Sebanaku prays recovery and health for Wong Ho Leng

Tumour detected during Australia trip — Wong

Posted on January 13, 2013, Sunday

REGARDS AND WISHES: Tiong (left) sharing a light moment with Wong.

SIBU: Sibu MP Wong Ho Leng said yesterday he found he had brain tumour when he and his family were holidaying in Australia.

He told a press conference here that his wife Irene Chang initially thought he was ‘heaty’ from eating too much durians, ‘dabai’ and rambutan when the symptoms first reared at home.

“I discovered the sickness when I could not swallow and I slurred in my speech on the flight to join my family in Australia.”

Wong, who is also state DAP chairman and Bukit Assek assemblyman, said the family holiday eventually turned into a medical vacation at the Gold Coast.

Last Dec 20, he said the neurosurgeons found glioma on his brain stems, and it grew on his ninth and 10th nerves.

“The glioma slurred my speech and impaired my swallowing functions. It has to be treated.”

A glioma is a type of tumour that starts in the brain or spine. Its most common site is the brain, making up 30 per cent of all brain and central nervous system tumours and 80 per cent of all malignant brain tumours.

He said after getting a second opinion from a specialist, he decided to have radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore, beginning Jan 8. He said he would continue with this treatment for six weeks. Although the treatment had just begun, he said he could feel the healing process.

“I feel a lot better now. I am positive of full recovery. I know I am not walking alone. I am certain I can soar above the storms.”

Wong said he was not suffering any side-effects from the first treatment, except for rashes on his neck that developed from the radiotherapy.

“I was told I might be struck with an infection on the first five days, but I have the support from my family, friends, party members and supporters and the people.”

Wong recalled the worst day he had was on Dec 15 when he was attending the DAP assembly in Penang and had problems talking.

He attended the assembly only briefly as his family was waiting for him in Australia. They had left a day earlier.

“I was alone in the flight. I asked for a bottle of drink, but I could not swallow the water. I knew right there that something was wrong.”

Five days later, neurosurgeons broke the brain tumour news to him.

Wong said he chose to be treated in Singapore because all the specialists he spoke to had advised him so.

On his faith of a full recovery, he said, “I shall return to the state assembly next May, and, like in the last November sitting, I shall raise my voice to stress my points. I shall be back.”

During the press conference, PKR Sibu branch chairman Simon Tiong dropped by to give him moral support.

DAP rig election to pretend to Malaysians that it is multi-racial

Ridiculous’, Dr M says of DAP’s botched vote count

January 07, 2013

Dr Mahathir expressed incredulity over the counting error. — File pic

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 7 — The surprise amendment to the results of the recent DAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) election was today dismissed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a political ploy to fish for Malay votes in the coming 13th general election.

He said DAP was forced to rectify the official results of the CEC election announced last December 15 as all the eight Malay candidates lost in the contest.

Dr Mahathir claimed that DAP’s strategy of changing the results three weeks after the CEC election was just to hoodwink the Malays.

“It was not an error. The election was real but when the party found that no Malay was elected to the CEC, they blamed it on technical error (in the tabulation of votes).

“Don’t tell me they are that stupid to be unable to count the votes. If they can’t even do this, then they are incapable of governing the country.

“It (amending the results) is just a political ploy. It’s all so ridiculous. Actually, all the Malay candidates were not elected (to the CEC) at all,” added Dr Mahathir when asked to comment on the matter.

Earlier, he attended a dialogue with veteran members of the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs at the Perdana Leadership Foundation building, here.

The Chinese-dominated DAP has been heavily criticised by several quarters when all eight Malay candidates contesting the CEC seats lost at the party’s

16th National Congress last month.

However, last week, DAP announced that there was a technical error in the counting of votes and amended the results. Political secretary to the Penang chief minister, Zairil Khir Johari, who was earlier announced to have lost, was found to have made it to the CEC. — Bernama

DAP manipulates and rigs elections

Abdul Karim: DAP election result a sham

Posted on January 9, 2013, Wednesday

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: A PBB supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the amendment to DAP’s election result to accommodate Zairil Khir Johari was a shame and unacceptable.

