Nancy (second right, front row) hands over a cheque to Sabtuyah while Lo (centre, back row) looks on.
KUCHING: Kampung Haji Baki will soon have its cemetery and futsal court upgraded.
This is because the state government has allocated about RM400,000 for their upgrading.
A cheque for the sum was handed over to Penghulu Sabtuyah Yusuf yesterday.
Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri who represented the state government was at the village for the opening ceremony of Persatuan Penduduk Kampung Haji Baki.
She was accompanied by Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang.
KUCHING: The federal government should find ways to provide benefits to all people, instead of scrapping the critical service allowance paid to civil servants, said Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang.
Lo Khere Chiang
Lo said the move would affect the support of civil servants towards the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
“I believe that services will not be affected because the civil service consists of dedicated Malaysians serving the country at large.
“However, I am sure that the affected civil servants will not be pleased with this reduction in benefits,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
He said that as a country, Malaysia should be progressing, going from good to better and from better to best, but instead it seemed to be moving backwards.
“Meanwhile, other countries are moving forward and improving in their services, development, and so on – ours seems to be getting worse,” Lo pointed out.
“As a Sarawakian, I am very disappointed with the PH government, because after taking RM92 billion from us every year from our oil, the country still has to sell assets and increase taxes on our people,” he said, lamenting over how PH runs the country.
He said that practically none of the promises made by PH had been fulfilled.
He gave examples such as the promise that 50 percent of all taxes collected in Sarawak as well as 20 percent oil royalties would be returned to the state.
“Where is the promise to give back education and health autonomy to Sarawak?” Lo questioned.
Lo: No increase in assessment rates for private properties within MPP’s jurisdiction next year
#DunBatuKitang, #LoKhereChiang, #MPP,
Lo Khere Chiang – File photo
KUCHING: The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has assured the private property owners within its jurisdiction that there will be no increase in assessment rates next year.
The council’s chairman Lo Khere Chiang asserted that the state government will only exercise the revaluation for government properties next year.
“I have contacted Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and he confirmed that there will be no increase in the assessment rates for private properties.
“In addition, it is the state government’s decision (through Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri) to decide on property revaluation for rating purposes,” he told reporters after the MPP full council meeting here today.
Lo, who is also Batu Kitang assemblyman, disclosed that in 2016, former chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem took the initiative to reduce the assessment rates.
“This was done to reduce the burden of the ‘rakyat’,” he added.
Lo was responding to a directive issued by the federal Housing and Local Government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin for all local councils nationwide to review their assessment rates next year.
She added that any increase in assessment tax for local authorities will not burden the people.
In his Facebook post, Dr Sim responded by saying that such directive was not applicable to Sarawak, since the state has autonomy over its local councils under the Local Authorities Ordinance 1996.
He pointed out that there were no increase in assessment rates since 1970 despite the increased costs involving grass cutting works, rubbish collection and street light maintenance works.
Padawan Municipal Council: Reminder: Location of Roll-On-Roll-Off (RoRo) Containers Chinese New Year 2020
MPP announces Chief Minister Silver Award
win, spring cleaning schedule
December 23, 2019
Lo holding the Chief Minister Silver Award Trophy. With him are MPP councillors.
KUCHING, Dec 23: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) was the winner of the Chief Minister
Silver Award (Local Authorities Category) during the State Civil Service Day held early
this month. Its chairman Lo Khere Chiang said this was the result of the combined effort of all the
councillors and the staff of MPP.
“We will continue with the good efforts so that we can bring forth the best service for the
residents within the MPP areas,” said Lo.
Meanwhile, Lo said MPP will carry out Spring Cleanings in preparation for the upcoming
Chinese New Year (CNY) festival from Jan 2 to 25, 2020.
MPP would also like to remind residents who are busy preparing for the festive season to
dispose their waste responsibly.
The public is urged to keep their neighbourhoods clean while any extra waste should be
packed and disposed off properly into the additional bins or Roll-On-Roll-Off (RoRo)
containers provided for the bulky waste disposals which are available for use at some of
these areas as follows:
Stream at Arang Road dredged to address flash floods
Lo (front, third right) and other MPP staff members and contractors seen during the site visit. — Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING:Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has deepened and widened the stream at Arang Road here to help reduce the occurrence of flash floods in the area.
According to Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, this was done after the council received complaints from the residents about the massive flash floods that struck on Dec 11.
He said MPP officers went to the site and found that a natural stream at the end of the drain along Lorong 13M was too shallow to accommodate the huge volume of water that flowed in during downpour.
