Sunday 31 May 2009

Harvest Festival

The picture above is a news cutting from Here published on June 1, 2009

Today marks the official last day celebrations of the annual Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival), a celebrations observes by the native of Sabah, particularly, the Kadazan Dusun Murut communities. This festival mark the end of harvesting paddy and the communities celebrate in grand scale before going back to the field to start a new paddy planting season.

The government recognised this celebrations by gazetting May 30 & 31 as an annual Public Holiday.

To all Aki Momogun's visitors: _

`Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Kaamatan 2009/Selamat Pesta Kaamatan 2009/Happy Harvest Festival 2009'

Friday 29 May 2009

315,752 illegals immigrants deported from Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, May 29 (Bernama) -- A total of 389,129 illegal immigrants had been arrested in Sabah between 1990 and 2008, the State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman said.

Of the total, he said 315,752 were deported to their countries of origin.

He said the success showed that the state government had never given room nor space for the immigrants to enter this country illegally.

"Instead, the state government had launched a continuous operation against the illegal immigrants with the cooperation from all quarters.

"Integrated efforts from all the enforcement agencies have proven effective and successful," he said in a statement here Friday.

Sukarti said last year alone, a total of 24,269 illegal immigrants, mostly Philippine nationals, were arrested and detained at the temporary detention centre statewide.

He said, however, 19,151 of them had been deported to their countries of origin while the others were sentenced to imprisonment upon conviction under the Immigration Act.

Sukarti, who is also the integrated operation chief for 2009, said that between January and May this year, 13 operations had been launched which saw 14,286 immigrants screened and 6,045 detained.

The integrated operation would continue until December 31, he added.

Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2009


The State-level Kaamatan Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Beauty Queen) 2009 will see 41 contestants representing all the districts and sub-districts in Sabah. They will be only one of them to be crowned as the Unduk Ngadau at the Hongkod Koisaan, Penampang on Sunday.


Plenty of WW2 Bombs in Keningau

State Rural Development Assistant Minister Datuk Haji Sairin Karno called on the police to scan several places in the Keningau District for World War 11 bombs following the finding of three war relics here within this month.
He said the authorities concerned must ensure that residential areas and those being cleared for housing and development projects were free from these deadly explosives.
"I believe the police have the ability and the facilities to conduct the survey," he said, Wednesday.
Sairin, who is Liawan Assemblyman, was speaking after launching the Interior Zone Road Safety Campaign in conjunction with the Kaamatan (Harvest) Festival here.
He was commenting on the two WW11 bombs unearthed by construction workers levelling an area earmarked for a housing project in Kampung Toboh Baru here.
The third was found by a rubber tapper at his rubber smallholding in Kampung Awou.
The bombs, which were all about eight inches in diameter and three feet long, had been detonated by police.
The three found this month added to three finds from the same area several years ago which was believed to had been heavily shelled during the Second World War.
Meanwhile, Sairin called on road users to be extra careful during the festive season. He said traffic rules and regulations must be adhered to at all time.
"We must do our best to avoid accidents, " he said, adding that statistics showed an increased of accidents for the first five months this year compared to the same period last year.

Tuesday 26 May 2009

MCPA spreads its wing to Sabah

The Malaysian Crime Prevention Association (MCPA) launched its Sabah branch in Kota Kinabalu Saturday to bolster local community participation in efforts to combat criminal activities in the State.

Its President Ravi Ponnan said the newly set-up MCPA Sabah will stress on promoting crime prevention awareness and make school students the main target group of their campaign.

"We will focus more on students and organise for them specially tailored training, seminars, forums and other activities to educate them on various crimes such as vandalism, corruption, drugs, gangsterism and vice, street racing, deviant teachings, terrorism and so on," he said at the official launching at the Sabah Golf and Country Club.

Ravi said setting up of the branch in Sabah, which will be expanded to cover more districts in the State, would enable MCPA to understand better crime-related issues in the State and will therefore allow it to play an active and meaningful role in assisting the authorities to address them effectively.

MCPA was established at the national level on Sept 20, 2002 to cooperate and assist government agencies, particularly the police, in curbing criminal activities by, among others, conducting research on crimes and helping convicted criminals in their rehabilitation process.

"We cannot fully curb criminal activities but we can effectively address these through prevention activities at the grassroots level, " Ravi said.

Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim in officiating ceremony, hoped the presence of MCPA in the State would encourage active participation from the people.

"With the opening of a branch here, we also hope that understanding and cooperation between MCPA and the people would be further strengthened," he said.

He noted that the association's "community-oriented policing and smart partnership" approach was aimed at mobilising community members to work together with the authority in an integrated and coordinated crime prevention effort.

MCPA, Jahid said, could contribute significantly to preventing crimes in Sabah through research it will conduct in the State to study behavioural factors related to criminal activities.

"Much research on crimes and the factors that lead to them have been conducted by psychologists and various ministries.

"The more research the better as it will further expand our reference and allow us to solve, prevent and minimise crimes more effectively, " he said

Friday 22 May 2009

All eyes of Perak today

UPDATE:

The Court of Appeal's decided in favour of Barisan Nasional's Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, declaring him of the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak. This will not be the end of the drama as Datuk Seri Mohamad Zizar Jamaluddin, who was previously declared the rightful Menteri Besar by the High Court, will be appealing to the Federal Court against the ruling of the Appeal Court.



The Court of Appeal will deliver its ruling at 3pm today as to who is the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak.
What transpired in court yesterday as reported HERE
The PUTRAJAYA, May 21 The Court of Appeal will decide Friday who is the rightful Perak Menteri Besar.
Justice Datuk Md Raus Shariff, who sat with Justices Datuk Zainun Ali and Datuk Ahmad Maarop, fixed 3.30pm to deliver its decision on the appeal filed by Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, who is appealing against the High Court decision in declaring that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the rightful Perak Menteri Besar.
The three-man bench set the date after hearing for almost-seven-hours submissions by the three parties involved -- the appellant Zambry, respondent Mohammad Nizar and Attorney-General Datuk Abdul Gani Patail as the intervener.
Earlier, Mohammad Nizar had requested for a panel of five Appeal Court judges to hear the appeal, but was refused.On May 11, High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim had ruled that Mohammad Nizar did not vacate the office of Menteri Besar as he had not lost majority confidence in the state legislative assembly.
Following the decision, counsel Datuk Cecil Abraham, for Zambry, enumerated 24 grounds of the appeal with nine main issues for the Appeal Court's determination.
"The question is whether the learned trial judge was right in interpreting Article 16, 18 and 36 of the Perak Constitution. I submit that his lordship had interpreted it wrongly."
Article 16 is very clear and unambigous.
It says, when the Menteri Besar lost the majority confidence, he must resign. It doesn't say that he must go back to the State Legislative Assembly (to table the motion of no-confidence)," he said.
Cecil submitted that learned trial judge was also wrong in holding that the Sultan of Perak had no power to make enquiry to ascertain whether there was in fact a deadlock in the Perak State Legislative Assembly, or whether Mohammad Nizar had lost the majority confidence of the house.
"We also submit that the vote of no-confidence is not the only way to ascertain if the respondent has ceased to command the confidence of the majority," he said further.
Cecil argued that under the constitution, there was no specific provision requiring a motion of no-confidence to be passed by the members of the State Legislative Assembly before ascertaining that the Menteri Besar had lost the majority confidence.
In his submission, Cecil further said that on Feb 5, Sultan Azlan Shah, before deciding on the Mohammad Nizar's request for the dissolution, had met and interviewed Jamaluddin, Mohd Osman and Hee, to make sure that Barisan Nasional has their support.
The Sultan had also met the other 28 state legislative assemblymen who pleged their support to Barisan Nasional, to ascertain that BN had the majority confidence of the house, he said.
"After being satisfied that BN has the majority, His Royal Highness had issued a media statement stating that Mohammad Nizar had lost the majority confidence and asked him to step down," said Cecil.
Meanwhile, Abdul Gani submitted that Mohammad Nizar could not claim that he had the confidence of the majority as there was an equal vote of 28 each on either side (Pakatan and Barisan Nasional).
"This case is a 50-50 situation. It means that there is no majority or minority. In fact, the respondent (Mohammad Nizar) had 28 votes including Speaker V.Sivakumar, but under the standing orders, the speaker cannot vote," he said.
Abdul Gani also submitted that when Mohammad Nizar had the audience with Sultan Azlan Shah on Feb 4, he had admitted that there was deadlock in the state assembly.
"Deadlock means that there was no majority and minority votes. How come Mohammad Nizar at first says that he had majority votes and at the same time say there was a deadlock," he argued.
In the afternoon proceeding, counsel Sulaiman Abdullah, for Mohammad Nizar, submitted that under Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution, the Menteri Besar does not hold office at the Sultan's pleasure, but holds office subject to the confidence of the members of the state legislative assembly to whom the Menteri Besar was responsible.
"As such Mohammad Nizar cannot be dismissed by the Sultan. Mohammad Nizar may only be dismissed after a vote of no-confidence is passed against him by the members of the legislative assembly," he said.
Sulaiman said judge Abdul Aziz was right in applying the decision in the case of the former Sarawak Chief Minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan that the only way to dismiss him from the office was by the way of a vote of no-confidence.
"It is our submission that there is no reason why this court should not follow and adopt Ningkan's case to our case," he said."
Whether the Menteri Besar has ceased to command the confidence of the majority, is not the decision of the people of Perak, and not also the decision of the Ruler, but it is the sole decision of the elected members of the legislative assembly," added Sulaiman.
Mohammad Nizar, when met by the media after the proceeding, said: "It doesn't matter what the decision is tomorrow, but what is most important is the support of the people of Perak for me."What we are asking is for them and what we are doing is only getting justice through the process of the court," he said.

Pairin: Eradicating hardcore poverty a priority


All cabinet ministers share the same approach and responsibility towards eradicating hardcore poverty in the state, said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (left).
The newly appointed Minister of Infrastructure Development disclosed this in the handing over of duty to the new Minister of Rural Development, Datuk Ewon Ebin (centre) in Kota Kinabalu.
He said in the new working environment, the minister would be working closely with the district officers and their assistants, and also with officers from local authorities who are the group of people who knew much about the situation in the rural areas.
“I believe and am confident that Datuk Ewon knows what to do best and will work hard to achieve the objective of his new ministry. He hails from the rural area and for sure he has all the ideas on what to do in these areas.
“By going down to the field to meet the district officers, he will be briefed what is going on and will be able to plan suitable poverty eradication programmes. I also hope that the existing programmes will be continuously implemented as they have been approved by the government,” Pairin said.
Ewon said: “When it comes to thinking about the role that every minister has to play for the good of the people, I accept the responsibility with an open heart and with determination.”
He pledged to go on with the programmes that had been laid down by his predecessor and would also be open to take up new measures based on urgency.
Also present were permanent secretary Datuk Ghulam Jelani (right) and political secretary Japirin Sahadi.

Wednesday 20 May 2009

Khairy: A mockery if BN contests Penanti

Malaysia Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar was in Sabah yesterday to attend the Sabah Umno Youth meeting at the party's headquarters in Kota Kinabalu. He witnessed the handing over of duty between out-going acting State Umno Youth chief Nizam Titingan Abu Bakar to newly appointed head Azman Ruslan.
Speaking to reporters, Khairy said it would be a mockery for Barisan Nasional to contest in the Penanti by-election.
He said the youth supported the party's leadership decision not to field candidate in the by-election which had been fixed by the Election Commission to be held on May 31, 2009. Nomination day will be on May 23, 2009.
"This (not contesting) is to protest the opposition's act of belittling the nation's democratic system. Its not that BN is afraid. BN has never been afraid of the opposition, BN had contested in previous by-elections," he said.
The by-election is held after the resignation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who was also Penang Deputy Chief Minister, on March 19, 2009.
In the March 8, 2008 general election, Mohammad defeated BN-Umno's Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid. He polled 7,346 votes while Abdul Jalil garnered 5,127 votes.
This will be the second time the voters in Penanti to go to the poll since the general elections last year.
A by-election was also held last year in the Permatang Pauh's parliamentary constituency when PKR president Datin Azizah resigned. Her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim contested and won. Penanti is one of the state constituencies within Permatang Pauh.

