FATE OF THE PEOPLE

Will we lose our land?

In the light of the recent ICJ verdict on Pedra Branca, we should view such as a wake up call for all loyal Malaysians to safe guard this only land of ours from slipping away to others and speaking of slipping away the rejection by the Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker to set up a Royal Inquiry is indeed a shameful, irresponsible and selfish act.

Since gaining independence, Sabah has been besieged by illegals since we shared our borders with two countries while our sea is the most fragile point. Many have realised and voiced out the severity of the problem but no concrete actions have been taken so far. To make the matter worse, a son of Sabah who is himself has the authority to save his own country failed or for me unwilling to do so.

The tidak apa syndrome seems to have taken roots within our leaders even to the extent of surrendering the sovereignty of this country of ours. What happened to Palestine 60 years ago should be remembered and served as a guide for not taking the safety and most importantly the sovereignty of this country. The efforts by our founding fathers to gain freedom and made Sabah its identity will be futile if present leaders keep on ignoring the problem that is gradually eroding our rights to this land.

Inaction by the leaders is the reason Pulau Batu Putih now becomes Pedra Branca and such inaction too is happening again in the case of Sabah. Why is it so hard for them to understand the predicament and gravity of Sabah's situation. Just because the motion comes from the Opposition, he rejected it outright by giving unacceptable ground. Don't you understand that Sabah the land where you yourself grow up is now facing a dire situation. The motion concerns the survival of Sabah and its legal inhabitants.

I urge all Sabahan MPs to table another similar motion in the august Dewan Rakyat immediately so that what happened to Palestine and Pedra Branca will not happen to Sabah. Time is running out and we need to act fast and we must remember that we cannot depend on others to look after our interest. If we are not serious then who is supposed to look after the well-being of this land? Do not be selfish, your position and tittle carries with it responsibility towards those who elected you. If you fail today then you have indeed fail the people of today and later generations. May the wrath of God descent unto you if you fail to look after the people!

"Learn from An - Nakbah and Pedra Branca"

Bully

Batu Puteh: Persatuan nelayan 'terkilan'
May 24, 08 2:15pm
Persatuan Nelayan Pengerang 'sedikit terkilan' tetapi akur dengan keputusan Mahkamah Keadilan Antabangsa (ICJ) bahawa kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh adalah milik Singapura.Kira-kira 1,500 nelayan menangkap ikan berdekatan pulau tersebut sebelum pertikaian ke atas haknya bermula 28 tahun lalu. Apabila pertikaian itu bermula, nelayan tidak lagi dibenarkan oleh pihak berkuasa Singapura menangkap ikan di situ. Bernama memetik pengerusinya, Abu Bakar Mohamad sebagai berkata, para nelayan merasa sedih kerana tidak dapat kembali ke kawasan berdekatan Pulau Batu Puteh yang mempunyai sumber ikan yang banyak. Bagaimanapun, kataya, mereka akan meneruskan kehidupan seperti biasa dan menghormati pulau itu sebagai hak rasmi Singapura. "Kami terima sahaja dan akan meneruskan kehidupan seperti biasa. Cuma sedikit terkilan tapi akur dengan keputusan itu," katanya kepada Bernama. Salah seorang ahli persatuan itu, Abu Bakar Abdul Rahim, 55, menganggap apa yang berlaku itu adalah ujian daripada Allah dalam usahanya mencari rezeki untuk keluarganya. "Susah dan bertambah rumit. Terkilan dan sedih pun ada. Saya kena turun laut untuk mencari ikan di kawasan lain," katanya.

My Comments:

Although we have to accept the decision but the 'indecision' by our forefathers was the culprit leading to such disastrous outcome. The decision was not only a territorial win by Singapore but also a moral boost for the tiny republic. Now I know the real meaning of size does not count. The tiny republic seemed to win everything when it comes to Malaysia. Previous issues such as the trespassing of our air, the crocked bridge and now Pedra Branca were manifestations of such observation. Enough is enough, we should not concede anymore and Iskandar may be their next target if we are not careful.

Sorry..

