Bomba men stop Dayak woman from attempting to commit suicide

 BINTULU, February 20, 2022 - A 29-year old mentally distressed Dayak woman was successfully persuaded by rescuers from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and police not to jump off  a building here at lunch time today.

Picture: A 29-year mentally distressed Dayak woman attempted to end her life, rescued by Bomba men.

Bintulu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) spokesman said the woman, wearing an orange colour long-sleeved t-shirt and black  trousers, was seen standing outside the window of the building, believed to be trying to commit suicide.

He said the Bintulu station received a call at 12.42pm about a woman standing on the edge of the window of a building at Medan Sentral here.

“We managed to coax and persuade her not to jump from the third floor of the building,” the spokesman said in a press statement.

She was later handed over to the police for further action.

The ambulance later took her to the Bintulu hospital.

The Bomba statement, however, did not provide any clue why the woman had wanted to commit suicide.

Picture: The woman is seen standing outside the window of the third floor building.

Don't hunt wild boars for now, Uggah advises rural folks

BETONG, February 20, 2022 — Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah today advised the rural  folks to avoid hunting  wild boars for now in the efforts to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) to many parts of the state.

Picture: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah says African Swine Fever has spread in Kapit and Limbang.

He said although the wild boar meat of the affected animal may be safe to eat, kitchen leftovers if feed to domestic pigs would affect them.

“We have seen the deadly effect in many places and longhouses statewide. The disease had greatly reduced the domestic pig population,” Uggah said.

He said the wild boars crossing the state from across the border have been found to spread ASF in Kapit and Limbang.

Uggah gave the advice when addressing the Kubal Ulu Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu sub-branch( ranting) triennial delegates meeting at Rumah Mendit Unsu in Penom, Ulu Paku in Spaoh near here.

He said for those whose livestock have not been affected, they should take  all precautions to save them, including seeking the Veterinary Services Office for advice.

On politics, Uggah, who is also PBB deputy president, urged party members to take the necessary steps to further strengthen the state government anchor party.

“Let us, for instance, attract more 18-year olds and above to become members.

“Then our support base will be greatly enhanced,” he said.

He also said all grassroots leaders should not shy away from giving feedback to their elected representatives on the people ‘s expectations for development programmes and welfare assistance.

“We need the feedback to present to the state leaders.

“ The government is now prioritising income generating activities for rural folks through agricultural activities.

“ We also have programmes to assist those seeking welfare assistance,” he added.

Uggah thanked the  voters of Bukit Saban constituency for giving him their strong support in  the recent state election.

He said the opposition has tried to topple him by spreading lies, using character assassination tactics and allegations of nepotism and even vote buying.

But the voters, he said were not easily taken in as they could distinguish facts from lies.

 

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.