SEMINAR KESEDARAN HAK ORANG ASAP TERHADAP NCR-BAKUN

Projek Hidroelektrik Bakun (HEP) semakin hampir siap. Dan dijangka mulai Mei 2010, terowong empangan ini akan ditutup. Maka mulai lah Tanah NCR Rakyat Ulu Balui terjejas akan tenggelam.

Persoalan di sini adalah: adakah Tanah NCR turut "hilang" bersama naiknya kapasiti air yang akan menenggelamkan temuda-temuda.

Bagi saya ianya tidak hilang. Pampasan mungkin telah diberi. Tetapi sampai kini tiada pemberian pampasan menyeluruh diberi. Masih terdapat "JUTAAN" Ringgit pampasan Orang Asap masih belum dibayar.

Kenapa saya katakan NCR rakyat hulu HEP tidak hilang?Ini adalah kerana pampasan yang dibayar tidak menyeluruh. Lagipun orang Asap telah dipaksa untuk berpindah. Dan mereka terpaksa berpindah.

Datanglah beramai - ramai ke Seminar Hak NCR-Bakun seperti di atas. Saya akan jelaskan lebih lanjut hak Orang Asap bahkan Orang Belaga terhadap NCR dan Bakun.

Jumpa di sana!

ABUN SUI ANYIT

Stand Up for Justice

by William Leong Jee Keen, Member of Parliament for Selayang
[william leong]

On February 2, 2010, the battle for Malaysia moved into a decisive phase, the trial of Anwar Ibrahim. Although Anwar Ibrahim is in the dock, Malaysians are on trial. Malaysians are put to the test. Do Malaysians want Ketuanan Melayu or Ketuanan Rakyat? Are Malaysians prepared to pay the price for change? Are Malaysians prepared to fight for change? Malaysians have to decide whether to act or allow our institutions to be perverted for political ends. Malaysians have to decide whether they want democracy, equality and liberty enough to fight for them.

Malaysians are tested on their will to fight. Will we find the going too difficult? Will we find it easier, more convenient and expedient to accept rampant corruption, abuse of power and oppression? Anwar was fully aware after his release that they will lock him in again if he returns to fight. That is the price Anwar is prepared to pay. Anwar is prepared to fight. Anwar will never surrender The question is whether Malaysians are prepared to fight with him and never surrender?

Attempt to tar and tarnish Anwar
Anwar Ibrahim is in the dock for a second time because he wants to lead Malaysians out of the darkness of racial politics, religious intolerance and authoritarian arrogance. Anwar wants to lead us into the light of multiculturalism, mutual respect for religions and the rule of law.

Those in power are afraid of Anwar. They dare not face him one on one. They dare not face him and Pakatan Rakyat on a level playing field in open battle. They prefer to ambush him. They prefer to snipe at Pakatan from the cover of the bush.

They dare not face all Malaysians in open debate. They prefer closed door meetings. They are so afraid they are continuously adopting ever increasingly extreme positions on race, religion and royalty to hold on to power. They want to tar and tarnish Anwar Ibrahim as a traitor to his race and religion. They want to make sure he will not be able to lead and to open the minds of those who have been closed by half a century of propaganda and misinformation.

Race, Religion and Royalty
It is no coincidence that before the trial, Muslims and Non-Muslims have to deal with such sensitive issues as the use of “Allah”, the burning and attack on churches and other places of worship and when the desired response was not forthcoming, suraus have been attacked. Malaysians were put to the test. I am proud to say that Malaysians passed the test. They showed Malaysians have the wisdom and the tolerance not to be provoked by these trouble makers.

It is no coincidence that these mischievous troublemakers have been desecrating religious symbols after the 12th General Elections. They stomped on cow heads and now resort to throwing boar heads. Boar heads wrapped in newspapers and plastic tied with a string so that the person throwing will not have to touch it. I have never come across a Chinese who hold a pig with a string!

It is no coincidence the special assistant to the Prime Minister calls Indians beggars and Chinese women prostitutes. Last year one of their leaders called Malaysians of Chinese descent “Pendatang”. It was a seditious statement. He was suspended as an UMNO member but it was Teresa Kok and a Chinese newspaper reporter that were detained under the ISA.

It is no coincidence Kapal Singh is charged for sedition for insulting the King. It is no coincidence that Biro Tata Negara holds civics courses for civil servants that race and religion comes before the nation. It is no coincidence we hear the repeated cries that only UMNO can save the race and religion.

Those that have tasted power and money that comes with it will not give up easily. They will use all means fair or foul to stay in power. They have used the government agencies. They have used the institutions. They have used the institutions to grab Perak from its people’s government. They have used all in their power grab the Perak government from its people. They are using all within their power to destabilize Selangor. They are now using all their power to lock away Anwar.

Malaysians must fight back.
People want Change

All these happened because you want change. All these desperate acts are because you want fairness, you want justice, and you want the rule of law. Today we are tested again. We were tested 10 years ago. Too many of us then were afraid. Too many of us then knew it was wrong but we had property to look after, we had our business to think about, we had a wife and family. Let someone else protest. Let someone else demonstrate. We will cheer from the safety of our homes. We will stay on the sidelines out of harm’s way.

We failed. Ketuanan Melayu won. Ketuanan Mahathir won. Ketuanan wang won. The system was perverted so they could put Anwar away. Anwar was jailed for 6 years but they damaged our constitutional institutions and took away our fundamental rights in the process.

For some of those that stayed on the sidelines because they had property, the perverted system stole their property. The Federal Court decision of Adorna Properties vs Boonsom Boonyanit turned Malaysia into a thieves’ paradise.

For some of those that stayed out of harm’s way because they had a business, the perverted system robbed them of their business. The Federal Court decision of Insas Berhad vs Ayer Molek was so unjust the judge said that “ Something is rotten in the House of Denmark” [where the courts were located at that time].

The police and enforcement agencies instead of protecting us became a danger to us. Kugan went into a police station and was found dead. Teoh Beng Hock went to the MACC office and was found dead. Altantuya went into a police car and was found blown into bits by C4.

Malaysians did not go to jail with Anwar in 1998 but Malaysian paid the price for allowing the checks and balance to be dismantled. Malaysians allowed the institutions to be perverted. Malaysians allowed our agencies to be abused. Malaysians are paying for it.

Today the script is taken out a second time. Are we going to allow them to win a second time? Are we going to stay silent again? Are we going to let them take us down the road to perdition again?

Are we going to allow them to win a second time? Are we going to stay silent? Are we going to let them take us down the road to perdition again?

Or are we going to stand up? Are we going to shout in one voice and say Stop this nonsense! Are we going to say give Malaysia back to Malaysians! Give us back our pride and dignity. Stop taking us for fools.

