DAPSY Kuching against allowing the four students to sit for their SPM examinaion

KUCHING, Oct 13 2025: DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Kuching has disagreed with the Education Ministry in allowing the four male students, who were allegedly involved in gang-raping a female student, to sit for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

Lesley Chong (picture): There should be no leniency shown to the four students who allegedly involved in gang-raping a female student 

Its secretary Lesley Chong said there should not be any leniency shown to them for allegedly committing the gang-rape on a female student in a school in Malacca last week.

She said by allowing them to sit for SPM examination is sending a dangerous message that justice and accountability are secondary to privilege and convenience.

“If the perpetrators are given a second chance so easily, who will safeguard the future of the young girl whose life has been irreversibly scarred?

“Has anyone ensured that she can continue her studies safely, or receive the psychological support she deserves to rebuild her life?” Lesley asked.

She also emphasised that, too often, young survivors of sexual assault are the ones who lose everything, such as their education, security, and trust in society.

“It is unacceptable that right now, in the year 2025, victims are still made to carry the burden of shame, while offenders are treated with sympathy and protection,” she said.

Lesley also highlighted the urgent need for a Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) to be implemented in schools, one that teaches students about accurate and age-appropriate information about sexual health, including consent, respect, and bodily autonomy.

She said without proper education, many youths will continue learning about sex and relationships through distorted and harmful online pornographic sources that glorify violence, objectification, and exploitation.

“The fact that the perpetrators even filmed the act and circulated it online reflects a disturbing lack of empathy and understanding of the gravity of their actions,” she stressed.

She strongly urged the Education Ministry and relevant authorities to take immediate and coordinated action to ensure justice for the victim and strengthen measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.

She said this includes ensuring accountability in the handling of the case, providing continuous support and protection for survivors, and reinforcing a zero-tolerance stance against all forms of sexual violence within schools and communities.

She emphasised that, rather than placing the burden of prevention on girls by telling them not to go out late or not to dress a certain way, society must start teaching boys from a young age about consent, respect, and the harmful consequences of sexual violence.

“Protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable must be our collective moral duty,” Lesley said.

According to media reports, quoting Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad today, the four Five students have been expelled.

The School Disciplinary Board expelled them following internal investigations into the serious misconduct, while the criminal case remains under police investigation.

However, they are allowed to sit for their SPM examination as it is their rights.

They will be asked to sit for the examination at a different school.

The four, aged 17, are being investigated by the police under Section 375B of the Penal Code for gang rape.

 

(Updated): PBDS supports calls to allow Sabahans residing in Malaya to vote through postal voting in coming state election

KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) supported calls for Sabahans residing and working in Malaya be allowed to votes on the coming Sabah state elections through postal voting.

PBDS president Dr John Brian Anthony: Voting is not a privilege, but a right protected by the constitution.

Its president Dr John Brian Anthony said the voting rights of Sabahans in Malaya must respected.

He said PBDS acknowledges the recent public calls urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Election Commission (EC) to extend postal voting facilities to Sabahan voters currently residing or working in Malaya.

“We therefore urge the EC and federal government to explore and implement a mechanism for postal or remote voting for Sabahan voters in Malaya before the next state or general elections,” he said in a statement.

He said that voting is not a privilege, but a right protected by the constitution.

He added upholding that right for every Malaysian, regardless of where they are temporarily residing, is the true measure of our democratic maturity.

“PBDS stands with all efforts that advance the constitutional rights and democratic inclusion of every citizen, Sabahans, Sarawakians, and all Malaysians alike.

“Although PBDS is a Sarawak-based political party and does not operate in Sabah, we stand by the fundamental principle that voting is a constitutional right which must be accessible, fair, and inclusive for every Malaysian citizen, regardless of where they live or work within the federation,” he stressed.

He emphasised that it is a matter of constitutional equality for all eligible Malaysians to cast votes in every election and a right to choose the government.

He added that Article 119 of the Federal Constitution guarantees the rights of every eligible citizen to vote in the constituency where they are registered.

“The spirit of this Article is clear that no citizen should be effectively disenfranchised due to geography or economic circumstance.

“If a Sabahan is working in Malaya but remains a registered voter in Sabah, the system should provide a reasonable and secure mechanism, such as postal voting, for them to exercise that right,” John stressed.

