We Exist!

Guong

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 — When the next issue of The Herald, a local Catholic newspaper comes out on Jan 11, it will be missing an entire section in the National Language.

Two days ago, the Home Ministry ordered it to close down its Bahasa Malaysia section, for fear that Malaysian Muslims would become confused over the newspaper’s use of the word “Allah” to mean God outside of Islam. More

This issue have been long drag since 2007. Resulting a court action taken against the government which still on going yet the Home Ministry already took this matter according to their own 'verdict'. Stop using it or no more 'The Herald'. The sad part is, it is politically motivated. The Herald is just collateral damage.

Is it true that this word is exclusive only for the Muslim? Read this article if you want to know. Or you can watch this sermon conducted in Arabic. You might hear a familiar word in it.

But really, why does Malaysian Christian community seems to fight back over this issue to the extent on taking this matter into court? Why not just accept it and stop using that word? Honestly, it doesn't really bothers me as a Christian even though we've used that word for decades (way back before Malaysia even born). They want the word back? Fine, they can have it. It is such a trivial matter. I'm sure the leader of Malaysian Christian community share the same thought as I am.

I'm guessing it is because to remind our government about religious freedom in Malaysia. To remind them on the diversity of belief in Malaysia. To remind them that we are the one that have been tolerating them, not the other way around. To remind them not to push us to much. To remind them on the non-English speaking Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

So, it's not a matter of weather we win or lose the case but as a reminder for them that we exist.

Oh..and Happy New Year 2009.

Indonesian school in Sabah..for the better or..??

Guong

The Indonesian government is proposing for a land to build and relocate the present Sekolah Indonesia Kota Kinabalu (SIKK) at Alamesra. Actually, I didn't even know that such school exist in Sabah. So why did the Indonesian Government decided to relocate the current school? read here.

For me, this is actually a great idea. It is better to give these kids a proper education rather than being a street kids. But some issues come to mind. Will the pupils that are going to attend this school are those with legitimate paper or illegal immigrants as raised by PBS. It is a sound concern, even though it might be politically motivated, if you know what I mean.

And if these kids are not from paperless Indonesian family, why not just attend government school? Is it not there are laws that allows them to attend government school? Maybe economic problems..?

But whatever the reason for building SIKK, I hope it is done through the right channel.

Less than half is Sabahan in Sabah.

Guong

All Sabahan know of this situation but to know that the Native Sabahan have really become minority in our own land, it's like a nightmare turning into a reality. A situation that usually only happens in the movies.

What can we do? These new 'natives' have already rooted to deep in Sabah current situation. I have met a lot of these new 'natives' working not as labors but professional such as nurse, teacher, contractors, YB etc.

I can only see one solution. Compete. Yes, that is the only way out. We can't force them to go out from Sabah or Malaysia anymore. Unless they still haven't got any legal document yet which is very unlikely due to 'Projek I.C' decades ago. We can't just keep on blaming our government or Sabah state government for that matter. They wouldn't give a damn other that their own pocket.

So, Sabahan, get educated. Sought any opportunity to improve our self. (legal one la..)

Green Card...for thousands of stateless in Tawau??

Guong

Tawau has thousands of "stateless" people? What? How did these people ends up being stateless in the first place? Lack of awareness by the 'local' on registering their child after birth? They live deep in the jungle that need 2 to 3 days to reach causing them unable to register their children?

I've live in Tawau before and I've even been to their most deep 'kampung' such as Kalabakan. And you know what, those deep, far kampung actually has a proper road to link them with Tawau town. In those kampung they even have Astro subscribers. Yet they are STATELESS? What are these "stateless" people excuses for being stateless in the first place?

Why did NRD even choose Tawau to open this green card registration in the first place? Why not Kinabatangan, Sook, Pensiangan, Keningau, Tenom, Long Pasia, Pitas, Kota Marudu.. These are the places where land communication is a problem thus causing most of the villagers there can't register their child after birth. These are the places where genuine "stateless" people live. But instead they choose Tawau. A place which is well known for its illegal immigrants from the Philippine and Indonesia.

The NRD claim that they will not issue green card to foreigner or illegal immigrants. Yeah sure, like the misissued red I.C cases. Damn it!!

Wind of change for Sarawak?

Guong

It's official, another members of Sarawak state representative joined PKR. Along with 12,000 more Sarawakian. It cause quit a buzz in Sarawak and for our current ruling government even though no official comment have been made by 'them'. Maybe it's because the federal government doesn't have any 'channel' to voice their 'concern'. Why? well Sarawak has full autonomy over their own administration unlike Sabah which is controlled by UMNO led government.

This event remind me of a chat I had with one of my Sarawakian friend three years ago.

Me : Man, I'm sick of my current state leader.

L : Why?

Me : Because Sabah is controlled by outsider. All of our wealth and resource are rob away just like that. Our oil, timber, even palm oil. Sabah leaders only follow whatever the federal government say. Like a 'yes men'. Like a buffalo being drag by its nose.

L : Really? That is bad.

Me : Yeah, you know, I really envy your state. Your people have full control over your own state. Unlike us, we have to bow to UMNO, but in your state, they have to bow to you. You know how they look at us Borneo? just as their income source. Just look at us Sabahan, we are so left behind, Sarawak is actually even better than Sabah in term of all aspects, be it education, infrastructure, immigration, politic etc.. I'm so jealous man..

L : Ha ha..Is that how Sabah look at Sarawak? Well, it's true Sarawak has more control over our own state, but, we Sarawakian also face problems because of our 'more' control situation. There are discrimination and monopoly of certain ethnic happening in Sarawak for a very long time now. Do you know that my ethnic, Dayak, form the largest ethnic group in Sarawak yet we are sidelined by the current leader? All of the projects, benefits are monopolized by cronies.

Me : Really, whoa..I didn't know that.

L : And you know what, all this time we see Sabah as better than Sarawak because you get to change you Chief Minister. It prevent cronies to stay since you rotate your leader between ethnic. So everyone gets a fair share.

Me : Ha ha..yeah but they are actually more like a puppet for the federal government. I guess, weather we have full autonomy or not on our state, we would still face problems.

L : Yeah, it all depends to the leader. Either good or not.


Well, our chat was something like that. Not exactly like that but the main point are the same. That was three years ago...now, any difference? Yes, the difference is, after 3 years, it's getting worst..

Sabah State Budget 2009.....(2008??)

Guong

The complete speech of Sabah state budget for 2009 is published here.
It 'sounds' nice, except for the deficit amounting RM 208 million. 2009 budget is the biggest (RM2,778.81 billion) yet and it really worries me.

Why? Every Sabahan know why. Corruption. Yes, a plague that have taken roots so deep that it somehow seems legal and practiced 'openly'. But, that's another topic.

But before that, what happen to the 2008 budget? Was it a success or 'suck'cess? The main agenda for 2008 budget was Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) and it's still in the 'management' phase, yet to reach the 'implementation' stage. Let's not forget about Sabah power shortage and the incident that cause almost the whole state to 'blackout'. And I didn't find anything in this 2009 budget that is related on improving Sabah power grid managment. Or was it not included as it is less important? Or is it 100% on SESB alone to improve it?

All I can say is 2008 budget was a failure if SDC is to be the benchmark. For 2009? it's still to early to make a conclusion but base on Sabah track records, it's more likely to be a 'beautiful budget' yet again. With a lot more to spend by the rakyat? I hope so even though its more to 'hopeless'....sigh..

Kimanis-Bintulu....one way??

Guong

Pak Lah did it again. His flip-flop policy seems remain unchanged even though his days as PM almost over. In the recent 23rd PBS Annual Congress, he stunned everyone that the scrapped Kimanis-Bintulu Gas Pipeline project as demanded by Sabah is now ON again! He didn't even explain why it was on again.

UPKO leader Bernard G. Dompok was the most vocal on this matter. Or maybe the ONLY Sabahan leader that being vocal on this matter. What about the other Sabahan leader? Yet to hear any 'noise'.

Why must the gas be piped to Bintulu? Why must the government spend a huge sum of money just to build the pipeline to Bintulu when building Sabah's own gas refinery would be more practical and beneficial to Sabah. It's Sabah own resource we're talking about. It's not that we don't want to share but why not make Sabah as the main hub instead of Sarawak? I've got nothing against Sarawak but this is just so unfair.

With this resource, Sabah state can actually solve its 'blackout' problem. It can also create new job opportunity for the local. Most importantly, it can boost Sabah's economy development. It will provide a much more diverse opportunity to develop Sabah as a whole.

RM3 billion worth of 500km gas pipeline, why not just make one refinery in Sabah? Save more cost.

On May 31, Pak Lah assured Sabah leader in Kota Kinabalu that this project will be scrapped. So much for the assurance. But the worst part is, why are the other Sabah leaders seems to ignore this? Have they no 'balls' to say anything? Damn..