Court battle looms over coal plant

As reported HERE on Sun, Dec 6, 2009

KOTA KINABALU: It’s supposed to be a clean coal power plant for oil-rich Sabah. However, even before it can get off the ground, more dirt is sticking to it than was envisaged.

A looming court battle threatens to spill even more dirt over federal-state administrative matters that transpired 30 years ago with Kuala Lumpur regarding the land where it will be sited.

The latest salvo fired against the project has come from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat supreme council member Haji Ansari Abdullah (picture) who hopes to regain the land grabbed by Federal Land Development Authority and give it back to poor Sabahans.

Ansari claims the land where the plant is to be sited was originally meant for the poor, but was turned into a commercial plantation by Felda.

“Some 200,000 hectres of state land in Lahad Datu was given to the Felda under an agreement signed on Dec 4, 1979,” said Ansari, brandishing the agreement. “It’s all here.”

According to the agreement the land in Tunku, Lahad was granted for Felda to develop a settlement scheme for some 13,000 poor Sabah families to help wrench them out of poverty.

“But after 30 years, Felda turned it into a commercial plantation. It is now known as Bandar Sahabat. To make matters worse, the government now want to build a coal-fired power plant (there),” Ansari said.

He warned that PKR was prepared to take the matter to the courts to stop the government from building the plant.

PKR Sabah legal bureau chaired by senior Datuk Chau Chin Tang will be holding a meeting here next week to discuss the matter, he added.

Ansari explained that under the agreement signed by the then Chief Minister Datuk Harris Salleh, the State Government indicated that the land was to be used to help the poor as a way to pull them out from abject of poverty.

“But what has happened now is against the letter and spirit of the agreement. As a result (of this) the people for whom it was intended for to be taken as settlers remain poor,” he said.

Ansari, who is also a senior practicing lawyer in Sabah, said legal action is being planned against the Sabah Electricity Board Sdn Bhd and Felda. PKR Sabah will be identifying individuals to file the court action.

PKR Sabah’s move comes as a boost to the non-governmental organisations’ effort to stop the building of the plant.

Several organisations have banned together to pressure the government to scrap the project due to its environmental impact and to keep in sync with global efforts to curb carbon emissions.

Among those opposing the building of the multi-million ringgit plant are the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa) and Green Surf, who among others claimed that the terms of reference of the Detailed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the plant was filled with pre-determined and conclusive statements without scientific backing or facts and figures.

They also claimed that it is substandard and totally unacceptable as it ignores the long-term impact of the coal plant’s emission into the pristine Darval Bay.

The plan has also drawn controversy over the way it was presented. Critics say that it is based on climate conditions in the Tawau district, where it was initially sited. The new site for the proposed RM1.2 billion power plant is in Tungku, some 200 kilometres away.

Darval Bay falls within the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) which Malaysia recently pledged to conserve.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak attended the CTI summit in May and pledged US1million for its protection.

Ansari said that the court action would be PKR Sabah contribution to the effort to stop Sabah turning from `green to black’ because of the coal-fired power plant.

Bandar Sahabat, he claimed is now like a State within a state, guarded by its own policemen.

“Should the plant be built, it will destroy Sabah’s image as a green and beautiful state which is known worldwide,” he said. - http://freemalaysiatoday.com

Congratulations! Tuan Haji Karim Sulaiman

Pix above is Aki Momogun babies sitting Sdr Karim' sons at Hyde Park, London. One of them must be Khair.

Congratulations to Tuan Haji Karim Sulaiman and wife Hajah Siti Hawa and their son Khir. The story from HERE tells their story.
Sdr Karim was Berita Harian correspondent in London at the same time I was with Times of Malaysia London Limited (1997-98). I was staying a floor below them at 31 & 32 Chapel Side, Moscow Road, Bayswater, London W2 4LL.

From Ahmad Kamil Tahir

MECCA, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- Karim Sulaiman's prayers were answered when he successfully completed the haj.

For the former Berita Harian editor, this was no ordinary feat.

He is suffering from scleromyxedema, a rare disease which causes skin to become thick and hard.

The chronic connective tissue disorder which makes moving affected areas difficult, did not break the man's spirit.

He managed to perform the rites of the haj, such as the wukuf in Arafah, tawaf, saei and tahalul, as well as stoning the Jamrah in Mina.

