logo
Miri to host Sarawak Day 2025 celebration from July 20-22

Miri to host Sarawak Day 2025 celebration from July 20-22

Borneo Post6 hours ago

Lee (centre), along with (from left) Galong, Ripin, Rosey, Hamdan and Yii, show the promotional poster for the Sarawak Day 2025 celebration.
MIRI (June 20): The Sarawak Day 2025 celebration will take place here from July 20 to 22, bringing together a series of events to commemorate the state's history, culture and achievements.
Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin officially announced the schedule and key highlights at a press conference today, where he emphasised the strong commitment of the organising team and expressed confidence in the smooth execution of the event.
He disclosed that the Sarawak Protocol, Ceremony and Event Management Unit (UPPANS), under the Premier's Department, has been entrusted with coordinating the celebration in collaboration with various state departments and agencies.
'This year's celebration aims to instil love for our state, honour Sarawak's rich history and the struggle for independence, and celebrate the progress and achievements we have made together,' he said.
Lee added that the three-day celebration will feature a wide range of activities that reflect the unity, diversity, and pride of Sarawakians.
Among the key programmes are the Sales Carnival and Sarawak Talent Showcase, which will run throughout the celebration period at Miri City Stadium.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (Mintred), the event aims to highlight local talents and promote entrepreneurship.
On the morning of July 20, a Zumba session will be held at Miri City Stadium from 7.15 am to 10.30 am, organised by the Miri District Office.
That same evening, a Multi-Faith Thanksgiving Ceremony will take place at 8pm at the Meritz Hotel, led by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), in celebration of Sarawak's hallmark of religious harmony.
On July 21, a thanksgiving ceremony will be held at 6pm at the At-Taqwa Mosque here, organised by the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (Jais).
The final day of the celebration will begin with a Unity Walk at 7am, starting from Miri City Stadium. Organised by the Miri Resident's Office, the walk is intended to symbolise solidarity among Sarawakians of all backgrounds.
Later that afternoon, a townhall session will take place at 2pm at the Imperial Hotel here, jointly organised by the Miri Resident's Office and Miri City Council, serving as a platform for public engagement with government leaders.
The highlight will be the Sarawak Day Assembly, scheduled for 8pm at Miri City Stadium. Spearheaded by UPPANS and the Miri Resident's Office, the grand finale is expected to draw large crowds in a show of unity, pride, and patriotism.
'The Sarawak Day celebration is not only a commemoration of the past, but also a platform to promote unity, mutual understanding, and collaboration among all Sarawakians.
'This event encourages recognition of the contributions of every community toward Sarawak's development, and aims to strengthen the relationship between the government and the people,' said Lee.
As such, he calls on all residents of Miri and nearby areas to join in the festivities.
'Let us come together to show our support and love for Sarawak. Your presence will reflect the unity and pride of our people under the spirit of 'Sarawak Maju Makmur'.'
Also present at the press conference were State Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Rosey Yunus; State Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew; State Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Ripin Lamat; Miri mayor and Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii; UPPANS director Datu Hamdan Sharbini; and Miri Resident Galong Luang. host Lee Kim Shin miri sarawak day

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Miri to host Sarawak Day 2025 celebration from July 20-22
Miri to host Sarawak Day 2025 celebration from July 20-22

Borneo Post

time6 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Miri to host Sarawak Day 2025 celebration from July 20-22

Lee (centre), along with (from left) Galong, Ripin, Rosey, Hamdan and Yii, show the promotional poster for the Sarawak Day 2025 celebration. MIRI (June 20): The Sarawak Day 2025 celebration will take place here from July 20 to 22, bringing together a series of events to commemorate the state's history, culture and achievements. Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin officially announced the schedule and key highlights at a press conference today, where he emphasised the strong commitment of the organising team and expressed confidence in the smooth execution of the event. He disclosed that the Sarawak Protocol, Ceremony and Event Management Unit (UPPANS), under the Premier's Department, has been entrusted with coordinating the celebration in collaboration with various state departments and agencies. 'This year's celebration aims to instil love for our state, honour Sarawak's rich history and the struggle for independence, and celebrate the progress and achievements we have made together,' he said. Lee added that the three-day celebration will feature a wide range of activities that reflect the unity, diversity, and pride of Sarawakians. Among the key programmes are the Sales Carnival and Sarawak Talent Showcase, which will run throughout the celebration period at Miri City Stadium. Spearheaded by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (Mintred), the event aims to highlight local talents and promote entrepreneurship. On the morning of July 20, a Zumba session will be held at Miri City Stadium from 7.15 am to 10.30 am, organised by the Miri District Office. That same evening, a Multi-Faith Thanksgiving Ceremony will take place at 8pm at the Meritz Hotel, led by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), in celebration of Sarawak's hallmark of religious harmony. On July 21, a thanksgiving ceremony will be held at 6pm at the At-Taqwa Mosque here, organised by the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (Jais). The final day of the celebration will begin with a Unity Walk at 7am, starting from Miri City Stadium. Organised by the Miri Resident's Office, the walk is intended to symbolise solidarity among Sarawakians of all backgrounds. Later that afternoon, a townhall session will take place at 2pm at the Imperial Hotel here, jointly organised by the Miri Resident's Office and Miri City Council, serving as a platform for public engagement with government leaders. The highlight will be the Sarawak Day Assembly, scheduled for 8pm at Miri City Stadium. Spearheaded by UPPANS and the Miri Resident's Office, the grand finale is expected to draw large crowds in a show of unity, pride, and patriotism. 'The Sarawak Day celebration is not only a commemoration of the past, but also a platform to promote unity, mutual understanding, and collaboration among all Sarawakians. 'This event encourages recognition of the contributions of every community toward Sarawak's development, and aims to strengthen the relationship between the government and the people,' said Lee. As such, he calls on all residents of Miri and nearby areas to join in the festivities. 'Let us come together to show our support and love for Sarawak. Your presence will reflect the unity and pride of our people under the spirit of 'Sarawak Maju Makmur'.' Also present at the press conference were State Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Rosey Yunus; State Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew; State Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Ripin Lamat; Miri mayor and Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii; UPPANS director Datu Hamdan Sharbini; and Miri Resident Galong Luang. host Lee Kim Shin miri sarawak day

