theborneopost.com

Baru: I merely cited Auditor-General’s Report

Jonathan Chia, reporters@theborneopost.com

August 7, 2017, Monday

KUCHING: State PKR chairman Baru Bian said he was merely citing the findings of the Auditor-General (AG)’s Report in his statement to the press without going into the specifics that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) had paid RM2.88 million to two contractors for paint jobs which were never done.

The Ba Kelalan assemblyman said at no time did he utter any names of persons or companies named in the report.

“I have been falsely accused of tarnishing a nameless company and an equally nameless contractor, and I cannot even sue for defamation as they do not have the honour and the courage to own up to their identities. This is cowardice at its worst,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Baru was responding to thesundaypost’s report in which an unnamed contractor accused him of not checking the facts before making allegations against the contractor’s company.

The unnamed housing contractor in Miri denied not carrying out repainting work for a housing project there despite having been paid by HDC. According to the contractor, the repainting job was done and completed in 2015, and they have every proof of that.

Baru further said that he was surprised that anyone holding a press conference would instruct the press to withhold his identity.

“If this person is truly blameless and wishes to refute the facts in the AG’s report and in the ‘misleading viral’, he should not be hiding behind anonymity. What is there to hide if one is truly innocent of charges made against one? How does one clear one’s name without identifying himself?”

He stressed that the AG’s audit has set processes, which are followed when they carry out their work.

“If the contractor’s name, whatever it may be, is cited in the report, I am sure that he would have been given an opportunity to present his case to the AG during their investigations.  If he is saying that due process was not carried out and the AG’s report was inaccurate, then he should take issue with the AG. Perhaps he should consider suing the AG for defamation.”

Baru said as the Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian has indicated that his ministry will probe the shortcomings in HDC, perhaps it may be better to hand over the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate.

“The involvement of the MACC may be warranted as huge sums of money are involved and the people of Sarawak will be better assured if an independent party is tasked to carry out thorough investigations in this matter.”

Baru added it is a sad reflection of the decaying morals of man and society when individuals hide behind anonymity to make false accusations and portray perceived innocence.

My comments:
I think something has gone really wrong with the UMNO-BN government to expect anymore trust.  I hope Sarawakians will stay united to flush out UMNO-BN once and for all.  We need a new government for Sarawak to stand clean and clear in all accounts.

“预支”钜额工程费 郑爱鸰促政府交代

2017年8月2日

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（本报诗巫2日讯）行动党武吉阿瑟区州议员郑爱鸰认为砂拉越政府必须针对最近在总稽查司报告中所揭露的砂拉越房屋部数百万令吉款额处理不当的指控给于砂拉越人民一个明确的交代。

她说，其中包括支付2.88百万令吉予12个政府组屋的油漆工程,事实上根据总稽查司报告有关所谓的油漆工程并不存在。同时也在未经授权的情况下预支予乌达玛路(Jalan Utama)第1期及第2期的提升工程计划而导致政府必须承担1.77百万令吉的支出利息。
砂房屋发展局经手
此外, 在总稽查司报告中透露的还包括了在未经授权官员核实下就向供应商支付多达33.40百万令吉，其中有6项总额为20.77百万令吉是没有支付证明文件的。据报总稽查司报告，上述付款都是由砂拉越房屋发展局所经手的。
她说，砂拉越政府必须向人民透露涉及有关12个政府组屋油漆工程的2位承包商的身份，以及他们为何在没有进行任何的工作情况下能得到有关当局的付款?
“我想问，到底目前整个所谓的该油漆工程进展是如何? 该工程之前是否有公开投标? 以及那2位承包商收到付款后又做了些什么? 我也建议该涉及的承包商现在应该自动把该款额退还给州政府又或者自行承担增加成本和费用下把该工程完成。”
酒店工程展延7次

“此外，人民也都想知道有关当局为何允许古晋的河滨大酒店连续7次延长完工时间，导致建筑成本增加了800万令吉，而有关当局也没有向承建商追算多达148天延迟完工的赔偿?”
郑爱鸰称，州内人民皆盼望砂拉越政府能针对砂拉越房屋发展局在没有适当的核实和支持文件下支付出这些天文数字款项的举动给予明确的交代，这些钱都是纳税人托付予政府的保管的金钱，因此他们是绝对有权力知道真相的。
“这些针对我们州内事务和财政处理不当的严重指控间中甚至可能涉及可疑的内幕交易，这也意味着砂拉越房屋发展局已经严重失责。我们的州政府必需要解释为什么砂拉越房屋部能够允许这样的事件发生,而根据总稽查司报告这已造成砂拉越和马来西亚人民被迫负担至少6689万令吉的债务负担。或许6689万令吉与一马公司的丑闻相比，可能只是九牛一毛，但是财政部和砂拉越州房屋部仍然必须负上全责向人民厘清一切,毕竟纳税人的每一分每一毫都不允许被滥用。”
因此，行动党要求有关部门立即作出充分的解释，与此同时行动党也呼吁砂拉越房屋发展局管理层不要罔顾人民的利益而滥用税款。为了拯救我国目前倍受考验的经济状况，财政部也必须立刻采取行动以遏止这种严重财务管理不当的事件发生，因为若持续下去将造成我们国家的经济负担日愈大肆增加。
她也建议大马反贪污委员会成立一个特别工作队以针对总稽查司报告中所揭露的事项作出仔细调查以遏制贪污，滥权舞弊的事件发生。

