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Monday, December 31, 2007

Labuan New Year 2008-Fireworks 1

Labuan New Year 2008-Fireworks 2

New Year 2008-Fireworks 3


Labuan waterfront view New Year 2008-Fireworks.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Sea Sports Complex


A world class water sports center
Labuan International Sea Sports Complex is located at the waterfront area along Jalan Tanjung Purun. It is within close proximity to Labuan town center. The complex covers an area of 5.91 acres. It was a project under the 7th Malaysia plan and built at a total cost of RM25 million.

Labuan International Sea Sports Complex is part of the Labuan waterfront beautification project. Its objective is to create a world-class water sports center and to develop more attractive places of interests in line with the Malaysian Prime Minister’s vision to turn Labuan into a major island destination.

Labuan International Sea Sports Complex opens to the public in June 2001 when it hosted the yearly Labuan Sea Challenge 2001.

The improved infrastructure and facilities provided by this complex is expected to enhance Labuan’s appeal to attract more tourists and investors. The modern amenities will enable the island to host more international sea sports events and championships.

The Labuan International Sea Sports Complex is designed with three prominent structures connected to a main viewing plaza. Every building houses a specific activity. Each of these imposing towers is an integral part of a large modern water sports complex. The architecture offers a dramatic expression of nature, tradition and modern functionality. The complex houses the main sea sports centre, an administrative block, a marine biology museum, souvenir shops and eateries.

Sea Sports Centre
This is a center for major sea sports activities and a venue for carnival. There is a large boat storage area that allows direct access to the beach front. There are also facilities for changing room, rest area and general preparation. It serves as a permanent exhibition area for all type of sea sports activities. It connects to the many ‘leisure walks’ on the beachfront.

Museum of Marine Biology
The Museum of Marine Biology is sited together with the Administrative block in a separate building. It takes the shape of a semi circle fronting the sea with an open gallery. A large part of the building space is used by the Maritime Museum. While the rest of the space is for administrative use such as meeting room and office spaces for sports bodies. The podium level contains comfortable resting room for VIP and additional gallery space for museum.

Main plaza
The main plaza is circular in shape. It is equipped with an all weather windbreaker structure to withstand any adverse weather conditions. It serves as a centre stage to launch and view all type of sea sports events.

Handicraft Center and Eateries
The handicraft centre and eateries are located on the west wing of the complex. The many fast food stall and small eateries selling local fares, plus the many souvenir and handicraft shops, make this place a hive of activities. It is a popular stopover for visiting tourists.

Labuan Square


There are a few houses of colonial design fronting the Town Padang. One of them has a high gabled roof of orange tiles with eaves and cool recesses.

Four old Flame of the Forest trees stand in a square area, casting a shade over park benches and commemorative stones. They were planted by the Chinese, Malay, Indian and European communities in Labuan in 1953 to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11.

There is an interesting granite slab with inscriptions done by sailors on Captain Rodney Mundy's ship 'Iris' on route to Labuan from Hong Kong. It was intended for the handing over ceremony of Labuan by the Bruneis.

During the Japanese Occupation, it was tossed aside by the Japanese but was later retrieved and remounted. It is amazingly in good condition despite all this.

Water Village


There are two main water villages namely Kampung Bebuloh and Kampung Patau-Patau. The residents are mainly the Brunei Malay. The wooden houses are built on stilts over water and are connected to each other by numerous walkways. Almost every house has its own boat. The houses can be quite large and they all have a cool verandah in front. Some are very eye-catching with pots of brightly colored bougainvillea and orchid plants. The villages are made up of large communities with shops, mosques and other facilities.

Peace Park


This Peace Park at Layang-Layangan is situated close to Surrender Point, the place where the 32nd Japanese Southern Army surrendered to the 9th Australian Imperial Forces on 9 September 1945. The Japanese arrived at Labuan on 1 January 1942, less than a month after they had started their campaign in Malaya at Kota Baru and took formal possession of the island on the 3rd, after facing no resistance.

