The Damai Beach Resort in <b>Sarawak</b> is Perfecting Its Public Spaces <b>...</b> - Hotel in Sarawak Blog |
- The Damai Beach Resort in <b>Sarawak</b> is Perfecting Its Public Spaces <b>...</b>
- Medan <b>Hotel</b> to open soon - The Borneo Post Online
- Manhunt as FIFA partner flees Rio <b>hotel</b> to avoid arrest - The Borneo <b>...</b>
- Top <b>Hotels in Sarawak</b> | Cuti Cuti Malaysia Holiday and Hotel Portal
- Top UK 'Think Tank' Staged BN's Latest PR Stunt On Palm Oil <b>...</b>
| The Damai Beach Resort in <b>Sarawak</b> is Perfecting Its Public Spaces <b>...</b> Posted: 18 Jul 2014 12:05 PM PDT Hotel Renovations / Hotel News / Borneo Hotels / Malaysia Hotels / Sarawak Hotels / Beach Hotels / → All TagsJuly 18, 2014 at 2:05 PM | by wakeandwander | Comments (0)
View from our Superior Poolside Room at the Damai Beach Resort The Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure travelers, especially the area surrounding the city of Kuching. A short drive outside the city sits the Sarawak Cultural Village and Mount Santubong, where you can learn about Iban longhouses and explore the exotic wildlife of the rainforest. There are a number of hotels in Kuching that are very affordable and within a 45-minute drive, but if you want to stay on the coast, the area's flagship resort is the Damai Beach Resort in Sarawak. It recently underwent a series of refurbishments that included upgrades to the main pool, children's pool, and dining areas, and further renovations are taking place as we speak. Damai is in the midst of adding a new ballroom and parking facilities, which it hopes will attract more events to the property. One other addition that's not being advertised but we saw while on site is the addition of a swim-up bar in the main pool.
The property and location, which you can see an aerial shot of here, is definitely one of its shining attributes. Nicely tucked between the coast and the rainforest, Mount Santubong towers up in the background, which is an especially nice view when swimming or kayaking in the calm waters of the South China Sea. There is a pretty significant tide effect on the beach, so definitely be prepared to use the pool at certain times during the day (we're guessing that the tide is one reason they decided to redo the pool).
Superior Poolside and Oceanview Rooms The property has 252 rooms that come in a variety of different types. Some are standard hotel rooms, either tucked in beside the pool, oceanfront, or upon the hill looking out over the water. There are also stand alone Chalet units grouped together on one side of the property, each with a private exterior entrance and offering more of a beach bungalow feel. Some have ocean views, so be sure to ask when booking.
Chalet "Beach Bungalow" Rooms We were impressed with how the property has come together, and we look forward to checking in on it down the road once the new construction is complete. We're hoping that other minor tweaks are made along the way. The fitness center could use a revamp, and there is currently no Wifi in the rooms. Rates for the Damai Beach Resort start at $82 with breakfast included for two people. This resort also makes a good respite while attending the Rainforest World Music Festival - which our bro Jaunted said is one of the year's best music festivals. Disclosure: Will stayed at the Damai Beach Resort as a guest of the hotel. [Photos: Will McGough]  |
| Medan <b>Hotel</b> to open soon - The Borneo Post Online Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:23 PM PDT SIBU: A new business-class hotel will open on July 23 at Wong King Huo Road to cater to the vibrant development of Central Sarawak. Situated next to Medan Commercial Centre, the new Medan Hotel with 136 rooms is now standing tall, providing comfort for the travellers with its concept of a home away from home. The new property is owned and operated by the subsidiary company of Hock Peng Organisation – a diversified group involved in property development, construction, hotel and retail business. "The eight-storey hotel with a cafe on the ground floor is surrounded by a shopping mall and over 135 units of shop houses and is just a five-minute ride from Sibu town," the organisation's deputy managing director Pemanca Dr Francis Toh said. The organisation group also operates the Li Hua Hotel chain in Sibu, Bintulu and Mukah. "The Medan Hotel chain operates in Betong, Sibu Bus Terminal, and now, at Wong King Huo Road," he added. The new hotel was built in line with their vision in property development to meet the fast growing Central Sarawak, with Sibu as the gateway. He said the third