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Daily Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
‘Sabah for Sabahans' okay: Upko
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 By: Diana Liu Text Size: Ewon during the press conference after the event. Kota Kinabalu: There is no problem with 'Sabah for Sabahans', 'Sabah First', 'Sabah Rumah Kita' or any other slogan being used by the people of Sabah as part of their aspirations, said United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) President Datuk Ewon Benedick. Disagreeing with Barisan Nasional Chairman-cum Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Zahidi who labelled it as 'divisive', he said: Advertisement 'For me, it is a form of patriotic spirit. As long as it aims to foster the spirit of unity among Sabahans and strengthens broader national cohesion, any slogans or similar themes are acceptable.' Ewon, who is also the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, said that there is also no restriction on Sabah-based parties adopting their own political approach, including forming alliances and cooperation with other parties through national coalitions. The 'Sabah for Sabahans' slogan has become a familiar theme among parties wanting the Sabah Government to be led by Sabah-based parties or Sabah-based coalitions, instead of by Sabahans heading peninsula-based parties or coalitions at state-level. Upko and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) are the only Sabah-based parties that are part of the peninsula-based BN led by Umno. 'As President of a party from Sabah, I truly understand the sentiments and aspirations of the people here. That is why I also emphasise that local aspirations must be the basis of negotiations in larger political coalitions in Sabah,' he said. According to him, the people want solutions to their problems, not loud voices championing the cause. He also does not see any issue regarding the political mould choices of Sabah parties, which include forming cooperation with other parties at the national level or with 'foreign' parties that uphold democratic practices. 'I am more inclined to look at the effectiveness of cooperation between parties in finding solutions to the people's problems. 'Our spirit and the slogans we chant must be able to contribute to solving the basic problems of our people, such as roads, internet coverage, and so on. 'No matter how strong the slogan, if the people's basic problems still cannot be solved after decades, then it remains a slogan. 'That is why for the area I represent, I want to build additional strength by cooperating with other parties, including the cooperative movement, to solve the people's problems, because I know the allocation for elected representatives is limited,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Smart City Friends initiative to help make Kota Kinabalu cleaner
Published on: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 14, 2025 By: Diana Liu Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: City Hall (DBKK) is introducing a reward system to encourage public participation in its newly rebranded Smart City Friends initiative. The initiative is a community programme that goes beyond cleanliness, focusing on civic education, sustainable culture, technology use and social responsibility. Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah hopes the move will help make the State Capital cleaner and more liveable. 'Membership in Smart City Friends comes with various benefits and incentives, such as a point reward system based on level of participation, discounts for the use of DBKK public facilities, free access to selected public toilets, an annual certificate of appreciation as part of an active social portfolio and automatic membership in Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam). 'This is a progressive, merit-based approach that recognises the contributions of each member in building a clean and liveable city,' he said at the Rebranding Ceremony of City Friends to Smart City Friends, Tuesday. Also present were DBKK Director-General Lifred Wong, Deputy Director-General of the Management Services Sector, Faradillah Abdul Rani, and others. Sabin said the initiative supports the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, particularly in the areas of healthy communities, safe cities and efficient waste management. 'This aligns with the global effort towards sustainability, focusing on creating a better urban environment through active community participation and responsible management of resources. 'This programme is also capable of fostering a culture of not littering, enhancing voluntary enforcement and expanding community oversight,' he said. Other than that, through the initiative, he said DBKK provides ample opportunity for the entire community to become strategic partners in jointly planning, implementing and evaluating urban initiatives. He said the approach aligns with the spirit of 'whole of society', which emphasises inclusive participation in urban governance in a holistic manner. According to him, the involvement of social media should also be fully utilised by Smart City Friends members as an effective two-way communication channel to disseminate information, share ideas and build comprehensive networks of collaboration. 'A tech-savvy community with high civic awareness and mature thinking will be an important asset to the development of a sustainable city,' he said. In another development, Sabin said DBKK will add to the existing number of CCTVs. However, he was unable to provide the exact number as the process is still ongoing and involves external agencies. 'In our efforts to install the CCTVs, we will also deploy enforcement personnel to ensure that the poles and cables for the new CCTVs are not stolen before the units are fully installed and operational,' he said. In response to a question about road conditions, Sabin said DBKK would ensure no potholes. 'If there are potholes, we will take stern action against the companies responsible for not doing their job,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
DBKK launches reward-based ‘Smart City Friends' initiative to boost civic engagement
