Himpunan Barisan 1M’sia dapat sambutan hebat

KUCHING: Himpunan Barisan 1Malaysia yang berlangsung di Dewan Majlis Islam di sini semalam mendapat sambutan menggalakkan dengan kehadiran lebih 1,000 peserta dari 67 buah pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO).

SAMBUTAN HEBAT: Ahmad (duduk, dua kiri), Pandi (duduk, kiri) dan Idris (duduk, tiga kiri) bersama tetamu jemputan serta hadirin menunjukkan isyarat 1Malaysia pada majlis Himpunan Barisan 1Malaysia di Kuching, semalam. — Gambar Jeffery Mostapha.  Lebih seratus Facebookers UMB BN Sarawak juga menghadiri dan menyokong program tersebut.

Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Ahmad Maslan berkata, perkembangan itu mencerminkan hubungan baik yang terjalin di antara kerajaan dan NGO.

“Bukan senang untuk menghimpunkan golongan NGO kerana mereka mempunyai komitmen lain seperti kerja berbanding menghimpunkan peserta dari kalangan penjawat awam.

“Saya amat berbesar hati kerana program ini menerima sambutan menggalakkan daripada pelbagai NGO,” katanya dalam ucapan perasmian semalam.

Hadir sama, Naib Ketua Pemuda Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Pandi Suhaili dan Ahli Majlis Kerja Tertinggi PBB Datuk Dr Idris Buang.

Menurut Ahmad, Sarawak merupakan negeri kesepuluh lokasi himpunan seumpama itu diadakan.

Perhimpunan itu, katanya, merupakan penghubung antara kerajaan dan NGO dalam usaha membangunkan negara.

Selain mengiktiraf peranan NGO, katanya, program tersebut turut memberi penjelasan mengenai gagasan 1Malaysia, Dasar Transformasi Nasional dan negara maju berpendapatan tinggi yang sedang diusahakan.

Utusan Borneo February 28, 2013, Thursday

Time for PBB Sebuyau, Beting Maro and Lingga to unite

YB Datuk Rohani Karim

YB Julaihi Narawi

YB Razaili Gapor

YB Simoi Peri

Datuk Bolhassan Di

PKR upbeat about winning Batang Lupar

Borneo Post on February 26, 2013, Tuesday

KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) believes there is a good chance it can win the parliamentary seat of Batang Lupar in the coming general election.

Its Batang Lupar branch secretary Jolhi Bee said the party’s election machinery is now fully ready to be mobilised anytime the parliament is dissolved.

Jolhi also said the party’s potential candidate Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh has been moving on the ground to introduce himself and to collect feedback on the problems faced by the people.

He believed PKR’s winning chances were good because of the current internal problems among BN personalities and its machinery in Batang Lupar.

“We are confident we can give BN a run for their money in Batang Lupar and our machinery is ready for the battle.

“We believe our chances are good, with grassroots support growing lately especially due to disappointment with issues and problems which continue to affect them under the present government,” he said.

He also pointed out that Batang Lupar still lacked physical development and infrastructure.

“There are a lot of things overlooked by the present government,” he said.

The present Batang Lupar MP is Datuk Rohani Karim, who has held the seat for two terms. She is also currently the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives.

Perkukuhkan Perpaduan Rakyat - YAB KM Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

SHARING FESTIVE JOY: Taib (second left) handing an angpow to one of the visitors during the MBKS Chinese New Year

.

Perkukuh perpaduan rakyat

by Patricia Gari. Posted on February 25, 2013, Monday

BERSAMA RAKYAT: Taib dan Ragad melambai ke arah orang ramai semasa menghadiri Majlis Ramah-tamah Tahun Baharu Cina anjuran Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan di Kuching, semalam. Turut kelihatan Jabu (belakang), Wong (dua kanan) dan Chan (kanan).

PBT disaran laksana lebih banyak aktiviti untuk wujud masyarakat muhibah: KM

KUCHING: Pihak berkuasa tem­patan (PBT) harus melaksanakan lebih banyak aktiviti yang dapat mengeratkan lagi perpaduan serta kerjasama rakyat pelbagai kaum dan kepercayaan di negeri ini.

Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata, ia sejajar dengan salah satu resolusi kerajaan negeri dalam usaha mentrans­formasikan pentadbiran PBT di Sarawak.

Pentadbiran PBT, jelasnya, harus memberi penekanan kepada usaha memperkukuhkan semangat muhibah serta pemahaman antara pelbagai kaum sekali gus menger­atkan kerjasama masyarakat.

Justeru, katanya, kementerian bertanggungjawab terhadap PBT di Sarawak yang sebelum ini dike­nali Kementerian Alam Sekitar dan Kesihatan Awam ditukar kepada Kementerian Kerajaan Tempatan dan Kemajuan Masyarakat.

“Apabila saya kembali menjadi Ketua Menteri selepas Pilihan Raya Negeri (2011), salah satu resolusi kerajaan ialah mentransformasikan pentadbiran PBT dengan objektif utamanya memperkukuhkan se­mangat muhibah dan saling mema­hami antara rakyat pelbagai kaum dan agama di Sarawak.

“Kita mesti faham, PBT tidak boleh duduk diam sebaliknya men­ganjurkan aktiviti-aktiviti yang bermanfaat ke arah itu,” katanya ketika berucap pada Majlis Ramah-tamah Tahun Baharu Cina anjuran Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan (MBKS) di sini, semalam.

Mengambil contoh Kuching, Taib berkata adalah perlu untuk kerajaan menerusi PBT menjadikannya bandar raya ceria dan mesra rakyat, khususnya bagi generasi muda.

“Pertama kali saya datang di Kuching (menjadi Ketua Menteri), penduduk di sini hanya 200,000 orang, sekarang sudah lebih 600,000 orang. Ini memerlukan banyak usaha untuk memastikan Kuching kekal sebagai bandar raya mesra penduduk seperti dari mula lagi.

“Saya amat gembira apabila dimaklumkan semua pelancong asing yang ditemu bual menyat­akan ciri dan keistimewaan paling ketara Kuching ialah penduduknya yang mudah mesra menyebabkan mereka berasa kedatangan mereka dialu-alukan dan berasa selamat di sini. Ini aset penting untuk sektor pelancongan kita,” katanya.

Menurut beliau lagi, ia adalah penghargaan terbaik kepada usaha rakyat negeri ini khususnya di Kuching bersatu dan membina kukuh komuniti pelbagai kaum serta kepercayaan.

Mengenai majlis ramah-tamah itu, Taib menyifatkannya sebagai perhimpunan terbesar pernah diha­diri beliau yang menyatukan rakyat Kuching pelbagai kaum.

“Inilah perjumpaan paling besar pernah saya hadiri dengan rakyat pelbagai kaum bukan sahaja Cina bergembira bersama meraikan Chap Goh Meh.

“Ini adalah forum terbaik meny­atukan rakyat Kuching teruta­manya generasi muda untuk melihat dengan mata mereka sendiri betapa gembiranya komuniti Kuching.

“Kegembiraan dan kemakmuran bandar raya Kuching hanya diketa­hui apabila mereka melibatkan diri dengan aktiviti komuniti mereka sendiri,” ujarnya.

Dalam ucapannya juga, Taib mengingatkan rakyat negeri ini agar tidak terlalu melihat kepada perbezaan antara kaum, sebaliknya cuba memahami serta menghormati antara satu sama lain.

Perbezaan itu, katanya, cuma gambaran luaran tetapi perpaduan dan semangat muhibah antara pelbagai kaum penting untuk memastikan Sarawak semakin maju dan kemakmuran serta kekayaan terus dinikmati.

Pada majlis sama, Taib meras­mikan Dewan Masyarakat MBKS yang telah dinaik taraf dengan kos RM5 juta.

Antara yang hadir isteri Ketua Menteri Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Menteri Kerajaan Tem­patan dan Kemajuan Masyarakat Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Datuk Bandar MBKS Datuk James Chan dan pengerusi pengajur bersama Datin Hanifah Taib Alsree.

No direct flights from Europe into Sarawak a damper, says Deputy Tourism Minister Dawos

KUCHING: It seems everyone involved in Sarawak tourism cannot but talk about the low number of direct international flights to Sarawak these days.

Federal Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos, who yesterday spoke about Sarawak’s four million foreign arrivals last year, highlighted that Bruneians made up the largest chunk.

He said the Bruneian arrivals were mostly “repeat visitors”, making clear that the statistics were not based on the number of unique visitors.

