Masing says PRS and SPDP not being looked after

Extracts of press conference by PRS president and Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing after chairing the party supreme council meeting. May 17, 2013.

The rural-based PRS and SPDP were not being looked into properly in terms of ministerial appointments. It is the rural areas, especially in Sarawak, which are the fixed deposits for the Barisan Nasional.

If we don’t take care of the fixed deposits, somebody else might withdraw at a later time. This is what we are worried about. Because of that, I have talked to Datuk Joseph Salang whether he wanted to change his mind, and accept the offer. Unfortunately I cannot persuade him and he said “no”.

I have accepted that with big regret. But nevertheless, we will find a place where we can make use of him, his expertise in other areas. The stand made by Datuk Joseph Salang reflects the thinking of the new Dayak groups who feel that if things are not done properly, they will make a stand. And that is the first stand that we have made.

Those in authority must look at it very seriously. That is not an easy to make such a stand because the offer is there, and the perks and privileges are there, but is it what we are interested? We are interested of  whether we are of any assistance to the people in the rural areas.

What we discussed was that most of supreme council members think that whatever position given to PRS must be a position where we can of help to the rural areas- not just any position. The portfolio is that the one that counts the most. If the portfolio is appropriate to the voters whom they represent, then they will take it.

Portfolio which is not good, then I don’t think we should. Datuk Joseph Entulu opened it up at the supreme council for us to decide whether he should take the appointment as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department,  and what to do with him. So, I said after discussion, we talk again after I have met the Prime Minister and whether he can put Entulu in a better position where he can be of assistance.

He is not just interested in position to be full minister, doing what? That he is not interested. We told him just be patient first. Let us talk to the Prime Minister and see whether he will be able to put him (Entulu) in a better position where he can be of assistance. This you must remember – we are not interested in any position.We are in the position that can be of assistance to the people that we represent. That means they must be appropriate portfolio.

I am trying to make an appointment to seek the prime minister’s advice. Of course we appreciate and understand that he has got the final say. But we just ask for his kind consideration, to look at us again because we contribute substantially to the BN victory in Sarawak. We will look at our appointment. We don’t look at what are given to others who performed less than us. Because of that we are not very happy.

Q: You are going to meet PM and if he says that never mind, you just remain there. So what is your next step?

A: That we will discuss later. We will not disclose to you now.

Q: When are you going to meet the PM?

A:I have written a letter a week ago to seek appointment with the Prime Minister, even prior to the announcement of the Cabinet line-up last Wednesday. First I want to thank him for helping us out to win the six seats. But the other issues are along the line and I will bring it up to him.

Q: Are you sure that he want to meet you?

A:I am sure he will. We have six people….It is a formidable force, you know.

Q: Do you think that PRS will pull out of the BN since you are very disappointed?

A: That will never be in our mind. No, no, we are true blue Barisan Nasional and it is just we are not happy with the appointment. That’s all. Just because the boat is a bit leaking, it doesn’t mean that we should rock the boat. We are only not happy with the appointment. That’s all.

Q: You talk about appropriate portfolio. So what is “appropriate” to PRS?

A: It is has something to do with infrastructure, something to do with the rural population, for example, like agriculture. Bearing in mind that Sarawak is the last frontier in land development, Peninsular Malaysia has finished where lands have all been cultivated. So is Sabah, but Sarawak still has lands.

We need rural development and infrastructure and if we are given these sorts of things, we are very happy. That is why Datuk Joseph Salang refused to take offer of Deputy Tourism Minister because it is not appropriate for us. I think being in the tourism ministry has any glamour, he wants something to be done.

Q: Now that Datuk Joseph Salang has refused to take the offer, has PRS make any recommendation for the replacement?

A: Yes, there is a group of us who can make the decision. That we have done, we will send to the Prime Minister the names.

Q: If the PM refuses to meet the request, are you prepared not to have any minister in the federal government?

