New Year message

New Year message
From the desk of the DAP Sarawak publicity secretary

A Year of upheaval
· 2007 has been an eventful year, in the domestic front, floods, dreadful crimes, high-profile court cases, Judicial and Administrative scandals, street rallies and the use of ISA thereof just to name a few.
· The world continued to face a daunting array of challenges, from the assassination of the opposition leader, Madam Benazir Bhutto, of the nuclear-armed Pakistan to the political instability in Thailand and to growing racial and religious tensions in many countries.
· One major hot spot was the Middle East. The war in Iraq and the instability in the mid-east had pushed the oil prices to an all time high hovering around USD95 per barrel. This has caused a vicious inflation spiral that affects the whole world. Malaysia, been a net petroleum exporter, has threatened to take away its domestic fuels subsidiary in the wake of pressure of the world oil prices.

Growing our Economy
· The economic outlook is negative. Malaysia on its eleventh (11)straight year of budget deficit will be hard hit to bring orders to its economy policies. Globally, there are some downside risks, including a slowing US economy, weaker global electronics demand, and high oil prices. In Asia, China and India will remain powerful growth engines.
· Good economic performance can only be sustained with constant effort, change and innovation. We need to transform the economy to compete on the basis of knowledge and ideas. Malaysia over dependent on the oil revenue (40% of government incomes) would create fear and uncertainty as where the country is heading with the depleting oil and gas reserves. The World is Flat as envisioned by Friedman is a must read for all politicians especially the ruling elites.
· To create more opportunities for Malaysia, we must change our mindset in the country’s administration. Malaysian should not be divided along ethnic and cultural backgrounds, there should not have any policy to elevate a particular ethnic group only and ignore the other ethnic groups in the country.
· At the same time, we must look further afield for global opportunities. One major advantage we enjoy is the multiracial population which has become an important asset in the Era of Globalization.
· More Malaysian is venturing abroad, not just to the major cities, but also to less familiar destinations. This trend is on the upswing due also to the lack of opportunities to compete on equal footing in the country and the much governmental interference on economic activities.
· Over dependent on the oil revenue, making up 40% of the government incomes, is a threat not only to the country but especially to the people as how the economy is going to cope when the oils and gas reserve run dry.

Preparing for the Future
· Overall, Malaysia is still in a strong position. But we must accept chances and be prepared for global competition. We must capitalise on the strength of our multiculturalism asset in the country, especially in capitalising on the emergence of China and India, and open up a decisive lead over competitors.
· We will strengthen our competitiveness in attracting direct foreign investments (FDI) by doing away the 30% Bumi-equity (NEP),such as those implemented in The Iskandar Development Zone. The government should think Malaysian First Policy instead of the Bumiputra Agendas as being promoted by the NEP.
· We must invest in the best education for all our children regardless of their backgrounds, improve our infrastructure and our city, and grow our capabilities, including through R&D.
· We must consolidate our social cohesion at a time when incomes are stretching thin. Globalisation has created prosperity worldwide, but it has also put more pressure on workers, especially those uneducated, in many countries. They must now compete against millions more from China, India and Vietnam entering the world economy and not only against fellow Malaysians. As a result, workers are receiving less than their fair share of the increase in their countries’ national output.

Conclusion, the next 50 years
· All the developments we enjoy today came from the hard work of all Malaysian. Fifty (50) years after Merdeka, all fellow Malaysians should be able to accept the need of a colour-free, religious-free and cultural-free country without any discrimination of any Malaysian in his/her pursue of a happy and prosperous life. Thus the abolition of all the policies that were carried forward in line with the NEP in term of allocation of resources, granting of government contracts, quota systems in the educational and recruitment policies.
· We need policies that will unite all Malaysian regardless of their ethnic and cultural backgrounds, reemphasize on the nation-building spirits, tackle corruptions, practising meritocracy in all spheres of the governance, enhance our competitiveness, our social safety net and strengthen our cohesion. They will enable us to grow and prosper, and to improve the lives of all Malaysian for many more years to come.
· The government must be able to accept criticisms and be able to abolish the infamous Acts such as the internal Security Act 1960 (ISA), the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Official Secrets Act 1972(OSA) and the Press Publication and Printing Act 1984(P&PA). It should address the issues on hands by inviting dialogues and discussion with all the dissent groups instead. Repression would only lead to unrest such as the Pakistan experience.
· The Malaysian government must return the Independence of the Judicial to the people and what else better than to give a thorough investigation of the Lingkam Tape scandal and report the outcomes to the Parliament and publish them in the press without any “reservation”?
· The Election Commission must be revamped to conduct clean and fair elections in the future as the Malaysia’s parliamentary elections are characterised by vote buying, the use of public resources by the ruling parties, and gerrymandering. The Election Commission has also been accused of bias and no help from the present Chairman of the Commission either.
· The Malaysians must demand that the country shall continue to pursue the rule of laws and democracy least that we shall follow the path of Pakistan in the future. Every Malaysian must come out to cast their vote in the coming election to “grade” the BN government’s policies, just as what Tun Mahatir said on the 22nd December 2007 "If you don't like the ISA, you have to elect people who don't like the ISA.”

Indeed what better advise can we give than “vote for changes” in the coming election?

David Wong
30-12-2007

NEP, the root of all evils?

36 years after the implementation of the NEP, the non-bumi of Malaysia are fighting back to assert claims over their rights and equal opportunity. The Hindraf which is a power group of the Indian community has brought the issue on the open with demands and allegations that shock the Abdullah administration.

Indian wants a quota system as well
The Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) wants a quota to be created for Indians in the public service. This is equbilium to the NEP for the bumiputras, which is simply out of date and outlives its usefulness. Next would come the demand by the Chinese, the Kayans, the Dayaks, the Penans and the list goes on and on...

“The Indian community has lost hope and confidence as far as the public service is concerned. This has brought about a serious decline in the community applying for government jobs,” Miba president P Sivakumar told Malaysiakini.

However, the Public Works Department (PSD) director-general Ismail Adam said earlier this week that non-Malays are not interested in government jobs. This can not be the case as the quota system implemented by the NEP has caused much dissatisfaction and mistrust among the non-bumi and thus a serious decline in the application for the government posts.

Bumi made up for more than 86% of the 1.2 million strong civil servants
Today, only less than 3% of the civil servants are of the Indian ethnic group while the Malaysian Chinese comprise less than 2% of the approximately 1.2 million strong civil servants. The Indian and the Chinese made up for 8% and 25% of the Malaysian population. These two largest ethnic groups after the Malays are disgruntled about the domination of the Malays not only in politics, but also in the economic and educational fields.

Rising tension among different ethnic groups
The rising tension among the different ethnic groups has been on the rise since the 90s and the recent outburst of the Hindraff movement is seen as the torch that sets the dried wood burning. The UMNO as the backbone of the BN must address the issue and not use its political muscles to sweep the issue under the carpet.

The Crown Prince of Perak has earlier spoken out the need to allow the people to voice their unhappiness and discontent. This is a call that the PM must listen and heed to as he has vowed to be the PM for all, and not for the Malays only.

Set up a Malaysian First policy(MFP) to replace the NEP
The BN must abolish the infamous NEP and put in place an economy and education policies based on needs and merits instead of on ethnic and religious lines. As long as the NEP is still in place, there will be no equality and justice for all, period.

Remember the call by the MM of Singapore? That is Malaysia must give equal opportunity to all Malaysian regardless of their racial and cultural backgrounds if it wishes to progress and surpass the achievement of the City-State. And there is no place for the NEP in that formula!

David Wong
DAP publicity sec.,
27-12-2007

Latest Update! Three dead, one missing in Kapit landslide!

LATEST UPDATE AT 7:00 PM, 26th December 2007
LANDSLIDE IN KAPIT CLAIMED 3 LIVES AND ANOTHER ONE MISSING.

RELIABLE SOURCE TOLD THE UNDERSIGNED THAT THE YOUNGEST ONE, AGED 12, IS STILL MISSING, BUT THE ODDS IS AGAINST HIM.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT A SQUATTER AREA NEAR KAPIT TOWN. THE YOUNG BOY (STILL MISSING) WAS REPORTED TO BE VISITING THE GRANDMA FOR THE Xmas AND WAS SUPPOSED TO RETURN HOME TODAY.

There are many such squatter areas (without planning approval) in Kapit where the authorities found them prone to such disaster, the landslide, following years of logging activities. However, a local council employee who refuses to be named, told the undersigned that resettlement is the only choice left for many such squatter areas but resettlement would have political consequences because some of these people have live there for more than 20 years.

