Watch out for Adenan

KUCHING – What does the recent cabinet reshuffle mean in terms of (a) Adenan Satem’s come-back to the cabinet, (b) Fatimah Abdullah’s promotion to full-fledged minister and (c) the appointment of Tan Joo Phoi, the chairman of Padawan Municipal Council as assistant minister?

The appointment of Adenan Satem, State Assemblyman for Tanjong Datu, as special advisor to Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud in a cabinet reshuffle on 25 March 2010 has sparked interests among the public that Adenan can be the man who is likely to replace Taib as PBB president and Chief Minister of Sarawak.

With Adenan coming back to join the administration, the public are asking: is Adenan the man who will finally take over from Taib?

He was once tipped to replace Taib, but fell out of favour with the chief minister in 2006 and since then he has been put on cold storage.

In the past Taib has eyed a number of PBB leaders who should take over from him; names such as Bujang Haji Ulis, Abang Abu Bakar, Dr. Sulaiman Daud, Effendi Norwawi and Adenan Satem are still fresh on the minds of the members. But one after the other of them has fallen by the road side.

“But now Adenan is back and it appears that Taib is grooming him to take over,” said Voon, State Assemblyman for Batu Lintang.

He had held various portfolios in the State administration including Land Development (1987-1992), Social Development (1992-1998). In 2004, he left the State cabinet and joined the Federal Cabinet as Natural Resources and Environment minister, but resigned in 2006.

Apart from Adenan, there are other senior leaders who have an equal chance to replace Taib. For example Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang, deputy president (1), Abang Johari bin Tun Openg, deputy president (11), Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, senior vice president.

“Any one of them has been mentioned by members of the party as well as the public as Taib’s possible successor. And don’t under rate Alfred Jabu,” said one of his supporters.

In fact Jabu’s supporters have been promoting him in their blogs as the next chief minister of Sarawak.

“No one can deny that Jabu has all the experience and expertise,” they said.

It is little doubt that Abang Johari who holds a MBA degree from a British university is also in line to the most powerful chief minister’s post. He has shown to be a very effective and capable minister.

Awang Tengah’s supporters have also been going around projecting him as a possible successor to Taib.

“The pressure on Taib to look for a successor has now become very urgent not only because of his health, but also because of huge stakes in the Sarawak Corridor Renewal Energy (SCORE), the 12 dams that are going to be built, the aluminum plant and the infrastructures. All these are worth billions of ringgit,” said a political observer.

With Adenan now joining the race, there are four potential candidates whom Taib can choose from.

“He must be the one Taib can trust to undertake all these projects and to help protect his family’s businesses,” the observer said.

Fatimah’s promotion is something to do with the recent PBB triennial delegates conference where she was soundly defeated in the contest for the Bumiputra wing of the PBB supreme council.

As a Taib loyalist and hard working too, Fatimah deserved to be promoted. But then, PBB has now more ministers in the cabinet- starting from Taib (Chief Minister,Minister of Finance and Minister of Planning and Resource managment), Jabu (deputy chief minister and minister of modernization of agriculture), Abang Johari (Minister of Housing and Industrial Development), Awang Tengah (minister of public utilities and second minister of planning and resource management), Michael Manyin (minister of infrastructure development), Fatimah Abdullah (minister in the chief minister’s department) and Adenan (minister without portfolio in charge of information and broadcasting).

(PBB has eight ministers), SUPP has two (George Chan, deputy chief minister and Wong Soon Koh, environment and public health minister), SPDP and PRS each has one minister (William Mawan, minister of social development and urbanisation and James Masing, minister of land development respectively).

Taib also appointed Tan Joo Phoi as assistant minister in charge of environmental matters connected to dam construction in Limbang, Baram, Baleh and Murum.

According to Dominique Ng, a PKR Sarawak adviser, by promoting Tan, Taib is trying to appease long outstanding grouses of SUPP that Taib owes them that post.

Secondly, he said Tan’s appointment may open the way for PBB to take over Padawan Municipal Council.

“It is a classic case of killing two birds with one stone. What a well targeted stone!” said Ng.

But one may ask why SPDP and PRS are not involved in the reshuffle such as increasing the number of ministerial posts or assistant ministerial posts?