A:We will discuss it again when the time comes. We will not cross the bridge before we reach it. But I can tell you that our boys are all very concerned. What they must understand is that we don’t want just the position. We want the position that is of assistance to the people in the rural areas. That’s all we want.

SAVE Rivers: IHA should not support Sarawak's plans to build more mega dams

MIRI: Save Sarawak Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers) is demanding that the International Hydropower Association (IHA) stop supporting the Sarawak State Government and the state-owned energy utility Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) plans to build at least 12 additional mega-dams in Sarawak.

From May 21 to 24,

the Sarawak State Government together with SEB will host the IHA’s biennial congress in Kuching. During this time, the most powerful decision makers in the dam industry will be meeting. The congress venue will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

The IHA is a lobby group consisting of investors, builders and financiers with a vested interest in building mega-dams.

SAVE Rivers is in view that the State Government and SEB are using this congress as a forum to legitimise and promote dam building in Sarawak.

One example is the Baram Hydroelectric Power (HEP) Dam project. The State Government have refused to accept the fact that the majority of the indigenous communities mainly from the Kayan, Kenyah and Penan communities that are going to be affected by the proposed dam are opposed to the project. Even though no official approval has been given to the Baram HEP Dam project, the construction of the access road to the proposed dam site has begun earnestly.

SAVE Rivers is very concerned that the State Government and SEB have not complied with the acceptable international standards on dam development especially with regards to human rights and the environment. The State Government has not been very transparent in releasing to the public the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) as in the case of the Murum HEP, especially to the affected indigenous communities.

The State Government and SEB continue to ignore the rights of the affected indigenous communities and this can be seen in the examples of the Bakun and Murum HEP. The principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) of which the Malaysian Government has agreed to adopt is disregarded by the State Government.

SAVE Rivers strongly demands that the Sarawak State Government scrap its plans to build more mega-dams in Sarawak and that the rights of the affected communities are given full recognition.

SAVE Rivers is also demanding that the IHA cancel SEB’s membership in the association as they have yet to address the outstanding issues affecting the indigenous communities in Batang Ai, Bakun and Murum HEP Dams.

SAVE Rivers is also in view that it is not appropriate for Mr. Torstein Dale Sjotveit, the CEO of SEB, to be in the board of IHA for the reasons mentioned above.

Press Statement release by:

Mark Bujang

Secretary,

SAVE Rivers Network

H/P: +60148776685

Baru's personal reflection on the outcome of the parliamentary election

A REFLECTION: POST PRU-13

By Baru Bian, Sarawak PKR chief and State Assemblyman for Ba'Kelalan

Dear Friends,

It was so difficult for me to get out of my bed this morning although I was already wide-awake, quite early in fact in spite of the late night vigil for the final outcome of PRU13. I am still trying to absorb the shocking outcome not only of Limbang Parliamentary seat but all the rural seats where PKR stood; where we lost all of them.

The only seat PKR won in Sarawak is Miri (Dr. Michael Teo), which is an urban seat. I would have thought Baram and Saratok could have been won, at the very least.

Nevertheless, God has kept us all safe, strong and healthy throughout the grueling campaign. The entire big Limbang team banded together and gave their best till the end. We prayed and we cried and journeyed together. May God’s name be glorified.

My human mind finds it hard to believe and acceptthis outcome because we had prepared the ground for about a year or so before the election. In comparison,this was the best preparation ever undertaken by an opposition since I stood in Sarawak GE, 1991 under PBDS ticket.

In the past,we were never as focused on seats or areas, and issues. In addition,at least to a reasonable degree, we had some financial support from all of you for us to organize our logistics. We had a Political Consultant that sat monthly with us to review our progress and preparation. All went very well, it seems at least from our perspective.

Above all, we had the privilege of being prayed upon and prayed for by churches all over the nation and beyond who steadfastly stood together in oneness praying for God’s intervention in our Nation through PRU13, which coincides with our Jubilee Year Celebration. Yet we have not won a single seat in the rural area of Sarawak.