(To a dull rocky surface near Johor)

Hard surface insignificant dot

on the map

for years

you have been ignored, forgotten

Today

you taught us an important lesson

for years you are left alone

to fend yourself

like an orphan

Today

you make us cry

you showed us how significant you really are

you reminded us of our neglect

But dear rock,

never once we forget

only our fathers

if only we were told

of you...

we'll be there for you

rain or shine, night or day

By God,

One day you will return to us

rest assured lil' rock

the day will come

when we are together again

never to part

For now,

we bid you farewell

whenever we are at the shore

we will always remember

what we have lost

Pulau Batu Putih As It Was Known

It is indeed a waste to cry over spilled milk and now Pulau Batu Putih is officially Pedra Branca. Indeed what happened today add another blot to already bleak scenario of this country of ours. I was so disappointed by the verdict since the court has earlier stated that there is no question over the sovereignty of the rock island as earlier as the 1500

Being colonised is certainly a very painful experience. How a brief reply from even a petty officer has severely caused irreparable damage to a country years later. This episode also based on what have been observed by ICJ shown lackadaisical attitude of the locals although they realised that something was not right. Such attitude today caused us the tiny but significant rock island near Johor.

Living in a nation like ours which has for years are crowded with foreigners should served as a wake up call for the power of the day to immediately look into solutions for this headache. Taking for granted the severity of such problem will certainly cause even severe consequences from the Pedra Branca episode.

Sadly, instead of discussing and revealing the dire consequences of the decision, once again the private TV station instead keep on harping on the UMNO issue as if the losing of Pedra Branca is of no significance. Maybe they don't want to create panic among us but we need to know the truth although it may not be pleasant so that everyone can be prepared and most importantly to renew our waning determination to safeguard this country of ours from being colonised by those foreigners.

Issue of illegal as well as legal immigrants who act as if this beloved country of ours is their own should not be brushed aside as a non issue. This issue is very real and concerns every Malaysian and I mean genuine Malaysian not those who called themselves to be Malaysians but seem to champion the struggles of those foreigners or other countries.

Sadly, some instead of championing the rights of the people these opportunists are bent to champion their personal well being like pressuring the Federal Government of allocating or appointing more Sabahans to Federal Cabinet as if by doing so the rights of Sabahans are automatically protected. We have seen that some if not all Sabahans who have or had been in the Federal cabinet fail miserably to rise to the occasions - looking after the deteriorating rights, struggles and needs of the Sabahans.

Our friends in Sarawak seem content to what they have since their leaders know how to use their so called minor position in the Federal cabinet to their advantages. Until today Sarawak is considered as one of the most developed state in Malaysia despite having not so many ministers. Even though, there are some disgruntled voices critical of the present administration in Sarawak but in terms of safeguarding their rights and championing as well as defending the rights of Sarawak, they seem to agree that the leaders have done well compared to Sabah, once considered to be more prosperous than other states in Malaysia.

Giving more posts to those so called representatives of the people will not solve and free of us from so many problems beleaguering Sabah instead I truly believe that the situation will become even worse since the powers are in their hands. Can someone present tangible facts that those who have or had been in the Federal cabinet for so long contributed towards the well being of the people here in Sabah? How long they have been in the Federal cabinet and how much they have effectively contributed and served our interest? Undeniably they have brought some development but it is very limited and not widespread. Have they argued for more Federal posts for Sabahans at least in Sabah? The university which bears our name since its inception is yet to see a true Sabahan leading it, Sarawak in their silence for instance has produced an Education Director General in Datuk Matnor Daim or Datuk Idris Jala, a humble man from Lawas who is now heading the national carrier. How about Sabah? Well, we have Tan Sri Gani as the AG but looking back at our history being a major component of Malaysia for 45 years, does the number commensurate with each other? The answer is a big NO!

Datuk Fauzi Patel in his column has correctly highlighted the situation whereas in Sarawak they vehemently protect their rights but here in Sabah we willingly surrender what is ours to others to please their bosses. Labuan, since 1984 has yet to reach its true potential and is still considered by many as a sleepy town. I don't have the attention to insult the Labuanites but look at Langkawi and compare the island with Labuan, while the former is well known throughout the world the latter remains obscure until today.

Leaders are supposed to be trusted and that is the reason why they are elected to their posts. Sadly, the present crops of leaders seem obsessed with Federal Minister posts, for whom, yes for themselves with the false pretext of improving the dire conditions of the people. While some are asking for more posts, those who already are in the cabinet are doing their best to defend their boss in the name of collective responsibility but is it the true reason. Maybe but once again look at what they have achieved so far, not so meaningful after all. While many of us struggle to meet our ends, they live in a castle they called house. How many of them are living and owning humble houses instead of palatial houses? NONE, my fellow Sabahans. How many of them are living like Nik Aziz for instance? NONE! Instead they live comfortably in houses which can accommodate hundreds.

