BN man wants EIA study on BaKelalan road

FMT Staff

Some 2,000 villages in Ba Kelalan are worried about the impact a RM42 million road project will have on their lives.

Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) secretary-general Nelson Balang Rining has broken ranks and, together with opposition assemblyman Baru Bian, is demanding that the state government conduct an “immediate” Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study on the RM42 million Ba Kelalan-Bario road project.

Some 2,000 villagers from six highland villages appear to be stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, to quote an old English adage.

Police Claim Humanitarian Aid For Murum Is “Incitement” As Fears Grow Of Crackdown

Sarawak Report

The Penan are holding out on their blockade into its 4th week. They need food.

Police numbers are being increased around the Penan blockade at the Murum Dam. Yesterday, they announced that they had detained an NGO sympathiser, who was bringing food and declared that this humanitarian act was ‘incitement’.

“It is not wrong if he had sent the items to the Penans at their longhouse”, stated the local police commander.  This was possibly in recognition that the Penan have received no government support since their hunting grounds were logged in preparation for the dam and that half of their children are officiallymalnourished.

BMF wants Norway to probe SEB chief Sjotveit

FMT Staff

Will the Norwegian authorities investigate its citizen Torstein Sjotveit, the CEO of Sarawak Energy Berhad, for corruption in Sarawak?

An international NGO has brought controversy-ridden Sarawak Energy Berhad chief executive officer Torstein Dale Sjotveit to the attention of the Norway government.

Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund has asked Norway’s National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (ØKOKRIM), if it can investigate Norwegian Sjotveit following a corruption complaint lodged against him by the Penans in Sarawak.

Don’t arrest Penans, assemblyman warns police

Joseph Tawie

The Penans are peaceful people and if there is any riot, it would be as a result of provocation, says senior lawyer Baru Bian.

Increasing the number of police personnel in Murum Dam where the Penans have been relentlessly mounting blockades to demand that the state government and Sarawak Energy Berhad respect their rights and demands, smells of provocation, according to local lawyer Baru Bian.

Bian, who is also Sarawak’s PKR chief, was concerned with reports that the police will be sending reinforcements to the Murum dam construction site.

Battle of airwaves in Sarawak

-Bernama

Radio Free Sarawak is taking on BN’s massive artilleries of RTM, TV3 and Astro NJOY in the fight for the hearts and minds of the rural people.

Most evening before 6pm housewife Indai Limau makes sure that dinner is cooked and laid on the table for her husband and their two children. The less urgent chores will have to wait.

Precisely at 6pm and after her bath, she retires to her favourite settee in the family living room, reaches out for her China-made transistor radio and tunes in to 15420 KHz channel on the short wave band.

NGO: Help us stop mega dams in Sarawak

Joseph Tawie

It’s time Peninsular Malaysians know what’s happening in their backyard, says Sarawak NGO Save Rivers.

A coalition of NGOs in Sarawak is seeking to reach out to fellow Malaysians in the peninsular to support a campaign against the injustices being meted out to the native communities affected by the construction of mega dams in Sarawak, and the ensuing destruction of the rainforest.

Save Rivers Network (Save Rivers) which kicked off its roadshow in Kuala Lumpur today is urging Peninsular Malaysians to rise and say ‘NO’ to mega dams and polluting industries in Sarawak.

Sarawak builds RM20mil bridge to nowhere

Nigel Aw

The Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) had proposed the construction of the RM20.43 million Batang Strap Bridge in Sri Aman Sarawak, forgetting a link road to nearby villages, according to the Auditor-General Report 2011.

The result – a 182.4 metre concrete bridge that connects the nearby town Pekan Pantu to shrubs on the other side of the river.

“An audit survey on Dec 17, 2011 of the project site at Pantu, Sri Aman found that the concrete bridge project worth RM20.43 million could not fully stimulate the local economy after completion as the 10km road across the river to link the long houses and schools there had not been built,” the report reads.

From the ‘Borneo Agenda’ to a ‘People’s Agenda’

Aliran

Faisal S Hazis says that the people of Sabah and Sarawak need a government that puts people at the forefront of its development struggle instead of championing a so-called ‘Borneo Agenda’ that does little to analyse and reform unjust power structures.

In December 2011, Sabah maverick politician Jeffrey Kitingan declared the formation of the United Borneo Alliance (UBA), a coalition of local opposition parties and NGOs that aimed to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s 1963 status within the federation.

TAIB SHOCKER! Leaked plans to resettle Penan surface as blockade continues 12 October 2012

Survival International

The Penan’s blockade of the Murum dam road began on 26th September.

Leaked plans to resettle Malaysia’s Penan have surfaced, as the tribe continues to hold atwo-week blockade on the road leading to the controversial Murum dam.

Anger is growing within the tribe, which says it has been ‘manipulated’ and ‘cheated’ by the Sarawak government as it makes way for the dam.

The Murum Penan say they have been kept in ‘complete darkness’ about the resettlement plans, despite the dam’s construction starting four years ago, and only months remain until their ancestral lands will be entirely flooded.

Sarawak PKR: Unfriendly policies don’t help Murum Penan

Dukau Papau

The problems of Penans affected by construction of the Murum dam will not be resolved as long as state government policies remain unfriendly to them, said Sarawak PKR head Baru Bain.

He said that creating a special ministry to look into the Penans’ problems and demands is of secondary importance.

“You can have a few ministers to look after their problems. But if the ministers are ineffective, there would be no point,” he said.

Bian, a lawyer and the Ba’Kelalan assemblyperson, was commenting on the failure of negotiations between Penan representatives and the state government on pre-conditions for construction of the dam.

Migrants, church may end BN’s Borneo vote bank

Reuters

Sabah Christians walk during a procession ahead of Sunday Mass to celebrate Malaysia Day in Tambunan on September 16, 2012. With a general election due within seven months, the ruling BN is banking on Sabah and Sarawak state to prolong its 55-year grip on power. 

Housewife Fawziah Abdul wants to thank former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for making her a citizen 10 years after she illegally slipped into Borneo from the southern Philippines in search of a better life.

The 50-year-old lives on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, where her tin-roofed shack jostles for space with more than 1,000 others in a slum where children play beside heaps of rubbish.

‘Govt killing off local shops in Sabah, Sarawak’

Anisah Shukry

Why is the government helping Mydin make an ‘astronomical profit’ by channeling RM386 million to 57 KR1M stores for Sabah and Sarawak?

The allocation in Budget 2013 for 57 Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia (KR1M) to sell basic goods at a lower price in Sabah and Sarawak will kill off local competitors, said DAP today.

When tabling the budget on Friday, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said: “The government will allocate RM386 million to ensure the prices of essential goods in Sabah and Sarawak as well as in Labuan are sold at lower prices through the opening of 57 KR1M stores.”

A sweet Budget now means bitterness later

Lim Sue Goan

How should the Budget 2013 remain people-friendly while reducing the deficit and leading the government financial condition towards stability? It is indeed a dilemma.

I believe that the Budget 2013 would be more inclined to create a general election atmosphere. It is going to be a painless Budget, and even alcohol and tobacco tax might not be increased, particularly as the Budget is tabled after the Pakatan Rakyat revealed its alternative budget.

The alternative budget is so near to perfection, including providing free education to all, raising the minimum wage to RM1,100 per month, reducing the excise duty by 20 per cent, increasing welfare payment to RM550, allocating 20 per cent of oil royalty to oil producing states, implementing the Caruman Wanita Nasional that matches the husband’s saving for a homemaker with a flat-rate of RM600, distributing a one-off assistance of RM500 to small holders involved in agricultural and rural-based economic activities, increasing police personnel’s salary by 15 per cent and constructing the Pan-Borneo Highway.

Immediate response by See Chee How on the National Budget 2013

See Chee How

With the increase of Federal govt debts of 4% (43b), the debt is raised to new height of RM502.4b! This is 53.7% of our GDP. We are on the blink of bankruptcy as a country with debts amounting to 55% of the GDP is a bankrupt state. With PM known to make supplementary borrowing, it is expected that he will resort to more borrowings to finance election goodies if GE13 is held next year and bankrupt the country!

Nothing in the BN budget to rival the Pakatan Rakyat’s “Oil Justice” of which Sarawak will benefit directly. In the PR’s budget, Sarawak will be granted petroleum royalty of 20% as compare to the present 5%. Further, the PR is also committed to help establish state-owned second-tier oil and gas companies for Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Kelantan, through “risk sharing contracts” (RSC). Nothing in the BN’s budget. We are to settle for a part of the 400,000 water tanks costing RM100 million, to harvest rainwater but alas! RM2,500 per water tank, which is unbelievable.

