Friday, 6 July 2012
BAM appeals for shuttler to be the flag bearer at Olympics
BAM appeals for shuttler to be the flag bearer at Olympics
Friday, 06 Jul 2012
THE Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) will make a final decision today on whether Lee Chong Wei will be Malaysia's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on July 27.
The BA of Malaysia (BAM) had sent an appeal letter to the OCM on Monday for Chong Wei to be considered as the nation's flag bearer due to his impressive credentials and the fact he would be making his final appearance in the Olympics.
Last Friday, Malaysia's chef-de-mission Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid announced that diver Pandelela Rinong was chosen as the nation's flagbearer in the presence of National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong during a visit to the national shuttlers' training at Juara Stadium.
However, the matter is far from settled with OCM secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi reiterating that Chong Wei and Pandelela were the candidates in contention, and the final selection will be done today.
OCM president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar will make the announcement after chairing the executive board meeting.
"Chong Wei and Pandelela are the candidates in contention and we have until noon tomorrow (today) to finalise the selection. The flag bearer will be announced by Tunku Imran, said Kok Chi.
"OCM has the right to make the final selection but we are also in partership with NSC. Zolkples has clarified that Pandelela was only mentioned as a candidate last week but it was misconstrued as the final decision."
The fact that OCM is reconsidering, though Pandelela, was the initial choice, is a clear indication that Chong Wei is strongly tipped to be named as the flag bearer today.
BAM general manager Kenny Goh said the association felt that Chong Wei deserves the honour of becoming the flagbearer based on his track record compared to any other Malaysian athletes competing in the London Games.
"BAM sent in an appeal to OCM on Monday to reconsider the selection as the nation's flag bearer as Chong Wei deserves it. His achievements speak for itself and this will be his final appearance in the Olympics," said Kenny.
"BAM is hopeful that the request will be considered by OCM."
Kenny added that Chong Wei has given an assurance to BAM that he, regardless of the OCM's decision today, will attend the opening ceremony on July 27.
The men's singles begins at Wembley Stadium on July 28 but Chong Wei, as the top seed, will open his campaign in the group stage only a day later.
Courtesy of New Straits Times
http://www.bam.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3317:bam-appeals-for-shuttler-to-be-the-flag-bearer-at-olympics&catid=46:latest-news&Itemid=181
Ways Of Opening A Durian
Know your Malaysian Durians.......
How to Choose a Good Durian / 6 Steps to Choosing A Good Durian
First of all, what is a good durian? For us, a good durian is one that is ripe, fresh and free from larvae/worms. However, a durian with worm doesn't mean it is not good because it can still be delicious.
So how do you know if a durian is good or fresh? Here are some steps you can try when looking for a good durian:
1. Look at the tip, if it is too dry means it is no longer fresh. A little dry is okay.
2. Look at the bottom, if it is crack it may be over-ripe or not so fresh. But it still can be delicious.
3. Smell the durian, if there is a strong smell, it is most likely good. If there is no smell, it is probably not ripe.
4. Use your fingernails to scratch the durian, if it sounds hollow it is likely to be a good one.
5. Put the durian close to your ear, shake it and listen carefully, if there is a 'moving' sound, it is likely to be good.
6. Look for holes around the durian, if there is tiny hole somewhere, there is likely to be a worm (larva of an insect) that has burrow into it.
7. Yes, there is actually a 7th step, but it's not going to be useful. If you have the chance to open the durian, open it and taste it.
EMAIL ETIQUETTE: When forwarding this email, please have the courtesy to respect the privacy and confidentiality of the sender by deleting all previous email trails and addresses before you proceed to forward this email to others.
DISCLAIMER: CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE : This message, any attachment and response string are confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the parties to whom it is addressed. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message please notify the sender immediately by reply email and destroy this message
Ways Of Opening A Durian
There are few ways to open the durian. Some might find opening a durian just too difficult, so I'll list other methods in case you want to try another way.
1. Use a short knife, one that is slightly bigger than the standard swiss army knife- most durian farmers use this.
2. Use a big knife, the one for chopping meat - ladies love to use this.
3. Use bare hands - works well for some over-ripe durians.
4. Use a special durian opener, which is made of wood. Not exactly sure where you can find this tool.
5. Use a chainsaw - works very well, but not encouraged. If you're gonna open one this way, shoot a video and send it to me afterwards, yeah? Thanks.
How to Choose a Good Durian / 6 Steps to Choosing A Good Durian
First of all, what is a good durian? For us, a good durian is one that is ripe, fresh and free from larvae/worms. However, a durian with worm doesn't mean it is not good because it can still be delicious.
So how do you know if a durian is good or fresh? Here are some steps you can try when looking for a good durian:
1. Look at the tip, if it is too dry means it is no longer fresh. A little dry is okay.
2. Look at the bottom, if it is crack it may be over-ripe or not so fresh. But it still can be delicious.
3. Smell the durian, if there is a strong smell, it is most likely good. If there is no smell, it is probably not ripe.
4. Use your fingernails to scratch the durian, if it sounds hollow it is likely to be a good one.
5. Put the durian close to your ear, shake it and listen carefully, if there is a 'moving' sound, it is likely to be good.
6. Look for holes around the durian, if there is tiny hole somewhere, there is likely to be a worm (larva of an insect) that has burrow into it.
7. Yes, there is actually a 7th step, but it's not going to be useful. If you have the chance to open the durian, open it and taste it.
EMAIL ETIQUETTE: When forwarding this email, please have the courtesy to respect the privacy and confidentiality of the sender by deleting all previous email trails and addresses before you proceed to forward this email to others.
DISCLAIMER: CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE : This message, any attachment and response string are confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the parties to whom it is addressed. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message please notify the sender immediately by reply email and destroy this message
Ways Of Opening A Durian
There are few ways to open the durian. Some might find opening a durian just too difficult, so I'll list other methods in case you want to try another way.
1. Use a short knife, one that is slightly bigger than the standard swiss army knife- most durian farmers use this.
2. Use a big knife, the one for chopping meat - ladies love to use this.
3. Use bare hands - works well for some over-ripe durians.
4. Use a special durian opener, which is made of wood. Not exactly sure where you can find this tool.
5. Use a chainsaw - works very well, but not encouraged. If you're gonna open one this way, shoot a video and send it to me afterwards, yeah? Thanks.
Friday, 1 June 2012
Debate Speech on 21st March, 2012 by Wong Ho Leng, MP for Sibu, on Motion to appreciate the King’s Speech
Debate Speech on 21st March, 2012 by Wong Ho Leng, MP for
Sibu, on Motion to appreciate the King’s Speech
I wish to raise a few issues in this august House:
1. Security
Security is a big problem in Sibu. On 20.10.2011, a father, his son and his daughter-in-law were brutally murdered at their house in Bawang Assan, Sibu. His wife was injured and faked dead to escape murder. On 10.12.2011 a young lady was murdered while waiting to cross the Igan River in Sibu. On 11.1.2012 a businessman was killed when shopping. These crimes remained unsolved. On 3.1.2012, a family of 4 were murdered by their neighbor who climbed over the ceiling because there was no partition wall between the terraced houses. That is the only murder that was solved.
On 13th March 2012, a cleaner was beaten unconscious and gang raped in a bus near a school and bus terminal in Pelawan, Sibu.