What happened? Who is at fault? What could have been done? Why did the people change last minute? What happened God? Many questions popped up? The obvious reasons we all know. 

My thought went back into months of preparation where expectation was high, where many of us believed that this must be The Time for all of us to start a New and Better Malaysia together.

That expectation was not misplaced as it was fortified by the facts that every Malaysian from different parts of the country and even those overseas, of different race and religion, from different level of our society got united to make a final ditch to “make it happen” for ourselves and our children.

Many of you who works and resides overseas chose to vote from abroad as postal voters while there are those who came and flew at their own expense to vote in Malaysia. Many months ago on my usual campaign trail,I met a shopkeeper in Limbang whose daughter lives in Beijing who told me that her daughter will come back to vote this time.

I remember meeting an aunty in Limbang a week ago whose daughter works in Shanghai and a son who works in Singapore, both came back to vote in Limbang. I met two young men the sons of a well known bookstore owner in Limbang who were very proud to have met me; took a snap together and proudly said, they came to vote for a Change, “Ini Kali Lah!”I met a lady perhaps in her mid forties in Medamit who said that she has never voted in any GE before but this time came back to vote for PKR, hoping for a Change and better future for herself and her kids.

I remember the conversation related to me of how two 9 years old kids whose mothers were helping us at our Medamit Operation Centre agreed after a ‘lively debate’ that both should vote for PKR! I met one of them the next day at the Centre and when asked; still agreed to vote for PKR.

I recall the prayer drives around Limbang town together with some intercessors from some local churches in Limbang few months’ back and the final one on the eve of Polling Day for God’s intervention. Outwardly, the churches in Limbang and outside took time to wait before the Lord asking for the healing of our nation. The many trips and sharing I had with many of you as a group or individual or as a church where our spirit sore on high with faith to believe that God is going to answer our prayers for Malaysia.

And yes, not forgetting the many prophetic utterances, dreams and visions for a spiritual transformation of our churches and society through this political process and our faith believing in their realisation. The euphoria climaxed on the final night; the eve of polling where thousands upon thousands of Malaysians all over the country showed their support for an alternative Government.

And I can go on and on narrating one story after another, incidences after incidences of how hopeful we were that this must be the Time for Malaysia. 

Yet when we all went in droves to the Polling Stations the outcome and results hours later did not come as we all expected. Many of us shed tears, in fact many mourned for our Nation.

For me, I thought losing less than a thousand votes would be acceptable as our candidate in GE 2008 only lost by 676 votes. But not 8000+ votes! I was stunt. More shocked when finally not even one seat from the rural areas we contested won. My immediate thought was, “forget these ungrateful souls”.

I felt I was betrayed, cheated and unappreciated when I had to move out of my Ba’Kelalan constituency trying to assist these natives to fight for their rights against political oppression and injustice. By about 9 pm on polling day I had a Press Conference at our party’s Media Centre, Kuching, with most of our candidates.

From information received from these candidates, it is obvious that money politics is still very much alive and effective in the rural constituencies of Sarawak. I said to the Press; “recalling the biblical exodus, I believe “this generation” has to perish in the wilderness before the next generation ushers in the change we dream off”.

Was I too harsh and condemning? What has happened to all our attempts through Radio Free Sarawak, longhouse visits, ceramahs, workshops on their land rights issues, to educate them on all these dirty tricks used by the other side; on money politics, threat to longhouse chiefs, deprivation of basic amenities, no scholarship, withdrawal of welfare & subsidies etc, etc?

I cannot comprehend! Will it be another 50 years? I don’t know. Only God can help us here. On another note, had we not prayed and interceded, I cannot imagine how far worse it might be. 

As soon as the final results were announced sms and emails flooded in to encourage me, and perhaps others too. I say amen, to the fact that “God is sovereign over the nation in spite of the result that did not come, as we all wanted it”. Yes “God is still God and let us be still before Him, He has the final say”. Yes, “look up to Jesus the author and perfector of our faith”.Yes“everything works for the goods to all those who love Him…” But it doesn’t seem to jive with the situation I was in. Deep within me, I was saying, “God did not do His part of the bargain because all seems unreasonable, unacceptable and absolutely unjust”.  