Safeguards critical in tapping EPF savings for private healthcare, says expert
Safeguards critical in tapping EPF savings for private healthcare, says expert

New Straits Times

time11 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Safeguards critical in tapping EPF savings for private healthcare, says expert

KUALA LUMPUR: A bold plan to allow Malaysians to tap into their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Account 2 to pay for health insurance may help ease access to private healthcare. However, an analyst cautions that without careful safeguards, it could leave retirees vulnerable later in life. The proposal, which aims to address rising healthcare costs and access concerns, is a potentially meaningful step, particularly for middle-income earners and the ageing population, who are often excluded from targeted public health aid. Universiti Putra Malaysia School of Business and Economics lecturer Associate Professor Dr Lee Chin said that while the initiative fills a gap in health protection, the long-term implications for retirement adequacy must not be overlooked. "From a social protection standpoint, enabling the use of EPF savings for health insurance could fill an important gap, especially for the ageing population and middle-income groups who fall outside public safety nets. However, contributors must be well-informed. "Account 2 was designed to support housing, education and emergencies — all of which are already pressing needs. Allowing health insurance payments from the same source adds another layer of pressure," she told the New Straits Times. Lee added that without proper caps or financial literacy support, contributors risk depleting their savings too quickly, leaving little for their retirement years. From a broader policy perspective, she said such flexibility should be paired with strong public education campaigns to help contributors make informed decisions, alongside safeguards to ensure withdrawals are responsibly managed. "At the same time, the move could have ripple effects on the health insurance sector. By enabling more people — particularly those previously uninsured — to afford private coverage, the insurance pool could grow, improving risk distribution and potentially lowering premium costs over time." However, she cautioned that a sudden spike in demand could also lead to higher premiums or moral hazard without sufficient regulatory oversight. "Insurers and regulators must be prepared to monitor cost escalation and prevent abuse," she said. As for fund sustainability, Lee said that while Account 1 remains ring-fenced for retirement, even partial erosion of Account 2 could undermine long-term financial resilience, particularly among lower to middle-income groups. She cited examples such as Singapore's MediSave and Chile's pension-linked health models, which allow similar withdrawals under strict regulatory frameworks, often supported by employer or government co-payments. "Malaysia can learn from these examples to design a scheme that is targeted, transparent and accountable." She added that the policy could serve as a much-needed bridge between financial and health protection, provided it is not treated as a short-term fix. "In short, this policy could bridge the gap between financial security and health protection —but only if it walks the line carefully. Health access should not come at the cost of growing old in hardship." On June 19, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the government was considering allowing EPF members to use their Account 2 savings to pay for monthly health insurance premiums. He said that, if implemented, the initiative could enable 16 million EPF contributors to access private hospital treatment using their contributions. However, Dzulkefly later clarified that the proposed health insurance scheme — funded through EPF Account 2 — would be voluntary and not mandatory.

New milestone for Sibu with opening of first Petros Multifuel Station
New milestone for Sibu with opening of first Petros Multifuel Station

Borneo Post

time13 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

New milestone for Sibu with opening of first Petros Multifuel Station

Tiang and David sign the backdrop for the new Petros Multifuel Station opening. – Photo by Peter Boon SIBU (June 20): Sibu's first Petros Multifuel Station was launched at Brooke Drive today. Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang officiated at the station run by Emparia Sdn Bhd. 'As many of you know, we are on a journey to make Sarawak a developed state by year 2030. That's not just a slogan, it's a real vision. And to make that happen, we need strong support from small and medium enterprises (SMEs),' he said. 'SMEs are the heart of our economy. You create jobs, keep the local economy moving, and help bring development to every corner of Sarawak including places like Sibu, Kapit, and Mukah, not just big cities like Kuching and Miri.' Delving on Petros, the Pelawan assemblyman said the new station is part of a bigger story about how Sarawak is starting to stand tall, taking charge of the state's own oil and gas resources. 'Petros, as many of you know, was set up not just to do business, but to protect our Sarawak rights. Sarawak has always had special powers under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963. 'And we are using those powers wisely for the interests and benefit of all Anak Sarawak. Thanks to the leadership of our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sarawak government, Sarawak now has stronger control over our oil and gas industry. That means we can decide what's best for us, make sure more value stays in the state, and more importantly – give more opportunities to our own people,' added Tiang. He said this autonomy is what allows Sarawak to build better schools and offer free tertiary education to Sarawakians next year as well as improve healthcare and infrastructure. (From sixth left) Tiang and David are seen during a photocall for the opening. – Photo by Peter Boon Emparia Sdn Bhd chief executive officer David Tiang said Petros is not just a growing international brand but a Sarawak brand created to serve Sarawakians. 'As we officially launch the Petros Multifuel Station today, we hope that when you see the Petros sign, you feel a sense of pride – knowing that this is our Sarawak brand – and you will support our business and grow this brand together,' he said. David Tiang Emparia Sdn Bhd lead Michael Tiang Petros Multifuel Station

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store