Netherlands turns orange for first ever ‘King’s Day’

Netherlands turns orange for first ever ‘King’s Day’
Selamat Datang Mr President
Obama expresses support on MH370 — Hisham
Man seriously injured in fall
Medan Satok eyes record sales
‘Education helps to develop and realise your full potential’

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 06:29 PM PDT

De Rijp, HOLLAND: Hundreds of thousands of orange-clad Dutch lined the streets on Saturday as the Netherlands celebrated its first-ever "King's Day" in honour of Willem-Alexander, inaugurated one year ago.

The popular king and his Argentinian-born wife, Queen Maxima, were greeted by thousands of enthusiastic fans in the northwestern fishing town of De Rijp, where they took part in traditional Dutch games.

Queen Maxima hit a ball into the mouth of a mock-up whale — symbol of the town's past as a whale processing centre — to thunderous applause before moving on to receive flowers from well-wishers.

From there the royal procession, including the king's mother, now Princess Beatrix, who abdicated last year after 33 years on the throne, travelled south to Amstelveen near Amsterdam.

The royal couple were awaited by their three daughters, crown-princess Amalia, 10 and princesses Alexia, 8 and Ariane, 6, who made a surprise appearance, before unveiling a giant painting in the city centre.

Willem-Alexander, 46, was sworn in on April 30 last year, the first Dutch king in more than 120 years.

Saturday marked the first-ever "King's Day" celebration, a tradition introduced during the reign of a succession of Dutch queens, starting around 1890.

The day came just ahead of the monarch's birthday on Sunday, and saw the country turn orange as the Dutch donned hats, shirts, scarves, sunglasses and even blow-up crowns in the colour of the Royal House.

Some 89,000 people travelled by train to traditional party spot Amsterdam on Saturday morning, the Dutch rail service said, to join some 800,000 other visitors expected in the city.

Dutch media speculated that Willem-Alexander may change celebrations next year or do away with the tradition altogether, but he told crowds in Amstelveen: "Why would you want to change something that's such a success?"

Although the monarchy is popular in the Netherlands, some question the cost of the royal household and republicans are seeking a reduction to the king's tax-free salary of 825,000 euros (about $1.1 million).

A survey published on Saturday by the NOS public broadcaster said 74 percent of those Dutch questioned said they trusted the king.

Meanwhile, the government's information service on Saturday unveiled the Royal House's first Facebook page.

The introduction of technology is part of a "quiet revolution happening at the palace," Dutch centre-left newspaper De Volkskrant said this week.

"Beatrix never sent an email and had a mobile phone for only six years. Following the king's inauguration his whole court is now armed with iPads and iPhones," the paper said.

Even web search giant Google took a bow on Saturday, sporting a royal orange theme for its Dutch search engine, www.google.nl. -AFP

Selamat Datang Mr President

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:10 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: United States President Barack Obama arrived in Malaysia yesterday for talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the country grapples with the disappearance of a Malaysia Airlines plane, the search for which is aided by a US Navy submersible drone.

The Air Force One carrying Obama landed at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base here at about 4.50pm after a six-hour flight from South Korea, as Obama embarked on what has been described as a historic visit to Malaysia.

The three-day visit to this Southeast Asian nation of 30 million people – part of Obama's four-nation tour – is a first by a sitting US president in 48 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson's trip back in 1966.

Wearing a dark suit, the US President emerged from the Boeing 747-200B – the president's highly-customised office in the sky which also happens to be the world's most recognisable plane – to a warm welcome by senior Malaysian government officials.

On hand to greet him "Selamat Datang" were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Malaysian Ambassador to the US, Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin and Special Envoy to the US Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis.

Prior to Malaysia, the 44th American president who came to power in 2009 and was re-elected to a second term in 2012, had visited Japan and South Korea.

After Malaysia, he is heading for the Philippines.

Security at the airbase located in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur was tight with the deployment of hundreds of security personnel.

