Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)made known another move it will take if it win the general election and formed the Federal Government. A PKR Government will return Labuan Island to Sabah.
Parti Berjaya Government under then Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh `gave' Labuan to the Federal Government to be made a Federal Territory on April 16, 1984.
PKR Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said after restoring the ownership of Labuan to Sabah, PKR Government would consider realigning election boundaries to enable at least one Sabah constituency to be craved out for the island.
PKR will be fielding a candidate in the Labuan parliamentary seat in the coming general elections.
My Say:
It was during Parti Berjaya State Government led by then Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh that Labuan was made a Federal Territory. Parti Bersatu Sabah headed by Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan went into the 1985 State election telling the people that Berjaya government sold Labuan to Kuala Lumpur.
PBS toppled Parti Berjaya and Pairin became Chief Minister and the rest is history. Can Dr Jeffrey lead PKR to power in Sabah like what his older brother did in 1985?
Friday, 19 October 2007
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Tourist from Holland drowns
A woman tourist, Vianca De Visser De Vries, 42, from Holland was drowned at Padas River after being thrown off a raft that she and her husband Abraham Eleisser, 42, was on at Pangi, about eight kilometres from Tenom on Tuesday. The woman was believed to have hit her head on a hard object causing her to be unconscious and swept away by the rapid water.
She and her husband, together with four other tourists from Macau at 2pm went whitewater-rafting from Pangi to Rayoh, some five kilometres downriver when the incident happened at 4.10pm.
About three kilometres down the river, their raft overturned sending all on board into the river. All the tourists, including their guide Ailir Rudasill were wearing life jackets. Except for Vianca, the others managed to swim to safety.
Ailir and Abraham went searching for Vianca whom they found floating about 200metres from where their raft overturned. The body was brought to the Tenom District Hospital about 8pm last night.
My Say:
The Padas River is one of the popular rivers in Sabah for whitewater-rafting activies. The other frequent by foreign and domestic tourists is the Tuaran River, just about 40 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu.
She and her husband, together with four other tourists from Macau at 2pm went whitewater-rafting from Pangi to Rayoh, some five kilometres downriver when the incident happened at 4.10pm.
About three kilometres down the river, their raft overturned sending all on board into the river. All the tourists, including their guide Ailir Rudasill were wearing life jackets. Except for Vianca, the others managed to swim to safety.
Ailir and Abraham went searching for Vianca whom they found floating about 200metres from where their raft overturned. The body was brought to the Tenom District Hospital about 8pm last night.
My Say:
The Padas River is one of the popular rivers in Sabah for whitewater-rafting activies. The other frequent by foreign and domestic tourists is the Tuaran River, just about 40 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu.
Up-date: Sabah CM's daughter wedding
Borneo Post today published on its front page a photograph of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman daughter Lenny Natasha, 26, and her would-be husband State Legislative Assembly member for Membakut 44-year-old Haji Mohd Ariffin Haji Mohd Ariff.
The wedding will be held at Musa's residence Sri Libaran in Sandakan beginning with the akad nikah ceremony on Thursday (Oct 18) and the actual wedding Bersanding ceremony on Saturday (Oct 20).
Before picked to contest Membakut on Barisan Nasional Umno ticket in the 2004 general elections, Mohd Ariffin was a public relations secretary to the Chief Minister. Musa, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, is the Sabah Umno liaison committee chairman.
Mohd Ariffin is currently the Sabah Native Affairs Council's chairman. He will also hold a wedding reception in his hometown at Kampung Pimping, Membakut on Oct 28.
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
The Invitation Cards Are Out
Invitation cards are being sent out for the grand wedding party of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman's daughter Lenny Natasha, 26, to Membakut State Assemblyman Haji Mohd Ariffin Haji Mohd Ariff, 44, on Oct 20th at Musa's residence Sri Libaran, Sandakan. The party begin on Oct 18th.
Among those expected to attend will be Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Among those expected to attend will be Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Sunday, 14 October 2007
How times travels.....
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan (centre) and JB at left. At right is KKJA chief Wong Bak Kion.