Burglary, robberies, and vehicle thefts have increased in Sibu. But not all cases had been reported to the police, because the public do not have confidence in the police. Many elderly Chinese went to lodge police reports but they cannot speak Bahasa Malaysia. The police cannot understand them, and they cannot understand the police. It is just like chicken talking to ducks.
This is not a problem in Sibu alone. It happens in other police stations in Bintulu, Miri, and Kuching where there are no multi-lingual police officers manning the counters. I appeal to the Government to station more multi-lingual police in these towns in Sarawak.
The people in Sibu are complaining that the police in Sibu are unable to protect them. To be fair to them, even if the police are doing their best, they can’t do much if they do not have sufficient manpower to investigate and solve crimes.
Very often I have received complaints that the police refused to receive reports. This is unacceptable.
I have also received complaints that victims of crimes have been discouraged from making reports of thefts and robberies. They were asked to report accidental loss only. This is unacceptable. This is not the way to show that crime is not serious in Sibu.
I urge the federal Government to increase police manpower in Sibu. We want police who are honest and hard-working. We don’t want police who lied that Sibu is “no-gangster town”. This story is untrue.
We want clean police in Malaysia. On 14th March, 2012, the Inspector-General of Police said that only 1% of policemen are taking bribes. This is the greatest joke of 2012. We all know that there are police who are demanding for kopi-o even on road sides in broad day light. Although there are honest police, there are many more dishonest and corrupt police. The people have nowhere to complain. That is why we complain that the BN Government has failed the people by not establishing the IPCMC which was suggested by the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Police. I appeal to the Government not to allow corruption continue in our country.
2. Health Services
While his whole family was murdered, a little boy survived. Kelvin Ling was badly injured on his head. He could have lost his life too because there was no neurosurgeon in Sibu Hospital to operate on him. His life was saved only because he was flown in time to Kuching General Hospital by a private helicopter. We wonder why the Government cannot provide a reliable helicopter service in the event of emergency.
I agree with many in Sibu who complained that Hospital Sibu is 3rd class.
I urge the federal government to upgrade Hospital Sibu. Hospital Sibu caters for more than half a million people in Sibu and the hinterland of the Rejang River like Kapit, Belaga, Song, Kanowit, Bintangor and Sarikei. It is unfair for patients to have to wait for treatment. Some had died from waiting, just because there are insufficient specialists and surgeons. The federal government should employ more specialists and neurosurgeons in Hospital Sibu.
Those admitted to Hospital should be well looked after both by the doctors, nurses and their families. But many patients and their families have complained that the wards in Hospital Sibu are hot and uncomfortable.
The Government should look into improving the condition there.
Those admitted to Hospital require family members to take care of them. But there is insufficient parking space at the Hospital compound. There is also no place to accommodate family members who come from outstation. At any one time we can see that there are always not less than 40 family members sprawling on the floor on the corridors, sleeping on cardboards and old newspapers.
The Government should provide accommodation near Hospital Sibu for visiting families from outstation. Visitation by family members must be encouraged.
I also take this opportunity to talk about the health services in Lawas. I am given to understand that the condition in Lawas hospital is deplorable and cases have been brought to court for negligence of doctors which had resulted in death. A case in point is Kam Agong who died in 2002 at the age of 44 because of medical negligence when she gave birth to her 8th child.
Saya difahamkan bahawa Hospital Daerah Lawas dibina pada 16.5.1969 dan adalah bangunan yang tertua di Lawas. Pada 1999, JKR mengisytiharkan Hospital tersebut tidak selamat lagi diduduki sebab sudah uzur. Pembinaan sebuah hospital baru telah dicadangkan dalam RMK-7 (1996-2000) dan diluluskan dalam RMK-8 (2001-2005). Sekarang sudah masuk RMK-10 dan sudah 16 tahun berlalu. Pada 26.3.2011 Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber di Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali mengumumkan yang sebuah hospital baru bernilai RM80 juta akan di bina di Lawas dan kerja-kerja pembinaan akan bermula akhir tahun lepas. Pada 15.4.2011 Menteri Kesihatan membuat pengumuman yang RM121.6 juta akan diperuntukan untuk membina hospital baru di Lawas. Tetapi tiada apa apa kerja yang telah dimulakan setakat ini. Yang anehnya, yang dibina adalah sebuah hotel di Lawas, Hotel Seri Malaysia.
It is scandalous that instead of building a hospital, a hotel was built.
Can the Government explain why? Is the Ministry of Health not able to tell the difference between a hotel and a hospital?
3. Chinese Education
Education is an important bulwark to national development. Malaysia is a multi-racial country, and the right to receive education in one’s mother tongue is a constitutional as well as a universal human right.
I am given to understand that 29 headmasters, 39 assistant headmasters and 287 teachers who do not have Chinese qualifications are sent to serve in Chinese Primary Schools in Sarawak. Most of these teachers did not even pass UPSR’s Chinese subjects.
This cannot be right. The Government must ensure that headmasters who are sent to serve in Chinese primary schools must pass the Chinese subject in SPM.
With headmasters and teachers not knowing Chinese, it is no wonder that I have received frequent complaints that some headmasters had been discouraging students from taking Chinese subjects, or even if they do, not to sit for exams for fear that they will pull down the school results. This has become a serious problem in many schools in Sarawak and the education ministry must look into it to right a wrong to the Chinese community.
The practice of sending teachers without Chinese qualification to Chinese Primary Schools will severely affect the teaching standards and administration of these schools. It is not conducive to educational development, especially when it is well accepted that Chinese schools contribute tremendously to national development.
The fact that there are 355 teachers who are non-Chinese qualified are teaching in Chinese schools means that there is a shortage of this number of teaching staff in Sarawak. The Government should rectify this situation immediately.
Also, there are clerks and administrative officers in Chinese schools who cannot speak Chinese. This is unacceptable because that prevents parents from communicating with them.
Also, the Government has recently recognised qualifications from 146 universities from China. This is good news.
I understand that these Universities in China recognize the Unified Examination Certificates (UEC) results for the purpose of admission. So, can I know, why should the Government not recognize UEC?
Many people take it that the practice of sending non-Chinese qualified teachers to Chinese schools is a way of the BN to marginalize Chinese education. Should that be the case, why should we be talking “1Malaysia”?
It is time for the BN Government to know what exactly does the Chinese want.
Our country has 1294 Chinese Primary schools. 222 of them are in Sarawak. I believe it is only fair for Sarawakians to demand that 20% of education allocations be provided to Chinese primary schools in Sarawak.
4. Suppression and Oppression of People
It is time that the BN Leaders repent from being bullies of the people.
This House has heard of the letter from Assistant Minister of Sarawak Mong Dagang recommending that an OKU Frusis Lebi be stripped off his welfare and agricultural aids on the ground that he had supported the opposition.
We have also seen that Senior Minister of Sarawak James Masing support Mong Dagang, even threatening the people, “jangan lawan towkay”.
This is a clear case of the BN leaders oppressing and suppressing the people. What is disgusting is that even OKU and ignorant rural folks are not spared by the brutal acts of BN leaders.
I want the PM to tell us whether it is the BN’s practice to bully, oppress and suppress the people who do not support Government policies.
A few days before the Sarawak state election of 2011, Wong Soon Koh, who is a SUPP leader and Senior Minister in Sarawak, told Sibu folks that after the Sibu by-election defeat of the BN, the PM had considered stopping the Sibu airport extension project.
