KK & Sabah News-Flash

Singing Nurse Promotes Sabah Culture

Sheron Tan, a 23-year old nurse who is currently working in Singapore, is recently becoming a favorite and a sensation in social media through videos of ballads in Kadasandusun, English, Chinese and Bahasa Melayu.  Most of the songs are composed by her mother, who is Rungus, and these are usually about a blend of Kadazandusun and Chinese culture.

According to Tan, the production of the songs was initially just for fun.  She was uncertain how people would react to her songs.  But when her songs, especially Bye Bye, got more than 310,000 views on YouTube and requests started to come in for more songs, they got excited.  Two other songs are also getting other people’s attentions.

Tan comes from a culturally diverse family.  She was born in Tamparuli and they moved to her father’s hometown in Johor when she was four years old.  Her father is Chinese and her family usually gathers for gospel music.  They are even requested to sing in gatherings.

Tan is currently planning her first album which would feature songs about Sabah, the place and the people.

Appointment of Women to Any Post Will Be Based on Merit

Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman said that the women will be appointed to any post and will be based on merit.  He said that the state government had been doing this and will continue to give opportunities to Sabah women, even the position of the State Attorney General.  In addition, he is also encouraging government agencies to appoint women in their Board of Directors which is in compliance to the policy of having 30 per cent women as decision makers at the management level.

He also said that the state government will continue to make sure that women will have the skills to enhance their creativity and innovativeness to make them competitive in the development sector.  On the other hand, women are also encouraged to give suggestions on how Sabah can be developed further.  He stressed that the role of women is not left out in the 2050 National Transformation (TN50) agenda and any contributions from them are very much welcome.  The government, through its implementing agency in the Community Service and Consumer Affairs Ministry, has drawn up plans for the upliftment of the standards of living of women to be better partners in development.

Musa was at the state-level celebration of the Women’s Day at Kota Kinabalu which was also attended by Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahman Ayid.  The celebration gave recognition and appreciation to the contribution of women and their families to the development of Sabah and the whole country including Datin Seri Siti Rubiah Abdul Samad, the wife of Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, for being actively involved in social activities.

Also given recognition was the Kinabatangan Norgaseh Single Mothers’ Association as the Outstanding Women Association.

Jainab said that the ministry, through the State Women Affairs Department (Jhewa), held the Sabah Women TN50 program last August 29, where they endorsed to Musa a document containing proposals on women empowerment.