14 March 2024
On Today Show
— Gabriel Atong,Resident of Punan Ba, Belaga – Frustration Mounts as Belaga-Kapit Boat Service Cuts Short, Highlighting Rural Neglect
— Michael Kong Feng Nian, Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth Kuching chief – Misplaced Priorities: Criticism Over MPP's RM60 Million Office Building Plan
— Ngeow Chow Ying, Convenor of Project SAMA – Call for Caution: Advocating for Careful Handling of Amendments to Citizenship Laws, including potential negative impacts on stateless children born in Malaysia
Topik Pada Hari Ini
- Gabriel Atong, Penduduk Punan Ba, Belaga - Kekecewaan Bertambah Ketika Perkhidmatan Bot Belaga-Kapit Dipendekkan, Menonjolkan Pengabaian di Kawasan Pedalaman
- Michael Kong Feng Nian, Ketua Pemuda Demokratik Tindakan Parti Sosialis Kuching - Keutamaan Tersasar: Kritikan Terhadap Pelan Pembinaan Pejabat MPP Bernilai RM60 Juta
- Ngeow Chow Ying, Pengerusi Projek SAMA - Seruan Berhati-hati: Membangkitkan Kesedaran untuk Menangani dengan Berhati-hati Pindaan kepada Undang-undang Kewarganegaraan, termasuk kesan negatif terhadap kanak-kanak tanpa kewarganegaraan yang dilahirkan di Malaysia
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*Special Randau*
1. The first week of the school session is open. Mohd Firdaus Jailan- Father of students in form 1 and 3. Surprised to see his son's residential dormitory at a school in Tebedu, Sarawak in poor condition. The bed and wardrobe are broken. The mattress and pillows were torn and in a dirty and disgusting condition. We ask, can't we use 1 or 2 billion from Sarawak's sovereign future wealth fund (initial deposit 8 billion) to help and complete facilities in poor schools in Sarawak.
2. Gabriel Atong- Resident of Punan Ba, urged the MACC and the authorities to investigate all cases of irregularities in the construction of pure soul roads in Sarawak. Jalan Jiwa Murni Belaga - Kapit was launched in 2012 connecting Belaga to Kapit. But until now -not ready. The contractor is said to have made a profit of 800 million ringgit. But the project was abandoned.
3. Interpol rejected Malaysia's red notice application twice. Such was Clare Brown's revelation in a forum hosted by the ICJ yesterday. Our question is, what crime did Clare commit. Is writing a book revealing the world's biggest financial scandal 1MDB a crime? Malaysia should consider the highest award to Clare Brown.
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Gabriel Atong,Resident of Punan Ba, Belaga
*Frustration Mounts as Belaga-Kapit Boat Service Cuts Short, Highlighting Rural Neglect*
Announcements on social media inform that the Boat Express service on the Belaga-Kapit-Belaga route operated by the Bah Manis 2 company will be shortened and will not reach Belaga Town. The service provider apologizes to the affected public.
According to Gabriel, the decision made by the management is a business decision. As such, they cannot be blamed entirely. But the victims are thousands of residents who need the service to go to Kapit for various business. Kapit is the administrative center for the seventh division of Sarawak. Covering Belaga, Song and Kapit.
Gabriel said that, the GPS government should be blamed for failing to build roads for the rural residents of Sarawak. Especially to the people of Belaga who always support the GPS candidate during the election. In 2012-2016, a contract to build 10 jalan jiwa murni roads in Sarawak was issued and included the Kapit-Belaga area. However, until now the proposed road has not been completed. Two directors of the company were investigated by MACC who profited 800 million from the project. But the investigation in 2018 when PH ruled has not been heard anymore.
According to Gabriel, hundreds of longhouses/residential settlements in Hulu Rajang Parliament are not connected by road. Although there are 3 mega dams built here. Bakun, Murum and Baleh. Even Premier Abang Johari promised by 2024. The road from Sibu-Kapit-Belaga will be ready. Unfortunately, this is all just a dream.
