Beware of your house foundation

Tweets   1/8/2017    Beware of your house foundation

If your house crack, the first thing you do is to check if the foundation of your house have the full length of  the piling poles.  Some developers may not pile the whole poles for the foundation.  People say that some developers only pile 30% - 40% of the poles and saw off the rest for other uses maybe. 

        So be careful and watchful if you have paid the deposit to buy any houses.  You had better go to sites to check every now and then just to be sure that the whole length of the piles goes into the land to form the foundation of your houses.    

theborneopost.com

Building Trusan Dam contrary to Adenan’s wish — Save Rivers

July 26, 2017, Wednesday

Peter Kallang

MIRI: Save Rivers is not agreeable to the decision to proceed with the construction of the Trusan Dam as recently announced by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, saying it is contrary to what was announced by his predecessor the late Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem.

In a press statement yesterday, Peter Kallang, the chairman of SAVE Rivers, referred to a report in The Borneo Post on July 22 this year titled ‘Trusan Dam project to proceed as planned’, which quoted Abang Johari as saying the 100/200MW Trusan Dam in Lawas will be built after the completion of the 1295MW Baleh Dam in Kapit.
However, Kallang said in an interview with Channel News Asia in May 2016, Adenan had said the Baram Dam was scrapped as he had examined the matter, and there was no need to have another big dam.

He also said Adenan had mentioned: “We can have mini dams and so on, but not big dams especially when we don’t supply (power) to West Malaysia anymore.”
Thus, building another mega dam is not consistent with the wish of the late chief minister, Kallang pointed out, stressing that the modern and international trend is to build small hydroelectric dams that have minimum impact on the environment and the ecosystem.

He also said the late chief minister was really keen in renewable power source for the rural areas of Sarawak but questioned the need for Trusan Dam.
Kallang also quoted the then Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Peter Chin as saying that there should not be any worry about power shortage in Sarawak after the commissioning of Bakun Dam.

“Now not only do we have the 2400MW Bakun Dam but also the 944MW Murum Dam and soon the 1295MW Baleh Dam. So why do we want to build the Trusan Dam?” he asked.

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  My Comments:
  Sarawak is in the equatorial area and we have plenty of strong sunshine throughout the year.  I wonder why these political thugs are always so preoccupied of building more dams to damn us, Sarawak.  Why don't they develop solar power?
      If people opt solar lamps/solar lanterns for lighting and to have solar panels installed to get energy supply, how much will all these dams still serve the purpose besides those related factories to the ruling party and its cronies?
       We all know how much those involved can amass from each dam project proposed.  
       I hope all the Sarawakians will stay united to flush out these UMNO-BNised political thugs and parties for good. 

theborneopost.com

Sarawak Day more than just a celebration, say Mirians

Jude Toyat, reporters@theborneopost.com

Dennis (sixth left) leads members of Telang Usan PBB Youth in the cake-cutting ceremony to mark Sarawak Day 2017 celebration at Piasau Boat Club.

MIRI: The majority of Mirians see Sarawak Day as being more than just a celebration or a gazetted public holiday.
The date July 22 signifies the day when Sarawak was granted self-rule in 1963 before it partnered with North Borneo (Sabah), Singapore and Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) in forming Malaysia on Sept 16 that same year.
The state’s fifth chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem declared the day as a state holiday last year.
For local entrepreneur Sebastian Lim, Sarawak Day deals with ‘a matter of identity’.
“Acknowledging Sarawak Day equals to acknowledging our identity as well as the spirit of our motherland. These are the most important things to us, as Sarawakians,” the 26-year-old told thesundaypost.
Lim also hoped that after 54 years, the state would see more developments not just the physical ones, but also social developments.
“Sarawakians should be independent in their minds to speak up when things are not going in line, or those not for the best of their interest. I wish to call upon the younger generation to voice out their opinions or about changes that they want to see.
“When we say harmony, it means more than tolerance. We need to accept – acceptance only comes when everyone is free to express their opinions and able to voice out what they want. Although they may not necessarily get what they want, at least the people could hear them out and consider their opinions and ideas,” he added.
For Nurhadiatul Sukinah Jamali, Sarawak Day marks an achievement of a state that is united.
“Despite the many races and religions, we Sarawakians have been living harmoniously together since 1963. We would love to stay that way,” said the 27-year-old sales representative.
Nevertheless, she believed that there is a need for more individuals or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to take part in celebrating Sarawak Day.
“We must admit that there are still those who do not understand Sarawak Day. Through more involvements, we Sarawakians get to tell the story about how Sarawak got to have its own government, separate from the British colonial rule.”
Just like Lim, Bella also hoped for Sarawak to have more facilities, especially in education.
“I also hope that we would get high-speed Internet across Sarawak and also for us to receive more tourists,” she said.
Meanwhile, Aloysius Cornelius Susek said Sarawak Day serves to remind all Sarawakians the struggles of their forefathers.
“Without them, there would not be the Sarawak that we know of today,” said the 28-year-old lawyer and singer.
He also wished for the celebration to be as grand and festive as those meant for National Day and Malaysia Day.
“This, I believe, could help boost the tourism industry in Sarawak,” he added.
This city held many activities in celebration of Sarawak Day, including the ‘722 Run for Sarawak’ conducted by the Pujut, Piasau, Senadin, Bekenu and Lambir branches of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), as well as a gathering hosted by Telang Usan PBB Youth at the Piasau Boat Club, where Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau was present.

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theborneopost.com

Never take Sarawak Day for granted, Sarawakians reminded

Jeremy Veno, reporters@theborneopost.com

Peter (centre) holds a banner together with the gathering’s organising chairman Bill Jugah (left) at Sarawak Museum in Kuching.

KUCHING: Sarawakians should not take the Sarawak Day celebration for granted as the fight for full recognition under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is still in its beginning.
Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) spokesperson and activist Peter John Jaban said over the last three years, the state has seen enormous positive steps – from the establishment of a homegrown taskforce to address the issues involving stateless individuals, to the announcement of a team heading for London to examine the state’s legal position under MA63.
“We still face problems with finance from the federal government – from oil revenues, tourism tax to stamp duty; we still face attacks against our religious freedom; our cultural uniqueness is still being ignored, in view of a recent announcement stating that police personnel would be banned from having tattoos,” said Peter, who was one of the speakers at a peaceful gathering at Sarawak Museum ground here yesterday.
The rally, run by S4S together with Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia), gathered around 100 participants who were required to wear ‘red’ – both to signify solidarity and also the situation of which Sarawakians ‘are still seeing red over’.
“Sarawakians must stand together to show that we support the state government’s direction, that we still see the problems in our state and that we no longer accept the status quo,” Peter said.
According to him, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg has taken on the mantle of ‘Tok Nan’ – the state’s fifth chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who passed away on Jan 11 this year.
He said both leaders had created an atmosphere in which Sarawakians could openly consider their position in Malaysia and demand for their fair share.
“The Sarawak pride soars high with the flying of our flag, the promotion of our own languages and even the wearing of traditional tattoos.
“We have been given an example of what is possible when the state is given charge of its own issues,” he pointed out.
Peter said among the issues being addressed was those involving stateless individuals – the taskforce upon which was spearheaded by Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.
This taskforce, added Peter, is actively seeking to redress the long-term stateless individuals in Sarawak, especially the children.
“We have also seen other representatives such as our Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah, who stands up for our rights and bravely faces up to the abuse from a federal minister on our behalf. Indeed, we should give thanks for this.
“However, the progress so far is largely in ideals – the concrete gains are yet to come.”
Peter said just recently, an edict issued by the Inspector-General of Police stated that policemen would be banned from having tattoos, despite the practice being age-old tradition of many tribes in Sarawak.
Sarawak, he stressed, is one of the oldest tattooing cultures in the world –one that is revered as a mark of a great warrior, communicating status and conferring protection on the wearers.
“Now, thankfully, the cultural importance of tattoos is being rediscovered and they are becoming one of our most important tourism exports. Yet, the police force is creating a rule that will prevent a new generation of young Sarawak ‘warriors’ from entering the service.
“This is like asking a Sikh to remove his turban – a lack of cultural understanding at best and cultural discrimination at worst,” he added.

