In difficult times, Malaysians rise to the challenges

Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian's New Year's message

After a tumultuous year, 2014 is drawing to an end, and even in the final days, Malaysians are faced with unfortunate and tragic events. In the midst of the trauma and loss caused by the massive flooding in Malaya, another plane associated with our country has crashed, and many lives lost.

It is hard to comprehend why such suffering happens, and even harder to accept that we have lost three airplanes within a year, but this is a time for Malaysians to rally around those who grieve for their loved ones and those who have lost their homes and possessions.

Nancy: Issues of solidarity challenged by "those who want to create racial disharmony"

A New Year message from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri

As time passes, little did we realise that we are already approaching the end of 2014. This year was one of the most challenging years for all of us. Together we grieved over the heart-rending loss of flight MH370 followed by the painful tragedy that occurred with flight MH17. 

But somehow, through pain, we survived, and gained new strength by learning the true meaning of perseverance and patience.

Nancy Shukri

Clear evidence of meter tampering, says SEB

KUCHING, Dec 28, 2014: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) said that its retail arm Syarikat Sesco Berhad (SESCo) had found clear evidence of electricity meter tampering in respect of a customer who was asked by SESCo to pay arrears.

"Based on the findings, the meter reading was found slower by 83%, that its front cover seals were disturbed and  the accuracy of the calibration screw inside the meter was disturbed," SEB said in a statement to rebut claim by Kota Sentosa State lawmaker Chong Chieng Jen last Saturday.

 

Chong Chieng Jen

Ridhuan Tee didn't show up at Kuching Airport, directive to bar him from entering Sarawak issued two days ago

KUCHING, Dec 26, 2014: Controversial lecturer Ridhuan Tee Abdullah did not show up at the Kuching International Airport this morning, contrary to an earlier  report by the national news agency Bernama.

 It is understood that he was told not to come to Sarawak at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at the Immigration counter.

Ridhuan Tees

PBB Tanjung Datu branch condemned for inviting religious bigot Ridhuan Tee to give a religious speech

KUCHING, Dec 25, 2014: The organisers of the programme "Jom Bersantai Sematan 2014" are sending a wrong by inviting controversial and religious extremist Redhuan Tee Abdullah to give a religious speech in Sematan tomorrow.

"It is most unwise and insensitive to invite such a controversial personality to Sarawak and to include his ceramah as part of the official function to be held in Sematan until the New Year's Day," Batu Lintang State lawmaker and State PKR vice chairman See Chee How said today.

 

DNC president: Our wish for 2015 is for the federal government to recognise our existence as Dayak

Dayak National Congress (DNC) president Mengga Mikui's Christmas Day's message 

This Year of 2014 is an eventful and challenging year for Malaysia and particularly for the Dayak Community of Sabah and Sarawak.

Dayak National Congress [DNC] has been in existence for just over one year. We in DNC have been working very hard to serve the Dayak community. This first year of our existence is a year of planning while attending to and addressing urgent matters affecting the Dayak community.

Dayak Identity

Minority Christians under siege by Perkasa, Isma and extremists in Umno Baru

Christmas Day's Message by Baru Bian, State PKR chairman

This year, the word that comes to me as I reflect on the events of the past 12 months is ‘love’, and so my Christmas message this year revolves around this word. The essence of our Christian faith is love. The greatest lesson to be distilled from the Bible is that of love.

One of the most quoted verses of the Bible in John 3:16 lays the foundation of our faith: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

BMF hopes Adenan's strong statements on illegal loggings not rhetorics

KUCHING, Dec 23, 2014: Swiss-based international non-governmental organisation  Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), in its Christmas Day's message, says that 2014 has seen some major changes in Sarawak which make us hopeful for the future.

"After 33 years in power, long-term Chief Minister Taib Mahmud stepped down on Feb 28, 2014. It seems clear that he was forced to resign by the Malaysian Federal Government," BMF said in a statement.

 

A Penan family in the deep interior of Baram

Stop giving excuses, just investigate, Chong tells MACC

KUCHING, Dec 23, 2014: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jenn(picture) has told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to stop giving excuses for not acting on his complaint on the award of a road project in Kapit to Impian Zaman Sdn Bhd.

Chong challenges MACC to investigate award of road project to Impian Zaman

KUCHING, Dec 20, 2014: Sarawak Opposition leader Chong Chieng Jen  today challenged MACC Investigations Department director Jamidan Abdullah to investigate the award of the Jalan Song/Sungai Yong, Phase 3, Kapit, Pakej B road construction project to Impian Zaman Sdn Bhd.

