Musa hopes more Federal Ministers from Sabah Umno

Sabah Umno deserves to be given more Federal Minister posts following its strong showing at the Umno General Assembly, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said Sunday.

Musa, who is also Sabah Umno liaison committee's chairman, said candidates from Sabah Umno won 100 per cent in the party's election with Semporna member of Parliament Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal creating history by winning one of the three Vice President posts.

Shafie, who is also Semporna Umno division chief and the first Umno leader from Sabah to win the post in the party's history, is currently Federal National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister.

Speaking to reporters on his return to Kota Kinabalu after campaigning in the Bukit Gantang, Perak by-election, Musa said," Sabah harbours hope that this time around, the State is more represented in the Federal Cabinet."

In the election, Musa also won a seat in the Umno Supreme Council together with Beaufort MP Datuk Haji Lajim Ukin and Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin. Lajim is Federal Deputy Transport Minister.

The other Sabah Umno leader that created history is Papar MP Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin who won the Puteri Umno chief post. Another Sabah leader who won is Datuk Hajah Azizah Mohd Dun, the Klias state assemblywoman and Sabah Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister.

Kadazan/Dusun in Umno

Since Malaysia government's backbone United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) spread its wing to Sabah, non-Muslim natives of this Land Below the Wind had been accepted as members of the party.

In the recent UMNO general assembly, Kadazan/Dusun delegates from Sabah were in their traditional costume, complete with their traditional headgear `Sigah'. The delegates from Penampang Division was led by its head Datuk John Ambrose.

I like this cartoon

Pairin to Batang Ai

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan will lead the Barisan Nasional (BN) delegation from the `Land Below The Wind' to render support to the oalition's candidate for Sarawak's Batang Ai by-election Nomination Day (March 29).
According to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Chief Information Officer, Johnny Mositun, Pairin who is also PBS President and the Sabah BN delegation would be leaving on March 28 (Saturday).
He said Pairin was leading the delegation since Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who is the Sabah BN chief is currently attending the Umno General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur.
Nomination Day has been set for March 29 and in the event of a contest polling day is on April 7.
The seat fell vacant after its incumbent from BN's Parti Rakyat Sarawak Datuk Dublin Unting passed away on Feb 24 this year.

Ex-MP Jawah PKR's man for Batang Ai

It is now confirmed that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for the April 7, by-election in Batang Ai is former Member of Parliament for Lubok Antu Jawah Gerang (pic).

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who visited Lubuk Antu over the weekend, made the announcement in Kuching this morning.

A graduate in Economics from the University of Malaya, Jawah, 55, had worked with a bank in Kuching.

He was recruited by the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) for the Lubok Antu parliamentary by-election on 3 and 4 April 1987 when the incumbent MP Andrew Janggi Muyang died following a road accident.

He won with a thumping victory and continue to retain the seat for four more terms.

Jawah is contesting the state seat of Batang Ai in a by-election, which is part of Lubok Antu parliamentary seat, following the death of the incumbent Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate is agriculture engineer Malcolm Mussen Lamoh from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). His candidacy was announced by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmod last Saturday.

In the 2006 State elections, Dublin (BN) won the seat when he polled 3,295 votes, 806 more than the 2,489 votes garnered by SNAP's Nicholas Bawin Anggat.

Continue to use English

Former Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said the government’s policy in using English as the medium of teaching of mathematics and science must continue.
Madius, who is also UPKO secretary general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, said that the policy will have a long term positive impact on students especially those in rural areas.
He also said that mastering the global language will give students an added advantage to acquire more knowledge which is useful for personal development.
“Maybe in a short term, the policy is burdensome to many students who have no strong foundation in the language. But in the long term, it will have more positive affects because the latest discoveries in science and technology are mostly published in English,” he said.
Madius noted that the positive outcomes of the policy are in fact already apparent judging from the increase in the command of the language among rural students.
“Most students who sat in last year’s SPM and STPM examinations willingly opted to answer the questions in English,” he said.
He dismissed fears among Malay language activists that continuing the policy would affect students’ command of the national language.

Vacate Pensiangan seat, No way says Kurup

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup has dismissed calls by his challenger in the Pensiangan Parliamentary seat to vacate the seat and face him in a by-election.
Kurup, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister, said what is important is not bowing to the kind of challenges posed by people like Danny Anthony Andipai but bringing progress to the people of Pensiangan.
"To me the people are more important. We have won (the case) so we must focus in uplifting the people's living standard," he said.
Andipai, who is Pensiangan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) head, had challenged him to step down shortly after the Federal Court allowed Kurup's appeal against the decision of the Election Court to nullify the Pensiangan Parliamentary election result.
Kurup had won the seat uncontested on Nomination Day but Andipai filed a suit claiming he was deprived of a chance to contest due to the actions of the personnel manning the nomination centre.
"In terms of development the opposition is untested but in terms of creating chaos we have seen that it is being done by the opposition," he said.
Kurup said the development in Pensiangan would continue and that he would see to it during his term as the people representative in Parliament.

Branch head wants to stop Umno assembly

Kampung Labian Umno branch's head Kunsul Nahul (pic) this afternoon lodged a police report in a bid to stop the March 24 Umno General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur. He claimed that delegates from the Umno Silam Division are illegal.

He filed his report at the City Police Headquarters in Karamunsing, Kota Kinabalu.

"All the delegates are illegal because complaints on money politics and breach of party's ethics filed with Umno Disciplinary Board and Umno Supreme Council have yet to be decided," Kunsul told reporters after making the police report.

Kunsul said the reports to the Supreme Council and the Board were pertaining to the Silam delegates' or their accomplices' involvement in cheating during the Division and Silam Wanita annual general meeting.

At the same police station, two other Umno members also made police reports against Sabah Umno chief/Chief Minnister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman and Sabah Youth head Datuk Japlin Akim.

Akob @ Damsah (Umno Taman Antarabangsa) and Padlee Shahibon ( Airport Lama Putatan), in their reports wanted the police to investigate Musa for abusing his position as Chief Minister for his personal interest in protecting Japlin.

They were referring the Musa's statement yesterday in which he said that Japlin, although being found guilty of money politics and his Umno membership suspended for three years, would continue to be Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Assistant Minister.

PBRS tells PKR to close shop in Pensiangan

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup is now settled down as Pensiangan member of Parliament after the Friday March 13's Federal Court decision to allow his appeal against a Kota Kinabalu Election Court declaration that his win uncontested in the March 8, 2008 general elections was null and avoid.

Kurup, who is Federal Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister, had promised that now being cleared of the Election Court's judgement, he is now all focused in bringing more development to his constituents.

A first time MP, Kurup was Sook assemblyman and had served as Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, among other, in the previous Sabah State Cabinet.

Now that Kurup is confirmed as Pensiangan MP, PBRS is calling on opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Pensiangan headed by Danny Andipai to close shop and bring all his supporters to join Barisan Nasional (BN).

It was Andipai who initiated the election petition against Kurup after his candidacy for the Pensiangan seat was rejected on nomination day of the general elections last year.

In calling PKR Pensiangan to disband, PBRS information Chief Rayner Francis Udong said that only BN, of which PBRS is a component member, could bring about development in the constituency.

"Particiaption of opposition PKR into the BN's fold is most welcomed," he said.

After the Federal Court's ruled in favour of Kurup, Andiapi challenged the PBRS president to vacated his MP seat and contest against him in a by-election. To this Udong said it only showed that Andipai was politically immature.

"We cannot overcome the wisdom of law, justice and what really transpired had been known. So Andipai should respect the decision," Udong said.

SAPP wants to know why loan RM601 million given to KL company?

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) said the Sabah State Government owes the people of Sabah an explanation why a RM 601 million loan was given by the Sabah Development Bank (SDB) to a KL company to develop luxury condominium in Kuala Lumpur's Ampang.

As reported in the business section of a national newspaper Thursday, a property developer, Perspektif Masa Sdn. Bhd., has secured a RM 601 million loan from SDB to finance their RM 1.5 billion project in Ampang.

SAPP president, Datuk Yong Teck Lee added that this loan being one of the biggest loans ever granted by SDB is sure to raise eyebrows.
"It is equivalent to the RM 600 million in infrastructure grants allocated to the State of Sabah under the second stimulus plan for these two years. Such a huge loan, if disbursed in Sabah, would have been a huge stimulus to the Sabah economy," he said

Instead, the former Chief Minister said the wholly Sabah Government-owned bank has seen it fit to lend the money to KL as though Sabah has no need of any investment funds. The local business community knows that banks have been very tight in lending money these days because of the global financial crisis. But the SDB seems not to know or care.

Therefore, SDB should disclose whether such a huge loan outside Sabah has obtained the approval of the State Government.

The people of Sabah deserve to know whether SDB has departed from its primary role as the leading financial institution (DFI) to promote the growth of the Sabah economy.

According to the Sabah Chief Minister, who is also the Finance Minister overseeing SDB, Sabah has many attractive investment projects created under the Sabah Development Corridor.

Don't these corridor projects need financing?

"Or is it because our own Sabah Development Bank has lost confidence in the Sabah economy? Are there no projects in Sabah that are viable to qualify for SDB loans? Are there no more projects that can be profitable for SDB to lend to?"

SDB and State officials must not underestimate the potential for loss of investor confidence when investors see that Sabah's own development financial institution has decided to channel a huge chunk of its loan portfolio to non-Sabah projects."

Already, there is widespread concern over the untimely closure of the ceramic tile factory in Labuan this month caused by the hike in natural gas prices sold by the Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC) to a SEDCO subsidiary, Guocera Tiles Industries (Labuan) Sdn. Bhd.

SEDCO (Sabah Economic Development Corporation) is a State Bumiputra agency dedicated to develop Sabah's industrial development.

In spite of the wide media coverage of the controversial closure of the Labuan tile plant, none of the State government Ministers or officials have bothered to explain or show any concern over the matter. Other than losing jobs, the plant closure also affects investor confidence.

In Sarawak, Penang and other states, news of similar factory closures are promptly attended to by senior ministers. Here in Sabah and Labuan, senior leaders do not seem to care." said Yong.

Kurup: A relief BUT Andipai: Disappointed

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup expressed relief with the decision by the Federal Court to uphold his appeal against the decision of the Election Court and basically allowing him to continue as Member of Parliament for Pensiangan.

“I feel very relieve because this (election petition court trial) has been distracting my concentration to work as the P182 MP for Pensiangan.

“But, I am very thankful that the rule of law prevail,” he said when met after the judgement was delivered by Federal Court Judge Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Ab Rahman in Kota Kinabalu Friday.

Kurup who is also the Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister believed he would be able to give his full concentration in assisting his constituents in Pensiangan.

“I can put much more effort particularly for the people of Pensiangan to get them out of misery,” said Kurup who was visibly elated once the Judge read the final verdict.

To a question, he believed the verdict gave the Barisan Nasional (BN) confidence in gunning for victories in the three by-elections in Bukita Gantang, Batang Ai and Bukit Selambau.

Meanwhile, Danny Anthony Andipai issued a challenge to Kurup asking him to resign and allow for a by-election.

“If he is really a gentleman, he should resign … I challenge him,” said the dejected Andipai. He felt disappointed and was wronged by the decision.

“But, I will not budge from struggle despite whatever I have been offered,” he said without elaborating.

Andipai said this was only the beginning of his struggle and “will only spark the spirit of the people of Sabah”.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Pensiangan Deputy Chief, Affendy Abdullah @ Lukan Anginduh, 50, meanwhile called on party supporters to remain calm with the decision.

In fact, he said the decision only allowed them more time and opportunity to strengthen the party’s machinery to face the next general election.

He believed the Federal Court’s decision had disappointed many quarters in the PKR but it has to be accepted with an open heart and translated instead to a more consistent struggle for the party.

Towards this end, Affendy hoped Kurup would keep his promise to continue the development mission that had been planned when the status of the seat was still hanging in the balance.

“We want to see transparency on his part in this matter because before this he looked to be so serious and really on the move in wanting to bring development here (Pensiangan). It cannot stop at that now that his status (as the MP) is declared valid,” he said.

Former Native Chief, Sundang Pongolot, 50, said Kurup should be given the chance to prove to the people in Pensiangan that he is able to help them within the next four years.

Federal Court allows Kurup's appeal

The Federal Court in Kota Kinabalu Friday set aside an Election Court's decision on Sept 8, last year that nullified the election of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup to the Pensiangan parliamentary seat in the March 8, 2008 general elections.

This mean that Kurup now keep his Member of Parliament seat, no by-election for Pensiangan and that he stay as Federal Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister.

Federal Court Judge Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Abdul Rahman, in delivering the Federal Court unanimous judgement reserved since Feb 12, this year, declared Kurup was duly elected to the parliamentary constituency of P182 Pensiangan.

