By Churchill Edward
The Borneo Post carried a story entitled “Left-wing retirees worrisome” dated 17 November 2010:
KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) youth Chief Mong Dagang said that there are government retirees who have turned into political left-wingers.
Mong said he was very sure of this as far as his state constituency of Bukit Begunan was concerned. Speaking over the phone yesterday, he said the retirees could be frustrated lot, thus had become easily influenced by negative elements.
He said he was saddened by this because as retirees they were expected to make positive contributions to their respective communities.
Mong said these left-wingers were not easy to quantify even in his constituency.
“We cannot deny that they are among us, but we do not know how many. As far as my constituency is concerned, I know there are some,” he said.
“They should be helping to improve the quality of life in their respective areas after being civil servants from 20 to 30 years. They should be supporting the government of the day instead of inciting people to go against it,” Mong said.
He said his only advice to them was to remember that as retirees they were supposed to be role models and thus should behave accordingly.
“They must return to the way it should be. Help the community by helping the government put positive input into society. They must not poison the minds of the people,” he said.
On the apparent frustration of the retirees with the government, he said: “Of course no government in the world is perfect. Our government is no exception. It has its shortcomings and there are bound to be miscommunication. But it is not dead.”
Having said that, Mong said most of the retirees were gentlemen and some had gone on to become community leaders and respected people.
Mong said the left-wing politics of some of these retirees was a disappointment to the government.
The Borneo Post carried a story entitled “Left-wing retirees worrisome” dated 17 November 2010:
KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) youth Chief Mong Dagang said that there are government retirees who have turned into political left-wingers.
Mong said he was very sure of this as far as his state constituency of Bukit Begunan was concerned. Speaking over the phone yesterday, he said the retirees could be frustrated lot, thus had become easily influenced by negative elements.
He said he was saddened by this because as retirees they were expected to make positive contributions to their respective communities.
Mong said these left-wingers were not easy to quantify even in his constituency.
“We cannot deny that they are among us, but we do not know how many. As far as my constituency is concerned, I know there are some,” he said.
“They should be helping to improve the quality of life in their respective areas after being civil servants from 20 to 30 years. They should be supporting the government of the day instead of inciting people to go against it,” Mong said.
He said his only advice to them was to remember that as retirees they were supposed to be role models and thus should behave accordingly.
“They must return to the way it should be. Help the community by helping the government put positive input into society. They must not poison the minds of the people,” he said.
On the apparent frustration of the retirees with the government, he said: “Of course no government in the world is perfect. Our government is no exception. It has its shortcomings and there are bound to be miscommunication. But it is not dead.”
Having said that, Mong said most of the retirees were gentlemen and some had gone on to become community leaders and respected people.
Mong said the left-wing politics of some of these retirees was a disappointment to the government.
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The Broken Shield: The Reader’s Digest Oxford defines “left-wing” as “the radical or socialist section of a political party.”
In the 1960s, that is, during the height of communist insurgency in the State, many members of Sarawak United People’s Party were labeled as “left-wing elements” and were arrested. Some escaped into the jungle to carry out armed struggle and terrorist activities against the state.
If you are retirees, is it fair to label you as such? – The Broken Shield
In the 1960s, that is, during the height of communist insurgency in the State, many members of Sarawak United People’s Party were labeled as “left-wing elements” and were arrested. Some escaped into the jungle to carry out armed struggle and terrorist activities against the state.
If you are retirees, is it fair to label you as such? – The Broken Shield