“Last year we registered four million (foreign arrivals), but if you look at the foreigners, they are (mostly) Bruneians. They come for shopping and food, then they go back.”

Although Brunei only has a population of slightly over 400,000, the state registered 1.73 million arrivals from Brunei. The monthly average of foreign visitations from Brunei is roughly 140,000.

Last year, Sarawak registered 1.4 million non-Sarawakian Malaysian arrivals and 2.6 million foreign arrivals.

The second largest block of foreign arrivals was the Indonesians, charting about 417,000 arrivals, followed by visitors from the Philippines at about 113,000.

Dawos also mentioned a recent Tourism Ministry trip to Europe.

“I spoke to representatives from seven European countries. They all expressed interests in visiting Sarawak. Unfortunately, we don’t have direct flights from Europe to Sarawak. That is the problem. So what can we do? How to ask more (European tourists) to come?”

Most foreigners who come to Sarawak would transit in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, he said, adding transit flights cost more.

Dawos added that the number of tourists from Europe to Sarawak would only increase after the European financial crisis was over.

Kuching and Miri are the only two cities in Sarawak that have direct international flights. Kuching has flights to Pontianak, Balikpapan, Brunei and Singapore, while Miri has just Singapore.

Last year, Sarawak recorded about 33,000 visitors from the United Kingdom, 8,700 from Germany, 5,700 from France and 25,000 from the rest of Europe.

Beri Najib mandat tinggi dalam PRU - YAB KM Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

Ramai pemuda pbb minat gelombang dan baju biru muda

Give Najib highest mandate in 13th ge, Taib urges Sarawakians

Borneo Post on February 22, 2013, Friday

BETONG: The people of Sarawak should give the highest mandate to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the coming 13th General Election.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said, by doing so they were showing their appreciation and gratitude to the prime minister for coming up with various development programmes and assistance for their benefit.

He said this in his speech to welcome Najib when he arrived in Beladin, a rural fishing and farming town, about 60km from here for a brief visit yesterday.

Taib said Najib’s transformation programmes were examples of his sterling leadership which benefitted the country and the people.

“His rural transformation programme is specifically to raise the living standard of the rural people.

“This can be seen through the building of more basic infrastructure like roads, bringing in water and power supplies and giving the best education to the children,” he added.

He said the people would only be spoiling a good opportunity for a better life if they allowed the opposition to take over the government in the coming general election.

The chief minister said, for instance in Beladin, a national opposition leader had teamed up with a foreign non-governmental organisation to instigate the people to reject oil palm cultivation on peat soil.

He said this would prevent the people from having income from their land as Beladin was located in a peat soil area. Earlier in her speech, Batang Lupar Member of Parliament Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, who is also domestic trade, cooperative and consumerism deputy minister, said Najib’s visit had ushered in a new phase of development for the small rural town.

She said the government had, for instance implemented two water desalination treatment plants in the town and in Kampung Maro which cost RM1.5million each, to solve their freshwater supply woes.

“The government has also allocated RM1 million to buy and distribute 500 units of Jerrycan, a portable water filtering tank and RM500,000 under its Nadi Kasih programme to repair houses of the poor, while about 1,600 people here would receive the BR1M 2 financial aid, as well,” she added.

Rohani expressed confidence the people would reciprocate by again returning Batang Lupar to the BN at the polls. — Bernama

We’ll sink and swim with national BN –YB Datuk Dr Rundi

by Lian Cheng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 21, 2013, Thursday

KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional will remain loyal to the national BN regardless of the outcome of the impending 13th general election as it has always been part of the coalition.

PBB secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the state BN would always abide by the principle of the BN, where it would stick with its peninsula counterpart no matter what.

“Anyway, there is no such option. Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) will not be able to get a simple majority in this coming general election,” opined Dr Rundi yesterday.

The assistant minister of public utilities said this to The Borneo Post in response to rumours that the state BN would join Pakatan should the opposition obtained a simple majority in the impending polls.

Of the 222 parliamentary seats in the country, 31 are in Sarawak.

PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing, when contacted, said the rumours were created to confuse the electorate.

He concurred with Dr Rundi’s take that the state BN would “sink and swim” with the national BN, regardless of the outcome of the election.

“We won’t do it (join the opposition). We have been with BN through and through and we play by the rules. The rumours have been very unfair to BN. They (opposition) have been resorting to lies and falsehood. I wish they will play by the rules of the game by signing the Election Integrity Pledge as what Datuk Seri Najib Razak has done.”

Masing explained that the signing of the Election Integrity Pledge in Putrajaya yesterday had nothing to do with state BN component leaders pledging loyalty to the BN.

Rather, he said, it was Najib who signed the Pledge to ensure that the impending election would be clean and fair.

“The prime minister was there to sign the Pledge where he promised to make sure the coming election will be a fair and transparent one, where everyone taking part will play by the rules.

Apart from Masing, state BN chairman and PBB president Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan were also present at the signing ceremony.

SUPP was represented by its deputy president Datuk Richard Riot, who is also Deputy Foreign Minister.

Pusat Khidmat Wakil Rakyat Tanjung Datu sumbang air mineral kepada penduduk

PBB sumbang air mineral kepada penduduk terputus air bersih

Utusan Borneo February 21, 2013, Thursday

LUNDU: Kesulitan penduduk Kampung Bengang di sini yang terputus bekalan air bersih selama dua hari ekoran kebocoran saluran paip mendapat perhatian dan tindakan segera Timbalan Ketua Cawangan Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Cawangan Tanjong Datu Abu Seman Karim.

Beliau yang dimaklumkan mengenai perkara itu menghulurkan bantuan 864 botol air mineral (1,500 ml setiap botol) kepada kira-kira 23 keluarga yang terjejas, semalam.

Timbalan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung Bengang Maxwell Ujis berkata, bantuan itu amat bermakna kepada penduduk kampung berkenaan.

“Bantuan ini amat bermakna kepada kepada 23 keluarga di kampung kami melibatkan 130 orang penduduk.

“Bantuan ini kami gunakan sebaik mungkin sebagai air minuman dan untuk memasak.

“Kami cukup berterima kasih dan gembira menerima bantuan daripada Pusat Khidmat Wakil Rakyat PBB Cawangan Tanjong Datu ini yang begitu perihatin dan mengambil tindakan segera membantu ” katanya.

Sementara itu jurucakap Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) Lundu ketika dihubungi memberitahu, kerja-kerja mengesan kebocoran paip sedang giat dilakukan dan penghantaran bekalan air akan dilakukan bagi kemudahan penduduk di situ.

Malaysia tidak masuk campur politik Australia - YAB KM Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

Correct for authorities to stop Xenophon’

Borneo Posted on February 19, 2013, Tuesday

KUCHING: Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said it was correct for the authorities to deny Australian Senator Nick Xenophon entry into the country on Saturday as outsiders should mind their own business, especially in politics.

“Even we do not interfere in the politics of Australia when we go there,” the chief minister told reporters after attending the Malaysian Chinese Muslims Association (Macma) Chinese New Year open house here Sunday.

Xenophon, 54, landed at Kuala Lumpur’s LCCT on Saturday morning but was denied entry. He boarded a flight back to Australia later that night.

The independent senator, known for his long-standing and active campaigns against the palm oil industry, was due to hold meetings with several politicians, including Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as the country gears up for the 13th general election.

It was reported in several newspapers that Xenophon was denied entry as he had been blacklisted by the Immigration Department.

Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad was quoted to have said that Xenophon was listed as a “prohibited immigrant” and had not been “detained” as claimed by the senator.

He explained that prohibited immigrants refer to individuals whose presence was considered a danger to the society.

Alias also said Xenophon was allowed to move freely within the airport, and was not detained in a cell as claimed by the Australian press. He was also provided with lunch.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Xenophon’s lawmaker status did not mean he was immune to Malaysia’s immigration laws.

He was quoted in yesterday’s news report to have said that Xenophon had made several statements in the past which tarnished the country’s image.

“He is widely known as an active campaigner against Malaysian palm oil besides his presence as a foreign observer for the opposition during Bersih 3.0,” he said, adding the issue was now bound to be politicised since polls was just around the corner.

Xenophon should look to our problems at home

• BY:TALKING POINT 
• From:The Australian 
• February 19, 2013 12:00AM

• Increase Text Size
• Decrease Text Size
• Print

NICK Xenophon is elected and paid by the Australian people to represent their interests in parliament, not to strut the world stage meddling in the affairs of other countries.

Instead of poking his nose into the political wrangling of Malaysia, the electorate at home would be better served if he focused on issues such as holding the reckless Gillard government to account for the economy, industrial relations, defence and the welfare of veterans.

