The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Getting into the CNY mood
- MPK is being blamed for not doing jobs that do not fall under its jurisdiction
- Petronas reaches out to the villagers of Sabah
| Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:04 PM PST KUANTAN: With Chinese New Year just around the corner, various shopping complexes here have decorated its premises creatively to usher in the Year of the Snake. Some outlets have even started putting up decorative items more than two weeks ago to create an early joyous and celebrative mood. East Coast Mall marketing communications manager, Ken Chin, said their team of interior designers had started decorating its premises with lanterns, blossoms and other festive items to attract shoppers. He said many of its tenants had also joined in and offered various discounts and attractive bargains for the early birds. "We have also lined up a host of activities including cultural performances, lion dances, Chinese acrobatic shows, a 12 Zodiac animals parade as well as several contests and other fun-filled programmes for the entire family," he said. Lanterns were also seen decorating the streets along Air Putih which has the highest concentration of Chinese residents. Teruntum assemblyman, Datuk Chang Hong Seong, urged more shops to put up decorative items to create a more colourful and vibrant atmosphere. "While we are in a celebratory mood, the poor, needy and less fortunate should not be forgotten. "In keeping with the tradition, the state government will be giving out a token payment to some 1,700 Chinese senior citizens, aged 70 and above, in appreciation of their past contributions," he said, adding that for his consitutency, the presentation ceremony would be held on Feb 6. Semambu assemblyman Datuk Pang Tsu Ming also called on residents to decorate their homes and surroundings to blend in with the joyous celebrations. Pang said the second round of Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia for qualified recipients would be distributed in the first week of February to lessen the people's burden. Meanwhile, a resident Elaine Koh, 39, of Bukit Sekilau said she would do last minute shopping as normally, the prices of festive items would be reduced further. Another shopper C.L. Tan, 50, from Air Putih said she had already completed her shopping list and look forward to the auspicious day to receive guests. Many roadside traders saw an increase in business especially those trading in mandarin oranges and festive cookies. |
| MPK is being blamed for not doing jobs that do not fall under its jurisdiction Posted: 31 Jan 2013 03:14 PM PST KUANTAN: The Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) is fed up of being blamed for not doing jobs that do not fall under its jurisdiction, said its president Datuk Zulkifli Yaacob. He said the public could not differentiate between the duties of MPK and federal agencies, causing the council to be lambasted endlessly on social media sites. "The public does not understand that MPK does not even have the authority to compound litterbugs anymore. Public cleanliness has been taken over by federal departments. "People have sent angry SMSes to me and throw accusations at MPK. I am very distressed out by this," said Zulkifli at the council's full board meeting here. He said the problem arose when some federal agencies did not perform its duties well but did not come forward and admit its mistakes but make MPK take the fall for it instead. "For example, grass maintenance on federal roads is a job of Roadcare, a concession for the Public Works Department. But because they are not doing their job well, we end up having to do it ourselves. "These agencies just keep quiet, feeling safe because they know MPK will get the blame," said an incensed Zulkifli. He added that he had warned agencies like the Solid Waste and Public Sanitary Management Corporation that MPK would levy a surcharge if services were not delivered. "We will force them to follow our terms since we are the paymaster. It is high time we stop shouldering the blame and start defending this council,"he said. Zulkifli also said big billboards outlining which agencies to contact for complaints would be put up immediately around Kuantan to counter the misperception and allegations. Kuantan OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Jasmani Yusoff, who was also present at the meeting, said the police and MPK had carried out thousands of raids on illegal gambling dens but the public was still accusing the authorities of not doing anything. "This month alone, we carried out 632 raids and seized 7,409 computers used for gambling worth more than RM7mil. The people should know for a capital district, we only have an average of seven criminal cases a day. "Instead of making allegations, everyone should pitch in and help us combat crime," said ACP Mohd Jasmani. |
| Petronas reaches out to the villagers of Sabah Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:06 PM PST KOTA KINABALU: The long and winding road that cuts along the edge of Banjaran Trusmadi opened up to a tranquil village in Sook, deep in the interior of Sabah, as a group of Petronas staff turned up to undertake their Sentuhan Kasih programme. The smiling faces of Kampung Kahaba residents greeted them on arrival, and soon there was an exchange of greetings and handshakes. What followed next was a series of activities, during which friendships were forged and goodwill was exchanged through sports and community programmes. The two-day event, that begun on Jan 18, was held in conjunction with Christmas and New Year and was opened by Sook Assemblyman Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin who is also the Assistant Minister of Culture, Tourism and Environment. Petronas donated books and sports equipment to Kampung Kahaba as well as 100 cooking gas cylinders to the villagers and those from nearby areas. Ellron thanked Petronas for the initiative and urged the young people in the village to equip themselves with the necessary skills, particularly those required by the oil and gas industry. "We in Sook welcome the initiative by Petronas to implement its corporate social responsibility in this area," he said. Meanwhile, Sabah and Labuan Petronas chairman, Joseph Podtung, said the Sentuhan Kasih programme was a continuation of Petronas' tradition of reaching out to the community during major festive seasons. "At the same time, the programme also aims at nurturing and enhancing the spirit of giving and volunteerism among Petronas employees, providing them with a platform to interact and engage with the people of various communities, who are our most valuable stakeholders," he said in his speech read by Petronas Sabah and Labuan Region senior manager, Julita Ontol. Podtung said Petronas had also embarked on a series of education and human capital development initiatives such as through the setting up of Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Institute of Petroleum Technology Petronas and Kimanis Petroleum Training Centre as well as through the collaboration with five skills training institutions in Sabah namely Institut Latihan Perindustrian Kota Kinabalu, GiatMara Kimanis, Kolej Yayasan Sabah, Institut Kemahiran Mara, and Institut Latihan Teknikal dan Perdagangan in Papar. Since its introduction in 2006, Sentuhan Kasih has joined the stable of Petronas' signature community programmes designed and implemented to reach out and benefit the needy groups wherever it operates. |
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