Fund managers foresee polls before June

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:16
By FMT Staff

KOTA KINABALU: If Malaysian fund managers had their way, Barisan Nasional will call for the country’s 13th general election before June 2011.

“Our view is that the general election would probably take place in the first half of next year because the market will be stronger in the next 12 months," said OSK Investment Bank's deputy head of research Jeffrey Tan.

Tan, who was here last week, is as bullish about the economy as his peers in MIDF and Bursa Malaysia.
He listed the three “Es” theme that is expected to drive the market stronger in 2011 – election, economic reforms and earnings.

He said that the coming election was good for the construction sector, with lots of contracts being awarded.
In Sarawak, which is due to hold its state election next year, Tan said that the state's construction companies would benefit from a foreseeable building boom.

In Sabah, the biggest oil and gas contract was recently awarded to the Naim Group which has set up its office at the Great Eastern Life Building in Kota Kinabalu, which is suffering a glut in office space.

Comfortably optimistic

Looking at economic reforms, Tan said that aside from awarding contracts, the government has astutely bought sufficient time to prove itself in the transformation process.

Consumer spending has improved and consumer stocks on Bursa Malaysia are up in the third quarter to boost earnings.

The media sector, he said, was among the key sectors that has performed well in terms of earnings from advertising revenue.

Tan also saw prices rising in the property sector.

According to him, the sector has always been a laggard and over-rated with sky-high prices in some hot spots, but nevertheless demographics will drive up prices in the longer run in other areas.

Meanwhile, ground sentiments also appear to confirm Tan's view, with most businesses comfortably optimitic now compared with two years ago.

“If people try to convince you that Malaysia is hopeless, I don’t think so,” said MIDF Amanah Assets Management chief executive officer and chief investment officer, Scott Lim.

He said that Malaysian companies today, including those in Sabah, could do business with any countries in Asia without depending on the Malaysian government.

"Malaysia has 25 million people. Asia has three billion people. You have to keep faith that Asia will bloom.
“What the world is doing today is going to have a bigger impact than what the Malaysian government is doing today.

“I am not saying that the Malaysian government has changed and has become a better government.
“The new administration has woken up and realised that we need to open up and sell to a bigger market.

“In budget (2011), the government is rolling back 10 years of mistakes – spending taxpayers' money.
“The last 10 years the government has been spending taxpayers’ money on your behalf to try and stabilise the economy.

“But today, it has given the signal to private investors: you are supposed to run the show now,” he said.

Educating retail investors

Fund managers have been urging Sabahans to put their monies in equities in order to fight inflation and earn better returns to improve their standard of living.

Sabah is reputed to have the highest cost of living in the country. It also has the highest number of poor people in the country.

Bursa Malaysia global head of securities markets, Uday Jayaram, a Sabahan, said: “I am a Kota Kinabalu boy. Although I now work in Kuala Lumpur, it is a pleasure for me to be back and see so many retail investors at this Market Chat 2010 programme run between Bursa Malaysia and our local partners.”

Speaking at the launch of the Market Chat 2010, Jayaram, who did his primary school education in Sabah before continuing his studies in Singapore and the UK, said the role of Bursa Malaysia in providing education for the investing public was crucial.

“Retail investors form a very crucial part of the business and only about 20% to 22% of the investors in Bursa Malaysia comprise retail investors.

"We would like to see retail investor participation in Bursa Malaysia reach 40% to 50% soon.
“We want you to be confident of putting your money in the market. We want to see more liquidity, more volume in the market so that you can make money. That is what we want,” he said.

He called on retail investors to educate themselves to make informed decision on investments as well as to get good professional advice before they make a commitment to invest in Bursa Malaysia’s many sectors.
Jayaram sees Bursa Malaysia’s prospects as good next year and hopes that more will be drawn into the Malaysian stock market and become successful retail investors.

The Market Chat programme is being held in most towns in Malaysia to educate and create awareness on the securities market as well as encourage online trading among retail investors.

Jeffrey fumes over surrender of states powers

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:11

By Luke Rintod

KOTA KINABAU: Outgoing PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan has castigated the Umno-led Barisan Nasional state government for bowing and surrendering land matters to federal guidelines.

Jeffrey, who is also president of CigMa or Common Interest Group Malaysia, pointed out yet another transgression of the 20-points and the Malaysia Agreement 1963, saying that land matters were now under pressure to bow to the federal government's National Land Committee (NLC).

The diehard 'Borneo first' politician said under the agreement and the 20 points, land matters are strictly state-controlled, and therefore no reason for the BN-led state government to "surrender" such matters to the jurisdiction or guidelines of NLC.

He took to task Sabah Land and Survey director Osman Jamal, who was quoted in the local newspapers as saying that the state department has all this while implemented policies of the NLC and federal government.

"I am sad to hear that Sabah Land and Survey Department under Osman now appears to consider itself as being part and parcel of and having to comply with the National Land Code.

"We must retain our independence and autonomy on land matters as agreed at the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

"We have our own Land Ordinance... I want the state government to state clearly its stand if Sabah are now governed by the NLC instead of our own land code," Jeffrey told FMT.

The State Land and Survey director revealed the NLC and federal policy link when explaining that Chief Minister Musa Aman had ordered the department to approve extension of land lease with the lowest premium.

Covered in the order were lands under CL, PL, industrial, plantation and agriculture-related lands.
Citing an example of the federal policy being executed in the state, Osman said anyone could submit an application for land lease extension up to 99 years.

Jeffrey contended that state civil servants like Osman are not at liberty to touch on sensitive matters that have been agreed upon as the very foundation of the Federation of Malaysia.

He however lauded Osman's announcement about the land lease being extended at affordable premium.
Musa is to due announce more details on the issue soon.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

Fed govt slammed for ignoring flood-prone Tawau

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 11:27

By Queville To

KOTA KINABALU: Taxpaying Tawau residents in Sabah's east coast will have to put up with the continuous threat of floods for yet another year because the federal government had failed to account for mitigation efforts under its Budget 2011.

Tawau parliamentarian Chua Soon Bui revealed that the budget had not made provisions for the widening and straightening of the Sungai Tawau, which is the only solution to end flooding of the housing areas at Sin Onn and Apas in Tawau.

Chua lashed out at the government for marginalising Tawau despite the urgency of the situation and described the federal response as "insensitive, inconsiderate and irresponsible".

“It is very insensitive of the government to continue ignoring the sufferings of the people.

"If the federal government can compensate the four highway concessionaires with RM5 billion for the next five years, why can't the government at least allocate RM50 million to start work on the flood mitigation project in Tawau?"

Chua said that the flood problem affecting at least 30,000 households had worsened in recent months with another two serious floods recently.

“It is totally ridiculous when residential houses in urban areas are still subject to floods. The people of Tawau are also taxpayers yet they have to suffer from continuous power and water disruptions, bad roads, traffic jams and floods.

"A proposal to widen and realign Sungai Tawau has been proposed by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) many times.

"It has become an emergency in Tawau and more residential areas will be affected by floods if the plan to widen the Sungai Tawau is not implemented as soon as possible.

"It is the responsibility of the government to the people of Tawau, otherwise the concept of '1Malaysia. People First and Performance Now' is only for show,” she said.

Chua was responding to a reply in Parliament by Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Joseph Kurup that there was no allocation in the Budget 2011 for flood mitigation in Tawau.

Kurup, who is also from Sabah, acknowledged that DID had presented a proposal to the ministry for implementation of a flood mitigation scheme to start next year.

He said the state government would provide an allocation of about RM1 million to carry out studies on the problem and for related works next year and a further allocation of about RM3 million in 2012.

State 'pulls back' RM300 allowance for poor

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:17

By Luke Rintod

KOTA KINABALU: Hundreds of predominantly Christian elderly recipients of the monthly RM300 welfare aid in several districts in Sabah have had their monthly "allowance" stopped without any notice.

Up against a gloomy Christmas, a 69-year-old recipient from Kota Belud said he last received his allowance in August this year.

"We really need some money. Christmas is coming... we need some money.

"When I came to the Kota Belud district office the other day to find out what happened to my aid, I was shocked when a staff there told me that I should not be eligible for the aid as I have a handphone and a wristwatch," he said.

The "warga emas" said he was not the only one affected in Kota Belud.

He said the staff in the welfare section were telling other elderly recipients that there would be a new screening on their "houses" to ascertain their eligibility for the aid.

A quick survey of senior citizens found that many recipients of the "bantuan warga emas" in Kota Belud had last received their monthly aid either in July or August this year.

The survey also found that most of those whose allowance was terminated were Christians while Muslim recipients continued to receive the aid uninterrupted for the past four months.

Uncertainty

The federal government increased the state welfare aid, introduced last year, from RM90 to RM300 to the delight of many families, especially old folk, single mothers and the handicapped.

Under the scheme, those who are 60 years and above are eligible to apply for the aid.
The guidelines stipulate that only one member, either the husband or wife, may receive the aid although there seemed to be exceptions in some cases.

Another elderly recipient from Kota Belud, whose aid was also "stopped" without notice in August, was unsure what to do as he had been told to just wait for his monthly RM300 ever since.

"Maybe Barisan Nasional has stopped giving us the money, but why are others still receiving it?" asked a 78-year-old man who requested anonymity.

It is learnt that some single mothers and handicapped persons have also not received their allowance since August or September.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

Jangan gadaikan maruah bangsa rakyat Sabah kepada orang luar

 

Tenom, Disember 8, 2010: SEDAR atau tidak bahawa tanah tanah pertanian di Sabah sudah lebih kurang 50 peratus jumlahnya sudah beralih tangan kepada pihak lain dari Semenanjung melalui beberapa syarikat syarikat gergasi luar seperti Yayasan Melaka yang mendapat kira kira lebih 25 ribu ekar daripada tanah Hutan Simpan di Sabah.

Sedangkan rakyat Sabah yang tinggal dikawasan Hutan Simpan khususnya masyarakat Murut yang tinggal di Mukim Dalit dan masyarakat Rungus di Kudat pernah suatu ketika dulu telah dihalau keluar dari kawasan tersebut malah rumah rumah mereka turut dibakar tanpa peri kemanusiaan.

"Apakah tindakan kerajaan UMNO-BN ini adil untuk rakyat atau menyeksa rakyat?" demikian dinyatakan mantan Menteri Kewangan Sabah Datuk Haji Mohd Noor Mansor ketika berucap dimajlis Induksi ahli ahli baru SAPP Kemabong di Hotel Perkasa dekat Tenom pada baru baru ini.

Beliau menyifatkan keadaan pemerintahan kerajaan Umno-BN diSabah agak keterlaluan dari segi batas batas kemanusiaan dimana kalau pun mereka menghulurkan bantuan tetapi hanya kepada pengikut pengikut mereka sahaja yang terdiri daripada PATI yang telah dikitar semula menjadi RAKYAT SABAH.

Selain masalah ekonomi yang semakin serius, masalah pengangguran di kalangan para belia dan beliawanis di Sabah turut terabai dan semakin menjadi jadi dimana terdapat laporan akhbar beberapa bulan lalu yang mengatakan beribu belia Sabah terpaksa berada dalam keadaan hidup melarat di Kuala Lumpur kerana ditindas majikan mereka.

"Bila kita tanya dan tegur pemimpin pemimpin BN Sabah terutamanya Menteri terbabit, mereka cepat cepat menafikannya. Pada hal insiden itu benar benar berlaku dan sepatutnya kerajaan negeri melalui Kementerian terbabit pantas bertindak dan bukan membuang masa berdolak dalik," tegas Matnor.

Malahan ada diantara belia belia kita bekerja di Singapura dan Semenanjung terlibat dengan masalah jenayah serius termasuk ada yang menanti masa dan ketikanya ke tali gantung kerana terlibat dengan jenayah dadah seperti yang berlaku di Singapura.

Sesungguhnya kejadian kejadian yang dilakukan mereka (belia) bukanlah atas kehendak para pemimpin kerajaan Sabah namun ia berpunca atas kelemahan mereka dari segi meyusunatur pentadbiran yang tidak mengambilkira masalah penempatan belia belia menganggur termasuklah lepasan graduan.

"Semua ini berlaku kerana kelalaian mereka yang langsung tidak menitik beratkan soal belia yang menganggur dan begitu juga yang dihadapi para graduan yang terus menganggur bertahun tahun sukar mendapat pekerjaan. Keadaan hidup mereka semakin serius dan tertekan mengakibatkan mereka tiada pilihan selain bertindak melakukan penghijrahan mencari pekerjaan ke Semenanjung," tambah Datuk Matnor.

Matnor seterusnya menegaskan bahawa selagi sikap pemimpin pemimpin UMNO-BN terus 'lupa diri' terhadap tanggung jawab mereka memajukan negeri ini dan sebaliknya mereka meneruskan amalan 'Korupsi' yang mementingkan diri mereka termasuk kroni-kroni yang senantiasa menjejaki mereka ibarat 'lintah kelaparan untuk menghisap darah' alamatlah apa yang dilaporkan media kononnya Bank Dunia dipetik sebagai berkata, "Sabah diantara negeri yang termiskin diMalaysia" akan menjadi kebenaran.

Oleh itu tegas Matnor, tiada siapa yang mampu mengubah keadaan sebegini rupa selain daripada rakyat Sabah itu sendiri yang harus berani bangun untuk mengubahnya secara demokrasi menerusi pilihanraya umum akan datang ini. Jika tidak, siapa lagi yang boleh berbuat sedemikian kerana Sabah adalah hak milik kita dan adalah menjadi tanggung jawab kita bersama untuk melakukan perubahan yang bakal kita lakukan pada PRU13 kelak.

"Saya tua tua bangka ini pun sanggup juga turun padang bersama anak anak sekalian untuk mempastikan kita rakyat Sabah sama sama bangun membina semangat baru untuk terus berjuang mendapatkan kembali hak dan kuasa autonomi kita diSabah. Jika kita lambat bertindak selagi itu masalah hak kita semakin terhakis. Ketika itu kita menangis hingga menitis air mata darah sekalipun tidak berguna lagi," tegas Matnor dengan nada serius.

Source: SAPP

Wife abuse case exposes cultural change in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The influx of foreigners into Sabah has led to alarming “cultural” changes in the state. One among them is the increasing number of cases of native single mothers which can be attributed to their foreign husbands abandoning them.

A recent case that highlighted this was when a Pakistani was jailed for 12 years and ordered to be given six lashes of the cane for assaulting his local Sabahan wife with a machete.

Khalid Nawab Lal Nawab, 31, was initially sentenced to eight years' jail and four lashes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife Asnah Toling, 40, on the night of May 6, 2009 in a flat near here.

But Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum brought the matter to light when he took a far more serious view of the offence when the prosecution appealed the sentence as inadequate.

He allowed the prosecution's appeal against the sentence imposed by the Sessions Court on the self-employed man after considering the facts and circumstances of the case.

"This is a sad case, as it involved family but this court must not lose sight that a serious offence had been committed.

"For a man to mutilate a woman is abhorrent in my view and for this to be done by a husband is despicable as he is supposed to protect the wife from all harm," he said.

'Clear message must be sent'
Malanjum said a clear message must be sent to would-be alien wife beaters that if convicted, they would face the full force of the law.

He also held that Khalid in pleading guilty and thus saving the court time was a secondary issue because the essential point was that the sentence must reflect the gravity of the offence committed.

He said the Sessions Court judge was in fact not even sure if Khalid was provoked or not.

"Considering the injuries sustained by the wife and the nature of the offence and the facts and circumstances in this case, I am of the view that the sentence imposed on Khalid is grossly inadequate," said Malanjum.

The offence under the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping.

Earlier, senior federal counsel Salim Soib had submitted that according to the doctor who treated the wife, the latter could have died had she not receive prompt attention.

He also told the court that Khalid, who was arrested two months after the incident, had only pleaded guilty after it was revealed that the prosecution had eight witnesses who testify against him.

Many runaway husbands were foreigners or new Malaysians who marry locals to obtain permanent stay or even citizenship. Once naturalized as citizens, they abuse their wives leading to many women leaving their husbands. Those who stay on suffer domestic violence and some even die as a result.

Malaysian laws provide that husband get the assets of the wife who die interstate or without a will. In Islamic family law, the husband gets a larger portion than the children if any.

Some foreigners use local women to apply for a trading license.

When business fails or loans taken are not repaid to financial institutions or money lenders, the local women are left to fend for themselves.

Native dominated political parties like Upko, PBRS and PBS have campaigned against the influx and the naturalization of foreigners from refugee or economic migrant status.

The growing number of native women marrying foreigners especially those seeking permanent stay or citizenship in Sabah is feeding local politicians’ zeal to bring a halt to such incidents.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/sabah-and-sarawak/13844-wife-abuse-case-exposes-cultural-change-in-sabah