The people have woken up that the people can make a difference. Each vote counts. Each vote can make or break us. But there are still those who have not woken up. They are still those who cannot see. They read Utusan Malaysia and The Star. There are still those who have not heard. They listen to RTM. There are still those who do not realize that UMNO and BN are taking Malaysia to the backwaters. They are frightened by the propaganda and the misinformation. This is why Dato Seri Anwar and KeADILan are important. Dato Seri Anwar can touch them. Dato Seri Anwar can touch their hearts and their minds. KeADILan can show Malaysians we can have a multiracial party, a multicultural party, a multicultural nation and together we can regain our place in the international arena. We can regain our pride and dignity.We can live in harmony and prosperity.


Frustration and Despair
On March 8, 2008, you voted for change. I know today you are frustrated, angry and in despair. The mainstream BN controlled media reports that the three parties in Pakatan Rakyat are bickering amongst themselves. Perak was lost because of three elected representatives jumped across. Zulkifli Nordin is running around and saying things that UMNO will say and not what Pakatan Rakyat MP will say. Zahrain Hashim, Tan Tee Beng and Wee Choo Keong are given wide media coverage for saying things are not all going well in Pakatan. What you ask is going on?

Firstly, if we believe in the freedom of expression, we must accept that just as some people will not like to hear what we have to say, we have to accept that these people will also have the right to say what we do not like to hear. Secondly, if we believe in the rule of law and the rules of natural justice, then we must apply the rule that no man is to be condemned unheard. The right to be heard is an important rule of procedure. If we believe in these principles then we must follow them. Party discipline will be instilled. Those who can explain and justify their actions will be excused those who cannot will be dealt with and punished in a manner that fits the severity of the offence. The party will cleanse the impurities and straighten the indiscipline.

Traitors
KeADILan representatives have been tested and are constantly being tested. Unfortunately, several have failed the tests. If you are angry and frustrated, I am angry and frustrated one hundred times more than you. The problem of traitors and treason has been with us since history began. We will never know what lurks in the hearts of men. Caesar found out too late and was assassinated by Brutus his closest friend. Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas, one of his own 12 handpicked apostles. France elected Marshall Petain to lead them in the World War II against Germany to see him surrender and hand over France to Hitler after only a few weeks. Americans appointed Benedict Arnold in their war of independence as its general only to see him cross over to the British.

However, I know that truth and right will always prevail and many more who answer the call and come forward. Marc Anthony came forward and saved the Romans from Brutus. The apostles spread the message of Jesus Christ after Judas. General Charles De Gaulle liberated the French from the Germans. George Washington won the war of independence for the Americans.

I take heart that there are many leaders in Pakatan Rakyat are loyal and honest. They seek to serve, to strive and not to yield. I know that many more of you will come forward and offer yourself to serve our cause.

Focus
You and I have started a journey on March 8. We are walking on a tight rope from the 12th General Elections to the 13th General Elections. We have to focus on the rope in front of us. BN is trying to shake us and throw us off balance. Some of those whom we trust have fallen and some others may fall in the days to come. You must know that in this walk you are not alone. They are many of us who will walk with you. We will walk with you and take you from the darkness in the valley of shadows to light at the mountain top. Nelson Mandela said it is a long walk to freedom. We must stay focus in this walk. We must keep our faith that take heart that right and truth always prevail. We must take heart that if we hold on together we will overcome. It always has and always will.

Free Anwar
We must focus on the threat before us. It is not Anwar that is on trial. We, Malaysians are on trial. The world is watching us. We, Malaysians must stay the course. We must continue our fight for truth and justice. Anwar is a victim of injustice. Malaysians are victims of injustice. The trial is not Anwar’s fight alone. It is not Keadilan’s fight alone . It is all Malaysians’ fight. It’s everyone’s fight. All of us who desire democracy, justice and liberty must stand up and with one voice call on Najib to release Anwar, to release Malaysia . We must stand up and be counted. We must stand up against corruption, abuse of power and oppression. We must not allow those who use racial disharmony, religious sensitivities and misguided nationalism to rob us. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. The price of justice is constant action. Justice and liberty must be fought and refought every day. We must be prepared to pay the price before we can begin to enjoy the blessings.

I am sure that if we stay focused, if we stay together we will prevail.

BAGAIMANA TAIB TERSELAMAT PADA PILIHANRAYA 1987...

dan mengapa Sarawak hari ini dalam cengkaman penguasaan gang perompak tauke-tauke balak...

Apabila "Peristiwa Ming Court" – satu pemberontakan terhadap Taib oleh ahli, sama ada wakil rakyat dan bukan wakil rakyat, dari kemnya sendiri yang diketuai oleh bapa saudaranya sendiri, Tun Rahman – telah terjadi pada Mac 1987, Taib pada waktu itu sudah menjadi Ketua Menteri selama 6 tahun.


Dalam 6 tahun tersebut, dia telah berjaya untuk menimbulkan kemarahan ahli-ahli tersebut dengan berat sebelah menyokong dan memberi kontrak serta konsesi kepada sekumpulan baru kroni kapitalis yang kebanyakannya adalah Cina Foochow, dari atau dekat dengan parti SUPP, dan terlibat secara khasnya dalam industri pembalakan dan pembinaan.

Yang ironiknya, bapa saudaranya sendiri yang telah memulakan tren ini, semasa menjadi Ketua Menteri pada tahun 1970 dia terpaksa bergantung kepada sokongan parti SUPP dan dengan demikian menghalang percubaan SNAP untuk berkuasa semula di negeri ini.


Bapa saudaranya telah berkuasa hampir 12 tahun tetapi dalam masa 6 tahun kroni-kroni Taib telah pun merapatkan jarak dengan hampir menyamai jumlah konsesi balak yang dipegang oleh kroni-kroni Rahman.


Walaupun Taib telah mendapatkan nikmat secara peribadi daripada pengaturan bersama dengan kumpulan kroni-kroninya, pada masa itu kemungkinan besar dia masih tidak bersetanding dengan kuasa-kewangan kroni-kroni bapa saudaranya. Dia juga mengetahui bahawa pilihanraya 1987 yang terpaksa diadakan kerana pemberontakan yang telah berlaku sangat mahal kosnya, dengan kumpulan bapa saudaranya membelanjakan sebanyak wang yang mungkin untuk menggulingkan dia, sementara dia (Taib) harus membelanjakan sejumlah wang yang sekurang-kurangnya hampir sama seperti perbelanjaan mereka demi mempertahankan dirinya dan kroni-kroninya.


Untuk separuhnya menyekatkan kuasa-kewangan pihak lawan dan juga untuk mendapat akses kepada sumber kewangan yang diperlukan untuk dirinya, dia telah mengarahkan semua dana kerajaan negeri dipindahkan daripada Bank Utama yang mana pada ketika itu dikuasai oleh salah seorang kroni bapa saudaranya Bidari, yang juga Bendahari PBB.


