DOMINIQUE NG KIM HO
AHLI DUN – N.9
DECLARATION OF ASSETS
I, DOMINIQUE NG KIM HO, being the duly elected representative of N.9 Padungan in the recent Sarawak State Elections on 20 May 2006, do hereby declare that the following constitute the whole of my and my immediate family’s assets:-
1) one (1) active Legal Firm;
2) a medical supplies company and a small business management company which are not very active;
3) one (1) corner double storey Terrace House at Pisang Road West, worth about RM260,000.00, still under housing loan repayment;
4) one (1) three year old Pregio Van, worth about RM70,000.00, still under hire purchase repayment;
5) one (1) very old Volvo; and
6) one (1) five year old Honda Motorbike.
Dated this 17th day of July, 2006
……………………………………………..
DOMINIQUE NG KIM HO
Friday, June 27, 2008
XI. ON THE ISSUE OF THE SONGKOK AS PART OF THE UNIFORM
XI. ON THE ISSUE OF THE SONGKOK AS PART OF THE UNIFORM
Tuan Speaker,
It is with the greatest of dismay that I receive your ruling on the first day of this sitting on the wearing of the Songkok.
While you have taken great pains to refer to the head wear as a hat, I think it is a songkok, and many have called it as that.
As the saying goes a hat is a hat but a songkok is songkok!
I have taken some trouble to look up some references in the internet but the consensus is that a songkok is “an apparel worn by Malay and Muslim men”, and it is perceived as such by all races including the Chinese.
I meant no disrespect for the Malay culture and Islam and neither is there any intention to. Indeed I belong to and am a very proud member of a party where there are many Malays and Muslims members and leaders. However just as I would respect the right of Malay men to wear the songkok, I would like to be accorded due respect for my choice not to wear it.
I think that I have a constitutional right as a non Malay and a non Muslim not to wear an apparel which is otherwise very deeply associated with being a Malay and a Muslim. I think that I have a right to determine what I should or should wear and no ruling would persuade me to otherwise do something that is against my nature, culture and conscience!
Press Statement dated 20 July 2006
In conjunction with the Swearing-In Ceremony for the recently elected YBs of the Sarawak DUN today, I would like to take this opportunity to declare my and my family’s assets.
As the flag bearer of the Parti KeAdilan Rakyat, which is a party dedicated to bringing about Justice for the People, I consider it my solemn duty to lead the way and set an example for all Sarawakians.
For too long, the Sarawak Government has been tarnished by allegations of corruption and favoritism in the award of massive multi million ringgit contracts and projects to companies owned or controlled by cronies or family members of our leaders.
We have currently in Sarawak serving high ranking leaders whose family members own tens of millions worth of shares in companies that are often given mega government projects without tender.
To restore the people’s confidence in the ability of our Sarawak Government to carry out its solemn duty without fear, favour or corruption, all the leaders, elected representatives and especially ministers and senior government officers must regularly declare their assets, and be required to do so by relevant laws.
I hereby call upon all the elected YBs of the current DUN, starting from the YAB Chief Minister of Sarawak, to declare his and his immediate families’ assets, on or before the start of the 1st Sitting of the 16th DUN Assembly which has been scheduled on 24 July 2006.
If we are not corrupt, and have not profited from our public office, then we should have nothing to hide and a declaration of our assets will dispel all such worries and suspicions.
There is nothing wrong with being rich, for getting rich is the objective of the most commercial and business minded people.
But it is morally wrong to use our public offices to give projects to and enrich our own family members, relatives and cronies. In Malaysian laws, such acts are also serious crimes punishable with heavy jail sentences.
Corruption is a serious blight on our society and I strongly support our PM’s campaign to wipe out corruption in Malaysia. I start now in Sarawak on this auspicious and historic occasion, taking oath as the 1st duly elected KeAdilan YB in Sarawak.
Tuan Speaker,
It is with the greatest of dismay that I receive your ruling on the first day of this sitting on the wearing of the Songkok.
While you have taken great pains to refer to the head wear as a hat, I think it is a songkok, and many have called it as that.
As the saying goes a hat is a hat but a songkok is songkok!
I have taken some trouble to look up some references in the internet but the consensus is that a songkok is “an apparel worn by Malay and Muslim men”, and it is perceived as such by all races including the Chinese.
I meant no disrespect for the Malay culture and Islam and neither is there any intention to. Indeed I belong to and am a very proud member of a party where there are many Malays and Muslims members and leaders. However just as I would respect the right of Malay men to wear the songkok, I would like to be accorded due respect for my choice not to wear it.
I think that I have a constitutional right as a non Malay and a non Muslim not to wear an apparel which is otherwise very deeply associated with being a Malay and a Muslim. I think that I have a right to determine what I should or should wear and no ruling would persuade me to otherwise do something that is against my nature, culture and conscience!
Press Statement dated 20 July 2006
In conjunction with the Swearing-In Ceremony for the recently elected YBs of the Sarawak DUN today, I would like to take this opportunity to declare my and my family’s assets.
As the flag bearer of the Parti KeAdilan Rakyat, which is a party dedicated to bringing about Justice for the People, I consider it my solemn duty to lead the way and set an example for all Sarawakians.
For too long, the Sarawak Government has been tarnished by allegations of corruption and favoritism in the award of massive multi million ringgit contracts and projects to companies owned or controlled by cronies or family members of our leaders.
We have currently in Sarawak serving high ranking leaders whose family members own tens of millions worth of shares in companies that are often given mega government projects without tender.
To restore the people’s confidence in the ability of our Sarawak Government to carry out its solemn duty without fear, favour or corruption, all the leaders, elected representatives and especially ministers and senior government officers must regularly declare their assets, and be required to do so by relevant laws.
I hereby call upon all the elected YBs of the current DUN, starting from the YAB Chief Minister of Sarawak, to declare his and his immediate families’ assets, on or before the start of the 1st Sitting of the 16th DUN Assembly which has been scheduled on 24 July 2006.
If we are not corrupt, and have not profited from our public office, then we should have nothing to hide and a declaration of our assets will dispel all such worries and suspicions.
There is nothing wrong with being rich, for getting rich is the objective of the most commercial and business minded people.
But it is morally wrong to use our public offices to give projects to and enrich our own family members, relatives and cronies. In Malaysian laws, such acts are also serious crimes punishable with heavy jail sentences.
Corruption is a serious blight on our society and I strongly support our PM’s campaign to wipe out corruption in Malaysia. I start now in Sarawak on this auspicious and historic occasion, taking oath as the 1st duly elected KeAdilan YB in Sarawak.
X. STATE FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR MAUSHAN LIU SHAN BAN MEMORIAL
X. STATE FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR MAUSHAN LIU SHAN BAN MEMORIAL
The State Government had to its credit recognized the glorious struggles of the daughters and sons of Sarawak in their struggle against domination and oppression by foreign colonialists. The most illustrious of these are Liu Shan Ban and the Chinese miners of Bau, the Great Rentap with his last stand at Bkt. Sadok, Rosli Dhoby’s and other Malay patriots’ personal sacrifices.
In the 50s and 60s, indeed into the 70s, there were others yet to be fully documented, who conducted equally valiant struggle against colonialism and neo-colonialism: Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce from the Malay community was a prominent fore-bearer.
I leave it to you YBs of SUPP on the other side, the benefit and credit of naming who your parties’ heroes were in their anti-colonialist and anti-neocolonialist peoples’ struggle. When you have put their names up, I believe we may join in our accolade for heroes from your party from this side of the House!
I hope the identification of your parties heroes will infuse your party leadership, especially the YBs in the house, yet untapped courage to fight for the rights of Sarawak and the peoples of Sarawak! I on this side would be prepared to join you and acclaim: these beloved past leaders of SUPP who have faced jail terms and made untold personal and family sacrifices, and not ever thinking of a sen of benefit for themselves. Upon their struggle, your party was built; and shame should be on anyone who squander away the legacy of their valiant pro-peoples’ struggles!
Are we, each and every YB in this house fit to carry the legacy of these heroes in their fight against colonialism and neo-colonialism?
Mr. Speaker, their struggles form the spiritual heritage which must for posterity inspire the peoples of Sarawak to defend their sacred rights and freedom from oppressive hegemony of all and any guise.
The Keadilan movement in Sarawak, of which I am the proud pioneer in this August House, draws particular strength from our illustrious past freedom fighters in our present contribution to the struggle for human rights, social justice and genuine democracy in a fully pluralistic society that Malaysia is and should rightly be. Keadilan would be too willing to cross partisan lines and support moves from your side to celebrate the legacy of genuine Freedom Heroes of all ethnic groups, and of other political parties in Sarawak.
Mr. Speaker, our call for struggle for social justice has been joined by the majority of the people at the very heart of Sarawak, the social, political and economic centre that Kuching is! In the run-up to May 20th 2006, Mr. Speaker, our candidate in Piasau put to the people of Miri the concept of Reformasi Berwarna-warni BumiKenyalang, drawing upon the legacy of our State heroes! Were he in this house today to represent Piasau, I may have let him deliver this part of the speech.
Today in this House, may I record my heartfelt appreciation for a group of dedicated persons who have so diligently and painstakingly preserved the historic site where Liu Shan Ban was buried; Liu Shan Ban, leader of the Bau gold miners’ uprising against oppressive taxation by the regime of James Brooke.
The historic uprising of the some 600 out of 4000 Chinese gold miners in Bau/ Tasik Biru in 1857 is well documented and needs little elaboration of recorded facts. These miners who had migrated from E. Kalimantan from around 1830, were imposed an oppressive Head Tax. Though the initial success of the revolt initially shook Kuching and the Brooke Regime, it was put down and was to result in the massacre of Liu Shan Ban, his men and families.
Mr. Speaker, the revolt reflects another point on which I sincerely request all honourable members of the House to ponder upon. When an obnoxious regime oppresses its subjects to the limit, through such measures as unreasonable taxation, asset confiscation, legally or through deceit, it may well provoke the people to desperate measures to protect fundamental rights. When poverty is widespread and threatens the essential needs of survival, then too, people become desperate enough to “chew up” high tension wires, road signs, drain covers, water meters, and what have you not! If these are not signs of profound sickness in Society, what is?
There must be a profound sense of alienation from mainstream society and total marginalization for such behaviour to become as widespread as it is now. We ask: Why are these people so anti-social? They may ask instead: why is the State so anti-social?
Abject poverty in a land of plenty, landlessness in an enormously vast land, evictions from homes, annexation of land, confiscation of means of livelihood, taxation beyond civilized norms, corruption of power, crony-monopolistic capitalism and State Enforcement Terror can only have castastrophic outcomes for any society and nation!
If any Government of Sarawak or of Malaysia professes to promote harmony, social stability and development, its utmost priority is to respect fundamental human rights and uphold social justice; be not fixated in promoting political and economic cronyism; not cling on to oppressive legislation such as Section 26, 27 of the Land Code to subserve such crony capitalist interests in future, and not actively devise more legislation after oppressive legislation.
Any responsible Government of Sarawak or of Malaysia, should on the other hand, govern for the welfare and progress of all people. True democratic choice informed by free media, right of organization and assembly, fair and clean elections are fundamental to progress, and vital to forestall popular revolt, be it constitutional or, God –forbid , extra-constitutional.
Keadilan’s political and social reform agenda through constitutional struggle, is, in Sarawak, to be integrally imbued with the spirit of the Freedom fighters of Sarawak. In time, we hope to promote their spirit of struggle for rights and dignity not only to Sarawak people but for all Malaysians!
I therefore call upon this House to support the erection of the Liu Shan Ban Memorial Mausoleum at his Burial Site at Tasik Biru, and that it be funded and maintained by the State Government. If the Ministry of Tourism is more ambitious, I believe the house can even support a Sarawak Gold Mining Museum to be part of a more ambitious Liu Shan Ban Museum Complex. This museum would be a fitting complement to the Petroleum Museum on Canada Hill, Miri, but bettered by the legacy of an ethnic hero.
Mr. Speaker, the fight against oppression of gold miners has also been celebrated elsewhere. In Victoria, Australia, the Eureka Stockade in the Ballarat-Bendigo region is at the very psyche of Australian nationhood, and inspires the current Australian Republican movement. The legacy of Eureka Stockade, the gold mine sites and museum brought them bountiful tourist dollars too.
That the struggle of oppression against colonial masters are common themes to the Eureka Stockade of Victoria State and to the Liu Shan Ban Bau Gold Miners’ Revolt, it would not be too far fetched for a Liu Shan Ban Museum Complex to seek association with the Ballarat Gold Museum. Malaysia would thus have a museum seeking common status with that at Ballarat.
Mr. Speaker, make no mistake that the brilliant legacy of Liu Shan Ban and other heroes of Sarawak is not the monopoly of my party, but belongs to all the peoples of Sarawak, indeed all Malaysians. I therefore sincerely hope that both sides of this house will do likewise in promoting the Spirit of Sarawak to the nation though their respective social and political channels!
Thus today I call on your support in this august House to take another important step by more prominently promoting a part of Sarawak history in her fight against oppression, and to infuse it integrally into Malaysian History proper. It is indeed a proud chapter, as proud as that of any other nation, for posterity and for the whole world to visit and see.
The State Government had to its credit recognized the glorious struggles of the daughters and sons of Sarawak in their struggle against domination and oppression by foreign colonialists. The most illustrious of these are Liu Shan Ban and the Chinese miners of Bau, the Great Rentap with his last stand at Bkt. Sadok, Rosli Dhoby’s and other Malay patriots’ personal sacrifices.
In the 50s and 60s, indeed into the 70s, there were others yet to be fully documented, who conducted equally valiant struggle against colonialism and neo-colonialism: Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce from the Malay community was a prominent fore-bearer.
I leave it to you YBs of SUPP on the other side, the benefit and credit of naming who your parties’ heroes were in their anti-colonialist and anti-neocolonialist peoples’ struggle. When you have put their names up, I believe we may join in our accolade for heroes from your party from this side of the House!
I hope the identification of your parties heroes will infuse your party leadership, especially the YBs in the house, yet untapped courage to fight for the rights of Sarawak and the peoples of Sarawak! I on this side would be prepared to join you and acclaim: these beloved past leaders of SUPP who have faced jail terms and made untold personal and family sacrifices, and not ever thinking of a sen of benefit for themselves. Upon their struggle, your party was built; and shame should be on anyone who squander away the legacy of their valiant pro-peoples’ struggles!
Are we, each and every YB in this house fit to carry the legacy of these heroes in their fight against colonialism and neo-colonialism?
Mr. Speaker, their struggles form the spiritual heritage which must for posterity inspire the peoples of Sarawak to defend their sacred rights and freedom from oppressive hegemony of all and any guise.
The Keadilan movement in Sarawak, of which I am the proud pioneer in this August House, draws particular strength from our illustrious past freedom fighters in our present contribution to the struggle for human rights, social justice and genuine democracy in a fully pluralistic society that Malaysia is and should rightly be. Keadilan would be too willing to cross partisan lines and support moves from your side to celebrate the legacy of genuine Freedom Heroes of all ethnic groups, and of other political parties in Sarawak.
Mr. Speaker, our call for struggle for social justice has been joined by the majority of the people at the very heart of Sarawak, the social, political and economic centre that Kuching is! In the run-up to May 20th 2006, Mr. Speaker, our candidate in Piasau put to the people of Miri the concept of Reformasi Berwarna-warni BumiKenyalang, drawing upon the legacy of our State heroes! Were he in this house today to represent Piasau, I may have let him deliver this part of the speech.
Today in this House, may I record my heartfelt appreciation for a group of dedicated persons who have so diligently and painstakingly preserved the historic site where Liu Shan Ban was buried; Liu Shan Ban, leader of the Bau gold miners’ uprising against oppressive taxation by the regime of James Brooke.
The historic uprising of the some 600 out of 4000 Chinese gold miners in Bau/ Tasik Biru in 1857 is well documented and needs little elaboration of recorded facts. These miners who had migrated from E. Kalimantan from around 1830, were imposed an oppressive Head Tax. Though the initial success of the revolt initially shook Kuching and the Brooke Regime, it was put down and was to result in the massacre of Liu Shan Ban, his men and families.
Mr. Speaker, the revolt reflects another point on which I sincerely request all honourable members of the House to ponder upon. When an obnoxious regime oppresses its subjects to the limit, through such measures as unreasonable taxation, asset confiscation, legally or through deceit, it may well provoke the people to desperate measures to protect fundamental rights. When poverty is widespread and threatens the essential needs of survival, then too, people become desperate enough to “chew up” high tension wires, road signs, drain covers, water meters, and what have you not! If these are not signs of profound sickness in Society, what is?
There must be a profound sense of alienation from mainstream society and total marginalization for such behaviour to become as widespread as it is now. We ask: Why are these people so anti-social? They may ask instead: why is the State so anti-social?
Abject poverty in a land of plenty, landlessness in an enormously vast land, evictions from homes, annexation of land, confiscation of means of livelihood, taxation beyond civilized norms, corruption of power, crony-monopolistic capitalism and State Enforcement Terror can only have castastrophic outcomes for any society and nation!
If any Government of Sarawak or of Malaysia professes to promote harmony, social stability and development, its utmost priority is to respect fundamental human rights and uphold social justice; be not fixated in promoting political and economic cronyism; not cling on to oppressive legislation such as Section 26, 27 of the Land Code to subserve such crony capitalist interests in future, and not actively devise more legislation after oppressive legislation.
Any responsible Government of Sarawak or of Malaysia, should on the other hand, govern for the welfare and progress of all people. True democratic choice informed by free media, right of organization and assembly, fair and clean elections are fundamental to progress, and vital to forestall popular revolt, be it constitutional or, God –forbid , extra-constitutional.
Keadilan’s political and social reform agenda through constitutional struggle, is, in Sarawak, to be integrally imbued with the spirit of the Freedom fighters of Sarawak. In time, we hope to promote their spirit of struggle for rights and dignity not only to Sarawak people but for all Malaysians!
I therefore call upon this House to support the erection of the Liu Shan Ban Memorial Mausoleum at his Burial Site at Tasik Biru, and that it be funded and maintained by the State Government. If the Ministry of Tourism is more ambitious, I believe the house can even support a Sarawak Gold Mining Museum to be part of a more ambitious Liu Shan Ban Museum Complex. This museum would be a fitting complement to the Petroleum Museum on Canada Hill, Miri, but bettered by the legacy of an ethnic hero.
Mr. Speaker, the fight against oppression of gold miners has also been celebrated elsewhere. In Victoria, Australia, the Eureka Stockade in the Ballarat-Bendigo region is at the very psyche of Australian nationhood, and inspires the current Australian Republican movement. The legacy of Eureka Stockade, the gold mine sites and museum brought them bountiful tourist dollars too.
That the struggle of oppression against colonial masters are common themes to the Eureka Stockade of Victoria State and to the Liu Shan Ban Bau Gold Miners’ Revolt, it would not be too far fetched for a Liu Shan Ban Museum Complex to seek association with the Ballarat Gold Museum. Malaysia would thus have a museum seeking common status with that at Ballarat.
Mr. Speaker, make no mistake that the brilliant legacy of Liu Shan Ban and other heroes of Sarawak is not the monopoly of my party, but belongs to all the peoples of Sarawak, indeed all Malaysians. I therefore sincerely hope that both sides of this house will do likewise in promoting the Spirit of Sarawak to the nation though their respective social and political channels!
Thus today I call on your support in this august House to take another important step by more prominently promoting a part of Sarawak history in her fight against oppression, and to infuse it integrally into Malaysian History proper. It is indeed a proud chapter, as proud as that of any other nation, for posterity and for the whole world to visit and see.
IX. REHONOURING MALAYSIA DAY
Talking about Malaysia Day brings me to another pet topic of mine. For many years now I have taken to writing an annual press statement reminding all Sarawakians of the day Malaysia was born ie 16 September (1963) and not 31 August. This day which is enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution along with the other day of 31 August is even more symbolic for Malaysia and Sarawak for on this very day was not only Malaysia born but Sarawak became independent! In the years past, 16 September was celebrated as our most important day.
Indeed on the actual day in 1963, there were some 6000 people gathered at the Central Padang to mark this most symbolic day.
I hereby call upon the State Government to restore Malaysia Day to its full status and have it celebrated annually in Sarawak!
I have begun to commemorate 16 September since last year at the Central Padang. I will raise the Malaysian and Sarawakian flags and sing the national and state anthems there every year until the State Government takes over! It’s a great shame on ourselves that we seem to have obliterated from our memory the commemoration of such an important day, indeed the most important day in Malaysia!
Indeed on the actual day in 1963, there were some 6000 people gathered at the Central Padang to mark this most symbolic day.
I hereby call upon the State Government to restore Malaysia Day to its full status and have it celebrated annually in Sarawak!
I have begun to commemorate 16 September since last year at the Central Padang. I will raise the Malaysian and Sarawakian flags and sing the national and state anthems there every year until the State Government takes over! It’s a great shame on ourselves that we seem to have obliterated from our memory the commemoration of such an important day, indeed the most important day in Malaysia!
VIII. AVIATION AND SARAWAK AIRLINES
VIII. AVIATION AND SARAWAK AIRLINES
It is of utmost regret that the state has such little leverage in the development of aviation in Sarawak in the years that it is in the Federation. The cavaliar manner in which the State has been treated just because aviation is on the Federal list, cannot be anymore tolerated by the people of Sarawak; past, recent and intercurrent aviation events are all proving the point.
I hardly need to state the obvious that Sarawak is isolated not only by the South China Sea, but more so by the Federal BN Government leaving us in the backyard of aviation and tourism development, as in other fields.
We can shout to the world that we are Better than the Paradise here on Borneo Island, but as one Sarawak tourism player puts it, who will come to this Paradise when there is no carrier to bring tourists here! How do they get here? From Sydney, Perth, Frankfurt? How many direct international routes have we left?
Gunong Mulu Resorts, the crown jewel of Sarawak Natural Heritage and tourism, was a couple of years back omitted by MTB publicity brochures featuring mountain resorts of Malaysia.
The tourism and related tourism services industry in Sarawak are just about up in arms. MAS and the Federal Ministry of Transport had always held their stranglehold on the rights to Sarawak airspace. Ironically, through years of mismanagement and top BN crony machinations, MAS is now totally eviscerated by another airline, the Air Asia; MAS has lost its stranglehold even over Sarawak airspace to that clever new–startup AA/FAX.
Make no mistake, as every other Malaysian, I feel the pride and affection of a Malaysian for our national carrier; however I am not the least amused by its present debacle.
Upon the honour of Sarawak and the people of Sarawak, if this State does not make its strongest stand to the Federal BN Government, MAS and especially smarter- than- thou Air Asia/FAX, aviation and tourism in Sarawak will be retreating decades backwards, what with her gleaming new airport terminals.
What is the State shareholding in Air Asia / FAX ? What is there to assure that Air Asia/ FAX will deliver a better service than MAS to the people and to the tourists arriving?
Our so–called “international” KIA and MIA face the unenviable prospect of
Reduced internal connectivity with major Malaysian towns and cities;
Virtually zero international direct connections;
In-coordination in ticketing, international and domestic flight connections, and baggage handling.
The way forward for Sarawak aviation, tourism and related service economy, as I see it, needs at least two major initiatives:
1. The greater opening of Sarawak airspace to other international carriers to access Kuching, Sibu and Miri, thus capitalizing on their more comprehensive presence in the international travel market, their vast networks and their more effective international marketing. The positive impact on Sarawak tourism, would be experienced within a short period of time.
2. In the longer term, the interests of Sarawak and the people of Sarawak may be better served by the establishment of a Sarawak Airlines, or a Sarawak-Sabah Airlines, where Sarawak and/or Sabah government and private stakeholders may have major and possibly controlling share ownership.
In the history of pioneering civil aviation in Borneo, in the 1950s and early 1960s, there existed SABAH AIRWAYS, then BORNEO AIRWAYS before the absorption into Malayan Airways, which evolved as Malaysian, MSA then MAS, as the then Sarawak Minister of Communications, none other than the Honorable YAB CM today can testify.
Brunei which opted to stay out of Malaysia, inaugurated Royal Brunei Airlines in 1975, with a creditable international network for a small nation with a total population less than that of Kuching. This indeed is the major gateway to Borneo which even East Malaysians use, at the expense of missed opportunities for our own economy!
In the best Malaysian spirit of optimism, Mr. Speaker, are we to be forever contented to see BRUNEI BOLEH, and practically everyone else BOLEH, but SARAWAK TAK BOLEH?! What then does this Government have to show for V2020? What to show for the Politics of Development, Mr. Speaker?
For your V2020 sake, talk to the Great Leader of the Kadazans, the Hon. Pairin Kitingan, whose proposals for Sabah Airlines was jettisoned by Dr. M , together with his PBS –led Government. Pairin, now in the politically-correct camp, would be happy that today we are striving for his once lost cause! Given Big-Brother blessing, I bet he would be more than willing to let his aviation dream for Sabah revived. Mr. Speaker, he at least had the foresight for Sabah interests, well ahead of us!
The initial mission of Sarawak Airlines must be to better serve the people of Sarawak and address the short-comings of the inter-current arrangements, both in the domestic rural and domestic East-Peninsular Malaysia sectors, Sarawak-Singapore sector. The wider mission must be the promotion of Sarawak interests in the region and the wider world.
The competitive advantage of Sarawak Airlines or SSA are more than one:
1. Major demand on the Singapore sector; popularity of Sarawak as a destination for Singaporeans;
2. The HK, China and Taiwan sector where there is fast growing potential for business travel and tourism both ways. Some large Chinese cities would be prime targets especially Guangzhou, Fuzhou, in addition to Shanghai and Beijing.
3. Major Australian destinations for Sarawak Students and their relatives provide a strong bottom-line seat occupancy several months in a year. The cities of Perth, Melbourne and Sydney should be prime initial targets. Every Sarawak student in Australia may be a potential promoter for Sarawak to augment the promotion already done by this Government –here my appreciation from this side of the House to Tourism Ministers concerned!
4. Sarawak and Sabah are strategically located in the ASEAN region; Thailand and Vietnam connections may have particular potential.
5. The legacy of the Sovereign State of Sarawak under the Brookes and of British Borneo provides the lure for some in the Western World. Routes to EU and N. America will however have to depend on good connections with Australasia and East and North-East Asia respectively.
Mr. Speaker, in the months ahead the people of Sarawak will be keenly watching the policy direction of this so-called Politics of Development Government in a matter as important as the lifeline to the people.
The people want to see real mettle of the State BN Government in persuading the Federal BN Government to truly respect Sarawak as a full partner of the Federation, a partner which will be proud to celebrate in the Golden Jubilee year, on Sept.16th 2013.
It is of utmost regret that the state has such little leverage in the development of aviation in Sarawak in the years that it is in the Federation. The cavaliar manner in which the State has been treated just because aviation is on the Federal list, cannot be anymore tolerated by the people of Sarawak; past, recent and intercurrent aviation events are all proving the point.
I hardly need to state the obvious that Sarawak is isolated not only by the South China Sea, but more so by the Federal BN Government leaving us in the backyard of aviation and tourism development, as in other fields.
We can shout to the world that we are Better than the Paradise here on Borneo Island, but as one Sarawak tourism player puts it, who will come to this Paradise when there is no carrier to bring tourists here! How do they get here? From Sydney, Perth, Frankfurt? How many direct international routes have we left?
Gunong Mulu Resorts, the crown jewel of Sarawak Natural Heritage and tourism, was a couple of years back omitted by MTB publicity brochures featuring mountain resorts of Malaysia.
The tourism and related tourism services industry in Sarawak are just about up in arms. MAS and the Federal Ministry of Transport had always held their stranglehold on the rights to Sarawak airspace. Ironically, through years of mismanagement and top BN crony machinations, MAS is now totally eviscerated by another airline, the Air Asia; MAS has lost its stranglehold even over Sarawak airspace to that clever new–startup AA/FAX.
Make no mistake, as every other Malaysian, I feel the pride and affection of a Malaysian for our national carrier; however I am not the least amused by its present debacle.
Upon the honour of Sarawak and the people of Sarawak, if this State does not make its strongest stand to the Federal BN Government, MAS and especially smarter- than- thou Air Asia/FAX, aviation and tourism in Sarawak will be retreating decades backwards, what with her gleaming new airport terminals.
What is the State shareholding in Air Asia / FAX ? What is there to assure that Air Asia/ FAX will deliver a better service than MAS to the people and to the tourists arriving?
Our so–called “international” KIA and MIA face the unenviable prospect of
Reduced internal connectivity with major Malaysian towns and cities;
Virtually zero international direct connections;
In-coordination in ticketing, international and domestic flight connections, and baggage handling.
The way forward for Sarawak aviation, tourism and related service economy, as I see it, needs at least two major initiatives:
1. The greater opening of Sarawak airspace to other international carriers to access Kuching, Sibu and Miri, thus capitalizing on their more comprehensive presence in the international travel market, their vast networks and their more effective international marketing. The positive impact on Sarawak tourism, would be experienced within a short period of time.
2. In the longer term, the interests of Sarawak and the people of Sarawak may be better served by the establishment of a Sarawak Airlines, or a Sarawak-Sabah Airlines, where Sarawak and/or Sabah government and private stakeholders may have major and possibly controlling share ownership.
In the history of pioneering civil aviation in Borneo, in the 1950s and early 1960s, there existed SABAH AIRWAYS, then BORNEO AIRWAYS before the absorption into Malayan Airways, which evolved as Malaysian, MSA then MAS, as the then Sarawak Minister of Communications, none other than the Honorable YAB CM today can testify.
Brunei which opted to stay out of Malaysia, inaugurated Royal Brunei Airlines in 1975, with a creditable international network for a small nation with a total population less than that of Kuching. This indeed is the major gateway to Borneo which even East Malaysians use, at the expense of missed opportunities for our own economy!
In the best Malaysian spirit of optimism, Mr. Speaker, are we to be forever contented to see BRUNEI BOLEH, and practically everyone else BOLEH, but SARAWAK TAK BOLEH?! What then does this Government have to show for V2020? What to show for the Politics of Development, Mr. Speaker?
For your V2020 sake, talk to the Great Leader of the Kadazans, the Hon. Pairin Kitingan, whose proposals for Sabah Airlines was jettisoned by Dr. M , together with his PBS –led Government. Pairin, now in the politically-correct camp, would be happy that today we are striving for his once lost cause! Given Big-Brother blessing, I bet he would be more than willing to let his aviation dream for Sabah revived. Mr. Speaker, he at least had the foresight for Sabah interests, well ahead of us!
The initial mission of Sarawak Airlines must be to better serve the people of Sarawak and address the short-comings of the inter-current arrangements, both in the domestic rural and domestic East-Peninsular Malaysia sectors, Sarawak-Singapore sector. The wider mission must be the promotion of Sarawak interests in the region and the wider world.
The competitive advantage of Sarawak Airlines or SSA are more than one:
1. Major demand on the Singapore sector; popularity of Sarawak as a destination for Singaporeans;
2. The HK, China and Taiwan sector where there is fast growing potential for business travel and tourism both ways. Some large Chinese cities would be prime targets especially Guangzhou, Fuzhou, in addition to Shanghai and Beijing.
3. Major Australian destinations for Sarawak Students and their relatives provide a strong bottom-line seat occupancy several months in a year. The cities of Perth, Melbourne and Sydney should be prime initial targets. Every Sarawak student in Australia may be a potential promoter for Sarawak to augment the promotion already done by this Government –here my appreciation from this side of the House to Tourism Ministers concerned!
4. Sarawak and Sabah are strategically located in the ASEAN region; Thailand and Vietnam connections may have particular potential.
5. The legacy of the Sovereign State of Sarawak under the Brookes and of British Borneo provides the lure for some in the Western World. Routes to EU and N. America will however have to depend on good connections with Australasia and East and North-East Asia respectively.
Mr. Speaker, in the months ahead the people of Sarawak will be keenly watching the policy direction of this so-called Politics of Development Government in a matter as important as the lifeline to the people.
The people want to see real mettle of the State BN Government in persuading the Federal BN Government to truly respect Sarawak as a full partner of the Federation, a partner which will be proud to celebrate in the Golden Jubilee year, on Sept.16th 2013.
VII. Call To Stop The Excessive Number of Draws By 4-Digit Companies
VII. Call To Stop The Excessive Number of Draws By 4-Digit Companies
There are four (4) such companies, namely Magnum 4D, Big 4 Cash Sweep, Toto and Damacai.
Each company currently conducts three (3) draws per week, thus giving a total frequency of 12 draws a week or almost 50 regular draws. With a special draw thrown in by each company each month, there are some 54 draws in Sarawak per month.
This situation is most absurd, and leads to an excess culture of gambling. The draws drains crucial funds meant for essential family up-keep expenditure and reduces consumer spending in the broader retail and services economy. And the poorer the family, the more they are likely to be the punters.
The State Government has also imposed a 10% supplementary tax on 4D tickets, making each ticket costing RM1.10. This is a classic example of the very unfair situation of a double taxation.
Based on the numerous and ceaseless public appeals received by Parti KeAdilan Rakyat, I propose:
(1) 4D regular draws be limited to 1 draw per week by each company;
(2) Special 4D draws be totally stopped; and
(3) The 10% State Government Tax be abolished.
There are four (4) such companies, namely Magnum 4D, Big 4 Cash Sweep, Toto and Damacai.
Each company currently conducts three (3) draws per week, thus giving a total frequency of 12 draws a week or almost 50 regular draws. With a special draw thrown in by each company each month, there are some 54 draws in Sarawak per month.
This situation is most absurd, and leads to an excess culture of gambling. The draws drains crucial funds meant for essential family up-keep expenditure and reduces consumer spending in the broader retail and services economy. And the poorer the family, the more they are likely to be the punters.
The State Government has also imposed a 10% supplementary tax on 4D tickets, making each ticket costing RM1.10. This is a classic example of the very unfair situation of a double taxation.
Based on the numerous and ceaseless public appeals received by Parti KeAdilan Rakyat, I propose:
(1) 4D regular draws be limited to 1 draw per week by each company;
(2) Special 4D draws be totally stopped; and
(3) The 10% State Government Tax be abolished.
VI. SPECIAL ANNUAL GRANTS FOR CHINESE INDEPENDENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AIDED CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND AIDED MISSION SCHOOLS.
VI. SPECIAL ANNUAL GRANTS FOR CHINESE INDEPENDENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AIDED CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND AIDED MISSION SCHOOLS.
Sarawakians well versed in the Chinese language provide the state with a major competitive advantage in the globalised world of today. This fact is recognized not only by the ethnic Chinese, but by many other Sarawakians as well. Chinese secondary education is also the key to the preservation of Chinese culture, and the importance of the Chinese language to all Malaysians is now nationally recognized.
In recent years, the 14 Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Sarawak have seen steady annual rises in enrollment in Sarawak; from 4,564 to 5,099 in 2006, testifying to widespread community demand. Nationally, some 50,000 are enrolled at 60 non-profit Chinese Independent Secondary Schools. The Chinese Independent Secondary Schools try their very best to comply with curricular standards laid down by the Ministry of Education. BM, and English are compulsory subjects.
In the last 30 years or so, of the some 150,000 students who completed schooling with Chinese Independent Secondary Schools , many have gone on to tertiary education locally and overseas, or become entrepreneurs. They have made significant contributions to national progress in all fields of political, social and economic life. Government should thus accord recognition and encourage community initiatives in organizing quality education to complement the fully National type schools. It is time the Federal and State Governments both step in to share the burden that has fallen so heavily on the Chinese community.
Aided Chinese Primary Schools
While the Federal Government provides limited funding for Aided Chinese Primary Schools, the State Government could well give further financial assistance to the Aided Chinese Primary Schools in areas such as buildings and material, maintenance, IT and sports facilities.
The Aided Chinese Primary Schools are facing the prospect of increased demand in enrollment from all communities, and this I consider a good thing. There is indeed an urgent need for new Aided Chinese Primary Schools building projects to decongest class-rooms bursting with 60 or more students. However, since the establishment of Chung Hua Primary No. 6 in Kuching, there has not been an increase of Aided Chinese Primary Schools.
Chinese Independent Secondary Schools
It is the faithful individuals and associations in the Chinese community, who toil to raise funds for the 14 Chinese independent secondary schools in the State. Yet the Chinese Independent Secondary Schools still face a collective budget deficit of some RM 5 million a year. So the so called initiative that the SUPP announced a couple of days ago that they will come up with RM500,000 a year is far too little and too late. RM 500,000 is not enough.
Mr. Speaker, for the sake of the continued survival and progress of Chinese Independent Secondary Schools, public sector funding, and not the dependence on charity, must be the only way forward.
And ample precedence throughout Malaysia exists for State Governments providing funds for Chinese Independent Secondary Schools:
States with BN State Governments making annual grants or have alienated land to Chinese Independent Secondary Schools include Penang, Selangor, Perak and Kedah;
The Malacca BN Government grants scholarships annually for the students from poor financial backgrounds attending Chinese Independent Secondary Schools.
In Sabah the PBS, then BN Government has been making annual grants for the 9 Chinese Independent Secondary Schools since 1991.
SABAH BOLEH, SARAWAK TAK BOLEH!
The Kelantan PAS Government is even more dedicated to the principle of mother tongue education by solving the funding problem once and for all. It generously donated 1000 acres of land for agricultural development to Chinese School association, proceeds from which will see Chinese education go a long way. And this for a Government which others in this House enjoy vilifying, so often and so wrongly.
KELANTAN BOLEH, SARAWAK TAK BOLEH!
Does Sarawak not have a greater percentage of ethnic Chinese, than Kelantan and Sabah?
Does the Sarawak BN Government not have a stronger Chinese political partner than the Chinese partnership in the Kelantan PAS Government?
Why then if Kelantan can, Sarawak cannot deliver for Chinese education?
Aided Missionary Schools
If one has the opportunity to travel widely in Sarawak, one would be able to see many a Missionary schools; they are in almost every corner in Sarawak. This is a result of the selfless sacrifice of the Christian missionaries, be they Catholic or Protestant. They have diligently taught and brought up entire generations of well educated and rounded students and who are now leaders of today.
I am one such proud product, of no less a school than that of St Joseph’s Kuching. Indeed I dare say that half the present cabinet and most of the previous cabinets are products of such schools, from the CM down.
Yet despite all their contributions and having all the people in the highest of places, the need for sufficient funding continues to haunt practically every one of them.
Two years ago, SMB St Teresa raised an amazing sum of RM450,000. This was the largest ever raised in any fund raising event it had undertaken. That came about because there was a donation of RM250,000 from the State government. However that kind of magnanimity came but once in a blue moon. And despite that the school still lacks in several key areas. They could only renovate parts of the assembly hall, buy some furniture to replace broken ones and etc, but the school is still desperately in need of funds for many other smaller and much needed projects.
The PTAs and esp the teachers of such schools spend a significant amount of their efforts on raising money. Sometimes the fund raising is throughout the year! Surely this is no way for schools to be run, taking precious resources away from the education of the children which should be foremost on the agenda of any school!
The only solution is again public funding and annually too, and its time that the state government take up its responsibility to ensure that the education of our children in such schools be not compromised.
Sarawakians well versed in the Chinese language provide the state with a major competitive advantage in the globalised world of today. This fact is recognized not only by the ethnic Chinese, but by many other Sarawakians as well. Chinese secondary education is also the key to the preservation of Chinese culture, and the importance of the Chinese language to all Malaysians is now nationally recognized.
In recent years, the 14 Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Sarawak have seen steady annual rises in enrollment in Sarawak; from 4,564 to 5,099 in 2006, testifying to widespread community demand. Nationally, some 50,000 are enrolled at 60 non-profit Chinese Independent Secondary Schools. The Chinese Independent Secondary Schools try their very best to comply with curricular standards laid down by the Ministry of Education. BM, and English are compulsory subjects.
In the last 30 years or so, of the some 150,000 students who completed schooling with Chinese Independent Secondary Schools , many have gone on to tertiary education locally and overseas, or become entrepreneurs. They have made significant contributions to national progress in all fields of political, social and economic life. Government should thus accord recognition and encourage community initiatives in organizing quality education to complement the fully National type schools. It is time the Federal and State Governments both step in to share the burden that has fallen so heavily on the Chinese community.
Aided Chinese Primary Schools
While the Federal Government provides limited funding for Aided Chinese Primary Schools, the State Government could well give further financial assistance to the Aided Chinese Primary Schools in areas such as buildings and material, maintenance, IT and sports facilities.
The Aided Chinese Primary Schools are facing the prospect of increased demand in enrollment from all communities, and this I consider a good thing. There is indeed an urgent need for new Aided Chinese Primary Schools building projects to decongest class-rooms bursting with 60 or more students. However, since the establishment of Chung Hua Primary No. 6 in Kuching, there has not been an increase of Aided Chinese Primary Schools.
Chinese Independent Secondary Schools
It is the faithful individuals and associations in the Chinese community, who toil to raise funds for the 14 Chinese independent secondary schools in the State. Yet the Chinese Independent Secondary Schools still face a collective budget deficit of some RM 5 million a year. So the so called initiative that the SUPP announced a couple of days ago that they will come up with RM500,000 a year is far too little and too late. RM 500,000 is not enough.
Mr. Speaker, for the sake of the continued survival and progress of Chinese Independent Secondary Schools, public sector funding, and not the dependence on charity, must be the only way forward.
And ample precedence throughout Malaysia exists for State Governments providing funds for Chinese Independent Secondary Schools:
States with BN State Governments making annual grants or have alienated land to Chinese Independent Secondary Schools include Penang, Selangor, Perak and Kedah;
The Malacca BN Government grants scholarships annually for the students from poor financial backgrounds attending Chinese Independent Secondary Schools.
In Sabah the PBS, then BN Government has been making annual grants for the 9 Chinese Independent Secondary Schools since 1991.
SABAH BOLEH, SARAWAK TAK BOLEH!
The Kelantan PAS Government is even more dedicated to the principle of mother tongue education by solving the funding problem once and for all. It generously donated 1000 acres of land for agricultural development to Chinese School association, proceeds from which will see Chinese education go a long way. And this for a Government which others in this House enjoy vilifying, so often and so wrongly.
KELANTAN BOLEH, SARAWAK TAK BOLEH!
Does Sarawak not have a greater percentage of ethnic Chinese, than Kelantan and Sabah?
Does the Sarawak BN Government not have a stronger Chinese political partner than the Chinese partnership in the Kelantan PAS Government?
Why then if Kelantan can, Sarawak cannot deliver for Chinese education?
Aided Missionary Schools
If one has the opportunity to travel widely in Sarawak, one would be able to see many a Missionary schools; they are in almost every corner in Sarawak. This is a result of the selfless sacrifice of the Christian missionaries, be they Catholic or Protestant. They have diligently taught and brought up entire generations of well educated and rounded students and who are now leaders of today.
I am one such proud product, of no less a school than that of St Joseph’s Kuching. Indeed I dare say that half the present cabinet and most of the previous cabinets are products of such schools, from the CM down.
Yet despite all their contributions and having all the people in the highest of places, the need for sufficient funding continues to haunt practically every one of them.
Two years ago, SMB St Teresa raised an amazing sum of RM450,000. This was the largest ever raised in any fund raising event it had undertaken. That came about because there was a donation of RM250,000 from the State government. However that kind of magnanimity came but once in a blue moon. And despite that the school still lacks in several key areas. They could only renovate parts of the assembly hall, buy some furniture to replace broken ones and etc, but the school is still desperately in need of funds for many other smaller and much needed projects.
The PTAs and esp the teachers of such schools spend a significant amount of their efforts on raising money. Sometimes the fund raising is throughout the year! Surely this is no way for schools to be run, taking precious resources away from the education of the children which should be foremost on the agenda of any school!
The only solution is again public funding and annually too, and its time that the state government take up its responsibility to ensure that the education of our children in such schools be not compromised.
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