Sabah BN will win seats ‘by default’

By Luke Rintod  HERE

| October 11, 2012

Some analysts in Sabah believe that as many as 20 seats, including five or six parliamentary seats, could go to BN as a result of a split in opposition votes.

 

ANALYSIS

 

 

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to see multi-cornered fights in most areas in the coming general election. This means that the ruling Barisan Nasional may have the edge.

 

At this stage, observers can conclude that the opposition parties in Sabah are giving Umno-led BN a “free advantage” to retain a majority of the Sabah seats.

 

At stake in Sabah are 26 parliamentary seats, including one in Labuan, and 60 state seats.

Sabah chairman of State Reform Party (STAR), Jeffrey Kitingan, said recently that his party is all but ready to announce the seats – parliamentary and state – it will contest.

 

“We can announce the seats shortly,” he said confidently to reporters when asked how many seats STAR will contest in Sabah.

 

Jeffrey in the past had talked about contesting in more than half of the 60 state seats. He had even at one stage indicated that STAR may go the whole hog and contest in all 26 parliamentary and 60 state seats.

 

But reality seems to have set in.

 

Asked if STAR had reconciled overlapping claims on seats with other opposition parties – Pakatan Rakyat and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) – Jeffrey refused to divulge further.

“Wait for another day,” he said.

 

He also reiterated that STAR had received the green light from the Election Commission (EC) to contest in Sabah in the coming polls.

 

STAR list ready

 

The Sarawak-based STAR’s eligibility to stand in Sabah under its symbol has attracted much speculation even though the party had done so in Kota Marudu years back.

 

STAR’s Sabah chapter secretary, Guandee Kohoi, said that EC Sabah director, Idrus Ismail, in a meeting with Jeffrey, himself and Edward Linggu (STAR information chief) had given them assurance that STAR indeed could field candidates in Sabah.

 

“STAR is already on the latest list of political parties EC gave us. Even the name of STAR has been amended and does not state the word Sarawak anymore but just State Reform Party.

 

“The latest list also contains the re-named party, Sarawak Worker’s Party’ [SWP], which was previously Sabah-based Sabah People’s Front [SPF],” Kohoi said.

 

Meanwhile, the number of STAR’s potential candidates has been growing steadily and in many places, they are already clear frontrunners.

 

At least half a dozen graduate teachers aligned to STAR have so far resigned from their posts, and a few other civil servants are said to be set to retire early to prepare to be the candidates.

 

STAR Youth leader, Hasmin Azroy Abdulah, is among the teachers who have resigned. He could be STAR’s candidate for Tenom parliamentary seat or one of the state seats in the constituency.

 

Another teacher who has also resigned is Maklin Masiau. He is poised to be STAR’s candidate for poverty-stricken Pitas state seat in the north. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is also eyeing Pitas.

 

Pinus Gondili is another teacher who quit his job and is slated to contest under STAR in Labuk. He is certain to fight incumbent Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) vice-president, Michael Asang, after PBS recently confirmed Asang would be retained.

 

PKR is also eyeing Labuk, making it one of those many seats in Sabah that are likely to see four-cornered fights between BN and the opposition trio – STAR, Pakatan and SAPP.

 

Cunning SAPP

 

Meanwhile, both STAR and SAPP leaders are saying publicly, at least, that they would not want to face each other where their respective “big guns” are contesting.

 

That would mean SAPP would not put up a candidate against Jeffrey and his right-hand men. But there is a big question mark as Inanam, the seat of Jeffrey’s senior deputy Daniel John Jambun, is being eyed by SAPP through its deputy president Eric Majimbun who is Sepanggar MP.

 

The cunning SAPP has previously suggested that all should respect the status quo of the incumbents.

 

Soon after getting others to “respect” it, SAPP moved to claim Inanam.

 

“The question is, if SAPP is adamant on taking both Inanam and Sepanggar, then where will Jambun contest?” asked a STAR supporter in Inanam recently.

 

Jambun had in 2008 contested under PKR ticket and garnered a respectable 4,293 votes against DAP’s 2,864. The eventual winner was BN-PBS Johnny Goh who obtained 5,979 votes.

 

Karambunai is another state seat under Sepanggar, but it is possible that SAPP president Yong Teck Lee would want to stand there this time as he has scores of Malay supporters in this constituency.

 

Other possible places for Yong are his former seat Likas near here or Lahad Datu, his hometown in the east coast.

 

Yong stood in the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election in November 2010 and lost badly, finishing last with only 2,031 votes behind PKR-imported candidate Ansari Abdullah’s 3,414 and eventual winner BN-PBS Linda Tsen who received 9,773.

 

SAPP could be fielding its secretary-general Richard Yong in the Tanjung Aru mixed state seat where another of Jeffrey’s deputy, Ahmad Sah Sahari, is keen.

 

It is understood that STAR is prepared to let SAPP take Tanjung Aru. But Pakatan – maybe through DAP – is also eyeing the seat.

 

Split opposition votes

 

The murky waters of Sabah’s politics is set to get murkier as opposition leaders fail to appreciate the importance of reconciling their differences and overlapping claims of strength.

