Miri Resort City.com - News & Events

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Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:09:57 +0800

News & events have been moved.

For more recent news & events, please check the city blog page under 'News & Events' catergory.

Miri May Fest 2007 Photography Competition

Wed, 2 May 2007 15:16:06 +0800

Date of competition: 01/05/2007 - 31/05/2007
Closing Date for submission of entries: 06/06/2007

Forms & enrollment details are available at these outlets:

TT Art Photo Sdn. Bhd.
1.6 UGF, Boulevard Shopping Complex
98000 Miri

Tel: 085-423458

___

Yen-Fah Video Centre
Lot 573, Ground Floor, Pelita commerical Center
98000 Miri, Sarawak.

Tel: 085-411573
Fax: 085-433573
___

TV10 Video
Lot 566, 2nd floor,
Pelita Commercial Centre,
98000 Miri
Tel: 60-85 43 3690
Fax 60-85 413690
___

Soo Chew Studio Sdn. Bhd.
No.2 High Street
98000 Miri
Sarawak
Malaysia.

Telephone: 6 085-434519
Fax : 6 085-416871
___

Entry forms should be filled out and sent to:

Siew Tick Chai
Yen-Fah Video Centre
Lot 573, Ground Floor, Pelita commerical Center
98000 Miri, Sarawak.

Ting Nai Ho
TT Art Photo Sdn. Bhd.
1.6 UGF, Boulevard Shopping Complex
98000 Miri.

Rules & Regulation

1. Competition is open for Malaysian only, Catergory (A) Open; Catergory (B) Junior.

2. Entry size for Open category is 8R (8" x 10"); Entry size for Junior catergory is 5R
(5" x 7").

3. Entries for more than one (1) are welcome.

4. Entry sent in will not be returned, the organizer reserves the right to reproduce any entry for publicity or catalogues priting.

5. Entry form is allowed to be photocopied.

6. The decision of the judges are final. No correspondence will be entertained.

7. The submission of entries signifies acceptance of the conditions of entry.

Prizes:

	Catergory A	Catergory B
1st Prize + Certificate	RM 1,000.00	RM 500.00
2nd Prize + Certificate	RM 600.00	RM 300.00
3rd Prize + Certificate	RM 400.00	RM 200.00
Consolation x 5 + Certificate	RM 50.00	RM 50.00

Links
http://www.mirips.com.my/

21st April 2007 - Miri-Kota Kinabalu-Hong Kong flight to take off on May 3

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 09:43:47 +0800

MIRI: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will start a four-times-a-week flight from here to Hong Kong with a transit in Kota Kinabalu starting May 3.

Although the new route would not be a direct flight it would at least serve as a first step for Miri to become a popular tourist destination, especially for visitors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and the Philippines.

MAS would also offer promotional fares for the new flight and local tourism players were also expected to carry out tourism products promotion in Hong Kong.

The MAS commercial team had agreed to put the Miri-Kota Kinabalu-Hong Kong flight under their Golden Holidays package after the city had been left out from the list of destinations under the packages introduced earlier this year.

Lee Kim Shin, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) member had been fighting for MAS to start such a flight, said the airline’s previous arguments that it did not serve a flight to Mulu and that Miri was a non-capital city could not be accepted as reasons for the city to be left out from the package of destinations.

— SOURCE

MAS agrees to Miri-Guangzhou flight via Kota Kinabalu

Sat, 7 Apr 2007 15:46:28 +0800

MIRI: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has agreed to start a transit flight from here to Guangzhou and Hong Kong with a stop in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah after being unable to fulfil a request for direct flights between Miri and the two destinations in China.

A mobilisation problem was the reason given for the direct flight proposal to be turned down.

MAS' agreement to start the transit flight was a small breakthrough to bring more tourists here and would be working on the details of the proposed flight and had yet to give the actual date for the flight commencement.

Although MAS was preferred to start three direct flights weekly from here to the two destinations, the proposed transit flight would receive overwhelming response to make the national airline to reconsider direct flights.

