Borneo Warrior

The Big If What Anwar's Pakatan takes over Putrajaya?

2012-01-13T05:29:00.005+08:00

The lingering question is what will be the political landscape in Malaysia if the opposition Pakatan coalition will indeed helms power post the 13th General Election to be held anytime from now.
The scenario in the Federal level is crystal clear in that Najib and his cabinet will vacate their lofty seats in plush precints of Putrajaya, and, in Parliament, they will be switching sides with Anwar Ibrahim and company.

In the various States where the opposition win, of course we will see new Chief Ministers and Mentri Besar heading those States. This is where the mind is thinking of as far as Sarawak is concerned. One thing is certain; Taib government will still be intact as there will be no election for the State of Sarawak as they had just had theirs only earlier last year (2010). Sarawak is "UMNO" free, as they are ruled by local based parties headed by Taib Mahmud's PBB and their coalition partners of PRS, SUPP and SPDP. This is where the plot thickens! These political parties are in the BN fold headed by the presently ruling UMNO.

Now, if UMNO and the rest of the BN coalition loses grasp of the Federal Government, will the ruling parties in Sarawak then abandoning BN and switching sides, or, staying status quo and becoming an opposition State?If this scenario unfolds, it is intriguing times ahead.

Taib will be facing the biggest dilemma of his political career! If he stays with BN and still leads an opposition State, am sure a federal government led by Anwar will hound Taib and company now that the MACC and the Police will be at his ( Anwar's) disposal!

Will PRS, SPDP or SUPP then abandon PBB and join Anwar to be its ruling partners? More interestingly, will Taib immediately fly in his Stateowned jet and be the first person to offer congratulations to Anwar in Segambut ? Your take?

Yes, What Now SUPP?

2011-12-14T08:17:00.002+08:00

Aptly, albeit awkwardly, The PM launched SUPP out-going President newly minted self-reflected book at the sideline of the embattled party recently held TDC. Titled "What Now?", the book is penned based on George Chan's diaries, his thoughts and reflections on his beloved party that he helmed for three terms. Dissected to the crumbs after two consecutive electoral defeats, the party is presently at a crossroad.

Post TDC, the party is now split into two groups. On one side is the new President Peter Chin with mp and a dayak deputy in the person of Richard Riot, an unprecedented scenario in the mainly chinese based party; for this is the first time that a native is holding such a coveted post. Then there is the dissenting group,led by Wong Soon Koh and his gang of five state legislators, namely yb Dr Jerip, yb Ranum, yb Johnnical Rayong, yb Lee Kim Shin and Francis Harden and a sole member of parliament yb Tiong Tai King.

Is this divisive team in SUPP a political pawn in a "subtle" fight between Putrajaya and Petrajaya? Is this a message directed at the State leadership? Peter Chin and his team is seen as a Putrajaya proxy and that of Soon Koh and team is the State flagbearer, being the BOSS men and in addition to being members of his State cabinet . This is where SUPP powerful CWC members never forget to remember when Soon Koh rushed in haste to get himself sworn in as a minister even though the party had earlier agreed that they (SUPP) should not accept any cabinet post as a "protest" to both CM Taib and the chinese voters who abandoned the party at the State election where the party was thrashed to shreds.

Now the lingering questions?
Will SUPP face ROS wrath due to complaints by Soon Koh group of polls irregularities in the TDC? Any possibility of a compromise? Will Peter Chin nominate mp Tiong again in the impending federal election? Is there a possibility that Soon Koh and the group will form a new party,or, form a partnership with the SPDP 5 ( RENTAP )? Or, will the dissenting group, both Soon Koh and the SPDP 5 join PRS as strongly rumoured? Will Putrajaya give the go-ahead to their plans, as long as the plan will "weaken" a Sarawak's dominant and powerful party?

Interesting political scenarios ahead, awaited with abated breadth!

The Vicious Cycle of Sarawak Politics.

2011-12-07T09:21:00.003+08:00

Let us go back to not too far back, 1983.
That year the strong SNAP was torn to pieces when James Wong and Leo Moggie slugged it out for the party's President post. The aftermath? Leo lost, and, together with Daniel Tajem and other Iban legislators formed PBDS. That sad episode caused an unrepairable split for the Dayak community till to this day!
SNAP went separate ways. Then the curse happened again when Mawan and the gang left SNAP and formed SPDP as a result of power tussle in 2002.
In the other side of the coin, PBDS also sailed into really rough waters, following a series of leadership tussle as well, leading to its deregistration. Then PRS was formed by James Masing and company. Even PRS was not spared. Sng and son tried to capture the President post barely a year after PRS was born but was unsuccessful. I can write a book on this particular crisis but let us leave that to another day.
Now, back to the present.
Presently, SPDP is embroiled in a bitter crisis. It is still unendingly lingering. Talking of what goes around comes around!
Now it is SUPP turn to be newsmakers after "watching" all the happenings with other political parties in Sarawak from the gallery. SUPP will be bitterly divided no matter what will transpire after the much anticipated party election this weekend.
Sarawak is administered and governed by 4 BN parties; PBB, PRS, SPDP and SUPP.
So far the Vicious cycle has effected PRS, SPDP and SUPP.
That leaves the mighty PBB (pay bay bay, my kayan friend said) untouched and invincible, so far.

Do not fret. The Vicious cycle will catch up with every party in Sarawak, come what may!
The ADES of March will come. Then we will witness the mother of all crises Sarawak will ever see?
Will pay bay bay ready? This BATTLE for supremacy will be a battle of all battles!
Will PBB ready for the DAY of reckoning? Time will tell pok!

An Extraordinary Achievement.

2011-11-10T08:11:00.004+08:00

I would not normally write sport story in this blog (not that am not a sport person) but this great feat by Datuk Nicole David is too big to ignore or brush aside. I watched the live telecast from Rotterdam last week and witnessed how Nicole pummeled world no 2 Jenny Duncalf into submission in straight sets 11-2, 11-5 and 11-0. Awesome it was! That was Nicole's 6th World title.(2005- Hong Kong, 2006- Belfast, 2008- Manchester, 2009- Amsterdam, 2010- Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, 2011- Rotterdam).

This extraordinary achievement surpassed a 5th World Title jointly held by her and her mentor, Aussie Sarah FitzGerald. In all Nicole had amassed 56 WISPA titles and still gunning for Sarah's 62 to seal her reputation as the greatest squash player the World has ever seen!

When the National Anthem was played at the prize giving ceremony I got goose bumps in my TV room, and, admittedly and unashamedly, nearly shed tears to see this great Malaysian lady with her lips syncing, indicating that she was singing in tune with her beloved Country National Anthem.

Never mind there was no Malaysian VVIP cheering her on, except her parents, in the boisterous crowd in this Dutch country. Wish that the Sports Minister was there to support her and thereafter basking in glory celebrating her feat. This is quite unusual, because we did witness in the past that VVIPs will congregate to lend support to our athletes in lesser sports and in lesser importance/ tournament but probably, this squash final in Rotterdam was involving "different ethnic" personality, I dont know, you tell me! Or were that our VVIPs too ignorant to differentiate the significance of Nicole's world class act, a champion in squash for the 6th time amongst 6 billion earth citizens!

Never mind Nicole, we are all for you.

Malaysia's 13th GE is neigh!

2011-11-02T08:14:00.004+08:00

PM Najib is following the CM of Sarawak "inspirational" journey of going to the Holy Land prior to an election, seeking divine blessing. The Najibs left for Mecca last night.
The spin is that Parliament will be dissolved on 11th November and the federal election slated for 10th December.

Already in my Parliamentary constituency of Betong, goodies have been strewn around anticipating the election, a normal practice to woo the votes.

The "leaks" in the West is that the cohorts are trying to convince the Pakatan controlled States, through the Palace and Istana to pressure the respective State governments to also dissolve their respective assemblies so that the States will also be holding their elections simultaneously. My bet is that those States will not do that but will cling to power as they still have a good three years tenure. This way, their ADUNs and their State resources could be used abundantly in assisting their respective MPs. Here lies the BN biggest headache!

Lest you forget, we remember

2011-10-18T11:06:00.004+08:00

This picture above tells a thousand story. This sad day happened a year ago. To the government of Sarawak and NREB, the Minister of Resource Planning and all stakeholders, where is the report of the investuigation on this ecological disaster? where is the promise of accountablilty and sustainable forest management?

It is all talk talk, talk and talk..

Sarawak's Bloated Cabinet.

2011-10-03T08:29:00.002+08:00

Including the grandmaster, his "yang dikasehi" Deputy, 3 so-called senior ministers, 5 ministers, and a hordes of19 assistant ministers, the number of the Majlis Mesyuarat Kerjaan Negeri, or aptly, the State Cabinet, is a record in its number. There are 29 of them. In West Malaysia, these guys in suits are called the State Excos. Penang and Selangor, two PR administered States, who are among the richest and advanced in Malaysia, have far less "ministers" combined compared to my beloved Sarawak.This speaks volume on comparative perceptions of tax payers interpretations of the need for a State like Sarawak to have such sheer size of a cabinet.
Effectively, they will be tens and tens of glittering BMWs, Mercedes, private secretaries, personal assistants, support staff, salaries, travel allowances, round -the- world trips and heaps of other perks that their voters and tax payers will cough to maintain their upkeep and life style.
Now, roll up your sleeves and toil to serve us Sarawakians. Please walk the talk and deliver your sworn promises to us.

Barisan Nasional Unit Media Baru will wallop Opposition a PBB YB boasted!

2011-09-27T08:28:00.003+08:00

A PBB YB (legislator) said in a recent newspaper report that the Unit Media Baru of BN will wallop the opposition. BN 's financed UMB was principally conceptualised to counter all unsavoury and not pleasant- to- the ears of the powers-to-be reports ( which are mostly facts,anyway) on various issues, policies, flip flops, and all others under the sun that the opposition constantly persue and highlight in the alternative media.
Embarrassingly lacking in the fight for audience attention in the cyber world, especially after the last general election, the BN became a copy cat and "copy" what the opposition has been doing; the use of alternative media to reach out to throngs and thousands of the malaysian public via the blogsphere and the alternative media, thus the birth of their so-called Unit Media Baru. Hey YB, orang opposition dah pakai lama dah!
On a personal note I was supposed to head our then PRS UMB with very attractive sweeteners whilst holding the post of the deputy information chief but upon my resignation from the party, my other former colleagues took over.
Well,how are the BN cyber troopers doing so far in walloping the opposition in the blogsphere?
YB, for a blog to be successful in walloping people, first and foremost, the "visits" to that particular blog must be plenty, in at least a few thousands a day. The blog must have massive followers! What is the use of writing something in your blog if you can only attract 50 or so visits a day!
The present so-called blogs of BN UMB, (Know quite a few of them) has had very minimal"hits"or "visits". At the rate they are doing, the BN cyber troopers have miles and miles to go before they can catch up with notable opposition friendly blogs.
YB, your walloping theory is a day dream untenable.

Upper Mighty Rejang, The Pelagus, A River of Dry Tears!

2011-08-25T07:33:00.002+08:00

Amidst of numerous and endless controversies, from the word go, to the conceptualisation, construction and the eventual commissioning of the dammed dam, that dreaded mega structure had never failed to attract,baffled and awed critics and non critics alike; to the ludicrous so called PR excercises by politicians, the civil servants, the owners, the builders and the buyers, in defending the need for the dammed dam, the heartaches remain, very sadly, with the natives who were either displaced or those who remained staying below the dammed dam areas.

The curse and repercussion of the dammed dam now, right now, is for all of us to witness.
The sad stories of mysterious deaths from diseases, failed business ventures, bankruptcies, displacements, unfair and low compensation, broken promises,and, the list is several miles long!
Not to mention the complete destruction, in perpetuity, of the centuries old flora and fauna of the area.

Then come the commercial commissioning, billions will be made. By whom? Surely not by the natives displaced. In any which way, the natives will lose, in despair, in desperation.
Never, in Bakun, in history, a few had sacrificed for so many and walked away, forlornly, in a midst of their river in dry tears.

The 5 Iban Tan Sris!

2011-08-15T09:18:00.002+08:00

Admittedly, I have not even congratulate any of the 3 Iban Tan Sris that were given the title a few months back. I should, as i know them personally, and be very proud of the awards bestowed upon them by our King. Moreover, the awards of the 3 Tan Sris to a single native race in Sarawak in conjunction with his Majesty Birthday this year is historic and unprecedented. The famous 3 are Linggi, Mawan and James Masing. To sum up, our community now has 5 Tan Sris; including Leo Moggie and Jabu. Is that right?

In the eyes of the Powers-that-be, that had put up recommendations to the King for the award given must have painstakingly weighed all options and considerations, because as we all made to understand, the award of the titleTan Sri to an individual is not free flowing but stringent, to say the least. It is rumoured that a former local politician is eyeing the "Tan Sri ship" for years but to no avail despite sweeteners offered to the well connected.

The big and pertinent question asked will be, What has the 5 Tan Sris done abundantly and gainfully to the Iban Community thus far all these years, that the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister of Sarawak, or the Utility Company Tenaga, in the case of Leo Moggie , recommed to His Majesty that these politicians be bestowed the esteemed awards?

Hereunder could be the purported reasons;

1.Brilliant achievements in the social, economic and educational affairs of the community.
2.Being past and present Presidents of Dayak based political party/parties that remain loyal to
the Barisan Nasional come what may.
3. Have contributed financially to worthy cause and also to replenish the BN coffers .
4. Having been in the federal and state cabinets donkey years.
OR,
5. For successfully rent seeking and sold their community rights and honour.

Your pick?

Gawai Dayak and Ngiling Tikai in July?

2011-08-02T21:46:00.011+08:00

This post could have been seen as outdated but comments by Tan Sri William Mawan, the minister of social development, and Dr John Brian, the SDNU (Sarawak Dayak National Union) deputy President the last 48 hours, with regards to several quarters, mostly government initiated or funded, celebrating the ngiling tikai (closing of the Gawai) well after June aroused my interest and thus should be lauded.

Ideally, the Ngiling Tikai should be held by the 15th of June, or,at the latest, by end of June. To celebrate the Ngiling Tikai well into the month of July is overstretching and effectively diluting its significance.

BUT, what about celebrating the Gawai Dayak well into the month of July? More so if it is touted as the Gawai National Celebration? The excuse that invited VVIP guests could not make it to Penom, Betong before July to join the celebration was just plain lame excuse!

Is there noboby among the Dayak Ministers willing to stand up and tell the Ministry of Rais Yatim that it is not suitable to have the Gawai Dayak celebrated too far later than the 1st of June? Worst still, stretching it to nearly mid July? The National Gawai celebration in Penom, Betong was held, embarrassingly on the 11th July,2011! All Dayak Ministers and legislators kept mum,and worst still, nearly all turned up for the event at the Penom longhouse!

Borneo Warrior texted more than 20 Dayak and non Dayak legislators and Ministers highlighting this issue.Only Yb Datuk Joseph Salang,( the Deputy Minister of Rais Yatim ministry), Yb Datuk Peter Nansian and Yb Karim Hamzah replied. Salang said he was aware of it and was telling his officers to have an earlier date. Yb Peter Nansian noted with thanks. My dear friend Karim told me it was too petty and should not be too dramatically highlighted.

Dayak politicians should stood their grounds and advised their colleagues the rationale and significance of our tradition and culture and not to cheerfully and blindly politicised the ceremony to the whims and fancies of the unknowings.

Can we imagine our Chinese brothers celebrating chap goh meh later, much later than the stipulated period after the Chinese New Year?

Penom is the longhouse of Yb Datuk Uggah, a federal cabinet minister.

SALCRA'S participant woes; The never ending story!

2011-07-28T07:46:00.002+08:00

The Salcra estate is in Kampong Raso Lundu.The Land area is described as 756, Block 8, Stungkor Land District.
This participant has been in "partnership" with Salcra for many years and had not been given the appropriate dividend for very long.
Tabulated below is the detail;
Dividend declared but unpaid:

2006 (interim)= rm 522.62
(final) =rm 528.99

2007 (interim)=rm 888.56
(final) =rm 896.24

2008 (interim)=rm 747.25
(final) =rm 751.52

2004 dividend paid=rm 172.00
2010 (interim)= rm 3,200 not paid
2010(final) = rm 3,200 paid in July 2010.

There were no dividend paid in 2005 and 2009.

This participant is in agony and anguish as to why there is inconsistency in the declaring and disbursement of the dividends year in and out. This is in complete contrast to the facts trumpheted constantly in the media in glowing adjectives by the Minister who is also assuming the coveted chairmanship of Salcra, the massive dividends paid constantly to the scheme participants all these years.

The story above tells a different story, and am sure there are many others in the scheme who are in the same boat.

The payments of dividends to Salcra participants are deemed to be constantly inconsistent and the management of the scheme has to do some soul searching as to improve the overall performance of its corporate operation and administration. From the Chairman, to his board members, and all the management team will have to take due care and holistic approach to manage the scheme where all the participants are of our own "kind".

The case here illustrated is just a nip in the bud.

Note:Information herewith is not given by any SALCRA staff to the blogger but by the participant herself after letter sent to Salcra remained unanswered.

RMAF base, UNIMAS and UITM are neighbours.

2011-06-27T07:37:00.003+08:00

Looks like the BN controlled and led civil servants who are the country's town planners think it is alright to have the massive Royal Malaysian Airforce base built in close proximity with the two institutions of higher learning in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. With the roaring thunderous and supersonic sounds of the aircraft landing and taking off the authorities must have taking into consideration that the noises and pollution would be perfectly ok for the students studying and staying thereat.

Sarawak State Election: Baptism of Fire

2011-04-08T07:43:00.007+08:00

This is something I have not done in my life, which is not many, to offer myself as a candidate for the state constituency of Layar, proudly
Held by Alfred Jabu for countless terms, ( I have lost count)

We (together with my proposer and seconder) arrived at 0815 and waited for the centre to open at 0900am.
Shortly after, the PKR candidate, Stanny Embat and his entourage made a grand entrance. Embat is a close relative of mine.
We exchanged greetings warmly. Joe Unggang, from SNAP then came. Joe too is a relative. Embat handed his nomination papers first, followed by Joe and then yours truly, muklum lah orang independent!

As I was still sitting down, while the returning officer went through my nomination papers the grand big man came in followed by flashbulbs, scores of the press people, police and all.

But we made Jabu so small in that room that morning. All three of us refused to acknowledge his prescence. No greetings and hand shakes We did not extend ours and neither had he. Statesman and an elderly behavior you reckon? Jabu, is also a relative of both Embat and me showed his true colour that day in the nomination centre; sullen, sulking, stoned faced and poise to rumble and tumble!

Stanny Embat raised an objection to Jabu 's nomination papers that he stated his " pekerjaan" as the deputy chief minister of Sarawak.This was where the scenes became ugly. We waited till well over 12 pm awaiting the decision of the returning officer to make his decision. Insults were traded and we made the MAN so small! Unsavoury words were thrown at Jabu by several YBs from PKR that accompanied Stanny to the centre. In any case the objection was overruled and Jabu papers were accepted.

The returning officer, who is also the District Officer of Betong was professional in handling his job and wish to thank him for that.

Thank you Friday Bilek for job well done.

Now, for the tough fight ahead, wish me well friends. Jabu and BN have dished RM1000 per family in Ulu Layar and in Chinese areas in Betong town, and elsewhere it is RM500 per family obtained from the taxpayer's money of which you and me are the contributors, disguised as "Project Kilat".

What is the beef SALCRA?

2011-02-28T07:03:00.006+08:00

Just a few days ago, bids were called to supply the famed and most successful success story of a mainly Dayak Iban outfit, the oil palm entity, Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) with fertilizers in the thousands of metric tonnes.SALCRA is headed, administered and operated by who's who Dayak Ibans in Sarawak. The Chairman, the CEO and almost all its Board of Directors are Dayak Iban Ministers.The pertinent question is why is SALCRA sourcing for such fertilizers when they have their own huge fertilizer factory in Bintulu? It is just like Cement Manufacturers Sarawak (CMS) calling for bids to supply the giant cement company cement to its factory in Pending, which would make no business sense!

This is where the whole episode unfold!

SALCRA owns a big fertilizer company/factory in Bintulu that has "bitten the dust"!In other simple terms, The Sarawak Fertilizer Sdn Bhd has gone bust, kaput, and now begging the State Government to "bail" her out. The company apparently has ceased operation and is left out cold with close to thirty million in debts.