 

Some analysts have said that this time as many as 20 seats, including five or six parliamentary seats, could go to BN by default as a result of a split in opposition votes.

 

One analyst cited Kadamaian where if the three opposition parties – STAR, Pakatan and SAPP – put up their respective candidates, they could garner combined votes of around 6,000, leaving a BN candidate way behind with only about 3,500 votes. But BN would still win because of the “strategic” split in the opposition camps.

 

He said a similar situation was also likely in adjacent Tempasuk state seat. The combined votes of the opposition could outnumber BN’s but because of the split, BN will retain Tempasuk.

 

For the record, in the last general election in 2008, there was a three-cornered fight for Tempasuk. BN won the seat after its candidate polled 6,541 votes. PKR garnered 4,109 and an independent took only 191 votes.

 

As for Kadamaian in 2008, BN-PBS Herbert Timbon Lagadan chalked up 5,382 votes, followed by PKR Lukia Indan’s 2,909 and independent Peter Marajin’s 1,729.

 

“There is no question that this time [2012], votes for the opposition would increase in almost all areas and everyone can feel it and even BN leaders acknowledge this.

 

“But the one factor that can ensure BN will win in Sabah is the split opposition votes,” said an observer who is also an NGO leader.

 

Meanwhile, there is no signal that SAPP is re-engaging with Pakatan after being slighted by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s conniving manoeuvres.

 

Opposition follies

 

There is also no sign at all that STAR and SAPP are close to working together. They have not started talking on a common manifesto.

 

In fact, both appeared to be trying to outdo each other with their respective draft manifesto.

While STAR commands a respectable following especially in Kadazandusun areas, SAPP cannot be ruled out of the scene.

 

Standing in the way, SAPP, no matter how small its sway over voters is, could make STAR stumble and suffer, either by default or design.

 

Pakatan, through its PKR component, is also a group to be reckoned with in many of the Kadazandusun areas as it has its own flock now, some of whom are led by Jeffrey’s former colleagues in PKR who are tired of following his political journey.

 

The sooner Jeffrey, Anwar and Yong realise their follies, the better it will be for Sabah.

 

If Jeffrey scales down on STAR seats, he could end up facing a possible revolt within the party as those who have resigned, or spent time and money believing they would be candidates would surely be frustrated and feel like they have been taken for a ride.

 

Currently “lost” SAPP needs a win-win engagement now but, except for STAR, no party seems to want to take it seriously as a partner, not even Chinese-based DAP.

 

PKR, to say the least, is already in a “tea-cup turmoil” with incumbent leaders feeling the pressure from new “blue-eyed boys” of Anwar – Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing, who are neither PKR members nor its enemies, but already “dictating” terms on political matters.

 

My Say:

 

I met several incumbent BN YBs....all says a straight fight will be an uphill task for them to retain their respective seats but they are happy (and hoping) that they will face candidates from SAPP, STAR and Pakatan and sure to be laughing all their way to the State Legislative Assembly and Parliament.

A study on the 13th State Election's Trend

United Sabah Dusun Association (USDA) will carry out a-one-year study on the trend of the March 8, 2008 State Election. Although it will only be officially launched on Sept 15, 2009, the exercise begin tomorrow (Sept 9, 2009).

The launching will be held in conjunction with the USDA's Malaysia Day Count Down at Padang Suworoh, Selupoh in Tuaran beginning 7.30pm.

According to the association's president Datuk Kalakau Untol, the study would be conducted throughout Sabah. USDA hopes to present a report, based on the study, on how the `people power' through the ballot boxes determined the mandate to Barisan Nasional (BN) to continue governing Sabah.

In last year's election, BN comprising of Umno, PBS, UPKO, LDP, SAPP, MCA and PBRS, won 59 of the 60 state's seats and 24 of the 25 parliamentary constituencies. The DAP, a Kuala Lumpur-based Opposition party, won one MP seat and a State constituency.

SAPP, however, pulled out from the coalition in September last year, bring along with them two MPs and two State seats.

DAP: City Hall Collecting Parking Fee illegally?

Sabah DAP chief Dr Hiew King Cheu claimed that the collection of parking fees in Kota Kinabalu City is illegal since new rates has been approved and published in the government gazette.
Dr Hiew, who is also Kota Kinabalu MP, said Sabah DAP Legal Advisory Bureau had studied the case and found that it was illegal and wrongful to collect parking fees based on the expired rates.
"The City Hall is legally at fault and should at the first instant stop and suspend the car park fee collecting company from using the old rate parking tickets."
"The Sabah DAP Legal Advisory Bureau will look into the possibility to seek legal action to this effect on not using the new approved rates," he said in a statement issued in Kota Kinabalu.
According to Hiew, the new car park rate was not implemented by the company although it was approved on Jan 8, which should be with immediate effect.
"These raised lots of queries from the KK folks. Some people even said that the parking company is making use of the extra time to gather extra money. The people said that there is no reason that it needs such a long time to change to the new rates," he said.
Hiew said he had asked for clarification from the officer-in-charge of the car parking facility and was told that the company needed more time to prepare for the change of the new rates including reprinting of the parking tickets, notice boards and other necessary items.
But, Hiew said the explanation was unacceptable as the delay had been almost for a month and it looked like it would take a longer time to do so.
"Meanwhile, KK folks are still paying for the expired and expensive old parking rates and the collection company shows no sign of using the new lower rate parking tickets," he said.
Hiew said the issue must not to be taken lightly and the interest of the people must be protected.
"The Sabah Government must be held responsible for their deliberate fault and ignorant of the law," he said.

