Peter Kallang fears opening up large areas along the Sarawak's border with Kalimantan will lead to environmental, human rights disasters

 MIRI, February 19, 2022 - SAVE Rivers Sarawak chairman Peter Kallang today expressed his fears that opening up swaths of areas along the state’s border with Kalimantan will lead to environmental and human rights disasters committed in the name of development while ignoring all important areas of sustainability.

Picture: SAVE Rivers chairman Peter Kallang disagreeing with Sarawak government's proposal.

He was responding to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan’s statement that the state had requested the federal government to assist Sarawak to open up large areas along the border areas as Indonesia will be moving its capital from Jakarta, Java to Nusantara on the island of Borneo.

According to Awang Tengah, Nusantara will present tremendous opportunities for economic progress for Sarawak, adding that the state needs to open up the border with more roads and immigration points.

“With all due respect to Awang Tengah, I sincerely hope that this proposal will not mean another environmental and human rights disaster committed in the  name of progress but solely for economic gains while ignoring all other very important areas of sustainability.

“We have seen it happening almost in all over Sarawak, where provisional leases are issued for monoculture plantations, logging concessions, mining, sand dredging,” Kallang said.

He  said there will be trespassing customary right lands without prior consultation or commensurate restitution.

He said there will be no transparency and accountability by parties in areas like the environmental and social impact studies.

“We are also experiencing extreme impact from heavy rains and dry seasons, floods, erosion, land slide, river pollution and sedimentation of the riverbed while farms  are destroyed livestock died, homes and other properties are destroyed.

Awang Tengah recently met in Putrajaya with Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Economic Development) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.

PBB Deputy Youth leader appointed Chief Political Secretary to Chief Minister

 KUCHING, February 18, 2022 - PBB Deputy Youth leader and Tupong State Assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, seen as a rising star in the party, has been appointed as the new Chief Political Secretary to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg.

Picture: PBB Deputy Youth leader and Tupong State Assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman appointed as the new Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister

He received his Letter of Appointment during the swearing-in ceremony for all the political secretaries before the chief minister today.

He took over from the Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs Datuk Abdullah Saidol.

“I thank the chief minister for the trust that he has placed in me to helm the position which is crucial to help disseminate the policies and approaches of the state government to members of the public.

“I pledge to do my best in the new role and I hope with it, it would enable me to better serve the constituents in Tupong in particular as well as Sarawakians in general,” he said in a statement.

He noted that over the past five years since Abang Johari too took over as chief minister, there were over 100 initiatives that have benefitted the people.

“It is important that good policies and approaches are supported by all Sarawakians including political leaders and the grassroots.

The name-list of Political Secretaries who were sworn-in today consisting of nine from PBB, three each from SUPP and PRS and one from PDP (right)

“This enables more people-centric policies to be drafted, providing various benefit to every section of the community be it in terms of infrastructure projects, welfare and economic development.

“Through the setting up regional development agencies – NRDA, HDA, URDA, SADA and IRSDA -  has spurred transformation in rural areas, allowing the rural populace to enjoy similar facilities in urban areas,” he said.

Fazzrudin, 47, said while the plans are in place and immediate steps are taken to implement it, the people must understand that development, in all forms, are a continuous and ongoing process.

“I have every confidence that all the planned development projects of the state government, be it people-centric projects, Rural Transformation Projects (RTP) and also those implemented by the development agencies will be completed in due time,” he said.

He also urge grassroots leaders to continue to link up with government agencies on issues that are occurring on the ground for it to be resolved amicably and for them to be aware of the development plans of the state government.

He said through the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 as well as the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), there will be a number of new initiatives and development projects that will take place to develop Sarawak better in terms of infrastructure and economy.

“All this is to ensure that we reach the goal of becoming a developed state by 2030 and a model state to the rest of Malaysia,” he added.

Fazzrudin stressed with the recent amendment to the State Constitution, which among others changed the designation of "Chief Minister" to "Premier", Sarawak will continue to fight to restore its eroded rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the Inter-Government Committee Report (IGC) 1962 under the Federal Constitution and assert its status as an equal partner in the Malaysia federation.

Fazzrudin was elected Tupong State Assemblyman in 2016 and successfully defended the position in last year’s state election.

He defeated Ahmad Nazib Johari of PKR by 11,209-vote majority when he secured 12,544 votes.

Ahmad Nazib, who only secured 1,335 votes and PBK’s Chan Haong Yen with 836 votes, lost their election deposits.

Fifteen other political secretaries also took their oath of office.

Including Fazzrudin, PBB has nine political secretaries, SUPP and PRS with three each and PDP, one political secretary.

The appointments are for two years, beginning from February 15, 2022 to February 15, 2024.

Among those present at the swearing-in ceremony were Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and Datuk Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Asfia Awang Nasar, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, state Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers.

PBK president asks state government to amend Sarawak Advocates Ordinance to bar non-Sarawakians to practise law in the state

KUCHING, February 18, 2022 - Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan today asked the state government to amend the Sarawak Advocates Ordinance to prohibit non-Sarawakians to practise law if  they have no Sarawak connection or if they fail to comply with the necessary requirement of the law.

Picture: Voon Lee Shan lost his appeal to intervene in the applications of two former Chief Judges of Sabah and Sarawak

He said the state cannot open its floodgates for foreign lawyers from countries like Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore and United States, besides those from Malaya, to come in to practise law as resident lawyers in Sarawak.

“What would happen if they just open a small office manned by a clerk or by modern technology and will not physically be in Sarawak but operating from overseas? “ he asked in a statement.