“How could his votes have ballooned from 300 to 800 votes after a recount and thus, placing him in the 20th position for the elected committee member smell of hidden hand orchestrating the voting.

“How could DAP, which has always fought for transparency, democracy and good governance, allow its own election be rigged and manipulated just to accommodate Zairil?

“Is DAP trying to hoodwink the world that it is truly a multi-racial party?

“Chong Chieng Jen, who got the fourth highest votes in that election should be able to answer this,” said Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman.

According to media report, DAP found itself navigating in the sea of criticism after admitting to a party polls mistake and then reinstating a Malay candidate to the last spot in its central executive committee (CEC).

Karim added that the whole fiasco had led to the chairman for DAP election committee, whom he described as a man of principle, to tender his resignation.

“Actually, the whole DAP election  committee  should resign en bloc and call for re-election.”

Turning to Zairil, he said he should be graceful enough to decline that 20th slot and wait for an appointment into the central committee if his service was really needed.

“What a ‘thick face’ he has to be able to face DAP members, knowing full well that he is ‘unwanted’ and only ‘parked’ into the committee by unseen hands. Doesn’t he have any dignity and credibility left in him,” he said.

DAP blasphemes Election Commission but commits election 'irregularities' itself

TANJUNG MALIM: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassindescribed the DAP election error as "odd and extraordinary".

He remarked it was odd that all this while the Opposition had been accusing the Election Commission of not being transparent and fair, but had managed to make such an error themselves.

"I will leave it to the public to evaluate the party's integrity, transparency and capabilities.

"Even party members are questioning what happened. Lim Guan Eng must answer," he told a press conference after visiting Proton City here Saturday.

thestar

Only frustrated ex-civil servants join PKR - YB Karim Hamzah

Retired civil servants joining opposition hopeless lot’

Posted on January 6, 2013, Sunday

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has described retired civil servants who join the opposition as “hopeless lot”.

“These are frustrated former civil servants who are hopeless themselves when they were civil servants and are now trying their luck as opposition,” he said in a text message.

He was commenting on former Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) general manager Wilfred Landong’s announcement that he had joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Karim said such retired civil servants would “get nowhere”.

“They (those who choose to join the opposition) will get further frustrated, and they will not pose a threat at all to BN (Barisan Nasional),” he added.

Wilfred had said he chose to join PKR because he fully subscribed to the party’s mission and vision.

Wilfred Landong masuk PKR

Posted on January 5, 2013, Saturday

WILFRED

KUCHING: Wilfred Landong, 56, Menijer Besai Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) ke suba masuk Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) mantu ngerembaika agenda parti serata nengeri.

Berindik ari nya, iya enda ulih telai belalai agi tegal pengingin ati ngining parlimen Sri Aman ba pengawa bepilih besai (PRU) lalu ngelempaika juluk nya ba pemutus ketuai tinggi parti.

“Aku udah nerantangka pengingin ati deka bediri lalu aku pechaya sida nemu sapa bagi chalun ke ulih menang ngarika PKR.

“Aku merambu masuk PKR endang udah lama. Sarawak sebuah nengara tauka nengeri asali, endang patut aku milih parti asal menua tu. Tang kitai dalam Malaysia lalu kami ngelaban tegal nuntut hak, dekaka perintah ke adil enggau utai bukai.

“Nya alai, enti nuan dekaka utai manah agi dikereja, nuan aruh masuk ngelanggang ke besai agi. Nya kebuah aku milih PKR,” ku Landong madah ngagai the Borneo Post kemari.

Iya nandu, lebuh agi benung gawa; iya suah amat diansak masuk parti politik.

“Iya ke bendar, enti aku endang orang bepolitik, aku udah lama bisi parti belabuh ari 20 taun ke udah maya Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) diterima masuk Barisan Nasional (BN) suba,” ku iya.

Bekaul enggau agih penuduk ba gempung Pakatan Rakyat (PR) baka PKR, DAP enggau PAS, Landong madah nya semina penerang ke ditabur ngagai mensia mayuh aja tang ukai pemutus kepenudi.