We all know that the PM uttered the most notorious “you help me I help You” statement in the Sibu by-election. Can we know from the PM himself whether he did threaten Sibu folks in this manner?
I have also known that fertilizer subsidies had been withdrawn from farmers who used to be SUPP members on the ground that they have now gone to support the Opposition.
The people have freedom to vote for candidates of their choice. This is a right under the constitution. The people are tax payers. The welfare monies and agricultural subsidies come from the people, not from the BN leaders or from the PM. We have heard ‘Rakyat didahulukan’. This has totally no meaning now when BN leaders can cut welfare aids and agricultural subsidies at their whim and fancy.
The rhetoric “rakyat didahulukan” sounds dreadfully hollow, because the BN Ministers are even cutting assistance to the disabled.
“Rakyat didahulukan” is a rhetoric because the BN leaders are now saying that BN leaders are the towkays. The BN Government ought to be ashamed of this.
Wong Soon Koh had also told Sibu folks that the flood mitigation project was almost stopped because of the by-election loss. He also threatened that should he lose the 2011 state election, all development projects will stop.
This is the political culture of samseng. I am sure that the PM is aware of this.
Is the PM condoning all these? If not, why was no action taken against his Ministers?
http://holeng.dapsarawak.com/?p=1685#more-1685
I wish to raise a few issues in this august House:
1. Security
Security is a big problem in Sibu. On 20.10.2011, a father, his son and his daughter-in-law were brutally murdered at their house in Bawang Assan, Sibu. His wife was injured and faked dead to escape murder. On 10.12.2011 a young lady was murdered while waiting to cross the Igan River in Sibu. On 11.1.2012 a businessman was killed when shopping. These crimes remained unsolved. On 3.1.2012, a family of 4 were murdered by their neighbor who climbed over the ceiling because there was no partition wall between the terraced houses. That is the only murder that was solved.
On 13th March 2012, a cleaner was beaten unconscious and gang raped in a bus near a school and bus terminal in Pelawan, Sibu.
Burglary, robberies, and vehicle thefts have increased in Sibu. But not all cases had been reported to the police, because the public do not have confidence in the police. Many elderly Chinese went to lodge police reports but they cannot speak Bahasa Malaysia. The police cannot understand them, and they cannot understand the police. It is just like chicken talking to ducks.
This is not a problem in Sibu alone. It happens in other police stations in Bintulu, Miri, and Kuching where there are no multi-lingual police officers manning the counters. I appeal to the Government to station more multi-lingual police in these towns in Sarawak.
The people in Sibu are complaining that the police in Sibu are unable to protect them. To be fair to them, even if the police are doing their best, they can’t do much if they do not have sufficient manpower to investigate and solve crimes.
Very often I have received complaints that the police refused to receive reports. This is unacceptable.
I have also received complaints that victims of crimes have been discouraged from making reports of thefts and robberies. They were asked to report accidental loss only. This is unacceptable. This is not the way to show that crime is not serious in Sibu.
I urge the federal Government to increase police manpower in Sibu. We want police who are honest and hard-working. We don’t want police who lied that Sibu is “no-gangster town”. This story is untrue.
We want clean police in Malaysia. On 14th March, 2012, the Inspector-General of Police said that only 1% of policemen are taking bribes. This is the greatest joke of 2012. We all know that there are police who are demanding for kopi-o even on road sides in broad day light. Although there are honest police, there are many more dishonest and corrupt police. The people have nowhere to complain. That is why we complain that the BN Government has failed the people by not establishing the IPCMC which was suggested by the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Police. I appeal to the Government not to allow corruption continue in our country.
2. Health Services
While his whole family was murdered, a little boy survived. Kelvin Ling was badly injured on his head. He could have lost his life too because there was no neurosurgeon in Sibu Hospital to operate on him. His life was saved only because he was flown in time to Kuching General Hospital by a private helicopter. We wonder why the Government cannot provide a reliable helicopter service in the event of emergency.
I agree with many in Sibu who complained that Hospital Sibu is 3rd class.
I urge the federal government to upgrade Hospital Sibu. Hospital Sibu caters for more than half a million people in Sibu and the hinterland of the Rejang River like Kapit, Belaga, Song, Kanowit, Bintangor and Sarikei. It is unfair for patients to have to wait for treatment. Some had died from waiting, just because there are insufficient specialists and surgeons. The federal government should employ more specialists and neurosurgeons in Hospital Sibu.
Those admitted to Hospital should be well looked after both by the doctors, nurses and their families. But many patients and their families have complained that the wards in Hospital Sibu are hot and uncomfortable.
The Government should look into improving the condition there.
Those admitted to Hospital require family members to take care of them. But there is insufficient parking space at the Hospital compound. There is also no place to accommodate family members who come from outstation. At any one time we can see that there are always not less than 40 family members sprawling on the floor on the corridors, sleeping on cardboards and old newspapers.
The Government should provide accommodation near Hospital Sibu for visiting families from outstation. Visitation by family members must be encouraged.
I also take this opportunity to talk about the health services in Lawas. I am given to understand that the condition in Lawas hospital is deplorable and cases have been brought to court for negligence of doctors which had resulted in death. A case in point is Kam Agong who died in 2002 at the age of 44 because of medical negligence when she gave birth to her 8th child.
Saya difahamkan bahawa Hospital Daerah Lawas dibina pada 16.5.1969 dan adalah bangunan yang tertua di Lawas. Pada 1999, JKR mengisytiharkan Hospital tersebut tidak selamat lagi diduduki sebab sudah uzur. Pembinaan sebuah hospital baru telah dicadangkan dalam RMK-7 (1996-2000) dan diluluskan dalam RMK-8 (2001-2005). Sekarang sudah masuk RMK-10 dan sudah 16 tahun berlalu. Pada 26.3.2011 Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber di Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali mengumumkan yang sebuah hospital baru bernilai RM80 juta akan di bina di Lawas dan kerja-kerja pembinaan akan bermula akhir tahun lepas. Pada 15.4.2011 Menteri Kesihatan membuat pengumuman yang RM121.6 juta akan diperuntukan untuk membina hospital baru di Lawas. Tetapi tiada apa apa kerja yang telah dimulakan setakat ini. Yang anehnya, yang dibina adalah sebuah hotel di Lawas, Hotel Seri Malaysia.
It is scandalous that instead of building a hospital, a hotel was built.
Can the Government explain why? Is the Ministry of Health not able to tell the difference between a hotel and a hospital?
3. Chinese Education
Education is an important bulwark to national development. Malaysia is a multi-racial country, and the right to receive education in one’s mother tongue is a constitutional as well as a universal human right.
I am given to understand that 29 headmasters, 39 assistant headmasters and 287 teachers who do not have Chinese qualifications are sent to serve in Chinese Primary Schools in Sarawak. Most of these teachers did not even pass UPSR’s Chinese subjects.
This cannot be right. The Government must ensure that headmasters who are sent to serve in Chinese primary schools must pass the Chinese subject in SPM.
With headmasters and teachers not knowing Chinese, it is no wonder that I have received frequent complaints that some headmasters had been discouraging students from taking Chinese subjects, or even if they do, not to sit for exams for fear that they will pull down the school results. This has become a serious problem in many schools in Sarawak and the education ministry must look into it to right a wrong to the Chinese community.
The practice of sending teachers without Chinese qualification to Chinese Primary Schools will severely affect the teaching standards and administration of these schools. It is not conducive to educational development, especially when it is well accepted that Chinese schools contribute tremendously to national development.