Ini dapat dia lakukan dengan bantuan baik iparnya, Aziz Hussain, yang pada ketika itu kebetulannya adalah Pembantu atau Timbalan Pegawai Kewangan Negeri. Sebenarnya Aziz Hussain lah yang membongkarkan rahsia tersebut, tanpa disedarinya kepada Sarawak Headhunter pada suatu ketika.


Taib telah membuat perjanjian dengan 5 ketua gang tauke balak – jika anda tidak tahu siapa mereka, lihat sahaja siapa 5 pemegang konsesi balak utama di Sarawak. Perjanjiannya adalah bahawa mereka akan membayar Taib RM30 juta setiap seorang jika dia memenangi pilihanraya itu. Sebagai balasan mereka bukan sahaja akan dapat mengekalkan konsesi balak yang sedia ada tetapi mereka juga akan diberi banyak konsesi lagi – dan Taib juga akan menerima banyak lagi, ia itu RM30 juta setiap orang yang bakal diterima Taib hanyalah suatu bayaran muka yang kecil.


Jadi Taib telah menggunakan RM150 juta wang kerajaan negeri untuk menampung kempen pilihanrayanya (dan BN). Wang mengalir umpama air daripada kedua-dua pihak, tetapi di sebelah Rahman kelihatan seolah-olah lebih banyak wang tidak dibelanjakan seperti sepatutnya, maka selepas pilihanraya, rumah Nor Tahir di Satok telah digeledah oleh pihak berkuasa persekutuan dan lebih RM90 juta wang tunai haram yang tidak sempat dibelanjakan telah dirampas.


Ya, rakyat Sarawak yang baik, itulah pendapatan haram dari sumber alam saudara-saudara, yang mereka telah gunakan bagi “merasuah” anda untuk menyokong mereka.

Apabila pilihanraya selesai dan kumpulan Taib telah memenanginya dengan kelebihan hanya 4 kerusi, RM150 juta tersebut telah dengan segera digantikan dan tiada sesiapa pun tahu atau sedari apa yang telah Taib lakukan untuk menyelamatkan diri dalam pilihanraya 1987.

Inilah cara bagaimana Taib terselamat dalam pilihanraya 1987 dan bagaimana sekurang-kurangnya 7 juta hektar konsesi balak telah jatuh ke dalam kawalan keluarga Taib, konco-konco dan kroni-kroni mereka (yang tidak kurang 5 juta hektar telah dikuasai 5 perompak tauke balak paling besar yang telah membayar balik Taib bagi memulangkan wang kerajaan negeri yang telah dia gunakan dalam pilihanraya tersebut).


Pilihanraya di Sarawak dan di banyak bahagian Malaysia tidak lebih dari hanya sekadar demokrasi olok-olok dan suatu penyelewengan demokrasi, sehinggalah sampai suatu ketika di mana rakyat sendiri memutuskan bahawa mereka tidak boleh dirasuah lagi dengan wang mereka sendiri untuk menyokong serta mengundi wakil rakyat yang kemudiannya akan menyalahgunakan amanah mereka.

Dipetik dan diterjemah dari blog : Sarawak Headhunter.

Expert: Batu Niah tremor may be linked to Bakun dam

By HILARY CHIEW
hnchiew@thestar.com.my

THERE could be more minor earthquakes like the one in Batu Niah on Monday with the construction of more dams in the Rejang river basin.
Mild tremors were felt in Batu Niah and Suai following a moderate earthquake in Batu Niah.
The Meteorological Services Department said the quake in the morning measured 3.2 on the Richter Scale.
University Malaysia Sabah Natural Disaster Research Unit head Dr Felix Tongkul said that dam development had long been associated with disturbances to the geological structure beyond the dam sites.
“The proposed construction of more dams in the Bintulu interior is of concern. We suspect the Batu Niah tremor could be linked to the Bakun dam where several fault lines pass.
“The pending impoundment of the dam will create an unnatural load in the area and further destabilise the weak zones,” he said.
Tongkul said that more seismic activities could be expected and the situation would be closely monitored.
Geological studies had been carried out prior to the construction of the 2,400MW hydro-electric dam, he added.
Leading seismologist Harsh K. Gupta, in a 2002 article on Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS) published in Earth-Science Review noted that there are over 90 identified sites of earthquakes triggered by impoundment of reservoirs globally.
Following the tragic Sichuan quake in May 2008, scientists in China and the United States linked the incident to the weight of the Zipingpu dam on which impoundment began in 2004.
The International Commission on Large Dams recommends that RIS should be considered for reservoirs deeper than 100m. Bakun’s reservoir is 194m deep.
Gupta concluded that the depth and volume of a reservoir played a significant role in triggering earthquakes and that seismic activities could happen immediately after the filling of water begins or after a time lag.
The controversial RM7bil dam which displaced 15,000 indigenous people was scheduled for impoundment last November but this was deferred pending approval from authorities.
The Sarawak government has announced the construction of another 12 dams in the state and half of them will be located in the Rejang basin.
Work on the 900MW Murum dam on one of the Rejang’s tributaries began in 2008.
The other five are Belaga (260MW), Linau (290MW), Baleh (1,400MW), Belepeh (110MW) and Mentjawah (300MW).
The RM3bil Murum dam located 470km inland from Miri will flood about 30,000ha of the Murum Valley and displace 2,800 inhabitants from eight settlements.
Some villagers are resisting relocation as they fear the same fate as those resettled in Sungai Asap as a result of the Bakun dam.

More clear report click here.

Ulasan:
Kalau semakin banyak empangan dibina, besar kemungkinan gegaran/gempa bumi boleh berlaku lebih kerap.

Jadi perlukah membina banyak empangan untuk mengundang lebih banyak risiko?

TANAH NCR PENDUDUK SARAWAK HABIS DI BAWAH POLITIK PEMBANGUNAN TAIB

Seperti yang kita sedia maklum, polisi kerajaan Barisan Nasional Sarawak sekarang adalah polisi pembangunan yang dipanggil politik pembangunan.

Di bawah politik pembangunan ini antara lain yang terlibat adalah pembangunan tanah dan pembangunan hidro elektrik.

Di bawah rancangan pembangunan tanah terutamanya tanah NCR, kerajaan BN akan mensasarkan keluasan ladang sampai lebih kurang Satu (1)juta hektar tanah.

Sebelum menulis lanjut, ingin diingatkan lagi kepada pembaca bahawa konsep tanah NCR adalah termasuk:
1. Temuda;
2. Pendam;
3. Pemakai menua; dan
4. Pulau Galau.

NCR tidak terhad kepada temuda sahaja seperti yang diwar-warkan oleh pihak tertentu. Sila rujuk kes keputusan Mahkamah dalam Madeli Salleh yang telah diputuskan di Mahkamah Persekutuan iaitu Mahkamah tertinggi di Malaysia. Kes ini mengiktiraf dan menghormati konsep yang betul dan sebenar. Kerajaan Sarawak seolah-olah tidak mengiktiraf hak NCR rakyat dalam keputusan ini.

