Full recognition for Native Customary Land Rights now!

By See Chee How

Reported in a local Chinese daily today, a disgusted farmer from one of the Batang Ai resettlement schemes approached the reporters to complain that they people have been short charged and mistreated by the state government for the past 20 over years.

It is a slap on the face for Land Development Minister Dato Sri Dr James Masing who barely a few days ago refuted claims that the state government had ridden roughshod over the people in its programme to build hydroelectric dams (Claims people mistreated false: Masing http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=49313).

The farmer approached the reporters in Lubok Antu Bazaar yesterday and explained that when he was resettled in the scheme in 1982, he was promised 11 acres of farming land: 5 acres in oil palm plantation, 3 acres for planting rubber, 2 acres for rice and an acre for planting vegetables and fruit trees.

“Until today, no land was alienated to us for farming purposes. We have just been told that the state authority is contemplating paying us RM2,000 for each acre of the land promised earlier. But land in the vicinity is worth no less than RM13,000 per acre!”

The aged farmer declared his support for PKR, claiming that the opposition party is their hope to regain what they deserved from their native customary rights (NCR) land.

Shifting Blame – Afraid Jabu’s Fear

By John Riwang <johnriwang@hotmail.com>

There was a time late last year when The Borneo Post Online decided to be on hiatus. The message “Our website is currently being upgraded. We apologize for the inconvenience” became its standard headline for over a month.

Because of their downgraded professionalism that desperately needed to be upgraded, a penniless boy like me had to spend my precious RM1 to buy the ‘hard copy’ version of the Borneo Post. What a pity. ‘A pity’ not because I was not able to gain valuable information from the local paper – that’s because it doesn’t have any. Rather I was deprived of my daily doses of laughter from reading the foolish statements made by our politicians.

But worry no longer,

Money, money, money, Abba and Marx say it all

By Henry

On one occasion a friend of mine named Ted, delivered a speech and ended it with a punch line, “Money isn’t everything but without it you are almost next to nothing”. For the first time I realized the truth that was very much contrary to what my late father had always preached in his usual Sunday sermon.

I always thought even without money I am always somebody. Popular pop group, Abba, and the father of communism, Karl Marx, say it all about money that proves my friend’s punch line carries much truth.

Abba, in their song, and part of the lyrics, which I quote below that read:
I work all night,

So Najib is top dog, now what?

By Sim Kwang Yang/SKY

I did not join in the national excitement over the UMNO

 General Assembly.  I did not read anything on the subject.  I have given up watching Malaysian TV stations a long time ago. 

So Najib is now top dog in Malaysia.  So what can we expect from him?   

First of all, he will want to reshuffle the federal cabinet.  Ministers will come and go, according to their new positions in the UMNO Supreme Council.  Naturally, Najib will make sure his own men are firmly in place in the key ministries, like Home, Defence, Finance, and so on.  The mainstream media will tout it as a dream team.  Will Khairy get into the Cabinet as a full Minister?  

I am a member of the human race!

By Sim Kwang Yang/SKY

One of the most virulent toxins in Malaysian politics is racial and ethnic politics. Politicians and activists of various ethnic origins still dream about the unity of their race.

I can understand their aspiration for unity, though I disagree with them. They think that once their race is united, they will have greater political representation, and their race will enjoy greater socio-economic benefits.

But 46 years after independence, the facts speak for themselves in Sarawak. Despite the dominance of PBB in more than four decades within the Barisan Nasional, the ordinary Malays and the Melanaus in the coastal regions of our vast state are still dirt poor. Although the Dayaks are well represented in the ruling coalition by the four Dayak components, the Dayak people are still dirt poor, by and large. In sharp contrast, how many of these ethnic representatives in the state assembly and the state cabinet have not grown opulently fat?

Batang Ai … only NCR Land matters!

By See Chee How

What Sarawakians commonly hear from the state authorities:-

The indigenous land use is “unproductive”;

The indigenous attitudes are “a stumbling block to development”;

The indigenous people must be brought “into the mainstream of development”;

Only the BN government can give the indigenous peoples a better future …

What Sarawakians know:

The state authorities have been consistent in backing privileged few corporations, project developers and contractors to exploit the state’s natural resources, leaving in their trails the hallmarks of devastation of native customary land and properties, displacement of indigenous communities and destruction of indigenous culture.

Batang Ai is on every Sarawakian’s lip these days because this is the name of the state constituency, spells “Batang Air”, where a by-election is impending.

Batang Ai is also the name of the first hydro-electric power dam built in Sarawak.

The mother of all dams in Sarawak (the Chief Minister has confirmed that 12 new dams are to be added to this damned Malaysian state), was planned and approved in 1975. It was completed in 1985. 3,000 Iban from 26 longhouses located in the flooded and catchment area were moved to an 8,000-acres resettlement site below the dam.

An unqualified failure in resettlement

In the World Commission on Dams Resettlement of Indigenous Peoples – final Report 1999, this was said of Batang Ai:

Live reporting from Lubok Antu, Sarawak 29.03.2009

11.24 am LAST POSTING Hornbill Unleashed team leaves the nomination centre, will keep you updated with upcoming events.  Thank you

11.18 am It’s OFFICIAL! Straight fight for N29 Batang Air between No. 1 PKR Candidate Jawah gerang against No.2 BN Candidate Malcolm Mussen Lamoh.