largest town in the state was the commercial, administrative, education and transportation hub of Central Sarawak. "The central region encompasses basically the whole Rajang River stretching from Bakun to Tanjung Manis and the Igan River Basin. Both Central Sarawak also covers more than half of the land mass of the state. Based on the number of hotel rooms here, there is a demand for more rooms, and the opening of Medan Hotel and Medan Commercial Centre would indeed be welcome news. The new business-class hotel was designed with facilities like a coffee house, a conference room for 150 people, two 17-person lifts, security card access system, closed circuit television system, Wi-Fi service, Astro television programmes, 32-inch LCD TV, hot and cold water system and Fire Brigade approved fire protection system. "The best part of the design is the covered walkway linking the hotel with Medan Mall shopping complex and the surrounding commercial area that includes eateries and entertainment outlets," Toh further said. The location was also picked because of its quiet spot in the midst of the bustling commercial centre. "We want our guests to enjoy a feeling of home away from home and with a shopping paradise at the door step," he added. On the top floor, the hotel has an open-air party space for 80 people – a spot that provides the best view of the town on Sibu's 'rooftop'. Rooms are from RM98 nett onwards, inclusive of breakfast.  |
| Manhunt as FIFA partner flees Rio <b>hotel</b> to avoid arrest - The Borneo <b>...</b> Posted: 10 Jul 2014 10:34 PM PDT Brazilian police launched a manhunt on Thursday for an executive of a FIFA partner company handling World Cup ticket packages after he escaped from his Rio de Janeiro hotel to avoid arrest on charges of illegally selling tickets, authorities said. Raymond Whelan, the British CEO of Match Hospitality, a Swiss-based subsidiary company of FIFA in charge of World Cup ticket packages, allegedly fled the beachfront Copacabana Palace Hotel after a judge ordered him and 10 other suspects to be held in detention. He is accused of leading a network that illegally sold game passes. "The Englishman fled through the hotel's back door and is considered a fugitive," Rio police said in a statement, just three days before the Germany-Argentina final at Rio's Maracana Stadium. "We saw him in [security] footage leaving in a hurry," Fabio Barucke, the case's lead investigator, told reporters, adding that Whelan had fled an hour before police arrived. Brazilian TV showed footage of Whelan, wearing a blue shirt, walking with another man who points to him to sit on a chair near the service exit before he left the hotel, which is heavily guarded and houses top FIFA officials. Whelan is accused of being involved with a scalping network that has sold thousands of tickets worth millions of dollars, going back to the 2002 World Cup. Whelan, who denies the charges, was initially arrested at the same hotel on Monday but was granted preventive release the next day. His passport was seized by the authorities. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) |
| Top <b>Hotels in Sarawak</b> | Cuti Cuti Malaysia Holiday and Hotel Portal Posted: 25 Apr 2014 11:08 PM PDT RH Hotel, Sibu The RH Hotel is one of the established hotels located in the heart of Sibu, one of the major towns of Sarawak which is also widely regarded as the 'gateway' to the central regional hub of the state. The hotel is easily accessible which can be reached through a bridge from Wisma Sanyan, the largest shopping center in Sibu. The hotel houses 226 rooms which come in different shapes and sizes. Decorated and equipped with the best possible facilities to the customers, it is one of the most ideal places to stay whether it is for leisure or business. Standard facilities in the room include a Mini-Bar, Astro TV services, complimentary water and coffee and tea, ironing facilities and safe deposit boxes. The hotel also offers Wi-Fi internet access to the guests in the rooms. Hairdryers, bath-robes and a modern bathtub is also provided in the bathrooms so you can have the most comfortable stay here. The rooms here are affordable with their Superior rooms starting from RM260, Deluxe rooms from RM300, Executive from RM350, Junior Suites from RM550, Executive Suites from RM1100 and the Presidential Suite starting from RM 4000. The hotel is located at Jalan Kampung Nyabor and can be reached at (6) 084-365 888. Dynasty Hotel, Miri Dynasty Hotel is one of the oldest hotels located in Sarawak's popular oil town Miri. Located in the heart of Miri city, the 3 star hotel houses some 