QEH nurses' morale low

Some 453 nurses (that is 75 per cent of the population of nurses serving in QEH, QEH housed at the Sabah Medical Centre, and QEH Orthopaedic Ward housed at Likas Hospital ) in Kota Kinabalu responded to self-developed questionnaires, which was the tool used in carrying out the survey.
What prompted the survey was the little attention given to the welfare of QEH staff and workers, and how they cope with the QEH crisis.
The survey had the permission of State Health Director, Dr Hj Marzuki Mohd Isa and QEH Director DR Zuraidah Hj Babji.As a result of the decanting process in many locations, Sana President Dr Hjh Bibi Florina Abdullah said 97 per cent agreed that escorting of patients from one place to another has left minimum staff in the wards, and this has affected the quality of care provided.
"93 per cent agreed that the level of dissatisfaction expressed by patients and doctors is greater now. According to 95 per cent of the respondents, the wards have become congested due to reduction in bed number, forcing them to kneel down on the cement floor to take observation of the patients.
"90 per cent also agreed that with patients on camp beds in the middle of the ward, the emergency trolley, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and any life-saving procedure has difficulty in having access to the patient’s bedside.
"89 per cent of the nurses felt that the work process has increasing become difficult for them. On top of it, privacy for patients is practically nil," the retired National Matron of Malaysia told the gathering.
Giving more figures, Bibi Florina revealed that 91 per cent of the respondents felt that the image of nurses is greatly affected due to numerous complaint about the present hospital service.
She said 88 per cent were in a dilemma as to how to answer queries from patients and the public they do not know what will happen to QEH.
"77 per cent were demoralized after being scolded by relatives and patients over their inability to attend to their needs immediately. This is because many times nurses had to leave the ward or escort them to another hospital for treatment."
In fact, 67 per cent of the nurses even thought to early retirement or transfer to another hospital. This is worrying."Other findings are as follows:
75 per cent feel shameful when others criticise QEH facilities.
67 per cent are under stress and can’t concentrate on performing their duties because they don’t know what will happen to them.
70 per cent say that stress has affected their health and family relationship. They spend less time with their family at this period of time.
50 per cent agree that they have lost interest in their work and are easily irritable in relation to family members at home, even over minor matters.
53 per cent state that they feel insecure and begin each day with a negative attitude.
75 per cent of the nurses feel that family members are worried about their safety in the workplace.
Bibi Florina said because of the QEH crisis, a common from the public is their hope that they would not fall sick or meet with an accident at this critical period "because you will get sub-optimal facilities if you need medical care."
"Many have expressed concern about the standard of services and safety of the building." This posting from HERE

Monday 18 May 2009

A tip of the iceberg

Adopted from The Borken Shield by Joseph Tawie in Kuching
It is indeed a sad story of a student, Nadia Selimin, who scored 9As and a B in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) early this year, but denied entry to further her studies at Kolej Matrikulasi just because her mother is a Chinese.
Her father is an Iban, Selimin Kring.
Sad, because there is such a thing as prejudice being practised in Malaysia, despite the fact that we are supposed to be in the 21st century and has been independent for 46 years in the federation of Malaysia.
Her plight was brought up YB Mong Dagang, State assemblyman for Bukit Begunan at the Dewan Undangan Negeri meeting.In fact under PM Najib Razak’s “One Malaysia” concept such prejudice should no longer exist.
But yet Nadia’s case is a tip of the iceberg.
There are many more silent sufferers of this biased policy of the government.
Under the Sarawak Interpretation Ordinance, Nadia is a Dayak Iban and as such she should be entitled to any privileges as spelt out in Article 39 of the State Constitution or Article 153 of the Federal Constitution read together with Article 161A of the same Constitution.
We would have thought that the special position and privileges of the Natives are fully guaranteed under the Supreme Law of the country.
But that is not so as the case of Nadia clearly shows.What should we do to rectify this anomaly? Can suing the authority concerned of any help? Or bring her case to higher authorities? Or through our respective YBs?At least in the case of Nadia I think we have to thank YB Mong for highlighting her plight.
We need more YBs like him who are not ashamed to be called Dayaks to highlight Dayak problems. – The Broken Shield

Friday 15 May 2009

Kadazan should get one more minister post

Sabah-based Barisan Nasional component party member, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) is not happy that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman did not appoint a leader from the Kadazandusun and Murut community as a minister in the Sabah State Cabinet.

PBRS information chief Rayner Francis Udong said the recent cabinet reshuffle was the best opportunity for Musa, who is Sabah BN chairman, to correct the lopsided Cabinet line-up. He said the party regretted that the Chief Minister did not take the opportunity for that purpose.