But I have heard that Taib will only give a post of political secretary to each of the two parties, and I further heard that he will only accept women as political secretaries this time. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Why are they scared of the truth?

On 1 March 2010, a special seminar on land was held for members of PBB delegates who were in Kuching attending the PBB general assembly.

Initially every one was encouraged to talk or raise questions. Encouraged by the atmosphere, one of the Iban delegates described the taking away of NCR land by big companies as “PL disease” (provisional lease).

Among those listening to the grouses by the delegates were Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang, (most powerful) Second Minister of Planning and Resources Management Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

After the delegate described the taking away of NCR land as “PL disease”, the ministers and the organisers of the seminar did not allow the seminar participants to talk or raise questions on problems affecting the NCR land. They were only to listen to explanation from the government.

Many delegates from Kanowit, Selangau, Simanggang, Lubok Antu, Lundu, Simunjan, Bintulu and Niah wanting to know more about the “disease” were fumed with anger as they knew they were not told the truth about NCR land issues through JV.

Certainly delegates and land owners from Kanowit wanted to know why they have not been paid a single cent as dividend even though their lands have been planted with oil palm through a JV about 10 years ago.

While Jabu seemed to be quiet (according to delegates who talked to The Broken Shield), only Awang Tengah tried to explain the “PL disease” blaming the contractors appointed by the provisional lease (PL) holders for encroaching into some native customary right lands.

Have the NCR land owners been told the truth about the evil of joint venture schemes? – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Should the contractors to be blamed?

Second Minister of Planning and Resources Management Awang Tengah Ali Hassan was quoted by The Borneo Post today (Tuesday, 2 March) as saying that contractors appointed by the provisional lease (PL) holders to be blamed for encroaching into some native customary right (NCR) lands.

He said that even though it was obvious that they could not enter NCL, they just bulldozed their way into the area.

He explained that land claimed as customary land would be omitted when the authorities issued PLs.

“This condition must be adhered to, and normally it is the contractors appointed by the PL holders who bulldoze, and this creates problems.

“They just bulldoze even land which come native customary rights,” he told reporters after officiating at a seminar on land and economy for Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) delegates at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here on 1 March.

Tengah was asked to comment on what a delegate termed as “PL disease” during the question and answer session in the seminar.

“I urge Penghulus to ensure that the appointed contractors would ensure that land which are being claimed as NCR land would be omitted unless they (land owners) ask for the contractors for assistance,” he said.

He said that PL holders had been reminded to ensure that their appointed contractors carried out their tasks in an ethical manner.

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu was among those present.

Awang Tengah now seems to be very sympathetic towards the NCR land owners. Could be that the State election is coming and NCR land problems will be major issues in the campaigns.

But I still remember when he answered a question in Council Negeri a couple of years ago that “All untitled lands including NCR lands belong to the Government.”

He has been warning Penghulus and Tuai Rumah not to endorse any NCR land claim by the land owners otherwise they will face troubles.

Now if it is true that contractors are to be blamed for bulldozing NCR land, destroying fruit trees, cash crops, longhouses and farm houses, why are staffs of Land and Survey Department supported by the Police helping the contractors to destroy the fruit trees, cash crops and longhouses?

Why are NCR land owners being detained for defending their NCR lands? Why are the State Government and the Land and Survey Department being sued by the NCR land owners? And so far why are the NCR land owners winning their court cases against the State Government and the Land and Survey? And why is the State Government using the tax payers’ money to pay millions of ringgit worth of compensations to the land owners and to the lawyers? Why? and Why? And there are so many “whys”?

Awang Tengah is not telling the truth. In countries in Europe, South Korea and Japan, Awang should be asked to resign. Should the contractors alone be blamed? – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Focus on PBB’s delegates conference

KUCHING – Even though PBB party elections considered a tame affair in early March 2010, yet the triennial delegates conference has generated some interest not only among its members, but also among the general public as they believe that the party President and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud may choose to announce his successor.

Abdul Taib Mahmud

Taib, aged 74, looking frail after an operation, but still mentally alert, is said to be looking for someone to lead the party which he has helmed since 26 March 1981, a period of about 29 years. And what makes it more interesting and exciting is that whoever is to succeed him as the president of PBB is going to be the Chief Minister of Sarawak.

In the past Taib has eyed a number of PBB leaders who should take over from him; names such as Bujang Haji Ulis, Abang Abu Bakar, Dr. Sulaiman Daud, Effendi Norwawi and Adenan Satem are still fresh on the minds of the members. But one after the other of them has disappeared into political oblivion.

Since Parti Bumiputra and Parti Pesaka merged into Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu in January 1973, no one has ever challenged the president of the party. Except for two party elections in 1998 and 2005, there have never been any serious elections in the party.

Adenan Satem

In 1998, both Adenan and Abang Johari Tun Openg fought one another for the other post of deputy president (II) reserved for the Malay/Melanau section. In that bitter fight Abang Johari with the support of the Dayak members of the party won the race, against Adenan who was personally picked by Taib.

The defeated Adenan was then appointed by Taib as the senior vice president of the party.

In 2005, Adenan tried once again to challenge Abang Johari, but the TDC was postponed after some of Adenan’s supporters were found by Abang Johari’s men to have allegedly duplicated branches in some 40 constituencies. The matter was reported to the Police and to the Registrar of Societies who advised them to redo the election otherwise they might end up like PBDS.

Taib had reportedly said before the 2006 State election that he might still offer himself for the last term as Chief Minister in the coming state election that may be called between now and July next year.

And Taib’s desire to step down is further strengthened when on 10 January 2009 at an SPDP annual general meeting in Sibu in a speech read by George Chan, he had said that he was looking for someone regardless of race to be trained to take over from him.

The man supposedly to be picked by him must be trained from now to do the job, must be smart and sincere in the struggle to develop the State and raise the standard of living of the people.

Thus the March party elections which can be the last one for Taib have therefore triggered the rumour mill in motion. Immediately coming into focus are a number of senior leaders such as Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang, deputy president (I), Abang Johari bin Tun Openg, deputy president (II), Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, treasurer general and even Taib’s son, Sulaiman. Any one of them has been mentioned by members of the party as well as the public as Taib’s possible successor.

No one can deny that Jabu has all the experience and expertise and he does not need to be trained now to take over the chief minister’s post the way the policemen are trained for promotions for higher ranks.

Alfred Jabu

A graduate in Agriculture, Jabu (pic above) has been tutored by two of Sarawak’s greatest politicians in the persons of Abdul Rahman Yakub and Abdul Taib Mahmud. Elected as State Assemblyman for Layar in 1974, he has been appointed to hold various ministerial posts including Deputy Chief Minister under Rahman and since March 1981 under Taib.

Another chief minister material is Abang Johari who holds a MBA degree from a British university. He has shown to be a very effective and capable minister. When Taib appointed him as Industrial Development Minister, he was able to bring in billions of ringgit worth of foreign direct investments to the State. After he left and moved to the Tourism Ministry, the amount of FDI to Sarawak declined sharply.

But in the Tourism Ministry, he was once again proved to be a capable minister by turning it into a machine making money earning billions of ringgit from tourists who came from Japan, Korea, China, Arab and European countries.

In another cabinet reshuffle, Abang Johari was moved to the ailing Ministry of Housing and was shocked to find out that the ministry was nearly “bankrupt”. There was no fund even to build a single house. And what he did was to meet his federal counterpart and discussed his problems. From their discussions, he was able to secure RM200 million to carry out people’s housing projects in the State.

Coming from an aristocratic family (his father Tun Abang Openg was the first governor of Sarawak), he seems to have won the trust and confidence of Taib after he (Taib) gave him an additional ministry – the Ministry of Urban Development to his current portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle in November 2009. His upbringing has brought him into contacts with Malays, Ibans, Bidayuhs and Orang Ulus.

The next favourite is Taib’s son Sulaiman who resigned recently as deputy minister of Tourism. Although it was stated that he resigned due to health reasons, speculation is rife that his father wants him to return to the State and to be “trained” to take over.

Political observers are closely watching Sulaiman in this coming party election and the post he is offering himself. The post he is going to hold will be a barometer to gauge his political fortune.