Najib Budget 2013 – salient points

Mkini

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is reading his fourth budget speech which is aimed at shoring up support before the 13th general election and rein in the deficit.”Since the last 55 years, Malaysians have placed their trust in the same government at every stage of the nation’s development. We thank you for your trust. We have never betrayed the people. Instead, we have repaid the trust given to us manifold,” said Najib.

“This government has never promised the moon, the stars or the galaxy. We have never painted a pretty picture based on wishful thinking. As a responsible government, we continue to speak the truth even though it may be unpleasant.”We have never misled to the rakyat with tall tales. On the other hand, we have always offered solutions and provided good leadership to every problem faced by the rakyat.

Pakatan’s new deal for Sabah, Sarawak

Lim Kit Siang

The Pakatan 2013 Budget is also a pledge for a New Deal for Sabah and Sarawak, comprising five elements.

The Pakatan Rakyat’s 2013 Budget recognises and addresses the three “Cs” of corruption, crime and competitiveness – the trio of problems which are the bane of the Malaysian economy.

If unresolved, will condemn the country to  mediocrity and even towards the direction of  a failed state.

The Pakatan 2013 Budget is also a pledge for a New Deal for Sabah and Sarawak, comprising five elements:

Hydro Tasmania Washes its Hands of Human Rights Violations in Malaysia

Kirk Herbertson

Dateline interview with Sarawak man displaced by the Bakun Dam

One month ago, Australian broadcaster SBS aired an investigative story on its Dateline television program called “The Last Frontier” about 12 controversial dams being built in the jungles of Sarawak, Malaysia on the island of Borneo.  It was one of the first times that a major international news network raised attention toongoing human rights violations in Sarawak that have gone largely unnoticed outside Malaysia. If you visit the SBS website, however, you will notice a large warning sign beneath the video that says:

SBS’ apology was the result of intense lobbying by Hydro Tasmania, an Australian company that is helping the Sarawak government to build the dams. What happened?

“The Taib Assets” ! Reply By Swiss Federal Council Raises Questions Over Taib Denials

Sarawak Report

Carlo Somarruga – The Swiss MP has been flushing out details on Malaysian PEPs’ interests in Switzerland

Taib Mahmud has kept largely silent over the growing uproar about his vast illegal wealth.

However, last year he broke this silence by declaring in the Dun Assembly itself that the news that the Swiss President had agreed to start a formal investigation into his possible assets in Switzerland was a malicious lie:

“Let me state categorically that I have no secret Swiss bank account, nor assets or investments of any description. None whatsoever”.[Taib 22nd June 2011]

SPDP’s Mawan battles for his political life

Dukau Papau

Social Development Minister William Mawan Ikom, who is also Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president, is in the biggest ‘dilemma’ of his political life, after Meluan assemblyperson Wong Judat and his followers abandoned the party in early September this year.

Judat and his group’s departure was the third stage of mass resignations.

The first was when its secretary-general Sylvester Entri, who is the Marudi assemblyperson was sacked from the party in October last year for gross indiscipline. Several hundreds of Entri’s supporters in Marudi also subsquently resigned.

And the third stage was when three other assemblypersons namely Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau) and their supporter left the party one month later as a result of Entri’s expulsion.

‘Time to teach BN a lesson in Sabah’

Joseph Bingkasan

SAPP wants the people of Sabah to rise up against BN and Umno to demand the reinstatement of the original terms of the Malaysia Agreement.

Frustrated with the current scenario, the Sabah-based political party led by former chief minister Yong Teck Lee wants to reinstate the original terms of the 20-point Malaysia Agreement inked in 1963.

The party argued that the people of Sabah had lost their political autonomy through the presence of centralised Kuala Lumpur-based parties, in particular Barisan Nasional/Umno and now Pakatan Rakyat.

BARU BIAN: MALAYSIA DAY SPEECH

Baru Bian

I have the greatest honour, privilege and pleasure to welcome you all to Kuching on this auspicious day to witness a pivotal event. Today is a day which will earn its place in Malaysian history as THE day when the people took the first steps in reclaiming the power to chart the course of their destiny.  We have waited many years for this day and I thank you all for being here with us to witness history in the making.

