Perkasa Allowed IN / PKR Kicked OUT | Malaysia Today - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Perkasa Allowed IN / PKR Kicked OUT | Malaysia Today
MMS education fair at Riverside Majestic Hotel – BorneoPost Online ...
'Ground Reports' From Seaside Hotels in KK ... - SarawakReport

Perkasa Allowed IN / PKR Kicked OUT | Malaysia Today

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:43 PM PDT

timthumb

We have the proof of Ibrahim Ali's own hand that he was indeed in Sarawak, because he personally signed for drinks and snacks at the Harbour View Hotel in Kuching, where he stayed for two nights in Room 307.

Sarawak Report

Sarawak Report can demonstrate that the statement by the Immigration Department that the leader of the Malay supremacist group Perkasa did not visit Sarawak last week is untrue.

Sarawak Report has received exclusive photos of those receipts

We can confirm that the visit to Kuching last week was arranged in the name Perkasa (which calls itself an NGO) by its Secretary General, Syed Hassan Syed Ali.

Syed Ali booked four rooms under the name of Perkasa at the Harbour View, which costs approximately RM150 a night, for the nights of the 20th and 21st of March.

We have copies of those registrations.

The group then spent several hours drinking and talking till midnight in the hotel restaurant area with members of the group PKMS – Persatuan Kebangsaan Melayu Sarawak (National Association of Sarawak Malays), who reportedly invited the right-wing extremist Perkasa group over to address their organisation.

Ibrahim Ali at Kuching's Harbour View Hotel dining with Malay supremacist colleagues from Perkasa and

Ibrahim Ali at Kuching's Harbour View Hotel dining with Malay supremacist colleagues from Perkasa and PKMS

The proof – EXCLUSIVE!

'Dato' Ibrahim Ali' of Room 307 signed the bill at the Harbour Hotel

Following outrage over the visit and reports that the Perkasa leader is preparing to launch a new chapter of his notorious, right-wing 'hate organsation' in Sarawak, the state Immigration Department yesterday issued a stoutdenial that he had visited the state.

This misinformation has apparently been backed up by police and special branch and was reported in the local press.

However, we can demonstrate that a carbon copy Ibrahim Ali look-alike was not only sitting in the Harbour View Hotel with Perkasa colleagues on Friday night, but he signed the bill in his own name, proudly using his title Dato' Ibrahim Ali and citing the number of his room 307 (left).

We also have a copy of his hotel booking which was made out in the name of Perkasa and its Secretary General Syed Hassan Syed Ali.

Posted: 26 Mar 2014 12:11 PM PDT

KUCHING: Market Management Services (MMS) Sdn Bhd will be holding the MMS Education Fair at Riverside Majestic Hotel from noon to 5pm this Sunday.

The comprehensive and exciting fair will involve 45 participants from a variety of local and overseas universities and colleges.

The education roadshow stretching from Sabah to Sarawak will last nine days.

It got off to a good start at the Executive Hotel in Lahad Datu last Tuesday and will be at Sandakan Sabah Hotel today (Thursday).

In Sabah, the next leg of the roadshow will be at Hotel Emas in Tawau this Friday and the final leg at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu this Saturday.

The fair will proceed to Bintulu's ParkCity Everly Hotel on March 31 (2pm-5.30pm), Sibu's Tanahmas Hotel on April 1 (2pm to 5.30pm), Miri's Imperial Hotel on April 2 (2.30pm to 6.30pm) and Labuan's Dorsett Grand Labuan on April 3 (2pm to 5.30pm).

A publicity release yesterday highlighted that parents and students especially school leavers can explore a wide range of study options in Malaysia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, UK and USA.

In addition, parents and students can have a one-on-one talk with the representatives from the participating higher learning institutions to discuss the wide range of programmes available.

There are many options available within Malaysia including Help University, Kolej Bandar Utama (KBU), KDU University College, Le Cordon Bleu Sunway Campus, Asia Pacific University of Technology, Inti University, Nilai University, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and The One Academy.

From Australia's tertiary sector, participants include the University of Melbourne, University of Tasmania, University of South Australia (Unisa), The University of Adelaide, The University of NSW (UNSW), Australian Catholic University (ACU), The University of Western Australia (UWA) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

Australian universities with campus overseas are Curtin University, Singapore and Miri Campus as well as Monash University, Sunway Campus.

Participants from Australian private tertiary colleges are Taylors College's Preparation College in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne and Auckland in New Zealand; Eynesbury in Adelaide; South Australian Institute of Technology (SAIBT); JMC Academy and Newcastle International College (NIC).

Specialist schools include The Kilmore International School Melbourne offering the IB programme while Invercargill, New Zealand is represented by Southern Institute of Technology (SIT).

