TUESDAY-27TH MAY 2008- EC WANTS TO RE-REGISTER 10.9 MIL VOTERS FOR FRESH ROLL

EC wants to re-register 10.9 mil voters for fresh roll

KUALA LUMPUR:

Malaysian electoral authorities want a fresh voters roll and have proposed reregistering all 10.9 million voters in a mammoth exercise aimed at silencing allegations of fraud and vote-rigging, a report said Monday. Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the project would take about two years, in time for the next general election unless a snap poll is triggered by current political turmoil. “The new registration exercise will be held if the Government accepts the proposal. We hope the proposal will be accepted,” he said. According to him, a new roll which caters to the current needs is necessary and would be acceptable to all parties. Abdul Rashid said the existing roll was a “thorn in his flesh,” after being condemned by the Opposition and rights activists who say it is deeply flawed and riddled with phantom voters. He said the EC would propose to the Government to have a special law to enable the drawing up of a new roll after its panel members meet on June 9. “We have jurisdiction to only examine and update the current list and not to come up with a fresh list,” he said. He said the proposal was among those brought up in the EC’s post-mortem meeting after the recent elections. Election reform campaigners said ahead of March 8 general election that almost 9,000 voters born more than 100 years ago - including two reported to be 128 years old - were enrolled to vote. The Election Commission controversially abandoned a plan to mark voters’ fingers with indelible ink prior to the elections. Nevertheless, the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition suffered the worst results in its half-century history, losing five states and a third of parliamentary seats to the Opposition. The outcome triggered calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as well as splits within his ruling party which commentators say could potentially force the premier to hold fresh elections. Abdul Rashid said the Electoral Commission was capable of handling snap polls if necessary. In Malaysia, another four million people are eligible to vote but have not registered. Between 2004 and March 2008, the EC received 235 complaints concerning the names of voters which were missing from the list. Investigations carried out by the EC later revealed that the names of these voters were omitted due to several factors, including being listed as “doubtful status” after the identity card numbers were confirmed to be missing from the National Registration Department database. Another reason was that the identity card numbers were certified by the Department as belonging to someone else, in some cases dead people. There were also complaints that the names of certain voters were transferred from one constituency to another without their knowledge.
— AFP-Star.

TUESDAY-27TH MAY 2008- STANDARDIZE PRICES OF ALL GOODS IN NATION, URGES THAM

Standardize prices of all goods in Nation, urges Tham

KOTA KINABALU:

Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad should make it a top ‘national agenda’ to standardize the prices of all goods throughout the country, and not just prices of subsidised goods, said former Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Tham Nyip Shen. “While I commend Datuk Shahrir’s swift move of having convinced the Federal Government to standardize the prices of subsidised goods throughout the country, which is in fact long overdue, I would urge him to standardize prices of all the other goods ultimately. “This is to be fair to Malaysians living in Sabah and Sarawak who have been paying more for most of the goods sold in the two States, which is absolutely unfair to them in the context of ‘one nation’ and, coupled with the fact that like their Peninsular Malaysia counterparts, they too are paying the same rate of Income Tax, no rebate at all,” argued Tham who is a consistent critic of price discrepancies between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak. Tham was responding to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister’s recent, statement that the Federal Government would standardise the prices of subsidised goods throughout the country next month. “For once, someone at the Federal Government level is thinking about Malaysia as one country. Previously, when this issue about standardising goods prices was raised, it fell on deaf ears, despite the fact the Ministry was once headed by a Sabahan. “Hence, if Datuk Shahrir could achieve this (standardizing prices of all goods), the people of Sabah and Sarawak would really appreciate him,” he said. He reiterated that it is not impossible to realize such a move provided there is a strong political will. He cited case of United States as a good example of a nation with standard pricing for all goods, despite its sheer size that is about 28 times larger than the size of Malaysia. Tham went on to note that the higher prices of goods in Sabah had inevitably and unfairly contributed to a high cost of living and a higher cost of doing business in the State, as compared to the other states. In addition, almost all the leading Government Departments and Agencies are based in Kuala Lumpur especially. This thus often compelled Sabahans and Sarawakians to travel to Kuala Lumpur to do business and to attend meetings, according to him. “So far, MPs’ airfares are subsidised but what about the ordinary citizens? Until AirAsia came into the picture, there was no chance for the people of Sabah and Sarawak to travel to Kuala Lumpur on a cheap airfare,” he said.

TUESDAY-27TH MAY 2008- CM REASSURES ON ENVIRON, WILDLIFE

CM reassures on environ, wildlife
“We don’t kill Orang Utans or other wildlife for agriculture

SANDAKAN:

The State Government remains committed to protecting the environment and wildlife habitats in Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. He said this had been translated into several stands that the Government had taken, including not allowing the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Silam, Lahad Datu, following protests and research that showed the construction of the plant could have a negative impact on diverse marine and terrestrial eco-systems in its vicinity. Musa dismissed allegations from some international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) about the negative impact of oil palm on wildlife habitats in Sabah. “I would like to clarify and give you the assurance that we do not kill Orang Utans or other wildlife to make way for agriculture,” he said when closing the Star BRATs P2P Greeniz Program at Sukau Rainforest Lodge in Kinabatangan yesterday. While it could not be denied that oil palm plantations are here to stay, Musa stressed however that with the help of many environmental NGOs, Sabah is looking ahead as to what the State could do better. Citing the Kinabatangan floodplain, he noted that conservation of the environment and the palm oil industry go hand-in-hand and the Government is creating a win-win situation for all stakeholders. He said several plantation giants such as Asiatic Development Berhad, Pontian United Plantation and Sawit Kinabalu, were conducting reforestation to create corridors of wildlife such as the Borneo pygmy elephants. “We commend them and others who realise that they must give up some of their land, so that wildlife will be able to move from one forested area to another.” Having said that, Musa reminded those plantation owners who have yet to clear crops at Riparian reserves to do so as directed by the Sabah Government two years ago. He stressed that environmental education has become one of the State Government’s core interests in creating a future generation that cares for the environment. This could be seen from the setting up of the Sabah Environment Education Network or SEEN in March 2005 involving several Government departments, related NGOs and other interested parties. Another program that is gaining recognition is the EERace which is similar to the famous television show Amazing Race. The declaration of the Kinabatangan Floodplain as A Gift to the Earth in 1999 and the subsequent gazettement of the 26,000 hectares of the floodplain as the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in 2005 is a clear manifestation of Sabah’s commitment towards protecting the environment and wildlife habitats, according to him. “This shows that while we push for economic development, we strive to create a balance, in line with the sustainable development policy outlined in the Sabah Development Corridor Blueprint,” said Musa.

TUESDAY-27TH MAY 2008- PROJECT AWARDED BASED ON POTENTIAL, NOT INFLUENCE: LAJIM

Project awarded based on potential, not influence: Lajim

KUALA LUMPUR:

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said yesterday the electrified double-track railway project was awarded to a company with potential and not based on the company’s influence. Lajim said the company Ircon (International Limited) was also picked based on the success of (local) companies securing contracts to build highways in India. “What is wrong if someone, be they the children of the Prime Minister, or children of the Opposition, can strive to get contracts overseas. It is not wrong,” he said during the question- and-answer session of the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday. Lajim said this in reply to a question by Dr Mohamed Hayati Othman (PAS-Pendang) regarding the rise in the project cost from RM8 billion to RM16 billion as a result of projects given in reciprocation to companies closely linked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The session was disrupted briefly as some backbenchers objected to the picture painted by the PAS representative that the company awarded the project was under the ‘armpit’ (ketiak) of the Prime Minister. Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Pandikar Amin Mulia then called on Members of Parliament not to use inappropriate words while the House was in session. Earlier in his reply, Lajim said the total cost of the project was RM 16.935 billion that is RM12.485 billion for the Ipoh-Padang Besar stretch and RM3.45 billion for the Seremban-Gemas length while the number of squatters re-settled for both phases till October 2007 was 1,607 families. - Bernama

TUESDAY-27TH MAY 2008- PBS' CHONG ASKED TO DECLARE HIS STAND

PBS’ Chong asked to declare his stand

KOTA KINABALU:

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Supreme Council Member Dr Chong Eng Leong has been told to declare his stand on whether he still subscribes to the Barisan Nasional (BN) principles. PBS Chief Information Officer Johnny Mositun said the Party’s leadership was concerned with Dr Chong’s recent statement that was tantamount to “belittling the Party’s policy as well as making unfounded allegations and malicious comments against senior Party leaders”. “Our stand on illegals is clear ever since PBS was formed in 1985, long before he (Dr Chong) joined, exited and rejoined PBS. We are anti-PTI (illegal immigrants) but we must adopt a BN approach to solving the problem. Not the Opposition way”. According to Mositun, if Dr Chong no longer can support the BN, then “he should know what to do rather than testing the hands of the PBS leadership”. “His statement is very damaging. Dr Chong Eng Leong is free to leave the Party and join the Opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, if he no longer subscribes to BN principles,” he said here yesterday. “Deep in our heart, in so far as the motion tabled by Lim Kit Siang in the Parliament is concerned, it is the prerogative of the Speaker to either accept or reject it based on the fact or subject matter of the motion by giving its reason(s) in accordance with the august House Standing Order provisions,” said Mositun who is also the State Assembly Deputy Speaker. Hence, he said Dr Chong’s contention that PBS Deputy President Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili who is Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation run around Sabah MPs to vote against the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) does not arise. “The motion was never accepted for debate,.” he said. Dr Chong was reported last Saturday expressing disappointment with Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee’s rejection of the motion to amend the motion of thanks for the Royal Address to add the proposal for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah by Ipoh Timur Member of Parliament Lim Kit Siang. At the same time, Dr Chong criticised not only Sabah BN MPs but also blamed PBS leader Dr Maximus whom he said had failed to show support for the RCI, which he believed if formed, would be able to solve the perennial illegal immigrant problem and those associated with it.

TUESDAY- 27TH MAY 2008- KAMPUNG TASS TO HAVE NATIVE CHIEF, SAYS SYED ABAS

Kampung Tass to have Native Chief, says Syed Abas

TAWAU:

A Native Chief will be appointed for Kampung Tass here, Balung Assemblyman Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali said. “It is only proper that the Kadazandusun and Murut (KDM) community in Kampung Tass have a Native Chief to look after their customs, tradition and practices,” Syed Abas said during the Harvest Festival celebrations at Kampung Tass last weekend. The appointment of a Native Chief in Kampung Tass will be brought up to the Chief Minister’s attention, he added Syed Abas in his speech also spoke about the infrastructure development built by the Government for the people in Kampung Tass. “The Government has spent RM5 million to develop the village with infrastructure facilities like electricity supply,” he said, adding that a RM1.5 million community hail will be built in the village to replace the existing building. Meanwhile, Kadazan Society Sabah (KSS) President Marcel Leiking who was also present at the event, encouraged the KDMs to communicate in their mother tongue to ensure preservation of the language. Usage of their mother tongue will prevent the KDM language and culture from becoming obsolete, he said at the event which was organised by Kampung Tass’s Kadazandusun Cultural Association Sabah CKDCA) and KSS. “As a KDM, we must have the desire to learn and master our mother tongue before we learn other languages,” he said, adding that less and less KDM are communicating in their mother tongue. “We are the master of the language. We should concentrate on the development and the future direction of the Kadazan culture. It is important to love our ethnic identity and continue to aiu1tain ‘its traditional customs,” he said. KKS is a non-religious and nonpolitical body but it was formed by an ethnic group of Sabah origin who has assumed and acknowledged their identity as a member of the Kadazan community, he said at the Harvest Festival celebration in Kampung Tass Balung here last weekend. The highlight of the event was the Unduk Ngadau pageant and the crown this year was awarded to Shirley V. Pilos. The first-runner was Flora Fabian and the second- runner was Vivian Christin Martin.

TUESDAY-27TH MAY 2008- ACTIONS AGAINST ILLEGALS DO NOT DEPEND ON ROYAL COMMISSION: SAPP

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TUESDAY-27TH MAY 2008- SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES NOW AN ISSUE, SAYS THAM

Socio-economic inequalities now an issue, says Tham

KOTA KINABALU:

Socio-economic inequalities between Sabah and the rest of Malaysia are believed to be the issue today, according to Science and Information Technology Advisor to the Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Tham Nyip Shen. In an interview, Tham who is a former Deputy Chief Minister, said he had posed the question on the socio-economic inequalities during a forum titled “Mid-term review of [the Ninth Malaysia Plan open forum” in Kuala Lumpur recently, an event which was jointly organised by the Centre for Public Policy Studies and the Wawasan Open University. Tham said he highlighted the vast disparities in many areas faced by Sabahans, among them the huge number of Sabahans living under the poverty line in the State. “I had also highlighted how Sabah consistently had the lowest literacy rate and pointed out that between 1995 and 2005, the number of teachers in partially Government- aided schools had remained almost stagnant despite an increase in students. “Alarmingly, Sabah also had the lowest number of skilled health workers in midwifery,” he said, adding that most of the problems was attributed to the fact that there is a large number of non-citizens in the State. “According to figures obtained by the Statistics Department in 2005, 24.8 percent of Sabah’s population consisted of non-citizens. “Why the Federal Government allows this to happen? I really don’t know. Does the central Government still want Sabah or not? Very soon, the non-citizens will outnumber locals,” he said. According to Tham, he was also one of the two panelists during a discussion on income inequality and distribution while the other speaker was Dr Ragayah Mat Zin from the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (Ikmas). Tham added that an Upko speaker at the same presentation with him lamented that the Federal Government had erred in their priorities in terms of development. “In the Tuaran constituency for example, the speaker said there were more than 60 villages without electricity supply. I had to bring the relevant minister there before electricity was provided for 20 villages,” he said. Other than that, he said there was still 5,000km of gravel road in Sabah which ought to be upgraded in view of RM2 billion spent on a dedicated highway from Putrajaya to Kuala Lumpur. On the State’s economy, Tham said the 2004 figures showed that Sabah was lagging in economic development as the Sabah’s gross domestic product per capital was at RM4,868 or about half of the national average of RM9,746. The figure was derived despite Sabah’s consistent trade surplus and robust agricultural industries. Part of the problem, said Tham, was that Sabahans have to deal with higher commodity prices than in Peninsular Malaysia. Tham believed that the main emphasis of the Federal Government was in Sabah’s oil and gas reserves but the trickle down effect from the industry was not being felt on the ground. “It is very unfair... I told the EPU (Economic Planning Unit) it is very silly to pipe the gas from Sabah to be processed in Sarawak for whatever reasons,” said Tham who hoped that such decisions will eventually change. He also hoped that the Federal Government will pay more attention to Sabah’s needs in the future in view of the recent change in political climate.

TUESDAY-27TH MAY 2008- HOSTEL COULD NOT SERVE PURPOSE YET

Hostel could not serve purpose yet
Building in Pensiangan unsafe for occupation

KOTA KINABALU:

A newly completed hostel, which was built specially for primary school pupils in Pensiangan, has not served its purpose as yet. The Sekolah Kebangsaan Babalitan hostel, which can accommodate up to 50 children at one time, was completed earlier this year but has been deemed unsafe for occupation because of its condition. There were holes in the floors in some parts of the building and to date, only 10 pupils have been allowed to reside there. The deplorable condition was discovered by a group of volunteers who went to the school early May to carry out free health check-up for the 181 pupils of the school. According to one of the volunteers who wanted to be identified only as Ngui, the two-room hostel has not been officially opened yet. It is also without any basic necessities such as beds, chairs and tables. “The holes in the floor are covered with linoleum. It is sad to see that a newly completed building is already in that sorry state,” said Ngui, adding that the hostel was built by the Government to provide shelter for young children from far villages who are studying at the school. Apart from the newly built hostel, there is an existing shelter which was built by the Rotary Club last year for these children, also near the school. Ngui also said that the teachers’ quarters were also in bad condition. “Three teachers have to share a one-room house. These teachers are from other parts of the State and they have to bear living uncomfortably and accept the challenge in order to provide education to these children,” said Ngui. The volunteer therefore called on the State Education Department and other relevant agencies to look into the matter seriously. “We are working towards creating a first class mentality generation but before that, we must not neglect the fact that facilities should also be upgraded and maintained. This is to provide comfort and better learning environment to these children,” said Ngui. Pensiangan Member of Parliament Tan Sri Joseph Kurup when contacted by The Borneo Post, urged the relevant authority to submit a report on the matter as soon as possible to enable immediate action to be taken to solve the problem. “I would also like to advise contractors who are given the task to carry out development projects in Pensiangan to perform their duties with full responsibilities and in accordance with their work specification. “Their failure to work well would not only affect the end-users but also the contractors themselves,” he said.

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- THOUSAND ACRES OF FARMS FACE FLOOD DESTRUCTION

Thousand acres of farms face flood destruction

KENINGAU:

About 3,000 residents from five villages in Apin-Apin area here have urged the Government to straighten the Pegalan River which is threatening to destroy their farms. The affected villages are Kampung Merampong, Tuhan Baru, Liau Laut, Kilambang and Tagai. A spokesman for the villagers, Jamree Mansiri, told The Borneo Post here yesterday that if the problem is not resolved immediately, more than 600 acres of paddy fields, 300 acres of rubber farms and 200 acres of other farm crops, including Government projects such as irrigation and house pumps, will be damaged and destroyed by flood waters. “The Pegalan River has changed its passage early this year following a big flood,” said Jamree who is the former Bingkor People Development Leader. He said the matter had been brought to the attention of the elected representatives since 2004 but until now no action has been taken. According to him, the relevant authorities here have also been informed but they said there was no allocation to straighten the river. if there is still no action from the elected representatives this area. the villagers will ask the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, to intervene. five villages had supported the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in Bingkor and Keningau during the March 8 general election. The villagers were hoping with their full support of both BN candidates, this problem could be immediately resolved,” he said. Jamree feared that if another flood happens again, thousand acres of Jamree said the residents of the land will be destroyed.

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- DON'T TAKE JAUNDICE LIGHTLY: YAHYA

Don’t take jaundice lightly: Yahya

PUTATAN:

Parents should not take jaundice lightly as it can result in their babies becoming deaf, handicapped or worse, succumb to the disease, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin. “It is therefore very important for parents whose babies are diagnosed with jaundice to seek medical treatment at clinics or hospitals,” Yahya said. Speaking at the launching of a health education project in Kampung Sailian here yesterday, Yahya who is also the Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, said jaundice, if untreated, could result in fatality or the baby becoming handicapped. Jaundice usually occurs two or three days after birth and with treatment, it will disappear within 10 days. ‘Many parents, especially those in the rural areas, do not take their babies for treatment of the disease because they think that it is not serious. “Some also use traditional medicine such as herbs and roots or may even seek traditional Chinese treatment as well as medication,” he said, adding that jaundice has to be treated at hospital or clinic so the babies will not suffer brain damage. Yahya also pointed out that Malaysians are lucky because the Government provides good medical facilities for them, thus, they should be more appreciative of the importance of good health.

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- NAJIB TELLS PEOPLE TO MAKE UNITY MAIN NATIONAL AGENDA

Najib tells people to make unity main national agenda

PUTRAJAYA:

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday launched National Unity Month with a call to the people to make unity the main national agenda, saying it was an important basis for a nation’s success. The Deputy Prime Minister said the people were not prohibited from having differences of opinion but they should express them with consideration. “They must be aware of the racial sensitivities. They must not hurt the feelings of other communities. They must ensure that their demands are reasonable,” he said at the launch at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here. Najib said every community would not necessarily get to fulfil all its demands, and must continue to maintain a give-and-take attitude. The very existence of the Federal Constitution reflected the spirit of compromise and placed unity as the main basis of the nation, he said. Najib said the spirit of consensus among the people was clearly evident, for example, in the presence of vernacular schools which did not exist in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Speaking to reporters later, Najib said unity among the people was getting more resolute. He said the concept of “bangsa Malaysia” (Malaysian race) was in the minds of the people regardless of race because the people regarded an individual based on his or her nobility of character rather than racial background. For example, he said, when a road accident occurred, the people would rush to help the victims regardless of which community they belonged to. At the event, Najib presented the Unity Personality Award to former Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Sakaran Dandai and social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. The award recognises the efforts of leaders who contribute to fostering unity and wellbeing of the people of various races. The award recipients receive a certificate and a souvenir. Najib also presented the Unity Garland Award to MCA Public Service and Complaints Bureau Head Datuk Michael Chong; cartoonist Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid or Lat; S Krishnamoorthy who saved passengers of a ferry fire tragedy off Mersing in October last year; Nafisah Abdullah who saved victims of a house fire in Kota Baharu in August last year and Mohd Afzal Hamzah who caught a snatch thief. The award carries a certificate, a souvenir and RM5,000. Lee Lam Thye told reporters later hat unity should he given high priority by the Government and unity education should begin at school. Krishnamoorthy said he would not hesitate to go to the aid of people in distress. Chong said he hoped that more Malaysians would help the needy regardless of race. -Bernama

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- SCIENTISTS CREATE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENT

Scientists create multi-disciplinary environment

KOTA KINABALU:

Twenty local and expatriate scientists have created a multidisciplinary environment that fosters the fusion of new ideas and collaboration. Professor Dr Saleem Mustafa, who is the Director of Borneo Marine Research Institute BMRI) from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, disclosed this in conjunction with the seventh IOC/Westpac International Scientific Symposium 2008 held at Sutera Harbour here yesterday. “They all have a shared understanding of the roles and actions needed to achieve the standard required of a centre of excellence in marine science, aquaculture and biotechnology,” he said. “Our network with national and international institutions is growing, and there are many projects that are being undertaken in cooperation with the respective institutions with which we have agreements. “We have also built on collaborative partnerships with research and development funding agencies and organizations to deliver practical solutions to a number of problems,” Saleem added. As a result of the efficient working and smart partnerships in many spheres of marine science and aquaculture, he said the Institute had positioned it self as a prominent resource for the whole State of Sabah and Federation of Malaysia. According to him, BMRI, located in front of the Sepanggar Bay, has several state-of-the-art research facilities such as a jetty to facilitate research, a sea cage culture facility, aquarium and museum. Currently, the Institute handles two undergraduate academic programmes, Marine Science and Aquaculture, each with a three- year duration. Upon graduation, the students have requisite knowledge to either seek gainful employment or pursue higher post-graduate studies. The research programmes focus on marine conservation, physical oceanography, marine aquaculture, sea farming and marine biotechnology. An efficient and dedicated administration team supports all the teaching, training and research activities. The Institute has now emerged as a venue for pursuing innovative research and dissemination of knowledge across a wide range of aquaculture and marine science subjects in a regional, national and international context.

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- TADAU KAAMATAN UPKO CELEBRATION IN TAMPARULI

Tadau Kaamatan UPKO celebration in Tamparuli

KOTA KINABALU:

Tamparuli has been chosen as the host for this year’s Tadau Kaamatan UPKO celebration which will also be jointly hosted by Sulaman, Tamparuli and Kiulu UPKO Divisions. It will be held on May 30 at the Tamparuli town field, the organising chairman of the celebration, Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing, said in a statement yesterday. He said a huge stage would be constructed to stage the Sugandoi and Unduk Ngadau contest. “The UPKO Divisions from Sulaman, Tamparuli and Kiulu will be putting up three tents where traditional food will be placed for the public to satisfy their appetite for traditional food,” he added. Aside from that, 13 booths will be placed all over the town field where traditional food brought in from some 40 UPKO divisions throughout the State will be made available to the public. This will be a real ‘moginakan’ festival where each division will be bringing their own food to be shared together with the other participants from other parts of Sabah. Ample food will be made available to guests, tourists and the public, he added. Sugandoi Kaamatan will be held from 9am while the final of the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan UPKO 2008 will start at 1pm and is expected to end around 6pm. Forty Unduk Ngadau participants from the various UPKO divisions, including one from Labuan and one from Johore Baru representing the Momogun Society of Malaysia which held their Tadau Kaamatan early this month. Meanwhile, the Unduk Ngadau participants will start their program from May 28 which will include a seminar on self motivation, and on May 9 they will visit the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park where they will be given a talk on environment and the protection of wildlife. The public is invited to witness and join the program that will carried out on that day. Additional information on the Tadau Kaamatan UPKO 2008 can be obtained from Publicity Officer Mr Lesaya Lopog Sorudim at 019-8815261.

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- ASEAN HAS TO DEAL WITH MYANMAR SITUATION: RAIS

Asean has to deal with Myanmar situation: Rais

KUALA LUMPUR:

There is an urgent need for ASEAN and the international community to galvanise and coordinate efforts to deal with the emergency situation in Myanmar, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. In a statement here yesterday, he said although the region was no stranger to natural disasters, the extent of the devastation brought about by Cyclone Nargis caught many by surprise. “The claim that we only smile together is evidently not true. Here we are together, in our earnestness to be collective in our endeavor to be together and contributive during times of difficulties,” he said at the ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference for Myanmar in Yangon, yesterday. -Bernama

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- DO THOROUGH STUDY TO DETERMINE NUMBER OF ILLEGALS: ANIFAH

Do thorough study to determine number of illegals: Anifah

KOTA KINABALU:

A thorough study on the exact number of illegal immigrants in sabah should be conducted before taking action to resolve the issue, said Sabah Backbenchers’ Chairman Datuk Anifah Aman. He said many claims were made on the number but none was supported with facts. “ some said the number reached 200,000 or 500,000 and some even said one million.. but none came from an official study. “It should be done by an established body and only then, can we get the real picture to discuss possible solutions,” he told a press conference here yesterday. Anifah was commenting on allegations by Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) that Sabah MPs were not concerned over the issue of illegal immigrants after Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee rejected a motion by DAP Advisor Lim Kit Siang to set up a Royal Commision on illegal immigrants in the State. Anifah, who is also Kimanis MP, said an effective mechanism should be formulated to overcome the problem of illegal immigrants, including enforcement and humanitarian aspects. - Bernama

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- KU LI CALLS FOR SUPPORT FROM SABAHANS

Ku Li calls for support from Sabahans

KOTA KINABALU:

Umno Veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has urged Umno members here to nominate him for the top post of the Party without any fear. “Don’t be afraid to nominate me for the Umno President’s post,” the Gua Musang Member of Parliament told Umno supporters here on Saturday. “If Sabahans want change, now is the time to show how brave you are. Sabahans are no longer second class citizens and you are on par with Malaysians in the Peninsula,” he told more than 1,000 Umno members who attended a meeting with the longest serving Gua Musang MP who is fondly referred to as “Ku Li”.

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- STEP UP ENFORCEMENT RAIDS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT: PAIRIN

Step up enforcement raids on illegal immigrant: Pairin

KOTA KINABALU:

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan yesterday asked the Police and Immigration to step up enforcement raids on illegal immigrants in Sabah to guarantee locals’ safety. He said since the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry or a select committee to deal with the perennial problem in Sabah would take time, the Police and Immigration were vested with adequate powers to arrest the illegals. “Regardless of whether a Royal Commission of Inquiry or a select committee is established to deal with the problem, Police and Immigration operations to nab the illegals should continue and in fact, be intensified,” he told reporters after attending a culinary contest to mark Kaamatan festival end of this month. “Many people in Sabah are anxious to see a Royal Commission of Inquiry set up to address the illegal immigrants’ issue in the State. In fact, the request was made long ago. The proposal to establish a Parliamentary select committee also has its advantages. “But what is my fervent hope now is for the security forces, which have the powers to tackle the problem, to step up enforcement and act immediately,” said Pairin who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President. Kimanis Member of Parliament Datuk Anifah Aman proposed in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday that a Parliamentary select committee on illegal immigrants be set up to resolve the long-standing problem in Sabah. DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) felt that establishing Royal Commission of Inquiry to deal with the problem would be a better option. To this, Pairin said: “To me, whether a select committee or a commission is formed is not a problem. We already have laws in place on illegal immigrants. “What’s important is that we must be really serious in protecting our citizens and sovereignty of our country,” he said. he also suggested the manpower strength and allocations for enforcement agencies be increased for the country to have a bigger capacity in law enforcement. - Bernama

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- MUSA URGES PHARMACISTS TO TAPE INTO STATE'S BIODIVERSITY RESOURCES

Musa urges pharmacists to tape into State’s biodiversity resources

KOTA KINABALU:

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has urged the pharmaceutical industry to tap into the huge biodiversity resources in the State through research and development. By doing so, he said evidence-based herbal medicines could be developed and produced in line with the agricultural thrust under the Halatuju, whereby the herbal industry has been identified as an area with promise for growth. “The herbal industry, though still largely untapped here, is a multi-billion ringgit industry, and I believe with concerted efforts on research and development and the right collaboration, Sabah has the potential to be a key player in herbal medicines,” he said at the annual dinner and installation night of the Sabah Pharmaceutical Society at Sutera Pacific Hotel here last night. “Opportunities are also abound under the Sabah Development Corridor whereby harnessing our biodiversity resources for value adding as one of its objectives. As such, I hope pharmacists will take up, the challenge to pursue this industry, and he realized its potentials and socio-economic benefits for Sabah in particular, and Malaysia in generals added the Chief Minister. Having said that, Musa said it is also timely to conduct more surveys into the manpower development of the pharmacist population in anticipation of new challenges in the face of globalization and market liberalization. “As a member of the healthcare team, it is crucial that all pharmacists keep abreast of advancement in medicines and as well as challenges facing the industry. Only then, the general public in Sabah can continue to enjoy a high level of service from the. industry. This is in line with the Government’s emphasis on enhancing our human capital to maintain our competitive edge in a globalised world. “With attention paid to the quality of service, the continuing Professional Development Programme and an effective medicines management policy, it is without doubt that pharmacists can then be better equipped in carrying out their roles and responsibilities in the rapidly changing healthcare scene,” said Musa. The Chief Minister pointed out an area of concern is the persistent drug menace that is still affecting the welfare of the people and security of the State. Pharmacists, who are well- versed with the effects of habit- forming drugs, can also play an effective role in providing useful information in preventing the abuse of drugs, he said. “I notice that the Society had played quite an active role in the State’s anti- drug programme in the past and I would like to urge all members to continue to complement the Government’s efforts in combating the drug menace. Let us all combine our efforts to increase vigilance and actively promote a drug-free community,” he added. Mr Yee That Hian was the newly installed President of the Sabah Pharmaceutical Society. He replaced Dr Allan Matthews.

MONDAY-26TH MAY 2008- SEXY SCHOOL UNIFORMS STAY

Sexy School Uniforms stay
Hishammuddin: Changing uniforms won’t reduce sexual crimes committed against schoolgirls

PALOH:

The Education Ministry will not change the current uniform worn by girls in Government schools, which has been described as too “sexy” and has allegedly contributed to rape and other immoral acts. Its Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, said the uniform has been in use for decades and would probably not change much in the next few years. He said that he personally felt it was unfair to blame the students or their uniforms for sexual crimes committed against them. “It is unfair to punish women and children for the clothes they wear for the act of the rapist,” he said, adding that he could not allow such stereotyping to continue. “Clothing is not the main consideration for those who commit despicable acts like these,” he said, in reference to the National Islamic Students Association of Malaysia’s condemnation of the uniform for being too sexy. Hishammuddin said that although he believed that changing the uniforms would not reduce sexual crimes committed against schoolgirls, he would refer the matter to experts within his Ministry before making a decision. The Association said the uniform encouraged rape and pre-marital sex. “The white blouse is too transparent for girls and it becomes a source of attraction,” said its Vice President, Munirah Bahari. “It becomes a distraction to men, who are drawn to it, whether or not they like looking at it,” she said, calling for a review of uniform policy so that it did not violate Islamic ideals. Female students at Government schools have a choice of wearing a white blouse with a knee-length skirt or pinafore. They may also wear a “baju kurung” which is a traditional long top and skirt, and a headscarf is optional for Malay students. Munirah said that “covering up” according to Islamic precepts was important to fend off social ills including “rape, sexual harassment and even premarital sex which involve schoolgirls in their teens.” “All this leads to babies born out of wedlock and to an extent, even prostitution,” she said. “Decent clothes which are not revealing can prevent and protect women from any untoward situations,” she said, suggesting that girls wear a blouse of a different colour or with an undergarment. However, the girls themselves also came in for criticism, with the Association saying some used the white blouse to lure men. “This is the source of the problem, where we can see that schoolgirls themselves are capable of using this to attract men to them,” Munirah said, adding this could see them getting molested, having pre-marital sex and all sorts of things.