PRS wants more Community leaders

KUCHING:  Parti Rakyat Sarawak wants total revamp to a system of appointing community leaders in the state, who have now become a political tool of the state Barisan Nasional to ‘suppress and oppress’ (to borrow a famous term by Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu), those who do not support the Barisan Nasional.

“Indeed the community leaders have now become the ‘eyes and ears’ of the government, and report directly to their respect elected representatives,” said a senior PRS leader who did not wish to be named.

The case of Frusis Lebi came into mind. Frusis had his welfare allowance and agricultural subsidies withdrawn when his case of supporting the Opposition was reported by his Tuai Rumah to the local representative.

“In fact they (community leaders) will help strengthen the position of the political party in the rural areas,” he said, pointing out that in Sarawak Temenggong is the highest in the hierarchy of the community leaders.

In Iban, the Tuai Rumah (longhouse headman) is at the bottom of the list. His responsibility is towards the security and development of people in his longhouse. Often, he is the chairman of the longhouse security and development committee (JKKK). A step higher than the Tuai Rumah is a Penghulu who controls a number of longhouses.

Coming next is the Pemanca. A number of Penghulu is under his wing.

Likewise, a number of Pemanca is under the Temenggong.

Unlike the days of pre-independence when Tuai Rumah, Penghulu, Pemanca and Temenggong were elected by the people and were basically native courts judges, but today they are appointed by the parties in the government. Often they are also grassroots leaders of political parties especially within the Barisan Nasional.

“The strength of a party especially in the rural areas is determined by the number of community leaders it can appoint as they are the ones who control the rural dwellers,” said the PRS leader, pointing out that sometimes they are being used to intimidate their own followers or even used to prevent the opposition from entering the longhouses.

In the previous elections, they were also used as campaigners and ‘distributors’ of funds to voters in their respective longhouses.

The community leaders are obligated to do what their political masters want them to do, since they receive monthly allowances ranging from RM450.00 for Tuai Rumah to RM650.00 for Penghulu, RM750 for Pemanca and to RM850.00 for Temenggong.

The appointment of community leaders especially the Tuai Rumah has also other negative effects on the longhouse folk as everyone scrambles to curry favours with the local elected representatives, and in the process it creates a lot of enmity and animosity amok the longhouse people.

Even among the component parties of the Barisan Nasional, the appointment of community leaders can create suspicions.

This is what is happening now.

And for this reason and others, PRS President James Masing has formed a committee in his party to relook at the community leader appointment system with a view to ensure fairness in the distribution of the community leaders among the component parties of the Barisan Nasional.

The committee is headed by Vice-President John Sikie Tayai.

Masing said: “The main aim of the committee will be to come up with an appointment system which better reflects the ethnic composition of an area.

“This would involve taking a close look at the criteria for the appointment of community leaders such as Temenggong, Pemanca, Penghulu and Tuai Rumah or Tua Kampong among in particular the Dayak Community.

“Once we have made the findings, PRS will then forward its recommendations to the state government,” said Masing, who is a senior minister and Minister for Land Development.

PRS and Masing have every right to be moaned the treatment meted out at the party.

 Even though PRS denies that it is being bullied or treated like ‘anak tiri’ (adopted child), facts speak volumes of how the party is being treated in respect of the appointment of community leaders as well as other political appointments – posts of political secretaries and directors of government-linked companies.

Citing the appointment of Temenggong as an example, a PRS leader said the party has no Temenggong in all the 11 divisions of the State Administration.

“We did recommend Asan Ngang to be the Temenggong of the Iban Community for the Limbang Division to the State Task force following the retirement of Temenggong Jarum. His nomination was rejected by the Task force.

“And for several years now, Limbang has no Iban Temenggong,” he said.

Even Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party has no Temenggong in its fold.

The task force is said to be headed by Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang, who is also the Deputy President of PBB.

PBB appoints its own men or those who have close links with PBB as Temenggong. For example,  former Kapit MP from PBB James Jimbun as Temenggong of Kuching, Samarahan – Temenggong Anthony Nyipa,  Sri Aman – Temenggong Kanang Anak Langkau,  Betong – Temenggong Nunong Anak Danan, Sibu – Temenggong Adrian Ranggau,  Kapit – Temenggong Kenneth Kanyan,  Bintulu – Temenggong Kelambu Ak Medan, and Miri – Temenggong  Wilson Atong Anak Limping.

Even PRS’s recommendations for some of its men to be appointed as Pemanca, Penghulu and longhouse chiefs have been rejected.

Undoubtedly, PBB has little respect for PRS which is the ‘youngest’ of the four-party BN coalition in the State. It was registered on October 24, 2004 the day Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak was deregistered by the Registrar of Societies.

PRS was supposed to take over the place of PBDS, and has been fighting for the rights and interest of the Dayaks, the Ibans in particular. But it is being treated with suspicions by especially PBB until today because the majority of its members were once PBDS’ hardcore supporters.

“We are still being regarded with suspicions even though we mean well in the so-called power sharing of the Barisan Nasional,” said a PRS leader.

Larry Sng to be Ibans’ Hogansiau?

Sarawak Workers’ Party (SWP) aims to replace Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) as the Dayak-based party by contesting against the six seats now held by PRS.

The six seats are Julau, Selangau, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman

Its newly elected President Larry Sng blamed PRS for ‘bad’ politics in areas controlled by the party.  SWP tried to get rid of such ‘bad’ politics practised by PRS.

