NEOMI SALIKUP EMERGED CHAMPION WRITER OF 5TH AND LAST TANSRI DOMPOK NOVEL WRITING COMPETITION IN KADAZANDUSUN LANGUAGES

 21 FEBRUARY 2026

 

 

 Winners Neomi, flanked by Edna (left) and Pricilla

 

 

PENAMPANG.  Neomi Salikup from Kampung Taginambur, Tamparuli was champion for the 5th and last Tan Sri Bernard Dompok Literary Award for Novel Writing  Competition bringing home a trophy and RM7,500 in cash prize.  Her novel titled "Sondihon do Koposion" was inspired by her personal experience in village environment, a fiction story of three siblings who lost their parents in a single day.

She had consistently submitted entries since the competition started in 2012 and won second place during the fourth competition.

The second prize winner this year was Edna Stacy Sumandi from Kampung Tomboilik Tenghilan, titled "Ngingis Kalangadan" and third as Priscilla Moses Gukim from Kampung Togudon Penampang, titled "Tomoimo id Ginavo".  They won cash prizes of RM4,500 and RM3,000 respectively,  proving the lady's power in literature.

Another seven consolation winners of RM750 went to Faveyana Linos, Leolarry Lajius, Adrian Soidi, Ainah Gimir, Witer Gunik, Neomi Jemmy @Edward and Angela Peter.

There were 16 entries received in the 5th series but only 10 was selected in the competition. All the prizes were sponsored by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok who also announced this is the last of Novel Writing Competition however it will be replaced with a new platforms of storytelling to inspire future generation to write, and will be announced soon by the Kadazan Language Foundation (KLF),

He said the competition was organised in response to the need of more Kadazandusun reading materials utilised as teaching aids to learning the language in schools. The competition had 89 entries since in started in 2012.

Guest of honour Datuk Ewon Benedick, Deputy CM III cum Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport announced allocation of RM100 thousand from his MP funds to KLF for all their ethnic languages initiatives and another 50 thousand from his ministry to Sabah Ethnic Association to carry out workshops and seminars to prepare modules for 4 chosen ethnic languages of Sabah.

 

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FORMER SUGANDOI DAZANAK CHAMPION, TATIOMISS RETURNS TO THE SPOTLIGHT

 

 

At the Church entrance

 

 

 

KOTA KINABALU, Aug. 30 — Thirteen years after winning the Kaamatan Festival  Sugandoi Dazanak singing competition at KDCA Penampang,  Maria Tatiomiss Guntingan returned to the spotlight,  this time as a bride.

The wedding took place at Stella Maris Catholic Church, Tanjung Aru, where Fr Jeffri Gumu served as celebrant. Tatiomiss, now 26, exchanged vows with Kevin Wong Kah Cheun, a businessman. 

Tatiomiss rose to prominence after the Sugandoi in 2012, performing in Kaamatan and Christmas radio concerts while continuing her studies. A multilingual talent, she excelled in English, Chinese, French, and Kadazan, and later earned a master’s degree from City University Malaysia, majoring in TESL or Teaching English as Second Language. 

 She is currently teaching at Geomatika College Malaysia in Keningau.

She also played football at school.

Her mother, Elizabeth Anjun, confirmed she is the youngest of four siblings, with her the only girl.

Interviewed after the ceremony, Tatiomiss said she has recorded seven songs in Kadazan, and one each in Malay and English. Her first hit, “Doiti id Pomogunan” (“In This World”), remains a local favorite. She plans to record three more Kadazan songs composed by her late father, to complete an album.

Her songs are regularly chosen by younger singers when they compete in the annual Kaamatan Festival Singing competitions.

Local Kadazan radio stations aired wedding wishes for two weeks, playing selections from her discography. 

Kevin, asked about his wife’s musical career, said he fully supports her continued recording efforts. “In fact, I would also like to join in the studio, if I can,” he added.

 

 

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WARISAN WANITA WING VISITED FIRE VICTIM FAMILY AT KAMPUNG SINDANAN PENAMPANG = 1 JULY 2025

 CONSIDERING THAT THE PRESENT GOVT MAY NOT BE SYMPATHETIC TO "TUHUN PENAMPANG",  THIS BLOGGER ALSO APPEAL TO ALL KIND HEARTED PENAMPANGITES TO DO A SIMPLE CROWD FUNDING AND ASSIST THIS JUATIN FAMILY TO REBUILD THEIR HOME AND THEIR HANDICRAFT LITTLE ROOM.   JUST RM 10 FROM 2000 PEOPLE IS ENOUGH TO BUY BUILDING MATERIALS FOR THE ROOF.  THANK YOU.  