YB Jimmy Wong of DAP Sabah

This is Sabah sole Opposition Assemblyman from DAP Jimmy Wong (Sri Tanjong) speech during the debate of the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) at the special sitting of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly in Kota Kinabalu on Jan 15, 2009.

The Bill was keenly debated by the House but was passed unanimously after amendments. The House was adjourned for two hours to make the amendment.

Perbahasan Rang Undang-Undang pihak berkuasa Pembangunan Ekonomi dan Pelaburan Sabah 2009 oleh Jimmy Wong pada Januari 15, 2009
Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) bill 2009

THE ROBBER WHO BECAME THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE(KISAH PEROMPAK MENJADI TUAN RUMAH)

Terima Kasih Tuan Speaker kerana memberi saya peluang membahaskan Rang Undang-undang SEDIA ini.

Terlebih dahulu saya ucapkan Selamat Tahun Baru 2009 dan Selamat Tahun Baru Cina yang akan datang kepada semua ahli sidang dewan, rakyat sabah dan seluruh Malaysia.

Saya harap kedua-dua tahun baru ini akan bawa kejayaan kepada seluruh rakyat dan negeri kita, Sabah Yang Tercinta.

Tuan Speaker, mengenai rang undang undang SEDIA ini, izinkan saya sampaikan dalam bentuk pesanan kepada rakan rakan di Dewan Mulia ini, yang juga setiap mereka adalah rakyat Sabah.
Pesanan saya berbunyi begini….

My fellow sabahans if we love this state and its people you will never be able to support this bill at least not in its present form. An important bill such as this ought to be produced for inspection by all ybs well before and in advance. Why is that only a few days notice is given.

(Rakan-rakan saya rakyat Sabah, kalau kita betul-betul sayang rakyat dan negeri kita, saya rasa kita semua tidak sepatutnya menyokong Rang Undang-Undang ini, terutamanya dengan cara ia dikemukakan.

Rang Undang-Undang yang sangat penting ini sepatutnya diperiksa oleh semua YB terlebih dahulu dengan teliti. Tapi nampaknya notis yang diberi begitu singkat. Tidak cukup masa.)

The object of the bill is noble and for that I as the YB for Sri Tanjong support the intention of the bill. But I cannot support its procedure. I know that as I am in the minority my voice will be drowned by the majority in the support of the bill.

But I plead with you the majority that for the sake of all sabahans, at the very least get the bill to undergo a serious overhaul to ensure that the future of sabah and its generations are protected.

(Sebagai ADUN Sri Tanjung, saya mengambil berat Rang Undang-Undang ini kerana saya tahu, tujuannya sangat baik sekali. Tetapi, saya tidak boleh menyokong Rang Undang-Undang ini disebabkan oleh prosedurnya.

Saya tahu suara saya di Dewan ini sangat kecil ini dan akan tenggelam oleh suara-suara majoriti yang menyokong Rang Undang-Undang ini.)
Tetapi, demi kepentingan masa depan rakyat Sabah, masa depan negeri kita dan masa depan generasi kita, saya mohon Rang Undang-Undang ini dikaji dengan lebih dalam dahulu.)

My concerns / (Apa yang saya risaukan?)
1. Section 4. Who determines whether a project is a SDC project. The TYT. This cannot be. The TYT should act on the advise of the Government. It should not be the discretion of the TYT alone.

(Pertama : Seksyen 4. Siapa yang tentukan satu-satu projek itu ialah Projek SDC? Jawapannya ialah Yang DiPertua ! Ini tidak patut berlaku. Sepatutnya TYT harus bertindak mengikut nasihat Kerajaan. Bukan sepatutnya TYT seorang.

2. Section 8. Why is membership of the Authority so exclusive? How can 7 people decide economic future of sabah? Is the purpose of the small number to ensure and increase the horse power of the vacuum cleaner. Furthermore this Lucky 7 can be reduced further. If you read section 1 (3) of the First Schedule the member can be removed at any time without assigning any reason. If you read section 6(1) of First Schedule with Section 4(3) of the same schedule you only need a quorum of 4 people.

Although this is half the quorum but don’t you think 4 people to decide on issues of such severity is not good enough? Surely the matters under SEDIA are very important matters and they require all members to sit together to peruse and discuss properly. Afterall, they are paid under section 13 to sit in this committee, section 13 of this bill includes retirement benefits!!!

Instead what we have is possibly a Gang of Four to decide the economic future of the state (supposedly RM105 billion). Is this fair and just. Will it not be the source of much corruption and vacuum cleaning.
To make matter worst, this Authority can delegate its functions and duties under section 10 of the bill.

