The general elections is definitely just around the corner. All political parties, irrespective whether they are ruling parties or the opposition, had been actively campaigning.
This weekend (Sunday) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be in Kota Kinabalu again. He was also in the Sabah's capital last month. This time around, Abdullah who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, will opened the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) congresses.
At the PBS congress, its president Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is said to have an important issue to raise in his policy speech. It will be the same for Datuk V K Liew over in the LDP congress.
These are signs of elections coming very soon.
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Monday, 5 November 2007
Labuan is Malaysia's Phuket
Browsing the local newspapers while sipping my 3 10 drink at the Kionsom Waterfall yesterday, a letter in the Home/Forum page of the Borneo Post caught my eyes. The gist of the letter is that Labuan is now a haven for guest relations officer (GRO)which earned the Federal Territory of Labuan a new tag `Phuket of Malaysia'.
It was said that the Immigration Department had approved 800 new work permits to foreign women to work in 30 entertainment outlets in Labuan. The women are from the Philippine, Thailand and Indonesia.
These GROs are said meant for expatriates working at oil and gas companies or foreign companies operating in the island. These expatriates are said to find a place to have fun after a day of hard work and therefore the need for GROs and the many outlets for them to get entertainment.
And apart from the 800 new legal GROs, it is said that there are over 1,000 foreign women who are working without proper documents and illegally working as GROs.
My Say:
GROs and cheap beers, a perfect match. How Labuan had progressed since made a Federal Territory on April 16, 1984!
It was said that the Immigration Department had approved 800 new work permits to foreign women to work in 30 entertainment outlets in Labuan. The women are from the Philippine, Thailand and Indonesia.
These GROs are said meant for expatriates working at oil and gas companies or foreign companies operating in the island. These expatriates are said to find a place to have fun after a day of hard work and therefore the need for GROs and the many outlets for them to get entertainment.
And apart from the 800 new legal GROs, it is said that there are over 1,000 foreign women who are working without proper documents and illegally working as GROs.
My Say:
GROs and cheap beers, a perfect match. How Labuan had progressed since made a Federal Territory on April 16, 1984!
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Yes! Its Sunday....
No posting yesterday because it was All Souls Day and today a short one because its Sunday. As a song says Never on Sunday....A Day of Rest, that's what I gonna do today. I am going to the Kionsom Waterfall to check what's new. As stated in http://kionsom.blogspot.com, I, too, proud to be living in Kampung Kionsom. In fact the Bingkasan is one of the three original Kionsom's `son of the soil', the other being Gaban and Ligong family.
So I am off to Kionsom Waterfall. And to know more about Kionsom, just type Kionsom in web search, you will be fascinated.
So I am off to Kionsom Waterfall. And to know more about Kionsom, just type Kionsom in web search, you will be fascinated.
Friday, 2 November 2007
Housing loan
If your loan application to buy low cost house was rejected by the bank, proceed to the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (SHTDA). The State Government's agency has RM10 million fund for loan to buyers whose applications had been refused by banks.
The RM10 million Federal Government-funded loan scheme will be launched soon. It will be managed by SHTDA.
State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Haji Haji Noor yesterday told the Press in Kota Kinabalu that through this scheme, the government could assist more low income group to own houses.
The State Government is targeting `zero squatters' by the year 2015.
My Say:
My application for housing loan from banks will surely be rejected being a village folk (orang kampung) from Kampung Kionsom. So by right I should be eligible for the loan to be launched by the State Government soon.
The RM10 million Federal Government-funded loan scheme will be launched soon. It will be managed by SHTDA.
State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Haji Haji Noor yesterday told the Press in Kota Kinabalu that through this scheme, the government could assist more low income group to own houses.
The State Government is targeting `zero squatters' by the year 2015.
My Say:
My application for housing loan from banks will surely be rejected being a village folk (orang kampung) from Kampung Kionsom. So by right I should be eligible for the loan to be launched by the State Government soon.
Thursday, 1 November 2007
IMM13
Member of Parliament for Tuaran in Sabah Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said there are at least 60,000 immigrants in Sabah who are recognised as refugees by virtue that they are holders of the IMM13 documents.
Madius, who is also UPKO's Secretary General, said since Malaysia had frozen the import of foreign workers, the Government could used these refugees to solve the shortage of manpowers in the manufacturing and plantation sectors in Peninsula (West) Malaysia.
He said these refugees had been living in Sabah (one of the two States in East Malaysia, the other being Sarawak)for more then 30 years.
