Words are mightier than sword, says Jerip

Re-elected State Assemblyman for Bengoh, Dr Jerip said words are mightier than sword.He was referring to the Opposition propaganda during the 10th State election’s campaign.
Dr Jerip described the recently concluded State Election as a very challenging moment and was not an easy fight.
“It was indeed an uphill battle but together we had fought a good battle and together we have retained Bengoh for BN with 3, 646 votes majority.

“I appreciate your alertness, hard work, commitment and partnership during the 10-day campaigning period. I know that all of us were under tremendous stress and strain,” he said at a thank you dinner for the party’s election workers at a restaurant in Mile 11th Kuching-Serian Road yesterday night.
Constantly and relentlessly there was this urgent call of duty to neutralize irrelevant propaganda of the Opposition, to clarify perceptions which were non issues, to explain various measures taken by the State government in addressing the grievances of the people and to emphasize the importance, relevance and furtherance of politics of development in Bengoh.
“While we rejoice over BN victory in Bengoh, we were not unaware of the onslaught of urban opposition propaganda – fueled by a great many orators from their counterpart in West Malaysia.
“In Siburan and Siniawan we lost 850 votes. Words are mightier than sword. The word of DAP have turned into a mighty double-edged sword – with one side slashing their opponents and with the other side almost slashing away Chinese representation in BN,” he added.
Thus, he urged the party members and supporters to spread words around that they want to maintain autonomy and do not want West Malaysian Opposition parties to interfere in the State Government affairs.
“We do not want to have any part or used as pawn in the power struggle, and unfulfilled ambition of Anwar Ibrahim.
“We pledge to uphold BN brand of politics of development, no matter what.
“We Sarawakians in Sarawak do not need PKR or DAP to fight for us. BN constitution and government policy guarantee our rights and privileges.
Let us arm ourselves with this words/sword and start whispering,” he added.
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Song SUPP questioned why Soon Koh accepted Cabinet appointment

Song SUPP wants Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh to explain to the party’s central committee why he had agreed to accept a state Cabinet appointment.
In a letter to SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sim Kheng Hui yesterday, branch secretary Toh Tze Bin requested for a central committee meeting to be held within two weeks.
He also proposed a motion for the committee to discuss Wong’s Cabinet appointment.
The motion reads: “To direct Wong to explain to the central committee meeting why he had, on his own action, accepted the appointment as a Cabinet minister on the afternoon of April 18, contrary to the central working committee decision made in the morning which had resolved unanimously to direct the two Chinese assemblymen not to accept any Cabinet post.”
Toh also proposed that after hearing Wong, the central committee should proceed to decide via secret ballot whether to accept or reject his explanation.
“If the committee rejects his explanation, Wong has to resign as a Cabinet minister within two weeks of the committee’s decision,” Toh said, adding that Wong’s acceptance of the Cabinet post had tarnished SUPP’s image.
Wong, who retained his Bawang Assan seat in last week’s state election, was sworn into the state Cabinet on Monday. He was retained as Second Finance Minister and Environment and Public Health Minister.
Wong accepted his re-appointment as a minister despite the party leadership’s decision to nominate only its bumiputra assemblymen for Cabinet positions.
SUPP subsequently described Wong’s acceptance of the Cabinet appointment as his personal decision.
Wong and Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who won in Senadin, are SUPP’s only Chinese representatives after the party lost 13 of 16 seats it contested. The party also has four bumiputra representatives.
Meanwhile PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said BN's defeat in Chinese-majority seats in last week’s polls has caused racial polarisation which is unhealthy for Sarawak, said
“Barisan lost in Chinese-majority seats to the Opposition while it won in bumiputra-majority seats. This is not good for our multi-racial political landscape,” he said at Samariang PBB’s polls appreciation dinner here last Friday night.
In the April 16 polls, Barisan contested in 71 seats and lost 13 Chinese-majority seats to DAP and PKR, two bumiputra seats to PKR and one to an independent candidate.
Johari, who is Housing and Urban Development Minister and Satok assemblyman, said he was glad that bumiputra youths and the middle class in urban seats like Pantai Damai, Samariang, Tupong, Demak Laut and Satok stood by Barisan.
He said the Opposition was very confident of taking away votes from Barisan but was proven wrong.
Johari slammed opposition candidates who claimed to be young intellectuals but failed to see the good Barisan was bringing to the people.
Citing examples, he said the government had plans to turn Samariang into a township with better basic infrastructure including a new general hospital, while Jalan Sultan Tengah which used to be congested during rush hours had been widened.
“We have a vision to transform the city. Barisan delivers for the people. We don’t just talk, we act. We walk the talk,” he said.
He said since voters in Chinesemajority seats in the city had rejected Barisan, the government would channel more development to seats that are Barisan strongholds.
Thanking voters for their support, Johari said he was confident that come the next parliamentary election, PBB Youth chief Datuk Fadillah Yusof would retain Petra Jaya with a comfortable majority. Petra Jaya comprises Tupong, Samariang and Satok.
Earlier, Samariang election operations director Datuk Abang Khalid Abang Marzuki said assemblyman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali thanked the party’s election machinery and 21 sub-branches for their hard work throughout the campaign period.
Khalid said Hasidah’s victory would finally shut her critics up, some of whom claimed that she was not a popular candidate and seldom went to the ground.
“She polled 8,008 votes and increased her majority from 2,488 votes in 2006 election to 5,431 votes. More people have supported her because she has done her job well,” he said.
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Masyarakat Bidayuh mahu Dr Jerip dan Ranum anggotai Kabinet Negeri

MASYARAKAT Bidayuh di Sarawak mahu supaya Ketua Menteri Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud melantik kedua-dua Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri kaum itu dari Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP), iaitu Dr Jerip Susil dan Ranum Mina dilantik menganggotai Kabinet Negeri.

