SMK Nabalu construction yet to commence?

If you read the local newspapers the past couple of days - Daily Express, The Borneo Post - Where's your promise?, New Sabah Times - yesterday and today, chances are you will read one leader ticking off another to defend himself aka 'menegakkan benang yang basah', our way of saying 'I'm right and I stand by it'.

"Dr.Puad ticked off Masidi for labelling him as an outsider who made empty promises". Read more about it here.

The next day Datuk Masidi expressed his appreciation and welcomed Dr. Puad’s announcement that the construction of the SMK Nabalu would commence next month, but 'stood by what I've said' earlier.

When it comes to how the leaders administer the country, I don't normally care too much about 'who says what' and prefer to care more about 'what was accomplished'. I do not have too much interest in politics but I care and feel strongly about decisions made that affect the people in general, and especially if that happens near me. I think it is just natural to feel that way. I certainly don't look at our pemimpin-pemimpin handalan as outsiders. But if the action or the lack of it brings about difficulties in my daily routines then it is only fair that I have my say on a thing or two.


Should you (and I) make a fuss about this?

Education is the foundation of tomorrow's progressive, innovative and knowledgeable generation. Educating people can be done anywhere and anytime but a school is still the ideal place to do it efficiently.

People around Pekan Nabalu has been asking for a secondary school for a long time now; if I can recall correctly that happened during the tenure of the previous Tuaran MP, Mr. Yunof Maringking. I was still a student myself back then. Subsequent MP replaced him in Datuk Madius Tangau later and he was vocal enough in Parliment meetings to ensure the people's wishes, including this proposed school, are brought up to the attention of the cabinet. Both men hail from this area. I like Tangau's contemporary style, he connects well with the old and young generation. Maringking used to be more laid back but I enjoyed visiting his law firm office in Kota Kinabalu.

The current MP for Tuaran is Datuk Mojilip Bumburing.

Now that Datuk Masidi Manjun is the state minister entrusted with the responsibility to take care of educational issues in Sabah, it is only fair that he channels his effort in ensuring that the people of Nabalu get the appropriate education facilities such as school.

While I disagree with the utterance of the word 'outsider', I totally stand by him for his chili-hot outburst on the inaction of the Deputy Eduaction Minister. In fact I wouldn't even call it outburst; it was a mere gentle reminder.

Datuk Masidi Manjun talks to participants of the Worls Class Paragliding Event in Tamparuli, 2010

Deputy PM (cum Education Minister) approved the construction of SMK Nabalu in August 2009 for RM35mil and of course he will expect his deputy to do the necessary to get the job done. To be fair, about six to nine months is needed to take care of the financial and technicalities before the construction can actually go ahead. It has been almost 2 years now and any layman such as myself, would but can't help thinking some one is not doing his job, or some one is purposely delaying taking action. The next general election is now lurking and it add spices to the perception that leaders are only waking up when their terms are almost up.


Let's support a leader who is willing to 'make noise' for the Rakyat

So, come on Datuk Masidi! Don't let this guy stop you from doing your job. People can love or hate you but as long as you kick, hard-hit, bicker with, or tick off your peers in honest manner and with clear conscience I am totally with you. "Spank" them if you need to, I'm okay with that!

I like your style! I like leaders who speak up for the rakyat without fear or favour on issues that need attention.

Syabas!!

To sign off, let's share this. I like it, really.

"kalau pembinaan SMK Nabalu tidak bermula tahun hadapan tuan-tuan boleh penggal kepala saya" (if the SMK Nabalu construction does not start next year you all can chop off my head). - quote Daily Express, 6/7/2011 Front Page.

Totally Focused on Studies

I was about to write something on the much delayed construction of a secondary school in the Nabalu (along Ranau Road) but I have to slip this one in between. I thought many would be shocked to know that in this IT age there are still 'doctor/s' that know little about things.

Here, have a dose of something - hope it keeps us pondering and reflecting on a thing or two:-

Chinese married couple clueless about sex

By News Desk in Kuala Lumpur/The Star | ANN- Wed, Jul 6, 2011

Kuala Lumpur (The Star/ANN) - A highly educated couple, in their 30s from Hubei, China, thought that the wife would get pregnant by sleeping on the same bed, Malaysia's largest selling Chinese language newspaper Sin Chew Daily reported.

Prior to their marriage, the couple did not dare hold hands and kiss as they thought the woman would get pregnant by doing so, reported a China newspaper Chu Tian Jin Bao.

However, the couple decided to seek medical advice after the wife, who holds a masters degree, could not conceive.

They have been married for three years.

The doctor was shocked to learn about their "sex life".

The husband, who has a doctoral degree, said they were too focused on their studies.

..and I thought "only" art stream students were taught biology in high school/secondary school?

apa macam tu boss?

Electricity Tariff: Another Revision?

The title of this entry is not a question. It is an expression of disbelief and in some way in amusement at how the powers that be deal with one of our basic necessities in the modern day. 

Firstly, the far-reaching hands and mighty government of the day must take good care of the welfare of the people to ensure good quality of life. Secondly, for an oil and gas producing country such as Malaysia, it is obligatory for the  government to provide for a reliable and affordable supply of electricity to the people.

Not my saying. I was trying to put myself in the shoes of those opposing "resiliently" the idea of power tariff increase.

I am NOT against the idea of increasing the rate. If done the right way, and I'm not going to elaborate what is that right way, I am all for it. All for it? That sounds a bit on the extreme but what I'm saying is that I will agree to a properly drafted revision, that's all. I am a consumer just like all of you and I don't want another hole in my already shallow pocket. But why not? All good things like cheap stuffs will come to an end someday. So is our cheap electricity.

If you google  enough you will find that Malaysia's power cost is one of the lowest in South East Asia and Sabah's SESB electricity tariff is still low compared to Sarawak's SESCO and Peninsula Malaysia's TNB. SESB rates are however less interesting as it lacks the peak hour variaty and industrial sector has less 'optimazation' options. You can compare electricity tariff of ASEAN member countries in what Beni Suryadi compiled here.

Let's take a look at the current tariff in Sabah (since 25 years ago):

Source: SESB

Sarawak's SESCO tariff effective April 2007:

 Source: SESCO website.

West Malaysia Domestic tariff. Source: TNB

For industrial, commercial and others, visit TNB Industrial Tariff here.


TNB have just announced its tariff restructuring and SESCO did it in 2007, while SESB's last revision was about 25 years ago. To be fair to SESB based on the timeline alone, I'd say review is overdue.

However, while setting their eyes on the imminent, SESB must:

1. Not equate low tariff to unreliable supply. They are not the same although we hear poorly-advised leaders claiming so.

2. Translate low SAIDI to real life elimination reduction of power supply interruptions. I can give monthly data for power interruptions of several West Coast city/townships in Sabah if required and I'm not at all impressed. Three to four power failures in a month is not uncommon and this rate would drive some people nuts if it happens to TNB facilities.

3. Beef up its power theft eradication Task Force. Do you know that SESB is losing some RM3mil in revenue due to power theft? Some one can set up a SME entity and work around this figure to provide SESB with solution, in my humble opinion.

4. Be transparent. On how SESB manage itself is none of my business. What I hear on a daily dosage is complaints and all sort of allegations (both baseless and those with facts) by certain quarters. So, do what you need to do and what needs to be done. You do have a lot of wise heads in your organisation.

Talking about SAIDI (average power outage/blackout duration for each customer), TNB's record for the last two years was around 70 minutes. Our neighbour, Singapore records an average of 2 minutes (check it out Here and scroll to page 19) per customer. SESB recorded 867.4 minutes per customer last year. That's ten times of what was recorded in Peninsula Malaysia. Compare that with those of Singapore's!

Are you happy with what you see? Are you happy with the frequency of power outage in Sabah? I am not.

Again, don't equate LOW TARIFF to UNRELIABLE power supply. Of course, having more money will solve many supply issues but I can't see it as the sole justification for increasing the power cost. It is how efficient you manage the resources that matter.

Finger crossed SESB will come good.