‘Chinese education here to stay’

WARM WELCOME: Najib shaking hands with the people after opening SJK (C) Chung Hua Tudan, Miri.

Its devt provided for in the Education Act 1996, National Education Blueprint — Najib

MIRI: The development of national type Chinese schools (SJKC) will not be neglected because Chinese education forms part of the national education system, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday.

In fact, he said, its wellbeing is provided for in the Education Act 1996, and the National Education Blueprint.

Malaysia is the only country outside China and Taiwan to have a Chinese education system, thus proving the government’s concern for the Chinese community, the prime minister said at the opening of SJK (C) Chung Hua Tudan, costing RM6 million, here yesterday.

“We consider Chinese Education as part of our education system. Therefore, Malaysians can make their choice whether to study at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) or SJKC.

“In other countries, there is no choice (in the education system) but in Malaysia, we adopt an open attitude.”

He added that the government’s commitment could be seen from the RM100 million allocated for SJKCs nationwide in recent years.

In response to deputy chairman of the Management Board of SJKC Chung Hua Tudan Datuk Seri Peter Chin’s request for government assistance of RM1 million for the construction of a new block to cater for increasing enrolment, Najib gave an affirmative response.

On the impending 13th general election, Najib urged the people to vote for peace and stability.

“It is important not to compromise peace and stability by letting it slip from our grasp. Hence, it is important for us to make the right decision to ensure that peace and stability will continue.”

He told the huge crowd present that peace and stability had enabled the government to give out BR1M, BR1M 2.0, and possibly BR1M 3.0 and BR1M 4.0 in future.

“The opposition came out with BERSIH 1, BERSIH 2 and BERSIH 3, but we help the people by giving BR1M and BR1M 2.0.

“Thus, our transformation policies are better than the opposition’s reforms. The people are now more confident that we have an agenda that is organised and systematic for our country.”

He said peace and stability in the country had also led to an encouraging national economic growth with Bank Negara announcing yesterday a growth rate of 6.4 per cent last year, which is among the highest in the world, higher than those recorded by the United States and European countries.

“This success is possible because we have peace and stability; and we have a government that can govern and lead our country based on our national transformation agendas which we are striving.”

SUMBER: BORNEOPOST

Yong adamant on not contesting

POPULAR MAN: Yong (right) receives Chinese New Year greetings from visitors from the Indian community in Kuching at his Chinese New Year open house on Sunday.

KUCHING: Five term Stampin MP Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, 71, described the Chinese New Year (CNY) open house he hosted this year as the final one he would hold as an active politician.

Speaking to reporters last Sunday, he said he would not change his mind about stepping down in the coming general election even if Barisan Nasional (BN) and SUPP top leadership were to ask him not to do so.

He also half jokingly told reporters and some of those present that he was holding the last CNY open house as a YB (honourable elected representative) for them.

“I have said many times that I would not seek re-election and I would not change this stand.

“I am making way for a younger person to take over, and the party must go through this process,” he said.

Yong, once a vice-president in SUPP, has been holding the Stampin seat since 1990. He was appointed deputy minister of works in 2008, after several years serving as parliamentary secretary in the same ministry.

SUPP has nominated its Youth wing’s secretary-general Wilfred Yap as the candidate for Stampin. However, talks have it that Yong is still in the running to defend the seat, and other names are being considered ,including Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang.

Asked for his advice to his successor, he said anyone serving as member of Parliament for Stampin should be humble, a good listener and willing to work with the people.

He also said he would give his full support to the BN candidate chosen to replace him, and asserted that it was not impossible for BN to retain the seat.

“In politics, anything can happen. We can achieve victory if all BN components work together,” he said, when asked to comment on BN’s chances to win amidst growing support for the opposition in urban areas.

Meanwhile, guests at Yong’s open house included Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Others were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and several state ministers.

sumber:theborneopost

‘DAP does not fancy third party in Mas Gading’ – Chong

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: STAR service centre next to Nansian’s service centre.

KUCHING: State Democratic Action Party (DAP) does not fancy a third party joining the fray in Mas Gading in the next general election because they would be splitting votes of the opposition.

Its secretary Chong Cheing Jen, who is also Bandar Kuching MP, said this to comment on State Reform Party’s (STAR) intention to field a candidate in Mas Gading, a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold.

Chong, who preferred to see straight fights between BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in all the parliamentary seats in the state also described third party as ‘traitors of the people’ and ‘opportunists’.

“The coming election will see battles between BN and PR and no place for other opportunistic political party. It is either the BN or PR. All those third parties hoping to win a few seats and hoping to bargain their way through for self interest are traitors of the people,” said Chong who is also DAP national vice-president when contacted yesterday.

State DAP is adamant of wanting to field Mordi Bimol in the seat even though PR has not made any decision yet on seat allocation and candidacy.

