Wednesday 17 July 2013

Full judgment of the Federal Court in Bisi Jenggot vs Lands and Surveys & three others

Bisi Ak Jinggot @
Hilarion Bisi Ak Jenggut …Plaintiff
And
1. Superintendent Of Lands And Surveys
Kuching Division
2. State Government Of Sarawak
3. The Chief Scouts Commissioner, Sarawak
4. Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Darul Falah
…Defendants
CORUM
ARIFIN ZAKARIA, CJ
RICHARD MALANJUM. CJSS
ABDULL HAMID EMBONG, FCJ
SURIYADI HALIM OMAR, FCJ
HASAN LAH, FCJ
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
On 9th April 2012 the Federal Court granted the plaintiff, hereinafter referred to as the appellant, leave to appeal on three questions.
On the day of the appeal the appellant invited us to determine only two questions, and they are:
i) “Whether, the alleged adat or custom that “individual customary rights are not transferable by sale or otherwise for value” referred to and applied in Sumbang Ak Sekam vs. Engkarang Ak Ajah [1958] SC  95 ceased to existmand enforceable as such:
a) upon enactment of the same as law under Section 2 of the Fruit Trees Order 1889, of the Rajah; and/or
b) upon the subsequent repeal of the said Rajah’s Order?
ii) If the answers to question (1) above are in the negative, whether, by virtue of section 6 of the Land Code, the alleged adat or custom applies only to land gazetted as
native communal reserve?”



Sunday 9 June 2013

Lim Guan Eng's speech at the opening of the Sarawak DAP annual convention

Speech By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng During The Sarawak DAP State Ordinary Convention In Kuching On 9.6.2013.

4 Challenges For Sarawak DAP In The 2015 State General Elections

1.       First of all, I would like to congratulate Saudara Wong Ho Leng and acknowledge his leadership in once again breaking new ground for DAP in Sarawak in the recently concluded 13th General Elections.

2.       DAP Sarawak followed up its historic 2011 Sarawak State elections performance, where we won 12 out of the 15 Pakatan state seats, by winning 5 out of the 6 Pakatan parliamentary seats in the 13th GE.

3.       A most remarkable victory was achieved in the Sibu parliamentary constituency, where our Saudara Oscar Ling, achieved the seemingly impossible by increasing our winning majority from 398 in the 2010 by-election to 2,841! Not only did he increase our winning majority more than 7 fold, he did this against Lau Lee Ming, a Temenggong, no less, and also a family member of the powerful KTS group in Sibu.

4.       Under Saudara Wong Ho Leng’s leadership, DAP also managed a clean sweep in the Sibu area by winning Sarikei by 505 (Saudara Wong Ling Biu) and also Lanang by 8,630 votes (Saudari Alice Lau).

5.       In Kuching, Saudara Chong Chien Jen successfully increased his majority in Bandar Kuching from 9,952 in 2008 to 19,642 in 2013. Under his leadership in Kuching, we also managed to capture the Stampin seat with an 18,670 vote majority. This was a seat which we had lost by 3,070 votes in 2008. Our candidate in Stampin, Julian Tan, who is also a new comer, defeated a SUPP heavy weight and Deputy Minister, Yong Khoon Seng.

6.       We also broke new ground in many non-Chinese and non-urban areas. For the first time in DAP’s history, we fielded 6 non-Chinese candidates in 6 non-Chinese majority districts. In fact, DAP fielded more non-Chinese candidates compared to Chinese candidates (6 versus 5) in GE13! And in 4 out of these 6 parliament seats, we managed to reduce BN’s support even though we did not managed to win these seats.

7.       Mordi Brimol in Mas Gading, Edward Luak in Serian, Hai bin Merawin @ Bonaventure in Mukah, Ramli Anak Malak in Kapit, Dr. John Brian in Bintulu and Dr Bob Baru in Lawas should also commended for putting up an excellent showing despite being outspent by at least 10 to 1 by their opponents.

8.       Dr. John Brian, for example, together with deputy chairman, Saudara Chew Chin Sing, managed to decrease BN’s support by 15%, from 73% in 2008 to 58% in 2013.

9.       I am confident that as we continue to work hard and penetrate into the semi-urban and rural areas in Sarawak, our performance can only improve especially in the next Sarawak state elections that are due in 2016.

10.   DAP Sarawak now has 5 parliament and 12 state seats, a far cry from the 1 parliament and 1 state seat after the 2004 General Election.

11.   To fully appreciate where we are today, we need to acknowledge the blood, sweat and tears that were spilled by those who had worked tirelessly on the ground without enjoying the fruits of their labour for many, many years. This includes Saudara Chong Siew Chiang, the founder of DAP in Sarawak, who first competed in the 1979 Sarawak state elections. He and other senior leaders of DAP Sarawak had to struggle through 4 state elections in 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1991 of not winning a single state seat.

12.   It was only in the 1996 Sarawak state elections when the party made a breakthrough by winning 3 state seats, including Saudara Wong Ho Leng’s 226 vote victory in Bukit Assek. This was followed by the setback in 2001 where we only won one state seat. Another minor breakthrough was achieved when DAP in Sarawak won a then record 6 state seats in the 2006 general elections. And of course, we all know how DAP doubled its state seats on April 16, 2011 to a record 12 state seats.

13.   Without the hard work and sacrifice of the party’s founding leaders in Sarawak, DAP would not be where it is today. Their struggles through the difficult times is a stark reminder that we can never be complacent and to take for granted our current position of strength especially in the urban areas. If we fall away from our principles, if we betray the trust of our voters, we can easily end up in the position which SUPP, MCA and GERAKAN find themselves in today.

Sarawak Problems Are Malaysian Problems – Where Is ‘1 Malaysia, 1 Price’?
14.   While we must never forget our history and our roots, our challenges lay in the future. I foresee 4 important challenges for DAP moving forward in the state of Sarawak.

15.   Firstly, DAP in Sarawak must rise up to the challenge of enhancing the party’s stature as a national party. This means that issues of concern to Sarawak must be seen as national issues and that national issues must also be seen and interpreted through a Sarawakian perspective. Sarawak problems are Malaysian problems.

16.   We have already seen how allegations of massive corruption against the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Taib Mahmud, affects not just the good name of the state of Sarawak and its people, but it also tarnishes the reputation of the country as a whole. We have also seen how cases involving palm oil plantations in Sarawak not obtaining Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification can affect the reputation of the entire industry in the country.

17.   When is the “One Malaysia, One Price” going to be effected? When is poverty going to be eradicated and Native Customary Land of native Ibans going to be respected. No longer is it acceptable to have the landless and poorest in one of the richest and largest state in Malaysia.

18.   While fully accepting the co-equal status of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, we can no longer accept the false dichotomy between what happens in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia do not affect one another. The notion that ‘whatever happens in Sarawak stays in Sarawak’ is clearly a false notion that has been propagated by the BN in order to scare Sarawakians into continuing to support the BN and the Sarawak Chief Minister, Taib Mahmud.

Polls Reform Of ‘One-Man, One Vote, One-Value’ Shall Not Reduce The Number Or Proportion Of Parliamentary Seats In Sabah And Sarawak But Serves To Reduce Unfair Disparities That Devalues Democracy Within Both States.
19.   Secondly, we must continue to fight for electoral reform in the country and especially in Sabah and Sarawak. Tens of thousands of Sarawakians who are working in Peninsular Malaysia, but do not have the time nor the resources to go back home to Sarawak to vote have been effectively disenfranchised. Sarawakians who are living and working in Peninsular Malaysia, must be permitted to cast a postal ballot just like how Malaysians overseas who are already registered cast their votes as postal voters. Without this change, the turnout rate in Sarawak, which was 76% in GE2013, cannot be on par with turnout in Peninsular Malaysia, which was 86.5% in GE2013.

20.   We must also fight for the ‘one-man, one-vote, one-value principle’ in the upcoming re-delineation exercise so that the unfair advantages enjoyed by the BN can be somewhat reduced. The last re-delineation exercise in Sarawak was completed in 2005. Eight years on, in 2013, it is possible that the Election Commission (SPR / EC) may want to conduct this exercise for Sarawak as well. If the Sarawak review occurs this year, then we must push for the size of the disparity between voters per seat to be significantly reduced.

21.  Here I would like to stress that the present proportion of parliamentary seats allocated to Sabah and Sarawak shall not change, out of respect for the traditional rights of both states granted when they joined Malaya in 1963 to form the Federation of Malaysia. In other words, what we are seeking for is neither reducing the number of parliamentary seats nor reducing the proportion of parliamentary seats in a future enlarged Malaysian Parliament.

22.   Regardless of the number of parliament and state seats which may or may not be added, the obvious examples of unequal distribution of voters in seats WITHIN Sarawak is already a great cause of concern and a violation of the ‘one-man, one-vote, one-value’ principle. For example, we can no longer sustain having Stampin with 84000 voters on the one hand and Igan with a mere 17,815 voters (ratio of 4.75: 1). The same applies to the state seats as well where the largest seat, Pending, has more than 30,000 voters while the smallest, Ba’kelalan, has only slightly more than 7,000 voters, a ratio of 4.3 to 1.

23.     The focus here should be to reduce the size of these disparities. DAP appreciates that geography can be equally important as demography in a state as large as Sarawak. Accordingly DAP is proposing a special consideration of a maximum voter disparity between constituencies in both states of 100%, instead of the baseline 15% disparity that was in the original Merdeka Constitution of 1957 for Peninsular Malaysia.