JEFFREY: POINTLESS TO BE VEEP AGAIN

Wednesday, 08 December 2010 02:20

By: JOE FERNANDEZ FORMER PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan, 62, would not accept again if formally appointed for another term to his old party post. Jeffrey had declined 40 nominations in mid-October to vie for one of the four elected VP posts. However, the word from the party headquarters is that he may be re-appointed as one of the four nominated VPs to join the four elected recently. “It’s pointless being the vice-president again when Anwar Ibrahim, De Facto Party Chief has not kept his promise to allow the Sabah and Sarawak chapters of the party to be autonomous,” said Jeffrey over dinner last night at Lintas here. “He had promised under the Sabah peace plan of late 2009 to amend the party constitution.” He was explaining why he objected to being addressed as vice-president during a party gathering of division chiefs and senior activists, dubbed Friendship Dinner, on Sunday at the Tuaran residence of former Federal Deputy Minister, Datuk Kalakau Untol. “Kalakau was in Kuala Lumpur recently and met with Anwar,” said Jeffrey who is the PKR Division Chief for Pensiangan. “So, he wanted to brief us as well on his meeting and one of the issues raised in KL was a Vice-President from Sabah and Sarawak.” Kalakau, who addressed Jeffrey as vice-president during the dinner gathering, explained the Sabah strongman would be re-appointed to his old post when the latter objected to the manner in which he was being addressed. Jeffrey, when asked whether he would accept the vice-president’s post if Anwar kept his promises to Sabah and Sarawak, replied that he “would have to think about it again”. He said that his struggle was not about posts and positions, whether in the party or government, “especially at my age”. His emphasis, according to Jeffrey, was on issues, the people, principles and priorities. Asked about Tuaran division chief Ansari Abdullah, a losing candidate in the party polls, being appointed as vice-president, Jeffrey said that “he can take it if he wants”. He doesn’t know whether appointing a vice-president from among losers for the post would be an issue among party members. “It would be better if the vice-presidency was given to Sarawak,” said Jeffrey, pointing out that Sabah held the post the last time. “They are desperate (for recognition) out there because the state election will be held soon.” 'Anwar won't keep his promises' Jeffrey doesn’t think that Anwar would keep his promises to Sabah and Sarawak except on the question of the oil royalty. “Anwar will give 20% each in oil royalty to Sabah and Sarawak,” said Jeffrey. “He knows that he has to do at least this in order to get a certain minimum number of parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak.” Anwar, added Jeffrey, was not concerned about Sabah and Sarawak issues as he had limited aims in the two states to ‘get to Putrajaya’. Kalakau had also told the Sunday night dinner gathering that “Anwar had agreed to four leaders deciding on the PKR candidates in Sabah for the next general election”. Jeffrey, according to Kalakau’s briefing, would select the candidates for the Dusun including Dusun Muslim seats; Christina Liew and Kong Hong Ming, Kota Kinabalu and Tawau division chiefs respectively, would jointly decide on the Chinese candidates; and Libaran division chief Ahmad Thamrin Jaini would decide on the non-Dusun Muslim seats. Jeffrey, however, did not want to dwell on the issue and remains rather pessimistic on the reported Anwar offer on selection of candidates. He pointed out that Anwar did not keep his promise to allow Sabah PKR to select the candidate for the recent by-election in Batu Sapi. A six-member PKR committee, headed by Jeffrey, had negotiated the seat with DAP and PAS. The committee had also short-listed Liew and Kong for Batu Sapi. A rebel group in Sabah PKR came up with an alternative list of three candidates and Anwar went along with its demands. “We have lost interest (in Anwar and PKR),” said Jeffrey while declining to discuss whether he would abandon PKR. “We will continue our struggle (outside PKR) through the Third Force and NGOs.” He hinted that he may extend his two-month leave from PKR which ends on Dec 16, but nevertheless will spend time ‘taking care of Pensiangan’. The parliamentary seat, held by Federal Deputy Minister Joseph Kurup who was awarded the seat by an election court, covers the Sook and Nabawan state seats. Kurup is also the president of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) which suspended and expelled Jeffrey when he attempted to unseat the former from his party post.

Source: http://sabahkini.net/v1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5685:jeffrey-pointless-to-be-veep-again&catid=37:politik&Itemid=41

Karpal: Nik Aziz way off the mark

PETALING JAYA: The DAP has taken Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat to task over his reported remarks that DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang could serve as Deputy Prime Minister if he converts to Islam.

Saying it reflected the Kelantan Mentri Besar’s ignorance about the Federal Consti­tution, DAP chairman Karpal Singh said the remarks were devoid of any substance or merit.

Karpal claimed the Constitution did not provide for a Prime Minister to be of the Malay race or one who professed Islam.

“Article 43(7) of the Federal Constitution sets out only one restriction and that is, a person who is a citizen by naturalisation or by registration under Article 17 shall not be appointed Prime Minister.

“To be appointed Prime Minister, a person has to be a citizen by operation of law, that is by birth. I would advise Nik Aziz to take time off to study the provisions of the Federal Constitution before making statements which clearly reflect his ignorance and may well confuse the people,” Karpal said in a statement here yesterday.

In a posting on his blog last week, Nik Aziz had allegedly said Lim could be the future Deputy Prime Minister if he was a devout Muslim.

Karpal said the nine Malay states in Malaysia specifically provided that no person shall be appointed Mentri Besar unless he was of the Malay race and professed Islam.

“There is no such provision in the constitutions of the states of Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

Karpal said a national leadership should conform to the constitutional provisions, not defy them.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/12/8/nation/7576461&sec=nation

SAPP keluar Bn bukan merajuk tapi tidak serasi dengan perjuangan BN membela rakyat

TENOM, Disember 5, 2010: Timbalan Presiden Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) Datuk Eric Mojimbun menyifatkan tindakan parti itu keluar daripada Barisan Nasional (BN) pada September, 2008 amat bertepatan sekali kerana parti itu tidak lagi sanggup melihat karenah penyelewengan dan penyalahgunaan kuasa yang berleluasa berlaku dalam kepimpinan kerajaan BN.

Tegasnya, malahan teguran yang dibuat oleh parti parti kecil dalam BN khususnya SAPP langsung tidak diambil peduli oleh mereka walaupun tujuan SAPP adalah ikhlas demi melihat kelangsungan pentadbiran dan kepimpinan BN menuju kearah landasan yang betul.

