Samling flex its muscle on Penans

Reprinted from Hornbill Unleashed:

BRUNO MANSER FUND, BASEL / SWITZERLAND

30 August 2010

Logging giant threatens to suspend all transport services for locals unless Penan retract sexual abuse allegations

LONG AJENG,Malaysian logging giant Samling has threatened the indigenous Penan communities of Sarawak’s Upper Baram region with the suspension of all transport services provided for locals unless they retract sexual abuse and rape allegations against the timber companies active in the region.

Read Full Post »

Taib’s subtle campaign in Merdeka celebration

Sarawak’s CM taib Mahmud reportedly asked the people to choose carefully or else the development will stop in Sarawak. Does it mean that only his party can bring development -and that means being at the bottom 4th position as the poorest state in Malaysia, but with the wealthiest group of politicians?He reportedly said that election is not a contest for popularity-does that imply that he concede his own unpopularity currently? But he offer his capacity to bring development to exchange for another mandate to rule. But what he failed to do in the past 30 years-can he be trusted or given another opprtunity to try it for another 5? The Merdeka celebration should be a government function-not to be abused for party campaign-yet it would be unusual if he did not do it. There was a report that the PBB can’t even rally 1000 people for a recent function in the CM’s own constituency in Mukah!

Taib Mahmud: P’raya bukan pesta populariti

Ogos 31, 10 1:15pm

Read Full Post »

The fatal problems of over-extended rule

Rulers like to rule for as long as they like. But people who may suffer from such rule may disagree. So a look into the pitfalls of over extended rule is in order-especially for Sarawak. Overall the problems is about democracy-or if the people’s voice can be effectively guide the government. These are the major problems as we see it:

1. Concentration of power -evidence: PBB as well as UMNO, allow the top leader, in this case the CM, to hold 3 major positions in the state cabinet-which combined to command about half the state budget! Such concentration of power often result in more political and expedient considerations behind policies compared to public interests; Abuses of power tend to occur-as the dictum by Lord Denning`Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely’; The great wealth of the top leader cannot be accounted for by their official pays through even the long years of their `service’;

Read Full Post »

Who speak for a community/ethnic grouping?

The issue is crucial if we consider the many `3rd world’ countries ended up being mis-ruled by many traditional or new elites who treat `their’ country as their own fiefdom. Is a platform better than none-to affect a better rule for the people? How do the people ensure that there is democracy under the rule of the old/new elites? If the issue is not addressed then it may end up as a change of face-with the old exploitation remaining the same! And the appeal for a unified 1-ethnic grouping seems to be the same formula from the BN-whose ethnic problems is open for all the world to see, even after 53 years in power! Should people be divided into ethnic groups and ruled from the top by ethnic elites who divided the spoils among themselves?  Some good discussion on the issue is started from the Borneo Forum below-from Horbill Unleashed:

‘1Dayak’ – Politics of the elite -Part 1

By Apang and John Riwang

Read Full Post »

Taib or the people decide if he stays?

The mainstream media is gravitating towards the `concensus’ that Taib himself, above the PM and PBB, will alone decide whether he will stay on as CM of Sarawak. Is this true? In a democracy the voters actually decide who become the top executive of a democracy-though in a Cabinet system ala Westminster, it is the person who command confidence in the parliament/state assembly who will become the top dog. But overall the people still vote to decide which party were to get the most seats in the Assembly-and indirectly choose the leader of the party to be the CM.  However in Sarawak with more than half the people not registered to vote, this being especially true in the interior areas where most of the seats are located, only less than half the people will decide whether Taib will stay. Still the voters will decide whether Taib will stay, no matter what Taib or the media so supportive of him, says. So let’s see what the voters say come the state election due by July next year!

The buzz – Is Taib just testing the waters?
Alan Ting Monday, 30 August 2010 00:42
You and not me decide if i want to continue as your CM?

Read Full Post »

Sibu drama: 2 Wongs don’t make a right

SUPP and DAP leaders finally met up-but what transpired didn’t end up with any solution for the dredging of the Rejang river- the siltation of which was seen as the cause of the regular flooding in Sibu. Is there any way that politicians can deal with each other on a more cordial way to settle problems for the people rather than putting settling their problems over the people’s problems? Wong meets Wong and ended up in shouting match
Monday, 30 August 2010 22:45(Malaysian Mirror)
Wong Soon Koh (standing left) gesturing at Wong Ho Leng (sitting)

Read Full Post »

Audit: 6% of East Malaysian schools under critical conditions

How the situation of the schools can get to this stage must be clarified by the authorities. Eg does the Rm1500.00 allowance given to Penisular teachers teaching in the interior displace the budget meant for keeping the schools in good maintenance? If local Sarawak teachers are employed then there will be a huge cut in the `hardship’ allowance given out to these teachers from Penisular. Notice the news’ title` Beberapa sekolah(a few)…dalam keadaan fizikal yang kritikal’. Wonder why they don’t put the official figure aof 6% as reported in the content of the news? An attempt to downplay the serious problems? What if someone get hurt by the critically damaged schools?

Beberapa sekolah di Sabah, Sarawak dalam keadaan fizikal yang kritikal

August 30, 2010, Monday

Read Full Post »

Political discrimination threat rife before state elections

The politicians who threatened all tuai rumah and ketua kampung to support the BN party or risk losing their appointment, is turning his `gun’ at the bidayuh, who had been unhappy due to massive displacement by the Bengoh Dam. Such threat make a mockery of the `1 malaysia’ slogan of the Najib administration and put undue pressure on the voters.

‘Bidayuhs have much to lose if they don’t vote BN’

by Peter Sibon (Borneo post)
August 30, 2010, Monday

Read Full Post »

Drowning SUPP land in hot -soup !

The regular flood affecting Sibu and all other towns along Sg Rejang had subsided over a few days -but the bureaucratic mud that jammed decision to dredge the river continue to stop any positive actions to forestall future floods. In a dramatic turn of event the SUPP Wong Soon Koh offered the job to dredge the river -at 2 points, to DAP’s chief Wong Ho Leng, who claimed that he got 10 calls from contractors immediately after that! If DAP managed to dredge the river and improve the flooding situation SUPP’s incompetence will be amply proven beyond doubt! SUPP is now in a hot seat to deliver the `license’ to DAP to embark upon the river dredging! To give or not to give the license is equally a losing game for SUPP-who is in hot soup now!

Wong vs Wong: Mud slinging continues over dredging issue
Chris Reubens(malaysian mirror) Monday, 30 August 2010 00:00

Read Full Post »

Sarawak will be prosperous in 20-30 years with BN’s rule

So said a leader of PBB -in defending Taib’s continued leadership of Sarawak BN.So: should the people wait that long-a whole generation, to see propsperity-and suffer as the 4th poorest state in Malaysia untuil then? Is this politician asking the people to wait a bit too long? Will the natural resources like timber and oil remain at that time? If the ill-gotten wealth of the top politicians are returned to Sarawak the state will enjoy much heightened infrastructures in roads, schools, clinics, treated water supply, electrification etc within even 5 years!

Victory assured if Taib is at helm — Daud

August 29, 2010, Sunday(Borneo Post)

Read Full Post »