Ranum berjaya memenangi semula kerusi Opar sementara Dr Jerip (gambar kiri) mengekalkan kerusi Bengoh.

Mereka turut menyuarakan harapan agar Ketua Menteri melantik Dr Jerip sebagai menteri penuh dalam Kabinet Negeri sementara Ranum sekurang-kurangnya sebagai pembantu menteri.

"Sudah sampai masanya Ketua Menteri menghargai sokongan padu masyarakat Bidayuh kepada Barisan Nasional dan sebagai menunjukkan penghargaan itu maka wajar kedua-dua ADUN berkenaan dilantik menganggotai Kabinet Negeri," kata seorang pemimpin kaum Bidayuh.

Setakat ini hanya Datuk Seri Michael Manyin dilantik sebagai menteri penuh sementara sebelum ini Datuk Peter Nansian dilantik sebagai pembantu menteri.
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Joo Phoi refutes allegation having affair with a popular singer

Former Batu Kawah assemblyman Tan Joo Phoi clarified that he did not have an affair with a popular singer as alleged in a widely circulated SMS.
The former assistant minister said the rumours disseminated before the state election had influenced him badly in the polls because it was sent to so many people especially in his constituency..
Tan, 59, failed to retain his seat and lost to DAP newcomer Christina Chew by 543 votes in a straight fight.
Admitting that he knew the woman as a popular singer, but said "there is no relationship between us.”
Tan explained that the woman, Iren Tam, 51, who rose to fame after winning an Astro singing competition, was invited to perform in many dinners but there was no other interaction between them.
“My family is also aware of this. They do not believe this at all,” Tan added.
Nevertheless, Tan said he would not seek legal action nor lodge a police report as the other party was already taking action.
On Tuesday, Tam, accompanied by her husband and son, went to lodge a police report against the defamatory rumours implicating her in an alleged affair with Tan.
The message alleged that Tam’s husband Pei Sung Po, a you zha kuehseller, found out about their affair and took RM50,000 to cover up the matter.
Tam said the SMS had tarnished the couple’s reputation and urged the police to investigate the source of the rumours.
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Nomination of non-elected representatives not possible - Wan Junaidi

Dewan Parliament Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the nomination of non-elected representatives into the State Legislative Assembly is not possible as it will set a precedent to change the Constitution as a result of failure.
He said the decision made by the electorate must be respected because “if we keep amending the Constitution just because some people demand it, we will end up not needing elections.”
Wan Junaidi, who is Santubong MP, believed that tweaking the constitution to accommodate those who had lost in the election could backfire on the Barisan.
“All this leads to a two-edged sword. If ever the Opposition forms the government, then it too can do the same. No, don’t mess with the constitution,” he said.
On SUPP, Junaidi said he believed the Chinese community should have a representative in the government despite SUPP’s big defeat in the just concluded state election.
He however stressed that the party should also appreciate those who had done well in the election, indicating the four SUPP Bumiputra assemblymen who won. The four were Ranum Mina (Opar), Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Jonical Rayong and Francis Hardin.
He said this should be the same for PBB too.
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Dayak voters saved SUPP

KUCHING: The Dayak representatives in the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) turned savior of the party but can they take control of the party?

The joke was that the Chinese based party is now the Dayak party following four of their representatives in the State Legislative Assembly were Dayak – two Ibans, two Bidayuhs and two Chinese.

The four Dayaks representatives from SUPP are Ranum Mina (Opar), Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang) and Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili).

While for the Chinese representation only Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan) and Datuk Lee Khim Shin (Senadin) was lucky enough to retain their respective seat with reduced votes majority.

Soon Koh won with 1,808 votes majority while Khim Shin with only 58 votes majority.

As predicted earlier all the six Bidayuh seats were swept clean by the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the just concluded 10th Sarawak Election.

The Bidayuh voters also played their role in saving the ‘dilapidated’ Chinese based Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).

Although the Bidayuhs were very much against SUPP they still returned the party candidates Ranum Mina in Opar and Dr Jerip Susil in Bengoh as the State Assemblyman for both constituencies,

They voted for Ranum and Jerip because of their love to Barisan Nasional (BN) and not SUPP.

The six Bidayuh seats all won by BN were Opar, Tasik Biru, Bengoh, Tarat, Tebedu and Kedup.

Tarat, Tebedu and Kedup are Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) seats while Tasik Biru is for Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

“SUPP survived because of the Dayak seats but the question asked now is what would the Chinese leaders do for the Dayak after the election and if they still want to survive in the next election,” said Open University Malaysia (OUM) director Professor Dr Frank Kiong.

He said SUPP still get the Dayak votes in the just concluded stated election but not in the next election unless SUPP listen to the voice of the Dayaks and do something for the community.

He said by the next few years there will be more young registered Dayak voters and by then the Dayak voice will be heard.

Dr Frank who is also the president of the Bidayuh Graduates Association (BGA) said the younger generations of the Dayaks were more vocal following the many issues cropping and affecting the community.

Dr Frank said initially the Bidayuh support toward PKR was strong but after one by one of the problems crops, the real colour of the opposition party was exposed and the Bidayuh were confused.

He said PBB was able to retain all the Malay/Melanau seats because the leaders had brought a lot of development to the communities.

“This is because the older voters will again play the role as they are always staunch supporters of BN.

“That is already the attitude of the old people who always feel ‘berhutang budi” (indebted) to BN for bringing the development to their village and area,” he said.

According to Dr Frank the older voters always make comparison of the hard life during their younger days and the development taking place these days as well as the better living they are enjoying now.

For SNAP, Dr Frank said the opposition party really needs to clean its image.

“More professionals should be invited into the boat to get ready for the next election. Majority of the Dayak wants to revive the party but they wanted to see new and younger group of people leading the party,” he said.
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Plenty of promises to fulfill

KUCHING: The re-elected State Assemblyman for Bengoh Dr Jerip Susil

and Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos now has plenty of promises to be fulfilled to the constituents.
Jerip is his election ‘ceramahs’ has promised to address all the outstanding issues which include the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, illegal logging activities, the new resettlement for four villages affected by the Bengoh Dam, land titles for the traditional villages and the many issues affecting the villagers of Kampung Semadang as well as the basic amenities like clean water supply and electricity supply.

While Dawos in his speeches during the ceramah di Bengoh and Tarat constituencies has promised that he will bring more tourism facilities and developing of more tourist spots and products in the two constituencies which are in are in the Mambong constituency of which Dawos is the Member of Parliament (MP).
Kampung Semadang headman Samson Manggang said the voters in the village has given Dr Jerip their thumping support because they wanted to give him the chance to resolve all issues affecting the village and the villager.
Among the issues the villagers wanted Jerip to quickly resolve were the long outstanding issue of granting land titles under the traditional villages lots and approval to their application for an area within their own NCR land for the village’s extension programme.
The village’s Development and Security Committee about three years ago has applied to the Chief Minister through Dawos for an area within their own NCR land for the village’s extention programme but up today has not received any answer to the application.
Residents from four villages affected by the construction of the Bengoh Dam - Kampung Taba Sait, Rejoi, Bojong/Pain and Semban wanted Jerip and Dawos to ensure that the government pay full compensations for their land, houses, crops and their other properties before they moved to the new resettlement located not far from Kampung Semadang.
The affected villagers also demanded to be provided with free house at the new resettlement.
Before this the government has only compensated their houses and lands which will be impounded by the dam’s water, but not their farm lands and their NCR lands which are not affected by the construction of the dam.
Thus, the 359 villagers affected by the project had demanded the government to pay them full compensation before they move to the new resettlement area situated near Kampung Semadang.
Construction on the RM310 million Bengoh Dam project began in August 2007 and completed in November last year.
Chairman of the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme Liaison Committee, Itodio Peu Anak Rayu said the villagers will moved out once the compensation are fully paid to them and the free houses are provided to them.
For the time being they still continue to stay at their respective village while waiting for the completion of the new resettlement area.
Two villagers of Kampung Taba Sait, Kumuk Anak Sure, 52, and Gaji Anak Jaon, 51, both said Jerip and Dawos should now assist them to get the full compensation and free houses at the new resettlement.
Dawos Mamit had promised that the affected villagers will be given free house to stay at the new resettlement.
He said he had proposed to the Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to provide free houses for those affected families and the Chief Minister has agreed to his proposal.
He said the government will also compensate all land affected by the Bengoh Dam project while land at the upper part of the dam will also be paid compensation when the government acquired them for development project in the future.
The MP for Mambong has said at the new resettlement the villagers will enjoy the basic facilities like water, electricity, road, school and clinic unlike at their present villages which are situated in the mountainous area and impossible for the basic amenities to be provided to them.
A totalof 1,600 people from the four are affected by the project.
The Bengoh Dam project uses the latest technology, which has been popularly used around the world, with the construction involved roller compacted concrete (RCC) technology, which is much faster and stronger than conventional methods.
The RCC technology also ensures a good and lasting dam, which has been proven in many developed countries.
The Bengoh Dam is the second project in Malaysia to be constructed using RCC technology after the Kinta Dam in Perak, which was completed four years ago.
The production of raw water from the Bengoh Dam is anticipated to meet the increasing demand of the city and greater Kuching and Samarahan area until 2030.
Once completed, the dam would store about 144.1 million cubic metres of water, hence increasing the daily raw water production at the Batu Kitang treatment plant from 786 to 2047 mega litres per day (MLD).
Presently the reservoir at Batu Kitang, which provides most of the domestic and industrial water supply in Kuching, only has a capacity of 786 MLD while the current demand for water in Kuching alone is 635 MLD.
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DAP will increase seats, PKR and SNAP zero

DAP would be able to increase its seats while PBB will retain all but both PKR and SNAP will get zero.
With DAP contesting in Padungan, the prospect of the opposition party winning extra seats looks even brighter, said the director of Open University Malaysia (OUM), Professor Dr Frank Kiong.
Meanwhile the opposition dream of capturing the Bidayuh seats in the April 16 state election will remain a dream as the voters support towards the opposition is eroding from day to day.
Dr Frank said initially the Bidayuh support toward PKR was strong but after one by one of the problems crops, the real colour of the opposition party was exposed and the Bidayuh are now confused especially voters in seats contested b

