Submerged pontoons refloated after a week

March 10, 2017, Friday

Two of the pontoons have been refloated.

The gangway leading to the pontoon is no longer submerged because the tide is low.

The partially submerged gangway on March 1.

SIBU: Two of the three upstream pontoons at Kapit Wharf in Khoo Peng Loong Road that submerged last week were refloated yesterday.
This was disclosed by Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) assistant controller (region two) Christopher Chan.

“The remaining one has severe leaks. SRB will look into removing the pontoon in due course.

“Our men are constantly monitoring the situation to ensure safety of the operation and the users,” he said when contacted, adding that operation at the wharf was not affected.

For the record, there are six pontoons at the Kapit Wharf here. Express boats plying the downriver routes, namely

Passin, Daro, Igan and Pulau Bruit are berthed at Kapit Wharf.
Chan added that age and the wear and tear over the years might be the causes of the pontoon sinking. Seepage of water into cracks of the pontoons was also a possibility.

He said SRB and Public Works Department (JKR) would be looking into a long-term solution to tackle the problem.

My comments:
When are they going to deal with this problem that is caused by the dams upstreams?   It is understood that when the water level of the dams have come to a height, they have to discharge the excess water.   When there are downpours upstream at the dams, that means there are a constant discharges of large, large, large voume.....of water.  When there are  constant deluges of  water at the dams, that means there are  constant discharge of large volume of water downstream.  The end results are that our houses, our farms, our schools, our roads, .......all serve as reservoirs for these deluges from the dams upstream.

Since the clearing of the lands for these purposes none of the areas in Sarawak is spared of this menace.  Our UMNO-BNised political thugs /clowns are still bluffing that only the BN government can provide us with a better future.

What kind of better future can you see or expect when we are threatened by ever bigger floods every now and then?   And I repeat our houses, our farms, our schools, our roads and whatsoever all are served as reservoirs to collect the excess water deluged from the dams upstream.  OUMN-BNised Sarawak government is planning to build 12 dams in Sarawak to damn us.  Bear in mind that our Bakun dam as one of the political thug boasted that it is as large the size as Singapore.  Imagine how large the volume of water to be discharged and how fast it is when there are downpours around the dams.

余清禄：全民党矢恢复砂权益

2017年3月27日 中砂

（本报诗巫27日讯）肯雅兰全民党已于昨日召开2017年常年党员大会，并发出全体党员公告，指称砂拉越已沦为马来亚殖民地，在无数次的宪法修改中，已完全丧失了1963年参组马来西亚，由英、马、星、砂、沙、汶 五方共同签署的合约中注明应享的权益。

该公告是于今日由肯雅兰全民党主席余清禄于新闻发布会上，作出宣读。

他表示，肯雅兰全民党是由一批立志为砂人权益奋斗的各族各阶层人士所组成，在宪法范围内捍卫砂人民在1963年马来西亚合约中的应有权益，最终走向公投自决。
砂权益遭置之脑后

他说，令砂拉越人民失望、全砂人民日渐失却信心的是，砂拉越实质上已沦为马来亚的殖民地，在无数次的宪法修改中已完全丧失了1963年参组马来西亚，由英、马、星、砂、沙、汶 五方共同签署的合约中注明应享的权益。

“砂拉越实质已沦为马来亚掠夺资源和倾销商品的一个‘州’，根本失去参组马来西亚的一邦地位。砂拉越人民痛心地看到土地上的主要资源被掠夺；失去贸易自由；失去金融自主；主要商品被马来亚垄断，砂商人被迫做二、三手经销；航空被剥削；教育被愚民化；通讯被垄断，而且提供高价低劣的服务。”

另外，海洋权益被大部份切割；低劣的基础设施和服务，如危路，危楼；30%以上的农村没有水电供应；许多乡村道路不通，通讯不达；有的偏远民众连最基本的身份证都申请不到。