MAS Golden Holiday Package management team would be coming to Miri on April 19 to find out about the tourism products available here, following his request after the resort city was not listed for the holiday packages.

Calls made by people in the State for another airline to serve the domestic routes in Sarawak should be taken up by the Transport Ministry.

There had not been much improvement since the rationalisation exercise in Sarawak last August that saw Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) taking over most of the domestic routes in the State.

[ Source ]

27th March 2007 - Miri to enjoy WiFi throughout city centre

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:13:48 +0800

"MIRI: Miri will be the first place in Sarawak to have ubiquitous wireless Internet connectivity upon completion of the citywide WiFi Hot Zones Miri pilot project.

The project was being carried out by telecommunication infrastructure and service provider Sacofa and Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd which recently launched the DeConnexion WiFi service.

The company has set up Wi-Fi Hotzones throughout the city centre in the first phase of its rollout plan. Additional hotzones will be set up over the next few months to provide at least 80 per cent wireless coverage of Miri city. The suburbs of Miri would also be covered in subsequent deployments.

The wi-fi coverage is based on industry standard 802.11 b/g standards which enable users to access wireless network with similarly equipped notebooks, computers, PDAs and wi-fi equipped Smartphones. Users will be able to enjoy unlimited Internet speeds of up to 384 kbps.

According to him, Miri would be connected via high bandwidth to Hong Kong in two days’ time. Presently users experience slow connection due to small bandwidth.

To use this service, users can register online for instant access. The service is provided free of charge until Dec 31 this year."

Links:
http://deConnexion.com.my

[ Source ]

FEATURE: Miri sailor ready to go round the world in 180 days

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:49:14 +0800

Ariffin Abdul Aziz.

MIRI - Ariffin Abdul Aziz, a Miri-based sailor, will leave the Miri Marina in June on a non-stop, round-the-world voyage for 180 days.

"The Miri Malaysia World Solo Challenge will cover a route of 3,649 nautical miles. I am ready to break the record of our national mariner Datuk Azahar's 25,000 nautical miles," said a jubilant Captain Ariffin, targeting 180 days of unassisted solo trip against Azhahar's 190 days of assisted trip when he broke his mast near the Falkland Inslands.

Known as Fin or Captain Fin or Masterfin to the sailing fraternity in the region, he used to skipper Miri's racing yacht Ulumulu, particularly in the Borneo International Yachting Challenge and other successful campaigns at various regional circuits and Asian regattas.

Answering in jest of possibility he would get a "datuk" title from the state upon arrival from the solo trip, he said, "I'm pretty sure to successfully break Azahar's record".

He said he has been preparing physically and mentally for the challenge since the last series of Borneo International Yachting Challenge on September 3, 2006.

Captain Ariffin began his career as a professional sailor after leaving the Royal Malaysian Navy in 1987. His deep interests in water sports steered him from managing water sport activities for resorts and owning a dive centre to maintaining and skippering sail and power yachts.

In 1994, Fin set out on his first yacht race on Gotcha Lagi, when he got hooked on racing.

He raced with the Malaysian teams for five years and won prestigious trophies in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

He got an apprenticeship aboard an Australian high-tech racing yacht, the only carbon-fibre yacht to come to these waters, and together with the team continue to win international regattas.

Subsequently, he went into long distance yacht deliveries to Europe and Australia.

Having logged over 100,000 nautical miles and experienced crossing various oceans in all types of weather, he told the Bulletin, "Communicate with me via e-mail. I am still single... so no problem... (I am) ready."

[ Source ]

16th March 2007 - 50 troupes from Asia-Pacific region to hold five-hour non-stop dance marathon

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 09:03:37 +0800

MIRI - About 50 dance troupes from within the Asean and the Asia-Pacific region will perform a non-stop five-hour marathon for an International Dance for Humanity at the Indoor Stadium here on June 24.

Miri chapter of the Malaysian Red Crescent, the organiser, said it is to promote international friendship and understanding through the participation of National Red Cross/Red Crescent Society to amplify the principle of universality.

