Sunday, April 6, 2008

Who's protecting Sarawak virgin jungles

Posted by MD at 4:43 AM

While it's a noble idea to spread the word for the environment to the younger generation like students, to be more aware about the importance of environment protection and conservation, who is protecting Sarawak virgin jungles from the greed of big timber tycoons such as Rimbunan Hijau, Samling, ShinYang, Sanyan or KTS ?

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) is having a publicity stunt to organize tree planting with students but on the other hand, close eyes on the destruction of Sarawak jungles especially in upper Rajang river.

The downstream Rajang river is now in critical condition due to heavy silting cause by soil erosion from upriver. From timber camps, from trees felling areas. Those timber tycoons only concern about profits, i.e. to harvest as many logs and possible without regards to the environment.

Here's an articles concerning kickbacks paid to Sarawak politicians on log shipment to Japan.

Related post:
* SUPP closing eyes on destruction of Rajang jungles

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Extracted from: theborneopost.com/?p=33596 (Apr 06, 2008)

Spreading the word for the environment

By Puvaneswary

KUCHING: Getting ideas and information across by word of mouth still seems the best way to get others interested and more aware about the importance of protecting the environment.

At least this is what a group of students, who attended the Trees For Life (TFL) community project at Sama Jaya Nature Reserve, here, yesterday found out.

Agnes Oormila, a spokesperson for the group from SK Kenyalang, said she and her friends discovered that by just talking to others about the environment and how recycling helps keep the environment clean, more and more students have become aware of their role as responsible citizens.

“Yes, talking about the trees and why we should protect them helps spread the message to the other students and friends. When we talk about recycling and how to put it to practice, others tend to follow too,” she told thesundaypost.

The 12-year-old, accompanied by several friends who nodded in agreement, went on to say that they became interested in doing their part for the environment when they learnt that the world is now experiencing global warming.

She said by just learning about the impact global warming has on mother earth is terrifying and everyone needs to immediately play his part to ensure this does not worsen.

“If we don’t have trees, we won’t have animals and at the end of it all, there won’t be any humans too because trees give us oxygen. It starts from the trees. We’re scared that earth will turn into some sort of an alien place after that,” she said.

Asked if they know what animals are on the path to extinction, the group actively shouted out a few, including the elephant, the dodo bird and even some species of snakes.

“We don’t want the animals to go extinct like the dinosaurs,” said one student in the group before scurrying off for a group activity.

The TFL was just part of the projects undertaken by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch to spread the awareness on the need to save the environment.

Themed ‘3Rs- How Nature Does It…’, the project saw various indoor and outdoor activities in the form of games, quizzes and informative talks on how nature recycles and enriches the forest floors.

The outdoor activities included freeing some diptocarps trapped by fallen trees, labelling the rest huts by paint stencil and maintaining 59 trees in two plots.

TFL started as a community project in July 2007 to stress the vital roles of trees in safeguarding our environment and reducing the impacts of global warming.

One of the main aims is to restore degraded habitats in the Sama Jaya Nature Reserve in Tabuan Jaya.

Participants in the previous projects, who sponsored and planted trees of local fruit trees at two degraded plots, took part in interpretative walks in the Japanese and Ethnological Gardens, learned how to make a proper plant collection or pressed leaves for study and research and identify tree species in the nature reserve.

Among those leading the project were Rambli Ahmad from SFC and Susan Teal, the coordinator for TFL.

 

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Friday, April 4, 2008

Sarawak BN leaders kiss Badawi ass

Posted by MD at 8:36 AM

The only reason why Sarawak BN component parties are very strong is because DAP and PKR just don't have good candidates. During the last general election, Sarawak BN nominated piece of plank to contest in most seats. The opposition likewise, also nominate piece of plank.

To the voters, both planks looks the same and since BN is a more popular brand, might as well as they voted for the plank with BN logo. Undilah tunggul kayu chap BN.

Now suppose BN nominated a plank and the opposition parties nominate a strong, vocal and caliber candidate, the election outcome in Sarawak would be reverse. Unlike in Semanjung, where DAP and PKR candidates are very active even before the election, the candidate of DAP and PKR in Sarawak only appear from thin air during the nomination day. Nobody voted for strangers.

Back to the meeting between Badawi and the Sarawak BN leaders from PBB, SUPP, SPDP and PRS. Leaders from SUPP, SPDP and PRS are pure yes man to Taib Mahmud, the president of PBB.

Taib Mahmud in turn fully support Badawi even though Taib hates Badawi face because he wanted Badawi to tie down ACA from probing Taib.

Just like the Musang from Sabah, Taib does have a long, long list of sins and trespasses. The ACA of Sarawak is as lame as the ACA of Sabah. Being a puppet of the Prime Ministers, ACA will only acts upon Badawi instruction.

But to Badawi, even how corrupted Taib or Musa are, they are best kept secret of BN bastion. And so, ACA dogs are not allowed to go near Taib and Musa. Taib and Musa are Joker cards that Badawi will hold tight to in this political game of Malaysia.

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Extracted from: bernama.com (Apr 04, 2008)

Sarawak BN Reps Pledge Support For Abdullah's Leadership

KUCHING, April 4 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives Friday pledged full support for the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, saying they will continue to serve their constituencies under the BN banner.

The prime minister said the elected representatives, including the 30 BN members of parliament in Sarawak, had made their stand clear.

He said they felt insulted over recent speculations that some of them planned to cross over to the Opposition due to disappointment over their exclusion in the federal administration.

"Yes, I believe the Sarawak BN component parties are very strong and they (elected representatives) are very proud of their achievement and want to serve their constituencies," he told a press conference after meeting Sarawak BN leaders to discuss the current political climate in the state.

Abdullah, who is also BN chairman, held separate meetings with Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan, who is also Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Datuk Seri William Mawan and Parti Rakyat Sarawak president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing.

In the March 8 general election, the state BN maintained its billing as the as the BN fortress, delivering 30 of the 31 parliamentary seats.

On the request for better representation of Sarawak MPs in the federal Cabinet based on the four-party state BN's electoral performance, Abdullah said he had taken note of the matter.

"We will see what we can do. The posts have been filled," he said, adding that some of the state BN component parties had been allocated additional posts compared to the previous cabinet.

The two ministers from Sarawak appointed to the federal cabinet are Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas from PBB and and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin from SUPP.

Of the nine deputy ministers from the state, three are from PBB and two each from SUPP, SPDP and PRS.

Abdullah, however, said candidates would be drawn from Umno for the three deputy ministers' posts which had fallen vacant following the resignation of a deputy minister from Sabah.

Kalabakan MP Datuk Seri Panglima Abdul Ghapur Salleh resigned recently as deputy minister of natural resources and environment

Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman and Jerantut MP Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar declined their deputy ministers post, saying they are "senior enough" to be full ministers as they had served as deputy ministers for two terms.

"I will not say who they are but they will be from the same party (Umno) and the swearing-in ceremony will be held next week," he said.

On the Dewan Rakyat speaker's post, he said, candidates from Sabah and Sarawak may be appointed to the post.

"We have identified some people and are in the process of getting in touch with them and asking them how they feel about it," he said.

On calls, including from his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, asking him to quit as prime minister to assume responsibility for BN's dismal showing in the general election, he said the BN's mandate was still strong.

"The mandate is still strong by any standards compared to other countries. "Our government can make a strong government. We have to lay out our development plans, identify projects and ensure they are implemented under the Ninth Malaysia Plan with success," he said.

The BN government would ensure the people benefited from the economy and the investments coming in, he added.

-- BERNAMA

 

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Invincible fox immune to ACA probe

Posted by MD at 8:16 AM

Invincible fox (Musang), the number one of Sabah government must have immunity from Badawi when he requested for ACA to probe corruptions in Sabah. The reported corruptions cases in Sabah mostly involved small fishes, the big fish involved the Musang is thrown back to Likas Bay. Ask the business community and they will tell you how hard it is to conduct business with Musang sniffing around.

