Sarawak4Sarawakians movement to hold parade to mark Sarawak's Independence Day on July 22

Story by James Belayong,

student activist

KUCHING, June 27, 2015 - Sarawak4Sarawakians civil movement will hold a parade on July 22 to mark Sarawak's Independence Day, its leader Peter John Jaban told reporters today.

He said it is on this day in 1963 that Sarawak gained its Independence from Britain.

"Sarawak is one of the founding partners of the Federation of Malaysia. Therefore, July 22 is an historical day and significant moment for Sarawak and its subjects," he said, adding that Sarawak was an Independence Nation before it joined Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah) and Singapore to form the Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.

Peter John Jaban (right) with parade coordinator William Bong at the press conference

Human rights group wants Parliamentary Select Committee to solve problems of land rights of indigenous people

KOTA KINABALU, June 22, 2015: In a parliamentary briefing to 20 of parliament (MPs) at the Opposition Party Office (DAP) last week on 17 June 2015, the Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) called for the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) as part of the recommendations following the findings of the Task Force on the SUHAKAM National Land Inquiry (NI) on the Land Rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Malaysia.

JOAS delegates consisting of Orang Asal from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia,

presented updates from the findings of the SUHAKAM NI report as well as on the issues

surrounding the development of mega dams.

DNC and SIPAK ink MoU to strength and establish cooperation

 By James Belayong

KUCHING, June 22, 2015 - Dayak National Congress (DNC) and Sarakup Iban Pabatasan Kapuas Hulu (SIPAK) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) DNC which will formally strength and establish cooperation between the two Iban-based non-governmental organisations.

Sotomo (left) and Mengga signing the MoU. Seen at right is DNC deputy president Datuk John Tenewi Nuek

PBDS Baru may contest a few seats in coming state polls, says its chief

KUCHING, June 22 - President of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS Baru) Louis Jarrau said today that the party's supreme council meeting will meet next month to make a stand on the state election.

"We will decide whether we should be contesting and if we do, how many seats we are going to contest," he said.

"If we decide to contest, then we will be putting up candidates in a few seats," he said in a statement.
"We contest those seats where we feel we are comfortable with," he said.

He said he may stand in Dudong where the Dayaks form about 45 per cent of the voters while his deputy, Patrick Uren may contest in Tasik Biru or Opar.

Dusit to Dayak leaders in the govt: Use your power wisely to help the community

Story and pictures by James Belayong,

Postgraduate university student

KUCHING, June 20, 2015 - Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) president Dr Dusit Jaul explained he is critical of Dayak leaders in the government who are in a position of power but do little to help the Dayak community, in the fields of culture, education, job and business opportunities.

"If they have used their powers given to them wisely, then Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have no reasons to exist and mushroom," he said at the launch of the three-day Dayak Cultural Festival held at the Dayak Bidayuh National Association building at Kumpang Road, Off Ong Tiang Swee Road here today.

133 Penan families in Lusong Laku to benefit from iM Sarawak wet paddy cultivation

KUCHING,  June 20, 2015  – Some 133 Penan families in Lusong Laku, Belaga will benefit from an iM Sarawak wet paddy cultivation project that will be due for harvesting at the end of the year.

The project, which is a collaborative partnership between iM Sarawak, the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture,  State Department of Agriculture and Ceria Group, aims to assist in the food sufficiency problem faced by the Penan community here.

The MR263 seedlings used are expected to gain much higher yield as compared to the hill paddy that the community used to plant. In addition, they will now also be able to harvest twice a year as compared to the once a year harvest of the hill paddy.

Masing: We should count our blessings that PR did not win in the general elections, otherwise....

KUCHING, June 19 -  Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said Malaysians can count themselves fortunate because PR did not win the majority parliamentary seats in the last general elections.

"Had they won, there would be political instability, chaos in the country because they did not have any common ideology to govern the country," he said, pointing out that their only goal then was to defeat the Barisan Nasional.

Tan Sri Dr James Masing

Why Lun Bawang objecting the proposed Ulu Trusan Protected Forests.

By Baru Bian,

Ba'Kelalan State Assemblyman

On 26 May 2015, the Borneo Post published a notice of the government’s intention to declare an area of approximately 120,855 ha (close to 300,000 acres) as Protected Forest, (“Proposed Ulu Trusan Protected Forests”) extinguishing the Native Customary Rights of the Lun Bawangs.

Payeh Maga - another paradise of Sarawak

LAWAS, June 15, 2015 -   A male Ashy Drongo, flies back and forth between a few trees to a designated tree near a wooden hut belonging to villagers of Long Tuyo, in the picturesque highlands called Payeh Maga.

