Latest news with #Hii
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Sarawak Natives File Court Action To Stop Logging In Protected Forest
21 May 2025 - for immediate release Penan communities from Malaysian Borneo challenge large-scale logging operation in Sarawak's Upper Baram region Indigenous representatives from 11 communities in Sarawak's Upper Baram region have gone to court to protest the issuance of a logging licence to a politically-linked timber company. In a claim for judicial review filed in the High Court of Sarawak and Sabah, Penan community representatives call for the recall of a 170,000 hectare timber licence granted to Borneoland Timber Resources Sdn Bhd («Borneoland»), a private company based in Miri, Sarawak. Borneoland is controlled by Hii King Chiong, a local timber tycoon who has appeared in public with Sarawak Premier Abang Johari. Hii's company was awarded the timber concession in 2024 behind closed doors and without public tender. The area was formerly held by Sarawak timber giant Samling. It remains unclear why Hii's company was chosen, or whether his company made any payments for the timber licence, believed to be worth millions of dollars. Timber licence granted in violation of Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) principle In their lawsuit, a group of Penan elders led by Nilson Deng of Ba Data Bila state that the issuance of the timber licence, which encompasses their native customary territory, was made without their free, prior, and informed consent. They also argue that they have been deprived of their rights to object and to be heard. They also claim that the licence was granted without proper environmental and social impact assessments. The Penan accuse Borneoland of destroying Sarawak's last primary forests outside the state's totally protected areas. The company has already caused significant damage to forest areas used by the Penan for hunting, fishing and for collecting jungle produce. Part of the licence covers the 55,000 hectare Suling-Selaan Protected Forest which was gazetted in 2002. Protected forest is being destroyed instead of preserved In reply to the court action, Sarawak forest director Hamden Mohammad admitted that 'the primary purpose of a protected forest is to preserve and safeguard the ecological integrity of the land, ensure environmental protection of soils and water, and in some cases, support productive forest activities.' Satellite imagery however shows the heavy footprint of Borneoland's operations, even in areas that were defined as 'protection zone'. In particular, the west flank of the iconic Gunung Murud Kecil is under attack by the loggers. Lack of transparency inviting abuse and corruption Though the litigation that has been ongoing since January 2025, the Sarawak state government has so far failed to produce key documents such as environmental or social impact assessments, timber harvesting plans, and the timber licence granted to Borneoland. These documents are being withheld from the public in what Swiss environmental group Bruno Manser Fonds calls a 'scandalous lack of transparency that is inviting abuse and corruption'. ' My clients are calling on the court to quash the Director of Forest's decision to issue forest timber licence, and to stop the unlawful logging operation', said Miri-based lawyer Roland Engan. 'I will officially apply to court for all relevant documents pertaining to the logging operation. However, in the end this is a political problem. The Sarawak state government under Premier Abang Johari should never have issued this timber licence. It is high time for the Sarawak government to stop this kind of destructive logging that reminds us of the 1990s.'
Borneo Post
03-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Miri Mayor hails launch of StudyPal as game-changer for education access in Sarawak
Yii (right) receives a certificate of appreciation from Hii after the launch of StudyPal. MIRI (May 4): Miri mayor Adam Yii has praised iMedia for creating the 'StudyPal' free platform for students who wish to further their studies and access a wide range of academic programmes. 'Congratulations to the entire StudyPal team. This is the beginning of a new chapter for education in Sarawak, starting right here in Miri,' he said in his address at the launching ceremony of the platform in Pustaka Miri here yesterday. Also present at the launching ceremony were iMedia director Kelvin Hii. He said the event was close to his heart, as it revolved around a fundamental issue, namely education. 'In Malaysia, education has always been one of the strongest pillars of development. Since independence, we've built schools in remote areas, invested in digital learning and created countless scholarships to ensure our young generation has access to quality learning. 'But I'm especially proud of what we've achieved here in Sarawak—just recently, the Sarawak government announced that some of the universities in Sarawak will soon experience free education. This is a monumental step. It sends a clear message that no one should be left behind just because they cannot afford it,' he said. He said the free education initiative would not only ease the burden on families, but also encourage more young Sarawakians to dream big and aim higher. 'When we remove financial barriers, we open up possibilities. But of course, access to education is only part of the journey. 'The next question is how do we guide our students to the right path and how do we help them navigate a system that can often feel overwhelming? I believe that is where StudyPal comes in,' he said. Yii said today's students live in a fast-changing world where there are large numbers of institutions and fields of study to choose from, and even the application process itself can feel intimidating. 'I know many parents, teachers, and even students, who struggle to make sense of it all. But what StudyPal offers is clarity—it's a one-stop platform that helps students explore their interests, understand who they are, and apply to universities or colleges that suit them best.' He added that StudyPal is not only limited to students, but also school leavers, young adults, or even working parents looking to pick up a new qualification. 'We always talk about Miri becoming a smart and connected city. But to get there, we need tools like this (StudyPal). Tools that empower every person, regardless of age, background, or experience, to access information, explore opportunities, and make informed decisions,' he said. One of the platform's features is 'Find your Path', which uses the RIASEC personality tool to help students identify what kind of learner they are, what career paths suit their traits, and which courses align with their strengths and interests. 'That's more than a feature, it's a guide. It's the kind of personalised advice every student deserves, but not all have access to. I can only imagine how helpful this will be in schools, especially in rural areas, where career counselling services may be limited,' he said. StudyPal can be accessed at or Facebook and Instagram. adam yii lead miri StudyPal
