Urban Pioneer at Jalan Peace Selatan

Everytime I walk to a squatter area, it makes me feel downhearted. In a rich state like Sarawak, there should not be people living in squatters. If the government of the day has done its job well in distributing the wealth of the State, there should not be any dirt poor people living below poverty line.

Whereas, in Penang, the Pakatan Rakyat government manages to eradicate the hardcore poor in the state within a year time since Pakatan Rakyat became the government. The things BN government cannot do it in 52 years, PR government did it in a year time.

Jalan Peace Selatan squatters of 200 families which falls under Pending constituency are still living in poor condition where there was no proper roads leading to their houses. The self-tar track road is anything to get by but the residents had been living in such condition for some, the past 40 years. Whatever they faced, they still tried to get by.

Water and electricity have been provided and I could not see why the government refuses to give them land titles by turning the area into a resettlement scheme.

I was there recently to hand out some cash for them to repair the roads themselves. We, DAP handed over a sum of RM3,100.00 to the residents’ representative Mr. Chang Fook Kui who said they would use the money to carry out urgent repair on the roads which are full with potholes.

I know RM3,100.00 may not be a lot to other people but for us DAP, we have to rely heavily on ourselves. If we were the government of the Day, we would do a lot more where money is concerned. With our own budget plan, we want all Sarawakian to enjoy what the State has to offer without corrupted practise and the rich getting richer while the poor gets poorer.

I do not want money to be an obstacle to help the people. Whatever I could, I tried my very best. That is why supporters should understand DAP’s constrain of lack of fund. That is why the voters should vote in Pakatan Rakyat to have a fair distribution of wealth for everyone and not the cronies of the Barisan Nasional leaders, of which one stark example is Naim Cendera Berhad and its group of companies.

Read Your Itemised Mobile Phone Bill Carefully

A businessman came to me with a box of bills which he has kept since 2005 as proof of how he was scammed by a legal service provider! He had paid more than RM4,000 unknowingly for SMS he received which he did not subscribe to in the first place.

Mr. Tan said the SMS were from companies which deal in offers including football matches, marketing products and some lewd ones on massage services.Tan travel frequently overseas for business and thought that the high bill was due to the raoaming service. After a month of staying put in Kuching, he was amazed at how high the bill was. A check through his itemised bill showed that out of the RM469 paid, RM257 went to the SMS external provider charges.

I called that daylight robbery. Tan went to the DIGI service provider to lodge a complaint and as usual, he was pushed from one branch to another. However, he was persistance and got an agreement that the SMS would stop. Tan was told that each SMS cost between 30 cents to RM5 and even if anyone were to delete the SMS without reading, they are still paying money to the company, the external provider.

Such pratice is not only peculiar with DIGI, but all mobile phone services. I think it is high time the government introduced an anti-scam law like those in Australia, China and United States.

We are always taken for a ride for all sort of scam and this one is worst as the government is allowing it to happen right under their nose. The service provider should take responsibility for the whole scam. They should have blocked the SMS from going out if they were serious in curbing such scam. I wondered if they were getting some kind of commission out of the whole thing.

Mr. Tan said while talking to a staff at DIGI, one supervisor even offered to pay RM100 as compensation to him. The amount is too little compared to the amount already forked out by him in the last few years.

MCMC should do something about it before more people are conned. Imagine the number of 29.62 millions mobile phone users in the country. If each company can collect RM10 a day, the amount collected each day would be 296.20 million ringgit. And for whose benefit, the poor common people? Or the rich cheating on the poor?

Collapsed Jetty at Sungai Apong.

Finally, the offending jetty is removed.

Waking up early is a routine for me. I prefer to do things early as I believed that the earlier one starts a day, the faster and more tasks could be done that day.

I met up with my comrade at our DAP Service Centre at Chonglin Park. We proceeded to Jalan Simen, Pending and headed towards the Sg. Apong jetty which was used as a loading and unloading of Land and Survey boats. I don’t like to critise for the sake of criticising but I don’t understand why a government department could move and left behind broken pieces without even bothering to clear up, in this case, a collapsed cement jetty.

The collapsed jetty had been there for decades and I came to understand that previously, SUPP was approached by the Sg. Apong fishermen to help removed the collapsed jetty. Nothing was done. Year after year, the poor fishermen had to put up with propeller damaged and dented body on their fishing trawlers as the bridge was almost in the middle of the narrow river.

The fishermen had enough problems created to their livelihood and having this one added was too much for them to bear. When they first came to me sometime in October, 2008, I wrote a letter to the controller of the Sarawak River Board on October 4 seeking their assistance to remove the broken jetty.

During the May, 2009 DUN sitting and last DUN sitting in November, I brought up the issue again asking the authority to do something. Finally, the authorities get their foot moving.

The Sg. Apong fishermen called me early this week to convey their thanks. At long last the broken jetty is in the progess of being dismantled. I am happy for them and when I arrived at the jetty, indeed the workers were doing their work. One of them chatted with me and said they could only work when the tide is low. He told me that it was the Drainage Irrigation Department who asked them to clear the obstacles. I think he must be puzzled why I gave him a big grin. I remembered hearing from residents in Sg. Apong that the SUPP had tried to get credit by telling the people that they, (SUPP) had engaged workers to demolish the collapsed jetty!

What a way to get credit. I believe that if the SUPP bothered to go to the ground to help the people, they could get their credit due to them. It is a shame that they could stoop so low to get a few praise that way. SUPP thinks that the people are so stupid that they can be fooled around.

The whole issue has shown that the relevant government departments can indeed do their work if they are given a little push. Those managaing government departments should appreciate problems brought about by inaction on the part of the department itself when it is adding to the daily woes of the local people. The department in fact should be proactive, and act to do things for the people instead of waiting for them to be urged to do so.

Turtles, the Victims of an 'Egg-Stra' Law

Source: Malaysianmirror

KUCHING - Lawmakers not only defend the rights of fellow citizens. Sometimes, creatures other than humans. Pending state assemblyman Violet Yong is adamant about defending the turtles. She is aghast at a show of ignorance to the plight of turtles by some 'dignified' diners who feasted on the eggs of these aquatic species early this year.And she became more furious and disgusted when, recently, Sarawak Forestry Corporation controller Len Latiff advised the public against selling or buying of turtle.Early this year, an English daily showed guests at a police function at Batu Kawa consuming a plate of turtle eggs.

The VIP diners

Among those who attended the dinner were Internal Security and Public Order director Husin Ismail, Sarawak Commissioner of Police Mohmad Salleh, general operations force head Law Hong Soon and heads of departments in the police force."The expose by the daily raised the spectre of whether the application of law has been differentiated between the ordinary people and those who are supposed to protect the law," said Yong, who lodged a report on the matter at the Simpang Tiga police station on March 15, a few days after the offensive dinner.She also raised the issue in the May sitting of the state assembly, only to be told by state public utilities minister Awang Tengah Ali Hasan that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case."Insufficient evidence even with photos shown? What more do they want? No evidence? My foot!” said Violet."What a sick joke. And here we have Len asking the people to report immediately to the police if they come across people buying or selling the protected turtle eggs. "Is there two set of laws here, one for the people and one for the authority?”Len had told reporters that he was investigating the issue, adding that humans should not be selfish and cause harm to wild life,including turtle eggs, which are protected under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998."I feel furious and disgusted when I read Len's statement," Yong told Malaysian Mirror.

Case being investigated?

"He should not have opened his mouth at all. What he said makes him look so ignorant. "The story of the police taking the turtle eggs was out on the front page of the English newspaper."I lodged a report and there he was telling reporters then that the case was being investigated." Saying that Len is playing both “Cowboy and Indian” in the issue, Yong said the police should have come clean. She is concerned on how the police are going to nab future offenders as the latter might turn back and tell them that their bosses had also consumed turtle eggs and was never punished!“I am sure the law breaker will tell the police who nab him that it is a case of the pot calling the kettle black”.

The police, she said, had kept an 'eerie silence' on the issue.

A black mark

"For them to break the law blantantly by consuming a protected species and keeping quiet about it, I wonder how much faith the people have anymore in them," she said.The incident, she pointed out, left a black mark on the country as Malaysia is a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on Asean Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection.Yong said she would not let the matter rest - for as long as the subject of turtle eggs is mentioned by any authority - until justice is served. - Malaysian Mirror

Last Updated on Friday, 18 December 2009 13:41

My Dun Speech for November, 2009 on SALCO

SALCO

Tuan Speaker,

Since so much has been said about SCORE. I wish to seek some clarification on the SCORE.

I understand that in order to lure investment to Sarawak, the government is offering, through SESCO, very cheap electricity tariffs to these companies.

However, I was told that the system costs of electricity generation and transmission is approximately RM0.20 per unit.

In one of the business news reports, it was reported that Sarawak Aluminium Company Sdn Bhd is negotiating with the Government of Sarawak for the supply of electricity at the rate of RM0.06 – RM0.08 per kWh and that they are looking at the supply of 1,400 Mega Watts. Even at that price of RM0.10 per unit, that will be approximate RM0.10 per unit (kWh) below SESCO's costs of electricity production.

At such rate, we are talking about SESCO selling to SALCO at an approximate loss of RM1 billion a year. Coincidentally, SALCO is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and CMS Berhad. Why are we selling electricity to SALCO so cheaply while other industrialists and businesses pay so dearly for electricity.

My Dun Speech for November, 2009 on Land Issue at Sejingkat/Bako

Land Issue at Sejingkat/Bako area

If the lands in Bako area which are registered under the names of Raziah @ Rodiah Binti Mahmud (CM's sisiter) and Tommy Bin Bugo @ Hamid Bin Bugo can be free from Section 47 notification and furthermore with perpetuity term, why can't other ordinary landowners enjoy the same conditions like the Chief Minister’s sister and Tommy Bin Bugo @ Hamid Bin Bugo? Why certain people are more equal than others? We should not run the state like an “Animal Farm”.

Tuan Speaker,

The next pertinent issue I would like to voice out is Land Issue, particularly touching on Section 47 of the Land Code.

For many years, the people in Sarawak have been expressing great dissatisfaction that many lands had been imposed under Section 47of the Land Code.

As revealed by the Land and Survey Department, as at 30.4.2009, there are still 397 parcels of land in Sejingkat/Bako area which are still subject to Section 47 notification since 1974. Hence, the Section 47 notification has caused great anxiety to the landowners in Sejingkat/Bako.

Tuan, Speaker,

We know very well that Section 47 represents a clog on the land for further private development or dealings, whether by way of sale or purchase or used for purpose to obtain loan from the banks or financial institutions. What horrify the landowners now is that the BN state government uses Section 47 notification as an excuse for not renewing the terms of leases of those lands in Sejingkat/Bako which are going to expire soon. Many landowners in the area have expressed their anxiety that in view that their lands are going to expire and that the state government refuses to grant extension of the lease term of their lands due to Section 47 notices. They worry that they will lose their property and end up with nothing because the state government does not have to pay them a single cent upon the expiry of their land lease. If the BN state government is a caring government as claimed, why the government is so heartless to let the landowners go through all these agony? With Section 47 restriction against private land development or dealings, where is the justice and fairness to all these land owners?

Why do the BN Government need 35 donkey years to sleep on Section 47? Where is the promise to review Section 47 every two years? 35 years for any Section 47 notification is very unreasonable. Therefore, it is high time for the State Government to revoke Section 47 Notifications imposed on these lands.