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Michael Kong Feng Nian, Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth Kuching chief
*Misplaced Priorities: Criticism Over MPP's RM60 Million Office Building Plan*
The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) 's decision to allocate RM60 million for a new office building while citing financial constraints has raised concerns about its priorities. This move, Michael Kong criticized it is misallocation of funds, reflects a broader issue of misplaced priorities within the government.
Michael Kong comment that, as MPP Chairman, Tan Kai holds significant authority to address this issue. Instead of focusing on extravagant projects like a new office building, he should prioritize urgent infrastructure works, such as improving back lanes and drains, which are crucial for the well-being of Kuching residents.
Tan Kai's statement about securing only RM1.5 million from the State Government contrasts sharply with the state's substantial reserves of close to RM40 billion. This highlights a failure to advocate for increased funding to address the needs of the people in Kuching.
Michael suggest that, redirect the RM60 million earmarked for the new MPP office building towards infrastructure projects. If additional funding is needed, Tan Kai could approach the three SUPP ADUNs of Kota Sentosa, Batu Kitang, and Batu Kawah, who collectively receive an annual allocation of approximately RM25 million. This could help bolster basic infrastructure in Kuching.
Comparing this to the allocation and spending by Chong Chieng Jen, who received RM4.2 million for the same three DUNs, with a significant portion allocated to education initiatives, highlights a stark difference in priorities and transparency.
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Ngeow Chow Ying, Convenor of Project SAMA
*Call for Caution: Advocating for Careful Handling of Amendments to Citizenship Laws, including potential negative impacts on stateless children born in Malaysia*
Projek SAMA, a civil society initiative advocating for institutional reforms, has called on the Federal government to issue either a Green Paper or White Paper regarding its proposed amendments to citizenship laws in the Federal Constitution. The group has cautioned against hastily implementing changes that could lead to the denial of citizenship for stateless natives and pose risks to abandoned babies.
According to Ngeow, a Green Paper would facilitate feedback from both Parliament members and external stakeholders on policy or legislative proposals. Conversely, a White Paper would outline the government's proposed laws, including a draft of the intended Bill, allowing for consultation and discussion with relevant parties.
The group has urged MPs, particularly those from the government backbench and opposition, to safeguard the Federal Constitution from rushed amendments. They have stressed the importance of transparency and substantive deliberation in the legislative process.
While acknowledging that the proposed amendments include a positive aspect, such as granting citizenship to Malaysian mothers' overseas-born children, Projek SAMA has expressed concerns about potential negative impacts on stateless children born in Malaysia.
Additionally, Projek SAMA has emphasized the necessity of involving the Sabah government and state MPs in discussions, particularly regarding the security implications of existing citizenship laws. They have cautioned against presenting restrictive citizenship amendments as a quick solution for issues like Project IC without providing convincing evidence to the public.
(background) Last Friday, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that the Cabinet had approved a proposal to amend the Federal Constitution regarding citizenship, which will be submitted to the Lower House of Parliament for deliberation.
The amendment aims to modify Article 14(b) of the Constitution to include the term "mother" in determining a child's citizenship. This involves amending Sections 1(1)(d) and 1(1)(e) of Part I of the First Schedule, as well as Section 1(b) and 1(c) of Part II of the same schedule.
However, Saifuddin had announced in June last year that the proposed amendments to Part III of the Federal Constitution would be presented to the Conference of Rulers in July, and that the government was in the process of finalizing the proposed amendments comprehensively. Some key proposed amendments include completely removing Sections 1(e) and 2(3) of Part II of the Federal Constitution; removing the right of foundlings, including abandoned children, to citizenship by operation of law under Section 19B of the Second Schedule in Part III of the Constitution; and removing the term "permanently resident" in Section 1(a) of the Second Schedule in Part II of the Constitution. These proposed amendments have raised concerns among some Members of Parliament and activists.