Sarawak Fertilizer is owned by SALCRA (30%), Yayasan Sarawak(15%), LCDA(15%), LAKMNS(15%),Bio Gift (20%)-J's family, and Duta Crest(5%)-V's family.

How could a fertilizer company that was incorporated to supply its product, fertilizer, to a ready market, like to its biggest shareholder SALCRA, could have
gone bust? Something must have gone terribly wrong.Is there going to be someone taking responsibility for the mess that Sarawak Fertilizer sdn bhd had gone into?
Well, your guess is as good as mine. No one will.

With a huge capital outlay for its operation, plus the mounting trade debts, the bailout and subsequent new injection of funds, ( God knows where the money will be from) the amount of money needed will be mammoth by any standard, considering the plain fact that an entity like SALCRA is sacredly answerable to its Dayak landowner partners, not that SALCRA even cared anyway, based on its poor records of declaring its shared profits in the past.

The Government bailout, whether it is going to be camouflaged as a soft loan (again, to hoodwink the public and taxpayers like you and me)will again, demonstrate that our own people had failed miserably in running a company that is very close to their hearts.The injection of fresh funds will thus relieve the shareholders of their corporate and statue responsibilities, which is a very bad practice and create an unwanted precedent.

But, fret not. The Chief Minister is known to have a very high degree of tolerance towards our Dayak Ministers! Which will push them to be forever indebted and "owning" mode permanently, so that famous fatherly phrase "yang dikashei" will stay relevant in time memorial.

The YB Larry Sng saga continues; options a few !

2011-02-14T23:34:00.005+08:00

Option One

PRS and its President will have to swallow their pride and admit Larry back to the fold;
The upside:
The problem will be settled. The CM will be very happy and so also The Sngs and the Tings will rejoice. Dr James will help Taib to solve this problem once and for all. Hugs and kisses and who knows, sweeteners will be thrown in as part of the whole package. Don't worry about the reactions from the other YBs and PRS followers, as they were never interested and bothered in the first place anyway.

Option Two

Wait for Taib to push PRS into the corner, shoved down Larry to PRS throat and then react accordingly: Dato Sri Dr James Masing to resign,walked away and leave the political scene completely.
The downside:
Will Joseph Entulu or Joseph Salang and the rest of the legislators follow suit? Or, will they carry the torch bearer without Dr James?

Option Three

Dr James will lead PRS and all their YBs/members to leave the State Barisan and join the Pakatan Rakyat and lead the assault against the State Barisan come the Sarawak State election.
The Upside;
Dr James and PRS will be considered as heroes(I may be wrong) by the Dayak community especially and will be welcomed by the Pakatan with open arms!

Take your pick!

The take on Larry Sng.

2011-02-13T23:22:00.002+08:00

Am really surprised that Larry Sng did write to the BN Federal Leadership that he wanted to be considered to be a direct BN candidate after a fall-out with PRS and its President. He probably did that initiative out from a hint sometimes back when the CM said that partyless Larry should apply direct to BN as a direct BN member and not as a direct BN candidate for Pelagus. Larry could have been confused in reading what CM Taib said.When the BN supreme council met during the weekend, his application was tabled but was rejected outright.There was never even a deliberation on the issue. Even Taib, who was present did not say anything on the subject. Weird!

Now, back in Sarawak, Taib said that Larry Sng is still relevant and is needed as he is"a strong Barisan supporter and worked very hard"! What now then? Is Taib stance not a defiance to the ruling made in KL just 48 hours ago? Well, brace for it PRS! Its Taib territory and there is no messing around.Taib is not interested in what the top leader in BN KL had to say on Sarawak affair, period! Be very afraid!

Well, my friends and former colleagues in PRS, what can I say? If this is not a form of bully, then might as well turn on the other cheek and let someone punched that as well! I truly have a great admiration for their deep tolerance for the beatings and insults thrown at the party throughout its turmoil and tribulations the last several years. Lesser persons and party would have put a fight to save its dignity, morale and political sovereignty.

Aye, Mr Prime Minister, everything is ok leh!

2011-02-08T23:12:00.004+08:00

The anticipated one on one meeting between the Prime Minister and the State Legislators (ADUN) from the Barisan Nasional in Sarawak took place in a luxury resort-styled hotel in Miri over the weekend. It was reported that all the 63 BN ADUNs met up with the PM, except the maestro, i think, need not to be grilled by the PM. So, its only 62 then!

The absence of the CM speaks for itself the power that our beloved CM wield over,even the PM need not "interview" him for an appraisal!
By the way, it would be interesting for us to speculate on what the YBs had to say to the PM in that meeting. Had the Dayaks YB raised the hard pressed issues pertaining to their community? What about education? Business opportunities? Scholarships? Employment? NCR? Non-renewal of land titles? Nepotism?Cronyism? Land grabbing by the well connected?Destruction of forests in their own constituency?

And, heaps and heaps of others? Or,was it,"Sir, the PM, no, no, everything is ok in my area, sure win one, if i were given the chance to defend my seat this time around!
Your guess is as good as mine. Personally, I know most of the YBs, especially from my former party, PRS! Its the camatose ahli yang berhormat all under the tight rein and patronage of the big boss.Its all lips sealed, hear no evil and speak no evil!

SNAP'S RESURGENCE?

2011-01-12T23:44:00.004+08:00

It is quite obvious that SNAP has leapfrogged and unexpectedly looking like a peacock ready to mate, rumble and tumble, come what may! Looks like Sarawak's oldest political party is poised to spearhead the challenge to take the rudder of the Pakatan warship to war, leading the assault of Sarawak BN in the impending state election to be held at Taib's whim and fancy this year, coincidentally his "wedding" year as well.Well, remember Pak Lah? He got a new wife before the General election and the BN lost several states to the opposition!

News on the ground is that there has been a renewed interests enveloping as soon as SNAP is seen as leading the opposition assault. Firstly, she is a local entity and she looks attractive enough to court, amply supported by the West Malaysian DAP and PKR. This scenario is a first in Sarawak where a local opposition party is allied by the bigger brothers from the West Unlike the PBDS days, standing precariously alone and were attacked by all and sundry, fighting solely and hopelessly. Now, SNAP, also essentially a Dayak based, with massive pedigree, will be supported by the big brothers in PKR and DAP, who are no pushovers, as they controlled and governed several States in West Malaysia.

This time around many believed that the battle ground is even better than the scenario in 1987 if SNAP is able to strategise well and with adriot precision.
Political players,pundits, bystanders and the stakeholders will be wary that this is likely to be nearer than expected to post Taib era and a brilliant execution of political alliances and correct strategies must be executed to achieve whatever ambitions people have to wrest power from the ruling state BN. Will SNAP and her allies be able to achieve this? Is the purported groundswell for real or just mere wild imaginings? Will the exPBDS stalwarts and members, the partyless,the new players and all people who are sick of the present government will be up in arms and fight the BN fixed deposits territory? Time will tell. Lets see.

Najib's Dilemma, early election or not?

2010-10-18T07:31:00.004+08:00

To call or not to call an early election, thats the PM dilemma. To spearhead his so-called reforms, he needs his own lineup of handpicked team and not the ones that he inherited from Pak Lah's. But thats just only one consideration. What about heaps of others?

His greatest worry will be whether the Pakatan ruled States will agree to dissolve their respective State Assembly just to accomodate him. Afterall they have just warming their seats and rule for only over two years. If thats the case will Najib be satisfiied to only call for the Federal (Parliamentary Election)? There will be political implications. Prior to the last election, it was never an issue as UMNO controlled all States except Kelantan, but the tenure of rule for Kelantan and the Federal Government was the same and so it was alright then. Will he also consider the timing of the Sarawak State election as well? Will he also waiting for the results of the impending by-elections as a barometer?

To add to his woes, there are numerous other factors to take into account. These are mountain loads.

The 250km logjam, an ecological disaster!

2010-10-09T22:12:00.003+08:00

Catastropic Ecological disaster of immense proportion! What now?

2010-10-09T21:24:00.011+08:00

These are our State of Sarawak and her Government people would say all these years:

" We practice the most holistic approach to logging activities".....

" We always maintain the best of International Standard and practices in our forest management"...." Even the ITO salute our practices, we were certified as the best country to have the best approaches to logging activities.."

" We maintain continous sustainability and reforestation, and we respect our jungles and all its inhabitants"......

"We have a systematic, enviornmental friendly, responsible and sustainable methodology in our due care of our forests and rivers, primarily to safeguard our flora and fiona, our marine life and plants, and, all living things in our rainforests and its surroundings"...

WELL WELL....those pictures that we all see tell the REAL STORIES.....!

BUT...You know what our politicians will say and comment?

Wah..unusual floods and rainfall occured up the Rejang that caused the massive floods...and so on and on and on..........!!

Folks, its the most disastrious and sad scenes of the MIGHTY REJANG I have ever seen!

The Brookes family ruled our beloved State for 100 years...and, any timber licences issued? Our own people rule Sarawak...for not even half of that period and what can you and me see infront of our own eyes! A DISASTER of immense proportion...

The Communist Insurgency in Malaya; The Documentary, is a farce without even mentioning the Roles of the Sarawak Rangers.

2010-09-15T07:35:00.006+08:00

I watched several times the screening of National Geographic documentary " The Emergency in Malaya" specially filmed in conjunction with the National Day celebration recently. The documentary detailed the "undeclared war" where the Communist terrorists (termed by the British) tried to capture Malaya and rule her in accordance with the Communist ideology, doctrine and principles. The British colonists, at all cost, must stop this spread of communism, resulting in a series of bloody battles, mainly fought guerrila warfare style in both the cruel,dense, malaria infested Malayan jungles as well as its rural areas, plantations and tin mines.

Both sides suffered tremendously. Even the British Governor was ambushed and shot dead. Thousands of lives were lost, some very dishonourably.

The documentary narrowed down personalities, events, methods, tactics and the rest; Templer, Briggs, The SB, the New Village, the rationed system of limitations even on rice supply, the
central cooking, the orang asli Sg Praq, the barbed wired village, the turncoats, the secret murders; EXCEPT THE SARAWAK RANGERS!

How on earth the National Geographic Producers, Scriptwriters and the researchers MISSED the roles played by the SARAWAK RANGERS? THE MOSTLY DAYAK Soldiers died there for
Malaya (not Malaysia). How on earth would the bloody British soldiers patrolled the cruel and merciless jungles of Malaya, fresh from England, some even barely 20 years old, without the help of the Dayak trackers?

Even to this bloody day, the ex-Army association still tried to relocate several graves of the Dayak Soldiers who died during the Emergency, seen scattered all over, even by the roadside in West Malaysia, testimonies of them fighting and being killed, and buried unceremoniously. FOR WHAT? FOR WHOM?

Sorry, I have to stop here...angry and feel betrayed like shit! Am sorry for the KANANGS, THE RENTAPS, and..the list goes on and on...unnoticed and forgotten forever...!

SUPP Cry Baby.

2010-09-07T06:55:00.002+08:00

"Give us our due", " Cut false praise" , screamed the headlines of The Star the last two days, consecutive days at that, (Sunday, 5th September and Monday, 6th September) highlighting the SUPP President uproar of displeasure on the political and business situations in Sarawak amidst intense speculation that his party may leave Barisan National.

George Chan was reported to have said that his party has to be more" vocal and demanding and hoped that the government would give the people what is due to them and correct any unfairness". He went on to say that the "small and medium businesses are not getting enough opportunities to get contracts". He also said that certain government leaders do not even know what the chinese want.

The deputy Cm also said that "apple-polishing culture make the government lose touch with people".

Ironically, who is the government George Chan refers to? We all thought that he is all this while the deputy Cm, and that makes him the 2nd man in the Sarawak government, after the supremo, the Chief Minister himself! George Chan has been the deputy chief minister for donkey years as well as holding very important ministerial portfolios at one time or the other throughout his tenure, even to this present day.

The small and medium businesses part: Why is SUPP complaining now? Are you telling us that SUPP has been "taking care" of only the big businesses and tycoons all these while? Look at these huge and mammoth projects in Sarawak; the Baram port, the Senjingkat power station, the Medical centre in Kota Samarahan, the Pig Centralised Farm area in Simunjan; Ain't these projects initiated by SUPP and their people in the Government?

Now, the apple-polishing part. Apple-polishing who? Who polishes whose apple? For years SUPP has nothing but praise and jubilation what with hundred of pages of congratulatory messages and advertisements when the Cm is celebrating his birthdays, anniversaries of his marriage, years in office, and, even condolences.

It is baffling that SUPP and their president now cry foul..with all the trappings all these years. It is for all of us Sarawakians to see.It is undeniable, and, in all honesty and fairness, that Taib has given SUPP and its leaders and "partners" in business ample opportunities resulting in so many millionaires among their midst.

The Dayaks in PRS , PBB and SPDP? Its the crumbs under the table for the takings....compared to what SUPP has got!

So, it does not matter whether SUPP leave Barisan or not, does it?
Either way..writings are on the wall.

Non-renewal of Land tenure in Betong.

2010-08-25T08:02:00.006+08:00

There was this unusual dialogue held on the 30th July at SRK Chung Hwa school in Betong (of all places) that had this bold theme that surprised everyone! "RE: Jemputan ke majlis dialog bagi tanah yang terletak di kawasan Betong town District on 30 July at Sjk Chung Hua"

Why at the Chung Hua school? Its because the topic will effect the mainly chinese folks. You see, in Betong everything is politics...lock, stock and barrel..! So, to kinda respect and tarik ati the chinese, lets hold this dialogue at a chinese school. For your kind information, the Dewan Rentap is much bigger and more suitable than the Chung Hua.

So, the gist of it all is this...All land that is 3km square radius covering the Betong town areas will NOT BE RENEWED after its expiry. Thats mean, all land in Semumok, Pasar Miskin, Paya Udak, Gernis, Entanak, Lempaong, Bebanggai, Tg Palai, part of Malaban, all that part of areas along Tg Assam Rd and all surrounding areas will not renewed come its expiry date.
This policy or ruling, or whatever you called them, will hit hard the land owners in these areas.

It is very naive of us to rely on the Sarawak Land code to administer all administrative and legal land matters. Nowadays, politicians, especially "older" ones, decide a policy terribly impromptu and at impulse.

Already, this State Government is bogged down by numerous land cases suit served against her, and now this, its baffling. There must be something terribly wrong, either your Land Law is flawed, or your land policy is bad, that there are hundreds of court cases pending against the Government resulting in the aforementioned. Not forgetting the millions of tax payers money coughed out by the Government to pay for damages awarded. And now this weird decision, almost suicidal in nature.

The dailogue was chaired by Alfred Jabu and surrounded by top civil servants in Betong.
Eagerly awaiting the aftermath and retribution comes next election, if any..

By the way,please be reminded that once your lease expires, there is no compensation.
You, the landowners will have to decide. Renew now, you have no chance to have the approval. You wait for expiry date, all will be gone..no compensation and no ownership of the land.

SUPP pre-emptive move.

2010-08-17T08:38:00.003+08:00

So there was this group of SUPP stalwarts creeping their way to Putrajaya to "sound" to PM Najib that something is amiss in Sarawak and that SUPP is no longer able to hold the fort in the forthcoming State Election. Situation is almost near panic, or else SUPP won 't be stoopng so low to veily knock the heavens door of PM's office,almost in secrecy. Its very "un SUPP y" for SUPP to have done, knowing their antics and political vain in the last 20 t0 30 years holding supremacy ruling Sarawak, JV with other BN parties. SUPP was then the pride of the Sarawak chinese, mainly. Presently, things are remarkably different.

The urban and mainly chinese voters in Sarawak are reportedly going to vote for DAP this time around. They seemed to abandon SUPP and throw their support to DAP. Thus SUPP has not much choice but to pre-empt the embarrassment and "cry baby" to PM.

With the meeting shrouded in secrecy, nothing much was known, but your guess is as good. There will be issues of the land premiums, CM 's family business, etc..etc..

But, lest we forget, has not SUPP enjoyed all the trappings all these years under Taib's rule?

Oh ...Dayak Politicians!

2010-07-28T07:56:00.003+08:00

Of late Dayak politicians/ministers are seemed to be paranoid when others and NGOs are seen as trying to help our fellow kind in distress. Take the Penan alledged rape cases. When NGOs, foreign and local are trying to bring up the issue to the relevant authorities, our own politicians speedily formed their own opinions that Penans are great story tellers. One Dayak deputy Chief Minister insisted that the relevant NGOs must come with solid evidences that the Penan are really being constantly raped! Why do those politicians have to do all these?Who are they trying to defend and protect? The timbermen that come with the loots everytime they need them, or, the big boss that give the timber boys the right to cut the tress and " rub" the poor Penan girls at the same time?

For goodness sake, NGOs are not legal entities to gather evidences to bring the wrongdoers to court. Its the work of the Police, and Police alone. Only the Police can gather evidences and proceed to investigate a criminal case as alledged rape. Certainly not NGOs. NGOs can pass those evidences to the Police if they have any.

In any case, it is heartdrenching that our own politicians will cry foul when others are trying to honestly help us.

Take the case of the NCR. The minute the Federal Government want to assist the State Government by granting some funds to survey the NCR, the same Iban deputy chief Minister straightaway said it is difficult to carry out the survey as the natives themselves are quarrelling over the ownership of their NCR! Can we believe this?

The State said that they cannot survey the NCR all this while because the State has no resources and money. Ok, now Najib wants to give the money, the iban dy CM said the natives always quarrelled over their land! Oh...Dayak politicians!!

Well, probably not all Dayak politicians, but only those whose aim is to please the advocates of containment of Dayak advancement.

SUPP has been forewarned.

2010-06-29T08:26:00.005+08:00

SUPP, Sarawak's oldest political party has been reportedy told by the maestro Taib to roll up its sleeves and be ready, really ready to face the mainly Chinese electorates in the impending State Eection in their respective urban ADUN areas or face a bleak future. The CM gave the stern warning during the last cabinet meeting, and, again at the retreat for legislators last week in the Mulu Resort.

Taib Mahmud told SUPP that he could not accomodate them in the next State Administration if they (SUPP) still keep on losing their seats. It must be noted that at the present State Admin line-up SUPP still keep their Ministerial and other political posts despite losing nearly half of their ADUN seats/legislators during the last State Election. George Chan himself, the President, even still keep his DCM's post.

With the current feelings on the ground, what with the DAP lurking and eager to push SUPP over the cliff, it is interesting times ahead coming polls day in Sarawak. No SUPP seat will be considered safe,not even George Chan's own in Miri, or the SUPP Dayak seats of Opar, Bengoh and Simanggang, where Francis Harden anak Hollis won a whopping 4258 majority over a SNAP candidate. Not this time, pundits reckon.

How will the Chinese react if SUPP representation in the State Administration be minimal if indeed the doomsayers are right? What about if only their Dayak seats are the only ones intact?
Will George Chan/Taib appoint Francis Harden, assuming he wins, be the DCM, even if SUPP only win 4-5 seats? If that happens, how will James Masing and Mawan feel, if PRS and SPDP win all their seats? (or, even if losing one or two.)

Your prediction? SUPP would-be performance, I mean.

Dayak Iban still BN fixed Deposit?

2010-05-23T07:29:00.013+08:00

It is only a myth and false hope by PKR that the Dayak Iban in the rural areas of Sarawak are slowly shifting their support to the opposition what with all sort of so-called unhappiness and general dissatisfaction towards the BN government purportedly in robbing of their NCR land, perceived corruption, nepotism, bad governance and you name the rest of them.

The Batang Ai by-election last year was a glaring example. At that time innumerable excuses were given. PKR Jawa Gerang was soundly beaten by Malcolm Mossen. Batang Ai comprised of almost 100% Dayak Ibans. They overwhemingly voted for BN. The brute force of BN's war chest of dishing out promised development projects and cash admittedly attributed to the embarrassing loss, so they reasoned.

In the recent Sibu by-election, how did the Dayak Iban voting pattern go? Well, the chinese votes went an almost 30% increase towards DAP. The Dayak Ibans? An increase of 3% to the BN!

The majority of Dayak Iban voters are in Pasai, Sg. Aup, Penasu, Rassau, Rantau Panjang, Tutus, Sg. Pinang and Sg. Sebedil areas within the State constituency of Bawang Assan.