Saying that it is a practical step to strengthening democracy, he said that PBDS views this not as a partisan issue but as a democratic housekeeping matter.

He said allowing postal voting for Sabahans in Malaya would strengthen the legitimacy of election outcomes, increase voter participation, and uphold Malaysia’s constitutional promise of equal access to the ballot box.

John believed that the EC already possesses the regulatory framework for various postal voting categories, adding that extending it to cover domestic inter-state voters is therefore not a constitutional leap, but an administrative refinement in the spirit of fairness.

He said PBDS recognises that Sabah’s electoral administration falls within its own state and federal jurisdiction, stating that the party does not seek to interfere or comment on the political affairs of Sabah.

“However, as a Sarawak party that values the integrity of democratic participation across all Bornean states, we echo the calls for the federal and election authorities to act swiftly and judiciously,” he said.

“From a broader Bornean standpoint, this issue reminds us that the unity of Malaysia is strengthened when rights are applied fairly to all regions.

“When Sabahans or Sarawakians living in Malaya can participate fully in elections back home, it reinforces not only democracy but also the spirit of equal partnership enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.

John stressed that PBDS supports any policy that strengthens access to democratic rights, transparency, and fairness in electoral participation.

 

On average, people in Samarahan live longer than the rest of Malaysians

KUCHING, Oct 12 2025: It is revealed that the people in Samarahan district, on average, live longer than Malaysians in other parts of the country, according Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing  Development Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah, quoting the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Fatimah: Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan recorded life expectancy exceeding that national average  

She said Samarahan recorded highest increase in life expectancy at birth in 2023, which was 79.8 years, 80.4 years (2024) and 80.9 years (2025).

”However, the lowest life expectancy at birth was recorded in Kecil Lojing, Kelantan (63.6 years) in 2023, Kuala Penyu, Sabah (66.5 years) in 2024, and Kanowit (66.5 years) in 2025,” she said at the Samarahan-level Senior Citizens World Day at Rumah Sri Kenangan, an old folk home at Batu 12, near here.

She said overall, 30 out of 156 districts exceeded life expectancy at the national level, adding that the highest life expectancy at birth for men is in Kinabatangan, Sabah (79.8 years) while for women in Telupid, Sabah (82.8 years).

Quoting DOSM, Fatimah said Selangor, Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan recorded life expectancy exceeding the national level in 2025.

She said the statistics show that Malaysia is now rapidly moving towards an ageing society, urging that there is a need to be prepared from social, economic and health aspects to ensure that the well-being of the elderly continues to be guaranteed.

She said the Sarawak government is very concerned about the welfare of the elderly, pointing out that among the initiatives that have been introduced include Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) – an allocation of RM50 million, allowing senior citizens aged 60 and above to receive treatment at panel clinics cashlessly for up to RM500 per year.

She said the scheme allows senior citizens to receive treatment for minor illnesses such as fever, flu, headaches, gout, minor injuries, as well as basic dental treatment such as tooth extractions and fillings.

She added there are now more than 290 panel clinics throughout Sarawak.

She said the state government has also introduced Sarawak Basic Needs Contribution (SKAS) – annual cash assistance between RM250 to RM800 to help with the cost of living of senior citizens.

She said another initiative is the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) – a privilege card that provides various discounts, benefits and priorities in public and private services.

She said the Mobile Service initiative helps senior citizens in rural areas register for assistance schemes without having to come to the city.

“In addition, health aspects are also emphasized in Sarawak such as at government hospitals where the Sarawak General Hospital provide various specialties, including the general medicine, mental health, orthopedics and ophthalmology.

“The GeKo (Community Geriatrics) programme is expanded to health clinics, focusing on at-risk senior citizens so that they remain healthy, independent, and avoid complications.

“All of this clearly shows the state government’s commitment in ensuring that Sarawak’s senior citizens receive comprehensive care, both in terms of treatment and community support,” Fatimah said.

Sarawak government to look into the details of the RM6 billion in development allocation

 KUCHING, Oct 12 2025: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has said that the state government will look into the details of the RM6 billion in development allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament last Friday.

“It is time for the federal government to give back our fair share so that we are not left behind with 70 per cent of federal government clinics and hospitals in Sarawak in dilapidated conditions ." - Dr Sim
 

“As in the past, the development allocations announced in the federal budgets, are meant for the completion of existing on-going projects in Sarawak,” he said when responding to the federal Budget 2026 that Anwar presented in Parliament.

Dr Sim, who is also the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, said Sarawak has financially contributed enormously to Malaysia over the last 50 years.  

“It is time for federal government to give back our fair share so that we are not left behind with 70 per cent of federal government clinics and hospitals in Sarawak in dilapidated conditions  which need RM17 billion to upgrade while Peninsular Malaysia has less government health facilities in dilapidated conditions,” he said.

Dr Sim, however, expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for speeding up the implementation of the Sarawak Cancer Centre in Kota Samarahan.

He said the centre is not just for the convenience of patients from Sarawak but is doing justice to the oncologists who are recognised worldwide but choose to serve in Sarawak.

He likened the oncologists serving in Sarawak to the Formula 1 drivers, but driving an ordinary car.

Dr Sim also expressed his hope that the federal government would consider the Sarawak government’s proposed formula on the special yearly grants payment accorded to both Sarawak and Sabah.

He said both states started receiving the RM600 million interim special payment under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 this year and to be continued next year.

He said the Sarawak government has submitted a formula to the federal government that the payment be based on certain formula rather than interim.

 

 

Sarawak DAP stands in solidarity with Tiong King Sing

KUCHING, Oct 11 2025: Sarawak DAP stands in solidarity with Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing against any call for his resignation as the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) over the serving of beer at a private-funded dinner organised in conjunction with the launch of Global Travel Meet (GTM) in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Chong Chieng Jen: Since Tiong King Sing was made the minister, Malaysia's tourism industry made a powerful comeback since 2023
 

Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said his party views that the call for Tiong’s resignation by the opposition is totally unwarranted as the minister has clearly explained in Parliament that the dinner where the alcoholic beverages were served was not a government official dinner paid for by MoTAC and as such there is no contravention of any government’s directive.  

“That dinner was a private-sector funded dinner and thus it is perfectly alright for him to attend,” Chong, who is also Stampin MP, said in a statement today.

“What more when the dinner was a celebration for the GTM event, which was projected to have generated over RM420 million in business impact for the country.

“Such performances and direct benefits to the country should be the main focus, rather than other sentiments that are not constructive and have the tendency to divide our multicultural and multi-religious country,” Chong said.

He said since Tiong was appointed as the minister under the Madani federal government, Malaysia’s tourism industry made a powerful comeback since 2023, collectively delivering nearly RM300 billion in tourism receipts.

He said from RM71.3 billion in 2023 to over RM100 billion in 2024, and projected to hit RM125 billion this year.

“With international arrivals climbing to 38 million in 2024 alone, a 31.1 per cent jump from the previous year, this shows how Malaysia is positioning itself as a global tourism beacon under the current Madani federal government,” he said.

He said between January until July 2025 this year, Malaysia has recorded a total of 28.2 million international arrivals, an increase of 14.5 per cent compared to the same period of 2024.

“After Tiong’s clarification in Parliament, any further call by the PAS and Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders for his resignation on the matter only shows that these leaders will stop at nothing to smear and discredit the federal government, including ignoring any meritorious performance of a minister and playing up divisive racial sentiment,” he said.

“Equally guilty as the PAS and PN leaders in fanning this divisive sentiment are the SUPP leaders who try to mislead the public into believing that the Sarawak state government allows and will pay for alcoholic beverages to be served in state official functions by saying “We drink whenever we want”.

“Throughout my 20 years attending the Sarawak state dinners as a Sarawak Legislative Member (SLM), not a single drop of alcohol was served in all those dinners.  

“It seems that the Sarawak state government also does not allow nor pay for alcoholic drinks to be served in state official dinners.

“I also do not think the SUPP leaders can “drink” alcohol “whenever they want” in those state dinners,” Chong quipped.

He urged SUPP to help to put the “Santubong” brand of beer back on the shelves, help the local entrepreneur and stop such narrow-minded religious extremism ideology from burgeoning in Sarawak.

 

ends