14 November 2023
On Today Show
> YB Chong Chieng Gen, Member of the Padungan State Legislative Assembly – Sarawak State Assembly Live Broadcast Opposed by GPS
> Iswardy Morni, Activist and political analyst – 4 MPs were bribed with various offers is a false allegation
> Mark Bujang, social activist – Community Concerns: NCR Implications in Sarawak's Resource Discovery
> Chris Lau, independent journalist – Langkawi Tourism in Peril: Impact of PAS Laws on Visitor Numbers
-
*Special Randau*
1. The Chief Minister of Sabah envisions that the 17th Sabah state election may be held in early 2024.
2. Asfia Awang Nasar was appointed as the 9th Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly until November 2023.
3. There are no police reports, and there is no evidence that the four Members of Parliament who support Anwar Ibrahim were bribed or corrupted.
4. There is no live broadcast of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sessions because the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) does not want the public to know about their weaknesses.
--------------
YB Chong Chieng Gen, Member of the Padungan State Legislative Assembly
*Sarawak State Assembly Live Broadcast Opposed by GPS*
There is no law preventing the live broadcast of the Sarawa state assembly conference. Only GPS doesn't want live broadcast.
The Sarawak state assembly conference will take place on 20 to 29 Nov 2023. It is very sad that the Sarawak State Assembly meeting is not broadcast live for public viewing. Asked if there is any law that prevents the Sarawak State Assembly meeting from being broadcast live on TV, Radio or social media. There is no law preventing it - said Chong. Only the desire for GPS is the only obstacle. GPS Sarawak government does not want the DUN conference to be broadcast live. I will continue to insist that there be a live broadcast - said Chong. In fact, according to Chong, the quality of the answers given by the GPS minister was also very disappointing and most of my questions were not answered directly. Instead answered through a written answer. Even so, I will get an answer 3,4 months after the conference. Sometimes, what I ask is different, and the answer is different. This time I will ask a question to the Premier of Sarawak, what is the total number of races in Sarawak who hold positions in the state public service. I want detailed statistics.
------------
Iswardy Morni, Activist and political analyst.
*4 MPs were bribed with various offers is a false allegation*
Until today, 4 PN (Bersatu) members of parliament expressed open support for prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. They have disobeyed orders from their president Muhyiddin Yassin. But they still remain and are valid as members of parliament. It also shows that the anti-party jumping act fails to prevent any member of parliament from switching their support to another party. According to Iswardy, it is admitted that the Anti-Party Jumping Act has weaknesses, and that weakness stems from Muhyiddin's (Bersatu) own reluctance to agree to include a clause - "a member of parliament should vacate his seat if he violates party principles and does not follow his party's position in Parliament". At that time Parti Muhyiddin benefited a lot when UMNO parliamentarians jumped and supported PN. Related to the allegations of 4 members of parliament who jumped because they were threatened, bribed and offered various projects. The MACC investigation did not prove the matter and this morning the Minister of Home Affairs stated in parliament that no police report was made on the allegation. This means it is a false claim.
------------------
Mark Bujang, social activist
*Community Concerns: NCR Implications in Sarawak's Resource Discovery*
On our Deputy Premier that he requested for another RM300 mln to expand and expedite geological mapping in Sarawak despite Sarawak has been allocated RM16mln. That amount is not enough to cover huge area in Sarawak. Geological mapping is important to obtain data on our existing minerals and minerals that yet to be discovered.
Mark is not sure if the geological survey is to be done on off shore or on shore? Likely it is to be offshore. As Sarawak state govt has its own oil and gas company, that is petrol. But Mark in the opinion on geological mapping is the state had held oil and gas exploration in Sarawak. And they discovered gas reserve in Mukah area.
As such they need geological survey. Not only oil and gas event coal deposit also found in Mukah. And other minerals. That is why they requested more funding from Federal to do geological survey.
This geological is very specialise work done by geologist. In Sarawak the geologist are working with oil and gas. That could be one of the reason why Sarawak needs more funding.
But if the minerals are found in the interior or onshore and if that particular area is occupied by the community thats mean their ncr is affected. So by law if the government or company wish to do anything on ncr land, they must obtain provision lease or protecting licence. And that is where the issue arise if the area is in ncr land of the community
------------
Chris Lau, independent journalist
*Langkawi Tourism in Peril: Impact of PAS Laws on Visitor Numbers*
Today, Radio Free Sarawak conducted an interview with Mr. Chris Lau, an independent journalist, discussing the decline in tourist numbers to Langkawi. The island, under the PAS government, is perceived to be on the brink of an economic downturn in the tourism sector. This is attributed to PAS leaders implementing stringent laws that prohibit visitors from dressing in a manner deemed as revealing.
Mr. Chris questioned the rationale behind intertwining religion with tourism, expressing concerns about the potential negative impact on Langkawi's attractiveness to visitors.