Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Johor Ibans make headway
Govt gives 40,000-strong community two penghulus and a commissioner of oath
LITTLE SARAWAK: A colourful scene of the packed Iban Sunday market at Pasir Gudang, Johor. — Photo by Churchill Edward
JOHOR BAHRU: The Ibans, especially in Pasir Gudang here, have successfully convinced the Johor government to allocate them two posts for penghulu and one for commissioner of oath to serve their growing community in Johor.
A group of them requested for the posts through the Sarawak bureau of the Barisan Nasional component, the People’s Progressive Party (BSPPP).
Their main reason is their sizeable migrant population – about 40,000 – according to the bureau chief Mathiew Usun. Johor has population of 4.8 million.
The other reason was many of them made up Johor’s large blue-collar workforce in the construction, engineering and port-related sectors, he said.
“Some of us have ventured into business and contributed to the economic development of Johor in our own special ways,” he said at the Persada Borneo Johor (PBJ) Sunday Market on Nov 4.
At the moment, the bureau was still identifying the potential candidates before making recommendations to the government through PPP, he said.
He pointed out that these latest developments were the fruits of the bureau and PBJ’s efforts ever since the BSPPP and PBJ were formed in January and March, respectively.
Mathiew explained that requests (for the three posts) to the Johor government through PPP and the Jabatan Mukim-Mukim (District Department) were made in September and confirmed the following month.
On the importance of politics to improving the community’s social development, he said: “We have to join a Semenanjung-based BN component and opt for the PPP because it’s multi-racial and its president Datuk M Kayveas is a very approachable person. He genuinely struggles for our cause in Johor.”
He pointed out that PPP leaders had helped them negotiate with the Johor government for the posts of penghulu and commissioner of oath to benefit the Iban community in the long term.
The main criterion for the penghulu posts is the holders must be well-versed in native laws on Iban cultures and traditions apart from having good character.
“The penghulus must be socially and politically active in a good way and have the right attitude. They must be respected gentlemen,” Mathiew said.
He disclosed that he already had a few persons in mind but refrained from naming them as it may be “politically sensitive.”
The penghulus would manage the general affairs of the Iban community as a whole while the commissioner of oath would handle issues on marriage, divorce and death in Johor, he said.
The penghulus would be appointed to serve in two regions – Johor Jaya and Kota Masai.
One may also be entrusted with managing the affairs of the Ibans from the northern region of Sarawak while the other from the southern region Mathiew said, adding that presently these were just proposals subject to suggestions.
“While the BSPPP is still identifying the candidates, we want the potential ones to come forward and project themselves so that we could have more options. This is perhaps our biggest challenge yet.”
Mathiew, a partner in an advertising firm, is also PBJ advisor.
Abet Achoh, a civil engineer, is his deputy in BSPPP, and the secretary-general of PBJ. Both are PPP supreme council members.
The PBJ chairman is a cement mixer owner and driver, John Chandang.
PBJ which looks after the welfare of Iban hawkers and small-and-medium industries entrepreneurs, was incepted in March when Mathiew and Abet teamed up with Chandang and several Iban traders to set up an Iban-concept Sunday Market at Taman Megah Ria, Jalan Bayan 31, Pasir Gudang.
The market at a parking bay, surrounded by four blocks of shophouses, is opened daily from 6.30am to noon. However, a check on November 4 showed that most items on sale were snapped up by 8am.
Abet said the market - Pasar Tamu Minggu - was set to enable members and other enterprising Ibans in Johor to sell their jungle produce, vegetables and Sarawakian delicacies, including the popular kolo mee and pansuh (meat cooked inside bamboo).
The PBJ saw economic potential in the market because of abundant saleable jungle produce and the strong purchasing power of the Ibans in Johor, Abet noted.
At the moment, the market catered for 64 stalls, including five each for the Malay, Chinese and Malay communities, he said.
“Apart from being a meeting point for the Ibans from all over Johor, the Pasar Tamu is also a venue for social interaction and for friends or relatives to catch up. Moreover, it is a trading post where demand always exceeds supply.”
He said a trader could make a profit of RM600 on average every Sunday at the market.
“Items are snapped up in only two hours. Rain or shine, the market goes on.
“The most sought after vegetable is the ensabi because of its medicinal values,” he said.
According to Abet, to maintain its Iban identity, the PBJ has created a quota system of five stalls each for the Malays, Chinese and Indians.
On Nov 4, the BSPPP handed over 400 membership applications to PPP Johor. Abet presented them to the vice chairman GS Maniam.
Mathiew, PSJ committee members, Findley Riji and Pali Usek, PPP branch Nusa Damai branch chairman, N Gunamani, Tamil-medium daily Makkal Ossai reporter C Rasamanikam, Sarawak’s The Borneo Post senior reporter Churchill Edward witnessed the presentation.
According to Abet, there are now 1,500 Ibans in PPP Johor but the BSPPP’s long-term target is 5,000 members.
Dedicated to help his community, Abet said he wanted all Ibans now residing in Johor to join the BSPPP or at least the PBJ for their social betterment and their children’s future.
Like Mathiew, Abet he believed in participating in local politics to improve the social development of the Iban community in general.
LITTLE SARAWAK: A colourful scene of the packed Iban Sunday market at Pasir Gudang, Johor. — Photo by Churchill Edward
JOHOR BAHRU: The Ibans, especially in Pasir Gudang here, have successfully convinced the Johor government to allocate them two posts for penghulu and one for commissioner of oath to serve their growing community in Johor.
A group of them requested for the posts through the Sarawak bureau of the Barisan Nasional component, the People’s Progressive Party (BSPPP).
Their main reason is their sizeable migrant population – about 40,000 – according to the bureau chief Mathiew Usun. Johor has population of 4.8 million.
The other reason was many of them made up Johor’s large blue-collar workforce in the construction, engineering and port-related sectors, he said.
“Some of us have ventured into business and contributed to the economic development of Johor in our own special ways,” he said at the Persada Borneo Johor (PBJ) Sunday Market on Nov 4.
At the moment, the bureau was still identifying the potential candidates before making recommendations to the government through PPP, he said.
He pointed out that these latest developments were the fruits of the bureau and PBJ’s efforts ever since the BSPPP and PBJ were formed in January and March, respectively.
Mathiew explained that requests (for the three posts) to the Johor government through PPP and the Jabatan Mukim-Mukim (District Department) were made in September and confirmed the following month.
On the importance of politics to improving the community’s social development, he said: “We have to join a Semenanjung-based BN component and opt for the PPP because it’s multi-racial and its president Datuk M Kayveas is a very approachable person. He genuinely struggles for our cause in Johor.”
He pointed out that PPP leaders had helped them negotiate with the Johor government for the posts of penghulu and commissioner of oath to benefit the Iban community in the long term.
The main criterion for the penghulu posts is the holders must be well-versed in native laws on Iban cultures and traditions apart from having good character.
“The penghulus must be socially and politically active in a good way and have the right attitude. They must be respected gentlemen,” Mathiew said.
He disclosed that he already had a few persons in mind but refrained from naming them as it may be “politically sensitive.”
The penghulus would manage the general affairs of the Iban community as a whole while the commissioner of oath would handle issues on marriage, divorce and death in Johor, he said.
The penghulus would be appointed to serve in two regions – Johor Jaya and Kota Masai.
One may also be entrusted with managing the affairs of the Ibans from the northern region of Sarawak while the other from the southern region Mathiew said, adding that presently these were just proposals subject to suggestions.
“While the BSPPP is still identifying the candidates, we want the potential ones to come forward and project themselves so that we could have more options. This is perhaps our biggest challenge yet.”
Mathiew, a partner in an advertising firm, is also PBJ advisor.
Abet Achoh, a civil engineer, is his deputy in BSPPP, and the secretary-general of PBJ. Both are PPP supreme council members.
The PBJ chairman is a cement mixer owner and driver, John Chandang.
PBJ which looks after the welfare of Iban hawkers and small-and-medium industries entrepreneurs, was incepted in March when Mathiew and Abet teamed up with Chandang and several Iban traders to set up an Iban-concept Sunday Market at Taman Megah Ria, Jalan Bayan 31, Pasir Gudang.
The market at a parking bay, surrounded by four blocks of shophouses, is opened daily from 6.30am to noon. However, a check on November 4 showed that most items on sale were snapped up by 8am.
Abet said the market - Pasar Tamu Minggu - was set to enable members and other enterprising Ibans in Johor to sell their jungle produce, vegetables and Sarawakian delicacies, including the popular kolo mee and pansuh (meat cooked inside bamboo).
The PBJ saw economic potential in the market because of abundant saleable jungle produce and the strong purchasing power of the Ibans in Johor, Abet noted.
At the moment, the market catered for 64 stalls, including five each for the Malay, Chinese and Malay communities, he said.
“Apart from being a meeting point for the Ibans from all over Johor, the Pasar Tamu is also a venue for social interaction and for friends or relatives to catch up. Moreover, it is a trading post where demand always exceeds supply.”
He said a trader could make a profit of RM600 on average every Sunday at the market.
“Items are snapped up in only two hours. Rain or shine, the market goes on.
“The most sought after vegetable is the ensabi because of its medicinal values,” he said.
According to Abet, to maintain its Iban identity, the PBJ has created a quota system of five stalls each for the Malays, Chinese and Indians.
On Nov 4, the BSPPP handed over 400 membership applications to PPP Johor. Abet presented them to the vice chairman GS Maniam.
Mathiew, PSJ committee members, Findley Riji and Pali Usek, PPP branch Nusa Damai branch chairman, N Gunamani, Tamil-medium daily Makkal Ossai reporter C Rasamanikam, Sarawak’s The Borneo Post senior reporter Churchill Edward witnessed the presentation.
According to Abet, there are now 1,500 Ibans in PPP Johor but the BSPPP’s long-term target is 5,000 members.
Dedicated to help his community, Abet said he wanted all Ibans now residing in Johor to join the BSPPP or at least the PBJ for their social betterment and their children’s future.
Like Mathiew, Abet he believed in participating in local politics to improve the social development of the Iban community in general.
Second Wave Of The Politics Of Development
Sarawak alami pembangunan lebih pesat 2020-2030 Oleh Anthony Aga
SARIKEI: Negeri Sarawak bakal menyaksikan perkembangan ekonomi dan pembangunan yang lebih pesat dari tahun 2020 hingga 2030, kata Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Secara amnya, pembangunan negara dijangka memuncak sejajar dengan pencapaian status negara maju menjelang 2020, namun Sarawak memerlukan masa yang lebih panjang berbanding negeri-negeri lain, kata Taib.
Sehingga kini, katanya, hanya sebahagian kecil potensi Sarawak telah dieksploitasi atas dua sebab utama iaitu saiz negeri yang besar menyebabkan masa lebih lama untuk menyediakan infrastruktur dan struktur populasi Sarawak yang bertaburan.
“Potensi terbaik masih belum diterokai untuk menjadi asas bagi mengeksploitasi potensi ekonomi yang masih kaya di negeri Sarawak,” kata Taib ketika merasmikan majlis pecah tanah bagi projek Central Oil Distribution Terminal (CODT) di Tanjung Manis dekat sini, pagi semalam.
Beliau memberi contoh, kekayaan sumber tenaga yang merupakan asas terpenting bagi menjana perkembangan industri kini masih dalam peringkat awal penerokaannya.
“Menyedari hakikat ini, kerajaan mencorak strategi pembangunan yang bersesuaian dengan keadaan tempatan,” jelas beliau sambil menambah, koridor pembangunan untuk negeri Sarawak adalah berbeza berbanding negeri-negeri lain.
“Memandangkan program pembangunan ekonomi yang dilaksanakan sebelum ini, khususnya sektor pertanian sudah mula membuahkan hasil, kita perlu menumpukan perhatian kepada langkah-langkah yang perlu diambil seterusnya,” kata Taib.
Maka atas kesedaran itu, tambahnya, kerajaan kini membawa rakyat ke arah pembangunan gelombang kedua.
“Arus pembangunan baru memerlukan banyak kemudahan termasuk bagi menampung keperluan yang lebih kompleks seperti pemprosesan,” ujarnya.
“Sehubungan itu, kita perlu membuat perancangan yang rapi agar program pembangunan gelombangan kedua dapat dilaksanakan dengan lancarnya.”
Sementara itu, beliau menyifatkan perlaksanaan projek CODT di Tanjung Manis adalah satu persediaan dan langkah bijak oleh pengusaha-pengusaha yang terlibat bagi meneruskan kejayaan yang dicapai menerusi program-program yang dilaksanakan sebelum ini.
“Kita yakin CODT Tanjung Manis mampu memperhebatkan pembangunan ekonomi di Wilayah Tengah termasuk Sibu, Mukah, Sarikei dan lain-lain, sepertimana CODT pertama di Senari, Kuching yang telah menyediakan perkhidmatan bagi menyokong pembangunan di kawasan Kuching dan Samarahan, malah wilayah Kalimatan Barat,” jelasnya lagi.
CODT Tanjung Manis juga akan membantu dalam mengurangkan kos pengangkutan yang dijangka meningkat dari semasa ke semasa, kata Taib.
Projek tersebut yang melibatkan pelaburan sebanyak RM300 juta adalah projek usahasama Assar Senari Group, Pusaka, Petronas Dagangan Bhd. dan Shell Timur Sdn Bhd.