y SUPP candidates (Bengoh and Opar).
All the six Bidayuh seats will still go to Barisan Nasional (BN) although it was very obvious the Bidayuh are against SUPP,” said Dr Frank in an interview with Sarawak Mirror.
The six Bidayuh seats are Opar, Tasik Biru, Bengoh, Tarat, Tebedu and Kedup.
Dr Frank said that more Chinese seats will be taken away from SUPP by DAP in the coming election as the Chinese voters are no longer believing in SUPP.
“SUPP is going to survive because of the Dayak seats but the question asked now is what would the Chinese leaders do for the Dayak after the election or if they still want to survive in the next election,” Dr Frank said.
He believes SUPP will still get votes from the Dayak but not in the next election because by the next few years there will be more young registered Dayak voters and by then the Dayak voice will be heard.
Dr Frank who is also the president of the Bidayuh Graduates Association (BGA) said the young generation of the Bidayuh were more vocal following the many issues cropping and affecting the community.
In the Malay/Melanau seats, Dr Frank said PBB would be able to maintain all the seats because the leaders had brought a lot of development to the communities.
He said DAP will be quite domain party in the opposition front while PKR have to settle their internal disputes and really have to work as a team with consistent contact with the grass root supporters.
Dr Frank also said Baru Bian and Nicholas Bawin will not win the seats there going to contest but will be able to reduce the votes’ majority of the BN’s candidates in Ba’kalalan and Batang Ai respectively.
“This is because the older voters will again play the role as they are always staunch supporters of BN.
“That is already the attitude of the old people who always feel ‘berhutang budi” (indebted) to BN for bringing the development to their village and area,” he said.
According to Dr Frank the older voters always make comparison of the hard life during their younger days and the development taking place these days as well as the better living they are enjoying now.
For SNAP, Dr Frank said the opposition party really needs to clean its image.
“More professionals should be invited into the boat to get ready for the next election. Majority of the Dayak wants to revive the party but they wanted to see new and younger group of people leading the party,” he said.
Commenting of the failed attempt by the Opposition Front to compromise on seats allocation among them, Dr Frank said it was because of their ego.
“They all said they have winnable candidates and they have the fund but let see if the money are really coming,” he said.
Dr Frank if only the opposition parties could resolve the seat’s allocation and straight fights in all the 71 seats then it would be tough for BN and there would possibility the Opposition Front forming the next state government
He said there are two factions of professionals in the Dayak communities, with one group talking about reviving SNAP as party “asal” for the Dayak and the same group that did not agree to West Malaysian parties coming to rule the state.
The other group, he said wanted to use the West Malaysian parties as the mean to topple the present state government since SNAP is still not ready to play that role.
“This group wanted to revive, strengthening and prepare SNAP for the big way in the next election,” said Dr Frank.
Dr Frank said initially PKR’s candidate line-up were all professionals but now they are Tom, Dick and Harry.
He said PKR also has yet to reveal its manifesto, thething which the people of Sarawak are anxiously waiting.
On Bengoh seat, Dr Frank said BN’s Dr Jerip will still win as he believes the Opposition are split, and will further split with the inclusion of an Independent candidate joining the fray for a-four-corner fight.
With both SNAP and PKR placing their candidates in all the six Bidayuh seats to contest against BN’s candidates, Dr Frank believes the chances of the Opposition winning any one of the seats are as good as zero.
“With fours candidates expecting in the fray in Bengoh, it will be an advantage for Dr Jerip but if it is straight right with PKR’s Willie Mongin, PKR may win,” he added.
As for SNAP, he said the party should put a more creditable candidate, someone who can do changes and transformation if he won.
Dr Frank pointed out that in the Bidayuh area the people who are making the ‘huh ha’ are the young people or the x generation who themselves are not registered voters.
Thus, he suggested that effort should be made to encourage young Bidayuh to register themselves as voters.
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PKR names candidates, half are new faces

KUCHING: PKR has announced 48 candidates for the state election, over half of whom are new faces.
State PKR chief Baru Bian will contest in Ba’Kelalan, election director Nicholas Bawin in Batang Ai, information chief See Chee How in Batu Lintang and former state liaison chief Wan Zainal Abidin Wan Senusi in Pantai Damai.
There are three women on the list - former state PKR Wanita chief Ibi Uding in Balai Ringin, Suriati Abdullah who will take on Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in Balingian and Zolhaidah Suboh in Lambir.
The new faces include former diplomat Datuk John Tenewi Nuek in Tasik Biru, medical doctor Christopher Kiyui in Tebedu and Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) president Mengga Mikui in Tamin.
However, the party’s sole incumbent Dominique Ng was not on the list. Ng won in Padungan in the 2006 state election but PKR swapped the seat for Batu Lintang with DAP in a surprise deal last week.
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who announced the list on Monday said the candidates were of high calibre and upheld Pakatan Rakyat’s principles and ideals of justice.
He said the party’s national leadership did not make any decision on the candidates but merely endorsed the recommendations of the state leaders.
“They are the ones who know best the potential and abilities of each candidate for the constituencies we are contesting,” he said.
Azmin, who presented letters of authorisation to 24 of the candidates, also said there would be overlapping seats between PKR and SNAP except in Pakan and Marudi.
The party also did not name any candidate for Jemoreng.
“According to my list, only two constituencies will not be contested by PKR. These are Marudi and Pakan, which we will leave to SNAP in the spirit of Pakatan.
“We tried very hard to achieve a consensus with SNAP but unfortunately they insisted on contesting 27 Dayak-majority seats, leaving no options to PKR to be represented in those areas,” he said.
As such, he said PKR decided to name candidates all but two of the Dayak-majority seats claimed by SNAP based on the winnability factor.
“After studying SNAP’s candidates compared to ours, we feel our candidates can bring change and get the support of the people,” he added.
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LIST OF PKR CANDIDATES

