Migration patterns of sea turtles in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The Marine Research Foundation (MRF) has deployed satellite transmitters on five juvenile turtles from Mantanani Island near here to identify the critical migration routes and near-shore habitats favoured by the turtles.

The study will eventually drive management and conservation activities for the turtles.

This work is funded in part by the Shell Malaysia Sustainable Development Grants programme, the Forestry Bureau of Taiwan, and the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, said Dr Nicolas Pilcher, executive director of MRF, a non-profit conservation agency based in Sabah.

“Marine turtles in SE Asia are threatened through habitat loss and indirect capture in fisheries, and are in dire need of conservation action. With long maturation periods and low survival, they have extremely slow replenishment rates, and a population which has been depleted can take several centuries to recover.

“Understanding the needs of the turtles depends heavily on an understanding of the extent of habitat use and distribution, which can only be determined through complex research projects involving at-sea population dynamics, genetics, and satellite tracking,” he said.

By tracking marine turtles through the SE Asian region, MRF aims to raise the collective awareness of their plight and to provide the concrete linkages at an international level on which Malaysia may develop conservation agendas linked with other neighbouring countries to which turtles migrate, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Juvenile green turtles were captured during two recent research trips to Mantanani, and Sirtrack PT102 Satellite transmitters were affixed using a silicone base secured with fibreglass matting and resin following capture, measurements, laparoscopic examination and genetic sampling.

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More offerings at Borneo Cultural Festival

SIBU: The 10th edition of the Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) will be held for 10 days from July 15.

Its working committee chairman Daniel Ngieng, who is also Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairman, said the main components of this year’s BCF consisted of a cultural section as well as a trade and exhibition section.

The cultural section consists of the Chinese, Malay-Melanau and Dayak stages, handicraft and food stalls; and the trade and exhibition section consists of booths for commercial products and services.

Ngieng said the BCF, which is organised by SMC, had become an iconic community-based event in Sibu to promote tourism, the people’s rich cultural heritage and local products.

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Brunei in the 1850s

[My article below was published in Brunei Times on Monday, 28th February 2011.]+++++The Golden LegacyBrunei in the mid 19th Centuryby Rozan YunosOne of the best descriptions about life in Brunei in the mid 19th century was written by Sir Spenser St John. Sir Spenser St John was the British Consul in Brunei in 1856 when he was 31 years old. His diplomatic career began when his father introduced

The story behind the Sarawak’s streets and roads

Not many people are aware of how most of the streets and roads in Sarawak got their names.

Most of the names were only given many years after the towns and cities were founded. Each name bears a unique story and historical background.

The founding of the cities and towns of Sarawak

Kuching, the capital city dates back to 1841, about the time of Sir James Brooke’s arrival. The other towns were only built after various territories were ceded to Sarawak by Brunei.

It also became a custom during Brooke’s time that a fort be built whenever a new town was established. Fort Lili in Betong was established in 1858, Sibu’s Fort Brooke in 1862 and Sri Aman’s Fort Alice in 1864.

Bintulu was acquired by the Brooke family in 1861 and soon became an established town despite being a fishing village with a population of not more than 5,000 people at that time.

Fort Hose in Marudi was built in 1891 but it was the oil drilling in 1901 that changed the face of Miri forever.

Roads named after historical figures

Jalan Muda Hashim, Kuching – This road is named after Pengiran Muda Hashim, the uncle of Sultan of Brunei Omar Ali Saifudin II.

Pengiran Muda Hashim or Raja Muda Hashim was sent to Sarawak in 1835 to pacify the country. Trouble was brewing as an anti-Brunei force led by Datu Patinggi Ali went up against Pengiran Indera Mahkota, Sarawak’s governor at that time.

Jalan Badruddin, Kuching – Pengiran Badruddin was Raja Muda Hashim’s half brother. Badruddin was said to be a man of his word and full of integrity.

James Brooke took a liking to him the instant they met and they became good friends.

Brooke had even given Badruddin his signet ring to wear and told Badruddin that should he ever be in danger, to send the ring as a sign of trouble and he will come to Badruddin’s rescue.

The two had fought the rebellion together side by side bravely. Soon after Brooke became Rajah, Badruddin was recalled to Brunei. The Sultan was not happy with him being Brooke’s loyal supporter. A plan to murder him and his whole family was made.

On the night of April 5, 1846, Badruddin’s house was surrounded and attacked. Luckily, Badruddin managed to get one of his help Japar to send the ring to Brooke but Badruddin and his family all died that night.

Japar managed to escape but instead of running away, he fired a keg of gunpowder and blew all of them sky high.

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ALSO READ: How places and villages in Sabah derived their names
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Boost for KKIA as second aviation hub

Malaysia will intensify efforts to promote the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) in Sabah as its second aviation hub, especially after Japan agreed to open skies arrangement with the country.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said more flights to and from Tokyo to Malaysia through Kota Kinabalu were expected as many Japanese wanted to visit Sabah.

