Jabu under fire over NCR scheme ~ Malaysiakini

Taken from http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/103229

By Tony Thien Apr 28, 09 12:38pm

A Miri-based Dayak NGO has taken Sarawak's most senior Dayak minister Alfred Jabu to task for 'once again shortchanging the community' through one of the state government's most praised native customary land development schemes’ commonly known as 'konsep baru' or new concept.

It cited the latest incident which involved the Iban communities from Rumah Belili and Rumah Ranggong situated at Ulu Niah, Miri Division.

Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia (Brimas) executive director Mark Bujang said last Thursday, Jabu (right) handed out a total of RM436,708.20 in dividends and bonuses to 226 participants of the Ulu Niah NCR Joint Venture Project.

At first glance, he said, the total amount seems reasonable if the payment of dividends and bonuses are for the year 2008, but upon checking with the participants, it was learnt that this is the first time in 10 years that the JV project has paid out dividends or bonuses.

“If we were to make the assumption that the dividends and bonuses are divided equally among the scheme participants, each participant would receive about RM1,932,” he added.

Divide that by 10 years, he said, each participant would only get RM193 per year. This, he added, is a far cry from the government's promise that the scheme would uplift the socio-economic status of the Dayaks.

Snek Bagat, one of the residents of Rumah Ranggong, said: "I was looking forward to receiving the dividends and bonuses from our investment (in the JV project). But I was shocked to find out that our investment only yielded 50 cents per month after 10 years. Not enough to buy a cup of coffee."

Why the sudden need to do so?

Meanwhile, Bujang questioned the need to hand out dividends and bonuses after 10 years. "Why does the government and the JV company have a sudden interest with the NCR landowners after they have been neglected all these while?"

"Is it because that the community of Rumah Belili and Rumah Ranggong are suing the private investor BLD Resources Sdn. Bhd. for not keeping its end of the bargain?" he asked.

Previously, in 1999, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between BLD Sdn. Bhd (sister company of BLD Resources), Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) and the NCR landowners at Ulu Niah, where Rumah Belili and Rumah Ranggong were the participating longhouses, to develop the Ulu Niah NCR land based on the ‘konsep baru’ scheme.

Jabu and the then Sarawak Minister for Housing Celestine Ujang handed out the 10 percent upfront payment worth RM294,990 in 2001.

However, in 2008, a resident of Rumah Ranggong, Changgai Dali was sued by BLD Resources for allegedly trespassing into BLD’s plantation. When Changgai and his longhouse folks disputed this they discovered to their horror that their NCR JV project was cancelled - reason given was the government made a mistake saying the land is NCR.

Commenting on the dividends and bonuses received, Changgai said: "We thank Jabu for handing out the dividends and bonuses to us, but we are not happy with the amount."

"How come after all these years, this is all we get? Jabu not once mentioned the status of our land during the ceremony. When I asked Jabu if he could withdraw the provisional lease of the company, he replied that he does not have the authority," he added.

Problems in other schemes

In another case, Jabu also handed out dividends amounting to RM52 million to 16,480 participants for the year 2008 in another NCR land development scheme managed by another state government agency, the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra), where Jabu is also its chairman.

According to an article sourced from a blogsite, Anilnetto.com, Salcra should have netted profits amounting to RM292 million for 2008 taking into account the price of oil palm that year. Jabu announced that another RM22 million had been set aside for loan repayments.

The article went on to say that the net balance after dividends and loan repayments should have amounted to RM218 million, or RM13,240 per participant.

The article questioned Salcra on where the balance of the money went. The article went on to state that even if 50 percent is withheld to allow for reinvestment and replanting, that would still amount to RM109 million or RM6,620 per participant to be accounted for.

In another NCR JV scheme in Suai, Miri Division, the Penans from Kampung Ugos threatened to withdraw from the said scheme launched by Jabu himself in 1998 if the state government agency the Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) did not disclose transparently the official documents, records, JV agreements and statement of accounts of the company.

The Penans also complained that they do not know how SLDB arrived at the amount of dividends paid which is exactly RM500,000 and they do not know which private investor company is in the JV. Some of the scheme participants have died not knowing what will happen to their land and their investment.

All money goes to Mukah

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has announced that works on the new Mukah Airport worth RM200 million are to start immediately. The money is part of the RM2 billion given by the federal government for various development projects under the nine Malaysia plan (9MP).

Sited between Mukah and Oya, the airport once completed is one that can be used by Boeing 737.

Taib was speaking at the earth-breaking ceremony for the new government complex at Service Road which is to be built adjacent to the Pehin Palace – Wisma Pehin Setia Raja which was built for hundreds of million ringgit.

The main office building which is going to be five-storey high and six-storey at the central part will house the district office, state government departments, Sesco office and the office of Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA). The government did not announce the costs of the office buildings, but I believe the costs must be tremendous.

But what about the coal-driven power station costing about RM800 million? And why using coal when we are building 12 dams to supply electricity? (There are plenty of coal deposits in Nanga Merit, Kapit. But who benefit?)

According to Taib, the government needs at least RM60 billion to develop Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy (SCORE). But the amount is small, he said, compared to the more than RM300 billion worth of foreign and private investments.

All the money given by the federal government goes to Mukah leaving none for other divisions such as Kapit which needs a trunk road very badly and urgently. Kapit people have been waiting for 45 years for the road to be constructed linking the town with other towns such as Song, Kanowit, Sibu, Sarikei and so on.

Don’t you think Kapit should also be given priority? - The Broken Shield

Taib in a quandary over Sng's cabinet position ~ Malaysiakini

Taken from: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/103007

With Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s cabinet reshuffle imminent, focus is on Larry Sng, an assistant minister in the Chief Minister’s Department and assistant minister of industrial development, who has been ‘party-less’ since April last year.

Is Taib going to retain or drop him? That is the question many people, especially members of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), are pondering.

Sng was expelled from PRS after a leadership crisis which began in May 2006 and which led to the election of two presidents in the party with two sets of supreme councils and two headquarters.

While Sng was ‘elected’ to be president of one faction, James Masing, on the other hand, was ‘elected’ to head the other faction by his own supporters.

Sng (pic above) had a promising career with PRS, holding a senior post in the party when it was formed following the de-registration of the Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in 2004.

Elected at the Iban-majority Pelagus constituency on a PBDS ticket on his first electoral outing in 2002, Sng was then appointed assistant minister two years later at the tender age of 25 in a cabinet reshuffle.

It is known that he was strongly recommended to the chief minister by Masing in order to show his (Masing’s) gratitude to Larry’s father Sng Chee Hua, who together with Masing successfully de-registered PBDS to form PRS.

Sng’s appointment as assistant minister by-passed some of the most senior state assembly persons in the party.

Will Taib entertain Masing’s request?

But the fall-out began when the young and ambitious Sng challenged Masing for the top post of the Dayak-based PRS, a move considered by observers to be Sng’s biggest mistake.

Sensing a threat to his leadership, Masing then expelled Sng’s men from the party in order to curtail his influence.

The expulsion of party secretary-general Sidi Munan, deputy publicity chief Earnest Chua and supreme council member Sng Chee Beng, plus the ‘reassignment’ of Sng himself from deputy secretary-general to publicity chief triggered the protracted leadership crisis in the party.

One effect of the expulsions was that the party split down the middle with each faction ‘electing’ their own presidents both with their own supreme councils and party headquarters. The two protagonists proceeded to accuse each other of conducting party affairs illegally.

The problem was more or less solved when the Registrar of Societies on April 1 last year recognised Masing’s power under the party’s constitution to hire and fire officials and office -bearers. Sng and members of his faction were then expelled.

In the latest development, Masing (pic below) yesterday wrote to the chief minister to officially inform him that Sng was no longer a PRS member and that he should be replaced by another state assemblyperson from the party in the cabinet.

Masing’s request has placed Taib in a quandary although it is the chief minister’s prerogative to select any one to be in his cabinet.

Will Taib entertain Masing’s request? To not do so would mean that Taib does not regard PRS as an important partner in the state BN coalition and already there are grumbles in PRS that Taib is ‘bullying’ the party.

Drop Sng, and Taib will have to incur the wrath of Sng’s rich and famous father-in-law, Ting Phek Khiing, who is also Taib’s close ally.

Keeping a low profile

But nobody knows what game is Taib is playing. Seemingly, Masing has an advantage as he has seven state assembly persons and six parliamentarians with him.

Looking at the matter from this perspective explains why the promised cabinet reshuffle has been delayed a number of times, generating more interest along the way not only in PRS, but also among the Dayak community as they speculate on Taib’s next move.

Many think that Taib may not carry out the reshuffle although there are a number of vacancies which have yet to be filled especially after Sarawak United People’s Party’s (Supp) two assistant ministers were defeated in the 2006 state election.

The best solution for Taib, observers say, would be to carry on as usual until the next state election due in mid- 2011 or earlier. This way, he neither pleases nor incurs the wrath of anyone.

Sng, meanwhile, is keeping a low profile and concentrating on discharging his duties. He refuses to comment on rumours that he may join Supp soon.

On his political future, he will leave it to the chief minister. “I am not a fortune-teller so I don’t think I have business telling the future,” he said.

“There are a lot of things to do and serving the people is my priority now. I intend to continue serving the people until the people think that there are better people to serve them and their interests.”

NOTICE

It has been brought to my attention that my name and email (josephtawie@yahoo.com) have been used by certain people to solicit for funds or donations.

I have nothing to do with it, so please ignore it.

Joseph Tawie
24 April 2009

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

Where are Your YBs?

According to The Borneo Post on 22 April, families from landslide-affected Rumah Ali, Kerangan Tinggi in Krian Saratok which occurred early this year are disappointed that the relevant authorities have yet to respond to their plight.

One of the victims, Andrew Unjah, 51, three months after the disaster which damaged their properties, they had yet to receive any assistance from the authorities nor hear any news from them.

According to him, the landslide which occurred on the night of January 11 had brought down his toilet, generator shed and fuel storage. His brother-in-law Mathew Handary was also a victim who received a harder blow as his “bilik” was located at the end of the nine-door longhouse. The second landslide occurred on the morning of January 29.

Mathew had lodged a report of the incident at the Saratok Police Station. His loss was about RM2,000, while Andrew’s was RM500. After being informed, the district officer visited the damaged longhouse. The JKKK officially wrote to the district officer who in turn wrote to the Betong Divisional Disaster Committee with copies to the Betong Resident, Divisional engineer and the welfare department.

Top leaders at federal and state levels had been sympathetic to the victims of calamities, yet it was disappointing to note that the agencies in the division entrusted to look after their welfare had failed to translate their concern into action. But where is Peter Nyarok, Krian State assemblyman or Jelaing Meresat, the Saratok MP?

Why? The question can easily be answered. Usually if victims of calamities are supporters of Barisan Nasional, the BN leaders are all out to visit the scene and bring goodies and other assistance. I can assure you the first to visit will be deputy chief minister Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang especially if the area is in a PBB constituency. Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Abang Johari, George Chan and the YB in the particular area will visit them.

But if you are perceived to be supporters of opposition, the BN will ignore you. Unless and when there is a by-election as in the case of the recently concluded Batang Ai by-election when they will bring gunny sacks of money, make promises of development and beg you to support the BN.

They will bring bulldozers and appear to be busy doing some road works, and on the day when polling begins, they start to pull their bulldozers out of the area (this we saw in Batang Ai).

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has reminded BN leaders that political rhetoric could erode public confidence. He said that the people would be most unhappy if what were promised to them were not fulfilled.

Speaking in Johor Bahru, Najib said: “If we make a certain promise, we must deliver the promise and our administration will ensure that the people’s aspirations are met in the best possible way.” Very nice to hear, but will our BN leaders in Sarawak listen to Najib? – The Broken Shield

Turmoil in Dayak longhouses ~ Malaysiakini

Taken from: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/102716

The politicalisation of Dayak institutions have caused a major split in the Iban community, claimed Nicholas Mujah, secretary-general of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia).

“The politicalisation of (the posts of) tuai rumah (longhouse chiefs) and penghulu - who these days are being appointed by politicians or political parties - is causing a big split in the longhouses," said Mujah .

“Previously, the selection of tuai rumah and penghulu was by the people, for the people and of the people. Unless Iban customs are upheld, there will be no unity (in the community).

”Mujah was responding to comments by Parti Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing who had said that politics within the Dayak community, particularly in the rural areas, has been “fluid until now because there is lack of the smart factor”.

Masing said this is evident among the rural Dayaks whose political stand is seldom firm. He urged educated and intellectual Dayaks to help educate the members of the community, so that they are not manipulated by others.

He claimed that some Dayaks intellectuals are going to the longhouses to incite the people to reject government policies, adding that their campaign of hatred has caused the Dayaks to be further fragmented in politics.

Mujah responded: “I am happy that Masing has realised the weaknesses of the Dayak leaders. The most important thing is that Masing and his group of Dayak leaders can rectify these weaknesses and go back to basics to learn from history.

“I refer in particular to the land (code) amendment in 2000. Despite knowing that the amendment would disadvantage the Dayaks, none of the Dayak legislators dared to oppose it or even felt concerned.”

Mujah rejected Masing’s accusation that Dayak intellectuals are inciting the people to turn against the government.

“I do not agree. I can say that these Dayak intellectuals are only advising their parents not to be cheated another time,” he said.

People confused

Commenting on the same issue, Sarawak Dayak National Union publicity officer John Anthony Brian said the rural people are confused as they cannot distinguish truth from propaganda.They did not know who to trust as some politicians do not tell the whole truth, he said. And because of conflicting statements, the people tend to be sceptical.

Citing the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) as an example, Brain said certain politicians have claimed that Salcra provides many benefits to those participating in the land schemes. However, many have received only RM8 per day or very small dividends per year, he claimed.

Brian, who runs the Dayak Baru.com website, said: “The Dayaks want to see things happen in their area and want the government to deliver its promises. They have heard so many promises. As far as the people of Batang Ai are concerned, they have kicked the ball back to the government (to deliver its pledge of development projects).”

Lawyer and politician Baru Bian said the notion of being politically ‘smart’ is a subjective one.“I don’t think I subscribe to political smartness for the sake of political survival. I prefer correctness. But anyway (Masing) is wrong - as if Dayak leaders are not smart. They are!” he added.