130 rooms that are designed to cater to the leisure and business traveller here. Its location is strategic as it is nearby to Miri's commercial and shopping areas. For a taste of the authentic Sarawakian lifestyle, Dynasty Hotel provides a truly cultural and modern stay for its guests. Located at Lot 683, Block 9, Jalan Pujut-Lutong, you can call 60 85 42 1111 for reservations or further enquiries. The rooms are designed elegantly to provide the most comfortable option one can get in staying here. Luxurious and modern, there are 2 non-smoking floors available where all the rooms are equipped with facilities like air-conditioning, hair dryer, satellite and cable television, internet access as well as a mini bar. Apart from accommodation, Dynasty Hotel also offers other services like meeting rooms and conference facilities with 5 function rooms to cater to any event of up to 150 people. Wedding banquets are also a common favourite at this hotel as its Chinese restaurant here are renowned for serving the best Chinese food in Miri. Asian Hotel and China Town Inn, Kuching Asian Hotel in Kuching is one of the most affordable hotels located within the heart of Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak. It is located just beside the waterfront and is easily accessible as it is about 8kms from the Kuching International Airport. Located within Kuching's central district, it is also nearby to the local attractions here that include the Chinese Museum, Sarawak Museum, the Indian Mosque, the Sarawak Textile Museum, the Kuching Waterfront as well as the Tua-Pek Kong Temple. It is located at No.3 Jawa Street and can be reached at 6 082 231 133. China Town Inn is one of the 2 branches operated by Asian Hotel. It is locate within Chinatown of Kuching made up of 3 shophouses which have been restored. Located at 2nd Floor, Lot 8-9, No. 117-119 at Jalan Padungan, this is where one can stay at one of the most traditional and cultural accommodations in Kuching that exudes the Chinese tradition. The Grand Margherita Hotel, Kuching The Grand Margherita Hotel is the first international hotel established in Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak. It is a majestic building located by the riverfront with a great view of the Sarawak river and its surrounding landscape. Located within the heart of Kuching, it is easily accessible and is nearby the business and commercial areas of the city. Furthermore, it is also very near to the Kuching International Airport which brings about tourists and business travellers alike. Nearby to the Hotel are local attractions like the Tua Pek Kong temple, the Chinese Museum, the Kuching Waterfront as well as the Fort Margherita. The hotel offers 288 highly comfortable rooms that are equipped with world class facilities and offerings. The rooms are very well equipped with standard facilities that include tea and coffee making facilities, IDD phone services, air-conditioning, satellite television and such. On top of that, there is also an Executive Club here that offers services for the business traveller. It is considered to be one of the most established hotels and is the only hotel at the riverfront in the state where it can be reached at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuching or call 6082423111 for more information or reservations. Mega Hotel, Miri Mega Hotel is one of the most established hotels operating within the heart of Miri city, known as the oil town of Sarawak. It is situated within the business and entertainment district of the city, making it one of the most convenient hotels around. Whether you are here for leisure or business, Mega Hotel is an ideal accommodation choice as it is easily accessible as well as affordable, offering the best choices in Miri. There are many different choices in terms of rooms that are offered in Mega Hotel which are catered to different range of stays where each of the rooms come with several facilities for optimum luxury and comfort. The bathrooms are equipped with a shower and a bath while the rooms offer individually controlled air-conditioning, IDD phone services, a mini bar, complimentary coffee and tea, hair dryer, a safe deposit box, satellite television channels as well as Wi-Fi internet access. If required, there are also non-smoking floors, 24 hours reception, security with room service as well as more than enough parking spaces. Rooms are accessed using keycard system while the hotel also offer laundry and dry cleaning facilities too. A business center is available for travellers who need to use facilities like photostating, courier, email and such. The