Thomas Tegong Laka launches first volume of TTL Video CD

KUCHING, Jan 31, 2015: Former RTM Iban Service head Thomas Tegong Laka today launched the first volume of visual video compact disc (CD) which he named Thomas Tegong Laka Video CD.

Each CD is sold for RM6, with most of the proceeds going to the Sarawak DAP.

He said there will be four volumes of his CDs, with each volume having different contents.

Thomas (2nd left) selling his CD to the first customer at the launch today. Seen watching are Chong Chieng Jen (centre), Sarawak DAP vice chairman Leon Jimat Donald (right) and Chong's political assistant Sanjan (left).

In the first volume, he explains why he joins the Sarawak DAP, not any of the State Barisan Nasional component party.

Go for small dams, Mahathir tells Sarawak government

KUCHING, Jan 27, 2015: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he prefers Sarawak to build a smaller, not mega, dams as being proposed by the state government.

"Mega dams destroy the environment,  forests, inundate large areas of land and displace many people," he said in his keynote address at the opening of the International Energy Week 2015 here.

Sarawak, under former Chief Minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, had plans to build 12 mega dams which are capable of generating about 30,000MW of electricity.

Only Batang Ai dam (100MW)  is in operational while Murum dam (944MW) has just been completed.

Now, BMF goes after Cahya Mata Sarawak

KUCHING,  Jan 26, 2015: An explosive new research report by the Swiss Bruno Manser Fund discloses that Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS), a Kuching-based infrastructure company, received over USD 1.4 billion (MYR 4.9 billion) in state contracts since its takeover by the relatives of Sarawak Governor and former Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The report, entitled “Corruption Management Sarawak – Cahya Mata Sarawak and Malaysia’s Taib family” analyses 89 contracts granted to CMS by Malaysian government agencies between 1993 and 2013.

Baru: Court of Appeal's decision shows that Malaysia is a secular, not Islamic state

KUCHING, Jan 23, 2015: Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian stressed that a judgment of the Court of Appeal  (CoA) on the Negri Sembilan Syariah case shows that Malaysia is a secular and not Islamic state as what  some Malayan politicians and various Islamic authorities have been claiming all this while.

"After a disappointing decision from the Federal Court in the appeal by the Catholic Church on the ‘Allah’ matter, the judgment from the CoA comprising Justices  Mohd Hishamudin Yunus,  Aziah Ali and Lim Yee Lan on the Negri Sembilan Syariah case gives us reason to be hopeful," he said today.

Baru Bian

Adelaide University to examine request to rename Taib Mahmud Court

Adelaide University distances itself from Sarawak Governor Taib Mahmud – Estates Committee will examine request to rename the Taib Mahmud Court on the Adelaide campus

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, Jan 23, 2015: The University of Adelaide’s Estates Committee will examine a request by civil society groups for the University to rename the Taib Mahmud Court on its campus.

This was announced today by the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Warren Bebbington, in a letter to the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF).

Naive to think that "junior" panel would review a decision of a larger panel headed by Chief Justice himself, says Bau

KUCHING, Jan 22, 2015: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said he is not surprised that the five-member panel of the Federal Court had dismissed an application for leave of appeal by the Catholic Church for a review on the ban on the use of the word "Allah" by the weekly publication, the Herald.

The seven-member panel of the Federal Court had two years ago ruled that the publication could not use the word as it was exclusive to Islam and Muslim in Malaysia.

Illegal logging in Sarawak is due to corruption, says British think-tank

LONDON, Jan 22, 2015: Malaysia and Cameroon have failed to make progress in tackling illegal logging since 2010, due to corruption and a lack of transparency and political will, a report by a British think-tank said yesterday.

Chatham House has looked into illegal logging and the response of governments and the private sector since 2006.

Logs being transported along Bintulu-Bakun road

SEB shutting down electricity substations in flood-affected areas

KUCHING, Jan 19, 2015: To ensure the safety of people in flood-hit areas, Sarawak Energy is shutting down substations in several areas affected by the torrential rain.

As of 6pm today, the areas affected are located in Limbang, Bau and Lundu. They include the Ulu Medamit area in Limbang, Kranji area in Bau and part of Selampit and Bokah at Lundu.

Taib did not turn up to explain his financial positition

LONDON, Jan 18, 2015:  Sarawak Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud failed to turn up at the Free World Centre here where he was supposed to  explain financial position.

A chair reserved for Malaysia’s longest-serving politician at a panel discussion in London last night remained empty.

Picture: A empty chair (left) was reserved for Taib Mahmud or his legal representative. The panelists (from left to right) are Jettie Word (The Borneo Project), See Chee How (State assemblyman for Batu Lintang), Lukas Straumann (Bruno Manser Fund), Clare Rewcastle (Sarawak Report / Radio Free Sarawak), Mark Gregory (FERN).

Don't just monitor Opposition and pro-Opposition NGOs, govt told

KUCHING, Jan 14, 2015: The State government should closely supervise all activities organised by its agencies and pro-government non-governmental organisations (NGOs), a PKR branch leader Abang Zulkfili Abang Engkeh stressed today.

"The supervision should be done in the same way the government does to activities organised by the Opposition and pro-Opposition NGOs," he said in a statement.