该文告指出，总结种种，砂拉越失去了一个邦的地位，没有了自主权，而仅剩缺乏实权的移民自主权，和年复一年苦苦等待联邦施舍的“拨款”、“津贴”。难道，这就是安排“参组”的所谓大马计划？

“我们的后代不能再等待，不愿做愚民，决心要把权益拿回来；我们对执政54年的国阵失去信心；我们也不能寄期望和要求某些政党能给我们上述根本利益，只有砂拉越各族人民团结起来，站出来勇敢奋争才能取回根本利益。”肯雅兰党愿意与所有有志于砂拉越人民自主、自治、自决的政党、团体、人士合作，以推翻贪腐政权，建立砂拉越人民
真正当家做主的政府。

PRS Youth on sending Islamic religious teachers to rural schools

February 17, 2017, Friday

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth has expressed concern over the government’s intention of sending Islamic religious teachers from the Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah into schools in the rural areas, particularly those with Dayak students forming the majority.

Its publicity youth chief Andy Lawrence said their request was valid especially if the ustaz or ustazah was playing an influential role in school food rationing or tender bidding involving food supply, for instance.

“PRS will oppose placing Islamic religious teachers in rural schools where there is no Muslim students. Most schools in rural Sarawak do not have Muslim students and hence there is no necessity to place Islamic religious teachers in such schools.

“But if there are schools that have many Muslim students, then please give priority to our local Sarawakian teachers to go there. Similarly, in rural schools where there is no Muslim students, a halal certification of ration supply to these schools should not be a requirement.

“If halal certification is a requirement for the suppliers to participate in bidding as school ration suppliers, PRS will consider it bias and unfair to non-Muslim wet ration suppliers to rural schools in Sarawak. Please be reasonable and rational on this matter.

“Full autonomy in education must  be given to Sarawak as it would be easier for us to understand the local sentiments and needs. Hence, it will be easier for us to manage and to speed up the development of education in Sarawak, especially to improve school infrastructure and facilities as many of the buildings are dilapidated,” he added.

It would be better if schools in the rural areas were exempted from the move of sending ustaz and ustazah to schools where Dayak and/or Christians were the majority, he said.

Andy, who is a councillor with Samarahan Municipal Council, said the party was not against Islamic religious teachers teaching in Sarawak but they would be a disservice to the local community if they were allowed to teach or reside in such schools.

Despite acknowledging the insufficient number of Islamic Studies teachers in Sarawak, he urged the government to give the Islamic Studies teaching posts to Sarawakians first and foremost.

“The Education Ministry should be focusing on critical issues at hand, like the issue of the more than 200 temporary teachers whose services are being terminated after serving for so many years in the industry,” he said.
He was referring to the Ministry of Education’s move to bring in several Islamic Studies teachers from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah into Sarawak.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said an arrangement over this matter had already been discussed with Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

This arrangement is special and nothing to do with the state policy of wanting to have the 90:10 ratio of Sarawakian to Peninsular Malaysian teachers in the state.

My comments:
What a shame!  What a curse!  This I see a project UMNO-BN to ...
with the consent of UMNO-BNised Abang Johari and his teams to disrupt the 90: 10 ratio.  This is the hidden agenda to undo 90:10 ratio.

See calls for bipartisan stand against Stamp Act amendment

March 15, 2017, Wednesday Jonathan Chia, reporters@theborneopost.com

KUCHING: The amendment to the Stamp Act 1949 which is tabled in this parliamentary session for second reading and debate could be rushed through and passed with little time for debate, says state PKR vice chairman See Chee How.

Therefore, See called on all Sarawakian and Sabahan MPs to vote against the amendment bill as it has clearly ignored the plights of all East Malaysians, despite all the promises and pledges by Putrajaya to respect the Malaysia Agreement, the rightful autonomy of the East Malaysian states, devolution of powers and budgetary support for development in Sarawak and Sabah.