The next name mentioned is Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, senior vice-president (I) of the party and the Minister of Public Utilities and the Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management, who is considered the most powerful minister after Taib in the State Cabinet.

But Awang Tengah’s alleged disadvantage is that the Dayak members of PBB and to some extent the Malays have little respect for him; in fact they are not happy with the way he, as second Minister of Planning and Resource Management, handles land matters especially the NCR land. Dayak votes in the party are critical to anyone who aspires to lead the party.

In the past months, Taib has also been seeking the views of the people close to him including some Dayak and Chinese Ministers regarding his possible successor. But sources say that his ministers are divided on the issue; while one or two prefer Abang Johari, they are those who prefer Sulaiman.

“Certainly with the coming party elections, the public are interested to know who will be the man Taib is going to train to take over,” said a veteran politician.

“A lot of things are at stake such as the Sarawak Corridor Renewal Energy (SCORE), the 12 dams that are going to be built, the aluminum plant and the infrastructures. All these are worth billions of ringgit.

“And there are accusations of corruption and nepotism that have been labeled against Taib on several occasions and the dominance of Sarawak’s political elite including Taib’s family in the logging industries, road construction, housing projects and NCR land oil palm plantations.

“And Taib must find someone who he can trust to undertake all these projects and to help protect his family’s businesses,” he said.

“But many put their bet on his son. Can he be the dark horse?” asked the political veteran, who was once time served under Taib Mahmud.- The Broken Shield

Source: http://www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

NCR Land owners’ biggest dilemma?

PANTU - Tuai Rumah (longhouse headman) Masa and 700 NCR land owners of Kampung Tekuyong, Empaling, Gayau, Isu, Abok and Kerangas have called on Land Development Minister James Masing and chairman of NCR land task force Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang to stop Tetangga Akrab Pelita Pantu selling their NCR land within the company’s plantation.

Tuai Rumah Masa has also lodged a Police report against the sale of their native customary rights land within the plantation belonging to Tetangga Akrab Pelita Pantu at the Pantu Police station on 2 December.

It was reported in the New Straits Times that a plantation group Kim Loong Resources Berhad plans to buy a 60 percent stake in Sarawak’s Tetangga Akrab Pelita (Pantu) to increase its land bank for oil palm plantation.

Some 2.02 million shares of RM1 each in Tetangga Akrab Pelita are being sought, while the remaining of 40 percent owned by Pelita (10 percent) and the rest by NCR land owners through a joint venture scheme.

The agreement is expected to be signed next month.

“Our NCR land is not for sale as it is on which we the natives will survive and work on for our livelihood,” said Tuai Rumah Masa angrily.

“Please help us to stop the sale,” he said, asking Masing, Jabu, William Mawan (Minister of Urbanisation and Social Development) and other Dayak elected representatives to help stop the sale.

“Without your help, we will lose our land to another peninsular company,” he stressed.

It is learnt that as of 31 October 2009, Kim Loong has made advanced payments totaling RM11.43 million for the acquisition of the Tetangga Akrab Pelita plantation.

It is also reported that for the past three years the company had been losing some RM3.151 million due to immature plantations.

The company which has planted about 6,283 ha of land, the bulk of which is native customary rights land, has been given licence to plant oil palm in some 10,471 ha of land held under NCR land in Sungai Tenggang and Bukit Begunan.

Jetty’s comment: Tetangga Akrab cannot sell NCR land. Firstly, the lands are still under dispute and they have filed a legal action against Tetangga Akrab in 2006 for planting oil palm in their land without their permission. The case is pending.

Secondly, any NCR land cannot be sold to non-natives. There is a law in the Land Code preventing the sale to non-natives. (I am not sure of the Section, but I know there is a law. Any non-native who buys NCR land will stand to lose as the purchase will not be approved or recognised by the Lands and Surveys Department. Usually non-natives used the names of natives to purchase NCR land.)

But Taib’s government is smart. First he declares that NCR land is a State land. After that the land is leased to their cronies to develop. These cronies, in the case of Tetangga Akrab will sell it to another company in order make fast money.

Anyway, once the NCR land has been declared State land, it is incumbent on a landowner to prove that the said land is NCR land. His Aki (grandfather), the creator of the rights, has long gone. He cannot defend on any Tuai Rumah and other community leaders to help him provide proof of ownership as they have been warned by Awang Tengah (aka as Awang Tanah), the most powerful second minister of planning and resource management not to endorse any claim of NCR land. Otherwise, they will lose their allowance of RM450.00 a month.

Isn’t this the biggest dilemma faced by NCR land owners nowadays? - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

See related links on this issues >

http://dayaknation.com/blog/?p=3043

http://dayaknation.com/blog/?p=3024

Awang Tengah criticised

KUCHING – Sarawak Opposition leaders and activists today criticised Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management for asking the Auditor General to amend its Annual Report for 2008 as the report cited Sarawak along with Kelantan, Pahang and Johor to have poor forest management that led to river pollution, erosion, landslides and destruction of flora and fauna.

The report which also mentioned illegal logging, logging in forest reserves or national parks and poor enforcement as some of the factors responsible has made the minister unhappy and demanded that the report be corrected.

A DAP leader Voon Lee Shan, who is the Batu Lintang State assemblyman said that Police and MACC reports should be made against the minister for trying to influence the Auditor General to change the report.

“This is an abuse of power and intimidation against the Auditor General. Police reports as well reports to MACC should be made,” he said, pointing out that the AG made the report based on the principle of authority and accountability.

The AG, he said, should be firm and should not be influenced by any quarter.

A PKR Sarawak leader and State Assemblyman for Padungan Dominique Ng accused Awang Tengah of trying to fiddle with the report. The AG, he said, has certain procedures and guidelines to follow in making their reports

“Unless the Sarawak Government is saying that the reports are without any basis and are wrong, then the minister is questioning the credibility of the AG.

“The Sarawak Government should spend time and effort to find out the truth instead in a denial mode. Didn’t they also deny the Penan rape cases?

“They are only trying to cover up atrocities now being committed in our lands,” Ng stressed.

Harrison Ngau, chairman of Sarawak Indigenous Lawyers Alliance (SILA), said that Awang Tengah should not attempt to question let alone dictate how the AG which is an independent body carries out his works or functions.

“If Awang Tengah wants the AG to change or amend its reports on the subject of forest management in Sarawak, other parties such as the native communities who live within or around the logging areas would also want their views to be included in the AG reports.

“I would also want to suggest to the AG to look into the reasons why environmental impact assessment study on loggings in Sarawak as required under the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance was never carried out by the logging companies in the State?

“I wish also to challenge Awang Tengah to furnish to the AG copies of all the areas in Sarawak which have been licensed out for logging since 1981 and to reveal the names of the companies granted the licences.

“He should disclose all these to the AG to enable him to also study and annex the maps and the names of the companies in the AG reports so that the public can also make their assessment and give their views to the AG concerning the management of our forest in Sarawak.

“If Awang Tengah is so confident that AG was wrong in concluding that the management of our forests is poor, he should therefore have the courage to disclose all these,” Harrison said.

The Secretary General of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA), Nicholas Mujah called on MACC to investigate Awang Tengah as there seems to be fishy elements on his call on the AG to amend his report.

“MACC must look into Awang Tengah’s call,” he said.

Meanwhile, Awang Tengah who is the most powerful minister after Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, demanded the Auditor General to make correction with regards to its reports on Sarawak’s sustainable forest management as it was misleading and incorrect.

“The Auditor General has to make the correction for fear that outsiders may use the report to tarnish the image of the state,” he said, adding that the final report was based on their (AG’s) own interpretation and not based on the reports, findings and comments from the Forest Department.

“If they want the interest and image of the State not to be affected internationally, they should make the necessary correction,” he said.

He said that the National Audit Department had actually requested for comments from the various departments before the AG made the final report.

“But in the final report they simply set aside whatever comments that we have gathered. The Forest Department was even not consulted when the final report was published.

“We do not question their competency on financial management such as how projects are implemented as that is their expertise. But to comment on certain things like sustainable forest management, I don’t think they have the expertise. They cannot come to the conclusion based on their own observation. For instance just because the water is muddy they blame it on illegal logging and pollution. You can’t make that kind of conclusion,” said Awang Tengah angrily.