My friends and countrymen, on this momentous day 49 years ago, the countries of Sarawak and North Borneo came together with Singapore and Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia, firm in the belief that this federation would be a real partnership of four countries striving together for their mutual security, development and prosperity.

On Malaysia Day, BN and Pakatan jostle for East Malaysia

Malaysiakini

Amidst a heavy downpour, Pakatan Rakyat today launched its seven-point pledge to the voters of Sabah and Sarawak, promising to honour the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 and improving their quality of life.

The pledge was signed by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang at the Chong Ling Park, Kuching this evening.

Dubbed the Kuching Declaration, the seven-point declaration marked Pakatan’s promise should it take hold of Putrajaya to undertake the following:

THE KUCHING DECLARATION

THE KUCHING DECLARATION

LEST WE FORGET, AND LEST ALL THE PEOPLES OF OUR GREAT NATION OF MALAYSIA FORGET, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, DO ONCE AGAIN FIRMLY, RESOLUTELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY PLEDGE AND PROMISE BEFORE THE WHOLE NATION OF MALAYSIA AS OUR WITNESSES, ON THIS HISTORIC DAY THE 16TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2012, IN THE CITY OF KUCHING, AND ON BEHALF OF OUR RESPECTIVE PARTIES AND PAKATAN RAKYAT AS A WHOLE, THAT WHEN WE FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA, PAKATAN RAKYAT WILL HONOUR ALL ITS PLEDGES AND PROMISES TO THE PEOPLES OF MALAYSIA.

WE WILL HONOURABLY EXECUTE ALL THE POLICIES SET FORTH IN THE BUKU JINGGA SO THAT MALAYSIA WILL ONCE AGAIN BE A GREAT NATION, HER PEOPLES PROSPEROUS, HER FUTURE SECURE AND PEACEFUL, AND HER NAME CELEBRATED BY ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD.
WE WILL HONOUR THE SPIRIT OF THE MALAYSIA AGREEMENT OF 1963 WHICH OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PUT THEIR HANDS TO, AND AS A SIGN OF OUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLES OF SARAWAK AND SABAH, CONSISTENT WITH DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND JUSTICE FOR ALL MALAYSIANS, IN PARTICULAR:

Happy Malaysia day 2012

When will Sabah and Sarawak become Malaysia’s real king makers?

Sim Kwang Yang

Tomorrow is Malaysia Day, 16 of September, on this day Malaysian commemorating the 49 anniversary of Sarawak and Sabah independence through forming Malaysia with Singapore and the Malayan Federation.

There are more people nowadays talking about the meaning of this date.  And also about the 20 point agreement signed in a joint memorandum 49 years ago.

We all know that Sarawak and Sabah have had a raw deal from 49 years of Malaysian independence.  The thing to think about is how to reverse this trend.

Malaysia Day: Let the truth prevail

FMT Staff

Former Sabah state secretary Simon Sipaun believes that that the ‘cock-and-bull’ history spouted by peninsular historians is destroying national unity.

The charged debate over the re-interpretation of Malaysia’s history to reflect the peninsula’s dominance over the Sabahand Sarawak continues to ruffle the sensitivities of many who believe the two states are being given short shrift and robbed of their dignity.

Democracy Sabah or Desah, a Sabah-based NGO, said today that “people deserve to be told the truth” of how the facts have been distorted to dilute the role of the two former British colonies in the formation of Malaysia.

Vile attack on Sarawakians, Christianity

K Pragalath and Joseph Tawie

Sarawak Pakatan reps want the police and government to ‘immediately’ investigate slanderous attacks on Facebook against Sarawakians. The Facebook page was removed today.

The vilification of East Malaysians seems to be taking a turn for the worse with the latest foul rantings on Facebook site ‘Semenanjung Anti-Sarawak’.

The page which started two years had its first posting on May 21, barely a month after the massive Bersih 3.0 gathering calling for free and fair elections in Kuala Lumpur which saw some 300 Sarawakians taking part. However the Facebook page was removed earlier today.

All posting which were in Malay, spewed derogatory remarks about Sarawakians in general and those who lived in the peninsula.

