Latest news with #DavidThien
Daily Express
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah and Sarawak should welcome digital nomads
Published on: Thursday, June 05, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 05, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Isaac hoped the Sabah and Sarawak governments would be more welcoming to digital nomads to live and work in their states. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah can be a great choice for foreign and Malaysian digital nomads if electricity and internet connectivity issues are fully resolved. Isaac Leong knows because he was the marketing head of Eveready Battery who used to visit Sabah many years ago to sell his products in blackout prone Sabah. He was surprised to learn that the situation persists until today. Now with Ingenix Consulting, he said this to participants of the Penampang Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCCI) seminar to Empower Local Businesses recently. Ironically, the organiser cautioned participants that if too many of them charged their mobile devices at the electric sockets provided at the premises, the power line could be tripped. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
How scandal robbed Sabahans of water
Published on: Monday, June 02, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 02, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Chin said the second reason why it is really bad is because those contracts were given to people who were aligned to the people who got the kickbacks. Kota Kinabalu: The Water Department scandal which involves officials entrusted with ensuring supply, pocketing millions through a scheme is a good case study on corruption in Sabah. The seizure by MACC of half the RM114.5 million found stashed in luxury autos, offices and homes of the civil servants involved, is the second biggest in the history of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. MACC head Azam Baki said the seizure was made following the arrests of a director and a deputy director of the department which led to the seizure including assets of mistresses acquired from the ill-gotten money which Sabahans endured water shortages. 'The Sabah Water Department corruption case happened around 2016. MACC seized over RM114.5 million in cash, including luxury cars, jewellery and properties from the suspects,' said Datuk Roger Chin, past President of the Sabah Law Society. He was speaking at NGO Sabar-Kopi Tiam Council podcast on 'Why is Sabah Struggling? Unpacking GLCs, Corruption & Lost Billions' recently. 'The 1MDB case also had such astronomical amount of money seized. What is scary is how normalised corruption has become. We all should be outraged. 'In the case of the Sabah Water Department, the RM114.5 plus luxury cars, jewellery and properties, were kickbacks for awarding contracts and projects. 'Why was what happened bad? Because it is embezzlement of public funds. How did that happen? Very simply put, all these contractors are business people. They are not going to be paying their kickbacks from the profits that they made. 'What they have done is to add that portion (kickbacks) into the contract. This inflates the contract. 'Say the actual cost plus normal profit is RM150. All of a sudden you have to add on the kickback. Let's just randomly say it is RM30. 'So, instead of putting in a bid for RM150 ringgit which is cost plus the right amount of profit, you make it RM180. What then happens is the government spends extra RM30 of taxpayer's money for this enlarged project. Which should not be the case. 'What that means is RM30 that is meant for other things for the people has now disappeared. Chin said the second reason why it is really bad is because those contracts were given to people who were aligned to the people who got the kickbacks. 'So whether it is the most qualified people doing the contracts is highly debatable and probably not. Hence, if the people who got the contracts were not the best for the job means there would be a lot of contracts that were substandard or not carried out properly. 'So now you know why our water system is so bad. 'Multiply that RM30 kickback by a few thousand and you get hundreds of millions. And you also talk about the people who got the jobs who simply do substandard work. 'Accessibility to clean water is one of the main problems in Sabah. 'What happened was that money meant for clean water has been taken out of the system. Which is why we have lack of clean water. 'Not only clean water, think about the hundreds of millions of ringgit which should have gone into infrastructure development whether it is water or electricity. 'RM114 million was taken out of the system and this is just the Water Department. How about the other corruption issues. There are easily several more. Perhaps about half a billion ringgit or maybe more taken out of the system. 'If we had just kept that money in the system and built the infrastructure that we needed, we would have far better infrastructure today,' he said, adding this is why corruption is a huge problem. 'Because money has been taken out of the system you and I suffer from insufficient water and electricity.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah ventures into tapping thermal energy from the sea