So long as the ACA is from Sabah branch, they are probably a close gang to the fox. If Musang really want to resolve the power abuse in Sabah including those involving himself, he should call the ACA from Penang, Selangor, Perak or Kelantan branches. I'm sure the ACA from those opposition-held states are more ethical and serious in their work.

Kalo harap ACA dari Sabah, mungkin diaorang ada komplot dengan si musang bah tu. Kalo ndak komplot, tentu topinai bah tu.

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Extracted from: bernama.com (Apr 04, 2008)

Musa Wants An Aggressive ACA To Probe Power Abuse In Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, April 4 (Bernama) -- Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman wants the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to be more aggressive in its probe on misappropriation of funds and power abuse in the state administration.

He said such an action was necessary to ensure smooth implementation of all development projects and activities planned under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the Sabah Development Corridor.

"We were informed by Sabah ACA director Latifa Md Yatim of an increase in the number of complaints on corruption.

"We told her to be more aggressive in conducting investigations into the complaints," he told reporters after chairing the state management integrity committee here Friday.

Musa said the complaints received by the ACA included making false claims for projects which did not exist.

He said the government would ensure allocations for projects or programmes were spent wisely.

He welcome a suggestion by Latifa that ACA officers be included in visits to project sites to enable them to detect any form of abuse at an early stage and immediate action to be taken.

"It will be good to have ACA officers visit project sites as they will be able to know the progress of the project implementation, and whether there is transparency in the implementation," he added.

On the state management integrity committee, Musa said the committee should meet at least once in three months so that problems relating to implementation of government projects could be detected earlier, and immediate action could be taken to rectify problems, if any.

--BERNAMA

 

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Is there any doctor in the house

Posted by MD at 10:31 PM

Malaysia Medical Association has whined that the Health Ministry's plan to send patients to India for treatment because the treatment is far more cheaper then the amount charged on Malaysian soil.

Take a look at this:
It was reported that the cost per child in India, including surgery, airfare and treatment would only amount to RM10,000 compared to about RM17,000 at the National Heart Institute (IJN) here and up to RM45,000 at private hospitals.

Why is it, getting treatment oversea is cheaper after taking into consideration the cost of traveling and lodging? The higher cost of medical treatment in Malaysia could be due:
1) high labour cost
2) medical institute and private hospitals overcharging (or bills highly marked up)

In addition, Health Ministry is promoting Malaysia as a health tourism destination but plan to send patients the opposition direction.

One of the underlying problem is lack of local doctors who work with local hospital. No doubt, Malaysia have enough doctors but the government policies of insisting that local doctors must be able to converse in Bahasa Malaysia is absolutely ridiculous and hypocritical especially when Health Ministry imported foreign doctors from India and Bangladesh WHO DO NOT SPEAK Bahasa Malaysia. It a double standard on behalf of the Health Ministry.

In real life, if you are qualified doctor, you don't to know Bahasa Malaysia to save life. Health Ministry is also underpaying local doctors. Doctors need to be paid more because they need to recoup their expenses while studying medicine.

What the Health Ministry can do to improve the situation is:
1) full sponsorship for students who wish to take medicinal studying
2) do not enforced Bahasa Malaysia as a must for language requirement at hospital
3) subsidies cost of medicines
4) upgrade university medicine course

Joke:

Then there's the woman who goes to the dentist. As he leans over to begin working on her, she grabs his crotch. The dentist says, "Madam, I believe you've got a hold of my privates." The woman replies, "Yes. Now, we're going to be careful not to hurt each other, aren't we."

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Extracted from: theborneopost.com/?p=33516 (Apr 04, 2008)

MMA: Sending heart patients to India unwise

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry’s plan to send patients to India for heart surgeries would only hamper the local cardiac and healthcare industry, the Malaysia Medical Association (MMA) said yesterday.

