My Life My Story: Justin Ganai Sabah FA Head Coach

Sabah Hawk Head Coach

Mr Justin Ganai was one of the player who played for Sabah FA in the late 70's with the famous James Wong, Peter Rajah, Hassan Sani and many more. I have known his name in the late 80's from my uncle . My uncle was a collegue to him while Mr Justin work at KOSAN Tuaran. My uncle was also a remarkable football player during that time. Now my uncle, Duani Guduh stayed at Kg Bolong Tuaran. Mr Justin Ganai was one of the best player from Tuaran during that time according to my uncle information. Mr Justin Ganai work at KOSAN Tuaran before joining with Sabah football team. I heard from my other uncle Mr Robert David  Godomon, Mr Justin work again after his contract end with Sabah in early 90's. Not long before that he then become the head coach for Sabah Reserve League  Football team. During his era with Sabah Reserve League many of my hometown friends was being selected as a Reserve League Player such as Henry Simpon, Burhan Ajui, Welfredo Valdez, Vun Keat Ming and Zykiel Leong who then played with the senior player in the Professional Malaysia Football League.

Mr Justin Ganai was originated from Kg Malangan Baru Tuaran. Born 20 January 1956 in Kg Malangan Baru located about 18KM from Tamparuli Town. My friends and I used to call him Coach when ever we met him. That was his nickname. Married with a woman from Papar and also a colleague at KOSAN Tuaran. Have five children, three girls and two boys. Now he live at Kg Kionsom Baru Tamparuli which apprently same place with me. I known all his children especially the one they called "BOY". Now Boy Justin work at Prison Department in Selangor. If there is a wedding ceremony, funeral and festival ocasion, you can see him but in Kg Kionsom Baru area only. He was really famous among the people of Tamparuli, Tuaran and Kiulu and everybody addressing him "The Coach". He got his early education at SK Malangan and secondary education at Tun Fuad Stephan Secondary school at Kiulu Tuaran. For other information about his private life, you need to become his friends first and you will got more information about him. You can add him as your friends and connect through his FB "http://facebook.com/justin.ganai". 

A simple guy and easy to get along was one of his characteristic. Ambitious and really focus in doing any particular jobs. Sometime funny and sometime serious make him a favorite as a "chit-chat" friends during a party or any festival occasion. I have met him many times and he knows my mum and dad very well. His first daughter was also a friend of mine and a best friend of my sister. Really proud to live in the same village with him. A hope from me, I want to see Sabah FA back to it glorious era again. Hopefully Mr Justin Ganai can bring more cups to Sabah FA. All the best to him and wish him good luck for upcoming games with Sabah FA. "Go Sabah Go"

Written By: Harry George

Sources: Mr Robert David Godomon, Mr Duani Guduh and Helmi Justin

Picture: Mr Justin Facebook.

My Life My Story: Sabah Hawks nearly beat Harimau Malaya

On paper, Sabah Malaysia is not opposing the grand national team as the defending champion AFF Suzuki Cup 2010, as well as experienced battling with world-class team includes three famous English Premier League club, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Even in the last friendly matches against teams, the Super League champions thrashed Malaysia, Kelantan 5-0 in Kota Bahru.

Before the match, both teams held a press conference at Le Meridien Hotel, Kota Kinabalu Sabah captain Reithaudeen Embran (left) shaking hands with the national captain, Safiq Rahim.

This line of Sabah and Malaysia players in action on Stadium friendship Likas, Kota Kinabalu on the night of Friday, February 24, 2012. The match was witnessed by 25 thousand spectators to watch the national team.

This warm-ups before Malaysia Philippines met in Manila in an international friendly match on February 29, 2012 this.

But bear in mind that this is not the strongest line of Malaysia for coupling two venomous striker Safee Sali and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha missed.

Norshahrul never brought to Kota Kinabalu for injured while Safee Sali revealed only coach Datuk K. Rajagobal in minutes to 85 because of injury while training in the field of UMS, Kota Kinabalu yesterday afternoon.

Right winger from Labuan Sabah, Yakup Shaharudin also recorded its own history when he played for Malaysia for the first time, against his own teammates.!

Nonetheless, her think Malaysia will struggle to beat Sabah 1-0, Amar Rohidan scoring single to 79 minuted.

More than 25 thousand spectators did not expect opposition to Sabah to the national team players lined.

Once the referee blows the whistle Dance Sani, Malaysia and Sabah blue jersey red jersey of a response the attacks in this entertaining game.

Malaysia had to absorb crammed crammed for Sabah who dominated the game and do not less than 5 attempts dangerous shot to Malaysia which almost yielded a goal.

Malaysia looks somewhat lethargic in attack led Zaquan Adha and Manap Mamat, while the defense, often dibocori.

Coupling the two Sabah imported from Australia, Michael Baird and veteran striker Brendan Gan assisted Zainizam Marjan often mengkucar kacirkan defense of Malaysia.

Sabah play like possessed, very hard to overthrow Malaysia, is very different with its crippled when losing 0-2 to Sime Darby in the recent FA Cup action this.

Sabah is a great level of play once, such as Super League champions.

Unashamedly, tore line attack and defense kacirkan mengkucar Malaysia Sabah and the first line of defense before calmly absorb machinery crammed Malaysia.

In the first round, Brendan Gan scissors kick that barely make riding the nets Malaysia, while Shahrul Azhar clever lob shot that barely capture goalkeeper Malaysia, Farizal Marlias.

Overclock Marjan, Zainijam brother who had scored two goals when Malaysia lost 2-4 to England in 1991 were also present during the tournament.

Malaysia also steal minutes, including through trial Zaquan Adha close as early as the fourth minute and Abdul Manaf Mamat, but denied goalkeeper Syed Adney.

The first half ended without a network.

2 Sabah includes alto player Linus, is given a yellow card for players thrash Malaysia too.

At minute 60, Likas Stadium became excited when Malaysia Sabah shocked goal.

Goals from Michael Baird lorongan ball due to Rozaimi Mohd Abdul Rahman, Malaysia managed to bypass the wicket, but not counted because their hands Rozaimi referee.

Chains crammed behind the current Sabah, Malaysia sought goal finally produced as well as through trial Amar Rohidan that tertampan defense before beating goalkeeper Sabah Sabah replacement, Irwan Jamil.

In this game Datuk K Rajagobal only Saffee Sali venomous striker in minutes to 85 because of injury during training yesterday.

