Sabah Politics - Loner Voice - 沙巴政治: 孤音: December 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Toufg Year Ahead

Press Statement by
DATUK DR JEFFREY G. KITINGAN
PKR Vice President
PKR State Steering Committee Chairman, cum
Chairman, Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF)

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, said tough years are awaiting Sabahans, and if their leaders failed to understand and respond to issues in time, as always, their next generations risk losing all opportunities meant for them.
"The current government is not serious in resolving perennial problems like the presence of illegal immigrants and monopoly of power. Obviously the government had failed, and it does not care to resolve these issues. They have the power to act but they just ignore our views and our rights.
"Because of this, now we have many explosive issues in this country that will be very difficult to handle in the future," he said in a statement issued here today.
Dr Jeffrey further said the fact is that Sabahans are unsure who is foreigner because foreigners could come and leave as they like, they are in possession of Malaysian identity card, can vote and many Federal agencies are already regarding them as either melayu or bumiputera.
"I agree completely with Tan Sri Simon Sipaun who raised that only a miracle could solve the problems of overflowing illegal immigrants and also poverty in Sabah, the richest in natural resources but somehow the poorest state of the country.
"We are really in a mess. I wonder what our ruling leaders are doing. Are they as blind as the Federal politicians?
"As New Year approaches, I call upon our state leaders to ponder for a moment, reflect and search their conscience as what is going to happen to this state if we continue in this position…" he said.

DATUK DR JEFFREY G. KITINGAN
Mobile: 019-8505005

Anwar heads Sabah PKR

Press Statement By
DATUK DR JEFFREY G. KITINGAN
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President
Dec 29th, 2008

SUPPORT FOR ANWAR AS SABAH PKR CHIEF (Dr Jeffrey's first public reaction on Anwar's appointment as Sabah PKR chief)

Since Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ia also our (PKR) Ketua Umum, it is a privilege for Sabah to have him as our (Sabah) Pengerusi Perhubungan Negeri (State PKR Liaison Chairman).

I would have objected if it was just any other leader.

This means we, in Sabah, can discuss and have direct access to the head of the National Opposition who is also the Prime Minister-in-waiting!

I view this as something positive. In other words Sabah's and Sarawak's status have been upgraded! Isn't this what we have been looking for?

Of course in the long term, we will assist him to ease his burden by proposing an alternative appointment for the Borneo States.

Thank you.

DATUK DR JEFFREY G. KITINGAN
at 019-8505005

Issued through KG Publicist at 016-8460018, free media & publicity consultancy
- Truth is our signature -

Source: http://akimomogun.blogspot.com/

My view:

It is indeed good news for Sabahan! Hopefully he will look into the state of affair of PKR in Sabah, especially in Semporna.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

DAP YB Jimmy Wong: I will resigns if..... Aki Momogun

DAP YB Jimmy Wong: I will resigns if.....

Sabah 7.5% Sales Tax – I will step down if CM can prove I am wrong says Jimmy Wong the State Assemblyman for Sri Tanjong in a statement today.

As I have said I will step down as Sri Tanjung Assemblyman if your honourable Chief Minister Datuk Sri Musa Aman can prove that the smallholders are not being taxed the Sabah 7.5% Sales Tax.

I had already highlighted the ‘error’ many times including at the State Legislative Assembly and even shown proves to the Chief Minister, Ministers and Assemblymen during the recent assembly.

It is the state government duty to correct what is wrong, I have come out with proves and many had also highlighted the matter in the news, but nothing is being done.

Therefore I put up this challenge and I will step down if CM can prove that I am wrong, and I hope CM too will do the same if he is wrong.

This is very important as it means the survival of the small and medium size planters and the whole oil palm industry. Even big companies in West Malaysia have already made statements that they are heading towards troubled waters. Planters in Sabah are even worst off with high fertilizer cost and the most taxes and the State Government cannot keep ignoring this and should act now before it is too late.

With the 7.5% Sabah sales tax still being erronously charged on planters and the government is not admitting the mistake I see another black history in the making of the agriculture industry. The first was cocoa where planters were left on their own by the government and one-by-one died and the cocoa industry was history for Sabah. I do not want to see the same thing happen to the oil palm industry and I will do my part to help.
On the price issue, I call the State Government to act immediately to help the oil palm sectors in the state that are now feeling the pressure and hard pressed due to the falling price of the commodity.

Without any concrete action from the government the situation will worsen and Sabah as the largest oil palm producers will become history.

I had many times urged the state government to review the 7.5% Sabah Sales tax imposed on the industry and had shown prove that the tax has been passed to the smallholders no matter how small their plantation are.

If the situation is allowed to go on, it not only burden the planters especially smallholders but also make the state unattractive to investors.

I hope this issue will receive the government attention and drastic action as I had showed prove to the Chief Minister at the recent State Legislative Assembly that the planters including small and medium size oil palm planters are the one paying the 7.5% Sales Tax, though in the first assembly CM had told me that the government never taxed the small holders and only the big companies and I had proven to him that he got the wrong information.

With the Sabah Sales Tax matter coming to light and more people understanding the real situation, I hoped the state government would direct millers not to impose the 7.5% sales tax to planters and the tax be reviewed due to the drastic fall of the CPO (Crude Palm Oil) price.

Apart from that, the government should come out with a statement and explanation on what steps is being done, already done and will be done in connection with the fallen price of oil palm to help the industry.

The people in the oil palm sector and me would like to know whether the special committee to tackle the issue had been set up. If already set up, what had been done to address the situation?

I voice out on behalf of the oil palm industry and it should not be taken lightly as the price had gone down by about 70 percent compared to three months ago and cause loses not only to small holders but also big companies, millers, producers and fertilizer companies.

In fact, I am surprised to hear that a big listed company had to cut 20 percent of its employee’s salary following losses caused by the fallen price of oil palm. That was a few days ago, now many companies are either cutting cost by slashing employee’s salary or retrenchment. If no action is taken, I am sure the government plan to develop the Palm Oil Industry Cluster (POIC) will not bear fruit.

Massive Unemployment
The global economic crisis is real, every seconds count and immediate action must be taken to address and counter the drastic fall in CPO prices. Massive unemployment will happen in Sabah if the State government failed to listen and act positively and immediately.

In Singapore and other develop countries retrenchment in other sectors of their industry has already started as condition gets tough. This is because there is no remedy in the sector they are in.

Our oil palm industry could be helped, however without aid, our oil palm industry too will head the same direction, starting from cutting cost, slashing salaries then retrenchment, resulting in many unemployment.

This could be remedied, but steps must be taken such as:-
-reviewing policies
-reviewing CPO taxes and cess (Federal and State government)
-reduction of fertilizer high price
-review the plantation workers’ levy
-review of the RM40 per tonne discount on CPO price for east Malaysia

The state government has the voice and platform and should request for a review on the CPO taxes and cess such as discount on MPOB oil cess and subsidy for fertilizers.

To set a good leadership example the state government should take the lead by reviewing its 7.5% Sabah sales tax which is the highest in the country.

We cannot afford to wait and see for the impact to happen, our oil palm industry could be help, don’t wait until there are massive retrenchment of workers, acting at that time would be too late as the damage had been done and the government will have to fork out more to help those affected by the economic crisis.

Without the help from the Sabah State Government the oil palm industry that has been paying numerous taxes and cess to Federal and state government will collapse and I for one do not want to see them die-standing without being heard and getting help from Federal and State government so that they could survive the global economic crisis.

Source: http://akimomogun.blogspot.com/

Sabah DCM- Raymond Tan

What a big mouth for asking 2 parliament seats and 4 adun seats before forming of a new party!

Look at the mirror and think for yourself,if not because of SAPP and Yong Teck Lee whoever Sabahans know you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sabah Tourist Minister

Target for 3 million tourists to visit Sabah by 2009. The ministery is dreaming.. Nowadays the global economy is not in a stable situation and, noboby can forsee what's will the situation lies ahead and yet, targetting to have 3 millions? ????????

PDN & HEP Ministery

Talking all rubbish! Now claimed that government will use the 30 cents/litre earned from oil for the improvement of transportation.Where? In KL only?

Let's be fair. The money earned is not only from KL , is all from over the country.

After all who will monitor the whole thing? Cronies??????

- Show quoted text -

Salary cut for all ministers in Singapore

Singapore government had announced that due to the global economy situation the ministers and top government servants had agreed to reduce salaries. How's about our ministers and YBs?????????

Bukit Antarabansa

Actually the tragedy wouldnot have happened after the Highland Towers' collapsed sometime in 1993. The government and authority concerned had banned the buildings at the hillslope.

The ACA should check in details as who approved the plans and charge those respondsible to court.

Oil Palm in Sabah

According to record Sabah has the widest area with the plantation of oil-palm in Malaysia. Most of the Sabahans are still living in poverty.Want to know the reasons why? Most of the big plantations are from West Malaysia . Money they made had been sent back whereas only few have done some welfere......

Petronas in Sabah

Petronas is making hell lot of profits in Sabah and yet, what has she done to help Sabah ? She can build KLCC in KL why hasn't she built a KKCC or Tawau CC ? Sabahans are not asking a 110 storeys but at least 50 storeys?

Penang Deputy CM

Why should the UMNO Penang interfered the performance of PKR DCM? UMNO is facing hell lot of problems especially money politic. My advice is that you settle your own problems before you teach others !!!!!!!

Penang Deputy CM

By election-Kuala Trenggenu

How I admire the voters there. Money and projects will be pouring like rain that flooded Kelatan, Pahang and Trengganu just recently.

How I wish that in my place such as Semporna there will be a by-election. Off course I am not cursing my YBs.

I wish to have by election 'cause the inflation has gone up high and the commodities such as oil palm has down tremendously. By election at least can help to stimulate the market a little..........