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.”