The Broken Shield today welcomes the explanation given by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president, Dr. George Chan that the party has never neglected the interests of the Dayaks in the party.
“As far as SUPP is concerned, we have never neglected the interests of our Dayak members as well as the Dayak community in general,” Chan said in replying to our earlier posting in The Broken Shield which said that SUPP had failed to highlight the interests of its Dayak members.
SUPP must walk the talk and should not be scared to tell the all too powerful Chief Minister regarding the problems faced by the Dayak community especially in respect of the taking away of the NCR land by big oil palm companies.
Many of the directors of these companies have not only links with SUPP, but some of them are even members of the party. These companies which have been given provisional leases to plant oil palm have uprooted the Dayaks’ traditional way of life when they take away their ancestral lands where they and their forefathers have been farming for centuries. Fruit trees, cash crops, longhouses, and pendam (graveyards) have been destroyed without any compensation being paid because the so-called lands belong to the State.
And one of the ways how SUPP can walk the talk is to advise the companies to negotiate with the longhouse people and come up with a win-win solution rather than showing their arrogance and disrespect towards the Dayak Adat by bulldozing their way to the Dayaks’ land, clearing and destroying all the things that are so dear to them. By showing their arrogance, the companies are inviting trouble as the land owners are bound to retaliate either by putting up blockades or by resorting to court of law to seek injunctions, justice and compensations.
Incidentally, there are about 200 cases waiting to be heard by the court against these companies for trespassing into their lands. A few of the cases that have been heard favour the land owners.
According to Andrew Shilling, Dayaks form 30% of SUPP’s membership and if that is the case, Dayaks should be given more “shares” in SUPP may be in the ratio of 30:70 between Dayaks and Chinese.
In the Federal Cabinet, there is no Dayak representation from SUPP; it should have recommended Richard Riot who has been very loyal to SUPP since 1993 to be appointed one of the two posts of deputy ministers instead of Robert Lau.
After all, the Chinese are well represented in the Federal cabinet. In the State level, Ranum Mina should be appointed assistant minister in addition to Francis Harden to reflect the Dayak membership in the party. There are two vacancies for SUPP that are yet to be filled.
So far Dr. Chan and Andrew Shilling have made comments to my posting, what have the Dayak YBs in SUPP got to say? The readers of this blog would like to hear their comments.
Anyway if SUPP is really sincere towards the Dayaks and dares to help Dayaks protect their customary rights over land, then show it by actions and not by explanations, for actions speak louder than words. – The Broken Shield
“As far as SUPP is concerned, we have never neglected the interests of our Dayak members as well as the Dayak community in general,” Chan said in replying to our earlier posting in The Broken Shield which said that SUPP had failed to highlight the interests of its Dayak members.
SUPP must walk the talk and should not be scared to tell the all too powerful Chief Minister regarding the problems faced by the Dayak community especially in respect of the taking away of the NCR land by big oil palm companies.
Many of the directors of these companies have not only links with SUPP, but some of them are even members of the party. These companies which have been given provisional leases to plant oil palm have uprooted the Dayaks’ traditional way of life when they take away their ancestral lands where they and their forefathers have been farming for centuries. Fruit trees, cash crops, longhouses, and pendam (graveyards) have been destroyed without any compensation being paid because the so-called lands belong to the State.
And one of the ways how SUPP can walk the talk is to advise the companies to negotiate with the longhouse people and come up with a win-win solution rather than showing their arrogance and disrespect towards the Dayak Adat by bulldozing their way to the Dayaks’ land, clearing and destroying all the things that are so dear to them. By showing their arrogance, the companies are inviting trouble as the land owners are bound to retaliate either by putting up blockades or by resorting to court of law to seek injunctions, justice and compensations.
Incidentally, there are about 200 cases waiting to be heard by the court against these companies for trespassing into their lands. A few of the cases that have been heard favour the land owners.
According to Andrew Shilling, Dayaks form 30% of SUPP’s membership and if that is the case, Dayaks should be given more “shares” in SUPP may be in the ratio of 30:70 between Dayaks and Chinese.
In the Federal Cabinet, there is no Dayak representation from SUPP; it should have recommended Richard Riot who has been very loyal to SUPP since 1993 to be appointed one of the two posts of deputy ministers instead of Robert Lau.
