DBNA to search talents among Bidayuh youth

THE Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) will

create a unit that will play a role in the search for talents among the Bidayuh youths.
Its president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik said the setting up of the unit was necessary as the association feels that there are plenty of talents among the young people that they can be unearth and nutured.
"We have seen many Bidayuh potential in his singing and acting, but some of them are already doing successful in Kuala Lumpur.
"Therefore, we in DBNA will try to do our part to showcase the talents we have," he said at a dinner hosted by the chairman of Bung Bratak Heritage Association Datuk Peter Minos to celebrate Lovina Ricky Guing who emerged the champion in a reality programme "Pilih Kasih 2 " at a hotel in Kuching yesterday night.
Pahon said, the success of the Lovina is a manifestation that the Bidayuh can also do it.
He said the Bidayuh although a small group but are talented in all fields and able to contribute to national development in various fields.
On Lovina’s success in the reality programme organised by TV2, Pahon said the Bidayuh community as a whole was very proud of her achievements.
"DBNA and the Bidayuh community is very proud of your success as the most sparkling stars among the star that shines," said Pahon.
Pahon who is also the permanent secretary of Ministry of Social Development and Tourism advised Lovina to be diligent in her pursuit and ambition.
"You need to be persevere in facing all the obstacles because there is no shortcut for the path to success in life," he said.
Pahon also borrowed Confuses words: "travel thousands of miles begins with a walk."
He also reminded Livonia that she is now a public figure and that she is a role model to the other Bidayuh teens.
Towards that Pahon has invited her to give a talk at the coming DBNA Youth Seminar to be held on March 12 at the newly completed DBNA multi-purpose hall at Jalan Kumpang here.
Meanwhile, Minos in his speech expressed a sense of pride to the success of Lovina and hoped it would be an example to other Bidayuh teenagers.
“Your achievement has made the community very proud of you because you have worked very hard to become the champion of the reality show and I really hope that more Bidayuh will also excel in any other fields,” he said.
Minos also called on the Bidayuh community and several Bidayuh association to show appreciation to any of the who excelled in various fields.
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Livonia brings pride to the Bidayuhs

By ROBERT KENNETH

JOINING it just for fun, Livonia Ricky Guing never

knew that she was actually a champion quality until she won the recent reality show “Pilih Kasih 2” organized by TV2.
“A university friend of mine suggested that we go for the audition for the reality show. At first I was reluctant but after being persuaded we decided to go and it was held at the Boulevard Shopping Mall in Kuching.
"So many participants came to the audition and at that time I did not have the confidence that I will be selected among 16 participants from all over the country to join the show," said Livonia.
Livonia is the only participant selected from Sarawak.
After being informed by the organisers that she was selected to participate in the reality show, Livonia became anxious but fear of being scolded by their father.
"I did not tell my father anything about the audition because I knew he wouldn’t like it.
"However, I braved myself to tell him that I was selected to participate in the show and I was called to Kuala Lumpur.
"Then my father became confused on whether to let me go or not, but finally he gave me the green light to proceed with my intentions and I went to Kuala Lumpur on 28 November last year," he said.
She said that during the first episode she have confident in herself that she could proceed to the next episodes, but in the 10th episode she became worried because she was in the third placing from the bottom.
"Fortunately in that week Rosyam Nor, our principal decided not to eliminate any one of us and I was in the final competition," she said.
Saying she did not expect to win title in the final, Lovina said she only gave her best presentation.
"I was just happy to be in the final, title was not important for me but thanks God I won the title and it was my best birthday present,” said Livona who celebrated her birthday a day before the final show.
She defeated six other contestants with judging based on 50 percent marks from the professional judges and another 50 percent votes came from short message service (SMS).
The teaching staff involved in the reality show were Erma Fatima as the theatre director, Hamzah Tahir the monologue director and Aziz M. Osman as the drama director.
Livonia started acting when she joined the theater club in her university.
She is expected to sign a contract with a film productions company owned by well know film director Erma Fartima.
According to Livonia, the contract signing ceremony will take place in Lagend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on March 4.
In addition, Livonia is also expected to sign a contract to act in a 13 series musical drama to be produced by Suhan Movies owns by another popular actor and director Rosyam Nor in collaboration with RTM.
The 20 year-old Bidayuh lass from Kampung Giam at Jalan Puncak Borneo said she hoped to follow the foot step of two successful Bidayuh actors – Tony Eusoff from Siburan and Zack from Kampung Bunuk.
However, this second year students majoring in tourism and hospitality at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Kota Samarahan here said she will still continue with her studies.
The third of five siblings, Lovina said she would try to manage his time between acting and learning, and believe she would be able to manage it.
According to Livonia, for the time being she is taking the semester off since December last year and will be back to continue her studies in July.
Lovina said she would try to apply to continue her studies at UiTM Shah Alam to enable her to venture into acting and at the same time continuing her studies.
She was also Miss Borneo Heritage in 2009.
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Be smart and practical, Bidayuh told

A Bidayuh community leader has advised

Bidayuh voters in Bengoh and Tarat constituencies to be practical and make smart decision in the coming State election.
Pemanca Austin Dimin (Bidayuh Pemanca for Kuching Division) gave his advice in response to call made by the opposition to change the people representatives in the two Bidayuh majority seats.
“Who will give the Bidayuh the development we need if we choose to accept the opposition to become our representative?” asked Dimin.
He said the Bidayuh should’t follow the Chinese way of politics as the community are already rich and are residing in the town areas where all the facilities are already made available for them.
“We must think of those poor people who are staying in the villages,” he said.
Dimin also said the need for the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) to change the incumbent Dr Jerip with new face should not arise at all.
He said both Dr Jerip and Roland Sagah,who is the incumbents for Tarat constituency are capable representatives and has delivered effective services to the rakyat.
Dimin was of the opinion that new candidates may not be able to serve the people effectively unlike Dr Jerip and Roland who already have their foundation and had effectively served the rakyat.
“If BN decides to field new candidates then there will be no continuity and they will have to start all over again unlike Dr Jerip and Sagah who are already well verse of the people needs and issues in their respective constituency,” said Dimin.
Hence Dimin strongly advised SUPP leadership to retain Dr Jerip Susil in Bengoh seat, adding they shouldn’t be blind folded to accept new candidate.
He also advised the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leadership to retain Roland in Tarat.
“SUPP must field Dr Jerip. If not the party leadership have to think twice because who is the better candidate rather than Dr Jerip.
“In the last four years he has done a very good job,” added Dimin.
Dimin also urged the party leadership be supportive of the requests from their representatives in the Bidayuh areas.
On the voting trend in Bengoh and Tarat, Dimin believed the Chinese voters will split but wouldn’t be too bad among the Bidayuh voters.
Dr Jerip he said however will have to work extra hard to convince the voters as there are several issues in his constituency need to be tackled including the NCR land, Bengoh Dam and logging activities in Krongkong.
Meanwhile Willie Mongin, a computer consultant working with a multi-national firm in Kuala Lumpur, and is from Kampung Bratan along Jalan Puncak Borneo and Peter Ato, a former defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (SPDP) Supreme Council Member who hailed from Padawan has expressed in the open their intention to contest in Bengoh and Tarat respectively under Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) banner.
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Villagers of Kampung Grogo claimed land not compensated

NATIVE Customary Right (NCR) land owners along the junction of Opar/Kampung Grogo in Bau District of Sarawak are asking the government to return back their land to them since no compensation has ever being paid to them following the acquisition of their land many years ago.
They claimed that the government had acquired their NCR land for the proposed Bau Government Institutional Zone in 1998 and there are more than 100 claimants on that piece of land.
“The land was surveyed in 1998 with more than 100 field lots on it. However until now the proposed project never took off the ground and

the compensation was also never being paid to us.
“We also discovered that the land has been converted to state land, and we are obviously being deprived of our rights over the land,” said chairman of Kampung Grogo Task Force Land Committee, Majen Minos (pic).
As compensation has not been paid to them, the affected landowners are requesting the government to return back the land to them.
“We have been waiting patiently for so many years but the compensation has never being paid to us and the proposed project is still not being implemented. Now we want the land to be returned to us,” said Majen.
Majen also described Assistant Minister of Environment Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie’s statement in a local newpapers recently that up to 4,000 land titles will been given out in Tasik Biru constituency as totally not true.
“We do not know which land of ours will be given the title because what we knew our land along the junction of Opar/Kampung Grogo was acquired and converted to state land.
“Does he mean titles for our land surveyed by the Land and Survey Department two years ago under the Program Kampung Tradisi (Traditional Village Programme)?” Majen asked.
Under the programme each lot are allocated a maximum of 50 points.
“If that was the land he meant how come we still haven’t receive the titles?” Majen further asked.
Nansian was reported as saying that between 3,000 to 4,000 NCR land titles will be issued to Native Customary Rights (NCR) landowners from the five villages in Tasik Biru constituency this year.
The Tasik Biru State Assemblyman said the issuance of the land titles was following the completion of NCR land perimeter survey work on the villages of Sibuluh, Grogo, Stass, Serikin and Sekibang.
“But if the titles is for the Traditional Village Lots than why my friends from Kampung Skibang said their land has yet to be survey for kampung lots,” said Majen.
Nansian had said the titles would be handed over to the landowners very soon.
Majen regretted that Nansian had confused the people with such statement.
“We have written a letter to the Superintendent of Land and Survey Kuching Division but never received any response.
“I also met Nansian in July last year with regard to the matter but was told by the later that the land owners had surrendered their land and compensation will be paid when the government decided to use the land,” Majen said.
He said if it was true as what Nansian said that the villagers had surrendered their land to the government then they should be paid compensation.
“Instead we were shocked to know that the land has been converted to state land,” he added.
Majen also showed the newspaper cutting of a local newspaper dated May 15, 2009 under the headline “Homeless eagerly waiting for resettlement scheme” which reported Nansian as requesting the government to commence work on the proposed Bau Town extension project, which was to be sited at an area identified by the government 10 years ago at Opar road junction.
He said the people there were eagerly looking forward to the project completion, which could mean better building and facilities for the District Office, District Council and other government departments unlike the constraint space in the present town area.
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Pemilik tanah NCR hanya dibayar RM250 sekeluarga

