Stop All the Lies on BN Development

KOTA KINABALU - “It is sad for Malaysia that BN Ministers and BN leaders have to stoop so low to continue with lies and deception to fool ordinary Malaysians especially the rural constituencies that only the Barisan Nasional can bring about development for their constituencies” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, noting the various statements by BN leaders that the opposition cannot bring development that only BN can.

It has become standard statement for the Umno/BN leaders that only the BN can guarantee and bring about development. This is used against the opposition and played up by the mainstream media controlled by the Umno/BN government. For other media that are not controlled by them, the media are bullied and threatened against until the news become distorted or censored.

“But the truth is that the statement that only Umno/BN can bring about development is a blatant lie” stressed Dr. Jeffrey.

However, for simple folks, that statement is taken as the gospel truth thinking that whatever development projects brought into their villages are by Umno/BN. Even official government projects are advertised in billboards as another project by the BN.

Nothing is further from the truth.

To perpetuate these lies to the people, these Umno/BN leaders have deliberately erased the line between a ruling government of the day with that of the ruling government being led by Umno/BN. They are different when it comes to implementing projects.

The undisputed fact is that every single government project is not by Umno/BN but by the ruling government of the day. When the Umno/BN do not form the ruling government, the development projects will still be undertaken by the non-Umno/BN government. Development projects do not stop if Umno/BN do not form the government.

It is the responsibility of the ruling government of the day to undertake development projects whether it is a school, a road, road repairs or even basic treated water and electricity. If any people do not get treated water but just gravity-fed water supply or no electricity supply or no proper sealed roads, it only means that the ruling government has failed the people. The failure is that of the government that is led by Umno/BN.

The people need to realize the truth behind these lies. For instance in Selangor, Penang and Kelantan, the projects are undertaken by the government of the day which is the Pakatan. The Umno/BN in these States carry out no project whatsoever other than projects which are undertaken by the federal government.

The Umno/BN-led federal and state governments need to stop their lies and stop using development projects to punish the people in opposition-held constituencies. They have no right to deprive the people in opposition constituencies of any development project as it the supreme right of any individual to vote whichever party he or she chooses.

If the Umno/BN-led federal and state governments still wish to use development projects as their trump card to punish voters who voted for the opposition, then they should stop collecting taxes from these opposition voters. Let only Umno/BN voters pay taxes and let the Umno/BN government to use these taxes to fund their development projects.

The same goes for BR1M hand-outs. The money that funds these BR1M hand-outs are public money contributed by all tax-payers not only Umno/BN party members or their voters.

Like the on-going festivities, the Umno/BN leaders should be claiming themselves to be Santa Clauses when giving out these BR1M hand-outs and claim credit for them when the money does not belong to them.

Referring news on Daily Express

MP says Max fails to ensure clean water supply for villagers

Kota Kinabalu: DAP Sabah said the party is sincere in providing assistance to the rural community such as in Kampung Samparita Laut, Kota Marudu contrary to the claim by Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

Maximus' statement in accusing DAP of rubbishing the government's efforts and misleading the public is simply not true, said Sandakan MP, Stephen Wong Tien Fatt.

"We, the DAP, are here to sincerely help the rural communities. We are here to provide clean water, because in the past 50 years, they have no access to clean water supply," said Wong who is also DAP Sandakan chief on Monday.

Responding to the Kota Marudu MP's statement who slammed DAP for doing it to gain political mileage and to spread their political agenda of misleading the people, he said DAP's programme dubbed "Impian Sabah" that kick-started at Kampung Samparita Laut last week, showed DAP's sincerity to fulfill the dreams of the rural communities.

He slammed Maximus for failing to ensure clean water supply, despite being a minister for last the 10 years, and their wakil rakyat for the last 20 years.

"It is a shame that Maximus himself is Water Minister and also the MP for Kota Marudu. He has clearly failed to take care of his own area. And instead of thanking DAP or admitting fault, he is accusing DAP."

"Has Maximus entered this village within the last decade? Does he understand the situation of the village? He clearly does not know that the village is out of water and electricity supply?

"There is no proper bridge built for them to cross the river and there is also no proper road sealed for them to go home," he said. Wong, who is also the coordinator for "Impian Sabah" said, it was just the beginning.

"Our mission is to spread this movement throughout the whole of Sabah and make sure everyone has a chance to realise their dream."

"We are not Barisan Nasional. We do not have such deep pockets and we do not have access to tax money," he said, adding that the project was wholly funded by the public who desired to see a change.

"Therefore, Maximus' statement in accusing DAP of being a rich organisation is misleading the public. Maximus should apologise to the villagers of Kampung Samparita Laut for his own failure, and also to all volunteers who worked faithfully and sincerely to realise this project," he said.

In response to Maximus' statement that there were a lot of poor folks in the urban and sub-urban areas, he said, adding that this further proved the need for Impian Sabah.

"In fact, Maximus has indirectly admitted Barisan Nasional's failure for the past 50 years when he mentioned that there are still many poor people in the urban and sub-urban areas".

"Despite being belittled by Maximus, We pledge that Impian Sabah will continue to serve Sabahans and we will try our best to complete every mission. We are here to bring hope for a change. No matter win or lose, we will consistently work for the betterment of Sabah, and Malaysia as a whole," he said.

In his statement, Maximus had urged DAP to carry out more such projects in opposition-held areas such as Moyog, Bingkor, Kapayan, Penampang and even Kota Kinabalu. The event in Kampung Samparita Laut was launched by DAP adviser, Lim Kit Siang with the establishment of a gravity-feed-water system.

Opposition defectors have agenda, says PBS

Keningau: Barisan Nasional (BN) must be wary of accepting into its fold leaders who had made every move to topple the ruling coalition in the last election but are now making a political U-turn for whatever reason.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Vice President Datuk Daniel Kinsik urged the BN top leadership to do away with accepting defectors "who are obviously only interested in their own agenda".

"One of them is Matunggong Assemblyman Datuk Jelani Hamdan. He should have thought before he stood for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in his constituency that only BN can bring development to Matunggong.

"I presume he realised this right from the beginning but made promises that he could bring development even outside BN. This was a blatant lie to the people who had placed their trust on him.

"Now that the election is over he made his move to be back with BN. Had they been successful in their bid to get rid of the BN government in the last election he would be singing a different tune and would have belittled the success of BN," he said. Daniel, who is also Political Secretary to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, said any action to accept such leaders into BN would open the floodgates of BN leaders to go against the ruling government in the next general election. "We are very confident that leaders such as these will fight to overthrow the Government and later comes back, even to the extent of begging, just to be in the Government.

"Their excuses will always be 'Oh I made a mistake, so please take me back'. If this kind of thing is allowed to happen then one would think about the sincerity and integrity in BN. "I hope BN would do away with leaders who place their personal interest above principles and integrity. Otherwise our people will not forgive us for being made a stepping stone for one's personal glory," he said.

On Tuesday, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) another BN component, said it was abandoning plans to accept Jelani into its fold due to the latter's excessive demand of the Deputy President's post, among others.

There is no news on whether the other PKR Assemblyman (Kadamaian) who quit to become a pro-BN independent, Jeremy Malajad, was also interested in joining PBRS as speculated.

Luyang Assemblyman Hiew King Chew of DAP was the third opposition Assemblyman to declare himself as a pro-BN member.

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RM12,000 sebulan masih tidak cukup untuk hidup senang di Malaysia

Berapakah gaji yang diperlukan untuk hidup di Malaysia? Inilah persoalan yang sukar dijawab sejak kebelakangan ini namun bergaji RM12,000 sebulan di Pulau Pinang tidak menjanjikan hidup yang selesa.

Caroline Wong, 34 seorang kerani tinggal bersama suaminya seorang pengurus jualan dan anak perempuan mereka yang masih kecil. Setiap hujung bulan, mereka mendapat RM12,000 sebagai pendapatan bulanan namun sejak kebelakangan ini mereka berasa ia sudah tidak mencukupi.

"Kami kini terpaksa makan di rumah dan tidak boleh lagi membeli barangan mahal termasuk pakaian berjenama sebagaimana dahulu," cerita Wong kepada The Malaysian Insider.

Menurut Wong semua orang kini terpaksa berjimat dengan cara mengurangkan perbelajaan di mana perlu untuk menghadapi kenaikan kos sara hidup.

Wong berkata, dia dan suaminya terpaksa membayar RM4,000 untuk rumah dan kereta, RM1,500 untuk makanan dan RM1,500 lagi untuk penjagaan, makanan dan susu anak perempuannya.

Dia juga terpaksa membelanjakan RM750 untuk insurans dan kad perubatan keluarga; RM700 untuk petrol; RM600 untuk bil telefon, broadband dan wifi; RM120 untuk Astro; RM140 untuk air dan elektrik; dan RM110 untuk pembantu rumah yang datang mengemaskan rumah mereka setiap minggu.

"RM500 lagi kami terpaksa simpan setiap bulan bagi cukai jalan dan insurans kereta. Bulan Mei nanti, kami terpaksa membelanjakan RM1500 sebulan lagi untuk anak kedua kami yang bakal lahir," cerita Wong.

Inilah nasib yang dialami Wong sekeluarga yang tinggal di Pulau Pinang, bandar raya paling mahal kos sara hidupnya di Malaysia. Semua ini dirasai oleh Wong menjelang tahun 2014 yang akan menjelang tidak lama lagi.

Mulai Januari 2014, semua rakyat negara ini terpaksa menerima cabaran baru dalam mengharungi kehidupan apabila pelbagai harga barangan dan perkhidmatan akan dinaikkan lagi.

Dengan status keseluruhan pulau sebagai kawasan tarikan pelancong, kos sara hidup Wong dan keluarga jauh lebih tinggi berbanding tinggal di lain-lain tempat hatta ibu negara Kuala Lumpur.

Inilah hasil kajian yang diperoleh wartawan The Malaysian Insider di seluruh negara tentang kos sara hidup. Kajian yang dibuat mulai pertengahan Disember ini merangkumi Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Pinang, Johor Baru, Kuala Terengganu, Klang, Kuching dan juga Alor Setar.

Perkara yang dikaji pula adalah harga barangan keperluan harian seperti ayam, sayuran seperti sawi dan cili merah, ikan, kadar sewa rumah dan juga keperluan pendapatan minima untuk hidup sempurna.

Kajian ini dibuat menjelang tahun 2014, di mana rakyat bakal menghadapi kenaikan kadar tarif elektrik, tol, sewa bas sekolah, kadar cukai taksiran dan sebagainya.

Dengan harga yang sudah tinggi berbanding pendapatan rakyat, tahun 2014 bakal menjadikan mereka lebih terbeban lagi apabila harga barangan dan perkhidmatan dinaikkan.

Bagi Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Persatuan Pengguna Kebangsaan (Fomca), Datuk Paul Selvaraj, kerajaan bertanggungjawab untuk mengurangkan impak ini.

"Harga barangan ditentukan oleh pasaran dan bergantung kepada pengguna untuk mengawal perbelanjaannya.

"Memang tanggungjawab kerajaan untuk meminimakan impaknya kepada pengguna, namun pada sesetengah keaadaan, ia adalah tanggungjawab individu," katanya.

Dengan kadar sewa rumah serta harga rumah yang tinggi dan harga barangan keperluan harian yang agak mahal, seseorang memerlukan gaji sekurang-kurangnya RM4,000 sebulan untuk tinggal di sebelah pulau di Pulau Pinang.

Ia dikira paling tinggi berbanding bandar-bandar lain di Malaysia. Turut mengiringi Pulau Pinang adalah bandar perindusrian Bintulu di Sarawak dan Paka di Terengganu.

Namun, harga barangan di Pulau Pinang jauh lebih rendah jika mereka tinggal di tanah besar iaitu di Seberang Prai. Mungkin kerana itulah ramai penduduk Pulau Pinang tinggal di tanah besar walaupun bekerja di pulau.

Mungkin ini juga menjadi punca kesesakan berlaku setiap hari di jambatan Pulau Pinang dan feri sehingga menyebabkan jambatan kedua terpaksa dibuat untuk disambungkan ke pulau Mutiara itu.

Harga sekilo ayam di pasar George Town adalah RM9 berbanding RM7.00 di Kuala Lumpur, RM6.50 di Klang.

Kadar sewa rumah juga tinggi di Pulau Pinang. Sebuah rumah teres satu tingkat tiga bilik di Tanjung To Kong disewa dengan kadar RM1,000 sebulan. Namun kadarnya lebih rendah di Batu Kawan atau Nibong Tebal yang boleh diperolehi sekitar RM500 sebulan.

Walau kos sara hidup agak rendah di Kuala Terengganu, namun harga barangan keperluan hariannya antara yang tertinggi berbanding bandar-bandar lain di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Harga ayam di Kuala Terengganu adalah RM7.50 sekilogram berbanding Kuala Lumpur RM7.00 dan Klang hanya RM6.50. Begitu juga harga ikan, walaupun Terengganu ramai nelayan, tetapi harga ikannya antara yang termahal, mungkin kerana kesegarannya.

Harga ikan kembong di pasar Chabang Tiga, Kuala Terengganu adalah antara RM10.00 ke RM15.00 sekilogram bergantung kepada kualiti ikan itu.

Namun oleh kerana kos sewa rumah dan jalan raya tanpa tol di Kuala Terengganu, ia menyebabkan kos hidupnya tidaklah terlalu tinggi. Dengan pendapatan RM2,500 sebulan, sebuah keluarga boleh hidup di Kuala Terengganu dengan memiliki sebuah kereta dan rumah sewa.

Namun di Paka dan Kerteh yang terletak di daerah Kemaman, kos sara hidupnya agak tinggi. Ini kerana kedua-dua bandar ini menjadi tempat tinggal pekerja industri gas dan petroleum. Ia memberikan kesan pahit kepada penduduk tempatan yang terpaksa bersaing untuk mendapatkan barangan keperluan harian dengan pekerja industri yang mempunyai pendapatan lebih baik berbanding mereka.

Keadaan sama berlaku di Sarawak, bandar Bintulu dan Miri yang menjadi pusat industri gas dan petroleum yang menjadikan penduduk bandar ini terpaksa menghadapi kos sara hidup yang tinggi.

Harga rumah di kawasan ini naik mendadak di samping harga barangan meningkat dengan ketara.

Ikuti laporan Kos Sara Hidup untuk bandar-bandar seluruh Malaysia yang disediakan pasukan The Malaysian Insider sebelum kita menyambut kedatangan tahun 2014 yang serba mencabar.

The Malaysian Insider

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Kedaulatan Kemerdekaan Dan Hak Rakyat Borneo

KEDAULATAN KEMERDEKAAN DAN HAK RAKYAT BORNEO MENENTUKAN NASIB SENDIRI

1. Pembebasan Rakyat Borneo Dari Penindasan Malaya

PENAKLUKAN tanpa pengisytiharan penjajahan adalah kemuncak tertinggi dari ketuanan atau dominasi kuasa Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Malaya) yang merdeka pada 31 Ogos 1957 ke atas Sabah Sarawak (Borneo), yang bagi Sarawak merdeka pada 22 Julai 1963 dan Sabah merdeka pada 31 Ogos 1963 dari penjajah yang sama, iaitu United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Sesungguhnya, penguasaan Malaya ke atas Borneo terang dan nyata telah melampaui batas perjanjian tentang persetujuan dan jaminan kedudukan sama taraf antara Borneo dan Malaya dalam Malaysia, di samping hak bagi Borneo atau negara masing-masing, iaitu Borneo dan Malaya untuk menentukan nasib sendiri dalam Malaysia.

Lantaran itulah, maka pelanggaran Malaya terhadap perjanjian penubuhan Malaysia adalah pengkhianatan kotor dan sekaligus menghancurkan harapan-harapan manis tentang apa itu kedaulatan kemerdekaan Borneo dalam Malaysia. Yang demikian, Malaya telah membuatkan bangsa-bangsa Borneo laksana anjing berkepala busuk dalam Malaysia. Pada hal, Malaysia itu wujud kerana faktor Borneo dan kalau bukan kerana faktor Borneo, nescaya Malaysia tidak wujud.

Oleh itu, seluruh rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo perlu bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya dalam usaha menzahirkan keazaman baru dan sekaligus menyerlahkan perjuangan baru ke arah menghancurkan dominasi kuasa Malaya dalam erti kata ketuanan Melayu selama 50 tahun ke atas Borneo demi pengambilalihan semula semua jabatan kerajaan dan lembaga kerajaan kepunyaan Borneo yang Malaya rampas atas nama ‘Kerajaan Persekutuan’ atau pusat pentadbiran Malaysia kononnya.

Pembebasan Borneo dari penindasan Malaya sememangnya memaksa seluruh rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo untuk bergerak ke dalam satu arena perjuangan baru dengan mempertajamkan antagonisme terhadap Malaya sehingga ke tahap yang sebesar-besarnya. Antagonisme besar Borneo yang dimaksudkan adalah bertujuan untuk menghancurkan kelakuan tidak bertamadun Malaya yang dengan pongahnya telah memburukan harapan baik kehidupan rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo secara ekonomi melalui rampasan 95 peratus hasil Borneo, dan secara politik melalui penindasan terhadap warga asal Borneo melalui penciptaan warga melayu baru dari kalangan jutaan bilangan PTI yang diberi IC Projek.

Kemenangan nasionalis rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo hendaklah didasarkan kepada mencapai demokrasi yang sepenuhnya dan sebagai akibatnya, tidak hanya membawa kesetaraan sepenuhnya di antara Borneo dan Malaya sebagai koleksi negara yang membentuk Malaysia dalam Malaysia, tetapi juga memberikan hak kepada rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo yang tertindas kerana ditindas dalam Malaysia untuk menentukan nasib sendiri, iaitu hak untuk bebas memisahkan diri secara politik, dengan cara membuang dan menghapuskan semua parti politik ‘Made In Malaya’ di Borneo agar penjarahan ekonomi dari hasil Borneo oleh Malaya dapat dihentikan.

Justeru, semua parti politik berasaskan Borneo yang gagal membuktikan keazaman tinggi nasionalisme mereka hari ini, dalam erti kata sekadar mampu menjadi pencacai dan penjilat kepada Malaya, sehingga rakyat asal Borneo sendiri wujud pada posisi tertindas, tidak syak lagi, bahawa mereka yang melakukan perbuatan terkutuk demikian adalah pengkhianatan besar terhadap hak kedaulatan kemerdekaan Borneo. Dengan kata lain, mereka adalah pengamal politik busuk standard kelas longkang dari acuan demokrasi biawak Malaya sehingga Borneo kehilangan status negara dalam Malaysia kepada Malaya akhirnya.

