Squatting on our own land???Is that any hope left for Dayak????.

Today is EXACTLY one week after the Global Witness exposé video hit the news and rocked the world of Malaysian politics – a game-changer, as the Americans say. The Chief Minister is denying the existence of the mammoth elephant in the room, the lawyers have allegedly left the country, and the famous sisters have gone missing. The whole of Sarawak is in uproar, coffee-shops and secluded private rooms in expensive restaurants are bustling with the talk of “tax evasions” and “squatters”, BN’s Dayak leaders are dumbfounded and have lost their tongues (and dare we hope silently fuming at the audacity of some cousins of the Chief Minister?), the rest of the country is asking questions and the spin-doctors from BN are in overdrive trying to shift the blame. What a week!

Besides fingering his cousins, Taib has also pointed the finger at Anwar Ibrahim, suggesting that the Opposition Leader has worked with Global Witness to “frame” him. So Taib, are you saying that Uncle Rahman Yakub sat down with Anwar Ibrahim and the environmental chaps from Global Witness and concocted this complicated story to “frame” you?

Alvin Chong, who is one of the legal representatives of the Lands and Survey Department, substantiated all that the sisters had said and more. His cock-sure confidence caught on camera was an award winning Oscar performance. Then there is the Hii family. The Hii family representative, lawyer Huang, admitted more than he should have. Best Supporting Actor award goes to him, if we are to believe the spin doctors.

So why would these lawyers want to “frame” the hands that feed them, kill the golden goose that lays the golden eggs and destroy their respective reputations all at the same time? Were all these different people, political opponents and NGOs and cronies and cousins and lawyers working together to “frame” Taib? Would it not be simpler to just accept the truth which is that his cousins, the lawyers and the businessmen were all indiscreet towards a person they thought they were doing a business deal with and in their bloated over-confidence spilled the fat beans, lifted the lid on Taib’s Pandora’s Box and opened his platinum coated can of worms?

My simple mind says YES. My political mind which attempts to deconstruct Machiavellian plots says MOST DEFINITELY YES.

Now that the whole world knows and Taib and his lawyers are desperately trying to pick up the pieces as they go into crisis management mode, one cannot but be intrigued by the apparent lack of public support that other Barisan Nasional leaders are expected to show him. Should they not be closing ranks and falling over themselves to come to his defence?

In the past, sycophants would be competing with one another to come up with the most credible counter-spin to protect their lord and master, but a week has come and gone and all we hear is TOTAL SILENCE. Except for some yelps from insignificant politicos and the youth wing of PBB condemning reports on the internet (and not an outright defence of their Chief Minister, mind you) in the last two days

 

Where is Taib’s Chief Political Secretary, the ever-faithful Karim Hamzah? Is it not his first duty and responsibility to immediately rally the troops and sound the trumpet and lead the charge and demonise Global Witness in every newspaper in Sarawak? Not a squeak from him.. 

 

Where is Awang Tengah, the supposed right hand man and heir apparent? Well, he did squeak a bit today in the Star but in no way was his whimper an outright rebuttal of the exposé and in defence of the Old Man; just a passing comment on how foreign NGOs are not to be trusted and how Sarawak will be re-forested. Political analysts would read his statement as more a personal defence, almost like a manifesto promising Sarawakians that under his watch, Sarawak would be re-forested.

Where is Jabu, the most loyal Dayak devotee there has ever been and ever will be of the ‘beloved’ Old Man? Absolute silence from Jabu of all people? What has this self-proclaimed ‘Paramount Chief’ of the Dayak has to say about being called a squatter by his beloved’s cousins?

Both factions in SUPP are also withholding their tongues. Smart.

Masing, are you silent because deep in your heart you are disgusted that Taib’s cousins called your own people squatters on their own lands, and you see this as a golden opportunity to let others roast the goose that has been laying the golden eggs so that you can walk in and take its place?

Mawan, are you silent because you too want to play the ‘wait-and-see’ game and shut your eyes and stop your ears? Would this not be the best opportunity to get back into the Old Man’s good books and earn some much needed brownie points? Or are you finally accepting the fact that your and your party have been used and abused so that we are all but mere squatters? 

Never mind all these Sarawakians – the silence from Kuala Lumpur is deafening! What happened to BN comradeship and solidarity? The mighty warlords of UMNO, what’s left of MCA, the ‘new’ leadership of MIC…all silent...

It would seem that based on the evidence we have before us (see NST, Utusan, Berita Harian, Harian Metro, Borneo Post, Utusan Borneo, The Sarawak Tribune, The Star, TV1, TV2, TV3 et al) Taib is on his own this time.

 

Taib is having to speak out for himself and is making all the denials and counter-claims without the usual backing of a harmonious chorus of BN leaders, politicians and its vast and awesome machinery singing his glorious innocence and praising his indomitable efficacy as the ‘Father of the Politics of Development.’

An injured animal that is cornered is mighty dangerous and will have a long memory, especially when its friends are just watching by the wayside. (And probably placing bets.)

 

I wonder why no one has come to Taib’s rescue openly, publicly and with practised gusto. And I am certain, many of you are wondering why too. But the ultimate question on my mind – is Taib himself wondering why his own people have not come to his aid yet? After all, a week has come and gone since the exposé and a week is a very long time in politics. I suppose we will all have to wait and see as another week unfolds and the drama intensifies.   

Dayak Leader and Future

The Malayan people regardless of race or political parties always not agree with slogan “Sarawak for Sarawakian”, why? Because they worried Sarawak will demand for full autonomy and Malayan people nowhere to survive because their country “MALAYA” sooner or later will be over populated.

What we believe the difference between BN/UMNO and PR/PAS are their policies and agendas. The BN/UMNOs struggle to ensure that they will remain the Government until end of the time because to them no other political parties capable to govern this country effectively only BN/UMNO. For PR/PAS they plan to change the policies and the agendas in order to rules this country with the support from educated Dayaks.

I believe, either BN/UMNO continue conquered Putra Jaya or PR/PAS manage to form the new FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, the fate and future of the Dayak may not change much because PR/ PAS will never allow Sarawak for Sarawakian as well due to the important of natural resources to generate their revenue to rules the country effectively otherwise the people will question them the same. Sarawak for Sarawakian is important to Dayak because special attention by the ruling government should be considered due to Dayak situation for almost 50 years being neglected and treated similar to second class citizen. Dayak should be given more attention in Education, development in skill and knowledge, support and initiative to release them out from the current situation and expose them to the new era of human development. 

So, Dayak you have nobody to rely on except your own people who can understand well your problems, priorities, struggle and course. We cannot expect the Chinese, Malays or Indian from Malaya to tell us what to do or how to rules our own country Sarawak. These people are very complex, they are very smart in manipulation, they can talk very well, they can convince and promise you the star, the moon and sky, they are too advance compared to Dayak in Sarawak, we Dayak are very far left behind in term of modern knowledge and mentality, we were 50 years behind them in all areas, we have no exposures and limited in experienced, all this are mainly due to BN/UMNO government treated us very unfair in giving the opportunities to pursue our studies overseas and scholarship, even in the local government universities, Dayak were given very limited opportunities but however, they are the majority in this country of SARAWAK. Education, knowledge, exposure, skill and experience are our priorities besides the rural development, land infrastructure, and the basic amenities. We must protect and defence our right practising our religion and culture, we must defence our land, our properties, our river, our mountain as all these are ours right from beginning of the time which defended by our ancestor with blood and tears.

Whoever the true and capable Dayak paramount chief in the future respected by the majority of the IBANS and the rest of the Dayak people must be ready to sacrifice and defence us exactly as RENTAP did during the Brooke era. Dayak are badly split in the current era, we were cheated and blind, and we cannot differentiate the true and the false leader due to our greediness, selfish, materialistic. So, what is wrong if Sarawak is for Sarawakian?