These were made possible with continuous help from his wife, Siti Hawa Mohd Arif, and their fifth child, Khair Naqib, 13, who came along on the pilgrimage.

When met by the Tabung Haji media team, Siti Hawa said the relaxed Islamic regulations for disabled persons performing the haj was of great assistance t the group, including her husband.

"For the tawaf ritual, we pushed Karim on a wheelchair on the second floor of the Masjidil Haram which has tracks for wheelchair-bound pilgrims and this was also done for the saei, whereby wheelchair tracks are provided between Safa and Marwah," she said.

Siti Hawa said she had been worried about her husband's health, especially during the wukuf in Arafah, with its sweltering temperatures, but she was grateful that everything went smoothly.

She added that Khair Naqib was of great help in attending to his father as regulations required male and female pilgrims to live separately, during the duration of their stay in the Holy Land.

Asked about his prayer in front of the Kaabah, Karim said he had asked that his skin disease be healed.

He also advised Muslims to complete the fifth fundamental Muslim practice (performing the haj) while they were healthy and able.

Karim and his family will return to Malaysia on Dec 27.

-- BERNAMA

SAPP: BN Government lacks political will

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Deputy President Datuk Eric Majimbun is amazed by sudden interest and strong reaction of certain people when it comes to determining an individual's bumi status and pressing for a police probe.
"Political leaders in the present government seem trying to divert our attention to more serious and severe problems such as the illegal immigrants numbering hundreds of thousands whom the federal government granted citizenship with Mykad, better treatment, getting government facilities free of charge, living on state government land and untouched.
"Worst of all, our rural as well as urban Sabahans have to compete with these foreigners, so-called 'Malaysians', who are now sitting comfortably inside the state administration, some as teachers and some perhaps are engaged in the government enforcement departments.
"The incredible increase in Sabah's population of 10 percent yearly is a heavy burden to shoulder compared to the national population growth of only 3 percent and this is something we need to think about.
"It also seems that some political leaders are questioning the state law especially CAP 64, of Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance. Yet the state government has no political will to amend the mentioned ordinance, the issuance of native certificates since frozen in early 1984 has deprived the right of our genuine sons of soil as anak negeri of our young generation.
"This is a blow to the state government," said Majimbun. "The integrity of the Native Court should be protected. It seems that some politicians are questioning the law."The Native Court system has in recent years also been increasingly denied jurisdiction over matters that fall within the purview of the Syariah and Civil Courts. The issue seems to be the district and native chiefs not possessing even some basic legal background.The administration of the Native Court system existed long before the advent of British North Borneo Chartered Company and colonial rule. It was recognized by the British Government. No advocate was allowed to represent the respondents before the Native Court Enactment 1992. Since the 1992 Enactment, lawyers are allowed to represent their clients in the Native Court of Appeal

Sabahans breeding like rabbits?

Are Sabahans breeding like rabbits?

A posting in http://freemalaysiatoday.com on Wed, Nov 25, 2009

Sabah’s population growth rate is almost twice higher than the national average of about 3.2%. Why is this so? EDWIN BOSI of DAP enlightens us.

WHEN Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya merged to form Malaysia, Sabah contributed about a third of the land mass.

Census reports put the population of Sabah in 1947 at 320,500. In 2000, this figure was 2,449,389. The average national growth rate is about 3.2%.

In Sabah, there are spikes in the population growth rate that merit attention. These growth rates which were of interest are 1971–1975 (6.3%), 1976–1980 (4.4%), 1980–1991 (5.69%), 1986–1988 (3.4%), 1988–1995 (3.4%) and 1991–1995 (5.5%).

It is therefore interesting to analyse the “breeding” pattern of Sabahans.

Armed Conflict in southern Philippines

During the USNO era (1963–1975), there was a surge in “breeding” activity especially between 1971-1975. The growth rate then was reported a staggering 6.3%.

It was during this time there was armed conflict in the southern Philippines. The influx of refugees into Sabah may be the reason behind the sharp upward spike.

The Berjaya era came from 1976–1985. Again there was a huge population growth, above 4%. The conflict in southern Philippines continued and more refugees streamed into Sabah.

The PBS era from 1985–1995 marked a growth rate of about 3.4%. However, in the 1991-1995 period, the growth rate was registered at 5.5% — but there was no more armed conflict in the southern Philippines.