After all, the Chinese are well represented in the Federal cabinet. In the State level, Ranum Mina should be appointed assistant minister in addition to Francis Harden to reflect the Dayak membership in the party. There are two vacancies for SUPP that are yet to be filled.
So far Dr. Chan and Andrew Shilling have made comments to my posting, what have the Dayak YBs in SUPP got to say? The readers of this blog would like to hear their comments.
Anyway if SUPP is really sincere towards the Dayaks and dares to help Dayaks protect their customary rights over land, then show it by actions and not by explanations, for actions speak louder than words. – The Broken Shield
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Below is an article taken from Malaysiakini re to my article above.
Don't be afraid of Taib, Supp told
Tony Thien Dec 27, 08 1:50pm
Tony Thien Dec 27, 08 1:50pm
The Sarawak United People’s Party (Supp) should not be fearful to tell all-powerful Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud about the plight of the Dayak community, especially vast tracts of natives’ land being given to oil palm companies, said a Dayak political analyst.
Many of the owners of these companies not only have links with the largely Chinese-based Supp, but some of them are even members of the party, said Joseph Tawie, a well-known local blogger.
Tawie’s latest posting in his ‘The Broken Shield’ blog was in response to Deputy Chief Minister and Supp president Dr George Chan’s denial that the party had neglected its Dayak members.
In an earlier posting, Tawie described Dayak leaders in Supp, Sarawak’s oldest political party, as “mere by-standers” as the party mostly caters to the needs and interest of the Chinese community.
The oil palm companies are given provisional leases to clear the land belonging to the Dayaks. In taking away the Dayaks’ ancestral lands where they and their forefathers have been farming for centuries, these companies have uprooted the natives’ traditional way of life.
Fruit trees, cash crops, longhouses and ‘pendam’ (graveyards) have been destroyed without any compensation as the ‘so-called lands’ belong to the state, decried Tawie.
Tawie, who is also the yet-to-be-registered Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) information chief, said: “One of the ways Supp can walk the talk is to advise the companies to negotiate with the longhouse people and come up with a win-win solution rather than showing their arrogance and disrespect towards the Dayak adat by bulldozing their way to the Dayaks’ land, clearing and destroying all the things that are so dear to them.
”By showing their arrogance, the companies are also inviting trouble as the landowners have retaliated by erecting blockades or resorting to the courts to seek injunctions, justice and compensations, he said.
There are about 200 cases pending in the court against these companies for trespassing on their lands. A few of the cases that have been heard favour the landowners.
Explanation accepted, now walk the talk
The blogger also said he welcomed the explanation from Chan in defending his party’s policy on the Dayaks. “As far as Supp is concerned, we have never neglected the interests of our Dayak members as well as the Dayak community in general,” Chan said in replying to an earlier posting in ‘The Broken Shield’ which accused Supp of failing to highlight the interests of its Dayak members.
According to a Supp Dayak leader, Andrew Shilling - who is also a political secretary to the chief minister - Dayaks form 30 percent of Supp’s membership.
Joseph said Dayaks should be given more leadership posts in Chinese-dominated Supp, perhaps at the ratio of 30:70.
In the federal cabinet, there is no Dayak representation from Supp, lamented Tawie. The party should have recommended Richard Riot, the Serian MP, who has been very loyal to Supp since 1993 to filled one of the two deputy ministers posts instead of Robert Lau, the MP for Bandar Sibu. “After all, the Chinese are well-represented in the federal cabinet.
At the state level, Ranum Mina should be appointed assistant minister in addition to Francis Harden to reflect the Dayak membership in the party. There are two vacancies for Supp that are yet to be filled,’ he added.
9 comments:
Well done Joseph. SUPP had become a Chinese chauvenist party long ago. Now even the Chinese have voted out their strongmen in Kuching and Sibu, because in their eyes, SUPP has become subservient to Taib, and has failed to help the Chinese. So what is this talk about SUPP yhelping the Dayaks, especially on the NCR land issues.
sky
Under the able leadership of Ong Kee Hui many years back SUPP once fought for "Sa'ati". The present leadership however has buried "Sa'ati". Communal interests is no longer the driving force in SUPP. Greed has taken over. Cronyism has taken root.Enrichment through political connection is now the moving force. Both the dayaks and chinese are marginalised. Its leadership gets to eat the cake and all.SUPP is only using the dayaks to gain seats. About time we dayaks put our foot down and say "enough is enough! To hell with SUPP, its empty promises and whatever comes with it!
