Stewart Aing

KUCHING: The statement by PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing on the possible revival of a larger entity comprising PRS, SNAP and SPDP did not go down well with an SPDP grassroots leader.

SPDP Lambir division chairman Stewart Aying yesterday said the statement was calculated to make the leadership crisis in SUPP bigger and slow down the reconsolidation process in SPDP.

He said he also interpreted Masing’s statement as a subtle effort to shift the role played by the Pesaka wing of PBB as Dayak paramount chief kingmaker to that of the proposed entity.

“The statement is politically insensitive towards leaders of fellow Barisan Nasional (BN) especially that of SUPP and SPDP when they (SUPP and SPDP) are making efforts to move towards reconsolidation on the ground. Tan Sri Dr James Masing should have also stopped and thought for a while on how PBB would feel about the whole thing,” he said when contacted in Miri.

Stewart said the best thing for BN right now was for PRS leaders to let SUPP and SPDP resolve the problems besieging them even if it meant they had to discipline members for insubordination and undermining their own parties and the BN coalition.

“We are all still in BN family. Whether SPDP merges with PRS, the entity would still be a BN component. During election, it is either BN or the opposition that the majority vote for. So what is the point of a merger unless Tan Sri Dr James Masing is thinking about the politics of numbers and its effects,” Stewart emphasised.

“In view of the next parliamentary election, the PRS president’s statement is not only upsetting me but not timely and uncalled for,” he added.

On Masing’s take about partyless Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entrie’s status, Stewart said since the Marudi seat was already allocated to BN-SPDP, it should remain so.

Stewart said Masing’s opinion about Entrie continuing to be BN member was right but that did not give Entrie the right to stand there in the next state election on BN ticket because there was no such thing as a direct BN candidate.

“Direct BN candidacy will be a bad precedent because that will mean the start of a crumbling BN, causing insubordination here and there. That will also make elected representatives believe that they are forever safe in BN whenever they decide to go against their party presidents. I do not think this should be allowed in BN,” he reiterated.

“By virtue of the principle of power sharing practised by BN, any elected representative who has been sacked or has resigned from his party cannot bring along his seat to another BN component party. Therefore, Entrie should not dream of bringing along the seat with him to PRS after his sacking from SPDP because both parties are BN components,” he reminded.

Masing on Wednesday said the merger of SNAP, PRS and SPDP would only be possible if certain negative elements were excluded.

Although he did not specifically mention the ‘negative elements’ it was quite obvious that he was trying to woo the dissenting Bumiputera elected representatives of SUPP and SPDP as well as Entri and Pelagus assemblymen George Lagong.

The elected representatives from SUPP referred to are Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang assemblyman), Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Ranum Mina (Opar) and Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) while those from SPDP are Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Paulus Palu Ngumbang (Batu Danau) and Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik Biru) as well as Mas Gading MP Datuk Tiki Lafe.

SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan could not be reached for comment.

Extract from the Borneo Post, 30th August 2011

Options for employees with similar case with Stephen Geri (SG)

In respond on how hard it is to get a promotion as per the article in the Borneo Post, our reader have some points to share/highlight for Mr. Stephen Geri.

1. True, academic qualifications do play a part in promotion but it is not the biggest weightage. In this case SG can have a Masters but if he wishes to be promoted it also takes into account his PTK results, his yearly assessments as well as his maximum grade in his scheme etc.
2. From what we read, our understanding is SG, is a support staff, hence his statement that his pay is akin to a chief clerk i.e. RM2,000. He could be an N scheme (support staff scheme) and the highest grade is N32. (if he sampai here already lah).
3. To be higher than N32 and to go to degree/master level, he cannot remain in the support staff scheme but must move on to officer level scheme e.g. M41 (for administration, or to other schemes i.e. C, S, G, L – chemical, social, agriculture, legal schemes etc. There is no N scheme for officer level at federal). C, S, G scheme all quite technical and hard to get.

