Ibrahim an idiot or agent?

Perkasa or Ibrahim Ali, a so-called NGO, sponsored by Umno, on the pretence of fighting for 'Malay rights' has now step up its move to thwart Bersih's rally which is totally irrelevant to their (Perkasa 'cause') which was doubted by most right thinking Malaysians.

Bersih's rally is just about justice, free and fair elections for Malaysia...what this got to do with Perkasa...unless Perkasa is an agent of Umno.

Obviously, we see that the setting up of Perkasa was just a tool by Umno to create racial and religious uneasiness so as to make the Malays phobic of their rights being trampled (rubbish), their political supremacy diluted (rubbish) and non-Muslims' threat to Islam (also rubbish).

Well, all these are churned out for few things...a poltical purpose, power and survival.

KDM membership in Umno a moral surrender

Datuk John Ambrose, the Umno head for Penampang, has claimed that the Umno KDM task force has been in existence from the very beginning of Umno in Sabah, initially led by Tan Sri Kasitah Gadam and Datuk John Ghani, and yet the state Sabah BN Youth Treasurer, Bahrul Razha Chuprat does not recognize it, hence insisting that the movement be endorsed by the coming Umno general assembly, saying "We, the youth leaders, need to know whether this KDM task force has been given the blessing by party President Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak. And whether only a certain group of party leaders or all leaders can use it.” Wait, who is supposed to endorse this, the Umno assembly or the umno president? Already, there is confusion about the matter in the state BN.

Interestingly, John Ambrose, trying to justify his  membership in Umno, had implied that KDMs who are in Umno should no longer be seen as traitors to the KDM community.  And so now there is suddenly a new interest to revive the Umno Sabah KDM task force to garner more support from the KDM people. As a move in this direction Umno gave away a token gift of RM50,000 to poor students in nine schools in Papar last month, with the nice rationale from the task force's Treasurer Datuk Peter Anthony that “There is nothing wrong in wanting to help those in need” – yes, especially if you have an axe to grind (LOL)! But then, is this money for poor students taken from the government’s (the people’s) coffer, from the Umno bank account, or from the private sector? If it is from the government why is it not distributed by the Papar’s YBs under the state or federal budget, and why is this being doled out by Umno for Umno’s campaign purpose? Has Umno the right to use the people’s money for its own campaign? If it is from the private sector the Department of Inland Revenue should look into the account of this Santa Claus. I cannot help smelling a rat in the whole thing.

This sudden generousity by Umno through the KDM task force has raised several very important questions. Why this move to revive the task force suddenly after ruling Sabah for 17 years? Is Umno abandoning the BN spirit in Sabah, and now thinks that the KDM-based parties (PBS, Upko and PBRS) are no longer necessary for BN? Is Umno saying that these parties have failed to get the support of the KDMs for the BN, and now Umno is stepping in to get these KDMs to come into BN through Umno instead? Is Umno preparing to rule the state all by itself after getting the KDM support, and by that time it can say to PBS, Upko and PBRS that “Now, you can leave BN if you want!”? It looks like it. Umno has become so arrogant that it thinks it can rule the state all by itself soon, as indicated by its moves to ask for KDM and Chinese seats to be given to it in the next general election. Even Datuk Marcus Mojigoh had said, “Go ahead, take my seat!” and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup had threatened to reevaluate its position in BN if Umno insists on taking his sole and precious Pensiangan seat.

Does this mean Umno is trying to pinch away support from the KDM-based parties? But Umno itself had started whining recently accusing “other BN components” of pinching away its members! So is Umno saying it is alright for it to do this kind of thing to its fellow BN components but won’t stand for it if the other components do the same to Umno? There is a name for that kind of attitude – hypocrisy!

Another issue to the whole thing is the matter of morale for the KDM community. Let’s not forget what Umno does at every Umno general assembly. The number one emphasis is always for the future of the Malays – Malay this and Malay that – Malay future, Malay special rights, Malay privileges, Malay shares, Malay rulers, and of course, Malay superiority and supremacy. How does a KDM Umno member feel in the middle of those shouting and holding up of the kris during the general assemblies every year? Even just by watching the whole thing on TV, there is a whole lot of alienation and blatant discrimination against non-Malay members from Sabah in the whole tone of the assemblies. I can never forget the time Datuk John Ghani speaking with high spirit in one of the assemblies in his Kadazan costume because it was to incongruent and against the spirit of the KDMs. Datuk John, thankfully, has since withdrawn from the whole charade.

At one time Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek left the assembly hall saying, the whole thing did hurt his feelings. So far no KDM Umno leader had ever said anything about how they felt. I bet many are not happy, even ashamed of their own political struggle in Umno, but they are too cowardly to say it. Some may even try to psycho themselves into thinking that they are Malays. But we all know that the rationale of it all, even when using the “rumpun Melayu” rhetoric, KDMs are still KDMs, and Umno is still a Malay party from the Peninsular. Before independence there were no Malays in Sabah.

Let’s us not forget that Umno was established for the cause of the Malay history and struggle, with the unending shout of “Hidup Melayu!” and “Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia!” At one time many people suggested that Umno be change to United Malaysia National Organisation but it was rejected outright by those who believe that, do or die, Umno must remain as a Malay vehicle forever. It is only in Sabah that Umno has compromised on the terms of its membership by allowing non-Malays to become members (including Chinese!) all for political expedience. But the moment they step off the plane in Kuala Lumpur, they become anomalies among the Malays, and seen only as political instruments (or traitors) for the conquest of the stubborn Land Below the Wind.

We can see that now, because of our own weaknesses, we are splintered into so many political parties. Our own leaders who were too corrupt and easily swayed could not even unite us under own political umbrellas. The Huguan Siou has been a failure and is no longer fighting for our future. If only he had focused solely on uniting the KDM and not got himself embroiled in politics by leading another KDM party, our fate would have a lot different.

Is it too late for a revival of a true Huguan Siou leadership? Maybe, maybe not, but PBS is too much in a dilemma today to do what is right, which is to sever its ties with Umno/BN once again and start a new revolution. This is all despite the fact that it was Umno who robbed power from PBS and thereafter caused so many of our problems in Sabah. It implemented the infamous Projek IC and caused a drastic increased our population within a few years, and worse, it made Sabah the poorest state in Malaysia.

Whatever the KDMs’ excuse for being in Umno, we know very well that the arrangement will always lead to self-destruction for the community in the end. Many reason that “We need to move forward,” but joining Umno is a moral defeat and surrender for us. History has proven it, but we never seem to learn anything from the hard and painful lessons.

DANIEL JOHN JAMBUN

Amnesty PATI Bermula 11 Julai

KERAJAAN akan melaksanakan proses pendaftaran besar-besaran bermula 11 Julai ini bagi merekodkan jumlah pekerja asing dan pendatang tanpa izin yang berada di Malaysia.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, proses yang termasuk dalam program penyelesaian menyeluruh pendatang asing tanpa izin atau Program 6P itu, akan dilaksana melalui gerakan pendaftaran merangkumi pengambilan biometrik semua pendatang asing tanpa izin di negara ini.

Program itu bertujuan mengumpul data mengenai pendatang asing tanpa izin di negara ini seperti di mana mereka bekerja, dengan siapa dan berapa gaji yang diterima serta beberapa maklumat lain yang diharap dapat membantu ke arah mengatasi isu sosial dan jenayah yang sering dikaitkan dengan kumpulan itu.

"Kita mahu supaya selepas eksesais ini berjalan, kerajaan dapat memperkemaskan rekod berkenaan pekerja-pekerja asing dalam negara dan sekaligus dapat mengurangkan pekerja asing di negara ini," katanya pada sidang akhbar di bangunan Parlimen pada Rabu selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat khas Jawatankuasa Kabinet Mengenai Pekerja Asing dan Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin.

Program 6P meliputi enam pelan tindakan melibatkan pendatang asing tanpa izin iaitu pendaftaran, pemutihan, pengampunan, pemantauan, penguatkuasaan pengusiran.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata program pendaftaran itu terbuka kepada semua pendatang asing di negara ini termasuk mereka yang masuk secara haram menggunakan pas lawatan sosial.

"Mereka yang berbuat demikian tidak akan dikenakan sebarang tindakan undang-undang," katanya.

Muhyiddin berkata, bagi memastikan proses itu berjalan lancar, kerajaan akan melantik syarikat-syarikat yang berpengalaman dalam menguruskan soal pendaftaran antaranya bagi menemui majikan dan mendaftarkan pekerja-pekerja asing di bawah syarikat terbabit.

"Untuk itu kita minta majikan terlibat secara aktif (membawa keluar dan mendaftarkan pekerja) kerana di bawah program pengampunan ini tidak ada tindakan undang-undang akan diambil terhadap mereka.

"Kerajaan juga ingin memohon kerjasama daripada kerajaan-kerajaan negeri menerusi jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa keselamatan yang ada di seluruh negara serta jawatankuasa keselamatan kampung untuk membantu dalam soal ini kerana mereka lebih tahu di mana pekerja-pekerja tanpa izin itu berada," katanya.

Muhyiddin berkata proses pendaftaran itu juga bertujuan mengenal pasti keperluan guna tenaga industri dan sektor tertentu di negara ini, dan untuk itu, kerajaan telah mengarahkan semua kementerian yang mengetuai sektor perladangan, pembuatan, pembinaan, perkhidmatan serta sub sektor di bawahnya, mengumpul fakta berhubung jumlah guna tenaga yang diperlukan supaya keperluan itu dapat dipenuhi setelah sesi pendaftaran selesai.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, semua keperluan guna tenaga dan jawatan kosong yang terdapat di semua sektor di bawah mana-mana kementerian itu akan diiklankan untuk dipenuhi oleh warga negara Malaysia terlebih dahulu dan akan hanya ditawarkan kepada pendatang asing sekiranya masih terdapat kekosongan.

"Itu eksesais yang perlu kerajaan lakukan untuk maklumkan kepada rakyat bahawa ada peluang pekerjaan dan mereka patut diberikan peluang utama, selepas itu barulah syarikat berkaitan boleh membuka peluang kepada pekerja asing," katanya.

Muhyiddin berkata semua eksesais dalam Program 6P itu akan diselesaikan menjelang penghujung tahun ini.

Ditanya mengenai tempoh masa yang diberikan untuk program itu dan sama ada ia merupakan amaran terakhir kepada pendatang asing tanpa izin, beliau berkata, tempoh itu mungkin dilanjutkan berdasarkan sambutan.

"Kita tak nak kata ini (amaran)...kerajaan bagi mereka peluang untuk mendaftar tetapi jika ingkar seperti biasa akta di bawah peraturan imigresen akan dikuatkuasakan selepas itu," katanya. (BERNAMA)

Longer work permits: Happier planters, sadder Sabahans

Queville To

The federal government has done away with its 'discriminatory' policy involving foreign workers in the plantation sector.

KOTA KINABALU: The federal government has standardised its policy involving foreign workers in the plantation sector.

It has also doubled the duration of the worker permits for foreigners in the plantation sector.

As of last month, both smallholders and big plantations can hire foreign labour on a long-term basis.

Prior to this, the policy favoured only big plantations in the state and workers who completed their five-year contract were sent back.

Revealing the change in policy, Deputy Home Minister Lee Chee Leong said the new 10-year work permit, which is split into two and known as the “5+5 years” renewal of work pass, applied to all plantations irrespective of size.

Lee said this in the Dewan Rakyat recently in response to a question raised by Tawau MP Chua Soon Bui.
Chua had asked for the rationale behind the ministry’s double standard in implementing its policy on work pass renewal for foreign workers in the plantation sector.

Chua, who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice-president, said she had been receiving complaints from smallholders in the east coast of Sabah, who questioned the discriminatory policy.

Smallholders in the oil palm sector said the discriminatory policy would make their farming practice uneconomical.

While the decision may put a smile on the faces of those in the business sector, ordinary Sabahans are grumbling that the employment situation in the state has been set back.

Expectations have been high that cheap labour from Indonesia and the Philippines would be phased out in favour of higher salaries to attract locals into the industry.

But the latest move appears to have put a dent to this aspiration.

‘Umno outsourcing racism to Perkasa’

Humayun Kabir

An opposition leader claims that Umno is the hidden hand behind Perkasa, which has been tasked with raising racial issues.

TAIPING: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) alleged that Umno, after coming under pressure from its Barisan Nasional component parties, has outsourced its racist agenda to Perkasa.

PSM leader and Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar recalled how former Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein once held and kissed the keris, uttering seditious words against the Chinese community.

Jeyakumar said this did not go down well with the non-Malays, and many turned their backs on BN.

“Now Umno is outsourcing this kind of racist posturing to Parkasa which is totally outside the party to hoodwink the people into believing that Umno is a changed, moderate party,” he told FMT.

“Umno is being double-faced in using racism and religion on one hand through Parkasa to get the support of the Malay community while (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) on the other hand is singing the 1Malaysia unity song to the non-Malays to get their support.

“The policy of using a balance of racism and religion and talks of unity is to make the people hostage to the status quo of power. But this will backfire on BN in the next polls,” he added.

Worried about Bersih rally

Jeyakumar said Umno’s claim to be the saviour of the Malay community for the past 50 years does not hold water after the 2008 general election as the race has woken up to the reality that they are not on equal
economic footing like the Umno cronies.

He said the Malay community no longer subscribes to Umno’s political propaganda of divide and rule as the economic rift between the Umno cronies and the community continues to widen.