Udong said the expected composition of the State Cabinet was 5-3-2, five ministers from the Muslim Bumiputera quote, three from non-Muslim Bumiputera and two for the Chinese community.

The non-Muslim Bumiputera quote is now represented by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan from Parti Bersatu Sabah and Rural Development Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin from UPKO.

Wednesday 13 May 2009

Tan Drops as Sabah Deputy Chief Minister


Raymond Tan (centre) has been dropped as Deputy Chief Minister, replaced by Peter Pang En Yin (left). At right is Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman.


UPDATE

Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah who joined peninsula-based Parti Gerakan last week has been replaced as Sabah Deputy Chief Minister by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Peter Pang En Yin but retained as a Minister in a minor State Cabinet reshuffle.
Tan, former deputy president of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) which pulled out of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in September last year, was partyless for almost nine months until he joined Gerakan.
Pang is a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Vice President and Karamunting Assemblyman.
The announcement ended much speculation and debate on who would be the Deputy Chief Minister under the Chinese quota. Pang's appointment also marked another milestone for LDP because his predecessor Tan took over the post after it was vacated by former LDP President Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat about 25 months ago.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said Tan, who had held the Infrastructure Development portfolio, would now Industrial Development Minister, taking over from Datuk Ewon Ebin who has been appointed Rural Development Minister.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who had held the rural development portfolio, has been appointed Infrastructure Development Minister.
Musa who announced this after chairing a State Cabinet meeting, Wednesday, also announced the appointment of LDP Merotai Assemblyman Pang Yuk Ming as Assistant Infrastructure Development Minister, replacing Datuk Michael Asang who has been appointed Assistant Industrial Development Minister.
Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, who was Assistant Industrial Development Minister, has been appointed Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, taking over from Donald Peter Mojuntin who has been appointed Assistant Finance Minister.
The portfolios of the other ministers and assistant ministers remain unchanged. Musa said the appointments were made after getting the views of the leaders of the BN component parties and the agreement of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"With the new Cabinet line-up, our agenda of giving priority to the people remains and we will continue to focus on working more and talking less," he said.
Musa hoped that Tan's position in the Cabinet would no longer be politicised, a matter he described as a waste of time and did not bring any benefit.
"Much remains to be implemented in terms of development which surely demands the commitment of the leaders and the undivided support of the people to bring success,"
Musa called on all leaders to pool their resources and cooperate to improve the lot of the people and develop Sabah.
On the position of Datuk Japlin Akim whose Umno membership was suspended for three years by the party's disciplinary board, Musa said he was still Assistant Infrastructure Development Minister.

Tuesday 12 May 2009

Raymond Tan to remain as Sabah Deputy Chief Minister

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman is expected to announce tomorrow whether or not state Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan will remain as deputy chief minister.
According to an advisory from the Chief Minister's Department today, Musa, who is state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, is scheduled to hold a news conference immediately after the weekly state cabinet meeting which starts at 10am.
"It is mostly likely that the chief minister will announce the position of Raymond in the state cabinet tomorrow," said a reliable source.
Speculation of an imminent minor cabinet reshuffle has been rife over the past week and gained currency when Tan, the former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president, decided to join Gerakan, a peninsula-based party, recently after being partyless for almost nine months.
In making the announcement, Gerakan national chairman Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said that former SAPP Youth chief and Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah also made a similar commitment.
Meanwhile, it was reliably learnt that Au might be appointed assistant minister to fill the vacancy left when former state assistant finance minister Melanie Chia chose to remain with SAPP and resigned from her post after the party left BN on Sept 17 last year.-- BERNAMA

Sunday 10 May 2009

Tan will be Gerakan VP

Partyless Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, who joined Parti Gerakan on May 5, 2009, will be made the party's national Vice President. Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah, who also joined Party Gerkan on the same day will be made a member of the party's central committee.
This was announced by Parti Gerakan's president Senator Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon in a Press conference in Kota Kinabalu today.
Koh, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said the appointment would be formalised during the party's central committee meeting very soon.
Tan and Au, who are former deputy president and Youth chief, respectively, of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), had been without a party when SAPP pulled out from the national coalition government Barisan Nasional on Sept 17, 2008. They opted to stay pun in BN, saying that they won their respective seats on BN tickets.
On whether Tan could keep his Cabinet post now that he had joined Parti Gerakan, Koh said appointment of ministers in Sabah was the prerogative of the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman.
"Tan and Au joined Parti Gerakan as a matter of principle (they won on BN ticket) and not due to position," Koh said. Tan, who is Tanjong papat assemblyman is also Infrastructure Development Minister.

