18 October 2024
On Today Show
> Dennis Along- Political and Environmental Activist from Long Terawan Mulu, Baram – Bribery and Environmental Damage: Sarawak Premier Accused of Supporting Illegal Logging in Penan Lands
> Chiew Choon Mun, MP Miri of PKR – Miri's Squatter Crisis: Over 11,000 People in Dire Need of Affordable Housing
> Robert, social activist from Bintulu – Citizenship Amendment: A Step Forward for Sarawak’s Children, But Questions Remain for Indigenous Communities
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Dennis Along - Aktivis Politik & Alam Sekitar dari Baram menuduh Premier Sarawak menyokong pembalakan haram di tanah Penan, menyebabkan kerosakan alam sekitar.
> Chiew Choon Mun, Ahli Parlimen PKR Miri, menekankan lebih 11,000 orang di Miri memerlukan perumahan mampu milik akibat krisis setinggan.
> Robert, aktivis sosial dari Bintulu, membincangkan pindaan kewarganegaraan yang memberi manfaat kepada anak-anak Sarawak tetapi menimbulkan persoalan bagi komuniti pribumi.
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Special Randau
Opening and Randau 18 Oct 2024.1. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presented the Madani 2025 budget in Parliament at 4pm.
2. Trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, SRC International case. Najib claimed that he was upset with SRC's loss of almost 4 billion ringgit. Najib also claimed that he had no information related to SRC at that time - he was the finance minister and prime minister.
3. Hearing at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, the case of a lawsuit by 3 subsidiaries of 1mdb against Najib-Reza Aziz's stepson. The court was told that US$248 million was used by Reza to buy real estate and gamble.
4. Following the cancellation of the UBFA by the Sarawak Forestry Department. Dennis Along called for an SPRM investigation against the Sarawak Premier and the Borneoland Logging Company for abuse of power, as well as an investigation into the Forest Produce Fund (timber revenue) established during the administration of Sarawak Chief Minister Rahman Yakob. This fund was created to collect all timber products for development.
--------------------Dennis Along- Political and Environmental Activist from Long Terawan Mulu, Baram.
Bribery and Environmental Damage: Sarawak Premier Accused of Supporting Illegal Logging in Penan Lands
Following the cancellation of UBFA, a warning banner is being circulated by the media - showing 11 penan men and 2 children. Banner written, to BMF, Keruan and Roland Engan, Kaum Penan in Ba Data If we don't want you to interfere in the affairs of the forest in our village. We want to move forward and welcome the efforts of the Premier of Sarawak and the logging company to bring development to our village. According to Dennis- the voice like in the banner is the voice of the Penan minority group that was bribed by GPS and the logging company. Their number is less than 20 people. I think Premier Johari Openg is worse than Adenan Satem. During his short administration- Adenan announced that no more logging licenses would be issued. Development matters are not the work of logging companies. Instead it is the responsibility of the ruling government. There is no evidence anywhere in the baram of any development made by logging companies. What the log companies have been doing all this time is damaging the environment and after the logs are taken away. Log roads are left damaged and crumbling.
The native people should now take steps to sue the logging company for environmental crimes and report to the SPRM that Sarawak Premier Johari Openg is involved in the misuse of power to allow Borneoland Timber to log in the Penan forest reserve, which is an activity opposed by the majority of the Penan people. In terms of politics, the people were asked not to vote for GPS again and the people demanded an investigation into the Forest Revenue Fund established during the era of Chief Minister Tun Rahman Yakob's administration. Where the timber proceeds are collected and supposedly used for development. Actually according to Dennis the cancellation of the UBFA because of the illegal logging activities by Borneoland Timber supported by the Sarawak Forest Department was exposed and this is an embarrassment to the administration of Premier Johari Openg. As a result, they canceled UBFA.
--------------------Chiew Choon Mun, MP Miri of PKR
Miri's Squatter Crisis: Over 11,000 People in Dire Need of Affordable Housing
More than 11,000 people in Miri are currently living in squatter settlements, despite Sarawak’s immense wealth in natural resources, revealed Miri MP Chiew Choon Man. Expressing his deep concern over this ongoing issue, Chiew highlighted the stark contrast between the state’s abundant natural resources and the poverty still faced by many in Sarawak.
During a parliamentary question-and-answer session on November 2, 2023, Deputy Minister of Local Government YB Akmal Nasrullah disclosed that 1,741 households, comprising 9,462 individuals, were living in squatter settlements in Miri. Chiew added that since he became MP, his office has received numerous complaints and requests for aid from families living in these areas, facing challenges with basic infrastructure such as water, electricity, and road access.
Chiew, who has personally visited many of these communities, highlighted the severe difficulties they encounter, emphasizing that these families have been neglected for too long. He stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive housing policy to address these needs and ensure that the people of Miri can access affordable housing, especially low-cost options.
“The rapid urbanization and development have led to housing challenges, particularly due to a shortage of available land compared to the growing population,” Chiew said. He called for strategic planning and effective measures to ensure that all residents, especially those in squatter areas, can have access to comfortable and safe homes.
Chiew committed to continuing to raise the issue of affordable housing in Parliament, stating that Miri deserves more attention and support to resolve its housing crisis.
-------------------------------Robert, social activist from Bintulu
Citizenship Amendment: A Step Forward for Sarawak’s Children, But Questions Remain for Indigenous Communities
Robert warmly welcomed the recent efforts to amend the Federal Constitution regarding citizenship, emphasizing that this is a significant development for the children of Sarawak, particularly those from indigenous and inland areas. The activist believes that the amendment demonstrates the Madani government’s genuine political commitment to fulfilling its reform promises, correcting historical wrongs, and eliminating the long-standing inequalities faced by mothers and their children.
In Sarawak, many children, especially from indigenous communities, have long struggled to obtain citizenship due to complex administrative procedures and legal inconsistencies. Specifically, children born to Sarawakian mothers and foreign fathers have faced similar challenges that this constitutional amendment seeks to address. The activist views this amendment as not only offering hope but also providing legal protection for marginalized families in Sarawak, ensuring these children can secure the citizenship they rightfully deserve.
However, the activist also raised concerns about the longstanding issue of indigenous peoples living in Sarawak’s inland areas who remain without identification documents, questioning whether these children will be able to obtain IDs under the new amendment. Many indigenous people in Sarawak, particularly those in remote inland regions, still lack identification documents due to incomplete birth registrations and difficulties accessing legal services. The activist pointed out that while this constitutional amendment may resolve some children's citizenship issues, it remains unclear whether indigenous children in these areas will benefit from the new law and finally receive identification.
The lack of identification documents among indigenous people not only hinders their access to basic rights such as education and healthcare but also limits their ability to travel and participate in social and economic activities. The activist called on the government, once the amendment is passed, to continue prioritizing and addressing the issue of identification for these indigenous peoples, ensuring that all children in Sarawak's inland areas can enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
In conclusion, while the constitutional amendment is a positive step, the activist stressed that further policies and actions must follow to ensure that these indigenous children can truly benefit from the reform, obtain identification, and escape the plight of being "stateless."