Batu Sapi by Election

The Batu Sapi by-election will be held on November 4 following the death of Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah in a traffic accident recently.

The contesting parties are Ansari Abdullah of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datin Linda Tsen of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) representing the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and Datuk Yong Teck Lee of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

The results are difficult to predict. First of all the PBS candidate seem to be despised by many Muslim voters if news reports of what transpired during nomination day is true. Reports say crowds appeared demonstrating against Datin Linda's candidacy through PBS.

And when nominations were announced many newspapers showed Datin Linda Tsen being carried by members of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO)'s female youth wing.There were no PBS flags to be seen nor did PBS supporters turn up in huge numbers carrying flags and wearing party shirts. This is if photographs appearing in local newspapers and footage on television captured every detail correctly.

This is a sharp contrast to the PKR and SAPP candidates, both of who were carried around and celebrated by their respective party members draped in party colours and carrying their respective party flags.

But then again the prospects might not be too bright for both PKR and SAPP as both are in the opposition. And both parties contesting in the same battle would probably split the opposition votes and give a win to PBS. Furthermore both Ansari of PKR and Datuk Yong of SAPP are not locals of Batu Sapi.

Then there are also those who are superstitious who say that SAPP might win. This is because a jetty built in a strong BN area collapsed while the PKR candidate was making his rounds and caused him to fall in the sea. They say that this means PBS contesting under the BN symbol would fall because a jetty in an area it it is strong has collapsed. And these superstitious lot also say that PKR would fall as their candidate had taken an early fall.

There is also the question of the possibility of illegal citizens having big role in giving PBS and BN a win. AS we all know, Batu Sapi has become a Muslim-majority constituency over the years thanks to the influx of illegal immigrants who have since obtained citizenship through the back door.

Therefore the Batu Sapi fight is an equal battle for all three parties. May the best man (or woman) win.

Mee Goreng Basah

It might never occur to us that food in Malaya with the same name as that in Sabah could be very different. However what is interesting is that though some of the food in Malaya and Sabah might share the same name, they may actually be different.

For example, a reader told the North Borneo Herald that he had visited Lahad Datu a few years ago and ordered his favourite Mee Goreng Basah. Now, in Malaya Mee Goreng Basah means stir-fried noodles with extra soy sauce, giving the noodles a wet look. However when this reader had the Mee Goreng Basah sent to his table, he was surprised to see pale looking noodles soaked in thick gravy.

This serves as a lesson to us all, that the next time we are in Malaya, Sarawak or anywhere else and order our favourite food, make sure we ask what it is. Anyway the North Borneo Herald believes such diversity adds more colour to the already colourful cuisine of Malaysia.

As for the reader who sent his story to the North Borneo Herald, he said that the Sabah version of Mee Goreng basah was very tasty indeed.

Send your stories to: northborneoherald@gmail.com

Malaysia Wins Gold Medal Through Sabah

Sabahan weighlifter Arrico Jumitih from Manggatal won the gold medal in the 62kg category of the weightlifting competition at 19th Commonwealth Games currently being held in India.

The best thing about his winning is that Arrico was wearing a shirt with the Sabah flag! This should not be an issue as everyone knows that Sabah is part of Malaysia. When English athletes wear their England shirts, it does not make them less British. So what is the fuss. Kudos to Arrico and kudos to Sabah!

Mathurin Daim Dies

Mathurin Daim, former District Officer of Sipitang, former member of the United National Kadazan Organization (UNKO), former secretary to Chief Minister Peter Lo and a former USNO man has today left us all to return to his Creator.

The North Borneo Herald offers its deepest condolences to all his family members. It is hoped that his vision to see the creation of the Borneo National Party (BNP) will one day be realized.

His remains will be buried at the Limbahau Catholic Cemetery in Papar on Friday at 1pm.

Happy Independence Day!

The North Borneo Herald wishes all its readers a Happy Independence Day. It was on this date in 1963 that Sabah gained its independence from the United Kingdom!

LDP Confronts UMNO!

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has publicly stated that it cannot work with the Sabah chapter of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). Its Deputy President Datuk Chin Shu Pin has publicly criticized Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman, who is also chief of Sabah UMNO.

Datuk Chin has said that LDP can no longer work with UMNO in Sabah. He has also called for the investigation into several businessmen who may have links with Datuk Musa in some sort of financial scandal which he (Datuk Chin) did not reveal.

LDP's open attack against the state UMNO came after a meeting of the parties within the ruling coalition in which Datuk Musa refused to entertain requests for the resumption of construction of a Chinese Buddhist statue initiated by former LDP president, Datuk Chong Kah Kiat.

No matter what the outcome of this spat between LDP and UMNO, it is hoped that a solution would be forthcoming. If not, LDP might as well leave the ruling coalition.

PBS Also Speaks Up!

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Secretary-General, Datuk Henrynus Amin has also spoken up on the issue of the need to change in the ruling coalition.

Datuk Henrynus says that the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) should lead the way for change. With both PBS and the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun-Murut Organization (UPKO) speaking up it is hoped that UMNO would react positively.

Earlier, even the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had spoken up against certain UMNO people over the sacking of LDP-appointed officers in Kudat. Even the president of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), Datuk Chua Soi Lek has defended his party's stand for calling on UMNO to rescind the ban on the use of the word "Allah" by Christians.

With so many fellow coalition partners speaking up, it is hoped that UMNO would truly listen and change instead of continuing to endear itself to extremist circles.

UPKO Speaks Up!

The Borneo Post and the Daily Express today reports that the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun-Murut Organization (UPKO) has spoken out against many unresolved issues affecting the country. This includes the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah, opposition to Christian use of the term "Allah", the proposed coal power plant in Sabah and the Sabah gas pipeline project to Bintulu in Sarawak.

UPKO president Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok said that the party was merely voicing out the people's unhappiness and is not giving an ultimatum. Putatan Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Marcus Mojigoh meanwhile slammed those in the United Malays National Organization(UMNO) who demanded to contest the Putatan seat currently being held by UPKO. Datuk Mojigoh had also rapped UMNO for stepping on fellow coalition partners like UPKO. Datuk Mojigoh's courage is lauded and it is hoped that he would not stop here.

It is heartening to note that UPKO is finally speaking up. Meanwhile Penampang division UMNO head, Datuk John Ambrose has termed UPKO's outspokenness as a veiled threat to UMNO. What he failed to understand is that whether or not this is a threat, the issues being raised are genuine and directly affects the people. Datuk Ambrose should know his position in UMNO.

UPKO should continue speaking up. There should be nothing to fear. Even if UPKO is kicked out of the ruling coalition, it can easily win at least 30 state seats including some currently held by UMNO.

Kudos to UPKO!

Borneo Dayak Forum

The North Borneo Herald hails the formation of the Borneo Dayak Forum (BDF). For the first time we have an organization that would represent all Dayaks. The inaugural president of the BDF, Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan should be commended for his effort in bringing all the Dayaks together.

This a milestone towards the realization of a Dayak nation and the unification of Borneo. No matter how far in the future this can be realized, the formation of BDF will be a cornerstone. And the North Borneo Herald shall willingly be used as a publicity agent for the BDF.

(Dayaks refer to all the indigenous peoples of Borneo including Iban, Bidayuh, Kadazandusun, Murut, Ngaju among others).

Are We Better Than the Penans?

It seems certain people are not sensitive enough to different cultures and lifestyles. A very senior Sarawakian politician has rapped certain NGOs for "wanting the Penans to continue to live like orangutans".

Such a statement is uncalled for. If any government wants to bring progress to nomadic peoples, it should not be by force. The government concerned too should not encroach or allow outsiders to encroach traditional hunting and farming grounds.

Progress will come to the Penans through education. For that to happen, there should be easy access to schools, learning materials and other related infrastructures.

We don't just bulldoze through a forest, tell the people they are backward and then build houses as we like and ask the people to live there and be thankful. What about their age old lifestyles? It should be up to them to change them or transform them to fit into a more modern world.

By indirectly implying that their lifestyle is like orangutans, we are not only insulting them but ourselves too. Are our lifestyles, practices and cultures better than the Penans?

If yes, why are there babies being dumped, people being detained for having different beliefs, atomic bombs being thrown over cities and so on.

Those who look down upon the Penans should take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror.