READ from AN IDIOT...

 

Sarawak DAP queries PM over Lahad Datu dithering

Dukau Papau 5:44PM Mar 5, 2013

A Sarawak DAP leader has asked a number of questions for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to answer in respect of the government’s indecisive actions against the armed invaders in Lahad Datu, resulting in the deaths of eight policemen.
“Why did it take the government almost a month to decide whether the armed invaders were an internal threat to be handled by the police, or an external threat whereby the military would take over?
“Only after the deaths of eight policemen last Saturday did the government decide to regard the armed invaders as an external threat,” said state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen (right).
He said: “We have Special Branch (SB) officers and the Military Intelligence Bureau and yet they could not identify whether it is an internal threat or external threat.
“Is the government compromising our national security by channeling all SB resources and forces to spy on the opposition to such an extent that when our national security issues are threatened, they are totally ignored.
“This is totally unacceptable,” he said.
He said that channelling SB resources to spy on the opposition rather than on the security of the country is a wrong priority of the Najib government.
Chong’s next question was whether there was a tussle for power or to perform between Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, such that they cannot work together.
“Or are they trying to get their own men to perform and in the process compromising the national security and the safety of police officers in the area, knowing very well that the invaders are heavily-armed?” he said.
“Any right-thinking Malaysian will think that this is a matter for the military to handle, but why did the government deploy police to handle the matter for almost a month before calling in the military?
“We have caused the deaths of eight police personnel unnecessarily,” he said.
Invaders also the subject of ‘Project M’?
“My third question to the prime minister is: Are these so-called invaders also the subject of ‘Project M’ and holding Malaysian identity cards, and as such they were treated initially as an internal threat by the police and not to deploy the military?
“Is this the reason that has caused the confusion?” he asked.
“Finally, is the prime minister going to push for a declaration of emergency and to stop the coming general election?” he said, hoping that Najib is not playing a political game.
Expressing great concern over the armed invasion, Chong, who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching, supported the proposal to convene an emergency meeting of Parliament to address this issue.
“We urge Najib to convene an emergency meeting of Parliament as soon as possible,” he said.

PLEASE SPEAK FOR YOURSELF NAJIB!!!

Rallying his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) at its final general assembly before the polls, Najib also said the opposition would drive the economy into the ground if it won.

Govt now admits Najib spent four days in Milan

Harakahdaily,

29 June 2012

Jun 29: The government has admitted that prime minister Najib Razak made a 'private trip' to Milan, Italy despite earlier concealing the destination when asked in parliament.



GRATEFUL COUPLE ... Najib publicly thanked his wife last year for skipping an Italian holiday "for the sake of Malaysians"

Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok during her adjournment speech at the parliament last night had asked Najib to explain his recent tour of several Western cities, accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor and scores of government officers.

This followed a parliamentary reply by minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz on June 14, detailing the cost of the trip, which Nazri claimed had concluded in Washington where Najib and wife attended their son's graduation ceremony.

Teresa had then disputed the claim, citing "aeronautical evidence" obtained from aviation traffic website Flight Radar 24, which showed that his official plane 9M-NAA flew to Milan, Italy from Washington on May 20 and stopped in Dubai before returning home.

Teresa's suspicion was confirmed yesterday when deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong said Najib spent four days in the Italian fashion capital for a "personal trip".

"The prime minister had decided to make a 'private trip' to Italy from May 20 to May 24, 2012. The change affected the report on the PM's trip at the administrative and financial level which was why (the trip to Italy) was not mentioned when the reply (by Nazri) was given," he said, adding that the stopover in Dubai was for the aircraft's refuelling.

Cost revised

Earlier, giving the breakdown of the trip's costs incurred by the government, Nazri (left) said some RM3 million was spent during Najib's stay in London, New York and Washington, but did not mention the Milan trip.

For his two-day plus stay in London, the government forked out RM849,175. A similar length of stay in New York cost double that amount, at RM1,606,402, while his remaining days spent in Washington for a private visit, cost the government RM452,985.75.

However, Liew revised the amount spent in Washington to RM273,799.57, but did not explain the RM179,186 difference.

Teresa had earlier questioned the use of the official aircraft for personal use, and demanded to know why the Milan-Dubai journey was concealed from the public, and whether the amount spent in Washington included any shopping trip in Milan.

"Why did Nazri lead the Parliament to believe, in the Parliamentary reply, that the contingent had stayed in Washington for almost five days?," she asked.

According to Liew, although the Washington visit was considered private, Najib had attended business meetings with investors and was accompanied by his officers including bodyguards and medical personnel.

Teresa (right) meanwhile said her suspicion had been proven right.

"Thanks to Flight Radar 24 that exposed his trip," she twitted.

Last year, upon his return from a European trip in July, Najib publicly thanked his wife Rosmah for allowing to forgo a family holiday in Italy "for the sake of Malaysians back home".

This has led many to question whether the trip last month was to reward Rosmah's 'sacrifice'.

Scorpene scandal causing polls delay, says PKR

 

Scorpene scandal causing polls delay, says PKR

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

June 22, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — The on-going Scorpene submarine inquiry in France is causing the prime minister to delay calling for elections, PKR has claimed.

PKR chief strategist Rafizi Ramli said Datuk Seri Najib Razak was worried about the political implications of the investigation due to the latter’s role in the purchase of the submarines.

“That is why he is delaying polls... no matter what date he (Najib) calls for he will lose.

“There are interesting developments (in France) which Najib won’t be able to handle if it blows up,” Rafizi (picture) told a crowd of 2,000 here last night. 

Rafizi accused Najib of “selling defence secrets” to Malaysia’s “enemies”, and told the crowd that the French probe had unearthed “proof” that the PM had done so.

“What do you call someone who does that? A traitor!” said the PKR leader to cheers and shouts of approval from the audience.

PKR has demanded PM Najib break his silence over recent revelations unearthed in the ongoing Scorpene submarine sale probe in France and answer allegations that some of his key advisers had sold the country’s defence secrets to foreigners.

Calling it “treason of the highest level”, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali told a press conference recently that Najib, the police, the military and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must immediately act on the allegations as it places the country’s sovereignty and security in jeopardy.

He pointed out that Najib had been defence minister when the secret defence documents were allegedly sold by the latter’s close associate, Abdul Razak Baginda, to the French for some RM142 million in 2006.

French lawyer Joseph Breham last week revealed that a highly-confidential government document on the Royal Malaysian Navy’s evaluation of the Scorpene submarines, which it was then planning to buy, was sold by Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd to French defence giant DCNS for €36 million (RM142 million).

Abdul Razak, a former think-tank head who was at the centre of a 2006 investigation into the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, is listed as a director of Terasasi together with his father, Abdul Malim Baginda.

