kionsom-insight

UPKO: GIVE SABAH MORE SEATS

2011-11-30T10:54:00.001+08:00

HISTORY. What are we without our past? True, many of us do not remember too much about what had happened years ago. But this is not an excuse not to fight for what is due, which was agreed upon by our forefathers in the political arena. I for one have been trying to contribute my two cents. And I will surely be resting in peace...

UPKO CALLS FOR MORE SABAH SEATS

KOTA KINABALU, 29 Nov 2011: Upko has called for the restoration of Sabah and Sarawak’s right to have at least 34% of the total number of parliamentary seats in the country.

Its secretary-general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said the present seat allocation in both states was lower than what was agreed in two key documents drawn up during the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.

He said the party had studied the Cobbold Commission report and the Malaysia Agreement signed on Aug 28, 1963 and found that the distribution of seats in the peninsula must not be more than two-thirds of the nation’s parliamentary seats.

“Peninsular Malaysia was allocated 104 seats, Singapore 15, Sabah 16 and Sarawak 20, making it 51 seats outside the peninsula, or 34% of the 155 parliamentary seats at the time.

“Unfortunately by 1974, the peninsula was given an additional 10 seats while there were no additional seats for Sabah and Sarawak,” Tangau said.

With the withdrawal of Singapore from the federation, it was now possible for the peninsula to secure a two-thirds majority without the support of Sabah and Sarawak, he pointed out, adding that the peninsula had 166 seats now against Sabah and Sarawak’s 51 seats.

He said that to rectify the situation, Upko had proposed to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms last week that Sabah be allocated 10 seats and Sarawak 21 seats, making it a total of 87 seats for both states.

“With 87 seats versus 166 seats, it will no longer be possible for Members of Parliament from the peninsula to amend the Federal Constitution without support from Sabah and Sarawak,” Tangau said.

Also highlighted in the 101-page proposal to the PSC was the party’s resolve to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the existence of Project IC holders and clean up the electoral roll.

Until the RCI cleared all doubts on the existence of Project IC holders, he said Upko would not support the automatic registration of voters who turn 21.

Upko also wants the restoration of the distribution of seats according to racial composition.

Tangau said the redelineation of electoral boundaries by Election Commission in 1993 saw the beginning of a systematic reduction of non-Muslim natives and Chinese-dominated seats. THE STAR

BINGKASAN ON UPKO

2011-09-26T13:28:00.000+08:00

THE 13th UPKO Triennial Conference was held 23-25 Sept 2011 at the Pusat Kebudayaan Sabah, Penampang, officiated by the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Various topics were discussed. I took part in debating the President's speech. Was the No Six. And I thought I just spoke for a couple of minutes when the Permanent Speaker Datuk Herman Tiongsoh reminded me that I had only a minute left of the 10minutes allocated time...

And, well, Borneo Post deemed it worth publishing. Tqvm Nancy.

The picture - its not of the congress - but a picture (from right) of Pancratius Edward Pudin the Press Secretary, Frederick Mosom the Principal Private Secretary and myself.

Upko is here to stay.....

DOMPOK RCICALL SET UPKO CONGRESS TONE

BY NANCYLAI

PENAMPANG,25 SEPT 2011: The call that the Government to set up a Royal Commission ofInquiry on illegal immigrants set the tone of United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusunMurut Organization’s (UPKO) 13^th triennial delegates conference hereyesterday.

From partyPresident Tan Sri Bernard Dompok to the delegates, they all share same opinionthat only a Royal Commission of Inquiry can resolve the perennial problem whichis the bane of Sabahans.

Dompok, inhis policy speech, stressed that it will take nothing less than a RoyalCommission of Inquiry to resolve the problem and this was echoed by most of thedelegates who took part in the debate on the president’s speech.

DeputyUpko Youth Chief Masiung Banah went as far as requesting that the federalGovernment be given a deadline in the setting up of the Royal Commission ofInquiry because the country’s sovereignty must not be compromised.

“Thecountry’s leaders must not compromise on the issue of security,” he said andalso urged UPKO leadership to consider recommending a leader from the Youthmovement for a Senatorship.

PutatanYouth Chief Mark Silak when debating Dompok’s speech pointed out that thepeople in Sabah are tired of debating the illegal immigrant issue.

The peoplefeel that the Government, especially the Federal Government, is not sincere inits efforts to resolve the illegal immigrant issue which has been described asthe ‘mother of all problems’

Markadded, “will Barisan Nasional (BN) still be able to garner the people’s supportin the coming 13general election as its failure to resolve theillegal immigrants problem is causing Sabahans to hate the Government?

“Will UPKObe sacrificed in the coming election because of the rakyat’s hatred?” hequestioned.

Some ofthe delegates who participated in the debate also touched on what Dompok hassaid in his speech about his commitment to the party and members.

“That iswhy today, I gave the commitment to pursue all the outstanding issues which Imentioned today. As President of this party I feel it is incumbent upon me totake full responsibility when the voices of the people and the party membersare not heard. That is the measure of my commitment to our cause,” he had said.

UpkoSepanggar’s representative, Albert Bingkasan was of the opinion that Dompok’sstatement was very personal and it reflects the latter’s loyalty to the party.

“Howpersonal can you get… also UPKO Deputy President Datuk Seri Panglima WilfredBumburing recently said that there is no questioning his loyalty to the party.The statements of UPKO’s top two leaders gives the impression that they arealone.

“We mustnot let them feel that they are alone so I urge all of you my fellow members tothink what you can do and contribute to the party,” he said.

Albert alsoreminded the members that they should not always expect something in return fordoing things for the party.

“Pleasestart contributing, no matter how small, to the party as a little goes a longway,” he said.

Albertalso spoke about the then Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamed’s commitment madesome years ago, that in the true spirit of the Barisan Nasional coalition, Umnowill not contest in more than 50 per cent of the number of seats in any GeneralElection.

In view ofwhat Mahathir said, Albert requested that the BN leadership consider giving theopposition held seats to component party other than Umno.

“If askingfor a review of the seats allocation is too difficult to comply with, then wehave the right to fight for so that the SAPP held seats is allocated to a partyother than Umno in the coming general election,” he said. THE BORNEO POST

DOMPOK SINCERE SPEECH 2011

2011-09-26T13:24:00.001+08:00

UCAPANALU-ALUAN

YB TAN SRI BERNARD DOMPOK

PRESIDENUPKO, SEMPENA

PERSIDANGANPERWAKILAN TRITAHUNAN UPKO KALI KE-13

PUSATKEBUDAYAAN SABAH, PENAMPANG

24SEPTEMBER 2011

Mukadimah

Yang AmatBerhormat Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap TimbalanPengerusi Barisan Nasional (dan Yang Amat Berbahagia Puan Sri);

Yang AmatBerhormat Datuk Seri Haji Musa Haji Aman, Ketua Menteri Sabah merangkapPengerusi Barisan Nasional Sabah (dan YABhg Datin Sri);

Yang BerhormatDatuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing, Timbalan Presiden Upko dan DatinSeri;

Ahli-AhliMolohingon Upko, Ahli-Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Upko, Pergerakan Wanita, Pemuda danKomulakan Upko;

Semua pemimpinparti komponen Barisan Nasional;

Dif dif jemputan,tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sidang hadirin sekalian.

Selamat pagi,tabi pisompuruan, salam 1Malaysia.

It is my pleasure, on behalf of UPKO, to welcome Yang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap Timbalan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional, to our 13^th congress.

Sayabagi pihak Upko, dengan segala sukacitanya mengucapkan selamat datang kepadaYang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Timbalan Perdana Menterimerangkap Timbalan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional dan sidang hadirin ke kongreske-13 kami ini.

This is the first time for YAB to be with us and I wish to thank you for the honour of having you in our midst and we look forward to the words of inspiration and wisdom that you may want to leave behind for us today.

Iniadalah kehadiran pertama Yang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri bersama kami. Terima kasihkerana sudi meluangkan masa untuk Upko. Kami menanti-nantikan kata-kata hikmahdan bijaksana daripada Yang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri.

INTERNAL SECURITY ACT (AKTA KESELAMATAN DALAM NEGERI)

YAB Tan Sri, we are holding this congress at a time when there is excitement abuzz at the recent announcement on the eve, of Malaysia Day, by the Prime Minister on the repeal of the Internal Security Act and a few other ordinances under the Emergency Ordinance.

YangAmat Berhormat Tan Sri, kami menganjurkan kongres ini ketika wujud keterujaankerana pengumuman oleh PerdanaMenteri sehari sebelum Hari Malaysia mengenaipemansuhan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri dan beberapa ordinan dibawah OrdinanKecemasan.

This is of course a follow through of the present government’ measures in transforming Malaysia. We have already dealt with the Government Transformation Programme and the Economic Transformation Programme and Malaysians generally know the seriousness with which the government has attended to the issues which have hampered our march to join the international world community as a fully developed country.

Sebenarnya,pengumuman itu adalah tindakan susulan kepada usaha transformasi Malaysia yangdilaksanakan oleh kerajaan. Kita sudahpun mengadakan Program TransformasiKerajaan dan Program Tranformasi Ekonomi. Rakyat Malaysia pada umumnya tahubetapa seriusnya kerajaan dalam menangani isu-isu yang telah menghambatperjalanan kita untuk menyertai komuniti dunia antarabangsa menjadi Negaramaju.

This is the political transformation programme and the government needs to muster all the political will at its disposal knowing fully well that we have quite a wide variety of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and interest groups who will not shy away from contributing their two cents worth. It is not for nothing that we have been acknowledged by some as the blogging capital of the world!

Iniadalah program transformasi politik dan kerajaan perlu menggarap seluruh political will memandangkan kitamempunyai pelbagai badan berkanun bukan kerajaan serta kumpulan berkepentinganyang tidak akan mahu terlepas daripada memberikan sumbangan dua sen mereka.Tidak hairanlah mengapa kita diwar-warkan sebagai ibukota blogging di dunia!

It is our hope that the latest announcement by the Prime Minister will be implemented fully and expeditiously and without having to contend with individuals or interest groups who have a world view that is not only at variance with those of us who want a truly Malaysian nation but may even cause regression in the country.

Kitaberharap pengumuman terbaru oleh Perdana Menteri itu akan dilaksanakansepenuhnya dan secepatnya. Janganlah mengendahkan para individu atau kumpulanberkepentingan yang mempunyai pandangan dunia yang bukan sahaja berbezadaripada pandangan kita yang mahu sebuah Negara Malaysia sejati, tetapi mungkinjuga mengakibatkan kemunduran Negara.

Party members may well remember how I reminded you that we have in the present Prime Minister an able leader who has at the outset of his Prime-ministership captured the imaginations of a nation with the many initiatives he presented to the country. But our concern then was: would the NGOs and every single one of the Barisan Nasinoal component parties fully support him in carrying out his plans?

Mungkinmasih segar dalam ingatan semua ahli Upko bagaimana saya memperingatkan andasemua bahawa Perdana Menteri kita kini ialah seorang pemimpin berwibawa, yangawal-awal lagi telah menggemparkanseluruh Negara dengan pelbagai inistiatif. Tetapi, kebimbangan kita ialah:apakah badan-badan berkanun bukan kerajaan dan setiap parti komponen BarisanNasional menyokong penuh pelaksanaannya?

Indeed our concern has not been without basis looking now at the public utterances by the zealots when the Federal High Court delivered its verdict on the authority’s ban of the usage of the word Allah by Herald, a Catholic publication. They were supported and abetted by some partisan national dailies which in this country are mainly connected to political parties. Sesungguhnya, kebimbangan kita bukanlah tidak berasas. Malah sudah terbukti melalui kata-kata mereka selepas Mahkamah Tinggi Persekutuan membuat keputusan terhadap kes tegahan oleh pihak berkuasa akan penggunaan istilah Allah oleh Herald, sebuah penerbitan Katolik. Mereka ini pula didorong dan disokong oleh suratkhabar harian kebangsaan yang ada hubungan dengan parti-parti politik.

So today we want to say in no uncertain terms that we join the Deputy Prime Minister in supporting the Prime Minister in repealing the Internal Security Act.

Justeru,pada hari ini, kita dengan sebulat suara berdiri teguh bersama Timbalan PerdanaMenteri,menyokong penuh tindakan Perdana Menteri memansuhkan Akta Keselamatan DalamNegeri.

At the same time we must make it also absolutely clear that any consequential legislation must not water down the effort of the Prime Minister and that talks of merely a rebranding exercise must never be given any credence.

Padamasa yang sama, kita juga harus memastikan apapun juga undang-undang yangmenyusul nanti mestilah tidak meremehkan usaha Perdana Menteri, sekaligusmenolak dakwaan bahawa ia hanyalah penjenamaan baru bagi peraturan yang sama.

Let the new legislations go through a Parliamentary Select Committee where all views can be heard in the formulation of the act. In short Upko calls for safeguards that the present initiatives by the government would not be hijacked.

Biarlahundang-undang baru itu digubal melalui Jawatankuasa Pilihan Parlimen dimanakesemua pandangan diambil kira. Dalam kata lain, Upko mengesorkan agarinisiatif kerajaan ini dilindungi agar tidak diculik oleh sesiapa pun.

MEMORANDUM ON MARRIAGE AND RELIGION (MEMORANDUM MENGENAI PERKAHWINAN DAN AGAMA)

Ladies and gentlemen, It is well to heed the wisdom, and I say that these are real pearls of wisdom from the former Prime Minister of Malaysia as he speaks from the real proverbial hindsight of a Prime Minister who has gone through the challenges of trying to initiate something only to find himself undermined from within and outside the government.

Hadirinsekalian, Mari belajar daripada kata-kata hikmah mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Beliaubercakap dari pengalaman sebagai seorang Perdana Menteri yang telah melaluicabaran ketika cuba memulakan sesuatu tetapi dihalang oleh orang-orang dari dalamdan luar kerajaan.

He had to this to say: “Saya harap tidak aka nada mereka menentang dalam senyap, seperti gunting dalam lipatan, kerana dasar yang beliau (Perdana Menteri) ingin wujudkan dengan pemansuhan ISA akan membawa manfaat kepada rakyat dan Negara pada jangka masa panjang.”

Beliauberkata: “Saya harap tidak akan ada diantara mereka menentang dalam senyap,seperti gunting dalam lipatan, kerana dasar yang beliau (Perdana Menteri) inginwujudkan dengan pemansuhan ISA akan membawa manfaat kepada rakyat dan Negarapada jangka masa panjang.”

I was one of nine ministers who signed a Memorandum to Tun Abdullah on the need to address issues related to marriage and religion. It was presented to him at the end of a cabinet meeting and was subsequently recorded as having been presented to Government.

Sayamerupakan salah seorang daripada sembilan menteri yang menandatangani memorandum kepada TunAbdullah mengenai isu-isu perkahwinan serta agama. Memorandum itu diberikankepada beliau dipenghujung Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri dan telah direkodkansebagai sesuatu yang telah disampaikan kepada kerajaan.

Very soon the contents were splashed in the front page of the New Straits Times and just as soon the signatories were summoned to the Prime Minister’s office where they were told to withdraw the Memorandum.

Dalamsekelip mata, isi kandungannya telah diterbitkan di muka hadapan akhbar New Straits Times. Tidak lama kemudian,semua yang menandatanganinya telah dipanggil ke pejabat Perdana Menteri dandiarah untuk menarik balik Memorandum itu.

I could not attend the meeting with the Prime Minister but I informed the Cabinet colleague who called to inform me of the meeting that I could not agree to the withdrawal as the points presented were valid and there was nothing wrong in presenting them for consideration.

Sayatidak dapat hadir ke perjumpaan dengan Perdana Menteri itu, tetapi sayamemberitahu menteri yang menghubungi saya bahawa saya tidak bersetuju menarik baliktandatangan saya kerana perkara yang kami sampaikan itu berasas, dan bahawasesungguhnya, tidak ada salahnya memohon agar ia dipertimbangkan.

I found it very disappointing that proposals sent in the form of a memorandum could meet with such strong objections. Indeed I was left to think that it was perhaps not so much the contents that generated such immense and almost violent objections, but more at the ‘temerity’ of a group of ministers for presenting the memorandum. Obviously there were people from withing and outside government who were not happy with the Ministers’ initiatives.

Sayamerasa sangat kecewa kerana cadangan yang disampaikan dalam bentuk memorandum itumenerima tentangan yang begitu hebat. Terlintas difikiran saya bahawatentangan hebat dan ganas itu bukanlah kerana intipati memorandum semata-mata,tetapi lebih kerana sekumpulan menteri berani menyampaikannya. Jelas adaorang-orang didalam dan diluar kerajaan yang tidak gembira dengan inisiatifpara menteri.

Upko members I am sure will want the Prime Minister and the Government to remain steadfast in the execution of this new initiative and to heed the advice and observations of his predecessors in office. We cannot go wrong. Both former Prime Ministers are in support and this unison does not happen very often!!

Sayapercaya ahli-ahli Upko mahu Perdana Menteri dan Kerajaan berdiri teguh melaksanakaninisiatif baru ini, serta mendengar nasihat dan pemerhatian mantan PerdanaMenteri yang terdahulu. Kita tidak mungkin salah. Kedua-dua mantan PerdanaMenteri telah memberikan sokongan. Dan persetujuan seperti itu bukanlah sesuatuyang kerap berlaku!!

Party members know that the leadership of this party has not been idle in pursuing the wishes of the members as articulated during debates in our conventions and congresses.

AhliUpko tahu, kepimpinan tertinggi parti ini tidak pernah lalai daripada memikul tanggungjawabperjuangan sesuai dengan kehendak ahli-ahli seperti yang diutarakan dalam semuakonvensyen dan kongres kami.

KADAZANDUSUN IN SCHOOL (BAHASA KADAZANDUSUN DI SEKOLAH)

We have asked, for example, for the Kadazandusun language to be taught in school and it is now a subject for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. The language is also now offered as a minor in degree courses at the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Perak and in Sabah there is preparation for the language to be taken as a specialisation subject so that there will be sufficient teachers to teach the subject in school.

Kitatelah meminta, contohnya, agar Bahasa Kadazandusun diajarkan di sekolah dankini ia adalah matapelajaran untuk peperikaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia. Bahasaini juga ditawarkan sebagai minor dalam kursus ijazah di Universiti PendidikanSultan Idris di Perak. Manakala di Sabah persediaan sedang dilakukan agarbahasa ini diambil sebagai matapelajaran ikhtisas supaya kelak akan ada tenaga pengajar yang cukup.

There is still much to be done but I must thank the Ministry of Education for the keen interest shown in this Borneon language. Indeed the officers involved in the language have had discussions with me and I am glad that they have been very cooperative. Upko will never rest until this mother tongue of ours is taught on par with other languages in our institutions of higher learning.

Masihbanyak yang perlu dilakukan, tetapi saya mesti berterima kasih kepadaKementerian Pelajaran kerana minat mendalam yang ditunjukkan terhadap bahasaBorneo ini. Sesungguhnya, para pegawai yang terlibat telah mengadakan beberapaperbincangan dengan saya, dan saya gembira kerana mereka memberikan kerjasamayang sangat baik. Upko tidak akan berhenti berjuang selagi bahasa ibunda kitaini diajarkan sama taraf dengan bahasa lain di institusi-institusi pengajiantinggi.

MISSION SCHOOLS (SEKOLAH MUBALIGH)

Ladies and gentlemen, Through the Cabinet Committee on Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputras and in the Cabinet itself, the Government has examined the proposals by the Confederation of Mission Schools. I have personally chaired a meeting of the Confederation and officials from the Ministry of Education and I am happy that there has been some very positive outcome.

Sidanghadirin sekalian, Melalui Jawatankuasa Kabinet mengenai Bumiputera Sabah danSarawak, serta Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri, kerajaan telah mengkajicadangan-cadangan oleh Persekutuan Sekolah-Sekolah Mubaligh. Saya secaraperibadi telah mempengerusikan satu mesyuarat Persekutuan ini dengan parapegawai daripada Kementerian Pelajaran dan saya gembira kerana sudah ada hasilyang sangat positif.

The subject of Bible Knowledge is one of the subjects which can be offered at the SPM examinations. Circulars have been issued to the effect that government schools can be used for the teaching of the subject outside normal school hours.

MatapelajaranBible Knowledge adalah antara subjek yang ditawarkan di peperiksaan SPM. SuratPekeliling telah dikeluarkan yang menggariskan bahawa sekolah kerajaan bolehdigunakan untuk pengajaran matapelajaran ini diluar masa pembelajaran biasa.

Mission Schools Boards are given a quota of 10 percent of student intake where the Boards can have discretion on the choice of the students to be enrolled to Year One or Form One to mission schools under their jurisdiction.

LembagaSekolah Mubaligh telah diberikan kuota sebanyak 10 peratus yakni bilangan muridyang mereka boleh pilih dan ambil untuk dimasukan ke Tahun Satu atau TingkatanSatu di sekolah mubaligh dibawah bidang kuasa mereka.

I am also delighted to note that the setting up of non-Muslim association in government and government aided schools now need only the approval from the headmaster or principal.

Sayajuga gembira melihat pekeliling yang menyatakan penubuhan pertubuhan bukanIslam di sekolah kerajaan dan sekolah bantuan kerajaan kini hanya memerlukankelulusan daripada guru besar atau pengetua sekolah.

These are some of the issues which have been brought to us by concerned individuals and organisations, not just the bumiputra minorities of Malaysia but also Malaysians of all ethnicities.

Semua ini adalah sebahagian daripadaisu-isu yang disampaikan kepada kami oleh individu serta organisasi tertentu,yang mewakili bukan sahaja bumiputera minoriti Malaysia tetapi masyarakatMalaysia daripada pelbagai suku kaum.

ORANG ASLI

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to say something about the plight of the Orang Asli in Semenanjung Malaysia. Lately they have articulated for a better way of addressing their issues and I do sympathise with them.

Sidang hadirin sekalian, Saya mohonmenyatakan sesuatu mengenai masalah yang dihadapi oleh Orang Asli diSemenanjung Malaysia. Sejak akhir-akhir ini, mereka mahu cara yang lebih baikuntuk menangani isu-isu mereka. Saya cukup simpati dengan mereka.

They have almost the same issues as the orang asal of Sabah and Sarawak and I can therefore understand why some of them have chosen to be with us in UPKO.

Mereka mempunyai isu-isu yang hampirsama dengan isu Anak Negeri Sabah dan Sarawak, dan oleh sebab itu, saya fahammengapa sebahagian daripada mereka telah memilih untuk menyertai kami dalamUpko.

There is a request from them for the Orang Asli department to be dismantled and that they be involved more in their affairs. They have asked for more participation in the formulation of land policies for example.

Mereka mahu jabatan Orang Aslidibubarkan, dan agar mereka diberikan peluang untuk lebih terlibat dalam halehwal mereka sendiri. Mereka mahu penglibatan yang lebih baik, contohnya, dalampenggubalan polisi tanah.

While the government has done something through the Orang Asli Department, perhaps we are measuring the achievements through our own value judgments. If they are not happy it is not wrong for us to take another look at the way the Orang Asli issues are addressed.

Walaupun kerajaan telah melakukanbeberapa perkara melalui Jabatan Orang Asli, mungkin kita telah mengukurpencapaiannya menggunakan sukatan nilai kita sendiri. Seandainya Orang Aslitidak puas hati, tidak salah kalau kita melihat kembali cara kita menanganiapapun juga isu-isu yang melibatkan mereka.

OIL AND GAS (GAS DAN MINYAK)

I have to inform members that there are still many issues which we have articulated which are still in the back burner. There are some in which decision has been arrived at but there are hitches in the implementation. Saya mesti memberitahu semua ahli bahawa masih banyak isu yang telah kita utarakan tetapi masih belum menerima apa-apa tindakan. Ada juga yang sudahpun diputuskan tetapi terdapat masalah dalam pelaksanaannya.

One of them is related to the oil and gas industry in Sabah. All of you I am sure would recall that soon after the 2008 elections the then Prime Minister came to Sabah and Sarawak to find for himself what the real problems and issues were as there has been a deluge of criticisms from even members of Parliament of the BN component parties. He discussed with the component party leaders what issues they wanted addressed.

Salahsatu daripadanya ialah industri gas dan minyak di Sabah. Saya percaya andasemua masih ingat bahawa sejurus selepas pilihanraya umum 2008, Perdana Menteriketika itu telah datang ke Sabah dan Sarawak untuk mengetahui sendiri masalahdan isu-isu sebenar kerana terdapat begitu banyak kritikan termasuk daripadaAhli Parlimen komponen parti BN sendiri. Beliau berbincang dengan para pemimpinkomponen parti apakah isu-isu yang mereka mahu beliau tangani.

UPKO was represented in the meeting by the Deputy President, Secretary General and myself. We discussed with Prime minister a wide range of issues which could be a speech it itself. But a lot of fruitful exchange of views took place.

SetiausahaAgung, Timbalan Presiden dan saya sendiri telah mewakili Upko. Kami berbincangdengan panjang lebar bersama PerdanaMenteri mengenai isu yang skopnya sangatluas dan banyak pertukaran pendapat yang baik berlaku.

One of our suggestions was on the proposed pipeline by Petronas from Kimanis to Bintulu in Sarawak should not be constructed but instead reroute the pipeline to the East Coast of Sabah to supply fuel for power generation as the State government had rejected the proposal to build a coal fired power generation plant. I followed this up in subsequent cabinet meetings.

Salahsatu cadangan kami ialah agar pembinaan paip gas oleh Petronas dari Kimanis keBintulu, Sarawak tidak dilaksanakan, sebaliknya ditukar arah ke Pantai TimurSabah untuk membekalkan gas bagi menjana kuasa kerana Kerajaan Negeri telahmenolak rancangan untuk membina kilang arang batu disana. Saya kemudiannyamengangkat perkara ini dibeberapa mesyuarat kabinet.

On the 31^st May 2008, the then Prime Minister announced the cancellation of the pipeline project and so I thought the voices of Sabah has been heard on this particular matter.