From the UK, the pathway colleges participants are Kaplan International Colleges available in 10 locations; Navitas UK group of Colleges for pathways to nine universities; and Study Group with 14 International Study Centres.

A-Levels can be studied at three Astrum Education colleges namely Chelsea Independent College, Duff Miller and Lansdowne College and Bellerbys College with an option of foundation studies.

Other UK representatives include Northumbria University, Sheffield Hallam University, University College Birmingham, University of Huddersfield, University of Leeds, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and University of Portsmouth.

MMS has expanded to offer destinations in the North American countries of USA and Canada through Navitas Canada/US and International Study Centre US.

In a neighbouring country, there will be a few specialised and famous colleges from Singapore represented by At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy, SIM Global Education, Curtin Singapore and Kaplan Higher Education Academy.

MMS highlighted that JMC Academy, the first private college in Australia to be accredited in the fields of audio engineering and digital media, will be at the roadshow.

JMC Academy was established in 1982 to meet the global demand for qualified professionals in the Creative Industries.

Today, JMC Academy is Australia's leading private Creative Industries education provider.

It was named Private Higher Education Provider of the Year in the 2013 ACPET Awards for Excellence.

It is the only Australian member of the Berklee College of Music International Network.

The Academy offers Diplomas and Bachelor Degrees in Audio Engineering and Sound Design, Contemporary Music Performance, Film & Television Production, Entertainment Business Management, 3D Animation and Game Design.

All courses are fully accredited and recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

JMC Academy campuses are centrally located in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Each facility is strategically positioned near major arts and entertainment areas.

In 2013, JMC Academy invested over 30 million dollars in a new custom-built Sydney campus.

The three-storey facility spans just under 3,000 feet.

The new facility also houses a SSL Duality console and is currently one of only five in Australia and the only one to be used for educational purposes.

The Duality is the leading large format console for music production, integrating both analogue and digital capabilities within a single hardware surface.

JMC Academy programmes are designed with regular consultation from industry leaders and are benchmarked against other leading programmes from around the world.

JMC Academy's internationalisation programme endeavours to provide cultural exchange and cooperation through a growing network of international institutions.

This network includes the Berklee College of Music (USA), Fontys University (Netherlands), The One Academy (Malaysia), Koyo Conservatory (Japan), Institut Musik Indonesia and Monroe Community College (USA).

MMS opened a new branch office in Sandakan recently.

For enquiries, the public can contact MMS Kuching office at 082-246 795 / 012-808 9112 / 012-808 5112 or Sibu office at 084-324 178 / 016-857 7512 (Teo) or Smart Tuition Centre in Bintulu at 086-317 617 / 013-833 3230 (Annette Yip) or Angela Educational Services in Miri 085-428 066 / 019-854 6850 (Angela Kong) or Woo for Labuan at 087-424 822 / 016 833 8822.

'Ground Reports' From Seaside Hotels in KK ... - SarawakReport

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 07:23 PM PST

This post is also available in: Iban, Malay

By the sea side and several hours drive from the Baram region – Casuarina Hotel KK

Forest Department staff, who are supposed to monitor the activities of timber companies, regularly concoct false reports from seaside hotels, instead of conducting genuine ground checks, Sarawak Report has learnt.

Insiders have confessed to the practice, which they say is orchestrated by the major timber companies, who spend thousands of ringgit a week entertaining the Forest Department officials and paying them 'pocket money' to keep them from doing their job of guarding against illegal logging.

One former worker at a major timber company operating in the Baram region told us that the vast majority of the company's logging in the area is unauthorised and that in order to keep Forest Department staff from viewing the extent of their illegal operations the company would go to extreme lengths to keep them out of the area.

Can you give us a lift?

A key weakness in Forest Department practice, which the company is happy to exploit, is the willingness to allow its officials to rely on company transport to get to the areas they are supposed to be checking.

Before every inspection trip the Forest Department official rings the company to notify they would like transport and then a discussion takes place.

"They would ring to say they want to check a coup, but all along the road to get to the area you can see the unauthorised activity. So, we say we can take you to the area tomorrow, but bring your passports. Instead, we would take them to KK and go to one of the nice hotels, like the Casuarina in Tanjung Aru beach"

The group of officials from the Forestry's 'Preventative Department' would then spend the entire week enjoying casinos, drinking and other forms of entertainment at the resort, thanks to regular 'pocket money' supplied by the timber company.

A timber industry insider told us that the timber company's top managers were well aware of what was going on and that the petty cash department would allow them to take thousands of ringgit to cover each trip. The Chief Executive of the company was well aware too:

"We had to avoid the Forest Department seeing the extent of the unauthorised activity, because they would exact such big penalties, so, it was better to do the negotiations away from the area", the company employee explained.