Let There be Freedom to Listen

All Government-communist, fascist, dictatorship, democratic or even theocratic possess propaganda tools such as the Radion, Television, newspapers and other publications, website, Internet, Twitter, Facebook and what not to informer communicate with rule. Good government use these media to inculcate patriotism or love for the country.  Bad governments abuse them to indoctrine the ruled to love their rulers rather than instituition of Government, or to oppress or suppress dissent or decimate any one else having a different point of view.  So when signals from two radio stations pop up of thin air and dominate their airwaves for several hours each day in the rural areas, some politician especially from Ruling coalition lose sense of perspective, not to say, of fair play.

The two years old Radio free Sarawak and Radio Kenyalang barely three months old are under attack by governing politician which gives a lot of free publicity to the stations.  Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth lodged a police report against Radio Free Sarawak (RFS) and Radio Kenyalang (RK) at Sungai Maong Police Station here (Picture shown above)

What a counterproductive move, that was. As a result many people who couldn’t be bothered about their existence are now curious and may want to listen to them just to find out if they are really poisonous as claimed.  Before the stations are shut down, I suggest any person who is broadminded should listen to them and evaluate the quality of their broadcast before condemning them.  If they are amateurish and ineffective why take trouble to jam the broadcast.?

They will  not last if nobody listens to them any more.  Why bother to demand the police to take action against what are basically politically intrigues or foibles?.Already the police have their hamds full in dealing with real crime.  Police time should be better utilized in bringing kidnappers and murderers to book instead of spending it in catching the alleged defamers, libellers and slanderers.  They are not criminals unless the radio stations have become seditious advocating the overthrow of the legitimate government by force of arms

That freedom of expression has limitation and i agree absolutely.

Lest reader should go away with the impression that freedom of expression is without limitation, let me state clearly here and now that i do not condone libel or slander without justification, on a priviledge occasion or on the basis of fair comment in the public interest.  Not by any stretch of the imagination. Sedition being criminal in nature is never condoned, treason is never justified in a country like ours.

If one thinks that his or her reputation has been tarnished through the publication of a statement which tends to lower him or her in the estimation of right thinking members of society generally, one does not rush to the police; the police deal with violation of criminal law and public order, not civil cases.

Unless the allegation by the two radio stations (Radio free Sarawak and Radio kenyalang) verge on security problem for instance people are being aroused to take up arms against the legitimate government and its instituitions, these outfis should be allowed to carry on with their broadcast uninterrupted.  They are doing a good service to a lot of people in the rural areas who have no access to the internet, or even in certain areas of the state to the government- controlled radio station’s signals

However the moment they cross the red line, the appropriate law is already in place to deal with the editious and defamation as the case may be.  Otherwsie there is no need to harass them, let alone involve the police. It may perceived of enlisting the police help to side with you against your political rivals when the when the police should neutral in political matters.

A political party worth its salt should possess propaganda organs.  Both the radio stations are organs of political parties – RFS advocating the cause of Pakatan Rakyat and RK is promoting on its own.  It can’t because of its limited number of seat it will contest.  If luck has it, it may help form a government. Who knows? Discerning and broadminded listeners, listen to their broadcast and judge for themselves.  If you are innocent of their allegation, switch off your set.

If either or both these stations cannot influence voters to vote for their respect candidates at the next election, it would better to leave them alone, unless, repeat, they being deliberately seditious by threatening the security and the sovereignty of the nation, I would be the first to condemn them.

For the past 60 years we had listening to one station, the only source of information and its news and views.  It has become the only source of truth apart from Holy books of all religions.  So long have been indoctrinate by this one station one that when Radio Free Sarawak and Lately Radio Kenyalang penetrated the rural areas, the folk suddenly found an alternative source of news and information.  So why begrudge the enjoyment of that freedom to listen to alternative news and views?

RTM has been urged to counter the allegation made by two stations, but RTM is funded by taxpayers and as such should not be abused for political purposes.

It would be fair for political party in the Government to start a radio station of its own like the opposition BN in Selangor has done, it Radio BNFM is being financed by its members and supporters, not out of taxpayers’ pockets.  This is additional tool to the so called array of mainstream media under central Government control – the privilege of any incumbent administration. These are the Goliath and they should be able to stuff out the tiny Davids easily.

The prime Minister who doubles as the Selangor BN chairman and liaison chief in his broadcast has said that many problems has cropped up in Selangor especially those related to the empty promises made by opposition during last General election in 2008 That’s a fair comment, and two can play that game.

Similar views about empty promises have also been expressed by the interviewees from certain parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak and were aired by the two stations. What’s  the difference? The prime minister has every right to air his view on this matter of empty promises, so has a voters in Sarawak in respect of the same subject matter.

Has Menteri Besar of Selangor of Selangor reported Najib’s statement to the police or threatened to shut down BNfm station?

However when Radio free Sarawak relayed views of their interviewees on the same topic they were accused of telling lies and poisoning tge minds of the rural people. Using similar tools of trade, political rivals can prove each other wrong with facts and figures, word for words, issue for issue, verse for verse, chapter for chapter.

The law of libel and slander is available to those who wish to sue or be sued, the sedition law will spring into action if any one crosses the red line..  that the time to rush to the police station to lodge a report against the radio station that violates the law.  Not any old time.

I repeat, we must not begrudge the freedom of rural listeners who wish to find out alternative sources of information and keep people under the yol.

Be Fair. Let have the Freedom to listen, at least.

Immediate Response to Budget

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has announced the second election primer budget full of goodies, extending from bonuses to civil servants to handouts to lower income households. This budget is Najib’s latest fiscal effort to secure him a solid victory in the 13th general election that has to be held before the end of June next year.   The budget is a continuation of a historically unprecedented pattern of direct government transfers to woo political support that has broadened in scope, increased in amount and moved development policy from needs based initiatives to what appears to be a coordinated regime political survival programme.

With the increase of Federal govt debts of 4% (43b), the debt is raised to new height of RM502.4b! This is 53.7% of our GDP. We are on the blink of bankruptcy as a country with debts amounting to 55% of the GDP is a bankrupt state. With PM known to make supplementary borrowing, it is expected that he will resort to more borrowings to finance election good

ies if GE13 is held next year and bankrupt the country!

Nothing in the BN budget to rival the Pakatan Rakyat’s “Oil Justice” of which Sarawak will benefit directly. In the PR’s budget, Sarawak will be granted petroleum royalty of 20% as compare to the present 5%. Further, the PR is also committed to help establish state-owned second-tier oil and gas companies for Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Kelantan, through “risk sharing contracts” (RSC). Nothing in the BN’s budget. We are to settle for a part of the 400,000 water tanks costing RM100 million, to harvest rainwater but alas! RM2,500 per water tank, which is unbelievable.

There is nothing for the Sarawak First Trunk Road System, though much anticipated! (the increasing number of road accidents recently and considering the fact that the Semenanjung road network of 35,734 km as compared to 10,171 km for Sarawak and Sabah combined)

It is quite shocking that there is no provision to alleviate economic hardship of some Msian families. There are 84,000 families with household earning less than RM500 per month (these are households of “abject poverty”) and another RM427,000 families earning household income between RM501 to RM999.
In PR alternative budget, we proposed to raise welfare payment to these families from RM300 per month to RM550 per month. The increase in welfare payment will also help the OKU (physically or mentally challenged people).

The BN’s budget is also a huge let down when it fails to make any adjustment to the excise duty of motor vehicles (up to 105% of costs of the vehicles) as such reduction is much anticipated and deem to increase disposable income of the rakyat. In PR’s alternative budget, 20% reduction is promised. It is obvious that the BN is bent to protect the AP holders who are the BN-puteras and cronies.

The BN budget is losing sight of the country’s interests. It prioritizes the BN’s interests and is focused on its survival in this coming GE13, hence the bonus of 1 and 1/2 month for civil servants (even though it took into account the 1/2 month bonus already paid before the last Hari Raya Aidifitri) which will cost the country RM6 billion; 2nd round of BR1M to cost RM3b; one-off BR1M 2.0 of giving RM250 to youths above 21 earning less than RM2000 per month; RM200 rebates for 1.5 million youths between 21 and 30 to buy smartphone which will cost the country RM300 million.

However, the important sectors are taking the back seats: only RM276 million for MACC (this shows that the BN is absolutely not committed to combat corruption, comparing this to the RM300m for smartphone rebates to youths; only RM600 million for crime reduction, SME (small and medium enterprises) Development Scheme only RM1 billion and RM100 million each for all National typed Chinese, Tamil and Mission schools.