In Sg Sebedil, only 5 voted for DAP while 151 voted for BN. Comparatively in 2008, 19 voted for DAP and 141 voted for SUPP's BN. In Rantau Panjang, 74 voted for DAP and 339 voted for BN. In the 2008 election, 101 voted for DAP and 271 voted for BN. In Sg Pasai, 128 voted for DAP while BN got 368 votes, a majority of 240 votes. Similiarly, in Panasu, 130 voted for DAP and 470 voted for BN. Even in Aup, where certain PKR Dayak personalities and leaders come from, lost to the BN. DAP ganered 235 and BN obtained 304.

In total, in those Dayak Iban areas mentioned, the BN won by 1394 votes. (DAP/PR 1113/ BN 2507).It must be noted that almost all PKR Dayak leaders were in those areas in the campaign, yet to no avail.

DAP/PR won the Sibu by-election but the opposition cannot claim that the Dayak Ibans are behind them, not yet anyway. This demonstrate, at least for now, that the Dayak Ibans are still wanting in terms of basic infrastructures and of course the cash strewn around in any election in Sarawak and everywhere too, a proven but dirty tactics of the BN.

The PKR, and notably their Dayak Leaders must be scratching their heads on how to convince the Dayak Ibans that PKR is a viable, honest, democratic, good and responsible government that can bring progress, stabiliity and prosperity to this country.

My Smses to some of my Iban friends in PKR , trying asking them on whats really gone wrong, remained unanswered, except from ex-yb Jimmy Donald. Thank you yb!
With the State election in Sarawak looming, its going to be a herculean task indeed. It is back to the drawing board.

Against all odds, its still a victory.

2010-05-16T23:19:00.013+08:00

If not for the traditional "fixed deposits" of the BN from the postal voters, the loss would had been rather bad. It is nothing really to shout about for the BN if you have to depend on the Army and Police to deliver the votes to gain victory in any election. Its quite pathetic to say the least.

Still, at the final tally of the Sibu by-election, the victory for DAP hinges on the results of the postal votes that had been a cause of a small dispute, thus the delay in the announcement of the final result. DAP had won by a 398 votes majority.

The trend said it all. In the last State Election, all the 3 State seats that constitute the Sibu Parliament seat (Nangka, Pelawan and Bawang Assan) were won by the BN with a 7582 majority. Then in the last Parliamentary election the majority was greatly reduced by half. Now, DAP won it over from the BN and thus added one extra seat for the party in the federal Parliament. Effectively, the PR will further the imminent 2/3 majority grasp of the BN in Parliament to 5.

It is very mind-boggling that despite hundreds of millions of projects and hand-outs, promises and promises of other earthly goodies, thousands and thousands of the civil service workforce, the media and other bottom-less-pits of you-name-them, the DAP could still hold on and even won, albeit razor-thinly! There must be really something, or even certain personality in the midst of the BN leadership that the rakyat had enough, really had enough of ,that could have been the "Achllles Heel" !

To the State BN government of the gang of four, PBB, SUPP, PRS and SPDP, are you ready for the onslaught?

Sibu by-election ONE big goodie.

2010-05-13T07:16:00.012+08:00

As part of the BN government campaign sweetner for the Sibu by-election is to pour 600 million for the town's flood mitigation works. This pledge is nothing new. Its has been promised for years.The BN strategy of dishing out goodies in the form of development and cash for the so-called needy is sticking like sore thumb. Its almost like an insult to the constituents, and, yet there are ever willing takers collecting crumbs under the table. Its so pathetic and sad. Democracy is twisted wholly and unashamedly.

So why spend 600 million of tax payers money to mitigate the perennial flood problems in Sibu where the government can do it for "free" and earn lots of money at the same time? Nope, am not kidding.

Here is the simplest of proven primitive but effective theory. When we were small and had to help to tend to the rice fields, my grandfather used to ask us to help in tackling the overflooded simple irrigation drainage where the upper reaches of the drain is always overflowing. We were tasked to look at which stretch of our drain that impeded the flow of water that caused the flood. We would "patrol" the stretch of the drain and we always found that the problem would always be at the "mouth" of the drain where mud, debris and other swamp affluents rested, silted and formed a dam-like stopper, thus impeding the flow of water to the "mouth" of the drain. It was easy for us to solve. We removed all the siltation, and presto, all overflown water would gush downwards and the flood was solved instantly.

The flood in Sibu is admittedly caused by massive siltation. With logging and all sort of developments going on in the Rejang basin, it is no denial that the flow of water in the once mighty Rejang succumbed to the universal enviornmental catastrophe. No drainage systems will guarantee a non-flood situation, unless we construct dykes that the Dutch use in Holland. But the cost will be mammoth and is not a viable option.

Here is the suggestion based on my grandfather proven theory.

Grant 10 or so dredging licences to companies. Task them to dredge the mouths of the Rejang delta. They can export and sell the sands to Singapore who is an ever eager buyer, and locally as well, with thousands of kilometres of coastal roads presently under construction, demand for sand is enormous. The Government will earn money through royalties and the flood in Sibu will be solved for free. So why spend 600 million?

Sarawak's CM successon Plan.

2010-05-07T07:23:00.007+08:00

It is normal predicament for a ruler who ruled for a very long tenure to find it increasingly difficult to get a successor. This is more so if that ruler rules absolutely, uninterruptedly and with an iron fist singly. The coalition, as in the case of the State of Sarawak is just a guided and purposely orchestrated to smoothen the administration where all decisions will be directed deftly into the Chief Executive 's "in file" tray for his final nod.

Remember when Marcos , Adi Amin, Pol Pot and the likes left office? The country turned chaotic and their successors could never emulate the rules and the grip of power like their former bosses did. And closer to home, how Abdullah Badawi failed miserably when he took over the powerful Mahathir.

In Sarawak, the same story applies. Taib will find it extremely difficult to find the right person to eventually succeed him as the Chief Minister. Among the aspirants, no one is even close to his
superbly manicured, visionary, bold and adriotly manoeuvred administrative and political organs.

The pretenders, Tengah, Adenan and Abg Johari , all native muslims, are all seen as likely successor for donkey years but to no avail. Then out of a blue, an unlikely name appeared in the person of Jabu, who for donkey years as well, has been Taib's deputy both in the State administration and in PBB, Taib's political Party. Why the big deal? Dosen't the deputy normally takes over the chief's post? But in reality, Jabu has been ruled out as Taib's successor from day one. Not even once did Taib ever mentioned that his most trusted and ever willing follower Jabu will eventually takes over. Abg Johari is a deputy president 2 (Jabu is Deputy President 1) and Tengah is a senior vice president while Adenan is an ordinary member. As we all can see, Jabu is much more senior than the three aspirants.

Why the interest in non-hopper Jabu now?

Jabu's name is being toyed by Tun Rahman, the former CM, Governor and Taib's uncle, as a rightful contender to succeed Taib, citing Jabu's seniority and vast experiences, being in Taib's (also including Rahman's own, during his tenure as the CM ) administration in more than 30 over years. This is where the plot thickens. As we all know, Rahman led a team of legislators to overthrow Taib in 1987, dubbed as The Ming Court Affair, but failed, albeit narrowly. Now Taib and Rahman are in blossom term, citing that blood is thicker than water, being uncle and nephew blood connection.

So why Jabu now? Is this to throw spanner in the woodwork? Is this to thwart any overzealous
aspirant to go overboard and cause disunity in PBB? Or, is this the famous "BOGEYMAN POLITICS" that has been the hallmark of Sarawak politics conceived by a very senior politician . The Tawi Sli episode in the 70s crossed the mind instantly....! oops! And yes, this theory had forever changed Sarawak's political landscape to the present day. ( By the way, for the younger readers, please kindly ask the elder folks what we meant here as the Tawi Sli episode linking with the bogeuman theory in Sarawak politics.)

Is Jabu the compromise caretaker for the interim? Or, is it the bogeyman theory working overtime?

The bogeyman theory: "The "three" of you better work together and dont split the Party or else Taib will push for Jabu." You all will lose and an Iban will be the next CM!

The interim story: Taib will be the next Governor and my ever loyal man Jabu be the next CM to protect all and sundry!

Take your pick ,or, better still, create another likely scenario, BUT based only on Rahman's float
of Jabu as the likely and deservedly so successor to Taib, our beloved CM.

The state of the Police Force.

2010-05-04T07:33:00.009+08:00

Being an ex-police officer, am saddend by the endless and severe brickbrats, criticisms and an almost non-confidence and helplessness on the perception of the Malaysian public towards the men in blue.

I joined the Force as an Inspector bearing proudly the Force no. I 7100. Search my records in Bukit Aman and am proud(I think,anyway) that when I resigned honourably in 1986 , my discharge certificate was untainted. I served for 11 years. Most of these years were "very active" service, e.g I was a platoon commander for the fearless Special Branch Probing Unit in Rascom for several years. Ask my boss then, Datuk Ramsay Jitam, on how we patrolled the huge jungles of the Rejang Basin to defend our beloved State and country for months at a stretch with just a group of 5 or 6 men during the communists insurgency years.

After that stint, I was posted to Kuching as an officer-in-charge of Kuching District, a position considered a hotspot then! As for my next posting, I was whisked to the centre of KL as an investigation officer at Jalan Bandar, again at the centre of "happenings" of KL, admittedly the busiest of all Balai Polis in Malaysia. My Commissioner then, Dato Seri Yuen Yet Leng, specially tasked that I should be posted there. He said" Tedewin, you had served in the para-military (SBPU) and now the city policing.. only then you will be a "complete" Police officer.." he said.

To the present day. On 29th May, 2010, my squadmates of 1/75 will congregate in Miri to catch up and update ourselves and also to reminisce the good old days. Several of my squadmates now are top serving police officers and one is a pontential IGP!

I will corner and zero in and to question him on what has really happening to the Force now compared to those glory days when the PDRM were under the command of top and examplary Police officers such as Tan Sri Hanif, Dato Seri Yuen, D Alegendra, Aloysius Chin, Tan Sri Khoo and a host of others, to name a few. At least those days I could name and even emulate a few, but can we name even one or two now?

With what has been happenings these days, and most recently, the unfortunate fatal shooting of Aminulrasyid Amzah, the Force reputation must have been at its lowest ebb.

Definitely, my next "meeting" with my former squadmates will not be for only social and personal updates ( to ask; how many cuchus, children to Us..etc..) but of more serious exchanges
of honest engagement on ''Whats happening to our Police Force" nowadays. It is of paramount importance because several of them are and will be the next top commanders of the various Departments in Bukit Aman and Chief Police Officers in the various States in Malaysia. And , as I said earlier, one could be the next IGP!

SCORE to win the Sibu by-election.

2010-04-30T06:27:00.004+08:00

SUPP Stalwart Wong Soon Koh had fired the first salvo by warning the constituents in Sibu that they must vote for BN or else the big plans for SCORE be impeded. Its a veil threat to thwart development if the people dont support and vote the BN. Its an effective strategy used by them since day one. The Minister envisaged that Sibu will be a hub, financial and commercial centre as well as gateway to the Corridor.

The perception above does not hold water at all. Simply put, Sibu will not be the take- off town for the Corridor but Bintulu. Admittedly there will be spin-offs in Sibu, but Bintulu will be the headquarters for RECODA, the authority that will administer SCORE. Bintulu will admittedly be the hub surely. Wong Soon Koh is the Second Finance Minister of Sarawak and for him to say things like that is plain naive and an insult to the electorates in Sibu.

Is this Government telling us that if you dont vote for the Barisan in the impending Sibu by-election the big plans for CORRIDOR will be thrown out over the window?

What about the billions of ringgit earmarked, planned and executed for the infrastructure works presently carried out in the CORRIDOR? Are you telling us that they all will be scrapped? What about those contractors that had been awarded the contracts, and mind you, those big contractors are whos who in Sarawak, well connected and close to the powers-that-be and you are telling us that the works will be cancelled if BN loses in Sibu?

How about Bakun? Where is the power heading for if CORRIDOR is erased? What about the gigantic smelter plant? What about those numerous so-called investment trips overseas that the Government and the CM and even yourself led to attract investors to invest in CORRIDOR? And, additionally, the rest of "hub" businesses that we have been drumming for years? Is this government telling us that if the BN loses the Sibu by-election then all these grandoise plans will be scrapped? Are you telling us that the hundreds of billions coming along into the CORRIDOR will be stopped just because of a by-election result?

Firstly, the by-election will not change the Government. Secondly, no sane Government will do that. Thirdly, choose other "threat" thats sane.

Excuse me, are you my Minister?

2010-04-23T08:14:00.007+08:00

Sarawak State Government is bloated with Ministers and hordes of Assistant Ministers taking multiple portfolios and their Boss is the Chief Minister, himself incharge of Finance and Resources! Resources?Its land, gold, copper, coal, gas and all the lots that can churn the money bags.

These Ministers are all called "The Minister of Rural Development, etc..etc OF SARAWAK! This is the contention..The Minister of Sarawak! But alas! Look and feel and experienced it all on how these Ministers ministering their respective duties as "The Minister of Sarawak!

Here is the reality!

There is a Deputy Chief Minister who is overzealously and "warlordly" concentrating all developments (almost mainly building government offices and government quarters (no economic spin-offs) in a so-called new Division. There is also a deputy chief Minister who concentrates his so-called development efforts in an oil town up north. What about a senior Minister who is also priortising developments up north bordering Brunei and Sabah?
The CM? Well, we all can see the rapid physical growth of Kota Samarahan and Mukah.
What can we say? They will have to please their constituents first and foremost.
This is today's nature of politics of developing your backyards first.

In the earlier years, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, as the CM then travelled and spread development and visit all places far and wide. He hardly prioritised the development of Betong, his hometown. Infact the town road was still unsurfaced and very muddy in the landas season, even during his tenure as the Chief Minister. Ningkan could have tar sealed at least the street road, or even his footpath to his Bukit Bangkit hut just half a kilometre away.

Similarly,Daniel Tajem, himself a former Deputy Chief Minister, has been constantly and unendingly criticsed for failing to bring development to Lingga, Sebuyau and Simanggang.

What about Endawie, also a former deputy Chief Minister from Saratok? Did he concentrate to bring development to his hometown of Saratok?

Thats the differences between now and then.

Were the Ministers of yesteryears unknowingly ignorant, unvisionary, or just couldnt be bothered? Or, were they too "straight" and wary of being scrutinised as unsavourily prioritising developments in their own turfs?

What about the present crops? With news filtering that numerous projects meant for certain areas were being"smuggled" to another, spoke volumes on how the powers -to- be prioritised their development spread according to ones' fancies. Were these characters and mechanism of good governance? Certainly the National Auditor Reports suggested otherwise.

We all thought that all these distinguished YBs and Ministers are all "OUR" ministers and ministers of all areas and nook and corners of our beloved Sarawak..not a minister of Betong, Miri, Limbang, Lawas or Mukah respectively!

DAP/PR Sarawak ardous task ahead.

2010-04-21T06:00:00.008+08:00

DAP and its opposition Partners, the newly minted PR Sarawak will face gigantic battle ahead in trying to wrest the Sibu parliamentary seat, the traditional fort of the SUPP in the impending by-election. This parliamentary seat is encompassing the ADUN seats of N47 Bawang Assan, N48 Pelawan and N 49 Nangka.

To win this by-election, the opposition will have to narrow down into the core supporters of the BN and convince them that there is a genuine alternative to the BN Government as seen in Selangor and Penang, the richest States in Malaysia. Tell these folks simple and actual fact, e.g, the argument that the minute they land in LCCT and KLIA, while visiting their children in the Universities or for holidays, these "icons" landmarks are in Pakatan Rakyat governed States! Just remind them those things!

The main battle will be in the Iban areas in Bawang Assan and the Malays in Nangka. The predominantly Chinese will be at least 75% behind the opposition, especially in Pelawan. This, let the DAP slug it out.Thus, to win, the leaders of PAS and PKR should concentrate in the longhouses and the Malay Kampongs in Bawang Assan and Nangka respectively. Get half of the total votes among the Ibans and the Malays in Bawang Assan and Nangka, PR Sarawak will run home in the quest for this important and significant seat.

In the last election, BN won this seat mainly from the Bawang Assan and more so, Nangka constituents.

SUPP 's double jeopardy.

2010-04-13T07:27:00.006+08:00

SUPP President must be in a precarious situation nowadays where he has been facing a daunting task in deciding who will be the next Chairman of Padawan Council and now, an additional feel of remorse and sadness due to the loss of his Party's MP and a deputy Minister in the person of the late Robert Lau in a span of the last ten days or so.Its a double jeopardy effect.

Already there was this problem in replacing the Chairman of the Padawan Council with the "politically" right candidate. (the chairmanship of this suburban council fell vacant when its former Chairman, Yb Tan Joon Poi was appointed as an assistant Minister recently). The Bidayuh community insisted that a Bidayuh leader from SUPP should be given the job, arguing the fact that they have been loyal and steadfastly behind the Party in good and bad times. Now they want appreciation and some sort of recognition from the mainly elite Chinese leaders in SUPP, principally its President, Dr George Chan. But so far, its still of no avail and of great contention. This is because the majority chinese members in SUPP want a Chinese to lead MPP (Majlis Pembandaran Padawan).

Now this. Who will replace the late Robert Lau as a deputy Minister in Kuala Lumpur? Already the Bidayuh community has vigorously lobbied for the slot as they have no representation in PM's Najib Cabinet when Dr Tiki Laffe, himself a bidayuh, was not appointed (eventhough Dr Tiki was from SPDP and there was none from PBB as well) in the present cabinet lineup.

It is interesting to watch how SUPP will appease its "minority" partner in both instances.
With SUPP facing DAP in the urban areas of Sarawak and its support among the urban Chinese dwindled to rock bottom, SUPP must realised by now that the party needs very badly the support from its rural Dayak/Bidayuh constituencies.

Ideally, Yb Richard Riot, a several term Bidayuh Member of Parliament and also the most senior of the lot in SUPP should fittingly fit the bill to replace the late Robert Lau, thus giving the Bidayuh a representative in the Cabinet. Additionally, Dr Jerip, Ranum, both State legislators, or any other Bidayuh leaders should be given the Chairmanship of Padawan. By so doing, at least, the Party that the Bidayuh so feverishy support should seriously ponder to give some sort of appreciation. To do so is both politically and morally correct. But, a big BUT; will the majority and the elitist Chinese in SUPP give way to their brotherly Bidayuh?

Bits and Pieces...

2010-04-06T08:07:00.006+08:00

CM of Sarawak years in Office.

For the record, Taib Mahmud's 29 years in office as the Chief Minister of Sarawak had equalled that of the First Rajah of Sarawak, James Brooke, who too ruled for 29 years, from 1839-1868.
Taib however, will never be able to break the 2nd Rajah's Charles Brooke tenure of 49 years as a ruler of Sarawak from 1868-1917, an astounding 49 years, lest we forget!

Adenan's returns...

And, as for Adenan Satem so-called return to the State Administration as an advisor, perceptions abounds. Advisor to whom and what advice will Adenan give the crafted, wily, seasoned, subtle and refined politician and the masterly Taib? Simply and bluntly put, his "return" is seen as to throw the spanner in the woodwork to thwart any successor wannabes.
The conductor of the Sarawak political philharmonic orchestra is back in cruise control to deafning applause from the appreciative audience.

Sarawak civil servants.

As for the Sarawak Civil Servants that have been in service for the last 29 years, they have never served or known any other boss but Taib Mahmud, that would have included all, even possibly including the present State Secretary, the Permanent Secretaries, Residents, District Officers and the whole lot of them. Thats the ultimate power to the core!

Sarawak Rural Voters Perception of The Government.

2010-03-09T08:11:00.004+08:00

In Sarawak, if you are not with the BN in your association or support, you are perceived as against the Government. Thats to the folks mean you are against the Police, The Army, the Resident, the District officer, the teachers and all the Government offices and officers. You will be seen as a rebel without a cause.

The politicians will fully take advantage of the situation and the folks buy it wholly and fooly!The perception is confirmed right infront of their eyes come election time when these civil servants are seen with the politicians during campaigning and distributing MRPs and grants. "Anang ngelaban perintah" (" dont fight the Government") , said the politician. Sounds familiar? If you are not with the Government you will not get development, grants and all the hand-outs. And, if you are the headmen, councillors, penghulus etc.. you'd better be supporting the Government otherwise all these posts will be taken away from you..ring a bell? Thats the front line defence that the politicians will use in rural Sarawak since the BN ruled the State.