2. Budaya Politik Tanpa Moral Malaya

Orang-orang yang paling tidak bermoral dalam senario ini tentunya melayu UMNO kerana telah memusnahkan seluruh janji dan jaminan persamaan taraf antara Borneo dan Malaya ketika mula-mula Malaysia hendak dibentuk atau ditubuhkan. Tetapi, takdir buruk telah membuktikan sekarang, bahawa nawaitu Malaya hendak bergabung dengan Borneo dalam Malaysia hanyalah untuk menjadikan Borneo sebagai tempat untuk memenuhi kepentingan tujuan busuk tamak mereka.

Oleh sebab itu, semua perjanjian dan jaminan tentang maksud asal penubuhan asal Malaysia telah dicabul untuk tidak dihormati, dan akhirnya Borneo telah diletakkan pada posisi yang amat rendah dan begitu dirugikan sehingga kehilangan daulat kemerdekaan dalam Malaysia. Seperti yang saya katakan, bahawa di sebalik perancangan busuk ini berdiri orang-orang tamak Malaya yang berkepentingan busuk untuk merompak segala kekayaan Borneo yang boleh mereka rampas atas nama Malaysia. Yang demikian, Malaya telah mengatasnamakan Malaysia untuk menghalalkan rompakan mereka ke atas 95% hasil minyak Borneo.

Selainnya, Malaya juga telah menghancurkan konsep Borneonisasi dalam konteks rompakan mereka ke atas jabatan-jabatan kerajaan dan lembaga-lembaga kerajaan Borneo yang sekaligus membuatkan segala hasil Borneo 100% menjadi kepunyaan atau menjadi milik Malaya. Lantarannya, maka rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo hanya menjadi kuli yang hina dan rendah di bawah tapak kaki Malaya yang menjadi ketua kepada seluruh jabatan kerajaan dan lembaga kerajaan Borneo sendiri namun telah dirampas oleh Malaya atas nama Malaysia kononnya, pada hal Malaya sebenarnya. Justeru, konsep Borneonisasi hancur mutlak dalam erti kata Borneo tidak ada hak untuk menentukan nasib sendiri dalam Malaysia. Apakah ertinya itu semua kalau bukan penaklukan tanpa pengisytiharan penjajahan dalam budaya politik tanpa moral Malaya?

Sesungguhnya, tatkala seseorang nasionalis rakyat Borneo yang baik sesekali menitiskan airmata bukan kerana memikirkan bahawa besok-besok ia akan meninggalkan alam ini buat selamanya. Namun, kerana memikirkan soal nasib generasi orang asal Borneo menghadapi kehidupan di masa akan datang angkara kejahatan generasi masa kini lantaran pengamal politik yang ada hanya setakat mampu menjadi pencacai hina kepada sistem politik kebinatangan Malaya. Sehubungan itu, dalam pandangan sisi nationalisme tinggi adalah terang dan jelas, bahawa Malaya mahu terus menerus meletakkan rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo di tempat yang rendah dalam pelbagai dimensi kehidupan agar rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo sentiasa merendah diri kepada mereka dalam erti kata terus menerus bertuankan Malaya.

Contohnya, dalam soal hasil Borneo yang ratusan billion setahun, tidak syak lagi telah berjaya membangunkan prasarana di Malaya dalam pelbagai dimensi kehidupan dengan baik. Namun begitu, dalam Bajet 2014 yang lepas, yang berjumlah 264 billion, Borneo hanya sekadar diberi atau mendapat 2.049 billion. Dengan kata lain, 262 billion lagi dalam konteks Bajet 2014 semuanya telah menjadi milik Malaya sepenuhnya. Justeru, di mana jiwa nasionalis rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo tatkala negara Malaya merampas kekayaan Borneo dan menjalankan kerajaan Borneo atas nama Malaysia atau Malaya mengatasnamakan Malaysia untuk merompak kekayaan Borneo dan menjalankan kerajaan Borneo?

Sesungguhnya, nenek moyang rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo sebelum penubuhan Malaysia pada 16 September 1963 tidak pernah menyembah; tidak pernah menjadi kuli; tidak pernah merendah diri; dan tidak pernah bertuankan Malaya walau satu saat pun. Oleh itu, seluruh rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo sekarang wajar membuat keputusan yang muktamad untuk menetapkan minda dan hati, bahawa bumi yang kita berpijak ini adalah bumi Borneo, bumi Borneo ini adalah ‘bumi hati’ kita semua yang sama unggul dengan semua negara lain di dunia ini dan kita wajib menjaga dan mempertahankannya dengan sebaik-baiknya kerana kita, leluhur kita dan generasi kita lahir di dalamnya.

Sementelahan, jika ada apa yang dikatakan sebagai manusia pemberani dalam kamus sejarah dunia itu, maka ada The Headhunters of Borneo (Indigenous Peoples of Borneo) di dalamnya. Sejarah umat manusia di Borneo tidak bermula pada 31 Ogos 1957 atau 16 September 1963. Cendekiawan sejarah dunia menjadi saksi, bahawa sejarah umat manusia di Borneo ini sudah bermula atau wujud sejak 8000 tahun sebelum masehi.

Malangnya, semenjak 16 September 1963 hingga kini keturunan The Headhunters of Borneo sudah menjadi bangsa pengecut sehingga tidak mampu membuka mulut untuk berkata “Tidak” kepada kehendak jahat Malaya yang berhubung dengan pembodohan yang mereka timpakan kepada rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo sehingga ke tahap atau ke peringkat mengubah sejarah patut tentang penubuhan Malaysia pada 16 September 1963 dan kemudian menggantikannya dengan kemerdekaan Malaya pada 31 Ogos 1957 dalam buku-buku teks sejarah sekolah sebagai tarikh bagi kemerdekaan Malaysia kononnya.

3. Banjir Bohong Cakap Kosong Malaya

Dasar pembohong Malaya tidak pernah surut, tidak pernah berasa malu walau sedikit pun kerana sentiasa hidup dalam kebohongan melampau dan fitnah besar. Sedia maklum, bahawa hanya satu dokuman paling penting yang melibatkan wibawa United Nations (PBB) untuk mengesahkan tanda ikatan rasmi di antara Malaya dan Borneo adalah apa yang ditulis sebagai “London Agreements 1963 atau Perjanjian Penubuhan Malaysia 1963”. Malangnya, dengan London Agreements 1963 itulah Malaya jadikan alat sebagai jerat untuk mencekik leher rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo sehingga jatuh ke tahap maruah paling rendah dalam Malaysia.

Namun begitu, Malaya terus menerus memberi ribuan kata dusta untuk mewajarkan pencabulan mereka terhadap perjanjian tersebut dengan maksud untuk menafikan hak rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo menentukan nasib sendiri dalam Malaysia. Dengan kata lain, segala isi kandungan London Agreements 1963 tentang harapan dan impian manis kewujudan suatu sistem pemerintahan koleksi negara merdeka yang sama taraf dalam Malaysia telah hancur dan berkecai sama sekali, segala janji yang diukir telah dibogelkan sebagai banjir cakap bohong yang kosong Malaya.

London Agreements 1963 contohnya, sepatutnya disemak semula untuk menentukan ‘kedudukan, hak dan masa depan’ bersama Borneo dan Malaya dalam Malaysia selepas 10 tahun penubuhannya. Tetapi, sudah 50 tahun telah berlalu dan sampai sekarang masih tidak disemak. Apakah ertinya ini semua, kalau bukan banjir cakap kosong yang bohong Malaya semata-mata dari awal hingga ke akhirnya? Dalam erti kata lain, London Agreements 1963 hanyalah persiapan dan persediadaan atau misi kepada visi jahat dan kotor Malaya untuk menipu Borneo semata-mata. Justeru, di seluruh ruang pemikiran, di manakah letaknya otak pengamal politik rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo yang begitu sanggup menjadi barua dan pencacai hina kepada wajah politik hina Malaya dalam menipu Borneo?

Lantaran itu, dalam segala kerendahan hati dan keluhuran budi, maka rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo mempunyai alasan yang kuat sekarang untuk mengatakan, bahawa Malaya sekarang adalah lawan dan musuh kepada rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo dalam konteks pengkhianatan dan pencabulan mereka terhadap Perjanjian Malaysia. Yang demikian, rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo bertanggungjawab penuh untuk mendepani cabaran kotor Malaya sehingga muncul daulat merdeka Borneo bagi menentukan nasib sendiri dalam Malaysia. Tetapi, saya tidak percaya bahawa perjuangan menggapai daulat merdeka Borneo boleh dicapai di bawah keadaan tanpa keazaman tinggi nasionalisme.

Ertinya, keyakinan baru perlu dibuat bagi menghubungkan antara keazaman tinggi nasionalisme dengan kebangkitan rakyat Borneo bersatu sebagai jalan menuju ke masa depan takdir yang selamat untuk rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo dalam Malaysia. Sesungguhnya, rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo perlu melihat ke masa depan dengan keyakinan baru yang dinamik dan komprehensif. Lantaran itu, seluruh rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo perlu menjawab panggilan dan seruan kebangkitan rakyat Borneo bersatu untuk melihat ke masa depan dengan ketenangan yang sempurna dan keyakinan yang besar dalam amanah menghancurkan kebodohan selama 50 tahun Borneo kepada Malaya dalam Malaysia.

4. Menilai Kemerdekaan Borneo Dalam Malaysia

Sesungguhnya, sudah 50 tahun Borneo merdeka, tetapi para pemimpin Borneo masih tidak berfungsi sebagai ketua negara merdeka sebagaimana fungsi pemimpin negara-negara merdeka yang lain di pentas dunia. Hakikatnya, rakyat bangsa-bangsa Malaya berpolitik kerana mahu merompak hasil kekayaan Borneo, manakala rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo pula berpolitik kerana mahu hasil kekayaan Borneo dirompak Malaya. Justeru, adalah suatu yang kurang pasti, sama ada pemimpin Borneo betul-betul faham hakikat konsep negara merdeka atau masih rabun?

Pada dasarnya, konsep kemerdekaan boleh dibahagikan kepada dua, iaitu pengiktirafan negara luar terhadap negara yang dikatakan merdeka, dan pengiktirafan oleh negara yang dikatakan merdeka terhadap negara luar. Isi kemerdekaan pula adalah kedaulatan, dan kedaulatan adalah dalam bentuk kekuasaan dan kemakmuran rakyat. Dalam negara demokrasi kedaulatan rakyat adalah kemuncak kuasa tertinggi negara, sebab di tangan rakyatlah terletaknya kuasa sesebuah pemerintahan yang Adam Lincoln menyebutnya sebagai ‘of the people, by the people and for the people’.

Malangnya, konsep kedaulatan rakyat dalam konteks Malaysia yang Malaya dan Borneo di dalamnya, para pemimpin yang bertopengkan demokrasi kotor boleh menukar kedaulatan rakyat (demokrasi) kepada yang hitam menjadi putih, dan yang salah menjadi benar. Justeru, muncullah pelbagai salah laku oleh para politikus haprak yang mencabul kedaulatan rakyat berkerajaan, bermasyarakat dan bernegara dengan cara yang baik dan jujur dalam konteks isu yang berhubung dengan Pengundi Hantu, IC Projek dan manipulasi laporan media yang bias dan pembohong.

Sesungguhnya, hak untuk menentukan nasib sendiri rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo dalam Malaysia adalah kehendak semulajadi manusia dalam konteks kesedaran tinggi terhadap kepentingan kedaulatan kemerdekaan berdasarkan kepada pendapat umum antarabangsa melalui pengiktirafan muktamad terhadap Borneo sebagai keluarga baru negara-negara merdeka yang berhak berdaulat di pentas dunia.

Akhirnya, mungkin Malaya telah berjaya selama 50 tahun ini menurunkan kedaulatan kemerdekaan Borneo kepada negeri ke-12 dan ke-13 dalam Malaysia, tetapi jika rakyat Borneo bersatu adalah tidak mustahil mampu menggulingkan ketuanan dan dominasi kuasa Malaya ke atas Borneo yang terang-terang telah mengkhianati hak rakyat bangsa-bangsa Broneo dalam Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 sebagai rakan kongsi yang sama taraf dengan Malaya dalam Malaysia. Justeru, seluruh rakyat bangsa-bangsa Borneo, beranilah bermaruah dengan menghancurkan pembodohan Malaya terhadap Borneo!

RAKYAT BERSATU BORNEO MENUJU MOMENTUM PATRIOT BORNEO!
- Naspazi (30/12/2013)

Sabah Daily

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Najib told: Come clean on your stepson

PETALING JAYA: The onus is on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to clarify and explain his stepson Riza Aziz’s involvement in a production company that bankrolled a RM300 million Hollywood movie, says PKR director of strategy, Rafizi Ramli.

“The Prime Minister has a duty to prove that his stepson’s source of funds is legitimate and does not have anything to do with public funds,” Rafizi told a press conference here, today.

He added this was especially so as it was questionable if anyone connected to a public official is seen to be living beyond their means.

“It becomes a matter of concern as it confirms how public officials live beyond their means when it is currently difficult for others (the rakyat), financially,” he said.

Riza, son of Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor from a previous marriage, owns Red Granite Pictures, a production company that bankrolled the RM300 million ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ movie starring Leonardo Di Caprio.

Riza founded the company in 2010 – coincidentally the year after Najib took office as premier – and has reportedly bankrolled a number of big named projects in Hollywood including ‘Friends With Kids’, ‘Dumb and Dumber To’ and the latest movie, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’.

Rafizi then called for the identities of the financiers backing Riza’s company to be revealed.

“We want to know who are the financiers in his company. Who are so generous as to give such huge amounts of money?

“If there is nothing to hide, then I do not think there’s anything wrong for him to disclose the financiers,” he said.

Rafizi said that Riza claimed he had backing from ‘unknown’ investors from Asia and the Middle East.

Sarawak Report, an on-line news portal, has described Riza as “a close associate” of the controversial and flamboyant financier Jho Low (Low Taek Jho), a Penang business graduate educated in the UK and US.

Jho Low was widely reported as the front man in a number of eyebrow-raising business deals linked to both Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and Najib’s pet project, 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Commenting on Riza’s purchase of a multi-million ringgit luxury condominium unit in New York, Rafizi said it was simply illogical for Riza to purchase the condominium “unless his salary is a few millions”.

“As an investment banker, he would probably earn around RM150,000 per year. He has been working for about 12 years, so he would have saved around RM1 million.

“There is no way he could accumulate such an amount (RM110mill). Not even if he started saving since he was little, like his mother,” he said.

Riza bought the RM110 million luxury condominium unit at 63rd Street in Park Laurel, New York, on Nov 19, last year.

The unit was purchased under a limited-liability company named Park Laurel Acquisition.

Stop misleading the people

Touching on a seperate issue, Rafizi called for Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to stop misleading the public with their statements regarding the goods and services tax (GST).

“Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan has adamantly insisted that the implementation of the GST will bring down the price of goods and services.

“But I know that he knows, with the implementation of the GST, prices will inevitably go up. He should stop misleading the public, since he knows that the prices will infact, go up,” he said.

Rafizi then said this probably stems from Ahmad’s simplistic belief that businesses can claim input tax.

However with the GST, inflation rates will rise and businesses will have no other choice but to raise prices, claimed Rafizi.

“Also, there is nothing in the law that compels them to reduce the price of things. The government will only rely on the goodwill of businesses to reduce the prices.

“It is however unfair to plead with them since it affects everyone. And when prices increase, the public will turn their anger on to the businesses when it is the BN government that implemented the GST.”

Free Malaysia Today

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Realiti pahit menjelang sesi persekolahan baru

Tinggal dua hari lagi sebelum sesi persekolahan yang baru bermula. Setinggi mana pun semangat kita untuk Turun dalam himpunan aman membantah kenaikan yang berlaku, kita masih mempunyai tanggungjawab yang perlu diselesaikan iaitu membeli barang persekolahan anak-anak kita.

Saya tertarik dengan satu poster yang dikeluarkan, mendedahkan anggaran perbelanjaan bagi seorang pelajar untuk sesi baru persekolahan. Satu hakikat pahit yang perlu ditelan. Bantahlah sekuat mana terhadap kerajaan ''kesayangan'' kita, kita tentunya tidak mampu membantah kehendak anak-anak kita untuk kelihatan serba baru di awal persekolahannya.

Situasi semakin teruk apabila selepas seminggu kita menghadapi karenah anak-anak, datang pula surat atau permohonan daripada pihak sekolah. Yuran sekolah, PIBG, kelas, persatuan, kelab, badan beruniform, dan lain-lain.

Cukup sebulan, datang pula surat permohonan derma, jemputan ke majlis graduasi atau jamuan yang disertakan dengan bayaran tiket, lawatan kelas, perkhemahan perdana, dan pelbagai lagi aktiviti yang menuntut jumlah wang yang tidak pernah kita bayangkan. Ingatkan selesai selepas kita membeli set alat tulis baru buat anak-anak kita, tetapi tidak!

Di sini, sebenarnya datang peranan guru dan ahli PIBG sekolah. Dalam keadaan negara kita yang semakin hari, semakin tinggi keperluan hidupnya, peranan pembuat dasar sekolah harus dimainkan. Para guru dan ahli PIBG harus mula berfikir tentang nasib golongan kebanyakan sebelum membuat polisi yang membabitkan kos dan wang ringgit. Rakyat kita sangat memandang tinggi institusi pendidikan sebagai satu tempat untuk mereka mengubah masa depan mereka melalui anak-anak mereka nanti.

Janganlah menghampakan harapan mereka dengan beban-beban kewangan yang tidak masuk akal sehingga harapan itu bertukar menjadi satu tindakan memberhentikan anak mereka dari sekolah kerana kondisi kewangan yang ridak mengizinkan. Alangkah malangnya nasib anak-anak kita.

Pengalaman peribadi yang pernah bersekolah di pelbagai jenis sekolah, sekolah swasta, kebangsaan, asrama penuh dan sebagainya, memang kos 'tambahan' yang dikenakan oleh pihak sekolah jika ditambah dari segi purata tahunan memang sangat banyak. Ditambah dengan sikap beberapa guru yang mewujudkan satu suasana yang tidak selesa kepada pelajar-pelajar susah mengeruhkan lagi keadaan.

Pelajar-pelajar yang bajunya lusuh, kasutnya tidak berkapur, corak lencana sekolah dan tag nama ditukar setiap tahun dan perlu dijahit di poket baju; buku latihan yang banyak, Matematik 1,2, dan 3; pakaian hari Jumaat, baju batik sekolah; baju sukan berlambang sekolah; baju asrama; buku laporan, fail peribadi dan sebagainya, golongan yang tidak mampu menampung kos membeli keperluan ini dicemuh oleh pihak sekolah, dimalukan di hadapan pelajar lain, diejek kawan-kawan sekelas sehingga mereka takut dan seterusnya memaksa ibu bapa memperuntukkan wang untuk membeli keperluan tersebut.

Tidak hairan isu kecurian di asrama biasa didengari dan isu pakaian hilang sering dialami para penghuni asrama pelajar. Manakala di rumah ibu bapa bukan sahaja pening dengan laporan disiplin anak mereka tetapi juga tertekan dengan perbelanjaan hidup yang semakin menekan.

Seruan ini saya tujukan khas buat guru-guru yang saya hormati dan sanjungi, juga buat ahli PIBG yang banyak membantu pengurusan pihak sekolah, fikirkanlah dasar dan polisi yang membantu pihak ibu bapa.

Kurangkanlah perbelanjaan yang tidak patut, santuni para pelajar yang susah, dan bantulah mereka. Selain itu, suasana serta sifat murid-murid di sekolah harus dijaga agar golongan yang kaya tidak menghina yang kurang berupaya. Guru-guru harus menjadi ejen kesedaran buat murid-murid, menyemai perasaan kasihan terhadap yang kurang bernasib baik, memperjuangkan keadilan dan sikap bantu-membantu.

Pengenalan tabung anak yatim, tabung prihatin, skim takaful, dan model-model yang membantu meringankan beban pelajar-pelajar susah harus difikirkan bersama oleh guru dan PIBG. Guru-guru ekonomi dan matematik selain mengajarkan buku teks dan teknik menjawab soalan SPM, harus memperingatkan pelajar keburukan sikap boros, mengutuk pembaziran, ketirisan, serta mengajarkan cara perbelanjaan secara berhemat kepada pelajar agar satu hari nanti kalimah-kalimah seperti ''tol akan naik'', ''jika ayam mahal, jangan makan ayam'', dan ''harga gula naik langkah mengurangkan diabetis'' tidak akan kita dengar lagi.

Akhir kata, inilah masanya buat golongan pendidik yang direkodkan seramai 420,088 yang bertanggungjawab terhadap 5,222,531 pelajar daripada pra-sekolah sehingga menengah (sumber: Portal rasmi Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia) menunjukkan solidariti mereka menentang kenaikan kos keperluan hidup dan bersama-sama golongan kebanyakan. Kini gaji RM 12000 pun sudah terasa susah, apatah lagi anak-anak didikan kita yang mungkin anak kepada pekebun, nelayan, dan penoreh getah.

''Dan tidaklah Tuhanmu membinasakan penduduk sesuatu kaum dengan zalim selagi mana masih ada golongan yang menyeru pada pembaikan'' (Surah Hud: 117).

* Penulis adalah pelajar tahun tiga, Ekonomi dan Perbankan Islam, Universiti Yarmouk, Jordan.

The Malaysian Insider

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Zaiton Mat golongan tercorot dalam bilik darjah berotak ikan

 

Saya siarkan suatu pandangan dari seorang commentator yang menggelarkan diri nya sebagai encik Nick. saya rasa ianya mewakili apa yang difikirkan oleh ramai orang Melayu termasuklah oleh orang2 UMNO yang lebih cerdik dari Zaiton Mat , Ketua wanita UMNO Kuantan.

Mengenai Zaiton Mat, kita anggaplah Zaiton Mat sebagai pemimpin golongan tercorot dalam bilik darjah. Orang Melayu yang cerdik, pegawai2 kerajaan yang ada kelulusan, anak Melayu yang pergi kolej dan university- mahukah kamu berketuakan orang yang tercorot dalam bilik darjah?

Jika luahan fikiran Encik Nick adalah hasil pentadbiran kerajaan Putrajaya, maka adakah penentangan terhadapnya suatu pendurhakaan? Kita kena bezakan kerajaan yang difahami oleh puak UMNO dengan kerajaan yang difahami rakyat. Kepada orang corot dalam bilik darjah seperti Zaiton Mat,kerajaan putrajaya sama seperti kerajaan langit Ayah Pin- sebuah kerajaan yang sudah sempurna. Kerajaan Ayah Pin sempurna sebab ianya ciptaan Tuhan Ayah Pin manakala kerajaan Putrakaya sempurna sebab ianya dicipta oleh tuhan Zaiton Mat- Najib Tun Razak.

Inilah masaalah pokok yang tidak akan difahami oleh golongan tercorot dalam darjah. Mana2 kerajaan pun, BN, Purtajaya, kerajaan PKR, PAS, Penang semua adalah suatu work in progress- kerajaan dalam pembinaan. Sedikit demi sedikit, kita berusaha membaiki kerajaan supaya jadi lebih baik. Dalam proses pembinaan, teguran, tentangan adalah sebahagian dari proses mengujudkan kerajaan yang lebih baik. Sudah tentu konsep ini tidak akan difahami oleh Zaiton Mat. Saya harap Dato Seri Adnan MB Pahang tidak akan mencadangkan Zaiton Mat jadi senator pulak- punah bangsa Melayu!

Bahan2 binaan nya ialah pemerintahan ikut undang2, kerajaan yang demokratik, yang cekap, yang menolak sekeras keras nya rasuah, kerajaan yang bebas dari pencurian dan samun harta benda rakyat, kerajaan yang tidak memecahbelahkan rakyat, yang membangunkan negara dan lain2. Inlah yang dikatakan kerajaan. Bukannya kerajaan yang disangkakan sempurna hanya kerana Zaiton Mat membirahi bibir merah Dato Najib.

Alkisah, tersebutlah cerita ribuan ikan tamban mendamparkan diri didarat Lahad Datu. Ikan tamban ialah ikan2 kecil. Mengikut yang empunya cerita- terjadilah sengketa politik dalam dunia bawah laut. Ikan2 tamban yang mengetuai ikan2 kecil membantah kekejaman, rasuah, salah laku, penyamunan harta benda negara bawah laut. Ikan2 besar yang mengetuai kerajaan bawah laut mengeluarkan perintah, yang disampaikan oleh ikan2 polis yang terdiri dari ikan jerung, baraccuda, memberi kata dua kepada ikan2 kecil. Jika kamu tidak suka akan pemeritahan kami, maka kamu pindahlah negara lain.

Demikianlah terjadinya, ikan2 tamban beramai ramai memilh untuk pindah kengara atas laut yang dinamakan pantai Lahad Datu. Mereka dengar ada seorang menteri kanan kerajaan atas Laut yang tersangat apdal saban minggu menghulrkan duit belanja kepada rakyat.

Maka, fahamlah kita, otak Zaiton Mat ketua wanita UMNO Kuantan, seorang yang tercorot dalam darjah rupa2 sama standard otak ikan.

Mahukah orang Melayu menyokong sebuah kerajaan yang korap, mencuri harta benda rakyat, yang bebal, yang salah gunakuasa, yang memerah, picit dan meramas bangsa Melayu? Sebuah kerajaan seperti ini memang patut diguling oleh rakyat secara demokratik.

Sebuah kerajaan yang tidak dapat menjawab tuntutan rakyat- apa mereka akan buat? Mereka akan berusaha mengembalilkan kuasa mutlak ala kepimpinan raja2 zaman dahulu kala. Sedangkan pemerintahan kuku besi ala raja2 dahulu kalalah yang menyebabkan bangsa Melayu itu mewarisi tabiat2 yang menyekat kemajuan mereka dan membantut minda orang Melayu.

Perkara yang demikian sudahpun dinyatakan oleh Pendita Zaaba( semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas rohnya). Keadaan kehidupan yang menjadi acuan menempa rupa bentuknya bangsa Melayu yang menjadikan mereka mewarisi beberapa tabiat perangai dan kebiasaan yang rendah, yang lemah. Tabiat2 rendah yang mereka pusakai dari nenek moyang mereka lagi. Iaitu beratus ratus tahun mereka telah kena perabdikan dan kena picit dan perah dan ramas ditangan pemerintah2nya yang pada zaman dahulu itu- iaitu pemrintah2 daripada bangsa merka sendiri.

Bukankah baik Zaiton Mat buat lapuran polis terhadap pemikiran durhaka pendita Zaaba ini?

UMNO terlebih menyukai jika mereka dapat ujudkan kerajaan kuasa mutlak ala zaman raja2 zaman dahulu yang memerintah beraja dimata, bersultan dihati. Tidakkah kita melihat bagaimana puak UMNO yang terdesak tiba2 mengagungkan pemerintahan sultan2 zaman dahuku kala. Inilah bentuk kerajaan yang diinginkan oleh Melayu golongan tercorot dalam darjah seperti Zaiton Mat iaitu sebuah kerajaan yang ditaati secara membabi buta oleh orang Melayu.

Yang demikian, bagaimana kita melayan kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh ketua wanita UMNO Kuantan, Zaiton Mat yang menggesa mereka yang tidak bersetuju dengan Putrajaya, meninggalkkan Malaysia? Jawapannya, jangan kita layan kenyataan yang datang dari seorang yang tercorot dalam darjah.

Inilah pancaran pemikiran kualiti kepimpinan UMNO yang didakwa boleh mengangkat martabat bangsa Melayu. Tidak hairanlah mengapa setelah 60 tahun lebih memimpin bangsa Melayu, bangsa kita masih tercorot dalam perlumbaaan hidup. Pemimpin tercorot dalam darjah tentulah hanya mampu menghasilkan bangsa yang tercorot dalam bilik darjah perlumbaan kehidupan.

Atau untuk lebih tepat lagi, yang ketinggalan ialah anak2 bumi2 sedangkan anak2 putera berada dihadapan menikmati hasil perjuangan UMNO. UMNO berjuang untk puak anak2 putera bukan anak2 bumi.

