S'wak can’t step outside bounds on ties with Putrajaya

By Joe Fernandez

Malaysia Agreement or no Malaysia Agreement, Sarawak or Sabah/Labuan for that matter, cannot step outside the bounds with the Federal Government. Putrajaya belongs as much to the two Malaysian states in Borneo as to Peninsular Malaysia.

At a lower level, the Federal Government presides over the individual sultanates, states and territories in Peninsular Malaysia.

Five on-going issues, some simmering for long, have pitted the Sarawak state government in a head-long clash against the Federal Government. It’s anybody's guess how Putrajaya will bring the recalcitrant Taib Mahmud regime to heel. Surely, the Joseph Pairin Kitingan administration (1985 - 1994) in Sabah is the mother of all precedents!

Masidi please help us on our road, says STAR leader

RANAU : The State Reform Party (Star) head of Raau division has challenged Keranaan assemblyman Masidi Manjun to put meaning to the government slogan of "1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now" by immediately upgrading an important 5 kilometer road here.

"This slogan must be applied in solving our own perennial local poblem. Please upgrade or asphalt the $road that connect Kampung Pahu and Kampung Mohimboyon and Kampung Lipantai," said Jalibin in challenging the veteran Masidi in a statement here today.,

Egg-white treats burns

  A young man sprinkling his lawn and bushes with pesticides wanted to check the contents of the barrel to see how much pesticide remained in it. He raised the cover and lit his lighter; the vapors ignited and engulfed him. He jumped from his truck, screaming.  

What is ketuanan Melayu?

When we talk about Malay culture, it is perceived as Muslim culture. When we say we should integrate Malay culture, it is perceived as having a Muslim agenda. People feel the need to defend their race and religion from being compromised. 

Anas Zubedy

The notion of ketuanan Melayu did not just appear in recent years. It has historical basis, existing in Tanah Melayu since hundreds of years ago. In Malay historical culture and language, the term ketuanan Melayu originates from the word ‘Tuanku’ – a title reserved for Malay rulers since the early days of our society. Ketuanan Melayu thus can be seen as a contraction of the phrase‘ketuanan raja-raja Melayu’, the sovereignty of the Malay rulers.

Development only part of Opposition struggle

By Daniel John Jambun

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman makes it seem as if only he and his party, Sabah Umno, can champion the development agenda for the state.

There’s more to life than the so-called development, or patchwork development, flogged by Umno.

Patchwork development is not the people’s idea of development.

Musa, as everyone knows, gets chicken feed from Putrajaya by way of development funds.

Bumburing bidding his time, ‘still with Upko’

By Luke Rintod of FMT 

KOTA BELUD: If not for the heavy rains on Sunday, many Barisan Nasional leaders on either side of the South China Sea separating Sabah from the Peninsular Malaysia would have been squirming.

The reason for all that twitching and wincing was that had the weather permitted, Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader of PKR, would have been sitting side by side with a senior Sabah Barisan Nasional leader at a Harvest Festival celebration here.

Scorpene probe not a serious matter, says Anifah

The probe by French prosecutors into the alleged corruption over the purchase of the two Scorpene submarines is not a serious issue that Malaysia should now focus on, said Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.

“This is not a serious matter that we need to follow, and it is being played up by certain parties,” he told reporters after attending a luncheon with representatives of Asean nations in Kuala Lumpur today.
He was asked about Malaysia’s preparations to face the case currently being investigated in Paris.

Anifah said that Malaysia will make the necessary preparations to face the trial when they are needed.

“So far we have not received any information from the (French) embassy. But if necessary, we are ready to defend ourselves,” Anifah added.
Local human rights NGO Suaram had filed a suit over alleged kickbacks from French defence contractor DCNS to Malaysian parties in the two submarine purchases.

Sabah MyKad Scam a la NRD a RCI Red Herring

By Joe Fernandez

The on-going probe into a bogus MyKad scam at the Tawau National Registration Department (NRD) has been touted as a timely curtain-raiser to the proposed Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the illegal immigrant phenomenon in Sabah.

It has been hailed as proof enough that the Federal Government means business on national security.

In fact, it’s nothing of that sort.

The RCI is not about bogus MyKads flooding the state, or the “rampant” issuance of citizenships which has emerged as another red herring, but rather the alleged circumvention of the Federal Constitution article on citizenship by operation of law.

Sarawak Is the Future For Papa Orangutan

An open letter by Peter John Jaban (Papa Orangutan)

One week after the recent debacle with the Police in Miri, I am happy to be home, here in Sarawak.  I’ve been resting after going to ground and planning for the future.  I’ve decided that my future is here.  I was born here and I intend to remain here!  There is so much work to be done especially with crucial elections just round the corner.  This is our chance is to bring about real change in Sarawak politics.My struggle for Sarawak will continue where it’s needed most.

The events of the last week have revealed many things.  The first is just a reminder of how much I love this country, how much I love Sarawak.  As the Malay saying goes: ‘Hujanemas di negeri orang, hujanbatu di negerisendiri.’  I am a Sarawakian!  I need to be here among my people to work effectively.  I started Radio Free Sarawak and moved to London mainly because freedom of expression here in my own country is lacking – something that I am trying to change.  But, I just couldn’t stay away.  Now, I feel that I can best continue my struggle for the future of Sarawak here. 

Non-citizens warned against 'hijacking' elections

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today warned foreigners allegedly roped in to vote in the next general election that they would be committing a crime, and they may face action if Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government.

“We are coming out to warn those who are non-citizens who have been voting illegally, we are warning them, you cannot hijack this election.

“You can take the money given to you by Umno or take whatever (that has been given), but you are not entitled to vote,” he said during a dialogue with some 1,000 business leaders and professionals in Petaling Jaya today.