On the whole, the National budget is disappointing and a let-down. It is basically a ticket for the BN to secure victory for the coming general election, and nothing more.

New Born Dayak Leader

I should not be writing such article as it may have negative effect on Dayak. But let truth be told that come election the Dayak will be made to split politically. Let as examined today scenario – where PRS is being challenged by SWP, a political party that do not get any rebuke by the State leadership and rather given a silent approval. Dr. James has to shout at the top of his voice to remind BN component party of BN constitution that for any party to be admitted into BN it must be agreed by ALL parties. Even with one descending voice that would be a NO. Dr. James per-empt such scenario but might have thought of other strategies to take should he finds himself boxed into a corner. The key element of PRS strategy is “sediakan payong sebelum hujan” and also PRS must be fast enough to avoid a situation for “nasi sudah jadi bubur” then what can you do. The worst situation that PRS face is “di telan mati apai di luak mati indai” in their fight for survival. 

We also witnessed the splitting of SPDP, first with the G5 and later plus one with Wong Judat leaving to join SWP. The G5 were given a wide range of freedom including holding on to their government post despite having left SPDP through a never before organization that is now known as “BN Independent”. Why did this happened? Simply because some one wanted to see SPDP weaken and could not be a political force if they wanted to consolidate their Dayak support. At the end of the day, the power of the day must ensure that Dayak cannot helm the government of the state of Sarawak. The unseen hand wanted to see status -quo maintained. 

SNAP declared it will go it alone this coming election. In the last election its financial resources was provided by outside interested party to ensure that Pakatan votes would be reduced. SNAP is in a good position to fight for the slogan of “Sarawak for Sarawakian” but the leadership is not capable of doing that. It may have its own agenda and when the party do not have the money the party would be open to manipulation by a third party. What we need now is to embark on the journey of creating new Dayak leadership to represent us.

Building new Dayak Leadership 

Even among the educated Dayak there are large amount of “personal character ” assassination politics. Many educated Dayak like to feel that they are better then the rest. Sadly the same people may not have a clear goal to achieve despite being involved in politics and it is a shame that their harsh words for potential leaders is destructive whilst they do not have ideas of their own on who should be the leaders. The “personal agenda” is all important to them. We need to learn to be circumspect in criticizing our upcoming leaders so to avoid eroding their creditability and integrity which may lead to their defeat. The consequence would be a lost to our own Dayak community. Let us be more focus and objective in dealing with leadership selection and not interfere with their effort once a decision has been made for them to contest the election. In this way, we will have a smoother environment to focus on the job of getting vote rather then trying to response to the various scheming and accusation. This is a sure to split the Dayak even before the election. This problem is contributed and created by our own self. 

 Let us learn to be constructive in our approach to build new leaders if we want to replace the current ones in BN. We know it is a long process to build good leadership and that is why it is more important for us to be aware of our own action so as not to interfere with the process. 

With this article I would like to draw your attention to the challenge of preparing a new group of Dayak leaders and what we all can do to ensure that they will be able to lead us into the next 10 years. We must find new behaviors and approaches to avoid diluting our political strength and purpose of politics. We are already short of many commodities in politics and one of it is MONEY. We can overcome this problem if we can all put our effort together. It has been done during the PBDS era. The other commodity which we do not have a choice on is TIME. Our time is running out or its now or never as the work of grabbing our NCR land, flood our natural heritage, suppress our culture and religion, curtailing our job and business opportunity is going on earnestly by our detractors. This we cannot allow them to have more time to master us as we stand to lose and it is difficult to get back our losses. Some losses like BAKUN and the to be BARAM dam we will never recover at all unless we act now in a wise manner. 

Conclusion 

The road ahead of us is already difficult. We do not have to add to those difficulties if we are together in words and thoughts. Let us give strength to one another through our support and effort. Our community need us to work as a strong energize team and cohesive in our plan and action. For lack of words I can say LET US GO UBAH and itd not a new term for the sake of our future...