Sabahans, Seize This Window of Opportunity!

Fellow Sabahans, the window of opportunity is here and now in our political landscape. This window of opportunity is the largest it has ever been since Sabah helped create this reality called Malaysia. Seize this opportunity now, or forever hold our peace.

Fellow Sabahans, come out in one voice. Come speak in one voice. An united voice is loud and clear and can reach the highest of heavens. The power of a united people is strong and mighty and can, in one stroke, topple a seemingly invincible dictator. We have succeeded before, we have shown that a united people can overthrow an autocratic government. Sabahans can do it again.

We have been silent or silenced this past 45 years; that's how old this nation state of Malaysia actually is. The frivolous Malaysian Government keeps forgetting that had it not been for Sabah and Sarawak, there would be no Malaysia. The Malaysian Government is not even sure how old Malaysia, in actual fact, is. The frivolous Malaysian Government, thus, continue to mislead the people that Malaysia is 50 years old when, in reality, the country is only 45 years old. By refusing to acknowledge these facts, the Malaysian Government is essentially downplaying and denying the crucial role of Sabah and Sarawak in the formation of Malaysia. Crux of the matter is, the Malaysian Government has been denying Sabahans of our rights since the day Malaysia was formed. The 20-points was the document to safeguard the full Sabahan rights as we conceded to become part of this nation called Malaysia. But from day one, the 20 points have been eroded and sidelined, resulting in this once beautiful land of plenty and abundance to become, today, the poorest state in Malaysia.

Fellow Sabahans, BE SILENT NO MORE! The window of opportunity is here! Let's stand up for our rights and be counted. We can be the king maker for Malaysia at this crucial point in time. We can make history here. Let's together redeem ourselves for the sake of our children and this beautiful land that is Sabah.

Sabahan political parties, stand up in one voice. Save Sabahans from oppression by West Malaysian politicians. SAPP has started the ball rolling. SAPP will support a vote of 'no-confidence' against the Prime Minister of Malaysia scheduled Monday, 23 June 2008. Kick out the incompetent Prime Minister first. This will create havoc in the ruling coalition, the Barisan Nasional. If more dissenting voices emerge from other BN component parties, the ruling coalition will be in crisis. The Prime Minister's party, UMNO, will be weakened, and the dominoes will fall. Come September, we will see a new dawn for Malaysia. UPKO, are you in? PBS, where is you fighting spirit?! Kick UMNO out of Sabah. Let Sabahans rule Sabah! LET US SEIZE THIS WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!

Fellow Sabahans, let us demand the following:

• Complete borneonisation of federal departments in Sabah: Sabahans know the local sentiments. Sabahans know the local culture and traditions. Sabahans know Sabah like the back of their hands. Hence, all federal departments in Sabah must be headed by Sabahans;
• Resolve the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah once and for all. Deport all illegal immigrants, even their children. Why should Sabah be burdened by 'street kids'? The illegals bore them, so send them all back to their mother land! Clean Sabah of all these problem people;
• Demand 20% oil royalty for Sabah. Sabah has been funding mega developments in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of West Malaysia. It is time to develop Sabah and return Sabah back to its glory days, back to being one of the richest states in Malaysia;
• Take back the island of Labuan. Sabahans have been inhabiting Labuan. They are our relatives, our brothers and sisters, and they have been working there all their lives. With the 20% oil royalty, we can build Labuan to be a great off-shore business centre and a grand tourist destination;
• Kick UMNO out of Sabah. Sabahans in UMNO should form a new party, and eliminate any remnant of UMNO in Sabah;
  
• Take back all lands that have been allocated to Peninsular-based companies, and resolve all land grabbing controversies and return all lands to genuine Sabahans; and
  
• Re-look the 20-points. Those that are relevant and protect the rights of Sabah should be enforced.

The above are demands that Sabah should pursue if we are to stand up and fight for our rights. They are meant to protect us, safeguard us for they are our birthrights. By demanding them, we take back our resources and use these resources to heal the rot that have been destroying this beautiful state of Sabah. We take back our rights. We take back our resources. We get back our riches. We regain our birthrights.

Fellow Sabahans, the window of opportunity is here. Seize it! Demand what are rightly ours. Sabahans, let us stand united to fight for and demand our rights, our resources, and our riches. Regain the Sabahan pride and dignity. Take back what is truly ours so that we can save Sabah and keep this land safe and rich for our children and our future generation.

People Are Suffering And the PM Still Wants To Entertain?

What?! Only 10%? Cut only 10% of PM's entertainment allowance? And only 10% of his deputy's and his ministers' ENTERTAINMENT allowance, too? Shit! I thought it was their salary. I nearly almost regain a little sense of respect for Badawi. Hell, any bit of respect left is all gone now. Is that what the rakyat is worth to our leaders? only 10% of their entertainment's fees? That's all they are willing to sacrifice; not their salaries, mind you.

PUTRAJAYA, June 9 - The entertainment allowance for the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers and Deputy Ministers will be reduced by 10 percent effective July 1, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday.

