Two days at wedding!

Georgia and Andy at their wedding in Kampung Kionsom, Inanam

The last two days were spent `aramai tii' at my niece's wedding. A time that I met/saw faces of cousins/relatives and in-laws whom I had not seen for ages. There was a lot of talking and of course drinking. The coming two days will also be spent with love ones and relatives in ushering the new year - 2008.

Happy New Year to all visitors.

What's up, Kanul, Ansari, PKR?

I received an interesting Press statement from Kanul Gindol, the political secretary to Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan today. It is in response to Haji Ansari Abdullah's statement on Wednesday which I posted earlier.

Kanul's Press Statement is entitled `It must be Ansari personal opinion' and I quoted in full below.


KOTA KINABALU; What Ansari Abdullah has stated in his news conference yesterday must be his personal opinion, because it is a deviation from an agreed policy of the party's top leadership that the State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is the top policy-making body on policies and election candidates, as far as Sabah is concerned.

I am issuing this statement in my own capacity with the instruction from the second echelon leaders as well as the grassroot that we must put our beacon of hope at the right spot, and that we must always sends truthful words to the people.

As far as I know there was no such state decision as yet to field Ansari or anyone else, in a predominantly Kadazandusun parliamentary seat like Tuaran, so I found it as just being disrespectful to our leader Dr Jeffrey, who is recuperating in hospital for spinal injury, to pick this time to announce own candidacy in a seat like Tuaran.

The announcement by Ansari could mean many things on Ansari and the party. Many are alarmed at Ansari's words because we understand that there was not yet a decision by the Steering Committee as to stand in only 40 seats and 20 MP seats, as Ansari had wrongly implied. This must have come from Ansari single head.

I am more concerned, and now want to share my concern with the public, when I am told by friends that Ansari had unilaterally, but with the knowledge of Sec-Gen Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who was here recently, `decided' to omit any Kadazandusun & Murut and Chinese leaders from the team to negotiate with DAP on the latter's intention to field candidates in Chinese and KDM areas.

What does this mean?

How on earth could this be when the very thing we wan to negotiate is Chinese and KDM seats like Api-Api,Kepayan, Tamparuli, Laiwan and even Kuamut where DAP also had made known to us its interest to put up candidates.

My Say:

Its look like this opposition party's leaders are divided and have their own camp and personal agenda.

Keadilan to contest all

Parti Keadilan Rakyat must be confident of garnering enough seats in the coming general elections to form the next State Government in Sabah. What else can be said when the party had decided to contest in all the 40 State and 20 Parliamentary seats in Sabah. It look like they will be going alone in this election.

The opposition party's liaison chief for Sabah Haji Ansari Abdullah today made the announcement saying that he will be contesting in the Tuaran parliamentary seat. He contested in the Sulaman State seat for the party in the 2004 general election. He lost to Datuk Haji Noor who is now Local Government and Housing Minister.

Ansari today said that despite of another opposition party call for national-based party to only contest in parliamentary constituencies and let Sabah-based opposition parties contest in State seats, Keadilan will be fielding candidates in all constituencies.

Berman Angkap, Parti Barisan Rakyat Sabah's president, had last week said that only Sabah-based opposition parties should contest against Barisan Nasional in State seats. National-based opposition, he said, should focus on parliamentary seats.

"There is no point in asking Umno to return to West Malaysia but the same time allow Peninsula-based opposition parties to contest all State seats," Angkap said.

Ansari said Angkap party was entitled to their opinion, saying that when Keadilan contested in 2004, they fared better than Angkop party and the other opposition parties.

He said the independent candidate, who contested in Banggi and now Keadilan Banggi chief, lost by only about 300 votes to the Barisan Nasional candidate.

"Keadilan in Sabah is well prepared for the elections," Ansari said.

My Say:

All political parties will have the same assumption. There was this party called Parti Rakyat Sabah headed by Datuk Dr James Ongkili (the late) who was so confident in winning and forming the State Government, contested in all seats but lost all, its candidates almost all lost their election deposit.

Yes! Back for good now

I had a special X'mas gift yesterday. One Samaritan came home with a big box which I had thought was some edible thing for the celebration. I went out to join friends to celebrate X'Mas and back late night. I remembered the box and went looking for it but no where to be seen.

Then I saw something in the computer room, yes a new flat monitor. Yahoo......now I can go surfing again and of course continue on to post on this blog. And I promise to discipline myself to take great care of this computer which was actually (the one whose monitor went kaput) was inherited to me by my oldest son Leslie who is now in Jakarta.

I am working today and will be back tonight into this room to post new issues of interest that I can gather while at work. And yes beginning tonioght, I will again be back to my routine, to sit infront of this computer as long as I can. And my wife will be sleeping alone again for sure.

Merry Christmas to all.

Greetings...

Happy Aidiladha to all my Muslims visitors and a Merry X'Mas to my Christian guests.

Dr Jeffrey cheats death

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan met an accident about 5am today at Kampung Bongol, Pekan Nabalu, along the Tamparuli-Ranau Road.

Dr Jeffrey suffered injuries on the face and neck and is now warded at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu. He was travelling from the East Coast of Sabah after a party's roadshow. The 4x4 vehicle he was travelling in was said to have went out of control and hit a hill side before turning turtle.

The driver and an unidentified woman were not injured.

Among the first to visit the 60-year-old politician at his hospital bed was his older brother Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

My Say:

Dr Jeffrey had been touring the State on demand by the people in view of the incoming general elections. I will not be surprise that he will be travelling again once out of hospital.

Yes! I am back..........

Not that my computer had been repaired but this friend had with him his laptop when he came visiting so I am able to post this to just say hello to all my visitors. I hope to get my computer before the year end and I will, again, be posting regularly.

I am also taking this opportunity to wish everybody Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2008.

Sabbatical Leave

I have no one but myself to blame. I had not been able to post in my blog for several days now. I am not just making excuses but all this was due to my computer. It had gone kaput. I am now posting from a friend's laptop.

Gone were the nights that I spent until past midnight surfing. My nights are early now and one person is sure happy about this, my wife. For the last few days, I was able to do my morning exercise by cutting the grass around my house.

Merry Christmas

The Crosses Stay Put

On Monday (Dec 3) Federal Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said it was a tradition for Mission Schools to have Crosses erected in schools' compound and they was no reason to remove them.

This assurances was made by the Deputy Minister in the wake of calls by Government Members of Parliament Syed Hood Syed Edrus (Parit Sulong) and Datuk Mohamed Aziz (Sri Gading) in Parliament to remove the Crosses and Virgin Mary statues.

Syed Hood said he was disappointed that the statue of Virgin Mary was displayed in front of convents schools and questioned why the Education Ministry allowed it as Malaysia is an Islamic nation.

Mohamed in support of Syed Hood said a Muslim father complained that these schools remained open when Hari Raya Aidilfitri was celebrated.

Opposition leader in Parliament Lim Kit Siang also said that there was growing intolerance and increasing extremism in Malaysia and the latest being the demand for the removal of crosses and demolition of Christian statues in Mission schools.

Noh Omar told Parliament in his answer to Kit Siang said: "We will continue with the current practice, which is a tradition started long time ago."

In Sabah, the Sabah Counsel of Churches chairman Bishop Datuk Voo Thien Fui welcomed the firm assurance by the Education Ministry that crucifixes placed in Christian Mission schools which have been part and parcel of the identity of such schools since time immemorial will not be removed.

The Bishop said the Council was very happy with the decision and thank the Government for understanding the sensitivities of Christians.

Former principal of Kota Kinabalu La Salle Secondary School, Brother Datuk Charles O'Leary expressed happiness that the statement by the two MPs had been corrected by higher authorities.

He said actions would be taken to dispel the anxieties and criticisms of the Christian communities throughout the nation.

Bro Charles said having crosses in Christian missionary schools is a long tradition going back to a couple of hundred years.

"Since Malaysia's independence, Christian schools have played an important part in the development of the country and in the promotion of education," he said.

"We opened our doors to Muslim students and there was never any attempt at making Muslim students Christians," Bro Charles added,

Bro Charles also recalled a statement by ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that his father attended school in St Xavier's Penang and even studied the Holy Scriptures.

Principal of the St Francis Convent Secondary School, Kota Kinabalu, Pang Shat Mui said the population of the school (Form One - Form Five) is 843 of which 300 are Muslims.

This school started as a primary school in 1923.


My Say:

During my tour of duty in Europe, I was based in London and stayed at 31 Chapel Side, Moscow Road, London W2 4LL. A portion of the house is sharing a common wall with a Catholic church, hence the name Chapel Side. My office cum house was on the second floor and a floor above me was a Muslim family - Sdr Karim Sulaiman and wife Siti Hawa and their children.

Ditching Pairin for Dr Jeffrey

The past few weeks several founder leaders of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) headed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan had quit the party to join the opposition.

Founder leader and a Deputy Chief Minister during the PBS Government (1984-1994) Datuk Ariah Tengku Ahmad ditched Pairin to join Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Pairin was Chief Minister when his party was in power.

The latest was PBS former Assemblyman for Bengkoka Paul Tom Imbayan, who was also PBS former executive secretary. Several more ex-PBS leaders had joined PKR since Dr Jeffrey was made its national Vice President.

My Say:

Elections is sure coming very soon. May be if they stay put in PBS, these leaders has not chance to be nomintated to contest in the election for PBS. They are my friends, though, I wish them good luck.

Colin Powerboat World Champion

The UIM F2000 World Cup Powerboat 2007 season came to an end with runaway leader and favourate Briton's Colin Jeff taking the world crown at the Kota Kinabalu Waterfront. Colin's brother Owen who came secord was stripped of the placing and was given to Rick Haakonsen of Norway.

UIM commissioner Gorden Sutherland said Owen was disqualified after it was found out that there was irregularities on the engines of Owen's powerboat.

Third placing went to Uvis Slakteris of Latavia while fourth was Owen.

Meanwhile, a four-year-deal has been sealed between local promoter, Powerboats Event and Formula World Sports for the World Formula 2000 Powerboat World Championship series to be held in Sabah.

My Say:

A boost to the tourism industry in Malaysia, particulary for Sabah.

It's December

I wake up this morning to realise that it is December. How times fly, in 30 days time we will be in the year 2008. A year older, another year to face in this world full of challenges.

And I will continue on blogging.

Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid

Ex-High Court Judge Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid was in Kota Kinabalu recently to give talk in a course on Media and the Law organised by the Malaysia Press Institute and sponsored by the Berjaya Foundation of Sabah.

As expected of the former judge, he made several important and honest observation pertaining to the world of journalism in the eyes of the law in Malaysia.

Syed Ahmad said Malaysia has no known curbs on reporting of corruption or criminal or other cases except those which are seditious or defamatory. In Malaysia, for the last two years, the Press were comparatively free and many reports of crimes, including those of corruption, appear regularly.

Syed Ahmad, who had also served as Kota Kinabalu High Court Judge, further said that it was partly the responsibility of the Opposition and all citizens to bring up corrupt cases and not just criticise the Government.

He noted that several cases of abuses of by high-level officials were highlighted by the media which had created public outcry, resulting in the removal or termination of the officers involved.

"These are but some of the critical expose arising from media's investigative and reporting activities. The idea of reporting crime or corruption is to expose. Do not let others look upon you, the media is important. The communities rely on media for information," he said.


My Say:

My busy schedules had prevented me from attending Syed Ahmad's talk. I had known him when he was attached to the High Court in Kota Kinabalu and had the opportunities to cover cases presided by him. Malaysians will remember Syed Ahmad as a sitting Judge who wrote a report/book on corruption involving several serving judges.

Jeffery Kitingan police report

To be updated

Early today I received an SMS alert from Kanul Gindol that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan will today lodge two reports at the Kota Kinabalu City Police HQ in Karamunsing.

Gindol, who is Dr Jeffrey's Political Secretary, said the report are against United Sabah Islamic Association (USIA) and the other one involving a land matter in Kampung Bangkahak, Kota Belud.

He said Dr Jeffrey will also be at the State Anti-Corruption Agency HQ afternoon to surrender several documents pertaining to a corruption report he made against Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman several weeks ago.

World Sports Event Here

Sabah is honoured to host the F2000 World Powerboat Championship 2007 in Kota Kinabalu on Dec 1 & 2 at the Waterfront. World famous powerboat pilots will be here to compete in this biggest sports event ever held in Kota Kinabalu. The World Champion will be determined in this race.

YB Preachers

Sabah's Membakut Assemblyman Haji Mohd Ariffin Arif had proposed to the State Legislative Assembly, which is in session now, that Muslim elected representatives (YBs) be given the opportunity to become khatib (preacher) to deliver sermons at Friday prayers.

He believed that YBs could present government policies in their sermons more efficiently that the Imams and Ustazs.

He said YBs were the ones who mooted government policies, so will be more effective for YBs to present it during sermons in mosques.

My Say:

This sound campaigning in `Houses of Worship'.

I won UK lottery....

For the past few weeks my dozens of messages in my e-mails informing me that I had won lottery worth of millions of ringgit prizes in United Kingdom and US. There are also letters of several people, mostly widows, seeking assistance for me to be their husbands' next-of-kin to claim million US$ for them with promises of 30 per cent commission.

I had not bought any UK or US lottery tickets but the messages started that that was not the point, they randomly selected e-mail addresses and that mine was among those who won.

I am amused. I am sharing this to check if you, my honoured visitors, are also flooded with similar messages.

Datuk Ramli Yusuff

Malaysia Commercial Crime Investigation Department Director Datuk Ramli Yusuff was charged in the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court this morning with abuse of power over the use of a police aircraft for his personal advantage.

Ramli, 55, pleaded not guilty and Judge Duncan Skodol fixed hearing from February 18 to 22, 2008. The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Azlinda Rasdi and Md Nazrul Nizam Md Zamri.

He is charged with using his public office for his pecuniary gain by ordering and using a Royal Malaysia Police Cessna Caravan aircraft to take him and two civilians Datuk Mohamad Yassin Yahya and Khalid Mohammad on an aerial surveillance of to lots of land in Ulu Tunku, Lahad Datu.

Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd, a real estate company, had interest in the land and that Ramli is alleged to have interest in the company.

Ramli, based in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur and the country's third highest ranking police officer, is said to have committed the offence at 7.50am on June 15, this year at the Sabah Police Air Unit Base in Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu.

The charge is under Section 15(1) of the Anti Corruption Act, punishable under Section 16 of the same Act, which carries imprisonment not exceeding 20 years and a minimum fine of RM10,000 upon conviction.

Ramli, who is represented by Counsel Mau Kam Peng, was released on RM10,000 bail with one surety. Bail was posted by his brother-in-law. Ramli was accompanied to the court by, amongst others, his wife Anita Harun, a Kuala Lumpur-based Sessions Court Judge.

While the proceeding was going on inside the court, a group of villagers from Kampung Labian, Ulu Tunku, Lahad Datu led by one Kunsun Nahul, 57, were picketing outside the court building.

Kunsun claimed that about 5,000 villagers had been occupying the land stated in the charge against Ramli, since the 1950s. They were picketing in protest of the said land being given to Kinsajaya.

Alive 20 hours under water

Strange but true! Awang Simyor Mamit, 35, a local Bruneian from Kampung Pimping Membakut, about two hours drive from Kota Kinabalu was feared drowned when he did not surfaced from a 16 metres deep pond within the Bongawan Golf Resort on Sunday.

He had sneaked inside the golf course together with a friend to salvage golf balls from the ponds. Awang took one pond and the friend jumped into another.

The other friend went home around 5pm Sunday thinking that Awang was still collecting balls from the pond as his clothes and slippers were still at the pond bank.

Come Monday, Awang was still not home and his family made a missing person report at the Papar Police Station. Family members, villagers, police and divers were all at the site, keeping vigil and accepting the worst as Awang had been inside the pond underwater since 5pm Sunday.

A surprise to all at the golf course, at 7.15pm Monday, Awang emerged from the water hazard calling out for help. He was alive! Taken to a clinic in Membakut before transferred to the Beaufort Hospital.

At noon today, Daily Express crime reporter Durie Rainer Fong visited Awang at the hospital to get a story out of him of the incident.

Awang told Fong that he remembered going down to the bottom of the pond and was held down by four `beings'. He said the four would not want to released him and that all he could remember.

Awang said the next thing he knew was that he was in the hospital. Papar District Police Chief DSP Charles Labung Lawai said," I have nothing to explain this....this is the first time in life...this is strange to me."

My Say:

I concurred with the OCPD. Who can explain one is still alive after being under water for about 20 hours. But I do believed the story of my grandfather related to me long time ago. He told me there are `keepers' of the water which he said called `Tambaig' in our dialect. Not all Tambaig were bad, there were good ones, my grandfather told me. The good one will make friend with human being bathing in the water, they could take them underwater for days with no harm. After that the Tambaig will `return' them out of the water and whoever that will be will live to tell the story. I am sure Awang will eventually relate what the four `beings' did to him within the 5pm Sunday to 7.15pm Monday period.

Politician with 2 ICs

The Daily Express today reported that a prominent Labuan politician allegedly has two identity cards (IC) and a police report had been lodged at the Ampang Jaya Police Station in Selangor on Sept 13, this year.

It was claimed that the politician had used one of his IC to register as an UMNO member while the other was used to register his business with the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

The report said the case had been transferred to Labuan police to investigate.

My Say:

Can this be connected with the tussle for candidacy for the Labuan sole Parliamentary seat in the coming general elections?

Busy day for PM in Sabah

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will make a day-long official visit to Sabah tomorrow. He will be opening the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) 22nd Congress at Hongkod Koisaan, Jalan Penampang at 10am.

Abdullah, who is Barisan Nasional chairman, will be opening the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Congress at Tun Raffae Auditorium, Menara Tun Mustapha in Likas at 2pm.

The Prime Minister is also expected to join MIC leaders and members' Deepavali open house at the Likas Sports Complex multi-purpose hall in between opening the two functions.

PBS headed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and LDP led by lawyer Datuk V K Liew, both BN component party members, are expected to discuss in their respective congress the forthcoming general election.

PBS, in particular, will be debating on the power sharing concept in BN. Both parties are also scheduled to touch on the allocation of seats to contest in the elections.

The only question now is - Will the Prime Minister give a hint when is he calling for the general elections?

General elections is near

The general elections is definitely just around the corner. All political parties, irrespective whether they are ruling parties or the opposition, had been actively campaigning.

This weekend (Sunday) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be in Kota Kinabalu again. He was also in the Sabah's capital last month. This time around, Abdullah who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, will opened the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) congresses.

At the PBS congress, its president Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is said to have an important issue to raise in his policy speech. It will be the same for Datuk V K Liew over in the LDP congress.

These are signs of elections coming very soon.

Labuan is Malaysia's Phuket

Browsing the local newspapers while sipping my 3 10 drink at the Kionsom Waterfall yesterday, a letter in the Home/Forum page of the Borneo Post caught my eyes. The gist of the letter is that Labuan is now a haven for guest relations officer (GRO)which earned the Federal Territory of Labuan a new tag `Phuket of Malaysia'.

It was said that the Immigration Department had approved 800 new work permits to foreign women to work in 30 entertainment outlets in Labuan. The women are from the Philippine, Thailand and Indonesia.

These GROs are said meant for expatriates working at oil and gas companies or foreign companies operating in the island. These expatriates are said to find a place to have fun after a day of hard work and therefore the need for GROs and the many outlets for them to get entertainment.

And apart from the 800 new legal GROs, it is said that there are over 1,000 foreign women who are working without proper documents and illegally working as GROs.

My Say:

GROs and cheap beers, a perfect match. How Labuan had progressed since made a Federal Territory on April 16, 1984!

Yes! Its Sunday....

No posting yesterday because it was All Souls Day and today a short one because its Sunday. As a song says Never on Sunday....A Day of Rest, that's what I gonna do today. I am going to the Kionsom Waterfall to check what's new. As stated in http://kionsom.blogspot.com, I, too, proud to be living in Kampung Kionsom. In fact the Bingkasan is one of the three original Kionsom's `son of the soil', the other being Gaban and Ligong family.

So I am off to Kionsom Waterfall. And to know more about Kionsom, just type Kionsom in web search, you will be fascinated.

Housing loan

If your loan application to buy low cost house was rejected by the bank, proceed to the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (SHTDA). The State Government's agency has RM10 million fund for loan to buyers whose applications had been refused by banks.

The RM10 million Federal Government-funded loan scheme will be launched soon. It will be managed by SHTDA.

State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Haji Haji Noor yesterday told the Press in Kota Kinabalu that through this scheme, the government could assist more low income group to own houses.

The State Government is targeting `zero squatters' by the year 2015.

My Say:

My application for housing loan from banks will surely be rejected being a village folk (orang kampung) from Kampung Kionsom. So by right I should be eligible for the loan to be launched by the State Government soon.

IMM13

Member of Parliament for Tuaran in Sabah Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said there are at least 60,000 immigrants in Sabah who are recognised as refugees by virtue that they are holders of the IMM13 documents.

Madius, who is also UPKO's Secretary General, said since Malaysia had frozen the import of foreign workers, the Government could used these refugees to solve the shortage of manpowers in the manufacturing and plantation sectors in Peninsula (West) Malaysia.

He said these refugees had been living in Sabah (one of the two States in East Malaysia, the other being Sarawak)for more then 30 years.

He said by recruiting the refugees from Sabah, there would be no longer any need to import more workers from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

"No need for the Bangladeshis, no need for the Myanmar's. Just take the IMM13 document holders from Sabah. If want to give them Permanent Resident (PR) status in West Malaysia, just give them," he said.

Madius was obviously referring to a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz in June this year who said that the Federal Government will give PR status to the IMM13 holders in Sabah without discussing the matter with the State Government. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman rejected the proposal.

My Say:

I take my hat off for Madius on this issue. Allowing immigrants to be given PR will make them enjoy the same rights as the citizens of the country. In the long run, I personally fear that people like me, my native community, will become immigrants in our own home State.

PBRS in trouble?

With the general elections being talk about taking place November, something big a problem is brewing in Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), a component party member of the ruling Barisan Nasional.

Talk is that PBRS president ex-Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who is also Sook Assemblyman, is not in good term with the party's Secretary General and Pensiangan Member of Parliament Datuk Bernard Maraat.

A PBRS insider said it is an open secret that Kurup and Maraat `do not see eye to eye' for sometimes now.

The reason being Kurup is said to not renominate/recommend Maraat to defend Pensiangan and will instead himself contest the seat. Kurup, in dropping Maraat as a candidate in the coming election, is said to nominate Vice President Datuk Elron Alfred Angin to contest Sook.

Kurup defeated Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for the Sook seat with a 395 votes majority in the 2004's election while Maraat secured a 608 votes majority to take the Pensiangan seat, defeating Martin Tommy.

Kurup had accepted Tommy into PBRS' stable in a ceremony on July 14, in which Marat was not present/invited.

My Say:

I can not help but say that Kurup is looking for a sure win seat in the coming election. What if Dr Jeffrey take on Kurup again?

Dr Jeffrey lodges police report

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan had lodged a police report at the Karamunsing Police Station against Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and the State Government for awarding Seri Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (SPDK), Sabah's highest State Award, to Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Director General Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmad Said Hamdan in conjunction with Sabah Head of State's birthday celebration on Sept 16, 2007. The investiture was held at Istana Negeri in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday (Oct 27).

This was confirmed by Jeffrey's Political Secretary Kanul Gindol.

My Say:

Interesting to know the reasons for making this police report.

Not what PBS expected

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is now saying that the power-sharing concept of the National Coalition or Barisan Nasional Government was not exactly what they had hoped for in the coalition.

PBS Youth leader Jahid Jahim voiced this point in his policy speech at the Wanita (Women) and Pemuda (Youth) annual delegate conference at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang today.

PBS is one of the BN's component party members.

Jahid, who is Youth and Sports Assistant Minister, did not elaborate but said the issue will be discussed the debate session tomorrow.

Jahid also said that previous leaders, when they signed the formation of the Federation of Malaysia 44 years ago, envisioned a prosperous and developed nation where the citizens live peacefully without having to face problems such as now.

He cited the problems, amongst others, illegal immigrants, IMM13 and fake identity cards.

Jahid also expressed the PBS Youth's anger with the recent inhuman burning of houses and farms owned by the people that were carried out by certain entity with excuse of upholding the sovereignty of the law. He said they are also unhappy with the way some land applications by the people are being treated compared to those made by giant companies.

"PBS Youth is worried that illegal immigrants, IMM13 holders and fake IC holders are moving freely in Sabah," he said.

The two days' congress was opened by the party president Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. The main PBS Congress will be held on Nov 11.

My Say:

Now we are hearing PBS voicing this issues. What did they do when PBS was the State Government and Pairin was the Chief Minister.

Like father like son - The Kodings

Vitos, a son of former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, the late Datuk Mark Koding, will be contesting the Ranau parliamentary constituency in the coming general elections. He made this known during an AidilFitri open house hosted by opposition party PASOK in Tanjung Aru today.

He is the party's Information Chief.

Mark won the seat, defeating then Federal Works Minister Tan Sri Ghani Gilong in the late 1970s. Mark contested as an Independent but was backed by Parti Berjaya (now defunct). The constituency was then known as Kinabalu as Ranau is at the foot of Mt Kinabalu. In 1985, Mark contested and won the Ranau State seat for Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and was made a Deputy Chief Minister.

