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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