FADILLAH REITERATES SABAH & SARAWAK STILL PURSUING 35 PCT SEATS IN PARLIAMENT - REPORT

FADILLAH REITERATES SABAH & SARAWAK STILL PURSUING 35 PCT SEATS IN PARLIAMENT - REPORT

@Jackie San

KUCHING, SARAWAK (April 19, 2023): Sabah and Sarawak are still pursuing 35 per cent seat representation in Parliament to protect the territories and uphold the spirit of the Federal Constitution, said Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who is a Petra Jaya MP, told Malaysiakini that the two territories have only had 25 per cent seat representation in Parliament since the formation of Malaysia and this did not change although Singapore left the federation in 1965.

He pointed out that when Malaysia was formed in 1963, it was agreed by the signatories that 35 per cent of the seats would be allocated to Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore to ensure Malaya could not amend the Federal Constitution without the consent of the three other regions.

As such, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council chairman deemed it necessary to increase the number of seats for Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament.

“But right now, if seats in Peninsular Malaysia are more than two-thirds, they can vote and remove all the rights accorded to Sabah and Sarawak. So that’s the spirit (of the Constitution). Rightfully, when we formed (Malaysia), we must have that protection,” Fadillah told Malaysiakini.

The 35 per cent goal was one of the key conclusions of the Special Council on the Malaysia Agreement in September last year chaired by then prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, but only the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition led by now Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made the goal its pledge for the 2022 election.

The bone of contention has been that Sabah and Sarawak’s combined population is only one-sixth of Malaysia’s total population and therefore the two territories should not be afforded two-thirds control in Parliament.

To this Fadillah pointed out that Sabah and Sarawak are still lagging in many aspects of development compared to the peninsula.

“You have everything in the peninsula. You have highways and bridges. All the facilities are there. Yet, Sabah and Sarawak are left behind when, in fact, economy-wise, we have contributed so much,” he told Malaysiakini.

“You have your (Petronas) Twin Towers. (But Sarawakians) are saying that it should be in Sarawak (because of our petroleum production).

“If you are talking about fairness, it is not about fairness (alone). It is (also) about the spirit behind the formation of Malaysia,” he said.

Fadillah cited how the council managed in January to convince the federal government to increase annual grants for Sabah and Sarawak to RM260 million and RM300 million, respectively, for the next five years.

The annual grants are mandated under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution and are supposed to be reviewed every five years.

For Sabah, the deal replaces an agreement reached last year between the Ismail Sabri administration and the state government – which raised annual special grants to RM125.6 million.

For Sarawak, the special grant was a massive increase from the RM16 million it had received annually without change since 1969.

According to Fadillah, Sarawak considered this an “interim payment” while a new formula is reached between the state government and the federal Finance Ministry.

“My responsibility (as action council head) is to get the Finance Ministry and the state government to sit down and come to an agreement,” said Fadillah adding, the action council’s other priority was to devolve administrative powers on education and public health.

He pointed out that Putrajaya’s centralised planning over the decades had left Sabah and Sarawak behind in terms of resources.

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NO ACTION UNLESS HE'S CHARGED - SAYS ANWAR

NO ACTION UNLESS HE'S CHARGED - SAYS ANWAR

@Jackie San

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: There is no need for Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar to go on leave over the ongoing graft investigations into migrant worker approvals, said the Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pointed out the matter was still being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and no charges have been made against anyone so far.

“We have to differentiate the process involving an investigation (and after charges are brought), so I leave it to the MACC. If there are charges, then it will be a different matter.

“As such, we cannot make presumptions. What is important is that in the fight against corruption, we are firm and not concerned with which party or group will be offended.

“This is our principle,” he told reporters here on Monday, April 17, 2023.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that Sivakumar was summoned to assist in its investigations into allegations of corruption involving the recruitment of foreign workers.

Anwar said it was best not to make any assumptions, apart from the fact that Sivakumar had gone to answer some questions from the MACC.

Earlier, Anwar launched the books Sayr Al-Salikin’s Masterpiece and Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain here at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Last week, three people, including two of Sivakumar’s officers, were picked up in connection with the case.

The remand order for the three suspects ended that day.

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FULL INVESTIGATION REPORT INTO SOLDIER'S DEATH TO BE READY IN TWO WEEKS

FULL INVESTIGATION REPORT INTO SOLDIER'S DEATH TO BE READY IN TWO WEEKS 

@Jackie San

ALOR GAJAH, MELAKA: The full report on the internal investigation into the death of soldier, Corporal Mohammad Nasri Mohd Nasib whose body was found in Belum Forest Reserve, Perak, on April 12, is expected to be completed in two weeks' time.

Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said the report is now over 50 per cent complete and the latest developments on the investigation will be presented in the Post-Cabinet Meeting this Wednesday.

"On Wednesday we will get some news but a full report should be in after Hari Raya," he told reporters after a breaking of fast event here, last night.

He said the Defence Ministry would also take care of the welfare of the deceased's family members, especially his wife, Nurhayatul Husna, 30, and two children Muhammad Aakif Rizqi, 4, and Nur Afifah Raisha, 2.

Earlier, it was reported that Mohammad Nasri, from the 25th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment at Seri Bentong Camp, Pahang, went missing during an operation in the interior of the Belum Forest Reserve on April 7.

His remains were laid to rest at the Pulau Mertajam Mosque Muslim Cemetery in Penaga, Penang on April 13.

A post-mortem conducted at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, found a head injury, consistent with a fall was the cause of death.

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PROJECT CONTRACTOR AT KKIP AGREES TO PAY RM 3.8 MLN IN OVERDUE SALARY TO AFFECTED WORKERS : MUSTAPHA

PROJECT CONTRACTOR AT KKIP AGREES TO PAY RM 3.8 MLN IN OVERDUE SALARY TO AFFECTED WORKERS : MUSTAPHA 

@Jackie San

KOTA KINABALU, SABAH (April 17, 2023): Deputy Minister of Human Resources Mustapha Sakmud said the contractor of a project at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) has agreed to pay RM3.8 million in overdue salary to around 600 affected workers starting today and tomorrow.

Mustapha said the unpaid wages was for the month of March and that the contractor has agreed to make the payment after a meeting with the Sabah Labour Department (JTK Sabah) on Sunday.

He said this after a recent viralled video that show the alleged assault on project director from Korea by disgruntled workers over late salary payment.

“The incident happened yesterday (Saturday) and according to sources from the employer and workers as mediated by the JTK Sabah director (Wan Zulkifli Wan Setapa), the issue was the late payment of March salary.

“According to agreement, the salary should be paid on the first week of every month, which means there is late payment of salary…that was why the workers were not satisfied thus the assault on the employer from Korea.

“Following the incident, the JTK Sabah director and Manggatal police chief held a discussion with representatives from both sides…the outcome is that the employer will pay the salary on April 17 and April 18.

“JTK Sabah officers will be present at the construction site to observe the payment process and ensure that everything goes well.

“Apart from that, the officers will also be ready in the event of any other complaints from the workers,” he said commenting on the viralled video that saw workers shouted, slapped, punched and kicked at their employers at the KKIP project site.

Mustapha, who is also Sepanggar MP, told reporters this when met at a breaking of fast event with the Kampung Darau village folk in Manggatal near here yesterday.

Mustapha also issued a stern warning that the ministry will take action against employers, including of foreign companies here, who failed or late in the payment of workers salary as stipulated under the Sabah Law Ordinance.

“Read and understand the Sabah Law Ordinance. I am warning the employers in Sabah including foreign companies, to pay the salary according to the agreement.

“At the same time too I want to advise the workers to not take matters into their own hand…act according to the law. If not it will lead to other implications,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mustapha called on those facing water supplies crisis to contact the Sepanggar MP office for assistance.

He said they were also trying to identified the hotspots within Sepanggar constituency and distribute water supply to the affected villagers.

“To those who has been affected three or four days and especially with the upcoming festive period, we encourage them to contact the Sepanggar MP office.

“It is tough to identify the hotspots but we are trying our best. So if any location is facing water supply problem, contact us and we will make efforts to send supply via water lorries,” he said.

According to him, the Sepanggar MP Office has distribute a total of 395,000 litres of water since Ramadan started and on Sunday (April 16) alone, 75,000 litres of water was distributed to several affected areas.

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RUSSIAN STRIKE KILLS ABOUT NINE AND INCLUDING TODDLER IN EASTERN UKRAINE

RUSSIAN STRIKE KILLS ABOUT NINE AND INCLUDING TODDLER IN EASTERN UKRAINE

@Jackie San

SLOVIANSK (April 15, 2023): Russia shelled a block of flats in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, killing nine people, authorities said today, including a two-year-old boy who was rescued from the rubble but died on his way to hospital.

Friday’s strike on the quiet neighbourhood came as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that will make it easier to mobilise citizens into the army and block them from fleeing the country if drafted.

Russia also said it was pushing further into the hotspot of Bakhmut, 45 kilometres (27 miles) southeast of Sloviansk, which is one of the cities that will be at risk if Kyiv loses the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.

Sloviansk lies in a part of the Donetsk region that is under Ukrainian control. According to Kyiv, it was struck by seven missiles which hit five buildings, five homes, a school and an administrative building.

Vadim Lyakh, the head of Sloviansk’s military administration, said that nine people died — including a woman whose body was recovered from the rubble overnight — and 21 were wounded.

Five people were still under the rubble and their identities were established, he said.

AFP journalists saw rescue workers digging for survivors on the top floor of the typical Soviet-era housing block, and black smoke billowing from homes on fire across the street.

“A child died in an ambulance after being pulled out from the rubble,” Ukrainian police said on Twitter.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska sent her condolences to the child’s family during this “indescribable grief”.

President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier denounced Russia for “brutally shelling” residential buildings and “killing people in broad daylight”.

The street below — including a playground — was covered in concrete dust and debris, including torn pages from school books and children’s drawings.

SHOCKED RESIDENTS 

“I live on the opposite side of the street and I was sleeping a little when I heard this huge boom and I ran out from my flat,” 59-year-old resident Larisa.

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BIG PLANS FOR A ' HYDROGEN SOCIETY ' FELL FLAT IN JAPAN BUT HOW ?

BIG PLANS FOR A ' HYDROGEN SOCIETY ' FELL FLAT IN JAPAN BUT HOW ?

@Jackie San

TOKYO (April 15): It was once touted as a miracle solution to Japan’s energy problems: creating a “hydrogen society” by sharply ramping up use of the fuel for vehicles, industry and housing.

But the country’s plan to expand its hydrogen market and slash greenhouse emissions has suffered delays and criticism over the fuel’s green credentials.

As G7 climate ministers meet in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo, here are some key points about the strategy:

Ambitious plans

In 2017, Japan became the first country to devise a national strategy for hydrogen power, aiming to drastically scale up its use by 2030.

The colourless, odourless gas is an exciting prospect on paper.

It can be produced, stored and transported in large quantities, and does not emit carbon dioxide when burned.

These qualities are attractive to Japan, which is heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports.

Most of its nuclear reactors are still offline after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, and the nation set a goal two and a half years ago of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

Fuel cell blues

Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, which Japanese automakers helped pioneer, were a key part of the original plan.

The government had hoped for 40,000 of these cars to be on the road by 2020, and 800,000 by 2030.

But by the end of last year, just 7,700 units had been sold in the country since 2014.

Despite subsidies for buyers, they remain “very expensive”, even compared to battery-powered electric cars, Kentaro Tamura, a Japan-based expert at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), told AFP.

Hydrogen refuelling stations have high installation and upkeep costs, and are rare in comparison to charging spots for electric vehicles, Tamura added.

Hydrogen-powered homes

The results have been better but still modest in housing — the other major area initially earmarked for hydrogen expansion.

A residential fuel cell programme called “Enefarm” was meant to equip 5.3 million Japanese homes by 2030.

It uses gas to create hydrogen that reacts with oxygen from the air to generate electricity and heat water.

But by the end of 2022, just 465,000 systems had been installed, far short of the government’s target of 1.4 million by 2020.

Price is a key factor here too, Tamura said, with installation costs “very high compared with alternative technologies like heat pumps”.

‘Grey’ area

Energy experts were sceptical of Japan’s hydrogen strategy from the start, because it was launched without creating a reliable supply chain for environmentally friendly “green” hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources.

Instead, Japan opted for so-called “grey” hydrogen, made using greenhouse gas-emitting coal, petrol or gas, and “blue” hydrogen, which also comes from fossil fuels but with the carbon emissions captured and stored.

In the meantime, countries such as China and some European nations have moved faster on green hydrogen, which remains rare and expensive but is key to decarbonisation, the Japanese Renewable Energy Institute think-tank says.

In March, Tokyo agreed to spend $1.6 billion on an ambitious but controversial venture in Australia to produce liquid hydrogen from lignite coal and export it to Japan.

But critics say the project’s “blue” hydrogen claims are based on carbon capture technology that does not yet exist.

Co-firing controversy

Despite the setbacks, Japan will revise its hydrogen strategy by the end of May, with the Nikkei business daily reporting plans to increase its supply of the fuel to six times the current level by 2040.

It is also promoting another use for hydrogen and its derivative ammonia: burning it alongside gas and coal at existing power stations, to reduce carbon emissions.

An official from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told AFP that ammonia co-firing is “a realistic means of energy transition that is more CO2-reducing and economically efficient than the early phase-out of coal-fired power and its replacement with renewable energy”.

But climate campaigners question the value of the expensive practice on the path to cleaner energy.

Japan is “the only G7 member” pushing for co-firing, Greenpeace’s Hirotaka Koike said, describing it as a “national policy to keep the ‘sunset’ industry (of thermal power stations) alive”. 

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