Last night I realised that I had been a journalist for more than 25 years. Looking back to all those years, I can not help but admitted that this line of work had given me satisfaction, not to mention the advantages that had made and will continue to fall on my life and that to my family. It was the `pen and reporter's notebook' that fed my family,put my four children through universities and built a house of my own without taking out a loan.
It is also this line of work that had given me opportunities to travel and work overseas.
Now I can proudly go and tell my many friends, who had look upon me as an outcast when I decided to quit as a teacher to go into journalism in 1978, that like teacher, journalist is also a noble profession.
And last night, I was one of the few who was honoured by the Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association with a branded watch and an appreciation certificate for having been more than 25 years in journalism, presented by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Shu Kiah.
Last night was the association's 15th Anniversary cum Press Night 2007 which was held at the Port View Seafood Restaurant, Kota Kinabalu.
Friday, 12 October 2007
Salam Damai
To All My Muslim Visitors - Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir Dan Batin.
I will be visiting my cousins (the children of my late mother's older brothers) during their Hari Raya open houses, something that I had been doing as long as I can remember.
The people of Sabah are unique, though of the same tribe, there are of different religions. We sat for meals at coffee shops facing each others in a common table. I eat my noodles from the Chinese stalls and my cousins enjoying their nasi lemak from Muslim gerai, all under the same roof.
This is something that I do not see in Peninsula Malaysia - a coffee shop which have Chinese, Malay and Indian stalls all catering for their respective customers.
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Signs of.....
A rare sight of the day. A ring of light surrounding the sun, visible in Kota Kinabalu and surrounding areas and other parts of Sabah for more than two hours this afternoon. Picture above is courtesy of http://keruak.com
This is `Halo' which my Concise English Dictionary describe as ...a ring of light or colour, especially around the sun or moon caused by reflection by ice-crystals.
My Say:
I had seen similar sight during last night's live telecast of the launching of the spacecraft SOYUX in Baikonur (Kazakhstan) with Malaysian Angkasawan (Astronaut)Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shakur Sheikh Mustapha, American Peggy Whitson and Russian Yuri Malenchenko on board.
Easy to be a Native of Sabah?
I have lost count of the years the Native Certificate's issue had been debated openly by leaders and the people of Sabah alike. This issue is so dear to the people of Sabah, particularly children of inter-marriages. The Natives, among others, are the Kadazan/Dusun, Murut, Bajau, Brunei, Idahan, (a long list). As Native, they have certain rights that others do not have.
One of the many problems faces by those (born after April 22, 1982) without the Native Certificate is that they can not inherit land from their parents, can not buy Native land, unable to buy Native Unit Trust and most important of all, non-holders are not not recognised as Native.
The Native Certificates are issued by the Native Court but had been frozen since April 22, 1982 due to abuses. e.g - Non-natives issued this certificates through dubious mean (forgery). Many cases had been discovered certificates issued after April 1982 and many of the holders had managed to by Native land.
Today in a Press conference, Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Haji Hajiji Haji Noor issued a Press statement on this matter which I shall reproduce here.
"The State Cabinet at its meeting yesterday, among other things, discuss the Native Certificate of NC (Sijil Anak Negeri) the issuance of which had been frozen since 22 April, 1982. The subject matter has become an issue lately with various quarters making Press statements or comments, among which was the difficulty faced by Sabahans one of whose parents is a Native.
Among the difficulties faced were their failure to purchase Amanah Saham Bumiputera (Native Unit Trust)shares or purchasing or inheriting Native land or registering their names in Native Titles land. Other difficulties faced include missing education opportunities like scholarships and institutions meant for Natives, purchasing of housing units under the Bumiputra quota, and business opportunities including registering as Bumiputra contractor or participating in tenders meant for Natives.
The Cabinet meeting decided that while the freeze had its merit and its lifting can only be done after careful study due to its sensitivity including past abuses, at the same time a temporary measure needs to be put in place so that genuine Natives do not continue to lose out.
Hence, with immediate effect, `clear cut cases' can apply for special verification from the Director of the Sabah Native Affairs office who is also the secretary of the Sabah native Affairs Council which is under the purview of the State Local Government and Housing Ministry. The verification will be issued on a `case to case' basis.