"SAYA disuruh turunkan cap jari pada kertas kosong oleh seorang penghulu dan baru malam tadi (18 Feb) kami diberitahu bahawa tindakan itu telah menyebabkan sebuah syarikat pembalakan mendapat konsesi untuk membalak di kawasan tanah kami,” kata Eseng Anak Kaseng, 61.
Menurut Eseng, beliau disuruh untuk menurunkan cap jarinya pada kertas tersebut yang menyenaraikan beberapa nama orang lain oleh seorang penghulu pada tahun lalu.
“Saya nampak pada kertas berkenaan ada beberapa nama orang lain turut disenaraikan dan selepas diterangkan oleh penghulu terbabit bahawa ia sebagai mengesahkan penerimaan wang saguhati RM250, saya pun menurunkan cap jari saya pada kertas berkenaan,” kata Eseng yang mengaku beliau buta huruf.
Eseng berkata, beliau sebenarnya tidak tahu apa yang beliau tandatangani dan hanya diberitahu sebagai mengesahkan telah menerima wang saguhati RM250.
Hari ini beliau dan 30 yang lain membuat laporan polis berhubung perkara tersebut di Balai Polis Sungai Maong di sini, dengan ditemani penguam mereka, See Chee How.
Seorang lagi pengadu, Kalong Anak Langking, 49, dalam laporan polisnya menyatakan: “Pada malam 18 Februari 2011 saya telah menerima dokumen bertajuk “1st and 2nd Defendents’ Affidavit In Opposing No. 2” daripada Numpang Anak Suntai, yang mana adalah kenyataan sumpah seseorang yang bernama Lau Pong Hui.
“Saya merujuk kepada “Deed Of Settlement And Undertaking” yang dikepilkan di dalam dokumen itu pada muka surat No. 8 sampai muka surat No.39.
“Sebelum malam 18 Februari 2011, saya tidak pernah melihat “Deed of Settlement And Undertaking” ini.
“Saya mengesahkan bahawa ianya tandatangan saya di muka surat 28. Penghulu Merum Anak Babu yang menelefon dan suruh saya pergi ke Pasar Sebuyau. Sampai di sana, dua orang pekerja kompeni yang saya tidak tahu nama mereka membawa saya pergi ke pejabat kompeni kayu balak dan mereka suruh saya menurunkan tandatangan saya di atas lima keping muka surat.
“Tujuannya sebagai yang diberitahu kepada saya bukan menjual menoa (tanah adat), bukan memberi keizinan untuk membalak, cuma menerima saguhati kampung berjumlah RM250.00 daripada kompeni.
“Kandungan dokumen ini telah dibaca dan diterangkan kepada saya pagi ini (19 Februari).
“Saya memang tidak setuju dan saya tidak pernah memberi keizinan kuasa kepada Penghulu Merum untuk membuat “Deed of Settlement And Undertaking” seperti yang dikepilkan.”
Mereka membuat laporan berkenaan untuk membolehkan pihak polis membuat siasatan ke atas kes itu.
Penduduk terbabit mendakwa syarikat pembalakan berkenaan telah melakukan kerja membalak di kawasan tanah mereka yang seluas lebih 3,500 hektar dari kawasan Sungai Sebangan dan Sungai Sebuyau.
Katanya, syarikat terbabit telah memulakan aktiviti membalak di kawasan berkenaan sejak 11 Jun tahun lalu.
Numpang ketika bercakap kepada pemberita di Balai Polis Sungai Maong semalam berkata, tujuan mereka membuat laporan polis itu adalah untuk membolehkan pihak polis membuat siasatan berhubung kemungkinan berlaku penipuan dalam kes tersebut.
Katanya, selepas ini peguam yang mewakili pemilik-pemilik tanah terbabit akan mengambil tindakan yang perlu dengan harapan untuk membatalkan ‘perjanjian’ berkenaan.
Menurut Numpang, lebih 100 daripada 300 pemilik tanah terbabit telah menandatangani perjanjian “Deed of Settlement And Undertaking” itu.
Peguam mereka, See Chee How berkata, pemilik tanah terbabit mendakwa telah menandatangan kertas yang mengandungi nama mereka, tetapi dokumen lima muka surat itu tidak mempunyai sebarang “cover letter”.
Chee How berharap pihak polis akan membuat siasatan setelah menerima laporan daripada pemilik-pemilik tanah terbabit semalam.
Beliau berkata, Mahkamah Tinggi Kuching juga mengeluarkan perintah injunksi kepada syarikat pembalakan terbabit untuk memberhentikan segala aktiviti pembalakan di kawasan yang dimaksudkan.
“Kita berharap perintah injunksi ini akan berkekalan,” kata Chee How ketika ditemui semalam.
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PCM akan bertanding 10 kerusi

