No confidence motion

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

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

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

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

My Say:

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

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

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

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

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

Worms attack

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alms for the armed forces

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

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

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

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

My Say:

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

`Bird of a feather flock together'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Kanul Gindol

My Say:

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

Two chickens feeds a family

My two chickens and their eggs this morning

My Say:

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

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

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

Lekima lashing

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

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

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

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

My Say:

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

A caring Chief Minister

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

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

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

My Say:

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

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

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

Orang Utan (Jungle People)

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

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

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

My Say:

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

Merdeka's indecent dance?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Say:

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

Death, nothing less

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

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

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

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

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

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


My Say:

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

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

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

Deads still paid $$$

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

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

My Say:

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

Update - White Rabbit

White Rabbit (Gula Susu)

My Say:

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

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

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

Sweet White Rabbit

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

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

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

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

My Say:

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

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

Malaysia Day = Unity Day

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

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

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

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

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

My Say:

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

Dilemma me

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

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

The message read:

Malaysia is in a real dilemma!

Allowing Vietnamese workers in,
dogs and cats go missing.

Allowing Bangla workers in,
Malay girls go missing.

Get Indons,
money and jewellery go missing.

Let Chinese dolls to come in,
husbands go missing.

And allow Filipino dance instructors in,
wives go missing!