Latest news with #Dompok
Daily Express
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Express
44 graduate at Montfort's 24th convo
Published on: Monday, June 02, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 02, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: 20-year-old Luke Loning Tokuyuk Neemoh from Kg Kivat, Penampang, was awarded the Best Trainee Award. KINARUT: Forty four trainees mostly from rural Sabah graduated in various skills at Montfort Youth Training Centre's (MYTC) 24th convocation recently. They underwent over two years of rigorous technical training. Among them were 14 trainees from the Motor Mechanics department who completed their SKM examination; 10 from the Welding Technologies programme, nine excelled in the prestigious 6G SMAW Competency Test conducted by CIDB Technology; while 11 from the Facilities Maintenance & Carpentry programme who passed their SKM examinations and nine from the Oil Palm Plantation Conductorship programme. It was officiated by Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Chairman of the MYTC Board of Governors who commended the dedication of instructors, staff, and benefactors, emphasising the centre's commitment in transforming lives. 'This year's theme, 'Let the light shine before others,' is a call for each graduate to live with purpose and integrity. 'Your talents, kindness, resilience, and drive to make a difference are the light you carry. Never underestimate the impact you can have simply by being the best version of yourself, in the workplace, at home, or within your community,' said Dompok. Besides technical skills, MYTC instills essential values such as discipline, responsibility, and respect, equipping graduates with a strong foundation to navigate life's challenges. Dompok reminded the graduates that while skills may open doors, character ensures they remain open. The event also recognized academic excellence from MYTC-affiliated hostels, St. Mary's Youth Hostel (SMYH) in Sandakan and San Damiano Boys' Hostel (SDBH) in Kiulu, where trainees excelled in the recent SPM government examination. Outstanding achievers Braynn Rushell Justin (SDBH, Kiulu) and Mark Claveria (SMYH, Sandakan) were honoured for their academic success. Since its establishment in 1999, MYTC had provided over 1,000 youths with technical training and personal development, preparing them for meaningful careers. In July 2025, MYTC anticipates welcoming 80 would embark on their transformative journey. 20-year-old Luke Loning Tokuyuk Neemoh from Kg Kivat, Penampang, was awarded the Best Trainee Award. As the eldest of three siblings, his journey was one of personal transformation, overcoming challenges of indiscipline, addiction, and uncertainty about his future. Luke's initial perception of Montfort was one of resistance, strict rules, waking up at 5:30am, morning exercises, and a disciplined lifestyle felt overwhelming. However, perseverance and guidance from his mentors allowed him to adapt, leading him to excel in motor mechanics, self-discipline, and spirituality. His gradual improvement in English proficiency enabled him to communicate confidently, reflecting the importance of language immersion. He admitted his attitude and character changed and became more disciplined, confident, and able to speak English comfortably to his teachers and officers. Luke not only passed his Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) examination with distinction but was also selected to undertake the Malaysian University English Test (MUET), proofing his commitment to academic and personal growth. His speech during the ceremony deeply moved and touched everyone, as he reflected on his transformation after two years at the centre. * 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
Borneo Post
03-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
First MSME Hub in East Malaysia to boost Sabah entrepreneurs
Ewon (middle) expresses his excitement over the opening of the MSME Hub Sabah. Dompok is at left and at right is SME Corp Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Rizal Dato Nainy. PENAMPANG (May 3): SME Corp Malaysia launched its new office and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Hub Sabah branch here on Saturday. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick described the occasion as a historic event, as it marks the first of its kind to be established in East Malaysia. He said the MSME hub he had long envisioned was developed to provide facilities for the business community and aspiring entrepreneurs in Sabah, particularly in the Penampang district. He said that the hub shall serve as a one-stop centre for MSME to obtain advisory services from business counsellors and access information on entrepreneurship programmes offered by the government. 'I am truly excited to witness the effectiveness of this hub, and I hope the facility will be well utilised by all,' he said. 'This is because, as I was informed, in 2024 a total of 10,035 MSME physically visited the SME Corp Malaysia MSME Hub, while 2,607 MSME visited the hub between January and March 2025.' He added that with the launch of this hub, it will be easier for MSME in Sabah to obtain fast, accurate, and comprehensive information on entrepreneurship and business, explore business opportunities, learn best business practices, and access essential information on starting a business, market access, human capital development, financial resources, industry updates, and various other aspects of business. Ewon said this during the launch of the BEEP Plus Programme in Donggongon, near here, on Saturday, which was also attended by the chairman of SME Corp. Malaysia, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Bernard Giluk Dompok. 