Judging by his qualifications (MBA etc) he can try for M (PTD)scheme. They are people like SG who started off as support staff, studied, naik sedikit-sedikit and now at the mid years of their lives, minta jadi officer at PTD level. There is no cut-off years but they are given equivalent chance to try to apply provided they apply through SPA and goes through and passes the rigmarole of PTD exam, PTD assessment and interview. And if given the job in the end, willing to accept the job on an initial contract basis (yes, there are permanent and contract options now but you don’t get to choose, and it all depends on your intake).

If SG is a federal employee, he can do all the above or try upgrading himself secara KPSL (exams internally and promoted internally providing got kekosangan jawatan and within superiors support and consent).

Or he can use his new qualifications, and apply for different schemes via Suruhajaya Perkhidmatan Awam‘s website (there are many schemes available).

On the other hand, if he is state employee, we don’t know how he can jump from N (support staff scheme) to N41 and above (officer scheme) for the state civil service. Itu kena tanya people in the State Civil Service. Selalunya, state civil service quite hard to get in on officer level but not impossible.

Cr. Kijan Toynbee (second left) with members from Wanita SPDP Piasau Division.

Four new political secretaries sworn in

by Johnson K Saai
Borneo Post, July 29, 2010, Thursday

KUCHING:  Four new political secretaries to the Chief Minister were sworn in yesterday, bringing the total to 23.

They were from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

Taking their oath of office before Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here were Kijan Toynbee @ Ipang (SPDP), Angeline Umih Tujoh (PRS), Sih Hua Tong (SUPP) and Tengku Gruna (PBB).

The first to take the oath was 54-year-old Kijan, a Kelabit from Bario. She has served the Miri City Council (MCC) for 15 years, and at the party level Kijan is SPDP Central’s Wanita vice-chairman.

She is also SPDP Piasau’s Women chief and the Federation of the Orang Ulu National Association (OUNA) Women chief.

Angeline is a Supreme Council member in PRS, while Sih, 46, is SUPP Youth Chief. Tengku, 50, is the auditor for PBB Song division.

Except for Sih, who was appointed to replace Ding Kuong Sing, the MP for Sarikei, the rest were new appointments.

Commenting on the appointment of the new political secretaries, Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “I am happy with the four new appointments, which now increase the number of political secretaries to the Chief Minister to 23.

“I wish to congratulate them on their appointment. I’ve full confidence that, with their vast experience in their respective careers, they will be able to help BN and the government in maintaining political stability in the state,” he said.

Hats off to the 1Kenyah community of Belaga for a far sighted mission on the development of their NCR land. All by themselves with a well planned strategy. This is what I have always share with my fellow friends over coffee. To improve ourselves, it have to start from us – ourselves.

The 1Kenyah community is something the rest of the Dayak community should emulate. In that way, we get the best value from our own land and it is definitely still ours.

The State government on the other hand should support this initiative by giving ideas and know-how. The Land & Survey Dept., is to give their full support in the process of alienation of land for development purposes, just like they have given their cooperation to other private companies.

To Mr. Agong Ajan, you are the man and that is the way forward! Thumbs up!

Borneo Post, 13th April 2010

Dept sets the record straight on titles for longhouses

by Samuel Aubrey
April 11, 2010, Sunday
Source: The Borneo Post

KUCHING: The state’s Land and Survey Department yesterday clarified that the Strata Title Ordinance does not apply to longhouses when it comes to issuance of title.

It said the Sarawak Land Code title would be more appropriate for longhouses because strata title was not relevant for individual ‘bilik’ (door) of the longhouse.

“For buildings such as single-storey or double-storey terrace, titles to these buildings are issued under the Sarawak Land Code.

“As longhouses share much of the characteristics of a terrace unit, therefore, Strata Title Ordinance will not apply to longhouses when it comes to issuance of title. Should the policy of the Government decide that individual ‘bilik’ within the longhouses be issued with title, then, the Sarawak Land Code title would be more appropriate,” said the Department in an emailed statement.

The statement was issued following recent media reports on suggestions concerning the mechanism for giving titles to longhouses in the state.

On ‘strata title’, the Department said this was issued under the Strata Title Ordinance.

‘Strata title’ is a subsidiary title issued on parcels within a building. The Strata Title Ordinance makes it mandatory for owners of building of five-storey and above to apply for ‘strata title’,” it said.

Last Thursday, Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin said he was all for the proposed ‘terraced house-style’ titles in the issuance of land titles to longhouses.

“I am relieved that the terrace house-style title was proposed, instead of the strata title. If it were the strata title, it would create a lot of confusion and dissatisfaction among the longhouse folk. Many would not accept it,” he had said when closing the two-day New Longhouse Concept seminar in Kuching.

A day earlier, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas suggested that land titles for longhouses should follow the mechanism of giving titles to terraced houses in the city.

He had said that the procedures involved in giving titles to terraced houses in the city were simple and did not involve too much hassle.

Assistant Minister of Housing and Urban Development Abdul Wahab Aziz also believed terraced house titles were more viable than strata titles.

The Dayaks also own homes that are not attached to the longhouse due to shortage of land for extension from the main longhouse. How do the Land & Survey handle this kind of house? I hope it is include in the new concept.

More articles:

• Datuk Micheal Manyin: Terraced house-style titles fine, but not strata ones.
• Dato Sri Douglas Ugah: Don’t split up longhouses

Tiada kaitan pilihan raya: KM

by Saibi Gi, Patricia Gari dan Rengenyan Labang
Source: Utusan Borneo
March 26, 2010, Friday

Rombakan kecil kabinet tidak boleh dianggap sebagai usaha BN raih semula sokongan

KUCHING: Rombakan kecil Kabinet Negeri semalam ti-dak boleh dianggap sebagai usaha Barisan Nasional (BN) meraih semula sokongan rakyat di beberapa kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) yang kini ditakluki pembangkang.

Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata, rakyat Sarawak selama ini menaruh keyakinan tinggi terhadap kerajaan BN berdasarkan rekod lampau pembangunan dan keprihatinan terhadap masalah rakyat.

“Kekalahan di beberapa  kawasan (pada pilihan raya negeri 2006) bukan kerana ketidakyakinan rakyat terhadap kerajaan. Tetapi disebabkan ada segelintir pihak yang melakukan undi protes,” katanya.

Pada sidang media bagi mengumumkan rombakan kabinet di Wisma Bapa Malaysia semalam, beliau berkata undi protes itu cuma berlaku di beberapa kawasan DUN di Kuching.

Beliau menegaskan, tidak ada parti lain di Sarawak mampu membentuk kerajaan.

Hanya BN berupaya mentadbir dan melaksanakan pembangunan di negeri ini, tambahnya.

Taib diminta mengulas mengenai kaitan pelantikan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Batu Kawa Tan Joo Phoi sebagai Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri (Alam Sekitar).

Tan yang juga Pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Padawan (MPP) daripada Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) dikaitkan dengan usaha parti itu meraih semula sokongan pengundi Cina, terutamanya.

Pada pilihan raya negeri 2006, SUPP tewas di lapan kawasan daripada 19 kawasan yang diperuntukkan kepadanya.

Kawasan-kawasan yang tewas di Kuching ialah Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang dan Kota Sentosa. Di tempat lain ialah Engkilili, Meradong, Bukit Asek dan Kidurong.

Taib berkata: “Saya mendengar nasihat daripada rakan-rakan Cina bahawa kita perlu mempunyai orang yang mempunyai kedudukan (dalam kabinet) daripada SUPP.”

Mengenai tarikh pilihan raya negeri, beliau dalam nada berseloroh berkata: “Belum lagi, tengok muka anda (wartawan) lama-lama barulah ada (ilham).”

Menerusi rombakan kecil kabinet yang diumumkan oleh Taib semalam, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Dalat Datin Fatimah Abdullah dilantik menjadi Menteri di Pejabat Ketua Menteri, ADUN Batu Kawa Tan Joo Phoi sebagai Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri.