"Kita bukan merajuk tetapi tindakan kita mahu menyelamatkan rakyat dan negeri ini dari terus menuju kemunduran yang berterusan…kerana kita dalam 47 tahun bersama membentuk Malaysia hak asasi kita mengikut dalam Perlembagaan terus terbiar, maksudnya kita rakyat Sabah terus dibelenggu kemiskinan," kata beliau ketika berucap merasmikan majlis Induksi Ahli Ahli Baru SAPP kawasan Kemabong diHotel Perkasa dekat sini pada Ahad.

Hadir bersama dimajlis itu, Timbalan Speaker DUN Sabah Datuk Frankie Chong Yu Chee, mantan Menteri Kewangan semasa kerajaan Parti Berjaya Datuk Haji Mohd Noor Mansor, Naib Presiden SAPP Jimmy Jawatah, Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Steven Gaimin dan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda SAPP Pedalaman Rudy Sulaiman Mairi.

Eric seterusnya menegaskan bahawa selagi kepimpinan SAPP masih berada dalam BN selagi itu hak parti itu bersuara lantang untuk menyuarakan sesuatu perkara yang bertentangan dengan aspirasi rakyat khususnya diSabah tidak digalakkan malah dilabel sebagai menentang dasar perjuangan kerajaan BN.

Tegas beliau, SAPP tidak dapat menyembunyikan kemarahannya terhadap kelibat segelintir pemimpin bersifat kuku besi Kuala Lumpur berhubung penyelesaian masalah Pendatang Asing Tanpa izin (PATI), Kad pengenalan Palsu, penyelewengan dan korupsi yang berleluasa dimana sehingga kini masalah tersebut masih berkeadaan tergantung.

"Perjuangan SAPP semata mata untuk membela rakyat Sabah dalam usaha mahu memertabatkan bangsa dan maruah negeri selain meningkatkan taraf hidup rakyat dengan harapan lambat laun rakyat akan terkeluar daripada kepompong kemiskinan," tegas Eric.

Datuk Eric yang juga Ahli Parlimen Sepanggar seterusnya menegaskan, bahawa agak malang sekali dimana laporan media baru baru ini mengejutkan banyak pihak apabila Bank Dunia mengatakan Sabah merupakan negeri yang termiskin diMalaysia.

"Saya bertanya diri saya sendiri, siapa yang mengakibatkan masalah ini berlaku? Sejurus itu ia mengingkat saya…siapa lagi kalau bukan tindak tanduk pemimpin pemimpin UMNO di Semenanjong yang suka membazir dan menggunakan peruntukkan yang berlebihan untuk kroni kroni mereka tetapi tidak sampai kepada sasaran tepat. Siapa yang menjadi mangsa kita diSabah pembangunan tidak sampai…kalau sampai pun lambat," tegas beliau dengan nada kesal sambil merujuk beberapa kawasan dipedalaman merungut kerana jalanraya rosak terok tidak dinaik taraf malah rakyat mendakwa setiap hari bergelut dengan lumpur.

Terdahulu, wakil peserta Induksi Kemabong yang juga mantan Pegawai Pembangunan Masyarakat (CDO) Kemabong Saul Salleh yang telah menyertai SAPP sebulan lalu berkata, beliau tidak sanggup lagi bersekongkol dengan perjuangan UMNO yang sering dicurigai rakyat keikhlasannya terhadap membangunkan kawasan disitu.

Katanya, cukuplah UMNO bertapak disitu selama empat penggal namun untuk meneruskannya sudah tidak ada kemungkinan lagi kerana mereka telah muak dengan kelibat buruk kepimpinan UMNO selama ini ibarat pepatah ada mengatakan "Bertuan dimata, ber Raja di mulut dan ber Sultan dihati".

Sebaliknya tegas Saul, rakyat jelata diperingkat akar umbi sudah faham dengan jelas bahawa mereka (rakyat) memerlukan perjuangan sebuah parti tempatan seperti SAPP dimana hanya parti tempatan sahaja yang mengerti masalah rakyat diSabah dan mampu menyelesaikan masalah mereka.

Oleh: Mail Mathew

Yong: Sabah govt in denial over poverty

By Queville To

KOTA KINABALU: The poor in Sabah may have just got a little poorer following the nationwide hike in petrol and sugar prices. But the state government is in denial and claims that "all is well."
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee, however, is demanding that the government “show us the real numbers” to substantiate its claims that poverty is not a serious problem in Sabah.

Yong said that if the government used real facts and figures ,the truth would be out.

“Chief Minister (Musa Aman), like other ministers recently, again cited the so-called e-Kasih data to put the number of hardcore poor household heads (KIRMT) at only 7,455.

“In fact, on the ground, 'e-Kasih' has already been discredited as being 'p-Kasih' meaning 'pilih kasih' (favouritism) because e-Kasih involves cash handouts to selected persons.

"Not all poor people are registered under e-Kasih. Any grassroots leader who walks around a poor village will come across many hardcore poor villagers who say they have been excluded from the e-Kasih programme,” said Yong, a former chief minister.

He also questioned the validity of Musa’s recent statement that the number of poor families in Sabah is 24,247.

Musa's disclosure was in striking contrast with a World Bank report on poverty in Malaysia, which stated that 40% of the nation’s poor lived in Sabah. Sabah, the report noted, was the poorest state in the country.

“According to the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (Noh Omar) recently, 150,000 families in Malaysia received rice subsidy coupons worth RM10 each every month. Obviously, these are poor families.

“If 40% of these families are in Sabah, it gives us a figure of 60,000 such families. Even if the figures by Noh or the World Bank are not 100% accurate, the figure is way above 24,247.

"The Ninth Malaysia Plan mid-term report by the federal Economic Planning Unit listed Sabah as the poorest state, with a 23% poverty level, the highest in Malaysia. These are hard facts,” he said.

Baseless claims

Yong said that Musa and his ministers should stop making baseless claims that poverty in Sabah is not as bad as it really is.

He urged the relevant authorities to make public the latest data used to calculate the poverty line by which a family is classified as poor, in view of the increase in cost of living in Sabah.

