Citizenship ~ a right or a privilege?

An issue I read recently, about Education privilege, and now talks about applying citizenship/PR are not a right but privilege... Hummphh!! You think I am just being sensitive.. I AM!!

Sabahan gets citizenship back after 20 months

KOTA KINABALU: Seventy-eight-year-old Yong Lee Hua @ Piang Lin got her Malaysian citizenship back after a traumatic 20 months that turned her life upside down.

Yong, a Sabah bumiputra, who received her MyKad yesterday demanded to know why it took so long for the National Registration Department (NRD) to sort out her woes.

“I have been suffering and waiting for two years without an identity card. Now in just three minutes of turning up at the department I am given my MyKad.

“What does this mean, what have I done wrong? I want to know!” said Yong, a Sino-Kadazan from Penampangan, who was at one point screaming and crying as she received the MyKad from NRD officers.

After finally getting her MyKad and her citizenship back, she is demanding to know why the NRD took so long to sort out her woes.

Yong’s nightmare started when the NRD made her a permanent resident after she lost her MyKad in February last year.

Following this she had trouble gaining access to her bank and Amanah Saham Nasional accounts, before her plight was highlighted by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok’s party.

Home Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar who was at the NRD head office here for a briefing, told reporters that he had decided to consider granting the citizenship to Yong as it was a genuine case.

However she was never registered as a citizen and held a permanent resident status but was mistakenly issued a citizen’s identity card by the NRD in 1996, he said.

“It was only when she lost her MyKad did NRD officials realise that she was not a registered citizen and reverted to her status as a permanent resident. That is why she got back her permanent resident status,” he said.

Syed Hamid, in stressing that there was no conspiracy involved in the NRD decision, said that there were about 30,000 citizenship applications in Sabah involving locals.

He gave an assurance that each application would be carefully studied and genuine cases would be resolved, adding that native Saba­hans were rightful Malaysians but explained that Malaysia did not allow dual citizenship.

Syed Hamid said he had directed NRD to make it clear that applying for permanent resident status and citizenship were not a right but a privilege.

Source: The Star

Read More:
DE 26/9/2008
DE 5/10/2008

Citizenship for Sabahans a right, not privilege

Tony Thien | Oct 12, 08 4:05am

The Home Ministry has no power to grant or withdraw citizenship from Sabahans as that would contravene the Malaysia Agreement and the Federal Constitution, said Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbum. MCPX "It is the law that determines whether a local Sabahan is a citizen and it has been agreed in the Malaysia Agreement and the Federal Constitution that all Sabahans are citizens," said Majimbum in a statement. He was commenting on Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar's statement in The Star yesterday that he had directed the National Registration Department (NRD) to clearly state that permanent residency and citizenship were not rights but priviledges. Syed Hamid also said his ministry had granted citizenship to Sino-Kadazan Yong Lee Hua @ Piang Lin, 78, because she was a 'genuine case'. Yong was issued a red identification card meant for permanent residents after she lost her MyKad in February last year. Only PR is a priviledge Majimbum said that when Malaysia was formed in 1963, it was agreed upon that all Sabahans, native or otherwise, will automatically be made citizens. He said that such provisions were explicitly laid down in the Malaysia Agreement and the amendments to the Federal Constitution. Yong was therefore a citizen by operation of law, argued Majimbum. 'Therefore the question of the Home Minister "restoring" or "granting" her citizenship is therefore absolutely ridiculous as he has no power to grant or take away the citizenship of a person who is a citizen by operation of law," said Majimbum Majimbum said that in the case of permanent residents, the minister was right in calling it a priviledge.

Source: MK

I wonder what is going on in this Bolehland???? Sigh!! *Reading these with red-bulls' eye".. Why they always think that it's belongs to them personally? Please do something for the people, we voted (did I?) you coz we thought you would!

16th September, a date to ponder

I was reading a friend's blog and it striked me about this date: 16th September, the Malaysia Day. It's one day that the politicians fight over whether to make it as a holiday or not(link 1/ link 2).

It is a very important day for it was D-Day when we Sabahans (of course I wasnt born yet) & fellow Sarawakians joined the Malayans to established a new federation: M-A-L-A-Y-S-I-A. Well, 45 years has passed, like in Susan's blog, how much progress have we made??

30 years ago, I remembered our 'dreadful' trip to Kuala Penyu visiting the grandparents. It was during our school holidays, poor dad had to put up with our laments, cries, whines for not wanting to stay at Ingkung Bundu (as we fondly called our grandpa. He lived in Kg Gana, Bundu)'s house for more than 2 nights. The shorter the trip the better. It wasnt that we were kurang ajar (illmannered) towards the elderly, but it was the condition of the place that we just couldnt stand.