I am saying that it is wrong to have money and indeed to certain extent they deserve what they have but the people surrounding them need their help more. Another question worth asking, will the abolishment of JPPS and the increase of the oil royalty guarantee that our sufferings will be over? Will we reach our pinnacle again? Will poverty and unemployment be things of the past? I seriously doubt it since many of them are busy of asking for more posts in the Federal cabinet instead of focusing more on the plights of the people at large. I doubt that if they get their wishes the people in Sabah will share the fruits of their success, only for selected few maybe.

Once again I'm not saying this out of spite but we can see abundant proofs everywhere. Our roads and public transports for instance are equivalent to Kuala Lumpur in the 60s or 70s. In fact Datuk Masidi Manjun himself once admitted that many of our rights provided under the Federal Constitution have been gradually eroded due to irresponsible acts of our own leaders. If some think that I've something to gain by this then I beg to differ since one of our leaders himself openly admitted that we are suffering because of our leaders own undoing.

The implications of the former Pulau Batu Putih is indeed scary and we need to remember that this is our only land and if something happened to this land we have nowhere to go. The Vice President of JUST when talking about the 60th anniversary of the formation of Israel succinctly said the lackadaisical attitude of local Palestinian leaders of ignoring the influx of Jews immigrants contributed towards the recent Palestinians sufferings. Any right thinking Malaysians in Sabah certainly will not want the same thing to happen here.

As a final note, with power comes responsibility and with responsibility comes obligation.

My Sanity

Just now I send over my first ever draft to my supervisor and since it is impossible for me to don the robe this year...in August then I'll have all the time to rectify any shortcomings in my paper particularly on the analysis part.

Actually I have all the data ready by early April together with SPSS but since I'm not familiar with statistics and maths....both are not my fav in fact hence those survey questions were left untouched gathering dust on the floor of my makeshift office. When I emailed my supervisor he asked me to contact my Co-coordinator instead to help me with my stats and when he replied to me among others he wrote that I have zero knowledge of stats and suggested that I urgently get hold of a basic stat book....

Thinking naively that I did not have the time I started ransacking the net trying to find any simple but resourceful tidbits on stats. I found some but still my problem was far from over, I became more confused until finally I decided to go through based on my shallow understanding and voila I managed to do my so called analysis of the data and but with the highest doubts.

Later when I went through some previous literature I discovered to my delight that all my analysis corresponded well with previous findings. Yet I am still suspicious whether I've used the right tools....haha.

I've never done any educational researches before and when it came to literature review I just do what I am used to do practically I did the part like a law student instead of someone in the educational field. Again I'm surprised that my analysis came out the same as that of previous findings...surprise, surprise.

Anyway, I expect that my draft will receive doctor's treatment and having said that I still feel that I will get upset when my supervisor reply to me back few days later. I suppose that I should do a post grad in law instead of education but Allah knows better and I should by now realised that I'm being tried not by my supervisor but by Him.

Hopefully, despite the disappointing remarks I will still have my sanity intact....

Salahkah Menyatakan Kebenaran?

Sebentar tadi setelah penat menaip, singgah sebentar di suatu blog. Milik orang muda, masih belajar. Kelihatan penuh dengan idealisme, berasa mungkin bertanggungjawab menjawab tohmahan dan mempertahankan beberapa tindakan kerajaan yang pada pendapatnya telah melakukan yang terbaik untuk membantu rakyat.

Pujian wajar diberi kerana prihatin atas hal ehwal negara dan sewajarnya inilah generasi pelapis yang kita perlukan. Prihatin terhadap masa depan negara tidak seperti yang lain yang hanya tahu berhibur.

Namun banyak hujah - hujahnya yang dangkal. Menurut pemahaman saya beliau mengutarakan suatu cadangan yang autoritarian di mana rakyat khas para pelajar perlu 'bersyukur' dengan bantuan kerajaan. Katanya dapat wang kerajaan tapi membangkang kerajaan. Kerajaan sebenarnya hanya pengurus sumber yang kebanyakannya disumbang melalui bayaran cukai seperti cukai tanah, cukai pintu, cukai pendapatan dan pelbagai lagi. Sewajarnyalah kita menegur atau mengkritik mereka yang gagal melaksanakan amanah yang diberi.

