Warna warni Istanbul

Istanbul kota bersejarah menjadi tarikan parawisata seluruh dunia.Banyak peristiwa silam terjadi sini.Turkey yang bersempadan dengan Syria menjadi transit bagi mereka yang ingin ke Mekah.Tahun lalu (2012) kami bertemu beberapa rombongan jemaah yang singgah di Istanbul beberapa hari sebelum berangkat ke tanah Suci.(artikel saya kembara rabbani Istanbul berkaitan) Sememangnya kota Istanbul memberi keseronokan kepada pengunjung kerana kota ini sungguh unik dan cantik hasil gabungan budaya Asia dan Eropah.Sejarah pemerintahan Islam Zaman Khalifah Othmaniah selama ratusan tahun menjadi saksi kehebatan kota ini .Selama 5 hari berada di Istanbul melawat Masjid-masjid bersejarah zaman Khalifah Othmaniah menggamit kenangan sayu tentang keagungan Empayar Islam yang menjadi tonggak kecemerlangan Ilmu dan peradaban suatu ketika dulu.

Gambar kenangan  semasa di Istanbul Mei 2012.

Che'Yahya Che'Soh

Kuala Lumpur.

Saturday June 1, 2013

How old is your brain?
Take the test!
By TERRY SMALL
mystarjob@leaderonomics.com

Your brain may be younger or older than your actual age. Are you ready to take the test?
Dr Vincent Fortanasce, professor of neurology at USC, has developed The Real Brain Age Test. He says that people can outlive their brains! Alzheimer’s and other types of brain diseases leave clues.

These clues can be used to determine your real brain age.
If you want to take the test keep two things in mind:
This is not a “real” test, but rather a broad assessment of your general risk at any point in time.
There is a lot you can do, at any time, to improve the quality of your brain.

Take a sheet of paper and number from 1 to 25 and answer true or false to the following statements:
1.        I get seven to eight hours (or more) of sleep each night.
2.        I eat at least five or more servings of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants daily.
3.        I eat at least one serving of blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries daily.
4.        I eat baked or broiled fish high in omega-3 fatty acids at least three times a week.
5.        I take fish oil supplements high in omega-3 fatty acids or flaxseed supplements at least five times per week.

6.        I take folic acid supplementation with my daily multivitamin.
7.        I take a low dose of aspirin daily.
8.        I drink red wine or grape juice at least five times per week.
9.        I exercise most days of the week for at least 30 minutes each time.
10.        I read challenging books, do crossword puzzles or sudoku, or I engage in activities that require active learning, memorisation, computation, analysis, and problem solving at least five times a week.

11.        My total cholesterol is less than 200.
12.        My LDL (“bad”) cholesterol is less than 110.
13.        I have “longevity genes” in my family, with members who lived to 80 and older without memory loss.
14.        I am not obese (less than 20 pounds overweight for a woman, less than 30 pounds overweight for a man).

15.        I eat a Mediterranean style diet (high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and olive oil as the source of fat; little red meat).
16.        I use olive oil and spreads with no trans fat instead of butter or margarine.
17.        I have never smoked cigarettes.
18.        I have normal blood pressure.
19.        I do not have diabetes.

20.        I do not have metabolic syndrome (high triglycerides, central obesity, and hypertension), also called insulin resistance syndrome.
21.        I do not have a sleep disorder such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, or untreated insomnia.

22.        Daily uncontrolled stress is not a problem for me.
23.        I have a strong support group and enjoy many activities with friends, colleagues, and family members.

24.        I have no problems with short or long term memory.

25.        I am ready to prevent Alzheimer’s and am willing to do whatever it takes.
Now please go back and count how many of the 25 true or false statements you marked “True”. Write your score on a sheet of paper and then use the following key to determine your Real Brain Age and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Keep in mind that your score points out a general direction. It will give you useful information that will be easy to understand and apply to your diet and lifestyle habits.
23-25

Congratulations! You are aging well. Subtract 15 years from your chronological age for your Real Brain Age.