Although relatively unknown, Vitos said he is all geared for the elections and is confident to win the seat.

My Say:

As I had mentioned in my older posting, PASOK is facing leadership problems that it has two presidents and two sets of supreme council members. PASOK also have two party headquarters. Well, good luck to the young Koding. In politics nothing is impossible.

Fish fry only....

When talks of an impending court case of which it was said officers from the State Welfare Services Department are to be charged with corruption, it was anticipated that someone high up in that State Department's being hauled up to the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court Tuesday.

But it was an anti-climax, to a big turned out of journalists from the print and electronic media. Came 2pm, five people were seen making their way to the court which at first was not even `looked at' by the media corp. But the five were those being charged before two Sessions Court judges.

The offences: Falsifying documents by certifying the payments of cash welfare assistance to recipients who had long passed away. Two of the accused were staff of the Treasury Department, Penampang while the other three were attached to the State Welfare Services Department, Tuaran.

My say:

The five are just `fish fry', the biggest fish and followers are still `swimming' happily in the ocean looking for more opportunities. It was learnt that investigations are going on against those higher up in the department.

ACA should also look into the case of goods bought and supplied to the State Welfare Services Department's Welfare Home in Kimanis, Paper.

An example of questionable dealing - six units of cutting knives which cost RM120 in the market was supplied to the Home at RM3,000. Some people here had made RM2,880 profit. Is this not corruption, robbing the government in daylight?

Yes ballot boxes arriving...

The front page of Daily Express today says it all

My Say:

On Oct 5, in my posting, I said my well-informed source in Kuala Lumpur whispered to me that transparent ballot boxes were being packed in Port Klang to be sent to Sarawak and Sabah. I reported that the boxes are to arrive Kota Kinabalu on Oct 22. These new boxes, replacing the old metal boxes, will be used in the General Elections which I predicted will be on Nov 25 after the dissolution of Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly on Nov 9.

What I had posted is now confirmed. Sabah Election Commission director Haji Mohd Idrus Ismail confirmed that the boxes, some 3,262, are expected to arrive Friday (Oct 26) after similar consignment was delivered to Kuching, Sarawak.

Mohd Idrus also confirmed that appointed polling clerks from Sabah and Labuan had completed their training before the fasting month and that briefing to returning officers will be held anytime now.

As of June 30, there are 786,351 voters in Sabah compared to the 768,945 eligible to vote in the March 2004 general elections.

If not because of the weather, the boxes would had arrived Kota Kinabalu yesterday (Oct 22)as I had predicted two weeks ago.

Calling all SASS ex-students

Sabah Adventist Secondary School, Tamparuli established in 1939 is facing the prospect of being closed down due to financial problems. One of the oldest missions school in Sabah, it is totally dependent on external funding.

The school, which commands a good view of Mount Kinabalu, is one of the two managed by the Sabah Adventist (SDA) Mission, the other being Goshen Adventist Secondary School in Kota Marudu.

The financial problem SASS is facing is due to rising maintenance costs, dwindling enrollment of students and unpaid schools fees.

Its principal Minson Gulungan said students would move to other schools after passing their Form Three and Form Five examinations.

To ease the financial burden of the school and to ensure its continued survival, the school management's had launched a special fund. Called Danasiswa SASS, it was launched by ex-student Datuk Johnston Bangkuai who is also president of the Sabah Journalist Association.

The school, founded by an Indonesian, Pastor D P Siagian, has produced many students who have now become successful professionals, businessmen and politicians.

With the launching of Danasiswa SASS, it is hope that former students who are well off in the chosen career will generously contribute to the fund.

My Say:

It will ha a shame if the school,located just across the Tuaran River from Tamparuli township, is closed down after valiant efforts from every quarters to keep it going.

Wake-up call says Dompok

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok said the successful suit by an ex-Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee against the police and government against his arrest and torture in 1998 should be seen as a wake-up call to those involved in enforcing the law to ensure they do not infringe human rights.

"I think it is within anyone's rights to test if they have a case in court, or what they feel or how they want their grievances to be addressed, " he said.

Dompok was commenting on ex-ISA detainee Abdul Malek Hussin, 51, who won damages amounting to RM2.5 million awarded by the Kuala Lumpur High Court Thursday.

Abdul Malek was awarded RM1 million in general damages for wrongful arrest and detention, RM1 million in exemplary damages, RM500,000 in general damages for assault and ill-treatment and eight per cent interest from Thursday and costs by the High Court.

Dompok said definitely, one of the the good outcomes of a thing of this nature was that those officers who are enforcing the law have to take utmost care so that no human rights will be infringed.

"I think it helps the system do much better," he said. Dompok was asked by reporters to comment on the case after opening a a seminar on Human Rights for leaders of his party, UPKO, in Kota Kinabalu today.

In awarding the RM2.5 million, Judge Datuk Mohd Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus held that Abdul Malek was entitled because his arrest at 10am on Sept 25, 1998 and 57 days of detention under the ISA were unlawful as they were done Mala fide (in bad faith).

He said the interrogation carried out on Abdul Malek was political in nature for intelligence gathering for political purposes and had nothing to do with genuine concern for national security.

Dompok said human rights is one of the issues more and more people are talking about these days and is thus important for every political party to have a better understanding and knowledge about it.

One of the speakers at the seminar, lawyer G K Ganesan told participants that the ISA is no longer relevant and should be repealed.

On this Dompok said,"It is something that we have to discuss and talk about, as until today we have no opportunity to discuss this particular matter and we do want to know more about it."

"So an event like this seminar give us the opportunity to discuss more on this and understand it better."

News on blood

If you were in United Kingdom from 1980 to 1996, your blood is not wanted by Sabah's hospital blood banks. Blood donor YS Lai found this out yesterday when he went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu to donate blood for a patient who had just had an operation and was in dire need of group O blood.

He was disappointed when he saw in the blood donation form that those who had stayed in any place in UK between 1980 and 1996 could not donate blood. The reason: Something to do with the mad cow disease that plagued the UK during that period.

And the `best part' is that the hospital has no facility to check for mad cow pathogen in donor's blood.

My Say:

What if I say I had never been and stayed in London during that period?

Sandakan Teachers' College

This Logo is gone forever

After being postponed for several times, organiser of the Maktab Perguruan Sandakan ex-trainees second reunion dinner had agreed to hold it on Nov 3, 2007 at Hotel Juta, Keningau, about 120km from Kota Kinabalu.

The main sponsor of the dinner is Datuk Haji Sairin Karno, the State Assemblyman for Liawan, who is a former trainee (1975-1976) himself, one year my junior.

Although the organiser comprises of teachers from the 1974, 1975 and 1976 batch, the dinner is now open to all ex-MPS trainees. The reason being, MPS is no longer and will never ever be there again. It had been closed down.

Further information about the dinner can be obtained from Juliana Jusit (0198081948), Iskandar Amat (0198529448), Veronica Chin (0198229636) and Mohd Rizwan Emik (0198318263).

If Keadilan forms the Federal Government

Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)made known another move it will take if it win the general election and formed the Federal Government. A PKR Government will return Labuan Island to Sabah.

Parti Berjaya Government under then Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh `gave' Labuan to the Federal Government to be made a Federal Territory on April 16, 1984.

PKR Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said after restoring the ownership of Labuan to Sabah, PKR Government would consider realigning election boundaries to enable at least one Sabah constituency to be craved out for the island.

PKR will be fielding a candidate in the Labuan parliamentary seat in the coming general elections.

My Say:

It was during Parti Berjaya State Government led by then Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh that Labuan was made a Federal Territory. Parti Bersatu Sabah headed by Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan went into the 1985 State election telling the people that Berjaya government sold Labuan to Kuala Lumpur.

PBS toppled Parti Berjaya and Pairin became Chief Minister and the rest is history. Can Dr Jeffrey lead PKR to power in Sabah like what his older brother did in 1985?

Tourist from Holland drowns

A woman tourist, Vianca De Visser De Vries, 42, from Holland was drowned at Padas River after being thrown off a raft that she and her husband Abraham Eleisser, 42, was on at Pangi, about eight kilometres from Tenom on Tuesday. The woman was believed to have hit her head on a hard object causing her to be unconscious and swept away by the rapid water.

She and her husband, together with four other tourists from Macau at 2pm went whitewater-rafting from Pangi to Rayoh, some five kilometres downriver when the incident happened at 4.10pm.