Ia dibangunkan di kawasan seluas 135 ekar dan dijangka siap serentak dengan penyiapan projek jalan raya Sibu/Tanjung Manis pada akhir 2009.
Antara yang hadir pada majlis tersebut adalah kedua-dua Timbalan Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan, Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu Numpang, Speaker Dewan Undang Negeri Dato Sri Asfia Awang Nasar, Menteri Kewangan II dan Menteri Pembangunan Bandar dan Pelacongan Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Pengurus Besar Pusaka Datu Len Talif Salleh, Pengerusi Assar Senari Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Nor dan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datuk Wilson Baya Dandot.
SARIKEI: Negeri Sarawak bakal menyaksikan perkembangan ekonomi dan pembangunan yang lebih pesat dari tahun 2020 hingga 2030, kata Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Secara amnya, pembangunan negara dijangka memuncak sejajar dengan pencapaian status negara maju menjelang 2020, namun Sarawak memerlukan masa yang lebih panjang berbanding negeri-negeri lain, kata Taib.
Sehingga kini, katanya, hanya sebahagian kecil potensi Sarawak telah dieksploitasi atas dua sebab utama iaitu saiz negeri yang besar menyebabkan masa lebih lama untuk menyediakan infrastruktur dan struktur populasi Sarawak yang bertaburan.
“Potensi terbaik masih belum diterokai untuk menjadi asas bagi mengeksploitasi potensi ekonomi yang masih kaya di negeri Sarawak,” kata Taib ketika merasmikan majlis pecah tanah bagi projek Central Oil Distribution Terminal (CODT) di Tanjung Manis dekat sini, pagi semalam.
Beliau memberi contoh, kekayaan sumber tenaga yang merupakan asas terpenting bagi menjana perkembangan industri kini masih dalam peringkat awal penerokaannya.
“Menyedari hakikat ini, kerajaan mencorak strategi pembangunan yang bersesuaian dengan keadaan tempatan,” jelas beliau sambil menambah, koridor pembangunan untuk negeri Sarawak adalah berbeza berbanding negeri-negeri lain.
“Memandangkan program pembangunan ekonomi yang dilaksanakan sebelum ini, khususnya sektor pertanian sudah mula membuahkan hasil, kita perlu menumpukan perhatian kepada langkah-langkah yang perlu diambil seterusnya,” kata Taib.
Maka atas kesedaran itu, tambahnya, kerajaan kini membawa rakyat ke arah pembangunan gelombang kedua.
“Arus pembangunan baru memerlukan banyak kemudahan termasuk bagi menampung keperluan yang lebih kompleks seperti pemprosesan,” ujarnya.
“Sehubungan itu, kita perlu membuat perancangan yang rapi agar program pembangunan gelombangan kedua dapat dilaksanakan dengan lancarnya.”
Sementara itu, beliau menyifatkan perlaksanaan projek CODT di Tanjung Manis adalah satu persediaan dan langkah bijak oleh pengusaha-pengusaha yang terlibat bagi meneruskan kejayaan yang dicapai menerusi program-program yang dilaksanakan sebelum ini.
“Kita yakin CODT Tanjung Manis mampu memperhebatkan pembangunan ekonomi di Wilayah Tengah termasuk Sibu, Mukah, Sarikei dan lain-lain, sepertimana CODT pertama di Senari, Kuching yang telah menyediakan perkhidmatan bagi menyokong pembangunan di kawasan Kuching dan Samarahan, malah wilayah Kalimatan Barat,” jelasnya lagi.
CODT Tanjung Manis juga akan membantu dalam mengurangkan kos pengangkutan yang dijangka meningkat dari semasa ke semasa, kata Taib.
Projek tersebut yang melibatkan pelaburan sebanyak RM300 juta adalah projek usahasama Assar Senari Group, Pusaka, Petronas Dagangan Bhd. dan Shell Timur Sdn Bhd.
Ia dibangunkan di kawasan seluas 135 ekar dan dijangka siap serentak dengan penyiapan projek jalan raya Sibu/Tanjung Manis pada akhir 2009.
Antara yang hadir pada majlis tersebut adalah kedua-dua Timbalan Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan, Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu Numpang, Speaker Dewan Undang Negeri Dato Sri Asfia Awang Nasar, Menteri Kewangan II dan Menteri Pembangunan Bandar dan Pelacongan Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Pengurus Besar Pusaka Datu Len Talif Salleh, Pengerusi Assar Senari Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Nor dan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datuk Wilson Baya Dandot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
