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THE 'COW AND CONDO' SCANDAL IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE BILLIONS SQUANDERED IN DEFENCE DEALS, CLAIMS ZAID IBRAHIM.

2012-01-29T01:09:00.001+08:00

Forget NFC, go for Mindef, says Zaid

PETALING JAYA Jan 28, 2012: When it comes to massive costs and covert deals, the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) is “peanuts” compared to the billions of ringgit being spent on the Royal Malaysian Navy, KITA chief Zaid Ibrahim claimed.

He said it was hypocritical of Umno leaders to call for Women, Family & Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s head on a plate, when they were just as guilty as she was.

“I know many of you are excited about the cow scandal now engulfing Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. But that’s peanuts compared to what’s cooking in the Defence Ministry.”

“It’s comical and unfair for some Umno leaders to ask Shahrizat to resign when they are all in the same pot,” he said.

Zaid said that the government had spent as much as RM9 billion on six patrol vessels in the early 1990s, in an “exercise” that saw the Lumut Naval Dockyard (LND) being privatised.

He added that the ships had been bought from a Amin Shah Omar, who then ordered these ships from a German company Blohm + Voss.

(According to former Umno assemblyman Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Amin was a high-profile tycoon who was said to have ties with ex-Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin.)

Zaid claimed that the Lumut Naval Dockyard then paid RM300 million for the ship designs so that they could self-build these units in the future.

Why are we buying?

The KITA chief then asked why the government wanted to buy a whole new brand of ships in the form of the Second Generation Patrol Vessels (SGPV), when it had ship designs from over 15 years ago.

“Our current Defence Minister has decided to buy another six patrol vessels. It will cost more this time, naturally, since these are second-generation SGPVs with a new design to be built by another company, DCNS (Direction Technique des Constructions Navales).”

“Why we are not using the design that we paid so much for is something we should be thinking about,” Zaid said in his Sabahkini post.

He also asked why Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi and Boustead Naval Shipyard (formerly LND) changed its supplier from Blohm + Voss to DCNS.

This switch, Zaid mused, may have links with the controversial Scorpene submarine case, which implicated defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

“All I can confirm is that DCNS is a famous company, because DCNS supplied us Scorpenes, a deal with someone equally famous who got RM500 million in duit kopi (kickbacks),” he said, adding that DCNS had been involved in a USD1 billion corruption scandal in Taiwan.

Zaid asked then how much this deal would cost Malaysians, and worried about the SGPV’s systems being decided by foreign consultants, instead of the RMN.

“The consultants are Singapore-based companies. Are they not foreigners? What if they recommend a system that compromises our national security? What assurance do we have that these consultants are not our enemies?” he asked.

Rakyat may shoulder cost

But Zaid did not appear to be confident of transparency, and claimed that the government would tell its people that national interests were to be kept in the dark.

He however seemed very sure that Malaysians would be asked to shoulder the burden of a spiked defence contract.

Earlier this month, the Defence Ministry claimed that the SGPVs (also Littoral Combat Ships) would cost RM9 billion over a period of two Malaysia Plans.

This followed a Dec 2011 announcement by Boustead that it had won a RM9 billion deal to build the six LCSes; a call that was strongly opposed by Pakatan Rakyat MPs.

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Malaysia Firm Wins $2.8 Billion Navy Ship Deal

DEJAVU

2012-01-29T00:27:00.001+08:00

Greed will be Pakatan’s downfall in Sabah

Pakatan Rakyat appears not to have learnt from its 2008 polls lesson in Sabah.

PETALING JAYA Jan 28, 2012: Pakatan Rakyat may be biting off more than it can chew in wanting to contest 52 out 60 seats in Sabah in the 13th general election.

It appears the coalition has forgotten the lashings it received in Sabah in the 2008 polls, when it contested in 59 constituencies and won only one through DAP’s Jimmy Wong in Sri Tanjung.

At the time, Pakatan was a loose coalition and had decided to walk alone in Sabah, declining to pair up with local parties.

History, it appears, has not yet taught Pakatan a lesson.

Pakatan has once again pushed away any possibility of working with local parties in Sabah.

At a meeting with Sabah People’s Progressive (SAPP) recently, Pakatan member PKR allegedly told the party that it was going to contest in almost all the seats in Sabah.

Sabah has 60 state seats up for grabs. In the last election, Barisan Nasional (BN) retained 59 seats.

The meeting with SAPP president Yong Teck Lee ended in an impasse, a PKR insider said.

“Pakatan wanted 52 assembly seats. PKR wanted 20, DAP 19 and PAS 13.

“They told him (Yong) only eight seats were allocated for local (Sabah-based) parties.

“I think Yong was shocked. He told them it was not workable,” said the insider who spoke on condition of anonymity.

PAS lost its deposit

In the 2008 general election, PKR contested in 48 constituencies while DAP and PAS contested in 10 and two seats respectively.

PAS did so badly that it lost its deposit

Even Wong’s seat in Sri Tanjung was won after he fought off PKR and BN in a three-cornered fight.

“Unlike Peninsular Malaysia, Pakatan in Sabah was too weak (at the time)…

“‘The situation is different now but it does not mean the Pakatan has a better chance in Sabah.

“The coalition is being overly ambitious in Sabah. PKR has less support in Sabah than it has in the Peninsula. The same with PAS.

“The strategy for Sabah is unfair and wrong,” the insider said.

According to him, the coalition was confident of at least four seats – Inanar, Likas, Luyang and Kapayan – where in 2008, both PKR and DAP had contested against BN in a three-cornered fight.

“In these four seats the collective votes secured by PKR and DAP (in 2008) were higher than BN.

“Pakatan feels that if there is a straight fight, it win in Inanar, Likas, Luyang, Kapayan,” he said.

Misguided notion

He also pointed out PAS’ “unrealistic” bid to contest in 13 seats, when it is yet to secure a firm foothold in the state.

“In 2008, PAS contested in Sukau and Merotai. It only managed to get 76 and 931 votes respectively and lost its deposit in both the assembly seats.

“Now it wants 13 seats… does this make sense to you?” he asked.

DAP, on its part, is demanding 19 seats claiming it has increasing support in Chinese areas like Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau.

The Chinese in Sabah can have their pick of DAP and SAPP against BN’s Liberal Democratic Party, Gerakan and MCA.

To add spice is the deep rivalry between DAP and SAPP and claims of “sabotage” have surfaced at every election.

For the record, Sabah saw the most number of parties contesting seats in 2008. Some seats had as many as seven candidates vying for them.

This aside, the main point here, according to the insider, is Pakatan’s notion that it can ride alone without the support of local parties.

“I don’t know why Pakatan thinks it can do it alone. It is impossible to win in Sabah without the support of local-based parties.

“It will only bring them down,” he said, adding that the current situation clearly favours BN, which may retain Sabah for another term.

BANDUAN JAHIT MULUT BANTAH LAYANAN BURUK

2012-01-28T15:38:00.001+08:00

Banduan jahit mulut bantah layanan buruk

BISHKEK: Lebih 1,000 banduan Kyrgyzstan menjahit mulut mereka sebagai membantah keadaan hidup di penjara.

Tindakan itu adalah lanjutan daripada mogok lapar selama dua minggu, membabitkan 7,500 banduan yang dilancarkan berikutan serbuan oleh pasukan khas polis terhadap sebuah penjara di Bishkek.

Pegawai penjara berkata, unit khas itu dikerah untuk menyuraikan rusuhan oleh banduan yang merosakkan bilik tahanan mereka dan memotong tangan serta perut ketika operasi mencari yang dijalankan pengawal.

Banduan yang melancarkan mogok lapar itu menuntut peletakan jawatan Ketua Perkhidmatan Penjara dan pengurus pusat tahanan tempat tunjuk perasaan itu bermula.

Kira-kira 6,400 tahanan terbabit dalam mogok itu dan 1,175 menjahit mulut mereka. Bagaimanapun, 200 daripada mereka kemudian meminta bantuan perubatan untuk menanggalkan jahitan itu. - Reuters

NO MORE BEGGING UNDER PAKATAN?

2012-01-28T15:37:00.001+08:00

'Sabahans won't need to beg for action if under Pakatan'

Kota Belud Jan 28, 2012: People will not have to beg for everything under the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Government, like what is happening now under the Barisan Nasional (BN) where people have to continue begging even for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants and Project IC.

Sabah DAP Secretary Dr Edwin Bosi said even after begging for so long for the RCI to be set up, until now the Umno-led BN Government is still keeping everyone guessing.

"But under PR, people in Sabah will not need to beg because the pact has agreed to establish the RCI, increase the oil royalty to 20 per cent and provide a RM1billion fund for the natives, when it comes to power in Putrajaya," he said.

"These offers are made without the people of Sabah begging for them,"

he said at a gathering organised in Kg Bahab Taginambur, Kadamaian, here on Jan. 21.

During the event, Roger Balan from the village also handed over 25 membership forms to Sabah DAP organising secretary Jeffrey Kumin, witnessed by Dr Bosi, Vice Chairman Peter Liew, State Committee Member Franky Lobinjang, Kiulu Chief Edmond Wong and Science and Technology Bureau Chief Dr Joseph Lee.

CREDIT TO HARRIS FOR RAISING THE ALARM BELL

2012-01-28T15:07:00.001+08:00

SAPP credits Harris for raising alarm bell on Felda land

Kota Kinabalu Jan 28, 2012: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) said it is surprising that it took former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh to raise the issue of the fate of 300,000 acres of State land allocated to Felda to be developed for 20,000 settlers from the East Coast.

Its Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah, said this in response to the Daily Express front page report on Harris urging the Federal Government not to proceed with the listing of Felda Holdings, especially involving the said Felda land in Lahad Datu.

"It takes Harris, a strong Barisan Nasional (BN) supporter to make the issue public. Why is the BN State Government remaining silent over this matter and did not take immediate action on it, especially when it concerns State land and 20,000 settlers?" he asked.

He said allowing the said land to be involved in the listing of Felda Holdings would not only defeat the purpose of the State Government allocating it to Felda, but also indicate that State leaders are actually involved in trying to benefit from the listing.

He said the party shared Harris' fear that by listing Felda and its shares traded in the market it means anybody can buy including foreigners and not necessarily landless Malaysians, saying the party is also concerned that certain individuals in Umno are behind the listing move for their personal gain.

The listing move has nothing to do with enriching Felda Holdings or the settlers under it but just for the personal gain of certain Umno leaders, he said, hoping the settlers concerned will also object to the move.

Harris, in the report, said the people feel the exercise is very dangerous economically and will deprive the people of Sabah of land, especially bumiputeras.

The people of Sabah have already lost 906,303acres which was reserved for 60,000 landless Sabahans in the 1980s, he said.

Harris also reminded that the main objective of the government allocating nearly 300,000acres to Felda was for the development of oil palm plantations for 20,000 settlers from the east coast.

BAYI GIGIT KEPALA ULAR

2012-01-28T14:14:00.001+08:00

Bayi gigit kepala ular

BAITULMAQDIS 28 Jan. – Seorang bayi berusia setahun mengejutkan ibunya apabila dia menggigit kepala ular yang masuk ke dalam rumahnya di timur bandar pelabuhan Haifa, semalam.

Ghadir Aleeyan berkata, dia berasa amat terkejut selepas melihat terdapat kepala ular sebesar 30 sentimeter dalam mulut anaknya, Imad Aleeyan.

“Ketika kejadian, saya sedang membancuh susu untuk Imas dan ternampak kepala ular di dalam mulutnya,” katanya. – AFP

PROTECT SETTLERS’ INTEREST - BUMBURING

2012-01-28T12:01:00.001+08:00

Protect Felda settlers’ interest – Bumburing

KOTA KINABALU Jan 28, 2012: UPKO Nasional Deputy President Datuk Wilfred M. Bumburing yesterday urged the state Government to protect the interest of local settlers now in the Umas and Dent Peninsula FELDA Schemes.

Bumburing who was responding to the statement by former chief Minister Datuk Harris Salleh on the FELDA issues, was of the opinion that any move by FELDA and the Federal government which might affect lands under both the Felda schemes and the local settlers must be avoided at all cost.

The Tuaran Barisan Nasional (BN) liaison chairman in a statement yesterday said that he fully supports Harris’ opinion that there is a need to protect the interest of local settlers in the Umas and Dent Peninsula FELDA Schemes.

“Personally I know the background of the entry of FELDA into Sabah as the planning stage was started during the Berjaya era and implemented while PBS was at the helm of the Sabah State Government.

“I was involved in locating and interviewing potential settlers from various villages around the States and subsequently moving them to be re-settled at both the FELDA schemes.

“The negotiations of which I was involved pertains to number of acreages that FELDA would be allowed to develop and implement a settlement scheme and which was agreed by the State Government at that time,” Bumburing said.

According to him, he had urged the State government to stop FELDA from corporatizing or privatizing any FELDA settlement schemes in Sabah for the sake of the settlers and also the State Government.

“Along this line, I was informed that FELDA might have developed areas larger than was stipulated in the original agreement. As such, I asked that the FELDA management reveals to us the actual acreages that they have develop so far as if what was informed to me is true than FELDA is reaping more money and profits from outside the allotted areas given to them. Also, if that was so, I urge the State Government to take every step in order to reclaim those areas that might have been encroached by FELDA and give them to landless bonafide Sabahans,” he said.

On another note, Bumburing said that he was very disturbed to learn that income earned by other settlers in Peninsular Malaysia are still being deducted although they have already paid in full the initial development expenses which they need to reimburse FELDA.

He said that he was made to understand that these deductions was for the purpose of replanting expenditures and added that as far as he was informed, the deduction of income from oil palm produce would stop once the development expenses were paid in full and any expenditures incurred during replanting exercise would be borne by the settlers themselves.

In this case, should any of the settlers decide to carry out replanting on their lot, FELDA must actually utilized the funds which they have deducted from the income of the settlers, he pointed out.

“I am also questioning the employment policy of FELDA as I was told, even lorry drivers were imported from Peninsular Malausia. I want FELDA to also inform the public on the employment and recruitment structure as FELDA being a Federal agency must also abide by the Borneonisation process as outlined in the 20-points agreement and the Malaysia Agreement.

“Being a part of the party that put those settlers in the FELDA Schemes, I have the locus standi and the right to voice out this issues and urge the State Government to do everything in their power to retain those lands under the settlers’ control and to issue them with Land Titles,” he stressed.

SABAH-BASED TV CHANNEL PROPOSAL A POSITIVE MOVE

2012-01-28T11:08:00.001+08:00

Sabah-based TV channel proposal a positive move – Iking

KOTA KINABALU Jan 28, 2012: The proposal to have a Sabah-based TV channel is a positive move as Sabah has such beautiful and diverse cultural background of different languages, culture and traditions.

A Malaysian personality, an emcee and an occasional actress Dahlia Daphne Eleanor Mozes Iking said music, dance and legends in Sabah were unique and was yet to be explored and exposed.

Daphne and Azmi

“Having a dedicated channel to showcase the beauty and talent of our culture and people would not just give an economical advantage to the artistes, TV and film producers of our state but allows other states or countries to understand better the heritage of what we have to offer with this specially dedicated channel.

“With regards to the sentiments of some artistes who feel slighted with ‘negative comments’ coming from the folk here in ‘semenanjung’, take it with a pinch of salt. Perhaps it’s just purely coincidence,” she told The Borneo Post yesterday when asked to respond to a recent statement from artistes in the state who believed that a Sabah-based TV channel would be the best platform to nurture singing talents among Sabahans.

The 33-year-old former Unduk Ngadau (beauty queen) who grew up in Penampang also said she received super warm response from her friends in Kuala Lumpur and they loved Sabah and Sarawak.

“They love how we communicate (the Sabah slang); in fact if Sabah TV ever takes off, the main language should be the Sabahan Malay that is understood by all Sabahans,” she added during an online interview.

Daphne played a con-woman in Belukar, a Malaysian independent film released in 2010 and won the national ‘Most Promising Actress’ for the role.

She was the co-host of TV3′s Ringgit Sense, host of reality show Explorace, in 2004 for two years, then went on to host PNB World Investment Challenge on TV3, Vector Challenge on 8TV, Explorace Kids on TV3 and Health and Beauty Capsule in May/Antabax. She also reported for the Brand and TV3 documentary Majalah Tiga.

In 2006 she gained a supporting role as ‘Daphne’ in TV8 drama series KL Lights. With Nazrudin Rahman, she hosted My Australian Adventure as a travelogue on TV3. Later that year she moved to NTV 7 and hosted The Breakfast Show. She was a supporting actress in a tele-movie Adik in 2007 and played a minor role in a Singaporean drama, District 9 Pilot.

In 2009, Iking was nominated in the Malaysian Shout! Awards as the host of the Breakfast Show and currently hosts the new talk show, Bella.

Meanwhile, her manager and business partner Azmi Abdul Rahman said Sabah artistes should stop having a ‘subsidy’ mentality, that everything would come to you without effort.

“You can’t wait for the peninsular folk to help set it (Sabah TV) up. Just go for it.

“You also need to dampen the notion that the ‘semenanjungs’ are looking down on you if you think you are good. Go ahead and show your talent. There is definitely more than enough talent in Sabah,” he said.

Azmi added that Sabahans should look at local singing reality shows where the good ones often came from Sabah and Sarawak.

Both Daphne and Azmi are working on projects like 2REDchairs (www.2redchairs.tumblr.com), a street discussion on so-called taboo subjects, like religion, trans-gender and homosexuality.

On January 20, representatives of local artistes, Janrywine J.Lusin and Jimmy Palikat, in a joint press conference shared their concerns and support for a proper TV channel that Sabahans can watch and listen as an option to the entertainment industry in Malaysia.

Lusin said Sabah should have her own TV channel immediately as a platform to expose the singing talents of Sabahans and not just to upload them on the Internet because entertainment in Sabah deserves to be watched.

Meanwhile, Jimmy who is famous for his song, ‘Tanak Kampung’ which has been translated into Kelantanese, Bidayuh and even adopted into a Rock version by one of the bands in Peninsular Malaysia, said it was not fair to treat Sabahans as a stepchild in the Malaysian music industry, especially when they were equally talented as those in the peninsula.

Palikat said his single ‘Tanak Kampung’ took more than one year to reach out to the whole country because there was no platform to promote, unlike songs from the peninsula that could easily be promoted on TVs and national radios because most channels were peninsula-based.

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SEJARAH TV MALAYSIA SABAH @ RANGKAIAN KETIGA

Bagaimanapun pada bulan November 1967 rancangan ini telah mendapat perhatian yang lebih bermakna daripada Ketua Menteri Sabah, YAB Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun, bila beliau mengumumkan kesediaan Kerajaan Negeri untuk membiayainya.

Penubuhan saluran TV akhirnya berjaya diperkenalkan di Negeri Sabah atas dorongan kuat daripada Ketua Menteri Sabah dan pada 18 Januari 1969 Kerajaan Negeri mengumumkan 'Lampu Hijau' untuk memulakan projek tersebut.

UMNO DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE TO MONITOR MEMBERS TO ENSURE NO BETRAYAL DURING GENERAL ELECTION

2012-01-28T00:47:00.001+08:00

Najib: Umno disciplinary committee to monitor members from now

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno disciplinary committee will monitor activities of its members from now to ensure they do not betray the party during general election.

Party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Umno would act against irresponsible members immediately and not wait until after the election as had been done before.

“The committee will monitor those whose activities are detrimental to the party and will act accordingly.

“We do not want actions by these members to cost the party come election time,” he told a press conference after chairing the first Umno supreme council meeting for the year.

Najib added that the management committee headed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would look into the matter.

“During election, parties are bound to face unhapiness and dissatisfaction among those who are not selected as candidates.

“Even actions by their (candidates) supporters can be damaging to the party so we need to act accordingly,” he added.

Najib said the meeting also discussed on the state of preparedness of Umno election machinery, adding while the party was satisfied, more could be done to ensure its effectiveness.

ANWAR MAHU BERDEBAT DENGAN NAJIB

2012-01-28T00:18:00.001+08:00

Anwar tetap mahu debat dengan Najib

SABAK BERNAM – Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengalu-alukan idea berdebat dengan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sebagaimana disarankan oleh Merdeka Center berdasarkan penemuannya baru-baru ini.

Sehubungan itu kata Anwar, debat yang disyorkan wajar bagi menjawab persoalan-persoalan yang ditimbulkan terhadap Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“Masing-masing buat tuduhan, kita tuduh Barisan Nasional rasuah dan gagal tadbir negara, BN tuduh kita tidak tahu urus ekonomi, tuduh Anwar jadi alat DAP, masing-masing ada pendekatan dan kita cadang debat.

“Apa yang kita sebut, kita pertahankan, itu sebabnya kita perlu debat. Insya-Allah kita menang dan dapat tawan Putrajaya,” kata beliau pada Program Mesra Rakyat Bersama Penasihat Ekonomi Selangor di Stadium Sabak Bernam di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama dalam siri ceramah itu Ketua Wanita PKR, Zuraida Kamarudin; pakar perlembagaan, Prof Dr Aziz Bari; Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Sekinchan, Ng Suee Lim dan Yang Dipertua Pas Sabak Bernam yang juga Timbalan Pesuruhjaya II Pas Selangor, Sallehen Mukhyi.

Ketika dihubungi Sinar Harian Online awal minggu ini, Pengarah Eksekutif Merdeka Center, Ibrahim Suffian berkata Perdana Menteri dan Ketua Pembangkang wajar mengadakan satu debat terbuka berkenaan dasar dan pendekatan kerajaan menguruskan negara.

Menurut Ibrahim, maklumat yang dikumpulkan hasil perbincangan kumpulan berfokus melibatkan profesional-profesional Melayu menunjukkan, mereka berminat untuk melihat satu debat membabitkan kedua-dua pemimpin berkenaan.

"Maklumat ini, kami peroleh hasil perbincangan dengan kumpulan profesional Melayu baru-baru ini, mereka mahu kedua-dua Anwar dan Najib mengadakan debat, membincangkan isu-isu yang besar, isu rakyat dan isu negara... bukannya isu-isu peribadi tetapi lebih kepada kepentingan rakyat.

"Saya nampak seolah-olah ada satu perubahan dalam kehendak dan keinginan di kalangan rakyat, mereka mahu satu budaya baru, diadakan debat (seperti di negara-negara lain), daripada kempen memburuk-burukkan satu sama lain," kata Ibrahim.

Bagaimanapun, dalam reaksinya Umno berpendapat bahawa cadangan debat terbuka antara Najib dan Anwar bagi membincangkan beberapa isu dianggap tidak sesuai untuk dilaksanakan.

Dalam reaksinya semalam, bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata, debat antara Najib dan Anwar tidak perlu diadakan kerana tidak mengubah pendirian masing-masing.

Sementara itu, PKR mengalu-alukan idea agar diadakan satu debat terbuka antara Najib dan Anwar kerana pendekatan sedemikian perlu bagi menyuburkan budaya membahas dan membincangkan isu-isu menyentuh kepentingan rakyat dari semasa ke semasa secara konstruktif, membabitkan pemimpin-pemimpin negara.

Dalam ceramahnya malam tadi, Anwar juga mengulangi janji yang dibuat sekiranya dapat menawan Putrajaya.

"Hari ini kita tawan Putrajaya, esok harga minyak turun. Dua minggu selepas kita tawan Putrajaya, kita akan minta cara untuk turunkan kadar elektrik,” katanya.

“Rakyat mampu membuat pilihan, BN pernah perintah Selangor, PR masuk empat tahun perintah Selangor dan rakyat perlu diberikan peluang untuk membuat pilihan," kata Anwar lagi.

Anwar yang juga Ketua Umum PKR memberitahu, derita rakyat perlu diatasi begitu juga dengan rasuah dan penindasan.

"Sebab itulah kita kata rakyat ada pilihan. Rakyat mesti bangkit tentukan masa depan mereka,” katanya.

PELUPUSAN PINJAMAN PTPTN RETORIK?

2012-01-27T19:47:00.001+08:00

Janji Pembangkang Mahu Lupus PTPTN Retorik Politik

KUALA KRAU: Janji pembangkang yang kononnya mahu melupuskan pinjaman Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) dilihat lebih bersifat janji politik semata-mata dalam usaha mereka untuk meraih sokongan generasi muda.

Pengerusi PTPTN, Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said berkata, rakyat perlu sedar bahawa pihak pembangkang kini akan menabur pelbagai janji dalam usaha mereka meraih sokongan menjelang pilihan raya umum ke-13 nanti.

"Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang membuat janji itu sebenarnya tidak berpijak di bumi nyata.

"Semasa beliau (Anwar) menjadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri, beliau pernah mencadangkan supaya kerajaan meminjam daripada Tabung Kewangan Dunia (IMF) ketika berlaku krisis ekonomi, kini beliau mahu lupuskan pinjaman PTPTN pulak?," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BRIM) kepada 233 penduduk Dewan Undangan Negeri kawasan Kerdau di sini. Ismail yang juga anggota Parlimen Kuala Krau berkata, rakyat wajar berfikir secara rasional terhadap setiap janji yang dibuat pihak pembangkang ketika ini, kerana banyak janji yang dibuat itu langsung tidak berpijak di bumi nyata.

Beliau berkata, kerajaan pimpinan Barisan Nasional tidak pernah membuat janji yang tidak mungkin dapat ditunaikan, namun pelbagai program yang dibuat akan sentiasa mengambil kira kesejahteraan rakyat.

"Sejak 2007, PTPTN telah membelanjakan sebanyak RM38 bilion bagi membantu pelajar meneruskan pengajian di institusi pengajian tinggi awam dan swasta di negara ini," katanya.

Beliau berkata, pihak PTPTN juga telah banyak memberi pelbagai kelonggaran berhubung soal pembayaran balik pinjaman itu.

"Semua pihak harus sedar bahawa pinjaman yang dibayar itu, akan diberikan pula kepada pelajar lain yang mahu meneruskan pengajian mereka," katanya.

“ANYTIME I’LL KILL YOU AND YOUR FIVE CHILDREN….” – THREAT LANDS INDON IN JAIL

2012-01-27T14:32:00.001+08:00

Indonesian jailed for threat to kill woman

KOTA KINABALU Jan 27, 2012: An Indonesian man was put behind bars for seven months by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for threatening to kill a woman with a knife.

Mohd Riduan Parjoroman pleaded guilty before Magistrate Cindy McJuce Balitus to threatening a 53-year-old woman, inside a car in front of a shop in Menggatal on Jan 24.

The charge also stated that Riduan had made verbal threats against the woman by saying, “Anytime I’ll kill you and your five children. If I commit the offence, I will only be sentenced to death.”

The charge against Mohd Riduan was framed under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to seven years, or with a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Balitus also ordered Mohd Riduan to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving the custodial sentence.

In another case, a 52-year-old local man was fined RM25, in default, seven days’ jail, for threatening to cause hurt to a 41-year-old man.

Nazrie Osman admitted to committing the offence at a supermarket here Jan 20.

Meanwhile, a single mother was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.

Norazmah Lampa was caught committing the offence in a room at Kg Air, here on Jan 20.

During the raid the police found several used condoms and RM150 in cash.

Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Ismail Mohamad Razali prosecuted all the cases.

SINDIKET PROJEK IC PALSU MELEBAR SAYAP KE SEMENANJUNG?

2012-01-27T14:31:00.001+08:00

VVIP SABAH LINDUNGI SINDIKET IC PROJEK?

Saudara Pengarang,

ASSALAMUALAIKUM dan salam sejahtera. Dengan nama Allah yang maha pengasih lagi penyayang, maka terlaknatlah saya jika mengeluarkan penulisan fitnah atau hasutan.

Namun demi namaMu Ya Rabbi, atas nama negara yang tercinta dan rukun negara yang saya junjung, maka wajiblah saya menyebarkan apa yang perlu untuk ikhtibar kita semua. Seandainya penulisan ini penipuan semata-mata, maka terkutuklah saya dan seluruh keturunan saya.

Jika sebelum saya menyertai PDRM, mungkin saya tidak percaya, tetapi semenjak peristiwa di suatu malam, ketika saya bertugas sebagai Anggota Cawangan Khas), barulah aku percaya bahawa Sindiket IC Projek memang benar-benar wujud.

Baru-baru ini, pasukan kami diarahkan membuat serbuan ke sebuah rumah di kawasan perumahan Taman Cheras Indah, Ampang,Kuala Lumpur. Dalam serbuan itu, pasukan kami menahan sepasang suami isteri yang mengaku sebagai rakyat negeri Sabah.

Namun seorang rakan saya, orang lama dalam PDRM mengatakan mereka sebenarnya asalnya adalah Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (PATI) dari Filifina beretnik Suluk.

Pada malam itu, pasukan kami merampas pelbagai dokumen seperti borang sebuah pertubuhan bernama 'Pertubuhan Bumiputera Bersatu Sabah' dan dokumen rasmi berupa resit sementara dan beribu kad pengenalan yang sudahpun diproses!.

Namun pada malam itu juga, seorang VVIP telah mencampuri urusan dan bidang tugas kami kerana beliau telah menghubungi 'orang atasan' kami dan mengarahkan pasangan terbabit dilepaskan bersama bukti yang kami rampas!.

Mengapa dan kenapa? Satu persoalan yang sukar saya dan kumpulan saya jawab. Mungkin benarlah bahawa mana-mana pemimpin SABAH adalah kaki rasuah dan suka menyalahguna kuasa.

Pada malam itu, kami terpaksa menelan kata-kata VVIP itu yang menghina profession polis dan menghina bangsa Melayu Semenanjung. Kami bukannya Anti-Orang Sabah. Sebagai anggota PDRM, kami sayangkan Anak Negeri Sabah termasuk suku kaum Kadazan, Rungus, Murut dan sebagainya.

Bagi kami, etnik Bugis dan Suluk yang ada di Sabah hari ini adalah pendatang yang majoritinya masih berstatus pendatang haram.

Mungkin apa yang terjadi di Sabah suatu masa lalu adalah satu kesilapan bangsa Melayu Malaysia, tapi kali ini apakah patut ia dipendam begitu sahaja? Tidak!

Lihat gambar sedutan borang keahlian Pertubuhan Bumiputera Bersatu Sabah (terpaksa disunting untuk mengelak disalah guna untuk tujuan songsang); ada yang tidak kena kerana menyenaraikan dokumen yang dimiliki pemohon termasuk IMM13.

Pasukan kami menyemak dengan Jabatan Pendaftar Pertubuhan Sabah dan dimaklumkan bahawa Pertubuhan Bumiputera Bersatu Sabah tidak dalam rekod mereka. Sewajarnya KDN perlu segera menyiasat perkara ini dan membatalkan sebarang permohonan (jika ada) bagi mengelakkan kegiatan suami isteri ini berkembang biak semula.

Memandangkan rakyat Sabah semakin bangkit memberontak, maka Sindiket Kad Pengenalan Projek ini memindahkan operasi mereka ke Semenanjung kerana di sini masih ramai PATI Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Filipina, Thailand, Rohingya yang tidak berdokumen.

Salam Hormat,

“Kami Bukan Anjing”

BERKHIDMAT UNTUK NEGARA.

SB GELISAH

KOLEJ ”ROMPAK” DUIT SARA DIRI PTPTN PELAJAR?

2012-01-26T23:55:00.001+08:00

Pelajar Dakwa Kolej Swasta "Rompak" Duit Sara Diri PTPTN

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Jan (Bernama) -- Sekumpulan pelajar sebuah kolej swasta di Negeri Sembilan menggesa pihak berkenaan mengambil tindakan terhadap kolej itu, yang didakwa mereka "merompak" duit sara diri bulanan pelajar.

Kumpulan 432 pelajar tahun akhir itu mendakwa, daripada RM535 sebulan yang diberi Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN), hanya RM100 ditinggalkan di dalam akaun bank mereka oleh pihak pentadbir kolej tersebut.

"Sebelum ini saya dan rakan-rakan yang lain pernah menandatangani satu dokumen 'direct debit' yang dikeluarkan pihak kolej di awal permohonan untuk membuat pinjaman PTPTN," kata wakil mereka yang mahu dikenali sebagai Fisza.

Pelajar Diploma Pengurusan Perniagaan itu ditemui bersama tujuh lagi pelajar kolej tersebut ketika membuat aduan kepada Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM), di sini Khamis.

Kumpulan pelajar itu mendakwa perkara tersebut dialami semua pelajar termasuk mereka yang telah menamatkan pengajian.

"Kami juga telah membuat dua laporan polis tahun lepas, namun sehingga kini tiada tindakan diambil," katanya yang mendakwa pihak kolej turut mengugut mereka agar menarik balik laporan itu jika tidak mahu prestasi pengajian terjejas.

Menjawab soalan, Fisza berkata mereka dipaksa menandatangani dokumen 'direct debit' itu tanpa diberi penjelasan mengapa langkah tersebut dibuat.
Fisza juga mendakwa selepas mendapat tahu ada aduan dibuat terhadap kolej, pihak pengurusan bertindak membayar separuh daripada jumlah keseluruhan duit sara diri tersebut kepada enam pelajar.
Pihak kolej juga meminta pelajar menandatangani dokumen perakuan bahawa mereka telah menerima bayaran penuh dan tidak akan membuat sebarang tuntutan lain selepas itu, katanya.
Kata gadis itu, secara purata setiap pelajar tahun akhir kolej terbabit "kerugian" kira-kira RM18,000 bagi tempoh tiga tahun pengajian.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Sekretariat PPIM Dr Izham Nayan berkata tindakan kolej terbabit adalah satu penipuan dan pihak berwajib khususnya Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi harus mengambil tindakan menyiasat dakwaan pelajar.

"PTPTN pula perlu memastikan wang pinjaman yang disalurkan pergi tepat kepada sasaran, jangan biarkan kebebasan mutlak pihak pengurusan kolej untuk memastikan berapa jumlah wang sara diri yang perlu diberikan kepada para pelajar ini," katanya.

IS IT ALL ABOUT THE OIL?

2012-01-26T22:37:00.001+08:00

Sabah’s opposition divided over oil

Joe Fernandez

January 26, 2012: The oil royalty issue took centre stage during Chinese New Year, with Anwar pledging 20 percent if Pakatan comes to power, Jeffrey demanding 50 percent while there also those pushing for 70 percent.

Mere hours before Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim flew into Kota Kinabalu for a PKR Chinese New Year gathering, Jeffrey Kitingan issued a policy statement on the federal government’s payment of oil royalty to the oil states.

Jeffrey’s State Reform Party (STAR) wants a hike in the present measly five percent oil royalty to 50 percent, covering both the inner and outer waters. More on this in a while.

Earlier, just before Chinese New Year, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) revealed its economic plan which, among others, held out without much hope for a 20 percent oil royalty. The party’s other ideas for the oil and gas resources are to try and squeeze export duties, excise, and land taxes.

Anwar, meanwhile, in a fiery speech on the need for a change of the system from the present one based on race to an alternative model (read: Pakatan Rakyat) based on equal rights, promised 20 percent oil royalty to Sabah and Sarawak. Jeffrey, who was present, looked on impassively.

The fact that no one in Sarawak has so far had the guts to demand an upward review in the oil royalty seemed to be beside the point for Anwar. What Sabah gets, Sarawak too will get.

Indeed, the Sarawak leaders have so far been falling all over themselves – the opposition has been silent – to reassure the people that the measly five percent is more than compensated by generous financial allocations from the federal government. No doubt this explains why Sarawak is the second poorest state in Malaysia after Sabah.

Back to Anwar: he gave no details as usual on his 20 percent oil royalty pledge beyond warning this time that the monies will not be handed to local leaders through so-called projects but will instead be channelled directly to the people.

The pledge was one he has made before, beginning with the 2008 general election, and stepped up during the aborted and/or thwarted Sept 16, 2008 “people’s revolution”.

Too little, too late

But at least in Anwar’s case, he knows where he is going with the 20 percent pledge. He intends to honour the pledge when, according to him, his opposition alliance seizes the reins of power.

In Jeffrey’s case, he provides more details than Anwar – he (Anwar) will probably claim it is a work in progress – but not enough, according to his (Jeffrey’s) younger critics, “and no hope in hell of ever making his claim stick”.

Jeffrey’s critics – and by extension Anwar’s – fume that even his 50 percent oil royalty demand “is not good enough” and is “a case of too little, too late”.

They want a 70 percent oil royalty backdated to 1976 when a controversial oil agreement was signed between the federal and Sabah and Sarawak state governments. The benchmark is the various oil-producing provinces, in neighbouring Indonesia, which get 70 percet. The extreme are the Muslim republics in the Russian Federation which get to keep all their oil and gas revenue.

Hence, the critics consider the oil agreement invalid. Also, the people were not consulted, they point out.

Moreover, two former chief ministers – Mustapha Harun and Mohd Fuad Donald Stephens – refused to sign the oil agreement, both holding out for a much higher oil royalty of 20 percent or more.

Another factor against the oil agreement was that it was signed by former chief minister Harris Mohd Salleh within days of the death of Stephens, his predecessor, in a fiery air crash under mysterious circumstances which, except for the intervention on the part of Harris, would have taken more lives. These included, among others, then Sarawak chief minister Abdul Rahman Ya’kub and federal finance minister and Petronas chairman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Jeffrey’s master plan

The young critics, mostly from Jeffrey’s United Borneo Front (UBF), want in addition eight percent interest compounded yearly and backdated to 1976.

Still, there’s no hope that the federal government under the Barisan Nasional will ever revise the oil royalty, and if by some miracle they do, it’s likely to be confined to the inner waters only and be no more than 10 percent at the most.

The thinking is that there is a case for taking the oil royalty issue to the United Nations and the international community based on the denial of oil royalty from the outer waters and the virtual theft of oil and gas since 1976 by the federal government.

The international community is likely to rule that Malaysia will not be entitled to the outer waters of Sabah and Sarawak if both states are independent. So, there’s no reason why the two states should not be entitled to oil royalty from the outer waters as autonomous states in the Malaysian Federation.

Should the young critics win the day on the oil royalty issue, Jeffrey’s other ideas can come into play.

The local hero in Sabah politics envisages a holistic development of oil and gas resources under his party’s master plan. The federal government has paid little heed to the development of downstream oil and gas industries in Sabah and Sarawak. Instead, Petronas has focused on development such as infrastructure in the non-oil states.

Anwar, under his 20 percent pledge, may also do well to adopt the other ideas in the Jeffrey’s master plan.

JEFFREY FACTOR IN SABAH POLITICS

2012-01-26T22:31:00.003+08:00

Jeffrey factor in Sabah politics

Umno-Putrajaya's divided politics is affecting the ground in Sabah and giving Jeffrey Kitingan a helpful hand.

KOTA KINABALU Jan 26, 2012: If you’re an advertising man, you will liken politics to a “product” for which the end-users are the citizens. For the citizens to buy into the “product”, the spokesperson must be able to communicate the product’s “Unique Selling Propositions” (USP) to the citizen.

Jeffrey Kitingan’s USP is simply “Sabah for Sabahans”.

If there’s one man in Sabah who has “bled” from the insane political “kicks, punches and lynchings”, for his bullish stance on self-determination for Sabah, it’s Jeffrey.

Despite his 31-month detention under Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1991, he has remained resolute in his political drive to abolish all laws which he feels are an affront to human and civil rights.

He has dismissed rumour-mongers, lethal media reports, political forecasts and soothsayers, doggedly determined to keep Sabah for Sabahans

Jeffrey is standing alone, dignified and refusing to align himself or his Borneo Alliance idea with either opposition Pakatan Rakyat or ruling Barisan Nasional.

He trusts neither. And anyone declaring their support for either one is viewed with suspicion. Jeffrey’s agenda is the reinstatement of the terms in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement for Sabah.

His agenda is to right the wrongs instituted against Sabah by the federal ruling coalition. His agenda is to restore Sabah’s dignity and self-respect. His agenda is to recover Sabah’s “autonomous state” as listed in the 20-point agreement.

‘This is the time’

Sabahans, Jeffrey has repeatedly said, have been financially squeezed and economically sapped by the federal government and its inequitable distribution of revenue derived from the state’s own resources.

He hammered home this message to a highly-charged audience here earlier this month.

Some 4,000 people braved the rain and distance to see Jeffrey launch his political vehicle – the Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party (STAR) on Jan 6, 2012.

Jeffrey is STAR’s Sabah chairman and has already received more than 60,000 membership applications to join the party. This within a short three weeks since it sent out 100,000 application forms.

His battle cry to his people now is simply: “Kita mesti menentukan nasib kita sendiri. Jangan biar orang lain menentukannya untuk kita. Kalau bukan kita, siapa lagi? Kalau bukan sekarang, bila lagi? Ini kali lah!” (We must decide our own destiny. Don’t let others decide it for us. If not us, who else? If not now, when. This is the time!)

He continues to do this at every gathering and at every function.

Is Jeffrey’s call for Sabah autonomy hurting Chief Minister and Umno Sabah president Musa Aman? The grapevine here has its own theories.

One tale claims that Musa is rattled by the groundswell of support Jeffrey is generating and that he and his brother Joseph Pairin Kitingan have fallen out.

The other story speaks of Musa’s secret delight in this new psy-war which is part of a “bigger” picture.

Deliverance and greater autonomy

But both tales revolve around “greater autonomy” for Sabah after the 13th general election. The details of the “greater autonomy”, however, heavily depends on the deliverance.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is apparently agreeable to “some” changes. But the deal is only “viable” if Sabah delivers 100 percent in the general election.

Prior to 2008, Musa would have easily shook hands on it, but this time the situation is different.

Musa does not have the same “dictatorial power” over Sabah Umno that his peer Taib Mahmud has over his Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) party in Sarawak.

Not only is Musa faced with internal turmoil within Sabah Umno but he also seems unable to mend fences within the BN coalition.

Much of this is anchored in “Umno-Putrajaya’s direct interference” in Sabah.

Said one insider: “Umno-Putrajaya is so divided that it is now a fight for who will be the next prime minister and whose team you are on.

“Najib himself is fighting for survival and his biggest problem is loyalty within his system.

“Musa has pledged his support for Najib but wants Najib to bring in Shafie. That’s where the trouble lies.”

The insider was referring to Semporna MP and Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal.

Shafie’s game

That Shafie is a thorn in Musa’s side is an understatement.

“Everyone knows Musa is consolidating his grip (on Umno Sabah). He’s looking for integrity and loyalty. Many of Shafie’s supporters are feeling threatened, ” said a Shafie supporter.

According to the supporter, Shafie scored a coup with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein’s recent visit to the state.

“If there was a doubt about his (Shafie) waning influence in Sabah Umno, it is now removed with Muhyiddin and Hishamuddin’s visit,” the supporter said, adding that the message has gone to Musa.

Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president, and Hishammuddin were reportedly here to gauge the situation on the ground. With them was Shafie.

Shafie is also rumoured to be behind the recently formed Kadazandusun Murut Association Malaysia (KDM).

According to blogger Selvarajah Somiah, the main aim of forming KDM was to redirect the support of the communities towards Umno.

The second agenda is to “take KDM away from PBS, Upko and the PBRS” (all BN coalition partners).

“Everyone knows that Musa has a perfect relationship with PBS and its president Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

“PBS is the second most important party in BN Sabah after Umno. So in order to weaken Musa, Pairin and PBS must be weakened,” he wrote.

Apart from Musa, Shafie is the most visible face of Sabah Umno. He allegedly has his eyes on the chief minister’s seat. Also in the run is current State Legislative Assembly Speaker Salleh Keruak, who has Musa’s support.

‘Calculated plan’

Against this background is the speculation of a “calculated plan” by indirect allies.

On his own, Musa is not likely to be able to thrash out any real deals with Putrajaya, but insiders here believe that local “allies” of Musa and Pairin will be able to do this for Sabahans.

This spin is anchored in the belief that Jeffrey has Pairin’s blessing in bringing STAR to Sabah and launching the Borneo Agenda.

It also took into account Musa and Pairin’s friendship, and that Musa has openly declared that Pairin’s Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is BN Sabah’s strongest ally.

It also took into account that the new KDM cannot work well with Pairin or his immediate likely successors. Besides, it was speculated that the new KDM members want both Pairin and his immediate successors to quit the scene and pave the way for the younger KDM professionals to take over.

But this will be somewhat difficult in PBS and easier in STAR.

A “sizeable” portion of STAR’s current membership is made up of young KDM professionals who are battling for recognition and self-respect in their own motherland.

Jeffrey’s appeal is his fearlessness and consistency.

In an FMT article last year, guest writer Nilakrisna James asked Jeffrey how he survived the ISA experience.

His response was simply: ““I survived by playing the role of a researcher… I studied and observed the behaviour of detainees in confinement.

“Behind the negative is the positive. In that situation, I couldn’t see the world with my eyes so I travelled with my mind and learnt to function through my spirit.

“Once you have gone through death, you become fearless.”

IF YOU CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN

2012-01-26T22:31:00.001+08:00

Stop abusing us online, Soi Lek tells youths

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has berated netizens, particularly youths, for using the Internet as an avenue to abuse national leaders.

The MCA president said government leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, now use social media tools to engage with the young but often end up being “scolded every day” by Internet users.

“I have my own Facebook account too... about 130,000 (followers) now and every day people scold you... which is not a good thing.

“Youths must understand that people are entitled to a difference of opinion and if they are the very people who talk about democracy and freedom of expression, they should not be rubbishing others,” Dr Chua (picture) toldThe Malaysian Insiderduring an interview at his office last week.

He was commenting on Najib’s recent launch of a new Facebook page — “Ah Jib Gor” — a move by the prime minister to reach out to the community and for Malaysians to get to know him as an ordinary member of society.

But while Najib’s page quickly drew thousands of “likes” within hours, it just as quickly spawned new pages created by unknown users to counter “Ah Jib Gor”, such as “Dislike Ah Jib Gor” and “Say No to Ah Jib Gor”.

In a no-holds-barred manner, pro-opposition Internet users have been using these pages to criticise the prime minister and other members of his administration.

An upset Dr Chua told the users that their actions would not make them “educated” people and ring hollow their cry for democracy and freedom of speech.

“Do not rubbish others because you are the ones saying the government should be open and hold more dialogues but when people want to engage with you, you rubbish them,” he said.

He added that the hallmark of an educated person is one who has the ability to articulate his or her frustrations after listening to both sides.

“It is making an informed decision based on the conflicting views presented... an ability to draw our own conclusions.

“If you just know how to read and rubbish others, you are merely literate, not educated,” he said.

PKR TELLS WHY IT IS CONFIDENT THIS TIME

2012-01-26T22:30:00.001+08:00

PKR tells why it is confident this time

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) firmly believes that the agenda for change this time around will become a reality "because of the misdeeds by Umno-BN".

Organising chairman of PKR Kota Kinabalu CNY Open House at SM Kian Kok on Tuesday, Dr CY Vun, claimed that the performance of the Umno-BN government was getting serious and that there was a lot of mismanagement.

"So, we believe that the agenda for change this time around is here to become a reality because of the long list of misdeed by the present State Government," he said.

Citing the unjustified award of business monopoly such as road maintenance in Sabah, he said there were only two contractors carrying out road maintenance throughout Sabah and that they were getting contracts worth about RM300 million a year.

He said this alone deprived about 300 contractors of opportunities for government-funded projects.

As a result many BX, C, D, E licence holders and workers with technical-skill have become jobless, he said.

He said an elected government is given only a five-year term and that after the period is over, it has to seek re-election.

"But why were these super contractors given a concession of 15 years to carry out road maintenance project by the Sabah BN government?

Who is behind the two concession contractors?" he asked.

Citing another case, he said the Land and Survey Director recently announced that after June Sedco be given the sole right to extract sand throughout Sabah.

"If this monopoly were to be carried out, there will be many people losing business and as a result many would also lose their jobs," he predicted.

The Chief Minister as the Chief Executive of the State Government administration, Dr Vun said, ought to know the Rules of limitation of Power especially in the planning of micro-economics of fund for development.

The director, he said, should apply extra care in monetary control because the fund or money used for the development or projects belonged to Sabahans and not monopoly by KLSE public listed company.

To this, he said that in Pakatan Rakyat, they all share a common goal and that is to put the socio-economic situation in order so as to overcome adverse environmental issues and unsound political development.

"It is our wish, the people of Sabah, to be able to enjoy maximum benefit from the government and not getting bothered by the illegal immigrants who could become citizens in just a short period.

"Or to benefit only a few cronies of the top leaders of the present BN government which is now in the disguise of 1Malaysia slogan," he said.

Dr Vun said the Barisan Nasional didn't even come close to offer solutions to the long list of problems that have affected the people.

In fact, he claimed there have been increasing dissatisfaction with regards to the government's approach of handling the country's economic welfare, ridding of mismanagement, injustice, corrupt practice and issuance of identity cards to illegal immigrants that caused bitter feelings among the local communities.

The sudden explosion in the state's population and tremendous increase in number of voters have posed dissatisfaction among the people of Sabah, he said.

Current and alternative media, he said, have been publishing reports of illegal immigrants holding new Mykad and given better privileges compared to local Chinese, Sino and Indian because they have gained Bumiputera status overnight.

He said Sabah BN government is silent on the immigrants matter.

"Illegal immigrants who have been given the Mykad are enjoying the benefits of Malaysian education facilities, medical, occupying government land and conducting businesses.

"Many of these illegal immigrants are also selling contraband on the streets, which are incurring huge losses to the Government to the tune of millions of ringgit annually in tax."

Dr Vun claimed that the BN needs these "overnight citizens" to enable them to maintain the Sabah BN "Fixed Deposit" tag.

"We did not have this problem 30 or 40 years ago because the political power could be balanced by the KDMs and the Chinese"s.

He alleged the BN government used the illegal immigrants to outnumber the locals without considering the adverse effect on the future of the locals and economy of the state.

He said they looked forward to the time when Pakatan Rakyat become the government, during which the agenda for change becomes a reality.

The agenda for change, he said incorporates various interests for the people of Sabah such as the 20 per cent oil royalty payment for the state.

He said this would certainly provide more funds for more infrastructure development for Sabah while at the same time bring benefit in terms of economy for the people.

"There are many things that should not go the way they are and the people, especially those in the rural areas, are still victims of widespread injustice.

"The people are frustrated and yet helplessÉbut the time has come for us to unite to regain our rights and privileges as rightful citizens," he said.

In this respect, he called on the people to give full support to Pakatan de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to ensure the agenda for change is a success.

Dr Vun said this is possible by denying BN the mandate to return to power by giving the votes to Pakatan Rakyat.

He said that it is high time more infrastructure is built such as roads including more highways to support better and effective public transport.

"If Pakatan Rakyat comes to power, I am very sure that we will receive the 20 per cent oil royaltyÉonly then we would be able to see better progress and development throughout Sabah," he said.

He said when the day comes, the people would be seeing many things put in order including riddance of business monopoly that benefit only a few cronies of top leaders of the BN government.

TERSERAH PADA PUCUK PIMPINAN - LAJIM

2012-01-26T22:29:00.001+08:00

Lajim serah pada pucuk pimpinan sama ada bertanding di PRU 13

BEAUFORT 26 Jan 2012: Ketua Umno Bahagian Beaufort, Datuk Seri Lajim Haji Ukin, menyerahkan kepada pucuk pimpinan parti dan rakyat di Parlimen Beaufort sama ada akan bertanding atau tidak jika tidak dicalonkan oleh BN pada PRU ke-13.

“Saya menyerahkan terlebih dahulu kedudukan saya kepada pucuk pimpinan BN sama ada mencalonkan saya semula pada PRU akan datang atau sebaliknya. Saya tidak kisah jika tidak dicalonkan tetapi jika rakyat Klias dan Parlimen Beaufort amnya mahukan saya bertanding maka saya akan turutkan keputusan rakyat,” katanya.

Lajim yang juga Timbalan Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan Malaysia berkata demikian semasa merasmikan Majlis Pecah tanah Tapak pembinaan Masjid Kampung Klias Kecil pada Selasa.

Beliau juga mengulas perbincangan hangat dalam Facebook, kononnya beliau tidak akan dicalonkan semula oleh mereka yang berselindung di sebalik nama samaran seolah-olah mereka itu pakar penganalisis politik namun demikian yang sebenarnya mereka ini golongan penabur fitnah.

“Apa yang jelas di sini mereka ini adalah golongan pengecut, ini adalah ibarat lempar batu sembunyi tangan kerana tidak berani mendedahkan identiti mereka dan mereka inilah sebenarnya perosak dan pengkhianat yang boleh menghancurkan perpaduan rakyat demi kepentingan peribadi mereka,” jelasnya.

Bagaimanapun Lajim berkata, lambat laun rakyat akan tahu siapa mereka ini dan jangan sampai kemarahan rakyat itu akan merosakkan diri mereka.

Menyentuh pembinaan Masjid Kampung Klias, beliau meyakinkan rakyat bahawa kerajaan pasti akan melaksanakannya.

Beliau meminta penduduk di kawasan itu supaya tidak mempercayai pelbagai fitnah yang kononnya kerajaan tidak ada peruntukan untuk melaksanakan pembinaan masjid itu.

“Saya memberikan keyakinan bahawa kerajaan akan melaksanakan pembinaan masjid Kampung Klias itu sebelum PRUakan datang,” kata Lajim sambil menambah sebelum ini beliau pernah berjanji akan membina beberapa buah masjid antaranya Masjid Kampung Rancangan Klias dan Kampung Takuli, oleh itu rakyat kini boleh melihat sendiri kedua-dua masjid berkenaan kini sedang dalam pembinaan.

Di majlis sama, Lajim menyampaikan sumbangan kepada warga emas.

Hadir sama pada Majlis itu Timbalan Ketua Umno Bahagian Beaufort, Isnin Hj Aliasnih dan Naibnya, Datuk Kimjus Duim, serta Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Beaufort, Mohd Ishak Ibrahim, serta Ketua Penerangan BN Beaufort, Jali Nordin.

PATI BUNUH TIGA SEKELUARGA KERANA BALAS DENDAM?

2012-01-26T22:28:00.001+08:00

LELAKI TEMPATAN MAUT AKIBAT MERCUN

DICARI ... Hamza memegang gambar Amin Hatai, 23, bangsa Suluk yang dikehendaki polis dalam siasatan kes bunuh di ladang Kampung Kalumpang, Semporna.

KOTA KINABALU 26 Jan 2012: Hamza berkata demikian kepada wartawan semasa satu sidang akhbar mengenai kejadian kes bunuh yang melibatkan warga asing di sebuah ladang kelapa sawit di Semporna.

Tiga ahli keluarga berbangsa Suluk mati setelah diserang oleh sembilan orang lelaki pendatang tanpa izin (PATI) juga berbangsa Suluk di ladang kelapa sawit Kampung Kalumpang pada 22 Januari lalu.

Tiga ahli keluarga yang maut dalam serangan itu dikenal pasti sebagai Jaafar, 70, anaknya, Ismail Jaafar, 50, serta isterinya, Salmiah Iran, 46.

Polis menemui mayat Jaafar dan anaknya di rumah kongsi ladang berkenaan manakala mayat Salmiah dijumpai berdekatan sebuah ladang kelapa sawit pada 23 Januari.

“Polis percaya Salmiah yang cedera semasa pergaduhan telah cuba menyelamatkan diri namun mati di ladang berdekatan,” kata Hamza.

Mayat suspek utama dikenali sebagai Jul Bin Mohamad Nun, 37, yang cedera semasa pergaduhan ditemui polis di Kampung Tagasan pada 23 Januari.

Sepasukan polis pergi ke tempat kejadian setelah mendapat maklumat awam pada jam 5.30 petang.

Siasatan menunjukkan kesemua suspek merupakan bekas pekerja di ladang terbabit telah menyewa sebuah lori untuk pergi ke ladang itu yang jauhnya kira-kira 20 kilometer.

“Polis sudah melancarkan operasi memburu kesemua supek yang terlibat dalam kejadian bunuh itu dan telah mengenal pasti identiti mereka,” kata Hamza.

Polis berjaya menahan tiga suspek dan salah seorang telah dikenal pasti terlibat secara langsung dalam kejadian bunuh di Ladang kampung Kalumpang.

Hamza menasihatkan awam serta pelancong dalam dan luar negara supaya tidak merasa panik dengan kejadian bunuh itu.

“Ini merupakan kes terpencil dan melibatkan warga asing yang berkemungkinan berpunca dari perasaan dendam semasa di negara mereka sendiri,” kata Hamza.

Kes disiasat di bawah Seksyen 302 Kanun Kesiksaan.

Sementara itu, Hamza meminta orang ramai yang mengetahui di mana Amin Bin Hatai, 23, bangsa Suluk berada supaya memaklumkan serta merta ke balai polis berhampiran.

Dia (Amin) merupakan salah seorang suspek yang terlibat dalam kes pembunuhan tiga ahli sekeluarga di ladang Kampung Kalumpang.

Seorang lelaki tempatan mati ketika bermain mercun pada tengah malam perayaan Tahun Baru Cina.

Mangsa yang dikenali sebagai Shaow Yong, 26, mati di tempat kejadian pada tengah malam 23 Januari.

Siasatan polis mendapati mangsa yang baru mendirikan rumah tangga dipercayai membakar dua batang mercun besar di hadapan rumahnya di Taman Seputeh, salah satu daripada mercun itu meletup serta merta dan satu tidak.

Ketika mangsa memeriksa mercun yang gagal meletup, tiba-tiba mercun itu meletup di hadapan mukanya menyebabkan mangsa mengalami cedera serius di muka dan mati di tempat kejadian.

Pesuruhjaya Polis (PjP) Sabah Datuk Hj Hamza Hj Taib ketika diminta mengulas kejadian itu berkata kes diklasifikasikan sebagai ‘mati mengejut’.

“Polis akan menjalankan siasatan menyeluruh termasuk dari mana mangsa mendapat mercun berkenaan kerana polis tidak ada mengeluarkan permit untuk penjualan mercun kepada awam,” kata Hamza.

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Nine foreigners hunted for murder

Police are looking for a group of immigrants in connection with the slaying of a family of three at a plantation in Kalumpang, Semporna on Sunday.

“It is an isolated case involving foreigners of Suluk ethnicity and we believe the motive to be vengeance,”

State Commissioner of Police Datuk Hamza Taib

INTERVIEW WITH A TRILLIONAIRE

2012-01-26T13:04:00.001+08:00

Enter the ‘Emperor of Indonesia’

A Tanjung Malim-born Dutch citizen claims he is a descendent of the Emperor of China and that his bloodline is linked to royal families in India, Java and Siam.

IT is not every day that you get to meet a trillionaire. So when I was invited to interview Kamal Ashnawi, a person I've never heard of, I said yes.

On Saturday morning, at a Kuala Lumpur hotel coffee house together with two of Kamal's aides, I waited for the so-called trillionaire.

Wearing a baseball cap, long-sleeved shirt and jeans, he sauntered over to our table. The two aides bowed, pressed their palms together to their forehead as if greeting royalty and kissed his hands.

“We call him Tuanku as he is a sultan from Indonesia,” one of the aides whispered to me.

The money trail: Kamal with a document which he claims proves that he is a trillionaire.

According to Kamal, he is a Dutch citizen born in Tanjung Malim, Perak, on Jan 1, 1964.

“I'm a descendent of the Emperor of China and in a history that went haywire, my family fled from China to Kedah. I traced my bloodline to the royal families of China, India, Java and Siam,” claimed the man who is also known as Raden Mas Prabhu Gusti Agung Ki Asmoro Wijoyo.

“I grew up in Tanjung Malim and my family here is very simple and ordinary. Nobody in my family talks about our royal blood and wealth. But my grandmother once told me: “You are special and, when the time comes, you will know.”

It was in Holland in the late 1980s that Kamal “found out who he really was”. A member of an Indonesian royal family, kicked out of the country by president Sukarno, told him he was of royal blood.

In London in the early 1990s, a lawyer told Kamal about his royal family's massive wealth. Unconvinced, he told the lawyer to prove his claims.

He and the lawyer flew from London to Hong Kong to meet the “keeper of the royal treasure”. From there, Kamal and the keeper travelled to Kunming in China.

They hiked up a mountain for four hours and reached a cave guarded by an old couple who, Kamal says, are immortals.

“If you tried to pass them without their blessing, you would cough blood and die,” he said.

Inside the three-metre-high cave, Kamal saw gold bars stacked like a pagoda, US$15mil (RM46mil) in jade and US$10mil (RM31mil) in diamonds and stacks of US dollars.

“I took a gold bar and knocked it on a rock. It was really gold. The treasure is the wealth of the dynasties that ruled China. Their wealth was also kept in other mountains and in vaults all over the world,” he said.

About three years ago, when Kamal watched Nicholas Cage's movie National Treasure, he laughed.

“The treasure in the movie was small compared to the wealth I saw in the mountain,” he said.

Next, Kamal told of his meeting two years ago in Kuala Lumpur with Dr Wong Eng Po, a royal physician from China.

Dr Wong placed his hand on Kamal's bald head, then immediately bowed in front of Kamal and ordered his five followers to do the same.

“He said I was the reincarnation of Emperor Nurhaci (1661-1626) of China. He felt an energy on my head which was superhuman because an emperor, unlike an ordinary human, has to think more.

“I'm the reincarnation of two emperors of China,” Kamal added.

He elaborated that a few years ago, the royal family decided he would be the sole administrator of the royal wealth kept in secret accounts in about 1,000 banks worldwide.

“This means that 86.7% of the world's money belongs to me,” he said.

Taking out several folders, Kamal said: “You're lucky, I brought documents.”

He produced an A4-sized paper with the photographs of the national treasure, the immortal couple and several “official-looking” letters allegedly from HSBC certifying he has an account of five trillion euros (RM20tril).

“That is a small amount. I have more money in other banks and institutions,” he added.

I wondered why his name has not appeared in the Forbes' list of world's richest people. And a suspicion lingered about his claims.

However, I could not authenticate his documents since the bank was closed for Chinese New Year.

Kamal has not made any withdrawal from the account as “it is not money that you can move just like that”.

“The money is under the control of Indonesia, Germany, Britain, the US and the Euro Central Bank and I've got to go smooth with them,” he said.

“I can't use the money directly but I will invest in certain projects. Like three trillion euros (RM12tril) to green a desert in China.”

Curious, I asked what was the difference between a billionaire and a trillionaire.

He replied: “A billionaire needs to show he has the money. But for me, I don't need to show that I got money. I can travel in a bus. I can wear slippers.”

Born in the year of the dragon, Kamal believes 2012 is his year. In March, he says he will negotiate with institutions such as the IMF to be recognised as the Emperor of Indonesia.

He says he's rich. But his story could just be as rich.

Let's hope he is not another Elie Youssef Najem, the so-called Lebanese billionaire who made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

SINGLE MOTHER GOT HOME BUT STILL SUFFERING

2012-01-26T13:01:00.001+08:00

New home but still suffering

KOTA KINABALU: Single mother Rosnia @ Annie Marambal and her three children now have a proper roof over their heads but their problems are far from over.

She has to walk 2km to get water in the northern Kudat district and relies on candles at night as there is no electricity supply to their home.

Although the family has moved out of their dilapidated shack in Kg Kandawayon, life is still tough for Rosnia and her children Fiona Tai Chong, 14, Norhayati Maratim, 11 and nine-year-old Frederik.

The family had been living in the shack until their plight was reported in The Star resulting in offers of help from the Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and others.

Better shelter: Frederik (front) standing outside the family’s new house in Kudat.

The donations enabled Rosnia to buy a 0.4 ha piece of land in nearby Kg Rukom Darat and the Government stepped in to build a house under the hardcore poor housing scheme (PPRT) programme.

SK Parapat Darat PTA chairman Jolius Bidin said the family had been living without water and electricity since they moved into their new home on Dec 26.

“The house was completed along with a piping system and electrical wiring but was not connected to the main pipeline 200m away and the power line which is 1km away,” he said.

He said the PTA would meet again to discuss more assistance for the family and resolve the water and electricity problem.

It is estimated that the family will need RM2,000 to connect water and electricity supply to the house. The children also need bicycles to go to school, which is 5km away.

On June 8, The Star had reported about the family's plight after a teacher Zahari Mohamad discovered the bleak conditions her pupils were living in.

The teachers and parents of students at SK Parapat Darat collected funds to help the family.

The Malaysian Girl Guides Association handed over food items and RM2,500 that was partly contributed by Rosmah.

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SINGLE MUM GETS TO OWN LAND

SINGLE MUM AND THREE KIDS TO GET A NEW HOME

EMPAT LAGI UNIVERSITI DIBERI KUASA AUTONOMI

2012-01-26T12:31:00.001+08:00

Empat Lagi Universiti Tempatan Diberi Kuasa Autonomi

PUTRAJAYA: Empat lagi universiti tempatan telah diberi kuasa autonomi oleh Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (KPT) dalam usaha untuk menjadi institusi berinovasi.

Kempat-empat universiti itu adalah Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

"Universiti tersebut akan diberi kuasa autonomi dalam bidang urus tadbir, kewangan, sumber manusia dan pengurusan akademik serta pengambilan pelajar,"

kata Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin selepas pada majlis amanat Tahun Baru 2012 KPT di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya, Khamis.

Awal bulan ini, Mohamed Khaled mengumumkan bahawa Universiti Teknologi Malaysia telah diberikan kuasa autonomi.

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Four more local universities - UM, UKM, USM, UPM - granted autonomy

PUTRAJAYA: In a bid to encourage greater innovation, four more local universities have been given autonomy by the Higher Education Ministry.

They are Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

"The universities will be given autonomy in the areas of institutional governance, finance and wealth generation, human resource and academic management, as well as student intake," Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said during his New Year's address at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Mohamed Khaled had announced that Universiti Teknologi Malaysia had been autonomy.

ANONYMOUS RANCANG SERANG FACEBOOK SABTU INI

2012-01-26T12:01:00.001+08:00

Penggodam ancam lagi

WASHINGTON 2012/01/26: Penggodam internet yang terkenal menggunakan nama Anonymous, mengumumkan pelan untuk melancarkan serangan ke atas rangkaian sosial popular, Facebook, pada Sabtu minggu ini.

Kumpulan berkenaan menyiarkan video di laman YouTube mengumumkan rancangan itu.

“Perang online sudah bermula antara Anonymous, orang ramai dan kerajaan Amerika Syarikat,” menurut video berkenaan. Laporan CBS News menyebut, pengumuman dibuat menggunakan akaun YouTube, AnonymousVoice777.

Ancaman terbaru kumpulan berkenaan menyerang Facebook bukanlah yang pertama.

Tahun lalu, kumpulan itu berikrar ‘membunuh Facebook pada Hari Guy Fawkes, iaitu pada 5 November.

Setakat ini, tiada apa yang berlaku. Menurut laporan, penggodam berkenaan meminta orang ramai membantu mereka menyerang Facebook hujung minggu ini, menyatakan mereka tidak akan berdepan masalah jika turut sama dalam rancangan itu.

INDONESIAN TO SPEND 30 YEARS IN JAIL & 20 STROKES FOR RAPING STEP-DAUGHTER

2012-01-26T10:54:00.001+08:00

Indonesian’s appeal against sentence for raping step-daughter dismissed

KOTA KINABALU Jan 26, 2012: An Indonesian man has to spend 30 years behind bars and will be given 20 strokes of the cane for two charges of raping his step-daughter after the High Court here dismissed his appeal against the sentence.

Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum yesterday dismissed the 31-year-old appellant’s application to have his 15 years’ jail sentence imposed by the Sessions Court on each of the two rape charges to run concurrently.

Malanjum made the decision after hearing submissions from the appellant who was unrepresented and the reply from deputy public prosecutor Jamil Aripin. On August 18, 2011, High Court deputy registrar Zaini Fishir @ Fisal, who sat as a Sessions Court judge, sentenced the appellant to 15 years’ jail plus 10 strokes of the cane for each of the charges after the latter pleaded guilty to the charges.

The judge ordered the jail terms to run concurrently and also ordered him to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving the sentence. On the first count, the appellant admitted to raping his step-daughter, who was 14 years and three months old at that time in a room of an unnumbered house in a village in Keningau about 12pm on May 22, 2011. Meanwhile on the second charge, he admitted to raping the girl at the same time and place around June, last year. Each of the charges under Section 376 (3) of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to 30 years and whipping of not less than 10 strokes on conviction.

Earlier in applying for sentences to run concurrently, the appellant informed the court that the victim and her family had already forgiven him. In his rebuttal, Arifin submitted that the appellant, who was supposed to protect the victim, had ruined her future.

As to the number of whippings, Arifin contended that it did not exceed the maximum whipping provided under the law. “Public interest demands sexual offender to be punished severely,” he stressed.

He also submitted that the lower court did not err in ordering the jail terms to run consecutively as the offences were committed on different days.

FAMILY BRUTALLY MURDERED

2012-01-26T10:53:00.001+08:00

Three in family brutally murdered

Hamza showing a photo fit of the suspect during a press conference yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU Jan 26, 2012: Three family members were brutally murdered by a group of men armed with machetes at an oil plantation at Kampung Kalumpang, Semporna here on Sunday.

It is said that 11 men armed with machetes attacked Ismail Jaafar, 50, his wife Salmiah Iran, 46, and their father Jaafar, 70, while they were resting with five others in the workers’ quarters in Kalumpang, about 20km from Semporna town.

The attack was believed to have been motivated by revenge.

One of the assailants, identified as Jul Mohd Nan, 37, was also killed following a struggle with one of the victims in the 5.30pm incident.

State Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib, in a press conference yesterday, said the bodies of Ismail and his father were found at the workers’ quarters while Salmiah’s remains were found in a nearby plantation at 3.40am the following day.

“Initial police investigation believes that she had ran to the plantation after escaping the attack but collapsed to serious injuries and died there,” he said, adding the victims were slashed multiple times on the neck and body.

Hamza said the couple’s three children aged between 13 and 18, and two other relatives escaped unhurt.

Police believed the group had rented a lorry to come to the plantation, said Hamza, adding police had brought in the lorry owner to help in the probe.

The group had also returned Jul’s remains to his village, at Kampung Tagasan Jaya, where he resided before fleeing.

Following the murder, Hamza said police detained three men, including one of the main suspects.

“We are looking for nine more men, including another key suspect – a 37-year-old man by the name of Amin Hatai, involved in the murder,” he said, noting that police recovered five machetes at the crime scene.

“The killing could have been fueled by revenge, probably over unsettled debt but we are still investigating,” he said, adding that police considered the case solved within 48 hours

“The incident happened in a plantation and we also have the particulars of those involved, with efforts underway to locate them,” he said.

FSM SUPPORT MINIMUM WAGE

2012-01-26T10:50:00.001+08:00

Sabah manufacturers support minimum wage

KOTA KINABALU Jan 26, 2012: The Federation of Manufacturers Sabah (FSM) has clarified that it supports the principle of minimum wage.

“We believe that the wage amount must strike a balance between employees having a decent living standard whilst employers continue to operate sustainably; achieving a ‘win-win’ situation,” FSM said in a statement yesterday to clarify on the minimum wage misunderstandings.

FSM is frustrated that the speech given by its president, Datuk Seri Wong Ken Thau, during the luncheon dialogue held on Jan 20 with Deputy Human Resource Minister Senator Dato’ Maznah Mazlan and various trade chambers, had been critically mis-quoted by some quarters.

The mis-quote was that ‘FSM together with other trade chambers proposed for a delay of three years in implementation of minimum wage’.

“We propose that the implementation to be gradual, on a incremental basis, up to three years for some sectors/industries facing difficulties in Sabah’s challenging high-cost business environment.

“We are concerned about severe rising food and service prices as a result of implementing a wage amount much higher than current market level; hence defeating the purpose by eroding the living standards of wage earners,” said FSM.

On the federation’s ‘involvement’ in the minimum wage setting process, FSM and other trade chambers wish to state that their ‘Sabah Employer’ representative in the National Wage Consultative Council was not appointed in consultation, nor recommended by them.

“They have not actively engaged us in discussions, or providing feedback to us throughout the past year. This has kept many of our members in the dark about deliberations within the Council, invariably with binding effect on us.

“Faced with passive involvement from the government as a conduit/mediator on this pertinent issue, especially in the context of Sabah, it is unfortunate that representatives from both divide, namely employers and employees have been put in opposite corners due to misguided information.”

FSM hereby extends an open invitation to all employees’ representatives to meet and discuss on this issue, with the common objective of making Sabah better, both for decent living and business. viability.

PFN: KETUA AUDIT NEGARA PERJELAS LAPORAN

2012-01-25T22:38:00.001+08:00

Pusat Fidlot Nasional: Ketua Audit Negara Perjelas Laporan

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Jan (Bernama) -- Jabatan Audit Negara (JAN) menjelaskan bahawa Laporan Ketua Audit Negara (LKAN) 2010 tidak ada menyebut perkataan-perkataan seperti kucar kacir, "in a mess" ataupun penyelewengan dalam laporan pengauditannya terhadap projek Pusat Fidlot Nasional (PFN) di Gemas, Negeri Sembilan.

Ketua Audit Negara Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, dalam kenyataan pada Rabu berkata, "Perkataan-perkataan ini telah digunakan oleh pihak-pihak lain dan JAN tidak sepatutnya dipertanggungjawabkan."

Katanya pada pendapat JAN, sama ada terdapat unsur-unsur penyelewengan dalam pelaksanaan projek itu terpulanglah kepada penyiasatan pihak berkuasa seperti Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).

Beliau berkata pada perspektif audit, sememangnya terdapat beberapa kelemahan dalam pelaksanaan projek itu yang menyebabkan kerajaan menangguhkan pelaksanaannya pada Mei 2009, iaitu sebelum pengauditan dijalankan, sehingga satu kajian daya maju dan model perniagaan dijalankan.

"Perkara ini ada dinyatakan dalam LKAN 2010. Ia membayangkan Kerajaan Malaysia sememangnya sedar akan kelemahan-kelemahan dalam pelaksanaan projek ini dan telah mengambil tindakan untuk menentukan hala tuju projek," katanya.

Ambrin berkata pengauditan bagi projek PFN dibuat secara bebas dan profesional tanpa sebarang prejudis kepada mana-mana pihak dan sebarang kenyataan yang mempertikaikan kewibawaan dan integriti juruaudit JAN adalah dikesali.

Beliau berkata analisis audit mendapati objektif projek PFN masih belum dicapai sepenuhnya disebabkan pelbagai faktor yang dihuraikan dalam LKAN 2010.

"Antaranya, mengikut perjanjian pelaksanaan yang ditandatangani pada Mac 2010, sasaran pengeluaran PFN iaitu 38,600 ekor lembu untuk tahun 2010 belum dicapai kerana Program Pembangunan Usahawan (EDP) yang melibatkan 130 pengusaha ladang satelit belum dilaksanakan lagi," katanya.

Ketua Audit Negara turut menjelaskan bahawa perkara yang menjadi fokus utama pengauditan prestasi yang dijalankan oleh JAN itu ialah pencapaian projek PFN sejak penubuhannya pada tahun 2006 dan bukannya National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFCorp) sebagai sebuah syarikat.

Menurutnya NFCorp adalah sebuah syarikat yang berdaftar di bawah Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM) di mana Kementerian Kewangan Diperbadankan memegang satu "golden share" bernilai RM1 manakala modal berbayar berjumlah RM1.11 juta telah disumbangkan oleh Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd.

Ambrin berkata projek itu diaudit memandangkan ia penting daripada segi pengeluaran makanan negara di mana kerajaan memperuntukkan sejumlah wang yang besar kepadanya.

Katanya ini termasuk peruntukan di bawah Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani berjumlah RM73.64 juta di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) bagi menampung kos pembangunan dan pengoperasiannya.

"Daripada peruntukan ini, sejumlah RM48.71 juta telah dibelanjakan setakat akhir tahun 2010 oleh kementerian itu untuk menyediakan tapak seluas 2,000 hektar bagi projek ini. Kawasan ini kemudian dikurangkan menjadi 800 hektar sahaja," kata beliau.

Beliau berkata geran pelancaran untuk penyediaan infrastruktur berjumlah RM13 juta diluluskan kepada NFCorp pada September 2007 dan setakat akhir tahun 2010 sejumlah RM6.52 juta telah dibayar kepada NFCorp untuk penyediaan infrastruktur seperti kandang dan jalan ladang.

Ambrin berkata pinjaman mudah berjumlah RM250 juta juga telah diluluskan kepada NFCorp menerusi satu perjanjian pinjaman yang ditandatangani pada Disember 2007 dan setakat Mac 2010, sejumlah RM134.7 juta telah dikeluarkan kepada NFCorp berdasarkan kepada tuntutan yang dibuat kepada Kementerian Kewangan.

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KENYATAAN AKHBAR OLEH KETUA AUDIT NEGARA PUSAT FIDLOT NASIONAL

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Pusat Fidlot Nasional (PFN) MOA

PUSAT FIDLOT NASIONAL NS

PROGRAM FIDLOT NASIONAL Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar

SALLEH VOICING MUSA’S CONCERN?

2012-01-25T22:34:00.001+08:00

Was Salleh voicing Musa’s concern?

ANALYSIS Luke Rintod

Umno Sabah chief Musa Aman is relying on his deputy Salleh Keruak's strategy to contain rival Shafie Apdal.

Last weekend in Kota Belud, the so-called birth-place of Umno in Sabah, the party’s state deputy president Salleh Said Keruak gave a stinging reminder to possible party-detractors.

He said those who were contemplating ditching Umno if they are not re-nominated in the coming general election, would be ‘ignored’.

Salleh, who is a local boy, issued this warning during a special meeting with a group of Umno’s Kadazandusun leaders from Kadamaian.

Kadamaian is one of the three state constituencies under the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency. The other two are Tempasuk and Usukan.

He also warned Umno leaders not to brag about their own achievements. He told them not to take credit for development in their respective constituencies.