About three kilometres down the river, their raft overturned sending all on board into the river. All the tourists, including their guide Ailir Rudasill were wearing life jackets. Except for Vianca, the others managed to swim to safety.

Ailir and Abraham went searching for Vianca whom they found floating about 200metres from where their raft overturned. The body was brought to the Tenom District Hospital about 8pm last night.

My Say:

The Padas River is one of the popular rivers in Sabah for whitewater-rafting activies. The other frequent by foreign and domestic tourists is the Tuaran River, just about 40 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu.

Up-date: Sabah CM's daughter wedding

Borneo Post today published on its front page a photograph of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman daughter Lenny Natasha, 26, and her would-be husband State Legislative Assembly member for Membakut 44-year-old Haji Mohd Ariffin Haji Mohd Ariff.

The wedding will be held at Musa's residence Sri Libaran in Sandakan beginning with the akad nikah ceremony on Thursday (Oct 18) and the actual wedding Bersanding ceremony on Saturday (Oct 20).

Before picked to contest Membakut on Barisan Nasional Umno ticket in the 2004 general elections, Mohd Ariffin was a public relations secretary to the Chief Minister. Musa, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, is the Sabah Umno liaison committee chairman.

Mohd Ariffin is currently the Sabah Native Affairs Council's chairman. He will also hold a wedding reception in his hometown at Kampung Pimping, Membakut on Oct 28.

The Invitation Cards Are Out

Invitation cards are being sent out for the grand wedding party of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman's daughter Lenny Natasha, 26, to Membakut State Assemblyman Haji Mohd Ariffin Haji Mohd Ariff, 44, on Oct 20th at Musa's residence Sri Libaran, Sandakan. The party begin on Oct 18th.

Among those expected to attend will be Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

How times travels.....

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan (centre) and JB at left. At right is KKJA chief Wong Bak Kion.

Last night I realised that I had been a journalist for more than 25 years. Looking back to all those years, I can not help but admitted that this line of work had given me satisfaction, not to mention the advantages that had made and will continue to fall on my life and that to my family. It was the `pen and reporter's notebook' that fed my family,put my four children through universities and built a house of my own without taking out a loan.

It is also this line of work that had given me opportunities to travel and work overseas.

Now I can proudly go and tell my many friends, who had look upon me as an outcast when I decided to quit as a teacher to go into journalism in 1978, that like teacher, journalist is also a noble profession.

And last night, I was one of the few who was honoured by the Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association with a branded watch and an appreciation certificate for having been more than 25 years in journalism, presented by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Shu Kiah.

Last night was the association's 15th Anniversary cum Press Night 2007 which was held at the Port View Seafood Restaurant, Kota Kinabalu.

Salam Damai

To All My Muslim Visitors - Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir Dan Batin.

I will be visiting my cousins (the children of my late mother's older brothers) during their Hari Raya open houses, something that I had been doing as long as I can remember.

The people of Sabah are unique, though of the same tribe, there are of different religions. We sat for meals at coffee shops facing each others in a common table. I eat my noodles from the Chinese stalls and my cousins enjoying their nasi lemak from Muslim gerai, all under the same roof.

This is something that I do not see in Peninsula Malaysia - a coffee shop which have Chinese, Malay and Indian stalls all catering for their respective customers.

Signs of.....

A rare sight of the day. A ring of light surrounding the sun, visible in Kota Kinabalu and surrounding areas and other parts of Sabah for more than two hours this afternoon. Picture above is courtesy of http://keruak.com

This is `Halo' which my Concise English Dictionary describe as ...a ring of light or colour, especially around the sun or moon caused by reflection by ice-crystals.

My Say:

I had seen similar sight during last night's live telecast of the launching of the spacecraft SOYUX in Baikonur (Kazakhstan) with Malaysian Angkasawan (Astronaut)Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shakur Sheikh Mustapha, American Peggy Whitson and Russian Yuri Malenchenko on board.

Easy to be a Native of Sabah?

I have lost count of the years the Native Certificate's issue had been debated openly by leaders and the people of Sabah alike. This issue is so dear to the people of Sabah, particularly children of inter-marriages. The Natives, among others, are the Kadazan/Dusun, Murut, Bajau, Brunei, Idahan, (a long list). As Native, they have certain rights that others do not have.

One of the many problems faces by those (born after April 22, 1982) without the Native Certificate is that they can not inherit land from their parents, can not buy Native land, unable to buy Native Unit Trust and most important of all, non-holders are not not recognised as Native.

The Native Certificates are issued by the Native Court but had been frozen since April 22, 1982 due to abuses. e.g - Non-natives issued this certificates through dubious mean (forgery). Many cases had been discovered certificates issued after April 1982 and many of the holders had managed to by Native land.

Today in a Press conference, Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Haji Hajiji Haji Noor issued a Press statement on this matter which I shall reproduce here.

"The State Cabinet at its meeting yesterday, among other things, discuss the Native Certificate of NC (Sijil Anak Negeri) the issuance of which had been frozen since 22 April, 1982. The subject matter has become an issue lately with various quarters making Press statements or comments, among which was the difficulty faced by Sabahans one of whose parents is a Native.

Among the difficulties faced were their failure to purchase Amanah Saham Bumiputera (Native Unit Trust)shares or purchasing or inheriting Native land or registering their names in Native Titles land. Other difficulties faced include missing education opportunities like scholarships and institutions meant for Natives, purchasing of housing units under the Bumiputra quota, and business opportunities including registering as Bumiputra contractor or participating in tenders meant for Natives.

The Cabinet meeting decided that while the freeze had its merit and its lifting can only be done after careful study due to its sensitivity including past abuses, at the same time a temporary measure needs to be put in place so that genuine Natives do not continue to lose out.

Hence, with immediate effect, `clear cut cases' can apply for special verification from the Director of the Sabah Native Affairs office who is also the secretary of the Sabah native Affairs Council which is under the purview of the State Local Government and Housing Ministry. The verification will be issued on a `case to case' basis.

Example of clear cut cases are:

1. An applicant one of whose parents is a Native and whose race is clearly stated in the Birth Certificate or whose Native Certificate had been certified by the Native Court which issued it upon checking by the Director.

2. Examples of children of mixed marriage who qualifies for Native Certificate are - Sino-Kadazan/KadazanDusun, Indian-Kadazan/Dusun, Sino-Murut, Pakistan-Bajau, American-Murut, English-Brunei, Arab-Idahan, Filipino-Kadazan and similar cases."

Poor poor local vendors

Local authorities enforcement officers are harassing local poor farmers trading their agricultural produce in urban areas. They are chased away, what they are selling were seized and damaged in tussle to protect them from being taken away.

They are selling are the products of their months of hard work back in the rural villages which majority of them are only accessible only by jungle tracks.

One man who noticed the poor farmers plight is Sabah Bumiputera Livestock Breeders and Farmers Association president Gaibin Ransoi. He had seen poor farmers' produce being unnecessary confiscated and trodden by enforcement personnel.

He wanted these enforcement personnel to strive to eliminate the problem of foreigners illegal hawkers, cigarette vendors who are common sight in all the major town in Sabah.

Ransoi said it was a common sight in most towns in Sabah that the rural farmers hawking their goods on five-foot ways, not because they wanted too but all places at the market had been taken or allocated to outsiders.

My Say:

What Ransoi saia was true.One need not go far, just go to Inanam town, within the City of Kota Kinabalu. The daily market place (and they have a full-fledged market in every 10 days)managed by Inanam Traditional (Tamu) Market Committee whose main function is to assist traditional farmers in providing them with space or lots to sell their produce.

What is happening is just the opposite, almost all the strategic lots are always occupied by hawkers whose nationality were questioned. Illegal immigrants youths running around selling smuggled fags.

A place meant for traditional local farmers has become a haven for illegal immigrants now.

Sabah & Sarawak Bumiputeras

The Prime Minister's Department Implementation and Coordination Unit has set up a sub-unit to monitor progress of Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak. Among others, the sub-unit will evaluate Bumiputera achievements and be responsible for proposing to the Government ways to solve problems faces by Bumiputeras in the two States.

It will also assist the Government in policy legislation and implementation.

This was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok yesterday while launching United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) election machinery in Kiulu (Sabah).

Dompok, who is Upko's president, said the Federal Government now `takes Bumiputeras grouses seriously.'

My Say:

A commendable initiative by Dompok. This will enable the Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak, who still lagged behind the other races, to get a share of the country's economic pie.

Women professionals with HIV

A Bernama report yesterday which was carried by almost all the newspapers today caught my eyes which I shall reproduced an exerpt of it below.