Good on the Malaysians for sending him packing.

John George, Cherrybrook, NSW

WHAT a strange set of values and standards: our self-righteous elites get all antsy about Australian politician Nick Xenophon being kicked out of Malaysia but these same high-minded, finger-wagging elites, led by former immigration minister Chris Bowen, thought nothing of dragging their feet for several months with respect to granting a visa to Dutch politician Geert Wilders, a process that normally takes just three or four days for Dutch citizens.

At the same time, the spokesman for the British branch of the Muslim group Hizb ut-Tahrir, Taji Mustafa, who has condoned the killing of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan and called for the military destruction of Israel, gets a rails run with his visa application.

Jim Ball, Narrabeen, NSW

I AM appalled to know we are sending politicians to meddle in the politics of another country in our region and well understand why Nick Xenophon was thrown out of Malaysia.

We have had Kevin Rudd hectoring China, the Indonesia cattle fiasco, the East Timor and Malaysia boatpeople embarrassments and now this.

Malaysia has a growth rate of 5 per cent and unemployment rate of 3 per cent, so perhaps their representatives should come down here and tell us how to run our economy.

John Mather, Mosman, NSW

YOUR editorial accurately sums up Nick Xenophon's worth (18/2). As an ex-serviceman living on a decaying pension that both main political parties promised to fix and then didn't, I shall not forget Xenophon's hypocrisy in supporting servicemen's needs when he was seeking election and then using his casting vote in the Senate that disallowed the redress of armed service pension problems. At least the Malaysians can recognise political ratbags when they see them.

J. J. Goold, Mudgeeraba, Qld

A QUICK note to Nick Xenophon: Malaysia has been independent since 1957. If you feel the need to take up the white man's burden, there are plenty of issues in this country that might benefit from your expert attention.

Lawrence Gribben, Carseldine, Qld

NICK Xenophon's behaviour would have Australians labelled arrogant and blind to the log in their eyes at home. The last federal election was not one of our finest moments as thousands of votes were tossed aside to satisfy the power lust of independents. And we have three leading politicians under a legal microscope.

Today we have a Labor Party that has given up on our borders, and is in the process of destroying industry, investment, productivity and free speech. Xenophon should be alert to the threat to democracy at home.

Maggie Ward, Goombungee, Qld

MALAYSIA is a sovereign nation which is a joy for Westerners to visit and live in. It has every right to determine who it allows to enter.

Last year, immigration minister Chris Bowen described Geert Wilders as "a fringe commentator from the other side of the world" before issuing a visa to the Dutch politician, who must be on an Australian alert list.

Evidently Malaysia has a similar list that excludes fringe commentators it perceives wish to interfere in domestic politics.

Chris Watson, Carlton River, Tas

Keindahan dan Penjagaan Alam Sekitar Sarawak di iktiraf bintang dokumentari

Rakyat perlu teguh di belakang BN - YB Datuk Seri Muhammad Ali Mahmud

by Rusnan Mustafa. Borneo Posted on February 17, 2013, Sunday

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Penduduk di Parlimen Samarahan diseru berdiri teguh di belakang Barisan Nasional (BN) pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13) akan datang.

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Muara Tuang Dato Sri Mohammad Ali Mahmud berkata, penduduk di situ perlu memberi sokongan padu kepada pucuk pimpinan iaitu Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak bagi memastikan agenda murni kerajaan dapat diteruskan pada masa hadapan.

“Kita semua sedia maklum PRU13 tidak lama lagi jadi sama-samalah kita memberi sokongan yang padu ke atas kepimpinan kerajaan yang sedia ada sekarang,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada Majlis Pengagihan Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) 2.0 kepada 836 penerima terdiri golongan bujang di Dewan Suarah Kota Samarahan semalam.

“Jika kepercayaan dan mandat terus diberikan kepada kerajaan BN, saya percaya BR1M 3.0 dan BR1M 4.0 akan diteruskan seperti mana yang telah diumumkan PM baru-baru ini,” tambahnya.

Malah, Mohammad Ali memberitahu bantuan itu dapat meringankan beban kepada kira-kira 2.7 juta belia bujang berumur 21 ke atas di seluruh negara yang berpendapatan bulanan kurang daripada RM2,000.