“Those leaders who glorify their own selves for (their) own political agenda are putting the party at ransom and should be ignored in the coming general election,” he warned.

Salleh, who is also Sabah Legislative Assembly Speaker, said the success achieved by Umno thus far was the result of collective work and the effective implementation of numerous policies.

He said loyalty to the party’s struggle is therefore crucial in cementing its success, and so potential detractors would be dealt with accordingly by the party.

Now who was Salleh aiming at?

Was it a warning to top leaders like Lajim Ukin who had so far failed to convincingly quell rumours that he was quitting Umno on Jan 31?

The list of possible detractors, it is now openly being said, includes Umno’s Bongawan assemblyman Karim Bujang and a former Chief Minister, Osu Sukam. Both are from the Papar area just south of Kota Kinabalu.

Salleh voicing Musa’s concern

Before this, another two Umno strongmen, Ghapur Salleh (MP Kalabakan) and Bung Mokhtar Raden (MP Kinabatangan), in the east, had also been linked to the rumour.

But insiders said both Ghapur and Bung may have been cajoled into sticking with Umno, at least until the conclusion of the general election.

Is Umno chief Musa Aman aware of Salleh’s terse warning?

Party insiders said Salleh’s speech was crafted to coincide with the ongoing Lajim’s rumour.

They said Musa, who is also Chief Minister, is “disturbed” by the rumours of Lajim leaving, as it would put a dent on his otherwise unchallenged leadership in the vast state.

Groups aligned to Musa are rumoured to be scheming to eliminate all possible threats to Musa, including Lajim.

They claimed Lajim’s recent speeches in Beaufort and Kuala Penyu were “against” Umno and Barisan Nasional. Some of Lajim’s boys are said to be already in Sabah People’s Front (SPF).

“They will be trapped in SPF if Lajim doesn’t make good…” said an observer.

They have allegedly ordered thousands of SPF T-shirts and flags, and are opening a big party office in town.

The location of the office however is still a secret location.

Musa relying on Salleh

According to the observer, Lajim’s SPF boys are talking about Jan 31 as an auspicious date to make an “important announcement”.

The roads from Papar to Kuala Penyu, Menumbok and Beaufort meanwhile are already “littered” with SPF flags, some flying from the top of trees, sending a firm signal yet that the influential southern chieftain Lajim will make the plunge.

Musa, who many claim may not always be in the good books of Umno’s president Najib Tun Razak, has meanwhile fortified and consolidated his own position.

He is relying on the undivided support and backing from Salleh, the Bajau chieftain who Musa sidelined in the 2008 general election.

Musa did not re-nominate Salleh to defend his Kota Belud MP seat. Neither did he field Salleh as Usukan assemblyman.

Both political analysts and party insiders agreed that Musa and Salleh are playing politics to stop an east-coast Umno warlord, Shafie Apdal, from snatching the top post from Musa.

Apart from Salleh, Shafie who is currently Umno vice-president, is the only “serious” contender for Musa’s CM-seat.

Shafie, they claimed, is in the good books of Najib. Salleh on the other hand is rumoured to have slighted Najib many years ago when his (Salleh) division refused to nominate Najib for vice presidency. But that was long time ago.

Salleh, a former chief minister himself, however is unlikely to even think of undermining Umno now.

Apparently this is the reason why he’s solidly behind Musa despite having been sidelined in 2008.

He has since gained Musa’s confidence and they have positively clicked and are working well with Umno’s strongest ally Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

PBS won’t support Shafie

An Umno divisional leader aligned to Shafie, claimed that Salleh, who is also cordial to Shafie, has been vocal in party meetings that those who undermine the party should be taken action against.

He was alluding to Najib’s recent call for Umno members not to “backstab” election candidates in the upcoming general election.

He said Salleh has consistently said that loyalty to the party was of paramount importance and “Umno, the backbone of the state BN coalition, wants to ensure Sabah remains a valuable fixed deposit”.

In the 2008 general election, Sabah BN won 24 of the 25 parliamentary seats and 59 of the 60 state seats. It lost another two MP seats and two state seats when Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) left BN later that year.

PBS insiders meanwhile claimed that in the event their view is sought by Najib, and they believe he will, as to who among the three it supports as CM after the general election, PBS would go for either Musa or Salleh.

Shafie, they said, will not be a choice as he is “linked” in one way or another to the perennial issue plaguing Sabah – the overwhelming illegal immigrants population.

A Shafie aide told FMT that his boss is aware of the political manoeuvrings of his rivals within Umno but is confident that Umno’s leadership is wise enough as to who the party should entrust its mantle in Sabah.

“Sabah is a fix-deposit for Umno, for a good reason, and the PM knows it, Musa knows it,” he said alluding to belief that Shafie has the PM’s tacit support for the top job after the general election.

Shafie’s friends claim he could stand and win in any of a half a dozen state seats in the east-coast.

“He (Shafie) is rural and regional development minister, and he has done a lot to bring developments including to some of the most isolated islands which were ignored in previous governments,” he claimed.

Shafie-Musa discord

Observers said while the trio (Musa, Salleh and Shafie) may look calm and cordial with each other in public, they could turn from cordial to nasty within seconds.

The Shafie and Musa discord goes back to the manner by which the former carried out his federal ministry’s huge annual development fund in Sabah.

Shafie, who is also Semporna MP, was accused of not co-ordinating well with the state authority.

Meanwhile Lajim has avoided the media for now. His boys claim that Lajim is as calm as a “still lake”.

A skillful fisherman and a political veteran, Lajim, they said “would only cast his net only when he had studied the water.”

JALANRAYA SABAH MENAKUTKAN

2012-01-25T22:32:00.003+08:00

Bosan! Jalanraya di Sabah terus menakutkan

KOTA KINABALU, 25 Jan:Rakyat di negeri ini sudah bosan dan kecewa dengan kegagalan pihak kerajaan negeri yang hingga kini masih gagal mencari formula terbaik menangani masalah jalan rosak yang terpaksa dilalui setiap hari.

(Gambar: Antara contoh jalan raya di Sabah...rakyat sudah bosan)

Biarpun pendedahan demi pendedahan dan laporan demi laporan termasuklah kajian strategik yang dibuat mengenai isu itu, namun ia bagaikan ‘bising hanya dibibir’ kerana tiada perubahan yang ketara terhadap kualiti jalan raya terutama di negeri ini seperti mana yang diharapkan pengguna.

Ketua Penerangan Pemuda PAS Sabah, Mohd Julpikar Abd Mijan (gambar bawah) berkata, rakyat sudah muak dengan janji-janji kosong yang ditaburkan pihak tertentu hanya semata mahu meraih undi semasa pilihan raya.

“Rakyat sudah bosan dan kecewa dengan keadaan begini.

“Keadaan jalan berlubang, mendap, beralun serta tampalan yang tidak sempurna dan berpasir terpaksa dihadapi pengguna jalan raya menyebabkan pemilik resah memikirkan kos bagi penyelenggaraan kenderaan,” ujarnya dalam nada yang kecewa.

Menurutnya, jalan utama yang menghubungkan beberapa daerah di negeri ini seperti Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Ranau, Telupit, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan dan Lahad Datu boleh diklasifikasikan jalan yang paling teruk bermasalah.

Beberapa siri kejadian di mana kenderaan mengalami masalah tayar meletup, rim bengkok akibat hentakan jalan berlubang dan sebagainya sentiasa berlaku di jalan-jalan ini.

“Ini adalah antara laluan yang berbahaya terutama di waktu malam. Pengguna kerap kali melalui jalan yang teruk yang terpaksa memikirkan kos sampingan selain kos penyelengaraan kenderaan,” katanya.

Selain itu, kegagalan kerajaan negeri melihat permasalahan ini diselar berikutan begitu banyak pembaziran yang dibuat berbanding menyediakan kemudahan asas yang lebih baik untuk rakyat.

“Kita (PAS) tidak nafikan bahawa, keindahan itu penting. Tapi alangkah baik sekiranya kerajaan juga menyediakan kemudahan infrastruktur yang baik untuk rakyat.

“Ini jelas menepati slogan rakyat didahulukan... bukan kroni dan bukan juga perut menteri,” ujar Julpikar.

ROSMAH ADA BUAT PEMBELIAN

2012-01-25T22:32:00.001+08:00

Pereka fesyen Sydney: Rosmah memang buat pembelian

Jan 25, 2012: Pereka fesyen Sydney, Carl Kapp mengesahkan bahawa isteri Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor telah membuat pembelian di kedainya, tetapi menafikan pernah berkata bahawa Rosmah telah membelanjakan A$100,000.

Menjawab dalam satu kenyataan hari ini atas pemintaan Malaysiakini untuk mendapatkan komennya, Kapp (kanan) berkata, Rosmah dan "kumpulan yang agak besar" semasa lawatan tersebut "membuat pelbagai pembelian".

Kapp berkata, beliau tidak didedahkan jumlah yang dibelanjakan, seperti yang telah dinyatakan dalam blog fesyen Frockwriter dan kolum 'Private Sydney' dalam akhbar Sydney Morning Herald.

"Saya ingin menjelaskan bahawa dalam kenyataan saya mengenai kunjungan pelanggan kehormat tersebut, saya tidak pernah membuat apa-apa rujukan khusus kepada jumlah yang dibelanjakan di kedai Paddington saya," kata Kapp dalam satu kenyataan jelas dibuat dengan berhati-hati.

"... Semasa lawatan mereka, anggota rombongan (Rosmah), termasuk rakan-rakan serta pengerusi dan penganjur Festival Fesyen Islam telah membuat pelbagai pembelian secara berasingan. Saya percaya Datin Sri Rosmah adalah penaung Festival Fesyen Islam. "

Frockwriter melaporkan pada 17 Januari lalu, berdasarkan temubual dengan Kapp, bahawa "Rosmah telah menempah 61 helai sutera".

"Berdasarkan harga purata dalam koleksi beliau - yang bermula pada harga A$400 dan hingga ribuan dolar, Frockwriter menganggarkan ia boleh mencecah A$100,000," tulis blogger Patty Huntington.

Penulis kolum Andrew Hornery pula melaporkan bahawa isteri Perdana Menteri membuat "tempahan pakaian kira-kira A$100,000 di butik (Kapp) semasa bercuti di Sydney.

Menurut Kapp, artikel tersebut juga "tidak tepat" apabila mengatakan bahawa beliau "diterbangkan ke Malaysia bulan depan" semata-mata untuk faedah Rosmah.

Sebaliknya, kata beliau, lawatan ke pelbagai tempat di rantau Asia, termasuk Malaysia, bagi tujuan saluran pemasaran barangannya dan untuk mendapatkan bahan bagi produk masa depan, adalah perkara biasa dalam urusan kerjanya dan perniagaan.

AIRASIA DISAMAN KERANA TAMBANG

2012-01-25T15:45:00.001+08:00

AirAsia disaman kerana tambang

SEBUAH pesawat Airbus A330 AirAsia X dalam penerbangan. Kempen tambang murah syarikat itu di Internet mencetuskan kontroversi apabila ada pihak mendakwa ia bukan kadar sebenar.

SYDNEY - AirAsia semalam menerima tamparan menerusi satu tuntutan undang-undang daripada pihak berkuasa peraturan Australia yang mendakwa syarikat penerbangan bajet itu gagal mendedahkan harga penuh tambang penerbangan di laman webnya.

Syarikat penerbangan berpangkalan di Malaysia itu yang menyediakan penerbangan antarabangsa keluar dari Australia menerusi Gold Coast, Melbourne dan Perth dinamakan dalam dokumen yang dikemukakan di Mahkamah Persekutuan Australia di Melbourne.

Suruhanjaya Pengguna dan Persaingan Australia (ACCC) yang merupakan badan pemantau pengguna di negara berkenaan mendakwa, tindakan undang-undang itu difailkan minggu lalu berikutan tambang yang tertera di laman web AirAsia membabitkan beberapa laluan tidak memaparkan harga selepas cukai, duti, yuran dan lain-lain caj.

"Perniagaan yang memilih untuk mengiklan hanya sebahagian harga untuk sesuatu produk atau perkhidmatan itu mestilah juga menetapkan kadar harga penuh," tegas agensi berkenaan dalam satu kenyataan media semalam.

BUMI BERDEPAN RIBUT SOLAR TERKUAT

2012-01-25T14:37:00.001+08:00

Bumi berdepan ribut solar terkuat

GAMBAR yang dirakamkan Pentadbiran Aeronautik dan Angkasa Lepas Kebangsaan pada 22 Januari lalu menunjukkan nyalaan solar di Hemisfera Utara di matahari.

WASHINGTON, Amerika Syarikat (AS) - Beberapa pegawai cuaca angkasa lepas menyatakan ribut solar paling kuat dalam tempoh lebih enam tahun akan mengenai Bumi dengan pancaran radiasi akan berlaku.

Sebelum ini, radiasi ribut solar cuma mengganggu satelit dan mendatangkan masalah kepada angkasawan di angkasa lepas.

Namun, ia juga boleh menyebabkan gangguan komunikasi pada pesawat yang berada di udara.

Pusat Ramalan Cuaca Angkasa Lepas di negeri Colorado dalam satu kenyataan mengesahkan ribut solar itu berlaku pada pukul 11 malam (waktu AS) Ahad lalu.

Ahli fizik AS, Doug Biesecker berkata, perkara paling membimbangkan mengenai ribut solar adalah radiasi yang dilepas.

Pancaran itu ,katanya, tiba di Bumi sejam kemudian.

Hentaman radiasi itu dijangka berlarutan sehingga hari ini.

Menurut Biesecker, tahap radiasi kali ini dianggap kuat tetapi radiasi lebih dahsyat pernah dikeluarkan beberapa ribut solar sebelum ini.

Radiasi kali ini adalah yang paling kuat sejak ribut solar pada Mei 2005.

Plasma yang keluar dari matahari ekoran ribut solar berkenaan pula tiba di Bumi semalam.

Ia dijangka menyebabkan gangguan pada grid elektrik di Bumi.

SEPARUH KEPALA HANCUR TERKENA BUNGA API

2012-01-25T14:07:00.001+08:00

Kepala berkecai dihentam bunga api

AHLI keluarga Shaow Yong (terbaring) duduk di sisi mayatnya di Taman Seputeh, Luyang, Kota Kinabalu, semalam.

KOTA KINABALU 25 Jan 2012: Seorang lelaki maut apabila kepalanya berkecai ketika cuba memeriksa satu daripada tiga bunga api disangkakan tidak berfungsi, tetapi meletup secara tiba-tiba dalam kejadian di Taman Seputeh, Luyang, di sini, awal pagi kelmarin.

Police carrying the body of By Shaow Yong, 26, who died in a fireworks blast in front of his house at Taman Seputeh, Luyang in Kota Kinabalu, on Monday.

Sebelum kejadian, mangsa dikenali sebagai By Shaow Yong, 26, dikatakan menyalakan tiga bunga api berkuasa tinggi yang mampu membentuk objek di udara, berhampiran rumahnya sempena Tahun Baru Cina, kira-kira jam 12.30 tengah malam.

Dua daripada bunga api dipercayai sama jenis digunakan pihak berkuasa bagi menyambut sesuatu perayaan meletup di udara, manakala satu lagi tidak berfungsi, menyebabkan mangsa cuba melakukan pemeriksaan sebelum ia meletup.

Letupan secara tiba-tiba itu menyebabkan mangsa terpelanting beberapa meter dan ahli keluarga yang cuba memberikan bantuan terkejut apabila mendapati sebahagian daripada kepalanya hancur.

Difahamkan, bunga api berkenaan dibeli dengan harga RM500 dan dipercayai dibawa masuk secara haram dari China.

DEBAT BUDAYA BARAT, NAJIB ANWAR TAK PERLU DEBAT

2012-01-25T14:06:00.001+08:00

Umno: Najib, Anwar tak perlu debat

SHAH ALAM Jan 25, 2012 – Cadangan debat terbuka Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak dengan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bagi membincangkan beberapa isu dianggap tidak sesuai untuk dilaksanakan.

Ketua Penerangan Umno, Datuk Ahmad Maslan berkata, budaya debat adalah budaya Barat yang masih belum boleh diterima di negara ini.

Menurutnya, Malaysia mempunyai masyarakat berbilang agama dan bangsa. Tidak seperti di Barat di mana politik mereka lebih bersifat terbuka serta tidak melibatkan pelbagai kaum.

“Di sini, banyak sensitiviti rakyat perlu diutamakan. Untuk menyampaikan setiap dasar, memberi ceramah sudah memadai dengan membentangkan apa sahaja topik yang ingin dibawa.

“Biarlah memberi ceramah secara berasingan. Rakyat boleh membuat penilaian tersendiri apakah setiap ucapan menerusi ceramah itu dapat dilaksanakan atau tidak kedua-dua pemimpin ini.

“Lagi pula, Anwar sering dikaitkan dengan isu peribadi. Jadi kebarangkalian untuknya dikaitkan di dalam debat adalah tinggi, ditambah dengan isu peribadinya yang masih belum selesai. Kerana itu saya katakan, tidak perlu adakan debat,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian, semalam.

Jelasnya, Dewan Rakyat adalah platform sesuai digunakan semua pemimpin untuk mengutarakan pelbagai isu.

“Ini medium yang baik. Ia boleh dikategorikan sebagai debat kecil, di mana setiap pertanyaan sama ada daripada pihak kerajaan mahupun pembangkang diajukan dan disertakan dengan jawapan sama ada lisan mahupun bertulis.

“Jadi, Dewan Rakyat sudah mempertemukan semua pemimpin dalam keadaan terbuka dan boleh membidas antara satu sama lain,” katanya.

DR SYED HUSIN ALI TAKES SWIPE AT PROF KHOO KAY KIM

2012-01-25T00:43:00.001+08:00

Dr Syed Husin Ali takes swipe at Prof Khoo Kay Kim

“Let us hope no academician will assume the role of mouthpiece to all the lies and distortions that the British colonialists started and unfortunately are being perpetrated by the present Malaysian government.”–Dr. Syed Husin Ali

“I agree with Dr. Syed Husin. It is time we hold our so-called academicians to account for their distorted version(s) of our nation’s history. As for Professor Khoo, I think he should respond to this article and in the interest of intelligent discourse, I will be happy to host his rejoinder on this blog. It is time for Prof Khoo to show that he has convictions and the intellectual fortitude and honesty to acknowledge his errors”.–Din Merican

by Syed Husin Ali

COMMENT: Frankly, I did not know whether to laugh in scorn or cry in pain when I read Professor Khoo Kay Kim’s interview published in Malaysiakini on January 21, 2012.

It was full of factual errors and distortions which I do not expect from a fellow professor who claims to uphold facts, truth and knowledge.This piece contains some additional information to what Terence Netto has written.

Among the mistakes are:

i) PKMM was the acronym for Partai Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya not Partai Kebangsaan Melayu Merdeka, and it was formed on Oct 17, 1945.

ii) The word Partai is of course Indonesian, but it is false to conclude on that basis that PKMM was of Indonesian origin. Partai is Party in English and had PKMM used parti instead of partai, it certainly would not make it of English origin, would it?

iii) Ahmad Boestamam (right) was never a president of PKMM. The party was led first by Mukhtaruddin Lasso, who was succeeded by Dr Burhanuddin Helmy and later Ishak Haji Muhamad. Boestamam was head of its youth wing API (Angkatan Pemuda Insaf).

iv) Boestamam was not from Indonesia. He was born in Kg Behrang Ulu, Tanjung Malim, Perak. Although of Minangkabau descent was always a citizen of this country.

v) PKMM and Boestamam indeed “were anti-British and (wanted) to free Malaya from foreign rule” as admitted by Khoo. Surely, these are important elements in any independence struggle.

Is it logical for Khoo to disqualify the Malay left as independence fighters just because he speculates that “local autonomy may not have been exactly their outlook”?

vi) It must not be forgotten that Boestamam, Burhanuddin and Ishak, as representatives of PKMM, walked out of the Malay Congress held in Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Lumpur, because their proposal to adopt “Merdeka” (Independence) as a slogan was rejected.

Is this not enough evidence that these leftist leaders and PKMM wanted independence, not just local autonomy?

vii) Marhaen is not “actually a Marxist term for the proletariat” as Khoo claims. It was the name of a poor peasant/farmer whom Sukarno once met when he was leading the Indonesian independence struggle.

Objective of uplifting the poor

Based on his name Sukarno created an ideology called “Marhaenism” which he used for the party he led, Partai Nasionalis Indonesia (PNI). Boestamam adopted Marhaenism as the ideology for Partai Rakyat Malaya (PRM), which he founded on November 11, 1955, and led because it expressed the objective of uplifting the poor.

The constitution of PRM also stated that it wanted genuine independence, free from all remnants of colonialism, be it in the economic, political or social spheres.

viii) Boestamam, Burhanuddin and Ishak (aka Pak Sako, left), and of course PKMM, subscribed to the idea of the nation of intent called “Melayu Raya” and not “greater Indonesia” as the good professor claimed. They wanted Malaya and Indonesia to obtain independence together to establish Melayu Raya.

In connection with this, Burhanuddin met Sukarno in Taiping in 1945. This nation of intent caught on fast and was popular among a large section of the Malays.

Besides committing several errors in such a short interview, Khoo also indulged in speculations and half-truths, not befitting a true scholar. He implied that Boestamam, and the parties he was associated with were linked to the communist movement. This is an old allegation. He asserted, “the communist movement followed European Marxist model whose emphasis was on the working class, the proletariat or Marhaen expressed by Ahmad Boestamam.”

It is scandalous and irresponsible to imply that Boestamam, PKMM or PRM (which adopted Marhaenism) were communists.

Nothing is further from the truth.

Regarding the communists being regarded as independence fighters, Khoo disparaged the notion with the contemptuous term “kepala otak”.He contended that the communists wanted to create a world government. What about US imperialism and British colonialism? An honest academic should be balanced in his outlook.

Should be balanced in outlook

Let us assume, with the existence and power of Comintern and Cominform at one time, the good professor’s contention was right. But has their history shown him that communist Russia, China, Vietnam and so forth proved, in practice, what he claims as their universal objective?

In my opinion, in China and Vietnam, for example, there were clear nationalist elements in their communist struggles. China fought strongly against Japanese aggression and domination. As for Vietnam, it fought relentlessly against French colonialism and US imperialism in order to establish their liberty and independence.

There was no doubt that the countries and people were driven by intense nationalism. But of course, they chose the ultimate goal of setting up their own communist states.

Maybe Khoo could prove they tried or wanted to create a world government.

In Malaya, the communists have been condemned from colonialism to independence now. Leftist leaders like Boestamam, Burhanuddin and Ishak have been demonized as communists or pro-communists.

Some of the leaders of Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) were part of the independence struggle through such nationalist party as PKMM, before being driven to the jungle.

The non-communist leftist and the communists have been blamed for the killings and carnage after World War II. Were the Kuomintang and British colonialists innocent? There are many documents in the British Record Office which show the efforts of leftist and even communist leaders to pacify many an ethnic and other conflicts.

I am sure Khoo is well aware of this. Let us hope no academician will assume the role of mouthpiece to all the lies and distortions that the British colonialists started and are unfortunately being perpetrated by the present Malaysian government.

SYED HUSIN ALI is a senator and the former PKR deputy president. A former Universiti Malaya professor of sociology, he led left-leaning Parti Rakyat Malaysia before merging with Parti Keadilan Nasional. He earned his Phd. from the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE) .

ROSMAH MEMBELANJAKAN RM320,000 DI BUTIK SYDNEY?

2012-01-24T23:38:00.001+08:00

Kolumnis pertahan dakwaan Rosmah belanja RM325,000

Jan 24, 2012: Kolumnis Sydney Morning Herald Andrew Hornery mempertahankan dakwaannya bahawa isteri perdana menteri Rosmah Mansor membelanjakan lebih RM300,000 semasa lawatannya ke Australia.

"FLOM (wanita pertama Malaysia) dakwa saya membesar-besarkan secara liar lawatan sambil membeli-belahnya di Sydney?

"Saya tetap pertahankan setiap kata-kata saya. Sumber saya amat kukuh,"

kata Hornery dalam Twitternya kira-kira sejam lalu.

Isteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak semalam menyangkal dakwaan Hornery yang dibuat dalam seksyen 'Private Sydney' harian itu dengan menyifatkannya sebagai "karut, dibesar-besarkan secara liar dan tidak benar".

Selain perbelanjaan A$100,000 (RM325,000) di sebuah butik, Hornery juga mendakwa Rosmah dan suami menginap di emper (penthouse) bernilai A$20,000 (RM65,100) semalam, meminta "parkir valet untuk limousinnya" dan menerbangkan pereka fesyen ke Malaysia untuk mengenakan pakaian yang ditempahnya.

-------------------

Rosmah sangkal dakwaan berbelanja mewah

Jan 23, 2012: Isteri perdana menteri Rosmah Mansor hari ini menyangkal dakwaan bahawa beliau berbelanja mewah dalam percutiannya di Sydney, Australia sebelum ini.

"Semua itu karut, dibesar-besarkan secara liar dan tidak benar," katanya kepada Malaysiakini dan The Sun ketika ditemui dalam sambutan Tahun Baru Cina anjuran MCA di Kuala Lumpur.

"Saya selalu menjadi mangsa," katanya ketika ditanya tentang dakwaan yang dibuat dalam harian Australia Sydney Morning Herald.

Dalam seksyen 'Private Sydney' akhbar itu, kolumnis Andrew Hornery menggelar Rosmah sebagai "first lady of shopping' (wanita pertama membeli belah), kerana didakwa membelanjakan A$100,000 (RM325,000) di sebuah butik di Sydney.

Rosmah dan suaminya juga didakwa menginap di penthouse bernilai A$20,000 (RM65,100) semalam, meminta "parkir valet untuk limousinnya" dan menerbangkan pereka fesyen negara itu ke Malaysia untuk mengenakan pakaian yang ditempahnya.