(Keempat : Seksyen 8. Kenapa keanggotaan Pihak Berkuasa terlalu eksklusif?
Saya tidak faham bagaimana 7 orang boleh menentukan masa depan ekonomi Sabah walaupun hanya setakat project SDC sahaja?
Adakah jumlah yang sedikit ini adalah untuk menjaga dan menguatkan horse power si Vacum Cleaner ini?

Tidak setakat itu, jumlah 7 orang itu juga boleh lagi dikurangkan pada bila-bila masa tanpa lantikan, seperti di dalam Section 1(3), First Schedule.

Kalau kita baca Section 6(1), First Schedule bersama Section 4(3) jadual yang sama, cuma empat orang diperlukan sebagai korum, walaupun 4 orang ini melebihi setengah daripada ahli-ahli Authority ini.

Tetapi tidak kah kita rasa yang 4 orang adalah terlalu sedikit untuk menentukan perkara sebesar ini? Apatah lagi jikalau ahli-ahli ini ada mendapat bayaran berdasarkan section 13 rang undang-undang ini. Malah bayaran ini termasuk juga bayaran selepas persaraan.
Perkara ini perlu dikaji semula.

Bukannya Kumpulan 4 atau 7 Orang ini yang diberi kuasa menentukan masa hadapan ekonomi di negeri kita (jumlah yang dijangkakan adalah RM105 billion).
Ini sangat tidak adil dan boleh menambahkan lagi kes-kes rasuah di negeri kita.
Malah Authority ini boleh memberi kuasa kepada orang lain dibawa section 10 rang undang-undang ini.

5 But my fellow ybs it gets even much worse. If you analyse the SEDIA decision making process of the economic future of sabah and the rakyat will be transferred from a committee of 7 in SEDIA and then from 7 to 4 and from 4 it will be transferred to 1….yes one man can decide the future of SABAH. If he is good man then maybe we don’t suffer so much but if he is a vacuum cleaner ….you can imagine the consequences. How is this possible. You read Section 10(1). All the powers of the Authority can be transferred to the Chairman or any of the four persons under b, c, d and e. We will be committing financial and political suicide. Slowly but surely power will be vested in one man and that one man what will he do only God knows. But we cannot blame God because we are the one who have committed this crime against the rakyat of Sabah. Instead of change in Sabah we will be returning to a new dictatorship.

(Kelima : Satu perkara lagi, kita semua mesti sedar… hari ini adalah hari yang sangat penting untuk kita membuat keputusan.
Kesilapan kita hari ini akan menyebabkan kita hilang hak bersuara dan tidak lagi dapat membuat keputusan.
Ini kerana kalau kita betul-betul tengok pada Section 10(1), kuasa rakyat nampaknya boleh dipindahkan kepada Pengerusi atau sesiapa daripada empat orang di bawah b, c, d dan e.
Ini sama ertinya kita semua sama-sama ikut rosakkan sistem kewangan, ekonomi dan politik di negeri kita, kalau kita buat keputusan salah hari ini !

6. But the story get even worse. That one man will be protected by law. Nobody can say anything against that one man. If he does anything wrong or he does nothing or he just use SEDIA to increase his power, wealth and position he will be protected 100 per cent. It is as if a robber enter your house to steal your property. Instead of fighting him you open the door to welcome him to rob you and after that you feed him a makan and invite him to rape your wife. What do I mean? Read Section 25. You are giving him or whoever involved in SEDIA absolute immunity and bullet proof protection against any prosecution or suit. Even criminal prosecution, that means the Authority or any of its members are above the law. On top of that while the robber is raping your wife you cannot know or say anything in protest. Because look at Section 23. Whatever is done in secret will be kept as a secret because if you see anything wrong and say anything the robber and rapist will not go to jail but you will be the one.. why must there be secrecy. This is the rakyat’s money not a matter of national security. Is this logic? If you let this law pass you become the accomplice to robbery and rape of the Sabah rakyat.
Section 5(1)(3) says the Authority can sue and be sued and this contradicts section 25 of the bill. If you read it in context, perhaps it means the Authority can only sue people but people cannot sue them!!!
(Keenam : Apa yang lebih teruk sekali, orang ini pula kebal dari dikenakan tindakan undang-undang. Tiada sesiapa boleh melawan orang yang satu ini.
Kalau satu orang ini buat salah, atau tidak buat kerja, atau salah guna kuasa untuk kepentingan diri sendiri, dia tetap tidak boleh dikenakan tindakan undang-undang.
Kita harus buat keputusan yang betul hari ini.
Kalau tidak, itu maksudnya samalah kita sengaja buka pintu kasi perompak masuk rumah dan curi barang kita.
Lepas itu, kita kasi itu perompak makan sedap-sedap dan suruh lagi dia rogol kita punya bini.
Saya harap semua YB faham maksud saya di sini. Cuba baca dan mengerti Section 25 dan Section 23)
Section 5(1)(3) rang undang-undang ini adalah bertentangan dengan section 25. Jikalau kedua-dua section ini di baca dengan teliti, kemungkinan maksudnya Authority boleh menyaman orang lain tetapi tidak sebaliknya.

