Moderate haze in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The haze in several places in Sabah was reported to be at the moderate level today.

 

 The Air Pollutant Index (API) for major towns  are Kota Kinabalu  (74), Keningau (66) and Sandakan (42) as of 11am, according to the statistics at the website of the Department of Environment (DOE).

 

  The API reading is "good" when it is between 0 and 50, "moderate" (51 to 100), "unhealthy" (101 to 200), "very unhealthy" (201 to 300), and "hazardous" (above 300).

 

  Meanwhile, a state DOE spokesman said public could still engage in outdoor activities for now. 

 

 The condition of the haze is expected to continue for another two to three weeks.   

 

 "The major cause of the haze is from Indonesia open burning as their farmers get rid of their agriculture waste.

 

  "We cannot exclude that our own local farmers, especially those from interior areas are also doing the same thing in small scale as it is the dry season," he said.

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RM20,000 from PBS for police

Published on: Thursday, March 14, 2013

 Kota Kinabalu: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) on Wednesday presented RM20,000 to the Royal Malaysian Police Welfare Fund following clashes in the East Coast of Sabah.

Its Secretary-General Datuk Henrynus Amin presented the cheque to Deputy State Police Commissioner SAC II Datuk Tan Kok Liang at the State Police Contingent Headquarters in Kepayan here.

Also present were PBS Youth Chief Datuk Jahid Jahim, PBS Vice-President Datuk Herbert Timbun Lagadan and PBS Wanita Exco Senator Datuk Jamilah Sulaiman, among others.

"We in PBS are deeply touched with the police role in protecting our country to ensure our peace and security.

"Sometimes we take for granted peace and stability and sometimes we, particularly politicians, are very quick in criticising the police but now we see sacrifices of our men who are willing to die to protect our country's security and sovereignty," said Henrynus.

"Thus, we in PBS are aware that all these sacrifices are done to protect the people of Malaysia, of SabahansÉwe are forever grateful and we will always support our security forces personnel," he added.

"On behalf of our President and PBS members, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our security forces personnel and we hope this small donation would assist our men," he said, adding that the funds were collected on March 5 in conjunction with PBS anniversary.

Meanwhile, Tan thanked PBS for their donation, concern and support for the security forces who are fighting to ensure the country's security and sovereignty is protected.

On another note, he said the Government has set up the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) to safeguard the wide coastline in the East Coast of Sabah.

"The setting up of ESSCOM would strengthen our defence and increase security forces omnipresence along the eastern coastline," he said, adding that its implementation has already started.

He said this shows the Government is serious when it comes to ensuring the security and wellbeing of the country and its people.

Source : Daily Express

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RCI gets 6-month extension

Published on: Thursday, March 14, 2013

Kota Kinabalu: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah has been given a six-month extension to complete its report from March 21 to Sept. 20 this year.

According to RCI Secretary, Datuk Saripuddin Kassim, the extension was consented to by the Yang di Pertuan Agong in line with provisions under Section 5 of the 1950 Royal Commission Inquiry Act (Act 119).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najb Tun Razak had presented the appointment letters to the commissioners led by former Sabah and Sarawak Chief Judge, Tan Sri Steve Shim and panel members on September 21 last year.

Shim is being aided by four other commissioners namely former UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Kamaruzzaman Ampon, former State Attorney-General, Tan Sri Herman Luping, former State Secretary Datuk K Y Mustafa and deputy chairman of the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation cum former Kuala Lumpur police chief, Datuk Henry Chin.

The recent RCI public hearing scheduled for March 5 had been postponed to a later date.

Source : Daily Express

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