Reading the key to making do without the PTI

By Joe Fernandez
Reading is the key to Sabah making do without the PTI.

The Orang Asal -- Murut and Dusun including Kadazan or urban Dusun -- and the other Sabahans like the Bajau, Suluk and Indians/Chinese must take up the reading habit.

They must not go anywhere without a book in hand. One we acquire the reading habit, we will not start yawning and fall asleep the moment we open a book.

STAR: Kuching Declaration Better But Not Good Enough

“The Kuching Declaration is betterthan Umno/BarisanNasional (BN) stand and looks good on paper in various aspects.  On the other hand, in some aspects, it is not much different from Umno/BN especially in the treatment of the status of Sabah and Sarawak” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, in response to queries from the press on the Kuching Declaration signed by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in Kuching on Malaysia Day 2012.

“Giving credit where it is due, the Kuching Declaration is the first step in the right direction for PR and it will add pressure on Umno/BN to follow suit.  It may augur well for the Borneo States if there is follow through by PR and or Umno/BN in the treatment of Sabah and Sarawak” added Dr. Jeffrey.

Isu Penghinaan Warisan Budaya: Parti Kita Saran SKMM Jalankan Siasatan Terperinci

Oleh: Mail Mathew

KEMABONG: Suruhanjaya Komunikasi Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) digesa agar menjalankan penyiasatan terperinci latar belakang pemilik laman sesawang suara pakatanrakyat.com yang menerbitkan artikel menghina warisan kebudayaan negeri ini seterusnya mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap perbuatan itu.

Ketua Penerangan Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) Sabah Mutang Dawat @ Sylvester (gambar) berkata demikian dalam satu kenyataan disini pada Jumaat sebagai mengulas isu kontroversi penghinaan warisan kebudayaan suku kaum di Sabah yang ditulis didalam blog bertajuk “Tarian Sumazau untuk golongan rendah akhlak “.

Menjelang PRU-13..., MAMPUKAH PEMBANGKANG GUGAT BN DI TENOM?

Oleh: Mail Mathew

TENOM: Bahang Pilihanraya umum kali ke-13 (PRU-13) semakin hangat dirasakan rakyat di seluruh negara dimana diantaranya turut dirasai terutamanya dikawasan Dun Melalap yang diramalkan pembangkang kononnya kawasan itu akan jatuh ke tangan mereka selepas PRU-13.

Pembangkang beralasan bahawa rakyat dikawasan sekitar Mukim Melalap yang penduduknya mencecah lebih 5,000 orang marah kononnya kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) telah gagal menunaikan beberapa pembangunan yang pernah dijanjikan mereka sejak PRU-12 (Tahun 2008).

Asri: Rather go secular if politics exploits religion

Former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said the concept of a secular state was better if religion was going to be exploited for political gains.

"Politics and religion should combine because religion guides politics. But when religion becomes a political tool, then I'm more willing (to accept) a secular state.

"I prefer a country that separates religion and politics because if religion is being exploited for politics then at least the religion is safe and only politicians face flak.

Singapore’s success should be a wake up call to Malaysia

By Daniel John Jambun
KOTA KINABALU : The latest report which says that Singapore is the wealthiest nation in the world by GDP per capita, beating out Norway, the U.S., Hong Kong and Switzerland, has further embarrassed our own country, Malaysia, which is Singapore’s closest neighbour and economic rival.

This report is especially painful for Malaysia because we know Singapore started off as an island of fishing villages with no natural resources.

5 Indonesian citizens killed by PDRM

Fadli of The Jakarta Post, Batam

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) expects to conduct a joint investigation with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, or Suhakam, to look into the killing of five Indonesian citizens by members of the Royal Malaysian Police.

The Indonesian government has been criticized for its seemingly lax response to the issue, amid already low levels of public approval of its efforts to protect Indonesian citizens overseas.

The Malaysian Insider: For young Malay couples, an increasingly high price to getting wed

Berikut adalah satu artikel dari Malaysian Insider mengenai duit hantaran (dowry) dan mas kahwin yang semakin tinggi dibayar oleh lelaki Muslim di Malaysia kepada ibubapa perempuan dan Jabatan Agama.

Mengikut Quran dan hadith, hantaran (dowry) sepatutnya diberi kepada perempuan yang berkahwin, bukan ibubapa mereka. Dan ini bukan sebagai "bayaran" tapi sebagai hadiah dan membantu mereka mendirikan sebuah rumahtangga. Saya pun tak faham kenapa kena beri RM500-700 sebagai mas kahwin kepada Jabatan Agama sebab Jabatan Agama sudah ada banyak duit dan bukan Jabatan Agama yang nak kahwin.

Greece and illicit money flows

The Greek economy lost 261 billion US$ to crime, corruption and tax evasion from 2003 to 2011.

Greece also experienced massive inflows of illicit money in 2010 and 2011.

This means at least two things, according to Global Financial Integrity:

1. If it were not for tax havens, Greece would never have needed a bail-out.
2. The Greek (shadow) economy continues to grow at an increasing rate.

For workers and self-employed people at the bottom of the social hierarchy, these data must come as a shock. Or maybe people will say: we knew that already. But for anyone who still believes in the need and the possibility of social justice, these data are just unacceptable.

September 16th is Historic But a Black Day for Sabah/Sarawak: STAR

“September 16th could have been more than a historic day for Malaysia had the Malaysia Agreement, 1963, the promises, assurances and undertakings by the senior partner to the Federation had been fulfilled but, alas, this was not the case, thus making September 16th as a Black Day for Sabah and Sarawak” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of STAR Sabah in response to the various comments on Malaysia Day.

Sabah’s founding fathers of Malaysia had great hopes of and expectations for Malaysia.  They were even prepared to sacrifice Sabah’s new found independence in favour of a new federation in the hope that this partnership would bring far more (than) benefits, in terms of security, economic prosperity and development without compromising too much of their rights as a sovereign nation.