Sandakan Harbour project kicks off

Utusan Malaysia
14-8-2003

SANDAKAN Aug 13 - Work on the RM240-million Sandakan Harbour Square project officially started Wednesday, less than two years from the date it was first proposed.

An official ceremony at a jetty near the existing central market at the waterfront signalled the start of the work which involves the demolition, site clearance, site reclamation and construction of seawalls.

The symbolic act in drilling away the concrete jetty in order to make way for the project was officiated by the member of parliament for Sandakan, Datuk Lau Ngan Siew.

It was witnessed by a large crowd, including the Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) president, Datuk Adeline Leong, and deputy president (II), Datuk Thomas Lau.

Land reclamation works and settlement will take 18 months to complete.

Leong said the Sandakan Harbour Square project would be carried out in four phases.

Phase 1 will include reclaiming nine acres of land from the sea to add to the existing three acres, and the building of a new jetty and new and modern central market to replace the existing old market built more than 50 years ago.

There will also be a three-storey circular sea-level annex for a seafood restaurant.

The 61 shop-offices will comprise 29 three-storey units and 32 four-storey units with varying floor sizes. The shop offices in this phase are scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2006.

Leong said Phase 2 would commence when market traders were relocated to the new market and the old market would then be demolished to make way for the building of the Phase 2 shophouses and Phase 3 retail/carpark complex.

Phase 3 will commence concurrently with or, shortly after, certain parts of Phase 1 which will include the retail/carpark complex, the Sandakan Harbour Mall.

Phase 4 has yet to be finalised but it will include a five-star hotel.

The project is being undertaken by the Sandakan Municipal Council as the landowner in a joint venture with the developer, Ireka-Charng Sheng Development Sdn Bhd.

Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange-listed Ireka Corporation Bhd holds 60 percent equity in the joint venture company while Sabah-based construction/development company Syarikat Charng Sheng Sdn Bhd holds the remaining equity of 40 percent.

"In other words, the council provides the land while Ireka-Charng Sheng designs, finances, builds and sells the commercial properties," said Leong.

The council will own and operate the new central market and fish jetty and the new town Harbour Square and other public areas.

Leong said: "It is also part of the council's efforts to transform Sandakan into a Nature City by the year 2004."

Ireka-Charng Sheng Development Sdn Bhd joint managing director, Lai Voon Hon said the project had helped the Ireka Group to gain a significant foothold in East Malaysia. It is already undertaking a housing project in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital.

MAS adakan penerbangan ke Sulawesi Utara

Utusan Malaysia
8-8-2003

KUALA LUMPUR 7 Ogos - Malaysia Airlines (MAS) akan mengadakan penerbangan ke Manado di Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia melalui Kota Kinabalu mulai 14 Ogos ini, demikian menurut syarikat penerbangan kebangsaan itu hari ini.

Manado akan menjadi destinasi Indonesia kelapan bagi syarikat penerbangan ini selepas Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Denpasar, Pontianak, Tarakan dan Balikpapan.

Perkhidmatan itu yang berdasarkan perkongsian kod dengan Garuda Indonesia, akan dilakukan dua kali seminggu iaitu pada setiap hari Khamis dan Ahad.

Malaysia Airlines akan menggunakan pesawat dua kelas Boeing 737-400 dengan 16 tempat duduk kelas perniagaan dan 128 kelas ekonomi untuk perkhidmatan itu.

Sabah keeps open mind on Federal proposal to manage water resources

Press Release

1 August, 2003

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Government will keep an open mind on the proposal for the Federal Government to take over the administration of water management of all states by the end of this year.


Speaking to reporters at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on his return from Kuala Lumpur today, Chief Minister Datuk Haji Musa Aman said presently the State Government was finalizing discussions with a private firm, Ranhill, for a comprehensive water management system for Sabah.


" The discussions with Ranhill are proceeding well, and it is my hope that the State Cabinet will be able to reach a final decision on the matter by year’s end," Musa said.


Musa said if an amicable agreement could be reached with Ranhill, then the State Government would proceed with its own water management system.


" However, if a final agreement cannot be reached, and if we feel it is beyond our capacity to manage our water resources efficiently, then we can consider the proposal to turn over the administration of our water resources to the Federal Government. We will keep an open mind on the matter," Musa said.


Musa said the State Government was owing closing to RM 600 million to the four water concessionaires in Sabah who presently treat and supply water to the government for distribution to consumers. The Government, however, is unable to match revenue with costs incurred because it is saddled with an inefficient distribution system inherited from pre-independence days, with non-revenue water losses of around fifty percent.


" It is a heavy burden, and we must find a resolution to this problem quickly," he said.


Under the Malaysian Constitution water resources come under the purview of the individual states of the Federation. The proposal for the Federal.Government to take over the administration of water management from the state’s was made because a number of states in Peninsular Malaysia have run out of water resources or do not have the financial means to manage their water resources efficiently due to the demands of development.


The proposal, however, has received a mixed reaction from the different states. Some, like Pulau Pinang, support the proposal. Pahang is non-commital, while Kelantan has rejected it outright. A few other states have said there is a need for careful study of the proposal before proceeding to adopt it for implementation.

Senior cops sue two for defamation

The Star

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Yusuff and two senior officers have filed a defamation suit against two men who allegedly wrote a false and malicious letter against them.

They named Abdul Jalil Ayed and Said Hassan Said Idrus as defendants in the suit, which was filed at the High Court registry here on Tuesday.

The other two plaintiffs are Tawau district crime officer Deputy Supt Madang Usat and CID investigating officer Chief Insp Lee Ping Keong @ Mohd Farhan Abdullah.

The plaintiffs claimed that the two men wrote the letter at the Tawau Umno division office on Dec 24, and that the letter was faxed to CID Director Datuk Salleh Mat Som at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.

In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs said Jalil and Said Hassan had stated in their letter that there were 27 gambling premises in Tawau and that senior state police officers were receiving bribes from certain taukeh.

The plaintiffs said the letter had implied the officers were involved in criminal activities, were corrupt, dishonest and not fit to be police officers

Kota Kinabalu-Balikpapan link revives growth spirit

Source: New Sabah Times

Kota Kinabalu: When the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) was first formed n Davao City, Philippines in 1994, it was seen to be a “panacea” for the pain and hurdles in promoting greater economic integration among the member nations.

For two years, there had been silver linings with a myriad of Memoranda of Understandings (MoU) being signed that covered numerous areas such as airlinks, joint tour packages and trade.

But the sudden change in the economic tide in 1994 floored the push towards the implementation of well-places plans. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, the proposed joint development within the EAGA framework ran into snail’s pace.

Now, the uncertainty over the EAGA’s future is taking a back seat as the 1994 BIMP-EAGA’s spirit comes to the forefront. The inauguration of the first direct flight by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) from Kota Kinabalu to Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Indonesia on July 4 has been a boost to this spirit. A day earlier direct flights between Kuching and Balikpapan were launched.

“The inaugural flight especially from here to Balikpapan was exciting. I was on the flight.. so I saw for myself the business potentials in East Kalimantan (Kaltim),” Datuk Ajit Galun, President of the Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry told Bernama here yesterday.

“It (Kaltim) is a thriving province .. it has oil, gas, coal reserves, big plantations and many other natural resources. I think the prospect is there for joint venture business.”

Ajit was one of the members of the state’s trade delegation that flew to Balikpapan during the MAS inaugural flight. The delegation was led by Sabah Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Baharum Abdul Rahman.

In order to revive the activities within the BIMP-EAGA regions, communication especially an airlink was very important, Ajit said.

“During our visit to Samarinda (the capital of Kaltim), we were briefed at the Governor’s office. They had appointed several corporate figures to look for possible investments in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, tourism and forestry,” he said.

As a result of the direct air link, Sabah businessmen had met eye to eye with their counterparts in East Kalimantan with a view to fostering business cooperation. “We must remember that Balikpapan is the gateway to Kalimantan. In fact once we reach Balikpapan, we an move to other parts of Kalimantan by road or sea. That’s why we should capitalize on this to broaden our business sphere,” he added.

Ajit said the direct link also paved the way for easier movement of skilled labour from Kalimantan to Sabah. Apart from that, he suggested that cross-border trading between Sabah and East Kalimantan be properly coordinated to ensure the smooth running of joint ventures.

Ajit also called for the resumption of the Kota Kinabalu-Davao flight to activate trade particularly between Sabah and Southern Philippines.

“Of course, there are huge potentials and prospects for cooperation in trade and investment. But first of all, for the investors to dump their money in Southern Philippines, security must be in place,” he said. Meanwhile, Executive Director of Malaysia’s Malays Chamber of Commerce Sabah Chapter Mohamad Ghazali Mohamad Nadzir said the direct flight service between Kota Kinabalu and Balikpapan was timely boost to the slow trading activities within the region.

“We can no longer depend on local business opportunities, we must go beyond our territory in line with the globalization process. So we hope that HIMP-EAGA will prosper as planned in future,” he said.

BIMP-EAGA includes Brunei Darussalam, North Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan and Maluku in Indonesia, Sabah, Saraka and the Federal Territory of Labuan in Malaysia; Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines. - Bernama

Dr Patawari Injured In Road Crash

July 10, 2003 20:28 PM

TAWAU, July 10 (Bernama) -- Sabah's Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Datuk Dr Patawari Patawe, suffered serious injuries when the car he was travelling in crashed at km 21, Jalan Apas, near here, about 4am Thursday.

Patawari, 45, the State Legislative Assembly member for Merotai, fractured his ribs and right shoulder apart from suffering bleeding in his lungs.

One of his right fingers is broken, while his back is also injured.

Patawari's wife, Datin Kasmina Mana, 33, suffered cuts on her right leg. However, their daughter, Siti Nawar, 18, escaped unhurt.

Patawari has been admitted to Tawau Hospital where his condition is reported to be stable.

The driver of the Mercedez Benz car, Majid Amat, 30, suffered minor cuts on his head and hand.

Approached by reporters at the hospital, Majid said when the car reached a bend at km 21, it suddenly went out of control, skidded and overturned several times.

"It overturned several times before coming to a rest near a drain. I found Siti Nawar still seated in front and cushioned by the air bag but Datuk (Dr Patawari) and Datin (Kasmina) were not in the back seat," he said.

Majid said he crawled out of the car and found Dr Patawari and his wife, both of whom were stll conscious, lying near the road.

Dr Patawari was admitted to the hospital at about 5am.

Among those who visited him were Sabah Rural and Entrepreneur Development Minister, Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran, and Youth and Sports Assistant Minister, Datuk Abdul Mannan Jakasa. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman has instructed the State Public Works Department to conduct a study on the causes of frequent accidents at the stretch.

He said he often heard about accidents along the stretch and some involved deaths.

"I hope a study can be done to identify the causes and find ways to prevent accidents," he told reporters after visiting Dr Patawari at the hospital.

State Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail and several assistant ministers also visited Dr Patawari.

Asked on Dr Patawari's condition, Musa said the medical officer told him that his condition was stable. "However, Dr Patawari and his wife have to be sent to Kuala Lumpur for further treatment," he said.

He said preparations are being made to airlift them to Kuala Lumpur on a Royal Malaysian Air Force plane at 8.30pm Thursday night.

-- BERNAMA

MAS expands air linkages to Balikpapan

Utusan Malaysia
5-7-2003

KOTA KINABALU July 4 - Malaysia Airlines on Friday launched its scheduled service between Kota Kinabalu and Balikpapan in East Kalimatan as part of its efforts to expand air linkages in the region, particularly in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

MAS will operate twice weekly flights on Tuesdays and Fridays between Kota Kinabalu and Balikpapan.

MAS Senior General Manager, Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Dahlan, said that the flight linking Balikpapan in Indonesia was a vital step in its strategy to provide new air routes between Balikpapan and the Orient.

He said this at the sending-off ceremony at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, here on Friday.

"We hope this will be the catalyst for other airlines to fly into Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, adding the presence of Royal Brunei Airlines, Dragon Air, Trans Asia Airways, Uni Air, Eva Air. And most recently Australian Airlines that began services between Kota Kinabalu and Sydney effective June 30, 2003," he said.

MAS on Thursday launched similar flights between Kuching and Balikpapan.

Ahmad Fuaad said that MAS plans to open up Sabah and Sarawak to more domestic and international travel and for Kota Kinabalu and Kuching to eventually occupy a significant place on Southeast Asia's aviation map.

"This will bring added tourism revenues, whilst accelerating the states' economic development and integration in this region," he added.

On board the inaugural flight to Balikpapan was Sabah's trade delegation led by State Assistant Minister of Industrial Development, Samsu Baharum Abdul Rahman and local press headed by Sabah Journalists Association's Recreation sub-committe chairman Kamarudin Liusin.

Among the trade delegation were Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce, Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Sabah Kadazan Dusun Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Sabah Manufacturers and Tawau BIMP-EAGA Business Council.

KM Sabah (Bergilir): Derita Rakyat Sabah Bertambah!!!

KM Sabah Bergilir: Musa Aman Dalam Gelisah!!!

Kata seorang kawan, bosan sudah bicara soal ketua menteri bergilir. Malas sudah mahu beri ulasan. Itu urusan pemimpin UMNO biar mereka yang selesaikan buat apa kita sibok-sibok ganggu urusan politik mereka. Betul juga, bila tilik sekali pandang, pendapat kawan rapat penulis itu. Tapi balas saya, jawatan KM Sabah itu jawatan ketua kerajaan negeri, secara tidak langsung ia berkaitan kepentingan rakyat dan negeri. Bukan itu saja ia juga berhubung rapat dengan undang-undang negeri, politik, ekonomi, kebajikan dan keselamatan rakyat Malaysia di negeri ini. Tak mahu difikir-fikir, siapa lagi mahu fikir hal itu. Kata penulis lagi, sekalipun kita ini kelas rakyat bawahan atau marhaen, jangan sampai kita menjadi rakyat buta-tuli dan bodoh macam lembu, sehingga tidak tahu langsung bab politik, undang-undang, ekonomi atau yang berkait dengan kepentingan rakyat dan negeri.

Perdebatan rakyat marhaen, antara penulis dengan sahabat tadi dalam suasana harmoni dan saling terima-menerima kebenaran masing-masing. Kami walaupun berbeza fahaman politik, tidaklah sampai mahu pukul-memukul, sebagaimana terjadi kempen samseng ala UMNO dalam pilihanraya kecil DUN Indera Kayangan tempat bersemayam DS Shahidan Kasim, MB Perlis.

Musa Aman Yang Tidak Aman

Gelisah kerana orang yang melantik dan menunjuknya sedang bercuti. Dia hilang tempat merujuk sebarang perkara dan tidak mungkin dia berani memandai-mandai mengatur negeri ikut suka. Kawannya dalam kem UMNO Sabah, juga dalam kabinet negeri, mungkin tidak semua mahu senyum bersamanya. Walaupun senyumnya lebar sewaktu tiba di Kota Kinabalu dari Kuala Lumpur.

Keluarga Aman dalam politik Sabah sudah lama muncul, sejak zaman parti Berjaya pimpinan Datuk Harris Salleh sudah ada Datuk Ayub Aman. Kini, muncullah Musa Aman bakal KM bergilir itu yang akan menggantikkan penyandang sekarang, Datuk Chong Kah Kiat yang sedang bercuti sambil membuat lawatan kerja ke Filipina dan China. Mungkinkah Datuk Chong akan bertemu dengan Dr Mahathir yang juga sedang bercuti di luar negara bagi menyusun agenda politik mereka. Sebab Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir juga akan melepaskan jawatannya sebagai PM pada Oktober nanti. Manakala Datuk Chong akan melepaskan jawatan KM bergilirnya pada 27 Mac ini. Kedua-dua sudah ada pemangku, KM Sabah dipangku oleh Datuk Musa Aman yang pasti akan menjawat dan mengangkat sumpah sebagai KM bergilir ketujuh pada 28 Mac.

Sementara, pemangku PM sekarang ialah Datuk Seri Abdullah Badwi, anak Tok Guru di Pulau Pinang, sempatkah Pak Lah sampai ke jawatan PM pada Oktober ini. Masih menjadi teka-teki. Walaupun, penyandang sekarang sudah berulang kali mahu letak jawatan alias bersara. Namun, kita harap-harap Dr Mahathir akan mengotakan janjinya untuk bersara pada Oktober nanti. Harapan kita tidak ada lagi yang akan menangis bila Dr Mahathir benar-benar berundur dan tidak ada lagi budak-budak UMNO, puteri UMNO atau makcik-makcik UMNO menjerit supaya Dr Mahathir tarik balik...........

Penulis kata, Musa Aman berasa tidak aman dengan jawatan yang bakal disandangnya pada 28 Mac nanti, kerana musuh ada disekeliling pinggangnya dalam kelambu UMNO itu sendiri. Sebab itu, Pemangku PM yang juga menjawat Timbalan Presiden UMNO (yang diperolehi secara percuma) telah awal-awal berkata, meminta semua berikan sokongan kepada Musa Aman, dan yang terbaru Menteri Pengguna, Datuk Seri Mahyuddin Yassin yang juga naib Presiden UMNO meminta pimpinan UMNO Sabah beri sokongan kepada Musa dengan ikhlas. Bahkan Datuk SP Lajim Haji Okin, Timbalan Ketua Menteri bergilir (kouta bumiputera Islam) terpaksa membuat kenyataan, bahawa beliau juga memberi sokongan kepada Musa.

Sebelum nama Musa Aman diumum menjadi pengganti jawatan KM bergilir kepada Datuk Chongpun sudah ada cerita kurang enak kepada kem Musa Aman, bila ketua pemuda UMNO negeri, Taufik Titingan mengeluarkan kata dua, bahawa pemuda tidak akan berdiam diri jika ada kumpulan mahu gugat kepimpinan Datuk Musa. Walaupun selepas itu dinafikan beberapa pemimpin UMNO Sabah, tiada krisis dalam UMNO Sabah.

Senyum Musa Aman seperti senyum orang menyimpan seribu satu persoalan dan kebimbangan. Ketika beliau kembali ke Kota Kinabalu selepas membawa berita gembira dalam gelisah, tentang namanya telah terangkat sebagai KM bergilir seterusnya yang diumumkan oleh Presiden UMNO sewaktu mahu berangkat bercuti keluar negara. Di Kota Kinabalu, akhbar tempatan menyiarkan gambar Musa Aman dikalungkan bunga sambil tersenyum dan diapit beberapa pemimpin negeri seperti Timbalan Ketua Menteri (bergilir) kouta Cina, Ketua pemuda UMNO Sabah dan lain-lain. Kita menyoal mana timbalan-timbalan KM (bergilir) yang lain, terutama Datuk Lajim, Datuk Wences Anggang, SU UMNO Datuk Yahya Husin dan lain-lain pemimpin BN negeri.

Seolahnya, pengumuman Datuk Musa Aman sebagai KM (bergilir) seterusnya tidak disambut gembira oleh semua pemimpin UMNO Sabah. Memang ada yang terkecewa dikalangan pimpinan UMNO Sabah. Biasalah orang-orang UMNO. Tetapi, demi kerana mu Mahathir seluruh pimpinan UMNO Sabah terpaksa akur, tunduk dan membisu. Sebab tak berani berkata yang benar. Padahal, kita disuruh berkata benar walaupun pahit di depan raja/ketua yang tidak adil alias zalim.

