Latest news with #LidamAssan
Borneo Post
29-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Six longhouses in rural Katibas now get 24-hour power supply, thanks to RES
Lidam, flanked by Harry (standing, fifth left) and Ambrose, joins others in a group photo with the villagers of Rumah Johnny at Sungai Tekalit in Katibas. KAPIT (July 29): The villagers of six longhouses at Sungai Tekalit in Katibas now enjoy 24-hour electricity supply, thanks to the Rural Electrification Scheme (RES). Under Phase III of the scheme, the people of Rumah Johnny, Rumah Dunggo, Rumah Lumpong, Rumah Bahrain, Rumah Ensam and Rumah Ebin are now benefitting from reliable power that has improved their daily lives. The RES sets out to extend the existing supply from Sarawak Power Grid to the 'un-electrified' areas, giving access to electricity for rural households and other facilities such as rural schools and rural clinics. 'This facility (RES) has brought significant changes to the daily lives of these longhouse residents in Tekalit. 'Now, they don't have to worry about cooking food like meat, fish and vegetables immediately, as these can be kept fresh in the fridge over a longer period of time. 'More importantly, however, the stable electricity supply really benefit the fields of education, health and local economy. 'Students can now access online learning, and our healthcare workers can utilise medical equipment to the fullest. 'This is an important step in rural development,' said Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan in announcing the readiness of RES Phase III at Rumah Johny last weekend. On another matter, he called upon the village security and development committee (JKKK) of Rumah Johnny to engage with the local Fire and Rescue (Bomba) statin in programmes meant to raise public awareness of longhouse fire safety. 'Seek advice on setting up your own Volunteer Firefighting Squad,' he added. Later, the assemblyman announced a government grant for JKKK Rumah Johnny to plan and hold activities meant for the benefit of the longhouse folks. Among those present at the session were the Ambrose Abong Bugek, the political secretary to federal Works Minister; Watson Awan Jalai, a political secretary to the Sarawak Premier; Song District officer Harry Bruce Edwin; local community leaders Temenggong Jamit Untam, Temenggong Toh Tze Hua, Pemanca Lim Eng Hock and Penghulu John Kho Chong Bee; as well as Sarawak Energy Bhd divisional engineer Mariana Sylvester. electricity supply Lidam Assan longhouses rural electrification scheme
Malay Mail
12-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
From symbol to stump: Song's famed dabai tree sawn off in Kapit council's clean-up drive (VIDEO)
KAPIT, July 12 — What began as a moment of pride for Katibas state assemblyman Lidam Assan during his recent visit to Song has now turned into a symbol of collective disappointment for the community. On July 2, Lidam, a native of Nanga Tengadak in Katibas, paused in front of the Kong Ling Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple that fronts the Batang Rajang to capture a photograph of a tall, fruitless dabai tree, known locally as the Borneo olive (Canarium odontophyllum), and shared it proudly on Facebook. 'This is the Dabai tree from Song. It's not the season yet. One example of Song's dabai. Come here to taste it when the fruits arrive,' he wrote in a mix of Malay and Iban, referring to the fruit synonymous with the region's identity. To the people of Katibas, dabai is more than just a seasonal fruit. It represents culture, pride and a way of life with Song and nearby Ngemah, recognised by the Sarawak Ministry of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development as part of the state's strategic 'Dabai Belt' due to their premium-grade produce. However, just eight days later, the same tree that symbolised Song's agricultural identity was cut down by workers believed to be from the Kapit District Council, allegedly as part of a campaign to remove large trees from the town area. Lidam expressed his deep disappointment on Facebook: 'The problem is when you think Song town belongs to you alone. We nurtured this tree for years. Now it's gone forever. A symbol of the Dabai Belt for Song destroyed. The Kapit District Council irresponsibly chopped it down.' The move has since ignited emotional reactions from the community, with many expressing sorrow and disbelief that a tree held in such esteem could be removed without consultation. 'This is more than just a dabai tree. It's a landmark ... It served as an important feng shui tree beside the temple. Planted years ago by a late elder, this tree quietly watched over us and blessed the local community,' wrote Lim Margaret. She added that the tree carried with it 'faith, memory and reverence, a spiritual symbol we all share and cherish.' Fienbergson Wong, who now resides in Kuching, described the loss as 'a pity', noting that Song's reputation for dabai was partly anchored in such living icons. Others, like Unggit Awan, lamented the missed opportunity to preserve and showcase the tree. 'They could have spent a few thousand ringgit to decorate it, added a plaque with its history. It could've been a local attraction,' he said. Adding a note of irony, Alex Fred Diglin commented, 'They kept the man-made dabai icon by the waterfront and destroyed the real tree.' It is believed the tree was felled under an initiative to clear overgrown greenery in the town to prevent it from resembling a rural plantation. For Lidam, the loss goes beyond public landscaping. To him, the tree was part of Song's heritage, a natural emblem of its place in Sarawak's agricultural narrative. 'This should never have happened. That tree was more than a plant. It was part of Song's story, and our place in the Dabai Belt,' he said. — Bernama
Borneo Post
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Nanta hands over appointment letters to 46 community leaders in Song District
Lidam Assan (third left) presents a Letter of Appointment to the Ketua Kampung of Gelam Song, Hossein Damin as others look on. KAPIT (June 6): Minister for Works and Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi on Thursday afternoon presented Letters of Appointment to 46 community leaders (KMKK) in the Song District during a ceremony held at the Song District Office meeting room. Among the recipients were 34 Tuai Rumah and Ketua Kampung, along with one Penghulu and one Pemanca, who received renewal letters for continued service. Ten newly appointed Tuai Rumah also received their appointment letters. In appreciation of their service, eight outgoing community leaders who had reached the mandatory retirement age of 76 were presented with certificates of appreciation. Nanta congratulated both the reappointed and newly appointed leaders, urging them to serve with integrity and dedication. 'For the newly appointed community leaders, you were chosen by the people because they believe you are capable of leading. I urge all of you to work closely with government agencies, the District Officer, and elected representatives such as Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan and myself, to drive development in your respective villages,' he said. During the same event, Nanta and Lidam each contributed RM30,000 to the Song District Community Leaders' Association to support its ongoing activities. They also conducted a symbolic handover of a longboat equipped with a 30HP engine to the Song Fire and Rescue Team, enhancing its ability to respond to emergencies in the interior regions along the Rejang, Song, and Katibas Rivers. Also present at the event were Song District Officer Harry Bruce Edwin, Watson Awan Jalai (Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak), and Ambrose Abong Bugek (Political Secretary to the Minister for Works). alexander nanta linggi community leaders letters of appointment Lidam Assan
