BN Running Scared? Don't Be Fooled!

Friday, February 27

BN leaders getting jittery?

The battle cry of the Opposition in the coming by-election for Batang Ai in Lubok Antu following the death of Dublin Unting from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is likely to be “Get back your NCR land, vote out Taib Mahmud”. This has been the message that the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has been hammering to the Dayaks whenever he visits Sarawak.

But are the State BN component parties jittery in this by-election? That appears to be so at least among leaders of Parti Rakyat Sarawak.

Although the name of the PRS candidate to represent the Barisan Nasional in the coming by-election is yet to be decided, some PRS leaders are worried that their members and supporters may be influenced by the message.

The message has to certain extent opened the eyes of some people after they have heard from Anwar Ibrahim himself that the State BN government under Abdul Taib Mahmud has indeed taken away NCR lands and has given such lands to his cronies for the planting of oil palm, sago and trees.

They have heard that owners of NCR land in Bintulu, Miri, Mukah, Sibu, Simunjan, Simanggang, Serian and Lundu have been arrested for defending their lands. Their rubber, pepper and orchard gardens and paddy fields have been destroyed. Some of these incidents including protests have been recorded in CDs that have been distributed to longhouses in Lubok Antu and else where.

In fact they, the people of Batang Ai, Lubok Antu, have become victims of the State Government’s unjust policies over the construction of Batang Ai Hydro-power.

Now the voters in Batang Ai will have to think carefully: to vote the BN-PRS candidate they appear to condone Abdul Taib Mahmud’s policy on NCR land grabbing and this policy will render in many of Dayaks becoming landless people. For the Dayaks, land is their life, their livelihood and their future.

And voting against the Opposition means they are fighting against PKR, the party that is fighting for their rights, justice and equality and the party that is defending their NCR lands.

About two million hectares of lands, the bulk of which is NCR lands, have been approved for oil palm and sago plantations as well as for tree planting estates. And the State government is targeting another two million hectares of land to be developed in the next five years or so.

“What worries me is that some of our own members may vote for the Opposition or they may absent themselves from voting as they did in last year’s parliamentary election especially in Lubok Antu and Sri Aman constituencies. This is our dilemma,” said a PRS supreme council member, adding: “Although in Batang Ai it is only a by-election, the PKR victory is bad for us and may portend the coming of political tsunami into the shores of Sarawak.”

Certainly for BN, it will make all available resources; State departments, Information Department, Kemas, RTM and local council will be deployed to help in the campaign and in addition, it will renew promises which are yet to be fulfilled and pledge new ones. Like previous elections, money will be distributed through Tuai Rumahs (longhouse headmen). The more nervous the BN is, the more money it will dump into the campaign.

However, the focus will be on Dayak voters who form about 95% of the electorate. But the biggest question is: Can they resist these temptations of financial rewards and development projects? - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Posted by Jetty at 3:14 PM

Turn The Tables On BN: Vote For PKR No Matter Who The Candidate Is

The above words must be instilled amongst all Sarawakians until they are engrained.

Here is Jasmine's take on this issue (thank you, Jasmine):

I'm a Kelana Jaya (Selangor) voter. This is my advice to all of you Dayaks and Batang Ai voters or those who will go there to campaign, when PKR picked Loh Gwo Burne as the candidate, there was an uproar. People protested and asked many questions. He was not known apart from being the man who recorded the Lingam tapes and worse, he was facing a popular candidate who was a 3 term assemblyman but was promoted to the Federal Parliament.

Fearing that he may lose, PKR and PR supporters asked many questions and I must admit he was not the best candidate. Furthermore, he couldn't speak in Bahasa Malaysia, a must for a Parliamentarian. The people asked how could we elect someone who even couldn't express himself in the language of the nation and parliament. Later, many people including Haris Ibrahim, Zorro and others tried to argue that we needed a new candidate. Many other voters and bloggers argued of the same.

After this, some of us started lashing out at the critics and we said: "Our main goal is to defeat BN. Even if PKR has put in there a dog, we prefer a dog to BN." Then we rallied to him and also helped him win convincingly despite being a non-voter. Can you imagine? He himself was not a resgistered voter yet due to our hatred for BN, we simply voted in any man/woman who stood against BN. Are we regretting today? Absolutely not.

He is doing a good job and Selangor is making records, all for good reasons. If Batang Ai voters, different PKR factions and interested candidates don't reason like Peninsular voters, if the Dayaks don't stop this cancerous divide tactics where they divide themselves, if the Dayaks don't stop betraying one another whenever they don't agree on candidates, if the Dayaks continue arguing about this and that when the whistle has been blown, if the Dayaks don't stop this stupid mentality of talking too much about candidate and tribal affiliations, then you will be selling your future to Taib Mahmud.

Soon he will die and his son will rule you for 40 years to come and by then you would have lost any hope for survival. You will be enslaved for good. And you will blame no one bcoz you want it.

This is my advice, when the candidate is picked, however unpopular he/she is, rally behind him. Your enemy no.1 should be BN and Taib. Forget the candidate, it should be about BN. The candidate can corrected and once he wins, he will know the importance of goodwill, unity and will appreciate those who supported him despite their differences, but BN can't be corrected and nothing can be done to stop their corruption and subjugation.

The choice is yours and you better do something drastic about this. Batang Ai should unite all of you. If Bawin or any other is picked, everyone should support him and do his utmost to help him win. But if you start arguing, asking and making noise, then you are telling Taib and Jabu: "We are stupid people who cherish to be enslaved by you and your future children for eternity."

There you have it Sarawakians. The choice is yours. Let the voters of Batang Ai lead the way!

Corrosion Of BN Amongst Ibans At Batang Ai?

Pakatan faces acid test in Batang Ai

By Tony Thien, Malaysiakini

All eyes are now focused on the predominantly-Iban Batang Ai by-election, which is expected to be called soon following the demise of representative and state assistant minister Dublin Unting Ingkot.

Unting, a Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president, did not recover from a coma after collapsing from a stroke last May. He died at 1.26am today at a private medical centre in Kuching.

A by-election must be held for a seat if the vacancy - either through death or resignation - occurs more than 24 months to the date of the next state election.

Sarawak last held its state election in 2006, and the next one is only due in May 2011. Unlike other states, Sarawak does not hold its election in tandem with the general election.

In the last state election, Unting was re-elected to Batang Ai after a stiff challenge from Nicholas Bawin Anggat, who contested the state constituency on behalf of opposition Sarawak National Party (Snap).

Unting, who polled 3,295 votes, defeated Bawin (2,489 votes) by 806 votes. The voter turnout was 73.2 percent. Ibans make up 95 percent of the electorate.

Batang Ai is one of the two state seats within the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency - the other is Engkilili, which was won by Johnicol Rayong, who stood on a Snap ticket.

Rayong has since become an Independent and pledged his support for the ruling BN.

The likely candidates

Batang Ai will be an acid test for both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat in the wake of March 2008 general election. It has been reported that the opposition is getting a groundswell of support from the majority Ibans in recent months.

Bawin, who has recently joined PKR, has been tapped as deputy chief to assist Anwar Ibrahim, the party boss who is Sarawak state chief.

PKR state assemblyperson Gabriel Adit, who won the Ngemah state seat in 2006 as an Independent, told Malaysiakini: “PKR is strong and there is growing grassroots support for the party.”

“We are looking for a winnable candidate,” he said, adding that Bawin is among the frontrunners.

Bawin is former president of the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) as well as former vice-chairperson of the Majlis Adat Istiadat, a state government agency.

Another name mentioned as a likely candidate is popular local Iban politician Jawah Gerang, the former Lubok Antu MP who first won the parliamentary seat on a PBDS ticket.

He later became partyless after PBDS was de-registered and subsequently switched to a rebel PRS faction led by state assistant minister Larry Sng, who is also the state assemblyperson for Pelagus.

Key issues in the by-election

Sources said the BN is likely to pick either former immigration officer Naga Alam or senior civil servant Nelson Mujah Giri, currently the district officer of Lubok Antu.

Mujah is a brother of senior federal minister Douglas Uggah, who is also PBB senior vice-president, and has close ties to the ruling party.

He may be asked to join PRS, which is a member of the BN coalition and the party with the rightful claim to the seat.

Political observers say the opposition has been active on the ground since the last state elections, and particularly after Unting fell into a coma nine months ago.

Among the key issues in Batang Ai is the increasing unhappiness among the Ibans over the lack of recognition of their native customary rights (NCR) to land.

Another is the Batang Ai Dam, which is located in the state constituency. Many of the relocated Ibans have claimed they were given a raw deal when their land was earmarked for the project.

Sarawak assembly speaker Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar is expected to notify the Election Commission of the vacancy in the Batang Ai seat soon.

According to Bernama, EC chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said today that a by-election in Batang Ai is “compulsory” because the term of the present assembly has not completed even three years.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/98956

Prediction by Sarawak Headhunter: If Nicholas Bawin is the PKR candidate, he will win by a 1,200 vote majority with between 75-80% voter turnout. PKR must ensure that they control logistics on the ground and on the rivers. Make sure that they have enough transport both by land and river to campaign and ferry voters - if possible deny the BN the use of all local transport, book them all NOW and ensure enough local stocks of fuel at strategic locations. Book all fuel pumping stations if necessary. If PKR has 1 or 2 helicopters it will help greatly to ensure a bigger win.

PKR please take note, the people of Sarawak (and that includes the rakyat of the Batang Ai constituency) DO NOT want to hear what Taib has done to them, they already know this. What they want to hear is what PKR can do for them.

So, get your act together guys and show the people what PKR can do for them. Sarawak Headhunter would also be very interested to know. DO IT (not duit) for the people and the nightmare of Taib's 28 year rampage will soon be a distant memory.

Following is a comment on Dayakbaru Weblog for all to ponder:

A. Ahmad on February 25th, 2009 11:47 am

I have few advices for you. I’m a PKR member from the peninsular who knows nothing from Sarawak. But at least we can share some important issues concerning the by-election.

1. Set up a blogging group that will cover the by-election just like we did for Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu. This will make the rest of the nation follow your blogs and will also deny the enemy to manipulate the situation. Furthermore, by having an effective blogging team solely for the by-election, you will influence many people who in turn will influence others. It is called opinion shaping.

2. The team must have cameras to take photos and must upload them daily. Concentrate on the following:

a) Poverty in Sarawak and in Lubok and Batang Ai.

b) Poor housing

c) Poor roads

d) Poor drainage

e) Poor development

f) Unemployment

g) Insecurity

h) Inequality

j) Wealth difference between the poor and the rich. Use photos to explain this like PR bloggers did for KT.

k) Transportation. Take lively photos of BN leaders’s cars, helicopters and etc and juxtapose the poor transportation system of Batang Ai and the bicycles of the poor voters.

l) Have a data on all the above issues so that when BN leaders tell the voters of this and that, you repudiate it immediately and also share with peninsular Malaysians who are following the by-election just like in P.Pauh and KT.

m) Broken promises

n) Subjugation, divide and rule and disunity

o) Land grabbing and cronyism

p) Dams and displacement

q) Failed agriculture

r) Failed leadership

s) Sarawak’s backwardness and selective development

t) Failure of the health system and the un-affordability of treatment by the poor in Sarawak

Important Note:

All the above issues must be covered and carried out daily with photos and relevant pics for wider viewings and also awakening. Then distribute them to the uneducated voters and upload them in your blogs on daily basis for others to read, comment and know as well.

If you aren’t ready to fight like we did in P.Pauh and KT, then you will lose. Spend sleepless nights to deliver and save your Sarawak and move on to a new era where you decide your destiny. Don’t wait for outside help but act NOW and do something drastic. Peninsular bloggers can’t come to Batang Ai due to distance and the need for the two Bukits in Perak and Kedah, plus we are preparing for a showdown in Perak where we want to oust the illegal Umno MB and bring back our legitimate MB Mohd Nizar, though hopefully he will come to campaign in Batang Ai. By April, Pakatan will rule Perak again. Make no mistake about it.

The following bloggers can make a good team, plus the people/bloggers you may choose to work with for collecting information, editing it and taking photos.