Kepimpinan Musa Belum Teruji

Musa yang baru dalam politik Sabah, tiba-tiba mendadak naik melangkahi senior politikus UMNO yang lain. Apakah karisma dan kekuatan Musa Aman boleh ditunjuk jadi KM menggantikan Datuk Chong. Mungkin kerana dia Ketua Perhubungan UMNO Sabah dan Menteri Kewangan Negeri. Inikah saja kriteria untuk dipilih sebagai KM Sabah? Atau kerana dia seorang yang rapat dengan pemimpin tertua UMNO di KL atau dia seorang kaki ampu atau dia seorang boleh diatur oleh UMNO KL atau dia seorang jutawan yang boleh beli apa saja yang dia mahu atau dia benar-benar seorang pemimpin berwibawa.

Kerana dia sudah ditunjuk oleh Presiden sebagai KM bergilir, rakyat tidak berhak mahu bantah lagi. Sekalipun rakyat Sabah ada hak membantah pemilihan yang tidak demokratik itu, malah rakyat Sabah melalui DUN Sabah boleh membuat usul tidak percaya ke atas perlantikan Musa Aman sebagai KM bergilir, sebagai mana perlantikan 6 KM bergilir yang lalu rakyat Sabah boleh menuntut bahawa perlantikan 6 KM bergilir itu tidak sah menurut Perlembagaan Negeri, kerana tidak termaktub jawatan KM bergilir itu dalam Perlembagaan Negeri. Malah ia bercanggah dengan Perlembagaan Negeri dan Perlembagaan Negara. Penulis serah isu ini kepada ahli undang-undang untuk memikirkannya.

Kenapa, tidak ada seorangpun ahli undang-undang atau politikus di negeri ini berani membawa kes KM bergilir ke Mahkamah untuk diadili seadil-adilnya. Sebab tiada kepentingan peribadi, semua sudah kenyang. Kalau ramai yang lapar, penulis yakin KM bergilir sudah lama dimansuhkan.

Pemimpin yang ada karisma dan kekuatan sendiri tidak perlu kepada semua itu. Pemimpin berkarisma dan berwibawa tidak naik dengan memijak kawan dan lawan. Inilah pemimpin sebenar yang jarang-jarang lahir dalam mana-mana bangsa. Yang banyak adalah pemimpin tunggul kayu yang ditunjuk dari atas, bukan yang dijulang dari bawah. Tunggul kayu bila orang atas mahu tunggul itu, walaupun ia tunggul tetap jadi.......jadi pagar, jadi kayu, jadi pengampu, jadi macam-macam...... Inilah rupa wajah pemimpin UMNO Sabah yang ada, mungkin bukan Sabah saja yang dibarisi pemimpin 'tunggul kayu' itu, tidak mustahil seluruh kepimpinan UMNO sekarang adalah tunggul-tunggul kayu.

Kita akan lihat sejauh mana kewibawaan Musa Aman dalam kepimpinannya. Mungkinkah dia akan mewarisi gaya pimpinan Datuk Harris Salleh yang membiarkan negeri dihuni PTI bukan saja dari negara jiran Indonesia dan Filipina, tetapi PTI dari Pakistan. Sampai ada warga Pakistan yang mendapat IC dengan beralamatkan di kampung-kampung nun jauh di pedalaman sana di Sabah. Mana lojik, warga luar boleh diberi IC secara mudah asal mengaku lahir di kampung sekian. Tapi dipandang wajah mereka bukan orang Sabah.

Mungkinkah pula dia akan meniru cara Tun Sakaran, Datuk Salleh Tun Said, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, Tan Sri B. Dompok, DSP Osu Sukam atau meniru bulat-bulat cara Datuk Chong. Untuk menjadi macam KM dulu, Datuk Peter Lo, Tun Fuad, Tun Mustapha, Tun Said atau gaya kepimpinan Datuk SP Joseph Pairin, mungkin tidak terdaya. Sebab bukan zamannya.

Siapa KM bergilir selepas Musa Aman, kalau UMNO masih berkuasa di Sabah?

Ibn Sabah,
12.3.2003

5.000 Pelacur "Terpenjara" di Sabah

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.