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Spat over ‘bullshitter’ remark BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Spat over ‘bullshitter’ remark

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:08 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Su Kiah and Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi spatted during the State Assembly sitting yesterday over the oil palm issue with the former calling the latter a "bullshitter".

The quarrel broke out when Raymond, who is Tanjong Papat assemblyman, asked Bosi to get his information on the oil palm industry from reliable sources.

This is because the information that Bosi presented in the State Assembly when debating the state 2014 budget on Monday is inaccurate, Tan opined.

"In your debate speech yesterday and your question today, the Yang Berhormat said the same thing and that is a shortage of 20 per cent of manpower in the palm oil industry and this translates into the loss due to the 7.5 per cent sales tax imposed on every tonne of FFB.

"That statement is bullshit and it makes the Yang Berhormat (a) bullshitter," Tan said.

This statement prompted Bosi who is also Sabah DAP secretary to reply: "There is a standing order you cannot simply address the Yang Berhormat like that. When I say something about the problem of shortage of workers in the plantation, I don't pluck the information from the sky.

"I have friends, people in the oil palm industry who gave me the information and they are very concerned with the 20 per cent shortage in manpower and this is translated into non-harvested fruit bunch which the government can lose through the sales tax.

"Maybe the information on the CPO or FFB is wrong but then it is still based on the principle that by having lower number of workers in the plantation, your harvest is less. This is not the right avenue to call people names. I don't think I have any respect for such a minister," he said.

At this point Tan retorted by claiming that Bosi does not understand his explanation on the matter and said: "I am not saying something that Yang Berhormat basically is not having enough knowledge. I am worried that you have too much knowledge.

"If you want to ask about statistics, why don't you ask me, you ask your friend, I don't know who is your friend. I don't take information from my friend, I give you official statistics Yang Berhormat…. what I am trying to explain to you…

At this point Bosi stood up and tried to interject but was told by Tan to sit down and when the former did not, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman stood up and cited the House's Point of Order 42(1).

"Point of Order 42(1) No member unless called upon by the state assembly speaker. Sit down," Musa said.

Tan continued and explained that the number of workers had nothing to do with the sales tax imposed on CPO produced and sold.

"This is not rocket science my friend, this is elementary because workers have nothing to do with sales tax. It does not mean that we can increase income if only we increase workers. That is bullshit.

"I use 'bullshit' Yang Berhormat and I apologise for it, because it is a good English word which means nonsense, you can check Oxford dictionary. And 'bullshitter' is a good English word, it describes a person who talks as if he or she is knowledgeable about the subject but is in actual fact talking nonsense.

"I am not just trying to tell you that I am trying to correct the fact so please help me that when you try to get information and make statement, you can work with me. I will give you the right statistics which I obtain from the relevant agencies," Tan stressed.

To this Bosi replied: "I will leave it to the public to judge on your statement on the way you answered my question. This is why we have the question and answer session in the Dewan. We want to expect very professional answers not answers like what was coming from the minister just now.

At this juncture Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan cited Point of Order 42 (3) which states that no member shall speak more than once to any question.

Deputy State Assembly Speaker Datuk Johnny Mositun directed everyone to sit down and made a decision to stop both Tan and Bosi from continuing with their argument.

"I will make a decision now and I invite the Sukau assemblyman to ask his question," Mositun said.

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Federal, state govt agencies not in ‘sync’

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:07 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: Federal and state government agencies that implement programmes related to rural development, poverty eradication, human capital development and other social and welfare programmes have been urged to work together.

Balung assemblyman Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali told the assembly yesterday that all the activities of these agencies were not coordinated and were proceeding on their own with their own programmes.

"These agencies are not brought together under one roof. It is as if there is a barrier and obstacle for all these agencies to collaborate with one another to avoid overlapping each other in their programmes," he said.

He added that everyone wanted to become the 'hero' and have forgotten the main aim of the government's planning which was to eradicate poverty.

Syed Ali also urged the government to consider providing a lorry driver's licence free of charge to one child in a poverty stricken family.

"This include paying for the RM1,000 to RM1,500 cost of getting the licence to drive a lorry. When they have obtained their licence, they could become the lorry drivers for estates in Sabah," he said.

