The World’s Richest Men 2008 (1-10)

1. Warren Buffett (US). $62 billion
For many years, Warren Buffett has been overshadowed by Bill Gates who finally dropped his place to third this year. Buffett is often noted with his uncanny ability and talent to identify company stocks that are deemed to soar in the market. Being the richest person does not change his frugal lifestyle as he still lives in the $30,000 house he bought in the 50s, which now worth merely about $700,000.

2. Carlos Slim Helu (Mexico). $60 billion
Carlos Slim Helu is a Mexican tycoon with business interest in telecommunication industry and sector, and is the man behind America Movil, the 5th largest mobile network company in the world, together with a few other mobile operators such as Telmex (Mexican Telecom) and Telnor (Northwest Telephones). Carlos belongs to a classic story of a poor immigrant moving from Lebanon at the age of 15, whose family made fortune in a foreign soil.

3. Bill Gates (US). $58 billion
Despite no longer the wealthiest person, Bill Gates, or William Henry Gates III, still retired a happy man this year, even though his passing over to successor Steve Balmer has been a day full of tears. The Microsoft he founded more than 30 years ago has long been benchmarked as the turning point of technology and life, and with this, he surely does not regret dropping out from Harvard University and getting the scolding from his parents, a lawyer and a businesswoman.

4. Lakshmi Mittal (India). $45 billion
Lakshmi Mittal was born and raised in India, but created most of his fortune from his London base. The company he inherits, ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel company, accounts for about 10% of the world’s steel production. Mittal is also the richest resident in Europe today. He is now living in Kensington Palace Gardens, the property he bought from Formula One honcho Bernie Ecclestone for about $130 million.

5. Mukesh Ambani (India). $43 billion
Receiving an MBA from prestigious Stanford University and being valued at $43 billion make Mukesh Ambani both rich and smart. Rumor has it that he never completed his Stanford studies but he would care little about it now. Mukesh now heads India’s most valuable company, Reliance Industries, founded by his late father, and is also a Fortune 500 company. He is also the first ever Indian citizen to have reached a trillion mark in terms of net worth (In Indian currency of course).

6. Anil Ambani (India). $42 billion
The younger brother of Mukesh. If Mukesh went to Stanford, Anil did not want to be overshadowed and pursued his MBA in Wharton Business school. And the rivalry does not seem to end as both of them are now battling each other in court over a business deal. It is true they say fortune can break a family apart. Anil made sudden entry to the top ten list in 2008 after almost doubling his wealth within a year period. Married to a Bollywood actress Tina Munim.

7. Ingvar Kamprad (Sweden). $31 billion
Ingvar Kamprad is most likely less popular than the company he founded, IKEA. Born dyslexic did not stop Kampard from bringing up one of the most successful companies in the world. He once admitted that the Swedish-sounding names of the IKEA furniture were chosen because of his difficulty remembering stock numbers. Interestingly enough, despite his wealth, Kamprad still keeps the habit of eating in cheap restaurants, flying economy class and avoiding himself from wearing the suit.

8. KP Singh (India). $30 billion
The property businessman was not anywhere in the top 10 list last year but the successful listing of his company, DLF Limited tripled his fortune and jumped him to 8th place this year. The company now is the largest estate developer in India. Singh graduated in engineering, before recruited by the Indian Army soon after his graduation, and later turned to corporate world. Now practically retired, the running of the company is left to his children.

9. Oleg Deripaska (Russia). $28 billion
If for the past few years it is always Roman Abramovich who always made headlines as both Chelsea owner and Russia’s richest man, it’s now Oled Deripaska’s turn. Oleg is the Chairman of RUSAL, the world’s largest aluminium company, which employs a massive 100,000 people across a number of countries and continents. Like Roman, Oleg also has a home based in London, and as a matter of fact, was once rumored to have interest in taking over Chelsea’s great rival, Arsenal.

10. Karl Albrecht (Germany). $27 billion
With little formal education, the Germany’s richest man started a small grocery store with his mother and brother, Aldi, after the end of the World War II, which soon grew into a large discount supermarket. It did not stop there as the family opened up more and more supermarket and today the company can be proud with themselves with over 8,000 stores worldwide. Albrecht is a man very much elusive of publicity. His hobby? Raising orchards.

Malaysia’s Richest Men in 2008

1. Robert Kuok
One can doubt how many types of sugars Robert Kuok can list down, but when it comes to cash, don’t argue. From a moderate size sugar business, today, Kuok has his hands full with a wide range of industries and specializations. Some of them include property, energy, shipping, logistic, manufacturing and so on. He is now residing in Hong Kong, probably avoiding too much publicity here.

2. Ananda Krishnan
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Ananda Krishnan, who is a Tamil origin, studied in Victoria Institutions (VI) and obtained his Degree in Politics from University of Melbourne, Australia. He went to pursue his MBA in the prestigious Harvard University and upon graduation, he ventured into a series of businesses, one after another, under Usaha Tegas entity. Astro, Measat and Maxis are among of his prominent ventures.

3. Lee Shin Cheng
Tan Sri Dato’ Lee Shin Cheng is the Chairman and CEO of IOI Group, which has core businesses in plantation, property development, refinery and manufacturing. Lee comes from a poor family and was forced to abandon school at the age of 11, and worked his way to become where he is standing today. He is also the pioneer of Yayasan Lee Shin Cheng Scholarship, which provides scholarship opportunity for unfortunate students.

4. Teh Hong Piow
The Singapore-born Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow is the founder and Chairman of Public Bank Berhad, one of the most profitable local banks in Malaysia. Teh did not have much formal education but he took his banking career seriously even though starting only as a clerk. He rose to become a bank officer in 5 years time, and joined Malayan Banking before leaving the bank to establish Public Bank.

5. Lee Kim Hua
Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua is the widow of the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, who passed away in 2007, and left Genting Group as the legacy. Her wealth is rather by inheritance than by business involvement or investment. She is credited as the person who has always been behind Lim Goh Tong’s hardship, struggle and success. The Group is now headed by her second son, Lim Kok Thay.

6. Quek Leng Chan
Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan is the co-founder of Hong Leong Group Malaysia. Most Malaysians will associate the group with its flagship bank, Hong Leong Bank, but that is not the only major business the group is involved. Rather, the company has interest in a string of other ventures including semiconductor, automotive assembly, materials, newsprint as well as furniture.

7. Yeoh Tiong Lay
Remember Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay, remember YTL Corporation that carries his initials. YTL is one of the country’s biggest corporations with diverse business interests such as energy & distribution, utilities, construction & property, hospitality and technology. Technically retired, much of the YTL running today is left to his son, Francis Yeoh.

8. Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary
Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary, the richest Malay in the country, is a very much respected businessman and philanthropy. Coming from Arab descendent, Syed Mokhtar grew up north in Peninsular Malaysia, and had his first taste of business while still in secondary school. Failures threatened his way into success but he persevered all along to achieve the current status.

9. Vincent Tan
Whether you like or dislike him, Tan Sri Vincent Tan is still one of the richest men in the country nonetheless. He was ranked 14th last year but good business in Berjaya pushed him to break the top 10 rank this year. The company he founded has interests in property development, resorts, hospitality, media and sports. This year he became a little bit more famous after embroiled in the Lingam tape controversy.

10. Tiong Hiew King
Sibu-based Tiong Hiew King is the founder and chairman of Rimbunan Hijau group, which has local and international presence in the timber industry. Apart from its native country Malaysia, the group also has large presence in Papua New Guinea and Russia. Additionally, the company controls 3 major Chinese newspapers - Sin Chew Jit Poh, Guang Ming and Ming Pao.

Study: Fish die of suffocation

By Zainon Talip

MIRI: No chemicals or poisons were detected in the Bakun Catchment Area and Sungai Tatau during and after the recent floods.Assistant Minister of Environment, Dr Abdul Rauf Haji Abang Zen, said: “Investigations (in Bakun) revealed that, except for the suspended solids and turbidity, the other readings of the water at both places were normal and within class IIB of the National Water Quality Standards of Malaysia (NWQSM).”The level of total suspended solids (TSS) - the amount of tiny particles of eroded soil or small organic matters - and the turbidity were, however, found to be between six to 20 times higher than the Class IIB standard of 50ppm.