According to its organising chairman, Penghulu Chio Siong Nang, the event themed 'Together For International Peace & Harmony' will showcase a colourful fusion of various cultures of the Asia-Pacific region.

"It is to enhance our racial and cultural harmony and unity in our diversified society through cultural activities and through trans-national and socio-cultural exchange, with participation from other countries ", he said.

The conception of the unique event of Dance for Humanity in 2004, had received overwhelming support from the local society that promoted the organisers on a grandeur scale by extending invitations to other countries.

15th March 2007 - Bruneians born on May 20 invited to join in Miri's 2nd anniversary

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:02:57 +0800

MIRI - Bruneians and expatriates living in the Sultanate whose birthday falls on May 20 are eligible to join their Malaysian counterparts living in Sarawak for the grand second birthday celebration of Miri City, this coming May 20.

"Birthday celebrants have to turn up on the night of May 19 at the Miri City Fan but they first have to get themselves registered at the Miri City Council office. They're most welcome to celebrate their birthday here and be among the special people on that day," officials said.

As of press time, only over 20 local Malaysians have registered.

Apart from enjoying a cultural-musical show and fireworks on the night of May 19, birthday celebrants will also be entitled to a grand lucky draw.

Source

See earlier news

13th March 2007 - Eight international bands for Miri Jazz Festival

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:10:39 +0800

Eight international bands will showcase their music at this year’s Miri International Jazz Festival.

They include the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans, Habana Sax from Cuba, Lluis Coloma from Spain and Son2Nos (Britain/Venezuela/Philippines), who will play a variety of upbeat jazz music.

KCP4 from India and Orak Naa Naa (Morocco and Germany) will present fusion jazz with Indian and Arabic influences while the George Washingmachine Quartet (Australia/Britain/France) will liven up the event with their modern gypsy-influenced music.

Malaysia’s David Gomes Jazz Sextet and Junji Delfino will also be performing at the festival on May 11 and 12.

Organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), the jazz extravaganza is aimed at boosting Miri’s tourism industry.

Tickets priced at RM50 for one day and RM90 for two days are now available online at www.ticketcharge.com.my.

FEATURE: Making his mark on the world

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 15:39:45 +0800

A Malaysian has struck it rich in the deserts of the Middle East. Not with oil but with hard work, little sleep and much emphasis on quality.

It will be an honour for us when people point out our works and say they love it, and then say, ‘Malaysians designed this building!’ TEO AH KHING

THE artist’s impression has the imposing structure proudly towering into the cloudless Arabian sky, a gigantic representation of the rare desert flower that inspired its design.

The numbers that give the drawing heft are impressive: at almost 500m high and with 108 storeys when it is completed in 2010, the Burj Al Alam in Dubai will be second only to China’s Taipei 101, currently the world’s tallest building at 509m.

And it’s a Malaysian architect who is building this landmark tower in the world’s most cosmopolitan city.

Teo Ah Khing, an unassuming architect from Sarawak, won a fierce competition for the prestigious contract to design the US$1.1bil (RM3.85bil) tower sited in Dubai’s swanky Business Bay.

His design has the slim, organic-looking yet marvellously futuristic structure clad in glass; it’s also architecturally and structurally challenging to construct, as the floors change shapes as the tower rises.

In the United Arab Emirates, only the planned US$800mil (RM2.96bil) Burj Dubai will be taller at about 800m.

(The Burj Dubai’s precise height remains guarded in case New York’s currently-under-construction Freedom Tower attempts to top it, though the World Trade Center’s replacement is currently slated to stop at 541m when it is completed in 2009.)

The Burj Al Alam project sounds like it would be the pinnacle in any architect’s career but you wouldn’t think so to hear Teo tell it.

“Our goal was never to be famous or successful, but to leave our mark in Dubai,�? says the refreshingly down to earth 47-year-old at a recent interview in his Kuala Lumpur office.

“It will be an honour for us when people point out our works and say they love it, and then say, ‘Malaysians designed this building!’.�?

