Fire destroys Health Dept quarters

Fire destroys Health Dept quarters
Malaysia’s Anwar: Obama meeting would have been ‘helpful’
Perlis extends Sukma invitation to Sarawak
FAS president nominated for FAM vice president post
Sarawak are fifth at KPM wushu championship
15 from Miri for state schools wushu tourney

Posted: 21 Apr 2014 07:12 PM PDT

TAWAU: Fire destroyed a Health Department quarters at Carlos Road near the old airport here yesterday.

District Fire and Rescue Department station chief Rudy Fredzex said no one was hurt as there was nobody at home when the fire occurred.

He said the department received a distress call at 12.27pm and firemen reached the scene at 12.34pm. The operation ended at 1.50pm.

Sixteen firemen, two fire engines and a utility truck were despatched to the scene but the house was already 90 per cent destroyed when they arrived. A motorcycle that was parked at the house was also destroyed.

Rudy said the cause of the fire was still being investigated and advised the public to ensure all cooking and electrical appliances are switched off before leaving the house to avoid untoward incidents.

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Malaysia’s Anwar: Obama meeting would have been ‘helpful’

Posted: 21 Apr 2014 07:10 PM PDT

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Monday a meeting with US President Barack Obama during a coming visit to Malaysia would have been "consistent with US democratic ideals," after Washington said there would be no such encounter.

But Anwar, who was convicted of sodomy in March and whose opposition is engaged in a fierce political battle with Malaysia's longtime government, stopped short of criticising the US president.

"I am not upset," he told AFP, but he added that a meeting would have been "helpful" and "consistent with US democratic ideals and its foreign policy of promoting freedom and justice."

US officials said Friday that Obama did not plan to see Anwar while he is in Kuala Lumpur, marking the first visit by a sitting US president to the Southeast Asian nation in nearly half a century. They did not rule-out a lower level meeting.

Obama arrives in the Malaysian capital on Saturday for a three-day stop as part of his Asia tour, which also includes Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

Washington has expressed disquiet about what it says are politically motivated charges to keep the veteran opposition leader out of Malaysian politics.

In March, a Malaysian Court of Appeal overturned Anwar's 2012 acquittal on sodomy charges, finding him guilty of having had sex with a former male aide in 2008 and sentencing him to five years in jail.

Anwar remains free pending an appeal to Malaysia's highest court.

A former deputy premier with the ruling coalition, Anwar has cultivated strong friendships in Washington, where he is lauded for his calls for reform.

The 66-year-old said there was "opposition from the Malaysian government" against him meeting Obama.

US national security advisor Susan Rice said while Obama was unlikely to meet Anwar "there may be other engagements at other levels" without elaborating.

Prime Minister Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition has ruled Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957.

In elections last year, an Anwar-led opposition won the popular vote for the first time, but Barisan Nasional retained control of parliament due to what critics say is gerrymandering.

An annual report by the US-based academic study Electoral Integrity Project published in February ranked Malaysia's elections 66th out of 73 for democratic integrity. -AFP

Perlis extends Sukma invitation to Sarawak

Posted: 21 Apr 2014 06:34 PM PDT

KUCHING: Perlis, host of Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) XVII, stands ready to receive about 9,500 participants comprising athletes, officials, technical officers and volunteers from May 24 to June 4.

Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man said most competition venues are fully ready while the aquatic centre, badminton hall, squash hall and golf course are into the final phase of preparation.

"I have got the guarantee from the contractors who are doing the upgrading works that by the end of April, all these venues will be ready," he told reporters after leading a delegation to pay a courtesy call on Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.

Also present were Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Assistant Sports Minister and head of Sarawak Sukma contingent Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Perlis State Secretary Romli Dai and Perlis Sports Exco member Abdul Jalil Saad.

Azlan said the courtesy call by his delegation was to officially invite Adenan, Sarawak contingent and fans to attend the 2014 Sukma.

"In general, we discussed cooperation in sports because sports is not only about looking for new talents among Malaysians that can be featured at national, regional or internationational levels but also sports as a platform to create unity among Malaysians," he added.

As the games will coincide with Gawai, Mawan said a small-scale Gawai celebration will be held on June 1 at Restoren Terapung (Ocean Glow) Hotel Brasmana in Kuala Perlis for state athletes and those from other contingents.

"We have already extended our invitation to the Perlis Menteri Besar and other state contingents to join us in the Gawai celebration," he continued.

"It will be the first time for me, excos and the people of Perlis. This celebration is something quite unique," said Azlan in response to the invitation.

The Sarawak contingent will be having a camp from May 20 to 24 at Unimas where the flag presentation ceremony will take place on May 21.

Sarawak will be sending a total of 500 participants comprising 362 athletes, 84 officials and 54 secretariat staff.

Sarawak, which is targeting 55 gold medals this time, will contest in 22 of the 24 sports during the two-week games in Perlis.