“This is clearly evidenced by the heavy accumulation of silt on the gills which suffocated and killed these fishes,” Rauf told a press conference here after attending a briefing on “Findings on the cause of death of fishes in the Bakun Catchment Area and Sungai Tatau during and after the recent floods.” Rauf explained that in the case of Sungai Tatau, the pysio-chemical parameters such as PH, temperature, salinity and turbidity readings were normal and within the class IIB standard of the NWQSM.

However, the amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) was found to be lower than normal due to the heavy decomposition of vegetative materials submerged during the flood, compounded by the slow flowing water when the water level subsided after the flood.“I would like to urge all parties to contact NREB should you need further clarification or further information, particularly on its functional jurisdictions and what it had done and planned to do to safeguard our environment before giving out any statements in the press,” he said.Also present at the press conference was Sarawak Assistant Controller from Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Paul Ponar Sinjeng.

Hazy conditionIn an interview after the press conference, Rauf said that although some areas in the State had been hazy in the past few days, the State Government was not pressing the panic button as yet because the Air Pollution Index (API) was still at the ‘healthy level’.He also said that no ban had been imposed on open burning of commercial land for farming purposes.“The haze condition has not reached a dangerous level yet. In fact, the API is still at the healthy level although it is a bit hazy in some parts of the State due to transboundary haze from Indonesia. “For Miri, the hazy condition is due to local hot spots, but with the current wet season, it will not pose any health hazard to the people,” he said.

“The State Government still allows plantations in the State to practise open burning as oppose to Peninsular Malaysia. However, the situation will be closely monitored, and when the need arises, we will impose a ban on open burning,” he added.He, nevertheless, stressed that plantation owners who intended to conduct open burning in areas spanning 50 hectares and above would need to apply for permits. Offenders will be charged under the Environmental Quality Act, which carries a fine of up to RM500,000 or a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, or both upon conviction.

The 1st Ever Kayan : Orang Ulu Councillor

Heartiest Congratulations to Mr. Councillor Ujang Himang and his Family on being awarded Councillor in Majlis Angkat Sumpah Ahli-Ahli Majlis on February 16, 2009 : MBKS, Kuching. G.B.U!!

Roles and responsibilities of councillors
As part of the local council administrative system, councillors carry these roles and responsibilities.

1. 
   As a committee member who makes decisions on approval for applications like planning, development, and licensing. Yet at the same time their actions should not be contradictory and against the policy decided upon by the local council for the public interest.
2. 
   To advice the local government on matters relevant to their expertise and profession
3. 
   To represent the people and the local community in matters pertaining to their living condition at the respective local council.
4. 
   As a mediator between the community and the local council and to serve as the patron for their residents association.
5. 
   To relay the feedback and response given by the local community on the quality of service given by the local council.
6. 
   To be policy and decision makers. To draw a set of local by-laws as a guide for administrative purposes in solving the local issues and on how to give best service to the people.
7. 
   To draw the policy to determine the direction of the local council and the direction has to augur well with the state and central government’s policies and at the same time meet what the people want.
   As spokesman for the local council to ensure that policies drawn at the local authority are accepted by the local community.
8. 
   To get a response from the community if there is any abuse of misuse of power or funds by the local council.
9. 
   To encourage public participation on activities and programs organised by the local council.
   Appointment of the councillors

The Local Government Act 1976

Section 10 (1) - the local authority shall consist of the mayor or president and not less than eight not more than 24 other councillors to be appointed by the state authority.

1. 
   residing in the respective local council
2. 
   Have wide experience and knowledge in local government affairs
3. 
   Achieved distinction in any profession, commerceor industry
4. 
   Able to represent the interest of the community they are serving

RM2 Million Arrears Will Leave Sg Asap Folks Without Treated Water, Come Dec 16

By Edward Subeng Stephen

BELAGA, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Come Dec 16, about 2,000 Orang Ulu residents in the Sungai Asap Resettlement Scheme near the Bakun Hydro Dam project might find their treated water supply disconnected.