So what was a plausible explanation? There was a huge increase in the number of Indonesians working in the oil palm plantations and this could be attributed for the massive jump in the population of Sabah.

Special Identification Papers

In 1931, the Sarawak population was about 600,000 and in 2000, about 2 million. On the other hand, Sabah’s registered 270,233 population in 1931, shot up to 2.4 million in 2000. Furthermore, in 2003, Sabah’s population stood at about 2.8 million — an increase of about 400,000 within three years!

Sabah’s population growth rate is about twice higher than the national average. But why do population surveys indicate Sabahans are multiplying like rabbits?

No Kadazan, Dusun section in The Herald: Permit renewed

Catholic paper in 'Allah' row gets new permit
Reports from Malaysiakini on Nov 15, 09 1:37pm
Catholic newspaper
MCPXThe Herald will be allowed to continue publication after the government withdrew a controversial decision to cancel its publishing permit, the editor said today.
The Herald said earlier this week the government had told it that its permit for next year had not been approved. Under Malaysian law, all publications must renew their permit every year.
The move came amid a long-running dispute over the weekly's use of the word "Allah" as a translation for "God" in its Malay-language section. The government argued "Allah" should be used only by Muslims, who dominate the country's population.
The Herald's editor, Father Lawrence Andrew, said government officials in a meeting Friday said the paper's permit would be approved, but rejected its request to publish a supplement in a language used by indigenous group on Borneo island.
"They have asked us to ignore the September letter which says the permit is not approved and stick to an earlier letter in August stating a new licence will be given, there is no more confusion," he told AFP.
"On our application to publish an additional page in the Kadazandusun language, we are sad it has been rejected. We will put the plan on hold and won't be using the language for the time being," he said.
It was a miscommunication
A home ministry official confirmed The Herald was allowed to continue publishing, and attributed the controversy to "miscommunication".
"We are processing their permit renewal. We never disapproved their application, (the September letter) was due to miscommunication but it has all been solved now," said the official, who requested anonymity.
"We only rejected their application to publish in the Kadazandusun language," he added.
The Herald, circulated among the country's 850,000 Catholics, nearly lost its publishing licence last year for using the word "Allah". The paper is printed in four languages, with a circulation of 14,000 copies a week.
The row is among a string of religious disputes that have erupted in recent years, straining relations between Muslims and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians who fear the country is being "Islamised".
Religion and language are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia, which experienced deadly race riots in 1969.
- AFP

Herald still has its permit?

This story is from HERE

The Home Ministry clarified that The Herald's permit for publication has not been revoked and that the renewal of its permit for 2010 is in process.

"There was never an issue of revoking the permit for The Herald," explained an official from the publication control and Al-Quran text division.

He told Malaysiakini that the last letter sent to The Herald in September was a notification that the application to publish in the Kadazan-Dusun language was not approved, and that a refund of the permit fee could be made.

The reason being, he said, is that The Herald paid its permit fees too early."We will only process the permit three months before the old permit expires, as in this case it is in January 2010.

The ministry will give the option for a refund if monies were paid prior to the three months.The official said that it was a norm for the ministry to send applicants a letter to remind them of an option to claim refunds for fees paid too early.

This is so they could pay the ministry closer to the expiry date.He said that the confusion arose from a misunderstanding, stressing that the Home Ministry did not have issues with The Herald.

He also added that the 'Allah' ban is a pending court case and should not be tied to the issue of the permit.Herald insists permit application was rejected.

Meanwhile, the letter that was sent from the Home Ministry on Sept 3 was titled Refund for the publication titled Herald-The Catholic Weekly'.It further reads: "This is to inform you that the application for the change of language is not approved. Therefore, the Ministry will refund the money that was paid."And the letter further goes on to explain the procedure to obtain the refund.

Editor of The Herald, Father Lawrence, however, declined to comment on the explanations given by the Home Ministry, as there will be a meeting between the parties later today."I do not want to comment on this. All I am saying is, I have the letter and let the facts speaks for themselves," said Father Lawrence.

Earlier this week, there were reports that the Home Ministry has cancelled the approval of the renewal of the permit to The Herald.Father Lawrence was mystified as to why the approval was cancelled as no reasons were given.