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theborneopost.com

On Malaysian EnglishBy Tunku Zain Al-Abidin

TOO often I see depressing evidence that the standard of English being spoken in Malaysia is deteriorating ever further and quicker. It has of course been decades since the august halls of our Parliament switched to Malay (the old Hansards contain beautiful elucidations of policy and principle in perfect English), but all across Malaysian officialdom, English is suffering both as a result of explicit language policies, as well as indirectly because of the impact of policy decisions in other areas. Indeed, perhaps the most important institution in this country that has the ability and responsibility to transmit the speaking of good English to the next generation is failing to do so.

I often have occasion to address Malaysian students across the country: from government secondary schools to private international campuses, public universities and private colleges. And on many occasions when I try to engage with students – for example, about what they think it means to be a citizen, their understanding of the constitution or the role of national institutions, it is not just the content of their knowledge that is of concern, but also the way they express themselves. In some cases, there is an unwillingness to speak at all, let alone in English. The practice and virtues of confident public speaking have not been sufficiently inculcated.

An exception must be made for an active public speaking community in some schools that manifests in competitive tournaments that I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing: and where Malaysians perform well internationally. But it seems far too much like a particular extracurricular activity – like playing pétanque or the oboe – rather than a general skill that everyone should have.

This is a deficiency that can persist throughout the entire educational journey: and often, racial and religious polarisation can make that journey even more fractious and jeopardise economic opportunities. Far too many corporate leaders say they have to intensely train fresh graduates in terms of speaking English and interacting with people from different backgrounds. We also have to contend with competition from different methods of communication that renders proper sentence construction and enunciation irrelevant, as evidenced in chat apps and social media.

Having said that, Malaysian English does have many efficiencies, such as abbreviations including ‘x’ to negate something, and spellings like ‘oredi’ and ‘dun haf’ that convey additional meanings. Asking ‘u free?’, ‘got ah?’, and ‘where he go?’ are far briefer than their proper equivalents. Our patois is fertile for jokes too, like the one about Malaysians studying law because they “study lor”.

But beyond vocabulary and grammar, language is also about behaviour. The origins of words are intrinsically tied to culture and history, and English has the advantage of deriving so many words from both a Germanic and Latin heritage, resulting in a huge number of synonyms. In Malay, too some etymologies are very insightful: clearly in ancient times we didn’t reverse vehicles thus the need to create ‘gostan’ from ‘go astern’, and even place names have unexpected stories:

Mantin, near Seremban, was where to ‘mine tin’. However, one wonders about the import of some words like ‘globalisasi’ where logical root words (ie ‘dunia’) already exist.

The link between language and culture has societal implications too: an older generation points out that when we communicated properly (in Malay as well as English), we were also more tolerant, open-minded and optimistic. A political metaphor is provided by comparing the standard of English spoken – and the speaker’s own politics – at the United Nations from Tun Dr Ismail 60 years ago and one of his successors more recently. Our political and social regression is not, of course, caused by speaking worse English: but one of the root causes for both are similar, stemming from the personal agendas of politicians distorting the policymaking process.

Shamefully, in some classrooms in Malaysia today, students make fun of their peers who speak English, precisely because they see it as an attempt to appear superior or elitist. In some parts of the country it will require a new mindset to emerge before English is celebrated as a language to promote understanding and human achievement. The reality is that in this country, the issue of teaching English, and teaching in English, is deeply political.

As much as speaking English is important for economic, scientific and diplomatic reasons, it is even more important that we as Malaysians speak, in whatever language, of culture once again – with the same qualities of sopan and adat that early English-speaking travellers first observed of Malay-speakers – and for such qualities to be expressed throughout our institutions, and to be exhibited consistently by our leaders.

This is an abridgement of the Luncheon Talk for the English-Speaking Union of Malaysia.

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•  My comments:  The legacy of English created by the British Imperialist in the past in the Federation of Malaysia has been crippled by UMNO-BN.  Shame of them.

theborneopost.com

Baru: Bypassing Malanjum another slap for Sabah, Sarawak

KUCHING: State PKR chairman Baru Bian said he fully endorsed the statements by Pakatan Harapan leaders in Sabah and Sarawak about the extension of the Chief Justice’s current term depriving Tan Sri Panglima Richard Malanjum of the top position in the judiciary.

