The Duplexer and Repeater Unit of 9M6RBB, which was down for more than one month due to lightning, power surge and fire was finally repaired and re-installed at Bukit Bendera.

Thanks to Ling 9W6LL and his technical team for putting effort to expedite the repair and tuned the duplexer. Certain wires, connecting and antenna cables were damaged due to high temperature were also changed. Other items damaged were battery, power supply unit and voltage regulator.

The Council had re-enforced the security of the building by replacing the entrance with steel door and sealed the wooden windows with hollow bricks.

Members who assisted to put the repeater back to action were Long 9W6RL, Ling 9W6LL, Hassan 9M6MA, Lawrence 9M6LK, Mesius 9W6MN and Benjamin 9M6HB.

Radio Amateur Exam (Theory: Paper A & B) was conducted by JTM on 10^th June 1998 at JTM Building (Sabah Region), Inanam and Federal House, Sandakan simultaneously.

Total of 39 candidates sat for the RA Exam, of which 19 were SWL members from SARS. We wish them the best of luck and hope all of them can get their tickets soon and join the world of amateur radio.

CURRENT RATES (JTM)

Registration Fees for R.A. Exam : RM 50.00 per person

SARS Event Co-ordinator : Patrick 9W6PK

Date : 7^th June 1998 (Sunday)

The Dragon Boat Festival or Tuan Wu, has its origin in the 4^th Century BC. It falls on the "Double Fifth", the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

A team each from Brunei, Sarawak, Australia and European joined this year event. Amongst the VIPs attended were the TYT of Sabah, Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Sakaran Bin Dandai and Chief Minister of Sabah. Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

Members from SARS who assisted in providing the communication support includes Eiddros 9W6EI (starter boat), Chan 9M6RC and Albert 9M6LW (official boats), Patrick 9W6PK and Paul 9W6PR (jetty), Jolis 9M6JJ and Godfrey 9M6GY (VIP grandstand), Lawrence 9W6AI (race director), Lawrence 9M6LK, Hassan 9M6MA and Hamdam 9W6HH (base control).

SARS Event Co-ordinator : Thomas 9M6TT

Date : 1^st to 3^rd May 1998

SARS operated a 24-hrs base station at The Marina, Tanjung Aru from 1^st to 3^rd May 1998 to provide communication coverage for the above stated event and about 170 anglers participated in this tournament.

Members who act as ‘Marshall’ on behalf of Persatuan Pengail Sabah were Lawrence 9W6AI, Paul 9W6PR, Haslin 9W6HJ and Simon 9W6SL. Others who volunteered to operate the 24-hrs base station were Thomas 9M6TT, Jolis 9M6JJ, Hassan 9M6MA, Lawrence 9M6LK, Eiddros 9W6EI, Patrick 9W6PK, Albert 9M6LW, Long 9W6RL, Chan 9M6RC, Mesius 9W6MN, Kenfatt 9M6AF and SWL Wan. 

SARS hosted a buffet lunch at the Red Palm Café, Likas Square to welcome members from Ekaterinburg Central Radio Club, Russia who were on a visit to 9M6 and at the same time joining the CQ WPX CW Contest, using callsign 9M6AAT. The group shall be operating from Hillview Gardens Station (9M6AAC).

Members from USSR were Loginov Yuri (UA9CI), Igor Sokolov (UA9CDC), Oussov Oleg (UA9CDV), Vadim Ovsiannikov (UA9CLB) and Melnitchouk Serguei (RU9DJ). Alfons (9M6MU) and Doris (9W6DU) were at the airport to meet the group upon arrival on 24^th May 1998.

SARS President, Joseph (9M6JJ) in his welcoming address said that this was the first time amateur radio group from Russia have visited 9M6. Team leader, Yuri (UA9CI) thanks SARS for the arrangement of the licence and their kind hospitality in hosting the lunch.

SARS members presented at the lunch were Hassan 9M6MA, Thomas 9M6TT, Lawrence 9M6LK, Paul (9W6PR), Lawrence (9W6AI), Martin (9W6BC), Albert (9M6LW), Tommy (9M6RC), Mesius (9W6MN), Peter (9W6II), Kenfatt (9M6AF), Hasny (9W6HJ), Patrick (9W6PK), Eiddros (9W6EI) and Hamdam (9W6HH).

The group shall stay in Keningau for 11 days and shall leave Kota Kinabalu on 5^th June 1998. 

A record of 157 international triathletes from 16 countries and 130 triathletes from Malaysia shall be participating in the 7^th Sabah International Triathlon to be held at Likas Bay on 24^th May 1998. The increased in foreign triathletes was mainly because triathletes can gather points for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

SARS was again requested to provide the communication support in this prestige event. Total of 16 members assisted in varies stations and check points to ensure the smooth running and co-ordination this event.

APRIL 1998

• SEASIDE BAR-B-QUE DINNER, KINABALU YACHT CLUB

CONGRATULATION & WELL DONE. For those who did not make it and potential members who are going for the next exam, try your very best. Remember, ‘Practice makes perfect’.

Special thanks to our instructor, Thomas Thien 9M6TT who volunteered to conduct the CW Training Classes for two consecutive months, four times per week (Monday to Thursday) at the Red Crescent Office, Sembulan prior this C.W. exam.

