SUPP must explain about receiving political funding from Najib Razak

By Baru Bian

ABC Australia had, two days ago, aired an episode of their programme Four Corners, detailing the shocking events surrounding the 1MDB scandal. Prime Minister of Malaysia  Najib Razak was alleged to have received vast amounts of money by improper means.

In a report entitled ‘Najib Razak 1MDB Scandal: Malaysian Prime Minister’s accounts triggered internal money-laundering alarm’, ABC News disclosed that Najib’s account received more than $US 1 billion in two years and that millions were spent on luxury hotels, cars and jewellery.

623 Simunjan folks receiving their BR1M from Nancy Shukri

By Bujang Ali

 

SIMUNJAN, March  28, 2016 - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri this morning handed over BR1M vouchers, involving RM417,600, to 623 recipients from Simunjan district.

She said the money, though small, would help the recipients to pay some of their bills or for buying essential items.

Malaysia Racial Discrimination Report 2015

MALAYSIA RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REPORT

REPORT COMPILED AND PREPARED BY

PUSAT KOMAS MALAYSIA

MARCH 21, 2016.

The Malaysia Racial Discrimination Report 2015 aims to document current alarming trends

of racial discrimination in Malaysia. This annual report will compile, highlight and show the

severity of racial discrimination incidents in the nation.

It is hoped that this report will give an overview of racial discrimination; raise awareness

among the general public; and be used as an important resource for engagement with

relevant stakeholders including government agencies, non-governmental organizations,

educational institutions, academicians and political parties. It will also serve as a reference

material to help facilitate resolution of conflict and help improve race relations and national

unity in Malaysia.

You don't speak for ordinary Sarawakians, Jaban tells Masing

By Peter John Jaban,

Human Rights Advocate

There has been public outcry against the hiring of more foreign workers in Malaysia; so much so, that Putrajaya was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on their proposal to bring in 1.5million migrant workers from Bangladesh.

Yet Land Development Minister James Jemut Masing still wants to disregard public opinion and Putrajaya and continue to bring them into Sarawak.  His rationale is that: “We need foreign workers”. 

Penan artisans get to expose their handicrafts to tourists at national craft exhibition

KUCHING, March 25, 2016 - The Penan artisans from Murum Resettlement Scheme received further exposure on handicraft entrepreneurship at the National Craft Day exhibition held at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex recently.

They were among the 500 entrepreneurs and artisans who participated in the exhibition with the objective of exploring opportunities to expand their business locally and to the international market.  Visitors to the exhibition booths include entrepreneurs, craft enthusiasts and tourists from Europe and the United States and also locals.

NGOs to political parties: Support our manifesto for Sarawak's interests

MIRI, March 22, 2016 - For the coming Sarawak state election, endorsement and support is promised for electoral candidates and political parties who embrace the manifesto on substantive issues crucial to the life of ordinary Sarawakians and to the environment.

Longest NCR land case ends in an amicable settlement in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, March 22, 2016 - Mediation by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, resulted in the amicable settlement of a 15-year dispute with over 115 trial

days between NCR-holders in Tongod on one side and large corporations and the Sabah government on the other.

Plans to build Baram Dam scrapped, Adenan distancing himself from Taib Mahmud

Sarawak state government bows to protests and cancels plans for controversial 1500 MW dam project on the Baram river in Malaysian Borneo - Expropriated land to be returned to indigenous communities

KUCHING, March 22, 2016:  It is a great victory for the indigenous peoples of Sarawak. Today, it became public that the State Government under Chief Minister Adenan Satem has officially cancelled the plans for the construction of a controversial mega dam on the Baram river.

In a letter to Harrison Ngau, legal counsel of the affected communities, the Sarawak State Attorney-General’s chambers informed that the expropriation of the native customary rights land for the dam site and the reservoir had been officially revoked.

Indigenous peoples losing out to rampant large sce development projects

KUCHIING, March 21, 2016: -The home of the world’s remaining forests, the planet’s biodiversity and rivers are in indigenous peoples’ territories.

However, rampant large-scale development projects without regard to the environment and the indigenous peoples inhabiting these, are threatening to wipe out population and extract resources.

Quit rent does nothing to help thousands of NCR land owners

Statement by Baru Bian

The announcement by the CM that the government has abolished quit rent on smallholder agricultural land and residential land is welcomed by all Sarawakians, myself included.

However, I want to stress that this move of abolishing quit rent does nothing to help the thousands of NCR land owners who are being deprived of their land because of the government’s refusal to recognize the NCR concept of pemakai menoa and pulau galau, both of which have been affirmed by the courts. This is an issue of the fundamental rights of the people to ownership of their land.

Sarawak Energy lighting up remote Batang Ai villages

SRI AMAN, March 17,2016:  Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) is continuing to electrify villages upstream of Batang Ai that are currently too remote to be connected to its grid.

The most recent longhouses to be installed with the solar home system (SHS) under Sarawak Energy CSR initiative is in Engkari.

The project comes under a RM3million commitment the power developer and energy utility is spending in Batang Ai over the next few years in social investment projects, in conjunction with its Batang Ai’s hydropower station's 30th Anniversary celebration.

SAVE Rivers receives Korean Justice and Peace Awards 2016

MIRI, March 11, 2016 - Grassroots civil society  SAVE Rivers was selected as one of the 11 recipients for the 19th Tji Haksoon Justice & Peace Award 2016.

 SAVE Rivers chairman Peter Kallang received the award in Seoul on behalf of SAVE Rivers yesterday.

He was accompanied by Dominic Mathew Usek, a villager from Baram, who is one of those who oppose the proposed Baram Hydroelectric Power Dam.

AIPP wants equitable representation of indigenous women in decision-making process

Statement by Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia

On the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8th March 2016, the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) joins hands with women and men across the globe in the spirit of solidarity in advancing gender equality and social justice for all.

Honduran anti-dam activist assassinated at her home last week

KUCHING, March 9, 2016. An anti-dam activist of Honduras, who attended a World Indigenous Summit on Environment and Rivers in Miri last year, has been assassinated in her home country last week.

Berta Caceres was assassinated while she was at her home in La Esperanza, Hondoras, anti-dam grassroots network SAVE Rivers chairman Peter Kallang said in a statement today.

2016 state election is another ball of game for opposition parties in Sarawak

An observation by Peter John Jaban

The last general election was hotly anticipated.  In fact, many of us thought it might even prove to be the greatest upset in the history of Sarawak elections. The opposition was riding high, matched equally by the height of anti-Taib sentiment. 

But polling night proved to be something of a letdown, with Barisan Nasional returned in strength, in Sarawak especially.  Sarawak voters, particularly those in the rural areas, kept Barisan Nasional in power; without us, we would not be living through another BN term which has dragged Malaysia through scandal and shame worldwide.

Why call Najib best prime minister when he is not, Baru asks Adenan

By Baru Bian

Prime Minister Najib Razak has asked Sarawakians for a strong mandate for Chief Minister Adenan Satem so they can continue to negotiate on empowerment and other things.

The CM already has two-thirds majority in the State Assembly and even with unanimous support from the members for a motion to demand an increase in our oil royalty payments, he still could not influence the PM to agree to it and our other demands. What is another five years going to achieve?