30% DROP IN HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY

30% drop in hotel room occupancy

by Jenne Lajiun

Chan (left) speaking to reporters yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU 15/03/2013: Many hotels in Sabah are already feeling the negative impact following the foreign armed intrusion in Lahad Datu.

According to Christopher Chan, president of the Sabah Hotel Association (SHA), some hotels have experienced a drop of 30 per cent in their room occupancy beginning early this month.

Many also experienced a drop of between 30 per cent and 40 per cent in their income as government departments were cancelling events that were supposed to take place at the respective hotels, Chan told a press conference at a hotel here yesterday,.

The drop in income due to the drop of foreign arrivals was between 15 per cent and 20 per cent, he said.

Website hotel and tour booking portals have also indicated a drop of more than 20 per cent in online bookings for hotels and tours offered in Sabah, he said.

“It is a worrying figure…The situation is not good despite the claim made by the relevant authorities that tourism is business as usual in Sabah,”

PENURUNAN HARGA CPO - MPOB WUJUDKAN HOTLINE PERMUDAH PENJUALAN BUAH TANDAN KELAPA SAWIT SEGAR SABAH

Hotline permudah penjualan buah tandan segar Sabah diwujudkan

KUALA LUMPUR 26/12/2012: Kementerian Perusahaan Perladangan dan Komoditi (MPIC) telah pun melaksanakan beberapa langkah bagi memperkukuhkan harga minyak sawit mentah (Crude Palm Oil –CPO) berikutan penurunan harga sejak bulan September 2012. Ini termasuk mengurangkan duti eksport CPO di antara 4.5 hingga 8.5 peratus dan menggantung pemberian kuota CPO tanpa duti mulai 1 Januari 2013.

Senario penurunan harga CPO telah menyebabkan berlakunya kes-kes dimana kilang-kilang sawit tidak membeli buah tandan segar (Fresh Fruit Bunch – FFB). Perkara ini telah dilaporkan di Sabah dan telah menjejaskan penjualan FFB oleh para pengusaha tanaman sawit terutamanya oleh pekebun kecil.

FAMA BELI DUKU DARI PEKEBUN ELAK LAMBAKAN BUAH

Fama Terengganu beli duku dari pekebun elak lambakan buah

KUALA TERENGGANU 25/12/2012- Lembaga Pemasaran Pertanian Persekutuan (Fama) membeli sebanyak 15 tan metrik buah duku bernilai lebih RM20,000 bagi mengelak lambakan buah-buahan di negeri ini.

Pengarah Fama negeri, Hasan Jusoh berkata selain itu pihaknya juga membeli buah durian yang sedang gugur di negeri ini dalam usaha menambah pendapatan para pekebun tempatan.

"Kita beli buah-buahan ini dari semasa ke semasa bagi memastikan buah-buahan itu tidak mengalami lambakan seperti empat tahun lepas yang menyaksikan sehingga buah tersebut hitam tidak dimakan,"

SABAH HASIL PENGELUARAN 2,790 TAN DURIAN SETAHUN

Sabah hasil pengeluaran 2,790 tan durian setahun

KOTA KINABALU 24 Dis. - Jumlah pengeluaran hasil durian di Sabah pada masa ini menunjukkan perkembangan memberangsangkan dengan menyaksikan hasil pengeluaran kira-kira 2,790 tan durian setahun.

Timbalan Pengarah Lembaga Pemasaran Pertanian Persekutuan (FAMA) negeri, Mohd. Shukri Doel Majalin berkata, sebanyak 10 daerah dikenal pasti sebagai kawasan pengeluaran hasil durian berpotensi di negeri ini.

"Daerah yang terkenal dengan hasil durian di negeri ini ialah Ranau, Sipitang, Tenom, Sandakan, Tawau, Kota Marudu, Sandakan, Tawau, Beaufort dan Keningau.

‘POVERTY IN MALAYSIA CLOSE TO NIL’

‘Poverty in Malaysia close to nil’

SIBU 23/12/2012: The BN government, especially under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, has been working very hard over the years to get the people out of the clutches of poverty.

Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said these sacrifices had paid off for poverty level was now close to nil nationwide.

Speaking at GiatMara’s graduation ceremony for Central  Zone II here yesterday, Aaron opined that the 1Malaysia concept, which was introduced by the prime minister some four years ago, had helped bring about this positive result.

“Before, about 70 per cent of the people in Malaysia lived under the poverty line. Now, we can say zero or 0.1 per cent of the people live under the poverty line,”

TRANSPORT MINISTER UNDER FIRE FROM SABAH LEADERS

Transport Minister under fire from Sabah leaders

KOTA KINABALU 20/12/2012: The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has come under fire from Sabah leaders over the shutdown of work by Global Upline Sdn Bhd (GUSB), the contractor of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) development.