The move is part of the austerity measures to save public spending amounting to RM2 billion anually which include the freezing of paid leave for members of the Cabinet, aspects on travels for ministers, deputy ministers, government officers abroad, prohibiting renovation works on offices, the postponement in asset purchases and the holding of official functions.

"The government too feels the hardship faced by the people and felt that the leadership must show a good example in facing this challenge," he told reporters after chairing the first meeting of the Council on Tackling Inflation, here.

Abdullah said the savings of RM2 billion would be utilised to assist the lower-income groups.

Currently, the monthly entertainment allowance for the Prime Minister is RM18,865, Deputy Prime Minister (RM15,015), Federal Ministers (RM12,320) and Deputy Ministers (RM6,000).

Even if Badawai slashes his entertainment allowance by 50% (as some quarters suggested), many won't be satisfied. At least, I won't be. I would be a tad happier if they totally do away with his and their entertainment allowance. Do away with the entertainment allowance altogether, please. Cancel, abolish all entertainment allowance for the government and public sector. Even if the cut is temporary, only until this crisis tides over, it would show that the leaders care for the people. To the leaders, please, just stop entertaining for a while. If you do away with the entertainment allowance, even for a short time, then and only then will we, the Rakyat, believe that you really feel for us.

The thinking of such a human being, much less a leader, just doesn't make sense at all. Only the entertainment allowance gets cut, and even that, only 10%? The logic borders on sheer callousness, unfathomable stupidity and the highest form of insensitivity! The people are suffering, yet the Prime Minister still wants to entertain???! The people are scrimping, all worked up and worried sick about how to get food on the table, trying to sell off their cars and take the bus to work, and here we have Badawi and his merry ministers still having the heart to entertainment amongst themselves. What an insensitive bunch! My daughter complains that the canteen in her school has increased the price of a bun from 60 sen to RM1.00, and I am worried sick because I have to increase her and her brother's daily pocket money. Yet, PM and his ministers have 19k, 15k, 12k etc to throw away. I am so angry that I hope the money they spend to eat and entertain themselves at a time like this will..... (whatever, you fill in the blanks!)

And the irony of it all is that the PM got the cheek to publicize the current entertainment allowance that they are enjoying. It's like pouring salt on an open wound of the rakyat! How INSENSITIVE and callous can the PM , the deputy and ministers be! Here we are all stressed up on the price increase of petrol, rice and other foods, transportation, etc, etc., and the flip-flop PM publishes for all the world to see how much they are enjoying life with thousands upon thousands just on entertainment allowance...189K, 15K, 12K... like they have so much money just to entertain. And what about all the other allowances on top of their salaries? What about all the other perks? Badawi and his ministers don't have to pay for petrol from their pocket (salary), right? Petrol for government cars are all paid by the government.

So, how can Badawi claim that "the Government too feels the hardship faced by the people"? How can they feel our suffering if they don't have to pay for petrol from their own pocket? It is the Malaysian government who pays for the petrol that they use and for all the other things that we don't know about. And from where does the government earn the revenue to pay for the allowance of our leaders? And don't those revenue include taxes paid by the rakyat?

By announcing the above, Badawi and his stooges have only managed to anger the people a hell lot more. It befuddles me how stupid the Malaysian leaders are. If they announce that the PM and his deputy and ministers are doing away with the entertainment allowance in total, only then will they get a minute fraction of my respect. Cut 10% of their salary? Then maybe I will increase my respect just a fraction more.

Kiandee's Rejection of RCI Motion Makes Him Sabah Public Enemy No. 1

When Ronald Kiandee, the greenhorn Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat, rejected the motion on the proposal to set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal Immigrants in Sabah in Parliament on 22 May 2008, I immediately sensed trouble. Kiandee's senseless action to reject tabling the motion borders on sheer stupidity. I felt immediate anger. And I knew I will not be the only one. I knew that any right thinking Sabahan would be incensed. Kiandee's excuse was that the motion by LKS on illegal immigrants was 'irrelevant', 'disrespectful' and 'impolite' when the Parliamentarians were winding-up the debate to thank the King for his majesty's address.

My question to Kiandee is: Why are you using some technical irrelevant excuse (eg., the standing order) to get in the way of finally helping Sabahans tackle the long-standing issue on illegal immigrants? IS 'POLITENESS' IN PARLIAMENT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LIVES OF SABAHANS AND OUR FUTURE GENERATION???!! Sabahans are being robbed (literally and economically), raped and murdered almost everyday for the past 30 or so years by the good-for-nothing illegals, and here you are rejecting a rare opportunity to resolve the biggest problem Sabahans faced? That makes you, Kiandee, as good-for-nothing as the illegal immigrants themselves, and obviously even more stupid than them! Why are you throwing the standing order at Lim Kit Siang? He has been in Parliament as far as we can remember. You have only been Deputy Speaker for, what, less than a month! Don't try to act smart with your stupid interpretation of the Standing Order? What standing order in Parliament are you talking about? Many MPs (especially your neighbour, the one that Karpal calls big-foot, and big foot's buddy, Ibrahim ...something) have been acting like barbarians and baboons and have never practised orderliness in Parliament. When have the MPs ever practise politeness in the House, I ask you?? Never, ever! You and Big Foot are becoming the biggest disgrace to Sabah.

Here, I just want to show how angry Sabahans are with Kiandee. The disgust of not only Sabahans but also Malaysians have flooded the alternative media and threatening to spill over into mainstream media:

Kiandee's rejection of motion a betrayal to Sabahans: PKR
Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah has taken Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee to task for having rejected the motion on the proposal to set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah. Its Deputy Chairperson Christina Liew said he had betrayed Sabahans and done great injustice to the people.
"Ronald, being a Sabahan himself, should understand the critical and pathetic situation facing Sabahans for almost four decades. The influx of illegal immigrants has a devastating impact on the people of Sabah, from prevalence of communicable disease to drug trafficking, mushrooming of squatter colonies and security issues. It is not surprising if there are more illegals
than locals in some parts of the east coast of Sabah.
"Therefore, Ronald's rejection on the ground of irrelevancy is totally unacceptable," she said ...
(Read more here http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=57789)

Malaysia Today also posted this Daily Express article on the same day (and don't forget to read the comments) :

http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/7998/1/


I personally share the sentiments of 'Immeasurably Angry Sabahan' posted on Malaysiakini:

'Ronald Kiandee, we will remember you'
May 26, 08 10:48am

‘Rest assured that every Sabahan will never forget that you rejected the tabling of the motion to set up the royal commission on illegal immigrants in Sabah.’
On Kit Siang challenges speaker's ruling on Sabah motion

An Immeasurably Angry Sabahan: Dear beloved Ronald Kiandee, rest assured that every Sabahan will never forget what you did when you rejected the tabling of the motion to set up the
royal commission on illegal immigrants in Sabah. You said that nobody will vote for the motion to be passed, including the Sabah BN MPs.
It is unbelievable that Sabah MPs would not vote in support for this motion. Why? What, may I ask, is your reason for not supporting this motion. Please don't give me stupid reasons such as, ‘irrelevant’, ‘unnecessary’, ‘pointless’ or other stupid arguments. The fact is you are hiding something. You prove to us that Barisan Nasional is not for Sabah.
To all the Sabah MPs, you must all feel relieved by this for you need not be put in a difficult position of voting against the motion. We will remember you. We have your names. We will not be like before where we say: ‘Apa boleh buat?’ This issue will not be put to rest. We will
carry on this fight so that truth and justice prevails. http://malaysiakini.com/news/83408

The disgust of the Sabah Forum community was clearly overwhelming. If I were Kiandee, I would probably not have a good night's sleep from this day forth.

http://www.sabahforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4774&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=105

And the best part is the following pix campaign that the Sabah Forum community came up with:

Sabahans, in general, have no problems with Kiandee on a personal level (well, initially at least but now he has given us one). Sabahans are merely disappointed and frustrated. We have suffered in silence for so long since under Mahafiraun Mahathir, where the illegals boasted and bragged about Project Mahathir that this 'Project M' which gives myKad to all illegals in Sabah became an open secret. Project M was part of the strategy to keep UMNO in power in Sabah. Sabahans have pleaded and begged for the problem to be resolved by the Federal Government. Nothing was ever done. In fact, UMNO further aggravated the problem with Project M and provided the illegals with homes and facilities better than what the locals could get. When Sabahans were appointed Speaker and Deputy Speaker in Dewan Rakyat recently, Sabahans rejoiced. And when the motion to table the Royal Commission on illegal immigrants came up, Sabahans finally felt there is hope and that solutions are on the way. Finally, we can end this long-standing problem of illegal aliens. Sabahans would have been happy with anything, JUST ANYTHING, that would have some effect, no matter how small, in tackling the illegal immigrants issue. But nooo, Kiandee thinks he is smarter (personally, he'd only be as smart as an ass###!). So now, Kiandee is trying to play God with the lives of Sabahans.

How dumb can you be, Kiandee! You see, Kiandee, the motion would have been a first step towards tackling the illegal immigrants issue. THE FIRST STEP, GET IT! With the illegal immigrant issue, Sabahans are akin to a drowning person. We would have grabbed at anything, even a straw if it means saving ourselves and our future generations. The proposed RCI motion is like a straw to Sabahans. Sabahans would have grabbed something, anything, that would save our children from the threat of the illegal immigrants.

Can't you get this through that thick skull of yours, stupid! To hell with your politeness, or relevance or your standing order. We are talking about saving this beautiful land of ours from are our safety and the safety of our children and our future generation. But you have let Sabahans down, to say the least. To redeem yourself, if you are a true Sabahan, you must do what is right for our beloved land, Sabah. Deputy Speaker, sir, please don't misinterpret me as you did the Standing Order in Parliament. Since you are prone to misinterpreting written words, let me put it in black an white. Redeeming yourself here means resigning from the Deputy Speaker's post and jumping into the nearby Kinabatangan River!

