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PBS not backing KDM M’sia’s bid BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

PBS not backing KDM M’sia’s bid

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 09:41 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will not support KDM Malaysia's application to join Barisan Nasional (BN) once it has registered as a political party.

Its president, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, said that while no one can stop KDM Malaysia from switching from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to a political party, PBS will not accept it into BN.

He said this when asked to comment on KDM Malaysia president Datuk Peter Anthony's statement that there is a need for the NGO to be a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party.

"KDM Malaysia is seen as a strong and vital force in determining the future of the indigenous people in Sabah. And I believe that we will have a stronger voice as a political party. I also realize that our intention may raise some discomfort amongst the existing component parties in Sabah, especially the KDM-based ones, but let us put our differences aside, and I hope they will be professional and accept us as part of the team.

"Together, we may come up with new methods to strengthen BN's hold in Sabah and regain the people's trust," he told reporters after the organization's annual general meeting last week.

Anthony said they will be submitting the reports of the AGM, along with the motions tabled, to the Registrar of Societies by next month, before proceeding with the application to turn KDM Malaysia into a political party.

Pairin, who was met in Papar yesterday, stressed that people who talk must be sincere in what they say before adding: "when you are registered in the first place as an NGO, your role is as an NGO. But when you overstep yourself, you pretend to be an NGO, but all your activities are actually political, you are not telling the people the right story."

"You are actually duping the people. You are not sincere so that is how I look at this development. Now obviously nobody can stop them (KDM Malaysia) from becoming a political party.

"Nonetheless, when it comes to admission into BN fold, as a party in the coalition, PBS will not accept them into BN because there is enough representation as it is," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Pairin also said that he remembered that it had happened in the BN before where MIC, when other political parties wanted to come in (to BN), had stood firm because it said they are representing the Indians.

"This is the same here and we feel that the stance taken by MIC and followed by others, including PBS, need to continue firmly because we cannot transform BN, for example, to the extent that there is not going to be any clarity any more. To the extent that it becomes 'rojak' and there is no firmness.

"Therefore I would say that KDM Malaysia should continue to be an NGO and not a political party," Pairin said.

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Developers join forces to build affordable homes

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 09:40 AM PST

by Murib Morpi. Posted on February 20, 2014, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: An umbrella company will be set up by Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) to group all its members in a coordinated and continuous effort to provide cheap, affordable houses to the poor in the state.

The company, to be known as Shareda Bhd, will serve as a special purpose vehicle (SPV), whose primary objective is to facilitate members of the association to collectively construct affordable houses, said its president Francis Goh Fah Shun.

He announced yesterday that the umbrella company would be funded by Shareda members either in cash or in land, and who would develop affordable housing projects by way of pooling resources.

"The SPV will help explore the opportunities for Shareda members to carry out affordable housing projects with less monetary aims," he said in a press conference at Shareda office at Jalan Bundusan, Penampang.

Goh said Shareda aimed to raise a start-up capital of between RM18 million to RM30 million for the company which would pay back to contributing members in the form of share dividends.

He said the proposed company would be officially discussed and decided by Shareda members in their coming 21st annual general meeting on March 1.

"The umbrella company will frontier private sector initiative in assisting the government in providing affordable homes in Sabah," he said.

Meanwhile, Goh said more than 2,000 units of affordable homes were expected to be launched this year as part of Shareda's commitment to build 10,000 units of affordable homes in the state.

The first 1,200 units will be launched at Taman Timbok Jaya in Tuaran in March.

Apartment Kota Marudu in Kota Marudu will contribute 400 units when it is launched in April, while another 680 units in a form of double-storey houses will be launched in June at Taman Luangan Jaya, Beaufort.

Touching on other agendas to be brought up in the coming AGM, he said members would also vote on the proposal to reduce the maximum term of office for their president from six to four consecutive years.

A motion to increase Shareda's council members from 15 to 18 and to change two out of its three trustees will also be discussed.

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DAP applauds 18-unity dialogue plan

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 09:40 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: DAP Sabah says it is all for national unity as the party takes pride in the "Malaysians Malaysia" struggle.

"We want Malaysians to think of themselves as Malaysians first and their race second," said Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi yesterday.

He said that Malaysia is now facing a gloomy situation with strings of extreme activities, especially in West Malaysia.

"We have seen the work of extremists trying to divide and break the country's peace and harmony through their public protests, oral and written materials. There are so many incidents where religious and racist bigots get away with what they did in public and in the media. No action seems to be taken against them. Many peace-loving Malaysians have been hurt by the actions of these extremist groups and individuals," he said in a statement.

"We applaud the plan of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) headed by Sabah member of parliament and minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup to hold 18 dialogues in all the states to collect feedback from the public on national unity and inter-ethnic harmony with the theme 'Voice of the grassroots'. We believe all the feedback will be factored into making of the National Unity Blueprint (NUB)," Dr Bosi noted.

"We are of the view that Malaysia has started very well as far as peace and harmony is concerned. We feel the first step forward to mitigate the worsening religious and racial discord in the country is to uphold the Federal Constitution. As a democratic nation we must also uphold the separation of power between the government, judiciary and administration. Once this is restored, peace and harmony will once again descend upon this nation," he said.

Dr Bosi opined that all the dialogues would be exercises in futility if the aforementioned recommendations are not taken up. Nevertheless, for a country with diverse population make-up to prosper, the government must have the political will to ensure that the Federal Constitution is upheld and the tenets of democracy are implemented and observed.

In a globalised and borderless world, Malaysians have to trust and respect each other even more. It is pertinent to note that Malaysians are known to unite irrespective of their racial background and religious beliefs to face the ever changing global landscape.

According to Dr Bosi, all forms of extremism must be immediately nipped in the bud without fear or favour. The majority of Malaysians cannot just sit and watch these minority extremist groups and individuals ruin our beloved country. It is time for God-fearing, God-loving and patriotic Malaysians to stand up and rebuke these extremist groups and individuals. However, it is the government that must play its role to immediately defuse the tensions that are gripping the country.

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Customs targets transit points for contraband cigarettes

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 09:38 AM PST

by Elton Gomes. Posted on February 20, 2014, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: Cutting-off the distribution network of smuggled items at transit points is the best strategy to combat smuggling activities in the country, said Sabah Customs director Datuk Dr. Janathan Kandok.

He said that by cutting off the distribution network at transit points, it could prevent illegal items from reaching distributors, sellers and subsequently the general public.

"Once the distribution network of smuggled items is cut off at the transit points, any smuggling activities can be eliminated from reaching the consumers. Because, once there is no supply (of illegal smuggled items), there will be no demand of the items in the future.

"This is one of the strategies that have been implemented by the Sabah Customs in an effort to combat smuggling activities in the country," he said at a press conference after disposing of more than 540,000 packets of contraband cigarettes worth close to RM4 million here yesterday.

Janathan said the disposing of the 540,000 packets of contraband cigarettes of numerous brands were exhibit items that were brought and charged in court from numerous operations since 2010.

Meanwhile, Janathan said the department would launch massive crackdowns on contraband cigarettes activities around the state through an aggressive approach with other agencies.

Among the planned approach would be mounting road block operations, sea patrol operations as well as inspection of container shipments docked at the sea port and identified premises that store illegal items.

He said integrated operations such as Ops Pacak, a joint operation with City Hall, had been a success in combating the sales of contraband cigarettes along sidewalks around the city centre.

"The Sabah Customs Department has also declared this year as the year to 'fight against smuggling and sales of contraband cigarettes' on a large scale. Apart from contraband cigarettes, the operation will also focus on commodity items, such as liquor and beer," he said.

In another development, Janathan said the department had recently carried out an operation in Keningau and seized more than 240,000 packets of contraband cigarettes valued at RM3 million.

He said the raid was made at an open field at Kampung Mantailan after three days of surveillance by enforcement personnel.

"Based on past experience, if no one (suspect) come to claim the items after a certain period of time, the appropriate step would be to confiscate the items without any arrest made, as it is costly to wait for a suspect who may not appear," he said.

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Sabah can be ‘Dubai’in BIMP-EAGA – Fernandes

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 09:37 AM PST

by Sandra Sokial. Posted on February 20, 2014, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah can be the "Dubai" of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines – East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), if Tan Sri Tony Fernandes gets to fulfill his plans.

With a plan to expand the low cost carrier AirAsia operations, and bringing in AirAsia X, and adding more aircraft here, the budget airline's chief executive officer (CEO) hopes to develop the Terminal Two Airport, which he believes will also boost the tourism sector in the state.

"When we first started, we brought some 20,000 passengers to Sabah. That was 12 years ago. Today, we are thinking of bringing in 13 million passengers in the next five years, so we need to find a solution to the terminal issue. There are two options – one we develop Terminal Two (which currently operates as the low cost carrier terminal) or build a new terminal. We do not want to go to the Kota Kinabalu Inyernational Airport Terminal One because it will be overcrowded and passengers have to pay RM65 for the airport tax.

"Why do Sabahans or tourists need to pay more when our main objective is to offer them cheap fares so travelling is affordable. To me, personnaly, just because it (Terminal Two) is an old building, why tear it down when you can do renovation … so my preferences would be the Terminal Two," he said.

Fernandes, who is on a day's working visit to Sabah, said that he had met up with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, and the state's premier leader seemed "positive" on the matter.

"He (Musa) has been very supportive of our operations in Sabah, right from the very beginning, and we are forever grateful with the

RM1 million loan he offered us to start off the business. Today, we believe he had played a great role throughout AirAsia's operations in Sabah.

"However, we can only make plans but it is up to the authorities here to decide, and we hope to hear from them soon," he said, adding that the north wing side of the airport would be a suitable location for the Terminal Two expansion project.

Touching on AirAsia X, Fernandes said it would be the final piece of Sabah's adventure, with the hope to make the state capital as the centre between North Asia and Australia, a hub for most locations in Indonesia, and flying to other parts of the world such as Melbourne, Tokyo or Shanghai and Beijing.

"This will turn Kota Kinabalu the Dubai for BIMP-EAGA, where everyone can fly to any part of the BIMP-EAGA area with AirAsia or AirAsia X.

"We want to make Sabah stand out and we want to make it finacially attractive. I came across a couple from China at the hotel lift. When I asked them why they came to Sabah, they told me because it was cheap.When they go back, they will tell their friends and come back here. This is what we want to offer potential tourists, and make Sabah as the best destination," he said.

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Driver killed as lorries collide

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 09:35 AM PST

by Winnie Kasmir. Posted on February 20, 2014, Thursday

TELUPID: A lorry driver was killed in an accident at Km 60, Long Manis off Sandakan-Telupid Bypass around 11.40am yesterday.

The deceased, in his 30s, was pinned in the driver's seat after his 10-ton lorry hit the rear of another 10-ton lorry.

According to police chief ACP Rowell Marong, the deceased was on his way from Sukau. When he reached the area, he hit the rear of a lorry.

Both lorries were travelling in the same direction.

The driver of the other lorry was not injured and was brought to the Sandakan police station for investigation.

The case is being investigated under Section 41 of Road Transport Act 1987.

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