The Herald newspaper, circulated among the country's 850,000 Catholics in four languages, nearly lost its publishing licence last year for using the disputed word.The Roman Catholic Church is still waging a legal battle, which started two years ago, with authorities over the use of the word 'Allah'.

The Herald lost its publishing permit

Catholic paper loses permit to publish

Read more in http://freemalaysiatoday.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s weekly Catholic newspaper has lost its publishing permit for next year amid a long-running dispute over its use of the word "Allah", the editor said Thursday.

The loss of The Herald’s permit comes as it prepares for a High Court hearing on December 14 in a legal battle between the Catholic Church and the authorities over the use of the world "Allah" in the paper’s Malay-language section.

The government has argued that the word "Allah" should be used only by Muslims, who dominate the population of Malaysia.

"It is very confusing. One letter in August said we have the licence to print (in 2010) and the next thing is we receive a letter in September saying the permit is not approved. Something is amiss," The Herald’s editor, Father Lawrence Andrew, told AFP.

Father Lawrence said the home ministry cancelled the new permit without any reason.

The Roman Catholic Church has waged a two-year legal battle with Malaysian authorities over the use of the word "Allah".

The priest said he had met with home ministry officials last month to resolve the issue but declined to elaborate.

Home ministry officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Herald newspaper, circulated among the country’s 850,000 Catholics, nearly lost its publishing licence last year for using the disputed word.

Asked if The Herald would be available in January 2010, he said: "I hope it will be there."

The newspaper is printed in four languages and has a circulation of 14,000 copies a week.

The row is among a string of religious disputes that have erupted in recent years, straining relations between Muslim Malays and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians who fear the country is being "Islamised".

Religion and language are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia, which experienced deadly race riots in 1969.

About 60 percent of the nation’s 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims, who dominate the government.

The rest of the population includes indigenous tribes as well as ethnic Chinese and Indians — practising Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism, among others.

More than half of Malaysia’s Catholics are from indigenous groups, most of whom live on the Borneo island states and who mainly speak Malay.

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Najib in Sabah

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will make a two-day official visit to Sabah starting Saturday.

Najib, who will be accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, is scheduled to open three meetings of Barisan Nasional component parties in Sabah during the visit.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman told reporters here on Friday that Najib would open the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) congress at a hotel upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu.

On Sunday, he would attend the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) congress at 1Borneo, near here, have lunch with Sabah Umno leaders and open the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) national convention at the Penampang Cultural Centre hall before returning to Kuala Lumpur. - Bernama

KL PKR leaders to meet Dr Jeffrey today

PKR leaders from Kuala Lumpur Tian Chua and Michael Bong are to meet Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Kota Kinabalu PKR head Christina Liew and their core supporters at 2pm today at Sokid Villa (Dr Jeffrey residence in Kota Kinabalu).

The KL PKR leaders are, in a last bid, to persuade the Sabah leaders to stay put in PKR.

Dr Jeffrey delays plan to launch his new political party

Top Pix PKR Tenom head Gonsubin speaking the gathering in Tambunan yesterday. Pix below Jeffrey addressing the gathering.

Yesterday ex-PKR vice-president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan was all set to announce the formation of his new political party - One Nation Party (Parti Satu Negara) Parti Iso Pogun)

But he deferred it to another day pending further development in the Opposition party, in particular, actions by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the party's leadership issue in Sabah.

"PKR national leader wanted me to consider or postpone ditching PKR, they called on me and supporters to continue to be in PKR fold's." he told a gathering of PKR local leaders at the Tambunan Village Recreation Club in Tambunan on Nov 5, 2009.

However, he said whatever will be his next move, it would very much depend on the wishes of his die-hard supporters in Sabah. More than 200 PKR leaders, among them divisional and branch heads, attended the gathering.

A close aide to Dr Jeffrey, the younger brother of Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, said the new political party, now has a big following, mostly those who followed him to join PKR.