It is this reluctance to stand solo in the limelight that is the reason most Malaysians have not heard of Teo or his company, TAK Design Consultants, despite the fact that the man and his team have one of the most impressive portfolios we’ve ever seen for a home-grown architect!

Now what can rival the world’s second tallest tower in terms of prestige? Well, Teo is also designing the ultra high-tech Dubai International Financial Centre and the multi-billion dollar Nad Al-Sheba Racecourse that will be the venue for the Dubai World Cup.

And on Teo’s drawing board are plans for the 1,214ha (3,000 acre) Pakistan Armed Forces Headquarters in Islamabad (on which he can’t give many details because it’s top secret!). TAK beat top international architectural firms to win the planet-wide competition for the project in 2005.

Once finished in 2010, the headquarters – which is a humble description for an army city, really – will house the world’s largest number of foot soldiers: exceeding one million. Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf himself presided over the competition and selected TAK from five finalists.

A sound foundation

Despite all this success, Teo remains a most unassuming architect. Other than business reports on projects, there is an almost startling lack of publicity on the man and his works.

He remains humble, almost to a fault, refusing to talk about his achievements initially. Tall and slim with friendly, twinkling eyes, Teo has a genteel air about him and tends to listen rather than air his thoughts. I feel like a dentist throughout our interview, attempting to pry his mouth open to get him to share his thoughts.

The only thing he was overtly eager to show me was the framed drawing of the Putrajaya Masterplan hanging in his boardroom. That project had been his launching pad.

How did he get that first high-profile job? By making a name for himself in architectural circles for being a workhorse who delivers on time and on budget. He is relentless, it seems, when it comes to meeting deadline, a trait that, no doubt, pleased the meticulous former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who oversaw the creation of Cyberjaya.

Malaysian Institute of Architects president Dr Tan Loke Mun says, “We can be sure that we will be sleep-deprived if we’re working with Teo Ah Khing!�?

“It’s just that we work in an extremely unforgiving industry; a bad reputation for shoddy work spreads like wildfire and is very difficult to restore,�? Teo explains.

“We have no time to waste, or, yes, even sleep sometimes, when there is a project to complete! There are no short cuts to excellence, you can’t bluff in this field, people can see through you in an instant.�?

When he airs his views about work, he sounds almost Confucian, I thought – and it turns out he is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese and Confucian principles and ethics.

“My motto is that our name is proven in the buildings. We don’t advertise. We just work hard and deliver quality work. This is basic Confucian philosophy and inherent in the Chinese culture.

“It has taken 5,000 years for China to be an economic giant today. It took patience and hard work. When I was 23 and starting out, I never imagined I’d one day be where I am now.

“It’s not because I wasn’t ambitious, but who could imagine all this! But I’m patient and I work step by step. We don’t sell ourselves with a catchy or glamorous name but by building a solid foundation with old-fashioned values. Substance is important beyond anything else.

“We are still in the making. There is nothing great about us. We aspire to go further. As a Miri boy, I would be very proud if I could inspire others to rise above mediocrity and constraints. We let others judge us and let them say that our work is good. Now that’s real praise!�?

First steps

The Miri boy is the youngest of 10 siblings who grew up in a humble household headed by his fishermen father and grandfather. Young Teo’s interest didn’t lie seawards, though; he always preferred to watch people building houses.

His family sent him to Australia for his architectural degree at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

“Having come from traditional Chinese schools, I failed several times as my English was weak and I couldn’t write well!�? Teo recalls with a laugh.

Showing early signs of the determination that would stand him in good stead later in life, Teo took extra English lessons. He graduated with Honours in 1986 and was even named Best Architectural Graduate.

Teo went on to become the first Malaysian to earn a Master’s Degree in Urban Design at the very prestigious Harvard University in Massachusetts, the United States. Fed by his fascination with his Eastern roots, Teo’s thesis was on the influence of ancient geomancy on architecture. He cites the great modernists, Le Corbusier, Geoffrey Bawa and Louis Kahn, as inspirations.