You are presently healthy with a youthful, productive mind. Keep working to become even healthier. Unless things change in your life, your risk of Alzheimer’s disease is extremely low.
20-22
Not Bad! Subtract 10 years from your chronological age for your Real Brain Age.
You are doing a lot to take care of your physical and mental health. Check the specific questions you marked “false” and be sure to pay attention to changes you need to make.
15-19
OK. Your Real Brain Age is the same as your chronological age.

That said, you have a mild risk of Alzheimer’s disease, so pay attention. Carefully review your results to see what changes you need to make on your diet, exercise, mental stimulation, or rest and relaxation.

12-14
You have a moderate risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Add five years to your chronological age for your Real Brain Age.

While there’s not a lot of disparity between your chronological age and your Real Brain, it’s important that you review the quiz and circle any of the statements that indicate some work is needed. Talk to your doctor about your Alzheimer’s risk factors you have to see if treatment is indicated.
0-11

You have a high risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Add 10 years to your chronological age for your Real Brain Age.
You may want to call your doctor and talk openly about health problems you may have. Ask if you’re doing all you can to manage these problems. Flag responses that may help to decrease your risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.

How did you do?
I scored 21 out of 25. Considering what I do for a living, I wasn’t really pleased.
But, I feel good about now having four things to work on. I plan on bringing them up with my doctor because I believe any changes should be discussed with a physician.

Dr Fortanasce’s recently published book is called The Anti-Alzheimer’s Prescription - The Science-Proven Plan to Start at Any Age. I highly recommend it! I have no financial interest - zero - in recommending it. I do believe that if you are serious about taking care of your brain this is a book you should read.

We used to believe that Alzheimer’s just occured randomly. Neuroscientists now know that damage associated with this disease begins long before any symptoms show up – even while you are “at the top of your game”. You can choose to have a healthier brain!
In the next Brain Bulletin you will learn about the surprising power of a smile.
And always remember: “You are a genius!”
Enjoy your brain.

Terry Small is a brain expert who resides in Canada and believes that anyone can learn how to learn easier, better, faster, and that learning to learn is the most important skill a person can acquire. To interact with Small, email mystarjob@leaderonomics.com


Thestar  online 
Saturday 1 June 2013.

sebuah panorama alam ciptaan Ilahi (bukan semulajadi)
yang menakjubkan.

sumber : Ehsan Cikgu Ross


 
Melihat alam ciptaan Tuhan menimbulkan keinsafan.Siapakah
menanam tumbuhan-tumbuhan dan rumputan yang bertebaran.

 
 Suasana kehidupan jauh di pedalaman yang sunyi dan
 mendamaikan fikiran kendatipun kelihatan serba kekurangan

 
Lihatlah dengan mata hati ketenangan tasik membiru berlatarkan
bukit menghijau menambah tadabbur terhadap ciptaan Tuhan.


 
Kabus muncul di celah-celah bukit. Bila datangnya sinar hilanglah
ia  dari pandangan. Benar kata Ahmad Jais (Allahyarham) dalam
lagunya "Mengharap sinar menelan kabus".

Alam dan manusia saling bergantung antara satu sama lain. Kebergantungan manusia,haiwan dan tumbuhan terhadap alam membentuk ekosistem kehidupan yang seimbang. Sayangnya kemusnahan alam semakin menjadi-jadi kerana kerakusan manusia  menjana  modal ekonomi tanpa memikirkan risiko yang terjadi kepada generasi terkemudian.Hutan di teroka secara berleluasa, menebang dan menggondol bukit sehingga mengundang mala petaka kepada manusia. Suhu meningkat,panas melampau kerana kawasan tadahan hujan telah lenyap. Ekologi hutan turut musnah sehingga mengancam kehidupan haiwan dan hidupan lain yang terpaksa mencari habitat  baharu untuk memulakan kehidupan mereka.Sungai yang jernih tempat bermain anak-anak ikan bertukar keruh kekuningan akibat penerokaan hutan secara berleluasa. Selagi manusia tidak beradab dengan alam selama itu lah kemusnahan terus berlaku  walau pun musibah berlalu di depan mata  setiap masa. Benarlah firman Allah 'kerusakan yang berlaku di daratan dan lautan kerana ulah tangan-tangan manusia" .