Baru, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman, recalled that he made a statement supporting the recommendation by retired judge Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus that Malanjum be appointed the next Chief Justice.

“Richard Malanjum should rightly be appointed, by virtue of his seniority and his unquestionable qualification and calibre. This is what I said then: ‘If for any reason Richard Malanjum is sidelined, the people of Sabah and Sarawak will understandably feel slighted. It will be another indication that we are the second cousins, and not equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia as was envisioned by our forefathers. For too long, we have been neglected and for too long, we have accepted this shameful treatment without protest.’,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

According to Baru, it has now come to pass – the most suitable candidate is sidelined as a result of the unconstitutional extension of the current Chief Justice’s term.

“We must question why Sabah and Sarawak are treated with such disrespect. We have yet to hear from the Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak, and the BN leaders their views on this grossly unfair sidelining of Tan Sri Richard Malanjum.

“We have yet to learn the rationale of the Prime Minister and the Conference of Rulers for the extension of the Chief Justice when expert opinions had been given on the undesirability and the unconstitutionality of an extension for the current Chief Justice.

“Is there any acceptable reason when we have in Richard Malanjum an ideal person for the post, in both seniority and capability? It is widely known that he is even more senior than the current Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal.”

Baru said: “In the absence of an acceptable explanation, the inescapable conclusion is that we are but the poor cousins and the fixed deposits, useful only to fund West Malaysian development and securing the BN victory during the elections and to be ignored the rest of the time.

“The question of suitability and qualification does not even arise as it is not in the contemplation of the powers that be that our talents are in the same pool and deserve equal consideration.”

Baru said in Federal Court there are no judges from Sabah and Sarawak and in the Court of Appeal, there are only three; one from Sabah and two from Sarawak.

“This is not because we lack qualified people – it is the conditioning that has silently taken place in the Malaysian psyche that Sarawakians and Sabahans are not good enough and that we are just contented to be sidelined, that we are second class Malaysians, having no rights to participate fully in the administration of this country except in the lower ranks. And the most humiliating thing is that our leaders have accepted this treatment for decades without so much as a whimper.

“It is the same in other fields. How many diplomats are appointed from Sabah and Sarawak? How many heads of Ministries and government-linked companies (GLCs)? Meritocracy appears to have no place in Malaysia.

“Our Sabahan and Sarawakian BN leaders must make a stand on this critical matter. Put our interests first, instead of your loyalty to your political masters. Speak up for fairness and justice, and for our rights as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia. If you fail to speak up for Richard Malanjum, you fail all Sabahans and Sarawakians.”

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  My comments:  There is no way out as long as the people from Sabah and Sarawak still are still so docile /being so submissive to the dominating rule of the Malayan government.  Be prepared to secede for good.

陈超耀：独立日非831 教科书骗砂人54年

2017年7月21日

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（本报美里21日讯)卑尔骚州议员拿督陈超耀表示﹐砂政府组律师团前往英国伦敦考察﹐是正确明智的做法﹐只有透过研究﹑了解砂建国过程中的内容和结果相关文件记录﹐才能有条件争取属于砂拉越真正的自主权﹐揭开并庆祝砂拉越真正独立日–722重要日子。

他今日出席海港局举办的双佳节共庆活动后受访时表示﹐1963年7月22日是砂拉越人民最重要和值得纪念的日子﹐因为722才是砂拉越真正的独立日﹐并非历史课本上所记载的8月31日。因此﹐被课本”蒙骗”了54年后的今天﹐砂拉越子民是时候要醒觉﹐一定要谨记﹐7月22日才是砂拉越独立日﹐最重要的日子﹐身为砂拉越人民不可以不知道。

