IN THE LAND OF THE BLIND, THE ONE-EYED MAN IS KING

Di Sebalik Bayang-Bayang Sebuah Negeri Di Malaysia

Inside Malaysia's Shadow State

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Taib Mahmud's reponse to Global Witness film - 19.03.2013

PETRONAS NAFI ADA HUTANG ROYALTI

PETRONAS nafi ada hutang royalti

Kuala Lumpur 30/11/2012: PETRONAS semalam menafikan tuduhan mereka ada berhutang royalti minyak kepada beberapa negeri.

Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutifnya, Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas, berkata isu bayaran royalti minyak kepada negeri pengeluar sumber itu terletak kepada kerajaan persekutuan.

“Sebagai sebuah syarikat, tanggungjawab kami adalah menguruskan sumber tenaga dan bukannya menyebarkan kekayaan,”

ENTERTAINER URGES ASTRO TO AIR SABAH, SARAWAK FILMS

Entertainer urges Astro to air Sabah, Sarawak films

KOTA KINABALU 2/10/2012: A Sabahan entertainer, Abu Bakar Ellah, better known as ‘Ampal’, for the character he portrayed in his telefilms, said Astro should seriously embark on airing at least up to 90 per cent of products from Sabah and Sarawak since it is the only avenue for local talents to be showcased on television.

He also suggested for further discussion to be initiated to ensure the role of TV1 programmes aired by Astro meant specifically for Sabah and Sarawak to bring about impact and greater understanding of the people in both states in the context of nation building.

“It is extremely disappointing and frustrating when production companies from the peninsula are getting the bulk of the contracts, despite us having submitted our proposals.

FUNDS DOWN FOR RURAL SABAH, S’WAK SCHOOLS

Funds down for rural Sabah, S’wak schools

Has education in rural schools improved so much that it warranted a cut in allocation from RM424 million in 2012 to RM98 million in 2013?

KUCHING 1/10/2012: While state Barisan Nasional leaders have described the over RM251 million federal budget announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as “very balanced”, Sarawak opposition leaders are saying it’s “terribly horrible”.

Pointing out a shocking drop in funding for education allocation in rural areas, DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said: “The government is setting its priorities all wrong.

SLA TO APPEAL DECISION ON FOREIGN LAWYERS TO PRACTISE IN SABAH

SLA to appeal decision on foreign lawyers to practise in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU September 26, 2012: In efforts to safeguard and protect local lawyers’ rights, Sabah Law Association (SLA) will be appealing against the decision of the Court of Appeal to allow foreign lawyers represent parties in arbitration in Sabah.

Its president GBB Nandy @ Gaanesh when contacted yesterday said they have a month to file the appeal.

“We are appealing to safeguard protection given under the federal constitution for Sabah lawyers for work done by a lawyer both in and outside the courts,” he stressed.

“THE [FEDERAL] GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION TO REVIEW THE PETROLEUM PRODUCT PAYMENT TO THE STATE GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THAT OF SABAH AND SARAWAK,” - NAJIB

No increase in oil royalty

KUALA LUMPUR September 25, 2012: The federal government does not intend to increase the royalty payments to the various oil-producing states.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak confirmed this in Parliament in a written response to a query by PAS-Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff over the matter.

“The [federal] government has no intention to review the petroleum product payment to the state governments, including that of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

PUTRAJAYA DARED TO FORM RCI ON PROGRESS IN SABAH, SARAWAK

Putrajaya dared to form RCI on progress in Sabah, Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — A royal commission of inquiry (RCI) is needed to see if Sabah and Sarawak’s “dreams and aspirations” in forming Malaysia with Malaya 49 years ago has been “fulfilled or betrayed”, Lim Kit Siang said today.

The DAP parliamentary leader called for all MPs from Sabah and Sarawak to give their unanimous support when he proposes such an RCI in the next Parliamentary sitting.

“The people of Sarawak and Sabah were promised progress and development, at least to the level achieved by the Peninsula states,”

SEPT 16 SIGNIFICANT IN EAST MALAYSIA

Sept 16 significant in East Malaysia

LABUAN September 16, 2012: Malaysia Day on September 16, is significant for the people of Sabah and Labuan, as Labuan was once under Sabah when Sabah agreed to form Malaysia together with Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya.

Director of Labuan Corporation Art, Culture and Tourism Department Mahathir Abdul Hamid said September 16 is a big day in East Malaysia as it was when we agreed to evolve our independent land to form a new country.

“From my point of view, September 16 is only truly celebrated here in East Malaysia. We are not sure in West Malaysia as they focus to celebrate National Day on August 31, annually.

“In Sabah, including Labuan, August 31 is also an important date for us as we gained independence on August 31, 1963 from the British.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR OIL WELLS RUN DRY?

What happens when our oil wells run dry?

The stark reality is - the boom time for Malaysia – is over, but it is not all doom and gloom.

September 12, 2012: For decades, oil and gas (O&G) has been our country’s main revenue contributor. In the past, new discoveries propelled our oil production which peaked in the mid-1990s, whereas the recent high fuel prices resulted in good cash flow into the Malaysian treasury.

However, will oil which made Malaysia relatively wealthy continue to gush from our wells?

The stark reality is – the boom time for Malaysia – is over. Let me share the reasons why. Most if not all of the economically attractive fields have been found and developed. Our new discoveries are smaller, more technically demanding, and require more intensive capital investment.

BICARA KAMPUS TV1 9HB. SEPTEMBER 2012

ACRYL PUZZLED BY ANTI-S’WAKIAN SENTIMENT IN FACEBOOK

Acryl puzzled by anti-S’wakian sentiment in Facebook

KUCHING September 12, 2012: State police commissioner Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani cannot understand why anyone would have an issue with Sarawakians who are generally courteous.

He said this when asked to comment on several ‘anti-Sarawak’ or ‘anti-Sarawakian’ pages popping up in Facebook recently which have drawn furious responses on the social networking site from Sarawakians.

SINGAPORE URGED TO REVIEW DECISION TO BAN SABAH AND SARAWAK MALE NATIVES BELOW 35 FROM WORKING IN REPUBLIC

Singapore urged to review decision to ban Sabah and Sarawak male natives below 35 from working in republic

KOTA KINABALU September 11, 2012: The decision by Singapore to “punish” workers from Sabah and Sarawak has been described as “harsh and unfair”.

Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad, Parti Bersatu Sabah deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and Sabah Malaysian Trades Union Congress criticised the new ruling, urging the republic to withdraw or review it.

SABAHANS AND SARAWAKIANS BELOW 35 BARRED FROM WORKING IN SINGAPORE

Sabahans and Sarawakians below 35 barred from working in Singapore

JOHOR BARU: Malaysians above the age of 18 are allowed to work in Singapore except for male natives from Sabah and Sarawak whose age limit has been raised to 35.

The new ruling was imposed as an “administrative punishment” after a series of crimes and fights involving rowdy native Sabahans and Sarawakians in the republic.

DR MAHATHIR’S STATEMENT RILES MASING

Dr Mahathir’s statement riles Masing

KUCHING September 10, 2012: Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing has questioned the rationale in asking the people of Sabah and Sarawak to remain patient for development projects to be implemented, considering that the states are major oil and gas producers in the country.

Masing, who is Baleh assemblyman, was not impressed with the recent statement by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that people of the two states should be patient for natural resources to be extracted and the fruit of foreign investments to materialise before they can experience the same tempo of development as their counterparts in the Peninsula.

SABAH, SARAWAK SHOULD HAVE PANEL FOR ROYALTY REVIEW

Sabah, Sarawak should have panel for royalty review – Dompok

PENAMPANG August 28, 2012: Sabah and Sarawak should have their own panel to look into the oil royalty review for both states, said United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (UPKO) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok .

The Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister said this when asked to comment on the suggestion to have the two East Malaysian states included in the special committee to review the oil royalty paid to Terengganu and Kelantan by the federal government.

“Sabah and Sarawak should have their own panel to talk to the federal government. It is not necessary to be part of the panel for the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

“Obviously the historical setting is quite different both for Sabah and Sarawak and the peninsula states. Therefore I think it is necessary to have a separate panel for these two (East Malaysian) states,” Dompok said.

QUIET FURY GRIPS SABAH & S'WAK OVER PUTRAJAYA’S 55-YEARS MERDEKA CLAIM

QUIET FURY grips Sabah & S'wak over Putrajaya’s 55-years Merdeka claim

The insensitive ignoramuses have done it again! The buntings and billboards, shipped in from Putrajaya, brazenly proclaim 55 years of Merdeka throughout the length and breadth of Sabah and Sarawak. This is the Mother of All Bullshit in Sabah and Sarawak.

Whose Merdeka?

Obviously, it’s Merdeka for Peninsular Malaysia or Malaya which became independent of British colonial rule of a sort on 31 Aug, 1957.

500 NATIVES STORM POLICE STATION

500 natives storm police station

Sarawak police raided a village and detained five people whose names were not even in the report filed by a plantation company for allegedly burning a bridge.

KUCHING August 16, 2012: Some 500 angry villagers with their children from Melikin and nearby longhouses in Serian and Simunjan stormed the Serian police station yesterday, demanding the release of five individuals who were detained on Sunday night for allegedly causing a fire.

The villagers learnt that the five – Sanjan Ambol, 58, Musit Ngawing, 52, Tuai Rumah Nyalu Tampa, 55, Samad Junna, 41, and Singa Unsit, 58, – were to be charged at the Serian district court. All five were villagers from Melikin, Danau Melikin and Ensebang Plaie.

KEHIDUPAN PANDALELA SAMA SEPERTI REMAJA BIASA

Kehidupan Pandalela Sama Seperti Remaja Biasa

KUCHING: Beliau adalah pemenang pingat Olimpik dan menjadi wanita pertama yang menyumbangkan pingat Olimpik untuk negara, tetapi Pandelela Rinong Pamg sama seperti remaja biasa pada masa kini.

"Saya suka K-Pop, Super Junior dan Wonder Girls. Saya peminat setia animasi Jepun," kata penerjun sensasi berusia 19 tahun ini dalam temu bual telefon dengan The Star dari London, Sabtu.

Pandelela mencatat sejarah memperolehi pingat gangsa dalam acara platform 10m pada hari Jumaat.

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

PENT-UP ANGER EXPLODES

Pent-up anger explodes

I’M LISTENING: The presence of Tiong at the workers camp soon after the incident attracted thousands of workers who took the chance to express their unhappiness on various issues.

BINTULU July 17, 2012: Simmering discontent among local and Indonesian workers over poor working and living conditions and preferential treatment given to workers from China exploded into violence at a Samalaju Industrial Estate (SIE) workers camp here on Sunday evening.

The brawl started around 5pm at the main entrance of the workers camp which could accommodate more than 4,000 workers when the angry workers set upon Chinese workers leaving 11 of them and one local worker injured.