This is the ultimatum issued by the Bintulu Public Works Department's water supply division over their RM2 million in arrears which they had failed to settle.The arrears date back to 1998, the year when the residents first moved in.According to the department's divisional engineer, Goh Soon Boon, the residents collectively owed the government a sum of about RM2 million."We have to take action, otherwise the bills will continue accumulating," he said when contacted by Bernama Monday.

Goh said only between 10 and 20 per cent of the folks from the 15 longhouses had been paying their bills regularly.So far, he said he had not received any appeal over the department's decision to disconnect the water supply, from either the residents or their leaders.Goh said his department had made arrangements for the people in the scheme to settle their bills with the SESCO (Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation) office in the area, instead of them having to drive to Bintulu, about 75km away.

Meanwhile, local leader Jack Paran, 51, from Uma Kelab (longhouse), claimed that all 15 longhouse chiefs in the area had recently met officials from the department, LAKU Management Sdn Bhd( a wholly-owned state government agency to supply portable water and collect revenue from here, Miri and Limbang and others.

"Despite having requested the government to scrap the unsettled bills since 1998, we are sad and disappointed that a decision had been made," he said."With the Christmas season around the corner, where a few thousands working away from the scheme would be returning home and a wedding or two would be planned in December, I will feel very sorry for them."And, what if we have to mourn the death of someone in the community after Dec 16?," he asked.

Jack said he sympathised with the 20 Punan families from the Punan Talun longhouse in the scheme."When the supply is discontinued as scheduled, they may be forced to return to the jungle."As it is now, about two families enjoy power supply as the rest cannot afford to pay for the monthly bills," he noted.He said compared to the other Orang Ulu groups like the Kayan or the Kenyah, the Punan could not simply catch up economically.

"They cannot even catch up, even if you give them agricultural projects to provide income to sustain themselves," he said.Another leader, former councillor Laing Lerong, 68, hoped the government could come up with an amicable solution to their predicament."We do not want to pick up any quarrel with the government. We just hope it can sympathise with us, as not everyone can settle their outstanding bills at one go," he said.

Penghulu Saging Bit, of Uma Belor, appealed to the government for a deferment or to settle the arrears in installments or perhaps, scrap the arrears.He hoped the government would consider their problem fairly as they had sacrificed much for the sake of the country.Most of the residents, he said, were poor and did not have regular income."We have made sacrifices to make way for the RM3.2 billion hydro project which is the biggest in the nation and scheduled for completion in June 2010.

"We hope the government could reciprocrate," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Don’t mess with Orang Ulu name, says researcher

KUCHING: Orang Ulu, a unique name which is well-known among European tourists, is translated as ‘remote people’ in the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

The name, according to researcher Dr Elli Luhat gives a unique impression which piques the curiosity of European tourists and makes them want to know more about the culture and customs of the ethnic group.

Elli, a Kayan from Ulu Batang Rajang who resides in Kuching, thinks that there is no need to change the name ‘Orang Ulu’.

A change to ‘Lun Daya’ which was proposed recently, could demolish this unique image among foreigners and it may cause confusion.

Based on his own experience while performing sape music in London not long ago, Elli said Europeans do know a bit about the Orang Ulu.

“I’m not against the name change, but I think Orang Ulu is good enough and well-known. I’m proud to be called an Orang Ulu,” he said recently.

The Federation of Orang Ulu Association Malaysia (Forum) had prepared to change Orang Ulu to Lun Daya on Jan 21.

To support the suggestion, Forum opined that the new name portrayed effort, strength and ability of the community to face the wave of modernisation.

Wikipedia says that Orang Ulu is a label for 27 ethnic groups in Sarawak. Among them are Kayan, Kenyah and Kelabit.

It is not the name of a race and does not exist in the Federal Constitution.
Elli added that the proposed name change could be because some people felt that ‘Orang Ulu’ gave an image of being primitive and unpopular.