Appeal Court President Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff and Chief Justice of Malaya Datuk Arifin Zakaria who heard the appeal together with Nik Hashim, were not in court.

“There had not been any failure on the part of the returning officer to comply with the election laws (in declaring Kurup’s win uncontested after two other candidates nomination papers were rejected). Accodringly, we unanimously allow the appeal with cost here and the court below,” Nik Hashim said.

Kurup won the seat unopposed after the returning officer Bubudan OT Majalu rejected the nomination papers of Danny Anthony Andipai of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and independent candidate Saineh Usau on nomination day Feb 24, 2008 on grounds that they were delivered late (after 10am).

Andipai filed an election petition on April 9, 2008 seeking a declaration that Kurup’s win was void. He named Kurup and Bubudan as the first and second
Respondents, respectively.

Andipai claimed that Bubudan planned to make available only one counter for the delivery of nomination papers for Pensiangan and the state seats of Sook and Nabawan.

The plan, Andipai’s claimed, was to prevent timely delivery of nomination papers from other candidates so that Kurup could be returned unopposed. Andipai was only able to submit his papers at 10.25am.

On Sept 8, 2008 Election Judge David Wong Dak Wah declared that Kurup’s victory was void as the rejection of Andipai and Usau nomination papers were a breach of their constitutional right to take part in the election.

Wong also held that a decision by the State Election Commission deputy director in directing the returning officer to accept Andpai’s nomination papers was final and could not be overturned during the objection period.

Nik Hashim said the Federal Court held that the requirement that the nomination papers must be delivered between 9am and 10am was mandatory.

He said the court held and the returning officer was justified in upholding the objection and rejecting Andipai’s nomination papers for non compliance with regulation 6(2)(b) of the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981.

The regulation says the nomination papers in triplicate must be delivered to the returning officer between 9am and 10am on nomination day by the candidate and seconder or by any two or any one of them.

Nik Hashim said that it was true, as the election judge decided, that the Election Commission had the power of control and supervision over the conduct of elections and that the returning officer was subjected to the direction of the Commission.

“Nevertheless, such power and direction must be exercised according to law,” he said.

In this case, the commission’s deputy director’s directive to the returning officer to accept Andipai’s nomination papers outside the time frame was contrary to regulation 6(2)(b) of the Regulation.

“The Election Judge was erroneous when he held that the power of the Election Commission overrides the Regulations. Nothing in the law provides for such power,” he said.

Nik Hashim further said the court held that it was not within the purview of the Election Commission to effect any amendment to election regulation relating to the conduct of elections.

The court also held that while it was true there were 12 people who wanted to be candidates and only one counter opened at the nomination centre, nevertheless, the responsibility for submitting the nomination papers to the returning officer within the time fame lies with the candidates.

“No statutory duty is imposed on the returning officer to ensure that all nomination papers of all candidates present at the nomination centre must be accepted but only to ensure that no nomination papers are to be accepted during the time frame (9am -10am),” Nik Hashim held.

He said the court was also unanimous in holding that in this case the fault lay with Andipai for failing to deliver his nomination papers within the stipulated time to the returning officer.

The court also held that Andipai had pleaded the facts and grounds of his petition but without specifying which provision of written law relating to the conduct of election had not been complied with by the returning officer.

“This failure is fatal. Parties are bound by their pleadings. Since the mandatory requirements stipulated by section 32(b) of the Election Offences Act 1954 had not been met, the learned judge ought to have dismissed the respondent’s (Andipai) petition outright,” Nik Hashim said.

No by-election for Pensiangan

To be updated

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup keeps his Pensiangan parliamentary seat after the Federal Court in Kota Kinabalu a a few minutes ago allowed his appeal against an Election Court's decision declaring his win uncontested in the March 8, 2008 general elections was null and void.

Kurup, a first time MP, is Federal Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister.

Election Petition - Api Api: PKR's appeal dismiss

To be updated

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai keeps his state seat for Api Api after the Federal Court in Kota Kinabalu dismissed with cost Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) appeal a few minutes ago.

Dr Yee, who is Sabah Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, won the seat with a slim majority of 174 votes in the March 8, 2008 general elections. He polled 3,419 votes while Sabah PKR deputy chief Christina Liew Chin Jin obtained 3,245 votes.

Liew's election agent filed an election petition seeking declaration that Dr Yee's victory was null and void for distributing pamphlets which implied that Liew was involved in undesirable elements. The Election Court dismissed the petition and PKR appealed to the Federal Court.

Friday March 13 - D Day for Kurup, Sabahan blogger to be charged

It is confirmed now that a blogger from Sabah will be charged in the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court tomorrow for posing comments in his/her blog that deemed to be insulting to the Sultan of Perak.

A Deputy Public Prosecutor registered the case today at the court in Kota Kinabalu and that members of the Press covering court were informed of the case to be brought up before a Sessions Court judge at 9am tomorrow.

This case will be another interesting happening in the Kota Kinabalu tomorrow.

Judges of the Federal Court will also start sitting at 9am Friday March 13, 2009 (tomorow) to deliver their reserved judgements on two appeals against decisions by Kota Kinabalu Election Court for the Parliamentary seat of Pensiangan and the state seat of Api Api.

Rural and Regional Deputy Minister Tan Seri Joseph Kurup, who is also Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president, is appealing against an Election Court decision in declaring his win uncontested in Pensiangan in the March 8, general elections was null and void.

The Federal Court heard submission from both parties on Feb 12, 2009.

The Api Api seat was won by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai but was challenged by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah deputy head Christina Liew through her election agent.

The Election Court dismissed PKR's election petition but they appealed. The Federal Court also heard submission from both parties on Feb 12, this year.

In both cases, the Federal Court reserved judgement to March 13, 2009.

Pak Lah: We met, no discussion

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has refuted reports that he had a discussion with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a religious event in Hulu Langat, Selangor, yesterday (March 10).
Abdullah said he attended the event on the invitation of prominent religious figure, Syeikh Mahmud al-Majzub.
"I was invited and I went, and when we were in the midst of having lunch, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim came. He was invited to sit and have lunch. That's all. No discussion. "
Syeikh Mahmud conveyed his view to me about the various problems in the world today and he stressed that it was important for leaders of this country to be fair and to always ensure peace. "He (Syeikh Mahmud) spoke to me; he did not speak to Anwar. Nothing more than that," Abdullah, who is Defence Minister, told reporters after visiting the Sepanggar Naval Base here today.
The Prime Minister arrived this morning and went to Pulau Banggi to tour the development in the island. It was a day-long working visit. He returned to Kuala Lumpur this evening.

BN candidate to be known Saturday

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud today confirmed that more names have been submitted for consideration as a possible candidate for the Batang Ai by-election.

And this seems to confirm the news disclosed by The Broken Shield yesterday.In an interview with a national newspaper, he said that the Barisan Nasional would meet this Saturday and would name the candidate.

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) James Masing had submitted the name of a senior civil servant to the chief minister. However, the chief minister was said to have asked for more names, so that he had a better choice to choose from the list.

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu also submitted another list of candidates for consideration.

Meanwhile, the youth leader of PRS of Batang Ai Branch, Vicker Andrew Enting wanted the BN to consider Nelson Naga Alam, private secretary to the late Dublin Unting to be a candidate.

The people, he said, would prefer a local rather than a parachute so-called professional to be a candidate.

“We will be very disappointed if Naga Alam is not the candidate,” he said.

Knowing that Taib was not happy with the PRS’ recommendation, two more persons have expressed interest to contest in the by-election as a BN candidate. One of them is a headmaster of a school and the other is an engineer.

Both of them have been conducting a signature campaign right in front of PKR officials today.While PKR candidate is more or less settled, the Barisan Nasional candidate is uncertain and this has placed the PRS and BN leadership in a dilemma. - The Broken Shield

Anti-Hop Law for political stability

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the Anti-Hop Law should be enacted in the Federal Constitution to ensure greater political stability in the country. He said the country would have much to lose out politically and economically without political stability.
Speaking at Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) 24th anniversary in Kota Kinabalu on March 6, 2009, Pairin who is the party's president said," We pray and hope that in the future we will be able to enjoy political stability through the inclusion of the Anti-Hop Law in our country's law."
Pairin as Chief Minister during the PBS State Government (1985-1994) enacted the Anti-Hop Law but it was later declared null and void by the Federal Court. The Court declared that law was ultra vires the Federal Constitution on grounds that it restrained one's freedom of association.

Taib says no to Masing's PRS candidate?