The fact that there are 355 teachers who are non-Chinese qualified are teaching in Chinese schools means that there is a shortage of this number of teaching staff in Sarawak. The Government should rectify this situation immediately.
Also, there are clerks and administrative officers in Chinese schools who cannot speak Chinese. This is unacceptable because that prevents parents from communicating with them.
Also, the Government has recently recognised qualifications from 146 universities from China. This is good news.
I understand that these Universities in China recognize the Unified Examination Certificates (UEC) results for the purpose of admission. So, can I know, why should the Government not recognize UEC?
Many people take it that the practice of sending non-Chinese qualified teachers to Chinese schools is a way of the BN to marginalize Chinese education. Should that be the case, why should we be talking “1Malaysia”?
It is time for the BN Government to know what exactly does the Chinese want.
Our country has 1294 Chinese Primary schools. 222 of them are in Sarawak. I believe it is only fair for Sarawakians to demand that 20% of education allocations be provided to Chinese primary schools in Sarawak.
4. Suppression and Oppression of People
It is time that the BN Leaders repent from being bullies of the people.
This House has heard of the letter from Assistant Minister of Sarawak Mong Dagang recommending that an OKU Frusis Lebi be stripped off his welfare and agricultural aids on the ground that he had supported the opposition.
We have also seen that Senior Minister of Sarawak James Masing support Mong Dagang, even threatening the people, “jangan lawan towkay”.
This is a clear case of the BN leaders oppressing and suppressing the people. What is disgusting is that even OKU and ignorant rural folks are not spared by the brutal acts of BN leaders.
I want the PM to tell us whether it is the BN’s practice to bully, oppress and suppress the people who do not support Government policies.
A few days before the Sarawak state election of 2011, Wong Soon Koh, who is a SUPP leader and Senior Minister in Sarawak, told Sibu folks that after the Sibu by-election defeat of the BN, the PM had considered stopping the Sibu airport extension project.
We all know that the PM uttered the most notorious “you help me I help You” statement in the Sibu by-election. Can we know from the PM himself whether he did threaten Sibu folks in this manner?
I have also known that fertilizer subsidies had been withdrawn from farmers who used to be SUPP members on the ground that they have now gone to support the Opposition.
The people have freedom to vote for candidates of their choice. This is a right under the constitution. The people are tax payers. The welfare monies and agricultural subsidies come from the people, not from the BN leaders or from the PM. We have heard ‘Rakyat didahulukan’. This has totally no meaning now when BN leaders can cut welfare aids and agricultural subsidies at their whim and fancy.
The rhetoric “rakyat didahulukan” sounds dreadfully hollow, because the BN Ministers are even cutting assistance to the disabled.
“Rakyat didahulukan” is a rhetoric because the BN leaders are now saying that BN leaders are the towkays. The BN Government ought to be ashamed of this.
Wong Soon Koh had also told Sibu folks that the flood mitigation project was almost stopped because of the by-election loss. He also threatened that should he lose the 2011 state election, all development projects will stop.
This is the political culture of samseng. I am sure that the PM is aware of this.
Is the PM condoning all these? If not, why was no action taken against his Ministers?
http://holeng.dapsarawak.com/?p=1685#more-1685
Plights over NCR Land – Oppression and Suppression by BN
Plights over NCR Land – Oppression and Suppression by BN
The Dayaks of Sarawak are entitled to Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, but their plights have long been neglected, only because they are the vote banks of the ruling coalition (the Barisan Nasional [BN]).
Let me narrate 2 stories first.
Story 1:
Rumah Juing, a longhouse at Pasir Emas, Sibu, faces a grim future. The land on which it was built in 1989 will be alienated to a private company. The longhouse folks had been asked to move out, and negotiations for resettlement had failed. More than 200 longhouse folks cried for help from the Barisan Nasional, but no help came. They are trespassers and squatters.
Story 2:
In 1996, the BN issued a Handbook, calling it an “official communication guide on NCR development matters”. They promised those natives who own 50 hectares (123 acres) or more of NCR land undreamed-of wealth. They promised rural folks an annual dividend of up to RM40,000 calculated on the basis of crude palm oil price at RM1,400 per tonne. That would mean an annual dividend of RM325 per acre. But the crude palm oil price has since tripled, yet the undreamed-of wealth was so far-far away in “Never”land. Those natives who have entered into joint ventures to develop their NCR land cannot even wriggle out of the agreement. They also cannot go to the Court, even if they receive no dividends.
Now, let me tell the goings-on.
As the largest state in the federation, no one in Sarawak should be land hungry. Blessed with 124,449 square km (12.4 million hectares) of land, Sarawak is a land of aplenty. The fate of Rumah Juing is an irony, but Rumah Juing is not alone.
No NCR can be created after 1st January 1958. Section 5 of the Land Code (Sarawak) states explicitly that as from 1st January, 1958 no recognition shall be given to any NCR over any land in Sarawak, and if the land is state land any person in occupation thereof shall be deemed to be in unlawful occupation of state land.
In normal state of things, longhouses expand due to population growth, or they would split because of disputes. Unlike the Chinese, the natives do not move to urban centers. For those who move out, many have built their longhouses on state land. Though some of these longhouses have been supplied with water and electricity, many have not. More often than not, roads and other infrastructures to their longhouses are pathetic.
The native legislators (ADUNs) from the BN dare not speak out their plight, as it is political suicide to incur the wrath of their political masters. Often, those who speak out the plight of the natives are ADUNs from the Opposition, us the Pakaan Rakyat, despite stinging criticisms from the BN native leaders that we are not more “Ibans” than they are.
The NCR land size in Sarawak is dwindling, being alienated by the state Government to crony conglomerates for oil palm plantation developments.
Through a scheme seductively labeled “New Concept of NCR Land Development” in 1996, many NCR land have been alienated for joint venture oil palm plantation development with big companies/investors. The NCR lands were amalgamated and titles issued in the name of the joint venture company. The landowners would have no beneficial legal equitable or caveatable interest in the land issued with titles. Apart from dividends promised, they are relegated into absolute obscurity. In this joint venture company (JVC), the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) will hold 10% equity, the natives participants are given 30% equity, and the balance 60% equity will be procured by the investors who will inject cash to the venture.
As at 13th May, 2009, 406,425 hectares of NCR land had been agreed for New Concept NCR land development involving 26 joint ventures. As at 22nd June 2011, the area had been expanded to 412,219 hectares involving 34 projects.
Although the development involves the natives’ own land, more foreigners are employed than from the longhouse community. The natives received pathetic amount of dividends from these joint ventures.
On 13th May 2009, James Masing, the Minister of Land Development, told the state legislature that only 4 out of the existing joint ventures managed to pay out dividends amounting to RM2,301,116.86. That represents an annual return of RM0.27 per acre to the landowners, a sum hardly sufficient to buy a cigarette!
Though the state Government has been asked to update the dividend pay-out, no information is available as yet.
The LCDA and its associated companies faced problems from these joint ventures. On 18th February 2011, the LCDA and the state Government lost a legal battle involving the joint ventures of NCR land development at Pantu, Sarawak (Kuching High Court Suit No.22-1-2005-1(SG), known as the “Pantu case”.