Published on: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 13, 2025 By: Diana Liu Text Size: Sabin during a press conference after the event. - Diana Liu/Daily Express KOTA KINABALU: City Hall (DBKK) has rebranded its community programme as Smart City Friends, introducing a reward system to boost public participation. The initiative goes beyond cleanliness, promoting civic education, sustainability, technology use, and social responsibility. Mayor Dato' Sri Dr Sabin Samitah said members will enjoy benefits like participation-based points, discounts on DBKK facilities, free access to selected public toilets, annual appreciation certificates, and automatic PEMADAM membership. The programme aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, aiming to build a cleaner, safer, and more liveable city. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
11-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Over 200 attend Swepa eye screening
Published on: Sunday, May 11, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 11, 2025 By: Diana Liu Text Size: (From left) Betty, Nancy, Sherry, Karen, Ophelia, Carl and Sitti during a photo session after the ceremony. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association (Swepa) distributed free eyeglasses to 60 eligible recipients on Saturday, following its earlier Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Eye & Ear Screening Project. The CSR initiative, held on April 5, was part of Swepa's ongoing commitment to empowering lives through healthcare and community support. More than 200 participants from across Sabah attended the screening, where they received free eye and ear check-ups. Following comprehensive vision tests, selected individuals were identified to receive free eyeglasses, which were handed over during the CSR Eye & Ear Screening Project Handover Ceremony. Swepa President Karen Wong, said, the project aimed to support individuals who need assistance, ensuring they can see and hear better for a brighter future. 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
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Towards child-friendly city spaces
Published on: Friday, May 09, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 09, 2025 By: Diana Liu Text Size: From left to right, Lifred, Sabin, Abidin, Robert and Juanita during the MoU signing ceremony at SICC. Kota Kinabalu: The City Hall (DBKK) aims to create safer streets, green public spaces and transport systems that accommodate the needs of children, all the while including these youngsters in the decision-making processes. To this end, the agency is collaborating with United Nations Children's Funds (UNICEF) to try and make this a reality. Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah said that with Unicef's technical expertise, they would begin conducting a comprehensive child rights situation analysis. 'This will form the basis for developing a Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) Action Plan that is inclusive, data-driven, and contextually relevant to the children of Kota Kinabalu. 'We will also formulate a monitoring and evaluation framework that captures progress not only through statistics but also through lived experiences and community feedback, particularly from children themselves. 'The CFCI in Kota Kinabalu will be built on inclusive and participatory platforms, enabling children and young people to voice their ideas, share their challenges, and shape solutions,' he said. He said this in his speech during the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the CFCI between DBKK and Unicef at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Tuesday. Also present were the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister who is also in charge of DBKK, Datuk Abidin Madingkir, DBKK Director-General Lifred Wong, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam Robert Gass, UNICEF Malaysia Social Policy Chief Dr. Juanita Vasquez Escallon and others. Robert said the CFCI is built upon three fundamental pillars that guide their actions, first, raising awareness of child rights, second, ensuring meaningful child participation, and third, creating safe and inclusive environments for all children. 'Raising awareness of child rights is key to building safe, supportive communities where every child can thrive. Children must know their rights to speak up for themselves and others. But they cannot do it alone, adults must also ensure these rights are reflected in our policies, projects, and everyday decisions. 'A child-friendly city puts meaningful child participation at its core. Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) affirms that children deserve a say in decisions that affect their lives and Child Councils are one way to make this happen. In Petaling Jaya, consultations with the Child Council have led to real changes, like toy libraries, a child-friendly bus stop, a child-friendly kopitiam, and even mapping roads that would enable them to walk safely to school,' he said. Other than that, Robert said, Sabah's diversity of cultures, voices, and experiences can be a powerful force for innovation, and they look forward to seeing the creativity and insight that children in Kota Kinabalu will offer as they help develop their city. According to Robert, creating child-friendly cities requires strong partnerships between public authorities, the private sector, and communities. 'For example, developers can collaborate on co-designing inclusive parks, and street vendors can contribute by promoting healthy habits near schools. 'Furthermore, integrating a child-centric lens into city planning, such as prioritising children's safety and building climate-resilient infrastructure, is crucial for developing a truly liveable city for all,' he said. Meanwhile, Abidin said, children in remote areas, indigenous communities, and lower-income households often experience multiple forms of deprivation. 'This initiative gives us an avenue to address those disparities through a child-sensitive lens — one that listens to their voices, respects their rights, and adapts policies to their needs. 'The development of the Child Rights Situation Analysis, the integration of child-sensitive frameworks into local governance, and the formation of strong mechanisms for monitoring and accountability – all these must be rigorously pursued and supported,' he said. For the record, Sabah now joins a growing movement of Malaysian cities taking child rights seriously. In 2023, Petaling Jaya became the first city in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to receive official CFCI recognition. Since then, Sarawak has onboarded seven councils as part of the state-wide cohort and Penang Island has recently come on board as well. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