“The proposed amendments to the Stamp Act 1949 manifested clearly the continuous neglect and disregard for the constitutional rights and financial needs of Sarawak and Sabah despite clear and unequivocal requests had been made to Putrajaya.

“The proposed Stamp Act (Amendment) Bill is all about raising incomes for the federal coffer, at the expense and interests of all stakeholders most particularly the construction and housing industries.

“The plea by Sarawak and Sabah for the stamp duties collected in the two East Malaysian states to be retained in the Sarawak and Sabah treasuries, is completely ignored,” he said yesterday.

See, who is Batu Lintang assemblyman, recalled that the late former Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had expressed the Sarawak state administration’s commitment and he had told the Sarawak State Assembly that he had made a strong representation to Putrajaya, that the Stamp Duties for land transfer, mortgage and other dealings, which is under the State’s jurisdiction and rightfully should be a revenue for the state but was wrongfully taken away from us by the federal government for the last 53 years, should be returned to Sarawak.

“Sarawak’s rights to this income are clearly stated in the Federal Constitution. It applies to Sabah, too.”

With a firm belief that all Sarawakian and Sabahan MPs, whether they are in the BN or Pakatan coalition are “Sarawak First” and “Sabah First”, See said unless the necessary clauses are inserted into this amendment bill, to ensure that all stamp duties collected from Sarawak and Sabah are to be retained with them, all the MPs must vote to reject the amendment bill.
 

My comments:

Be prepared to secede.  The quickest way is a horn call for Sarawakians and Sabahan not to vote in the so-called "national election" to be held sooner or later.  Say, "No".  The so called "national election" is a trap that has deprived us of many rights as stated in MA 63.  Abang Johari the "CM" of Sarawak and Musa Aman the "CM" of Sabah both are blessed with so many posts deeply vested with their self-interests.  Do they dare to declare to the world how the Malayan government has colonised Sarawak and Sabah and we are not going to be so subservient anymore?   

I am not going to vote in the so called "national election" and I pray other Sarawakians and Sabahans will be awakened to say "No!" to vote in the so called "national election".   We people should get united to flush out the interest-minded UMNO-BN  local ministers.  Yes, we should elect a new government in Sarawak national election to be held in 2021 or earlier to fight for our autonomy.  

I don't think Abang Johari and Musa Aman -UMNO-BNised men and their teams will do much to protect and get back what belongs to Sarawak and Sabah respectively.

张健仁：要索自主权 砂需先从税务着手

2017年3月16日 南砂

（古晋16日讯）民主行动党古晋市国会议员兼哥打圣淘沙州议员张健仁指出，有税收主权，才有真正的自主权。

张健仁是于昨日在国会下议院参与最高元首御词辩论时，提出砂州自主权的议程和目标。

他在其国会下议院辩论中指出，砂州政府这几年来，一直高调声明要争取砂州自主权。 首相纳吉也好似在随拍起舞，答应将研究考虑下放权力。

“但如果大家仔细研究，砂州政府和纳吉所讨论的所谓自主权，那些只是一些无关痛痒，隔靴搔痒的权力，不是真正的自主权。”

他说，真正的自主权，必须要有税收主权的资助。如果没有税收的资源，要实行任何计划或政策，都要向中央政府申请拨款，有再多的执行权也是有名无实。

提出4自主权议程
健仁建议，如果国阵有诚意要真正下放权力给砂州政府，就应该接纳行动党所提出的砂州自主权议程，即：
（1）所有在砂州征收的个人公司所得税、消费税、进出口税，一律50%归还给砂州政府。

