Calls grow louder for Jabu to resign

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu has been Layar's assemblyman for 38 years yet longhouses in his constituencies are without piped water and roads.

KUCHING: Frustrated voters in the Layar constituency, the homebase of Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, are demanding that he step down following his failure to solve the acute water shortage affecting more than 1,940 families.

The calls for his resignation have become louder as water shortage has hit 80% of the longhouses in his constituency.

Up to June 27, more than 1,940 families have been without water due to a prolonged drought that has affected other areas in the state.

Layar constituency, which Jabu has represented for more than 38 years, was the worst hit.

And it’s not the first time. Drought and water shortage is a seasonal presence in Sarawak.

Despite knowing it will happen Jabu has not done anything to mitigate the problem.

Said Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian: “The people are starting to ask Jabu what has he been doing all these years.

“He knows very well that the water shortage is always there. The people have been experiencing it repeatedly. It is not an unusual drought.”

No piped water to longhouses

Bian, who is also the Ba’Kelalan assemblyman, said the fact that Jabu had held office for 38 years and did nothing to mitigate the situation is a “valid” reason for people to call for his resignation.

“Jabu has failed the people in his constituency. He has not heard the request and cry of the people for the last 38 years.

“It is a valid reason for the people not only to question his leadership quality, but also to call on him to step down as their elected representative,” he said, adding that Jabu has not only failed the people of Layang and Betong but also the rest of Sarawak.

Betong division, where Layar sits, is allegedly the worst hit by the water shortage.

Although the Betong town itself is unscathed, longhouses in the outlying areas are badly affected. Until today, numerous longhouses near Betong are without piped water.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Jabu proposed to build a temporary dam on the upper reaches of a river in the Betong Division to raise its water level and ease drought-stricken villages in the division.

He said the dam would impound the water that flowed from upstream to alleviate the water shortage problems experienced by the villagers ever since the dry season started.

“I have discussed with the Betong Public Works Department divisional engineer to take steps to build a low weir by pushing in gravels from the river base to build a temporary dam, probably rising up to two metres,” he said.

He said that as a long-term measure, a new water treatment plant and roads were being constructed in Krian.

The government, he said, was also upgrading the present one near Betong Town.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/05/calls-grow-louder-for-jabu-to-resign/#ixzz20DcQj6MP

The strong man of Layar

The following story which is taken from the Malaysian Mirror has been edited for the readers of The Broken Shield:

The strong man of Layar
By Joseph Tawie


BETONG – The Layar constituency in Betong which Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang has represented continuously for the past 35 years has seen so much progress so much so that he is so proud of his achievements that he invites Anwar Ibrahim, the Opposition leader to visit Betong to see for himself the development that has taken place.

And he also invites challengers and critics to his constituency and if they do come they better come during the day and should not wear sun glasses.

“If they come at night or if they wear sun glasses, they cannot see what developments are there in my constituency,” he said.

As PBB Deputy President and Deputy Chief Minister, Jabu has become so untouchable in the Layar Constituency, and so arrogant and egotistic that he does not tolerate any criticism to his leadership. He criticises Dayak non-governmental organisations as these organisations have little respect for him much less regard him as the “paramount chief” of the Iban community.

Since his election in 1974, there has never been any serious challenge to Jabu’s position in the constituency except during the days of the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak especially in 1987- 1991. His first “victim” in his first outing was none other than the secretary general of Sarawak National Party and former chief minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan.

Labeled as a “giant killer” Jabu went on to strengthen his position and relentlessly and mercilessly witch-hunted SNAP’s supporters so much so that the party has become irrelevant in its own place of birth.

To further strengthen his position, he set up a network of “spies” who would report to him anyone who voted against him or spoke ill of him. Many civil servants and teachers who were known to be voting for or inclined towards Opposition were ordered to be transferred out from the district while farmers voting against him were deprived of subsidies and other financial assistance.

And candidates who contested against him would bear the brunt of his criticism and cynical remarks. Usually these candidates after handing over their nomination papers would not dare campaign; nor there any banners and posters. Many simply disappeared from the constituency.

Only candidates representing PBDS did put up a brave front and caused some ripples in Jabu’s campaigns.

One consolation for any candidate contesting against Jabu was that, despite the lack of financial resources to carry out intensive campaigns and the absence of banners and posters, was sure to obtain between 1,000 and 2,600 votes.

For example in 1987, David Impi of PBDS secured 2691 votes as against 4,416 obtained by Jabu, and in 1991, PBDS’ Frank Apau obtained 2,361 compared with Jabu’s 4,847 votes. In the 2001 and 2006 elections, SNAP’s candidates managed to secure 1171 and 1195 votes respectively.

However, in the face of silver lining, there are patches of dark clouds running at random over the Layar Constituency what with the failed Layar growth centre, where empty shophouses are part of it and the Sungai Antu agriculture research centre which has become a “white elephant”. Under this project hundred acres of land, the majority of which are owned by Jabu’s relatives, have been placed under section 47. The project “kepayang” was one of fruit trees being researched.

There are also many uncompleted road projects and unfulfilled promises. Many see all these as Jabu’s main failures.

Thus, the next election may see some change in voting pattern as there are strong under currents against his leadership particularly with the young voters who have some access to internets and are fully informed on what is going on in the constituency and issues that affect them and their families.

“There are strong under currents against his leadership. I know about it since I live in the longhouse,” said Douglas Endawie, a former bank officer.

Endawie’s finding is being shared by Eddison Eddy, a retired civil servant. He said: “A large number of people in the Layar constituency are unhappy, but they dare not express their dissatisfaction openly for fear of political backlash.

“Even villagers from my longhouse Entanak and Empaong do not dare to express their anger even though the State Government took away their land about 100 acres using section 47 of the Land Code for public purposes. No doubt compensation had been paid.

“But 50 percent of the land has been given to private and crony companies for the construction of shophouses and houses. The other 50 percent are used for public purposes such as the construction of roads, government buildings and offices.

“We should have dealt directly with the companies so that we too can make more money rather than government taking our land and paying us nominal amount. So we feel cheated,” lamented Eddy.

Eddy said that the villagers have no more land to plant cash crops and even to build houses. Eight families, he said, have to build their houses on a stream.

“We remain poor as we have no sources of incomes and that explains why you can only see the aged and the very young ones living in longhouses. The young and able people can be found in cities and towns in search of employment. Some work in coffee shops, restaurants, super markets and in the construction industry.

“Yes, there are developments, but only physical developments. And who benefit from those developments? Certainly we the people do not benefit.

“I think the people are ready for a change,” said Eddy who has been active since his retirement three years ago.

Undoubtedly, he said Jabu has brought tremendous development to Betong especially after it achieved a division status in March 2002. Among others the division saw infrastructural development, schools, technical schools and Mara Science College, office buildings, shophouses and agricultural schemes.

But who benefit from all these developments?

As Eddy said the people do not benefit from all these developments. In the construction of infrastructure, contracts have been given to Jabu’s family companies such as Tintingmas Sdn Bhd and Betong Premix Sdn Bhd.

The Tintingmas Sdn Bhd whose directors include Jabu’s son Gerald Rentap, daughter Umang Nangku and Joseph Jinggut, is currently doing road construction and completion of proposed road improvement works to Ulu Layar/Nanga Tiga road which is worth about RM50 million.

The company is working closely with its sister company Betong Premix on Federal Road Routine Maintenance works in Region 2. The road starts in Sri Aman Division and stretches across Betong Division to Sarikei Division with total kilometre coverage of over 300km.

The Betong Premix Sdn Bhd whose directors include Jabu’s daughter, Umang Nangku and Joseph Jinggut supplies premix for road constructions and road construction services and maintenance for pavement works, road furniture works, drainage and culvert works in the division.

Currently, the premix plant which has a total of 33 employees has the capacity to produce 70 tonnes of premix per hour.

In the agricultural estates, the locals refuse to work in the plantations as the wages are too meager and far below the poverty line of RM720 per month. In their place, the Indonesian workers are ever ready to be employed. The effects of engaging Indonesian workers are many, but the obvious ones are that the workers are not properly screened bringing with them social ills and diseases such as malaria and chikungunya.

In the field of education, the students attending Mara Science College are those from outside Betong including from West Malaysia.

“These are the issues that Pakatan Rakyat must be able to understand and turn them as weapons against the BN incumbent,” said Eddy who was present at a political gathering at Melayu Ili, Betong on 7 February.

Former Police Officer Stanny Embat, who hails from the longhouse, said that Jabu has no more idea to help the people of Layar constituency.

“How much has he done to help the people? After more than 35 years of his patronage, enough is enough,” said Embat, a PR potential candidate for the constituency.

