22 October 2024
On Today Show
> Chales Tau, Resident of Asmadi Agau Longhouse, Long Urun, Belaga – Long Urun’s Irony: Solar Power Brings Relief, But National Grid and Roads Still Out of Reach
> Agnes Padan, an activist from Lawas – Decades of Waiting: Lawas’ Struggles with Unfinished Projects and Poor Healthcare
> S Arutchelvan, deputy chairman of PSM – Workers' Voices Ignored in Minimum Wage Increase, PSM Claims
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Charles Tau, Penduduk Rumah Panjang Asmadi Agau, Long Urun, Belaga – Ironi Long Urun: Tenaga Solar Memberi Kelegaan, Tetapi Grid Nasional dan Jalan Masih di Luar Jangkauan
> Agnes Padan, seorang aktivis dari Lawas – Puluhan Tahun Menunggu: Perjuangan Lawas dengan Projek yang Tidak Selesai dan Penjagaan Kesihatan yang Lemah
> S. Arutchelvan, timbalan pengerusi PSM – Suara Pekerja Diabaikan dalam Kenaikan Gaji Minimum, PSM Dakwa
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Special Randau
1. In the keynote speech of Sarawak premier Johari Openg at Singapore's international energy week. Jihari said that Sarawak has exceeded its renewable energy (RE) capacity by 62% this year. With hydropower, we succeeded in speeding up electricity connections to the countryside and reducing 73% of grid emissions between 2010-2022. But Charles Tau from Long Urun told RFS that only 3 years ago they had electricity through SEB's hybrid solar trial project - the electricity supply was only enough for minimum needs. Sarawak is described as having achieved an energy surplus, but the rural residents are given solar hidbid projects with minimal energy supply.
2. Through the 2025 budget - the government allocated RM7.4 billion to build a road connecting Sabah to Sarawak bypassing Brunei. However, the rural communities really hope that the government will not only build the main roads/highways but also roads to remote rural areas. The government should also provide a large allocation for building roads in the interior.
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Chales Tau, Resident of Asmadi Agau Longhouse, Long Urun, Belaga
Long Urun’s Irony: Solar Power Brings Relief, But National Grid and Roads Still Out of Reach
Long Urun is the settlement area of 18 Kenyah and Penan communities. Rumah Panjang Asmadi Agau is one of them. Since decades ago the community of Long Urun lived in poverty. They have only been able to get electricity for the past 3 years through an experimental hybrid solar project by the SEB company. Ironically, the longhouse in Long Urun is only a 2-hour drive to the Bakun dam. In a frugal way, use only basic electrical tools. This solar project is indeed beneficial. But their question is, why are we not connected to the national grid to get a more stable and sufficient electricity supply. We also do not have paved roads from the government here. We only use oil palm plantations Shin Yang Plantation and Urun Plantation. Water supply for daily use is using a nearby creek. We hope that the government will be able to speed up the construction of infrastructure facilities to our area in Long Urun. There is no logging activity in our area. The wood has been cut down. What exists now is a land monopoly by oil palm plantation companies. We are worried that in the long term our rivers will be polluted by manufacturing and plantation activities.
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Agnes Padan, an activist from Lawas
Decades of Waiting: Lawas’ Struggles with Unfinished Projects and Poor Healthcare
Agnes Padan explained that the construction project at SK Long Sukang, Lawas, remains a “sick project” that has been abandoned and left incomplete. This is a government project, but the question remains: why hasn’t the project been continued?
Every year, Sarawak receives a large allocation from the federal government, so how could this project remain unfinished? How does GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) view this issue?
Furthermore, the rural clinics in Lawas also need upgrading. There have been many emergency cases where patients from remote areas have had to endure terrible roads for over 61 years. Sarawak is rich, yet the state government has not focused on the people's needs.
However, since the MADANI government took over, little by little, development has been picking up momentum for the people of Lawas.
Agnes also hopes that another delayed project, the new Lawas hospital, will be completed by the end of this year. The people of Lawas have been waiting since the late 1960s to have a hospital-level medical facility.
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S Arutchelvan, deputy chairman of PSM
*Workers' Voices Ignored in Minimum Wage Increase, PSM Claims*Arul criticized the government's decision to raise the minimum wage to RM1,700, saying it was not unanimously supported by workers as the human resources ministry claimed. He expressed disappointment that PSM was not consulted in the wage formulation process, despite historically being a strong advocate for minimum wage laws. Arutchelvan challenged the government's reliance on the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) for support, noting that unions represent only a small portion of the workforce, most of whom earn above minimum wage. He also called for a minimum wage of RM2,000, citing Bank Negara studies that suggest a more appropriate wage would be RM2,568 for urban areas and RM1,884 for rural areas.