Tambunan rice wine has great tourism potential

TAMBUNAN: ‘Lihing’, the KadazanDusun version of rice wine, has great tourism potential in the open market.

Tambunan lihing producer David Francis, the owner of Lihing No. 1 at the Tapai Factory Tambunan Village Resort Centre (TVRC), did not waste time to introduce the local alcoholic drink to members of the Innovation Walk delegation to the Tambunan district recently.

The delegation was led by deputy secretary general (policy and innovation), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Dato’ Dr Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad during the visit and explore innovation at the factory.

“Previously and until the present day, lihing is a tonic (good health drink) to a mother who has just given birth to a new baby and those who lack blood can cook chicken with lihing to make chicken soup,” said David during his briefing to the delegation.

David said his rice wine factory has been in existence for 30 years ago, but he took over the factory about 10 years ago.

He said the ingredients for making lihing are cooked glutinous rice and yeast.

David also explained in detail the lihing-making process.

He said his factory could produce about 2,000 bottles per month with a market price of RM6.50 per bottle.

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26 teams to compete in Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari

KAPIT: A total of 26 teams will compete in the 16th annual Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari.

Organising chairman Kapit Resident Dahim Nadot said although fewer teams were competing this year, numbers would not be the only factor determining the event’s success.

“There are only 26 teams confirmed participating after the closing date, but in terms of the number of ministers visiting, VIPs and reporters attending the safari, it is a record high,” he said after the final organising committee meeting on Tuesday.

The Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari will be held tomorrow and Saturday (Sept 23-24).

The first flag off point is at Rumah Ajai, Nanga Senuang at Sungai Majau while the 24-door Rumah Anding at Nanga Sepuna, Mujong will be the transit point.

The distance from Rumah Ajai to Rumah Anding is about 40km while the journey from Rumah Anding to the finishing point at Kapit Wharf is about 20km.

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Save Electricity

The Department of Electrical Services (DES) has published a new pamphlet with regard to the new tariffs that will be in place from the beginning of 2012. The tariffs will provide and help the poor and will penalise the heavy user. Hopefully with the new tariff, users will be more careful with their electricity and not waste it.

The new electricity tariff structure is:

0001 kWh to 0500 kWh = B

Sungai Kargu Dam

Not many people in Brunei know where this is or what this is.

This is the site of the Kargu Dam, the latest reservoir for Brunei Darussalam, before it is totally submerged in water in the next few months leaving just that red canopy and that walkway above water. Everything else up to the treeline will all be under water. It will take between one to two year for the dam to fill up completely

The Guardian of the Malay Language

[My article below was published on 19th September 2011 in my regular column, The Golden Legacy on The Brunei Times. This is an update of an earlier article I wrote in 2009 which is currently in my third book 'Our Brunei Heritage' which can be found in Best Eastern bookshops.]

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Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka -- Guardian of the Malay Language --

It is not known when the Malay Language was first

7th Borneo International Kite Festival: Foreign kite enthusiasts set to wow

BINTULU: The 7th Borneo International Kite Festival (BIKF), which will be held from Sept 22-25, will see 84 kite enthusiasts from 22 countries converging at the Bintulu Old Airport site.

BIKF, which was first held in 2005, is jointly organised by Bintulu Kite Flyers and Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) in collaboration with the Tourism and Heritage Ministry and Tourism Ministry with support from Sarawak Economic Development Corporation.

BDA, in its effort to cement its relationship with members of the public and the participants, has created a mascot aptly named ‘Sanai Vaie’.

Sanai is a Bintulu boy who loves kite flying.

He wears a green overall and a stripped green cap, representing the freshness of nature.

He sometimes carries his Sarawak flag-inspired kite to show off to his friends and family.

This year he will be the ambassador for BIKF.

Sanai Vaie will be making a few appearances in and around town and will be looking for friends to come join him at the festival this week.

The introduction of this mascot is just another step in making the BIKF well received and fresh every year.

The idea of organising BIKF was first mooted by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Bintulu was chosen as a venue after considering its great potential after the old airport was closed down, making the basic infrastructure left behind an ideal and perfect site for such an event.

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Paitan festival enriches country’s traditional culture

BELURAN: Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang has described the holding of the Taggungu Festival as an effective approach to promote the cultural heritage of the Paitan area and to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

“I believe there are traditional music and arts in this district which still remain unexposed to the outside world.

“The organising of this festival can be viewed as a platform for the Sungai Labuk tribes to promote their cultural heritage.

“By re-introducing traditional music and dances, it will help to revive our cultural heritage thereby enriching the country’s traditional culture,” Salang said when officiating the festival here yesterday.

More than 2,000 local people attended the event, including Beluran member of parliament Datuk Ronald Kiandee, Kuamut assemblyman Masiung Banah and Sugut assemblyman Datuk Surady Kayong.

Meanwhile, Salang expressed hope that heritage arts, such as carving and weaving, could be included in the festival next year since the area has the experts not only in traditional music and dance but also in the field of sculpture, weaving and other crafts.

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