N.1 Opar – Boniface Willy Tumek
N.2 Tasik Biru – John Tenewi Nuek @ John Tenewi
N.4 Pantai Damai – Wan Zainal Abidin Wan Senusi
N. 5 Demak Laut – Ali Hossen Abang
N. 6 Tupong – Baharuddin @ Din Shah Mokhsen
N. 7 Semariang – Zulrusdi Mohamad Hol
N. 8 Satok – Ahmad Nazib Johari
N. 11 Batu Lintang – See Chee How
N. 14 Asajaya – Arip Ameran
N. 16 Bengoh – Willie Mongin
N. 17 Tarat – Peter Ato Mayau
N. 18 Tebedu – Dr Christopher Kiyui
N. 19 Kedup – Lainus Andrew Luwak
N. 21 Simunjan – Mashor Hossen
N. 23 Lingga – Abang Ahmad Arabi Abang Bolhassan
N. 25 Balai Ringin – Ibi Uding
N. 26 Bukit Begunan – Jimmy Lim @ Jimmy Donald
N. 28 Engkilili – Marudi @ Barudi Mawong
N. 29 Batang Ai – Nicholas Bawin Anggat
N. 30 Saribas – Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh
N. 31 Layar – Stanny Embat Pharoh Laja
N. 32 Bukit Saban – Jerah Engkiong @ Edward Jerah
N. 33 Kalaka – Mohd Yahya Abdullah
N. 34 Krian – Ali Biju
N. 35 Belawai – Abdul Wahab Abdullah
N. 36 Semop – Kiprawi Suhaili
N. 37 Daro – Jamaludin Ibrahim
N. 42 Meluan – John Brian Anthony Jeremy Guang
N. 43 Ngemah – Aris Alap
N. 44 Machan – Chen Nguk Fa
N. 49 Nangka – Norisham Mohamed Ali
N. 50 Dalat – Sylvester Ajah Subah @ Ajah Subah
N. 51 Balingian – Suriati Abdullah
N. 52 Tamin – Mengga Mikui
N. 53 Kakus – Paul Anyie Raja
N. 54 Pelagus – Edward Sumbang Asun
N. 55 Katibas – Munan Laja
N. 56 Baleh – Bendindang Manjah
N. 57 Belaga – Basah Kesing @ Ali Basah Kesing
N. 58 Jepak – Abdul Jalil Bujang
N. 60 Kemena – Bernard Binar Bayang Rading
N. 61 Bekenu – Ishak Mahwi
N. 62 Lambir – Zolhaidah Suboh
N. 65 Senadin – Michael Teo Yu Keng
N. 67 Telang Usan – Ngau Laing
N. 69 Batu Danau – Lau Liak Koi
N. 70 Ba’Kelalan – Baru Bian
N. 71 Bukit Sari – Japar Suyut
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"Stop gossiping about my private life"

The President of Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) who is also Sarawak's Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan has been the target of certain quarters to spread rumours and gossips about his private life.
The gossips has been going on for the past few months in the run-up to the state election.
Dr Chan had said the “badmouthing” of him and his wife Datuk Lorna Chan must stop immediately.
“I did not know that people would use this (his marriage to Lorna) to spread rumours and gossips, especially in the Internet.
“We got married a few years ago. I kept quiet about it because it is a personal matter and out of respect for her (Lorna), my children and family members.
“I really hope people will not harp on this again,” he said.
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BN contesting in all 71 seats, 20 are new faces

SARAWAK Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will defend his Balingian seat in the 10th state election.
Taib, 74, who has has been Sarawak Chief Minister for three decades is also Sarawak BN chairman and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president.
The other three leaders of the component parties of Sarawak BN have confirmed they will be defending their respective seats. Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president, Tan Sri George Chan Hong Nam will defend his Piasau seat; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president, Datuk Seri William Mawan Ikom, his Pakan seat and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, Datuk Seri Dr James Jemut Masing his Baleh seat.
Of all the BN candidates announced today, 20 are fresh faces, or the equivalent of 10 from PBB, seven from SUPP, two from PRS and one from SPDP. Four candidates are women.
BN, however, has yet to name its candidate for Ba’kelalan.
Based on today’s announcement, PBB will be contesting 45 seats, SUPP 19, PRS 9 and SPDP 8.
The BN candidates were announced by PBB Senior Deputy President Datuk Sri Adenan satem who is also the Advisor in The Chief Minister Department after a BN Sarawak meeting this afternoon.
Nomination day is April 6 while polling is scheduled for April 16.
The line-up showed that the incumbent for Pelagus constituency Larry Sng was not renominated.

