No to extension of Legal Profession Act to Sarawak, says Chong Chieng Jen

Kuching, June 13, 2012: Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Chong Chieng Jen has warned that the state legal profession does not welcome the extension of the Legal Profession Act, now enforced in Malaya only, to Sarawak.

"We do not want to open our legal profession to our counterparts from Malaya," he said in a statement today.

He said as a Sarawakian Member of Parliament, he felt duty bound to participate in the debate in Paliament of the Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill, 2012 although the Act is not applicable to Sarawak. 

"This is because some Barisan Nasional MPs from Malaya have suggested that Sarawak legal profession be opened up," he said.

Chong, a lawyer by profession, said he has stated in Parliament in no certain term that the Sarawak legal profession does not welcome the extension of the Legal Profession Act to Sarawak. 

"We also do not want to open the profession to non-Sarawakian legal practitioners," he said, thanking Batang Sadong Member of Parliament, Nancy Shukri, for supporting him in opposing the extension to Sarawak while debating the amendment Bill.

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 "The special rights of Sarawak legal profession not to allow our Malayan counterparts to practise in Sarawak have been agreed upon at the formation of Malaysia.  This is our constitutional rights.  As such, it is not for a non-Sarawakian to question such rights.

"I have also drawn the analogy of such right to the Bumiputera's special rights, which many politicians have defended strongly. 

"If the Bumiputera's special rights are not to be questioned, likewise, are the Sarawak's special rights which have incorporated in our Constitution," he said.

He reminded non-Sarawakians politicians to leave the matter touching on the Sarawak's special rights alone. 

"Should there be a need to change or even abolish such rights, let it come from a Sarawakian rather than a non-Sarawakian," he said. By Sematong Express

Baram folks seeking divine intervention to stop the construction of Baram Dam

LONG NA’AH, BARAM – About 150 people in 17 longboats from the Kayan, Kenyah and Penan community in Baram have sought help from God to stop the construction of the proposed Baram Hydro-electric Dam project.

They held an hour long prayer session at Nahah Itun Uvek, just below the village of Long Na’ah on June 7 to seek divine intervention to stop the dam project.

During the session, hymns were sung and prayers were said by community members to ask for strength and courage for the people in Baram to continue their struggle to demand from the government to stop the project as well as to ask the Almighty to change the hearts and minds of those people who are favouring the construction of the dam.

According to Peter Kallang, Chairman of Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers), the prayer session went very well and he was happy to see the overwhelming support given by the communities in Baram demanding that the controversial Baram Dam be scrapped.

“I am touched by the support given by the people of Baram. The people that came for the prayer session far outnumbered the people that came for the ‘Mayau Daleh’ ritual last April,” said Peter.

“I also received a lot of calls, short messaging messages (SMS), messages in blogs, Twitter and Facebook all supporting our prayer session and calling for the scrapping of the project,” added Peter.

After the session, Philip Jau, Chairman of Baram Protection Action Committee (BPAC) urged the government and those who are for the dam to reflect on the passage from the Bible from the Book of Genesis on the covenant made by God to Noah to never again flood the earth with a great flood.

“To all those who are Christians, especially our community leaders, I urge you to reflect on the message that God has given us. We should not destroy what God has created by creating our own flood by building the dam,” said Philip.

On the previous night, about 200 people turn up for a dialogue session at Long Na’ah village and those who spoke representing their respective communities together with a few headmen including the headman of Long Na’ah, TK Wan Saging stated clearly their rejection to the said project.

The site where the prayer session was held is also the site where Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) together with state government officials and community leaders conducted their ‘Mayau Daleh’ or cleansing ritual last April for the safety of workers that are going to construct the dam. By Sematong Express