It was also reported that even PR’s loose partner Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had wanted to field Boniface Willy Tumek, which would result in overlapping claims of Mas Gading seat as far as the PR is concerned.

STAR vice-president Patrick Anek Uren was reported to have said that they had re-activated their election machinery in Mas Gading and also looking forward to working together with former members of the now defunct Sarawak National Party (SNAP) to mount a formidable challenge against the BN there.

He was however tight-lipped on their potential candidates but murmurs on the ground indicated that the party was negotiating with ex-SNAP leader Frankie Nyombui to arrive at a common decision on candidacy.

Meanwhile, at a press conference here yesterday, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Tasik Biru division chairman Michael Siten said STAR would not pose a threat to the BN in Mas Gading.

However, he considered PR and several partyless elected representatives including Dr Tiki and Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian who claimed to be BN-friendly as the biggest threat to the BN coalition.

Michael said these partyless elected representatives, being government officials carrying government fund around in the area, did have the support of some people.

As for PR, they were a threat because they had been moving aggressively around in the area, he added.

However, the command and power of the elected representatives would start to wane as their terms as government officials was coming to a close, he said.

On the apparent coincidence that STAR service centre is situated next to that of partyless Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian in Bau, Michael said that did not mean anything to the BN.

He claimed that Nansian could not see eye-to-eye with STAR chieftains Dr Dripin Sakoi and Dr Patau Rubis and if there were anything latter on, the location of their offices was just for convenience’s sake, operational-wise.

He said STAR in the past had never cooperated with the BN and would never be in the future.

In the final analysis, the real contest would be between BN and PR, he claimed.

sumber:theborneopost

Anwar confirms Roland to be PKR candidate in Baram

MIRI: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has put to rest speculations and announced that Kenyah lawyer Roland Engan from Long Jeeh will be the party’s candidate for Baram.

PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) candidate for the hot seat of Baram during his Chinese New Year (CNY) visit to Beluru in Baram, where he addressed a crowd of about 2,000.

“We confirm that Anwar has announced Roland as the PKR candidate for Baram,” said Baram PKR information chief Dennis Along when met at the party’s Miri CNY open house at Water Front Commercial Centre.

Miri and Baram were Anwar’s focus of his second CNY visit after visiting Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in his hectic schedule around the country in the run-up to the impending 13th general election.

Baram has become a hot seat with the controversial Baram Dam project, and Baram MP Datuk Jacob Sagan is expected to face a keen tussle for the hearts of the Orang Ulu.

Roland was coy about his chances when met, but seemed pleased and relieved to be confirmed early by Anwar.

Despite strong support from Baram and Miri PKR branches, his candidacy for Baram faced strong challenge from former PRS supreme council member Patrick Sibat Sujang who was said to have left the party he co-founded, on the possibility of contesting Baram on PKR ticket.

Political observers have also tipped the challengers to include Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran and entrepreneur Dr Elli Luhat to make the fight for Baram an interesting multi-cornered contest which could favour either PR or Barisan Nasional.

sumber:theborneopost

Jangan biar S’wak jatuh: KM

DEMI KEMAKMURAN: (Dari kanan) Chin, David, Toh Puan Norkiah, Tun Salahuddin, Taib, Ragad dan Hii menggaul ‘Yee Sang’ sebagai tanda perpaduan dan kemakmuran berterusan pada majlis tersebut.

MIRI: Kerajaan yang tidak mempunyai sebarang pengalaman dalam mengurus dan mentadbir sebuah negeri yang besar seperti Sarawak hanya akan menjatuhkannya dan menghancurkan kemakmuran yang telah dicapai negeri ini.

Oleh yang demikian Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud mengingatkan rakyat negeri ini agar jangan sesekali memperjudikan kemakmuran yang telah dicapai oleh Sarawak dengan memilih kerajaan yang tidak pernah ada pengalaman menguruskan sebuah negeri.

“Kita tidak boleh membiarkan sahaja negeri ini jatuh ke tangan pembangkang yang tidak mempunyai pengalaman dan rekod mentadbir negara dan tidak tahu cara untuk mengurus ekonomi negeri.

“Mereka tidak berupaya menghadapi cabaran mendatang dan oleh yang demikian kita tidak dapat membiarkan mereka menentukan masa depan kita,” katanya.

Sehubungan itu beliau mahu semua rakyat negeri ini terus bersatu di bawah kerajaan sedia ada iaitu Barisan Nasional (BN) sekali gus mengetepikan pakatan pembangkang dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13).

Berucap pada Majlis Makan Malam Persatuan-persatuan Cina Bersekutu Sarawak Bahagian Miri di sebuah hotel terkemuka di sini malam kelmarin, beliau memberitahu bahawa pembangkang pernah menyuarakan keinginan untuk mengambil alih kerajaan sejak dua tahun lepas.

“Kita tidak kisah mana-mana kerajaan yang mentadbir, tetapi kita mahukan kerajaan yang terbaik, yang berupaya meneruskan pembangunan dan pada masa yang sama mampu menguruskan ekonomi dan berupaya menghadapi cabaran global,” katanya.

Justeru tanpa pengalaman dan rekod mentadbir kerajaan, pembangkang katanya tidak dapat menguruskan negeri ini dengan baik seperti yang telah dilakukan oleh kerajaan BN.

Taib yang juga pengerusi BN Negeri menegaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri akan berdiri teguh di belakang kepimpinan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Kita tetap menyokong kerajaan persekutuan daripada segala aspek untuk memastikan agenda pembangunan dan transformasi dalam tempoh lima tahun akan datang berjalan lancar,” tambahnya.

Oleh yang demikian katanya rakyat di negeri ini khususnya kaum Cina perlu meneruskan sokongan dan kerjasama bagi menghadapi cabaran yang lebih besar pada masa akan datang.

“Walau apa sahaja pandangan politik anda, saya mahu kemakmuran ini berterusan, sama ada semasa saya masih memimpin atau selepas waktu saya memimpin,” kata Taib.

Majlis berkenaan dihadiri tetamu kehormat Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin dan isteri Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah.

Turut hadir isteri Taib, Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, pemimpin parti komponen BN iaitu Presiden SUPP Datuk Seri Peter Chin, Presiden SPDP Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Presiden PRS Tan Sri James Masing, Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu serta menteri-menteri kabinet lain.

Turut berucap pengerusi penganjur merangkap Timbalan Presiden Persatuan-persatuan Cina Bersekutu Sarawak Bahagian Miri Datuk David Goh Kien Ping dan Presiden Persatuan Hii Teck Yun.

sumber:theborneopost

SPDP tidak gentar dengan kewujudan STAR di Mas Gading

MICHAEL (Gambar)

KUCHING: Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak (SPDP) tidak gentar dengan kewujudan Parti Reformasi Sarawak (STAR) di kawasan Parlimen Mas Gading.

Menurut Pengerusi SPDP Tasik Biru Michael Siten, sebaliknya parti lebih tergugat dengan Kelab BN dan parti pembangkang seperti Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) berbanding STAR.

Ini kerana katanya, Kelab BN dianggotai Ahli Parlimen Mas Gading Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe dan Menteri Muda (Pembangunan Perindustrian dan Perkhidmatan Komuniti) Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Tasik Biru.

“Kita merasakan ia satu cabaran bagi kita (SPDP) sekiranya Dr Tiki bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Umum memandangkan beliau merupakan penyandang kerusi tersebut manakala Nansian adalah seorang menteri muda… sudah tentu masih ramai rakyat yang masih mendengar kata mereka,” katanya pada sidang media di sini, semalam.

Michael berkata, bagaimanapun beliau yakin sokongan terhadap Dr Tiki dan Nansian akan berkurangan apabila tempoh berkhidmat mereka tamat kelak.

Beliau turut melahirkan kepercayaan bahawa pembangkang akan meletakkan calon DAP, Mordi Bimol di kerusi tersebut memandangkan Willie Boniface daripada Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) lebih berminat kerusi DUN Tasik Biru.

Beliau juga tidak menafikan DAP bergerak secara agresif di kawasan tersebut.

Ketika diminta mengulas mengenai lokasi pusat khidmat STAR yang terletak bersebelahan dengan pusat khidmat Kelab BN, Michael memberitahu ia berkemungkinan secara kebetulan semata-mata.

“Berkemungkinan hanya lot kedai itu sahaja yang kosong, kerana saya rasa Nansian masih tidak dapat bersemuka dengan beberapa individu dalam STAR.

“Bagaimanapun secara keseluruhannya saya rasa perebutan kerusi Mas Gading hanya membabitkan BN dan pembangkang,” katanya.

SPDP dijangka akan mempertaruhkan Anthony Nogeh, 56, yang merupakan timbalan pengurus besar Lembaga Penyatuan dan Pemulihan Tanah Sarawak (SALCRA) sebagai calon di Mas Gading.

Beliau yang turut hadir pada sidang media semalam bagaimanapun enggan mengulas apa-apa berhubung perihal Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13) bakal menjelang.

Manakala Setiausaha Pemuda SPDP Khairuddin Abdul Kadir memberitahu, jentera di kalangan Pemuda telah bersedia menghadapi PRU13.

“Walaupun kami telah lama bergerak turun padang, namun kami kurang menonjol (di akhbar) berbanding DAP tetapi ia tidak mengapa asalkan rakyat tahu kami memang bekerja,” katanya.

sumber:theborneopost

PKR turut menjangka berlaku perkara luar biasa pada PRU13

KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) memang menjangkakan berlaku beberapa perkara luar biasa pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke 13 (PRU13) akan datang, kata Naib Pengerusi PKR Sarawak See Chee How.