Di Sarawak selagi BN berkuasa, melalui politik pembangunan, BN akan memberikan lesen perladangan kepada syarikat-syarikat untuk membuka ladang-ladang sawit mahupun penanaman semula hutan tanpa meminta kebenaran dari rakyat tempatan.

Kerajaan BN juga akan terus membina 12 lagi empangan sehingga tahun 2030 kalau mereka terus diberi kuasa oleh rakyat.

Kesan - kesan langsung daripada perladangan dan pembinaan banyak dam ini, adalah TANAH NCR rakyat akan habis sebab pemilikan tanah NCR akan bertukar tangan dari rakyat rumah panjang kepada syarikat-syarikat dan NCR di tepi sungai pula pasti akan TENGGELAM.

Kerajaan BN hari ini hanya mengiktiraf tanah NCR yang dibuka sebelum 1.1.1958 yang kebetulan pula berada berdekatan tepi-tepi sungai. Sebabnya kebetulan pengangkutan utama sejak dulu adalah sungai sebelum kemudahan lain seperti jalan darat muncul.

Oleh itu, apabila Empangan atau Dam dibina, takungan dari Dam ini pasti akan menenggelamkan tanah NCR rakyat. Keluasanya mencecah ratusan ribu hektar. Contohnya Bakun Dam sahaja keluasan Tanah NCR yang ditenggelamkan adalah seluas Negara Singapura.

TANAH NCR Rakyat dan anak cucu cicit punya MANA? HABIS!

Contoh paling jelas, Tanah NCR rakyat Orang Ulu di Belaga sangat luas di ulu Sungai Balui (ratusan ribu hektar), diberi ganti hanya dengan Satu(1) hektar sahaja. Malang lagi kalau tanah itu berbatu dan berpasir dan tidak sesuai untuk aktiviti pertanian.

Tanah yang luas di kawasan Asap Belaga pula telah diberi kepada syarikat-syarikat. Penduduk mengatakan mereka umpama dalam "penjara" di Asap Belaga.

Pihak tertentu pula mengatakan mereka tidak merampas tanah rakyat dan memberi amaran kepada rakyat agar jangan dengar hasutan pihak tertentu yang melawan kerajaan.

Rakyat ditakut-takutkan dengan pelbagai ugutan dan gertakan sama ada dari rakyat kelas kurang berpelajaran hinggalah kepada mereka yang memiliki PHD. Semua ditakut-takutkan.

Rakyat tidak perlu takut. Negara ini adalah negara demokrasi. Rakyat bebas memilih. Rakyatlah yang empunya kuasa kerajaan.

Kalau pihak kerajaan mengatakan mereka tidak merampas tanah NCR rakyat, berikan geran kepada mereka berbanding memberikannya kepada syarikat-syarikat yang bukan penduduk ASAL sesuatu tempat itu.

Rakyat (termasuk pemimpin masyarakat)jangan takut apabila digertak dan diugut oleh pihak tertentu. Mungkin ugutan itu berbentuk diberhentikan kerja, dipindahkan kerja, tidak akan dilantik lagi dan sebagainya.

Di negeri-negeri yang diperintah oleh Pakatan Rakyat, mereka - mereka yang "diugut" tidak hilang kerjapun. Sekolah tidak hilang, klinik tidak hilang dan jalanraya tidak hilang dan sebagainya tidak hilang. Yang pasti hilang adalah pemimpin-pemimpin yang tamak haloba dan yang merampas tanah NCR rakyat. Tapi rakyat kenna faham isu dan berani membuat PERUBAHAN.

Kita tidak mahu kehilangan tanah NCR dari Tenggelam oleh DAM dan DIRAMPAS oleh polisi yang memberi lesen kepada syarikat berbanding Orang Asal.

Secara ringkasnya KESAN langsung akibat politik pembangaunan Taib di sini adalah:
1. Tanah NCR yang luas di tepi sungai akan diTENGGELAMkan dan diganti hanya dengan 1 hektar SAHAJA (Contoh Bakun);
2. Tanah NCR di tanah tinggi pula DISERAH kepada SYARIKAT-SYARIKAT perladangan selama 60 tahun dan boleh diperbaharui.

Dan jika BN terus berkuasa bermakna :
1. DAM terus dibina walaupun dibantah; dan
2. Tanah NCR Rakyat diberikan lesen kepada Syarikat-Syarikat perladangan.

Untuk mengelak perkara ini terus berlaku... jawapan DI TANGAN RAKYAT yang memilih.
Gunakan hak dengan penuh hikmat dari Tuhan.

Penan youth to have MyKad within a month: Putrajaya

January 29, 2010, Friday

MIRI: The long wait for a MyKad maybe over within a month for Binson Boy, Penan young man from Sungai Selungo in upper Baram.The National Registration Department headquarters in Putrajaya told the Borneo Post yesterday that the case had been looked into and the issuance of the identity card would be expedited as it has been accorded priority.

“It is in the final stage and Binson is expected to receive his IC in a month,” said the department’s Public Relations Officer, Jainiasah Mohd Noor, yesterday.

Binson reportedly has been waiting for over 10 years to an identity card.

His case was highlighted in the Borneo Post Tuesday. He has been waiting since 2000 for his identity card application to be approved.

Binson said each time he went to check on his application, he would be told to “tunggu dulu” (literally, wait first).

He also disclosed that he was offered a place at University Malaysia Sarawak campus (Unimas) in 2007, then in 2009 a place at Kolej IT in Kuching, but could not do anything because he did not have his Mykad. Jainiasah said the department had traced the documents of Binson’s parents including the mother’s identity card issued in 2007.

Binson received his early education at SK Long Sait in Sungai Selungo.

After that he studied at SMK Temenggong Datuk Lawai Jau in Long San and SMK Marudi.

He excelled in all the public examinations – UPSR, PMR and STPM. Presently, he is a general worker at Tebanyi Mill, a timber factory in the interior Baram.

He used his birth certificate to apply for the job.

ULASAN :
Perkara sebegini tidak sepatutnya berlaku kalau pihak berwajib tidak terlalu menekankan "SYARAT" ke atas pemohon. Banyak lagi pihak yang memohon bertahun-tahun bahkan ada yang sudah jadi NENEK masih tiada kad Pengenalan.

Kerugian yang dialami memang Sangat teruk seperti hak mengundi, hak bekerja, hak biasiswa, hak naik pangkat, hak rawatan murah dan sebagainya.

Memang sesuatu yang sangat-sangaat mengecewakan kalau ketiadaan KAD ini hanya atas sebab "SYARAT" yang kadang - kadang TIDAK mungkin dapat dipenuhi. Jika syarat dapat dipenuhi maka selamanya orang itu tidak akan mempunyai MYKAD.

Pihak berwajib harus melaksanakan dan menggunakan PERTIMBANGAN MANUSIA DAN KEIKHLASAN MEMBANTU untuk menyelesaikan masalah mereka yang tidak memiliki dokumen penting ini.