While the superstar goalie and glamor, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat is included in the minutes to 90.

Malaysia's performance is quite bland and had to work hard to achieve victory, raised questions as Sabah is not a team in Super League rankings chart.

As of February 14 last, Sabah only recorded two wins, four draws and 2 defeats in the Super League, scoring eight goals and conceded eight goals as well. Sabah scorer is Michael Baird with 3 goals.

Regardless of Datuk K Rajagobal, Sabah squeezed his players played well and fatigue.

"There is little fatigue pemain2 not play like what I hope to move the ball up quickly, we are not very aggressive I understand. This is not, fortunately this is not an international match, this will make after we have gathered a momentum we need for a friendly match 1-2 A new camp his momentum. " he said.

He added that he commended the Sabah team competition challenges and adventures that delight the audience in attendance. He said fans can see the real strength of Sabah Malaysia if the coupling Safee Sali and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha down.

According to K Rajagobal other Sabah players played well and Usually players will play with full state if committed against the national team.

For Sabah coach, Justin Ganai, this is the best match Sabah this year.

"I was so overwhelmed with what has been giving presentations pemain2 KPD opposition national team, I know this game viewed in a national player he does not play 100% I know, but what has been a player I did not ask more than that because they have played the best"

According to Justin again "I would stress to the players because we assume that all the team is the strongest I, so I can look at a team's weakness, if we play this announcement during the opponent's Sime Darby, I thought I lost with Sime Darby." he refers to the defeat of Sabah in the FA Cup last week to the Sime Darby.

Welldone to Sabah and Malaysia.

My Life My Story: ICT Learning for Primary School In Sabah

Recently I attend the ICTL Course organized by the Jabatan Pelajaran Sabah here in Ranau. The objective for this traning was giving the young leaner in Sabah the basic knowledge for ICT as for their preparation for future skills. I attend the course with my wife. The ICTL course is mainly focusing for the primary 3 till primary 6. The teachers need to accomplish the ICT Learning for the younger learner for three month only and two periods for every week.Teachers need to condut this ICT Learning to make the pupil knows how to use ICT or in other language used computer as their tools of learning the information technologhy for future needs.The course conducted by Mr Gopi and Mr D'Quency from SK Melinsau and SK Mangkapoh. We have to undergo three days for this course.Hofully all the teachers will do their job for the good of pur young generation in Sabah. To get more information about the benefit of ICT Learning continue read below passage.

Early years practitioners have used ICT to support young children’s learning in diverse ways, writes Julie Steer

In 2005-06 the DfES funded 20 local authorities to research good practice in the use of ICT in the Foundation Stage, the results of which have been published on the DCSF website. This article summaries some of the good practice highlighted in this study to serve as an introduction to the vibrant and exciting full accounts available on the website.

ICT in the early years is a rich area for debate, raising questions such as ‘What is the appropriate use of computers?’, ‘What does effective use of ICT in the foundation stage look like?’ One of the difficulties in understanding what constitutes good practice in the use of ICT in the early years has been the lack of research. The aim of the DfES research project was to investigate raising achievement in ICT through 

‘… enquiry based projects which focused upon the embedding of observational assessment practices across the early years, and sought to involve children and their parents/carers in the process.’ 

Using ICT as a tool for observation and assessment and to develop children’s learning journeys

Digital cameras are commonly used in early years settings but the project refocused staff on using them for observation and assessment. This improved both the ICT skills and the observational skills of practitioners and changed practice. 

Practitioners in North Somerset and Bath, for example, said, ‘It made us get on the floor with our cameras and watch them play’. Childminders in Bath were also given a digital camera to record learning journeys for their children; the childminders reported a greater understanding of children’s learning as a direct result of taking photographs. Nottinghamshire successfully used baby monitors as well as cameras to observe and assess a group of children from a distance.

Some projects investigated the use of more complex ICT devices. Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Calderdale found using video useful especially for observing and analysing behaviour. One practitioner in Calderdale commented, ‘I can see what triggered him off,’ when looking at a child’s behaviour. They found video gave a holistic view and allowed timid children to shine. 

Children as partners in the assessment process – giving children a voice

Practitioners in Sefton, in a simple but effective project, investigated children’s ‘magic moments.’ Children chose what to photograph as a magic moment to share with their parents. As one practitioner put it ‘This puts the C back into ICT; it gives children a voice’. The results were often surprising for the staff – following a visit, children were fascinated by details of a spider rather than the whole ‘visit experience’. The discussion about the choice of a magic moment was felt to be very valuable for children, staff and parents.

Oxfordshire found that the use of video for self-reflection was most effective for the physical and creative strands of the curriculum. One setting, for example, videoed children dancing, and the children then used the video to discuss the dance and find ways to improve it.

Barnet used digital movie cameras and digital recorders to involve children in their own assessment; they found the sound recording facility particularly empowering. Practitioners felt it had helped children’s language development but also improved their ability to reflect on, and contribute to, their own assessment. ‘I did not realise how much young children could talk about what they had done,’ said one parent. 

Promoting speaking and listening and self-reflection among children

In several case studies practitioners were interested in using ICT to develop children’s speaking and listening skills, especially in relation to their ability to become involved in their own learning. ‘Technology has an exciting part to play in giving a multimodal communication tool to children’ – overview of the Ealing project.

The Sandwell project investigated whether the use of ICT devices could improve children’s speaking and listening skills. Settings used talking buttons to create interactive displays. They took digital photographs of walks and then recorded the children talking about the photographs using software such as 2Create A Story. Practitioners used puppets to help the children record their own voices and they noticed that recording frequently helped children give a more coherent response.

The project in Brent, which focused on using ICT equipment to observe a group of boys during outdoor play, found found that the project had a dramatic effect on the self-esteem and the speaking and listening skills of the children. The boys used voice changers, karaoke machines and video cameras to record themselves with great effect.

‘A... used the microphone as a prop to allow his voice out and now talks with ease in all vocal levels to adults and children’ – Brent case study. 

As in Sandwell, the practitioners noticed an improvement in the structure of their sentences as the boys discussed videos and reconstructed their play while watching them. The project boosted the boys’ self-esteem and concentration span and increased their interest in learning.

Sharing observations and assessment with parents: e-portfolios

All projects found that using ICT enabled them to share observations and work with parents, but some made it a particular focus of the research.