“What is the poverty line income for a family of five in the rural and urban areas? Has this poverty line taken into consideration the latest increases in prices of basic necessities?

“Every villager knows that the costs of goods and transport have gone up repeatedly in the last two years, starting with the drastic fuel increases in June 2008,” he said.

"In some remote regions like Banggi, the so-called fuel subsidy scheme to transport rice, sugar and other necessities to keep prices low has collapsed when the budget for fuel was exhausted last month.

"Even the 20-sen plastic tubes of cooking oil, sugar and other basic necessities in Sandakan villages have shrunk in size.

“The lack of teachers and doctors, piped water and housing, and problems of the landless and infant mortality rate, compound the misery faced by the poor in Sabah,” he said.

Yong said that unlike in many countries and societies where education has helped pluck poor family out of the poverty cycle, the education system in Malaysia had failed the younger generation by producing many illiterate school leavers with little skills.

“In the past, families at least had their children who earned some income to sustain the families.
“The over-reliance on foreign workers has aggravated manpower planning and low productivity in the workforce.

"These are the issues that the World Bank had identified but the BN politicians have chosen to brush aside these inconvenient truths,” he said.

He added that the state government, instead of going into denial and finding excuses for poverty in the state, should be expediting poverty reduction programmes.

The BN state government, he said, should demand more aid and favourable policies from the federal government "to spur economic growth, reduce costs of doing business in Sabah, assist local workers and alleviate youth unemployment”.

Fuel, diesel, gas and sugar prices up

The government has increased the prices of RON95 grade of petrol, diesel, liquified petroleum gas and sugar.

Sugar will go up by 20 sen a kilo while RON95 petrol, diesel and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) all go up by five sen a litre.

The new prices are:

• RON 95 grade petrol - from RM1.85 to RM1.90 a litre;

• Diesel - from RM1.75 to RM1.80 a litre;

• White refined coarse granulated sugar - from RM1.90 to RM2.10 a kilo; and

• Liquified petroluem gas - from RM1.85 to RM1.90 a kilo.

The new prices are effective from 12 midnight. This was revealed at a special briefing for editors in Putrajaya by the Performance and Delivery Unit (Pemandu).

However, Malaysiakini, which was invited to the briefing, was barred from entering the Implementation Coordination Unit headquarters at the Prime Minister's Office.

An official announcement from the Prime Minsiter's Office on the price increase is expected at 8 tonight.

Third sugar price hike

This is the third time sugar prices have been raised this year. It was hiked by 20 sen on Jan 1 and again by 20 sen on July 15.

On July 15, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak also announced the RM0.05 increase for diesel, RON 95 and RON 97 petrol.

The price of RON 97 petrol is now determined by a managed float and has gone up twice since July 15. The latest price announced on Dec 1 was RM2.30 per litre.

On May 27, Pemandu unveiled its proposals for the government to undergo a “subsidy rationalisation”.

Pemandu, a unit established under the Prime Minister's Department, had warned that the Malaysia may face bankruptcy by 2019 should subsidies not be reduced.

Idris Jala, Pemandu's chief executive officer, said that Malaysia risks becoming like Greece, which is now debt-ridden if it does not shed subsidies.

However, critics are concerned that the majority of the public will suffer due to inflation coupled with stagnating wages while the government continues on its spend thrift ways.

'Borneonisation' does not equal anti-KL, says MP Chua

 

By Queville To

KOTA KINABALU: The long-overdue Borneonisation of public services in Sabah should not be read as anti-federal feelings, a member of Parliament from Sabah cautioned.

Sabahans, Tawau MP Chua Boon Bui said, were merely fighting for their right under the 20-Point Agreement.

Explaining the numerous calls to speed up the take over of federal departments by locals, Chua said: “We are only asking what is rightfully ours.”

"It (Borneonisation of the public services) is a legitimate and long overdue issue that should not be buried among the other major issues such as illegal immigration, poverty, security and crimes."
Chua, who is also SAPP vice-president, said she would continue to monitor the progress of Borneonisation and demand that Sabah be given a fair and just participation in the federal administration with more Sabahans heading the departments and agencies.

“It's our prime concern and we will continue to monitor the situation so that our rights are fulfilled under the 20-point Agreement signed during the formation of Malaysia more than 47 years ago.

"Borneonisation of public services in Sabah should be fulfilled as quickly as possible as recommended in the Cobbold commission in 1962,” she said.

She was responding to a reply in Parliament by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz to her question on the exact number and names of Sabahans who head the 78 federal agencies in Sabah.

Nazri had listed out the 34 individuals heading federal agencies as:

