New Ombuds at University of Central Florida Posts Welcome on YouTube

Shreya Trivedi, who became the UCF Ombuds Officer in May 2011, has created a video introducing her office. Trivedi served as the Ombuds Assistant 2001 to 2006 and then moved to the UCF International Services Center as a Recruiter and later as Immigration Advisor and Assistant Director of Admissions and Registration.

Trivedi came to UCF from Kenya in 2001 as an international student and thrived at UCF. As an undergraduate, she was President of the International Student Association and a member of the President’s Leadership Council. Trivedi graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Advertising and Public Relations and is working on a master’s in Non-Profit Management at UCF. In the UCF Ombuds Office, she works with Daniel Thompson, Ombuds Assistant. (YouTube; UCF Ombuds Office.)

Related posts: University of Central Florida Ombuds Offers Video Welcome [2010]; University of Central Florida Ombuds Announces Retirement; Job Posting.

A balanced development for Sarawak

Sarawak Paddy

Sarawak, which has been enjoying 48 years of development and progress in our beloved nation, Malaysia, enters a new era of development, a transformation of the economy from the present structure of medium income to high income economy towards the year 2020 and beyond.

For this reason, the State needs to widen economic perspective and diversify the activities.  More importantly, the Sarawak needs to focus on creating its niche and building the strength.  Basically, the transformation is no longer an exercise to restructure the traditional economic sectors such as timber and agro-based industries but to increase the share of the secondary sector, such as value-added activities of timber and agriculture products and tertiary sector, such as transport and communication.

Hence, the state’s strategy for development must necessarily engage the private sector to involve in wider fields of economic activities.  It is a matter of logical progression that the private sector should be involved more and more in the development of the state economy. There is a limit that the public sector, by its very nature, can do to boost the economy.  The private sector, when it lives up to the reputation of being mobile and creative, can become efficient agents of growth in the economy. 

Paddy  field in Sri Aman

Understandably, the transformation necessitates the people to acquire new knowledge and be more diligent and ready to work hard in order to become more productive and efficient in their endeavors.  More importantly, it requires them to become more proactive and innovative in carrying out tasks that have been entrusted upon them.  

Essentially, in the next nine years, from now to the year 2020, the state must be involved in a transformation from infrastructure-oriented to human resources approach, primarily to accelerate economic growth, which relies heavily on efforts of the quality of service and productivity of skilled workers.

One of the key focus areas under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, beginning from this year is to increase private investments to spur domestic economic activities.  The private sector will be the catalyst to move the State economy up the value chain, which is a prerequisite for us to compete in the global market.

Another focus area will be the participation of the low-income group into the mainstream of development.  This will be carried out through the various poverty eradication programmes and projects. Socio-economic development will continue to be given importance to further strengthen the unity of the people.

Construction of roads/bridges to link more isolated long houses and villages

For example, the 2011 budget aims to ensure balanced development throughout the State.  In this connection, the State Government will undertake proactive measures in the development of physical infrastructures especially in less developed areas. The budget takes into consideration that there is still a need for rural areas to catch up with development in urban areas.  Hence, greater emphasis must be given to the development of infrastructure and amenities such as roads, drainage, telecommunication, electricity and water supplies in these areas.

Rightly, the State government will be emphasizing on the following as the main thrusts of development:

    * To raise the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nurture    

        first class mentality;

    *  To address persistent socio-economic inequalities constructively

        and productively; and

    *  To improve the standard and sustainability of Quality of Life.

Obviously, the development programmes and projects cover both the urban and rural areas to ensure balanced regional development across the State.  This will not only intensify and accelerate the development for SCORE but those areas outside the corridor.

Modern long house in Sarawak

Understandably, the state’s strategy for economic development must necessarily focus on the development and growth of rural areas in order to spread the benefits as well as to bring about renewed growth in traditional sectors. Efforts must also focus towards marshalling economic potentials to be integrated at the rural level so as to induce critical mass. 

Hence, continuous efforts are being made to develop Rural Growth Centres (RGCs) primarily to provide basic amenities to the people and upgrade their quality of life that is being measured by the quality of public housing, transportation, public sanitation, the environment, safety and security.

Many residents of long houses own cars nowadays

The Government has been making continuous efforts to develop rural where about 3% of the people still live in poverty in the State.   It is implementing initiatives to encourage the development of traditional industries such as agriculture and aquaculture, thereby creating jobs as well as improving access to electricity, communications, clean water, education and health services. 

The Government has provided RM5.68 billion (US$1.9 billion) in funding for the improvement of basic infrastructure in remote regions of Sarawak.  Most of this money has been allocated for the construction and tarring of roads to link more isolated long houses and villages, as well as utilities provision such as piped water and electrical lighting for such communities.

Rh Ribut Long house, Song  equiped with electricity

The government takes cognizance of the fact that the rural community cannot be cut off from the mainstream development or be marginalized in any way.  Hence necessary efforts are being made to provide roads, communications, transportation, electricity, clean water and health clinics in rural areas.  

