Nur Misuari ready to attack Sabah

Moro leader Nur Misuari says he has no plans to attack Sabah but wants the International Court of Justice to settle the status of Sabah if Malaysia will not resolve the issue with the Bangsamoro “justly and peacefully.”

In his 68-minute “State of the Bangsamoro Republik address” Misuari told thousands of supporters at the parade grounds of the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) that he was informed word had gone around in Malaysia that with his release, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) would invade Sabah.

“Did I ask you to make war or peace?” Misuari asked. The crowd said no.

“Your shouts give lie to all these accusations,” he said.

MNLF organizers placed the crowd at 30,000 although the city government on Friday had placed the number of unarmed MNLF members who arrived here from various parts of Mindanao, at 5,000.

Misuari, however, challenged the Malaysia to show proof that Sabah is theirs.

He said the Sabah issue should be brought to the International Court of Justice for resolution.

“We have plenty of brave lawyers who are ready to face them because Sabah belongs to us,” Misuari said.

One of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, had also spoken earlier onstage.

Misuari cited what he called “the pittance,” in reference to the lease Sabah pays the Sultan’s heirs, at 5,000 ringgit or about 27,000 Philippine pesos.

“What are we going to do? Anong gagawin natin kung ayaw nila magbayad more than 5,000 ringgits” he asked.

“Five thousand ringgits. That’s a pittance,” he repeated. Misuari was arrested in an island off Sabah on November 24, 2001 for alleged illegal entry. Hew was turned over to the Philippine government on January 7, 2002, and was detained on charges of rebellion until he was allowed to post bail on April 25 this year, after payment of P50,000 bond

Royal Commission or no! We want ACTIONs

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Royal Commission of Inquiry on Sabah Illegal Immigrants -REJECTED-

The rejection of the motion for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry on Sabah Illegal Immigrants in Parliament on Thursday is disappointing.

The motion should have been allowed and supported by the Sabah MPs because it is not anti-Barisan Nasional nor pro Pakatan Rakyat but a matter of defending the sovereignty of Sabah within Malaysia.

The counter proposal by Datuk Anifah Aman to set up the Parliamentary Select Committee to solve Sabah problems might not succeed.

Based on past experience like the committee chaired by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, there was a directive from the higher-ups not to cooperate.

So what guarantee can we get that the issue will be solved?

We have experienced before that the Parliamentary Select Committee (on Integrity) did not work so why not just go for the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).

Now that Sabah and Sarawak appear to be keeping the Barisan Nasional government from collapsing they should be brave enough to expose the Project IC.

Aren't we all patriotic to Malaysia? To solve this we need strong political will starting from the State Government. PBS has two State Cabinet members both of whom were very local when in opposition.

Can't they reason with Musa on this?

What is there to hide?

We took part in the formation of Malaysia primarily to safeguard security and sovereignty. Who shall be the next Prime Minister to solve Sabah's woe if the present one is still procrastinating?

Perhaps, Badawi had heard Sabah's voice also but his heart is not with us. The Prime Minister's only concern is the peninsula. I don't believe he would do anything concrete to solve this.

We must make sure the next Prime Minister has the will to help us.

Are foreign graduates better than locals?

Does an overseas degree guarantee you a higher salary? Apparently so, says a JobStreet.com study that covered more than 100,000 of its Malaysian members with a bachelor's degree. SONIA RAMACHANDRAN finds out why.

GRADUATES from overseas universities earn about 12 per cent more than local graduates, according to a study JobStreet.com conducted in Malaysia.

The study, conducted earlier this year, compiled information from more than 100,000 Jobstreet.com members who had a bachelor's degree.

It looked at the three most popular overseas destinations for tertiary studies - Britain, Australia and the United States - and included twinning programmes.

The study found that even after 10 years or more of work experience, the difference in salaries between overseas and local graduates was still more than 10 per cent.

In terms of job specialisation, the study found that the biggest salary gap was in business-related fields including management, economics, finance and marketing, where overseas graduates earned about 15 per cent more than local graduates.

For those in engineering and information technology, the study found that overseas graduates were paid about 11 per cent more than local graduates.

However, a similar study of 20,000 JobStreet.com members in Singapore found there was no significant difference between the salaries of graduates from Singapore universities and overseas universities.