 

 

 

 

From Left:  Sam Koh, Agnes Kinsil, Marklin Juatin, Jeremiah Stambul, Junny Clement Simol and Almahasan Madsa 

 

 

 

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 Roof beams and rafters partially burnt by fire 

 

 

PENAMPANG.  Warisan Wanita Chief  P174, Junny Siambun (Clement Simol) and AJK Wanita,  urged the government YBs to give urgent assistance to a family who are victims of house fire at Kampung Sindanan here.

Visiting the family for the third time today,  she said their coverage should not be viewed as negative or political but a human concern for innocent victims of circumstances.

She said the roof over the garage, handicraft room and even the bedrooms above can cave in anytime because the wooden rafters are partially burnt, with rain water seeping in and the roof needs to be replaced totally. 

 

Once or everytime the rain water seeps in, it will definitely cause the collapse of the garage roof.  They are in dire need of allocation to repair the burnt roofing so that the roof upstairs can be used again. 

At present the whole family have to sleep huddled in one room as they have nowhere else to go, and they are still facing the smoky smell of the house, Junny added.  Whatever money they had from their handicraft activities were all wiped out in the fire,  she said.

She also queried what happened to the usual government assistance such as "wang ihsan" or Sentuhan Kasih and material support up to RM10,000 for partially damaged homes, as reported in news earlier this month for fire victims at Kampung Petagas, and urge the Welfare Department to give assistance as soon as possible.

Mother of the family,  Marklin Juatin said the fire occured on 23 Jun and the Bomba found remnants of electrical wiring chewed by rats, thus short circuit was a possible suspect.

  

A related youtube video is shown below.

 

 

 

 

PENSIONS ARE NOT FROM TAXPAYERS MONEY : PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION

  29 OCTOBER 2023

Attendance with Dr Ryna (3rd from L) Hj Mohd Sepuan, Lingham and Sipaun

 

 KOTA KINABALU.  President of Sabah Government Pensioners Association, Datuk Wilfred Lingham reminded that pensions are not paid from taxes but from a Retirement Trust Fund (KWAP) which every pensioner contributed by way of deductions from their salaries for at least 10 years of their working life. He said this when closing the Pensioner's one-day forum/seminar titled "Ageing with Dignity" here, weekend 28 October at Sky Hotel, Kota Kinabalu.

He said retirement is a universal practice where a person in long service is given a mandatory rest and paid monthly remuneration, medical facility and funeral expenses to the immediate family

Hence, any talks or suggestions of ending the pension scheme will be rejected by all the pensioners associations, he added.

He urged all present civil servants to obey the Chief Minister's directive to have a high sense of integrity and avoid any forms of corruption. 

Pensioners with skills learnt during working life and combined with knowledge from the seminar can still contribute to society while living a healthy lifestyle, he concluded.

Earlier keynote address was given by Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, retired Sabah State Secretary who had other prominet positions including State Public Service Commission and Suhakam.

Explaining the word "dignity" in details, he said it was associated with status, royalty, religious groups or men of means, an ascribed status rather than achieved.

However atrocities committed during the two world wars pushed the United Nations to produce the Declaration of Human Rights on 10 Dec 1948 with the preamble "Recognition of inherent dignity, equal and inalienable rights of all members of human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace of the world"

He quoted the first article, "All human beings are born equal in dignity and rights"

Following this declaration, dignity is no longer earned because of class, race or other advantages but belongs to all humans and not to be taken away or violated by any authority.  It is a state of being worthy of honour and respect irrespective of status.

Sipaun said pensioners are in better position to protect and maintain their human rights and dignity by being members of an organisation acting as a group rather than as individuals.

It is good for the pensioner and good for the world, he said.

He also gave another advice to his fellow pensioners, not to transfer down any properties early but better to make a will and urge them to remember "health is wealth".

Topics covered during the seminar included "Ageing with Modern Technology" by Dr Ho Kee Kheen from QE1 hospital, "How Senior Citizens contribute after retirement" by Datuk Hj Mohd Sepuan bin Anu, "Understanding Depression and Ways to Cope" by Rev Dr Peter Abas, and "Importance of mindfulness" by Dr Ryna Imma Buji from Hospital Mesra.

This year the Sabah Pensioners Association nominated two Pesara Bestari Awards,  Mr Joseph Jominol and Evelyn Lim,  both had a long illustrious services in Sabah.

115 pensioners from Sabah and 35 from Sarawak attended the seminar.

 

 Evelyn and Joseph

 

 

 

 

PROBLEM CULVERT AT KAMPUNG TANAKI PENAMPANG REPLACED, BUT... REPLACEMENT MAYBE WORSE

 

The ORIFICE culver of Kampung Tanaki, Penampang 

 

In situ concrete box culvert under construction but terrible workmanship 

 

PENAMPANG.  A flood-causing concrete culvert pipe less than 1 metre diameter under a high embankment road at Kg Tanaki here, is finally being replaced.