Besides, necessary steps are also being undertaken to ensure that people in remote communities are equipped with the skills and knowledge to get better jobs; and to train farmers in more effective agricultural techniques to enable them to improve their standard of living.  

Indisputably, Sarawak has achieved tremendous progress. It has been transformed from a backward to progressive State during the last 48 years, during the last 3o in particular. . Any well-informed people, will not dispute this fact. The people must surely be able to see the tremendous stride that has been made, which among other things, help to reduce unemployment among the people and more importantly, take the state into a level of prosperity never seen in the history of the state.

Obviously, Sarawak has been pursuing a well thought of approach that takes into consideration the local conditions and environment. It has been able to increase the size of the development cake by ensuring a sufficient and sustainable speed of development. 

The State must endeavor to keep up with the momentum of growth and ensure that the distribution of benefits remain balanced. In other words, no segment of the society will have the feelings of extreme neglect and frustration in the common pursuit for progress and advancement.

A modern long house in Sibu

The progress has been further enhanced by the successful implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) that has been focusing on the development of human capital and R&D capability; speeding up growth in rural areas; engaging the private sector more intensively and enhancing the quality of life of the people.

Looking back when Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, the constitution included special protections allowing Sarawak to enter into the union as a semi autonomous state.  The constitution included special protection allowing Sarawak to enter the union as an autonomous state.  The provisions, among other things, allow Sarawak to exercise powers over immigration and imposition of sales taxes.

Other protections relate specifically to Sarawak unique demographic make up and the rights of indigenous communities, who must enjoy the same special rights given to the Malay community in Peninsular Malaysia.

benuasains

 *Photos Source: 

http://agc-blog.agc.gov.my/?p=236

http://zulkhalid.blogspot.com/2009/05/micro-hydro-project-rumah-panjang-ribut.html

http://mawar2berduri.blogspot.com/2010/05/mewahnya-rumah-panjang-di-sibu.html

google.com images

Sarawak works for balanced development towards 2020

Sarawak, which has been enjoying 47 years of development and progress in our beloved nation, Malaysia, enters a new era of development, a transformation of the economy from the present structure of medium income to high income economy towards the year 2020 and beyond. 

For this reason, the State needs to widen economic perspective and diversify the activities.  More importantly, the Sarawak needs to focus on creating its niche and building the strength.  Basically, the transformation is no longer an exercise to restructure the traditional economic sectors such as timber and agro-based industries but to increase the share of the secondary sector, such as value-added activities of timber and agriculture products and tertiary sector, such as transport and communication.

Hence, the state’s strategy for development must necessarily engage the private sector to involve in wider fields of economic activities.  It is a matter of logical progression that the private sector should be involved more and more in the development of the state economy. There is a limit that the public sector, by its very nature, can do to boost the economy.  The private sector, when it lives up to the reputation of being mobile and creative, can become efficient agents of growth in the economy. 

Understandably, the transformation necessitates the people to acquire new knowledge and be more diligent and ready to work hard in order to become more productive and efficient in their endeavors.  More importantly, it requires them to become more proactive and innovative in carrying out tasks that have been entrusted upon them.  

Essentially, in the next 12 years, the state must be involved in a transformation from infrastructure-oriented to human resources approach, primarily to accelerate economic growth, which relies heavily on efforts of the quality of service and productivity of skilled workers.

The State, through SCORE will focus on the development of industries include:-

                               

                (i)            The development of vast hydro potentials in order to attract energy intensive industries.  In the long run, huge renewable hydro energy produce in Sarawak will transform the State as a power house to drive the economy of the nation;

                (ii)       The Pulp and Paper industry as an extension of the current initiative to promote downstream timber activities.  The State has embarked on establishing forest plantations with Acacia tree to meet the requirement of the industry on a sustainable basis;

                (iii)       Tourism:  Sarawak has large land mass of unique terrain and well conserved tropical rainforest that complement the rich culture diversity to make tourism a lucrative industry;

                (iv)        Agro and food- based industry: The land surface of Sarawak is vast and the coast line, very long to make agro and fishery based industries highly potentials.  As of now, Sarawak is opening up one million hectares of oil palm in areas contiguous of each other.  The production of palm oil should be able to trigger enormous downstream processing industries.

                  Those in Tanjung Manis, which is being developed as Halal Hub 

                  will be using sophisticated technology, mainly bio-tech for the purpose.  The value added downstream activities will enhance the potential of the State as the major halal hub in the region; and

                (v)            Hi-tech Industry:  The introduction of hi-tech industry is a long term effort of the State to restructure the economy from the medium income to high income economy.  In other words, the hi-tech industry is crucial in the process of migrating from the medium income to high income economy towards the year 2020 and beyond. 

One of the key focus areas under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, beginning from this year is to increase private investments to spur domestic economic activities.  The private sector will continue to be the catalyst to move the State economy up the value chain, which is a prerequisite for us to compete in the global market.

Another focus area will be the participation of the low-income group into the mainstream of development.  This will be carried out through the various poverty eradication programmes and projects. Socio-economic development will continue to be given importance to further strengthen the unity of the people.