Ashy Drongo is just one of the many birds species found in Payeh Maga, a bird-watching paradise, that is already known for many rare and endemic avifauna species. 

Start with the Taib family first, Bruno Manser Fund tells MACC and Adenan

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15, 2015 - Bruno Manser Fund has called on Chief Minister Adenan Satem and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to start with the Taib Mahmud family first if they are serious in combating corruption in Sarawak.

BMF executive director Lukas Straumann made the call following an admission by Taib's son, Mahmdu Abu Bekir of having owned a fortune of US315 million (RM1.185b) early today.

The declaration was made during  a divorce proceedings in response to a forensic report produced by his ex-wife’s lawyer.

Lukas Straumann

Dayak community to treat Najib to a dinner, but will he announce some "goodies" for them?

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, June 14, 2015 - Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), the umbrella body for Dayak-based NGOs, will treat an embattled Prime Minister  Najib Razak to a community dinner at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Tuesday night.

The Umno president will be accompanied by his wife  Rosmah Mansor  to the dinner which is to mark SDNU 59th anniversary.

Najib Razak

Torstein to public: Don't believe what are being posted on social media on dam safety in Sarawak

By Doris Yoong

KUCHING, June 12, 2015 - At a Press Conference today, Datuk Torstein Dale Syotveit explained "complex" issues concerning the safety of dams in Sarawak , telling the public that what have been reported on the social media and newspapers are "not factual".

He said there is so much being said in the media on the concerns of dam safety in relation to the probability of earthquakes, such as the recent incident that occurred in Sabah.

Adenan's autonomy call "like an empty can", claims Chong

By Doris Yoong

KUCHING, June 11, 2015 - Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said a call by Chief Minister  Tan Sri Adenan Satem that Sarawak wants more autonomy to the federal government is "like an empty can".

"He needs to elaborate on the areas that the autonomy needs to be reinstated to Sarawak," he said in a statement today.

Chong Chieng Jen

NGOs, political parties gang up against rape

Story and pictures by Doris Yoong

KUCHING, June 7, 2015 - Twenty-eight  non-governmental organisations and political parties took part in a protest rally against rape at Taman Shahabat here today, prompted by the acquittal of a 60-year old government retire by the Court of Appeal last month.

The Broken Shield: The Dayak Dilemma is must read for Dayak leaders

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, June 6, 2015 -  "The Broken Shield: The Dayak Dilemma" is a must read for  the present and aspiring Dayak leaders, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) president Dr Dusit Jaul informs them today.

"After going through the book, it becomes apparent to me that it is a portray or a vivid description of the Dayak political drama at its best," he said when launching the book written by veteran reporter Joseph Tawie.

Vernon Kedit: Masing can do more than just criticising

By Vernon Aji Kedit,

Sarawak PKR Information Chief

 I read with a sense of amusement and disbelief today's headline in the Borneo Post screaming "Legality of nation at stake".

 Tan Sri James Jemut Masing, President of PRS, has outdone himself yet again for having the courage and grit to question the Election Commission and call for a reinstatement of the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 and I personally salute the man for his tenacity.

Give back those powers, Adenan tells Najib

By Doris Yoong

KUCHING, June 4, 2015  - Chief Minister Adenan Satem is asking the federal government to surrender back those powers which Sarawak had given away since the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

"We want our autonomy back," he said, adding that he had discussed with Prime Minister Najib Razak over breakfast before they left to attend a public  gathering in support of  Najib at the Unity Stadium in Petrajaya this morning.

"We want those powers back otherwise, there is little meaning to our request for autonomy," the chief minister told Najib at the gathering.

Court of Appeal rules why Bunya anak Jalong was discharged and acquitted with raping a 15-year old girl

GROUNDS OF JUDGMENT

[1] The Appellant, Bunya Anak Jalong (I/C No: 541004-13-5351) appealed against the dismissal by the High Court in Sibu of his appeal against his convictions by the Sessions Court in Sibu.

Najib must give firm commitment on oil and gas royalty to reciprocate Sarawak's support for his leadership

By See Chee How,

State PKR vice chairman and Batu Lintang State Assembly

 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak must give Sarawakians a firm commitment on the 20% oil and gas royalty and a five-years plan to develop  Sarawak and Sabah to be at par with Peninsular Malaysia, together with his pledge for good governance, before seeking the allegiance of Sarawakians to support his leadership.

He must take heed of the statement by Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem that the development, progress and modernization that is accorded to the Peninsula Malaysia must also be given to Sarawak.