PRS is worried about PKR influence

It is little doubt that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is making massive political inroads into constituencies held by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Pesaka wing of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), following constant visits made by Anwar Ibrahim, de facto leader of PKR and other leaders to Sarawak. And starting from this month the frequency of such visits and political talks will be intensified as Sarawak is approaching the next state election.

It seems that only PRS is very worried, while SPDP and Pesaka are just brushing aside PKR influence in their areas, although their seats are also equally vulnerable.

Several PRS leaders have expressed their concerns to Dr. James Masing and have told him that if reports from the ground are any indications, the party may lose as many as eight seats in the coming election. Such reports put PRS in a dilemma so much so that some members even want Masing to bring PRS out of Barisan to “save” the party. And they say there is no point in staying in the BN family when the party has no future and has lost its fighting spirit.

For instance, none of its YBs and leaders dares to speak for Dayaks’ rights such as on NCR land and issues that tend to oppress and suppress the Dayaks, even though it claims to represent the Dayak community.

And those who dare to speak will find themselves in hot water. Beginda Minda, a Masing strong supporter, is a good example. Beginda, who has accused PBB of a big bully and called on Abdul Taib Mahmud and Alfred Jabu to resign, was forced to leave the party.

But up to this day Masing is adamant in remaining with the State Barisan even though his party may lose some of its grassroots leaders and members to PKR. Understandably, Masing has to think of the overall interests of the party, the perks and the comfort that he and other PRS leaders enjoy by remaining in the Barisan.

But that stand of Masing makes some members of the supreme council unhappy and angry. One supreme council member even threatened to resign not only as a supreme council member, but from the party as well.

For SPDP, it is not worried at all about PKR, even though PKR is very active in its constituencies and has been wooing its leaders and supporters. Its deputy president Peter Nyarok described PKR’s plan to conquer Sarawak as “something that can only be achieved in imagination, not in reality”.

Likewise, Pesaka is also not concerned with activities carried out by PKR in its constituencies, because, according to Dr. Stephen Rundi, a Pesaka leader and secretary general of PBB, PKR lacks credibility as well having no capable leaders who can take care of the interests of Sarawakians.

From their statements, it is obvious that SPDP and Pesaka are the least worried and do not believe that the so-called political tsunami that swept five states in West Malaysia into the hands of the Opposition can happen here. SPDP and Pesaka leaders say that Anwar and his Pakatan Rakyat are only dreaming.

Before the March elections, complacency was all around in the BN component parties in West Malaysia and when the tsunami did come, they were caught with their pants down and ran helter-skelter. By then it was too late to “save” Selangor, Kedah, Perak, Penang and Kelantan.

Can something like this happen to Sarawak? - The Broken Shield

Source:http://thebrokenshield.blogspot.com/2008/12/prs-is-worried-about-pkr-influence.html

Masing’s outbursts confirm PBB a bully ~ ref Malaysiakini

James Masing’s outbursts over activities of a BN component member trying to claim the Batang Ai seat is understandable. Although he did not name the party concerned, it is a common knowledge in the constituency that he was referring to PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) whose leaders have been active lately in the constituency preparing for a by-election. The incumbent state assemblyman, Dublin Unting is still lying at the Normah Hospital following a stroke since May this year.

What makes Masing angry is that PBB is undermining PRS influence in the constituency as well as showing no respect for Unting and his family as if they want him to die. PBB has identified a senior civil servant and a brother of a minister to be a PBB candidate. In his effort to introduce his brother, the minister has allegedly been distributing “ang pau” projects through a partyless State assemblyman, Johnichol Rayong.

“If you are weak, this is what PBB is doing to you. They have already hijacked PRS candidates in the March parliamentary election in the Lubok Antu and Sri Aman constituencies. They are planning to take away Batang Ai, Bukit Begunan and Balai Ringin come next election,” said Beginda, and accused PBB of a big bully. For that statement Beginda was rebuked and in the end he resigned from PRS to save the “embarrassment of my president”.

