22 March 2024
On Today Show
— Iswardy Morni, Activist and Sarawak political analyst – Unveiling Sarawak's Poverty: The GPS Objection to PADU
— Thomas Jalong, environmental activist from Ulu Baram – The Environmental Crime Surge: Addressing Illegal Logging
— Abun Sui, Senator of PKR Sarawak – Lack of GPS Government Aid in Flood-Affected Sarawak Villages
— Oscar Ling, DAP MP of Sibu – Balancing Development: Oscar Ling Calls for Fair Allocation of Resources by GPS government
Topik Pada Hari Ini
- Iswardy Morni, Aktivis dan Pakar Analisis Politik Sarawak - Mendedahkan Kemiskinan Sarawak: Bantahan GPS terhadap PADU
- Thomas Jalong, Aktivis Alam Sekitar dari Ulu Baram - Lonjakan Jenayah Alam Sekitar: Mengatasi Pembalakan Haram
- Abun Sui, Senator PKR Sarawak - Ketiadaan Bantuan Kerajaan GPS di Kampung-Kampung Sarawak yang Dilanda Banjir
- Oscar Ling, Ahli Parlimen DAP Sibu - Menyeimbangkan Pembangunan: Oscar Ling Membuat Panggilan untuk Peruntukan Sumber yang Adil oleh Kerajaan GPS
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*Special Randau*
1. The Malaysian government rejected the bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
2. Daim Zainuddin's wife (Naimah) failed in her application to return her passport permanently. If the applicant's passport is returned permanently, then it is most likely when both of them (Daim and Naimah) are abroad. They may not come back to face the proceedings before the session court- Said the judge.
3. Today GPS Sarawak expressed its open objection to the implementation of the Main Database System (PADU). According to Minister Karim Rahman Hamzah. Padu violates privacy, data security and exposes the information of registered citizens. In fact, GPS is worried about their failure to govern Sarawak to the extent that the majority of Sarawak residents are still poor. PADU exposes the hypocracy of GPS. According to the economy minister. There is no compulsion to register with PADU but don't anger the government if your name falls off the list of aid recipients.
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Iswardy Morni, Activist and Sarawak political analyst
*Unveiling Sarawak's Poverty: The GPS Objection to PADU*
Today, Sarawak's political leaders began protesting the Main Data Base System (PADU) launched by PMX Anwar Ibrahim at the beginning of January 2024.
According to Sarawak's tourism, creative industries and performing arts minister - Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah - When you register in the integrated system, this means you are exposing yourself.
The GPS government requested that PADU be reviewed, and changes made. Karim mentioned that the government should respect the privacy of the people and there is no need to develop PADU because there is already ekasih data. Today, an official memo from Sri Aman Residents asking for PADU registration to be stopped in the entire Sri Aman Division went viral on social media. YBs GPS Sarawak in their respective whatsapp groups asked the people not to register with PADU.
For Iswardy, the real reason GPS objected to PADU was because they did not want Sarawak's real poverty data to be exposed. The latest data in PADU shows that many Sarawakians are registering. Many poor people are registered and many will get government assistance. In terms of "people's welfare" this is good, but GPS leaders are worried that their weaknesses in governing the state of Sarawak all this time will be exposed. With the high revenue and budget, why are there so many poor people in Sarawak?
Regarding data security, the Sarawak government pioneered several initiatives such as SarawakPay, Kenyalang GoldCad and Ekasih, all these platforms store the data of Sarawak residents. In fact it is operated by a third party/private. Why is data security not an issue? Is it because it is run by the Sarawak state government?
Iswardy ask the Sarawak government to have the courage to face reality, that the majority of the people of Sarawak are poor and deserve help. Don't interpret everything through political and election perspectives only.
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Thomas Jalong, environmental activist from Ulu Baram
*The Environmental Crime Surge: Addressing Illegal Logging*
Minister of Natural Resources and Sustainable Environment, Nik Nazmi, stated in parliament that environmental crimes in court appeared to be increasing, with 409 cases last year compared to 289 cases in 2019. He listed several issues, including illegal logging, which has various impacts.
Thomas believes that encroachment into the forest is a crime, meaning that whoever encroaches into the forest, especially companies or individuals, regardless of whether it is a reserve forest or community-protected forest, is committing a crime according to the Forest Ordinance. Illegal logging should not be conducted in these areas without consultation or consent from the community. Indigenous people have long understood the importance of forests to our livelihoods. It is only now that we are hearing about the impacts of climate change and other negative effects, such as the lack of important natural resources to sustain our lives. Indigenous people know how to manage the forest sustainably. However, enforcement or state governments often do not provide legal support for the practices of indigenous people who want to continue protecting forest areas that are crucial not only for the local community but also for the state and global purposes.
Thomas said that, with this, they wish to emphasize that when they are protecting our forests, they should not be labeled as anti-development. In fact, who is truly anti-development? Those who are destroying the forests are the ones against development.
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Abun Sui, Senator of PKR Sarawak
*Lack of GPS Government Aid in Flood-Affected Sarawak Villages*
Abun Sui raised concerns about the lack of government aid to two remote villages in Sarawak, despite being repeatedly hit by floods this year. He highlighted that villages like Long Busang and Long Kajang in Belaga, Sarawak, have not received flood assistance, as their representatives have complained. Abun urged the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the Social Welfare Department to address this issue promptly and provide assistance to the affected villages.
Abun Sui also urged that the GPS government would shoulder its responsibility and not solely rely on the federal government because the Sarawak state government itself has more than enough financial resources to assist its own people.
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Oscar Ling, DAP MP of Sibu
*Balancing Development: Oscar Ling Calls for Fair Allocation of Resources by GPS goverment*
Sibu MP Oscar Ling Service Centre is organizing a special subsidised food programme near SK Rantau Panjang on March 23, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. A total of 200 packs of subsidised food items will be available for RM10 per set. Each set includes instant noodles, biscuits, flour, 2kg of white rice, sugar, and a packet of cooking oil.
According to Ling, each household is limited to one set, and distribution will be on a first-come-first-served basis. This programme is a joint initiative with the Federal Agricultural Marketing Agency (Fama) and aims to help reduce the financial burden on the people. Ling encourages the public to come early to enjoy discounts and attractive promotions.
Oscar Ling stated that the economic downturn is not just a problem in Malaysia, but a global issue. Therefore, the monthly provision of aid is part of the support program in line with the Madani government to help people cope with the difficulties of rising prices.
However, Oscar Ling pointed out that despite GPS's annual development budget reaching billions, the current focus is only on areas like Kuching, Miri, and Bintulu. On the contrary, other areas such as Sibu, Kapit, and Kenowit are marginalized and also need the state government's focus and development.
He noted that many outskirts of towns are facing the plight of being ignored, which has led to a continuous decline in economic development in these areas, making life increasingly difficult for the people there. Therefore, he urged the state government to pay attention to the welfare of all Sarawakians and to distribute development opportunities and resources evenly across the state to achieve balanced development.