Then around noon today I read a short email from bro KJ John attaching therein a short note written by a Malaysian, entitled “I shed my tears too!”Thank you brother for the thought when you said that the said article “reflect only those with little political experience on the ground and those who consider that: “change is a revolution and not an evolution”.

Then I began to realize that this is a struggle, a “perjuangan”, a political evolution that may takes some time. It may go even beyond my time and my generation. My wife’s immediate response, as a very practical Foochow, is ‘let’s hang up our socks and call it a day. Save the money(to feed the poor and hungry) and time. God would understand.’

Perhaps a reflection of her utter disappointment and disbelief of the outcome, like many of us. Nevertheless, she stuck it up with me and did her level best to assist me in everyway possible. My youngest daughter’s(Emmylyn,17) response was, “for this reason I must consider going into politics!” My daughter and sons, and her generation, I believe are ready to fight on and takeover the baton from us, if need be.

I was moved with confidence that our action had touched our children’s lives. My son Joshua who moved together with me for the whole two weeks campaigning period, just called from KL as I write this letter to ask how his dad is coping with the outcome in Limbang, so did my second son in Adelaide, he sms to say that he and the group of OCFers are mighty proud of me.’

 I am touched. Many young people are very concerned of the state of affairs in our beloved country, came to vote and even volunteered as PACABA. FOS sent a team to Limbang, and I say “thank you, Cynthia and gang”. I am sure their experiences in PRU13 will strengthen their resolve to continue this perjuangan. 

This afternoon, brother Bob Teoh called, and encouraged me to see the positive aspects of the so-called “lost”: Firstly, the ghost of May 13 had finally been buried. Secondly, the issue of Hudud law had clearly been neutralized. Thirdly, the religious extremists like Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Nordin had been rejected by Malaysians. Fourthly, the issue of Sabah autonomy was rejected by the Sabahans and finally the dual coalition system is here to stay. Then I received a sms from Pastor Patrick in Limbang who said that many of the Sunday school kids cried upon hearing the news that I lost Limbang.

Then I realized, our Children Bible “Alkitab Kanak-Kanak”gifts must have touched these young lives and I believe many others in all the priority seats where PKR stood! Then I thought, “if this is the only gain I had contributed to Limbang lost, then my standing in Limbang was not in vain!” 

Then there are those 4698 voters who voted for me in Limbang and the many others in the other constituencies where our candidates stood and voted for us too.  So there is evidence of stirring of sort but not enough to bring in the victory. Then I recall Baram, which we lost by a whisker of just 194 votes.

The independent candidate got 300+ votes. Nationally, PR has gained 7 seats in Parliament from 82 in 2008 to 89 in this GE, in spite of a widely reported fraud throughout the country.

In fact Sarawak has gained 5 more parliamentary seats this GE. And finally, the increase in popular votes for Pakatan throughout the whole country surged to 51%. Close to 50,000 AKK transistor radios were distributed far and wide in the interior of Sarawak, and through this mean our message for Change had impacted and touched some rural folks as shown in the increased of support in the rural seats.

Many thanks to the Radio Free Sarawak (RFS) Team. So friends, brothers and sisters, I finally come to accept the fact that change has come, but not to a level we all expected if not for the uneven playing field, the changing of goal posts and the corrupt and bias referee, the EC. Or perhaps as one of you responded, “Maybe God wants us to pray for five more years!” 