Tuan Speaker,

We DAP are not asking the government to do away with Section 47 of the Land Code. What we propose is Section 47 of the Land Code should be amended so that all notices imposed on the land under Section 47 of the Land Code shall automatically lapse two years after its imposition if the government does not proceed with the acquisition of the affected lands within the said two years period.

My Dun Speech for November, 2009 Sitting on Penan Issue

1. Penan Issue

Tuan Speaker,

Let me touch on a thorny issue which is not only sensitive to the state government but also to me. I consider it sensitive as I do not want any women, be they Chinese, Malay, Dayaks, Indians or Penan to go through it. I have to fight for this injustice for all women in Malaysia.

Rape is such a degrading act against women and some never recovered from the trauma of it. The worst are those who were impregnated during the heinous act.

The NGO had been brave to highlight the issue on rape of Penan Women last year, yes, a year passed by already. What is being done? Has any rapist been arrested? Has any justice been rendered to the victims? NO! Nothing concrete has been done yet! Where is the justice for these survivors of rapes?

Tuan Speaker,

Instead of spear-heading the investigation when the rape on Penan girls and women was brought out, there was an outcry of denial from all corners as the rapists roamed the jungles free. Instead, the NGO who broke the story ended up being the guilty ones. The leaders of this land including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister II, who is also in charge of Penan Affairs and the Minister for Land Development tried to sweep the issue under the carpet with accusations of the reports as being lies, calling the Penan good storytellers and asking newspapers which blew out the issue to check their facts. The NGO were branded liars and trouble-makers.

When the Woman, Family and Community Development Department made a finding early this year and confirmed that there were indeed rape cases of Penan girls, our state leaders came out strongly against the reports stating it as doubtful. The national media who broke the story was even accused of being Saboteurs.

Our DCM II who is also in charge of the Penan Affairs, denied outright when the report first surfaced. He said he went to Baram often and never heard of any rape case there. Is it because the DCM II did not want to listen to unpleasant issues or is it that the people did not trust him enough to solve such a ‘big’ problem?

Has the DCM II, who was assigned to protect the Penans, failed in his job? Why was he so fast to deny the truth vehemently when the issue broke out?

He should be stripped off his position of Penans Affairs when he has shown no compassion to the victims but instead exhibited extreme prejudice and insensitiveness.

Tuan Speaker,

The rakyat wants an answer. Who is the BN government trying to protect? Is the BN government trying to protect the logging companies who hired these rapists?

If the Penan issue happens in another country, I believe the Ministers and those who were involved would have apologized immediately and resigned to save their reputation. But, this is Malaysia. No one with such power gripped in their fists would want to let go no matter how many mistakes they have made and how many lives have been destroyed due to their non-committal efforts in taking the people’s welfare at heart.

At the Parliament recently, despite Shahrizat having confirmed second time that the sexual assault on the Penan girls are true, did any of our state leaders accept the fact and ensure that a wrong should be set right? NO, No one from the Barisan National is interested in the Penan issue because the Penan to them is of no monetary value and the setting up of roadblocks in the interior prevented their cronies from fattening their wallets. To them, the Penan issue brought out by the NGO is something they wanted suppressed from the world. The best solution for the BN government now is how to sweep the whole thing under the carpet.

Tuan Speaker,

The police, the consortium of law enforcer should take a huge chunk of the blame in their lackadaisical attitude towards the rape issue. There were so many excuses made by the police that one wonders if they were unable to function at all. With all the reports revealed, they still failed to do anything right. First, it was alleged that the victims were unable or did not want to co-operate. The police even blamed the NGO for giving zero co-operation.

It is time the police show some empathy. For once, do something right. Don’t be used by big companies and the ruling party for their own political and financial gain. Please check your conscience and get the suspects. The timber camps have been named. What is so difficult to go to the camps and do some questioning? Don’t just be good in questioning and harassing opposition politicians only. Do something useful.

24 projects with RM80 billion investments approved in SCORE had been announced but the BN has really failed to score any marks in helping their fellow Sarawakians including the Penan when it comes to lining their pockets. It is just so pathetic.