Gambar: Cikgu Ross.

Pengetua SMKSB@STAR
Kuala Lumpur.
Jumaat 31 Mei,2013.

Taufan Barbara ragut 3 nyawa, 4 hilang di selatan Mexico

2013/05/31 - 08:24:30 AM Cetak Emel Kawan

 

 

IMEJ saltelit oleh GOES East menunjukkan Taufan Barbara menghala persisiran pantai selatan Pasifik di Mexico, semalam. - Foto AFP

 

OAXACA (Mexico): Sekurang-kurangnya tiga orang terkorban apabila Taufan Barbara mendarat di pantai Pasifik semalam, termasuk seorang peluncur warga Amerika Syarikat.

Isnin lalu, seramai 12 nelayan dengan empat bot dilaporkan hilang apabila taufan melanda pesisir pantai selatan Mexico.

Bagaimanapun, lapan nelayan yang hilang kembali ke pantai semalam dengan menaniki dua bot selepas terselamat dari ribut dengan berteduh di pulau El Caballar, namun empat nelayan masih hilang, demikian menurut kenyataan yang dikeluarkan kerajaan negeri Oaxaca hari ini. - AFP 

 

Berita Harian online

Jumaat 31 Mei,2013.

Pasang Marmar Dewan Gemilang

Ketika ini kerja-kerja pemasangan marmar (tiles) sedang di lakukan oleh kontraktor yang di lantik oleh Persatuan Ibu bapa dan Guru (PIBG). En. Simon Khor sangat prihatin dengan pembangunan Dewan Gemilang.Beliau setiap hari meninjau perkembangan kerja.Mesyuarat PIBG pada 16 Mei,2013 yang bermula jam 4.30petang berlarutan hingga 9.00 malam bersetuju menggantikan lantai Dewan Gemilang(DG) dengan marmar.Kos pemasangan melalui peruntukan PIBG termasuk mengecat seluruh bahagian dalam Dewan.

Penghawa dingin

Sebaik kerja-kerja pemasangan mozek siap,Dewan Gemilang akan di pasang alat penghawa dingin sebanyak 6 set melalui sumbangan Dato'Melvin Loh sepertimana yang di janjikan semasa berjumpa Pengetua, Pk HEM dan Guru Disiplin tempoh hari.Pelajar-pelajar SMKSB@STAR bertambah seronok untuk belajar kerana suasana yang sejuk dan nyaman menjadi suntikan minda menumpukan kepada pelajaran yang di ajar oleh guru.Sesuai dengan namanya SMK Sinar Bintang, kita mengharapkan  sekolah ini mampu mencapai taraf lima bintang atau sekurang-kurangnya 4 bintang. Saya yakin kita mampu mengubahnya berkat kerjasama dan partisipasi padu semua pihak. Kita telah menetapkan sasaran 60%, : 20%  :20%  sebagai indikator kecemerlangan sekolah.

Terima kasih.

Pengetua SMKSB@STAR

Khamis 30 Mei,2013.

Tahniah Wan Nor Azmi

Pihak sekolah ingin merakamkan ucapan tahniah dan penghargaan kepada En.Wan Nor Azmi kerana mendapat kenaikan gred DG 48 (KUP) mulai 14 Januari,2012. Seorang lagi Pn Sheera pun mendapat DG 48 (KUP). Semoga dengan perubahan gred yang lebih tinggi ini membangkitkan motivasi kerja dengan lebih cemerlang. Dengan pelaksanaan dasar baru 8;8;6;3 kerjaya guru-guru bertambah baik dan lebih cepat berbanding beberapa tahun sebelum ini seseorang penjawat terpaksa menunggu lebih 20 tahun baru dapat merasai gred DG48. Tahniah dan syabas.

 

En Wan Nor Azmi.

Terima kasih.

Pengetua SMKSB@STAR

Khamis 30 Mei,2013.

