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.
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
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.
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.
Friday, 23 November 2007
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.
Thursday, 22 November 2007
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'.
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'.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
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.
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.
Monday, 19 November 2007
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.
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.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, 10 November 2007
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?
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?
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?
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
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.
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.
Monday, 5 November 2007
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!
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!
Sunday, 4 November 2007
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.
So I am off to Kionsom Waterfall. And to know more about Kionsom, just type Kionsom in web search, you will be fascinated.
Friday, 2 November 2007
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.
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.
Thursday, 1 November 2007
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)