“If they only want to change the name to be ‘glamorous’, why not choose ‘Orang Putih’?” said a disappointed Elli.

On a more serious note, he stressed that it is no easy feat to build an image using a new name like ‘Lun Daya’.

“Discussion (before changing name) must include possible side-effects that may appear,” he said.

Longhouse dwellers in Sungai Asap deprived of good road

While the government AND Petronas are enjoying free money from East Malaysia oil and gas sales, and while the West Malaysian are enjoying super highways, LRT, Monorail, moderns malls, hotels and other infrastructures, the dwellers of longhouses in Sungai Asap are deprived of good roads.

The dwellers of those longhouses were resettled there to make way for the construction of multi-billion Ringgit Bakun hydro-dam. Once completed, the beneficiaries of the Bakun hydro-dam will be Tenaga Nasional, SESCO and orang malaya.

What has become of the fate of the natives who was chased away from the project site and resettled at Sungai Asap ? Like shit. They have lost their land and yeah, the land compensation money is probably all spend out. In addition, their new settlement is being ignored and the spot light now is more focusing on how much SESCO will charge Tenaga Nasional and Sarawak Aluminium Company on the electricity tariff. Sarawak Aluminium Company is jointly owned by global miner, Rio Tinto Ltd and Taib's Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd.

The authorities which include the state JKR , YB Billy Abit Joo - the MP of Hulu Rajang and ADUN for that area are all a bunch of hopeless. Even the road leading to the Sungai Asap resettlement are over-used by huge timber trucks and that make you wonder if Taib is making the road for the Sungai Asap resettlement or for the timber companies. Yeah, Taib does have direct and indirect shares on those timber companies.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Sungai Asap resident calls for ACA probe Posted by MD at 9:03 PM

Apparently the plights of the longhouse dwellers from Sungai Asap resettlement has became a controversy and the dwellers are urging the Anti Corruption Agency to investigate the case.So far, James Masing and Dr Elli Luhat has responded to the issue. Jabu and Billy Abit remains silent.

The issues are the road leading to Sungai Asap has been neglected and is in bad shape. It was damaged by heavy trucks and lorries belonging to timber companies that have timber concession in the surrounding areas. Not only the timber companies profit from making the jungle bare but their heavy vehicles are the king of the road.Road maintenance by JKR is none. Monitoring of road uses by JPJ is also rare.

STIDC somehow stop their officer from conducting enforcement.Request for repair or upgrade and complaints have been raised years ago but fell on deaf ears.Without looking further, the main culprits are the timber companies who have spend kick back to the JPJ, STIDC and Police to keep them away and not doing their job to ensure road users safety. JKR being a typically red-taped department will give excuses that the road is damaged by heavy trucks and it should be the task of JPJ, STIDC and Police to look into the matter.

So while JKR, JPJ, STIDC, Police and the YB pointing fingers at each other, the Sungai Asap road is slowly but surely turning from road to muddy path.

That's Malaysian mentality. Why?

Don't Mess with Orang Ulu

To whoever feel that he or she is an orang ulu tribe from Sarawak. Here is some comment to looked at. Feel it, taste it, think about it..

amdeesidik said...

Hi friend, I’m from Sabah born in Sipitang. My parent’s house is only a stone throw away from the border between Sabah and Sarawak.I’ve about a quarter of my family live in Sarawak, a quarter in Brunei, a quarter in Labuan and the last quarter is in Sabah-so I’m very Borneo.My grandfather must be from an ethnic of Murut; Kadayan looked after him since a child.

Here I’m Kadayan.Talking about Murut, in Sabah alone it has no less than seven sub-Muruts; mind you this doesn’t include what you called Lundbawang in Sarawak and Lundayah in Sabah. This funny ethnic have two ethnic names but of the same people. My Murut grandfather isn’t really Murut but Lundayah/Lunbawang. I find it stupid too, upon finding out Lundayah and Lunbawang are of the same. So what is a name for?

It looks to me Sarawak ethnics are having problem with their names- I don’t think the name of an ethnic can be changed like the way we change our shirts. Now the Kadazan and the Dusun are having identity problem in Sabah, why would Sarawak Orang Ulu follow suit?