For example, the 2011 budget aims to ensure balanced development throughout the State.  In this connection, the State Government will undertake proactive measures in the development of physical infrastructures especially in less developed areas. The budget takes into consideration that there is still a need for rural areas to catch up with development in urban areas.  Hence, greater emphasis must be given to the development of infrastructure and amenities such as roads, drainage, telecommunication, electricity and water supplies in these areas.

Rightly, the State government will be emphasizing on the following as the main thrusts of development:

    * To raise the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nurture    

        first class mentality;

    *  To address persistent socio-economic inequalities constructively

        and productively; and

    *  To improve the standard and sustainability of Quality of Life.

Obviously, the development programmes and projects cover both the urban and rural areas to ensure balanced regional development across the State.  This will not only intensify and accelerate the development for SCORE but those areas outside the corridor.

Understandably, the state’s strategy for economic development must necessarily focus on the development and growth of rural areas in order to spread the benefits as well as to bring about renewed growth in traditional sectors. Efforts must also focus towards marshalling economic potentials to be integrated at the rural level so as to induce critical mass. 

Hence, continuous efforts are being made to develop Rural Growth Centres (RGCs) primarily to provide basic amenities to the people and upgrade their quality of life that is being measured by the quality of public housing, transportation, public sanitation, the environment, safety and security.

Indisputably, the state has achieved tremendous progress. It has been transformed from a backward state a progressive one in the country. Any well-informed people, will not dispute this fact. The people must surely be able to see the tremendous stride that has been made, which among other things, help to reduce unemployment among the people and more importantly, take the state into a level of prosperity never seen in the history of the state.

However, the State’s success has not come about by itself. The approach has been well thought of and takes into consideration the local conditions. The philosophy, like that in the rest of the country, must necessarily be to increase the size of the development cake by ensuring a sufficient and sustainable speed of development. The State must endeavor to keep up with the momentum of growth and ensure that the distribution of benefits remain balanced. In other words, no segment of the society will have the feelings of extreme neglect and frustration in the common pursuit for progress and advancement.

The progress has been further enhanced by the successful implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) that has been focusing on the development of human capital and R&D capability; speeding up growth in rural areas; engaging the private sector more intensively and enhancing the quality of life of the people.

Currently, the State can boast of the presence of sufficient number of institutions of higher learning to enable young people to have more affordable choices of courses.  Besides UNIMAS, the State has a campus of Uitm, a national university and two colleges universities of international standing, namely Curtin University in Miri and Swinburne University of Technology in Kuching.

 In Sibu, the United College of Sarawak, which has been renamed College Laila Taib, has been focusing on providing technical courses such as quantity surveying and others.  The state can also boast the presence of a number of skills development centres and polytechnics including the recently completed one in Mukah.

Looking back when Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, the constitution included special protections allowing Sarawak to enter into the union as a semi autonomous state.  The constitution included special protection allowing Sarawak to enter the union as an autonomous state.  The provisions, among other things, allow Sarawak to exercise powers over immigration and imposition of sales taxes.

Other protections relate specifically to Sarawak unique demographic make up and the rights of indigenous communities, who must enjoy the same special rights given to the Malay community in Peninsular Malaysia.

 

               

benuasains

 *Photos Source: google.com images

Figure 10 is a career Destroyed Due Photos

10. destroyed by the photo in tanks
Mike Dukakis was a governor of Massachusetts and a presidential candidate for Democrats in 1988. During the Dukakis campaign is often considered too "soft" on matters of national defense. That's when someone gives an idea to photograph him in a tank to give the impression that Dukakis is very concerned about defense issues. Unfortunately the photo was actually entailed disaster for him to use his opponent's photograph of George HW Bush's that even convince the public that Dukakis did not deserve to be leaders.

9. Destroyed by the scandal itself caught
In 2002 Shane Gibson is a member of the Parliament of the Bahamas became the Minister of Immigration. In February 2007 after the death of Anna Nicole Smith, a newspaper published photographs showing the famous model and Gibson in bed embracing each other. Although both are fully clothed, foto2 caused controversy because it appears there is sexual relationship between them. Gibson even has menlancarkan Smith's application for permanent residency in the Bahamas. Gibson later resigned because of all the questions and rumors about the nature of relationship with Smith. When Gibson down, he denied any wrongdoing and apologize to everyone who might have been offended.

8. destroyed by marijuana use caught in photos.
Michael Phelps He has won 14 gold medals at the Olympic Games In 2009, photographs by the British tabloid News of the World showed Phelps marijuana use and smoking. After the publication of an investigation carried out but due to lack of evidence Phelps is not subject to fines. But he was suspended from the competition pool during the three bulan.Kellog (cereal company) announced that they will not extend his contract support. Cereals agreement usually costs about $ 250,000. Phelps apologized saying he showed bad judgments and behavior was regrettable.

7. destroyed because photoshop
Millard Tydings is a Democrat, Senator Maryland 1927-1951. In 1950, the Republic of Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that there were Communist penetration into the federal government and militer.pada during elections, McCarthy's staff distributed a photo Tydings with Earl Browder, a former Communist Party leader. Apparently the photo is a photo photoshop.
created for the Tydings ngejatuhin
Intiny career ancur gara2 potosop gan

6. Destroyed because of nude photos
In 1983 Vanessa Williams became the first MissAmerika African-American. Ten months after Williams was crowned, he received an anonymous call stating they had her nude photos. The photos were taken in 1982 by Tom Photographer Chiapel when he worked as an assistant and makeup artist for Mount Kisco, New York. According to Williams, Chiapel want to try a new concept of silhouettes with two models perempuan.Williams and several other women pose naked and photographed in various positions of sexual simulation.
A few days later, the publisher of Penthouse, Bob Guccione, the magazine announced that it will publish the photographs in the 1984 edition of September. When the image is outstanding, sponsors threatened to withdraw from the upcoming 1985 contest. Williams later resigned after pressure by the Pageant officials. crown fell to the first runner-up Suzette Charles who is also African-American.

5. Time to make cocaine destroyed by photo
British supermodel Kate Moss is and has appeared in more than 300 magazine covers. In September 2005, the Daily Mirror front page showing raises Moss was using cocaine at a recording studio in West London. This photo was captured during an undercover investigation to the Daily Mirror revealed that Moss, who has repeatedly denied using cocaine, was a cocaine user. In a short time after the photos were published, Moss lost contracts with several major models of international companies such as H & M, Chanel and Burberry. Moss quickly issued an apology but did not admit drug use. In June 2006, stated "I take full responsibility for my actions.", After investigation, the British police dropped the charges for lack of evidence because the alleged pictures of the drug is not verifiable evidence in British courts.

4. destroyed by a boyfriend who was beaten photograph widely circulated
Chris Brown is a American singer and actor who is very popular. On March 5, 2009, Brown was accused of assault and threats pidana.perempuan without a name in the incident claimed he suffered injuries Bruises. Sources identified the victim as his girlfriend and fellow R & B singer Rihanna. Photo leak from the Los Angeles Police Department obtained by TMZ reveal Rihanna injured bruising. After the photo was released, many Browns fans disgusted and angry. After his arrest and release of these photos, some of its discontinued commercial advertisements and music has drawn from several radio stations. Brown also pulled his appearance at the 2009 Grammy Awards. On June 22, 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to criminal assault. Brown received five years probation and ordered to stay fifty yards from Rihanna, except at public events, which will then be reduced to ten meters.

3. careers destroyed because of cheating photo circulating
Gary Hart was a United States Senator from Colorado and the Democratic nomination in the presidential election of 1988. Soon after he announced his candidacy for president, rumors began circulating that Hart was having an affair outside marriage. Hart responded to rumors by the press dare and say "Follow Me, I do not care. I'm serious. If there are people who want to follow me, please. They will be very bored"
Prior to the meeting with the press., Two journalists from the Miami Herald observed a woman identified as Donna Rice came out of Hart's Washington townhouse.
Two days after that, the Herald obtained photographs of Rice sitting in Hart's lap ironically yacht named Monkey Business. Celebrity tabloid The National Enquirer published a photo immediately and within five days, Hart dropped out of Presidential race.

2. destroyed by the artist's photo collection
Edison Chen Hong Kong is very popular in China Canadian movie actor, singer and pop icon. Chen has a total of 16 albums and has appeared in 28 films. In January 2008, Chen was involved in a widely publicized sex scandal when sexually explicit photos of himself and a few actresses to be widely circulated on the Internet. The pictures are taken from Chen's laptop by a technician who was repairing his laptop. There are about 1,300 images, including actresses Gillian Chung, Bobo Chan, Cecilia Cheung and many others. Mr Chen was originally claimed that the photos were fake but later admitted it was he who took the photo. Chen later held a press conference where he said that he was embarrassed and left show business indefinitely. Following his apology Chen attended a rehabilitation center in Utah, for "sex addiction."

1.

Photo taken in 1968 and is one of the most famous images from the 20th century. The picture was taken by photographer Eddie Adams and won a Pulitzer Prize. It is also included in the list of 15 Incredible Historical Photos. Many have seen this picture but most do not know the full story behind it. The man on the left shows the execution of a prisoner in South Vietnam's national police commander, General Loan. When the photo was shown on television and appearing on front pages of newspapers around the world, was seen as an act of cruelty and symbol of war can not be justified. Three months after the photo was taken, the General was seriously injured and taken to Australia for treatment. There is a kind of protest against him that he was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. During the fall of Saigon in 1975 he asked for American help in fleeing with his family but was ignored and had to flee with his family on a plane to South Vietnam. General LOAN, settled in northern Virginia, where he eventually opened a pizza restaurant. LOAN later forced to retire when his identity was published to the public. Eddie Adams (photographer) keep in touch and remember the last visit to a pizza shop, he saw written on the bathroom wall: "We know who you are, troublemaker."

Sarawak works for balanced development towards 2020

Sarawak, which has been enjoying 47 years of development and progress in our beloved nation, Malaysia, will enter a new era of development come 2011.

One of the key focus areas under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, beginning from 2011 is to increase private investments to spur domestic economic activities.  The private sector will continue to be the catalyst to move the State economy up the value chain, which is a prerequisite for us to compete in the global market. 

The State’s strategy to leverage on energy and natural resources particularly under SCORE will attract more investments to Sarawak.  In addition, efforts are also geared towards improving the industrial infrastructure, transportation networks and logistic system as well as preparing quality human capital, in terms of management skills, technical competencies, creative and innovative human resources to meet the demand of the industries. 

Mukah

The development programmes and projects cover both the urban and rural areas to ensure balanced regional development across the State.  This will not only intensify and accelerate the development for SCORE but those areas outside the corridor. 

Another focus area will be the participation of the low-income group into the main stream of development.  This will be carried out through the various poverty eradication programmes and projects. Socio-economic development will continue to be given importance to further strengthen the unity of the people.

Mukah at night

For example, the 2011 budget aims to ensure balanced development throughout the State.  In this connection, the State Government will undertake proactive measures in the development of physical infrastructures especially in less developed areas. The budget takes into consideration that there is still a need for rural areas to catch up with development in urban areas.  Hence, greater emphasis must be give to develop necessary infrastructure and amenities such as roads, drainage, telecommunication, electricity and water supplies in these areas.

Rightly, the State government will be emphasing on the following as the main thrusts of development:

    * To raise the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nurture    

        first class mentality;

    *  To address persistent socio-economic inequalities constructively

        and productively; and

    *  To improve the standard and sustainability of Quality of Life. 

Sibu-Mukah Bridge

The new era towards the year 2020 and beyond, entails a transformation, which necessitates the people to acquire new knowledge and be more diligent and ready to work hard in order to become more productive and efficient in their endeavors.  More importantly, it requires the people to become more proactive and innovative in carrying out tasks, which have been entrusted upon them.   

Essentially, in the next 12 years, the state must continue to be involved in a transformation from infrastructure-oriented approach to human resources approach, primarily to accelerate economic growth, which relies heavily on efforts of the quality of service and productivity of skilled workers.

Lookin back when the Federation of Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963, the constitution included special protections allowing Sarawak to enter into the union as a semi autonomous state.  The constitution included special protections allowing Sarawak to enter the union as an autonomous state.  The provisions, among other things, allow Sarawak to exercise powers over immigration and imposition of sales taxes.

Tanjung Manis Integrated Port

Other protections relate specifically to Sarawak unique demographic make up and the rights of indigenous communities, who must enjoy the same special rights given to the Malay community in Semenanjung Malaysia.

Indisputably, the state has achieved tremendous progress. It has been transformed from a backward state to one of the most progressive states in the country. It is just behind Klang Valley, Selangor and Penang in terms of progress and development. Any well-informed people, would not dispute this fact. The people must surely be able to see the tremendous stride that has been made, which among other things, help to reduce unemployment among the people and more importantly, take the state into a level of prosperity never seen in the history of the state. 

Tanjung Manis Deep Sea Port Activities

Generally, the strategy, which emphasizes on fair distribution of development has succeeded in levelling up our people to new heights of prosperity rather than levelling them down in the name of assuring equality, as has been happening in an extreme socialist environment. Generally, the socialist system, which is based on the doctrine of equality, provides food subsidies, free water and other amenities. It also believes in providing free space for wide spread squatting, which creates massive slums and people, who have the talents, are forced to choose between accepting gradual poverty or migrating to other countries.  

Upcoming Kuching Central

However, the State’s success has not come about by itself. The approach has been well thought of and takes into consideration the local conditions. The philosophy, like that in the rest of the country, must necessarily be to increase the size of the development cake by ensuring a sufficient and sustainable speed of development. Hence, the State must be able to keep up with the momentum of growth and ensure that the distribution of benefits remain balanced to ensure that no segment of the society will have the feelings of extreme neglect and frustration in the common pursuit for progress and advancement.

Undoubtedly, the State has made tremendous progress from the  successful implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) that has been focusing  on the development of human capital and R&D capability; speeding up growth in rural areas; engaging the private sector more intensively and enhancing the quality of life of the people.

Miri City

Currently, the State could boast of having established sufficient number of institutions of higher learning to enable young people  to  have more choices on the courses of study available at affordable costs.  Besides UNIMAS, the State has a campus of Uitm, a national university and two colleges universities of international standing, namely Curtin University in Miri and Swinburne University of Technology in Kuching.  In Sibu, the United College of Sarawak, which has been renamed College Laila Taib, has been focusing on technical courses such as quantity surveying, will eventually be upgraded to a university status.  The state is also able to boast a number of skills development centres and a number of polytechnics including the recently completed Polytechnic Mukah to support other skill requirements.

               

 Speeding Up Growth in Rural Areas

Tanjung Manis Deep Sea Port

The state’s strategy for economic development must necessarily focus on the development and growth of rural are in order to spread the benefits as well as to bring about renewed growth in traditional sectors. Efforts must also be focused towards marshalling economic potentials to be integrated at the rural level so as to induce critical mass.  This approach should be able to funnel economic activities towards the development of secondary towns and more rural growth centres (RGCs).

After the successful establishment of new divisions from five to 11 , a number of secondary towns, particularly Mukah, Betong, Lawas and others  are coming up nicely.  They become the catalysts for greater confluence of economic activities to garner more spilled-over benefits of growth within the whole division.  The secondary towns form the second tier of regional development after the development of cities and major towns such as Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu.

Betong

The state’s strategy for development must necessarily engage the private sector to involve in wider fields of economic activities.  It is a matter of logical progression that the private sector should be involved more and more in the development of the state economy. There is a limit that the public sector, by its very nature, can do to boost the economy.  The private sector, when it lives up to the reputation of being mobile and creative, can become efficient agents of growth in the economy.  

Enhancing the Quality of Life

Understandably, the government’s efforts in development have the purpose of raising the quality of life of the people, who need good coverage of treated water and electricity supplies, better educational facilities and public health services.  The development of Rural Growth Centres (RGCs) is primarily to provide basic amenities to people in rural areas and upgrade their quality of life to the level of those in urban areas.

Mukah nowadays

Generally, the quality of life is measured by the quality of public housing, transportation, public sanitation, the environment, safety and security. Arguably, most towns in Sarawak, which are still small, cannot afford mass transit systems. However, they need a good public transport system. Understandably, as the development of efficient public transport system involves huge costs, the state would require assistance from the Federal Government to help plan and develop it within local cities and big towns.

The other contributing factor to the improvement of quality living is public sanitation such as waste management, sewage and flood mitigation, which also require efforts of both the Federal and State Governments.  The capital cost for such projects is too massive for the State Government, far less the local government to shoulder.  In this respect, the urban dwellers, desirous of enjoying quality facilities, must appreciate the need for them to pay for the operational costs.  

LKIM Building in Tanjung Manis

The concept of user-pay is inevitable in any fast developing cities as can be found in the advanced cities, which are competing to attract and retain people in their localities. In this connection, NGOs and other social organizations could help to disseminate on the concept of user pay in order to make better quality of life realizable in the near future.

Mulu View

 *Photos Source: google.com images

http://www.tanjungmanishalalhub.com

http://blogmoa.moa.gov.my

http://www.skyscrapercity.com

University of Calgary Ombuds Office Goes Online

The Ombuds Office for the 30,000-student public university in Alberta unveiled a new website this week. University of Calgary Ombuds Robert Clegg said, “Offering resources on the web was an obvious way to be more accessible to students, and we’re open to suggestions on how to improve our online presence.”

Clegg is a former immigration and attorney and was appointed to the post earlier this year. (UToday; University of Calgary Ombuds.)

Related posts: University of Calgary Considering Ombuds Program; University of Calgary Appoints First Ombuds for Students.

Strong ethnic identity through confluence, not domination

The Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee after a number of meetings, the first one held on August 24, 1961 in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu), agreed in principle to form a strong federation with special privileges and autonomy reserved for Sarawak and Sabah.  

Then it formed the Inter governmental committee (IGC) to discuss and draft the terms and conditions of the Constitution. Leaders from Sarawak in the committee successfully negotiated the State’s autonomy over Land, Civil Service, Local Government and Immigration.  The special autonomy reserved for Sarawak must be entrenched in the Agreement as well as the constitution. Rightly, they were concerned that without the clauses on the autonomy being entrenched in the constitution, they would not be able to convince the people to accept Malaysia.

For this, the present and future generations of Anak Sarawak must remain very grateful to the pre-Independence leaders for their wisdom and foresight in negotiating favorable terms for the State to join the Federation.  

A pre-Merdeka reporter, Gabriel Tan in his article “The rocky road to Independence” reported there were plenty of anti-Malaysia demonstrations. Then he was embedded with Cobbold Commission, which was tasked to ascertain the wishes of the people on Malaysia Plan. He also reported rowdy anti-Malaysia demonstrations to welcome the arrival of the UN Assessment team in Kuching on August 16, 1963. The teams met similar demonstrations in Sibu and Miri. The demonstrators produced placards with slogan like: We do not want Malaysia, Malaysia means control by Kuala Lumpur”

Off and on the local people, though generally they are friendly and peaceful, will demonstrate against what they perceive as injustice being muted upon them. For example, they burnt the National Flag during a big demonstration at the airport against to welcome Sarawak soccer term, which they perceived as having been cheated of victory by game referee and umpires in the final of Malaysia Cup against Kedah. Generally, they view with suspicion and distrust political leaders from Malaya who come to Sarawak and make a lot of promises. The local people view them as boastful with lots of hot air.

Powerful surge

Undoubtedly, after implementing the philosophy of confluence of culture in one generation, Sarawak has its own formula to erect new people, who are motivated by creativity, hard word and desire to do better in whatever fields of endeavors. The State is in the stage of development where the people can use the best of their talents in pursuit of progress and advancement. After all, culture represents the most powerful surge upward in the endeavors of men in using the power of creativity and intellect of leaders, in the services of the people, state and country.

Sarawak’s success, thus far, may not be achievable without one big condition,   the people’s spirit of accepting realities of times and preparedness to do their utmost in whatever they do.  Understandably, a culture that is not based on the achievement of the best may lead the people into stagnation or even deterioration. Hence, there must be continuous struggle for the best by the people in order to move to greater height. In this respect, no one group can say they will lose if they remain in the confluence of efforts to achieve greater things, where opportunities are available, from the concept of confluence and philosophy of the politics of development; unless they opt out from such efforts.  Undoubtedly, the implementation of the concept of confluence of culture has helped to chart out a clear path for the people, State and the country towards the year 2020 and beyond. It also helps to pave the way for the State to contribute towards realizing the concept of One Malaysia.

 

The State decided to promote the concept of confluence of culture since the mid 80s as a way to enhance common efforts to uphold the concept of Anak Sarawak, who must be encouraged to interact with each other in schools, places of work, recreational centres, beaches, playgrounds, sports complexes and other places. 

Obviously, the spirit of confluence of culture is the answer to Sarawak’s efforts to unify the people, who comprise of diverse racial and sub-racial origins and religious beliefs, to have a common desire for transformation that can bring better life for them through the process of development.

The main challenge for the people is to strengthen their unity and upgrade their ability to adapt to changes in order to achieve greater progress and enjoy peace and harmony.  In other words, they must have common feelings to move forward while, at the same time, grapple with the question of change in the process of development.

As the world pursues greater progress in the fields of economics and technology in particular, the people must have strong desire to preserve their own culture and way of life. For example, a book entitled “Mega trends” says economics, being the most powerful force, must become more global and the people must be given chances to embrace changes in order to enjoy fruits of their achievement.

There are two types of movement, one a movement toward change and the other a movement towards achieving common purpose.  They are like numerous river tributaries.  Initially, the water may start flowing from the streams in the Ulu in different colors, some being red while others may be clear, milky, murky and other colors. As they flow down the river and reach the mouth they become one color not because the water from one river absorb those from other rivers but they converge to produce a single color. In other words, no water from a single river becomes a dominant factor to absorb or assimilate the water from other following rivers. Therefore, it is very important for us to understand that time is very important in the understanding of the concept of confluence of cultures, which require movements in the same direction by all the local components. 

The various ethnic groups in Sarawak equate their differences to colors of water in river tributaries. However, they realize that their strong desire for greater progress and advancement can only be achieved through common and continuous efforts to pursue them together. They also realize that they do not change unless they have the stimulation from some movements in the society; a society without stimulus for change will become stagnant.

Sarawak was assured of development to convince the pre-Independence of leaders to agree to join the new federation.  Undoubtedly, development has become a strong motivating factor for the people to work together. It has brought about a total change to the people from a situation of poverty to reasonable prosperity regardless of whether they are Orang Ulu in upper reaches of the river, Ibans and Bidayuhs in the hinterlands, the Malays in coastal areas and Chinese in urban areas. 

Before the people talked about how difficult it was to get jobs.  Generally, parents were worried whether their children would get jobs or not once they leave schools. All of them had the common aspirations to look forward for better life from one period of development to another. Now all these things have been proven to be worries that are not founded.

Embrace change

Obviously, the government has been making conscientious efforts to unleash the energy and creativity of the people in pursuit of positive changes to their livelihood.   There should be no doubt in the minds of the people regardless of their ethnic origins that they have been able to enjoy the benefits from their own efforts in development. The success has been made possible because of the prevailing peace and harmony without eliminating the identity of any particular community.  In other words, the people have been able to embrace change without losing our identity.

Obviously, the people  have been able to improve themselves, not by cutting out from the little lot that they used to have when the State was very poor,  but from the bigger lots that the Government has been able to make and distribute to the  people. The State has been able to make bigger cake with the judicious implementation of the New Economic Policy, which clearly states that the people must make bigger cakes and distribute them fairly among the people in consonant with the philosophy of achieving development through confluence rather than domination.

Generally, the people interact quite freely with each other.  Initially, they had reservation about the government’s plan to build Dewan Suarah to encourage interactions among the people. They had the view that since the State government had already built community halls, which were not fully utilized by the people in number of places throughout the state, the construction of Dewan Suarah was a waste of money. Admittedly, not many people used the community halls.  However, after one generation, Dewan Suarah have increasingly become very popular among the people.

Obviously, Dewan Suarah is being used more and more as avenues to encourage interactions among the people of various ethnic groups. They serve as avenues for the people to hold community and social activities like wedding receptions, meetings, conferences, symposium, seminars and others which provide opportunities for the people to interact among them. Therefore, Dewan Suarah have succeeded to become focal points of inter mixture of activities of people. They have become the motivating factor for the people to have confluence among them. Generally, the government has been implementing policies that encourage interactions among the people in centres of excellence and other avenues.

New discipline

Undoubtedly, the judicious implementation of the New Economic Policy has been able to create more opportunities for the people of all races to involve in commercial and entrepreneurial activities.  It provides incentives and freedom for people to work hard to improve their way of life.  However, it is necessary for   young people, teenagers in particular to be imbibed with new discipline to develop their knowledge and skills in order to improve their performances in economics pursuits.

Perhaps the people should talk more and more on issues related to development like the necessity to increase participation of Bumiputra in commerce and industry and the need for Chinese to upgrade their efficiency in order to keep up with demands of new management. Basically, the people in business must prepare themselves to cope with bigger businesses, which requires them to have a new realization of exploiting bigger market.

Realizing One Malaysia concept

 Undeniably, the government has been carrying out numerous programs to help the people to develop their capacity to participate meaningfully in community development through uniformed movements. The people must aim to achieve bigger success in their efforts to improve their livelihood.  The State is having a uniformed movement, motivated by the politics of development and the mechanism of the confluence of culture, to enable the people to play active roles towards realizing the concept of One Malaysia.

More and more people are contributing to efforts to promote interactions among the races to discuss various issues relating to culture and generally their way of life.  A number of activities like Pesta Kaul of the Melanau community, Pesta Sape Borneo of the Orang Ulu community, Sarawak Regatta, Baram regatta, the newly inaugurated Pesta Birumuh of the Bidayuh community have come up to create interests of the people to enrich their way of life through a confluence of culture, a culture that can accommodate all races.     

Understandably, the Government has already taken steps to restructure the education policy, which will introduce more fun, unleash greater curiosity among children to become more creative in their studies; creativity is one big word in cultural development.  The new system of education should provide a solid structure in development to motive the people to become more creative in what ever they do. Without an organization, it is impossible to intensify efforts to upgrade creativity among the people to face the ever challenging global world.

Culture, a movement in our life

The total concept of culture is not only dance, song, poetry and others but a movement in life that has the impact on the changing situation or some times creating situation, which is based on the freedom of the people and the encouragement of the  society to get them to conceive the best that they can produce from their time.  Undoubtedly, it represents the mainstream of cultural change.

The people must appreciate that the components of culture like dances, songs are subject to changes. Even dresses and many other things can change that tend to typify or rather easterlies our symbol of culture. Yet we will not lose the reservoir of the best that our ancestors have been able to create and hand over to us as legacies only to be reinvented to become, perhaps one day, Sarawak’s pride or Sarawak culture. More importantly, it will be able to accommodate all the sub-cultures, create more links and give new verities that help to enrich our culture well beyond those that we have inherited as our legacies.

Generally, our dances, architectural or fashion designs and other elements that constitute our culture have been undergoing changes. Undeniably, all of them have been experiencing changes yet the inspirations behind the inventions and creativities can be traced back to our cultural heritage. In other words, we have lost nothing. Instead, we have got something new that we can call our own. And that is the different between the process of unification and assimilation. Advisably, we must look at the bigger picture in order to understand much more about the transformation of our culture.  Ideally, as a philosophy is learnable it should be based on separate experiences over a short period of time, that preceded by time of stagnation in particular.

History also tells us how the Italian culture has changed a great deal from Latino or Roman culture in those days to become what it is today. The Arab culture has changed from those in golden age of Prophet Muhammad 700 years to become what it is today, wealthier. It has absorbed the influences of Iranians and legacies of Indian and Chinese cultures.  Our Prophet Muhammad openly said to the followers to seek learning go even as far as China. All those things are being seen today. The Greeks have inherited a lot from Egyptians and absorbed a lot of influence from Persians or the Middle East where Iran and Iraq are today.

Civilization depicts desire to achieve greater things

The whole history of civilization is based on the desire of people, who have been successful to achieve greater things in life not on the desire of people to preserve and stay as they are. Those that adopt the philosophy of remaining as they are may end up in stagnation; they are likely to experience relative deterioration if compared with other civilizations of culture as what has happened in the past. Actually, stagnation or backwardness in any part of the world is attributable to people, who do not want to invite or open themselves to influences or changes taking place in and around them.

The change in the world, which tends to uplift the standard of success and achievement because of the accumulation of knowledge and the endeavors of human being to consolidate their knowledge into technologies and architecture in the efforts to improve all activities of life  into literature as the inspiring materials of any civilizations. History tells us that a civilization is really the process of one most powerful people, through the most creative endeavors at their command, to erect new creativity and extend boundaries of their endeavors to new things. Those who want to be left out from these influences become stagnant and those who are stagnant normally end up staying in little corners of the world. 

There are many little corners in the world today with some of them in Africa. But they were not like that before.  For example, Africa used to be a big empire with great civilization. However, the empire could not be sustained with a small population.  Chad and Somalia used to be part of the Islamic trading world, mainly with China, India and Arabia but today they produce pirates.  After the fall of Sri Vijaya kingdom, the Central authority also lost control over captains of fleets in various parts of South East Asia, who became pirates. Eventually, the kingdom of Sri Vijaya that stretched as far North as Taiwan and down to New Guinea and probably Africa disintegrated to become colonies of many Western powers.  

Now the people have the chance to rise up to ensure that they have the motivating movement to give a second life to the common endeavor to become part of a bigger civilization in a global world. However, they must have the ability to enjoy themselves by having unity, harmony and the cultural environment that is most suited to our times.

benuasains

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