Showing posts with label Lubok Antu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lubok Antu. Show all posts

Monday, August 23

"Aram Berubah" (Let’s change)

By Joseph Tawie
23 August 2010


KUCHING: Zaid Ibrahim, Parti Keadilan supreme council member, last night launched Sarawak’s election battle cry ‘Aram Berubah’ with scathing attack on Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, who he described as a “white elephant” monster.

Zaid’s call for “Aram Berubah” (Iban words for Let’s change) was received with big applause from the more than 300 diners at a PKR function organised by the Lubok Antu Division.

“Changing Taib with another of the Barisan Nasional is not good enough. It is no different. We must change Taib and his government and replace with Pakatan Rakyat chief minister and government.” he said.

“This is our mission for the coming election, and the people must understand this,” he said, pointing out that Sarawakians must come forward in order to create a new political culture.

Zaid also stressed that the Pakatan Rakyat must be well prepared to face this monster, the “white elephant” which is very powerful and very rich.

“He is being supported by the government machinery including the Police and the election commission.

“So it is important that we have proper planning and logistical support to fight him and his government and be ready for BN’s cheating and money”
he added.

State chairman of PKR, Baru Bian, who spoke at the function, called on fellow members to be ‘agents of change’.

“We cannot expect other people to change; it must begin with ourselves and for me, I am the agent of change,” he stressed.

“We do not have radio and television Malaysia (RTM) such as TV1, TV2 and TV3 or any other channel to pass our message for change to the people.

“But let us be the agents of change ourselves by visiting all the longhouses and villages and tell them about Pakatan Rakyat and its mission,”
he said.

“Tell them that with their support this is the best time to change Taib’s government,” he added.

Another PKR leader, Vice president Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, who also spoke at the function, said the State Barisan has started to feel the heat of their ‘ceramah’.

“They are in a state of confusion and feel threatened,” he said when he related at an incident at a function at Kampung Ensebang Kuari, Balai Ringin early in the day.

While the function was organised for the visit of Zaid Ibrahim, the BN organised a next door concert in a deliberate attempt to sabotage the PKR function.

“They are frightened of us so much so they want to sabotage our function,” said Kitingan, pointing out that despite the attempted sabotage, the function went on smoothly. It was attended by about 300 people.

Kitingan believed that with the support of the people, the rural areas which the BN claimed as their ‘fixed deposit’ are slowly slipping from their grips.

“It will be a loose deposit and what remains later on will only be the receipt,” he said to the laughter of the audience.

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Monday, March 30

News from Batang Ai (Part 6)

The daily update of news
from Batang Ai by-election

---------------------------------

1. 'Satu lawan satu'

Jawah Gerang (pic, right) of PKR is facing Malcolm Mussen of Barisan Nasional in the Batang Ai by-election announced on Thursday.

Sone 10,000 people were present to send their respective candidates to the nomination centre. While the Parti Keadilan Sarawak’s supporters were from local people, the BN’s supporters came from civil servants, council staff and etc.

Johnny Chuat, an Iban blogger and producer of Iban magazine, failed to submit his papers even though he went inside the nomination centre. However, when he came out, he wore PKR shirt and called his supporters to support Jawah Gerang.


2. An encounter with James Masing

One day before nomination day, the small town of Lubok Antu was full of people literally to its brims. Wherever you went, you were bound to meet the same people.

While looking for food, three of us – myself, my colleague and our driver – we met Masing, the BN director of operations and his supporters. After finishing our food, we thought it be discourteous if we did not say hello to the minister.

So we shook hands with him. I was the last to do so. “Hello, YB Dr.” I said. Replying, he said: “Why is your Broken Shield always broken?”

“Well, because its parts and pieces are still with PBB, SUPP, SPDP, PRS, and other parties. Unless all Dayaks are united under one political party, the Shield will always remain broken”, I said. Masing looked rather uncomfortable.


3. The pig that did not die

Whatever Ibans do such as farming, constructing a house, working in distant land, “miring” (rites) is part of the custom.

When Malcolm Mussen procceded to the nomination centre yesterday, a “miring” ceremony was performed.

Part of the ceremony was for him to spear a pig. Usually after the pig has died, its livers were scrutinized carefully looking for any strange or unusual formation.

However, in Mussen’s case, they did not look at the livers as they had to hurry to the nomination centre. After they had left, someone found out that the pig was still alive. It had to be speared for the second time. What does this signify? Bad omen?


4. Dominique Ng causes a stir

During yesterday’s nomination day, the entire cabinet of Abdul Taib Mahmud were present. Sabah’s deputy chief minister Joseph Kitingan and two federal ministers were present.


A special tent was constructed for the VVIPs so that they could drink and wait for the outcome of the nomination. Another one was constructed for the Opposition.

Dominique Ng (pic above, left), PKR State assemblyman went to the tent housing the VVIPs to take photographs when one of the VVIPs asked him whether he went to the wrong place and that he should change his shirt. (Dominique at that time was wearing PKR shirt).

“No. I am happy with my baju,” he replied.

“Then you better leave, we do not want you,” said Alfred Jabu, deputy chief minister and deputy president of PBB.

“After this, we also do not want you,” replied Dominique.

“You talk big,” remarked Abdul Taib Mahmud, chief minister and president of PBB to the laughters of all present.

“Don’t worry, we are all big,” said Dominique before he was pulled away by a security personnel.


5. About RM500,000 spent on nomination day

About 5,000 BN supporters were present at the padang during the nomination day yesterday holding BN flags.

It was said that each participant was paid RM40.00 That will come to RM200,000. What about money spent on drinks and food for the VVIPs and other invited guests?

And claims, travelling and lodging allowances of civil servants? There were more than 800 police personnel present. That day alone not less than RM500,000 was spent.

More to come…stay tune to www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 17

In Iban areas: Projects are waiting for elections

Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) youth chief Fadillah Yusuf said in The Borneo Post today (16 Mar 2009) that it was mere opposition politics to say development projects were being implemented because of elections and by-elections.

“Projects are not carried out just because there is an election around the corner. The truth is for a development project to be implemented, a long period of planning has to take place. If its implementation comes near or during an election time, it is mere coincidence,” said Fadillah.

Perhaps there is some truth in what Fadillah was saying as far as the Malay constituencies are concerned. Plenty and plenty of projects, not ordinary projects, but mega and super-mega projects are being implemented.

But in Iban constituencies especially in the areas controlled by Iban opposition members, the reverse is the truth. Projects are waiting for the elections. Look at Lubok Antu it has waited for 45 years to reap the fruits of merdeka – the simple “merdeka fruits” of electricity, clean water supply, clinics, and other basic amenities.

If there is no by-election, surely the RM12 million will not be made available; the RM40.4 million for communications centres and facilities; the RM400,000 outboard engine rebates.

More goodies and “angpaus” are forthcoming as other ministers have not visited Lubok Antu yet. All these projects are because of the by-election where the Opposition is making a strong bid for the seat.

Again look at Kapit, it has waited 45 years for a trunk road to be constructed linking it with other towns in the State. Until today there are only talks.

How the people of Kapit wish that an YB should die in office so that the construction of the road can be materialized. Cruel it seems to be, but that is the truth. Projects are waiting for elections. No elections, no projects. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com