TABUR JANJI UNTUK RAIH SOKONGAN RAKYAT

2012-01-24T23:37:00.001+08:00

Anwar Hanya Tabur Janji Kosong Untuk Raih Sokongan Rakyat Sabah, Kata Musa

KOTA KINABALU. 24 Jan (Bernama) -- Pelbagai janji yang ditabur oleh Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kepada rakyat Sabah termasuk menaikkan pemberian royalti minyak sehingga 20 peratus dianggap sebagai janji kosong yang sengaja digembar-gemburkan semata-mata untuk meraih sokongan.

Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman berkata sudah menjadi lumrah bagi parti pembangkang menabur pelbagai janji apatah lagi menjelang pilihan raya umum.

"Ini kerja pembangkang... mereka menjanjikan apa saja bulan dan bintang kerana mereka tahu mereka tidak memerintah dan mereka bukan kerajaan.

"Semua janji ini adalah janji palsu. Saya percaya rakyat Sabah tahu janji ini adalah janji yang tidak boleh ditepati," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina anjuran MCA di Dewan Sekolah Tinggi Kota Kinabalu, dekat sini Selasa.

Musa, yang juga Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) negeri, berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas ucapan Anwar berhubung perkara itu pada majlis Rumah Terbuka PKR di Dewan Kian Kok, Likas, dekat sini semalam.

Beliau berharap rakyat Sabah tidak mudah terpedaya dengan janji manis parti pembangkang untuk meraih sokongan.

"Saya percaya rakyat kita tahu yang mana baik dan yang mana buruk. Mereka tahu kerajaan BN adalah pilihan yang terbaik kerana BN sentiasa mengotakan janji," katanya.

Sambil memberi contoh pemberian bantuan RM100 untuk pelajar sekolah, bantuan buku RM200 untuk pelajar Institusi Pengajian Tinggi dan Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia sebanyak RM500 bagi mereka yang berpendapatan kurang RM3,000 sebulan, Musa berkata ini membuktikan kerajaan BN benar-benar mengotakan janjinya "tidak seperti parti pembangkang yang hanya pandai menabur janji kosong".

Mengenai sambutan Tahun Baru Cina, beliau berkata ia merupakan landasan terbaik untuk memantapkan perpaduan di kalangan rakyat pelbagai suku kaum.

"Amalan saling mengunjungi ke rumah-rumah terbuka adalah baik untuk menyemai semangat persaudaraan dan kekitaan dalam masyarakat majmuk seperti di negara kita termasuk di Sabah," katanya.

RM4 BILLION PERUNTUKAN BAGI PERKHIDMATAN KESIHATAN SABAH TAHUN 2012

2012-01-24T23:36:00.001+08:00

Sejumlah RM4 Bilion Diperuntuk Bagi Khidmat Kesihatan Di Sabah Tahun Ini - Liow

KOTA KINABALU, 24 Jan (Bernama) -- Kementerian kesihatan akan membelanjakan sekitar RM4 bilion bagi meningkatkan kemudahan serta keberkesanan perkhidmatan kesihatan di Sabah tahun ini.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai berkata ini menunjukkan komitmen kerajaan Pusat yang tinggi bagi membela nasib rakyat Sabah, terutama dalam aspek kesihatan.

Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata kementerian akan menaik taraf 41 klinik kesihatan di seluruh negeri dengan kos melebihi RM20 juta serta menambah bilangan doktor di klinik berkenaan daripada 25 peratus kepada sekurang-kurangnya 50 peratus.

Selain itu , 10 lagi klinik 1Malaysia juga akan diwujudkan di Sabah tahun ini, katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina anjuran MCA di Dewan Sekolah Tinggi Kota Kinabalu Selasa.

Liow juga berkata Kementerian Kesihatan akan menempatkan unit hemodialisis di Hospital Kudat, Kunak dan Kuala Penyu selain membesarkan unit itu di Tawau.

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, beliau berkata bangunan baru menara Hospital Ratu Elizabeth 1 dijangka siap hujung tahun ini.

"Penaiktarafan bangunan Hospital Ratu Elizabeth 11 (di Damai, Luyang) sudah siap manakala Hospital Likas, kita sedang bersungguh-sungguh untuk menyiapkannya," katanya.

Liow berkata dengan siapnya ketiga-tiga hospital itu, ia akan dapat memberi perkhidmatan lebih kepada rakyat Sabah.

Beliau berkata kementerian juga akan memperluaskan perkhidmatan doktor udara di negeri ini, terutama di kawasan terpencil.

"Sebut harga (tender) untuk tujuan itu kini sedang dinilai oleh Kementerian Kewangan dan dalam masa terdekat, kita akan tahu siapa yang memperoleh tender itu," katanya.

AWAS! KEGIATAN PENIPUAN SKIM CEPAT KAYA DI FACEBOOK

2012-01-24T12:05:00.001+08:00

Facebook ‘lubuk’ pelaburan haram

Pengguna Internet perlu sentiasa berhati-hati dengan pelawaan rakan Facebook untuk menyertai sebarang aktiviti pelaburan. - Gambar hiasan

LAMAN web sosial Facebook tidak dinafikan merupakan antara medan berinformasi berguna jika dipraktikkan dengan baik. Menyedari kemudahan dan kepentingannya, banyak pihak termasuk kerajaan memilih menyalurkan pelbagai maklumat menerusi laman web tersebut.

Namun di sebalik manfaatnya, terdapat juga pihak yang tidak bersikap jujur ketika bersosial dan sanggup mengambil kesempatan termasuk memperkenalkan skim pelaburan cepat kaya.

Laman profil kini rancak dibanjiri oleh iklan-iklan seperti ‘ingin cepat kaya’, ‘duit secara infiniti’, ‘tanpa kerja dapat duit’, ‘jana duit melalui Internet’ dan sebagainya bagi menarik pelabur baru.

Selain itu, kewujudan skim seakan-akan SwissCash, Forex (tukaran wang) dan seumpamanya juga semakin hari semakin berleluasa di Facebook.

Keghairahan dalam mengejar kekayaan antara faktor mengapa ramai mudah tertipu dan terjebak dengan skim pelaburan seperti itu.

Wartawan MUHAMAD AMIRUL AFIQ MASTOR dan jurugambar, WAHIDIN SALIM menyingkap kisah di sebalik skim penipuan pelaburan di Internet terutama laman sosial Facebook serta mereka yang terlibat dalam skim-skim sebegini.

KUALA LUMPUR 23 Jan. - Walaupun pelbagai kisah telah dibongkar di sebalik penipuan pelaburan di Internet beberapa tahun lalu, namun masih ramai pengguna yang tidak serik untuk terus melabur.

Bezanya, jika dahulu skim seperti SwissCash, Buy-e-barrel, Al-Arabic Fund dan ABB Fund merupakan pelaburan yang cukup popular dalam kalangan pengguna Internet, kini ia menular ke laman web sosial seperti Facebook.

Modus operandinya tetap serupa - mencari mangsa yang ingin menjadi kaya dengan cara cepat dan mudah.

Pada masa sama, mereka bijak menukar medium kononnya wang pelaburan tersebut adalah untuk digunakan dalam perniagaan kayu gaharu, emas, minyak dan sebagainya.

Malah, dengan hanya melayari Facebook, pelabur akan diberikan RM100 sebagai ganjaran.

Bagaimanapun, wang ganjaran tersebut hakikatnya tidak akan diperoleh sehingga individu terbabit melakukan pelaburan yang sama.

Cara operasinya mudah, seperti bermain kutu di mana ahli yang memperkenalkan skim tersebut akan menerima pelaburan wang dalam jumlah yang sama iaitu RM100 daripada ahli baru.

Ahli baru pula akan mengharapkan ada ahli lain yang ingin menyertai skim itu melaluinya.

Bagi menarik peserta baru untuk menjadi mangsa, ‘si penipu’ akan menggunakan gambar longgokan duit yang banyak, kereta mewah serta barangan berjenama sebagai umpan mereka.

Berikut antara kes penipuan membabitkan pelaburan menerusi Facebook yang diceritakan oleh mangsa kepada wartawan, MUHAMAD AMIRUL AFIQ MASTOR.

KES 1:

BERKENALAN dengan seseorang di Facebook yang boleh membantu membebaskan diri individu itu daripada dibelenggu masalah kewangan pasti membuatkan sesiapa sahaja teruja.

Perasaan itu turut dialami Normala Aziz, 27, apabila dia tertarik untuk melabur hanya kerana ‘sambutan’ yang diterima oleh rakan mayanya.

Normala berkata, ucapan terima kasih kerana membantu dan juga gambar bersama kereta serta banglo mewah yang diterima dan terpapar di profil rakannya itu, membuatkan dia lebih yakin untuk turut serta.

Setelah mendapatkan maklumat lanjut daripada rakan mayanya itu, satu pertemuan dilakukan.

“Saya memandu ke pejabatnya dan mula mencari tempat letak kereta di dalam bangunan itu.

“Agak terkejut apabila melihat pelbagai kereta mewah seperti Porsche, Ferrari serta Aston Martin berbaris dalam tempat letak kereta itu dan semuanya ada pelekat skim pelaburan tersebut,” katanya yang ketika itu masih lagi belajar di institusi pengajian tinggi di ibu negara.

Tanpa berfikir panjang, Normala yang ketika menyertai pelaburan tersebut masih belajar di institusi pengajian tinggi awam, telah melaburkan wang biasiswanya sebanyak RM2,000.

Masalah mula timbul apabila dia terpaksa mencari ahli baru untuk melayakkan dia menerima pulangan dijanjikan dalam pelaburan tersebut.

Malah, pihak atasan dan ejen meminta dia menaikkan pelaburan sehingga RM35,000 untuk melayakkannya menjadi ‘rakan kongsi’.

Terdorong dengan kata-kata itu, dia mula meminjam wang daripada rakan-rakan, ahli keluarga dan saudara mara.

Malangnya ‘langit tidak selalunya cerah’ apabila ramai di antara ‘rakan kongsi‘ pelaburan itu ditangkap oleh pihak polis berikutan dakwaan melakukan pengumpulan deposit secara haram.

KES 2:

DENGAN hanya log masuk ke dalam Facebook, seseorang berjaya mendapat RM100.

Jika ikut logik akal, bukan mudah seseorang mendapatkan keuntungan dengan hanya bergoyang kaki sambil melayari Facebook.

Namun, itulah hakikatnya yang berlaku kepada salah seorang mangsa, Derrick Lau, 27, apabila mencuba untuk turut sama berjaya seperti yang diiklankan oleh skim pelaburan Facebook itu.

“RM100 bukan nilai yang besar untuk modal dan saya rasakan pada mulanya tidak salah untuk saya mencuba, mana tahu nasib menyebelahi saya,” katanya ketika ditemui baru-baru ini.

Menurut Derrick, taktiknya sangat mudah, selepas mendaftar dan membayar RM100 sebagai modal awal, pelabur perlu memperkenalkan ahli baru.

Pada awalnya, tiada penerangan khusus diberikan mengenai skim pelaburan tersebut.

Setelah menyertainya, barulah dinyatakan bahawa skim tersebut perlu mencari ‘orang bawah’ (downline).

“Mereka mendapat keuntungan dengan merekrut orang baru dan memasukkan wang ke dalam akaun mereka.

“Lagi ramai yang masuk, makin bertambahlah duit di dalam akaun dan ia ternyata bukan satu pelaburan tetapi hanya mengambil wang orang lain.

“Menyedari perkara itu, saya terus tidak menyertainya lagi dan bagi sesiapa yang bertanya, saya katakan ia adalah satu penipuan,” katanya.

KES 3:

KHIDIR Rosli, 32, merupakan seorang pekerja swasta di salah sebuah hospital di ibu negara yang mahu mendapatkan keuntungan dengan cara mudah.

Dia ditemukan oleh seorang rakan kepada satu skim pelaburan yang berasaskan Internet yang mana dapat memberikan pulangan sehingga 10 peratus setiap bulan.

Masuk RM1,000, hujung bulan dapat RM100 dan begitulah seterusnya mengikut jumlah pelaburan yang dibuat - lebih tinggi pelaburan lebih banyak pulangan yang diterima

Menurutnya, sesiapa sahaja yang mempunyai akaun bank terutama Maybank2u boleh menyertai pelaburan ini kerana keuntungan akan didebitkan terus ke akaun mereka secara bulanan.

Pada awalnya, dia kurang percaya berikutan telah tertipu dengan pelaburan lain sebelum ini.

Namun, pujukan serta cerita yang dibawa oleh temannya itu tentang kejayaan mereka telah dapat menundukkan hati Khidir untuk mula melabur.

Dalam bulan pertama, dia mendapat RM100 dan begitu juga dengan bulan-bulan seterusnya.

Pada bulan kelima dan keenam, pulangan yang diterima semakin meningkat kepada RM500, membuatkan dia merasa sangat gembira kerana beranggapan pelaburan kali ini tidak sia-sia.

“Saya terus menghubungi ejen dan dia mengatakan syarikat sedang meningkat naik dan pelabur menerima pulangan yang lumayan.

“Dia juga menyuruh saya untuk menambahkan pelaburan bagi mendapatkan pulangan berlipat kali ganda,” katanya.

Atas idea yang diberikan ejen skim tersebut, beliau membuat pinjaman peribadi kepada sebuah bank sebanyak RM50,000 untuk tujuan melabur dengan harapan mendapat pulangan lebih besar.

Pada bulan pertama, bayaran sebanyak RM5,000 telah diterima menerusi akaun bank.

Bagaimanapun, pada bulan kedua dan seterusnya, bayaran semakin berkurangan kepada RM2,500 dan pernah dia mendapat hanya RM1,000 sahaja.

Lama-kelamaan dia tidak menerima langsung pulangan wang pelaburan.

PERLU DEBAT TERBUKA ANTARA NAJIB DAN ANWAR MENGENAI DASAR

2012-01-24T12:03:00.001+08:00

Kajian: Profesional Melayu mahu Najib, Anwar sertai debat

SHAH ALAM Jan 24, 2012 - Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wajar mengadakan satu debat terbuka berkenaan dasar dan pendekatan kerajaan menguruskan negara, demikian menurut firma kajian pendapat awam, Merdeka Center.

Pengarah Eksekutifnya, Ibrahim Suffian berkata, maklumat yang dikumpulkan hasil perbincangan kumpulan berfokus melibatkan profesional-profesional Melayu menunjukkan, mereka berminat untuk melihat satu debat membabitkan kedua-dua pemimpin berkenaan.

Kedua-dua Anwar dan Najib sudah memasuki gelanggang politik negara lebih empat dekad lalu.

Najib menjadi Perdana Menteri dan Presiden Umno pada awal 2009 dan akan mengetuai Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam pilihan raya umum pertamanya dalam waktu terdekat. Anwar, bekas timbalan perdana menteri, mengetuai Pakatan Rakyat (PR) awal 2008 dan menjadi Ketua Pembangkang di Parlimen pada Ogos tahun yang sama.

Permintaan dan undangan agar kedua-dua pemimpin itu berdebat bukan perkara baru. Ia pernah menjadi perhatian tahun lalu.

Dan, pada pertengahan bulan ini, Anwar yang juga Ketua Umum PR mengulangi cabarannya kepada Najib, yang juga Pengerusi BN untuk debat secara terbuka mengenai dasar-dasar kerajaan pimpinannya.

Anwar berkata, beliau memandang serius perkara itu kerana ia akan membolehkan rakyat membuat penilaian terhadap pertembungan dua sistem yang wujud di negara ini antara Umno dan BN serta PR.

Pelawaan itu dibuat kira-kira seminggu selepas Anwar dibebas dan dilepaskan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur daripada tuduhan meliwat.

"Jika benar Najib ikhlas dan jujur ketika memperkatakan sebelum ini bahawa Malaysia adalah sebuah negara yang mengamalkan demokrasi terbaik di dunia, jadi, kita nak tahu huraiannya," katanya ketika menyampaikan ucapan penggulungan pemimpin pada Konvensyen PR pada 14 Januari lalu.

Anwar berkata, PR juga ingin mendengar penjelasan atau jaminan Najib mengenai amalan demokrasi itu dengan memastikan pilihan raya umum akan datang bersih, dan adil tanpa sebarang penipuan sama sekali.

Mengulas lanjut isu debat ini, Ibrahim juga berkata, keinginan itu dilahirkan selepas wujud pandangan dan hebahan mengenai perkara itu baru-baru ini, lebih-lebih lagi ketika negara bersiap sedia untuk berhadapan dengan pilihan raya umum.

"Saya pun berpandangan bahawa kita perlu bergerak ke arah itu. Saya berharap akan ada pihak yang akan menganjurkan debat-debat melibatkan pemimpin negara supaya rakyat dapat menilai kemampuan dan kebolehan pemimpin menawarkan dasar dan pendekatan pengurusan dan pentadbiran terbaik kepada negara," katanya lagi.

TEBUSAN SELAMAT SELEPAS PENJENAYAH DITEMBAK

2012-01-24T11:18:00.001+08:00

Enam jam harungi detik cemas

Fifi Ramadhani Safruddin diangkat ke ambulans untuk dibawa ke Hospital Kuala Lumpur selepas berjaya diselamatkan oleh pihak polis di Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR 23 Jan. – Seorang kanak-kanak perempuan berusia 10 tahun terpaksa mengharungi detik-detik cemas selama enam jam apabila menjadi tebusan seorang lelaki disyaki penagih dadah di rumahnya di Jalan Raja Mahmud, Kampung Baru, di sini hari ini.

Dalam insiden cemas bermula pukul 9.50 pagi itu, suspek berusia 34 tahun yang dalam keadaan separuh bogel menceroboh masuk ke dalam rumah itu sebelum mengambil pisau di dapur dan mengugut mencederakan mangsa, Fifi Ramadhani Safruddin.

Ketika kejadian, mangsa bersama empat ahli keluarga yang lain sedang menonton televisyen di ruang tamu rumah.

Suspek bertindak mengacukan pisau ke leher mangsa sebelum mengheretnya masuk ke dalam sebuah bilik dan menutup pintu dengan sebuah almari yang dijadikan sebagai penghadang.

Pihak polis yang tiba di tempat kejadian pada pukul 10 pagi mengambil pelbagai langkah bagi memujuk mangsa termasuk menggunakan khidmat pakar psikiatri dari Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) selain memanggil teman wanita suspek.

Selain itu, polis turut menawarkan makanan segera kepada suspek seperti Kentucky Fried Chicken dan McDonalds selain minuman tetapi gagal.

Sepanjang tempoh tebusan itu, polis hanya berkomunikasi dengan mangsa menerusi pintu bilik dengan kanak-kanak tersebut yang hampir setiap masa diacukan pisau ke dadanya oleh suspek.

Drama tebusan tersebut bagaimanapun berakhir pada pukul 4.10 petang apabila sepasukan polis dipercayai dari unit khas dipanggil lalu menyerbu masuk ke dalam bilik itu dan melepaskan empat das tembakan yang mengenai suspek.

Suspek mati ketika dalam perjalanan ke hospital untuk rawatan.

Ketua Polis Daerah Dang Wangi, Asisten Komisioner Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman berkata, mangsa tidak mengalami sebarang kecederaan dan telah dihantar ke HKL untuk pemeriksaan lanjut.

Katanya, pihak polis terpaksa melepaskan tembakan dalam serbuan itu kerana suspek dilihat semakin agresif.

“Tiga daripada tembakan itu mengenai rusuk kiri suspek dan dalam masa sama, kita berjaya menyelamatkan kanak-kanak itu yang tidak mengalami sebarang kecederaan,” katanya ketika ditemui di tempat kejadian di sini hari ini.

Kata Zulkarnain, semasa dalam tempoh enam jam kejadian tebusan itu, suspek tidak membuat sebarang tuntutan lain, kecuali meminta sejumlah dadah jenis syabu.

Polis bagaimanapun enggan memenuhi permintaan tersebut kerana menyalahi undang-undang.

Menurutnya, siasatan awal mendapati suspek berasal dari Sabah dan mempunyai rekod jenayah lampau berkaitan kes samun di daerah Dang Wangi.

Sementara itu, menurut bapa mangsa, Safruddin Marlis, 47, dia berada dalam bilik semasa suspek menceroboh ke ruang tamu rumahnya.

“Saya panik apabila melihat suspek dalam keadaan separuh bogel itu bertindak mengugut akan membunuh anak saya sekiranya saya bertindak melakukan sesuatu.

“Memandangkan keadaan saya yang kurang upaya, saya tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa semasa dia mengheret anak perempuan saya ke bilik belakang,” katanya yang menggunakan kaki palsu kerana kudung.

Safruddin memberitahu, kesemua ahli keluarganya di rumah itu termasuk isteri, seorang anak dan dua anak saudaranya dapat melarikan diri semasa suspek menceroboh masuk kecuali dia yang hanya keluar dari rumah itu selepas ketibaan polis.

Katanya, dia telah tinggal di kawasan itu sejak 15 tahun lalu dan tidak menyangka kejadian tersebut boleh menimpa keluarganya.

Dalam pada itu, menurut seorang saksi, Azhar Osman, 47, sebelum kejadian tebusan tersebut berlaku, dia melihat suspek berkenaan mundar-mandir dalam keadaan separuh bogel di Stesen LRT Kampung Baru.

“Saya telah menyuruh suspek untuk memakai baju dipegangnya tapi dia kemudian menghilangkan diri, saya tidak menyangka pula dia akan menceroboh rumah orang dan menjadikan kanak-kanak sebagai tebusan,” katanya.

PAKATAN RAKYAT: BUKU JINGGA EDISI SABAH PERJUANG 10 TUNTUTAN RAKYAT

2012-01-24T10:10:00.001+08:00

Buku Jingga edisi Sabah perjuang 10 tuntutan rakyat

Buku Jingga edisi Sabah diperkenal dengan memuatkan 10 Perkara termasuk memulangkan semula blok minyak L dan M kepada negeri itu dan penubuhan Suruhanjaya Diraja bagi menyelesai masalah kebanjiran pendatang asing.

Menjunjung kedaulatan Sabah sebagai negeri sah dalam Malaysia dengan mematikan sebarang tuntutan bertindih termasuk menghentikan bayaran kepada negara asing yang membuat tuntutan itu.
Membawa usul ke Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) untuk menuntut hak Blok L dan M yang dirampas tanpa persetujuan rakyat Sabah dan mengambil tindakan mahkamah kepada mereka yang bertanggungjawab.
Menyempurnakan sebuah Suruhanjaya DiRaja bagi mencari menyelesaikan kemelut pendatang tanpa izin.
Memperuntuk RM1 bilion sebagai modal awal wang hasil royalti gas dan minyak dalam Tabung Warisan Sabah kepada rakyat Sabah yang pendapatan isi rumahnya bawah RM1,500 setiap keluarga.
Melaksanakan tuntutan kenaikan royalti minyak Sabah sebanyak 20 peratus dengan menandatangani perjanjian baru dengan kerajaan Persekutuan.
Menubuhkan syarikat minyak dan gas yang dimiliki rakyat Sabah dengan modal awal berbayar RM1 bilion dan mewujudkan sebuah konglomerat antarabangsa yang dibimbing Petronas.
Melancarkan program Borneonisasi dalam sektor perkhidmatan awam secara berperingkat-peringkat untuk memastikan jawatan utama dipegang rakyat Sabah.
Menuntut hak ke atas semua pulau-pulau kecil di perairan Sabah yang tuntutannya belum diselesaikan demi menjamin kedaulatan sempadan Sabah dan hasil minyak dan gas di perairannya.
Menghormati dan mengiktiraf hak tanah adat dan menarik semula semua kes mahkamah berkaitan, yang dibawa kerajaan negeri sebelum ini.
Mengukuhkan autonomi Sabah dengan menyemak kembali perkara yang termaktub dalam Perkara 20 untuk memastikan sebarang tindakan bertentangan, dihenti serta merta.

STAR: PETROLEUM MASTERPLAN - SABAH OIL RESOURCES BELONGS TO ALL SABAHANS

2012-01-23T20:18:00.005+08:00

STAR: Petroleum Masterplan - Sabah Oil Resources Belongs to All Sabahans

“Sabahans will enjoy cheaper petrol, diesel and gas products, lower electricity rates and enjoy annual grants generated by a new Sabah petroleum corporation under STAR’s Petroleum Masterplan” announced Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief.

“STAR‘s Petroleum Masterplan for Sabah oil and gas resources is based on the vision “Sabah Oil and Gas Resources Belongs to All Sabahans”.

“It will be a three-pronged strategy that will seek a review of the existing arrangements on Sabah’s oil and gas resources as well as the overall development of a oil and gas industry in Sabah and the utilization of the oil and gas resources for Sabah and Sabahans first and the preservation and investment of the oil revenue for the well-being of Sabahans and for the future generations” added Dr. Jeffrey.

The Masterplan includes review of the cash payment from the current 5% to 50%, establishment of PetroSabah Corporation and the PetroSabah Wealth Fund and a Sabah Petroleum Advisory Council.

In 1976, after the tragic air crash that killed the then Chief Minister and senior members of the Cabinet, the State Government signed away 100% of the State’s oil and gas resources. It even gave up the collection of its 5% oil royalties and accepted a cash payment under the Petroleum Development Act, 1974.

Under the agreed cash payment, Sabah is now given only a meagre 5% of the revenue generated by Petronas from oil and gas extracted from Sabah and there is no transparency or accountability including whether revenue is given to Sabah for any oil and gas extracted off Labuan island, which is now a federal territory.

If Sabah had not waived collecting the 5% oil royalties, today, Sabah will be receiving at least 10% of the revenue from its oil resources, 5% oil royalties and 5% cash payment.

In 2012, Petronas is expected to receive RM14.734 billion from Sabah oil resources while Sabah will receive only RM0.775 billion and none is specifically invested for future generations. At the same time, gas is going to be channelled from Sabah to Sarawak via the new RM3.5 billion Kimanis-Bintulu Gas Pipeline, leaving little for Sabah and Blocks L&M have been signed away by the Federal Government to Brunei.

Despite recent demands by the people of Sabah, the State Government has done little to “re-negotiate” oil royalties for the long-term benefit of Sabah and Sabahans and safeguard the exploitation oil and gas resources in the best interests of Sabah and Sabahans.