The data was purportedly for “commercial engineering” works, Breham had told a news conference in Bangkok last Thursday. The lawyer is acting for activist group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) in the ongoing inquiry in Paris.

Suaram had filed a complaint against DCNS in a French court last month. The court’s two-man panel has asked for the shipmaker’s financial transaction reports, Breham had said.

Thorium Lynas tidak berbahaya

Thorium Lynas tidak berbahaya

DR. A. RAHMAN OMAR ialah lulusan Doktor Falsafah (PhD) Fizik Nuklear daripada Kansas State University, Amerika Syarikat.

SAYA terpanggil untuk mengulas mengenai perkembangan yang berlaku berpunca daripada cadangan untuk membangunkan loji memproses nadir bumi, Lynas di Gebeng, Kuantan, Pahang.

Titik tolak kegelisahan ini adalah kewujudan thorium yang terdapat dalam bahan mentah yang akan diproses. Untuk pengetahuan pembaca, thorium juga terdapat dalam amang (tahi bijih timah). Di sini saya ingin menyatakan beberapa fakta yang dipersetujui oleh masyarakat sains sejagat.

Thorium secara semula jadi mempunyai satu isotop (Thorium 232) dan ia mempunyai separuh hayat 14 bilion tahun. Ia mereput dan menghasilkan zarah alfa dan zarah itu mempunyai tenaga empat MeV. Tiada keraguan tentang fakta-fakta tersebut. Di sini saya ingin menjelaskan apa yang dimaksudkan dalam pernyataan tersebut.

Separuh hayat selama 14 bilion tahun bererti separuh daripada thorium yang ada akan mereput dalam masa 14 bilion tahun. Separuh lagi masih utuh. Kalau Lynas dikatakan akan memproses 22,000 tan galian dan kandungan thorium adalah 10 peratus, mengikut anggaran Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL). Bermakna akan wujud 2,200 tan thorium. Separuh daripadanya (1,100 tan) akan mereput. Sekiranya reputan berlaku dalam 1 bilion tahun, purata reputan harian adalah tiga miligram (mg). Sekiranya reputan berlaku dalam 10 bilion tahun, purata reputan harian adalah 0.3 mg.

Kesimpulannya daripada 22,000 tan yang diproses, purata yang mereput adalah kurang daripada 0.3 mg sehari. Angka 0.3 mg adalah tiga gram dibahagi dengan 10,000. Adakah amaun ini boleh membunuh atau memusnahkan alam sekitar?

Fakta seterusnya, zarah alfa yang dipancarkan mempunyai tenaga sebanyak empat MeV. Zarah ini boleh merentasi udara sejauh 2.5 sentimeter atau satu inci. Ini bererti udara setebal satu inci sudah cukup menjadi perisai untuk melindungi kita dari thorium yang mereput. Thorium yang tidak mereput adalah tidak berbahaya.

Dalam air, sinaran alfa merentasi kurang daripada satu mikron. Angka ini merujuk kepada satu milimeter dibahagi dengan 1,000 dan ia terlalu nipis. Zarah alfa dari reputan thorium tidak akan dapat menembusi kulit kita (andaian bahawa kandungan badan manusia adalah 90 peratus air). Kalau sinaran itu tak sampai kepada kita dan jikalau sampai pun, ia tidak dapat menembusi kulit kita, jadi apa masalahnya?

Saya memohon kepada sesiapa yang menulis tentang keburukan thorium, tolonglah tulis berlatarbelakangkan fakta. Cerita mesti konsisten dengan fakta sains. Saya mengakui bahawa setiap pembaharuan mempunyai risiko. Saya bersedia untuk berganding bahu dengan SMSL memantau loji Lynas di Gebeng dan saya akan menjadi orang pertama untuk menyatakan kepada khalayak ramai sekiranya ada pelanggaran peraturan yang ditetapkan oleh piawaian antarabangsa. Akan tetapi saya tidak akan berdiam diri sekiranya rakyat Malaysia diperbodoh-bodohkan.

Satu fakta lagi yang perlu di nyatakan adalah thorium wujud dalam bentuk sebatian kimia thorium dioksida, thorium sulfat dan beberapa bentuk lain. Sebatian ini didapati tidak larut dalam air dan ketumpatannya adalah sekitar 10 kali ganda ketumpatan air. Mencampurkan sebatian ini dengan air adalah seperti mencampurkan besi dengan air. Besi terus mendap ke bawah. Air yang digunakan Lynas di Gebeng akan disimpan beberapa hari sebelum dilepaskan. Ini bermakna sebatian thorium akan mendap.

Saya ingin penjelasan daripada SMSL. Sains dan teknologi apa yang boleh menyebabkan perairan di Laut Cina Selatan menjadi seperti apa yang berlaku di Fukushima, Jepun? Bagaimanapun, saya mengakui 'habuk' daripada bijih atau galian dari Australia itu boleh membawa risiko. Garis panduan Agensi Tenaga Atom Antarabangsa (IAEA) menekankan keselamatan semasa pengangkutan dan pemprosesan berlaku. Saya pasti Lembaga Perlesenan Tenaga Atom (AELB) mengenakan syarat yang ketat dalam hal ini.

Dalam wacana ilmiah di Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) pada 28 Mac 2011, Pengerusi AELB, Profesor Datuk Dr. Sukiman Sarmani menyatakan sekiranya Lynas melanggar mana-mana peraturan yang ditetapkan, AELB akan mengeluarkan perintah 'Hentikan Operasi'.

Harus diingatkan ketumpatan udara adalah lebih sedikit daripada ketumpatan gas nitrogen yang berat molekulnya 28 gram (gm) per mol. Berat molekul thorium dioksida adalah (232 + 32 >264) gm per mol. Berdasarkan angka 264 gm per mol berbanding 28 gram per mol sudah pasti habuk thorium dioksida tidak akan wujud lama sebagai habuk dalam udara. Lebih cepat penurunan kewujudan habuk thorium sekiranya hujan. Kajian mengenai kanser paru-paru harus dijalankan untuk mengetahui kesan thorium kepada kesihatan. Kajian darah yang dicemari oleh thorium juga harus dilakukan sebelum membuat sebarang tuduhan melulu.

Saya tertarik dengan langkah Himpunan Hijau yang berkunjung menemui Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Singapura pada Mac lalu. Di dalam memorandum yang diberi, mereka meminta kerajaan Singapura menyatakan kebimbangan terhadap Lynas. Himpunan Hijau juga menyatakan kebimbangan makanan laut dari Kuantan yang dihantar ke Singapura akan mengandungi unsur radioaktif. Ironinya, Perdana Menteri Singapura pernah berhasrat membina janakuasa nuklear berasaskan bahan api thorium iaitu 'Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor (LFTR)' dengan alasan ia tidak berbahaya dan efisien. Cadangan itu dimasukkan dalam pelan induk pembangunan tenaga republik itu. Cuba layari artikel "Thorium for Singapore" di www.thoriumsingapore.com.

SMSL mahukan zon penampan Lynas adalah 30 kilometer (km) daripada penempatan penduduk. Oleh kerana susah hendak mencari mana-mana kedudukan di republik itu yang jauhnya melebihi 30 km dari Malaysia, saya cabar mereka membuat demonstrasi di sepanjang Selat Tebrau, Johor bagi menyatakan pendirian membantah janakuasa nuklear tersebut.

Jadi, apakah pendirian Himpunan Hijau sekarang. Masihkah hendak menyembah pemimpin Singapura untuk menyelesaikan masalah thorium di Gebeng?

Loji Lynas adalah kilang kimia dan ia sangat kecil jika dibandingkan dengan janakuasa nuklear yang akan dibina oleh Singapura. Thorium dari Australia adalah 1,900 bahagian per sejuta (ppm) atau 0.19 peratus tulen. Nanti di Singapura, thorium yang diguna adalah 100 peratus tulen. Adakah Himpunan Hijau akan diam seribu bahasa?

Perbuatan mengadu kepada Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Singapura adalah paling melucukan. Saya ingin juga menarik perhatian kepada mereka yang menggunakan lampu minyak gas. Mentol yang digunakan menggunakan thorium. Saya ingin tahu apakah pendirian pertubuhan bukan kerajaan yang menyokong SMSL setelah mengetahui fakta ini. Lampu minyak gas inilah yang menerangi kota, desa dan pelbagai jenis kediaman lebih daripada satu abad. Thorium yang digunakan dalam mentol ini 99 peratus dan thorium di Gebeng nanti tak sampai satu peratus.

Di laman sesawang pihak Singapura itu kita akan mendapati kata-kata aluan "Welcome to the Future".

Adakah kita akan menolak hakikat ini hanya berdasarkan hujah harga hartanah di Kuantan akan merudum hingga tiada nilainya. Harga hartanah di Singapura adalah beratus atau beribu ganda lebih tinggi berbanding nilai hartanah di Kuantan.

Loji nuklear akan dibina di tengah bandar raya Singapura, sedangkan Lynas di Gebeng. Kalau menggunakan ukuran 30 km dari kediaman yang dituntut SMSL, mana Singapura nak cari tempat sedemikian.

Pandangan rakyat dan kerajaan Singapura nampaknya berbeza sekali dengan pihak pembangkang. Oleh itu, benarkah kita ini lebih maju dalam pengetahuan sains berbanding dengan mereka?

KILANG MEMPROSES `RARE EARTH’ MEMBIMBANGKAN PENDUDUK GEBENG, PAHANG

KILANG MEMPROSES `RARE EARTH' MEMBIMBANGKAN PENDUDUK GEBENG, PAHANG

 

Written by Foon Weng Lian

Friday, 08 April 2011 11:14

Kerajaan Negeri Pahang telah meluluskan permohonan syarikat Lynas Corporation Ltd  untuk membina sebuah kilang memproses dan penapisan 'rare earth' yang diimport daripada Australia di Gebeng, Pahang. Tindakan ini telah menimbulkan bantahan daripada penduduk setempat terhadap projek ini kerana bahan 'rare earth' yang bakal diimpot dari Australia itu dikatakan mengandungi bahan radioaktif. Menurut laporan berita New York Times, seramai 2,500 orang pekerja terlibat dalam pembinaan kilang tersebut yang menelan sebanyak  AS$230 juta. Dalam masa yang sama proses perundingan dengan penduduk setempat masih berjalan. Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan 'Rare Earth'? 'Rare Earth' ialah satu set bahan galian yang terdiri daripada 17 elemen-elemen ataupun logam yang terletak di dalam jadual berkala kimia. 'Rare Earth' ataupun bahan galian yang jarang ditemui, diberi nama ini disebabkan ia tidak dapat dikesan dan digali dalam jumlah yang banyak. Elemen-elemen 'Rare Earth' yang terdapat dalam jadual berkala kimia adalah Scandium, Yttrium, Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Promethium. Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysposium, Holmium, Erbium, Thulium, Ytterbium dan Lutetium. 'Rare Earth' banyak terdapat di China, Amerika Syarikat dan Australia. Namun begitu, kerajaan China telah mengeluarkan arahan untuk menghadkan eksport 'rare earth'. Langkah ini telah menyebabkan harga bahan tersebut meningkat hingga memecah rekod tertinggi. Oleh sebab itu, negara-negara lain sedang cuba sedaya-upaya untuk mencari jalan alternatif untuk mendapatkan 'rare earth' ini.  Keadaan ini juga menggesa syarikat perlombongan Austalia iaitu Lynas untuk menyiapkan kilang tersebut di Gebeng itu, yang dilaporkan boleh menyumbang kepada hampir satu pertiga daripada permintaan dunia terhadap bahan ini. Menurut Lynas, kilang tersebut akan menghasilkan tiga jenis produk mineral sintetik seperti sintetik gypsum, gypsum yang dikayakan oleh magnesium (tidak mengandungi bahan radioaktif), logam phosphogypsum yang mengandungi thorium semulajadi (mengandungi bahan radioaktif yang rendah). Lynas akan menukarkan bahan-bahan yang telah diproses ini menjadi bahan yang selamat dan boleh digunakan sebagai bahan untuk penyelidikan dan pembangunan. Bagi pengurusan sisa-sisa buangan daripada kilang tersebut, Lynas akan memberikan dana yang mencukupi kepada kerajaan untuk memastikan pengurusan yang lengkap dan selamat. Bahan galian `Rare Earth' merupakan komponen yang paling penting dalam produk teknologi bersih dan hijau seperti panel tenaga suria, bateri dan juga turbin angin yang digunakan untuk menjana tenaga elektrik. Hampir 300kg neodymium diperlukan menghasilkan turbin angin yang berskala besar. Selain itu, hampir semua peralatan elektrik yang digunakan dalam kehidupan harian juga mengandungi 'rare earth' seperti: • iPods - Dysprosium, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, terbium • Gentian optik (Fibre optics) - Erbium, europium, terbium, yttrium • Turbin angin - Dysprosium, neodymium, praseodymium, terbium • Mentol Lampu yang kecekapan tenaga - Europium, terbium, yttrium • Kenderaan 'hybrid' - Dysprosium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium • Televisyen - Europium, terbium, yttrium. Aktiviti melombong dan memproses bahan 'rare earth' boleh mendatangkan banyak impak negatif kepada alam sekitar. Di peringkat pemprosesan, `air toxic' diperlukan untuk tujuan tersebut. Pada tahun 1985, kilang Asian Rare Earth telah dibina oleh Mitsubishi Chemical di Bukit Merah, Perak. Akibat daripada risiko yang dikenal pasti kesan daripada pendedahan bahan radioaktif dan pencemaran kepada alam sekitar dan penduduk setempat, maka kilang tersebut telah dihentikan operasinya pada tahun 1992 apabila bantahan yang berterusan oleh penduduk setempat. Namun, kesan yang ditinggalkan oleh kilang tersebut adalah teruk dan sukar dilupakan. Untuk tujuan pembersihan kilang dan bahan kimia yang digunakan dalam kilang itu, Mitsubishi Chemical telah membelanjakan hampir AS$100 juta dan kerja pembersihan masih berjalan sehingga kini. Selain itu, dalam masa lima tahun selepas kilang tersebut menghentikan operasinya , seramai lapan orang telah dijangkiti penyakit leukimia dan tujuh orang daripadanya telah meninggal. Kes kecacatan semasa kelahiran juga berlaku dalam kalangan penduduk di kawasan tersebut. Pada tahun 1990-an, tapak perlombongan dan pemprosesan di Mountain Pass, Amerika Syarikat menghasilkan beratus-ratus liter air buangan yang mengandungi elemen-elemen radioaktif daripada thorium dan uranium yang terdapat secara semula jadi dalam 'rare earth' dan mencemari kawasan sekitarnya. Kini, dengan pembelian semula tapak perlombongan itu oleh Molycorp, syarikat tersebut akan melaburkan sebanyak AS$500 juta untuk membersihkan dan menaik taraf tapak tersebut. Selain itu, Molycorp juga akan membina satu stesen janakuasa yang menggunakan gas asli untuk kegunaan tapak itu. Air buangan yang dihasilkan juga akan dikitar semula untuk menghasilkan asid hidroklorik dan natrium hidroksida yang diperlukan untuk mengasingkan 'rare earth' semasa pemprosesan. Keperluan air untuk tapak itu juga hanyalah 10% daripada kadar penggunaan dulu.   Persoalan yang timbul daripada projek Lynas ialah: Kenapakah kerja-kerja pembinaan kilang tersebut dilakukan semasa sesi perundingan masih dijalankan dengan penduduk setempat? Adakah kajian impak alam sekitar (Environment Impact Assessment, EIA) telah dijalankan untuk projek ini? Menurut akhbar The Star, Lynas akan menyediakan dana untuk pengurusan sisa-sisa buangan daripada kilang itu kepada kerajaan. Berapakah jumlah dana tersebut? Laporan Jabatan Alam Sekitar,  Lembaga Perlesenan Tenaga Atom (AELB) dan Agensi Nuklear Malaysia perlu diumumkan kepada rakyat, terutamanya penduduk setempat dan bukannya antara agensi-agensi kerajaan dan Lynas sahaja. Foon Weng Lian Persatuan Pengguna Tenaga dan Air Malaysia (WECAM)

