Kapit senior citizens learn a lot from Sabah trip
KAPIT: It was an exciting trip for a group of senior citizens from here in Sabah recently, where they immersed themselves in the sights and culture of the neighbouring state.
The four- day trip was organised and run by the Senior Citizens Service Centre ( PPWE) Kapit, led by their leader Temenggong Wilfred Billy Panyau.
The group comprised Pemanca Yong Thu Fook, Penghulu Wong Kie Ing, Penghulu Steward Sawing, Penghulu Madang Jelani, Penghulu Abang Hamzah Bolhassan, Kapitan Neo Kee Hoi, Ejah Ason, James Ling, as well as representatives from the Welfare Department — Maxson Maoh, Anthony Terrance, Itom Rosita and Dolly Amos.
Their tour across Kota Kinabalu and other residencies covered visits to landmark places of interests namely the famous ‘ Upside Down House’, Pekan Nabulu, the ‘ Tamu’ (farmer’s market), the highland dairy cattle farm and strawberry farm, the Tamparuli bridge, the ‘Cowboy Town’, Kundasang vegetable garden’, the Philippines Market and the night market, as well as the Kota Kinabalu Children’s Shelter.
In his remarks, Wilfred expressed appreciation to elected people’s representatives, led by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, for chipping in to PPWE Kapit, which helped a lot in covering the transportation and lodging expenses for the trip.
It is learnt that the group stayed at the Mariner Court Condominiums in Kota Kinabalu, next to the Promenade Hotel and within close proximity to the Philippines Market and the night market.
They were particularly impressed by the design of the ‘Upside Down House’ — listed in the ‘Malaysia Book of Records’ as being the first of its kind in South East Asia.
The design depicts a typical house of the Bajau – the second largest ethnic group in Sabah after the Kadazandusun. The majority of the Bajau live in Kota Belud.
The PPWE Kapit group also had the opportunity to get on board a train ride along the North Borneo Railways – the only system of its kind that is still running in Sabah, and the oldest in Borneo; construction commenced in the late 1800s and the railway was operational in the early 1900s.
It was during this ride that the visitors drank in the sights as the train took off from Kota Kinabalu and passed Tanjung Aru, Putatan, Kinarut, Kawang, Papar, Kimanis, Bongawan, Membakut, Beaufort, Saliwangan Baru, Halogilat, Rayoh and Pangi stations, before the trip concluded in Tenom.
On the final day of the tour, the PPWE Kapit members visited the children’s centre – the largest of its kind in Sabah.
It has a school-like environment, housing 93 young orphans – ranging in ages, from a few days old up to 18.
The centre is fully equipped with hostels, a pre- school, a clinic, a hall, classrooms, an administrative block and a playground, as well as a bus to transport children to and from a nearby school.
The centre has 52 people as its staff, and the headmistress is Suparidah Reidin.
The PPWE Kapit delegates presented gifts to the children during their visit to the centre.