The reasons given are them being unclean and that they live in dual world or environment.
Haram means 'forbidden' and is a concept in Islam which is not only limited to food but also prohibits a Muslim from doing something harmful to themselves or to others in terms of health or social standing (e.g. theft, gambling, gossiping, adultery, drinking, smoking).
Now, this morning's news caught me by surprise. I myself have been consuming this grub for years along with other Melanau and non-Melanau Muslims. For one, they consume the sago tree trunk voraciously until they can undergo metamorphosis into the sago palm weevil or Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (pictured left), not unhygienic carcasses which would be understandable.
As for the 'dual worlds' or dua alam, this refers to animals living in two different environment like amphibious animals such as frogs, crocodiles (obviously) and the Swamp Creature. In what way is the sago grub considered a 'dual world' creature needs further explanation. Is it because it goes through metamorphosis? One stage living inside a trunk while at the latter stage flying around? If that's so then some species of birds which starts off inside a tree trunk or a hole in the ground before learning to fly are haram.
I may sound like criticising the professionals but then again the Quran has told Muslims to think critically (not follow blindly and chant death to the infidels/insert race like what many keyboard warriors are doing). Not that I'm doubting the research done to prove that they're haram, but I do wish to to receive more explanation on it either in tomorrow's news or in the Mufti's website. This is a sudden kill-switch to the hundred-years of Melanau tradition and culture, just like how telling vegetarians that vegetarian chicken is not okay one day.
P/S: Although haram, Muslims are permitted to consume haram things during the time of emergency e.g. war, famine, natural disaster, where all source of halal food is lost. And if you're wondering, the sago worm is high in protein and suitable if you're lost in the jungle with no food. The sago worm contains:
Sibu people are not fond of money politics and death threats. Keep the RM5,000,000 because it's someone else's hard-earned money...
It's official. Sibu is now under DAP. The long 1-week campaigns from both sides has ended with these results:
Pakatan Rakyat's DAP: 18,845 Barisan Nasional's SUPP: 18, 447 (after additional +2,000 postal votes) Independent: 232
I wasted 3 hours waiting with a lot of anticipation for the results to be announced at 9pm Sunday, 16th May 2010. I even paused all assignments to witness how a new history was about to unfold. Things looked bright for the party with the ideology of democratic socialism and social justice...
The Chronology The Death
The passing of the late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew on April 9th 2010 left the Sibu constituent vacant. Wong Ho Leng from DAP and backed by Pakatan Rakyat, came forward to challenge for the seat.
His main contender was BN's SUPP "fighting cock" Robert Lau Hui Yew (aka Robert Lau Jr. although they're cousins).
Narawi Haron, representing himself as a Bebas or Independent party entered the fray to evaluate his popularity after his defeat in 1999 election.
The Vote-Fishing
DAP used the 'Allah' issue as well as some native land rights issues to convince voters. Also they managed to slot in the Block L & M (off Limbang), two oil wells the government sold to Brunei in order to maintain Limbang.
SUPP used how they have money and DAP is all talk. Surprisingly SUPP used the 'kampua will be banned" as another twist to gain voters because DAP supports PAS (another Pakatan Rakyat component party) vision of an Islamic state. I for one am offended by this offensive insult. There's halal kampua in Sibu la boss, 5 shops I know sell them e.g. Sunny Cafe near RTM, Mas Corner near Lau King Howe Memorial, that small cafe not far from A-Plus, that smaller cafe near the old Cathay road, and many more random roadside stalls.
Bebas used, well nothing. The candidate just wanted to win back his pride after he lost in the 1999 election where he lost his deposit. Narawi Haron assumed he could get 4,000 voters and get his votes back.
The Epic Mistake BN Made:
It is this speech made by PM Najib Tun Razak on Saturday night, less than 12 hours before polling begins. His blunder? Offering a bribe to the Rejang Park people RM5 mil if they vote for SUPP's Robert Lau Jr. That is taxpayer's money man... listen to his speech:
The Polling Day Everything went alright and smoothly. But by 7pm ballot counting began. The ticker went up tremendously at all tweets, blogs, facebook groups and other online site Sibuians, Malaysians and others can access. The world was watching.