拿督陈超耀。

勿被历史瞒骗
“在1963年7月22日﹐砂拉越脱离英国殖民地﹐获英国移交职权。这意味着﹐砂拉越全权管理自己的领土﹐这就是砂拉越独立的日子。从722至9月15日﹐56天时间里﹐砂拉越是过着属于自己独立的日子。虽然有人质疑砂拉越原则上还不算独立﹐但是既然英国政府已经把权力交由砂拉越政府﹐就算还有其它相关等文件还没有正式签署﹐在砂拉越政府自行统治管理的那段期间﹐形式上我们认为是独立了。”
身兼砂人联党美里卑尔骚支部主席的拿督陈超耀指出﹐身为砂拉越人﹐不可以不记得和要搞清楚的三个重要日期﹐即7月22日﹑8月31日以及9月16日。8月31日﹐正确来说应该是庆祝联邦马来亚独立日﹐并非马来西亚日﹐因为在1957年8月31日时﹐马来西亚尚未成立。
他不忘强调﹐砂拉越并非如课本上所指的 “加入”马来西亚﹐砂拉越当初是以一个国家和马来亚﹑沙巴﹑砂拉越和新加坡共同组成﹐即在1963年9月16日。916这个重要日子﹐也经过了几十年后﹐终于在2010年获得首相纳吉的认可将其列为大马其中一个假期﹐从此彰显它的重要性。这意味着﹐9月16日才是马来西亚日。这也是许多时下年轻人不懂的历史﹐需要被纠正认清真正的历史背景﹐不要再被历史所瞒骗。

Mycomment：
这太令人可耻的事。这可耻的事是谁允许BN-UMNO霸权如此横行霸道。所谓的本土的政党跟BN-UMNO有挂钩的政客们，不管已经过世或还在世，都必须面对未来子孙的历史追究讨伐，唾弃，严厉苛责。 这可真的是会遗臭万面。

27 secretaries to serve one person

Why does Abang Johari need 27 secretaries to help him to rule Sarawak?  Count how many posts each minister holds.  Count how much taxpayer money has been wasted.

orientaldaily.com.my

「東馬海嘯」也是造王者

评论 ／ 名家
最后更新 2017年07月14日 21时13分 • 评论: 丘光耀 • 箴言耀传

希望联盟能否在第14届大选推翻国阵，很多人都寄望在马哈迪所领导的土著团结党。「马来海啸」一时成为了促成改朝换代的关键力量，也激起了无限的詮释和想像。而林吉祥之所以要

「牵马」，直捣巫统在马来甘榜的老巢，其战略意义就在於此。
然而，林吉祥「牵马」的选举战略，也冒著若干政治风险。比如反对党的支持者就会问：马哈迪这「U转魔鬼」是否可靠？希联会否被马哈迪骑劫？土著团结党在本质上是否巫统2.0？难道民主行动党为了取悦马来人而出卖理想主义和政治道德？马哈迪和土团党人推翻纳吉后会否重返巫统？万一马哈迪当临时首相会否继续作恶？为何希联只管夺权，不问价值和制度改革？
这些问题，还频频被马华民政的网络枪手和「偽中立」的网民，以及莽撞的键盘激进派不断放大，目的就是要「反利用」马哈迪这张牌来打击行动党，间接为马华民政的选举利益服务。
故此，我建议行动党在实践「牵马」战略，对「马来海啸」抱有高度期许的同时，也不要忽略「东马海啸」的关键作用，並藉此找出新的动力，以激起更澎湃的「全民海啸」。

巫统恐嚇马来人
在冷战时期，因反共地缘政治的需要，沙巴、砂拉越、新加坡和马来亚半岛，在1963年9月16日组成马来西亚，然新加坡因人民行动党的「马来西亚人的马来西亚」（Malaysian Malaysia）处处槓上巫统的「马来人至上权」（ketuanan Melayu），导致新加坡在1965年8月9日宣告「被独立」。这在二战后亚非拉的民族国家里是凤毛麟角的个案。
遗留在半岛的人民行动党领袖，遂在1966年3月18日重新註册为民主行动党。火箭第一任秘书长蒂凡纳，后来也应李光耀之召，返回新加坡出任总统。

认识这段歷史，就不难理解为何巫统半个世纪以来，不断在马来甘榜拿人民行动党「李光耀的幽灵」，套在林吉祥头上来恐嚇马来人，宣称火箭一旦得势，马来人就会大权旁落，华人精英就会殖民马来人。对於这方面的反宣传，林吉祥一直都很避忌，尤其在修党史时，文字表述更是小心翼翼，並且在马来社会避免使用「马来西亚人的马来西亚」口號，改为「马来西亚人优先」（Malaysian First）。