Borneo Post
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Borneo Post
Call to revive Sibu Marathon in 2026
Hii (centre) presides over the AGM with Sdaa secretary Ting Siew Nguong (left) and treasurer Kueh Tai Le. SIBU (April 27): Sibu Division Amateur Athletic Association (SDAAA) is looking into the possibility of reviving the Sibu Marathon next year. Its president Dr Gregory Hii Sui Cheng laments that what used to be an annual event has not been organised for more than a decade. He said there were popular requests for the event as it can also help boost local tourism. 'As such, we are thinking of fixing the event either in April or May next year,' he added at Sdaaa annual general meeting held at SMK Sacred Heart on Friday night. The Sdaa views that the biggest challenge in organising the event is finance. 'We will need at least RM50,000 to host the event in order to attract foreign participants such as those from Kenya and Ethiopia,' Hii said in recognition that these Africans are mostly professional runners who scout for marathon events promising big prizes. 'If we offer big prizes money, it will surely attract African runners to come and participate. We may introduce different categories in order to benefit the local runners also,' he remarked. On Sdaaa activities for the year, Hii said their premier event, the Sibu Open Track and Field, will be held at Stadium Tun Zaidi on Sept 6-7. 'Last year, we managed to get 1,108 athletes from throughout the country and, hopefully this year, we will beat that figure,' he added. The number of sponsored events for the Sibu Open remains at 10 but Sdaa are looking for new sponsors so as to have more sponsored events. Other activities for the year include the Technical Official Examination on April 26 and the Level 1 World Athletics coaching course from Oct 13-17. The coaching course is limited to 20 participants and registration is on first-come-first-served basis.
Borneo Post
26-04-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Chong slams bank, BNM, e-wallet firms for failing to protect elderly Kuching woman from RM15,000 scam debt
Chong (left) speaks to the elderly victim at his office. KUCHING (April 26): A 75-year-old woman has been saddled with RM15,000 in credit card debt after falling victim to a scam in April last year. Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, alleged that three local financial institutions had 'facilitated' the scam, while Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) failed to take responsibility for the matter. Chong said the victim, identified as Hii, also lost her meagre savings of RM1,350 and RM300 in Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) payments received in September and December last year, after the bank used the funds to repay her credit card debt. 'On April 22, 2024 at around 1.30pm, Hii received a scam call. After speaking to the caller, Hii realised that it might be a scam and thus she immediately went to the bank at Jalan Song Thian Cheok here to inform of the suspected scam and request for stopping whatever transactions charged to her credit card. 'Hii was informed by a bank officer that there was no transaction recorded in the system. Nevertheless, she terminated the credit card,' Chong said in a statement today. Despite her prompt action, Chong said Hii later discovered through her bank statement in May that two scam transactions — RM4,949 and RM9,948.50 — had been charged to her credit card via two e-wallet platforms. Although she had lodged a dispute and protested the charges, the bank refused to cancel the amount. Without her consent, RM1,350 was deducted from her savings account. Fearing further losses, Hii withdrew all her remaining savings. However, Chong said the bank later withheld her STR payments and redirected the funds to cover the scam-related debt, adding that the bank had allowed the transactions to go through even after the victim had reported the scams. 'Despite Hii's immediate action in reporting the scam to the bank, there was no immediate action taken by the bank to inform the National Scam Response Centre to freeze the scam transactions. 'The bank did not take immediate action to inform the e-wallet platforms of the scam transactions until sometime in May last year when Hii went to the bank again,' he said. Chong added that the bank eventually denied any wrongdoing in February this year but could not explain why no immediate steps were taken to prevent the scam after Hii's swift complaint. He also criticised the two e-wallet platforms involved, accusing them of negligence for allowing scammers to exploit their systems and failing to act even after being informed of the fraudulent activities. 'If e-wallet companies were so irresponsible as to allow scammers to use their platforms and after being informed of the scams, continue to take no action for the return of the scammed proceeds, such e-wallet companies ought to cease to operate. 'Their continued existence will only facilitate and encourage more scam activities and make more people fall into such scams,' he said. Turning his attention to BNM, Chong said it was 'most unacceptable' for the central bank, as the regulator of banks and e-wallet operators, to have taken no punitive action against the parties involved, as the victim is an elderly B40 lady. 'As a law-abiding citizen, she is worried about the credit card debt. To put an old lady to such stress and worries after she was scammed, it is thus a sin for BNM to sit back and take no action and for the bank and the two e-wallet companies to act as if no scam has been committed. 'The least that the bank should do is to cancel off her credit card debt and take up a legal action against the two e-wallet companies,' he said. Chong pledged to continue fighting for reforms in the financial sector to ensure financial institutions act more responsibly and are held accountable to the public.
