1. There will come a time - maybe years in the future - when the different ethnic groups living in the Island of Borneo will have no choice but to come to an understanding that they have a common destiny. This is a destiny that no one can actually predict but it can be planned to a limited extent.
2. This understanding need not be political. It can be economic development whereby all racial groups in the entire Borneo Island will be able to enjoy the fruits of economic developments, from the smallest to the biggest. No one and no particular group must be omitted from benefiting from such developments. The people of Borneo must progress together. No group can deny the existence and the rights of the other groups.
3. Sabah and Sarawak of the Malaysian Federation are in the ideal position to help make this understanding a reality. The construction of the Pan-Borneo network of roads will facilitate the realisation of the understanding between peoples of the different regions of Borneo. In the process, the citizens of Malaysia within the boundaries of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian citizens living in Kalimatan and the people of Brunei will enjoy a higher standard of living. Hopefully!
4. In order to ensure that people in the lowest strata of society will benefit, policies - and laws - are needed to prevent any exploitation or the usurpation of the rights of the common people of the entire island. Everyone must work faithfully guided by this principle.
5. The understanding may also be on security from hostile elements from outside and from within. This is an area for political leaders of the three countries to look into.
6. What the Bornean people themselves can do is to agree on initiatives to come to each others' aid during times of natural disasters. This can be in the form of MOUs. Here, NGOs having such objectives can spearhead initiatives to make this a reality.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Pan-Borneo Highway
The Pan-Borneo Highway was first proposed in 1966, about three years after the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. The Pan-Borneo Highway is a network of roads which will eventually connect Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and Brunei. In Sabah, the network will cover every town, from the south to the north, from the west to the east.
Sometime in the middle of 2010, the traffic along the highway between Donggongon and Lokawi began to show significant increase. But it was not until 2014 that serious work began on the construction of the highway. Some 48 years would elapsed after the Pan-Borneo Highway was first planned.
How long the whole project will take is an open question. People have to drive from Penampang to Papar to see for themselves the pace of work being undertaken.The project is proceeding fairly fast between Donggongon and Lokawi. But between Lokawi and Papar work is only starting to take off, so it appears.
What if the Pan-Borneo Highway had been constructed not long after it was first proposed? We can only imagine the tremendous development that it could have spurred along this highway starting from around the 1970s. No one could have said that the highway would be a construction to nowhere.
Now that the construction has started, we pray that the works will proceed as scheduled. Sabah and the rest of Borneo need good road connectivity. The Pan-Borneo Highway will speed up the economic progress of every region on the Island. A well developed and economically vibrant Borneo will be good for Malaysia and Indonesia as well as Brunei.
It is to be noted, however, that the completed part of the highway was, in fact, the long overdue upgrading of the old Penampang - Papar Road (as per para 3 above).
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Let ABN be one of Economic Co-operation
We have BIMP-EAGA which is sub-regional economic co-operation initiative. Sabah and Sarawak may lose out due to several reasons in this economic initiative. They can be lost within this big group of nations.
In addition to BIMP-EAGA, an Association of Borneo Nations (ABN) comprising of Sarawak and Sabah of the Federation of Malaysia, Kalimantan of the Republic of Indonesia and Brunei can be another vehicle, albeit smaller, for the mutual economic development of the entire span of the island of Borneo.
This can be a reality with the construction of the Pan-Borneo Highway (Trans-Borneo Highway). The Indonesian side of the Pan-Borneo Highway is the Trans-Kalimantan Highway going all the way to Pontianak / Banjermasin.
As the population of the entire region increases so will the economic opportunities. The state of things are expected to go from good to better. For example, one potential area of co-operation is in tourism development.
Discussion on economic co-operation between the three regions belonging to three different countries has to be initiated soon to take advantage of upcoming economic opportunities. Increase in economic activities will open other opportunities for people living in the region and other kind of development around the entire region.
Just as in the case of ASEAN, members can form the ABN Economic Community. Malaysian businesses can then take advantage of the opportunities available within this community.
Let the discussion start soon.
In addition to BIMP-EAGA, an Association of Borneo Nations (ABN) comprising of Sarawak and Sabah of the Federation of Malaysia, Kalimantan of the Republic of Indonesia and Brunei can be another vehicle, albeit smaller, for the mutual economic development of the entire span of the island of Borneo.
This can be a reality with the construction of the Pan-Borneo Highway (Trans-Borneo Highway). The Indonesian side of the Pan-Borneo Highway is the Trans-Kalimantan Highway going all the way to Pontianak / Banjermasin.
As the population of the entire region increases so will the economic opportunities. The state of things are expected to go from good to better. For example, one potential area of co-operation is in tourism development.
Discussion on economic co-operation between the three regions belonging to three different countries has to be initiated soon to take advantage of upcoming economic opportunities. Increase in economic activities will open other opportunities for people living in the region and other kind of development around the entire region.
Just as in the case of ASEAN, members can form the ABN Economic Community. Malaysian businesses can then take advantage of the opportunities available within this community.
Let the discussion start soon.
My Views on What Tan Sri Richard Lind Wrote
There was this article by Tan Sri Richard Lind that was published in the April 3, 2016 issue of the Daily Express entitled "North Borneo through the eyes of a former DO".
From that article we can learn the following:
1. After the Second World War ended, there was an acute shortage of experienced public servants in
the North Borneo government.
2. Relatives of Chinese farmers who were already in Tenom (North Borneo) were allowed to join them.
3. Before the war, Beaufort was the transit point for passengers on steam trains from Jeselton and Tenom. The railway lines were left in disrepair during the Japanese occupation.
4. Sapong Estate was one of the large rubber plantations. The Japanese soldiers made their last stand at Sapong against the allied (Australian) army.
5. The British military administration handed over authority to the British Civil administration on July 16, 1946.
6. In the 1950s, Kudat was quite prosperous.
7. In the mid-1950s, "diseases such as malaria were rife (the WHO malarial control programmes were just beginning)".
8. Under the British, every native male had to pay poll tax of $1.50. This was stopped when North Borneo gained independence through the Federation of Malaysia.
9. In 1957, Tambunan was not receptive to the establishment of a district council.
10. "In 1960-1961, I was put in charge of the work being done leading up to the formation of a
federation between the sister states of Sarawak and North Borneo." This proposal was dropped when Tunku Abdul Rahman announced the proposal for the federation of Malaysia."
11. When Tan Sri Lind was in Keningau, he had to tell the people that North Borneo was already independent. They thought that the British was still in power.
12. "...a Murut Tagal had to pay to the bride's parents "a dowry for life" and members of the girl's
family could demand from the husband any of his possession at any time during the marriage."
13. Salt deficiency leading to goitre was a serious problem.
14. "The people of the interior were willing to join the federation on condition that their traditional
Oath Stone be ceremonially recognised as having constitutional validity in addition to the 20 points.
North Borneo became a member of the federation on September 16, 1963."
My Comments
Failure to Educate Locals
There was shortage of experienced public servants because no native had the required education. The
British colonial government failed to ensure that the local people would be ready for self-determination by providing them educational opportunities. When the opportunity presented itself, they hurriedly went back to England.
How was it possible to have any native, or anyone for that matter, to join the public service if he or she was not educated? And how could anyone have any experience in running the machinery of government if he or she could get such a job in the first place?
Problem of Malaria Continues
Sabah continues to have one of the highest incidence of malaria. It was reported that, "14 PCR-confirmed malaria deaths were notified in Sabah during 2010–2011..." (https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-13-390).
Tuberculosis is another health problem that persists. SABATA (Sabah Anti-Tuberculosis Association), formerly North Borneo Anti-Tuberculosis Association (NOBATA) continues to conduct its activities but T.B. still continues to plague the population. The Borneo Post in its March 17, 2014 issue reported:
"A total of 4,515 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were recorded in Sabah in 2013, which on record is the highest contracted disease compared to other communicable diseases."
Dr. Christina Rundi, Sabah Health Department Director, said, "TB is on the rise and is a serious problem in Sabah and it is still a challenge to keep the disease under wraps, especially with cases that are diagnosed too late."
People did not Understand What Joining the Malaysian Federation Meant
The proposal for a federation between Sarawak and North Borneo was a missed opportunity. The two
independent nations are paying the price now.
The Cobbold Commission was too hasty in making the conclusion that the people of North Borneo were ready to join the federation of Malaysia. If they truly understood, why was it that Tan Sri Lind had to explain to them?
Of late, the Oath Stone became the centre of contention between government and opposition leaders. The original plague was deemed lost until it was handed over to Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan.
The constitutional validity of the Keningau Oath Stone stating the conditions for North Borneo joining the Federation was truly carved in stone, that is "no longer changeable".
From that article we can learn the following:
1. After the Second World War ended, there was an acute shortage of experienced public servants in
the North Borneo government.
2. Relatives of Chinese farmers who were already in Tenom (North Borneo) were allowed to join them.
3. Before the war, Beaufort was the transit point for passengers on steam trains from Jeselton and Tenom. The railway lines were left in disrepair during the Japanese occupation.
4. Sapong Estate was one of the large rubber plantations. The Japanese soldiers made their last stand at Sapong against the allied (Australian) army.
5. The British military administration handed over authority to the British Civil administration on July 16, 1946.
6. In the 1950s, Kudat was quite prosperous.
7. In the mid-1950s, "diseases such as malaria were rife (the WHO malarial control programmes were just beginning)".
8. Under the British, every native male had to pay poll tax of $1.50. This was stopped when North Borneo gained independence through the Federation of Malaysia.
9. In 1957, Tambunan was not receptive to the establishment of a district council.
10. "In 1960-1961, I was put in charge of the work being done leading up to the formation of a
federation between the sister states of Sarawak and North Borneo." This proposal was dropped when Tunku Abdul Rahman announced the proposal for the federation of Malaysia."
11. When Tan Sri Lind was in Keningau, he had to tell the people that North Borneo was already independent. They thought that the British was still in power.
12. "...a Murut Tagal had to pay to the bride's parents "a dowry for life" and members of the girl's
family could demand from the husband any of his possession at any time during the marriage."
13. Salt deficiency leading to goitre was a serious problem.
14. "The people of the interior were willing to join the federation on condition that their traditional
Oath Stone be ceremonially recognised as having constitutional validity in addition to the 20 points.
North Borneo became a member of the federation on September 16, 1963."
My Comments
Failure to Educate Locals
There was shortage of experienced public servants because no native had the required education. The
British colonial government failed to ensure that the local people would be ready for self-determination by providing them educational opportunities. When the opportunity presented itself, they hurriedly went back to England.
How was it possible to have any native, or anyone for that matter, to join the public service if he or she was not educated? And how could anyone have any experience in running the machinery of government if he or she could get such a job in the first place?
Problem of Malaria Continues
Sabah continues to have one of the highest incidence of malaria. It was reported that, "14 PCR-confirmed malaria deaths were notified in Sabah during 2010–2011..." (https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-13-390).
Tuberculosis is another health problem that persists. SABATA (Sabah Anti-Tuberculosis Association), formerly North Borneo Anti-Tuberculosis Association (NOBATA) continues to conduct its activities but T.B. still continues to plague the population. The Borneo Post in its March 17, 2014 issue reported:
"A total of 4,515 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were recorded in Sabah in 2013, which on record is the highest contracted disease compared to other communicable diseases."
Dr. Christina Rundi, Sabah Health Department Director, said, "TB is on the rise and is a serious problem in Sabah and it is still a challenge to keep the disease under wraps, especially with cases that are diagnosed too late."
People did not Understand What Joining the Malaysian Federation Meant
The proposal for a federation between Sarawak and North Borneo was a missed opportunity. The two
independent nations are paying the price now.
The Cobbold Commission was too hasty in making the conclusion that the people of North Borneo were ready to join the federation of Malaysia. If they truly understood, why was it that Tan Sri Lind had to explain to them?
Of late, the Oath Stone became the centre of contention between government and opposition leaders. The original plague was deemed lost until it was handed over to Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan.
The constitutional validity of the Keningau Oath Stone stating the conditions for North Borneo joining the Federation was truly carved in stone, that is "no longer changeable".
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