68 students scaled Gunung Trus Madi in record time

KENINGAU: Climbing to the summit of Gunung Trus Madi by 68 students of SMK Keningau Bingkor earlier this week, will almost certainly be recorded in the Malaysian Book of Records as the quickest climb made in less than 24 hours besides the attainment of having the largest number of climbers at one time. The inspiration for this achievement is a tribute to a long serving and dedicated principal.

“This success is for our principal, Tuan Hj. Sahumin Hj. Mohd Daud who will be going on compulsory retirement, said program coordinator, Saidil Mazlan Abdul Razak.

Sahumin will be going on compulsory retirement in 2011 after years of selfless dedicated service to the nation.

“We created this challenging situation as an expression of our commitment to pay tribute to a caring and dedicated person,” said Saidil.

Gunung Trus Madi, the second highest mountain in Malaysia, is 2,642 meters or 8,668 feet above sea level – the group of students of SMK Keningau Bingkor became the first in the country to reach the peak en masse and in less than 24 hours. The Management of Sabah Forestry Department has confirmed that it is the first climb of its kind in Malaysia.

“The climb by the group of students are very significant enough to be recorded in The Malaysian Book of Records,” said Saidil.

Saidil said, 7 buses and 4 four-wheel drive vehicles were used to transport the students, starting from SMK Bingkor to Kg. Kaingaran, Tambunan. The students were then divided into 16 groups and taken by four-wheel drive vehicles from Kg. Kaingaran to the Base Camp.

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More efforts needed to improve quality of Sabah local handicrafts

SANDAKAN: The handicraft industry in Sabah has been steadily growing with sales up from RM1.106 million in 2007 to RM1.6 million last year. The state also has the largest number of handicraft entrepreneurs in the country, numbering at 2,182 from a total of 6,617.

Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman therefore wants more efforts to improve the quality of the products and to intensify promotion and marketing in both the domestic and international markets.

“I am confident that once the Sabah Handicraft Centre in Keningau is completed, it can help to increase sales and act as a centre for processing and collecting craft using the latest technology,” he said when launching the state-level celebration of the Handicraft Month at the Sri Libaran Hall here yesterday.

The event was also held to launch the book on ‘Desa Cemerlang dan Berinovasi’ (Excellent and Innovative Village).

The centre will also provide better facilities to entrepreneurs, suppliers and retailers as well as tourists and importers of local handicraft.

Although Sabah has the highest number of handicraft entrepreneurs in the country, Musa pointed out that the state still lacked people in the batik and woven textiles sector.

Meanwhile, Yayasan Sabah director, Tan Sri Datu Khalil Datu Haji Jamalul, said Sandakan was an appropriate location to hold the Handicraft Month celebration because it had great potential for handicraft making particularly for products made from beads, crystal, seashells, wood, bamboo, rotan and other metals.

He said the Sabah Handicraft Centre in Keningau will be ready in September and Yayasan Sabah Group had been appointed as co-ordinator and implementer of the project.

A 10-acre plot near the district hospital was allocated for the centre built at a cost of RM30 million.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: More efforts needed to improve quality of Sabah local handicrafts

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Sabah Tourism: KFWDC Jamboree 2011

Date: 11 - 13 March 2011

Kinabalu Four Wheel Drive Club (KFWDC) Jamboree 2011 at Ulu Membakut (80 km south Kota Kinabalu), Sabah

4 x 4 KFWDC Jamboree is an event organize by the club to foster family 4 X 4 off road outing activity among club members. These activity includes novice 4 x 4 challenge is for members that never compete in any club competition before. For the other family's members there is also children drawing competition, hash (jungle trekking) and camp fire tug of war.

This year 4 X 4 Jamboree is the 5th edition of the annual activity event for the Club and this year event will be held at Ulu Membakut Crocker Range sub-station, belong to Sabah Park. It about 80 km south of Kota Kinabalu with at least 30 km off Kota Kinabalu Sindumin highway and 15 km semi hard core road. The duration will be a 3 days 2 nights camping and it is anticipated that more than 150 vehicle and 350 participants are going to take part.

A minimum vehicle specification to enter the site must have at least 33 inches radial ground clearance Mud Terrain and have to be equipped with Four Wheel Drive. All members of Kinabalu Four Wheel Drive is invited to join however there will be also a membership drive on that day to those who are interested to join the club.

Sabah Park Crocker Range coverage is 430 km square and about 40 km square is under Ulu Membakut Sub Station which is 150m m.s.l.. It was open in 2002 however started operating only 2 years ago. The Sub Station headquarter main attraction is the white water river of Ulu Membakut fron the interior of Tenom and Keningau district. Other activity in the pipe line is a trekking trial to Melalap, Tenom which is about 8 - 10 km. There will be a joint expedition between Sabah Park and University Sabah Malaysia to open up this trial this year.

Wildlife in this area is mostly wild boar, wild deer, barking deer, monkey, and mouse deer. Hunting and fishing is highly prohibited including the felling or extraction of a highly valued GAHARU tree. Most part of the park is still a first class Forest reserve accept for some part which was destroyed by the big forest fire in 1997.

Further Information

Organiser : Kinabalu Four Wheel Drive Club (KFWDC)
Contact Person : Edward Lingkapo / Thomson Teo
Telephone : +016 8312997 / +016 833 8077
Email Contact : edward.lingkapo@sabah.gov.my / thomson@tcisabah.com.my

Source: Sabah Tourism

NOTE: Photo Copyright to Sabah Tourism
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