This blog tonight received unconfirmed reports that the chief minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, is said to have rejected the sole nomination of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) for the Batang Ai by-election.

PRS president, James Masing had on 4 March submitted one name only as its nominee for the by-election to the chief minister for his “consideration”.

The Prime Minister and his Deputy had also been notified.

What Masing should have done was to say that “this is our man” and whether Taib Mahmud approves or disapproves is immaterial.

It was Masing’s mistake to give Taib the sole authority to consider its nomination. Using that given authority, Taib was forced to make a decision and his decision was to reject the nomination.

He has, however, asked Masing to submit a number of names for his consideration.Is it possible that Alfred Jabu’s list of nominees including an engineer with a private company and a senior civil servant may be considered? - The Broken Shield

By-election: Lobbying to be candidate in Batang Ai

Although Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has submitted a name for the Batang Ai by-election to be held on 7 April, there is another list allegedly submitted by Alfred Jabu to the Chief Minister, according to coffee-shop politicians at BDC Stampin, Kuching.

“You know who Jabu wants to be the candidate? It must be that senior civil servant” said one political observer answering his own question. He did not name the civil servant.

It is also learnt that Jabu wanted to be the director of operations for the by-election, but PRS has its own man.

The civil servant referred to is Nelson Mujah, the Lubok Antu district Officer. Although for now, he has been named as the Returning Officer, thus putting to rest his chance to contest.

However, William Nyallau Badak was also in a similar position when he was appointed the Returning Officer for the Lubok Antu Parliamentary seat in the 2004 Parliamentary election; he resigned at the eleventh hour to contest against Jawah Gerang of the then Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

Meanwhile, PRS has submitted the name of its candidate for the by-election. Speculation is rife that he is a senior agriculture officer.

However, some PRS members in Lubok Antu are skeptical, as they suspect that the officer is leaning more towards Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) having a very close relationship with Donald Lawan.

Some PRS members do not want another “Masir” or “Nyallau” in the making. They want Unting’s private secretary to represent the party, whose loyalty to Unting and to the party was undoubted.

The Agriculture officer referred to had been noted for his keenness to contest in every election even against PBDS candidates in the 1980s. But each time, he was not selected by, in particular PBB, or SNAP.

He had often been seen in the company of those who were pro-PBB.According to one political observer, he had already like a cock started to crow by organizing a BBQ function at his longhouse a few days ago.

But such a function soon after the death of Dublin Unting made Unting’s relatives unhappy as if the officer and his supporters did not respect the mourning period. It is also said that the officer had met with Jabu last week.

PRS members recalled that Donald Lawan who is a PBB member was behind the candidacy of Masir Kujat for the Sri Aman parliamentary seat in the last election, ignoring Doris Brodie, the number one candidate of PRS and James Masing.

In the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency, Masing’s nomination of Desmond Sateng was also put aside; instead Jabu recommended William Nyallau Badak as the candidate to contest donning PRS shirts.

The selection of Nyallau and Masir who are known to be supporters of PBB had made PRS members unhappy as well as making Masing very unpopular.

Some members openly came out accusing PRS and Masing as being bullied by PBB.For now, the BN is still short listing the candidate for the by-election. But will a PBB man contest on behalf of PRS in the Batang Ai by-election? Let us all wait and see. The Broken Shield

A Fourth By-Election?

Will we have a fourth by-election held simultaneously on April 7, 2009. The Election Commission had fixed March 29, for nomination for the by-election in Perak and Kedah, and yesterday fixed the same date for a by-election in Sarawak.

Though at this point in time, this may be just a speculation but a fourth by-election is likely to be held in Sabah for the parliamentary seat of Pensiangan.

The Federal Court on March 13, 2009 (Friday 13) will deliver its decision whether or not to grant Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup's apppeal against Kota Kinabalu Election Court declaration on Sept 8, 2008 that his win uncontested in Pensiangan during the March 8, general elections was null and void.

=========================================

Polling for the Batang Ai state by-election in Sarawak will be held on April 7, simultaneously with the polls for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak and Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah.

Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, who chaired the commission meeting in Kuching yesterday in Kuching, said nomination was fixed for March 29, like for the other two seats.

Notice of the writ would be issued on Friday.

The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot, the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president, on Feb 24.

Abdul Aziz said that after considering several factors, the EC felt that the Sarawak EC officer was ready for the by-election and it was timely to hold the by-elections simultaneously to avoid a long campaigning period.