Its president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin in a statement here said the move was retrogressive and contradicted the government’s aim to promote the country as a health tourism destination.

“Sending patients overseas might solve the immediate problem for a while but will be detrimental for the development of comprehensive cardiac care in this country,” he said in response to Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai’s statement yesterday that children born with congenital heart disease would be sent to India for treatment as a last resort if it is not possible to schedule for their treatment here.

“Malaysia has been working hard to position itself as a health tourism destination.

This move of sending our citizens overseas is going to send the wrong signals and hurt the efforts grievously.”

It was reported that the cost per child in India, including surgery, airfare and treatment would only amount to RM10,000 compared to about RM17,000 at the National Heart Institute (IJN) here and up to RM45,000 at private hospitals.

Dr Khoo said instead of making the relative cost an excuse, the government itself should be working on ways to come up with competitive cost packages for such surgery.

— Bernama

 

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Parti Rakyat Sarawak throwing out excess baggages ?

Posted by MD at 8:19 PM

James Masing the president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak has been resurrected from the dead. I mean the dead presidentship.

Registrar of Societies Datuk Md Alias Kalil confirmed yesterday that James Masing is the legitimate president of PRS. ROS before this have submitted their official letter indicating that the PRS is off the hook (will not be registered) but ROS never indicate their recognition on which person is the legitimate president of the party in that latter. That's why confusion still arise even after the official announcement that PRS will not be registered.

Previously, both Masing and Larry have been having a family squabble insisting that each one is the party president. Both argue on the legitimacy of the party presidency status for over a year. ROS, Taib Mahmud and even Badawi just stand together with the spectator watching the show instead of dealing with the problem direct. It was a crab mentality on their part.

Back to the real world now. So Masing is on the winning side and Larry being the loser is confirmed to be expelled and Larry is now partyless. But in actual fact, PRS is the big loser not Larry Sng. PRS no doubt is seeing a new dawn with Masing as the confirmed president and he need to decide on what to do with his opposing camp lead by Larry.

PRS will start new but probably without its other half, assuming Larry Sng and his camp members totally abandoned PRS and create yet another splinter party or join the real Opposition parties (likely to join DAP or PKR). If that happen PRS will be severely weaken.

Assuming Larry Sng and his group reconcile with Masing and re-pledge their undying support for Masing, Masing would have better support on the surface. Deep inside, the scar will takes time to heal and who knows, Larry Sng might just ambush Masing when the next opportunity call by.

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Extracted from: theborneopost.com/?p=33525 (Apr 04, 2008)

Masing is PRS president

By Samuel Aubrey

That’s how it is. Dato Sri Dr James Masing is still the president: ROS

KUCHING: Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing is the legitimate president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Registrar of Societies Datuk Md Alias Kalil confirmed yesterday.

With this confirmation by the ROS, the protracted party crises appears to have been resolved.

Contacted at his office in Putrajaya, Alias said Masing was still the PRS president and explained that the April 1 letter, which contained his decision not to deregister PRS, was written in response to the show cause reply given by Masing in his capacity as PRS president on Sept 15, 2006.

“That’s how it is. Dato Sri Dr James Masing is still the president. I think my explanation in the letter is already clear enough, and I do not want to add anything more,” said Alias during the telephone interview.

Since Alias confirmed that Masing is PRS president, all decisions he and his supreme council had made from the time of the sacking until now are deemed valid.

This means that Larry Sng and nine others had been expelled from the party because Masing’s supreme council had expelled them early last year.

Masing also told The Borneo Post on Wednesday that he would be holding a supreme council meeting tomorrow, after which, he would be able to give a clearer picture about his party’s rejuvenation plans.

When asked if he would reinstate Sng and nine others, he said he would have to discuss this with his supreme council members as well as the state BN leadership. Sng is an assistant minister as well as assemblyman.

Letters containing Alias’ decision were hand-delivered on Wednesday by two ROS officers from Kuala Lumpur to Masing at his office in Petra Jaya at 10am and to the party’s registered headquarters at Green Heights Commercial Centre.

