The Meaning of Mutual Respect

By Baru Bian , Ba Kelalan assemblyman

The lecture by Shaykh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani that is being organised by the Islamic Information Centre and supported by UNIMAS’ Pusat Islam has created much unhappiness among Sarawakian Christians who, over the past few years, have had to put up with various forms of illogical and unreasonable interference by the authorities in the practice of their faith. They have unfailingly exercised tremendous restraint and shown remarkable forbearance in the face of unwarranted disrespect and curtailment of their rights. This latest episode is truly a blow to the Christians, who had hoped that they would be left alone to carry on the practice of their religion in peace in the spirit of mutual respect that seemed to still exist in Sarawak. I have received many calls from Christians and Christian leaders on this proposed lecture.

Proposed new seven Sabah seats ill-conceived, says politician

By Ezra Haganez

KOTA KINABALU: The recently-announced proposal to create seven more new state constituencies in Sabah to make it 67, will further reduce the Christian-majority seats in the already muslim-dominated State Assembly, claims a leader of a local political party.

Parti Kerjasama Rakyat Sabah (PAKAR) deputy president, Paulus Gani, said as such the exercise is not a noble and clean exercise let alone reflect the true spirit of partnership in the country.

The balance between the major communities is lost, he said, explaining that the last time an exercise by the Federal-controlled SPR to increase the seats from 48 to current 60, the 20-20-8 sharing formula between non-muslim bumiputeras, muslim bumiputras and chinese, was changed to 34-18-8.

Anwar Lawat Mangsa Banjir di Kota Belud 13 Jan 2015

GST should be postponed, says Sabah activist

By Ezra Haganez

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government should consider calls to postpone the implemention of Goods and Service Tax (GST) this April, as more than half of  eligible businesses in Sabah appeared not yet ready for it.

A consumer activist who is also a trader, Donny Yapp, in a statement today said many businesses especially in Sabah have yet to register with the Royal Custom Department and that many more have not acquired or installed GST-compliance accounting software.

Brunei bans public Christmas celebrations to ‘protect’ Islamic faith

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Oil-rich Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray, its religious affairs ministry said today, in a country that last year controversially instituted tough Islamic sharia penalties.

The ban, instituted after Christmas last month when local children and adults were seen wearing clothes “that resemble Santa Claus”, raises fresh concerns of religious restrictions after last April’s announcement of the introduction of a penal code that will eventually include penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning.

Practise True Federation – Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:     “The federal government need to decentralize to empower the States and reduce power concentration at its centre and practice true federation not only to reflect the basis of the formation of Malaysia but to ensure the Federation continue to exist with stable federal-state relations” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the spat between Penang MP Zairil and Utusan on federalism.

The federal government should stop its agenda of turning the Malaysian federation into a unitary state with concentration of power and money at Putrajaya.

Of internet royalties, e-commerce and your pay TV

The Best for 2015

By Briton Ryle | Monday, January 5th, 2015

Well, here we are in 2015. For Christmas this year, I got a touching handmade card from my 12-year-old son, and my dad sent me eight soft-shell crabs that I ate on New Year's Day. 

I rolled 'em in a little flour, flash-fried them crispy, and made sandwiches. They were delicious.

It amazes me that you can get truly fresh soft-shell crabs delivered overnight. These came packed in styrofoam, with ice packs to keep them cold, but not frozen.

Sabah seats proposal submitted – EC

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Election Commission (EC) has submitted the proposed delineation for Sabah to its headquarters, director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail said.

He however did not disclose the number of additional seats requested for Sabah in the proposal.

“We have submitted our proposal to the headquarters. The recommendations will be put on display at a later date for the public to scrutinize and give their feedback,” Md Idrus said this when asked if the state Election Commission would also be conducting a delineation review as is being done in Sarawak.

2015: Rise Above Partisan Politics to Solve Problems

Kota Kinabalu:     “Leaders should rise above individual and party political interests when tackling problems faced by the State in the common interest of Sabah or the general population” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, in his 2015 New Year message released today.

“Problems faced by Sabah such as security and the so-called Project IC can never be resolved if partisan political interest become the primary guiding principle of such solution” he said.

10 kampung di Kota Belud dinaiki air

KOTA BELUD: Sepuluh kampung di daerah ini dilanda banjir akibat limpahan air Sungai Tempasuk berikutan hujan lebat malam tadi.

Kampung terbabit ialah Linau, Menunggui, Gunding, Kota Belud, Bobot, Siasai, Taun Gusi, Lebak Engad, Kota Kerancangan dan Rangalau.

Ketua Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Kota Belud, Faizal Wahid, berkata air dikesan naik sejak subuh tadi dengan enam penduduk membabitkan sebuah keluarga dari Kampung Rangalau dipindahkan di Dewan Tun Said, Kota Belud jam 7.30 pagi tadi.