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Borneo Post
2 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Sandakan Day Memorial forges understanding and friendship
Sandakan MP Vivian Wong (third right) with the foreign envoys at the Sandakan Day Memorial here today. SANDAKAN (Aug 15): The Sandakan Day Memorial will stand as a living bridge to forge understanding, friendship and trust between Sabah, Australia and Britain, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor. 'As Chief Minister of Sabah, I assure you that this legacy will be preserved, ensuring it is honoured and passed on to future generations,' he said during the Sandakan Day Memorial held at the Sandakan Memorial Park here today. Sandakan member of parliament Vivian Wong delivered his speech. He said this year marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and yet, for many families, especially those who have journeyed here from Australia, the United Kingdom and beyond, the memories of loved ones lost in Sandakan remain vividly alive. 'Our gathering this morning goes beyond mere remembrance. It's a tribute with purpose. Sandakan isn't just a site of tragedy. It's where the human spirit shone brightly amidst cruelty. 'It is a place where bonds were forged from adversity, where the noble actions of local Sabahans shone alongside the struggles of Allied soldiers. Here and now, we reaffirm our dedication to peace, unity and memory,' he said. The Chief Minister said the Sandakan Death Marches and the horrors of the prisoner-of-war camps have been etched into history, not only because of the atrocities but also due to the moments of shared humanity, such as the quiet acts of kindness and persistent hope of those who clung to the idea of freedom against all odds. 'To the families of the fallen, your presence here means everything. Your loved ones, whether soldiers or Sabahans, who risked everything to save them, are not forgotten. 'We honour their strength, their sacrifice, and their profound humanity. In Sabah, you will always find a sanctuary to remember them. Sandakan is sacred ground for you, too. 'Let us acknowledge the quiet heroes among us, the local Sabahans, whose families also endured loss and violence. Many gave their lives to shelter or assist Allied soldiers. 'Their bravery endures in the stories shared through generations and forms an indelible part of our shared history,' he said. The Chief Minister called upon everyone to pause momentarily and think about the actual cost of conflict and the invaluable treasure of peace. In attendance were British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ajay Sharma, New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia, Michael Wehi Mailetonga Walsh, senior officials from the Australian High Commission and the United States Embassy as well as officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and local authorities.
Malay Mail
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Across Sabah, crowds chant ‘justice for Zara' as rallies spread following outcry over probe into 13-year-old's death
KOTA KINABALU, Aug 9 — Thousands of people gathered on the streets of major towns across Sabah last night to demand justice for Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir, whose death has sparked a nationwide outcry over the handling of her investigation. In Sandakan, crowds began assembling at the waterfront Harbour Square as early as 6pm, holding banners, reciting poems, and offering prayers in memory of Zara. The rally, which was planned to end at 9pm, grew into the thousands by 8pm with local activists and community representatives, including Sandakan MP Vivian Wong, taking turns to speak as they called for transparency in the investigation. Videos of the rally were also live streamed on social media, showing the crowd, mostly clad in black, chanting 'justice for Zara' and 'murderer' while holding up placards. Local media reports quoted one of the organisers, Mohamad Khadir Abdul Jalil, saying the gathering was meant to express both grief and sympathy for the 13-year-old student's life cut short. 'We only want the truth from the authorities and justice for Zara Qairina; that is our focus tonight,' he was quoted saying, adding that the public should refrain from making defamatory or harmful remarks and allow the authorities to carry out their investigation. In Tawau, crowds were seen gathered at the Chester Night Market roundabout, holding placards with slogans such as 'Justice for Zara' and 'Stop bullying.' Chants echoed through the night as participants called for accountability and stronger protections for students. It is believed similar rallies, albeit on a smaller scale, were held simultaneously in Lahad Datu and Semporna. According to activists, more gatherings are planned to be held this weekend in other districts, including Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Ranau, Kudat, and Keningau. The rallies come just hours after the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) announced an exhumation of Zara's grave for a second post mortem. The AGC said it had returned the preliminary investigation report to the police with further instructions to ensure a thorough probe. Zara's body was found on the ground floor of her religious school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and she was pronounced dead the next day at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu. No post mortem result has been released so far; police said they were still investigating the case allowing for the many sensitivities due to the students involved. Last weekend, a candlelight vigil in Zara's memory was held at Lintasan Deasoka in the state capital. Despite calls to remain calm and refrain from speculation, public frustration has grown after unverified voice recordings believed to be of Zara expressing fear for her safety, fuelling further speculation that influential figures might be shielded from scrutiny — allegations which state leaders, including the governor, have denied. Her case has been wrought with speculation since her death three weeks ago, following allegations from her family that she was a victim of bullying and physical abuse. Lawyers representing Zara and her family have demanded a post mortem examination, saying police failed to look into any signs of foul play. The pressure has prompted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to pledge a full and transparent investigation, stressing that 'no one is above the law.'