"SDO to take over from JPPS, says Musa." For Real?!

Is this for real? That the Federal Development Dept Sabah (JPPS) will be closed down and Sabah Development Office (SDO) will take over its functions? Not only the functions, but also honestly manage development funds from the Federal Government that are meant for Sabah? According to the Sabah Chief Minister, this seems to be in the works:

"SDO to take over from JPPS, says Musa
13 May, 2008
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Federal Development Department (JPPS) that has been the cause of discomfort among state leaders is now being slowly phased out with the re-introduction of the Sabah Development Office (SDO).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman has been tasked to look into the revival of the SDO, which has similar function as the JPPS.
The SDO, that will be under the jurisdiction of the Chief Minister's Department, was particularly active during Usno and Berjaya government era.
He said the re-introduction of the development office is part of the Federal Government's promise to do away with the JPPS." (Daily Express, 13/05/08)

Well, I've been harping on this issue of JPPS in my last few posts. I've been saying that they will never close JPPS because it is cashcow for a selected few. And I remain skeptical that this will really happen. If it does, it can ony mean two things:

1. The PM must be really in dire straits. He must be in a really, really desperate situation that he is willing to fulfil one of the promises he made to Sabahans. So the Anwar threat is looming large and near, is it? So much so that the PM is going to give in to one of the demands from Sabah? or
2. This revived SDO is only different in name. SDO will be manned by the same people, doing the same things over again. JPPS with a different name.

I was about to say, I'll take back my words, that I'll take back what I said about them not closing down JPPS. But, nothing is concrete yet. JPPS still exist. The CM only gave instructions to the State Secretary to look into the matter to revive SDO. SDO may never materialise. It could only be a carrot on a stick so that certain Sabah MPs will not 'frog' over to Pakatan Rakyat to enable Anwar Ibrahim to become the next Prime Minister of Malaysia come September 16, 2008. So, I will not take back my words, not just yet.

Still, if SDO does materialise, I'll probably still not take back my words. Because if SDO replaces JPPS, SDO might STILL be JPPS only with a different name. Remember, Sabah is demanding for oil royalty to be increased from 5% to 20%. Goodness, that should be about RM2 billion per year for Sabah. So, our cashcow has just gotten much, much fatter, eh? And the fat, fat cow will continue to enrich the same chosen few. Greater days are definitely coming for this chosen few, inspite of the skyrocketing prices for consumer goods and daily necessities, which the common Sabahans on the streets shiver to think about.

A small part of me want to believe in our elected leaders, but because of so much dirty, toxic water under the bridge, it is really difficult to get rid of this phobic instinct of distrust towards all Malaysian politicians, Sabahans included. So, we will see. We will wait and see. We will see if SDO is for real, and it is not a wolf in sheep's clothing. We will wait for SDO to be up and about doing its job, understanding the real needs of Sabahans and serving Sabahans in the true sense of the word. If and when all these become reality, then and only then will I take back my word.

Sabah 'Robbed' of its Natural Gas & Urged to Use Coal Instead

The Federal Government has urged Sabah to use coal to resolve its power supply crisis whilst it siphons off natural gas from Sabah to Sarawak. What kind of senseless governance is the Federal Government using? Simply put, the Federal Government through Petronas is 'robbing' Sabah in broad daylight of its natural gas, and then try to pollute Sabah (and thus risk poisoning Sabahans with poisonous coal emissions) by urging Sabah to use coal-fired power plants. This is an insult and total outrage to all Sabahans. What are they trying to do? Pollute us so and destroy this beautiful Land-Below-the-Wind and poison us in the process? Sabahans, let us stand up for our rights (and our lives) and put a stop to all this bullying treatment!

Earlier in February, it was reported:

"Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has awarded a RM1.01 billion contract to China National Electric Equipment Corporation (CNEEC) to build a 300MW coal-fired power plant in Silam, Lahad Datu, Sabah." (Feb 20 2008, Bernama)

In 2nd April 2008, the Sabah Government rightly cancelled the project following fierce criticisms from many quarters including experts. Then when on April 21 and 30 SESB transmission towers collapsed, due to greed of scrap metal thieves (only illegal aliens have the stomach to do this), Sabah was thrown into power crisis.