Under STAR’s Petroleum Masterplan, the underlying objective will be to secure maximum benefits for Sabah from its oil and gas resources based on the vision and rationale that SABAH’S OIL RESOURCES BELONGS TO ALL SABAHANS.

Getting only 5% from its oil resources is no longer acceptable today. If this continues, Sabah will continue to remain as the poorest State in Malaysia.

The rights of Sabah and the welfare of the people can no longer be compromised by the continued exploitation of its oil resources at the expense of the people in Sabah.

Therefore, the first strategy of the Masterplan will be seek to obtain the best terms for Sabah’s oil resources including the restoration of Sabah’s rights to and autonomous control and management of its oil resources and payment of at least 50% of the net revenue from Sabah’s oil and gas.

This strategy includes a review of the Petroleum Development Act, 1974 and all matters relating to the giving away of the State oil and gas resources, a review of the Kimanis-Bintulu Gas Pipeline and assurances given by Petronas and the Federal Government inclusive of the guarantee to leave sufficient gas for Sabah’s use and review of sales tax revenue on oil and gas products in Sabah.

Also included will be a request to the Federal Government for a special subsidy for petroleum products equivalent to the volume of oil extracted from Sabah for consumers in Sabah. Sabah consumers should be paying less for petrol, diesel and gas products compared to their counterparts in Semenanjung.

There will be established a SABAH PETROLEUM ADVISORY COUNCIL to advise on and oversee the planning and policies for Sabah’s oil and gas resources. The Advisory Council will also assist to formulate a NEW SABAH OIL AND GAS POLICY.

It has to recognized that to derive maximum benefits and spin-offs from its oil and gas resources, these resources need to processed in Sabah and down-stream activities need to be promoted to generate further spin-offs.

Therefore, the second strategy of the Masterplan will be seek to establish a systematic development of an oil and gas industry in Sabah to maximize returns and spin-offs to its economy on best terms basis including the exploration and exploitation of the oil and gas resources.

The present day system of secrecy, non-transparency and non-accountability will be abolished. Petronas will have to be accountable to the people of Sabah for Sabah’s oil and gas resources.

There will be established a PETROSABAH CORPORATION to spearhead the development of the oil and gas industry in Sabah.

Where possible, Sabah’s oil and gas resources will be used for its oil and gas industry and related industries as well as for other local industries with priority utilization in the State.

A proposal will be submitted to the Federal Government for the licensing of oil and gas industry in Sabah to be under State control and not Federal control.

It will also be proposed that special tax incentives be given to oil and gas-powered plants in Sabah so that Sabahans will enjoy cheaper electricity rates generated by Sabah’s own oil and gas resources.

It will also be proposed to the Federal Government that PetroSabah Corporation will be tax-exempt company, exempted from paying Federal income tax.

It is recognized that despite the several recent announcements of new oil and gas finds off the coast of Sabah including within its inner waters, the oil and gas resources are a depleting resource and will be exhausted in the future.

Therefore, the third strategy of the Masterplan will be seek to invest some of the oil and gas revenues and at the same time to provide for the benefit and well-being of Sabahans.

The oil and gas revenues need to be conserved and invested for the future of Sabah and all Sabahans and cannot be wholly used in the annual State Budget as currently practised by the Government.

There will be established a PETROSABAH WEALTH FUND which will be entrusted to invest Sabah’s oil and gas revenues for the future generations. The investment guidelines and criteria will be formulated by the Advisory Council.

It is proposed that 12.5% of the annual profits of PetroSabah Corporation will be set aside to provide for Sabahans and another 25% will be invested in the PetroSabah Wealth Fund.

We cannot rely on and cannot depend on outsiders to decide on Sabah’s oil and gas resources which belongs to all Sabahans.

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan is Chairman, STAR Sabah

SAPP: ECONOMIC PLAN FOR SABAH

2012-01-23T20:18:00.003+08:00

SAPP Economic Plan for Sabah

PREAMBLE

SABAH PROGRESSIVE PARTY (SAPP) subscribes strongly to human potential, dignity and the rights of all Sabahans, regardless of race and religion. SAPP reaffirms its mission "to establish a trustworthy government and a progressive, just and harmonious society" and to rejuvenate Sabah's position in Malaysia.

SAPP is determined to restore and preserve our solidarity and unity to protect the economic interests of all Sabahans. The economic disfranchisement of Sabahans has become a lot more serious. Today, Sabah is the poorest state in Malaysia with the third lowest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. Sarawak, where UMNO is not present, has the second highest GDP per capita. It is not surprising that Sabahans' stakes in the state economy has become insignificant. Sabah is the largest oil palm state in Malaysia but Sabahans own less than 15% of the plantations. We also see the same trend in the wholesale and the retail trades, automobile, workshop, manufacturing, housing and food sectors. There is ignominious sign that Sabahans can expect little business opportunities and well-paid jobs. Ten of thousands have left the State to seek jobs outside Sabah.

Realizing that many Sabahans become "economic refugees" in our own state, SAPP Government will introduce and implement an economic plan that will directly benefit Sabahans. SAPP Government will pay special attention to ensure the present and future generations of Sabahans will have the opportunities to partake actively in the mainstream development of the state and national economies.

The heightened role by Sabahans in the growth of our economy does not have to be at the expense of other Malaysians and foreign investors.

SAPP Government will implement the policy of greater economic ownership by Sabahans on a mutually beneficial framework by expanding and accelerating economic growth and improving the Government delivery system. The culture of corruption must be flushed out and eliminated.

SAPP Government is confident that Sabahans, other Malaysians and foreign investors can find attractive financial returns to invest in Sabah.

The economic direction that SAPP aspires is designed to spearhead a dynamic and sustainable transformation of the state economic outlook that will benefit the entire spectrum of society. SAPP is the Government for Malaysians in Sabah, committed to voicing vehemently to the Federal Government in no uncertain terms with regards to Sabah's rightful stake in Sabah's oil and gas resources in the state's continental shelf.

SAPP Government believes that Sabah's competitive advantage can be realized through a market-driven economy.

SAPP will work towards uplifting the economic pride of Sabah by implementing the following:

A. DELIVERY SYSTEM

SAPP Government will ensure that the system of award of Government contracts for all business related activities are implemented fairly. Approvals will be given within specific time frame if the terms and conditions are fulfilled.

B. HUMAN RESOURCES

SAPP Government will invest intensively in the development of human capital. Sabah needs more knowledgeable, competent and confident human capital to propel the growth of our economy at a sustainable rate.

SAPP Government will offer more scholarships, study loans and bursaries to address the needs of skilled and qualified human resource for the various segments of our industries.

C. DYNAMIC INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

SAPP Government will review and streamline various laws and policies to minimize bureaucratic obstacles towards expediting the process of investment applications.

The proposed Sand Monopoly and Scrap Metal Monopoly will be abolished.

SAPP Government will strengthen the Sabah ONE-STOP INVESTMENT CENTRE to ensure an efficient, smooth and transparent, easy-to-understand process and speedy approval of investment application by local and foreign investors.

SAPP Government will establish a Special Investment Steering Panel with members comprising relevant ministers, officials and representatives from private sector. It will implement economic policies and monitor the pace of investment inflow and projects as well as the spinoff benefits that can be reaped by Sabahans.

D. LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

SAPP Government will formulate programs to identify and nurture promising and dynamic Sabah entrepreneurs. Sabahans of all races will be groomed to become successful businessmen/women in their own rights.

SAPP Government will provide the technical and financial assistance to enable local entrepreneurs to exploit new economic opportunities in all fields of endeavour.

E. CABOTAGE POLICY

This issue is the root cause for the higher prices of goods in Sabah compared to West Malaysia. The policy contributes to higher shipping costs that are passed on to consumers. The inflated cost also hikes the prices of raw materials that are imported for property development, manufacturing and other industrial enterprises.

SAPP will undertake a comprehensive review and oppose any monopolies that will weigh heavily against the economic interest of Sabah. The Federal government must be persuaded to abolish the Cabotage Policy which is to Sabah's disadvantage.

F. OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

SAPP Government will introduce economic policies to provide Sabah a substantial stake in this critical sector in terms of royalties, and direct say in the utilisation of these resources. These policies will also be reflected in the direct participation of Sabahans in Oil & Gas based ventures as well as spinoff opportunities and employment.

Sabah must be compensated appropriately for our gas that will be piped to Bintulu for processing into Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for export.

G. PALM OIL INDUSTRY

SAPP Government will ensure that there will be more palm oil downstream processing for value-adding to the economy and to create more job opportunities.

SAPP Government will constantly monitor to ensure this industry will be able to compete efficiently in the global markets. SAPP will also explore additional ancillary opportunities whilst increasing Sabahans participation especially in line with the new Land reforms as presented on 8 November 2011.

H. TOURISM INDUSTRY

This is a mushrooming industry with huge revenue-generation capacity for Sabah. SAPP Government will work closely with the tourism operators to develop tourism to its optimal potential with creative packaging of inherent nature attractions complemented by quality service, matching global trends and consumer taste.

SAPP is committed to improve basic infrastructure in the tourism zones and also to uphold a high Sabahans participation in the industry as a whole.

SAPP Government will pursue an Open Air Policy with the relevant authorities.

I. TIMBER INDUSTRY

SAPP Government will design a policy to ensure the cycle of production at a sustainable rate, maintaining the timber resource as a key contributor to the state revenue over the long term. SAPP Government will make both qualitative and quantitative analysis between direct timber export and local processing for add-on value in terms of earnings derived and economic priorities to peg timber exports at the competitive market price.

J. BIMP–EAGA REGION

SAPP Government will explore the opportunities available and to take full advantage of Sabah's strategic location in this sub-region, particularly Kalimantan's prosperity due to massive surface coal exports and oil palm plantations and tourism potential.

SAPP Government will improve the sea ports and Barter Trade centres in Tawau and Sandakan to capitalise on this growth potential. New barter trade centres at Kudat, Semporna and Lahad Datu will be looked into seriously.

K. LAND AS AN ECONOMIC RESOURCE

SAPP Government will exploit the full utilization of land as the main denominator to generate income and accelerate the economic growth of Sabah. The objective is to be realized through the following strategies:

Paddy Industry
SAPP Government will revive the Sabah Padi Board to embark on a massive plan in improving irrigation infrastructure without necessitating the construction of any costly mega dam. Subject to strict environmental conditions and local villages' interests, micro dam and mini dams for the triple purposes of irrigation, flood control and hydro power generation for local benefits will be considered.
SAPP Government will review and aggressively pursue the goal to make Sabah self-sufficient in the production of rice.
SAPP Government will negotiate the monopolistic policy given to BERNAS and to liberalize it to a competitive market.
Aquaculture Industry
SAPP Government will exploit this industry to its full potential, covering the culture of fish, shrimp and oyster and alga culture such as seaweed farming.
Livestock and Poultry Industry
SAPP Government will raise livestock breeding especially cattle, water buffalo and chicken to meet growing demand for meat and gradually reduce imports mainly from Australia and India.
Food Processing Industry
SAPP Government will encourage the development of the Food Processing Industry by providing the necessary infrastructure.
SAPP Government will set up "post harvest facilities" at strategic locations in the State to facilitate small and medium size farmers. This will encourage smallholders to venture into the planting of various cash crops and fruits on their land or even in homesteads to increase their earnings.
Dairy Farming
SAPP Government will look into the development of Dairy Farming through joint venture investments with companies that could share their expertise and technology. SAPP will encourage the private sector to take part as joint-venture partners.
Rubber Industry
SAPP Government will encourage the development of the Rubber Industry and will ensure the interests of the smallholders are looked after.
SAPP Government will provide the necessary incentives to attract private investors with the technical knowhow to develop the downstream Rubber Industry.

L. SABAH ELECTRICTY SDN BHD (SESB)

SAPP Government intends to reverting SESB back to a state-owned entity, geared towards adequate generation and efficient distribution of electricity which is crucial to spur Sabah's economic growth. If SESCO owned by the Sarawak State Government is viable and successful, there is no valid reason that Sabah's own SESB cannot be similarly viable and successful.

M. SUGAR AND SALT FACTORY

SAPP Government will revive the proposed Sugar and Salt production in Kuala Penyu and Matunggung respectively to produce these essential condiments for state consumption and export.

N. FINANCIAL PRUDENCE

SAPP Government will affect comprehensive measures to ensure prudent management and utilisation of state funds within the purview of transparency and accountability. At the same time, SAPP Government will find ways to generate additional revenues from oil and gas and from land, taking into consideration that land is the paramount resource asset in any economic venture.

O. STATE BUDGET

SAPP realizes that since 1970s, 70% of State revenues were derived from timber royalties alone. However, in the last 30 years Sabah economy has been restructured that the sources of State revenues were diversified and timber is only one of the main contributors.

In the 1980s, Sabah State's annual revenues reached its RM 1 billion. In 1990s, revenues hovered at RM2 billion. By 2000s, State revenues touched RM 3 billion. The exponential in the State budget is rapid as reflected by the 2011and 2012 budget of RM3.6 to RM 4 billion.

The main sources of revenues currently are from palm oil sales taxes at RM 1 billion, petroleum royalties RM 800 million, land revenue RM 150 million forests RM 100 million, water sales RM 120 million, rents and returns on investments RM 800 million, revenue in lieu of export duties and excise on petroleum products RM 120 million and the federal capitation grant RM 50 million.

In comparison to the Sarawak's State budget of RM 5.7 billion in the fiscal year 2011, SAPP Government is confident that Sabah's State revenues can achieve RM 5 billion by the year 2015.

This budget will be able to sustain the momentum of Sabah's development and able to save for the future. The revenue is expected to be derived by way of:

Close monitoring of royalties on oil and gas, including those new, significant discoveries in shallow waters off Sabah producing an addition 7 billion standard cubic ft. per day.
Review of payment (revenue) in lieu of export duties and excise on petroleum products.
Exercise State right over land by requiring land taxes on the Petronas gas pipeline from Kimanis to Sarawak border, and other Pertonas installations in Sabah.
Reinstating public auction of prime urban commercial lands.
Allowing palm oil mills to convert their agricultural land status into industrial land status.
Revising timber royalties consistent with market prices.
(This expected revenue of RM 5 billion does not take into account the probability of successfully claiming 20% in petroleum royalties, which at 20% would give Sabah additional revenue of RM 3 billion per annum based on the 2011 figure.)

The additional RM 1 billion in the annual revenue by 2015 SHALL be reinvested as follows:

RM 100 million per annum in Heritage Fund (instituted in 1997) for future generations.
RM 500 million for State Consolidated Fund for Sabah's development expenditure.
RM 100 million for Sabah Palm Oil Council, which will be set up to nurture, promote and protect the Sabah Palm Oil sector.
RM 200 million for Food Production and Security, including self-sufficiency in rice by 2018.
RM 100 million for human resource planning and training, in order to reduce Sabah's over dependence on foreign labour, and to raise the income and living wage based on the productivity of local employees and workers.

P. ECONOMIC GROWTH - GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND WEALTH CREATION

It is essential that Sabah's economy grow at a sufficient rate of at least 5% to 8% in order to expand the economic cake for all to share and to reduce poverty. Towards this end, trade liberalization, delivery system and transparent approvals are crucial to provide a favourable investment climate. SAPP feels that the 3.5% GDP growth rate in the current and recent years is grossly inadequate compared to the national GDP growth at 5.5%. Sabah has achieved, in the past, 7% to 9% growth.

SAPP Government shall endeavour to achieve 5% to 8% GDP growth per year by way of empowerment of the business sector and encouraging private sector investments, making it easier and healthier to do business in Sabah and providing the needed infrastructure for the economy to grow efficiently.

With the support of the people and a strong mandate for SAPP, SAPP Government will bring new hope and a better Sabah for all Malaysians living in our beloved State of Sabah.

SAPP – A NEW HOPE FOR SABAH!

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SAPP launches Sabah Economic Plan

MUSA: THE KEYS TO SABAH DEVELOPMENT

2012-01-23T20:18:00.001+08:00

THE KEYS TO DEVELOPMENT

THE 10th Malaysia Plan (10 MP) has identified 12 key economic areas that will drive the national economy from middle-income to high-income status. Four areas relevant to Sabah’s economic agenda are the tourism, agriculture, oil and gas, and palm oil industries.

Read the OBG Talks To Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman below.

OBG : What impact is the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) having on the state's enonomic growth?

MUSA: The state’s economy has proven to be quite resilient since the launch of the SDC on january 29, 2008. At the height ofthe recent global economic downturn, the growth of the advanced economies declined to 0.2% and -3.2% in 2008 and 2009 respectively, while Malaysia recorded 4.7% and -1.7% in the same years.

Sabah, on the other hand, registered 7.7% in 2008 and managed to remain positive at 3.3% in 2009. We are expecting the state's economy to ride through the global economic rebound in 2010 and strengthen further in 2011, driven by government spending, buoyant commodity prices and new investment.

Annual GDP growth is expected to average at more than 7%. Looking at the performance of the SDC thus far, since the beginning of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which was also the timeline of the first phase of SDC, Sabah’s mean gross monthly household income increased to RM3102 ($972) in 2009, from RM2395 ($751) in 2004.

The average growth rate of income was recorded at 5.3% over the period 2004-09, and poverty incidence declined from 24.2% in 2004 to 19.7% in 2009. The SDC has had a largely positive impact on economic growth.

OBG : What areas of the economy are being targeted to attract an increase in private sector investment?

MUSA: The 10th Malaysia Plan (10 MP) has identified 12 key economic areas that will drive the national economy from middle-income to high-income status. Four areas relevant to Sabah’s economic agenda are the tourism, agriculture, oil and gas, and palm oil industries.

The economic contributions of these industries are expected to increase over the course of the 10 MP? Key industries identified by the state government under the SDC programme are resource-based industries such as palm oil, cocoa and rubber; food processing industries involving fruits and vegetables, marine and aquaculture products, dairy and livestock; petro-chemical and gas industries; and silica-based industries.

Emphasis will be given to enhancing productive capacity, including developing advanced industrial infrastructure, the promotion of human capital development and research and development (R&D) activities, and the promotion of knowledge-based industries.

At its launch on January 29, 2008, SDC received a major boost with the signing of 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding worth RM16bn ($5bn). The proposed investments from the private sector were in biodiesel, agriculture, agro tourism, shopping, health and medical tourism, and transportation.

These projects are now at various stages of implementation. For the years 2011-12, coinciding with the First Rolling Plan of the 10 MP we will continue to implement these policies in addition to other initiatives in tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure.

The SDC programmes are designed to achieve the socioeconomic objectives of Sabah by harnessing unity in diversity and natural resources to catalyse investments into new growth areas. The programmes and projects will be funded by a combination of public funds private sector investments and private finance initiatives.

To support this objective, a competitive package will be customised to attract private sector investment in the promoted sectors, especially in knowledge-intensive sectors such as the biotech and ICT industries, and in designated strategic development areas (SDAs).

Anchor companies and SME's, as well as start-ups and quality new investments, wi|l be encouraged to venture into the targeted sectors within the flagship economic clusters and projects in the designated SDAs.

OBG : The second phase of SDC aims to further strengthen the economy by promoting the growth of the SME segment. How can this aim be achieve?

MUSA: lt is important to note that the development of SMEs will not only support the larger multinational companies (MNCs) but also provide an avenue of future growth for Sabah. We will also launch SME Accelerator programmes such as the Manufacturing Leaders

Programme and SME Agro-preneur Programme in which companies at different stages of development (from the early stages through to the expansion stage) will have access to customised support services.

An SME accelerator programme will initially be established at Sabah Agro-Industrial Precinct to primarily nurture and support agro-entrepreneurs. Business Link centres will also be established to deliver business advisory services to local SME's.

The advisory services would cover areas such as operational improvements, matchmaking with potential buyers and suppliers, and marketing and design for exports. Anchor companies will be aided in starting up businesses in each of the economic clusters within the SDAs. SME's and start-ups will be encouraged to engage with relevant anchor companies through the Business Link centres.

In addition to the above measures, detailed sub-sectoral studies have been commissioned by the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) in industries regarded as having high economic impact such as tourism, oil and gas, and biomass industry with a view to identify opportunities for SME's.

SEDIA shall also continue with existing programmes being implemented to support SME's, especially under the Economic Transformation Programme laid out in the 10 MP?

Sabah has a number of traditional sources of wealth. such as plantations, commodities oil and gas. which new sectors is the SEC going to promote?

OBG : Sabah has a number of traditional sourceof wealth, such as plantations, commodities, oil gas. Which new sector s is the SDC going to promote?

MUSA: The Malaysian government, through the 10MR has recognised the role of science and technology in transforming Malaysia into a knowledge-based economy and a developed nation by 2020.

The plan emphasised the adoption and diffusion of new technologies and innovations of ICT, biotechnology and other technologies, especially in the identified key economic areas.

Malaysia, and Sabah in particular will benefit from higher investment in niche growth areas such as biotech, green industry, wellness and health care, particularly through the intensive use of knowledge, innovation and technology, leveraging on its unique factor endowments.

SDC endeavours to intensify human capital development and leverage the current expertise within the research communities to create sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity, as well as promoting science-industry linkages in tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and logistics.

An initial step in this direction involves the establishment of the Business link centres and the Sabah Bio-Xchange Network. This will help to pool resources and expertise and alleviate the shortage of human capital development in the short term. ln the longer term, measures will be taken to attract renowned training and research institutions to increase the pool of local talent, especially into the Sandakan Education Hub, as well as the lnterior Education Hub. Rural communities will also be empowered to access appropriate technology.

Additionally, Sabah’s rich, multi-ethnic cultural heritage, together with the scenic islands, unpolluted environment and the natural endowments such as rare wildlife, tropical rainforest and diverse marine life, should help to inspire the emergence of creative industry. In the past Sabah has hosted numerous television and film producers from international production houses. Under the SDC initiative, we see the potential for continuing to develop creative industry in Sabah.

There is, however, a dire need to invest in and facilitate access to technology and scientific knowledge. With science and technology driving innovation and also serving as a key economic and industrial enabler for new sources of growth in biotech, green industry, wellness and health care, as well as in the creative industries, jobs can be created and better access to health care and education can be provided.

From this development, small and large business owners can be net-worked and better connected to customers and new investment opportunities can be created, resulting in sustainable improvement in the standard of living and the economy, making Sabah an important destination for future investment in business, culture and nature.

(NOTE : Oxford Business Group is a global publishing and consultancy company producing annual investment and economic reports on more than 30 countries. Every business intelligence report is based on in-country research conducted over an average of six months by experienced analysts. To identify investment opportunities, we draw on more than 1,000 first-hand sources. You need only one – Oxford Business Group.)

JANGAN MENYUSAHKAN RAKYAT, AGIHKAN BAUCHER BR1M DENGAN SEGERA

2012-01-23T18:26:00.001+08:00

Jangan Biar Penerima BR1M Tunggu Lama Ketika Majlis Penagihan - Musa Aman

SANDAKAN, 23 Jan (Bernama) -- Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman mahu agensi bertanggungjawab dalam pengagihan Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia membuat persiapan rapi bagi mengelakkan orang ramai di negeri ini menunggu lama.

Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata agensi bertanggungjawab perlu membuat persiapan sebelum dan ketika majlis dilaksanakan dan wakil rakyat yang dijemput melakukan pengagihan itu, perlu hadir mengikut masa yang dijadualkan.

"Jangan biarkan rakyat menunggu kita kerana tugas kita adalah berkhidmat kepada rakyat dan itu amanah yang mereka berikan,"

katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina anjuran Parti MCA di sini, hari ini.

Beliau diminta mengulas mengenai adanya rungutan rakyat tentang kecekapan dan mekanisme pengagihan BR1M di negeri ini.

Musa berkata biarpun beliau berpuas hati dengan pengagihan BR1M yang berjalan lancar tetapi masih ada tempat menghadapi masalah sehngga menyebabkan penerima menunggu lama ketika majlis pengagihan.

Menurutnya bagi mengelakkan masalah itu, agensi terbabit perlu mengikut garis panduan yang diberikan dan wakil rakyat serta pemimpin tempatan memberikan kerjasama.

"Saya akan memantau pengagihan BR1M di negeri ini supaya ia berjalan lebih lancar dan tidak menyusahkan rakyat," kata Musa.

UNIVERSITI MALAYA (UM) ALL SET FOR AUTONOMY

2012-01-23T12:48:00.001+08:00

UM set for autonomy

PETALING JAYA Jan 23, 2012: Universiti Malaya (UM) is set to be given autonomy from the Higher Education Ministry this month.

UM vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dr Ghauth Jasmon said the autonomy would allow the university flexibility in finance, administration and academic matters.

“We already have a transformation plan in place for the university and with autonomy, we'll be able to carry out the plans more effectively,” he said.

Prof Ghauth said UM would no longer have to go to the Public Service Department, the Ministry or Treasury for many matters.

UM deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs and alumni) Prof Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof said the university would also be able to choose its own students now.

“Previously we had no say in student intake as everything was handled by the Universities Admissions Unit,” she said.

Another aspect of university governance that would benefit from autonomy was human resource, added Prof Rohana.

“We will be able to fill positions quickly without having to go through JPA,” she said.

Earlier this month, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced that Universiti Teknologi Malaysia were given autonomy.

Other universities expected to receive the status are Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

A Readiness for Autonomy Audit was earlier carried out by a team headed by UKM vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin.

“Universities have to earn the autonomy and show that they have the ability to conduct their affairs with integrity,” she said.

Prof Sharifah added that the autonomy involved institutional governance, academic governance, financial management and human resource management.

Mohamed Khaled is expected to make the official announcement on UM on Thursday.

COURT STAFF INVESTIGATED OVER FORGED BIRTH CERTIFICATE ENDORSEMENT

2012-01-22T18:43:00.001+08:00

Court staff investigated over forged birth certificate endorsement

KOTA KINABALU Jan 22, 2012: Police are carrying out investigation into an allegation that some staff at two Sabah courts have allegedly forged signatures of magistrates in approving late birth registrations for monetary gains.

The state’s court has also suspended two clerical staff in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau and temporarily halted its mobile court services in the state pending an outcome of the police investigations.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib confirmed that a police report had been lodged on Jan 11 by a court official and the police commercial crime officers have begun investigations into claims of magistrates’ signatures being forged for applications of birth certificate (BE) endorsement.

He said the investigations under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating were focusing on claims that the magistrates’ signatures were forged by certain court staff for monetary gains in the birth certificate applications for people applying for the late birth registration at mobile courts.

“We are checking if the signatures are forged, we have to check them with the genuine signatures, they are still under investigations and we cannot disclose much at this moment,” Hamza said when contacted yesterday.

However, he said so far, they have not made any arrest in connection with the case.

Sabah Courts director Ismail Brahim said yesterday that on Jan 11 at around 3pm they discovered a birth certificate endorsement (BE) which they suspected was forged as the number for the certificate was not in the court system.

“We immediately alerted the police and lodged a report on the matter. The next day, we also reported the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for assistance on this matter,” he said.

“The matter is still under investigation by the police and the MACC.

“We view this matter seriously, and we will not tolerate any attempts by any quarters, be it from our staff or outsiders to manipulate endorsement of the birth certificate endorsement application as this would pose a serious threat to the country,” he said.

Ismail said they have taken immediate steps to suspend the staff responsible for the birth certificate endorsement application as this is a normal procedure when an investigation is being carried out.

“At the moment, an internal investigation is also being carried out to identify the weak links if any, in our system.

“In any event, we have taken immediate additional measures to enhance the security of the whole process in order to ensure that such an incident will never occur again,’’ he added.

Ismail said that the matter had nothing to do with the operations of the mobile court but it was an unfortunate incident that occurred at the court houses in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau.

Sabah’s mobile courts apart from hearing cases in rural areas also helps people to obtain their birth certificate endorsement after a hearing.

The court’s endorsement is used by applicants to obtain birth certificates from the National Registration Department.

‘WE CAN NO LONGER COMPROMISE ON OIL’

2012-01-22T18:21:00.001+08:00

‘We can no longer compromise on oil’

Jeffrey Kitingan’s State Reform Party (Star) is proposing a complete reform of the current oil and gas arrangement with Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU Jan 21, 2012: The Jeffrey Kitingan-led State Reform Party (Star) chapter in Sabah wants the licensing of the oil and gas industry in Sabah to be left in state hands. Currently licensing is under federal control.

This is among several points listed in the party’s ‘Petroleum Masterplan’ which was unveiled here yesterday.

According to Kitingan the “rights of Sabah and the welfare of the people can no longer be compromised by the continued exploitation of its oil resources at the expense of the people of Sabah.”

“We cannot rely on and cannot depend on outsiders to decide on Sabah’s oil and gas resources which belong to all Sabahans.”

Kitingan said the masterplan was conceived based on the rationale that “Sabah Oil and Gas Resources Belongs to All Sabahans”.

The masterplan, he said also included a review of the cash royalty payment from the current 5% to 50%, establishment of PetroSabah Corporation and the PetroSabah Wealth Fund and a Sabah Petroleum Advisory Council.

Explaining further, he said the Sabah Petroleum Advisory Council will advise on and oversee the planning and policies for Sabah’s oil and gas resources, while PetroSabah Corporation will spearhead the development of the oil and gas industry in Sabah.

“Getting only 5% from its oil resources is no longer acceptable today. If this continues, Sabah will continue to remain as the poorest state in Malaysia.

“The masterplan will involve a three-pronged strategy that will seek a review of the existing arrangements on Sabah’s oil and gas resources.

“It will also look at the overall development of a oil and gas industry in Sabah and the utilization of the oil and gas resources for Sabah and Sabahans first and the preservation and investment of the oil revenue for the well-being of Sabahans and for the future generations,” Kitingan explained.

He promised that under such a plan, Sabahans will enjoy cheaper petrol, diesel and gas products, lower electricity rates and enjoy annual grants from revenues generated from the state’s oil and gas.

Review of Kimanis-Bintulu pipeline

He said Star also porposed that special tax incentives be given to oil and gas-powered plants in Sabah and that the federal government give PetroSabah Corporation tax-exempt status.

Kitingan said the master plan also recognized the fact that oil and gas are fast depleting resources and will be exhausted in future despite recent announcements of new oil and gas finds off the coast of Sabah.

“Bearing this in mind, the third strategy of the master plan will be seek to invest some of the oil and gas revenues and at the same time to provide for the benefit and well-being of Sabahans.

“The oil and gas revenues need to be conserved and invested for the future of Sabah and all Sabahans and cannot be wholly used in the annual state budget as currently practiced by the government,” he said.

He added that a “PetroSabah Wealth Fund” will also be established under the master plan.

The fund will be entrusted to invest Sabah’s oil and gas revenues for the future generations. The investment guidelines and criteria will be formulated by the Advisory Council.

“It is proposed that 12.5% of the annual profits of PetroSabah Corporation be set aside to provide for Sabahans and another 25% will be invested in the PetroSabah Wealth Fund,” he proposed.

Kitingan did not leave out the controversial RM3.5billion Kimanis-Bintulu Gas pipeline project.

The pipeline will channel gas from Sabah to Sarawak leaving little for Sabah. Kitingan also noted that Blocks L&M have been signed away by the federal government to Brunei and that little was known of the oil dealings over Labuan, which was once part of Sabah and is now a Federal Territory.

Petronas must be accountable

Kitingan said the master plan will also review the pipeline project and assurances given by Petronas and the federal government inclusive of the guarantee to leave sufficient gas for Sabah’s use and review of sales tax revenue on oil and gas products in Sabah.

The proposal also includes a request to the Federal Government for a special subsidy for petroleum products equivalent to the volume of oil extracted from Sabah for consumers in Sabah.

“Sabah consumers should pay less for petrol, diesel and gas products compared to their counterparts in Semenanjung,” said Kitingan who noted that following the 1976 air crash tragedy which killed then Chief Minister Fuad Stephens and several senior members of the cabinet, the state government had signed away 100% of the state’s oil and gas resources.

It even gave up the collection of its 5% oil royalties and accepted a cash payment under the Petroleum Development Act, 1974.

“If Sabah had not waived collecting the 5% oil royalties, today, Sabah will be receiving at least 10% of the revenue from its oil resources, 5% oil royalties and 5% cash payment,” he said.

He noted that in 2012, Petronas is expected to receive RM14.734 billion from Sabah oil resources while Sabah will receive only RM0.775 billion and none is specifically invested for future generations.

“The present day system of secrecy, non-transparency and non-accountability will be abolished.

“Petronas will have to be accountable to the people of Sabah for Sabah’s oil and gas resources,” said Kitingan.

UCAPAN TAKZIAH

2012-01-22T09:36:00.001+08:00

Ucapan Takziah kepada keluarga Allahyarham En. Abdul Ghani Ahmad.

Allahyarham telah kembali ke Rahmatullah pada jam 5.30 pagi 22hb. Januari 2012 (Ahad) di Hospital Daerah Ranau.

Allahyarham merupakan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN Ranau) dari 1971 hingga 1976, dan pernah dilantik sebagai Pembantu Menteri di Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia Dan Sukan Negeri Sabah.

Jenazah Allahyarham telah dibawa balik ke kediaman di Kg. Lingkudau Ranau dan akan dikebumikan di tanah perkuburan Muslimin Kg. Lingkudau/Paka selepas solat Zohor hari ini.

Semoga Allah S.W.T. mencucuri rahmat ke atas roh Allahyarham dan dihimpunkan bersama golongan orang-orang yang soleh.

Al-Fatihah.

KAMAL ASHNAWI @ RADEN MAS PRABHU GUSTI AGUNG KI ASMORO WIJOYO BAKAL DITABAL MAHARAJA INDONESIA ADALAH ORANG TERKAYA DIDUNIA DENGAN ASET BERNILAI RM20 TRILLION?

2012-01-22T09:00:00.001+08:00

Kamal Ashnawi terkaya di dunia, miliki RM20 trilion?

Kamal Ashnawi

KUALA LUMPUR 21 Jan. – Walaupun tidak tersenarai sebagai orang terkaya di dunia, anak kelahiran Perak, Kamal Ashnawi (KA) mendakwa beliau kini mempunyai wang simpanan melebihi 5 trilion Euro (RM20 trilion).

Dakwaan kekayaannya itu ditunjukkan dengan mengemukakan kepada pemberita salinan penyata bank HSBC di London yang seharusnya membolehkan beliau menjadi individu pertama di dunia bergelar ‘trillionaire’.

Kamal adalah Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Sierra Petroleum (M) Sdn. Bhd. yang pernah mencadangkan projek kilang penapis minyak mentah di Kedah pada 2005.

Menurut majalah Forbes, Carlos Slim dari Mexico merupakan manusia terkaya di dunia tahun lepas dengan anggaran kekayaannya mencecah RM224.7 bilion dan Pengasas Microsoft, Bill Gates menduduki tempat kedua dengan kekayaan berjumlah RM170 bilion.

“Saya terpanggil untuk tampil bagi menolak segala tuduhan buruk yang dilemparkan sebelum ini ekoran cadangan projek pada 2005 yang tidak berjaya dilaksanakan kerana dihalang oleh pihak-pihak tertentu.

“Ini adalah tawaran terakhir saya bagi membantu orang Melayu dan syarikat-syarikat dengan melaburkan dana dalam tiga projek cadangan di Perlis, Johor dan Kelantan dalam masa yang terdekat,” katanya pada sidang akhbar di sebuah hotel di sini semalam.

Katanya, tiga projek yang bernilai trilion ringgit tersebut ialah projek pelancongan komersial di Kuala Perlis, taman tema berkonsepkan Pirates of The Carribean di Danga Bay, Johor Baharu, dan projek penempatan komersial di Kelantan.

Kamal berkata, segala urusan berkaitan tiga projek tersebut akan diserahkan kepada SAS Group iaitu sekumpulan pelajar alumni Sekolah Alam Shah yang merupakan bekas sekolah beliau sendiri.

Sejak projek penapisan kilang minyak di Kedah itu tergendala, katanya, dia lebih banyak menghabiskan masa di luar negara bagi menguruskan perniagaan.

Menurutnya, beliau akan bermastautin di Hong Kong mulai Mac ini bersama keluarganya sebelum ke Indonesia beberapa tahun kemudian.

Kamal memberitahu, kekayaan yang diperoleh berasal daripada warisan diraja menerusi akaun bagi Combined International Collateral of the Global Debt Facility yang dibuat keluarga diraja dunia pada 1875.

Dakwanya, beliau juga adalah keturunan diraja dari Jawa, Indonesia dengan namanya Raden Mas Prabhu Gusti Agung Ki Asmoro Wijoyo dan dijangka ditabal menjadi Maharaja Indonesia dalam beberapa tahun lagi.

KALAU TAK ADA ANGIN, MASAKAN POKOK BERGOYANG

2012-01-21T16:03:00.001+08:00

Will Lajim’s exit hurt Musa?

Jan 21, 2012 : Rumours are that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has asked Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman to step down after the 13th general election.

Sabah’s 25 parliamentary and 60 state seats have remained Umno’s ‘most trusted fixed deposit”. In the 13th general election, with uncertainty looming over peninsular politics, Sabah must be won and local Umno ‘warlords’ cannot be simply dismissed because ‘their too old”.

A case in point is Lajim Ukin, an influential warlord or ‘strongman’ as some call him from Beuafort. He’s a humble man and well liked in his constituency and unfortunately for some factions a ‘winnable’ candidate.

Coffeeshops here are abuzz with rumours that Lajim may announce his exit from Umno later this month.

“Wait till Jan 31… The tree will not shake if there is no wind,”

said one of Lajim’s acquaintances when asked of his ‘boss’ will leave Umno for Sabah Peoples Front (SPF), a local party currently headed by Berman Angkap.

The acquaintance also also reinforced that Lajim’s main reason for leaving is because he “knew” that he was among several veterans who were considered ‘under-performers” and most likely would be dropped by Sabah Umno head, Musa Aman in preparation of the coming general election.

Musa is said to be responding to a call by Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is Umno’s president, to identify those who should be dropped and replaced by younger and more educated candidates.

While it is true that Lajim is now a veteran politician having served as people’s representative since 1985, it cannot be said that he has been underperforming.

He is among the most popular Barisan Nasional MPs and is in touch with his constituency in Beuafort. He is amiable and easily approachable to people seeking his hand.

According to an insider, the problem lies in the fact that “populist Lajim” is indeed a winnable candidate” at least in his own Beaufort area.

“He is humble and close to the people in Beaufort. He works tirelessly and that’s threatening to some quarters who are instigating Musa, ” said the insider who also spouted common rumour that Musa is contemplating replacing Lajim with a relative.

Musa’s family ties

Currently Musa’s younger brother, Anifah, who is also the Foreign Affairs Minister, is the MP for Kimanis, just adjacent to Lajim’s Beaufort.

Already, Musa’s son in-law Ariffin Arif is the assemblyman for Membakut which comes under Beaufort.

While Lajim has been successful in evading speaking to the media about the rumour of his quitting Umno, his men readily admitted that they already ordered thousands of SPF flags, printed thousands of t-shirts and opening a big office somewhere here.

A senior Sabah Umno, when approached for comment, said the press should ask Lajim when he will announce his exit.

“Rumour are that he will wait until after Chinese New Year to announce his move. We will wait and see lah,” said the insider.

Musa’s principal political secretary, Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, when asked about the rumours recently, answered in text: “We have asked the persons concerned but they denied”.

Nizam’s ‘they’ refered to Ghapur Salleh (MP Kalabakan) and Bung Mokhtar Raden (MP Kinabatangan) and Lajim.

All three are on Musa’s ‘drop list’ and rumoured to be heading for SPF.

Yesterday Musa, in a bid to counter these rumours, called on BN leaders not to dwell too much on the issue of candidacy.

Musa under Najib scrutiny

Musa himself, some insiders claimed, is already a subject of stringent auditing by Najib and his team as to whether he should continue to be the Chief Minister or not after the general election.

There are speculations that Najib could have asked Musa (as he did to Sarawak Chief Minsiter Taib Mahmud) to step down early and pave the way for a transitional state government as the “general election will not be held very soon”.

Despite PAS’s ‘confident prediction’ that polls will be held in March, Musa insiders claim Najib had insinuated that there will be no polls this year.

Not to be muscled out this way, billionaire Musa has leveraged his position by going the extra kilometre and “contributing” to oil the Barisan Nasional’s election machinery in its embattled base in Peninsular .

Meanwhile waiting in the wing for the coveted Chef Minister post are Sabah Umno’s deputy head, Salleh Said Keruak, who is also State Assembly Speaker, and Shafei Apdal, Umno’s vice president who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister.

Both, however, are currently not an assemblyman – a prerequisite to be considered for state cabinet posts.

Things would however get clearer when election is called.

While Salleh and Shafei may harbour hopes of standing in a state constituency, Lajim for now is said to be weighing his options in the event he is not renominated.

Lajim, a thorn to Musa

The threat is if Lajim quits Umno and forms an alliance with STAR’ Sabah chapter Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, together they might spring surprises in many seats, especially in Sabah’s west-coast area where Kitingan’s Kadazandusun communities are substantial.

Lajim, himself being a Bisaya, is from the Dusunic group.

Could the political saying “there is no permanent enemy or friend in politics” ring true for Kitingan and Lajim?

According to their respective inner circles, both leaders have been in contact with each other over politics since as early last year.

Berman, when asked yesterday about Lajim joining SPF, refused to comment.

All he said in his text message was, “no idea, tq”, further fueling speculations that Musa may see more that one surprise spring in coming months.

5 GRADUAN MENGANGGUR BAKAR DIRI PROTES TIADA PEKERJAAN

2012-01-21T14:42:00.001+08:00

5 tiada kerja bakar diri

RABAT 2012/01/21 : Lima penganggur membakar diri di ibu kota Maghribi sebagai sebahagian demonstrasi di negara itu berhubung kekurangan pekerjaan, terutama untuk graduan universiti, kata aktivis hak asasi, kelmarin.

Tiga daripada mangsa dirawat di hospital kerana melecur teruk. Kejadian itu, yang sebelum ini jarang berlaku menjadi taktik bantahan di Asia Barat dan Afrika Utara sejak seorang penjual sayur-sayuran di Tunisia membakar diri pada Disember 2010.

Lelaki itu membantah tindakan anggota polis mengganggu perniagaannya, yang mencetuskan kebangkitan menumbangkan kerajaan dan mencetuskan pergerakan sama di rantau itu.

Kelima-lima lelaki berkenaan adalah sebahagian daripada pergerakan Graduan Menganggur membabitkan jutaan graduan universiti yang mahukan pekerjaan.

SEORANG penunjuk perasaan terbaring selepas membakar diri di Rabat, Maghribi.

Demonstrasi selalunya disuraikan secara ganas oleh polis dan di beberapa pekan dan bandar raya menyebabkan pertempuran berlaku. Ketika kadar pengangguran rasmi cuma 9.1 peratus, angkanya sekitar 16 peratus bagi graduan.

Kelmarin, kerajaan yang dipilih pada November lalu membentangkan pelan baru kepada Parlimen dengan fokus mencipta pekerjaan, pendidikan dan memperbaiki kualiti kesihatan.

Sementara itu, kerajaan dipimpin golongan Islam berjanji menghasilkan 200,000 pekerjaan baru setahun menerusi pelaburan awam dan persendirian.

Seramai 160 anggota pergerakan itu menduduki bangunan pentadbiran Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi sejak dua minggu lalu di Rabat, sebagai sebahagian bantahan mereka.

Penyokong membawakan makanan kepada mereka sehingga dua hari lalu apabila dihalang pasukan keselamatan.

“Pihak berkuasa menyekat mereka menerima makanan dan air, jadi lima daripada mereka keluar untuk mendapatkan makanan dan mengancam membakar diri jika dihalang,” kata jurucakap Persatuan Hak Asasi Manusia Maghribi, Youssef al-Rissouni.

Daripada tiga yang dimasukkan ke hospital, dua dalam keadaan serius manakala dua lagi cuma baju terbakar.

Rakaman video yang disiarkan kumpulan itu secara dalam talian menunjukkan orang ramai membaling roti ke arah polis yang mengawal bangunan berkenaan. Beberapa pemuda di atas bangunan menyiram diri mereka dengan cecair dan melompat turun dan mula mengutip roti.

Apabila polis pencegah rusuhan bergerak untuk menghentikan mereka, sekurang-kurangnya dua daripada lelaki berkenaan terbakar dan mula berlari sebelum dikepung penyokong dan api dipadamkan.

Gambar menunjukkan mereka dengan sebahagian besar kulit terbakar. Akhbar dalam talian, Goud, melaporkan dua daripada mereka mengalami kesan terbakar tahap kedua dan dihantar ke unit melecur Casablanca.

Ketika ekonomi Maghribi mencatat kadar pertumbuhan baik sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini sekitar empat hingga lima peratus, ia masih belum cukup menghasilkan pekerjaan untuk golongan muda yang semakin ramai di pasaran setiap tahun.

OVER 1.3 MILLION CIVIL SERVANST NOT HAPPY WITH SBPA

2012-01-21T14:39:00.001+08:00

Over 1.3 million civil servants unhappy with SBPA

JOHOR BARU Jan 21, 2012 : More than 1.3 million civil servants are unhappy with the new Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) as it is unfair to those on the lower salary grades, said Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman.

Omar said he had received complaints from many civil servants including state department directors over the SBPA.

“Many have complained that it is unfair for civil servants graded 54 and below to receive only 7% and 13% pay rise,” he said after speaking to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) staff on SBPA matters here yesterday.

Omar, who is a member in the task force formed by the Cabinet to review the SBPA on Jan 14, said that Cuepacs would ensure that civil servants receive equal treatment.

The task force, headed by former PSD director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam, has been given until April 16 to submit its review to the Government.

He said that Cuepacs wanted to know the difference in salary between top-ranking officials and ordinary staff at each government department.

“We received complaints that some civil servants only received a salary increase of RM10,” he said, adding that civil servants in the lower grade worked hard and deserved better.

MY FB ACCOUNT WAS HACKED, SAYS STUDENT

2012-01-21T14:37:00.001+08:00

My FB account was hacked, says student

ALOR SETAR Jan 21, 2012: A medical student from AIMST University who is alleged to have threatened Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in a Facebook posting, claimed that her account was hacked.

Her mother, who declined to be named, said her daughter’s account had been hacked twice and that she would never post such a comment in her Facebook account.

“She only came to know about the posting when police called her to give a statement.

“She has not ruled out the possibility that it could have been done by someone she knows. We, her family, are very angry over the matter,” she said at her house in Taman Syed Mohamed here yesterday.

The second-year student, in her 20s, had purportedly posted that if Najib boarded an airplane, she would shoot it down. She was said to have posted the threat which included vulgar words in her Facebook status update.

She was detained at 10pm on the same day and released at 9am on Thursday after her statement was recorded.

A check on her Facebook account showed that the posting was put up at 4.36pm on Wednesday and had more than 100 comments.

Meanwhile, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir urged youths to be careful of what they post or comment on social network sites.

“Even though we have a right to freedom of speech we should be responsible with what we write,” he said after presenting aid to 100 pupils from poor families.

Last week, a 24-year-old undergraduate from USM was detained for questioning after threatening to bomb Najib’s helicopter, also through a Facebook posting.

SEJARAH TV MALAYSIA SABAH @ RANGKAIAN KETIGA

2012-01-21T10:50:00.001+08:00

KEWUJUDAN SIARAN TV DI SABAH

Dalam merangka Rancangan Malaysia Pertama (1965-1970), penubuhan TV di Sabah tidak dimasukkan dalam perancangan tersebut. Disebabkan perkembangan pembangunan yang berlaku pada masa itu terlalu cepat dan di luar jangkaan, maka keperluan untuk mengadakan saluran TV di negeri ini mula dirasai dan ini menyebabkan Kerajaan mengubah rancangan asal dan membawa ke hadapan rancangan tersebut.

Kajian persediaan mengenai kemungkinan dapat menubuhkan perkhidmatan televesyen untuk Sabah telah disediakan oleh seorang pakar dari Kanada, Mr. G. F. Brickenden pada 4 Mei 1964. Walaupun kajian yang terperinci ini sudah siap namun projek ini tidak dapat dilaksanakan disebabkan masalah kewangan dari Kerajaan Pusat yang bertanggungjawab ke atas perlaksanaannya. Bagaimanapun pada bulan November 1967 rancangan ini telah mendapat perhatian yang lebih bermakna daripada Ketua Menteri Sabah, YAB Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun, bila beliau mengumumkan kesediaan Kerajaan Negeri untuk membiayainya.

Kompleks TV ini merupakan bangunan-bangunan lama bekas wad rumah sakit Kelas Pertama yang dibina oleh Kerajaan British selepas perang sehinggalah tahun 1956 apabila rumah sakit berpindah ke bangunan yang baru, bangunan-bangunan lamanya terus dijadikan rumah kediaman kakitangan Kerajaan sehinggalah kawasan ini diambil sebagai kompleks TV sementara.

Pelancaran Perkhidmatan TV di Sabah

Perkhidmatan siaran TV di Sabah akhirnya dapat dilancarkan secara rasminya pada 28 Disember 1971 dan dikenali sebagai TV Malaysia Sabah. Siaran ini telah mencahayakan tempat-tempat kediaman dan juga hati masyarakat Sabah. Sebagaimana Radio, TV telah menjadi 'peti ajaib' yang dimestikan ada oleh setiap keluarga. Perkhidmatan ini juga merupakan satu lagi perkembangan dari segi perhubungan di negeri ini dan penubuhannya amat penting sekali sebagai alat yang dapat memberikan pelajaran, pengetahuan, perpaduan negara di samping menjadi alat penghibur utama. TV juga memberi peluang kepada bakat-bakat tempatan untuk lebih bergiat dan menonjolkan, dapat mendedahkan seni budaya suku kaum sebagai langkah ke arah pembangunan satu kebudayaan bangsa Malaysia yang bersatu.

RANCANGAN-RANCANGAN SIARAN DALAM HITAM PUTIH

TV Malaysia Sabah mengendalikan kedua-dua perkhidmatan siaran dan penerbitan rancangan-rancangan tempatan. Semua rancangan disiarkan dari studio di Kota Kinabalu dan dipancarkan ke seluruh Sabah dalam hitam putih iaitu melalui saluran-saluran berikut:-

Saluran 10 - Kawasan Pantai Barat
Saluran 9 - Kawasan Kudat, Tawau dan Pedalaman
Saluran 8 - Kawasan Sandakan
Saluran 7 - Kawasan Lahad Datu dan Semporna

TV MALAYSIA RANGKAIAN NASIONAL MEMANCAR KE SABAH DAN SARAWAK

Pada mula TV diperkenalkan di Sabah rangkaian ini dikenali sebagai TV Malaysia Sabah dan hanya meliputi negeri Sabah Sahaja. Jumlah masa siaran ketika itu ialah 35 jam seminggu yang memulakan siaran dari pukul 6.00 petang hingga 11.00 malam setiap hari.

Dengan adanya kemudahan satelit Bumi di Tampasak Kinarut Sabah, Satelit Bumi Kuantan dan Satelit Angkasa di Lautan Hindia, siaran TV dari Kuala Lumpur boleh diterima di Sabah dan Sarawak. Siaran TV Rangkaian Nasional ke Sabah dan Sarawak ini dilancarkan secara rasminya pada 30 Ogos 1975. Dengan pelancaran ini negeri Sarawak telah dapat menikmati siaran TV buat kali pertama. TV Malaysia Kota Kinabalu pula ditukar nama menjadi TV Malaysia Rangkaian Ketiga.

SIARAN DARI TV MALAYSIA RANGKAIAN KETIGA DIHENTIKAN

Perkembangan dalam bidang penyiaran TV di Malaysia begitu pesat sekali, siaran Rangkaian Nasional mula menyiarkan rancangan-rancangan dalam warna pada tahun 1978. Pada 31 Ogos 1983 siaran TV Malaysia Rangkian Kedua dapat diterima ke seluruh negara termasuk Sabah dan Sarawak. Dengan adanya siaran dua rangkaian dari Kuala Lumpur siaran dari Rangkaian Ketiga akhirnya dihentikan pada pertengahan tahun 1985. Kini stesen televesyen di Kota Kinabalu menjadi pusat penerbitan rancangan-rancangan tempatan untuk disiarkan melalui rangkaian satu dan dua.