Ubat Hati

Seawal dini hari tak kala  suara Muazzin berkumandang memecah keheningan  pagi memanggil untuk SOLAT FAJAR , saya bersiap berpakaian kemas mengenakan sedikit wangian menuju rumah Allah di Surau Al Falah.Alhamdulillah pagi ini terbangun agak awal dari biasa sempat lah berjemaah bersama ahli Qariah. Dalam suasana pagi begini terbayang Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabi SAW dengan ribuan  hamba Allah berbondong-bondong menuju Kiblat yang satu menyembah Tuhan dengan penuh rasa kudus dan rendah diri.Kaabah dan Raudah tidak pernah sunyi dari manusia yang datang dari berbagai pelosok dunia semata-mata menyahut panggilan Tuhan. Indahnya Islam mewarnai kehidupan manusia tanpa mengira etnik bangsa disatukan bawah kalimah Agung Lailaha Illah Muhammad Rasulullah yang menjadi ikatan persaudaran kaum muslim di mana pun mereka berada.

Mengimami  solat

Saya mengimami solat fajar dengan membaca permulaan Surah Yunus yang mengisahkan tentang ketauhidan kepada Allah SWT. Antara inti kandungan yang dapat di ambil pengajaran dari permulaan surah ini doa yang kita akhiri selalu "Dakwaahum fiiha subhanakallahum watahiyatuhum fiiha salaam waakhirudakwahum anilhamdulillah hirabbil alamin'(seharusnya ayat Allah tidak boleh di baca dalam ejaan bukan kalimah Arab).Dalam ayat seterusnya membicara tentang perangai dan sifat manusia bila berada dalam kesusahan atau terkena musibah mereka sentiasa mengingat Allah, tetapi apabila sudah di hilangkan , mereka melupakan Tuhan.Manusia akan mencari Allah bila keadaan tersepit dan melupakanNya bila selamat dari bahaya. Seumpama orang yang hanyut di lautan, mereka menjerit  dan terkapai-kapai meminta pertolongan, Allah hanyutkan sekeping papan buat nya berpaut untuk meneruskan kehidupan.Dalam pertarungan antara hidup dan mati,sekeping papan lebih bernilai daripada wang jutaan ringgit. Di saat itu manusia benar-benar yakin pertolongan Tuhan, tetapi bila sudah sampai di daratan, mula melupakan suruhan dan kewajiban.

Ingat Allah

Cara yang paling mujarab menghilangkan resah gelisah ialah dengan mengingat Allah.Manusia seringkali alpa dan jauh dari Tuhan sehingga tidak sempat sujud,mencuri sedikit waktu sebelum ke pejabat membaca ayat-ayat Allah supaya hati sentiasa tenang. Bukankah dengan mengingat Allah hati akan menjadi tenang?.Segala punca yang berlaku dalam kehidupan masyarakat hari bersumber dari hati yang gagal menerima perintah Tuhan. Mentarbiyah diri melakukan tanggungjawab  secara konsisten boleh mengubat hati yang keras.Al Qur'an mengajar manusia mengurus hati melalui beberapa cara yang antaranya jadikan lah setiap perbuatan yang baik itu sebagai amal mulia yang di lakukan secara berterusan. Umpamanya bersedekah. Jika amalan ini menjadi sebati dalam jiwa manusia menginfakan rezeki yang di perolehi secara istiqamah walau pun sedikit, nescaya Allah akan melipatgandakan pahala di sisiNYa secara berkekalan. Demikian juga dengan amalan -amalan yang lain, sedikit tapi berterusan sangat di sukai Tuhan ketimbang berbuat kebajikan  secara berkala atau sekaligus, kemudian di tinggalkan.

Wallahua'llam.
Al Fakir wal miskin
Che'Yahya Che'Soh
Pengetua SMKSB@STAR
KHamis 30 Mei,2013.

Bayi dibuang dalam lubang tandas selamat

2013/05/29 - 06:57:46 AM Cetak Emel Kawan

 

Anggota bomba berjaya mengeluarkan bayi yang dibuang ibunya ke dalam lubang tandas di wilayah Zhejiang di timur China semalam. Gambar kecil, anggota bomba cuba memecahkan sebahagian saluran paip untuk mengeluarkan bayi berkenaan.

