Sabtu, 15 Februari 2003 Berita Utama
SURABAYA - Berdasar investigasi yang dilakukan Kantor Kementerian Negara
Pemberdayaan Perempuan, di kawasan Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia, saat ini ada
pekerja ilegal yang berprofesi sebagai pelacur - kini sering disebut sebagai
pekerja seks komersial (PSK) - sekitar 5.000 orang. Mereka berasal dari
Jatim, Jateng, dan beberapa daerah lainnya di Pulau Jawa.
Kondisi mereka sangat mengenaskan. Mereka terkungkung dan "terpenjara" oleh
jaringan perdagangan manusia ilegal dan perlu kerja keras untuk
membebaskannya. Sebagian besar mereka berasal dari Jatim dan Jateng.
Kenyataan tersebut dikemukakan Deputi Menteri Negara Pemberdayaan Perempuan
Bidang Kualitas Hidup Perempuan Dr Ratna Cahya kepada wartawan di Surabaya,
kemarin.
Bagaimana jaringan pelacur ini bisa sampai Tawau, Sabah? Menurut Ratna, ada
dua jalur yang dilalui jaringan pelacur untuk mengambil wanita dari kedua
provinsi di Pulau Jawa itu untuk dipekerjakan dalam bisnis rumah bordir di
negeri jiran tersebut.
Pertama, dari Jatim biasanya mereka mempergunakan jalur Kota Surabaya,
Pare-Pare, Nunukan, Kaltim, langsung ke Tawau, Sabah. "Di sini biasanya
wanita-wanita itu tertipu anggota jaringan ini di Terminal Bungurasih
Surabaya," katanya.
Kedua, dari Jateng biasanya mempergunakan jalur Kota Semarang, Pontianak,
Serawak, lalu Tawau, Sabah. "Kedua jalur tersebut yang biasa dipergunakan
jaringan ini untuk menyelundupkan wanita ke Malaysia sebagai pelacur,"
jelasnya.
Jumlah pelacur asal Jatim, Jateng, dan daerah lainnya di Pulau Jawa di Tawau
Sabah, tambah Ratna, sekitar 5.000 orang. Pemerintah kini sedang merumuskan
langkah terobosan paling mungkin dan mudah untuk memulangkan mereka ke
kampung halamannya. Mengentas mereka dari jurang prostitusi di sana dan
mengembalikan para wanita malang ke kampung halamannya bukan perkara mudah.
Sebab, perdagangan manusia ilegal ini melibatkan jaringan sangat luas dan
kuat.
"Makanya kami mengawal langsung kepulangan 16 pelacur dari Tawau Sabah
melalui Nunukan Kaltim ke Surabaya. Kalau tidak, mereka bisa saja dibujuk
atau dipaksa kembali ke Malaysia sebagai pelacur oleh anggota jaringan
perdagangan manusia ini," ujar Kapolres Nunukan Kaltim AKBP Poedji Santoso
kepada wartawan di Surabaya, kemarin.
Dipulangkan
Memang, pada hari Kamis (13/2) 16 pelacur yang terdiri atas 14 orang asal
Jatim dan 2 orang dari Jateng, dipulangkan ke kampung halamannya melalui
Pelabuhan Tanjung Perak Surabaya. Mereka naik KM Kerinci dari Nunukan,
Katim.
Sebelumnya, ke-16 pelacur yang umurnya rata-rata belum menginjak 30 tahun
itu bekerja di beberapa tempat prostitusi di Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia.
Kepulangan mereka dikawal langsung Kapolres Nunukan AKBP Poedji Santoso.
"Ini perintah langsung Kapolda Kaltim (Irjen Pol E Winarto Hadi Wasito),"
jelas Poedji Santoso. "Kami rencanakan pekan depan ada 10 sampai 20 pelacur
kami pulangkan ke kampung halamannya dari Tawau, Sabah," kata Ratna.
Sementara itu, konsul Indonesia di Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia, mengaku sangat
kecewa atas sikap Polisi Diraja Malaysia (PDR) dalam menangani persoalan
ini. Sebab, kepolisian negeri jiran tersebut tak pernah merespons pengaduan
Pemerintah Indonesia berkaitan dengan perdagangan wanita untuk dijadikan
pelacur di wilayah tersebut.
"Kami sangat kecewa, karena pengaduan kami tak diindahkan," kata Drs Haji
Makdum Tahir MM, Konsul RI di Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia, kepada wartawan, di
Surabaya, kemarin.
Padahal, tambahnya, "Kami telah mengirimkan surat permohonan sebanyak 4 kali
kepada polisi Malaysia untuk merespons persoalan masalah ini. Tapi,
kenyataannya tak ada tanggapan sama sekali. Bahkan, ada kecenderungan bisnis
manusia ilegal ini makin merajalela."
Kini, katanya, ada sekitar 5.000 pelacur yang dipekerjakan di Tawau, Sabah,
Malaysia. Kondisi mereka sangat memprihatinkan. Mereka di bawah kungkungan
pemilik tempat prostitusi tersebut.
Saturday, February 15, 2003
Thursday, July 18, 2002
Sebanyak 26 TKI dari Sabah Alami Gangguan Jiwa Samarinda
Kompas Cyber Media
Kamis, 18 Juli 2002, 20:48 WIB
Banyak tenaga kerja asal Indonesia (TKI) yang dideportasi oleh Pemerintah Negara Bagian Sabah (Malaysia) melalui Kabupaten Nunukan (Kalimantan Timur) mengalami stres berat yang membuat mereka mengalami gangguan kejiwaan.
Kepala Dinas Kesehatan Kaltim, dr Ridwan Masrun di Samarinda, Kamis, mengatakan, berdasarkan data terakhir yang diperolehnya dari Departemen Tenaga Kerja, TKI yang dideportasi dan mengalami gangguan jiwa dan kini berkeliaran di Kota Nunukan sebanyak 26 orang.
Dijelaskan juga, selain mengalami gangguan jiwa, ada lima TKI yang menderita cacat fisik atau lumpuh, dan karena tidak ada yang mengaku bertanggungjawab, maka mereka akhirnya dirawat di Puskesmas Nunukan.
Dijelaskan, jika TKI yang mengalami gangguan kejiwaan itu dibiarkan berkeliaran di Nunukan, akan mengganggu ketertiban
umum, kerawanan sosial dan mengganggu keindahan kota, selain menambah beban Pemerintah Kabupaten Nunukan.
"Belum lagi jika di antara para TKI itu membawa penyakit menular dari Malaysia, yang jika dibiarkan akan menulari masyarakat Nunukan," kata Ridwan Masrun.
Ia menjelaskan bahwa Kota Nunukan, salah satu kabupaten dibelahan utara Kaltim yang berbatasan langsung dengan Sabah, selama ini menjadi tempat transit ribuan TKI asal Indonesia yang bermaksud mencari peruntungan ke Sabah.
Melihat kenyataan tersebut, katanya, Dians Kesehatan Kaltim mengharapkan pemerintah pusat, pemerintah provinsi dan Pemkab Nunukan menyiapkan dana khusus untuk menangani para TKI yang terganggu jiwanya dan selama ini berkeliaran di Nunukan.
"Jika perlu dibentuk tim khusus untuk menangani mereka dan membangun penampungan untuk rehabilitasi jiwa para TKI yang terganggu, bekerjasama dengan Rumah Sakit Jiwa (RSJ) Samarinda," katanya.
Sekitar 500 orang/bulan
Dikemukakan, berdasarkan data dari Balai Antar-Kerja Antar-Negara (Balai AKAN), setiap bulannya TKI yang masuk ke Malaysia melalui Kabupaten Nunukan, baik yang legal maupun ilegal, sekitar 400-500 orang.
TKI tersebut paling banyak berasal dari Sulawesi Selatan, Jawa Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur. Empat provinsi lain penyumbang TKI ke Malaysia melalui Nunukan adalah Sulawesi Utara, Sulawesi Tengah, Nusa Tenggara Barat dan Bali.
Wakil Bupati Nunukan, Kasmir Foret di Nunukan sebelumnya menjelaskan bahwa pihaknya mengalami kesulitan untuk
menangani TKI yang kemudian menjadi tidak waras tersebut, apalagi berkeliaran di Kota Nunukan.
"Nunukan adalah kabupaten baru yang baru berusia kurang dari dua tahun, tentu saja kami kesulitan menanganinya karena
Nunukan tidak punya rumah sakit jiwa," katanya.Ia menjelaskan bahwa puluhan orang tidak waras tersebut diduga
mendapat tekanan luar biasa saat menjadi TKI ilegal di Malaysia, sehingga menjadi gila.
"Menurut penuturan TKI ilegal yang pernah ditangkap, mereka mendapat penyiksaan saat di penjara, juga ada yang mengalami depresi berat, karena setelah puluhan tahun mengumpulkan harta, mereka tiba-tiba ditangkap saat mengurus izin TKI, dan hartanya dikuras," kata Kasmir Foret.
Dikemukakan, ia pernah menerima pengaduan dari keluarga TKI yang kebetulan gila. Para TKI itu, katanya, hanya berbekal baju di badan saat dideportasi dari Sabah ke Nunukan, karena harta mereka telah dirampas di Malaysia.
Persoalan itu, menurut Wakil Bupati Nunukan, diakui cukup sulit ditangani, apalagi jumlah TKI ilegal di daerah Sabah dan Serawak jumlahnya mencapai ratusan ribu jiwa.
"Upaya kita untuk mengatasi hal itu terbatas dengan mengingatkan warga, supaya kalau mereka menjadi TKI harus
mengurus izin resmi lebih dahulu, karena kalau menjadi pendatang haram, mereka akan diperlakukan seenaknya oleh majikan dan aparat kepolisian Malausia," kata Kasmir.(Ant/jy) Kamis, 01 Agustus 2002, 13:24 WIB
TKI Bermasalah Mulai Ditangkap di Sabah Nunukan, Kamis Aparat kepolisian Kerajaan Malaysia mulai melakukan razia dan menangkapi para tenaga kerja Indonesia (TKI) yang masih berada di Kota Kinabalu dan Tawau di Negara Bagian Sabah (Malaysia Timur) pada hari pertama berlakunya Undang-Undang (UU) Keimigrasian Malaysia yang baru hari ini.
Menurut Konsul Jenderal RI di Tawau, Makdum Taher, seperti yang dikemukakan Kepala Administrasi Pelabuhan (Adpel)
Nunukan, Simanjuntak SH kepada Antara di Nunukan, Kamis (1/8), Kepolisian Negara Bagian Sabah melakukan razia dan penangkapan TKI atas perintah Ketua Dewan Menteri Negara Bagian Sabah, Chong Kha Kiat.
"Polisi melakukan razia dan penangkapan terhadap TKI bermasalah dan yang tidak memiliki dokumen resmi yang ada di
Sabah karena mengaanggap bahwa UU Keimigrasian Malaysia yang baru telah berlaku pada 1 Agutsus 2002 pada pukul 00.00 waktu setempat," papar Simanjuntak mengutip perkataan Makdum Taher.
Dijelaskan, razia dan penangkapan dilakukan sejak Kamis dinihari, terutama di daerah Talukit dan kawasan sekitar Gunung Kinabalu. "Jadi pernyataan Kantor Imigrasi Malaysia sebelumnya yang memberikan kesempatan kepada warga Indonesia di Malaysia yang masih belum bisa pergi ke Nunukan akibat terbatasnya angkutan, hingga 9 Agustus mendatang, ternyata tidak benar, terbukti TKI bermasalah kini ditangkapi," ujarnya.Simanjuntak mengemukakan, berdasarkan informasi yang
diperoleh dari Konjen RI di Tawau dan sumber lain, bus-bus yang mengangkut para TKI bermasalah dari Kota Kinabalu (Ibu Kota Negara Bagian Sabah) menuju ke Pelabuhan Tawau (untuk selanjutnya akan menyeberang ke Indonesia/Nunukan), telah dicegat dan beberapa TKI ditangkapi.
Polisi Malaysia juga dilaporkan mengejar-ngejar TKI yang bermasalah yang belum memiliki surat izin dan surat bukti pulang
yang dikeluarkan Konjen RI di Kinabalu atau Kantor Perwakilan RI lainnya di Negara Bagian Sabah.
Menurut Makdum Taher, akibat adanya razia dan penangkapan terhadap TKI itu, bus-bus dari Kota Kinabalu ke Tawau sedikit terhambat, padahal menurutnya di Kota Kinabalu masih antre lebih dari 100.000 TKI yang akan pulang ke Indonesia melalui jalur Tawau (Sabah) dan Kabupaten Nunukan (Kalimantan Timur).
Sementara itu, tambah Simanjuntak, di Pelabuhan Tawau (Sabah) hari ini sekitar 1.500 TKI siap diberangkatkan ke Nunukan, ditambah sekitar 1.000 TKI lain yang saat ini sedang dalam perjalanan dari Kota Kinabalu menuju Pelabuhan Tawau dengan menggunakan 18 bus. "Kemungkinan hari Kamis ini, sejak pagi hingga Kamis malam, jumlah TKI di Nunukan akan bertambah sekitar 2.500 hingga 3.000 orang," ucapnya.Sejak Maret lalu, Kota Nunukan telah dipadati lebih dari 70.000 TKI. Para TKI itu sebagian sedang menunggu angkutan untuk pulang ke daerah masing-masing dan sebagian lain sedang mengurus paspor sebagai bekal mereka kembali bekerja di Malaysia. (Ant/ima)
Kamis, 18 Juli 2002, 20:48 WIB
Banyak tenaga kerja asal Indonesia (TKI) yang dideportasi oleh Pemerintah Negara Bagian Sabah (Malaysia) melalui Kabupaten Nunukan (Kalimantan Timur) mengalami stres berat yang membuat mereka mengalami gangguan kejiwaan.
Kepala Dinas Kesehatan Kaltim, dr Ridwan Masrun di Samarinda, Kamis, mengatakan, berdasarkan data terakhir yang diperolehnya dari Departemen Tenaga Kerja, TKI yang dideportasi dan mengalami gangguan jiwa dan kini berkeliaran di Kota Nunukan sebanyak 26 orang.
Dijelaskan juga, selain mengalami gangguan jiwa, ada lima TKI yang menderita cacat fisik atau lumpuh, dan karena tidak ada yang mengaku bertanggungjawab, maka mereka akhirnya dirawat di Puskesmas Nunukan.
Dijelaskan, jika TKI yang mengalami gangguan kejiwaan itu dibiarkan berkeliaran di Nunukan, akan mengganggu ketertiban
umum, kerawanan sosial dan mengganggu keindahan kota, selain menambah beban Pemerintah Kabupaten Nunukan.
"Belum lagi jika di antara para TKI itu membawa penyakit menular dari Malaysia, yang jika dibiarkan akan menulari masyarakat Nunukan," kata Ridwan Masrun.
Ia menjelaskan bahwa Kota Nunukan, salah satu kabupaten dibelahan utara Kaltim yang berbatasan langsung dengan Sabah, selama ini menjadi tempat transit ribuan TKI asal Indonesia yang bermaksud mencari peruntungan ke Sabah.
Melihat kenyataan tersebut, katanya, Dians Kesehatan Kaltim mengharapkan pemerintah pusat, pemerintah provinsi dan Pemkab Nunukan menyiapkan dana khusus untuk menangani para TKI yang terganggu jiwanya dan selama ini berkeliaran di Nunukan.
"Jika perlu dibentuk tim khusus untuk menangani mereka dan membangun penampungan untuk rehabilitasi jiwa para TKI yang terganggu, bekerjasama dengan Rumah Sakit Jiwa (RSJ) Samarinda," katanya.
Sekitar 500 orang/bulan
Dikemukakan, berdasarkan data dari Balai Antar-Kerja Antar-Negara (Balai AKAN), setiap bulannya TKI yang masuk ke Malaysia melalui Kabupaten Nunukan, baik yang legal maupun ilegal, sekitar 400-500 orang.
TKI tersebut paling banyak berasal dari Sulawesi Selatan, Jawa Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur. Empat provinsi lain penyumbang TKI ke Malaysia melalui Nunukan adalah Sulawesi Utara, Sulawesi Tengah, Nusa Tenggara Barat dan Bali.
Wakil Bupati Nunukan, Kasmir Foret di Nunukan sebelumnya menjelaskan bahwa pihaknya mengalami kesulitan untuk
menangani TKI yang kemudian menjadi tidak waras tersebut, apalagi berkeliaran di Kota Nunukan.
"Nunukan adalah kabupaten baru yang baru berusia kurang dari dua tahun, tentu saja kami kesulitan menanganinya karena
Nunukan tidak punya rumah sakit jiwa," katanya.Ia menjelaskan bahwa puluhan orang tidak waras tersebut diduga
mendapat tekanan luar biasa saat menjadi TKI ilegal di Malaysia, sehingga menjadi gila.
"Menurut penuturan TKI ilegal yang pernah ditangkap, mereka mendapat penyiksaan saat di penjara, juga ada yang mengalami depresi berat, karena setelah puluhan tahun mengumpulkan harta, mereka tiba-tiba ditangkap saat mengurus izin TKI, dan hartanya dikuras," kata Kasmir Foret.
Dikemukakan, ia pernah menerima pengaduan dari keluarga TKI yang kebetulan gila. Para TKI itu, katanya, hanya berbekal baju di badan saat dideportasi dari Sabah ke Nunukan, karena harta mereka telah dirampas di Malaysia.
Persoalan itu, menurut Wakil Bupati Nunukan, diakui cukup sulit ditangani, apalagi jumlah TKI ilegal di daerah Sabah dan Serawak jumlahnya mencapai ratusan ribu jiwa.
"Upaya kita untuk mengatasi hal itu terbatas dengan mengingatkan warga, supaya kalau mereka menjadi TKI harus
mengurus izin resmi lebih dahulu, karena kalau menjadi pendatang haram, mereka akan diperlakukan seenaknya oleh majikan dan aparat kepolisian Malausia," kata Kasmir.(Ant/jy) Kamis, 01 Agustus 2002, 13:24 WIB
TKI Bermasalah Mulai Ditangkap di Sabah Nunukan, Kamis Aparat kepolisian Kerajaan Malaysia mulai melakukan razia dan menangkapi para tenaga kerja Indonesia (TKI) yang masih berada di Kota Kinabalu dan Tawau di Negara Bagian Sabah (Malaysia Timur) pada hari pertama berlakunya Undang-Undang (UU) Keimigrasian Malaysia yang baru hari ini.
Menurut Konsul Jenderal RI di Tawau, Makdum Taher, seperti yang dikemukakan Kepala Administrasi Pelabuhan (Adpel)
Nunukan, Simanjuntak SH kepada Antara di Nunukan, Kamis (1/8), Kepolisian Negara Bagian Sabah melakukan razia dan penangkapan TKI atas perintah Ketua Dewan Menteri Negara Bagian Sabah, Chong Kha Kiat.
"Polisi melakukan razia dan penangkapan terhadap TKI bermasalah dan yang tidak memiliki dokumen resmi yang ada di
Sabah karena mengaanggap bahwa UU Keimigrasian Malaysia yang baru telah berlaku pada 1 Agutsus 2002 pada pukul 00.00 waktu setempat," papar Simanjuntak mengutip perkataan Makdum Taher.
Dijelaskan, razia dan penangkapan dilakukan sejak Kamis dinihari, terutama di daerah Talukit dan kawasan sekitar Gunung Kinabalu. "Jadi pernyataan Kantor Imigrasi Malaysia sebelumnya yang memberikan kesempatan kepada warga Indonesia di Malaysia yang masih belum bisa pergi ke Nunukan akibat terbatasnya angkutan, hingga 9 Agustus mendatang, ternyata tidak benar, terbukti TKI bermasalah kini ditangkapi," ujarnya.Simanjuntak mengemukakan, berdasarkan informasi yang
diperoleh dari Konjen RI di Tawau dan sumber lain, bus-bus yang mengangkut para TKI bermasalah dari Kota Kinabalu (Ibu Kota Negara Bagian Sabah) menuju ke Pelabuhan Tawau (untuk selanjutnya akan menyeberang ke Indonesia/Nunukan), telah dicegat dan beberapa TKI ditangkapi.
Polisi Malaysia juga dilaporkan mengejar-ngejar TKI yang bermasalah yang belum memiliki surat izin dan surat bukti pulang
yang dikeluarkan Konjen RI di Kinabalu atau Kantor Perwakilan RI lainnya di Negara Bagian Sabah.
Menurut Makdum Taher, akibat adanya razia dan penangkapan terhadap TKI itu, bus-bus dari Kota Kinabalu ke Tawau sedikit terhambat, padahal menurutnya di Kota Kinabalu masih antre lebih dari 100.000 TKI yang akan pulang ke Indonesia melalui jalur Tawau (Sabah) dan Kabupaten Nunukan (Kalimantan Timur).
Sementara itu, tambah Simanjuntak, di Pelabuhan Tawau (Sabah) hari ini sekitar 1.500 TKI siap diberangkatkan ke Nunukan, ditambah sekitar 1.000 TKI lain yang saat ini sedang dalam perjalanan dari Kota Kinabalu menuju Pelabuhan Tawau dengan menggunakan 18 bus. "Kemungkinan hari Kamis ini, sejak pagi hingga Kamis malam, jumlah TKI di Nunukan akan bertambah sekitar 2.500 hingga 3.000 orang," ucapnya.Sejak Maret lalu, Kota Nunukan telah dipadati lebih dari 70.000 TKI. Para TKI itu sebagian sedang menunggu angkutan untuk pulang ke daerah masing-masing dan sebagian lain sedang mengurus paspor sebagai bekal mereka kembali bekerja di Malaysia. (Ant/ima)
Thursday, June 27, 2002
No illegal logging in Benta Wawasan concession, says Chong Kah Kiat
Utusan Malaysia
27-6-2002
KOTA KINABALU June 26 - Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat said today that there are no illegal logging activities in the Benta Wawasan Sdn Bhd timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the state cabinet meeting here, Chong said that an offence had not been committed in the area, where the concession holders were allowed to log and the government was not deprived of royalty as alleged.
He was asked to comment on the report submitted to him by the Forestry Department and State Attorney-General's Office on alleged illegal logging activities in the concession area.
It was previously reported that the Special Unit in the State Security Division has intercepted more than 1,000 logs in the concession area over alleged contravention of the Sabah Forestry Enactment.
One of the operators in the concession area, reportedly aligned to a prominent Sabah politician, allegedly attempted to stop the authority from taking action as well as trying to evade payment of timber royalty that may affect the state's revenue.
Chong has also stated earlier that the name of the prominent Sabah politician allegedly linked to the logging contractors as reported, was not mentioned in the report.
At the same event, Chong also said that he had received letters from Singapore International Foundation (SIF) executive director Dr Tan Chi Chiu and Wildlife Reserves Singapore chief executive officer Bernard Harrison expressing regret over what were uttered by Tan Kit Sun, conservation curator of the Singapore Zoological Gardens, on June 17, this year.
Tan, who headed a SIF-supported youth expedition team was in Sabah to work together with SOS Rhino Sabah and the Sabah Wildlife and Forestry Department to conduct a survey on the endangered Sumatran Rhino.
He has told reporters that the team discovered traces of logging trails, a bulldozer and some round logs that were felled earlier in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve which suggested that illegal logging activities and poaching could have taken place in the area.
Dr Tan said: "Our view is that he (Tan) should not have made those statements in the press. It was inappropriate, insensitive, unhelpful and has caused embarrassment to the partner organisations as well as the Government of Sabah."
Dr Tan said that Tan's statements were made entirely in his personal capacity and the conservation curator does not represent the views of the SIF.
27-6-2002
KOTA KINABALU June 26 - Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat said today that there are no illegal logging activities in the Benta Wawasan Sdn Bhd timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the state cabinet meeting here, Chong said that an offence had not been committed in the area, where the concession holders were allowed to log and the government was not deprived of royalty as alleged.
He was asked to comment on the report submitted to him by the Forestry Department and State Attorney-General's Office on alleged illegal logging activities in the concession area.
It was previously reported that the Special Unit in the State Security Division has intercepted more than 1,000 logs in the concession area over alleged contravention of the Sabah Forestry Enactment.
One of the operators in the concession area, reportedly aligned to a prominent Sabah politician, allegedly attempted to stop the authority from taking action as well as trying to evade payment of timber royalty that may affect the state's revenue.
Chong has also stated earlier that the name of the prominent Sabah politician allegedly linked to the logging contractors as reported, was not mentioned in the report.
At the same event, Chong also said that he had received letters from Singapore International Foundation (SIF) executive director Dr Tan Chi Chiu and Wildlife Reserves Singapore chief executive officer Bernard Harrison expressing regret over what were uttered by Tan Kit Sun, conservation curator of the Singapore Zoological Gardens, on June 17, this year.
Tan, who headed a SIF-supported youth expedition team was in Sabah to work together with SOS Rhino Sabah and the Sabah Wildlife and Forestry Department to conduct a survey on the endangered Sumatran Rhino.
He has told reporters that the team discovered traces of logging trails, a bulldozer and some round logs that were felled earlier in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve which suggested that illegal logging activities and poaching could have taken place in the area.
Dr Tan said: "Our view is that he (Tan) should not have made those statements in the press. It was inappropriate, insensitive, unhelpful and has caused embarrassment to the partner organisations as well as the Government of Sabah."
Dr Tan said that Tan's statements were made entirely in his personal capacity and the conservation curator does not represent the views of the SIF.
Saturday, June 22, 2002
Illegal Loggers Alerted by Report
By Ruben Sario
June 22nd, 2002
From the Star
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is not happy about the way a group of Singaporeans had raised the issue of illegal logging at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, near here.
"How do they expect us to nab the illegal loggers if they leak it (the matter) out to everyone?" asked Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat.
If the Singaporeans, who included the island republic's Zoological Gardens curator Tan Kit Sun, were serious about wanting to stop the illegal logging at Tabin, they should have reported the matter quietly to the state Forestry Department rather than talking about it in their media, he said.
On Monday, Tan had reportedly said that the Singaporeans had spotted felled trees, tractors and tracks made by heavy machinery during a 10-day stay in the wildlife reserve.
Noting that the wildlife reserve was surrounded by oil palm plantations, he said there were many approaches for loggers to enter the area.
Tan reportedly said they were involved in a research project, supposedly being carried out jointly by the SOS Rhino, the Singapore Zoo and the Sabah Wildlife Department to determine the actual number of Sumatran rhinos in the state.
He had reportedly said that it was estimated that there were 50 rhinos at Taman Negara in the peninsula, about 80 in Sumatra and some 30 in Sabah, adding that the Sumatran rhino was a critically endangered species which could end up extinct in the next decade.
"What they have done is only to alert the illegal loggers who would have fled by now," said Chong of the Singaporeans' report.
"So it appears that they (the Singaporeans) are not genuine and were going for cheap publicity," Chong told reporters upon his return here yesterday after attending the opening of the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.
Chong said reports about the illegal logging at the 120,000ha wildlife reserve were "nothing new'' as the Forestry Department was already carrying out investigations into the matter.
June 22nd, 2002
From the Star
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is not happy about the way a group of Singaporeans had raised the issue of illegal logging at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, near here.
"How do they expect us to nab the illegal loggers if they leak it (the matter) out to everyone?" asked Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat.
If the Singaporeans, who included the island republic's Zoological Gardens curator Tan Kit Sun, were serious about wanting to stop the illegal logging at Tabin, they should have reported the matter quietly to the state Forestry Department rather than talking about it in their media, he said.
On Monday, Tan had reportedly said that the Singaporeans had spotted felled trees, tractors and tracks made by heavy machinery during a 10-day stay in the wildlife reserve.
Noting that the wildlife reserve was surrounded by oil palm plantations, he said there were many approaches for loggers to enter the area.
Tan reportedly said they were involved in a research project, supposedly being carried out jointly by the SOS Rhino, the Singapore Zoo and the Sabah Wildlife Department to determine the actual number of Sumatran rhinos in the state.
He had reportedly said that it was estimated that there were 50 rhinos at Taman Negara in the peninsula, about 80 in Sumatra and some 30 in Sabah, adding that the Sumatran rhino was a critically endangered species which could end up extinct in the next decade.
"What they have done is only to alert the illegal loggers who would have fled by now," said Chong of the Singaporeans' report.
"So it appears that they (the Singaporeans) are not genuine and were going for cheap publicity," Chong told reporters upon his return here yesterday after attending the opening of the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.
Chong said reports about the illegal logging at the 120,000ha wildlife reserve were "nothing new'' as the Forestry Department was already carrying out investigations into the matter.
Friday, June 14, 2002
Benta Wawasan Logs - What Happen Now?
We are very pleased to learn from Daily Express dated 7th June 2002 that the Special Unit in the State Security Division has intercepted more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau, on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment recently.
The Special Unit has been set up under the preview of Chief Minister's Department to help the Forestry Department in tackling the rampant illegal logging activities described by Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat as among "the three sins that need to be eliminated."
We would also like to congratulate Daily Express for highlighting such news proving once again, that Daily Express has acted without fear or favour.
The Chief Minister has kept his promise to eliminate the three sins. The on going Ops Nyiah II has been very successful and received overwhelmed support from all walks of life both in the state as well as at national level.
Having taken such stern actions against illegal immigrants, we certainly hope that similar actions will be taken against illegal loggers in the state. To act without fear or favour is very much needed and awaited against arrogant illegal loggers not only to safeguard the rights of the people but also to preserve the environment and the natural rainforests of our beloved Sabah, Land Below The Wind.
In fact, timber firms through out the country have urged the government, both state and federal to do more to curb illegal logging, which has flooded the timber market with cheap logs and sent many companies into bankruptcy. The rights and interests of these genuine timber companies must be protected.
However, as reported in the local dailies, “It was very reliably learnt that one of the contractors involved is aligned to a "top Sabah politician" and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them”. These contractors not only challenged the law but also going round using the names of top politicians in the state for their own selfish gains and interests.
Such allegations have badly tarnished the image of Sabah political leaders including the Chief Minister himself. With the foreign news eyeing at us and trying to find faults with us at every opportunity available, such piece of news is certainly damaging, but unavoidable. The confidence of the people in Sabah is also being eroded.
Law abiding timber companies are also subjected to public scrutiny since no names have been mentioned. The Chief Minister was right in asking for names of those involved, the contractors as well as the “top Sabah politician”, if it was true. The genuine leaders and followers alike, who always have the interests of the people in their priority, must not be dragged into such ugly acts. Justice must be given to them and their rights must be protected at all times.
We therefore, call on the state government to make public all reports on the investigation. The good image of the Barisan Nasional leaders must be preserved. The culprits must be brought to court and charge accordingly. We do not want to see history repeats itself where cases involving big names are swept under the carpet. We even hope that the Chief Minister will boldly remove his carpet to show transparency.
Even though illegal logging involves bigger names and stronger influence compared to illegal immigrants but there must not be selective action or selective justice when protecting the rights of the people and the state is concerned. Our Chief Minister must prove to the people of Sabah, whom he has vowed to serve, that no stone is left unturned in the process of fighting against illegal logging. The similar momentum for Ops Nyiah II must be continued.
With the Chief Minister’s good track of record thus far, We are very confident that the people of Sabah will stand firm behind the State Government in its efforts to combat all form of illegalities and irregularities. The people are eagerly waiting to witness another episode of long awaited action from the state government against illegal logging.
One week has passed since the news was reported. The people are all waiting.
The Special Unit has been set up under the preview of Chief Minister's Department to help the Forestry Department in tackling the rampant illegal logging activities described by Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat as among "the three sins that need to be eliminated."
We would also like to congratulate Daily Express for highlighting such news proving once again, that Daily Express has acted without fear or favour.
The Chief Minister has kept his promise to eliminate the three sins. The on going Ops Nyiah II has been very successful and received overwhelmed support from all walks of life both in the state as well as at national level.
Having taken such stern actions against illegal immigrants, we certainly hope that similar actions will be taken against illegal loggers in the state. To act without fear or favour is very much needed and awaited against arrogant illegal loggers not only to safeguard the rights of the people but also to preserve the environment and the natural rainforests of our beloved Sabah, Land Below The Wind.
In fact, timber firms through out the country have urged the government, both state and federal to do more to curb illegal logging, which has flooded the timber market with cheap logs and sent many companies into bankruptcy. The rights and interests of these genuine timber companies must be protected.
However, as reported in the local dailies, “It was very reliably learnt that one of the contractors involved is aligned to a "top Sabah politician" and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them”. These contractors not only challenged the law but also going round using the names of top politicians in the state for their own selfish gains and interests.
Such allegations have badly tarnished the image of Sabah political leaders including the Chief Minister himself. With the foreign news eyeing at us and trying to find faults with us at every opportunity available, such piece of news is certainly damaging, but unavoidable. The confidence of the people in Sabah is also being eroded.
Law abiding timber companies are also subjected to public scrutiny since no names have been mentioned. The Chief Minister was right in asking for names of those involved, the contractors as well as the “top Sabah politician”, if it was true. The genuine leaders and followers alike, who always have the interests of the people in their priority, must not be dragged into such ugly acts. Justice must be given to them and their rights must be protected at all times.
We therefore, call on the state government to make public all reports on the investigation. The good image of the Barisan Nasional leaders must be preserved. The culprits must be brought to court and charge accordingly. We do not want to see history repeats itself where cases involving big names are swept under the carpet. We even hope that the Chief Minister will boldly remove his carpet to show transparency.
Even though illegal logging involves bigger names and stronger influence compared to illegal immigrants but there must not be selective action or selective justice when protecting the rights of the people and the state is concerned. Our Chief Minister must prove to the people of Sabah, whom he has vowed to serve, that no stone is left unturned in the process of fighting against illegal logging. The similar momentum for Ops Nyiah II must be continued.
With the Chief Minister’s good track of record thus far, We are very confident that the people of Sabah will stand firm behind the State Government in its efforts to combat all form of illegalities and irregularities. The people are eagerly waiting to witness another episode of long awaited action from the state government against illegal logging.
One week has passed since the news was reported. The people are all waiting.
Sunday, June 09, 2002
Sabah govt hopes to get illegal logging report next week
Utusan Malaysia
9-6-2002
KOTA KINABALU June 8 - The Sabah government expects a full report from the Forestry Department on the seizure of more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.
The logs were seized by the Special Unit in the State Security Division set up under the purview of the Chief Minister on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment.
"I'm waiting for the report. I hope to get the report by next week," Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat told reporters after opening the eighth global Nanyang University Alumni reunion here today.
Chong said that he wants to have the report as soon as possible because the issue had been played up publicly.
A local newspaper reported that a team of the Special Unit got into action after receiving a tip-off during last week's long holiday that three timber companies assigned to log the area were suspected to be involved in illegal logging activities, like cutting down trees below the permitted girth of measurement.
Benta Wawasan is one of the companies of Sabah Foundation's investment arm, involved in logging activities within a more than 200,000-ha concession area earmarked for a joint-venture pulp and paper project between the state government and a China-based company.
When asked on the type of action to be taken against the offenders, Chong said that it would be all sorts of action including cancelling the logging permit, imposing compounds as well prosecution.
The news report also said that one of the contractors involved was aligned to a prominent Sabahan politician and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.
However, Chong said: "I want names ... I don't want speculation, I don't want innuendos."
Asked whether there will be any compromise in respect of the offenders, Chong said: "I have been doing this for the last 12 months ... I've been hitting everybody."
Chong previously vowed to clean "three sins" - illegal logging, illegal immigrants and fish bombings - in Sabah.
9-6-2002
KOTA KINABALU June 8 - The Sabah government expects a full report from the Forestry Department on the seizure of more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.
The logs were seized by the Special Unit in the State Security Division set up under the purview of the Chief Minister on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment.
"I'm waiting for the report. I hope to get the report by next week," Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat told reporters after opening the eighth global Nanyang University Alumni reunion here today.
Chong said that he wants to have the report as soon as possible because the issue had been played up publicly.
A local newspaper reported that a team of the Special Unit got into action after receiving a tip-off during last week's long holiday that three timber companies assigned to log the area were suspected to be involved in illegal logging activities, like cutting down trees below the permitted girth of measurement.
Benta Wawasan is one of the companies of Sabah Foundation's investment arm, involved in logging activities within a more than 200,000-ha concession area earmarked for a joint-venture pulp and paper project between the state government and a China-based company.
When asked on the type of action to be taken against the offenders, Chong said that it would be all sorts of action including cancelling the logging permit, imposing compounds as well prosecution.
The news report also said that one of the contractors involved was aligned to a prominent Sabahan politician and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.
However, Chong said: "I want names ... I don't want speculation, I don't want innuendos."
Asked whether there will be any compromise in respect of the offenders, Chong said: "I have been doing this for the last 12 months ... I've been hitting everybody."
Chong previously vowed to clean "three sins" - illegal logging, illegal immigrants and fish bombings - in Sabah.
Saturday, June 08, 2002
1,000 Benta Wawasan logs seized
Kota Kinabalu: The Special Unit in the State Security Division has intercepted more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau, on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment.
It was very reliably learnt that one of the contractors involved is aligned to a "top Sabah politician" and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.
Benta Wawasan is one of Yayasan Sabah's investment arms involved in logging activities within an area of more than 200,000 hectares earmarked for a joint venture pulp paper project between the State Government and a China-based company.
Under specific arrangements, Benta Wawasan has appointed several timber companies to carry out tree felling activities in the proposed area, which later raised a controversy due to the absence of a compulsory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
It was understood that a team from the Special Unit swung into action during last week's long holiday break following a tip-off that three timber companies assigned to log the area had been suspected of indulging in illegal activities.
Sources claimed that some 300 logs were said to have been felled below the permitted girth measurement and, at the same time, the company concerned had even attempted to evade payment of timber royalty that would have affected State revenue.
It was also learnt that all the seized logs were being strictly guarded by personnel from the Special Unit pending investigations.
The Special Unit has been set up under the preview of Chief Minister's Department to help the Forestry Department in tackling the rampant illegal logging activities described by Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat as among "the three sins that need to be eliminated."
Chong recently announced the acquisition of the services of a former senior police officer to help strengthen the Special Units of the State Security Division.
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS 8th June 2002
A full report on Benta illegal logging awaited
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government expects a full report from the Forestry Department on the seizure of more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.
The logs were seized by the Special Unit in the State Security Division set up under the purview of the Chief Minister on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment.
"I'm waiting for the report. I hope to get the report by next week," Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat told reporters after opening the eighth global Nanyang University Alumni reunion here Saturday.
Chong said he wants to have the report as soon as possible because the issue had been played up publicly.
A local newspaper reported that a team of the Special Unit got into action after receiving a tip-off during last week's long holiday that three timber companies assigned to log the area were suspected to be involved in illegal logging activities, like cutting down trees below the permitted girth of measurement.
Benta Wawasan is one of the companies of Sabah Foundation's investment arm, involved in logging activities within a more than 200,000-ha concession area earmarked for a joint-venture pulp and paper project between the State Government and a China-based company.
The joint-venture, however, has yet to materialise and Chong had said that it might be scrapped if the Chinese company still refuses to accept Sabah's proposition in the RM4.56bil project.
When asked on the type of action to be taken against the offenders, Chong said it would be all sorts of action including cancelling the logging permit, imposing compounds as well prosecution.
The news report also said that one of the contractors involved was aligned to a prominent Sabahan politician and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.
However, Chong said: "I want names...I don't want speculation, I don't want innuendoes."
Asked whether there will be any compromise in respect of the offenders, Chong said: "I have been doing this for the last 12 months...I've been hitting everybody."
Chong previously vowed to clean "three sins" – illegal logging, illegal immigrants and fish bombings – in Sabah. – Bernama
It was very reliably learnt that one of the contractors involved is aligned to a "top Sabah politician" and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.
Benta Wawasan is one of Yayasan Sabah's investment arms involved in logging activities within an area of more than 200,000 hectares earmarked for a joint venture pulp paper project between the State Government and a China-based company.
Under specific arrangements, Benta Wawasan has appointed several timber companies to carry out tree felling activities in the proposed area, which later raised a controversy due to the absence of a compulsory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
It was understood that a team from the Special Unit swung into action during last week's long holiday break following a tip-off that three timber companies assigned to log the area had been suspected of indulging in illegal activities.
Sources claimed that some 300 logs were said to have been felled below the permitted girth measurement and, at the same time, the company concerned had even attempted to evade payment of timber royalty that would have affected State revenue.
It was also learnt that all the seized logs were being strictly guarded by personnel from the Special Unit pending investigations.
The Special Unit has been set up under the preview of Chief Minister's Department to help the Forestry Department in tackling the rampant illegal logging activities described by Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat as among "the three sins that need to be eliminated."
Chong recently announced the acquisition of the services of a former senior police officer to help strengthen the Special Units of the State Security Division.
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS 8th June 2002
A full report on Benta illegal logging awaited
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government expects a full report from the Forestry Department on the seizure of more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.
The logs were seized by the Special Unit in the State Security Division set up under the purview of the Chief Minister on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment.
"I'm waiting for the report. I hope to get the report by next week," Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat told reporters after opening the eighth global Nanyang University Alumni reunion here Saturday.
Chong said he wants to have the report as soon as possible because the issue had been played up publicly.
A local newspaper reported that a team of the Special Unit got into action after receiving a tip-off during last week's long holiday that three timber companies assigned to log the area were suspected to be involved in illegal logging activities, like cutting down trees below the permitted girth of measurement.
Benta Wawasan is one of the companies of Sabah Foundation's investment arm, involved in logging activities within a more than 200,000-ha concession area earmarked for a joint-venture pulp and paper project between the State Government and a China-based company.
The joint-venture, however, has yet to materialise and Chong had said that it might be scrapped if the Chinese company still refuses to accept Sabah's proposition in the RM4.56bil project.
When asked on the type of action to be taken against the offenders, Chong said it would be all sorts of action including cancelling the logging permit, imposing compounds as well prosecution.
The news report also said that one of the contractors involved was aligned to a prominent Sabahan politician and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.
However, Chong said: "I want names...I don't want speculation, I don't want innuendoes."
Asked whether there will be any compromise in respect of the offenders, Chong said: "I have been doing this for the last 12 months...I've been hitting everybody."
Chong previously vowed to clean "three sins" – illegal logging, illegal immigrants and fish bombings – in Sabah. – Bernama
Thursday, April 04, 2002
Kalabakan deals not by me: CM
THERE are currently 18 logging agreements signed in Kalabakan and the State Government is helpless in stopping them because these have been "signed, sealed and delivered".
What can be done is to take mitigation measures to minimise the environmental impact in the area through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), he said, while declining to comment on the identity of companies involved.
"The point is I never approved any logging in Kalabakan…not from me, not during my term," he said. "How can I stop it when it was all locked in, signed, sealed and delivered from one year to 10 years…what can I do," he said.
Chong, who is Tourism, Environment, Science and Technology Minister, said unlike the car rental and the Local Authority Presidents' Mercedez Benz rentals which were reviewed and scrapped, the State Government's hands are tied in the Kalabakan issue.
"The logging activities are still going on there and it was logged even before I returned to Sabah after serving the Federal Government. I have to make sure that whatever environment measures need to be taken are taken," he said, adding that the question should not be posed to him.
Chong said the stress on the environment was already there, but the mitigation through the EIA has helped, coupled with the strictness of the Department of Environment and Forestry Department's handling of the matter.
He also revealed that the areas being logged now include some 150,000 hectares or more adjacent to the 220,000ha earmarked for the pulp mill in Kalabakan with Chinese investors.
Chong acknowledged that a portion of the land designated for the proposed pulp mill had been logged as well, leaving only 82,000ha not touched as yet.
"I have not approved an inch in the 82,000 ha," he stressed.
The rest of the areas were logged well before his time and the area is not a virgin forest but secondary as it had been logged several times over.
Former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee said last week that the logging was on-going despite the possibility of the proposed RM4.56bil joint-venture pulp mill project being scrapped.
Yong had proposed that the State Government consider strict suspension of all logging activities in Kalabakan because of the damage to the environment especially in view of the proximity to the protected Maliau Basin (Lost World) and Danum Valley.
What can be done is to take mitigation measures to minimise the environmental impact in the area through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), he said, while declining to comment on the identity of companies involved.
"The point is I never approved any logging in Kalabakan…not from me, not during my term," he said. "How can I stop it when it was all locked in, signed, sealed and delivered from one year to 10 years…what can I do," he said.
Chong, who is Tourism, Environment, Science and Technology Minister, said unlike the car rental and the Local Authority Presidents' Mercedez Benz rentals which were reviewed and scrapped, the State Government's hands are tied in the Kalabakan issue.
"The logging activities are still going on there and it was logged even before I returned to Sabah after serving the Federal Government. I have to make sure that whatever environment measures need to be taken are taken," he said, adding that the question should not be posed to him.
Chong said the stress on the environment was already there, but the mitigation through the EIA has helped, coupled with the strictness of the Department of Environment and Forestry Department's handling of the matter.
He also revealed that the areas being logged now include some 150,000 hectares or more adjacent to the 220,000ha earmarked for the pulp mill in Kalabakan with Chinese investors.
Chong acknowledged that a portion of the land designated for the proposed pulp mill had been logged as well, leaving only 82,000ha not touched as yet.
"I have not approved an inch in the 82,000 ha," he stressed.
The rest of the areas were logged well before his time and the area is not a virgin forest but secondary as it had been logged several times over.
Former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee said last week that the logging was on-going despite the possibility of the proposed RM4.56bil joint-venture pulp mill project being scrapped.
Yong had proposed that the State Government consider strict suspension of all logging activities in Kalabakan because of the damage to the environment especially in view of the proximity to the protected Maliau Basin (Lost World) and Danum Valley.
Monday, March 11, 2002
Siasat Nahas Sepanjang Apas - Lapangan Terbang Tawau
Utusan Malaysia
11-3-2002
Pada 15 September 1995, sebuah pesawat MH2133 jenis Fokker 50 kepunyaan Malaysia Airlines telah terhempas di lapangan terbang Tawau, Sabah mengorbankan 34 orang daripada 53 orang penumpang termasuk anak kapal. Nahas kapal terbang yang paling dahsyat dalam sejarah penerbangan Malaysia ini telah membuka mata semua pihak tentang perlunya sebuah lapangan terbang yang lebih panjang landasannya. Maka, 6 tahun selepas nahas Fokker 50, Lapangan Terbang Tawau yang baru yang menelan belanja RM228.34 juta telah beroperasi pada 1hb. Disember 2001.
Permintaan untuk pembinaan Lapangan Terbang Tawau yang baru telah disuarakan oleh penduduk Tawau lama sebelum nahas ini berlaku. Akan tetapi permintaan tersebut tidak diberikan perhatian yang serius. Oleh itu, apabila berlakunya satu tragedi ngeri yang mengorbankan 34 orang barulah cadangan ini diterima. Mahu tidak mahu kita terpaksa menerima hakikat budaya kita yang hanya akan mengambil sesuatu tindakan drastik setelah suatu tragedi berlaku. Kita cukup masak dengan pelbagai tragedi yang melanda negara ini sebelum sesuatu keputusan diambil sedangkan kita semua maklum bahawa pencegahan jauh lebih mujarab daripada pengubatan.
Mimpi ngeri penduduk Tawau belum lagi reda dengan Lapangan Terbang Tawau yang baru ini. Dengan beroperasinya lapangan terbang Tawau yang baru, babak hitam nahas F50 telah dilupakan orang. Akan tetapi, penduduk Tawau kini dihantui pula oleh kebimbangan baru.
Bagi menampung peningkatan lalulintas dari Bandar Tawau ke Lapangan Terbang Tawau yang baru sejauh 30KM, sebuah lebuhraya ‘double-carriage’ sedang dalam pembinaan. Lebuhraya yang menelan belanja RM88.2 juta ini dijangka akan mengatasi masalah kesesakan lalulintas di sepanjang Jalan Apas, jalan yang menghubungkan Tawau dengan Lapanagan terbang baru. Ia juga akan mengurangkan masa yang diambil dari Tawau ke Lapangan Terbang Tawau baru.
Apa yang menjadi kebimbangan rakyat Tawau ialah kerja pembinaan lebuhraya yang bermutu rendah serta pihak kontraktor yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Contohnya, tidak pernah berlaku dalam sejarah pembinaan jalanraya yang memperlihatkan jalan yang baru sahaja dibina dikorek dan ditampal berkali-kali. Kerja-kerja mengorek dan menampal yang terbelengkalai telah menyebabkan banyak kemalangan jalanraya dan meragut banyak nyawa.
Isyarat dan tanda jalan juga mengelirukan dan tidak diletakkan di tempat yang sesuai. Banyak jalan yang diletakkan betul-betul di hadapan sesuatu simpang tanpa memberikan masa yang cukup kepada pemandu mengetahui keadaan jalan di hadapan.
Ketua Polis Tawau sendirian mengakui kekeliruan isyarat jalan merupakan salah satu punca utama berlakunya kemalangan jalan raya seperti yang dilaporkan dalam akhbar Sea Hua Daily News pada 4hb. Februari 2002. Bayangkan kereta polis sendiri terlibat dalam kemalangan jalanraya disebabkan oleh kekeliruan tanda jalan.
Selain daripada itu, “lori hantu” atau “off-road” kepunyaan kontraktor juga dibiarkan berkeliaran dan menggunakan jalan raya yang sepatutnya dikhaskan untuk pengguna jalan raya. Pergerakan kenderaan pada kedua-dua belah lebuhraya tambah mengelirukan para pengguna jalan sedangkan hanya sebelah jalan sahaja dibuka kepada orang awam. Tanda jalan yang mengelirukan telah menyebabkan lalulintas sepanjang jalan ini tidak terkawal.
Kelalaian, kecuaian, kualiti kerja yang rendah serta sikap tidak bertanggungjawab kontraktor telah menyebabkan tidak kurang daripada 30 nyawa terkorban semenjak pembinaannya. Walaupun angka mangsa jalan raya dikumpul daripada kemalangan yang berlainan tetapi angka yang tinggi ini sudah cukup untuk menarik perhatian pihak berkuasa untuk mengambil tindakan yang segera agar tidak ada lagi mangsa baru terkorban.
Suatu perkara yang amat menyedihkan ialah semasa kunjungan Menteri Pengangkutan, Dato’ Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik ke Tawau baru-baru ini, kemalangan di sepanjang lebuhraya ini langsung tidak dibangkitkan. Lebih menghairankan ialah kegagalan Menteri Pengangkutan sendiri memerhati mutu jalan serta isyarat jalan yang mengelirukan. Adakah kerana lawatan menteri semata-mata untuk mencari tapak sesuai mendirikan kampus cawangan Universiti TAR maka perhatian beliau tidak ditumpu kepada jalanraya yang sepatutnya menjadi urusan utama beliau walau di mana beliau berada?
Adalah satu rahsia yang diketahui umum bahawa projek pembinaan lebuhraya ini telah dialibabakan. Kontraktor yang ditawarkan kontrek langsung tidak mempunyai sebarang pengalaman dan kelengkapan. Sub-kontraktor hanya melekatkan label syarikat kontraktor utama bagi mengabui mata awam. Rata-rata juga mengetahui bahawa salah seorang pengarah dalam syarikat kontraktor utama mempunyai hubungan politik dengan menteri pengangkutan. Adakah dengan hubungan dan pengaruh tertentu maka keselamatan rakyat serta kualiti kerja boleh diabaikan?
Kami dengan ini meminta kerajaan menjalankan penyiasatan segera terhadap mutu kerja yang rendah dan sikap kontraktor yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Jika perlu, pihak Pencegah Rasuah juga perlu menyiasat hal ini. Janganlah kita menunggu tragedi baru berlaku untuk kita bertindak. Kita sendiri atau orang kesayangan kita mungkin menjadi mangsa kelewatan tindakan kita.
Kempen keselamtan jalanraya akan menjadi sia-sia jika penyelewengan pembinaan jalanraya dari awal lagi tidak diendahkan oleh mana-mana pihak yang berkuasa.
11-3-2002
Pada 15 September 1995, sebuah pesawat MH2133 jenis Fokker 50 kepunyaan Malaysia Airlines telah terhempas di lapangan terbang Tawau, Sabah mengorbankan 34 orang daripada 53 orang penumpang termasuk anak kapal. Nahas kapal terbang yang paling dahsyat dalam sejarah penerbangan Malaysia ini telah membuka mata semua pihak tentang perlunya sebuah lapangan terbang yang lebih panjang landasannya. Maka, 6 tahun selepas nahas Fokker 50, Lapangan Terbang Tawau yang baru yang menelan belanja RM228.34 juta telah beroperasi pada 1hb. Disember 2001.
Permintaan untuk pembinaan Lapangan Terbang Tawau yang baru telah disuarakan oleh penduduk Tawau lama sebelum nahas ini berlaku. Akan tetapi permintaan tersebut tidak diberikan perhatian yang serius. Oleh itu, apabila berlakunya satu tragedi ngeri yang mengorbankan 34 orang barulah cadangan ini diterima. Mahu tidak mahu kita terpaksa menerima hakikat budaya kita yang hanya akan mengambil sesuatu tindakan drastik setelah suatu tragedi berlaku. Kita cukup masak dengan pelbagai tragedi yang melanda negara ini sebelum sesuatu keputusan diambil sedangkan kita semua maklum bahawa pencegahan jauh lebih mujarab daripada pengubatan.
Mimpi ngeri penduduk Tawau belum lagi reda dengan Lapangan Terbang Tawau yang baru ini. Dengan beroperasinya lapangan terbang Tawau yang baru, babak hitam nahas F50 telah dilupakan orang. Akan tetapi, penduduk Tawau kini dihantui pula oleh kebimbangan baru.
Bagi menampung peningkatan lalulintas dari Bandar Tawau ke Lapangan Terbang Tawau yang baru sejauh 30KM, sebuah lebuhraya ‘double-carriage’ sedang dalam pembinaan. Lebuhraya yang menelan belanja RM88.2 juta ini dijangka akan mengatasi masalah kesesakan lalulintas di sepanjang Jalan Apas, jalan yang menghubungkan Tawau dengan Lapanagan terbang baru. Ia juga akan mengurangkan masa yang diambil dari Tawau ke Lapangan Terbang Tawau baru.
Apa yang menjadi kebimbangan rakyat Tawau ialah kerja pembinaan lebuhraya yang bermutu rendah serta pihak kontraktor yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Contohnya, tidak pernah berlaku dalam sejarah pembinaan jalanraya yang memperlihatkan jalan yang baru sahaja dibina dikorek dan ditampal berkali-kali. Kerja-kerja mengorek dan menampal yang terbelengkalai telah menyebabkan banyak kemalangan jalanraya dan meragut banyak nyawa.
Isyarat dan tanda jalan juga mengelirukan dan tidak diletakkan di tempat yang sesuai. Banyak jalan yang diletakkan betul-betul di hadapan sesuatu simpang tanpa memberikan masa yang cukup kepada pemandu mengetahui keadaan jalan di hadapan.
Ketua Polis Tawau sendirian mengakui kekeliruan isyarat jalan merupakan salah satu punca utama berlakunya kemalangan jalan raya seperti yang dilaporkan dalam akhbar Sea Hua Daily News pada 4hb. Februari 2002. Bayangkan kereta polis sendiri terlibat dalam kemalangan jalanraya disebabkan oleh kekeliruan tanda jalan.
Selain daripada itu, “lori hantu” atau “off-road” kepunyaan kontraktor juga dibiarkan berkeliaran dan menggunakan jalan raya yang sepatutnya dikhaskan untuk pengguna jalan raya. Pergerakan kenderaan pada kedua-dua belah lebuhraya tambah mengelirukan para pengguna jalan sedangkan hanya sebelah jalan sahaja dibuka kepada orang awam. Tanda jalan yang mengelirukan telah menyebabkan lalulintas sepanjang jalan ini tidak terkawal.
Kelalaian, kecuaian, kualiti kerja yang rendah serta sikap tidak bertanggungjawab kontraktor telah menyebabkan tidak kurang daripada 30 nyawa terkorban semenjak pembinaannya. Walaupun angka mangsa jalan raya dikumpul daripada kemalangan yang berlainan tetapi angka yang tinggi ini sudah cukup untuk menarik perhatian pihak berkuasa untuk mengambil tindakan yang segera agar tidak ada lagi mangsa baru terkorban.
Suatu perkara yang amat menyedihkan ialah semasa kunjungan Menteri Pengangkutan, Dato’ Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik ke Tawau baru-baru ini, kemalangan di sepanjang lebuhraya ini langsung tidak dibangkitkan. Lebih menghairankan ialah kegagalan Menteri Pengangkutan sendiri memerhati mutu jalan serta isyarat jalan yang mengelirukan. Adakah kerana lawatan menteri semata-mata untuk mencari tapak sesuai mendirikan kampus cawangan Universiti TAR maka perhatian beliau tidak ditumpu kepada jalanraya yang sepatutnya menjadi urusan utama beliau walau di mana beliau berada?
Adalah satu rahsia yang diketahui umum bahawa projek pembinaan lebuhraya ini telah dialibabakan. Kontraktor yang ditawarkan kontrek langsung tidak mempunyai sebarang pengalaman dan kelengkapan. Sub-kontraktor hanya melekatkan label syarikat kontraktor utama bagi mengabui mata awam. Rata-rata juga mengetahui bahawa salah seorang pengarah dalam syarikat kontraktor utama mempunyai hubungan politik dengan menteri pengangkutan. Adakah dengan hubungan dan pengaruh tertentu maka keselamatan rakyat serta kualiti kerja boleh diabaikan?
Kami dengan ini meminta kerajaan menjalankan penyiasatan segera terhadap mutu kerja yang rendah dan sikap kontraktor yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Jika perlu, pihak Pencegah Rasuah juga perlu menyiasat hal ini. Janganlah kita menunggu tragedi baru berlaku untuk kita bertindak. Kita sendiri atau orang kesayangan kita mungkin menjadi mangsa kelewatan tindakan kita.
Kempen keselamtan jalanraya akan menjadi sia-sia jika penyelewengan pembinaan jalanraya dari awal lagi tidak diendahkan oleh mana-mana pihak yang berkuasa.
Mishap Along Jalan Apas Tawau
11-3-2002
As reported in the local dailies recently, the stretch of new highway linking Tawau and the New Airport has claimed 16 lives, so far. We are all sadden by this shocking news.
We strongly feel that if precautions were taken these lives could have been saved. Nevertheless, even after the shocking news been highlighted in the news papers, no immediate actions were taken both by the contractor nor the authorities concerned.
Observations on the stretch of road shows that there were no proper nor sufficient warnings to direct traffic. Temporary road signs put up were gone within a short while. Other road signs have been misleading and this further aggravated the already bad situation.
It is the responsibilities of the contractor to ensure that road open to public vehicle is safe to travel. Therefore, the road must always be maintained irrespective of whether it is still under construction or not. The safety of the public must not be compromised just because the road is still under construction.
The contractor and the authorities concerned must also ensure that road open to public vehicle is safe. Since this is a 4-lane highway, one must ensure that at least one side of the road is safe to be opened to public before working on the other side. By opening an unsafe side of road while working on the other is certainly uncalled for. The excuses of rushing for dateline is totally unacceptable.
Off-road heavy vehicle was also found to roam the stretch of roads open to public. This further endanger the safety of road users. The authorities must ensure that the said contractor adhere strictly to rules and regulations and must keep all this off road vehicle away from the general public at all times.
We are also disappointed that the contractors and the authorities concern do not consider at all the pleads of the people living on both side of the highway. Certain stretch of road at mile 8 and 8 ½ was piled up even higher which is unnecessary. At the same time, by lifting the road near Kinabutan has badly affected the people living around there especially the business community. They are now facing and uncertain future and the way the highway is constructed has badly affected their business.
Residents here have complained that there were insufficient u-turns along mile 4 – 6. As there are four schools, namely SMK Jalan Apas, SK Batu Empat, SMK Kinabutan and SRJK (C) Chung Hwa situated along this stretch of road, the inadequate u-turn will create massive traffic jam during peak hours in the morning, noon and evening. The heavy traffic coming from Tinagat will add up to the jam. Such will surely defeat the purpose of the highway which among other things to provide a smooth, safe and fast travelling from Tawau to the New Airport.
We are in no way objecting to the construction of highway nor do we anti development. But we strongly feel that contractor and the authorities concerned must be more caring and willing to listen to the plead of the people. There is no way rushing for the highway but scarify many innocent lives. So far the new highway has already claim 16 lives. I thus ask the contractor and the authorities concerned what are they gong to do to these 16 innocent lives who are victims of carelessness and irresponsibility?
I hope the people of Tawau realise how serious this matter is and must stand up to object to such ‘tidak apa’ attitude. Please do not wait for more catastrophes to happen. Please do not wait for more lives to be taken before we do something. We, or our love ones are all users of the highway. I hope the police will investigate these cases thoroughly and appropriate actions be taken against those responsible. Safety of the public must always be the utmost priority.
We also urge the general public using the new highway to drive carefully.
As reported in the local dailies recently, the stretch of new highway linking Tawau and the New Airport has claimed 16 lives, so far. We are all sadden by this shocking news.
We strongly feel that if precautions were taken these lives could have been saved. Nevertheless, even after the shocking news been highlighted in the news papers, no immediate actions were taken both by the contractor nor the authorities concerned.
Observations on the stretch of road shows that there were no proper nor sufficient warnings to direct traffic. Temporary road signs put up were gone within a short while. Other road signs have been misleading and this further aggravated the already bad situation.
It is the responsibilities of the contractor to ensure that road open to public vehicle is safe to travel. Therefore, the road must always be maintained irrespective of whether it is still under construction or not. The safety of the public must not be compromised just because the road is still under construction.
The contractor and the authorities concerned must also ensure that road open to public vehicle is safe. Since this is a 4-lane highway, one must ensure that at least one side of the road is safe to be opened to public before working on the other side. By opening an unsafe side of road while working on the other is certainly uncalled for. The excuses of rushing for dateline is totally unacceptable.
Off-road heavy vehicle was also found to roam the stretch of roads open to public. This further endanger the safety of road users. The authorities must ensure that the said contractor adhere strictly to rules and regulations and must keep all this off road vehicle away from the general public at all times.
We are also disappointed that the contractors and the authorities concern do not consider at all the pleads of the people living on both side of the highway. Certain stretch of road at mile 8 and 8 ½ was piled up even higher which is unnecessary. At the same time, by lifting the road near Kinabutan has badly affected the people living around there especially the business community. They are now facing and uncertain future and the way the highway is constructed has badly affected their business.
Residents here have complained that there were insufficient u-turns along mile 4 – 6. As there are four schools, namely SMK Jalan Apas, SK Batu Empat, SMK Kinabutan and SRJK (C) Chung Hwa situated along this stretch of road, the inadequate u-turn will create massive traffic jam during peak hours in the morning, noon and evening. The heavy traffic coming from Tinagat will add up to the jam. Such will surely defeat the purpose of the highway which among other things to provide a smooth, safe and fast travelling from Tawau to the New Airport.
We are in no way objecting to the construction of highway nor do we anti development. But we strongly feel that contractor and the authorities concerned must be more caring and willing to listen to the plead of the people. There is no way rushing for the highway but scarify many innocent lives. So far the new highway has already claim 16 lives. I thus ask the contractor and the authorities concerned what are they gong to do to these 16 innocent lives who are victims of carelessness and irresponsibility?
I hope the people of Tawau realise how serious this matter is and must stand up to object to such ‘tidak apa’ attitude. Please do not wait for more catastrophes to happen. Please do not wait for more lives to be taken before we do something. We, or our love ones are all users of the highway. I hope the police will investigate these cases thoroughly and appropriate actions be taken against those responsible. Safety of the public must always be the utmost priority.
We also urge the general public using the new highway to drive carefully.
Friday, October 26, 2001
Tawau Safma to be leased out
Daily Express
26-10-2001
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Fisheries Marketing (Safma) Tawau would be leased out to a company beginning Nov. 1 for five years in an experimental move by the State Government to assist in easing the agency's financial burden.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Lajim Ukin said Safma, which is currently operating as usual, was also given a one-year notice to show it can increase income and be independent.
"We are leasing the Safma (Tawau) for five years and Safma can only get RM70,000 monthly for rental of its complex in Tawau while the company would handle all its workers' salaries, who would also remain as Safma staff," he said. However, this would not involve Safma here.
It was learnt that Safma Tawau is one of the better branches of Safma and it was reported that the management has moved funds from Tawau to its headquarters in order to help pay its personnel here.
Note: Safma was leased out to Fokasjadi Sdn. Bhd., a company owned by Datuk Elbert Lim. Datuk Lajim was said to have a monthly share paid under table. It is now used mainly for the import of logs, not fish, from Indonesia
26-10-2001
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Fisheries Marketing (Safma) Tawau would be leased out to a company beginning Nov. 1 for five years in an experimental move by the State Government to assist in easing the agency's financial burden.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Lajim Ukin said Safma, which is currently operating as usual, was also given a one-year notice to show it can increase income and be independent.
"We are leasing the Safma (Tawau) for five years and Safma can only get RM70,000 monthly for rental of its complex in Tawau while the company would handle all its workers' salaries, who would also remain as Safma staff," he said. However, this would not involve Safma here.
It was learnt that Safma Tawau is one of the better branches of Safma and it was reported that the management has moved funds from Tawau to its headquarters in order to help pay its personnel here.
Note: Safma was leased out to Fokasjadi Sdn. Bhd., a company owned by Datuk Elbert Lim. Datuk Lajim was said to have a monthly share paid under table. It is now used mainly for the import of logs, not fish, from Indonesia
Saturday, October 20, 2001
Review of water and car rental deals: Musa
Kota Kinabalu: State Finance Minister Datuk Musa Aman said everything possible was being done to prevent a repeat of past mistakes in Sabah's financial administration, including failure to comply with government policies and regulations, Star reports.
"We are working towards more transparency and accountability while cutting down on wastage and unnecessary spending," he said.
Musa, who replaced former Chief Minister Datuk Osu Sukam in the finance portfolio, said that among the measures introduced since his appointment to the post last March was the review of several major state privatisation deals.
These include the water production concession agreements for Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu.
"Also being reviewed is the controversial car rental agreements between the state and several private firms.
"The state will also only implement infrastructure projects with strategic value," he said.
He said the state was trying to control the size of the civil service by freezing the hiring of new staff while abolishing existing vacant posts.
"Other cost-cutting measures include a drastic cutback in overseas travel for state officials and reducing the number of political secretaries," he added.
Musa said that as a result of these measures, a draft of the Auditor-General's report for the year 2000 stated that there was an increase in efforts to ensure that finance regulations were being complied with.
In his 1999 report made available to MPs on Wednesday, Auditor-General Datuk Dr Hadenan Abdul Jalil said the financial management of the Sabah Finance Ministry had to be improved.
He singled out several weaknesses including in the control of expenditure, revenue management, loan accounts and the control and maintenance of financial records.
"We are working towards more transparency and accountability while cutting down on wastage and unnecessary spending," he said.
Musa, who replaced former Chief Minister Datuk Osu Sukam in the finance portfolio, said that among the measures introduced since his appointment to the post last March was the review of several major state privatisation deals.
These include the water production concession agreements for Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu.
"Also being reviewed is the controversial car rental agreements between the state and several private firms.
"The state will also only implement infrastructure projects with strategic value," he said.
He said the state was trying to control the size of the civil service by freezing the hiring of new staff while abolishing existing vacant posts.
"Other cost-cutting measures include a drastic cutback in overseas travel for state officials and reducing the number of political secretaries," he added.
Musa said that as a result of these measures, a draft of the Auditor-General's report for the year 2000 stated that there was an increase in efforts to ensure that finance regulations were being complied with.
In his 1999 report made available to MPs on Wednesday, Auditor-General Datuk Dr Hadenan Abdul Jalil said the financial management of the Sabah Finance Ministry had to be improved.
He singled out several weaknesses including in the control of expenditure, revenue management, loan accounts and the control and maintenance of financial records.
Friday, October 12, 2001
RM1.9 billion for road, bridge projects in Sabah
Utusan Malaysia
12-10-2001
KOTA KINABALU Oct 11 - The federal government has allocated more than RM1.9 billion to implement 53 road and bridge projects in Sabah under the Eighth Malaysia Plan, Works Minister Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said today.
Of the total, RM1.3 billion would be spent to finance 39 continuation projects from the Seventh Malaysia Plan while RM560.4 million for new projects, he said.
The allocation is 10.3 percent of the total allocation approved nationwide, he told reporters after attending a development briefing at the State Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters.
As at end of last month, RM262.25 million or 56.62 percent of the allocation for road and bridge projects had been spent of the RM463.171 million allocated for this year, he said.
"I'm given to understand that the usage of the allocation will increase to more than 95 per cent in the next three months as there are new projects to be carried out," he said.
Among ongoing projects are upgrading of the road from Merotai to Kalabakan Phase 2 costing RM125.8 million, Karamunsing tiered interchange project in Kota Kinabalu (RM138.7 million) and Kunak-Semporna road (RM161.3 million), he said.
He said designs for three slope reinforcement projects are ready and physical work are expected to start this year.
This include slopes along Ranau-Telupid Road, Jalan Telupid to Sandakan and Jalan Kota Belud-Kudat, he said.
On the arrears in payment to three water supply concessionaire in Sabah, Samy Vellu said a memorandum on the matter would be tabled to the cabinet soon.
"We sympathise with the propblem faced by the state government to settle the arrears and several options are being studied to be considered by the federal fovernment.
"Discussions at officers level between my ministry and the state government had been held to find a solution to resolve the problem," he said.
He said total collection from water supply was between RM60 to RM65 million while the value of water supplied was worth RM165 million.
The three concessionaires are Jetama Sdn Bhd, Timatch Sdn Bhd and Lahad Datu Water Supply Sdn Bhd.
12-10-2001
KOTA KINABALU Oct 11 - The federal government has allocated more than RM1.9 billion to implement 53 road and bridge projects in Sabah under the Eighth Malaysia Plan, Works Minister Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said today.
Of the total, RM1.3 billion would be spent to finance 39 continuation projects from the Seventh Malaysia Plan while RM560.4 million for new projects, he said.
The allocation is 10.3 percent of the total allocation approved nationwide, he told reporters after attending a development briefing at the State Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters.
As at end of last month, RM262.25 million or 56.62 percent of the allocation for road and bridge projects had been spent of the RM463.171 million allocated for this year, he said.
"I'm given to understand that the usage of the allocation will increase to more than 95 per cent in the next three months as there are new projects to be carried out," he said.
Among ongoing projects are upgrading of the road from Merotai to Kalabakan Phase 2 costing RM125.8 million, Karamunsing tiered interchange project in Kota Kinabalu (RM138.7 million) and Kunak-Semporna road (RM161.3 million), he said.
He said designs for three slope reinforcement projects are ready and physical work are expected to start this year.
This include slopes along Ranau-Telupid Road, Jalan Telupid to Sandakan and Jalan Kota Belud-Kudat, he said.
On the arrears in payment to three water supply concessionaire in Sabah, Samy Vellu said a memorandum on the matter would be tabled to the cabinet soon.
"We sympathise with the propblem faced by the state government to settle the arrears and several options are being studied to be considered by the federal fovernment.
"Discussions at officers level between my ministry and the state government had been held to find a solution to resolve the problem," he said.
He said total collection from water supply was between RM60 to RM65 million while the value of water supplied was worth RM165 million.
The three concessionaires are Jetama Sdn Bhd, Timatch Sdn Bhd and Lahad Datu Water Supply Sdn Bhd.
Sunday, August 05, 2001
Tawau Council under fire over illegal slot machines
Daily Express
5-8-2001
Tawau: The Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) has come under fire from a former councillor who claimed nothing had been done to curb illegal slot machine activities in the town area and failure to resolve the problem of improper garbage disposal and unkempt squatter colonies.
The allegation came from Kenneth Goh and a member of the public, Wong Su Vui, during a dialogue session with Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat here, on Saturday.
Goh claimed there were 36 outlets offering illegal gambling activities with 200 slot machines within the four-mile radius of the town area.
Despite closure and frequent police raids, the operators would continue with their illegal activities a few days later, he said, adding that most of the premises were located in shoplots.
Chong said Goh should submit his report in writing on the activities, particularly to the police so that he could be properly briefed on the situation.
Wong claimed that the Council's enforcement personnel had been "rather harsh" on the local hawkers at the Palcom and Fuji markets, using high-handed tactics citing lack of cleanliness, while no action had been taken against some 500 stalls near the car park areas which had no water and power supplies.
He also pointed out that several of the Council's services had been privatised such as drainage cleaning, street cleaning and garbage collection "but none of these are satisfactory".
It was also claimed that the MPT had taken stern action to demolish the squatter colonies outside the town area while those within the town area are left untouched.
The Chief Minister said all complaints should be put down in writing to facilitate proper investigations.
Note: Kenneth Goh only serves as a councilor for a year because he was said to be too vocal and stepping on too many people's head. He was dropped by his own party, SAPP. His subsequent struggle to stay in the local political scene also failed.
5-8-2001
Tawau: The Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) has come under fire from a former councillor who claimed nothing had been done to curb illegal slot machine activities in the town area and failure to resolve the problem of improper garbage disposal and unkempt squatter colonies.
The allegation came from Kenneth Goh and a member of the public, Wong Su Vui, during a dialogue session with Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat here, on Saturday.
Goh claimed there were 36 outlets offering illegal gambling activities with 200 slot machines within the four-mile radius of the town area.
Despite closure and frequent police raids, the operators would continue with their illegal activities a few days later, he said, adding that most of the premises were located in shoplots.
Chong said Goh should submit his report in writing on the activities, particularly to the police so that he could be properly briefed on the situation.
Wong claimed that the Council's enforcement personnel had been "rather harsh" on the local hawkers at the Palcom and Fuji markets, using high-handed tactics citing lack of cleanliness, while no action had been taken against some 500 stalls near the car park areas which had no water and power supplies.
He also pointed out that several of the Council's services had been privatised such as drainage cleaning, street cleaning and garbage collection "but none of these are satisfactory".
It was also claimed that the MPT had taken stern action to demolish the squatter colonies outside the town area while those within the town area are left untouched.
The Chief Minister said all complaints should be put down in writing to facilitate proper investigations.
Note: Kenneth Goh only serves as a councilor for a year because he was said to be too vocal and stepping on too many people's head. He was dropped by his own party, SAPP. His subsequent struggle to stay in the local political scene also failed.
Friday, July 27, 2001
Query on why the PM's wish was not heeded
Daily Express
27 July 2001
LABUAN: At a whopping RM15,000 a month or RM180 per year for renting a Mercedes, one need not be a maths genius to realise that it is wiser to have the vehicle on hire-purchase.
Because after three years the vehicle is yours to keep unlike the current arrangements made for the Tawau and Sandakan Municipal Council Presidents.
Malaysia Democratic Party (MDP) Sabah Chief Fung Ket Wing said it is shocking that the Tawau Municipal Council found it fit to keep paying such a hefty sum for life when the Mercedes would still not belong to the State Government at the end of the day.
Fung also said the controversial leasing has opened up serious questions and hoped the Barisan Nasional Government which rode into power on the promise of greater accountability and transparency would explain to the public how a losing municipality like Tawau could afford to be so extravagant.
Among the questions Fung posed were also that since there was already an established company called Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd appointed to lease to the State Government vehicles under a 20-year concession effective 1995, how come a parallel company duplicating Angatan was allowed to be set up and to what extent this new company has been involved in also supplying vehicles to government agencies.
"Especially since Angkatan had openly said that the rental of its vehicles to the State Government is actually 40 per cent cheaper than what was charged by this parallel company.
"We are left to wonder why the official available cheaper choice was not used," Fung said.
Fung noted unless some logical explanations were forth coming, in the minds of the public the whole deal smelled fishy and it would do well on the part of the State Government to clear its image on the matter."
Fung noted it was not the fault of Tawau Municipal Council President Datuk Hamzah Amir for having been offered the vehicle since his position entitled him. The vehicle was supplied to him by the Local Government and Housing Ministry under a separate arrangement.
He said the public has the right to know how long this "funny arrangement" was in progress and under whose term of office as Chief Minister. (Not present CM Datuk Seri Osu Sukam).
He said it was also ironic that when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir launched the buy "Malaysian products" campaign, Sabah reacted swiftly by coming out in full support and even went a step further to indicate that it would get rid of its foreign-made cars in favour of "Perdana" for official use which provided similar comfort as a Mercedes and and was cheaper.
"Now with the incident in Tawau we are left to wonder how serious Sabah leaders are supporting the Prime Minister's wishes. It is best that the ACA also look at the controversial rental of the Mercedes," Fung said.
27 July 2001
LABUAN: At a whopping RM15,000 a month or RM180 per year for renting a Mercedes, one need not be a maths genius to realise that it is wiser to have the vehicle on hire-purchase.
Because after three years the vehicle is yours to keep unlike the current arrangements made for the Tawau and Sandakan Municipal Council Presidents.
Malaysia Democratic Party (MDP) Sabah Chief Fung Ket Wing said it is shocking that the Tawau Municipal Council found it fit to keep paying such a hefty sum for life when the Mercedes would still not belong to the State Government at the end of the day.
Fung also said the controversial leasing has opened up serious questions and hoped the Barisan Nasional Government which rode into power on the promise of greater accountability and transparency would explain to the public how a losing municipality like Tawau could afford to be so extravagant.
Among the questions Fung posed were also that since there was already an established company called Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd appointed to lease to the State Government vehicles under a 20-year concession effective 1995, how come a parallel company duplicating Angatan was allowed to be set up and to what extent this new company has been involved in also supplying vehicles to government agencies.
"Especially since Angkatan had openly said that the rental of its vehicles to the State Government is actually 40 per cent cheaper than what was charged by this parallel company.
"We are left to wonder why the official available cheaper choice was not used," Fung said.
Fung noted unless some logical explanations were forth coming, in the minds of the public the whole deal smelled fishy and it would do well on the part of the State Government to clear its image on the matter."
Fung noted it was not the fault of Tawau Municipal Council President Datuk Hamzah Amir for having been offered the vehicle since his position entitled him. The vehicle was supplied to him by the Local Government and Housing Ministry under a separate arrangement.
He said the public has the right to know how long this "funny arrangement" was in progress and under whose term of office as Chief Minister. (Not present CM Datuk Seri Osu Sukam).
He said it was also ironic that when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir launched the buy "Malaysian products" campaign, Sabah reacted swiftly by coming out in full support and even went a step further to indicate that it would get rid of its foreign-made cars in favour of "Perdana" for official use which provided similar comfort as a Mercedes and and was cheaper.
"Now with the incident in Tawau we are left to wonder how serious Sabah leaders are supporting the Prime Minister's wishes. It is best that the ACA also look at the controversial rental of the Mercedes," Fung said.
Saturday, July 21, 2001
Senarai Salahlaku Yong Teck Lee
21 Julai 2001
Pesanan Buat Rakan-Rakan Dalam UMNO Khususnya Di Sabah
Tarikh keramat 21 Julai akan dikenang oleh seluruh warga Likas khususnya dan Sabah amnya. Tarikh ini juga menyaksikan bagaimana rakan-rakan kita dalam UMNO bekerja bermati-matian untuk memenangkan seorang manusia yang bernama Yong Teck Lee yang telah lebih 16 tahun memimpin Likas kawasan majoriti Bumiputra Islam. Likas juga akan tercatat dalam sejarah perjuangan UMNO bagaimana seluruh jentera mereka dari seantero negara turun ke Likas untuk memenangkan Yong Teck Lee. Rakyat bumiputra Islam Likas kenal siapa Yong Teck Lee, kenapa uasaha keras UMNO ini akan tercatat sebagai sejarah politik UMNO?.
16 tahun Yong Teck Lee memerintah Likas termasuk 2 tahun dipilih oleh UMNO untuk menjadi Ketua Menteri, apa sumbangan besar beliau yang rakan-rakan UMNO beria-ia benar untuk memenangkan beliau. Di sini kita turunkan sumbangan beliau kepada pengundi Likas terutamanya bumiputra Islam yang rata-ratanya ahli UMNO;
Sumbangan Yong Teck Lee kepada rakyat;
1. Menziarahi rumah rakyat semasa kematian dengan memberi wang RM50, beras sekarung dan gula 5 kg.
2. Ziarah orang sakit dan menyumbang RM50
3. Menghadiri majlis perkahwinan dan sumbang RM50
4. Membeli undi untuk setiap kali pilihanraya antara RM50 - RM500
Hak rakyat yang dinafikan Yong Teck Lee;
1. Geran-geran tanah untuk kampung-kampung tradisional Melayu. Seperti kawasan Inanam, Gudon, Tebobon, Karambunai, Menggatal.
2. Tiada kontrak untuk kontraktor bumiputra.
3. Tiada peluang pekerjaan untuk anak-anak Bumiputra.
Hak rakyat yang diambil oleh Yong Teck Lee;
1. 1 juta ekar konsesi balak untuk tempoh 100 tahun bernilai lebih RM20 Billion dari Tenom hingga ke Kalabakan.
2. Tanah persisiran laut di Teluk Likas bernilai lebih RM500 juta
3. Tanah persisiran laut di Tanjung Aru bernilai lebih RM500 juta.
4. Harta Amanah Saham Sabah (hak rakyat) melalui Warisan Harta Sdn Bhd bernilai RM70 juta.
5. Tanah-tanah SLDB (hak rakyat) bernilai lebih RM2 billion diambil melalui Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd.
6. Hak rakyat di KPD bernilai RM60 juta diambil melalui Benta Holdings.
7. Duit rakyat diperbendaharaan negeri berjumlah RM36 juta setahun melalui Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd (kontrak sewa kereta kepada semua agensi kerajaan).
Melihat kepada keadaan ini kita tidak faham apa sebenarnya dasar perjuangan UMNO. Dimana hilangnya semangat Tun Razak, dimana hilangnya semangat Datuk Onn, dimana perginya semangat Tun Hussien Onn yang berjuang habis-habisan untuk membela nasib rakyat terbanyak, membela nasib rakyat termiskin, terbiar dan tersisih oleh penjajah. Namun kini UMNO turut mengamalkan dasar membiarkan rakyat terbanyak terus miskin, mundur, terbiar dan melarat sementara terus berkerja menobatkan pemimpin rakus dan perompak hak rakyat untuk terus berkuasa.
Sedarlah rakan-rakan UMNO, kita sebangsa dan seagama, apakah kita rela terus membiarkan Yong Teck Lee berkuasa merampas hak rakyat?. Apakah kita rela dan redha dengan keadaan ini?. Apakah kita ingin terus bersubahat dengan Yong Teck Lee dan menjadi salah seorang penyumbang kepada manusia yang akan hanya menghancurkan anak bangsa kita di Likas ini. Ayuh bersamalah kita tumbangkan Yong Teck Lee. Pastikan kemenangan kepada keADILan untuk kerusi Likas diserahkan kepada UMNO pada pilihanraya akan datang.
Pesanan Buat Rakan-Rakan Dalam UMNO Khususnya Di Sabah
Tarikh keramat 21 Julai akan dikenang oleh seluruh warga Likas khususnya dan Sabah amnya. Tarikh ini juga menyaksikan bagaimana rakan-rakan kita dalam UMNO bekerja bermati-matian untuk memenangkan seorang manusia yang bernama Yong Teck Lee yang telah lebih 16 tahun memimpin Likas kawasan majoriti Bumiputra Islam. Likas juga akan tercatat dalam sejarah perjuangan UMNO bagaimana seluruh jentera mereka dari seantero negara turun ke Likas untuk memenangkan Yong Teck Lee. Rakyat bumiputra Islam Likas kenal siapa Yong Teck Lee, kenapa uasaha keras UMNO ini akan tercatat sebagai sejarah politik UMNO?.
16 tahun Yong Teck Lee memerintah Likas termasuk 2 tahun dipilih oleh UMNO untuk menjadi Ketua Menteri, apa sumbangan besar beliau yang rakan-rakan UMNO beria-ia benar untuk memenangkan beliau. Di sini kita turunkan sumbangan beliau kepada pengundi Likas terutamanya bumiputra Islam yang rata-ratanya ahli UMNO;
Sumbangan Yong Teck Lee kepada rakyat;
1. Menziarahi rumah rakyat semasa kematian dengan memberi wang RM50, beras sekarung dan gula 5 kg.
2. Ziarah orang sakit dan menyumbang RM50
3. Menghadiri majlis perkahwinan dan sumbang RM50
4. Membeli undi untuk setiap kali pilihanraya antara RM50 - RM500
Hak rakyat yang dinafikan Yong Teck Lee;
1. Geran-geran tanah untuk kampung-kampung tradisional Melayu. Seperti kawasan Inanam, Gudon, Tebobon, Karambunai, Menggatal.
2. Tiada kontrak untuk kontraktor bumiputra.
3. Tiada peluang pekerjaan untuk anak-anak Bumiputra.
Hak rakyat yang diambil oleh Yong Teck Lee;
1. 1 juta ekar konsesi balak untuk tempoh 100 tahun bernilai lebih RM20 Billion dari Tenom hingga ke Kalabakan.
2. Tanah persisiran laut di Teluk Likas bernilai lebih RM500 juta
3. Tanah persisiran laut di Tanjung Aru bernilai lebih RM500 juta.
4. Harta Amanah Saham Sabah (hak rakyat) melalui Warisan Harta Sdn Bhd bernilai RM70 juta.
5. Tanah-tanah SLDB (hak rakyat) bernilai lebih RM2 billion diambil melalui Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd.
6. Hak rakyat di KPD bernilai RM60 juta diambil melalui Benta Holdings.
7. Duit rakyat diperbendaharaan negeri berjumlah RM36 juta setahun melalui Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd (kontrak sewa kereta kepada semua agensi kerajaan).
Melihat kepada keadaan ini kita tidak faham apa sebenarnya dasar perjuangan UMNO. Dimana hilangnya semangat Tun Razak, dimana hilangnya semangat Datuk Onn, dimana perginya semangat Tun Hussien Onn yang berjuang habis-habisan untuk membela nasib rakyat terbanyak, membela nasib rakyat termiskin, terbiar dan tersisih oleh penjajah. Namun kini UMNO turut mengamalkan dasar membiarkan rakyat terbanyak terus miskin, mundur, terbiar dan melarat sementara terus berkerja menobatkan pemimpin rakus dan perompak hak rakyat untuk terus berkuasa.
Sedarlah rakan-rakan UMNO, kita sebangsa dan seagama, apakah kita rela terus membiarkan Yong Teck Lee berkuasa merampas hak rakyat?. Apakah kita rela dan redha dengan keadaan ini?. Apakah kita ingin terus bersubahat dengan Yong Teck Lee dan menjadi salah seorang penyumbang kepada manusia yang akan hanya menghancurkan anak bangsa kita di Likas ini. Ayuh bersamalah kita tumbangkan Yong Teck Lee. Pastikan kemenangan kepada keADILan untuk kerusi Likas diserahkan kepada UMNO pada pilihanraya akan datang.
Friday, June 29, 2001
Tawau feedmill's siting 'in order'
Daily Express
29-6-2001
Tawau: A Tawau feedmill executive said Thursday the mill's siting in Tanjung Batu is in order as it is located within a general industrial area.
He also ruled out potential pollution fears raised by nearby residents who contacted the Daily Express last week.
The residents had sought an assurance from the authorities that the mill's operation will neither be smelly nor dusty or noisy.
"The whole processing operation will be enclosed and the feed materials used will be dry corn and soya destined for chicken and prawn farms," said the executive in a telephone interview.
Tawau alone has about 6,000 acres of prawn farms and numerous chicken farms.
"Furthermore, most of the processed feeds will go straight to the dockyard to be barged out to other towns and the lorries we are going to use for overland transportation will be enclosed silo trucks," he pointed out.
He said given a production capacity of 25 tons per hour, overland transportation will average no more than one truck per hour, he said.
Citing proof that the mill is in a general industrial land, he said the feedmill is just a stone's throw from a series of huge petroleum storage tanks, sawmills, crude palm oil storage facilities and cocoa processing factories which include cocoa fermentation facilities.
Convoys of lorries are already plying the area daily, ferrying such products especially when a crude palm oil tanker is in port.
Most of residents in the area are factory workers and their families are living in squatter houses.
Local government by-laws, in fact, bar housing within half a kilometre of a petroleum storage area.
Within sight from the area is a huge quarry which involves almost daily blasting of a once magnificent Tawau Hill for its granite stones.
The nearest feedmills from Tawau are either 450km away, in Kota Kinabalu or 830km down south in Balikpapan in Indodesian Kalimantan.
Given that transportation cost of feed from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau is about RM100 per ton, the executive asserted that a feedmill in Tawau will cut feed costs by 18 per cent.
"This will help to keep both the poultry and prawn culture industries competitive in the face of challenges from other BIMP-EAGA producers, particularly immediate neighbour Indonesia," he said.
That is, if the transport cost savings are passed on to the producers.
Note: Pollution and health hazard from feedmills owned by Comsa and stone quarry owned by Otentik Sdn Bhd. has never been solved. It was said that they paid out big sum of money to certain government officers to keep their business going.
29-6-2001
Tawau: A Tawau feedmill executive said Thursday the mill's siting in Tanjung Batu is in order as it is located within a general industrial area.
He also ruled out potential pollution fears raised by nearby residents who contacted the Daily Express last week.
The residents had sought an assurance from the authorities that the mill's operation will neither be smelly nor dusty or noisy.
"The whole processing operation will be enclosed and the feed materials used will be dry corn and soya destined for chicken and prawn farms," said the executive in a telephone interview.
Tawau alone has about 6,000 acres of prawn farms and numerous chicken farms.
"Furthermore, most of the processed feeds will go straight to the dockyard to be barged out to other towns and the lorries we are going to use for overland transportation will be enclosed silo trucks," he pointed out.
He said given a production capacity of 25 tons per hour, overland transportation will average no more than one truck per hour, he said.
Citing proof that the mill is in a general industrial land, he said the feedmill is just a stone's throw from a series of huge petroleum storage tanks, sawmills, crude palm oil storage facilities and cocoa processing factories which include cocoa fermentation facilities.
Convoys of lorries are already plying the area daily, ferrying such products especially when a crude palm oil tanker is in port.
Most of residents in the area are factory workers and their families are living in squatter houses.
Local government by-laws, in fact, bar housing within half a kilometre of a petroleum storage area.
Within sight from the area is a huge quarry which involves almost daily blasting of a once magnificent Tawau Hill for its granite stones.
The nearest feedmills from Tawau are either 450km away, in Kota Kinabalu or 830km down south in Balikpapan in Indodesian Kalimantan.
Given that transportation cost of feed from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau is about RM100 per ton, the executive asserted that a feedmill in Tawau will cut feed costs by 18 per cent.
"This will help to keep both the poultry and prawn culture industries competitive in the face of challenges from other BIMP-EAGA producers, particularly immediate neighbour Indonesia," he said.
That is, if the transport cost savings are passed on to the producers.
Note: Pollution and health hazard from feedmills owned by Comsa and stone quarry owned by Otentik Sdn Bhd. has never been solved. It was said that they paid out big sum of money to certain government officers to keep their business going.
Tuesday, June 26, 2001
A splendid job on holes, but not feedmill's location
Daily Express
26 June, 2001
Tawau: In a follow-up survey to what was highlighted in the Daily Express several months ago about gaping holes on the five-foot way along Jalan Stephen Tan here, it was found that the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) had sealed the holes splendidly.
New concrete covers were evidence of recent action, although regulars in the area alleged they had appealed for repairs for a long time without success.
The report's main contention for urgent Council action was that unsuspecting pedestrians had been injured after falling into the holes and more could happen if they weren't sealed.
But two kilometres away in Tanjung Batu, residents of a densely populated area raised their worries about possible flying dust and unpleasant odour from a large feedmill currently under construction near the sea in their homely district.
Since the TMC has a say in approval or otherwise of the feedmill's location, they queried why the mill was allowed to be built in a health sensitive area, as not only the nearby residents might be affected but also the Tawau General Hospital barely a kilometre away.
They said since the building of the mill is well under way, the TMC and also the Health Services Department need to assure Tawau folks in no uncertain terms that operation of the mill will not make the surrounding air smelly nor dusty or noisy.
This is because convoys of big lorries transporting the feeds are expected to make regular trips through the housing areas and pass by the general hospital or the Tawau Golf Course.
"The smell from such flying lorries may be much more than a whiff, if not from the mill itself," commented a well-known personality here.
When contacted, an industry insider said feed mills generally present little pollution problem.
"If you are talking about a fish mill, then definitely it is going to smell. But if it is a chicken or other feedmill, then it is generally clean. What happens is that the various types of grains from the ships are first conveyed into huge silos where they are sealed and stored. Then these are sucked up into the mixers fixed metres above the ground from where they are funnelled into sacks below and packed," he said.
However, the ordinary folks said such verbal assurances may not match reality in practice.
Be that as it may, the residents said they wanted concrete public assurances of a hazard-free operation before any feed processing starts failing which the relevant authorities should relocating it.
26 June, 2001
Tawau: In a follow-up survey to what was highlighted in the Daily Express several months ago about gaping holes on the five-foot way along Jalan Stephen Tan here, it was found that the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) had sealed the holes splendidly.
New concrete covers were evidence of recent action, although regulars in the area alleged they had appealed for repairs for a long time without success.
The report's main contention for urgent Council action was that unsuspecting pedestrians had been injured after falling into the holes and more could happen if they weren't sealed.
But two kilometres away in Tanjung Batu, residents of a densely populated area raised their worries about possible flying dust and unpleasant odour from a large feedmill currently under construction near the sea in their homely district.
Since the TMC has a say in approval or otherwise of the feedmill's location, they queried why the mill was allowed to be built in a health sensitive area, as not only the nearby residents might be affected but also the Tawau General Hospital barely a kilometre away.
They said since the building of the mill is well under way, the TMC and also the Health Services Department need to assure Tawau folks in no uncertain terms that operation of the mill will not make the surrounding air smelly nor dusty or noisy.
This is because convoys of big lorries transporting the feeds are expected to make regular trips through the housing areas and pass by the general hospital or the Tawau Golf Course.
"The smell from such flying lorries may be much more than a whiff, if not from the mill itself," commented a well-known personality here.
When contacted, an industry insider said feed mills generally present little pollution problem.
"If you are talking about a fish mill, then definitely it is going to smell. But if it is a chicken or other feedmill, then it is generally clean. What happens is that the various types of grains from the ships are first conveyed into huge silos where they are sealed and stored. Then these are sucked up into the mixers fixed metres above the ground from where they are funnelled into sacks below and packed," he said.
However, the ordinary folks said such verbal assurances may not match reality in practice.
Be that as it may, the residents said they wanted concrete public assurances of a hazard-free operation before any feed processing starts failing which the relevant authorities should relocating it.
Monday, May 07, 2001
Tawau barter men renew call on timber
Daily Express
7-5-2001
Tawau: The Tawau Barter Trade Association (BATS) urged the State Government to consider their request to reduce the processing fees of imported timber.
Newly elected President Frankie Seng Huah Hua claimed that the Primary Industries Ministry had initially agreed to lower the current fees of RM40 cubic metres imposed by the Sabah Forestry Department to as low as RM10 during a meeting last August.
The association made the initial request to the Chief Minister's Department in June 1999, followed by a formal application to the Ministry concerned the next day, he said.
"To date, the association has yet to receive a positive response from both the Ministry and the State government," he added.
Seng pointed out that it was necessary to lower the processing fees of imported timber to ensure sufficient supply of raw materials to the domestic market, coupled with price decline of wood-based products in the international market.
According to him, BATS had a total membership of some 40 companies involved in the import of timber, rattan and sundry items for the local market.
Apart from Seng, others elected to the committee during Sunday's annual general meeting were Mohd Aziz Ali (deputy president), Samsuddin Imjut, Wong Wai Hong (vice-presidents), Omar Bachora (secretary) and Wong That Sim (treasurer).
The committee members are Cha Si Hiong, Damat Taboyo, Abu Bakar Jambuan, Osman Hassan, Asmat Nursin, Landasan Tumabil and Jakirun amir Hasin.
7-5-2001
Tawau: The Tawau Barter Trade Association (BATS) urged the State Government to consider their request to reduce the processing fees of imported timber.
Newly elected President Frankie Seng Huah Hua claimed that the Primary Industries Ministry had initially agreed to lower the current fees of RM40 cubic metres imposed by the Sabah Forestry Department to as low as RM10 during a meeting last August.
The association made the initial request to the Chief Minister's Department in June 1999, followed by a formal application to the Ministry concerned the next day, he said.
"To date, the association has yet to receive a positive response from both the Ministry and the State government," he added.
Seng pointed out that it was necessary to lower the processing fees of imported timber to ensure sufficient supply of raw materials to the domestic market, coupled with price decline of wood-based products in the international market.
According to him, BATS had a total membership of some 40 companies involved in the import of timber, rattan and sundry items for the local market.
Apart from Seng, others elected to the committee during Sunday's annual general meeting were Mohd Aziz Ali (deputy president), Samsuddin Imjut, Wong Wai Hong (vice-presidents), Omar Bachora (secretary) and Wong That Sim (treasurer).
The committee members are Cha Si Hiong, Damat Taboyo, Abu Bakar Jambuan, Osman Hassan, Asmat Nursin, Landasan Tumabil and Jakirun amir Hasin.
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
Sabah Government won't interfere in ACA water meter probe
New Sabah Times
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
The Sabah government will not interfere in the investigations of the Anti-Corruption Agency into alleged malpractices in a contract to change water meters in the State.
Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat said the government would make decide on further action based on the findings of the agency.
"We are letting ACA handle this case and we advise all parties to cooperate with the agency," he said after a briefing by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
Last week, State ACA director Chuah Cheng Man said the agency had taken statements from several individuals from a public agency and a State government department.
The State Water Department had awarded a contract worth RM250 million to change 100,000 water metres in the State to a contractor last year.
It had been alleged that the contractor had given the project to another company for only RM17 million.
(By Raynore Mering)
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
The Sabah government will not interfere in the investigations of the Anti-Corruption Agency into alleged malpractices in a contract to change water meters in the State.
Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat said the government would make decide on further action based on the findings of the agency.
"We are letting ACA handle this case and we advise all parties to cooperate with the agency," he said after a briefing by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
Last week, State ACA director Chuah Cheng Man said the agency had taken statements from several individuals from a public agency and a State government department.
The State Water Department had awarded a contract worth RM250 million to change 100,000 water metres in the State to a contractor last year.
It had been alleged that the contractor had given the project to another company for only RM17 million.
(By Raynore Mering)
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
Musa and team sweep Libaran
The Star
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
SANDAKAN: Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Musa Aman and his running mates made a sweep of the Libaran Umno division here, wiping out state assembly Speaker Datuk Hassan Alban Sandukong and his team.
Musa trounced Hassan by over 330 votes to retain the chairman's post which he has held since Umno spread its wings to Sabah in 1991.
"I thank Allah for giving me this victory. The results show that the members in Libaran are not divided as all my men have won. It shows that only a small group of people made it look like we were divided.
"The people of Libaran are with me as they have always been and they have no doubt that I have their interest at heart,'' said Musa, a native of the west coast Beaufort town, who was labelled an outsider during the intense campaign in this semi-urban east coast Sabah division.
Musa polled 576 of the 838 ballots cast while Hassan managed to get 240 votes in the contest which turned into a brawl at last week's Wanita meeting.
The division elections were also nearly stopped after rival groups tried to force a postponement and insisted that all ballot papers were signed by the candidates.
Musa said his priority was to bring back unity in the division and work with all the members.
In the contest, Musa's allies Libaran MP Juslie Ajirol easily beat a last-minute challenge by former parliamentarian Akbarkhan Abdul Rahman to keep the deputy chairman's post by a 300-vote margin.
The division's information chief Samsuddin Yahya, who was in the Musa camp toppled incumbent vice-chairman Datuk Nahalan Damsal, a state assistant minister aligned to Hassan.
The 20 division committee posts and seven delegates were also won by the Musa camp.
Hassan and his team left the meeting hall of the Sandakan Community Centre 15 minutes before the official result were announced at 1am.
"I will accept the verdict,'' said Hassan as he left the centre, adding that he would need three days before making a statement.
As indications of the results outcome started to emerge, police personnel took up positions outside the community centre where supporters waited.
However, supporters from both camps left peacefully by 2am ending the year-long battle for Libaran Umno which was rife with allegations and counter allegations ranging from money politics, cheating and questionable nominations at branch meetings.
At least 30 police reports were lodged and dozens of complaints made to the special Sabah Umno division election monitoring committee since the branch elections started in March.
After a nearly two-hour standoff between rival supporters at Sunday's meeting, it proceeded peacefully with no further incident with state Umno representatives Datuk Rizalman Abdullah and Ronald Kiandee ensuring the voting process and count was done in open view.
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
SANDAKAN: Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Musa Aman and his running mates made a sweep of the Libaran Umno division here, wiping out state assembly Speaker Datuk Hassan Alban Sandukong and his team.
Musa trounced Hassan by over 330 votes to retain the chairman's post which he has held since Umno spread its wings to Sabah in 1991.
"I thank Allah for giving me this victory. The results show that the members in Libaran are not divided as all my men have won. It shows that only a small group of people made it look like we were divided.
"The people of Libaran are with me as they have always been and they have no doubt that I have their interest at heart,'' said Musa, a native of the west coast Beaufort town, who was labelled an outsider during the intense campaign in this semi-urban east coast Sabah division.
Musa polled 576 of the 838 ballots cast while Hassan managed to get 240 votes in the contest which turned into a brawl at last week's Wanita meeting.
The division elections were also nearly stopped after rival groups tried to force a postponement and insisted that all ballot papers were signed by the candidates.
Musa said his priority was to bring back unity in the division and work with all the members.
In the contest, Musa's allies Libaran MP Juslie Ajirol easily beat a last-minute challenge by former parliamentarian Akbarkhan Abdul Rahman to keep the deputy chairman's post by a 300-vote margin.
The division's information chief Samsuddin Yahya, who was in the Musa camp toppled incumbent vice-chairman Datuk Nahalan Damsal, a state assistant minister aligned to Hassan.
The 20 division committee posts and seven delegates were also won by the Musa camp.
Hassan and his team left the meeting hall of the Sandakan Community Centre 15 minutes before the official result were announced at 1am.
"I will accept the verdict,'' said Hassan as he left the centre, adding that he would need three days before making a statement.
As indications of the results outcome started to emerge, police personnel took up positions outside the community centre where supporters waited.
However, supporters from both camps left peacefully by 2am ending the year-long battle for Libaran Umno which was rife with allegations and counter allegations ranging from money politics, cheating and questionable nominations at branch meetings.
At least 30 police reports were lodged and dozens of complaints made to the special Sabah Umno division election monitoring committee since the branch elections started in March.
After a nearly two-hour standoff between rival supporters at Sunday's meeting, it proceeded peacefully with no further incident with state Umno representatives Datuk Rizalman Abdullah and Ronald Kiandee ensuring the voting process and count was done in open view.
Sunday, April 08, 2001
Water meter investigation still in preliminary stage: Sabah ACA director
New Sabah Times
Sunday, April 08, 2001
KOTA KINABALU: The Anti-Corruption Agency has called up several people for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the award of a contract worth RM49 million to replace 100,000 faulty water meters in Sabah.
State ACA director Chuah Chang Man said those questioned were from Government departments and private firms.
"We took down their statements and they gave their full co-operation," he told reporters after officiating the State ACA family day at Tanjung Aru beach, here, today.
He said investigation was still at the preliminary stage.
The controversy surrounding the award of the contract was widely reported by the media early this year prompting the then Chief Minister Datuk Osu Sukam to come up with an explanation.
It was reported that RM250 was approved for replacing each of the 100,000 faulty meters when the installation cost for a meter was said to be only RM17.
Osu had defended the State Government's decision, saying that the RM250 installation cost for a new meter was justified.
He had also said that besides labour and service charge, the installation cost also covers other items such as galvanised iron pipe, pipe elbow and nipples, lockable valves, drain plugs and sluice valves.
Osu also said that although the tender for the project was awarded on a negotiated basis and that it was made according to standard procedures.
Sunday, April 08, 2001
KOTA KINABALU: The Anti-Corruption Agency has called up several people for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the award of a contract worth RM49 million to replace 100,000 faulty water meters in Sabah.
State ACA director Chuah Chang Man said those questioned were from Government departments and private firms.
"We took down their statements and they gave their full co-operation," he told reporters after officiating the State ACA family day at Tanjung Aru beach, here, today.
He said investigation was still at the preliminary stage.
The controversy surrounding the award of the contract was widely reported by the media early this year prompting the then Chief Minister Datuk Osu Sukam to come up with an explanation.
It was reported that RM250 was approved for replacing each of the 100,000 faulty meters when the installation cost for a meter was said to be only RM17.
Osu had defended the State Government's decision, saying that the RM250 installation cost for a new meter was justified.
He had also said that besides labour and service charge, the installation cost also covers other items such as galvanised iron pipe, pipe elbow and nipples, lockable valves, drain plugs and sluice valves.
Osu also said that although the tender for the project was awarded on a negotiated basis and that it was made according to standard procedures.
Wednesday, January 03, 2001
Sabah water meter scandal?
Daily Express
3 January 2001
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Water Department is replacing 100,000 meters and some quarters are alleging that the multi-million ringgit deal reportedly stinks.
It will purportedly cost the department RM250 to install the meter with valve-locks under the deal struck between a contractor and the State Finance Ministry.
It is alleged that the contractor had sub-contracted the work and was only paying RM127 to get each meter installed.
The meters bought by the department at about RM220 each from a supplier were offered without any cost to the contractor.
When approached by reporters for details of the deal Deputy Chief Minister and Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Bumburing said the state Finance Ministry was responsible for awarding the contract.
He said the role of the Water Department, under the jurisdiction of his Ministry, was to co-ordinate with the contractor to identify areas where new meters were required.
On whether it will cost the department RM250 to install each meter, he said: "I don't know as I don't have the details of the contract.".
Sabah is one of the worst-hit states where water shortages have remained a recurring problem for decades and persisted even after water production was privatised in 1992
3 January 2001
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Water Department is replacing 100,000 meters and some quarters are alleging that the multi-million ringgit deal reportedly stinks.
It will purportedly cost the department RM250 to install the meter with valve-locks under the deal struck between a contractor and the State Finance Ministry.
It is alleged that the contractor had sub-contracted the work and was only paying RM127 to get each meter installed.
The meters bought by the department at about RM220 each from a supplier were offered without any cost to the contractor.
When approached by reporters for details of the deal Deputy Chief Minister and Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Bumburing said the state Finance Ministry was responsible for awarding the contract.
He said the role of the Water Department, under the jurisdiction of his Ministry, was to co-ordinate with the contractor to identify areas where new meters were required.
On whether it will cost the department RM250 to install each meter, he said: "I don't know as I don't have the details of the contract.".
Sabah is one of the worst-hit states where water shortages have remained a recurring problem for decades and persisted even after water production was privatised in 1992
Monday, January 01, 2001
Gambar Lucah Ketua Wanita UMNO
Gambar Dato' Norjan Khan Bahadar ( Ketua Wanita UMNO Bahagian Papar merangkap timbalan menteri di Jabatan Ketua Menteri Sabah. ) bersama pemandu peribadinya ( adek kepada Sdr. Surin A.J.K. UMNO bahagian Kota Belut ) yang amat disayanginya.
Di sebalik keghairahan Dato'Dr. Siti Zaharah merombak Ketua Wanita UMNO Sabah sebenarnya terdapat cerita di sebaliknya.
Mungkinkah kerana gambar yang tersiar di laman ini atau pun kerana Dato' Norjan Khan Bahadar adalah orang Dato' Rafidah Aziz ?
Umum mengetahui Dato' Norjan Khan Bahadar adalah Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Ketua Menteri dan orang yang paling dipercayai oleh Dato' Osu Sukam.
Di semenanjung Dato' Norjan Khan sememangnya ditakuti oleh sebahagian besar orang-orang kanan UMNO kerana pada beliaulah tersimpan segala memori kenangan di Sabah. Khasnya pada mereka yang tidak membawa pasangan ke Sabah, Dato' Norjan Khanlah yang menyediakan pasangan buat mereka. Sememangnya kami di Sabah amat menghormati dan melayan tetamu dengan baik.
Sayang sekali Dato' Norjan Khan tidak dapat menjadi Ketua Wanita UMNO Sabah seperti yang telah diceritakan dengan luasnya oleh Dato'Ketua Menteri Sabah sendiri.
Mungkin juga Orang UMNO disemenanjung takut rahsia mereka terbongkar dengan pelbagai skandal seks ?
Sekali lagi Dayang Mahani diselamatkan oleh suaminya yang tercinta Onn Ariffin diatas gambar yang tersiar.
Dato Onn Ariffin suami Dayang Mahani sebenarnya adalah orang Johor bukan orang Sabah. Beliau walaupun pernah memegang Setiausaha Agong USNO satu ketika dulu dan menjadi politik strategist untuk Tun Mustaffa sebenarnya adalah orang Dr. Mahathir. Kawan karibnya adalah Dato' Aziz Shamsuddin, Setiausaha Politik kepada Dr. Mahathir sendiri , sudah pasti mereka mahu Dayang Mahani terus kekal untuk mempertahankan matlamat dan keuntungan mereka.
Kepada yang ingin mendapatkan lebih lanjut tentang gambar di laman ini, ketegangan UMNO Sabah dan siapa Dato' Norjan Khan sebenarnya bolehlah menghubungi Dato' Onn Ariffin sendiri.
Nombor talipon : 08-8250838 ataupun : 019-3295216.
Semuga rakyat Sabah khasnya UMNO dapat gambaran yang jelas kenapa Dato' Norjan Khan tidak dapat jawatan Ketua Wanita Umno Sabah meskipun Dato' Ketua Menteri malahan Dato' Ketua Wanita UMNO Malaysia sendiri sudah menjanjikan pada kita.
Lihat Gambar Norjan
Gambar 1
Gambar 2
Aku rakyat Sabah yang tahuk.
Di sebalik keghairahan Dato'Dr. Siti Zaharah merombak Ketua Wanita UMNO Sabah sebenarnya terdapat cerita di sebaliknya.
Mungkinkah kerana gambar yang tersiar di laman ini atau pun kerana Dato' Norjan Khan Bahadar adalah orang Dato' Rafidah Aziz ?
Umum mengetahui Dato' Norjan Khan Bahadar adalah Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Ketua Menteri dan orang yang paling dipercayai oleh Dato' Osu Sukam.
Di semenanjung Dato' Norjan Khan sememangnya ditakuti oleh sebahagian besar orang-orang kanan UMNO kerana pada beliaulah tersimpan segala memori kenangan di Sabah. Khasnya pada mereka yang tidak membawa pasangan ke Sabah, Dato' Norjan Khanlah yang menyediakan pasangan buat mereka. Sememangnya kami di Sabah amat menghormati dan melayan tetamu dengan baik.
Sayang sekali Dato' Norjan Khan tidak dapat menjadi Ketua Wanita UMNO Sabah seperti yang telah diceritakan dengan luasnya oleh Dato'Ketua Menteri Sabah sendiri.
Mungkin juga Orang UMNO disemenanjung takut rahsia mereka terbongkar dengan pelbagai skandal seks ?
Sekali lagi Dayang Mahani diselamatkan oleh suaminya yang tercinta Onn Ariffin diatas gambar yang tersiar.
Dato Onn Ariffin suami Dayang Mahani sebenarnya adalah orang Johor bukan orang Sabah. Beliau walaupun pernah memegang Setiausaha Agong USNO satu ketika dulu dan menjadi politik strategist untuk Tun Mustaffa sebenarnya adalah orang Dr. Mahathir. Kawan karibnya adalah Dato' Aziz Shamsuddin, Setiausaha Politik kepada Dr. Mahathir sendiri , sudah pasti mereka mahu Dayang Mahani terus kekal untuk mempertahankan matlamat dan keuntungan mereka.
Kepada yang ingin mendapatkan lebih lanjut tentang gambar di laman ini, ketegangan UMNO Sabah dan siapa Dato' Norjan Khan sebenarnya bolehlah menghubungi Dato' Onn Ariffin sendiri.
Nombor talipon : 08-8250838 ataupun : 019-3295216.
Semuga rakyat Sabah khasnya UMNO dapat gambaran yang jelas kenapa Dato' Norjan Khan tidak dapat jawatan Ketua Wanita Umno Sabah meskipun Dato' Ketua Menteri malahan Dato' Ketua Wanita UMNO Malaysia sendiri sudah menjanjikan pada kita.
Lihat Gambar Norjan
Gambar 1
Gambar 2
Aku rakyat Sabah yang tahuk.
Friday, December 29, 2000
Mega Projects In Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno Wanita chief Datuk Dayang Mahani Tun Ahmad Raffae said what was once a dream in terms of development 37 years ago had now become a reality, and the people could expect more.
She pointed out there was no denying that tremendous development had been taking place in the State through the Barisan Nasional.
"We must take note that a lot of projects has been taking place in the State since the Barisan Nasional assumed control of the State Government," she told reporters paying her a Hari Raya Aidifitri visit at her residence in Luyang, near here, Wednesday.
These included revival of abandoned or delayed projects, as well as undertaking mega projects that the previous ruling party dared not implement while in confrontation with the Federal Government.
Another contributing factor was the entry of Umno into Sabah to stabilise the political situation in the State, and enhance mutual cooperation and understanding with the Federal government.
Mahani, who also heads the Sabah Affairs Bureau, said the people had to accept the fact that they were currently enjoying the benefits of the State being in the mainstream of national development.
Citing an example, she said travellers could never have imagined travelling to Kota Belud in less than an hour through one of the best roads in the country as they were experiencing now, as well as the coastal by-pass from the city to Tuaran via Sepangar.
Also, the 30-year wait for the completion of Beaufort-Sipitang and Beaufort-Kuala Penyu worth a total of RM300 million was now over, thus completing the Sabah side of the Pan-Borneo highway linking Brunei and Sarawak via Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuching.
Within six years since 1994, the road network throughout the whole state had been greatly enhanced through the upgrading of existing roads and construction of new ones under the 8th Malaysia Plan beginning next year, she added.
These included:
* Nabawan-Sapulut (RM130 million)
* Keningau-Nabawan (RM97 million)
* Beaufort-Tenom (RM400 million)
* Merotai-Kalabakan (RM80 million)
* Tawau Town-Airport (RM88 million)
* Kunak-Semporna coastal road - 45 km (RM90 million)
* Labuk-Sandakan (RM23 million)
* Sandakan-Sibuga by-pass (RM50 million)
* Kota Belud-Ranau by-pass
* Kalabakan-Sapulut-189km (RM400 million)
She pointed out there was no denying that tremendous development had been taking place in the State through the Barisan Nasional.
"We must take note that a lot of projects has been taking place in the State since the Barisan Nasional assumed control of the State Government," she told reporters paying her a Hari Raya Aidifitri visit at her residence in Luyang, near here, Wednesday.
These included revival of abandoned or delayed projects, as well as undertaking mega projects that the previous ruling party dared not implement while in confrontation with the Federal Government.
Another contributing factor was the entry of Umno into Sabah to stabilise the political situation in the State, and enhance mutual cooperation and understanding with the Federal government.
Mahani, who also heads the Sabah Affairs Bureau, said the people had to accept the fact that they were currently enjoying the benefits of the State being in the mainstream of national development.
Citing an example, she said travellers could never have imagined travelling to Kota Belud in less than an hour through one of the best roads in the country as they were experiencing now, as well as the coastal by-pass from the city to Tuaran via Sepangar.
Also, the 30-year wait for the completion of Beaufort-Sipitang and Beaufort-Kuala Penyu worth a total of RM300 million was now over, thus completing the Sabah side of the Pan-Borneo highway linking Brunei and Sarawak via Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuching.
Within six years since 1994, the road network throughout the whole state had been greatly enhanced through the upgrading of existing roads and construction of new ones under the 8th Malaysia Plan beginning next year, she added.
These included:
* Nabawan-Sapulut (RM130 million)
* Keningau-Nabawan (RM97 million)
* Beaufort-Tenom (RM400 million)
* Merotai-Kalabakan (RM80 million)
* Tawau Town-Airport (RM88 million)
* Kunak-Semporna coastal road - 45 km (RM90 million)
* Labuk-Sandakan (RM23 million)
* Sandakan-Sibuga by-pass (RM50 million)
* Kota Belud-Ranau by-pass
* Kalabakan-Sapulut-189km (RM400 million)
Monday, October 23, 2000
INTERNATIONAL ALERT TO SAVE SABAH RAINFORESTS FROM PULP AND PAPER PROJECT IN KALABAKAN
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
23rd October 2000
LOGGING AND FOREST CLEAREANCE OPERATION WITHOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
3% OF SABAH'S LAND FOR GIANT PULP AND PAPER PROJECT
In Kalabakan, Tawau, Sabah, East Malaysia, a business venture between a State-owned company, Lions Group of Malaysia and the China Fuxing Pulp and Paper Industries of China will be developing a US1.1 billion plantation and pulp and paper mill project.
The project will necessitate the felling of 240,000 ha of natural forest to be replaced by a huge pulp and paper mill and a massive monoculture plantation of the Black Wattle trees (Acacia mangium) or also known as dry acacia or the mangium tree, a fast growing plant which is native to tropical Queensland, Australia. The size of this huge project, some 4 times the size of Singapore, will take up approximately 3% of Sabah and 6% of its remaining virgin forest. The mill is expected to process 750 tonnes of pulp a year.
The project is expected to be fully operational by 2005. Mooted by the Federal Government, it is said to be the single largest foreign investment in forest plantation and paper mill by China, which incidentally, has enforced a ban on logging in large swathes of its territory back home.
There are four important issues that the project raises.
Is the project adhering to Malaysia and Sabah's environmental law requirements?
Is the removal of a quarter of a million hectares of forest acceptable, in terms of damage to water, soil, wildlife, human livelihoods and the ecology system downstream?
How much pollution will the huge monocrop plantation and mill cause?
Is the project adhering to Malaysia and Sabah's environmental law requirements?
NO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR LOGGING
Under the Sabah Conservation of Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order 1999, any forest which is cleared for the felling of timber covering an area of 500ha or more or any development of forest plantation of 500ha or more requires an Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) to be done.
According to our interpretation of the law, three EIA reports are required for:
forest clearing for the establishment of the tree plantations
development of the tree plantations
Is the project adhering to Malaysia and Sabah's environmental law requirements?
Today, 12 000 ha of the land of the proposed project have already been logged without a single EIA done. The state-owned company, Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd is proceeding to log another 33 000 ha.
According to newspaper reports, the company claimed that it could not afford to wait for the EIA to be submitted. The company is only now in the midst of appointing a consultant to handle the EIA.
The company asserted that it need not carry out an EIA for the logging as the Sabah Conservation of Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order 1999, came into effect only in September 1999 while the company had already begun logging since 1998. Innoprise further asserted that it proceeded with the logging operation based on the Coup Permit from the Sabah Forestry Department in 1996. The company reportedly is planning to conduct two EIA reports only, one for the plantation, the other for the mill.
The Chief Minister of Sabah seemed to defend the legality of its state-owned company's operation. He too claimed that the logging operation was legally licensed in 1996, well before the State EIA requirement was enforced and in addition to that, the licence did not specify the need for an EIA.
Further shock came our way when the Sabah Forestry Department in their reply to our queries affirmed that they had indeed issued a Coup Permit for the company to log. According to the Department, in 1996, Benta Wawasan Sdn. Bhd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Innoprise Corporation) entered into a Tree Plantation Agreement with the State Government of Sabah to log 106,310 ha of the Reserve Forest of Gunung Bara/Kalabakan and develop it into a plantation. According to the Department, this agreement binds Benta Wawasan to observe a set of conditions pertaining to environmental protection and conservation. These conditions are claimed to be "functionally equivalent" with the EIA legal requirement.
Prior to the coming into force of the Sabah Conservation of Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order 1999, the Federal Government's Environment Quality Act 1974 and thsubsidiary law made pursuant to this called the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987 instructs that all proposed logging activities intended to be carried out on land larger than 500 ha to require an EIA to be performed and approved before the commencement of the activities. This law is not being followed.
In a response to SAM's query, the Sabah Environmental Conservation Department said that the Federal law did not apply to Sabah as the project involved matters such as 'land' and 'forests' which are within the jurisdiction of the States. Malaysia operates under a Federal-State system, where there is a division of areas between the Federal legislature and the States'. The Sabah Government is clearly using a strict legal argument to maintain that no EIA is needed to log such a huge area of forests until they enforced their own law in 1999!
Worsening things up, on September 26, The Star, a national Malaysian daily, reported that the "conditions" stipulated in the Forestry Department licence on environmental protection are also being disregarded by the company.
According to The Star, the company has violated the restrictions that prohibit logging activities from taking place right to a river's bank or on slopes of more than 25 degrees and clearing of a slope of more than 15 degrees steep. The company also does not seem to maintain the required 20m buffer zone between development activities and the boundaries of a river catchment.
SAM is appalled at how the logging can proceed without the submission and approval of an EIA Report by the Department of Environmental Conservation of Sabah, when the logging is clearly for the pulp mill project. The Sabah Government should not fragment the various activities involved in establishing the pulp mill, viz. logging for the tree plantations, establishing the tree plantations and construction of the pulp mill. We are very troubled by the fragmented approach taken by the Sabah State Government to justify the lack of an EIA for the logging activities.
The purpose of an EIA prior to the commencement of any project is to assess the environmental impacts and ascertain if the mitigation measures proposed by the project developers are sufficient to minimise environmental damage. The cumulative impacts of the project as a whole should be taken into account. If foreseen environmental impacts are severe and the mitigation measures inadequate, the EIA must be rejected and the project should not be allowed to commence. Innoprise's actions seem to imply that they are confident that their two other EIAs (for the plantation and the mill) will be approved. This is legally questionable and environmentally risky.
The Sabah Government in allowing the logging to go on is making a mockery of the law and is undermining the EIA process. By allowing the logging to proceed without an EIA, the Sabah Government is completely disregarding the environmental impacts of the logging activities and is 'manipulating' the law.
Logging before agreement is signed
The most perplexing question about the issue is that as late as September, the commercial department of the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reportedly maintained that "the project is still under negotiation." Nothing is finalised yet.
It is a great puzzle to us as to how this one joint venture project was allowed to commence its operation even before its own internal agreements are finalised; risking the area to be wasted, should the project fail to take-off.
In addition to that, Innoprise's claim that it had begun logging the area since 1998 raises another important question. The Memorandum of Understanding for the project was only signed in 1997 and an early agreement between the various joint-venture partners was signed in August 1999. How could have Innoprise begun the logging operation when even the first agreement between their business partners had not taken place?
ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE
Wildlife
The proposed project is situated in Sabah's biggest remaining block of continuous forest, sandwiched between two major conservation sites, the Danum Valley and the Maliau Basin. Both are classified as Class One Protection Areas allowing only scientific research and restricted activities such as sustainable ecotourism to take place in the area.
The entire area, a world-renowned biodiversity hotspot, contains significant populations of rare animals and plants. Elephants, orang utans, Sumatran rhinoceros, sunbears, gibbons, clouded leopards and the Bornean Bay cat and wild cattle (tembadau or banteng), once thought to be extinct, are all present. The forest probably contains somewhere in the region of 120 mammals, 280 birds, and more than 2500 tree species.
The proposed plantation scheme would assault this pristine environment, turning the remaining forests as "islands", restricting the movement of wildlife. This could potentially decimate their population. Wild animals are reported to have been sighted more often, probably fleeing from the logged area.
Does it make sense to annihilate this forest, the very area that has the best chance of being managed sustainably, when other forest areas in Sabah have been ravaged by fire to the point where natural forest management is impossible?
Erosion
The land of the proposed project is mostly steep, and felling for plantations will expose the soil to direct erosion by rainfall. Even a low rate of erosion, for example 25 tonnes per hectare per year, would result in more than 6 million tonnes of eroded material a year from the entire proposed plantation. A higher estimate of erosion at 100 tonnes per hectare per year would give 25 million tonnes of soil entering rivers every year.
What will the effects be on the price of water treatment for the villages downstream? Will excessive silt cause the catch of villagers who fish along the rivers to dwindle? Will there be greater flooding? Will the sediment deposited at the river estuaries eventually reach the coastal mangrove vegetation in Cowie Bay, depleting marine resources?
With only 12 000 ha logged, disastrous reports have already emerged. The lush Danum Valley has already been flooded in recent months.
Threats of fire, pests, wild animal and dry spells
In the 1980s, an Indonesian plantation of Leucena leucocephala was totally destroyed by insects. The Black Wattle trees that will be planted in Sabah are in the menu of 19 kinds of insects. The Black Wattle leaves also contain 43 percent protein, and have even been recommended as an excellent fodder for cattle. Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are said to love the bark of this tree. Planting such a huge area of the tree slap in the middle of the biggest remaining habitat for Sabah's elephant population may be simply asking for trouble.
The plant is also said to be a thirsty crop that can absorb a lot of underground water, drawing down the water table and making the land drier.
Local microclimate will often dry and heat up once the rainforest is replaced with a plantation scheme. The drier mono-crop plantations will no longer be the cool, damp and heavily clouded woods.
Plantations burn easily. This is made more likely by the accumulation of dry, leathery leaf litter in such plantations.
POISONS FROM PULPING AND BLEACHING
The processes involved in pulp and paper industry are known to be highly damaging to the environment.
The use of chlorine in bleaching the pulp has caused the industry to be the third largest source of dioxin and its related compound in the world. This problem is further compounded by the fact that Malaysia still has no policy on dioxin and the laws to regulate its presence in the environment.
Furthermore about 300 chemical compounds have been identified in pulp and paper mill effluents. They are:
Organic pollutants and suspended solids.
Chlorophenolics and their transformation products
Acidic compounds
Other organochlorine products
Air emissions of pulp and paper mills are known to emit:
carbon dioxide (global warming)
hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg smell)
oxides of sulphur (acid rain), oxides of nitrogen
chloroform (possible carcinogen)
dioxins and furans
organochlorines
other volatile organics (toxic and precursors to ozone formation).
UNSUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC PLANNING
The area is proposed to be planted at about 20,000 hectares per year, with 32,000 hectares in the first year alone, according to Innoprise Corporation. Clearing at this rate is possible but re-planting is surely not. Even the biggest operator in Sabah is now re-planting up to 6,000 ha a year (less than a third of that proposed), after 15 years of experience.
The proposed plan would require 38 million seedlings to be planted in year one. In the coming years, 23 million seedlings would be planted annually.
The logging operation is certainly an irresponsible corporate decision when we consider the fact that the nursery to produce the seedlings for the plantation has not even been set up while 12 000 ha have been logged.
At the proposed rate, by the start of the project's fourth year, workers would embark on planting the routine load of 23 million seedlings, while taking care of the previous 85 million seedlings already planted over an area of 720 square kilometres, an area larger than Singapore. Can this really be done? It is obvious that the State is dangerously risking the creation of huge chunks of bare and uncovered land in what used to be a verdant rainwater-sponge.
As it is right now, swathes of bare earth are beginning to disfigure the once biodiversity hotspot and the rivers are already brown with silt.
We also must remember that if this estimated high replanting rate fails to be achieved, the mill would also face a shortage of pulp supply. Faced with this predicament, an expensive and huge mill would surely suffer huge losses. The mill then perhaps would have to import timber or pulp.
CALL FOR ACTION
It is for these environmental concerns that SAM has called the State Government of Sabah and the Federal Government to:
halt all further logging activities
take action against the parties that are responsible for logging the 12 000 ha of forest without an EIA.
undertake a comprehensive EIA for all three aforementioned components of the project
seek extensive and genuine public feedback from the public in relation to the reviewing of the EIA.
review as a whole the project for its overall justification, given the magnitude and scale of its environmental impacts.
Support our call for action
SAM appeals to all concerned groups and individuals to send all letters of concern to:
YAB Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Pejabat Perdana Menteri Malaysia
Blok Utama, Kompleks Jabatan Perdana Menteri
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62502 Putrajaya
Malaysia.
Fax : 603-8883444
Email : epu@jpm.my
YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Osu Haji Sukam
Chief Minister of Sabah
Tingkat 28 Bangunan Yayasan Sabah
Teluk Likas
88502 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah.
Malaysia.
Fax : 6088-435350
Email : ketuamenteri@sabah.gov.my
Mr. Eric Juin
Director
Department of Environmental Conservation
Tingkat 2 & 3
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Beg Berkunci No. 2078
88999 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
Fax : 6088-238120
Email : pgh.jkas@sabah.gov.my
Mr. Daniel K.S. Khiong
Director
Forestry Department of Sabah
Beg Berkunci 68
90009 Sandakan
Sabah
Malaysia
Fax : 6089-669170
Email : pengarah.htan@sabah.gov.my
Kindly request the State Government of Sabah and the Federal Government of Malaysia to take the actions that we have demanded above. Please send copies of your letters of concern to us at:
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
27 Lorong Maktab
10250 Penang
Malaysia.
Tel : 604-2276930
Fax: 604-2275705
Email: smidris@tm.net.my and meenaco@pd.jaring.my
23rd October 2000
LOGGING AND FOREST CLEAREANCE OPERATION WITHOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
3% OF SABAH'S LAND FOR GIANT PULP AND PAPER PROJECT
In Kalabakan, Tawau, Sabah, East Malaysia, a business venture between a State-owned company, Lions Group of Malaysia and the China Fuxing Pulp and Paper Industries of China will be developing a US1.1 billion plantation and pulp and paper mill project.
The project will necessitate the felling of 240,000 ha of natural forest to be replaced by a huge pulp and paper mill and a massive monoculture plantation of the Black Wattle trees (Acacia mangium) or also known as dry acacia or the mangium tree, a fast growing plant which is native to tropical Queensland, Australia. The size of this huge project, some 4 times the size of Singapore, will take up approximately 3% of Sabah and 6% of its remaining virgin forest. The mill is expected to process 750 tonnes of pulp a year.
The project is expected to be fully operational by 2005. Mooted by the Federal Government, it is said to be the single largest foreign investment in forest plantation and paper mill by China, which incidentally, has enforced a ban on logging in large swathes of its territory back home.
There are four important issues that the project raises.
Is the project adhering to Malaysia and Sabah's environmental law requirements?
Is the removal of a quarter of a million hectares of forest acceptable, in terms of damage to water, soil, wildlife, human livelihoods and the ecology system downstream?
How much pollution will the huge monocrop plantation and mill cause?
Is the project adhering to Malaysia and Sabah's environmental law requirements?
NO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR LOGGING
Under the Sabah Conservation of Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order 1999, any forest which is cleared for the felling of timber covering an area of 500ha or more or any development of forest plantation of 500ha or more requires an Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) to be done.
According to our interpretation of the law, three EIA reports are required for:
forest clearing for the establishment of the tree plantations
development of the tree plantations
Is the project adhering to Malaysia and Sabah's environmental law requirements?
Today, 12 000 ha of the land of the proposed project have already been logged without a single EIA done. The state-owned company, Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd is proceeding to log another 33 000 ha.
According to newspaper reports, the company claimed that it could not afford to wait for the EIA to be submitted. The company is only now in the midst of appointing a consultant to handle the EIA.
The company asserted that it need not carry out an EIA for the logging as the Sabah Conservation of Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order 1999, came into effect only in September 1999 while the company had already begun logging since 1998. Innoprise further asserted that it proceeded with the logging operation based on the Coup Permit from the Sabah Forestry Department in 1996. The company reportedly is planning to conduct two EIA reports only, one for the plantation, the other for the mill.
The Chief Minister of Sabah seemed to defend the legality of its state-owned company's operation. He too claimed that the logging operation was legally licensed in 1996, well before the State EIA requirement was enforced and in addition to that, the licence did not specify the need for an EIA.
Further shock came our way when the Sabah Forestry Department in their reply to our queries affirmed that they had indeed issued a Coup Permit for the company to log. According to the Department, in 1996, Benta Wawasan Sdn. Bhd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Innoprise Corporation) entered into a Tree Plantation Agreement with the State Government of Sabah to log 106,310 ha of the Reserve Forest of Gunung Bara/Kalabakan and develop it into a plantation. According to the Department, this agreement binds Benta Wawasan to observe a set of conditions pertaining to environmental protection and conservation. These conditions are claimed to be "functionally equivalent" with the EIA legal requirement.
Prior to the coming into force of the Sabah Conservation of Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order 1999, the Federal Government's Environment Quality Act 1974 and thsubsidiary law made pursuant to this called the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987 instructs that all proposed logging activities intended to be carried out on land larger than 500 ha to require an EIA to be performed and approved before the commencement of the activities. This law is not being followed.
In a response to SAM's query, the Sabah Environmental Conservation Department said that the Federal law did not apply to Sabah as the project involved matters such as 'land' and 'forests' which are within the jurisdiction of the States. Malaysia operates under a Federal-State system, where there is a division of areas between the Federal legislature and the States'. The Sabah Government is clearly using a strict legal argument to maintain that no EIA is needed to log such a huge area of forests until they enforced their own law in 1999!
Worsening things up, on September 26, The Star, a national Malaysian daily, reported that the "conditions" stipulated in the Forestry Department licence on environmental protection are also being disregarded by the company.
According to The Star, the company has violated the restrictions that prohibit logging activities from taking place right to a river's bank or on slopes of more than 25 degrees and clearing of a slope of more than 15 degrees steep. The company also does not seem to maintain the required 20m buffer zone between development activities and the boundaries of a river catchment.
SAM is appalled at how the logging can proceed without the submission and approval of an EIA Report by the Department of Environmental Conservation of Sabah, when the logging is clearly for the pulp mill project. The Sabah Government should not fragment the various activities involved in establishing the pulp mill, viz. logging for the tree plantations, establishing the tree plantations and construction of the pulp mill. We are very troubled by the fragmented approach taken by the Sabah State Government to justify the lack of an EIA for the logging activities.
The purpose of an EIA prior to the commencement of any project is to assess the environmental impacts and ascertain if the mitigation measures proposed by the project developers are sufficient to minimise environmental damage. The cumulative impacts of the project as a whole should be taken into account. If foreseen environmental impacts are severe and the mitigation measures inadequate, the EIA must be rejected and the project should not be allowed to commence. Innoprise's actions seem to imply that they are confident that their two other EIAs (for the plantation and the mill) will be approved. This is legally questionable and environmentally risky.
The Sabah Government in allowing the logging to go on is making a mockery of the law and is undermining the EIA process. By allowing the logging to proceed without an EIA, the Sabah Government is completely disregarding the environmental impacts of the logging activities and is 'manipulating' the law.
Logging before agreement is signed
The most perplexing question about the issue is that as late as September, the commercial department of the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reportedly maintained that "the project is still under negotiation." Nothing is finalised yet.
It is a great puzzle to us as to how this one joint venture project was allowed to commence its operation even before its own internal agreements are finalised; risking the area to be wasted, should the project fail to take-off.
In addition to that, Innoprise's claim that it had begun logging the area since 1998 raises another important question. The Memorandum of Understanding for the project was only signed in 1997 and an early agreement between the various joint-venture partners was signed in August 1999. How could have Innoprise begun the logging operation when even the first agreement between their business partners had not taken place?
ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE
Wildlife
The proposed project is situated in Sabah's biggest remaining block of continuous forest, sandwiched between two major conservation sites, the Danum Valley and the Maliau Basin. Both are classified as Class One Protection Areas allowing only scientific research and restricted activities such as sustainable ecotourism to take place in the area.
The entire area, a world-renowned biodiversity hotspot, contains significant populations of rare animals and plants. Elephants, orang utans, Sumatran rhinoceros, sunbears, gibbons, clouded leopards and the Bornean Bay cat and wild cattle (tembadau or banteng), once thought to be extinct, are all present. The forest probably contains somewhere in the region of 120 mammals, 280 birds, and more than 2500 tree species.
The proposed plantation scheme would assault this pristine environment, turning the remaining forests as "islands", restricting the movement of wildlife. This could potentially decimate their population. Wild animals are reported to have been sighted more often, probably fleeing from the logged area.
Does it make sense to annihilate this forest, the very area that has the best chance of being managed sustainably, when other forest areas in Sabah have been ravaged by fire to the point where natural forest management is impossible?
Erosion
The land of the proposed project is mostly steep, and felling for plantations will expose the soil to direct erosion by rainfall. Even a low rate of erosion, for example 25 tonnes per hectare per year, would result in more than 6 million tonnes of eroded material a year from the entire proposed plantation. A higher estimate of erosion at 100 tonnes per hectare per year would give 25 million tonnes of soil entering rivers every year.
What will the effects be on the price of water treatment for the villages downstream? Will excessive silt cause the catch of villagers who fish along the rivers to dwindle? Will there be greater flooding? Will the sediment deposited at the river estuaries eventually reach the coastal mangrove vegetation in Cowie Bay, depleting marine resources?
With only 12 000 ha logged, disastrous reports have already emerged. The lush Danum Valley has already been flooded in recent months.
Threats of fire, pests, wild animal and dry spells
In the 1980s, an Indonesian plantation of Leucena leucocephala was totally destroyed by insects. The Black Wattle trees that will be planted in Sabah are in the menu of 19 kinds of insects. The Black Wattle leaves also contain 43 percent protein, and have even been recommended as an excellent fodder for cattle. Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are said to love the bark of this tree. Planting such a huge area of the tree slap in the middle of the biggest remaining habitat for Sabah's elephant population may be simply asking for trouble.
The plant is also said to be a thirsty crop that can absorb a lot of underground water, drawing down the water table and making the land drier.
Local microclimate will often dry and heat up once the rainforest is replaced with a plantation scheme. The drier mono-crop plantations will no longer be the cool, damp and heavily clouded woods.
Plantations burn easily. This is made more likely by the accumulation of dry, leathery leaf litter in such plantations.
POISONS FROM PULPING AND BLEACHING
The processes involved in pulp and paper industry are known to be highly damaging to the environment.
The use of chlorine in bleaching the pulp has caused the industry to be the third largest source of dioxin and its related compound in the world. This problem is further compounded by the fact that Malaysia still has no policy on dioxin and the laws to regulate its presence in the environment.
Furthermore about 300 chemical compounds have been identified in pulp and paper mill effluents. They are:
Organic pollutants and suspended solids.
Chlorophenolics and their transformation products
Acidic compounds
Other organochlorine products
Air emissions of pulp and paper mills are known to emit:
carbon dioxide (global warming)
hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg smell)
oxides of sulphur (acid rain), oxides of nitrogen
chloroform (possible carcinogen)
dioxins and furans
organochlorines
other volatile organics (toxic and precursors to ozone formation).
UNSUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC PLANNING
The area is proposed to be planted at about 20,000 hectares per year, with 32,000 hectares in the first year alone, according to Innoprise Corporation. Clearing at this rate is possible but re-planting is surely not. Even the biggest operator in Sabah is now re-planting up to 6,000 ha a year (less than a third of that proposed), after 15 years of experience.
The proposed plan would require 38 million seedlings to be planted in year one. In the coming years, 23 million seedlings would be planted annually.
The logging operation is certainly an irresponsible corporate decision when we consider the fact that the nursery to produce the seedlings for the plantation has not even been set up while 12 000 ha have been logged.
At the proposed rate, by the start of the project's fourth year, workers would embark on planting the routine load of 23 million seedlings, while taking care of the previous 85 million seedlings already planted over an area of 720 square kilometres, an area larger than Singapore. Can this really be done? It is obvious that the State is dangerously risking the creation of huge chunks of bare and uncovered land in what used to be a verdant rainwater-sponge.
As it is right now, swathes of bare earth are beginning to disfigure the once biodiversity hotspot and the rivers are already brown with silt.
We also must remember that if this estimated high replanting rate fails to be achieved, the mill would also face a shortage of pulp supply. Faced with this predicament, an expensive and huge mill would surely suffer huge losses. The mill then perhaps would have to import timber or pulp.
CALL FOR ACTION
It is for these environmental concerns that SAM has called the State Government of Sabah and the Federal Government to:
halt all further logging activities
take action against the parties that are responsible for logging the 12 000 ha of forest without an EIA.
undertake a comprehensive EIA for all three aforementioned components of the project
seek extensive and genuine public feedback from the public in relation to the reviewing of the EIA.
review as a whole the project for its overall justification, given the magnitude and scale of its environmental impacts.
Support our call for action
SAM appeals to all concerned groups and individuals to send all letters of concern to:
YAB Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Pejabat Perdana Menteri Malaysia
Blok Utama, Kompleks Jabatan Perdana Menteri
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62502 Putrajaya
Malaysia.
Fax : 603-8883444
Email : epu@jpm.my
YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Osu Haji Sukam
Chief Minister of Sabah
Tingkat 28 Bangunan Yayasan Sabah
Teluk Likas
88502 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah.
Malaysia.
Fax : 6088-435350
Email : ketuamenteri@sabah.gov.my
Mr. Eric Juin
Director
Department of Environmental Conservation
Tingkat 2 & 3
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Beg Berkunci No. 2078
88999 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
Fax : 6088-238120
Email : pgh.jkas@sabah.gov.my
Mr. Daniel K.S. Khiong
Director
Forestry Department of Sabah
Beg Berkunci 68
90009 Sandakan
Sabah
Malaysia
Fax : 6089-669170
Email : pengarah.htan@sabah.gov.my
Kindly request the State Government of Sabah and the Federal Government of Malaysia to take the actions that we have demanded above. Please send copies of your letters of concern to us at:
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
27 Lorong Maktab
10250 Penang
Malaysia.
Tel : 604-2276930
Fax: 604-2275705
Email: smidris@tm.net.my and meenaco@pd.jaring.my
Thursday, July 06, 2000
Angkatan Hebat not the firm leasing those vehicles
Daily Express
6 July 2000
KOTA KINABALU: Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd denied Wednesday it is involved in leasing vehicles to the Tawau and Sandakan municipal councils at exorbitant rentals.
A spokesman said when contacted that the controversial RM15,000-a-month (RM180,000 per year) Mercedes Benz that was leased to the Tawau Municipal Council for his use was under an arrangement made in a separate contract between the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and a private limited company.
The spokesman admitted that Angkatan hebat had been receiving countless inquiries from the public on the matter.
Tawau Council President Datuk Hamzah Amir had stressed on Monday that the car was an entitlement accorded in the Local Government Ordinance.
He was responding to a query by Sri Tanjung Assemblyman Samson Chin.
The Angkatan Hebat spokesman also pointed out that the rental of similar vehicles leased by the company to the State Government is actually 40 per cent less than the rate that was quoted for the TMC.
Angkatan Hebat began leasing vehicles to the State Govenrment in 1995 under a 20-year concession.
Warisan Harta Sabah Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the State Government, holds a 40 per cent stake in Angkatan Hebat.
Meanwhile, the Consumers Association of Sabah/Labuan (Cash) questioned whether the Council was acting in the interest of ratepayers when there was so much that need to be done in Tawau.
Its President Patrick Sindu said the Council is not being seen to be prudent with its spending, especially under the current economic climate.
"The Council should be placing greater emphasis on improving public services through the provision of additional facilities, considering that the national economy had not fully recovered yet," he said.
If the TMC could reap surplus profits, it could render assistance to other local authorities in resolving their financial constraints, he added.
"Hence the RM15,000 per month on rental of a Mercedes Benz for the use of the Council President is a waste of funds," he said.
"Visitors to Tawau have complained how dirty the town is. Imagine how many dustbins could have been acquired to make the municipality cleaner," he said.
It also noted reports that some other district councils could not afford to pay out bonuses and overtime expenses of their staff.
"It would save the Government a lot of money if the Council purchased its own car, instead of renting it at an exorbitant rate", he added.
Sindu urged the local authorities to be more proactive in their approach towards improving public services, in line with the Government's aspiration to serve the people better.
He regretted that there seemed to have been only lip service so far by many in Sabah, including politicians, to the Prime Minister's call to use the Malaysian car like the Proton Perdana.
6 July 2000
KOTA KINABALU: Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd denied Wednesday it is involved in leasing vehicles to the Tawau and Sandakan municipal councils at exorbitant rentals.
A spokesman said when contacted that the controversial RM15,000-a-month (RM180,000 per year) Mercedes Benz that was leased to the Tawau Municipal Council for his use was under an arrangement made in a separate contract between the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and a private limited company.
The spokesman admitted that Angkatan hebat had been receiving countless inquiries from the public on the matter.
Tawau Council President Datuk Hamzah Amir had stressed on Monday that the car was an entitlement accorded in the Local Government Ordinance.
He was responding to a query by Sri Tanjung Assemblyman Samson Chin.
The Angkatan Hebat spokesman also pointed out that the rental of similar vehicles leased by the company to the State Government is actually 40 per cent less than the rate that was quoted for the TMC.
Angkatan Hebat began leasing vehicles to the State Govenrment in 1995 under a 20-year concession.
Warisan Harta Sabah Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the State Government, holds a 40 per cent stake in Angkatan Hebat.
Meanwhile, the Consumers Association of Sabah/Labuan (Cash) questioned whether the Council was acting in the interest of ratepayers when there was so much that need to be done in Tawau.
Its President Patrick Sindu said the Council is not being seen to be prudent with its spending, especially under the current economic climate.
"The Council should be placing greater emphasis on improving public services through the provision of additional facilities, considering that the national economy had not fully recovered yet," he said.
If the TMC could reap surplus profits, it could render assistance to other local authorities in resolving their financial constraints, he added.
"Hence the RM15,000 per month on rental of a Mercedes Benz for the use of the Council President is a waste of funds," he said.
"Visitors to Tawau have complained how dirty the town is. Imagine how many dustbins could have been acquired to make the municipality cleaner," he said.
It also noted reports that some other district councils could not afford to pay out bonuses and overtime expenses of their staff.
"It would save the Government a lot of money if the Council purchased its own car, instead of renting it at an exorbitant rate", he added.
Sindu urged the local authorities to be more proactive in their approach towards improving public services, in line with the Government's aspiration to serve the people better.
He regretted that there seemed to have been only lip service so far by many in Sabah, including politicians, to the Prime Minister's call to use the Malaysian car like the Proton Perdana.
Thursday, November 25, 1999
IDS - Kajian Penyusunan Semula Struktur Organisasi Majlis Perbandaran Tawau
Institute for Development Studies (IDS) pernah membuat kajian terhadap Majlis Perbandaran Tawau pada tahun 1998 dan membuat laporan serta saranan seperti berikut:
Majlis Perbandaran Tawau (MPT) terletak dalam kawasan strategik kerana kedudukannya yang berdekatan dengan sempadan Indonesia dan Filipina. Ia mempunyai beberapa kriteria penting terutama dari segi keluasan, jumlah dan pertambahan populasi, masalah-masalah dan cabaran-cabaran perbandaran yang ia hadapi.
MPT mempunyai keluasan pentadbiran yang meliputi 2,390 batu persegi dan merupakan majlis perbandaran yang terluas di Malaysia. Selain daripada itu, mengikut kadar pertumbuhan penduduk di masa lalu, kawasan MPT mengalami pertambahan penduduk yang amat pesat. Ini berpunca dari pertambahan penduduk semulajadi dan penghijrahan penduduk dari negara-negara yang berhampiran ke kawasan ini.