JobStreet.com regional communications head Simon Si said the salary difference between local and overseas graduates in Malaysia was mainly due to the communication skills of the latter.

"They have a broader scope of exposure. When they project themselves in an interview, they tend to be more confident," he said.

Asked why there was no significant difference in salaries between overseas and local graduates in Singapore, Si said it was due to the society make-up of that republic.

"The whole culture there is so cosmopolitan. They are in a really competitive environment from childhood."

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said the survey's findings were true as graduates from overseas performed much better than local graduates.

"As the private sector is driven by performance and productivity, overseas graduates tend to command a better salary.

"This has to do with the overseas education system, which is more focused on soft skills. When an overseas graduate is faced with problems in the office, he or she is better equipped to solve them."

Shamsuddin was quick to point out that local universities were also coming out with such programmes but they were in the infancy stage. Thus, employers had yet to see the results of these initiatives.

Overseas graduates, he added, were more open-minded and better able to accept new things than local graduates.

Overseas graduates also had better communication skills and a stronger command of the English language.

Job readiness was another factor, said Shamsuddin.

"Overseas graduates are ready to work as soon as they are employed whereas local graduates need a lot of training.

"Normally, those who study overseas take up part-time jobs while studying, providing them with valuable work experience.

"In Malaysia, however, doing part-time jobs while studying is not encouraged."

On there being not much difference in salary among local and overseas graduates in Singapore, Shamsuddin said the republic's education system was more advanced than Malaysia's.

"Also, their curriculum is more responsive to market needs."

According to Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities president Dr Parmjit Singh, the crux of the matter was mastery of the English language.

"This is the biggest difference between overseas and local graduates. Overseas graduates will always be perceived to have a better command of the language, both written and oral, which is a big issue expressed by employers in relation to local graduates."

Parmjit said there was also the perception that overseas graduates would have a broader outlook than local graduates.

"This would make them more adaptable as well as give them better ability to manage relationships, particularly with the international community.

"This is very important in light of globalisation.

"Having said that, I believe that a lot of this is already being seen in local graduates. With the increasing number of international students here, they are getting almost the same exposure as they would have had, had they gone overseas."

Universiti Sains Malaysia vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak points to the Malaysian mentality as the main reason for the salary gap.

"Malaysians tend to pay more for anything foreign. Anything foreign is considered better than local. Not only graduates, but newspapers as well.

Dzulkifli said it would be difficult for local graduates to compete with their foreign counterparts on a level playing field if the problem was one of perception.

"Plus, local graduates have been getting bad publicity. Their poor command of English has always been a key factor.

"But what we have is only anecdotal evidence that our students do not speak good English. What should concern us is if the problem was content wise.

"If that's the case, then I would be very worried, but from the feedback and reports we receive, we find that this is not the case."

With the current emphasis on soft skills, Dzulkifli said students were expected to talk and express themselves more, as well as provide more ideas.

He cautioned that this came with cultural implications.

"Soft skills are something you learn to practise. It's like teaching someone how to play football but not allowing the person to kick the ball or only allowing him to play in a managed way."

On doing part-time jobs while studying, Dzulkifli said: "Part-time jobs should be encouraged but it must be at a work place that challenges them intellectually and not have them do menial jobs."

Link: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/National/2249694/Article/index_html

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis

Conservation efforts on the Sumatran Rhino must not be taken for granted anymore as the mammal's population has decreased alarmingly to the point of near extinction in Sabah.

Despite efforts taken by the State Government for a number of years, the rhino's (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) numbers continue to decline, with poaching being the major threat.

Apart from poaching, logging activities causing disturbance, loss and fragmentation of the rhino's habitat also contributed to its declining population.

It is quite impossible to ascertain the actual number of rhinos in Sabah.

Indicators such as Davies and Payne (1982) stated that there were between 15 and 30 rhinos, 38-plus for Tabin and Danum Valley (Khan in 1989) and known (30) with possible (70) in whole of Sabah (Foose and van Strien 1997).

Based on this, he said it was clear that the Sumatran rhino population in Sabah warrants a highly-endangered rating and that serious concern for the survival of the sub-species is fully justified.

Low numbers, a possibly skewed sex ratio in favour of males and little evidence of current breeding constitute the main basis for this concern.

Two areas in south eastern Sabah are judged to have viable populations with prospects of long-term survival, viz Tabin Wildlife Reserve (1,200 sq km) and the forest reserve in Ulu Segama in Kuamut area (totaling approximately 4,000 sq km).

The area in Kuamut includes the Danum Valley and Maliau Basin Conservation area, within the Sabah Foundation's 100-year logging concession area, he said.

A limited survey of rhino distribution was carried out in late 1989 and early 1990 by WWF Malaysia and concentrated mainly on previously unsurveyed rhino ranges in the Ulu Segama and Kuamut area.

There is also possibility of viable populations in the Dermakot/Tangkulap/Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve when it is fully surveyed.

He said the Sumatran rhino was relatively common in North Borneo at the turn of the century, during which the harvesting of rhino horn by native hunters was encouraged by the government, then.

By 1960s the rhinos had largely disappeared from western and northern Sabah and became confined to the forests in the southeastern areas. By the late 1970s it was feared that the rhino was nearing extinction in Sabah, but according to Davies and Payne (1990), a statewide faunal survey from 1979 to 1982 revealed some small breeding populations still exist.

Such pocketed animals are also frequently vulnerable to hunting by virtue of the reduced size of their habitat now surrounded by areas under agriculture and other human activities.

In this respect, the Government's policy and legislation regarding wildlife and conservation, and protection of management of wild fauna and flora, respectively, constitute important components for planning conservation of the rhinos.

Steps must be taken to determine the precise distribution and status of the rhinos that live outside of the protected areas, especially those living in isolation and out of the reproductive contact with other rhinos.

The next step should be to systematically capture and translocate doomed individuals, integrating them into the viable populations in wildlife sanctuaries.

It is heartening to note that the Wildlife Department has been receiving external assistance in its bid to save the rhinos from extinction, such as the Asian Rhino Specialist Group, the SOS Rhino, and WWF Malaysia Sabah branch

The continued survival of the endangered Sumatran rhino is one of the main reasons the State Government shot down the proposed coal-fired power plant in Silam, Lahad Datu.

It was not an easy decision considering that Sabah is currently facing a power shortage problem.

But finally, we thought, we can have a power plant built anywhere but we cannot have a rhino anywhere, the State Government will continue to preserve all wildlife in Sabah.

In the recently-launched Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) 2008-2025, the rhino rescue programme was high on the State agenda.

A State-level rhino conservation task force to develop an action plan and embark on a rhino breeding programme based on the sanctuary concept similar to Indonesia's.

SOS Rhino USA and its President Dr Nan Schaffer contributions to rhinoceros conservation in Sabah over the past eight years at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, here have been invaluable.

There is no doubt that the Sumatran rhino is the most endangered species in Sabah and their numbers have dwindled to a mere 25-30.

Population surveys by the Wildlife Department and other stakeholders indicated that breeding populations exist only in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Danum Valley and, more recently, in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.

With such a small and fragmented population coupled with a low reproductive rate, the viability of the species is of grave concern.

Conservation efforts of the Wildlife Department have, therefore, focused on in-situ conservation involving protection and management of breeding rhino populations within sustainable natural habitats, and ex-situ conservation, attempting to bring isolated rhinos in unsustainable habitats into captive breeding programmes to build up a captive population with the long-term objective of eventual release to the wild.

Non-governmental organisations have lately begun to play an active role in the conservation of rhinos in Sabah.

Public awareness, fund raising and participating in conservation programmes are some of the contributions that NGOs can undertake. I welcome and encourage contributions from NGOs and regard them as partners with similar objectives such as conserving biodiversity and maintaining sustainable the livelihoods of local communities.

Therefore, as partners, NGOs have to keep the faith and ensure that their participation would not be to the detriment of the other party.

It is all too easy to pick on issues and sensationalise them to gain mileage for whatever cause but such a course is counter-productive and self-destructive.

SOS Rhino has fared well by avoiding conservation politics and focussing their energy on the plight of the Sumatran rhino.

With SOS Rhino collaboration for the last 10 years or so, there is more knowledge now on Sumatran rhino conservation in Sabah in terms of the rhino situation and the important prerequisites in captive breeding of the Sumatran rhino.

The successful production of one rhino offspring in Cincinnati Zoo in 2001 was the result of the rhino captive breeding experiences gained in Sabah, the State Government is grateful to Dr Schaffer and SOS Rhino USA for the invaluable contributions on Sumatran rhino conservation in Sabah.

Mahathir the Illegals’ Father

I am supporting the planned DAP motion for the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants in the Parliament.

The recently-completed Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Judiciary, among others, had allegedly implicated former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the irregular appointment of judges.

Since Project ICs issued to foreigners in Sabah was also referred to as Project may be a Royal Commission of Inquiry might also implicate Mahathir or vindicate him.

A week after the last general election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admitted that "he had heard what the people wanted him to hear".

He must have heard peninsula voices only because the near 100 per cent MP seats from Sabah and Sarawak given to BN did not receive rewards appropriately.

It seems our PM's only concern is peninsula. Look at our Sabahans repeated appeal and begging him to listen to our cry for help to solve our security cum sovereignty within Malaysia due to the huge number of illegal immigrants and project IC holders. Foreigners could get Malaysian ICs very easily. But nothing concrete has come out of this.

The promise in 2006 for large scale operations like the Ops Nyah II to flush out paperless foreigners also did not happen.

the announcement for two more detention centres for illegal immigrants to be built in Sabah in 2006 remained mere words and it was again announced when the PM was in Sabah as if it was something new.

I do not want to pretend and say that everything is okay. We do not want to be in a state of denial. Tell the truth, even if it is painful.

But the PM did not practice what he preached. He did not want to hear the truth about Project IC or Project Mahathir in Sabah by the fact that the National Registration Department was directed not to answer the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity on questions regarding this project.

Sabah had sent memoranda to the Prime Minister on this issue but did he ever read them?

Sex more valued than money

MIRI: Sex before money – that seemed to be on the minds of a group of armed robbers who struck at a housing estate.

Clad only in their underwear and face-masks, the five men broke into a house, tied up its four occupants, then searched the house for the Indonesian maid instead of the loot.

When they found the maid not to their “taste”, they beat her up and then robbed the entire family.

Miri police are now looking for the group of foreigners who escaped with more than RM10,000 in cash and belongings.

The incident happened on Monday at the Morsjaya commercial centre outside the city centre.

The victims, who lodged a report at the Miri Central Police Station, said the robbers broke into the house in the wee hours of the morning.

They were not wearing shirts or trousers, only underwear. They headed straight for the rooms after tying up four of the family members who were in the house, said one of the victims in his report.

“They were searching for the Indonesian maid who lives in the house. They found the maid, but after looking at her, they beat her up with the handle of the parang they were carrying,” said a police source.

Meanwhile, late on Monday night, another armed robbery took place at a businessman's house in a posh residential estate in Luak Bay, outside the city centre.

A group of six men armed with parang broke into the house and escaped with more than RM50,000 in cash and jewellery after tying up the entire household.

Miri police chief Asst Comm Jamaluddin Ibrahim said that as of yesterday afternoon, the police have arrested six men.

“We do not know as yet whether these robberies were carried out by the same gang,” he said.

ACP Jamaluddin advised residents to beef up security in their homes if they intend to keep large amounts of cash and jewellery there.

Sabah Poors

I’m speechless when it comes to how the federal government treat Sabah. Despite the high poverty rates in Sabah, the allocation given to the Sabah Federal Development Department (JPPS) this year was cut short to RM56 million from last year RM200 million.

Vote BN la!

Sabah has 23% poverty compare to 3.6 % of national level.

Sabah can never progress if Poverty eradication never succeeds.

I am sure none of those federal ministers ever step into the rural areas of Sabah; all they ever did was visit those UMNO’s dog in the much more comfortable Kota Kinabalu.

Many parts in the state still lack proper infrastructure. Roads are not upgraded and during wet weather it is impossible to travel on these gravel stretches when they become muddy.

The official number for the hardcore poor in Sabah numbered at 21,514 with 13,802 categorised as productive and 3,708 as non-productive. Another 4,004 are disabled.

However, I believed a lot more are not registered as hardcore poor.

There is a great need for additional funding to Sabah, in view of the people’s undivided support to BN.

Poverty had also deprived rural children from a proper education because parents could not afford to send them to school.

Most schools in the remote districts were still ill-equipped and as is typical in the rural areas, have no running water, power supply or a health clinic.

It was not any wonder that teachers were reluctant to be posted to these parts.

I am not a frog supporter but if nothing done, please jump!

National Service RM2.37billions

I am not a very bright person but RM2.37billions seems a bit too much for National Services from 2004 to 2007.

There are current two mega issues on our nation, crime and inflation.

I am not smart on economic but I think the crime rates can be reduce by employing more police personnel.

RM 2,370,000,000 divided by Four years is RM592, 500,000.

I heard that our Patrolling police officers monthly salaries are RM795 per month.

So I estimated that to sustain a police officer which include providing them with accommodations, transportations and other basic necessity will be RM3000 per person per month.

So if for a year including Bonus of RM3000, it will be Rm39,000

Then, if the RM2.37billions be allocated for increase of police personals, there would be 15,192 extra patrol police on the street.

Isn’t that better?

Aliens will take over Sabah in 10years time!

They have already taken over Sandakan Town at night and also infiltrated most of the jungles and small villages all around Sabah.

Illegal immigrant or better known as “Fui Chung” (Flying insect) among Chinese community in Sabah has been the torn in the anus for decades now but nobody has ever taken any action against them or trying to find a fair solution. Growing up in Sandakan, fui chung become the second scariest thing after the “Mah Da” (Police)! Mah Da of cause is the scariest because they are dirty and yet untouchable!

It’s not shocking that some illegal migrants managed to get permanent resident (PR) and even citizenship status while my mother who is a Taiwanese hasn’t got her after 30years in Malaysia. Those political minded leaders only interested to increase the Muslim population in Sabah regardless of the consequences. Illegal immigrants from neighbouring Philippines and Indonesia have been given identity cards (IC) by the authorities to enable them to vote in elections.

From observation, for every sabahan there is two Fui Chung so there are 1million sabahan versus 2millions Fui Chung! It’s near to impossible to prevent more illegal migrants from entering Sabah but there are other measures that can be taken to prevent them from coming.

Sabah is endowed with many natural resources such as petroleum and gas offshore and the rich biodiversity of tropical forest but the state still has the highest rate of poverty at over 20 percent.

Worst of all even the basic infrastructure are not provided to those rural people such as road transportation and utilities, water and electricity supply. Kadazan, Bajau and others Real Bumiputra of Sabah are peace loving people and they don’t make troubles like those Fui Chung but even there are scared of those ruthless fui chung!

The coming of Fui Chung is like Aids, there no cure for Sabah yet. We need to destroy the ICs and citizenships of those who had obtained them through illegal tactics. Those who made ICs for those Aliens must be Hang Till Death!

The issuance of such identity cards to millions of foreigners under National Registration Department's special exercises codenamed under the rule of traitors Must-ta-pa and Harris Salleh with the support of the evil former premier Dr. Madir. Madir gave a millions IC to Fui Chung equal the act of Treasons!

Once I saw a policeman stop a Fui chung on the street and ask for identification. The fui chung take out all his IC about four them and ask the police which one he want! I only got one IC but some of them got two, three and even four but many of them are walking around with fake ICs.

Federal government never concern about Sabah plights, in 2002 about 200,000 foreigners without documents having left but they returned with papers under different names and destroyed the papers once they expired. We need Iris scan to determine their status and just names cause any can change names.

These foreigners were encouraged to come back to Sabah because their friends or relatives had one way or another becomes new bumiputeras in Sabah. They came back believing that they too would get same status down the road. Again how many destroyed their documents once expired? If caught and sent back they would come back with new names. The cycle repeats itself.

There are people or traitors within the immigration department that make ICs for the Aliens to cope with the high demand for fake Malaysian ICs. in a High Court case in Tawau in 1995 it was revealed that Umno members were helping foreigners to become natives of Sabah.

It is not known exactly how many foreigners are there with work passes but records showed that 147,000 Indonesians in Sabah cast their votes in the 1999 Indonesian presidential election.

There were too many fake IMM13 cards issued to foreigners categorised as 'refugees' or displaced people. Their number in the early 70s was given at around 60,000. After more than 30 years we are told their number is still around 60,000. Based on 300% increase rate of Sabah's population from 1970 to 2000 their number by today should be around 240,000. According to the PBS leader, by saying there are only 60,000 IMM13 holders means mostly likely a large number of them are already in possession of Project Mahathir ICs.

And we are told that there are 20,000 of IMM13 granted PR status - and this is without the prior knowledge of the Sabah state government, even though Sabah still has some jurisdiction on immigration matters. By the end of this year all IMM13 holders in Sabah will be granted PR status, without the state government's knowledge.

The IMM13 issued to Filipino 'refugees' in the 70s was causing unnecessary problems through legalising their presence in Sabah and that the real losers are the local bumiputeras. Yet (Minister of the Prime Minister's Deparment) Mohd Nazri said the refugees in Sabah were not a problem!

In many districts in Sabah foreigners, including those in possession of Project ICs and their descendants outnumbered the locals. Imagine the tremendous impact not only on the socio-economic rights but also the customary native rights of Sabahans.

the real possibility of Sabah being subject to a reverse take-over by foreigners unless there is greater resolve and determination by the federal government to tackle the problems created by the presence of thousands of illegal immigrants in the state.

Aliens in Sabah are true!!! Bye2 Sabah!

Pig Farm Issue in Papar

Papar, 38 km from Kota Kinabalu, may be reached by road. This is a particularly scenic route with green padi and jungle lining the roadside

I was on a short trip to Papar yesterday, no time to rest after two weeks of headache entertaining those foreign journalists. But as a justice fighter for Sabahan, I can’t stand still when one of our own is being bullied by the government.

This time UMNO is up against some 30acres of Pig Farm near Papar. We contacted The Papar Land Office is in the process of enforcing Section 34 of the Sabah Land Ordinance Cap 68, 1963, to seize the land title to over 30 acres at Kg Purak and Kg Manggis for conducting illegal pig rearing.

I was told the Sabah Land and Survey Department Director has directed the Papar land office to take action against the owner of the two farms for contravening the conditions for the land use. Is this biased true biased? I see lot of free running bull, cow, goats and chicken running and shitting around all over Sabah and yet nobody seems to care or take action against this people.

Why choose a pig farm to bully?

Is it because those Musa can’t eat pork and he can’t stand the temptation so he wants all Sabahan to follow him not to eat pork?

Both farms have over 1,000 pigs and have been operating since 2000. It’s stupid of the authority to ask them to stop work. What do they mean by stop work?

Stop feeding the pigs until the court verdicts? That will takes months even years by then those pigs would have become skeleton.

About breaching the land usage that was originally meant for agricultural activities, there are hundred of thousands of people breading cow, chicken, goat and etc all over Sabah illegally…

So go catch them all la…

Gila... all they want is under table money! When the owner refuse to pay more than they demanded after 6years! They start kacau2!!!

Sandakan Oil Palm

It was a tiring two weeks as I spend most of time with international journalists who visited Malaysia Palm Oil, I am especially proud when they visited my homeland, Sandakan Oil Palm Plantation.

It wasn’t an easy job taking this people around because their pen is mightier than anyone C4! Aside from knowing a few friends from around the world, I got the opportunity to know more about my own Sandakan produce oil palm…

The team of international journalists who visited Malaysia are given a look at different aspects of the industry and brings into focus the ground realities

Malaysia may be producing most of the palm oil in the world but it is certainly not at the expense of logging and replacing natural forests with oil palm cultivation or loss of wildlife and their habitat.

Palm oil, it has been researched and proven, does not contribute to deforestation or destroys animal life and biodiversity. Those european countries who destroy most of their own forest has no rights or whatsoever to critize our forest!

Impressive efforts are being made by the Malaysian government to maintain a balance between growth and sustainability by utilising sound agricultural practices of Malaysian oil palm plantations that has led to a prosperous and sustainable production of palm oil.

This is the first time for a very long time that I feel proud about BN. Well done!

The Malaysian palm oil industry is nearly a century old and it has contributed significantly to improving the economy of Malaysia. With an area of 4.3 million hectares of plantations in 2007, Malaysia stood second in the world in terms of planted areas and produced nearly 15.8 million tonnes of palm oil in the same year.

Malaysia's palm oil, which is exported to many countries, particularly China, the European Union (EU), Pakistan, India and United States, has gained recognition for its consistent quality and regular supply. However, earlier it was not grown on authorised agriculture land or cultivated in gazetted forest reserve land.

This journalist was part of Press team whose members were invited from various countries by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) to attend an orientation programme with the aim of familiarising them with rational agricultural management adopted by MPOC to ensure sustainable palm oil industry. The International Palm Oil Sustainability (IPOSC) Conference 2008 provided an insight into the industry.

