5 April 2024
On Today Show
— Voon Lee Shan, President of Bumi Kenyalang Party (PBK) – Restoring Indigenous Rights: Challenging GPS Control Over Tribal Leader Appointments
— Mr. James from Kampung Traditional Tukau Jaya – Failed Commitment: Parabena and Sarawak Government Summon Villagers Despite Unfulfilled Promise
— Michael Kong Feng Nian, Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth Kuching chief –DAP Pushes for Enhanced Healthcare and Social Welfare Systems
— Baru Bian, Assemblyman of Bakelalan Sarawak cum PSB Secretary-General – Citizenship Bill Amendments and Lack of Consultation Criticized
Topik Pada Hari Ini
- Voon Lee Shan, Presiden Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) – Memulihkan Hak Orang Asal: Menantang Kawalan GPS Terhadap Penamaan Pemimpin Suku
- Encik James dari Kampung Tradisional Tukau Jaya – Komitmen Gagal: Parabena dan Kerajaan Sarawak Saman Penduduk Desa Walaupun Janji Belum Ditepati|
- Michael Kong Feng Nian, Ketua Pemuda Sosialis Parti Tindakan Demokratik Kuching – DAP Mendorong Sistem Penjagaan Kesihatan dan Kesejahteraan Sosial yang Diperbaiki
- Baru Bian, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Bakelalan Sarawak dan Setiausaha Agung PSB – Pindaan Rang Undang-Undang Kewarganegaraan dan Kekurangan Perundingan Dikritik
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*Special Randau*
1. Drag the Sarawak government to court if it interferes in the appointment of Tuai rumah/kampung head. It has been a tradition for hundreds of years that the residents of any longhouse in Sarawak appoint their own village head. Now the committee to appoint tribal leaders at the District Office has taken over the task. This is how GPS weakens the power of the village head/household and further weakens the power of the people.
2. The promise of the Parabena company and the Sarawak government to provide relocation scheme houses for the traditional villagers of Tukau Jaya - is false. All are not provided. Even residents who refuse to move and refuse to vacate their homes get a summons from the Parabena company - James said.
3. Special Treatment for Najib Razak. Wan Ji wan Husin, who was recently released from Kajang prison, revealed that he had seen Najib several times. Najib is said to get a special match in prison, he doesn't even have to wear a prisoner's clothes. The interior minister and prison director quickly denied this. They insist that Najib is treated the same as 70 thousand other prisoners. Do you believe? We know that less than a day after Najib was put in jail, he was immediately referred to Ceras Rehabilitation Hospital. He was given the code name "Merpati Putih". Najib is a prisoner and a criminal he should be given the code name black crow. To prove that the Ministry of Interior and the prison department are telling the truth - show a photo of Najib in a prisoner's uniform. Since Najib was imprisoned. There is no photo of him dressed as a prisoner.
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Voon Lee Shan, President of Bumi Kenyalang Party (PBK).
*Restoring Indigenous Rights: Challenging GPS Control Over Tribal Leader Appointments*
Voon thinks that the GPS/Sarawak Government should be dragged to court for interfering in the appointment of tribal leaders and local community leaders.
Speaking to RFS, Voon stressed that the matter of appointing tribal leaders and community leaders in Sarawak has been customary since generations. Even the federal Constitution recognizes custom as part of the law and has the force of law. For a long time the village community appointed the most skilled individuals to lead them. Until now it was taken over by the Sarawak government through the appointment committee of tribal leaders and community leaders at the District Office/Resident Office level. This committee is also composed of YB/local people's representatives. There are also local communities that choose their own leaders. But if not approved by GPS/Government then they will not be given salary or letter of appointment.
Voon suggested that this matter needs to be overhauled and return the right to appoint the head of the tribe/village to the hands of the village community itself. If there is a case of obstruction, appoint by the community by GPS. So please drag GPS/Sarawak government to court.
In addition, what is the relationship between the appointment of the head of the tribe/village and the rights of the NCR? According to Voon, only the head of the village or the head of the house can and knows how to identify NCR land rights in a village, therefore only they can confirm and authorize ownership. Unfortunately when the head of the village/household is appointed by the GPS. So it is GPS that has the power to nullify the Dayak people's rights to NCR land. This is a very unfortunate episode for the Dayak people and it should be dealt with immediately. - Voon Lee Shan said.
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Mr. James from Kampung Traditional Tukau Jaya
*Failed Commitment: Parabena and Sarawak Government Summon Villagers Despite Unfulfilled Promise*
James and the villagers have received a Summons from the Court and Parabena for refusing to vacate the area within the vicinity of Parabena Limited (PL) land.
Mr. James is still striving to fight for fair compensation for the losses they have faced regarding their farms and homes.
The villagers do not have strong financial resources to continue the court proceedings with legal representation, but Mr. James will have to fight alone so that his land can be removed from the company's PL.
Mr. James questions the promises made by Parabena and the Land and Survey Department regarding the Resettlement Scheme that was promised. However, he is very disappointed because the Resettlement Scheme is not real and is just an empty promise.
Therefore, Mr. James realizes that it is highly likely that agencies such as the Land and Survey Department have received bribes from Parabena in order to successfully evict the villagers from their traditional village of Usahaya.
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Michael Kong Feng Nian, Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth Kuching chief
*DAP Pushes for Enhanced Healthcare and Social Welfare Systems*
The Democratic Action Party (DAP) emphasizes the importance for the government to consider expanding medical assistance, as it directly impacts the quality of life and health of the people. Medical aid not only reduces the financial burden on patients and families but also ensures that everyone has access to necessary healthcare. In particular, in the face of major illnesses like cancer, medical aid can provide essential treatment and care to help individuals through difficult times.
Michael Kong, special assistant to DAP's Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, stated that the party recognizes the importance of strengthening the country's healthcare and social welfare systems. It is crucial to enhance these systems to ensure direct and tangible benefits for the people. DAP is committed to exploring avenues for expanding medical assistance through collaborations with ministries and government departments such as the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
The statement was issued after Kong provided financial assistance to a local man named Phang, whose wife is battling stage 4 colon cancer. The impact of chemotherapy on her health has been heartbreaking, forcing Mr. Phang to be constantly by her side, unable to work regularly. As a result, the family now relies on the support of friends and relatives to make ends meet.
The exorbitant costs associated with medical treatments highlight the urgent need for Malaysia to overhaul its healthcare and social welfare systems. Kong expressed that by advocating for systemic improvements, they aim to alleviate the financial strain on families and provide greater support to all Malaysians facing healthcare challenges.
The government should recognize the importance of expanding medical assistance and take proactive measures to ensure that everyone has access to necessary healthcare. This will help establish a healthier nation.
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Baru Bian, Assemblyman of Bakelalan Sarawak cum PSB Secretary-General
*Citizenship Bill Amendments and Lack of Consultation Criticized*
Baru Bian commenting on Advocated for Non-Discrimination and Access to Knowledge (ANAK) Founder and Executive Director Mary Ann's statement that representatives of Sabah and Sarawak were not consulted on the amendment to the Citizenship Bill, Ann cites that there are five regressive amendments that take away rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution, which is a backward step and will put children at risk of statelessness.
Baru said that, as he is no longer in Parliament, he is not entirely sure, but usually, ministers do not give space for discussion but rather prepare the bill and then circulate it in Parliament. Only when such an important bill is raised do NGOs, representatives, or the public voice their concerns.
His comment is that if indeed Section 19B and (1e) have been removed, which is a good move, but with two more issues: reducing the maximum age for a person from 21 down to 18 years is quite a short period to apply for citizenship, which is a disadvantage for the applicant. In Section 1A part 2 of the Federal Constitution, permanent resident (PR) status has been removed and replaced by citizen by operation of law. This is also a disadvantage for those applying for PR.
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