Shareene Francis Loudin is crowned Penampang Unduk Ngadau 2017

Penampang Harvest Festival district level was held on third week of May 2017 together with several other districts in Sabah. One of the highlights of the day-long festival was the Unduk Ngadau pageant.

Date: 20th May 2017

Venue: Padang Siol, Kg. Hungab, Penampang

Theme: Kaamatan Foundation of Unity / "Kaamatan Impowon Pisompuruan"

Officiated by: Yang Berbahagia Datuk Donald Datuk Peter Mojuntin

The following is the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan highlight.

There are 20 contestants taking part this year.


Contestants introducing themselves.












The ten contestants who will be asked questions and preferably be answering in their mother tongue.




Top 7


Winners of the Penampang District level Unduk Ngadau 2017:
1. Ms Shareene Francis Loudin (middle)
2. Ms Natalia Nedeline Chee (left)
3. Ms Sharity Stephen Lansing (right)


UNK Penampang 2017 - Ms Shareene Francis Loudin


Winner, Ms Shareene is seen here with the outgoing Penampang UNK, Ms Sherry Anne Laujang. Sherry Anne is also the reigning Unduk Ngadau for Sabah State Level.


Congratulation to Ms Shareene Loudin who will be representing Penampang District at the State Level Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2017 to be held at Hongkod KDCA on 31st May 2017.

All the best!

Solar PV industry to generate RM70 billion and 50,000 jobs by 2020

Although it has relatively small PV installed capacity with less than 300 MW so far, Malaysia maintains that it is one of the largest PV manufacturers in the world, coming third behind China and European Union. Is this still the case presently?

Maybe. Anyway, the point here is that we are indeed one of the world's biggest producer of solar PV panels and components, which is good news.

However, the relevant ministry's estimate of generating (just) RM70 billion from the PV industry does not commensurate (or is my expectation too high?) with it's tag line of Southeast Asia's 'manufacturing hub', and therefore not that encouraging considering the many global PV industry players in the country. Currently there are 8 companies involved in the PV manufacturing here, namely:

• First Solar (Kedah)
• Panasonic Energy Malaysia (Kedah)
• JA Solar (Penang)
• Jinko Solar (Penang)
• TS Solartech (Penang)
• SunEdison (Perak)
• SunPower (Malacca) and
• Q-Cells Malaysia (Cyberjaya)

SunPower plant in Melaka. Image by - AUO SunPower Sdn Bhd

The ministry did not elaborate on its reply to question in the parliament sitting but from what I gathered, some manufacturers are scaling back on production due to market conditions. Why? And how do we encourage them to boost or at least maintain their production volume? This is an area that the government would need to look into if it is to sustain the growth of the PV industry.

The other issues is that some of the solar PV project implementers prefer importing solar panels rather than using what is produced locally. It could either be due to the local manufacturer focusing more on exporting their procuct, or the local industry players perceive the local products quality as inferior hence the lack of trust in the locally produced goods. Either way, it's not benefiting the PV industry in the country.

Last month, we were approach by such implementer/system integrator and was offered panels sourced from abroad - I wouldn't name those countries. What's wrong with getting them from one of the above 8 manufacturers? Isn't SunPower based in the US, and Q-cells from South Korea? What is wrong with Malaysia?

The ministry's statement that "Various initiatives were undertaken directly by the ministry's agency" does not explain anything, at least not in the context of answering the question. But then again, some junior journalists may have missed few points from his speech. For me, I would want to know and would highlight those 'initiatives' in my reporting. Refer below for the news excerpt from Bernama.

===========================================

Photovoltaics (PV) Can Generate RM70 Billion, 50,000 Jobs

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia can potentially generate RM70 billion and 50,000 job opportunities from the photovoltaics (PV) industry by 2020.

Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said solar cell conductive coating materials contributed significantly to the thin-film technology industry in the country.

"Currently, Malaysia is the world's third largest PV manufacturers after China and the European Union," he said during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat here today.

He was responding to Dr Rosli Che Mat (PAS-Hulu Langat) on the current development of thin-film technology and its significant contribution to the industry.

Abu Bakar said there were eight PV production companies in the country, namely, First Solar and Panasonic Energy Malaysia in Kulim Hi-Tech Park; JA Solar, Jinko Solar and TS Solartech in Penang; SunEdison in Ipoh; SunPower in Malacca; and Q-Cells Malaysia in Cyberjaya. He said the ministry had always supported and encouraged local industries to explore and adopt advanced technologies such as thin film technology.

"Various initiatives were undertaken directly by the ministry's agency or through research and development fund support such as grants for pre-commercialisation and financial assistance to get the existing related technologies," he said.

Source — Bernama

Sunset at Sutera Harbour Resort

To the city folks, Sutera Harbour resort is probably synonym to 7K Sunset Run. And it is by no accident that the annual run is so named as its man-made shore is perfect for sunset watch. Come anytime in the evening and you'll be presented with different 'sky paintings' every single time.


You do not have to a be a resort guest to enjoy the beach (if i can call it beach).


During fine weather, you can sit among the rocks and watch the sun goes down.


This was on the evening of Malaysia Day, 16th September 2016


You can stay back long after other revelers have left and take long exposure shots.

The sky was not clear that day and it was not possible to witness the 'fireball' dipping down the horizon but this place is nearby and you can always come back to capture that elusive shot.

See more shots at JDFloydPictures.