Barnet used email to set up a three-way conversation between parents, child and practitioner involving photos and children’s written comments. They also sent child-friendly ‘Digi Blue’ video cameras home. These approaches involved working parents very successfully and increased the engagement of carers who previously had been reluctant to come into the setting.

All settings in the project in Redcar and Cleveland now use e-portfolios to share work with parents. Practitioners learned how to insert photos, text and sound into easily shared programs such as 2Create A Story and PowerPoint, which were then emailed home. 

The videos, photographs, power points, accounts and statistics are available on the Standards website. They are of great interest to all settings and will provide a good starting point for discussion and experimentation with using ICT in this rich and fulfilling way.   

We also have learn the SCRATCH Program for making the ICT learning more fun for the pupils. This program developed by the MIT students and I think it's suitable for the younger learner in Sabah.

Sabah President Cup Remain Unbeaten

The Sabah President Cup squad maintained their unbeaten record as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Sime Darby FC on Monday.

Midfielder Ummareng Bacok was the hero for the team as he netted the equaliser right at the end of injury time to cancel out the hosts' goal scored in the 65th minute.

Coach Johnny Dominicus was very unhappy with the Sime Darby players' antics on the pitch.

"There were just too many play-acting by their players to disrupt the play.

As many as six to seven of their players feigned injuries during the match.'

It was a match that they could have won and the tactic by the opposing team hampered their play, he said.

"The team played well and were in total control of the match but poor finishing denied them the full points."

Zackalani Antanom also had a one on one situation that was saved by the keeper as well, he added.

The draw was the second by Sabah in their campaign to date.

They also drew with Bukit Jalil Sports School in another away game played two weeks ago.

They won their three other matches.

Sabah Artist For International.

Sabah Broadcasting Director, Ali Ngasio, called on Sabahan artistes to reach out to the international level, maintain their authenticity and sing from their hearts and souls.

He said they could sing a duet with popular international singers like Sting, citing as example Cheb Mami, an Alegrian, who had a duet with him.

"Why not we also do the same?" he asked.

He also said local artistes must be unique and original.

According to him, the combination of one's authenticity, feel of the song, exposure, ethnic variety and harmonious living depicting the life of Sabahans are among the ingredients that make Sabahans more talented than other Malaysians.

He envisioned a situation where famous musicians listened and enjoyed our local songs.

"Of course, this competition aims to encourage the birth of Malay songs.

But after this, out of this competition, I also request composers to compose songs in other languages such as Chinese, Tamil and so on.

"Why not take the initiative to convert Malay songs into Chinese and vice versa or compose songs in other languages?" This is also a good harmonious idea," said Ali after a press conference in relation to season five of the "Anugerah Juara Carta Lagu Artis Sabah" at RTM, here, Monday.

Meanwhile, Sabah RTM Director Lailah Elok said to feel a song one must be with the song and proposed the idea of emulating those successful in the industry.

"Feel the music, go with the lyrics, wrap yourself around it, and if you have personally experienced the lyrics of what you are singing, that's even better. If you feel lost, talk to your composers, about your problems and on how you are supposed to perform your songs. Ask for ideas and learn," advised Lailah.

She also said many singers have been born from RTM.

"Among them are Siti Nurhaliza, Sudirman and Jamal Abdillah.

Siti Nurhaliza is one of the Malaysian singers to have started from RTM and has made a duet with more than one international singer.

If she can do it, others can too," she said.

Rambutan

Cloud' fruits and their relatives 

By: Anthea Phillipps 

In Borneo, the best known of these is the Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum).

The word 'nephelium' comes from the Greek 'nephalos', meaning 'little cloud', and is thought to refer to the translucent white flesh inside the fruit, while 'rambutan' is derived from the Malay 'rambut', for hair, referring to the long soft spines covering the skin.

E.J.H.Corner, author of the "Wayside Trees of Malaya", mentions another name for the rambutan in Peninsular Malaysia, 'sanggul lotong', meaning 'the long hairs of the fruit are braided by the leaf-monkeys'.

Like the durian and the mangosteen, the rambutan was known to, and tasted by, early explorers who appeared to be unimpressed, as the fruit is hardly mentioned in their writings, except in passing.

One of the longer descriptions comes from John Crawfurd, the Resident of Singapore between 1823 and 1826, who wrote, in his "History of the Indian Archipelago":

"The rambutanÉ is an indigenous and peculiar fruit, about the size of a pigeon's egg, consisting of a skinny red covering, covered with soft spines, which encloses one large kernel enveloped in a small quantity of semi-transparent rich sub-acid pulp, the edible part of the fruit", finishing with "It is not much esteemed".

Rambutans are fairly small bushy trees cultivated throughout Malaysia and Indonesia, but the quality is quite variable.

The colour is usually some sort of red but there are also greenish-yellow and pinkish varieties.

Twist off the thin hairy skin to get at the translucent, juicy, sweet pulp surrounding the single seed.

The seed itself is not edible, (it is bitter and said to be narcotic), and the main drawback of most rambutans is that it is almost impossible to get the flesh off the seed without parts of the hard seed coat as well.

The rambutan is eaten mainly as a fresh fruit but is also canned (sometimes stuffed with pineapple chunks) on a small scale.

Dried fruit skins are said to be medicinal. Burkill's "Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula" records the use of the roots in decoctions for treating fever; the leaves for poulticing and the bark as an astringent for diseases of the tongue.

In the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, the fruits and young shoots were used for dyeing silk.

Less well-known in Sabah, but becoming increasingly popular, is another species, the 'pulasan', (Nephelium ramboutan-ake), which is wild here, but which has quite a long history of cultivation, first in Java, and now in Thailand.

It has larger fruit, dark purple, almost black, in colour, (though there are also paler red, green and yellow varieties), with shorter, thicker spines, but equally sweet flesh, which is often easier to get off the seed.

In fact the pulasan is generally preferred to the rambutan when it is available. Fruits of the Giant Rambutan (Nephelium cuspidatum var.

robustum), which are covered in very curly hairs, are also referred to as 'pulasan' in Sabah but are rarely available, though William Wong, the Officer-in-Charge, of the Agricultural Research Station at Tuaran, tells me that there are a few cultivated tree at Kg. Kelatuan near Papar, south of KK, where it is called 'rambutan bayung'. All these can be seen at the Agricultural Research Station in Tenom, however.