He said by recruiting the refugees from Sabah, there would be no longer any need to import more workers from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
"No need for the Bangladeshis, no need for the Myanmar's. Just take the IMM13 document holders from Sabah. If want to give them Permanent Resident (PR) status in West Malaysia, just give them," he said.
Madius was obviously referring to a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz in June this year who said that the Federal Government will give PR status to the IMM13 holders in Sabah without discussing the matter with the State Government. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman rejected the proposal.
My Say:
I take my hat off for Madius on this issue. Allowing immigrants to be given PR will make them enjoy the same rights as the citizens of the country. In the long run, I personally fear that people like me, my native community, will become immigrants in our own home State.
Madius, who is also UPKO's Secretary General, said since Malaysia had frozen the import of foreign workers, the Government could used these refugees to solve the shortage of manpowers in the manufacturing and plantation sectors in Peninsula (West) Malaysia.
He said these refugees had been living in Sabah (one of the two States in East Malaysia, the other being Sarawak)for more then 30 years.
He said by recruiting the refugees from Sabah, there would be no longer any need to import more workers from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
"No need for the Bangladeshis, no need for the Myanmar's. Just take the IMM13 document holders from Sabah. If want to give them Permanent Resident (PR) status in West Malaysia, just give them," he said.
Madius was obviously referring to a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz in June this year who said that the Federal Government will give PR status to the IMM13 holders in Sabah without discussing the matter with the State Government. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman rejected the proposal.
My Say:
I take my hat off for Madius on this issue. Allowing immigrants to be given PR will make them enjoy the same rights as the citizens of the country. In the long run, I personally fear that people like me, my native community, will become immigrants in our own home State.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
PBRS in trouble?
With the general elections being talk about taking place November, something big a problem is brewing in Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), a component party member of the ruling Barisan Nasional.
Talk is that PBRS president ex-Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who is also Sook Assemblyman, is not in good term with the party's Secretary General and Pensiangan Member of Parliament Datuk Bernard Maraat.
A PBRS insider said it is an open secret that Kurup and Maraat `do not see eye to eye' for sometimes now.
The reason being Kurup is said to not renominate/recommend Maraat to defend Pensiangan and will instead himself contest the seat. Kurup, in dropping Maraat as a candidate in the coming election, is said to nominate Vice President Datuk Elron Alfred Angin to contest Sook.
Kurup defeated Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for the Sook seat with a 395 votes majority in the 2004's election while Maraat secured a 608 votes majority to take the Pensiangan seat, defeating Martin Tommy.
Kurup had accepted Tommy into PBRS' stable in a ceremony on July 14, in which Marat was not present/invited.
My Say:
I can not help but say that Kurup is looking for a sure win seat in the coming election. What if Dr Jeffrey take on Kurup again?
Talk is that PBRS president ex-Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who is also Sook Assemblyman, is not in good term with the party's Secretary General and Pensiangan Member of Parliament Datuk Bernard Maraat.
A PBRS insider said it is an open secret that Kurup and Maraat `do not see eye to eye' for sometimes now.
The reason being Kurup is said to not renominate/recommend Maraat to defend Pensiangan and will instead himself contest the seat. Kurup, in dropping Maraat as a candidate in the coming election, is said to nominate Vice President Datuk Elron Alfred Angin to contest Sook.
Kurup defeated Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for the Sook seat with a 395 votes majority in the 2004's election while Maraat secured a 608 votes majority to take the Pensiangan seat, defeating Martin Tommy.
Kurup had accepted Tommy into PBRS' stable in a ceremony on July 14, in which Marat was not present/invited.
My Say:
I can not help but say that Kurup is looking for a sure win seat in the coming election. What if Dr Jeffrey take on Kurup again?
Monday, 29 October 2007
Dr Jeffrey lodges police report
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan had lodged a police report at the Karamunsing Police Station against Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and the State Government for awarding Seri Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (SPDK), Sabah's highest State Award, to Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Director General Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmad Said Hamdan in conjunction with Sabah Head of State's birthday celebration on Sept 16, 2007. The investiture was held at Istana Negeri in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday (Oct 27).
This was confirmed by Jeffrey's Political Secretary Kanul Gindol.
My Say:
Interesting to know the reasons for making this police report.
This was confirmed by Jeffrey's Political Secretary Kanul Gindol.
My Say:
Interesting to know the reasons for making this police report.
Not what PBS expected
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is now saying that the power-sharing concept of the National Coalition or Barisan Nasional Government was not exactly what they had hoped for in the coalition.
PBS Youth leader Jahid Jahim voiced this point in his policy speech at the Wanita (Women) and Pemuda (Youth) annual delegate conference at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang today.
PBS is one of the BN's component party members.