PARTI Cinta Malaysia (PCM) akan bertanding sekurang-kurangnya sepuluh kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri pada pilihan raya negeri Sarawak akan datang.
Pengerusi PCM Sarawak, Gabriel Adit Demong berkata, pihaknya juga sedang mempertimbangkan untuk meletakkan calon di kerusi Kedup dan Opar yang majoriti pengundinya masyarakat Bidayuh.
Kedua-dua kerusi itu disandang oleh Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP), sebuah parti komponen BN yang menerima kritikan pedas daripada masyarakat Bidayuh kerana kegagalannya memberi perkhidmatan terbaik kepada masyarakat itu.
Enam daripada 71 kerusi DUN Sarawak mempunyai majoriti pengundinya berketurunan Bidayuh.
Adit berkata partinya akan hanya bertanding di kerusi yang ia yakin boleh menang dan hanya akan meletakkan calon-calon yang memiliki peluang besar untuk menang.
“Tiada ertinya kita bertanding banyak kerusi dan meletakkan terlalu ramai calon tetapi akhirnya kita kalah banyak kerusi,” katanya.
“Faktor kemenangan sangat penting dalam pilihan raya kerana kita tidak mahu calon-calon kita membelanjakan sehingga RM200,000 tetapi hanya menerima 200 undi.
“Ini pernah berlaku pada pilihan raya yang lalu dan kita tidak mahu ia terjadi kepada calon-calon PCM,” katanya.
Menurut Adit, lebih baik menang dua atau tiga kerusi daripada meletakkan 20 hingga 30 calon tetapi berakgir tanpa memenangi sebarang kerusi.
Adit berkata, calon-calon PCM terdiri daripada golongan profesional dan dihormati di kawasan masing-masing.
“Kebanyakan mereka adalah muka baru termasuk seorang wanita dan kita akan bertanding di kawasan Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu dan Cina,” katanya.
Adit berkata beliau akan hanya mengumumkan senarai calon PCM sehari sebelum hari penamaan calon.
Beliau berkata, ramai individu telah menyatakan hasrat untuk menjadi calon PCM tetapi kebanyakannya belum pernah ramai pergi ke kawasan untuk menemui pengundi dan membuat sebarang persiapan.
“Dalam politik seseorang perlu sanggup untuk mengorbankan masa dan wang ringgit, tetapi malangnya ada orang yang mengharapkan parti untuk menanggung segala perbelanjaan,” katanya.
Adit bagaimanapun berkata bahawa jumlah wang yang banyak tidak akan menjamin kemenangan seseorang calon.
Katanya, parti akan membayar wang deposit calon-calonnya.
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Chinese voters to decide in Bengoh

BARISAN NASIONAL(BN) may lose Bengoh seat in forthcoming State election if the turnout is low and the Chinese voters decided not to come out to cast their votes, says a political analyst.
He said the constituency is a black area and required BN’s representative hard work to win the voters’ heart.
“There are too many issues which need to be resolved in the area as soon as possible, and land issues are taking the lead,” he said.
He said there are 21,396 registered voters in the constituency of which 5,752 are Chinese voters while the 14, 176 are the Bidayuh voters. The total number of Malay voters are 1, 420 and 48 are other races.
“If the turnouts are poor and the Chinese voters decided not to come out to cast their votes, the scenario which is expected to happen, then SUPP will lose the seat,” he said.
He said it too risky for SUPP in the constituency because the current sentiments in the area are that the Bidayuh are very angry with SUPP and are against the party contesting in the constituency.
“Furthermore the young voters are more towards the opposition and with good candidate the opposition have the chance to win the seat,” he added.
Another issue drummed up in the constituency was the allegation that SUPP’s representative Dr Jerip Susil only start to move lately to disburse his Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund, while many villages claimed they had not received any fund from Dr Jerip for many years.
Meanwhile the Chinese in the constituency like in many other constituencies are also not in favour of SUPP, which they claimed has failed to fight for the Chinese interest.
In the last State Election Dr Jerip won with 3,988 votes majority. He garned 7,540 votes while his opponent from Sarawak National Party (SNAP) Manggan Ngandok garned 3,552 votes. The turnout was only 56.9 percent.
In the forthcoming State general election the opposition are hoping that more Bidayuh voters will come out to exercise their rights.
“If the Bidayuh voters turnout increases and the Chinese decides otherwise then there is where the opposition candidate will win,” he added.
In the last election Dr Jerip lost in Siniawan, Braang area and one village in the Siburan.
Meanwhile in the last Parliamentary election, the results shows that BN’s candidate in the Mambong constituency Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) lost in Krokong, Siburan, Braang area, two villages in upper Padawan and one village in Penrissen.
Dr Dawos garned 14, 182 votes and won with 6,657 votes’ majority against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate who managed 7,525 votes. The turnout was 61.7 percent.
Dr Jerip was however confident that the people in Bengoh will still vote for BN because the coalition has good track record.
The two-term assemblyman was disturbed by the negative news portals report on him, which he said has jeopardised his reputation.
He claimed that the reports were not reflective of the work and services he had done for the constituency which he represented since 2001.
Dr Jerip also had said that it was not true he has not been visiting his constituents in the past four years, adding he has been moving around every week in his constituency.
If Dr Jerip is re-nominated to defend the seat for BN and PKR decides to field a young professional who is also from Penrissen then it will be a tussle between uncle and nephew.
Dr Jerip hails from Kampung Karu while the nephew is from Kampung Bratan, whose late father is also from Kampung Karu but married to woman from Kampung Bratan.
The aspiring candidate who is currently working with a multi-national firm in Kuala Lumpur when contacted said if given the ‘green light” by PKR leadership to contest he will take the challenge.
“I have been moving in the area for more than a year and the support I received on the ground was very encouraging but as of now I still can’t confirm whether to stand or not because I still have to wait for the confirmation from PKR’s leadership,” he added.
Meanwhile sources said there are at least four personalities in the constituency had expressed their keenest to contest the seat if SUPP decides not to re-nominate Dr Jerip.
The four are an accountant, a former police officer, a customs officer and a bank officer.
Of the four personalities, two of them said they have not been approached nor contacted by any of SUPP or BN’s leaders on the matter.
Dr Jerip on several occasion had said the party’s leadership has confirmed his candidacy but the party leaders including SUPP’s president Tan Sri Dr George Chan and the secretary general has also said there might be last minute changes on the candidates’ list.
Dr Chan had also said seven to eight new faces will be fielded, hence some old faces has to give way.
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Wanita SPDP Mambong gets pat on the back

THE women’s wing of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Mambong received a pat on the back from the party’s Puteri chief Barbara Mawan.

Barbara said she was very impressed with the efforts taken by Wanita SPDP Mambong in organising various activities in the past one year.

She said their efforts have made SPDP presence in the constituency felt and urged the movement to continue with the good work but reminded them to always be humble to the people on the ground.

“You have all fallen in love with SPDP so keep the spirit alive. Keep yourself active and always be humble to people on the ground

,’’ she said at the Family Day organised by the Wanita SPDP Mambong at Kampung Emperoh Jambu in Padawan near here.

She also urged SPDP Mambong to recruit more members particularly women and youths to strengthen its presence in the constituency.

So far, the movement has recruited more than 1,300 new members who are mostly youths.

Meanwhile at a dinner later in the evening, SPDP Mambong coordinator Captain Zaindddin Tan Sri Hamdan Sirat said their presence in the constituency was with good intention.

“SPDP is a component party of Barisan Nasional. We are here to consolidate the coalition,” he said.

Zainuddin hoped the Family Day would strengthen the movement’s relationship and cooperation with the villagers and the leaders of Barisan component parties.

Village headman Deniel Jita said there was no reason why the presence of SPDP in the area be politicised.

“SPDP is a Barisan component party and there is nothing wrong for us to work together for the benefit of the people.

He also praised SPDP for its effort in helping those who are in need of assistance.

Various activities were held during the Family Day including a blood donation drive. In the friendly football match, SPDP Mambong lost 5-2 to Kampung Emperoh Jambu veteran’s team.

Proceeds from the dinner later went to the village church fund.
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Minos says SUPP should stop giving excuses and buck-passing

KUCHING: Giving excuses and buck-passing tactics is no longer acceptable in the present society including among the Bidayuh community.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy publicity chief Dato Peter Minos said the Bidayuh cannot be fooled anymore with such tactics.
Minos who is also chairman of PBB Opar was responding to Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Tan Sri Dr George Chan’s statement that only the government can solve land issues affecting the people in Opar and Bengoh and not the party and politicians.
On Wednesday Minos urged SUPP to quickly solve the many problems facing by the Bidayuh in the two constituencies particularly with regard to acquisition of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land in both Opar and Bengoh
Minos in response to Dr Chan’s statement said he could not see any logic in Dr Chan's reply to his statement.
He said SUPP is in the government and Dr George Chan is in the deputy chief minister, so why can’t they solve the land issues affected the Bidayuh in Bengoh and Opar state constituency.
“If you are in the government and cannot solve the people problem associated with the government than what role do you really play?” he asked Dr Chan.
Minos also asked how SUPP can solve the many Bidayuh villages in Bengoh and Opar that are not getting treated water, no electricity and are facing poverty.
“Is SUPP not taking action?. It should not push problem to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister and the government all the time. It won’t work. People are not fools. Even villagers knew,” he added.
Opar and Bengoh are the two SUPP seats which majority of the voters are Bidayuh, which political observers said might fall to the hand of the opposition in the forthcoming state election.
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Rural people still supporting BN, says Minos

KUCHING: It is not easy for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) or any component of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to dislodge Barisan Nasional (BN) in six Bidayuh State Assembly seats, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy publicity chief, Dato’ Peter Minos.

“Rural people are still hungry for development and they trust that only BN can bring development to them.

“That is the mood and perception in the villages and BN can only lose by default if the candidate is not good and not wanted by the peo

ple, if the incumbent has a bad record of not helping the people or are careless and take thing easy,” said Minos in an interview today.

He said the rural people actually have no problem with BN, adding that between BN and PKR majority of them will go for BN.

“I will vote BN no matter what because it has been proven that BN makes good government,” he added.

Minos said among the four BN’s component parties in Sarawak – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) PBB is the most united and solid and is very will led by a capable president.

“PBB, SPDP and PRS will be alright but the worry is SUPP because past trend shows that supp will not face easy time.

“Supp must treat its Bumiputera voters happy and treat them well in practice. Words only is not good enough. Supp must solve the many problems in Opar and Bengoh constituencies,” he stressed.

Opar and Bengoh are the two Bidayuh seats represented by SUPP, apart from Serian Parliamentary seat.

Ranum Mina and Dr Jerip Susil are the representatives for Opar and Bengoh respectively while Datuk Richard Riot is the Member of Parliament for Serian.