ARTISTES APPEAL FOR A SABAH–BASED TV CHANNEL

2012-01-21T10:46:00.001+08:00

Artistes appeal for a Sabah-based TV channel

PENAMPANG Jan 21, 2012: Many artistes in the State believe that a Sabah-based TV channel will be the best platform to nurture singing talents among Sabahans.

Representatives of Sabah local artists, Janrywine J.Lusin and Jimmy Palikat in a joint press conference yesterday, shared their concerns and support for a proper TV channel that Sabahans can watch and listen, as an option to the entertainment industry in Malaysia.

“My latest single ‘Macam di KK’ has been uploaded to the Internet through YouTube, but it has created several negative comments among fans throughout the country. Most of them love the song, but those who do not like it especially those from the peninsula expressed their negative comments that offended Sabahans.

“I am very open minded. It is normal if people don’t like my song because it might not be close to their heart, but in this case the song has become a tool for some fans to create unwelcome critics. I don’t want this to get worse,” said Janrywine at the press conference held at D Junction Lido, here yesterday.

He said simple comments in the Internet, especially racist comments have no place in a multi-racial country such as Malaysia.

Janrywine said such a situation is one example why Sabah should have its own TV channel immediately as a platform to expose the singing talents of Sabahans and not just to upload it to the Internet because entertainment in Sabah deserves to be watched.

Lusin said Sabah music and film will be more appreciated by Malaysians if the watch them on TV.

Meanwhile, Jimmy who is famous for his song ‘Tanak Kampung’ which has been translated into Kelantanese, Bidayuh or even adopted into a Rock version by one of bands in Peninsular Malaysia, said it is not fair to treat Sabahans as a stepchild in the Malaysia music industry, especially when they are as equally talented as music players in the peninsula.

Palikat said his single ‘Tanak Kampung’ took more than one year to reach out to the whole country because there is no platform to promote, unlike songs from the peninsula that could easily be promoted on TV and national radio because most channels are peninsula-based.

“There is an urgent need for our own TV channel. We have the demand, we even have the market and talent. The current TVi channel on channel 108 in Astro that is supposed to be promoting Sabah is not enough because our slots are only for a few hours.

“Sabah-based TV channel will help not only the musicians but also film makers and politicians to highlight their talent and struggle to the Sabahans,” he said.

He stressed that Sabah and Sarawak could combine in the effort to promote the variety in its language, culture, tourism attraction or even calling for support from many potential advertisers.

Palikat’s statement was echoed by one of Sabahan singers, Rozza Rothman who lauded the move by Palikat and Lusin to hand over a memorandum to the Local Artistes’ Association of Sabah (Pertisa) on the proposal for a Sabah-based TV channel.

Rozza said she would support any suggestion made by local artistes to uplift the singing industry in Sabah as long as it is channeled to the right audience and in a proper way.

Pertisa deputy president, Narsisius Justin Misin who attended the press conference welcomed the joint effort by Lusin and Palikat and that they should be supported by the other artistes in Sabah because having a Sabah-based TV channel will be something that is interesting and meaningful.

“I look at this effort as a positive move by them as we are already on par with the other talents in the peninsula.

“We only need the right platform to show what we have in Sabah. We have many interesting performers and stories from Sabah that will attract many investors,” said Misin who is waiting for the memorandum to be handed over to the association.

Sabahan film director, P. Dik Ganai (Fdam) said Sabah and Sarawak film makers should be treated equally by TV stations based in the peninsula.

He said many TV channels are treating Sabah and Sarawak as their option in the film and music industry due to the long geographical distance.

“This is why this proposal is very important because we want Sabah-based TV channel that is managed by our own people. This is the time for the government to help us by giving us the green light.

“If certain people question our talent and quality, they haven’t discovered our talent to the maximum yet because our problem is we do not have any proper channel to showcase our talent to the people. TV channel will be the only way to help us,” he added.

DJ Othoe, a former DJ in a national radio station, said he had experienced many negative responses from many Sabahans who did not believe in what Sabahans can offer.

“I have been on air for two years in the national radio station with my Sabah dialect. Many people called me crazy at that time but I never gave up. I saw the potential and I want to be the medium for Sabahan singers to show their talent.

“After being called crazy along the way in my career, now we all witness that not only my former radio station but many other radio stations have set up Sabah-based radio stations that are now competing against one another,” he said.

DJ Othoe believes that Sabah-based TV channel will be able to showcase the whole of Sabah, as another interesting development in the country’s broadcasting industry.

He said the government should play its role to be a part of the proposal as TV channel will also help the policy makers to spread the government’s messages to the people.

DOCTOR SHORTAGE CONTRIBUTES TO BOY’S DEATH – DIRECTOR

2012-01-21T08:28:00.001+08:00

Doctor shortage contributes to boy’s death – director

KOTA KINABALU Jan 21, 2012: A shortage of senior doctors has contributed to the death of a young boy who succumbed to chest pain and breathing difficulties in the Tawau Hospital recently, according to the State Health Director Dr Mohd Yusof Hj Ibrahim.

The investigation into the death of the seven-year-old patient has been completed and a report will be submitted to the Ministry of Health.

“The report is ready but we cannot publish it because it’s a confidential inquiry,”

he told reporters here yesterday, adding that the State Health Department would leave it to the ministry to decide on the case.

Mohd Yusof however explained that there was no element of negligence involved and maintained that insufficient senior doctors available was the main factor in the unfortunate incident.

“What happened was when the junior doctor called the senior for help, the senior was busy doing resuscitation on another patient. That is the shortfall there, but there was no negligence,” he said.

It was reported that the boy, who was suffering from chest pain and breathing difficulties, was allowed to be taken home by medical staff after prescribing him with some medicine.

However his parents took him back to the hospital after the symptoms continued throughout the night, but died soon after he was admitted.

Mohd Yusof signing the visitor's book during his visit to Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang yesterday.

Mohd Yusof who was met after officiating at the Hospital Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang (HMBP) MS ISO and 5S certifications said, the Department has contacted the parents and explained the outcome of the investigation.

“We have talked to them and explained (the incident). Our expert has also spoken to the parents. But that one you have to ask the parents themselves. As far we are concerned, we have explained that this was the situation and this was what we have done,” he said when asked whether the boy’s family were satisfied with the report.

He stressed that the department and the Ministry took the incident very seriously and appropriate action would have been meted out if there was evidence of negligence or incompetence on the part of the hospital.

He also noted that actions have been taken in the past against medical experts, senior and junior doctors, and even nurses found to have failed to observe the right procedures in taking care of their patients.

He added, the department has to investigate all deaths at hospitals to ensure there was no element of negligence involved and as part of a continuous effort to further improve the service provided.

“In fact, we have improved a lot. In terms of investigation, we have also move forward in what we term as an external investigation team. Previously, incidents which occurred in hospital A will be investigated by hospital A itself. But now no more, we call experts in the related fields from other hospitals to investigate.

“For the investigation at the Tawau Hospital the experts have finalised the report. Of course there are shortfalls that we need to look into and rectify as soon as possible,” said Mohd Yusof.

He also acknowledged that similar situations where there are often not enough doctors to attend to patients was still common in hospitals across the State, although the department has managed to achieve the target of increasing the number of doctors and medical officers to at least six for every field at all hospitals last year.

“If you talk about vacancies there are still more vacancies in Sabah, at least by 50 per cent but the number is improving. We are currently training about 300 trainees a year and about 100 over to 200 come out to district hospitals every year, but they have to come back to do their master’s programme.

“By 2015, things will be stabilised. Now we are training a lot of medical officers, I would say the 300 would be improved to 400 because we are opening Keningau and Lahad Datu hospitals for training,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Mohd Yusof said the awareness on mental health and diseases among the public has continued to improve.

He commented this augurs well with the department’s efforts to involve the community more actively in treating patients suffering from mental illnesses.

“Our approach is to further increase the knowledge and understanding among the people, so that if possible the patients would not require to be sent here for treatment.

“Treatment within the society is better, because they have more direct support from family and friends. Our job then would be to provide the medical aspect of the treatment,” he said.

WINNING SABAH WILL BE UMNO-BARISAN NASIONAL'S BIGGEST EXPENSE

2012-01-20T19:42:00.001+08:00

‘RM1.5b donation for KL war chest’

KOTA KINABALU Jan 20, 2012: Sabah Umno “strongman” Lajim Ukin’s no-show at a meeting with deputy party president Muhyiddin Yassin earlier this week was “not deliberate”.

Lajim is widely speculated to be quitting the party following a fallout with Sabah Umno president Musa Aman.

According to Lajim’s press secretary Japar Abdul Wahid, it was simply a case of “timing”.

“When the letter informing Lajim of the meeting arrived, he was already on leave.

“So he did not deliberately miss the meeting,” he said, adding that Lajim was in China for a medical check-up.

Lajim, it appeared, was concerned about speculations circulating that he will quit Umno and join Sabah Progressive Front (SPF) which was once headed by former chief minister Harris Salleh.

Gossips peaked when both Sepanggar Umno division chief, Jumat Idris, and opposition Sabah Progressive Peoples Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee, urged Lajim to tell the truth about his alleged intention to quit Umno.

It’s common knowledge that Lajim, who is Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister, and Musa are at each other’s throat.

Rumour has it that Musa is aiming to drop Lajim, who is Beaufort MP, and field a relative instead in the coming general election.

Lajim is not the only “victim”. Several other local Umno names have also surfaced in recent weeks.

Umno Sabah is in troubled waters with deep divisions between Musa and national vice-president Shafie Apdal.

Muhyiddin, Shafie and vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein’s presence here earlier this week was indicative of the severity of the situation.

Collective contribution

Sources here claim that the trio were here to suss out the “actual” situation on the ground and decide on “battle plans and budgets” going into the polls, which incidentally PAS has predicted will be held on March 11.

Sabah will be the most costly affair for Umno but win the state it must.

A source told FMT today that some RM1.5 billion is likely to be “donated” to Kuala Lumpur’s war chest.

The money, the source said, will be a “collective contribution” from “about 20 businessmen here”.

“Musa has already pledged the money to Najib. It will be about RM1.5 or RM2 billion. He has rounded up the donors and everyone is just waiting for his cue. It will be in cash,” said the source.

Sabah has 25 parliamentary seats. Opposition holds three parliamentary seats – Kota Kinabalu (DAP) and Tawau and Sepanggar held by SAPP.

Umno currently holds 13 parliamentary seats. Parti Bersatu Sabah holds three seats while Upko has four.

Both LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) and PBRS (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) have one parliamentary seat each.

Peninsula-based Gerakan and MCA have no parliamentary seats.

Eyeing these seats in the 13th general election is both Pakatan Rakyat and a myraid of local parties.

Pakatan is aspiring for 18 parliamentary seats, a number it feels is “achievable” although locals here think otherwise.

Leading the local pack is former PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan, who, until last month, had been “written off” by Umno.

Jeffrey heads the Sabah chapter of State Reform Party (STAR) and has called on all local parties to team up with him under a Borneo Alliance, which calls for the reinstatement of the terms of the 20-point agreement signed with the federated states of Malaya in 1963.

The political dynamics in Sabah has changed, with 2011 being an awakening of sorts on many fronts for the state.

ONE MAN'S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN'S POISON

2012-01-20T17:23:00.003+08:00

BN Cybertroopers, PR_Fags, A /k/ guide to identifying them

So lots of political threat lately, thanks to Clean. Anyways just like sport rivalries, political threads are pretty much a game of pointing fingers, in which supporters of each sides put emphasis on issues outside the game rather than the game itself (i.e. they're more likely to find faults in opposition rather than merits in themselves). It's hard to be impartial in this situation, especially when each decision relies on your everyday well being. However it is important to note which side each person is on, so that you can roughly estimate the bias-ness of the content of their argument. So here's a guide to help you in /k/

PR_Fag

Loves to link news especially those of from internet media like MalaysiaKini, FreeMalaysiaToday, or Malaysia Today. Sometimes content from Mainstream Media (MSM) like Utusan or TheStar is posted especially when they can link those article against BN. Never posts news from MSM like "kids gets RM100million funding from BN state" as those news are deemed as propaganda and just a gimmick to garner more votes.
On the other hand, positive news about PR_states is treated as a divine act as the ruling party clearly does those act out of the feeling of responsibility rather than just an attempt to woo voters.
Relies on anti-BN sentiment to attract people and cover their weakness. PR Corrupt? BN is worst. PR MPs given RM10k allowance? BN outdo them for over 100x more. Anwar Sex Scandal? Chua Soi Lek has a biger boner than him. Basically the only reason why you're on top is because the rest of the class are morons.
Every word uttered by PR politicians are words of wisdom while those by BN parties are pure lies
If you make a statement supporting PR, you've seen the light, if against, BN probably bought you with a RM10million Villa in Damansara Heights.
99% of political threads in /k/ is started by them. Including this one.

BN Cybertroopers

BN Cybertroopers has evolved from the early days of /k/ till now. In those days, one could easily identify Cybertroopers by their "PR Sucks, BN Rules" approach. However, as they say failure is a stepping stone to success, they have become more intelligent and take a more convincing approach. However evolution takes time and they still have some remnants of their old self in them today.
Never link any news from any sites. Often make claims (DAP actually means Decepticons for Anwar as Prime Minister) without any link other than crudely photoshopped pictures.
Insist that we should never bite the hands that feed us since everything we have today is bestowed by the Government. (a common tactic against students)
Appear to post a neutral opinion at the beginning of a thread, insisting on a neutral stance. However a few post later and you'll realize these people won't stop posting untill you say "I'm convinced now that PR sucks and BN is the way to go".
Attempt to divert anti BN threads with baseless posting like "Adakah aku kisah" or "this thread should be closed. It's useless" in hope that the thread becomes dead.
When everything else fails, bring religion in.
Rely on historical performance to bring confidence to the people (Who liberated Malaysia from the British? BN has experience in ruling the country, what about PR)

BLOGGER & ‘CYBERTROOPER’ TIDAK INGIN TERIKAT DENGAN PERATURAN TERTENTU

2012-01-20T17:23:00.001+08:00

'Unit media Umno tak dapat kawal Papagomo, Parpukari'

Jan 20, 2012 : Pengerusi unit media baru Pemuda Umno, Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz berkata beliau tidak dapat mengawal penulis blog tertentu seperti papagomo dan parpukari yang dikatakan sering menyiarkan tulisan berunsur fitnah di laman berkenaan.

Katanya, beliau tidak menyokong pandangan tertentu yang diketengahkan dalam blog berkenaan namun beliau mengakui bahawa laman berkenaan menyumbang kepada pengaruh Umno, lebih-lebih lagi ketika menghadapi pilihan raya kecil dan pilihan raya umum.

"Tapi saya lebih bimbang apabila berdepan dengan pemilihan Umno. Penulis blog ini akan bersaing antara satu sama lain.

"Nak kawal blogger Umno sendiri bukan senang. Apa cara kita hendak kawal mereka?," katanya lagi ketika ditemui di satu majlis diskusi pengguna laman blog Twitter, malam tadi.

Katanya penulis blog tersebut merupakan penyokong Umno tetapi menyifatkan diri mereka sebagai penulis blog bebas.

"Ada di antara mereka yang sangat membenci saya... mereka tidak menyukai saya, mereka tidak mahu diarah, dinasihat atau dikawal," katanya yang turut menjadi sasaran penulis blog berkenaan.

Katanya, walau beliau mengenali penulis blog berkenaan secara peribadi, individu tersebut tidak mendedahkan identiti mereka di ruang maya.

"Lainlah macam saya. Saya bertanggungjawab kepada parti," kata anggota exco pemuda Umno itu lagi yang turut mengendalikan blog tunfaisal.blogspot.com.

Dalam tulisannya di laman tersebut hari ini, Tun Faisal menjelaskan bahawa Umno tidak boleh meletakkan syarat ke atas penulis blog seperti parpukari dan papagomo kerana golongan itu bukan merupakan anggota jentera parti.

Walaupun dengan penetapan syarat tertentu, penulis blog dan 'Cybertrooper' itu juga mungkin mempunyai pendirian sendiri kerana "tidak ingin terikat dengan peraturan-peraturan tertentu."

"Apa lagi apabila kita sendiri bersetuju dengan dasar untuk tidak menapis dan menyekat kandungan di Internet.

"Dalam keadaan tertentu mereka juga mengkritik dan menyerang pemimpin BN. Jadi kenapa kita hanya diminta mengawal mereka apabila mereka mengkritik dan menyerang pemimpin pembangkang?," soalnya lagi.

Katanya, Unit Media Baru Pemuda Umno juga tidak menyokong serangan peribadi yang dilancarkan oleh kumpulan penulis blog berkenaan, seperti yang dilakukan ke atas exco kerajaan Selangor, Elizabeth Wong.

ADUN PKR itu dilanda kontroversi apabila foto separuh bogel beliau tersebar di laman pro-Umno bermula Februari 2009.

Bercakap kepada Malaysiakini, Tun Faisal menjelaskan, penulis blog seperti papagomo dan parpukari telahpun meraih populariti apabila Umno mula menubuhkan unit baru itu ketika memasuki gelanggang pilihan raya 2008.

Katanya Umno telahpun jauh ketinggalan di belakang PAS, DAP dan PKR yang beralih untuk menyampaikan mesej mereka di ruang Internet apabila tidak lagi mendapat tempat di media arus perdana.

Kumpulan pro-pembangkang telahpun menggunakan ruang Internet semenjak 1999 ketika slogan seperti "Mahazalim" mula timbul sebagai kritikan kepada corak pemerintahan perdana menteri pada masa itu, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Kita jauh ketinggalan di belakang sedangkan lanskap (perang media) telahpun berubah. Pada 2008 kita terkejut kerana ia bukan lagi sekadar tulisan tetapi kandungan multimedia digunakan.

"Fitnah semakin banyak dengan gambar dan visual. Sebab itu Pak Lah kena teruk (diserang). Ianya lebih teruk daripada (fitnah) 'zaman Mahazalim'," katanya lagi.

Semenjak dilantik mengetuai unit berkenaan pada 2010, Tun Faisal berkata beliau telah melatih seramai 1,800 orang untuk bergiat di ruang siber melalui penulisan blog dan juga menyertai laman sosial.

Secara peribadi, beliau bagaimanapun hanya mengenali seramai 27 orang daripada jumlah tersebut.

Beliau dilantik oleh ketua pemuda Umno Khairy Jamaluddin ke unit berkenaan untuk mendedahkan orang Umno dengan media baru supaya tidak begitu bergantung kepada media arus perdana.

Sekarang, kata Tun Faisal, pihaknya mempunyai lebih ramai pengendali media dalam talian untuk mengimbangi keadaan tersebut.

'Cybertrooper' berkenaan juga, katanya, dilatih untuk menyerang pembangkang dan juga untuk melengkapi fungsi media arus perdana yang lebih banyak melaporkan dasar dan implementasi kerajaan

"(Latihan tersebut) sama ada anda kelirukan orang atau beritahu sisi cerita yang lain," katanya lagi berjenaka.

Turut hadir dalam program diskusi pada malam tadi ialah kolumnis Malaysiakini Hishamuddin Rais, ahli parlimen Kota Belud Datuk Rahman Dahlan dan juga timbalan menteri pengajian tinggi Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

Perbincangan berkenaan antara lain bertujuan untuk mengadakan dialog yang lebih membina di antara penyokong BN dan Pakatan di ruang Twitter.

---------------

Cybertroopers, Social Media and The State of Media in Malaysia

http://bfm.my/assets/files/Current%20Affairs/2012-01-19_CA_Cybertroopers_Tun_Faisal_Hishamudin_Rais.mp3

GURU YANG PALING JUJUR & AMANAH DI DUNIA?

2012-01-20T16:06:00.003+08:00

Guru terkejut akaun bank ada RM30.59 bilion

KOLKATA, India - Seorang guru sebuah sekolah tinggi di sini yang mempunyai gaji bulanan sebanyak AS$700 (RM2,170) terkejut apabila dalam pemeriksaan rutin dalam online yang dibuatnya mendapati akaun banknya mempunyai baki hampir AS$10 bilion (RM31 bilion).

Guru itu, Parijat Saha (gambar), 42, dari bandar Balurghat, negeri Bengal Barat berkata, dia memeriksa akaun Bank Negara India menerusi online pada Ahad lalu untuk mengesahkan penerimaan bayaran faedah sebanyak AS$200 (RM620).

"Saya terkejut melihat jumlah yang terlalu banyak," katanya.

Akaun itu menunjukkan baki sebanyak AS$9.87 bilion (RM30.59 bilion).

Selepas pulih daripada kejutan awal kerana menjadi seorang bilionair dalam tempoh semalaman, sekurang-kurangnya di atas kertas, Saha, menyatakan dia terus menghubungi seorang rakan yang dikenalinya di bank berkenaan untuk menunjukkan ia secara jelasnya satu kesilapan perakaunan.

Bank Negara India menyatakan, ia masih tidak mengetahui dengan jelas bagaimana jumlah tersebut didaftarkan dalam akaun Saha.

"Kami cuba untuk memastikan apa yang silap," kata seorang pengurus cawangan bank itu, Subhashish Karmakar.

"Kita telah menghubungi ibu pejabat wilayah di Kolkata dan ibu pejabat kebangsaan di Mumbai," tambahnya.

BEKAS PENGARAH DIDAKWA PALSUKAN DOKUMEN UNTUK NAIK PANGKAT

2012-01-20T16:06:00.001+08:00

Bekas Pengarah Veterinar N.Sembilan Didakwa Palsukan Dokumen Untuk Naik Pangkat

SEREMBAN: Bekas Pengarah Jabatan Veterinar Negeri Sembilan Datuk Dr Noor Soeraya Norsham, yang dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Khas Rasuah di sini, mengaku tidak bersalah terhadap empat pertuduhan memalsukan dokumen bagi tujuan kenaikan pangkat.

Dr Noor Soeraya, 38, yang kini Pegawai Veterinar di Seksyen Komunikasi Korporat dan Antarabangsa, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar, Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani di Putrajaya, turut mengaku tidak bersalah terhadap tiga pertuduhan pilihan.

Hakim Datin Nursinah Adzmi membenarkan tertuduh diikat jamin sebanyak RM10,000 dengan seorang penjamin bagi semua pertuduhan dan menetapkan 22 Feb untuk sebutan semula kes.

Mengikut pertuduhan pertama, Dr Noor Soeraya didakwa memberikan satu surat rujukan bertarikh 27 Feb 2009 berhubung Arahan Kenaikan Pangkat dan Pengesahan Jawatan Pegawai Veterinar Gred G48 yang mengandungi butiran palsu kepada Pembantu Tadbir di Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar Negeri Sembilan, Siti Norhayati Md Yusof.
Ketika itu, tertuduh memangku Gred G44 dan didakwa melakukan perbuatan tersebut bagi tujuan kenaikan pangkat ke Gred G48, yang membolehkan penyelarasan gaji dan elaun dibuat menyebabkan dia memperoleh secara salah RM39,536.90.
Bagi pertuduhan kedua, Dr Noor Soeraya didakwa memberikan satu surat rujukan bertarikh 28 Dis 2009 berhubung Arahan Memangku Jawatan Pegawai Veterinar Gred G52 - Khas Untuk Penyandang di Jabatan Veterinar, Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, yang mengandungi butiran palsu kepada Siti Noorhayati.
Tertuduh didakwa melakukan kesalahan itu bagi tujuan penyelarasan gaji dan elaun menyebabkan dia memperoleh secara salah RM5,013.82.
Dr Noor Soeraya juga didakwa memberikan surat rujukan bertarikh 1 Julai 2010 berhubung Keputusan Urusan Kenaikan Pangkat Pegawai Veterinar Gred G48 ke Gred G52 di Jabatan Veterinar, Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, yang mengandungi butiran palsu kepada pembantu tadbir yang sama.

Dia didakwa melakukan ketiga-tiga kesalahan di pejabat Jabatan Veterinar Negeri Sembilan, Jalan Pantai di sini antara 16 Mac 2009 dan 2 Julai 2010 mengikut Seksyen 18 Akta Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah (SPRM) 2009, dan boleh dihukum mengikut Seksyen 24 akta sama yang memperuntukkan hukuman maksimum penjara 20 tahun dan denda lima kali ganda nilai kesalahan.

Mengikut pertuduhan keempat, Dr Noor Soeraya didakwa memberikan Siti Norhayati surat rujukan palsu bertarikh 31 Mac 2011 berhubung Keputusan Pemangkuan Pegawai Veterinar Gred G52 ke G54, di Bahagian Pentadbiran Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar Negeri Sembilan, Lot 1504, Mukim Pantai, Batu 6, Jalan Jelebu di sini pada 12 April tahun lepas.
Bagi pertuduhan pilihan, dia didakwa menggunakan tiga surat rujukan palsu berkaitan sebagai tulen mengikut Seksyen 471 Kanun Keseksaan dan boleh dihukum mengikut Seksyen 465 kanun sama yang memperuntukkan hukuman maksimum penjara dua tahun atau denda, atau kedua-duanya sekali, jika sabit kesalahan.

Terdahulu, Timbalan Pendakwa Raya SPRM Mohd Fairuz Johari menawarkan jaminan sebanyak RM20,000 dengan seorang penjamin bagi semua pertuduhan.

Peguam Mohammad Faiz Datuk Fadzil pula meminta mahkamah mengurangkan jumlah itu kepada RM3,000.

Beliau berkata ini kerana Dr Nor Soeraya telah berkeluarga dan menunjukkan komitmennya terhadap kes ini dengan hadir ke mahkamah.

Bagaimanapun, Hakim Nursinah berpendapat permintaan itu tidak munasabah kerana pertuduhan terhadap tertuduh amat serius.