“There is a need to protect the rice bowl of our children and future generations because we do not have the resources to compete with foreigners,” he said.

Yesterday, Voon, who is a practising lawyer, lost his appeal to intervene the application of former Chief Justice of the Federal Court Tun  Richard Malanjum and former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah to practise law in Sarawak.

The Court of Appeal ruled that he had no locus standi to intervene in the application.

The court ruled that only the Sarawak Advocates Association (AAS) and the Sarawak government which is represented by the Sarawak Attorney General Chambers (SAG) and no others have the right to appear in court when lawyers outside Sarawak seek admission to practise law in Sarawak.

Voon said the GPS government needs to seriously look into this because there is protection under the Federal Constitution and under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 to restrict practitioners who are not Sarawakians to practise law in the state.

Baru: Chief Minister willing to have a dialogue with Lun Bawang community over protected forest proposal

 KUCHING, February 18, 2022 - Ba’Kelalan State Assemblyman Baru Bian today said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg was receptive to have a dialogue with the Lun Bawang community in Ba’Kelalan who have protested against a proposal to declare a large area in Lawas as Ulu Trusan Protected Forest (UTPF).

Picture: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg (centre), with (left to right) Datuk Zaidi Mahdi,  Datuk Hamden Mohammad, Baru Bian and Robin Lusong.

He said the chief minister made the response when he and Persatuan Lun Bawang Sarawak (PLBS) president Robin Lusong paid a courtesy visit at the chief minister’s office.

He said he handed over a petition signed by over 1,000 members of the community to the chief minister, objecting to the proposal as it will affect their native customary rights (NCR) lands.

“The chief minister accepted the petition and indicated that the government is willing to consult

with the people to determine the areas that need to be excised and preserved, and the rights that

should be admitted,” Baru said in a statement issued after the courtesy call.

“This is a welcome move and I assured the chief minister of my willingness to coordinate a dialogue and consultation between the government and the people of Ba’ Kelalan.

“This engagement with the landowners is what should have been done before the proposal was made,

but it is not too late to do so now, and I wish to thank the chief minister for his openness in this matter,” Baru said.

Together with the chief minister at the meeting were Datuk Zaidi Mahdi, Permanent Secretary to

the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development and Datuk Hamden Mohammad, Director of the Forest Department.

He said both these two officials were amenable to the proposal to engage with the people and he is looking forward to liaising with them on the arrangements.

Baru said he also took the opportunity to put forward a request to the chief minister that the

Sarawak-Sabah Link Road be extended by an extra 10km to Kampung Pa Berunut which had been approved by federal government under Pakatan Harapan (PH).

He said the extension will link to the proposed road alignment linking Limbang that will improve connectivity for the people in the area.

He said the budget for the construction had  been approved by the previous federal government.

“I am thankful that the chief minister was extremely receptive to my request and I hope that theSSLR will be constructed according to the alignment as originally planned by the Works Ministry,” Baru, who was the Works Minister under the PH federal government, said.

Abang Johari's trusted ally Ibrahim Baki appointed as GPS chief whip in the Sarawak Assembly

 KUCHING, February 17, 2022 - Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg’s close and trusted ally Datuk Ibrahim Baki has been appointed as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief whip in the Sarawak Assembly, effective last night.

Picture: Datuk Ibrahim Baki thanks Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg for the appointment as GPS chief whip in the Sarawak Assembly

The appointment was announced by Abang Johari at a dinner with the GPS elected representatives, which was held after the conclusion of the Sarawak Assembly’s three-day sitting yesterday.

A seasoned political observer suspected that the appointment was prompted by what had happened during the voting on the Sarawak Constitution (Amendment) Bill in the Sarawak Assembly two days ago.

The bill was only supported by 54 out of the 82 total number of State Assemblymen in the Sarawak Assembly in the first round of voting, prompting Padungan State Assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen to inform the House Speaker Tan Sri Asfia Awang Nasar that the number 54 did not constitute two-thirds which were required for any amendment to the constitution to pass through.

It was shy by one vote to constitute the two-thirds support.

However, in the second round of voting, 67 Assemblymen voted for the bill while the  six from the Opposition bench opposed it.

It would be a great embarrassment for GPS, especially Abang Johari, if the bill had failed to get the two-thirds support from the total number of State Assemblymen.

Hence, the appointment of the chief whip is deemed to be necessary and urgent to remind all the State Assemblymen, including ministers, of their heavy responsibilities during the sitting of the Sarawak Assembly.

In the December 18, 2021 state election, GPS won 76 out of 82 State Assembly seats up for grabs.

In a statement, Ibrahim, who is also Satok Assemblyman, thanked Abang Johari for the appointment, saying that he is humbled with the trust that the chief minister has put onto him. 

“I pledge to fulfill the responsibilities given to the best of my abilities,” he said.

He also thanked the other GPS component party heads – Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) for their nomination and endorsement for my appointment.

“Our august House in Sarawak has been established some 155 years ago and it is the oldest legislature in Malaysia and one of the oldest continuously functioning legislatures in the world.

“With its history and its stature, it is incumbent on all members of the Assembly to uphold its status and maintain their decorum – to act in a manner that is parliamentary.

“I hope with my new position, I can instill a sense of propriety and decency in the Assembly and ensure that our august House will continue to be seen as a bastion to uphold and protect Sarawak rights.

“This is as well as exercising its functions as the highest law making body in the state as we continue to seek more restoration of Sarawak rights as per Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Inter-Government Committee Report (IGC) 1962 under the Federal Constitution,” Ibrahim, who is also PBB deputy secretary-general, said.