Free Malaysia Today
08-08-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Hundreds gather in Sabah to demand justice for Zara Qairina
A livestream shows a big crowd gathering outside Harbour Mall in Sandakan. PETALING JAYA : Hundreds of Sabahans have gathered in several locations across the state to call for justice for the late Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir. A livestream on Sandakan MP Vivian Wong's TikTok account showed a crowd had gathered outside Harbour Mall in the constituency, with the protesters chanting 'justice for Zara' and 'murderer'. It is understood that the protest started at about 8pm and was ongoing at the time of writing, though its organiser is unclear. Social media posts showed similar gatherings being held in Lahad Datu and Tawau, while more rallies in solidarity with Zara are planned in other locations in the coming days. FMT has reached out to Sabah police for comment. Zara was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after she allegedly fell from the third floor of her school's hostel in Papar, Sabah. She died at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu the following day. The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has ordered the police to exhume her body so that a post-mortem could be conducted and the investigation into her death completed. The AGC said that after reviewing the preliminary report by the police into the teenager's death, it found a need for the matter to be investigated further. Sabah police commissioner Jauteh Dikun previously said they had not ruled out the possibility that she had been bullied. Separately, state assistant youth and sports minister Fairuz Renddan said the Sabah government fully supported calls for a transparent investigation into Zara's death. Fairuz said he met Jauteh over the case yesterday. 'As a father, I can imagine and feel what the mother of the deceased is going through. We will continue to push for justice until this case is completed, and we hope all parties remain strong and united for the late Zara,' he said, according to The Borneo Post.
Free Malaysia Today
04-08-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Close to 830,000 STR recipients in Sabah, Dewan told
There are more than 470 sundry shops and supermarkets in Sabah taking part in the SARA initiative. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : There are close to 830,000 Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients in Sabah, with a total of RM410 million channelled to the beneficiaries in Phase 1 and 2 of the initiative, the Dewan Rakyat was told. In a written reply, the economy ministry said two more STR payments will be doled out in August and November. The ministry also revealed that there are 506,000 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) recipients in the state, which will see a total of RM500 million being channelled to the beneficiaries. It said 95% of the SARA recipients have used their MyKad to make purchases at registered premises. It was responding to a question from Vivian Wong (PH-Sandakan), who wanted to know the total number of Sabahans eligible for the SARA initiative and the number of those who had claimed the funds. The ministry said that more than 4,500 sundry shops and supermarkets were taking part in the initiative, an increase from the 700 participating outlets recorded in 2024. 'In Sabah alone, more than 470 premises are registered under the programme. This number will continue to increase to ensure better access in all areas,' it said.
Daily Express
14-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
MP: Come forward if you had purchased treatment packages
Published on: Saturday, June 14, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 14, 2025 Text Size: 'The centre was earlier raided for allegedly offering health treatments without a valid licence and has since been shut down by the Ministry of Health and the Sandakan Municipal Council,' Vivian said. SANDAKAN: Member of Parliament for Sandakan, Vivian Wong, called on members of the public who had purchased treatment packages from Healing Heart, a private wellness centre located at Primate Square, to come forward and provide relevant information if they suspect they had been misled or affected, in order to explore possible next steps. 'It is worth noting that the signboard of the wellness centre has recently been removed by the authorities, and the premises ordered to cease operations entirely. Advertisement 'The centre was earlier raided for allegedly offering health treatments without a valid licence and has since been shut down by the Ministry of Health and the Sandakan Municipal Council,' she said following a related case brought to her attention during her constituency's monthly free legal consultation session. The affected individual sought legal advice on the possibility of seeking redress following the centre's closure. She added that any other affected individuals are encouraged to contact her parliamentary service centre via the hotline at 010-8073313, or to visit her office at Bandar Letat Jaya, Mile 3.5, to provide relevant documents and information. This will enable her and her team to compile a comprehensive record before engaging with the relevant departments and agencies to explore potential actions. She said service centre would continue to monitor the matter and urged the public to remain vigilant against similar unlicensed wellness operators. * 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