They occupied Labuan for four years, even renaming it Pulau Maida, or Maidashima after General Maida, the Chief Commander of the Japanese forces in Borneo. He was on his way to Labuan from Sarawak to open the airstrip there when he died in an air crash at Bintulu. The airstrip was built by the Japanese who found it was a good location for their operations in North Borneo. For Labuan, the end of the Japanese Occupation came abruptly with the re-taking of the island by the Allied forces. The capture of Labuan was seen as essential for recovering supplies of oil, rubber and timber from the mainland of Borneo. It would also serve as a base to help the Allies recapture Singapore.

A convoy of 100 ships were sent from Merotai. On 10 June 1945, they reached Labuan and an attack was launched by the 9th Australian Division. It was a successful attack, resulting in the surrender of the Japanese troops.

The Peace Park was built as a memorial and renunciation of the horrors of the war. It is dominated by the memorial mound which is surrounded by landscaped gardens and pavilions. Small ponds with stone bridges and park seats are all Japanese-inspired. A bronze plaque commemorating the Surrender is mounted on a stone slab near the entrance.

Labuan War Cemetery


This Memorial is situated at Jalan Tanjung Batu. 3,908 graves of soldiers who either died in battle or captivity lie here. Most of the soldiers were Australians and British with some from the Punjab Signal Corp, New Zealand as well as a few locals.

In February 1945, the Japanese, apprehending an Allied landing in the Sandakan area, started to force march the prisoners to Ranau on which was what came to be known as the infamous Ranau Death March. Hundreds upon hundreds perished along the way and those who were left behind at the Sandakan POW camp also died or were killed. Many of the dead were reburied here at Labuan.

On 10 June 1945, Allied troops landed at Brown beach at Tanjung Purun to begin what was to be the liberisation of Borneo from the Japanese. Prior to this, Labuan town was heavily bombed aerially to flush out the enemies. Most of the buildings were destroyed. At the place known as the Pocket fighting also took place.

The remains of the Allied troops were gathered from all over Borneo to be interred at the Cemetery. The graves lie in long neat rows all bearing a plaque, mostly identified, many not, but 'known unto God'. The Labuan War Cemetery and Memorial is visited very regularly by War Veteran groups, especially from Australia who have included Labuan as an important destination on their battle-field tours circuit. On the first Sunday of November every year, a service to mark Remembrance Day is held here and is attended by locals and foreign visitors.

The place was constructed, and is maintained by Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The lawns are beautiful kept and visitors will appreciate the peace and tranquility of the place as they seek to understand the senselessness of the deaths of so many brave young men.

Surrender point


Next to the Peace Park is Surrender Point, another historical place of interest. This is where the 32nd Japanese Southern Army surrendered to the 9th Division Australian Imperial Forces on 9th September 1945 which led to the end of World War II in Borneo. The Japanese arrived at Labuan on 1st January 1942, less than a month after they had started their campaign in Malaya at Kota Baru and took formal possession of the island on the 3rd, after facing no resistance.

They occupied Labuan for four years, even renaming it Pulau Maida, or Maidashima after General Maida, the Chief Commander of the Japanese forces in Borneo. He was on his way to Labuan from Sarawak to open the airstrip there when he died in an air crash at Bintulu. The airstrip was built by the Japanese who found it was a good location for their operations in North Borneo. For Labuan, the end of the Japanese Occupation came abruptly with the retaking of the island by the Allied forces. The capture of Labuan was seen as essential for recovering supplies of oil, rubber and timber from the mainland of Borneo. It would also serve as a base to help the Allies recapture Singapore.

A convoy of 100 ships were sent from Merotai. On 10th June 1945, they reached Labuan and an attack was launched by the 9th Australian Division. It was a successful attack, resulting in the surrender of the Japanese troops.

Make Labuan, your second home

Who Are Eligible To Apply?
- It is open to all citizens of countries recognized by Malaysia regardless of race, religion, gender or age.

- The applicant must prove a minimum fixed deposit of RM150,000 with any Malaysian financial institution and have a monthly offshore income equivalent to at least RM7,500 if single or RM10,000 if with spouse.

Other Conditions
- Having a reputable sponsor can be a help. However, this condition is not required if the financial background and status of the applicant satisfies the processing officer.

- To have a medical report from any recognized hospital.

- A medical health insurance valid in Malaysia.

