Unduk Ngadau 2009

1. Tati Appey Rowena (PAPAR)
2. Pearl petrus (KK)
3. Kimberly Majalap (PENAMPANG)
4. Flina Rutum (TAMPARULI)
5. Jacqueline Joseph (KENINGAU)
6. Fredericka Richard (TUARAN)
7. Elinna Masuin (LIKAS)

Sabahan's Train

TENOM: For about a year now, homemade trolleys that are manually pushed using long poles have become a regular mode of transport for people who live along the railway track here.

Since the state Railway Department suspended its regular train service last May, the number of trolleys, which are made from planks and car or motorcycle wheel bearings, has gone up.

It's illegal, but the department is keeping its eyes closed for now as the trolleys are a lifeline for those at Pangi and Rayoh, the last two stations before the town here.

A 134km railway line runs from Kota Kinabalu to here via Beaufort.

From here to Beaufort, the track stretches 49km with four stations along the scenic Sungai Padas, namely Pangi, Rayoh, Halogilat and Saliwangan Baru.

The trolleys have existed since the early days of the railway service, which started in 1896. Even when the regular train service was operational, trolleys were used by villagers discreetly.

Villager Antawar Mukak said they used to hide their trolleys in bushes to prevent them from being confiscated by the department.

District officer Faimin Kamin said about 500 people who lived along the rail track were directly affected as well as thousands of others involved in the agricultural sector in the district, which has a population of about 60,000.

Pang is new Deputy CM

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Peter Pang En Yin has been appointed deputy Chief Minister post replaced Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah who joined peninsula-based Parti Gerakan last week.

Tan, former deputy president of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) which pulled out of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in September last year, was partyless for almost nine months until he joined Gerakan.

Pang is a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Vice President and Karamunting Assemblyman.

The announcement ended much speculation and debate on who would be the Deputy Chief Minister under the Chinese quota. Pang's appointment also marked another milestone for LDP because his predecessor Tan took over the post after it was vacated by former LDP President Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat about 25 months ago.