FSM WANTS KK-PORT KLANG SECTOR FULLY LIBERALISED

FSM wants KK-Port Klang sector fully liberalised

KOTA KINABALU 26/10/2012: The Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) is not asking the Government to abolish the cabotage policy but to fully liberalize the sector between Kota Kinabalu and Port Klang, said its president Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau.

He said the federation is not a political organization and only requests that its grievances be addressed.

KEDAI RAKYAT GOODS PRICED HIGHER IN SABAH – WONG

Kedai Rakyat goods priced higher in Sabah – Wong

KOTA KINABALU August 29, 2012: There is a need to look into the disparity in the prices of goods between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, and even those sold in the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia, Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) president Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau said.

He said goods in the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia in the state capital are offered at about 30 per cent higher than the shops in Kuala Lumpur.

Wong said the cabotage policy is among the contributory factors in the price disparity although the Malaysian Shipowners’ Association (MASA) denied it.

NAJIB SHOULD SACK THIS MINISTER

Najib should sack this Minister

August 26, 2012: IN response to PR's [Pakatan Rakyat] recent policy announcement to abolish the Cabotage Policy, the Minister of Transport [most loyal supporter of the ship owners] on 3 August 2012 and Masa on 4 August 2012, have come up with statements that contain very stale arguments for the continuation of the Cabotage Policy at the expense of Sabah.

As a Sabahan, I wish to respond to them. Their points are not worth the paper they are written on. Simply put, these shipowners, with the support of the Minister, want to be able to continue to extort and exploit Sabahans for another100 years.

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION TO RESOLVE SHIPPING ISSUES

Roundtable discussion to resolve shipping issues

KOTA KINABALU July 24, 2012: The state government is looking at resolving issues affecting the shipping industry in Sabah, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Edward Khoo said.

Among issues that needed to be resolved are the charges imposed on shippers and improving the quality of Sabah Ports Authority’s infrastructure as well as service, Khoo told reporters yesterday.

“This is the reason for this roundtable discussion today which I chair and attended by Sabah Ports general manager Datuk Mayong Omar and his staff as well as representatives from Suria Capital, Sandakan and Tawau Chinese Chambers of Commerce, Kota Kinabalu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representatives from seven shipping companies in Sabah and representative from the Sabah Shipping Agent Association.

CABOTAGE NOT SOLE CAUSE OF HIGH PRICES OF GOODS – MINISTER

Cabotage not sole cause of high prices of goods – Minister

KOTA KINABALU July 19, 2012: The cabotage policy is not the sole factor contributing to the high price of goods in Sabah and Sarawak, according to Transport Minister Datuk Kong Chor Har.

He was replying to points raised by Senator Datuk Paul Kong Sing Chu at the Dewan Negara recently, citing logistics and freight costs, land transportation cost and infrastructure facilities, as factors leading to the higher prices of goods in the two Borneo states.

Kong, who is also Sabah MCA deputy liaison head, had asked the minister when cabotage would be nullified so that the ’1Nation, 1Price’ goal could be achieved.

“I urge the government to quickly find a way to resolve the vast price differences between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah/Sarawak with the aim to achieve one-nation-one-price ‘dream,” Kong said.

SABAHANS HAVE RIGHT TO KNOW POLITICAL HISTORY – JEFFREY

Sabahans have right to know political history – Jeffrey

LABUAN July 18, 2012: State Reform Party (Star) chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the people of Sabah have every right to know the political background and history which led the then North Borneo to agree to join the Federation of Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak to form Malaysia on September 16, 1963.

He maintained that the date was significant as two other independent countries, namely Sarawak and Singapore, agreed to join Sabah and the Federation of Malaya to be united as partners under a new independent country known as Malaysia.

Jeffrey said this when launching the party’s Labuan division on Monday.

“We had been sweet-talked by the leaders from Kuala Lumpur who offered us sweet promises into believing that Sabah would be an equal partner in the new country and would share the wealth fairly.

“The real fact was we have already gained independence from the British earlier before we were colonized by the leaders from Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Jeffrey claimed that the political game in Malaysia was being played and masterminded by Malaya and after the agreement to form the federal government was made, Malaya ‘kicked out’ one of its partners, Singapore, without even referring the matter to Sabah and Sarawak.

“After they ‘dumped’ Singapore out, they manipulated Sabah and Sarawak in order to gain the two-thirds majority in parliament before successfully downgrading the status of Sabah and Sarawak from a country to one of the states within the federation.

“Later, all the 20 points which formed part of the basis for Sabah to form Malaysia were thrown into the garbage bin and none of the points has been given to Sabah until now,” he said, adding that the name Malaysia has been used to colonise both Sabah and Sarawak.

Jeffrey also touched on the oil royalty agreement which caused the first chief minister of Sabah, Tun Fuad Stephens to be toppled when he refused to sign the agreement giving Sabah a five per cent royalty from its oil resources.

“What most of us did not know is the five per cent was not an oil royalty agreement rather than a compensation for our oil and gas to be ‘handled’ by the newly set up Petronas back in 1974.

“In the agreement it is also stated that we could never claim for oil royalty. So, there is no oil royalty for us. Is it a fair agreement for Sabah?

“After Kuala Lumpur appointed Tun Mustapha as the new chief minister, he too refused to sign the agreement,” he said.

The agreement was finally signed by the new leader favoured by Kuala Lumpur, after both Tun Fuad and Tun Mustapha were toppled.

The first chief minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan shared the same fate of the two Sabah chief ministers when he disagreed to sign the agreement.

Jeffrey said that the five per cent for Sabah and Sarawak was solely made by Kuala Lumpur.

“It is not fair that we are only given five percent and the other 95 percent goes to Petronas. We should be given at least 50 per cent oil royalty as the oil and gas are located within Sabah region,” he said.

Jeffrey said that the party would insist for the oil agreement to be re-looked into for justice to be incorporated into the agreement.

“We want the agreement to be rescinded and enter into a new one,” he said.

Touching on cabotage, Jeffrey also wanted it to be cancelled, as it is a cruel policy which incurs the cost of living in Sabah to rise by 40 per cent and to affect the livelihood of every Sabahan.

“Cabotage has made it costly for investors to invest in Sabah,” he said.

Jeffrey expressed his wish for Labuan to be an independent state and the island is still well remembered as being part of Sabah.

He maintained that Labuan should have two or three parliamentary seats and no less than three state seats.

Also present was Labuan Star chief Adrian Jimlih.

by Adrian Nandu

SUBSIDISE FREIGHT COSTS TO CUT PRICES OF GOODS – MP

Subsidise freight costs to cut prices of goods – MP

TAWAU July 9, 2012: Member of parliament Datuk Chua Soon Bui has made a call for the federal government to subsidise the freight costs to reduce the prices of consumer goods in Sabah as well as to standardise them with those of Peninsular Malaysia.

Chua claimed that the issue had been highlighted numerous times in the past, but yet there has been neither any affirmative action nor solution to the problem in sight.

Meanwhile, the people in the state continue to suffer in silence for the high price of goods.

Chua said yesterday, “if the Federal government could afford to subsidise toll charges in the peninsula to the tune of billions of ringgits, there is no reason whatsoever why subsidising the high shipping cost of goods to Sabah cannot be implemented,” adding, that the costlier consumer goods in the state is directly attributable to the high shipping cost as a result of cabotage.

MICCI WANTS ENOUGH GAS FOR SABAH’S OWN DEVT

MICCI wants enough gas for Sabah’s own devt

KOTA KINABALU July 4, 2012: Malaysia International Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Sabah Branch wants the state government to continue pushing Petronas to ensure there is enough gas for Sabah’s own development.

“We strongly request the state government to urge Petronas to commit that in all its projects, the first opportunity is given to local consultants and qualified local companies so they will not end up being sub-contractors or sub, sub, sub contractors earning mere peanuts,” said MICCI Sabah Branch chairman, Datuk A Arulpragasam.

AMANAH DETERMINED TO RESOLVE PERENNIAL ISSUES — BUMBURING

Amanah determined to resolve perennial issues — Bumburing

KOTA KINABALU June 4, 2012: Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah), Sabah chapter will fight to resolve the perennial issues affecting the State namely the Malaysia Agreement, 20 Points, cabotage policy and Native Customary Rights (NCR) to ensure the sovereignty of Sabahans and Malaysians as a whole are protected.

ABILITY TO PAY MATTERS

Ability to pay matters

Kota Kinabalu May 11, 2012: Numerous trade and commerce organisations in the State are calling on the Government to implement the recently announced RM800 minimum wage in phases, if not review it altogether.

Federation of Sabah Manufacturers President Datuk Wong Khen Thau, who represented them, said in principle they do not object to the minimum pay announcement, but hoped it would be implemented in a way that would bring about a win-win situation to employers and employees.

CABOTAGE POLICY IS MAINTAINED BECAUSE IT IS RECOGNISED BY WTO

Cabotage to develop domestic shipping: Bakri

Kota Kinabalu May 10, 2012: Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said the Cabotage Policy is maintained because it is recognised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as being of strategic importance to a nation.

He said this when replying to Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap and Senator Pau Chiong Ung in Dewan Negara.

MINIMUM WAGE POLICY INTRODUCED BY NAJIB CANNOT HELP SABAH, IF HIGHER LIVING COST ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED

Minimum wage not helpful if Sabah living costs not reduced – DAP

KOTA KINABALU May 6, 2012: DAP Sabah welcomes the long overdue announcement of a minimum wage rate at RM900 for Peninsula Malaysia and RM800 for Sabah and Sarawak by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Razak  on May 1 in conjunction with Labour Day celebration.

However, DAP Sabah is of the view that the minimum wage policy introduced by Najib cannot help Sabah, if higher living cost issue is not addressed.

MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE SAME – MP

Minimum wage should be same – MP

KOTA KINABALU May 6, 2012: Putatan member of parliament Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh stressed that disparity should not exist in the minimum wage rate between Peninsular Malaysia and the Bornean states of Sabah and Sarawak.

“My personal opinion is, the minimum wage should be the same in the country. We are 1Malaysia, we are promoting this concept, so why the difference?”

CABOTAGE POLICY KEEPING EAST MALAYSIANS POOR

Cabotage policy keeping East Malaysians poor

Goods are more expensive in Sabah and Sarawak because of the federal government's cabotage rules, say Pakatan Rakyat MPs.

PETALING JAYA May 2, 2012: Pakatan Rakyat MPs have asked for cabotage rules imposed on Sabah and Sarawak – the reason behind the higher price of goods there – to be relaxed.

They said that the policy set in the early 1980s made sure that all the domestic transport of foreign goods could only be done by Malaysian vessels.

This, according to them, led to excessive shipping costs, and ultimately a higher cost of living in East Malaysia.

DPM TO PROPOSE CABINET COMMITTEE ON CABOTAGE POLICY

DPM to propose cabinet committee on cabotage policy

KOTA KINABALU April 28, 2012: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he will propose for a special cabinet committee to be formed to look into the cabotage policy and other issues related to the price disparity between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.

He said he would bring the matter up to seek approval from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Naib Tun Razak next week.

“The paper on cabotage policy will come back next week, which is rather timely. We will propose that a committee be set up to really look beyond what has been discussed so far, to look into details, what needs to be done and taken into account,”

CABOTAGE – Y… DII BIKOS POLICY?

Cabo-what Policy?

19 April 2012: A West Malaysian acquaintance of mine called me up this morning. He said, “Justin! I’m still in KL but I called up one of my friends who is in the shipping line and asked him whether he knows anything about the Cabotage Policy and he said he has no idea what it is!”

EXCESSIVE SHIPPING COSTS IS THE ISSUE – FSM

Excessive shipping costs is the issue – FSM

Quote:’Right now, the shipping industries win all and Sabah loses all.’

KOTA KINABALU Mac 29, 2012: Transport Minister Datuk Transport Minister Dato Seri Kong Cho Ha still does not understand the predicament of Sabah industry, especially with regard to the import and export of goods, said the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM).

Based on the minister’s statements and clarifications, it is obvious that he still does not understand, FSM said in a statement yesterday.

It said: “We have made it very clear that it is not a question of direct shipment entering or leaving Sabah. “The gist of the issue, which the Transport Minister missed is the excessive shipping costs of doing business in Sabah.

OVERCOME HIGHER PRICES OF GOODS IN SABAH – AU

Overcome higher prices of goods in Sabah – Au

March 28, 2012: THE Sabah government has been urged to conduct a thorough study on factors contributing to the higher prices of goods and living cost in the state and come up with specific measures to overcome them.

Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah in making the call at the State Assembly sitting yesterday, said the state government should work towards a review of the related policies to ensure a fairer daily goods prices in Sabah, similar to that in the other states in the country.

He said this included the controversial federal-imposed cabotage policy, which has long been blamed for the stark difference in prices between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.

FSM TO KL: YOU CAN KEEP THE POLICY

FSM to KL: You can keep the policy

Kota Kinabalu March 21, 2012: The Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) wants the Federal Government to provide 25-year tax exemption to the State's industrial sector, in lieu of its reluctance to scrap the shipping cabotage policy that is blamed for the higher cost of living in the State.

Its President Datuk Wong Khen Thau (pic) said their request should not be treated as being too much or overboard since the Government cannot do anything to help the State's industries on the cabotage issue.

"We are requesting this from the Government since it cannot help us on the cabotage policy, which by all means it can keep Éthe State's industries have been suffering since 32 years ago and are now at the crossroads and in a dilemma. So I think this is a very fair request," he said.

ABOLISH THE CABOTAGE POLICY

SAPP: Abolish the Cabotage Policy!

March 20, 2012: Luyang State Assemblywoman, Melanie Chia chided the Federal Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha for saying that there is a misconception and misperception among the people in Sabah on the country’s cabotage policy.

“From what he was saying, the Minister obviously did not understand the issue raised repeatedly by the business communities in Sabah on the cabotage policy which was introduced since 1980!  And for him to say that we do not understand the cabotage policy is really belittling Malaysians in Sabah!”

Businesses in Sabah have to incur higher costs due to the extra shipping costs which they have to incur due to the implementation of the cabotage policy.  This policy has directly and indirectly resulted in the higher costs of goods for Malaysians in Sabah.  It is also a policy which trade associations, especially exporters in the State, put their fingers on for increasing the prices of exports from Sabah to oversea countries rendering our goods not competitive to vie with competitors overseas.