'I am pleased with the success of the programmes we have introduced, especially for micro-enterprises in East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), in line with the Look East Within the Country policy that I have initiated. Considering the positive response from MSME in Sabah and Sarawak, the BEEP Plus programme will continue to be implemented in 2025,' he said. During the event, Ewon also announced that 15 MSME entrepreneurs from Sabah would be receiving grants under the BEEP programme. Commending the recipients, Ewon said they represented Bumiputera MSME entrepreneurs in Sabah who have demonstrated strong potential and the commitment required to qualify for the grants, which total RM841,099.97. 'I hope and pray that all of you will achieve outstanding success and contribute to the socio-economic development of your respective districts and of Sabah,' he said. Ewon also reminded that the year 2025 marks the final year of the 12th Malaysia Plan and that planning and groundwork have already begun for the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). 'Efforts to upscale business size through MSME scaling strategies will be a key focus of national MSME development for the period from 2026 to 2030,' he said. Ewon also revealed that, based on data analysed by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the number of micro enterprises in 2023 declined by 6.9%, falling to 767,421 from 923,667 in 2022. Meanwhile, the number of small enterprises increased by 35.8%, and medium enterprises grew by 7.9%, he said. 'These figures demonstrate the effectiveness of government policies and interventions through the implementation of targeted programmes and initiatives for MSME. In efforts to stimulate the growth of more resilient and sustainable MSME, the government remains committed to intensifying efforts to empower MSME, particularly in facing future challenges and uncertainties,' he said. At the same time, Ewon reaffirmed that KUSKOP remains firmly committed to supporting MSME in their transition towards digitalisation. 'This has become a central agenda within various government policies and strategies under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), building on the momentum of the 12MP Mid-Term Review, which set a clear target of having 90 per cent of MSME digitalise their business operations by 2025,' he said. He added that, in line with this agenda, KUSKOP — through SME Corp Malaysia — signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) on 25 March 2025. The collaboration aims to ensure that MSME receive holistic support, including access to financing, digital tools, and capacity building, to facilitate their successful transition into the digital economy. The government remains committed to ensuring that MSME are not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Daily Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Dompok hosts Apostolic Nuncio
Published on: Saturday, May 03, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 03, 2025 Text Size: From left: Viola Dompok, Puan Sri Diana Dompok, the Nuncio, Fr Wilfred and Bernard. PENAMPANG: Former Ambassador to the Vatican, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, hosted the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia to a private dinner at his residence at Mansakazon Heights in Penampang, Thursday. The Nuncio, Most Reverend Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski is the Pope's representative to Malaysia and is equivalent to an Ambassador. He was in Penampang to attend the Diocese-level Kaamatan celebration at St Michael officiated by Archbishop Datuk John Wong earlier in the day. Among those invited to the dinner were local priests and religious sisters headed by the Vicar-General Msgr Nicholas Stephen and the Chancellor, Rev Fr Wilfred Atin. Also present were the management team from Montfort Youth Training Center in Kinarut of which Dompok is founder and Chairman. Dompok is also former Sabah Chief Minister, Federal Minister twice and Penampang MP. * 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
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
First Vatican envoy remembers
Published on: Sunday, April 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Apr 27, 2025 By: Datuk Teddy Chin Text Size: Dompok presenting his credentials to Pope Francis in 2016. MORE than one billion Catholics around the world are still mourning the death of Pope Francis. In fact, millions more if non-Catholics or for that matter non-Christians are to be included. That includes Malaysians where even our national leaders like the Agong, the Prime Minister and Sabah Chief Minister gave condolence messages. But to one particular Sabahan, he is more than sad and has a long story to tell. His relationship with Pope Francis can perhaps be described as friends already for they met many times. You see, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok first met the late Pope Francis in 2013 when he led a Malaysian delegation for the inauguration of previous Pope as the Catholic Church's 266th Pontiff. The former Sabah Chief Minister was then Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister of Malaysia in Kula Lumpur. 'It was solemn. Wonderful. After the Inauguration Mass, the Pontiff took time off to meet all the State representatives. It was both very touching and unravelling at the same time. 