Published on: Sunday, May 25, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 25, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said these studies will be completed within a year. (AFP pic) THE passing of the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Enactment 2024 in the State Assembly on April 25, last year, makes Sabah the first in Asean to come up with a blueprint on OTEC development. Following Sabah's lead, the Sarawak State Government also announced interest in expanding its renewable energy sources portfolio by tapping ocean thermal energy. OTEC is an innovative technology that converts the sea's thermal energy into electricity. This new cheaper, greener energy from an innovative technology involves harnessing the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater to generate clean energy. Based on research, Sabah has the potential of generating up to 20,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, comprising 15,000MW in the west coast waters and 5,000MW in the east coast. But its full implementation is expected to take about five years. 'Sabah is surrounded by vast oceans, making it the ideal location for this technology as research findings have indicated that certain areas in the state have the potential to generate up to 20,000MW of electricity which could be used to produce green hydrogen, a highly sought-after energy source to achieve net zero carbon emissions goals,' said ECoS CEO Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid. Advertisement 'If we can successfully develop one per cent of 20,000MW, it is already 200MW which is already big. The potential of OTEC is really huge,' he said. The two areas identified as suitable for OTEC development are the South China Sea on the west coast and Tawau-Semporna deep sea on the east coast. Tapping the energy 15km from the shore is seen as the most viable 'low-hanging fruit' compared to doing so 100km offshore. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this would pave the way for the development of OTEC as a new source of renewable energy and as one of the main initiatives under the State's Blue Economy which was commended by the Prime Minister for its game-changer direction. The development of OTEC technology aligns with the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040) launched in September 2023 to increase the renewable energy mix and identify new energy sources and technologies for the long term. If implemented successfully, OTEC would make a major impact as a sustainable green energy solution desired by all countries. It will help Sabah and Malaysia to achieve some Sustainable Development Goals in its decarbonisation target and increase its renewable energy mix in its energy transition journey towards net zero target. The journey towards achieving net zero carbon emissions has created more innovation, collaboration and inclusivity opportunities. Three Malaysian companies have been authorised to conduct year-long feasibility studies off Tawau-Semporna deep sea waters and submit their plans to the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) for approval and implementation. A preliminary feasibility study is also being conducted by the UTM Ocean Thermal Energy Centre, through collaboration between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) for the development of a potential OTEC plant project in Sabah. 'The Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of Sabah's Blue Economy. A seminar was held as a follow-up to maintain the momentum,' Hajiji said. The seminar being referred to was the 'Sabah International Blue Economy Conference 2024 (SIBEC)' organised by Invest Sabah, ECoS and SMJ Energy last year. 'We want to create awareness on OTEC and its technology which is not new. It will increase our renewable energy mix and position Sabah as such a game changer centre of excellence and a beacon of sustainable resilience as a prime investment destination,' said CEO of Invest Sabah Berhad, Dr Firdausi Suffian. He said this industry would help create jobs and attract direct foreign investments to Sabah with the development of downstream secondary products such as marine culture products and drinking water to further generate economic development to be a powerhouse in Malaysia, strong into innovative, regenerative blue economy drive. Innovative new renewable energy source It is time for Sabahans to think outside the box and be open towards adopting new ways, knowledge and technology to accelerate progress and development. Chief Coordinating Officer of Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat Datuk (Datu) Rosmadi Datu Sulai, said this to emphasize the state's vision for a regenerative blue economy in his speech at the 'Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Seminar' at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort on Wednesday. He underscored the need to transition from traditional industries to innovative, sustainable sectors, which will not only spur economic development but also generate substantial job opportunities for the people of Sabah as Sabah is making significant strides in renewable energy, with a strong focus on Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). Dr. Firdausi Suffian, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Sabah Berhad, announced that Sabah is leading the way in renewable energy, particularly through its championing of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), establishing itself as a key player in sustainable energy solutions. 'With a focus on creating a favourable business environment, Sabah presents unique opportunities for both local and international investors eager to engage with its rich natural resources and strong infrastructure,' he said. ECoS CEO Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser bin Abdul Wahid elaborated on the Commission's regulatory role in overseeing OTEC projects. He emphasised the importance of aligning these initiatives with the state's economic interests while ensuring environmental sustainability. 'Identifying potential sites for OTEC development on both the West and East Coasts of Sabah is underway, paving the way for a sustainable energy future,' he said. At the event, industry leaders from Deep Sea Energy Australia, Global OTEC UK, Ocean Thermal Energy Services (OTES), Satu Teguh International Berhad, and Sinar Development & Consultancy Sdn Bhd met to explore OTEC's potential in Sabah. Their discussions covered its technological, economic, and environmental benefits, providing key insights for the region. With strong collaboration between government, industry, and international partners, Sabah is positioning itself as a regional leader in renewable energy. By embracing OTEC, the state aims to foster sustainable growth and gain prominence in the global renewable energy sector. Move can benefit coastal cities, islands FOUNDER and CEO of Global Otec, Dan Grech, said his company's mission is to commercialise Otec so that tropical islands and coastal cities can access cheap, clean and secure energy by replacing fossil fuels. He said Sabah's vast Otec resources can not only power Sabah's clean and green energy demands but also create export opportunities. 'A successful pilot project will unlock direct foreign investment into subsequent projects, attracting billions of dollars of investment to generate clean electricity at scale. 'Public awareness and policy support is crucial as Otec remains relatively unknown, with limited understanding among governments and the public.' He stressed that raising awareness and implementing supportive policies are crucial for accelerating adoption as prototypes and small-scale plants face high capital expenditures (Capex) and cost of energy (LCOS), making private investment challenging without government support and financial incentives. Otec is a century old technology. In the 1880s, at the time when the British North Borneo Chartered Company was set up, French physicist Jacques Arsene d'Arsonval developed the first practical Otec system. By 1930, his student George Claude built the first Otec plant in Cuba. 'During the 1970s and 1980s, the United States and Japan led experimentations with OTEC. Over the years, there have been other small-scale and non-commercial implementations. 'While small scale OTEC projects have proven reliability, such as those in Hawaii and Japan, scaling up to commercial plants – for example, 10 MW, is the technical limit using today's technology,' said Dan. He cited South Korea is testing its 1 MW-sized Otec plant on a barge known as 'K — OTEC1000' since September 2019. 'Otec harnesses the thermal gradient of tropical oceans, providing a continuous, renewable energy source. 'With an estimated global potential of 8,000 GW, Otec could significantly contribute to decarbonisation efforts, promote biodiversity conservation with sustainable resource use and contribute to global climate resilience.' He also said the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion set up off Tawau-Semporna must avoid being sited in contested zones claimed by Indonesia. Malaysia is set to launch its first hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (H-OTEC) plant, the first in South East Asia soon.
Daily Express
24-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
State butterfly QR code project is launched
Published on: Saturday, May 24, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 24, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: KK Rotary Club President George leading his committee members to launch the QR Code event. Kota Kinabalu: The Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu launched a State Butterfly-Kinabalu Birdwing project QR Code to enable it to receive donations from the public within and abroad, facilitated by Sabah Credit Corporation's Yono SuperApp. The Kinabalu or Borneo Birdwing butterfly (Troides Andromache) is an endangered species. According to late KK Rotarian and entomologist, Dr Stephen Sutton, there may be about 5,000 or so left in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu President, Datuk George Taitim Tulas, who is also Chief Executive Officer of Sabah Credit Corporation, launched the QR Code at Hyatt Regency jointly with Rotarians from Rotary Club of Luyang. 'Sabah's official State Butterfly is a living symbol of our ecological heritage. Endemic to the cool cloud forests of Mount Kinabalu, this majestic butterfly is internationally classified as endangered. Our mission is conservation with community impact. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Jail and fine now for illegal carbon projects
Published on: Friday, May 23, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 23, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Application would go through the Sabah Forestry Department's Chief Conservator of Forest prior to submission for approval by the Sabah Cabinet. - FMT pic PENAMPANG: The Sabah Government is now focused on carbon trading, but not yet on the natural capital beneficial aspect, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. Some clarity has emerged from the recent State Legislative Assembly session as it was stated that all carbon trading activities in Sabah now require mandatory licensing, following amendments to the Forest Enactment 1968 to regulate such activities. Now, anyone carrying out carbon projects in Sabah without a licence can be fined between RM100,000 and RM5 million and jailed up to five years, or both. Offenders can be ordered to pay up to 10 times the amount of fees or royalties owed, or up to 10 times the value of any forest produce involved, or any other charges due. The amendment on Part IIIB of the Forest Carbon Activity outlines that only those with written approval from the Sabah Cabinet can receive a licence, which will come with certain conditions and fees. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