The PSM leader reasoned that the silence adopted by Umno with regard to Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali reveals the party’s tacit support for the hardcore Malay movement.

Ibrahim recently said that he will lead a counter rally against election reforms group Bersih 2.0′s planned rally on July 9 and Perkasa should not be blamed for any untoward incidents.

Jeyakumar claimed that Umno is worried about the Bersih rally, and are using fear tactics to discourage people from lending support.

PRU 13 Guna Sistem Biometrik?

Timbalan Presiden Pertubuhan Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu (UPKO), Datuk Wilfred Bumburing pada Selasa mengalu-alukan rancangan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) untuk menggunakan sistem biometrik pada pilihan raya umum akan datang.
 

"Sistem itu baik dan patut digunakan," katanya kepada Bernama di sini.

Bagaimanapun, Bumburing berkata SPR perlu terlebih dahulu membersihkan senarai pemilih daripada mereka yang disyaki sebagai pengundi hantu, terutama di Sabah.

"Ini kerana penggunaan sistem biometrik tidak boleh menjamin keadilan dalam pengundian sebab seseorang pendatang asing tanpa izin mungkin memegang lebih daripada satu MyKad dengan nama yang sama, tapi nombor yang berbeza, yang akan membolehkannya mengundi jika namanya ada dalam senarai pemilih," kata beliau.

Bumburing berkata demikian untuk mengulas kenyataan pengerusi SPR Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof di Putrajaya semalam bahawa suruhanjaya itu merancang menggunakan sistem biometrik untuk membolehkan urusan pengesahan pengundi pada pilihan raya umum akan datang dilaksanakan secara elektronik.

Abdul Aziz dipetik sebagai berkata bahawa SPR akan bekerjasama dengan Kementerian Dalam Negeri dalam penggunaan sistem berkenaan, yang kini digunakan dalam urusan pengesahan pengenalan diri warga asing.

Jabatan Imigresen juga menggunakan sistem itu di semua pusat pemeriksaan keluar masuk ke negara ini untuk mencegah jenayah antarabangsa dan kebanjiran pendatang asing tanpa izin ke Malaysia.

Bumburing berkata sekiranya sistem itu diperkenalkan, ia mestilah merupakan suatu sistem bersepadu yang boleh menjamin terlaksananya prinsip "setiap orang hanya satu undi".

"Semua orang tahu Sabah bergelut dengan masalah pendatang asing tanpa izin sejak sekian lama. Sebab itulah, kita perlu berhati-hati sebelum memperkenalkan sistem biometrik ini," katanya. 

(BERNAMA)

Umno's scrambles for wealth control

Ibrahim said Umno still used political
connections to maximise its own profits

As Malaysia’s assets wane, Umno scrambles for wealth control

The fight is on for the country’s diminishing resources and assets, and leading the charge to secure rights to projects and land ownership are Umno warlords and politically-connected individuals.

As Malaysia grapples with imminent tariff hikes and a subsidy bill that could double to RM21 billion this year, individuals within the ruling Malay party appear to be wasting little time in demanding that the Najib administration award them immediate rights to government and commercial projects.

This is evident in the current tussle surrounding Umno’s attacks on UDA Holdings Bhd’s sale of prime land in downtown Kuala Lumpur, where despite the agency’s assurance that the sale to Mutiara Goodyear would benefit Bumiputeras, Umno leaders have attacked the agency, saying RM215.5 million deal would hurt Bumiputera interests.

“With the government announcement of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and projects, these people want to take advantage of the situation, they want a share of the pie,” said Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian.

“There is an expectation that for continued political support, Umno needs to be economically secure, and what we are seeing now is a scramble for diminishing assets, properties,” Ibrahim told The Malaysian Insider.

UDA has also come under fire recently from Malay hardliners in Umno and Perkasa as well as Utusan Malaysia for allegedly abandoning the Bumiputera agenda after it chose not to appoint Bumiputera joint-venture turnkey investors for the proposed Bukit Bintang City Centre, located on prime land in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle.

Umno leaders have alleged that there are several Bumiputera companies that were more than capable to be part of the redevelopment project, but were overlooked by the agency.

Another project that has come under fire from Malay hardliners is the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project where they have won a concession to allow consortiums to pre-qualify for the country’s most expensive infrastructure project.

Project owners Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad had earlier restricted the tenders to construction companies with higher capital and longer experience but acceded to demands led by Perkasa, the Malay rights group.

Merdeka Center’s Ibrahim said that the trend in Umno’s growing demands in acquiring government and commercial projects showed a continuation of an oft-clichéd practice of money politics within the party. According to Ibrahim, Umno still used political connections to maximise its own profits.

“We can see that there’s even a scramble within different factions of Umno for projects, assets... but the thing is the scramble for assets is not as lucrative as it used to be, perhaps that is why this is happening,” the polls analyst added.

Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Dr Sivamurugan Pandian feels the government should only award projects or business deals to those who were deserving, saying that the continuation of “patronage politics” could backfire on Umno.

Pua said ‘race’ was still the main criteria to lobby and secure lucrative contracts.
“They (Umno) need to adapt to the current environment... an individual or company should only be awarded a project or sale of land if they are fully qualified, it has to be based on those who fulfil the best criteria,” the political analyst told The Malaysian Insider.

The DAP’s Tony Pua blames the current situation as the biggest flaw of the New Economic Policy (NEP), resulting in “race” being the main criteria to lobby and secure lucrative contracts, which leaves powerful and politically-connected Bumiputeras benefiting while leaving the “Bumiputera masses” with very little gains.

The DAP national publicity secretary charged that as a result, competitive and competent firms will shift their resources overseas as they find their expertise better valued and in demand in places other than Malaysia.

“The UDA, Mass Rapid Transit system, Sungei Besi airbase, Rubber Research Institute and other projects will serve as a key marker as to whether Najib’s administration is serious about transforming Malaysia’s economy.

“Should the political will be lacking, and the government continues to slice bigger chunks of a shrinking pie to these connected entities on the basis of race, Malaysia will remain trapped in the middle-income group, and slowly but surely decline in its competitiveness relative to the rest of the world,” Pua told The Malaysian Insider.

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

Labuan MP tells Upko to stay out

Michael Kaung

An senior member of the Sabah Barisan Nasional coalition wants the federal government to return Labuan to Sabah.

LABUAN: The call to return Labuan to Sabah by a senior Sabah politician is uncalled for, Labuan MP Yussof Mahal said here yesterday.

He said United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) vice- president Wences Anggang should retract his statement.

Yussof, the Barisan Nasional MP, said Anggang’s statement could adversely affect the existing good ties between Sabah and federal government.

“Being the MP here I know better about the situation in my constituency, so there is no need for any suggestion from any leaders outside of Labuan to urge any leaders, be it in the state government or federal government, to return the island to Sabah,” he said yesterday.

