Anwar Ibrahim Guilty

Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria says in his judgment that Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who had accused Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him, is a credible witness.

"We find PW1 (Saiful) to be a credible witness," said Arifin.

He went on to say: "We find ample corroborative evidence to support Saiful's testimony." He added that the trial judge had also found ample corroborative evidence that he was sodomised.

Review MA63 and Stop Police Tyranny on Sabah Rights Activists

Kota Kinabalu:    “The actions of the police in Lahad Datu in detaining and remanding 5 Sabah rights activists is nothing short of police tyranny, human rights abuse, suppression of democracy and an abuse of powers.  It is turning Sabah into a police state and it is not acceptable for Sabahans” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief cum Bingkor State Assemblyman on reports that the 5 activists were detained and remanded since Saturday.

Sabah Christian dad in tears at first sight of daughter in tudung

PAPAR, Feb 8 — Sitting on the porch of his wooden stilt house, Sabahan rubber tapper Jilius Yapoo’s eyes welled up with tears when he recalled his shock earlier this week when he saw his 16-year-old daughter in a tudung (Muslim headscarf) for the first time.

The staunch Christian dusun said he had gone to his daughter’s hostel to take her home for the weekend when the teenager emerged garbed in the tudung, looking upset.

“She was wearing the tudung and showed it to me. I teared up and she looked at me and cried.

Sarawak Should Learn From Sabah's Bitter Lessons

Kota Kinabalu:     “The Sarawak government should learn from the bitter lessons from Sabah and thread with caution in opening up Sarawak to foreign labourers approved by the federal government” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the various responses regarding the federal approval of 12,000 Bangladeshi workers to work in Sarawak.

Federal Court does not have courage to decide on Non Muslim cases

HINDRAF applauds the decision by the N.S.  Ruler and Chief Minister to include equitable safeguards in the   Administration of the Religion of Islam (Negri Sembilan) Enactment 2003 to prevent legal tussles between the convertee and the non- Muslim spouse.  This is a bold step by the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan as head of the Islam religion in his state. Hindraf calls on other Malay Rulers to follow the steps taken by the Negeri Sembilan Ruler who acted in the interest of all his subjects and to protect the Muslim religion from negative perception that it is an uncaring religion when it comes to family dispute involving non-Muslim spouses.

Set Up Sabah Immigration Department to Better Protect Sabah

Kota Kinabalu:     “The Sabah government need to shrug off its nonchalance and “tidak apa” attitude and take serious steps to protect Sabah’s sovereignty and the safety and welfare of Sabahans as the problems of immigration controls have reached epic proportions” commented Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, and Bingkor Assemblyman on the arrests of immigration officers and separate attempts by Pakistanis being charged to bribe Immigration officers.

Arrest Traitors Not Threaten Rights Activists

Kota Kinabalu:    “The IGP seems to have his priorities all confused and jumbled up with threats to arrest Sabah and Sarawak rights activists seeking the restoration of Sabah and Sarawak rights in the formation of Malaysia while allowing traitors of Sabah and Malaysia and serious foreigner criminals roaming all over Sabah” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of STAR SABAH responding to threats of action against alleged secessionists.

Chinese buying houses in US

By Paul Benson | Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015

Why are the Chinese buying up U.S. real estate?

Because they have money in their wallets, an appetite for the good life, and golden ants in their pants.

Without question, the Chinese are the largest international players here in the U.S. housing market. In fact, according to Karen Yan of JinList, Chinese purchases of U.S. residential properties will reach $32 billion ending in March 2015.

That's billion, with a “B.”

So where exactly are the Chinese buying up all of these residential properties?

What's Ulterior Motive to Compromise Sabah Security?

Kota Kinabalu:“If the Indonesian Kalimantan Utara Governor’s revelation is true, one wonders what is the ulterior motive of the federal government to continue to compromise Sabah security and will the Sabah government sit idle do nothing or take some action to protect Sabah security" said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, in a press statement released today.

Dr. Jeffrey, the Bingkor Assemblyman had noted that the Governor had disclosed that Malaysia had breached their agreement with the Indonesians and failed to man border crossings that separate Sabah from Kalimantan.  

Who says Musa has not done great on forest protection?

By Baka Baku

The simple chart above says it all.

Read the chart well and make your own conclusions.

Don't be fooled by the big-mouth and foul-words of Sabah's opposition opportunists' be they from PKR, STAR or SAPP.

Here we have a Chief Minister who believes in working and not just inccessant talking like those publicity-crazed oppositionists. Period.