Manakala ADUN Tanjung Datu Datuk Amar Adenan Satem menjadi Penasihat Khas bertaraf menteri di Pejabat  Ketua Menteri.

Two politicians were asked to visit all the constituencies and seek the views of the grassroots supporters on the proposed merger of the two Dayak parties in Sarawak. Well, if these politicians asked their branch leaders, of course, we know the answer.

However, a random quick phone call among the real grassroots revealed that they are angry (and disappointed) with this politicians who seem to be more interested in politicking then to service the rakyat. What the grassroots really want is for them to deliver the long overdue roads, water (and now Northern Sarawak is facing water shortage) and electricity. That should be their TOP PRIORITY and not to fight for positions in the party. What is the use of those positions if the YBs can’t serve the rakyat?

One voter in Bakong said, “Ka ke nama iya penudok ba parti nya? Deh jalai (referring to the Beluru-Lapok Road) ke lungau nya enda ulih diputar ke iya. Ai beresi (referring to a few water supply research carried out in Bakong a few years back) enda ulih diaduka.. engka ke baya iya mati penudok parti nya ila!”

Now that is the real grassroots view – take it, they are not interested and couldn’t be bother about all this merger exercise when the needs of the rakyat are not being looked into.

Another voter from Ulu Teru added, “..orang berebut ke pemansang, sida berebut ke ka nyadi Secretary General. Cukup.. cukuppp pengawa tak nyelai ari enggi urang bukai. Kati ke tau nyadi pengari rakyat enti bakanya?”

We will not reveal this voters’ name but there is no need to go all around Sarawak to find out if the grassroots are really into merging. Just deliver the RM3.4 billion larrrr YB YB YB yang dikasihi sekalian. That is your real task and targets for the rakyat.

Other news

• Power supply for 95% of Sarawak by 2012
• I leave it to Sarawak Barisan, says Najib

by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith
February 22, 2010, Monday
Source: Borneo Post

KUCHING: The disgruntled group of five elected representatives from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), who walked out of last month’s supreme council meeting, is seeking  an “immediate merger” with Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

Senior vice-president and Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter  Nansian Ngusie who took the role of group  spokesman,  in  a press conference held yesterday, declared that they are not joining PRS en bloc as earlier speculated but will “merge earlier” with PRS.

“Our group wants to merge earlier with PRS. The rest (from SPDP) can join later,” Nansian said at the press conference which was held at SPDP’s previous headquarters at Batu Kawa MJC New Township here.

“On the details of the merger (and the name of the new entity), we can work on those things later. Let us merge first,” he added.

Some members of the press were heard saying: “Merger with or into?”

Apart from Nansian, other members of the  group of  five are ousted  secretary-general Sylvester Entrie Muran (Marudi assembly-man), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau assembly-man), Rosey Yunus  (Bekenu assemblywoman), Wong Judat (Meluan assembly-man) and Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe.

They  jointly  signed a press statement with three party supreme council members namely, Eda Igar, George Garai and Peter Gani.

The statement said, amongst others, their move to merge with PRS “is simply to expedite the vision and objective of both parties”.

Former information chief Sim Hang Seng was also present during the press conference.

According to Nansian, Meluan assemblyman Wong Judat was also with the group but that he could not come due to ‘transport problem’.

In front of the reporters, Nansian called up Wong and asked him if he agreed with the proposed merger.

With the telephone on speakerphone mode, Wong responded saying that he supported the merger for the sake of Dayak unity.

Asked why the group did not invite Mawan, Nansian said there was no need to.

On their move to expedite the merger, Nansian said: “The journey of a thousand miles start with little steps. We  are  doing  it first because the members of both parties want it, the state BN leadership is encouraging it and there is no more reason to hold back because the merger would only strengthen the BN government. Now it is up to PRS to agree before we can set the motion.

He added: “(As far as our group is concerned), we want to trigger it off so that the merger can happen,” he said, adding that the merger had been long outstanding since it was proposed some five years ago.

He went on to say that both he and Entrie are members of the SPDP sub-committee for the merger since the idea surfaced five years ago, and thus have the mandate to act on the matter.