 

Bomba China guna gergaji, pelayar keluarkan budak tersekat dalam paip kumbahan

Beijing: Seorang bayi lelaki baru lahir, dipercayai dibuang ibu bapanya ke dalam lubang tandas, ditemui masih hidup dan berjaya diselamatkan anggota bomba di timur China, selepas tersangkut di saluran paip kumbahan semalam.

Polis menyifatkan kes itu sebagai cubaan membunuh dan sedang memburu ibu bapa bayi malang itu. Penduduk China turut meluahkan kemarahan berikutan kejadian itu di media sosial.

Stesen televisyen China CCTV melaporkan, bayi itu ditemui di saluran paip kumbahan di kawasan perumahan di Jinhua, wilayah pesisir pantai Zhejiang.

Dengar tangisan

“Bayi berusia dua hari itu ditemui, selepas penduduk melaporkan mereka mendengar bunyi tangisan,” lapor stesen televisyen itu.

Selepas mengesan kedudukan bayi anggota bomba memotong saluran paip yang mempunyai ukur lilit 10 sentimeter menggunakan playar dan gergaji dengan berhati-hati.

Saluran paip yang sudah dipotong dengan bayi di dalamnya itu kemudian dibawa ke hospital selepas cubaan mereka untuk menariknya keluar tidak berjaya.
Ia kemudian diserahkan kepada doktor yang mengambil masa kira-kira sejam memotong saluran itu sedikit demi sedikit hingga berjaya mengeluarkan bayi seberat 2.3 kilogram dengan uri masih terlekat pada tubuhnya.

Akhbar milik kerajaan Zhejiang News melaporkan, keadaan bayi itu yang diberi nama Bayi No 59, berdasarkan nombor inkubatornya, kini stabil dan selamat.
Rakaman video kerja menyelamat itu turut disiarkan di seluruh negara.

Berita penemuan bayi itu mencetuskan ratusan ribu ulasan di laman web Weibo yang hampir sama dengan Twitter. Sebilangan besar mengucapkan syabas dengan kejayaan menyelamatkan bayi berkenaan dan melahirkan kemarahan dengan kekejaman ibu bapanya.

“Saya tidak dapat menerima dan memaafkan perbuatan membuang bayi dengan uri masih terlekat di tubuh ke dalam lubang tandas.

“Bolehkah mereka dipanggil manusia? Mereka lebih kejam daripada haiwan,” kata seorang pengirim yang menamakan dirinya Jiding Jiajia.

Saksi rakaman menyelamat

Seorang lagi pelayar internet, If-Free, berkata beliau begitu sebak ketika menyaksikan rakaman usaha menyelamat bayi itu.

“Melihat bayi itu mengerang dan menangis ketika saluran paip itu dibuka amat menyentuh perasaan saya. Anda terpaksa melalui saat paling getir di dalam hidup dan saya yakin masa depan anda akan cerah,” katanya.

Laporan mengenai bayi yang dibuang sejurus dilahirkan semakin meningkat di China dan ini sebahagian besarnya berpunca daripada dasar satu keluarga satu anak yang diamalkan dengan ketat di negara itu.

REUTERS/AGENSI 

Berita Harian 

Rabu 29 Mei 2013.

Wednesday May 29, 2013

Turkey begins work on giant third Bosphorus bridge

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd from right), his wife Emine Erdogan (right), Turkish president Abdullah Gul (2nd from left) and his wife Hayrinusa Gul (left) attend the opening ceremony of the third Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul on Wednesday. 

 

ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid the first stone on Wednesday for the third Bosphorus bridge, a multi-billion dollar construction project expected to create the world's widest overpass.

"When the project is completely finished, it will alleviate the burden of Istanbul, one of the world's most important transit corridors," Erdogan said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The nearly $3 billion (2.3 billion euro) project includes a 10-lane road and rail suspension bridge - expected to be the world's widest at 59-metres (yards) - and a new highway linking Asia and Europe in the north of Istanbul, Turkey's largest city.