He reminded that most of the estates in Sabah were employing lorry drivers who were non-citizens.

"They can earn up to RM2,000 per month," he said.

He also called on the major companies to employ locals as lorry drivers and the Road Transport Department to verify the nationalities of all the lorry drivers at factories.

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Brother of shot Taiwanese visits Tawau Mortuary

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:07 AM PST

by Alen Kee and Elton Gomes. Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

TAWAU: The brother of a Taiwanese tourist shot dead at a Pulau Pom Pom resort in Semporna, visited the victim's remains at the mortuary here accompanied by the brother of the victim's wife yesterday as soon as they landed at Tawau Airport.

The brother of the victim, Lim Min Hsu, 57, arrived about 3.50pm and put on a ritual vest before entering the mortuary, though he had to wait for a hospital staff to unlock the mortuary door.

As brisk as their arrival they left at 4.10pm in two tourist vans accompanied by several police cars.

Local, national and the media from Taiwan were kept at a distance as they snapped photos and filmed from outside the fence and closed gate of the mortuary.

Obviously, not welcomed, the local media behaved, along with about five from Taiwan – some waited as early as 3pm – as they went about performing their duty without any hitches.

The media pursued the victim's relatives at a local hotel where they were put up and the kidnapped woman's brother when interviewed said he could not say much as it would jeopardize the investigation.

When asked whether any ransom had been asked, he said he would not comment on that either.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that they would be visiting Semporna today after the autopsy was done, and cremation of the victim's remains is expected to be on Thursday.

Filipino gunmen shot dead Lim and abducted his wife Chang An Wei at Pom Pom island resort on early Friday morning.

Chang is in the custody of Abu Sayyaf linked gunmen in the Southern Philippines.

Police yesterday confirmed that one of the family members of the Taiwanese couple who were killed and abducted at a resort at Pom Pom Island in Semporna, had arrived in the state to claim his body.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said police had been informed of the matter and the family member was at the Tawau hospital to verify and claim the body.

"The deceased's family is in Tawau to verify the identity of the victim. This will be done once an autopsy has been carried out by our pathologist tomorrow (today). Once this is done, we will know the actual cause of the death for the family to bring the body back home for burial," he said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Hamza once again urged all parties not to make any speculation as the case is still under investigation.

"We are working closely with our counterparts and have received positive cooperation from them. However, we cannot reveal everything as this is still an ongoing investigation. Let the police do their work," he said.

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Sindumin plan shelved not because of illegal immigrants – Hajiji

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:06 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

THE proposed Bandar Sahabat in Sindumin did not materialize because the Sarawak government decided to relocate the Merapok New Service Centre to another location three kilometres from the Sabah-Sarawak border.

Local Government and Housing Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Mohd Noor said that the initial plan was to develop Bandar Sahabat Sindumin-Merapok as an integrated development to service both Sabah and Sarawak.

The proposal was the brainchild of the then Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak, he said, adding that the agreement to develop the Bandar Sahabat was mooted on November 22, 1981.

"However the plans have been changed to a twin town concept where the governments of both states will have their own developments. It is understood that Sarawak now has plans to relocate the Merapok New Service Centre to another location three kilometres from the Sabah-Sarawak border," he said.

Hajiji said this when replying to Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Bujang's question on what had happened to the Bandar Sahabat plans.

He also dispelled Sabah opposition chief Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin's claim that the plan was shelved because the Sarawak government was worried about the presence of illegal immigrants in the Sabah and the problems that could manifest from their huge number should they cross to Sarawak.

The Klias assemblyman claimed that he had been briefed by Sarawak's EPU and was told that the reason for them not to go ahead with the proposal is because of the huge number of illegal immigrants in Sabah and they are of the opinion that this will be a problem to Sarawak.

"Is this true?" Lajim asked Hajiji.

"I do not believe that is the reason because the Sarawak government may have their own reasons not to proceed with the plan … it could be that the area was not economically viable and will not bring profitable returns to Sarawakians.

"But to say that there are many illegal immigrants in Sabah … we cannot accept and I believe that the Sarawak government did not say that," he said

When Lajim asked if Hajiji will visit Sarawak to find out the truth, the latter replied: "Yes and I will bring the Klias assemblyman along to find out the real reason and what we can do to benefit both states, especially along the border.

Hajiji earlier said that the state government, through Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB) is developing Sindumin town and has allocated 160 acres there for the construction of shop houses, government complex, tamu ground among others.

"Construction work will commence in two years' time after the development plan is approved," he added.

Hajiji also said that the ministry would study the application by Ahmad to turn Sindumin into a duty-free town.

The minister said he would take note and follow up on the matter as approval was needed from the federal government.

When debating the State Budget 2014 on Monday, Ahmad pointed out that Sindumin is suitable for development as a duty free town considering its position as an entry point for tourists from Sarawak and Brunei.

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Allow bankrupts to retain one house – Syed Abas

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:05 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

BALUNG assemblyman Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali yesterday proposed that individuals who have been declared bankrupt be allowed to retain their home ownership.

"I suggest for no action taken to foreclose the home ownership of a person who has been declared bankrupt. In the event, the bankrupt owns two or three houses, he should be allowed to keep one. This is important as it will allow him to continue living with his family while settling his existing debts," he said at the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.

He made this proposal after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri disclosed that 60 people were declared bankrupt in Malaysia daily.

She said that the group with the highest number of bankrupts was between 35 years old and 44 years old at 34.31 percent.

Nancy also said that a new Act was being drafted to replace the Bankruptcy Act 1967.

"Among the conditions that were being studied for inclusion into the new Act was the provision for automatic release to those eligible (for those who have been declared bankrupts for three years or five years). The Act is in the process of being drafted since last year," said Syed Abas.

"Policy-wise, the statement from the minister should be given due attention and consideration. The rescheduling of debt repayments must also be studied thoroughly.

"The rescheduling will have to take into consideration the capacity of the debtors to pay back their debts," he said.

Nevertheless, while enforcing the repayment schedule of the debts, it is crucial to consider, among other things, the misfortune that could have befallen on the bankrupt person, he said.

"All these would have an impact on their family and children who are still schooling … we have to help by reducing the difficulties they are enduring," he added.

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Schools, non-Islamic religious bodies receive RM30.785 mln grants

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:05 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government yesterday presented a total of RM30.785 million grants to various Chinese independent schools, mission schools and non-Islamic religious bodies in Sabah.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman distributed the assistance to eligible recipients in a presentation ceremony held at the State Assembly Banquet Hall.

Out of the figure, RM13.34 million was given to Chinese independent and mission schools while the remaining RM17.445 million went to churches, Chinese temples and Hindu and Sikh places of worship.

Musa in his remarks at the ceremony, said prudent financial management allowed the Sabah Government to steadily increase the annual allocation.

He noted that between 2004 and 2012, the total disbursed to schools amounted to over RM75 million and more than RM102 million was allocated to non-Islamic religious bodies.

"These figures speak volumes of our commitment to schools and non-Islamic religious organisations," he said, urging the recipients to prioritise where funds would be used for their respective organisations.

Musa, who is also the Finance Minister, assured that the State Government would continue its commitment to assist independent and mission schools as it fully recognizes their vital role towards producing knowledgeable and productive human capital.

"Although socio-economic programmes and other development demands require funds, the State Government will not back down from its commitment to assist schools.

"The BN Government will continue to focus on education development at all levels, and we are also constantly striving to bridge the gap when it comes to facilities in urban and rural areas," he said.

He also stressed that the government was aware that some schools in remote locations needed better facilities.

And the State is constantly working with the Federal Ministry of Education to look for solutions that will improve both the standard of education and educational facilities in Sabah.

Apart from ensuring quality education for all, Musa said the government was also committed to upholding religious freedom, as reflected in the large allocation for non-Islamic religious bodies given every year.

He said it was hoped that with this allocation, religious bodies would continue to encourage spiritual growth among their followers.

"Along with Islamic bodies, all religious institutes play an important role in promoting positive values, and in curbing social ills. I believe that solid religious upbringing is needed in overcoming some of the issues we face today," he said.

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