First Time Adjudication

After becoming an Adjudicator in July 2013 (Read here), I did wonder when would I be asked to take up my first case of adjudication. 

I remember since then, I have been asked to consider taking up adjudication cases at least three times by the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC). Unfortunately, I had to decline because of work commitments or imminent overseas travels.

Finally on 16 February 2024, I was appointed to take up my very first case of adjudication, that's after more than ten and a half years since July 2013. As the saying goes: "It's better late than never". This is another milestone achieved!

I am pleased of the outcome and I believe I have reached my decision based on utmost diligence, impartiality and independence to resolve the case.

Reunion Breakfast at the Jesselton Twin Towers

Since 2022, one of the former badminton kaki who migrated to Canada, Lo Vun Kai was noted to come back to visit Sabah in yearly basis.

In October 2022 when he came back with his wife, we had dim sum at Lok Tien Dim Sum (Read here). 

In 2023, he came back together with his children's families. We did not manage to have a gathering probably because he was too tied up with travelling with the rest of the family members all over Sabah.

In December 2023, he whatsApp me to inform that he would be back again to KK in April or May 2024. He came back in April 2024 and asked me to organize another reunion of the former badminton kaki.

This time, I decided to meet at the newly opened Canton Lane @ Jesselton Twin Towers. It turned out that this was the first time eating at this outlet for all of us.

Dim Sum at Canton Lane @ Jesselton Twin-Towers
on 29.04.2024

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In actual fact, It was my second visit to the Twin Towers. I did visit this Twin Towers before on 4 November 2023. That was a Technical Visit organized by the Institution of Engineers Sabah. That visit was about four months before the Occupation Certificate was issued for the building on 12 March 2024 by DBKK.

The Twin Towers with 56 storeys now is acclaimed as the highest building in the Borneo island. Residents at the upper floors have spectacular view of the surrounding.

The Jesselton Condominium at a short distance to the north is a mere dwarf when compared to this mega tall building. Taman Kim Leng at the north where I once stayed is fully "exposed" to the residents' view residing at the northern face.

City Mall Shopping Centre is visible at the south.

Now, even the private residence of the former Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Pairin is not spared (At lower right hand corner). His house is now under full view of some of the Tower's residents!

Taken with long time friend, Ir. Heng Aik Sin

at the Roof Top of the Twin-Towers.

Stingless Bees Farming at Our Backyard

Our plan to set up stingless bees hives at our backyard finally materialized on 25.04.2024 after we brought back two units of the bee huts all the way from a kampong farm in Beaufort. The plan to acquire the hives was mooted soon after we joined the "Nature's Little Buzzers Educational Tour" at Shangi-lah Rasa Ria Hotel together with Sam's family in March this year (Read here).

With the contractor currently doing some repair work in our house, it was perfect timing to get him to help to set up the poles and platforms to hold up the bee hives.

It's no small feat to transport these hives all the way from their original habitat to our backyard. Beside travelling 100Km to the farm, we spent another four hours from the time of our arrival at 2.30pm until 6.30pm just to wait for the bees to return back to their bee hives at sunset. Inside the car, the bees had to endure another two and half hours of driving. The bee hives were finally set up under our mango tree just before 10pm.

Talking about stingless bees farming, the seller of the bee hives told us that at one time he had two hundred units of bee hives. Initially, he was able to sell a bottle of 150ml capacity for RM150. Over the years, the price dropped to RM100 and now at RM60. According to him, too many people are now into stingless bees farming. He had decided to stop this business and disposed off most the hives. We bought two of the last three bee hives which he still possesses. 

In fact, this farmer who becomes a bee hives seller had not been harvesting the honey for the last two years. Because of that, we are the beneficiary of the bee hives with all the pots filled with honey!

Unlike the seller, we are green horn hobby farmers of stingless bees who are unsure of the success or failure of this endeavour.

So far, the bees appear to have settled down well and are going on with their routine as if in their original habitat! We are keeping our fingers crossed!