Chronicles of James : Sarawak for Sarawakians

10th,  December of 2015.   Pasar Central Sarikei 

Encountering paku midin ( Stenochlaena palustris )

 Bountiful engkalak/tebulus ( Litsea garciae )

Weary…

空肚子…

…吃空饼

Mission : Possible

11th,  December of 2015.   Pasar Central Sibu

11th,  December of 2015.   Star Mega Mall, Sibu

13th,  December of 2015.   Julau

Pictorial report by JimmyOng

王子 学 外语 之 Help ！

“You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.”

English idiom

You do a favor for me and I'll do a favor for you.; If you do something for me that I cannot do for myself, I will do something for you that you cannot do for yourself.

“You help me, I help you.”

Najib Razak, 2010 May 15^th

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, ( leader of the ruling collation BN ) Najib Razak during his visit to Rejang Park, a Chinese majority housing estate in Sibu, Sarawak, campaigning for SUPP’s Robert Lau during Sibu parliamentary by-election.  Najib promised the voters RM5 million to alleviate floods if Robert Lau win the seat.

The by-election was won by DAP’s Richard Wong by a simple majority of 398 votes.

Najib’s vote-buying promises were deem morally inappropriate for some, yet anyone sensible would know its a broad daylight bribery.  The Malaysian Parliament claimed that  Najib did not violating Election Offences Act.   In 2009, the Federal Court made a decision that promises to bring development during election campaign are not an act of bribery.

Till today, many parts of Sibu remain flood-prone, in addition to tones of other perennial problems.

Not Everyone Can Fly

They can say whatever they like about the MAS-AirAsia share swap.  How it can benefits both airlines, the government, and even the rakyat.

Let the numbers tell the truth.

 

The Truths :

1. Firefly, a MAS owned budget airline, no longer serves certain routes, especially those of Sabah and Sarawak, allowing AirAsia to monopoly the market. 

Flights to Sibu from October 2011 onwards, are cancelled, despite tickets being sold.  Passengers were transferred to MAS, mostly without notifying the passengers in advance.   

Like it or not, AirAsia is the only budget airline flying in and out of Sibu.   

2. AirAsia, supposedly the one-and-only budget airline, yet monopolizing most local routes.  Once flew with the lowest price in the market, now sometimes charges even higher fare than MAS’ – a full service carrier airline.

A check on both airlines' website for flight depart from KLIA to KT on 28^th April 2012, and return on 1^st May 2012, shockingly shows that AirAsia charges higher than MAS !!! Whilst Firefly, our Community Airlines fares the highest !!!!   

Firefly RM715 > AirAsia RM642 > MAS RM576.  ( see if for yourself )

3. Before the swap, tickets from Sibu to KLIA costs at cheapest RM100 including all the taxes and charges ( whatever they are ).  Some can even get RM0 tickets.  After October 2012, the same route easily costs RM200, a 100% increase!

Get it ?  After the swap, AirAsia controls the fare.  He can now sell it at whatever price as he desires.  He calls the prices!!!  Still, we say its cheaper than MAS.  揸到 !

4. All the figures indicate that AirAsia is pulling potential travelers to buy his tickets, which is supposedly still lowest ( on average ) in the market.  While MAS and Firefly purposely markup their fare to his aide. 

Before the swap, AirAsia had to keep lowering its fares as Firefly is competing with him.  Now Firefly simply just withdrawed itself from the competing routes, or simply markups its ticket. 

Voilà !  The rakyat still preferred AirAsia ! 

So, guys !  Here’s the truth : while AirAsia rules the air, not everyone can fly !

A Drive to Daro : I Have Another Dream

Past

1980年代前，从泗里街市Sarikei到玛都镇Matu可要花一天的时间。首先，在Sarikei搭一个小时半的快艇到达佬镇Daro, 然后Daro从乘约一小时的小舟到Matu。Sarikei快艇还有按时间表出发，每人船费约RM18; Daro小舟则需包整只船。等等停停，全程需半天。

1990年代，Daro到Matu通车了。路虽小，可方便多了。同时木胶Mukah晋升为省，Daro、Matu割入Mukah省，三镇从此通车。然而，Daro、Matu也开始经济衰退。

2000年代，自Daro、Matu通车后，Matu一带居民都到Daro办货，Matu生意一落千丈。年轻一代更到外求生，留在Matu镇的人家不到5 户。河上运输更是步入夕阳。

2010年代，Daro直接通车到诗巫Sibu市，同时也通往丹端马尼Tanjung Manis、Sarikei。不过从Sarikei到Matu车程需约三小时，且须过3 渡轮。

Present

那天，咱们5人八时半从Sarikei出发。由破浪的6307道直往民丹莪Bintangor，然后转右入丘陵的6102道，再入破浪的6308A直往Paradom。
在Paradom 路口转左，还RM5塔渡轮过拉让江Batang Rajang 到Igan，再转左入3104道驾驶约一小时往Tanjung Manis。经2大桥后达路口，左往Tanjung Manis,右往Daro。
转右后不久到达Batang Paloh河蚌，塔渡轮过河到Pulau Bruit。一路经过无数马来村后达 Batang Lassa河蚌。因河口宽阔、河水涌急、偶尔又遇浪，渡轮每来回一次需约一小时。
过了Batang Lassa 就离Daro不远了，可是到达时也已十二时半了。
全程共四小时，耗RM25车油、RM7渡轮费（全程以粗红线画）。相比塔船一小时、RM18船费，5人乘车费用虽便宜，却耗时费神。

Alternate Universe

不过，若以蓝线沿Muara Payang建路接Tanjung Manis路口，相信从 Sarikei到 Daro的车程可以减至一小时。
往Tanjung Manis再造一条直通路，不但带动Sarikei经济，制造就业机会，也减少运输费，又不碍Pulau Bruit和Igan的发展。为国为民，有益无害，何乐不为？



GTP ( Government Transformation Programme ) : Another Lie ?
After almost 50 years in Malaysia, most area in rural Sarawak still have no supply of clean water, electricity or even roads...
Can GTP builds driveable roads to connect all towns in Sarawak ?
Can GTP brings clean water to Matu, Daro, and all other rural towns ?
Can GTP ensures uninterupted DC to rural areas ?

古早味 之 Sibu

伊干江畔

老树 。高楼

基督教 卫理公会 福源堂

John Wesley ：The world is my parish .... 

亿

立

 老街

货船 

停泊 

老将