Kepesatan pertambahan penduduk ini merupakan cabaran utama MPT kerana ia memberi kesan dari segi pencapaian objektif eksternal dan internal majlis terutama dalam aspek-aspek kawalan dan perancangan pembangunan, pemeliharaan alam sekitar, penyediaan infrastruktur dan penciptaan peluang-peluang ekonomi, keupayaan pengurusan, perjalanan pentadbiran majlis, pentadbiran bandar, perubahan peranan MPT dan tahap jangkaan orang ramai terhadap perkhidmatan majlis.
MPT juga menghadapi pelbagai cabaran lain antaranya :-
1. bagaimana untuk meningkatkan kerjasama dengan jabatan-jabatan dan agensi-agensi kerajaan lain dalam usahanya mencapai objektif-objektifnya;
2. bagaimana untuk mengeratkan hubungan dengan orang ramai;
3. bagaimana membuat dan melaksanakan dengan berkesan undang-undang kecil majlis yang bersesuaian dengan keperluan dan kehendak awam; dan
4. cabaran yang penting sekali adalah bagaimana untuk membina keupayaan organisasi majlis di semua lapisan pengurusan, pegawai dan kakitangan MPT terutama dari segi menguatkan kefahaman, pengetahuan, prestasi kerja dan perkhidmatan majlis.
Beberapa cadangan telah dikemukakan untuk mengemaskinikan struktur organisasi MPT dengan tujuan membantu MPT mencari kepelbagaian alternatif penyelesaian dan pilihan.
Cadangan-cadangan ini juga bertujuan memberi input kepada MPT dalam usahanya menangani kepelbagaian masalah yang timbul akibat perubahan tuntutan orang ramai, keadaan dan persekitaran. Perkara-perkara penting tersebut adalah seperti
berikut :-
I. Pada dasarnya tiada perubahan struktur yang dicadangkan bagi tiga jawatan tertinggi majlis;
II. Unit Perhubungan Awam dicadangkan ditukar nama kepada Bahagian Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Perhubungan Awam, di mana Timbalan Presiden Majlis Perbandaran adalah lebih memokus kepada pembangunan di kawasan luar bandar dalam kawasan majlis di samping melaksanakan kerja-kerja penerangan;
III. Unit Hiasan Bandar dialihkan dari Bahagian Operasi dan Perkhidmatan ke Bahagian Pembangunan kerana tugas dan tanggungjawabnya berkaitan dengan pembangunan.
IV. nama “Pengurus Dewan” dicadangkan untuk ditukar kepada istilah lain seperti “Penyelenggara Dewan” kerana ia bercanggah dengan kuasa dan tanggungjawab yang terdapat pada “Pengurus Harta Benda”.
V. Pegawai undang-undang hendaklah diletakkan di bawah bahagiannya tersendiri. Bahagian Undang-undang yang dicadangkan memerlukan sekurang-kurangnya seorang lagi pegawai undang-undang.
VI. Sistem Komputer diletakkan di bawah Bahagian Pentadbiran dan Kewangan yang dikawal oleh seorang computer programmer dibantu oleh kakitangan komputer lain.
Beberapa isu dan masalah dalaman majlis yang harus diambil perhatian antaranya adalah :-
i. kebanyakan penyandang bagi tiga jawatan teratas majlis adalah terlalu dekat kepada usia persaraan. Ini membentuk tanggapan umum bahawa jawatan-jawatan tersebut adalah tempat untuk memberikan kenaikan pangkat atau penempatan seketika sementara menanti tempoh persaraan;
II. lantikan dan tempoh perkhidmatan yang terlalu singkat kerana penyandang boleh ditukarkan pada bila-bila masa. Kecenderungan sedemikian menggagalkan (defeat) usaha untuk memperlihatkan pencapaian yang hanya boleh dinilai selepas suatu jangka waktu yang mencukupi;
III. pertukaran presiden yang kerap meletakkan kepepimpinan dan situasi dalaman majlis dalam keadaan yang sukar, contohnya telah tiga kali kejadian di mana dalam MPT terdapat dua presiden pada suatu ketika;
IV. dari segi penilaian kakitangan, usaha dan kesungguhan pengurusan hendaklah ditingkatkan bagi meyakinkan kakitangan bahawa ganjaran dan kenaikan pangkat adalah berdasarkan kepada meritocracy dan bukan disebabkan oleh pengaruh elemen lain, contohnya kaitan atau pengaruh politik;
V. penekanan haruslah diberi kepada tingkat produktiviti. Dengan kata lain, penekanan penilaian dalam pencapaian haruslah berdasarkan kecemerlangan dalam profesion, prestasi output dan disiplin kerja;
VI. lebih banyak pergerakan ke atas harus dibuat dengan lebih pemberat dan keutamaan diberi kepada penyandang dari dalam MPT sendiri terutama untuk mengisi tiga jawatan tertinggi dalam majlis;
VII. perulangan agenda-agenda mesyuarat jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil memerlukan penelitian dan pengkajian yang rapi dari pihak MPT kerana ia menunjuk kepada beberapa hal antaranya sama ada :-
? kes yang sama diperbincangkan dalam beberapa mesyuarat jawatankuasa kecil berasingan tidak diambil tindakan; atau
? jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil itu mengalami pertindanan tugas dan dengan itu mungkin boleh digabungkan.
viii. terdapat juga indikasi kurangnya tahap kordinasi di antara bahagian-bahagian berasingan dalam MPT, division of labour yang tidak jelas yang menyebabkan banyak bypass dengan itu cenderung menyebabkan perselisihan faham di antara bahagian-bahagian yang berlainan;
ix. tidak ada langkah dan usaha yang konsisten dalam aspek pengemaskinian data-data yang berterusan;
x. sistem penguatkuasaan yang kurang berkesan antaranya berpunca dari kekurangan kakitangan penguatkuasa, status jumud jawatan penguatkuasa dan terlalu kerap terdapatnya campurtangan politik semasa yang boleh menggagalkan kejayaan penguatkuasaan undang-undang dan peraturan dalam kawasan majlis; dan
xi. proses pengkomputeran telah dilakukan, namun untuk dapat mencapai penggunaan dan faedah pada tahap optimum, ia memerlukan tenaga kakitangan yang terlatih dan cekap mengendalikan sistem komputer ini.
Analisa keseluruhan hasil pendapatan dan perbelanjaan majlis menjelaskan beberapa perkara utama. Pertama, pendapatan majlis adalah tidak stabil dan seringkali mengalami penurunan. Kedua, perolehan banyak bergantung kepada bantuan kerajaan dan pinjaman. Ketiga, perbelanjaan majlis yang semakin meningkat. Keempat, sistem pemungutan hasil yang tidak sistematik. Kelima, kekurangan maklumat mengenai pembayaran menyebabkan hasil tertunggak yang terkumpul adalah tinggi.
Keenam, banyak prospek dan punca-punca pendapatan lain dalam kawasan majlis yang tidak dapat dipungut atau dikenakan ke atas awam disebabkan antaranya oleh cakupan kuasa undang-undang kecil yang sempit dan ketiadaan unit penguatkuasa
yang terlatih dan berkesan, kekurangan legal power serta sokongan politik tempatan. Ketujuh, oleh kerana majlis selalu berada dalam keadaan defisit, perbelanjaan pembangunan bolehlah dikatakan tiada.
Bagi menangani masalah hasil yang tidak dapat dipungut adalah mustahak bagi MPT untuk mengkaji semula undang-undang kecilnya dengan tujuan :-
i. mencadangkan undang-undang kecil yang baru;
II. meluaskan skop undang-undang kecil yang sedia wujud supaya ia dapat mencakup dan mengenakan suatu bentuk kawalan kepada kegiatan-kegiatan dalam bidang kuasa majlis; dan
III. menguatkan, menambah new clauses and provisions dengan tujuan menambah legal power serta mengenakan suatu bentuk deterence kepada would-be offenders.
Penguatkuasaan undang-undang kecil dan peraturan-peraturan lain hendaklah dibuat dengan lebih ketat. Usaha haruslah diambil untuk meningkatkan kesedaran di kalangan orang ramai tentang perlunya pihak awam memberikan kerjasama kepada
majlis dalam semua bentuk penguatkuasaan demi kebaikan bersama.
Majlis juga harus meneliti bagaimana mengatasi kewujudan sebahagian besar pendatang asing (bukan pembayar cukai tetapi tetap menggunakan berbagai bentuk perkhidmatan dalam kawasan majlis perbandaran) supaya mereka dapat dicukai dan
dengan demikian tidak menjadi punca pendapatan yang tersia-sia.
Di samping itu, internal politics hendaklah dikurangkan dalam majlis dan usaha hendaklah dibuat untuk menjadikan line authority dalam majlis menjadi jelas. Majlis perlu mengadakan perubahan kepada pendekatannya dalam perkhidmatan, integrasi kegiatan-kegiatan majlis, pengoptimuman penggunaan sumber-sumber dan sistem jawatankuasanya. Terdapat juga keperluan untuk mengaplikasikan strategic management dalam majlis yakni memberikan tumpuan yang lebih kepada closer supervision of staff, lebih staff empowerment, more attainable mission, clearer vision, successful management of conflicts, co-ordination, decision making, planning and problem solving.
Penemuan penting lain antaranya adalah jangkaan awam yang tinggi terhadap majlis dan usaha-usaha penswastaan yang problematic. Adalah didapati bahawa aktiviti pengswastaan yang berlaku dalam majlis terjadi melalui forced and irrational
privatisation exercises yang menjadikannya one-sided and unprofitable joint venture activities with outsiders.
Kehilangan tanah majlis yang berterusan juga berlaku melalui manipulated agreement and contracts dengan pihak luar. Kegiatan penswastaan juga didapati bukan berdasarkan kepada kepentingan majlis di masa depan, tetapi bertujuan menguntungkan beberapa pihak tertentu. Oleh itu, adalah dicadangkan agar majlis diberikan kuasa untuk menentukan jenis perniagaan dan pelaburan serta pencarian alternatif baru pendapatan mengikut kebijaksanaan majlis dan bebas dari tekanan politik dan golongan berkepentingan lain.
Syarat kelayakan ahli-ahli majlis juga perlu ditinjau bagi membolehkan MPT mendapat ahli-ahli yang berpengalaman, berpendidikan dan profesional.
Majlis Perbandaran Tawau (MPT) terletak dalam kawasan strategik kerana kedudukannya yang berdekatan dengan sempadan Indonesia dan Filipina. Ia mempunyai beberapa kriteria penting terutama dari segi keluasan, jumlah dan pertambahan populasi, masalah-masalah dan cabaran-cabaran perbandaran yang ia hadapi.
MPT mempunyai keluasan pentadbiran yang meliputi 2,390 batu persegi dan merupakan majlis perbandaran yang terluas di Malaysia. Selain daripada itu, mengikut kadar pertumbuhan penduduk di masa lalu, kawasan MPT mengalami pertambahan penduduk yang amat pesat. Ini berpunca dari pertambahan penduduk semulajadi dan penghijrahan penduduk dari negara-negara yang berhampiran ke kawasan ini.
Kepesatan pertambahan penduduk ini merupakan cabaran utama MPT kerana ia memberi kesan dari segi pencapaian objektif eksternal dan internal majlis terutama dalam aspek-aspek kawalan dan perancangan pembangunan, pemeliharaan alam sekitar, penyediaan infrastruktur dan penciptaan peluang-peluang ekonomi, keupayaan pengurusan, perjalanan pentadbiran majlis, pentadbiran bandar, perubahan peranan MPT dan tahap jangkaan orang ramai terhadap perkhidmatan majlis.
MPT juga menghadapi pelbagai cabaran lain antaranya :-
1. bagaimana untuk meningkatkan kerjasama dengan jabatan-jabatan dan agensi-agensi kerajaan lain dalam usahanya mencapai objektif-objektifnya;
2. bagaimana untuk mengeratkan hubungan dengan orang ramai;
3. bagaimana membuat dan melaksanakan dengan berkesan undang-undang kecil majlis yang bersesuaian dengan keperluan dan kehendak awam; dan
4. cabaran yang penting sekali adalah bagaimana untuk membina keupayaan organisasi majlis di semua lapisan pengurusan, pegawai dan kakitangan MPT terutama dari segi menguatkan kefahaman, pengetahuan, prestasi kerja dan perkhidmatan majlis.
Beberapa cadangan telah dikemukakan untuk mengemaskinikan struktur organisasi MPT dengan tujuan membantu MPT mencari kepelbagaian alternatif penyelesaian dan pilihan.
Cadangan-cadangan ini juga bertujuan memberi input kepada MPT dalam usahanya menangani kepelbagaian masalah yang timbul akibat perubahan tuntutan orang ramai, keadaan dan persekitaran. Perkara-perkara penting tersebut adalah seperti
berikut :-
I. Pada dasarnya tiada perubahan struktur yang dicadangkan bagi tiga jawatan tertinggi majlis;
II. Unit Perhubungan Awam dicadangkan ditukar nama kepada Bahagian Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Perhubungan Awam, di mana Timbalan Presiden Majlis Perbandaran adalah lebih memokus kepada pembangunan di kawasan luar bandar dalam kawasan majlis di samping melaksanakan kerja-kerja penerangan;
III. Unit Hiasan Bandar dialihkan dari Bahagian Operasi dan Perkhidmatan ke Bahagian Pembangunan kerana tugas dan tanggungjawabnya berkaitan dengan pembangunan.
IV. nama “Pengurus Dewan” dicadangkan untuk ditukar kepada istilah lain seperti “Penyelenggara Dewan” kerana ia bercanggah dengan kuasa dan tanggungjawab yang terdapat pada “Pengurus Harta Benda”.
V. Pegawai undang-undang hendaklah diletakkan di bawah bahagiannya tersendiri. Bahagian Undang-undang yang dicadangkan memerlukan sekurang-kurangnya seorang lagi pegawai undang-undang.
VI. Sistem Komputer diletakkan di bawah Bahagian Pentadbiran dan Kewangan yang dikawal oleh seorang computer programmer dibantu oleh kakitangan komputer lain.
Beberapa isu dan masalah dalaman majlis yang harus diambil perhatian antaranya adalah :-
i. kebanyakan penyandang bagi tiga jawatan teratas majlis adalah terlalu dekat kepada usia persaraan. Ini membentuk tanggapan umum bahawa jawatan-jawatan tersebut adalah tempat untuk memberikan kenaikan pangkat atau penempatan seketika sementara menanti tempoh persaraan;
II. lantikan dan tempoh perkhidmatan yang terlalu singkat kerana penyandang boleh ditukarkan pada bila-bila masa. Kecenderungan sedemikian menggagalkan (defeat) usaha untuk memperlihatkan pencapaian yang hanya boleh dinilai selepas suatu jangka waktu yang mencukupi;
III. pertukaran presiden yang kerap meletakkan kepepimpinan dan situasi dalaman majlis dalam keadaan yang sukar, contohnya telah tiga kali kejadian di mana dalam MPT terdapat dua presiden pada suatu ketika;
IV. dari segi penilaian kakitangan, usaha dan kesungguhan pengurusan hendaklah ditingkatkan bagi meyakinkan kakitangan bahawa ganjaran dan kenaikan pangkat adalah berdasarkan kepada meritocracy dan bukan disebabkan oleh pengaruh elemen lain, contohnya kaitan atau pengaruh politik;
V. penekanan haruslah diberi kepada tingkat produktiviti. Dengan kata lain, penekanan penilaian dalam pencapaian haruslah berdasarkan kecemerlangan dalam profesion, prestasi output dan disiplin kerja;
VI. lebih banyak pergerakan ke atas harus dibuat dengan lebih pemberat dan keutamaan diberi kepada penyandang dari dalam MPT sendiri terutama untuk mengisi tiga jawatan tertinggi dalam majlis;
VII. perulangan agenda-agenda mesyuarat jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil memerlukan penelitian dan pengkajian yang rapi dari pihak MPT kerana ia menunjuk kepada beberapa hal antaranya sama ada :-
? kes yang sama diperbincangkan dalam beberapa mesyuarat jawatankuasa kecil berasingan tidak diambil tindakan; atau
? jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil itu mengalami pertindanan tugas dan dengan itu mungkin boleh digabungkan.
viii. terdapat juga indikasi kurangnya tahap kordinasi di antara bahagian-bahagian berasingan dalam MPT, division of labour yang tidak jelas yang menyebabkan banyak bypass dengan itu cenderung menyebabkan perselisihan faham di antara bahagian-bahagian yang berlainan;
ix. tidak ada langkah dan usaha yang konsisten dalam aspek pengemaskinian data-data yang berterusan;
x. sistem penguatkuasaan yang kurang berkesan antaranya berpunca dari kekurangan kakitangan penguatkuasa, status jumud jawatan penguatkuasa dan terlalu kerap terdapatnya campurtangan politik semasa yang boleh menggagalkan kejayaan penguatkuasaan undang-undang dan peraturan dalam kawasan majlis; dan
xi. proses pengkomputeran telah dilakukan, namun untuk dapat mencapai penggunaan dan faedah pada tahap optimum, ia memerlukan tenaga kakitangan yang terlatih dan cekap mengendalikan sistem komputer ini.
Analisa keseluruhan hasil pendapatan dan perbelanjaan majlis menjelaskan beberapa perkara utama. Pertama, pendapatan majlis adalah tidak stabil dan seringkali mengalami penurunan. Kedua, perolehan banyak bergantung kepada bantuan kerajaan dan pinjaman. Ketiga, perbelanjaan majlis yang semakin meningkat. Keempat, sistem pemungutan hasil yang tidak sistematik. Kelima, kekurangan maklumat mengenai pembayaran menyebabkan hasil tertunggak yang terkumpul adalah tinggi.
Keenam, banyak prospek dan punca-punca pendapatan lain dalam kawasan majlis yang tidak dapat dipungut atau dikenakan ke atas awam disebabkan antaranya oleh cakupan kuasa undang-undang kecil yang sempit dan ketiadaan unit penguatkuasa
yang terlatih dan berkesan, kekurangan legal power serta sokongan politik tempatan. Ketujuh, oleh kerana majlis selalu berada dalam keadaan defisit, perbelanjaan pembangunan bolehlah dikatakan tiada.
Bagi menangani masalah hasil yang tidak dapat dipungut adalah mustahak bagi MPT untuk mengkaji semula undang-undang kecilnya dengan tujuan :-
i. mencadangkan undang-undang kecil yang baru;
II. meluaskan skop undang-undang kecil yang sedia wujud supaya ia dapat mencakup dan mengenakan suatu bentuk kawalan kepada kegiatan-kegiatan dalam bidang kuasa majlis; dan
III. menguatkan, menambah new clauses and provisions dengan tujuan menambah legal power serta mengenakan suatu bentuk deterence kepada would-be offenders.
Penguatkuasaan undang-undang kecil dan peraturan-peraturan lain hendaklah dibuat dengan lebih ketat. Usaha haruslah diambil untuk meningkatkan kesedaran di kalangan orang ramai tentang perlunya pihak awam memberikan kerjasama kepada
majlis dalam semua bentuk penguatkuasaan demi kebaikan bersama.
Majlis juga harus meneliti bagaimana mengatasi kewujudan sebahagian besar pendatang asing (bukan pembayar cukai tetapi tetap menggunakan berbagai bentuk perkhidmatan dalam kawasan majlis perbandaran) supaya mereka dapat dicukai dan
dengan demikian tidak menjadi punca pendapatan yang tersia-sia.
Di samping itu, internal politics hendaklah dikurangkan dalam majlis dan usaha hendaklah dibuat untuk menjadikan line authority dalam majlis menjadi jelas. Majlis perlu mengadakan perubahan kepada pendekatannya dalam perkhidmatan, integrasi kegiatan-kegiatan majlis, pengoptimuman penggunaan sumber-sumber dan sistem jawatankuasanya. Terdapat juga keperluan untuk mengaplikasikan strategic management dalam majlis yakni memberikan tumpuan yang lebih kepada closer supervision of staff, lebih staff empowerment, more attainable mission, clearer vision, successful management of conflicts, co-ordination, decision making, planning and problem solving.
Penemuan penting lain antaranya adalah jangkaan awam yang tinggi terhadap majlis dan usaha-usaha penswastaan yang problematic. Adalah didapati bahawa aktiviti pengswastaan yang berlaku dalam majlis terjadi melalui forced and irrational
privatisation exercises yang menjadikannya one-sided and unprofitable joint venture activities with outsiders.
Kehilangan tanah majlis yang berterusan juga berlaku melalui manipulated agreement and contracts dengan pihak luar. Kegiatan penswastaan juga didapati bukan berdasarkan kepada kepentingan majlis di masa depan, tetapi bertujuan menguntungkan beberapa pihak tertentu. Oleh itu, adalah dicadangkan agar majlis diberikan kuasa untuk menentukan jenis perniagaan dan pelaburan serta pencarian alternatif baru pendapatan mengikut kebijaksanaan majlis dan bebas dari tekanan politik dan golongan berkepentingan lain.
Syarat kelayakan ahli-ahli majlis juga perlu ditinjau bagi membolehkan MPT mendapat ahli-ahli yang berpengalaman, berpendidikan dan profesional.
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