7. Is that the most terrible part. No it is not. In fact it gets even worse. After the robber steal your goods, eat your makan and rape your wife the next part of SEDIA will let him take over your home and you will stay outside. How will this happen. You have to read Section 29. Before the next election the SEDIA can be dissolved and the robber can be appointed liquidator and if he lost the election he can go to brazil with all the assets, property and funds of SEDIA, and mind you, he cannot be prosecuted (remember section 25). If the robber win the election the story will be different because after the robber got your house and your wife now he will use SEDIA to take your land and your children. I pray that all YBs will not only see today the evils of SEDIA in its present form and vote to have the entire law go back to drawing board and have it redone with all the relevant provisions I commented on thrown out.

(Ketujuh : Saya sudah cerita tadi kalau ini Rang Undang-Undang SEDIA lulus, itu maksudnya kita sengaja mahu perompak masuk rumah kita dan kita layan pula dia bagus-bagus.
Kita tidak boleh buat apa-apa sebab si perompak ini kebal dari segi undang-undang dan tidak boleh dibawa ke mahkamah (ingat section 25).
Tapi saya mahu bagitahu di sini. Itu masih bukanlah yang paling teruk kalau kita luluskan Rang Undang-Undang SEDIA ini.
Yang paling teruk sebenarnya ialah perompak itu juga boleh mengambil harta dan rumah kita.
Bagaimana ini terjadi. Baca Section 29. Pihak Berkuasa boleh dibubarkan sebelum Pilihan Raya akan datang.
Kalau si Perompak itu menang, dia mungkin boleh pergi ke luar negeri dengan harta kekayaan yang dia dapat dari SEDIA.
Tapi kalau dia menang, ceritanya berubah dan jadi lebih dah-syat kerana si perompak itu akan terus bermaharaja lela dan boleh terus merampas hak rakyat.
8. Section 8(2) even contradicts the Evidence Act 1950 in that all minutes of the meeting can be admissible without having to proof it in the court of law.

Malah Seksyen 8(2) adalah bertentangan Evidence Act 1950 kerana semua minit mesyuarat boleh digunapakai sebagai bukti tanpa pengesahan mengikut undang-undang yang sepatutnya.
OLEH YANG DEMIKIAN, SAYA BERHARAP KESEMUA YB DAPAT MELIHAT PERKARA INI DAN TIDAK MELULUSKAN RANG UNDANG-UNDANG SEDIA DAN KITA BIDERI LEBIH MASA UNTUK MENELITINYA LAGI.
RANG UNDANG-UNDANG INI PERLU DIKAJI SEMULA! DEMI MASA HADAPAN RAKYAT SABAH, PENDUDUK BUMIPUTERA, GENERASI MASA HADAPAN SERTA NEGERI KITA SABAH YANG TERCINTA !
LET US NOT FORGET, THE 5 MAIN THRUSTS OF SDC IS SUPPOSED TO:-
a. TRANSFORM SABAH INTO A REGIONAL GATEWAY FOR TRADE, INVESTMENT AND TOURISM.b. CONTINUE TO MAKE SABAH A HARMONIOUS AND PROSPEROUS STATE IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE AND RELIGIONc. MAKE SABAH MORE TECHNOLOGY SAVY FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE STATE.d. CREATE MORE JOBS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STATE, ANDe. MAKE SABAH A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO LIVE IN AMIDST ITS RICH DIVERSE CULTURES, HERITAGE AND ENVIROMENT.
I RECEIVE THIS BILL ON THE 13TH JANUARY 2009, I SERIOULSY FEEL THAT THE TIME GIVEN IS TOO SHORT.
PENUTUP
Cukuplah sampai sini dahulu
Saya habiskan ucapan saya dengan kata-kata……
Jangan sokong rang undang-undang SEDIA ini! Jangan raikan tahun baru 2009 dan tahun baru cina akan datang dengan kita membuat keputusan yang salah.
Ingat! Kesilapan kita tiada makna di masa hadapan…..
Sekian dan terima kasih!!

DAP YB Jimmy Wong: I will resigns if.....

Sabah 7.5% Sales Tax – I will step down if CM can prove I am wrong says Jimmy Wong the State Assemblyman for Sri Tanjong in a statement today.

As I have said I will step down as Sri Tanjung Assemblyman if your honourable Chief Minister Datuk Sri Musa Aman can prove that the smallholders are not being taxed the Sabah 7.5% Sales Tax.

I had already highlighted the ‘error’ many times including at the State Legislative Assembly and even shown proves to the Chief Minister, Ministers and Assemblymen during the recent assembly.

It is the state government duty to correct what is wrong, I have come out with proves and many had also highlighted the matter in the news, but nothing is being done.

Therefore I put up this challenge and I will step down if CM can prove that I am wrong, and I hope CM too will do the same if he is wrong.

This is very important as it means the survival of the small and medium size planters and the whole oil palm industry. Even big companies in West Malaysia have already made statements that they are heading towards troubled waters. Planters in Sabah are even worst off with high fertilizer cost and the most taxes and the State Government cannot keep ignoring this and should act now before it is too late.

