Bugis bid for Bumi status opens ‘Pandora’s Box’

By Joe Fernandez

The Bugis call in Sabah in recent days for members of the community to be recognised as Bumiputera just as in Peninsular Malaysia has opened a new debate about an old problem, that is, how to extend the Bumiputera (son of the soil) umbrella term to as many Malaysians as possible in Sabah and elsewhere who are not Orang Asal (native).

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been cited by wannabe Bumiputera among the Bugis in Sabah as the most famous member of their community who can still trace his roots to Sulawesi in Indonesia.

West Malaysian politics toying with Sabah

It’s common knowledge that Shafie dreams of becoming Sabah’s next chief minister and that Lajim who holds sway over westcoast Muslim in Sabah is an important ally for him. Rumours of Lajim quitting Umno began last year and was as quickly “settled” when another speculation broke that Shafie, who is Rural Development Minister, had appeased Lajim with a RM150 million road project.  

WIKISABAH

It’s finally arrived, the official announcement that Sabah Barisan Nasional MPs Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing have quit the coalition.

Lajim, who announced his withdrawal in front of 500 people at Kampung Bukit Kallam on July 18, said: “I will sacrifice my RM20,000 monthly pay and perks as a minister for my struggle to uphold Sabah’s rights and fight corruption and cronyism.”

Buy the election, not by-election

Dr Jeffrey is quite upset that Anwar is currently engaged in negotiations with a few Barisan Nasional leaders about the possibility of them jumping after the next general election. This would mean the opposition would have to ‘give way’ to these people and allow them to win the elections. That would be one issue. The second would be: what if after they win they change their minds and decide not to jump after all because Barisan Nasional has counter-offered a higher price?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The Federal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur was the first international-class hotel to be built in Malaysia -- then called the Federation of Malaya. It was, in fact, built purposely for the Merdeka (Independence) celebrations and opened for business just three days before Merdeka of 31st August 1957. 

It was said that Low Yat, a rags-to-riches junk dealer turned millionaire, built the hotel at the request of the First Prime Minister of independent Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Stories were told about how Yow Yat used to cycle around Kuala Lumpur collecting old bottles, and thereafter made his millions from his humble beginnings. 

An independent report by Morgan Stanley economist on corrupt Malaysia

A Morgan Stanley economist estimated Malaysia lost US$100 billions, that is equivalent to RM300 billions (not millions) to corruption. Time Magazine quoted this economist at Morgan Stanley in Singapore as saying that the country might have lost as much as US$100 billion since the early 1980s or the period since Mahathir came to power. FYI, RM300 billion = 300,000, 000 million. A  stupendous sum that is at the same time, mind-numbing.

 

A. The staggering losses accumulated over the years since Mahathir's era till now are as follows: Perwaja RM10 billion. Forex fiasco in early 90s RM30 billion. mid-80s Maminco scandal RM1.6 billion. Incessant Bank Bumiputra Scandals RM10 billion. STAR-LRT bailout RM3.256

billion. RM38.5 billion compensation to UMNO-linked highway companies. KL City-wide Putra transport system RM4.486 billion. PKFZ 12 billion. Bank Islam RM700 million. MV Agusta & Proton RM 348 million. Wang ehsan, oil royalty for Terengganu RM7.4 billion. Even KLCC Twin Towers Philharmonic Orchestra swallowed a total of RM500 million. Bailouts of Malaysia Airline

Kampung Berembang Struggle : The Story of Malaysian Unity

Kampung Berembang receiving their keys to their new house in Berembang Indah from the Selangor Menteri Besar on 18/7/2012 at 3pm was the email from a fellow comrade who said that the Chairperson of the Berembang committee has sent a sms inviting us. This message immediately stirred my memories on the various fights and confrontations we had in Kampung Berembang since end of 2006 -2007 to defend the houses of the urban settlers there. A struggle and fight that united various people from different backgrounds and ethnicities to defend the houses of the poor and oppressed.

Foreigners With Malaysian Passports - First Hand Experience In Klia

Dear Editor,

 

I appreciate your effort in disseminating information to your close friends. I would like to provide you with my “first hand” experience at KLIA yesterday.

 

I returned from Hong Kong on flight MH 073 on 17^th July 2012 which landed in KLIA at about 6.15pm. Disembarkation and baggage clearance was prompt with no hassles.

 

When I arrived at the Immigration “autogate” there was a queue. There was no officer in the immigration booth manning the gates.

 

Pairin's longtime friend disagrees with attack on Dr Jeffrey...

By Fredoline Edwin Lojingki
PENAMPANG : As a veteran political activist who have been with Joseph Pairin Kitingan for very long years, including when we were both members of Pekemas, an opposition party in the 1960s and 1970s, i cannot but comment on the on-going Pairin's bashing his younger brother Dr Jeffrey.

The sudden outburst by Pairin against his own brother, who is now Star Sabah chapter chairman, including labeling him as liar, speaks volume of his disappointment and paranoia at the shifting support to his younger brother's struggle. Pairin must be so desperate now to cling to power he had taken for granted by supporting a clearly hegemonising and dictating Umno.

Pre-Election Observations

By Tuhun Tavakas

Recently in Kota Kinabalu, Datuk Seri Anwar officiated a forum on Native Customary    Rights (NCR) issues and protection of Native Religious Rights in Sabah. Braving  extreme weather conditions late but safe, Datuk Seri Anwar managed to close the forum with an applause. As a seasoned and well versed Election Observer I attended under the auspices of our humble NGO to hear and to see the amount of interest the forum captured. Datuk Seri tactfully delivered key notes on religion and the protection of the religious rights of the Native Christians in Sabah, an issue that until today Peninsular Politicians will not and can not fathom its uniqueness that Bumiputras in Sabah are Christians. These native rights as enshrined under the 20 point Sabah Constitution that are being silently and quickly eroded. To the thumping rounds of cheers in support of  Datuk Seri Anwar’s undertaking that the state’s unique constitution will be protected and reinstated has sparked immense hope especially from the Native Kadazan Dusun Murut Community (KDM) of its preservation.

Arab nations urge Assad to quit as fighting rages

A Free Syrian Army soldier stands …

ARAB nations have called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to swiftly give up power as his troops launched a fresh assault on rebels in Damascus and the second city Aleppo.

Fighting raged Sunday despite claims by the rebel Free Syrian Army that Assad's regime was "collapsing".

In a joint statement issued early Monday after their meeting in Doha, Arab League foreign ministers called on Assad to "renounce power," promising that he and his family would be offered "a safe exit".

‘I’m prepared to go to jail again’

Sabah STAR chief warns Sarawakians against letting Umno into
the state, alleging that the party is nothing but 'trouble'.

By Joseph Tawie of FMT

KUCHING: Sabah’s political maverick Jeffrey Kitingan is readying himself for prison. If it happens, it will be the second time he is jailed for defending Sabah’s rights.

“Yes, I am prepared to go to jail again to defend, what I term, the legacy of the 20 points upon which Sabah agreed to join Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak to form the federation of Malaysia,” he said when asked by FMT.

Jeffrey was in Sarawak over the weekend to meet supporters of the United Borneo Alliance (UBF) which he chairs. UBF has been pushing the Borneo Agenda which calls for the reinstatement of the 20- and 18-Point Malaysia Agreement which Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore signed with the Federation of Malaya in 1963.