“Bagi fasa pertama untuk Daerah Samarahan sahaja, seramai 4,475 belia bujang menerima BR1M 2.0 ini,” katanya sambil menambah pelbagai jenis bantuan telah diperkenalkan oleh kerajaan BN untuk meringankan beban rakyat antaranya Bantuan Lesen 1Malaysia (BL1M), bantuan pelajar sekolah dan universiti dan banyak lagi.

Justeru, beliau menegaskan segala bantuan itu dapat diteruskan jika rakyat memberi mandat kepada kerajaan BN untuk memerintah semula selepas PRU13 kelak.

Sementara itu, menyentuh mengenai seminar kesihatan khas kepada golongan belia bujang yang dijalankan sebelum pengagihan BR1M 2.0 itu, Mohammad Ali berkata, penganjuran seminar itu disambut baik bagi memberi ilmu pengetahuan kepada para belia.

“Penyertaan Jabatan Kesihatan dalam program hari ini (semalam) memberi kesan positif terutamanya berkaitan penyakit jangkitan kelamin di kalangan belia yang amat membimbangkan kita semua.

“Seminar sebegini dapat memberi kesedaran dan dilihat langkah terbaik mengurangkan gejala masalah sosial di kawasan ini,” katanya.

Sehubungan itu, beliau menggesa agensi, jabatan mahupun pertubuhan kerajaan lain di situ mengambil inisiatif yang sama untuk bersama-sama memerangi masalah sosial di kawasan berkenaan.

“Tugas ini adalah tanggungjawab kita bersama agar masalah sosial yang membelenggu belia pada masa kini dapat dikurangkan sekali gus dibendung,” ujarnya.

Hadir sama Pegawai Daerah Samarahan Mohd Ainnie Wahab, Pegawai Kesihatan Bahagian Samarahan Dr Julaidah Sharif, Temenggung Chek Bujang dan tetamu kehormat lain.

Aspirasi tingkat hidup rakyat - YAB KM Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

WARM WELCOME: Taib (centre) being welcomed by thousands of well-wishers at the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme (BRS), some 40 km from Kuching, yesterday.

by Saibi Gi. Borneo Posted on February 17, 2013, Sunday

Taib seru rakyat teruskan sokongan kepada BN, tolak pemimpin ‘banyak cakap’

PENEMPATAN SEMULA: Taib meneliti model rumah Skim Penempatan Semula Bengoh. Turut kelihatan, Dawos dan Abang Johari. — Gambar Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud meminta penduduk Sarawak meneruskan sokongan terhadap Barisan Nasional (BN) pada Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) Ke-13 kelak.

Sokongan berterusan terhadap BN, katanya, akan membawa manfaat kepada rakyat kerana kerajaan mempunyai rancangan pembangunan berwawasan yang bakal meningkatkan taraf hidup rakyat.

Sebaliknya, menyokong parti-parti pembangkang tidak akan membawa manfaat kerana pemimpin mereka sekadar ‘cakap banyak,’ katanya.

“Sarawak masih banyak kawasan perlu dibangunkan terutama di kawasan luar bandar dan ini memerlukan kerajaan yang bijak menggunakan kuasa diberi rakyat,” katanya pada Majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat Peringkat Parlimen Mambong di Jalan Puncak Borneo, dekat sini semalam.

Majlis yang diadakan di Skim Penempatan Semula Bengoh dan dihadiri kira-kira 3,000 penduduk sekitar turut dihadiri isterinya, Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Menteri Perumahan Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit dan Menteri Pembangunan Infrastruktur dan Perhubungan Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.

Taib berkata, kerajaan negeri membelanjakan kira-kira RM2 bilion setahun bagi melaksanakan pembangunan di seluruh negeri yang menggambarkan komitmen terhadap rakyat.

Katanya, konsep politik pembangunan yang diadaptasikan di Sarawak sukar untuk disaingi parti-parti pembangkang kerana mereka sekadar bijak dalam politik putar belit.

“Pembangkang mahu kuasa tetapi tidak tahu menggunakan kuasa. Sedangkan kerajaan BN menggunakan kuasa diberikan untuk mencari wang bagi membiayai projek rakyat,” ujarnya.

Keinginan pemimpin Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang mahukan Sarawak hanya akan menyebabkan negeri ini ‘rosak’ berikutan pemimpin PKR tidak bijak menggunakan kuasa diberi rakyat, katanya.