ALLAH SELAMAT MALAYSIA !!!!

Save Malaysia ALLAH

Union reps say clueless over EPF loan scheme

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

February 07, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — The government did not consult the Employees Provident Fund’s (EPF) board of employee representatives when it decided to use RM1.5 billion from the EPF to give home loans to unqualified buyers, union officials have said.

Former Sabah Commercial Employees Union (SCEU) general secretary Rebecca Chin, who sat on the EPF board from 2007 to January 31 this year, charged that she was not informed of the new loan scheme during any of the EPF board meetings.

“By convention, we should have been informed. I was a representative of SCEU until January 31, but I was not even aware of this. We were not aware of it until the announcement was made and we had to read it in the newspapers,” she told The Malaysian Insider.

Asked whether it was unusual that she was not informed about the new scheme, Chin responded by saying “we know the government system, and how it works... I’ve yet to be briefed or notified about this.”

Her remarks come after Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Raja Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said last week the government had approached a few potential funders before announcing the project, and that it was the EPF’s management that “came forward” to offer to fund the home loan scheme.

But he did not explain why the government did not use its own funds for the loan scheme, saying that the RM1.5 billion would be drawn out from the EPF “in stages”.

“What do we know about this scheme? So many questions come to mind... if I am not part of EPF, am I allowed to take out money from EPF?

“Also, if you are talking about a fund that is supposed to be on a national scale, why is the loan only for people in Kuala Lumpur? What about Sabahans? What is the minimum wage here? We have no money too,” Chin said.

“As a representative for Sabah, is this fair for Sabah people?” she said, adding that she wanted to know which stakeholders were consulted before the government announced this loan scheme.

Those on the EPF’s board of employee representatives include the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Mohd Khalid Atan, National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng, Sarawak Bank Employees Union (SBEU) president Hadiah Leen and newly-appointed SCEU general secretary Azlin Awang Chee.

Mohd Khalid (picture) told The Malaysian Insider that the MTUC was not made aware of the loan scheme, and that he “could not recall” the matter being discussed in any of the board meetings with the union representatives.

“It is difficult to comment on this. I was unwell for the better part of last year, and only attended the meetings in June or July. But since then I cannot remember or recall being informed of this plan during any of the meetings.

“It was not deliberated to us... I found out about this when it came out in the newspapers, along with the announcement made by the prime minister,” said the MTUC president.

He said the MTUC, which represents 802,323 workers from 390 labour unions, was not invited for a special briefing on the new home loan scheme organised by Raja Nong Chik at the KL City Hall (DBKL) last Friday, and that MTUC was concerned with the sketchy details surrounding the terms of the scheme.

“If this is a loan to the government, there will be some security. But it is not, we do not know the details... EPF has to clarify. We need security.

“Generally, I don’t think anyone will be happy without a guarantee of security,” Mohd Khalid added.

He said MTUC has scheduled a meeting with the EPF board on February 16.

“We have arranged a meeting to discuss the matter. We want clarification so that we, being employee representatives of EPF, know what is going on.”

MTUC had over the weekend slammed the proposed loan scheme, saying that the government was capable of developing housing projects on its own.

The NUTP’s Lok however was tight-lipped when asked to comment on the matter, and told The Malaysian Insider she would only speak once she met up with the rest of the EPF board.

Attempts by The Malaysian Insider to contact other EPF board representatives have been unsuccessful so far.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers have accused Putrajaya of abusing monies from the EPFto hide its current debt levels under the guise of offering a purportedly “noble” housing scheme for lower-income earners.

But PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak said on Friday the use of RM1.5 billion of EPF funds in the home loan scheme will not be detrimental to EPF contributors.

This, he said, was because the amount needed to finance the loan scheme was not big compared to EPF’s funds.

Najib said that Raja Nong Chik would be asked to further explain the scheme to the public, adding that it was designed to help the lower-income group who failed to obtain loans from financial institutions to own houses.