Take for example, in the Parliamentary seat of Betong, covering the State (ADUN) seats of Layar, Bukit Saban and Saribas, where Douglas Uggah, the MP, and ADUNs Alfred Jabu, Dr Wahbi and Chuat are the current legislators, these distinguished politicians are THE GOVERNMENT, undisputedly simple and final! They will not be able to comprehend the roles of these Ybs and the Government.

To the opposition who wants to take over the State, your first primary task is really to explain to the folks in the rural areas the perception that lingers in their mind.

This is nothing new but so far no real effort has been done by the wannabes of the power -to -be to confront the perception head-on, election after election.

SPDP/PRS spit of fire.

2010-03-02T08:34:00.014+08:00

Sometime the intrigues and spates in political manoeuvres are camouflaged to confuse and thus more often than not resulting in a series of astounding interpretations to appease one's own version of the situation. The intrepretations are abounds, some are reasonable, almost perfect, and, some are plain naive, personal, vicious, venomous and also comical. Well, thats politics to the core.

In the case of the going-ons in SPDP and PRS, what is the real thing? Any big and hidden agenda? Is it a case of a group of legislators who decidedly had no more confidence in their President, and another President taking the bait and hoping to catch the big one?

One thing for sure, the so-called MERGER is one big bull..s..i...t! You know it, we all know it!
Look at what are seen in the papers? All were pure sarcasms and supercilious. The spawning of empurau..."courting couples" " report to us of the progress of their talks "( referring to the SPDP group of 5) etc... were pure grandstanding and a smack of sarcasm! Where is the genuine effort to reconcile when you utter words like that?

Notwithstanding all the aforementioned, the real agenda is anyone's guess. Or, sadly, if there is zero agenda, do both Mawan and James Masing too politically unvisionary?

There is a strong smell of the post Taib's era strategy and the reviving of a ready Dayak based
force waiting in the wings, ready for the in-coming power -to-be ( be they BN or Pakatan) to lure them into the corridors of power! Too adventurous and overzealous? Already in Kapit last weekend, a parade of 18 legislators from one community were gathered together in such number not to been seen for the last 30 years in Sarawak.

Or, do both Mawan and James too oblivious not to see the silver lining in the horizon, and let petty squabbles impede the bigger agenda for the sake of their community? Or, that James Masing has already made his subtle move if the gathering in Kapit last weekend was an indication !

SPDP Crisis, Brace for the Perfect Storm!

2010-02-21T11:49:00.005+08:00

At around 5pm or so today, at a seemingly calm sea, a ferocious tidal wave will sweep Sarawak Political landscape that will take many people by surprise! Well folks, brace for it or take your cover. Parley has been ruled out and the bridge has been burnt. But those who are to be left behind will be given a second chance, albeit have to queue for the crumbs as the plums would have been taken by the frontrunners and the Generals! Thats the consequence of war, more so the political war.

Another one's loss will be another's gain, except this time around, the gainer gained the spoils due to another's follies. Its a victory given on a silver platter. But, to the neutrals, the end results will be good for the never realised dreams of the community thus far, that is if the community is really serious about being together,to slog it out in the social, political and economic cohesion.

As we predict, SPDP will likely to lose 5 or 6 legislators by this evening and PRS or the new merged ENTITY will be the beneficiary of those. The idea will be for the loftier goal. Its the merger of the willing from the SPDP side to PRS. The quarrel that is going on presently in SPDP is now taking a backseat. Even Mawan and the rest will be eventually court to join in.

Who conceptualised the merger in the first place? Well, lest we all forget to remember, its Taib, Mawan and James Masing, in that order! Now, can anyone of these distinguished top politicans in our beloved Sarawak renegade on their ultimate goal for the community?

SPDP's Storm, Whereto Entrie and the Team?

2010-02-10T09:28:00.009+08:00

Knowing that throughout the times inmemorial, when Dayak political personalities were feuding, the term compromise never existed. Their Political parties and individuals involved will be scurring in all directions and some went into political oblivion, period.

As for the on-going "hicup" in SPDP,as in the words of its President, Borneo Warrior begs to differ. It is no "hicup" but a huge burst of sneezing that will eventually weakened SPDP.

With great possibility, the bridge has been burnt and there will be no turning back and no deals on the table for the offering. With a series of meetings between YB Sylvester Entrie and his team with the top BN leadership, both in State and Federal, the message is quite clear for all political pundits to speculate. Whereto henceforth?

There will be few options, as usual, and here are some;

1. To form a new Party- the downside; assuming its formed, will SPDP protest if the new Party
wishes to join the BN?
2. Becoming BN direct YBs/candidates- the downside; it will create disharmony in the present
State BN lineup (surely PRS will shudder to think of this, as this will create an opportunity for
a party-less legislator and a BN friendly YB to ride on the bandwagon and PRS and SUPP will lose a seat each.)
3. Parking. Which Party to park with? Ideally it should be PRS, after all the top State leadership
and both SPDP and PRS have been harping on this for donkey years, so why not? It is a great
timing. So what if Entrie and gang go first?
(By the way, it is interesting to recall that when PRS was in a crisis, Mawan openly asked several
ybs then to park in SPDP... to the dismal of PRS leadership. So the saying goes...What goes around comes around...!) Lessons were meant to be learnt!

Now Its Najib's KPI, Where is Abdullah's NIP?

2010-02-08T07:49:00.010+08:00

Presently Malaysians are being indoctrinated with the buzz slogans of the various KPIs conceptualised by Najib's administration with its glossy aims to improve all things Malaysians, so as to speak. Lets leave those initiatives for now.

Remember Pak Lah's National Integrity Plan? Aint those also the buzz word during his tenure as the PM then? What happened to all those plans? What happened to The Integrity Institute of Malaysia? Does Menara Integriti in Jalan Duta and the staff of Integrity Institute of Malaysia still exist and functioning?

As i recall, the formation of the NIP is predicated upon the spirit and principles of the Federal Constitution, the philosopy and principles of the Rukun Negara as well as the aspirations of Vision 2020. The National Integrity Plan is to establish a fully moral and ethical society whose citizens are strong in religious and spiritual values and imbued with the highest ethical standards.

Its noble aims, among others, are:

# Effectively reduce corruption, malpractices and abuse of power.
# Increase efficiency of the public delivery system and overcome bureaucratic red tape.
# Enhance corporate governance and business ethics.
# Strengthen the family institution, and
# Improve the quality of life and the people's well-being.

All sound familiar?
Has the NIP been thrown into the backburner?
Whats the major differences between the so-called PKIs, NKRAs, etc etc.. with those of the NIP?
Are all these just the Government grand propaganda to eye-winked the public just to stay relevant?
By the way, just the other day, we could not get a simple renewal of a State Government Licence to do business just because of conflicting policy of two Government Agencies. Thats a Government KPI staring at your face, fellow Malaysian!

DSAI ' S Sodomy 2..

2010-02-02T06:33:00.006+08:00

Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim's trail for sodomy will be heard today and the eyes of the world will be fixed into Malaysia and her judiciary. Its dubbed as SODOMY 2.

At the SODOMY 1, DSAI was convicted and put into jail for six years only to be released after the Apex Court overturned the earlier court decisons. But DSAI suffered silently and painfully for years in jail. Lesser persons will fall and will never had a ghost of a chance to rise. ever again.
But DSAI was made of sterner stuff, he rose and even risen to lofty heights.

Who benefitted from the SODOMY 1? Well, Mahathir became more entrenched by holding the PM's post.The presiding judge rose to be become the federal court judge. Musa Hassan, the Police officer ''actively'' involved in the case then went on to become the IGP. Gani Patail, the senior DPP handling the case, was eventually promoted as the AG. Too coincidental? Figure it out folks!

But, several personalities who were in the centre of action in SODOMY 1 also fall from grace and even left us....without coming back.

Who will benefit from SODOMY 2? There will be heavy prices to pay, either way, for damn sure.

Government Transformation Programme.

2010-01-31T22:30:00.027+08:00

How would the rest of us in Sarawak will benefit from the endless Government Initiatives recently introduced by the Prime Minister to enhance the overall standard of Malaysians in all fields, deriving from the famous KPIs, ''Perfomance Now '', NKRAs, MKRAs, MPKIs, Horizon 1, 2 and 3, Pemandu and the just launched GTP (Govt Transformation Programme)? Any clues of these abbreviations and acroymn? Its all mind boggling!

How would these initiatives will effect the lives and the way we live and perceived things to come for us in Sarawak, especially the natives. The reactions from our beloved Ministers, the Civil Service ,Legislators (YBs) and the power to be has all but errily quiet. The readiness, or aptly, the unreadiness of our Ministers to fully comprehend whats in store were evidently noticed when Koh Soo Koon and our own Idris Jala presented their cases to the audience (including Taib, The CM) at the Borneo Convention Centre recently. The overall responses were there for all those present to grasp, even the CM speech was not that of his usual self.

Is there political will to comply?

The various initiatives are principally aim at/to:

1. Be a transformation engine.
2. Creation of a high moral and ethical society.
3. Super fast Government Delivery System and principles.
4. To improve performance on social measures such as crime , corruption, education and the
distribution of income.

What will interest us in Sarawak will be the MKRAs- Ministerial Key Results Areas!

How would the Federal Ministers co-ordinate all these programmes together with their Sarawak counterparts? Already, we are talking of certain projects to be implemented at designated areas being taken to other areas and the like. Surely this is a strictly non-compliance to its hilt!
What about being seen as transparent in relation to the giving of large tracts of land to connected individuals and companies? What about the NCR development plans and the apparent weaknesses in its method and implementation. Any concrete plans to fine tune this?
What about the "payment-in -kind '' to connected companies and the mechanisim of negotiation to ensure its fairness to the general public?

We surely need the methods in the KPIs, NKRAs and the MKRAs to be brought to the table for all the stakeholders to understand and discuss in manners seen as fair, honest and holistic.

Will the Sarawak State Government has the guts for all of these? Past records on how the State Government run their businesses left much to be desired and not too encouraging, to say the least.

How would you explain why it takes endless years to have the NCR land of the natives to be registered? Why has a Joint Venture in land development dished a meresly sum of a few ringgit as dividends after all the good 15 years or even longer to bear a decent returns? KPIs? The marks will be surely a big Zero!

SPDP President's Turnaround.

2010-01-28T07:41:00.005+08:00

Prior to Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) recent TGA the President announced as well as issued statement that his Party will maintain the status quo to keep the present line-up then intact and be able to carry on with the works progressively henceforth.

The so-called status quo list was then believed to have been agreed, signed, published and even used as ''The President List' for the Party election. The ensuing results truly showed that the delegates supported the ''President List'' and almost all won their respective seats. Yb Sylvester Entrie, however was not in the election ''President List'' as he was then in the ''list '' to be reappointed as the Sec Gen of the party, thus completing the final status quo line-up.

The change of heart by the president by not adhering to the status quo list caught all by surprise, especially Entrie and his group.
The appointed posts are the President prerogative technically and legally, albeit not morally. This is tantamount to an act of betrayal of your comrade.

Why Dato Sri William Mawan renegaded on this is anybody's guess and speculation.
But, thats the painfull part of being the President, in that there are things that you have to do alone and wish that you could confide in someone and yet you could not. Its called being ''lonely'', terribly lonely being at the top...only you and the Almighty one knows...and will have to live with your decision, rightfully or otherwise for the rest of one's political career and maybe beyond.

SNAP Ghost Haunts..

2010-01-25T07:37:00.010+08:00

Both PRS and SPDP were conceived from the wretched and messy in-fightings and leadership tussles within SNAP over the years.

In the then SNAP, Leo Moggie led the mostly Dayak legislators to form the breakaway group to form PBDS after a bitter contest with James Wong for the Presidency. The story then was that SNAP should be led by a Dayak because the majority of its members and legislators were Dayaks. James Wong propogated a multiracial approach. He won the contest.

Then in PBDS, the maverick Sng played pivotal roles, in whatsoever form you want to interpret and the Party fell into pieces that eventually led to its deregistration afterwhich PRS was formed.

Shortly, barely two years infact, PRS was in a mess, involving a leadership tussle between Sng and Dr. James Masing. This time majority of the Dayak YBs were behind James steadfastly eventhough there were sweeteneers on the table offered.

Now in SPDP, the scenario is very very similiar...there is a "BIG GUY" behind calling all the shots...and several Dayak leaders there, seemingly led by Sylvester Entrie and Peter Nansian
must have thought that enough is enough... Sounds familiar?

A friend text me " boss, wats going on in Ass Pay Day Pay 2day is the same old story being repeated as in Pay A Ass (PRS) b4, i.e, d bumi r fed up of d cin-me-n colonial masters...last
time Pay A Ass hav managed 2 get free fr Sng and now Ass Pay Day Pay is trying to extricate itself fr Tiong...on the other side team bumi comprising MBA holder Entri, Dr Tiki, accountant Nansian, graduate teachers Rosie n Paulus etc r v formidale n credible force. Of d Presidential side altho they hv $ but $ alone cannot buy everything wen d meruah of d bumi r at stack here...thus basing on d lesson fr Pay A Ass b4, d bet is on team bumi led by Entri and Dr. Tiki to prevail if truly there is a power struggle in Ass Pay Day Pay n also if they play d game n momentum well..'' But i pray dats its only a '' small family quarrel'' as Mawan sd in d paper 2day..How Boss?? -text message- ends.

Whereto Entri and his colleagues will be heading for is the big question, bearing in mind that Mawan is in a solid position, both technical, political and financial, so as to remark.

Dayak Political Unity, in dreamland!

2010-01-13T09:23:00.004+08:00

Yesterday a member of PBB Youth asked me that now SPDP had just concluded its TGA, "when are you guys want to merge" ? (He reminded me, I think, of Dr James Masing been taking the stance that the main consideration of the merger will very much depending on who he thinks will effectively helm SPDP to the hilt!, which is perceived to be not essentially the President.)

I retorted back, " jangan alang alang boss, let us all merge. We all get together. You guys in Pesaka, SPDP, PRS and also the Dayak legislators in SUPP as well, and we all will form a merged entity, thats a giant step!, " He rolled in eyes in disbelief and ordered his kopi o and changed to another topic. Hey, I said , haven't finished with you yet! What made all the Dayaks in Sarawak think that Mawan and James (as The boss of SPDP and PRS respectively) the only Dayak leaders? What about Jabu, Manyin, Richard Riot, Jerip, Ranum, Hardin, Uggah, Alex and the rest? He walked away giving me the flimsy excuse that he has an appointment!

Dayak Political Unity, in dreamland...!

Theological interpretations abound.

2010-01-10T21:38:00.007+08:00

I would not debate on the contagious points raised by various quarters regarding the current issues grapping the whole country re the word Allah. Am not a student of theology but a mild christian at that.

So, my worries are not the really bigger picture, constitutionally or theologically, but my immediate concerns on a few things that will effect me immediately.

See, several of my Kayan friends' names start with Allah! Allah Emang for one! Then there is Sling Allah!

How about thousands of bible books that are being used in Sarawak and Sabah that contained the word Allah therein? To be destroyed kah? The list goes on...

How about the "scarf/tudung worn by the Catholic nuns then? Are we going to ask them to remove them if the head gear is exclusively for the other religion?

Arguments and endless scenarios like those few mentioned, make me so sad to even write further on this "non-starter" Allah issue!

Now, look at your cell phone book, how many friends of yours are of different religion, race, kinds, colours, backgrounds and so on..! Then you will definitely realised whats the lousy and really unnecessary fuss is all about?

God bless Malaysia. (whoever you think and believe He is!)

Congratulatory Messages, Sarawak Style.

2010-01-05T08:23:00.003+08:00

Newspapers in Sarawak must be laughing all the way to the Banks nowadays as congratulatory messages of all sorts were massively placed in the pages to congratulate personalities ranging from the Big Boss birthday or the length of his brilliant service and to an almost unknown individual who had just been bestowed a Datukship and to ministers and several senior civil servants whose daughters or sons who had been just married.

Those who placed those congratulations were big companies, individuals and connected parties.
The big question to be asked in one's mind is why the big fuss? Are these people closely related? Were those congratulatory messages from the heart?

In recent days there were flurry of congratulatory messages to a civil servant whose daughter was getting married. And you know what? The message is mainly to congratulate him and not his daughter!

Last month when a mother of a minister passed away pages and pages of condolences were placed in the papers. (my sincere condolence to the minister).

Let us face reality. By placing those ads, from the hearts or not,would unashamedly exposed themselves to the realities of how politics and businesses in Sarawak co-existing. Dont the owners of these companies realised that the public at large dont percieved "their" connections with each other?

Well folks, thats Sarawak Boleh!

When i showed my friend from the Peninsular a fat stack pages of congratulatory messages to an individual in Sarawak, my buddy remarked, " isnt he the minister in charge of....wah.. so many plantation companies lah...now, look here....these are timber companies, Ted! " this lady and her husband asked my company to purchase their newly approved State land for oil palm plantation, no wonder lah...their company congratulate this minister!"

Larry Sng's position is now SUPP's dilemma.

2009-11-12T07:49:00.007+08:00

As anticipated in my last posting, partyless Larry Sng is being retained in Taib's bloated Cabinet as a partyless legislator and thus technically not representing any of the four BN ruling parties in Sarawak. It is just like comparing Idris Jala who is a Federal Minister and whose senator's appointment was not mooted or derived from any ruling party. Can we make that comparison, by the way?

To appease Dr James Masing and PRS, Taib Mahmud appointed two of its ADUN, Mong Dagang and John Sikie as assistant Ministers. To put icing in the cake, Dr James Masing is also being asked by the CM to forward an appointee from the party as a deputy speaker of the coveted August House. Thus, more or less, PRS quota is settled albeit not fully. PRS will be very satisfied if they would have been given three assistant ministers' posts in addition to the deputy speaker's post.

As for Larry, the shift is now up to interpretation. Larry's appointment in the Cabinet is no more
seen as occupying PRS quota. To read the very subtle message from the CM, it seems that the onus is now for SUPP to seriously consider roping him into the fold, whether George Chan and his colleagues in the party like it or not. Larry is now not a PRS headache anymore but a migraine for SUPP.

The CM said that Larry is retained as there is not many young Chinese ministers. Is there a young chinese minister from SUPP in the current line-up? The message is crystal clear to SUPP.
If you take Larry, SUPP would fill that vacuun and hopefully will attract more young voters.

As for the seat that Larry will be contesting for SUPP, assuming he eventually joins them, it would be naive for them to even assume that Pelagus ( Larry's present seat) would be the perfect choice. Why? Do we think that the voters in Pelagus will accept the swap, now that Pelagus belongs to SUPP? Would'nt there be the possibility of backlash?

The best seat for Larry would be Meradong, the hometown of his father-in-law (Tan Sri Ting P King). In that scenario Larry will be a true hero if he were to wrest back the coveted seat from DAP and hand it back to SUPP/BN! What a glorious day it will be for the Taibs, The Tings, The Sngs and SUPP! A saviour has been unearthed!

If this concept is unravelled, then there is no need to swap seats between PRS and SUPP which
will definitely complicate matters, more so if it involves the common notion of the antique records playing " Pelagus is for you and Engkilili is for me....for us to see...yea yea..." No hero will be unravelled then....

Politics of Accomodation, Sarawak Style.

2009-10-30T07:11:00.003+08:00

Taib's impending so-called cabinet reshuffle will certainly mirrors one of accomodating a few individuals to appease certain personalities, or, more appropriately, to please entrenched influential family warlordom.

In the case of Larry Sng, am dead sure that he will be kept in the lineup despite the bare fact that he does not belong to any political party in the State. A school boy knows that Larry has to be retained come what may because of his thick and impregnable connections with the powers to be. No matter how PRS will coarsely shout in protest that his position in the cabinet is their(PRS) quota, the shuddering shouts will fall into deaf ears!

To appease Dr James Masing and PRS Taib may allow him to submit a nominee. But it is not good enough.. The nominee is to replace the late Dublin Unting. Thus it is a status quo situation.
Rightfully, PRS should nominate 3 candidates to fill the assistant ministers' post to replace Larry, the late Dublin and another to fill up the quota of PRS. So it seems, but I wont bet a sen on such a scenario.

Dayak Borneo Cultural Heritage Safari.

2009-09-25T06:51:00.002+08:00

We were flagged off at the spanking new ADUN building to signify the start of our journey to visit our Dayak cousins in Kalimantan Barat last Saturday, 19th Sept. 2009.
The safari was mooted and organised by SDNU.Our leader was Dr John Brian.

There were very familiar figures in the convoy! I was greeted very warmly by my ex-party boss Tan Sri Leo Moggie, his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Josephine. Then there was Dsri Edmund Langgu and Datin as well. The entourage included members of the DCCI, SADIA, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association and of course my vehicle mates Dsri Daniel Tajem and Maxwell Rojis.

En route we stopped at Sanggau, Soosok, Ngabang, Landak and Sangkawang before proceeding for Pontianak.

On the trip we had teas, lunches and dinners with our Dayak counterparts in Kalimantan who were, among others; the Governor of West Kalimantan himself, the Kaubupaten chiefs (our version of Residents), community leaders, senior government officers, businessmen, cultural organisations, University professors/lecturers, Youth Leaders, "War Heroes", Women Leaders and many others. I was so overjoyed for the very fact that they were all Dayaks and feel very much so at home.

We had such great times. We listened to stories of great achievements, trials and tribulations, of heroisms and even deadly sacrifices in defending their community and regions, especially during the dark and unfortunate episodes of racial clashes several years back. The scars and heartaches were all there for us to see. It must have been an extraordinary moment of poignancy for all of them.

The trip (my first) was nostalgic, educational and an eye opener. My earlier perception of my cousins over the other side of the border, which was mainly biased, had changed tremendously, to say the least.

I am so proud that my Dayak counterparts there are presently " ruling" their Dayak Nation with great pride and compassion.

From them to us Dayaks of the other side, I feel that they had a message to us....unite3!
I bow my head ashamedly...and felt very defeatedly.

"Adil katilno, bercauremin ka sauraga, bersengat ka jubata....harus.....! "

Here and there, ranting away...!

2009-08-07T08:35:00.012+08:00

H1N1

The two big schools in Betong Sarawak,namely St Augustine's (my former school) and SMK Datuk Patinggi Kedit were closed since mid-week due to the pandemic. Wondering why no news of this in the papers. Heard that Alfred Jabu was sent a brief. But why the deafening silence?

PRS- Joseph Entulu to lead a rebellion!

There is completely no truth on this spinning-to-good-to-be-true-out-of-the-blue nonsense.
Somebody has to really re-assess their source of intelligence, or your credibility as a political observer,or, rather storey teller will be wiped out completely. I spoke and confronted all concerned, including Entulu, and guess what? he laughed out loud (LOL).

CM' s congratulatory messages.

I noticed there were very much less congratulatory messages of congrats for Taib's many many years in office. In the last years, the local newspapers had laughed all the way to the banks on such occasion as there were messages of congrats advertised in full colours, thus the money spinning for the media owners.
It could be the economic gloom and no new licences issued, i dont know, but the supplement pages were visibly thin this year!
Is there a silent message here?
But..one particular company advertised several times to cover up for the dismal responses.
Only "must congratulate" Govt linked companies still advertised, but than again, its understandable.

RECODA starts work.

The Authority that is managing SCORE, RECODA, is starting to work by implementing the first huge project of building the access road to Murun Dam from Bakun. JKR Sarawak advertised for the tender twice, and twice it was cancelled or postponed for unknown reasons.
Now it seemed that JKR advertised the tender again, only this time all tenderers will have to submit their bids to RECODA?
Looks like JKR Sarawak is being "used" as a consultant and RECODA the implementing boss.
Do you think that RECODA has hired professionals i.e engineers, QS, etc to implement this first project under their care? Hope that RECODA, under Wilson Baya will start to administer the Authority in fine footing.

SPDP TGA.

William Mawan, the President of SPDP , recently said that the TGA should be avenue for aspirants to vie for posts in the Party, including that of the Deputy President. Earlier on, Dato Sri Mawan said that he is "standing tall as thePresident" and thus should not be challenged.But his tone seems to differ when it comes to other posts in the Party, even that of the Deputy President's post, presently held by Peter Nyarok. Mawan is seen as not entrenching his Dy's position. Any taker or takers? Rumours abound.

Much Ado about "cawat" remarks.

2009-07-29T08:22:00.004+08:00

Sarawak Barisan Nasional Leaders reacted very angrily to the purported remarks by Tuan Guru Hadi, the President of Pas to say that PKR loss in the Batang-Ai by-election was due mainly to the fact the voters in Batang Ai " tidak erti undi, pakai cawat lagi. " Malaysiakini carried the report on July 11th.

First to react, understandably so was Dr James Masing, President of PRS, whose candidate, Malcolm Mussen, the eventual winner, is a PRS legislator of Batang Ai. Subsequent outrages were then uttered by other Barisan leaders of Sarawak, namely Abg Johari, Jabu, George Chan and many others. All were very angry with the remarks. These were widely reported in the local newspapers.

Is this what Hadi wants to achieve? Several friends text me to tell Dr James not to react. They reasoned that what Hadi meant was that the voters in Batang Ai were not "matured politically" and not wearing "cawat" literally.

Enough debates had been poured in into the equation among the political divides in Sarawak and the remark should be put aside for the time being.

But here is my own observation with regards to this episode;

1. Pas supporters also worn the cawat during the Manek by-election. Instead of wearing the cawat in the pelvic area (as the so-called natives in Sarawak do), they wore the cawat in their heads.
2. The Pas people also not "molek" during the by-election, thats why they only won by a whisker!
3. There were hundred of spoilt votes in Manek. This is a big surprise as they are more educated and advanced politically. Comparatively, in Batang Ai, there were less spoilt votes even though the folks there were considered as being backwards a hundred times.

Politics is about twisting, carrying on..and on..and the interpretation of one's whims and fancies!
Its like what I do wrong nobody forgets and what I do right nobody remembers!

SPDP/PRS Merger; tis the time.

2009-07-20T08:43:00.007+08:00

The best time for these two Dayak-based parties (though multiracial) to merge into one entity is now. Both William Mawan and Dr James Masing should bury all past suspicions, if any, and all unsavoury remarks/actions purportedly initiated by SPDP during PRS crises and thereafter, SPDP's alledged support to Gabriel Adit against PRS's Alexander Vincent in the last Sarawak State Election should be thrown into the backburner.

William is already into the mending ties mode. He said that he is even willing to step aside to give way for a new President of the merged Party. Additionally, SPDP is gearing to assist PRS to recapture Ngemah from Adit. The SPDP President said that actions should be initiated rather than rhetorics to demonstrate genuineness and sincerity.

As for PRS, it is now a clearly settled Party, after the bitter battle between the feuding factions that dragged up to nearly two years.

More importantly, the party seemed to carry on without any "tangibles" towkays behind. The Dayak-based Party, is seen for the first time, not obligated or controlled by defacto wealthy individual or family with self interests. In reality, this cannot be said in the case of SPDP. This is where the big contention is.

PRS is postponing its TDC, slated for 3rd December this year, to see how SPDP's TGA is unfolding. SPDP's TGA is scheduled to be held on the 20th Nov this year. Circles in PRS is keen to watch who will be the new officebearers. Will the "defacto" financer be in a top flight or not? Already, an individual there is holding an unprecedented 3 posts simultaneously.

PRS is wary of this situation. They do not want scenarios repetitive of the SNAP, PBDS days, allowing outside financiers to control the parties and, their own bitter experiences just a fewmonths ago. Hence, this is the major consideration for PRS to woo and marry SPDP. PRS is short of telling SPDP " get rid of your defacto leader" and we will merge!

Palatial Homes, its here too,and everywhere too..

2009-07-10T08:01:00.004+08:00

The media is abuzzed with the recent "discovery" of Khir Toyo's huge Balinese styled mansion in Shah Alam, Selangor. People in Selangor and KLlites are not amused that a former Mentri Besar (CM) could have the means and resources to acquire such wealth and cash to build a house reportedly worth 24 million ringgit.

Do we have to speculate further on how our politicians and civil servants becoming so rich? And, unashamedly flaunting their wealth for everyone else to see, as if nobody knows? With the wives displaying designer bags, wardrobes, watches...and their teenager kids driving ferrari to college...and they tell poeple that their mothers and fathers are running factories churning cash!!

In Kuching, look no farther. Its across the Sarawak River...all palatial homes...of the rich. And, the most ironic of it all...I dont see these people running any 150 years long businesses passed on from their grandfathers..and,thus the inheritances. Several of these people are known to me personally...I knew where they came from. They can never bullshit to me where their newly found wealth comes from.

This is Malaysia, and Sarawak, The Bolehland. Sadly, we are all part of the system, me included.

These people are mostly legislators and civil servants..wah...so rich..ah!

Lingering Text Msg from a friend!

2009-07-07T08:01:00.005+08:00

A long lost friend of mine sent me an unexpected text message that was least expected. After being not in touch for donkey years I would expect him to write something comfy like, say, "Hello you Iban mother f..k ...r! You shit of a man! Where have you been all these years..you son of a gun?" These were the favourite jargons that he would use as a way to say Hi!

But this time his sms is from a different "person" , seemingly from Mars.
Hereunder is the content of his sms:

" Taib is not the real problem for the Dayaks. The real problem is the Dayak legislators, assisted by the longhouse chiefs (think subsidies) who are keeping Taib in power. Why? Taib's work is to collect and share the spoils of office with them. If Taib is not around, the Dayak legislators will simply gather around another Taib who can serve them. So, if u want to bring change to Sarawak, forget about Taib. That would be barking up the wrong tree. Focus on discrediting the Dayak legislators & the longhouse chiefs for propping up the current political system which works against the interests of the Dayak nation. It nust be remembered that it was also the traditional Dayak chiefs who kept the Brooke Dynasty in power for 150 years. If u want to kill a snake(the system of political power), u must cut off its head(the Dayak legislators) & not just step on its tail (Taib),if u step on the tail, the head will strike u with its poisonous fangs. " ends his sms.

I have not replied his text msg as yet..still wondering and thinking...

What makes his sms of extraordinary poignancy to me is that this friend of mine is a non-Dayak and a non-Sarawakian as well. In short, he is not a "stakeholder".

Registrar Of Societies (ROS) Divergence.

2009-07-02T07:15:00.002+08:00

Of late the Registrar Of Societies acted very swiftly in dealings with affairs of political parties.
This supersonic speed of positive action in settling the issue affecting political parties should be lauded. Or, should we?
Makkal Sakhti Party Malaysia, formed by former Hindraf National co-ordinator RS Thanenthiran was approved in less than a week sometime last month.
The PAHNAM, Parti Hak Asasi Manusia, led by Hindraf founder Uthayakumar Ponnusamy is on its way to be launched on July 19th.
When PPP had two Presidents and two sets of Supreme Councils, the ROS decicded within 48 hours that Kaveyas is the rightful President, thus paving way for the PM to attend its TDC and loudly announced in the assembly that Kaveyas was and is the legal President!
So far so good... kudos ROS!
BUT ALAS... When Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) had two Presidents and two sets of Supreme Councils, it took two long years for ROS to make a decision! And even then, it was made because of BN shattering loss in the election!
Again, when Malaysian Dayak Congress(MDC) sent an application for its formation, it took the ROS ages for them to make that dreaded decision...that the formation of MDC, if allowed, would
create a security threat! Its a BIG, BIG joke!
How could a Dayak based party be a security threat? Aint Dayak soldiers who were in the Sarawak and then the Malaysian Rangers, fought side by side with their other Malaysian brothers to defend this country, and, as a result a number of them received gallantry awards for their bravery, sacrifice and even their lives ?
How about SNAP?
To the ROS, why is there an apparent divergence and divisive policy in making the decisions on the affairs of political parties?

Human Trafficking, No Malaysia said.

2009-06-29T08:03:00.007+08:00

The Malaysian Government quickly denied that our country is actively involved in human trafficking activities after the UN had labelled us as one of the countries listed to dwell in this inhumane trade. Are we in denial mode again?

With thousands of Indonesians crossing illegally from Sumatra through the Straits of Malacca every other day, mostly by the work of middlemen and syndicates and land in the shores of Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Selangor, will you not term these activities as human trafficking? Or, is it our favourite phrase of "pendatang tampa izin" to camouflage our own Government Agencies' lack of control, deterrence and the will to do their jobs?

Then over in Sabah, how about the thousands of Phillipinos as well as the Indonesians that cross over, work and settled illegally? It is a known fact that several syndicates and individuals are involved it facilitating their entry into the State. If this is not human trafficking, then what is this?

In Sarawak, Malaysiakini reported that they have problems with illegall foreign workers in Tg Manis, an integrated port and industrial designated zone. Even the Director of the Sarawak Immigration Department agreed that there is indeed human trafficking activities going on in the State. How about the thousands of foreign workers in the oil palm plantations all over Sarawak?
Who brought them in?

And here, the Federal Government steadfastly denied that human trafficking activities are non-existence in Malaysia. What an understatement?

RECODA'S New CEO, Congrats!

2009-06-23T07:56:00.004+08:00

When RECODA was conceptualised and becomes a hype abbreviation for businessmen and politicians in Sarawak and all the euphoria after the grand and ambitious plan, the post of the would-be CEO was a subject of intense speculation in the same circles.

The Chief Minister was then telling people that a"world class" CEO will be selected and "headhunted" if necessary, even "if we were to hire an international headhunting firm " to look for the right individual to lead RECODA, so we made to understand. In short, no one in Malaysia, needless to say in Sarawak , is seen and percieved to be eligible for the coveted post.

Presto!! ... Surprisre! surprise! We are glad to announce that the new CEO for RECODA is non other than our friend, Wilson Baya Dandot, the present State Secretary! Congratulations boss!!
After all the searches, it is the home grown talent that wins!

Its just like MAS, isn't it? Remember how MAS was frantically looking for the white knight to turn the ailing National airline around, and whom did they finally found? It is a local boy from the highlands, Idris Jala! After all the headhunting, and spending thousands, if not millions to headhunt, a local boy is found here too, "beating all the matsallehs, Koreans, all and sundry!!
OR, was there a headhunt done after all?

By the way, congrats DA Wilson Baya Dandot!

Sarawak International Medical Centre- another bail-out?

2009-06-22T08:23:00.002+08:00

Remember the hype,publicity, ambition and the rationale behind the multimillion ringgit SIMC?
The top-notch and world class medical facility is meant to lure rich tourists seeking medical treatment in Kuching. Principal targets are the rich neighbours from Kalimantan or even Singapore and Australia.
Costs balloned and numerous problems were encountered on her construction that the cost now is estimated at well over 500 million ringgit! It has a 3 storey medical block, an 8 -storey ward tower with 200 beds, a 200- seat auditorium, three dedicated centres for the treatment of cancer, heart and kidney diseases, 3 specialist outpatients clinics, 7 operating theatres, a state-of-the-art imaging department and supplemented by modern laboratory and a host of other supporting service facilities.
Now, Sarawak 's Deputy CM George Chan (the man who mooted the idea of the SIMC in the first place) wants the Federal Government to take over the Hospital! The rationale: the GH in Kuching is overcrowded!
What is so "new" a news and fact that the GH in Kuching is too crowded? Even a school boy who accompanies his parents to the GH will surely knows this scene there.
Is there more to that excuse than meets the eyes?
The rationale that its a temporary measure untill the new GH is built is also lousy excuse, why?
It is like to allow, e.g, a 6 star hotel to house tourists from a backpacker lodging house to stay in the top hotel for 25 ringgit a night, mess the place, etc..than return to the backpacker lodging house after its rennovation!
So, where is the justification? Another cover-up for any short-comings?

Its English All The Way!

2009-06-16T08:21:00.006+08:00

The issue of teaching maths and science in English is far from settled. Now they want English to be a compulsory subject to pass as a prerequisite to obtain the SPM. Debates aplenty but no decision forthcoming. Both the Prime Minister and his Deputy, who happens to be the Education Minister remained unsure and wary of backlashes if the decision is unwanting and unsavoury politically. So, the waiting is painstaking for the stakeholders, parents, educationists, schools,students and all Malaysians. Even the Koreans are watching ..so I read, as the Koreans are beginning to emulate our systems of teaching English in Maths and Science thus far.

There is no point to further indulge in these issues. Let that be discussed and decided by the experts and the politicians.

Let us examine these observations instead, no matter how trivial and silly it may seem;

Kids of the rich and famous? Where do they go to school and thereafter which Universities they
will enroll at?

The PM, for example, when he gets to dress this morning, what tie colour will he pick to use? Is
the tie a Malay, Iban , Indian, Kadazan or a Chinese item to use? What about his suit? His
handkerchief? Does it make him less Malay and less patriotic?
The Chinese President, Hou Jintao for e.g, assuming he does the same thing as our PM this
morning, will he be seen as less chinese and patriotic as well? And, for goodness sake, he is the boss of the Chinese Communist Party!! Is Communism CHINESE?

Yes, what about UMNO? Whats that all about? Is it not United Malay National Organisation?
Our Parliament? Who's institution is that?

You see in our TV programmes...every time a VIP or a celebrity is interviewed, he or she will
always stammer in Malay and in between will chip in the word" so.... I memang suka dia, so
I jatuh cinta lah, so... orang tua dia setuju la... so we get married lah....so it is ok... so..."

Sounds familiar? Why do you think they keep on pentuating the word "so" so much? Is it because of habit or because they want to impress people they he or she could speak in English?

You see, we are so afraid and feel so insecure because of our poor English and yet we pretend that we can speak English!

Well, there are millions of examples where our daily lives and habits are emulating "things" English. Let us face it. Its a undenying rountine to us Malaysians. So, why do we have to kid ourselves and remain oblivious to all these?

The Golf Clubs and the thousands of ringgits to be counted in as members so that we can rub shoulders with the Tuns, Tan Slies, Datin Slies and the rich and famous...the tea and the cock tail parties we indulge in.. whose tradition are those?

Dont kid ourselves!

Docile Sarawak MPs!

2009-06-15T06:51:00.003+08:00

The recent comments by the Deputy Speaker of Malaysian Parliament, Wan Junaidi that Mps from Sarawak were not vocal and participating less in debates (but admittedly has good turnouts )as compared to their Sabah colleagues, have the Mps strongly responded angrily rebutting Junaidi 's statement. YB Nancy Shukri outburst in the press strongly denying the sweeping statement together with her Mp colleagues is understandable. Basically, they argued that noisy, controversial and boisterous Mps that only want to outshine others for want of publicity and the like would be less effective, if at all.

Soft and direct approach to the Minister in charge of a particular Ministry to bring about the problem or requests for their constituents is much more effective than being noisy and disruptive in the sessions, the Mps reasoned.

Those arguments aside, Sarawak Mps are also without their respective Party Presidents in Parliament. Herein lies the short of guidance and consultations concurrently whilst Parliament is in session. All the Presidents of PBB, SUPP, PRS and SPDP are non-parliamentarians. Of course its an e-mail and mobile phones away but there is no substitution to face to face discussions to discuss matters of the day.
As in PRS, as a supreme council member of the party, I have never come across any member of our Parliament bring any matter to the Party or the President for consultation.

To helm any subject in Parliament, a member must be armed with tons of datas, information, justification etc.. just to highlight or propose anything within his constituency inorder to get heard and considered. How many of our legislator can do that without assistance and consultation?
Work and duties of present day Mps have changed tremendously and its not about the bakut teh, teh tarik, nasi padang, the bright lights of KL or up in the mountains in Genting anymore.
Its real parliamentarian works, no more and no less!

Post Gawai Snippets!

2009-06-08T08:53:00.003+08:00

Water...oh Water.....

There has not been any rain for several weeks prior to Gawai at my longhouse in Stambak Ulu, Layar, Betong, and because rain water is the only source of the prized basic needs, our water tanks were empty come Gawai period. This was a major embarrassment for me in the face of my aussie guests who came over for the Gawai. Geoff has been to my longhouse for the 8th time since the early eighties and each year he came, there is this hope that water supply will reach my longhouse one day. Geoff was bitterly disappointed! Yes, after half a century of independence and so-called politics of development..water is a far distance away. My sms to Uggah, my MP and a full minister in KL remained unanswered.

Soccer...