“We are trying our best to drain the waterlogged area and prevent the occurrence of flash floods.
“We will continue to do more of this sort of work in our jurisdiction, not only in Arang Road, but in other areas too,” he told reporters during a site inspection yesterday.
Lo, who is also MPP chairman, said the council had received the blessings from the Minister Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who also wanted them to do more in making their areas flash flood-free.
The public can channel to the council any feedback or complaint using Whatsapp via hotline number 013-802 5566, or by calling MPP on 082-615 566.
6 pct prevalence rate of dyslexia among schoolchildren in Kuching
Dr Annuar (third left) with (from second right) Azerina, Ong, Lo and others pose for a group photo around the mock ‘scan and donate’ QR code for DASwk. Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: The prevalence of dyslexia among primary school children in the city is six per cent, according to a study in 2015, while the international rate is between five and 15 per cent.
The study, conducted by former Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) lecturer Dr Ong Puay Hoon, who is president of Dyslexia Association of Sarawak (DASwk), covered 10 primary schools in and around the city.
“The schools were randomly selected and the study was done on Primary Three children,” she said at a press conference after the groundbreaking ceremony for the DASwk’s Learning and Resource Centre in Desa Wira, Batu Kawa here today.
Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to perform the groundbreaking ceremony.
Ong said 30 children visited the DASwk’s Learning and Resource Centre for assessment in 2017.
“Which means that we had at least two children coming for the assessment a month,” she said.
Before this year comes to an end, she said the centre had already registered 80 children for assessment.
Despite such figures, Dr Annuar said it indicated that the community had become more aware of what dyslexia is rather than reflecting an increase in the learning inability.
“Which is why the study says prevalence. People are more aware of it, which is why the number (of assessment) increases,” he added.
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty affecting a person’s ability to deal with text and numbers. It is characterised by an inability to recognise letters and combinations of them, problems in reading, writing, speaking and listening despite adequate teaching, home environment, motivation, intelligence and senses like vision, hearing and touch.
Dyslexia is not a disease but is a learning difference due to the variation in the structure and function of the brain.
Apart from dyslexia, Ong said the DASwk also reached out to individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
At present, there is only one DASwk Learning and Resource Centre in the state.
DASwk is short of RM2.5 million to meet the project cost estimated at RM3.5 million to build a three-storey building comprising an office, staff room, 10 classrooms and a multi-purpose hall.
The project is scheduled for completion in two years.
Dr Annuar pledged a personal donation of RM60,000 to sponsor a classroom.
He observed that dyslectic individuals can be very creative, citing Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs as examples.
“Early intervention can help children with dyslexia cope with their learning,” he said, calling upon the private sector and the community to render financial support to DASwk.
At the event, DASwk also launched a QR code for Sarawak Pay users to ‘scan and donate’ to help meet the project cost.
Among those present were Batu Kitang assemblyman and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang and DASwk patron Datin Azerina Mohd Arip.
Review policies, city councils, estate management told
Dr Sim declares open the MJC City Town Square while Lo (left), Raymond (second left) and Lee (second right) look on. — Photo by Chimon Upon.
KUCHING: City councils and estate managements should constantly review their policies and knowledge.
Minister of Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said this when officiating at the opening of MJC City Town Square and tree-planting programme in Batu Kawa yesterday, where he praised MJC City Development Sdn Bhd for their efforts in rejuvenating the area.
“It is definitely timely to rejuvenate MJC after 22 years because back then the technology and knowledge for certain things were not available. Now is definitely the time to rejuvenate.
“We should constantly review and rejuvenate. I want all local councils and estate managements to start looking at it. We must improve with the knowledge we have,” he said.
Dr Sim, who is Batu Kawa assemblyman, also lauded the developer for coming up with the meaningful MJC City Town Square.
“MJC is quite an iconic development area that is ahead of its time. Rejuvenating the park which belongs to the public – shop owners, shoppers and residents – is meaningful,” he added.
Dr Sim added that due to the rapid development taking place in Batu Kawa, there was a need for a master plan for flood mitigation in the area.
“In the old days, when there was not so much development, excess water was absorbed directly into the soil. But with more development now, the (small) drains are not enough to drain the excess water.
“The Department of Drainage and Irrigation (DID) has reported back to me that RM120 million to RM130 million would be needed for the Batu Kawa flood mitigation projects.
“Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has agreed that it would be part of the flash flood management under the 12th Malaysia Plan with some initial funding for next year,” he stated.