Rambutans belong to the Soap-nut family, Sapindaceae, the name coming from the soapy chemicals, called saponins, in their fruits and sometimes their roots. Saponins dissolve and froth up in water and were once widely used as soap substitutes.

They are present in many plants, including the seeds and the fruit rinds (not the edible flesh!) of our wild rambutans to a greater or lesser extent.

In one related genus, Glenneia, they are so abundant in the fibrous flesh, that tasting the large mango-like fruits is almost like eating a piece of soap itself!

Glenneia is interesting for another reason as well - although it grows naturally in the Philippines, only one tree has ever been recorded from Sabah, in the remnant hill forest at the back of the Agricultural Research Station at Lagud Sebrang in Tenom.

This tree is still there. In large quantities saponins can break down blood cells and so they are frequently used as fish-poisons, but the toxicity varies widely according to the plant. Plants with toxic saponins have been employed in shampoos for killing lice and for washing clothes and jewellery.

Less toxic plants, or even perhaps the toxic ones, but in smaller amounts, have been used to treat epileptic fits and tooth decay.

Studies have also been carried out to see if the saponins could be effective against cancer cells, but so far without any positive results that I am aware of.

Sabah Hawks to go all out.

Sabah will be all out for a win against Sime Darby FC in their first FA Cup clash at the MPSJ Stadium tonight.

Head Coach Justin Ganai said they will not be sending second stringers for the match.

"We are aiming for a win. We treat the match seriously and we will try to win the cup so any question of us fielding reserves is unfounded as we are not taking the premier team lightly."

He said he will only decide on the name list for the first eleven on the day itself.

"We will decide on the line up later. We do not have any major concern on injuries so we will be able to field the best for the match. Shahrudin Yaakub who used to ply his trade with Sime Darby previously is the only one carrying a slight injury but I expect him to be fit for the match as well.

Last season Sabah was knocked out early in the first round by Pahang 0-2 playing away while Sime Darby managed to enter the second round.

Sime Darby are doing quite well in the Premier League and they are currently third on the table.

However, Sabah should start as a favourite as they have played well for the past few Super League matches and they were unbeaten since they suffered a loss by Lions Xll on Jan 21.

They have shown some grit and determination in their play and they also won their last match against Kuala Lumpur after beating them 2-0 at the Likas Stadium.

A win tonight will surely further boost the players' confidence ahead of their clash against Johor who are only a place above them in the Super League table on March 3.

Malaysia Lose to Indonesia In Thomas Cup 2012

Malaysia lost 2-3 to Indonesia in the third place play-off of Thomas Cup Asian Zone Qualifying Round in Macau, China Saturday.

The absence of world no 1 player Datuk Lee Chong Wei did little to stop Malaysia from taking the first two points.

Daren Liew brought cheers to the Malaysian camp after Indonesia's first singles player Simon Santoso withdrew with Liew leading the first set 7-2.

The second point was won by the pair of Goh V Shem/Hoon Thien How who beat Alvent Yulianto Chandra/ Hendra Aprida Gunawan 21-14, 21-18 in 26 minutes.

Indonesia came charging back to level the score when Tommy Sugiarto beat Mohammad Arif Abdul Latif 21-15,21-7 in the second singles while Markis Kido/ Hendra Setiawan beat Lim Khim Wah/Teo Kok Siang 21-16,21-13.

Malaysian hopes were dashed when Koo Kien Keat lost to Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka 8-21, 9-21 in the third singles.

Defending champions China are scheduled to meet Japan in the final today.

Malaysia has qualified for the Thomas Cup final round in Wuhan, China, on May 20-27 after beating India 3-0 in the quarter-final on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian women's squad suffered another blow when they were white-washed 5-0 by Indonesia in the round-robin play-offs of the Uber Cup qualifying round in Macau Saturday.

In the round-robin which started Friday, the national team lost 2-3 to Hong Kong.

Besides Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong are also eyeing the last spot in the Uber Cup finals to be held in Wuhan, China from May 20 to 27.

The Malaysian side were no match for Indonesia when first singles Lydia Cheah was outclassed by Adrianti Firdasari 7-21, 13-21 in 30 minutes before doubles Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei lost to the Indonesia pair of Greysia Polii-Meiliana Jauhari 15-21, 21-18, 15-21.

Sannatasah Saniru failed to keep Malaysia in the hunt when she lost to Maria Febe Kusumastuti 13-21, 18-21.

Second doubles Chin Eei Hui-Goh Liu Ying failed to maintain their excellent performance in the opening set when they were beaten by Nitya Krishinda Maheswari-Anneke Feinya Agustin in three sets, 21-11, 8-21, and 18-21 in 47 minutes.

Even Yang Li Lian failed to deliver a point for Malaysia when she lost 10-21, 9-21 to Lindaweni Fanetri in the third singles match.

The winner of the round-robin play-offs only qualifies for the Uber Cup finals if the team's ranking is higher than the fourth place in the European zone qualifier.- Bernama

Tuaran Polis Base

Lucky Tuaran pharmacy 

By: Tuaran public 

I AM a resident of Tuaran and a tax payer.

I am wondering why the police base (pondok polis) in Tuaran town has been abandoned for so long?

If it is because it is in a sorry state, why wasn't it repaired?

Instead of operating from it as the public already know about its whereabouts, the police mobile team are now operating from the five-foot way in front of a pharmacy. Lucky for this pharmacy owner.

Why build a police base in the first place?

Local Newspaper.

Strong Winds Warning

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued a warning on strong winds and rough seas (Third Category) until Feb 22.

Strong southwesterly winds of 50-60kmph with waves up to 4.5 metres occurring over the waters off Sabah (Interior, West Coast and Kudat), FT Labuan, Sarawak, Palawan and Reef South are expected to continue until Feb 22.

This condition of strong winds and rough seas is dangerous to all shipping and coastal activities, including fishing and ferry services.

Daily Express

Last chance to find the Era KK Mystery Man today.

A total of 15 people have so far managed to successfully track down The Mystery Man Era KK (Omekk) and earn more than RM30,000 in the process.

If you have been unlucky so far, you have a last chance at it today.

The contest organised by Era FM KK was held since Feb. 6 with Daily Express as media partner. It was supposed to end yesterday but due to popular demand, it was decided to extend it to today (Saturday) with the rewards reaching RM10,000 or more.