11.12 am We are now waiting for the official announcement for the candidacy of N29 Batang Air By-election.

10.16 am Police confiscated more than 10 PAS flags giving explaination that PAS is not contesting in the by-election thus it should not appear in the nomination centre.

10.09 am Businessman and Blogger, Johnny Chuat appeal to all his supporters to give full support to PKR candidate, Jawah Gerang after withdrawal from nomination.

10.06 am BREAKING! Unofficial! N29 Batang Ai, Straight fight between BN candidate Malcolm Mussen Lamoh and PKR Candidate Jawah Gerang.  The independent candidate Johnny Chuat withdraws at the last moment

9.33 am It mighnt not be a stright fight because Johnny Chuat has just handed in the nomination forms!

9.20 am GENTLEMAN! Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim walked over to the BN camp and exchange greetings with Chief Minister of  Sarawak and all attending VVIPs

9.11 am BN arrival also acoompanied by Chief Minister of Sarawak Pehin Abdul Taib Mahmud,  George Chan, James Masing, Abang Johari and many more VVIPs

9.08 am BN Candidate Malcolm Mussen Lamoh arrives at the nomination centre with 100′s of supporters

8.59 am Jawah Gerang the candidate for PR is the first to enter the nomination centre.

.20 am A bus load of DAP members all carrying the rocket flags brave the jam and has made their way to the nomination centre.

8.02 am Businessman and blogger Johnny Chuat just entered the nomination centre. Is he SERIOUS?

7.30 am The BN supporters are smaller in number and the PR are certainly more vocal. Are more BN people coming? It is certainly very unlike BN

7.27 am Hey! BN supporters are in the compound. They are all quiet, no wonder we didn’t notice them…

7.24 am PR supporters led by Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim arrives at the nomination centre, the Dewan Sukan LA

7.15am PR members and supporters estimated to be a thousand now, are marching towards the nomination centre

6.54 am Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim having breakfast at Be Do Corner cafe with YB William Leong and others

6.49 am Cars with PKR and DAP flags are lining all the roads n lanes in Lubok Antu. A DAP truck is repeatedly blaring the song: Just Change! This is a PR Bazaar, for now!

6.44 am Lubok Antu is now packed with PR supporters. Every coffeeshop n hawker stall are filled with PKR n DAP Supporters

6.15 am Goooooooooooooooood Morning LA!

Live Broadcast Here!

N29 Batang Ai By-election

Nomination day live reporting from Lubok Antu, Sarawak (29.03.2009 from 6.00am)

Santa Claus is Good for You

By Pak Bui 

Old White Haired Santa Claus appears at the opening of a private hospital in Kuching. He calls for improved health care in Sarawak, particularly in the fields of cancer and kidney care. Applause all around!

The owners of the private hospital, UMNO cadres from Johor, fall over themselves to shake Old White Hair’s hands, almost in tears. The private hospital is declared open – open to all, it seems, or at least all those with a credit card and money to burn. The entire farce is reported on the front page of local papers.
 
Why focus on cancer and kidneys?

But why focus on cancer and kidney care?

Damn the Dams — They only make the First Family richer!!

By Apang

Batang Ai is more often than not associated with the hydro electric dam that supplies electricity to other places outside of Batang Ai, such as Kuching. The Sarawak Chief Minister of donkey number of years had just confirmed in public that there will be 12 more dams in Sarawak.

Same old developmental arguments are used. The dam projects will benefit the people of the area and of course of the state’s economy as well blah blah blah. Of course what is not mentioned in the public domain is the development of the personal wealth of family members and cronies.

The Stark reality in Batang Ai

In Batang Ai,

Termite infestation in Sarawak

Sim Kwang Yang (SKY)

This is the first official article of the new kid on the blog in Sarawak, the Hornbill Unleashed.  I really want to say something about the termite, but something else appropriate seems to be in order for this opening ceremony.

Why this particular bird?

The majestic Rhinoceros Hornbill with the proud crown is the State Bird of Sarawak; it is proudly installed on our State Crest.

It represents one of the most powerful gods among the Ibans, Singalang Burung, who plays a central role in Iban religious rituals and festivals such as the Gawai Kenyalang.  It is an important omen bird, sending signals from the gods of tidings to come to the Ibans.  It is also a symbol of courage and strength.

Our beloved state of Sarawak has also been known as the Land of the Hornbill (Tanah Kenyalang), in recognition of the importance of the Iban and other Dayak communities in Sarawak.

As far as this blog is concerned, the hornbill is the symbolic embodiment of our fair land of Sarawak and all her people, irrespective of race, religion, and creed.

The Hornbill is sick

Our Hornbill is sick

About Us

Truly and in the spirit of Sarawak, this is a communal blog. SKY, Chee How, Willie, Amin, Shani, Apang, Chendang, BB, Henry, Dr. X, John Riwang and the gang who are writing and contributing to this blog are of different ethnic origins and some even from mixed parents but all are one … Anak Sarawak Bangsa Malaysia

Others who share this fundamental conviction are welcome to join in and together, we shall play our little part to contribute towards uniting the people for peace, justice, equality under democratic principles.

We shall be guided by the following mission:

1. To return power to the people of Sarawak specifically and Malaysia ultimately;
2. To ensure Sarawak’s natural wealth are returned to Sarawakians of the present and the future;
3. Governments are ruled by people and based on the fundamental principles of peace, justice, demoracy and respect for human rights.

Come join us to realise these basics.