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Daily Express
18 hours ago
- General
- Daily Express
Historic Kota Kinabalu Community Centre blaze
Published on: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 30, 2025 By: Jimmy Goh Text Size: The fire that damaged the Kota Kinabalu Community Centre. Kota Kinabalu: A fire broke out at the historic Kota Kinabalu Community Centre on Jalan Dewan Masyarakat, Monday, destroying 80 per cent of equipment intended for the coming August 31 National Day celebrations and causing extensive damage to the cherished heritage building. The blaze, which began around 11pm on Monday, prompted a distress call at 12.44am that brought 25 firefighters from Kota Kinabalu, Lintas and Penampang stations to the scene. The emergency teams battled the fire for more than three hours before finally bringing it under control at 4.88am Tuesday. No injuries were reported. The fire destroyed sound systems and LED screens that had been delivered just hours earlier for the National Day ceremony. A 21-year-old Kota Kinabalu City Hall staff member known as Aurel, said the equipment had arrived via a 3-tonne lorry at 3pm. Police, DBKK staff and Sabah Electricity personnel also responded to assist at the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation as at press time. The hall survived decades of challenges including rapid urbanisation, tropical weather and the passage of time as one of the earliest public structures built in Kota Kinabalu after World War II. Originally known as the Jesselton Community Centre, the hall has served as the heart of civic life in Kota Kinabalu for over six decades. It was designed by Billings Leong. It was built in the 1950s and has a multi-purpose space featuring a full basketball court convertible to three badminton courts, with seating for 800 people. Built on land that previously served as a football field and recreation area under British rule, the hall quickly became the city's premier venue for official functions, community events, cultural performances and public forums. Its importance peaked during Sabah's early development following independence in 1963 and was where the Cobbold Commission held its hearings on the wishes of the people towards the Malaysia proposal. The hall also played a sombre role during the Double Six Crash tragedy, serving as a location where victims' bodies, including that of Tun Fuad Stephens, were placed for last respects. In the mid-1990s it was slated for demolition under a redevelopment plan that would have seen a shopping complex in its place. However, a sustained media campaign by Daily Express with support from then Museum Director Datuk Jamdin Buyong that it was too important to be demolished and qualified for Heritage status won the day. The relevant Minister then had Jamdin transferred out. Meanwhile, in another part of the city, firefighters rescued two men trapped in an elevator during a construction material fire at a commercial centre, Tuesday. Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 1.57am and arrived at the scene 13 minutes later. The fire occurred on the fifth-floor parking area, damaging 20 per cent of the space. Both victims, who suffered breathing difficulties from smoke inhalation, were treated at the scene by Emergency Medical Rescue Services personnel. The blaze was brought under control at 3.25am and fully extinguished eight minutes later. Nineteen firefighters from Kota Kinabalu, Putatan and Penampang fire stations responded to the emergency. Police and Sabah Electricity personnel were also present to assist. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Both victims are reported to be in stable condition. * 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
Daily Express
22-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Businessmen in a fix over long delays in liquor licence approvals
Published on: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025 By: Jimmy Goh Text Size: Several business owners claimed waiting months for their liquor licence applications to be processed by the relevant authorities, creating a cash flow crisis that threatens the viability of their ventures. - FMT pic for illustration only. Kota Kinabalu: Several entertainment outlets here are experiencing financial hardship as prolonged delays in their liquor license approvals prevent them from kick starting their operations, forcing many to pay rental costs for premises that remain unopened. Several business owners claimed waiting months for their liquor licence applications to be processed by the relevant authorities, creating a cash flow crisis that threatens the viability of their ventures. The delays have left entrepreneurs in a precarious position where they continue to incur overhead expenses without generating any revenue. 'We are paying rent every month for premises we cannot use,' said one affected business owner who requested anonymity. 'The financial pressure is mounting because we have all these ongoing costs but no income stream to offset them,' he said. Many expressed their respect for regulatory requirements and their desire to operate within the law by obtaining appropriate licenses before beginning sales. 'We want to do things the right way and get proper approval before we start selling. But the system is working against us when it takes so long to process applications that businesses risk closure before they even open,' said another businessman. Adding to their frustration, many applicants remain unclear about the exact approval process, questioning how many departments are involved in reviewing their applications. Some business owners suspect that delays may be caused by departments failing to attend scheduled meetings meant to deliberate on licensing matters. 'We do not even know how many departments need to sign off on our applications,' said one frustrated entrepreneur. 'Are all the relevant departments actually showing up to these meetings or are applications being delayed because someone is not at the table when decisions need to be made?' she said. * 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
Daily Express
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Express