SPR (Election Committee) Controversy
The results were clearly favouring DAP with a 3,000 majority lead (18,000 against 15,000). But the results' announcement was delayed without any clear notification.
There were rumors of '2 missing ballot boxes' as well as 'miscounting of the postal votes'.
Postal votes are basically BN's last resort weapon where the votes comes from Sibu government personnel (e.g. army) working outside Sibu. it's like a money cheat code because those outstationed did not get a chance to know how the vote-fishing was going. 2 hours passed with the results 2 hours late...
Speculations about "dark magics" by BN occured with an ironic blackout at the ballot counting station in Dewan Suarah Sibu/Sibu Civic Center.
The Rocket Launches
Finally, and officially, at 11pm DAP won with a majority of 398 even after BN's postal vote reinforcement.
This was a miracle and a WTF moment for the Sibu people as a whole, both DAP and BN supporters.
Drunks were sobbing by the roadside as they lost their bet, Najib and the Deputy Prime Minister left the polling scene, facebook saw a spike of several pro-progress youths and adults alike.
The Aftermath
Sibuians now look forward to the new era of progress under the wings of Wong Ho Leng. Sibu is established as the second DAP base after Kuching.
Despite their lost, BN intends to keep all the promises made by PM Najib Tun Razak (that means you still lose your taxmoney...). As a Sibuian said "u no need to sign that cheque on Monday la Najib"...
No updates from Bebas candidate.
Sarawak Geo-Political Map as of May 2010 AD. With DAP getting a foothold in the south and the new central region, the future looks bright for the democratic socialist party.
They now can face Sarawak's Pehin Abdul Taib Mahmud's stronghold in Mukah. To the folks in Mukah, please consider voting for progress, because the Sibu-Mukah road has been horrible (read) for many years. Despite the Pehin's presence in Mukah and the millions of RM the government has, I don't see much effort for the road.
Hopefully our neighbors of Kapit, Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman and Samarahan would join us in ignoring the money politic and go for progress.
Bintulu and Miri is still a stronghold for BN in the north, where progress are clear but some are not known e.g. Senadin area, or the deadly e-Mart-Senadin road (read).
This is just an analysis based on Total War experience.
Kampua 4 Life The inappropriate threat of kampua banning by BN is no more. Kampua is safe again for now, both halal and non-halal. This just shows how we Sibuians cannot be separated from our beloved dry noodle. You have already politicized religions, don't politicize our food bro...
At the end of the day we stood united, no matter what race/religion, despite all the segregation propaganda gimmicks like what they have done in the West. I'm proud to be a Sibuian. Viva la Sarawak!
It was the 3rd consecutive rainy day but summer course went on. It was Round 3 session for my Capstone and the group yielded promising results. As promised it's time for a small celebration at the newly opened e-Mart KFC.
On the way back to continue our work we used the same Senadin - e-Mart road which was heavily flooded with everyone treading at 10-40KMph. Miri roads in these parts are just like Sibu roads, except that it produces more random potholes after rain (mind you it was raining for 3 days 4 nights already). I guessed this happened on the way back...
We didn't notice it as the road was already bumpy and the strong currents of red earth water made any holes undetectable (just like Sibu-Mukah road, except in Miri the dark-water flood hides the 1-6 inch potholes on the dark wet asphalt). The damage was only discovered BEFORE we went back to Purgatory and AFTER I was going to send on of my teammate to fetch her laptop. I was flabbergasted at the damage because 5 people in the car did not even feel a thing on the way back.
I guess that's why a JPJ SUV from Senadin slowed down and pointed at me (I thought he was talking to his colleague about the rising water). Anyways we went back to the possible crash site and as expected I saw pieces of my front kit scattered and submerged along the already sinking road. Picking up the pieces was no fun job, and the sight of us stopping on the middle of the road made drivers from Senadin turn back. It was über-saddening to experience such accident and my jolly mood was 100% changed into über-emo moment.
The next day, or the 4th day of raining the Getz was sent to a body shop for a refitting as engine or tires were not affected. It will be a few days before I can get it back. And later the same day I asked my cousin to drive me back to that road to see what 'killed' the Getz. As expected the road was still flooded.