hotel is located at Lot 907, Jalan Merbau and can be reached at 6085-432432. Hotel Bahagia, Sibu Known to be one of the most convenient hotels in Sibu, Hotel Bahagia also offers the most affordable accommodations here. It is located in the heart of Sibu town area where it can be accessed through the major business and entertainment areas of the town. Here is where you can reach the major offices and shops around Sibu which are only a stone's throw away from the hotel. There are many choices of accommodations here which include the Standard rooms which are ideal for 2 people or the Double rooms or Deluxe rooms for more while there are also the double-bed rooms here for the business travellers. Each of the rooms are well equipped to provide the best and most comfortable stay for the traveller. Individually controlled air-conditioning are provided while one can also enjoy IDD telephone services, television as well as free Internet access. Room rates start from RM55 for the Double rooms and for the Family suites, they start at RM120. One can easily find food here that include fast food chains like Sugarbun and KFC while there are more than enough parking spaces around here. It is minutes away from the Sibu Market as well as Wisma Sanyan, the largest shopping mall here. Call 084-331131 for reservations and for further information. |
| Top UK 'Think Tank' Staged BN's Latest PR Stunt On Palm Oil <b>...</b> Posted: 23 Jul 2014 01:37 PM PDT   Alfred Jabu flew out Sarawakians to dress up as grateful "rural folk" and parade at the IEA as people who had benefitted from SALCRA The prominent London-based free market 'think tank', the Institute of Economic Affairs, has been put in an embarrassing position over an apparent conflict of interest, thanks to remarks by Sarawak's Deputy Chief Minister, Alfred Jabu. Jabu, in a speech earlier this week, boasted about his "world-wide acknowledgement" by the Institute, thanks to being granted a platform in January, at the launch of a supposedly independent report on palm oil, commissioned by the IEA. Sarawak Report has now investigated the matter and uncovered compromising links between the on-going PR campaigns sponsored by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council and this IEA report. The report, entitled "Commercial Agriculture: Cure or Curse? Malaysian and African Experience Contrasted", reflects the arguments of the MPOC and praises the Malaysian palm oil industry, claiming it "has a good record with regards to sustainability":
 Massive deforestation – the reality of Sarawak's oil palm industry The author of the report, which clearly defies all the known evidence about this most rapidly deforested area on the planet, is a member of the Institute's own Editorial Board, Keith Boyfield, who told Sarawak Report that the entire report was commissioned by the IEA, which published it as a 'discussion paper'. Yet Boyfield, who operates his own consultancy, has enjoyed two recent trips to Sarawak, funded by none other than the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC). Not only that, it turns out that Boyfield was accompanied on at least one of these occasions by senior staff of the IEA, including the chief operating officer, Glynn Brailsford, who also enjoyed the hospitality of the MOPC. And their chief host on these trips? None other than Boyfield's fellow panellist at the IEA event, Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, the Chairman of the controversial SALCRA (Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority)!  Keith's Malaysian Government host Alfred Jabu enjoying a platform at the IEA with the launch of its 'research paper' on palm oil Only natural! Boyfield has confirmed to Sarawak Report that his trip was funded by the Malaysian Government:
When informed that there have been a number of PR drives of this nature by the MPOC, Boyfield appeared to contradict the IEA's ethical guidelines, which bann government sponsorship and tied funding, saying:
He also confirmed he was hosted and escorted by SALCRA to their own plantations. SALCRA has forced thousands of native customary land owners into statutory 'joint ventures' with the state government to grow palm oil with highly controversial outcomes. The trip in April 2012 was variously described in Sarawak's government controlled media as a "press trip" (Borneo Post), a trip of "international experts" (Star) and as "a visit by an 8 member delegation of the IEA" (Sarawak Monitor)  Hearing SALCRA's side of the story – but was this genuine or "tied" research? [The Star Archive] These visits and links to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council by the author of the report and "fellow" of the IEA clearly breech the purpose of the Institute's own "rock solid rules" against any "tied funding" to research or government sponsorship, as explained by a spokeswoman for the Institute this week:
