24 October 2024

On Today Show
> YB Tan Kar Hing, Member of Parliament for Gopeng and member of the Special Select Committee of Parliament related to Domestic Trade, Entrepreneurship, Cost of Living, and Agriculture – Balancing Rice Production and Land Rights: Sarawak’s Agriculture Project Under Scrutiny
> Mr. Paul from Long Lama – Sarawak Paddy Project: Resident Raises Concerns Over Land Ownership and Planning
> Thomas Fann, Chairman of Engage – MP Absenteeism Could Harm Voter Trust, Democracy Advocate Thomas Fann Warn

Topik Pada Hari Ini
> YB Tan Kar Hing, Ahli Parlimen Gopeng dan ahli Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Parlimen berkaitan Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Keusahawanan, Kos Sara Hidup, dan Pertanian – Menyeimbangkan Pengeluaran Beras dan Hak Tanah: Projek Pertanian Sarawak Dalam Pemerhatian 
> Encik Paul dari Long Lama – Projek Penanaman Padi Sarawak: Penduduk Membangkitkan Kebimbangan Mengenai Pemilikan Tanah dan Perancangan 
> Thomas Fann, Pengerusi Engage – Ketidakhadiran Ahli Parlimen Mungkin Menjejaskan Kepercayaan Pengundi, Amaran Aktivis Demokrasi Thomas Fann

  • Special Randau
                    1. The trial involving Former Prime Minister Najib Razak at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. Najib claimed that he never interfered in the investigation of the 1mdb and SRC cases.

                    2. Rice Planting Project in Sarawak. The Premier proposed that his DUN area in Gedong be the main site of the project which will cost 1 billion ringgit. Sarawak is ready to provide rm500 million while asking the federal government to add another rm500 million to increase local paddy and white rice production. The Premier only prioritizes his state constituency and his cronies only.

                    3. PKR Youth responded to the statement of the Umno Youth leader who said that since long ago BN and Umno reminded that PTPTN education loan debt must be paid without exception. But at that time PH said it could be given for free.  But the PKR youth hit back - since 2011 PH- has warned BN and Umno that 1mdb will become a shameful financial scandal. Money wasted by paying 1mdb debt is actually able to solve PTptn's debt - PKR youth say.

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    YB Tan Kar Hing, Member of Parliament for Gopeng and member of the Special Select Committee of Parliament related to Domestic Trade, Entrepreneurship, Cost of Living, and Agriculture

    Balancing Rice Production and Land Rights: Sarawak’s Agriculture Project Under Scrutiny

    YB Tan Kar Hing has commented on the proposal to increase white rice production in Malaysia. Sarawak is ready to release an initial capital of RM500 million and hopes to secure an additional RM500 million from the federal government. According to Kar Hing, this is a promising suggestion given that paddy cultivation areas in Peninsular Malaysia are becoming more limited, while Sabah and Sarawak still have fertile and extensive agricultural lands.

    However, Kar Hing expressed concern, as previous similar projects had been proposed but failed, leaving the people of Sarawak worried. Furthermore, some of the areas targeted for development face conflicts over Native Customary Rights (NCR) land claims, and there is a lack of transparency in project implementation. Misappropriation of funds and agricultural grants is also a common issue. The Sarawak Premier stated that his political/DUN constituency in Gedong has the potential for hybrid rice cultivation, and a pilot project has already been implemented in Lubok Punggol, Gedong. In total, Gedong alone could provide 700,000 hectares of fertile land for rice cultivation, along with other areas such as Tanjung Bijat in Sri Aman, Sepaoh in Betong, and Tanjong Burong in Lundu.

    The Premier of Sarawak identified constituencies within the state with potential for development. However, Kar Hing emphasized that the state government holds full authority over land matters. A special select committee will be responsible for monitoring each project undertaken with joint venture funds from the state and federal governments. It is indeed the committee's duty to ensure that government grants and projects meet their objectives.

    Residents in the interior of Sarawak have often complained that they are supplied with hill paddy fertilizer, despite not cultivating rice or applying for such assistance. Kar Hing explained that the potential implementation of the rice cultivation project in Sarawak may include areas recommended by the Sarawak GPS government, as well as the exploration of hill paddy cultivation in highland areas such as Baram and Bario. However, it is still uncertain whether the federal government will approve the RM500 million requested by the Sarawak state government.

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    Mr. Paul from Long Lama

    Sarawak Paddy Project: Resident Raises Concerns Over Land Ownership and Planning

    Paul felt compelled to share his thoughts after listening to RFS online regarding the paddy cultivation project, which has a budget of RM500 million to develop 5,000 hectares of land for paddy planting.

    According to Mr. Paul, the project involves paddy cultivation for both swamp and highland areas. He questioned whether the Sarawak government has investigated who the land belongs to, as not all NCR (Native Customary Rights) land necessarily belongs to the Sarawak government.

    He hopes that the MADANI government will not proceed with the project without conducting a comprehensive study first.

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    Thomas Fann, Chairman of Engage

    MP Absenteeism Could Harm Voter Trust, Democracy Advocate Thomas Fann Warn

    Democracy advocate Thomas Fann has expressed concern over the recent early adjournment of the Dewan Rakyat sitting due to a lack of quorum, calling it a significant setback for Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy. Fann, who heads the reform NGO Projek Sama, emphasized that such occurrences undermine public confidence in the system and may lead to voter disillusionment. He warned that absenteeism by MPs could make Malaysians feel unrepresented, potentially decreasing voter turnout in future elections.

    The rakyat expects their representatives to be present during Dewan Rakyat sessions, Thomas Fann said. He urged all political parties and coalitions to take responsibility by ensuring that their MPs attend parliamentary sittings. To address the issue, he proposed a roster system, where MPs are scheduled to attend sessions based on their areas of expertise or the relevance of the agenda. He also suggested that parties form committees to shadow government ministries, requiring MPs in these committees to be present when issues related to the ministries they are shadowing are discussed.

    Thomas Fann stressed that the primary role of Parliament is to act as a check and balance on the executive branch, ensuring that the prime minister and his Cabinet do not push through flawed or harmful policies. He highlighted that it is not just about meeting the quorum of 26 MPs—Parliament must also function effectively in scrutinizing and debating legislation. He pointed out that if fewer than one-eighth of MPs (or 12%) are present, it reflects poorly on the institution’s ability to perform this crucial role.

    The issue of absenteeism was brought to light when Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) cited Standing Order 13(1), which requires a quorum of at least 26 MPs (excluding the speaker) for the Dewan Rakyat to convene. Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar), who was chairing the session, ordered the proceedings to be adjourned after confirming that only 19 MPs were present in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.

    While Thomas Fann acknowledged that MPs might have other commitments, such as meetings or official duties, he emphasized that unjustified absenteeism must be avoided. He called on political parties to take proactive measures to ensure their representatives attend Parliament regularly, as this is a fundamental expectation from voters who elected them to represent their interests.


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