The native ancestors had settled in Pantu since 1880. The Plaintiffs landowners are the 7th generation settlers. Attracted by the promise of undreamed-of wealth by the BN Government, the enthusiastic landowners involved themselves in the joint venture. In 2004 their crops and fruit trees were cut and their lands cleared for oil palm plantation envisaged under the Joint Venture Agreement by Indonesian workers of the joint venture company. Valuable crops and several burial sites at the NCR land were also destroyed.
Some 6 years after commencing the oil palm plantation, and 3 years after the oil palm fruits were harvested, no dividends were distributed to the enthusiastic participants. The undreamed-of wealth did not come. The erstwhile landowners do not have any rights whatsoever.
Linton Albert the Judge in that Suit, himself a Sarawak native, aptly put it in this way: “These are cries for justice and the court must respond even if no one else does because one cannot simply throw one’s hands in the air and say that is how life is.”
The New Concept of NCR land development has the noble object to eradicate rural poverty. What happened was a far cry from nobility. The Judge said in succinct language thus: “It is sad that the lofty aims set out in the Handbook had been lost in implementation perhaps by the overzealousness of the various state functionaries involved in the implementation who no doubt have concealed the miseries that the oil palm plantation has brought about and the benefits a far cry from those flaunted in the Handbook.”
The landowners won, because the Court held the agreement illegal, because the subsidiaries of LCDA who implemented the project were non-natives, and under s.8 of the Land Code, no benefits over native land can be enjoyed by non-natives.
The judgment was delivered on 18th February, 2011, 57 days before the Sarawak state election. Despite its rhetoric of being a caring Government the BN made sure that the fruits of victory by the natives would not be enjoyed as yet. They appealed to the Court of Appeal, which has yet to hear the case. Then, 2 months after the BN was returned to power (by the natives), on 22nd June 2011 at the state legislature the BN amended the law to plug the loophole against any chance that such joint venture agreement would be illegal. Under the new law, the natives who had entered into the venture cannot even go to the court to ventilate their just claims.
Such is the fate of the natives who have stood by the BN through thick and thin. Not a single native ADUN from the BN dared whisper a simple “No” to the amendment. For the Pakatan Rakyat, myself, Ting Tze Fui, Chong Chieng Jen and Baru Bian spoke against the amendment. And, the BN law-makers turned the table on us, saying that we are against development.
I have reiterated umpteenth times in the legislative chambers that DAP is never against development, so long as they are meaningful to the people. In his first speech in the Dewan Undangan Negeri delivered to object to the amendment, Baru Bian (PKR) said the same thing.
DAP is steadfast to speak the plights of the natives in the Dewan Undangan Negeri when their own representatives dare not. We are not deterred by the many lies of the Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu uttered in and outside the legislative chambers that DAP has oppressed and suppressed the natives in their opportunities on NCR land development. The story of the fate of the natives in the Pantu case provides a complete picture that those who oppressed and suppressed are those in power, the BN. The natives in Sarawak should put an end to this BN’s charade soon.
23.2.2012
http://holeng.dapsarawak.com/?p=1659#more-1659
The Dayaks of Sarawak are entitled to Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, but their plights have long been neglected, only because they are the vote banks of the ruling coalition (the Barisan Nasional [BN]).
Let me narrate 2 stories first.
Story 1:
Rumah Juing, a longhouse at Pasir Emas, Sibu, faces a grim future. The land on which it was built in 1989 will be alienated to a private company. The longhouse folks had been asked to move out, and negotiations for resettlement had failed. More than 200 longhouse folks cried for help from the Barisan Nasional, but no help came. They are trespassers and squatters.
Story 2:
In 1996, the BN issued a Handbook, calling it an “official communication guide on NCR development matters”. They promised those natives who own 50 hectares (123 acres) or more of NCR land undreamed-of wealth. They promised rural folks an annual dividend of up to RM40,000 calculated on the basis of crude palm oil price at RM1,400 per tonne. That would mean an annual dividend of RM325 per acre. But the crude palm oil price has since tripled, yet the undreamed-of wealth was so far-far away in “Never”land. Those natives who have entered into joint ventures to develop their NCR land cannot even wriggle out of the agreement. They also cannot go to the Court, even if they receive no dividends.
Now, let me tell the goings-on.
As the largest state in the federation, no one in Sarawak should be land hungry. Blessed with 124,449 square km (12.4 million hectares) of land, Sarawak is a land of aplenty. The fate of Rumah Juing is an irony, but Rumah Juing is not alone.
No NCR can be created after 1st January 1958. Section 5 of the Land Code (Sarawak) states explicitly that as from 1st January, 1958 no recognition shall be given to any NCR over any land in Sarawak, and if the land is state land any person in occupation thereof shall be deemed to be in unlawful occupation of state land.
In normal state of things, longhouses expand due to population growth, or they would split because of disputes. Unlike the Chinese, the natives do not move to urban centers. For those who move out, many have built their longhouses on state land. Though some of these longhouses have been supplied with water and electricity, many have not. More often than not, roads and other infrastructures to their longhouses are pathetic.
The native legislators (ADUNs) from the BN dare not speak out their plight, as it is political suicide to incur the wrath of their political masters. Often, those who speak out the plight of the natives are ADUNs from the Opposition, us the Pakaan Rakyat, despite stinging criticisms from the BN native leaders that we are not more “Ibans” than they are.
The NCR land size in Sarawak is dwindling, being alienated by the state Government to crony conglomerates for oil palm plantation developments.
Through a scheme seductively labeled “New Concept of NCR Land Development” in 1996, many NCR land have been alienated for joint venture oil palm plantation development with big companies/investors. The NCR lands were amalgamated and titles issued in the name of the joint venture company. The landowners would have no beneficial legal equitable or caveatable interest in the land issued with titles. Apart from dividends promised, they are relegated into absolute obscurity. In this joint venture company (JVC), the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) will hold 10% equity, the natives participants are given 30% equity, and the balance 60% equity will be procured by the investors who will inject cash to the venture.
As at 13th May, 2009, 406,425 hectares of NCR land had been agreed for New Concept NCR land development involving 26 joint ventures. As at 22nd June 2011, the area had been expanded to 412,219 hectares involving 34 projects.
Although the development involves the natives’ own land, more foreigners are employed than from the longhouse community. The natives received pathetic amount of dividends from these joint ventures.
On 13th May 2009, James Masing, the Minister of Land Development, told the state legislature that only 4 out of the existing joint ventures managed to pay out dividends amounting to RM2,301,116.86. That represents an annual return of RM0.27 per acre to the landowners, a sum hardly sufficient to buy a cigarette!
Though the state Government has been asked to update the dividend pay-out, no information is available as yet.
The LCDA and its associated companies faced problems from these joint ventures. On 18th February 2011, the LCDA and the state Government lost a legal battle involving the joint ventures of NCR land development at Pantu, Sarawak (Kuching High Court Suit No.22-1-2005-1(SG), known as the “Pantu case”.
The native ancestors had settled in Pantu since 1880. The Plaintiffs landowners are the 7th generation settlers. Attracted by the promise of undreamed-of wealth by the BN Government, the enthusiastic landowners involved themselves in the joint venture. In 2004 their crops and fruit trees were cut and their lands cleared for oil palm plantation envisaged under the Joint Venture Agreement by Indonesian workers of the joint venture company. Valuable crops and several burial sites at the NCR land were also destroyed.
Some 6 years after commencing the oil palm plantation, and 3 years after the oil palm fruits were harvested, no dividends were distributed to the enthusiastic participants. The undreamed-of wealth did not come. The erstwhile landowners do not have any rights whatsoever.
