BOOK: Pendatang

Pendatang dan Isu Keselamatan di Sabah, by Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan and Ramli Dollah, 261 pages published by UMS, Kota Kinabalu, 2011  

This book is research work by the two writers; both are lectures in International Relations at School of Social Science, UMS.

If you ’re Sabahan like me looking for the answers based on the title, I must warn you that you would not find what you wanted. It disappoints me. By the way, I am not reviewing this book, which I read under one hour but merely making a passing remarks perhaps unfairly.

My view therefore is, Sabah readers ‘like me’ today would want critical analysis, and this could have been done. Most importantly writers could have used updated materials including statistics, which are abundance and it surprised me they didn’t.

It could also be interesting in term of triggering the conspicuous issues like those highlighted by earlier writers among them is Kamal Sadiq.

My conclusion, this is no more than stereotype presentation, which shall I say, agreeable and sounds good only to authority. To me this is bad for academic?

See page in 122   Remark on paragraph 5 is racist and typical of those don’t understand people of Sabah.

In so long as UMNO in control of the government pendatang remains significant for the survival Malayan politics. It’s their fixed deposit.  

Amde Sidik, Sipitang      

An Encounter of the Weird Kind

This is a little anecdote I encountered today. Don’t get me wrong I’m not totally right but I have my own view just like many others when dealing with situation that needs instantaneous response.

I received two missed calls from one, which wasn’t registered in my set. I was about to return the call when the third call came from a Police Corporal at Karamausing Police Station, Kota Kinabalu.

Corporal John Chin (not the real name) was looking for Ameerul, my son. I’m Ameerul’s father I said.

‘ That’s very good Sir, can he (Ameerul) come to police station today? We’ve caught many robbers may be among them could be the robbers that robbed Ameerul and his friends a few weeks ago at Likas Jaya’

I was astounded, really keen to go to the bottom. My son and his friends lost thousands of valued items taken from them (hand sets and ipad) when they were robbed on their way for a swim at Likas Sport Complex by four whom Ameerul described could also be students but of higher form from different school, not SMK Lok Yuk.

I told the police that Ameerul was in school. John requested might be good idea if I could ask the school to allow him to come to help police identify those caught. They are going to be paraded in Karamsuning Police Station soon today.

I went to see the Principal; my conversation with him is something like this:

‘Sir, I need your permission, if my son Ameerul could be released for a short time to help police identify the robbers now at Karamunsing Police Station.

I received a few calls from Corporal John Chin, that robbers are going to be paraded in the afternoon.

Just to remind you a few weeks ago Ameerul and friends were robbed, on their way to Sport Complex, their hand phones and ipad were taken way when four boys held them with knife’, I said

‘ Well, the school has procedures, we must let the parent know, and the parent must agree, what about if the parent disagree they could sue us?

And this is outside the school compound, which the school is not responsible.

I don’t allow student to meet the police we have go by the school rules and we all have to agree and it will take a few days’

I find it weird, what irritated me most whenever I tried to explain he started talking that the school can’t be held responsible. The parent of the student should have told him about the incident. He only knew from reading in the newspaper.

One lady in the room should be excused to be polite.

Due to communication problem, called it noise (as communication lecturer some years ago) I then have to say this:

‘ Can you please allow me finished explaining before you talk. If we both talk at the same time who is listening?

Sir, the police are not going to wait for a few days for school approval because the parade is going to take place this afternoon.

I’m serious about students being robbed by another students. The affected school should also take proactive and as a parent this is exactly why I’m doing it.

He said, ‘If I can report to the Press of the incident why can I not see him’

I consider it a bit too much. I said let me put it this way, an individual person makes a report or takes initiative wouldn’t carry the same weight compares with an institution like school. What the school could have done was to react to the news that their student was being robbed, to me that’s showing concern other than to wait for parent or police to meet the principal. One way of checking is by contacting the press. The school of this size I presumed, has someone who can act alike PR, I’m pretty sure the press would respond much quicker than MrNobody, and that’s the power of an organised institution.

I informed John the police that Ameerul cannot come; while in his (principal) room I offer him an explanation from the police who were online with me, should my way of explaining wasn’t clear enough. He refused, to him they’ve procedure, I therefore thanked and the left the room.

About twenty minutes later I received a call for Cigku Kanan saying I can now bring my son. 

I wonder why is he breaking the rules?

Fourteen robbers being paraded, all are human, by the look of them they are just like you and me.

HOW GOOD, SAMUR PROJECT FOR SIPITANG PEOPLE?

Pix-not too sure what’s this little smoke?

SIPITANG:

All nice things have been said about the RM4.6million SAMUR (Sabah Ammonia Urea) plant project in Sipitang, which its ground breaking was done by the Prime Minister last month.

The project is said to be good for Sipitang people.

According to BERNAMA report, SAMUR once fully operational is expected to provide 400 jobs.

It would create economic impact to Sipitang such as agriculture, hotel and catering, plant maintenance and transportations and therefore provide employment for Sipitang community, said General Manager of PETRONAS Regional Office, Labuan, Joseph Podtung

Podtung didn’t elaborate how and what extent of activities that would impact on the agriculture, transpiration and the like.

My question, why is it a project with such magnitude RM4.6 billion could only provide 400 jobs?

I can only imagine this is very specialised industry in nature, and therefore only need specialised workers, if that is the case, I think Sipitang people isn’t the ultimate beneficiary.

Next how much influence are our YBs in ensuring that people of Sipitang be accommodated into this project, which I’m pretty sure once this project is fully operational, they couldn’t even come nearer to the premises.

We are yet to get the information of the other side of the story of ammonia urea if any.  So far we only knew from reading from other countries that have experienced with ammonia urea, a colourless gas with pungent odour, both caustic and hazardous to health. This could be an issue in the future, which it should be explained to people of today.

Isu Bangsa dan Agama Modal Kempen UMNO

Hj Amde Sidik

Kelihatannya modal kempen yang digunakan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin BN-UMNO terhadap Parti Maju Sabah–SAPP adalah tidak habis-habis mengaitkan isu perkauman Melayu dan agama.

Dengan slogan sedemikan  bagi UMNO akan mencerminkan bahawa parti SAPP tidak sepatutnya disertai oleh orang-orang Islam selain bukan kepunyaan orang-orang Melayu. Dalam kontek ini pula, pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO menghadapi masalah mendefinasikan bangsa Melayu sebab kekurangan bilangan orang-orang Melayu di Sabah. Orang orang Bajau, Kadayan, Brunai, Tidung  dan lain-lainnya secara terbuka mengatakan lebih senang dipanggil mengikut nama etnik mereka sendiri, bukannya sebagai bangsa Melayu.

Ada seperkara lagi yang mencerminkan hipokrasi pemimpin UMNO. Jika benar isu agama dan bangsa adalah merupakan tunjang perjuangan politik mereka, kenapa ada orang bukan beragama Islam dalam UMNO, seperti orang-orang Kadazan beragama kristian sehingga ada pula yang menjawat jawatan Ketua Bahagian. Saya berpendapat orang Kadazan dalam UMNO tentu merasa sesuatu yang ganjil apabila ikut serta melaung-laungkan slogan “Hidup Melayu” di Dewan Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra. Tetapi mungkin juga tidak mengapa bagi mereka. Barangkali tidak apa sebab ada ganjaran, tempik pun tempiklah. Apa maruah, apa kebanggaan, berbaloi juga dikorbankan segala ada kedudukan dan wang ringgit yang disua, sementelaah pun berapa sangatlah harga dua tiga pasang kain songket dan songkok Melayu yang terpaksa dibeli untuk menghadiri perhimpunan.

Berbalik tentang parti SAPP, sebenarnya teras perjuangan parti ini tiada membangkitkan soal bangsa dan agama pun. Saya ambil contoh yang melampau. Jika dikatakanlah sebab parti cina, cuba  bandingkan sendiri di antara SAPP dengan UMNO, mana yang menonjolkan perkauman?