MJC City Development directors Raymond Sim and Samantha Lee as well as Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang were also present at the event.
Lo: No more traffic jam between Mile 4 and 10 in 6 months’ time.
#Mile4, #Mile10, #DunBatuKitang
Lo (sixth left) with representatives from LBU, JKR, consultant firm, and PMC staff in a photocall after the meeting. — Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING: There will be no more traffic jam from Mile 4 to Mile 10, Penrissen Road, in six months’ time, says Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang after getting an assurance from Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd (LBU).
He said although all four flyover projects along the stretch are scheduled for completion by Jan 5, 2021, the traffic jam this time (after six months) would not be too long.
“There will be no more traffic jams in six months’ time because the most difficult and heavy sub-structures of the project will be completed by then.
“The contractors will then be concentrating on the super structures.. I am sure all of us are looking forward to the completion of these flyovers so that we can drive without having to stop all the way from Kuching to Serian,” he told a press conference at Mile 9 after meeting with representatives from LBU, Public Works Department and the consultant of the four flyover projects.
Lo appealed to the public to bear with the authorities.
“LBU is trying its best. LBU is cooperating with us,” he said.
Lo, who is also Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) chairman, said his ears had also been burning because of the so many complaints he received about the massive traffic jam along Penrissen Road during peak hours, especially along the Mile 9 stretch.
He said the flyover project at Mile 10 was a federal government project, not the PMC’s.
“I am very disappointed too because the project is taking too long to complete, and because of the many problems on the ground. The biggest one is traffic congestion.
“Today, I am happy to have a meeting with the representatives from LBU, JKR and the project consultant,” he said.
The LBU, he added, had agreed to address the traffic jams from Mile 9 to Mile 10 traffic light junctions, which had been reduced to a single lane.
Lo said LBU and the contractors had agreed to minimise the traffic jam along the Mile 9 stretch by opening up two lanes after construction hours and during peak hours; from 7am to 8.30am and from 4pm to 7pm.
“Construction will only be carried out when there is lesser traffic. I hope that LBU will continue to minimise traffic jam and to complete the project as soon as possible.
Lo said another major complaint; the bad road surface at Mile 7 traffic light junction, in front of the temple, would be repaired before Christmas.
He said LBU has promised him to get this problem rectified before Christmas.
Flyover Batu 4, 6 , 7 dan 10 siap Januari 5, 2021
December 10, 2019
Lo (dua dari kiri) pada parbincangan bersama pegawai-pegawai dari LBU, JKR dan konsultan untuk menyelesaikan
kesesakan lalulintas di persimpangan Batu 10 hari ini (Dis 10, 2019).
Oleh Chris Bishop
KUCHING, Dis 10: Projek pembinaan empat flyover di Kuching iaitu di persimpangan
Batu 4, Batu 6, Batu 7 dan Batu 10 akan siap sepenuhnya pada Januari 5, 2021.
Pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Padawan(MPP), Lo Khere Chiang berkata jaminan itu
diberikan Lebuhraya Borneo Utara (LBU) yang merupakan kontraktor utama Projek
Lebuhraya Pan Borneo.
“Dalam tempoh enam bulan dari sekarang, kesemua kerja-kerja yang melibatkan
struktur berat akan disiapkan.
“LBU akan menentukan kesemua empat projek flyover ini dilaksanakan mengikut jadual,”
katanya dalam satu sidang media di sini hari ini.
Terdahulu Lo telah mengadakan perbincangan berhubung masalah kesesakan lalulintas
di persimpangan Batu 10 bersama pegawai-pegawai dari LBU, Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR)
dan konsultan berhampiran tapak projek.
Hasil perbincangan, tambah Lo, LBU setuju untuk membuka lorong kedua pada waktu
puncak untuk melancarkan pergerakan kenderaan.
“Semasa kerja-kerja pembinaan dilakukan, jalanraya di persimpangan Batu 10 hanya
ada satu lorong sahaja dan ini telah menyebabkan kesesakan lalulintas yang teruk.
“LBU bersama kontraktor telah bersetuju untuk mengurangkan kesesakan tersebut
dengan membuka lorong kedua pada waktu puncak dan selepas kerja-kerja dihentikan,”
katanya.
Lo yang juga ADUN Batu Kitang berkata LBU telah bersetuju untuk membuka lorong
kedua bermula jam 7 pagi hingga 8.30 pagi dan dari 4 petang hingga 7 malam.
Namun katanya, lorong kedua tersebut akan sentiasa dibuka jika tiada kerja-kerja
dilakukan. — DayakDaily