Larry Sng’s Deputy George Lagong who is his uncle blamed Dayak leaders who claimed to be championing for their people but instead were not living up to their promises.

The Dayak community had been left behind and had lost directions.

“They have been there for many years and did not perform up to expectations. They should give way to young blood to lead. I want voters to help change the situation by voting for SWP candidates,” Lagong said.

Lagong’s criticisms also hit at Dayak senior Ministers including Deputy Chief Minister Alfred jab Anak Numpang.

Only two months old, SWP claims to have a total membership of 10,000.

Who are these people? From what I gather the membership is made of Sng’s workers and those who are financially dependent on him.

Therefore Sarawak Workers’ Party should be changed to SNG’S WORKERS PARTY.

Secondly, do we agree that Larry Sng, a Chinese to be our Hogansiau in place of Jabu?

Sadly, some do including some prominent lawyers, teachers, and etc.

Meanwhile, the following is what See Chee How’s comment:

Sarawak Workers’ Party’s stand to ‘fight BN, but we are pro-BN’ is simply outrageous and one that is an insult to the political intelligence of the voters in the six constituencies it proposed to contest in the coming election, said Sarawak PKR Vice-Chairman See Chee How.

The six constituencies are Julau, Selangau, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman.

“That political stand is simply outrageous. It is an insult to the political intelligence of the voters in those constituencies,” he said.

See, who is the Batu Lintang Assemblyman, said that it is the constitutional rights of Larry Sng and his SWP leaders and members to contest in the coming parliamentary election, but the voters in the Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Julau, Kanowit, Selangau and Hulu Rajang should be cautioned that SWP is taking them for a ride.

The "fight BN but we are pro-BN’ political stand taken by SWP is simply outrageous," he warned, adding: “The coming general election should be taken very seriously as we have reached the watershed of Malaysian electoral history that all Malaysians eligible voters are to choose between the two political party alliance of BN and Pakatan Rakyat, to form the next government.

“It is a constitutional right to vote which comes with a moral and sacred duty and responsibility, to choose with all wisdom, the right members of parliament to govern the country for the next five years.

“It is morally wrong and politically incorrect to treat election as an avenue to settle personal feuds.

“I can understand the predicament of SWP,” said See, pointing out that the conception and inception of SWP has nothing to do with a political ideology, neither is it founded upon the struggle or aspiration of the people.

He said: “The SWP leaders are all ex-BN and have been with BN for a long time. They landed themselves in the awkward situation of political wilderness after losing the PRS internal squabbles.

“Their core leaders and supporters are those from PRS who depended upon and appealing to others with the BN’s politics of patronage.

“To pledge support for BN on the one hand while contest against PRS on the other hand is to maintain their support from the grassroots, but it is a political suicide for SWP leaders if the BN component parties give their full backing to PRS.

“It is quite inconceivable that any BN leaders supporting SWP will openly voice their backing to the new party. The SWP leaders can only hope that certain BN heavy weights may step forward to help resolve their principally personal feuds, for fear that Pakatan Rakyat may benefit from the BN internal squabbles by winning the seats.

“While the 'sandiwara' of the warring SWP and PRS continues, the people in the six constituencies do not benefit beyond the lavishing feasts organized by them.

“Ultimately, in all these six constituencies, the electoral contest is between BN and Pakatan Rakyat.

“The feud and squabbling within the parties under the UMNO-dominated BN has certainly worsened in the state.

“The BN and the BN Fan Club, the Chinese A Team and B Team, and the inter-party rivalry in certain constituencies have certainly casted a long shadow of doubt upon the capability of the Prime Minister  Najib Tun Razak and BN to govern this country beyond the next general election,” said the PKR leader.

Meanwhile, the  move by SWP to be a BN-friendly party has been rejected  by the State BN  when its Secretary General Stephen Rundi described  the decision to contest against PRS as ‘not the right move.’

It was weird, he said, for SWP to declare itself as a BN-friendly party, but at the same time decided to contest in the six constituencies held by PRS, one of the BN component parties.

“How can you call us friends when you are fighting with one of us?” he said.

Meanwhile, the newly elected SWP President Larry Sng has accused PRS of playing ‘bad’ politics in the six constituencies that the party represented and pledged to ‘clean’ those constituencies.

He asked the voters to send SWP candidates to Parliament so that they could represent the people better than PRS.

“PRS style of politics has not benefited the people and we are here to change it,” he was quoted as saying.

He said that government policies have been outlined for the benefit of the people and due to bad politics, planned projects had not been implemented.

Sng’s intention snubbed

KUCHING:  Sng Chee Hua’s intention to make  Sarawak Workers Party as the best alternative to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has made PRS leaders amused and made them  laughing as they know he is making fun of the Dayak community.

“He is not serious because he has no cause to fight for the Dayak community,” said Wilson Nyabong, PRS Information Chief.

Nyabong, who is also political secretary to Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, was reacting to remarks made Sng who wanted to turn SWP as the best alternative to PRS to look after the interest of the Dayak community.

Sng’s remark has stirred some reactions and comments from PRS members even though they know that Sng is playing with the emotions and pride of the Dayak community.

SWP which was registered recently is headed by Dr. Ong Lark Sai with George Lagong, the Pelagus Assemblyman as his deputy. Both Ong and Lagong are related to Sng.

“We know who Sng is. He and SWP have no cause to fight for the Dayak community and SWP just cannot replace PRS as an alternative party to look after the interest of the Dayak community,” said Nyabong.

“We know that he has been using Dayaks and Dayak-based political parties to popularise and enrich himself by getting business for himself especially in the days of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak,” he alleged.

Even when he was still in PRS, Sng was also given contracts to build or repairs schools in the state and also given a land in Kapit to plant banana.

“And those who know him will not want to contest and to be used by him to divide the Dayaks,” Nyabong stressed, pointing out that Sng has been dropping names of Prime Minister and Chief Minister to convince the Dayaks to support him and his party.

Commenting on the same issue, PRS former supreme council member, Joseph Allen said that Sng was day dreaming of trying to make SWP as the best alternative to PRS.

“His statement made me laugh. He has no agenda to fight for the Dayaks,” he said, calling on him not to insult the intelligence of the Dayak community.

“Nowadays there are many Dayak graduates and professionals, and why would we want Sng, a non-Dayak to lead us?

“His real motive is to divide the Dayaks and to embarrass James Masing (PRS President) who had expelled him from PRS in May 2006,” Allen said.

“For those who know Sng well, they  will keep a distance away from him what more to say becoming his candidates for the coming election,” he said, advising those Dayaks not be agents to divide the Dayak community.

Sng has said that the newly registered party would contest only in PRS-held constituencies of Julau, Selangau, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman.

Lately Sng and other top SWP leaders have been going around in Kanowit, Julau and Selangau identifying candidates to contest against candidates put up by PRS in the three parliamentary seats.

His meetings were well attended by the longhouse folk.

In Julau, he has shortlisted two candidates namely Josephine Mawat and her son Collin Bala to contest against Joseph Salang, who is Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture.

Contesting against Joseph Entulu, PRS Deputy President in Selangau could likely be Sng himself.

As for Kanowit, a lecturer and Iban singer, Ellison Ludan and a former Deputy Public Prosecutor Thomas Akin have expressed interest to contest the seat against Aaron Dagang.

George Lagong, the Pelagus assemblyman, who is also the SWP protem Deputy President, is earmarked to contest in Hulu Rajang.

Sng is yet to find candidates for Lubok Antu and Sri Aman.

“What worries me is that some Dayaks are prepared to be used by Sng to split and divide the Dayaks.

“They know who Sng is, and yet they are prepared to be his tool to cause disunity,” Allen added.

Dangerous thinking, says Pro Andrew Aeria

KUCHING: James Masing’s concept of democracy ‘jangan lawan tauke’ (don’t fight your boss) is not only flawed, but a very dangerous kind of thinking, said Associate Professor Andrew Aeria of the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

“What do you mean ‘jangan lawan tauke’? Are you talking about the businessman ‘tauke’?

“Suddenly it became clearer the ‘tauke’ is the politician. Politicians are the ones who are in charge and the people are in charge on voting day. Basically it means from 8.00 am when polling opens to 5.00 pm when polling closes.

“About nine hours after which the politicians become ‘tauke’. This is a very dangerous kind of thinking, because politicians say the majority rules,” said Professor Aeria at the ‘Who is the Boss’ forum on Sunday.

The forum was organised by Sarawak PKR after Masing, who is the President of Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Land Development Minister told a disabled man Frusis Lebi ‘jangan lawan tauke’.

Masing when making the remark was defending Mong Dagang, PRS youth leader and Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Research and Marketing) who ordered that welfare allowance to Frusis be stopped immediately on ground that he supported the Opposition.

Mong also ordered that agricultural subsidies to him also be withdrawn.

Professor Aeria said: “I was surprised that the disabled man was discriminated against just because of his political belief. And I was even more surprised to read that Masing in defending Mong blamed Frusis and told him ‘jangan lawan tauke’.

“By denying him the welfare assistance because of his political belief, you are in violation of the Malaysian Constitution, in violation of the International United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and in violation on the convention of disabled people.

“You are in violation not only of domestic laws, but also international laws,” he said.

“Masing thinks that might is right, and if you take the argument to its logical conclusion, you are going back to the dark days of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad when he used legal instruments, used Queen’s powers, you used draconian laws or undemocratic laws to involve your ideas and your form of government upon the people,” he said, pointing out that no Malaysians would like to go to those dark days.

“And if you take the argument even further to its logical conclusion, then you end up in the company of people like Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler where you can cancel parliament, get rid of your legal institutions and just imposed government by might and by the rule of Secret Police.

“And this is usually within the democratic discourse, a very dangerous way of thinking,” he stressed, pointing out that politicians in the state have reduced the whole meaning of democracy to one small component – the majority rules.

He said that democracy is a combination of several factors and it is a very complex system. It is a demanding system. It does not confine to majority rule only.

“There is no such thing as the divine right of King in a democracy any more, but we do have the sovereign right of the people in democracy to define their form of government.

“Malaysia is in the midst of transition from a state that is not democratic or may be semi-democratic to a state moving towards democracy. That is why we have thinking articulated by Masing that ‘jangan lawan tauke’ as the politician is the boss.

“This is rather disturbing to me as someone teaches first year politics in the university - Politics 101 is the core materials for any social sciences students.

“When we find that our discussion going on and then we realise the discussion only centred on one small component (of democracy) - majority rule.

“If Masing is in my first year political science in 101 courses, the answer that parliamentary democracy equals to majority rule, I will give him 10 marks. It means he fails, because his answer is under researched and under informed view.

“It is unfortunate that Masing had PhD he should know better,” Aeria added.

The professor was also disturbed to read a recent article quoting Dr. Jerip Susil, an assistant minister who said that since the government had limited funds, it only provided funds to BN supporters.

“This kind of thinking comes from the kind of mentality that politicians are the ‘tauke’. Taxes are paid by everybody. The government is for everybody and not for BN members only.

“If you take Jerip’s argument to its logical conclusion, then what it means is that the government funds come from the Barisan Nasional fund and in that case all those who did not vote for Barisan Nasional please don’t pay your taxes.

“Then you have every right to go to tax revolt – don’t pay taxes. This is the logical conclusion. This is a flawed argument and within the university this argument will not stand.

“Within an enlightened society, civilised and democratic society this kind of argument will not stand,” he stressed, calling on more people to stand up and say ‘we are sovereign’.

He said that he was gland that such a forum was organised to clarify issues on that and expressed the hope Malaysians could look to the future.

“There is no need to look back as a lot of Malaysian politicians are doing. Let us grow into a civilised society that practises democracy.

“If you look backward, you only see dinosaurs in Jurassic parks,” he said.

Will SNAP be deregistered for the second time?

KUCHING:  Will the first Dayak-based party, Sarawak National Party (SNAP) be finally deregistered this time by the Federal Court?

Some people say that it is good if it is deregistered in order to minimise Dayaks being split and scattered in Dayak-based parties. It would be good all the Dayaks go to one single party either in Barisan Nasional or in Pakatan.

There are those who want to maintain that SNAP is still relevant. What do you think?

SNAP Secretary General Frankie Nyumboi said that the party remains a properly registered political party unless and until the court decides otherwise.

Nyumboi was asked to comment on a news item saying that the dispute over the registration of SNAP is not over yet as the Registrar of Societies has been given the nod by the Federal Court to appeal against a court decision which had restored the party’s registration.

“My comment and reaction to the news is simply to say that it is a normal process of litigation and ROS has a right to file for a leave of appeal to the Federal Court to appeal against the decision of the Appeal Court.

“As it is, leave it to the Federal Court to decide and as far as the party is concerned it remains as a properly registered political party unless and until the court decides otherwise.

“We are operating as usual and our rebranding and rebuilding exercise proceeds on,” Nyumboi told The Broken Shield.

Meanwhile, the three-member Federal Court last Tuesday unanimously allowed ROS’ application for leave to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal in setting aside the ROS’ order in 2002 to deregister SNAP following the party’s failure to resolve its protracted leadership crisis.

The appeal concerned the interpretation of Section 13 and Section 16 of the Societies Act which were not decided by the Federal Court.

The Federal Court would have to determine four legal questions in the appeal proceeding including a question on whether under Section 16 of the Societies Act 1966 read together with Section 13 (2) of the same act, ROS was required to act mechanically or has the discretion to cancel a society’s registration if conditions under Section 16(1) were not complied with.

Another question of law was whether under Section 16 of the Societies Act 1966 read with Section 13 of the same act, ROS is required to give reasons for his decision in cancelling the registration of a society if conditions under Section 16(1) were not complied with.

SNAP was deregistered by ROS on November 2002 following a leadership crisis which also led to the formation of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

SNAP then applied for stay of execution, and after eight years in the political doldrums, it was given a new lease of life by the Court of Appeal on June 23, 2010.

It held its first triennial general assembly (TGA) on January 15, 2012 during which Stanley Jugol was elected as the sixth president of the party.

Formed on April 10, 1962, SNAP which became the third party to be formed after Sarawak United People’s Party and Party Negara opened the way for the Dayaks to be fully involved in political activities in preparation for Sarawak’s independence.

Sarawak became independent when it joined Sabah (then North Borneo), Singapore and Malaya to form the federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963. (Singapore withdrew from the federation on August 8, 1965).

SNAP formed an alliance government with Parti Pesaka Anak Sarawak, another Dayak-based party which was led by Temenggong Jugah Anak Barieng and Parti Panas led by Abang Openg bin Abg. Sapiee.

Stephen Kalong Ningkan, SNAP Secretary General was made the first Chief Minister of Sarawak, while Jugah became the Minister for Sarawak Affairs and Openg appointed the first governor.

With nine members of Parliament and 18 state assemblymen in the early days of Sarawak’s independence, SNAP today has been reduced to skeletal remains after it has been split twice in its 50 years of existence.

The deregistered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and SPDP were the off-shoots of the party. 

Can PRS be able to replace PBDS?

KUCHING: While Sarawak United People’s Party and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party are embroiled in leadership tussles, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is positioning itself to become the second largest party in the state Barisan Nasional after Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu.

Despite it is a comparatively new party, PRS is slowly gaining its strength among the Dayak community, and in its seven years of existence it has now more than 45,000 members about 99.9% percent of them are rural Dayaks.

It has six members of parliament and eight state assemblymen, while SPDP has four MPs and six assemblymen and SUPP has five MPs and six assemblymen.

PBB has 14 MPs and 35 assemblymen. DAP has two MPs and 13 assemblymen, PKR has two assemblymen and one independent assemblyman.

Its six MPs are Joseph Salang (MP for Julau), who is also deputy minister of information, communications and Culture; Joseph Entulu (Selangau), who is also minister of rural and regional development; Billy Abit Joo (Ulu Rajang), Aaron Dagang (Kanowit), Masir Kujat (Sri Aman) and William Nyallau (Lubok Antu), and its eight state assemblymen are James Masing, Land Development Minister (Baleh), Alexander Vincent (Ngemah), Joseph Mauh (Tamin), John Sikie (Kakus), Mong Dagang (Bukit Bangunan), Snowdan Lawan (Balai Ringin), Liwan Lagang (Belaga) and Malcolm Mussen (Batang Ai).

In his speech at the 7^th anniversary dinner on October 21, PRS President James Masing was very blunt warning party members that they must adapt to the changing political landscape if they want to see that the party not only remains strong, but also relevant.

“We are facing very organised, focussed and determined political foes who have gained public acceptance,” he said to more than 2,000 members at the dinner.

To his BN partners, he cautioned them that they cannot take for granted any more the support from the rural people although they may be BN’s ‘fixed deposit’ before.

“BN must tackle each segment of the society differently and with great care. It would be a mistake if we assume that all Malaysians want the same thing.

“We cannot lump rural and urban needs under one request, nor can we bluff and frighten our people to support us by denying them minor rural projects (MRP) funds if they refuse to heed to our requests.

“The political landscape has gone beyond MRP. Many candidates and political parties have fallen on the wayside because they failed to move and change with times and demands of their constituents,” said Masing, predicting that more will fall in the years to come if we do not change and adjust to the new political development.

Masing who is Land Development Minister also spoke of the many obstacles and challenges that the party had faced and overcome in its seven years of existence.

Masing was referring to a leadership crisis that had almost led the party to deregistration. It was only saved from such fate with the help of the then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in April 2009.

Indeed it has a very turbulent history.

PRS was formed following a leadership crisis in Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) as a result of Masing teaming with Sng Chee Hua trying to challenge Daniel Tajem and Joseph Salang for the party’s two tops in the 2003 party election.

The determination by both sides to win the party leadership had created a deep division within the party so much so that each had its own ‘headquarters’ with its own ‘president’ and its own ‘supreme council’.

Both camps accused each other of cheating and submitting false annual returns to the Registrar of Societies, and as they did not trust each other, the two camps organised their separate ‘triennial delegates conferences’.

The two camps brought their complaints to the Registrar of Societies. As they were unable to see eye to eye on how to solve the crisis, PBDS was deregistered on December 5, 2003.

Tajem and Salang met with the then Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to appeal for reinstatement of PBDS, and they were given another chance to organise another TGA.

When both sides still could not agree to the terms and conditions of holding the proposed TGA, PBDS was deregistered for the second time on October 21, 2004, the day when Masing’s men registered Parti Rakyat Sarawak.

Tajem and Salang refused to bring the matter to court.

Meanwhile, Masing’s party applied to join the Barisan Nasional and was readily accepted. Initially PRS had difficulty in getting ex-PBDS members to join the party, but after some time some leaders in the Tajem camp including elected representatives joined the party.

However, PRS was not that lucky. As it tried to regroup itself, the party was hit by another crisis when its deputy president Sng Chee Hua tried to replace Masing as the president of the party allegedly over some business opportunities.

The Sng group alleged that Masing did not share with them some of the lucrative projects and tenders given to the party.

As if history repeats itself. What happened to PBDS between 2003 and 2004 happened to PRS in 2006 organising their separate assemblies, and in the process the two camps elected their own ‘presidents’, with two ‘headquarters’ and two ‘supreme councils’.

Masing was ‘elected’ president of his camp, while Larry Sng who took over from his father was ‘elected’ president in his group. Larry Sng ‘sacked’ from his party, Likewise, Masing ‘sacked’ Larry Sng and all those who supported him from his party.

The two leaders, however, brought their case to be settled by the Registrar of Societies as to which one of the group was legally elected.

It was only in April 2009 when the Registrar recognised Masing and his supreme council were legally elected.

Now as the party celebrates its 7^th anniversary, many Dayaks especially the former members of the defunct PBDS who have remained partyless are still harbouring suspicions on Masing’s motive and are unconvinced of his efforts to fight for the interest of the Dayaks.

They still can remember what he had done to PBDS which had then become the household word among the Dayak community.

Lately, however, Masing seemed to project himself as the spokesman of the Dayak community when Alfred Jabu, PBB Deputy President and Deputy Chief Minister and William Mawan Ikom, SPDP President and Social Development Minister appeared to be quiet on issues that concerned the Dayaks.

Masing is very vocal on issues such as the lack of Dayaks in the state civil service and the number of Dayaks holding high and important posts in government and government-linked companies, the perimeter survey of NCR land, the definition of NCR land, dams and the resettlement of displaced natives, and oil palm plantations in native lands, excessive timber operations and logjam.

On some of the more sensitive issues he privately told BN leaders of his concern and fear that they might be exploited by the Opposition.

It is understood that his party does not agree with the state definition of NCR land which comprises only temuda land (farming land), but agrees with the Court definition that NCR includes pulau galau (communal forest), pemakai menua (territorial domain), grave ground, tembawai (land where the old longhouses had been built), farming land, gardens, and etc.

In a recent seminar on NCR land, he has come up with a new strategy to develop the NCR land such as urging the natives to go for small holding under government supervision.

“Masing’s biggest problem is to convince the Dayaks especially the young and educated ones to support him in order to make PRS as the platform to fight for their interest within the Barisan Nasional.

“And if he is able to convince them, then Masing is not only able to get a listening ear from Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, but he can also able to make PRS to play role of the defunct PBDS.

“Otherwise, Masing’s efforts are mere rhetoric for the consumption of the general public particularly the Dayaks,” said a former PBDS Member of Parliament.

As the Iban saying said: “ikak lelengak ikan enda ngaban, kudi muri hari enda ujan”.

Who is buying who?

Recently two articles have appeared in this blog regarding money politics in the Tamin state constituency exposing how money politics was used to defeat the PKR candidate.

And the party doing it was allegedly Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) together with BN campaigners and agents.

Bounced cheques each with a value of RM15,000 were issued to some 80 percent of 220 Tuai Rumahs. When the Tuai Rumah presented the cheques to a bank, the bank found some ‘errors’ on the cheques - either the names were wrongly spelt, their ICs were incomplete or names not according to ICs, etc, etc.

Funnily, the bank instead of advising the Tuai Rumahs to go to the persons who issued the cheques detained and retained the cheques. Has the bank got the right to retain the cheques?

Another story was also recently published on the distribution of money to buy votes.

Now the same PRS is filing an election petition to declare the Independent candidate George Lagong’s electoral victory in Pelagus as ‘null and void’ as it accused George of using money to buy votes.

Isn’t this funny that PRS-BN is pointing fingers at an independent for using money to buy votes? In other 70 state constituencies, the fingers are pointing at the BN parties.

The petition was filed on Friday 20 May at the Sibu High Court, and if PRS is successfully in declaring the seat ‘null and void’, then there will be another election in the constituency.

Should this happen, another chance of vote-buying is in the offing. The real ‘winners’ will be the voters!

A new coalition government?

KUCHING: Speculation is rife in Kuching about the formation of a new coalition government between Pakatan Rakyat and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) together with the Dayak-based parties of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

Altogether they have a simple majority of 36 seats including a seat held by an independent. Thirty-five seats are held by PBB in the 71 seats in the state assembly.

The rumours sparked off after PRS President James Masing called for closure of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and its members join PRS as well as his call for the merger between his party and SPDP be sped up in order to strengthen the voice of the Dayak community.

Even DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang called for the merger of SNAP and DAP.

Dayak leaders in the non-governmental organisations have expressed strong support for this new coalition.

They suggest that Masing be made the chief minister of the new coalition, while Baru Bian from PKR and Chong Chieng Jen of DAP be made deputy chief ministers.

Top Pakatan Rakyat leaders including Anwar Ibrahim, PKR President Wan Azizah and Deputy President Azmin Ali and Lim Kit Siang will be in Kuching this week-end.

According to a message from the State PKR headquarters, a special announcement will be made.

What is this special message is all about no one really knows, but many suggest it could be connected to the discussion on the formation of the new coalition.

Said a political observer: “This is the real reason why Abdul Taib Mahmud swore himself as chief minster soon after the results that the state BN government had just obtained its two-thirds majority.

“He has envisaged that this type of coalition may be formed in order to get rid of him as chief minister,” said the observer.

Leaders of the PRS, SPDP, SUPP and Pakatan Rakyat are not available for comment.

Scorned ex-wives could ruin ‘Randy’ Rayong’s political career

(This story has appeared in Free Malaysia Today on Jan 24, 2011 and is reproduced for the readers of The Broken Shield)

KUCHING: Are conversions and polygamy the new political ball game in Sarawak? It appears that a rising number of political aspirants and have-beens are rumoured to be converting from Christianity to Islam to better their chances of currying favours with Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, who allegedly discriminates against non-Muslims.

Whether this new game plan will work for them in the coming state polls is left to be seen. But political observers are betting that a number of Barisan Nasional candidates “will fall” in the polls for these very reasons.

Meanwhile, the “hottest” gossip to hit Kuching streets is Engkilili state assemblyman Johnical Rayong’s recent conversion. Most of his constituents were in shocked disbelief at his conversion that is until his angry wife, Patricia Dexter Sudok, a Christian staff nurse in Kuching, spewed her angst.

She reportedly leant of her husband’s infidelity, marriage and conversion from an SMS message he sent her.

According to the reports, Rayong was caught for “khalwat” and was forced to marry one Kamasiah Abdul Jalil, a divorcee in her 30s with two children, who works in the chief minister’s office.

Rayong had apparently converted on Jan 29, 2010. (was it coincidence then that partyless Rayong who had waited four long years outside Taib’s door was suddenly accepted into the fold in 2010, courtesy of Sarawak United people’s Party whose decision to take him in has cost them dearly?)


Deceiving the Dayaks

The story gets better, Patricia also said that Rayong had been harassing her to return and campaign alongside him as a “Christian couple” in order to mislead his Dayak voters.

Rayong and apparently quite a few other “new converts” such as Mambong MP James Dawos Mamit and Marudi assemblyman Sylvester Enterie are seeking to conceal their new status from their Dayak constituents.

Dawos, incidentally, is Deputy Tourism Minister and Enterie is an Assistant Minister in the Sarawak cabinet.

All this is more fodder for the opposition, it appears. In the case of Rayong, who seems to have a cup-board-full of “skeletons”, he may have lost it all even before the race. According to a SUPP leader, the party is uncomfortable with Rayong’s “history” and is re-assessing his candidacy.

“The voters in Engkilili are not against him converting to Islam. Far from it. In fact, Christians and Muslims in Engkilili sit side by side in coffee shops or restaurants. They also visit each other during Hari Raya and Christmas celebrations. They always live in harmony.

“But they do not like him because he failed to inform them (of his new status) as well as his failure to look after his two Iban wives,” said the leader who refused to be named.

Rayong, he claimed, has neglected his two families. His two wives were said to have complained to Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang. They alleged Rayong had failed to come “home” for the past three months or so. His first wife, Patricia, is related to Jabu.

So angry and disappointed are his wives that they are prepared to campaign against Rayong if he does defend his Engkilili seat.

Besides his scorned wives, Rayong will also have to contend with issues over the authenticity of his degree “as a medical doctor” and his political track record.

His opponents have claimed that Rayong is only a doctor of homeopathy, but had presented himself as a medical doctor and opened up a clinic where he dispensed medicines and treated patients.

They alleged that when the authorities demanded for his certificates, Rayong closed shop. It has also raised questions about his integrity.

In the 2006 state election, Rayong won the Engkilili seat on a Sarawak National Party (SNAP) ticket. During his campaign, he attacked BN coalition partner SUPP and its candidate Jonathan Krai Pilo.

But less than a month after his win, Rayong declared that he was independent and a BN-friendly representative. His angry supporters called him a “political frog” who is only interested in his own personal affairs.

He subsequently applied to join an off-shoot of SNAP, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) led by William, Mawan Ikom. His application was initially accepted in 2007, but faced with strong opposition from SUPP and Taib’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), he was forced to resign.

There was also a time when he wanted to join Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) if the Engkilili seat was to be given to PRS under a swapping arrangement with SUPP. But that arrangement failed to materialise and as a result, he lost interest In PRS.


SUPP reassessing Rayong

In the meantime, Rayong had applied to become a SUPP member and for two years he was left waiting. Then suddenly in September 2010, SUPP approved his application, much against the wishes of majority of its members.

The SUPP’s decision resulted in the resignation of the Engkilili branch chairman and the former five-term elected representative, Toh Heng San, from the party.

But by joining SUPP, Rayong has left behind at least 60% of his supporters who were either members of SNAP or the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and supporters of the stillborn Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) of which he was the protem deputy president.

In fact, his supporters are still angry with him for switching parties as they had voted him in on a SNAP ticket. Many SUPP members in Engkilili, too, may not vote for him as they consider him a “frog” that has upset their branch leaders including Toh and Krai.

After more than 20 years as elected representative, Toh has a strong following not only among the Chinese, but also among the Ibans in Engkilili. Toh and Krai’s supporters will certainly not vote for Rayong for his criticisms against SUPP and for neglecting the welfare and interest of the Dayak community during the last election.

Today, Rayong joins the party that he had severely condemned. In September, when accepting Rayong into SUPP’s fold, the party president George Chan described him as the most “suitable”candidate to represent the party as he was not only close to the people, but also popular with the rakyat.

Now, in the wake of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s brazen command to give him “only winnable candidates”, Chan is being forced to acknowledge Rayong’s weaknesses and eat his own words of the latter’s “suitability” as Engkilili 2011 candidate.

PRS Youth criticized for lack of activities

Former supreme council member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak Joseph Allen has criticized the PRS youth for lack of activities especially when the state election is very near.

“I have not seen them doing anything at all, whereas youth wings of other political parties are very active organizing this and organizing that,” he said, pointing out that if they do not do anything now they will be held responsible for the defeat of PRS candidates.

“Please do not rest on your laurels. You better do something to help the party. Today’s society is very well-informed on what is going on,” he said.

PRS youth is headed by Assistant Minister Mong Dagang and he is very busy in his constituency attacking and criticizing retired civil servants including retired teachers and army personnel who do not support him.

He even called them “left wing” elements for badmouthing the government.

Mong of course does not know why they are unhappy with the government, because Mong has never worked in the public sector.

These retired civil servants are unhappy because they have been deprived of their promotions even though they are qualified to hold even the highest post in the state; their children have been deprived of places in the universities, scholarships, recruitment to the civil service, and worst of all, they know their parents’ native customary rights land and their own land have been taken away by the government and have been leased to crony companies.

If all these happen to you, will you not be angry with the government especially with the Dayak ministers and YBs?

Iban leaders criticised

KUCHING: An Iban businessman Joseph Allen has criticised some Iban ministers and elected representatives for not fighting for the interests of the Iban community in terms of quotas in business, economic cake, scholarships, places in universities, recruitment into the civil service, holding higher posts in the civil service or appointments to government-linked companies.

“They should be courageous enough in fighting for the interests of their own community.

“They should emulate and support Minister of Primary Commodities and Industries Bernard Dompok, who is also president of United Pasok Momogun Organisation in fighting for the interests of the Kadazan-Dusun community,” he said.

Allen, a former supreme council member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak, was asked to comment on Dompok’s statement.

Dompok had said that Bumiputras from Sabah and Sarawak should be accorded equal opportunities as their counterparts in the peninsula in all aspects, citing federal service as example where all the top posts are denominated by Bumiputras from the peninsula.

The minister believed that it was every citizen’s right to raise matters that need the attention of the country’s leaders and they should not be regarded as going against the government.

“Dompok is the type of leaders we need for the Iban community,” Allen stressed.

Expressing support for Dompok’s call for a review of economic quota, he said: “The quota of 30% should apply to both the non-Muslim Bumiputra (Dayak) community and the Muslim community, while the non-Bumiputra should be 40%.

“Currently, Dayaks are lumped together with the Malays to form the Bumiputra group which is allocated 30% of the economic cake. Under this category, the Dayaks do not get anything. They are only needed to strengthen the number only,” he said.

Allen said that when Malaysia was formed, Temenggong Jugah signed the Malaysian Agreement on behalf of the Dayaks, while Donald Stephens signed on behalf of the Kadazan-Dusuns, because they believed that their generations to come would benefit and enjoy the wealth of the nation.

And if they refused to sign, there would be no Malaysia today, he added.

A former Police officer, Allen said that the Dayaks had contributed a great deal to the security, peace and order of the country during the height of communist insurgency in Sarawak.

“Now the Dayaks are forgotten, sidelined in business opportunities and have not been given a fair share of the country’s wealth.

“We have compromised and tolerated the policy, the injustice and inequality meted against us,” he said, pointed out that even their rights already in their possessions such as native customary lands are being taken away from the community.

Allen called on Iban leaders like Douglas Uggah, Federal Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and state ministers Alfred Jabu, James Masing and William Mawan to support Dumpok’s call for a review of the economic quota.

“If you don’t say anything, don’t blame the government but blame our leaders,” he said.- The Broken Shield

BN’s uphill task to recapture Ngemah

(The story has appeared in The Free Malaysia Today and has been updated for the readers of the Broken Shield).

KUCHING: For the coming State election, the state seat of Ngemah in Kanowit is likely to see a three-cornered fight – a Barisan candidate against Pakatan Rakyat and Parti Cinta Malaysia.

The seat, now held by PCM’s Gabriel Adit, appears to be a “grey” area to the Barisan Nasional especially to Parti Rakyat Sarawak which has been given the task to retake it from the Opposition.

This is because of the “new problem” that has surfaced in recent months – the infighting among the PRS Ngemah Division between the supporters of two of division’s strongmen – Peter Telajan, the former chairman and the newly elected chairman Alexander Vincent.

The dispute arose when the list of 2000 card members recorded in the division were not allowed to attend the division election in February this year after Alexander Vincent and his supporters objected to their inclusion, the reason being they were recruited during the time when Sng Chee Hua was the party’s deputy president.

It is said that Vincent wanted the list in the headquarters to be used, which has about 900 members. The headquarters list was approved.

Despite his objection, nothing much Telajan could do.

On the day of the election, some 400 members attended the branch meeting. Telajan alleged that Vincent brought certain people who were not members to attend the meeting and this resulted in his defeat.

Further more, Telajan was also unhappy with the way the election was conducted; it had earlier agreed that a secret ballot was to be used in the election; but when election was held, the presiding officer Wilson Nyabong called for a body count.

Telajan has lodged a Police report and has threatened to lodge a complaint with the Registrar of Societies.

As a result of this disagreement, the division was not allowed to send delegates to the party’s triennial delegates’ conference in Bintulu on 15 May and has been without chairman for the past six months.

The dispute may not affect the legality of the division election, even if it does, it can only affect the division itself; but it can certainly create more enemies for Vincent which he cannot afford when facing the coming state election.

However, last Saturday, PRS president James Masing told the Press that the problem has been now resolved and that Vincent “is the legitimate” chief of the Ngemah division.

For Vincent, his confirmation means that he can go around with the full authority of the party behind him as he is tipped to be the next candidate for the constituency.

But whoever Masing is going to nominate be he Alexander or somebody else, it is not going to be a plain sailing for the BN candidate in the coming election.

And don’t forget there are SPDP members who are still harbouring grudges against Masing and PRS and are likely to vote against PRS-nominated candidate as they did in the previous election.

It makes the task for the BN-PRS to win back the seat much harder as BN’s headache is further compounded by the uncomfortable relationship between Masing and SPDP president William Mawan over the issue of “SPDP 5”.

The “SPDP 5” which walked out from a SPDP supreme council meeting early this year due to differences with Mawan wanted to seek refuge in PRS. Masing’s meeting with them and his readiness to accept them has angered Mawan and other SPDP leaders.

The five are Assistant minister of Environment and state assemblyman for Tasik Peter Nansian, Assistant minister of water supply and state assemblyman for Marudi Sylvester Enteri, state assemblywoman for Bekenu, Rosey Yunus, state assemblyman for Batu Danau Paulus Gumbang and MP for Mas Gading Tiki Lafe.

In the last election, the BN lost the seat to Adit who stood as an independent candidate, due to the internal bickering between PRS and SPDP. Both parties put a claim to the seat.

PRS which was registered after the demise of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak in 2004 thought that it had the right to claim the seat as it considered itself to be the off-shoot of PBDS. The seat had always belonged to PBDS. Adit was the last PBDS’ flag bearer in the constituency.

Adit instead of joining PRS chose to join SPDP after PBDS was deregistered. In accepting Adit to his party Mawan was hoping that Adit would be able to bring the seat to SPDP. But Mawan was wrong.

Bitter exchanges of words were made over the issue. The claim for the seat was only settled in the 11th hour of nomination; it was given to PRS and this caused a lot of unhappiness among the SPDP leaders and members especially in Ngemah.

Adit was then forced to contest as an independent candidate, and with the support of SPDP members he defeated the BN-PRS candidate, Alexander Vincent.

“In the coming election PRS is determined to win back the seat, and it will not tolerate BN members especially some SPDP members, who oppose our candidate,” said a PRS leader.

“If their activities are prejudicial to PRS, it is likely PRS will retaliate and strike at nearby SPDP constituencies like Meluan, and Pakan where SPDP president is likely to defend his seat,” said the leader who refused to be identified.

And the likelihood of “BN fighting BN” scenario appears to be unavoidable in some of these PRS and SPDP constituencies. For Ngemah seat, PRS is likely to face Adit now PCM chairman and a candidate of the Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak comprising DAP, PKR, SNAP and PAS.

“Given all these problems, it is going to be an uphill task for BN and PRS to recapture Ngemah seat,” admitted the PRS leader.