The project aims to ease traffic problems on the two existing bridges, which currently handle 600,000 vehicles a day, well above their combined capacity of 250,000, according to Turkey's highways authority.

Erdogan called on the Turkish-Italian consortium handling the project to finish work by May 29, 2015 - months earlier than originally planned - in time for the anniversary of Istanbul's conquest by Ottoman sultan Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1453.

The bridge is one of a number of major construction projects aimed at modernising the face of Istanbul within a decade and transforming the city of 15 million people into a transport and financial hub.

President Abdullah Gul said the new bridge will be named after Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim, the grandson of Fatih the Conqueror and also the first Ottoman caliph.

Traffic from both sides of the Bosphorus is also due to be connected later this year through a unique underwater tube tunnel Turkish officials say will be the world's deepest.

The government is currently working on a separate project to build "Kanal Istanbul," another strait to bypass the Bosphorus to ease the boat traffic in the narrow waterway. - AFP 

TheStar online Wednesday 29 May 2013.

Our lovely SMKSB@STAR

Main building look like college,very impressive.

A journey with thousand miles begin from a step




Education is not only a process to collect knowledge as much
as possible, but more important how we can change our way
of thinking for betterment.
 
 

  Education is  a long journey never ending until the end of our breath.




Colorful of  flowers may enhance our motivation to work .




SMKSB@STAR cheerful and elegance



Main entrance to office



School corridor



Farm garden under construction



  Farm garden before construction



School main hall close to Dewan Bestari


school compound look  beautiful and clean.



Education is a process to change 
of behavior  as a result of experience


The new farm garden will operates shortly



Students and teachers, see how clean our school 
as clean as your mind and  good attitude.



schools citizens very proud of SMKSB@STAR with new aura




Thank you very much and appreciate Mr. Subky and Yusoff



School history walk way


New paradigm. New value added.

SMKSB@STAR square .Greens and impress.

Signage SMKSB is a star school.




calm and cool.

We are proud of our school.SMKSB@STAR currently look cheerful and elegance with new environment. Together we build up our school performance in all areas to enhance teaching and learning process. We create the school environment to ensure students and teachers  convenience, enjoy,happy and love. To all my beloved students girls and boys; set up your  mind on the right track with clear objectives for betterment.

Thank you Pn Rosnah Samlee uploading pictures.

Che'Yahya Che'Soh

Principal SMKSB@STAR

Segambut Kuala Lumpur

Wednesday 29 May 2013.

Guru jangan menongkah arus

PUTRAJAYA 28 Mei - Para guru diingatkan agar tidak menongkah arus dengan mengambil langkah menyongsang dalam isu membabitkan dasar pendidikan negara kerana tindakan itu hanya akan merugikan generasi muda dan diri sendiri.

Ketua Pengarah Pendidikan, Tan Sri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud berkata, ingatan tersebut dibuat kerana pelaksanaan setiap dasar pendidikan negara adalah berada di atas bahu setiap guru.

Menurut beliau, golongan itu seharusnya memastikan segala tugas pembelajaran dan pengajaran yang sedang serta bakal mereka laksanakan menepati visi dan misi negara.

''Pihak kerajaan selaku penggubal dasar telah menjana dasar-dasar yang utuh dan bersepadu dalam usaha merekayasakan sistem pendidikan negara melalui Pelan Transformasi Pembangunan Pendidikan Negara (PTPPN) 2013-2025.

''Saya ingin mengingatkan kepada semua guru bahawa sistem pendidikan negara kini sememangnya sudah berada di landasan yang betul," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap di majlis Konvokesyen Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan Ketiga Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya hari ini.

Seramai 779 graduan IPG menerima ijazah masing-masing dalam majlis tersebut.

Mengulas lanjut Abdul Ghafar berkata, adalah menjadi tanggungjawab semua pihak terutama guru untuk merungkai cabaran dunia pendidikan yang kini dilihat semakin rumit dan kompleks.

Malah, beliau menambah, tanggungjawab itu juga sejajar dengan usaha kerajaan dalam usaha mencapai Wawasan Pendidikan Negara menjelang tahun 2020.

