15 March 2024
On Today Show
— Boyce Ngau Anyie, Retired Baram online teacher – GPS, don't politicize education and don't make education a gimmick to get people's support!
— Dr Micheal Teo, ex-MP of Miri – Accountability in Action: Tracking Sarawak's Rural Development Funds
— Agnes Padan, activist from Lawas – Stateless Communities at Risk: amendments create conflict
— Asthar Lungan of Kpg Koduko Pituru Darat Kota Belud – Unseen Poverty: The Realities of Rural Sabah
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Boyce Ngau Anyie, Pensyarah Online Berpencen dari Baram – JGN Politikkan Pendidikan dan JGN Buat Pendidikan Sebagai Gimmick Untuk Dapat Sokongan Rakyat!
— Dr. Micheal Teo, bekas Ahli Parlimen Miri – Akauntabiliti dalam Tindakan: Menjejaki Dana Pembangunan Luar Bandar Sarawak
— Agnes Padan, aktivis dari Lawas – Komuniti Tanpa Warganegara Berisiko: Pindaan Membuatkan Konflik
— Asthar Lungan dari Kg. Koduko Pituru Darat Kota Belud – Kemiskinan Tersembunyi: Realiti Orang Miskin di Sabah Luar Bandar
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*Special Randau*
1. The trial of Najib Razak, who is charged with 4 counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.27 billion from 1MDB funds, continues. The 50th prosecution witness, 1MDB’s former general-counsel Jasmine Loo denied that she had any agreement with the MACC, the prosecutor, or the Malaysian government to testify in Najib's case. She also testified that she did not suspect fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) of being involved in embezzling funds from 1MDB as the latter was already a rich man.
The trial will resume on April 1, 2024. There are still many trials involving Najib. Why should he be pardoned when he still has many cases to face?
2. Pas lost the suit and the court ordered the party to pay RM659 thousand to NAJ Press Resources (M) Sdn.Bhd (printer of Harakah Daily).
3. Parents in Sarawak should speak up and report the schools where their children attend school. Only then will their problems get attention and have a chance to be addressed. Today Serian MP Richard Riot Jaem visited a poor school in Tebedu - as reported yesterday. The free education offered by GPS will only come into effect in 2026. Only involves IPT/IPTS, in terms of fee payment and free books. Free education should include modern school facilities at all levels and education should not be politicized.
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Boyce Ngau Anyie, Retired Baram online teacher
*GPS, don't politicize education and don't make education a gimmick to get people's support!*
Boyce contacted the RFS to give his views on SSLR and poor schools in Sarawak. Boyce was impressed and saddened by the report of the secondary school in Tebedu/Serian- Hostel where students live in a very poor and sad condition. With such conditions, how can students study comfortably, Question- Boyce.
Boyce said, he as a retired teacher, he very sure that there are significant weaknesses. If the report has shown the school is in poor condition, allocations should be channeled immediately, either by the state or federal government. Or the assigned officers are not doing their job.
GPS is chanting a slogan - that they will give free education to the children of Sarawak by the year 2026. What is free education meant by GPS. Do you give free books and tuition fees at the IPT and IPTS level?
Boyce suggested that free education be given from primary, secondary to university level. Not just fees and free books. Even school facilities should be modern and clean. The state government that really wants autonomy in the field of education and health- should do the work and collect accurate data from now on. So that there will be no more cases like this in Tebedu - Boyce said.
Don't politicize education and don't make education a gimmick to get people's support.
Boyce also informed that the SSLR highway project has reached Baram. The people of Baram are happy with the construction of the road to the interior but still oppose the construction of the dam.
We are not anti-development. We are against dams that affect our lives and the environment. However for the SSLR project. We ask the government to be transparent and that our land involved is adequately compensated.
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Dr Micheal Teo, ex-MP of Miri
*Accountability in Action: Tracking Sarawak's Rural Development Funds*
Last December, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari announced an allocation of RM550 million to implement Projek Rakyat, RM420 million for the Rural Transformation Projects (RTP), RM200 million for Regional Development Agencies, and RM260 million for Minor Rural Projects (MRP).
Similar claims are made almost every year, meaning that every year, interior/rural state assemblymen receive a certain development budget to address infrastructure issues in their constituencies. However, there has been no visible development in the inland areas, and state assemblymen have not submitted reports explaining how the state government's budget has been used for projects.
Teo stated that these allocations must be transparent, and it must be reported where they are used. Like our Members of Parliament, who have to submit report cards every three months to explain where the budget has been used, but he has never seen where the state legislative assembly has used the budget.
He demands transparency from the state government regarding the use of funds, insisting on accountability for where the money is spent. Otherwise, there will continue to be accusations of no development in his constituency. If there are expenditures that are not disclosed, it is best to present accounts for clarification.
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Agnes Padan, activist from Lawas
*Stateless Communities at Risk: amendments create conflict*
Last Friday, Saifuddin announced that the Cabinet had approved proposed amendments to the constitution regarding citizenship, which would be presented in the Dewan Rakyat. On Monday, he explained that the amendment aims to establish a degree of control to prevent granting citizenship to ineligible individuals. However, these proposed amendments have raised concerns among some Members of Parliament and activists.
Agnes Padan, a long-time advocate assisting Sarawakians in obtaining Malaysian citizenship, criticized the amendment, calling it a step backward and unfair to current applicants. She stated that while streamlining procedures could be acceptable, any changes affecting current applicants, given the already stringent requirements, could further complicate the application criteria and process, worsening the situation instead of alleviating it.
Agnes urged Members of Parliament, especially those from Sarawak, to understand the challenges faced by Sarawakians in obtaining Malaysian citizenship and to oppose these amendments. She also highlighted that these amendments could harm existing stateless communities, including the Orang Asli and Indigenous Peoples of Sabah and Sarawak, potentially creating a new class of stateless individuals trapped in bureaucratic processes.
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Asthar Lungan of Kpg Koduko Pituru Darat Kota Belud
*Unseen Poverty: The Realities of Rural Sabah*
Yesterday, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli disclosed in parliament that hardcore poverty in Sabah is six times higher than the national rate. According to the Sabah Economic Outlook 2024-2025, economist Dr. Abdul Aziz Karia highlighted three districts requiring assistance from both federal and state governments: Pitas, Tongod, and Kota Marudu.
However, many in Sabah argue that the need for assistance extends beyond these three districts. In the Kota Belud district, for example, a village named Kpg Koduko Pituru Darat has been grappling with poor road conditions since 1963.
Asthar said that, in 2011, they took matters into their own hands and initiated road repairs using their own funds, unable to wait for government intervention. In addition to road issues, the village also lacks access to electricity and treated water. Despite its potential for eco-tourism, Kpg Koduko lacks basic amenities. Consequently, residents have had to build second homes near the roadside and even sold lots to raise funds. Despite their efforts, no elected representative has ever visited the village, not even during election campaigns. The villagers have voiced their concerns, but it appears that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. During the dry season, the road becomes dusty, and during the wet season, it turns muddy.
The situation in Kpg Koduko is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by many rural communities in Sabah. Lack of infrastructure, government assistance, and economic development have left the villagers in dire need of support. They are calling on the government to address their plight and provide the necessary assistance to improve their living conditions.
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