RFS ‘poisoning mentality’ of rural Dayaks

Barisan Nasional leaders in rural Sarawak want the government to clamp down on Radio Free Sarawak broadcast.

KUCHING: Barisan Nasional grassroots leaders, increasingly disconcerted by the reach of Radio FreeSarawak (RFS) in the interior of Sarawak, are claiming that the news aired by the Internet broadcasting network is “poisoning” the “mentality” of the native Dayaks.

“The radio is rubbish and it may destroy the mentality of the Ibans and the Dayak community as a whole,” said a local pro-government leaderpemanca (chief), Wilson Siang Lim.

He said before RFS does more damage, the government must clamp down on the widely popular broadcasts.

“Before RFS spreads more ill-will, the government must take action,” he said.

RFS broadcasts daily from London from 6pm to 8pm on SW 15420 KHz to Sarawak, especially the rural areas.

Since its first launch in 2010, RFS has gone on to become a “leader” in alternative radio-news broadcast with call-ins from locals highlighting BN’s lies, broken promises, rampant corruption, and abuse of power.

Locals have also called in to register their protests against the government’s contentious hydro-electric dam projects and land grabs by the state government, ignoring their native customary rights (NCR) status.

Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat has called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to restrict the frequency of RFS.

Lamat, who apparently has been listening to RFS, said the news clips were discrediting the government.

‘Refute RFS stories’

He said the radio channel broadcasted in the Iban language was introduced by the opposition party to condemn the government ahead of the 13th general election.

“We urge related agencies to take immediate action to stop RFS from spreading lies by restricting its radio frequency,” Lamat said recently.

He said the opposition was using RFS to fish for votes.

“RFS was spreading false information with elements of sedition and defamation to rural voters. This is part of their strategy to fish for votes,” he said .

He urged inhabitants in longhouses in Sarawak to bar opposition members who promote the radio channel.

But unknown to Lamat, RFS is where the rural people phone in their complaints and pour out their grievances.

Chastising Lamat for his “advice” to natives, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said: “This is indeed a very destructive and uncalled-for advice.

“Firstly, it is an affront to the longhouse culture of welcoming any person notwithstanding backgrounds, race, religion and political affiliation.

“Secondly, such statement is going to cause ill-feelings among residents of longhouses, which should not be the case as anybody is free to give support to any political party.

“Supporting political ideologies is legal in Malaysia.

“Thirdly, if RFS is not telling the truth, refute it. BN has all the means to refute any purported lies, but don’t plant seeds of discord by destroying our culture.

“Perhaps, the truth hurts,” said Bian, who is the Ba’Kelalan assemblyman.

Taken from Free Malaysia Today - http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/26/rfs-poisoning-mentality-of-rural-dayaks/

Relaunching of Radio Free Sarawak on 17 Jan 2012

Radio Free Sarawak re-launches tomorrow Tues 17th January with an exciting new format and an expanded team of presenters on Short Wave 15420kHz, from 6pm daily.

Joining the show for the first time, as a surprise appointment, is one of Sarawak’s best-known Iban speaking radio presenters, Christina Suntai.  Also, returning to the show is the original presenter, ‘Papa Orang Utan’, Peter John Jaban, who acted as the show’s full-time D Jay last year.

The two high profile personalities will be joining the existing on-air team, which includes Michael Ngau, Stanley Rentap,  and Kakak Burung Tiong.

Interactive

The station is limbering into ‘election gear’ with a new emphasis on inter-active dialogue with listeners:

“It is important, particularly during an election period, for listeners to the show to be able to contact us directly with their problems and issues and to give us their views and opinions”, explains the London based founder, Clare Rewcastle Brown.

There is a new local phone-in number, so listeners can leave messages or request to come on air.  From Tuesday the line opens on 082-237191, available for messages 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Radio Free Sarawak also connects with its audience via facebook and hosts an online site www.radiofreesarawak.org, where the show can be  listened to for free online.

Alternative voice

Radio Free Sarawak is also promising more action, more fun and more exposes, beginning with a world exclusive story involving a Sarawak based company.

Broadcast on shortwave from 6-8pm daily, the programme is regarded as an important vehicle by the opposition PKR party, which has been largely excluded from the BN dominated state media.   The station is featured in much of the party’s election material, now being distributed in target areas.

“For the past 30 years and more Sarawak has been run by a corrupt political elite, who have thought only of lining their own pockets”, says Rewcastle Brown.

“The state’s indigenous peoples have been left behind on health, on education and on the basic amenities of life. They have received no benefits from the deforestation of their lands and the destruction of the environment to grow oil palm.  These issues deserve to be raised and not hidden out of the way by pro-government broadcasts”

Radio Free Sarawak will also be returning to its original Short Wave frequency of 15420 kHz.

For more details on the new look Radio Free Sarawak visit www.radiofreesarawak.org  Or contact the Radio Free Sarawak team at info@radiofreesarawak.org   

Radio Free Sarawak is back

KUCHING: Radio Free Sarawak is back this week with an expanded team and greater ambitions

The show kicks off with a two hour daily time slot from 6 – 8 pm on the Short Wave band 17560 kHz. It will also be available free online via the website http://radiofreesarawak.org/.

“As before, the station will continue to focus on the concerns and interests of the ordinary people of Sarawak, mainly rural folk, who currently have no access to an independent news source,” said Peter John, who called himself as ‘Papa Orang Utan’.

“However, it will also address urban and Malaysia-wide issues in recognition of its popular following among internet users and listeners from other states. Radio Free Sarawak will provide an alternative platform to the government-controlled broadcast and print media, which only exists to praise and promote the Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, and neglects such issues as land-grabs, enfranchisement and corruption.

“The station will reach out and listen to the voices of the people of Sarawak and work on exposing the problems that have resulted in Malaysia’s richest state becoming home to many of its poorest people.

“Expect to hear voices also from the opposition parties, who achieved nearly half the votes at the state election (despite BN vote rigging), but who never get adequate recognition from the licenced media.

“And, of course there will be plenty of music and entertainment with the return of popular D Jays Papa Orang Utan (who will host the Sunday show), Kakak Burung Tiong, along with a new voice leading day time news coverage, Michael Ngau,” John said.

RFS was very actively before and during the state election in April and had become a household word in the rural areas with their very ‘spicy’ information on corruption, abuses of power and cronyism alleged carried out by the state government and its leaders.

It also carried out ‘live’ interviews with the government and opposition leaders, activists, NGO leaders as well as with the ordinary people.

Following its constant ‘attacks’ on the state BN leaders especially Taib, several reports have been lodged by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) against ‘Papa Orang Utan’.

Both Minister of Home Affairs Hishamuddin Tun Hussein and Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and culture Joseph Salang have promised to look into the complaints.

John said that after a lapse of about five months, RFS is back because of the coming general election, adding that it will expose corruption, abuse of power and cronyism without fear or favour.

Radio Free Sarawak - http://radiofreesarawak.org/

http://radiofreesarawak.org/

Radio Free Sarawak is the independent radio station that brings you the news you want to hear, not what others want you to hear. No one controls us, except you, the listeners of Sarawak . So tune in and enjoy the news, interviews, reports and comment that you will never get to hear on any of the other government-controlled radio stations in Sarawak. There will be plenty of our best music too, all presented to you in Iban by Papa Orang Utan, our own man from the jungle of Sarawak!

Please listen in and send us back your comments and views, so we can be in touch with you and bring you the radio programme that you like. If you have an issue, a problem or a story that you would like the rest of Sarawak to hear about, message us on this site or ring us on our Radio Free Sarawak local number [DUE SHORTLY] and leave us details of your story or your comment on our answer bank.

We may play out your comments or we may even ring you back so remember, leave your number if you want!

And for further independent news and reports on Sarawak go to www.sarawakreport.org.