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Stop viewing Sabah as fixed deposit – UPKO BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Stop viewing Sabah as fixed deposit – UPKO

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 09:33 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: The present government should stop viewing Sabah as its fixed deposit and take it for granted, said UPKO secretary general, Datuk Donald Mojuntin to press members yesterday.

"The government seems to think that we are its fixed deposit but they have to realise that even banks can be robbed," he stressed.

"Of course, BN (Barisan Nasional) won Sabah but overall, we have lost many seats as well. We need to study why we lost the seats at constituencies where the majority of the voters were the Kadazandusun, Murut and Chinese," he urged.

He added that the present government needed to work harder, particularly at the grassroots.

On the intention of the Kadazan Dusun Murut Malaysia Association's intention to become a political party, Donald merely said the matter should be left to the people.

"It is up to them to decide who they want to trust."

He also said it was the association's right if it decides to register as a political party.

"It is their right. If they have a good objective and proper constitution, it is up to them.

"Furthermore, Malaysia is a democratic country and anyone can form a party," he said.

He added that he didn't know whether the association had already registered to become a political party.

At the same time, Donald also commented on the Monash University Malaysia academician Professor James Chin's claim that a slight majority of East Malaysians wanted to cede from the country.

"There are pros and cons to the issue, but in my personal opinion, if we were to cede (from the country) who is going to support us in terms of security? How will we restructure our finances to run our country?

"Furthermore, it isn't known how many actually wanted to cede from the country.

"Malaysia is a stable country. Of course we are facing challenges economically but politically, it is still a stable country… if we pull out from the country it may create more strive than benefits," he said.

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Consent of all BN parties, needed, KDM M’sia told

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 09:33 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: KDM Malaysia president Datuk Peter Anthony should educate himself about Barisan Nasional (BN) procedures before criticising Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, for his comments opposing KDM Malaysia's application to join the BN coalition.

Former PBS Secretary General Henrynus Amin yesterday contended that contrary to what Peter said, KDM Malaysia needs the consent of all BN component parties before the coalition can consider his application.

He said BN works and makes decisions based on consensus, and even one BN component member which disagreed can stop new political parties from joining the BN exclusive club.

Therefore, he said, Tan Sri Pairin's statements on KDM Malaysia's intention to join BN were fair comments and consistent with BN procedure on the matter.

"Take it from me," he said, "unless the BN charter is changed, KDM Malaysia will have to seek permission not only from PBS but also from Upko, PBRS, LDP and all BN component political parties," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Henrynus took Peter to task for his racist remarks to insinuate KDM racial inferiority and comparing them to a particular race to justify his political ambition.

"If Peter truly has the KDM people at heart, he should either keep KDM Malaysia as an NGO for the KDM community or convert to political party but fight for the KDM cause on its own merit even if outside BN," he said.

"Otherwise, Peter's motive for turning KDM Malaysia into a political party and applying to join BN is politically suspect," said Henrynus.

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Merchant ship with 19 crewmen detained near Gaya Island

Posted: 21 Feb 2014 09:32 AM PST

by Elton Gomes. Posted on February 22, 2014, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: A merchant ship with 19 crewmen from Vietnam was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for trespassing and docking at Sabah waters near Gaya Island, here early Wednesday morning.

MMEA chief enforcement officer Captain Azman Md Zin Yunus said the incident happened during a patrol operation when an MMEA vessel spotted the merchant ship docking in Sabah waters.

"We detained the ship on suspicion of anchoring in Sabah waters without obtaining any permission from the relevant authority.

"We have also detained 19 crewmen from Vietnam, aged 21 to 41, and the case will be investigated under Section 491 (B) (1) (1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952," he said yesterday.

Azman said investigation revealed the ship was heading to Bintulu, Sarawak from India but anchored in Kota Kinabalu without informing the Maritime Department.

He said MMEA would continue to monitor intrusions or threats in Malaysian waters would remain committed to enforcing the laws of the country.

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We do not need Pairin’s permission – KDM Malaysia

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 06:13 PM PST

by Sandra Sokial. Posted on February 21, 2014, Friday

KOTA KINABALU: Kadazan Dusun Murut Malaysia (KDM Malaysia) is going ahead with its proposal to register as a political party next month.

Its president, Datuk Peter Anthony, said that the recent responses from politicians, both positive and negative, had in fact strengthened their spirit to pursue with their plan to join the political fray under the Barisan Nasional umbrella.

He said the unfavourable comments from several individuals, including Parti Bersatu Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who publicly declared that they (PBS) will not support KDM Malaysia's application to join BN, actually spurred them to move forward.

"We do not need his (Pairin) permission to join BN, in fact, it is not up to him. KDM Malaysia is a new force in the political scenario because our struggle will determine the future of the KDM and indigenous people in Sabah. I believe we will have a stronger voice to speak for our people's needs as a political party," he said.

He said the KDM have suffered too long, and it was time for the community to rise to greater heights at par with the other communities in Malaysia.

"Take the Pakistanis as an example. In the past, we see them walking from one house to another with a bundle of wares at their back. Today, they are even richer than the locals, and some are with positions or somebody. If they can do it, I do not see why the KDM cannot do the same," he said.

Anthony does not believe that KDM Malaysia's participation in the political arena would further divide the support from the community towards BN.

"If you are talking about the divide, it has been done decades ago (referring to the many KDM-based political parties under BN). So, I do not think our presence would add more harm. Maybe we can strengthen the KDM's voice," he said.

Anthony expressed disappointment when his sincerity to help the KDM community was questioned by Pairin.

"He too was categorised as 'mogidu-idu, om gumuli-guli' (leave, and return) once (for leaving the coalition in 1990 and readmitted 12 years later), so we can also question his sincerity now.

"I think it is also time for him to retire to make way for new and young leaders to take the helm. Malaysia should learn from other countries which are willing to give opportunity to young leaders to take the helm and lead the country, such as Enrico Letta, who was made Italy's prime minister when he was 47 years old, David Cameron was 44 when he became United Kingdom's prime minister and Barack Obama was 48 when he became the president of the United States of America.

"We are not short of capable young leaders. I believe they will be able to give new ideas and bring greater development to the state and country as a whole. I am not saying this because I do not respect the senior politicians, but with their vast experience and knowledge, they should be able to think what is best for the people and how to ensure BN stays relevant," he said.

On Wednesday, Pairin said they would not support KDM Malaysia's application to be part of the BN when it has registered as a political party, adding that the NGO should stick to its role.

"When you are first 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," he said.

Pairin however said that no one can stop KDM Malaysia from becoming a political party.

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Let AirAsia remain at KKIA Terminal 2 – Lajim

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 06:11 PM PST

KOTA KINABALU: AirAsia should be given the opportunity to invest in and develop Kota Kinabalu International Airport's (KKIA) Terminal Two so that it continues to operate there, Sabah PKR liaison chairman Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said.

Lajim said when he was Deputy Transport Minister, AirAsia's chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes had made his intention to develop Terminal Two known.

"AirAsia had given very valid reasons as to why it is against moving to KKIA Terminal One as doing so would mean that it would no longer be able to operate as a low-cost carrier and this would affect those who depend on its low rates to travel," Lajim said.

"We all know that AirAsia is the preferred carrier for air travel of people from the low income group, from the rural areas, students and budget travellers because it offers low-cost airfares and Fernandes said AirAsia does not want the high operation costs of operating in Terminal One to be transferred onto the passengers.

"He (Fernandes) was ready to develop Terminal Two at their own cost, so I am urging the state and federal governments to give him the opportunity to do so," he told reporters yesterday.

Lajim, however, does not agree with Fernandes' threat to pull out from Sabah and was of the opinion that the latter should instead first talk with the federal government so that the people in Sabah who really want to travel are not burdened.

He expressed hope that Fernandes and AirAsia would not be hasty in making a decision on the matter and added, "there are no problems that cannot be resolved through discussions."

"So I urge the state and federal governments to seriously discuss the matter and allow Fernandes to invest in developing Terminal Two so that it can also cater to the BIMP-EAGA market and complement the tourism destination which Tanjung Aru has been identified as," he said.

Lajim was commenting on Fernandes' 'threat' to move out of Sabah if AirAsia is forced to relocate its operations from KKIA Terminal Two to Terminal One.

With a plan to expand the low-cost carrier AirAsia's operations and bringing in AirAsia X, Tony had said: "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 KKIA 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 becomes affordable. To me, personally, just because it (Terminal Two) is an old building, why tear it down when you can do renovation..…so my preference would be the Terminal Two," he said.

"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.

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Relocate flood-hit religious school to higher ground call

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 06:05 PM PST

BEAUFORT: Limbawang State Islamic Religious School should be relocated from its frequently flooded site, to ensure the safety of its students.

Beaufort Umno Division chief Isnin Aliasnih suggested the school be moved to a piece of state land next to Limbawang Mosque, saying the one-acre land is enough for constructing a new building to accommodate the school's 98 students and seven teachers.

Floating the proposal during a gotong royong to clean the school after the recent flood, Isnin said moving the school to a higher ground would help ensure its teaching and learning would not be interrupted every time the water level rose during the rainy season.

The massive gotong royong was organized by Sabah Umno Youth, involving five other locations, namely SK St Paul, SK Pintas, Tokong Cina, the district general market and Taman Lo Chong.

The cleaning was assisted by the district police, RELA, Department of Civil Defense, the military and Fire and Rescue Department.

Two fire trucks were dispatched to help flush thick mud at the two schools while a water pump was sent to each of the other four sites.

The huge flood that hit the district since early this month had caused damage to 17 schools in the district.

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