Ong Tee Keat enemy of the people of Sabah & Sarawak

A Government member of Parliament from Sabah has branded the Federal Government, MCA president and Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat as the enemy of the poor people in Sabah and Sarawak for imposing a policy to have cars aged more than 15 years go for mandatory roadworthiness inspection from next year. Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh, UPKO Putatan MP, described the new policy as ridiculous and annoying as well as burdening especially to the people of Sabah and Sarawak. He said it should not be imposed in the two States as yet. He said owners of such cars were mostly poor in the rural areas where there is no Puspakom branch. "This minister is a rich man, Please ask him to replace our cars. He is becoming the enemy of the poor people. The poor people are not happy as the policy will render them losing their only mode of transportation," Mojigoh told Daily Express' journalist Chris Maskilone in Kota Kinabalu Sunday.

BNP

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Borneo National Party

With reference to the article "Parti Rakyat Borneo Anyone?" which appeared on thebrokenshield.blogspot.com The North Borneo Herald would like to add that in 2006 a group of people met in a restaurant in Jalan Pantai, Kota Kinabalu to discuss the formation of the Borneo National Party.

The most senior leader in the group was Mathurin Daim, a former United National Kadazan Organization (UNKO) strongman from Papar. Mathurin Daim also served under various governments.

Among the things discussed were the alternating of the president's post between a Sabahan and Sarawakian every five years, the restoration of the original constitution of 1963, the need to place indigenous unity above personal concerns and a need to find a strong and consistent source of funding.

Unfortunately plans for the proposed party came to a halt when Parti Keadilan Rakyat made the Tambunan Declaration and the health of Daim worsened.

The draft constitution of the party is still available in the hands of Daim's trusted aide (in hard copy only) complete with party flag and all. Unfortunately very few of people still remain committed to the proposed party while one of them is still a member of a Barisan Nasional component party.

AnD finally Dr Jeffrey quits PKR...More to follow suit

Dr Jeffrey quits as PKR V-P, may return to PBS
2009/10/28
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has resigned as a vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), and has not ruled out the possibility of rejoining Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by his elder brother Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
"At the moment, I will leave my options open. I will decide when the right time comes," he told Bernama here. Dr Jeffrey was asked to comment on whether he would consider rejoining PBS, a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN). He said he would consult other PKR divisional chiefs, his supporters and grassroots leaders before making a final decision on the matter. "I'm in no rush to make decision or to decide our next course of action," he said. Dr Jeffrey had also resigned as a member of the party's supreme council and the political bureau.Asked whether Dr Jeffrey was ready to team up with former Sabah PKR deputy chairman Christina Liew, who had also resigned as a supreme council member, to pursue their political careers, he said: "Yes, we will work together". Dr Jeffrey's resignation is seen as having dealt a major blow to PKR's attempt to strengthen itself in Sabah.
Dr Jeffrey, who is expected to send the resignation letter to the party headquarters by today, will remain as an ordinary member of the party, according to his former aide Kanul Gindol. It is believed that many of the division chiefs, including Dr Jeffrey himself, were disappointed with the decision of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appoint Ahmad Thamrin Jaini as the party's new chief in Sabah. Sabahan Ahmad Thamrin was named as the new state PKR chief last weekend after a group of division chiefs expressed no-confidence in PKR vice-president Azmin Ali leading the state PKR. The resignation of Liew as a supreme council members is also seen as a setback for PKR. Liew, who is Kota Kinabalu division chief, announced her resignation as a supreme council member today, following in the footsteps of Dr Jeffrey. Liew said, however, that she would remain as a party member and retain the post of Kota Kinabalu division chief. "I will be submitting my resignation letter to the party president today," she told Bernama. Liew said she had always believed that the party was fair and transparent, until the appointment of Datuk Kong Hong Ming as PKR Sabah deputy chairman and Ahmad Thamrin as the party's new chief in Sabah. "My mum (mother) had to take the public humiliation of me being replaced (as deputy chairman) for unknown reasons. I worked so hard for the last nine years to promote Sabah PKR. "Since the party has disregarded my contribution, I will bow out with dignity now," she said.
PBS secretary-general Datuk Radin Malleh said the party did not want to speculate on Dr Jeffrey rejoining it.
"We will cross the bridge when the time comes. Right now, we don't want to speculate on anything," he said when met after a meeting of the party's organising committee. Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin, who is a Sabah deputy chief minister, said Dr Jeffrey was welcome to join the party."We welcome anybody who wants to join the BN. Of course, we will welcome him back to BN's side ... (because) he is not alone, he got supporters as well," he told reporters when asked if Umno would be willing to accept Dr Jeffrey should he decide to join the party.