这一「优先」的基调，和欧美近年来极右民粹主义的排外口號十分相近，如特朗普的「美国人优先」，勒庞的「法国人优先」，弔诡得很。

从「邦」沦落到「州」
话说回来，上世纪60年代原本由三大邦合成的马来西亚，在国阵联邦霸权的长年打压下，逐步让砂沙两大邦沦为13个州之一（好比合伙做生意，原先各佔三分一股权，最后居然被稀释到十三分之一的股权）。自此，沙砂两邦的自主权受制於吉隆坡，导致经济、税收、教育、医疗、基础设施等都严重滯后，唯一跟得上半岛的，就只有贪污文化。

今天的马来西亚，因巫统（尤其纳吉政权）贪得无厌，导致丑闻纍纍、经济发展乏力、民族关係紧张、宗教越发极端、人才严重外流、外资纷纷撤走，这无疑是一个衰败国家的徵兆。
而马来西亚的衰败，肯定会直接拖累砂沙二邦，所以砂沙人民和半岛人民是命运共同体，应共同奋起，团结一致以打倒国阵这个贪腐的政治集团。

如今巫统在半岛，面对公正党、诚信党和土著团结党的夹击，政权岌岌可危；而纳吉可以操弄的战略，一来就是抹黑这三个党为「华人行动党」的傀儡，再则，就是收编伊斯兰党来跟巫统「合组马来政权」，一方面用作点燃马来村民的保守想像，另一方面则藉此恐嚇城镇华人的改变意志。

由此，半岛人民，不论肤色，也不管支持朝野何党，总是习惯坠入巫统的这一套宣传逻辑，被「马来人VS华人」、「穆斯林VS非穆斯林」的原始情绪，撕裂了跨越阶级和文明的团结意识，模糊了共同追求民主、自由、清廉和善政（good governance）的焦点。

所以，我在上周的专栏文章就公开呼吁希盟高层，不妨考虑在「共同竞选宣言」中，提出设置「六名副首相」的制度性新政，来回应各方对希盟影子內阁具体人选的要求。

平等伙伴关係
我为何要这么建议？在此，我把问题讲得更加透彻直白。
第一，我留意到近年来砂沙两邦的本土主义势力崛起，但这被吉隆坡的联邦主义者，理解为搞「地方分离主义」。而砂沙的国阵政客，也很狡诈地靠一些偽民间组织，发动所谓「爭取自主权」的运动，来打击「西马反对党」。

所幸的是，沙砂两邦抗衡国阵霸权，致力民主化斗爭的民主行动党，很自觉地將「本土主义」定性为两邦向半岛爭取「平等伙伴关係」（equal partnership）的表现。唯有如此，我们才能顺应砂沙二邦人民的诉求，促成「东马海啸」，再结合半岛的「马来人海啸」，一举淹没巫统。

第二，我建议设置「六名副首相」，分別是由一名马来人、一名华人、一名印度人、一名沙巴人、一名砂拉越人以及一名女性担任。这是为了体现民族、地域和性別平等的「权力共治」关係。西方有所谓的「左右共治」，然马来西亚既然左右派「阶级意识」长年不彰，倒不如希联突出体现多元特徵的「平等伙伴关係」。

试想想，我们长年用血泪爭取的「民族平等」（ethnic equality），何其容易被巫统曲解成华人反对党对「马来人特权」的挑战；但我们换一种说法，將砂沙两邦和两性共治的诉求拉进来一起表述。如此，巫统就很难再老调重弹，沿用其所谓「华人VS马来人」或「穆斯林VS非穆斯林」的论述来恐嚇马来人。尤其当下的巫统，也正需要靠砂沙国阵成员党来贏取多数议席以维持布城政权，这恰好是我们提出新的论述，来协助砂沙人民爭取「平等伙伴关係」的歷史性契机。

想像空间更大
第三，在六名副首相中，「未来人选」的想像空间其实很大，好比新制度的设置，有一名副首相保留给华人，但这名华人，未必永远都是来自行动党，也未必是来自半岛政党，也未必六名副首相中只有一名华人，因为另一名可能是华裔女性。再则，副首相也可能超过一名女性，因为其它五名副首相，可能是来自砂沙或马来裔、华裔或印裔的女性领袖。此外，马来人也未必只有一名副首相，因为另一名人选，可能是来自女穆斯林。故此，这种「可能的多元性」將让
巫统的旧抹黑手段难再得逞。