State government orders lecture on "Muhammad SAW In The Bible" cancelled

KUCHING, Jan 13, 2015: The State Government has ordered the cancellation of lectures by  Iraqi Shaykh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani tomorrow and on Friday following complaints from Church groups and Christians in Sarawak.

They deemed the topic  "Muhammad SAW In The Bible" as blasphemous and inappropriate and could cause anger among the Christians.

Among the complainants are the Association of Churches Sarawak and State PKR chairman Baru Bian.

Baru Bian

Petronas in midst of evaluating its Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline

KUCHING, Jan 12, 2015: The national oil petroleum corporation (Petronas) is in the midst of conducting a comprehensive evaluation of its Sabah – Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP).

"The evaluation, which includes tests and assessments on both external and internal parts

of the pipeline, could take a few months to complete as it requires an in-depth study and

systematic tests to ensure the integrity of the pipeline," its statement said today.

Election Commission is making itself looks like a fool, charges DAP

KUCHING, Jan 11,2015: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the Election Commission (EC) is making itself looks like a fool in rushing to increase the number of State Legislative Assembly seats, from the present 71 to 82.

He said it has more to do with appeasing the two Barisan Nasional-friendly United People's Party (UPP) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) while maintaining the number of parliamentary seats at 31.

Rahman Yakub, 87, dies

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, Jan 10, 2015: Former Governor Tun Rahman Yakub died last night, his son-in-law Justine Jinggut confirmed.

He died about 9.40pm at the Normah Medical Specialist Centre where he had been receiving treatment since October last year.

Tun Rahman Yakub died at the age 87

His wife Toh Puan Siti Maemunah and other family members were at the bedside when Rahman, who was on life support system over the last few days, breathed his last. 

Baru slams Rundie, Annuar for forgetting their oath they took as lawmakers

KUCHNG, Jan 7, 2015: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has slammed State Barisan Nasional secretary general Stephen Rundie and Nangka state lawmaker Annuar Rapaee for forgetting their oath they sworn to undertake by not fighting for the whole of Sarawakians.

"Perhaps they took a different oath, in which case I should be most grateful to have the privilege of their disclosure," he said when responding to criticisms directed at him by Rundie and Annuar yesterday.

Did Rundie, Annuar take a different oath? asked Baru

"State BN, PBB obviously benefit from re-delineation of state electoral boundaries"

KUCHING, Jan 7, 2015:  The  proposed re-delineation of the state electoral boundaries to accommodate the 11 additional seats for Sarawak "obviously benefits the State Barisan Nasional, particularly Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB)", it is suggested.

See Chee How, State PKR vice chairman, made the suggestion when he asked Chief Minister Adenan Satem to raise and voice objection to the Election Commission’s proposals on the re-delineation of state constituencies  to show that he is a principled leader that cares for the constitutional rights and interests of all Sarawakians.

"Proposed amendments to Sedition Act 1948 will violate Malaysian Agreement"

R E S O L U T I O N

SARAWAK AND SABAH DEMAND REPEAL OF SEDITION ACT 1948

WHEREAS at the Public Talk on the Sedition Act 1948 held in Kuching on 3rd January 2015, organized by civic group of Concerned Sarawakians, attended by various segments of the community and represented by all races and creed; where the proposal by United Malayan National Organization (UMNO) to amend the Sedition Act to criminalise secession calls for Sarawak and Sabah, was discussed openly without fear or favour.

WHEREAS the people so attended were fully committed to defending the civil liberties and democratic freedoms of the people of Sarawak and Sabah; and resolved and unanimously adopted the following Resolution:

WE, the people of Sarawak and Sabah in the Convention assembled, do hereby unanimously call upon the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato Seri Najib bin Razak and his Government to carefully consider making it unlawful for the people of Sarawak and Sabah to exercise their legitimate right to voice their grievances over what they see as the failure of the promises of Malaysia to uphold civil liberties and democratic freedoms;

Hindu activist Waythamoorthy barred from entering Sarawak

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, Jan 3, 2015: Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) activist Waythamoorthy Ponnusany was barred from entering Sarawak at the Kuching International Airport's Immigration checkpoint this morning.

He arrived on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur,  which landed at KIA at about 11.30am.

Brunei explains why it disallowed public Christmas decorations in business premises

BRUNEI, Jan 2, 2015: Referring to recent reports in the local media regarding visits carried out by the Religious Enforcement Division under the Syariah Affairs Department, Ministry of Religious Affairs to several business premises, restaurants and eateries owned by both Muslims and non-Muslims in the Brunei-Muara District which publicly displayed Christmas decorations such as Santa Claus figures, Christmas trees, banners displaying Christmas greetings, and sales personnel dressed like Santa Claus.

Muslims should be careful not to follow celebrations such as these that are not in any way related to Islam, for it is feared that this could lead to tasyabbuh (imitation) and could unknowingly damage the aqidah (faith) of Muslims.

Nancy: Adenan dares to stop religious bigots from Malaya to enter Sarawak

SIMUNJAN, Jan 2, 2014: Chief Minister Adenan Satem must be praised and supported for daring to take the steps to bar religious and political extremists from Malaya from entering Sarawak, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri stressed here yesterday.

"We can't have these kind of people around as they can cause religious and political problems to the people in Sarawak," she said at a Christmas Day's gathering at St Stephen's Chapel here.

 

Asking for God's blessing at the start of the Christmas Day gathering