Then in trying to resolve the crisis, Mr. Leo Moggie came into town on 2nd May 2008, gave a press conference, and tried to push the coal-fired plants down Sabahans throat again. He arrogantly announced again that there is no available alternative that is better and more viable than coal to boost the power reserve margin in Sabah. Such coal-fired plants now use clean coal technology, he pointed out. Then he went into a dialogue all by himself to convince Sabahans that coal burning is clean these days, and went on into a tirade, again by himself, questioning Sabahans' rejection of coal-fired plants:

..."What is so bad, so dirty about coal? Yes, coal is black, giving an impression it is not clean and if you talk about coal plants 20 years ago the worries would be more than today. But in the last few years clean coal technology had been developed and is increasingly sophisticated." (Daily Express, 03 May 2008)

Yeah rite, Mr. Moggie, if coal is clean, try rubbing it on your face. But seriously do you really believe what you are saying? No matter how clean the technology, and whilst the process may not seem all black and dirty, but it has to involve heating or burning, right? So with the heating/burning, where do the gas emissions go? Will the emissions not go right back into the atmosphere? And how many tons and tons of coal do you need to burn to supply the East Coast of Sabah with 200mw that it needs?

The State Government again rightly responded by saying it is sticking to its decision against building the coal plants in Lahad Datu:

"KOTA KINABALU: The state government is sticking to its decision against building a coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjum.

Masidi said the government could not afford the environmental risks of such a facility close to key pristine conservation areas.

“We are aware of the argument that coal-fired plants in the peninsula are sited close to a resort and Singapore. But these places do not have the Danum Valley, the Maliau Basin or the Darvel Bay,” he said here yesterday.

The minister said the Sabah cabinet had heard views and advices from various experts before deciding against the 300MW coal-fired plant on April 2.

He found it surprising that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) was insisting coal was the only viable option for power generation in the state’s East Coast.

“We have no intention to quarrel with SESB but we hope they appreciate that our obligation is to preserve the delicate nature of our environment,” he added.

On Saturday, Sabah Environmental Protection Association president Wong Tack said Tenaga Nasional Berhad chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie had insulted Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Masidi and Sabahans for saying that there was no alternative for the state but to accept the coal-fired power plant in overcoming the shortage of electricity supply.

On Saturday, Sabah Environmental Protection Association president Wong Tack said Tenaga Nasional Berhad chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie had insulted Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Masidi and Sabahans for saying that there was no alternative for the state but to accept the coal-fired power plant in overcoming the shortage of electricity supply. " (Borneo Post Online, 05/05/08)

What is scary about such coal-fired plants is that they can put the health and lives of many Sabahans at risk . To quote published reports:

"EAC’s Lahad Datu chairman Wong Tack said the project was an unnecessary risk. He said there had been worldwide opposition to coal plants due to concerns over emissions such as sulphur dioxide causing acid rain, soot particles causing visibility and respiratory problems and carbon dioxide contributing to global warming."

Isn't that trying poison Sabahans living in the vicinity not to mention destroying our pristine Danum Valley and Maliau Basin? And where are they going to find coal? Are they going to dissect, destroy and burn our beautiful land to mine for coal?

A thought just struck me. Why is the Federal Government so desperate to convince Sabahans to use coal plants. Sabah has enough natural gas to supply the power for its own use. Why the desperation in trying to convince Sabahans to use coal plants and pull the wool over our eyes? Is the Federal Government trying to distract Sabahans whilst Petronas siphons gas from Sabah to Sarawak?

Yes, indeed, whilst the Federal Government through TNB distracts us with stupid issues, Petronas is preparing to 'rob' Sabah of her oil and gas in broad daylight! They have to rationalise this senseless act by the Federal Government & Petronas to pipe natural gas from Sabah to Sarawak in the midst of a power supply crisis in Sabah. This Petronas 'robbery' project was launched by who else, the Prime Minister himself. The Daily Express reported:

18 January, 2008

"Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) project at Kimanis, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in February last year, is expected to transform significantly the State's socio-economic fabric, particularly in the Kimanis area.

The project, covering an area of 101.17 hectares, undertaken by Petronas would not only be a symbol of Sabah's brisk economic development but also create employment opportunities in oil-related industries for the local populace and in the process raise their standard of living.

The basic infrastructure such was water supply, electricity and transport facilities to be developed for the project would indirectly benefit the locals.

SOGT is among components of the Sabah-Sarawak Oil and Gas Integrated project undertaken by Petronas. Other components of the project include the development of oilfields offshore Sabah and the construction of the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipe project (SSGP).

The SSGP project would involve the construction of gas pipes overland spanning 500 kilometres (90km in Sabah and 410km in Sarawak) linking Kimanis in Sabah and the LNG Petronas Complex in Bintulu.

Although the total cost of the project to be completed by 2010 has yet to be revealed, news reports have estimated it to be around RM3 billion....

.... The natural gas piped to Bintulu would be processed into Liquefied Natural Gas for export."

And typical of the mainstream media, large part of the report went on and on about how great this project will be for Sabah and how the project will open up new developments along the 550km span from Kimanis to Bintulu and stimulate further economic activities for the locals blah..blah..blah.

What struck me and why I call this a daylight 'robbery' is because (and I quote) "The natural gas piped to Bintulu would be processed into Liquefied Natural Gas for export."

