Sabah News Flash

SOS Eyeing Local Hospitals for Treatment

Treatment of patients with heart problems in Sabah may possibly be done in local hospitals instead of being flown to Kuala Lumpur or Seoul, South Korea.  The Society for Sabah Heart Fund (SOS Heart Fund) is currently in talks with some hospitals in Sabah on this possibility since there are already good facilities in the state, according to SOS Heart Fund President Datuk Christine Vanhouten during the handing over of the SOS Heart Fund donation box at the Sabah Heart Center of Queen Elizabeth Hospital II.

However, they also need the commitment of government to support this move since majority of the cost of treatment will be shouldered by the state.  If this will push through, the patient can cut down on additional costs related to treatment such as food, lodging, pocket money and traveling expenses.

HK Students Join Coral Planting

The Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCI) Luyang went coral planting at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park Monday with 16 students, aged 13 to 21, from Hong Kong.  Accompanied by teachers, members of JCI Harbour (Hong Kong) and Tai Po Youth Association, the students learned about eco-marine conservation and also had the chance to visit agricultural parks.

According to JCI Luyang Vice President Gordon Pan, coral planting was just one of the marine conservation projects which the group started in 2011.  Initially, baby corals where planted in cement blocks and placed in the seabed.  But corals were not reached by sunshine and sometimes were covered with sand so they came up with the coral frame method – tying the corals onto frames located above the seabed where they cannot be covered with sand and at the same time, absorb sunshine even under water. For non-divers and non-swimmers, a platform for sea-walking was designed by Borneo Reef World Managing Director Theresa Tham so that they can also go underwater for coral planting.

Malaysia-Hong Kong-Macau Business Links Promoted

A group of corporate executives of the Malaysia Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau (Maycham), based in Hong Kong, met with the Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) to promote business links among the three governments.  The group was oriented in FSI’s role in the economic and social agenda and on major infrastructure projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway Project and Sepangar Bay Container Terminal.  They did not hide the fact that they were very much interested in Sabah as an investment destination and inquired about laws and policies on doing business with the state, such as investment incentives, availability of skilled workers, availability of industrial land at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) and policy on foreign workers.

FSI President, Datuk Mohd Basri Abd Gafar, is predicting a successful collaboration with Maycham because he sees Hong Kong and Macau as prospective markets for Sabah’s products.  He will be encouraging local industries and enterprises to upgrade their skills and capabilities in order to be at par with worldwide competition as this collaboration will widen their market base outside the state.  He is also hopeful that with this development, government authorities such as the Malaysia Investment Development Authority will be there to extend their services in promoting Sabah as an investment destination.