Not a hollow hope for Sarawak to be Asean powerhouse, says Abang Johari

KUCHING, March 2, 2022 - Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg tonight said the state's aim to be Asean powerhouse is not a hollow hope as BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines - East Asia Growth Area) is moving towards energy security in the sub-region.

Picture: Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg says Sarawak aims to achieve more than 15% income from foreign markets 

He said Sarawak is pursuing interconnections within the Asean region building upon the foundation of the successful interconnection with West Kalimantan, Indonesia, the first step towards materialising the Borneo Grid and the Asean Grid.

He said the state aims to achieve more than 15 percent income from foreign markers to position Sarawak as Southeast Asia’s renewable energy powerhouse.

“To fulfil these, the renewable energy sector will continue to implement various initiatives which will provide local businesses with participation opportunities,” he said  at the Sarawak Energy Vendor Awards 2021.

The premier also said the state is accelerating rural electrification to reach a 100 percent domestic electrification rate for Sarawak by 2025.

“Sarawak aspires to continue to achieve more sustainable growth and prosperity through affordable, reliable and renewable energy and the Sarawak government will provide support and promote public-private collaborations in the renewable energy value chain.

“This will ensure ample opportunities for our local vendors and contractors to engage with the energy industry,” Abang Johari said.

Eleven vendors with outstanding performances in 2021 were recognised for excellence in contract delivery at the SEVA ceremony.

The awards recipients were evaluated for their performance in health, security, safety & environmental excellence (HSSE), quality of works, delivery of services and integrity in the categories of ‘Best Works’; ‘Best Supplier’; ‘Best Service Provider’, ‘Best Local Consultant’,‘Best International Consultant’, as well as ‘Best Bumiputera Vendor’ and ‘Promising Bumiputera Vendor’.

The recipients for ‘Best Works’ award categories were Ody Enterprise and Mega Electrical Engineering Services.

Shorefield Sdn Bhd received ‘Best Bumiputera Vendor’ award while Faizal Engineering (FBI)Trading Limbang and Geoimpact Resources received ‘Promising Bumiputera Vendor’ award.

For ‘Best Service Provider’ awards, the recipients were Melbourne Business School in Australia, Crest Business Solution Sdn Bhd and NIOSH Certification Sdn Bhd.

Pine Contract & Supplies received the ‘Best Supplier’ award, while Jurutera Azan Bersekutu received the ‘Best Local Consultant’ award.

Take a cue from descendants of last Sultan Sulu, PBK Voon tells GPS government to sue federal government

 KUCHING, March 2, 2022 - Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government should take a cue from the descendants of the last Sultan Sulu to sue the Malaysian government for breaching the terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan said today.

Picture: PBK president Voon Lee Shan urges GPS government not to wait further to take legal action against the federal government

He said the GPS government should not wait further to take legal actions in court to sue the federal government or even the United Kingdom for breaches of terms and conditions in the MA63.

“A failure to do so should be seen by Sarawakians as inability by GPS government to protect Sarawak rights,” Voon, who is a practising lawyer, said in a statement when commenting on the award of RM62.59 billion (US$14.92b) to the descendants of the last Sultan Sulu.

News reports had reported that the Malaysia government was instructed to pay the amount by a Spanish arbitrator, Gonzalo Stampa,  in an arbitration court in Paris, France.

Citing Spanish news website La Información, the ruling was made following a violation of the 1878 agreement signed by Sultan Jamal Al Alam, Baron de Overbeck and the British North Borneo Company’s Alfred Dent.

It was reported that Malaysia had stopped paying Sultan Sulu’s heirs their annual RM5,300 cession money since 2013 as a result of the Lahad Datu armed incursion.

Voon urged GPS government to take a serious look at the claims by the descendants of the last Sulu Sultan for violation of the 1878 agreement.

He argued the fact that the federal and state governments of Sabah and Sarawak had formed steering committees to deliberate and overcome the breaches leading to recent amendments to the Federal Constitution is a clear admission or acknowledgement by the federal, Sarawak and Sabah governments of the breaches of the terms and conditions of MA63.  

He said Sarawak and Sabah were once colonies of United Kingdom and  Malaya became the successor of United Kingdom after  Sarawak and Sabah were handed to Malaya to enlarge her territories to form Malaysia.

“This should be used by the Sarawak government to make the federal government of Malaysia liable for damages, loss of revenues, oil and gas and all other rights that Sarawak had suffered caused by the breaches,” he said.

The Sulu sultan’s descendants had initially wanted to claim US$32.2 bil (RM135.08 bil) from Malaysia to recover the unpaid cession money along with how much they believe should have been paid for the oil and gas found in the region.

The descendants had filed the case in Spain as the 1878 agreement was signed in the country.

It was initially heard in Madrid until the Madrid High Court (Tribunal Superior de Justica de Madrid) annulled Stampa’s appointment, citing that Malaysia was not properly informed about the case and was thus “defenceless”.

The case was later moved to the French capital.

According to the arbitration news website Global Arbitration Review, Malaysia did not send a team in the Paris arbitration hearing.

Following Stampa’s annulment, Malaysia is now challenging his validity to hear the case in criminal court. 

Three family members in Sibu burnt to death when their house was destroyed in a fire

 SIBU, March 2, 2022 -  Three members of a family were burnt to death when their house at Kampung Bahagia Jaya, Jalan Burung Beliris, here was destroyed in a fire last night.

Picture: The firefighter putting off the fire that destroyed two houses at Kampung Bahagia,  Sibu, last night

Sibu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) identified them as Sima bte Abdullah, 20, Abdullah bin Bus, 64, and Rasidah bte Suut, 80.

“Their charred remains have been handed over to the police for further action,” Sibu Bomba investigating officer Jackson Anyie said in a statement.

He said six other family members managed to escape from the fire.

They are Nur Fazli bin Mahdi, 27, Taib bin Bus, 56, Mohd Zaini bin Taib, 25, Rafidah bin Bat, 44, NurHijrah binti Taib, 12, and Nur Damia binti Taib, 8.

Jackson said the Sibu station received an emergency call at 8.15pm last night, saying that a house was on fire at Kamung Bahagia and caller wanted the firefighter to come.

He said 19 firemen equipped with firefighting equipment from Sungai Merah and Sibu stations were dispatched to the scene.

He said one wooden was completely destroyed and another 90 per cent.