Big lure of Sarawak Regatta

KUCHING: The Sarawak Regatta, which began at the Waterfront here yesterday, is merrier this year with a record 250 entries, including an all-women team from Dubai.

Organising chairman Abang Affandi Abang Anuar said the team was one of four international squads, with two others from Singapore and one from Brunei.

“The women, wives of expatriates working in Dubai, formed the team with the help of the Sarawak Tourism Board and the Urban Development and Tourism Ministry.

“They will compete in the 20-paddler longboat tourism category with the other international teams.

“They will not just compete against the men only, as the Singapore teams comprise both men and women,” he told reporters yesterday.

Abang Affandi said the competitors, while having fun, would help promote Sarawak as the regatta was an annual event on the state’s tourism calendar.

The tourism category race is slated for this afternoon.

Abang Affandi said the Sarawak Regatta was the culmination of other regattas held earlier in Lawas, Tanjung Manis, Sri Aman and Krian.

“Winning teams from these regattas have converged here to compete against one another,” he added.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who launched the regatta, described the event as “historical” as it was initiated 130 years ago by Rajah James Brooke to turn tribal rivalries into healthy sporting contests.

“Till today, the competitive spirit remains strong among the participants,” he said.

Taib later flagged off one of the heats of the men’s 20-paddler longboat event.

The regatta ends today, with finals in all the categories. The prestigious TYT Challenge Trophy is up for grabs in the 30-paddler longboat race.

Courtesy of The Star

Hurricane Katrina Crisis: Some Comments From Borneo

From Borneo, our heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which slammed into Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on the US Gulf Coast, and affected several other states.

It may be one of the worst natural disasters in US history, but it was initially not taken much notice here in Malaysian Borneo. The disaster did not even warrant front page news in the daily papers as Malaysia was in the midst of its Independence Day celebration.

It is not that we were unsympathetic or uncaring. Our thoughts went out to the victims and the destruction caused by the deadly ravage.

But this was in America, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, and the perennial leader in relief and rescue efforts in other less developed countries. We have been amazed and even inspired by the poise of the US in overcoming the 911 tragedy.

We were sure that they would clean up the mess and evacuate everyone to safety in a day or less. After all, no matter how big a natural disaster, you can always count on the US to come to your rescue.

When the US government’s response and recovery efforts were seemingly not forthcoming by the third day after the catastrophe, we suddenly took notice. But it was the images of the devastation that really caught our attention.

By the infrastructural damages and flooding, we would have thought this looks familiarly like Aceh after the Tsunami.

By the racial composition of the bewildered survivors still trapped in the mostly-submerged city of New Orleans, we could almost swear that this is not the Big Easy, but somewhere in a Third-World African country.

There were looting, gun shots, buildings on fire, and the dead left behind on the street side. There were people starving, suffering and dying. Tourists were still stranded and some were mugged. The whole episode depicts a chaotic and disorganized system of governing.

This is not the America we know. This is a scene from “Escape to New York” or some apocalyptic Hollywood movie.

The lesson learnt here is that even the world’s only Superpower will not be able to withstand the aftermath of a natural misfortune, not only physically and financially, but also socially and politically.

In this respect, the citizens of the world (regardless of creed, religion and race) from the less-developed and developing nations, should come together to dig deep into our hearts to see how we can offer some form of assistance (e.g., donations, prayers, etc.) to ease the plights of the victims.

Our best wishes for a speedy evacuation, recovery, and restoration process.

The Editor,
Travel Borneo Blog
e-borneo.com
http://www.e-borneo.com/


Relief Effort: How to Help

The US Emergency management officials recommend that those wishing to assist Hurricane Katrina victims give cash donations and resist going to affected areas. Donations can be made to charitable organizations recommended by the US's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the following URL:

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473

For online donation, you can visit the special site donated by Yahoo! for contribution to the American Red Cross' Hurricane 2005 Relief at the URL below:

http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/

Lambir Forest Challenge 2005

The 3rd Lambir Rainforest Challenge which will be held at the Lambir National Park in Miri on September 25, which is organised by the Miri Resident Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism, Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Sarawak Tourism Board.

The unique Lambir Rainforest Challenge 2005 is listed in the Malaysia tourism calendar, and this year's race will be the first to be held since Miri attains city status.

The respective reigning men and women champions - Sefli Ahar of Brunei Darussalam and Hasny Salagan from Sabah - will also take part this year to defend their titles as the king and queen of Lambir.

The 2005 prize money totalled some RM22,950, and the organisers has added another category in the competition - for 46 years and above. This year's route will range from easy to extreme.

Interested participants may obtain entry forms from the Miri Resident or District Office or from Thompson Jerry (tel: 006085 430210).

Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu opened its doors to guests

Kota Kinabalu: The five-star Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu opened its doors to guests Thursday, the latest addition to the number of international hotels recognising Sabah's rising importance as a premier tourist destination in Borneo, in general, and Malaysia in particular.

It is the second Le Meridien hotel in Malaysia, following the first that opened in Kuala Lumpur last year. Currently, there are 137 luxury and upscale Le Meridien hotels in 56 countries located in top cities throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and Middle East.

Its General Manager, Winston L. Reinboth, said the hotel has 306 rooms, 32 of which are suites plus a presidential suite priced at RM3,500 per night.

However, only 127 rooms are available thus far at special rates inclusive of breakfast for two during the months of September and October.

"We expect full occupancy in late November or early December since it is the peak months for hotels in Sabah," he said at it's soft launch.

In line with the Government's call for 5-star hotels nationwide to offer minimum rates of USD$80 (RM288) by next year, he said those offered by Le Meridien are relatively cheap for European travellers.

Reinboth said the hotel, located in the heart of downtown Kota Kinabalu, offered guests easy access to local attractions, the commercial district, retail and entertainment facilities, many of them within walking distance.

It is the fifth and latest hotel hugging the coastline stretching from Tanjung Aru to Likas to capitalise on the scenic vistas offered by the five outlying islands and South China Sea.

"The hotel is only minutes from soft adventure, beaches and golfing and also the ideal location for business travellers, a leisure stay or alternatively for meetings and incentives," he said.

Nevertheless, the hotel aims to build its image as a business and leisure accommodation facility for meetings and trans-independent travellers, among others, he said.

The meeting and event facilities are located on the third floor comprising three meeting rooms equipped with the latest in modern technology and boasts an impressive view of the South China Sea.

Reinboth said the main ballroom could accommodate up to 360 guests for banquets. "The banqueting area is not as large as other resorts (operating within the city area) and we don't intend to compete with them on this aspect.

"And we can only handle one major group at a time unlike other resorts which can accommodate up to several groups," he said.

For leisure, he said the hotel features a gym with modern weight and cardiovascular equipment including an outdoor pool with full panoramic sea views and complemented with a pool bar.

The hotel also offers a restaurant facility, a cigar room and lounge.

Reinboth said the property was purchased in January this year with the deal signed on June 3. On why Kota Kinabalu was chosen as Le Meridien's second location in Malaysia, he said the city had huge potential as a major regional centre for business.

"The Government and tourism board has also been very supportiveÉwe can expect to see tremendous growth in the capital and there will be a lot of demand for accommodation facilities."

Its presence would lead to healthy competition between the international hotels operating in the State capital. He would be working closely with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) on matters pertaining to tourism.

Reinboth said it would also benefit the local community in terms of employment opportunity, the majority of the 200-strong staff being Sabahans.

When fully operational, the hotel expects to have about 237 staff to run the daily operations.

Le Meridien was established in 1972 by Air France to provide a "home from home for its customers" with its first facility, a 1,000-room hotel in Paris that was named Le Meridien Etoile.

In late 1994, Le Meridien was acquired by UK hotel giant, Forte, which in turn was acquired by the Granada Group in 1996.

In April 2000, it signed a global strategic alliance with Japan's Nikko Hotels International while in December, 2000, Lehman Brothers Holding acquired the senior debt of Le Meridien.

Reinboth said several facilities would be launched in Thailand and China next year. It has 26 offices worldwide while its head office located in London.

Meanwhile, Mariany Ham, an Application Consultant for Hotel Systems for Micros-Fidelio Singapore Pte Ltd, was Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu's first guest.

"I certainly feel great being the first customer and I will definitely come back to the same hotel on my next trip," she said. Although not her first time in Sabah, it was definitely a surprise being the first customer for the hotel.

Courtesy of Daily Express

Malaysia Merdeka (Independence) Day

Yesterday (31 August) was Malaysia's independence day. Thousands attended State-level parades and festivities, which was held throughout the country to mark the nation’s 48th National Day.

The Malaysian Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak also joined in the colourful Merdaka celebration in a dazzling show of patriotism and national pride.

In Kapit, which hosted the Sarawak-level Merdeka celebrations, more than 2,200 participants from 54 contingents took part in a parade at the sports complex.

In Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, the state Merdeka Day parade took on a colourful ethnic twist with dancers garbed in the traditional costumes of its indigenous communities performing the sumazau of the Kadazandusuns, the daling daling of the Suluks, and the monggigol of the Rungus.

Sabah leaders also rightfully reminded the nation that "Malaysia is 42, not 48 years old" as reported in The Star by Ruben Sario as follows:

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders want to set the record straight: the National Day that the state and neighbouring Sarawak will be celebrating is for 42 years of independence – not 48.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said that while the states in the peninsular became independent on Aug 31, 1957, the two eastern Malaysian states ceased to be British colonies on Aug 31, 1963.

“Sabah was, therefore, literally a nation before Malaysia was formed.

“Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah were formalised as Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement on Sept 16, 1963,” he said.

“Malaysia is therefore only 42 years old today, not 48.

“Let us not continue this unnecessary distortion of history,” said the United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation president in his National Day message.

“The time has come for us to express openly what is on the lips of many Malaysians in Sabah and, perhaps, in Sarawak, too,” said Dompok.

Deputy Chief Minister and Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan shares this sentiment in his message.

He added that Sept 16 should be a significant date in the country's history, as important as Aug 31.

In his National Day message, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said Malaysia came into being 42 years ago and had since overcome numerous political, economic and social obstacles because of the people’s perseverance and hard work.