TUESDAY, 10 MARCH – Kimanis District situated at the West Coast of Sabah, which is currently experiencing rapid social and economic transformation, has its own story that was documented in history mentioning Kimanis’ existence since 600 years ago, in the year 1413.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) unravels the histories of this district through the publication of its special book entitled “Kimanis: Old State, Sacred Land”.

The book edited by lecturers of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage (FKSW), Baszley Bee Basrah bee, Eko Prayitino Joko, and Zainuddin Baco has gone through the process of research, seminar and written for 10 months, from April to December 2014.

The book contains 12 sections written by 13 authors from various academic background and faculties.

The writing based on field research in the Kimanis area was also assisted by postgraduate students and Final Year students of History Programme, FKSW, oral tradition and oral sources from Kimanis residents as reference, besides existing documentation from archives and libraries in and outside of the country.

This book displays the natural heritage that forms the physical nature, fauna and flora of Kimanis, its population and settlement history.

Readers will then be taken to the olden days when Kimanis was a state and was the dividing point between the inner-Brunei and outer-Brunei for Saba’ and North Borneo.

The next story of this only American colony in Malaysia shared are the Ellena Colony or its famous moniker “Ellena Kingdom”. Kimanis became the administrative centre of the colony, which stretched from Kimanis to Sandakan.

This 218-page book was launched by Malaysian Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman in conjunction with the Malaysian Formation Agreement 1963 Forum at the Main Lecture Hall Complex 2, UMS recently. – MA (fl)


Photo: Johaidi Ismail


Media and Citra Division
 

TUESDAY, 10 MARCH – The organising of the Formation of Malaysia Agreement 1963 Forum by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Lecture Hall Complex 2, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently received positive reaction.

State Legislative Assembly Speaker, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Mohd Salleh Tun Haji Said Keruak commented that the organisation of the forum was the best platform to discuss many things related to the interest of the state.

He said, such approach was indeed good as it had discussed many things that were associated with the Malaysian Agreement and the most important was that political ideology was positively set aside during this event.

“I fully agree with the organisation of the forum recently in UMS where the Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman was himself the moderator, along with 12 invited panelists of diverse background,” he said.

Salleh was sure that the federal government always welcomed such forum as it was good and based on the findings of the meeting there were some things needed to be acted upon and followed-up.

“We have to ensure that negotiations can be done and I’m happy when all parties agreed to curb all these elements that wanted to separate Sabah and Sarawak,” he added.

He was speaking to reporters after delivering a Luncheon Talk on ‘Conflict in an Organisation’ organised by the Association of Professional and Management (Non-Academic) Employees UMS. – SS (fl)


Media and Citra Division