1. Dayakbaru.com
2. Dayaknation.com
3. Sarawakheadhunter.blogspot.com
4. Borneo-warrior.blogspot.com
5. Selangaump2008.blogspot.com
6. Tbsbidayuh.blogspot.com
7. Thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

I hope you do something about this. Thanks. We were mistreated and manipulated like you Sarawakians but we woke up and that’s why we are doing our best to liberate ourselves from Umno and its evil institutions. It didn’t come easily. So, pliz work hard like us and you will relish the victory. We have terrified the enemy so much so that Umno can’t face PKR and PAS for Malay vote yet yesterday they were bragging that they are the sole representatives of the Malay people. We rejected Umno and its cronies, it is your time Sarawakians and deliver. Nothing comes easy and dignity has its price. Thanks and may God bless you all.

Afraid Jabu's CV: Mediocrity As A Standard Of Excellence

Saturday, February 21

Why can’t we accept Jabu as our leader?

Dr Dusit Jaul....newly Elected President of SDGA 2009

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu’s speech at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) this morning (21 Feb 2009) was more a smack of self-glorification and superciliousness rather than anything else.

If you were not present at the meeting, you would have thought that he was talking to a group of longhouse chiefs, where he could bluff his way. But to address the “cream of the Dayak society”, his speech appeared more like his curriculum vitae (CV) applying for a job.

Let me quote some parts of speech without editing it:-

# My experience when I started 42 years ago working as Divisional Agriculture Officer, then Staff Officer in-charge of Regrouping and Resettlement during the emergency due to communist insurgency in RASCOM areas in Sibu, having to brave the communists threat in Kanowit, Song, Kapit, Mukah, Balingian, Meradong and Sarikei areas, then followed by 35 years of active political life with Barisan Nasional government tell me that there are plenty of good things which the government has done to protect the people and to benefit our people.

# When I introduced Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) in 1976 to develop Native Customary Right Land as a conscious program on the part of Barisan Nasional Government to fight poverty some quarters including the Opposition from our own community opposed SALCRA.

# About 25 years ago I started with a small group of our Iban education officers, thereby gaining more support from our community and supported by YAB Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud, the chief minister of Sarawak and the Federal government especially with the help of YB Datuk Douglas Uggah who works in Kuala Lumpur after several years I eventually managed to get our Iban Language recognized by the Federal government as Pupils Own language to be taught as Second Language in schools in Sarawak.

# When unity and cooperation amongst the Dayaks were ruined as a result of native politicking in 1987 historically known as Ming Court political fiasco, working together with few Dayak leaders in Barisan Nasional I took a bold step to organise the Dayaks through the Gawai Dayak as an institution of Segulai Sejalai which is still actively being adhered by the Dayak community.

# I also initiated the Dayak Technical Committee which then systematically developed to the formation of Dayak Cultural Foundation in 1972 where I was appointed as the Founding chairman until now.

# Since 30 years ago I introduced the seeding of Rivers and Lakes with millions of fish fries to repopulate and replenish the depleting fish stock. This programme of fish fries release gained momentum throughout Sarawak and benefited our rural population as increased source of protein to fight poverty/malnutrition and source of income to the rural people.

# I was responsible for the breakthrough in ikan terubok research and development as a result of my visit to commonwealth scientific and industrial research organisation in Australia.

# Another scientific research success was the Ikan empurau and ikan semah which I started through our inland fishery research and development station at Nanga Adang Ulu Limbang.

# I also helped to design ponds in Tarat to accommodate broodstock of Ikan empurau and ikan semah collected from Katibas, Kapit, Baram, etc.

While Jabu tried to project what he had done to the Dayak community, he had, however, failed to mention that he is the chairman of the recruitment and promotion bureau of the state civil service which determines the promotion of Dayak civil servants as well as approving of the appointment of community leaders such as Temenggong, Pemanca, Penghulu and Tuai Rumahs by virtue of the fact that he is the Minister of Rural Development.

Can we know how many Dayaks have been promoted to hold senior posts in the state civil service? Or how many have been recruited into the State civil service?

Meanwhile during the election of office-bearers, Jabu’s “manok sabong”, Dr. Joseph Jawa Kendawang, the incumbent president was trounced by his challenger, Dr. Dusit Jaul with a majority of 61 votes. Jawa polled 29 votes as compared to 90 votes by Jaul out of a total of 119 delegates.

Jabu’s backing for Jawa and his speech at the meeting was believed to have caused the defeat of Jawa. Despite his efforts to project himself as a Dayak leader, his leadership is not accepted. So one may ask: What’s wrong with Jabu that even the Dayak intellectuals do not like him? - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Posted by Jetty at 10:38 PM

Sarawak Headhunter's comment: Now we know one of the main reasons why Sarawak is still 25 to 30 years behind Malaya in terms of development. It is indeed amazing how for the BN, mediocrity can be passed off on the rakyat as a standard of excellence. If only the rakyat knew what they were missing all these years. Time for change! It's now or never!

Is The Head Of MACC Free Of Corruption?

Time for BN Stooge Ahmad Said Hamdan to RESIGN!

See: "Woiii.........Anak Siapa Ni!!" at IkutSukaAku,
"Anak Pengerusi SPRM Ditangkap" at Kelab Greenboc and
"Child Porn Scandal: Has MACC's Ahmad Said's impartiality been compromised to protect his son? at Jelas.Info.

Naroden Tries More Bullshit On Native Customary Rights Land

Giving titles to all NCL owners not possible: Naroden
By Jacob Achoi, The Borneo Post, 17th February, 2009

Comments by Sarawak Headhunter in red.

BAU: Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Mohd Naroden Majais said yesterday it was not possible for the government to give titles to all native customary land (NCL) owners in the state.

He pointed out that giving titles to all NCL owners would be a massive exercise that would result in the land (NCL) not developed to benefit the landowners.

Naroden is obviously trying to justify the unjustifiable. Does he seriously expect people to believe him? What is the purpose of the issuance of Provisional Leases (PLs) then, especially for land which has not yet been surveyed, if not for "development"?