Example of clear cut cases are:
1. An applicant one of whose parents is a Native and whose race is clearly stated in the Birth Certificate or whose Native Certificate had been certified by the Native Court which issued it upon checking by the Director.
2. Examples of children of mixed marriage who qualifies for Native Certificate are - Sino-Kadazan/KadazanDusun, Indian-Kadazan/Dusun, Sino-Murut, Pakistan-Bajau, American-Murut, English-Brunei, Arab-Idahan, Filipino-Kadazan and similar cases."
One of the many problems faces by those (born after April 22, 1982) without the Native Certificate is that they can not inherit land from their parents, can not buy Native land, unable to buy Native Unit Trust and most important of all, non-holders are not not recognised as Native.
The Native Certificates are issued by the Native Court but had been frozen since April 22, 1982 due to abuses. e.g - Non-natives issued this certificates through dubious mean (forgery). Many cases had been discovered certificates issued after April 1982 and many of the holders had managed to by Native land.
Today in a Press conference, Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Haji Hajiji Haji Noor issued a Press statement on this matter which I shall reproduce here.
"The State Cabinet at its meeting yesterday, among other things, discuss the Native Certificate of NC (Sijil Anak Negeri) the issuance of which had been frozen since 22 April, 1982. The subject matter has become an issue lately with various quarters making Press statements or comments, among which was the difficulty faced by Sabahans one of whose parents is a Native.
Among the difficulties faced were their failure to purchase Amanah Saham Bumiputera (Native Unit Trust)shares or purchasing or inheriting Native land or registering their names in Native Titles land. Other difficulties faced include missing education opportunities like scholarships and institutions meant for Natives, purchasing of housing units under the Bumiputra quota, and business opportunities including registering as Bumiputra contractor or participating in tenders meant for Natives.
The Cabinet meeting decided that while the freeze had its merit and its lifting can only be done after careful study due to its sensitivity including past abuses, at the same time a temporary measure needs to be put in place so that genuine Natives do not continue to lose out.
Hence, with immediate effect, `clear cut cases' can apply for special verification from the Director of the Sabah Native Affairs office who is also the secretary of the Sabah native Affairs Council which is under the purview of the State Local Government and Housing Ministry. The verification will be issued on a `case to case' basis.
Example of clear cut cases are:
1. An applicant one of whose parents is a Native and whose race is clearly stated in the Birth Certificate or whose Native Certificate had been certified by the Native Court which issued it upon checking by the Director.
2. Examples of children of mixed marriage who qualifies for Native Certificate are - Sino-Kadazan/KadazanDusun, Indian-Kadazan/Dusun, Sino-Murut, Pakistan-Bajau, American-Murut, English-Brunei, Arab-Idahan, Filipino-Kadazan and similar cases."
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Poor poor local vendors
Local authorities enforcement officers are harassing local poor farmers trading their agricultural produce in urban areas. They are chased away, what they are selling were seized and damaged in tussle to protect them from being taken away.
They are selling are the products of their months of hard work back in the rural villages which majority of them are only accessible only by jungle tracks.
One man who noticed the poor farmers plight is Sabah Bumiputera Livestock Breeders and Farmers Association president Gaibin Ransoi. He had seen poor farmers' produce being unnecessary confiscated and trodden by enforcement personnel.
He wanted these enforcement personnel to strive to eliminate the problem of foreigners illegal hawkers, cigarette vendors who are common sight in all the major town in Sabah.
Ransoi said it was a common sight in most towns in Sabah that the rural farmers hawking their goods on five-foot ways, not because they wanted too but all places at the market had been taken or allocated to outsiders.
My Say:
What Ransoi saia was true.One need not go far, just go to Inanam town, within the City of Kota Kinabalu. The daily market place (and they have a full-fledged market in every 10 days)managed by Inanam Traditional (Tamu) Market Committee whose main function is to assist traditional farmers in providing them with space or lots to sell their produce.
What is happening is just the opposite, almost all the strategic lots are always occupied by hawkers whose nationality were questioned. Illegal immigrants youths running around selling smuggled fags.
A place meant for traditional local farmers has become a haven for illegal immigrants now.
They are selling are the products of their months of hard work back in the rural villages which majority of them are only accessible only by jungle tracks.