Siti Aisah Dassim so far won the highest amount of RM5,678 on Thursday for locating him at 1 Borneo, near here.

"In the morning, I failed to find him. Then when in 1Borneo I heard people say Omekk was there and I found him based on the clues," she said.

Another winner was Likas Hospital Women and Children X-ray technician Mazrul bin Awang, who took home RM3,456 on the seventh day of the hunt, in the Borneo Futsal Sports Arena (BSA), Kolombong, on Tuesday.

Mazrul said he was very happy because it occurred at an unexpected time.

"After work, I invited friends to hang out at the BSA. The clues aired over the radio spoke of a ball and thirsty.

"When I arrived at the BSA, my friends were joking about finding Omekk there.

I asked the people at the counter. Then, I thought he was joking but it was apparently correct when he (mystery man) gave the paper that I just met with Omekk," he said.

Mazrul said before that he also tried to find Omekk with his brother in Gaya Street but without success.

Sabah is now no longer the poorest state. True or not?

Sabah, which for the most parts was governed by the Barisan Nasional (BN), experienced major changes in its development and economic landscape since it attained independence through Malaysia in 1963, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said compared to before, Sabah now was no longer the poorest state in the country and, in fact, had huge potential to surge forward.

"Then (in 1963) probably more that 70 per cent of the people could be said to be poor, hardcore poor and destitute. However, Sabah now is no longer the poorest state in the country.

"According to statistics, the average per capita income of Sabah now lies in the middle when compared to the richest and poorest states," he said when launching the Mini Estate Sejahtera (MESEJ) project at Kampung Nala, Tungku, about 60km from here, Friday.

Najib said this was the outcome of the national development agenda which was clear and effective and now included the National Transformation Programme that would bring about a brighter change for the future of the people.

"We launched the National Transforma-tion Programme because we wanted to change everything, like this Kampung Nala (which previously was only a mangrove swamp).

"We will not stop here...we will continue until we completely eradicate hardcore poverty. Before, there were about 30,000 people in Sabah who were poor but now there are only about 7,000 (still poor)," he said.

Najib said although there were some people who were still poor, the success of the BN government in tackling poverty could not be understated.

"Just look at this Kampung Nala, the value of each house provided is more than RM42,000 and this does not include the land value, electricity and water supply, which will raise the value to more than RM60,000.

And all these we are giving for free to the participants of the (Mesej) project.

"They (participants) did not pay a single sen...which government in the world has a programme like this?," he asked.

The PM said the project was made possible because of the close relationship between the federal and state government.

"In this context, Felda (the Federal Land Development Authority) made a contribution of RM22 milion to translate the Mesej project in Nala a reality and each year Felda allocates RM50 million to the Sabah government to help uplift the welfare of the people of Sabah," he said.

Besides this, Najib said the Rural and Regional Development Ministry was also implementing various development programmes throughout Sabah.

"For this year alone, a total of 15,455 houses (under the housing aid programme) and 458km of road will be built throughout Sabah while more than 68,000 homes will get piped water (under the rural water supply programme).

"Additionally, various state government projects including 50 Mesej projects to be implemented throughout Sabah will certainly help raise the people's living standard," he said.

As such, Najib invited the people of Sabah, especially in the Tungku area, to be solidly behind the BN at the next general election for continuity of development for their own benefit.

No need Federal allocation if Sabah gets 50pc oil royalty, says Jeffrey

Sabah State Reform Party (STAR) on Wednesday said that if Sabah were to receive 50 per cent oil royalty from Petronas, it would not even need Federal allocation to develop the state.

Its Deputy Chairman, Daniel John Jambun said this in response to a statement by Sabah BN Secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan who said that Sabah would be compromised if Federal allocation or funds under the Malaysia Plan is reduced so as to pay the proposed 20 per cent oil royalty.

"Abdul Rahman forgot that under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP), Sabah and Sarawak combined, are getting only about RM9 billion as compared to about RM100 billion for the Peninsula.

"At this rate of allocation, Sabah is actually getting less than RM1 billion per year throughout the five-year Malaysia Plan.

"As such, the Federal allocations are not much and hardly fulfil all the development needs of Sabah," he said in a statement.

Jambun said that if the opposition in Sabah forms the next State Government, it would be demanding for the right to collect and manage its own revenues, including taxes.

He said taxes from Sabah amounts between RM15b and RM20b annually.

"So, just imagine how much we are losing at the moment," he said.

Combine the taxes with the retention of income from 50 per cent oil royalty, he said income for Sabah annually would be in the tens of billions.

With such huge revenue base, he said Sabah would be able to pay its own education, health and even security expenditure.

"In fact, Sabah would be a very rich state and would achieve a developed status within a decade or two," he added.

In this respect, it is a pity that BN leaders are still outdated in its thinking in that Sabah must depend on Federal Government forever to develop the state, when the fact is that real solution is right in Sabah's own backyard.

Jambun said that there are also other income resources that should rightly belong to Sabah but have already been taken over by Kuala Lumpur such as revenue from the Immigration Department.

He reminded that 20 Points gave Sabah the guarantee that immigration powers would remain in Sabah's hands.

"From this we can easily explain why Sabah and Sarawak are the poorest and second poorest states respectively in Malaysia," he said.

He said the situation of the two states is made even worse when compared with Brunei, which stayed out from Malaysia at the 11th hour in a dispute over oil revenues, and Singapore, which opted to leave the Federation of Malaysia in 1965 after two years.

To this, he asked why should Sabah and Sarawak accept an oil deal which Brunei was not willing to accept.

He said that a careful study of the total revenue picture in Sabah and Sarawak would show that Malaya is treating and exploiting the two states as if it were its colonies.

He said this must be brought to the attention of the United Nation's (UN) 24-Nation Committee on De-colonisation.

This is the committee that asked Britain to leave Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Singapore," he said.

"A comparison of oil-and-gas revenue sharing between producing provinces/states/regions and central authorities elsewhere in the world would show that Putrajaya is virtually stealing, at gunpoint, the energy resources that rightfully belong to Sabah and Sarawak for their industrialisation and economic development.

"The raw materials are now being channelled mostly to non-oil states in Malaysia by way of oil refineries and petrochemical plants, among others.

By right, oil royalty or no oil royalty, the oil and gas produced from Sabah and Sarawak should stay within the two states for their industrialisation and economic development, for downstream diversification and for socio-economic integration.