Utusan Malaysia online

28 Mei 2013.

Published: Tuesday May 28, 2013 MYT 1:18:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday May 28, 2013 MYT 6:45:11 PM

Express boat capsizes in Balui River, two bodies found so far (updated)

By PHILIP HII, ANDY CHUA and STEPHEN THEN

 

Location of the incident (marked in black).

 

BELAGA: An express boat said to be over-laden with more than 100 people in a rush to get home for Gawai, capsized in the middle of the Balui River in Belaga district, deep in the jungles of central Kapit Division, some 400km from Sibu.

The boat, plying the Bakun-Belaga-Kapit-Sibu route, was said to have overturned while negotiating some rapids in the mid-morning hours Tuesday.

As at 4pm Tuesday, a few dozen survivors had been rescued and it was said that two bodies had been recovered, including that of a pregnant woman.

Tragic incident: A photo of the overturned boat taken by Liwan. 

 

A massive search and rescue operation involving the police, Fire and Rescue Department and volunteers from Belaga, Kapit and Bintulu and Sibu has been launched.

They are now attempting to locate the missing, some of whom are believed trapped beneath the capsized express boat, said Belaga state assemblyman Liwan Lagang.

Liwan, who is State Culture and Heritage Assistant Minister, said it is still unclear how many people were actually on board the express boat.

"The survivors said the incident happened while they were on their way from the upper reaches of the Balui River, not far from the Bakun Dam, to Kapit. They were about an hour from Belaga town when their boat capsized.

"It is not clear how many people were on board. According to the survivors, there were at least a hundred passengers on board with many of them sitting on the roof of the boat.

  A picture said to be of the overloaded boat taken before it capsized.

 

"When the boat overturned, there were people still trapped inside.

"A search and rescue operation was started immediately after the authorities were alerted about the incident," said Liwan, who flew to the site to check on rescue operations and meet with survivors.

Local community leaders in the Belaga district have also joined in the search and rescue efforts.

Teams of young men from numerous riverine settlements are combing the riverbanks and downstream stretches.

On dry land: Some of the survivors who swam ashore looking 

out at the overturned vessel. 

 

A community chief in Bakun, Penghulu Saging Bit, when contacted by The Star, said that the site of the tragedy is at a place called Giam Bungan.

"The place is between the Belaga and Kapit. There is a small stretch of rapids there.

"From what we have been told, the boat had started picking up people from the upper reaches of the Balui River not far from the Bakun Dam.

"The passengers were mostly local natives from the Kapit and Sibu Divisions working in various plantations near Bakun.

"Many of them are timber and oil palm workers. They wanted to go home for Gawai.

"The boat was said to have started the journey from upper Balui near the Bakun Dam at about 6am.

"By the time it reached the Belaga town area (at about 8am), it was already packed with people.

"Some survivors said they estimated there were at least 100 people on board.

"That is already overloaded. The boat went past Belaga town and could not pick up any more passengers.

"About 30 minutes later, the incident happened. Some survivors said they felt the boat hitting something, and then it capsized. Maybe it was a boulder in the river.

"It is not clear how many are still trapped inside. Some of the survivors said there could be more than a dozen missing or trapped inside.

"Nobody knows exactly the number of passengers on the board. People were crammed in everywhere and many had to sit on the roof," he said.

A call to the Belaga police station revealed that almost all its personnel had rushed to the scene, including the police chief and his assistants.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported a total of 181 passengers managed to swim to safety while 23 others remain missing.

Belaga OCPD DSP Bakar Sebau said survivors were now sheltering at two longhouses not far from the site of the incident.

"We are still continuing with our search for those who are still missing," he said.

He said the incident occurred between 8.30am and 9.00am Tuesday after the express boat, Bakun Mas Express Boat, developed engine problems after hitting wood debris in the river.

The Balui River is a tributary of the Rajang River at a confluence near Belaga town and runs all the way to Kapit town and then Sibu town before entering the South China Sea.

Two years ago, 13 passengers died in a similar express boat tragedy in Tatau district near Bintulu town.

TheStar online Tuesday May 28 2013