Politicians protecting illegal Indonesian school, district officer tells RCI

By Lee Shi-Ian
July 15, 2013
Political interference and patronage from certain parties led to the establishment of an illegal Indonesian school and the rise of squatter colonies in Papar, said its district officer Iman Ali.

Iman told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into illegal immigrants in Sabah that the illegal school followed the Indonesian education syllabus and its students wore the uniform colours of that country, red and white.

‘Why purchase expensive Chromebook models?’

PETALING JAYA: Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari today questioned the Education Ministry on the purchase of Chromebook laptops at a higher-than-market price for the 1Student 1Device programme.

He also questioned the need to buy so many Chromebooks when it is not user specific.

“I would now like to question the cost-efficiency of the proposed purchase of Chromebooks, which are laptops based on cloud computing, meaning that each unit is not user-specific.

A Tale Of Two Popes And The Sainthood

LAST week, history was once more made in the Catholic Church following Pope Francis approval of the miracle needed to canonize Pope John Paul II and waiving Vatican rules to honour Pope John XXIII. The candidates have rightly been described as two of the 20th century’s most influential Popes; having closely identified with the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 meetings that brought the Catholic Church into modern times.

Popes John Paul II, John XXIII to be made saints: Vatican

(Reuters) - Pope John Paul II, the globe-trotting pontiff who led the Catholic Church for nearly 27 years, and Pope John XXIII, who called the reforming Second Vatican Council, will be declared saints, the Vatican said on Friday.

The Vatican said Pope Francis had approved a second miracle attributed to John Paul, a Pole who was elected in 1978 as the first non-Italian pope in 450 years and died in 2005. His progression to sainthood is the fastest in modern times.

South Sudan turns 2, others hope to be born some day

DOSSIER. Africa's youngest state marks second anniversary of independence while facing a number of challenges · A number of secessionist movements are on track to emulate the South Sudanese · Marginalization by the central government and differences rooted in history are usually argued by pro-independence partisans

South Sudan marks today the second anniversary of its independence, which was achieved after a decades-long war that ultimately led to an interim autonomous status and a referendum on secession. The "yes" vote reached more than 99% of the ballots, casting no doubt over the preferences of South Sudanese for full independence.

Civil movement to call for self-government, nationhood for Malaysia's Sarawak

SSM wants the territory to have law-making powers, raise taxes, control own natural resources · Sovereignist movement argues Sarawak is one of three constituent nations of Malaysia · Sarawak Chief Minister Taib against any move: union brought "stability and peace" · International organizations accuse Taib of corruption, deforestation, "skirting laws and taxes"

Halt TPPA negotiation now! Rakyat will not concede to American corporate agenda

Parti Sosialis Malaysia is deeply concerned about the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) Free Trade Agreements. The 18^th round is to commence in Kota Kinabalu from the 15^th July till 25^th July, 2013.

Since its first inception as the US-Malaysia bilateral Free Trade Agreement in 2006, PSM has consistently protested the decision of the Malaysian government to enter into such negotiations. It was very clear since then, that the FTA is the agenda of American Corporations seeking to expand and control trade in the region. After having failed to impose their interest via World Trade Organisation, the US Corporations quickly lobbied their Congressman to commence bilateral agreements with the countries in Asia. 

Why no action on treasonous offenses, asks BOPIM

By Ezra Haganez
KOTA KINABALU: The government must act and enforce the laws on acts of treason going in the country, says the Borneo Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BOPIM).

The President of the UK-based BOPIM, Daniel John Jambun, said in a statement here that acts of treason which have been exposed to the local and international public have brought shame on the government of Malaysia which is now seen as compromising on its own laws.
 

GMPP Membantah Perundingan TPPA/ FTA!!!

Kami dari Gerakan Menuntut Pendidikan Percuma (GMPP) amat risau tentang perundingan Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA/Free Trade Agreement) yang sedang dirundingkan oleh Malaysia, Amerika Syarikat dan beberapa buah negara lain. Kami difahamkan salah satu daripada bab yang dibincangkan ialah mengenai hak cipta intelek. Pihak Amerika sedang mencadangkan bahawa hak intelek seperti penulisan buku dilanjutkan tempoh hak ciptanya dari 50 tahun ke 120 tahun!

South Tyrol heading to unofficial independence referendum in autumn

Secessionist South Tyrolean Freedom organizes poll on whether South Tyroleans wish to "exercise the right to self-determination" · Survey says majority of German and Ladin speaking South Tyroleans support secession, most Italian speaking reject it · Pro-secession leader Eva Klotz says referendum is an issue of "grassroots democracy"

South Tyroleans will be able to cast their votes on self-determination in an unofficial referendum next Autumn. The vote is currently being prepared by South Tyrolean Freedom, a party that strives for secession of South Tyrol from Italy. Citizens will be able to choose if they want to cast their votes directly in a ballot box or either through internet or SMS. An electronic system has been prepared so that votes are controlled and no one can vote twice.