
New Kunak library soon
Published on: Wed, Jun 11, 2025
By: Ibrahim Tabir Text Size: The new Kunak Library is being built on State-owned land near the Dewan Arena Belia in Kunak. KUNAK: The Sabah State Library's new branch in Kunak (pictured above), currently in its final stages of completion, is expected to provide significant benefits to the local community. The new Kunak Library is being built on State-owned land near the Dewan Arena Belia in Kunak.
Advertisement The library building, valued at over RM6 million, began construction in September 2021 and was originally scheduled for full completion by September 2023. However, the project faced delays, including during the Covid-19 pandemic, which restricted activity across many sectors. Other contributing factors to the delay included a change in the construction site location and the shifting political landscape in Sabah following the 2018 state government transition. Approval for the development of the library was granted earlier during the State administration led by then Chief Minister Tun Musa Aman, who now serves as the Head of State. Residents in Kunak are hopeful that the development projects previously planned and approved will continue for the benefit of the wider community. Currently, the existing Kunak Library branch operates from a commercial building in the town centre. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Sabah, Kazakhstan explore tourism, investment ties
Published on: Friday, July 04, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 04, 2025 Text Size: Nordin (second right) during the recent visit to Kazakhstan. ASTANA: Kazakhstan has expressed interest in boosting tourism ties with Sabah, aiming to attract more Kazakh visitors to Kota Kinabalu and Semporna in the near future. Asean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Sabah Chapter President Datuk Nordin Ening said the country is also offering unique winter holiday experiences in return, including snow jet-skiing, cable cars, and winter tourism packages. Advertisement Speaking after a recent three-day working visit to Kazakhstan, Nordin noted that existing direct flights between Almaty and Kuala Lumpur are supporting this potential, with AirAsia expected to increase frequency to five weekly flights. He added that Kazakhstan is also inviting Malaysian investors to explore joint ventures in key projects such as conveyor belt manufacturing, mineral waste processing, oil fields, and electric vehicle (EV) production involving Proton. Nordin said Kazakhstan has shown interest in developing Islamic banking, fintech, and student exchange programmes with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and called on Sabah agencies and industry players to pursue these opportunities strategically. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban govt
KABUL: Afghanistan's government said on Thursday that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a "brave decision." The Taliban swept back to power in 2021 after ousting the foreign-backed government and have imposed an austere version of Islamic law. They have keenly sought official international recognition and investment, as the country recovers from four decades of war, including the Soviet invasion from 1979 to 1989. The announcement was made after Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul on Thursday. "This brave decision will be an example for others... Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone," Muttaqi said in a video of the meeting on X. "Russia is the first country which has officially recognised the Islamic Emirate," Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP, using the government's name for their administration. Muttaqi said it was "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement", the foreign ministry posted on X. Russia's foreign ministry added on Telegram: "We believe that the act of official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will boost the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in several areas." It highlighted potential "commercial and economic" cooperation in "energy, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure." The ministry said that Moscow hoped to continue helping Kabul "reinforce regional security and fight against the threats of terrorism and drug-trafficking." Moscow has taken recent steps to normalise relations with the Taliban authorities, removing them from a list of "terrorist organisations" in April and accepting a Taliban ambassador in Kabul. In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban "allies in the fight against terrorism." Russia was the first country to open a business representative office in Kabul after the Taliban takeover, and has announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia. Only Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates recognised the Taliban during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. This time, multiple other states, including China and Pakistan, have accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognised the Islamic Emirate since the end of the then-insurgency's two-decade war with US-led Nato troops. There has been limited but growing engagement with the Taliban authorities, particularly from regional neighbours, but also major global players China and Russia. However, restrictions on women and girls, barring them from education and squeezing them from public life, have been key sticking points for Western nations. Multiple Afghan women activists were quick to condemn Russia's recognition. The move "legitimises a regime that bans girls from education, enforces public floggings, and shelters UN-sanctioned terrorists", said Mariam Solaimankhil, former member of Afghanistan's parliament. "The move signals that strategic interests will always outweigh human rights and international law." Senior Taliban figures remain under international sanctions, including by the United Nations. Another former MP in Kabul, Fawzia Koofi, said any recognition of the Taliban "will not bring peace it will legitimise impunity" and "risk endangering not just the people of Afghanistan, but global security."--AFP


Daily Express
4 hours ago
- Daily Express
RM587,004 committing Criminal Breach of Trust: Woman charged
Published on: Friday, July 04, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 04, 2025 By: Cynthia D Baga Text Size: The offence under Section 408 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between one and 14 years, whipping and liable to a fine, on conviction. Kota Kinabalu: A 32-year-old woman was charged with three counts of committing criminal breach of trust involving RM587,004. Rabiahtul Adawiah Pastor pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, on Thursday. Advertisement On the first count, Rabiahtul, as accountant and finance executive of Syarikat Yaza Communications Sdn Bhd which entrusted her with the money amounting to RM273,802.64 belonging to the company, allegedly breached the trust by misusing the company property by transferring the money into the Tropika Ujana Enterprise's bank account. The offence allegedly took place between Jan 6, 2022 and Oct 30, 2023 at the Syarikat Yaza Communications Sdn Bhd in Pusat Dagangan Putatan. On the second count, she is accused of committing the offence by transferring money amounting RM263,758.50 to Mah Group's bank account at the same place between Jan 14, 2022 and Oct 27, 2023. On the third count, she allegedly committed the offence by transferring money amounting to RM49,330 to a bank account belonged to Kasturi Indah Enterprise at the same place between Nov 30, 2022 and Oct 27, 2023. The offence under Section 408 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between one and 14 years, whipping and liable to a fine, on conviction. The court set Aug 5 this year for case management and Rabiahtul was released on bail of RM5,000 in two local sureties. Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Yousof Tahir Mahmood appeared for the prosecution while Rabiahtul was represented by counsel Sharata Lincon. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia