Sabtu, 28 November 2015

MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION

Rights advocates in M’sia should enlarge their minds and hearts

Posted: 28 Nov 2015 05:19 AM PST
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Khamis, 26 November 2015

MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION

PGA Parliamentary Roundtable and Consultations on the Abolition of the Mandatory Death Penalty in Malaysia

Posted: 26 Nov 2015 01:33 AM PST
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Isnin, 23 November 2015

Charles Santiago

Charles Santiago

ASEAN’s Missing Social Agenda

Posted: 23 Nov 2015 12:28 AM PST

It's the 27th time that Asean heads of states and world leaders, such as yourselves, will be meeting to discuss the initiative for Asean integration, which deals with the gaps in economic development in the region, besides meetings with other dialogue partners such as Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US.

The formation of the Asean Economic Community in the next six weeks, similar to that of the European Union, which is characterised by a single market and the free intra-regional flow of goods, services and investment will be the main focus of the meetings and has captured the imagination of global and regional economic observers.

Asean has been mouthing that it works in the interest of the people. But the economic integration, fashioned to look as if it prioritises the welfare of the people, only focuses on Business Asean and not Social Asean.

Business Asean, which includes the free trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, European Union-Asean trade deal or the recently concluded Transpacific Partnership Agreement, promote multinationals, Asean big businesses and lobbyists.

The social dimension to the integration efforts by the ten member countries — Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines — is therefore sorely missing.

While the Asean Economic Community is said to be tailored after the European Union, it does not have bodies such as the European Parliament or the European Works Council to allow workers, farmers, fishermen, people from lower income groups, aborigines, to have a say on Asean affairs.

In fact much of the meetings, negotiations and discussions about the formation of the Asean Economic Community were done without consultations with the civil society, trade unions, human rights organisations and workers' groups.

As such, the aspirations of the Asean people are completely missing in the integration exercise.

And these people are grappling with day to day issues affecting their livelihood such as outsourcing, inequality within and between countries, migrant labour and informal work.

It is important to note here that declarations by the 10-member grouping, such as the Asean Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, Asean Human Rights Declaration, have not been effective due to their non-binding nature.

Asean leaders gloat that the region represents over 500 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of over one trillion US dollars.

But economic integration in the region thus far has been nothing but a race to the bottom with domestic and global capital seeking to exploit cheap labour and in search of profitable investment at the expense of the workers and people of Asean.

For example, the withdrawal of speculative capital from Southeast Asia led to the Asian financial crisis, where thousands lost their jobs and saw their savings vanish.

Fast forward to today and nothing has changed except for cheap rhetoric by Asean governments of a sharing and caring Asean, closing the development gap and reducing poverty and inequality.

As such it's imminent that you agree for a binding Social Asean Charter to be implemented as a core principle of the economic integration to get the commitment of the Asean member states to address the race to the bottom, to ensure fair and equitable distribution of wealth, to observe basic labour rights and to strengthen social protection for the disadvantaged.

In short Social Asean will ensure the economic integration will focus on people over profits.

Dismissing the social charter in the Asean Economic Community would mean the bloc and governments are only interested in raking in the money at the expense of their own people.

Charles Santiago

Member of Parliament

Malaysia.
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Khamis, 19 November 2015

MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION

‘Delay in joining ICC, Arms Trade Treaty insensible

Posted: 19 Nov 2015 04:30 AM PST
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Ahad, 15 November 2015

MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION

MPs’ roundtable to push for death penalty abolition

Posted: 15 Nov 2015 06:57 AM PST
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Jumaat, 13 November 2015

MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION

Case regarding human trafficking

Posted: 12 Nov 2015 09:04 PM PST
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Rabu, 11 November 2015

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

No loss for Sarawak’s rural villages as BN counters DAP’s Impian projects

Posted: 09 Nov 2015 04:30 PM PST


Villagers and Impian Sarawak volunteers move a rock to make way for a piping project in Kampung Long Luping, Lawas, Sarawak. DAP says its initiative will ultimately benefit rural people even if it cannot deliver votes in the face of Barisan Nasional's machinery. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 10, 2015. 

With DAP's Impian Sarawak gaining traction in remote communities, it was only a matter of time before Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) would have to respond to counter the impact of the opposition party's popular initiative to provide rural folk basic amenities such as water supply and roads.
The Sarawak BN's message is simple yet deceptive: it tells villagers that it is useless to support DAP because Impian Sarawak projects are inferior in quality. Whereas, the BN will provide better roads, water supply and other services.
The message is being spread by Sarawak's ministers to all villages and is repeated in the BN-controlled regional press, in order to nullify Impian's impact ahead of state elections next year.
The Impian project, however, was started by the opposition party to deal with deficiencies in Sarawak BN's own government delivery system.
The BN campaign caused heads to shake in DAP, but its leaders argued that Impian would ultimately benefit Sarawak's most deprived communities.
Development race
Political analyst Dr Faisal Syam Hazis has in the past warned that BN would go on the offensive once Impian Sarawak took off in late 2013.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem urges Sarawakians not to be taken in by DAP's Impian Sarawak, as the state prepares for elections. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 10, 2015.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem urges Sarawakians not to be taken in by DAP's Impian Sarawak, as the state prepares for elections. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 10, 2015.

In a development race where the Sarawak government has bigger machinery and more resources, the state would win, said Faisal, formerly of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
In November last year, Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem did just that. He announced allocations worth more than RM655 million for minor rural projects.
Last April, Adenan urged Sarawakians not to be taken in by Impian Sarawak.
This was followed by Sarawak BN ministers and politicians dismissing Impian projects as publicity stunts.
But Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jien does not think BN's new narrative against Impian is a problem.
Despite Sarawak BN's messages in the local media, it has not stopped demand from villages towards Impian projects.
It is learnt that Impian is currently planning 16 projects which include infrastructure, education and medical camps throughout the vast and remote state.
"It's good that we managed to wake BN up from their slumber and forced them to pay attention to their neglect of the poor and rural areas," said Chong.
On the other hand, there is already a mentality in Sarawak that the party you vote for has to provide for you no matter if it is the government or the opposition.

"So if you don't do anything about it to show you can deliver, then people go back to the BN anyway."
State DAP chief Chong Chieng Jien (right) says Impian Sarawak is to address real problems faced by Sarawak's rural folk, while the project's coordinator Tony Pua (left) says the party is not in it for the votes. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 10, 2015.

No loss
The Impian programme, Chong said, was never meant to compete with the state government in providing basic amenities to rural folk.
It was aimed at meeting needs of the rural people in the interior who were locked in a cycle of poverty that made them reliant on patronage politics.
"You can't go into the villages and talk about good governance or fighting corruption because their concerns are more basic than that.
"You need to show them something tangible," said Chong, the Bandar Kuching MP and state assemblyman for Kota Sentosa.
By providing a water supply system or building a road, Impian would free them of worrying about those basic necessities, said Chong.
"Then they can start thinking about bigger issues such as good governance, higher education and jobs."
If the competition spurred by Impian is able to jolt the Sarawak government into meeting those basic needs, then the DAP initiative would still have fulfiled its original aim.
"In the end the rural folk are the beneficiaries," said Chong.
DAP national publicity chief, Tony Pua, who coordinates all Impian projects in Malaysia, insists that the party is not in it just for the votes.
"Even if it does not make a political difference for us, it makes a real difference in the lives of people who have had to live with no electricity, water, roads. And that cannot be seen as a loss."
 – On themalaysianinsider  November 10, 2015.
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Jumaat, 6 November 2015

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Impian Education Camp – BE Our Volunteer

Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:12 PM PST


More education camps are coming up this year-end school holidays. If you are keen in making learning fun, interesting and enjoyable, help us inculcate that for the rural communities of Sarawak.
Volunteers are needed to facilitate our activity-based program modules, or help us with administrative / logistics / photography / food and beverage matters.
Your expenses will ONLY include your return transport to the camp sites. All applications must reach us by 10th November 2015.
For more information, please email to impian.edu@gmail.com







For those who are interested, please fill in this form:

Water Project in Sg Iran, Song

Posted: 05 Nov 2015 07:08 PM PST

Volunteers Wanted! - Water Project in Sg Iran, Song

We're looking for volunteers to join us for the project which involved civil works. Dates are 21 Nov - 29 Nov 2015.

Due to inaccessible road for this location, all transportation is rely on ekspress boat and longboat. Volunteers who wish to participate must acquired certain level of tread water.

Deadline for registration : 13 November 2015

For those who are interested, please fill in this form:http://impianmalaysia.com/registration/index.php

7000万疏通诗巫交通计划,火箭提议获关注

Posted: 31 Oct 2015 08:16 PM PDT

（本报诗巫31日讯）诗巫行动党4名代议士联名写信要求首长阿迪南拨款7000万令吉扩建诗巫外围道路和疏通诗巫交通的发展计划，首长的高级私人秘书已于本月16日回函答覆指，该事件已获关注。

写信给首长的四名代议士是柏拉旺州议员黄培根、都东区州议员叶海量律师、诗巫区国会议员及南兰区国会议员刘强燕。

他们是在本月12日联署签名写信给首长，要求首长拨款落实诗巫行动党建议的该项计划。

柏拉旺区州议员黄培根于今午，在诗巫行动党总部举行的新闻发布会上披露，写给首长的信函是在本月12日呈给对方，而对方就在4天后就回函。

他表示，好的政府是不会拒绝好的建议。因此，砂州第二财长暨地方政府及社区发展部长拿督斯里黄顺舸所指的行动党后知后觉，该党在做戏的说法是站不住脚的，只因有关回函中，对方并没有提到提呈建议书的日子已经太迟了。

他指，黄部长的说法是在推卸责任。

促黄顺舸争取拨款
他说，该是时候了，做了20年部长的黄部长为诗巫做一些贡献，即确保下个月召开的州议会中，争取将此计划纳入2016年的财政预算案中。

又或者他可以拿出比诗巫行动党更好的建议计划来发展诗巫，否则如果没有是项7000万令吉的拨款，诗巫人民是可以将责任归咎于黄部长身上。

他指出，黄部长不能以诗巫因反对党胜太多而不能发展的责任归咎于该党的身上，相信那令选民痛恨，因为怪罪行动党的做法形同怪罪选民，只因行动党议员都是选民票选出来的代表。

"将诗巫发展课题怪罪予行动党只会令黄部长在政治上站不住脚，他应该辞职了。"黄培根如斯称。

火箭选区发展迅速

另一方面，也出席新闻发布会的行动党州主席张健仁律师则表示，黄部长将诗巫没有发展与行动党扯上关系是一种白色恐布或恐吓选民的手段，已经过时了。

他说，事实证明，行动党的区如古晋、美里、槟城及吉隆坡的发展速度迅速。

他相信诗巫选民不吃对方的那一套。

他提醒黄部长不要忘记，因为黄部长的议员津贴及部长的薪水也是来自诗巫部份选民，所以对方的这种伎俩，即在行动党手上的区是没有发展的言论是自打嘴巴。

他希望作为政治人物及20年部长的黄部长要置人民的利益为前提，以人民利益为依归，希望对方不会在搞破坏。

他指出，来自首长署的回函即已表示已关注该事项，即使黄部长在州议会中不给予支持，也不希望对方搞破坏。
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Rabu, 4 November 2015

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

DAP throttles on with Katibas centre, anoints Paren for Song

Posted: 02 Nov 2015 05:07 PM PST

The opening of DAP Katibas Service Centre on Saturday by Chong (second left). Next to him his Ling. Paren is on the right.
SIBU: Sarawak DAP opened its service centre in Song last Saturday as it took another step to infiltrate the heart of Sarawak to serve the rural populace.
Called 'DAP Katibas Service Centre', this is the third one opened for rural folks in the Upper Rajang Reach. The first being the Kapit service centre opened in 2013 and the second in Belaga. Its political education director and Sibu MP Oscar Ling confirmed yesterday they were making inroads to the Song community as local lad Paren Nyawi had been active there since the beginning of the year.
"We are ready with the folks of Katibas to face the next election. During the service centre opening last Saturday by our Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Chong said Paren's candidacy would provide an alternative for Song."
He said Katibas was a BN stronghold for more than five decades, and Chong said Paren's candidacy would be a healthy race between DAP and BN.
Paren has a striking personality — a native known to all the folks of Song. He is not only a local who grew up and received his education in Song, but also a celebrity after he won Mr Borneo Hornbill Festival 2011 title.
"With the opening of DAP Katibas Service Centre, it will be easier for the people to work with DAP on issues that affect them."
Apart from the service centres, DAP Sarawak has opened the throttle with centres to serve the rural community in the Upper Rajang Reach. Ling said they had also opened others elsewhere in Sarawak, including the ones in Mas Gading, Betong, Belaga, Sungai Asap, Lawas and others.
On theborneopost November 3, 2015, Tuesday
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Selasa, 3 November 2015

MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION

PAS being led by presidential whim, says DAP leader

Posted: 03 Nov 2015 04:18 AM PST
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