Why Allow Singapore Secession If Seditious?

Ezra Haganez
KOTA KINABALU :    Sabah opposition lawmaker, Jeffrey Kitingan, has questioned Malaysia's double-standard treatment on calls for Sabah and Sarawak seceeding as seditious when the country allowed Singapore to secede from the Federation in 1965.

“Leaders from Malaya and their Sabah representatives should stop making an excuse of making calls for secession as seditious or against the Constitution to prevent Sabah and Sarawak from leaving the Federation of Malaysia.   Instead of following the Umno BN dictatorial regime, a diplomatic and consultative approach would be a better option to persuade Sabahans and Sarawakians to remain in the Federation” said Kitingan.

Beach Development Will Drive Tourists Away From Sabah

The Malaysian Nature Society is opposing the proposed Tanjung Aru Beach development which will include 180ha of sea reclamation, calling it unnecessary and an affront to the idea of sustainable development. — File pic credit www.sabah.edu.my

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30, 2015: The planned RM1.5 billion development of Tanjung Aru beach under the Tanjung Aru Eco-Development (TAED) plan will drive away tourists as Sabah’s main attraction and selling point is its nature, said the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

In expressing its opposition, MNS said the proposed plan that included 299ha and 180ha of sea reclamation was by all means unnecessary and an affront to the idea of sustainable development.

20-Points and Sabah Rights Arguably Non-Seditious

Kota Kinabalu:     “The federal government and leaders of Malaya should listen to the advice of the learned federal Attorney General that the 20/18-Points are historical facts, part and parcel and fundamental to the formation of Malaysia.  They represent the aspirations of the people of Sabah and Sarawak and, as rightly pointed out, they were constitutional safeguards for Sabah and Sarawak” said Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of STAR Sabah, responding to the Attorney General’s speech at the opening of the Sabah and Sarawak Legal Year 2015. 

The Attorney General was spot on in advising how to go about and deal with the grievances of the people in clamouring for the restoration and rights and equal partnership of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia.  

BHF Launches UBF Academy to Empower People

Kota Kinabalu:     “It is a timely opportunity to establish the UBF Academy to institutionalize its political, economy consciousness and educational programs that will enlighten and empower the people with the correct history and rights of Sabah and Sarawak in the formation of Malaysia in view of the growing support and calls for Sabah and Sarawak to be restored as equal partners to Malaya in the Federation of Malaya and the restoration of rights and constitutional safeguards that were promised to the Borneo States” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of the Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) and founding mentor of the United Borneo Front (UBF) at the launch of “Akademi UBF” in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday.

ASEAN Should Take Cognizance of Sabahans' Plight

Kota Kinabalu: “In the modern era of democratic nations, good governance and human rights, the ASEAN grouping should move with the times.   It should not just be confined to trade, economy and common market as it appears to be moving towards but to do more similar to the European Union” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief cum State Assemblyman for Bingkor, commenting on the sidelines of the forthcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat to be held in Kota Kinabalu on Tuesday and Wednesday.

PSM Statement 23 January 2015 - Now is not the best time to implement GST

By S. Arutchelvan

Mr Prime Minister, you said yesterday that now is the best time to implement the GST because you claim that with the decrease of fuel prices, Malaysians will have more money in hand and have a higher purchasing power.

This is totally untrue. The decrease in fuel prices has not made prices of other goods go down. This has never happened before and you know very well that our enforcement agencies can never bring down prices of goods. You have also cut subsidies which mean you have left prices in the hands of the market. On ground 0, the rakyat is facing a massive increase in daily expenses and people and businesses just talk about further price increase after the GST. No amount of creative advertisement by the Government seems to dispel this fear.  

Malaysia has no legitimacy in Sabah, Sarawak?

Comment by Joe Fernandez

Former Petagas Assemblyman James Ligunjang  -- defeated in 1994, according to him, by illegal voters on the electoral rolls -- is misleading everybody with his Hormati Perjanjian Malaysia 63 Campaign.

He does not touch on the following:

Hormati Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 is like flogging a dead horse. It's too little, too late.

100% support Pairin call to replace "lain-lain" in govt forms

By Ezra Haganez

PENAMPANG: Almost everybody in the community of Kadazandusun and Murut supported the call made by Huguan Siou Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to do away with the "lain-lain" or "others" column in the race section of government forms.