（2）归还给砂州政府20%石油天然气开采税。

（3）赋予砂州政府教育自主权。

（4）赋予砂州政府医药自主权。

他说，教育和医药自主权也意味着砂州将承担教育和医药服务的一切开支，包括教师、医生和护士的薪金， 所以砂州必须要有税收主权，才能真正实施其他事项的自主权。

张健仁也指出，真正的砂州教育自主权也表示，砂州政府可以自己有自己的教育政策，包括，恢复英语为媒介语的学校。

他强调，行动党所提出的，才是真正砂州自主权，而非如砂国阵和纳吉所一唱一和演戏下放一些表面皮毛的权力，但无实际的权力。

因此，他敦促那些目前还在纳吉内阁，来自砂州的部长们，应该向纳吉施压下放税务主权。

My comments： 

砂选区皆拨款500万？郑爱鸰将向首长求证

2017年3月15日 中砂

（诗巫15日讯）武吉阿瑟区州议员郑爱鸰对于首席部长宣布砂拉越的每一位人民代议士在乡区转型计划下，将获得拨款500万令吉的拨款，作为推行计划的用途而感到困惑。

她说，这则新闻获得媒体广泛的报道，同时也得到国阵部长的大力支持。
“毫无疑问地，如果我们根据新闻报导，包括相关视频，首长的意思看起来是所有的人民代议士，包括反对党议员将会被分配到有关拨款。我要向首长寻求澄清这个报导的真实性，因为据我所知，目前乡区转型计划的拨款只被分配予国阵成员党的代议士，反对党却被排除在外。”
她发表文告称，随着首长的宣布，上述的立场是否已经有所改变，包括反对党的选区也将获得这项拨款？她深切期盼形势是朝这个方向发展，因为这些拨款必须造福所有的人民，而无论人民的政治取向及信念为何，如此才是公平的做法。人民不应该因为行使民主的权力，选择谁作为州议会的代表来发言，而受到不该有的惩罚。

动议公平拨款被否决

“事实上，这个课题在上次的州议会中曾被提出，当时我在州议会中提呈动议，要求政府的常年拨款必须发放予所有的选区，而不分人民代议士的政党背景。我的动议被否决，因为这是一项寻求财政资助的动议，它必须获得财政部长的附议，当然最终这位亲国阵的部长并没有附议。”

她表示，如今既然首长公开声明，所有州选区及每一个获得人民委托的砂拉越人民代议士将被分配这项拨款，她要知道的是，反对党议员是否被包含在内？倘若没有，基于什么理由使然？因为反对党议员也是由广大人民票选出来的代议士。

“我们的州政府能否坦荡并落实真正的民主，就像雪兰莪和槟州政府一般，让每一位州议员，包括反对党州议员，也能获得拨款来推动选区的发展？我们的州政府能否关心我们选区人民的福祉？请记得，在每一届的选举中，每一个选区内都有不少国阵的支持者。”

她呼吁首长展现一个砂拉越全民首长的风范，不分民族、信念及政治取向，也给予反对党的人民代议士委托，提呈款项总共500万令吉的发展计划项目列表，以推动选区的发展。

无须换政府，换政策也行！

2017年3月11日 时势点评

作者：蔡维衍

许多年轻人，尤其是首投族都认为有必要换政府。改由反对党阵线来当权，试一试政党轮替，或许明天会更好！
年轻人憧憬换了政府，明天会更好，无可厚非。但是反对党阵线確能剷除贪腐和无能，让廉洁和高效率隨之而来吗？其实，人民过安稳幸福的日子，换不换政府不是至要。改变治国政策，以民为本，富民强国的政策才是最重要的。
马来西亚必须认真处理，需要改革的治国政策的如下：

新经济政策须废除
实施了四十多年的新经济政策，经过多次检修，以少数强势族群来扶持多数的「弱势」族群之核心政策始终不变。由于人口增长率差距，强势族群的人口比例越来越小，最终可能是只佔人口10%的强势族群扶持90%的不肯放弃优惠的「弱势」族群。所谓长贫难顾，以少数扶持多数，绝对不能长期持续。