"One-night stands may be just flings for some working women but it has left many of them infected with HIV.

It used to be that HIV-infected women were mainly housewives, Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said.

Lately, however, the disease has hit more and more professional women, including doctors, accountants, lawyers and teachers. Dr Ismail said many of them thought one-night stands would not cause any problem.

According to statistics provided by the Ministry's Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS Unit, the number of women infected with HIV had increased by about 250 per cent since 1996.

Last year saw 976 deaths from AIDS, of which 80 were women.

My Say:

Being professionsls does not protect one to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases, and also not an excuse to say unmarried for long.

Kionsom Waterfall

One of the seven natural pool and below the second and third of the seven waterfalls

In several of my older postings (and I will continue on to mention this) I had mentioned Kionsom Waterfall. Yesterday (Sunday - Oct 7th), I was there again as of previous Sundays (almost every Sundays if I am in Kota Kinabalu) since 2002. Yesterday I came early (8.30am) and there were just two couples inside. I took the opportunity to take photographs of one of the seven natural pools and the second and third waterfalls, counting from downstream.

I was unable to take photographs of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh waterfalls as it would take about two hours (of my time at the speed of walking) to do so. The highest of them all is the seventh waterfall which is about a-four-storey building high, about 30 minuted from the entry point.

I endeavour to reach that seventh point in time to come and post that scenic fall. My last visit and reached the seventh waterfalls was in 1972 which I was just at Standard Six.

Kionsom Waterfall is special as it is within the Kota Kinabalu City, just about 15 miles (24 kilometres) from the City centre and 10 kilometres from Inanam Town. Those without transport, can take one from the regular mini-bus services at Inanam.

Outside the waterfall are several hawkers, in which one of it is my usual station to meet friends on Sundays and Public Holidays. One has to pay RM1 only for adult and 50 cent for children per entry. The air is cool and the water crystal clear. The first, second and third waterfall are less then five minutes away from the entry point, inside a virgin tropical jungle.

Jeffrey, Kanul, Joniston & Newman

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is likely to contest in Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan's Keningau parliamentary constituency, his political secretary Kanul Gindol is said to be going for the Kadamaian seat.

Although Kanul has not shown hints toward that direction, it was well known that at every available time he will make it a point to be with the people in the Kadamaian constituency which is now represented by Herbert Timbun Lagadan of Parti Bersatu Sabah.

A close friend said Kanul will make to the nomination centre this time around after he failed to do in the 2004 general elections.

My Say:

Kanul, a former executive journalist of Bernama will not be the only journalist eying to contest in the coming general election, which might be held next month. Talks is also making round that Sabah New Straits Times bureau chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Bernama's Sabah bureau Newman Tibin, a qualified lawyer, are also offering to contest in the election.

Bangkuai is said to be Pairin's PBS candidate for Kiulu. Like Bangkuai, Newman is also from Kiulu, and also hoping that Pairin will pick him up for the seat now held by Datuk Louis Rampas.

Good lucks to them.

RM20 knife charged for RM120

Somewhere in the Auditor General Reports dated June 28, 2007 reported that a ministry bought a set of four screwdrivers for RM224 compared to the market price of just RM32.

These AG's report also touched on Sabah's case of the State Welfare Services Department paying cash assistance to people who had passed away long time ago.

Though not in the AG's report, digging deep into this department will also revealed that it had purchased a set of four knives at a contracted price of RM120 each which amounted to RM3,000 for the four units.

Amazing, the market price for this knives is RM20 each which mean that the department was overcharged or overcharged itself of/for RM2,880. The four knives should have cost RM120 only.

My Say:

Just the tip of the iceberg.

General elections Nov 25?

Election talks surfaced since the beginning of the year. Political parties had activated their respective elections machinery. Some political parties had announced their candidates. In Sabah opposition Pasok and Parti Bersekutu had made it known that they will be fielding candidates in all the 60 State seats and 25 parliamentary constituencies.

And a friend of mine in Kuala Lumpur sent a SMS to me this afternoon that `Transparent ballot boxes packed into containers at Port Klang to reach East Malaysia by Oct 22, 2007. Parliament probably dissolve on Nov 9, 2007 and the General Elections probably on Nov 25, 2007'.

My Say:

And I have the feeling election is just around the corner. Together we wait and see.

No confidence motion

Malaysia Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang was in Sabah earlier this week. He was accompanied by his son, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and DAP Seputeh MP Theresa Kok.

As usual when in this Land Below the Wind, the Ipoh Timur MP, has voiced several issues which are dear to the people. This time around, Lim made a promise to the people of Malaysia.

He will on Oct 22, move a motion of no confidence in Justice Tan Sri Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim as the country's Chief Justice. He was going to to this as he claimed that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had failed to restore confidence in the independence and integrity of the Malaysian Judiciary and set up a royal commission of inquiry.

Lim was referring to the current controversy and public furore over a video clip,widely circulated in the internet and blogs, of a lawyer in a handphone conversation with a judge over the appointment of judges.

My Say:

Commendable action to be taken by Lim but I forsee, as usual, the motion will not go beyond Lim tabling it in Parliament come Oct 22.

Lim is free from visiting Sabah now compared to during the Parti Berjaya Government (1976-1985). I was on duty during that period when Lim arrived in Kota Kinabalu to meet DAP leaders and supporters.

He only reached the Immigration counter when he was told that there was an instruction that he was not allowed entry into Sabah. He refused to be led back to the same aircraft that he arrived from Kuala Lumpur.

A wheel chair was brought to bring him to the aircraft, at first he kicked the wheelchair away, but on the advised by MP Karpal Singh, he obliged to be wheeled to the aircraft back to Kuala Lumpur.

When Parti Bersatu Sabah defeated Parti Berjaya in 1985, the `ban' of Lim to enter Sabah was lifted.

Worms attack

I found out the hard way of not making an effort to learn about computer since I started using PC more than 20 years ago. All I know is to switch on and used the PC for filing my news reports, surf the internet and switching it off. Other than that, I sought assistance from others.

Two days ago, as I was surfing, a dialog box appeared on my screen, among others, it warned that `your computer is copying automatically files in your system...' but I did not take a heed of it.When it continuously appeared, I decided to be clever by following some of the instructions flashing on the screen.

Out came a dialog box telling my that more than 300 files in my computer were infected by worms/virus. It seems that the worms/virus originated from a network with nice looking files. It disguises as a file that indicated a Spyware was a video of beautiful actress which I had clicked on earlier.

These caused by computer to crash and I was `out of action' for the whole of Tuesday evening and yesterday. Last night I sought the assistance a friend to do the necessary. Still I do not understand computer. When she said `I will have to re-format your computer', I just said `Yes'. Yes, my PC now back to normal but everything I stored for the last two years were gone, gone forever.

It was identifed that the virus that attack my computer was I-Worm/VB.IN.

It is time for me to learn `what is a computer'

Alms for the armed forces

Yahya (right) handing over a package of Kuih Raya to Brig Jen Bahrom

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Yahya Hussin yesterday joined members of the armed forces and their family in a breaking of fast at the Fifth Infantry Brigade's mosque in Lok Kawi, just at the outskirt of Kota Kinabalu.

Yahya, who is also Sabah Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, also handed over some 500 packages of Hari Raya's goodies to the armed forces. He also made a personal donation of RM2,000 for the up keep the mosque and also a cow to be slaughtered for the celebration next weekend.

All these were received, on behalf of the armed forces community in Lok Kawi Camp, by the infantry commander Brig Jen Baharom Hamzah.

My Say:

Yahya made this a must ever year. The army camp is within his Petagas constituency and all members of the armed forces and their family are registered voters in the area.

`Bird of a feather flock together'

Here is a Press statement issued by ex-Bernama journalist Kanul Gindol who is now Political Secretary to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

Pairin Told Of Adage `Birds of A Fearher Flock Together'

KOTA KINABALU: I am amazed of Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan's 360 degree turnaround from his normself that is to stand for the people in need. Pairin today is a total contrast to Pairin in 1983 or 1984!

Back then, Pairin would stand up to fight for his people, sacrificing his comfortable positions in order to correct wrongs. I am sure Pairin has not forgotten a saying `birds of a feather flock together.'

Today even though knowing too well that the current Umno-led Barisan Nasional Government had been cruel to his people, in fact more cruel than the one in 1984 because the current government is burining our natives' houses and destroying their livelihood, grabbing their lands. Pairin fights no more. Anyway we also don't want lazy leader in this era.