Penduduk Negara Malaysia tidaklah besar untuk diselesaikan masalah ini. Cuma kata orang HENDAK SERIBU DAYA, TAK NAK SERIBU DALIH.

Kalau Bangladesh yang mempunyai penduduk jauh lebih besar dari Malaysia dapat menyelesaikan masalah ketiadaan KAD dalam masa 6 BULAN SAHAJA, takkan Malaysia tak dapat dalam masa 52 atau 46 tahun!!

Oleh itu pihak berwajib harus menyelesaikan masalah ini dengan HENDAK = SERIBU DAYA!

PENGGUNAAN PERKATAAN "ALLAH"

Nampaknya kekecohan oleh pihak tertentu berkaitan perkataan "ALLAH" nampaknya belum reda. Apa lagi nak dikatakan selesai.

Walau ada pihak pemimpin tertentu mendabik dada mengatakan isu itu selesai, ada juga pihak lain mengatakan ianya selesai "separuh". Ini adalah disebabkan YB Datuk Nazri Aziz mengatakan perkara itu ("ALLAH") boleh digunakan di Sabah dan Sarawak tetapi tidak dibenarkan digunakan oleh bukan Islam di Semenanjung. Ini sangat bertentangan dengan semangat 1Malaysia yang diinginkan oleh Perdana Menteri.

Masalahnya adalah; berkesan atau berkuatkuasakah kata-kata Nazri kerana beliau bukanlah Kabinet yang pernah mengeluarkan arahan atau pekeliling berkaitan isu ini? Persoalan ini perlu dijawab dengan ikhlas oleh pihak berwajib.

Berkaitan isu Allah ini, ada juga pemimpin negeri Sarawak yang mengatakan bahawa isu "ALLAH" tidak serius di Sarawak atau ada yang berani mengatakan tidak wujud di Sarawak. Benarkah kenyataan pemimpin kerajaan Barisan Nasional negeri Sarawak seperti ini? Kalau benar tidak ada masalah di Sarawak, mengapa dalam 15,000 Alkitab yang ditahan oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri, mengapa 10,000 darinya iaitu bahagian yang paling besar ditahan di Sarawak.

Kalau benar isu ini bukanlah masalah di Sarawak, Kerajaan harus segera mengembalikan semula Alkitab yang ditahan tersebut kepada pemiliknya. Dan diminta jangan ada lagi apa-apa tangkapan buku atau Alkitab Kristian di Sarawak lagi.

Pemimpin negeri harus sensitif masalah sebenar dan haruslah menegakkan kebenaran dan memberitahu apa sebenarnya yang berlaku ddi Sarawak. Penganut fahaman Kristian bukannya tidak tahu apa yang berlaku di gereja masing-masing. Cuma pemimpin diminta tak usahlah menegakkan sesuatu yang bukan perkara sebenar yang berlaku.

Tidak perlulah bercakap hanya semata-mata untuk "menjaga" pangkat dan kepentingan peribadi kalau itu tidaklah isu pokok iaitu keadilan untuk semua rakyat harus disuarakan dan dipertahankan.




i

Idris tidak mahu sertai mana-mana parti politik

January 17, 2010, Sunday

KUCHING: Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala (gambar) tetap dengan pendiriannya tidak akan menyertai mana-mana parti politik.

Idris ketika ditemui pemberita di sini semalam, memberitahu adalah penting baginya untuk terus kekal neutral dan bukan milik mana-mana parti.

“Saya bukan ahli mana-mana parti politik dan penting bagi saya untuk kekal demikian (neutral).

“Saya juga tidak berhasrat untuk menyertai mana-mana parti politik kerana saya bukan seorang ahli politik.

“Saya di sini adalah untuk menggerakkan kemajuan dan memastikan mempunyai sumbangan terhadap masyarakat,” katanya.

Idris yang juga merupakan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Unit Pengurusan Prestasi dan Pelaksanaan (PEMANDU) berkata beliau juga tidak berhasrat untuk menyertai bidang politik.

Menurut Idris, beliau komited sepenuhnya kepada usaha menyumbang dengan apa juga cara yang mampu ikhtiarkan.

Beliau berkata kehadirannya dalam kabinet adalah untuk membantu mengembangkan proses pembangunan serta memastikan kepentingan rakyat terjaga.

Sekiranya beberapa transformasi berjaya dilakukan, katanya ia merupakan satu pencapaian yang cukup baik.

Beliau berasa amat bertuah atas pelantikannya oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada Ogos tahun lalu untuk menyertai kabinet walaupun tidak mewakili mana-mana parti.

Sementara itu, ketika ditanya pemberita sama ada Bario akan mendapat lebih peruntukan memandangkan beliau sekarang menteri persekutuan penuh, beliau berkata orang ramai tidak harus berkata sedemikian.

Beliau berkata projek-projek khususnya pembangunan infrastruktur harus berasaskan kriteria objektif termasuk faktor keperluan.

“Lihat Bario, ia kecil dan tidak mempunyai ramai penduduk. Saya tidak boleh berbuat demikian hanya kerana saya berasal dari Bario dan wang mesti disalurkan ke sana,” katanya.

Mengenai Bario, tambahnya beliau percaya mereka akan membelanjakan wang pada jalan dari Lapangan Terbang hingga ke Bario Asal dan akan menambah jalan dalaman.

Tetapi, katanya pembinaan jalan Marudi dan Bario tidak dapat dilaksanakan.

“Bagaimana kita boleh menjelaskan perbelanjaan berbilion ringgit hanya untuk segelintir penduduk yang kecil di sana. Bario diberkati dengan pesawat yang terbang ke sana,” katanya.
Related Posts

Resources : Borneo Post.

DATUK SERI IDRIS JALA IS FIRM WITH HIS STAND NOT TO INVOLVE IN POLITIC. THIS IS A REPETATION OF WHAT HE TOLD ME ON THE 06/07/2008 IN KUALA LUMPUR.FURTHER READING.

BERDOA UNTUK PENGAMPUNAN PIHAK YANG MEMBAKAR PINTU GEREJA SIDANG INJIL BORNEO (SIB) DAN CAMPURTANGAN TUHAN

Semakin hari, semakin bertambah nampaknya gedung Gereja diganggu. Terbaru adalah gereja milik Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) Seremban.

Saya harap ahli dan jemaat SIB seluruh Malaysia terutamanya di Sabah dan Sarawak jangan mudah dimainkan dan dikuasai oleh perasaan.

Kita tahu antara ajaran utama dalam Firman Tuhan adalah: Janganlah kamu membalas kejahatan dengan kejahatan tetapi balaslah dengan kebaikan...

Segala pembalasan di tangan Tuhan. Biarlah pihak berkuasa Malaysia menjalankan tugas mereka dengan adil dan saksama.