Minos said SUPP must solve the many land problems in both Opar and Bengoh before the election.

He said many big villages like Kampung Stenggang want SUPP to act and help, and do it fast.

“SUPP must not pretend that the problem does not exist. Supp must also sort out and help those affected by the Bengoh Dam in Bengoh.

“Make them happy, re-locate them fast and the Bidayuh in Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) area still want a Bidayuh to become chairman of MPP, which was pending since 1963,” said Minos who is also chairman of the Bung Bratak Heritage Association.

The former president of Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) also pointed out that many villages in Bengoh are without treated water and electricity, the problem which SUPP must immediately help to solve.

“SUPP should not just say it is a multi-racial, fair and just to all but must also be seen and actually be so to the Bidayuh in Opar and Bengoh who wanted to be treated fairly and justly and not shabbily,” he stressed.

“How to sell SUPP if the people and voters are not happy with them if SUPP is not solving the people problems?” he asked.

In an interview with The Star recently SUPP secretary general Datuk Amar Sim Khen Hui said he did not agree with the statement that the party has neglected the Bidayuh in Bengoh and Opar constutencies, but promised it will better its services to the Bidayuh community.

He said the party leadership had always reminded its representatives hat they much work hard in the constituencies they are representing and the same applied to Opar and Bengoh.

He agreed that there are certain issues and projects which could not be solved and implemented during the present term, but said the party leadership will look into it in the next term.

He also quashed allegations that SUPP is only concentrating in solving the issues in urban areas and among the Chinese community but not its seat in the urban areas and the other communities.

There has been guessing game with regard to Dr Jerip candidacy as many aspiring candidates in Bengoh had indicated their interest to be nominated to replace Dr Jerip.

Meanwhile when asked to comment on Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman’s statement, Minos said if what Daud said was true, it is not right for anyone to bluff or lie to the Prime Minister.

He said only the non-effective and careless State Assemblyman will lie of their chances.

“That the big trouble with some BN’s MP and ADUN, they do anything to hang on including lying, bluffing, selling and dropping Prime Minister, Chief Minister and ministers names.

“They are the rotten apples in BN and BN must not rope them in because they are dark spots in BN,” said Minos.
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Sarawak State Elections: Is Sarawak PKR up to par to lead?

Sarawak is facing a state election which many feel will be held by May this year. Is the opposition really ready? More precisely, is PKR really in the position to assume leadership of the opposition?

By most accounts, it is going to be a mother of all elections. For one thing, there is little doubt that the ruling coalition is facing its toughest test as the present Chief Minister is probably at the tail end of his long and controversial political life. For another, there is the question of a successor administration: who, or which group will wear the mantle of state leadership after the current one is eased out?

It is an open secret that there are a few possible centres of power on both sides of the political divide that are beginning to emerge and they are all working to carve out their own political lebensraum in post-election Sarawak. Speculations about the state BN involve, among others, on who will take the plum post of Chief Minister? Will it go, no matter how briefly, to a long servile, subservient and suffering Dayak leader? Or will a more upstanding and capable one be brought back from KL to Sarawak to take over the reins? But that is not our concern today. Our focus here is the state opposition, particularly PKR and its state of affairs.

For a while now the party presumes that it is the lead organization in the opposition. There is ample evidence for this presumption. For instance, in the allocation of seats, PKR makes the argument that it should take the lion share of seats to be contested in Sarawak.

Does PKR Sarawak deserve this role of lead organization which it feels entitles it to take a big chunk of seats available for contest in the coming election? Let us look at the facts.

First, let us look at the structural design of the party as a whole. PKR is a national party which is led by the President and the Central Leadership Council in Kuala Lumpur. There are a lot of advantages to being a national party, just as there are a number of disadvantages as well. Of the latter, lets look at the request for some form of autonomy, for instance. Some in PKR Sarawak have been clamouring for some form of local autonomy so that local leaders could decide on matters at their own level. Admittedly, there have been promises of some form of local decision-making but that is as far as it has gone. Promises were believed to have been made, but not delivered. In the ill-fated adventure of the Batang Ai by-election for instance, the eventual selection of the candidate was believed to have been against local and formal recommendations. In other words, the Centre (Kuala Lumpur) has tended to be deaf and blind to local conditions and opinions.

Second, there is the matter of state PKR leadership. In the last five years there have been at least five state leaders. First there was Dato’ Hafsah Harun, an elder statesperson, then there was YB Dominic Ng who was succeeded by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mustaffa Kamal Ayub and finally by Baru Bian himself. Five state heads in five years do not bode well for organizational stability, no matter how good the heads are. Indeed, it makes Sarawak PKR very much like the Italy of the post-war years, where governments rise and fall with unnerving frequency.

Why were there such frequent changes in Sarawak state heads by the Central leadership under Anwar Ibrahim? One explanation is that PKR Sarawak is wrecked by factionalism. There are simply too many groups that seemed to be able to reach the top of the decision-making structure in Kuala Lumpur. Changes were made seemingly without too much consideration for stability and long term impact. Thus very often people who should have stayed much longer to effect more changes and strength for the party in Sarawak found their services terminated because the central leadership was listening more to their rivals’ arguments.