Japan and South Korean had checked-in into the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. In the early 80s we were in the same league as these two countries...and now.. we in Malaysia are in the dumps!! How I envied them. I remember those days when Shukor Salleh, Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Cin Aun and the troops would run circles around those guys.. and erupting the Merdeka Stadium. Tell me, can you name any of the present National Team players off hand?
And Sarawak soccer? Its worst.

Oil Palm companies... destroyer of all things!!

You know these oil palm companies? They cleared and destroyed forests, flora and fiona, peat swamps, wild life and all the rest. They destroyed all roads linking to their plantations as well and they even dont bother to care.

Its Datuk Nissom! Congrats bladder!!
My two other friends, cousins Yii Ming Tang and Yee Ming Seng are now also Datuks. Congratulations bros!!
Kopi O satu....

Happy Gawai Everyone!!! Ohoooo...Ha!!

2009-05-29T04:27:00.002+08:00

This is the time of the year again. Its our Dayak Harvest Festival 2009!!

It is back to the good old longhouse again to join in the festive celebrations with family, relatives and friends. This year it is specially special as my friends from Brisbane, Australia will be coming for the Gawai. My good mate, Geoff, will be visiting for at least the 9th or 10th time!! His two other mates will be joining us for the first time this Gawai. We will be having a great time, thats for sure!

To all of you, happy Gawai... Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai...

Recognition of NCR, a Landmark Decision.

2009-05-06T06:14:00.002+08:00

The landmark ruling by the Federal Court in Kuching, Sarawak, a few days ago , will give NCR claimants/owners the rights, provided they can give enough evidence, to their ownership of the land henceforth. The ruling will have profound effect on some 200 land cases filed to date against the State Government of Sarawak and companies where the respective land leases were believed to be encroaching into NCR areas.

Significantly, Madehi Salleh, a Malay, took this case to court, all the way up to the Apex Court in the country for this landmark ruling. (Contrary to the general belief that NCR matters only involved the native iban, orang ulu, Bidayuh, etc.)

Madehi Salleh claimed his NCR rights over former Shell Concession Land in Miri. Reservation of the Land under the then Rajah's Order to Sarawak Oilfields Ltd did not have the effect of extinguishing NCR to the land.

The Ruling will effectively recognise the Temuda (Cultivated/farmed land), Pulau Galau (Communal forest) and Pemakai Menua (Territorial domain).

The study, "Legal Perspectives On Native Customary Land Rights in Sarawak" by Dr Ramy Bulan with Amy Locklear, for Suhakam, is a world class effort and should be recommended as a good reference for NCR matters, legal or otherwise.

Whereto PRS?

2009-04-27T06:55:00.002+08:00

Party Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is now mulling on how to go about doing the businesses of confidently administering the party's machinery in all fronts after a series of internal fightings and other endless problems besetting the party for the last two years or so, including its near demise after they were given a showcause letter by the Registrar of Societies as to why the party should not be deregistered.

PRS had shugged off almost all its impediments thus far with flying colours, including a morale booster win in the just concluded by-election in Batang Ai, with a massive majority for the Sarawak Coalition. The sweetner is added considering that several elements in the opposition were made up of his bitter rivals after the post PRS crisis, unceremoniously joining the fray in the opposition camp out of revenge and spite for PRS, more so its President, Dr James Masing.

PRS is also proud to claim that the Party is now the only Dayak based in Sarawak that is "free" from any tangibles from "towkays" that has always been seen as inherents in any Dayak based thus far. Look no further to the then SNAP or PBDS. The almost over dependence of individual non-Dayak financiers with varieties of personal agendas had got to end. PRS learnt bitter lessons from the past, and nobody knew that better than James Masing himself.

In the just concluded Batang Ai by-election, PRS and its members toiled on their own to raise the necessary funds to finance the Election, contrary to the popular notion that the big towkays and the Sarawak BN FULLY financed the whole exercise.

Now that PRS as a Party, had, to the best of their abilities to maintain political goodwill in the State BN in particular and the Federal BN in general, it is now up to Taib Mahmud and Najib to reciprocate in any way appropriate.

What would Najib had felt if the simultaneous by-elections had gone 3-0 in favour of the opposition?
By the same token, now that PRS did not even get the full minister's post in the federal cabinet, what is next for Dr James Masing?
Taib? Will he reward PRS with more ministerial posts? Will he remove Larry Sng now that he is party-less? We will see.

PRS will have Party Elections/TDC this year and am sure members will want numerous and vital answers.

The Bidayuh Dilemma

2009-04-16T16:51:00.001+08:00

Much has been said about the Bidayuh Community’s disappointment in not getting any of their 3 Members of Parliament appointed as a deputy minister in the Federal Cabinet.

Given their unquestionable record of being always pro-BN and the bastion of state and federal seats for the BN (to quote a top federal leader: Bidayuhs have always been friends of BN), it is indeed a letdown that they would be happy just to get a deputy minister’s post as their reward. Why do they think they do not deserve a full federal minister’s post?

If the die is cast because PM Najib Abdul Razak has finalized and announced his line-up, why not offer our PM an alternative to consider!

Nobody from the community has ever been appointed a Senator. Would this not be an opportune time to consider a gesture, like appointing a prominent Bidayuh to represent the community in the Senate?

We have in our mind such a person who is a very senior member of a Dayak-based BN component party and holding a high ranking post in the party.

From the community’s perspective, he holds the record of being the longest serving President of Dayak Bidayuh National Association (13 years) and contributing significantly to the progress to the association and community at large. With such a background, he is very articulate in Bidayuh issues and needs. Apart from being a former educationist with a master’s degree, he is now a political secretary to the Chief Minister.

Fair, isn’t it, to ask for something we truly deserve? Are we asking too much as compared to certain quarters not occupying a seat in parliament but yet given senatorship just to occupy a ministerial post?

Contributed by:
Concerned Bidayuhs

Najib's Cabinet and Taib's masterly stroke!

2009-04-15T07:05:00.008+08:00

Sarawak's representation in the just named Najib's Cabinet remained status quo except for the few changes in the ministerial portfolios of the two ministers and deputy ministers. Sarawak BN, under Taib and the other three Presidents of SUPP,SPDP and PRS had never, even during Abdullah's lineup, pressured the federal top leadership to appoint more cabinet posts from Sarawak even when one considers the number of MPs that Sarawak has, compared to say MIC, MCA or even the BN parties in Sabah.

Evidently, this is Taib's master stroke, the art of nuances and subtleties of politics at its best. Taib is the only top politician that has never pressured Najib for extra or additional appointments for his Sarawak/BN. He did the same during Abdullah's tenure.

Why?

Taib is in full control of ALL the 4 BN parties in Sarawak. Presidents of SUPP, SPDP and PRS have little or no say to tell Najib that their parties want more seat. Even if they had, in private, lobbying for the ministerial post, Najib will still have to ask the maestro whether its alright or not. To be fair, even Taib's own PBB has only one full minister's post in the person of Douglas Uggah, eventhough PBB has much more seats compared to many other parties in the coalition.

Abang Johari, the deputy president of PBB came out in the press saying that the Malays are not happy that for the first time, the community is also not represented in the cabinet.So also is George Chan, the president of SUPP, echoing the same unhappiness.

The master tactician must have told Najib "never mind -lah, Dato Sri, you take care and appease MCA, MIC, Gerakan, UMNO Sabah and others first lah, dont worry about us in Sarawak, we are ok"!

With his "masterful" non-pressure actions, Najib "owes" Taib heaps of political "favours". But this is at the expense of the other BN component parties in Sarawak,especially SUPP who had the high hope that people like Richard Riot would at least be appointed as a deputy minister to represent the Bidayuh community. ( The bidayuh is so unhappy about Riot's being not appointed that they put the blame on Najib and George Chan!! Talking about political reading!! Are we barking the wrong tree here?)

For PRS, am sure the top leadership is also asking for a cabinet's post, but the two "joes" , Joe Salang and Joe Entulu remain as deputy ministers. Attempts had been thwarted somehow and unseen hands could have played a part.

Meantime, we bemoan the under-representation while someone benefits tremendously. What a genius and a master political artist! Kudos!!

One Solitary Question for DSAI!

2009-04-08T08:44:00.004+08:00

Would you, DSAI, had chosen among your people in West Malaysia, A 5 TERM MP to be your candidate in any or by-election in any constituency for either an MP or ADUN to fight the BN?

For whatever reason whatsoever, I would never believed for a second that you and PKR will ever do that. But here in Sarawak, you had no qualms doing just that. Why?

With due respect to your credentials, this was a clear insult to the voters in Batang Ai.

The reasons being that the candidate is the best there was, there was no other person to fit the bill etc. does not hold water.

BUT, I would want to be positive! Politics work in circles,turnarounds, squares and what have you!

Are you cleaning up the PKR in Sarawak of these "veteran" politicians once and for all so that the line is cleared to bring in new, enthusiastic, energised, fresh personalities to lead the assault in the next Sarawak State Election? After all, you had given these "veteran" politicians the chances to prove themseves and hold courts. Evidently and admittedly they had failed you miserably.

PKR must choose the right allies in order to give BN Sarawak a good fight.
Disgruntled, discarded and those politicians who had hatred and axe to grind against current BN
personalities are not the right teammates. This is because the spirit is for revenge, and not the spirit that the PKR stands for. As one YB in PKR said" I joined PKR because the BN did not want me!!" Is it the right spirit to join PKR in the first place?

Was this act in Batang Ai a step backward inorder to have a giant step forward and conquer all?
Was this a "cleansing" exercise?

Apologies, DSAI, there were more than one question! Congrats for the wins in the two Bukits!!

Will the Wind of Change be changed by the Money of Change?

2009-04-03T05:44:00.003+08:00

This will be the pertinent question in alot of peoples' mind that could possibly decide the outcome of the final result for the Batang Ai by-election come 7th April,2009. In West Malaysia and in the just concluded UMNO elections, everyone called it "money politics". The term could be coined as such because, in technical jargon it is not corruption per se. It is an administrative and operational essentials to "oil" the machinery!

To say that only one side of the warring faction (BN or PKR) who will resort to using money politics is indeed a grave understatement. With what we heard that the BN Ministers and YBs had granted minor rural projects and direct cash grants to the AJKKK and a strong rumour circulating that an unusual huge amount of money had been withdrawn from a bank in Kapit purportedly to beef up the war chest for the PKR in LubokAntu added fuel to the fire.

In an on-line survey conducted by us involving 541 responses, 64% said that the Batang Ai voters will be lured by money and 36% will not be, as the deciding factor as to whom they will vote for finally.

Let us all wish that the voters in Lubok Antu will prove us wrong and vote in accordance with the true tenet of the democratic spirit and tradition.

Meantime, the rants, the raves and the grunts will continue in the far reaching places in the longhouses of the Lemanak, Delok and Engkari as well as all over the constituency of Batang Ai from Bara up right to the range of the Lanjak Entimau bodering us with Indonesia up North.

Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 9.

2009-04-02T08:19:00.005+08:00

The campaign in Batang Ai now has reached a feverish pitch. The PBB Youth, principally headed by Rentap Jabu have been camping in the area for weeks by now. The PRS/BN machinery is being oiled to the brim. The SUPP and SPDP campaigners, mostly led by their councillors, are seen scurring the constituency and its constituents adriotly, listening and convincing. The assault is systematic, swift and well organised.

From today onwards the BN bigwigs will descend to LA/Batang Ai.
Muhyiddin Yassin will be coming, followed by Shafie Apdal, Hishammudin, Mohd Zin Mohamed,
Mohd Taib, UMNO Wanita boss Sharizat and the big guy Khairy J (UMNO Youth chief)

For the PKR, Anwar is already in Lubok Antu with the rest of the troops. But where is Guan Eng, Hadi, Nik tok Guru Aziz, Gobend Deo, Nashsrudin Mat Isa, Ahmad B Kassim, Rashid B Din,
Johari B Abdulm Zulkifli B Nordin, Saifuddin Nasution, Aziz B Kadir, Tan Tee Beng, Nurul, Michael Jayakumar and the rest? Oh Yes, what about Dr Zainal Abidin and Dr Lee Boon Chye?

These legislators from the Pakatan are excellent campaigners and orators and are expected to be in the thick of action in Batang Ai. Anyway, they could be on the way and perhaps are busy in the two Bukits.

Up to now there are 3 visible groups of voters in BA. One is pro BN; the other is for Jawah/Bawin/PKR; and the last, not at least the least, is about 1350 fence sitters whose votes could well be determining the winners. Thus, I predict that whichever party wins on 7th April, will have a majority of at least 1000 votes!

Batang Ai By-Election, 2009, here and there...

2009-03-30T08:05:00.005+08:00

The war is declared (the political/democratic war, I mean) and the parley had taken place. Let us have a fair and square contest.

Two CM/Menteri Besar at the nomination centre:

For the first time we witnessed two sitting Ketua Menteri leading opposing sides in any election in Sarawak. Taib, the CM of Sarawak led the Sarawak BN and Khalid Ibrahim, the CM of Selangor (Menteri Besar) led the PKR. There were federal and state legislators in both teams.

The wrapper!

Did anyone notice "something" wrapped in the Pua Kumbu held by the "Ketuai Kayau"? The one held by an Iban man who stood between Jawah and Khalid? That "stuff" was awesome man!!
shhshh.... pengaruh nya kaban!! Ohoooha......ohooooha...ni kita petara aki petara in......!!
(Iban chants of prayers to the gods!)

The crowd:

It was a sight to behold. There must be in the several of thousands. The eateries in Lubok Antu were full to the brim until very late in the afternoon. The locals said that this was the biggest crowd they had ever seen.

The Police:

Congrats to PDRM Sarawak for the crowd control. There were verbal exchanges and booing
but goodwill prevailed at the end. Thought that the Police were overzealous in not allowing the PAS flags (eventhough returned) to be paraded in the sports field. Huzir Mohammad, the Commander, (CID Chief of Sarawak, as well as my former rugby national teammate) did a good job. Thanks Huzir!

Campaign Starts:

That evening (Sunday night), Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim wasted no time and kicked start the PKR campaign by going to Panjai Ruai.
For the BN, all their bigwigs returned to their respective towns in the afternoon. So confident kah?

Lubok Antu, here we come!

2009-03-27T22:26:00.007+08:00

The assembled multitude of both supporters of PKR and the BN will definitely find that the goings in this border town of Lubok Antu tough. People converging to LA for the nomination on Sunday must be ready for shortages of places to eat and drink, toiletries, accomodation, the traffic, the humidity and heat, and, even fuel. Fill your tanks in Sri Aman, if you are coming from Kuching, or in Betong if you are coming from the north (Sibu, Miri, Sarikei, etc). There is only an ESSO station in LA. The Q will be long, for sure.

The crowd expected will be in the thousands. The security personnel (PDRM) alone will be more than 800 strong. The supporters of both contending parties will be at least in the region of 3000-4000 on each sides. Admittedly there will be human traffic jams. Never before will this sleepy town witness such a large crowd coming their way in recent memory...

The PKR team will be headed by Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid and the PRS/BN will be led by Taib, Jabu , James Masing , cabinet ministers and the legislators from both sides.

Most of the BN leaders will be spending the night (Saturday) either in nearby Sri Aman or Betong whilst the PKR bosses will be in the various longhouses. Tan Sri Khalid will be staying in Cobbold's house in Sri Aman. Good on you "Youu" to accomodate YAB the Menteri Besar in your adobe in Simanggang. Tan Sri will do understand.

The PRS/BN candidate, Malcolm Mossen will be having the "miring" ceremony in Ng San, Jalan Bulu tonight before the big day tomorrow. PKR's Jawah will be having his as well at Kutai, in nearby Lubok Antu. ( "miring" is an Iban ritual to appease/get the gods' blessing before undertaking any very important venture, and in the olden days, before embarking a war expedition).

Let the show begins.....

To Batang Ai, to look see.

2009-03-25T06:13:00.004+08:00

Am off to Batang Ai this morning to sniff what is happening on the ground, to feel the pulse and visit old friends. Will try to surprise my old classmate Cr Klingsing and the mob in Lubok Antu and say hi to that noisy Ah Tay who, in those days could tell you whose fart smell what. Probably I will meet Penghulu Jaul in his longhouse and give him abit of a surprise. If time permits, I will be visiting my late friend Dublin Unting's longhouse in Sbangki Panjai and reminiscing the good old days with his relatives and the folks there and meet the longhouse chief Mr Jubang(this by-election is held due to Dublin's sad demise).

My ears and eyes should start to scann "stuff" as soon as we enter the Batang Ai constituency. Look for the longhouse Bara, just after Merindun Oil Palm mill, on the left side of the road to Lubok Antu, because thats where the battle ground commences, and it goes all the way to the Indonesian border in the north, but not before you pass over the great Lanjak/Entimau National Park. The sheer size, vastness and the ruralness of this constituency is mindboggling to the newcomers.

Tomorrow will be the backbreaking trip up the Engkari where the ordeal will be crossing the vast lake of Batang Ai before it takes you upriver where the lake ends and will meet up with the meandering tributaries of the Delok and Engkari. These areas were Bawin's bastion. What is the feeling and reaction now that their favourite son is not contesting..?

See you in the next few days...

Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 8

2009-03-24T09:10:00.004+08:00

The last time the opposition won the Batang Ai seat against the Sarawak BN was in the State Election in 1991, where PBDS the opposition party, with rookie the late Dublin Unting as the candidate, won it for PBDS with a slim majority of 86 votes against BN's Mikai Mandau. The agenda then was to unseat Taib and enthroned an Iban as the CM, with the reverberating war cry of dayakism.

The State BN lost Batang Ai but they won in other areas with a thumping victory. Taib and the gang still rule Sarawak to this day.

2009....

The "sketch" of the battle and the scenario will be something like this:

For PKR- Jawah Gerang + Anwar Ibrahim+ Yab CM of Perak,Penang, Selangor, Kelantan (Perak) + 80 over ybs MPs + 100 over ybs Aduns from PKR/PAS/DAP + Jawah's and Bawin 's supporters + disgruntled ex PBDS members + bloggers and the troops of mainly young voters who clamour for change... these are very strong and formidable army!!

For the State BN - Malcolm Mossen + PRS+ James Masing+ CM + Jabu +Mawan +Najib and all cabinet ministers /ybs+ timber and property tycoons + maggi mee projects+ intimidation+ Civil servants+ community leaders and the longhouse chiefs + finance + logistics... this army is not bad...quite strong as well.

Then there are the fence-sitters and the neutrals. This group may swing the votes.

Will the voters in Engkari throw all their votes to Jawah now that their favourite son Bawin is not in the running? How about the relatives and supporters of the late Dublin Unting, their 4 term yb/asst minister? Will the supporters of Naga Alam (the late Dublin's private secretary who was also an aspirant for PRS/BN) rally behind Mossen/BN now that he had been sidelined?

Explore! Explore! Opportunities are in abundances! I mean votes.

Batang Ai, 18 years ago, fond memories...

2009-03-23T07:24:00.004+08:00

1991 State Election, Dayakism was the war cry! PBDS was the opposition and it was the famed "Project Ketua Menteri 1991" . We in PBDS then wanted to dislodge Taib and the State BN; PBB, SNAP and SUPP. Where were you then? The issues were there; land, cronyism, unfairness, nepotism, you name them!! The Dayaks in PBB and SNAP loathed us. The civil servants hated us! The whole civil service machinery, the media, the towkays and the timber tycoons were against us! We fought tooth and nails! Where were you then?

The late Dublin Unting left his government post and became the candidate for Batang Ai, against the might of Mikai Mandau/PBB/Barisan Nasional.
The late Penghulu Lanjat and yours truly here were the late Dublin's co-ordinators for the campaign. We did not know the dreaded and powerful post of "Director of Operations" then!!

Our funds were meagre almost minimal, but we had droves of contributors to give rice, water, food, fuel, longboats, ferns, donations in the 5, 10, 20, 50 and some in the 100 ringgits note.We had hundreds of volunteers, some offered Dublin free uses of their vans and cars.

Our opponents, the mighty BN had the whole Sri Aman Council behind Mikai (as Mikai was the Chairman then), Salcra, the JKR, Police, the Army, The various government depts in Lubok Antu, the community leaders (takut lawan perintah) and the whole world!

But the enemy underestimated the SPIRIT of Dayakism then. We beat the hell out of them.
Both Dublin and myself were greenhorn in politics, more so up against the might of all the BN ministers, both State and Federal, the bottomless pit of logistics and finance.

And NOW.... the battle is drawn.... to elect a new legislator to replace my dear and close friend Dublin as their representative in Lubok Antu... good luck to both sides.

Now the war cry is for CHANGE. But the opponents remained unchanged. 18 years on, the might and the power of the State BN and Taib now has multiplied. Will the war cry for CHANGE be able to replace our salvo of DAYAKISM in the 90s? Time will tell.

But alas... the State BN has an "achilles heel"... look for that vital point and the whole world of the State BN will crumble....

Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 7- At Cross-Roads

2009-03-18T06:39:00.003+08:00

The voters in Batang Ai will be at the cross-roads in this by-election where the folks will be wondering and pondering on several issues before marking that important "X" in the ballot paper to register their final choice as to whom among the candidates will represent them. This decisive decision will be arrived at after all the exhaustive campaigns of promises,rhetorics, fiery speeches, merry making, endless visits from all sorts of political personalities, several visible development projects carried out and most importantly the personal touch of the candidates themselves.

The voters, who are predominantly Dayak Ibans will be considering few factors before deciding on whom to vote. The political landscape this time is remarkably different.

Will they still vote for the BN again this time around? Will the voters still vote for the "devils they know or the lesser devils" they yet to know?

Is the personality of the candidate of outmost importance? Will relatives vote for relatives?
Are they enough of BN and more so the Iban leaders in BN? Are they going to give the BN Iban leaders ONE more chance to represent them? Do they have confidence in Jabu, James Masing, Mawan, Uggah, Manyin, Joseph Salang, Entulu, Jelaing and the rest to STILL represent them in the BN government? Will they want to navigate in unchattered waters and FOR CHANGE vote PKR and let Anwar and the troops lead them this time around? Can they trust a West Malaysian leader, in the person of Anwar Ibrahim to spearhead their causes?

Will the political tsunami in the West bear any effect to the simple folks of Batang Ai? Do they want to send a clear signal to Taib and his colleagues that the time is up? And, that they are fed up of promises unfufilled after all these long years, elections after elections, in and outside the BN? (Batang Ai was a PBDS stronghold when the party was in the opposition) Then there is the ever lingering issues of the unsettled land and farmland promised by the Government after the resettlement of those affected by the hydro project.

What about the intention of the educated and young voters in Batang Ai? Where will be their stance? Will they go back and vote and influence the older folks as to their choice?

The penultimate result for all of us to see will be on how the Batang Ai voters will send the signal to the power- to- be of the shape of the political landscape in the years ahead for Sarawak in particular and the nation as a whole. We will see come evening of 7th April, 2009.

Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 6

2009-03-16T22:06:00.009+08:00

The results of the last two elections in the Batang Ai constituency in both the ADUN (the last Sarawak State Election) and Parliament ( Federal Election 2008) revealed few significant voting pattern in this rural constituency.

Click image to enlarge

In the last Sarawak State Election, the late Datuk Dublin Ingkot beat Nicholas Bawin by a small majority of 806 votes, considering that the late Dublin was an assistant Minister and a 3rd term serving ADUN then. For example, in Ulu Engkari, Dublin obtained an embarrassingly single, yes, single (one)
vote in that whole polling district!

Again, in the last parliamentary election, Nyallau, the PRS/BN candidate only obtained 88 votes as against Bawin's 193 votes! Ulu Engkari is thus an undisputed Bawin's stronghold.

In this constituency, Bawin bastion are in places like Ulu Engkari, Rh Intang Mengililing, Bukong, Sayat (ex-yb Jawah Gerang's stronghold), Sempang, Beritik, Kachong/Menyebat, Spaya, Ng Tibu, Ulu Lemanak as well as fringe places like Ng Delok and Kutai.

In both elections where Nicholas Bawin stood against the might of Barisan, his support in the nine polling districts remained unwavering.Due credits must be noted here, considering that Nicholas Bawin had almost no financial and logistic support whatsoever.

For the BN, their strengths were in polling districts such as Sbangki (Dublin's longhouse ), Lubok Antu town, Skarok, Kaong, Melaban, Kumpang, Nenyang, Undi pos, Ensawang, Kutai, Mepi and Ng Patoh.

Interestingly, in the contests where Bawin squarred off against the BN, their supporters

(BN /Bawin) remained loyal to both. Bawin lost 806 and 744 votes in both occasions respectively.

For the benefit of PKR and Barisan campaigners and supporters I append below the detailed results of the last Sarawak State and the Parliamentary elections for their perusal and onward strategic planning and approach.

Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 5

2009-03-16T07:59:00.004+08:00

The PM in waiting announced recently that there will be no"instant noodles" for any by-election from now onwards. This will bascially mean that the BN will not dangle carrots in the form of instant projects to fish for votes. Najib went further to say that future projects will be approached and implemented in a more holistic manner. If this is the case, then the BN Ministers will not announce or implement any development projects in Batang Ai as well.

The Sarawak BN Ministers will thus scratch their heads and will be wondering what to do next.

The simplest of strategy that the BN Ministers have done all this while in an election like this (or in past elections) is to lure voters with the promises of instant so-called development projects. Now this is not allowed by the PM in waiting/Finance Minister, it is very interesting what alternative will there be for them to attract voters to be on their side.

Can we imagine when the BN Ministers go around Batang Ai in the next few weeks campaigning without carrying any goodies as had been the standard practice? Then what are these VVIPs going to talk about to gain support? No more releasing of fish frys into the rivers, no more promises of tar-sealed roads, no more money for JKKK, no more this or that!

Let us see whether the BN Sarawak Ministers will follow the directive from Najib.

My gut feeling is that they will not. This is simply the only "modal" they have had all these years. It has been the standard practice, it is the norm, it is a winning strategy. The rural folks, more so in Batang Ai still need all the basic infrastructure, roads, electricity, water, communications,health, education, welfare and the likes.

Probably, the BN Ministers and Legislators and their campaigners will glorify their past deeds and also to again highlight the millions that SALCRA had paid in dividends to the folks in Lubok Antu.

Sarawak BN Meeting @ 2pm-14th March 2009.

2009-03-15T01:01:00.004+08:00

The Sarawak BN meeting today was short and direct to the core point of accepting and endorsing the BN candidate for the forthcoming Batang Ai by-election nominated by PRS President Dato Sri Dr James Masing. There was no other so-called list of name or names purportedly sent by a senior PBB leader or a certain businessman or whoever else were there. There was no discussion on any other name.

The CM was told that he was satisfied and happy that PRS had chosen the right candidate who is an educated and well-liked local boy in the person of Malcolm Mossen Lamuh. The CM was also reportedly to have said to all leaders of the component parties present at the meeting that PRS, as a party, had discussed among themselves several names who were also seemed to fit the bill but after due deliberation among themselves had reached a decisive conclusion to finally agree to Mossen to represent the party and BN. None of the component members present objected or proposed any other name or names as widely speculated.

It was also decided by Taib, as the BN Sarawak boss, that James Masing will be the Director of Operations and will be assisted by Datuk Douglas Uggah. This also dispelled rumours that Tan Sri Alfred Jabu will be the man tasked to lead the troops.

Now, we await the candidate from PKR next.

Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 4

2009-03-12T08:41:00.012+08:00

Dont think it is right to gauge or perpetuate Dayak Unity using the platform of the Batang Ai by-election. It is implied that "PRS/BN should field a Dayak/Iban candidate and the opposition should field a non- Dayak in the cause of Dayak Unity" as reported in the papers yeaterday. Infact an opposition win in Batang Ai will act as a strong pressure lobby on lingering Dayak issues and up the heat and ante on the power to be in Sarawak. If Dayak BN leaders cannot settle those issues within, then an "outside intervention" is the necessary choice, even if a Dayak seat is sacrificed. Not really, the winner will still be a Dayak Iban.

Dayak Unity would mean basically, Dayak Legislators in Parliament and the State Assembly forming an informal lobby among themselves and speaking in ONE voice when it come to The Appointment of the PM, The CM of Sarawak, The TYT of Sarawak, The Speaker of the State Assembly, the councillors, community leaders, and issues as the land issues, education, entry into universities, scholarships, ketuanan Rakyat, poverty eradication, the Judiciary, the Police and Army, the English Language, Foreign Service, appointments of Directorship in GLCs (Petronas, Mas, PNB, etc..), business opportunities, APs, dealerships of National cars, gas stations, etc..

The Dayak Legislators should also stand together with the Kadazandusun(KDM),Orang Asli, Portugese, Baba Nonya, Chitty, Siamese, Indian and other minority legislators as well as a link to other Borneo Legislators to form an effective Third Force in Malaysian politics.

Back to Batang Ai....

The BN Youths are now in Lubok Antu to see the preparation for the by-election. Well ,good luck to Datuk Zulkifli and the gang. Cover the geography of the area well, ok.

As for the BN candidate, there is an uncertainty as to the final candidate. The mainstream media and the blogsphere put up various theories. The common notion and belief is that PRS list does not completely satisfy the CM, is it the beef? Well, the CM will not dismiss James Masing/BN/PRS candidate just like that. At the meeting during the weekend, the matter will be discussed and a collective decision will be made. This will create accountability for all the BN partners; PBB,SUPP, SPDP and PRS. Consensus will be reached, partnership and committment be reaffirmed and at the end, the PRS candidate will be announced.

The belief that the candidate is a PBB/ Jabu/or whoever it is doesn't matter in a coalition. He is a BN candidate and Batang Ai is a PRS seat, thats it. The fact that the PRS President has submitted a list with one name ONLY in the list, where is the choice for Taib to make? You can't leave a decision to Taib and at the same time send him only one name. So, Taib's choice,or, none at all, will thus settle the issue.

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Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 3- The Candidates.

2009-03-10T06:30:00.000+08:00

PKR's two leading contenders for the candidacy of the Batang Ai by-election, Nicholas Bawin and Jawah Gerang were summoned to see the "chosen one, DSAI," over the weekend what many believed to be an important meeting where Anwar Ibrahim must have told the two gentlemen of which one of them will be the Party's candidate for Batang Ai. An official announcement by PKR is believed to be this Thursday or Friday.

My gut feeling is that an ex-MP will be the chosen one! Well, its just a guessing game.

There must be a rethinking by PKR to have arrived at this choice. Contrary to many in PKR who would have hoped that Naga Alam will be PRS/BN candidate, they were caught off-guard when

Malcolm Mossen is now the candidate. PKR knows that the "goal post" has been removed, thus a turnaround of its candidate is very likely. Herein is the logical reason for the change of heart.

If Naga Alam would have been the candidate for PRS/BN, then Nicholas Bawin would be a perfect match. Now that Malcolm Mossen is the most likely candidate, the strategists think that the ex-MP will be the perfect opponent for all REASONS peculiar to Batang Ai, where relations,
past liasion, family ties, pedigree, etc.. will be of consideration.

The fact that Nicholas Bawin has been appointed as the chief co-ordinator for the Batang Ai by-election adds to my belief that the ex-MP could be the one! PKR's administrator, more so in a by-election as this instance is not normally the candidate. Of course I could be very wrong!

As for PRS, the President, James Masing had submitted the name of the candidate to the PM, Dy PM and the CM of Sarawak. The letter only mentioned one name.

A day later, a Deputy CM of Sarawak, also handed a letter to the BN top leadership of which contents outlined the candidate's suitability and credibility. The name stated in the report is of the same person as that submitted as the PRS candidate by James Masing.

It is hoped that this will help to squash the notion that the candidate for PRS is not a PBB 'installed' candidate. "Tumpang sekaki dan glamour or limelight dan tidak mahu kalah, maybe lah'!

Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 2

2009-03-05T06:53:00.004+08:00

Despite earlier assurance by the EC chairman that the Batang Ai by-election will not be of the same date as the ones for the two Bukits in West Malaysia,it is now confirmed that all the three by-elections will be held simultaneously after all; nomination is on the 29th of March (Sunday) and polling will be on the 7th April (Tuesday), allowing 8 days of campaigning.

Advantage one for BN/PRS Sarawak.

PKR leaders will be spread out in the two Bukits and across the South China Sea and deep into the Dayak Iban hinterland of Batang Ai. The travels alone will be energy sapping, not to mention the logistics of it all.

Upon reaching Kuching International Airport, they will have to travel by road to Lubok Antu and therefrom to the various longhouses criss-crossing Batang Ai, and, depending on the roster, they will have to cross "another sea" of the vast Batang Ai dam into the Delok and Engkari, or the Lamanak in the eastern part of this rural State constituency.

There will be very limited accomodation and food outlets,unless they want to stay at the expensive and yet very inconvenient Hilton Batang Ai, as it is located at the other side of the lake. Halal food? Almost none anywhere in Lubok Antu!

For BN/PRS these will be of no problems. For accomodations, the troops can stay at the SESCO Township banglows, the government quarters and the Klingkang Inn in Lubok Antu Town. There will be of course the brand new Eurocopter choppers to ferry VVIPs/ campaigners all over the more remote areas of the constituency.

Then there is the bottomless pit of the BN finance and logistics, not to mention the endless contributions from individuals/towkays/lobbyists, you name it.

Plus, the enormous advantage of having the bigwigs of the State Civil Service and all government departments and agencies and State Government linked companies to assist and beef up the BN Election machinery.

The odds will be heavilly stacked against the PKR. The logistics, operations and the administration of the campaign will be nightmarish, to say the least. PKR can never match the Sarawak BN in these areas. It is always very difficult to unseat a seat that has been held by the incumbent State Government for many terms, more so in a by-election as it is.

With all the campaign war cries,promises of better lives and living, the issues, all and sundry, it is up to the voters of Batang Ai to decide.

Battle Royale For Batang Ai- Part 1

2009-03-03T05:22:00.003+08:00

This week the Election Commission will announce the by-election date for the Batang Ai State Constituency of Sarawak fell vacant due to the demise of its four term state assemblyperson, a very close and dear friend, Datuk Dublin Unting anak Ingkot.

The Battle Royale between the Sarawak Barisan and PKR is set to be mouth watering considering the barometer used to gauge each other's claim to supremacy in all fields political. The Sarawak BN, to be represented by PRS, will make damn sure that the seat remains theirs for keeps, in order to prove a thing or two, to both their colleagues in the Sarawak BN, Najib, the PM in waiting and also Anwar Ibrahim, the man who has the lofty, yet seemingly achieveable aim of capturing the State of Sarawak to add to its rule in the coming election.

The by-election for Batang Ai is the perfect acid test. It is like a Cup final between MU and Chelsea! Moreover, this battle is for all sort of politicians to ply their trade.

For PRS and its leaders, it is to demonstrate that the Party still has the support of the Dayak Ibans in Lubok Antu. The fight is very close to the hearts, as the late Dublin was the vice president and an assistant minister representing the Party.

So determined will PRS to fiercely and stoutly defend the seat was demonstrated, it is reliably learnt, at the last Cabinet Meeting, when its President, Dr James Masing told all present,including the Chief Minister, that Batang Ai is a PRS seat and only the Party has the right to nominate its own candidate, without any interference.All present agreed, including Jabu the Deputy CM. The Chief Minister also concurred with what James Masing had told everyone and was reportedly said " let James and PRS nominate their own candidate and we will help them to win the seat". Let us see whether this "understanding" will be carried out faithfully! Place your bets!

( When PRS was underseized and undermined due to its leadership tussle and crisis, "outsiders" within Barisan in Sarawak, took advantage of the situation and literally forced James and PRS to nominate the so-called "outsiders" prefered candidates using PRS tickets as were seen in the naming of candidates for the previous State and Parlimentary Elections. Now that Dr James Masing and PRS has settled its internal problems and his position entrenched, and also considering the fluidity of the current political situation in the country in general, the PRS President knows too well that he is open to all "options" and react accordingly if there is anyone, within Barisan or outside, is seen as a sniff away to intervene in anyway whatsoever. PRS is not short of suitors.)

PRS is now waiting for the Election Commission to announce the dates of the nomination and polling before deciding on who will stand as the candidate for the seat of Batang Ai.

For Sarawak BN, it is a seat that they must defend at all cost, to prevent PKR to gain inroads and stamp its mark in Sarawak.

Tatoo is a Hinderance.

2009-02-23T22:10:00.003+08:00

Malaysian youths, mainly Dayak youths, who are having tatoos anywhere visible in their bodies will definitely be refused employment in the Malaysian Civil Service especially in the Police or the Army. This "unwritten code" has been in practice for sometime and is a major hinderance for the youths wanting to join the Police or the Army in Malaysia.

Parents are frustrated that their children, just because they have tatoos somewhere in their bodies are being outrightly rejected by recruiting officers whilst undergoing job interviews.

This policy is too harsh. Has there been official directive by the Government regarding this policy? Herein lies a major irony. During the Emergencies and also the Communists threat, Dayaks who wanted to join the Forces or The police must show that they had tatoos all over their bodies supposedly to indicate courage, honour,brotherhood and sacrifices. Tatoo was then a pre-requisite! Those days, only the brave dared to venture and in addition ,were paid in pittance. Presently, it is the opposite!

There has been numerous complaints echoed by job seekers that they have been refused employment just because they have the signature tatoo embedded in the skin.

Sarawak Govt acquire,pay.You and me develop!

2009-02-19T08:10:00.000+08:00

A vast tract of prime land belonging to ordinary Sarawakians were acquired and paid for by the Government under the pretex of being used for "essential public infrastructure/ammenities" i.e schools, clinics, government offices and quarters. From the onset, it is very noble intention indeed. For the landowners, this is the only land left. It has been toiled and used to plant rice, fruits and vegetables for generations.It is a big sacrifice on their part for the sake of the government and development.

A masterplan is unveiled.

The plan is realised. We have a mini Putrajaya and spanking new office, luxurous government quarters and an acqua centre (which is always shut and unused, by the way). Brilliant sight at night,albeit almost ghostly!This is a legacy of a super development justfying a new Administrative Division of Sarawak. But, at what price?

Then, presto! Commercial development appears from nowhere,somewhere within the remaining acquired tract of the said land purportedly for the purpose of Government infras and buildings! And, the proposed commercial centre is not developed by the government. By who?

Questions raised?

How would the appropriate authority explain the land that was earlier acquired and paid for by the government for its so-called noble cause could ended up being used for commercial purpose? Is it a JV of LCDA /private entity? Is it a payment in kind? Did LCDA and its JV partner pay any money for the unused portion of the land? How could the third party is entrusted to use the land for other purpose other than the original intention?How, where and when did the rights to further develop the remaining portion of said land been granted and on what terms and conditions?

Don't you think that the landowners feel shortchanged? Compare the gross devlopment value against the earlier compensation paid by the government for an acre? As an example, say,the authorities paid the landowners 200 k for an acre. For the same size the developers are currently building eight 3-storey-shophouses and are selling for 750k per shophouse;thats 6 million GDV for an acre. Got the drift? How many acres of the remaining land will be developed and then multiply that as well. Then there is the hotel coming up which will undoubtedly add to its GDV.(gross development value)

The Government paid pittance for the land seen to be on behalf of "others "and reaped profits massively. At whose expense?

This trend of acquiring land by the government for all its intent and purpose,supposedly noble ones and later being utilised by other parties for reasons other than its original purpose,more so when it is for unreasonable profiteering at the expense and sacrifice of the original landowners is despicable, to say the least. This sort of questionable tactics propogate by the government is starting to rear its ugly heads.

The Frogs-Entry and Exit, Miles apart!

2009-02-10T06:42:00.000+08:00

Consider this scenario. Readers will then decide;
First Scenario:
Entry into PKR from UMNO:

Assemblyperson enters into Pakatan Rakyat with so much confidence, even went to Anwar house with his wife to voluntarily said he wanted to join PKR, handed over the PKR windbreaker (jacket),beaming ear to ear, held a press conference, and later spoke infront of thousands pledging his support to the causes of the PKR; his body language said it all!

Second Scenario:
Leaving PKR and re-enters UMNO:

Disappeared and incommunicado for several days, and as reported, his family could'nt even contacted him! Then out of the blue, looking subdued and sad, appeared in a press conference with the DPM Najib where Najib told the press and public that the Yb from Bota had rejoined UMNO/BN.

These scenarios as they unfolded, will leave us the perceptions as we would like to interpret them ourselves.