第四，有人担心六名副首相会否让新政府的內阁过度臃肿，甚至有浪费公帑之嫌。其实，如今纳吉內阁的首相署有十名正部长（其中五名来自巫统、一名马华、一名沙人民团结党、一名砂人民党、一名砂土保党、一名独立人士），还有三名副部长（两名来自巫统、一名印度国大党），被形容为是「布城中的超级部门」，其空前臃肿的程度，好比「总统型首相办事机构」。

预算案中的首相署开支，也从2008年（阿都拉任期最后一年）的70亿令吉，飆升到2016年的200亿令吉。此外，纳吉在2014到2016年的预算案里，还编列了至少有70亿令吉的所谓「收买基金」（slush funds），按刘镇东的研究，纳吉拜相之前，几乎没有这样的先例！

我並非主张希盟要向纳吉看齐，而是建议將「政治酬佣」的废材政客，统统从首相署扫地出门，將其简化和转化为有实权、有具体管理职能的六名副首相办公室。换言之，这六人要按专业背景、学识强项、地域发展需要、性別和文化特长来分配辖下的范畴领域，体现多元性的「平等伙伴关係」，来辅助新首相治理国家。

第五，其实这六名副首相的建议，並非什么新玩意儿。泰国的內阁也设有六位副首相，分別管理公安、外交、法务、经济、社保和基建。中国的国务院也有四位副总理，而且其中一位是女性。前任的副总理中，亦有一名少数民族领袖出任。

由此可见，每个国家的政府，都可以按照其国家的实际发展需要，结合其政治体制所兼容的权力分配机制和特殊的政治文化，来编製其內阁机关。马来西亚作为一个多元民族的国家，內阁中的副首相设置，就应该体现多元民族、男女共治、地域平权的「平等伙伴关係」。

砂沙二邦的人民，只要能抓住歷史机遇，全力支持两线制，让两邦的希盟领袖在国会选举中大胜，就能成为扭转国运的造王者！

theborneopost.com

Sarawak made right decision to form Malaysia with Sabah and Malaya — Taib

Taib speaks at the ‘Syarahan Negarawan Negeri Sarawak’. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak made the right decision when it chose to participate in the formation of Malaysia with Sabah and Malaya in September 1963, said Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Taib, who was Sarawak’s fourth Chief Minister for 33 years until 2014,  said that decision had brought many benefits to Sarawak, especially in terms of development and modernisation.

“It is unlikely that the progress enjoyed by Sarawak is as vibrant as it is today if it chose to become a separate country and choosing to jointly form Malaysia has made Sarawak a stronger and more prosperous state.

“It is undeniable Sarawak and Sabah have gained many benefits for being entities in Malaysia,” he said at the Syarahan Negarawan Negeri Sarawak event in Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka here yesterday.

He said the development being enjoyed in Sarawak at present was also the result of economic developments taking place in Peninsular Malaysia.
Taib was confident the future of Sarawak in Malaysia is guaranteed, adding that bilateral ties between the state and the federal government were very cordial and any differences in policies and opinions should be addressed through consultations.

“The question of cooperation between the federal and state governments is no longer a hot political issue as in the past.

It is a practical matter that must be dealt with through negotiations.
“As far as I can see with my own experience, the cooperation between federal and state is very good. We don’t have any major problems that it can lead to confrontation or create policies that are discriminating.

“As such, depending on our wisdom in pursuing our politics, the integration of Malaysia will go on and not in a way that is too open that non Malaysians can take advantage of it to ruin these ties,” he said.

Touching on the ethnic pluralism and social fabric In Sarawak, Abdul Taib said the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) government would continue to focus on the politics of development as the main thrust of the BN leadership.

He said to face the future and ensure a sustainable state economic growth, Sarawak had opened up opportunities for young Sarawakians to improve their skills in order to venture into a new economy as a result of the existing economic spin-offs and more sophisticated industries.

In order to move into that direction, Taib said efforts to restructure the education system in Sarawak that inclined towards technical learning also needed to be undertaken in tandem with the industries’ requirement for a highly skilled workforce.

