Bersih Sarawak slams Francis Harden over threat on longhouse chiefs

 KUCHING, January 26, 2022 - Bersih Sarawak has slammed Assistant Minister II of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden over his statement that it is awkward and absurd for longhouse chief who oppose the government to receive allowances or salaries from the government.

Its spokesperson Ann Teo said his views as expressed in such ‘lectures’ to the Tuai Rumah are not new, saying that it is the perpetuation of politics of patronage and the ‘Don’t bite the hands that feed you’ or ‘Anang Ngelaban Perintah’ mentality or narrative.  

“It is appalling  that this latest reminder is issued by a six-term term state assemblyman  that speaks volumes of how entrenched this culture or mindset is,” Teo said in a statement.

She said the appointment of headmen and community chiefs in Sarawak is under the Community Chiefs and Headmen Ordinance 2004.

“There is nothing democratic about this manner of appointing community chiefs who are supposed to serve their respective community first and foremost and in the old days chosen by the people whom he/she serves, and by which he/she assumes and has the legal and moral authority to settle disputes and manage the affairs of his people in general and is responsible for their welfare.

“By this Ordinance too, they become mere public servants, receiving allowances from the government to serve the government of the day,” she said.

“It is also well known that such appointments will not be a reality unless it is with the blessing of Member of Parliament (MP) or State Assemblyman of the constituency.

“There have been past reports of State Assemblymen asking Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) and their secretaries to quit if they do not support the government of the day.

“At election time, they would be expected to do the bidding of the party in government or its candidate.

“As they are in charge at village level, they can wield great power and influence and have been known to stop any campaigners of other non-government parties or candidates.

“This is unacceptable given the fact they are prohibited to hold political party positions as stated under the Ordinance,” Teo said.

She said during the recently concluded Sarawak state elections, one of the federal ministers announced when visiting Sarawak  that secretaries of JKKK  and their committee members would be given meeting allowances.

She said  this is certainly a breach of the caretaker convention as well as enticement or vote-buying except that it was not yet campaign period.

“We wish to remind Francis Harden of SUPP in case he has not kept up to date, that we still practice democracy in this state and country and the longhouse or community chiefs and their ‘anembiaks’ should be free to not vote or choose the incumbent if he/she has not served them well or have differing views on issues deemed important to them.

“Just like civil servants who are free to vote for whoever they desire to be their representative despite receiving salaries from the government, so too these chiefs.

“So too these village chiefs, they should be receiving their allowances as long as they serve their community or charges,” she said.

Teo said the chiefs should not be subjected to condescension  or worse, threats of stripping them of posts or some other reprisals.

“Perhaps it is time to return to village level elections by the people, rather than appointed so that the elected Tuai Rumahs will be free from such unwarranted coercion and hegemony,” she suggested.

 

 

Life at the Sarawak General Hospital almost back to pre-Covid-19 pandemic, says Dr Sim

 KUCHING, January 26, 2022: The situation at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) is almost back to pre-Covid-19 pandemic, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian after he and another Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah have visited the hospital this morning. 

He said during the Covid-19 pandemic a lot of hospital beds were used for Covid-19 patients while operations and surgeries for other non-Covid-19 patients were postponed. 

“Now, these beds are being used for non-Covid-19 patients while the number of beds for Covid-19 patients have been reduced greatly. 

Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (left) and Datuk Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian in a discussion with SGH director Dr Ngian Hie Ung during the visit to SGH. 

“During the height of the pandemic, more than 70 ICU beds were used for Covid-19 patients and at the moment, only a few are left. 

“So, there is no point to keep the ICU beds just for Covid-19 patients as it will deprive the other patients from using the beds after operations,” Dr Sim, who is also the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) adviser, said. 

Uggah, who is also SDMC chairman, said the state government has donated RM1.3 million for the installation of 36 ventilation  points at SGH, which are being used by non-Covid-19 patients. 

“We were really short of ventilation points at one point during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and that is why the state government had agreed to help the hospital to install the ventilation points,” he said. 

He said the state government is also helping SGH to build the intensive care unit (ICU) facilities at the hospital’s parking area. 