The list of BN candidates is as follows:
- Ranum Anak Muda (SUPP) (Opar)
- Datuk Peter Nansian Anak Ngusie (SPDP) (Tasik Biru)
- Tan Sri Adenan Satem (PBB) (Tg Datu)
- Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (PBB) (Pantai Damai)
- Dr Hazaland Abang Hipni (PBB) (Demak Laut) (new face)
- Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman (PBB) (Tupong)
- Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (PBB) (Samariang)
- Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg (PBB) (Satok)
- Sim Kiang Chiok (SUPP) (Padungan) (new face)
- Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian (SUPP) (Pending) (new face)
- Sih Hua Tong (SUPP) (Batu Lintang) (new face)
- Datuk Alfred Yap (SUPP) (Kota Sentosa)
- Tan Joo Phoi (SUPP) (Batu Kawah)
- Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (PBB) (Asajaya)
- Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mahmud (PBB) (Muara Tuang)
- Dr Belek @ Jerip Anak Susil (SUPP) (Bengoh)
- Roland Sagah (PBB) (Tarat)
- Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Anak Jawong (PBB) (Tebedu)
- Martin Ben (PBB) (Kedup) (new face)
- Aidel Lariwoo (PBB) (Sadong Jaya) (new face)
- Naroden Majais (PBB) (Simunjan)
- Julaihi Narawi (PBB) (Sebuyau)
- Simoi Peri (PBB) (Lingga)
- Razali Ghapor (PBB) (Beting Maro) (new face)
- Snowdan Donald Lawan (PRS) (Balai Ringin)
- Mong Anak Dagang (PRS) (Bukit Begunan)
- Dauk Francis Harden Anak Hollis (SUPP) (Simanggang)
- Dr Johnichal Rayong (SUPP) (Engkilili)
- Malcom Mussen Anak Lamoh (PRS) (Batang Ai)
- Razi Sitam (PBB) (Saribas) (new face)
- Tan Sri Alfred Jabu (PBB) (Layar)
- Robert Lawson Chuat Anak Vincent (PBB) (Bukit Saban)
- Abdul Wahab Aziz (PBB) (Kalaka)
- Datuk Peter Nyarok Anak Entrie (SPDP) (Krian)
- Datuk Len Talif Salleh (PBB) (Belawai) (new face)
- Dolah Saidol (PBB) (Semop) (new face)
- Murni Suhaili (PBB) (Daro)
- Abu Seman Jahwie (PBB) (Jemoreng)
- Datuk David Teng (SUPP) (Repok)
- Ling Kie King (SUPP) (Meradong) (new face)
- Datuk Seri William Mawan (SPDP) (Pakan)
- Wong Anak Judat (SPDP) (Meluan)
- Alexander Vincent (PRS) (Ngemah)
- Datuk Gramong Juna (PBB) (Machan)
- Chieng Buong Toon (SUPP) (Bukit Assek) (new face)
- Datuk Tiong Thai King (SUPP) (Dudong) (new face)
- Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (SUPP) (Bawang Assan)
- Vincent Goh (SUPP) (Pelawan)
- Dr Annuar Rapee (PBB) (Nangka) (new face)
- Datuk Fatimah Abdullah (PBB) (Dalat)
- Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud (PBB) (Balingian)
- Joseph Mauh Anak Ikeh (PRS) (Tamin)
- John Sikie Anak Tayai (PRS) (Kakus)
- Stanley Unja (PRS) (Pelagus) (new face)
- Ambrose Blikau Anak Enturan (PBB) (Katibas)
- Datuk Seri Dr James Masing (PRS) (Baleh)
- Liwan Lagang (PRS) (Belaga)
- Datuk Talib Zulpilip (PBB) (Jepak)
- Henry Ling (SUPP) (Kidurong) (new face)
- Dr Stephen Rundi Anak Utom (PBB) (Kemena)
- Rosey Yunus (SPDP) (Bekenu)
- Ripin Lamat (PBB) (Lambir) (new face)
- Tan Sri Dr George Chan (SUPP) (Piasau)
- Andy Chia (SUPP) (Pujut)
- Datuk Lee Kim Shin (SUPP) (Senadin)
- Sylvester Entrie Anak Muran (SPDP) (Marudi)
- Dennis Ngau (PBB) (Telang Usan) (new face)
- Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (PBB) (Bukit Kota)
- Paulus Anak Gumbang (SPDP) (Batu Danau)
- Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan (PBB) (Bukit Sari)
NB: The BN candidate for the Ba’kelalan constituency (N 70) was not announced today.The incumbent is Balang Rining (BN-SPDP).
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All Village headmen supporting Barisan Nasional candidate in Bengoh

ALL the 17 village headmen in the Krokong, Gumbang and Tringgus area in Bau district are strongly behind the government.
A community leader for the three areas, Penghulu Dihoi Ak. Nyawen said all the 17 ‘ketua kampung’ and all the Development and Security Committee (JKKK) members of the 17 villages had expressed their support to the government during their meeting with him and Temenggong Datuk Stephen Jussem recently.
“All the ketua kampungs and the JKKK members were told to give their fullest support to the BN and they all had agreed.
“It is crucial for the Bidayuh in the Bengoh state constituency to support and vote for BN because if we support the opposition we will be suffering for another five years without development from the government,” he said.
He said the voters in the rural area shouldn’t follow the voting trend in the town constituencies.

“We are thirsty for development so we cannot follow the voting trend in the towns. We are still far being left behind. We got to be one for BN. “We should support whoever the candidate as long as he is from the Barisan National,” he added.
Touching on the development in the area, Dihoi said the 10km road from Krokong up to Tringgus is now being tar-seal.
“The water supply from Kampung Serumbu up to Kampung Buak is also under implementation and is expected to be completed by next year,” he said.
Another project in progress is the electricity supply to Kampung Gumbang and Tringgus where the wiring has been completed except waiting for the installation of the meter.
The total population there is more than 9,000 people with more than 4,000 voters.
He reminded the young voters in the area to also support BN’s candidate in the constituency.
“They should think of the future of the community and not to be easily influenced by the sweet and empty promises from the opposition,” he reminded.
The area falls under the Bengoh constituency of which Dr Jerip Susil is the incumbent State Assemblyman.
Dr Jerip will be challenged by at least two opponents in the coming election, namely his former personal assistant Richard Peter from Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and his nephew Willie Monggin of PKR.
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SNAP candidates are ready for nomination