Thursday 7 May 2009

Tan's position will be known next week

Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, who is joining Gerakan after more than seven months without a party, will know by next week whether he can keep his post as deputy chief minister.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said he would make an announcement on the matter in a week’s time.
He said views from all parties had been considered but declined to give details to reporters who pressed him for answers on Tan’s position, including if there would be changes in the state cabinet line-up.
“It is better for you to wait. You will know by next week,” Musa, who is Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman, told reporters after declaring open the International Inner Wheel Convention at the Magellan Sutera Resort in Kota Kinabalu Thursday.
Tan quit the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) along with Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah after the party left the BN on Sept 17 last year.
Tan, who is Tanjung Papat assemblyman, was the party’s deputy president while Au was its youth chief.On Monday, Tan and Au said they had decided to join Gerakan.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was asked during a visit to Sabah about Tan’s position in the cabinet, said it was Musa’s prerogative to decide on the matter.
Several BN component party leaders had for months been urging Tan to resign as he did not belong to any party.

Good Luck says Majimbun

The opposition Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Deputy President Datuk Eric Majimbun wished former members Datuk Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah success in their new party, Gerakan.
"I congratulate and wish them success...their political struggles are different from SAPP which is more on the interests of Sabah and its people, and without any self-interest," Majimbun, said. On another development, Eric who is Sepanggar Member of Parliament, urged the Federal Government to be flexible with regard to the requirements of any vacancy available in the public sector in Sabah.
He said this is because he had received a complaint from a successful applicant here who has been asked to report for duty as a government general administration clerk (Grade N27) at Putrajaya in Kuala Lumpur, although the vacancy is supposedly in Sabah.
It was advertised online through the Public Services Department (PSD) website which showed there were 400 vacancies available under this particular grade in Sabah, he said, adding that the successful applicants were however required to fly over and report for duty at Putrajaya.
"I just cannot understand it. Why when the vacancies are available in Sabah they are asked to go and report for duty in Putrajaya ... this is like an attempt to discourage our people in Sabah to work in the public sector, even in their own State," he said.

LDP: DCM post should be given to MCA

Sabah-based Barisan Nasional component party, Liberal Democratic Parti (LDP), said the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister post now held by Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah should be given to Sabah MCA's Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai.

LDP's Youth chief Chin Shu Ying said even though Tan had joined Parti Gerakan, it should not be automatic that he continue to be Sabah Deputy Chief Minister. Tan quit Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) when the party led by Datuk Yong Teck Lee pulled out from BN on Sept 17, last year.

Tan, the assemblyman for Tanjong Papat, and ex-SAPP Youth chief Au Kam Wah, who is also Elopura assemblyman, joined Peninsula-based Parti Gerakan two days ago.

In a statement, Chin said MCA deserved the Deputy Chief Minister post for the Chinese quota in Sabah because it is the largest Chinese-based party in Malaysia and has a longer history of serving the people of Sabah than Parti Gerakan.

He said LDP fully support that MCA should be given the Deputy Chief Minister post. In the March 8, 2008 general elections, MCA fielded one candidate Datuk Edward Khoo. He won the Kepayan state seat and was made an Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department.

