Top Spot Seafood Food Court @ Kuching ...

Top Spot Seafood Food Court @ Kuching ...
RUNNING WITH PASSION: Kuching Marathon 2014 Is A Go ...
Sarawak Cultural Village | Kuching Car ... - Come Sarawak
Tempat Menarik di kuching - Come Sarawak - Blogger
Makan di kuching - Come Sarawak - Come Sarawak

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 11:04 AM PST

How Taib Family Built Huge Housing Wealth In The Name Of Kuching's Poor

This post is also available in: Iban, Malay

1/2 million ringgit price tags on CMS built homes in Bandar Samariang

The Taib family company CMS proudly boasts of its "vast land bank" in its annual reports and has started selling off chunks for tens of millions in Kuching.

Commercial centres and grand housing estates are also being developed in two key areas, Bandar Samariang, where CMS has 5,200 acres, valued around half a billion ringgit, and of course on the Kuching Isthmus, where land is even more expensive.

But, how did CMS acquire all this property and who has benefitted?

Sarawak Report has acquired shocking information about the way Taib and his family members have profited from this land, which was forcibly taken (official term is 'alienated') from local people and state ownership.

We did it to help the poor

The story that the Chief Minister told from the start was that this was land that difficult and expensive to develop, but that his family company was kindly determined to provide housing for poor people.

Back in 2001, he even made out that CMS was doing this supposed favour in Bandar Samariang entirely "for the people's benefit" for "not much profit", because other developers didn't want to get involved in such a loss-making venture!

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud denied yesterday that the development projects implemented in the state had benefited him personally as alleged by some quarters. Stressing that the projects were for the people's benefit, he urged them to think rationally all allegations of nepotism and cronyism which were levelled at him before making any conclusion….he cited as an example the low-cost housing project in Rampangi, Semariang of which he was accused of benefiting personally. Taib.. said the project did not bring much profit to the developer Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd due to the peat soil condition. Not many companies wanted to invest in the project because of the high cost involved to prepare the site for the project, he said. But in the interest of the people, the project had to be carried out to provide housing to the low income group, he said. "We do not want them to remain without houses and live far away from the city. That's why we continued with the project," he said.[Bernama Sunday, April 08, 2001]

Such a kind old fellow!

Chief Executive and key shareholder at the time, Taib brother Onn Mahmud

Interestingly no mention has ever been made again of these poor soil conditions by CMS. This is probably, not least, because in every other country in the world, developing tropical peat soil has been banned, because of the severe environmental consequences.

To gain a sense of the value of this land handed to CMS in the guise of helping the poor, consider the recent news that the company has decided to sell on a parcel of 500 acres for over RM45million to Sentoria Group to build a theme park.

Suddenly, another developer has been found willing not only to take on the job of developing the land, but to pay big money for the plot.

However, this time of course the money has gone to CMS, not the government or the people from whom the area was 'alienated'.

At the time CMS got this land for free it was largely owned and run by Taib's brother Onn Mahmud, who shortly after passed on his shares to Taib's wife, with the remainder being largely in the hands of the Chief Minister's four children.

No nepotism at all then!

Sucking money out of pensions too

Robert Geneid, the Head of CMS Property Development and husband of Taib's sister Raziah Mahmud.

But, of course, the Taibs didn't really want to invest their own money in this mission to assist the poor with 'quality low cost housing'.

Far better to use their influence to encourage the government controlled Employee Provident Fund (EPF) to put in the money instead.

After all, this fat milk cow has been used to pour vast sums of money into endless pet projects to benefit BN politicians, meaning public employees can look forward to far lower pensions, despite being forced to pay a quarter of their salaries into the obligatory savings fund controlled by the government.

EPF therefore was dragged into a joint venture with CMS and the investment in the "low cost housing" in Bandar Samariang began.

But, in fact, low cost housing was only ever planned to form a small part of the project from the very start. The original terms of agreement, as explained in CMS's own annual reports, made clear just 1/3 of the area was to be housing for the less well-off.

Housing for the poor?

The rest of the huge site was to be developed as an ambitious commercial enterprise.

CMS's 1997 Annual Report was certainly not bashful about the profit-driven nature of CMS's latest housing project or the ambitions of its new Property Development Division, headed by the new husband of Taib's sister Raziah, the Lebanese Australian, Robert Geneid.

It also reveals that, thanks to Taib's ability to pull the strings, that the State Housing & Development Commission had already been tasked with buying whatever 'quality low cost housing' CMS Property produced on the site, ensuring a guaranteed profit.

1997 Annual Report

Property Development

"This is a new growth area for the Group, and CMS Properties Sdn Bhd has been set up to develop and manage the Group's vast land bank, with the long-term objective of becoming Sarawak's principal property developer and a major player throughout Malaysia and the ASEAN region. The Group's strategy is based on using the natural synergy between the infrastructure, finance and property divisions….

Bandar Baru Samariang is a joint venture with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and will be the largest low-cost housing project ever undertaken in Sarawak, and the first housing development project undertaken by the Group.

The 13,500 low cost houses (approximately 36 percent of the project) will be sold to the Housing & Development Commission……The remaining 64 percent of the project will comprise medium-cost homes, commercial centres and ancillary buildings, providing a total of 42,200 housing units on the vast 5,200 acre site just 15 km from Kuching. Phase 1 of the township is currently being implemented, to provide over 4,000 units of low-cost housing, as well as hundreds of other residential and commercial properties."[Ann Rpt 1997]

So, in fact, a mere 4,000 units of the token low cost housing have been included in the first phase of the project, all promoted in the beginning in a blaze of positive publicity, before CMS moved speedily to the much more lucrative "medium cost" housing, where units are currently being sold for the very fancy prices of anything up to half a million ringgit!

Bandar Samariang Phase I Plan

Phase 1 – including 4,000 low cost housing units guaranteed to be purchased by the Housing Committee

Of course, the fact that the state has ploughed in major infrastructure, in terms of roads and amenities into the area, has made the development potential of this project ever more lucrative. Yet, the Chief Minister is still justifying his handing of it all to his family in the name of charity for Kuching's poor!

Presiding over his family's vast profitable land venture.

However, this mother of all land grabs from the Sarawak people is just the start of the story of how the Taib family set about enriching themselves from this project.

In 'Phase 2′ of our investigation we will be looking at how individual members of the Taib inner family circle, set about using the massive housing project to develop profitable businesses for themselves, with disastrous consequences for the very poor people in whose name the Bandar Samariang land grab was executed.

"The new township boasts a myriad of vibrant features such as improved road connectivity between central and South Kuching" Borneo Post

RUNNING WITH PASSION: Kuching Marathon 2014 Is A Go ...

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 01:16 AM PST

It is official! The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Dr Sa'adiah binti Haji Abdul Samat, the Director of the Commission of the City of Kuching North (DBKU) and Mr Wong Chen Yi, the President of the Kuching Marathon Association (KMA) paving the way for the corporation between the two bodies as partners for the Kuching Marathon on 17 August 2014.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Datuk Haji Abang Abdul Wahap bin Haji Abang Julai, the Mayor of DBKU. Also present at the ceremony was KM2014 Race Director, Mr Philip Chua. Other dignitaries in attendance were YB Datuk Wee Hong Seng, Dato Steve Ng (Manager of Plaza Merdeka), Mr Goh Hock Lin (Regional Manager of MSIG Insurance), and Mr Ngui Kwang Phek (Regional Marketing Manager of QBE Insurance).

The categories in KM2014 include: 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km fun run. The full marathon will be divided into open, veteran, and national categories. The cut off times for the event will be 7 hours for 42km, 3.5 hours for 21km and 2 hours for 10km. The flag off time for the full marathon will be at 4:00am in Padang Merdeka, Kuching.

Registration for the event is slated to open on 2 January 2014.

So, go on and book your cheap plane tickets. Watch this space for future updates!

Acknowledgement: Thank you to Fat Old Man Running Blog for the info and photos. Visit his blog for race reports and fantastic coverage of running events in Sarawak and beyond.

Sarawak Cultural Village | Kuching Car ... - Come Sarawak

Posted: 30 Nov 2013 11:36 PM PST

Places To Visit In Kuching – Sarawak Cultural Village and Heritage Centre
A living museum located at Santubong, the Sarawak Cultural Village conserves and portrays the multi-faceted cultures and customs of ethnic groups such as the Ibans, Bidayuhs and Melanaus. The Heritage Centre is an integral part of the cultural village, which offers traditional arts of Sarawakians.
Opening hours: 9.00am -5.00pm.
Cultural Show: 2.00pm-3.00pm.
Fees: Adults:RM45; Children (6-12 years) – RM22.50. Below 6 – Free

Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia and the population comprises of local ethnic groups namely Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and other minor tribes plus the Malays, Chinese and Indians living together in harmony for more than a century. Sarawak is also known as the Land of Hornbills because as the name suggest, it is filled with hornbills.

Sarawak Cultural Village is one of the must see attractions here in Kuching Sarawak, simply because it is one of a kind Living Museum in the world. It is located at the base of the legendary Mount Santubong and only a few minutes walk away from Damai Beach Resort. Sarawak Cultural Village is roughly 35KM from Kuching town and if you're driving, it will take 45-50 minutes to get there.

Sarawak Cultural Village at Damai Kuching

This is a very well-built and well-maintained Sarawak various ethnic house's model. They were built in a real human's size (not a mini size model), and the best thing is they even employ the real people to live there in a traditional way of living. This is a very good concept of living museum, which you will get to see how various ethnic in Sarawak live the traditional way. They have lots to offer to visitors, even a very interesting cultural dances show.

Sarawak Cultural Village – Blowpipe Shooting

As you walk around the village, you will get to see the culture and lifestyle of their local people. They even do their cooking, washing of clothes and so on there and then. You'll also get to see their local traditional dances and musical (singing and instrument playing) at each one of the houses. The tribe home includes the Iban Tribe, Penan Tribe, Bidayuh Tribe, Melanau Tribe, Traditional Malay and Chinese House, and also the Orang Ulu (Ulu People).

Rumah Cina – Chinese House

Rumah Melayu – Malay Traditional House

Melanau Tall House

Rumah Orang Ulu

Rumah Penan – Penan Tribe House

Iban Long House

Bidayuh House

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Tempat Menarik di kuching - Come Sarawak - Blogger

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 03:06 PM PST

Negeri Sarawak yang dikenali sebagai Bumi Kenyalang merupakan negeri terbesar di Malaysia dan dikategorikan sebagai Malaysia Timur. Kuching merupakan ibu negeri bagi Sarawak. Penduduknya terdiri daripada pelbagai kaum seperti Cina, Melayu, Bidayuh, Iban, Malanau, Orang Ulu dan lain-lain. Kuching juga merupakan Bandar keempat terbesar di Malaysia dengan kepadatan penduduk sekitar 794 517 orang. Kuching diisytiharkan sebagai bandaraya pada 1 Ogos 1988 dan sejak itu Kuching menjadi tarikan utama pelancong dari serata dunia. Menjejaki apa yang menarik di Kuching Sarawak, negeri yang terkenal dengan pelbagai khazanah semulajadi dan hidupan liar di Malaysia.

#1-KAMPUNG BUDAYA

Kampung budaya ini juga digelar 'Muzium Kehidupan' ditubuhkan bagi memelihara dan mempamerkan warisan kebudayaan dan kesenian negeri Sarawak. Muzium ini terletak di Pantai Damai, Santubong hanya 32km dari bandar Kuching dan merupakan tempat yang terbaik untuk mengenali budaya dan cara hidup tempatan. Perkampungan seluas 17 ekar ini mempunyai seramai 150 orang penduduk yang mempamerkan aktiviti harian seperti aktiviti memproses sago dan menghasilkan kraftangan. Mereka memakai pakaian tradisional dan mengadakan persembahan tarian tradisional untuk para pelancong. Penduduk kampung akan menerangkan tentang cara hidup dan kepelbagaian budaya mereka kepada pelancong yang berkunjung ke tempat mereka. Pelancong juga boleh melihat replika bangunan yang mewakilkan setiap suku kaum pribumi utama yang ada di Sarawak seperti rumah panjang bagi orang Iban, Bidayuh dan Orang Ulu, rumah tinggi Melanau dan rumah ladang orang Cina. Perkampungan ini juga mempunyai sebuah pentas di mana pelawat boleh menyaksikan persembahan tarian tradisional pelbagai kaum, sebuah restoran dan kedai kraftangan. Bagi pelancong yang ingin mencipta kelainan dalam perkahwinan, pelancong boleh melangsungkan perkahwinan mereka di Kampung Kebudayaan Sarawak mengikut gaya tradisi kaum Iban, Melayu, Bidayuh atau Orang Ulu.

#2- PUSAT HIDUPAN LIAR SEMENGGOH (WILDLIFE CENTRE)

PUSAT Hidupan Liar Semenggoh (PHLS) yang terletak kira-kira 24 kilometer dari pusat bandar raya Kuching terkenal dengan pemuliharaan Orang Utan yang menjadi daya tarikan pelancong ke negeri ini. Pusat ini bermula dengan sepasang Orang Utan yang membiak dan menjadi semakin banyak. Orang Utan yang dipelihara di sini akan dibebaskan ke dalam hutan apabila telah dewasa. Sama seperti mana-mana pusat pemuliharaan hidupan liar, ia juga dibuka kepada orang ramai untuk tujuan pendidikan dan penjelasan berkenaan kepentingan melindungi hidupan liar. Pusat Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar Semenggoh ini turut dihuni hampir 1, 000 hidupan liar terancam yang terdiri daripada mamalia, burung dan reptilia. Namun, ia menjadi terkenal apabila pusat berkenaan menjalankan Program Rehabilisasi Orang Utan dan telah berjaya melepaskan semula Orang Utan ke habitat asal mereka. Justeru itu, ia telah berubah menjadi salah sebuah pusat kajian biologi dan kelakuan khusus untuk Orang Utan.

#3-PASAR MINGGU SATOK

Pasar Ahad di Jalan Satok, Kuching merupakan destinasi beraneka warna di mana penduduk kampung dari serata daerah akan membawa hasil hutan dan buah-buahan tempatan yang tidak boleh didapati di mana-mana tempat yang lain. Pasar ini mula beroperasi seawal jam 5 pagi. Pasar Satok juga menawarkan peluang kepada pelancong untuk melihat dan mengenali hasil herba, buah-buahan, tumbuh-tumbuhan dan haiwan yang digunakan oleh penduduk Sarawak di dalam masakan dan perubatan tradisional mereka. Suasana meriah dan keramahan penduduk tempatan menjadikan kunjungan ke pasar ini pasti lebih menyeronokkan. Di sini juga terkenal dengan ikan terubok masin, pelancong yang datang ke sini disarankan supaya mencuba ikan terubok masin yang sedap dan murah berbanding di tempat lain.

#4-KUCHING WATERFRONT

Kuching Waterfront juga merupakan tempat yang wajib dilawati sekiranya berkunjung ke Sarawak. Di mana ia adalah antara tarikan utama yang terdapat di Kuching. Selain keindahan Sungai Sarawak, pelancong boleh menikmati pemandangan bot-bot kecil (perahu tambang) dan menaikinya dengan kadar tambang yang cukup murah. Kuching Waterfront juga adalah tempat tumpuan penduduk tempatan berkumpul untuk riadah bersama keluarga. Bertentangan dengan Kuching Waterfront pula, terdapat banyak deretan kedai yang menjual pelbagai jenis kraf yang cantik dan unik bermotifkan tradisi Sarawak. Daripada tikar Sarawak yang popular kepada hasil tembikar yang beraneka bentuk seperti pasu, patung kucing dan sebagainya, semuanya ada ditawarkan dengan harga yang berpatutan. Pelancong juga boleh mendapatkan pelbagai buah tangan dan ole-ole untuk di bawa pulang dari sini.

#5-TAMAN NEGARA GUNUNG GADING

Taman Negara Gunung Gading adalah kawasan hutan bergunung-ganang yang indah yang terletak hanya dua jam perjalanan dari bandar Kuching. Taman ini terletak berhampiran Lundu, sebuah pekan kecil yang menarik di barat-daya Sarawak. Pada mulanya taman negara ini merupakan sebuah kawasan pemeliharaan tertutup bagi tumbuhan Rafflesia iaitu bunga terbesar di dunia yang boleh membesar sehingga bergaris pusat satu meter. Walau bagaimanapun, selepas menjalankan kajian meluas tentang kesan ke atas alam sekitar, Jabatan Taman Negara membuat keputusan bahawa Gunung Gading adalah harta negara yang berharga yang perlu dikongsi dengan orang awam. Oleh itu, taman negara ini dibuka kepada pelancong pada tahun 1994. Taman Negara Gunung Gading dikawal rapi oleh Jabatan Taman Negara bagi memastikan pelancong mendapat peluang yang terbaik untuk melihat sendiri bunga Rafflesia yang kembang tanpa memusnahkan kudup bunga tersebut atau pun tumbuhan lain di sekitarnya. Sebuah laluan pelantar kayu telah dibina di tempat di mana Rafflesia tersebut lazimnya kelihatan bagi membolehkan pelancong berkunjung ke sini dengan selesa pada bila-bila masa bunga Rafflesia ini mengembang. Trek laluan hutan membawa pelawat menuju ke sungai, air terjun dan kawasan gunung dan sebuah laluan lagi membawa pelawat ke puncak Gunung Gading (906 m). Bentuk mukabumi kawasan gunung ini yang dramatik menyediakan latarbelakang yang indah kepada pekan Lundu yang berdekatan serta pantai-pantai di Pandan dan Siar.

#6- TAMAN NEGARA BAKO

Terletak 37 km dari Kuching, Taman Negara Bako kaya dengan flora dan fauna dengan sekurang-kurangnya tujuh jenis tumbuhan tropika yang utama di Sarawak. Walaupun ia adalah satu daripada taman negara terkecil di Asia Tenggara ia mempunyai hampir kesemua spesies tumbuhan yang dapat dijumpai di Borneo. Monyet Prtoboscis yang hanya dapat dilihat di Borneo mungkin menjadi tumpuan di antara haiwan liar, dengan kata lain, sekiranya ada Monyet Macaque, Monitor lizards dan tupai, monyet Prtoboscis lebih menjadi pilihan. Taman itu merekodkan 316 spesies tumbuhan, 22 spesies burung, 24 spesies haiwan reptilia dan binatang berdarah sejuk, 57 spesies mamalia termasuk monyet hidung muncung atau monyet orang Belanda, pelancong yang bernasib baik boleh terserempak dengan spesies ikan lumba-lumba yang dilindungi sepenuhnya di negeri ini. Taman Negara Bako hanya akan sampai selepas pelancong menumpang kapal kecil selama 20 minit dari Kampung Bako. Ia telah dilindungi sejak 1957 supaya hidupan liar tidak akan terancam. Lawatan tidak digalakkan pada Oktober hingga Mac kecuali April sehingga September. Ini disebabkan pada April hingga September keadaannya tidak begitu lembab kerana dipengaruhi oleh monsun.