“This is one matter that is not controversial if we plan a generation earlier through good policies in the field of education,” he added. — Bernama

What do you think of this story?

• Sad (56%)
• Angry (19%)
• Nothing (14%)
• Interesting (8%)
• Great (3%)
  
  My comments:
  This man is the shame and curse of Sarawak.  During his 33+ reign as "Chief Minister" in Sarawak, with the exception of his cronies and those consortium who benefit greatly in all kinds of transactions, we Sarawakians as a whole were exploited in all ways and manners. Only he and his cronies have gained so much.  How much wealth has Taib Mahmud amassed is not a secret anymore.  How much ill-gained wealth has he embezzled during his reign for 33+ years in Sarawak?  
           His mega family businesses and many tangible assets are the evidences to show the whole-wide world of his greed and evilness.  Even Allah secretly interfered to tell him so.  When Lawas people once pleaded him for a public swimming, he turned deaf ear to them.  Then his granddaughter..........
         He is well-blessed by UMNO-BN to plunder and exploit Sarawak.  He and his cronies also blessed UMNO-BN political clowns to plunder and exploit Sarawak at will.  
  
  Shamelessly, he is ever ready to talk on integrity.  He talked on integrity months ago.  How I wish that all the Sarawakians would be sensible enough to reject and refuse to go to meet this man whenever there is a call for gathering to meet the so called VIP.  
  
  Wong Soon Koh has never said a word against this man and I understand that they are in good relationship.  Wong Soon Koh and many and many are ever ready to pamper this man as they bow their heads and bend themselves low to show their submission to his supremacy.   If you do not believe, go to search for the pictures in the newspapers in Sarawak. 
  
  Taib Mahmud should be dragged around to see the true conditions in Sarawak.  He is too blind and deaf to the suffering and hardship of people everywhere.  He is too dreamy to think how ashamed, disgusted and angry people feel towards him. 

Villager pleads for water leak to be fixed

KUCHING: A villager from Kampung Semadang at KM38, Jalan Puncak Borneo near here is asking the relevant authority to repair the leaking water pipeline in front of his house as soon as possible.

The 58-year-old farmer, who requested anonymity, said leakage from the main pipe underground was detected almost a month ago.
He said the village head had called the authority to inform them about the leakage but until yesterday, nothing has been done.

“As you can see, water continues to come out from underground and flow through the drain between my house wall and that of my neighbour.

“If it continues like this, the water can cause damage to my earth drain and my house wall,” he said at the site of the leakage.
Kampung Semadang headman Samsom Manggang when contacted said he had informed the relevant authority twice but there was no action taken.

He said on June 28, he called to inform the authority verbally and two days later, he sent a video of the leakage to an officer in-charge as a follow-up to the first complaint.

“I don’t know why, until today, nothing is being done to fix the leakage when obviously it is a waste of the taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Observation suggests that the potential water loss from the leaking pipe can reach thousands of litres a day, with the leakage having lasted about three weeks, and counting, with no end in sight.

Statistics showed 37.89 per cent of non-revenue water (NRW) was recorded in Sarawak in 2016 with losses estimated at about RM122 million.

Minister of Rural Electricity and Water Supply Datuk Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said compared with the figure recorded in 2015, there was a reduction in NRW of about 0.21 per cent.

“However, in term of monetary value, there is an increase of RM12 million. This is due to an overall increase in the amount of water produced at treatment plants.” he was quoted as saying by The Borneo Post last month when asked about the percentage of NRW for Sarawak last year and losses in monetary value.

My comments:

Being lackadaisical has become a culture of the BN government.  Do you still want to support them or do you still want to be looped to vote for the BN government? Stop being a fool.

I suggest the village head or not to go to see the so-called BN representative in your area.  If within the specified time, the work is still not done, the next move is to get it reported in the newspaper.  If the news does not reach them, the next next move is to gather the villagers to get someone, experienced to repair it yourselves.  

It  has become a culture that  people have to burden for extra or not extra services or goods after tax.  Many schools, some facilities of hospitals, .... in our country,  Sarawak depend heavily on people to sustain.  It is time to stop and force the government today to be more responsible.  We all should prepare ourselves to change for good for ourselves and for the future generation to come.