Bayaran tol misalnya konon disubsidikan kerajaan tetapi mereka terutamanya yang memegang kuasa sebenarnya turut menerima subsidi berkenaan. Wang tol mereka dibayar oleh kerajaan konon untuk tujuan rasmi tetapi kalau untuk berkempen, melancong dan sebagainya, adakah ia juga tugas rasmi?

Kakitangan kerajaan diarah untuk bekerja keras sebagai balasan kenaikan gaji yang tidak seberapa sedang beberapa bekas menteri dilantik menjadi penasihat PM dengan elaun dan gaji yang melampau sedang pada masa yang sama mereka turut menerima pencen sebagai bekas menteri. Mereka dibayar antara RM 15 hingga 30 ribu sebulan untuk 'nasihat - nasihat' mereka yang mungkin tidak bernilai. Misalnya apakah nasihat Penasihat Agama untuk selesai dan lindungi agama Islam dari segi kes - kes murtad? Wajar kedudukan sebagai Penasihat menunjukkan kearifan dan kepakaran mereka dalam sesuatu bidang namun apa yang terjadi? Apa peranan Penasihat Petronas dalam isu royalti minyak Sabah, Sarawak dan Terengganu?

Anak muda ini juga menuntut bukti - bukti penyelewangan kerajaan dan yang sedihnya anak muda ini berasal dari sebuah negeri yang diakui sebagai negeri yang termiskin di Malaysia sedangkan ia kaya dengan hasil bumi dan lokasi yang strategik. Bukankah ini sudah menunjukkan kegagalan mereka yang berkuasa? Secara logik jika sesebuah negeri itu kaya maka wajarlah rakyat turut merasai kemewahan tersebut. Sayang sekali yang kaya terus kaya rumah besar, kapal di laut gudang di darat, kereta besar berderet - deret entah siapa yang akan pandu.

Biaya pelajaran juga dikenakan faedah walhal mengaku negara ini negara Islam tetapi kerajaan masih mengenakan faedah walaupun diberi nama lain; yuran perkhidmatan katanya tetapi jumlahnya begitu besar dan belumpun pelajar memperolehi pekerjaan, sudah dituntut dengan pelbagai ugutan lagak ah long.

Akhir kalam, penat rasanya menulis 'kegagalan' kerajaan dan anak muda tadi dengan beraninya menyarankan agar para 'pembangkang' ini disekat wang biasiswa, elaun dan sebagainya. Sewajarnya kerajaan yang gagal yang wajib ditamatkan perkhidmatannya.

Adakah Kita Tidak Bersyukur?

Adakah kita tidak bersyukur...
sedang kita mencatu bekalan
mereka dan konco - konco sibuk mencanai pelan
mengayakan diri tanpa sesalan

Adakah kita tidak bersyukur...
bila kita susah
kasi pagi makan pagi
sedang mereka senyum hingga nampak gigi
melihat rakyat kena seligi
penyangak kaut untung
sembunyi beras, naikkan harga

Adakah kita tidak bersyukur...
tatkala wang dicatu, butir beras dikira
agar cukup sehingga esok
sedang mereka membazir
santap di hotel mewah
sepinggan nasi tak sampai segenggam harganya wah!
cukup mengisi perut
sang rakyat buat sebulan!

Adakah kita tidak bersyukur...
bila tegur mereka
yang rakus menjarah bumi hingga tidak bersisa
hutan ditebang bukit digondol
konon buat ladang sawit
sedang padi makin berkurang

Adakah kita tidak bersyukur...
pandu kereta kancil
sedang mereka enak dalam kereta besar
dipandu pemandu ke sana kemari
wang minyak dibayar rakyat
tapi untuk pergi bermain golf, melancong ke luar negara
bawa penyokong, bawa pengampu
konon nak balas jasa

My Response

http://www.chedet.com/

Watan Marhaen said...
Once you said the alternative media as irrelevant and rubbish but today you seem to have eaten the humble pie and today you have also befriended the alternative media like the MalaysiaToday. We still remember how you treat your opponents very well. We'll never forget that and finally God is great since you are no longer the PM!