Why is it possible for the authorities to issue PLs in favour of large companies (with the connivance of LCDA) and not native communities? These large companies then use these PLs to bully the native landowners and bulldoze the so-called "development" of the NCL even without the consent of the native landowners and against their wishes, to the extent of using the police and gangsters even against the poor natives.

However, he stressed that it would not mean that NCL owners would lose their rights over their land, adding that the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) had been given the task to keep a record of the land and their respective owners.

That is exactly what happens, especially when LCDA does not keep proper records or depends on their joint-venture partners to keep such records. Why give the natives 30% when they can have it all? Why give the natives anything at all when the government does not even recognize their customary rights to the land?

“I can tell you that there are thousands of hectares of native customary rights (NCR) land, and to survey all of them and give titles will take years, and it will result in NCR land not developed.

Bullshit! They can all be surveyed and titles issued (or at the very least the native landowners' rights duly recognized) in the process of development. How will it result in NCR land not being developed as Naroden arrogantly asserts?

“So LCDA has been entrusted as the management agency to gather all information pertaining to NCR land like delineation and boundary, but of course it has to be verified by the ketua kampung and the Land and Survey Department for the land to be developed,” he told reporters.

Which native landowner trusts LCDA or the Land and Survey Department, when both of these report to Taib Mahmud, the greatest land plunderer of Sarawak? Who trusts anything that Naroden says, for that matter, when he also reports to Taib Mahmud and is himself a major perpetrator and beneficiary of such land plunder?

In this way, NCR land would be better recognised even without the titles, Naroden explained.

What Naroden meant of course is that it would be easier to kick the natives off their own customary rights lands since they do not have titles and have no means to prove their claims, since the law disallows them from even making a map to delineate and show the boundaries of their respective claims. No licensed surveyor would also want to assist them and run foul of Taib.

He had earlier handed over compensation to 104 NCL owners at Kampung Sibuluh, here, whose land were affected due to three projects in Bau district.

The projects are Bau resettlement scheme, Kampung Opar Road and Bau Federal Complex.

Naroden, who is also Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource Management, stressed that the concept was misconceived and manipulated by the opposition, thus resulting in public perception that the government was taking away the people’s land.

How is it possible for the opposition to "misconceive" and "manipulate" the "concept" unless it (the government's taking away of people's land) is really happening? Why are there literally hundreds of cases pending before the courts of Taib's government taking away people's lands? Are all of these cases misconceived and manipulated by the opposition as well?

Are the native peoples only dreaming (or having nightmares) that their NCR lands are being systematically taken over by Taib's government and given to some large company or another, that their longhouses have been demolished and they being left left homeless, their gardens and fruit trees bulldozed, attacked by police and gangsters alike, all without compensation?

He pointed out that NCL owners would benefit tremendously through joint-ventures to develop their land for commercial purposes like oil palm plantation, without losing the right over their land.

Only if the joint-venture "partners" really work together with the NCL owners and are prepared to be transparent in all their dealings with the landowners and with regard to the development and if their customary rights were recognized in the first place.

According to him, normally the landowners and the developer will have an agreement for a certain period of time for the land to be developed.

For example, for an oil palm plantation it would normally take 26 years (full cycle of a plantation) and upon the expiry of the contract, the landowner can either choose to stop or continue with the agreement.

This is not true at all. The landowners have no choice, and the decisions are all made for them by the government, particularly LCDA, without even consulting or informing them.

Naroden added that the government encouraged landowners to develop their NCL through joint-ventures, adding that it would be very expensive to do that on their own.

Again this is not true at all. All development of NCL under joint-ventures must be done through LCDA, which supposedly acts as "trustee" for the landowners. The landowners hardly know what is going on at any time and they are never consulted or informed by LCDA or the joint venture "partners" of the terms and conditions of the joint venture and its financial status or accounts at any time.

Hard to believe, but this is what happens in reality - the NCL landowners never know how much dividends they are or should be entitled to, and LCDA allows the joint-venture "partners" to get away with paying peanuts to the NCL landowners, whether by way of "compensation" or "dividend", even that often long delayed.

The NCL landowners also do not have the option of seeking out and making deals with joint venture partners of their own choosing and without the dubious "pagar makan padi" involvement of LCDA.

According to him, it would cost about RM4,000 to develop an acre of land for oil palm, adding that the cost would be more if the land was located very far away.

Through joint-ventures, the landowners would have 30 per cent equity, he said, adding that in most instances, the landowners were given advanced payment.

“The development of NCL through joint-ventures is done for a certain period of time, and to say that the government is taking away the people’s land is incorrect,” Naroden pointed out.

On Friday, Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie said survey and delineation of NCL would definitely provide certainty of ownership to the natives.

He pointed out that the most important thing for the natives today was for their land to be converted into business asset.

Yes, for themselves, not for someone else to the utter detriment of the NCL landowners!

New Twist To Frog Hopping

Even rats are getting into the act.

The Lust Emperor Frog - Najib Tun Katak On Rosmah's Finger

The Frog Empress - Rosmah Katak

Taib Out For One Last Shot

Taib out for one last shot
Al Tugauw | Feb 11, 09 3:51pm
Letters at Malaysiakini

I refer to the Malaysiakini report Give S'wak advance payment for 10th Plan: Taib.

Can anyone really believe that?

In reality, he wants to use this money to cover up the contagion effects of all the financial misdeeds of his government, such as the billions lost in 1st Silicon, Borneo Pulp, Assar, etc. as well as to siphon off through CMS, Naim Cendera and other crony companies, knowing very well that this is his last term in office.

Under the current economic situation, these can no longer be covered up using existing resources or funding. The full extent of the damage caused to Sarawak by 28 years of Taib's financial mismanagement, corruption and cover-up now threatens to blow up in his face.

The question is, who will really benefit from the bringing forward of these infrastructure works under the 10th Malaysia Plan, Sarawak - its people or Taib, his family and cronies?

The fact that he presides over one of the poorest states in Malaysia despite its timber, oil and gas wealth alone says it all. Where has all that wealth gone?

I have a feeling that this is just another of Taib's evil schemes to rob the state of more of its wealth in a final orgy of outright looting. Does he really care about the effects of the economic slowdown on Sarawak, since he may not even be around for much longer?

The worst case scenario will become even worse once the true extent of the damage done by Taib, his family and cronies is revealed.

Public sector investment will, of course, will benefit none other than himself, his family and cronies. Or being his last term in office, perhaps he may even leave his cronies to drown? That should be a sobering thought for them.

He is quoted as saying ‘even in this (export) sector, the pain would be temporary as the state government had laid down programmes offering investment opportunities capable of generating sound returns later’.

What programmes? What about all those programmes which have been generating losses for so long? Will it be a case of more good money being thrown after bad? When is later?

He is also quoted as putting forward Score (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy), as the kind of approach that will ensure there is a foundation for sustainable development for the next few years.

Again the question is who will score from Score?

If as Taib claims, investments in Score ''were not only sound but of a long-term nature and not requiring the generation of any revenue until 2013'', in reality then, there is no prospect of immediate revenue generation from Score (if there were initial investments at all in the first place), let alone any net income for a very long time. Taib, his family and cronies would certainly have cashed out much earlier.

Furthermore, if in the initial stage, the emphasis in Score is on construction and laying out the necessary infrastructure for the heavy industries that have been planned. Surely this means that the people's money will have to be spent first without any real prospect of returns? Guess who will make money from this construction and infrastructure?

The full extent of what Sarawak has suffered will not be known until Taib dies or leaves or is removed from office.

For Taib to describe the situation in the state as not so bad when compared with countries like the US, UK, Europe and Japan is rather disingenuous.

Of course, it doesn't appear to be so bad since he has managed to keep the real damage hidden all these years, while the rural people of Sarawak have been waiting and suffering for so long thinking that Taib and the BN government were really doing all they can to alleviate their poverty.

Basically, the BN government and Taib are still just playing the denial game and hoping to bluff their way out of the impending disaster. Let us all be aware of this. They will not be so lucky this time.

The vultures have come home to roost and it will take more than advance payment of funds from the 10th Malaysia Plan (even if, hard to believe, that is not a ploy to have one last go) to mitigate their deeds and the consequences thereof.

Another Sick Joke By Pak Blah

2009/02/11

From the New Shit Times (same Old Shit recycled).

We'll distribute economic wealth fairly, vows PM

PUTRAJAYA: The government yesterday reaffirmed its pledge to equitably distribute wealth and opportunities for all races in the country.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said efforts to narrow down, if not eliminate, economic gaps between the races would continue so that no one would feel sidelined or marginalised.

"Opportunities for the rakyat from all ethnic groups in both the public and private sectors must be expanded for the good of all.

"We want the opportunities contained in the various programmes for the rakyat, both in urban and rural areas, to be distributed fairly. We, as civil servants, must play our respective roles and do even more to ensure equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities for everyone."

Can The Crocodile Transform Into A Hornbill?

Tuesday, February 10

From The Broken Shield

Comments by Sarawak Headhunter in [red].

Najib to meet Dayak Leaders

Issues affecting the Dayak Community, including equity participation, development and business opportunities are likely to be discussed when Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak meets leaders of Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) this Friday, 13 February 2009 in Kuching. He will also meet Bidayuh leaders.

Najib who will become Prime Minister of Malaysia next month must have heard the grumblings and the grouses of the Dayaks that nothing is for them under the Ninth Malaysian Plan (9MP)despite the pleading and the proposals submitted by the DCCI.

One Dayak Member of Parliament was so angry when he read that there was no proposal for a road construction included in the Plan for his Division that he threw away the book containing all the proposals to the floor. The MP and his predecessors had been fighting for the road construction for the past 45 years. His anger is therefore understandable.

Since he took over as Finance Minister, Najib has introduced RM7 billion for development purposes in order to cushion the Malaysian economy from deepening global credit crisis. He is considering the second stimulus package of about RM10 billion in order to help support domestic demand growth and eventually cushion the impact.

Some of this money will be channeled to Sarawak. But the bulk of this money is expected to be used to develop coastal areas under the Sarawak Corridor Renewal Energy (SCORE) and Betong. Such infusion of massive amount of money into the State will not benefit the Dayaks and this is where the DCCI must tell Najib.

Tan Sri Leo Moggie, DCCI chairman, who is expected to lead the delegation which includes DCCI advisers Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah and Datuk Sri Celestine Ujang should have heart to heart talks with Najib and they must speak up their minds and tell the truth of Dayak problems including NCR land issues.

It will be better if Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister and Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Deputy Chief Minister and senior Dayak minister are to be present in the meeting so that they will know how the Dayaks feel about Taib’s “politics of development”.

On SCORE, Moggie must also tell Najib how Dayaks can fit into the proposed mega projects to be implemented in the heartland of the Dayak people. According to memorandums of understanding, SCORE projects are given to companies connected to Taib’s cronies and family members. It is our hope that Dayaks should play bigger roles than mere coolies.

On 11 February 2008, 12 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and one agreement were signed at Bintulu Promenade, Sarawak involving 25 companies with a gross value of RM107.1 billion. The following are the companies:

· Agreement signed between Acacacia Cellulose International Sdn Bhd (Acacell) and Sarawak Planted Forest Sdn Bhd (SPF) for SPF to deliver approximately 4 million metric tones per annum of pulpwood to Acacell worth RM0.3328 billion.

· MOU1 signed between Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) and Tenaga National Berhad (TNB) to establish the commitment, understanding between TNB and SEB and provide the structure and basis for collaboration. RM50 billion.

· MOU2 signed between SEB and Sime Darby Bhd to undertake the implementation of the 2400MW Bakun Hydroelectric Power Plant and the construction of the transmission lines including the dual submarine transmission cables to link the project to Peninsular Malaysia. RM22 billion.

· MOU3 signed between SEB and consortium: RHB Islamic Bank, UnicornInt. Islamic Bank M’sia Bhd and Kuwait Finance House M’sia Bhd to further develop the generation and transmission of energy in Sarawak. RM20 billion.