The decision was on the show cause letter that Alias’ predecessor had issued the party after Masing had sacked six of PRS’ principal office-bearers on May 25, 2006. The show cause letter, which was sent on Sept 7, 2006, warned that the party could be deregistered.

PRS is embroiled in a leadership tussle, with Masing’s camp having its own headquarters in Jalan Pending, while the other camp headed by Sng is occupying the registered headquarters at Green Heights.

Understandably both the Masing and Sng camps have come with their own interpretations that favoured their respective camps. They nonetheless agreed that the party was now safe.

In the first paragraph of the three-paragraph letter, which was addressed to the PRS ‘Setiausaha (Secretary)’, Alias referred to a reply given by Masing on Sept 15, 2006, to the show cause letter.

The second paragraph reads: “Dimaklumkan bahawa setelah meneliti alasan-alasan yang dikemukakan oleh pihak YB Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing berkaitan pemecatan ahli jawatankuasa Parti Rakyat Sarawak, saya bersetuju tidak meneruskan tindakan pembatalan Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) dibawah Seksyen 13(1)(c)(iv) Akta Pertubuhan 1966.”

 

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Anyone for political parties for Qing Ming offering

Posted by MD at 9:21 AM

The news extract below mentioned that paper-made "Astro decoder" is a hot selling Qing Ming offering for the departed. Qing Ming is observed by the Chinese and is similar to Christian's All Soul day.

Astro decoder works with a TV set, Astro receiver dish and subscription to Astro programs. In addition, Astro use satellite to transmit their programs to their subscribers. So, would the departed be dead happy to receive their "Astro decoder" without "Astro programs" ? And there's no satellite in the underworld to broadcast the Astro programs. How now ?

And are the departed politically concise nowadays ? Do they vote in the underworld ? Yes ? Which political parties do they vote for ?

It is time to burn the political parties peripheries like their logo, flags, and nonperforming leaders. See if the dead still voted for them.


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Extracted from: nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/NewsBreak/20080403144402/Article/index_html (Apr 03, 2008)

The 'Astro decoder' is hot selling Qing Ming offering

By : Phuah Ken Lin

'Astro decoders' have emerged as the hottest selling paper-offering to appease the dead in conjunction with the annual Qing Ming festival.

Sold together with `flat screen television sets`, the items have been selling like hot cakes. One trader even emulated Astro’s ‘Buy The Second Decoder At 50 Per Cent Discount’ promotional tagline.

Yeoh Gaik Heoh, 50, the owner of Eng Seng Huat Praying Articles Center here said she decided to adopt the tagline due to its unmistakable popularity.

"Our approach has been successful as the paper decoders have almost been sold out," Yeoh said when met at her outlet along Lebuh Carnavon this morning.

Priced at RM8 per set, Yeoh said the decoder was the latest prayer offering in addition to traditional ones such as hell bank notes, houses, clothes, cell phones, cars, digital cameras and even makeup kits use in the afterlife. Also popular this year, she said, is the `reclining chair`.

The items have also caught the imagination of tourists, said Yeoh's husband Lim Lye Sim, 52.

"Some of them even came to our outlet to buy them as souvenirs," Lim said.

NST’s check around the island found out that the Taoists have been busy paying homage to the departed. Roads to the island's main Chinese burial ground have been heavy with traffic throughout the week.

Among the graveyards bustling with activities are those in Mount Erksine, Paya Terubong and Jelutong.

Traditionally, Qing Ming or Chinese All Soul's Day falls on April 5 every year except for leap years when it falls a day earlier. It can be observed for 10 days before and after that date.

 

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Mahdzir Khalid forecasts on Pakatan Rakyat

Posted by MD at 9:08 AM

Mahdzir Khalid, the chairman of Kedah Barisan Nasional is doubtful that the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition (of PKR, DAP and PAS) won't last long.

