May event put off amidst SARS scare
By Rosli Abidin Yahya & Saiful Rizal 

Another seminar and exhibition event may have fallen victim to the global outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The International Info-Communication Technology Expo and Seminar scheduled for May 17 to 19 at the International Convention Centre, Berakas, had been rescheduled to another date. Prospective local exhibitors received such notifications from the event manager Transpower Group yesterday to inform them of the cancellation.

When contacted, Transpower Group said they could not provide a specific date in replacement for May 17 to 19. Transpower Group meanwhile did not provide a specific reason for the cancellation though local exhibitors believed that the international event had fallen victim to SARS.

Apparently, the joint hosts and event manager were initially determined to carry on as scheduled provided that the spread of SARS was contained and no new cases reported within the 30 days leading to the event. But six days after the critical date has passed, SARS cases continued to proliferate and this measure has thus been taken.

The event is originally set to be participated by 32 nations and three sectors. Distinguished speakers such as from Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore as well as from other Asia Pacific countries are set to deliver working papers.

Meanwhile, the Borneo Bulletin received reports from parents that Brunei students currently studying in Singapore were not allowed to return home during their three-month school holidays.

However, this could not be confirmed as one local student studying in Singapore was reported to have returned home Wednesday night for school holidays here.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin