Hyperlink not successful

Yesterday I installed a link in my post to the website of the 2nd International Tattoo Convention for easy visiting. But the hyperlink failed to work.

This reminds me that I have to sharpen my skills in IT to deliver a better job.

As I told my buddy Hock Lai before, I am only semi-literate in IT. There is plenty more to catch up.

Life is actually meant to be a learning process. As one Chinese proverb puts it rightly: there is no end to learning in your life. The ex-Premier of Singapore Mr. Lee Kuan Yew was illiterate in computer. After he stepped down from premiership, he had to learn to use computer in his daily work.

During my time at Monash University, our professor used to tell us to take learning as a life-long continuing process. His words still stay clear in my memory.

Both Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and my professor have motivated me to keep on learning.

2nd International Tattoo Convention

This huge billboard erected at Pintu Gerbang Sibu ushers in the 2nd International Tattoo Convention.

The upcoming event has aroused curiosity in Sibu. Not surprising because the folks here have misconceived the art of tattoo. They view it as a mark of vice. It is a sad thing that this local culture has been relegated.

If you have not fully appreciated this art on a person's skin, you now have a wonderful opportunity to open your eyes to it.

This international convention is organised by the Sibu Municipal Council in collaboration with Borneo Headhunters Tattoo Studio. It is scheduled to be held from June 29 to July 1 at Bukit Aup Jubilee Park.

Just to excite you, it is going to bring together international acclaimed tattoo artists from all over the world. Our local talents in traditional music, dances and art of tattooing will also be highlighted.

Borneo tattoo, our very rich culture, has been known all over the world because of its cultural and traditional roots. We should be proud of it.

This convention has important missions in hand, namely to preserve our beautiful culture and tradition and to promote tourism for Sibu. It,therefore, means business.

All things are made to happen. This applies to the 2nd International Tattoo Convention also. Two prominent lawyers in Sibu, namely Councilor Robert Lau and Mr. Chambai Lindong, initiated for it to come to Sibu. Both of them have been working day in day out tirelessly with personal sacrifices for this event.

They have done a great thing for Sibu. Let us give them a big round of applause.

You may visit the convention's website athttp:// www.borneotattooconvention.com

UMNO's inroad into Sarawak-now on high profile

The UMNO's stalwarts in Sarawak who are working to pave the way for the party to come in are on very high profile now. They formed a fleet of vehicles to sweep through the state on a massive membership-drive. It seems that the inroad into Sarawak is heating up.

There is no official confirmation yet. This has added a mask of secrecy to the matter and the market is flooded with rumours.

Something amiss must be going on with strong implication to the state politics. Maybe an invisible hand from the Federal is at work on it. From the openness of the movement, it is reasonable to arrive at that assumption.

The Registrar of Societies in Sarawak is presently mute on the legality of the underground drive. Is there some kind of directives from the higher level?

All Sarawakians can't afford not to follow through!

Gawai Dayak Visit - in picture

Our Gawai Dayak visit To Kg. Tutus was very much enriched by this traditional music performance in the ruai of the longhouse. We were greatly enthralled by the fine rhythm. The music shows the richness of the Iban culture.

VMY Badges-late decision or late delivery?

We just received 100 VMY (Visit Malaysia Year 2007) badges from the Ministry of Tourism. Our front-liners are required to put on the badge to create awareness and to add impact to the tourism promotions.

This little support material is cute and certainly is for good cause. We all love it and give the Ministry our big hand.

But what we are bemused is the timing of the despatch of the badges-we received them when VMY is almost halfway through. The intended publicity is therefore very much less (as far as the VMY badges are concerned).

There is no doubt that the VMY badges came late by any standard. What is of interest is: is it due to administrative delay in despatch or simply a late decision on VMY badges?

A real showdown

YB Dr. Soon Choon Teck recently set up Dudong Constituency Elections Office and put up a signboard outside the office. This was certainly unpleasant to the other faction, but there was no apparent course open to them since setting up an elections office did not contravene the party's rules.

I just learned that the office would be opened on June 4, to be officiated by YB Datuk David Teng. YB Datuk Sri Wong has been invited to attend the function. The opening has been scheduled in such a way as to coincide with the branch level celebrations of the party' anniversary by Sibu branch of SUPP.

The market talk is that YB Dr. Soon's faction is making a pre-emptive strike in an effort to gain an upper hand over formation of the proposed Dudong branch. Did they receive a pat on the back ? It would be interesting to watch out.

Gawai Dayak

Today (1st of June) is Gawai Dayak. It is a public holiday in Sarawak.

Gawai Dayak is a festival celebrated both as religious and social occasion. The word Gawai means ritual or festival. Dayak is a collective name for native races in Sarawak: the Iban, Biduyuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelibit, Mulut people and a few more. According to historical records, Gawai Dayak started in 1957 by Mr. Ian Kingsley, a radio programme organiser. It generated a lot of interest among the Dayak community.

I went for Gawai visit this morning with my GM and some other staff to Kg. Tutus. The kampung (in BM, means village) is accessible by road, albeit only of plantation estate gravel-covered standard.

We went to John's (our security supervisor) , Renang's(our assistant bell captain) and their relatives' houses.They all served tuak(rice wine) and traditional delicacy like penganan(cake). John also prepared roasted glutinous rice in bamboo (called ngelulun pulut), chicken curry, beef curry and mixed vegetables for us. The longhouse folks also entertained us with the traditional music at the ruai (an open gallery which runs through the entire length of the longhouse). We had a wonderful day of visiting.

Malaysia is blessed with racial harmony which many other countries admire. Visits during festive occasions among racial groups is one way to maintain harmonious relationships between races. We have to keep up this tradition.