Some of the NGOs have been critical of Malaysia's palm oil industry, alleging that clearing of forest lands and expansion of oil palm cultivation had resulted in deforestation and loss of wildlife, notably, orangutan.

Malaysian palm oil exporters, too, have been facing scathing criticism from NGOs, forcing some end-users to boycott the use of palm oil, including the Malaysian palm oil. This boycott was initiated by the USA because their soya oil cant compete with our palm oil in terms of quantity per acre.

Palm oil, it has been researched and proven, does not contribute to deforestation or destroys animal life and biodiversity.

We visited the IJM Plantation (IJMP) Breeding Centre to get an insight into the Malaysian oil palm cultivation. We also visited the Quality, Training and Research Centre (QTRC) in Seas Estate, Beluran which ranks among the Top 10 Malaysian palm oil companies, as it gives special care to environment.

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of IJMP, Velayuthan Tan Kim Song, said IJMP has been focusing on sustainable palm oil productivity, performance excellence, care for environment, and well-being of people and communities at large.

The IJMP has been using the best available agronomist practices in order to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. IJMP has also been open to stockholders' engagement that exerts efforts to spread awareness among indigenous workforce in its estate mills and research facilities as well.

Velayuthan said the group has continued to benefit from its recent intensive plantation programme and the land bank of the group by the end of the financial year of 2007 had increased to 29,807 hectares compared to the areas planted with oil palm trees that totalled 25,421 hectares in 2006.

During the visit to IJMP Quality, Training and Research Center (QTRC ) the journalists were briefed on oil palm breeding trials and techniques for improving the uptake of nutrients into the plant from the soil.

Purushothaman Kumaran, General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Finance of IJMP, stated that IJMP has adopted integrated pest management programmes that involved the use of various techniques, including biological control to maintain a high level of biodiversity in the estates such as diverse natural vegetations and assorted collection of breeding, multiplication of predatory insects and specifically beneficial plants.

At the QTRC, the official said that IJMP has adopted different approaches to minimise the use of pesticides. It has reduced the application of chemicals by focusing on biological control, including the use of beetles, birds and fungi to deal with common palm oil pathogens. QTRC has built owl boxes to attract rodent-eating barn owls, and planted native plant species to draw bats and other insectivores. Pesticides are used only when it is absolutely necessary.

The company employs highly selective application of insecticides to control the worst outbreaks. This is because the company relies on early detection of pests where large-scale applications are rarely needed.

Waste generated by the pressing of palm fruit during crude palm oil production is a general problem for processors. The by-products of palm oil pressing are non-toxic. However, they can't be safely discharged into local waterways due to their high acidity. QTRC addresses this issue by treating raw palm oil mill effluents (POME) with anaerobic bacteria.

IJMP also encourages reforestation in forested reserves, on steep slopes, and on land near catchments areas by using native species in the planted areas.

The company is aiming to "enhance the attractiveness and ability to sustain fauna diversity by planting food tree species already endemic in the areas such as mangrove trees."

Their efforts seem to be paying off. Surveys have recorded 268 species of flora and fauna, including 87 birds and 11 mammals, in oil palm plantations. While this is lower than those found in primary or even secondary forest areas, it represents an improvement over barren land or other monocultures.

The IJMP also maintains zero-burn policy in all its recycling plants and palm drip irrigation is being used in Desa Talisai Estate nursery as part of its improved irrigation system. This technology is environmentally-friendly for its low level of water requirement.

The IJMP palm oil mill endeavours zero waste management in the processing of palm oil fresh fruit bunches. Treated palm oil mill effluent is rolled back to the land, principally for irrigation, while empty fruit branches are shredded into fibres for conversion into value added bio-compost and help in replacing inorganic potash fertilisers.

After visiting the Quality, Training and Research Centre (QTRC), the journalists travelled by boat from Beluran to Sabang, exploring the beauty of the pristine mangrove forests and virgin rain forests that extended along the river. The mangroves are home to a large variety of flora and fauna.

Another wonderful sight in Sabang were the Sabang Christmas trees that have unique fire-flies that flicker brightly among the forest trees at night.

A 40-minute drive from Sabang takes one to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at Sepilok, home to the one of the most fascinating creatures, the orangutans, also known as 'man of the forest' because of their 94 per cent similarity to human genes.

