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.