An allocation of RM400,000 had been approved for the by-election, he told reporters after chairing a two-hour meeting to set the polling date.A total of 24 polling centres would be opened at schools, longhouses, kindergartens and government premises while 201 workers would be deployed, he said adding that Batang Ai had 8,006 registered voters comprising 7,963 ordinary and 43 postal voters.

Dublin won the Iban-majority seat in the state election in May 2006, beating Nicholas Bawin Anggat of Sarawak National Party (Snap) by 806 votes, and was appointed State Assistant Sports and Agriculture Minister.

Tok Guru Nik Aziz says `Allah' Is For All

KOTA BARU: Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat said non-Muslims are allowed to use the word "Allah" as there is a verse in the Quran which quotes the non-Muslims of Mecca calling their god "Allah".
"But, it is up to the Federal Government to decide. I do not want to interfere in this," he told reporters after opening the new headquarters of local travel agency Al-Quds Travel in Kota Baru, Kelantan on Sunday.

Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan menteri besar, was responding to a request by the Catholic weekly, Herald, to use the word in its publications.

On Saturday, the Home Ministry rescinded a government gazette issued a day earlier which allowed the conditional use of the word in Christian publications.

The government recently ordered the Herald's Malay edition banned until a court's decision on a suit by the Catholic church..
Several Muslim groups are not happy over the Herald's use of the word "Allah" in its publications.They argued that allowing Christians to use the word "Allah" would cause confusion among Muslims.

Thus, they were upset when the Home Ministry allowed the conditional use of the word in Christian publications.On another matter, Nik Aziz said the term "Bumiputera" should be dropped in applications for government assistance and, instead, the government should form an agency to help the poor of all races and not only Bumiputeras.

Nik Aziz said the non-Bumiputeras had contributed a lot to the country, especially in the plantation sector and in commerce."When we focus only on helping the Bumiputeras, it hurts the feelings of the others. We need to help everybody.

That is the Islamic way. Only then will the poor feel that they are being taken care of by the government."Even (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that we should do away with this policy and I agreed with his view." This story was published HERE today (March 2, 2009)

Majimbun: No Need For A Senior Minister

Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Majimbun (Pic) said hundreds of thousands of people in Sabah would stand to benefit if the government spends on bringing more development in the State instead of on having a Senior Minister.
He said this probably one the reasons why former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad refused it when he was offered such a role during the leadership transition from him to present Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2003.
Responding to the call by Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) for Abdullah to be given a role as Senoir Minister after he steps down as Prime Minister next month, Majimbun said to do so would entail more taxpayers' money which can be better used to provide more development for the people.

Majimbun is also the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Deputy President.

Gazette allowing use of `Allah' revokes

KOTA KINABALU: The Home Ministry has rescinded a government gazette that allowed conditional use of the word Allah in Christian publications with immediate effect.
Admitting that there was a mistake in enacting the gazette that resulted in confusion over the word in question, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the government's decision to ban the use of the word Allah in the Catholic weekly, Herald, remained in force until the court decided otherwise.

The government had recently ordered a ban on the Herald's Malay edition until the court had made its decision, as part of conditions for it to be allowed to continue publishing in English, Chinese and Tamil.

"There is a judicial review on the matter and we leave it to the court to decide. I think there was a mistake in enacting the gazette. When we make a mistake, I must admit that there is a need to look at it thoroughly."As there was a mistake... so it is better we make a correction," he said Saturday.
Syed Hamid was commenting on the call by the Malaysian Islamic Dakwah Foundation yesterday urging the government to withdraw permission for the conditional use of the word Allah in Christian publications.

Its chairman, Datuk Mohd Nakhaie Ahmad, said the government had not acted wisely in allowing the use of the word in Christian publications, which he said could anger Muslims not only in the country but also throughout the world.

A government gazette dated Feb 16 had stated that documents and publications relating to Christianity containing the world Allah were prohibited unless the words "For Christians" was written on their front covers.

The condition was contained in an order entitled Internal Security (Prohibition on Use of Specific Words on Document and Publication) Order 2009.Paragraph 2(1) of the order reads: "The printing, publication, sale, issue, circulation and possession of any document and publication relating to Christianity containing the words Allah, Kaabah, Baitullah and solat are prohibited unless on the front cover of the document and publication are written with the words 'For Christians'." -- Bernama