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Hi friends, I'm back after taking what I thought was a well-earned short break over the weekend. "Well-earned" because yesterday (Sunday, Malaysian time) marked the end of my first week as a blogger.
As I enter my second week, I wondered what would I deliver to you. I then realized that for the entire week last week, I had been bombarding my readers with nothing but politics. So in order that you are not overdosed with politics, I have decided to start this new week with something non-political. After all, politics is not every man's cup of tea and this blog is supposed to be anything concerning Sabah. Which partly explains the title of today's posting and where I went over the weekend instead of filing a new posting. But before I continue, I would like to assure those eager to know what happened to the new party, Berjaya, and rival Alliance's next move in July 1975; that I'll carry on the story tomorrow.
Well, last Saturday I attended the 40th Anniversary Dinner of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB) at a leading hotel in Kota Kinabalu. This means that the State-owned agency was formed sometime in 1967, when I was still in Form One of a secondary school. It was initially known as the Sabah Housing Commission with the primary aim of providing adequate public housing for the lower-income group. Due to its initial success and the proven capability of the management, the Sabah Government in 1981 decided to upgrade the Commission to LPPB with the added portfolio of development of new townships. Since that humble beginning with only a handful of staff, LPPB (now with almost 200 staff) has over the last four decades built thousands and thousands of houses, especially those catering to the lower-income group, known popularly as low-cost houses. Similarly, numerous new townships or shophouses within existing townships were also created. The Guest-of-Honour at the dinner was Minister for Local Government and Housing, Datuk Haji Hajiji Haji Noor who represented Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Haji Aman. Also present were Hajiji's assistant minister, Mr Edward Yong; LPPB chairman Datuk Rubin Balang, the Ministry's permanent secretary Datuk Ujang Haji Sulani; LPPB general manager Mrs PS Wong and her deputy Mr Jenar Lamdah. Also on hand were former Housing Minister Datuk Yap Pak Leong, former LPPB chairman Datuk PK Lau and former LPPB general manager Sylvester Disimon. The Chief Minister in his speech read out by Hajiji expressed overall satisfaction with LPPB's performance thus far but pointed out that there was always room for improvement. The 800-odd crowd at the grand dinner were entertained by Malaysia's latest singing sensation, Farawahida, winner of the Most Promising Female Artiste award (seen on the left in 2nd picture obliging a fan at the dinner). The curtain raiser by done by Sabah's version of Elvis Presley, lawyer Suresh Singh. As the VIPs cut the anniversary cake, LPPB's recently-formed choir sang the government agency's anniversary theme song and corporate song in public for the first time.
Earlier, the VIPs' arrival at the venue were welcomed by a Malay kompang group formed by LPPB staff including non-Muslims (please see bottom picture). Also on hand to entertain the early birds was LPPB's own band led by one of the agency's managers, Mr Michael Lansing (seen in 3rd picture conducting the choir).
Mrs Wong in her speech meanwhile thanked the organising chairperson Puan Hajjah Rosnani Haji Asmat who is also LPPB's Admin and HR Manager for a job well-done.
She added that since it's LPPB's anniversary, everything at the dinner were 'in-house' except for the food of course; meaning apart from the band, the choir, and the kompang group, even the three MCs (Arnold, Ahmadshah and Marudin) were the agency's own staff despite their lack of professional experience. A sourvenir book in conjunction with the anniversary was produced in time for the dinner, thanks to editor Monsu. A short documentary film on LPPB produced by DGM Jenar was also shown at the dinner.
That ends my posting for today, so until then, once again Aramaiti!
(Footnote: To see a larger view of the photos, please click on them.)
As I enter my second week, I wondered what would I deliver to you. I then realized that for the entire week last week, I had been bombarding my readers with nothing but politics. So in order that you are not overdosed with politics, I have decided to start this new week with something non-political. After all, politics is not every man's cup of tea and this blog is supposed to be anything concerning Sabah. Which partly explains the title of today's posting and where I went over the weekend instead of filing a new posting. But before I continue, I would like to assure those eager to know what happened to the new party, Berjaya, and rival Alliance's next move in July 1975; that I'll carry on the story tomorrow.
Well, last Saturday I attended the 40th Anniversary Dinner of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB) at a leading hotel in Kota Kinabalu. This means that the State-owned agency was formed sometime in 1967, when I was still in Form One of a secondary school. It was initially known as the Sabah Housing Commission with the primary aim of providing adequate public housing for the lower-income group. Due to its initial success and the proven capability of the management, the Sabah Government in 1981 decided to upgrade the Commission to LPPB with the added portfolio of development of new townships. Since that humble beginning with only a handful of staff, LPPB (now with almost 200 staff) has over the last four decades built thousands and thousands of houses, especially those catering to the lower-income group, known popularly as low-cost houses. Similarly, numerous new townships or shophouses within existing townships were also created. The Guest-of-Honour at the dinner was Minister for Local Government and Housing, Datuk Haji Hajiji Haji Noor who represented Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Haji Aman. Also present were Hajiji's assistant minister, Mr Edward Yong; LPPB chairman Datuk Rubin Balang, the Ministry's permanent secretary Datuk Ujang Haji Sulani; LPPB general manager Mrs PS Wong and her deputy Mr Jenar Lamdah. Also on hand were former Housing Minister Datuk Yap Pak Leong, former LPPB chairman Datuk PK Lau and former LPPB general manager Sylvester Disimon. The Chief Minister in his speech read out by Hajiji expressed overall satisfaction with LPPB's performance thus far but pointed out that there was always room for improvement. The 800-odd crowd at the grand dinner were entertained by Malaysia's latest singing sensation, Farawahida, winner of the Most Promising Female Artiste award (seen on the left in 2nd picture obliging a fan at the dinner). The curtain raiser by done by Sabah's version of Elvis Presley, lawyer Suresh Singh. As the VIPs cut the anniversary cake, LPPB's recently-formed choir sang the government agency's anniversary theme song and corporate song in public for the first time.
Earlier, the VIPs' arrival at the venue were welcomed by a Malay kompang group formed by LPPB staff including non-Muslims (please see bottom picture). Also on hand to entertain the early birds was LPPB's own band led by one of the agency's managers, Mr Michael Lansing (seen in 3rd picture conducting the choir).
Mrs Wong in her speech meanwhile thanked the organising chairperson Puan Hajjah Rosnani Haji Asmat who is also LPPB's Admin and HR Manager for a job well-done.
She added that since it's LPPB's anniversary, everything at the dinner were 'in-house' except for the food of course; meaning apart from the band, the choir, and the kompang group, even the three MCs (Arnold, Ahmadshah and Marudin) were the agency's own staff despite their lack of professional experience. A sourvenir book in conjunction with the anniversary was produced in time for the dinner, thanks to editor Monsu. A short documentary film on LPPB produced by DGM Jenar was also shown at the dinner.
That ends my posting for today, so until then, once again Aramaiti!
(Footnote: To see a larger view of the photos, please click on them.)
4 comments:
Like other readers, I am waiting to see/read more continuation of your `masterpiece' political history.
Thanks, Aki, it's comments from people like u that keep me going on..
Hey hey ... May I guess your identity? The last I saw you was at Sacred Heart Parish Hall? Betul?
Please continue your living history lesson.
All best.
Philip.
As the politicians would say, no comment. Thanks anyway.
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