Senior vice president of KDCA (Kadazandusun Cultural Association), George Mijin, said such conclusion could be deduced from feedbacks and an already agitated community as a result of the thoughtless introduction of "bangsa lain-lain" in government forms a couple of years ago, leaving out the ethnic groups in Borneo, retaining only three races - Malay, Chinese and Indian.

What is Plan B for Sabah Budget 2015?

Kota Kinabalu:     “As dust is settling down on the collapse of oil prices globally, the picture becomes clearer for Malaysia and Sabah’s 2015 Budget projected revenues.   The question on everyone’s mind is what is Plan B for the National and Sabah Budget 2015?” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, reflecting on the 60% plunge in oil prices from USD110 to USD47 - USD49 per barrel and creating a huge dent in projected revenues from oil.

When PM Najib unveiled the national Budget on 10 October 2014, the world oil price was about USD90 per barrel and when CM Musa announced the Sabah Budget on 07 November 2014, it was about USD80.   However, the budget projections were based on assumption of oil prices at USD100 per barrel.   They now seem half a world away from the current USD48 per barrel, up from a low of USD45.

Do Away With “Lain-lain” and “Bumiputra” in Sabah

Kota Kinabalu:     “The move by the Chief Minister of Sarawak to do away with the categorization of Sarawakians as “Others” or “Lain-lain” in government administration and replacing them with Sarawak ethnic races is most welcome and long overdue.   Sabah leaders should take the cue and follow suit to replace “Sabahan” for “Lain-lain” in Sabah” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the move by the CM of Sarawak.

In fact, the Sabah government should not stop at the re-categorization and should implement policies for the upliftment of the indigenous people of Sabah as provided in Article 41 of the Constitution of Sabah.   Article 41 provides:-

No more ‘lain-lain’ in forms

Federal government cancels controversial column that classifies Sarawak Bumiputera as ‘others’ in race section of official forms

KAPIT: There will be no more ‘lain-lain’ column in the race section of government forms to indicate the race of Bumiputera in Sarawak.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said yesterday the federal government had acceded to a request by the state government to eliminate the words ‘lain-lain’ in the race column in official forms.

“In government forms, there will be Bumiputera Iban, Bumiputera Bidayuh and Bumiputera Orang Ulu.

Sarawak’s Taib tries to stop BBC broadcast on timber corruption

© Provided by The Malaysian Insider Sarawak governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud has on multiple occasions been asked to explain his allegedly vast wealth. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 16, 2015.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Sarawak governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud are attempting to stop a BBC interview from being broadcast, said a Swiss-based rainforest advocacy group.

The Bruno Manser Fund said a London law firm had been commissioned by the controversial Taib to stop a BBC interview on Lukas Straumann's book, “Money Logging: On the Trail of the Asian Timber Mafia”, which exposes the former chief minister's vast wealth allegedly derived from illegal logging.

The Meaning of Mutual Respect

By Baru Bian , Ba Kelalan assemblyman

The lecture by Shaykh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani that is being organised by the Islamic Information Centre and supported by UNIMAS’ Pusat Islam has created much unhappiness among Sarawakian Christians who, over the past few years, have had to put up with various forms of illogical and unreasonable interference by the authorities in the practice of their faith. They have unfailingly exercised tremendous restraint and shown remarkable forbearance in the face of unwarranted disrespect and curtailment of their rights. This latest episode is truly a blow to the Christians, who had hoped that they would be left alone to carry on the practice of their religion in peace in the spirit of mutual respect that seemed to still exist in Sarawak. I have received many calls from Christians and Christian leaders on this proposed lecture.

Proposed new seven Sabah seats ill-conceived, says politician

By Ezra Haganez

KOTA KINABALU: The recently-announced proposal to create seven more new state constituencies in Sabah to make it 67, will further reduce the Christian-majority seats in the already muslim-dominated State Assembly, claims a leader of a local political party.

Parti Kerjasama Rakyat Sabah (PAKAR) deputy president, Paulus Gani, said as such the exercise is not a noble and clean exercise let alone reflect the true spirit of partnership in the country.

The balance between the major communities is lost, he said, explaining that the last time an exercise by the Federal-controlled SPR to increase the seats from 48 to current 60, the 20-20-8 sharing formula between non-muslim bumiputeras, muslim bumiputras and chinese, was changed to 34-18-8.

Anwar Lawat Mangsa Banjir di Kota Belud 13 Jan 2015

GST should be postponed, says Sabah activist

By Ezra Haganez

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government should consider calls to postpone the implemention of Goods and Service Tax (GST) this April, as more than half of  eligible businesses in Sabah appeared not yet ready for it.

