9 October 2023
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Tuan J, Aktivis Alam Sekitar dari Sabah – Sabahans Mahu Jawapan: Agenda Tersembunyi di Sebalik NCA
> Thomas Fann, Pengerusi Bersih 2.0 – Tiada Perlakuan Khas: Tuntutan Untuk Menolak DNAA Bagi Najib dan Rosmah
> Zulhaidah Suboh, PKR Sibuti – GPS Mengutamakan Kelapa Sawit Berbanding Pertanian Padi Ketika Harga Meningkat
On Today Show
> MR. J, Environmental activist from Sabah – Sabahans Demand Answers: The Hidden Agenda Behind the NCA
> Thomas Fann, Chairperson of Bersih 2.0 – No Special Treatment: The Demand to Deny Najib and Rosmah a DNAA
> Zulhaidah Suboh, PKR Sibuti – GPS Prioritizing Palm Oil Over Rice Farming Amid Soaring Prices
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Special Randau
1. The Parliament meeting is ongoing until November 30, 2023. The budget will be presented on October 13, 2023.
2. Carbon rights belong to Sarawak. There are parties attempting to seize Sarawak's rights, says the Sarawak Premier. It is possible that the Sarawak Premier is not satisfied with the Federal government regarding carbon trading. We will always provide you with the latest information.
3. Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib has brought in a handwriting expert to verify the authenticity of his father's signature on property transfer documents, by his stepmother Ragad Kurdi.
4. Subsidized rice prices in the interior areas are very high, reaching up to RM68 for a 10KG pack. Activists are questioning the transportation subsidies for controlled-price goods to rural areas.
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MR. J, Environmental activist from Sabah.
*Sabahans Demand Answers: The Hidden Agenda Behind the NCA*
(Want to be known as Mr. J only to avoid pressure from Sabah authorities)
Mr. J explained about the struggle of the people of Sabah against the one-sided Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA). There are parties trying to sabotage the NCA, according to Sabah deputy chief minister - Jeffery Kitingan. But according to Mr. A. The people of Sabah have the right to protest because the NCA is not transparent and is not presented or discussed in the Sabah state assembly. How can we agree to lease 2 million hectares of land (half the area of Sabah) to a foreign company from Singapore (Hock Standard). This company has no record and expertise. This is a RM2 company said Mr.J. In addition, the agreement period is 100 years. For us Sabahans. The government's action through the NCA is rash. Maybe to make a quick profit for yourself, without thinking about the long-term negative impact on the people of Sabah. We Sabahans want detailed information, how this carbon credit business is worked. Some say it is through reforestation? Or is there any party involved taking advantage through this agreement to log and remove our rights to the forest, asked Mr.J. For now the agreement is postponed but we have made a police report, a report to the MACC and have written a protest letter to the Sabah state government. If carbon trading is really profitable. The people should be involved in decision-making and the agreement should be transparent and discussed in the Sabah State Assembly.
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Thomas Fann, Chairperson of Bersih 2.0
*No Special Treatment: The Demand to Deny Najib and Rosmah a DNAA*
In a unified effort, Bersih and 48 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including those from Sabah and Sarawak, have issued a joint statement urging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to uphold the rule of law and allow the courts to determine the fate of cases involving high-profile individuals, such as Najib Razak, without interference in the form of an application for a Discharge Not Amounting to Acquittal (DNAA).
The call for preserving the integrity of the judicial process comes in the wake of recent developments, most notably the surprising discharge of Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi from corruption charges. Zahid Hamidi's case was being heard in the High Court when an exceptional provision in the federal constitution was invoked, leading to his discharge. Such a move raises concerns about potential manipulation of the legal system.
The concerned NGOs fear that similar circumstances may arise in other high-profile cases currently awaiting resolution. Of particular concern is the possibility that Najib Razak and Rosmah Mansor, both facing charges related to corruption, could also be discharged without undergoing the normal judicial process. Such an outcome would not only undermine the credibility of the Malaysian legal system but also reflect a lack of respect for the country's laws.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has, throughout his political career, championed the fight against corruption. It is essential, therefore, that he refrains from blocking the judicial process in cases involving high-profile individuals. The rule of law must be upheld, and justice must be allowed to take its course.
The joint statement by Bersih and the 48 NGOs underscores the importance of ensuring that no individual, regardless of their status or position, is exempt from facing the legal consequences of their actions. The principle of equality before the law must be preserved, and any attempts to subvert the judicial process must be strongly opposed.
As the nation continues its battle against corruption and strives for transparency and accountability, it is crucial that the legal system remains independent and impartial. The call to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is a plea for the government to uphold the very principles it has pledged to uphold in the pursuit of a just and corruption-free Malaysia.
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Zulhaidah Suboh, PKR Sibuti
*GPS Prioritizing Palm Oil Over Rice Farming Amid Soaring Prices*
The people of Sarawak are upset about the sharp rise in prices of government-subsidized white rice, well above the set price of RM31 per 10kg bag. In some areas, such as central Sarawak, it has reached RM68 per 10kg bag, and in Miri, RM42 per 10kg bag.
Zulhaidah expressed that, at this critical moment, GPS has not proposed any plans to provide direct support and development. Instead, they are focused on palm oil projects that are detrimental to forest land. She mentioned that rice cultivation is highly suitable for interior areas, especially since a significant portion of the interior population already engages in rice farming, albeit only for subsistence.
Given the rising prices of food, it should be an excellent opportunity for GPS to support the development of rice farming in interior areas, which would help provide income to the local population and reduce the high cost of imported rice. This, in turn, would promote locally grown rice.
In a state government that seems to prioritize the wealth of cronies over the welfare of the people, Sarawakians should not expect widespread prosperity. This is a GPS government that appears to be indifferent to the well-being of its citizens.