Pada31 Mei 2008, Perdana Menteri ketika itu mengumumkan pembatalan projek paip gasitu. Saya fikir ketika itu suara Sabah telah diendahkan dalam hal ini.

Little did I know that Petronas was just as determined to proceed and I protested in cabinet in successive meetings until finally the cabinet decided unequivocally that in settlement, the pipeline would continue but no gas will flow down the pipeline if Sabah’s industries need it.

Rupa-rupanya,Petronas pun bermati-matian mahu meneruskan projek itu. Saya memprotes hal itu dalam beberapamesyuarat kabinet dan akhirnya, kabinet sebulat suara bersetuju denganpenyelesaian, yakni, pembinaan gas paip akan diteruskan tetapi tiada gas akandisalurkan sekiranya industri di Sabah memerlukannya.

I asked for a guarantee that the decision would not again be overturned and Cabinet agreed that a letter of commitment will be issued to the State Government of Sabah.

Sayameminta jaminan supaya keputusan itu tidak lagi diengkari, dan Kabinetbersetuju agar surat komitmen diberikan kepada Kerajaan Negeri Sabah.

I have agreed to this settlement knowing that the pipeline would be redundant since I believe that industries in Sabah would be able to utilise all the gas landing in Kimanis.

Sayatelah bersetuju dengan penyelesaian itu sebab saya tahu gas paip itu tidak akandigunakan kerana saya percaya industri di Sabah akan menggunakan keseluruhangas di depot Kimanis.

Until today, I understand that no such letter of undertaking was ever issued. To add insult to injury there were statements made by Petronas officials in Sabah lately that Petronas would only export 500mmscfd from Sabah.

Sehinggahari ini, saya telah difahamkan belum ada surat jaminan dikeluarkan. Yang lebihmenyakitkan lagi, para pegawai Petronas di Sabah membuat kenyataan akhir-akhirini bahawa mereka hanya akan mengeksport 500mmscfd dari Sabah.

I understand that the initial volume of gas from the wells for the first few years would not exceed this amount. If this is the case, then there is hardly any feedstock for those industrialists who are proposing investments in Sabah. All the grand plans by the State Government in Sipitang would never get off the ground.

Sayajuga difahamkan jumlah gas daripada telaga Petronas pada peringkat permulaantidak akan melebihi jumlahini. Sekiranya ini betul, ini bermakna tidak akan ada bekalan untuk usahawanindustri berkenaan yang mahu melabur di Sabah. Semua rancangan mega olehKerajaan Negeri di Sipitang tidak akan dapat dilaksanakan.

YAB Tan Sri, ladies and gentlemen, I have been subjected to ridicule by those who do not wish the Barisan Nasional well either in the mainstream news media or in cyberspace.

YangAmat Berhomat Tan Sri, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan, saya telah menjadi sasaranejekan sama ada di suratkhabar atau internet oleh mereka yang tidak mahumelihat Barisan Nasional berjaya.

I would like members to know that we are not going to run away from this issue. Let me say today that I have not lost hope on this matter. I am determined to pursue this and take fully personal responsibility.

Sayamahu ahli-ahli Upko tahu, bahawa kita tidak akan sekali-kali berganjak daripadaisu ini. Saya ingin menegaskan hari ini, bahawa saya belum berputus asamengenai perkara ini. Saya bertekad untuk terus mengejar, dan akan secaraperibadi bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya.

ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY (SURUHANJAYA SIASATAN DIRAJA)

Over the last few years our party conventions and congresses have debated the sticky issue of illegal immigration in Sabah. Delegates were astounded on the population increase which Sabah has experienced.

Beberapatahun kebelakangan ini, kongres dan konvensyen kita telah membahaskan isusensitif yakni berkaitan pendatang tanpa izin di Sabah. Para perwakilanterpegun dengan pertambahan penduduk yang berlaku.

44. In 1960 it was said that the totalpopulation in Sabah was 454,561 of which 42 percent were Kadazandusuns.

Pada tahun 1960, dinyatakan jumlahkeseluruhan penduduk Sabah ialah 454,561 dimana 42 peratus daripadanya adalahsuku kaum Kadazandusun.

45. In 1970, Sabah had 653,604 populationswhile Sarawak’s was 976,269 people. Ten years later in 1980, Sabah populationwas 1,307,582 people while Sarawak had 1,515,536 people. In 1991, all of asudden, Sabah with 1,736,902 population overtook Sarawak’s 1,648,217.

Pada tahun 1970, Sabah mempunyai653,604 penduduk berbanding 976,269 rakyat Malaysia di Sarawak. Sepuluh tahunkemudian pada 1980, penduduk Sabah berjumlah 1,307,582 manakala Sarawak1,515,536 penduduk. Pada 1991, tiba-tiba Sabah dengan 1,736,902 penduduk telahmengatasi jumlah penduduk Sarawak yang hanya mempunyai 1,648,217 orang.

46. The puzzling trend continued in 2000when a census put Sabah population at 2,449,389 while Sarawak only 2,012,616.In 2005, we in the Land Below the Wind was said to have 3,313,000 fellowSabahans where as Sarawak was still at the two million bracket with 2,340,000people.

Kecenderungan penuh teka-teki iniberterusan pada tahun 2000 bila bancian ketika itu meletakan penduduk Sabahsejumlah 2,449,389 manakala Sarawak 2,012,616. Pada tahun 2005, kita di Negeridi Bawah Bayu dikatakan mempunyai 3,313,000 penduduk manakala Sarawak masihdalam lingkungan dua juta dengan 2,340,000.

47. A simple arithmetic showed that theSabah population increased about 285 percent in 30 years while Sarawak was onlyabout 108 percent. In 2005, Sabah hasthe highest population growth rate in the country at 3.1 percent as compared tothe national average of 2.3 percent.

Perkiraan matematik ringkas menunjukanpenduduk Sabah bertambah sebanyak 285 peratus dalam 30 tahun manakala diSarawak pertumbuhan penduduk hanyalah 108 peratus. Pada tahun 2005, Sabah mencatatperatusan pertumbuhan penduduk paling tinggi dalam Negara yakni 3.1 peratusberbanding purata kebangsaan yang hanya berjumlah 2.3 peratus.

48. There were about 168,000 Kadazandusunpopulation in 1960, which is about the same with the other Bumiputeras inSabah. But in 2000, the Kadazandusun population increased to only about 560,000while the other Bumiputras had grown to 1.1 million.

Pada tahun 1960, data menunjukanterdapat 168,000 Kadazandusun, yakni hampir sama dengan jumlah Bumiputera laindi Sabah. Tetapi, pada tahun 2000, sukukaum Kadazandusun hanya berjumlah560,000 manakala Bumiputera lain telah bertambah menjadi 1.1juta.

This is the data available to us, the accuracy of which may need to be verified. The National Registration Department was not able to furnish the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity with the data in 2007. And the general perception, even now is, the authorities do not know how many Malaysians are there in Sabah.

Itulahantara data yang kami perolehi, dan ketepatannya perlu diperiksa. JabatanPendaftaran Negara tidak dapat memberikan data penduduk kepada JawatankuasaPilihan Parlimen mengenai Integriti pada 2007. Dan sehingga saat inipun, persepsi awam ialah pihak berkuasa tidak tahu berapakah sebenarnya jumlahrakyat Malaysia di Sabah.

A better indicator of the population movement could perhaps be the general elections. In terms of constituencies, in the first Sabah State General Election in 1967, out of 32 seats, USNO won 14, Upko took 12, Perikatan won three, SCA bagged two and Independent took one.

Mungkinindikator yang lebih baik mengenai pertambahan penduduk ialah pilihanraya umum.Dari segi kawasan, dalam PRU Negeri Sabah yang pertama pada 1967, daripada 32kerusi, Usno menang 14, Upko menang 12, Perikatan mendapat tiga, SCA dua danBebas satu kerusi.

The number of seats were increased over the years and but were proportionate with the ethnic composition. Thus the 48 seats in the 80s saw 18 non-Muslim Bumiputera areas, 16 for Muslim Bumiputeras, eight for Chinese and six were mixed areas.

Jumlahkerusi bertambah ditahun-tahun seterusnya tetapi masih bersesuaian dengankomposisi kaum. Justeru 48 kerusi pada tahun 80an, Bumiputra bukan Islamdominan di 18 kerusi, Bumiputera Islam di 16 kawasan, lapan kerusi untuk Cinadan enam lagi kawasan campuran.

However, in the post 1990 redelineation of electoral boundaries, of the 48 seats, a new configuration emerged, with Muslim Bumiputera majority in 27 areas, non-Muslim Bumiputera in only 11 seats, while Chinese reduced marginally to seven and mixed areas three.

Walaubagaimanapun, selepas, persempadanan semula pada tahun 90an, satu konfigurasibaru timbul di 48 kawasan itu, dengan majoriti Bumiputera Islam di 27 kerusi,Bumiputera bukan Islam hanya dalam 11 kawasan, Cina dikurangkan satu menjaditujuh dan kawasan campuran tiga.

That was why, in the 2008 General Elections for 60 Sabah State seats, Umno contested and won in all 32 seats, PBS (12), LDP (3), MCA (1) PBRS (1), and Upko (6). The then BN component party SAPP won four while one seat went to a DAP.

Justeru,dalam PRU 2008 untuk 60 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri, Umno bertanding danmenang di kesemua 32 kawasan, PBS (12), LDP (3), MCA (1), PBRS (1) dan Upko(6). SAPP yakni parti komponen BN ketika itu menang empat dan DAP satu kerusi.

On reflection, may be that is the reason why the then Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamed made a commitment some years ago that in the true spirit of the Barisan Nasional coalition, Umno will not contest in more than 50 percent of the number of seats in any General Election. Perhaps the Barisan Nasional should take this into account when the the time comes to discuss the seat allocation, especially in respect of the seats formerly held by former component members of the Barisan Nasional.

Biladilihat kembali, mungkin itulah sebabnya mengapa mantan Perdana Menteri,Yang Amat Berhormat Tun Mahathir Mohamad memberikan komitmen beberapa tahunlalu bahawa sesuai dengan semangat jitu gagasan Barisan Nasional, Umno tidakakan bertanding lebih daripada 50 peratus jumlah kerusi dalam mana-manaPilihanraya Umum. Mungkin Barisan Nasional boleh mengambil kira perkara inibila sampai masanya untuk berbincangpengagihan kerusi, terutama sekali kawasan yang dahulunya dimenangi oleh bekaskomponen parti BN.

Yang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri, ladies and gentlemen, we have called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry as we feel that such a commission would be the only way for this very controversial issue to addressed and put to rest.

YangAmat Berhormat Tan Sri, para hadirin sekalian, kita mahu Suruhanjaya SiasatanDiraja ditubuhkan kerana kita yakin suruhanjaya sedemikian sahajalah yang bolehmenangani dan menyelesaikan secara tuntas isu yang penuh kontroversi ini.

There have been so many allegations and innuendoes coming up over the years. Indeed I have heard some of it during the hearings conducted by the ill-fated Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity which I chaired.

Sudahterlalu banyak dakwaan dan andaian yang tercetus sejak sekian lama. Malah, sayamendengar sebahagian daripadanya semasa pendengaran yang diadakan olehJawatankuasa Pilihan Parlimen mengenai Integriti yang saya pengerusikan.

Sometime last year a very high profile case of a purportedly Malaysian citizen surfaced. The man has been crowned the Sultan of Sulu. There was a hue and cry and today the case is no longer in the public domain. Is it true that he was actually never a Malaysian?

Tahunlalu, timbul sebuah kes berprofil tinggi yang melibatkan seorang yang kononnyaadalah warganegara Malaysia. Orang itu telah ditabalkan menjadi Sultan Sulu. Iamembangkitkan pelbagai reaksi dan riuh rendah, tetapi kini kes itu tidak lagimenjadi sebutan ramai. Apakah betul dia itu tidak pernah menjadi rakyatMalaysia?

This one case illustrates how serious the problem of illegal immigration is. How can Malaysians feel secure when neighbours can easily walk in, become a citizen almost overnight, and probably a Bumiputera at that, become a member of a political party and rub shoulders with the political elite. It raises the question of sovereignty and national security. We seem to have taken it rather lightly.

Kesini memperlihatkan betapa seriusnya masalah pendatang asing tanpa izin ini.Bagaimana mungkin rakyat Malaysia boleh merasa selamat bila jiran-jiran bolehdengan begitu senang memasuki Negara ini, dalam sekelip mata sahaja menjadiwarganegara, malah mungkin berstatus Bumiputera, menjadi ahli parti politik danbergaul dengan golongan kenamaan? Ia membangkitkan persoalan ancaman kepadakeselamatan dan kedaulatan Negara. Kita seolah-olah telah mengambil sikapsambil lewa mengenai perkara ini.

It has caused so much dissatisfaction in Sabah and the suspicions emanating from the issue has cast serious doubts on the integrity of the system. What actually went wrong? What exactly is the magnitude of the problem? What should the remedies be? I was hoping that the proposed commission would be able to shed some light into these questions.

Perkaraini telah menyebabkan begitu banyak rasa tidak puas hati di Sabah, dan sangkaanyang timbul daripada isu ini mencetuskan keraguan serius terhadap keutuhansistem pemerintahan negara. Apakah sebenarnya yang berlaku? Berapa besarkahsebenarnya masalah ini? Apakah penyelesaian yang sepatutnya? Saya mengharapkansuruhanjaya yang dicadangkan itu akan mampu memberikan serba sedikit jawabankepada soalan-soalan tersebut.

In view of all these happenings, I reiterate the calls we made for a Royal Commission of Inquiry. I am convinced of the necessity. Since I have taken this up through all the proper channels, by bringing it up for discussion in Cabinet, Pengurusan BN meetings and meetings of the Dewan Tertinggi, I wish to report to this congress that there has not been any decision by the Cabinet yet and that it has not been rejected.

Berlandaskansemua kejadian itu, saya mengulangi gesaan Upko agar Suruhanjaya Pilihan Dirajaditubuhkan. Saya yakin dengan keperluan ini. Oleh kerana saya sudah mengangkatperkara ini melalui saluran yang betul, dengan membangkitkannya untukperbincangan dalam Kabinet, mesyuarat Pengurusan BN dan Dewan Tertinggi, sayamohon melaporkan dalam kongres ini bahawa belum ada apa-apa keputusan Kabinetyang dibuat dan cadangan kita ini belum lagi ditolak.

I know that the Minister of Home Affairs has made some pronouncement on this but it is not a cabinet decision. Again on this particular issue, I am accountable to the party, and I take full personal responsibility.

Sayatahu, Menteri Dalam Negeri telah mengeluarkan beberapa kenyataan mengenai perkaraini, namun itu bukanlah keputusan Kabinet. Dalam perkara ini, sayabertanggungjawab kepada parti, dan saya pikul tugasan ini selaku Presiden Upko.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM (KEBEBASAN BERAGAMA)

Ladies and gentlemen, during the previous congresses, we have debated the issue relating to religion and the plight of some of the people caught in religious controversies.

Hadirin sekalian, dalamkongres-kongres sebelum ini, kita telah membahaskan isu berkaitan agama danmasalah orang-orang yang terperangkap dalam kemelut keagamaan.

I know of a family which cannot get a birth certificate for their children because the wife is a Christian while the husband is deemed by the authorities to be a Muslim because of the entry in his identity card.

Saya kenal sebuah keluarga yangbelum mendapatkan sijil kelahiran bagi anak mereka kerana si isteri seorangKristian, manakala dalam pandangan pihak berkuasa, si suami seorang Islamberlandaskan data dalam kad pengenalanbeliau.

The husband contends that he never converted to Islam and was baptised a Christian and married in Church. The National Registration Department does not recognise this marriage and in fact advised the couple that the only way for the children to obtain birth certificate is for the wife to declare that the children were born out of wedlock.

Si suami mengatakan dia tidak pernahmemeluk Islam, dan beliau dibaptis menjadi Kristian dan berkahwin di Gereja.Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara tidak mengiktiraf perkahwinan mereka, malahmenasihatkan pasangan itu bahawa satu-satunya cara untuk mendapatkan sijilkelahiran anak mereka ialah, si isteri perlu mewartakan bahawa cahaya mata ituadalah anak luar nikah.

This problem did not exist during the colonial era. We opted for independence to form a nation called Malaysia and the expectation must be that independence brings with it the promise of happiness and the gift of freedom. Never in our worst nightmare would we have seen the spectacle of a family having to declare the beloved child of a blessed union an illegitimate son.

Masalah ini tidak pernah wujud dalamera penjajahan. Kita memilih untuk merdeka dan membentuk sebuah Negara yangdipanggil Malaysia, dan pengharapan kita ialah kemerdekaan akan menjanjikankebahagiaan dan kebebasan. Dalam igauan paling ngeri sekalipun, kita tidakpernah membayangkan sebuah keluarga terpaksa mewartakan anak kesayangan hasilikatan suci perkahwinan mereka sebagai anak luar nikah.

I call today for us to return to spirit of the formation of this great country. Religion is a personal choice and therefore a matter between Man and his God. Let us allow Malaysians that freedom to profess the religion of their choice. By so doing we would have removed the major obstacle to unity within our multiracial society.

Hari ini saya menghimbau agar kitamenghidupi kembali semangat pembentukan Negara kita. Agama adalah pilihanperibadi dan oleh kerana itu ia adalah hal diantara Manusia dan Tuhannya. Marimembiarkan rakyat Malaysia dengan kebebasan untuk menganuti agama yang merekapilih sendiri. Dengan berbuat demikian, kita akan membuka halangan utama kepadaperpaduan jitu dikalangan masyarakat kita yang berbilang kaum.

A NEW MALAYSIA (MALAYSIABARU)

Yesterday, YAB Perdana Menteri repeated his commitment to the transformation of the nation. He said that we as a political party must not be afraid to be in the frontline to handle change after change and that the Barisan Nasional as a whole must be seen to be leading national renewal and not the opposition. Nothing can be further from the truth!

Kelmarin, YAB Perdana Menterimengulangi komitmen beliau terhadap proses transformasi Negara. Beliau berkata,kita sebagai sebuah parti politik haruslah tidak takut berada dibarisan hadapanuntuk menangani perubahan demi perubahan, dan bahawa sahnya Barisan Nasional secarakeseluruhan mestilah kelihatan mempelopori perubahan nasional. Sebenarnya,transformasi Negara bukanlah agenda milik pembangkang!

In fact a lot of the issues that the opposition have picked up have come from the lips of leaders and members of component parties of the Barisan Nasional. As always opposition parties have somehow managed to repack them to make it look as if the product had always been theirs!

Sesungguhnya banyak isu-isu yangkononnya diperjuangkan oleh pembangkang bermula daripada inisiatif ahli danpemimpin komponen parti Barisan Nasional. Kebiasaannya, parti pembangkangmengubahsuai sesuatu dan berbuat seolah-olah isu itu milik mereka!

I see also leadership in another context. It is perfectly legitimate for an enlightened government to engage with the opposition in addressing issues of urgent national importance or concern.

Saya juga melihat kepimpinan dalamkonteks yang lain. Adalah sesuatu yang wajar bagi sesebuah kerajaan untukberinteraksi dengan pembangkang dalam usaha menyelesaikan isu-isu Negara yangpenting dan mendesak.

The Conservative-Liberal Coalition in the United Kingdom and the opposition Labour Party together in unison addressed the recent spate of rioting in the Kingdom and I think they succeeded in showing that unbridled partisanship is not always the way forward in politics.

Gabungan Conservative-Liberal diUnited Kingdom dan parti pembangkang Labour Party berganding bahu menanganibeberapa siri rusuhan di Negara itu baru-baru ini, dan saya fikir merekaberjaya memperlihatkan bahawa perjuangan politik yang hanya berfokus kepadaagenda masing-masing tidak seharusnya selalu betul.

Sometimes success can be limited as shown in The United States where President Barack Obama has not fully secured the backing of the Republicans for his policies. But the move to engage and consult was there.

Kadang kala kejayaan agak terbatassebagaimana yang terjadi di Amerika Syarikat dimana Presiden Barack Obama belummendapat sokongan sepenuhnya daripada pihak Republicans untuk beberapapolisinya. Tetapi usaha untuk bersemuka dan berbincang, wujud.

There must be times that you must agree to disagree but politics should not be a Zero Sum game. I know that in Malaysia we still have some distance to cover on the road to full political maturity but this is the Blue Ocean that the Government must take advantage of and take the moral high ground.

Masanya akan tiba bila anda mestibersetuju untuk tidak bersetuju, tetapi politik bukanlah permainan kalah mati.Saya tahu di Malaysia perjalanan kita masih jauh menuju era politik yangmatang, tetapi inilah Lautan Biru, kesempatan yang Kerajaan perlu ambil agar iaboleh berdiri ditahap yang lebih tinggi.

Let us invite the Opposition for instance to take part in the formulation of post ISA consequential legislation. We can set up a Parliamentary Select Committee, with Opposition members on board, on these new proposed legislations to counter terrorism. Heed Tun Mahathir's advice in the case of Mat Sabu's recent charges in court.

Mungkin kita boleh menjemputpembangkang untuk turut serta dalam pembentukan undang-undang susulan kepadaISA yang dimansuhkan itu. Kita boleh menubuhkan Jawatankuasa Pilihan Parlimen,bersama wakil pembangkang, untuk menggubal undang-undang anti-pengganas.Dengar-dengarkanlah nasihat Tun Mahathir dalam kes dakwaan Mat Sabu di mahkamahbaru-baru ini.

At the end of the day we must remember that the new Malaysia is here to stay and we can only ignore that fact to our detriment.

Apa yang penting, kita mesti ingatbahawa Malaysia yang baru akan kekal wujud dan seandainya kita tidakmengendahkan perkara ini, kita sendiri yang akan rugi.

CONCLUSION (KESIMPULAN)

YAB, that is why I have been reminding Upko members over the years that we are here in politics in order to contribute to the governance and development of this country. That is why we have allowed our members to tackle all the difficult issues even at the risk of being branded 'opposition'.

Yang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri, itulahsebabnya selama ini saya sering mengingatkan ahli-ahli Upko, bahawa kita beradadalam politik untuk memberikan sumbangan kepada pentadbiran dan pembangunanNegara. Itulah sebabnya kami mengizinkan ahli-ahli kami menangani isu-isu rumitwalaupun berhadapan risiko dilabel sebagai ‘pembangkang’.

It is on the floor of this congress and the meetings at the divisional and branch level that each and every member can contribute to the formulation of good policies for the country. Even if you are not a wakil rakyat, you can be heard and I therefore expect delegates to contribute their piece and say their best at this congress.

Kongres inilah, dan mesyuarat diperingkat cawangan serta bahagian yang menjadi forum bagi setiap ahli untukmemberikan sumbangan kepada penggubalan dasar-dasar terbaik bagi Negara. Walaupunanda bukan Wakil Rakyat, anda didengar. Justeru, saya mengharapkan paraperwakilan menyumbangkan pandangan yang paling unggul dalam kongres ini.

Our members of Parliament and State assemblymen are ready to take up all worthy issues. Our representatives in both the Federal and State governments are there for you. We are ready to confront even the most difficult of issues.

Wakil Upko dalam Dewan Rakyat danDewan Undangan Negeri senantiasabersiap sedia mengangkat isu-isu yang wajar. Wakil-wakil kita di KerajaanPersekutuan dan Negeri pun selalu siap berbakti. Kami bersedia memperjuangkanisu yang paling rumit sekalipun.

That is why today, I gave the commitment to pursue all the outstanding issues which I mentioned today. As President of this party I feel it is incumbent upon me to take full responsibility when the voices of the people and the party members are not heard. That is the measure of my commitment to our cause.

Itulah sebabnya, hari ini, sayamemberi jaminan akan mencari penyelesaian kepada semua isu-isu ini sehabis-habisnya. Sebagai Presidenparti, saya sedar andai usaha kita gagal, sayalah yang bertanggungjawab. Inilahperjuangan saya.

Selamat Berjuang! Terima kasih! Kounsikou

UPKO TUNTUT SEPANGGAR

2011-08-08T12:39:00.006+08:00

BAKAT BERKARAT ... sehari selepas mesyuarat di rumah Datuk Steven, beliau menyertai kami di harijadi pertama anak buah saya, Ian Ethan Lester Bingkasan, di Kg Kionsom. Dan sempat jugalah cuba mencungkil skill dulu dulu.... "need more practice" dorang bilang hehe

SEBAGAIMANA dalam siaran media oleh Ketua Upko Sepanggar (US) Datuk Steven K Kutai ini, saya adalah antara yang hadir dalam mesyuarat di kediaman beliau hujung minggu lalu. Cukup terharu melihat semangat teman-teman seperjuangan yang bersungguh-sungguh mahu memberikan alternatif serta wadah kepada masyarakat kita untuk terus terlibat secara langsung dalam arus perdana pembangunan negara. Semoga perjuangan ikhlas ini beroleh kejayaan.

UPKO TUNTUT SEPANGGAR

INANAM, 7 Ogos 2011: Upko Sepanggar sebulat suara memohon untuk diberikan peluang bertanding dalam pilihanraya umum ke-13 yang menjelang tiba.

“Upko menuntut Sepanggar. Itulah resolusi yang kami persetujui dalam mesyuarat gilang gemilang kami di Kokol, Menggatal bulan lalu,” kata Datuk Steven K Kutai, ketua Upko Sepanggar (US) kepada media di sini hari ini.

“Tuntutan yang berlandaskan konsep perkongsian kuasa Barisan Nasional ini disokong padu oleh lebih 5,000 ahli Upko Sepanggar,” tambahnya lagi.

Kutai ditemui media yang bertanya beliau mengenai hasilan mesyuarat pertama Ahli Jawatankuasa US yang telah diadakan di kediaman beliau pada malam 5 Ogos.

“Kami berterima kasih kepada para perwakilan Mesyuarat Agung Tritahunan Upko Sepanggar pada 17 Julai lalu yang meneruskan komitmen jitu serta berwawasan dalam Upko,” kata Kutai.

“Barisan kepimpinan Upko Sepanggar akur dengan suara rakyat agar kami mewakili kerusi Parlimen Sepanggar. Kami sudah memaklumkan hasrat ini kepada pucuk pimpinan tertinggi Upko, dan kami berharap ia akan dipersetujui,” tambah beliau.

Ditanya kemungkinan niat US itu boleh mencetuskan suasana tegang dikalangan parti komponen di Sepanggar, Kutai percaya BN sudah cukup matang dalam perkara itu.

“Kami menyatakan keinginan semua ahli kami. Begitu juga parti BN yang lain. Yang penting, setelah keputusan dibuat mengenai parti yang akan bertanding nanti, semua ahli komponen BN akan bersatu padu memenangkan siapapun juga calon. Itulah yang telah Upko Sepanggar buat selama ini, sekali gus memastikan Sepanggar kekal diwakili oleh parti pemerintah,” tegas beliau.

Kutai juga berkata AJK semalam berterima kasih kepada 188 orang yang menyerahkan borang permohonan menjadi ahli Upko semasa di Kokol.

“Kami juga sedang memproses banyak lagi permohonan untuk menyertai kami. Semua ini mencetuskan semangat baru agar kami terus disiplin dalam parti dan berjuang, dengan cara kami yang tersendiri, demi kemajuan berterusan masyarakat kita dan Negara,” kata beliau.

Mesyuarat semalam dihadiri oleh barisan baru AJK Sepanggar yang dipilih dalam MAT lalu, termasuk bekas naib ketua Albert Bingkasan yang menang tanpa tanding bagi jawatan Timbalan Ketua Bahagian.

Lebih 500 perwakilan dan pemerhati memeriahkan MAT lalu yang diakhiri dengan majlis kesyukuran kerana kejayaan US menjadi hos Rumah Terbuka Tadau Kaamatan Upko Nasional di Menggatal pada Mei lalu.

Malam gelap gulita Kokol ketika itu juga diterangi oleh pertunjukan bunga api.

Kerusi Parlimen Sepanggar dimenangi oleh BN melalui parti SAPP dalam pilihanraya umum ke-12 pada 2008. Walau bagaimanapun, SAPP telah keluar daripada BN dan menjadi pembangkang.

Dua kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri dalam Sepanggar di wakili komponen BN yakni Inanam oleh Parti Bersatu Sabah manakala Karambuni oleh Umno

NAJIB, POPE MEET

2011-07-20T14:03:00.006+08:00

WELL, what can I say? I was there. It was a hectic but memorable trip. That moment in life which takes your breath away... I thank Tan Sri Dompok, my boss who took me along for the historical visit.

MALAYSIA, VATICAN ESTABLISHES DIPLOMATIC TIES
From Muin Abdul Majid ROME, July 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and the Vatican have agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations to promote bonds of mutual friendship and strengthen cooperation between both sides.
The announcement came following an audience between Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Pope Benedict XVI at the papal summer residence in scenic Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome.
Saying that the world "is at a crossroads," Najib said Malaysia was keen to share its experience with the world, and that was why Malaysia was committed to forging links and alliances with like-minded countries to promote world peace and harmony.
"This is the main reason why Malaysia established diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
"The world is at a crossroads, the forces of irrationality and discord are threatening our long-cherish and hard-gained stability, and prosperity," Najib said in a statement issued after the meeting.
He said Malaysia and the Vatican were committed to surmounting negative forces which used religion to justify acts of terrorism, by employing the powers of reason and moderation.
He added that the Holy See recognised Malaysia s commitment to promote moderation as a global doctrine.
"Our effort in managing our diversity despite various hurdles and challenges is a cogent reminder that diverse societies can succeed.
"However, we must remain vigilant and confront pernicious forces that threaten to unravel this harmony. We must also do more by adopting an inclusive approach to administration and governance, and ensuring the Malaysian sun shines on every Malaysian," he said.
The establishment of Malaysia-Vatican ties follows the footsteps of other Muslim-majority nations such as Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, the Arab League and a majority of members of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Najib, who brought along with him a multi-faith entourage in the meeting with the Pope, put forth his concept for a Global Movement of Moderates to counter extremism of all forms, a call he first made when delivering his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2010 in New York.
As a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, the prime minister said, Malaysia had drawn on the values of moderation to ensure continued harmony, stability and prosperity.
Najib also raised the possibility of forging closer links with the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue headed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies.
He said the Institute of Islamic Understanding, Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies and the Department of National Unity and Integration would spearhead this initiative from Malaysia.
Najib's delegation comprised Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
They were joined by National Fatwa Council chairman Prof Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin and Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam. The prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, accompanied her husband on the trip.
It was the second meeting between a Malaysian Prime Minister and the Pope, after the one involving Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pope John Paul in June 2002.
The Holy See, as the supreme body of government of the Catholic Church, is a sovereign juridical entity under international law.
As the "central government" of the Catholic Church, the Holy See has a legal status that allows it to enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a state and to send and receive diplomatic representatives.
The Holy See has formal diplomatic relations with more than 170 nations, including the United States and some predominantly Muslim countries.
Created in 1929 to provide a territorial identity for the Holy See in Rome, the 0.44 sq km Vatican City State is a recognised national territory under international law.
The Vatican has its own post office, commissary, bank, helicopter airfield and electrical generating plant and issues its own coins and stamps and has its own Internet domain (.va).
The Catholic community in Malaysia makes up the largest group of Christians in the country. About nine per cent of Malaysia's 28 million people are Christian, with Catholics numbering about 850,000. -- BERNAMA

NAJIB MEETS THE POPE
ROME, July 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Monday met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Pope's summer residence at the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome.
Najib's audience with Pope Benedict took place soon after his arrival at the palace overlooking a beautiful lake on a hot Italian summer day.
Following the private meeting, Najib introduced members of his entourage, including his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, to the Pope.
Najib later presented the Pope with gifts in the form of a book titled "Najib" and a framed songket embroidery. Both of them were later joined by Rosmah and members of the Malaysian delegation for a group photograph.
Najib was then ushered into a separate room for a delegation meeting with Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
Najib brought along with him a multi-faith entourage including Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
They were joined by National Fatwa Council chairman Prof Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin and Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam.
It was the second meeting between a Malaysian Prime Minister and the Pope after the one involving former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pope John Paul in June 2002.
The Pope is the ruler of both Vatican City State and Holy See. The Holy See is the universal government of the Catholic Church and operates from Vatican City State, a sovereign, independent territory of 0.44 sq km. -- BERNAMA

PEOPLE LEAVING ISLAM

2011-06-14T22:10:00.001+08:00

135 LEFT ISLAM
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — The federal government has allowed 135 to leave Islam between 2000 to 2010, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said today.

A total of 686 applied to Syariah Courts throughout the country to leave Islam in those ten years, said the minister in the Prime Minister’s department.

Specific details however were not provided, only a breakdown of people leaving Islam (apostasy) according to states.

Sabah recorded the highest number of apostasy cases (237, 67 allowed by the government), followed by Negri Sembilan (172, 33 allowed), Federal Territories (56, 10 allowed), Penang (36, 1 allowed).

Sarawak and Terengganu recorded the lowest cases of apostasy cases (1 for each state) while Kelantan had no such applications.

“In tackling the issue of apostasy (people leaving Islam) the state Islamic department (JAIN) always conducts programmes and activities to avoid this incident from occuring especially among new converts.

“Among the programmes offered are counselling services, religious reinforcement classes, religious classes and Baitulmal support,” Jamil said in a written reply to Er Teck Hwa (Bakri-DAP)today.

Muslims are usually not allowed to leave their faith in Malaysia unless under special circumstances mostly involving converts. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

DOMPOK ON RELIGION

2011-06-02T14:06:00.004+08:00

PRESS RELEASE BY

YB TAN SRI BERNARD GILUK DOMPOK

PRESIDENT UPKO CUM

MINISTER OF PLANTATION INDUSTRIES AND COMMODITIES MALAYSIA

IN REPLY TO UTUSAN MALAYSIA

The allegations printed by Utusan Malaysia promotes an unhealthy trend that has started lately whereby a report is printed without any attempt to verify the truth or to take into account it’s effect on the peace and harmony in the country. How can a national newspaper not only print but sensationalize something written by a blogger. It is the height of irresponsibility. The Christian churches have been a responsible group even at the worst of times. I have been present in some of their prayer sessions over the years and they have prayed for the nations, its leaders in government and the people of Malaysia generally. Indeed yearly on Malaysia Day prayers are offered in the Churches for the wellbeing of the nation and it’s leaders.

The position of Islam is enshrined in the constitution and has been accepted without question by all Malaysians of every religious belief. All the non-muslims want is a reciprocal acceptance of their constitutional rights as citizens of this country and the freedom to practice their religion in peace. As the Prime Minister says, we need to move from mere tolerance to acceptance.

As for the question of a Christian Prime Minister, what is wrong with that, although I do not see this happening in Malaysia. The Constitution does not stipulate the religious affiliation of the Prime, the only qualification being his ability to command the confidence of the majority of the members of Parliament. If an Iban, a Bidayuh, a Kadazandusun, Murut, Kelabit, a Chinese or Indian MALAYSIAN can satisfy the provision of Article 43 of the Constitution, he can be the Prime Minister of the Country.

Let us move on. Live and Let Live.

Putrajaya, May 9, 2011

BN WINS AGAIN

2011-04-18T15:29:00.001+08:00

Final Status Of Parties In The 10th Sarawak Election

KUCHING, April 16 (Bernama) -- Following is status of the parties contesting in the 10th Sarawak state election after the last result was announced by the Election Commission at 11pm Saturday night.

Barisan Nasional - 55

DAP - 12

PKR - 3

SNAP - 0

PAS - 0

Parti Cinta Malaysia - 0

Independents - 1

All 71 seats in the State Legislative Assembly were contested in this election.

-- BERNAMA

SARAWAK VOTES 16 APRIL

2011-03-23T13:04:00.004+08:00

THIS is going to be very interesting. Am predicting BN to win again though it may lose more than eight seats, especially in the urban areas. I hope no untoward incident will happen. And at the end of the day, the real victors are the people. From the people, by the people, for the people.

SARAWAK VOTES APRIL 16

KUCHING, March 23 — Sarawak will go to the polls on April 16, while nomination day is fixed for April 6, the Election Commission (EC) announced here today.

The state assembly was dissolved on Monday to pave the way for Sarawak’s 10th election.

Barisan Nasional (BN) currently controls 63 of the 71-seat assembly after Engkilili assemblyman, Dr Jonical Rayong Ngipa, who contested on an opposition Sarawak National Party (SNAP) ticket during the May 20, 2006 election, joined the ruling coalition last year.

The DAP controls six seats while Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), through an independent representative, control a seat each.

The vote in the sprawling, resource-rich state is seen as a barometer of the strength of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s government, and is expected to influence the timing and outcome of the general election which could be held this year.

Sarawak, Malaysia’s largest state, is a bastion of BN. The state provides the ruling coalition with one-fifth of its 137 members in Parliament and the outcome in local assembly elections will provide a reading on where the BN now stands.

The coalition suffered record losses to the opposition in Election 2008. But analysts say record commodity prices and strong economic growth have boosted the BN’s chances at national polls that must be held by 2013.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Najib said a good showing in Sarawak would help assess the public mood and perhaps provide a pointer to bringing forward the date of the general election.

The ruling coalition is unlikely to lose control of the state but voters could show their displeasure with long-serving Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and deprive the BN of its two-thirds majority in the state assembly.

Many of the mainly ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities abandoned the government in the 2008 elections due to increasing concerns of marginalisation, hollowing out the ruling coalition’s smaller parties. Many remain weak and unable to regain momentum. Sarawak will show whether Najib has succeeded in winning them back.

The last Sarawak election in 2006, which saw the opposition increase its tally in the 71-seat state legislature to eight from two, was followed by a two per cent drop in the benchmark stock index.

If the government loses its two-thirds majority in Sarawak, this could heighten political uncertainties for investors in the state, which include power-generation firms Aluminium Corp of China Limited, State Grid Corp of China and Tokuyama Corp.

These companies are mainly involved in aluminium smelter projects in the state and their investments contributed to making Sarawak the top choice for investors in Malaysia in 2008 and 2009, according to government data. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

IN UNITY

2011-03-18T09:53:00.000+08:00

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA (PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)

Address: 10, Jalan 11/9, Section 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Telephone: (03) 7957 1278, (03) 7957 1463, Fax: (03) 7957 1457

Email: cfmsia@yahoo.co.uk

17th March 2011

CFM MEDIA STATEMENT

HOLY SCRIPTURES DESECRATED

The Christian community in Malaysia is deeply hurt that the Government has desecrated and defaced the Bible.

Initial news that the Government had agreed to release copies of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia which had been impounded in both Port Klang and Kuching was greeted with joy.

However, this joy soon turned into grief and mourning when it was discovered that the release was subject to certain conditions. Each copy has to be stamped with a serial number, the official seal of the relevant department of the Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan Dan Teks Al-Quran, and the words “by order of the Minister of Home Affairs”.

This means that the Bahasa Malaysia Bible is now treated as a restricted item, and the Word of God has been made subject to the control of man. This is wholly offensive to Christians. Any person who respects the Holy Scriptures of any religion would be appalled by this action.

The Christian community in Malaysia has always acted in good faith and with great patience to find amicable solutions without compromising our fundamental beliefs. But that good faith has not been reciprocated by the Government. It is the Government that has moved the “goal posts” over the years through a systematic imposition of unreasonable conditions and restrictions.

We have never agreed to any wording to be endorsed on Bibles to say that it is only for Christians. The 1982 order issued under the Internal Security Act 1960 did not state that any form of words had to be endorsed on any copy of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia.

The latest letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 15 March 2011 is therefore a set of new conditions imposed on the release of the impounded Bibles which is wholly unacceptable to us. We will never accede to any desecration of the Bible since the Word of God to us is sacred.

We also wholly reject the Government’s contention that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia is prejudicial to the national interest and security of Malaysia, and treated as a subversive publication.

As Christians we wonder how our Holy Scriptures can become a national security threat where countless number of us find it helpful in bringing hope and healing to broken lives and homes which we can testify to. Besides it commands us to be better citizens of our beloved nation.

We therefore insist that the Government withdraw the conditions imposed on the release of the Bibles impounded in Port Klang and Kuching. Given that copies may already have been endorsed, we will NOT take delivery of those endorsed copies.

We call on all Malaysians, from Semenanjung and in Sabah and Sarawak, and from all walks of life, to come together in unity to reject any attempt to restrict the freedom of religion in our beloved country.

We invite all Christians in Malaysia to remain calm and to continue to pray for a dignified and respectful resolution of this issue. As Sunday 20 March 2011 marks the 2nd anniversary of the impounding of the Bibles at Port Klang, we call on all those in Malaysia and elsewhere to dedicate themselves to a day of prayer and quiet reflection.

Yours sincerely,

Bishop Ng Moon Hing

Chairman and the Executive Committee,

Christian Federation of Malaysia

THURSDAYS WITH...

2011-02-17T12:36:00.002+08:00

MINNIE: Did I hear you right, Buddy? That you are really exhausted and ready to walk out of your job?
BUDDY: Yes, your hearing my friend is still good. That's what I have been saying since our first cup of coffee. Why? You seem surprised?
MINNIE: Thanks for complimenting my ears. I have an even better heart, you know. But, really, why such drastic decision? I saw you being a happy person all these while, that you enjoyed your work and that the salary and all are more than satisfactory. Why?
BUDDY: It is a long story. Or rather, the reasons had been accumulating for a long time. Its time for me to move on. It is something like what Eebot is thinking.
EEBOT: Hahaha. Why drag me in, my friend? But seriously Minnie, for me, how we go through life and what we want to do in life is pretty much our own personal choice. If Buddy wants to quit, then, he has every right to quit.
MINNIE: That I accept fully Eebot. But, am just curious why would Buddy, or anybody for that matter, will want to quit from a very good job?
Eebot: May be because Buddy has found a better job?
MINNIE: A better job at his age? No lah.
BUDDY: Wow, you are doubting me Minnie?
MINNIE: I know you well, my friend. And what I am seeing now kind of worries me. Why change? Or rather why fix something that is not broken?
EEBOT: Change we must, but, for the better. And better can be qualified or quantified in more than one way.
MINNIE: I know it is Buddy's choice,his life, his decision. But being a friend, my point is, we should all at least try to ensure our friends' life is better.
BUDDY: Thank you Minnie. Thank you Eebot. Points noted.
EEBOT: I remember reading somewhere: Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by every moment that takes your breath away. Come, lets drink our coffee.....

THOUGHTS ON SABAH

2011-01-24T12:40:00.004+08:00

FREEDOM of speech. To me, simply put, it is one's right to say whatever he or she wants to say. It is one of our basic human rights. Whether what is said is correct or wrong, that's another matter altogether.
This piece, and am sure, many others by Jeffrey Kitingan is well written. Its a good read. Factual? Fiction? Frankly, I cannot afford to keep looking over my shoulder as I journey forward towards the promised land. But I do not mind resting once in a while, even taking time off to oblige a drink or two and more, for old times sake.

TIME FOR SABAH TO GROW UP?
KOTA KINABALU, 24 Jan 2011: United Borneo Front (UBF) leader, Jeffrey Kitingan, wants the people of Sabah and Sarawak to wean themselves off the habit of relying on the federal government for their future.

He said that it was time the people in these Borneo states learnt to be self-reliant, generated their own wealth, reclaimed what is rightfully theirs and determined their future.

“I realised very early on that we must not rely too much on the federal government for our development and that both Sabah and Sarawak must learn to be self-sufficient and self-reliant to generate our own wealth and reclaim what is rightfully ours,” he said in statement yesterday following his visit to Singapore to meet with former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Jeffrey, along with UBF co-founder Nilakrishna James and Sabah political writer Raymond Tombung, met Lee to seek his views on the birth of Malaysia.

According to Jeffrey, he was shocked to hear Lee say that he felt “deep collateral guilt” for not advising Borneo leaders what they were getting into.

“When Nilakrisna expressed her disappointment at the level of poverty in Borneo vis-à-vis the immense development and wealth of Singapore… and asked Lee why as an educated lawyer and a more advanced statesman, he did not advise the Borneo leaders on a more water-tight provision to secure their rights, equality and safeguards in the Malaysia Agreement of 1963, Lee could only repeat that he felt “deep collateral guilt”.

“Guilt, as far as we are concerned, will not reverse the situation. Tell the truth, repair the damage or provide solutions to our problems,” said Jeffrey.

He said that he could “only sense pity or condescension” from Singapore and the peninsula for the Borneo dilemma.

‘The Birth of Malaysia’

Meanwhile, Jeffrey also urged the government to consider making the book “The Birth of Malaysia” written by former SNAP president and Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee, Amar James Wong, a compulsory history textbook for secondary schools in the country.

The book contains key documents leading up to the Malaysia Agreement in 1963, including the Malaysia proclamation by the country’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Cobbold Commission Report and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report in 1962.

Jeffrey said that UBF would go all out to promote the book in its ongoing campaign to restore the historical facts about Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak in particular.

The UBF leaders recently held an informal meeting with Wong in Kuching to discuss cooperation between UBF and SNAP, as well as the genesis of the formation of Malaysia.

Jeffrey said that they discussed UBF’s direction and the amalgamating of various agendas between different racial groups in Borneo.

Wong, a prolific writer and now in his late 80s, has spent his life determined to tell the truth about the formation of the federation through the book, “The Birth of Malaysia”.

Shared experiences

A former ISA detainee himself, Jeffrey said that his shared experience with Wong under the ISA made them both determined to tell the story of Malaysia to the world.

“A former Malaysian prime minister told me that I should not teach the people what the people don’t know. He probably felt that ignorance would be a guarantee to the continual leadership of the present regime.

“I decided to defy this and believe that knowledge would empower the greatest among us and pave the way for a fairer system that would reward those who rise through merit. Wong and I have many things in common and he is one of the last of the true warriors.”

UBF officials will be making courtesy calls on various leaders who were pertinent at the time of the formation of Malaysia to find out more about the story of Malaysia.

Malaysia does not have a clear identity in the world because it does not have a true record of its history, they say.

“If you are ignorant about the political genesis of your own country and the true meaning of a federation, you can’t call yourself a Malaysian ambassador or politician for you are in no position to speak truthfully about your country,” explained Nilakrisna.

She added that UBF would be making bulk orders of Wong’s books to distribute and help promote it as an important textbook on the nation’s history. FREE MALAYSIA TODAY

PROSPEROUS 2011

2011-01-12T10:57:00.004+08:00

12 Jan 2011. Hey all. This is my first 2011 posting. This article was among the scores of mails I received recently. Am not sure of its real source. Or whether its facts and figures, and the story itself is correct or otherwise.
Last week, I did read something like this too, though, about P Ramlee in the MAS inflight magazine.
I post this because I simply love P Ramlee. The Ampas Man in this article has his/her own interpretation. And I respect his rights in doing so.
I also post this because today is my second darling, Allyshandhra 12th birthday. Parents, and everyone, for that matter want only the best for their children. At times I have sleepless nights thinking about my children, my family.
In this new decade, the 21st century, I hope my experience yesterdays will enable me to face today in the best way possible so that my tomorrows, and their future are 1000 times better than mine.
Its hard work. And luck and fate, they say. Deep down in me, I humbly believe a whisper or two prayers are the key.
Whatever it is, the sun light which enters my office is so wonderful because a few hours ago, I had experience what darkness is.
A properous 2011 and the Year of the Rabbit, one and all. Happy birthday to my Pengawas (her position in SRJK (C) Yue Min). Allyshearha, Alexshandhro Eebot, Allysha, Nelly and this Bingkasan love you so very much, forever.....

BROKE AND BROKEN
Ramlee was poached and enticed to return to Malaysia which he did in 1964. Wrong step it seems. All promises “back home in Malaysia” were not kept by his new masters. Sounds very very familiar here.

By The Ampas Man

Question: Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti?

Answer: Not in Malaysia

Those who watched the heart wrenching P. Ramlee documentary on the History Channel on 31st October 2010 must have gone to bed with a heavy heart. It transpires that Malaysia’s one and only film icon had died penniless and shunned by the public including his own colleagues. And the way it was done appears to have uncanny resemblances to what’s happening today in Malaysia, almost 45 years after Ramlee returned to Malaysia.

The documentary, narrated by British actor, Timothy Watson and 12 years in the making included precious interviews by some of his friends, actors and actresses who had passed on. The underlying tone was one of profound melancholy.

Ramlee, borne out of poverty along Caunter Hall Road at an Achenese community in Penang, had to endure a brutal Japanese occupation whose schools incidentally inculcated a certain discipline in him. In his formative years then, this discipline proved crucial as a founding platform for his eventual brilliance, creativity and innovation in film and music.

He subsequently gained phenomenal success at Shaw brothers' Jalan Ampas studios in Singapore. His success at Jalan Ampas was the apparent result of the studio’s incredible milieu of experienced film crew, choreographers and directors which the Shaw brothers had assembled from India, Hong Kong and Indonesia. With the load of management and finance off his shoulders, Ramlee was able to thrive and focus on his talent of creating music, acting and eventually direction, screenplay and editing.

The Shaw brothers invested and created such a conducive environment at Ampas that Singapore became the mecca for the Malay film industry for an entire genre of actors and actresses from the whole of the Malay Archipelago from Pontianak, Penang to Medan. Apart from Ramlee, Ampas provided careers for other actors and actresses like Nordin Ahmad, S. Kadarisman, Ahmad Daud, Normadiah, Saloma and Saadiah.

But this talent could not have been developed without the expertise of directors such as B. S. Rajan, L. Krishnan and Phani Majumdar. Directors such as Majumdar already had something like 15 years experience in directing films in various languages in Calcutta and Bombay before they came to Singapore. It was on this wealth of experience that the Malay film industry flourished.

Majumdar directed Ramlee in “Anakku Sazali” which won Ramlee Best Actor in 1956. And when Majumdar returned to India, he discovered another great Indian actor, Feroz Khan and directed Khan in his first big hit “Oonche Log” in 1965. Yes it was happy times then at No.8 Jalan Ampas and Boon Keng Road. But it had to end. Or so it seems.

Things appear to have taken a turn for the worse during the confusion of the Malaysia-Singapore separation in 1963 when Lee Kuan Yew had trouble reigning a tight leash on Trade Unions involving Lim Chin Siong, and his own PAP leaders led by Che' Awang and Devan Nair. Ramlee appears to have been an inadvertent victim of the unions’ unreasonable demands leading Shaw brothers to call it a day at Jalan Ampas when they couldn’t keep up with unions’ demands for higher pay.

Other views suggest that Ramlee was poached and enticed to return to Malaysia which he did in 1964. Wrong step it seems. All promises “back home in Malaysia” were not kept by his new masters. Sounds very very familiar here. Merdeka studios was poorly equipped and its rookie staffing meant the legend had to multitask which ended up eventually in him churning out shoddy movies. All 18 movies he directed in Malaysia flopped. Sounds like the same stories we hear from some of our Malaysians “trying” to return home from overseas.

Ramlee lost his glitter, his money and apparently so his fame. His partner and colleague, H.M. Shah, tried to form a company called PERFIMA to enable Ramlee to relaunch his career and produce his dream of colour films. But PERFIMA apparently ended up in the hands of inexperienced and connected cronies leaving the talented Ramlee then, as in now, even as a Malay, blatantly unrecognized, ignored and out in the cold.

The documentary brutally exposes how Ramlee tried in vain to set up P. Ramlee productions, but was again shut out by this country’s media and entertainment industry including RTM. He had to sit in the canteen at Ankasapuri while Saloma had her own show in RTM! He could not secure any government aid, grants or “Private Financial Initiatives” despite his passion for Malay music and culture.

He tried to reinvent himself and sought a bank loan – but was rejected! With his wealth of experience and in his early 40s then, he should have easily qualified. Poor Ramlee didn’t know that in Malaysia it is the “know who” that counts than the “know how”. If he had known George Tan from the Carrian Group then, Ramlee may have received a few million from BMF without even having to pay back. Or he should have “nurtured” some connections like how Daim, Halim Saad, Tajuddin Ramli, Syed Mokhtar and Amin Shah did.

Ramlee by now, tragically stressed out, overweight, disheveled, completely down and out with passion and spirit broken, had to now do almost any job he could including running mahjong tables and singing at weddings and other functions to put food on the table for his family. He had to live on rice and eggs. It was truly Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur for Ramlee. A court summons a day prior to his death for being a guarantor finally tipped the balance and done him in when he suffered a massive heart attack and he died on 29th May 1973 at the age of 44 years.

On the day he died, there was no rice in his house. And Saloma had no money for his funeral. The man and legend, P. Ramlee paid a very heavy price returning to Malaysia. The country just did not have the infrastructure, manpower and expertise to accommodate his enormous talent. He would have been better off in Singapore even with the unions there. He would not have gone broke in the club and wedding scene there and perhaps Singapore TV could have given him a break as compared to our own RTM. All the belated accolades and titles were a waste of time as far as the man himself was concerned. He died hopelessly broke and broken.

The documentary is not only an eye opener but a very good case study for anyone contemplating returning home to Malaysia. Whether you are a scientist, engineer, accountant, doctor, etc beware of the conditions enticing you to return. If your kid is an aerospace engineer, a naval architect or a transplant surgeon, it’s a no brainer that he /she should not return at all unless you are absolutely sure the country has the infrastructure and skilled manpower to support these fields. Don’t believe in these stories that you should come home to “help” and “develop” your areas of expertise. That’s not going to happen. That sort of thing will only go to the chaps who have the connections. Assess any offer carefully and do not trust anyone including this government. Make certain all agreements are enforceable in Singapore and the UK .

In retrospect P. Ramlee, with no formal education but was able to compose more than 360 songs and 66 movies, probably returned to a society that was not developed nor had the brain power and skills to match up to his vision. In short he was just surrounded with a whole lot of officials and journalists with serious hang ups who were not interested in the industry itself. There was no driving force like another Shaw brothers.

And the prevailing attitude at that time and probably even now was and still is a third class mentality. In an environment such as this, no one with creativity, innovation, skills and brains can ever hope to survive let alone thrive. Its better they stay back where they can develop and nurture their talent. If a star as bright as Ramlee could be extinguished with such impunity, the rest are nothing. Ramlee and his entire family had been wiped out financially despite his immense talent. But he remains still till this day, the Malay Archipelago’s cinematic legend. With apologies.

Hancur badan dikandung tanah

Budi baik dikenang juga

Biar alam hancur dan musnah

Jasa mu tetap dikenang juga

THE AMPAS MAN

TAIB: WE ARE READY

2010-12-20T17:52:00.001+08:00

TAIB OK WITH JOINT STATE-FEDERAL POLLS

KUCHING, 20 Dec 2010: Sarawak Barisan Nasional is ready to go with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak if the latter decides on joint polls.

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said the state's four-party coalition of Pesaka Bersatu Bumiputera (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Democratic Progressive Party (SPDP), would accommodate any request that Najib has.

"If Najib is inspired to hold the election soon, it is probably better for both parties to synchronise it with the state polls,” he said.

Taib has todate not announced the state polls which must be held before June 2011. He sparked rumours of a December polls when on his return from Mecca, he said "he was inspired".

But Kuching-based political analyst, Stanley Bye Kadam Kia, once said Taib was unlikely to hold polls before early April because March 26 was Taib's 30th anniversary as chief minister.

"Also, April is a month of rejuvenation. The weather in Sarawak at this time of the year is favourable for campaigning and, above all, it is also a time of celebration for the BN people," Kidam had said.

At stake in Sarawak are 71 state seats, 63 of which are held by the state BN coalition. PBB holds 35 seats, SUPP 12 (after Engkilili's Johnical Rayong was accepted into BN fold and as an SUPP member) and both PRS and SPDP have eight each.

The opposition in Sarawak hold the rest. Sarawak DAP holds six while PKR and an independent have one each. At parliamentary level, BN holds 30 of the 31 seats. DAP wrested the Sibu parliamentary seat from SUPP in the May by-election.

An empowered opposition in Sarawak is confident of creating a bigger dent in the BN shield. Already speculations are rife that DAP is confident of winning 15 seats in the coming polls which Taib is yet to announce.

Several online polls run by the local media show that PKR will win more than “one seat” this time round.

PKR has been in the frontline campaigning on native and native customary land (NCR) issues.

No level field

State chairman Baru Bian, who is also a well-known lawyer on NCR matters, has said that on a “level field” PKR stood a very good chance of winning.

But he added that it was unlikely to be so. Bian is expecting BN to sweep in at the final hour with the combined force of money, machinery and media.

Meanwhile, Taib has to put up with the opposition issues ranging from the Bakun Dam to NCR lands and his personal and family accumulated wealth.

The impoundment of the RM7 billion Bakun Dam continues to be a thorn in Taib's side as does the state's proposal for 12 more dams under the Sarawak economic corridor plan.

Opposition and activists are against these projects which they alleged have already had adverse effects on the state's ecology.

The recent logjam ecological disaster along 250km of the Rajang River is “only one such incident”, noted an activitist.

"These are unnecessary projects that affect native lives and livelihood. The logjam disaster simply crippled the lives of the communities dependent on the river.

"Bakun Dam has displaced the native community. It has been almost 15 years and many issues including compensations are still unsettled," the activist said.

Thus far, Taib has not commented on the numerous police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Corruption Commission (MACC) reports made against him over allegation of widespread corruption.

For now, he appears to be preoccupied with a government proposal to publish a White Paper aimed at gagging the opposition and stiffling its activities.

Claiming that the White Paper was a preventive and not a punitve measure, he, however, said that it could be implemented anytime – before or after the state election.

Earlier, Taib had directed PBB to set up a unit to monitor all the exposé on the Internet following a series of explosing character-crippling revelations by online news portal Sarawak Report's investigating team.

Taib's response, as shown on YouTube, to this was to tell a longhouse audience that he was indeed wealthy and left it to his family to look after the wealth. Free Malaysia Today

DAP READY BY FEB

2010-12-09T10:50:00.003+08:00

HEY all. I know, its been a while since I last updated this blog. Well, more to come. This is all about the supposedly snap polls. There is merit and demerit. My personal view? Let us live as if today is the last day of our life.

DAP READY FOR SNAP POLLS
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — The DAP is preparing for possible snap polls and will be ready to take on the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in as little as two months, a party leader revealed.

DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua revealed that the party held an election committee meeting yesterday afternoon to discuss preparations for the next general election, widely speculated to be called as early as next March.

“We have to ramp up, there’s no question about it,” the Petaling Jaya MP said last night.

During the meeting, party leaders discussed “reviews, steps, setting up the sub-committees, leaflets” and other election machinery-related issues to prepare for the 13th general election, Pua said.

He stressed that DAP could go to polls tomorrow if needed, and that these preparations were to merely ensure “near-peak condition” for the party.

“We hope to be not so much ready — I mean, you can call elections now and we can still do elections — but we hope to achieve near-peak condition in two months,” Pua said.

He said in the months following that DAP will “maintain and sustain” the momentum by focusing on leaflet designs, campaign teams and manifesto production.

The first-term lawmaker also revealed that committee members had disagreed on when elections will be held, with some settling on March or April while others thought June or September more likely.

“But, to us, we have to prepare for the worst case, which is when it’s early — March, April — so we have to get ready by then,” he said.

He explained that he was “ambivalent” about whether Selangor should dissolve its state assembly to coincide with the general election as there were “pros and cons” to both, but declined to comment further as the decision was not his to make.

On the election outcome in Selangor, Pua said Pakatan Rakyat (PR) “had the edge” for the moment but cautioned that the coalition cannot rest easy and must continue to send a message that it was better at governing than BN.

“We are in continuous improvement mode. We want to make better policies, and the key difference between our government and the Barisan government is you don’t find our mentri besar enriching himself by improper means,” he said, in a thinly-veiled reference to former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

Khir was charged on Monday in the Shah Alam Sessions Court with land fraud under section 165 of the Criminal Procedure Code in connection with the purchase of two plots of land and a bungalow in Section 7, Shah Alam.

If found guilty, the 45-year-old Khir faces up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Pua said all three PR component parties would meet up some time soon to discuss election preparations but did not furnish a date.

In Election 2008, PR won 17 out of 22 parliamentary seats in Selangor and 36 of the 56 state assembly seats, losing one as a result of defection.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang noted last month that eight PR parliamentary seats in Selangor were won with less than 10 per cent majority, namely Hulu Selangor, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat (these were won with less than five per cent majorities) and Selayang, Gombak, Ampang and Kelana Jaya.

In a recent by-election, PR lost Hulu Selangor, which was won with the slimmest majority of 0.4 per cent in 2008, he added.

For the state assembly seats, PR won 10 seats with less than 10 per cent majority, namely Sekinchan, Bukit Melawati, Cempaka, Damansara and Teluk Datuk (these five were won with less than five per cent majorities) and Ulu Kelang, Bukit Antarabangsa, Lebah Jaya, Kota Anggerik and Selat Kelang.

BN won only three parliamentary seats and 12 state assembly seats in Selangor in 2008 with less than 10 per cent majorities, Election Commission records show. The Malaysian Insider

DOMPOK ON MALAYS

2010-11-23T23:38:00.003+08:00

THIS is from The Nut Graph. An exclusive interview by Deborah Loh with my boss, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Upko President cum MPIC minister and Penampang MP. Proud to be able to offer (albeit in small ways) my service to him, full time since 2001. Happy reading. CLICK HERE FOR FULL INTERVIEW

DOMPOK: NOT MALAYS FULL STOP

PLANTATION Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok is one of the more outspoken federal government leaders. On a few occasions, especially when it comes to issues affecting Sabahans, he’s spoken up against cabinet positions.

The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president supports the use of “Allah” for Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Christians. He has opposed the Sabah-Sarawak gas pipeline project because it won’t benefit Sabah, where the gas comes from. And he’s not hesitated to put Umno in its place, calling the political party a hindrance to realising 1Malaysia.

The Penampang Member of Parliament spoke to The Nut Graph about his early years, his purpose in preserving missions schools, the Kadazandusun language, and what being Malaysian means in an interview on 28 Oct 2010 in Putrajaya.

What kind of Malaysia do you want for yourself and future generations?

I want a Malaysia in which everyone — and this is what I’ve been trying to get inserted into our Barisan Nasional manifesto — where everybody who is Malaysian is treated the same under the Malaysian sun. Implementation of the constitution must not be selective. As I said, [recognition of] the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, must be one sentence.

Therefore, I would like to see Malaysia implement its policies based on its diversity. Nothing less. The government is a government for all Malaysians. The rulers are rulers for all Malaysians and not just the Malays. So therefore, my right as a Christian in this country also has to be protected by the ruler, because he’s my ruler. He’s my Agong.THE NUT GRAPH

BRAVO LINDA

2010-10-28T12:14:00.005+08:00

I FEEL for her. Really. Her husband passed away suddenly only on Oct 9. In my Kadazandusun culture, she would still be in mourning. All the best Linda.

LINDA TO STAY STRONG

“I have had my moment of tears. Especially when I am on my own. Of course... I still miss my husband,” she told The Malaysian Insider during lunch after a hectic walkabout session in Bandar Ramai-Ramai here.

In a halting voice, the 54-year-old explained that she has had to deal with two deaths in the family this year, the first being that of her father, who died in June at the age of 92.

“It has been challenging... a new chapter in my life. Suddenly, I have to stand on my own two feet and I have to stay strong for my four kids,” she said. READ MORE HERE

BATU SAPI BATTLE

2010-10-26T15:50:00.004+08:00

THIS is the first by-election in Sabah. Will be interesting to see the result. We just have to wait and see. I take this opportunity to say, I knew the late Datuk Edmund Chong. There were times when I sat next to him on the plane in the 6.05am flight from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur, usually on Mondays. I was also with him when my boss was chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity. May he rest in peace.

BN vs SAPP vs PKR IN BATU SAPI

SANDAKAN, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- As expected, the Batu Sapi by-election will see a three-cornered fight involving Barisan Nasional (BN), Sabah-based opposition party Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
BN's Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is up against SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee, who is a former Sabah chief minister, and PKR Tuaran division chief and prominent lawyer Ansari Abdullah.
The list of candidates was announced by returning officer Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain, who is also the Sandakan Municipal Council secretary, at the nomination centre, Sandakan Community Hall.
Mohamad Hamsan accepted the papers of all three candidates as there were no issues raised during the one-hour objection period.
Ansari was the first to arrive at the nomination centre and handed in his nomination papers at 9.08am, followed by Yong at 9.09am and Linda Tsen three minutes later.
About one thousand supporters from all parties gathered in this coastal town since sunrise before going to the nomination centre.
They were shouting slogans but maintained discipline.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman led the BN supporters and Tsen to the nomination centre.
Also present were PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas and other representatives of BN component parties.
The PKR camp was led by its president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw and PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, while Yong, the SAPP candidate, led a small group of supporters.
Tsen when later approached by reporters, pledged that if she is chosen, she would work hard and do her best to carry on the good work of BN.
Yong, meanwhile, praised the Election Commission for handling the nomination process smoothly.
"We thank the Election Commission and its officers for all the preparations made. There were no problems and no objections.
"As for our campaign, we will highlight issues such as unemployment, poverty, land, rising cost of goods and empty promises made (by the government)...We will change all that to return honour and autonomy to the people of Sabah through Batu Sapi," he said.
Ansari said the Batu Sapi contest was a chance for PKR to have a member of parliament from Sabah, adding that his campaign would also focus on the issue of poverty of the Bumiputeras here.
He also claimed that SAPP is "not a real opposition party, but an 'independent' party".
The Batu Sapi parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent and two-term MP, Datuk Edmund Chong, in a road accident on Oct 9.
Chong won the seat in the 2008 general election by a 3,708-vote majority, defeating independent candidate Dr Chung Kong Wing.
Chong polled 9,479 votes against Dr Chung's 5,771. He won the same seat in the 2004 general election unopposed.
Batu Sapi has 25,582 voters, of whom 24,047 are ordinary voters and 1,535 postal voters.
Muslim Bumuiputeras comprise 15,099 or 59.02 per cent of the voters, non-Muslim Bumiputeras 689 (2.69 per cent), Chinese 9,737 (38.06 per cent) and others, 57 (0.22 per cent).-- BERNAMA

THE Galas state by-election in Kelantan will also be held Nov 4. MORE HERE

PKR PARTY ELECTION

2010-10-25T17:35:00.002+08:00

THIS is for file purposes. And for a good reason too. READ MORE HERE

CHILE MIRACLE

2010-10-13T20:18:00.005+08:00

HOW would I be after spending 69 days in a cramped, dark, always-in-danger mine some 700 meters underground?
I have been following this story whenever I could. And like a sponge near water, I tried to absorb as much as I possibly could. The lesson, is, put simply, beyond words. It is a miracle. Yes, a miracle. A mysterious grace meant to touch our lives. Praise God. And congrats to the world, especially the Chilean government. And the 33 miracles......

Chile mine rescue

By Juan Forero and Jonathan Franklin
Wednesday, October 13, 2010; 6:45 AM

SAN JOSE MINE, CHILE - After 10 weeks in a dark, hot purgatory 2,000 feet underground, the first of 33 trapped miners were hoisted to freedom early Wednesday, a rescue marking the beginning of the end of a drama that captivated people worldwide.

The rescue operation continued at a steady pace of about one miner per hour, with eight men brought safely to the surface so far, each emerging to cheers of "Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le!" -- the country's name. The operation to free all 33 miners could last until Thursday.

Florencio Avalos, 31, emerged in the cold of Chile's northern Atacama Desert just after midnight Wednesday (11 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday), 69 days after he and his fellow miners were sealed in a cavern. They were trapped Aug. 5 when hundreds of thousands of tons of rocks collapsed on the gold and copper mine.

A specially designed rescue capsule, sporting the Chilean flag and shaped like a missile, maneuvered deep into the Earth down a 28-inch-wide emergency shaft and extricated Avalos. He was welcomed back to the surface with spirited cheers and tearful hugs before medical personnel led him away for a checkup.

The capsule, meanwhile, was quickly sent back down to bring out Mario Sepulveda, 40, whose whoops of joy could be heard even before the capsule broke the surface. Once freed, Sepulveda exubrantly handed out souvenir rocks he brought up with him in a yellow satchel, even giving one to Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

"I think I had extraordinary luck," Sepulveda later told reporters. "I was with God and with the devil - and God took me."

Among the other rescued miners was the youngest -- 19-year-old Jimmy Sanchez, who hugged his waiting father -- and a Bolivian, Carlos Mamani, who shouted, "Gracias, Chile!" when he emerged from the escape capsule.

The plight of the miners has gripped this country of 17 million, and the dramatic nighttime rescue of Avalos played out on national television. The government carefully choreographed several facets, including Pinera's pep talk to rescue planners and the singing of the national anthem.

"We made a promise to never surrender, and we kept it," Pinera said as he waited to welcome the miners.

The government also provided a televised feed of events at both ends of the rescue shaft that was seen worldwide.

The rescue drew scores of people Tuesday night to the Chilean Embassy in the District. High hopes mixed with anxiety as the crowd watched live coverage from a Chilean network on a jumbo television screen, and they celebrated Avalos's arrival with an eruption of cheers and the popping of champagne corks.

The 33 men are believed to have survived longer underground than anyone else in the history of mining accidents.

"All Chileans are with you, and may God be with you," Pinera told rescuer Manuel Gonzalez moments before he entered the capsule and went deep underground. "And may you bring us the miners."

When Gonzalez reached the cavern 18 minutes later, he hugged several of the miners and then helped Avalos fit into the capsule. A winch then pulled Avalos on his bumpy, claustrophobic journey to the surface.

Every step of the operation had been meticulously planned, from the engineering that went into the construction of the rescue capsule to Tuesday's tests of the winch.

The miners had been given a special diet to help prevent their becoming nauseated on the way up. After weeks in the sweltering mine, they were also expected to wear sweaters for their reentry into the world above; temperatures in the Atacama Desert can drop close to freezing at night.

Rescue planners chose Avalos to go first after careful consideration. An expert miner used to working in tight places, he was considered fit of body and mind and thus seen as capable of dealing with any unforeseen problems, such as the capsule becoming lodged in the rescue shaft.

The three miners picked to follow Avalos to the surface are also considered capable of handling difficulties on the way up. The next group includes those who are weaker, older and suffering from a range of ailments. The final group of miners, like those who led off the rescue, are also strong and able.

The last miner to be raised is scheduled to be Luis Urzua, 54, shift chief when the mine collapsed and a steady leader for the other miners.

Speaking by phone from the mine Tuesday morning, Urzua reflected on the saga, carefully choosing his words to describe what it was like for such a large group to be imprisoned in such tight quarters for so long. "This was a group with different personalities and manners of being," he said.

"We have had a stage here in our lives that we never planned for," said Urzua, who has been mining for three decades. "I hope to never live again like this, but that's the life of a miner."

Taking charge after the collapse, Urzua rationed food, giving each miner one spoonful of tuna every 48 hours during their first 17 days trapped underground. He also kept order, something that NASA specialists who have been monitoring the crisis say was vital to keeping up morale and preventing discord.

"We had to be strong," Urzua said. "All the workers in the mine fulfilled their roles."

One miner became the spokesman to the outside world, for instance, while others provided comic relief for their comrades and still others simply showed fortitude for their less experienced colleagues.

Asked about the dangers of mining, particularly at this copper and gold deposit, Urzua said he and the others knew of the hazards. "We always say that when you go into the mine, you respect the mine and hope you get out," he said.

'We knew they were alive'

The miners' lifeline to the outside world since late August has been a tube no wider than an orange, through which they have been able to converse with rescuers and family members by telephone. They have received necessities such as medicine and food but also personal items to pass the time, such as music.

"They think this is room service," quipped Jean Romagnoli, a doctor who has been monitoring the miners' health through special straps that track their heart rate and blood pressure.

The miners have been told how their saga mobilized a battalion of rescue planners, medical authorities, mining executives and even NASA engineers, who helped troubleshoot some of the equipment the Chileans designed for the rescue.

Mining expertise permitted rescuers to drill a bore hole 17 days after the mine collapsed that reached the space where the miners had been trapped. Rescue workers on the surface heard a faint clanging on the drill bit.

"It was like they were hitting it with a spoon," said Eduardo Hurtado, who operated the machine that enabled rescuers to make that first contact with the miners. "Then a far stronger clanging came up. We knew they were alive."

Then on Saturday, another drill finished chewing through hundreds of feet of rock, creating a wider shaft. That hole is only about the diameter of a bicycle tire but is big enough for the capsule designed to hoist the men up, one by one.

The capsule rises at a rate of about a yard per second, bumping against the sides of the tunnel. A camera on the vessel allows doctors on the surface to monitor how each miner reacts as he is being raised. Rescue planners were also to be in constant radio contact with the men as they made their way up.

Those waiting on the surface include medical teams that will quickly examine the miners before they are airlifted to a hospital in Copiapo, a town nearby.

Preparing for exit

In their final hours underground, the miners tried to wash up and comb their hair to appear presentable. Special clothes, tailored to each man, were sent down. Some of the miners gathered a few rocks to take with them, a memento from the place they called home for more than two months.

Richard Villaroel, 26, said by phone that he was excited about reuniting with his wife, who is expecting a baby this week. "I didn't sleep at all last night," he said. "I couldn't."

Up in Camp Hope, where the miners' families have lived for weeks as authorities methodically planned the rescue, loved ones could hardly contain themselves as word spread that the operation was about to begin.

"I feel anxious," said Olga Carmona, 36, the niece of Mario Gomez, 63, the eldest miner. "We have waited all these weeks, so it's just hours away, but it is eternal."

Belgica Ramirez, Gomez's sister-in-law, said she could imagine how they will all want to embrace. "We will just hug him and cry," she said. "Then we plan to do a cookout and celebrate."

Franklin is a special correspondent. Staff writer Mary Pat Flaherty contributed to this report from Washington.

MORE STORY HERE about miner's encounter with God and the devil

2 x 5 MAYBE

2010-09-21T12:48:00.003+08:00

HA HA HA. I could already hear you murmuring... See, Albert is now "attacking" the opposition. Memperlekehkan, some will say. Well, the thing is, in the last two weeks or so, I met friends who also "belittle" my alignment towards the ruling government. They said, it is high time for me to do a soul searching and switch camp. I asked them then: Leave BN and go to PR? And they said, yes yes yes. So I asked them again: Is the grass at the other side more green? And they said, yes yes yes. That's the reason why I post this article here. Tepuk dada, tanya selera. And click also the one about what Tian Chua said. Then, we can all have a brainstorming session(s) again. And again. And again....
EX-PAPAR PKR CHIEF CRIES FOUL
PAPAR: Former PKR divisional chief for Papar, Sylvester Balon Mujim, wants the party to nullify the election results for the division and hold a fairer and more organised polls. He claimed the Papar polls on Saturday, in which he lost to lawyer James Ghani, was marred with various discrepancies.
"It was one of the worst-organised and dirtiest elections held. I am filing an official complaint to the Party Election Committee and I hope they will reconvene and hold a fresh polls for Papar," he said here yesterday.
James polled 223 votes to defeat incumbent Sylvester who chalked in 165 votes, and Husin Lamsin who garnered only 50 votes.
According to Sylvester, the monitoring team assigned by party headquarters to monitor and run the polling, had failed miserably to ensure a democratic voting by allowing aides of his opponents a free hand in assisting members to mark ballot papers.
"There were other incidents in the meeting which even I as the incumbent head was denied a say to correct things.
“Ballot papers were being brought from outside and the whole voting process was a chaos.
"The voting process itself was carried out even before the meeting proper was held. Ballot papers were handed to people approaching the counter without really scrutinising their names on the party membership rolls," he alleged.
Sylvester also claimed that his opponent involved himself in money politics at yesterday's poll.
"I have members to testify on this," he said.
Sylvester was one of the 12 members from Sabah who were recently disciplined for their involvement in the aborted attempt to register a PKR-breakaway Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS). Free Malaysia Today

TIAN CHUA ON PKR. READ HERE

TWO PARTY SYSTEM

2010-09-07T22:07:00.002+08:00

WHAT is in store for the ruling Barisan Nasional? Can we actually do away with race-based political parties such as Upko, Umno, MIC and the likes and be united in one party, the BN? To cut the story short, I will be surprise if this happens in my life time. So, lets play our role, based on "As is, where is" concept. Simple. And practical. But with a vision....

TWO-TIER BN MEMBERSHIP?

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Several Umno leaders have predicted that a proposal to allow direct membership into Barisan Nasional (BN) would result in the federal ruling coalition having a “two-tier” membership system, and see the continued existence of its component parties.

Under this new party system, BN’s membership would consist of existing members from affiliated parties like Umno, MCA and MIC as well as members who are part of BN through direct membership.

They, however, argued that dissolving race-based component parties within BN and transforming it into a single party would be “difficult” because many component party members were still “attached” to their respective parties and preferred fighting for issues on the existing race-based platform.

“The one way in which BN can become a multiracial party is if the direct membership for BN exceeds the membership of the (existing) component parties. This would then be fait accompli.

“What’s ideal for the future would be direct electorates. Look at the United States. They have Republicans as well as Democrats. Their parties are not race-based. The whole idea is to get the best Malaysians to represent BN,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz. READ MORE HERE

SABAH MERDEKA

2010-08-31T09:10:00.004+08:00

Perayaan Hari Merdeka memaparkan

setiap rakyat Malaysia boleh

mencetuskan sesuatu yang indah.

Everybody needs to play

their respective roles,

if we are to succeed as a nation...

31 Ogos - Selamat Merdeka kepada Sabah,

Sarawak dan Malaya...

“Please remember that Malaysia is our homeland; this is the place where we were born, the place where we grew up, where we find our livelihood, a place where we find happiness and where we shall be laid to rest,” said Najib. READ MORE