Linton Albert the Judge in that Suit, himself a Sarawak native, aptly put it in this way: “These are cries for justice and the court must respond even if no one else does because one cannot simply throw one’s hands in the air and say that is how life is.”
The New Concept of NCR land development has the noble object to eradicate rural poverty. What happened was a far cry from nobility. The Judge said in succinct language thus: “It is sad that the lofty aims set out in the Handbook had been lost in implementation perhaps by the overzealousness of the various state functionaries involved in the implementation who no doubt have concealed the miseries that the oil palm plantation has brought about and the benefits a far cry from those flaunted in the Handbook.”
The landowners won, because the Court held the agreement illegal, because the subsidiaries of LCDA who implemented the project were non-natives, and under s.8 of the Land Code, no benefits over native land can be enjoyed by non-natives.
The judgment was delivered on 18th February, 2011, 57 days before the Sarawak state election. Despite its rhetoric of being a caring Government the BN made sure that the fruits of victory by the natives would not be enjoyed as yet. They appealed to the Court of Appeal, which has yet to hear the case. Then, 2 months after the BN was returned to power (by the natives), on 22nd June 2011 at the state legislature the BN amended the law to plug the loophole against any chance that such joint venture agreement would be illegal. Under the new law, the natives who had entered into the venture cannot even go to the court to ventilate their just claims.
Such is the fate of the natives who have stood by the BN through thick and thin. Not a single native ADUN from the BN dared whisper a simple “No” to the amendment. For the Pakatan Rakyat, myself, Ting Tze Fui, Chong Chieng Jen and Baru Bian spoke against the amendment. And, the BN law-makers turned the table on us, saying that we are against development.
I have reiterated umpteenth times in the legislative chambers that DAP is never against development, so long as they are meaningful to the people. In his first speech in the Dewan Undangan Negeri delivered to object to the amendment, Baru Bian (PKR) said the same thing.
DAP is steadfast to speak the plights of the natives in the Dewan Undangan Negeri when their own representatives dare not. We are not deterred by the many lies of the Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu uttered in and outside the legislative chambers that DAP has oppressed and suppressed the natives in their opportunities on NCR land development. The story of the fate of the natives in the Pantu case provides a complete picture that those who oppressed and suppressed are those in power, the BN. The natives in Sarawak should put an end to this BN’s charade soon.
23.2.2012
http://holeng.dapsarawak.com/?p=1659#more-1659
Confidence in Sarawak
Confidence in Sarawak
The State Government spoke highly of SCORE and almost everybody in Barisan Nasional spoke about that. It looks as if the success or failure of Sarawak lays entirely on SCORE.
But the people are leaving Sarawak. Why? The answer is simple. Jobs are scarce in Sarawak. There is poverty in all races, especially among the natives. Corruption prevails in Sarawak. The rich had become richer, and the poor had become poorer.
In November 2011, I said in this House, “Close to 100,000 natives and anak anak Sarawak left Sarawak because they lost faith in Sarawak, as they seek employment in Singapore, Johore and Klang Valley. If development distribution is equitable, the children of Sarawak will not have to leave their homeland. Many Sarawakians who have better brains also lose faith in the State. They have left to find greener pastures elsewhere.”
In his winding up speech, the Right Hounourable Chief Minister disagreed with my figure. He indicated that I should prove this statistics. Here I am, I am now going to prove it. Tuan Speaker, I am now going to prove it with the figures supplied to Members of Parliament in the answer on 16th March, 2011.
In 1970, Sarawak had a population of 976,269. That represents 9.35% of the nation’s population of 10,439,430. In 1980, 10 years later, Sarawak’s population was 1.2 million. That represents 9.16% of the nation’s population of 13.1 million. In 1991 Sarawak population was 1.6 million, representing 9.09% of the total population of 17.6 million. In 2000, Sarawak’s population of 2,012,616 was only 9.06% of the nation’s total of 22,202,614. In 2010, Sarawak has a population of 2,420,009. That represents a mere 8.78% of the nation’s total of 27,565,821.
The important question we must ask is this, why has the percentage of population growth in Sarawak reducing, decreasing all the time when the national population growth is increased. The answer is simple, have we maintained 1970 figure, 9.35% and then by the year 2010, Sarawak should have a population of 2,577,404. There is a difference of 157,395 people. Where are they? They have sought a greener pasture outside Sarawak.
I was being conservative when I said that “close to 100,000” “Dayaks and anak anak Sarawak” have left a greener pasture outside Sarawak.
http://holeng.dapsarawak.com/?p=1733#more-1733
The State Government spoke highly of SCORE and almost everybody in Barisan Nasional spoke about that. It looks as if the success or failure of Sarawak lays entirely on SCORE.
But the people are leaving Sarawak. Why? The answer is simple. Jobs are scarce in Sarawak. There is poverty in all races, especially among the natives. Corruption prevails in Sarawak. The rich had become richer, and the poor had become poorer.
In November 2011, I said in this House, “Close to 100,000 natives and anak anak Sarawak left Sarawak because they lost faith in Sarawak, as they seek employment in Singapore, Johore and Klang Valley. If development distribution is equitable, the children of Sarawak will not have to leave their homeland. Many Sarawakians who have better brains also lose faith in the State. They have left to find greener pastures elsewhere.”
In his winding up speech, the Right Hounourable Chief Minister disagreed with my figure. He indicated that I should prove this statistics. Here I am, I am now going to prove it. Tuan Speaker, I am now going to prove it with the figures supplied to Members of Parliament in the answer on 16th March, 2011.
In 1970, Sarawak had a population of 976,269. That represents 9.35% of the nation’s population of 10,439,430. In 1980, 10 years later, Sarawak’s population was 1.2 million. That represents 9.16% of the nation’s population of 13.1 million. In 1991 Sarawak population was 1.6 million, representing 9.09% of the total population of 17.6 million. In 2000, Sarawak’s population of 2,012,616 was only 9.06% of the nation’s total of 22,202,614. In 2010, Sarawak has a population of 2,420,009. That represents a mere 8.78% of the nation’s total of 27,565,821.
The important question we must ask is this, why has the percentage of population growth in Sarawak reducing, decreasing all the time when the national population growth is increased. The answer is simple, have we maintained 1970 figure, 9.35% and then by the year 2010, Sarawak should have a population of 2,577,404. There is a difference of 157,395 people. Where are they? They have sought a greener pasture outside Sarawak.
I was being conservative when I said that “close to 100,000” “Dayaks and anak anak Sarawak” have left a greener pasture outside Sarawak.
http://holeng.dapsarawak.com/?p=1733#more-1733
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Untuk pilihan raya bebas, adil dan bersih
Untuk pilihan raya bebas, adil dan bersih
Komentar Roketkini
Keprihatinan Yang di-Pertuan Agong dalam perkembangan politik semasa amat penting bagi memastikan keadilan, keharmonian dan kestabilan negara.
Sebagaimana yang dititahkan oleh Seri Paduka berhubung cadangan perhimpunan aman Bersih 2.0 untuk menuntut pilihan raya bebas, adil dan bersih, ia memberi gambaran pandangan jauh dari kaca mata seorang Ketua Negara.
“Beta sedang mengikuti dengan teliti akan perkembangan cadangan Kumpulan Bersih untuk mengadakan perarakan dan perhimpunan beramai-ramai yang bertujuan untuk menyerahkan memorandum kepada Beta selaku Yang di-Pertuan Agong, dan bagaimana pihak kerajaan menangani isu ini khususnya agensi-agensi dan jabatan-jabatan yang terlibat,” titah Baginda dalam satu kenyataan.
