Sabah News Flash

Project REAL -Rural English for All

The Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl (RCKK Pearl) distributed nearly 400 Oxford Essential Dictionaries to Primary Four, Five and Six pupils in three schools last Thursday and Friday as part of the activities for the launching of the Highly Immersive Program (HIP) and Handover of Dictionaries ceremony.  Datuk Noni J. Said, president of RCKK Pearl, said that the dictionary is one of the best tools to improve written and spoken English.  The Oxford dictionary was specifically chosen because it includes 19,000 words and phrases explained in simple language and easy to understand.

The distribution of dictionaries to improve English proficiency is part of the club’s Project REAL (which stands for Rural English for All) and this is just one of their activities to address the gap between urban and rural schools.  Another is the setting up of English Corners, provided with English books, in the selected schools.  Also, essay writing, spelling and speech competitions will be held towards the end of the year as a culminating activity of the project.

This collaboration between RCKK Pearl and the State Education Department is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both parties in July this year.  The schools were identified with the assistance of Assistant Director of Education Muaruffin Mohchoeri after which meetings were held with each school’s headmaster and English teachers on how effectively go about with the project.  Project REAL is in alignment with the Education Ministry’s HIP under the Malaysia Education Blueprint (2013-2025).

Food truck park sites

If plans will push through, two possible venues for food truck park sites were identified by Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai.  These are the Tanjung Aru Rugby field and the Likas Sports Complex.  This was announced by Kota Kinabalu Umno Division Chief Datuk Faisyal Diego during the Entrepreneur Seminar 2016, a half-day event organized by the Umno Economic and Entrepreneurial Bureau.

He believes that the food truck part sites will be another attraction that will further boost the tourism industry of the state.  Furthermore, he encouraged local entrepreneurs, especially from the younger generation, to grab this business opportunity.

Three speakers were invited to talk about investment, credit management, marketing and beauty.  The event was attended by some 170 participants, majority of which are women.

Infrastructure and Forestry Departments Meet on Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project

Datuk Amrullah Kamal, director of the Public Works Department recently met with Datuk Sam Mannan, director of the Sabah Forestry Department, and other agency senior officers to discuss the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project.  In a statement issued by the PWD, the project will pass through forest and mangrove areas and it is advantageous that the two organizations meet this early to discuss possible ways to minimize its negative effects on the environment so as not to compromise completion.

Accountability and Integrity of Civil Servants

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is calling all heads of departments and implementing agencies in the state to practice integrity and accountability while doing their duties as civil servants. He emphasized that monitoring is the key in making sure that funds allocated are utilized for their specific purposes so that development efforts will benefit the people.  The government should make sure that efficient and transparent services are provided to gain the trust and confidence of the citizenry.  However, the support and cooperation of the private and public sectors are also important.

Musa was at the State Banquet for the 63^rd birthday anniversary of Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin