SABAH MPs DEMAND GOVT RESOLVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PROBLEM

14th May, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Describing the influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah as threatening the peace and security in the state, two of its members of parliament (MP) have called on the federal government to urgently resolve the matter.

They told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the problem, which had been persisting for too long with no solution in sight, had become the main worries among the people.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (BN-Keningau) likened the problem to a time bomb which could create serious implication if there were no serious steps taken to tackle the menace.

“It is understood that there have been attempts by among these illegal immigrants to apply to become armed forces recruits using fake identity cards,” he said when debating the motion of thanks for the speech by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Pairin, who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah President, said the failure to tackle the problem showed that there was a lapse in security surveillance at the borders as well as weaknesses in the enforcement of the law.

He said the issue had now reached a chronic stage and requiring urgent solution. The influx of illegal immigrants had been going on in Sabah since early 70s, with the Federal Special Task Force estimating their figure to be around 60,000 at the moment.

Non-government organisations in Sabah claimed however, that the number could be as high as 1.5 million, which is almost half of Sabah’s population. Meanwhile, Puteri Umno vice-chief Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin (BN-Papar) called on the government to close down or relocate the refugee camp in Kinarut, about 15km from Kota Kinabalu.

She said the camp had the potential to become the biggest “syabu nest” in Sabah. Rosnah also said residents living near the camp were exposed to social problems as well as health problems because of the camp’s poor sanitation and lack of proper waste disposal system.

“I want all entry points into Sabah be shut off to illegal immigrants while those already in Sabah be sent back to their home countries,” she said when debating the same motion.

She suggested that the federal government obtain the actual number of illegal immigrants in the state, including those who had been given permanent residency, and take steps to tackle the problem. – Bernama

(New Sabah Times @ 15/5/08)

'Ketuanan Melayu' call may lead to BN's downfall: MP

Kota Kinabalu: Young leaders of Umno, particularly in Peninsula Malaysia, should stop provoking the feelings of non-Malays by insisting on the issue of "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay supremacy) as it may lead to the downfall of the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government.

United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Vice President Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh said the persistence of these "young cowboys" in Umno is not the Malaysian way.

"This is not the way to lift the Malay race to a higher pedestal but a plain and blatant sign of arrogance that may lead to detestation by others.

"To me this is not the Malay culture that I know of. I never heard of this before," said the Putatan MP.
Speaking at the Kaamatan Festival in Kampung Duvanson in Putatan, near here, Saturday, Mojigoh said the Malays are known to be friendly and courteous but the action of certain leaders had spoilt this image.

Towards this end, he hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is also Umno President would advise these leaders not to be carried away and to stop acting arrogantly.

In the context of Sabah, he said there were claims of "over a million newly created Malays" - a new product imported from the Philippines and Indonesia.

"Imagine (if) you have to address these illegals as tuan," he said, adding that the authorities need to address the problem of illegal immigrants gaining citizenship and acquiring this Malay status through the back door.

(Daily Express @ 13/5/2008)

PATI cuba masuk tentera guna MyKad - Datuk Pairin

KUALA LUMPUR 13 Mei - Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah hari ini mendedahkan terdapat cubaan pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) di negeri itu untuk mendaftar sebagai rekrut dalam Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) menggunakan kad akuan diri Malaysia, MyKad palsu.

Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (BN- Keningau) justeru menegaskan masalah PATI kini ibarat bom jangka yang boleh mengancam keselamatan serta ketenteraman negara terutama rakyat Sabah.

Beliau yang juga Presiden Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) dan Timbalan Ketua Menteri berpendapat, ia menjadi semakin tidak terkawal ekoran kelemahan penguatkuasaan di kawasan sempadan.

"Gejala ini sememangnya mencapai tahap serius dan kerana itulah wakil- wakil dari Sabah sering membangkitkan isu ini semasa berucap di Parlimen.

"Ia sudah lama berlarutan, tetapi masih gagal diatasi oleh pihak berkuasa hingga menimbulkan kegelisahan di kalangan rakyat Sabah sekarang," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika membahaskan titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong pada sidang Dewan Rakyat hari ini.
Pairin juga melahirkan kebimbangan bahawa masalah itu akan menghimpit generasi akan datang apabila peluang yang diwujudkan untuk mereka direbut oleh PATI.

Menurutnya, kebanjiran pendatang asing di Sabah yang kebanyakannya dari selatan Filipina, berlarutan sejak 1970- an.

"Pelbagai kalangan di Sabah mendakwa jumlah PATI termasuk dari Indonesia, mencecah 1.5 juta orang, iaitu kira- kira separuh jumlah penduduk Sabah," katanya.


Sementara itu, Rosnah Abdul Rashid Sirlin (BN-Papar) pula mencadangkan supaya kem pelarian di Kinarut, yang terletak 15 kilometer dari Kota Kinabalu, ditutup atau dipindahkan.

Ini kerana, katanya, penduduk sekitar kini menghadapi ancaman gejala sosial dan masalah kesihatan akibat sistem sanitasi dan pelupusan sampah di kem tersebut yang tidak teratur.

"Saya juga minta agar jalan masuk ke Sabah ditutup kepada pendatang tanpa izin, manakala mereka yang ada di Sabah dihantar pulang ke negara asal," katanya.

Beliau menyarankan agar Kerajaan Pusat mendapat angka sebenar golongan pendatang termasuk yang telah diberi status penduduk tetap untuk menangani masalah itu dengan segera.

(Utusan Malaysia Online @ 14/5/2008)

Answers needed on illegal immigrant problem - Marcus

12th May, 2008

KOTA KINABALU : The people of Sabah rejected the opposition because they believed in the sincerity of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to keep its promises in its manifesto.

Putatan MP,Datuk Dr Marcus Makin Mojigoh said this in his debate to support the motion of thanks to the King’s royal address in parliament,stressing that the people of Sabah are also thirsting for development.

“So I’m hoping all the development plans for Sabah and Sarawak will be continued,” he said.
He added that BN leaders in the two states have to explain to the people that only BN has the credibility to administer the country.

“BN is credible because it is fair to all the people of this country,provides education opportunities,development and other opportunities fairly irrespective of the people’s race and religion,” he said.

The party has also shown its credibility in ensuring the people lived comfortably,safely and in harmony, he said.
He urged the BN government to keep its promises in its manifesto and not overlook the needs of the people.

Among the problem which has long been raised in Sabah is the illegal immigrants,said Marcus.

“There is still no concrete answers from the government on the illegal immigrant problem,” he said.
The government,said Marcus,even plans to issue IMM13 documents to those at Pulau Kuraman in Labuan.
“I think this will not be acceptable to Malaysians from Sabah and Sarawak ,” he said.

At the same time,the government has yet to address problems related to roads,water and electricity supplies at many villages he said.He said that efforts must be made to improve the roads leading to these villages.

“A lot of these villages are located in remote areas,and it is only through the provision of road infrastructure that we can get closer to these folks and help them uplift their socio-economic status,” he said.
By doing so,he said,the government could help in eradicating poverty in Sabah.

He also said that they people of Sabah have decided that they will no longer be overlooked during the last General Election,which was why they decided to give the big mandate to the BN.

(New Sabah Times @ 13/5/08)

Sabah tanam padi besar-besaran

26,500 hektar di seluruh negeri akan diusahakan LKTNS bagi dijadikan sawah

KOTA KINABALU: Kerajaan Sabah akan melaksanakan penanaman padi besar-besaran dalam tempoh terdekat termasuk menerokai 26,500 hektar kawasan sesuai di seluruh negeri bagi dijadikan sawah.

Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, berkata pembukaan sawah baru berskala besar itu akan dilaksanakan agensi kerajaan negeri iaitu Lembaga Kemajuan Tanah Negeri Sabah (LKTNS).

"Saya sudah mengarahkan Pengarah Perhutanan negeri, Datuk Sam Mannan dan Pengarah Jabatan Tanah dan Ukur negeri, Datuk Osman Jamal, mencari tanah sesuai untuk dijadikan sawah.

"Kita akan melaksanakan projek penanaman padi besar-besaran bagi meningkat pengeluaran padi dan memastikan bekalan beras dalam negeri mencukupi," katanya pada sidang media selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat mingguan Kabinet negeri di sini, semalam.

Ketika ini, Sabah mempunyai sawah seluas 39,571 hektar dengan Kota Belud memiliki keluasan terbesar iaitu 10,000 hektar. Bagaimanapun, hanya 5,000 hektar sawah di daerah itu diusahakan manakala selebihnya menjadi tanah terbiar.

(Berita Harian Online @ 13/5/2008)

'Rakyat Sabah bukan warga kelas kedua' - Datuk Ghapur Salleh

Abdul Ghapur tak mahu Pusat lengahkan projek pembangunan

KUALA LUMPUR: Kepemimpinan Barisan Nasional (BN) diminta tidak terus mengetepikan rakyat Sabah dalam arus pembangunan negara jika mahu mengelakkan tsunami politik melanda negeri itu seperti di Semenanjung pada pilihan raya umum lalu.

Ahli Parlimen Kalabalakan, Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh dalam nada tegas, berkata pembangunan Sabah harus disegerakan, manakala royalti minyak dinaikkan daripada lima peratus kepada 20 peratus atau RM2 bilion supaya pembangunan dapat dilakukan segera.

"Sabah adalah sebahagian daripada Malaysia tetapi dianggap seperti rakyat kelas kedua. Sudah lama kita menunggu pembangunan tetapi sampai sekarang tidak kunjung tiba.

"Jawapan yang sering diberikan apabila kita minta peruntukkan ialah wang sudah tiada. Rakyat Sabah beri BN kuasa, jangan sampai mereka melucutkan kuasa itu daripada kita," katanya ketika membahaskan usul menjunjung kasih titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong di Dewan Rakyat, semalam.

Beliau juga sekali lagi mengingatkan kerajaan pusat Sabah sudah banyak berjasa termasuk menjadi tonggak kemenangan BN untuk terus mengekalkan kuasa dan wajar jika segala tuntutan pembangunan di negeri itu dipandang serius.

Abdul Ghapur yang menolak menjadi Timbalan Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar juga menggesa rombakan Kabinet dilakukan segera bagi memberi peluang kepada lebih banyak wakil rakyat Sabah memegang jawatan dalam kerajaan.

"Kita ada tiga menteri di Kabinet tetapi yang jaga muzium...semuanya bukan kementerian penting sedangkan Sabah dan Sarawak mewakili 58 kerusi yang dimenangi BN.

"Walaupun saya minta ambil tindakan serius, tidak bermakna membayangkan nak lompat parti. Tak pernah... kita tidak masuk pembangkang tapi kalau buat parti baru, kita join (sertai) sini (menunjukkan kepada pembangkang), ini kemungkinan.

"Kalau tsunami politik sampai ke Sabah, dengan saya-saya sekali tenggelam jika kerajaan pusat tidak mengambil tindakan," katanya yang berharap segala yang diperkatakannya itu tidak disalah tafsir sebagai mewakili pembangkang, sebaliknya dianggap sebagai teguran membina.

Beliau juga menegaskan wakil rakyat BN Sabah tidak akan melompat parti, tetapi tidak menolak kemungkinan akan wujud parti baru di negeri itu jika tuntutan rakyat Sabah tidak dihiraukan pemimpin negara dengan segera.

"Sabah dan Sarawak selamatkan BN tetapi ada negeri dapat sampai tujuh menteri, malah ada negeri yang kalah dapat empat menteri penting. Jadi, kita minta Perdana Menteri rombak Kabinet, bagi balik jawatan menteri penting kepada Sabah.

"Saya dan Datuk Anifah Aman (BN-Kimanis) tak berani terima jawatan timbalan menteri kerana ini penghinaan...orang Sabah marah," katanya.

Beliau berkata antara isu yang belum diselesaikan adalah pendidikan dan menggesa Kementerian Pelajaran turun padang menyaksikan sendiri kedaifan sekolah di negeri itu sehingga ada pelajar yang terpaksa meniarap di lantai berlapikkan surat khabar berikutan ketiadaan kerusi dan meja.

"Sebagai contoh, makanan berzat di sekolah, ada yang diberikan mi segera Ini budak sekolah tetapi di beri makanan tidak berzat macam kucing di rumah," katanya.

(Berita Harian Online @ 13/5/08)

Lima cara kawal harga beras

Kebajikan pengguna, pesawah dijaga tangani masalah kekurangan bekalan:

PM PUTRAJAYA: Kerajaan semalam memutuskan untuk mengawal harga beras Super Special Tempatan lima peratus dan Super Special Tempatan 10 peratus bagi membendung kenaikan berterusan harga beras gred berkenaan. Sehubungan itu, harga siling beras Super Special Tempatan lima peratus ditetapkan RM2.80 sekilogram, manakala Super Special Tempatan 10 peratus RM2.70 sekilogram, berkuat kuasa 1 Jun ini.

Beras Super Tempatan 15 peratus pula kekal sebagai beras yang dikawal harga di antara RM1.65 sekilogram dan RM1.80 sekilogram mengikut zon. Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kabinet Menangani Inflasi yang dipengerusikan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, juga bersetuju mengapungkan harga beras import, termasuk beras putih Thailand di Semenanjung, Sabah dan Sarawak. Dalam kenyataan lewat petang semalam, Abdullah turut mengumumkan kenaikan Harga Minimum Terjamin (GMP) padi daripada RM650 satu tan kepada RM750 satu tan serta membenarkan pemindahan padi di antara negeri secara berperingkat.

Perdana Menteri berkata, semua keputusan itu kecuali harga siling beras Super Special Tempatan lima peratus dan Super Special Tempatan 10 peratus, berkuat kuasa serta merta. Beliau berkata, menerusi langkah yang diambil itu kerajaan akan membelanjakan sekurang-kurangnya RM725 juta untuk 500,000 tan beras import sebagai subsidi bagi mengekalkan harga runcit beras demi meringankan beban pengguna. Katanya, lima tindakan itu diputuskan selepas menimbang kepentingan semua pihak dan bagi menjaga kebajikan pengguna serta pesawah dalam menghadapi isu kenaikan harga padi dan beras. "Kenaikan harga beras dunia memberi tekanan kepada harga padi dan beras dalam negara sehingga menyebabkan berlaku kekurangan bekalan beras Super Tempatan 15 peratus yang harganya dikawal.

"Pengilang lebih berminat mengeluarkan beras Super Special Tempatan lima atau 10 peratus yang tidak dikawal harganya. Oleh itu, harganya naik mendadak kerana kerajaan tidak mengenakan kawalan harga terhadap beras gred berkenaan," katanya. Abdullah Menteri berkata, keadaan itu memerlukan kerajaan mengambil tindakan untuk memastikan bekalan beras Super Tempatan 15 peratus mencukupi serta membendung kenaikan berterusan harga beras Super Special Tempatan lima peratus dan 10 peratus.

Katanya, harga beras di pasaran dunia naik mendadak ketika ini berbanding harga pada 2007 dengan harga beras putih Thailand lima peratus meningkat 164 peratus daripada AS$371 (RM1,150) setan metrik pada 2007 kepada AS$980 (RM3,038) sekarang. Harga beras putih Vietnam pula naik sebanyak 212 peratus daripada AS$352 (RM1,091) setan metrik tahun lalu kepada AS$1,100 (RM3,410) tahun ini. Mengenai keputusan menaikkan GMP, Perdana Menteri berkata ia wajar kerana harga padi yang ditawarkan dan diterima pesawah pada masa ini melebihi kadar semasa yang ditetapkan.

"Kerajaan berpendapat GMP perlu dinaikkan ke paras yang lebih tinggi bagi faedah pesawah berikutan kenaikan harga beras, manakala pemindahan padi antara negeri juga perlu dikaji bagi menjadikan harga jualan padi lebih kompetitif dan dapat membantu menambah pendapatan pesawah," katanya.

(Berita Harian Online @ 13/5/08)

‘Walaupun 2,000 laporan polis, saya tak berganjak’ - Karpal Singh

KUALA LUMPUR 12 Mei – Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, Karpal Singh (gambar) menegaskan, walaupun 2,000 laporan polis dibuat terhadapnya, beliau akan terus berpegang kepada kenyataan bahawa Sultan Perak tidak mempunyai bidang kuasa terhadap pertukaran Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Perak (JAIP), Datuk Jamry Sury.

Ketika membahaskan usul terima kasih titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong pada sidang Dewan Rakyat hari ini, Karpal mendakwa laporan-laporan polis terhadapnya yang kini mencecah 20 kes didalangi oleh UMNO.
“Saya tidak lakukan perbuatan melanggar undang-undang, tetapi ada 20 laporan polis mengenai isu Sultan Perak. Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sendiri mengarahkan Setiausaha Agung UMNO, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor untuk membuat laporan polis.

“Apa kredibiliti Ahli Parlimen Putrajaya (Tengku Adnan) untuk buat laporan polis terhadap saya?” katanya.
Tindakan Karpal yang menyentuh mengenai peribadi ahli Dewan Rakyat yang lain ditegur oleh Timbalan Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Ronald Kiandee di bawah Peraturan Mesyuarat 36(9).

Ahli Parlimen veteran itu bagaimanapun mendakwa isu tersebut penting disebut kerana terdapat 20 laporan polis dibuat terhadapnya yang merupakan satu sejarah di Malaysia.
“Saya tidak mempersoalkan atau mencabar kedudukan Sultan Perak sebagai Ketua Agama Islam di Perak tetapi baginda tidak ada kuasa dalam hal untuk menarik balik pertukaran seseorang pegawai kerajaan,” katanya.

Karpal mempertikaikan mengapa beliau dituduh derhaka oleh sesetengah pihak sedangkan para pemimpin UMNO pada tahun 1993 membuat pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan dengan mewujudkan mahkamah khas dan menjadikan sultan sama taraf dengan rakyat.

Tindakan Karpal yang menyentuh sifat dan peribadi Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan Raja-Raja Melayu dalam perbahasannya menyebabkan Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar) bangun mencelah menggunakan Peraturan Mesyuarat 36, 37 dan 38.

Menurut Razali, isu yang dibangkitkan oleh Karpal itu perlu dihentikan memandangkan jika seseorang ahli Dewan Rakyat hendak membahaskan mengenai Raja- Raja Melayu ia perlu dibuat melalui satu usul khas.
Bantahan Razali itu dipersetujui oleh Ronald yang mengarahkan Karpal agar tidak membangkitkan isu Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan Raja- Raja Melayu kerana ia bercanggah dengan peraturan Parlimen.

Namun, Karpal tidak mengendahkannya dan terus memperkatakan perkara itu sehingga Razali terpaksa bangun sekali lagi menggunakan peraturan mesyuarat yang sama. Akhirnya Karpal akur dengan keputusan Timbalan Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat.

Bagaimanapun, dalam ucapannya selepas itu beliau menyentuh pula mengenai pelantikan Menteri Besar Terengganu dan Perlis yang ditentang oleh UMNO tetapi tiada tindakan untuk menuduh para pemimpin UMNO derhaka terhadap Raja-Raja Melayu.

“Mengapa ada double standard, mengapa saya menjadi mangsa?'' tegasnya.
Sehubungan itu, beliau meminta Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail membuat keputusan yang adil dan tidak dipengaruhi oleh Perdana Menteri dalam menentukan bentuk tindakan susulan kepada laporan-laporan polis yang dibuat terhadapnya.

Razali, yang merupakan seorang peguam, kemudian bangun menjelaskan mengenai Perkara 34(1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang menyatakan bahawa Raja-Raja Melayu ialah Ketua Agama Islam di negeri masing-masing.
Beliau bertanya: “Jika Raja-Raja Melayu tidak boleh membuat keputusan (mengenai kedudukan pegawai jabatan agama Islam) bagaimana (baginda) hendak menjalankan fungsi tersebut?”

Bagaimanapun, dalam jawapannya, Karpal bertegas mengatakan Jamry ialah pegawai kerajaan dan Sultan Perak tidak ada hak untuk mengarahkan pertukaran Jamry dimansuhkan.
Razali sekali lagi bangun untuk bertanya siapa yang akan menjalankan tugas Jabatan Agama Islam Perak kalau Sultan Perak tidak ada kuasa.

Karpal tidak menjawab soalan itu, sebaliknya mengulangi kenyataannya: “Gaji Jamry bukan dibayar oleh JAIP tetapi oleh kerajaan, jadi dia ialah pegawai kerajaan.”

(Utusan Malaysia Online @ 13/5/2008)

Agensi pinjaman wang berlesen lagak Ah Long

KUALA LUMPUR 11 Mei - Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan sedang menyiasat dan menjejaki agensi-agensi pinjaman wang berlesen yang disyaki menjalankan operasi perniagaan mereka seperti Ah Long.
Ia berikutan beberapa pendedahan media berhubung laporan Biro Pengaduan Awam MCA mengenai kekasaran dan peras ugut yang dilakukan oleh Ah Long terhadap mangsa mereka sebelum ini.

Difahamkan, siasatan dilakukan secara berperingkat-peringkat kerana terdapat lebih kurang 3,200 agensi peminjam wang yang berlesen serta berdaftar dengan kementerian tersebut ketika ini.

Pengerusi Biro Pengaduan Awam MCA, Datuk Micheal Chong yang mendedahkan perkara itu berkata, beliau dimaklumkan mengenai siasatan berkenaan melalui sepucuk surat yang diterimanya pada 5 Mei lalu.
"Surat bertarikh 24 April itu ditandatangani oleh wakil Ketua Setiausaha Bahagian Peminjam Wang dan Pajak Gadai kementerian tersebut.

"Surat itu antara lain meminta Biro Pengaduan Awam MCA menyerahkan laporan yang dibuat oleh mangsa Ah Long untuk siasatan dan tindakan mereka," katanya pada sidang akhbar di Wisma MCA di sini hari ini.
Micheal berkata, menerusi surat tersebut juga, Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan memberitahu mereka mengambil berat laporan yang disiarkan media mengenai kekasaran Ah Long.

Menurutnya, kementerian khuatir sekiranya ada antara kekasaran dan peras ugut itu dilakukan oleh agensi peminjam wang yang berlesen serta berdaftar di bawah kementerian tersebut.
Justeru, katanya, Biro Pengaduan Awam MCA akan memberi kerjasama penuh dan buat permulaan sebanyak 20 kes melibatkan Ah Long bakal diserah dalam masa terdekat.

Jelasnya, 207 lagi kes Ah Long yang diterima bermula Januari hingga hari ini akan dihantar secara peringkat kerana Biro Pengaduan Awam MCA perlu meneliti laporan itu terlebih dahulu.

Tambahnya, pihak berkuasa dipercayai akan menggantung malah membatalkan lesen agensi peminjam wang terbabit sekiranya mereka didapati melakukan perkara negatif terhadap peminjam mahupun ahli keluarga mereka.

(Utusan Malaysia Online @ 12/5/08)

Study: Warmer ocean water means less oxygen

9th May, 2008
Low-oxygen zones where sea life is threatened or cannot survive are growing as the oceans are heated by global warming, researchers warn.

Oxygen-depleted zones in the central and eastern equatorial Atlantic and equatorial Pacific oceans appear to have expanded over the last 50 years, researchers report in Friday’s edition of the journal Science.

Low-oxygen zones in the Gulf of Mexico and other areas also have been studied in recent years, raising concerns about the threat to sea life. Continued expansion of these zones could have dramatic consequences for both sea life and coastal economies, said the team led by Lothar Stramma of the University of Kiel in Germany.

The finding was not surprising, Stramma said, because computer climate models had predicted a decline in dissolved oxygen in the oceans under warmer conditions.

Warmer water simply cannot absorb as much oxygen as colder water, explained co-author Gregory C. Johnson of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle. There are complex biological and chemical interactions in these low-oxygen regions, Stramma said, adding that this needs to be more closely studied.

Frank A. Whitney of Canada’s Institute of Ocean Sciences said, “As oceans lose oxygen, this will reduce habitat for many organisms.” “Many species will lose their deep habitat, meaning competition will become stronger in the remaining favorable habitat, and increased vulnerability to predation will likely occur,” said Whitney, who was not part of Stramma’s team. He said the most rapid oxygen declines he has seen have occurred in the subarctic Pacific Ocean, and fish and crab kills have been reported in the last few years off Oregon.

Steven J. Bograd, a research oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Environmental Research Division in Pacific Grove, Calif., called the finding “compelling” but not surprising.

Bograd, who also was not part of Stramma’s team, has studied trends in dissolved oxygen in the ocean off California, finding an expansion of the area of the continental shelf there that is exposed to low-oxygen conditions. “So, why should we care?” Bograd said. “Most marine species have minimum oxygen thresholds that they need for survival. As oxygen decreases, these animals will suffer and/or be compelled to move to other areas. Over time, the optimal area for various species will be compressed,” he explained.

Bograd’s findings are reported in a paper scheduled for publication in Geophysical Research Letters. “We are not able to say definitively what has caused the oxygen declines off California. But we do know that waters from the eastern tropical Pacific” – a reduced-oxygen area studied by Stramma – flow into this region, Bograd said.

“So, their results and ours are consistent,” he said, adding that there could also be other processes at work off California. The general pattern is for colder ocean waters in the north and south to absorb oxygen, cool and sink below the surface to then flow toward the equator, Johnson explained.

Along the way, organic matter drifts down into the deeper water and its decay uses up some of this oxygen. The oxygen balance depends on this movement and the amount of oxygen reaching the warmer waters, Johnson said, and this can be reduced if less is absorbed and moved in the deep currents.

“That means that eventually, at the end of the line, there will be less oxygen,” he said. In cold surface water, oxygen levels can reach as high as 300 to 400 micromols per kilogram, Johnson said. A mol of a gas such as oxygen occupies a volume of just under six gallons and a micromol is one-thousandth of that. A kilogram of water is the amount that would weigh 2.2 pounds.

Dissolved oxygen varies widely in the oceans, and sea life becomes stressed when it reaches between 60 and 120 micromols per kilogram. The researchers found concentrations as low as 10 in parts of the eastern Pacific and the northern Indian Ocean and larger areas in the Atlantic and Pacific were below 150.

Stramma’s team noted declines in affected areas ranging from 0.09 to 0.34 per year over the last half century. The research was funded by the German Research Council, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. National Science Foundation.

(New Sabah Times @ 9/5/08)

BLogger di Malaysia

Petikan akbar online BHarian Malaysia yang mengulas tentang Penangan Blogger di Malaysia. Semua Blogger di Malaysia perlu berhati-hati apabila menulis blog...

“Bagaimanapun, Seksyen 211 dan 233 Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998 membolehkan individu yang menyalahgunakan Internet bagi menyebarkan kandungan yang bersifat palsu, mengancam atau yang jelik dikenakan tindakan.

Selain itu, Akta Hasutan 1948, Akta Fitnah 1957 dan Kanun Keseksaan boleh digunakan terhadap mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Sudah ada beberapa kes blogger di negara ini disaman kerana tulisan mereka. “

BHarian Online 25 April 2008

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Raja Petra, 58, claimed trial at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court Tuesday for allegedly publishing a seditious article on his website on April 25.

He is accused of posting an article entitled, "Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell" in the website www.malaysia.today.net.

Raja Petra had refused to post a RM5,000 bail but instead preferred to go to jail pending the trial of his case on Oct 6.

He is the first news portal editor to be charged under the Sedition Act. - Bernama

(Petikan dari Daily Express @ 8/5/2008)

BRAVO ANIFAH : ANIFAH SPEAKS HIS MIND IN PARLIMEN

KUALA LUMPUR: Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman (pictured right) yesterday raised in Parliament key issues affecting Sabah. And, he said the federal leaders must address these issues seriously. Anifah added that the representation of Sabahans in the federal administration and government-linked companies (GLCs) must be increased to reflect their role at the national level.

By and large, he said Malaysians in Sabah still felt being isolated although they have been in the Malaysian federation for 45 years. Citing Sabah’s insignificant representation in the federal cabinet, he said more Sabahans should be appointed to senior positions in the civil service, GLCs as well as universities.

“Not even a Sabahan is appointed as head of a Malaysian embassy abroad, a secretary-general, director-general, vice chancellor or chief executive of a GLC,” he quipped.

Anifah added that after more than four decades, Malaysians in Sabah could no longer accept the excuse that none of them were qualified to hold important positions at the federal level. “The statement that not many Sabahans are keen to join the federal service too, can’t be accepted. And, there is no reason why Malaysians from Sabah who are qualified could not be appointed on secondment or on contract,” he said. Another issue the Kimanis MP brought up was the planning and management of federal funds and the role of the Sabah Federal Development Department (JPPS).

“The implementation of federal-funded projects must directly involve state planning and implementation agencies,” he said, adding that the functions and roles of JPPPs must be reviewed.

State agencies, he stressed, should be involved in high impact projects like poverty eradication programmes and infrastructure projects. Anifah also said agencies like Petronas, Felda, Felcra which utilised state resources should make fixed payments to the state annually based on a fair formula. He also highlighted the high cost of living and doing business in Sabah.

“The people in Sabah have long been burdened with high prices of goods as compared to other states. “This is due to inefficient logistics and the increase in prices of petrol and diesel which had resulted in higher cost of sea, land and air transportations. “Such a scenario has brought about negative effects to the manufacturing and export sectors,” he said. As such, he proposed that the federal government should scrap the cabotage policy in stages and provide opportunities to Sabah to develop shipping networks with international port operators.

“Also, the shipping licence restrictions should be relaxed for local operators,” he said. Anifah also proposed the creation of Sepanggar Free Zone as identified under the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) with special investment incentives to intensify trade activities.

“A special oil subsidy fund using part of Petronas’ revenue earned in Sabah should be set up to influence the prices of local goods.” And, he also urged the federal government to declare Sandakan as the transshipment hub to boost trade so as to attract international shipping firms. The former deputy federal minister also touched on the provision of scholarships and intake of students by higher learning institutes. “It cannot be denied that education is an effective strategy to eradicate poverty. Sabah’s poverty rate in 2006 was 24 per cent as compared to the national rate of 5.7 per cent.

“In view of the high incidence of poverty, Sabah should be given a quota for scholarships and admissions for Sabah students at the universities. He also said priority in consultancy work and distribution of federal projects in Sabah should be given to local companies. “If no local firms have the required expertise and experience, then companies from outside Sabah could participate on condition they team up with local firms,” he said.

He added that the socio-economic status of the Bumiputeras in Sabah should also be improved. And, Anifah also called for a review of oil royalty for Sabah. The state government, he said, signed an agreement with Petronas on June 14, 1976 to give it full authority to undertake oil exploration and in return, Sabah was given a five per cent oil royalty annually.

But since 2000, several oil and natural gas sites had been discovered off the coast of north-west Sabah and production was estimated at 400-700 million barrels which would Sabah the biggest producer of oil and natural gas in the country. Anifah also asked Petronas to review its project – laying of natural gas pipelines from Sabah to Bintulu – and to expand the Sabah Oil and gas Terminal (SOG) in Kimanis.

He went on saying that a representative from every oil and natural gas producing state should be appointed as a Board member of Petronas and its subsidiary companies.

Meanwhile Anifah also highlighted the illegal immigrant issue, pointing out that it could be not denied that various problems have surfaced as a result of their presence in Sabah.

“This problem must be tackled in a comprehensive manner. We need a better approach,” he said, adding there was also a need to reduce dependence on foreign labour and to provide more job opportunities to the local people.

“I wish to propose that a parliamentary committee be set up to address the matter. MPs and heads of relevant agencies should be appointed to the committee which is answerable to Parliament,” he said.

Towards the end of his speech, Anifah said he believed that the top federal leaders and members of the federal cabinet were prepared to consider the proposals he presented.

(Dipetik dari New Sabah Times @ 8/5/2008)

Nota: Begini punya MP barulah ada UMPhhhh!!! Syabas YB MP Datuk Anifah Aman. Berani menyuarakan kepentingan & hak rakyat Sabah kepada kerajaan pusat adalah sesuatu yg sangat diharap-harapkan oleh rakyat Sabah.Kita harap semua MP BN Sabah berani seperti Datuk Anifah!!!