“If they have the expertise to make the comment, it is okay, but I believe they don’t have it,” he said, pointing out that Sarawak had been practising sustainable forest management since the formation of the Forest Department and had been credited by international organisations, ITTO, and the United Nations.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has announced the setting up of a high powered task force to study the 2008 Auditor General report and initiate appropriate actions against those responsible for financial irregularities and abuse of power mentioned in the report.

“The committee will not only look at the abuse of power and initiate action against those found involved in financial irregularities but also take administrative actions against those found guilty but could not charged in court fro various reasons,” he said.

The task forced to be headed by the Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan would also include the Finance Secretary General Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, Public Services Department Director General Ismail Adam and the Auditor General Ambrin Buang himself.

They would have the power to rope in Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail and the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) if the need arose, he said.

Following Awang Tengah’s complaints against the AG, don’t you think Awang Tengah or someone from the Forestry Corporation to be interviewed by the task force for possibly abuse of power? - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Prove the land is yours, says Awang Tengah

Awang Tengah says that the government is recognizing native customary rights (NCR) lands as long as the landowners can come up with proof or evidence and the piece of land fulfills the existing land conditions.

“The evidence and conditions must be based on the research and record kept by Land and Survey Department,” the second minister of planning and resource management said.

He cited an agricultural development project purportedly to be implemented on the site where a longhouse, Rumah Chang in Niah, had been built.

Certainly we can prove that land belongs to the landowners based on the following pieces of evidence :-

>> The existence of pendam tuai (old graves) before 1 January 1958;

>> The existence of tembawai ( the sites where longhouses had been built) before 1 January 1958;

>> The existence of fruit trees, rambutan, durian, engkabang, rubber trees, (some of these trees are more than 100 years old);

>> The owners have been farming the land from generation to generation even during the Brooke regime (Tuai Rumah and Penghulu can bear witness. But the problem is that the Tuai Rumah and Penghulu have been warned by the government not to simply endorse such land as NCR land belonging to a certain person. The other problem with Tuai Rumah is that a number of them have become land brokers for certain YBs as in the case of Bau and in Lundu);

>>“Pemakai menoa” and “Pulau Galau” have now been declared by the Federal Court as part of NCR land and can be used as evidence of the existence of NCR land.

It must be admitted that it is not easy to reconcile our proofs with the evidence and conditions on the research and record kept by the Land and Survey Department.

>> Firstly, the department, if it is against us, will say that there is no evidence or record kept by them.

>> Secondly, the department may erase the evidence and record, so we will still lose to them.

From now on, we should wherever possible survey our own land using the GPS (Global Positioning System) and submit the surveyed land to the Land and Survey Department.

Although the government does not recognize it, we have at least a piece of evidence and the Court, however, recognizes our rights in the land. – The Broken Shield

News and Views: Land seminar

A two-day land policy and administration seminar is to be held at Parkcity Everly Hotel in Bintulu starting on 21 April. To be attended by some 400 participants consisting of Barisan Nasional politicians, Senators, civil servants and community leaders, it will aim to clarify common issues, rid suspicion and public confusion.

Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, second planning and resource management minister says it is equally important to enhance the understanding of BN politicians, civil servants and community leaders on land policy and administration.

Suspicion and confusion among the people, especially those in the rural areas, arose when interested parties exploited their lack of understanding and knowledge on land policy and administration. And the situation is made worse when the politicians, community leaders and civil servants fail to explain the policy satisfactorily to the people, Awang says.

He admits that half of the people do not understand some land policies and administration, and this has contributed to suspicion and confusion. Because of this the public are kept in the dark especially when their lack of understanding is exploited by certain quarters.

Six papers will be presented at the seminar: Roles and responsibilities of ministry of planning and resource management: An overview of land administration and policy in Sarawak; The new concept of development on native customary rights (NCR) land: Approaches and strategies; Evolution of land policy: Transforming the landscape of Sarawak; Laws and regulations governing land administration and policy in Sarawak; Native customary rights (NCR): Recognition, status, dealings, extinguishment and compensation; and the forests (planted forests) rules 1997.