I don’t see anything wrong being called Orang Ulu. The Kadayan people used to be called Orang Darat, what better name was it compare to Orang Ulu, no different! When I was the President of Sabah Kadayan Association, I was just as important as chief minister, why do I have to feel inferior because of name. Very few people heard about Kadayan until I bulldozed telling those in front of me that I’m just as human as anyone.

Have very little space here-but I can be contacted-I’m happy to be invited if you do hold any talk on this subject in the future-by the way I used to be in legal profession now spent most of my time as law lecturer and writer- find my books to know me. amcdii@yahoo.co.uk, hattp://kadayanjournal.com/

Kamah Lejo in exosphere. Believe it!

Since many years now I am carrying an idea with me and this idea grew on me ever since...every single day: I finally started writing about Lejo... Having done some on several fragments during all those years but I need to write much, much more as there is much more to tell. Roar Lejo roarr..

Always running fast like tiger. Live our lives to the fullest!! Running fast like Mustang! Because The purpose of life is a life of purpose. To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. I don't care, just run fast like Mustang.. ipet-ipet!!

Orang Ulu's Legend

Belawan Burieng

The staging of a theme play based on a Kayan (Orang Ulu) legendary warrior entitled “Belawan Bureing-Hercules of Keliman River. This legendary half-man, half-deity with many wives was staged in a 45-minute themed play with perfectly choreographed dances, war scenes, beautiful costumes and soothing traditional music in conjunction with World Harvest Festival 2007.

The theme play is staged outdoor where the natural ambience and the traditional structures around the Sarawk Culture Village lake is be fully utilised as it had added an unique flavour to the play. It had spice up my weekend with the explosive drama and cultural passion, highlighting the beautiful folk songs, sape and gong music and traditional costumes of the Kayan people.

Tales of Belawan Bureing the son of Belarik Ubong Do the God of Thunder and Lightning, have entertained the Kayans of the Balui River and enlivened their evenings for centuries. Despite the blood and violence, the polygamy and back stabbing, the tales of Belawan Bureing ultimately centre around one universal theme - the triumph of good over evil.

Sape

Sape, Trully an Orang Ulu Lute. Hard to say that it's very rare to see alive Master Sape Player in this modern world. Easy for us to call it a Kayan Kenyah unique guitar, played before head hunting begin in the old day War.. But generally, it's describe just as ...........

The sape is one of the string instruments from the lute family, which has a short neck. It is made from soft wood, usually the meranti's. The sape has quite an elongated body which is hollowed out and functions as a resonator. The shape of the body looks like a sampan and is often called 'the boat lute' in the west. It is famous among the Kayan and Kenyah tribes of East Malaysia. It is used in entertainment and to accompany dances such as 'Datun Julud and 'Ngajat' (one of the warrior dances associated with headhunting according to legend). Originally , sape strings were made from the Sago tree but now these have been replaced by nylon strings.
One of the systems that are usually used are as follows:

String 1: Tune like the middle C of the piano String

2:Tune like C one octave lower than middle C String

3: Tune to A, a minor third below middle C String

4: Tune to F, a perfect fourth above middle C

All the strings are plucked using the thumb and only one of the strings is used to play the melody. The rest of the strings function as drone strings, playing only open strings. The strings are fixed across the body, supported by a bridge which is movable, for tuning purposes.

The sape repertoire comprises songs like:

Dak Baling

Dak Uro

Dak Urai Ujong Avang

Dak Tekjun Lake'"Surat

Sambe Main Daton,

Jempen Letoh,

Kabun, Kelewah,

Eng-tang Takoh and Nau-hu.

The Kelewah is usually performed for the purpose of entertainment of the residents of the longhouse. The sape is usually played in a duet, playing in two registers, low and high. Sape music is best known through the works of the late, great Tusau Padan.

The tradition of Sape at present remains in the good hands of Uchau Bilong and Mathew Ngau Jau. But trully hidden Master of Sape Player is still alive....... Mr. Ukong Mering. Really admired him a lot!!

Good to remember.. Kamah Lejo