SINGER-songwriter Mia Palencia echoes the sentiments of other artistes from Sabah and Sarawak who recognise the disparities between East Malaysia and the peninsula. The 25-year-old recording artiste, whose first solo album Finding My Way was released in April 2008, writes in her Facebook profile on 11 Sept 2009: “[…As] my awareness and understanding of the […]
Sarawak
One Malaysia, two halves
(Festive image by ba1969 / sxc.hu) THE build-up to Malaysia’s 46th birthday began this year, for me, with an argument between two acquaintances. A West Malaysian acquaintance said the prevailing notion that Malaysia is 52 years old, versus its actual birth in 1963, is a matter of interpretation. An East Malaysian acquaintance angrily pointed out […]
Malaysia Day
POP quiz: Is Malaysia 46 or 52? Historical facts show that the Federated Malay states gained independence on 31 Aug 1957. Thus, Malaya was freed from colonial rule 52 years ago. But the birth of Malaysia itself, when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined the independent Malay states, took place on 16 Sept 1963. That makes […]
Penan task force report “not available”
Penan child (all pics courtesy of Sofiyah Israa / Flickr) PETALING JAYA, 21 Aug 2009: Despite Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s pledge, the Penan task force report is still not available, not even to “interested parties” visiting her ministry. Attempts by The Nut Graph yesterday — following the minister’s promise […]
Govt won’t commit to making Penan report public
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 June 2009: The government is still unwilling to commit to making public the Penan task force report. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil continued to be noncommittal when she was asked about the findings of a task force that was set up to investigate reports of sexual […]
RM6.95bil from first stimulus package disbursed
KUALA LUMPUR, 15 June 2009: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the Dewan Rakyat today that almost 100% or RM6.95 billion from the first stimulus package’s allocation has been disbursed. He said that of this total, RM4.02 billion or 57.9% involving 43,681 projects have been offered to successful contractors while the remainder was in […]
Molotov cocktail shock for MP
KUCHING, 9 June 2009: The Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament (MP) woke up to find several broken molotov cocktail bottles in his house compound in Jalan Nyiur today. However, Chong Chieng Jen, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyperson and DAP vice-chairperson, has not ruled out that the incident was politically-motivated to instill fear in him. […]
Dayaks celebrate Gawai
KUCHING, 1 June 2009: The Dayak community in Sarawak celebrated the Gawai festival on a moderate scale today by holding traditional rituals and open houses. Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng and his wife also spent some time visiting the house of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party president, Datuk Seri William Mawan Ikom […]
The terror of government silence
Penan child (© Robin Hanbury-Tenison/Survival, pic courtesy of Survival International) DATUK Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was the perfect picture of concern and care on the front page of The Star newspaper on 28 May 2009. The newly re-appointed women, family and community development minister was photographed at the Serdang Hospital with a five-year-old child who […]
S’wak state assembly suspends DAP rep
KUCHING, 13 May 2009: The Sarawak legislative assembly has suspended Bukit Assek assemblyperson and Sarawak DAP chairperson Wong Ho Leng for 12 months effective immediately for his ‘camouflage’ remark in the state legislative assembly sitting last November. Speaker Datuk Seri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said Wong, the opposition leader was suspended under Section 14 (1) […]