“Tang ditu semina aku ulih madah, parlimen Sri Aman endang diungkupka ngagai PKR laban menua nya mayuh agi diuan bansa Iban,” tandu iya.

Landong madah,” Juluk enggau tuju parti ngasuh aku tekait amat masuk nyadi kaban”.

Iya ngaku PKR bedau bangat dikelala ba Sarawak enti dibanding enggau ba Semenanjung Malaysia tang iya andal parti uliuh ngerembai dalam timpuh ti semak tu.

“Ba Sarawak, PKR benung ngangkatka nama diri lalu tu sebengkah ari pekara ke ditapi parti. Ba aku, aku deka nyadi siku ari sida megai tanggungpengawa nya. Diatu mayuh agi ke  nyadi kaban parti bala bansa Dayak,” ku iya.

Landong mega beperagam PKR ulih merintah bepelasarka sukung ke kering sereta popular ba semenanjung.

“Aku suah ngulu licha ke diatur ba semenanjung, sereta beratika pemansang politik din, lalu aku ngasaika rayat ba semenanjung bebendar ngangkatka PKR ngambika ulih ngerampas Putrajaya.

“Kitai semina meragam tang ba pengujung ila, pengundi deka nentuka pekara nya.

“Tang nitihka peragam ati ku, aku pechaya PR ulih nyadi perintah. Tang taja pia, munyi ku jaku aku ari pun tadi, aku masuk PKR ukai ketegal nya.

Iya mega ngenggaika penerang ti madahka iya masuk PKR tegal iya deka dipadu nyadi ketuai dalam parti begulai enggau ketuai bukai.

Sekumbang bisi peneleba ke kala gawa nyadi Pengurus Besai SFC, iya madah  lantang ati mangku pengawa nya sepenglama semilan taun.

“Sesebengkah gerempung ukai enggi nuan, lalu orang ke mangku pengawa dalam nya tama enggau pansut. Lebuh nuan agi ba dalam (gerempung) nuan gawa sigi enggau naka alah,” ku iya.

Landong ngembuan master degree dalam Pemasaran ari United Kingdom lalu bisi peneleba 22 taun gawa enggau peribit sektor nujah serata menua asia Tenggara maya masuk SFC.

Landong diatu mangku pengawa nyadi Regional Director MRI Worldwide, ke ngeluan perau kompeni ke pengabis besai ba dunya ba bagi ngambi orang gawa.

Landong jadi enggau Teresa Mangun lalu bisi dua iku anak, beumur 23 enggau 28 taun.

Kanang tidak patut diberi Penghormatan Negara - Suara Pakatan Rakyat

Kanang Bukan Hero Sebenar -  Suara Pakatan Rakyat

BULAN ini sahaja kerajaan BN dikesan telah membelanjakan sejumlah besar wang rakyat untuk mengadakan upacara pengebumian negara bagi menghormati pemergian 2 orang ‘tokoh’ iaitu bekas Presiden Gerakan, Tan Sri Lim Keng Yeik dan terbaru, Temenggung Datuk Kanang a/k Langkau.

Berapa jumlah sebenarnya penulis kurang pasti tapi yang pasti, tentu besar, melihat kepada program-program yang diatur bagi meraikan  pengebumian negara ini.

Melihat kepada persiapan dan jumlah tenaga kerja yang terlibat, penulis rasa tidak kurang dari RM 1 juta dibelanjakan untuk satu majlis dan itu hanyalah anggaran.

Adakah ini permulaan yang baik untuk menyambut tahun baru 2013?  Tapi apa yang penting, Pakatan Rakyat merasakan semua ini adalah pembaziran dan bukti ketidakcekapan kerajaan BN dalam menguruskan wang rakyat.

Walaupun begitu, penulis secara peribadi tidak ada masalah dengan pengebumian negara yang dijalankan kerajaan untuk mendiang Lim Keng Yeik.  Sebagai bekas pemimpin kerajaan, sedikit sebanyak sudah tentu mendiang mempunyai jasa kepada rakyat sepanjang lebih 20 tahun menjadi Menteri Kabinet.

Perkara ini penting disebutkan kerana pemimpin politik berbeza dari anggota tentera yang memang dibayar untuk menghadapi ancaman sedemikian.  Orang politik ada pilihan untuk menceburi karier lain, tapi bila mereka memilih untuk membantu rakyat dengan menceburi bidang politik, itu sahaja sudah merupakan satu pengorbanan yang besar.

Pemimpin politik seperti Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim contohnya, sanggup berkorban termasuk dihumban dalam penjara bertahun-tahun lamanya untuk memperjuangkan hak-hak rakyat.

Inilah ciri-ciri hero yang sebenar dan layak mendapat penghormatan sedemikian!!

Yang penulis tidak faham, atas alasan apa pula kerajaan memutuskan untuk mengadakan pengebumian negara untuk mendiang Kanang? Adakah untuk popular?

Setahu penulis, Kanang telah dianugerahkan pingat kebesaran SP kerana ‘semangatnya’ yang kuat untuk membantu rakan sepasukan yang lain walaupun peluru pejuang komunis telah menembusi badannya dalam satu operasi pasukan Renjer pada 1980 (rujuk Wikipedia).

Sementara pingat kebesaran PGB, diperolehi mendiang kerana berjaya membunuh 5 orang pejuang komunis setahun selepas itu.

Setiap satu pingat kebesaran ini datang dengan elaun tertentu yang dibayar kerajaan kepada penerimanya.  Kalau tidak salah penulis, penerima SP menerima RM 2,000 sebulan dan PGB sebanyak RM 1,500 sebulan dan mendiang Kanang menerima kedua-duanya.

Penulis tak tahulah orang lain melihatnya bagaimana, tapi pada pendapat penulis, biasalah untuk askar menembak dan ditembak.  Sebab itu mereka dibekalkan senapang dan latihan yang secukupnya bagi menghadapi situasi seumpama itu.

Tidak lupa, dibayar gaji juga semasa berkhidmat dan pencen selepas bersara.

Tapi itu sahaja bukan alasan kukuh untuk menjadikan mereka sebagai wira negara sehingga bila mati, istiadat pengebumian negara perlu diberikan bagi menghormati kematian mereka.  Apa tak cukupkah elaun dan pelbagai kemudahan lain sebagai penerima pingat SP dan P GB yang diberikan kerajaan selama ini sehingga bila mati pun, istiadat pengebumian negara nak diadakan?

Penulis pernah dimaklumkan bahawa ada seorang anggota Komando bernama Mansur, berasal dari Johor yang berjaya membunuh 6 orang pejuang komunis dalam satu operasi yang mengambil masa kurang dari 2 minit!!  Kalau nak diikutkan dari segi jumlah, orang macam inilah yang lebih layak diberikan penghormatan seumpama itu.

Kanang baru 5 orang sahaja dan tak tahu berapa lama masa diambil.

Apa pun, penulis tidak mahu begitu menekankan aspek tersebut (jumlah pejuang komunis yang dibunuh) kerana artikel ini berkenaan pembaziran wang rakyat untuk mengadakan begitu banyak istiadat pengebumian negara.

Apatah lagi, rujukan penulis dalam laman web veteran ATM menunjukkan, ada 3 orang penerima SP dan 52 penerima PGB dari kalangan anggota tentera setakat ini.

Penulis kurang pasti berapa ramai dikalangan mereka ini yang masih hidup, tapi kalau semua ini nak diadakan istiadat pengebumian negara bila mati nanti, berapa banyak wang rakyat yang perlu dikeluarkan untuk membiayai semua majlis tersebut?

Setelah melihat semula keseluruhan senario ini, penulis rasa Kanang adalah hero yang terlalu didendangkan kerana jelas sekali mendiang telah begitu dihargai kerajaan sepanjang usia hidupnya.

Jangan salah, penulis menghormati dan menghargai jasa dan pengorbanan mendiang semasa berkhidmat tapi untuk mengadakan istiadat pengebumian negara bagi menghormati pemergiannya?