He added work on the facilities will start next month. 

Uggah said once these facilities are completed, the number of ICU beds will increase and be ready for possible rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in future. 

“What we are doing at the moment is preparing for the worse. At the moment the figures for the daily cases have remained low compared to the cases in September last year. 

“We do hope that the figures will continue to remain low,” he said. 

Uggah said one of the reasons for the visit to the hospital is that he wanted to know the number of Covid-19 patients being admitted and he was told that the number is very low which is in line with the number of  cases that are being reported daily. 

“In spite of that, I would like to caution the Chinese community who will be celebrating the Chinese New Year next week, that they should take note of the Covid-19 infection and it is still around and we have not won the war yet,” he said. 

“Even though we have the state election last month, where people mingled among themselves, we followed the SOPs, and that is why we have low number of Covid-19 cases now,” he said.

No Let-up in our determination to strengthen Sarawak's constitutional status, reassures Abang Johari

 

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, January 25, 2022: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg today gave his reassurance that the  that there will be no let-up in state’s determination to strengthen Sarawak constitutional status as a regional partner in the Federation of Malaysia, in accordance to the amendment of Article 1(2) and Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution with reference to MA63 and its annexures. 

He said with the recent amendments to the Federal Constitution that was originally proposed by Sarawak, the basic reference of the rights of the Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah is now duly given recognition according to the spirit of MA63. 

“This achievement thus far on MA63 is part of the 34-point pledge in the GPS Manifesto that is the embodiment of our promise to transform the State’s economy and care for the wellbeing of our people,” he said when addressing the State Civil Service Day here. 

He said the state government will work with the Sarawak Civil Service machinery in the execution of the policies on digital economy, sustainable development, decarbonisation and enterprises for economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability that will be driven by data and innovation. 

“At the heart of good policy implementation is an effective relationship between the political leadership and civil servants,” he said, expressing his confidence that that the combined strength of the civil service and of Sarawak GPS political leaders will ensure the success of the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy by 2030. 

Abang Johari said since taking over in 2017, this government has implemented no less than 110 initiatives across various sectors in the state. 

“We built bridges, roads, dams and power plants. We implemented agriculture modernisation, explore hydrogen economy, upgraded school facilities. 

“We built our own station (TVS) and Digital Village, enhanced broadband coverage, improve

service delivery through Service Sarawak,  and even looking forward to set up Sarawak’s very own boutique airline. 

“Indeed, we look forward to many more discoveries, innovations and achievements ahead of us,” the chief minister said. 

Abang Johari also lamented that his regret that of the Projek Rakyat is quite slow in implementation. 

“It could be caused by “bureaucracy” or red tape, may be due to procedures, which has the effect of slowing down the process of implementation of projects or taking of corrective measures if there is any problem along the way,” he said. 

“Let me share with you a case in point – the Marudi Bridge, which has been delayed for a year or more. We have terminated the contract with the contractor and we have decided that a rescue contractor has to come in to complete the project, but certain procedures have to be adhered to that has been preventing JKR from taking the corrective measure as fast as desired. 

“I am not suggesting that we want to forgo procedures as the element of integrity or good governance must always be the basis of public spending. 

“But there are procedures that I believe can be adjusted so that our development can be expedited. 

“I do hope all of you who are members of our state administration machinery will take note of this.

“If there is any need to revamp the procedures then revamp them,” he said, adding that some of the procedures are obsolete. 

“I have directed State Financial Secretary to study the procedures not because we want to do away with procedures as stipulated in the Treasury Instruction, but we have to change procedures which are not necessary anymore. 

“With the advent of digital technologies, financial procedures need to be aligned more

practically with technologies as what had been done by the Land and Survey Department which has practically put information on land administration, including NCR, at the tip of the finger,” he said.

 

 

 

 

Muhyiddin has set a high benchmark - Datuk Ali Biju. Saratok MP

I refer to the claim by PKR’s Syed Husin Ali in a news portal today, August 25, 2021 that TS Muhyiddin is ‘just about the worst PM we’ve ever had’. 