Years of deforestation has taken a heavy toll on the natural environment of Sarawak and landslides have become more frequent because of the over-felling of the primary forest in the upper Rejang river basin. Erosion along the upper Rejang banks due to these timber-felling activities has turned the Longest river in Malaysia into a muddy and sick river, just like the Yellow river (Huan He) in China.

The erosion over the years has caused heavy siltation to the Rejang river in Sibu and other coastal towns along the river's banks. as per my earlier posting http://davidwongsblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/one-and-half-inches-in-3-days-imagine.html

and

http://davidwongsblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/our-proof-rejang-river-and-sibus-flood.html

The state government had over the past decades given out timber concession licences to many timber giants who are closely linked to the BN's based politicians and political parties without due regards for the natural environmental and the natural habitat that were affected by the over-felling of the trees. Now the people are left on their own to live with what the BN's politicians called "natural disaster" that strikes ever so often.

David Wong
Boxing Day, 2007

p.s. The youngest victim is a relative of mine, a nephew in fact. Let us pray for a miracle, a miracle that Xmas might bring!

Season's greetings!

With quotations like the followings, what else is there left for me to say except to wish each and everyone

"Merry Xmas
&
Happy New Year!"

David Wong and family
Eve of Xmas 2007

W. J. Tucker, Pulpit Preaching
For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home.

Hamilton Wright Mabie
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.

Dale Evans
Christmas, my child, is love in action.

Matthew 1:21
And she will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.

One and half inches in 3 days! Imagine what 30 years have done to the Rejang river!

Photo (Jalan Khoo Peng Loong)shows the mud measuring some 1 1/2" left behind after 3 days of flood, imagine 30 years of siltation caused to Rejang river bed ! The Rejang river bed has never

Fong Pau Teck and the undersigned inspecting the left behind mud after the flood.

迄今未見治水大藍圖黃培根：很遺憾08:08:49 MYT
（詩巫18日訊）行動黨砂聯委會宣傳秘書黃培根指出，在這次水災中，數千間屋子被水入侵，車輛遇水損壞，人民損失約几百萬至1千萬。但是國陣政府仍讓水災的悲劇一次又一次重复。“2004年的水災過后，詩巫市議會損失了1千萬，不知在此次的水災中，又得面對多大的損失。”

黃培根是今早在新聞發佈會上，如此表示。他說，詩巫水患問題已困擾了人民10年之久，若是詩巫國陣發展宏願隊伍仍以同樣心態去面對水患，那10年后水患問題仍會存在，政治人物仍在原地演戲。

“詩巫治水問題已經講了超過10年，特別是在水災之后及選舉之際。國陣政府或詩巫國陣發展宏願隊伍在選舉的時候，都會邀請一些專家來詩巫談治水，在報章大做文章，指詩巫治水方案已出爐，派希望予人民。”

黃培根指出，2004年3月16日丹斯里陳康南表示中國專家來晉巫治水；拿督斯里黃順舸在2005年5月時透露已聘請專家來詩巫治水。另外他也在3月18日指行動黨藉漲水課題來撈選票。“我遺憾的是在2007年12月的現在，詩巫國陣發展宏願隊伍仍沒有把真正的治水藍圖展現在人民眼前。我也沒有看到被邀請來詩巫治水的中國專家及台灣逢甲大學教授的治水大藍圖。”

黄培根：10年治水 水患问题悬而未决
（本报诗巫18日讯）行动党砂州宣传秘书黄培根说，宏愿队伍的治水问题已经讲了超过10年，但是往往只是在水灾过后，朝野政党各说各话，没有结果。
“特别是在选举来临的时候，国阵宏愿队邀请专家前来诗巫，大作文章，给人民一种希望，认为诗巫的治水方案已经出炉了。”

他透露，在2005年，黄顺舸在报章上说“聘请专家治拉让江水”；在2004年3月16日国会选举前3天，陈康南说3个月里研究结果，中国专家晋巫治水；2005年5月，黄顺舸说考虑接纳中国专家建议；2004年3月17日，黄顺舸指责行动党制造课题，趁机捞取选票。

