Who were lying about Limbang?

Amde Sidik, Kadayan Journal

Malaysians living in Borneo, the Borneons are familiar and know better about the sentiment of our neighbours than anyone else from outside the Island

I’m just as concerned as any other citizens about the authenticity of claim made by our Malaysian politicians which appeared in all mainstream Malaysian media on 17 March 2009 which said, Brunei has dropped its claimed over Limbang.

The Brunei media likewise, dismissed the claim the following day-see below:

Brunei Denies Limbang Story

By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Awg Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, yesterday said claims on Limbang were never discussed during Monday’s deliberations between Brunei and Malaysia. (…)

www.brudirect.com

Local media not privy to Limbang spat

By MK Anwar

The issue about Brunei dropping its territorial claim on Limbang has caused a stir among members of the public as questions are being asked over the veracity about this claim.

Malaysian media have widely reported Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as saying that Brunei has dropped its claim on Limbang.

This statement was made at a press conference on Monday at the Malaysian High Commission exclusively for the Malaysian media.

Local media representatives were earlier barred from attending the press conference. The visit itinerary didn’t state it was an exclusive affair (…) Borneo Bulletin on line

Were Malaysian media instructed to publish the way they did?

Does Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi desperately want the feeling good factor before he leaves the office?

I would consider this is a good question for our wakil rakyat to ask in parliament.

As a Sabahan whose family and relatives are also found in Brunei the talk on the subject wouldn’t just crop up over dinning table or kenduri, or would fade out as quickly as the passing smoke. Nonetheless, one thing we would likely to agree, this is political talk, nothing is straight but meanders and grey areas all over.

Of lately Malaysian politicians have been misleading and confusing rakyat over so many issues; the Prime Minister for instance, prone to deny even about his getting married when he did the next day. No rise of petrol price, but it rose by the middle of the night, creating havoc at all Malaysian petrol kiosks, and many more including the disappearance Balakhrisnan that until today no one and no authority wants to tell the truth.

I’m sure million of rakyat feel the same or perhaps some are getting immune by now. Others suggest the best is to leave it as it is. But I don’t share this view. If no one criticizes our leaders, they will forever take it for granted that we are all dummies, and they are our masters.

Next, it’s painful to start civilization all over again. Perhaps some can still remember John McEnroe, a former number one world tennis player whose famous expression in the 80s was, ‘You can’t be serious’?? For me, I can’t be not serious when it’s to do with our country.

Limbang is in the 5th Division of Sarawak, the size of 3,978 km with a population of about 40,000 annexed by James Brooke, Sarawak Rajah in 1890 by devious means.

To add to my interest, Limbang and Brunei are where Kadayan community mostly to be found.

Brooke cheated the Sultan by giving a false impression that all the chiefs represented the people in that area wanted to be under Rajah’s rule.

Brooke cleverly presented the Sultan with vague map, the Sultan who was not aware in most of the time about the size of area only to realise later that it bisected the nation into two. That’s Limbang.

Brunei gugur tuntutan

quote from Berita Harian:

bhnnews@bharian.com.my

Limbang tidak lagi jadi perebutan, kekal hak Malaysia

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei Darussalam semalam secara rasmi menggugurkan tuntutannya ke atas Limbang di utara Sarawak, sekali gus mengakhiri episod pertikaian wilayah berkenaan yang berlarutan sejak sekian lama.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, berkata ketetapan itu adalah sebahagian daripada persetujuan yang dicapai menerusi rundingan perjanjian bersama Malaysia-Brunei berhubung isu persempadanan darat dan maritim membabitkan kedua-dua negara.

"Rundingan mengenai isu persempadanan ini berlangsung sejak 1995 dan kini perkara pokoknya sudah diselesaikan manakala butiran terperinci akan dibincang jawatankuasa yang bakal dibentuk. Ini termasuk perkara berkaitan (tuntutan) Limbang yang memang sudah diketahui semua pihak.

"Ia kini selesai dan Brunei telah menggugurkan isu ini. Limbang kekal menjadi sebahagian daripada Malaysia, selaku wilayah kita," katanya kepada pemberita di pejabat Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia di Brunei, di sini semalam.

Isu mengenai tuntutan ke atas Limbang, yang kedudukannya diapit oleh daerah Brunei-Muara dan Temburong (ke arah Sabah) timbul setiap kali masalah persempadanan Malaysia-Brunei dibangkitkan sejak pembentukan Malaysia pada 1963.

Daerah itu, yang mempunyai keluasan 3,978 kilometer persegi, didiami penduduk etnik Melayu, Lun Bawang, Cina, Kedayan, Iban, Bisaya, Kelabit, Tagal dan Penan. Ia menjadi sebahagian Sarawak ketika pemerintahan James Brooke pada 1890. Apabila Sarawak mencapai kemerdekaan dan menganggotai Malaysia pada 1963, Limbang kekal sebagai satu daripada daerahnya.