Barisan Nasional (BN) Putatan member of parliament Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh was of the opinion that GUSB’s statement about the reason why it had stopped work on the airport expansion project proved that the Transport Ministry is irresponsible.

He was also worried about the safety aspects of the airport based on GUSB’s statement which read, ‘in the interest of safety to aircraft operation and passengers alike, we would like to inform the public that the runway is not safe for landing, take-off and other operation since it has been certified non-complete by MOT. The runway shall be forthwith closed for operation’.

SMALLHOLDERS AND VILLAGERS WHO HAVE INVESTED IN OIL PALM NOT ONLY FACE LOW FFB PRICES BUT ARE ALSO UNABLE TO SELL THEIR PRODUCE

Help those affected by low FFB prices, Dompok urged

Kota Kinabalu 18/12/2012: Sabah Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) Youth on Monday appealed to the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities to step in and help smallholders and kampong folks affected by the low Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) prices.

Sabah MIC Youth Chief, Taren Sunil Manoharan when urging Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the smallholders and villagers who have invested in oil palm not only face low FFB prices but are also unable to sell their produce.

"Although the prevailing market price of FFB is about RM390 per tonne, the fact on the ground is that none of the smallholders and villagers is getting anywhere near that figure.

"Instead they are getting between RM300 and RM320 per tonne. And that is if there are buyers at all,"

FSM UPSET OVER IPP'S GENERATOR REPAIR DELAY

FSM upset over IPP's generator repair delay

Kota Kinabalu 14/12/2012: Sabah manufacturers are crying foul over the "two or three months" period required by an Independent Power Producer (IPP) here to repair a fault to one its power generators.

Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) said in statement Thursday that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd's call for bigger industries to rely on their generators as part of mitigating factors to overcome a 95MW shortfall was "unfair' to businesses.

"FSM wants Sabah Electricity to explain why there is a need for maintenance to take two to three months.

"IPPs must be held accountable and transparent as they are providing service crucial to the state's industry and economy, they may also be enjoying subsidy from the government,'

KASTAM SUDAH KUTIP RM30.47b HASIL CUKAI

KASTAM SUDAH KUTIP RM30.47b HASIL CUKAI

TAWAU 13/12/2012: Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (JKDM) berjaya mengutip hasil sebanyak RM30.47 bilion sehingga 11 Disember iaitu peningkatan 6.03 peratus atau sebanyak RM1.73 bilion berbanding tahun lepas.

Ketua Pengarahnya, Dato Sri Khazali Haji Ahmad berkata, daripada jumlah itu JKDM Sabah telah menyumbang sebanyak RM772 juta.

PIHAK BERKUASA DIMINTA BANTERAS KEGIATAN WARGA ASING NIAGA DI PASAR

Pihak berkuasa diminta banteras kegiatan warga asing niaga di pasar

TAWAU 08/12/2012: Pihak berkuasa tempatan diminta membanteras kegiatan warga asing yang berniaga di pasar-pasar di daerah ini, baik di pasar yang dikendalikan oleh kerajaan mahupun yang diswastakan.

Ahli Parlimen Kalabakan Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh berkata, kegiatan tersebut dilihat boleh menjejaskan pendapatan para peniaga tempatan kerana mereka terpaksa bersaing dengan ‘orang luar’ dalam melaksanakan perniagaan mereka.

Menurutnya, beliau ada menerima aduan daripada para peniaga tentang perkara berkenaan seperti kewujudan para peniaga dari negara China di Pasar Sin On.

TAX INCENTIVE POISED TO BOOST INVESTMENT

TAX INCENTIVE POISED TO BOOST INVESTMENT

KOTA KINABALU 7th December, 2012: The recent decision by the federal government in approving a special Investment Incentive Package for the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) is poised to further intensify the investment momentum in the state.

Describing the announcement of the incentive as timely, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said the package would cover activities in, among others, the tourism, manufacturing and agriculture sectors and major industries.

‘FOREIGN-OWNED’ SHOPS TURNING AWAY LOCAL CUSTOMERS?

‘Foreign-owned’ shops turning away local customers claim

KOTA KINABALU 19/11/2012: A number of shops operated by foreigners allegedly turned away local patrons for no valid reason.

Democratic Action Party (DAP) Kota Kinabalu Youth assistant chief Junz Wong told reporters yesterday that they were informed by members of the public that some of the suovenir shops owned by foreigners had refused to let locals patronise their shops.

AS DEMAND FALLS, PENANG PLANTS CUT JOBS AND PRODUCTION

As demand falls, Penang plants cut jobs and production

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 13 ―  Falling global demand has forced Penang factories to freeze hiring, cut production and implement four-day weeks, even as analysts predicted Malaysia’s economy grew slower in the third quarter.

The Malaysian Insider understands that factories in Penang, the country’s main electronics manufacturing hub, have stopped hiring, and are not even replacing those who have retired or resigned.

Many plants have also reduced output to cut costs.

SABAH’S OIL CURSE STRIKES AGAIN

Sabah’s oil curse strikes again

Poverty-riddled Sabah is the sixth biggest contributor to the national economy, contributing more than a quarter of the total oil and gas produced in the country.

KOTA KINABALU 12/11/2012: Sabah lost control of its oil wealth more than 30 years ago but the fallout of the widely acknowledged cock-eyed contract is continuing to roil business dealings in the state.

The state Barisan Nasional government is now facing more questions over how it is managing the Petronas-sponsored Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) project that began more than a year ago.

TOURIST ARRIVALS FROM NORTH ASIA UP

Tourist arrivals from north Asia up

KOTA KINABALU 4/11/2012: The north Asia market, namely China and Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, remained as key market source for overall international arrivals into the state, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

Speaking to reporters after launching the 15th Sabah Hospitality Fiesta 2012 at Karamunsing Complex yesterday, he said although the number of visitors to Sabah from January to September registered a marginal growth of only 0.1 per cent, international arrivals from the least expected countries, namely north Asia, had gone up.

“Compared to the same period in 2011, China and Hong Kong increased by 44.3 per cent from 103,340 to 149,104, while South Korea increased by 21.5 per cent from 48,439 to 58,871.

1,028 TERMASUK PENGURUS HILANG KERJA

1,028 termasuk pengurus hilang kerja

SEBAHAGIAN pekerja kilang Sanmina-SCI Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. mengadakan perhimpunan aman di hadapan kilang itu di Kuching semalam.

KUCHING 1/11/2012- Seramai 1,028 pekerja kilang pembuatan komponen elektronik, Sanmina-SCI Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd., di sini hilang punca pendapatan selepas diberi notis pemberhentian kerja 24 jam secara berperingkat-peringkat bermula petang kelmarin.

Kesemua pekerja yang majoritinya terdiri daripada pekerja bumiputera merangkumi jawatan pengurus, jurutera, penyelia, juruteknik dan operator ditamatkan perkhidmatan selewat-lewatnya semalam.

MALAYSIA’S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SHAKEN BY UNCERTAIN GLOBAL ECONOMY, SURVEY SHOWS

Malaysia’s consumer confidence shaken by uncertain global economy, survey shows

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Consumers in Malaysia are less optimistic this quarter, their confidence rattled by a belief that demand and investments may not be as resilient due to the slowing economy in Europe, North America and China, according to the latest global online consumer confidence findings from Nielsen, a global provider of information into what consumers watch and buy.

Malaysia’s consumer confidence fell six points in the index to 105 in the third quarter of 2012 from 111 three months ago, despite seeing its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing by 5.4 per cent in the second quarter of the year and inflation at its slowest pace in September.

KERAJAAN PERSEKUTUAN MOHON MAAF ATAS GANGGUAN ELEKTRIK DI KKIA

Kerajaan mohon maaf di atas gangguan elektrik di KKIA

LABUAN 30/10/2012- Kerajaan Persekutuan memohon maaf kepada penumpang yang terjejas akibat gangguan bekalan elektrik di landasan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kota Kinabalu (KKIA) pada malam Khamis dan Jumaat lepas.

Ketika menyatakan perkara itu, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata kerajaan memandang berat insiden itu dan mahu Menteri Pengangkutan Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha melaporkan apa sebenarnya yang berlaku pada mesyuarat Kabinet Persekutuan Jumaat ini.

"Kita memohon maaf kepada mereka (penumpang) kerana kita tahu waktu itu ramai yang bersedia pulang merayakan Aidiladha tetapi tak dapat balik dan terpaksa menunggu di lapangan terbang kerana gangguan lampu di lapangan terbang yang tidak beroperasi dan berfungsi dengan baik.

SABAH HAS POTENTIAL TO BECOME MALAYSIA’S ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE — FSM PRESIDENT

Sabah has potential to become Malaysia’s economic powerhouse — FSM president

KOTA KINABALU 29/10/2012: Sabah has the potential to become Malaysia’s economic powerhouse, says the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) president, Datuk Seri Wong Khen Thau.

To realise this, he said the state government policies, investment climate and business environment must be conducive, particularly for the investing community.

“In the context of the manufacturing sector, we have been promoting Sabah and are going all out to make the state, the business hub for the Far East.

MEASURES TO ENSURE RUNWAY BLACKOUT WON’T RECUR VITAL – MATTA SABAH

Measures to ensure runway blackout won’t recur vital – MATTA Sabah

KOTA KINABALU 28/10/2012: The Malaysian Association of Tour N Travel Agents (MATTA) Sabah Chapter has urged Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB)  to take proactive measures to ensure runway lights failure will not recur again.

Making the call in a statement here yesterday, MATTA Sabah chairman KL Tan said the destination image is badly affected for tourist stranded for hours whether coming into Sabah or connecting for flights back to their countries.