Mustahil pemikiran dari orang yang tercorot dalam darjah seperti luahan Zaiton Mat dapat memacu bangsa Melayu kehadapan. Tapi inilah kualiti kepimpinan yang UMNO tawarkan kepada bangsa Melayu untuk memajukan diri mereka.

Nyatalah, UMNO suka orang Melayu dipimpin oleh orang2 bodoh seperti ketua wanita UMNO Bahagian Kuantan. Kerja mereka bukanlah meyakinkan rakyat dengan penghujjahan dan perbuatan yang positif. Bahkan kerja mereka ialah buat lapuran polis dan membuli rakyat dnegan menggunakan kuasa kepolisian. Saya harap pihak Polis bersikap professional dan jangan membiarkan diri mereka diperkudakan oleh puak2 UMNO. Janganlah polis menyebelahi pihak yang menindas dan menzalimi rakyat.

Sakmongkil AK47

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Akhbar kepunyaan umno hebahkan rungutan rakyat mengenai kenaikkan 20% kelengkapan sekolah

 

Adakah akhbar UMNO Kosmo cuba nak gulingkan kerajaan Najib Razak dengan menghebahkan tentang keresahan dan rungutan rakyat yang amat tertekan dengan kenaikkan 20% barangan kelengkapan sekolah???

Ini baru barangan kelengkapan sekolah .. belum lagi yuran, tambang bas, makan minum di kantin.

Apa yang cuba akhbar Kosmo lakukan ini lebih dilihat adanya gerakan dalaman UMNO mau menyingkirkan Najib Razak dari kerusi Perdana Menteri dalam kadar segera, kerana dilihat amat gagal untuk mengurus ekonomi negara yang menerima pakai penasihat-penasihat yang langsung tidak sihat.

Amat jarang akhbar milik UMNO bantai pemasalahan yang ditimbulkan oleh UMNO.

Rata-rata rakyat tahu bahawa mereka kini sedang terhimpit kuat dengan permasalahan kenaikkan harga barang dan perkhidmatan melambung tinggi yang tidak sejajar dengan kuasa pembeli.

Omak Kau!!!

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Pakar: Tak mampu? Jangan beli keperluan sekolah mewah

Dalam keterujaan menyediakan keperluan sekolah, terutama untuk si cilik yang baru melangkah ke alam persekolahan, ibu bapa di negara ini diingatkan agar melaksanakan pembelian bersandarkan 'ukur baju di badan sendiri'.

Pakar Psikologi Jabatan Psikologi Perkembangan Pendidikan dan Kaunseling Universiti Malaya, Prof Madya Dr Mariani Mohd Nor berkata ini kerana, gaya hidup masa kini menyaksikan ramai ibu bapa yang bersaing sesama sendiri untuk menyediakan kelengkapan persekolahan berjenama untuk anak masing-masing meskipun kurang berkemampuan.

"Sekarang ini, kalau dilihat, bukan sahaja kanak-kanak yang teruja, ibu bapa yang terlalu teruja sehingga semua barangan persekolahan dari hujung rambut hingga hujung kaki anak-anak adalah barangan berjenama. komen - sebelum berhujuh, eloklah Prof turun padang terutamanya ke kawasan pedalaman dan saksikan sendiri bagaimana daifnya pakaian dan beg sekolah anak-anak yang berpendapatan rendah atau miskin. Jauh sekali untuk mereka terfikir membeli barangan berjenama..

"Jika ibu bapa itu berkemampuan, tidak menjadi masalah, namun apa yang dibimbangi apabila ibu bapa yang kurang berkemampuan pun turut sama mahu anak mereka kelihatan mewah dan bergaya sehinggakan terpaksa menggadai keperluan rumah tangga yang lain," katanya kepada Bernama di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

Menyifatkan ia adalah 'fitrah' manusia setiap kali menjelangnya sesi persekolahan tahun baharu, beliau bagaimanapun berkata sifat itu perlu dibendung agar ibu bapa tidak menghadapi kesulitan atau menanggung bebanan hutang yang banyak.

Bagi menghadapi sifat kanak-kanak yang gemar meminta-minta barangan keperluan persekolahan yang berjenama pula, Prof Mariani berkata kanak-kanak sebenarnya mampu memahami kesulitan atau bebanan kewangan ibu bapa jika diterangkan secara jelas dan berhemah. komen - Prof akui bahawa kanak-kanak lebih cerdik dan memahami beban ibubapa (rakyat) berbanding dengan menteri-menteri umno/BN?

Justeru katanya, ibu bapa perlu mengambil pendekatan menjelaskan kepada anak mengenai berapa gaji mereka, keperluan keluarga lain seperti makanan dan bil supaya kanak-kanak faham kesulitan yang dihadapi ibu bapa dan mendidik mereka untuk berjimat cermat. komen - BANGANG sungguh Prof ni.. pak-pak menteri yang secara terangan-terangan MENCIPTA beban rakyat langsung tidak didesak untuk memahami kesulitan para ibubapa..

"Kanak-kanak mempunyai sifat yang lembut dan mudah dilentur, jika mereka mengetahui bebanan ibu bapa, mereka pasti kasihan dan akan sedikit sebanyak beralah. komen - sebagai anak, saya memang kasihankan para ibubapa yang terus-menerus diperah keringat mereka untuk memberikan kemewahan kepada menteri-menteri umno/BN..

"Selain itu boleh juga ditunjukkan kepada anak-anak cerita pengajaran tentang keluarga susah yang berkongsi kasut untuk ke sekolah, cerita sebegitu akan mendidik mereka bahawa lebih ramai lagi orang yang lebih susah," katanya. komen - cerita pengajaran keluarga susah perlu dikongsi oleh menteri-menteri umno/BN termasuk Prof sendiri supaya rakyat miskin tidak terus dibebankan dengan amalan rasuah kerajaan umno/BN.

Seorang ibu, Yusni Nadia Yusoff, 28, berkata oleh kerana anak sulungnya, Ikleel Yadiy Nayyar Iznan, 4, bakal memulakan sesi persekolahan tadika Januari ini, beliau memberi peluang anaknya itu memilih barangan berdasarkan watak kartun yang digemari untuk menyuntik semangat persekolahan.

"Memandangkan Ikleel baru sahaja nak melangkah ke alam persekolahan, jadi saya belikan dia barangan yang dia minati, supaya dia rasa seronok dan semangat nak ke sekolah.

"Namun saya akan pastikan barangan itu tidak terlalu mahal dan berpada-pada mengikut kemampuan selain mahu mendidik bahawa barangan sekolah yang berjenama tidak menjamin kecemerlangan di sekolah," katanya.

Jadia Harun, 38, yang mempunyai empat anak pula berkata beliau akan membeli keperluan persekolahan yang dirasakan perlu diganti sahaja manakala barangan yang masih elok akan digunakan semula.

"Macam buku dan alat tulis baharu tu memang akan dibeli...manakala beg sekolah atau kasut sekolah jika masih elok akan diguna.

"Termasuk juga baju sekolah, saya akan beli sehelai dua untuk dipakai bergilir-gilir dengan baju sedia ada yang masih elok," katanya.

Jadia berkata beliau bersyukur kerana kesemua anaknya yang berusia 8 hingga 17 tahun tidak kisah soal jenama sebaliknya menerima seadanya asalkan keperluan itu lengkap dan tidak mengganggu proses pembelajaran.

Tinjauan Bernama di beberapa pusat beli-belah di ibu kota mendapati masih ramai ibu bapa memanfaatkan saat-saat akhir membeli keperluan persekolahan anak sebelum sesi persekolahan dibuka minggu hadapan.

Rata-rata ibu bapa yang ditemui memberitahu, mereka tidak mempunyai masalah dalam soal harga memandangkan pelbagai barangan persekolahan ditawarkan mengikut harga dan kemampuan masing-masing.

Bernama

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Pasangan kekasih kena tembak di Kinabatangan

Kinabatangan: Seorang kerani wanita di sebuah ladang maut, manakala kekasihnya parah selepas mereka dipercayai ditembak ketika berehat di sebuah pondok di Ladang Kim Loong Tongod, dekat sini, petang kelmarin.

Dalam kejadian itu, mangsa Rozaliah Peter, 19, dari Kampung Langkabung Tongod, dekat sini, dipercayai meninggal dunia ketika dalam perjalanan ke Hospital Telupid, dekat sini, akibat ditembak di belakang sebelah kiri badannya, jam 6.45 petang.

Manakala, kekasihnya Amiruddun Mustamin, 27, pekerja kilang sawit Kim Loong Tongod, dekat sini, cedera dengan satu kesan tembakan di bawah bahu kanan dan menerima rawatan lanjut di Hospital Duchess of Kent Sandakan, di sini.

Ketua Polis Daerah Kinabatangan Deputi Superintendan Martin Lugu berkata, pihaknya menerima maklumat daripada Hospital Telupid yang memaklumkan seorang perempuan dan lelaki cedera dipercayai akibat terkena tembakan.

“Mangsa perempuan meninggal dunia ketika dalam perjalanan ke Hospital Telupid, manakala mangsa lelaki cedera di bahu dan dihantar ke Hospital Duchess of Kent Sandakan. “Keadaan mangsa lelaki dilaporkan serius dan masih menerima rawatan lanjut,” katanya, semalam.

Beliau berkata, siasatan mendapati, Rozaliah bersama Amiruddin sedang berehat di pondok di dalam ladang sawit kira-kira 300 meter dari jalan utama Jalan Telupid - Tongod, di sini, jam 6.45 petang.