· MOU4 signed between SEB and Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS)/Rio Tinto Aluminium Ltd (RTA) for SEB to supply power (900MW to 1200MW) to the proposed Aluminium smelter plant in Similajau. RM5.25 billion.

· MOU5 signed between Similajau Industries Sdn Bhd and GIIG Holdings Sdn Bhd & Pan Kingdom Investment Co. to develop a fully integrated Steel Cluster including palletizing plant, direct reduction plant, melt shop, slab/bloom/billet casters and rolling mill. RM4.8 billion.

· MOU6 signed between SEB and Press Metal Berhad (PMB) for SEB to supply additional 510 MW to PMB proposed Aluminium Smelting Plant in Mukah by July 2010. RM2.5 billion.

· MOU7 signed between Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and Zincox Resources PLC, England to establish understanding between Zincox and BDA to set up Zinc Electro-Refinery Plant in Bintulu. RM1.12 billion.

· MOU8 signed between Carbon Capital Corporation Sdn Bhd and Japan Carbon Mercantile Co. Ltd. to invest and develop Biodiesel Plant, Feedstock Plantation & Associated Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. RM0.96 billion.

· MOU9 signed between Konsortium Galdasar Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and Yuh Yow Fishery Co. Ltd (Kaohsiung Tawan R.O.C) to set up Integrated Aquaculture project (800ha) at Tanjong Manis, setting up of hatchery, production centre, R&D centre, processing of aquaculture produce & marketing. RM0.1 billion.

· MOU10 signed between Konsortium Galdasar Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and She Chui Oceanic Enterprise Co. Ltd (Kaohsiung Taiwan R.O.C) for shipbuilding project at Tanjung Manis, manufacturing of tuna & deep sea fishing vessels, repair & maintenance of fishing vessels. RM0.04 billion.

· MOU11 signed between Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMS) & Rio Tinto Aluminium Limited (RTA) and ICATS/PPKS for ICATS/PPKS to provide training for Sarawak Aluminium Company (SALCO) technical staff. Amount not specified.

· MOU12 signed between Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMS) & Rio Tinto Aluminium Limited (RTA) and Aluminium Pechiney for Aluminium Pechiney to supply technology to Sarawak Aluminium Company (SALCO). Amount not specified.

Can Dayak companies score in SCORE? – The Broken Shield

The Greedy & Evil Taib Mahmud Now Eyes Advance Payment From 10th Malaysia Plan

Give S’wak advance payment for 10th Plan: Taib

By Joe Fernandez, Malaysiakini

Comments by Sarawak Headhunter in [red].

Sarawak strongman Abdul Taib Mahmud, already three decades in office, wants the 10th Malaysia Plan funding to be brought forward and injected into the current 9th Malaysia Plan.

This, in the opinion of the chief minister, will help cushion Sarawak from the contagion effects of the financial tsunami and economic crisis currently sweeping the West and Japan.

[In reality, he wants to use this money to cover up the effects of all the financial misdeeds of his government, such as the billions lost in 1st Silicon, Borneo Pulp, ASSAR, etc. as well as to siphon off through CMS, Naim Cendera and other crony companies, knowing very well that this is his last term in office.

Under the current economic situation, these can no longer be covered up using existing resources or funding. The full extent of the damage caused to Sarawak by 28 years of Taib's financial mismanagement, corruption and cover-up now threatens to blow up in his face.]

“Some of the programmes in the 10th Plan can be expedited. Already, Sarawak has a few billion ringgit waiting in the 9th Plan which should allow bringing forward some of the infrastructure works contained in the 10th Plan into the 9th Plan,” said Taib.

[The question is who will really benefit from the bringing forward of these infrastructure works, Sarawak and its people or Taib, his family and cronies?]

The veteran politician presides over one of the poorest states in Malaysia despite its timber, oil and gas wealth.

[This alone says it all. Where has all that wealth gone?]

“I have a feeling that we can counter the effects of recession by having a good plan. That is my hope of how we can make the effects of the economic slowdown to be not as bad for Sarawak,” he said.

[Sarawak Headhunter has a feeling that this is just another of Taib's evil schemes to rob the state of more of its wealth in a final orgy of outright looting. Does he really care about the effects of the economic slowdown on Sarawak, since he may not even be around for much longer?]

The chief minister was voicing out his thoughts when opening the briefing and panel discussion at a forum: “Towards sustained economic growth to counter global economic slowdown”. The event was jointly organised in Kuching yesterday by the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department and the Sarawak state government.

Public sector investment

The thrust of Taib’s remarks was that the global economic recession may defy predictions to last for as long as three years and not the widely anticipated 18 months to two years. He admitted that he was painting a worst case scenario.

[The worst case scenario will become even worse once the true extent of the damage done by Taib, his family and cronies is revealed.]

He pointed out that “there’s nothing much we can do (to counter economic recession) except through public sector investment”.

[This of course will benefit none other than himself, his family and cronies. Or being his last term in office, perhaps he may even leave his cronies to drown?]

He conceded that it was inevitable that some sectors like the export sector would bear the brunt of the current economic slowdown “but even in this sector the pain would be temporary as the state government had laid down programmes offering investment opportunities capable of generating sound returns later”.

[What programmes? What about all those programmes which have been generating losses for so long? Will it be a case of more good money being thrown after bad?]

He held up the Sarawak economic corridor, SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy), as the kind of approach that will ensure there is a foundation for sustainable development for the next few years.

[Again the question is who will score from SCORE?]

Investments in SCORE were not only sound but of a long-term nature and not requiring the generation of any revenue until 2013, claimed Taib.

[So in reality, there is no prospect of immediate revenue generation from SCORE (if there are initial investments at all in the first place), let alone any net income for a very long time. Taib, his family and cronies would have cashed out much earlier.]

In the initial stage, the emphasis in SCORE is on construction and laying out the necessary infrastructure for the heavy industries that have been planned.

[So, in spite of the previous comments, the people's money will have to be spent first without any real prospect of returns? Guess who will make money from this construction and infrastructure?]

Decline in tourist arrivals

For SMIs (small and medium-scale industries), he suggested that “what was needed was to calculate what kind of investments they could make, alternative or new, that would not depend so much on the market at least for the next two years”.

