SANDAKAN

Sandakan is the second-largest town in the state of Sabah, East Malaysia, on the north-eastern coast of Borneo Island by a beautiful, natural deepwater bay facing the Sulu sea. The town had a population of 347,334 as of the 2000 census. It is the administrative centre of Sandakan Division and was the former capital of British North Borneo. At one time, timber was the major export but this is now supplanted by the oil palm industry.
"Sandakan" is derived from the Suluk word "sanda" meaning, to pawn and "kan" being the suffix. So "Sandakan" means the place that was pawned. Sandakan is known as the gateway for ecotourism destinations in Sabah. To the west of Sandakan (about 20 min drive) lies the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, which is the world oldest and largest Orang Utan Rehabilitation centre. Turtle Islands Park is about 1 hour away from the town, Sukau in the upper reaches of the Kinabatangan River where primates, especially the proboscis monkeys (endemic only to Borneo) are easily sighted and Gomantong Caves is south of this town.
Sandakan is also infamous as the site of a World War II Japanese airfield, built by the forced labour of 6,000 Javanese civilians and Allied prisoners of war. In 1945 the surviving prisoners were sent on the Sandakan Death Marches; only about 10 of them survived the war.

History William Clarke Cowie, in the early 1870s, a Scottish from Glasgow ( some say he's an adventurer , engineer or gun smuggler), delivered guns and ammunitions to the Sultan of Sulu. He did this for protecting territory of the Sultan against the Spanish conquerors. In return, Cowie was granted permission by the Sultan to set up base, the first European settlement in the area, on Pulau Timbang, in Sandakan Bay, where a small Suluk village existed. Cowie called his trading post "Sandakan", which in Tausug (Sulu) means "the place that was pawned", but it soon came to be known as "Kampung German" after the large number of Germans who also set up posts there. The settlement was part of the lease Austro-Hungarian consul Baron von Overbeck acquired from the Sultan of Sulu in 1878. After the lease was purchased by von Overbeck's British partner Alfred Dent, Kampong German was accidentally razed to the ground on 15th June 1879. The new British Resident, William B. Pryer, decided not to rebuild the village but to move to Buli Sim Sim on 21st June 1879. He named his new settlement Elopura, which means Beautiful City. A few years later, the name was changed back to Sandakan. The name Elopura still refers to a region of Sandakan. In 1883, the capital of the British North Borneo Company was moved from Kudat to Sandakan.
In the mid-1930s, Sandakan's timber export reached the record figure of 180,000 cubic meters, making it the largest timber-exporting port of tropical wood in the world. At the height of the timber boom, Sandakan boasted that it had the highest concentration of millionaires anywhere on Earth.
The Japanese occupation of Sandakan during World War II began on 19th January 1942 and lasted until a brigade of the Australian 9th Division liberated it on 19th October 1945. The Japanese administration restored the name Elopura for the town. One of the many atrocities of World War II was the Sandakan Death Marches, when Japanese soldiers decided to move about 6,000 prisoners of war in Sandakan 260 km (160 miles) inland to the town of Ranau. The prisoners who did not die en route to Ranau were crammed into unsanitary huts; most of those survivors either died from dysentery or were killed by prison guards. When the war ended, Sandakan was totally destroyed, partly from the Allied bombings and partly by the Japanese. As a result, when North Borneo became a British Crown Colony in 1946, the capital was shifted to Jesselton, now known as Kota Kinabalu, (often just called 'KK' locally).
Sandakan remains Sabah's second most important port, after Kota Kinabalu. The port is important for tobacco, cocoa, coffee, manila hemp and sago exports. In recent years, more businesses have shifted their operations away from the town centre to the suburbs due to the presence of illegal immigrants in the town centre. In January 2003, the Sandakan Harbour Square, an urban renewal project, was launched in an attempt to revive the town centre as the commercial hub in Sandakan. It will feature a new central market and fish market, a 4-storey shopping mall, and an 800-room, 5-star hotel. It is to be built in three separate phases and is due for completion in 2008. However, Sandakan residents encounter a serious electrical power and water shortage since decades ago. These two major problem has never been solved even though it has been promised all the time by either the politicians or the state government during elections. The electrical power often fails whenever thunderstorm or heavy rain occur.



Present day Sandakan and Place of Interest
There are daily flights from KLIA (KUL) or Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Sandakan airport (SDK) by both Malaysia Airlines (MH) and Air Asia (AK). At Sandakan airport, there are two main options to get around this town, the easiest is by taxi or a number of public buses.


As Sandakan was almost totally destroyed in World War II, there are few surviving buildings of any age. Some of the main sights today include:
Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple - completed in 1987, this fiery red and gold temple overlooks the town centre. Don't miss the panoramic views across the town and huge bay from the great Puu Jih Shih Buddhist temple.
Sam Sing Kung Temple - completed in 1887, it is the oldest building in Sandakan.
St Michael's and All Angels Church - this beautiful granite church was built in 1897 (Probably the oldest stone building in Sabah) and is one of Sandakan's few surviving pre-war buildings.
Sandakan Mosque - completed in 1988, it lies next to the bay and Kampung Buli Sim Sim.
Kampung Buli Sim Sim - stilt fishing village on the original site of Sandakan town.
Sandakan Memorial Park - built on site of the Taman Rimba prisoner-of-war camp.
Japanese Cemetery - housing a memorial to the Japanese war dead on Borneo.
Sandakan Market - one of the largest and busiest in Sabah.
Agnes Keith House - two-storey home of local author and her husband Harry, the Curator of the North Borneo Museum, from 1930 to 1952. Mrs. Keith wrote several books about Sabah and its people, including Land Below the Wind, Three Came Home, and White Man Returns. The house has recently been restored after a number of years of neglect.
The English Tea House - fine restaurant on the hillside above Sandakan.
Crocodile Farm - located 12 km (7.5 miles) out of town, it houses more than 2,000 of the reptiles in concrete pools.
Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary - a perfect Proboscis monkeys observation spot for any tourist who wants to have a closer look at these very rare monkeys.

NEW HOTELS IN TAWAU

Walaitokou Boutique Hotel
Walaitokou is a new boutique hotel concept in Tawau. This hotel is situated along Jalan Masjid just opposite few block away from De Choice Hotel. The building used to be a shop lot and motel but bought by Borneo Discovery Adventure and renovated to this new hotel. There are plenty parking space at the side of the hotel and next to it is the Basel Church. There are 2 types of room, Superior (King, Twin and Family) and Deluxe (Twin, King, Triple and Family). Extra single bed will be charge at RM40 per bed. Buffet breakfast also available daily. There are also a conference room available for rent. Room price range from RM 88 during promotional period to RM 218 nett. Normal rate for superior from RM98-208 nett. Deluxe from RM128-228 nett.

De Choice Hotel
De Choice Hotel is a newly renovated hotel from previously Monaco 2000 Hotel. It was an old building given a new look. The lobby have a nice restaurant. It is situated just beside the MB Hotel. The rate of the room range from RM90 to RM400 per night. Rooms are ok since it just renovated. It is situated near the Fajar area as well.

Kingston Hotel
Kingston Hotel is located in Fajar area and just at the back of Kingston Executive Hotel. The hotel is simple using renovated shop lot. Rooms are nice awith good pricing from RM 66 - 120 depend on types of room. Looking for food is not a problem if your staying here because there is a Sabah Chicken Rice Shop beside it. If you like Malay food, there is a Malay restaurant on the other side at the same block. Beside the hotel is Perdana Club where you can have a drink or western food at the cafe or try the Chinese food at the 2nd Floor of the Perdana Club. On Saturday, u can try the dim sum at the Chinese Restaurant at the Perdana Club.


MB Hotel
MB Hotel or known as May Blossom hotel is the new hotel in town. This 3 star hotel is situated at Jalan Haji Karim in the center of the town. It has 123 rooms and the room price range from RM80-RM150.

Kingston Executive Hotel
Kingston Executive Hotel is a newly opened hotel in Tawau. The Hotel is situated just next to King Park Hotel. The Hotel is situated right in front of a small roundabout. You probably find it difficult to stop right in front of the main door entrance because you cannot stop in the middle of the roundabout. Anywhere there is a door at the back for easier drop off and pick up of guest. Again it is situated in the middle of town at Fajar area. There are few shops besides the hotel (actually just beside the main entrance of the hotel). There are KKDC (KK Diamond Center) selling jeweleries, a boutique selling clothes, a barber shop (Ken's Hair Salon) and also a sundry shop.

MOTHER'S DAY MESSAGE

Four silver haired ladies are chatting in a what look like an old folks' home. Lady One boasts of a businessman son who makes RM450,000 per annum, Lady Two has a Accountant son who bought a posh house in Damansara, Lady Three has a London based surgeon son who charges 20,000 sterling pound for an operation, and does two operations per day! Then they turn to Lady Four, "What about your son?" they ask. "My son is alright" she replies "he's coming to pick me up" and sure enough (like all movie) a Proton Iswara (there's a message here, please note, not a Merc or BMW, not even a Proton Waja) appears in the driveway. Lady Four's face lit up "That's my son! He's come to pick me now." She hoddles off as her son got out of the car to recieve her. As she is whisked off, the three ladies can only wave and look longingly at Lady Four who waves back with a benign smile on her face.
Two very important messages is carried in this story:-
1. Do not be boastful and engage in one-upmanship, for you will be rebuked in the end.
2. Do be kind and filial to your parents and be sincere in doing so. Not just take them for a spin in your car, dine in swanky hotel, then dump them back at the Old Folk Home. Old people need the care, companionship and love of their children and grandchildren, if they can have these, they are the richest people on earth.

