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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