1. Sabah Health Department: Health Director (JUSA C), Dr. Mohd Yusof B. Hj Ibrahim.
2. Sabah State Syariah Judicial Department: State Syariah Court Chief Judge (Acting JUSA C), YAA. JASRI @ Nasip B. Matjakir.
3. Sabah State Education Department: Director (JUSA C), Dr. Muhiddin Yusin.
4. Sabah Human Resource Department: Director (JUSA C), Siti Aishah Bt. Mohd Asri.
5. Treasury of Sabah Malaysia: Sabah Federal Financial Officer (Acting PTD JUSA C), Yusof B. Hj Sarangit.
6. Treasury of Sabah Malaysia: Sabah Federal Financial Officer (Acting PTD JUSA C), Matusin B. Sunsang.
7. Dept of Civil Aviation (DCA), Sabah: Director II (54), Mahmud B. Hj Amat Shah, (Regional).
8. Dept of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia, Sabah: Director (C54), Alexander Yan Sze Wah.
9. Sabah State National Registration Department: Director (M54), Abd. Jaffear B. Henry.
10. Sabah State Immigration Department: Director (Acting PTD JUSA C), Mohhad B. Mentek.
11. Department of Meteorology Sabah Branch: Director (C52), Abdul Malik B. Tussin.
12. Postal Services Division, Sabah Branch: Chief Assistant Director (M52) Mohd Hekam B. Terimoh.
13. Sabah State Anti-Drugs Agency: Director (M52) Bakri B. Bibi.
14. Federal Department of Social Development (KEMAS) State of Sabah: Director (M52), Md. Marsidi B. Katong.
15. Public Service Commission, Secretariat, Sabah Branch: Division Secretary (M52), Musa B. Sulaiman.
16. Education Service Commission, Secretariat, Sabah Branch: Chief Administrative Officer (M52), Siti Saleha Habib Yussof.
17. Sabah Special Affairs Department: Director (S52), Lajumardin @ Abdul Manaf B. Lakariba.
18. Training Centre for Excellence in Cooperatives (PULAKOP): Director (E48), Kastian B. Hj. Dula.
19. Pesticides Control Division, Federal Agriculture Department of Malaysia: Assistant Director (G48), Salmah Bt. Labulla.
20. Sabah Legal Aid Bureau: Director (L48), Junariah Bt. Datu Derin.
21. Sabah Commercial Vehicle Registration Board: Director (M48), Yozimah @ Ziemah Bt Jasni.
22. Ministry of Defence, Sabah Branch: Director (M48), Johar B. Julasbi.
23. Citizen Volunteers Federation (RELA) Malaysia: Director (M48), Samasuddin B. Lawe.
24. Federal Department of Land and Mines: Director (M48), Humfrey J. Suimin.
25. Sabah State Complaints Bureau: Director (M48), Georgie Abas.
26. Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Sabah: Director (M41), Azman Poji.
27. National Institute of Skill Training for Youth (IKBN), Kinarut: Director (S48), Mohd Dahali B. Hj Matsin.
28. Department of Workers Union Affairs: Director of Sabah Workers’ Union (S44), Rahman B. Mintek.
29. Contractor Services Centre (PKK): Head of Branch (J41), Amisah Bt Zakariah.
30. Sabah Road Safety Department: Director (M41), Herdianasah B. Abdul Karim.
31. Tourism Ministry Malaysia Office, Sabah: Director (Grade 48), Nely Nasir. Civil Defence Department, Sabah: Director (KP41), Ag. Askandar B. Ampuan Yaacut.
32. Rice Control Unit, Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-based Industries Malaysia: Head of Branch (N32), Mohd Amin B. AW. Jalleh.
33. Sabah Veterinary ATM Affairs Department: Director (Z22), Mejar Mat Jiamin B. Maddalasi.
34. Ministry of Rural and Regional Development: Director (M54), Shamsul B. Dollah.

Mag pours cold water on Sabah coal plant

Friday December 3, 2010

KOTA KINABALU: A controversial coal-fired power plant project in Sabah’s east coast has caught the attention of Time magazine, which reported that it was “hard to imagine a worse place” to build such a facility.

In the Nov 27 article appearing in its online edition (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2031862,00.html), the magazine described Sabah as an eco-paradise.

In the article titled “Malaysia: A coal plant in paradise”, writer Jennifer Pinkowski pointed out that on one side of Sabah was the Coral Triangle, “home to the world’s richest ocean diversity; to the other is the Heart of Borneo, a 22-million-hectare rainforest. In the middle is a vast swath of 1,100 palm plantations.”

She acknowledged that electricity demand in the state was set to increase at a rate of 7.7% a year until 2020.

To meet these needs, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd was building seven power stations – fuelled either by natural gas, hydro-power or diesel.

One of the seven new stations is the proposed 300MW coal-fired plant that had been twice relocated from Silam near Lahad Datu to Sandakan and now to Tungku, also near Lahad Datu.

Pinkowski noted that the final site for the coal-fired plant had been announced just before Malaysia’s pledge at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen that the country, already a Kyoto Protocol signatory, would reduce its carbon emissions by 40% by 2020.

She said in this regard, Sabah’s abundant sunshine, geothermal sources, extensive network of strong rivers and a long coastline gave it the potential to make Malaysia a regional leader in clean energy.

Source: The Star

RON97 petrol to go up 15 sen

The government is to increase the price of the RON97 petrol blend by 15 sen to RM2.30 per litre from Dec 1, according to sources.

A formal announcement will be made later on Tuesday, one of the sources said. There will be no increase for RON95 and it is expected to remain at RM1.85 per litre.

The government had earlier this year cut subsidies on the benchmark RON95 blend, although it baulked at the wide-ranging reforms recommended by a government think-tank,
fearing a voter backlash.

The government does not subsidise RON97, which is a higher octane fuel compared to the RON95.

The price of RON97 is adjusted every month depending on the global price. It was last increased by 5 sen on Nov 2 to RM2.15.

In October, the government said its expenditure on fuel subsidies would be RM24.9 billion in 2011, up from a planned RM23.7 billion in 2010.

Malaysian inflation edged up to 2.0 percent year-on-year in October, and housing, water, electricity and fuel rose 1.4 percent from a year ago.

Those items account for 21.4 percent of the CPI basket

Source: Reuters

Sabah BN thanks DAP for Batu Sapi win

Sabah DAP came in for some unusual praise from the state government at the on-going State Legislative Assembly sitting here following the Barisan Nasional's victory in the recent Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election.

Sekong Assemblyman Samsudin Yayah commended DAP for indirectly helping the government defeat the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) candidate, Yong Teck Lee, by drawing away opposition votes from him.

They "hantam SAPP dari belakang (hit SAPP from behind). It made it easy for BN… (there was) no need to go campaigning. Congratulations to DAP," he said to laughter in the House.

The snide remark aimed at DAP's Sri Tanjung Assemblyman, Jimmy Wong, prompted him to stand up and demand that Samsudin retract the words "hantam SAPP dari belakang" calling them "sensitive".

However, Samsudin refused, explaining that what he meant was that the DAP had stabbed SAPP in the back during the by-election won by BN's Linda Tsen.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/sabah-and-sarawak/13299-sabah-bn-thanks-dap-for-batu-sapi-win

Recruiting illegals?

From the notice, it spelt a clear message even you don't have valid documents, you can get hired with the help of this syndicate, ketua kampung etc...or you may eventually get your Mykads...Is this happening in Batu Sapi and other parts of Sabah???

In Batu Sapi...Game of deceit and betrayal

The Batu Sapi by-election hotly contested between three parties namely, BN, SAPP and PKR. The contested was actually focussed on BN against SAPP, but the unexpected results of SAPP behind the PKR on votes actually from deceit, character assasinations, massive bribery and votes buying.

SAPP was attacked both left and right by the BN and PKR+DAP. BN's campaign came in all sorts, from vote-buying, election promises of huge projects, controlling of the mainstream media, TV and newspapers, using Tham Dog strategy while the PKR and DAP hard hitting Yong and SAPP...even to extent of asking the voters during their final ceramah to either vote for BN or PKR.

The game plan of PKR was to get second place while SAPP hopes are sincere to topple the BN in Batu Sapi.

BN won Batu Sapi by-election

THIS the start, not the finish of your journey.

SAPP Presiden Datuk Yong Teck Lee accepts his first electoral defeat in six outings and vows to continue his ‘Sabah for Sabahan’ struggle.

“ Yes, this is my first defeat. But our party values number six as it means ‘resilience’ you fall, and you get up again,” said Datuk Yong.

KENYATAAN Presiden SAPP Datuk Yong Teck Lee sebaik sahaja keputusan prk Batu Sapi telah diumumkan beliau telah mengadakan satu sidang akhbar secara ringkas disebuah pusat kegiatannya di Bandar Indah yang jelas  menunjukkan bahawa perjuangannya untuk ‘Sabah for Sabahan’ dan menggesa Kuala Lumpur mengembalikan hak kuasa autonomi kepada rakyat Sabah diteruskan.

Datuk Yong dalam nada tegas dan serius seterusnya berkata bahawa matlamatnya untuk memperjuangkan hak rakyat Sabah bukan sekadar bermula dan berakhir di prk Batu Sapi meskipun  menemui kegagalan merebut kerusi tersebut tetapi ia merupakan sebagai titik permulaan untuk ‘memanaskan jentera’ bagi MISI tersebut.

NAMUN  kehadiran Yong  diprk Batu Sapi seakan akan suatu  mesej kepada pemimpin pemimpin BN dan Kuala Lumpur bahawa beliau kini memulakan misi perjuangannya kearah membela dan menuntut hak asasi Rakyat Sabah yang selama ini telah tertindas dan semakin terhakis.

MESKIPUN Yong sekadar meraih sejumlah 2,031 undi tidak bermakna misi perjuangannya yang berintikan ‘Sabah for Sabahan dan hak kuasa autonomi’ dikuburkan begitu sahaja tanpa batu nisan selepas beliau memperolehi undi yang kurang memberangsangkan.

Namun semangat juang yang senantiasa berkobar kobar yang telah sebati pada diri Yong akan terus berjuang demi menegakkan keadilan untuk Rakyat, keseimbangan hak asasi dan  MARUAH bangsa  beliau tidak gentar untuk terus memperjuangkannya  sehingga pada bila bila masa.

KALAH atau MENANG dalam sesuatu pilihanraya merupakan ‘lumrah’ atau ‘asam garam’ malah sebahagian adat resam  dalam sesuatu pemilihan. Namun keputusan para pengundi khususnya di Parlimen Batu Sapi Yong tetap akur dan menerimanya dengan hati terbuka sebagai lambang DEMOKRASI walaupun keputusan rakyat itu banyak didorong pelbagai ‘keunikan dan kecurigaan’ .

Datuk Yong yang tetap tersenyum lebar dan kelihatan berwajah riang setiap kali bersua muka dengan sesiapa sahaja baik kepada penyokong lawan mahupun penyokong atas pagar, telah menyedari hakikat sebenar diperingkat awalan lagi bahawa perjuangan beliau yang bukan sahaja menghadapi tentangan sengit daripada sebarisan pembangkang diprk Batu Sapi malahan  pihak yang tidak berparti yang pernah digilapnya menjadi sebagai seorang pemimpin terkenal hari ini turut memain peranan penting dalam usaha  menjatuhkannya  dan seterunya mematikan kariernya sebagai pemimpin pejuang rakyat diSabah.

Beliau sedar bahawa pelbagai strategi telah digunakan untuk mengaibkan nama dan perjuangannya malah termasuk penggunaan  wang yang banyak asalkan perjuangannya terus lumpuh dan terus dimalukan dimata rakyat namun Yong itu semua terus diserahkannya bulat bulat kepada pengundi Batu Sapi untuk membuat ketentuan.

Pendeknya, apapun yang berlaku pada prk Batu Sapi sebagai ujian ‘testing ground’ kepada kekuatan jentera pilihanraya SAPP yang sebelum ini dianggap mantap dan berkesan namun kemungkinan perubahan sedikit akan berlaku supaya ia kelihatan lebih mantap untuk menghadapi PRU13 yang mungkin akan diadakan dalam masa terdekat berdasarkan keputusan prk Batu Sapi dan DUN Galas di Kelantan.

D-Day for Batu Sapi P185 ... Photo Updates

D-Day for Batu Sapi P185 ... Photo Updates

PKR campaign banners

Yong with supporters

Batu Sapi voter in wheelchair

SAPP candidate Yong pushing voter on wheelchair

BN umbrellas for campaigning

BN guard uniform?

Sharing a light moment with a elderly voter

Uphill task and we will reach there

Observing the SPR at work outside the station

PKR canvassers, who are they?

PKR banner beside BN

Greeting a wheel-chaired voter

Ballot box

Yong inside the polling station

PKR canvasser, mostly not locals

 

SAPP supporters lending a hand to handicapped

BN hired buses aplenty



Drizzling in the morning

Puteri Umno strategy attraction