- The successful applicant cannot seek gainful employment in Malaysia unless he possesses special expertise and obtains the permission of the Malaysian government.

Why Malaysia?
Government support
This program is initiated, organized and launched by the Malaysian Government. It is, therefore, a program, that the Government will continuously work to ensure its success.

Standard of living
Malaysia has one of the highest standards of living in the region with all the modern infrastructure and facilities in place.

Cost of Living
Cost of living is one of the lowest in Asia and will remain so for a very long time. This is achieved through the Government's efficient monitoring of the economy in ensuring that inflation is kept low at all times and thereby also the prices of goods and services.

Weather
The weather is pleasant, warm and balmy with moderate rain throughout the year.

Infrastructure
Labuan has a new airport terminal, extensive sealed roads, reliable electricity supply, clean water, state-of-the-art satellite telecommunication system, excellent sea port facilities, sports complex and an ultra modern sea sports complex that hosts some of the region's biggest sea sport events.

Political Stability
The ruling Government is the longest serving freely elected Government in the world. It is a Government representing all the races, religions, cultures etc. found in Malaysia. In fact, Malaysia is one of the most politically stable countries in the world.

Rule of Law
The rule of law is one of the fundamentals in Malaysia's constitution. Everyone is subjected to the law and also equal before the law. Malaysia practices basically the British system of justice with an independent reliable and dependable judiciary.

Religion
Islam is the official religion of Malaysia but the constitution guarantees the right of people to practise other religions.

Education
Labuan has excellent education facilities. There are 39 pre-schools, 1 international school, 14 primary schools, 7 secondary schools, 1 technical school, 1 industrial training institute, 1 Matriculation College and 1 University.

Safety
Statistics can proof that Malaysia is one of the safest countries in the world, Its crime rate is relatively low.

Culture and Language
The Malay language (Bahasa Melayu) is the national language of the country; English is the second language but other languages can be freely used and practised. Similarly the Malay culture is dominant in the country because the Malays are the dominant race in Malaysia and in the region. But other cultures can be practised very freely and there is a free intermingling of different cultures.

Food and Fruit
All the food of the world can be found here at very reasonable cost. With so many races and cultures living together in harmony, it is understandable that each race has picked up the best of each other's food and made Malaysia into Asia's Food Paradise. Similarly the tropical fruits of Malaysia are unique, exotic and available in abundance practically throughout the year. It should be a real joy to savour these fruits.

Recreational Activities
Labuan offers plenty of recreational activities, which include sport fishing, eco-diving, snorkeling, wreck diving, dingy sailing, jet skiing, sea snake watching, kayaking, proboscis monkey and horse riding.

Shopping
Most of the items that tourists normally like to buy - perfumes, cosmetics, watches, fountain pens, a long list of electronic goods, branded goods etc. are completely free of tax. Quality goods from all over the world are imported and are relatively low in price and sold throughout Malaysia.

Medical Facilities
There are adequate medical facilities on the island. Labuan's new hospital has 109 beds. Most of the time, they are only 42% full. There are 28 doctors - 13 in government service and 15 on private practive. Labuan also has the only decompression chamber in East Malaysia, which is owned and operated by the Malaysia Navy.

Residence
Foreigners are allowed to own land and properties in Labuan. The island has many beautiful mansions, bungalows, condominiums and quality houses for sale or rent at bargain prices.

Further Enquiries
For further enquiries regarding this program, participants can contact:-

Ministry of Culture, Arts & Tourism, Malaysia
Tourism Division
Level 33, Menara Dato' Onn
Putra World Trade Centre
45, Jalan Tun Ismail
50694 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +6 03-2693 7111 / 2692 3132
Fax: +6 03-2694 1146 / 2693 2399
Website: www.mocat.gov.my

Ministry of Home Affairs, Malaysia
Block D1, Parcel D
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62546 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Tel: +6 03-8886 8000
Fax: +6 03-8889 1613

Department of Immigration, Malaysia
Block I (North), Level 4
Damansara Town Centre
50550 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +6 03-253 9181 / 254 5096 / 254 5108
Fax: +6 03-252 4911 / 256 2340
Website: www.imi.gov.my

Labuan Marine Musium

Labuan Island of Borneo