(Corbusier, 1887-1965, French architect who introduced the Modern Movement; Bawa, 1919-2003, renowned Sri Lankan architect; Khan, 1902–1974, along with Corbusier, considered a “father�? of modern architecture.)

Armed with impressive academic credentials, the young architect gained entry into multinational corporations in the United States, where he got his first taste of mega projects. He was part of a team involved in land planning for the Pearl River Delta Region in China covering Shenzhen, Macau and Hong Kong.

After working in Japan and Singapore for three years, Teo started TAK in 1993 with three partners based in Singapore. But the fledgling company was hit by the 1997 economic downturn that badly affected Asia.

“The situation made it unfavourable for us to venture abroad, so we decided to build our reputation in our backyard instead,�? recalls Teo.

“I had always intended to return home anyway. On hindsight, the economic crisis had proved to be a blessing of sorts as it forced us to start from scratch and to grow steadily one step at a time.�?

In 1993 TAK completed the Masterplan for the Kuching City Extension. The Miri Municipal Council awarded them the Master Planning and Landscaping contract for the RM8mil Miri City Fan 1 project, a unique fan-shaped civic park sprawled across 10.5ha (26 acres). TAK completed the project in two years and was awarded the second and third phases.

They remain Teo’s most cherished achievements. “My earliest project is now the soul of the city,�? he says happily. “It’s a favourite spot with the locals and many city councils have visited it. I made it cosmopolitan so that everybody belongs here!�?

TAK’s big break came in 1996 when Putrajaya Corp invited them and six other firms to review the original plans for the country’s new administrative capital, the Putrajaya Township.

TAK boldly proposed changes, including a major redesign to relocate the government precinct plus the Prime Minister’s Office to a higher plateau overlooking the entire township. Teo also disagreed with plans to level the terrain and urged the preservation of the landscape’s natural contours.

Tun Mahathir approved the plan and TAK was awarded development contracts for prime segments including the coveted Putrajaya Diplomatic Enclave.

From a small company staffed by four partners when it began, TAK today employs 100 professional staff in its offices in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Kuching, Miri, Islamabad and Dubai. The company has branched out into project management and landscaping alongside architectural services.

Building beyond Malaysia

After building a reputation through the Putrajaya Masterplan, the KL Flood Mitigation plan and the RM600mil BioValley projects in Selangor (the biotech equivalent of America’s famous Silicone Valley), Teo gained confidence to venture beyond borders.

In 2005, Bandar Raya Development Bhd invited TAK to participate in a project for the Lahore Golf Course, Hotel and Housing Development in Pakistan.

Soon after, TAK won on its own the important competition to design the Pakistan Armed Forces Headquarters. This was followed by projects for the Army Heritage Museum & Theme Park at the Ayub National Park in Rawalpindi to transform the site into an international tourism development.

In April 2005, TAK was awarded two colossal property development contracts worth US$11bil (RM38.5bil) by Pakistan property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain. TAK was to design and build Phase 7, 8 and 9 of the high-end Bahria Town in Rawalpindi; this included a monorail system.

Pakistan proved pivotal for the company’s future. Many Pakistani businessmen operate in Dubai and one of them invited Teo to venture there.

“I asked my team, ‘Guys, are we ready?’ We had to reassess our team all over again before we decided to accept the invitation,�? says Teo.

“Dubai is a rising metropolis. It’s branded the new Constantinople. It’s the crossroads of East and West with over 180 nationals working here. They want to create another New York, but this time they have the chance to do things right.

“We were incredibly honoured to be part of this exciting challenge. Dubai is saturated with international talent; the world’s who’s who is here including famous architecture firms.

“We couldn’t help feeling overawed initially, and asked ourselves, ‘Can a small Malaysian firm successfully compete on such a huge, international platform?’

“But we soon discovered that Dubai practices a liberal policy in awarding contracts. They do not play favourites but seek quality. It is a fair level playing field; there is no discrimination! If there was any discrimination, we wouldn’t have gone this far or even got a foothold here.�?