It is sad that Awang Tengah does not want Suhakam, Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) and other non-governmental associations (NGOs) to attend the seminar. If the government is sincere and has nothing to hide, why are these organisations being excluded? After all these are the organisations that always give the government a headache, as they, perhaps, “lack” understanding of the government’s policy and administration on land especially on NCR land.

But on the other hand, why invite community leaders like Tuai Rumahs as many of them barely know how to read and write, let alone understand the complex issues of NCR land administration? What we want is for some of the Dayak lawyers to attend the seminar so that they will be fully knowledgeable on land laws, regulations and policies.

Excluding these people can mean the government has an ulterior motive. We want to know why there is a need to keep on amending the Land Code and each time the amendment has serious legal implications on NCR land owners.

Since 1997, several amendments have been made, and the most damaging one was made in May 2000 with regard to Section 5 of the Land Code. Since this amendment, the NCR land owners have been criminalized for owning and defending their land. Many have been thrown into prison. Some have brought their cases to court. Up to this day, there are nearly 200 cases of land owners suing the government and companies for taking away and encroaching into their NCR land.

We know that this seminar is to tell the seminar participants the government’s side of the story. Perhaps the BN leaders have felt that they could not answer so many questions on NCR land issues during the recently concluded Batang Ai by-election, as they lacked understanding. Or perhaps the BN leaders are preparing for the answers for the coming State election?

Any way I would like to ask the following questions: Are we (including the Dayak politicians in BN, the Dayak civil servants and Dayak lawyers) going to stand idle when our parents’ and grand parents’ NRC land are being taken away and being sold to big companies for oil palm plantations? Are we? Don’t you feel sorry for your parents and grandparents who have been owning and farming the land for generations suddenly find their NCR land are being taken away by companies? – The Broken Shield

State government: Protector or robber of NCR land?

Source: The Borneo Post, 4 March 2009

(click picture to enlarge)

Lubok Antu MP William Nyallau, first time elected representative, thinks that the State government is the protector of NCR land. He says that he wants NCR land to “remain as such so that they can be best protected by the government”.

And he does not want NCR land to be delineated, surveyed and issued titles, despite the Ibans begging for the government to survey their land for the past 45 years.

Maybe Nyallau do not fear or do not know Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is the most powerful Second minister of resource planning and management, but tens of thousands of Dayaks who own NCR land do know and are dead scared of Awang Tengah. They even call him Awang TANAH, who says that all untitled lands including NCR land are State land.

“Nyallau speaks through his nose,” said a PRS supreme council member who did not share Nyallau’s proposal.

Nyallau’s reasoning is that if such lands are to be surveyed and given titles, the Ibans will sell their land.

“How many titled lands have been sold off since the 1980s? Check with the Land and Survey department,” he said to The Borneo Post dated 4 March 2009 (see newscutting above).

But what is wrong with selling your land if you need the money to send your children for higher education or for business. Chinese, Malays and others are doing the same thing.

Indeed it is better to sell your land and be paid the price agreeable to both sides, rather than your NCR land being taken away and are sold to big companies for oil palm plantations. This is what happens now. Up to now more than half of 4 million NCR lands have been taken away for the planting oil palm.

Not only the land owners do not receive a cent out of their land, they are being criminalized for defending their land, while others have resorted to take legal actions against the government and companies to claim compensations.

Now coming back to the question: Is the State government protector or robber of State land?

The voters of Batang Ai who will be casting their votes for the by-election on 7 April will be able to answer this question. - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Four are possible as Taib’s successor?

Is Abdul Taib Mahmud really anxious now to look for a successor? This seems to be the hint when he made reference to the criteria of his successor in a speech read by George Chan at the annual general meeting of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) in Sibu 10 January 2009.

Previously he would be furious with reporters when the question of his stepping down or his successor being asked. But at the SPDP function he seemed to be anxious when he included the subject of successor in his speech. Could he be hard-pressed to look for one knowing that he is now in the twilight zone of his career?

Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak Chief Minster since March 1981, has been saying it now and then that he is still looking for his successor. Since he expressed his intention to step down more than 10 years ago, he had identified a number of politicians who should take over from him. Unfortunately, one by one of them have now disappeared into political oblivion. Among the politicians were Bujang Ulis, Abang Abu Bakar, Effendi Norwawi and Adenan Satem.

At that SPDP function, Taib clearly stated that ANYONE regardless of race could be supported to take over from him as the chief minister.

“He must be trained to do the job from now. The criteria are that he must be smart and sincere in the struggle to develop the state and raise the living standard of the people.”

Immediately coming into our focus are two deputy presidents of PBB the back-bone of the State Government: Alfred Jabu anak Numpang, deputy president (I) and deputy chief minister and Abang Zohari Tun Openg, deputy president (II) and Minister of Housing.

No one can deny that Jabu has all the experience and the expertise to be the chief minister of Sarawak. There is no necessity for him to be trained NOW to hold the highest office in the State the way the Police personnel are being trained for promotions to higher ranks. A graduate in Agriculture, he has been tutored by two Sarawak’s greatest politicians, Abdul Rahman Yakub and Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Like Taib, Jabu who had been elected as State assemblyman for Layar since 1974 has been holding various ministerial posts including deputy chief minister, first under Abdul Rahman Yakub, and then under Abdul Taib Mahmud from March 1981.

Jabu’s main problem is that he has been picking quarrels with those who do not share his political views or see the things the way he sees them. Thus the majority of educated Dayaks and Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) do not support him as their leader.

He is only being regarded as the Dayak leader from Betong where he concentrates his development and political efforts. He has no ideas to develop other districts or divisions. Even projects meant for other divisions have been ‘hijacked’ to Betong.

These are Jabu’s minus points. In the words of Taib Mahmud that someone who takes over from him must be “smart and sincere in the struggle to develop the State and raise the living standard of the people.”

Still, Jabu can enhance his position as the undisputed Dayak leader if he knows how to tackle the educated Dayaks and Dayak NGOs such as calling for a dialogue and seeking their advice and opinions as how to improve the Dayak community. They can be his “think tank”.

Another chief minister material is Abang Zohari. An MBA graduate from a British university, he has shown to be a very effective and capable minister. When Taib appointed him as industrial development minister, he was able to bring billions of ringgit worth of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to Sarawak.

After he left and moved to the tourism ministry, the amount of FDIs to Sarawak declined sharply. In the tourism ministry, he turned it into a machine-making money earning billions of ringgit from tourists who came from Japan, Korea, China, Arab and European countries.

In the last cabinet reshuffle, Abang Zohari was moved from the tourism ministry to the ailing housing ministry which he still holds till this day. He was shocked to find out that the ministry was nearly “bankrupt” and was no fund to build even a single house. And what he did was to meet his federal counterpart and discussed his problem. From the discussion, he was able to secure RM200 million to carry out people’s housing projects in the State.

Abang Zohari’s other quality is that he is kind-hearted and approachable and earns the respect of the people. The Malays in Kuching are his bastion of support. In the party he has strong support from the party members especially the Ibans as evident by the support they gave him when he contested against Adenan Satem in 1998 PBB election for the post of deputy president. Despite Adenan Satem receiving the full support of the chief minister, Abang Zohari defeated him hands down.

Another person who can be considered as a possible successor to Taib Mahmud is Awang Tengah Ali Hassan. He appears to be the most powerful minister after Taib holding very important portfolios. Like Adenan, the Dayaks are suspicious of him, especially the way he handles the NCR land issues. To be an effective chief minister, he needs the support of the Dayaks.

Coming distant fourth is perhaps Taib’s own son, Sulaiman who is now a deputy minister in the federal cabinet. It appears that he is being trained and groomed NOW to take over the PBB leadership.

All the four politicians have every chance to be the next chief minister. But Sarawak’s book-makers are predicting that Sulaiman is the hot favourite to take over as chief minister and to continue Taib’s legacy, assuming that BN still wins in the next election.

Is there any taker?

However, to sum up, the Dayaks especially the Ibans do not mind who is being appointed as the next chief minister be he Chinese, Malay or Iban as long as he is able to solve the problem of NCR land that has haunted the native landowners since the State government’s amendments of the Land Code in 2000. –The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com