How about the two PKR ybs that crossed over to UMNO? Well, they are facing uncertain future with the court cases against them looming. Who control the AG, the prosecutor?

The DAP assemblywoman? Its betrayal to her voters, Party and the causes that her party has all along been fighting for. She could be the first DAP legislators who has ever desserted. Now we heard that she has got the Camry that she has been longing for.

The political situation in Perak is far from over. It could be actually a blessing in disguise.

The unexpected,unfortunate and sudden demise of the MP will pave way for a by-election in that Parliamentary seat of B Gantang within 60 days will yet again see a bitter fight between PKR and the UMNO\BN.

YAB Lim Guan Eng, the CM of Penang even suggested that Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin,the ousted former Mentri Besar should square off with the newly (albeit under much protests)BN installed Mentri Besar of Perak, Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. Guan Eng believed that such a scenario will be politically perfect to gauge the Perakians decisive show of support once for all.

Perak Royalty

2009-02-06T09:00:00.003+08:00

Due to the current political crisis going on in Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, the Perak revered ruler has been in the spotlight trying to amicably settle the impasse over claims for the right to rule (due to crossovers by legislators) the State between the current PKR led Government and the BN, led by UMNO. His Highness, after granting audiences and listening to both sides to argue their cases, had been convinced that the BN has the majority in the Perak State Assembly, thus gave his royal assent to invite the BN to form the new Perak State Government, effectively thrown the barely year old PKR administration out in the window.

(Pix left : The author and Sultan Azlan Shah)

The Sultan"s decision has created controversies and unhappiness amongst his subjects and other malaysians alike. Many critics are wondering how could a ruler so experienced and learned in law as His Highness,more so as a former Lord
President (then) could have come to that conclusion as they witnessed today. The majority of Perakians would have preferred that the Sultan would allow the sitting MB (the Chief Minister/menteri besar) to dissolve the Assembly paving way for fresh polls in Perak State.

Could it be that the Royal Highness been dictated by unseen hands for making the unpopular decision? Or, to protect interests of people close and dear to his heart?

The Sultan's son, Raja Nazrin, is the Regent of Perak, the next in line of succession, refined,educated,very much liked and populary adored and admired by Perakians and malaysians alike.

His daughter,YAM Raja Dato Seri Eleena Azlan Shah is named as the 26th richest person in Malaysia in May 2007, with assets worth 773 million, according to Wikipedia. In the gender category, she is believed to be the 2nd richest woman in Malaysia.The Princess is also one of the majority shareholders of construction giant Gamuda, through her company Generasi Setia (M) Sdn Bhd. Besides, she is also a senior partner in a law firm of Messrs Raja Eleena, Siew Ang & Assosiates and sits in the Board of public listed Danau Permai Resorts and Seagroatt & Campbell Holdings Bhd.

Gamuda, as we all know, is the Federal government's favourite and trusted contractor, while also acknowledging that the company had won tenders and negotiated contracts on its own merits, good connections is advantageous as well.

The speculation and the public perception end nowhere, which is truly sad and unfortunate considering that the Royal family of Perak has always been regarded with the highest esteem by malaysians and even the rest of the neighbouring countries if not several parts of the world.

Sultan Azlan Shah is also an icon in the world of hockey. In the legal fraternity he is well known and highly respected for his crusade of good governance and the noble rule of law.

Why has then, His Royal Highness, The Sultan of Perak, had made such an significant but hugely unpopular decision with regard to the affairs of his beloved State? His royal subjects and the netizens in large are shaking their heads in disbeliefs.

BN..can, Others...cannot!

2009-02-03T07:00:00.002+08:00

A few days ago a very senior Minister in the Sarawak Cabinet commented on the legality and morality of Perak's Bota Assemblyman crossing over to Pakatan Rakyat. Its laughable and almost to a brink of absurdity considering that such remarks came from the group of politicians that conceptualised the "frogs lure" in Sarawak in the 198os. Remember the infamous Ming Court Affair in 1987? Sarawak's political scenario and landscape have changed tremendously thereafter as a result of Assemblymen from the opposition (mainly from PBDS) crossing over to the BN with lures of ministerial posts, fame and fortune.

A few days later, when two State Assemblymen from PKR leapfrogged to BN, the same senior Minister is in "silent mode"! Why? Because its perfectly alright and morally acceptable if it is to benefit the BN. What a double standard!

When it comes to party hopping and all the morality,legality and the cosequences associated with such deplorable act, the politicians in Sarawak, and shall I add, Sabah are all experts, suffice to say.

To top it all, none other than the PM and the DPM had both said that the opposition legislators and members are all welcome to join UMNO. The Prime Minister said " whoever wants to join UMNO is welcome to do so. We accept them into UMNO and BN so that they will gain new experiences in fighting for our struggles" .( Headline news in the New Syraits Times- Monday Feb 2 2009)

So, its BN can, others cannot!

In the book "The Animal Farm" - "all animals in this farm are equal, but some animals are more equal than others ". In Malaysia,all citizens are equal but some are more equal than others. but than again, some are exceptionally more equal than the others!

Uniqueness of Kuching

2009-01-30T23:40:00.003+08:00

There are certain uniqueness and behaviours of us Kuchingnites, that we may be proud of;

Our laksa is different from laksa say, in Penang. Our so-called laksa in Penang would be their curry bee hoon. Penang version of their laksa is almost like our belachan bee hoon you can get at Jubliee Ground stalls or at the market behind Padungan.
Kuching is the only city I have seen so far that has a "Turn Left When Exit is Clear" sign at traffic light/ or "Turn Right When Exit is Clear" at the opposite side. In other towns or cities, red lights sign mean all vehicles and motorcycles will have to stop even when exits to left or right are both visibly clear.
All trucks in Kuching will use the right lanes throughout their journey. Try driving along the new highway to Serian from Kuching, I bet you will see the trucks stay on the "fast lane" on the right! In KL the trucks that use the right lane will be pulled over by the traffic cops in an instance. No chance.
When the red lights turn green the vechiles infront of you will take their sweet time and just dont bother to speed a bit faster so that more vehicles be "cleared" . But the minute the lights is on the verge of turning red the drivers will turn instantly into a F1 driver and speed recklessly and more often than not will "beat" the traffic light.

Hari Raya, all roads leading to the Malay Kampongs in Petra Jaya side will be jammed with traffic. Why? Packed by visitors going to visit their muslim friends, and the visitors will be mostly non-muslims! I dont see that happening in Kpg Baru in KL during Hari Raya!
In a coffee shop in downtown Kuching, a muslim stall may be located next to a non muslim stall. I have not seen this in Kelantan, Terengganu, or elsewhere in West Malaysia.
In the city centre we dont see giant advertising board at all. In comparison, look at thousands of huge billboards along the Federal Highway in PJ. Kudos to DBKU and MBKS
Kuching city has two mayors, one for the "South" and the other for the "North" Even New York has one mayor! Beat that? The "South" mayor reports to the Minister of Local Government and the "North"mayor reports to the Chief Minister!
Kuching folks are crazy of coffee shops. There must be thousands of them. The city folks also love the bakery! There could be in the hundreds. In downtown Jinjang, in Kepong, KL, I hardly seen one.

Comment if you find any other uniqueness of Kuching; am sure you have heaps of them to share.

Sarawak's Biggest Business.

2009-01-27T14:30:00.002+08:00

The biggest business of all businesses in Sarawak is surely the business of running the Sarawak Government given the peculiarity,the absolute power, the influences and the unique relationships between the Chief Executive (the Chief Minister) and the big businesses in the State. Tell us which the very big businesses in Sarawak is not "related" in one way or the other to the State and its keeper?

Not only the Government is the biggest employer, it can also generate innumerable business opportunities, directly or indirectly, through appropriate legislations and self-styled policies. The STIDC, SALCRA, LCDA etc through legislations are testimonies to the formations of these so-called legal "toll operators".

Through government administrative policies, e.g the formation of the Sarawak Planning Authority, all develpoments in Sarawak will have to pass through this tiny cubicle within the Resource Ministry where all decisions will be eventually decided by one man.

No big businesses in Sarawak can survive without the blessings of the State. This is really the exception in Sarawak. By the same token, no big businesses here will hide their loyalty and dependency as well.judging by the glossy and pages and pages of advertisements congratulating
someone's anniversary, or, his or her daughter's wedding, awards given, tenure of one's long rule of holding offices etc etc..

Admittedly, the intention and desire of any party or group to take over the big business of doing business to run the State of Sarawak is understandably understanable.

PRS/SPDP Merger.

2009-01-23T08:07:00.003+08:00

Taib Mahmud, the Chief Minister of Sarawak in his speech read by George Chan at the SPDP AGM recently,reiterated the noble idea that PRS and SPDP should merge but must not do it in a hurry. He compared the time frame that he took to merge the two bumiputra parties of Berjasa and Panas in the 70s. Taib said it took him three years to get the parties to finally merged.

Will James Masing and William Mawan take heed to the supremo's advice? If I were them, I would definitely not. Behind Taib's statesmanship grandstanding and genuine intentions to bring these two Dayak based parties together I suspect something amiss is hidden somewhere. Subtle innuendo coming none other than a master tactician and crafty wily fox must not be taken with a pinch of salt.

The two Presidents should just do the opposite. Merge now and in lightning speed. In so doing, the new entity will have more bargaining power for whatever reason is there for its political direction henceforth.

If the two leaders can and is willing to do that,am sure accolades will be mountains full and the negative perceptions of bystanders, critics and the public have had on them will be partly erased,if not totally. Masing and Mawan will be looked upon as rebranded leaders. After which they can sit on the opposite side of the table and look into the eyes of Taib or Anwar and lay the cards.

Possibility of the seemingly impossible.

2009-01-20T07:18:00.004+08:00

Now that the by-election in KT has been settled, there is probably another by-election in the Pensiangan Parliamentary seat in the East Malaysian State of Sabah looming.This parliamentary seat has been declared null and void by the Election Court but the Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional development Joseph Kurup, who holds the seat, has filed an appeal against the ruling which will be heard on Fedruary 12-13th.

Another test and benchmark for the Barisan? Well,this will be a good test as this by-election is an East Malaysia's affair. Remember the same old, lame and self denial excuses given by the BN leaders after the losses in Permatang Pauh and the KT by-elections? Responses like "its not about Najib alone", " we will respect the voters decisions", "BN still got the grassroot support", "this by-election win by the opposition cannot be used to gauge BN's strength" etc are familiar and very dreadful to the ears everytime the BN lost.

In Sarawak, the long serving CM, Taib Mahmud said that "Barisan Nasional is still popular despite defeat in KT".

Talking about Sarawak, the Pakatan led coalition has made its intention known that Sarawak State is the next target for its assault. This is where the possibility of the seemingly impossible battle between the Sarawak BN and Pakatan will be fought. Admittedly the task ahead for PR will be herculean and mammoth, with the inexhaustible funds,logistics and the almost invincible political strength that the incumbent BN government led by Taib is commanding. The revolt in the infamous 1987 Ming Court affair and then the PBDS led opposition in the 1991 election in trying to topple Taib were no where near a whisker even to cause a stir, on both occasions. That is testimony of Taib's resolute strength. Even his so-called detractors now openly embraced him and some are members of his cabinet as well. Is it not statesmanship in the highest order?

Now, Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan team is trying to wrest the BN Government of Sarawak from the iron grip of Taib. What are the plans? Will the rakyat subscribe to PR ideals, mission and vision for the future of Sarawak? Will Anwar "war cry" more potent compared to the "dayakism" of the PBDS days or the "family quarrel" of 1987? Will Anwar be able to comprehend fully the intricacies and complexities of Sarawak politics?

Anwar being Anwar, is made of sterner stuff! Never underestimate that man, period. For a man who was once very near the pinnacle of absolute power with its trappings,and then ,in an instant unceremoniously dumped in the gutter and with "terrible black eyes" tag to go along with into the dooldrums,darkness and solitary confiment for years and end,it is any man greatest achievement and pride to come off unscathed, even stronger and hungrier than ever. This "maketh a great and real man" ! The episode speaks volumne for the man.

Now Anwar is back, back from the ashes and is a whisker away from the pinnacle of Malaysian politics once again. It is almost a miracle, achieving the possibilitry of the seemingly impossible!
The big question is, will Anwar again rise to the occasion and capture the Sarawak BN government in what many will think as an act of achieving the almost impossible.

The next Sarawak State Election will see to that.

Ways to Riches Sarawak Style, aided by corruption!

2009-01-19T00:51:00.006+08:00

For the last 30 years or so in Sarawak, we have witnessed many personalities who have become millionaires,influential and with titles of Tan Sri or Dato/Datuk thrown in as testimonies of their success stories by the-powers-to-be. For the case of Sarawak State,the prerogative in awarding these titles is of course in the hands of the Chief Minister, while the Federal Award,e.g the Tan Sri title is by non other than the Prime Minister himself. In this country and the State, lucrative contracts and awards are given hand in hand and in tandem.

In normal circumstances, traditional businessmen are astute,resilient, very hardworking and earn their money through mostly real trading of supplies and services. Their customers are their fellow Sarawakians whom they are familiar with for generations and they are normally not very very rich but comfortable and earn honest living. It take them years and years to buildup their businesses on their own sheer resilience and hardwork.These businessmen can survive in any country or business enviornment anywhere in the world, e.g in Australia or New Zealand where corruption rarely exist and the-powers-to-be do not normally patronise or favour any company or individual doing business. This is where THE BIG difference lies.

In Sarawak, we have witnessed businessmen made their fortunes and fames in a very short space of time. Suddenly out of the blue,they have mammoth contracts, land development projects, timber concessions, etc, and on top of that, you have to address them as Tan Sri, or "tanseli" or "Datuk Silly" instead of the familiar Wong, Ting, Ding, Azrul, Ahmad or William.

The big question is, can these people earn their fortune purely based on brick and mortar business alone? And, on their own merits? Can they become rich overnight, say in Australia or New Zealand where corruption is not rampant?

This is possible in Sarawak through corruption.

Hand Delivered Occupation Permit (OP)

2009-01-14T09:02:00.006+08:00

This is the story and reality of people who are powerful and connected in Sarawak.

A city Mayor personally hand over an OP to a several stars hotel developer, smiling for the historic occasion, published in a daily English newspaper today, 14th January,2009. It is a top class service rendered non other than the Mayor himself to the hotel owner/or,is it the advisor?

On the contrary, developers bemoan and house buyers incessantly complain the endless ,tedious and the massive bureaucracy govern the issuance of the dreaded piece of paper called the OP.

Excuse me, is this tedious process a thing of the past? If its so efficient and swift and hand delivered by the the local councils/DBKU/MBKS officers to the applicants/developers etc.. than I am truly sorry,and admittedly, is well behind time! Kudos!

Leaders pop the Cheers, ordinary folks bracing for floods!

2009-01-13T20:58:00.004+08:00

Tonight, somewhere in a yet to be completed spanking 6 star Hotel, droves of VIPs will converge into an exclusive dinning splendour and celebrate a wedding anniversary of "yang dikasehi". Fine food,perfect ambience, and who whos in Sarawak will join in this momentous occasion. Happy anniversary!

Already, the occasion was front-paged in glowing tributes in a local paper by the one who invented the "yang dikasehi". Then there are the coloured full page advertisements congratulating the couple on this auspicious event from notable and "preferred"companies.

In the midst of all this glittering moment, thousands of ordinary folks are bracing for the attack of floods and subsequent hardships. They will have to vacate their homes, move to community halls and in some instances are in the brink of destitute.

The timing of all these,both the floods and the wedding anniversary, is most untimely. It is a sad
reality of one's indulgences and another's sufferings. But then again,who said that this world is fair?

The Ground Strategies For PKR- 4, Identifying Allies.

2009-01-11T18:41:00.006+08:00

In any battle,militarily or politically,it is important to have an ally or allies to beef-up your "war" chests. Some allies are visibly seen in its physical form and others in covert involvement. Likewise in politics.

PKR should look around for allies within the BN battalion for a start.It is an ancient strategy where you look into the enemy network for information,tactics,logistics,capabilities, weaknesses and strengths.

Identify allies within the BN who are the so-called second echelon.These are normally the frustrated and the impatient,and the easiest of "targets". These people are very vulnerable group within and yet they are very useful because of their closeness to the bosses and thus have insight knowledge and sensitive information that is much needed.Forget about the older folks because of their intransigent attitude that the BN is supreme and untouchable.

Get the gamble further. Send feelers to Masing and Mawan. Gauge their feelings and see whether both of them and their parties, SPDP and PRS truly "sink and swim" with Taib. Let DSAI talk intimately about the real vision and mission of PKR for Sarawak and its people. So far its only rumours that Masing had talked to DSAI. If this is in fruition and realised, PKR will have at least 17 seats in the bag already.(including Yb Adit's and 18 with Yb Dominic's). After all, these two parties are in the process of merging and its no harm in trying to entice them to the fold.

The suggestion may,at certain point,throw spanner into the PKR's woodwork, but ain't they not talking and professing CAUSE above self? Admittedly there has been bad blood, but if its the reason for not forgiving and let gones be by gones, then we are not politically matured enough.

Henceforth, the PKR members should as much as possible try to win the hearts and minds of the community leaders,the civil servants,the councillors, ketua kampongs, etc. We know that these folks receive rm450 a month and others, salaries, there is nothing wrong for them to veilly assist in providing tips and information.

Note:The posts, The Ground Strategies For PKR, 1,2,3& 4 are the blogger's own. PKR, am sure, will have wiser, solid and comprehensive Strategies of their own for the ASSAULT.

The Ground Strategies For PKR- 3, Gaining Inroads.

2009-01-11T09:14:00.007+08:00

After the dinners in major towns in Sarawak,it is high time for PKR to really "turun padang" and penetrate the rural populace/voters in Balai Ringin,Bau,Lundu,Sematan,Pantu,Sebuyau, Kabong, Spaoh, Ng Spak,Padeh,Teguyu, Ubah, Sg Tengang, Kedumpai, Ensengai, Long Lama, Ng Suut, Sg. Mujong, Merarai, Ng Tada, Mangut, Kpg Pusa, Beladin, Long Midan, Lamanak, Skrang, Kaki Wong, Empilau, Sarabang, Manggut, Bungin, Penurin, Saka, Ng Buai, Raba, Rh Lepong, Rh Ngelambong, Tg Bijat, Banting, and thousands and thousands of villages and longhouses in the vast,ruralness of Sarawak. Even the names of longhouses and malay kampongs I mentioned here are unheard of to many PKR newcomers! Well, you guys havent heard the best to come yet!

How on earth will you get there? The 4wd tracks,the tough terrains,the tidal bore(Whats that?) the low tide,the high tide,the express,the rapids; you think of the unthinkable; you will get there no doubt. As a comfort,you can try to bring along the mobile phone and text for help or GPRS for direction,its all part of entering this wild country.

Well,The BN people have done all of these and they have won 9 elections hands down! They know the people and the country at the "backs of their hands". They offer zincs sheets,project kilat,tar sealed footway,water tanks, rm3000 to the AJKKK at an instant, Rm5000 to kaun Ibu, pick the voters and transport them back at the same time, then reward them with "project gaji ngundi" (payment for work to vote) for rm50. Presto! The election is won!

Between nomination to voting day, the BN will group the longhouses together then they will be organising dinner visits to each other's longhouse. There, the BN campaigneers will dish out promised projects and the heavens!!

Then there will be the deafening hovering of the Hornbill Eurocopters transporting BN VIPs (eventhough their tenure as Ministers has lapsed,they are still the caretaker govt!) to the areas where the opposition are struggling to get to by boats or 4wd and looking up to the sky looking for devine intervention.

How will PKR enter and penetrate these areas?

Well, no worries. All the PKR members in Sarawak are Sarawakians themselves and they also know the areas well. Some even know the areas better that the BN members. What the PKR boys and girls need is extra help in training,seminars,workshops,finance,logistics,indoctrination in all aspect of fairness,good and responsible governance and more importantly, indissoluble spirit and morale.

Its time to move;

Roster the PKR Mps/ ADUNs to go to designate areas. Get the assistance of the 5 YAB CM/ Menteri Besar as well. In total,there are 81 Mps and well over a hundred of ahli YB of ADUNs.

We can "flood" the entire Sarawak/BN country and drowned it into political oblivion . Its the strategy and the political will and grit determination.

To be continued.......