Beliau berkata, ini kerana Barisan Nasional (BN) sudah mula risau dengan kemampuan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) yang bakal menjadi pentadbir kerajaan Malaysia seterusnya.

Menurutnya, keadaan dan perkara luar biasa mungkin juga berlaku disebabkan rasa tidak puas hati pembangkang terhadap Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) dalam memastikan pilihan raya akan datang telus dan adil.

“Saya tidak bersetuju dengan Pengerusi SPR (Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof) yang mana SPR akan memastikan pilihan raya akan datang lebih telus dan adil.

“Ini kerana SPR dan jawatankuasa membentuk pilihan raya menolak dan enggan mengguna pakai permintaan Perhimpunan BERSIH,” kata nya menerusi sistem pesanan ringkas (SMS) semalam.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas ramalan SPR bahawa pelbagai situasi luar jangka berkemungkinan berlaku pada PRU13.

See turut menjangkakan SPR akan memainkan peranannya dalam memastikan Barisan Nasional (BN) yang diketuai UMNO menang bergaya pada pilihan raya akan datang.

“Ini merupakan taktik mereka. Kami mempunyai bukti, pendaftar baharu didaftar ke pusat mengundi lebih jauh.

“Ia sekali gus menyebabkan pengundi di kawasan tertentu akan mengundi di konstituensi lain,” ujarnya.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) Sarawak Chong Chieng Jen berkata, perkara luar biasa yang berlaku pada pilihan raya adalah normal.

“Setiap kali pilihan raya pasti ada berlaku perkara yang di luar jangkaan,” jelasnya.

Bagimanapun menurutnya, keadaan tersebut banyak didorong beberapa faktor terutama sistem pengurusan pilihan raya.

“Kami (DAP) hanya mahu sistem pilihan raya yang telus dan adil,” kata Chong

sumber:theborneopost

BIAR RAKYAT MENILAI SIAPA ANUAR

Hakikatnya rakyat sudah tahu Anwar tidak ‘mampu’ buat apa-apa pun 

BELURU: Presiden Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Tan Sri James Masing me-nyerahkan kepada rakyat di negeri ini untuk menilai siapa Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebenarnya.

Katanya ketua pembangkang itu bebas berkata tentang apa yang mahu dilakukan olehnya ataupun pembangkang jika mereka memerintah, kerana hakikatnya rakyat sudah tahu bahawa Anwar tidak ‘mampu’ melakukan apa-apa pun.

“Buktinya, beliau pernah menjadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan beliau pernah menjadi Menteri Kewa-ngan, tetapi kenapa beliau tidak melakukan apa yang diperkatakannya ketika itu?

“Lainlah kalau saya yang berkata, mungkin rakyat boleh mempertimbangkan kerana saya tidak pernah menjadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri ataupun Menteri Kewangan,” ujar Masing.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Kemajuan Tanah Sarawak berkata, jika apa yang diperkatakan oleh Anwar dapat dilaksanakannya maka ia sepatutnya sudah dilaksanakan ketika beliau masih ada kuasa melakukannya dengan kapasiti sebagai Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kewangan.

“Oleh sebab itu saya mahu rakyat menilai sendiri siapa dia (Anwar) kerana saya yakin rakyat semakin sedar sumbangan dan pembangunan yang dibawa oleh kerajaan berbanding apa yang diomongkan oleh Anwar,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kehadiran Anwar yang dilihat semakin giat berkempen di kawasan Parlimen Sibuti dan Baram sejak kebelakangan ini.

Kedua-dua Parlimen Sibuti dan Baram dijangka akan mengekalkan penyandang-nya iaitu Ahmad Lai Bujang (Sibuti) dan Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan (Baram) sambil PKR dijangka akan bertanding di Baram manakala Sibuti dijangka diberikan kepada PAS.

Mengenai persiapan PRS pula, Masing berkata jentera parti itu sudah berada pada tahap tertinggi dan hanya menunggu sahaja Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak membuat peng-umuman.

“Kami sudah bersiap sedia sepenuhnya dan hanya menunggu sahaja Perdana Menteri melepaskan ‘tembakan’, maka kami akan terus memecut (melancarkan kempen pilihan raya),” tambahnya.

PRS yang diperuntukkan enam kerusi Parlimen, me-ngekalkan lima muka lama dan hanya seorang muka baharu iaitu Wilson Ugak di kerusi Parlimen Hulu Rajang.

Lima kerusi lain iaitu Parlimen Julau (Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum), Selangau (Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun), Kanowit (Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang), Lubok Antu (William Nyalau Badak) dan Sri Aman (Masir Kujat).

sumber:theborneopost