Seri Paduka sedar hasrat hati rakyat yang mahu melihat negara ini mengamalkan pilihan raya yang bebas, adil dan bersih selaras dengan jaminan-jaminan dan peruntukan-peruntukan Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
Bersih 2.0 telah mengemukakan tuntutan:
1. Bersihkan senarai undi
- Senarai undi harus dibersihkan dengan segera untuk menyingkirkan ‘pengundi hantu’ seperti orang yang telah meninggal dunia.
- Pendaftaran pengundi automatik yang diselarikan dengan senarai Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara boleh menyelesaikan masalah pengundi hantu dalam jangka masa panjang.
2. Mereformasikan undi pos
- Semua pengundi seharusnya dibenarkan untuk mengundi melalui undi pos atau mengundi lebih awal sekiranya seseorang individu itu tidak dapat berada di kawasan pengundian semasa hari mengundi.
- Anggota polis dan tentera yang tidak bertugas harus mengundi seperti biasa pada hari mengundi.
- Undi pos mesti dijalankan dengan telus; ejen parti politik harus dibenarkan untuk memantau proses undi pos.
3. Gunakan dakwat kekal
- Penggunaan dakwat kekal boleh mengelakkan seseorang (atau pengundi hantu) daripada mengundi beberapa kali.
4. Masa kempen minimum 21 hari
- Masa yang lebih panjang diperlukan untuk calon menyebarkan maklumat, terutamanya di kawasan luar bandar dan pedalaman. Contohnya, pilihan raya negeri Sarawak baru-baru ini diberi masa kempen 10 hari sahaja.
- Pada 1955, ketika era pemerintahan penjajah, pilihan raya mempunyai masa kempen sepanjang 42 hari manakala semasa Pilihanraya Umum ke-12 pada 2008, masa kempen 8 hari sahaja.
5. Akses media yang bebas dan adil
- RTM dan Bernama adalah agensi media yang dibiayai oleh kerajaan dengan wang rakyat. Mereka sepatutnya memberi liputan yang seimbang dan adil untuk semua parti yang bertanding.
- Parti politik harus dibenarkan untuk membuat pengiklanan tanpa sebarang diskriminasi dan penapisan.
- Semua media perlu memberikan hak untuk semua parti membalas kepada tuduhan-tuduhan negatif terhadap mereka.
6. Kukuhkan institusi awam
- Institusi awam dan kakitangan kerajaan harus tidak berat sebelah dan menegakkan undang-undang dan demokrasi. Institusi awam harus direformasikan supaya bertindak secara bebas, menegakkan undang-undang dan melindungi hak asasi manusia.
Contohnya:
- Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) hendaklah memastikan pilihanraya yang bebas dan adil;
- Badan Kehakiman harus memelihara kebebasannya dan menegakkan kedaulatan undang-undang tanpa gentar atau memihak;
- Peguam Negara perlu bertindak secara tidak berat sebelah dan mengutamakan kepentingan rakyat;
- Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) harus bertindak dengan adil dan menghentikan pendakwaan selektif dan penyalahgunaan kuasa;
- Polis Diraja Malaysia perlu bertindak secara profesional dalam melaksanakan tugas dan menegakkan kedaulatan undang-undang.
- Rasuah adalah kegiatan mencuri dari rakyat untuk kepentingan peribadi. Rasuah menyebabkan orang kaya bertambah kaya dan golongan miskin semakin miskin. Pembelian undi harus dihentikan. Akta Kesalahan Pilihanraya 1954 mesti dikuatkuasakan secara adil dan saksama.
8. Hentikan politik kotor
- Semua parti politik mesti menghentikan politik kotor.
Siapa timbulkan kekacauan?
Menyedari hal ini, Yang di-Pertuang Agong menyeru semua pihak supaya menyuburkan demokrasi dalam negara dengan memastikan bahawa tuntutan demokrasi itu tidak akan membawa kemusnahan kepada negara.
Sememangnya Baginda sedar bagaimana tunjuk perasaan yang ganas di negara-negara luar telah menimbulkan pelbagai masalah dalam sesebuah negara itu sehingga kestabilan tergugat.
Di Malaysia pula, rakyat mahu mengadakan perhimpunan secara aman, sebaliknya kerajaan Barisan Nasional khususnya UMNO dan lidah rasminya Utusan Malaysia telah menimbulkan pelbagai kekacauan untuk membangkitkan keadaan huru-hara di negara ini.
Dengan menyekat hak dan menangkap rakyat semata-mata kerana memakai t-shirt kuning, tindakan kerajaan BN telah menampakkan betapa bencinya mereka kepada kebebasan dan hak asasi rakyat mengikut lunas-lunas Perlembagaan.
Dengan itu, Seri Paduka telah menyeru kepada pihak kerajaan agar melaksanakan segala amanah yang diberikan kepada rakyat secara adil dan bijaksana.
“Yang pentingnya Beta selaku Yang di-Pertuan Agong tidak mahu melihat dalam negara bermasyarakat majmuk ini berada di dalam keadaan bermusuhan sesama sendiri atau pun sebahagian rakyatnya bermusuh dengan kerajaan atas apa jua alasan pun,” titah Baginda.
Seri Paduka mengemukakan jalan keluar kepada permasalahan yang ditumbulkan oleh kerajaan BN, iaitu dengan pihak kerajaan mengadakan rundingan bersama penganjur-penganjur Bersih 2.0.
Najib perlu hentikan tindakan zalim
Sehubungan dengan itu, Datuk Seri Najib perlu menghentikan tindakan-tindakan ganas dan tidak bertamadun yang telah memburukkan imej negara di mata dunia kerana telah membiarkan demonstrasi liar anti-Bersih yang diadakan oleh penyokong-penyokong UMNO dan Perkasa, serta tangkapan-tangkapan terhadap sesiapa yang memakai baju kuning.
“Hakikatnya, demonstrasi jalanan banyak membawa keburukan daripada kebaikan walaupun niat asalnya baik,” titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Memang demonstrasi jalanan yang ganas seperti yang dilakukan oleh penyokong UMNO dan Perkasa di Pulau Pinang pada Jumaat lalu mebawa keburukan.
Apa yang Bersih 2.0 mahu adalah perhimpunan secara aman, selaras dengan semangat Allahyarham Dato’ Onn menganjurkan perhimpunan aman menentang Malayan Union kira-kira 65 tahun lalu.
“Sebaliknya, kita harus menumpukan kepada matlamat utama memajukan negara, bukannya mencipta masalah yang membuat negara berada terkebelakang. Ingatlah bumi mana yang tidak ditimpa hujan, lautan mana yang tidak bergelora.
“Itulah pentingnya sifat kesederhanan dan tolak ansur yang telah begitu lama diamalkan oleh warisan pentadbiran negara,” titah Seri Paduka lagi.
Sememangnya rakyat prihatin akur dengan titah Agong dan mahu menyelesaikan masalah melalui rundingan.
Tetapi selama ini perbincangan, sama ada dengan SPR atau mana-mana pihak kerajaan, untuk mengadakan pilihan raya bebas, adil dan bersih seperti “mencurah air di daun keladi”.