Raja Nong Chik himself gave a guarantee earlier that the government would safeguard EPF’s interests, saying the deal ensured secure financial returns for the EPF.

He had recently said EPF funds will be used to help some 20,000 people who are still renting in the city to buy homes under the Federal Territories Foundation.

After Kak Jat , now its Mahathir. Who's next Rafizi?

After Kak Jat , Mahathir. Who's next Rafizi?

Kak Jat - akan tewas lagi di Lembah Pantai ?

'Balai Polis Kerinchi' pengundi di Lembah Pantai

S Pathmawathy 1:06PM Dis 6, 2011

Lebih 90 nama bermasalah dikesan daripada 2,180 nama dalam senarai pengundi pos yang terkandung dalam daftar induk pemilih bagi kawasan parlimen Lembah Pantai, kata ahli parlimennya, Nurul Izzah Anwar.

"Kami ada 97 pengundi yang nama mereka tidak dijumpai di laman web Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR); nampaknya mereka boleh mengundi di dua tempat. Rekod-rekod lain yang mencurigakan juga dijumpai pada daftar pemilih yang dikemaskini sehingga Jun 2011," katanya.

Pada sidang akhbar di pusat khidmat PKR di Lembah Pantai hari ini, Nurul Izzah berkata, antara penemuan yang dianggap pelik ialah nama seorang pengundi yang didaftarkan sebagai "Balai Polis Kerinchi" dalam daftar pemilih induk.

"Apabila kita semak butir-butir menggunakan nombor kad pengenalan polis bagi mengenal pasti pengundi berkenaan, nama itu wujud tetapi dalam daftar pemilih SPR ia menunjukkan sebaliknya," katanya.

Beliau berkata, nombor kad pengenalan, RF161872, pada pangkalan data SPR menunjukkan ia milik Yusop Mohd Faizul Mohd .

"Kita tidak tahu jika ia Balai bin Polis Kerinchi atau Balai Polis bin Kerinchi," sindir Nurul Izzah.

Masalah-masalah lain termasuk rekod pengundi tidak dijumpai di laman web SPR tetapi muncul dalam daftar pemilih.

"Apa yang lebih mengejutkan ialah ada pengundi yang disenaraikan di dua pusat mengundi. Sebagai contoh, Saripah Arif (RF90153), disenaraikan sebagai pengundi pos di balai polis Pantai dan juga balai polis Pekan, yang terletak di Pahang," katanya.

Pada tahun 2008 kawasan pilihan raya itu mempunyai kira-kira 56000 pengundi tetapi pada Jun tahun ini, Lembah Pantai kini mempunyai kira-kira 70,000 pengundi berdaftar.

"Kita tidak lagi boleh mempercayai sistem sekarang, apa yang akan berlaku jika pilihan raya diadakan secara tiba-tiba? Ini adalah daftar yang diwartakan bagi suku ketiga. Ini adalah senarai daftar yang kita terpaksa gunakan jika pilihan raya diadakan esok," katanya dengan nada kecewa.

Nurul Izzah sebelum ini berkata bahawa bilangan pengundi pos naik secara mendadak sebanyak 1,363 peratus dalam tempoh dua bulan - dari hanya 149 orang pada 26 Sept tahun ini kepada 2,180 pada 2 November lalu.

Asri: No new ideas from Umno

Asri: No new ideas from Umno

By G. Manimaran
Bahasa Malaysia Editor

December 01, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — A nervous Umno has failed to bring a new ideas to voters ahead of a general election expected soon, says Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.

The maverick scholar, who has a large following here, told The Malaysian Insider the senior partner in Barisan Nasional (BN) must understand the youth do not just need material wealth but also assurances of their rights and freedom.

Asri says Umno must understand why people hate the party instead of attacking the opposition endlessly. — File pic

“Umno must give a clear idea, one that is compelling according to the current era, place and generation.

“The current generation is different from those in the past. They will not be attracted by just cash and handouts,” the former Perlis mufti said after attending the start of Umno’s general assembly as the party’s guest yesterday.

Asri, who is now a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, cited other Muslim countries such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia who are “rich and have no money problems but what they need and want are

rights and freedom.”

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has promised a raft of reforms over the past few months but the opposition and civil society have said his “political transformation programme” has fallen short.

Although a parliamentary select committee has been meeting to discuss electoral reforms, the Peaceful Assembly Bill passed this week is said to be “even more repressive” than previous regulations while the repeal of the Internal Security Act has been delayed to March.

Umno is holding what is likely to be its last general assembly before polls expected early next year with a focus on the need to be relevant.

Party president Najib has called on Umno to be “extraordinary” to gain a strong mandate in the coming elections while his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin invited members to a “jihad (holy war)” in what he termed “the mother of all elections.”

But Asri, a Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer, said Umno appears to have contracted “an anxiousness” as “most voters support the opposition not because they like the opposition but because they hate Umno.”

“Why do they hate Umno? This is a phenomenon that Umno must understand instead of attacking the opposition endlessly.

“Umno is talking among themselves. I see Umno is now anxious and has no idea what will happen in the coming elections,” he said.

Ketua Wanita Umno Diminta letak jawatan kerana LEMBU

Skandal NFC - Shahrizat mesti berundur
Venue : Bilek Gerakan PKR P99, Ampang Jaya, Selangor


'Fakta' dari mulut MP Ampang

1. Kerajaan mungkin buat tak tahu tujuan pengeluaran (drawdown) wang pinjaman (RM250 juta)

2. Salah bagi NFC untuk beli kondominium bagi kegunaan peribadi pengarah menggunakan duit tabung rakyat.

3. Khairy kata kondominium itu pelaburan sementara menunggu pulangan dari perniagaan lembu. Tapi Zuraidah kata kalau nak melabur pun mestilah dalam lembu jugak.

4. Perbelanjaan boros bukan nya kegagalan projek yang menjadi isu.

5. NFC mesti ada 60,000 ekor lembu setiap bulan tetapi setelah beroperasi selama 3 tahun cuma ada 8,000 ekor lembu. Ini bermakna NFC cuma ada lebih kurang 3,000 ekor lembu setahun.

6. RM250 juta pinjaman mudah (soft loan) dan geran RM13 juta untuk kerja infra juga diberikan kerajaan. Tanah seluas 5,000 ekar turut diberikan kerajaan.

7. Dalam penyata kepada SSM (ROC) jelas keseluruhan RM250 juta telah dikeluarkan oleh NFC.

8. MP Kinabatangan cabar Shahrizat letak jawatan kerana memalukan kerajaan BN.

9. Wanita PKR dan wanita Pakatan akan buat protes seluruh negara minggu depan sekiranya Shahrizat tidak respon kepada desakan letak jawatan. Mereka juga akan buat laporan Polis dan laporan kepada SPRM.

10. Setakat ini tidak seorang pun kepimpinan Wanita UMNO, baik Timbalan mahupun Naib Ketua Wanita memberi sokongan kepada Shahrizat dalam hal NFC.

11. Setakat ini NFC belum membuat sebarang pembayaran balik pinjaman.

12. NFC bagi pinjaman (advance) sebanyak RM87 juta kepada restoran milik keluarga Shahrizat dan diskaun sebanyak RM3 juta bagi pembelian daging.

13. RM820,000 pula dibelanja bagi tujuan melancung.

Jika Hendak Sokong Janganlah Bersikap Double Standard

Jika Hendak Sokong Janganlah Bersikap Double Standard

Semua pihak berdiri di sebelakang Prof Dr Aziz Bari tetapi tidak bersama nasib dua naib canselor Unisel, kenapa?

KOMENTAR MSTAR Oleh ROZAID A. RAHMAN

DR ABDUL AZIZ BARI

PETALING JAYA: Nampaknya isu berkaitan tindakan penggantungan tugas buat sementara waktu oleh pihak pengurusan Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA), ke atas pensyarah undang-undang mereka, Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari telah mengundang reaksi yang merentasi pelbagai spektrum dan lapisan organisasi.

Dari persatuan kakitangan akademik universiti lain, rakan-rakan pensyarah seperti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin sehinggalah kepada pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dan pertubuhan politik tidak terlepas daripada turut mengambil bahagian melontarkan kritikan dan pandangan mereka ke atas tindakan penggantungan Dr Aziz Bari itu.

Malah Dr Asri mengatakan tindakan UIAM itu sebagai sesuatu yang tidak bertamadun dan memalukan dunia akademik.

Malah kalangan pelajar UIA sendiri telah mengadakan tunjuk perasaan di luar pekarangan masjid universiti sejuru selepas solat Jumaat dengan menyatakan tidak setuju dengan tindakan yang dikenakan ke atas cikgu mereka itu.

Dari kalangan pemimpin-pemimpin parti politik pula, Setiausaha Publisiti DAP, Tony Pua, Exco Kerajaan Negeri Selangor Elizabeth Wong, Ketua Pemuda PKR, Shamsul Md Akin dan ramai lagi turut mengecam tindakan yang diambil oleh UIAM ke atas Dr Aziz Bari.

Rektor UIA Prof Datuk Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin tidak duduk diam. Beliau dengan segera pada tengah hari Jumaat memanggil satu sidang akhbar bagi membetulkan persepsi dunia luar ke atas apa yang berlaku.

Katanya, tindakan penggantungan yang dikenakan ke atas Dr Aziz Bari sebenarnya bukanlah satu bentuk hukuman tetapi ia adalah sekadar tempoh untuk memberi tunjuk sebab berhubung kenyataan Aziz berkaitan titah Sultan Selangor, Sultan SharafuddinIdris Shah baru-baru ini.

Dr Zaleha juga menjelaskan, penggantungan khidmat Abdul Aziz berkuat kuasa dari 19 sehingga 25 Oktober ini adalah merupakan penggantungan bergaji penuh.

"Penggantungan itu dibuat bagi melicin dan mempercepatkan siasatan tanpa sebarang gangguan bagi mendapatkan penjelasan daripada beliau berhubung kenyataan yang dikeluarkan itu secepat mungkin," kata Dr Zaleha sambil menegaskan tindakan yang dibuat ketika ini (penggantungan dan penyiasatan) adalah urusan UIA dan tidak mahu campur tangan pihak luar.

Dr Zaleha juga menjelaskan, Peraturan Tatatertib UIA tidak menetapkan apa-apatempoh untuk penggantungan “tetapi apabila beliau (Dr Aziz) sudah menjawab surat tunjuk sebab itu, barulah kita akan memastikan sama ada wujud atau tidak alasan-alasan untuk meneruskan tindakan tatatertib kepada beliau.” (sekiranya ada).

"Peraturan 15 dalam Peraturan Tatatertib Kakitangan UIA memperjelaskanbahawa kebebasan ahli akademik membuat sebarang kenyataan umumhendaklah tidak bercanggah dengan kepentingan universiti," katanya.

Beliau menambah, siasatan dan surat tunjuk sebab Abdul Aziz selepasitu akan diperbincangkan dalam Tribunal Universiti.

Jadi kesimpulannya ialah, sementara pihak- pihak tertentu apatah lagi golongan akademik menegaskan bahawa ahli akademik atas sifat semulajadi kerjaya mereka harus dan wajar diberi ruang untuk menyatakan pendapat dan pandangan tetapi pada masa yang sama, pihak pengurusan UIAM berpendapat apa juga tindak-tanduk kakitangan mereka sama ada dari segi pendapat dan juga perbuatan sementara dibenarkan berbuat demikian pada masa yang sama adalah juga tertakluk kepada peraturan dan aspirasi universiti.

Pandangan ini juga sebenarnya tidak salah. Dalam mana-mana pertubuhan pun sama ada politik , bukan politik, kebajikan mahupun kesukarelawan, tetap ada peraturan dan undang-undang lebih-lebih lagi jika sesuatu perbuatan yang dilakukan itu dilihat bercanggah dengan kepentingan badan itu sendiri.

Dan inilah yang berlaku kepada Universiti Selangor (Unisel) pada tahun 2008 dan kemudiannya sekali lagi pada Ogos tahun ini apabila naib canselornya ditamatkan perkhidmatan (tanpa dinyatakan sebab) dan seorang lagi meletakkan jawatan, khabarnya akibat tekanan politik.

Walaupun pemecatan dan peletakan jawatan mereka tidak jelas dan samar-samar tetapi tindak tanduk mereka dilihat oleh pihak pentadbiran dan pemilik sebagai tidak selari dengan aspirasi universiti itu.

Dalam kes pertama yang berlaku pada Jun 2008, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Razali Agus telah ditamatkan perkhidmatannya selaku naib canselor oleh Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim yang juga pengerusi Pendidikan Industri Yayasan Selangor Sdn Bhd iaitu pemilik dan pentadbir Unisel tanpa menyatakan sebarang sebab.

“Surat itu (penamatan khidmat) tiada kepala surat (letter head) kerajaan negeri tetapi ia datang daripada menteri besar Selangor menamatkan perkhidmatan saya dengan memberi notis sebulan. Surat itu juga tidak dinyatakan sebarang alasan berhubung penamatan perkhidmatan saya,” kata Prof Dr Razali Agus.

Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim

Dalam kes yang kedua pula, Datuk Dr Rosti Saruwono terpaksa melepaskan jawatannya setelah dikatakan menerima tekanan politik daripada kerajaan negeri dan juga pihak dalam Unisel setelah beliau tidak bersetuju dengan surat yang beliau terima daripada pejabat menteri besar memintanya supaya menamatkan perkhidmatan tiga pegawai Unisel tanpa melalui proses tatatertib dan juga peraturan dalaman.