“Tiba-tiba Amiruddin dikatakan terdengar bunyi tembakan sebelum melihat Rozaliah berlumuran darah, manakala dia turut cedera di bahu.

“Amiruddin dipercayai menghubungi rakan sebelum mereka dihantar ke Hospital Telupid untuk rawatan, namun Rozaliah disahkan meninggal dunia ketika tiba di Hospital Telupid,” katanya di sini.

Martin berkata, siasatan mendapati ketika kejadian, Amiruddin ada melihat individu berlari sambil membawa lampu suluh di bawah bukit tidak jauh dari pondok tempat mereka berehat.

“Mayat Rozaliah dihantar ke Hospital Duchess of Kent di Sandakan untuk bedah siasat, manakala Amiruddin turut dihantar ke hospital sama untuk rawatan lanjut,” katanya. Beliau berkata, kes disiasat mengikut Seksyen 302, Kanun Keseksaan kerana membunuh,” katanya.

Sepasukan anggota Unit Forensik Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen (IPK) Sabah turut berada di tempat kejadian bagi menjalankan siasatan.

myMetro

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Decentralize Education to Improve Standards

Kota Kinabalu: “The Prime Minister missed the whole point on improving education and forgot the most important stakeholder, cooperation of the federal government. The World Bank report emphasizes this fact when it stated that the centrally-controlled federal education system contributed to the poor performances of schoolchildren in Malaysia” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, responding to the posting by the PM in his Facebook that Malaysia is capable of providing the best education system for all with the cooperation of parents, educators and students themselves as well as the recently released World Bank Report on education in Malaysia.

Earlier, it was reported that Malaysia had performed poorly in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) where Malaysia was ranked No. 52 out of the 65 countries polled, worse than many third world countries.

The PISA tests were based on Mathematics, Science and reading. If PISA had included History, Malaysia would have come out last in the rankings given the distorted history of Malaya, cover-up on the formation of Malaysia and the purported independence of Malaya and Malaysia and lop-sided biasness in its History curriculum.

The failure of the Malaysian education system and policies is evident everywhere. Everyone knows and speaks of the failings except the political leaders and their blind followers and extremists who fail to see through the primary and main objective of education from the young.

Education is a life-long process and should not be used as a political tool, which is what the Umno/BN government is doing.

The failed system and policies require whole-scale and wholesome changes, even drastic if it is required. The holistic education system referred to by the PM must incorporate such changes and not just entail cooperation of the stakeholders without the participation and cooperation of the federal government.

Malaysia is a diverse nation made up of multi-ethnic groupings with different religions and cultural backgrounds. In terms of educational pursuit, the local circumstances vary from State to State and from community to community.

As highlighted by the World Bank Report, the over-emphasis and centralized control of education causes bottlenecks and many a times unsuitability due to differences in local circumstances resulting in decline in education standards. What is good and suitable for Penang may not be necessarily so for Johor or the Borneo States and what is good for Pahang may not be necessarily so for Selangor or Kelantan? The mother tongues for the Peninsular are not necessarily the mother tongues for Sabah and Sarawak while Iban language in Sarawak and Kadazandusun or Bajau/Suluk language in Sabah may not be suitable to be implemented in the Peninsula.

Similarly, the education and manpower needs of the local community in Penang, an industrial hub, may be different from that in Kelantan or Terengganu which are agriculture and oil-producing States respectively. It is further and more different in Sabah and Sarawak.

The centralization of control in Putrajaya has created problems for schools, teachers and students alike whether they are in Selangor, Johor or in Sabah. This is more so in the Borneo States and should be left to be administered by the respective States on their own rather than operate under remote control from Putrajaya. Federal funding could be channeled to the respective State governments.

Further de-centralization will give more leeway to the districts and schools. This overall de-centralization beside a change in education policies will help improve education standards.

Education is the future of the nation and its citizens and should not be politicized or manipulated as a political tool. Neither should it be hijacked by any ethnic group for whatever reasons.

A change of education policies must create a new Nation Education Masterplan. The Masterplan should be formulated after listening to the views of all stakeholders with the prime objective of quality education for all Malaysians alike. Policies should not be made to cater to the calls of ethnic groups and learning another language does not make any Malaysian less patriotic.

De-centralizing the Education portfolio will enable the State governments, both in the Peninsular and in Sabah and Sarawak, to better manage, plan and execute the National Education Masterplan.

Vernacular education was agreed upon by Malaya and Malaysia’s founding fathers. This being the case, vernacular education including religious schools and mission schools should be fully funded by the federal government. This is more so in Sabah where non-Chinese students make up more than one-third of the enrollment in Chinese schools including schools without any Chinese students.

A child should not be faulted or punished because he or she does not attend national-type school. Recognizing Chinese education qualifications should no longer be avoided. After all, Chinese education has proven results with many Chinese-educated Malaysians going on to be global and towering Malaysians including many inventions to their credit. A good example is the world renown and widely used pen-drive invented by a Chinese-educated Malaysian but denied higher education opportunity in Malaysia.

The time has come for the PM to walk the talk now that he has said that education is a matter close to his heart and that a holistic education system is needed.

A truly holistic approach must necessarily encompass a new Masterplan with new policies and with administration to be de-centralized to the respective State governments and even to districts and the schools. There is no better time than now since it has been proven the failures of the past system and the falling standards which can be arrested and overturned by the new approach.

Borneo Herald

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Express bus operators object to rental hike at terminals

KOTA KINABALU: All members of the Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (SEBOC) are strongly against the move by government, through DBKK Holding Sdn. Bhd., to increase the counter rental at terminals around the city centre starting January 1, 2014.

Any increase will be reflected in the express bus fares, which will burden the passengers, said its president, Datuk Donald Hanapi.

He said the 20 percent ihike s too high and will burden the express bus operators.

“It is too much for us to pay 20 percent more for the counter rental when we are also facing price increases for spare parts and diesel fuel.

“We appeal to DBKK Holdings to reconsider their move and, if possible, to reduce the increase to a reasonable amount that is agreeable by all express operators,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Donald explained that counter rentals have been increased from RM500 to RM700, while departure fees were increased from RM10 to RM15. DBKK Holding Sdn. Bhd. issued its circular on November 25, 2013.

“I was informed that the outcome of our recent discussion with DBKK Holding will be announced by next week, and I am hoping the increase will be reduced to a smaller quantum as we are also facing an increase in electrical bills.

“We are hoping for a reasonable announcement from DBKK Holding before the operators proceed with their plan to demonstrate against the move,” he added.

Donald also said that the council had appeal to the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) to increase the bus fare by 30 per cent to cover their expenses should DBKK Holding proceed with the 20 percent hike and the increase in spare parts, electric tariff and diesel prices.

However, Donald has assured that there will be no increase in the express bus fare as long as CVLB does not give their green light.

The Borneo Post

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Countries with no income tax

By: Caitlyn Ng

Believe it or not, there are a few havens left on Earth that do not impose heavy income taxes on you. If you’re wearied from the local news of hikes here and there, read on to find out more about these places.

However, these countries aren’t fully tax-free either. They do have various other taxes, some of which are pretty steep (probably to make up for their early-on decision to do away with income tax). Welcome to the world where everything is fair and where the grass may not be as green on the other side as they make it out to be. Be prepared for a surprise entry!

1) Qatar
 

Gaining independence in 1971, Qatar has gone on to become the number one country in the world in terms of richest country per capita, with a GDP of over $100,000 (in terms of the current international dollars, $, for easier comparison).

With an absolute monarchy ruling them, they depend on their natural gas and oil reserves (which so happens to be the third largest in the world) for a majority of their revenue. With the oil accounting for more than 30% of the GDP, approximately 80% of export earnings and 58% of government revenues, is there any doubt that this country is able to sustain itself without taxing the income of their citizens? In addition to not taxing the income of its citizens, it also does away with taxes on profits, dividends, capital gains, royalties and property.

Before you get into a tizzy, and book the first one-way air ticket to Qatar, there is one thing which the citizens have to pay for though. 5% of their income goes to the national social security benefit fund, with their employers helping to contribute another 10%. The cost of living there is also considerably high, with properties rented out for as high as RM10,000.

2) Saudi Arabia
 

Officially the second largest state in the Arab world (after Algeria), this country is also known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has been an absolute monarchy with no national elections ever taking place since the country’s creation.

While they get to enjoy the second largest oil reserves and the sixth largest natural gas reserves in the world, they are also the 19th richest in terms of GDP worldwide, making them truly a force to be reckoned with. To add one more feather to their already-feathered hat, they are also the world’s top oil exporter (the figures of which make up more than 95% of exports and 70% of government revenue), which puts them firmly on the National Power list as one of the top 20.

However, the Saudi Arabians are required to contribute 9% from their income for the national social security benefit fund as well as having to pay the capital gains tax of 20%, which means that any non-inventory asset they sell would have to be up for levying. An example would be if they sold a house worth RM1,000,000 then they would only be able to pocket an amount of RM800,000.

3) The Bahamas
 

Mention the name “Bahamas” and what comes to mind? Clear blue skies, calm lapping seas, warm golden sand, shiny hot sun. Vacation, here we come! But no, this article is about income tax, not a vacation.

The funny thing is, income tax is tied in with this country as the Bahamas makes the list as one of the countries in the world who do not levy taxes on the citizens’ income. As if you needed another reason to love that country more, after the United States and Canada, it is also one of the richest countries in the Americas in terms of GDP per capita. They also rank 27th on the list of countries measured by GDP per capita.

Locals still have to pay for a property tax of up to 1% as well as 3.9% of their salary for a form of the country’s social security fund called National Insurance, but the good thing is that there’s a maximum limit set at RM100,604. Being a breathtaking ecological oasis that boasts the clearest water on Earth and having been called “Paradise” many times over by people who have visited the archipelago, surely those taxes are a small price to pay for living in a haven?

They don’t have a slogan saying “It’s Better In The Bahamas” for nothing.

4) Cayman Islands
 

The Cayman Islands also possess spectacular beauty, on par with the Bahamas, but they are more famously known for being a major offshore financial centre where the world’s wealthy converge upon to luxuriate in the beautiful weather and lush surroundings.

In addition to that, this country also has no capital gains tax, no corporation tax and no mandatory social security contributions. How’s that for an almost-perfect country?

This British Overseas Territory is made up of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. They are able to gain revenue from indirect taxation, such as import duties of 5% to 25% for goods brought to the islands. With such fantastic exemptions and proper care of the people by the government, it’s no wonder that the locals have the highest standard of living in the Caribbean. The Cayman Islands also can be found in the top 20 on the list of countries with high GDP per capita, coming in with $43,800 (using the current international dollars, $, for easier comparison).

5) Brunei Darussalam
 

And here is our surprise entry! Our oil-rich neighbouring country which is nestled in between Sarawak’s borders also makes this list as a country that does not impose taxes upon its citizens’ income.

There is, however, the requisite contribution to the social security fees where all the citizens are required to chip in 5% from their income. In addition to that, the citizens also have to pay 3.5% to a pension scheme, both of which are matched by their employers.

With the discovery of natural oil and gas resources in 1929, it rapidly became the basis of Brunei’s development and revenue, making this country the fourth largest oil producer in Southeast Asia. About 90% of its GDP is derived from those natural resources but the government does obtain substantial income from overseas investments to supplement the national fund. In terms of GDP per capita, Brunei makes the top 10 of the list, coming in at number 5 according to the IMF with over $54,000.

If you’re already planning an escape to one of these countries, my advice to you would be one word: THINK. Sure, there aren’t any personal income taxes, but have you taken other factors into consideration (such as the massive cultural differences and the political stability) before you book that one-way ticket out?

Caitlyn Ng is an Investigative Journalist of SaveMoney.my, an online consumer advice portal which aims to help Malaysians save money through smart (and most of the time painless) savings in their daily banking, technology, and lifestyle spending habits.

Free Malaysia Today

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Sabah no longer a candy store for BN

By Jason Majpie

KOTA KINABALU: The bizarre February invasion of a small village in Lahad Datu by more than 200 armed men from the Southern Philippines was the top story of 2013 in Sabah.

Their undetected entry into the state should force the federal government to reconsider its policy of looking at the state as merely its candy store.

The invasion raised the stakes in state-federal relations and brought a surge of traffic to online media sites which went where the mainstream media dared not.

The fettering of the mainstream media raised the profile of independent, online news sites in helping the growth of journalism in the state.

News websites reported tens of thousands of new readership hits and forced the mainstream local and national newspapers to step up efforts to shift to the new media and halt declining readership.

Other main talking points of the year in Sabah were the royal commission inquiry (RCI) on the immigration quandary the state has found itself in, the 13th general election and the banning of “Allah” as God’s name for non-Muslims.

Here are the top 10 news events in order.

LAHAD DATU INVASION: Some 200 mercenaries from the Southern Philippines said to be aligned to the so-called Sulu Sultanate took over Kg Tanduo on Feb 9, setting off an all-out military assault by Malaysian security forces after a three-week standoff. The fighting ended with casualties on both sides.

The invasion also sparked a bloody gunfight in Semporna, when a police unit raiding a water village populated mainly by immigrants was ambushed.

The intrusion roiled Malaysian politics and stunned the nation’s leaders, who had earlier laughed off talk of a “reverse takeover” of the state.

Efforts are now being made to enhance the security of the part of the border stretching from the northern most regions of the state to Semporna in the east.

GENERAL ELECTION: Barisan Nasional’s stranglehold on political power was loosened in the bitterly fought election, the 13th since the formation of Malaysia 50 years ago.

The opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat made major inroads into the state at both parliamentary and state levels, but as the year was ending three defections whittled down their numbers in the state assembly.

Still, MPs aligned to the Sabah Barisan Nasional coalition government made their mark by propping up the coalition government at federal level, which was in danger of being evicted from office after a dismal showing in the peninsula.

ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY: The RCI to look into the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah was finally set up and began hearing riveting testimony from witnesses who included former prime minister Mahathir Mohammd and former Sabah chief ministers Harris Salleh, Bernard Dompok and Joseph Pairin Kitingan as well as government officers and illegal immigrants themselves.

However, the sudden death of star witness Mutalib @ Abdul Mutalib Mohd Daud days before he was to be called to the stand robbed the inquiry of some of its sting.

The state is now awaiting the inquiry’s findings.

RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY: Christians in the state who had been calling on Allah in their worship were left confused by a court ruling that declared that only Muslims could use that name of God.

Federal cabinet ministers put out conflicting interpretations, further muddling the issue. Some said the ruling was not binding on Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

Federal authorities went on to seize hundreds of copies of a Catholic newspaper despite earlier assurances that there was no ban on the use of the “Allah” in the East Malaysian states.

WILDLIFE: Conservationists were stunned to learn of the death of 14 pygmy elephants found at the Rara Forest Reserve, about 139km from Tawau. They had been poisoned.

The incident made news around the world and put under scrutiny the government’s seriousness in safeguarding Sabah’s unique flora and fauna. Its wildlife protection and conservation credentials were left in tatters by year end when nothing came of the investigations into the killing despite claims of thoroughness and transparency.

The expansion of oil palm plantations remains the curse of conservation efforts, with activists despairing for the future of the state’s wildlife and their habitat.

SECURITY: The murder of a Taiwanese tourist and abduction of his wife from the Pom Pom island resort on the east coast of the state by an armed group from the Southern Philippines last month reopened old wounds about the lack of security along the eastern seaboard.

The incident caused several foreign embassies to caution their countries’ citizens about the recurrent dangers they faced in some parts of the state.

As the year ended, security forces were forced to say they had stepped up border patrols following claims that intelligence sources had picked up chatter of criminals planning to use the festive period to launch a surprise raid.

Also thrust in the spotlight were the murky relations between resort operaters and government officials after it surfaced that some foreigners on the islands were them as private property and off limits to locals.

ENVIRONMENT: Residents of several kampungs in Penampang are hunkering down to fend off a state government plan to construct a dam in the scenic valley of Kaiduan.

About 2,000 people will be affected and nine kampungs submerged if the project goes ahead.

The government claims that the dam is imperative to ensure steady water supply to the west coast.

The state government also caused unease with the announcement of the development of the iconic Tanjong Aru beach.

This, along with other high-density development projects announced without consulting the various stakeholders, is raising the ire of many.

The controversial projects are blamed for an increasing incidence of flooding in populated areas as well as gridlocks on the roads.

MALAYNISATION: The call by Sabah Mufti Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar to “Malaynise” the state’s indigenous community practising Islam as an effort towards Muslim unity was met with outrage.

Critics said he had insulted the Kadazan community and should be dragged to the native court for saying they do not really exist.

Both the state and federal governments were forced to step in to stem the backlash when hundreds signed an online protest saying the mufti’s proposal to convert the north Borneo state’s natives into Malays was akin to stripping them of their identity.

Sabahans noted that their easy-going ways and the harmony in the state had all but disappeared.

OIL & ECONOMICS: The puzzle over Sabah’s surrender of its oil and gas wealth for just 5% of the profits while development lags and services are second-rate continued to pose awkward questions for past and present politicians.

Many eagerly lapped up reports about former chief ministers Harris Salleh and Yong Teck Lee slugging it out over who was at fault.

The cabotage policy controlling shipping is blamed for keeping prices of goods and services high and has come under sustained attack.

The question of whether Sabah had kept pace with development in the peninsula continued to torment politicians, commentators and general observers.

As has been the case for several years now, Bingkor assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan claimed the unofficial title of “most outspoke politician” on major issues affecting the state.

IMMIGRATION: The state government found itself in a predicament after it barred popular opposition politician Nurul Izzah from entering Sabah.

Nurul, the MP for Lembah Pantai, was stopped at the airport and placed on the next flight out of the city when she flew in to celebrate Kamaatan, the Harvest Festival, with Sabahans on the invitation of Penampang MP Darell Leiking.

Critics ripped apart the executive order, signed by Chief Minister Musa Aman, calling it political punishment and mean-spirited given that the government has done little about the hundreds of thousands of foreigners who have entered and stayed in the state illegally and even given citizenship.

The backlash forced a state government about-turn shortly afterwards, which caused more brickbats to be hurled at the Barisan Nasional coalition government for indecisiveness.

It was not the first time that politicians and activists from the peninsula had been barred from visiting Sabah.

Earlier the same month, former deputy prime minister and now opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, veteran MP Lim Kit Siang and Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan had received the same treatment.

As in past years, the negatives outweighed the positives but there are signs that some long-delayed services and infrastructure development are beginning to make their presence felt.

At the year’s end, two major projects that have stagnated—the state’s main hospital and the Kota Kinabalu International Airport—stick out as ugly reminders that development in the Borneo state is not a priority.

Time will tell if these and other projects will have a positive impact on the lives of Sabahans.

Rising prices already threaten to hide any advantages gained.

Free Malaysia Today

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