Installed when the road was built about 3 decades ago, crossing a rivulet in the village, the undersized culvert bluntly called  "orifice" is not to JKR specification, hence easily clogged causing flooding upstream. Pic 1.

Daily reported the village was still flooded under hot sun on 16 February when Member of Parliament Datuk Ewon Benedict and Kapayan Assemblywoman Janie Lasimbang came to inspect after being informed by the residents.

The upgrading works though welcomed is causing massive traffic jams during peak hours, though temporary may still take 2 months to complete.  Residents nearby said its unnecesary waste of time and taxpayers money compared to installing the proper culvert size earlier.  In addition,  excavation and filling up of a good road also damaged water pipelines to the villagers.

Tunelling under the high road embankment is either too expensive or  technology not available, a netizen said.

Adding further worries, the in-situ casting of a concrete box culvert by a new contractor is described as "Very Bad Workmanship" by retired JKR engineer and an experienced contractor.  As seen in pic 2, the concreting seemed to be mixing with soil while the two layers of BRC reinforcings have no spacing. Hence the concrete cube test taken on site is meaningless, according to another engineer.

Netizens are also asking how long will this new culvert last before collapsing.  They also request the government to monitor all other culverts being installed especially the Pan Borneo project which has been alleged to cause floods.

 

 

 

YB DUN KAPAYAN JANIE LASIMBANG LAUNCHED RETORT FOOD "HERO MEALS" AT WISMA IDS

 

 Janie with the rest of officials

The types of dish available from Kendera Kitchen

KAPAYAN.  Assemblywoman Janie Lasimbang promised to introduce to the State Government a new pre-packed emergency ration food named "Hero Meals" designed specially for disaster relief operations such as floods and earthquakes.

She said this while launching and distributing samples of the rations to bodies usually involved during disasters such as Bomba,  Civil Defence, District Office and NGOs such as PACOS at IDS Hall here.

She said food is the first thing needed both by the victims and rescuers during any disaster and shall be distributed in a fair manner without any religious, racial or political overtones.

The Hero Meals are packed with lables, "not for sale" and one of the main sponsor is CIMB Bank.  The lady representative informed the bank has sponsored  up to 250 thousand ringgits for the country of which 10 thousand is allocated to Sabah for now.

Meanwhile CEO of Kembara Kitchen William Cheah said he started  developing this fast ration meals taking inspiration from the Military rations after the largest recorded flood in Kelantan in 2014, described by others as "tsunami-like disaster".

Cheah said, " although we are in the food business, we found it impossible to assist in supply and preparation of food in disaster areas where water supply, electricity and other means of food preparation are all not available."

A lot of effort were done to get the correct ingredients to ensure it preserve well in the packets so all that is needed is to open the packet and its ready to eat or warmed in hot water if available, he said.

Penampang is also chosen to be the first packaging centre in the state at Pacos centre and plans are afoot to have other centres at Kudat and Sandakan area, to ensure preparedness for any disaster.

Hero Meals currently is available in seven types of dish which are: Rice Basmathi with curry chicken, Arab Rice with Nohutlu Tavuk, Rice Basmathi with curry vegetable, Rice Basmathi with Dalca, Fatty Rice with Sambal Sotong, Yellow Rice with Chicken Curry and Spaghetti Bolognese with chicken.

 

(article previously rejected by Daily Express)

 

 

DATUK EWON BENEDICT LAUNCHED BKD WORKBOOKS FOR YR 4,5,6 AT ITCC KADAZAN LANGUAGE CARNIVAL 24 SEPT 2023

 

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Ewon and Philip launch the BKD workbook while Raisin and Rita looks on

Drone delivers workbook mockup to stage

  Entrance of students with workbooks

The VIPs on stage before the launch

 

PENAMPANG. The Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative, Datuk Ewon Benedict said, any resident who has views or proposal on the Penampang Development Plans need not wait for state Institute of Development Studies (IDS) to come to them but can submit their papers to him or direct to IDS.

He said this after launching the workbook for teaching the Kadazan Dusun Language in school for Primary 4 to 6 at ITCC Hall here weekend.

The issue was raised because in the last Council rezoning exercise, some residents were shocked to find their residential houses and native lands including natural rivulets proposed to be gazetted as Heavy Industrial Zone. Other anomalies found were hills gazetted as padiland while some lowland are marked as hill conservations.

Regarding the Carnival on the KadazanDusun language to be held next year, Ewon proposed to create awards to appreciated those who had made the teaching of the language in school a great success, and to give scholarship assistance to future teachers and lecturers of the language.

Present during the event were State Director of Education Raisin Saidin,  Chairman of Yayasan Bank Rakyat Philip Lasimbang, other education officials from schools and colleges and Kadazan Language Foundation KLF.