Allow frogs contest seat again: Dompok

Tuesday, February 03, 2009 (Source: Daily Express)

PENAMPANG: United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok has called for a review of the Federal Constitution to allow people's representatives who vacate their seats to contest again.

The proposed anti-hopping law and the present provision in the Federal Constitution which bars state assemblymen and members of Parliament who have resigned to stand in an election for another seat in the same House had to be reconciled, he said.

If not, the anti-hopping law would bring injustice to the representatives who really fought for the people, said Dompok who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

"Now, elected representatives who vacate their seats have no opportunities to test their influence or obtain feedback from the people.

"In this respect, it is good if the voters were to determine the position of the representatives," he told reporters after launching his party's Natural Disaster Fund here today.

Many quarters have called for the enactment of anti-hopping laws after Bota Assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim in Perak quit Barisan Nasional and crossed over to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

It's Tangkarason's 4th flood this year

29 January, 2009 (Source: Daily Express)

BELURAN: It was a bleak Chinese New Year for some 422 families from 15 villages in Tangkarason, here, when they were hit by floods for the fourth time this year.

This time SK Bawang Tangkarason was submerged by water said Kampung Tangkarason development and security comittee (JKKK) protem chairman, Jakiy Tayan.

He said the first flash flood was on Jan. 4-5, flowed by the second on Jan. 10-11 and the third on Jan. 15-16 before the recent on from Jan 26 to 27.

Nonetheless, Jackiy said the villages were glad that the upgrading of the 16km Kulobou-Tangkarason Road had been approved by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

In PITAS, UPKO lent a helping hand to flood victims in Kaibongan and its surroundin areas. Deputy President Datuk Wilfred Bumburing who led the party's leaders as well as members from UPKO Pitas to present contributions to some 400 families said the party is sensitive to the problem faced by the people.

"UPKO's leadership also shares the burden faced by you in your daily lives after losing properties and cops to the flood, he said, adding that hopefully it would help lessen their burden. Bumburing presented six tones of rice, food-stuff and clothes to UPKO Pitas Chief, Lightson Kohia to be distributed to the flood victims.

Among the contributors were Party President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Bumburing, Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh, Datuk Siringan Gubat, Datuk Ewon Ebin, Philip Lasimbang dan Philanthropist Datuk Victor Paul.

It's Tangkarason's 4th flood this year

29 January, 2009 (Source: Daily Express)

BELURAN: It was a bleak Chinese New Year for some 422 families from 15 villages in Tangkarason, here, when they were hit by floods for the fourth time this year.

This time SK Bawang Tangkarason was submerged by water said Kampung Tangkarason development and security comittee (JKKK) protem chairman, Jakiy Tayan.

He said the first flash flood was on Jan. 4-5, flowed by the second on Jan. 10-11 and the third on Jan. 15-16 before the recent on from Jan 26 to 27.

Nonetheless, Jackiy said the villages were glad that the upgrading of the 16km Kulobou-Tangkarason Road had been approved by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

In PITAS, UPKO lent a helping hand to flood victims in Kaibongan and its surroundin areas. Deputy President Datuk Wilfred Bumburing who led the party's leaders as well as members from UPKO Pitas to present contributions to some 400 families said the party is sensitive to the problem faced by the people.

"UPKO's leadership also shares the burden faced by you in your daily lives after losing properties and cops to the flood, he said, adding that hopefully it would help lessen their burden. Bumburing presented six tones of rice, food-stuff and clothes to UPKO Pitas Chief, Lightson Kohia to be distributed to the flood victims.

Among the contributors were Party President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Bumburing, Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh, Datuk Siringan Gubat, Datuk Ewon Ebin, Philip Lasimbang dan Philanthropist Datuk Victor Paul.

Waiting for the promised RM1 billion

Penampang: There is no sign yet of the RM1 billion special allocation for Sabah that was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year.

"To my knowledge the commitment of RM1 billion (for the State) has not started to be implemented yet," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Saturday.

"I think as far as the projects are concerned it has already been finalised by the State authorities for submission to the Federal Government," he added.

He said this when asked how much of the RM1 billion special allocation for Sabah that was announced by Abdullah in May last year during a visit to the State, had actually materialised.

The allocation was meant for the expenditure of several people-centric development programmes urgently needed in the State.

In regards to the RM1 million allocation for Sabah Members of Parliament for the development of their respective constituencies Dompok, who is also the Penampang MP said: "My understanding is that it will start to be implemented this year."

On another matter, Dompok said the Borneonisation of the civil service here was an ongoing exercise and that the Government was looking at the best ways to achieve it without sacrificing the efficiency and implementation of government projects.

"Of course our priority is to give the opportunity for Sabahans to implement government policies, apart from proving that they are capable as their West Malaysian counterpartsÉthere is no reason why (the) Borneonisation (of the federal civil service here) cannot be further accelerated."

When asked if there was a time frame for it to be achieved, he said there was none for this particular exercise.

He pointed out the appointment of a Sabahan as Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Vice Chancellor, National Registration Department State Director as well as the State's Financial Controller as proof that the matter had been taken to highest level of decision-making.

"However, I have to say that this does not mean that those from West Malaysia are less able than those from the State who have been promoted.

We want officers recruited from Sabah to gain experience and move up the ladder in the country's administration."

As for claims that Sabahans were not interested to serve in the diplomatic corps, he said he did not know why it was so when the Government actually wanted them.

Dompok was in Donggongon township to hand over Chinese New Year greeting cards to business operators as well as the public together with Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department-cum-Kapayan Assemblyman, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Khai.

He later officiated at a lion's eye-dotting ceremony there together with Khoo and other leaders including Moyog assemblyman, Donald Peter Mojuntin and Penampang District Officer, William Sampil, among others.

11 January, 2009 - Daily Express

Teo ready to meet unhappy UPKO leaders

KOTA KINABALU: Kuala Penyu Assemblyman John Teo is ready to meet the UPKO branch leaders in his constituency who are unhappy with his leadership.

Teo said this when contacted yesterday for comment on the allegation that as a result of their unhappiness with his leadership, several of UPKO Kuala Penyu branch leaders had resigned from the Party.

According to Teo, there were a few branches who were unhappy with him as they feel neglected in terms of basic infrastructure which has yet to be implemented in their respective areas.

"As an elected representative, I will continue to ensure that all the infrastructure needed will be implemented not only in UPKO areas but also all the Barisan Nasional (BN) component areas, " he said.

"Of course we want to give the rakyat the best but due to limited allocation, we cannot please everyone, " he stressed.

Teo appealed to those who have any grouses about his leadership to meet up and discuss the issues with him openly.

The dissenting leaders can meet him at the Community Development Leader office or at his house, Teo said.

7 Januari, 2009 (Source: The Borneo Post)

Upko to register Sabah's reservations on JAC Bill

15 December, 2008 - Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) echoed the concerns of various bodies in the State about the effects on Sabah's constitutional position in the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Bill, especially the appointment of judges to Sabah's High Court.

"We have some reservations about it and we (Upko Members of Parliament) will definitely raise the matter when debating the Bill," Upko Treasurer-General Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh said Sunday.

Mojigoh who is Putatan MP said based on feedback from the legal circle in Sabah and statements by various bodies, including the Sabah Justices of the Peace Council (Majaps), there were certain aspects that need to be clarified.

"At the moment it appears that the appointment of judges mechanism as proposed under the JAC Bill is contradicting Article 161E (2) (b) of the Federal Constitution, which basically means that the appointment of High Court judges to Sabah and Sarawak must have the consent from the respective State's Yang di-Pertua Negeri," he said.

The Bill proposed that JAC would make recommendation to the Prime Minister on the candidates to be appointed to the office concerned. On the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Bill that was tabled together with the JAC Bill by the Prime Minister last week, he hoped the public would support it with an open heart.

"It is more on prevention and it shows that the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government is serious in addressing corruption in compliance with the requirement by the United Nations that has been ratified by Malaysia," he said.

"I think the Prime Minister is very sincere in wanting to address the problem," he said when met after presenting tents and contributions to the Masjid Al-Kauthar, in Kampung Tanjung Aru Lama in conjunction with the mass circumcision ceremony of 29 boys.

With the formulation of the new law, he said graft offences would be strictly monitored, as the definition of "suapan" or bribes is very broad.

Besides that, he said the MACC has the right to seize properties of corruption suspects, as well as intercept phone calls.

"Basically the MACC commissioner has absolute power and he could act as a deputy public prosecutor (DPP) to charge suspects," he said, adding that might prevent a suspect from getting scott free, which had happened before despite sufficient evidence for prosecution.

"We welcome the Bill with an open heart and we are going to support it," he said.

Tamparuli fire: MP urges temporary shoplots

Tuaran: The District Council here has been urged to identify a site to build temporary business premises for shop owners who were affected by the fire in Tamparuli last Tuesday.

Towards this end, Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Wilfred Bumburing said the process should be speeded up to ensure the operators have a place to ply their trade for the time being.

"We have asked the District Council to ascertain a site suitable for the business owners," he said.

He said this in a ceremony where the fire victims received donations at the District Office in Tamparuli, here, on Friday.

Tamparuli Assemblyman Datuk Jahid Jahim said the livelihood of the shop owners would be disrupted if the setting up of the temporary premises was delayed.

Also present were Assistant Tamparuli District Officer, Edip Abun, and Kapitan Cina Tamparuli, Soong Ket Siong.

Meanwhile, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, who had previously visited the site where an entire row comprising seven units of two-storey wooden shophouses was razed, had urged owners of old buildings to repair their electrical wiring to prevent short-circuits, which could cause fire.

The wooden shophouses, one of five 50-year-old buildings built just after the war by the colonial administration, were destroyed in a fire at 5.10am.

14 December, 2008 - Daily Express