22 November 2023
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Iswardy Morni, Aktivis dan Analis Politik - Krisis Alam Sekitar Diabaikan: GPS Mengutamakan Wang Berbanding Kelestarian
> Juwin dari Opar - Komuniti Tidak Tahu: Perjalanan Mesyuarat Dewan Undangan Negeri dan Tanggungjawab yang Belum Dipenuhi
> Romuald Siew, aktivis dari Niah - Pendatang vs. Orang Asli: Perjuangan untuk Peluang Pendaftaran IC yang Sama Rata
On Today Show
> Iswardy Morni, Activist and Political analyst – Environmental Crisis Ignored: GPS Prioritizes Money Over Sustainability
> Juwin from Opar – Rural Communities Unaware: State Assembly Proceedings and Unfulfilled Responsibilities
> Romuald Siew, activist from Niah – Migrants vs. Indigenous: The Struggle for Equal IC Registration Opportunities
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*Special Randau*
1. Sarawak State Assembly. YB Chong Chen Jen questions the Sarawak state government's decision to export clean energy to Singapore while using dirty energy within Sarawak. According to Chong, natural gas is equally if not more environmentally harmful than other fossil fuels as a source of energy for the state's industries. Chong made these remarks during the discussion of the Gas Distribution (Amendment) 2023 bill.
2. The Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund will receive deposits from the Sarawak Consolidated Funds. The question is, why aren't the issues of rural poverty and children living in poverty addressed first using this fund?
3. Environmental conservation is not just about knowing proper waste disposal or cleaning drainage and sewer systems. It involves stopping deforestation and dam construction. While the Sarawak state government is the first to have laws on greenhouse gas reduction, it is actively involved in dam construction, logging, and agriculture.
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Iswardy Morni, Activist and Political analyst.
*Environmental Crisis Ignored: GPS Prioritizes Money Over Sustainability*
The Sarawak state assembly conference passed 5 Bills including the Environment Bill (Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions) 2023. Sarawak is proud to be the first state in Malaysia to have such a bill. According to Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, MA63 and federal-state relations) Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali - this is Sarawak's commitment to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050 and Sarawak's efforts to look after and protect the environment. According to Iswardy- The minister's statement is contrary to the state government's actions recommending more dams be built and more logging and palm oil plantation licenses approved. The Sarawak government is projecting revenue from palm oil in 2024 of RM850 million and land premium revenue of RM400 million. While Sarawak Premier Abang Johari as reported by NST intends to build more dams and reach an energy capacity of 7000 MW by 2026. According to Iswardy again - to protect the environment, Sarawak needs to reduce logging and oil palm plantations (use of fertilizers and poisons) and there is no need to build dams extra. The Sarawak government is too obsessed with making profits, so much so that it forgets about the environment. For example, the majority of residents downstream of the Bakun dam still do not have access to electricity. But the state government plans to sell electricity all the way to Singapore. Poor people are neglected because they cannot afford to pay electricity bills and their consumption is small. But the government is so excited to get revenue through hydropower generation - sold abroad. The amount of Sarawak's real energy needs needs to be identified, it seems that the number of existing dams is sufficient - Iswardy Morni.
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Juwin from Opar
*Rural Communities Unaware: State Assembly Proceedings and Unfulfilled Responsibilities*
Juwin doesn't know what is happening in the state assembly, let alone what bills are being presented or what issues are being debated. Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg announced a development-focused state budget for 2024, allocating RM9.038 billion, a significant increase from this year's RM4.563 billion. He emphasizes a commitment to inclusive economic growth, aiming to accelerate development in key sectors for a prosperous, robust, and resilient state economy. As the Finance and New Economy Minister, Abang Johari highlights the budget's emphasis on development for economic progress.
However, despite the substantial budget, most people are unaware of what is happening in the state assembly. Juwin expresses hope that in this significant budget, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) includes basic infrastructure in the inland areas, such as roads. He notes that despite GPS's long-standing governance in Sarawak, suburban and inland infrastructure remains inadequate, with roads full of potholes.
Juwin believes that GPS's budget focuses on cities and large-scale development projects, seemingly neglecting the concerns of inland residents. He states that most people, especially those in inland areas, are unaware of the proceedings in the state assembly. He is unsure if the Opar assemblyman has raised issues facing Opar in the assembly. Juwin argues that once the assembly dates are known, representatives should inform their constituents, gather issues affecting the people, and address them in the assembly.
He urges state assembly members to fulfill their responsibilities, solving problems for the people instead of occupying positions without taking action.
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Romuald Siew, activist from Niah
*Migrants vs. Indigenous: The Struggle for Equal IC Registration Opportunities*
Last week, the JPN team and community leaders in the Niah area were informed by JPN to identify their respective communities that still lack ICs and encourage them to register at Batu Niah Hall. The event spanned two days.
The first day proceeded smoothly, but when news spread on social media, an unexpected influx of migrants occurred on the second day. The situation escalated to the point where the police had to be called in to control the crowd. According to one community leader, they had to record all those migrants, just to appease them. Remould Siew expressed the opinion that this was a good idea.
However, the issue arose when the team had a program to register those applying for ICs in Kpg Medinah at the Simpang Jawa junction yesterday and today. Kpg Medinah primarily consists of Javanese Indonesian migrants, some of whom already possess ICs. The concern here is why a similar initiative cannot be implemented in indigenous peoples' villages and longhouses.
Simultaneously, there were reports of certain community leaders taking advantage of the situation, capitalizing on the opportunity to earn money by bringing in migrants for a fee per person. This practice is deemed unacceptable. Siew urges community leaders to carry out their responsibilities sincerely and prioritize helping the local community.