With the 7.5% Sabah sales tax still being erronously charged on planters and the government is not admitting the mistake I see another black history in the making of the agriculture industry. The first was cocoa where planters were left on their own by the government and one-by-one died and the cocoa industry was history for Sabah. I do not want to see the same thing happen to the oil palm industry and I will do my part to help.
On the price issue, I call the State Government to act immediately to help the oil palm sectors in the state that are now feeling the pressure and hard pressed due to the falling price of the commodity.

Without any concrete action from the government the situation will worsen and Sabah as the largest oil palm producers will become history.

I had many times urged the state government to review the 7.5% Sabah Sales tax imposed on the industry and had shown prove that the tax has been passed to the smallholders no matter how small their plantation are.

If the situation is allowed to go on, it not only burden the planters especially smallholders but also make the state unattractive to investors.

I hope this issue will receive the government attention and drastic action as I had showed prove to the Chief Minister at the recent State Legislative Assembly that the planters including small and medium size oil palm planters are the one paying the 7.5% Sales Tax, though in the first assembly CM had told me that the government never taxed the small holders and only the big companies and I had proven to him that he got the wrong information.

With the Sabah Sales Tax matter coming to light and more people understanding the real situation, I hoped the state government would direct millers not to impose the 7.5% sales tax to planters and the tax be reviewed due to the drastic fall of the CPO (Crude Palm Oil) price.

Apart from that, the government should come out with a statement and explanation on what steps is being done, already done and will be done in connection with the fallen price of oil palm to help the industry.

The people in the oil palm sector and me would like to know whether the special committee to tackle the issue had been set up. If already set up, what had been done to address the situation?

I voice out on behalf of the oil palm industry and it should not be taken lightly as the price had gone down by about 70 percent compared to three months ago and cause loses not only to small holders but also big companies, millers, producers and fertilizer companies.

In fact, I am surprised to hear that a big listed company had to cut 20 percent of its employee’s salary following losses caused by the fallen price of oil palm. That was a few days ago, now many companies are either cutting cost by slashing employee’s salary or retrenchment. If no action is taken, I am sure the government plan to develop the Palm Oil Industry Cluster (POIC) will not bear fruit.

Massive Unemployment
The global economic crisis is real, every seconds count and immediate action must be taken to address and counter the drastic fall in CPO prices. Massive unemployment will happen in Sabah if the State government failed to listen and act positively and immediately.

In Singapore and other develop countries retrenchment in other sectors of their industry has already started as condition gets tough. This is because there is no remedy in the sector they are in.

Our oil palm industry could be helped, however without aid, our oil palm industry too will head the same direction, starting from cutting cost, slashing salaries then retrenchment, resulting in many unemployment.

This could be remedied, but steps must be taken such as:-
-reviewing policies
-reviewing CPO taxes and cess (Federal and State government)
-reduction of fertilizer high price
-review the plantation workers’ levy
-review of the RM40 per tonne discount on CPO price for east Malaysia

The state government has the voice and platform and should request for a review on the CPO taxes and cess such as discount on MPOB oil cess and subsidy for fertilizers.

To set a good leadership example the state government should take the lead by reviewing its 7.5% Sabah sales tax which is the highest in the country.

We cannot afford to wait and see for the impact to happen, our oil palm industry could be help, don’t wait until there are massive retrenchment of workers, acting at that time would be too late as the damage had been done and the government will have to fork out more to help those affected by the economic crisis.

Without the help from the Sabah State Government the oil palm industry that has been paying numerous taxes and cess to Federal and state government will collapse and I for one do not want to see them die-standing without being heard and getting help from Federal and State government so that they could survive the global economic crisis.

Lim Guan Eng in Sabah on Saturday

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng will be the guest of honour at "An evening with Lim Guan Eng - The Penang Chief Minister" at Grand Ballroom 2 of the Pacific Sutera Hotel, Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu on Saturday.

DAP Kota Kinabalu MP Dr Hiew King Cheu, in a statement today, said guests for this function are by invitation and dinner by coupon.

Lim will be accompanied by Selangor Exco and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Rasah MP and Assemblyman for Negeri Sembilan Anthony Loke Siew Fook. The function, which is being organised to meet the request of Kota Kinabalu folks wanting to meet Lim, will start at 7.30pm. Sabah's DAP sole Assemblyman Jimmy Wong will also be attending.

Dr Hiew said guests would also have the chance to hold dialogue with the Penang Chief Minister.

"He had worked through rough water, even from to prison and to what he is now. There is so much to learn from him," he said. Lime will proceed to Kuching, Sarawak to attend similar function on Sunday.

Malaysia still paying Sultan of Sulu

The Malaysian Government is still paying RM5,300 cession money to the Sultan of Sulu's heirs based on the North Borneo Court 1939 McKaskie Judgment, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim Parliament told last week.

This was the minister's answer to a question from Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Dr Hiew King Cheu (pix).

The sole DAP MP in Sabah wanted to know whether the Sulu Sultanate's claim on Sabah is valid and why Malaysia is still paying the cession money to the heirs.

Rais said the payment was merely assumed as a civil judgement and that is has no effect whatsoever because Sabah and its people had made a collective will to be part of the Federation of Malaysia through the Cobbold Commission.

The payment is not a basis to claim Sabah and that any claims bu the Sultan Of Sulu or any other quarters on Sabah will not be entertained.

"Sabah is part of Malaysia and that its sovereignty and independence is honoured by all," Rais said.

YB Jimmy Wong's Promise

A statement by Sri Tanjong's DAP Asssemblyman Jimmy Wong.

DAP will take Sebatik farmers plight to assembly if no action from local council, that’s my promise.

The Sebatik farmers had turned to DAP for help after the difficulties faced by them to land their products for Tawau market and loading of goods to be brought back to the island fell onto deaf ears.

I went there personally to see their problem after they called me and I agree with them that the LKIM (Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia) jetty which the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) had asked them to use is not suitable, after inspecting the newly built jetty.

The stairs leading to the main platform is to steep and small. The gangway is also small for lorries and quite a distant from the road. On top of that there is no railings for safety measures. With such crowded activities, people could fall off the jetty.

Because of this I understand and see the reasons why the farmers and businessman resorted to use another area near the jetty to land and load their goods and products.

Everyone has to rush unloading their products such as bananas, oil palm fruits and other cash crops to be loaded onto waiting lorries and to be transported to the market before the tide subsides, as the boats will get stuck in the mud.

I call on the TMC that had shifted them to Tanjung Batu to immediately monitor, note down the problems and address the situation before the coming State Legislative Assembly.

If needed I will bring the matter up at the assembly and ask for allocation on behalf of the assemblyman here so that a temporary landing and loading area could be constructed while waiting for a better and permanent one to be constructed by TMC.

TMC should had prepared in advance prior to the shifting and must have a plan to have a permanent jetty for the Sebatik people and not simply shifting them from one place to another without considering their plights.

A temporary jetty is okay but it’s the council’s responsibility to have a suitable site for a permanent jetty which is agreeable to the Sebatik people.

I advised the Sebatik farmers and businessman to form a special committee to handle the issue and I will contact TMC for meeting.

The livelihood and economic activity of the Sebatik people has been disrupted and I hope everyone concern will help find solution. I was told that the building project of the police station and a school in Sebatik could also be disrupted as there are difficulties in transporting the materials such stones to be shipped to Sebatik.

Meanwhile, I suggest that they be shifted back to their former place at Sabindo temporary while waiting for a better permanent jetty.

DAP's J Wong: Now I have friends....

The sole Opposition member in the 60 members Sabah State Legislative Assembly, Jimmy Wong Sze Phin said come the next sitting of the Assembly, he will not be alone in the Opposition benches.

"I am expecting at least four joining me sitting on the front raw of the seats facing across from where the members of the State Cabinet are seated," he told me Friday.

The friends which Wong were referring to are four Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) members of the Assembly, Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah (Tanjong Papat), Datuk Liew Teck Chan (Likas), Melanie Chia Chui Ket (Luyang) and Au Kam Wah (Elopura).

The four YBs will no longer be seated in the Government's side as SAPP had pulled out from the Barisan Nasional Government on Sept 17.

"I will no longer be lonely," Wong said.

Wong and the SAPP leaders are actually no strangers to each others. Wong was one of the founder member of the party headed by former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee.

Majimbun on Sept 16 issue

As published HERE today.

My Say:

For the record Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan then Chief Minister had during the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Malaysia Day in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 16, 1988 requested the Federal Government that starting the following year (1989) Sept 16, be declared a national public holiday to mark Malaysia Day.

Pairin had said that Sept 16, 1963 was a special date for all Malaysians as it was the day when the Federation of Malaysia was inaugurated.

Postal votes bag found!!!

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah deputy liaison head Daniel John Jambun has lodged a police report about the discovery of an Election Commission Postal Votes Bag for the March 8, 2008 general elections at Kampung Tebobon, Menggatal.

Contacted tonight, Daniel said he went to the Menggatal police station where his report was recorded. He was than told to go to the Kota Kinabalu City Police HQ at Karamunsing at 6.40pm where his statement and that of the residents who found the bag were taken.

"I had just came out from the police station," he said when I called him just now (at 10.05pm).

Daniel said several residents were clearing the river bank in Kampung Tebobon on July 21 morning when they stumbled upon the bag. The villagers called him today and upon checking, it was a bag similar to the EC Postal Votes Bag used in the elections.

"Inside the bag were several small bags which were used to keep ballot papers, all opened and there was no ballot papers," he said, adding that there were words written in the smaller bags.

Daniel said he made the police report so that the relevant authorities could conduct investigation to `this serious matter.'

Daniel contested in the Inanam state seat in the general elections but lost to incumbent Johnny Goh of Parti Bersatu Sabah by 1,686 votes. Daniel polled 4,293 against the 5,979 votes garnered by Goh. DAP's Jeffrey Kumin obtained 2,864 votes while an independent candidate, Clarence Chin, lost his deposit after getting only 196 votes.

My Say:

Let hear what EC has to say about this and also together we wait for the outcome of police investigation.