Yang menghairankan, dalam kedua-dua kes melibatkan bekas naib canselor Unisel itu dan juga tiga kakitangan Unisel yang diarahkan dipecat tanpa melalui proses tunjuk sebab atau perbicaraan dalaman, tidak ada pula tunjuk perasaan atau kenyataan protes atau kritikan daripada parti-parti politik sama ada DAP, PKR mahupun PAS.

Tidak ada suara-suara yang mengatakan telah berlaku atau wujud campur tangan politik atau kerajaan negeri dalam urusan akademik di Unisel itu.

Naib-naib canselor dan kakitangan Unisel seolah-olah seperti keseorangan di dalam menghadapi tindakan daripada pihak atasan. Apakah ini kerana yang mengambil tindakan atau yang memberi arahan supaya tindakan diambil adalah menteri besar dari sebuah kerajaan yang didokong oleh DAP, PKR dan PAS?

Tetapi dalam kes Dr Aziz Bari ini pula, apakah beliau mendapat sokongan daripada DAP, PKR dan PAS kerana pensyarah itu sering kali memberi kenyataan atau pandangan yang cenderung menyebelahi mereka?

Tidak salah dan tidak apa jika hendak memihak kerana ia adalah hak demokrasi sesiapa sahaja tetapi jika hendak bermain di gelanggang yang adil sepertimana yang sering dilaung-laungkan oleh mereka yang menyokong Dr Aziz Bari maka eloklah juga sokongan yang sama turut diberikan kepada bekas-bekas naib canselor dan pensyarah Unisel yang ditamatkan perkhidmatan, diberi tekanan supaya melepaskan jawatan dan diarahkan supaya dipecat tanpa melalui proses sepertimana yang sedang dilalui oleh Aziz Bari sekarang.

Jika ini dapat dilakukan barulah adil namanya. Sekurang-kurangnya dalam kes Dr Aziz Bari, beliau diberi peluang untuk menjawab surat tunjuk sebab dan bukannya terus dipecat, ditamatkan perkhidmatan atau dilucutkan jawatan sepertimana yang terjadi di Unisel.

Di sebalik segala kecaman yang dilemparkan ke atas UIAM, mereka telah membuktikan bahawa mereka tidaklah sekejam Unisel yang dibawah pentadbiran Kerajaan Negeri Selangor.

Malah UIAM selaku majikan berhak memberikan surat tunjuk sebab (bukannya surat pemecatan atau tamat perkhidmatan) ke atas mana-mana kakitangannya jika mereka merasakan tindak tanduk kakitangan tersebut bercanggah dengan aspirasi universiti itu sendiri.

Mana-mana pekerja pun tidak kira apa taraf kedudukkannya tidak terlepas daripada tertakluk kepada peraturan dan prosedur operasi standard. Jika rasa tidak mahu terikat dengan apa-apa peraturan dan prosedur, adalah wajar dan lebih baik tidak bernaung di bawah mana-mana panji mahupun organisasi.

Jadilah seperti Sasterawan Negara, A. Samad Said - bebas ke mana-mana, bebas menyatakan pandangan dan pendapat dan bebas naik ke pentas apa juga yang dirasakan serasi dan sesuai dengan jiwa dan hati nuraninya kerana beliau tidak terikat dengan mana-mana majikan dalam dunia ini.

An agreement forged and forgotten

by Karen Bong and Wilfred Pilo. Posted on September 16, 2011, Friday

The 18-points Agreement signed on July 9, 1963 before the formation of Malaysia is an important document safeguarding the rights and autonomy of Sarawak and Sarawakians. So why don’t we know it?

Image from file

NOT many Sarawakians are well-versed in the 18-points Agreement and only some have heard some aspects if not all of the salient points representatives of Sarawak laid out prior to the formation of Malaysia.

A survey held by The Borneo Post, however, discovered that people are not only unsure of its contents, many did not even know what it was. One answer to the query about their opinion of the 18 points Agreement was this: “18-points?

Is that a hole on the golfing green?”

Contrary to some opinions, ignorance is not bliss. Without any knowledge of our rights as Sarawakians, what do we know of our place within the federation of Malaysia?

A little history

The 20/18-points Agreement or memorandum were the conditions laid out by Sabah and Sarawak respectively before agreeing to form the Federation of Malaysia with the Federation of Malaya and Singapore.

The agreements, which can be found in the Proclamation of Malaysia and also the Cobbold Commission reports, stated the conditions and rights that were meant to safeguard the autonomy and the special interest of the people of Sabah and Sarawak, protecting, among others, these regions’ rights on religion, language, education, administration, economy and culture.

Some of the points were incorporated into the Constitution of Malaysia while the rest of Sarawak’s 18 points are outlined as follows: Point

1: Religion Point

2: Language Point

3: Constitution Point

4: Head of the federation Point

5: Name of the federation Point

6: Immigration Point

7: Right to secession Point

8: Borneanisation Point

9: British Offi cers Point

10: Citizenship Point

11: Tariffs and Finance Point

12: Special position of indigenous races Point

13: State Government Point

14: Transitional period Point

15: Education Point

16: Constitutional safeguards Point

17: Representation in Federal Parliament Point

18: Name of Head of State

DR JENIRI AMIR, SENIOR LECTURER

“The decision to accept the proposal by Tunku Abdul Rahman to become part of the federation of Malaysia was made by the people of Sabah and Sarawak on the understanding that the special interests of the state would be safeguarded. The interests of the two states were enshrined in the 20/18 Point Agreement.

Our rights were also inscribed in the London Agreements and Inter-Governmental Committee Reports.

When we agreed to form Malaysia together with North Borneo (Sabah), Singapore and Malaya 48 years ago, it was with the understanding that the safeguards were to be honoured and not taken away according to the whims and fancies of the federal government.

Based on the recommendations of the Cobbold Commission, Sabah and Sarawak would become equal partners of the state of the Federation of Malaya; not as one of the component states as stipulated in the original Article 1 of the Federal Constitution.

In other words, Sabah and Sarawak are partners of Malaysia, thus having a greater degree of fi nancial and political autonomy as compared to other sates in the Peninsula.

Sabah and Sarawak should not end up being merely one of the 13 states in Malaysia.

Therefore, it is paramount for the federal government to adhere to covenants for the purpose of safeguarding the interests, rights and autonomy of the people in Sabah and Sarawak.

The 20/18-point agreement should not be ignored or eroded.

Thus, certain policies and the relationships between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak must be re-looked to address whatever imbalance in terms of infrastructure, social, economic or educational developments between the centre and periphery in the last 48 years.