Oleh itu marilah kita berdoa berseru kepada Tuhan agar mereka yang membuat "perkara" itu diampuni. Berdoa untuk pertaubatan mereka. Sebab Firman Tuhan mengajar kita bahawa "mereka tidak tahu apa yang mereka lakukan..."

Presiden SIB Semenanjung telah membuat kenyataan terhadap hal ini (penggunaan perkataan Allah). Ikuti kenyataannya dalam Malaysiakini seperti berikut (Klik di sini).

Jangan lupa apabila pada masa depan minta hikmat daripada Tuhan agar diberi kebijaksanaan dalam "MENGUNDI" agar Tuhan memberi kita petunjuk untuk memilih siapa yang harus diberikan tanggungjawab menjadi "YB" dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang.

Berdoa bersungguh-sungguh untuk Pilihanraya akan datang. Keterangan lanjut mengenai gereja SIB Seremban diganggu ada dalam alamat Malaysiakini. Sila klick Malaysiakini.

SEMUA PIHAK DIMINTA BERTENANG

Dear Abun Sui,

On Sunday January 10th I attended a gathering of Church leaders in Petaling Jaya to express our solidarity with the Christian community where I read the following statement:

Anwar Ibrahim
Click here to watch video
We are outraged by the tragic attacks on our Christian brothers and sisters and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of the bombing of churches in Malaysia. Today’s attack on the oldest standing church in Malaysia, the All Saints Church in Taiping, is an attack on our nation’s heritage.

As a nation we struggle to uphold the spirit of unity that our founding fathers envisioned at independence. We must hold fast to Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion and the right of religious groups to manage their own affairs. In such times the spirit of engagement and dialogue must transcend those voices that would seek to sow discord and enmity across our land.

The people of Malaysia must unite against those who exploit race and religion to incite hatred for political gain. We must renew our commitment to religious understanding and religious freedom.

This is a time that tests the resolve of all religions for peace and mutual respect. We must remember that the God who we worship is in fact the same God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

With respect to the use of the word Allah, for example, it cannot be disputed that Arabic speaking Muslims, Christians and Jews have collectively prayed to God as Allah throughout the last fourteen centuries. While sensitivities over its usage have arisen in Malaysia, the way to resolve these conflicts is not by burning churches and staging incendiary protests but by reasoned engagement and interreligious dialogue.

Muslims must recall the memory of our own tradition’s remarkable commitment to understanding and coexistence with the People of the Book. Islam clearly grants respect to Christians and Jews. In the Quran’s second chapter, God says:

Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God (Aal-Imran, 3:64)

And in the 29th Chapter He says:

And dispute not with the People of the Book but say “We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and that which came down to you…our God [Allah] and your God [Allah] is One, and it is to Him we bow (al-Ankabut, 29:46)

Jesus is himself revered as one of the greatest prophets whose noble example should be followed. The Caliph Umar, who visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 638 AD, was careful to ensure that the Muslims respect the sanctity of Christian places of worship. What then of our own Police’s hesitation to offer an assurance of safety and security for Malaysian churches?

Much of the blame for the recent attacks can be placed at the doorstep of the UMNO-led BN ruling party. Its incessant racist propaganda over the Allah issue and the inflammatory rhetoric issued by government controlled mainstream media especially, Utusan Malaysia, are reprehensible. Such wanton acts of provocation are indeed criminal and demonstrate the duplicity of the 1Malaysia campaign.

I am encouraged by the swift condemnation of the attacks issued by Muslim organizations and leaders. I likewise applaud our Christian leaders for their strong statements calling for calm and forgiveness and resisting revenge and retaliation.

The need for interfaith dialogue in Malaysia is an idea whose time is long overdue. We must now advance the spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood which is inherent in our religions and enshrined in our Constitution. Pakatan Rakyat will collectively take steps to ensure that the necessary dialogue and discussion take place throughout the country. Our fellow Christians must feel safe and secure in this country knowing that their freedom to worship is protected.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Opposition Leader

Polemik akibat larangan penggunaan perkataan “Allah” – angkara siapa?

Keputusan Mahkamah dan Berita di TV
Selepas Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur memutuskan pada 31/12/2009 bahawa Majalah Herald boleh menggunakan perkataan “Allah”, Negara Malaysia “kelihatan” kecoh. Inilah terpampang di hampir semua televisyen tempatan yang menayangkan bantahan pihak-pihak tertentu. TV3 kelihatan juara dalam menyiarkan hal ini. Sudah dijangka perkara ini (tayangan TV3) akan berlaku.

Apa yang dapat diperhatikan dalam tayangan berita televisyen tersebut, pihak-pihak terbabit menyatakan mereka mewakili umat Islam tanpa mengira parti politik. Seolah-olah mereka yang berkata demikian “lebih tinggi” jawatan dan kedudukan mereka daripada ketua-ketua parti politik yang disebutkan.

Walau bagaimanapun, parti-parti politik akhirnya mengeluarkan pendirian rasmi masing – masing. Pendirian mereka jauh berbeza dan tidak selari dengan mereka-mereka yang kononnya mewakili semua tanpa mengira parti politik.

Pendirian Rasmi Parti – Parti Politik
Setakat ini, Parti – parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat telah membuat pendirian masing masing. Tetapi tidak ada suara rasmi dari Parti – parti komponen Barisan Nasional(BN) seperti MCA, MIC, PPP, Gerakan, PRS, SPDP, PBB, SUPP, PBS, LDP, dan lain-lain. Abaikan kenyataan ini jika sudah ada. Cuma ahli UMNO sahaja yang bersuara setakat ini. Di manakah letaknya pendirian parti-parti komponen BN yang lain terutamanya parti yang mungkin majoriti pemimpin dan ahlinya adalah orang bukan Islam terutamanya yang menganut agama Kristian/Khatolik. Pandangan peribadi sahaja terdengar iaitu dari Tan Sri Bernard Dompok. Apa pendirian Partinya UPKO? Begitu juga Datuk Sri James Jemut Masing telah mengeluarkan pendapat peribadi.Parti pimpinannya PRS terus diam membisu.

Komponen BN gagal berperanan sepatutnya
Rakyat terkilan kerana parti-parti dalam BN yang beragama Kristian tidak pernah memberi pendapat dan penjelasan kepada kabinet semasa pekeliling “larangan ini” hendak dibuat dahulu. Kalau tidak silap memang sudah ada menteri atau timbalan menteri yang ada dalam kabinet pada masa itu. Kalau mereka berfungsi dengan baik, saya percaya masalah ini tidak akan pernah timbul. Pemimpin atau wakil rakyat Kristian dalam BN seolah-olah telah GAGAL memainkan peranan mereka memberi penerangan dan penjelasan kepada Kabinet. Termasuk menjelaskan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 – 18/20 Points. Rakyat Malaysia (terutamanya di Malaya atau Semenanjung) secara keseluruhan tidak dimaklumkan tentang hal ini.