But remember, Sarawak will have her State GE in 2016 or may be sooner. I urge you to continue to pray for Sarawak. I am very convinced now that the abject poverty of our natives’ folks placed them in a very vulnerable situation allowing money politics to remain supreme in GE. Rights, idealism and even spiritual principles take a back seat. In my area,Limbang for example, voters were paid RM20, RM30, RM100, RM150, and RM300 depending on the strength of support. Other constituencies were paid RM100 as first payment and RM500 can be claimed after winning the GE. This is not surprising as this had been the norm every GE. We did explain and emphasized the fact that this is not right and that it is not BN moneys etc., but to no avail. There is only one solution; spiritual inward renewal and economic empowerment. The church therefore must help to bring in a very strong teaching in this area of political responsibility and awareness. 

In conclusion I want to record my thanks and appreciation to all of you who stood with us (PR), my family and I, through this political episode and undertook to remain faithful to pray for us and support me in my future political endeavor. Many of you gave sacrificially to purchase the thousands of radios, petrol, PACABA training, operation centres, and for the logistics before and during the campaigning period of two weeks, I say on behalf of all my colleagues and party members and supporters in Sarawak; a BIG THANK YOU and may God bless you and your family in all your future undertakings.

I must confess, it’s so tempting to surrender, to give up to ‘throw in the towel’ as it were, but now I hear the voices of many of you who chose to walk this same road with me urging me to move on and not to lose heart but together we will carry on to realize our Malaysian Dream.

And now, O Lord I ask for your forgiveness for my lack of faith in your sovereignty and wisdom. I want to be still before you for you are still God over Malaysia and her people.Amen.

My friend Balang Sigar from Miri reminded me of one of our favorite songs from Bill Geither’s Homecoming collection, that God is still God in every circumstance:

GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN

Life is easy, when you’re on the mountain

And you’re got peace of mind

Like you’ve never known

But things change, when you’re down in the valley

Don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone

        For the God on the mountain

        Is still God in the valley

        When things go wrong

        He’ll make them right

        And the God of the good times

        Is still God in the bad times

        The God of the day

        Is still God in the night

You talk of faith, when you’re up on the mountain

But talks come so easy, when life is at its best

Now its down in the valley, of trials and temptation

That’s where your faith is, really put to the test

Then I saw Aimee Liew’s sharing on whatsApp from an unknown author thatwarmed my heart,which gives me back my smile and a resolve to focus on the future. May this encourage you too, to carry on.

Today Malaysia woke up and many hearts were broken.

We mourn our nation not because we lost, but because we were cheated.

We lost not to a better party, but we lost to injustice.

We lost not to a better system, but we lost to the lack of integrity.

We lost not to a better count, but we lost to the failure in upholding civil rights.

We lost not to a better leader, but we lost to corruption.

We lost not to a better policy, but we lost to deceit.

But we will, and must not lose heart.

We may feel sad, but we must not give in to despair.

We may feel angry, but we must not lose our righteous ways.

We may feel cheated, but we must fight on.

We may feel like leaving, but we must stay together.

We may feel like giving up, but we must now let the dream carry us.

We may feel like nothing will change, but we must now become that change.

We will rally.

We will fight on.

We will not give up.

We will become a Better Malaysia.

Esther Ng eventually came in with an appropriate meditation from Psalm 30:5,“Your sadness may last for a night, but joy will come in the morning.”I pray that the night may not be too long.

May God’s favour be upon each one of you and your family members, without which this political journey could be a very lonely affair.

Let us all be the Agent of Change.

May 6, 2013

Chong: Sarawak PR sets to win 12 to 16 seats in Sarawak

KUCHING, May 3, 2013:  With two days more to polling day, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is confident of winning 12 to 16 parliamentary seats in Sarawak, Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen told reporters today.

“I will not name the seats that we are confident of winning,” he said when pressed to name the seats at a press conference.

“After 12 days of campaigning, it is quite clear what the rakyat want. The trend is that PR is going to win 12 to 16 seats,” he added.

Chong, who is defending his Bandar Kuching seat, said that the projection to win 12 to 16 seats is based on the positive feedback from the ground.

“Nation-wide, I feel it is a matter of days when PR comes to power and a change in the federal government. I am telling you that the change is just two days away,” he said confidently.