Dr Sen Nethan, chief field veterinarian at the Sabah Wildlife Department, said the sanctuary that is funded by the Sabah government was established in 1964 with the aim of returning orphaned, injured or displaced orangutans back to the wild. Hundreds of orangutans rescued from logging sites, plantations and poaching areas have been rehabilitated at the Sepilok facility.

The cute creatures swing across 4,500 hectares of virgin Kabil-Sepilok forest that has rich tropical rainforests and mangrove swamps designated as reserves for the orangutans.

The rehabilitation process starts as soon as the orangutan is brought to the centre with a thorough health examination, followed by a quarantine period. Young orangutans at the nursery are quick to learn the skills that are essential to jungle life, such as finding food and building nests and even trapezing among the trees. Once the nursery caretakers are sure that the young orangutans have learnt the skills of existence in the wild, they are released into the forests to fend on their own.

Dr Nethan said that touching of orangutans is discouraged in order to prevent the spread of human diseases to the creatures.

Palm supports life

The International Palm Oil Sustainability Conference (IPOSC) held recently in Sabah, capital of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, aimed at promoting the virtues of palm oil and address environmental concerns as many green groups accuse palm oil industry of pollution.

At the conference, 21 papers dealing with various issues were presented. Among the topics discussed were palm oil cultivation and wetlands, wildlife conservation and environmental care.

Addressing the conference, the Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, highlighted the issues that the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) feels have been overlooked by environmental groups, including carbon emissions, governance, and use of pesticides and fertilisers.

Chin said that as a perennial tree crop with an economic life of 30 years, oil palm trees store more carbon than other oilseeds, notably soy and rapeseed. Additionally, as the world's most productive oilseed, oil palm cultivation does more to feed the world per unit of area than any other crop.

He noted that contrary to public perception, most of the palm oil goes to food production rather than biofuels. It supports life.

Chin discussed some of the environmentally-friendly initiatives, including a zero-burning policy and utilisation of waste.He also announced the official launch of the $6.4 million Malaysian Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund to sponsor studies on wildlife, oil palm and the environment.

Chin made special mention of the Borneo Conservation Trust, a project that seeks to verify the number of orangutans in Sabah. Presently, it is believed that there are some 12,000 orangutans in the state, a steep decline in the numbers since 1950.

The Devil 666 is in Sabah now!!!

Two bastards have been lockup as suspects for the robbery and rape of a teenage girl in Tawau

Aged 33 and 39, their symbol is 3+3, 3+3, 9-3 = 6 6 6

Or the devil is on the prowl in Sabah again?

So now BN should employ Bomoh2 to help erratic this DEVIL or DEVILs!!!

Both the “Devil” possessed are from Kampung Kurnia Jaya and arrested on Tueday night.

They raped the girl more than four times at a cocoa plantation in Jalan Sin Onn.

One of them is an ex-convict. It was a bad day for the girl as she had mistakenly flagged down a van driven by one of the suspects as a mini-bus while she was on her way to church in Apas Road on Saturday evening.

The none driving bastard was sitting behind, put a knife to her neck and demanded money, the girl, who did not have a purse with her, was forced to give up her gold rings.

The suspect then ordered her to take off her clothes but she struggled and pleaded with the driver to stop the vehicle.

Instead, they took her to the plantation and gang-raped her.

They later dropped her off near Wisma Rastamas where she quickly put on her clothes before informing her family, who helped her to lodge a police report.

Sabahan is not only poor in the pocket but also poor in manners, especially after the recent abduction and brutal rape of a university student in Kota Kinabalu.

Beside preventing and solving crimes like this, the government should extent their help to the victims in terms monetary and psychology.

Only Yong Teck Lee talked about the recent kidnap, assault and rape of a UMS student. The others MP too busy deciding to jump or not to jump? Fuck la… they only concern is their political career, Mr. Yong was free to talk just because he isn’t a MP already and nobody offers him JUMP!

This reflects a lack of recognition of the heinousness of the crime and its serious impact and repercussions on the whole of our society.

I feel violated and powerless when senseless atrocities like this happen, all too often as of late.

Do something Fucking BN!!!!

Be it BOMOH, BOBOHIZAN or BADAWI himself come and kick those DEVILs’ ASS!!!!