Mengenai Parlimen Mambong yang kini diwakili Dawos, beliau berkata, penduduk tidak wajar mendengar tuduhan pembangkang yang gemar mencari isu memburukkan BN.

Malah pembinaan Empangan Bengoh turut dijadikan pembangkang sebagai modal politik dan memecahbelahkan perpaduan di kalangan Bidayuh.

Katanya, projek tersebut adalah untuk manfaat rakyat dan memastikan industri di Kuching dan kawasan sekitarnya dapat beroperasi tanpa wujud masalah air bersih.

“Bidayuh sudah bersatu dan jangan biarkan orang lain memecahbelahkannya hanya kerana ingin mencapai matlamat politik mereka,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Dawos dalam ucapannya berkata, Empangan Bengoh dapat membantu mengurangkan risiko banjir, selain membekalkan air bersih untuk Kuching, Bau dan Samarahan.

Beliau berkata, takungan di kawasan tadahan hujan dapat mengurangkan kuantiti air daripada terus mengalir ke kawasan-kawasan rendah, sekali gus membanjirinya.

Empangan Bengoh, katanya, dibina dengan matlamat kerajaan membekalkan air bersih yang mencukupi kepada penduduk di tiga kawasan berkenaan susulan peningkatan jumlah penduduknya.

Justeru, beliau meminta penduduk di kawasan Parlimen Mambong agar tidak terpengaruh dengan propaganda pembangkang yang mengajak orang ramai menentang projek Empangan Bengoh.

“Adakah pembangkang minum air hujan sebab itu mereka menentang projek ini. Setahu saya mereka minum air paip juga,” katanya yang kesal dengan sikap pembangkang gemar mengada-adakan isu terutama menjelang musim pilihan raya.

Dawos berkata, perkara sama juga berlaku ke atas Empangan Baram di Miri yang mendapat tentangan segelintir pihak.

Dawos yang juga Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan berkata pembinaan empangan hidroelektrik di kawasan terbabit didapati mampu mengurangkan risiko banjir.

“Rakyat harus sokong pembinaan Empangan Baram kerana ia dibina bukan untuk bekalan elektrik sahaja tetapi untuk membantu menghalang banjir,” katanya.

Pertahan perpaduan rakyat - YAB KM Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

MEMAKMURKAN NEGERI: Taib tiba untuk menghadiri Majlis Sambutan Tahun Baharu Cina di Mukah, semalam.

Masyarakat bersatu akan bantu rangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi negeri: Taib

MUKAH: Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud menyeru rakyat agar mempertahankan perpaduan yang merupakan tong­gak kemajuan negeri.

Beliau berkata, Sarawak mampu­nyai rakyat pelbagai kaum dan bu­daya, justeru mereka harus sentiasa bersatu padu serta memberi layanan sama rata antara satu sama lain.

“Sesebuah masyarakat tidak akan menikmati kehidupan yang baik atau bahagia jika mereka tidak bersatu padu dan saling hormat-menghormati antara satu sama lain. Suhubungan itu, untuk berjaya dan maju ini (perpaduan) merupakan perkara yang penting.

“Tujuan kita bukan sahaja mahu hidup senang (kaya) sahaja, tetapi kita harus utamakan perpaduan dalam masyarakat dan dari situ, kita dapat bersama-sama menuju kejayaan dengan berbekalkan perpaduan yang tinggi dalam jiwa masing-masing,” ujarnya pada Majlis Sambutan Tahun Baharu Cina di sini, semalam.

Taib berkata, kerajaan sentiasa berusaha membangunkan Sarawak agar mengecapi kemajuan dalam pelbagai aspek.

Kerajaan, katanya, turut men­guruskan ekonomi negeri dengan cukup baik dan menggunakan sumber secara lestari.

“Dahulu kita bergantung kepada minyak dan sumber-sumber yang kecil, kemudian kita tambah kayu balak, seterusnya kita buka lebih daripada satu juta hektar ladang kelapa sawit untuk menambah sumber ekonomi.

“Dengan ekonomi kita yang ber­tambah luas, bidang perniagaan pun bertambah aktif dan banyak sumber pendapatan baharu yang wujud sehingga kita dapat merancakkan pertumbuhan ekonomi.

“Ini semua adalah usaha kerajaan kerana kita mahu mendirikan se­buah masyarakat yang lebih baik,” jelasnya.

Sementara itu, beliau memberita­hu pembangunan Mukah dirancang dengan Koridor Tenaga Diper­baharui Sarawak (SCORE) akan menyediakan lebih 300,000 peluang pekerjaan teknikal, sekali gus me­nambah pendapatan rakyat.

“Kita mahu rakyat mengambil kesempatan daripada peluang yang disediakan oleh pihak kerajaan. Melalui pekerjaan, mereka dapat membantu keluarga untuk menam­bah pendapatan.

“Inilah usaha kita untuk men­jadikan rakyat hidup senang dan mempunyai sumber pendapatan yang banyak serta menjamin kes­ejahteraan hidup,” katanya.

Turut hadir Ahli Parlimen Mukah Dato Sri Muhammad Leo Toyad, Menteri Kebajikan, Wanita dan Pembangunan Keluarga Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Residen Ba­hagian Mukah Saudi Narani dan Pegawai Daerah Mukah Muham­mad Nawawi.

by Nicklos Louis Kaderi. Posted on February 16, 2013, Saturday

Politik Pembangunan lebih baik dari Politik Tin Kosong Anwar Ibrahim - YAB Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud

Reject ‘empty can’ politics — Taib

Posted on February 15, 2013, Friday

MEETING THE PEOPLE: Taib and Ragad (fifth and sixth left respectively) pose on stage with other guests after the function.

WARM WELCOME:Taib presented with a sash made from beads upon arrival at SK Tanjong Penasu. He is accompanied by Ragad.

SIBU: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has called on rural voters to reject ‘empty can’ politics and give their all-out support to politics of development.

He described ‘empty can’ politics as the one practised by Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“An empty can make a lot of noise and Anwar is just like that. He said a lot of things but they were meaningless.

“He wants to be the prime minister. If I were you, I would not vote for him.

“He has been Permatang Pauh MP for about 30 years and held various ministerial positions in the cabinet before but Permatang Pauh is lagging behind in terms of development compared to Mukah,” he said at a meet-the-people session at SK Tanjong Penasu here yesterday.

With him were his wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and his wife Datin Sri Pauline Leong, Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and his wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud and Temenggong Vincent Lau.

Taib, who is also Resource Planning and Environment Minister, added if he were a dishonest character and practised favouritism as alleged by the opposition, the state would not be as prosperous as it was today.

“The people have known Barisan Nasional (BN) all this while. They also have heard what the opposition had promised them.

“But which of their promises has been fulfilled so far? It is like waiting for a river without an end,” he said.

Therefore, he said, they must continue to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the coming general election as he had been practising politics of development.

According to Taib, Sabah and Sarawak have a special place in Najib’s heart.

He said ever since Najib became the prime minister, the two states had received RM5 billion in allocations to implement various infrastructural projects, which was the highest ever given by the federal government.

This, he said showed Najib’s desire to help Sabah and Sarawak.

“When I sought his approval to build University College Technology Sarawak (UCTS), he approved it in less than two months.

“This is the politics of development that we want (in order) to help our state further,” he said.

On another matter, he said the people in Sibu parliamentary constituency would be fortunate if they pick Temenggong Vincent Lau as their MP during the coming general election.

“I have known his family for almost 30 years. They are generous, caring and humble people.

“Like his father, the late Dato Sri Lau Hui Kang who had been supportive in government projects, I believe Vincent can work closely with (Wong) Soon Koh and others in state BN component parties,” he said.

Taib later approved a number of projects requested by Wong for Bawang Assan state constituency.

Among the projects were the upgrading of Tanjong Penasu-Batu Burak Road and Nanga Tutus-Sebedil-Sungai Rassau Road and treated water supply to Nanga Tutus, Sebedil, Kampung Bungan Kecil, Kampung Bungan Besar, Sungai Pinang and Sungai Banyok which will benefit about 4,000 people there.

On a request for construction of a road from Sungai Rassau to Sungai Kut, he said he would need to check the allocation for it.

He also instructed the State Development Office to inform the contractor to speed up the rural electrification scheme (RES) project for 300 families along Batang Igan area.

For Rumah Jalak, Rumah Daniel and Rumah Ungking that were affected by soil erosion along Batang Igan River, he told the longhouse residents to discuss with Land and Survey Department a new place for them to resettle.