Malaysia Day = New Goverment

Tuesday Sept 16 will be a Public Holiday in Sabah to celebrate Malaysia Day and the Yang Dipertua Negeri's birthday. Sept 16, 1963 was the day when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore together with the Federation of Malaya form a new nation called MALAYSIA.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also chosen Sept 16 for the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of PKR, PAS and DAP to form the Federal Government.

Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Anwar reiterated that the dateline (Sept 16) he had set for the opposition to form a new government, replacing the BN Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, had not change despite of a former aide accusing him on sodomy.

He also said that PKR, headed by his wife Datin Seri Azizah, was in discussion with PAS and DAP on the imminent by-election which he would contest to step into parliament.

Asked if more umno members would cross over to the opposition, he said there would be more such moves `but we will surprise you from time to time."


My Say:

Will BN would really fall and Anwar become the Prime Minister on Sept 16?

Motion of No Confidence against PM

Up-dated:

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) MP for Sepanggar Datuk Eric Majimbun will tabled a no confidence vote against Prime Minister in Parliament on Monday. During SAPP's president Datuk Yong Teck Lee Press conference today, he did not name who of the party's two MPs would move the motion. But an official told me that it will Majimbun, now oversea, who will be given the honour to do so.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee confirmed Parliament resumes sitting Monday but said so far there had been no notice for such a motion to be tabled on that day.

How is a motion tabled in Parliament?
DAP's Lim Kit Siang has this in his blog and I quote -

"The Parliamentary Standing Orders do not have special provision for a no confidence motion.

In the circumstances, a no confidence motion may be regarded as an ordinary motion under Standing Order 27 which requires notice of 14 days to be given – making it impossible for such a no confidence motion to be tabled on Monday, June 23, 2008 as the earliest would be July 2 if the no confidence motion is submitted today.

Standing Order 18 which allows an MP to move a motion to adjourn the House to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance will be inappropriate and unhelpful as it only allows one hour debate on the specified issue without any vote being taken at the end of the debate.

The only way for a no confidence motion to be tabled and debated on Monday is for the Speaker to treat it as a substantive and extraordinary motion which should take precedence and priority over all parliamentary business which does not need to comply with the requisite 14-day notice and publishing it as the first item of parliamentary business after Question Time in the Parliamentary Order of Business on Monday.

In doing so, however, the Speaker is likely be in direct loggerheads with the government of the day and must be prepared to pay the consequences of such decision."

DAP Assemblyman Assaulted

Sri Tanjong DAP Assemblyman Jimmy Wong Sze Phin today claimed that he was punched on his chest by a man when he tried to get a road cleared for motorists in the Sabah's eastern town of Tawau.

Jimmy said a car parking lots and a a-two-way roads was closed to make way for a government's function but it remained closed after the ceremony ended.

"My handphone was jammed with calls, SMS so I went to see the situation for myself. There was a traffic jam, no parking spaces so I asked the organiser to clear the parking lots and the road. But a man punched me instead. He also told me that I was boasting. He said `kau tembirang', Jimmy said.

He said a Chief Reporter of a Chinese newspaper who wanted to take photographs of the man punching him was also almost being assaulted by the same man. The journalist escape being hurt as he fled the scene.

My Say:

It my recollection is correct, this is the second time that Jimmay was punched while performing his duties.

Mayor Explains Why

Up-date of my earlier posting

Kota Kinabalu City Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim today clarified City Hall was adhering directive by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dated Nov 24, 2004 issued through the National Action Council (NAC) for not allowing Kota Kinabalu DAP Member of Parliament Dr Hiew King Cheu to attend the City Hall meeting on March 2, this year.

Iliyas, in a statement today, said that the NAC directive stated that only the ruling Barisan Nasional's (BN) Assemblymen/Women and MPs are allowed to sit in City Hall meetings.

He also said that in was an oversight by City Hall that Dr Hiew was given an official letter to attend the meeting.

Iliyas said he had personally apologised to the MP on the matter and was surprised that the latter went to the Press to politicise the matter.

Sorry! No Entry MP Dr Hiew

Although officially invited, Kota Kinabalu City Hall had on Tuesday denied Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Dr Hiew King Cheu from attending the City Hall Advisory Council meeting.

Dr Hiew was met at the City Hall's conference hall door by an official saying that he was barred from sitting in the meeting as he is an opposition (DAP) MP. He was told that a clerk made a mistake of sending to him the invitation letter.

He also said that the offical informed him that the directive not to allow him to participate in the meeting came from `higher up'.

Dr Hiew, who wrested the Kota Kinabalu seat from the ruling Barisan Nasional in the March 8, general elections, was not amused saying that City Hall has no right to bar him as he had been given the mandate by the City's residents to represent them.

"Such an action by City Hall only reflected non-transparency but also of the arrogance of BN Government and failure to respect the people wish and aspiration for a good goverance," he told Daily Express

Dr Hiew said it was important for him to attend the meeting since it essentially discuss matters relating to policies concerning public policies and the spending of taxpayers money.

"I will raise this matter in Parliament," he said.

My Say:


Let wait and see what the Mayor has to say about this matter.

No confidence motion

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

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

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

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

My Say:

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

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

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

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

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