替代政策是废除新经济政策，公共领域，必须改革。目前，公共领域的资源（人力及財政）几乎全归「弱势」族群所佔有，国家失去了多元种族特徵。虽然公务员人数多，官民比例（1：18.72人）比其他国家都大（印度1：110人；英国1：118人；中国1：108.3人），但在每週宗教时间，每年宗教节日，国家机关缺少办公人员，不能发挥各族群不同文化的比较优势，严重影响行政效率，国民生產损失超大。

新经济政策实施日子久了，教育领域的拨款、教材及师资分配，渐渐忽视马来西亚多元化的现实，久而久之形成「弱势」族群的学生佔据公立的中小学学额。在公立大学当局精心设计之下，「弱势」族群通过特殊学习环境取得「优良成绩」，堂而皇哉修读专业课程，间接限制了强势族群的公平选择机会，造成学术水平低落。在专为「弱势」群体而设的高等教育院校，开办公立大学所没有的研究生课程，成就单一族群的专业人才！

侵蚀强势族群利益
上世纪80年代，为了政治正確，华社主张以「绩效兼顾需要」取代新经济政策。殊不知人性贪婪，尝到甜头之后，其儿孙寄望继续享有优惠。范畴更广泛，数额更多的优惠也被视为理所当然。40多年来，「弱势」群体所得到的公共资源远远超过其人口比例，侵蚀了强势族群的利益。
优惠弱势群体政策的资源分配办法受到强势群体的抗议和反对。或许在各领域根据人口比例分配资源，更为合理。举例如下：各源流中小学校常年拨款以学生人数为准；各级官员根据人口比例甄拔擢升，个人必须在其群体內部公开竞爭以確保被录用者乃其族群中最优秀人选；公共工程以成本预算为准，然后按人口比例分配，並进行族群內部公开招標等。

比起绩效兼顾需要的理论，这是比较实际的措施。实践是检视真理的唯一標准，上世纪60年代，美国颁布「平权法案」（Affirmative Action）对黑人考生优惠政策实施之后，就已唤起白人学者发出抗议之声了。可是直到80年代，马来西亚华社还沉醉在绩效兼顾需要的爭论声浪中，让国阵政府的「轻舟已过万重山」，华社进一步被边缘化，权利被蚕食殆尽。

跌入种族政治陷阱
这种不公平的优惠「弱势」群体政策，在强势群体的社会圈子里，每每成为民怨之话题，巫统失去了强势族群的支持，不平的心理破坏了国民团结，新经济政策的最终目標也就泡汤了。

在现有的政治形势下，反对党阵营可以承担重任，有足够魄力实现公平吗？目前「希望联盟」执政两个州，在檳城虽然以多数票强势执政，但是依然掉入种族政治陷阱，给予「弱势」群体更多优惠，另一方面，由于曾经与伊党联合执政，在伊党退出希联之后尾大不掉，州內依然有伊党的党人当官，宗教化色彩依稀可见。

机会主义的体现
在雪兰莪，行动党州议员人数最多，但是为了共享政权及公共资源，谦让给公正党人担任州务大臣。再者两党州议员人数未佔绝对多数，只能继续与伊党合作，变成3+1（行动党、公正党、诚信党+伊党）联合执政，让伊党的宗教师在雪州继续兜售伊斯兰国。在伊党执政的吉兰丹州，大力推行伊斯兰化政策，影响非穆斯林日常生活，叫苦连天。

思量人民的支持力量不足以推翻国阵，不由得选民担心希联最终联合神权的伊党再加上种族主义的土著团结党，种族加神权的阵线如何「一同救国」？这样的组合，显示了机会主义的疯狂作为。重温伊朗推翻巴列维王朝以及埃及，伊拉克和阿富汗等国家在换政府后，国家动乱的悲惨局面，不由得引以为戒。

换政府？前景未卜。换政策？谁主乾坤！
My comments：
按照民主程序换政府，英国，美国，台湾，菲律宾，印尼。。。。。都有改朝换 代换政府，这些国家，有发生动乱吗？  这作者。。。。