3 January 2024
On Today Show
— Iswardy Morni, Activist and Political Analyst – Monopolies and Oligopolies: Unraveling the Causes of Sarawak's High Inflation
— Nick Kelesau, leader of Penan NGO Keruan – Rethinking Investments for the People's Welfare in Sarawak
— Rosemarry Jagak from Balai Ringin Serian Sarawak – Sarawak Farmers in Crisis: Addressing the Aftermath of Floods and Environmental Issues
Topik Pada Hari Ini
- Iswardy Morni, Aktivis dan Pakar Politik - Monopoli dan Oligopoli: Meneroka Punca Inflasi Tinggi di Sarawak
- Nick Kelesau, Ketua NGO Penan Keruan - Merangka Semula Pelaburan untuk Kesejahteraan Rakyat Sarawak
- Rosemarry Jagak dari Balai Ringin Serian Sarawak - Petani Sarawak Dalam Krisis: Menangani Selepas Banjir dan Isu Alam Sekitar
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*Special Randau*
1. Strongman Tun Mahathir - Khairuddin Abu Hassan denies. Tun M is not involved in the Dubai plan. The Dubai Move does not exist; it is a scheme created by the UMNO president, says Khairuddin.
2. Merger of PSB and PDP - PSB deceives the people of Sarawak. During the election campaign, PSB campaigned that they would replace GPS, which brings poor and unfair administrative policies. But after supporting GPS for 2 years, why?
3. Sarawak state income for 2023 - RM13.1 billion, why is it not used to cope with the rising prices of goods and reduce the burden of the cost of living for the people?
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Iswardy Morni, Activist and Political Analyst
*Monopolies and Oligopolies: Unraveling the Causes of Sarawak's High Inflation*
Minority leaders in the interior of Sarawak complained that the prices of goods and the cost of living in Sarawak were still high and the prices of food items had reached unprecedented levels. Iswardy admitted that this really happened in Sarawak. Although in general Malaysian inflation is decreasing. But inflation in the state of Sarawak is still high, Second highest in Malaysia.
This happens because many industries in Sarawak are monopolized or oligopoly by small groups controlled by politicians or tycoons. The Premier of Sarawak is proud of the state's income in 2023 with a total revenue of RM13.1 billion. Is there a small amount allocated by the GPS government to cover the increase in the cost of living and the soaring prices of goods. The people should hold the GPS government accountable. Sarawak is said to be a high-income state, but at the same time the number of poor people is also large.
Regarding the merger of PSB and PDP. The PSB is expected to be dissolved before the Chinese New Year 2024. According to Iswardy, the existence of the PSB is indeed to break the opposition vote and make it easier for the GPS to win in the state election. Once the GPS wins, now PSB wants to return to the state government. Iswardy's message - the people should be smarter than the leaders of political parties such as PSB and GPS. The results of the last state election, with the sneaky role of PSB. GPS-76, PKR-0, DAP-2, and PSB-4.
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Nick Kelesau, leader of Penan NGO Keruan
*Rethinking Investments for the People's Welfare in Sarawak*
Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian describes the towering flagpole at Dataran Ibu Pertiwi here as a gift to the people of Sarawak, thanks to a collaborative effort by petroleum industry giants Petros, Petronas and Shell Malaysia.
Nick Kelesau expressed his views on the RM30 million highest flagpole, stating that it does not bring any benefits to the people. He questions the purpose of taking pride in a flagpole when many Sarawakians still do not enjoy the wealth of Sarawak, such as the deplorable condition of roads to Ulu Baram, lack of clean water, and a significant portion of the population still not having access to 24-hour electricity for decades. According to Nick, the flagpole serves merely as a showpiece.
He suggests that it would be better to allocate the cost of the flagpole to help the people. Nick also questions why logging activities are still ongoing. He points out that many Penan and indigenous people still depend on the forest for their livelihood.
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Rosemarry Jagak from Balai Ringin Serian Sarawak
*Sarawak Farmers in Crisis: Addressing the Aftermath of Floods and Environmental Issues*
In Malaysia, the climate’s ebb and flow are choreographed by the Southwest and Northeast Monsoons.
From late May to September, the Southwest Monsoon ushers in drier conditions, while the Northeast Monsoon, prevailing from November to March, brings heavy rainfall - impacting regions such as the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and parts of Sarawak and Sabah.
Rosemarry Jagak from Balai Ringin Serian Sarawak is a full-time farmer. Every year, she plants paddy/rice and various other vegetables. Additionally, she is an oil palm smallholder and a crafter.
Currently, her paddy farm has been submerged in floodwater for the past two days due to continuous rain. This has caused damage to her paddy crop, especially during the sensitive pinnacle period when the rice is in the unripe stage. The flooding is partly attributed to the environmental situation, where there is no more forest in the upper river. Furthermore, farmers in the area are concerned about the presence of crocodiles from nearby oil palm plantations.
The impact of the flood is not limited to her paddy fields; her vegetable crops have also suffered. In total, 11 families in that particular area are affected by the flood.
Given this dire situation, it is imperative for the government to step in and address these issues promptly. Rosemarry and other farmers urgently need assistance in dealing with the aftermath of the flood, including measures to restore their farmlands and prevent future environmental degradation. It is crucial for the government to collaborate with affected farmers to formulate sustainable solutions and allocate resources to rebuild and protect their livelihoods.
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