STAR eyeing across political divide for candidates

In the coming general election, Jeffrey Kitingan's
party is trying to woo BN candidates dropped
by the ruling coalition.

The State Reform Party (STAR), according to the political grapevine, is scouring both sides of the political divide for candidates and partners. The United Borneo Front (UBF), an ad hoc NGO, and the pro tem United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) have already confirmed that they would be jointly fielding candidates in all 60 state seats in Sabah and 26 parliamentary seats including Labuan under the STAR symbol.

STAR is a Borneo-based national party based in Kuching. It may have candidates in Peninsular Malaysia as well if Hindraf Makkal Sakthi, pledged towards a third force in Parliament, uses its symbol and flag as well.

Hydro Tasmania will quit Sarawak

An aggressive campaign mounted jointly by Sarawak coalition
of NGOs Save Rivers, Bruno Manser Fund and the Australian
Greens Party in Australia sees a victorious end.

KUCHING: Controversial Australian government-owned company Hydro Tasmania, which Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) had once described as an “essential partner” in the state’s plan to build multiple dams, will withdraw from Sarawak by the end of 2013, leaving Chief Minister Taib Mahmud with a “big headache”.

Hydro Tasmania’s involvement in the RM3 billion Murum Dam project has been at the receiving end of incessant campaigning by local native NGOs and Australians, and it has succumbed to public pressure on Monday and announced it is phasing out.

Hydro Tasmania CEO Roy Adair told Sarawak campaigners Peter Kallang and James Nyurang from Save Rivers, a coalition of Sarawak NGOs, and Peter John Jaban from Radio Free Sarawak that “Hydro Tasmania will leave Sarawak by the end of 2013″.

SAPP buoyant about pact with Pakatan

SAPP and Jeffrey Kitingan-led STAR are expected to
discuss 'anytime now' on how they can cooperate
and put up one-to-one fights with BN.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee is optimistic about the ongoing negotiations on seat distribution and election preparations between his party and the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Yong said talks to work out a deal with local opposition parties that are not under Pakatan’s umbrella grouping had picked up momentum over the past month as general election looms.

He said he welcomed recent statements by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and deputy president Azmin Ali, which “clearly indicated that they had agreed with SAPP including the principle of burden sharing” (of difficult seats) in the 13th general election”.

NGOs to take up Sabah’s ‘lost’ cause

By Calvin Kabaron

A Sabah activist believes it is 'high time'
that focus be given to the 'impossibly
poor' of Sabah and Sarawak.

KOTA KINABALU: Several non-governmental organisations, both national and local, are expected to lodge separate reports on “depressing” human rights issues affecting the people in East Malaysia.

According to the president of newly-founded UK-based Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia (BoPi MaFo), Daniel John Jambun, several NGOs and human rights activists are already in contact with the United Nation’s Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR) in Geneva over human rights issues in Sabah and Sarawak.

“While in London recently, I was made to understand that Suaram is also making a representation to UNCHR in Geneva, Switzerland, on human right issues in Sabah and Sarawak,” he told FMT here.

He however declined to name the other groups that he said are also making representations to the UN, adding that it should be known in due time.

Jeffrey wants ‘Homeland Security’ for Sabah

The state government should set up its own Homeland Security
Division to fill in for the shortcomings of the federal
agencies in protecting the people in Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: Police in Sabah are coming under increasing pressure to send a message to residents that their state is not going to be overrun by what is perceived to be the seedier elements of legal and illegal immigrants flooding the state.

The latest to rap the performance of the the police force over growing fears that crime has spiralled out of control in the state over the years is the Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party or STAR Sabah.

The opposition party which is gaining rapid grassroots support around the state has suggested that the state government should set up its own Homeland Security Division to fill in for the shortcomings of the federal agencies in protecting the people in Sabah.

Deepak: I will not be silenced

However, the carpet trader says he agreed to "sit still"
for the last day of the Umno AGM after a meeting with a
high-ranking Umno supreme council member.

KUALA LUMPUR: Deepak Jaikishan claimed that there was an attempt by a high ranking Umno man to ‘silence’ him following the various the interviews the carpet trader has given in the past few days.

Late Friday night, Deepak said he received a call by a “senior Umno supreme council member” asking him to meet at the Grand Dorsett Hotel in Subang. The man, who he refused to name, seemed aggressive, Deepak claimed.

Deepak said that he subsequently agreed to meet the person, but brought along some extra protection for his safety.

The meeting was also attended by a few pro-government bloggers, and Deepak said he was told not to make any more noise, at least until the end of the Umno AGM which was yesterday.

Star: Set up homeland security to better protect Sabah

“The State government need to take drastic and urgent steps to ensure the better security of Sabah and its people and should immediately set up a HOMELAND SECURITY to complement and supplement the shortcomings of the federal agencies in protecting the people in Sabah” suggested Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, at the launching of the STAR Sabah, Ranau election machinery in Kaingaran, and in response to the furore and anger reflected in the internet social networks caused by the recent cruel and brutal murder of the teenager, Norikon Saliwa, in Kota Marudu allegedly by foreigners.

Umno leaders and London properties

By Luke Rintod of FMT

LONDON: There is no doubt that Umno leaders are filthy rich. In fact, word here is that almost all senior federal leaders in Umno are so wealthy that they own multiple properties in central London.

Not surprising, their spendthrift ways and that of their children have been making the news for a while.

Malaysians living in London have been privy to this information for decades and view it with repugnance and shame.

They are surprised that despite the dazzling light on the unusual wealth accumulated by government ministers which is displayed in their purchase of numerous properties around the world, their brazen hypocrisy elicits little comment back home.

Sabah cops worried about political implications

KOTA KINABALU: The unexplained death of a local teenage girl that ignited a torrent of comments and speculation on social network sites has put police here on the spot and drawn comments from senior political leaders.

Norikoh Saliwah’s body was found by the roadside, near Kampung Ranau, about 2km from Kota Marudu town on Nov 25 and since then the Internet has been abuzz with claims that foreigners are linked to her death.

The theory that Sabah’s teeming population of illegal immigrants and foreign workers has something to do with her death has especially alarmed the police, given the political ramifications of such insinuations.

STAR: Ex-Upko, PBRS Stalwarts Join STAR in Tambunan

“We are sure that the entry and support of the 2 ex-Upko, PBRS stalwarts,Patrick Paunil, the ex-Upko Division Secretary, and John Bague, another heavyweight from PBRS, and their supporters will not only further strengthen STAR in Tambunan but will also cause a further dent and reduce the support of BarisanNasional in Tambunan”stated Datuk Dr. Jeffrey  Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, in a press statement.