SARAWAK National Party (SNAP) said that its 27 candidates are now ready for nomination day on April 6, 2011.
SNAP expresses its regret that till today, 3 days before nomination day, PKR has not commenced negotiations with them on overlapping seats which they may or may not have with the seats for which they had had announced their intention to run.
“PKR has been given our total list with names of candidates and constituencies.
Till today, we have not received their list which makes it impossible for any negotiations to be pursued,” said SNAP’s president Edwin Dudang yesterday.
In the absence of the above, he said SNAP believes that PKR either do not have any overlapping seats with SNAP or they have decided that they do not want to negotiate the matter in order for an opposition electoral pact to be a reality.
“We have been promised that PKR would have announced their decision on Thursday, March 31st.
“However, they had postponed it to Monday, April 4th. SNAP finds it difficult on a last minute basis to accommodate any administrative and logistical changes,” he adeed.
Edwin said SNAP has stayed away from the Malay/Melanau and Chinese-majority constituencies out of their serious intent for an electoral pact, even though their members have expressed a desire to contest in these areas.
He said SNAP do not have any problem with DAP and PAS and will urge voters, in constituencies we do not contest, to give their full support to these two opposition parties.
Edwin said it was sad that an opposition electoral pact, something of utmost importance, is treated in a lackadaisical manner by PKR.
“It is becoming apparent that PKR does not want an electoral pact with SNAP at all.
Nevertheless, SNAP is still hopeful in spite of the stated difficulties, that PKR and SNAP will find an amicable accommodation.
God bless the people of Sarawak,”he concluded.
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Kampung Stenggang unhappy with Land and Survey Dept reply, hold protest

A group of villages of Kampung Stenggang in Bau district yesterday held a protest against the giving of Provisional Lease (temporary ownership) of Kampung Stenggang, Bau Native Customary Rights (NCR) land to a private company for development of oil palm plantation
The group of land owners who claimed they were the rightful owners of the affected land located at Stungkor Land District wants to make known that they were totally disagree with the state government’s decision in giving the affected land to the company under Provisional Lease (PL) Lot.410, 421, 422, 423, and 424, Block 6 Stungkur land District and Lot 3, Block 7 within the vicinity of Kampung Stenggang, Bau
They claimed that affected land is

their our Native Customary Land because their ancestors had been cultivating land in that area way back since White Rajah Brooke Era for shifting cultivation farming or other sosio-economic activities.
The villagers also claimed that their ancestors had lived at temporary settlements within the affected land area, such as Balung Sibodoh, Balung Seruboh, Balung Sido’oh, Balung Brosi Oma, Plaman Undur, Plaman Spoki, etc., after they moved out from Bung Bratak.
“It was only thereafter that our ancestors finally settled at the present site of kampung Stenggang in 1953,” said chairman of Kampung Stenggan Land Action Committee Carolus Joim.
He said the people of kampung Stenggang people were neither consulted nor given any prior notice regarding the proposed development of land in the affected area.
“In fact we only found out about the matter when a unidentified man gave to one of our JKKK members a copy of the approval from Land & Survey Department Headquarters, Kuching giving the provisional Lease(PL) of the affected land to First Binary Sdn Bhd.
“In other words we were not properly notified about the issue instead, we were neglected and never given our constitutional rights to speak and give our opinion when major decision was made about our land,” he said.
Carolus said prior to this, they had never authorise anybody to act on their behalf particularly in relation to the status of and our rights over the affected land.
“On this matter we have given a protest letter dated March 16, 2010 to the Director Of Land & Survey Department Kuching but the department has not come forward to meet the people of Kampung Stenggang, Bau to settle the issue,” he said.
The kampung people forward their problem to SUHAKAM, local YBs and to relevant authorities but there is no positive outcome. Therefore, the affected poor people of Kampung Stenggang (mostly farmers) have to collect money RM600.00 from each land owner just to engage a lawyer to bring the case to court.
Carolus said the general feelings of the kampung people at this moment is very sad, angry, feel betrayed by the government.
“Why we have to pay money and bring the case to court just to get back our own land,” he added.
We send another letter on April 4, 2011 to Land and Survey department and we received the reply on 1 April, 2011 but the landowners were not happy with the contain of the letter because in the letter only mention: “kerajaan memutuskan untuk membuat semakan semula ke atas kawasan yang telah dikeluarkan dengan surat hakmilik sementara (PL) kepada First Binary Plantation (Kuching) Sdn.Bhd….”.
The people of Kpg Stenggang also reiterate that the affected land given to the company is Kampung Stenggang, Bau Native Land and the rightful owners of the land were the affected people of Kampung Stenggang, Bau.
He said the rightful owners, want the State Government to cancel PL that was given to the company with immediate effect and the said affected land to be recognised as Native Customary Rights (NCL) land.
“Generally we support the government noble intention in developing the state but were are not happy the way PL was given to certain people/company especially related to Native Customary Land,” he added.
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Dijangka empat calon berentap di Tebedu