Dubai continues to be the promised land for Teo. He was awarded contracts as landscape architect for all of Dubai Business Bay and for the Arab Renaissance City of the Madinat Al Arab, and Dubai Studio City within Dubailand, the Middle East’s answer to Disneyland that covers an area larger than Monaco.

The trail of success doesn’t end in Dubai, either. Saudi Arabia and Qatar recently invited Teo to vie for lucrative contracts there. Not bad at all for a humble Miri boy!

Source

9th March 2007 - Food-Fruit Adventure begins in Miri with promotion on Thai cuisine

Fri, 9 Mar 2007 09:45:38 +0800

MIRI - Zest Restaurant at the Miri Marriott Resort & Spa is going 'Thai' with the launch of its 'Food from the Land of Smiles' promotion until March 25.

The promotion showcases authentic Thai cuisine prepared by the award-winning Thai Executive Chef of the famous White Elephant Restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Sombat Lerkradtanaphaisan.

6th March 2007 - Medical alert on JE (Japanese Encephalities) virus

Wed, 7 Mar 2007 15:51:11 +0800

Suspected cases detected in Tudan prompt call for precautionary steps by residents

MIRI: Medical health authorities are on the alert following the detection of a few suspected cases of Japanese Encephalities (JE) in Tudan recently.

However the area affected is far away from pig rearing farms. Pigs had, in the past, been identified as being infected by the virus, which spread to humans via mosquito bites.

JE recorded its worst record spread in Negri Sembilan in 1998 up to March 2000 when 84 people were reported killed by it.

Miri Divisional Health Officer Dr Chin Zin Hing who revealed this said precautionary steps had been taken such as fogging of the affected areas last week.

Dr Chin advised the public to do their part by destroying the potential breeding grounds for mosquito in their homes and public places.

He declined to give details on the actual number of persons suspected of having been infected, other than saying that the situation was under control and being closely monitored.

“There are a few cases received but the situation is under control and no deaths have been reported, so far,�? Chin said.

Reassuring residents in Tudan worried about the spread of JE in this resettlement area, Dr Chin urged them to maintain the cleanliness of the houses’ compounds to curb the breeding of mosquito larvae.

He revealed that a medical team was fogging the affected areas and monitoring the situation. Affected residents had been treated and injected with vaccine.

The medical team had been directed to be on alert for the possible spread of JE, he said, adding that investigations were ongoing to identify its spread.

3rd March 2007 - No increase in ARV rates this year: Miri City mayor

Sat, 3 Mar 2007 11:54:30 +0800

MIRI - Mirian ratepayers were assured that there would be no increase in this year's assessment tax or Annual Rateable Value (ARV).

Miri City Mayor Datuk Wee Han Wen said the rate payers should not be worried about their assessment as it still remains on the old rates.

There had been no major increase of ARV for the past five years, he said, except for some slight 'adjustment' of less than two per cent in some cases.

16th February 2007 - Gong Xi Bazaar, High Street

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:39:40 +0800

Chinese New Year Bazaar at High Street, and dragon dance video.

The Baazar and a huge inflatable'God of Fortune'

Dragon Dance

1 February 2007 - Disease forces 3 kindergartens to close

Thu, 1 Feb 2007 16:36:45 +0800

Three kindergartens in Sarawak were closed after cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) were detected by a health team yesterday.

They were Sedidik Jaya in Sri Aman and Kindergarten Methodist Sze Hua and Tadika St Clement, both in Sarikei.

All districts were being monitored to prevent another outbreak.

Up to the fourth week this year, 132 cases have been reported, with 40 cases in Kuching, 23 in Sarikei and Sibu, 14 in Bau and 12 in Miri.

HFMD is endemic in Sarawak. It occurs once every three years. The last outbreak was in early last year. The outbreak was declared over on Oct 3.

On Jan 24, the state health department issued an alert to all districts and hospitals when the Institute of Health and Community Medicine of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak reported that it had detected the EV71 virus in Kuching, Sarikei, Miri and Limbang.

All districts had been told to step up preventive measures and investigate reports of the disease.

Checks must also be made at childcare centres, nurseries and pre-schools.