Isu yang berbangkit hari ini bukan sekadar perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 yang dijadualkan pada 9 Julai ini. Perhimpunan aman itu hanya bertujuan menyampaikan niat dan hasrat rakyat.
Niat dan hasrat itu ialah supaya kerajaan yang dipilih oleh rakyat menghormati pandangan rakyat yang mahu amalan pilihan raya di Malaysia diadakan secara bebas, adil dan bersih. Ia boleh bermula dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13 yang akan datang.
Hak berhimpun secara aman dijamin Perlembagaan
Rundingan tidak pula bererti menggadaikan hak-hak semua pihak yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Perhimpunan aman Bersih 2.0 masih boleh diadakan selagi ia mematuhi peraturan-peraturan yang ditetapkan oleh Perlembagaan.
Najib sendiri telah menjayakan Perhimpunan Sejuta Belia di Putrajaya baru-baru ini yang dihadiri oleh beberapa puluh ribu rakyat dalam keadaan aman tanpa sebarang kejadian tidak diingini.
Pihak berkuasa tidak boleh sewenang-wenangnya terlebih menggunakan kuasa kerana pangkat dan kuasa mereka adalah amanah rakyat.Yang penting, perhimpunan aman mesti kekal sebagai perhimpunan aman.
Jika rundingan dapat memastikan pilihan raya akan datang dilaksanakan secara bebas, adil dan saksama, maka ia adalah harapan semua rakyat prihatin.
Kerajaan BN yang ditunjangi UMNO perlu akur dengan titah Agong supaya tidak “mencipta masalah yang membuat negara berada terkebelakang” sebaliknya berbuat kebaikan untuk memastikan harapan Najib untuk “mendahulukan rakyat, mengutamakan pencapaian” berjaya.
Dengan menangkap rakyat yang tidak bersalah dan mengugut serta mengancam rakyat yang mahu kepada piliahn raya yang adil dan bersih tidak akan menyelesaikan sebarang masalah.
Akur lah dengan titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong; bebaskan mereka yang telah ditahan dan gugurkan tuduhan-tuduhan terhadap mereka.
Runding lah dengan cara yang terhormat dan bertamadun. Cari jalan untuk tunaikan lapan tuntutan Bersih 2.0 yang bakal menjamin kebersihan, keadilan dan kesaksamaan dalam proses pilihan raya di Malaysia.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS POINT TO A MELTDOWN OF NAJIB’S ECONOMIC POLICIES
ECONOMIC INDICATORS POINT TO A
MELTDOWN OF NAJIB’S ECONOMIC POLICIES
In particular, the downgrading of economic growth forecast recently announced by local research houses and analysts may spell an early doom to the grand economic master plan and targets unveiled by Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak’s administration through the Economic Transformation Programmes (ETP), the 10th Malaysian Plan and the New Economic Model.
If Malaysia’s economic growth continues to slide as expected, the ETP would have failed even before it takes off because the ambitious plan requires a steady 6% growth annually to reach the GNI per capita target of USD15,000 (or RM48,000) by 2020. A less than 5% growth for 2011 means ETP has failed to excite the market at the time when the full government focus, resources and machineries were directed to promote it; let alone when all the euphoria wears off 2-3 years down the line.
The impact of the economic uncertainties in the USA and Euro-zone countries may add severity to the Malaysian economic prospect; especially when the debt crisis in Euro-zone will begin to pull the third (Italy), second (France) and largest (Germany) economies in Europe into the economic mess. Should the current trend in the Euro-zone continue, there is a possibility that there will be further downgrades of economic growth in the near future.
Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak’s administration has also failed to meet its own private investment growth target that is a centre-piece of his strategy to rejuvenate growth in Malaysia. PEMANDU/ETP has boldly claimed that 92% of the hundreds of billions worth of investments will be funded by the private sector to reverse a decade’s worth of dependent on pump priming using public coffers.
Unfortunately, the source of funding of flagship ETP projects is still shrouded in mystery. Of the top 10 ETP projects announced (or expected to take off) in between October 2010 and June 2011, 77% of these projects will be carried out by GLCs.
The following analysis of the top 10 ETP projects will heighten the sense of economic dejavu as essentially the present administration still employs the same approach of pump priming using public money – though it is now being channelled through the GLCs:
|
FLAGSHIP ETP PROJECT
|
INVESTMENT ANNOUNCED
(RM BILLIONS)
|
GLC/NON-GLC
|
|
Refinery and
Petrochemicals Integrated Development (RAPID)
|
60.0
|
GLC (PETRONAS)
|
|
MRT (investment without
rolling stocks and land acquisition)
|
36.6
|
GLC
(special purpose
vehicle set up)
|
|
Oil and gas development at
Tapis field (enhanced oil recovery) and Teluk field development (due to
start in 2013)
|
10.0
|
GLC
(PETRONAS &
ExxonMobil, reinvestment of profits from hydrocarbon resources)
|
|
Development of Karambunai
Integrated Resort City
|
9.6
|
Non-GLC
|
|
Small Retailer
Transformation Program (TUKAR) to modernise sundry shops
|
5.43
|
Unknown
|
|
Shell Malaysia’s expansion
program (upgrade of refinery/new builts including Shell Middle
Distillates, Port Dickson complex and Gumusut deepwater development)
|
5.1
|
GLC
(PETRONAS & Shell,
reinvestment of profits from hydrocarbon resources)
|
|
Development of deepwater
petroleum terminal in Johor
|
5.1
|
Dialog Group
(private group with
large shareholding by GLICs)
|
|
3 new power plants, 2
hydro power plants, 1 coal plant and investment in transmission
infrastructure
|
4.0
|
GLC
(TNB)
|
|
Development of Tanjong
Agas Oil & Agas and Logistic Industrial Park in Pekan, Pahang
|
3.0
|
GLC
(under East Coast
Economic Region)
|
|
Development of MINES
Wellness City
|
3.0
|
Non-GLC
|
The total investments announced for the top 10 ETP projects are RM142 billion that makes 82% of the total ETP projects announced so far (total investments of RM173 billion). The fact that 77% of the top 10 ETP projects will be carried out by GLCs or firms with large GLIC shareholdings is a proof that the 92% private investment target set out in ETP is nothing more than a public relations number with no indication that it will ever be achieved.
The 3 national economic indicators – the turmoil at Bursa Kuala Lumpur, the growth forecast that looks dimmer as we move closer to the end of the year and the failure of ETP flagship projects to hit the private investment target set out by Dato’ Seri Najib – point to a meltdown of his administration’s economic policies and initiatives.
Malaysia’s economic predicament is the complete opposite of the tremendous growth enjoyed by Indonesia. Indonesian economy continues to register a 6.5% growth in the last quarter and expected to grow further at 7% next year. While Malaysia’s inflation hit a two-year high in the last quarter, Indonesia’s inflation recorded a 14-month low for the same period. Stagnated wages that grow only at a snail pace of 2.6% over the last decade for Malaysian workforce is contrasted by the double digit annual rise in wages in Indonesia since 2006.
Clearly there is a fundamental difference between Malaysian and Indonesian economies that leads to this divergence.
While Indonesia embraced political, economic and social reforms since 1998, the Barisan Nasional government balked at any attempt to spearhead political and social reforms at the detriment of the economy. Therefore, it is a matter of time before the rakyat subscribes to Pakatan Rakyat’s principle that there cannot be an economic reform without a commitment for political reforms.
RAFIZI RAMLI
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIES
10 AUGUST 2011
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