Skim Biasiswa Percepat lntegrasi Nasional

oleh Hing Yetm Feun Pelatih Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Para lJela' !jar yang a k an "b erhijrah" k

eSel11 enal/ful/g.

Skim Biasiswa Menengah Semenanjung dan Sarawak dilaksanakan bertujuan untuk membantu mempercepatkan proses integrasi nasional.

Demikian menurut Pengarah Yayasan Sabah, Datuk Musa Haji Aman di Majlis Perjumpaan Ibubapa dan Para Pelajar Tingkatan I ke Semenanjung Malaysia di Teater Mini Yayasan Sabah pada 13 Februari, 1998.

Beliau menegaskan penghantaran pelajar ke Semenanjung Malaysia dan Sarawak memberikan peluang kepada pelajar-pelajar Sabah untuk menikmati kemudahan pembelajaran yang lebih lengkap dan sempurna. dihantar telah mencatatkan kelulusan yang cemerlang dalam peperiksaan. Selain itu, pelajar-pelajar Sabah juga mendapat pendedahan yang membolehkan mereka mengenali makna sebenar hidup dalam masyarakat berbilang kaum di Malaysia," sambung beliau lagi.

Dalam majl is tersebut, seramai 159 orang pelajar cemerlang UPSR telah menerima tajaan biasiswa Yayasan Sabah untuk melanjutkan pelajaran mereka ke Semenanjung Malaysia dan Sarawak di sekolah-sekolah yang terpilih.

"Pada masa ini, seramai 459 pelajar

seramai 146 orang pelajar sedang mengikuti pengajian menengah mereka di MSRM Kuching, Sarawak."

Para pelajar berkenaan telah diingatkan agar memanfaatkan pengalaman yang diperolehi, sentiasa menunjukkan sikap positif, hormat-menghormati dan bertanggungjawab di samping menjaga nama baik Yayasan Sabah dan Negeri Sabah.

Beliau menyeru agar ibu bapa untuk bersama-sama berganding bahu dengan Yayasan Sabah berusaha meningkatkan kecemerlangan pendidikan anak-anak mereka. Dengan sebab, ibubapa adalah

Investors·

support needed

There is a need for cooperation and support of everyone including foreign investors to cushion the repercussions of the economic downturn that has hit the country, said the Director of Yayasan Sabah, Datuk Musa Haji Aman.

"We should take it as a challenge to our resilience and as an opportunity to prove our capabilities during this difficult time," he said during a dinner reception for the members of the Kobe Municipality Assembly and investors to Sabah at a leading hotel here on May 20.

Datuk Musa who is also the Chief Executive ofInnoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd said the current economic situation no doubt is the most opportune time for the organisation to examine its situation objectively in order to adjust and plan our next move.

"Although the state is feeling the pinch because of the economic slowdown but on the whole there is no cause for panic, or undue alarm as the situation is under control, " he added.

He further stressed that a lot can be done to weather the adverse prevailing condition which started with the right frame of mind and spirit to withstand the period and the challenges that come with it.

"We hope, the major industrial countries in the Far East which still constitute the Foundation's most important export markets will bear with us during this tough economic battle, " said Datuk Musa. He assured the delegation that the economic problems that has hit this region, in particular Sabah would not last forever and investments would definitely continue.

He said that the state will continue to welcome foreigners as investors or as tourists to this land of opportunities and hopes their visit here would serve as an eye opener for new investments.

He also hopes the prominent role that members of the delegation play in their Government and companies would help disseminate correct information about

Datuk Musa [Ieftl presenting a memento to DalO'Saburo Sakurai, Japanese Consulate for Sabah who represents the Japanese delegation.

Sabah and the opportunities it offers to foreign investors.

He said Sabah in particular is safe and stable and is eminently suited as a profit centre for all kinds of business activities. The visit itself demonstrates very clearly the attractiveness of Sabah for investment even in this difficult time.

He is confident that Japanese business enterprises in this region would grow and develop into long-term ventures, more so with the development taking place in this region with the establishment of the BIMP-East Asia Growth Area.

In terms of trade and industry, he said what they put in may be a drop in the ocean, but little things go a long way even in business.

WOODCHIPS MAIDEN SHIPMENT

Sabah Softwoods Sdn. Bhd (SSSB) a wholly-owned subsidiary ofInnoprise Corporation Sdn. Bhd made its first shipment of 12,740 green tonnes of plantation woodchips on March 21,1998 fora pulp and paper mill in Japan.

Although Sabah has produced and shipped woodchips (mangrove and others) in the 70's and the 90's nevertheless this is the first time where man-made plantation woodchips of Acacia mangium are produced and shipped on a large scale. The SSSB plantation woodchips are homogenous in quality, command a higher premium, highly sought after by overseas buyers and are considered environmentally friendly.

To date 35,000 hectares have been planted with fast growing Acacia magium and Acacia hybrids, Gmelina arborea and Albizia fa!cataria and 5,000 hectares with oil palm. SSSB's objectives are to sustainably produce enough plantation timber for its chipmill and sufficient hectarage of oil palm for its intended crude palm oil mills in Tawau.

Woodchips being transferred to the vessel for shipment.

ber a year. A proportion of this larger size diameter plantation timber is also sold at higher value to local and overseas markets as raw matelials for downstream products.

YB LAHIR 106 PENDI

Datuk Musa (tengah) salang menyampaikan sijil kepada salah seorang pelatih program. Tunlt kelihatan ialah Prof Data' D,: Abu Hassan Othman dan Pengurus Kumpulan Pusat Perkembangan Kanak-Kanak Yayasan Sabah, Nabsia Yunus.

Langkah Yayasan Sabah bergabung tenaga dengan Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) untuk menjalankan program sijil pendidikan prasekolah merupakan era baru dalam mencapai objektif Yayasan Sabah menokoktambah usaha kerajaan untuk meningkatkan taraf pendidikan di negeri ini khususnya peringkat prasekolah. Demikian menurut Pengarah Yayasan Sabah, Datuk Musa Haji Aman sempena ucapan beliau di Majlis Penutupan dan Penyampaian Sijil, Program Sijil pendidikan Prasekolah UMS- YS sesi 1997/98 di Dewan Besar, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka pada 29 Jun lalu.

Datuk Musa menambah program yang dijalankan oleh labatan Latihan Pusat Perkembangan Kanak-Kanak sejak tahun 1993 telah melahirkan seramai 106 pelatih yang telahpun bertugas sebagai guru tadika dibeberapa buah tadika swasta dan kerajaan.

Katanya di an tara objektif kursus yang ditawarkan selama sembi Ian bulan ini ialah untuk menghasilkan guru-guru prasekolah yang terlatih dan berkelayakan untuk mendidik anakanak di samping membekalkan mereka dengan pengetahuan dan kemahiran

Persembahan dikir barat daripada para pelatih.

Hasil kerjatangan pelatih yang dipamerkan pada majlis tersebut.

kaedah teknikal dan strategi pengajaran pendidikan prasekolah.

Datuk Musa melahirkan harapan agar satu perjanjian kerjasama dan persefahaman dapat dibuat dengan segera di antara Yayasan Sabah dan UMS agar jalinan kerjasama ini dapat didasarkan kepada satu persetujuan yangjitu dari kedua belah pihak. Beliau juga berharap agar jalinan kerjasama dengan Universiti Malaysia Sabah akan mempertingkatkan lagi keyakinan pusat jagaan atau pengusaha tadika terhadap program kursus pendidikan prasekolah Pad a majIis itu juga, Datuk Musa turut menyampaikan sijil kepada seramai 73 orang pelatih yang telah berjaya menamatkan kursus mereka. Para tetamu juga turut dipersembahkan dengan berbagai acara kesenian oleh para pelajar program di samping pameran hasil kerjatangan mereka selama mengikuti kursus tersebut.

Turut hadir pada majlis ini ialah Naib Canselor Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Prof. Dato Dr. Abu Hassan Othman, pegawai-pegawai kanan Yayasan Sabah dan Universiti Malaysia Sabah serta ibubapa para pelatih program.

A Manifestation of caring Society - DatukMusa

DalUk Raymond (left) pouring the one cent coins to symbolically launch the One Sen Fun campaign. Looking on are New Straits Times representative, lohniston Bangkuai (middle), and Haji Safari.

The unfortunate should be given the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the 16th. Commonwealth Games as a manifestation ofMalaysian being a truly caring society.

According to Director of Yayasan Sabah, Datuk Musa Haji Aman, to realise this the One Sen Fun was mooted. He was speaking during the launching of Sabah One Sen Fun on April 24 at a leading hotel in Kota Kinabalu. The launching was officiated by the Minister of Social Services, Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

The project was initiated by the New Straits Times with the co-operation of TV3, The Association of Banks and Financial Institutions, Bank Negara, Sukom Ninety Eight Berhad and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports. It is to assist the underpirivileged, old aged, volunteers and children to watch the Commonwealth Games which is to be held for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, this September.

"Although it was started in Peninsular Malaysia last June, the One Sen Fun campaign has not been given wide and adequate publicity in Sabah. As such there were no directinvolvement from the corporate b9dies or individuals particularly in the state, " he remarked in his speech read by Yayasan Sabah Corporate Secretary, Tuan Haji Safari Manan.

As such he said the launching was significant as it will attract the public especially the corporate sector to contribute to the One Sen Fun.

"Our target groups are banks and finance companies, fast food operators such as Kentucky Fired Chicken, Burger King, Mac Donald, Jolibee, Sugar Bun and Pizza Hut and nongovernmental organisations namely Lions Club, Rotary, Jaycess and others," he added.

He said besides that, other private companies, are also welcomed to fulfil their social responsibilities by donating one sen shillings as many as possible.

He expressed hope that the launching will generate extensive and active participation from the corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations and individuals in ensuring the success of this noble project.

"In this sense, we also hope the local media will play their role by giving continuous publicity on the campaign," he urged. in a multi-racial society like ours are capable of generating interest among the public to make this project a success.

"As we have the same aspiration in serving the society, this project will no doubt enhance our social responsibility towards the society," he added.

"On the part of Yayasan Sabah, we will place coin boxes at strategic places like the Yayasan Sabah headquaters building in Likas and Innoprise Coporation Sdn. Bhd. office in Sadong Jaya and other places which are deemed appropriate, " he elaborated.

He added Yayasan Sabah would also have an internal publicity drive to create awareness among its staff on the One Sen Fun.

He reiterated Yayasan Sabah was proud to be given the honour to realise the launching in Sabah.

"I would like to thank the New Straits Times and TV3 for providing the opportunity for Yayasan Sabah to pioneer the campaign in Sabah. This noble effort is an extension of network cooperation which has always been maintained between YayasanSabah and the media," he enthused.