The passing of a National Hero - Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau

FAREWELL, BRAVE ONE: The nation mourns the death of a hero. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi, Tan Song Wei and Chimon Upon

KUCHING: The atmosphere was solemn at the civic centre where the nation yesterday bid farewell to Temenggong Datuk Kanang Langkau, the country’s most decorated war hero.

Paying their last respects to the last surviving recipient of the country’s highest gallantry medal, Sri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), were the Head of State Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi, ministers, assistant ministers, state dignitaries, army personnel, fellow Rangers and patriots.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang was among the first to arrive, leading some members of the state cabinet and state Barisan Nasional elected representatives.

Among those present at the wake which was open to the public from 10am to 5pm is Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism (MDTCC) Deputy Minister Datuk Rohani Karim.

The chief minister arrived at 11am followed by Salahuddin and wife at 11.20am.

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REST IN PEACE: Salahuddin and Norkiah pay their final respects to Kanang. Also seen is Jabu (right).

Also seen paying their last respects were state Police Commissioner Dato Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani and the armed forces 1 Division Infantry commander Maj-Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar who oversaw the whole event.

Kanang’s body was transferred to the civic centre for public viewing from the Bukavu Hall at Penrissen Army Camp at 8.30am. He was dressed in full military uniform, presented in an open casket surrounded by flowers and wreaths.

Meanwhile, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth chief Tan Kai in a press release said: “Despite being the nation’s most decorated war veteran as well as Temenggong of the Iban community in Sri Aman division, he was an unbelievably humble and friendly person who kept a low profile.

“No doubt he contributed immensely to Malaysia’s nation-building. I am truly saddened by his unexpected passing. Our nation has indeed lost a great person.”

He said he came to pay his last respects to him as a personal friend as they both lived in the same neighbourhood of Sungai Apong.

Kanang will be accorded a state funeral with full military honours. The funeral service will be held at St Thomas Cathedral at 1pm before proceeding for the 3pm burial ceremony at the Heroes’ Grave at Jalan Budaya.

EMPATHY: Taib greets Kanang’s family.

SAD: Many could not hold back their tears when paying their final respects.

HONOUR: Acryl leading senior police officers in a salute to honour Kanang’s contribution to uphold the safety and security of the nation.

TOUCHED: Family, friends and members of the public made their way to the civic centre to pay Kanang their last respects.

FAREWELL, MATE: Fellow war veterans give their last respects to the country’s most decorated war hero.

RESPECT: An army personnel putting a final touch to Kanang’s uniform before he is presented to the public.

PLENTY OF FLOWERS: Solemn yet beautiful ceremony.

Hundreds turn up for farewell to a hero

by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 6, 2013, Sunday

Belia mesti berwaspada dalam media sosial - YB Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi

Youths told to be discerning

by Peter Boon, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 24, 2012, Monday

SIBU: Online social media such as facebook, twitter and blogs, which are popular among the younger generations, can be a good platform for wooing the support of young voters to Barisan Nasional (BN) this coming general election.

State BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi opined yesterday the new media would come in handy as the youngsters were more inclined to access information through the cyberspace.

He, however, warned them to be vigilant against irresponsible groups out to promote their political agendas.

“For sure these (media) would be of great help for BN, furthermore the young ones are more inclined to such mode of dissemination of information.

“However, be mindful that they should not be easily misled by irresponsible groups for their political agendas. Hence, they must check their facts to discern the information before them, especially with PRU13 (13th general election) around the corner,” Dr Rundi, who is also Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications), said when contacted.

PBB supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, meanwhile, viewed the alternative media as another mode of reaching out to both old and young voters.

Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman, did not see it so much as a channel to win the hearts of the young voters but merely as a new mode of communication.

“Because of its popularity, especially with the urban voters, all political parties definitely would use it to the fullest to popularise themselves as well as to hit out at their opponents.

“And when cyber laws or the new media laws are still not too well regulated, we are bound to see lots of mud-slinging, incriminating and defamatory information through the new media…just like how ‘surat layang’ or flying poison letters used in the 70s and 80s,” he said.