A consumer activist who is also a trader, Donny Yapp, in a statement today said many businesses especially in Sabah have yet to register with the Royal Custom Department and that many more have not acquired or installed GST-compliance accounting software.

Brunei bans public Christmas celebrations to ‘protect’ Islamic faith

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Oil-rich Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray, its religious affairs ministry said today, in a country that last year controversially instituted tough Islamic sharia penalties.

The ban, instituted after Christmas last month when local children and adults were seen wearing clothes “that resemble Santa Claus”, raises fresh concerns of religious restrictions after last April’s announcement of the introduction of a penal code that will eventually include penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning.

Practise True Federation – Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:     “The federal government need to decentralize to empower the States and reduce power concentration at its centre and practice true federation not only to reflect the basis of the formation of Malaysia but to ensure the Federation continue to exist with stable federal-state relations” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the spat between Penang MP Zairil and Utusan on federalism.

The federal government should stop its agenda of turning the Malaysian federation into a unitary state with concentration of power and money at Putrajaya.

Of internet royalties, e-commerce and your pay TV

The Best for 2015

By Briton Ryle | Monday, January 5th, 2015

Well, here we are in 2015. For Christmas this year, I got a touching handmade card from my 12-year-old son, and my dad sent me eight soft-shell crabs that I ate on New Year's Day. 

I rolled 'em in a little flour, flash-fried them crispy, and made sandwiches. They were delicious.

It amazes me that you can get truly fresh soft-shell crabs delivered overnight. These came packed in styrofoam, with ice packs to keep them cold, but not frozen.

Sabah seats proposal submitted – EC

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Election Commission (EC) has submitted the proposed delineation for Sabah to its headquarters, director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail said.

He however did not disclose the number of additional seats requested for Sabah in the proposal.

“We have submitted our proposal to the headquarters. The recommendations will be put on display at a later date for the public to scrutinize and give their feedback,” Md Idrus said this when asked if the state Election Commission would also be conducting a delineation review as is being done in Sarawak.

2015: Rise Above Partisan Politics to Solve Problems

Kota Kinabalu:     “Leaders should rise above individual and party political interests when tackling problems faced by the State in the common interest of Sabah or the general population” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, in his 2015 New Year message released today.

“Problems faced by Sabah such as security and the so-called Project IC can never be resolved if partisan political interest become the primary guiding principle of such solution” he said.

10 kampung di Kota Belud dinaiki air

KOTA BELUD: Sepuluh kampung di daerah ini dilanda banjir akibat limpahan air Sungai Tempasuk berikutan hujan lebat malam tadi.

Kampung terbabit ialah Linau, Menunggui, Gunding, Kota Belud, Bobot, Siasai, Taun Gusi, Lebak Engad, Kota Kerancangan dan Rangalau.

Ketua Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Kota Belud, Faizal Wahid, berkata air dikesan naik sejak subuh tadi dengan enam penduduk membabitkan sebuah keluarga dari Kampung Rangalau dipindahkan di Dewan Tun Said, Kota Belud jam 7.30 pagi tadi.

YB Jimmy Wong and DAP Welcome to Join Independent Monitoring and Action Committee

Kota Kinabalu:     "Sabah DAP Chairman, YB. Jimmy Wong Sze Phin, should "think local" instead of criticising the efforts of the 3 Sabah political parties and 21 NGOs for setting up an Independent Committee to push the federal government into taking actions to solve the illegals problems in Sabah" said the Secretary of the Independent Committee, James Stephens.

Umno made profits by selling Malay kampungs

BAYAN BARU: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told a Malay crowd in Bayan Baru yesterday that it is Umno Penang leaders who bought and sold their land.

Lim said Umno had slandered the DAP and Penang government, by saying the party had purchased land in Balik Pulau, whatever the cost, to "chase out the Malays".

THE UNHAPPINESS IN SABAH AND SARAWAK

There are not really that many issues to resolve — immigration, crime, oil royalty, autonomy, federalisation, and the 18-/20-Point Agreements. On the side, of course, are the Bible and Allah issues, which is not a Sabah/Sarawak problem but being exploited by the opposition as if they are.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The last Umno General Assembly can be said to have sent out mixed signals. Instead of replying to the many questions that people may have about what to expect in the run-up to the next general election expected in 2-3 years from now, it raised more questions than it answered. If people had followed the Umno general assembly with the hope of becoming enlightened, then they were disappointed because, instead, the reverse happened: they became more confused.