Firstly, it is hardly surprising that Syed Husin should launch this kind of abusive attack upon the former PM. He is a longtime PKR leader and a hardcore supporter of Anwar Ibrahim. His view is hopelessly tainted by an aggressive partisan-ship. 

Secondly, Muhyiddin is not the worst PM, but ranks among the best we have ever had. No other PM before him, has sacrificed his job by refusing to compromise upon an important  principle. He preferred to sacrifice his position as PM, rather than give in to kleptocrats or interfere with court matters. Far from being a failed PM, he has set the gold standard on Prime Ministerial conduct. It is in the narrow political interest of the opposition and it’s supporters to pile abuse upon Muhyiddin, but history will judge him quite differently. 

Thirdly, for Syed Husin to blame Muhyiddin for the not ‘having enough of a majority’ etc is pretty rich,  considering that PH joined hands with the kleptocrats to repeatedly threaten Muhyiddin’s majority in the middle of a national health crisis. 

Worse, despite not having the numbers themselves, PH brought down the government in their absolute craze to achieve federal power. To compare, in British parliamentary practice, the opposition never brings down even a minority government, if they themselves do not have the necessary numbers to form government. 

There is little doubt that this irresponsible attempt at a power-grab will go down as one of the most disgraceful episodes in the political history of our nation, in which a starring role was played by Syed Husin’s PKR. 

Fourthly, lest we forget, Muhyiddin was the only Prime Minister to offer seven olive branches in the form of seven major reforms which would have far-reaching effect on the political landscape of the nation.

 These reforms were proposed by envoys from the Opposition in a series of meetings but when made public by Muhyiddin, were flatly rejected by the Opposition leaders. The Opposition's dishonest about-turn only accentuates Muhyiddin's gentlemanly conduct in keeping his end of the bargain.

Finally, I fully agree that criticism of public figures is a norm in democracies. But I must strongly deprecate the current tendency of some news portals to generate comments from politicians or so-called academics or analysts, to thinly disguise what amounts to sheer partisan abuse upon public figures whom they dislike or are against.

Muhyiddin letak jawatan sebagai Perdana Malaysia

 TEKS UCAPAN YAB TAN SRI DATO’ HAJI MUHYIDDIN HAJI MOHD YASSIN PERDANA MENTERI

16 OGOS 2021

 

Apa khabar semua? Saya harap saudara dan saudari sekalian sihat  wal’afiat.

1. Saya telah menghadap Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri  Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong pada jam 12.30 tengahari tadi di  Istana Negara.  

 

2. Dalam sesi menghadap tersebut, saya telah menyerahkan warkah  peletakan jawatan saya sebagai Perdana Menteri dan seluruh Jemaah  Menteri di bawah Perkara 43(4) Perlembagaan Persekutuan disebabkan  saya telah kehilangan kepercayaan majoriti Ahli Dewan Rakyat. Ini  bermakna saya dan seluruh ahli Jemaah Menteri telah meletakkan  jawatan.

 

3. Walaupun saya pada awalnya mencadangkan supaya keabsahan  saya sebagai Perdana Menteri ditentukan di Parlimen, namun lima belas  Ahli Parlimen Umno telah menarik sokongan kepada saya dan cadangan  kerjasama rentas parti yang saya kemukakan telah ditolak oleh parti-parti  pembangkang. Jelaslah saya telah kehilangan sokongan majoriti. Jadi,  tidak perlu lah lagi keabsahan saya sebagai Perdana Menteri ditentukan  di Parlimen.  

 

4. Maka, pada hari ini saya meletakkan jawatan saya sebagai Perdana  Menteri dan jawatan seluruh ahli Jemaah Menteri sebagaimana yang  dikehendaki oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan.  

 

5. Perkara 43(4) Perlembagaan Persekutuan menyebut “jika Perdana  Menteri tidak lagi mendapat kepercayaan majoriti ahli Dewan Rakyat,  maka Perdana Menteri hendaklah meletakkan jawatan Jemaah Menteri”.  Inilah kehendak dalam Perlembagaan dan saya mesti patuh.

 

6. Rayuan ikhlas dari jutaan rakyat Malaysia agar saya meneruskan  tugas saya dan tidak meletakkan jawatan saya dengari. Namun, rayuan  ini tidak dapat saya sambut kerana saya telah kehilangan kepercayaan  majoriti Ahli Dewan Rakyat.  

 

7. Tindakan saya ini adalah selaras dengan sumpah jawatan saya  untuk sentiasa menjunjung, melindungi dan mempertahankan  Perlembagaan.

 

8. Saya telah melakukan pelbagai ikhtiar hingga ke saat akhir untuk  menyelamatkan Kerajaan Perikatan Nasional setidaknya sehingga  selesai tugas menguruskan pandemik, program vaksinasi dan pemulihan ekonomi. Tetapi ikhtiar ini tidak berhasil disebabkan ada pihak yang rakus  untuk merebut kuasa daripada mengutamakan nyawa dan kehidupan  rakyat.

 

9. Bagi saya, apa yang berlaku ini adalah ketentuan Allah s.w.t. yang  merupakan satu episod dalam sejarah perjuangan politik saya.

 

10. Enam tahun yang lalu, saya dipecat dari jawatan Timbalan Perdana  Menteri semata-mata kerana saya mempertahankan prinsip untuk tidak  berkompromi dalam kes penyelewengan 1MDB.

 

11. Saya berjuang, saya berkorban, akhirnya Allah s.w.t. mengangkat  martabat perjuangan saya sehingga saya diberikan amanah untuk  memimpin negara ini sebagai Perdana Menteri. Namun, telah ditakdirkan  bahawa hari ini adalah hari terakhir saya sebagai Perdana Menteri dan  saya redha dengan ketentuan Ilahi.

 

12. Sesungguhnya, jawatan yang telah saya pikul ini bukanlah suatu  kemegahan. Ia datang dengan suatu bebanan tanggungjawab yang  berat. Saya memimpin negara dalam keadaan krisis kesihatan dan  ekonomi yang tidak pernah berlaku sebelum ini. Pada masa yang sama  saya terus digugat dari segi politik.

 

13. Saya boleh mengambil jalan mudah dengan mengorbankan prinsip  saya untuk kekal sebagai Perdana Menteri. Tetapi itu bukan pilihan saya.

 

14. Saya tidak akan sekali-kali bersekongkol dengan kumpulan  kleptokrat, mengganggu kebebasan badan kehakiman dan membelakangi Perlembagaan Persekutuan semata-mata untuk kekal  berkuasa.

Saudara dan saudari yang saya kasihi sekalian,

 

15. Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk memohon keampunan  daripada saudara dan saudari atas segala kekhilafan dan kelemahan  saya sepanjang saya menjadi Perdana Menteri.  

 

16. Saya dan rakan-rakan dalam Jemaah Menteri telah cuba  melakukan yang terbaik untuk menyelamatkan nyawa dan melindungi  kehidupan saudara dan saudari sekalian dalam tempoh krisis yang masih  kita hadapi pada masa ini. Namun, sebagai manusia pastinya ada salah  dan silap di sana ini. Jadi saya memohon maaf.

 

17. Saya berharap kerajaan baharu dapat dibentuk dengan segera  supaya pentadbiran negara ini tidak terganggu dan dapat berjalan seperti  biasa. Tempoh dua bulan ke hadapan ini adalah amat penting kerana kita  dijangka mencapai imuniti kelompok pada bulan Oktober. Segala  perancangan yang telah digariskan dalam Pelan Pemulihan Negara tidak  boleh terbantut. Sektor-sektor ekonomi perlu dibuka semula untuk  memastikan ekonomi negara dapat pulih dengan segera dan rakyat dapat  menjana pendapatan untuk menyara diri dan keluarga.  

 

18. Justeru, momentum pelaksanaan program vaksinasi tidak boleh  terganggu. Rekod kita mencatatkan jumlah vaksinasi harian antara yang  tertinggi di dunia mesti dikekalkan.

 

19. Jangan bimbang, kabinet saya telah menempah lebih 87 juta dos  vaksin untuk penduduk negara ini yang melibatkan perbelanjaan  sebanyak 4.36 bilion ringgit. Jumlah ini adalah lebih daripada mencukupi  untuk saudara dan saudari sekalian.  

 

20. To all my fellow Malaysians, you don’t have to worry. My cabinet  has ordered more than enough vaccines for all of you. If the vaccination  programme goes well, all of you will get vaccinated by end of October.

 

21. I hope the new government which takes over the administration of  this country will take a good care of all of you because it is the only thing  that I care about. I care for you always.

 

22. Saya senantiasa prihatin dengan nasib saudara dan saudari  sekalian kerana saya anggap saudara dan saudari sebagai anak-anak  saya sendiri. Kerana itu saya telah menekankan bahawa kebajikan  saudara dan saudari menjadi keutamaan Kerajaan Perikatan Nasional,  iaitu sebuah kerajaan yang Prihatin Rakyat.

 

23. Saya optimis bahawa negara kita akan dapat keluar daripada krisis  pandemik ini dalam masa terdekat. Saya teruja melihat perkembangan  positif beberapa hospital di Lembah Kelang di mana jumlah kemasukan  pesakit COVID-19 kategori empat dan lima semakin berkurangan.

Mudah-mudahan, dengan program vaksinasi yang semakin meningkat,  lebih banyak nyawa dapat diselamatkan dan saudara-saudari dapat  kembali menjalani kehidupan seperti biasa.

 

Saudara dan saudari yang saya kasihi sekalian,

 

24. Saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan jutaan terima  kasih kepada para frontliners yang terus bertungkus lumus memerangi  pandemik Covid-19. Tidak lupa juga ucapan terima kasih saya buat  semua penjawat awam yang telah memberi kerjasama sepenuhnya  kepada saya dalam melaksanakan dasar-dasar yang diputuskan oleh  Kerajaan Perikatan Nasional. Saya berharap segala dasar yang baik  untuk rakyat dapat diteruskan pada masa akan datang.

 

25. Saya juga mengucapkan terima kasih kepada pihak industri, para  pekerja, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, pimpinan masyarakat dan semua  pihak yang membantu Kerajaan Perikatan Nasional menyampaikan  khidmat kepada rakyat.

 

26. Saya juga merakamkan ucapan terima kasih yang tidak terhingga  kepada rakan-rakan Jemaah Menteri yg telah berkorban masa dan  tenaga bersama saya selama ini. Terima kasih juga saya ucapkan kepada  pengurusan tertinggi Kerajaan Persekutuan termasuk Ketua Setiausaha  Negara, Peguam Negara, Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan Malaysia, Ketua  Polis Negara, Panglima Angkatan Tentera, Ketua Pengarah Majlis  Keselamatan Negara dan lain-lain pegawai yang tidak dapat saya  sebutkan satu persatu. Anda semua telah banyak membantu saya menjalankan tugas dan amanah mengurus negara di waktu pandemik ini.

 

27. Ucapan terima kasih paling istimewa tentunya buat isteri saya yang  tercinta dan keluarga saya yang menjadi sumber inspirasi saya sejak  dahulu hingga ke hari ini.

 

28. Terima kasih juga kepada kepimpinan BERSATU, pimpinan  tertinggi Perikatan Nasional dari parti PAS, STAR, SAPP dan GERAKAN,  pimpinan Gabungan Parti Sarawak, pimpinan MCA dan MIC serta  sebahagian Ahli Parlimen UMNO yang terus memberikan sokongan  kepada saya hingga ke saat akhir.  

 

29. Kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia, saya ucapkan terima kasih atas  sokongan saudara dan saudari sekalian. Saya akan terus berbakti kepada  anda serta sentiasa mendoakan kesihatan dan kesejahteraan anda  semua.

 

30. Kekal bertenang. Mudah-mudahan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia  Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong diberikan rahmat  kebijaksanaan untuk memilih Perdana Menteri yang baharu menurut  kehendak Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

 

31. Marilah kita bersama-sama mendoakan agar Allah s.w.t. sentiasa  memelihara keselamatan dan keamanan negara kita dan mengekalkan  perpaduan seluruh rakyat.