“Jabu has a lot of weaknesses and failures and we need to highlight these failures to the voters and make them understand the issues,” said Tedewin Ngumbang, another potential candidate for the constituency.

“We do not condemn and attack Jabu personally; we have to use psychology to convince the people to vote against him,” he said.

But will Jabu, now in his early 70s, be contesting especially after he underwent major by-pass operations in May last year which somewhat have slowed down his political activities?

However, speculation is rife that he may be replaced by either his Senator wife, Empiang or by one of his daughters.

No doubt the people in Layar want change judging from the political gathering organised on 7 February at Melayu Ili. But can PKR harness the growing discontentment of the people in the constituency into a “weapon of destruction” even if the candidate is Jabu, his wife or his daughter? – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Stanny to defence of Ibans ~ Malaysiakini

Taken from: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/103618

Sarawak PKR’s Stanny Embat has criticised state deputy chief minister Alfred Jabu anak Numpang for speaking ill of the Iban community.
Stanny said it was unfair of Jabu (pic above) to generalise the Ibans as irresponsible, when there are only a few bad apples among some one million members of the community.

“Such remarks are not only unfair, but are a mockery of the achievements of, and contributions made by, many members both in their personal and public life,” Stanny said in a statement.

His remarks followed Jabu’s accusations that the Ibans are involved in wasteful habits like drinking, gambling and cock fighting, and that they have not made much progress especially in education.

Countering this, Stanny said: “Like other active communities, there are few Ibans who drink, gamble and waste their time, but the majority are responsible, hard-working and practise a healthy lifestyle.

“Not a few Ibans now are highly educated and qualified people. Some hold top posts in both the private and public sectors.”

Describing Ibans as an advanced group, he added: “The Ibans of today aspire to be contractors, traders, managers and owners of businesses instead of being daily paid harvesters of oil palm fruits.”
On the cock-fighting issue, he said this is a well-controlled pastime associated with rituals and ceremonies and that the police are strict when issuing licences for such sessions.


Psychological warfare?

Stanny, a special branch police officer before he retired a couple of years ago, is seen by many as a firebrand politician.

Given that this is his first statement, political observers see it as the start of psychological warfare against Jabu, a veteran politician.

Stanny, who was recently appointed chairperson of PKR Layar division, is also tipped to challenge Jabu for the Layar state seat when state elections are due to be held by May 2011.

Jabu, also the rural development minister and minister for infrastructure development, had been quoted as saying that certain Ibans would rather spent their money on cock-fighting and are prepared to splurge between RM100 and RM1,000 on a bird, instead of saving for their children’s education.

He added that these habits have hindered the community from producing successful individuals when compared to the Kelabits, who are a minority among the Dayaks.

The Layar constituency: The battle of relatives

In the next State election, the Opposition is expected to give the BN component parties a run for their money especially in the 29-Dayak majority constituencies. Of all these, the focus is certainly on constituencies like the Layar constituency of Deputy Chief Minister, Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang who has lately been exchanging spats with the Opposition, Dayak bloggers and leaders of Dayak non-governmental organisations.

They have been questioning the effectiveness of Jabu’s leadership since he became a minister and later deputy chief minister for more than 30 years. These Dayak leaders have been calling for his replacement come the next election. But then it is not going to be easy to dethrone Jabu.

However, the person who is going to challenge him must be someone who is related to Jabu; someone who has an equal number of relatives, because in this constituency it is the number of relatives that counts. It is going to be the battle of relatives.

The constituency has an electorate of 7,415 with 72.2% of them are Ibans, and the majority of them are related to Jabu. Since the 1974 election, Jabu has been challenged by those who were either a political novice with fewer relatives than Jabu’s or with little financial means or those who wanted to “kacau” (disturb) him only.

But the next election that may be called the latest in 2011 is going to be different, as Jabu is expected to face a serious and determined contender, someone who is going to be backed by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and who is related to him. The contender is expected to bank on those voters and his relatives who have not been happy with Jabu as many of his (Jabu’s) promises such as the construction of roads have not been fulfilled.

In the last election, the majority of the Chinese and Malay voters either gave their votes to a SNAP candidate or they absented themselves from voting.

Like the Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, Jabu is over staying his welcome and no longer has ideas to help the people who want change, the change for the better. But if he is to defend the seat, he is expected to be aggressive in his campaigns, and as in previous campaigns, he often hit his opponents below the belt. But this time around, his opponent is ready to open Jabu’s cupboard where he has allegedly kept many skeletons in the past 30 years. - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

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