“Malaysians banks are still supporting the SMIs and this brings hope to the people,” said Taib.

Overall, Taib noted that Sarawak had suffered “a bit” mainly in the electronic industry, the retail trade, a decline in tourist arrivals and plunging commodity prices.

[The full extent of what Sarawak has suffered will not be known until Taib dies or leaves or is removed from office.]

Still, he described the situation in the state as not so bad when compared with countries like the US, UK, Europe and Japan.

[Of course it doesn't appear to be so bad since he has managed to keep the real damage hidden all these years, while the rural people of Sarawak have been waiting and suffering for so long thinking that Taib and the BN government were really doing all they could to alleviate their poverty.]

He said this is due to Malaysia’s high savings rate and the reserves built up over the years and “this should be taken into consideration to give more hope to the people rather than painting a picture of gloom and doom”.

“The private sector needs to be a bit more imaginative and adventurous, take a bit of calculated risk and try to see the economy within its proper perspective rather than be taken in by the news (pessimistic) on television,” urged the chief minister.

Ostensibly, the object of the half-day forum was “to create awareness among the target groups comprising the public and private sectors, industry players, academicians, NGOs, bankers and SMIs on the country’s current economic situation”.

[Basically, the BN government and Taib are still just playing the denial game and hoping to bluff their way out of the impending disaster. Let us all be aware of this. They will not be so lucky this time. The vultures have come home to roost and it will take more than advance payment of funds from the 10th Malaysia Plan (even if, hard to believe, that is not a ploy to have one last go) to mitigate their deeds and the consequences thereof.]

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/97735

BN's Abuse Of Police And Other Powers In Sarawak

Friday, February 6

From The Broken Shield

Neutrality of Police questioned

Are the police siding timber or oil palm companies in any dispute between the companies and the poor rural people?

This was the question that was posed during the first Dayak symposium held on 31 January 2009 in Sibu where some 200 Dayak professionals, intellectuals, pensioners, NGO leaders and community leaders were present.

In a paper presented to the symposium, Paul Raja, a leading NCR land lawyer, said that in the event of conflicts between the natives and timber companies, the natives could not do much because the companies had the entire government machinery to support them.

“The natives are only watching helplessly the timber companies plundering their timber wealth found in their native customary rights lands. They can’t do much.

“The police are always siding with the companies in the event of conflicts. The natives who lodge reports of abuse and trespass on their lands are either turned away from the police stations or no action at all is taken by the police,” Paul said.

On the other hand, when the companies made police reports, most of the time, false reports of purported criminal intimidation, the police sprung into action instantaneously and arrested anyone mentioned in the reports.

“This is a common tactic used by timber and oil palm companies to subdue any resistance from the natives. This has become so common that the natives are reluctant to lodge police reports against companies encroaching into their lands because they are well aware that lodging police reports do not make any difference at all. In short the people do not trust the police and the government authorities,” he said.

Paul also said that the Forest department and the Land and Survey Department were equally unhelpful to the natives who viewed the relevant government departments as “only serving the companies and the government but not the people”.

He went on to say that to compound the natives’ miseries, most of the time, the people who were being used as front men to subdue and subjugate the natives in collusion with the government departments were shadowy figures from the underworld.

The climax of this modus operandi was at Batu Niah resulting in a murder incident, he said, alleging that it was also normal for a government department to be used by a private company to enforce a civil claim in the event of disputes with the natives.

The Police, Land and Survey Department and the Forest Department were the usual enforcement agents used to enforce claims over NCR lands. The shooting of the villagers by the Police at Tinjar oil palm estate was an example of many such cases.

Paul suggested that “all forest and timber found on native customary rights lands shall belong to the land owners who shall be authorized to cut, sell and trade in the forest produce or timber in accordance to the regulations established by the Native Land Council.

In addition to that permit from the Forest Department may be required for the purpose of facilitating the transaction with no restriction. There shall only be minimal administrative fees.” - The Broken Shield

(Note: This is the last article on the Dayak Symposium)

Posted by Jetty at 12:33 PM

BN's Abuse Of Police And Other Powers In Perak

Friday, February 06, 2009

From Charles Hector Blogspot

Who is giving orders to the police, the State Secretary, the State public servants in Perak? The Sultan? The PM? The DPM?

Who is in charge?

Who is giving the police and the State Secretary orders? Who has the right to give them orders? Who is the Boss?

This is Perak - a State, part of the Federation known as Malaysia. There is something called sovereignty of the State...or this was just something of the past.

Is it the Prime Minister who is giving the orders? - if so, is this not wrong?

Is it the IGP who is giving the orders to the police? - if so, is this not wrong?

Is it HRH the Sultan giving orders to the State Secretary and the State Government officers? - if so, is this not wrong?

With regard the State Secretary, and State public servants, are they not to follow the orders of the Menteri Besar?

As far as all are concerned, there is still no new Menteri Besar and/or new Executive Council - at least not until there is an official appointment by the Sultan. [Of course, the validity of the appointment of another Menteri Besar when the existing Menteri Besar has yet to resign is also a question]

Over the past few hours, the police and the State Secretary have been insubordinate to the existing Menteri Besar and the State Exco...as seen in the following Malaysiakini report.

In that 45 minutes, Mohd Nizar's press conference was interrupted twice by the state secretary Abdul Rahman Hashim and the Ipoh police chief Azisman Alias.

Mohd Nizar also refused to hold a meeting with Abdul Rahman and left with his convoy to his official residence where he is expected to hold a press conference.

Below is the chain of events as it happened this morning.

11am: The police have closed the road in front of the Menteri Besar's official residence until 7pm to prevent illegal gathering.

10:45am: Perak CPO Zulkifli Abdullah said the police have secured the state secretariat upon a request by the state secretary.

10.42am: Mohd Nizar and his convoy drove out of the state secretariat, back to his official residence. He said that he had been allowed to use the official vehicle until the new MB Zambry Abdul Kadir was sworn this afternoon.

10.20am: MB and his group moved to Ngeh's office. They then continued their press conference and once again it was interrupted by Abdul Rahman. The state secretary then asked Mohd Nizar for a meeting, which the latter disagreed.