“黄顺舸指责我们利用涨水来捞取选票，行动党是在捞取选票吗？2007年12月的今天，国阵宏愿队还没有推出治水大蓝图。”
治水大蓝图

他说，以前中国专家前来砂州，没有看到治水大蓝图，台湾逢甲大学教授也被宏愿队邀请过来，大蓝图也没有看到，如果宏愿队还是以这种心态来做事，10后还只是做戏而已。

“在这次水灾中，受影响的人民有多少？私人界损失至少有千万令吉，在2004年大水，市议会曾宣布说花了千万来维修道路，这次私人界的损失加上市议会的耗费，诗巫的损失至少超过2000万，有几千间的房屋受影响。”

【砂州水灾报导】拉让江河床淤泥沉积严重性，黄培根码头测量积路上泥浆深度
　　（诗巫18日讯）为了证明拉让江河床淤泥沉积的严重性，民主行动党砂州宣传秘书黄培根在诗巫大水消退后，到邱炳农路码头测量沉积在路面上泥浆的深度，竟然深达1寸半，因此拉让江河道狭窄且浅是无庸置疑的事实。
　　今天上午在新闻会上，黄培根表示，民主行动党领袖在2005年也曾经到拉让江测量江中的水位，结果水深7尺，也足见河床淤泥的沉积有多严重。
　　黄培根指出，不只是民主行动党领袖知道拉让江河床浅，全诗巫的人民在这次大水来袭，也看到了造成诗巫水灾的祸首，即使是国阵宏愿发展队伍，也明白这个事实，为什么政府却看不到问题的症结所在？
　　他认为，拉让江的淤泥沉积问题不能再等了，当务之急是要挖深河床，这也是解决诗巫发生大水的方案；同时也将开采泥沙的执照开放，不要再被垄断。
　　此外，在拉让江岸边经过长年累月的累积下，也形成了沙丘。
　　黄培根说，诗巫的治水计划已经讲了10年，也曾经邀请外国专家展开研究及作出报告，惟人民却没有看到真正的治水方案落实，如果政治人物持续以这种“做戏”的态度，即使再等10年，诗巫水灾问题还是继续存在。
　　“每一次的大水所造成的财物损失是几百万到千万令吉计算，在2004年的大水中，财物损失估计千万令吉，这次大水，有上千的房屋进水，车辆抛锚，道路损坏。”他补充。

Our proof! Rejang river and Sibu's flood

The photos shown here were taken in 2005 when DAP leaders took a tour of the Rejang river to prove to the government that the siltation of the river is the main cause of the serious flood in Sibu.

The photo shows the depth of the Rejang river, a mere 7 feet deep at the center of the river. The bamboo stick in Wong Ho Leng's hand is proof of the discovery. The DAP chartered a boat in 2005 to prove to the government that the siltation of the Rejang river has caused the river banks to be over-flown so easily and frequently. The situation is getting worst by the year and yet the government is not doing anything about it.

The land in the photo should not be there at all, it was built up by the sand and the siltation caused by erosion and neglect by the authorities. Imagine the effect on the water-flow and the volume it takes away from the Rejang river. This is disastrous!

Behind me is the massive sand bank built-up a few hundred feet from the original river bank. We can see trees and other vegetation on the sand built-up area as well, this will transformed into part of the river bank replacing what is supposed to be part of the river.

Years of neglects and erosion brought by the over deforestation in the up-stream of Rejang river has brought disaster to the river. The people of Sibu are paying for the environmental destruction caused by the government's policies and a few timber conglomerates. The original river bank is almost a kilometer from the presence one.

The photo here shows the sand dunes built-up by the Rejang river's bank because of siltation.The sand dunes the actual river bank, it became part of the land instead of the river!

Are the photos sufficient proof?

Anyone looking at these photos would see for themselves the reason why Sibu is so easily flooded and why the situation is getting worse in the past 7 years. We have published these photos in the press in 2005 and i am sure the SUPP leaders in Sibu know about these, then why the hell they did not act?

Indeed, why didn't they act?

The SUPP simply does not have the political will to stand up for the people of Sibu. We all know that there is a company who obtained the monopoly license to collect royalty from those who excavate sand along the Rejang river here.

I have personally request the SUPP leaders to declare the persons behind the company and why its interest is over-and-above all the 220,000 peoples' in Sibu. But the SUPP leaders did not dare to declare the facts to the people and kept on misleading the people that they are taking steps to mitigate the flood in Sibu.

Where were the expects' reports

The Wawasan team had earlier paid expects from China and Taiwan to come up with a master blueprint of the flood mitigation plan for Sibu. Years had passed without any concrete effort and we have yet seen them published the blue print at all. One professor from Taiwan was reported paid no less than half a million ringgit for her consultation work!

Where is the road ahead for Sibu?

In deep and trouble water, my fellow brothers and sisters!

David Wong

DAP publicity sec.,

16-12-2007

The evacuation by the DAP

Sibu has been submerged under water for the past 2 days and the situation is not getting any better in the next day or so. The pictures above were the perfect reflection of the seriousness of the flood and the efficiency of the authorities especially the agency in-charged of the flood's rescue and relieve team.

Yesterday, when more than 1/2 of the Sibu township was submerged under water, the whole Special Relieve Center ( set up by the government and among them were the Resident of Sibu, the Adun for Dudong, the Adun of Parlawan, the deputy chairman of the SMC) was still having their meeting in Wisma Sayang by 11:30 am!How did i knew about this? We were at the Rejang Medical Centre when we saw a SMC's truck dropped by with a patient on board and was told by the truck driver that they were sent there as the Special Relieve team was still having the meeting at that time. A few staffs of the Rejang Medical center also overheard our conversation. That was the most unprofessional and unaccepted standard we would expect from the agancy in-charged of the rescue operation as they should operate immediatelywithout having to wait for meeting or discussion by the members, it should work like the Bomba who reacts immediately with a phone call.

Today, when i tried to contact the Special Relieve Center today, there were much difficulties and even when the phone got through, i could not find the person in-charge. It seems that the center is not an emergency relieve center but just a normal government office. There was only a single line phone with the operator who spoke Bahasa Melayu only.

The same thing also happened to the old woman's family when they tried to request assistance to evacuate her from their single-story residence at lane 8, Jalan Tekam. As the water started to pour in last night(12/12) at about 10pm, the family members called 999 for assistance, the call for help was not answered.

Today (13/12)at 11:30pm, the family called the Special Relieve Center to help to evacuate the old lady. They waited until 2:30pm but no help came to them, so they called again and was told that the help would be there within half an hour, i.e at 3:00pm. But what happened? Was it an empty promise or simply a cruel joke?

Fate interfered,luckily for them and the Special Relieve Center, the team of DAP went to the site this afternoon for our rounds, the team headed by the undersigned included Fong Poh Teck(DAP Miri Chairman) , my own wife and wong Leong Kok and another supporter. We were approached by the granddaughter of the old lady who shouted "Help us!" Upon inquiry, we immediately took up the responsibility to evacuate the old lady who suffers mild stroke yaers ago. Luckily everything went smoothly and the whole operation ended in 15-20 minutes.

I must express my thanks to one of the residences of Jalan Tekam who offered us the sampan(small boat) in the first place without which we would not be able to evacuate the old lady immediately and that could brought much anxiety for our team and the family members of the old lady.

The Bar Council sets a new sub-standard!

The Bar Council has called off its annual human rights day march on Sunday, ostensibly due to pressure from the authorities to obtain a police permit and it being branded as an ‘anti-government’ rally although it will proceed with other festivities.Its chairperson in a press statement said the council’s decision was made after “anxious consideration to the present circumstances that surround the event, particularly the interests of the public and the Malaysian Bar".

The decision of the Bar Council to call off the march is most regrettable since this is an annual event of the Bar Council. The decision is a surely not in the interest of the human rights in the country and against the basic right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (on December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ).

Article 20 (1) Everyone has the right to the freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
and
Article 30 Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Malaysian being a member state should be reminded that it has to act according to the Declaration. The Bar Council should know what the Declaration means and it is its obligation and responsibility to remind the BN government of the consequence of non-compliance. Instead of giving in to the pressure of the BN government like calling off the annual human day march, it should go ahead with it with or without the police permit.

The Malaysian public have look upon the Bar Council as the "symbol of justice" and there is a high calling for the Bar Council to keep the spirit of "freedom and justice" alive under any circumstance. As the officers of the Courts of Malaysia, the members of the Bar Council should be "fearless" in discharging its duty to safeguard the fundamental rights of the people and not to treat the profession as a money-spinning machine.

To say that i am disappointed by the Bar Council decision to call off the March is an under statement as the decision has a prolong effect on the country's democracy and set a new sub-standard for the human rights in this country.

David Wong
Dap sarawak publicity sec.
05-12-2007