According our sources all the major timber companies in Sarawak employ similar tactics to subvert reports by Forest Department ground staff. These have an official salary of RM3-4,000 a month, but can inflate their earnings up to RM20,000 through cash bribes.

"They can't bank this money, which they get in cash. We call it money under the pillow"

On certain occasions one timber industry worker admitted, his company would even fly a group of forest guards to Manila to keep them away from their proper duties. Asked if he felt guilty he responded :

"Yes, I didn't really enjoy taking them, some of the officials were single, but many had wives".

Log pond – no traceability to show whether the timber came from authorised or unauthorised areas.

On paper everything is proper, but 90% of it is lies

Ludicrously, our informant described how during the course of their week at the seaside the forest officials would retire to their rooms to do their "homework", in order to complete the paperwork required of their trip.

"They know exactly how to fill in the forms, so they make up the whole thing. We call it 'on the table homework' ie not on the ground, as it should be. The Forestry Department bosses know, everybody knows it. All the companies, but they zip their mouths. No company in Sarawak is doing good timber extraction. It is all illegal. On paper everything is proper, but if you come for real 90% of it is lies".

One fundamental flaw in the system is clearly the Forestry Department's reliance on exacting penalties to resolve unauthorised logging practices by Sarawak's major concession holders.

Severe erosion all over the Baram area caused by unsustainable practices and unauthorised logging – which represents 90% of the logging.

This practice is so open to abuse that it has become a standard method for bribing officials and represents a mere tax on the companies' illegal transgressions, rather than any form of deterrent.

According to our informants 90% of the logging in Baram is conducted outside of the authorised concession areas, which have already long since been exhausted by unsustainable practices.

Habitual offences include the logging of coups within concession areas where Permission To Enter permits have not yet been issued.

In such cases the timber company camp managers will merely provide misleading information about the source of the logs.

By the time the logs have reached the log pond their origin is impossible to trace, owing to the poor practices in monitoring by the state. Most of these logs are then sent down river and the majority are exported to Japan, where buyers and government departments are still willing to accept Sarawak's certification practices at face value.

Logged out – unsupervised logging is visible all along the roads in Baram region.

The only counter activity carried out by the Forest Department guards and monitors is the subsequent counting of stumps left in unauthorised areas, which have clearly been stripped by companies that have transgressed their concessions.

These incursions even include protected forest areas in Baram, such as native lands, national park areas and river buffer zone and valuable protected species, such as the Tapang tree are also being cut down and then mislabelled to disguise the illegal activity.

To penalise such violations the Forest Department will count the illegal stumps (or pretend to count them, in the case of the guards who are actually partying in KK) and then calculate a fine on the company on the basis of around RM200 for a normal tree and up to RM2,000 for a protected species like Tapang.

Can you do us a deal?

However, the penalty is always a matter for 'negotiation', insiders have explained to Sarawak Report. The timber company will always ask for a 'discount', which will involve the halving at least of the fine and large cash kickbacks for the official themselves and their bosses.

As the officials have often not even visited the area at all the numbers of 'counted stumps' are often completely made up to begin with and way beneath the real extent of the problem. According to the industry source:

"Say they have 'counted' 1,000 unauthorised stumps. This should make a 200,000 ringgit fine. But, they negotiate, so maybe an RM80,000 fine and then RM10,000 each to the Forest Guards and maybe RM20,000 to their boss. But the actual licence is never suspended and although the stump fine is RM200 each, the actual value of the stand was RM3,000-RM4,000, so there is no real punishment ever for the timber company which is making billions out of this unauthorised logging".

It is a state of affairs which sums up the poor governance of the timber industry in Sarawak and explains why the EU trade negotiations have stalled with Malaysia over timber, specifically from Sarawak.

What remains of Baram's once unparalleled jungles.

The state government has refused to amend its practices, in order that such abuses could be addressed and so that the origin of Sarawak timber can be properly accounted for.

Little surprise therefore that Sarawak is still the world's biggest exporter of timber, providing more hardwood than the rest of the world's tropical timber exporters added together.

Local inhabitants say that the current state of the forests in the Baram area have reached such critical levels of depletion that the major company in the area has started cutting down protected trees that were once left alone in visible areas near to roads.

Levels of erosion in this hilly region have reached disastrous levels, with hillsides collapsing in mudslides into the once pristine rivers below, killing the river life and removing the thin soil layer from the jungle regions.

Sarawak is facing an environmental catastrophe thanks to the lazy officials who prefer the beach to their jobs and to the ruthless timber companies responsible for corrupting them.

But, above all, the responsibility lies with the deliberate negligence of the State Government of Taib Mahmud.

No one has benefited more from the lucrative backhanders willingly provided by the major timber companies to anyone willing to turn a blind eye than the Chief Minister of Sarawak, who described his own personal wealth of billions as being "more than I could ever spend".

Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Wednesday, 2 April 2014