The fact that by sitting very next to the perpetrators, being a team mate in Barisan Nasional, Pairin and his Parti Bersatu Sabah has become Umno's strategic collaborators of acts that marginalise the natives of Sabah, especially his own Kadazandusun - Murut groups.

We all agree that in a democracy, in the end it is the people who decide who should win election and from the government. We in Keadilan are continuing where Pairin had left and forgotten.

We admire Pairin for whatever his achievement of more than 30 years ans the Assemblyman for Tambunan and also Member of Parliament for Keningau, and a decade as Chief Minister, and till now as a Deputy Chief Minister. We know he had tried his very best, and that the very best of Pairin is already there to be seen, nothing more.

Now we in Keadilan under the leadership of his (Pairin) able younger brother, Datuk Dr Jeffrey, is yet to be tested with real power. Sabahans have high hope in Dr Jeffrey, and the best is yet to come from this man. I for one will want the best for all Sabahans and the State.


If Pairin can not achieve what he envisaged for Sabah, please Pairin at least don't stop Dr Jeffrey and us from accomplishing it.

We in Keadilan will never allow the natives to be fooled, we want the natives and our brother Chinese to show once more time that together they will chart the future of Sabah as we had always wanted it to be free from outside hegemony.

Kanul Gindol

My Say:

Reading between the lines, I can smell a hidden hand in the production of this statement. What has Sabah Keadilan chief Ansari Abdullah to say about this. He has been keeping a low profile.

Two chickens feeds a family

My two chickens and their eggs this morning

My Say:

In March this year, I bought four chicks from the Inanam once in ten days traditional market. Two of them turnout to be Tandaha (roosters) and the other two Golupo.

While the roosters ended in our wok, the Golupo, without fail now give us (a family of three,sometimes five) two eggs a day. Since then we have regular supply of eggs from our own backyard. Not that eggs cost that much, but we feel great in having two chickens feeding us two eggs a day. We do not consume the eggs everyday and always have at least six eggs on `stand by' everyday of the week.

I am planning to by four more chicks next week and will make sure this time that all of them will be Golupo.

Lekima lashing

Saturday night was supposed to be party time at my neighbour's house, a party to celebrate his second grandson (I still do not have one)but I never made it to the Aramai Tii. From my house I could hear their music from which I assume that the party was great. I was tempted to join but all of a sudden a `blackout', the whole of Inanam was dark, power supply was cut off. I aborted my plan to join the party and went to sleep. About 2am the power was restored but it was raining heavily plus strong wind.

Sunday morning, I went down to Inanam town, along the way, there were trees up rooted. Now I know the why the `blackout', a truck had crashed to a transformer in avoiding a tree falling.

The heavy rain and strong wind was actually everywhere. Houses had its roofs blown away.

These were all because of the tail effect of tropical storm Lekima. The Meteorological Services Department reported that the strong winds were associated with Lekima that is now somewhere between the Philippines and Vietnam. It is expected to in that position until tonight. The department had issued Category One strong winds from the southwesterly direction blowing between 40 and 50km per hour and at sea waves of between two and tree metres high.

My Say:

Now I know a reason why Sabah is known as Land Below the Wind. In the event of tropical storm or typhoon from the Philippines, Sabah will only be hit by its tails. If the tails effect felled trees, dismantled and toppled high telcos billboards and blew away roofs, it beyond imagination how the heads strike.

A caring Chief Minister

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman yesterday took time off from his busy schedules to meet victims of the fire that razed about 50 houses, making some 300 homeless at the water village of Kampung Tanjung Aru Lama, just a stone throw from Kota Kinabalu City.

Musa told the victims that the State Government would assist them as the best they could so as to reduce their burden. Musa, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, also made a personal donation of RM12,500, which he distributed RM300 to each of the affected 43 families.

Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, is the first hotel in the City to give donations to the fire victims and also hosted a breaking of fast (buka puasa) to the villagers who are majority Muslims.

My Say:

Initial investigations by the City Fire and Rescue Services Department indicated that the fire was started by a boy playing with firecrackers.

Probably the boy was unable to wait for the Hari Raya celebration to play with his firecrackers, something that he will regret forever.

This boy and his family will be among the many affected families not being able to celebrate Hari Raya like in previous years for they now have no house. Most of them are putting up at the community halls in Sembulan and Tanjnung Aru.

Orang Utan (Jungle People)

Orang Utans at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan, Sabah, looks friendly but visitors are advised to follow the centre's guide when `going into their territory'. This words of caution came from Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun in the wake of an incident in Taman Semengoh, Kuching Sarawak where a tourist had a `fight' with an Orang Utan who had snatched her bag.

Masidi said that Orang Utans are not really human although they are called Orang Utan (Jungle People). They can suddenly changed mood although they look friendly at first.

The last incident of these Jungle People attacking visitors was when a tourist was strippped by one of them (Orang Utan) in Sepilok several years ago.

My Say:

I had visited Sepilok and had a great time taking photographs of the naughty Orang Utans when a big one came from behind trying to be friendly with me. The Orang Utan was going for my camera bag but I managed to ran away before the Orang Utan was able to do any harm on me.

Merdeka's indecent dance?

Sabah's edition of the Borneo Post on Sunday (Sept 24th) published front page a photograph of a dance performance during Kemabong's Merdeka celebration on Aug 25. The picture taken from a video recording shows Filipino dancers in what local Umno leader Yafta Musa said was indecent.

Yafta said as an Umno leader, he was angry and disgusted when watching such kind of performance as it was very embarrassing. He said action should be taken to those responsible for allowing the performance as it will likely affect the credibility of Barisan Nasional leaders.

He said Kemabong assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang was also present at the celebration which started at 7pm and went on until midnight.

Rubin, in his reply published in the Daily Express today, denied that the performance that night was laced with indecency. He believed that the issue was sensationalised by disgruntled individuals who were out to gain publicity.

"I did not receive any complain from my supporters in Kemabong but only from those who are supporters of ex-Tenom Member of Parliament Datuk Rizalman Abdullah who was angry that he (Rizalman) was not selected to defend his seat in the 2004 general election," Rubin said.

He said the organiser had brought in an Elvis impersonator from Australia to perform that night who wanted his own dancers to accompany his performances.

Rubin said the dance was more like ballet and ballroom dancing, which could be quite new to people in "a remote area like Kemabong as they are not used to it." He said should there were people to ask for the dancing to be stopped that night, "I would have immediately asked them to do so but there was none."

My Say:

A copy of the photograph is up there for all to see and to make individual conclusion on whether or not it look indecent.

Death, nothing less

Eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin may still be alive if only the government had introduced the death penalty for child rapists, says Zaleha Abdullah, 50, of Kampung Tebobon Menggatal, Sabah.

Zaleha is talking sense here for she, too, had gone through the agony of which Nurin's parents and family had gone through. Zaleha's nine-year-old daughter Haserawati,a Primary Four pupil of SK Tebobon was raped and murdered about 7am on Jan 8, 2004 while walking to her school.

Following this case, the Sabah Women's Advisory Council had on Oct 2004, compiled a report and proposal to the Federal Government to impose the death penalty on brutal rapists and those who sexually assault children resulting in their gruesome death.

The Council, in its memorandum, to the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Penal Code (Amendment) 2004 Bill, called for capital punishment for rapists.

Zaleha said it was so disgusting to hear how Nurin was sexually abused and murdered. She said nothing less than death by hanging must be imposed on whoever is responsible for such an offence, to ensure such crime would not happened again.

And for the record, 26-year-old drug addict Jamaludin Saripudin is currently serving 20 years jail plus 24 strokes of the rotan for raping Haserawati. He also faces a charge for murdering the girl, framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence of conviction. This High Court case is still pending hearing.


My Say:

On this issue I would like to quote what the Consumers Association of Sabah and Labuan president Datuk Patrick Sindu told the Press in Sabah yesterday.

Sindu said,"Seemingly, there is no end in sight to brutal sexual assaults on children in this country. We need drastic actions to stop potential perpetrators of crime against children. They are undeterred by jail sentences and whipping,which mean nothing to them."

"There is too much talk about meting stiffer penalties but these (death sentence) must act as a deterrent. Whenever a child falls pray to sex predator, resulting in death, the whole country will be talking about it. Then the dust settles, we are back to square one, and the crime continues because the would-be offender will not think twice about committing it."

Deads still paid $$$

The Auditor General reports stated that 20 people in two districts who had passed away are still receiving monthly cash welfare assistance from the State Welfare Services Department. Out of the 125 recipients in the district of Kota Belud, 13 were found to have died. Seven of the 57 in Keningau had passed away.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Yahya Hussin said a thorough investigation would be conducted by the Community Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry. There are some 14,971 recipients of the cash allowance throughout the State.

My Say:

Just a tip of the iceberg. I am optimistic that if the AG reports had also been carried out in all the districts, the figures would be greater. It is impossible that officers entrusted to manage the assistance not to know or aware of this matter. There must be `prawn at the other side of the stone' (ada udang disebalik batu).

Update - White Rabbit

White Rabbit (Gula Susu)

My Say:

The sweet White Rabbit, which the Philippines Government had banned due to reports that they contains cancer-causing formaldehyde, is on sale in Sabah too. Popularly known as `gula susu', it is being sold in school canteens. I checked this out this morning, almost all Kedai Runcit in Inanam Town (just six miles from Kota Kinabalu) are selling this sweet. Confirmation from parents, school's canteens, too, are selling this brand.

As I had mentioned in my posting yesterday, formalhedyde is commonly used to preserve dead bodies.

This issue had been raised several months back. Consumers are waiting what the Consumers Association for Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan Cash) president Datuk Patrick Sindu has to say about this matter.

Sweet White Rabbit

An AFP reports from Manila says that the Philippines has banned four Chinese food products from school canteens following reports they contained cancer-causing formaldehyde.

Among those banned were the popular White Rabbit and Milk Candy brands, Bairong Grape Biscuits and the Yong Kan Foods Grape Biscuit.

Formaldehyde, a colourless, flammable, strong-smelling substance, is commonly used to preserve dead bodies and is a potentially toxic cancer-causing substance.

In July, the Philippines Government banned all of the four food items, only the makers of White Rabbit, Guan Sheng Yuan Group Co, have denied using formaldehyde.

My Say:

White Rabbit's sweet is also popular in Sabah. I wonder if those sold in this Land Below the Wind are also `Made-in-China' products.

Fishmongers in Sabah are also known to use formaldehyde on the fishes (to keep them fresh) they are selling, particularly, those being transported to rural areas.

Malaysia Day = Unity Day

Although Sept 16th was four days ago, the significant of the date is still an issue much talk about by the people. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there will only be one Merdeka (Aug 31st), but acknowledged the significant of Sept 16th as the day the Federation of Malaysia was established as a result of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (who later pulled out) joining together as one nation.

Gerakan, UPKO and PBS, who are members of Malaysia's ruling party, Barisan Nasional, had called for Sept 16th to be made a national public holiday. And today Umno, the backbone of the Malaysia's Government, came out in support of the call.

Datuk Masidi Manjun, Umno assemblyman for Karanaan, and a senior Sabah minister, concurred with Gerakan, UPKO and PBS, that Sept 16 deserves to be celebrated on a much bigger scales to mark the historical birth of a new nation, Malaysia, 44 years ago.

He suggested that Malaysia Day to be celebrated with a theme Unity Day, not only to celebrate the success in uniting 13 States under one nation but also to clear confusion on the Merdeka Day (Aug 31st)and Malaysia Day.

Masidi also suggested that Sept 16th celebration to be called/named Malaysia Day-Unity Day.He also support that Sept 16th be made a national Public Holiday.

My Say:

Let hope that more Sabah leaders support Sept 16 to be made a national Public Holiday. Take a lead from Masidi, a much respected Kadazandusun Muslim leader, from Ranau. As a lawyer by training, Masidi know what he is talking about.

Dilemma me

I am in a dilemma, I do not know what to do, to laugh, get angry or anything.

Why? the last five hours, I had been receiving more than 10 sms of the same message from different handphone numbers.

The message read:

Malaysia is in a real dilemma!

Allowing Vietnamese workers in,
dogs and cats go missing.

Allowing Bangla workers in,
Malay girls go missing.

Get Indons,
money and jewellery go missing.

Let Chinese dolls to come in,
husbands go missing.

And allow Filipino dance instructors in,
wives go missing!

Pig culling in Sabah?

The pig owners' crisis in Malacca where they are force to cull 97,000 heads of pig by Friday (Sept 21) might had reared its ugly heads into Sabah.

A businessman involved in the industry here related to me this morning that, without being told, rearers in the West Coast of Sabah had began to reduce their animals by slaughtering young ones. When I asked for the reasons, the businessman said `business strategy'.

My Say:

Such an action might be connected to the Malacca pigs' crisis but I am inclined to assume that it could be a tactic to reduce supply in order to jack-up price thus burdening consumers.

Sept 16 PH shot down

Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Khoon's calls for more recognition to be given to Malaysia Day to celebrate the founding of the Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16th, 1963 had been shot down by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib said the government had decided that the celebration of nationhood is only on Aug 31 to show that the country is together as a nation. But he said this would not mean that Malaysia Day on Sept 16 was not important.

My Say:

There were several groups in Sabah who held celebrations in conjunction with Malaysia Day. In Kiulu, the Government's member of parliament for Tuaran Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau led villagers to celebrate the day. Over in Keningau, Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat also held similar celebrations. In a small way, I also led a small group to celebrate the day at the scenic Kionsom Waterfall.

Monday blue - Still a Rest Day For Sabah

My Say:

Monday Sept 17th, 2007 is still a holiday in Sabah in lieu of Sept 16th which fall on Sunday. Sept 16th is one of the annual Public Holidays in Sabah to celebrate the formation of Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined Malaya to establish a new nation - The Feberation fo Malaysia) on Sept 16th 1963.

I should had posted this yesterday but my telephone line went kaput. It was restored later in the afternoon but I was already celebrating Malaysia Day at the Kionsom Waterfall.

Happy Malaysia Day

Kurup vs Dr Jeffrey

The war of words between BN's Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national vice president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is getting too hot and personal.

Dr Jeffrey declared PKR would win 42 of the 60 State seats which will enable PKR to be the State Government, to which Kurup declared `no way' the opposition could toppled the national coalition.

Kurup went on to say that Dr Jeffrey Kitingan had done nothing when he was the Assemblyman for Bingkor and that the latter is now singing a different tune now that he is in the opposition.

Kurup also openly said that the disappearance of RM4 billion from Sabah Foundation during Dr Jeffrey tenure as its director was among the reasons that Sabah still the poorest State in Malaysia.

Kurup wants Dr Jeffrey to explain where the RM4 billion went.

Dr Jeffrey today clarified that there was no need for him to explain on the RM4 billion as it had been explained by auditors, Price Waterhouse. He said Kurup attempt to link him with the `missing RM4 billion' was at total stupidity.

Now Dr Jeffrey wants Kurup to come with proof within seven days that the RM4 billion disappeared, failing which he would consider taking legal action for defamation against Kurup.

My Say:

The General Elections has not been announced yet but here we are being heated by two State leaders who were at one time Assemblymen of Parti Bersatu Sabah (led by Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan) which once ruled Sabah.

Kurup now has been Sook Assemblyman for 22 years and along the way had hold the positions of Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah after serving the rest as a Cabinet Minister.

Their war of words in the Press can only indicate that Dr Jeffrey might take on Kurup in Sook. They did in the 2004 elections, Kurup emerged the winner.

No way says Kurup

Barisan Nasional's Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (BN-PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup says `no way' for the Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) of toppling BN in the coming general elections, let alone rule Sabah.

Kurup said the people would think not once but more than 10 times before giving their votes to PKR of which one of its national vice president is Sabahan Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

Dr Jeffrey had earlier this week said PKR was confident of winning 42 of the 60 State seats and on its way to be Sabah new State Government.

Kurup should know better for he had the opportunity to contest Sook seat against Dr Jeffrey in previous elections. Once Kurup lost but defeated Dr Jeffrey in the last elections.

My Say:

Being relatively new in Sabah politics PKR now seems to have supports whenever its goes to the villages especially when Dr Jeffrey is the organiser. But I dare say here that PKR will get the supports but will not get enough votes to win, let alone become the State Government.

Happy Fasting

Selamat Berpuasa to all my Muslim visitors. Although I am a non-Muslim Bumiputera, I do have many Muslim uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Infact two of my late mother's late older brothers were Muslim.

Breaking News

Come Oct 20, 2007, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman will have one of his State Assemblyman as Son-In-Law. The lucky man is Haji Mohd Ariffin Arif, the assemblyman for Membakut. An official announcement is to be made soon. Ariffin is the Sabah Native Affairs Council chairman. Musa, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, is the assemblyman for Sungai Sibuga.


My Say:

I was alerted of this news by several friends and was confirmed by a posting by a fellow Sabahan blogger Sikmading at http://sikmading.blogspot.com