"Right from the start, the secretive conversion of “open tender” to “selected tender” process for the award of the project smacks of cronyism and improper industrial practice.

 

Chong Chieng Jen

Jimmy Donald donates his books to DNC and SDGA for research purposes

KUCHING, Dec 20, 2014: Former Sri Aman Member of Parliament Jimmy Donald has donated a number of his books to Dayak National Congress and Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association for research purposes.

He wrote the books - in Iban - over a period of many years from the days he was a secondary school headmaster right through when he entered politics and became an elected parliamentarian.

caption: Jimmy Donald expresses his appointment that DBP does not produce Iban books.

If DNC and SGDA can work as a team, I don's see why Dayak political parties can't, SDGA boss says

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, Dec 20, 2014: Two Dayak-based non-governmental organisations - Dayak National Congress (DNC) and Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) today pledged to upgrade their level of cooperation and collaboration following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

"With the MoU, we will have greater cooperation and collaboration in undertaking activities and programmes which are beneficial to the Dayak community," SDGA president Dusit Jaul said in a joint press conference held at DNC office at the MJC new township in Batu Kawah, near here.

Dusit Jaul (2nd left) and Mengga Mikui exchanging MoU documents after the signing ceremony.

With out of court settlement, Bengoh Dam is ready for impoundment

KUCHNG, Dec 18, 2014: The dispute between two Bidayuh villages affected by the Bengoh Dam and the government has been settled out of court following a consent order granted by High Court judge Rodzariah Bujang this morning.

SEB quashes reports that it has started building Baram dam

KUCHING, Dec 17, 2014: Sarawak Energy Berhad has not begun any clearing or construction works for the Baram dam, but will do so  once soil investigation work has been done, comprehensive feasibility studies undertaken and Social and Environment Impact Assessment (SEIA) reports have been completed, it said in a statement today.

Even then, the approval to go ahead with the construction must be obtained first from the State Government, it said.

Last minute attempt to stop perimeter survey from being conducted, Lands and Surveys blasted for giving one-day notice

KUCHING, Dec 17, 2014: PKR Mas Gading chairman Boniface Willy Tumek (picture, right) has blasted the Land and Survey Department for giving a short notice to the Bidayuh villages in Singgai on its intention to conduct a perimeter survey on their native customary rights (NCR) land.

Hello? Is Najib or religious authorities in charge of running the government, asks Baru

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, Dec 16, 2014: Is Najib Razak in charge of running the Federal Government or is it the religious authorities egged on by the likes of the repugnant and vacuous Malay rights groups Perkasa and Isma, asks Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian (picture) when commenting on the

detention of a Christian Father and the seizure of hymnals in Johor recently.

Chee How praises Lapok over the stamping of the Al-Kitab

KUCHING, Dec 14, 2014: Sarawak PKR vice chairman See Chee How has praised the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of South East Asia Bolly Lapok and his colleagues in the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) for their stand to move forward over the stamping of 351 Malay and Iban languages Al-Kitab.

See Chee How

Hundreds leaving Media Prima

Media Prima Bhd, the largest media group in the country, is expected to see a shake-up in its management as hundreds of staff members are leaving the company next week under a mutual separation scheme (MSS).

Staff from all levels in the company, from journalists to people in the top management, have taken up the offer given under the company’s downsizing programme.

Among those leaving are ntv7 and 8TV head of Mandarin News Raymond Tan Chin Tuan, Mandarin current affairs executive editor Tan Boon Kooi, and news-gathering executive editor of the two TV stations, Tham Chooi Foong, reliable sources told online news portal Malaysiakini today.

These three are the key leaders in the Mandarin news and current affairs divisions of ntv7 and 8TV.

ntv7 billingual news anchor Melissa Ong also confirmed in aFacebook postingthat her application for MSS has been accepted by the company.

Monday, Dec 15, will be their last day in the company for those who have accepted the MSS offer, the source said.

According to its website, Media Prima currently "owns 100 percent equity interest in TV3, 8TV, ntv7 and TV9" and "owns more than 98 percent equity interest in The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd " (NSTP).

The group also owns Malay dailies Berita Harian and Harian Metroand three radio networks - Fly FM, Hot FM and One FM.

Staff who choose to take up the offer will be paid compensation equivalent to one-and-a-half times their length of service in years multiplied by their last drawn basic salary.

Staff near retirement age will get a compensation based on their last drawn basic salary multiplied by the number of months to retirement.

Malaysiakini is trying to contact Media Prima Bhd to confirm this and seek its comments

Be more resolute and aggressive in demanding better deals for Sarawak, See tells Adenan

KUCHING, Dec 11, 2014: Chief Minister Adenan Satem has been urged to be more resolute and aggressive in safeguarding Sarawak's  limited petroleum resources and securing the development of upstream petroleum projects.