SATURDAY-10TH MAY, 2008-MY SUPERIOR'S STATEMENTS DEFAMED ME, SAYS EX-MAJOR

My superior’s statements defamed me, says ex-Major
KOTA KINABALU

The defamation suit of former Major Mohd Yazid b Abdullah against his superior, retiring Brigadier General Datuk Muhamad Yasin b Yahya, came up for full trial at the High Court here yesterday.
Mohd Yazid who is represented by Counsel Marcel Jude Joseph, took the witness’ stand before High Court Judge Datuk Clement Skinner.
Muhamad Yassin who was named the sole defendant in the suit, is “represented by Counsel Sugumar Balakrisnan.
Mohd Yazid filed the suit on April 21, 2004 claiming that two articles entitled “Yassin admits probe on some personnel” and “Anggota tentera lempar dakwaan rasuah sebagai ‘kurang siuman” which were published in a local newspaper on Feb 15 and 16, 2004 respectively by the defendant, were referring to him.
He contended that the statements of the defendant were untrue and made without reason and had defamed him.

The defendant as the Brigadier Commander ofthe 5th Infantry Brigade, made the alleged defamatory statement prior to his retirement during a ceremony on Feb 13, 2004 to hand over duties to his successor at the Lok Kawi Army Camp.
In his supporting affidavit, Mohd Yazid said that in 2003, he investigated and discovered information about alleged corrupt practices in the 5th Infantry Brigade.
Mohd Yazid contended that on Dec 4, 2003, he contacted the Provost Marshal of the Royal Military Police regarding the alleged information of corrupt practices.
The following day, Mohd Yazid said he transmitted by way of facsimile machine the full detaIls of the alleged corrupt practices and the Provost Marshal of the Royal Military Police had confirmed to have received the report and the Royal Military Police were undertaking investigation of the report.
He added on Dec 24, 2003 and thereafter he lodged a series of 28 reports with the Kota Kinabalu Anti- Corruption Agency (ACA).
Mohd Yazid who was stationed in Kota Kinabalu, further contended that he was relieved as Second in Command of the Second Battalion of 507, Territorial Army Regiment on Jan 2, 2004 and was later slapped with eight charges on Feb 18, 2004.
He said the charges were read to him by the Chief of Staff of the Fifth Infantry Brigade.

In his evidence in chief, Mohd Yazid affirmed the contents of the statements of claim in his oral evidence during examination by his counsel.

To another question by Marcel, Mohd Yazid said that the articles in the newspaper referred to a serviceman who was accused by the defendant of being unstable when making the reports of corruption.

Mohd Yazid added his understanding when he read the phrase of “referred to psychiatric treatment’ in the articles was referred to insanity or mental illness.

Earlier when Marcel asked him whether the latter was aware of any law that prevents army personnel from making any reports to the ACA or to the police in relation to corruption, Mohd Yazid said:

“There is no law in this country, including the Armed Forces Act as well as that of the ACA that prohibits me or any military personnel from lodging reports to the ACA or police being citizen of this country and also taxpayer.

“It is my duty to report any malpractices while operating in the organization to the ACA as stipulated in Section 17 of the Anti-Corruption Act,” Mohd Yazid said.

Asked further why he was vigilant as a one-man crusaider against corruption which is picture painted of him by the defence counsel, Mohd Yazid said, “I view corruption as an enemy within the organization, be it petty or big corruption or in whatever forms they are. A corrupted army affects the sovereignty of the country,”. “I spent 13 to 16 hours a day to do my work, including Saturdays and Sundays. It is untrue that I spent most of my working hours to do investigations. I need to investigate certain issues before making any complaints,”he said in replying to Marcel’s question that during the cross-examination, it was implied that the former spent most of his time investigating corruption instead of undertaking his serviceman duties.

He said in reporting corruption cases to the Army Provost Marshall or police or ACA, he had never disobeyed or broken any laws.

Mohd Yazid told the court that he filed 60 reports of corruption and he got most of the information from the officers and rank and file in the unit.

When he was asked during cross examination by Sugumar, he did not ask for mitigation of the sentence handed down to him as the whole process of the trial was unfair to him as he was put under the duress.

“Throughout the trial, I was asked to stand still for two hours and was not allowed to defend myself,” Mohd Yazid said, adding during the trial, he was found guilty of three charges under Section 58 of the Armed Forces Act for not attending official functions.

FRIDAY-23 MAY 2008- KING WANTS UITM TO OFFER MORE POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

King wants UiTM to offer more post-graduate programmes

SHAH ALAM:

The Yang di Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has suggested that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) introduces more postgraduate academic programmes, locally and abroad, to attract more students. He believed that this, indirectly, would help enhance research activities in various fields. He said UiTM’s success in receiving the most gold medals in the country for its research proved that it was on par with other universities. Tuanku Mizan, who is also UiTM Chancellor, attributed UiTM’s success to the commitment, comradeship and unity of the staff and students. “Therefore, an effective channel for corporate communication and information should be established so that all objectives, implementation approach and the university’s success can be shared. “It is based on this strength that the University can move to achieve greater heights and meet the country’s needs,” he said when speaking at the UiTM’s 68th convocation here yesterday. “With this, UiTM will not only be listed in the ranking of the Times Higher Education Supplement, but its name will also be on the lips of renowned academicians in the world, as being among the best universities,” he added. At the function, Tuanku Mizan presented scrolls to the first batch of 19 graduates from the university’s Medical Faculty and an Honorary Doctorate in Sports Science to Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kader, who is the first Asian woman to reach the North and South poles.-Bernama