Responding to our queries, the spokeswoman admitted that given the clear involvement of the MPOC and Jabu in Boyfield's research and the IEA's own compromising links, "it is a very complex and inter-twined matter". She added "I understand obviously that it may be the case that the conclusions in Keith's paper aren't necessarily a true reflection of how things are, and that may well be to do with a number of other factors, but in terms of the relations we have, we did not take any tied money".  Posing as representatives of SALCRO "smallholders" at the IEA It is a weak position to take and the Institute's will have been further embarrassed by the fact that Jabu and the Malaysian Palm Oil Council have not hesitated to extract maximum positive PR from both the IEA visits to Borneo and the resulting return trip to London to launch the IEA's positive report on Malaysia's record. 'Native smallholders' flown to the UK To take advantage of the IEA event the MPOC flew over three "Sarawak smallholders" to join Alfred Jabu on stage. The MPOC named the trio on their promotional 'faces of palm oil' Facebook page, as Thomas Lamit, Rebecca Lambet and Briku Busang. All three dressed up in tribal costume for the evening, in order to present themselves to the British onlookers as delighted native beneficiaries of the SALCRA 'joint venture' programmes. Later, the same trio dressed in ordinary clothes, posed outside the Houses of Parliament to record a You Tube video, in which they took turns to condemn NGOs and to boast how they now have new homes and cars, thanks to oil palm and SALCRA. This video, entitled 'Human Faces of Palm Oil', was sponsored by SALCRA and the MPOC. In it the lead speaker claims, untruthfully, that "palm oil cultivation in Sarawak is done on land already cleared long ago, so there is no destruction of forest".  Malaysian Government funded this "smallholder's" trip to the UK to attend the IEA event and produce promotional material on oil palm
In the same video Rebecca Lambet describes her own family's rich new lifestyle, including multiple car ownership. These are circumstances that bear little relation to the reality of life for most dirt poor Dayaks living on SALCRA plantations. Furthermore, these PR friendly "smallholders'" are noticeably advanced English-speakers, considering they are supposed to be rural folk. Despite the IEA's attempt to distance themselves from "tied funding" these 'faces of palm oil' clearly had their trip funded by the Malaysian public. PR dividends for the Malaysian Oil Palm Industry It is therefore clear is that Keith Boyfeild and his IEA event have just provided the latest platform for yet another publicly funded publicity stunt by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council in their on-going 'greenwash campaign' promoting palm oil. And the MPOC generated publicity around Boyfield's Sarawak visits wholly undermines any attempts by the IEA to claim distance or objectivity for their research.  Boyfield (3rd left) and Jabu on his 'press trip' in 2012. In the article he lavished praise on BN's record in Sarawak, saying it was time to "correct misperceptions in western countries" For example, during his MPOC funded visit in 2012, Boyfield was quoted extensively by the KTS-owned Borneo Post (below), who portrayed him as a senior international journalist, relentlessly praising the Sarawak state government and its record on logging, oil palm and the environment:
Boyfield's quoted opinions on these matters appear to have been furnished by his week long visit, hosted by SALCRA and being shown round SALCRA plantations by Alfred Jabu. They contradict widely known facts and betray a lack of genuine investigation on the ground. Indeed his own reports on Twitter at the time focused less on the conditions in dirt poor Dayak longhouses and more on his sponsored accommodation in the Taib family's Hilton Hotel!  Report from the ground? – excited tweets from Boyfield about his luxury experience of Sarawak in Kuching's Hilton A bit of time in the interior of Sarawak would surely have informed Mr Boyfield a little better, because according more quotes in the Borneo Post, he then came out with the astonishing claim that the state's oil palm plantations were merely conversions from the traditional rubber plantations and that the virgin jungle remains intact!