Di Malaysia ini kalau isu bangsa dan agama menjadi dasar untuk menentukan hidup atau mati, pastinya ramai rakyat akan kebulur tiada makan kerana tiada perkerjaan kerana ribuan syarikat yang ada bukan dimiliki oleh UMNO atau orang Islam. Jutaan orang-orang Islam, pakcik dan makcik pula tidak akan bergelar haji dan hajjah kalau semata-mata berkerja di syarikat kepunyaan orang Melayu dan UMNO.

UMNO atau bukan, tidak ubah keadaannya seperti semasa anda hendak menaiki pesawat kapal terbang. Sebelum masuk perlukah ditanya terlebih dahulu siapa yang menjadi pilot pesawat berkenaan. Kalau bukan Melayu atau orang Islam maka tidak boleh ikut, bukankah ini perbahasan gila?

Kebetulan parti SAPP diketuai oleh seorang berketurunan China, Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee. Entah esuk entah lusa parti ini diketuai oleh keturunan apa tidak menjadi masalah pun. Tiada larangan dalam perlembagaan parti SAPP mengenainya. Bukan seperti UMNO yang cuma mengkhaskan orang Melayu sebagai pemimpinnya. Sebab itu Timbalan Perdana Menteri mengatakan, “Melayu Didahulukan (Malay First)”. Perdana Menteri pula asyik mencanang cerita “1Malaysia” yang entah apa ertinya. Apa hendak jadi dengan slogan ini sebenarnya, sedangkan UMNO yang mereka pimpin asyik bercerita tentang Melayu dan agama masing-masing.

Hakikatnya parti SAPP mempunyai ramai pemimpin bumiputera Sabah samada yang beragama Islam dan bukan. Ini termasuk Timbalan Presiden, Naib-Naib Presiden dan ahli ahli Majlis Tertinggi parti. Mereka ini terdiri dari kumpulan professional dan cendikiawan tanpa keraguan tentang perjuangan mereka. Sebilangan besar daripadanya adalah muka-muka baru dalam arena politik, bukan seperti kebanyakan parti-parti pembangkang lain. Yang lain itu kebanyakannya yang diisi semula oleh pemimpin-pemimpin lapuk dan kitar semula yang dapat melukut semula kerana tiada orang lain yang hingin.

Muka-muka baru SAPP ini sentiasa berikrar dan memberi nafas baru dalam perjuangan parti, bukan sekadar mencanang retorik dalam politik Sabah. Mereka mempunyai aspirasi untuk mengubah corak kepemimpinan yang selama ini terlalu streotaip, mementingkan kebendaan dan meninggalkan serta membuat janji-janji yang tidak manasabah. Gabungan mereka dengan para pemimpin parti sedia ada kelihatan dapat membina kepercayaan daripada rakyat yang semakin sedar kewujudan SAPP sebagai parti tempatan yang boleh diharapkan dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak dan nasib mereka di dalam Negara ini.

UMNO Delivers mails to kampong?

Has Post Office Malaysia contracted with Umno to deliver mails to kampong people?

Amde Sidik

I want to know from the Malaysian Post Office if it has contracted with UMNO to deliver mails and parcels alike to people living in rural areas.

A case in hand, in Sipitang district, two persons  (names withheld) have been identified employed by UMNO under what they called it doing community service (Khidmat Masyarakat) whose work as postmen to deliver mails house to house, mails belong to people living in kampong.

They pick up the mails from district postoffice and deliver them as per their addresses.

My question, who authorised these people to pick my letters from Sipitang post office Or who authorise UMNO to collect my mail, I consider my mails are private and personal properties I therefore I expect no one to have access other than those authorised by law.

How widespread is thing practice in the country? Or is it only in Sipitang District?