Obama left the airbase in his presidential limousine for the Parliament Building in Kuala Lumpur for the official welcoming ceremony.

Anifah said on Friday the presidential visit would herald the elevation of Malaysia-US bilateral relations to a 'Comprehensive Partnership'.

He noted that the good rapport between Obama and Najib would ensure that discussions on economy, security and people-to-people relations were open, constructive and productive.

Officials said efforts to locate Malaysia Airlines MH370 currently underway in the southern Indian Ocean might be featured in the Putrajaya talks.

The sonar-equipped Bluefin-21 has been scouring the depths of a defined section of the Indian Ocean since April 14, in the hope of locating any debris of the missing plane.

Flight MH370 with 239 people aboard left the KL International Airport at 12.41am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later while over the South China Sea. It was to have arrived in Beijing at 6.30am on the same day.

The president had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and attended a state banquet at Istana Negara last night.

Obama will head to Malaysia's federal administrative capital Putrajaya today for talks with Najib before going to nearby Cyberjaya for the launch of the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creative Centre (MaGIC) which will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to expand their wings.

Other highlights of Obama's visit is his town hall session with youth leaders from across Southeast Asia and a visit to the National Mosque.

Meanwhile, AFP reports that battling image problems in the Islamic world, Washington is keen to improve its relationship with economically successful, moderate-Muslim Malaysia.

Relations were acrimonious during the 1981-2003 tenure of Tun Mahathir Mohamad, a harsh critic of US policies.

But trade ties remained solid and Najib is seeking a closer relationship, including on defence.

Malaysia is among several nations with competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, where Beijing's assertiveness has sparked alarm.

In a newspaper interview published yesterday, Obama touted growing security cooperation with Malaysia as a way to ensure "freedom of navigation in critical waterways" and that nations "play by the same rules" – a clear reference to China.

But Malaysia also is a close trading partner of China and disagrees with aspects of Obama's Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, which also has met resistance in Japan.

The president is expected to try to ease Malaysian concerns on the TPP when he meets Najib tomorrow.

But simmering problems such as Ukraine could yet intrude again during Obama's two-night Malaysian stay.

Obama said on Friday in Seoul that Washington had already lined up more targeted sanctions against Russia "that are ready to go."

US officials have said the measures would only be considered if Russia sent regular forces into volatile eastern Ukraine. — Bernama/AFP

Obama expresses support on MH370 — Hisham

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:08 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: US President Barack Obama offered support to Malaysia on Saturday in the baffling mystery over missing flight MH370.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is leading Malaysia's efforts to determine the fate of the passenger jet, said he spoke briefly with Obama after the president's arrival for an official visit.

"He said he knows it is a tough, long, road ahead. We'll work together. There is always support," Hishammuddin said.

"I'm very happy to hear (this) because it is a long journey."

The brief encounter occurred during an official welcoming ceremony at Parliament Square, where Obama met his host, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Malaysia is the third stop on an Asian tour by Obama that has taken him to Japan and South Korea. He heads to the Philippines on Monday.

The Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines flight with 239 people aboard disappeared without warning shortly after take-off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8.

Based on satellite data analysis, it is believed to have veered far off course and crashed into a remote area of the southern Indian Ocean.

But weeks of searching for wreckage – including two weeks of deep-sea scanning by a US Navy submersible sonar device – has found nothing.

Authorities involved in the multi-nation search led by Australia and including the United States have warned that a long, expensive and challenging struggle lies ahead to find the plane. — AFP

Man seriously injured in fall

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:07 PM PDT

by Eve Sonary Heng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 27, 2014, Sunday

KUCHING: A construction worker in his 30s suffered serious injuries after he fell off a building at a construction site in Batu Kawa around 11am yesterday.

His colleagues rushed to his aid and found him unconscious with injuries.

They immediately rushed him to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) using a motorcycle. He was admitted for treatment.

In a separate incident, a man in his 30s was admitted to SGH after he drank poison following a heated argument with his wife.

The incident took place around 7pm on Friday at their residence in Stutong.

He is reportedly in stable condition following treatment.

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Medan Satok eyes record sales

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:07 PM PDT

by Antonia Chiam, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 27, 2014, Sunday

KUCHING: Medan Niaga Satok is targeting sales of RM100 million this year, says Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) chairman Tan Sri Dato Sri Paduka Badruddin Amiruldin.

"With RM62 million recorded last year, we aim to break the record this year with a target of RM100 million. Up to March this year, we have already achieved RM12.6 million.

"This is not difficult to achieve as all the traders are disciplined and law-abiding as well as cooperative with the relevant agencies to deliver the best service to customers," he said at the launch of Medan Niaga Satok Fest yesterday.

Medan Niaga Satok is touted to be the biggest farmers' market in the country, with 2,500 traders.

Badruddin said there were plans to turn Medan Niaga Satok into a major tourist draw here.

"Now we can still see some traders under canopies in the sun or rain. We hope to build a roofed facility for them soon. When they are able to trade in comfort, they will be able to provide service with a smile to their customers.

"We want visitors to come to Medan Niaga Satok as part of their must-go destinations in Kuching. It will be a landmark attraction for Sarawak. With disciplined traders who are always courteous, clean and charge reasonable prices, there is no problem for Medan Niaga Satok to be the best farmers' market in the world."

The Medan Niaga Satok Fest was held in conjunction with its first year anniversary. It was graced by Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof, who is also Petra Jaya MP.

Among those present was Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department (Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais.

‘Education helps to develop and realise your full potential’

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:06 PM PDT

MIRI: Education increases your ability to develop your personal talents and capacity, realising your full potential.

In saying this, Sarawak Curtin Council chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam added people with degrees earn more, obtain higher quality employment than non-graduates and experience greater job security and career development.

He said this in his address at the graduation ceremony of the School of Business as well as School of Engineering and Science of Curtin University Sarawak yesterday.

Among those present were Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin who is also the chairman of Curtin Sarawak management board, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Curtin Malaysia Sdn Bhd chairman Datu Dr Hatta Solhi, Curtin University acting chancellor Sue Wilson, Curtin University vice-chancellor Deborah Terry and Curtin Sarawak pro-vice chancellor and chief executive Jim Mienczakowski.

Dr Chan, who is also former deputy chief minister, said research shows that an educated community experiences higher growth rates, less individual dependence on public subsidies and support, less crime and greater civic and cultural involvement by citizens.

Touching on the university, he said Curtin Sarawak recognises the importance of preparing its graduates for the multi-racial world and for international competitions.

"We provide a diverse cultural environment where students develop an appreciation for the international nature of knowledge and learning," he pointed out.

He added that Curtin University's curriculum is developed to provide students with an understanding of where their discipline fits into the global context, and the university set its academic standards based on international benchmarks to prepare students for the global workforce.

Dr Chan said that this international outlook and engagement is of great importance for the competitiveness of a nation.

"As you go out there into the world, I trust you will continue to be ambassadors of this university and fulfil your role as a Curtin graduate.

"I trust that you will show that you are not only technically or academically competent, but also possess emotional intelligence, and that you will demonstrate positive attributes like high integrity and a positive attitude, and adopt a continuous learning culture," he told the graduates.

He reminded the graduates to be international citizens who use knowledge to better their chosen professions and the wider community as well as to be critical thinkers when it comes to problem solving, apart from being highly creative when contributing ideas.

Mienczakowski who also spoke earlier said the graduation does not signify the end of learning, nor does it signify the beginning.

"Learning is a lifelong evolutionary process, involving periods of formal study, together with learning based on experiences in the workplace and other theatres of life," he said.

Yesterday's ceremony witnessed the graduations of 66 postgraduate degree students, 258 students of undergraduate degree students from the School of Business and 186 undergraduate degree students from the School of Engineering and Science.