May 1, 2008 5:29 PM

Just curious said...
Just a reply to your comment on TDM blog. I thought Tun was the only one from BN who have openly supported and used blogs prior to the election, though he was not a blogger himself. I admit my ignorant about politicians and what they have said or have not said. Can you give me a reason for you making claim that Tun rubbishing alternative media, with facts - time, date and place. So that we know that you are not just one of the typical PKR supporters/troopers who would condemn TDM at every opportunity.
May 2, 2008 1:58 PM

The former was my post on chedet.com, a blog claimed to be owned and authored by Tun M and the latter was a reply to mine in my blog. Well, to answer his statement that Tun M was the only one from UMNO who supported the use of blogs prior to the election.....excuse me, although he 'might' be the first but again he was also among the first if not the first ever man who despise blogs and the once 'alternative media' like the Malaysiakini because according to him such medias were spreading lies, slanders, and hatred towards him. He even refused to talk to the 'alternative media' but soon after he saw himself being sidelined or to be exact his mega projects he resorted to the other media as he now feels that such is better than the main stream media. How ironic!

We have to concede the fact that he had brought tremendous change to Malaysia but only in terms of mega projects which sadly fail to improve the status of even his own race. What he's doing now is just a manifestation of his unhappiness over the acts of his successor, whom he thought has sidelined all his legacies. He should realised that by giving up his position his time is over and he should just act as tacit advisor through proper channels like what Tun Hussein has done. He just quit..thus maintained the people respect.

Who was responsible for the closure of Watan , once a famous political based daily? He has governed this country unlike his predecessors as well as his successor. As far as I care to remember, never during his tenure the government allowed itself to be criticised openly like what happen today. It was all well and cosy during his time added by the fact that alternative media was yet to emerge, thus he had his field day.

He should realised that he has past his heyday as the 'supremo' and has to learn the fact that he is now equal to almost everybody, a mere commoner. Now, perhaps is the best time for him to reflect whatever he has done to others. Why has he 'suffered' in such a way causing him to embrace the alternative media? I am pretty sure, if he's still in power he'll be no different from the powers of the day. For over twent years he governed this beloved country of ours in his own way especially after he founded UMNO Baru, he has sidelined the current Prime Minister although he got the highest vote for UMNO Vice Presidency. The once credible and respected Judiciary began its decline during his tenure. Dissent was not acceptable during his time, it is a fact that he had 4 different Deputy Prime Ministers with the second last being ousted like common criminal and had to suffer in prison!

If he said Pak Lah as a mistake therefore whose mistake was it? Who appointed Pak Lah to be his successor? Was it Najib? Mahyuddin? Or others .....the answer is and still is HIMSELF! If he really is what people said of him as be tolerant therefore why nobody dared to question his decision to teach Science and Math in English, which the present government is trying to defend although the desired result is yet to materialised. Students are still weak in Science and Maths while the standard of English too has suffered rather than becoming the driving force.

The evidences are abundant and many including those in his former cabinet admitted that he ruled alone rather than through collective efforts of his cabinet. ISA for instance is still there usually for politically motivated reasons rather than used to curb the illegals in Sabah for instance. Enough is enough and he should face the fact that he's no longer the Godfather and learn to behave like a commoner.

P/S - My comment was published in the Daily Express few days after I posted the above comment

Let me...

Will I be able to don this? Only time will tell...many of my colleagues have already past this one but I'm still here dreaming about the moment...Please let me don this, this year, Insya Allah

A union of our own

Sadly many of us are still hoping that the government will help to alleviate our problems, sure but as we have already seen and experienced ourselves all those so called good news are and will only cater for the non graduates as NUTP and CEUPACS are headed by those coming from the category.

Our struggle should not be based on political reasons as it goes beyond, union is supposed to cater for all and not just a portion of the work force. We should think of a way where the voices of the graduates will be heard and listen and subsequently act upon by the powers of the day. The government should amend any existing law if any that curb or prevent graduates from active involvement in unions as it is clear at present that graduates especially for the lower rank professionals i.e grade 41 are being discriminated by the unions which supposed to look after their welfare.

Being a professional it is sad to see that the welfare of these graduates are not being taken care of very well just because they will later become the decision makers but again without proper representation, their actual and real predicaments. PSD and the relevant ministries or agencies will usually refer to the union for any grassroots information and here a totally different version of the situation will be presented just like what happened when the government announced 25% increase for the non graduates last year compared to only 15% for grade 41 and above.

Again, I stress the need for graduates especially grade 41 to form our own union to voice out our problems. We may call it "Persekutuan Pegawai Pengurusan dan Professional Sektor Awam"