Sabah & Kota Kinabalu News Flash

Sabah National Day Parade Full of Color and Culture

The state-level National Day celebrations held in Sabah Thursday displayed color and culture that symbolizes energy, patriotism and beauty.  Thousands came to the event and sang the national and state anthems passionately when the celebrations began after the arrival of Sabah Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin with his wife and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and other dignitaries.

The Sabah National Day celebration included parades of the Jalur Gemilang, the flags of Sabah and the other Malaysian state flags.  There were also performances of the armed forces, declamations and group singing, all focusing on patriotic themes.  There was also a marching competition participated in by several government and private agencies and organizations.

Winners were announced and among them was the Sabah Bajau Samah Association.  One of the participants said that he is proud of their community and their award is an indication that they are strong and united even though they are small in numbers.  Another participant, of Lotud Tuaran descent, also said that he hopes that peace and harmony will continue, emphasizing that their children must be taught about unity amongst diversity so that they can continue living so.

The weather was so hot that day but the people braved the heat to witness the Sabah National Day celebrations.

Malaysia First Asean Country to Use RNP-AR APCH Flight Procedure

Malaysia is the first member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to use the Required Navigation Performance – Authorization Required Approach (RNP-AP APCH) in its low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd.  This procedure will shorten the distance that an aircraft will fly at the airport and the pilot will use the on-board Global Positioning System technology without depending on the ground-based navigation beacons.  This procedure is also expected to reduce flight time, fuel consumption, carbon emissions and noise.

Captain Rajesh Gill, AirAsia’s Group Development and Efficiency Head, said that the approach was developed by a joint team of AirAsia, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric.

KKJA Giving Honors to 30 Journalists

The Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association (KKJA) is celebrating its 25^th Anniversary cum Press Club on Thursday and 30 journalists will be honored for being in the journalism industry for at least 25 years.   KKJA chairman Yong Ted Phen said that this award for long service is in recognition of the reporters and editors for their commitment and dedication in their chosen career.

During the celebration, KKJA will also be giving prizes to lucky members.  Prizes at stake are smartphones, round trip ticket to Tokyo, external hard disks, hotel and resort accommodations and a camera.

Search On for Missing Researcher

A researcher of the Sabah Forestry Department was reported missing in the Dermakot forest reserve.  Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Sam Mannan said that M.A. Tajuddin Mustapha was missing since Tuesday.  He also said that personnel, including firemen, and tracker dogs have been sent to look for him.  A helicopter was even flown over the area but it was useless since the dense forest canopy prevented them to see what was below.

Majuddin was part of a team who entered the forest for an inventory of trees.  His teammates said that they were finished for the day and as they were walking by the roadside, Majuddin told them to go ahead as there were some herbs that he wanted to look at.  That was when he failed to return.

Mannan said that  a ground search conducted Tuesday revealed some footprints and they are hoping to locate him soon.