Bian hits out at Dr M over ‘be patient’ remark

Joseph Tawie

The former premier had reportedly said that the people of Sabah and Sarawak be patient for the implementation of development in their states.

The blatant statement by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad asking the people of Sarawak and Sabah to be patient for the implementation of development perfectly demonstrates to the people in the Borneo states what the Barisan Nasional government thinks of us, said Baru Bian, chairman of Sarawak PKR.

“We are regarded as the ignorant and unquestioning fixed deposit states that are in this country to be milked dry to fund the excessive spending crazes in Peninsular Malaysia.

Native revolts: Sarawak Land & Survey Dept blamed

Joseph Tawie

The state Land and Survey Department’s poor enforcement of the conditions listed in the PLs is the main reason why natives are suing the government.

Sarawak Land and Survey Department which issues provisional leases (PLs) over hundreds of thousand of hectares of native customary rights (NCR) land to oil palm companies is being blamed for the troubles and hardship suffered by native landowners.

A former district officer Edward Luak, said the department’s failure in enforcing the terms of PLs has made people angry.

Luak said that when the department issued the PLs there are three conditions attached to it.

‘Confused’ Sarawakians cool to Merdeka Day

Joseph Tawie

Perhaps there’s just no reason to rejoice when you still have no clean water and electricity decades after independence

Sarawakians apparently are more inclined towards celebrating Malaysia Day on Sept 16 than Merdeka Day tomorrow. This is evident in the city and Sibu where this year’s Merdeka celebrations are centred.

The only Jalur Gemilang flags you see are on government buildings and big companies. Unlike in past years, fewer flags are jutting out of shops and donning cars and motorcycles here.

Will SNAP ‘succeed’ SPDP in BN?

Joseph Tawie

Sarawak National Party has written to BN chairman Najib Tun Razak to enquire about its membership.

If Sarawak National Party (SNAP) leaders chose to return the party to the Barisan Nasional fold, then it must be prepared to face the wrath of its Central Executive Committee (CEC) who have threatened to resign enmass in protest.

A senior SNAP leader, who delined to be named, told FMT that if SNAP president Stanley Jugol went ahead with his plans, then there will be ‘war’ within the party.

Merdeka ‘no relevance’ to Sabah, Sarawak

Michael Kaung

The true ‘National Day is Sept 16, according to Sabah opposition STAR as that was when Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya committed themselves to a ‘common identity.

The federal government should stop duping Sabah and Sarawak into celebrating Merdeka Day when the 55th anniversary had “no relevance” to the two states, STAR Sabah chairman Jeffrey Kitingan said.

“How can these leaders continue to twist history to suit their political interests without considering our feelings and the truth?

Pandelela urged not to accept Sarawak CM’s gift

BMF – MalaysiaKini

Swiss Human Rights group Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) has urged Sarawakian Olympic medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg not to accept any rewards from Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, citing concerns of “political manipulation”.

“We call on Pandelela not to let herself be politically manipulated and advise her to politely turn down Taib’s ‘special gift’,” read BMF’s statement yesterday.

The chief minister had reportedly promised a gift shortly after she had won the bronze medal at the Women’s 10-metre diving event on Aug 10, making her the first Malaysian female Olympic medallist.

Education in Sarawak: An Outsider Looking In (or Why I Quit My Job)

Stupid Me! 

It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education – Albert Einstein

It’s the superficial differences you notice first, of course. Sarawakian schools are better landscaped; British schools are better resourced. British schools have a greater sense of structure; Sarawakian schools have a greater sense of community.

There are superficial similarities, too – it seems that teachers all over the world have parallel concerns about government interference and volumes of paperwork. But after 18 months mentoring English teachers here in Sarawak under the new KSSR curriculum, I hope I’ve started to get (ever so) slightly under the skin of the primary education system here, and as an outsider looking in, this is what I’ve learnt about…

Policeman warns villagers: “I’ll arrest you all”

Pak Bui

A late night police raid on August 12 in Serian, Sarawak, against Iban villagers fighting oil palm companies over Native Customary Rights (NCR) to land, led to no charges being brought, let alone convictions.

But the arrests produced a comical standoff at the Serian police station, when five arrested Iban villagers were released on August 15.

Some 200 Iban men and women had converged peacefully on the Serian police station on Wednesday, when the remand order on the five men was due to expire.