KUCHING: Kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Tebedu yang menjadi kubu kuat Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) dijangka akan menyaksikan pertandingan empat penjuru.
Empat calon yang dijangka berentap merebut kerusi berkenaan ialah penyandangnya Datuk Seri Michael Manyin dari Barisan Nasional (BN), calon PKR Dr Christopher Kiyu, calon SNAP Anthony Nais dan seorang calon Bebas.
Anthony berkata, beliau mendapat tahu seorang calon bebas berketurunan Melayu akan ‘ditanam’ di kawasan berkenaan bertujuan memecah undi PKR dan SNAP.
Namun pemerhati politik di kawasan itu tidak yakin strategi untuk meletakkan calon Melayu bertanding di kerusi itu akan memihak kepada BN.
“Sokongan pengundi Melayu sebenarnya cukup kuat terhadap BN, tapi strategi meletakkan calon Melayu hanya akan memecahkan undi pengundi Melayu,” kata Peter Gail.
Sementara pengundi di kerusi Kedup, iaitu antara kawasan panas pada pilihan raya negeri kali ini berkemungkinan akan menyaksikan calon BN berhadapan tugas yang berat untuk menangkis segala propaganda yang akan dibangkitkan pembangkang.
“Ini disebabkan terlalu banyak isu yang berlaku di kawasan tersebut, termasuk isu tanah NCR, isu kemunduran kemudahan asas seperti bekalan air, elektrik dan jalan raya serta isu pembalakan,” katanya.
Penyandang kerusi Kedup Federick Bayoi dikatakan telah diminta untuk berehat oleh pucuk kepimpinan BN dan tidak akan dicalonkan semula.
Namun BN mempunyai ramai calon untuk dipilih bertanding di kerusi itu, yang antaranya Dr Eric Munjan dan Martin Ben, iaitu anak kepada bekas menteri Kabinet Negeri mendiang Datuk Michael Ben.
Begitu juga PKR yang sehingga ini belum membuat keputusan berhubung calonnya di kerusi berkenaan.
“Di pihak BN ada enam orang berminat untuk menjadi calon,” kata Anthony.
SNAP telahpun menamakan Sylvester Belayong sebagai calonnya di kerusi itu dan beliau dikatakan telah bergerak di kawasan itu sejak tahun lalu.
Anthony dalam pada itu tidak bersetuju apabila Ketua Perhubungan PKR Sarawak Baru Bian menyatakan pembahagian kerusi antara Pakatan Rakyat (PK) masih belum diputuskan.
“Bagi pihak SNAP perkara itu sudah diselesaikan setelah kami menamakan calon-calon kami di semua 28 kerusi Dayak.
“Yang belum selesai adalah pihak PKR tapi itu masalah mereka dan mereka sendiri yang patut menyelesaikannya,” kata Anthony.
Difahamkan PKR sendiri berhadapan dengan masalah untuk menamakan calonnya kerana terdapat tiga senarai calon yang berbeza yang telah dikemukakan kepada pucuk kepimpinan parti.
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Penganalisis percaya kerusi Biadyuh gugur ke tangan pembangkang

RAMALAN yang sebahagian kerusi Bidayuh akan gugur ke tangan pembangkang pada pilihan raya negeri 16 April ini mustahil akan menjadi kenyataan.
Itu pendapat penyandang kerusi di kawasan Bidayuh dan penyokong Barisan Nasional (BN), tapi bagi penganalisis politik mereka percaya ‘tsunami kecil’ akan melanda kawasan Bidayuh pada pilihan raya kali ini.
Penganalisis politik Profesor James Chin, misalnya cukup berani menyatakan bahawa undi kaum Bidayuh akan beralih hala dan berpihak kepada parti pembangkang pada pilihan raya akan datang.
Beliau meramalkan separuh daripada kerusi Bidayuh akan ditawan pembangkang.
Enam kerusi Bidayuh ialah Opar, Kedup, Tebedu, Tarat, Bengoh dan Tasik Biru.
Dua kerusi yang dikatakan mungkin jatuh ke tangan pembangkang ialah Kedup dan Bengoh.
Sementara itu, pensyarah kanan sains politik di Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Dr Ahi Sarok berpendapat BN masih boleh memenangi kesemua enam kerusi berkenaan tapi dengan majoriti undi yang menurun.
Katanya, terlalu banyak isu yang boleh diekploitasi pembangkang untuk menimbulkan rasa benci rakyat terhadap kerajaan seperti isu pengambilan Tanah Hak Adat Bumiputera (NCR), masalah kelewatan perlaksanaan kemudahan asas untuk rakyat seperti projek bekalan air dan elektrik serta kemudahan jalan raya.
Beliau berkata, isu pembayaran pampasan tanah NCR dan tanaman yang tidak setimpal dengan harga pasaran juga akan menjadi bahan berkempen pembangkang.
Namun bagi penyandang kerusi Tebedu Datuk Seri Michael Manyin, beliau cukup berkeyakinan masyarakat Bidayuh kuat di belakang BN dan BN boleh mengekalkan kesemua enam kerusi berkenaan.
“Kita (BN) akan mengekalkan keenam-enam kerusi berkenaan walaupun saya mengaku bahawa masih ada isu dan masalah di kalangan masyarakat Bidayuh yang belum diselesaikan,” kata Menteri Pembangunan Infrastruktur dan Komunikasi itu.
Penyandang kerusi Bengoh Dr Jerip Susil pula berkata kadang kala ramalan penganalisis politik tidak menggambarkan keadaan sebenar di peringkat akar umbi.
Katanya, kadang-kadang penilaian mereka adalah berdarkan apa yang didengar tapi mereka tidak tahu apa yang sebenarnya berlaku di peringkat akar umbi.
“Memang benar masih ada isu yang belum diselesaikan tapi ia tidak cukup untuk mengalihkan undi masyarakat Bidayuh untuk berpihak kepada pembangkang,” katanya.
Dr Jerip mengaku bahawa di kawasannya sendiri (Bengoh) isu seperti penempatan semula penduduk berikutan perlaksanaan Empangan Bengoh dan kegiatan pembalakan haram telah menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati di kalangan penduduk tapi berjanji ia akan diselesaikan dalam sedikit masa lagi.
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