Yussof, who is also chairman of Labuan Corporation, said the people of Labuan have enjoyed steady development and progress under the federal government.

“The elevation of Labuan into a federal territory was based on mutual agreement between the Sabah and federal leaders.

“As such, Anggang should not simply jump to conclusions and urge the federal government to return Labuan to Sabah.”

Remove free port status

Upko, he said, already has a representative in the Labuan Corporation’s advisory council who can speak up for the Kadazandusun Murut community (KDM).

Anggang yesterday called on the federal government to return Labuan to the Sabah government for failing to administer the island and maintain its free port status.

He made the statement in response to Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister, Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, alleging that smuggling activities in Labuan were out of control and as a result, the government was incurring huge losses.

Anggang said Raja Nong’s proposition that the status of Labuan as a free port be scrapped was tantamount to admitting failure in maintaining the island as a free port, a status it has held since the British colonial rule.

He said the removal of the free port status as suggested by the finance ministry would affect the lives of the people in Labuan as well as neighbouring Menumbok.

The finance ministry advised that the free port status of the island should be reviewed in the light of the rampant smuggling activities centred around it.

Raja Nong, however, said the review would not take place immediately as his ministry wanted the enforcement agencies like Customs and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to strengthen enforcement within  Sabah and Labuan waters.

Kuli Calls for Royal Commission to Investigate IPPs

Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah today proposed the setting up of a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the independent power producers (IPPs) alleged to have made hefty profit at the expense of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the Malaysian consumers.



He said this was vital as TNB had to bear high expenditure cost and inadvertently burdened the consumers by raising the electricity tariffs.
 
"The commission must investigate and propose the best suitable measures to be taken by the government to ease the burden to be borne by the consumers following the inevitable increase in the electricity tariff after the IPPs charged higher rates to TNB," he said at a leader-meets-people event in Kampung Limau Kasturi here today.
 
Tengku Razaleigh, who is also Gua Musang Umno chief, said it was feared that the increase in electricity tariffs, which took effect on June 1, would also prompted most traders to increase the price of consumer products.
 
"We have to be fair in solving the issue because the IPPs is making hefty profits at the expense of TNB, besides getting subsidised rate from Petronas," he added.
 
--Bernama

SAPP Youth: DAP talking like Umno

 KOTA KINABALU, June 8, 2011: "Sabah DAP is talking more and more like UMNO because they think that DAP is now very strong like UMNO and can look down on others", said SAPP youth chief Edward Dagul today. 

"Sabah DAP thinks that victory in the next general elections is guaranteed. For instance, at the DAP Chinese Kaamatan celebration last month, DAP had boasted publicly that "only Pakatan and NOBODY ELSE can take on the BN", said Edward. 

"To the ears of an ex-BN component party like SAPP, that kind of boastful talk reminded SAPP of the BN days when UMNO displayed the same kind of arrogance, that without UMNO, the component parties of the BN cannot win. This kind of irritating boasts reminds Sabahans of the superior mentality of bosses from Kuala Lumpur who think they can come and talk down to Sabahans as they wish," added Edward.

"Sadly, a young person like Junz Wong has fallen so quickly into the "inferiority complex" to blindly follow KL. But SAPP youths believe that we Sabahans deserve respect as equal partners with Malaya in upholding the autonomy of Sabah in Malaysia.

"DAP has suddenly claimed that a local party cannot govern Sabah without being a member of the Pakatan if Pakatan captures Putrajaya. This is the same tune sung by UMNO and the BN. This is the same type of promises made by KL to Sabahans in 1990 when UMNO first came to Sabah. This is exactly the type of reasoning that the then UMNO deputy president, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim (now PR de facto leader) had used to bring SAPP into the BN in 1994. This is the same type of promises made to Sabah and Sarawak before the two territories agreed to form Malaysia in 1963 after Brunei has opted out from the formation of Malaysia.

"But, before the March 2008 general elections, there was little that Sabah could do because Malaysian politics was dominated by UMNO in the KL-centric government. After the general elections of March 2008, it became a new political reality that no party can form the Federal government without winning Sabah and Sarawak. The power equation has thus changed to favour the two Borneo states. Hence, Sabahans at last saw a window of opportunity for Sabah to reset the button on Malaysia and revive the struggle to enforce the spirit and letter of the Malaysia Agreement as true Malaysians.

If it is true that the state government must belong to the same national alliance like the PR or BN, then Junz Wong should tell us whether the Penang State government today is in the same party as the BN Federal government. Or is the DAP paving its way to join BN after the coming general elections? Or has the Kelantan State Government been part of the BN ever since 1990 when PAS first took over the Kelantan?

"SAPP rejects any notion that Sabahans are subservient to politicians in KL.

It is not too much to want mutual respect instead of subservience. SAPP wants State-Federal co-operation, not state-federal collusion. We view the so-called two parties system of BN and PR as merely "two parties, one system" with KL controlling everything. We see as dangerous the DAP’s view of the "Sarawak two parties system" consisting of the Chinese opposition on one side and a Bumiputra government on the other. Is this what DAP wants to happen in Sabah? It is time for DAP leaders like Jimmy Wong Sze Phin to speak up.

"We reject the politics of divide and rule of Sabah by KL as what is happening in the Sabah BN and UMNO with the non-stop bickering among their leaders to the pleasure of their political masters in KL.

With due respect to Pakatan Rakyat, we reserve our comments on the Sabah Pakatan which has yet to form a committee in Sabah.

Pembinaan empangan Tambatuon mimpi ngeri

Kota Belud, Jun 4, 2011: Pembinaan Empangan Tambatuon masih lagi menjadi mimpi ngeri kepada para penduduknya jelas Mantan Ketua Kampung Encik Singkui Tinggi dalam satu temuramah baru-baru ini.

Mana tidaknya "mahu membuka ladang baru untuk ditanam getah, dan mahu membina rumah baru, orang kampung serba salah, tidur pun tak lena kerana asyik teringatkan kampung halaman akan ditenggelamkan air" tambah beliau lagi.

Dari segi sejarah Kampung Tambatuon telah lama dikenali sejak zaman pemerintahan British, kampung ini juga terlibat dalam perang semasa penjajahan Jepun sehinggakan ada nyawa yang penduduk kampung yang terkorban. Maka dengan itu, walau apa cara sekalipun kg. Tambatuon akan dipertahankan hingga ketitisan darah yang terakhir, tegas beliau. 

Mengulas tentang kenyataan Yang Berhormat Datuk Masidi Manjun didalam akhbar baru-baru ini, jelas menyatakan Kg. Tambatuon adalah sebuah kampung yang tercantik, namun kerakusan pemimpin, terutamanya Adun Kadamaian YB Herbert Timbun yang sepatutnya membela rakyat dikawasan Kadamaian tidak pula menjalankan tugas, sebaliknyanya menganiaya rakyatnya sendiri, ibarat kata pepatah "harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi".

Beliau turut mengambil kesempatan untuk mengucapkan ucapan terima kasih yang tidak terhingga kepada Parti Maju Sabah, khususnya kepada Yang Berhormat Melanie Chia, Adun N.16 Luyang, kerana telah membawa isu ini untuk dibincangkan di Dewan Rakyat. Inilah pemimpin yang sebenar ujar beliau, walaupun beliau (Yb Melanie Chia) wakil rakyat Luyang dan berbangsa Tiong Hwa namun jelas terserlah keikhlasan dalam membantu rakyat sabah tanpa mengira kaum.

Diakhir perbualan beliau mencabar kepada Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman untuk turun tangan menyelesaikan masalah ini secara mutlak dengan mengumumkan pembatalan pembinaan Empangan Tambatuon.

SAPP is here to stay

In rural areas it is still difficult for people to understand, that is if SAPP is different now compare to when SAPP was still in BN fold three years ago. But sign so far is encouraging everywhere by day. One and a half year ago many of my friends even shied away because I joined SAPP now my mobile phone is exploded so to speak surely it means something. 

In areas, UMNO stronghold there is some resistance to even talk openly about politics. They have been indoctrinated by UMNO style politicking for the past 48 years I therefore can understand the difficulty. Race and religion still the main menu, which I would like to explore more given chances.

SAPP is going to stay around as long as they are people subscribed to the idea the we must first put our house in order with solid voice. 

We will be launching our SAPP manifesto shortly to put things in better picture of what SAPP is fighting for. We actually don’t talk about Sabah for Sabahans; this phrase wasn’t created by SAPP but our political opponents.

Leaders in SAPP come and go but the culture has started. I wouldn’t be with SAPP if SAPP were still with BN and for people, who think like me, let's study the likely picture of Sabah in another 50 years.

It will take time but basically we are talking about durability and not fly by night kind. PAS didn’t last long like today if the earlier leaders were selfish then and looking solely for self-interest, so too DAP, who ever thought 50 years ago that DAP could form a State government?

Yes they are still people especially the old guards who think things don’t change. I can leave them as they are without making them my enemies; the new generation are in our side urban Bumiputras are thinking nearly similar to Chinese neighbours not that they are influenced by the Chinese culture but due to access and exposure and experience the real world, while in kampongs many things are shielded because of the political system, UMNO practices if you not my friends you are my enemy, to me don’t have to be my friends to be my consultants or advisor, even my enemies may give me good advice. 

By Amde Sidik, Deputy President of Sabah Progressive Party SAPP

KPLB Sabah nafi sekat projek

Michael Kaung

Sabah merupakan negeri yang mencapai keputusan terbaik dalam mengimplimentasikan projek dibawah Bidang Keberhasilan Utama Negara (NKRA).

KOTA KINABALU: Kerajaan negeri Sabah khususnya, Kementerian Pembangunan Luar Bandar (KPLB) Sabah menafikan dakwaan yang dibuat oleh Ketua Umno Bahagian Papar, Abdul Rahim Ismail bahawa sesetengah projek pembangunan yang diperuntukan oleh Kementerian Luar Bandar Pesekutuan disekat.


Menterinya, Ewon Ebin berkata Sabah merupakan negeri yang mencapai keputusan terbaik dalam mengimplimentasikan projek dibawah Bidang Keberhasilan Utama Negara (NKRA) terutamanya jalan raya, Program elektrik, program bekalan air dan program bantuan perumahan kepada golongan termiskin.

Katanya, taklimat bagi setiap perlaksanaan projek ini diadakan hampir setiap bulan kepada jawatankuasa di peringkat negeri dan pusat, iaitu KPLB dipengerusian oleh Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar, dan KKLW dipengerusikan oleh Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah manakala mesyuarat Petugas Khas Penyampaian dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri.

“Isu mengenai penyekatan atau tiada dilaksanakan tidak pernah dibawa ke mesyuarat ini dan projek yang dijalankan dikehendaki disiapkan untuk mencapai sasaran yang telah ditetapkan,” katanya.

Dr Ewon berkata, pretasi Sabah dalam menyiapkan program bantuan rumah tahun lalu telah mencapai hampir 100 peratus yang mana sejumlah 2,348 unit rumah telah dibina dan 319 buah rumah diperbaiki.

Katanya, untuk tahun ini (2011), peruntukan sejumlah RM103 juta sudah diluluskan untuk pembinaan sebanyak 2,439 buah rumah baru dan membaiki 77 buah rumah.  Pada ketika ini, semua pegawai daerah di negeri ini sedang melaksanakan projek ini dan dijangka siap mengikut jadual.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya juga telah menohon lebih peruntukan yang akan digunakan untuk membina lebih banyak rumah kepada gologan termiskin tetapi kerajaan persekutuan hanya meluluskan sebanyak RM103 juta tahun ini.

Katanya, peruntukan yang lebih juga diminta dibawah NKRA untuk jalan raya, keperluan bekalan air bersih dan program elektrik bagi luar bandar tetapi tidak semua permintaan diluluskan.

“Untuk bekalan air bersih ke kawasan luar bandar, hanya Jabatan Air Negeri sahaja yang mempunyai kuasa melaksanakan tender ini dan memberikannya kepada kontraktor kelas E dan F. Pemberian tender kepada Kontraktor kelas D dan ke atas akan diputuskan oleh KKLW. Projek penyambungan elektrik pula diserahkan kepada Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) oleh kerajaan persekutuan.

“Sebanyak 16,000 rumah golongan miskin akan mendapat faedah daripada pemasangan elektrik dengan hanya perlu bayar RM14.20 sebulan,” jelasnya.

Tambah Ewon, adalah tidak benar jika mengatakan bahawa peruntukan yang diberikan oleh kerajaan persekutuan diberhentikan. Kerajaan negeri sentiasa menggalakkan lebih banyak peruntukan yang diberikan untuk mengimplimentasi pelbagai projek yang akan dinikmati oleh masyarakat.

Oleh itu, tuduhan yang dibuat oleh Rahim tidak berasas dan daerah Papar merupakan dearah yang menerima peruntukan yang terbanyak dalam program pembasmian kemiskinan dari KPLB termasuklah projek Mini Estet Sejahtera (Mesej) di kampung Kinosoludon yang mana seluas 500 ekar benih getah ditanam dan projek perumahan bernilai RM3.9 juta.

Kementerian Dalam Negeri juga meluluskan sejumlah RM517,700 tahun lalu dan RM346,500 tahun ini untuk mengimplimentasi projek pembangunan luar bandar di daerah itu.

Umno ibarat dua gajah bertempur, pelanduk mati tersepit

SUDAH terang lagi bersulu, sudah nyata lagi bertanya! Apakah ‘cold war’ seperti yang dinyatakan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Pusat Khairy Jamaluddin ketika merasmikan persidangan pemuda Umno diKeningau baru baru ini boleh disanggah sebagai tidak benar.

Apabila timbul penafian yang kononnya ‘cold war’ tidak ada, malangnya terlalu sedikit yang bersetuju penafian Timbalan Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno Sabah Datuk Salleh Tun Said itu berbanding kenyataan KJ itu bahawa Umno Sabah berlaku ‘cold war’ masyarakat sekeliling pula menjawabnya “ Waaahhh? KJ baru sekarang tahu?...kami lamaaa sudah tahu bah!”.



Tidak ada sebarang perkara yang boleh disembunyikan lagi dalam dunia politik harini dalam era komunikasi dunia tanpa sempadan khususnya Sabah dimana apa yang telah berlaku diakhir akhir ini sudah semakin ketara yang boleh didifinisikan daripada gaya pertuturan dan ungkapan setiap kali pemimpin pemimpin tertinggi Umno Sabah berucap.

Yang terbaru, Naib Presiden Umno yang juga Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah Persekutuan Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal dalam kenyataannya, bahawa beliau menafikan dakwaan yang beliau “gila kuasa” dan merancang menggulingkan kepimpinan Negeri sekarang.

Beliau juga turut menafikan bahawa beliau tidak ada masalah dengan orang lain dalam kalangan pemimpin Umno diSabah. Bagaimana pun beliau dipetik sebagai berkata bahawa “ Kecuali mereka yang mempunyai masalah dengan saya,” kata beliau ketika merasmikan mesyuarat tahunan Umno Papar baru baru ini.

Selain itu, Shafie dalam kenyataannya bahawa seseorang itu tidak perlu berasa gentar untuk memperjuangkan kebenaran bagi menfaat rakyat kerana inilah apa yang dilakukan oleh Perdana Menteri Dato’Seri Najib Tun Razak melalui usaha mereformasikan agar rakyat akan menyokong kerajaan.

Mungkin persaingan kepimpinan antara Shafie dan Musa telah diambil kesempatan oleh “macai macai” masing masing dimana ianya sekadar pergeseran politik biasa tetapi kemudiannya membawa kepada suatu perbalahan dimana beberapa pemimpin bawahan telah menjadi mangsa hanya kerana tanggapan yang kurang jelas kerana tanpa bukti.

Mampukah Umno Sabah meleraikan pergeseran mereka sebelum PRU13 ini yang semakin hampir bahangnya. Jika ianya berterusan pastilah Umno dan BN berhadapan dengan laluan sukar untuk meraih sokongan daripada rakyat Sabah.

Oleh: Wartawan JendelaSabah.com 

Hisham's muddy view of Akjan case laughable

By Datuk Yong Teck Lee

After reading Home Minister Datuk Hishamuddin Tun Hussein's statement that he has ordered a probe into Mohd Akjan Ali's citizenship, I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. I should laugh because the Home Minister is telling a joke about the Akjan case. Or I should cry because our Home Minister really thinks Sabahans are fools. Indeed, Hisham's public utterances have damaged the public confidence towards the government on this case. 

The police already have all the records and detailed information about Akjan. Not only was he an ISA detainee in 1995 to 1997 for manufacturing fake ICs, his company was later awarded multi-million ringgit project to build the police field force base in Kinarut about 10 years ago, directly under the Home Minister who, at the time, was the then Deputy Prime Minister, Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Three months ago, after the fake coronation as "Sultan of Sulu", Akjan was again detained for investigations. Statements were taken from several persons who are close to Akjan. Until recently, Akjan was also a member of UMNO, the ruling party of which Hisham is Vice President Does Hisham expect us to believe that he is still in the dark about Akjan's citizenship, background, activities and history? 

In one of Akjan's earlier statement after the fake "coronation", he had alleged that he has documents for the Prime Minister, Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, concerning the dropping of the Sulu Sultanate claim to Sabah. I now call on Hishammudding to reveal to the public what the documents are. 

Do any of the documents have to do with letters from the ex-Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Akjan relating to the Philippine claim to Sabah? If there are such documents, it is likely that copies of such documents are already in the hands of the police but the authorities are keeping quiet. 

Ex-Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee, May 1996 to 1998

‘Sabah don’t need teachers from Semenanjung with extremist leanings’

Michael Kaung

A brewing storm over the Education Ministry's alleged plan to send 80,000 teachers to Sarawak is worrying Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional (BN) partner Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has echoed its neighbour’s apprehension at the prospect of 80,000 teachers from Peninsular Malaysia being transferred to Sarawak next year.

PBS secretary general Henrynus Amin said: “If the allegation is indeed true, then what is the rationale?

“PBS can find no plausible explanation for the massive transfer of teachers from Peninsular Malaysia to either Sabah or Sarawak.

“While the need may have been true 20 years ago, today the case is no longer true.”

Henrynus said the influx of teachers from Peninsular Malaysia who are not screened for their political views will have an influence on the thinking of local youths.

“Sabah and Sarawak is still free from extreme racial and religious views. We don’t want teachers with extreme political leanings such as those expressed by Perkasa to set foot in the two states,” he said.

Henrynus was alluding to a gathering storm in neighbouring Sarawak over the Education Ministry’s alleged plan to second 80,000 teachers to the state.

The transfers, which are expected to include thousands of ustaz (Muslim religious teachers), has put Sarawak’s already wary Christian community on guard.

Sarawak BN-ally Parti Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing has expressed concern over the thousands of uztaz who had be transfered to Sarawak as ‘counselling teachers’.

“Why these ustaz are here I don’t know…  Here, they are called counselling teachers. Counselling on what matter, I do not know.

“It is quite worrying in the sense that if they are really who they are, then the tendency to teach is not there.
“They will be more inclined to look into aspects of religion than actually teaching the students,” he said.

Serious political implications

Echoing his view, Henrynus, who was formerly Kinabalu (now Ranau) MP, said the news of teachers arriving in Sarawak in the tens of thousands is already sending shockwaves through the local communities giving rise to wild speculations.

“Again, if the news is true, there would be a serious political impact, as local youths who are genuinely interested to become teachers and still unemployed would be deprived of job opportunities.

“The Education Ministry must therefore reconsider its policy of sending teachers from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak.

“It is high time for Sabah and Sarawak to develop the resources from within them and stop the flow of negative influences that sows the seeds of racial and religious discords,” he said.

PBS, he said wants the federal government, in particular, the Education Ministry, to open up more opportunities for qualified youths from Sabah and Sarawak to be trained a teachers to serve the local community.

“Our children are bright and ever willing to serve the nation as teachers even in remote places if they are given the chance,” Henrynus added.

Kaum Murut Tolak Geran Komunal

Nasution Naejel



BANTAH…..Gambar Usar (kanan) bersama Ansapi menunjukkan salinan surat bantahan yang telah dikemukakan kepada Suhakam.

JAWATANKUASA Penuntut Hak Asasi Tanah Adat (JPHAT) Rundum mendesak kerajaan khususnya Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman agar menimbang semula cadangan pemberian geran komunal kepada para penuntut bekas Tanah Adat (NCR) seramai lebih 200 keluarga sekiranya ianya dikeluarkan daripada kawasan Hutan Simpan Mukim Rundum.

Pengerusinya, Gambar Usar, 67, berkata beliau sudah mendapat isyarat daripada para penuntut tanah adat bahawa mereka akan menolak hasrat kerajaan berhubung pemberian status geran komunal itu dengan alasan bahawa ianya hanya bersifat sementara.

“Kami sudah minta nasihat daripada pihak yang berpengalaman dalam soal status tanah termasuk Peguam. Rata-rata mengatakan geran komunal tidak mempunyai jaminan bahawa tanah itu sebagai hak mutlak kami secara jangka panjang,” kata beliau yang meminta penjelasan Jabatan Tanah dan Ukur.

Baru-baru ini, Gambar bersama Ketua Bahagian Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Kemabong, Sabini Ansumor dan beberapa Ahli Jawatankuasa JPHAT menghantar memorandum bantahan berhubung masalah tersebut kepada Pesuruhjaya Suhakam, Jannie Lasimbang di Pejabatnya di Kota Kinabalu.

Bagaimanapun, beliau difahamkan bahawa pihak Suhakam hanya akan memulakan penyiasatan aduan mereka termasuk lawatan Suhakam ke Kemabong pada 18 Jun, sedangkan pengumuman rasmi dan penyerahan geran komunal kepada para penuntut dijangka akan dilakukan semasa lawatan Perdana Menteri ke Kemabong pada 11 Jun, akan datang ini.

“Jadi, kita minta jasa baik Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman agar masalah pemberian geran komunal ini diselesaikan secara mutlak sebelum ianya diumum ketika lawatan PM ke sini,” kata Gambar dalam nada yang serius.

Paling penting, kata Gambar, kerajaan harus memberi penjelasan secara kolektif dan komprehensif mengenai Geran Komunal yang disifatkan sebagai geran sementara; sama ada boleh diganti dengan geran persendirian atau berasingan di kemudian hari kelak kerana setiap pewaris mahukan geran berada di tangan mereka sendiri.

Selain itu, Gambar turut menjelaskan bahawa tindakan mereka itu tidak bermaksud untuk menghalang usaha kerajaan untuk menyelesaikan masalah tuntutan mereka ke atas bekas tanah adat yang dikeluarkan dari kawasan Hutan Simpan.

Namun tambahnya, apa yang mereka kehendaki ialah hak secara saksama dan adil mengikut lunas perlembagaan agar perjuangan mereka selama ini tidak sia-sia kerana bukan sedikit Anak Negeri Sabah terperosok dalam lokap polis dan menderita sepanjang hayat.

“Mereka menang di mahkamah, tetapi tidak dapat apa-apa kerana tanaman, rumah dan harta mereka telah diradu atau dibakar Jabatan Perhutanan. Inilah yang kami bimbangkan kerana Jabatan Hutan masih menganggap kami penceroboh dan mempunyai kuasa autonomi,” ujar Gambar dengan nada kesal kerana aduan kepada Ketua Menteri seperti mencurah air ke daun keladi.

Kata Gambar, rakyat berpendapat Pengarah Jabatan Hutan lebih berkuasa daripada Ketua Menteri dan setiap surat rayuan atau aduan hanya dimasukkan ke tong sampah.

Namun selepas insiden Kg Imahit di Mukim Tomani, senario mula berubah setelah 6 pendudukdi hadapkan ke Mahkamah Majistret dan disabitkan kesalahan kerana menceroboh kawasan Hutan Simpan lalu didenda RM1,000 setiap seorang; tetapi mereka memfail rayuan.

Mereka beruntung kerana Mahkamah Tinggi Kota Kinabalu memutuskan untuk mengenepikan penghakiman bersalah yang dibuat oleh Mahkamah Majistret; seterusnya membebaskan keenam tertuduh daripada hukuman tersebut dengan mengambilkira bahawa kawasan tersebut adalah berstatus NCR.

Ekoran daripada keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi tersebut telah mendorong kerajaan negeri di bawah kepimpinan Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman membuat keputusan untuk menyerahkan tanah-tanah NCR yang ada dalam kawasan Hutan Simpan dikeluarkan dan diberi kepada penduduk yang berhak melalui Geran Komunal.

Kawasan kawasan yang terlibat seperti Kg Sumambu, Kg Kapulu, Kg Katubu dan Kg Kabintaluan yang kesemuanya terletak di Mukim Rundum.

Skandal Seks Ahli Parlimen Sabah

Mohd Yatim Suhaili

UMNO yang dikatakan menjadi dalang dan heboh dengan Skandal Video Seks yang didakwa melibatkan Ketua Pembangkang terkejut dengan dakwaan seorang wanita yang mengakui mengandung anak hasil hubungan sulitnya setelah diperdaya seorang Ahli Parlimen daripada UMNO.
 

Wanita berkenaan menghubungi Sabahkini.net dan menunjukkan hasil DNA anaknya yang sama dengan profail DNA Lelaki 'S' iaitu seorang Ahli Parlimen UMNO daripada Sabah.

Sabahkini.net sedang mendapatkan pengesahan pihak yang mengeluarkan keputusan DNA tersebut dan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara Sabah berhubung status anak wanita berkenaan yang dibinkan kepada seorang lelaki lain.

Dimaklumkan keluarga wanita terbabit telah membuat laporan polis tetapi kes berkenaan ditutup begitu sahaja kerana pengaruh Ahli Parlimen berkenaan.

---

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No move to charge Umno-linked Akjan

Michael Kaung

Self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan, Mohd Akjan Ali, who was held in police remand under Section 130C of the Penal Code which covers act of terrorism, is now a free man.

KOTA KINABALU: Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad, the businessman who proclaimed himself as the “Sultan of Sulu” early this year, was released ‘unconditionally’ by the police here yesterday.

His unconditional release means that the case against the flamboyant businessman, who has close connections with Umno, has fallen apart and he will not be charged in the court.

According to Akjan’s counsel PJ Perira, police who arrested him a week ago on his return from Kuala Lumpur, did not apply to extend Akjan’s seven-day remand order which expired yesterday (May 22).

“He was released from Karamunsing police station (here) without condition at about 10am today (Sunday),” Perira said yesterday.

On May 16, Magistrate Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim issued a seven-day remand on Akjan, 53, under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code at the request of investigating officer ASP Azizul Hj Mansur to facilitate police investigations into the recent alleged installation of Akjan as the ‘Sultan of Sulu’ at his residence in Likas.

The police investigated the case under Section 130C of the Penal Code which covers acts of terrorism.

Those found guilty under the section can be jailed between seven and 30 years and fined.

It was widely reported that Akjan, a former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee, was ceremonially installed as the 33rd reigning Sultan of the Sulu Sultanate on Feb 2, when he took the oath of allegiance in a private ceremony in Kg Likas here.

It was said that the ceremony was witnessed by a group of 60 people including self-styled senior officials of the Sulu Sultanate from Sulu Province in Southern Philippines.

Following the installation, Akjan, who is also Islamic Welfare and Sermon Organisation of Malaysia, Sabah Chapter chairman, was given the title Paduka Maulana Al-Sultan Sharif Ali Muhammad Pulalun or Sultan Hashim Shariful-II.

Serious matter

The unilateral proclamation by Akjan as the reigning sultan provoked a storm in Sabah with politicians on both sides of the political divide urging the authorities to act against the Umno member who subsequently resigned from the party.

The majority of Sabahans had worried that Akjan’s action to declare himself on Malaysia soil as ‘Sultan of Sulu’ would have serious security implications to the state and country.

Some viewed Akjan’s self-styled coronation in Sabah as a challenge to the state and an insult to the King and the Head of State.

While others were concerned the event may be misinterpreted by foreigners from the Philippines to further encourage them to enter Sabah illegally.

During his remand hearing, the flamboyant businessman told the court that whatever he had done was “for the country’s benefit and not my own” apparently in reference to the long-standing Philippines claim on Sabah.

He said he understood the “seriousness of the matter” but requested for a shorter period of remand than the 14 days asked for by the police.

Akjan also argued that his case should not be held in open court on the grounds that it wass a unique and serious matter involving the Malaysian government and that he had written to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on the matter.

A controversial figure since his meteoric rise in local Umno politics, Akjan has been in the news since February this year following the ‘coronation’ ceremony.

The timing and the place of his ‘coronation’ raised eyebrows as it is well-known as a neighbourhood housing several senior Sabah Umno members including a former head of state.

Generous contracts

Following the hue-and-cry by various political parties from both sides of the divide, Akjan issued a clarification saying that what actually took place was just a ‘thanks giving’ ceremony in conjunction with his “acceptance of offer” by the government-in-exile, to be their new sultan.

Akjan and other Umno members were arrested and detained under the ISA in the mid 1990s after he was allegedly caught with a briefcase containing about 2,000 Identity Cards (IC) at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on a return flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Little is known about how he came to be in possession with the large number of document which granted citizenship status to the holders and it was alleged that he was selling the ICs to Filipino illegal immigrants in Sabah for between RM500 and RM3,000.

Opposition politicians have always claimed that there was a murky link between him and Umno and illegal immigrants in the state who were ‘recruited’ as ‘phantom voters’ during elections.

After his release from a two-year detention term, Akjan repositioned himself in Umno at federal level and managed to align himself to former premier Tun Abdullah Badawi.

He was awarded generous government contracts including the prized RM215 million General Operations Force (GOF) housing scheme in Kinarut, in 2004. The project was however abandoned in 2005 when only 35% complete.

Masa untuk PAS keluar dari kokongan DAP, PKR

Muda Mohd Noor

Kempen yang dibuat oleh Umno dan yang lain melabel dan menggambarkan PAS menjadi kuda tunggangan dan alat DAP sudah mula berkesan.

 

PETALING JAYA: Tidak syak lagi muktamar PAS 3 Jun depan akan menjadi platfom menilai hala tuju  bagi mengembalikan keyakinan dan sokongan pengundi Melayu menjelang pilihan raya umum ke 13.

 

Masa terbaik untuk presiden Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang memantap dan seterusnya membawa PAS sebagai parti yang setanding dengan dua lagi parti Pakatan Rakyat – PKR dan DAP.

PAS jelas tidak menonjol berbanding PKR dan DAP. Pengiktirafan PKR kepada PAS di Selangor sekadar melengkapkan Pakatan Rakyat, manakala DAP tidak memberi layanan sewajarnya kepada PAS Pulau Pinang.

Bagi penganalisa politik tempatan – Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling – ini masa terbaik bagi PAS untuk menjadi sebuah parti yang bebas dari kokongan PKR dan DAP.

“Pemimpin mereka perlu berusaha menjadikan PAS  kuat dan tidak terpengaruh dengan pemikiran PKR dan DAP.

“Kempen yang dibuat oleh Umno dan yang lain melabel dan menggambarkan PAS menjadi kuda tunggangan dan alat DAP sudah mula berkesan.

“PAS sudah merasakan pengundi Melayu menolak parti itu seperti yang berlaku dalam pilihan raya negeri Sarawak dan beberapa siri pilihan raya kecil sebelum itu.

“Maknanya PAS tidak boleh kekal dengan apa yang ada sekarang,” kata Ketua Kluster Sejarah, Warisan dan Sosiobudaya  Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (IPSI) di Perak.

Tetapi penganalisa itu menambah, “PAS perlu kekal ditadbir ulama, kerana jika terlepas (dari golongan tersebut), ideologi parti akan bertukar.

“DAP sudah berubah, PAS juga sudah mula keluar untuk mendapatkan masyarakat Islam, nak cuba menjadi parti nasional, tetapi belum berjaya.

“Juga berlaku pertembungan antara PAS dengan PKR dan DAP. PAS tidak menonjol sangat kerana belum berjaya menarik hubungan dengan orang bukan Islam.

“Kini  PAS perlu mencari jalan bagaimana mahu menjadi inklusif dalam Islam,” katanya.

PAS hanya menjadi relevan jika parti itu kuat. Tetapi dalam Pakatan Rakyat, PAS nombor tiga selepas DAP dan PKR.

Untuk menjadi kuat khususnya di kalangan orang Melayu tidak semestinya PAS perlu memperjuangkan negara Islam.  Orang Melayu sudah tahu PAS adalah parti berteraskan Islam.

Tetapi PAS perlu teguh dan tegas dalam perjuangan Islam. PAS perlu menerangkan bagaimana mengurus ekonomi Islam dan bagaimana Islam hendak menghadapi cabaran global.

Sokongan pengundi Melayu tidak lagi majoriti kepada PAS, sebaliknya kepada musuhnya Umno. Ini bermakna kerusi tradisi milik PAS sudah tidak selamat bagi parti itu.

Tetapi PAS tidak kehilangan penyokong tradisional, cuma yang menjadi masalah golongan pengundi muda dan pengundi atas pagar termasuk orang Melayu di kota.

Jika PAS boleh menyakinkan orang Melayu bahawa parti itu bukan sahaja cekap berpolitik tetapi juga boleh menangani isu ekonomi, pendidikan, sosial dan semuanya, PAS akan menjadi parti politik nombor satu di kalangan orang Melayu.