"It appears that we are lagging behind Sabah in the development of upstream petroleum projects, with the awarding of two production sharing contracts (PSCs) in Sabah to a consortium of SapuraKencana Energy Sabah Incorporated (SKESI), M3nergy Berhad and Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd," Sarawak PKR vice chairman See Chee How (picture, left)  told reporters today.

Peaceful Human Rights Day highlights abuses in Malaysia

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, Dec 10, 2014: About 1,000 members of non-governmental organisations and civil societies turned up at Padang Merdeka here today for the World Human Rights Day, with speakers -one after another -  spoke of human rights abuses in Malaysia. 

 

No use for SUPP trying to stop UPP to join BN, says DAP

KUCHING, Dec 9, 2014: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen has said that it is no use for Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) trying to stop United People's Party (UPP) from becoming a component party of  the State Barisan Nasional (BN).

"Don't waste time on SUPP-UPP quarrel, let's talk about getting back our education, medical autonomies"

KUCHING, Dec 9, 2014: It is a waste of time for the Sarawak DAP to focus its attention on the quarrel between Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and its break-away group, United People's Party (UPP), remarked Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen today.

No reason for delay in reduction as Sesco can afford, says Sarawak DAP chief

KUCHING, Dec 9, 2014: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen pleaded with the state government to reduce electricity tariffs for commercial and industrial sectors  by 30% without further delay.

 

"I suggest that the reduction to take effect from Jan 1 next year," he said at a press conference today.

Baru expresses regret that title was withdrawn when Anwar is under political pressure

KUCHING, Dec 5, 2014: Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has expressed regret that the title of "Datuk Seri" conferred on party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was withdrawn by the Sultan of Selangor recently.

" To us, it is regrettable that the title is withdrawn at a time when political pressure is intensifying to discredit Anwar and the decision of the Federal Court on his appeal still pending," Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said in a statement today.

 

File picture: Anwar Ibrahim (second right) with Baru Bian (right) and State PKR vice chairman See Chee How (3rd left)

Murum HEP's first unit turbine completes its reliability run, ready for operation

BINTULU, Dec 5, 2014: : Sarawak Energy Berhad’s Murum Hydro Electric Project (HEP) has reached a key milestone, with the completion of the first power generating turbine unit's reliability run and is now ready for operation.

The first of four turbine units that had undergone rigorous testing to ready Murum HEP, Sarawak’s largest hydroelectric project, for full commissioning by second quarter of next year.

 

 Picture: SEB reaches a key milestone with the completion of the reliability run of the first power generating unit of Murum HEP

Amazon scared of delivering book deemed critical of Taib Mahmud?

SEATTLE, USA, Dec 2, 2014: Amazon, the American online retailer, is  withholding deliveries of a book which is highly critical of Sarawak's Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Amazon customers from the United Kingdom have complained with the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) that they cannot order the book “Money Logging: On the Trail of the Asian Timber Mafia“ by BMF executive director Lukas Straumann.

Engage nationalists, activists from Borneo states, Jeffrey tells Najib

KOTA KINABALU, DEC 1, 2014: Sabah State Reform Party (STAR) leader Jeffrey Kitingan has asked Prime Minister Najib Razak to engage the nationalists and activists on their grievances and injustices against the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

"If the federal government had any decency and treat Sabahans as equal Malaysians, the proper course would have been to engage the nationalists and activists and address not their grievances but the grievances and injustices against the people in Sabah and Sarawak," he said in a statement.

Najib must take grouses of Dayak civil servants in Sarawak seriously, urges Kit Siang

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2, 2014: DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has called on Prime Minister Najib Razak to take the occasion to make a ministerial statement in Parliament on Dayak grouses about discrimination in the federal civil service.

The Senate begins its 12-day budget meeting today till Dec. 18.

Unimas' allocation reduced from RM250m in 2014 to RM179m next year

KUCHING, DEC 2, 2014: PKR director of strategy Sim Tze Tzin expressed shock that the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak's (Unimas) annual allocation for next year will be reduced by a massive 16.51%, under the federal budget.

From an allocation of RM250 million for 2014, the figure has been reduced to RM179 million, Sim said at a press conference today.

First unit of Murum HEP's power generating turbine now undergoing testing

KUCHING, DEC 1, 2014:  Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) is on track in the development of Murum HEP with the testing of its first unit of power generating turbine in progress.

SEB Vice President of Hydro Polycarp Wong said today that the Chinese contractor - Three Georges Development Company (M0 Sdn Bhd -  will hand over the  first unit of turbine soon.