The Star
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Special grant formula among top priorities in MA63 talks, S'wak assembly told
KUCHING: Sarawak wants a formula for its special grant under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution to be finalised, says a deputy minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department. Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said this was one of the unresolved issues prioritised by the Sarawak government in the ongoing negotiations with Putrajaya on the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). "For now, our top priorities include the special grant formula as part of the financial review under Article 112D. "We hope discussions on this will be expedited and that it will be acted upon and agreed to," she told Lidam Assan (GPS-Katibas) during question time in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (May 21). Sarawak and Sabah are entitled to special grants from the Federal Government under Article 112D, which provides for a review of the grants every five years subject to the Federal Government's financial position and the states' needs. Putrajaya increased the amount of Sarawak's special grant from RM16mil to RM300mil last year and RM600mil this year, pending the outcome of negotiations for a fixed formula. Sharifah Hasidah said another matter of priority was the proposed increase in parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak to better reflect the spirit and intent of MA63. She said Sarawak would continue to pursue these matters through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy. "I want to reiterate that our stand and firm position in all our negotiations is always 'Sarawak First'," she said. "This means the Federal Government must acknowledge our constitutional and legal rights as enshrined in MA63, the Inter-Governmental Committee Report, Federal and state constitutions,and state laws."
Borneo Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Sharifah Hasidah: Expedite negotiations on Sarawak Special Grant formula in spirit of partnership
Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali KUCHING (May 21): The Sarawak government has called for negotiations on the Special Grant for Sarawak formula with Putrajaya to be expedited in the spirit of partnership, said Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali. The Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak's Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) said this is necessary in recognition of Sarawak's constitutional rights under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). She said currently the state government has partially resolved matters in respect of the Financial Review under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution. 'In this regard, as an interim arrangement, the federal government has agreed to increase the amount of the Special Grant for Sarawak from RM300 million to RM600 million for a period of five years,' she said during the question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here today. She was responding to a question from Lidam Assan (GPS-Katibas), who had enquired on the status of MA63 negotiations for Sarawak. Sharifah Hasidah said the state also placed top priority on the proposal to increase the number of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak in the House of Representatives to better reflect the spirit and intent of MA63. 'These issues have been brought up regularly by the Sarawak government through official meetings and negotiation platforms, including the MA63 Implementation Action Council and the technical committees established for this purpose.' She said matters that still require further discussion and negotiation between the two governments included the proposal to amend Item 25A (Tourism) in List I (Federal) to List III (Concurrent), the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution; health matters, such as the proposed delegation of authority to the director of Health of Sarawak to carry out functions under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) and other issues concerning the development, improvement, and planning of healthcare facilities in Sarawak; and education matters such as staffing issues, the implementation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in English, and the use of English for technical and vocational education and training (TVET). In addition, there is also the recognition of the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) as a Technical Department under Treasury Instruction 182; establishment matter under Article 112 of the Federal Constitution; Borneonisation of the federal public service in Sarawak; and development of the Sabah-Sarawak-Kalimantan Border Area that has yet to be resolved, she added. She also said that the Sarawak government is actively pursuing matters that have been agreed in principle namely the empowerment of environmental regulatory authority to the Sarawak government through the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB); and amendment to the Federal Constitution regarding the power to appoint the Judicial Commissioner in Sarawak, for which the Sarawak government has submitted a draft proposal to amend Article 122AB of the Federal Constitution to the Judicial Appointments Commission. Sharifah Hasidah told the august House that to date, nine key areas have been resolved under MA63 including the handing over of regulatory authority for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to the Sarawak government through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros); amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, restoring Sarawak and Sabah's status as equal partners in the formation of Malaysia, in line with MA63; amendment to the interpretation of the term 'Federation' under Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution, which now constitutionally includes MA63 and related instruments such as the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report as part of the Federal Constitution; and amendment to Article 161A to provide full authority to the Sarawak government to define the term 'Native' more comprehensively and inclusively. Other matters that have been resolved include the empowerment for issuance of deep-sea fishing licences to Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development; recognition of the Sarawak Public Works Department and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage as Technical Departments under Treasury Instruction 182, allowing them to administer federal projects in Sarawak valued up to RM50 million; amendment to the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia Act 1995 [Act 533] to appoint permanent representatives from Sabah and Sarawak to the board; special guidelines to facilitate the return of land reserved for federal purposes in Sabah and Sarawak; and amendment to the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Cap.76) which came into force on May 1. In assuring that the Sarawak government remains committed in reclaiming and safeguarding the Sarawak's rights under MA63, Sharifah Hasidah said the state government remains actively engaged with the federal government through continuous dialogue and consultation. 'The Sarawak government ensures that these negotiations are carried out and addressed in a manner that is in line with the spirit of equal partnership and with full acknowledgment for Sarawak's constitutional position as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, MA63 and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report,' she added.
