Vatican's ambassador joins Kaamatan mass at St Michael's church
Archbishop Zaluski joined the celebrations, which began with a mass led by the Bishop of Kota Kinabalu, Archbishop Datuk John Wong, on Thursday (May 1)
St Michael's Church Penampang, was the 20th host for the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu's Kaamatan celebration this year. The next host will be Sacred Heart Parish, Inobong.
Also present at the celebration was the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, who recently returned from representing the Malaysian Government to pay his last respects and attend Pope Francis's funeral ceremony at the Vatican.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
43 minutes ago
- The Star
Uplifting cross-border livelihoods
KUALA LUMPUR: Closer cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia has continued to uplift livelihoods in Thailand's southern border region through poverty alleviation programmes, infrastructure improvements and cross-border community initiatives. The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) is spearheading these efforts in collaboration with Malaysian agencies, targeting development in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun, areas affected by unrest and limited economic opportunities. SBPAC secretary-general Pol Lt-Col Wannapong Kotcharak said the collaboration aligns with the shared goals of both nations to uplift communities, strengthen local economies and foster long-term peace through grassroots development initiatives. 'Our main responsibility is to ensure people in this region can lead better, more secure lives. 'We are committed to doing everything possible to improve their livelihoods,' he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at the SBPAC headquarters in Yala recently. According to Wannapong, several key infrastructure projects have been carried out in partnership with Malaysia. This includes efforts to modernise the Sadao checkpoint to meet the standards of Bukit Kayu Hitam, as well as the construction of a second bridge linking Sungai Golok and Rantau Panjang in Kelantan to enhance cross-border trade and mobility. He said the two countries had also launched a Twin City programme last year to enhance cooperation between five southern provinces in Thailand and five northern states in Malaysia, namely Narathiwat with Kelantan, Songkhla with Kedah, Yala with Perak, Satun with Perlis, and Pattani with Terengganu. 'This is one of our most important strategies. The twin city programme focuses on education, social development, tourism and halal food industries... all relevant to our regions' cultures and economies,' Wannapong said. He also said educational and skills development programmes, including a shared curriculum, have been designed to improve vocational training and job opportunities, especially for border-area youth, as both countries share cultural identity and common aspirations. 'That's why the (Thai) government is working closely with Malaysia to find more ways of collaboration. 'Recently, we visited Penang and held activities. Our strategy is to use tourism, education and community development to bring our people closer,' he said. According to Thailand's 2019 Targeted People Development Database, there were 52,117 poor households comprising 107,356 people in the five southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla. SBPAC has now implemented the second phase of its development plan (2024-2027), based on the royal initiative 'Understand, Access, Develop' and the sufficiency economy model, aimed at improving living standards in the region. Meanwhile, the re-establishment of the Advisory Council for the Administration and Development to SBPAC this year reflects the Thai government's commitment to prioritising the people in the development process in the southern region. Its chairman Dr Khodari Sen said the council, which consists of 49 members from various professional backgrounds in the five regions, has been reactivated after being dissolved in 2014. 'This council is not an NGO but a government agency that gives the people an opportunity to raise their problems directly without having to go through government channels,' he said. Khodari said that any development initiatives in southern Thailand involving cooperation with Malaysia must first secure approval from the advisory council to ensure they align with the needs and priorities of the local community. He added that the strength of ties between both countries lies in their shared culture, halal industries, Islamic education system and local economic activities, which continue to promote prosperity and mutual benefit for the people of both nations.
The Star
43 minutes ago
- The Star
Zahid eyeing fresh momentum in M'sia-NZ ties
Wonderful sight: Ahmad Zahid's five-day working visit to New Zealand includes Auckland as one of its destinations. — Bernama AUCKLAND: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's working visit to New Zealand is set to chart a new course in strengthening bilateral ties. Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki described the five-day working visit from today until July 18 as apt and timely. 'The visit is very timely as New Zealand is pivoting its economic trajectory towards Asean. 'The Deputy Prime Minister's visit is not only apt with regard to Malaysia's aspirations but also with that of New Zealand,' she said in a press conference here yesterday. Ahmad Zahid will be accompanied by state executive councillors from Melaka, Johor, Pahang and Selangor as well as senior ministry officers. Mazita noted that Ahmad Zahid's trip follows the visit by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Malaysia in September last year. She added that bilateral follow-up talks between Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters were also held recently on the sidelines of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. 'The visit by the Deputy Prime Minister symbolises the continuity of high-level reciprocal visits between the two nations,' she said. Mazita added that Ahmad Zahid will meet his New Zealand counterpart David Seymour and New Zealand's Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro during his visit. The Deputy Prime Minister will also be meeting several other ministers, including New Zealand's Agriculture, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Halal Industry Development Council chairman, will attend the Halal Forum organised by New Zealand's Primary Industries Ministry, according to Mazita. 'The Deputy Prime Minister will also witness the signing of a document of cooperation between Malaysia and New Zealand on higher education,' she added. She said Ahmad Zahid will also hold an engagement session with captains of industries and businesses, including the Asean New Zealand Business Council and the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Besides that, Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the Central Disaster Management Committee, will make a visit to New Zealand's National Crisis Management Centre. 'The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, will hold a roundtable session with the Maori community in Rotorua,' Mazita said, adding that he is also expected to meet with 250 Malaysians living in New Zealand during his visit to Wellington. Malaysia and New Zealand have shared close bilateral ties for 68 years and there are currently about 18,000 Malaysians living and studying here. The last high-ranking visit to New Zealand was by the late former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi between March 30 and April 1, 2005, aimed at boosting two-way economic links between the two countries.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
The way forward for housing
Progressive housing policy: Residensi Kecapi, an affordable housing development in Sentul launched by Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), in May last year. Besides being affordable, houses must also effectively serve the needs and aspirations of diverse Malaysian households. – Filepic
