Malaysia that was and is, by Joe Fernandez

By Joe Fernandez

KOTA KINABALU : Sabah and Sarawak did not become independent on 16 Sept, 1963 through Malaysia, as the history books keep telling our students.

Sabah obtained independence on 31 Aug, 1963 when it opted for self-determination.

Sarawak obtained independence on 22 July, 1963 when it opted for self-determination.

No referendum was held in Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya on independence.

The Malayan Government opted for independence. The individual states in Malaya did not join Malaysia. So, Sabah and Sarawak cannot be referred to as the 12th and 13th states.

Health mistakes you are making right now

Sadly none of us are perfect and we all make mistakes from time to time, but did you know you could be putting your health in jeopardy right this second? From sitting to slouching and even the simple act of breathing, check out the 5 worst health mistakes you are making right now.

Incorrect breathing
Breathing is something that most of us do without much thought. However, did you know that there is a ‘correct’ way to breathe, and – more importantly – that you are probably not doing it? The fact is, many of us go through life breathing incorrectly, yet experts believe that learning to breathe properly could help prevent many conditions including asthma, high blood pressure and anxiety.

Most of us take shallow breaths and breathe from our chests; however, breathing from the abdomen is considered to be a healthier way to breathe as it provides us with more oxygen with each breath. To help boost your physical and mental health, spend some time each day concentrating on your breathing technique, trying to focus on abdominal breathing. Incorporating regular breathing exercises into your routine is a good way to stay energised, healthy and stress-free.

KENYATAAN MEDIA PEMUDA PAS SABAH (AKTA LAUT WILAYAH 2012 CABUL KEDAULATAN SABAH DAN SARAWAK)

Persidangan Dewan Rakyat yang bersidang pada April tahun 2012 lalu telah meluluskan penggubalan Rang Undang-Undang Laut Wilayah 2012. Menurut Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz semasa sesi penggulungan rang undang-undang ini, telah mengatakan sebab penggubalan undang-undang tersebut adalah kerana memandangkan tiada undang-undang persekutuan lain yang menetapkan lebar laut wilayah Malaysia selain daripada Ordinan N0.7 1969 yang dibuat di bawah Proklamasi Darurat 1969 dan Akta Zon Ekonomi Ekslusif 1984 (Akta 311).

Brunei, Sulu sultans had no territory to cede to British North Borneo Chartered Company

By Joe Fernandez

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN : It's interesting that your reader Mr Chong Tet Loi should write in the DE Forum on Sunday 3 Feb, 2013 -- "Ancestors of Migrants came via front door" -- that the Brunei and Sulu Sultans ceded territory in Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company and/or its predecessors.

I beg to differ.

The westerners found early on that their idea of territory and land ownership was not as practised by many other cultures especially the Islamic, the Maori and Indians (America).

RPK: For God, King and Racism

Malaysia Today editor blasts Umno for its distorted
version of the country's history and debunks its
claim of having fought for independence

CAMBRIDGE: Raja Petra Kamarudin debunked Umno’s version of Malaysian history and detailed Tunku Abdul Rahman’s sorrow at the destruction of his vision of a multiracial Malaysia, when he spoke at Cambridge University South East Asia Forum (CUSEAF), first Lent term event on Wednesday evening.

Within a stone’s throw of the Tunku’s alma mater, St Catherine’s College Cambridge, Raja Petra told the audience of 90 people, comprising mainly students in their 20s that, “the Tunku used to say he was the happiest PM in the world, but in a later interview, said, ‘I wish I had died earlier…living to this age and seeing my fellow Malayans killing one another. It saddens me. This is not what I planned for my country.’”

According to the Malaysia Today editor, the Tunku died a heartbroken man and neither spoke to, nor forgave the person whom he blamed as the architect of the mess – Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Amalillo, a ‘distant relative’, says Musa

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman wants the authorities
to investigate alleged conman Manuel Armillo and
"take the necessary action" – relative or not.

KOTA KINABALU:  Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman whilst denying allegations that he prevented the deportation of a suspected Sabah conman involved in scamming 15,000 investors of RM895 million in the Philippines, confessed that Manuel Karingal Amalillo is a “distant relative”.

“The arrest of a man named Manuel Amalilio (seated third from left) reached me like it reached most people, through the news.

“I have a large family and I have just recently been informed that this individual is a distant relative.

‘It’s too late for Sabah Umno, BN’

BN leaders in Sabah can chastise the opposition
as much as they want in order to serve their
peninsular master, but their end is nearing,
says opposition STAR.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional’s ‘incessant holler’ and attacks on opposition parties especially the State Reform Party (STAR) has not deflected grassroots perceptions of the BN’s unworthiness.

In fact the more BN leaders defend the alleged wrongdoings of their Umno-BN bosses and justify the coalition’s continued presence in Sabah, the more compelling the need to boot them out, claims STAR chief Jeffrey Kitingan.

In a statement lambasting state BN secretary Abdul Rahman Dahlan for hitting at the opposition’s insistence on the Borneo Agenda which includes Sabah becoming a nation ‘within’ Malaysia, Jeffrey said the current ‘domination’ by the peninsular was “morally wrong’

Dompok scares Christians with hudud

Support for Barisan Nasional is plunging and religion
seems to be the only weapon left to fight the war
against Pakatan Rakyat in Sabah and Sarawak.

PENAMPANG: Embattled Upko chief, Bernard Dompok, has raised the “Islamic state” bogeyman to scare Christians in Sabah and Sarawak into voting for the ruling Barisan Nasional in the coming general election.

Worried that support for Upko (United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation) and the ruling coalition is plunging, Dompok warned the Christian community in both states that voting in BN would prevent the shift towards a more Islamised country as desired by opposition PAS, a partner in the Pakatan Rakyat pact.

Malaysian MPs and the barber story

Blessed are those that can give without remembering, and take without forgetting.

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut.  After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'

The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Do you trust Jesus?

Ironically, a person like Ibrahim Ali provides a platform for Christians to become better Christians. Let me explain.

Have you ever wondered why when Jesus wanted to liberate Israel from tyrannical Rome (the government during his time)?

Instead of asking Rome to change, he sought to persuade Israel to change? Jesus felt that without the change of hearts in Israel itself, liberation in any form is impossible.

Jesus, at great length, explained that the resentment and bitterness that his fellow brethren carried in their hearts was nothing short of suicidal.

In fact he suggested that they be smart and read the signs of the times (e.g. in Luke 12:54-56) and not to follow the Zealots.