S4S促阿邦佐学邓小平 强硬手腕争回主权

2017年8月2日

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砂拉越人的砂拉越团队（S4S）成员杨京萤。

（本报美里2日讯）砂拉越人的砂拉越团队（S4S）成员杨京萤指出，砂拉越主权谈判手腕应该要更强硬，甚至要施展出邓小平当年拿回香港的魄力，主权归属问题无需拿来讨价还价自贬身份，只要谈归还砂主权时间表，且要在一年内必须完全拿回主权。

杨京萤针对联邦征收砂拉越旅游税，出尔反尔只给回砂拉越十份之一，这摆明是在欺负砂拉越。当初砂首长信心满满且单枪匹马赴吉隆坡谈判，却变成一个笑话。

霸气拿回香港主权
杨京萤今天发表文告表示，砂首长曾经说过，他仰慕中国已故领导人邓小平对中国带来改革和开放后的成就，有意效仿前者把砂拉越经济、建设搞好。但是邓小平还有一个强力手碗与胆识，不知我们的首长可否知道，那就是邓小平当年霸气拿回了香港主权。

当年香港回归中国之前，英国“铁娘子”撒切尔夫人有意不要在限期内归还香港主权，香港回归时间表谈判提出诸多无理要求。当时邓小平以一句铿锵有力的霸气回应英国首相铁娘子，结果香港顺利的照着中国的时间表收回香港。

邓小平当年说：“1997年香港收回时间表问题是不能谈判的，不管用什么方式，谈判的题目只有一个，那就是主权归属问题！如果英国不愿意，那么中国就可以在今天或晚些时候就可以提前收回香港了。”

那么，砂拉越的主权问题，首长认为可谈判也能协商？砂拉越主权是不能被摆上台面拿来谈判的。主权就是主权，怎可以拿来讨价还价？要谈也只能谈一个问题，那就是砂拉越的主权回归的时间表。

旅游税打脸阿邦佐

杨氏也指出，关于旅游税课题，砂拉越人一致反对。当时大多数人力挺砂旅游部长阿都卡林。但是，我们的首长阿邦佐哈里却自告奋勇、单枪匹马、孤身单骑到联邦，尔后就宣称和联邦政府取得了满意谈判结果！当时他英明神武的表现，确实赢得了不少砂拉越人民掌声。

谁知过了一个月。原来不是这样，首长谈判变成了笑话。这可从昨天的报章报导便知，联邦政府直接给首长打了一个大巴掌！原本说好的旅游税收三分一归砂拉越政府的，怎会变成了十分一呢？这究竟是首长误会了联邦政府的意愿，还是联邦政府摆明把玩砂拉越的最高领导？

身为砂拉越最高领导，若是被马来亚半岛如此玩弄，不把首长甚至砂拉越人民放在眼里，这是明摆着马来亚半岛吃定你砂拉越。和这样的联邦政府磋商实在没有意义。

54年砂拉越被欺压无数次，难道还不能清醒，还要抱着可以好好坐下来谈判的美好幻想？
砂拉越的天然资源丰富，地广人稀，马来亚半岛图的是什么？说穿了，不就是为了砂拉越丰富天然资源！

“试着想一想，有如此好资源，对方怎么愿意放手归还原本就属于砂拉越的主权。为了砂拉越与沙巴资源，马来亚半岛费尽心思，才成功把砂沙两邦变成现代版的殖民地。”

归还主权须设时限
从砂沙历史、文化，样样都被扭曲，真实建国历史没有在学校课本出现，孩子们的读物课本都是马来亚半岛的历史，这又证明了什么？联邦政府在过去54年做到这样了，难道这还不够明显？

文告也指出，今年7月22日砂拉越独立日的前十天，首长拿督阿玛阿邦佐哈里还誓言旦旦地说他“保证”砂拉越不会退出马来西亚，唯一条件是联邦政府必须归还属于砂拉越所有主权和权益，却没给一个准确时间表。

若是当作以一年为限，一年内仍然取不回主权，请问首长您又当如何？首长是不是可以向联合国申请（公投），让砂拉越人民透过公投表决。

S4S认为，阿邦佐哈里应该丢掉联邦一再表示会答应下放权力的幻想，积极准备为主权斗争，与砂拉越26万人民签署请愿者站在同一阵线。把大马建国契约MA63和IGC报告拿出来，与联邦政府摊牌，同时向联合国申请，立即启动（公投），让砂拉越人民决定砂拉越未来才是上上策！如果首长能这么做，全砂拉越260万人民肯定勇敢站在首长身后当强有力后盾。

“若是砂拉越最高领导者被联邦政府打脸，完全不把领导当一回事，砂拉越尊严何在？威信何在？人民又会怎样评价首长阿邦左哈里？”

“我们也促请首长请不要和联邦谈判施展缓兵之计的幌子敷衍人民了，因为人民不是傻子。如果继续这样下去，最终将面对后果。马来亚半岛联邦政府，请不要一直试探砂拉越人民的底线。”

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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