Jahid, who is Youth and Sports Assistant Minister, did not elaborate but said the issue will be discussed the debate session tomorrow.
Jahid also said that previous leaders, when they signed the formation of the Federation of Malaysia 44 years ago, envisioned a prosperous and developed nation where the citizens live peacefully without having to face problems such as now.
He cited the problems, amongst others, illegal immigrants, IMM13 and fake identity cards.
Jahid also expressed the PBS Youth's anger with the recent inhuman burning of houses and farms owned by the people that were carried out by certain entity with excuse of upholding the sovereignty of the law. He said they are also unhappy with the way some land applications by the people are being treated compared to those made by giant companies.
"PBS Youth is worried that illegal immigrants, IMM13 holders and fake IC holders are moving freely in Sabah," he said.
The two days' congress was opened by the party president Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. The main PBS Congress will be held on Nov 11.
My Say:
Now we are hearing PBS voicing this issues. What did they do when PBS was the State Government and Pairin was the Chief Minister.
PBS Youth leader Jahid Jahim voiced this point in his policy speech at the Wanita (Women) and Pemuda (Youth) annual delegate conference at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang today.
PBS is one of the BN's component party members.
Jahid, who is Youth and Sports Assistant Minister, did not elaborate but said the issue will be discussed the debate session tomorrow.
Jahid also said that previous leaders, when they signed the formation of the Federation of Malaysia 44 years ago, envisioned a prosperous and developed nation where the citizens live peacefully without having to face problems such as now.
He cited the problems, amongst others, illegal immigrants, IMM13 and fake identity cards.
Jahid also expressed the PBS Youth's anger with the recent inhuman burning of houses and farms owned by the people that were carried out by certain entity with excuse of upholding the sovereignty of the law. He said they are also unhappy with the way some land applications by the people are being treated compared to those made by giant companies.
"PBS Youth is worried that illegal immigrants, IMM13 holders and fake IC holders are moving freely in Sabah," he said.
The two days' congress was opened by the party president Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. The main PBS Congress will be held on Nov 11.
My Say:
Now we are hearing PBS voicing this issues. What did they do when PBS was the State Government and Pairin was the Chief Minister.
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Like father like son - The Kodings
Vitos, a son of former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, the late Datuk Mark Koding, will be contesting the Ranau parliamentary constituency in the coming general elections. He made this known during an AidilFitri open house hosted by opposition party PASOK in Tanjung Aru today.
He is the party's Information Chief.
Mark won the seat, defeating then Federal Works Minister Tan Sri Ghani Gilong in the late 1970s. Mark contested as an Independent but was backed by Parti Berjaya (now defunct). The constituency was then known as Kinabalu as Ranau is at the foot of Mt Kinabalu. In 1985, Mark contested and won the Ranau State seat for Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and was made a Deputy Chief Minister.
Although relatively unknown, Vitos said he is all geared for the elections and is confident to win the seat.
My Say:
As I had mentioned in my older posting, PASOK is facing leadership problems that it has two presidents and two sets of supreme council members. PASOK also have two party headquarters. Well, good luck to the young Koding. In politics nothing is impossible.
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Fish fry only....
When talks of an impending court case of which it was said officers from the State Welfare Services Department are to be charged with corruption, it was anticipated that someone high up in that State Department's being hauled up to the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court Tuesday.
But it was an anti-climax, to a big turned out of journalists from the print and electronic media. Came 2pm, five people were seen making their way to the court which at first was not even `looked at' by the media corp. But the five were those being charged before two Sessions Court judges.
The offences: Falsifying documents by certifying the payments of cash welfare assistance to recipients who had long passed away. Two of the accused were staff of the Treasury Department, Penampang while the other three were attached to the State Welfare Services Department, Tuaran.
My say:
The five are just `fish fry', the biggest fish and followers are still `swimming' happily in the ocean looking for more opportunities. It was learnt that investigations are going on against those higher up in the department.
ACA should also look into the case of goods bought and supplied to the State Welfare Services Department's Welfare Home in Kimanis, Paper.
An example of questionable dealing - six units of cutting knives which cost RM120 in the market was supplied to the Home at RM3,000. Some people here had made RM2,880 profit. Is this not corruption, robbing the government in daylight?
But it was an anti-climax, to a big turned out of journalists from the print and electronic media. Came 2pm, five people were seen making their way to the court which at first was not even `looked at' by the media corp. But the five were those being charged before two Sessions Court judges.
The offences: Falsifying documents by certifying the payments of cash welfare assistance to recipients who had long passed away. Two of the accused were staff of the Treasury Department, Penampang while the other three were attached to the State Welfare Services Department, Tuaran.