The state athletes will be flying to Perlis on May 22 and 23, and will return on June 5.

A thanks-giving and incentive presentation ceremony will be held on June 6 in Kuching upon their return.

Sukma XVII Perlis is offering a total of 396 gold, 396 silver and 473 bronze medals.

FAS president nominated for FAM vice president post

Posted: 21 Apr 2014 06:33 PM PDT

by Matthew Umpang, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 22, 2014, Tuesday

KUCHING: Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president Datu Sudarsono Osman has been nominated as a candidate to contest the post of vice-president in the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

The other seven candidates vying for the four vice-presidential posts are Datuk Takiyudin Hassan (Malay Football Association of Malaysia), Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman (Perlis Football Association), Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz (Kuala Lumpur Football Association), General Tan Sri Zulkiefli Mohd Zin (Armed Forces Football Association), Datuk Rosmadi Ismail (Kelantan Football Association), Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin (Perak Footbal Association) and Datuk Wan Ahmad Nizam Wan Abdul Hamid (Terengganu Football Association).

All candidates are either FAM-affiliated or state football association Exco members.

Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal and Datuk Seri Afandi Hamzah are the two incumbent vice-presidents.

A national daily last week sparked speculation that Sudarsono might be vying for the FAM deputy president or the vice-president post.

The FAS president himself has yet to confirm any news on the matter so far.

"I am thankful for the nomination by the FAM state affiliate members and I think I can contribute a lot to Malaysia's football development," he said when talking to The Borneo Post yesterday.

The elections are due at the 50th FAM Congress be held in Kuala Lumpur on May 25.

Meanwhile, incumbent FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah will face a three-cornered fight for the post against his son Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Johor state crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim who is also Johor State Football Association (PNBJ) president.

The late Datuk Taha Ariffin, who was FAS president from 1997 to 2003, had once held the post of FAM vice-president.

News of Sudarsono's nomination has been well received in local football circles.

Former Sarawak player, captain and manager Jalil Ramli commented on the subject in a national daily a few days ago.

"His (Sudarsono's) management skills are superb and I admire his charisma. Should he be appointed, he will make a massive postive impact to national football development," he was quoted as saying.

Sudarsono is also Permanent Secretary in Sarawak's Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment.

Sarawak are fifth at KPM wushu championship

Posted: 21 Apr 2014 06:32 PM PDT

KUCHING: Sarawak finished fifth overall in the recent 5th Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia (KPM) wushu championship in Johor with two gold, five silver, one bronze and three 4th placings.

National exponents dominated the three-day championship held at Stadium Bandaraya Johor Bahru.

Sarawak's golds were delivered by Bong Yun En and Mandy Lim Xin Hui.

In her second appearance at the national junior meet, Yun En won the Girls D changquan with 8.15 points while Mandy Lim topped the Girls B nanquan event by scoring 8.43 points.

Landy Liew Jia Yee bagged the silver in Girls D foundation changquan with 8.55 points while last year's gold medallist Yong Arifah Khairul Kok scored 9 points for second in the Girls B taijiquan and was third in the Girls B taijijian.

Arifah was also declared the best non-Chinese performer of the meet.

The other silver medallists were Stephanie Ngu Chai Ern (Girls C nanquan), Fu Wen Jie (Girls C jianshu) and Bong Yun Pin (Boys C jianshu).

Melaka were crowned over champions with 14 gold, 10 silver and three bronze followed by Pulau Pinang with 11-8-3, Negeri Sembilan 3-8-7 and Kedah 2-4-6.

15 from Miri for state schools wushu tourney

Posted: 21 Apr 2014 06:30 PM PDT

MIRI: The Miri Wushu Association of Miri Division has named 15 wushu athletes to represent the division in the upcoming State Inter-school Wushu Championship to be held in Kuching in June.

Speaking to The Borneo Post here yesterday, head coach Master Tiong Ching Chiong said Riam Road Secondary School (RRSS) top the list with 10 of its students selected.

Another two are from the Wushu Excellence Center here and one each from SMK Dato Permaisuri, SM St. Columba and SJK Chung Hua Pujut.

"All of them were selected based on their recent achievements in the 2014 Miri Inter-school Wushu and Tang Soo Do championship and the Inter-school Wushu Long Weapon competition held at our excellence center here on Sunday," he added.

Meanwhile, the association is also making early preparation for the International Borneo Wushu competition to be held in Sibu in August.

"As I said before, we are really looking forward to take part in international level competition. And we will be starting our intensive training today (yesterday)," Tiong revealed.

He reminded the athletes to put in extra effort to complement what their coaches are doing in order to achieve success in the sport.

"The coach will be there to assist and teach them and fix their skills and techniques where there is need to do so. But, most importantly the athletes themselves must stay focussed, disciplined, persistent and be willing to learn and push themselves," he advised.