Day: March 27, 2022

RANAU, March 27 (Bernama) — A total of RM168.4 million has been allocated to build and upgrade telecommunication towers as well as implement the Point of Presence (PoP) fibre optic hub projects throughout the district to provide 4G internet services by next year.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said that of the amount, RM103.4 million had been set aside to build a total of 35 new telecommunication towers and upgrade 30 existing towers.

“Currently, construction and upgrading works are being carried out and expected to be completed by end of this year. All the contractors appointed are from local companies and I hope they can complete the projects as scheduled.

“These projects are being implemented under the provisions of the Ranau new structure requirement and this shows the government’s concern through the ministry to ensure the whole country will enjoy 4G internet access,” he said.

He told reporters this after the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (MenKOMM) meet-and-greet session with the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) community today in the Ranau district.

He said, besides that, the allocation would also be used to build five more telecommunication towers using satellite technology in several interior areas in Ranau.

“With this project, all areas in Ranau, including in the interior, will get internet and telecommunication networks,” he added.

Annuar said a total of RM65 million of the allocation, meanwhile, was for the implementation of the PoP projects in 60 selected schools in the Ranau district.

“We see there are many schools that do not have good internet network and we want to overcome this problem… and villagers who are within five kilometres (km) of the schools will also benefit from the project,” he said.

Meanwhile, Annuar said his ministry also approved allocation for the construction of a Digital Economic Centre in the Karanaan state constituency.

“The Digital Economic Centre is being built to ensure the villagers are exposed to digital economy… as such we hope more villagers will join the programme that will be carried out at the centre,” he said.

Earlier, he managed to take a look at the internet coverage and telecommunication lines at Kampung Pahu Himbaan, Ranau which is located in the Karanaan state constituency.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TUARAN, March 27 (Bernama) — The Sabah government will continue to focus on development projects needed by its citizens, Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said.

Citing Tamparuli as an example, Hajiji said, although there seemingly was active development in that district, there was much more that was needed to be done to benefit its residents.

As such, he has approved five small projects worth RM980,000 in Tamparuli, including repairing the electricity supply at Dewan Tun Hamdan, which includes the installation of transformers.

“We also will ensure economic activities are rejuvenated after April 1 as many of them were unable to be carried out due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he told reporters after a working visit to Tamparuli here today.

Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim, who is also Tamparuli state assemblyman; Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister and Kiulu state assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai; and Assistant Finance Minister Jasnih Daya, who is also Pantai Dalit assemblyman, were also present during the working visit.

Hajiji officiated a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tamparuli Native Court building, built at a cost of RM1.5 million during the working visit.

The chief minister also signed a plaque to commemorate the official opening of the 800-metre Bukit Perahu track in Kampung Ruhiang, which was upgraded with funding from the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry.

Earlier, Hajiji visited an iconic tourist attraction of the state, the Tamparuli Suspension Bridge as well as witnessed a performance by the Tuaran Arts and Culture Association before viewing some murals on the bridge.

Hajiji said Tamparuli has potential for tourism as it possesses its own uniqueness capable of attracting local and foreign tourists.

Therefore, tourist destinations need to be given a boost as they have the potential to generate the economy not only among tour operators but also for locals, he added.

“Tourism activities also benefit other groups, including vegetable sellers, fishmongers and transport operators. This is what we hope for…that these tourist places (in Tamparuli) will be developed,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, March 27 — Nur Liyana Razali, a 26-year-old Sabahan lass from Papar, turned many heads when she stood out in a Borneo Murut Nabai tribal dress to receive her Master’s Degree in Engineering (MEng) from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom recently.

The first child of three siblings of Brunei-Murut descent became the talk of the town when a picture of her dressed in a traditional ethnic dress with a robe and mortarboard while receiving her MEng scroll on March 20 went viral on social media, especially among netizens from Sabah.

Nur Liyana said she wore the motif-embellished indigenous outfit for the momentous occasion to showcase the traditions and culture of the Sabah community to foreign countries, and wanted it to be appreciated and remembered, more so by the younger generation.

“Of course, I am elated to receive a Master’s Degree, but the memories are sweeter when I can showcase the culture of Sabah in a Borneo Murut Nabai tribal dress from my mother’s lineage,” she told reporters here today.

Nur Liyana, who is currently working as a management trainee at Nestle Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur also thanked the public, especially Sabahans who gave her support and encouragement.

Her father Razali Matali said Nur Liyana was supposed to graduate in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had to be postponed.

He managed to attend Nur Liyana’s convocation with his wife and two other children.

“As a parent, I am very happy with Nur Liyana’s success and I thank the state government through the Sabah Foundation which gave a scholarship to Liyana,” said the 51-year-old who also made his fashion statement at the convocation in a traditional Malay ‘cekak musang’ shirt and a songkok (headgear).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency