Special interests

The bridge in Piasau connecting to Miri Peninsular is near completion and is expected to be opened to public use sometime during Chinese New Year. The original proposal was meant to be single lane, but this was later deemed inadequate and changed to dual lane to ease traffic. What's left now are the finalizing work, such as street lights.

Without this bridge as a shortcut, Mirians would have to go through Lutong to get to the Miri peninsular. Many years ago, a ferry near the other end of the Miri peninsular handled the traffic to and fro as a third option to access the peninsular.

The Old Piasau Bridge, which has stood in its place and reinforced a few times for more than 30 years, would be handed over to the Public Works Department (JKR) for maintenance.

Apparently the bridge was given a name of "Miri River Bridge", and the old one next to it was "Piasau Bridge", but we think this is just a recipe ripe for confusion. Why not call it "New Piasau Bridge? Never mind the RM9,000,000 cost yet.

Source

It's been about a year since the ban of plastic bags everyday of the week. The ban of plastics are set in place to create awareness among the public on the dangers of expansive use of plastic, reduce or minimize the plastic usage starting from shopping complexes by using recyclable shopping bags and encourage public from various levels to participate in environmental awareness programme.

That is the idea. The reality however, is that I still see people resorting to those plastic trash bag packs sold at convenience stores for their trash. The blame on the plastic bags causing pollution in the sea and rivers are not justified either - this is purely as a result of irresponsible people throwing them into the sea and not the plastic bag's fault. What about the use of paper bags or biodegradable plastic bags? Or what about the excessive use of plastics on manufactured products?

It is worth noting that the many, many booklets of parking coupons issue by the Miri Council itself are made of questionable material as well. How biodegradable are the parking coupons, and are the silver scratching material toxic?

Is this campaign actually working? What are your thoughts on it?

List of "Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia" Food Outlets in Miri. Prices for the meals are between RM2 to RM5.

-TAJ RESTAURANT

-NURSATH ISLAMIC CAFE

-Kwong Tung Cafe

-NURZANAH RESTAURANT

-IRDYANA BISTRO

-CITY CURRY HOUSE

-AL ISLAM CAFE & KATERING

-BULAN ULUNG

-PUMA SERA RESTAURANT

-Restoran Al Asna Sdn Bhd (Morsjaya)

-Restoran Al Asna Sdn Bhd (Pelita)

-Islamic Restaurant

-Shukie Café

Beihai Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office section chief Ellen Lei made the announcement of its intention to adopt Miri Resort City as one of its international sister cities when leading six delegates on their first courtesy visit to Miri mayor Lawrence Lai at the Miri Municipal Council office yesterday.

According to Lei, “We want to make Miri Resort City representing Malaysia as one of our international sister cities among other nine countries."

“Beihai’s inaugural international sister city is Tulsa, the second largest city in Oklahoma, USA which was incorporated in March, 1987. Beihai city has now established relations with nine international sister cities,�? she added.

According to her, the other eight international sister cities are Yatsushiro Japan, Gold Coast Australia, Suva Fiji, Lugano Switzerland, Hatyai Thailand, Leduc City Canada, Puerto Princesa Philippines and Semarang Indonesia.

“We are hoping to establish ties with Miri City to represent Malaysia as a whole as the 10th international sister city with Beihai, China,�? she said.

Source

55 entrepreneurs from Melaka, Selangor, Terengganu, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak will take part in the promotion of Malaysian handicrafts here from Friday until May 25. The stalls sell handicrafts created from textile, forest and land products and metals.

The promotion includes craft education for selected primary and secondary school pupils, who would be taught such skills as the coloring and printing of batik, weaving and embroidering.

A workshop on the traditional art of rattan weaving would be held, and cultural shows would be presented in cooperation with the Sarawak Cultural and Arts Department, Information Department and local cultural associations.

A recommended visit for the weekend.

Source : http://www.kraftangan.gov.my/