RM430m to lure voters

Kota Kinabalu: ” On this issue I agreed with Harris Salleh building bridge to Labuan would be more ideal than to Pulau Bum Bum”
SAPP, Deputy President said he agreed with Harris that the Federal Government is wasting public money spending RM430million in the wrong place.
“The BN should have come up with the cost and benefits list to show to people if they are serious about working for people before embarking on a project like this.
“Think about the returns of investment
“As far as I can imagine BN Government’s doing is no more than just to spur people’s mind beforr the dissolution o Parliament to lure voters” he said in a statement.
Amde claimed the development of Sabah is no more than a window dressing
“Look at the condition, from all directions, East to West and South to North, can we find any decent road in the State? See if there is any rural Sabah as busy as Kota Kinabalu, to be precise near Kota Kinabalu airport?
“I pressume the bridge project has not been tendered but negotiated, and surely this is one way of making money for those involved in politic, it isn’t for the rakyat.” he said. Daily Express 03/03/2012

Projek Amonia di Sipitang, RM4.6

Projek amonia dan urea di Kg Banting, Sipitang bernilai RM4.6 billion saya ingin lihat senarai kenuntungan dan impaknya kepada penduduk Sipitang

Oleh Kamis Daming

Secara umum, semua orang boleh mengatakan kewujudan projek mega ini di daerah Sipitang akan turut mempunyai kesan terhadap ekonomi penduduk setempat. Kerajaan sepatutnya menjelaskan secara terperinci mekanisma bagaimana projek besar ini boleh memberi keuntungan kepada keseluruhan penduduk Sipitang yang berjumlah lebih kurang 60,000 orang. Peluang-peluang pekerjaan yang disediakan oleh kilang ini kelak memang tidak dinafikan akan mendatangkan manfaat kepada penduduk Sipitang, tetapi berapa orang saja penduduk Sipitang mempunyai kemahiran dalam bidang yang berkaitan untuk mengisi jawatan-jawatan yang disediakan ? Peluang-peluang pekerjaan yang akan wujud di kilang itu kebanyakannya adalah teknikal dan mahu tidak mahu akan diisi oleh orang luar jika pihak kerajaan tidak memberi perhatian khusus terhadap perkara ini.

Untuk mengatasi masalah ini dan bagi memberi peluang lebih ramai penduduk Sipitang bekerja di kilang tersebut, kerajaan harus menyediakan sekolah atau pusat latihan kemahiran dalam bidang yang berkaitan bagi menyesuaikan bidang kemahiran yang diperlukan bagi membolehkan mereka bekerja di kilang tersebut.

Saya belum nampak lagi sebarang kenyataan daripada pemimpin-pemimpin kerajaan BN bahawa daerah Sipitang telahpun bebas daripada status miskin tegar. Bererti di daerah Sipitang masih ramai lagi orang yang hidup di bawah paras kemiskinan. Kewujudan kilang ini nanti adakah akan mendatangkan manfaat secara langsung kepada golongan ini ? Pihak kerajaan harus memberi penjelasan mekanisma bagaimana orang-orang Sipitang yang hidup di bawah paras kemiskinan yang tidak berpeluang atau tidak layak bekerja di kilang ini disebabkan faktor semula jadi, contoh, usia, keadaan fisikal, kelulusan, kebolehan dan lain lain, mendapat manfaat terus daripada projek ini. Pemimpin harus juga memikirkan kaedah bagaimana warga emas di daerah Sipitang yang kurang berkemampuan mendapat keuntungan daripada projek berbilion rm ini…contoh, elaun bantuan khas bulanan, bantuan perumahan, dll.

Apabila kita mengatakan projek ini akan turut memberi impak terhadap ekonomi penduduk setempat, ia merangkumi keseluruhan penduduk daerah ini. Adakah penoreh getah, nelayan, petani juga akan mendapat faedah secara langsung daripada projek ini ? Kalau ya, bagaimana caranya ?

Projek berharga rm4.6 bilion bukan satu projek yang kecil. Air, elektrik percuma,  bantuan-bantuan/biasiswa persekolahan, bantuan kematian yang berterusan bagi penduduk Sipitang yang hanya berjumlah lebih kurang 60,000 orang bukanlah perkara yang mustahil untuk dilaksanakan jika kerajaan benar-benar serius terhadap permasalahan rakyat. Kita tidak mahu melihat sebuah syarikat gergasi gunakan daerah Sipitang hanya untuk mengaut keuntungan bagi diri mereka sendiri.