Hanya UMNO sahaja bersuara dalam “larangan” penggunaan perkataan “ALLAH” ini. Adakah ini bermakna UMNO adalah BN dan BN adalah UMNO? Kalau begitulah statusnya, kenapa masih bersekutu dengan pihak yang menekan rakyat yang bukan beragama Islam. Tindakan ini umpama menangguk di air keruh.

Dasar Pecah dan Perintah
Melihat kepada masalah yang terjadi ini, kita sedar bahawa memang pihak tertentu selama ini suka menggunakan dasar pecah dan perintah. Kalau parti – parti di Malaysia selama ini “dipecahkan” ikut kaum itu dan kaum ini, dan itu semua tidak boleh diterima lagi oleh rakyat. Rakyat kini sudah matang dan memilih untuk menyokong parti pelbagai kaum.

Menyedari sokongan terhadap parti perkauman semakin tidak diterima, maka isu AGAMA digunakan oleh pihak terdesak. Tetapi rakyat harus faham dan tidak terperangkap dengan taktik pihak terdesak ini. Rakyat tidak ingin dilaga-lagakan oleh pihak terdesak.


Talian hayat berpaut pada kuasa
Mungkin isu agama inilah antara BUTANG terakhir pihak tertentu untuk “menyelamatkan” kuasa politik mereka. Kerana tidak mahu nanti segala pekung di dada akan terbongkar semua. Apapun tindakan yang dibuat untuk menutup pekung di dada, rakyat tetap akan “membukanya” melalui memberi undi dan kemenangan kepada parti yang tidak pernah memerintah Negara.

Rakyat jangan mudah melatah dan terperangkap
Rakyat jangan cepat melatah seperti pihak pihak tertentu yang takut kuasa dan sokongan terhadap mereka semakin hilang. Hanya tunggu masa manjadi penentu matinya parti politik perkauman dan pemecah dan memainkan sentimen sensitif terhadap rakyat.

Rakyat jangan terperangkap dengan dasar PECAH DAN PERINTAH pihak tertentu yang melakukan apa sahaja termasuk “MELAGAKAN” rakyat yang cintakan keamanan, kononya yang majoriti menyokong mereka. Pihak - pihak terdesak ini mengatakan mereka telah dicabar atau “jangan menjolok sarang tebuan” dan sebagainya untuk menakut-nakutkan pihak tertentu. Gertakan dan amaran-amaran seperti ini sangat tidak dialu-alukan dalam Negara yang berbilang kaum dan agama. Seolah – olah “ALLAH” memberi mereka lesen untuk berkata sedemikian.

Usahlah rakyat terpesong dan terpedaya dan terperangkap hanya kerana isu ini. Masalah pokok dalam Negara adalah rasuah, ketidakadilan, kronisme, perkauman dan nepotisme dan tamak haloba oleh segerombolan pemimpin hingga mengaut kekayaan Negara untuk peribadi, keluarga dan suku – sakat sendiri. Rakyat terus dibiarkan papa kedana dan diperbodohkan.


Allah pencipta seluruh alam dan makhluk
Agama adalah urusan setiap individu dengan “Allah”. Saya percaya Tuhan Allah tidak pernah mengkhususkan “namaNya” hanya untuk kumpulan manusia tertentu sahaja. Dan jauh sekali untuk melarang memanggil Dia sebagai Allah oleh manusia untuk mencari ketenangan dan keselamatan di akhirat jika Dialah Allah Yang Esa. Sebab manusia mahu selamat dan dijauhkan dari api neraka jahanam. Lagipun Tuhan Allah adalah pencipta sekalian alam dan makhluk termasuk semua umat manusia.

Punca Masalah
Akhirnya, siapa punca masalah ini, sudah tentu pihak yang menggunakan isu ini untuk mempertahankan kuasa mereka. Ini bermaksud acuan oleh BN telah gagal menyatupadukan rakyat Malaysia. Selagi isu-isu perkauman dan agama menjadi DASAR dalam pentadbiran Negara ini, agak sukar untuk menyatukan rakyat Malaysia yang berbilang bangsa dan agama.

Acuan ciptaan BN yang berasaskan kaum nampaknya telah gagal membendung sikap dan benih-benih perpecahan dan saling membenci di antara satu kaum dengan satu kaum lain. Melihat kepada tayangan berita yang ditunjukkan di kaca televisyen, ianya sungguh menakutkan. Tetapi tiada tindakan dibuat ke atas pihak yang terbabit.

Rakyat sudah matang dan bencikan perpecahan dan perkauman
Walau bagaimanapun, saya masih menaruh kepercayaan yang “silent” majoriti rakyat Malaysia tidak kira bangsa dan agama membenci pihak – pihak tertentu yang melaga-lagakan rakyat. Kita berharap rakyat yang cintakan keamanan dan kedamaian seperti dijamin dalam Perkara 4 Perlembagaan Persekutuan tetap terus bersatu menentang kelompok kecil pemimpin yang racisme yang pengikut mereka telah menunjukkan perangai seperti “samseng” atas Malaysia. Sikap seperti ini tidak boleh dibiarkan dan harus dihentikan serta merta. Semoga Malaysia terus melangkah maju aman dan damai bersama parti baru yang tidak berdasarkan kaum.

KEBEBASAN BERAGAMA DI MALAYSIA DI BAWAH PERLEMBAGAAN PERSEKUTUAN

Perkara 11. Kebebasan ugama.
(1) Tiap-tiap orang adalah berhak menganuti dan mengamalkan ugamanya dan, tertakluk kepada Fasal (4),mengembangkannya.
(2) Tiada sesiapa pun boleh dipaksa membayar apa-apa cukai jika pendapatan dari cukai itu adalah diuntukkan khas sama ada kesemuanya atau sebahagiannya bagi maksud-maksud sesuatu ugama yang lain daripada ugamanya sendiri.
(3) Tiap-tiap kumpulan agama adalah berhak—
(a) menguruskan hal-ehwal ugamanya sendiri;
(b) menubuhkan dan menyenggara yayasan-yayasan bagi maksud-maksud ugama atau khairat; dan
(c) memperolehi dan mempunyai harta serta memegang dan mentadbirkannya mengikut undang-undang.
(4) Undang-undang Negeri dan mengenai dengan Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Labuan dan Putrajaya, undang-undang persekutuan boleh mengawal atau menyekat pengembangan apa-apa iktikad atau kepercayaan ugama antara orang-orang yang menganuti ugama Islam.
(5) Perkara ini tidaklah membenarkan apa-apa perbuatan yang berlawanan dengan mana-mana undang-undang am yang berhubungan dengan ketenteraman awam, kesihatan awam atau akhlak.

Sumber : International Law Book Services
(Setakat Pindaan Hingga 10hb June 2009)

From Malaya to Malaysia

REFLECTING ON THE LAW
By SHAD SALEEM FARUQI
Sabah and Sarawak brought much land and natural resources with them when joining then Malaya and Singapore to form Malaysia, thus the special privileges they are entitled to.
SEPTEMBER 16 was hardly noticed by Malaysians in the peninsula. It was Malaysia Day – the day in 1963 when the Federation of Malaya joined destinies with North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore to constitute the enlarged Federation of Malaysia.
Evolution: The process of conversion from Malaya to Malaysia was by no means trouble-free. The general election held in North Borneo in 1962 and in Sarawak in 1963, pointed to the desire of the people of the Borneo states to join Malaysia on the condition that their special interests were safeguarded in the new federation.
The governments of the Phili-ppines and Indonesia were vehemently opposed to Malaya’s reconstitution.
They rejected the legitimacy of the above self determination processes. A Tripartite Summit was, therefore, held in Manila which invited the UN Secretary-General to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of North Borneo and Sarawak.
The Secretary-General’s mission spent three weeks in Borneo to conduct a survey and released its finding on Sept 15, 1963, that the Malaysia proposal had the wide backing of the peoples of the Borneo states.
Still, the Indonesian and Philippines governments were not appeased. Indonesia resorted to an undeclared war dubbed “the Confrontation”. The Philippines laid an international law claim to Sabah.
Within the country, Kelantan commenced proceedings in the High Court to declare the Malaysia Agreement null and void. A few days before Malaysia Day, it laid two arguments before the court.
First, it argued that it was a founding member of the Federation of Malaya and as such its consent must be obtained before any changes are made that alter drastically the character of the Federation.
The court rejected this argument. Kelantan had agreed to the 1957 Constitution and in that basic charter, the power to amend the Constitution to bring new states into the Federation was a federal power that did not require the consent of the states.
Kelantan’s second contention was that there was a binding constitutional custom that any major amendment requires the consent of the states. The Court ruled that customs are not laws and are not enforceable in the courts.
Basis for special treatment: In 1963 the Inter-Governmental Com-mittee headed by Lord Lansdowne with then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak as the deputy chairman worked out several constitutional arrangements to guarantee the special position of the Borneo states.
This was deemed justifiable due to a number of socio-political, economic, geographical and legal factors.
> Sabah and Sarawak were culturally and religiously distinct from peninsular Malaysia.
> They were bringing huge territories into the federation. Their combined area of 198,069 sq km exceeded peninsular Malaysia’s 131,681 sq km. Their combined coastline was 2,607 km compared with the Peninsula’s 2,068km.
> They had massive potential resources in fisheries, ports, forests, timber, petroleum, river waters, hydroelectric power and tourism.
> Despite these resources they had serious problems of poverty, illiteracy, lack of infrastructure and under-development.
> The 1963 pact between the Federation of Malaya, the UK, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore was not merely an internal arrangement but an international treaty.
More autonomy: Malaysia’s federal model provides for a heavy central bias. But in relation to Sabah and Sarawak the Federal Government’s powers are not so pronounced.
For example, Sabah and Sarawak are excluded from Parliament’s power to pass uniform laws about land and local government: Article 95D. Sabah and Sarawak are also excluded from national plans for land utilisation, local government and development: Article 95E.
There are special rules about audits in Sabah and Sarawak (Article 112A).
The power of amending the Constitution which belongs to the federal Parliament is not as extensive in relation to Sabah and Sarawak as it is in relation to the peninsular states.
Under Article 161E constitutional amendments affecting the specified rights of the East Malaysian states cannot become law without the consent of the governors of these states.
The legislative competence of the various states is elaborated in the Federal Constitution’s Schedule 9 Lists II and III. Sabah and Sarawak have a Supplementary State List and a Supplementary Concurrent List conferring on them many legislative powers not allocated to the peninsular states.
Financial powers: The Federal Government’s stranglehold over most of the lucrative sources of revenue is not as strong in relation to Sabah and Sarawak as it is in relation to other states.
In three areas Sabah and Sarawak enjoy fiscal privileges that are not available to the peninsular states:
> Under Article 112B, these states are allowed to raise loans for their purposes with the consent of Bank Negara.
> These states are allocated special grants to meet their needs above and beyond what other states receive: Article 112C and 112D.
> Sabah and Sarawak are assigned eight sources of revenue not permitted to other states. These include import and excise duty on petroleum products, export duty on timber and forest produce and, subject to a ceiling, export duty on minerals.
> Sabah and Sarawak are also entitled to earnings from ports and harbours and state sales tax: Article 112C & Schedule 10, Pt. V.
Other privileges: The Federal Constitution is replete with many other provisions for the special position of Sabah and Sarawak.
> Under Article 153, the natives of Sabah and Sarawak enjoy a special position similar to that of the Malays.
> Customary courts and native law are given special protection.
> The High Court has a special wing for Sabah and Sarawak presided over by a Chief Judge for the region.
> In the Dewan Rakyat there are 28 MPs from Sarawak and 20 from Sabah. On a population basis this is very favourable.
> These states enjoy special protection in relation to the use of English and native languages: Article 161.
> The law on Malay Reserve Land does not apply to these states: Article 161A(5).
> The Borneo states have a special right to regulate immigration.
> Sabah and Sarawak lawyers have exclusive right to practise law in these states and in relation to cases originating there.
Forty-six years down the road, not all is well with the Borneo states’ relationship with the centre.
The influx of illegal immigrants and the alleged “naturalisation” of thousands of them are being regarded as violations of Sabah and Sarawak’s rights over immigration.
There are murmurs of discontent about Barisan Nasional’s choice of MBs and governors. Labuan’s federalisation is a sore point.
In the peninsula, there are concerns that integration is being hindered because of restrictions on freedom of movement and the requirement of work permits in one’s own land.
These are legitimate concerns. But one must also remember that in 1963 some concessions were awarded. They must be honoured.
Unity and integration, while laudable goals, must not be forced. They must be achieved within, and not outside, the solemn pact of 1963.
> Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi is Emeritus Professor at UiTM and Visiting Professor at USM.



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SELAMAT TAHUN BARU 2010

Kepada pengunjung sekalian, salam hormat dan salam “lambaian” bye bye bagi tahun 2009.

Sempena kedatangan tahun baru 2010, saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan SELAMAT TAHUN BARU 2010 kepada kalian semua.

Semoga di tahun baru ini anda sekalian menyediakan diri dengan azam dan komitmen baru. Saya doakan setiap pembaca blog saya ini akan dilindungi dan diberkati oleh Tuhan yang maha mengasihi.

Apa pun pendapat, pandangan dan azam anda yang mungkin berbeza dengan orang lain, laksanakannya dan asal bukan pelaksanaan yang tidak diperkenan oleh Tuhan. Pendek kata, usahlah melakukan rancangan dan tindakan yang berdosa, merugikan dan menindas sesama umat manusia ciptaan Tuhan.

Sekian, wasalam SELAMAT MAJU JAYA DAN SELAMAT TAHUN BARU 2010.

ABUN SUI ANYIT