SUPP is Tahip Mahnuk's property. That's why he has married off Dr Chan's daughter to his son so that he controls the party. That's why he has made Jabu's wife a Senator (1 out of 2 in Sarawak) and made Jabu handle two ministries so that he controls Jabu and the Iban (through him). To argue that there is a party in Sarawak which can help the Dayak is simply being dishonest. We have Taib parties not Dayak parties in Sarawak. Enough! Wake up before your future is destroyed and start crossing a new frontier. The Malays have rejected UMNO, why should we stick with BN and Mahmud Taib when he wants to rape us till death? Where is our conscience? Change is good and the fear factor must end now. Our enemy is our simplicity and and lack of awareness. The world has left us. No more leftovers. We need dignity and development not petty projects. WE need a new Sarawak and Taib and his shameless Dayak minions must go. Enough is enough!
SUPP - Yes, Dr can give whatever explanation to console the poor Dayaks and tame Chinese. Are they (Leaders) still doubt of why and how they have lost away their many stronghold seats? Wake up, my friends! Look at the wind of change blowing in many parts of our beloved home-land (unless you are already blind). Hear at the voices on the streets and the longhouses (unless you are already deaf). Please speak out what is not just and fair for the communities you represent (unless you are already dumb).SUPP now has become a "Talk-Only Party -on the newspapers" and the consequence will be your loss of grassroots upon which you grow and branch. Please remember the theory of a tree survives, i.e. the hidden roots are that hold the towering trunk.Let's remind you of a Chinese proverb < When the tree have fallen, all the monkeys run away> but I can advice you SUPP that the story now is that "The monkeys start running away before the tree falls because they have no more confidence in it".Please read about Jawah G. and group joining of PKR in Lubok Antu and the many areas coming up soon, Dear SUPP Leaders, cry now and not when SUPP have become a history...buried by the roots
As I have said SUPP can't even look after the interest of the chinese,let alone look after the interest of the dayaks.SUPP is the private property of George Chan.He is trying to kick out all those who are not subscribing to his principles.That is why we have Twam A and B in SUPP.SUPP is not the party that look after the chinese interest and neither the dayaks.I would say DAP is doing a better job,much better.We will see who can represent the chinese when the next election.My bet is on DAP and PKR.
Well done Broken Shield. This post is worth downloaded and multiple-copied for distribution, especially in Opar and Bengoh Sarawak State Consitituencies
To all PKR supporters,
There will be a dinner at
time: 6:30 pm
date:09-01-2009
place:lot 2500,block 10, jalan stampin, 93350,kuching. (headquarters of the association of churches in sarawak)
The theme is 'Sarawak,a change in the making.
Sarawak-menuju ke arah perubahan.
So Sarawakian,this is the chance that you all can bring your friends along and fight for the change we all have been longing for 45 years.Yes,we can!
There is nothing much we ( the lost aborigines) had enjoy with SUPP. In fact, Bengoh is loosing every pieces of land to NAIM and it's fellows. I still remember how SUPP won the Bengoh constituency few years ago. STC was used to carry the Bidayuh (Sakai riders) to Kuching by their green buses. Some got rewarded with 1/2 kilo of salted fish, belacan, pork and liqueur. the biggest hall they had is at Siburan (Chinese province) and not the Dayak. Jerip must be ashamed of his decision to be a bad toad to the SUPP.
I rememebr how our people were made or being a fool. I visited a friend house and he happily showed me the photo he had taken - standing next to a YB. WOW!!!!!! to him and family it was a big thing you know standing next to a YB. And he still praise and adore the picture of him standing next to the YB after so many donkey years. Now what has the YB actually done to him and family other then the fourtoes. NOTHING!!! What has he done to the YB? Every thing , sold his right of NCR and making the YB richer His temudak ... needless to say. The YB just smile a cunning smile and spent less than 30secounds with my friend and he sold his pride, privilliages, dignity, respect and his NCR the rice bowl. We are cheap and this I am ashame off. Only if the my friend picture with the YB can give him better this and that or a good job in the gov office than it worth a picture...........
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