'My wife (Puan Sri Diana) was with me for the audience in front of St Peter's tomb inside the St Peter's Basilica. We requested the Pope to bless out rosaries. He obliged. And he asked us to pray for him. It all lasted about a couple of minutes, but it felt like eternity. To us, it was a very special moment.' Having met Pope Francis, it means that he has met three Popes – Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVII and of course Pope Francis. 'I was in a delegation led by the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed to meet Pope John Paul II 2002. That was the time we brought up the subject of diplomatic ties,' he said. When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, Dompok led a Malaysian delegation for his funeral. It was partly because of his death that the question of diplomatic ties was put on hold. In 2011, Dompok was also part of a Malaysian delegation led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. It was during this meeting that Malaysia and the Holy See agreed to set up diplomatic relations. Najib later introduced members of his delegation to Pope Benedict who included Dompok. The former Penampang MP took the opportunity to request the Pope to bless his rosary, with Najib looking on. However, before anything could materialize, Pope Benedict resigned, one of the very few Popes in history to do so. Then the Holy Father Francis was appointed the new Pope. Dompok presented his credentials to Pope Francis on 9 June, 2016, having received it from the Yang di Pertuan Agong. 'My wife Diana joined me together with the entire brood of children and grandchildren. After the pleasantaries and my conveying greetings from the Yang di Pertuan Agong, he asked me about my family. So I told him 'Holy Father, 5 children and 9 grandchildren so far. 'That's a large family' he said smiling'. Coming back to Pope Francis' inauguration, Dompok said: 'I am honoured to have been asked to represent the country. 'This trip is different in the sense that Malaysia has now joined the rank of countries with diplomatic ties with the Vatican,' he added. 'Our diplomatic ties with the Vatican are blossoming especially after it was formalized in July 2011. We are progressing well…. this can only be a positive development for us and the Holy See,' he said then. Malaysia was among the 132 countries which sent their representatives for the historic event (inauguration) at St Peter's square, attended by some 200,000 people from around the world. The relationship enabled Malaysia to be among those seated nearest to the Pope during the inauguration, together with world representatives including from Argentina, the United States of America and the Philippines, he said, adding 'I was flanked by delegates from Irag and Mozambique'. Dompok has a chat with then US Vice-President Joe Biden who represented his President. This was 2013 when Dompok said this, then still a Federal Minister. Little did he realized that a few years later, in 2016, he would be Malaysia's first Resident Ambassador to the Holy See when the first Malaysian Embassy was set up at Vatican. He was concurrently accredited to Albania and Malta. Dompok by then was semi-retired from politics, having stepped down as UPKO president and no longer an MP or Assemblyman. He was former MP for Penampang and Kinabalu (now Ranau) and Assemblyman for Moyog. He not only made Sabah proud with his appointment, but also the few hundred thousand Catholics in the State. Say what you like about Najib. It was during his Premiership that the Malaysian Embassy was finally established. And his choice of a Sabahan Catholic to be the first Ambassador. Apart from having been a Federal Minister, a former Chief Minister and Sabah Finance Minister for 9 years, who could be more apt? Sabahans in general and Catholics in particular thank Najib for this. Credit must also go to another Sabahan, Tan Sri Anifah Aman who was the Malaysian Foreign Minister when this took place. Anifah, the former Kimanis MP, must have played a role and gave his support. He is, after all, a Sabahan and the first Sabahan to be the Foreign Minister. Anifah officiated the Malaysian Embassy together with Dompok a few months after it was first set up in 2016 after it moved to a permanent place from its temporary office earlier. Priests and Bishops aside, for Sabahan Catholics to meet a Pope once in their lifetime would be a dream come true. By 2013, Dompok was in the Vatican four times and had an audience with three Pontiffs. After his appointment as Ambassador of course, Dompok would meet the Pope at least a few more times , beginning with the presentation of his credentials to the Holy Father in 2016. As a Catholic myself, I admire him. Not many Sabahans, for that matter Malaysians, could do that. In fact, even before Dr Mahathir's visit in 2002, Dompok has met an earlier Pope in the early 1990s. Being Sabah's Agriculture Minister, he was part of Malaysia's delegation to FAO which is part of UN led by former Agriculture Minister Tan Sri Sanusi Junid. However, on that particular day, Sanusi asked him to lead the visit to Vatican and met Pope John Paul II. Dompok who is Chairman of SMECorp was in Kuala Lumpur a couple of days ago. He attended the morning Mass in honour of Pope Francis together with the Nuncio before signing the Condolence Book. Pope Francis has also made humanity the focal point in his Papacy as was obvious in his concern for the downtrodden, the victims of war, plight of migrants, the environment especially on climate change. RIP Pope Francis. The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
