15 December 2023
On Today Show
> Dominic Langat, Kenyah Long Tungan, Ulu Baram – Worry and Reality: the Impact of False Diesel Subsidy Cancellation News on Rural Residents
> Anyi Lah from Long Telangan Ulu Baram – Holiday Homecoming Hurdles: Damaged Roads and Bridges in the Interior area
> Siti Kasim, Human rights Lawyer – No Legal Restrictions on Wearing Religious Accessories
> S Arutchelvan, deputy chairperson of PSM – Unity in Diversity: A Call for Inclusive Nation-Building
> Anjang Aluej, Chairman of the Network of Kampung Sungai Papan – Summit Memo: Orang Asli Communities Appeal to Perak MB for Urgent Intervention
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Dominic Langat, Kenyah Long Tungan, Ulu Baram - Kebimbangan dan Realiti: Impak Berita Palsu Pembatalan Subsidi Diesel ke atas Penduduk Luar Bandar
> Anyi Lah dari Long Telangan Ulu Baram - Halangan Pulang ke Kampung: Jalan dan Jambatan Rosak di Pendalaman
> Siti Kasim, Peguam Hak Asasi Manusia - Tiada Had Undang-Undang Mengenai Memakai Aksesori Beragama
> S Arutchelvan, Timbalan Pengerusi PSM - Perpaduan dalam Kepelbagaian: Seruan untuk Pembinaan Negara yang Inklusif
> Anjang Aluej, Pengerusi Rangkaian Kampung Sungai Papan - Memo Orang Asli kepada MB Perak untuk Campur Tangan Segera
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*Special Randau*
1. The tallest flagpole in Southeast Asia will be launched by the Sarawak Premier on the night of 31/12/2023, awaiting the countdown to the new year. Only GPS leaders take pride in the construction of the flagpole. They should be ashamed of spending millions to build the flagpole, especially when thousands of people in Sarawak are still poor. The RM30 million should have been used to help the poor.
2. The news about the removal of diesel subsidies before January 2024 is false.
3. Baru Bian said, Member of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak, will not support the idea that only Malays are eligible to become the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
4. Rafizi challenges Tik Tok Pro PN to face off in a podcast debate. He claims they have been spreading slander against the government all this while.
5. Why push for additional parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak if existing MPs are not doing much to help? What should be emphasized are MPs who are more responsible and represent the voice of the people, says BERSIH 2.0 Chair Candidate P. Gopalan Krishnan.
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Dominic Langat, Kenyah Long Tungan, Ulu Baram.
*Worry and Reality: the Impact of False Diesel Subsidy Cancellation News on Rural Residents*
A notice went viral on social media stating that the diesel subsidy will be removed effective January 1, 2024. However, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living - quickly denied that the news was true and informed that the ministry is conducting a pilot project to see the effectiveness of the fleet system card and Mysubsidi Diesel system. Involving 6 companies that received quotas for "skid tanks" that will expire on January 14 next. Even if it's fake news, it still worries us rural residents. Moreover, we are diesel users - Dominic Langat said. The majority of poor people in the interior use 4-wheel drive cars. Not because we are rich. But only this vehicle is able to move on rickshaw and muddy roads (log roads) in the interior. Our one-way trip to the village took 8 hours and a round trip would take over 16 hours. Therefore, the consumption of diesel for my car per month averages RM700. I am worried if the targeted subsidy that will be implemented next year does not provide as much subsidy as expected. Maybe the government thinks why poor people need to use a lot of diesel. The reason is, our village is far away. The distance between the garden and the place where we go hunting is deep in the forest. Therefore, I hope that the government will consider these factors when approving the amount of diesel subsidies that will be given to us
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Anyi Lah from Long Tebangan Ulu Baram
*Holiday Homecoming Hurdles: Damaged Roads and Bridges in the Interior*
Anyi Lah shared the challenges faced during every festive season, particularly the road conditions for the journey back to the village through logging roads that become slippery during the rainy season. Additionally, there are several damaged and unsafe bridges.
The road, which takes several hours to travel to Long Tebangan, has been in use for a long time through logging roads that depend entirely on logging companies. It is disheartening for a wealthy state to have such road conditions used by the rural population for decades. Every return to the village results in vehicle damage, posing a significant burden on the people who have no choice but to use these poor roads.
Anyi questions whether they can pay lower road taxes compared to the high rates for 4x4 vehicle owners, as it is unfair to pay the same road tax as urban areas for poorly maintained roads in rural areas for decades.
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S Arutchelvan, deputy chairperson of PSM
*Unity in Diversity: A Call for Inclusive Nation-Building*
Arutchelvan argues that having an "Indian or Tamil-speaking" minister does not necessarily translate into better representation for the community, which continues to be plagued by socio-economic problems. He responds to the comments made by the former Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy, who described the new cabinet as a "big disappointment" to the Indians for failing to appoint an Indian minister. Arutchelvan states that in the past, during Mahathir Mohamad's 22-year tenure as prime minister, there were calls for two full ministerial posts for Indians, but this did not materialize. "Then during Mahathir's 22-month reign (when Pakatan Harapan was in power), suddenly there were four Indian ministers. I am including Gobind as well for this one. But the point is, whether one, two, three, or four, was the community better represented?" Arutchelvan questions. For Arutchelvan, the fundamental question is whether cabinet ministers should represent all Malaysians or just their respective races. He also points out how the ideology of multiracial and class-based politics is challenged by mono-ethnic politics, emphasizing the importance of a nation-building project based on unity instead of divide and rule.
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Siti Kasim, Human rights Lawyer
*No Legal Restrictions on Wearing Religious Accessories*
Human rights lawyer Siti Kasim has criticized the recent incident where an employee of a Chinese-Muslim restaurant was terminated for wearing a cross necklace.
She condemned the employer's actions and stressed that employees have the right to express their religious beliefs through symbols like the cross, which should not be linked to the nature of the food they serve. She urged employers to uphold their employees' rights and refrain from religious discrimination.
Siti emphasized that religious matters should not be excessively sensitive, emphasizing that it's common sense, but societal manipulation and misunderstandings on social media have exacerbated the situation. This distortion led to instances like the restaurant owner misinterpreting the act of wearing a cross as inappropriate. Siti Kasim deems such perspectives as misguided.
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Anjang Aluej, Chairman of the Network of Kampung Sungai Papan
*Summit Memo: Orang Asli Communities Appeal to Perak MB for Urgent Intervention*
Encroachment logging activities are taking place in the Orang Asli communities of Kg Sg Papan, Kg Kensew, and Kg Janking in Grik, Perak, carried out by Majuta Sdn Bhd. The affected area, known as the Kensew ancestral domain, encompasses the Luakwang region and spans 80 hectares. The signboard indicates that the initial entry occurred in July 2023, marked by the construction of a logging road that traverses from Sg Papan straight to Felda FGV 1, then to Felda Tawai 2, and into the Luakwang area. The boundaries of this area connect with Kg Keyef, Ong Jemol, and Kg Cunek, forming four distinct territories.
Anjang and the team submitted a memorandum to Menteri Besar Perak and JAKOA Perak on Tuesday. Earlier, the communities set up a new One Kensew AJK, which includes communities of Kpg Papan and Kpg Jenking as required by JAKOA. PEKA also intended to visit the encroachment site but needed to postpone due to cabinet reshuffling. Despite the company's attempts to seek permission and offer compensation, the communities, including Kg Keyef, Ong Jemol, and Kg Cunek, steadfastly refused, even declining a cash compensation proposal of RM100.00.
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