Third, the present PKR Sarawak is divided into a number of informal spheres of influence. As a multiracial party, this is not supposed to happen. But the reality is that the Bidayuhs have one informal paramount leader; the Orangs Ulu another, the Ibans yet another. Likewise, the Malay-Melanau also have one paramount leader, although his hold on this position appears to remain tenuous.

The bulk of PKR apparent strength, such as it has been, is found in the Dayak areas (Iban, Orang Ulu, and Bidayuh). As for the Malay-Melanau areas, the party has not been making much inroads, except for constituencies in the Betong Division. Indeed, it is doubtful whether the party could find really suitable candidates for most of the coastal constituencies (Malay and Melanau). How is this possible? What are the missing ingredients here? Why focus on inland constituencies and be basically non-existent in coastal ones? What is at play here? The Central leadership of PKR in Kuala Lumpur has a lot to answer for this.

Fourth, a number of observers are convinced that PKR is not serious about the state party politics. The argument goes something like this: so long as a particular seat goes to the opposition, it matters little which party it belongs to because it is in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and PKR is the head organization in PR. This being the case although the Centre would prefer that people identify themselves with PKR, it is not absolutely necessary that this should happen.

Fifth, there is the matter of current developments in the party. To many observers, that PKR Sarawak is in turmoil is the product of constant manoeuvres by different and differing factions. There was, it was said, a very recent move to remove the current head, Baru Bian which led to the man losing his post in the Central level. Then there is another unresolved problem: who is supposed to run in which constituency? Different lists are said to be proffered to the Central leadership for consideration. There are other goings on as well, but these are perhaps best left unstated.

Sixth, there is the curious role of the party’s apparent “courtiers” who have evidently attached themselves to the party’s state leadership. They have been making outrageous statements in which they tried to ridicule fellow opposition parties and their leaders. These publicists and “courtiers” ought to exhibit statesmanship and bold plans for collective actions. Instead, they have tried to seek sympathy by their outbursts. Are they trying to push political parties out of Pakatan in Sarawak?

For a party which is of very recent vintage, the impact of these internal struggles has been debilitating for PKR Sarawak, to say the least. Many potential supporters feel that this is a party that “cannot shoot straight”. PKR Sarawak would want to lead the coalition against the state government in the coming election but clearly it is in no position to do so. Structurally, it is organized in such a way that the top leadership under Anwar Ibrahim has continued to tinker with the state party machinery with unsettling frequency.

Further, powerful figures in PKR Sarawak seemed unable to stop undermining one another. Why, the latest spate of changes in the leadership musical chair happened only a few weeks ago. Furthermore, despite its multiracial stance and past efforts, the party is largely limited to Dayak support. Then there is this problem of terminal factionalism: it has stymied the party’s efforts in strengthening itself and election preparations, one or two exceptions notwithstanding.

Sarawak PKR appears to be wallowing in a morass of its own making. And for this it has to thank its many local factions and their allegedly multiple candidates’ lists and the interventionism of its Central leadership in Kuala Lumpur.

Is PKR therefore ready for the coming election? Time will tell. For the moment, PKR Sarawak certainly appears to be preoccupied with what observers have euphemistically refer to as “internal matters.”


TOMAS MADANG ANAK IJAU
PKR Member, Kota Samarahan
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SUPP Sec-Gen disagree SUPP neglecting the Bidayuh

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) secretary general Datuk Amar Sim Khen Hui did not agree with the statement that the party has neglected the Bidayuh in Bengoh and Opar constutencies, but promised it will better its services to the Bidayuh community.
“We have to work hard and we had always reminded our representatives that they much work hard in the constituencies they are representing and the same applied to the two constituencies (Bengoh and Opar),” he said.
He agreed that there are certain issues and projects which could not be solved and implemented during the present term, but said the party leadership will look into it in the next term.
“Anyway I also would like to urge the people in the two constituencies to be patient because not all projects and problems could be implemented and solved at one time,” he added.
He also quashed allegations that SUPP is only concentrating in solving the issues in urban areas and among the Chinese community but not its seat in the urban areas and the other communities.
“It is not true at all because our party is multi-racial party and we serves all communities regardless of race, religion and the area,” he added.
Sim was asked to comment on the grudges of the Bidayuh in seats which is represented by the party.
SUPP have two State Assembly seats in the Bidayuh majority areas, namely Bengoh and Opar and one Parliamentary seat of Serian.
Dr Jerip Susil and Ranum Mina is the Bengoh and Opar State Assemblymen respectively while Datuk Richard Riot is the Member Parliament for Serian. Richard has been appointed as the Deputy Foreign Minister.
On whether Dr Jerip and Ranum would be re-nominated to defend their respective seat in the forthcoming state election, Sim said at the moment both are in the list.
He however did not ruled out last minute changes, adding that the party wants only winnable candidates.
There has been guessing game with regard to Dr Jerip candidacy as many aspiring candidates In Bengoh has indicated their interest to be nominated to replace Dr Jerip.
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SPDP Mambong on membership recruitment drive

SARAWAK Progressive and Democratic Party (SPDP) Youth exco member Khairuddin Abdul Kadir had called on the party’s leaders at the grassroot level to recruit more youths to become new members of the party.

“Recruit more youths as new members of the party because that is the new strategy being practiced by all political parties now,” he said a meeting organised by Wanita SPDP Bengoh at Kampung Emperoh Jambu in Padawan yesterday.
He said they are still many among the youths who are partyless and should be invited to become members of the party.
Khairuddin, a Bidayuh from Kampung Danu said the party headquarters will improve its database to ensure a more effective communication networking among the party’s members.
SPDP president Datuk Seri William Mawan had recently said the party need to recruit more members particularly from among the youths, and has set up a target to recruit not less than 20,000 members this year.
On another matter, Khairuddin confirmed that both Bengoh and Tarat branch, including the Wanita Wing will be sending their delegates and observers to the party’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Feb 26 and 27 in Bintulu.
To further strengthen the presence of the party in both constituencies, Khairuddin urged effort be made to recruit more youths as new members.
On the Family Day to be organized by SPDP Wanita of Bengoh and Tarat on Fabruari 12 at Kampung Emperoh Jambu, Khairuddin said it was a very good start for SPDP Mambong Division this year and hoped that more activities will be organised.
Meanwhile SPDP Bengoh and Tarat branch in its annual general meeting recently has adopted and agreed to bring up two resolutions to the party’s AGM in Bintulu on Fabruary 26 and 27.
Its Bengoh’s chairman Joseph Rangges said the two resolutions are to urged the State government to survey and to give out land title to all NCR land while the second resolution was to ask the party top leadership to give back the two counselors quota back to SPDP Bengoh and Tarat respectively .
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SPDP most multi-racial party: Mawan

KUCHING: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is enjoying increasing support from all races in Sarawak.

The party president Datuk Seri William Mawan said this was because SPDP is the most multi-racial party in Sarawak, adding that it is not just in name but in reality.

Hence he challenged all SPDP leaders at the grass root-level to recruit more new members and has set the target of 20,000 new members state-wide this year.

“SDPD is gaining more support. There is no big and small party in BN. We have to work together because we have the social obligations to help the people. Let move on, that is what Malaysia, Sarawak and SPDP is all about,” he said.

He also stressed the need for the party to build closer rapport with the people.

“SPDP may seem small by some people but that is not true because we are actually strong.

Mawan has recently stated it clear that the party will not swap seats with any component party.

The Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation also warned other Barisan National (BN) component parties not to make his party the scapegoat when it involves dispute in the individual component parties or within Barisan Nasional (BN).

“We have to work hard hand in hand with SUPP, PRS and PBB when it is necessary. We don’t have to whack each other. Don’t find scapegoat, don’t drive ourselves to this cheap politics,” said Mawan.

He explained that SPDP present in areas which are not its seat was to consolidate BN’s effort.

“Some people are not happy in SPDP, some may not be happy in PRS, SUPP and PBB for that matter, but they can join any component party to support BN,” he added.

Mawan said people has been talking and speculating about SPDP swapping Meluan state seat with Pelagus but stressed that it has never been discussed in SPDP.

“I have been quoted willing to swap seat. We should reject such proposal because we in SPDP don’t have any problem with our seats.

“People said let swap Meluan seat but we never talk in wanting to swap seats,” he said.

On Pelagus seat, Mawan said it was PRS and BN problem although the party can help to solve but SPDP don’t have to lose seat (Meluan) just to solve Pelagus which is PRS seat presently held by partyless representative Larry Sng.

“All the seats we hold we have no problem at all with it. Nobody is going to move out. If Ngemah seat is having problem we can help to solve but we don’t have to lose seat.

Nevertheless, he stressed that SPDP will help BN to win all the problematic seats in the election.
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SUPP not neglecting Bidayuh, says Kheng Hui

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) secretary general Datuk Amar Sim Khen Hui did not agree with the statement that the party has neglected the Bidayuh in Bengoh and Opar constutencies, but prom

ised it will better its services to the Bidayuh community.
“We have to work hard and we had always reminded our representatives that they much work hard in the constituencies they are representing and the same applied to the two constituencies (Bengoh and Opar),” he said.
He agreed that there are certain issues and projects which could not be solved and implemented during the present term, but said the party leadership will look into it in the next term.
“Anyway I also would like to urge the people in the two constituencies to be patience because not all projects and problems could be implemented and solved at one time,” he added.
He also quashed allegations that SUPP is only concentrating in solving the issues in urban areas and among the Chinese community but not its seat in the urban areas and the other communities.
“It is not true at all because our party is multi-racial party and we serves all communities regardless of race, religion and the area,” he added.
Sim was asked to comment on the grudges of the Bidayuh in seats which is represented by the party.
SUPP have two State Assembly seats in the Bidayuh majority areas, namely Bengoh and Opar and one Parliamentary seat of Serian.
Dr Jerip Susil and Ranum Mina is the Bengoh and Opar State Assemblymen respectively while Datuk Richard Riot is the Member Parliament for Serian. Richard has been appointed as the Deputy Foreign Minister.
On whether Dr Jerip and Ranum would be re-nominated to defend their respective seat in the forthcoming state election, Sim said at the moment both are in the list.
He however did not ruled out last minute changes, adding that the party wants only winnable candidates.
There has been guessing game with regard to Dr Jerip candidacy as many aspiring candidates In Bengoh has indicated their interest to be nominated to replace Dr Jerip.
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