Federal leaders making empty promises in Sabah
RANAU July 10, 2011: Former Kinabalu (now Ranau) MP Datuk Dr Osman @ Othman Minudin said Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi:s challenge to be beheaded if a school project did not materialise should be a lesson to all Federal Ministers about promising projects to the people.
He said Puad should pot have joked about it concerning the proposed SMK Nabalu. And having said that he should not have allowed it to be delayed by two years because the people were actually waiting for the school longer than that. "He should not have taken a long time to respond to the grouseS from various quarters on the delay because he sits in the Ministry and knows all the procedures related to the project's implementation," said Dr Osman.
He said this only suggests that Puad probably thought the people of Sabah could be taken lightly or for granted. He said education development in Sabah would not progress accordingly so long as Putrajaya decides even small things like repairs of any damage to school buildings. 'Even this requires a Deputy Minister to come down
and check before any allocation can be provided," he said, and asked what then was the responsibility of the Sabah Education Department, "Why can't this department decide even those small matters?" he asked.
He said his observation as an MP (1990-1994) showed the State Education Department at that time did not have to refer to
Kuala Lunpur but this was probably because the Director post then was held by a West Malaysian. "Is it no more the same just because the post is now held by a Sabahan?"
Dr Osman also noted that Puad was also not successful in getting sufficient teachers to fill the thousands of vacancies in the State while there was talk of flooding the State with peninsula teachers, whose return after a couple of years only affected the academic performance of Sabahans.
TIe is aware that there are thousands of Sabahan graduates who have applied to become teachers but were never considered," he said.
He hoped the issue of graduate quality would not be made an excuse by Puad because Sabahans are surely no less academically
qualified than their peninsula counterparts.
"Sabahan graduates who apply to become teachers should be given top priority in filling up the thousands of vacancies in the State. Either they should go for teaching training or teach first while waiting to be called for training," he said.
Jelasnya, satu perarakan penuh tradisi akan diadakan yang melibatkan pahlawan suku kaum Kadazandusun lengkap berpakaian, bersama kumpulan bobolian daripada pelbagai suku etnik Kadazandusun.
Beliau berkata, pihak penganjur telah mengatur pelbagai acara menarik, antaranya pertandingan nyanyian rombituon Nunuk Ragang, mini kembara Nunuk Ragang, persembahan tarian dan muzik tradisi dan acara momurinait oleh Bobolian.
"With the official recognition we now qualify for a grant. I'll apply for a special grant scheme operated by the Australian Government through the 
She managed to finally trace the landowners of the Last Camp Site to Dr Othman Minudin and wife Dr Lungkiam in February 2008, through the determined efforts of famed trekker Tham Yau Kong.
The memorial with the names of 183 prisoners of war inscribed is a joint initiative between Lynette, Dr Othman and Dr Lungkiam who have donated the land..jpg)
Absolute proof of the campsite was found on 20 August 2008 when Lynette's husband Neil, using a metal detector, unearthed a cache of Australian Army Haversack adjustable brass buckles and a brass button pressed with the words: Australian Military Forces and a map of Australia.
"I am very pleased there has been substantial all round generosity from the Australian Government and Sabah Government in funding the fencing, generosity of the Othmans in giving up land, generosity of local leader (Datuk Ewon Ebin) in funding the repairs of a swing bridge leading to the campsite," noted Lynette.
Tham recalled the most important part being meeting Dr Othman in the nick of time during a recee for the Death March Whitewater at the Liwagu River in February 2008," he said.
"To me that was a miracle because for years who the land owners were had been a mystery," he added.
"Getting the Australian Government recognition is really no joke," he said, and thanked Daily Express for all the coverage it has done 
since the days when Sabah Society initiated the 60th anniversary project they called "Retracing the Death March ' in 2005," Tham noted.
State Culture, Tourism and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said this when officiating the ceremony attended by scores of relatives of the Australian and British POWs. The last mystery was the exact spot where the Death March ended.
"The memorial unveiled at this 'The Last Camp' of the 1945 Death March symbolises the key elements of this tragic story," said Lynette Silver, who has been instrumental in uncovering the site information after 16 years of relentless research on the Death March.
"It also stands as a testimony to courage and endurance. May these words bring comfort to those who mourn the loss of someone dear," she said, adding they were spoken originally by 
What first set the stage to the Death March event in Sabah was Allied defeat in the 
Of these, 1,878 Australians and 641 British PoWS were sent to Sandakan to build an airstrip. It ended at Kialungan, Kg Kenipir - The Last Camp on exactly 27 August, 1945.
Fifteen PoWs were still alive and well that day, almost two weeks after 
But Japanese guards shot them all, including the last five Officers: Dr John Oakeshott, Dr John Picone, Dr Frank Daniels (Briton), Capt. George Cook and Flight Lt Humphrey Burgess who were initially told that they would be taken to Ranau to see the Kempeitai (Japanese Army Secret Police) to negotiate for release.
Following Men" by Dame Mary Gilmore.