Motorcyclist killed in Likas crash
Published on: Wednesday, July 09, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 09, 2025 By: Jimmy Goh Text Size: The crash scene. - Pic by Jimmy Goh | Daily Express KOTA KINABALU: A man was killed when his motorcycle crashed into a Toyota Corolla Cross in front of SJK(C) St James in Likas on Wednesday. The motorcyclist is believed to have rammed into the rear of the Toyota during the 7.55pm accident. The Toyota driver, in his 40s, escaped unscathed. * 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
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Daily Express
03-07-2025
- Daily Express
Four killed in Lahad Datu and Kota Kinabalu mishaps
Published on: Thursday, July 03, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 03, 2025 By: Azmie Lim, Jimmy Goh Text Size: The Kota Kinabalu accident scene. Inset: The deceased. LAHAD DATU: Three men, including the driver of an Isuzu Dmax, were killed after the four-wheel-drive (4WD) they were travelling in collided with a trailer at Km 26 along Jalan Lahad Datu-Sandakan, Tuesday night. Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Station Chief Sumsoa Rashid said the victims have been identified as the driver Mohd Azizi, 28, and front passenger Mohd Rasman Ahmat Kechil, 28, as well as Muhammad Zulkhairi Ismail, 29, who was seated in the back. 'All the victims were trapped in the vehicle and were extricated by the firefighters before being confirmed dead at the scene by medical personnel. 'The trailer driver, 61, sustained minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lahad Datu Hospital for further treatment,' he said. According to Sumsoa, a distress call regarding the accident was received via MERS999 at 8.52pm, and a team of 12 firefighters, along with machinery and the Emergency Services Assistance Unit, was immediately dispatched to the scene, located 30km from the station. He said all the deceased were handed over to the police for further action, and the operation concluded at 12.40am after confirming there were no further hazards at the scene. Lahad Datu Deputy Police Chief Supt Jimmy Panyau said the three victims, who were friends, were on their way to Sandakan when the accident occurred. 'Preliminary investigations found that the driver of the 4WD is believed to have lost control and veered into the opposite lane before colliding with the trailer,' he said. 'Due to the impact of the collision, both the trailer and the 4WD plunged into a ravine on the left side of the road, with the vehicle carrying the victims also crashing into an oil palm tree,' he said, adding the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. He urged witnesses to come forward and assist in the investigation by contacting traffic investigation officer Insp. Mohamad Humaidi Harun at 089-881255 or by visiting the Lahad Datu district police headquarters. Meanwhile, in KOTA KINABALU, a 67-year-old died after his Toyota Land Cruiser crashed into an electricity pole in Luyang on Wednesday, causing a power outage in the area. The victim, identified as Yong Ket Kong, was driving along Jalan Kolam when he lost control of the vehicle at 12.50pm. The accident happened opposite Wong Kwok Restaurant, near Lorong 5. Witnesses claimed the man's car swerved before crashing into an electricity pole and landed in a drain. The impact caused electrical cables to loosen, resulting in a power disruption affecting parts of Luyang. Medical officers who arrived at the scene pronounced the man dead on the spot. Emergency responders, including personnel from the police and the Fire and Rescue Department, quickly arrived to secure the accident site and manage traffic flow. Sabah Electricity technicians were also deployed to the location to assess the damage to the electrical infrastructure and restore power to affected areas. * 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
Daily Express
01-07-2025
- Daily Express
Sabahan loses RM400 durian gamble at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Published on: Tuesday, July 01, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 01, 2025 By: Jimmy Goh Text Size: Despite vacuum-sealing the fruits to eliminate any odour, he was told at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport that durians are banned on aircraft regardless of packaging. (Illustration pic: Sabah Durian and Tropical Fruit Planters Association) Kota Kinabalu: A Sabahan working in the peninsula is calling for a review of airline policies that prohibit durians on domestic flights, after losing RM400 worth of vacuum-sealed durians at the airport. The man from Kota Kinabalu had bought premium durians from Penang as a gift for his parents during a recent trip home to Sabah. Despite vacuum-sealing the fruits to eliminate any odour, he was told at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport that durians are banned on aircraft regardless of packaging. The man, who has worked in Kuala Lumpur for years, said he saved money and carefully selected the durians knowing his parents' love for the fruit. He made sure the fruits were professionally vacuum-sealed in airtight containers to prevent any smell from escaping. 'I made sure everything was properly sealed with no smell coming from the package. I thought I had solved the problem,' he said. However, Customs officials at the airport informed him that durians were strictly prohibited on aircraft, with no exceptions for vacuum-sealed packaging. "This is within Malaysia, a domestic travel within our own nation. It should not be this complicated,' he said, expressing frustration at having to abandon his purchase or miss his flight. He hopes Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin, who is also from Sabah, can help review the policy. 'Chan understands what it is like to be a Sabahan working in the Peninsula,' he said. 'He knows how important it is for us to be able to bring home local specialties for our families. Maybe he can help make these regulations less strict for domestic travel, especially when proper packaging is involved,' he said. * 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