More financial allocations should be channelled to Sabah and Sarawak.

The federal government should increase the petroleum royalty to at least 15 per cent from the current 5 per cent.

Therefore, the spirit of the 20/18-point agreement should be safeguarded and honoured for the interest of our future generations and more importantly to ensure a progressive, united and harmonious multi-racial nation.

Malaysia as a nation was formed of equal partners; Sabah and Sarawak did not join Malaysia. Together with Sabah, Malaya and Singapore, Sarawak formed Malaysia.

By implication, we are equal under the constitution. Our political leaders should understand, respect and honour the agreement.

EDMUND LEE AH SEE, SENIOR BANKER

“Let’s run through this love story – a handsome young man called Malaya had just held a lavish ‘coming-of-age’ birthday party on Aug 31 1957.

On the other side of the South China Sea, a beautiful young maiden called Sarawak celebrated her birthday on July 22, 1963.

This young man courted and subsequently won the heart of Sarawak and both were married on September 16th 1963 in a low-key ceremony and both took the common family name of Malaysia.

As in any marriage, vows and promises were exchanged and this lady was assured of her rights under a pre-nuptial document known as the 18-points Agreement.

The husband continued to celebrate his birthday lavishly every August 31 while the wife’s birthday was conveniently forgotten.

One fine day, the dutiful wife gently reminded the husband that August 31 was his birthday while September 16 was actually their wedding anniversary – she politely chose not to mention her own birthday or the broken promises and vows.

And with that, the couple celebrated their wedding anniversary and named it Malaysia Day.

But the wife was still hurt by the lack of attention and broken promises from the husband, though she continued to be the dutiful and responsible wife.

I believe it was with noble intentions that our leaders made that fateful decision on our behalf to enter into the Federation of Malaysia.

These intentions were reinforced with the incorporation of the 18- points Agreement to safeguard the rights and autonomy of our state, notwithstanding the benefits of joining the Federation.

These 18-points took into account our ‘uniqueness’ in terms of demographics, culture, racial composition, religious diversities as well as our ‘less-developed’ status as compared to our counterparts in Malaya and Singapore, at that critical point of time.

We were also assured of autonomy in the administration of land and immigration matters.

Education, extended usage of English and the ‘Borneanisation of the Civil service’ were also mentioned.

Moreover, we were also assured of ‘special rights and privileges’ for our natives as enjoyed by their counterparts in Malaya – ‘guaranteed’ would be a more appropriate word.

It was also mentioned that our Head of State would not be eligible to become the Agung and secession from the Federation is not an option.

However, over the years, it appeared that these 18-points were often not honoured or were slowly eroded, with justifications for better political, economic, social and administrative ‘uniformity.’

While the state may need to give way to facilitate a smoother implementation of policies in areas like education and development, many Sarawakians begin to feel that the state is giving too much and receiving too little in return.

Common grouses take the form of our relatively poorer basic infrastructures like roads, electricity and public transport.

There are also the issues of lesser opportunities in the civil service where senior positions are usually held by West Malaysians, running contrary to the ‘Borneonisation’ of the Civil service as spelt out in the 18-points Agreement.

Of late, even the ‘sensitive’ issues of race and religion have been hogging the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

May this celebration of Malaysia Day lead to greater peace and harmony among Malaysians from all walks of life and May our leaders renew the vows and promises made on that fateful day of Sept 16 1963 – Malaysia, truly Asia, unity in diversity.

‘Happy Malaysia Day’.

SABRINA RAFAELLA, COMPANY EXECUTIVE

“I remember Point 1 although some people still refuse to accept it because it states that Sarawak has no official religion.

It is good because we have freedom of religion in the state especially in a multi-ethnic and multi-racial society in Sarawak.

Another one I remember is Point 2 in that English is the official language in Borneo. It should be after all we were under the Rajah Brooke and also the British.

They took so much from us and I do not see why they cannot leave their language as a legacy for all Sarawakians. In fact, we should use it apart from our mother tongues all the time officially and unofficially since we are living in a border less world.

Doesn’t that count?

Every Sarawakian should read the memorandum.

Yes, we are free from the British colony, but to date, there is so much more that needs to be done. We hope to get our fair share in the future and that my generation will see a better Sarawak and fair Malaysia.

Happy Malaysia Day to all in truly Malaysian spirit.

NORMAN TAN, SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST

“The 18-points Agreement made between Sarawak and Malaya during the formation of Malaysia is crucial to Sarawak’s standing in the country as a whole, and to the preservation of the identity of the state.

Point 2(c.) States that English should be one of the official languages of the state indefinitely, which I agree wholeheartedly with since English is an international language.

I also believe that Point 11, which states that Sarawak should retain control of its own finance, development and tariff, is crucial to the state as it gives us a certain degree of autonomy over our own finances and economy.

Point 16 of the 18 Points Agreement touches on Constitutional safeguards for the Sarawak State Constitution, which is the foundation of any legislation passed in the state.

The point states that no amendment, modification or withdrawal of any special safeguard granted to Sarawak should be made by the federal government without the consent and approval from the state itself.

Coupled with Point 17, which guarantees Sarawakians representation in federal parliament, it ensures that the wants and needs of Sarawakians will not only be heard, but also be processed and executed via the proper legal and executive channels.

In short, I believe that the federal government should honour the 18-points Agreement with Sarawak, for as long as Sarawak remains in the Federation.

I would also like to express my hope that all current and future Sarawakian state assembly and Parliament members will always carry out their duty entrusted to them by the people of Sarawak and protect the 18-points Agreement.”

GEOFFARY SIGAI, ARCHITECT

“The way Malayans treat us, I believe gives us all reason to get out of Malaysia.

But at this stage I think it is not possible. The Malayans have been violating our 18-points Agreement, particularly points 2, 12 and 15.

Point 12 says special rights are to be accorded to the natives of Sarawak on par with those enjoyed by Malays in Malaya.

How many Dayak/Ibans are successful in business, education, or in the top government position?

We are still lagging behind compared to West Malaysia and we are still developing our urban and rural areas.

People in the city are fi ne but those in the rural areas still lack basic infrastructure like water, road and electricity.

We are considered a developed nation but we still live in undeveloped conditions.

The 18 points is our right and something has to be done about it.

Luckily we have autonomy on immigration or else it would have opened the floodgates for others from other state to take what is ours, especially in the economic and business aspect.

I like it to remain our status quo and should stay under the state control because that was part of the agreement.

It should be exercised purely to safeguard the interest of the Sarawakian people at large.

However, Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole is a peaceful nation and I hope that our leaders do something more positive on the 18 points so that our interest will continue to safeguarded.

Sept 16 1963 was a historic moment and let us celebrate this Malaysia Day 2011 with hope and optimism.”