Why siphon the gas to Bintulu? Why not just build a LNG Complex in Sabah and export LNG from Sabah? I am sure we have more than ample space in Sabah for a LNG Complex. We already have the oil terminal depot in Sepanggar, and building an LNG complex in Sepanggar, which would be peanuts for Petronas, will no doubt boost the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) after all the KKIP is a landmark of Sepanggar, and it will also create economic spillover throughout the State. Why pipe our gas all the way to Bintulu? As it is, Petronas is already bleeding Sabah dry of its oil and gas resources, and Sabah is only given 5% percent royalty each year? Isn't that 'robbery' in broad daylight? A LNG complex, say in Sepanggar, will only be a tiny, tiny drop in the hugely lucrative bucket for Petronas.

And why is Leo Moggie saying that "there was no alternative for the state but to accept the coal-fired power plant in overcoming the shortage of electricity supply. " ? With all the so-called educated people staffing TNB and SESB, is this the best alternative that they could find? Any 6-year old can figure out that burning coal gives out so much smoke and make people cough which may not be good for their health. Go figure that one out, Mr Moggie and all you educated people in TNB/SESB!

And Mr. Moggie, sir, Petronas is piping our natural gas from Kimanis into your home state Sarawak, and you come in here and announced arrogantly that we Sabahans have no alternative but to accept the coal-fired plant!!! What kind of bullshit is this? You think Sabahans are so stupid that you can just bullshit us? The way I see it, you people (Fed Govt, Petronas & TNB) are not only 'robbing' from Sabahans but you are also trying to pollute the air that we breathe and that could probably end up poisoning us all!

Sabahans are relieved that the State Government has cancelled the coal plant in Lahad Datu. Thank you, State Cabinet. It is time Sabahans object to the unethical tactics and bullying done by the Federal Government in Sabah. Why should we use coal-fired plants when we have natural gas? We have so much natural gas that could easily resolve the power supply crisis that we are facing now. We probably have so much natural gas in Sabah that if we were to blow it all up, the whole island of Borneo and, hopefully Peninsular Malaysia, will disappear from the face of the earth!

I think I speak for many Sabahans when I say that I just don't understand why Petronas will be siphoning off our natural gas from Kimanis to Bintulu in Sarawak while we are, at this very moment, suffering from a power supply crisis in Sabah. Can the Sabah Government not put a stop to this horrible treatment of Sabah by the Federal Government, Petronas and TNB?

Could we not demand for an increase in oil royalty to 30% or even 50%? After all, Sabah with all her oil and gas resources FORMED this country called Malaysia together with Sarawak and Malaya, making Sabah and Sarawak an equal partner to Malaya in the formation of Malaysia. Hence, Sabah should be entitled to a 50-50 arrangement in anything that directly concerns and come from Sabah. We are not like Trengganu which was part of Malaya. We were a sovereign nation-state that, with Sarawak and Malaya, formed Malaysia, hence, equal partners by right where federal-state matters are concerned. The oil and gas comes from bumi Sabah, and we should share it 50-50 (or something very close to that) with the Federal Government. Likewise, anything directly concerning Sarawak and her resources should be treated likewise.

Can't the Sabah Government do anything at all about this worrying situation, especially the act by Petronas to siphon off gas from Sabah to Sarawak? Is Petronas so powerful that it can do anything it wants that even the Prime Minister has no say? Or, he has a say but will/can not do anything about it? How did Petronas get so powerful? And the only answer I can come up with is that Petronas is so powerful because it controls so much money from the oil and gas that were extracted from oil rich states including Sabah. Yes, Sabah used to be one of the richest states in Malaysia. Today, Sabah is the SECOND POOREST state in Malaysia. What happened? How come with all its oil and gas resources, Sabah is the second poorest state in the country? I just have trouble trying to understand this.

Again, I ask, can't the Sabah Government do anything about this at all, review the agreement on our oil and gas resources, for instance? Are the agreement covering Sabah's oil and gas written in stone that there is nothing we Sabahans can do? Can someone out there enlighten us, or at least me. Or should we, Sabahans, just resign ourselves to this fate of being forever sidelined, bullied and bled dry of our rich resources by the Federal Government for generations to come? With the deep frustrations that we, Sabahans, feel about Sabah's rights at the moment, I fear to think about how our children will feel in the future.

No Cabinet Decision to Abolish JPPS: Sidek

See... I told you so!

Didn't I tell you so?! The Prime Minister WILL NOT disband the Sabah Federal Development Department (JPPS). The Federal BN has no intention to close down the JPPS . To quote the report under this headline in a local daily today on the statement by Chief Secretary to the Government, TS Md Sidek Hassan:

"no decision has been made on the proposal to disband the Sabah Federal Development Department (JPPS). He said the Federal Cabinet did discuss the proposal on Wednesday but that no decision was made on the issue, which was raised by the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) when it met with the Prime Minister earlier this week. We did discuss the matter and I have related the results of the discussion (at the Federal Cabinet meeting) to the Chief Minister of Sabah this (Thursday) morning. As what has been promised by the Prime Minister, we are willing to consider the proposal and it will be discussed thoroughly to achieve the objectives that were discussed earlier (during the the Prime Minister's meeting with the Sabah BN leaders on Monday), he said." (Daily Express, p1-2, 11/04/08)

Uuiii urang BN Sabah, kamu inda sedar kah kamu kena tipu oleh ketua BN kamu, itu Perdana Menteri sendiri??? The Prime Minister lied through his teeth right to your face, and you cannot even SEE the reality of the situation. All Sidek need to do is putar belit on the words the PM used (look again at the pix of his face in the article...can't you see the obvious snicker as he struggles hard to hide his laughter at your stupidity!). Of course, the PM made a promise to you last Monday. Yes, he made you a promise. The promise that he made to you was: 'he will consider your proposals and to discuss them thoroughly". Technically, as stated by Sidek (see the purposely bolded part in para above), the PM fulfilled his promise which was to 'consider your proposals and to discuss them thoroughly' on Wednesday (09/04/08) at the Federal Cabinet meeting. Yes, he did fulfill his promise, after all, so no more accusing si lembek of only giving empty promises! So, to all BN leaders who submitted your wonderful proposals last Monday, the Prime Minister has indeed fulfilled all his promises to you. He promised you that he consider ALL your proposals and to discuss them thoroughly, which he did. So, technically, he fulfilled his promise. You see, the PM never lied to the Sabah BN reps and the Sabahans. The fact of the matter is this: the PM NEVER promised to close down the JPPS. The PM NEVER promised to resolve all problems relating to illegal aliens, MyKad, giving more ministerial posts to Sabah MPs, borneonisation of federal departments, street kids, poverty, etc. He NEVER made any promise to resolve any of these Sabah problems! The PM never promised to make any decision on these problems. The ONLY promise he made to the Sabah BN leaders last Monday is this: he will consider your proposals and to discuss them thoroughly'. Come the following Wednesday, the PM fulfilled that promise, he considered the proposals and discussed them thoroughly at the Federal Cabinet. Promise fulfilled. Job done. Sidek informed the Sabah Chief Minister on the fulfillment of PM's promise. End of story. See what excellent loyar buruk we have managing this country!!!

Next question. Why won't the PM disband the JPPS? Because JPPS is more or less like the 'Wang Ehsan' for Terengganu. The JPPS was established in Sabah during the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) rule (1985-1994 thereabouts) when it was still an opposition party "to oversee the implementation of Federal projects in the State" (DE, p2, 11/04/08). Last Monday, the Sabah BN leaders propose to PM "to abolish the JPPS so as to smoothen the implementation of Federal projects by channeling funds to the State Government through the Chief Minister's Department". Gosh! Does the Sabah BN leaders actually believe that the PM would allow federal government money to be channeled to the Sabah Chief Minister's Office? Are you people serious in actually believing that that is a remote possibility? Gosh! I am just speechless! Buduuuh butul urang Sabah ni! I bet my bottom dollar that those in the Federal Cabinet must have been rolling on the floor laughing their heads off last Wednesday at the stupidity of the Sabah BN leaders. I'm sure they must have ask: Are these Sabah BN leaders for real?!! Whoah...back up a minute, there. No, don't be fooled by all these wayang kulit. Something is definitely going on behind the scene. You think the Sabah BN leaders are fools? Nahhh. They, too, want (and all these while must have been having, I am sure) their hands in the cookie jar. It's all wayang kulit...and it's all about dollars and sen!

If you can recall my take on this in my last article "Sabah will be duly rewarded: PM", posted last 8th April, that I was very sure the Federal BN will NOT close down the JPPS. In that article I wrote:

"JPPS has been in Sabah for about 20 years. It doesn't look like it is ready to close shop. It is already deeply entrenched within the underground halls and dark spaces where fattened contractors and well-fed government servants negotiate and roam. Imagine, if you may, a cancer growing and and flourishing in a human body for 20 long years. Imagine how obnoxious and abhorrent that cancer would look today. You cut away the cancer, not sure whether the host will live. So are we still surprise that JPPS is very much alive, fat and kicking even as we speak? You think they and their few hosts will want JPPS to close shop? Well, think again."

Of course, the PM and his cronies, his SIL included, will not allow the JPPS to close. Otherwise, how can they get their grubby hands on the federal government money that are meant for development in Sabah. Remember, the Wang Ehsan, the Patrick Lim and the Monsoon Cup of Terengganu. Well, the JPPS will be the Patrick Lim (the proxy of you-know-who) et al who will control the Wang Ehsan and build all kinds of Monsoon Cups (including the RM15 million schools-turned-white elephants, projects that we don't hear about, and possibly the upcoming Sabah Development Corridor) in Sabah. JPPS will be very much needed to continue in Sabah to enrich certain umnoputras especially in the next 5 years and hopefully forever, if Sabahans continue to be buduh. In the end, Malaysian politics is about grabbing or stealing as much money as possible from the federal and ALL states (so-called) development projects. Yes, that, in a nutshell, is Malaysian politics.