But why was Rayong involved? Simple: After being sacked from SNAP, Rayong has become partyless. He applied to join Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) together with Aaron Dagang, Jawah Gerang and Gabriel Adit, but was opposed by other members of the BN. Rayong then applied to join SUPP last year, but again his application was opposed by PRS.

Now he looks to PBB leaders like Alfred Jabu and Douglas Uggah to help him join BN in exchange for introducing the senior civil servant to the Batang Ai constituents.

But Masing has found out the truth. A few months back, Masing would not dare complaint. This time it is different; he does not want to be bullied any more. With the support of his supreme council members and party leaders, Masing puts his foot down, saying “Batang Ai belongs to PRS, so stay out”. The message is loud and clear.

Beginda resigns from PRS

Resigns from PRS

The outspoken member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Beginda Minda, today resigned from the party citing dissatisfaction as his reason.

“The party has deviated from its original objective to safeguard the interests of the Dayak community. The party is unable to protect the interests of the community as it has to listen to PBB,” he said, adding that the party did not agree with him when he accused PBB of bullying PRS.

Beginda made the accusation last month accusing UMNO and PBB of bullying smaller parties like PRS in the Barisan Nasional. In a follow-up, he called on Abdul Taib Mahmud, chief minister and Alfred Jabu, deputy chief minister to resign as they had no more fresh ideas to develop the State.

Taib has been chief minister for the past 27 years while Jabu has been deputy chief minister for more than 30 years. Apart from Beginda, nobody else in the Barisan Nasional dares to call on Taib and Jabu to resign.

Thus Beginda’s call put James Masing and PRS leaders in an embarrassed situation as PBB leaders exerted pressure for PRS to sack him. Beginda’s sacking should be given wide publicity.

PRS, however, decided to issue him a show-cause letter. “But before I receive the show-cause letter, I want to resign first,” he said.

Beginda called on PRS members who shared his dissatisfaction to resign from the party as there was nothing that the party could offer them. “All business opportunities, contracts and government posts have been taken by the big brothers in the Barisan Nasional,” he said.

Meanwhile, a dinner party is to be held on 15 November in Sibu where Anwar Ibrahim will be a guest of honour. Beginda and several grassroots leaders of PRS are expected to attend the function.

“Paramount Chief” title for Beginda?

It must take Beginda Minda a tremendous amount of courage to come out with a statement accusing both UMNO, the backbone of the federal government, and PBB, the backbone of the state government of Sarawak, of abuse of power and of big bullies.

He risks of being expelled from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), of his business being taken away and of being condemned and ridiculed by BN leaders. But what he said is true and the abuse of power mentioned is only a tip of the iceberg.

How many our YBs and Dayak leaders who dare to speak for and on behalf of the Dayaks who have been marginalised, who have been sidelined, who have their NCR land taken away and who have been ignored in any field? You just name it!

But the way our elected leaders speak as if they do not have “tails” and what we often hear from them is “don’t do that Taib does not like it” or “Taib does not like so and so as president” or “this is sensitive to Taib” or “we must refer it to Taib” or “Taib has the final say”.

Our leaders are only interested in “apple polishing” to borrow a term used by YB Tiong King Sing against teachers who defended the director of education and they heap praises on the chief minister, hoping perhaps, that the chief minister may give them his ear.

Phrases like Taib is “champion of our NCR land rights”, “father of politics of development”, “the best chief minister in the world” are common to hear. And they are those who say “yang disayangi” or “yang dikasihi” or “our beloved” chief minister.

And one leader (enggai aku nyebut nama iya, laban iya deka nganu) uses phrases not once in a speech, but up to 20 times. When he speaks, those in the audience start to count their fingers. In North Korea, these are the phrases being showered on their leader Kin Jung-il.

Beginda would have been a better YB than many of our current YBs who have failed to serve the rakyat who elected them. In fact, Beginda deserves not only our respect, but also deserves to be bestowed with the title of the “Paramount Chief of the Ibans” or “Raja Berani”.

The last person who held the post was the late Tun Jugah. Perhaps it is a good idea to have this title restored to its former prestige and honour in an effort to instill the spirit of unity among the Ibans. Is there any SPDP or PRS leader who dares to raise the issue? Certainly this is not a sensitive issue.