Entrie was also the sub-committee’s secretary.

Earlier Nansian read the joint press statement which said: “We, the undersigned, agree to merge with PRS in order to consolidate rural-based constituencies. This proposed merger had been agreed by SPDP supreme council and we believe the same is true on PRS’ side. The PRS supreme council, we were told, had agreed to merge with us. Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership at state level also agreed in principle for the rural-based parties to merge.

“Therefore, the move by us to merge with PRS is simply to expedite the vision and objective of both parties. It will strengthen BN in the rural areas especially in the Dayak-held constituencies.

“However, from our feedback, PRS leadership is not keen to merge with SPDP due to some personalities in the current line-up in SPDP. It is our hope that this group of SPDP Wakil Rakyat (6) and some supreme council members are acceptable to PRS leadership.

“This move is done with the sole objective of realising our long outstanding dream and vision of consolidating rural-based constituencies which both PRS and SPDP leaders initiated five years ago.”

Asked by reporters on those ‘personalities’ meant in the statement, Nansian replied that the question should be posed to PRS leaders instead.

To another question, he said the group had yet to speak to PRS president Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.

Nonetheless, Nansian said, he did mention that they are putting up an offer to Masing for the merger to happen. On why they chose the old SPDP headquarters and not the new one at Jalan Badruddin, he said this was the official correspondence address for the party.

“This is the official SPDP headquarters, as this was still the one approved by ROS (Registrar of Societies). This is the correct place for the party,” he said.

Other views on this issue

• Disciplinary action..
• SPDP group wants merger
• SPDP-PRS merger to strengthen BN

We would like to thank Kumpulan Parabena and the Barisan Nasional government for making this dream road a reality. The second linkage is definitely a time saver for most of us who resides in Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita as well as Kampung Lusut.

My first post on the second link road, and request via Talikhimat refers. Read my last update here.

RM18 mln access road for Miri’s southern sector

by Philip Kiew
February 6, 2010, Saturday
Source: Borneo Post

MIRI: An RM18 million access road fringing the runway of Miri Airport will be built by developer and landowner Kumpulan Parabena Sdn Bhd together with several other infrastructures to turn the southern sector of Miri into a throbbing hub.This much-awaited road will ease congestion during peak hours in Taman Tunku and surrounding residential areas, slashing off travelling time and distance for the public.

Coming up is relocated Chinese primary school, SJKC Chiaw Nan from Lubok Nibong, Marudi to Taman Jelita Phase II, expected to ready for the first intake by 2012, while Parabena is also mulling the proposal for a university campus, polyclinic and other infrastructures in this strategic location.

Announcing this yesterday, managing director Datuk Raziah Mahmud said this 5-kilometre access road will link Taman Jelita to Miri-Bintulu road, easing congestion of the present route in Taman Tunku.

The government has already approved the proposed road linkage, and work is expected to start by the first half of this year.

Both Taman Tunku, Taman Jelita and other surrounding housing estates have a burgeoning population of 35,000, and Raziah said it could increase to 50,000 within the next five to 10 years.

Parabena, which owns nearly 2,000 acres of land on the left side of the runway, has developed 900 acres since it started 27 years ago with the development of Taman Tunku township.

Taman Tunku is designed for 3,500 houses and the second phase undertaken by Rich Venture Construction Sdn Bhd will build 750 units under the RV Housing estate.

Raziah pointed out that Parabena is looking forward to another school, university or college and medical facilities in this sprawling residential area in Miri due to the rising population and demand from surrounding areas.

“We are open to either private or public university campus and healthcare facilities such as clinics,” she said.

There are currently two secondary schools and  a primary school in the township, and Parabena is willing to discuss with interested parties the setting up of tertiary education institutions in this growing township.

The introduction of the new link road from Miri-Bintulu road fringing the airport runway will open up the southern sector of this township to the city centre, and sources said there are plans to connect it to the coastal road and Airport Road.

It also eliminates the hassle of going through residential roads in Taman Tunku to reach SMK Taman Tunku.