Chong, however, stressed that only four “obstacles” can stop PR from forming the next federal government.

The obstacles are:

. Illegal workers issued with blue identity cards that entitled them to register as voters; 

. Foreign nationals, possessing travel documents, issued with blue identity cards that entitled them to register as voters;

. Buying of votes; and

. Gambling on the election results.

He said illegal workers and foreign nationals are deciding factors in hotly contested seats, especially in Selangor and Sabah, and this could work in favour the Barisan Nasional.

“As for buying of votes, it has a great influence in deciding the results of the rural areas while gambling or betting can influence the outcome of the results in the urban seats,” he said.

He said the people want a change in the government “so the people can expect a change to take place in two days’ time,” he said.

Chong called on the people, especially PR supporters, to come out in full force and be part of a history.

He said by coming in full force to come and vote, the people can counter the underhand tactics of the Barisan Nasional of using various means, like giving illegal workers and foreign nationals the blue identity cards so they can register as voters.

“Every vote counts in this election,” he said, adding that election is a serious matter because it determines the future direction of the country and decides who will form the next government.

He said that a change in government means an end to corruption, an end to race-based policies and a creation of a two-party system in Malaysia.

“The creation of a two-party system is important because it provides check and balance.

“The two-party system also helps to prevent corruption and abuse of power. If the people are not happy with the government they have elected because of corruption and abuse of power, then they can change the government with another one in the next election,” he said.

“With the system in place, the government of the day will not abuse its power as what the BN government has been doing over the last 55 years,” he said.

“Therefore, we must come out in full force. We are almost there (forming the federal government),” he added. By Sematong Express.

SUPP has no integrity left, charges Chong Chieng Jen

KUCHING, May 1, 2013: SUPP has been accused of lacking in integrity in its campaign for support from the voters in Stampin and Bandar Kuching parliamentary constituencies.

“There is no integrity and pride left in the party. If the founding fathers like Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui and Tan Sri Stephen Yong were to see what the present leaders are doing now, I am sure they will roll in their graves,” Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said at a press conference.

Chong was incense with the SUPP by putting up banners using red as the background and white lettering, similar to the banners put up by the DAP.  

“The problem is that the SUPP banners are asking the people to think carefully and that change in government will cause suffering to the people,” he said.

Picture (left): SUPP banner in Chinese characters is seen at the bottom right of the picture.

He said the SUPP banners are being put up alongside the DAP’s banners.

“The SUPP banners do not carry the party logo or symbol, but it says the banners were from SUPP carry a small print,” Chong stressed.

He said the SUPP is stooping low by coming up with the banners which can confuse the people.

“As the SUPP banners carry our DAP corporate colour, the people may think that those banners are from us,” he added.

On another matter, Chong said he will not accept a debate dare from his SUPP-BN challenger Tan Kai as he considered the debate as a joke of the century and Tan Kai as a joker.

“It is meaningless to debate with him because he himself is not sure of the topic, time, date and venue.

“First Tan Kai said the debate be on hudud only, and the debate to be held on May 2, starting at 7pm at Kuching Town Hall.

Picture (right): Chong holding a picture of the DAP banners and billboard, with the SUPP banner in Chinese characters is seen at the bottom right of the picture.

“Then he changed the topic to how uphold a clean and just future government of Malaysia and the debate be held on May 4 at the 101 Commercial Centre,” Chong said.

With Tan Kai unsure of himself, Chong said there is no point accepting the debate dare.

“If you want to challenge people to a debate, make sure that you fix the topic, date and time and venue, at least two weeks in advance.

“To debate with him on May 4, Saturday, is completely being ruled out because we have our Super Saturday ceramah throughout the country,” Chong said, adding that the Kuching DAP Super Saturday ceramah will be at the open space of the Stutong Commercial Centre.

He invited Tan Kai and other SUPP leaders to come and listen to the Kuching DAP Super Saturday ceramah. By Sematong Express