It's true that previously, DAP and PAS are at loggerhead on PAS ideas of establishing Malaysia as an Islamic states. However, it is impossible for PAS to do that, unless all the winning member of parliaments are PAS members. Otherwise, mathematically PAS does not have the number in order for them to change the constitution and convert Malaysia as an Islamic state.

Mahdzir Khalid is boastful that BN enjoyed a good working relationship. Of course he is correct as BN is ruled by UMNO and all the component parties of BN like MCA, MIC and other peanut parties from Sabah and Sarawak kow-tow to UMNO.

UMNO rules BN with iron-fist. All other "yes man" BN component parties bow down to UMNO rule.

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Extracted from: nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2202725/Article/index_html (Apr 03, 2008)

Mahdzir: Coalition won't last

ALOR STAR: Kedah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid believes the Pakatan Rakyat will not last.

He said the DAP had on many occasions objected to Pas' intention of creating an Islamic state.

"Now, they are talking about a grouping to work on common goals. I seriously doubt their sincerity," he said after chairing the state BN meeting here yesterday.

Mahdzir was asked to comment on the establishment of a formal coalition between Pas, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat known as Pakatan Rakyat.

He said it was common knowledge that Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP chairman Karpal Singh had been at loggerheads over the Islamic state plan.

"The tripartite grouping is merely a political expediency. That is all and it will not last."

In contrast, he said the component parties under the BN enjoyed a good working relationship.

"The main parties - Umno, MCA and MIC - have worked together for more than 50 years.

"This relationship has served as a strong foundation for the ruling party to serve the people well."

 

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Federal minister making state government life difficult

Posted by MD at 8:11 AM

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (a Federal minister with the ruling Barisan Nasional) is making state government of Selangor life difficult.

Is there any benefits for rakyat and for the nation for her to terminate all tourism memorandum of understanding with the Selangor Government just because Selangor is now ruled by the opposition parties ? Is this a vendetta ? Her decision must be political motivated. On the other hand, it make her look like a fool.

Why can't Azalina be busy with master plan to boost the tourism industry in Selangor and other parts of Malaysia in general ? Terminating tourism MOU with Selangor clearly shows that the federal government is no longer keen to support Selangor in their tourism industry. Bear in mind that, tourism contribute a substantial revenue to Malaysia earning and just because Selangor is now governed by the opposition, doesn't mean you ignore Selangor. How about other states like Penang, Perak, Kelantan and Kedah (all rules by the opposition parties).

Tourism industry is the first one to be reported. I'm sure there will be avalanches of other MOU with other states ruled by opposition parties to be terminated by the federal government.

This clearly shows that the Barisan Nasional not only politicized issues on religion and race but now also other aspects.

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Extracted from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/3/nation/20080403165809&sec=nation (Apr 03, 2008)

Selangor govt says move by Tourism Minister foolhardy

By EDWARD RAJENDRA

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Government strongly feels that Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s decision to terminate all tourism memorandum of understanding with Opposition-ruled states as foolhardy.

Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment state chairman Elizabeth Wong said such a decision is reckless for the Federal Government especially to sideline Selangor, which is the gateway into the country and a premier destination.

On Wednesday, Azalina had said that the decision was due to the change in leadership in the state governments that was in line with the termination of the Tourism Action Council in the states.

Wong said Selangor is one of the top destinations in the nation’s first stop for most international tourist and to sideline other states like Penang, Perak, Kelantan and Kedah is not wise.

“Initially, we had been looking forward to working with the Tourism Ministry for the betterment of the industry and the country. Selangor accounts for some 30% of the national Gross Domestic Product and this callous move might have adverse impact on our national economy as well as the industry,” she said.

She added that one should not cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face.

“For us in Selangor we will persevere in supporting the tourism industry and this in fact gives us a better opportunity to work even more closely with the private sector. We are committed to improve and to develop the tourism sector in the state in several new initiatives in eco-tourism and heritage tourism,” she said.

Wong also called upon Selangorians to visit the state’s historical attractions and push forward the industry with a greater zeal in the light of this development.

 

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