 

modern communications technology has made it easy 

to conduct business anywhere, anytime and with anyone. 

Now, age and gender as well as experience seem less 

crucial when seeking employment as corporations 

are constantly on the lookout for technically capable 

people with the right mindset. In these aspects, the 

Technical Vocational Education & Training (TVET) section 

of the conference will address these aspects of doing 

business in today’s world. 

The theme for the conference is ‘Promoting Economic 

Development and Social Equity’ which centres around 

the three core concepts of sustainable, economic 

development and social responsibility. Education is the 

common factor in all these as it is the main medium 

to enable us to gain knowledge and also enhances 

our capabilities and skills. The conference will feature 

speakers from around the world including Thailand , 

Saudi Arabia , Australia , Germany as well as Malaysia. 

These presenters come from both the corporate and 

public sectors and each is experienced and technically 

skilled in their respective positions. 

For more information or enquiries on the conference, please contact: 

Conference Secretary (Registration) 

Asia Pacific Technical HRD Conference and Career Expo 2008 

International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (ICATS) 

Jalan Canna, Off Jalan Wan Alwi, Tabuan Jaya, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: (6) 082 364198, 364199, 364148 Fax: 6082- 364197/364196/365970 

e-mail: norashikin@ppks.edu.my / nurhaqqq@yahoo.com 

6 th -7 th August 2008 

Crowne Plaza, Riverside Hotel Kuching, 

Sarawak, Malaysia 

Paper 1 

Working Place Learning 

By: Mr. Wong Hee Jiong (Regional Manager, Learning & Development 

SHELL, Asia Pacific) 

Paper 2 

Enhancing Graduate Employability 

By: Prof. Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak (Senior Fellow, Havard 

University’s Center for Business and Government, Thailand) 

Paper 3 

Skills and Emerging Technology 

By: Dr. Saleh Al-Amr (Vice Governor, Technical Vocational Training 

Corporation - TVTC, Saudi Arabia) 

Paper 4 

Facilitating Change & Innovation: Leadership 

Challenge 

By: Dr. Pater Shephard (President, Brain Dynamic Global) 

Paper 5 

Corporate Social Responsibility For Sustainable 

Development 

By: Datu Ghafur Shariff (Deputy Sarawak State Secretary, Malaysia) 

Paper 6 

ACADEMIC - Industry Collaboration: Strategies 

and Opportunities for the Future 

By: Professor Dr. Sulaiman Yamin (UTHM) 

Paper 7 

The Skill Gap : What is it and how to close it 

By: Terry O’hanlon - Rose (Director /CEO, Australian Technical College, 

Brisbane) 

Paper 8 

Changing Traditional Roles in the world of work 

- Gender Equity 

By: Dr. Wan Azlinda Wan Mohamed & Associate Professor Dr. Maizam 

Alias (UTHM) 

Paper 9 

Soft Skill: Important in the world and how to train 

them 

By: Md. Klaus Sodermann (President International Vocational Education & 

Training Association - IVETA, Germany) 

Paper 10 

Quality Assurance model for Continuing Technical 

Education 

Paper 11 

Employability Driven In Technical & Vocational 

Education - Trends Issues 

By: Dr. Madeleine Reeve (Pro Vice Chancellor, RMIT University Australia) 


Promosi 

Kraf Malaysia 

1 st - 10 th August 2008 • 10.00am to 10.00pm 

Kuching Waterfront (Square Tower) 

• Sales Promotion by 70 entrepreneurs • Craft Exhibition • Educational Craft: (i) Craft Demonstration 

(ii) Interactive Craft (iii) Folks Games • Cultural Performances • Café Berandau • Guided Tour 


Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, Sarawak 

Lot 3057, Blok 18, Daerah Salak, Petra Jaya, Jalan Stadium, 


Tel: 6 082 444205, 441329, 442436 Fax: 6 082 440003

Olympians from Sarawak UNIMAS Center for Excellence in ...

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