My say:
The five are just `fish fry', the biggest fish and followers are still `swimming' happily in the ocean looking for more opportunities. It was learnt that investigations are going on against those higher up in the department.
ACA should also look into the case of goods bought and supplied to the State Welfare Services Department's Welfare Home in Kimanis, Paper.
An example of questionable dealing - six units of cutting knives which cost RM120 in the market was supplied to the Home at RM3,000. Some people here had made RM2,880 profit. Is this not corruption, robbing the government in daylight?
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Yes ballot boxes arriving...
The front page of Daily Express today says it all
My Say:
On Oct 5, in my posting, I said my well-informed source in Kuala Lumpur whispered to me that transparent ballot boxes were being packed in Port Klang to be sent to Sarawak and Sabah. I reported that the boxes are to arrive Kota Kinabalu on Oct 22. These new boxes, replacing the old metal boxes, will be used in the General Elections which I predicted will be on Nov 25 after the dissolution of Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly on Nov 9.
What I had posted is now confirmed. Sabah Election Commission director Haji Mohd Idrus Ismail confirmed that the boxes, some 3,262, are expected to arrive Friday (Oct 26) after similar consignment was delivered to Kuching, Sarawak.
Mohd Idrus also confirmed that appointed polling clerks from Sabah and Labuan had completed their training before the fasting month and that briefing to returning officers will be held anytime now.
As of June 30, there are 786,351 voters in Sabah compared to the 768,945 eligible to vote in the March 2004 general elections.
If not because of the weather, the boxes would had arrived Kota Kinabalu yesterday (Oct 22)as I had predicted two weeks ago.
Monday, 22 October 2007
Calling all SASS ex-students
Sabah Adventist Secondary School, Tamparuli established in 1939 is facing the prospect of being closed down due to financial problems. One of the oldest missions school in Sabah, it is totally dependent on external funding.
The school, which commands a good view of Mount Kinabalu, is one of the two managed by the Sabah Adventist (SDA) Mission, the other being Goshen Adventist Secondary School in Kota Marudu.
The financial problem SASS is facing is due to rising maintenance costs, dwindling enrollment of students and unpaid schools fees.
Its principal Minson Gulungan said students would move to other schools after passing their Form Three and Form Five examinations.
To ease the financial burden of the school and to ensure its continued survival, the school management's had launched a special fund. Called Danasiswa SASS, it was launched by ex-student Datuk Johnston Bangkuai who is also president of the Sabah Journalist Association.
The school, founded by an Indonesian, Pastor D P Siagian, has produced many students who have now become successful professionals, businessmen and politicians.
With the launching of Danasiswa SASS, it is hope that former students who are well off in the chosen career will generously contribute to the fund.
My Say:
It will ha a shame if the school,located just across the Tuaran River from Tamparuli township, is closed down after valiant efforts from every quarters to keep it going.
The school, which commands a good view of Mount Kinabalu, is one of the two managed by the Sabah Adventist (SDA) Mission, the other being Goshen Adventist Secondary School in Kota Marudu.
The financial problem SASS is facing is due to rising maintenance costs, dwindling enrollment of students and unpaid schools fees.
Its principal Minson Gulungan said students would move to other schools after passing their Form Three and Form Five examinations.
To ease the financial burden of the school and to ensure its continued survival, the school management's had launched a special fund. Called Danasiswa SASS, it was launched by ex-student Datuk Johnston Bangkuai who is also president of the Sabah Journalist Association.
The school, founded by an Indonesian, Pastor D P Siagian, has produced many students who have now become successful professionals, businessmen and politicians.
With the launching of Danasiswa SASS, it is hope that former students who are well off in the chosen career will generously contribute to the fund.
My Say:
It will ha a shame if the school,located just across the Tuaran River from Tamparuli township, is closed down after valiant efforts from every quarters to keep it going.
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Wake-up call says Dompok
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok said the successful suit by an ex-Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee against the police and government against his arrest and torture in 1998 should be seen as a wake-up call to those involved in enforcing the law to ensure they do not infringe human rights.
"I think it is within anyone's rights to test if they have a case in court, or what they feel or how they want their grievances to be addressed, " he said.
Dompok was commenting on ex-ISA detainee Abdul Malek Hussin, 51, who won damages amounting to RM2.5 million awarded by the Kuala Lumpur High Court Thursday.
Abdul Malek was awarded RM1 million in general damages for wrongful arrest and detention, RM1 million in exemplary damages, RM500,000 in general damages for assault and ill-treatment and eight per cent interest from Thursday and costs by the High Court.