Abdullah, yang dalam rangka lawatan dua hari ke sini, berkata dengan selesainya masalah itu, Brunei dan Malaysia memasuki era baru dalam perhubungan dua hala dan kerjasama pelbagai bidang.

"Saya ingin menjunjung kasih kepada Tuanku Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah dan kerajaan Brunei atas kerjasama yang diberi.

"Kita juga yakin penyelesaian isu tuntutan itu dicapai tanpa ada perkara yang menimbulkan sebarang perasaan tidak senang hati atau negatif dan Insya-Allah, ia akan membawa kebaikan kepada kedua-dua negara," katanya.

Terdahulu, Perdana Menteri mengadakan pertemuan empat mata dengan Sultan Brunei di Istana Nurul Iman, sebelum kedua-duanya menandatangani Surat Pertukaran (LoE) yang antara lain mengandungi beberapa prinsip kerjasama untuk dilaksanakan ke arah menentukan persempadanan darat dan maritim dua negara.

Antara delegasi Malaysia yang hadir ialah Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim; Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein; Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud; Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman dan Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Malaysia ke Brunei, Datuk Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari.

Delegasi Brunei pula membabitkan Putera Mahkota, Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah; Menteri Hal Ehwal Luar dan Perdagangan, Pengiran Muda Mohamed Bolkiah dan Menteri Hal Ehwal Luar dan Perdagangan Kedua, Pehin Datuk Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng.

Dalam kenyataan bersama Abdullah dan Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah yang dikeluarkan semalam, kedua-dua pihak bersetuju bahawa:

· LoE itu memuktamadkan persempadanan maritim Malaysia-Brunei, pewujudan Kawasan Aturan Komersial (CAA) bagi minyak dan gas, penentuan sempadan darat Malaysia-Brunei serta hak laluan maritim yang tidak boleh dicabuli;

· Penyelesaian isu persempadanan maritim menentukan ketetapan sempadan laut, pelantar benua dan Zon Ekonomi Eksklusif (ZEE) kedua-dua negara. Malaysia dan Brunei berhak melaksanakan undang-undang dan peraturan, di samping memulakan pembangunan baru di perairan sendiri;

· Persempadanan darat Malaysia-Brunei akan diselesaikan berdasarkan lima perjanjian bersejarah sedia ada antara kerajaan Sarawak dan Brunei;

· Pertukaran Surat itu mencerminkan kemampuan kedua-dua negara mencapai penyelesaian yang menyeluruh, adil dan memanfaatkan semua pihak;

· Pegawai kedua-dua negara akan mengambil langkah susulan, selain memantau pelaksanaan penuh segala peruntukan yang terkandung dalam dokumen terbabit; dan

· Kedua-dua pemimpin yakin LoE itu akan membuka laluan ke arah pembentukan perkongsian strategik dan kerjasama lebih erat dalam pelbagai bidang terutama pelaburan dan perdagangan, sumber tenaga dan hidrokarbon, pelancongan pendidikan, pertanian, infrastruktur, perbankan, industri halal dan hubungan sesama penduduk dengan tumpuan kepada Sabah dan Sarawak.

.....hope the decisions made by Brunei delegates would give "a win win" situation...or esle.. ??

bubbling well

...just want to share some pictures from the bubbling wells which was occurred in early 2007. This incident happened just right after the commisioning of the first Onshore snake well (part of North Flank Project) which was successfully producing oil for less than a week...after that well close due to sand...
Incident was happened on 3rd Jan 2007 and last for couple of months…Operation staff were informed bubbling found near one of the Tank group and the emergency team mobilized and closed in all wells adjacents to the area later closed in the rest of the wells within the vicinity including all injection wells. Sample were taken from the bubbling pond for LAB analysis and close monitoring were carried out until further investigation can be done. Report from the investigation team stated that the bubbling was a natural phenomena and it will stop and normalise after all the pressure from the gas pocket getting lower and lower..., whether true or not nobody knows…no media coverage…worrying that this might potentially cause or trigger public panic..??but for the sake of public safety, it a bit unfair if they are not well informed of any consequences arise..



..after the above bubbling had been normalise, couples of bubbling in other came out again in June 2008, the locations are shown below..and till today close monitoring still going on at this location and this of course delaying the progress of the renovation works which was carried out on the 7 flight operation centre..

2008 Human Rights Report: Brunei Darussalam

Source US State Department:


Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government

Citizens did not have the right to change their government peacefully.

The same family has ruled the country for more than 600 years. In 1962 the then sultan invoked an article of the constitution that allowed him to assume emergency powers for two years. These powers have been renewed every two years since 1962. The state of emergency places few limits on the sultan's power. The sultan also serves as prime minister, minister of defense, minister of finance, chancellor of the national university, inspector general of the Royal Brunei Police Force, and head of the Islamic faith.