Daily Express 

P'sula opposition parties must stay away: Star

Sabah State Reform Party (Star) is not budging from its stance that Sabah seats must be contested by local parties.

Its Deputy Chairman Awang Ahmad Shah said West Malaysia-based opposition parties should, instead, focus on contesting in the peninsula.

He was reponding to the statement by Batu Tiga Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR's) Assemblywoman, Rodziah Ismail, who shot down a suggestion by Sabah Star Chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan that peninsula parties should leave it to local parties to contest Sabah state seats in the next general election.

While he understood PKR's enthusiasm to contest in Sabah, he said Rodziah should strive to understand the strong rationales behind Star's suggestion.

"If she believes that our objective is for change and to topple the BN government, then this is the best way.

"Star and other local parties in Sabah all feel that we need to give Sabahans a sense of self-determination.

"Maybe PKR, as a peninsula party, is not aware of this but there is now a widespread feeling among Sabahans that they want a new political order in which Sabah is ruled by local parties and not by peninsula ones," he said.

He said that it is not a question whether Dr Jeffrey wants to lead Sabah politics alone, but instead the next State Government must be in the hands of local parties.

If PKR insist on dominating Sabah politics, he said it is akin of another Umno in the making and that Sabah under PKR would still be subject to the decisions and dictates of Kuala Lumpur as what is happening now under Umno.

"If PKR wants to do the same what Umno is doing then Sabah will not have real change for promotion of its rights and autonomy because it will still be subjected to a Peninsula-based power," he said.

Awang said they should not forget that Umno has often expressed regret for coming into Sabah although it would not readily admit this now.

Daily Express

889,779 in Sabah are foreigners?

A website quoting the Malaysian Statistics Department claims that the number of foreigners in Sabah now stand at 889,779 as against 2,316,963 Malaysians.

According to beritasemasa.com, the overall Sabah population reached 3.2 million as at 2010, but that the number of foreigners in Sabah "is closing in and have already hit 27 per cent."

It said the most foreigners are in Tawau (171,409), Sandakan (148,438), Kinabatangan (117,689), Kota Kinabalu (112,145) and Lahad Datu (77,003), respectively.

http://kgsilou.blogspot.com/2012/02/889779-in-sabah-are-foreigners.html

Death of an American icon: Whitney Houston

Legendary pop singer and film star Whitney Houston has died in her hotel room after a long battle with hard drugs and alcohol that blighted her career. She was 48. The star was found by her bodyguard drowned in a bathtub in a room containing prescription pill bottles, according to sources.

Paramedics battled to revive the singer but she was pronounced dead at 3.55pm yesterday afternoon.  

Her frantic daughter Bobbi Kristina is said to have got into a 'furious screaming argument' with police who refused to let her into the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles to see the body of her dead mother.Friends of Miss Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick, who also went to the hotel to try to see the body, have said that she is 'inconsolable'. 

The cause of death is not yet known. There were no illegal drugs in the fourth floor hotel suite but the previous evening she had 'partied heavily' with friends at the hotel bar, claims TMZ. As the singer's body was wheeled to an ambulance, just yards away stars including Bitney Spears and Kim Kardashian were taking part in the pre-Grammy Awards party at the hotel. Miss Houston had been due to attend the event which was organised by her mentor Clive Davis.The surreal scene inside the hotel event unfolded with Mr Davis paying tribute to the singer, before saying: 'Now ladies and gentlemen, let the music begin.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099983/Whitney-Houston-death-US-icon-dead-Beverly-Hills-hotel-room-drugs-battle-aged-48.html

Hoping RCI can resolve definition of native.

Hoping RCI can resolve definition of native 

By: Tan Sri Herman Luping 

THE setting up of the Royal Commision of Inquiry (RCI) on the illegal immigrants debate starts.

Congratulations to the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman of UMNO, Sabah, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok of UPKO, and Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan of PBS and the many other leaders from both sides of the political divide for getting the "nod" from the Federal Cabinet for the setting up of the RCI to enquire in particular the reasons for the sudden increase of Sabah's population and the sudden increase of MyKad Malaysian card holders.

It is generally believed that the sudden increase of the number of MyKad holders is due to the granting of identity cards by the Registration department to illegal immigrants. The RCI is set up to look into this general perception.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib, is due to make the announcement about the setting up of the RCI and in particular the terms and conditions for the RCI to abide and follow. The private secretary to Datuk VK Liew of LDP, Albert Kok, leaked the announcement last Thursday, saying the Ministry of Law and Parliament Affairs of which Liew is the Deputy Minister, has been entrusted to look into the terms of reference and other related matters with the Attorney General's Chambers. Kok said that this positive development was made by the Federal Cabinet. Dompok, who is a Federal Minister and the Upko BN coalition partner confirmed that the issue of RCI was discussed by the Federal Cabinet.

"It has been discussed and the Prime Minister will make an announcement soon", he said.

During Upko's delegates congress last year, Bernard had stressed that it will take nothing less than a RCI to resolve the issue that is plaguing Sabah people.

He added that the high increase in Sabah population and the high profile case of a purportedly Malaysian citizen being "crowned" the Sultan of Sulu warrants the need for a RCI so that the Government could get to the bottom of the issue'. He said the illegal immigrants problem has caused so much dissatisfaction in Sabah and the suspicion emanating from the issue has cast serious doubt on the integrity of the system.

Sabah BN-Umno, the pillar of the BN coalition in the country has also called for the setting up of the RCI to resolve the long standing issue.

Now that the Federal Government has agreed on the setting up of the RCI, are we likely to see the end or find the solution to the long standing problem of illegal immigrants in our midst? In my opinion, members of the RCI would be faced with many issues concerning the illegal immigrants.

To begin with, who are the illegal immigrants? And why were they issued with the MyKad allowing them to become Malaysian citizens and thus able to vote at the general election or any election in Sabah?

There is an article in the internet for instance purportedly containing a leaked statement by the former chairman of the election commission (EC) to an officer of the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur that he issued some 600,000 identity cards to the so-called illegal immigrants at the request of a former Prime Minister. I saw a denial of this statement in the press later, but it might still need to be properly investigated.

It is also possible that one of the problems that the RCI needs to resolve is the question of the interpretation of native in Sabah. The Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance (Sabah Cap 64) as it stands presently differ from the interpretation native in the Malaysian constitution.

