HARAM 2.0: STADIUM MERDEKA TEMPAT MENCAPAI KEMERDEKAAN DAN BUKANNYA TEMPAT PERHIMPUNAN HARAM BERSIH 2.0
Read more: http://cetusankenyalang.blogspot.com/2011/07/haram-20-stadium-merdeka-tempat.html#ixzz1RMvZVl4f
PENAFIAN Sebarang maklumat, artikel, pandangan atau bahan penulisan yang tertera dalam blog ini yang bukan ditulis atau disediakan oleh pemilik blog adalah menjadi tanggungjawab atau liabiliti sepenuhnya penyumbang atau penghantar bahan berkenaan dan pemilik blog menafikan sebarang tanggungjawab atau liabiliti ke atas bahan itu.
by Samuel Aubrey. Posted on July 5, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/Pahlawan negara saran kerajaan lancar kempen kesedaran bahaya fahaman komunis
SRI AMAN: Seorang wira negara menyarankan supaya kerajaan melancarkan kempen publisiti secara meluas mengenai ideologi dan kesan fahaman komunis terhadap masyarakat bagi menangani kononnya cubaan mewujudkan semula fahaman itu menjelang perhimpunan haram pada 9 Julai ini.
Kanang anak Langkau, bekas Pegawai Waran 1, yang pernah terbabit dalam operasi memburu komunis, berkata generasi sekarang tidak akan memahami kezaliman dan kesengsaraan yang dihadapi oleh rakyat semasa pemberontakan komunis di negara ini pada 1948 hingga 1960.
“Salah satu cara menimbulkan kesedaran rakyat tentang fahaman komunis adalah dengan menceritakan sejarah ideologi komunis di Malaysia yang membawa kepada pembunuhan beramai-ramai pada zaman itu,” katanya kepada Bernama di sini semalam.
Kanang, yang berusia 67 tahun, merupakan satu-satunya penerima kedua-dua anugerah Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB) dan Seri Pahlawan (SP) yang masih hidup.
Katanya cubaan menghidupkan semula ideologi komunis mungkin terselindung di sebalik kemajuan teknologi dan maklumat dalam Internet sehingga gagal dikesan oleh kerajaan.
“Adalah penting bagi rakyat dan kerajaan mengesan elemen-elemen ini pada peringkat awal lagi,” katanya.
Sambil menyokong tindakan tegas polis dalam menjaga ketenteraman awam, Kanang berkata sudah tiba masa bagi menguatkuasakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) bagi memberi isyarat jelas kepada mereka yang berhasrat menyebarkan ideologi komunis di negara ini.
Beliau juga mencadangkan Kementerian Pelajaran memberi pendedahan mengenai bahaya fahaman komunis kepada pelajar dari peringkat sekolah rendah.
“Generasi muda perlu diajar menghargai pengorbanan perajurit negara dalam mengekalkan keamanan semasa era pemberontakan komunis di negara ini,” katanya
Kanang berkata salah satu sebab utama ramai masih jahil mengenai ancaman ideologi komunis adalah kerana keamanan dan keharmonian yang dinikmati oleh generasi muda sekarang.
“Adalah sedih dan tidak sensitif oleh kumpulan tertentu yang cuba menghidupkan semua ideologi komunis…satu tindakan yang tidak menghormati pengorbanan perwira negara dalam mempertahankan keamanan negara pada era itu,” katanya.
Keberanian Kanang dalam operasi memburu penganas komunis tercatat dalam sebuah buku berjudul “Kanang Cerita Seorang Pahlwan” yang ditulis oleh Mejar (B) Maznan Nordin dan diterbitkan oleh Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP). — Bernama
PETALING JAYA 22 Jun - Banyak pihak membantah perhimpunan haram 9 Julai ini dan Polis Selangor telah menerima 53 laporan polis dari seluruh negeri yang membantah perhimpunan itu setakat ini.
Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah berkata, laporan-laporan tersebut diterima daripada semua golongan termasuk orang perseorangan, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan pemandu teksi yang menyatakan tidak puas hati dengan perhimpunan haram itu.
"Kita terima semua laporan sejak awal bulan ini,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan sijil penghargaan kepada lima anggota polis yang berjaya memberkas suspek kes samun, di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Subang Jaya di sini hari ini.
Beliau juga mengingatkan masyarakat terutama di Selangor supaya tidak menyertai perhimpunan yang tidak mempunyai permit itu.
"Saya nasihatkan rakyat Selangor atau mereka yang hendak melalui Selangor untuk ke Kuala Lumpur supaya jangan pergi ke KL (Kuala Lumpur) pada hari berkenaan,” katanya. - Bernama
(SUMBER: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info)Posted on June 21, 2011, Tuesday
KUCHING: Krian assemblyman Ali Biju has rubbished rumours that he was prepared to jump to the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).
He said he was a staunch Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) man and that was where he would remain. Ali also made it clear that he did not speak to anybody when enquired if he ever spoke to SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan regarding the (jump) matter.
“No, it’s not true. I have not spoken to him,” he told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony at the State Legislative Assembly complex here yesterday.
On another matter, he stressed that the opposition elected representatives would not behave like a monkey during the DUN sitting, highlighting that all members would participate in the sitting with utmost respect.
“Believe me, we will not behave like monkeys. In fact, nobody would treat the august House as rubbish. What have been said by others before are mostly of their own interpretation,” Ali explained.
This could be interpreted as a response to PRS president Tan Sri James Masing who recently challenged the effectiveness of the opposition’s so-called shadow cabinet during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
Masing who is also Land Development Minister stated that the sitting would be interesting to watch, especially on whether the shadow cabinet could live up to its billing.
“Shadow cabinet is supposed to be a training ground for what would be the government in-waiting, and whether they behave like a government. If they behave like gentlemen, we will have gentlemen in the next government. Behave like a monkey, we will have a monkey in the government,” he told reporters after State’s BN pre-council meeting here on Sunday.
Ali also dismissed the giant-killer label after his strong showing in the recent state election where he garnered 5,178 votes to defeat SPDP deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok Entrie by 2,090-vote majority.
“My victory in Krian was down to the voters who dared and wanted change. This victory is for the people. Therefore, labeling me a giant-killer is an over statement,” he explained, adding that he was happy with his victory.
Ever-ready to serve the people, Ali stated that in this ongoing sitting, he would pose 10 questions and hoped that all would be answered by the relevant ministers.
“So far, all the questions that I’ve submitted are not rejected. I expect all the questions to be answered,” he said.
As this is his first term as an elected representative, he said he was very excited and eager to participate with the going-on and happenings in the sitting.
(Sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/21/ali-)Posted on June 22, 2011, Wednesday
KM buat kenyataan rasmi hari ini yang bakal mengejutkan pembangkang
KUCHING: Ketua Menteri, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud menjelaskan beliau akan membuat kenyataan rasmi pada hari ini (22 Jun) berkenaan dengan dakwaan rasuah yang dikaitkan de-ngan beliau.
Namun Taib yang ditemui pemberita semalam tidak mengulas lanjut bagaimana cara beliau menangani isu me-ngenai tindakan yang dibangkitkan pembangkang dengan menggunakan siasatan Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).
“Ya, saya akan membuat kenyataan rasmi esok (hari ini), pembangkang mengambil langkah yang salah. Apapun ada kejutan esok (hari ini),” katanya.
Beliau memberitahu demikian selepas menghadiri majlis perasmian Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Ke-17 yang dihadiri Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Sallahuddin di sini, semalam.
Pada 9 Jun lepas, Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed mengesahkan SPRM sedang menyiasat Taib berkenaan kes rasuah pembalakan.
Abu Kassim berkata demikian ketika mengulas me- ngenai pertanyaan sama ada SPRM akan mengendalikan tindakan yang sama seperti Swiss Anti-Corruption Agency, yang baru-baru ini membekukan aset Taib berhubung rasuah pembalakan.
Sementara itu pada satu sidang media yang diadakan baru-baru ini Speaker DUN Sarawak Dato Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar menjelaskan pada per-sidangan DUN kali ini dua usul yang dikemukakan.
Kedua-dua usul berkenaan adalah dari ADUN Bukit Assek Wong Ho Leng yang juga Pengerusi Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) Negeri dan salah satu daripada usul berkenaan, mengenai siasat-an SPRM terhadap Pejabat Ketua Menteri.
(sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/22/taib-jawab-dakwaan-rasuah/)
Posted on June 22, 2011, Wednesday
KUCHING: Kekurangan wakil rakyat Cina diakui menjadi kesukaran dalam menubuhkan barisan kabinet negeri baru.
Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata ia ekoran daripada kekalahan besar kepada Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) pada pilihan raya negeri lepas yang tewas 13 daripada 19 kerusi, dengan empat daripadanya ialah kerusi wakil rakyat Bumiputera.
“Sebenarnya ya (kepayahan) tetapi dari segi politik kadang kala ada pahit manisnya dan apa yang penting saya mahu ada cara lain lebih baik untuk menggalakan penyertaan kaum Cina dalam kerajaan.
“Ia amat penting kerana secara asasnya saya mahukan Sarawak sentiasa menjadi nege-ri pelbagai kaum,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian kepa-da pemberita selepas menghadiri majlis perasmian Persidang-an Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Ke-17 yang dihadiri Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Sallahuddin di sini, semalam.
Berhubung rombakan kabinet baru, Taib menjelaskan beliau memerlukan sedikit masa untuk mengkaji situasi politik semasa sebelum membuat rombakan sedia ada.
“Biar saya memikirkan ia dengan sebaiknya. Saya perlu mengkaji (keadaan politik semasa) dengan baik. Situasi kini agak kompleks.
“Perkara utama yang saya amat bimbangkan kini ialah, bagaimana saya akan mencari peluang bagi membolehkan wakil rakyat Cina meluahkan suara mereka dengan lebih selesa,” katanya.
Sementara itu menjawab pertanyaan mengenai susunan kerusi, yang mana Presiden Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Tan Sri James Masing kini duduk di kerusi bekas timbalan ketua menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan dalam susunan kedudukan kerusi DUN, sekali gus mengaitkan Masing sebagai timbalan ketua menteri yang baru, Taib berkata perkara itu hanya spekulasi.
“Ia hanya spekulasi.., sama ada kita mempunyai seorang atau tiga atau empat timbalan ketua menteri, saya tidak tahu.
“Biar kita lihat dulu penstrukturan semula kabinet,” katanya.
Ditanya sama ada jawatan timbalan ketua menteri itu diperuntukan kepada SUPP, Taib menjelaskan: “Kita lihat apa yang akan berlaku. Saya perlu berbincang dengan menteri kabinet lain dalam pelbagai cara.”
(sumber: Borneopost)


UMNO still retains Malay support. The support of the dominant Islamic race for Pas, an Islamist party that has been fighting neck and neck with Umno for the Malay ground for more than five decades, continues to dwindle.
This was reflected yesterday in Barisan Nasional's double victory in Merlimau and Kerdau, two Malay-majority constituencies, and in the results of recent Umno-Pas electoral battles.
Nearly 90 per cent of voters in Kerdau were Malays while Malays comprise 65 per cent of voters in Merlimau.
Umno candidates who represented BN in the by-elections secured a 3,643 vote-majority in Merlimau and a 2,724 vote-majority in Kerdau, higher than the results in the 2008 polls.
In 2004, BN candidates won Merlimau by 2,154 votes and Kerdau by 1,615.
At the last Umno-Pas showdown in Tenang, Johor, 83 per cent of Malay votes went to the Umno candidate.
The battle between the two parties in Galas, Kelantan, saw Pas' support reduced to about 10 per cent while the by-election in the almost exclusive Malay constituency of Manek Urai, also in Pas' home base of Kelantan, saw Pas' previous 1,352-vote majority slashed to 65.
Why are Malays, particularly in rural areas, returning to Umno?
One reason is the lack of trust in Pas to guarantee their future and that of their children.
Many are not convinced that their religious, economic and political priorities can be taken care of by Pas under the alliance it entered with Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the secular DAP, despite continuous assurances from Pas.
Recently, party spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said his party had never forsaken Malay rights.
At a Pas convention on empowering Malays in Selangor, the Kelantan menteri besar of 20 years said Pas prioritised the needs of Malays because they were the largest Islamic race in Malaysia.
The convention hoped to silence critics who had derided the party for being anti-Malay in aligning itself with DAP.
Another reason was people's fear of Pas' new politics. Pas even scared away its activists when it embraced non-Muslims as members.
The more conservative members and supporters, mostly in rural areas, think the party had deviated from its original struggle as an Islamic movement.
The Malay vote has seen the biggest shift to the opposition over the last five general elections, with Pas being the chief beneficiary.
The party's share of votes increased three-fold from about 376,000 in 1990 to 1.1 million in 2008.
As for Umno winning the Malay middle ground, the younger and more educated Malay voters, in particular, are crucial.
Umno needs to woo them since they are the real players of the new politics.
Nonetheless, the results of the by-elections not only boosted the morale of BN members but also acted as an endorsement of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's leadership and policies.
-New Straits Times
by Nick Fletcher. Posted on February 14, 2011, Monday
Projek mengguna pakai teknologi baru mulai menampakkan kejayaan: Fadillah

TUAI HASIL: Fadillah (tiga kanan) bersama salah seorang peserta projek, Bonnie Mbuh Udal (kanan) dan isteri, menuai hasil padi bukit di Tebedu.
TEBEDU: Pakej teknologi yang disyorkan dalam Projek Meningkatkan Potensi Hasil Padi Bukit diyakini mampu membawa hasil padi bukit menjadi entiti khusus kepada masyarakat di Sarawak.
Berbanding kaedah tanaman tradisional, pakej teknologi tersebut bukan sahaja dapat meningkatkan potensi hasil padi bukit negeri ini, malah membantu meningkatkan pendapatan para petani.
Timbalan Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (MOSTI) Datuk Fadillah Yusof berkata pelaksanaan projek yang bermula September 2009 dan dijangka berakhir pada Ogos 2011 kini telah menampakkan hasil yang memberangsangkan.
Menurut beliau, musim pertama projek adalah melibatkan seramai 31 peserta iaitu 27 orang dari Kampung Gahat Tebedu dan empat orang dari Kampung Sepadah Bau.
Sehubungan itu, katanya kajian bagi musim pertama itu telah menunjukkan purata hasil yang diperolehi bagi kedua-dua kawasan adalah meningkat.
“Projek di Kampung Gahat memperolehi hasil purata sebanyak 916 kg/ha berbanding hasil petak kawalan sebanyak 737 kg/ ha.
“Sementara di Kampung Sepadah telah berjaya memperoleh hasil sebanyak 2,021 kg/ha berbanding 1,419 kg/ha untuk petak kawalan,” katanya dalam sidang media di sini semalam.
Terdahulu, Fadillah yang juga Ahli Parlimen Petra Jaya melawat tapak projek di Kampung Gahat, di sini bagi meninjau perkembangan serta potensi hasil padi bukit menggunakan teknologi penanaman oleh Institut Penyelidikan dan Kemajuan Pertanian Malaysia (MARDI).
Selepas itu, beliau menyempurnakan majlis penyampaian sijil kepada para peserta projek dari Kampung Gahat, sebelum merasmikan mesin pelerai padi yang disumbangkan oleh MARDI.
Pelaksanaan Projek Meningkatkan Potensi Hasil Padi Bukit yang direalisasikan oleh MARDI adalah dibiayai dengan dana sebanyak RM1.3 juta di bawah dana TechnoFund MOSTI.
Pakej teknologi yang diperkenalkan dan digunakan dalam projek tersebut adalah melibatkan penapakan tanaman, pengurusan pembajaan, pengurusan rumpai, pengurusan penyakit dan perosak serta mekanisme penanaman dan penuaian.
Susulan peningkatan hasil daripada projek berkenaan, Fadillah berkata hasil kajian dan penyelidikan tersebut akan diaplikasikan kepada para petani yang terlibat dalam penanaman padi bukit di seluruh negeri.
“Hasil kajian dan penyelidikan yang diperolehi daripada projek ini nanti akan kami sampaikan kepada para petani di seluruh Sarawak, iaitu seramai lebih 80,000 orang, selain menumpukan kawasan-kawasan yang sesuai,” katanya.
Sementara itu, katanya projek terbabit turut mengatasi pemusnahan alam sekitar oleh kaedah tradisional iaitu tebang dan bakar, selain penanaman berpindah-randah.
“Dengan mengamalkan teknologi yang diperkenalkan, petak padi bukit adalah lebih tersusun dan tidak berpindah-randah dan ini akan mengurangkan masalah pencemaran udara akibat pembakaran terbuka, selain kemusnahan alam sekitar,” katanya.
Hadir sama ialah Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Penyelidikan) MARDI Datuk Dr Sharif Haron, Ketua Projek Meningkatkan Potensi Hasil Padi Bukit Dr Sariam Othman dan Ketua Pegawai Operasi Beras Corporation Sdn Bhd Sarawak Mohd Kamaluddin Mohd Effendie.
(sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=93297)

by Churchill Edward. Posted on February 14, 2011, Monday
KUCHING: Schools have to make special arrangement for students who wish to study Bible knowledge, now that the government has allowed them to take the subject after regular school hours.
Other arrangements include qualified teachers who must be focused and able to manage a big group of students.
Sarawak Teachers Union president William Ghani Bina said this when lauding the government’s move to ‘re-introduce’ the subject in secondary schools throughout Malaysia yesterday.
“The move is proper and good. Since more and more social ills keep cropping up, the move is welcomed. If all students are taught their respective religion in schools, I hope this could calm them down and also help to discipline them,” said Ghani, who is a Christian himself.
“Now that the government has decided on the matter, the school authority should make proper arrangement to ensure that the subject is being taught in schools successfully. There must also be sufficient number of qualified teachers. I am sure the number of students will be big (if they are taking the lesson inside halls). So teachers must be focused so that they can manage them well,” he said.
Ghani believed the move is part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak 1Malaysia’s campaign.
“It is the 1Malaysia move where we accept Islam as the country’s official religion but we also can have other religions being practised by others peacefully. This is wonderful because we will be able to teach our children to realise that, apart from our own religion, there are others who practise theirs,” he said.
Malaysia is a country where various religions exist in harmony. Bible Knowledge used to be a subject being taught for public examination in most schools in Sarawak previously. As years went by, the subject received little or no attention at all, especially in schools in urban areas. After Najib took over the Malaysia premiership, he wanted more sense of religious harmony among Malaysians.
Last Saturday in Penampang, Sabah, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said Bible Knowledge could now be taught to Christian students in government and mission secondary schools throughout the country but only after regular school hours.
Dompok, who chaired the Technical Committee for Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras, said the landmark decision was reached at the first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras, chaired by Najib on Feb 7.
“We believe this decision will go a long way towards a full realisation of the 1Malysia concept,” he told reporters in Penampang.
He said he hoped that the decision would enable students concerned to sit for Bible Knowledge as elective subject examination at Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level.
The cabinet committee meeting had also agreed to several other resolutions submitted by the Federation of Christian Mission Schools Malaysia last year, Dompok said then.
When contacted yesterday, Land Development Minister Dao Sri Dr James Masing also welcomed the federal government’s move to enhance the teaching of Bible Study throughout Malaysia.
“It is a positive development and in line with the 1Malyasia concept where we are to respect each other’s faith or belief,” he said.
The move is good for the people who want to study and master the Bible, he added.
“It is also a good move because it means people can do what they want to do,” he explained.
Masing also shared with Ghani the concern that there should be enough number of qualified teachers otherwise the Bible principles would be compromised.
“There must be qualified teachers as we do not want them to teach different things later on. There should also be enough number of teachers to teach Bible knowledge,” said Masing who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak president cum Baleh assemblyman.
Malaysians, he said, should be grateful as the Prime Minister (Najib) is ensuring that all citizens would be moving in the right direction.
(sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=93393)

KUALA LUMPUR 13 Feb. – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mendakwa beliau mempunyai dua pilihan sama ada mahu menetap di Washington atau kembali ke tanah air bagi menghadapi perbicaraan kes liwat.
Kenyataan tersebut hadir ketika pelbagai pihak kini mendedahkan ketua pembangkang itu sedang merancang melarikan diri ke luar negara bagi mengelak perbicaraan kes liwat kerana bimbang beliau akan dipenjara.
Anwar berkata demikian semasa berucap pada forum The Future of Democracy in the Islamic World, anjuran sebuah badan pemikir Amerika Syarikat, New America Foundation yang berpangkalan di Washington DC, Amerika Syarikat, Khamis lalu.
“Saya boleh pilih untuk tinggal di sini (Washington) dan tidak kembali ke Malaysia, tetapi pilihan telah dibuat. Satu kaki saya di Parlimen dan satu kaki lagi di penjara. Saya harus balik ke Malaysia esok dan perlu muncul di mahkamah pada 14 Februari.
“Muncul di mahkamah hanya sebagai satu syarat, sebab semua keputusan telah dirancang. Sekali anda didakwa, anda pasti akan dipenjarakan,” katanya seperti dipetik daripada laman blog http://www.anwaraidc.com. hari ini.
Dakwaan mengenai perancangan Anwar itu mula didedahkan sebuah blog, http://gerakan-anti-pkr.blogspot.com selepas ketua pembangkang tersebut berjaya menangguhkan kesnya sebanyak 50 kali.
Pendedahan itu kemudian disahut Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) dengan laporan polis dan pada masa sama, badan tersebut mendesak supaya pihak berkuasa menahan pasport Anwar dengan segera.
Turut menyokong desakan itu ialah Ummi Hafilda Ali yang mahu kerajaan bertindak tegas dengan menghalang Anwar daripada bebas untuk keluar dan masuk negara ini kerana ia boleh memberi imej buruk kepada negara.
Ummi Hafilda menambah, kerajaan tidak perlu berlembut dan memberi ruang kepada ketua pembangkang itu untuk berbuat demikian kerana sikapnya yang suka menyebarkan fitnah demi meraih simpati negara lain.
(sumber:http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?)
(sumber gambar: http://theunspinners.blogspot.com/2010/11/goncang-lebih-baik-anwar-lari-ke-luar.html)by Marilyn Tan. Posted on February 13, 2011, Sunday
PEOPLE have practised the art of tattooing since the dawn of time to enhance their looks and to serve as a symbol of spirituality, ranks, talismans and amulets.

LAST IBAN TATTOO ARTIST: Maung and his ‘magical’ tattoos. — Photos by Dr Lars Krutak)
In his quests to research and document these body arts, American cultural anthropologist, photographer and writer, Dr Lars Krutak, has travelled the world for more than 15 years, meeting indigenous peoples to learn more about their unique tattoos and the magical beliefs behind them as well as to document the vanishing traditions of tribal tattooing.
Fascinated by tattoos ever since he was a graduate student, he has studied the 2,000-year-old tradition of St Lawrence Island Yupiget tattoo among the last generation of practitioners for his Master’s thesis at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
Krutak was in Kuching recently to make a presentation at the Gathering of the Tribes 2011 – a Tribal and Tattoo Expo on various tattooing traditions from countries such as Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.
He also travelled to the outskirts of Sarawak with a small film crew, to interview Maung, the last Iban tattoo artist in Skrang, Sri Aman Division.
“When we arrived there, we learned Maung was really ill — and dying of cancer,” Krutak said of his trip that included two Iban tattoo artists.
“Surrounded by his female relatives, he had refused food for the past two weeks as he was ready to travel to the ‘longhouse’ of his ancestors — ultimately.”
Lying on his deathbed, Muang gave Krutak an incredible three-hour interview on the magical tattoos he created for ‘every man’ in Skrang.
According to Muang, of these men, 55 were Iban Rangers who fought heavily-armed Japanese soldiers during World War II with only mandau swords, blowguns and spears.
He said his tattoos protected him and the Rangers from harm.
“The Japanese bullets just went around and through me and I was never wounded.”
As related to Krutak, Muang credited this feat to his tattoos, saying his ‘protector spirit’ had led him to a meteorite in the jungle and he would later dip the object into every tattooing pigment he created to invoke magical powers for the tattoos.
Remarkably, of the 55 Rangers from the Skrang River who fought in the war, all but one returned home alive, Krutak recalled Muang telling him.
On his observations of the traditional tattoos of Sarawak, Krutak said the local body arts were one of the most beautiful in the world.
“The motifs and meanings of Sarawak tattoos are incredible and the elements and meanings are all connected.
“What I’ve learnt is that if you know how to read the tattoos, you can tell what they are about,” he said, adding that the tattoos also served as identification marks for the wearer.
Krutak suggested the traditional tattoos in Sarawak be preserved to perpetuate their values and true meanings.
“Maybe the indigenous people could do a research on local tattoos or start a foundation to preserve the history behind them. In the long run, I believe this will inspire the younger generation to document them as well.”
Today, Krutak works in the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of National History in Washington, DC.
In his continued effort to understand how tattoos and other forms of body modifications ‘make’ the people who wear them, he has acquired many traditional tattoos, including hand-tapped works from the Ibans, Kalinga of the Philippines and Mentawai of Indonesia; hand-poked art from Theravada Buddhist monks in Thailand and hand-pricked designs from the Kayabi of the Brazilian Amazon.
He also wears about 1,000 razor and knife-cut scars across his body which he received from other groups like the Kaningara of Papua New Guinea, the Betamarribe of Benin, the Mamar of Ethiopia and the Makonde of Mozambique.
Krutak’s books include the Tattooing Arts of Tribal Women, and the large format coffee table book Kalinga Tattoo: Ancient and Modern Expressions of the Tribal, focusing on the Kalinga people of northern Philippines.
sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=93186by Gaing Kunding. Posted on February 14, 2011, Monday
MUKAH: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday that Mukah town would become the headquarters of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) with the completion of the Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) building here soon.

MEMENTO: Taib (third right) receives a memento from Yeo as Ragad (fourth right), Fatimah (fourth left), Dr Muhammed Leo (right), Kang (second right) and others look on.
Speaking at a Chinese New Year celebration organised by the Mukah Chinese Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) at Kingwood Resort Mukah here, Taib said the chief executive officer (CEO) of RECODA would stay and work in Mukah once the RECODA building was completed.
He said the development would effectively transform Mukah town to become the administrative and operational capital of SCORE.
“This will not only facilitate better co-ordination and working relationship between the CEO and Mukah Resident, but would also enable them (CEO and Resident) to engage with the local people on any new economic and infrastructure development as well as economic spin-offs and job opportunities created by investments worth billions of ringgit in Mukah, Tanjung Manis and Samalaju in Bintulu Division. Taib stressed that Mukah, Tanjung Manis and Samalaju were poised to become the centres of development under SCORE.
Taib said, among others, a company has set up a food processing laboratory using biotechnology (chemical free) in Tanjung Manis Halal Hub costing about RM2 billion while in Samalaju nine big factories with modern facilities costing several billions of ringgit would be set up, with the first one constructed by Tokoyama to produce polysilicon recently.
The chief minister also said the government was in the process of designing a new master plan for Mukah, Tanjung Manis and Samalaju to accommodate the ever increasing population, adding that it would be implemented by next year.
Taib also pledged to give financial assistance to outstanding students from poor background to enable them to enter university and other higher learning institutions.
“Therefore, it is very important for the people to remain united at all times in order to enjoy the fruits of development together because any quarrel or conflict will only destroy the people’s livelihood,” he said.
In his speech, Mukah Member of Parliament Dato Sri Dr Muhammed Leo Toyad said the people of Mukah and Balingian strongly supported Taib as the chief minister and Balingian assemblyman.
Meanwhile, in his welcoming speech, MCCC chairman Yeo Tiong Ing said the Chinese community in Mukah fully supported Taib’s leadership to bring greater economic and infrastructural development to Mukah and the surrounding areas.
Dr Muhammed Leo and Yeo are joint-organising chairman of the celebration which was also attended by Taib’s wife Puan Sri Ragad Waleed Alkurdi Taib, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah and her husband Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah, Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie, Mukah Resident Saudi Narani and Kapitan Kang Boon Eong.
sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=93240Posted on February 14, 2011, Monday
KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said he planned to keep Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office Larry Sng around for some time.

FOR PROSPERITY: (from left) Hanifah, Jabu, Chan, Taib, Ragad, Catherine and Empiang tossing the ‘yee sang’ during the Chinese New Year Open House yesterday. – Photo by Jonathan Bullet
The state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman said Sng is useful to the government and loyal to the BN.
“I can still keep him because he’s a very useful fellow. He works very well, and his loyalty to BN is unquestionable,” he told reporters yesterday.
Taib was met at the Chinese New Year Open House organised by Kuching City South Council (MBKS) and CATS FM at Dewan Masyarakat in Padungan here.
He was responding to a query on whether the BN has decided on Sng’s status as he is still partyless after being sacked by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) a few years ago. Sng was said to have applied to join BN as a direct member and direct candidate in the coming state election. Talks are rife that his application was rejected during last Friday’s BN supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
According to a BN leader who did not want to be named, the Pelagus assemblyman is in a unique position where his former party PRS does not want him but the state government still does.
Yesterday, Taib was accompanied by his wife Puan Sri Ragad Waleed Alkurdi Taib, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang and wife Datin Patinggi Dato Sri Empiang Jabu.
Also present were event chairperson and CATS FM executive director Datin Hanifah Taib Alsree, MBKS mayor James Chan and wife Catherine Sng.
On the issue that Mayor James Chan might be aiming to be a politician, Taib said that would be up to Chan.
But when pressed further he said: “I don’t know but so far he doesn’t show any interest in politics.”
On another matter, Taib spoke on how smaller local governments need to focus on social and cultural leadership because they are the ones nearest to the ground.
“Society is always in a flux in the presence of rapid change. We have to provide people with an avenue to find out how they can participate and serve society in the way they think they are best at according to their talent and leadership patterns,” he said.
He encouraged budding leaders to step up and serve the city.
“Kuching has a lot of clever, professional people with leadership qualities that can get other people to come together. And they want to serve.”
Taib pointed out that Kuching is growing fast and yet most neighbours don’t even know each other. He urged people to be imaginative and create opportunities for neighbours to make friends.
In his speech, MBKS mayor James Chan said that the event was organised to bring companies and non-governmental organisations to work with the council and hold an open house for the people of Kuching.
“Through this unique open house, we hope to strengthen the neighourhood spirit, tolerance amongst people in our multi-racial and cultural society as well as foster and strengthen bonds amongst family members and friends,” he said.
sumber http://www.theborneopost.com/?attachment_id=93230
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 25 Jan. - Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim sewajarnya melepaskan jawatan sebagai Menteri Besar Selangor setelah usul untuk meminda Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Selangor tidak diluluskan pada Sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) semalam.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, usul tersebut bukan sahaja tidak sepatutnya dibawa ke sidang DUN bahkan menimbulkan suasana kurang selesa masyarakat kerana terlalu banyak perkara yang dipolitikkan oleh pakatan pembangkang.
Katanya, sidang DUN itu diadakan hanya kerana Kerajaan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Selangor tidak bersetuju dengan pelantikan Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi sebagai Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri (SUK) yang baru walaupun mendapat perkenan Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
"Kenapa mesti bawa isu pelantikan SUK itu ke sidang DUN, kalau sudah kalah (usul ditolak) dia mesti meletakkan jawatan, keadaan sekarang ini semakin bercempera," katanya ketika menjawab soalan pada sesi dialog sempena majlis makan malam bersama kira-kira 250 rakyat Malaysia di Pejabat Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Malaysia di sini malam ini.
Sebelum itu, seorang jemputan menyentuh tentang pelbagai perkara yang dipolitikkan di Malaysia sehingga menyebabkan suasana dalam negara dilihat sebagai 'panas'.
Muhyiddin mengakui, suasana politik sekarang memang terlalu panas kerana banyak sangat perkara yang dipolitikkan oleh pakatan pembangkang termasuk pelantikan SUK.
Katanya, kerajaan negeri di bawah pembangkang sepatutnya mengetepikan soal politik dan memberi tumpuan perkhidmatan kepada rakyat. - Utusan
sumber: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/infoby Philip Kiew. Posted on January 26, 2011, Wednesday
LIMBANG: The state government is consistent in NCR land recognition as reflected in traditional village settlements, perimeter survey, new initiatives and compensation payment for land acquired.

THANK YOU: Awang Tengah (centre) presents cheque and newly minted land title to a recipient under the Tahai initiative of Limbang Division Land and Survey Department, witnessed by (from left) Dr Rahman, Hasbi, Henry, Paulus and Zamri in the background.
Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said this at the presentation of land compensation and issuance of land titles by Limbang Division Land and Survey Department at Kampung Meritam in Limbang yesterday.
The compensation was for the 26 hectares of land involving 75 lots and 25 lots acquired in Kampung Ipai and Kampung Telahak respectively for a drainage and irrigation system by the government to boost agriculture productivity.
He said the compensation underscored the government’s policy of paying for legitimate land owners for land acquisition for projects of public interest.
On the traditional village settlement, of which tens of thousands has been issued since it started in 1966 in Sarawak, he said Kampung Meritam would be included in this programme this year.
“This is a continuous programme and it is impossible to survey and issue individual titles overnight as this is time-consuming as it involved so many villages scattered throughout this big state, and the department has manpower constraint,” he said.
Tengah urged the people to have realistic expectations as the department also have other priorities.
The department has earmarked Kampung Kelapa Mawar, Kampung Ula, Kampung Meritam, Kampung Bung Abai in Limbang district for this programme this year.
Perimeter survey of NCR land, he said, required the people’s cooperation with the Land and Survey Department.
The 1.5 million hectares of NCR land for survey required time, and the RM20 million allocated last year has enabled 20,000 hectares spread out in 27 different locations in the state to be surveyed.
The state government has spread it out to include every community in the state. Other places earmarked in Limbang district include Paya Lakap and Batu Lapan.
“The Department has been told to move on to other villages if a village is embroiled in land disputes over petty issues as there are many waiting for their turn,” he said of the need for local cooperation.
Limbang Division Land and Survey superintendent Awang Zamhari said the drainage project involving land acquisition would boost agricultural activities in the area.
Also present were Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah and his Lawas counterpart Datuk Henry Sum Agong, state assemblymen Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (Bukit Kota) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) and community leaders.
sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=89742
Posted on January 26, 2011, Wednesday
KUCHING: The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Sarawak branch scored a major success recently when it seized a total of 54.5 tonnes of subsidised sugar valued at more than RM189,000 bound for the border.

SEIZED: Wan Ahmad (third right) and his officers show reporters the gas cylinders seized from the wholesaler. — Bernama photo
State director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman said the seizure came about in Tebedu near the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint when officers detained a foreign-registered lorry as it was about to cross the border.
“The lorry was laden with 103 gunny sacks of subsidised sugar weighing 5.15 metric tonnes, worth RM81,330
“From there, we were led to a warehouse belonging to a wholesaler where a further 49.36 metric tonnes of subsidised sugar worth RM108,605 was found,” said Wan Ahmad during a press conference held at the ministry’s office here yesterday.
He revealed that at the time of the raid, workers at the warehouse were busy re-packing the subsidised sugar into generic gunny sacks and packets in an attempt to conceal their crime from authorities.
The wholesale company, he pointed out, had violated the Control Supply Act 1961 at it was only licensed to hold a maximum of 40 metric tonnes of subsidised sugar at any one time.
In addition to the sugar, ministry officers also seized 120 gas cylinders worth RM11,592 from the warehouse after it was found the company was not authorised to sell the item.
According to Wan Ahmad, the operation, which took place on January 22 and 23, came after three weeks of observation following numerous complaints from the public regarding the smuggling of controlled items such as sugar, cooking oil and gas cylinders across the border.
When asked, he conceded that the seized sugar was likely destined for a neighbouring country, where the retail price was RM3.80 per kg compared to RM2.20 here.
Wan Ahmad also added the wholesale company faces a fine not exceeding RM250,000, or RM500,000 for a second offence, if found guilty in court.
He called on the public to assist by providing tip-offs to the ministry regarding smuggling activities, and assured that his men would continue to monitor all land exit routes out of the country, particularly at all CIQ checkpoints, to curb the smuggling of controlled items.
sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=89711by Philip Kiew. Posted on January 20, 2011, Thursday
Dark skies continue to threaten much of Miri as authorities fly in aid to flood victims

THERE YOU GO: Jabu hands out relief assistance, which was airlifted by Hornbill Skyways helicopters to Ulu Niah, to folks of Rumah Rangong
BATU NIAH: Relief assistance was flown to flood hit areas in Niah, Tinjar, and the Tutoh-Apoh region as flood waters receded yesterday.
But, at press time, the gloomy-looking sky looked set to unleash another round of heavy rain.
Flood waters in Ulu Teru and Ulu Tinjar in Marudi district and Ulu Niah in Niah sub-district started receding yesterday.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, accompanied by Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Stephen Rundi and Miri Resident Antonio Kathi Galis, yesterday flew into Miri Division for the second consecutive day to spearhead the delivery of assistance to the flood victims.
Among the food supplies distributed yesterday were baby powder to 69-door Rumah Rangong and 63-door Rumah Belilie which were the worst affected in Ulu Niah.
As the roads were still impassable, the assistance was flown in by Nuri helicopters and those from Hornbill Skyways.
Longhouse residents in Rumah Rangong told Jabu that the flood waters rose so rapidly on Monday night that they were literally caught with their pants down.
They were torn between saving their properties, salvaging their livestock and moving their vehicles to higher grounds.
A lorry ferrying food to an oil palm estate was found submerged right to its rooftop, while vehicles parked at a bridge at Sungai Sepiki were deep under the flood waters.
“This is the worst in history, with water rising to a foot above the floor. It was so bad that I have to put my nine pigs in the ‘sadau’ (attic) for a night,” said Siba Ngelambong, 55, of Rumah Rangong.
The attempt by Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and his entourage to send supplies on Tuesday was thwarted by the swift flowing water across the flooded sections of Ulu Niah road, prompting a call to the Royal Malaysian Air Force to assist yesterday.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Sylvester Entri Muran said the flood situation in the Tinjar basin was still bad although the water level had receded by about half a metre in Long Loyang and some longhouses in Ulu Tinjar.
He flew by helicopter yesterday with Telang Usan state assemblyman Lihan Jok for the second day to visit flood-hit areas in Tinjar and Tutoh-Apoh.
They managed to visit Ulu Teru and Long Bemang before bad weather forced them to abort their journey to Long Teran and return to Miri.
“I worry for those people in Sungai Tinjar. Although flood has started receding in the upper reaches, the heavy overcast sky yesterday evening might mean the flood waters could return,” he told The Borneo Post.
Entri said he would try to visit them by boat today after stopping by Bakong and Marudi.
sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=88528
by Jacob Achoi. Posted on November 25, 2010, Thursday
CM says next state election could be held any time in the next few months

GOOD TO BE BACK: Taib cuddles his grandson as he is welcomed by Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu (right) and Tan Sri Dr George Chan (second right) upon his arrival at Hornbill Skyways hangar at Kuching International Airport.
KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud already has the date of the next state election in his mind.
However, although he had the inspiration, he would not disclose the date just yet.
He spoke to reporters yesterday at the Hornbill Skyways hangar after returning from his pilgrimage.
Taib, who is the state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said the state election could be held in any of the 12 months of the year.
“Between now and the actual date of the election, it is a matter of getting prepared,” he said.
The term of the current State Legislative Assembly expires in July next year, but political observers have predicted that the state election would be held next month at the earliest and March or April at the latest.
The state BN has 62 seats out of 71 in the assembly, with 34 held by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), 12 by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP)(including Engkilili assemblyman – Dr Johnical Rayong), eight by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and eight by Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).
The rest of the seats are held by DAP (nine), PKR (one) and Independent (one).
On his pilgrimage Taib said it was very good, adding that he was only thinking about the religion (Islam).
“I have a very good time, and the greatest change was the peaceful state of my mind because I was not working,” he said.
Both deputy chief ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu were present to welcome Taib.
Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Dato Sri Awang Asfia Awang Nassar, Land Development Minister Dato Sri James Masing and other cabinet and assistant ministers were also present.
Sumber: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6695809137835682200)