Elections and Political Participation

Political authority and control rested entirely with the sultan. A 29-person legislative council (LegCo), which has no independent power and is made up primarily of appointed members, provided a forum for public discussion of proposed government programs as well as administrative deficiencies. It convenes once a year.

Persons 18 years of age and above may vote by secret ballot in village consultative council elections, which are based on a traditional system of village chiefs. Candidates must be Muslim, approved by the government, and be citizens or permanent residents for more than 15 years. The councils communicated constituent wishes through a variety of channels, including periodic meetings chaired by the minister of home affairs. The government also met with mukim (collections of villages) representatives to allow for airing of local grievances and concerns.

The Brunei National Development Party (NDP) remained the country's only registered political party. The NDP, as had other parties when they were registered, pledged to support the sultan and the government. Although the parties criticized administrative deficiencies, their few activities received limited publicity and they were hindered by membership restrictions.

On June 21, the NDP held its third Party Congress which included discussion of the politically sensitive Brunei-Malaysia territorial dispute. In 2007 government officials advised members of political parties not to discuss certain politically sensitive issues during their congresses.

Individuals sought to express their views or influence government decisions and policies by posting messages to Internet discussion boards, writing letters to local newspapers, and petitioning the sultan or handing him letters when he appeared in public.

There were no female ministers in the government or female members of the LegCo; however, the sultan's sister, Princess Masna, was the second-ranking official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and one of four permanent secretaries in the Prime Minister's Office was a woman. On February 19, a woman was promoted to become one of the four permanent secretaries in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. One cabinet-level post and two LegCo positions were held by ethnic Chinese.

Government Corruption and Transparency

There were reliable reports of corruption in the government. In accordance with its zero tolerance policy for corrupt practices, the government successfully prosecuted a number of low-level officials. At year's end the case of a former government minister accused of corruption in awarding government projects was pending a final ruling from the chief justice.

Government officials were not subject to financial disclosure reports.

During the year the LegCo approved, and the government published, a summary of the fiscal year government budget. However, the government continued to restrict and classify as confidential some information on the financial dealings of the government and the royal family. The law provides that no court can compel any person to give evidence relating to unpublished government records unless consent is given by the relevant ministry's permanent secretary. The Anticorruption Bureau, under the purview of the Prime Minister's Office, reports directly to the sultan.

Discrimination at work

WHY some people write race and religious bashing in the Internet. Earlier I wrote among other reasons that Internet nowadays serves as conduit for them to express their frustration, thus Internet is a natural venue in this information technological era.

Frustration or hatred could be caused by other unknown reasons to us resulted by the uncaring attitude of our community leaders.

Our leaders are supposed to lead and to show good example but instead prone to showing off. This scene is tantamount as claimed by some quarters, the less privileged section of our society as discriminating and prejudicial in nature.

To illustrate an example, there was one incident of how discrimination and prejudice at works. Some months ago I was waiting for a friend to collect air tickets at one ticketing office in TOWN. I managed to find a parking space nicely just beside the office. Since my friend was a bit behind time and I didn’t think he could get a parking space by the time. I decided to wait for him out side the office, the idea was, and I could just give the ticket to him without him leaving the car.

A few minutes later, it must be around 10 o’clock in the morning, came LAW enforcement officers about FOUR of them in the grey uniform. They were all eyeing on those indiscriminate parking-wonder parking defaulters seem to be their only main target.

They came passing by where I was. There and then writing furiously on their prepared dockets for cars that parked not in the parking lots.

I watched them very closely.

There were many cars but mostly kancil, Cuore, motorbikes, and out of that, one expensive car with small plate number MERC..

To my surprise these LAW enforcement officers were not interest in this Merc, all cars here were given tickets (compound) except Merc, some of the cars owners were rushing like mad and pledged to the officers that they were just for a few minutes to send and pick something, but no avail.

I then approached these officers asking them, why they did not put the ticket on this MERC, when it parked not in the parking lot, just like those I pointed. They were embarrassed by my remark. One of them replied he would write a ticket. So I stood by next to him, because I wanted to see him writing. He didn’t. I asked this one guy again if he knew the owner of the car, and I wanted to know what so special about this owner. The five officers left, leaving this one guy to answer my question. He wanted to leave me but I made myself clear that I wanted to know the reason. He pretended to write but he noticed my eyes were on the paper he wrote. He asked me who I was. I answered that wasn’t very important.

He didn’t write, because I was not an important person to know the reason.

By the time my friend arrived. This officer rushed to join his other friends who were in front of one of the Hotel in town.

I actually know the owner of that Merc, but I wanted to know whether these people understand what justice is all about.

Is this not a kind of discrimination??