Tuesday 5 May 2009

Tan an Au joins Gerakan

This up-date is from HERE
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan will join Gerakan, a peninsula-based party, after being partyless for almost nine months.Gerakan national chairman Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon made the announcement minutes before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's arrival for the meet-the-people session at Padang Merdeka here, Tuesday.Former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Youth chief and state assemblyman for Elopura Au Kam Wah also made a similar commitment.Dr Koh thanked Tan and Au for choosing Gerakan as the political platform to continue their struggle with the Barisan Nasional (BN) and said that both would hand over their application forms to Gerakan soon."We welcome their commitment to join Gerakan. Raymond and Au have been my friends and Gerakan's friends for over 15 years and have jointly struggled for Sabahans and Malaysians in general within the BN," he said.He said their decision was apt and understandable as Gerakan was a multiracial party and its door was always open to Malaysians.He said Najib, as BN chairman, and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had been informed of Tan and Au's decision and had given their blessing.Asked whether Tan, former deputy president of SAPP, would be given a post in Gerakan, Dr Koh said that he would make the announcement at the appropriate time.Speaking to reporters later, Tan said: "I have chosen Gerakan because Gerakan is a safe home and it is the home that I have been looking for"."I didn't do it just because I picked what I like. I think it's more of what the grassroots want. It doesn't matter what happens to me. What is important is the people who have been with me and I told that I would find them a home."It's not easy because we have to talk to so many component party leaders and all of them are very supportive of me. I think this is the time that I have to make a decision and Tan Sri (Koh Tsu Koon) is no stranger to us for many years," he said.Asked on the call for him to relinquish his deputy chief minister's post, he said: "These people who make statements against me or who are angry with me will probably continue to do but it doesn't matter. I understand their feelings but it's more important that they understand me".Tan, who is also state Infrastructure Development minister, became partyless after SAPP left the BN coalition on Sept 17 last year.Prior to this, several parties had called on Tan to quit his posts as deputy chief minister and Infrastructure Development minister.Even Umno leaders like Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh had hinted that the BN had never agreed to have independent BN supporters.At the same time, the option of forming a new party raised objections from the same component parties who were not in favour of Tan being retained in the cabinet, leaving him with very few political options.-- BERNAMA

Gerakan it is

Ex-SAPP assemblymem Datuk Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah today joined Parti Gerakan.

Monday 4 May 2009

Gerakan is Tan's choice???

Partyless Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah is likely to join Peninsula-based Parti Gerakan to remain in Barisan Nasional and also to keep his State Cabinet post. The Tanjong Papat's assemblyman is said to announce this in the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who will arrive in Kota Kinabalu this evening for a-two-day official visit.
Parti Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is also among in Najib's entourage in his first visit to Sabah since becoming Prime Minister on April 9, this year.
Tan will be accompanied by Elopura's assemblyman Au Kam Wah in joining Parti Gerakan. With Tan and Au in Parti Gerakan, the party will be represented in the State Cabinet with two assemblymen and a Deputy Chief Minister. Tan is also Infrastructure Development Minister.
Tan and Au had been without a party since Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) quit from BN on Sept 17, last year. They became partyless but stay put in BN saying that they won their respective seats on BN ticket in the March 8, 2008 general elections.

Sunday 3 May 2009

LDP: Will speak up against BN leaders if....

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has come to the defence of its president, Datuk VK Liew, who has been accused of picking a fight with the state government.
“It is unfair to say that Datuk VK Liew is picking a fight with the state government. We are fighting for the government and we dare to tell the top leaders within the Barisan Nasional (BN) if we feel something is not right,” said LDP vice pre-sident Isaac Pang told reporters in Sandakan.
"We do not want the people lose hope and confidence in BN. We want them to trust and give more support to the BN leadership,” he added.
He said the LDP had been sincere in fighting for the benefit of the people for the past 20 years and being the oldest component member in the Sabah BN, it had not only tirelessly supported BN but also voiced its concern for the sake of the rakyat.
Pang, who is also the LDP Tanjung Papat division chairman, was replying to the accusation made by Sandakan Umno Chief Datuk Seri Ampong Puyon when the LDP Supreme Council had unanimously in its meeting last Sunday decided to demand the resignation of Datuk Raymond Tan as the Deputy Chief Minister as he was partyless then.
Raymond, who quit from Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) after the party left the BN last year, has joined Peninsular-based Gerakan.
Pang explained that what LDP was doing was only to raise its concerns over issues which may be detrimental to the support of BN in future in Sabah.
“The precedence started and maintained by Datuk Raymond Tan can be dangerous for the future of Sabah BN,” he pointed out.
Pang also said that Liew had never forgotten the people of Sandakan, including many local Umno members who sought assistance from him.
Sandakan Umno deputy chief Datuk Awang Sham had urged Liew to concentrate on his role as the Member of Parliament of Sandakan by ‘turun padang’ (go down to the ground) and not to cause little quarrels and fighting within the BN family.
Pang explained that Liew as the federal deputy minis-ter, is required to be in Kuala Lumpur but he is always back in Sandakan on a week-ly basis to ‘turun padang’ and serve the people by lis-tening to their views and he is the voice of these people.