Not surprisingly at ground zero, we found more pieces of body kits scattered around the road. They're not mine because I collected all the pieces back (a sad complete-the-puzzle moment when I got it all). And from what I can see there's a huge piece of a metallic silver Myvi's rear body kit looking 'fresh' on the semi-flooded asphalt, along with other pieces of unrecognizable carbon fiber and plastics. I guess the owners of those debris didn't know their vehicles' body kit got PWNed by the killer road. I feel like erecting a memorial at the site but the cost of the repair is already costly. Plus suing Miri Municipal Council or JKR is not feasible because it is not clear who should be blamed for this accident (let's not forget the lawyer cost).
I really hope Miri's Minicipal Council look into this matter IMMEDIATELY and patch up the holes before more damage is done, or worse. Please do revise the drainage system of the Senadin-e-Mart road which is ironically named Jalan Ilmu (Knowledge Road). We do know gaining ilmu is no easy task and costly, but please the safety and sanity of the students, as well as the other Senadin residents are at stake. I'm pleading on behalf of the community here, as well as the whole Miri community, for the matter to be attended to a.s.a.p. We don't want another Sibu-Mukah road. I'm already stressed out because of this avoidable accident. Haihz... To those who are reading this, especially those who are in Miri, driving, and uses the Jalan Ilmu, please do re-post this somewhere or at least spread the word to prevent other drivers from suffering the same costly fate as we did. Thanks to all who gave me support and help during this unbelievably emo-causing accident. Thanks also to DIGBY and Fiona for the recordings.
Kancils, tanks sunk in massive pot holes in Sibu-Mukah road. Road users who are pregnant, have a weak heart or had a heavy lunch are not advised to travel through this road.
This is nothing. You will drive through this kind of road for the next 1 hour++ and only then will you get to the infamous back-breaker Ladang-Selangau road which will take another 1hour++ until you reach tarred Selangau-Sibu road... Rakyat's tax money well-spent...
The road to Mukah just got worse. There is no road. As if the Selangau-Mukah was not torturing enough being the back-breaker, now the Simpang Balingian-Ladang road has rotten down to nothing more but mud and pebbles. If this continues, I think the only way to access Mukah division and surrounding burroughs is by boat via Dalat. If only the PKR took this picture and show it to the rakyat (just like how BN in Batang Ai showed pictures of the PKR's Permatang Pauh slum area to the rakyat to win votes).
The Sibu-Mukah journey used to take 1 hour 30 minutes a few years back. Now from Sibu-Selangau it's 45 minutes and Selangau-Mukah it's 2 hour's ++. The despicable road condition is well-known for frequent Sibuian and Mukahan travelers, so bad that Sibu doctors advised pregnant mothers from Mukah to either just take the 2 hours boat journey from Dalat or to just stay in Mukah. No 4x4 is safe, not even buses as many of these vehicles can be seen decommissioned and parked by the side of whatever is left of the road. Hell, there's even a road collapse a few minutes after the first ladang that was immediately repaired, saving thousands of locals from being cut off. Here's a few pictures from the infamous Back Breaker road to show how bad Mukah road is, and to ward off would-be first time travelers from becoming the next victims.
Kancils, Vivas and even Hiluxes would be ravaged in the treacherous roads ahead. Haha good luck!
Level 1 Easy difficulty pot-holes. Bicycles won't pass this though
Level 2 Medium difficulty puddled holes. Causes nasty turbulence to any vehicles
Level 3 Hard difficulty sink holes by the roadside. Careful or that Kancil might turn-turtle to the side
Level 4 Insane big assed craters. Even the drivers of the biggest lorries in Sarawak will stop, contemplate, think, analyze and only then go around these monstrous holes
Level 5 Deadly Loch Ness-like lochs. Not so scary until it sucks your wheels into the abyss
Level 6 WTF Flowing tream in the middle of the road. A sign that this part of the road is breaking apart soon, slippery too
Level 7 OMG the road is below sea level. MAY CONDEMN YOUR ENGINES
Level 99 Jalan putus la! A completely devastated part of the road that is being reconstructed. Damn I think this is equivalent to Vietnam or Iraq during their wartimes...
Now I'm not sure whether real actions have been taken, and whether the complaints from the rakyat is being heard, but one thing for sure is this;
PLEASE BUILD A NEW ROAD FAST! PEDIH BEKAWANG AKOU!