First reason was the gravel, sandy road to KP. We had to wind up our car windows everytime there're cars overtook ours, or came from the opposite direction as it would cause the sand to stir up and went into our car. Air-conditioned cars were quite rare then. Rainy season would create puddles of mud, we'd be glad if we didnt get stuck in any of them. Journey to the kampung would take 2 hours if it didnt rain. The, the road into my ingkung's house, we have to go in to the jungle, up on a hilly area where those days, road were so slopey and bad that even a 4WD would have a hard time going up when it was pouring rain. At times, we had to get down from dad's car and walked up the hill under the rain so the tyres would not get buried in the mud.

Second reason, there werent any luxury, only bare necessities which depend on the generousity of Mother Earth. Public bathing at the well (I didnt have a problem until I grew up..geezz), down hill into the bushes near Ingkung's house. I swear I can get lost if I go by my self. Drinking water source was either from the well or the rain water.. It tasted horrible that we brought our own water from home. There wasnt any water pipe back then.
[added: I was on the phone with my cuz, he told me that even they have water pipes,but there are times that no water flowing in for weeks.. Too bad!]

Talk about cleanliness, there wasnt any proper sewege management.. The toilet was located 100m from the house, a place that you wouldnt want to visit at night. And while doing big business, the chickens and hogs were partying underneath.. if you know what I mean.. So, to prevent from using that toilet, we practically 'download' at home before going to KP.

No electricity, meaning that we had limited lightings at night.. Dad bought coloured TV for ingkung & nenek but it didnt work with the car battery, so Dad had to exchanged it to B&W and that worked fine. But who needs TV when we kids had fun activities as go to the corner of the house and started to tell some ghost stories or playing tapuk-tapuk (hide-and-seek). Good thing that Dad often made sure our cousins would be there too before us, so that we appreciated the trip (It was more like a bribery... Go to Bundu and you'd meet the cousins.. hahaha). Hmm... come to think about it, those trips werent so bad after all.. apart from what I had mentioned above.. but that's another story..

Our recent trip to KP for cousin's wedding. During our way home, we decided to try out the Ferry service from KP town to Kg.Binsulok, Membakut; but we got stranded for an hour due to the queue and the wrong timing as we arrived at 3.30pm, i.e. the ferry's rest.

Say Peace, while waiting for the Ferry. Lil c sneaked out from his carseat

Imagine, few years back.. yeap.. after 35-40 years of independant, only then the KP people, or I shall narrow it to my grandparents house was upgraded to better facilities. Too bad they were not around to enjoy them.

Things do progress, but I wonder does it really have to take 4 decades after independant for a development? The Sabahans who voted for Independence in 1963, many of them didnt manage to taste the better life that was promised to them, just like the fate of my grandparents.. In fact, it is very painful to know there are places in the rural area today still in extreme poverty and poor transportation...

I wondered what happened to the Sabah Baru Manifesto in 1994 where it promise to reduce Sabah's poverty level to zero in 2000?

Anyways, Happy Malaysia Day in Advance!

Have you visited 1Borneo yet?

We visited to 1borneo again today. Not much shopping, just slighty bored at home.. Wanted to check-out the RM5 Japanese shop Daiso to see any interesting stuff on sale..

Anyways, we parked our car at the 3rd floor level. While entering the car park, I read a banner by 1Borneo's carpark management,

"FOC Indoor car park parking until further notice."

My English isnt that excellent, but reading such redundant words, done by the Management (or whoever did that) is such a turn-off. How could this so-called largest hypermall in East Malaysia overlooked that. Not a big issue, had a big laugh over it! I wasnt affected... UNTIL..

there wasnt a sight of Baby Changing Room!!! This is totally unacceptable.. Maybe I could have missed it, but I couldnt find any, not even a decent table in the ladies toilet for diaper change ...

Come on la... They should be updated with all such related issues and yet, they failed to do such simple thing... I could have just change Baby C at the Starbuck's coffee table, but I am not that rude and ignorant!.. hmmm... T'was very dissapointed.

Baby C, still smilling despite having soiled diaper

Men At Work

It is quite dissapointing when you see that people dont care about own safety, what more about their employees... I snapped this picture yesterday, when the worker was fixing the telecom line.. I believe he must be one of the kerja kontrak guys as he was wearing a T-Shirt written "Kontraktor Penyelenggaraan Telekom Malaysia".

Why on earth is he not putting on any safety gears like helmet & gloves? I dont know la, maybe it is not in their safety policy? Or maybe he thinks he is a starring that nothing bad would happen..

Today's DE headline : Tower Crashes again, 1 dead; where A TNB worker was killed and four of his colleagues were seriously injured after the Emergency Temporary Tower that being reinstalled at Kg Suang Parai Imbagu, Inanam collapsed again Tuesday..

You just never know what lies ahead...

Read more : The Star

Turn On The Light

There are things that people dont talk about.. Things that other people think its wise to be left unsaid.. No, not a sexist issue!! This video is for everyone who cares about women.. Take heed..



[read more]

One plus One makes Two Satans!!

Lame excuses!!! update from here

Excerpt from DE Headline (papers): *updated 26/4/2008*

"Feel full brunt of the law for kidnap, assault, sexual abuse and rape of UMS girl : DUO CLAIM DRIVEN BY SATAN"

Excerpt from NST Online:

KOTA KINABALU: Two men who kidnapped a 22-year-old university student, raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on them were jailed a total of 101 years and ordered to be given 45 strokes of the rotan.

Mohd Arifin Bidin, 29, was sentenced to 56 years' jail and 25 strokes of the rotan, while his friend Mohd Sahrizal Suhaili, 21, was given a 45-year jail term and 20 lashes.

The sentences were meted out by Sessions Court judge Duncan Sikodol after the duo pleaded guilty to eight charges of kidnapping, raping, forcing to perform oral sex and causing grievous hurt to the girl. [read more]

I feel sick when I read the DE headline this morning (*updated link* it was more in detail compared to NST, but has not updated online yet) !

What are becoming of these beasts?

What created them?

Dont they have any slightest symphaty towards their victim during those 12hrs of abduction?

Why now they repent, and not thinking of the consequences before hand? They cant undo what they have did to the victim!!!

My heart goes to the victim, be strong & have faith!

I am just so upset!!!

"Kidnapped" update

Thank God, the second kidnapper, a local Bruneian from Membakut, has been caught!!!! You can read further on the DE Online (at last, there's update). The police believed that the duo were influenced by a HK movie and alcohol; the poor girl who was picked randomly by the kidnappers, sustained a bite mark and bruises in various parts of her body and was believed to have been sexually assaulted.!!! Traumatised with the whole incident, she is to return to her hometown in Sibu and allowed to sit for her coming exam at home.

There are people who are insane and mad in this world!!! I wonder what's in their brain and how stupid for them to think that they could run away after doing such crime! Sigh!

What can be done to stop such crime? Even punishment didnt scare the perpetraitors to stop committing crime! Stories about Nurin, Sharlinie... Everyday, you'd read news about people being murdered, hurt and raped is sooo depressing! yet I believe there are more cases which are unreported!!!

...
...
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"Kidnapped" SMS

DH & myself received numerous smses last tuesday night regarding an UMS student was kidnapped around Likas (KK) area.

"Urgent! A 2nd year UMS student was kidnapped about 1hr ago. She was walking to prayer meeting with a group of people. Kancil came and grabbed her where as the rest (of her friends) managed to run away. Pls pray for our sis in Christ safety, her name's Cheng Ting. Pass msg."

another similar one:

"Urgent, pls watch out for a dark blue kancil SAA4558N, they just kidnapped a UMS Student in Kingfisher. Pls report to police if you see this car. Pls spread info."

At first, we were questioning the ambiguity of the story until this morning, it was mentioned in Daily Express (Sabah Local newspaper) headline. Okay, I was trying to search for this article in the DE, unfortunately, the site isnt updated.. pooodah!!! What la... Anyways, I typed in google and found out thousand of bloggers had already wriiten this in their blog... As usual, I am always late! heheeh.. Read The Star.

Latest news: Cheng Ting has been rescued in Keningau (1.5hr drive from KK) after 10hours of searching. She is traumatised by the whole incident, poor girl! Currently, being treated in the hospital. The authority managed to capture one of the kidnapper, Bajau fellow; whom is now assisting the police to trace his partner in crime, a local brunei fellow known as Muhd Ariffin Bidin, 29yo (The Star mentioned that he is believed to be from Membakut.. gulp!!! My kampung!!!). Motive of kidnapping is unknown yet.

Malaysia's Migrant Children

via Al-jazeeraEnglish
Al Jazeera's David Hawkins meets the children of illegal immigrants from the Philippines living on the streets of Sabah.

Nak Tak?

Someone forwarded an email to me.. Something to ponder.

The leader who will get my vote this election will be a person who serves the rakyat, and not expecting the rakyat to serve/bow to him/her. I just couldnt stand hearing the 'leaders' who think they are demi-Gods telling the rakyat to shuddup and not investigating why in the first place the rakyat are making so much fuss. All the self-proclaimed demi-Gods do is to condemn esp bloggers who speak up their views. Hey, we are homospiens, the most intelligent living creatures on earth! and you expect us to just shuddup and be a zombie? (ok.. cool down... MaMa)

We would never forget when the *toot* Mr. Roselan made a remark on rape cases (see pix left), when Mr. Bung Moktar & Mohd Said Yusuf belittle women by insulting DAP Fong Po Kuan bocor tiap-tiap bulan (read Nazri's remark about controlling people's emotion, and yet the leaders said bloggers are over reacting and emotional... huh!), when Mr. Adnan accused that bloggers are liars, 80% are women! These are only few REAL cases... and there are tons more if you digg em out!

Anyways... Your vote matters! Cast it wisely! May the truth save us all... (like, is there ANY eligible candidate that will get my vote this year?.. sigh!!) Jangan kerana RM1 or tangki air biru diderma, our votes be bought!

Lastly, say No to Violence Against Women <-- you think the current leaders will be able to tackle this issue? Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi..

NEWS: Benazir Bhutto Killed!

This is shocking! I was posting my recent blog, then checked on giuk.com, saw few headlines on Mrs. Bhutto's mishap...

Few weeks ago, I had read inspiring stories about her... this is just so so.. so sad!

Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack.

News of her death was confirmed by a military spokesman and members of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

Ms Bhutto had just addressed an election rally in Rawalpindi when gunfire and an explosion occurred.

At least 15 other people are reported killed in the attack and several more were injured. Ms Bhutto had twice been the country's prime minister.

[Read More]

May your soul rest in peace!

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

This is just so overwhelming... Cant help but to scratch my butt about this here.. It's an update my previous post - Tengku Adnan - Women Bloggers are Liars issue.

"Tengku" Adnan "Tengku" Mansur tried to clear the air about his statement that Bloggers are Liars, 80% are Women.

He denied about what he said.. As if blaming the press for misquoting him... "Saya memang suka wanita.. Lagipun saya exist kerana wanita juga" sumthing like dat.. ptuii!!!!

He said that he didnt mean ALL bloggers, but only refering to the Indon TV host, Nila Tanzil for blogging about her experience being invited by the MTB to cover the Visit Malaysia Year - Floral Parade.. So, now he sais that NILA is lying... Why cant the MTB take all this as a pinch of salt and improve their service?? They are FOR the people, arent they??

Sigh! Why are our politicians are so like dat one?? A must for the BolehLand elements??... Read here on Marina Mahathir's rants on why do people stand as politicians?? Make sure the next election, vote for the less otak udang! (no ones perfect right?

To Nila: Stay Strong, Keep Telling the Truth, yeah!

Ok, gotta go.. to watch Akademi Fantasia 5... Still love Felix Agus tho! wink wink ;)

Bloggers are Liars, 80% are unemployed Women

Hmmm.... guess whose statement was that from? Our incredible. most Yang BERHORMAT <--- (means "The Honourable" ?? ) DATUK TENGKU ADNAN BIN TENGKU MANSOR, our Tourism Minister. Yeap, I got it right.

I dont intend for this blog to be political or anywhere there, as it is a journal for me to jot down my children's development. I always tried my best to be inline with the main reason why I started this blog. But who can ever sit down quietly, undisturbed when one read about things that is so bikin panas (hot)? and I have the right to be furious with his statement! We all do!

I blog, I am a SAHM (Stay-At-Home-Mom). Does it says that I am unemployed? Not contributing to the country financially? I dont even trust the current Education System, to be honest!!! No harm to homeschool my own kid! How can I be unemployed? I work 24-7 and no butts sitting on a lazy chair!

I know there are bloggers who are considered "unemployed" in the eyes of the mundane, routine job.. but they blog and do earn their living from it! Hats off! There are people who are employed, but being corrupted and all!! Puhlezz!!!!

Here are some of his excerpt from http://malaysianunplug.blogspot.com/, translated from Sin Chiew Daily.. "

...“All bloggers are liars, they cheat people using all kinds of methods. From my understanding, out of 10,000 unemployed bloggers, 8,000 are women.”...

...“All bloggers are not in favour of national unity. Our country has been successful because we are very tolerant with each other, if not, there will be civil war"...”

..“We have to show the world our positive attitude, if the world learn to be as tolerant as us, the world will be peaceful, without war or civil war.”..

An extreme stoopit comments! Please, next time when you do a speech, make sure you are too, with positive attitute and tolerate with other fellow Malaysian.

So, women out there, take heed! Each and every one of our vote in the election do count.. So, vote wisely! We do want to see our country florish to be a respected country by having well-respected leaders.., yeah!

Read more:

• Nila Tanzil, who write about her bad experience during a visit to Malaysia to cover the opening of Floral Fest 2007, invited by the Malaysia Tourism Board

• Wong Chun Wai's Remark
• Something about HIM -- interesting fact being a royalty of Malacca