Dompok said definitely, one of the the good outcomes of a thing of this nature was that those officers who are enforcing the law have to take utmost care so that no human rights will be infringed.
"I think it helps the system do much better," he said. Dompok was asked by reporters to comment on the case after opening a a seminar on Human Rights for leaders of his party, UPKO, in Kota Kinabalu today.
In awarding the RM2.5 million, Judge Datuk Mohd Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus held that Abdul Malek was entitled because his arrest at 10am on Sept 25, 1998 and 57 days of detention under the ISA were unlawful as they were done Mala fide (in bad faith).
He said the interrogation carried out on Abdul Malek was political in nature for intelligence gathering for political purposes and had nothing to do with genuine concern for national security.
Dompok said human rights is one of the issues more and more people are talking about these days and is thus important for every political party to have a better understanding and knowledge about it.
One of the speakers at the seminar, lawyer G K Ganesan told participants that the ISA is no longer relevant and should be repealed.
On this Dompok said,"It is something that we have to discuss and talk about, as until today we have no opportunity to discuss this particular matter and we do want to know more about it."
"So an event like this seminar give us the opportunity to discuss more on this and understand it better."
"I think it is within anyone's rights to test if they have a case in court, or what they feel or how they want their grievances to be addressed, " he said.
Dompok was commenting on ex-ISA detainee Abdul Malek Hussin, 51, who won damages amounting to RM2.5 million awarded by the Kuala Lumpur High Court Thursday.
Abdul Malek was awarded RM1 million in general damages for wrongful arrest and detention, RM1 million in exemplary damages, RM500,000 in general damages for assault and ill-treatment and eight per cent interest from Thursday and costs by the High Court.
Dompok said definitely, one of the the good outcomes of a thing of this nature was that those officers who are enforcing the law have to take utmost care so that no human rights will be infringed.
"I think it helps the system do much better," he said. Dompok was asked by reporters to comment on the case after opening a a seminar on Human Rights for leaders of his party, UPKO, in Kota Kinabalu today.
In awarding the RM2.5 million, Judge Datuk Mohd Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus held that Abdul Malek was entitled because his arrest at 10am on Sept 25, 1998 and 57 days of detention under the ISA were unlawful as they were done Mala fide (in bad faith).
He said the interrogation carried out on Abdul Malek was political in nature for intelligence gathering for political purposes and had nothing to do with genuine concern for national security.
Dompok said human rights is one of the issues more and more people are talking about these days and is thus important for every political party to have a better understanding and knowledge about it.
One of the speakers at the seminar, lawyer G K Ganesan told participants that the ISA is no longer relevant and should be repealed.
On this Dompok said,"It is something that we have to discuss and talk about, as until today we have no opportunity to discuss this particular matter and we do want to know more about it."
"So an event like this seminar give us the opportunity to discuss more on this and understand it better."
Friday, 19 October 2007
News on blood
If you were in United Kingdom from 1980 to 1996, your blood is not wanted by Sabah's hospital blood banks. Blood donor YS Lai found this out yesterday when he went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu to donate blood for a patient who had just had an operation and was in dire need of group O blood.
He was disappointed when he saw in the blood donation form that those who had stayed in any place in UK between 1980 and 1996 could not donate blood. The reason: Something to do with the mad cow disease that plagued the UK during that period.
And the `best part' is that the hospital has no facility to check for mad cow pathogen in donor's blood.
My Say:
What if I say I had never been and stayed in London during that period?
He was disappointed when he saw in the blood donation form that those who had stayed in any place in UK between 1980 and 1996 could not donate blood. The reason: Something to do with the mad cow disease that plagued the UK during that period.
And the `best part' is that the hospital has no facility to check for mad cow pathogen in donor's blood.
My Say:
What if I say I had never been and stayed in London during that period?
Sandakan Teachers' College
This Logo is gone forever
After being postponed for several times, organiser of the Maktab Perguruan Sandakan ex-trainees second reunion dinner had agreed to hold it on Nov 3, 2007 at Hotel Juta, Keningau, about 120km from Kota Kinabalu.
The main sponsor of the dinner is Datuk Haji Sairin Karno, the State Assemblyman for Liawan, who is a former trainee (1975-1976) himself, one year my junior.
Although the organiser comprises of teachers from the 1974, 1975 and 1976 batch, the dinner is now open to all ex-MPS trainees. The reason being, MPS is no longer and will never ever be there again. It had been closed down.
Further information about the dinner can be obtained from Juliana Jusit (0198081948), Iskandar Amat (0198529448), Veronica Chin (0198229636) and Mohd Rizwan Emik (0198318263).
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