The Sabah Sprint Triathlon 1998 held on 26^th April 1998 at Pan Pacific Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu was organised by the Sabah Triathlon Association pro-tem committee for the first time. The race was considered as a warm-up event for the local triathletes’ preparation before competing in the coming 7^th Sabah International Triathlon scheduled on May 24 at Likas Bay.

The 1^st Mount Kinabalu Mountain Bike Race ’98 was held on 1^st March 1998, organised by CERGAS with the objective to promote mountain biking as a sporting and recreational outdoor activities that contribute towards building up a healthy and fit society, particularly in Sabah.

The route selected was near the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, starting from Kampung Kaung and finish at Kampung Kiau, Kundasang covering a total distance of 15.4 Km (Total descent track: app. 3 Km & ascent track: app. 12 Km; length of sealed road: 5 Km & gravel road: 10.4 Km.). The race was divided into 4 categories, namely Men Open, Women Open, Veteran and Junior.

SARS was requested to provide communication support and facilities during the race. Members assisted are Tommy Chan 9M6RC, Godfrey Yin 9M6GY, 9W6II Peter Yap, Albert Wong 9M6LW, Thomas Thien 9M6TT, Martin Chiu 9W6BC and Kelvin Chiu 9W6KR, with Hj Hassan Hassan as Event Co-ordinator for SARS Communication Team. Accomodation was provided by Kinabalu Pine Resorts, Kundasang and members stayed for a night before the race.

Alfons 9M6MU and Doris 9W6DU organised the Hamfest & Fellowship 1998 at Hillview Gardens Station (9M6AAC), Keningau on 14^th and 15^th March 1998. Guess for the evening included Director of JTM(Sabah), Mr Michael Chin, Mr Robert Ferguson GW3YTS and xyl.

SARS members who attended the first Hamfest & Fellowship were: Godfrey 9M6GY, xyl Stella 9M6JY & family; Anthony Yan 9W6AV; Tony Yong 9W6TY, xyl & family; Joseph 9M6JJ & xyl; Peter 9W6II; Capt. Fong 9W6SF, xyl & family; Ali Wahid 9W6AR, xyl Georgina 9W6AJ & family; Tan 9W6AT; Stephan 9M6ET, xyl Senny 9M6IQ & family; Lawrence 9M6LK & daughter.

DATE : 28^TH MARCH 1998 (SATURDAY)

TIME : 13:30 lt

VENUE : RAFFLESIA ROOM, HOTEL PROMENADE,

KOTA KINABALU.

AGENDA à Meeting call to order.

à Adoption of Agenda.

à The President’s Address.

à Confirmation of minutes of the 19^th A.G.M.

à Matters arising.

à To consider the Accounts and Treasurer’s Report

for the year 1997.

à Appointment of Election Chairman & Scrutineer.

Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation organised the Regatta Lepa at Semporna on 29^th and 30^th March 1998. SARS was represented by Lawrence 9M6LK, Patrick 9W6PK, Awah 9M6AK and Dolof 9M6DY to provide communication support for the event.

The Marine Research Unit of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and an American research team from California jointly conducted an intensive ‘Whale Shark Research Project’ in waters off Kota Kinabalu and West Coast of Sabah from 1^st Feb to 9^th Feb 1998.

According to UMS Associate Professor, Dr. Ridzwan Abdul Rahman, whale sharks have been sighted in these areas between month of January and March for the past 6 years. The research teams were determine to study the distribution and characteristic of the whale sharks population in their natural habitat, expose the researchers to the techniques and equipment used to conduct observations.

Whale sharks were be spotted from a Cessna 172 light aircraft chartered from Sabah Flying Club with Flying Instructor, Capt. Richard Ong (9W6RM) as pilot and providing the location of sharks to Hj Hassan Abing (9M6MA) at base control located at Gayana Resorts, Pulau Gaya.

During this project, 3 whale sharks were tagged with satellite transmitters (size of a torchlight transmitting location, water temperature data as the sharks surface) and 10 whale sharks were tagged with ‘spegetti’ coded tags. All of these whale sharks are Rhincodon Typus species. Whale sharks can reach a maximum length of 20 metres.

SARS hosted a steamboat dinner at Putera Theatre & Restaurant, Kota Kinabalu to welcome members and group from Chiltern DX Club, Great Britain. The group was on their way to the Spratly Isilands (Layang-Layang) for Dxpedition using callsign 9MOC, included Don F. Beattie (G3OZF), Tony Canning (G0OPB), Neville Cheadle (G3NUG), Don Field (G3XTT), John R. Linford (G3WGV), Ray Gerrad (9M2OM/G3NOM), Mike Dereraux (G3SED), Stephen Telenius-Lowe (G4JVG), Dr. Vince Thompson (K5VT), John Krzymuski (G4DQW), Jeff Morris (H1EL) and Kazu Ogasawara (JA1RJU) from Japan.

During the dinner, SARS President, Hj Hassan Abing ((9M6MA) presented a momento and letter of appreciation to Chiltern DC Club for the donation of a 2M Storno Repeater, at the moment being installed at 11,000ft Mount Kinabalu. Mr. Tony Canning (G0OPB) received on behalf of the group.  

‘Jamboree On The Air’ (JOTA) was organised for the first time by the Girl Guides Association Malaysia at its headquarter building, Mile 2.5, Jalan Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu on 22th February 1998.