Reporters are led out of the state secretariat.

"I will go about as usual. I have to meet some consultants and investors later. However I will have to tell them that we have to reschedule our appointments," said Mohd Nizar.

10.15am: Mohd Nizar and his exco members held a press conference before it was interrupted by state secretary Abdul Rahman and the state police chief.

Abdul Rahman rudely told reporters to leave the room.

Senior exco member Ngeh Koo Ham was overheard telling the police chief to follow proper procedure. "We can handover properly," he said.

9.40am: Mohd Nizar, in a green baju Melayu, and convoy arrived at the state secretariat building. The gates were closed but after a brief standoff with the security, the MB and his exco members were allowed in.

Mohd Nizar went straight to his office and found it bare.

"It was just as empty and bare when I first took charge last March," he said.

9.30am: Pakatan state exco members gathered at Mohd Nizar's official residence.- Malaysiakini, 6/1/2009, Access denied to Mohd Nizar

Who is the one giving orders to the police in Perak? If it is the Federal government and the Prime Minister, then we need to say that this is not right.In a State, the police must listen to the government of the day - unless the Police is made independent of the executive, and accountable only to Parliament. For so long, it is under the Home Minister - is it not interference in matters of the State.

In a State, the police should be under the Menteri Besar & the State Exco, and if there is none - then the orders should be coming from the palace, HRH the Sultan of Perak. It cannot be getting orders from the PM, DPM and/or the Federal UMNO-led BN government.

State Police...is it time for us to have this in Malaysia?

Federal Police - yes, this will still exist and its jurisdiction would have to be defined.

We did not have the need of wondering about all this matters when the BN controlled the Federal Government, and also almost all the State governments - but things have changed, and I believe we will never have that anymore in Malaysia.

Najib: Leave It To The Sultan

"I have already kau tim with him".

They can't even stand the smell of their own shit.

See also what Datuk Seri Nizar told Bernard Khoo (Zorro Unmasked): ”When I was with the Sultan I quoted to him what he wrote in his 2004 book: Constitutional Monarchy, Rule of Law and Good Governance:"Under normal circumstances, it is taken for granted that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would not withhold his consent to a request for dissolution of parliament. His role is purely formal."

Joke making the rounds of the Perak coffeeshops (yes, coffeeshop politics is alive and well, thank you):

"Do you know why Najib had to come to the Istana twice on February 5 before the new MB was announced?"

"Why?"

"Najib came in at 9.50am, left at 10.35am, and came back again at 11.21am and left in a hush by 11.34am. Why? Forgot to bring the cheque book lah!"

See How Najib & BN Ignore & Subvert Democratic Conventions When It Suits Them!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

From The Middle Ground by Romerz

Wait a minute Najib!

What a tumultous day today was in Perak and I do not think its over yet! This is despite Najib declaring that BN has the numbers to form a new Perak state government. (TheStar Online report HERE).

Perak's system of government (and Malaysia's as well) is based on UK's Westminster system of a democratic parliamentary system of government. Amongst the key characteristics is that parliament (in this case state assembly) may be dissolved at any time upon the request of the 'SITTING' MB.

Alternatively, the opposition (UMNO/BN) may move a motion of no-confidence against the MB and his government in the state assembly and a vote is taken by all assembly persons. If the MB and the government side can't defeat this motion, then the MB must either resign or dissolve the assembly and request for a general election.

Raja Petra explains the Westminster system in greater detail HERE.

Despite all the MSM saying that the PR government of Perak has fallen, the fact is the PR state government under MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is STILL the sitting government sworned-in by the Royal House of Perak.

And when MB Nizar went to see HRH The Sultan of Perak to request for a dissolution of the assembly, he did so in his capacity as the MB of Perak and by convention of the Westminster system, the Head of State (in this case HRH The Sultan of Perak) should accede to the request even though HRH does have discretionary 'power' empowered by the state constitution.

My understanding of this whole fiasco is that before Najib can announce the formation of a new BN government, he must first remove the existing sitting PR government. As it stands both PR and BN now have 28 seats each with 3 independents claimed to be "BN friendly" by Najib.

Effectively, what we have here is a hung state assembly and unless and until a motion of no confidence is moved in the assembly, the status quo remains! And the status quo is PR is the state government and Nizar is the MB! Because it is a hung assembly, the MB has chosen to face the electorate again and HRH should grant him this request. It is the honorable and right thing to do.

In a sense HRH Sultan of Perak had been put in this unenviable position to safeguard the institution of democracy by UMNO/BN.

What Najib is trying to do now is to ignore democratic conventions of a Westminster system and to subvert the will of the people last recorded on 8 March 2008. If Najib succeeds in carrying this off then it is a sad day for Malaysia's democracy.

Then it is up to us ordinary Malaysians to fight for justice and the rule of law and have this day ingrained in our memory forever. NEVER again to UMNO/BN!

Message From Anwar Ibrahim: Save The Perak Pakatan Rakyat Government Rally Tonight (5 Feb)

Perhimpunan Selamatkan Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Perak Hari ini (5 Feb).

Perhimpunan 100 ribu rakyat akan diadakan hari ini (5 Feb) pada jam 7 malam di Kediaman Rasmi Menteri Besar Perak, bersama Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan semua Menteri Besar Negeri Pakatan Rakyat, bagi menyatakan sokongan terhadap kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Perak dan menuntut agar hak rakyat dikembalikan.

Berikut adalah mesej khas dari Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim buat semua penyokong Pakatan Rakyat:

"Pertahankan Kuasa Rakyat - Saya bersama Menteri Besar dan Pakatan Rakyat esok Khamis 7:30 malam di Ipoh. Saya yakin, Insyallah rakyat yang menentukan."

Semua penyokong Pakatan Rakyat dan aktivis diminta hadir untuk memberi sokongan.

BIRO PENERANGAN PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT
This message sent to altugauw@gmail.com by info@anwaribrahim.com.

Office of Anwar Ibrahim - Tropicana - Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Evil Goings-On In Perak

Muka-muka penyangak - the faces of evil crooks setting in motion their dastardly plan to thwart the will of the people of Perak.

Dayak Nation

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