“We are currently working towards promoting Kota Kinabalu as a second hub. By this arrangement, it will allow more flights and airlines from Malaysia flying to Tokyo, and this is good for air travelling between the two countries,” he said.

Kong said that his officials met with counterparts from Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism Ministry here last Wednesday to finalise the arrangement.

Following the meeting, the Japanese ministry announced on Friday that the arrangement would, in principle, allow airlines to freely decide on the number of flights and routes they operate between the Narita International Airport in Tokyo and Malaysia from the summer of 2013.

This will take place when the maximum quota of landings and take-offs at Narita are raised to 270,000 per year.

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Brunei Tourism to boost more tourists from China

By Azlan Othman

Chinese tourists are attracted to Brunei Darussalam's pristine and lush rainforests, Islamic cultural heritage and fascinated with the world-class golf course at the Empire Hotel & Country Club.

This observation was made by Mr Song Kai of Beijing Longway International Travel Service (BLITS) Co Ltd, the Chief Representative of Brunei Tourism Beijing Representative Office, who spoke to the Bulletin after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Brunei Tourism and BLITS yesterday.

Signing on behalf of Brunei Tourism was Sheikh Jamaluddin bin Sheikh Mohamed, the CEO of Brunei Tourism. On hand to witness the signing of the MoU was Dato Paduka (Dr) Hj Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry & Primary Resources.

In a bid to boost the number of tourists from China to the Sultanate, Brunei Tourism has appointed BLITS to be its first-ever Marketing and Public Relations Representative Office in China.

This is a new milestone for Brunei's tourism industry, as it will now be easier to promote the Sultanate as a tourist destination to the travel industry, media and people of China.

Specialising in marketing, planning and public relations representation services through its international and domestic partners, BLITS will assist in promoting the Sultanate as a travel destination and further boost tourist arrivals from Hong Kong and China.

As many as 22,000 tourist arrivals by air from the Far East market into Brunei were recorded last year. According to the latest figures from Brunei Tourism, the goal for 2011 is to increase this figure by some 20 per cent, which is a realistic target, as RBA has four-times weekly service from Shanghai to Bandar Seri Begawan.

BLITS will be promoting the charms and attractions of the "Kingdom of Unexpected Treasures" mostly to the leisure, family and senior market segments, positioning Brunei as a safe and peaceful destination that offers a variety of cultural and natural attractions such as pristine and easily accessible rainforests, a rich Malay, Islamic and royal heritage, and wholesome activities such as world-class golfing or diving.

"After Australia and China, we might appoint a representative for the European market. As for the next strategy, we will unveil our Tourism Master Plan probably in May or June highlighting eco- and sports tourism," Sheikh Jamaluddin said.

"Though oil prices have increased of late due to the crisis in the Middle East, making it more expensive to travel ... the tourism prospect for the Sultanate (still) looks good," the CEO of Brunei Tourism added.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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‘Lan Berambeh’ river cruises to boost Sarawak tourism industry

KUCHING: The ‘Lan Berambeh’ river cruises will act as the catalyst to spur developments and boost tourism industry along the Sarawak River.

“Within the next 10 years, the infrastructures along the Sarawak River will be upgraded. There will be a great change, different than what is seen today,” said Minister of Housing and Urban Development Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg prior to the maiden cruise of ‘Lan Berambeh’ from Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar’s Nibong jetty last Sunday night.

Costing RM120,000, the 70 feet long and 10 feet wide boat is built with a capacity of 40 passengers (25 below deck and 15 upper deck). It promised to be among the first among its kind to traverse the Sarawak River, besides the Equatorial.

“We have a lot of attractions along the Sarawak River for the locals and tourists alike to enjoy,” said Abang Johari of the river cruise which will do pit stops at Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar, Pengkalan Sapi, Kampung Boyan, Kuching Waterfront, Kampung Lintang and Kampung Paroh jetties.

He enthused that Kuching is unique, famous for its rich culture and the rarity of a river which divides the city centre and residential areas.

“This creates the opportunity for tourism like the famous Venice which recorded more than 60 million visitors a year,” said Abang Johari who believed in re-enacting the stature of the Venice River in Kuching.

Abang Johari, who is also state assemblyman for Satok, said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given an allocation of RM15 million for upgrading works along the Sarawak River.

“The pit stops that were identified will be colourfully lighted at night with loud signboards to let passengers know on which part of the Sarawak River they are traversing,” said Abang Johari of the routes which will encircle from Kubah Ria to the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.

“With Lan Berambeh in full operation, it is now possible for people to visit the new Satok Market and Kubah Ria via river while enjoying the beautiful sceneries instead of by road, which is prone to traffic jams,” said Abang Johari who is in the midst of remapping the public transport system for the new market.

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