http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=53642
More Rela members to look after rural airport security
Posted on July 30, 2010, Friday
KUCHING: More People’s Vigilante Corps (Rela) members will be recruited to specifically look after the security of rural airports, said Deputy Transport Minister Jelaing Mersat.
According to him, the government has started using Rela members to look after airport security at Long Banga in April.
“We are seriously looking at the security aspects of airports,” Jelaing told a press conference yesterday.
He added that at the moment six Rela members are deployed each time at a rural airport such as the ones in Bario, Long Banga and Long Akah.
Earlier on, he launched MASwings and Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) joint safety, security and health campaign at Kuching International Airport.
The two-day programme was aimed at reinforcing safety and security measures to prevent injuries and fatalities.
Jelaing revealed that training for Rela members deployed at airports would be conducted by airport authorities.
According to him, previously security at rural airports was very lax, relying mostly on the locals.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
In memory of Semut Operation
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/28/sarawak/6737215&sec=sarawak
Wednesday July 28, 2010
In memory of Semut Operation
Story and photos by YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
WHILE growing up in Australia, Jack Tredea had never heard of the Kelabit tribe and the reverse must also be true for the Bario highlanders.
On March 25, 1945, the tranquillity of Bario in Miri division was rudely broken. In the quiet of the morning, the natives awoke to the drone of war planes.
As a beam of sunlight pierced through the dispersing clouds and the residents of two longhouses saw mushroom-like parachutes dropping down near the padi fields.
Moments earlier, Tredea, a member of the Allied Forces Semut Operation, peered through a small window on a tiny aircraft. What he saw was completely foreign to him.
The highlands, about 1.2km above sea level, was a remote place on Borneo island and this was why it was chosen as the launch site for the resistance against the Japanese occupation.
Tourism potential: Sarawak Tourism Federation president Wee Hong Seng (left) and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan talking about eco-tourism packages of the Semut trail that will be implemented in stages.
Another reason for its selection was because mineral prospectors from Dutch Borneo (as Kalimantan was known then) had made a rudimentary map of the area. Besides a little geographical information, there was no other documentation of the highlands.
It is hard to convey the sense of foreignness that Tredea felt. Here was a young Australian soldier looking at the complete unknown.
Imagine the fear of landing in enemy territory with just a map drawn up by prospectors who didn’t find any minerals worth mining?
“We did not know what lay below as we jumped out of the plane,” Tredea said during a return trip to Bario earlier this year.
“I was a young man. I had a wife and child in Australia and we were at war with the Japanese. But to my delight, the people opened their hearts to us.”
Tredea’s visit to Bario was to mark the 65th anniversary of Semut Operation. The Sarawak government has erected a memorial at the landing site in recognition of the contributions of the Allied Forces.
Reflecting back: Tredea (second from left) and his family members visiting the site with Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining (left) in Bario in March.
The importance of Semut Operation cannot be overstated.
What started out as a top-secret reconnaissance mission brought about the downfall of the Japanese and paved the way for the formation of Malaysia 20 years later.
It is impossible to imagine what it would be like now if Tredea and his team mates led by Major Tom Harrison of the British Army (who later becoming the Sarawak Museum’s famous curator) failed.
The significance of their mission never dawned on the small team at the time.
Fewer than 10 Allied commandos were part of Semut. Two successful landings occurred in Bario, each carrying just four personnel.
One other mission landed across the border in Dutch Borneo.
While the Bario residents received Tredea’s people warmly, their counterparts on Dutch Borneo were not so lucky. The natives there, fearful of a Japanese retribution, reported the commandos presence and were swiftly beheaded.
“It was very dangerous for the Kelabit and Lun Bawang people to help us Australians,” Tredea recalled.
“If your people (Kelabits) were caught by the Japanese, they would have faced great cruelty. Your people were incredibly brave, loyal and helpful.”
The memorial: Marking the landing site of Semut Operation team 65 years ago.
The first batch of Semut commandos hiked through the interior and reached Sibu on foot. They made maps, recorded important information and recruited natives along the way.
However, their personal experiences have not been well documented. After all, it was just a reconnaissance mission.
What is known is that the operation mobilised 2,000 tribal warriors from the Baram and Rejang basins.
By conservative estimates, the operation may have killed 265 enemy members, but it recaptured 25,000 square miles of Sarawak from the Japanese without a single casualty to the commandos.
Tredea is the only Semut commando still alive.
“My biggest regret is that my fellow commandos could not make this trip with me,” he said.
During Tredea’s visit, he was accompanied by his great grand-daughter and son in law.
“I wanted them to meet the beautiful people of Bario who were so kind to me and my colleagues so many years ago,” he said.
With him was Network Seven, Australia’s largest commercial television station, retracing the trail of 65 years ago.
The memorial marks the start of the trail which is open to tourists.
“Its design follows the spirit of freedom and unity,” said Sarawak Tourism Federation Heritage Development Committee chairman Lim Kian Hock.
“Through it, we hope to display the outstanding values of local tribal warriors and the commandos – lest we forget.”
Wednesday July 28, 2010
In memory of Semut Operation
Story and photos by YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
WHILE growing up in Australia, Jack Tredea had never heard of the Kelabit tribe and the reverse must also be true for the Bario highlanders.
On March 25, 1945, the tranquillity of Bario in Miri division was rudely broken. In the quiet of the morning, the natives awoke to the drone of war planes.
As a beam of sunlight pierced through the dispersing clouds and the residents of two longhouses saw mushroom-like parachutes dropping down near the padi fields.
Moments earlier, Tredea, a member of the Allied Forces Semut Operation, peered through a small window on a tiny aircraft. What he saw was completely foreign to him.
The highlands, about 1.2km above sea level, was a remote place on Borneo island and this was why it was chosen as the launch site for the resistance against the Japanese occupation.
Tourism potential: Sarawak Tourism Federation president Wee Hong Seng (left) and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan talking about eco-tourism packages of the Semut trail that will be implemented in stages.
Another reason for its selection was because mineral prospectors from Dutch Borneo (as Kalimantan was known then) had made a rudimentary map of the area. Besides a little geographical information, there was no other documentation of the highlands.
It is hard to convey the sense of foreignness that Tredea felt. Here was a young Australian soldier looking at the complete unknown.
Imagine the fear of landing in enemy territory with just a map drawn up by prospectors who didn’t find any minerals worth mining?
“We did not know what lay below as we jumped out of the plane,” Tredea said during a return trip to Bario earlier this year.
“I was a young man. I had a wife and child in Australia and we were at war with the Japanese. But to my delight, the people opened their hearts to us.”
Tredea’s visit to Bario was to mark the 65th anniversary of Semut Operation. The Sarawak government has erected a memorial at the landing site in recognition of the contributions of the Allied Forces.
Reflecting back: Tredea (second from left) and his family members visiting the site with Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining (left) in Bario in March.
The importance of Semut Operation cannot be overstated.
What started out as a top-secret reconnaissance mission brought about the downfall of the Japanese and paved the way for the formation of Malaysia 20 years later.
It is impossible to imagine what it would be like now if Tredea and his team mates led by Major Tom Harrison of the British Army (who later becoming the Sarawak Museum’s famous curator) failed.
The significance of their mission never dawned on the small team at the time.
Fewer than 10 Allied commandos were part of Semut. Two successful landings occurred in Bario, each carrying just four personnel.
One other mission landed across the border in Dutch Borneo.
While the Bario residents received Tredea’s people warmly, their counterparts on Dutch Borneo were not so lucky. The natives there, fearful of a Japanese retribution, reported the commandos presence and were swiftly beheaded.
“It was very dangerous for the Kelabit and Lun Bawang people to help us Australians,” Tredea recalled.
“If your people (Kelabits) were caught by the Japanese, they would have faced great cruelty. Your people were incredibly brave, loyal and helpful.”
The memorial: Marking the landing site of Semut Operation team 65 years ago.
The first batch of Semut commandos hiked through the interior and reached Sibu on foot. They made maps, recorded important information and recruited natives along the way.
However, their personal experiences have not been well documented. After all, it was just a reconnaissance mission.
What is known is that the operation mobilised 2,000 tribal warriors from the Baram and Rejang basins.
By conservative estimates, the operation may have killed 265 enemy members, but it recaptured 25,000 square miles of Sarawak from the Japanese without a single casualty to the commandos.
Tredea is the only Semut commando still alive.
“My biggest regret is that my fellow commandos could not make this trip with me,” he said.
During Tredea’s visit, he was accompanied by his great grand-daughter and son in law.
“I wanted them to meet the beautiful people of Bario who were so kind to me and my colleagues so many years ago,” he said.
With him was Network Seven, Australia’s largest commercial television station, retracing the trail of 65 years ago.
The memorial marks the start of the trail which is open to tourists.
“Its design follows the spirit of freedom and unity,” said Sarawak Tourism Federation Heritage Development Committee chairman Lim Kian Hock.
“Through it, we hope to display the outstanding values of local tribal warriors and the commandos – lest we forget.”
Rela targets 2.6 million members
http://tribune.my/prime/1308-rela-targets-26-million-members.html
Rela targets 2.6 million members
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 11:51
TUARAN (Sabah): Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela) or Malaysian Voluntary Corp targets to recruit 2.6 million members by year-end.
This was announced by the secretary- general to the Ministry of Home Affairs Dato’ Sri Mahmood Adam during the handing-over of honorary rank to several individuals at the Rela training centre here over the weekend.
“The targeted figure is double the existing membership of 1.3 million. This is to realize the vision of turning Rela into a third security institution in the country after the army and police.
Once this target had been achieved Rela would embark on spreading its wings into the Association of South East Asian (Asean) countries particularly Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, he added.
He made the address when presenting honorary ranks to 34 high ranking officers of the Home Affairs Ministry, selected members of the public and personnel from the media fraternity.
Heading the list of the recipients was Home Ministry’s deputy secretary-general Dato Raja Azahar bin Raja Abdul Manap who was given the Honorary Major-General.
Others who received the same rank were Dato’ Haji Mohd Nor Hashim, Dato’ Bakir Haji Zin and Dato’ Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi.
Four other s received the Honorary Brigadier-General; 18 Honorary Colonels; five Honorary Lieutenant Colonels; and three Honorary Major.
Seventeen media practitioners from Sabah, three from Sarawak and two from Peninsular Malaysia were also awarded the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel and Major.
The Sarawak trio are New Sarawak Tribune’s executive editor Paul Si Poh Lim (Lieutenant Colonel), See Hua Daily News regional news manager Chia Chew Boon (Lieutenant Colonel) and the Group Editor-in- Chief of New Sarawak Tribune and Utusan Sarawak William Chan (Major).
Meanwhile, Sarawak Rela director Brigadier-General Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan, who was also present at the function told the New Sarawak Tribune that Rela personnel in Sarawak were also tasked with guarding six Short Take-Off Landing Port (Stolport) airstrips in Bario, Ba’ Kelalan, Long Lellang, Long Akah, Long Seridan and Long Banga.
“Each Stolport station is provided with 12 to 14 personnel who works 24 hours in three shifts,” he said.
Rela Sarawak has 112,000 members spread throughout the state.
Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Pasang of Bario meanwhile, disclosed that the membership drive in the rural area had improved tremendously.
“We have 18 platoons in our area now, compared to only three in 2003. Each platoon comprises 33 personnel. Our members comprise people of various ethnics namely Kelabit, Penan, Saban and Kenyah,” he said.
Rela members in the rural areas helped look after the air-strips, monitor illegal immigrants, subsidy abuse and assisting in combating criminal activities.
Jeffrey suggested that the honorary high-ranking personnel be given allowances considering that they perform leadership activities to ensure the progress of Rela members.
Rela targets 2.6 million members
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 11:51
TUARAN (Sabah): Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela) or Malaysian Voluntary Corp targets to recruit 2.6 million members by year-end.
This was announced by the secretary- general to the Ministry of Home Affairs Dato’ Sri Mahmood Adam during the handing-over of honorary rank to several individuals at the Rela training centre here over the weekend.
“The targeted figure is double the existing membership of 1.3 million. This is to realize the vision of turning Rela into a third security institution in the country after the army and police.
Once this target had been achieved Rela would embark on spreading its wings into the Association of South East Asian (Asean) countries particularly Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, he added.
He made the address when presenting honorary ranks to 34 high ranking officers of the Home Affairs Ministry, selected members of the public and personnel from the media fraternity.
Heading the list of the recipients was Home Ministry’s deputy secretary-general Dato Raja Azahar bin Raja Abdul Manap who was given the Honorary Major-General.
Others who received the same rank were Dato’ Haji Mohd Nor Hashim, Dato’ Bakir Haji Zin and Dato’ Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi.
Four other s received the Honorary Brigadier-General; 18 Honorary Colonels; five Honorary Lieutenant Colonels; and three Honorary Major.
Seventeen media practitioners from Sabah, three from Sarawak and two from Peninsular Malaysia were also awarded the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel and Major.
The Sarawak trio are New Sarawak Tribune’s executive editor Paul Si Poh Lim (Lieutenant Colonel), See Hua Daily News regional news manager Chia Chew Boon (Lieutenant Colonel) and the Group Editor-in- Chief of New Sarawak Tribune and Utusan Sarawak William Chan (Major).
Meanwhile, Sarawak Rela director Brigadier-General Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan, who was also present at the function told the New Sarawak Tribune that Rela personnel in Sarawak were also tasked with guarding six Short Take-Off Landing Port (Stolport) airstrips in Bario, Ba’ Kelalan, Long Lellang, Long Akah, Long Seridan and Long Banga.
“Each Stolport station is provided with 12 to 14 personnel who works 24 hours in three shifts,” he said.
Rela Sarawak has 112,000 members spread throughout the state.
Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Pasang of Bario meanwhile, disclosed that the membership drive in the rural area had improved tremendously.
“We have 18 platoons in our area now, compared to only three in 2003. Each platoon comprises 33 personnel. Our members comprise people of various ethnics namely Kelabit, Penan, Saban and Kenyah,” he said.
Rela members in the rural areas helped look after the air-strips, monitor illegal immigrants, subsidy abuse and assisting in combating criminal activities.
Jeffrey suggested that the honorary high-ranking personnel be given allowances considering that they perform leadership activities to ensure the progress of Rela members.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Four named as political secretaries to the CM
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/27/sarawak/6736504&sec=sarawak
Tuesday July 27, 2010
Four named as political secretaries to the CM
By VANES DEVINDRAN
vanes@thestar.com.my
FOUR members of Sarawak Barisan Nasional parties have been appointed as political secretaries to the Chief Minister.
The four are Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Piasau branch women’s section chairperson Kijan Toynbee @ Ipang, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) women’s section exco vice-chairperson Angeline Umih Tujok, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) ordinary member Tengku Gruna and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) youth chief Sih Hua Tong.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu witnessed their swearing-in at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Kuching yesterday.
Jabu said the good mix would bring about healthy competition among them to do their best.
“I’m confident they will do their best to assist the state. They will need to fulfil the requirements of the Key Performance Index,” he told reporters later.
Kijan is a Miri City councillor of 15 years and has been in politics for 35 years.
The 54-year-old Kelabit from Bario is also chairperson of the women’s section of the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Malaysia.
Angeline has been in politics since 2006 and a former ex-councillor of the Kapit District Council. The 52-year-old Kayan from Belaga currently works as an administrative executive in a Kuching firm.
Tengku has been with PBB since 1999 and is an auditor of the Katibas branch.
This 50-year-old former banker is from Song, Kapit, holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration majoring in Entrepreneurship.
Sih, meanwhile, has been with SUPP for 17 years and is a full-time politician.
This 46-year-old father of two holds a Bachelors Degree in Science (Physics) from Universiti Malaya and hails from Saratok.
Tuesday July 27, 2010
Four named as political secretaries to the CM
By VANES DEVINDRAN
vanes@thestar.com.my
FOUR members of Sarawak Barisan Nasional parties have been appointed as political secretaries to the Chief Minister.
The four are Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Piasau branch women’s section chairperson Kijan Toynbee @ Ipang, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) women’s section exco vice-chairperson Angeline Umih Tujok, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) ordinary member Tengku Gruna and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) youth chief Sih Hua Tong.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu witnessed their swearing-in at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Kuching yesterday.
Jabu said the good mix would bring about healthy competition among them to do their best.
“I’m confident they will do their best to assist the state. They will need to fulfil the requirements of the Key Performance Index,” he told reporters later.
Kijan is a Miri City councillor of 15 years and has been in politics for 35 years.
The 54-year-old Kelabit from Bario is also chairperson of the women’s section of the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Malaysia.
Angeline has been in politics since 2006 and a former ex-councillor of the Kapit District Council. The 52-year-old Kayan from Belaga currently works as an administrative executive in a Kuching firm.
Tengku has been with PBB since 1999 and is an auditor of the Katibas branch.
This 50-year-old former banker is from Song, Kapit, holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration majoring in Entrepreneurship.
Sih, meanwhile, has been with SUPP for 17 years and is a full-time politician.
This 46-year-old father of two holds a Bachelors Degree in Science (Physics) from Universiti Malaya and hails from Saratok.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
PM’s visits raise election questions
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/24/nation/6719050&sec=nation
Saturday July 24, 2010
PM’s visits raise election questions
Analysis by WONG SAI WAN
There seems to be more than what meets the eye in the frequent visits by the Prime Minister and his deputy to Sarawak and Sabah in the past five months.
THURSDAY’S visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Long Banga, near the border between Sarawak and Kalimantan and probably the most rural part of Malaysia that one can get to, has raised the eyebrows of quite a few political observers.
For the Kuching-based pundits, this is the clearest signal yet that the state election is imminent – after all, Najib has effectively closed the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issue saying the land in question would be surveyed and titles issued.
NCR land is the most contentious issue in the state and was threatening to loosen Barisan Nasional’s grip on Sarawak.
Four years ago, the renewal of lease-land cost the ruling coalition many urban seats. Najib’s recent announcement was targeted to stop the loss of any rural seats.
One Sarawakian commentator reckons that Najib’s five visits in the past five months and the NCR announcement means the state election would be held soon.
Najib’s visits have been supplemented by those of his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who has been to Sarawak as frequently as his boss, if not more, reinforcing speculation of an imminent state election.
The two have also paid equal attention to Sabah.
Najib has been there every month since April and Muhyiddin has been there thrice in the same period but the Sabah state election is not due until 2013.
For Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, the frequent trips show the importance of the two states and that the top leaders are “working hard to secure Barisan’s biggest vote banks.”
“It’s also worth noting that the Pakatan Rakyat leaders have been making frequent trips as well.”
Khairy says the Barisan is concerned because its loss in the Sibu by-election indicated that if it doesn’t buck up, it could lose more seats.
Political scientist and UCSI University lecturer Dr Ong Kian Ming agrees, saying the frequent trips to Sabah and Sarawak, in particular, reflect a recognition on Najib’s part that these two states can no longer be considered “safe deposits” for the Barisan.
The Sarawak election has to be called by July next year and the earliest possible date to do it is October after the fasting month.
However, because of all the special attention, speculation is rife that the Sarawak election might be held simultaneously with the next general election.
Najib has kept a punishing pace visiting almost all the states within the first half of the year.
“The only states the Prime Minister has yet to visit this year are Perlis and Terengganu,’’ says an observer.
Dr Ong, however, interprets the punishing pace to mean the Sarawak election will be held ahead of the general election.
Dr Ong argues that this scenario is more likely as it would act then as a gauge of Barisan’s ability to regain its two-thirds majority in Parliament.
“Najib can ill-afford not to use the Sarawak state elections to test his own popularity and the popularity of the current Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud, and to make the necessary policy and strategy changes if the Barisan fails to retain its two-thirds majority in the Sarawak State Legislature.”
Khairy, while agreeing that the state election will take place first, disagrees that it would be the ultimate measurement of Barisan’s performance.
“The Sarawak state election won’t be an accurate barometer (for the general election) but it will give momentum to Barisan,” said the Barisan youth chief.
For East Malaysian politicians, it is about timing and numbers.
Sarawak with 31 parliamentary seats and Sabah with its 25 are important for both Barisan and Pakatan because it is widely expected the next general election would be a close race.
Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, the Sabah Barisan secretary, says it is no secret that Sabah and Sarawak are being eyed by the opposition as the two states are critical of both Barisan and Pakatan.
“We don’t take it lightly so there is a doubling of our efforts to ensure the support remains with Barisan,” says Abdul Rahman, adding he would be “very, very, very surprised if the general election is called together with the Sarawak state election.
Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen believes Najib’s frequent visits to Sarawak was an obvious indication the state election is very near but stresses that what is more important is how to develop Sarawak for the benefit of common people instead of only a few cronies.
Other opposition-leaning commentators rightly point out that even if Najib wants to hold the elections simultaneously to tie down the opposition leaders, it does not mean the four Pakatan states would follow suit and dissolve their assemblies.
Meanwhile, Najib is going to the deep interiors of Sarawak where no other Prime Minister has gone before and this is in keeping with his 1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now concept.
Najib’s one-day itinerary in Sarawak on Thursday included the opening of the Sungai Puak bridge in Long Banga and meeting the Orang Ulu and Pekan Bekenu communities.
The Orang Ulu community – comprising the Penan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban, Berawan and Lakiput and downriver tribes including Lun Bawang and Lun Dayeh – make up about 5.5% of Sarawak’s population.
Under the NEM and Government Transformation Programme, billions of ringgit have been allocated to provide roads, tapped water supply and electricity to the folks in the interior especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
One could say Najib is visiting these places to ensure these things are being done.
Saturday July 24, 2010
PM’s visits raise election questions
Analysis by WONG SAI WAN
There seems to be more than what meets the eye in the frequent visits by the Prime Minister and his deputy to Sarawak and Sabah in the past five months.
THURSDAY’S visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Long Banga, near the border between Sarawak and Kalimantan and probably the most rural part of Malaysia that one can get to, has raised the eyebrows of quite a few political observers.
For the Kuching-based pundits, this is the clearest signal yet that the state election is imminent – after all, Najib has effectively closed the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issue saying the land in question would be surveyed and titles issued.
NCR land is the most contentious issue in the state and was threatening to loosen Barisan Nasional’s grip on Sarawak.
Four years ago, the renewal of lease-land cost the ruling coalition many urban seats. Najib’s recent announcement was targeted to stop the loss of any rural seats.
One Sarawakian commentator reckons that Najib’s five visits in the past five months and the NCR announcement means the state election would be held soon.
Najib’s visits have been supplemented by those of his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who has been to Sarawak as frequently as his boss, if not more, reinforcing speculation of an imminent state election.
The two have also paid equal attention to Sabah.
Najib has been there every month since April and Muhyiddin has been there thrice in the same period but the Sabah state election is not due until 2013.
For Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, the frequent trips show the importance of the two states and that the top leaders are “working hard to secure Barisan’s biggest vote banks.”
“It’s also worth noting that the Pakatan Rakyat leaders have been making frequent trips as well.”
Khairy says the Barisan is concerned because its loss in the Sibu by-election indicated that if it doesn’t buck up, it could lose more seats.
Political scientist and UCSI University lecturer Dr Ong Kian Ming agrees, saying the frequent trips to Sabah and Sarawak, in particular, reflect a recognition on Najib’s part that these two states can no longer be considered “safe deposits” for the Barisan.
The Sarawak election has to be called by July next year and the earliest possible date to do it is October after the fasting month.
However, because of all the special attention, speculation is rife that the Sarawak election might be held simultaneously with the next general election.
Najib has kept a punishing pace visiting almost all the states within the first half of the year.
“The only states the Prime Minister has yet to visit this year are Perlis and Terengganu,’’ says an observer.
Dr Ong, however, interprets the punishing pace to mean the Sarawak election will be held ahead of the general election.
Dr Ong argues that this scenario is more likely as it would act then as a gauge of Barisan’s ability to regain its two-thirds majority in Parliament.
“Najib can ill-afford not to use the Sarawak state elections to test his own popularity and the popularity of the current Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud, and to make the necessary policy and strategy changes if the Barisan fails to retain its two-thirds majority in the Sarawak State Legislature.”
Khairy, while agreeing that the state election will take place first, disagrees that it would be the ultimate measurement of Barisan’s performance.
“The Sarawak state election won’t be an accurate barometer (for the general election) but it will give momentum to Barisan,” said the Barisan youth chief.
For East Malaysian politicians, it is about timing and numbers.
Sarawak with 31 parliamentary seats and Sabah with its 25 are important for both Barisan and Pakatan because it is widely expected the next general election would be a close race.
Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, the Sabah Barisan secretary, says it is no secret that Sabah and Sarawak are being eyed by the opposition as the two states are critical of both Barisan and Pakatan.
“We don’t take it lightly so there is a doubling of our efforts to ensure the support remains with Barisan,” says Abdul Rahman, adding he would be “very, very, very surprised if the general election is called together with the Sarawak state election.
Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen believes Najib’s frequent visits to Sarawak was an obvious indication the state election is very near but stresses that what is more important is how to develop Sarawak for the benefit of common people instead of only a few cronies.
Other opposition-leaning commentators rightly point out that even if Najib wants to hold the elections simultaneously to tie down the opposition leaders, it does not mean the four Pakatan states would follow suit and dissolve their assemblies.
Meanwhile, Najib is going to the deep interiors of Sarawak where no other Prime Minister has gone before and this is in keeping with his 1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now concept.
Najib’s one-day itinerary in Sarawak on Thursday included the opening of the Sungai Puak bridge in Long Banga and meeting the Orang Ulu and Pekan Bekenu communities.
The Orang Ulu community – comprising the Penan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban, Berawan and Lakiput and downriver tribes including Lun Bawang and Lun Dayeh – make up about 5.5% of Sarawak’s population.
Under the NEM and Government Transformation Programme, billions of ringgit have been allocated to provide roads, tapped water supply and electricity to the folks in the interior especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
One could say Najib is visiting these places to ensure these things are being done.
Friday, July 23, 2010
PM: Equal rights for all
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/23/nation/6721796&sec=nation
Friday July 23, 2010
PM: Equal rights for all
By DIANA ROSE
drose@thestar.com.my
MIRI: All Malaysians including those living in the most remote of settlements like Long Banga in Ulu Baram have equal rights to better themselves under the 1Malaysia principle.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday that the 1Malaysia principle assured all Malaysians an equal opportunity.
“Through this concept of inclusive development, social justice will be achievable,” he told some 2,000 members of the Orang Ulu community during a gathering at the Long Banga Community Hall here yesterday.
At the function, Najib announced five projects worth about RM107.5mil. Some RM100mil is to be used to upgrade the Beluru-Lapok road, which is the main highway linking the interior of Baram to Miri.
Another RM1mil will go to tar-seal the road linking an airstrip to Long Banga and RM6mil for a mini hydro project to provide electricity to 148 households in the longhouse.
PHOTO: Let’s dance: Najib taking part in an orang ulu community dance together with local folk on the Sungai Puak bridge some 360km from Miri in Sarawak Thursday. Najib, who was on a one-day working visit to Sarawak, had officiated the opening of the bridge. Also dancing to the beat are Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu (behind Najib) and Baram MP Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan (third from right).
Najib also announced RM500,000 for the construction of a rural clinic at Long Jekitan which would benefit the Penans.
The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority would increase the subsidy for the replanting of rubber trees from RM10,000 to RM14.000 per hectare next year.
Najib’s visit was a historic event for the Orang Ulu community, who comprise the Kenyah, Kayan, Kelabit, Saban and Penan. Some had to travel by land for more than a day on rough timber roads to meet the Najib.
During the function, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang surprised the Prime Minister with a birthday cake in the form of a 1Malaysia logo. Najib turns 57 today.
Penghulu Lejau Kulleh from Long Lama said: “I am very proud that we have a Prime Minister who is willing to visit us in Ulu Baram.’’
Friday July 23, 2010
PM: Equal rights for all
By DIANA ROSE
drose@thestar.com.my
MIRI: All Malaysians including those living in the most remote of settlements like Long Banga in Ulu Baram have equal rights to better themselves under the 1Malaysia principle.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday that the 1Malaysia principle assured all Malaysians an equal opportunity.
“Through this concept of inclusive development, social justice will be achievable,” he told some 2,000 members of the Orang Ulu community during a gathering at the Long Banga Community Hall here yesterday.
At the function, Najib announced five projects worth about RM107.5mil. Some RM100mil is to be used to upgrade the Beluru-Lapok road, which is the main highway linking the interior of Baram to Miri.
Another RM1mil will go to tar-seal the road linking an airstrip to Long Banga and RM6mil for a mini hydro project to provide electricity to 148 households in the longhouse.
PHOTO: Let’s dance: Najib taking part in an orang ulu community dance together with local folk on the Sungai Puak bridge some 360km from Miri in Sarawak Thursday. Najib, who was on a one-day working visit to Sarawak, had officiated the opening of the bridge. Also dancing to the beat are Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu (behind Najib) and Baram MP Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan (third from right).
Najib also announced RM500,000 for the construction of a rural clinic at Long Jekitan which would benefit the Penans.
The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority would increase the subsidy for the replanting of rubber trees from RM10,000 to RM14.000 per hectare next year.
Najib’s visit was a historic event for the Orang Ulu community, who comprise the Kenyah, Kayan, Kelabit, Saban and Penan. Some had to travel by land for more than a day on rough timber roads to meet the Najib.
During the function, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang surprised the Prime Minister with a birthday cake in the form of a 1Malaysia logo. Najib turns 57 today.
Penghulu Lejau Kulleh from Long Lama said: “I am very proud that we have a Prime Minister who is willing to visit us in Ulu Baram.’’
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Najib set to 'charm' Sarawak's Orang Ulu
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/sabah-and-sarawak/8200-najib-set-to-charm-sarawaks-orang-ulu
Najib set to 'charm' Sarawak's Orang Ulu
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:26
By Pushparani Thilaganathan
MIRI: Riding on 64.1% popularity high in Sarawak, Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak is set to head straight for the state’s deepest interiors tomorrow to “see for himself the real situation” among the Penan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban, Berawan and Lakiput communities.
Najib is keeping his word. He had once told Sarawakians that he wanted a first-hand look at the state’s remotest areas, accessible only by boat, helicopters or trekking.
This will be only the second time since independence that a prime minister has ventured into the interiors of this vast landlocked state sliced by the mighty Rajang river.
The last visit was when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad visited Long Bedian in 2003.
Excitement is high among the simplistic Orang Ulu sub-ethnic communities as they await Najib’s arrival to launch a bridge in Long Banga in Ulu Baram, which is an eight-hour drive from here along a dirt road.
Ulu Baram is home to the Orang Ulu comprising the Penan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban, Berawan and Lakiput. Together with downriver tribes, Lun Bawang and Lun Dayeh, they make up 5.5 % of Sarawak’s population, a voter base that state BN officials have touted as unreacheable to the opposition. (The recent Merderka Centre Survey polled 11.2% support for the opposition Sarawak, but political analyst Faizal Hazri notes that Pakatan Rakyat will need 20% swing in votes to take Sarawak.)
According to Telang Usan assemblyman, Lihan Jok, the Orang Ulu are a minority community long since left behind by progress.
The prime minister’s visit, he said, will give them a chance at experiencing development.
“I believe this historic visit by Najib to Ulu Baram will pay off. He can see for himself their needs and explain many things to them.
“We are a minority community that has long been left behind by progress and development because we live in the far interiors of the rainforest,” Jok said.
The wish list
Reiterating his confidence in the imminent change which Najib will bring, Jok said he had forwarded the people’s wish list to the Prime Minister’s Department during his recent visit to Putrajaya.
“We’ve asked for development that will directly benefit each community’s quality of life and I believe the government will implement these plans for the Orang Ulu,” said Jok.
He said all the Orang Ulu sub-communities will be given a fair share of the development plan.
“For the Kelabit who live in the highlands, we have asked for roads and a bridge linking them to Miri city.
‘For the Penan, we have asked for clinics. The Penan community needs better healthcare and clinics that are closer to their settlements.
“For the Kenyah in Telang Usan, we have focused on economic development such as mini rubber estates for them to improve on their income.
“For the Kayan in Ulu Baram Tengah, we have also asked for a road and a bridge linking them to the outside world.
“And for the Berawan and Lakiput communities, they live in the low-lying areas and face regular water problems so we have asked for clean water to be supplied for their daily use,” said Jok.
While Jok has put forth the infrastructural needs of the Orang Ulu community, another group is fervently hoping to convince Najib to save its women and children from an endemic scrounge.
Said a source close to the Penan Support Group (PSG): “We know the visits into the Sarawak interior is time consuming but since he (Najib) is here in Baram, we sincerely hope that he will meet with groups like us.
“We want to tell him the real issues… that the Penan children are vulnerable. They are prone to rape and sexual exploitation because they are dependent on the logging companies for transport to schools... There are no schools near their settlements.
‘The fact is, he is the only one who can put a stop to this wide-ranging endemic exploitation.”
The PSG incidentally has rankled both state and federal governments with its recent report entitled “A wider context of sexual exploitation of Penan women and girls in Middle and Ulu Baram, Sarawak,” which contains intimate details and first-hand interviews of the scrounge in the interiors.
"Many BN leaders have slammed us. They find these confessions embarrasing and say the Penan are lying. But the report is factual and far more real than police reports and professed government action," said the source.
Najib set to 'charm' Sarawak's Orang Ulu
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:26
By Pushparani Thilaganathan
MIRI: Riding on 64.1% popularity high in Sarawak, Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak is set to head straight for the state’s deepest interiors tomorrow to “see for himself the real situation” among the Penan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban, Berawan and Lakiput communities.
Najib is keeping his word. He had once told Sarawakians that he wanted a first-hand look at the state’s remotest areas, accessible only by boat, helicopters or trekking.
This will be only the second time since independence that a prime minister has ventured into the interiors of this vast landlocked state sliced by the mighty Rajang river.
The last visit was when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad visited Long Bedian in 2003.
Excitement is high among the simplistic Orang Ulu sub-ethnic communities as they await Najib’s arrival to launch a bridge in Long Banga in Ulu Baram, which is an eight-hour drive from here along a dirt road.
Ulu Baram is home to the Orang Ulu comprising the Penan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban, Berawan and Lakiput. Together with downriver tribes, Lun Bawang and Lun Dayeh, they make up 5.5 % of Sarawak’s population, a voter base that state BN officials have touted as unreacheable to the opposition. (The recent Merderka Centre Survey polled 11.2% support for the opposition Sarawak, but political analyst Faizal Hazri notes that Pakatan Rakyat will need 20% swing in votes to take Sarawak.)
According to Telang Usan assemblyman, Lihan Jok, the Orang Ulu are a minority community long since left behind by progress.
The prime minister’s visit, he said, will give them a chance at experiencing development.
“I believe this historic visit by Najib to Ulu Baram will pay off. He can see for himself their needs and explain many things to them.
“We are a minority community that has long been left behind by progress and development because we live in the far interiors of the rainforest,” Jok said.
The wish list
Reiterating his confidence in the imminent change which Najib will bring, Jok said he had forwarded the people’s wish list to the Prime Minister’s Department during his recent visit to Putrajaya.
“We’ve asked for development that will directly benefit each community’s quality of life and I believe the government will implement these plans for the Orang Ulu,” said Jok.
He said all the Orang Ulu sub-communities will be given a fair share of the development plan.
“For the Kelabit who live in the highlands, we have asked for roads and a bridge linking them to Miri city.
‘For the Penan, we have asked for clinics. The Penan community needs better healthcare and clinics that are closer to their settlements.
“For the Kenyah in Telang Usan, we have focused on economic development such as mini rubber estates for them to improve on their income.
“For the Kayan in Ulu Baram Tengah, we have also asked for a road and a bridge linking them to the outside world.
“And for the Berawan and Lakiput communities, they live in the low-lying areas and face regular water problems so we have asked for clean water to be supplied for their daily use,” said Jok.
While Jok has put forth the infrastructural needs of the Orang Ulu community, another group is fervently hoping to convince Najib to save its women and children from an endemic scrounge.
Said a source close to the Penan Support Group (PSG): “We know the visits into the Sarawak interior is time consuming but since he (Najib) is here in Baram, we sincerely hope that he will meet with groups like us.
“We want to tell him the real issues… that the Penan children are vulnerable. They are prone to rape and sexual exploitation because they are dependent on the logging companies for transport to schools... There are no schools near their settlements.
‘The fact is, he is the only one who can put a stop to this wide-ranging endemic exploitation.”
The PSG incidentally has rankled both state and federal governments with its recent report entitled “A wider context of sexual exploitation of Penan women and girls in Middle and Ulu Baram, Sarawak,” which contains intimate details and first-hand interviews of the scrounge in the interiors.
"Many BN leaders have slammed us. They find these confessions embarrasing and say the Penan are lying. But the report is factual and far more real than police reports and professed government action," said the source.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The quaint charms of Bario
http://haitel.com/hitech/press/Bario.html
The quaint charms of Bario
New Straits Times, Jul 18, 2010
by Nancy Nais
IF there's a place in Malaysian Borneo that really reflects the lifestyle of the local people, their existence and legacy, it's Bario.
The Northern Highlands of Bario is dominated by the Kelabit tribe and small groups from the Penan tribe (the only nomadic tribe in Sarawak now) scattered here and there.
The unofficial capital of the Kelabit Highlands, Bario has a population of about 5,000 people and it is isolated from the rest of the world.
The best way to get to Bario is by plane. It is an hour's trip on MasWing's 19-seater twin Otter plane from Miri.
On days when passengers are few, the plane will be laden with goods such as cooking oil and electronic gadgets sent to those in Bario by family members in Miri.
Other items include rice, canned food, home appliances and sacks of sugar.
The items get piled onto empty seats, along the aisle, at your feet, in the holding compartment and even in the nose of the plane.
To ensure the plane is not overloaded, passengers have to stand on weighing scales at the Miri airport checking counter.
Another way to go to Bario is by the four-wheel-drive. This will take a day.
Despite its remoteness, there is an airport in Bario, as well as Internet access and computer services, a police station, two schools, churches, a clinic, shops and various offices.
The longhouses in Bario are occupied by the elderly and very young. The rest have moved elsewhere.
Three things this highland is famous for are rice, salt and pineapple. The Kelabit community is known for its agriculture, mainly growing Bario rice.
Bario's fragrant rice enjoys a price premium compared with other rice varieties from around the country.
The quaint charms of Bario
New Straits Times, Jul 18, 2010
by Nancy Nais
IF there's a place in Malaysian Borneo that really reflects the lifestyle of the local people, their existence and legacy, it's Bario.
The Northern Highlands of Bario is dominated by the Kelabit tribe and small groups from the Penan tribe (the only nomadic tribe in Sarawak now) scattered here and there.
The unofficial capital of the Kelabit Highlands, Bario has a population of about 5,000 people and it is isolated from the rest of the world.
The best way to get to Bario is by plane. It is an hour's trip on MasWing's 19-seater twin Otter plane from Miri.
On days when passengers are few, the plane will be laden with goods such as cooking oil and electronic gadgets sent to those in Bario by family members in Miri.
Other items include rice, canned food, home appliances and sacks of sugar.
The items get piled onto empty seats, along the aisle, at your feet, in the holding compartment and even in the nose of the plane.
To ensure the plane is not overloaded, passengers have to stand on weighing scales at the Miri airport checking counter.
Another way to go to Bario is by the four-wheel-drive. This will take a day.
Despite its remoteness, there is an airport in Bario, as well as Internet access and computer services, a police station, two schools, churches, a clinic, shops and various offices.
The longhouses in Bario are occupied by the elderly and very young. The rest have moved elsewhere.
Three things this highland is famous for are rice, salt and pineapple. The Kelabit community is known for its agriculture, mainly growing Bario rice.
Bario's fragrant rice enjoys a price premium compared with other rice varieties from around the country.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Bario’s inspiring tribute to WW2 fighters
http://tribune.my/prime/890-barios-inspiring-tribute-to-ww2-fighters.html
Bario’s inspiring tribute to WW2 fighters
Wednesday, 14 July 2010 10:30
KUCHING: A unique Bario Memorial Sculpture Monument set up on the Muloon Hill, Bario Asal to commemorate the parachute landing of British and Australian commandos into Bario during World War II was unveiled by Minister of Tourism and Heritage Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam recently.
The monument was jointly built by the Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF), the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage and the Bario community in conjunction with the 65th anniversary of World War II and the landing of the commandos, led by Tom Harrison, in Bario.
During the simple unveiling ceremony, Dr Chan, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, laid a flower wreath and paid tribute to 200 tribal warriors from Baram and Rejang Basins, who sacrificed their lives to support the commandos during the Semut Operations to liberate Sarawak from the Japanese occupation in 1945.
Later, the Bario Commandos Liberation trail proposed package was unveiled.
Bario’s inspiring tribute to WW2 fighters
Wednesday, 14 July 2010 10:30
KUCHING: A unique Bario Memorial Sculpture Monument set up on the Muloon Hill, Bario Asal to commemorate the parachute landing of British and Australian commandos into Bario during World War II was unveiled by Minister of Tourism and Heritage Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam recently.
The monument was jointly built by the Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF), the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage and the Bario community in conjunction with the 65th anniversary of World War II and the landing of the commandos, led by Tom Harrison, in Bario.
During the simple unveiling ceremony, Dr Chan, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, laid a flower wreath and paid tribute to 200 tribal warriors from Baram and Rejang Basins, who sacrificed their lives to support the commandos during the Semut Operations to liberate Sarawak from the Japanese occupation in 1945.
Later, the Bario Commandos Liberation trail proposed package was unveiled.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sustaining Borneo Highland’s cultural heritage through music
http://tribune.my/prime/804-sustaining-borneo-highlands-cultural-heritage-through-music.html
Sustaining Borneo Highland’s cultural heritage through music
Sunday, 11 July 2010 09:00
Grace Balan
The annual Rainforest World Music Festival held at the Sarawak Cultural Village is now in full swing with festival goers flocking to the Sarawak Cultural Village. Many are here to enjoy not only the music and workshops but also to visit the various exhibition booths scattered around the village.
One of the booths features Central Borneo’s indigenous cultural traditions with the participation of FORMADAT (Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo or Forum of the Indigenous Peoples of the Highlands of Borneo) a grass-root, cross-border, organisation representing the Indigenous Peoples of the Highlands, in the Heart of Borneo (HoB).
FORMADAT is a trans-boundary community forum established by the main ethnic groups in the area – the Lun Dayeh/Lun Bawang, Sa’ban and Kelabit. They number around 25,000 people of whom 75 percent are on the Indonesian side of the border. The highlands of Borneo, which comprise the sub districts of Krayan Selatan and Krayan in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Bario, Ba’Kelalan and Long Semado in Sarawak, and Long Pasia in Sabah, constitute one geographic, environmental and cultural land inhabited by people who share a common origin.
The FORMADAT exhibition booth presents an opportunity to promote local products using the ‘Green and Fair Products’ branding, a new initiative supported by WWFIndonesia and WWF-Malaysia to grant fair recognition to local products and support sustainable livelihoods.
According to Cristina Eghenter, WWF - Indonesia’s Social Development Advisor, a range of high quality highland products, such as Adan rice, mountain salt, wild cinnamon, indigenous handicrafts and musical instruments are on display and sold at the festival.
“Cultural performances and poster exhibitions in and around the booth captures the beautiful landscape and culture of the land of FORMADAT as well as promote eco-tourism destinations in the highlands,” she said.
“Music and lyrics have the capacity to bind people together with a shared understanding or vision.
In many ways, this is exactly what FORMADAT represents. It hopes to raise awareness of its existence within the community and its vision and commitment to protect and sustainably develop the common cultural heritage of the land that lies within both Malaysia and Indonesia in the Heart of Borneo.” John Terawe, FORMADAT’s Malaysian Coordinator, said that another objective of FORMADAT is the preservation and conservation of the ethnic culture and identity of the groups it represents.
“The idea of coming to the Rainforest World Music Festival is to publicise and promote our beliefs and to create awareness of the ‘Heart of Borneo’.” The Heart of Borneo (HoB) is the only remaining place in South East Asia that still holds huge tracts of continuous pristine forest. It straddles the transboundary highlands of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia that reaches out through the foothills into the adjacent lowlands.
Meanwhile, FORMADAT legal advisor Gerawat Gala said that it is a network amongst all the ethnic communities who are coming together. They share a common interest being the communities who are living in the Heart of Borneo (HoB). “These communities, the Dayak, Kelabit, Saban, Lun Dayeh and those from the Kalimantan side all share similar heritage and culture. It is important for them to ensure they share the heritage of the highlands through preservation and conservation. FORMADAT brings these communities together for the common good as we are of the same stock, same origin with a common aim of promoting Borneo highlands.” “This is the first time we’ve had a booth at the festival. It is to get a feel for all the participants who came from different areas such as Ba’ Kelalan, Long Semadoh, Bario and Kalimantan. They have all looked forward to being here. Hopefully, we can continue to participate in the festival on a bigger scale perhaps in a year or two on the musical stage because we have a rich musical heritage,” he said.
Sustaining Borneo Highland’s cultural heritage through music
Sunday, 11 July 2010 09:00
Grace Balan
The annual Rainforest World Music Festival held at the Sarawak Cultural Village is now in full swing with festival goers flocking to the Sarawak Cultural Village. Many are here to enjoy not only the music and workshops but also to visit the various exhibition booths scattered around the village.
One of the booths features Central Borneo’s indigenous cultural traditions with the participation of FORMADAT (Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo or Forum of the Indigenous Peoples of the Highlands of Borneo) a grass-root, cross-border, organisation representing the Indigenous Peoples of the Highlands, in the Heart of Borneo (HoB).
FORMADAT is a trans-boundary community forum established by the main ethnic groups in the area – the Lun Dayeh/Lun Bawang, Sa’ban and Kelabit. They number around 25,000 people of whom 75 percent are on the Indonesian side of the border. The highlands of Borneo, which comprise the sub districts of Krayan Selatan and Krayan in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Bario, Ba’Kelalan and Long Semado in Sarawak, and Long Pasia in Sabah, constitute one geographic, environmental and cultural land inhabited by people who share a common origin.
The FORMADAT exhibition booth presents an opportunity to promote local products using the ‘Green and Fair Products’ branding, a new initiative supported by WWFIndonesia and WWF-Malaysia to grant fair recognition to local products and support sustainable livelihoods.
According to Cristina Eghenter, WWF - Indonesia’s Social Development Advisor, a range of high quality highland products, such as Adan rice, mountain salt, wild cinnamon, indigenous handicrafts and musical instruments are on display and sold at the festival.
“Cultural performances and poster exhibitions in and around the booth captures the beautiful landscape and culture of the land of FORMADAT as well as promote eco-tourism destinations in the highlands,” she said.
“Music and lyrics have the capacity to bind people together with a shared understanding or vision.
In many ways, this is exactly what FORMADAT represents. It hopes to raise awareness of its existence within the community and its vision and commitment to protect and sustainably develop the common cultural heritage of the land that lies within both Malaysia and Indonesia in the Heart of Borneo.” John Terawe, FORMADAT’s Malaysian Coordinator, said that another objective of FORMADAT is the preservation and conservation of the ethnic culture and identity of the groups it represents.
“The idea of coming to the Rainforest World Music Festival is to publicise and promote our beliefs and to create awareness of the ‘Heart of Borneo’.” The Heart of Borneo (HoB) is the only remaining place in South East Asia that still holds huge tracts of continuous pristine forest. It straddles the transboundary highlands of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia that reaches out through the foothills into the adjacent lowlands.
Meanwhile, FORMADAT legal advisor Gerawat Gala said that it is a network amongst all the ethnic communities who are coming together. They share a common interest being the communities who are living in the Heart of Borneo (HoB). “These communities, the Dayak, Kelabit, Saban, Lun Dayeh and those from the Kalimantan side all share similar heritage and culture. It is important for them to ensure they share the heritage of the highlands through preservation and conservation. FORMADAT brings these communities together for the common good as we are of the same stock, same origin with a common aim of promoting Borneo highlands.” “This is the first time we’ve had a booth at the festival. It is to get a feel for all the participants who came from different areas such as Ba’ Kelalan, Long Semadoh, Bario and Kalimantan. They have all looked forward to being here. Hopefully, we can continue to participate in the festival on a bigger scale perhaps in a year or two on the musical stage because we have a rich musical heritage,” he said.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Fertile land with best rice grains and pineapples now losing its appeal
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/9/sarawak/6622920&sec=sarawak
Friday July 9, 2010
Fertile land with best rice grains and pineapples now losing its appeal
Story and photos by YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
THE fertile highlands of Bario, about 50 minutes away by plane from Miri, holds tremendous potential for economic growth, yet its output now is below expectations.
On its undulating mountains, located over 1000m above sea level, the area produces one of the world’s most famous rice variant that carries the village’s namesake.
Its pineapple, juicier and sweeter than the better known Sarikei pineapples, is another gem.
But visit supermarkets in the towns and cities of Sarawak, and you would be hard-pressed to find Bario’s agriculture produce.
In fact, for the last two years, Bario’s export of rice has dropped significantly.
This is partly due to weather conditions - two years ago the area suffered droughts and last year from floods - but also due to lack of technical assistance from the government.
There is only one staff in the Agriculture Department in Bario, local farmers told The Star, and he cannot cope with the amount of work.
Worse still, Agriculture Department personnel are transferred out of Bario every three years, thereby, affecting follow-up guidance.
Meanwhile, Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas), a government regulator and distributor of rice, does not even have an office in the area.
It is clear to any visitor that Bario’s agriculture industry has been in decline. The export of Bario rice has fallen because production cannot even meet local consumption.
From the look-out point at Bario’s only secondary school, one can see many abandoned rice fields.
Due to the unfortunate climate in recent years, a large number of youths have migrated from the highlands to more lucrative jobs like on oil rigs.
The situation there is bad enough that aged farmers left behind have begun hiring expensive Indonesian labour from across the border.
Whatever Bario rice that can be found in supermarkets these days - if any at all - are old stocks from years ago. Most stocks are Bario grains mixed with other varieties.
One farmer, Jerome Giak, 48, told The Star that locals have for years pleaded for more government assistance.
“Our problems are threefold,” Jerome said, speaking fluent English, at a food fair last weekend that was organised by locals and UK volunteers.
“First, we need more technical assistance. Our planting techniques now are largely on a trial and error basis. Cultivation output is not at an optimum level.”
He said the Kelabit Highlands soil, while fertile for paddy and pineapples, posed challenges for other agriculture produce.
“We have so much more to offer besides rice,” the farmer said.
“We have Ipa Kayuh, our version of Ajinomoto, which grows wild. We have tried cultivating it, but so far, we have failed. The Ipa Kayuh that we consume and sell is still picked wild.”
The ingredient, made from dried and pounded leaves of creepers, is light and can be easily transported.
A packet of about six table spoons of the pounded leaves sells for RM5.
The commercialisation of more crops, Jerome added, would give farmers another source of income between padi harvests.
Transportation is the second issue holding back the development of the agriculture industry.
For now, there is only one way to export Bario’s products - by air.
A gravel (logging) track is available, but that takes about 15 hours to reach Miri city.
“The muddy tracks are incredibly slippery,” Jerome said.
The irony is that locals with pick-up trucks (the only type of vehicles that can manage the terrain) do pay road taxes.
Local aged farmers have begun hiring Indonesian labour to counter the migration of youths to Sarawak's towns and cities.
At its small airport, aging de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter planes service the area twice daily.
Each flight can carry up to 19 passengers; but more often than not, the available seats are taken up by precious cargo.
Locals rely on MASwing’s Rural Area Services (RAS) for a host of daily needs, including sugar and canned food imported from Miri.
This leads to inflated prices. A 1.5-litre bottle of mineral water costs almost RM10.
“The last problem we face is that youths are moving away because there is not much money to be made,” Jerome said.
“I can hardly make RM200 a month. So why should the youths want to stay here? I almost gave up so many times.”
The population of Bario now is about 1,200. The Kelabit highlanders are gentle, hard working people.
Village elders have always placed great emphasis on education.
Among its famous sons is former MAS chief executive officer Idris Jala, now a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Sarawak Immigration director Datuk Robert Lian.
Both are highly regarded among locals and are inspiration to students.
A relative of a high-ranking government official, who declined to be named, said, if the government was unable to honour all its infrastructure promises, then locals would just have to help themselves.
The local Village Security and Development Committee has pooled together financial resources from car owners to fill up ditches along the muddy roads.
One of the longhouses has installed its own mini-hydro electricity generator, which has enabled children to study for longer hours.
Meanwhile, among the most enthusiastic supporter of the Kelabits is Lord Medway John Jason Gasthorne-Hardy, the heir apparent to the current and fifth Earl Cranbrook.
“What Bario really suffers from is a lack of awareness, even among Sarawakians,” Jason said last weekend.
“Flight connection is a major problem. Life here resolves around the two services daily,” he said.
It was unfortunate, Jason said, that even for Sarawakians, it cost more and took a longer time to travel to Bario, compared to flying to other tourism destinations in the region.
“Bario is choked with full of potential. It really boils down to having the ability to communicate with the outside world.”
Friday July 9, 2010
Fertile land with best rice grains and pineapples now losing its appeal
Story and photos by YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
THE fertile highlands of Bario, about 50 minutes away by plane from Miri, holds tremendous potential for economic growth, yet its output now is below expectations.
On its undulating mountains, located over 1000m above sea level, the area produces one of the world’s most famous rice variant that carries the village’s namesake.
Its pineapple, juicier and sweeter than the better known Sarikei pineapples, is another gem.
But visit supermarkets in the towns and cities of Sarawak, and you would be hard-pressed to find Bario’s agriculture produce.
In fact, for the last two years, Bario’s export of rice has dropped significantly.
This is partly due to weather conditions - two years ago the area suffered droughts and last year from floods - but also due to lack of technical assistance from the government.
There is only one staff in the Agriculture Department in Bario, local farmers told The Star, and he cannot cope with the amount of work.
Worse still, Agriculture Department personnel are transferred out of Bario every three years, thereby, affecting follow-up guidance.
Meanwhile, Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas), a government regulator and distributor of rice, does not even have an office in the area.
It is clear to any visitor that Bario’s agriculture industry has been in decline. The export of Bario rice has fallen because production cannot even meet local consumption.
From the look-out point at Bario’s only secondary school, one can see many abandoned rice fields.
Due to the unfortunate climate in recent years, a large number of youths have migrated from the highlands to more lucrative jobs like on oil rigs.
The situation there is bad enough that aged farmers left behind have begun hiring expensive Indonesian labour from across the border.
Whatever Bario rice that can be found in supermarkets these days - if any at all - are old stocks from years ago. Most stocks are Bario grains mixed with other varieties.
One farmer, Jerome Giak, 48, told The Star that locals have for years pleaded for more government assistance.
“Our problems are threefold,” Jerome said, speaking fluent English, at a food fair last weekend that was organised by locals and UK volunteers.
“First, we need more technical assistance. Our planting techniques now are largely on a trial and error basis. Cultivation output is not at an optimum level.”
He said the Kelabit Highlands soil, while fertile for paddy and pineapples, posed challenges for other agriculture produce.
“We have so much more to offer besides rice,” the farmer said.
“We have Ipa Kayuh, our version of Ajinomoto, which grows wild. We have tried cultivating it, but so far, we have failed. The Ipa Kayuh that we consume and sell is still picked wild.”
The ingredient, made from dried and pounded leaves of creepers, is light and can be easily transported.
A packet of about six table spoons of the pounded leaves sells for RM5.
The commercialisation of more crops, Jerome added, would give farmers another source of income between padi harvests.
Transportation is the second issue holding back the development of the agriculture industry.
For now, there is only one way to export Bario’s products - by air.
A gravel (logging) track is available, but that takes about 15 hours to reach Miri city.
“The muddy tracks are incredibly slippery,” Jerome said.
The irony is that locals with pick-up trucks (the only type of vehicles that can manage the terrain) do pay road taxes.
Local aged farmers have begun hiring Indonesian labour to counter the migration of youths to Sarawak's towns and cities.
At its small airport, aging de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter planes service the area twice daily.
Each flight can carry up to 19 passengers; but more often than not, the available seats are taken up by precious cargo.
Locals rely on MASwing’s Rural Area Services (RAS) for a host of daily needs, including sugar and canned food imported from Miri.
This leads to inflated prices. A 1.5-litre bottle of mineral water costs almost RM10.
“The last problem we face is that youths are moving away because there is not much money to be made,” Jerome said.
“I can hardly make RM200 a month. So why should the youths want to stay here? I almost gave up so many times.”
The population of Bario now is about 1,200. The Kelabit highlanders are gentle, hard working people.
Village elders have always placed great emphasis on education.
Among its famous sons is former MAS chief executive officer Idris Jala, now a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Sarawak Immigration director Datuk Robert Lian.
Both are highly regarded among locals and are inspiration to students.
A relative of a high-ranking government official, who declined to be named, said, if the government was unable to honour all its infrastructure promises, then locals would just have to help themselves.
The local Village Security and Development Committee has pooled together financial resources from car owners to fill up ditches along the muddy roads.
One of the longhouses has installed its own mini-hydro electricity generator, which has enabled children to study for longer hours.
Meanwhile, among the most enthusiastic supporter of the Kelabits is Lord Medway John Jason Gasthorne-Hardy, the heir apparent to the current and fifth Earl Cranbrook.
“What Bario really suffers from is a lack of awareness, even among Sarawakians,” Jason said last weekend.
“Flight connection is a major problem. Life here resolves around the two services daily,” he said.
It was unfortunate, Jason said, that even for Sarawakians, it cost more and took a longer time to travel to Bario, compared to flying to other tourism destinations in the region.
“Bario is choked with full of potential. It really boils down to having the ability to communicate with the outside world.”
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Dwindling supply of renowned Bario rice
Tuesday July 6, 2010
Dwindling supply of renowned Bario rice
By YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
KUCHING: World-famous Bario rice, cultivated on the Kelabit Highlands in Sarawak, has practically cut exports outside the village due to reduced production volume over the last couple of years.
Now, the harvest can barely even meet the local demand.
At its peak, Bario was producing up to 200 sacks of the rice for export, each weighing 35kg. Far-mers told The Star that harvest began to be affected two years ago when the area was hit by drought and again when Bario was flooded last year.
Another reason is that most of the youth from Bario have migrated to towns and cities, in search of jobs and higher income.
Farmer Jerome Giak, 48, said, despite the high prices Bario rice fetched, he had been earning pittance in recent months.
“I can hardly make RM200 a month. So why would the youngsters want to stay behind? I myself have almost given up,” he said.
Locals have now resorted to em-ploying Indonesian labourers from across the border at a higher cost.
A quick check of supermarkets in Miri, the closest city to Bario, revealed that Bario rice was hard to come by.
A restaurant in Miri with some Bario rice, refused to sell their stock to walk-in customers, saying it is reserved for restaurant customers only.
Cultivating Bario rice is labour intensive. Grown on the cool climates of the highlands, which is about 1km above sea level, locals say the use of traditional hand-grown techniques give the rice its unique flavour.
Dwindling supply of renowned Bario rice
By YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
KUCHING: World-famous Bario rice, cultivated on the Kelabit Highlands in Sarawak, has practically cut exports outside the village due to reduced production volume over the last couple of years.
Now, the harvest can barely even meet the local demand.
At its peak, Bario was producing up to 200 sacks of the rice for export, each weighing 35kg. Far-mers told The Star that harvest began to be affected two years ago when the area was hit by drought and again when Bario was flooded last year.
Another reason is that most of the youth from Bario have migrated to towns and cities, in search of jobs and higher income.
Farmer Jerome Giak, 48, said, despite the high prices Bario rice fetched, he had been earning pittance in recent months.
“I can hardly make RM200 a month. So why would the youngsters want to stay behind? I myself have almost given up,” he said.
Locals have now resorted to em-ploying Indonesian labourers from across the border at a higher cost.
A quick check of supermarkets in Miri, the closest city to Bario, revealed that Bario rice was hard to come by.
A restaurant in Miri with some Bario rice, refused to sell their stock to walk-in customers, saying it is reserved for restaurant customers only.
Cultivating Bario rice is labour intensive. Grown on the cool climates of the highlands, which is about 1km above sea level, locals say the use of traditional hand-grown techniques give the rice its unique flavour.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Memorial of the reconnaissance mission built in Bario
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/7/5/sarawak/6606183&sec=sarawak
Monday July 5, 2010
Memorial of the reconnaissance mission built in Bario
By YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
A MEMORIAL that commemorates the landing of Allied Force paratroopers in Borneo against the Japanese occupation has been erected in Bario.
Located on a foothill in the hinterland, which is about 50 minutes by flight from Miri, the memorial will become the start of an eco-tourism trail that will eventually stretch all the way to Sibu town.
The trail will retrace the route of the reconnaissance mission, Operation “Semut”, 65 years ago by the British and Australian army. While the memorial was launched last Saturday, the trail packages will proceed in stages due to the lack of infrastructure.
Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) Heritage Development Committee chairman Lim Kian Hock said without the success of Operation Semut, the founding of Malaysia may have been thwarted.
“When the Allied Forces landed, headed by Major Tom Harrison of the British Army, who later became the Sarawak Museum curator, the locals welcomed them. They did not report the troops’ presence to the Japanese,” Lim said.
Other Allied personnel, who landed across the border in Dutch Borneo (now Indonesia), were not so lucky. “They were reported and were beheaded,” Lim said.
“The people of Bario were intensely loyal to the Allied paratroopers. Bario paved the way for operation Semut towards the liberation of Borneo, and in particular, Sarawak.”
On the memorial, located on a foothill of undulating mountains, Lim said: “The design follows the theme on the spirit for freedom and unity. This is an artwork produced with stainless steel based on the form of the Orang Ulu musical instrument, “sape.”
STF president Wee Hong Seng said the new memorial at Bario has already created interest overseas.
“We have received communication from the descendants and friends of the former commandos, from as far as the UK and Australia,” Wee said.
“These tourists were keen to retrace their forefathers’ wartime footsteps, and to get to know the valuable assistance and friendship given by the local interior communities.”
Meanwhile, Tourism and Heritage Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said the memorial would be “a manifestation of what we can do in the future”.
Speaking at a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial, Dr Chan said the state government would continue to emphasise on tourism products that are owned by locals.
“I think local ownership and community based tourism is very important, because sometimes outsiders may not fully understand what should be done,” Dr Chan, who is also deputy chief minister, said.
“City planners may have other ideas, or worse, some may just run away after money is made. Furthermore, I’m convince that local communities will emphasise more on nature, which is where Sarawak’s tourism potential really is.”
Monday July 5, 2010
Memorial of the reconnaissance mission built in Bario
By YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
A MEMORIAL that commemorates the landing of Allied Force paratroopers in Borneo against the Japanese occupation has been erected in Bario.
Located on a foothill in the hinterland, which is about 50 minutes by flight from Miri, the memorial will become the start of an eco-tourism trail that will eventually stretch all the way to Sibu town.
The trail will retrace the route of the reconnaissance mission, Operation “Semut”, 65 years ago by the British and Australian army. While the memorial was launched last Saturday, the trail packages will proceed in stages due to the lack of infrastructure.
Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) Heritage Development Committee chairman Lim Kian Hock said without the success of Operation Semut, the founding of Malaysia may have been thwarted.
“When the Allied Forces landed, headed by Major Tom Harrison of the British Army, who later became the Sarawak Museum curator, the locals welcomed them. They did not report the troops’ presence to the Japanese,” Lim said.
Other Allied personnel, who landed across the border in Dutch Borneo (now Indonesia), were not so lucky. “They were reported and were beheaded,” Lim said.
“The people of Bario were intensely loyal to the Allied paratroopers. Bario paved the way for operation Semut towards the liberation of Borneo, and in particular, Sarawak.”
On the memorial, located on a foothill of undulating mountains, Lim said: “The design follows the theme on the spirit for freedom and unity. This is an artwork produced with stainless steel based on the form of the Orang Ulu musical instrument, “sape.”
STF president Wee Hong Seng said the new memorial at Bario has already created interest overseas.
“We have received communication from the descendants and friends of the former commandos, from as far as the UK and Australia,” Wee said.
“These tourists were keen to retrace their forefathers’ wartime footsteps, and to get to know the valuable assistance and friendship given by the local interior communities.”
Meanwhile, Tourism and Heritage Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said the memorial would be “a manifestation of what we can do in the future”.
Speaking at a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial, Dr Chan said the state government would continue to emphasise on tourism products that are owned by locals.
“I think local ownership and community based tourism is very important, because sometimes outsiders may not fully understand what should be done,” Dr Chan, who is also deputy chief minister, said.
“City planners may have other ideas, or worse, some may just run away after money is made. Furthermore, I’m convince that local communities will emphasise more on nature, which is where Sarawak’s tourism potential really is.”
Friday, July 2, 2010
All set for Pesta Nukenen
http://tribune.my/home/581-all-set-for-pesta-nukenen.html
All set for Pesta Nukenen
Friday, 02 July 2010 11:46
KUCHING: Day 2 of Pesta Nukenen started with a soft mist rising off the farms and festival site at Bario.
As the light cleared, preparations continued on the site with more materials being brought in from the farms and forests of the northern Kelabit Highlands - mainly from nearby secondary amug forest and kerangas paya forest.
Many of the stalls were being decorated with traditionally woven and folded palm leaves, split giant bamboo and tree bark. As far as possible, plastics were avoided in stall preparation and food presentation.
Utensils, cups, plates and pots are being made from bamboos and local rattans, including the beautiful uwe rabun - a long, smooth ground growing rattan common in the Pa Umor Valley of Singai Debpur.
The first craft items also began to appear. These included a variety of baskets, made by residents in the Highlands, working with traditions passed down over generations.
Members of the local Penan community - twice previous winners of the Pesta Nukenen Festival Stall Award - have arrived with backpacks and bracelets woven from uwe rabun and other thicker rattans, some stained with wood smoke to give two-tone patterns. Other examples of the traditional arts include traditional Kelabit Highland designs including the kalang basket, made by women for planting the seedlings of beras adan, and the bakang or Highland Backpack - a tapering lightweight rattan backpack made and used by men for hunting trips and long distance journeys, found also in the Maligan Highlands and Kerayan valleys.
Day 2 also saw many more foods appearing, including kassam / bua lam fermented wild meat and rice, senape the Highland snack bar [steamed sticky rice wrapped in da’un isip palm leaves], kikid luang rice porridge with fish and ginger, and bamboo steamed rice. Judging started for the Pesta Nukenen Food & Stall Awards, with the winners being announced on Saturday evening.
Refreshments came in the form of cinnamon coffee from Pa Mada, fresh Bario Pineapple juice and cinnamon tea.
A highlight in the middle of the day was the arrival of Pesta Nukenen’s Heart of Borneo FORMADAT guests. It had been hoped that they would arrive on Wednesday, but rain held them up and they camped overnight at Long Bekang, a former longhouse heritage site near the border. The new guests were welcomed at the Kedai Kopi with refreshments, before being registered as guests by the Imigresen office Bario.
“ It is a great honour to receive guests from the Kerayen villages from across the border in the transnational Heart of Borneo area. It was always one of our dreams to link up in this way and promote Heart of Borneo. It connects the remarkable cultural and forest heritage of the communities, with Ba Kelalan and Bario as Gateways in Sarawak.
Community owned sustainable development is a key part of the Heart of Borneo agreement and we hope to promote Bario and the Kelabit Highlands as the “Green” Heart of Borneo, with commitments to the protection of the beautiful valleys, farms and forests for community-based development, celebrating government support for rural entrepreneurship, renewable energy systems, rural ICT access, local cultural knowledge and the beautiful forests of the Sungai Debpur and Sungai Kelapang catchment areas - overlooked by the hills of Pulong Tau National Park.” After the reception for Heart of Borneo Guests, marked by the striking of new tubung bamboo gongs, everyone swung into action to welcome more festival and community guests at the airport: member of Parliament for Lawas, Henry Sum, State assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan, Nelson Balang Rining and Director of Immigration, Datuk Robert Lian Saging, flying in with MAS Wings Rural Air Service. The Highland offices for Polis and Imigresen provided an escort to the Festival site, where the Festival Guests were greeted by JKKK Bario, Festival goers and visitors with a cultural performance and a selection of Kelabit Highland foods.
As Thursday came to an end, still clear-skied, the Festival Site quietened, watched over by representatives of the local community RELA.
As the light went down, activities moved indoors, with tables being laid for this evening’s Community Dinner for today’s Festival Guests from the coast, Kerayan visitors, press and international visitors.
Friday - Day 3 - sees the Grand Opening and full celebration of the community, Heart of Borneo and Highland Foods at the Festival Site with PN 2010’s VIP Guest of Honour, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam. A key focus of the day will be PN 2010 Guest of Honour’s Tour of the village food stalls and celebration of Kelabit Highland food and forest heritage, and the unveiling of a new War Memorial in Bario. In Honour of Dr George Chan ‘s Hong Nam’s visit there will be a Community Dinner at Bario Asal longhouse.
Further Pesta Nukenen festivities continue at the Festival Site on Saturday, with a Blow Pipe Competition, judging and singing.
Saturday’s activities are rounded off by the Festival Feast or irau, generously sponsored by Rurum Kelabit Sarawak The Ministry of Tourism & Heritage, bringing together all the guests for PN 2010 for a final get together, with cultural performances, awards and presentations.
Day 5 is a day of Thanksgiving and Friendship on Sunday 4th July - a time for visitors to rest before leaving or embarking on more adventures in the Highland villages and forests - or, we hope, heading down to spend time in Miri and Kuching for the Rainforest World Music Festival.
All set for Pesta Nukenen
Friday, 02 July 2010 11:46
KUCHING: Day 2 of Pesta Nukenen started with a soft mist rising off the farms and festival site at Bario.
As the light cleared, preparations continued on the site with more materials being brought in from the farms and forests of the northern Kelabit Highlands - mainly from nearby secondary amug forest and kerangas paya forest.
Many of the stalls were being decorated with traditionally woven and folded palm leaves, split giant bamboo and tree bark. As far as possible, plastics were avoided in stall preparation and food presentation.
Utensils, cups, plates and pots are being made from bamboos and local rattans, including the beautiful uwe rabun - a long, smooth ground growing rattan common in the Pa Umor Valley of Singai Debpur.
The first craft items also began to appear. These included a variety of baskets, made by residents in the Highlands, working with traditions passed down over generations.
Members of the local Penan community - twice previous winners of the Pesta Nukenen Festival Stall Award - have arrived with backpacks and bracelets woven from uwe rabun and other thicker rattans, some stained with wood smoke to give two-tone patterns. Other examples of the traditional arts include traditional Kelabit Highland designs including the kalang basket, made by women for planting the seedlings of beras adan, and the bakang or Highland Backpack - a tapering lightweight rattan backpack made and used by men for hunting trips and long distance journeys, found also in the Maligan Highlands and Kerayan valleys.
Day 2 also saw many more foods appearing, including kassam / bua lam fermented wild meat and rice, senape the Highland snack bar [steamed sticky rice wrapped in da’un isip palm leaves], kikid luang rice porridge with fish and ginger, and bamboo steamed rice. Judging started for the Pesta Nukenen Food & Stall Awards, with the winners being announced on Saturday evening.
Refreshments came in the form of cinnamon coffee from Pa Mada, fresh Bario Pineapple juice and cinnamon tea.
A highlight in the middle of the day was the arrival of Pesta Nukenen’s Heart of Borneo FORMADAT guests. It had been hoped that they would arrive on Wednesday, but rain held them up and they camped overnight at Long Bekang, a former longhouse heritage site near the border. The new guests were welcomed at the Kedai Kopi with refreshments, before being registered as guests by the Imigresen office Bario.
“ It is a great honour to receive guests from the Kerayen villages from across the border in the transnational Heart of Borneo area. It was always one of our dreams to link up in this way and promote Heart of Borneo. It connects the remarkable cultural and forest heritage of the communities, with Ba Kelalan and Bario as Gateways in Sarawak.
Community owned sustainable development is a key part of the Heart of Borneo agreement and we hope to promote Bario and the Kelabit Highlands as the “Green” Heart of Borneo, with commitments to the protection of the beautiful valleys, farms and forests for community-based development, celebrating government support for rural entrepreneurship, renewable energy systems, rural ICT access, local cultural knowledge and the beautiful forests of the Sungai Debpur and Sungai Kelapang catchment areas - overlooked by the hills of Pulong Tau National Park.” After the reception for Heart of Borneo Guests, marked by the striking of new tubung bamboo gongs, everyone swung into action to welcome more festival and community guests at the airport: member of Parliament for Lawas, Henry Sum, State assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan, Nelson Balang Rining and Director of Immigration, Datuk Robert Lian Saging, flying in with MAS Wings Rural Air Service. The Highland offices for Polis and Imigresen provided an escort to the Festival site, where the Festival Guests were greeted by JKKK Bario, Festival goers and visitors with a cultural performance and a selection of Kelabit Highland foods.
As Thursday came to an end, still clear-skied, the Festival Site quietened, watched over by representatives of the local community RELA.
As the light went down, activities moved indoors, with tables being laid for this evening’s Community Dinner for today’s Festival Guests from the coast, Kerayan visitors, press and international visitors.
Friday - Day 3 - sees the Grand Opening and full celebration of the community, Heart of Borneo and Highland Foods at the Festival Site with PN 2010’s VIP Guest of Honour, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam. A key focus of the day will be PN 2010 Guest of Honour’s Tour of the village food stalls and celebration of Kelabit Highland food and forest heritage, and the unveiling of a new War Memorial in Bario. In Honour of Dr George Chan ‘s Hong Nam’s visit there will be a Community Dinner at Bario Asal longhouse.
Further Pesta Nukenen festivities continue at the Festival Site on Saturday, with a Blow Pipe Competition, judging and singing.
Saturday’s activities are rounded off by the Festival Feast or irau, generously sponsored by Rurum Kelabit Sarawak The Ministry of Tourism & Heritage, bringing together all the guests for PN 2010 for a final get together, with cultural performances, awards and presentations.
Day 5 is a day of Thanksgiving and Friendship on Sunday 4th July - a time for visitors to rest before leaving or embarking on more adventures in the Highland villages and forests - or, we hope, heading down to spend time in Miri and Kuching for the Rainforest World Music Festival.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Why the need to protect intellectual property?
http://tribune.my/prime/541-why-the-need-to-protect-intellectual-property.html
Why the need to protect intellectual property?
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:05
Abg Salfian
KUCHING: Greater awareness on the importance of registering one’s intellectual property is beneficial in the long run as it would foster a culture of respecting intellectual property, and would also stimulate creativity, creativity and innovation.
Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource management, Haji Mohd Noraden Haji Majais, said this when opening a one-day course on ‘Intellectual Property Awareness’ here yesterday.
“I am very optimistic that through this course, the participants’ knowledge on the importance of protecting intellectual property will be enhanced.
“According to research conducted worldwide by intellectual property organisations, small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs had been identified as the parties that had not fully exploited the benefits of intellectual property protection.
“These entrepreneurs are actually exposing themselves to the risk of infringing on intellectual property owned by other parties that could possibly lead to legal implications involving huge fines.” Among the main reasons why the entrepreneurs declined to register their intellectual properties, Naroden said, were their lack of knowledge on the matter and the perception that protecting their intellectual property was too cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive.
“The management of intellectual property should be the main and continuous activity of the owners, as each day, many new brand designs would enter the market which need to be protected.” Naroden said the registration of intellectual property would allow the products to be marketed convincingly with the usage of patents, industrial designs, trademarks or service marks.
“There are four components – geographical indications (GI), traditional knowledge (TK), genetic resources (GR) and traditional cultural expression (TCE) - in the new intellectual property which is less known. They are, however, very important for developing countries such as Malaysia which is rich in mineral resources.” “Sarawak has registered-products as GI such as Sarawak Pepper, Bario Rice, Bajong Biris Rice, and the latest is Dabai,” said Naroden, who also recommended that Tebaloi, Sarawak layer-cakes and many other products that are mainly cultivated or produced only in Sarawak undergo GI registration.
“Registration as a GI is not only important to get a premium in the market but also to protect intellectual property rights of local communities,” said Naroden, adding that intellectual property protection was territorial in nature and the registration should be done in every country where protection was needed.
“Many entrepreneurs, however, do not register the intellectual property of products or services outside the country on grounds that they have no intention to penetrate the international market. This perception should be corrected as many companies which started out as entrepreneurs of small and medium industries are starting to seek international market.” Noraden, later, revealed that the number of applications filed as intellectual property or intellectual property corporation registered in MyIPO had increased every year, indicating that more entrepreneurs were starting to realise the importance of registering their intellectual property.
The one-day course was organised for the first time by Entrepreneur Development Unit (EDU) in the Chief Minister’s Department, and Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). It was held at the auditorium of the state library in Petra Jaya here.
The course attracted 95-participants, comprising entrepreneurs, civil servants, businessmen, students from higher learning institutes, and even some individuals.
Earlier, EDU director Hajah Sutin Selamat in her opening speech said that the objectives of the course were to cultivate awareness and expose the participants on the importance of patenting their inventions, products, and protecting their copyright.
Also present at the opening ceremony was deputy director-general of MyIPO (Industrial Property) Shamsiah Kamaruddin.
Why the need to protect intellectual property?
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:05
Abg Salfian
KUCHING: Greater awareness on the importance of registering one’s intellectual property is beneficial in the long run as it would foster a culture of respecting intellectual property, and would also stimulate creativity, creativity and innovation.
Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource management, Haji Mohd Noraden Haji Majais, said this when opening a one-day course on ‘Intellectual Property Awareness’ here yesterday.
“I am very optimistic that through this course, the participants’ knowledge on the importance of protecting intellectual property will be enhanced.
“According to research conducted worldwide by intellectual property organisations, small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs had been identified as the parties that had not fully exploited the benefits of intellectual property protection.
“These entrepreneurs are actually exposing themselves to the risk of infringing on intellectual property owned by other parties that could possibly lead to legal implications involving huge fines.” Among the main reasons why the entrepreneurs declined to register their intellectual properties, Naroden said, were their lack of knowledge on the matter and the perception that protecting their intellectual property was too cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive.
“The management of intellectual property should be the main and continuous activity of the owners, as each day, many new brand designs would enter the market which need to be protected.” Naroden said the registration of intellectual property would allow the products to be marketed convincingly with the usage of patents, industrial designs, trademarks or service marks.
“There are four components – geographical indications (GI), traditional knowledge (TK), genetic resources (GR) and traditional cultural expression (TCE) - in the new intellectual property which is less known. They are, however, very important for developing countries such as Malaysia which is rich in mineral resources.” “Sarawak has registered-products as GI such as Sarawak Pepper, Bario Rice, Bajong Biris Rice, and the latest is Dabai,” said Naroden, who also recommended that Tebaloi, Sarawak layer-cakes and many other products that are mainly cultivated or produced only in Sarawak undergo GI registration.
“Registration as a GI is not only important to get a premium in the market but also to protect intellectual property rights of local communities,” said Naroden, adding that intellectual property protection was territorial in nature and the registration should be done in every country where protection was needed.
“Many entrepreneurs, however, do not register the intellectual property of products or services outside the country on grounds that they have no intention to penetrate the international market. This perception should be corrected as many companies which started out as entrepreneurs of small and medium industries are starting to seek international market.” Noraden, later, revealed that the number of applications filed as intellectual property or intellectual property corporation registered in MyIPO had increased every year, indicating that more entrepreneurs were starting to realise the importance of registering their intellectual property.
The one-day course was organised for the first time by Entrepreneur Development Unit (EDU) in the Chief Minister’s Department, and Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). It was held at the auditorium of the state library in Petra Jaya here.
The course attracted 95-participants, comprising entrepreneurs, civil servants, businessmen, students from higher learning institutes, and even some individuals.
Earlier, EDU director Hajah Sutin Selamat in her opening speech said that the objectives of the course were to cultivate awareness and expose the participants on the importance of patenting their inventions, products, and protecting their copyright.
Also present at the opening ceremony was deputy director-general of MyIPO (Industrial Property) Shamsiah Kamaruddin.
International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival
http://tribune.my/prime/548-international-tourists-flock-to-bario-highlands-festival.html
International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:39
Grace Balan-Law
KUCHING: The Pesta Nukenen Bario 2010, a celebration of food, farming and forest heritage of the Kelabit highlands, got off to a good start yesterday (June 30) in Bario.
While the official opening of the festival will be held tomorrow by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, preparations for the festival was well underway yesterday.
Site preparations continued at the Balai Community Centre in Bario where stalls have been constructed and village teams have set up and traded with displays of native highland foods. According to the Patron of Pesta Nukenen Bario, Lord Jason Gathorne, “Hardy, a policy of using natural materials is encouraged at the festival. An example is the Bued Main Beruh longhouse display of rare foods not seen in recent years, including the bua kiran - from the jackfruit family.” Rehearsals of traditional dances were also held at the festival site, with demonstrations of rice winnowing and pounding in conjunction with the festival theme of Beras Adan - the native rice of the highlands which had been awarded a Slow Food Presidium in 2003. It is a recognition by the foundation which funds projects to defend the world’s heritage of agricultural biodiversity.
“Our first international guests arrived today (yesterday) with visitors from France, Japan and the UK who have made the long journey here to experience this unique festival,” said Lord Jason via email from Bario.
He added,” There is great excitement in the air as the first guests from the Heart of Borneo Formadat Kerayane areas have started arriving.” Formadat stands for Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo which groups the people from Bario, Ba Kelalan, Long Pasia in Sabah and Kerayan in Kalimantan.
Penan Pesta Nukenen guests have also arrived in Bario bringing with them their crafts from Long Main, Long Lawai, Long Benalaih, Long Sabai, Long Latei, Long Kevok, Long Nen and Long Mada.
Samples of traditional cultural arts and crafts have also started arriving with a range of Highland tubung (wooden bells) and traditional baskets going to be on display.
The e-Nukenen Heart of Borneo workshop begins today.
The theme for July 1 is ‘Bario & the Kelabit Highlands: The Green Heart of Borneo’. The e-Nukenen workshop will celebrate community- based development in the HoB, bringing together cultural homelands, local foods, ICTs and renewable energy technologies.
The workshop features government themes including sustainable community owned eco-tourism, rural entrepreneurship, embedded power generation and the K-economy.
The ‘e’ in e-Nukenen stands for innovation based upon local knowledge, environment and energy. The workshop is sponsored by Alde Valley Food Adventures.
International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:39
Grace Balan-Law
KUCHING: The Pesta Nukenen Bario 2010, a celebration of food, farming and forest heritage of the Kelabit highlands, got off to a good start yesterday (June 30) in Bario.
While the official opening of the festival will be held tomorrow by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, preparations for the festival was well underway yesterday.
Site preparations continued at the Balai Community Centre in Bario where stalls have been constructed and village teams have set up and traded with displays of native highland foods. According to the Patron of Pesta Nukenen Bario, Lord Jason Gathorne, “Hardy, a policy of using natural materials is encouraged at the festival. An example is the Bued Main Beruh longhouse display of rare foods not seen in recent years, including the bua kiran - from the jackfruit family.” Rehearsals of traditional dances were also held at the festival site, with demonstrations of rice winnowing and pounding in conjunction with the festival theme of Beras Adan - the native rice of the highlands which had been awarded a Slow Food Presidium in 2003. It is a recognition by the foundation which funds projects to defend the world’s heritage of agricultural biodiversity.
“Our first international guests arrived today (yesterday) with visitors from France, Japan and the UK who have made the long journey here to experience this unique festival,” said Lord Jason via email from Bario.
He added,” There is great excitement in the air as the first guests from the Heart of Borneo Formadat Kerayane areas have started arriving.” Formadat stands for Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo which groups the people from Bario, Ba Kelalan, Long Pasia in Sabah and Kerayan in Kalimantan.
Penan Pesta Nukenen guests have also arrived in Bario bringing with them their crafts from Long Main, Long Lawai, Long Benalaih, Long Sabai, Long Latei, Long Kevok, Long Nen and Long Mada.
Samples of traditional cultural arts and crafts have also started arriving with a range of Highland tubung (wooden bells) and traditional baskets going to be on display.
The e-Nukenen Heart of Borneo workshop begins today.
The theme for July 1 is ‘Bario & the Kelabit Highlands: The Green Heart of Borneo’. The e-Nukenen workshop will celebrate community- based development in the HoB, bringing together cultural homelands, local foods, ICTs and renewable energy technologies.
The workshop features government themes including sustainable community owned eco-tourism, rural entrepreneurship, embedded power generation and the K-economy.
The ‘e’ in e-Nukenen stands for innovation based upon local knowledge, environment and energy. The workshop is sponsored by Alde Valley Food Adventures.
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