One man who noticed the poor farmers plight is Sabah Bumiputera Livestock Breeders and Farmers Association president Gaibin Ransoi. He had seen poor farmers' produce being unnecessary confiscated and trodden by enforcement personnel.
He wanted these enforcement personnel to strive to eliminate the problem of foreigners illegal hawkers, cigarette vendors who are common sight in all the major town in Sabah.
Ransoi said it was a common sight in most towns in Sabah that the rural farmers hawking their goods on five-foot ways, not because they wanted too but all places at the market had been taken or allocated to outsiders.
My Say:
What Ransoi saia was true.One need not go far, just go to Inanam town, within the City of Kota Kinabalu. The daily market place (and they have a full-fledged market in every 10 days)managed by Inanam Traditional (Tamu) Market Committee whose main function is to assist traditional farmers in providing them with space or lots to sell their produce.
What is happening is just the opposite, almost all the strategic lots are always occupied by hawkers whose nationality were questioned. Illegal immigrants youths running around selling smuggled fags.
A place meant for traditional local farmers has become a haven for illegal immigrants now.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Sabah & Sarawak Bumiputeras
The Prime Minister's Department Implementation and Coordination Unit has set up a sub-unit to monitor progress of Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak. Among others, the sub-unit will evaluate Bumiputera achievements and be responsible for proposing to the Government ways to solve problems faces by Bumiputeras in the two States.
It will also assist the Government in policy legislation and implementation.
This was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok yesterday while launching United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) election machinery in Kiulu (Sabah).
Dompok, who is Upko's president, said the Federal Government now `takes Bumiputeras grouses seriously.'
My Say:
A commendable initiative by Dompok. This will enable the Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak, who still lagged behind the other races, to get a share of the country's economic pie.
It will also assist the Government in policy legislation and implementation.
This was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok yesterday while launching United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) election machinery in Kiulu (Sabah).
Dompok, who is Upko's president, said the Federal Government now `takes Bumiputeras grouses seriously.'
My Say:
A commendable initiative by Dompok. This will enable the Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak, who still lagged behind the other races, to get a share of the country's economic pie.
Women professionals with HIV
A Bernama report yesterday which was carried by almost all the newspapers today caught my eyes which I shall reproduced an exerpt of it below.
"One-night stands may be just flings for some working women but it has left many of them infected with HIV.
It used to be that HIV-infected women were mainly housewives, Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said.
Lately, however, the disease has hit more and more professional women, including doctors, accountants, lawyers and teachers. Dr Ismail said many of them thought one-night stands would not cause any problem.
According to statistics provided by the Ministry's Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS Unit, the number of women infected with HIV had increased by about 250 per cent since 1996.
Last year saw 976 deaths from AIDS, of which 80 were women.
My Say:
Being professionsls does not protect one to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases, and also not an excuse to say unmarried for long.
"One-night stands may be just flings for some working women but it has left many of them infected with HIV.
It used to be that HIV-infected women were mainly housewives, Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said.
Lately, however, the disease has hit more and more professional women, including doctors, accountants, lawyers and teachers. Dr Ismail said many of them thought one-night stands would not cause any problem.
According to statistics provided by the Ministry's Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS Unit, the number of women infected with HIV had increased by about 250 per cent since 1996.
Last year saw 976 deaths from AIDS, of which 80 were women.
My Say:
Being professionsls does not protect one to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases, and also not an excuse to say unmarried for long.
Monday, 8 October 2007
Kionsom Waterfall
One of the seven natural pool and below the second and third of the seven waterfalls
In several of my older postings (and I will continue on to mention this) I had mentioned Kionsom Waterfall. Yesterday (Sunday - Oct 7th), I was there again as of previous Sundays (almost every Sundays if I am in Kota Kinabalu) since 2002. Yesterday I came early (8.30am) and there were just two couples inside. I took the opportunity to take photographs of one of the seven natural pools and the second and third waterfalls, counting from downstream.
I was unable to take photographs of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh waterfalls as it would take about two hours (of my time at the speed of walking) to do so. The highest of them all is the seventh waterfall which is about a-four-storey building high, about 30 minuted from the entry point.
I endeavour to reach that seventh point in time to come and post that scenic fall. My last visit and reached the seventh waterfalls was in 1972 which I was just at Standard Six.
Kionsom Waterfall is special as it is within the Kota Kinabalu City, just about 15 miles (24 kilometres) from the City centre and 10 kilometres from Inanam Town. Those without transport, can take one from the regular mini-bus services at Inanam.
Outside the waterfall are several hawkers, in which one of it is my usual station to meet friends on Sundays and Public Holidays. One has to pay RM1 only for adult and 50 cent for children per entry. The air is cool and the water crystal clear. The first, second and third waterfall are less then five minutes away from the entry point, inside a virgin tropical jungle.
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Jeffrey, Kanul, Joniston & Newman
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is likely to contest in Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan's Keningau parliamentary constituency, his political secretary Kanul Gindol is said to be going for the Kadamaian seat.
Although Kanul has not shown hints toward that direction, it was well known that at every available time he will make it a point to be with the people in the Kadamaian constituency which is now represented by Herbert Timbun Lagadan of Parti Bersatu Sabah.
A close friend said Kanul will make to the nomination centre this time around after he failed to do in the 2004 general elections.
My Say:
Kanul, a former executive journalist of Bernama will not be the only journalist eying to contest in the coming general election, which might be held next month. Talks is also making round that Sabah New Straits Times bureau chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Bernama's Sabah bureau Newman Tibin, a qualified lawyer, are also offering to contest in the election.
Bangkuai is said to be Pairin's PBS candidate for Kiulu. Like Bangkuai, Newman is also from Kiulu, and also hoping that Pairin will pick him up for the seat now held by Datuk Louis Rampas.
Good lucks to them.
Although Kanul has not shown hints toward that direction, it was well known that at every available time he will make it a point to be with the people in the Kadamaian constituency which is now represented by Herbert Timbun Lagadan of Parti Bersatu Sabah.
A close friend said Kanul will make to the nomination centre this time around after he failed to do in the 2004 general elections.
My Say:
Kanul, a former executive journalist of Bernama will not be the only journalist eying to contest in the coming general election, which might be held next month. Talks is also making round that Sabah New Straits Times bureau chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Bernama's Sabah bureau Newman Tibin, a qualified lawyer, are also offering to contest in the election.
Bangkuai is said to be Pairin's PBS candidate for Kiulu. Like Bangkuai, Newman is also from Kiulu, and also hoping that Pairin will pick him up for the seat now held by Datuk Louis Rampas.
Good lucks to them.
RM20 knife charged for RM120
Somewhere in the Auditor General Reports dated June 28, 2007 reported that a ministry bought a set of four screwdrivers for RM224 compared to the market price of just RM32.
These AG's report also touched on Sabah's case of the State Welfare Services Department paying cash assistance to people who had passed away long time ago.
Though not in the AG's report, digging deep into this department will also revealed that it had purchased a set of four knives at a contracted price of RM120 each which amounted to RM3,000 for the four units.
Amazing, the market price for this knives is RM20 each which mean that the department was overcharged or overcharged itself of/for RM2,880. The four knives should have cost RM120 only.
My Say:
Just the tip of the iceberg.
Friday, 5 October 2007
General elections Nov 25?
Election talks surfaced since the beginning of the year. Political parties had activated their respective elections machinery. Some political parties had announced their candidates. In Sabah opposition Pasok and Parti Bersekutu had made it known that they will be fielding candidates in all the 60 State seats and 25 parliamentary constituencies.
And a friend of mine in Kuala Lumpur sent a SMS to me this afternoon that `Transparent ballot boxes packed into containers at Port Klang to reach East Malaysia by Oct 22, 2007. Parliament probably dissolve on Nov 9, 2007 and the General Elections probably on Nov 25, 2007'.
My Say:
And I have the feeling election is just around the corner. Together we wait and see.
And a friend of mine in Kuala Lumpur sent a SMS to me this afternoon that `Transparent ballot boxes packed into containers at Port Klang to reach East Malaysia by Oct 22, 2007. Parliament probably dissolve on Nov 9, 2007 and the General Elections probably on Nov 25, 2007'.
My Say:
And I have the feeling election is just around the corner. Together we wait and see.
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