Fact check for Keith Boyfield These remarks by Boyfield were repeated throughout the Sarawak media at the time and also later when the IEA report was produced. One widely disseminated article was entitled "British experts say criticisms from foreign NGOs on environment are exaggerated":
 Great PR material for BN's cyber-bloggers To the contrary, we suggest it is time that Boyfield shook off the MOPC, took a more independent visit and checked his facts. Because, this expert of one week was soon engaging in public debates and making his ignorance plain – claiming for example that "property rights are pretty well respected in Malaysia" and that the concept of Land Grabs is too "emotive" and "nuanced" with respect to the oil palm debate.  Academic tour or the usual tourist junket courtesy of the Sarawak government ? Mr Boyfield should contact Sarawak's expert native land rights lawyers, who have seen numerous court victories ignored by the state government and outfits like SALCRA, and think again. No immigrant workers? Boyfield has also claimed that during his 'academic visit' to Sarawak he observed that everyone he met working on oil palm plantations was a local person and not a migrant worker!
Mr Boyfield should contact any of the grassroots indigenous groups, who could tell him of the major problem with respect to the vast immigrant labour force in Sarawak and the uneconomic wages for local people, even on their own SALCRA "smallholdings", and then speak again. Great dividends from SALCRA? In yet another article, promoting his concept that the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry should be encouraged to expand into Africa for the benefit of the world poor, Boyfield even plays the SALCRA 'dividend game', ie spouting big figures without finishing the maths:
Given Boyfield himself acknowledges that there are around 22,000 SALCRA members, this sum in fact calculates over the 30 year period to about $200 a year per family, in return for the sacrifice of their rightful native lands and forests to the government controlled 'joint ventures', managed by Alfred Jabu.  World's worst CEO? Ordinary shareholders have gained little from SALCRA – only BN cronies and himself have profited As everyone in Sarawak knows, the smallholders from SALCRA have received virtually nothing in return for the surrender of their lands and that Jabu's dividends have been paltry compared to the rich profits made by privately run oil palm ventures. Neither did these native customary rights land owners receive one ringgit from the huge sums raised out of logging the timber from their lands to make way for the SALCRA palm oil plantations (less than 5% of virgin forest remains in Sarawak – just another fact check for Mr Boyfield). Only government ministers, like Alfred Jabu and their cronies, have raked in hundreds of millions from the land grab policies of the State of Sarawak. The Dayak remain as poor as ever. Attacking NGOs  MPOC was about to hire FBC Media, before SR exposed their illegal activities and closed them down But rather than check his facts and balance his arguments, this British consultant has chosen instead to adopt the Malaysian Palm Oil's obsession with attacking NGOs. In Malaysia free speech and independent opinion are treated like crimes by BN politicians, who find all criticism highly damaging, since they usually can't answer it. But, why should a British onlooker condemn legitimate concerns raised by NGOs in the same way? This week, when Jabu again went on the attack over native protests against Sarawak's latest dam building and 'industrialisation programme', the DCM as ever blamed "selfish foreign NGOs who are being paid" for "inciting" them. He revealed his own paid for PR in the process:
Sarawak Report will investigate Jabu's Belgium event. But, meanwhile why has Mr Boyfield has adopted the same anti-NGO line in his supportive articles for the MPOC?
FBC Media would have been proud of all this from Mr Boyfield – they were the last British champions for the MOPC and they adopted exactly the same theme in their "Develop or Die" series, which was later disowned by the BBC. But, when Ministers like Alfred Jabu start hurling unsubstantiated accusations about "paid NGOs", engaged by foreign powers to undermine Malaysia, someone should remind him about the millions of ringgit that are being wasted by the Malaysian Government itself on engaging this sort of blatant PR from consultants like Keith Boyfield. It is always public money wasted, because people like Boyfield always get rumbled. [Sarawak Report is still awaiting promise clarifications by the IEA, in response to our critique of its "complex and intertwined" relationship with the MOPC] Sign up to receive regular updates from Sarawak Report |
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