Under section 2 (d) of the above quoted Interpretation of Native Ordinance, for example, a native is "any person who is ordinarily resident in Sabah, is a member of a people indigenous to the Republic of Indonesia of the Sulu group of islands in the Philippines Archipelago - has lived as and been a member of the native community for a continuous period of five years immediately preceding the date of his claim to be a native, has been borne a good character - and whose stay in Sabah is not limited under any of the provisions of the Immigration Act,1959/63."

As far as the people of Sabah can remember - indeed, from time immemorial, the people referred to in the Definition of Native section 2(d) had occupied the shores of Sabah and lived in the coastal areas of the east coast. There was a free flow of people coming from say the Sulu Islands, Mindanau etc for the proximity of these places made it possible for the people to come over to Sabah.

And by the early 1800, the eastern part of Sabah - from Tawau-Semporna to Lahad Datu to Sandakan came under the rule of the Sulu Sultan by agreement with the Sultan of Brunei, then ruler of all of North Borneo.

The subjects of the Sulu Sultan freely went to Sabah and stayed in settlements in the east coast by right.

Then by 1881, a Company Government was established by a royal charter obtained from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

The Company government, in order to open up the land for agriculture, plantations and for commerce, invited more people to immigrate into Sabah. Indentured laborers from China, for instance, were also encouraged to come to Sabah, and there was more of the people from the Philippine Archipelago who came freely into the country.

After the Second World War, the Company government was taken over by the Colonial administration and Sabah became a Crown Colony in 1946.

The Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance was established in 1954 by the Colonial administration.

As a result many more came to Sabah and many, Muslims as well as Christians from the Philippines became natives of Sabah.

By the late 1970s more and more people from the Indonesian and Philippines islands came, almost en mass, to Sabah.

But hitherto, the population of Sabah was still only a mere million people with the Kadazandusun as the most numerous or has the majority as a single community.

The demarcation of the constituencies in the 1976 election, for instance was 48, with 20 seats predominantly with Muslim majority, 20 seats with predominantly Kadazandusun Murut majority and 8 seats with predominantly Chinese. Berjaya defeated the Usno-Alliance in the April election of 1976, with 28 seats won by the new Berjaya party (Kadazandusun Murut 20 and Chinese 8) and Usno winning in all the 20 Muslim seats.

This election scenario was repeated in the 1985 election, with the new PBS party winning in 26 seats of the 48 seats, with the Kadazandusun Murut and Chinese voting for the new PBS party.

The USNO party won in 16 of the 20 predominantly Muslim seats, leaving the incumbent governing party, Berjaya, winning in only 6 seats.

The surprise win by the new Party, PBS is considered the reason for those "in authority" to find to vary the voting patterns in Sabah. Many amongst the various politicians and political parties feel that the delineation or demarcation of the constituencies by the Election Commission was heavily weighted in favour of one community. There is also the suspicion amongst the opposition leaders that the sudden increase in the number of dubious holders of MyKad identity cards was because of the same exercise and objective - to increase the voting strength of one community.

The hope, therefore, is for the RCI to allay the fears of Sabahans that illegal immigrants were given Malaysian identity cards.

And more, the RCI would also be making a finding regarding the position of those who falls under the definition of natives of Sabah under Section 2(d) of the Sabah Ordinance - on definition of native.

Sabah Current issue: Land Of Sabah

The State Government should take back the more than 300,000 acres given to Felda, Felcra and agropolitan projects or the more than 30,000 acres given to Yayasan Melaka and Yayasan Selangor if it is serious in protecting the native land ownership and increasing native land acreage.

Sabah Star Chairman, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, said perhaps the State Government should also ask the Federal Government to get the other state governments controlled by Barisan Nasional (BN) to alienate 300,000 acres in the peninsula and the Malacca and Selangor state governments to alienate 30,000 acres to Sabah Land Development Board and Lembaga Industri Getah Sabah.

He said the State Government has all the powers and machinery to easily solve the current land problems and disputes.

"What is required is just pro-active action and real effort to identify the root cause and exercise its powers to settle the matter," he said.

"Land problems are widespread in every part of the State and if the State Government had acted pro-actively in the first place, no such land problems would have arisen," he said.

In fact, during the British colonial times, there were no such land problems probably due to better administration by the colonial masters for the betterment of the natives without conflict of self-interests and vested interests of their political masters and their hidden agenda.

In a statement here, he said the natives peacefully went about working on their land without having to fear companies and outsiders taking over the land and destroying their crops or destruction of their homes and disrupting their livelihood.

"A quick survey of the land problems will reveal that most of the problems involve native rights and weaknesses in the government administration and its bureaucracy.

Kitingan said there were instances of improper surveys resulting in a title being issued with a boundary that cut across the house of natives and failure to even identify the existence of villages in the land surveyed and even complaints of survey done on paper or in the air by helicopter.

Some of these survey problems were acknowledged by the Land and Survey Department but no action was taken to rectify the mistakes, he said.

He said native land rights and NCR are entrenched in the laws of Sabah, long before its independence and long before the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

The claims of native land rights and NCR should be a simple investigative and verification procedure to establish and determine the claims of the natives involved.

"What is so difficult about verifying the NCR claims that it requires in some cases 30 years or more?

Just go to the ground and the claims can be verified in a matter of weeks," he said.

The claims of NCR by the natives should be resolved and it can be done expeditiously by a Land Commission, which Star Sabah is proposing to establish to resolve all land issues and disputes, he said.

"The issuance of communal titles on a fast-track basis and to pacify the anger of the natives are but a stop-gap measure done in view of the impending general elections," he said.

"It is another time-bomb waiting to explode," he claimed.

Daily Express Sabah

Catholic lawyers to form grouping

State Attorney-General, Datuk Roderic Fernandez gave the organisers of the Red Mass at the Church of Mary Immaculate in Bukit Padang, Saturday, a pat on the back for their inaugural effort in staging it for Catholic members of the legal fraternity.

The purpose of a Red Mass, the Roman Catholic service for people in the law profession and judiciary, was for the Bar and Bench to join its celebration in calling on the Holy Spirit to guide them in administering justice.

Archbishop Lee said the Mass of the Holy Spirit for lawyers and judges, dating back to the 13th century, has been celebrated annually in the Catholic Church in West Malaysia and other countries.

The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in France in 1245 while the tradition began in England during the reign of King Edward II in 1310.

"I think this initiative in Sabah is great. I understand that it has been going on in other countries. I hope it continues in the years to come," he said, adding he expects a bigger crowd next year with wider publicity.

Sessions Court Judge Duncan Sikodol, who was the only Catholic judge present, supported Archbishop Datuk John Lee's suggestion that Red Mass be carried on in future.

"This kind of get-together also promotes the spirit of fellowship.

I hope more from my fraternity will join in next year.

Some of them are outstation and could not make it."

Organising Chairman Martin Idang said the idea of embracing this historical tradition (within the Catholic Church) in Sabah for the first time was mooted by the Archdiocesan Human Development Commission (AHDC).

"Archbishop Datuk John Lee was all for it and said 'Yes, why not?'

Basically, it is for Catholic members of the legal fraternity and judiciary to invoke the assistance of the Holy Spirit in dispensing justice," he explained, adding this has been practised in Selangor and Singapore for years.

He also welcomed the Archbishop's proposal that a formal body be formed by Catholic members of the legal profession. "We will work towards making it a reality," Idang enthused.

Co-ordinator of AHDC, Dominic Lim, said what has been envisioned is the formation of a Catholic Lawyers Association after the Red Mass.

"The red colour is associated with the 'fire' of the Holy Spirit.

Today, we invoke the power of the Holy Spirit to inspire our lawyers and judges in the conduct of their affairs.

"We pray that the Holy Spirit will infuse them with courage and wisdom to defend what is right and just. That is the whole purpose."

Saying the Commission has several sub-committees to oversee specific issues, Lim said this is where lawyers can play an effective.

Meanwhile, Gordon Leong said the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit was in conjunction with the beginning of the legal year.

Describing it as a timely and good move, he said those involved in the administration of justice, together with Archdiocesan Human Development Commission (AHDC), decided to introduce the Red Mass this year.

"This mass is a reminder to us to upkeep justice. It also enables Christian lawyers, especially the Catholic lawyers to foster a closer fellowship."

Daily Express Sabah

Catholic legal fraternity

Like other professions, members of the legal fraternity are called and chosen by God. As such, they must respond and justify the call by performing good deeds in their profession as well as daily life.

This reminder came from Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Datuk John Lee when he celebrated the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, known as Red Mass, the first of its kind in Sabah, at the Church of Mary Immaculate in Bukit Padang, Saturday.

The one-and-a-half-hour Roman Catholic service for people in the legal fraternity was jointly organised by the Archdiocesan Human Development Commission (AHDC) in collaboration with those involved in the administration of justice, in particular, Catholic lawyers, members of the judiciary and Justices of the Peace (JPs). Archbishop Lee and Deacon Jeffri Gumu (Sacred Heart Cathedral) were clad in a red robe while Archbishop Co-adjutor John Wong and Rev. Leo, a Korean priest, had a red stole over their cassock. The red colour signifies invoking the power of the Holy Spirit as guidance to all who pursue justice.

The purpose of a Red Mass, the Roman Catholic service for people in the law profession and judiciary, was for the Bar and Bench to join its celebration in calling on the Holy Spirit to guide them in administering justice.

Archbishop Lee said the Mass of the Holy Spirit for lawyers and judges, dating back to the 13th century, has been celebrated annually in the Catholic Church in West Malaysia and other countries.

The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in France in 1245 while the tradition began in England during the reign of King Edward II in 1310.

As the Red Mass Commentator, Alice Imelda Chin, a lawyer, aptly put it at the beginning of the service: "As administers of justice, we are gathered here in solidarity, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit for all who seek justice.

"It is also a time for all of us who seek justice, to reflect on what Catholics believe is the God-given power and responsibility of all in the legal profession, a willingness to defend truth. That's what the red colour symbolises."

Speaking to some 80 members of the legal profession (attired in their barrister's robe), judiciary and JPs, Archbishop Lee stressed that the celebration of the mass was centred on the importance of the Eucharist, and they would not understand it unless they understood the Word of God.

He reminded them that being called and chosen by God as lawyers and judges, they must seek God's help in dispensing justice in the course of executing their work.

"It's a privilege to celebrate this Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit with you.

I thank you for your response to this Red Mass. Let us pray for judges and lawyers in our country.

"We pray to the Lord for justice and courage to do what is right. Let us stand firm in our profession and daily life. Live up to the Kingdom of God, as promised by God, and stand up for whatever is right and healthy towards the harmony of society.

"Do share your professional life in helping society to grow in justice and harmony. Come together to discuss and exchange views.

"And if you (lawyers and judges) want to continue with Red Mass in future, we will be here for you," Archbishop Lee said in his 40-minute homily.

According to Archbishop Lee, he was invited by the Catholic Lawyers Society (in West Malaysia) to attend their Red Mass in Kuala Lumpur this year.

"But I turned it down. I told them I am too old and tired to go.

Why not hold it here (Sabah)? I gave my blessing to a suggestion from lawyers in the Archdiocesan Human Development Commission (AHDC) that we celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit in Sabah this year.

"That's how it started to get all of you together for this Red Mass," he explained. The Archbishop also called on Catholic lawyers, judges and JPs to help the church on special issues.

"The church may not be familiar with civil law. You can contribute your knowledge, advice or expertise on what should be done and in building the community (church)."

Among those present included Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Minister of Infrastructure Development, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, State Attorney-General Datuk Roderic Fernandez, Sessions Court Judge Duncan Sikodol, former State Attorney-General Tan Sri Herman Luping, former State Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk James Vitales and former Deputy State Attorney-General Datuk Josie Bosi. JP Herman led the procession into the church, followed by Archbishop's Lee entrance.

The Stella Maris Church Choir, conducted by Neil Mah, was in attendance.

Lawyer Ruth Marcus did the Reading while fellow lawyer, Datuk Gordon Leong led the congregation in the responsorial psalm.

Offerings to the church were jointly presented by lawyers Datuk Alex Khoo (based in Sandakan), Jeyan Marimuttu, Ho Kin Kong, Rosemary Ahping, Stella Jipiu and Sylvia Jawatin.

Jeyan's daughter, Vanessa, is chambering at the moment while Ho's son, Jeremy will be graduating as a lawyer in July.

Also present was the Ghani family with at least four members as practising lawyers - father (Datuk James Ghani), son Dominic, daughter Marianne and son-in-law Christopher Chong.

Daily Express Sabah