#7-PASAR SERIKIN

Pasar Serikin adalah sebuah pekan kecil di Bau iaitu sempadan Malaysia – Indonesia dengan jaraknya kira-kira 70 kilometer dari Bandar Kuching. Pasar Serikin sentiasa menjadi kunjungan bukan saja penduduk tempatan malah pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara. Terdapat pelbagai jenis barangan dari Sarawak dan Indonesia yang dijual di sini dengan harga yang berpatutan. Di pasar Serikii, pelancong dapat melihat dan membeli pelbagai barangan yang agak asing daripada yang terdapat di semenanjung Malaysia. Barangan yang dijual kelihatan unik dan lebih menarik hati. kebiasaannya, penjual menjual barangan rotan, tikar, pelbagai jenis kain pelikat dan kain batik, makanan ringan 'jajan' made of indonesia, barangan dapur, telekung wanita dan barangan kraf tangan. Ternyata , barangan kraf tangan yang dihasilkan oleh warga tempatan amat kreatif.

#8-JONG'S CROCODILE FARM

Jong's Crocodile Farm atau Taman Buaya Jong di Sarawak adalah adalah sebuah kawasan persendirian yang menempatkan lebih 1000 ekor buaya dari pelbagai jenis dan saiz. Taman ini terletak di daerah Padawan (jalan Kuching-Serian) merupakan kawasan penternakan, pembiakan dan pemuliharaan buaya terbesar di malaysia. Buaya-buaya di sini ditempatkan mengikut saiz, spesies/jenis dan umur. Sekiranya waktu kunjungan pelancong kena pada masanya, pelancong dapat menyaksikan pertunjukkan memberi makan kepada buaya secara langsung. Pelbagai cenderamata kenang-kenangan boleh dibeli dan sekiranya pelancong berminat, daging buaya yang telah dikeringkan juga dijual disini. Terdapat juga spesies unggas, burung, beruang dan binatang eksotik yang lain yang hanya boleh didapati di kepulauan Borneo.

Kuching menjanjikan percutian indah, padat dengan aktiviti, pengalaman yang pelbagai dan ilmu yang bermanfaat kepada pelancong. Selain dari tempat-tempat pelancongan utama yang dinyatakan, terdapat juga tempat-tempat menarik yang boleh dikunjungi seperti Taman Negara Kubah, Taman Orkid, Fairy Cave, Muzium Sejarah Cina, Muzium Sarawak, Tokong Tua Pek Kong, Muzium Tekstil, Muzium Kuching, Masjid Kuching, Kompleks Mahkamah Lama, Astana Negeri Sarawak, Kubu Margherita, Damai Central, Muzium Islam, Tugu Kuching, Pasu Sarawak, Kek Lapis Sarawak, Sarawak River Cruise, dan Bazaar Kaum Bidayuh.

Jadi diatas adalah diantara sempat pihak krew jomlahcuti kongiskan kepada anda semua. Kami disini menyediakan pakej percutian ke Kuching sama ada untuk percutian keluarga, bulan madu mahupun secara berkumpulan. Untuk dapatkan pakej percutian ke Kuching anda boleh klik disini. Jika ada sebarang pertanyaan mengenai pakej atau trip anda ke Kuching maka jangan segan untuk menghubungi kami di talian 603-5510 8266 atau 010-275 8891. Boleh juga email kami di sales@jomlahcuti.com. Sekian untuk artikel kali ini- krew jomlahcuti

credit image : AndyLeo@Photography , GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, TW Cheong

Makan di kuching - Come Sarawak - Come Sarawak

Posted: 30 Nov 2013 07:34 PM PST

Assalamualaikum & selamat petang.. Sekejap lagi, Zam nak berangkat untuk Majlis Makan Malam bersama rakan sekerja di Merdeka Palace, Kuching. Nasib baik Maghrib masuk awal di Kuching, jadi boleh solat dulu sebelum majlis bermula pukul 7. Pertama kali Zam nak cuba menu di hotel tu, sebab ramai yang komen best. Tema malam ni, bebas, cuma Zam kekal dengan tema asal - retro yang dah dibatalkan hari tu. Harap malam ni leh enjoy masa yang ada dengan baik :)

<b>Top</b> Spot <b>Seafood</b> Food Court @ <b><b><b>Kuching</b> <b>...</b>

<b>Top</b> Spot <b>Seafood</b> Food Court @ <b><b><b>Kuching</b> <b>...</b>

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