CITIZENSHIP for ORANG UTAN?

While we may beg to differ on several points and vehemently object the intention of some in Philipppines to lay claims on Sabah, we must agree that the people of the Sulu Kingdom (now part of Philippines) have some form of ancestral link/rights in Sabah.

Political boundaries drawn up by the colonialist have been causing never ending problems and conflicts not only in Sabah/Philippines. Another glaring example is the long drawn bloodshed in Southern Thailand. 

The colonialist British and Spanish seem to have intentionally broken up the Muslim Kingdoms of Patani and Sulu while shrinking the Brunei Sultanate by trickery and threats. 

History has lots of stories to tell but history will also judge us as we judge the colonialist who mastered the art of 'divide and rule' today.

Whether Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis belongs to Thailand or the Muslim region of Narathiwat/Patani should be part of Malaysia could be an interesting debate but would that make life better for anyone?

Similarly, would Sabah be a better place if all those who basically 'swam' across from southern Philippines islands (remember parts of Sabah was part of Sulu Sultanate) are treated with contempt and deported after more than 40 years (four decades that is) ? 

Are the people from south Philippines the only immigrants in Sabah? What about the Chinese who escaped persecution in Indonesia during Konfrantasi and sought refuge in Sabah (eventually becoming citizens)? 

What about the Pakistani British soldiers who sacrificed their blood and sweat and eventually settled down in Sabah about a 100 years ago? 

The ongoing RCI on Immigrants in Sabah could be a vital step forward in addressing the issue of illegal immigrants but we must never allow politicians to hijack the RCI for their narrow, racists and extremists politics.

If everybody starts questioning each other on who is more 'original', we may end up being forced to give ID papers and citizenship to the Orang Utans in Sepilok and their cousins who are still roaming the rainforests'... for I'm sure they're the undisputed 'original' inhabitants of the Land Below the Wind. 

Please lah, don't let the Orang Utan laugh at us! 

p/s It high time the Philippines officially drops its claim on Sabah as such unsolved disputes would only create unnecessary tension in our peaceful region. TQ

#KL112 - Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat

#KL112

NATIONAL HERO Kanang anak Langkau passes away in Kuching

Updated: 1815hrs - State Funeral for National Hero Kanang Anak Langkau 

1945 - 2013

NST ALERT at 10:14am 3rd January 2013 read : National hero Datuk Temenggong Kanang anak Langkau died at Kuching General Hospital this morning. He was 67 years old.

Kanang (on Najib Razak's right) during a recent dialogue session with the Prime Minister.

My deepest heartfelt condolences to Kanang's family, friends and comrades who have lost a man ... who was so full of fire in his belly. 

I first met Kanang in August, 2005 in Simanggang (Sri Aman) during my course of duty as a journalist in Sarawak. 

Loud spoken, aggressive and opinionated yet Temenggong Kanang was a humble man. I've met, had long chats and worked with the hero on many 'social projects' since 2005. 

Our last meeting was in Kuching sometime in 2011. A day earlier I had bumped into him during a Biro TataNegara do in Lundu which was officiated by Sarawak chief minister Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud and a bearded Kanang told me he was doing his bid to educate the younger generation on the value of peace.

Having had the truly 'bloody' experience of fighting the communist terrorists in Peninsula Malaysia, Kanang was engaging the young to enlighten them on the evils of war and armed confrontations.

Whenever we bumped into each other, Kanang (who often addresses his acquittance as 'tuan') will also always remind me "Tuan, ramai lagi pejuang lama yang masih tidak dihargai. Kita kena cari dia orang'. 

For it was Kanang, the then Sri Aman police chief DSP Hamid Bulat and veteran Sarawak-based journalist James Ritchie who led me to re-discover Malaysia's sole surviving George Cross recipient Awang Anak Raweng, another legendary Iban tracker, also in August 2005.

May Your Soul Rest in Peace, TUAN KANANG! 

Agi Idup, Agi Ngelaban.


Below is another good write up on the National Hero who died today.

IBAN WARRIOR FROM SIMANGGANG: How a tracker from Sri Aman fought on, through the pain

HE is a little paunchy now in the mid-section and puffy in the face. This, together with the full-white hair on his head, can make Kanang anak Langkau, the  holder of two of the country's  highest gallantry awards, look more like a longhouse elder than the fearless Iban warrior of the Malaysian Rangers he once was.But he could still inspire the young and soon-to-be-commissioned Reserve Officers Training Unit (Palapes) officers at Universiti Utara Malaysia recently.

Even I listened raptly to his narration of his exploits against the communist terrorists (CTs), especially in the jungles of Ulu Kinta, Perak in 1980.

I was all ears because I was the Brigade Major at the Brigade headquarters in Ipoh and had monitored that particular operation and his platoon's every move. I also realised that there were a number of things that Kanang and his rangers had gone through during that operation which were not known to me.

We had fired hundreds of artillery rounds into the area of operation before the rangers were to move in. The object was to destroy an enemy camp reported to be in the area, as well as to hit those who happened to be in the vicinity.

The rangers were then to hunt down the CTs who survived and were making their escape after the artillery fire lifted.

It turned out that the artillery pounding never did hit any of the CTs. But it successfully turned the area to be searched into a mangled mass of shattered and fallen tree trunks and other debris, making it difficult for the rangers to move, let alone search the area.

I remember the commanding officer, the late Lt-Col Loone, telling me of the difficulties but that Kanang's platoon had somehow managed to get through and even picked up the enemy scent.

Kanang, to this day, cannot forget that part of the ordeal of going through the mess and tracking the CTs at the same time.

READ more - A true hero continues to inspire the next generation

DAP a 'Towkay Party' now?

                                                  
Well the latest development in 'holier than thou' DAP proves that the socialist party has transformed into a 'Towkay Party', a term which DAP leaders had lavished on the MCA for a long time. 

While the cunning DAP secretary general still goes around creating confusion trying to pit Muslims and non-Muslim (esp Christians) DAP chairman Karpal stands firm not to be easily duped by the 'dear leader's CAT shows. 

Guan Eng appears to be trying hard to divert people's attention       (particularly the attention of unassuming Chinese DAP supporters and sympatisers) away from the shitty 'towkay' deals by Perak DAP leaders. 

Guan Eng has to jump in to defend cousins Ngeh and Nga as a wrong turn could shift the spotlight to the Pearl of the Orient where wealthy towkays are said to be sitting around Khalifah Umar's throne. 

The controversial Bayan Mutiara could just be the tip of the iceberg as some sneaky businessmen would begin exposing soon. 

The value of actual business transactions/deals involving DAP leaders could be sky-high, putting the Perak cousins to shame with their mere RM30million odd land/timber scandal in Kelantan.

BUT, the 'dear leader' had kept his promise that DAP elected representatives would not be involved in businesses or apply for state land in Penang. 

Just that Perak DAP leaders would do business and grab land in Kelantan while those from Penang could be investing in Selangor or logging in Kedah.  Some could even be flying high in Singapore for allowing the island republic to 'invest' in Penang. 

Would these 'towkays' in DAP be shown the door by their no-nonsense chairman or could it be the other way around? 

The end seems very near though, while 'dear leader' tries hard to out-maneuver the Lion of Jelutong.  

At stake is the DAP's ideals, principles and the very core of its struggle as a socialist party... and the old guard who holds firmly to these doctrines. 

STAKE IN COMPANY: It's against DAP's principle for elected representatives to be involved in business

IPOH: EMBATTLED Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham has been asked by the party's leadership to decide on his directorship in Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd.

Sources told the New Straits Times that Ngeh, who had admitted that he and his cousin Nga Kor Ming have stakes in the company, was given until today to do so.

Sources also said the party leadership had also grilled Ngeh, who is also Beruas member of parliament and Sitiawan state assemblyman, in a meeting on Tuesday on his investment in the company that had been awarded a timber project in Gua Musang, Kelantan.

The meeting, it was learnt, was held following the call by party chairman Karpal Singh for Ngeh to be hauled up to explain his venture with the company which had been reportedly given 4,359ha of land for the project.

A party insider yesterday, confirmed the matter and said Ngeh and Nga's involvement in a business venture went against the grain of the party struggle.

Nga, who is state DAP secretary, is also a director of Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd.

"It is not that we want to be a poor man's party but politics and business just simply do not mix," said the insider.

He said since the revelation of the duo's involvement in the timber project, people had been asking whether the party was now a "towkay party".

"Party members are angry. They are also asking if community leaders are joining DAP to get rich."

Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said Ngeh and Nga had become a political liability to Pakatan Rakyat.

He said DAP leaders, when forming the Penang government in 2008, had promised that their elected representatives would not be involved in businesses.

"But, see what happens now," he said, adding that he wondered how the cousins from Perak could have their hands on the project instead of the Kelantanese.

DAP has been under pressure to act against Ngeh and Nga over their admissions at the sidelines of the state assembly sitting last month that they had invested in the company, allegedly given the project as an appeasement for Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin to hold the Perak menteri besar's post, despite DAP's state seat majority after the 12th general election four years ago.

Comments in the social media regarding the cousins were less than flattering, with many of the commentators asking them to decide whether they want to remain in politics or to be involved in business.

Ngeh, however, had said that there was nothing wrong with him and Nga being investors as they had done so according to the law, saying that they had been invited by the company to invest in the project.

He had also said the Inland Revenue Board and the Federal Government were aware of the of the transaction. - NST

Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (right) and his cousin, Nga Kor Ming, have admitted they have stakes in Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd. The company was awarded a timber project in Gua Musang, Kelantan