I'd give my left pinky to know what the Sabah Chief Minister is now thinking, now that TS Sidek had already informed him that the PM will not share with him even a single sen from all that federal development money that Sabah should be getting in the next 5 years. Or maybe, they have made some nice arrangement already (in which case, I'll take back my bet). Wayang kulit lah, of course...it's all just wayang kulit and oscar-standard acting. That and of course the fact that politics in Sabah, and worst , politics in Malaysia, is all about becoming rich instantly. Malaysian politics (state politics included) is the biggest, largest and most successful get-rich-quick scheme in the nation's history. Oh my...that is Malaysian politics in a nutshell.

Sabah will be duly rewarded, vows PM

Yeah rite! If you believe this, then you must still believe in the tooth fairy! Wait all you want for that vow to be fulfilled, and I can assure you that you will wait till kingdom come!

The title above was a headline in a Sabah daily yesterday which among others also reported that the PM also gave assurance to look into issues related to illegal aliens, giving more ministerial posts to Sabahan MPs, illegal MyKad, street kids, JPPS, borneonisation of federal departments, poverty, etc. Bold headline indeed: Sabah will be duly rewarded. You think?! Any reader with a pea brain could already see the vagueness of the PM's statements and emptiness of his vows.

And that's exactly what the opposition, a VP of PKR, said today, that "... the PM's visit to Sabah was a total disappointment. He did not bring anything solid from Kuala Lumpur, and gave all sorts of vague statements and promises."

Each and every issue highlighted by the BN reps who came to consult PM last Monday, all of them, are old issues. Nothing new, some are as old as Malaysia itself. And, correct me if I'm wrong, is it not BN who has been ruling Sabah since the mid-nineties? How come these same-old, same-old issues continue to remain unresolved and have to be brought over and over and over again to the attention of the Prime Minister? Is he hearing these for the first time in his life? Didn't the State BN Government has had ample time to mend Sabah's problems with the help of big BN?

Headlined yesterday, too, was that the Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan Sabah (JPPS) might close shop. The JPPS was set up way back when PBS (now, a BN component) ruled Sabah as an opposition (1985-1994 thereabouts) as a means of channeling federal funds directly to the development projects without having to go through the State government coffers. Then BN came in and ruled Sabah after 1994. Somehow, NOBODY in the State or Federal Government relised how redundant the JPPS has become since 1994 to the present day. It is just mind-boggling how it took the State and Federal BN 14 years to realise how stupid this JPPS arrangement has become, save for certain quarters, of course. JPPS have been deciding and acting on its own where development projects are concern. Even past state MPs have questioned why JPPS never consulted local representatives and authorities in many development projects. Cases in point were the many RM15 million schools build in the middle of nowhere throughout the State, in areas where there are not enough student population. Many of these schools are empty or near-empty. The JPPS when they build these schools think they are too smart to consult the local reps and authorities. No Sabahan is stupid as to not see that JPPS just build for the sake of building, to disburse the funds and enrich a few. Not surprising, a PKR member today (DE, p. 3) claimed that "JPPS had also flourished corruption in Sabah.... I call on the authorities concerned to investigate all Federal-funded projects implemented through JPPS." This same member pointed out that "JPPS caused overlapping of duties to several State departments which was probably why a simple flyover in Kota Kinabalu took six years to be implemented."

JPPS has been in Sabah for about 20 years. It doesn't look like it is ready to close shop. It is already deeply entrenched within the underground halls and dark spaces where fattened contractors and well-fed government servants negotiate and roam. Imagine, if you may, a cancer growing and and flourishing in a human body for 20 long years. Imagine how obnoxious and abhorrent that cancer would look today. You cut away the cancer, not sure whether the host will live. So are we still surprise that JPPS is very much alive, fat and kicking even as we speak? You think they and their few hosts will want JPPS to close shop? Well, think again.

What about the illegal aliens? They are staying in Sabah as if they own the State. No sane Sabahan would dare wander into any of their notorious colonies and expect to come out alive. Many locals have been stabbed and killed in public places in broad daylight by these illegals. And the illegal MyKad issues... so many things to say on this topic as well as the rest of the issues mentioned above that I don't even know where to start. So I won't even try to begin.

But one thing's for sure. The PM's vows will just remain that ...empty promises. Of that, I'm pretty darn sure. Just carefully read his statements. One very obvious case is when the Sabah reps ask for more ministerial posts for Sabahan MPs. Oh yes, he promised he will give "but it will take time"! Duhhhh...his ministers have already been sworn in, the present federal government has only few more years to go, and it is not sure how stable his government will be the next few years. You think he will bother to waste his limited precious time to accommodate some so-called conscientious Sabahan MPs? Again, better start thinking again. So, when the PM says "but it will take time", just take it to mean ..."when donkeys fly, my clueless friends!" And let's just get on with our lives.

But if any still insist on waiting for the PM's promises to be fulfilled, be my guest...