Familiar Story Plays Out Against The Native Landowners of West Malaysia

• 29 September 2016
 
• 1 comments

What means but a blockade were left to landowners ignored when they complained about illegal logging?

While Najib and his profligate wife wandered round Berlin talking mega-trade deals earlier this week, native landowners back home were experiencing a cruel injustice at the hands of the state.

It is Najib’s job to protect the rights of all his voters, yet according to the  Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) the folk of Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan had their blockade against illegal logging on their land dismantled by armed police, who were accompanied by a gang of 30 un-uniformed thugs.

Such scenes have played out many times in Sarawak in East Malaysia as the backdrop to the wipe-out of the third largest jungle in the world, in a matter of a mere three decades.

These lands and timber do not belong to the loggers, oil palm concession holders or to their political cronies, who had organised their licences for a price, they belong to the native people who were granted these territories as their right at the foundation of Malaysia.

What we have seen in Sarawak, time and again, is the muscling of native peoples out of their land rights by brute force, backed by corrupt political figures and agencies such as the police.  Now here in West Malaysia in 2016 it turns out that we are seeing the very same forces playing out in remaining forest areas and no one is lifting a finger from Najib’s government, it seems, to counter such injustice:

‘Police’ and thugs bring down Orang Asli blockade

The blockade set up by Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan (JKOAK) on the logging road at the Petei junction to Pos Simpor was torn down yesterday by a group of 3 policemen in uniform accompanied by over 30 men.

About 160 Orang Asli from the surrounding area were manning the blockade when they arrived at 2.20pm in 9 vehicles belonging to the logging company. The convoy allegedly brought media representatives with them.

When Mustafa b. Along, 29, representing the community refused to cooperate with them and remove the blockade, he was arrested and held in one of the vehicles. Manglo b. Tegau, 24, and Salim Tegau, 31, were subsequently arrested when the community stood their ground. The ordeal lasted 40 minutes before they were released after the blockade was removed.A chainsaw was used to dismantle the blockade despite the Orang Asli standing their ground. The chainsaw narrowly missed cutting the leg of one of the Orang Asli man, landing to cut his slipper. During the chaos, an unidentified young man with a rifle fired twice into the air, not far from the blockade. The Orang Asli believed that it was done to frighten and provoke them.Once the blockade was dismantled, a lorry carrying logs drove from inside the barrier, forcing the Orang Asli away from the road.

The blockade was set up on 27 September after formal letters to relevant bodies failed to halt logging activities on their customary land at Pos Simpur, Pos Gob and Kuala Bering.

Last bid to protect their land

On 13 September, JKOAK sent a notice to the logging company demanding that they stop their logging operation.

On 20 September, a group of 31 Temiars went to to the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), and lodged a formal protest and complaint to them. (All this while the MTCC has been certifying that the logs form Kelantan have been obtained in a sustainable and scientific way, while recognizing indigenous rights at the same time.)

On the same day, they handed a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) on the issue.

The group had also lodged complaints and reports at the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), the Prime Minister’s office, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKLW) and the Kelantan state.

According to Mustafa, they were not consulted before the logging started early this year. Neither have they receive a reply to any of their complaint letters.
A police report was made at 2am today. JKOAK has confirmed that they will continue keeping up the blockade to defend their customary land. [press release by COAC].

Where was the police chief for the area during such an operation carried out using transport belonging to the logging company itself?

This clear corrupt practice, condoned by people in high places, is the people’s increasing daily lot, suffered not only in the dictatorships of East Malaysia now, but clearly in West Malaysia also.\

Full scale logging, destroying Malaysia’s unique environment against the wishes of the people

This scenario is exactly what happens when a government is preoccupied only by its own survival and is willing to bribe, threaten and break every rule in order to ensure it. For Najib, the actual job of governing, which is to ensure basic justice and protection for the people, has long ceased to be a priority.

'Little Goebbels' trying to mend Najib's image

Dr M speaks of 'little Goebbels' trying to mend Najib's image

  

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed several "little Goebbels" have been tasked to mend Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's image following the 1MDB scandal.

He was referring to the notorious Joseph Goebbels who served as propaganda minister in Nazi Germany.

"His task was to transform all the bad done by the Nazi regime to look like they were not only good but also noble.

"Unfortunately, apart from the Nazis, no one believed the picture Goebbels and his ministry were trying to paint. The world completely rejected his propaganda about Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime.

"Since Najib was accused of misappropriating billions of ringgit in 1MDB funds, many little Goebbels were tasked to repair Najib's image, using various explanations and claims," he said in a blog posting today.

Mahathir pointed out that ultimately, not only did Goebbels end up killing himself but he also murdered his wife and children.

The former premier went on to single out ministers Salleh Said Keruak, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Abdul Rahman Dahlan as well as Najib's press secretary Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad.

He congratulated them “for successfully misleading Najib to think that their statements have been effective”.

Mahathir noted that there were many other efforts to clear Najib's name including the statement by Najib's former bodyguard Sirul Azhar Umar – who was convicted of murdering Mongolian national Altantuyaa Shaariibuu – claiming that the prime minister was not involved.

He added that some bloggers have also changed their allegiance despite denying that they were bought over, while the mainstream media tried to downplay public talks about Najib's alleged wrongdoings.

"The attempt to clear Najib is futile as it cannot change people's belief that he is guilty as charged," claimed Mahathir.

"Najib's propaganda has been ineffective. The large amount of money given to the little Goebbels can't change the public view of Najib as well as those opposed to him," he said.

Najib has denied wrongdoing or taking public funds for personal gain.

Mahathir claimed the propaganda has only had the opposite effect as people become more convinced of the allegations against Najib.

Yes, Mahathir is correct, 1MDB will be exposed sooner or later. People like RPK have turned and supported Najib, WHAT A SHAME! Now became unreliable, possibly bought over and become ineffective informers!

 

Jamal (Red Shirt) gone Looney!

Jamal claims Bersih wants to surround Putrajaya, infiltrated by IS

  

Red Shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos levelled a series of bizarre and serious allegations against Bersih, including its purported plan to surround Putrajaya and airports during its Nov 19 rally.

The allegation comes amid questions on whether the electoral watchdog would be able to convince a large number of Malaysians, who are said to be politically fatigued, to take to the streets like its previous rallies, let alone lay siege to the administrative capital.

Jamal (Red Shirts) gone Looney! What a Looney tune he is! Well a product of Umno???
He needs to be admitted to to the Tanjung Rambutan Hospital ASAP, before he goes AMOK with hs guns blazing!!!

Public housing - the State govt. should subside the poor

This is what public housing looks like

PETALING JAYA, Sept 23 — Rizal Ramli lives in a cramped 700 sq ft flat in Kota Damansara here with his seven children and pregnant wife.

The paint on the front door of the 36-year-old man’s three-bedroom People’s Housing Programme (PPR) unit is peeling and clothes are strewn all over the floor as there are no cupboards anywhere. In fact, there isn’t even a dining table, chairs or a TV.

IN THE GALLERY

• 
  A woman cooks in her Kota Damansara PPR unit. — Picture by Choo Choy May

The walls are also covered with children’s scribbles because they have no colouring books or even paper to draw on.

“I haven’t been paying rent since 2011,” Rizal told Malay Mail Online. Rizal — who only earns about RM1,000 a month selling fried food like chicken nuggets and potato wedges cooked by his wife — said rent was doubled from RM124 to RM250 a month in 2011 without any discussion with the residents.

“We can’t afford to pay RM250,” he said.

He said the management — Perumahan Dan Hartanah Selangor Sdn Bhd (PHSSB), a subsidiary of state-owned Lembaga Perumahan dan Hartanah Selangor (LPHS) that took over management and operations of the building in May 2013 from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) — has tried to evict his family two or three times, but were unsuccessful as they didn’t have a court order.

(A check with PHSSB later revealed a strange contradiction in facts. They insist that they have a 100 per cent rent collection rate, though this is not always paid on time.)

“I tell them that I’m not a pendatang,” said Rizal, who was among the first people to move to the Kota Damansara PPR 14 years ago.

Children play in the small playground at the Kota Damansara PPR. — Picture by Choo Choy MayThen there are his monthly expenses: Groceries cost about RM500 a month, formula milk and diapers (RM300), school expenses like the children’s allowance (RM200), utilities (RM150), school books (RM60), taxi rides to send two of his children with asthma regularly to the Sungai Buloh Hospital (RM150), handphone bill, including his wife’s (RM60), which comes up to roughly RM1,420. Sometimes, he can’t even afford to pay his water and electricity bills. He uses a prepaid plan for his mobile phone and buys RM10 credit whenever he can.

He said he doesn’t get zakat funds because he gets RM450 monthly for his children — four daughters and three sons aged between two and 14 — from the Social Welfare Department (JKM). Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t have any savings and his monthly expenses of RM1,420 eat up almost all of his total income of RM1,450.

When asked about family planning, Rizal described his children as rezeki (a blessing), but with the eighth child on the way, he said that he would now start to do “a little planning.”

Currently, more than 5,600 people are estimated to be staying at the Kota Damansara PPR, based on the 1,137 occupied units that house an average of five per unit.

Out of the 74 PPR flats with 97,967 units throughout the country that are built by the federal government but managed by state governments, four are in Selangor, including Kota Damansara.

A woman cooks in her Kota Damansara PPR unit. — Picture by Choo Choy MayTenants expected to bear wear and tear costs

The ceiling fan in Jamal’s PPR unit is not working, the pipe in his kitchen sink is broken and the toilet bowl has no seat, but management pushes the responsibility of repairs for wear and tear to tenants, even though it is the owner who should bear such costs, according to standard tenancy agreements.

Jamal, a 48-year-old man who is using a pseudonym as he fears retaliation from PHSSB, which once issued a show cause letter to a resident who complained to the press about infrastructure issues, said pipe repairs would cost about RM50 to RM60.

“We can’t afford it,” Jamal, who has been renting a Kota Damansara PPR unit since 2002, told Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.

Jamal’s unit, which houses him, his wife and five children aged between five and 17 (the oldest, 19, is staying at a university hostel), has walls with peeling green paint and graffiti including the alphabet in Jawi and phone numbers, and a clutter of pots and pans.

Like Rizal’s unit, this property also suffers from a lack of furniture; clothes are dumped in a shopping trolley. The kitchen overflows with dirty water once a month because of blocked drains, his wife says.

Three children have fallen from the Kota Damansara PPR in recent years, two of whom died. — Picture by Choo Choy May“If both mum and dad work 12 hours a day, their children will go wild. So I work 16 hours a day and my wife takes care of the kids,” said Jamal, who does odd jobs like driving and earns about RM2,000 a month. He also gets RM500 in zakat monthly.

Jamal, who has rent arrears owed to MBPJ of over RM9,000 since he refused to pay the new RM250 rent rate from 2010 to 2012, said the management recently threatened to evict him, but he sought legal aid and was told he didn’t need to leave because there was no court order.

“We didn’t want to pay the rent then because there were no facilities,” he said. “The lifts were not working, there was no water or electricity, there were burglaries. Those times were terrible.”

Facilities are better now, but child safety is still not guaranteed, according to Jamal who highlighted the deaths of two children in 2013 and 2014 at the PPR. They had fallen from the 14th and 6th floors respectively.

“There are railings now, but the metal is hollow. It’ll rust,” he said. “It’s not a case of children climbing over, but they fell through the railings.”

Despite Jamal and his wife’s impoverished circumstances, the couple insisted on serving us lemang, chicken curry and sup kambing when we visited them for the interview.

Toh Hoe Kit and Chan Yoke Chan (right) live alone in a Kota Damansara PPR unit. — Picture by Choo Choy MaySome are okay

Some residents such as Chan Yoke Chan, 79, and her husband Toh Hoe Kit, 83, live in better conditions. Their PPR unit was neat and had two tables, chairs, a TV and two single beds.

They live alone as their three children reside in Australia, the UK and Sweden respectively.

“Problems here are residents throwing cigarette butts and rubbish from the window,” Chan said.

Another resident, R. Malathi, also has a TV at home and even an aquarium with three fish, but no tables. She lives with two grandsons whom she raises as her own children, her mother, one of her daughters, and occasionally, her “absent” husband.

“I’m trying to buy an industrial [sewing] machine,” Malathi, 46, told Malay Mail Online. “I’m trying to save money for it. I’ve saved RM500 so far.”

She said she makes about RM1,100 a month by sewing curtains for fellow residents. JKM’s E-Kasih programme had given her a sewing machine and sent her for sewing classes. Malathi also gets RM175 monthly from JKM and has received a one-time BR1M handout of RM400.

Fong Peng Lim from Safer Kids Academy speaks to Malay Mail Online at the Section 8 Kota Damansara PPR in Petaling Jaya September 14, 2016. — Picture by Choo Choy MayChildren skipping school to work

Fong Peng Lim, an activist from child rights NGO Safer Kids Academy who has been working at the Kota Damansara PPR for over two years, told Malay Mail Online about the case of two girls aged nine and 11 who had never attended school because they looked after other people’s children to help their parents earn money.

“In a way, it’s a form of child labour, but you can’t report the parents because if the parents go to jail, what’s going to happen to the family?” Fong, who runs child safety classes, said.

Fong, who is also treasurer of the Kota Damansara PPR residents’ association, said there have also been reports of child prostitution, statutory rape and domestic violence at the flats.

He said one of his volunteers informed him about a single mother who prostituted her three children aged 13, 15 and 17 about two or three years ago, but she has apparently stopped doing so after she was arrested.

R. Malathi poses for a picture outside her Kota Damansara PPR unit. — Picture by Choo Choy MayFong also claimed that more than 100 residents have received eviction notices because of rent arrears with MBPJ, or because their unit was not under their name.

“Those tenants who have stayed a long time as sub-tenants, they want to continue staying, but why won’t PHSSB allow them? All it takes is just to change the name of the rental agreement,” Fong said. “And why is PHSSB using rental in arrears to MBPJ to intimidate and bully the poor residents?”

Fong claimed that MBPJ is still accepting rent arrears from Kota Damansara tenants and asked: “Is PHSSB an illegal debt collector?”

Malay Mail Online could not reach the MBPJ corporate communications department for comment.

According to the minutes of an August 8 meeting that was chaired by LPHS assistant director Norzaton Aini Mohd Kassim and attended by Fong, representatives from MBPJ, the mentri besar’s office, PHSSB, the Kota Damansara PPR residents’ association, as well as Subang MP R. Sivarasa, the MBPJ representative said “the original handover letter between MBPJ and PHSSB states that PHSSB can collect rent and arrears at the Kota Damansara PPR and must return them to MBPJ before the takeover period.”

The minutes, which were sighted by Malay Mail Online, said PHSSB took over management and operations of the building effective May 1, 2013, based on a letter on the takeover of the Kota Damansara PPR from MBPJ dated April 18, 2013.

Nazmi Osman from Perumahan Dan Hartanah Selangor Sdn Bhd (PHSSB) speaks to Malay Mail Online in Shah Alam September 15, 2016. — Picture by Boo Su-LynPHSSB’s defence

PHSSB general manager Nazmi Osman insisted that PHSSB has the power to collect rent and arrears, which “MBPJ doesn’t collect any more.”

“But when the tenant leaves, we’ll pass the arrears to MBPJ. We’ll inform that this tenant has arrears owed to MBPJ and it’s up to MBPJ whether they want to claim or not,” Nazmi toldMalay Mail Online in an interview at the SUK Selangor building in Shah Alam.

He also said PHSSB doesn’t have the power to exempt long-term tenants from paying arrears owed to MBPJ.

“If we exempt them, what about those who paid? Do we give back the money? During the time when they were not paying, they were enjoying the facilities,” said Nazmi.

He added that Kota Damansara PPR tenants were allowed to pay their rent arrears by instalments.

Nazmi also said the decision to raise the rent from RM124 to RM250 a month was made by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) state government in 2007, which Pakatan Rakyat merely enforced after taking over the state a year later.

He said the RM250 rental rate was imposed on new tenants under MBPJ in 2010, after which, it was enforced across the board for all tenants in 2013 except for single mothers, people with disabilities, senior citizens and those with a household income of below RM1,500 a month.

“Our style, whatever we need to do, we will usually engage the residents,” said Nazmi.

Khairil Yusof from Sinar Project speaks to Malay Mail Online in Subang Jaya September 14, 2016. — Picture by Choo Choy MayHousing crisis

Open data NGO Sinar Project, which did a survey on the Kota Damansara PPR among 257 households comprising 961 residents, found that the median duration of one’s stay at the flats was nine years.

Also, about 41 per cent of households surveyed either did not vaccinate their children or didn’t know their offspring’s vaccination status. Malays were the majority of survey participants at 57 per cent, followed by the Indians at about 16 per cent, and the Chinese at about 5 per cent. Most of the household heads were SPM graduates.

Their median household income was RM1,500 per month with a median of four residents per household. The median household expenditure took up almost all of the income at RM1,400 monthly. Eighty per cent of households surveyed reported drug activity in the flats.

“You’ve got people who are supposed to stay there for only one year before they get on their feet, but they’re living there for eight to 10 years, so that means these people are not moving out,” Sinar Project co-ordinator Khairil Yusof told Malay Mail Online in an interview.

He said with the worsening economy and retrenchments, the lower middle-income group could be caught in a fix as low-cost houses are full with a substantial foreigner population, while PPR flats are full with long-time residents.

“For me, I’m seeing a housing crisis here,” said Khairil.

Public housing - the State govt. should subside the poor people rents with the excess funds which stands at over RM3 Billion. What are the exco members and those in local council members doing. They should be visiting these people and hear their plights and needs! 

STOP EATING THIS EVERY DAY! THIS CAN KILL YOU!!!

The specialties that have their toxic side

Mushrooms – if you read it yourself, do not forget that about 6% of toxic mushrooms.Their venom is fatal.

Rhubarb – green leaves contain oxalic acid. Therefore, you can get kidney stones, but if you eat a larger quantity, it can be fatal.

Beans – contains large amounts of toxins lectins. Plant lectin acts as a kind of primitive protection system analogous to human antibodies. Only three cooked beans can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Apples – the seeds they contain cyanide. If you eat them in large quantities, maybe you can get poisoning. Do not forget to discard seeds.

Tomatoes – leaf and green part on the fruit contains a toxin Tomatin. It can be used in pest control. Persons suffering from rheumatism should avoid eating tomatoes.

 

Potatoes – Green potatoes contain higher amounts Glycoalkaloids poison. Deaths are rare, but they are recorded.

Brazil nuts – foods with the highest doses of natural radioactivity (800 times the concentration of the radioactive than in any other food).

Cherries – seeds contain cyanide. If you swallow a few seeds, you can expect to poison, increase in body temperature extremes, very difficult to breathing. Do not forget to discard seeds.

Nutmeg – known hallucinogen. It can lead to a psychosis which is associated with a sense of certain doom. Overdose can you violate psychological state.

Pufferfish – Japanese delicacy can lead to paralysis and death. Chefs train two to three years to learn is to prepare. Be careful about what you eat.