Kick-off For The 2015 Sarawak General Elections
24.   Thirdly, we must kick off the next new phase by preparing for the coming state General Elections expected in 2015. Even though there is 2 years more to go, we have to strengthen our machinery into rural areas in a non-threatening and more persuasive manner. The important issues will again revolve around BN’s mercenary rule where resources are reserved for the few and when will Tan Sri Taib Mahmud retire as promised in the 2011 state general elections. The new Sarawak DAP Committee will be required to submit their election plans and preparation to the CEC.

25.     DAP Sarawak has already announced that it will plan to work the ground in an additional 23 non-Chinese majority seats in preparation for the next state general elections. We will be asking all DAP ADUNs and MP, especially the 128 non-Sarawak MPs and ADUNs, to actively assist in the rural areas to break down and dismantle Taib Mahmud’s and BN’s rural domination.


PR’s Ideals, Principles And People-Centric Policies Can Bring A Better Future.
26. Fourthly, we must focus of ideals, principles and people-centric policies to counter corruption, privileged interests and cronyism. Our challenge is to show rural Sarawak that our policies will make a positive difference in their lives. Rural Sarawak must be fully aware of the benefits of DAP’s proposed RM1 billion Dayak Endowment Fund. Many do not know how change matters and can make a better future for their children.

27. Whilst the 2013 general elections is an urban tsunami covering all races whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban, including Sarawak, we have to instill courage, Malaysian goodwill and hope to dispel the hatred, fear and even violence perpetuated by BN. For Sarawakians, the question is even more pressing to ensure that Sarawakians receive a fair share of their natural resources such as increasing the oil and royalty from the present miserly 5% given by BN’s Petronas to 20%.

28.   If DAP in Sarawak and in the rest of Malaysia can rise up to embrace these 4 challenges, I am confident that Sarawak will play a key role in ensuring that Pakatan wins a simple majority in the next general elections, in GE14. The key to opening the GE14 door is for Pakatan to break new ground in the 2015 Sarawak state elections as a precursor to Pakatan winning power in Putrajaya.

29.   Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin is going on a rampage to punish those who support PR, especially the Chinese community. This makes a mockery of democracy as people should not be punished for making a free choice. If PR can treat everyone fairly in the states we rule, why can’t BN behave like a Malaysian, and not like a bad bully that continues to discriminate and take political revenge?

30. The only alternative to have a bright future for Sarawak and Malaysia is to change the BN government. Let us prove that the power of the people is more powerful than those people in power. Have a good State Ordinary Convention and good luck to those elected leaders. You have a lot of work to do. Thank you.

Sarawak DAP to put more efforts on 20 rural areas, says Wong Ho Leng

Retiring Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng's speech at the State DAP's annual convention on June 9, 2013

We are proud that the PakatanRaykat gathered 51% of the popular votes on GE13 but because of gerrymandering and unfairness in the electoral system, the Pakatan Rakyat secured only 89 of the 222 seats in Parliament.

BN bagged 133seats in Parliament although it captured only 48% of the popular votes. There is nothing honourable about Najibforming the federal Government with only minority support.

Sarawak is rewarded by Najib in his federal cabinet but even the BN leaders in Sarawak are complaining about the portfolios held by Sarawak ministers and deputy ministers.

GE13 saw an improvement in the DAP. We have kept improving since GE12 in 2008 and 2011 Sarawak state election. We are now the 2nd largest political party in the country.

However, we should not rest on our laurels.We have not succeeded in toppling the corrupt BN regime.Where we failed, we must succeed in the next election. We owe it to the Malaysian people to replace the regime that is corrupt to the core.

We must get ready to face the state election in some 24 months. That will be the time when we must bid goodbye to the Taib administration.

We owe it to the Sarawak public that lives have to improve not only in the urban areas but also in the rural interiors of Sarawak. The recent Belagaboat tragedy speaks volume of the neglect of the interior Sarawak by the state Government, especially in areas like the lack of infrastructures such as roads. The rural interiors also do not have amenities such as water and electric supplies. These rural folks are victims of money politics played out by the BN politicians. We must give them better lives and inculcate in them better democratic ideals.

We have tremendous success in the urban constituencies. We see not only Chinese support but also Iban and Malay support at urban constituencies.

But to improve the overall lives of Sarawakians, we need a tsunami not only at the urban level but also from the rural constituencies. DAP Sarawak have identified 20 rural areas where we must put in more effort. Apart from that, we need to defend the 12 urban and semi-urban areas. We must cooperate with all opposition political parties, ie PKR, PAS and even SWP, to ensure that we break the threshold of the BN.

The party must inculcate better discipline among members. Winning elections is important but inculcating discipline at all branches is equally if not more important.

The MPs and ADUNs are expected to perform to the best of their abilities, in the manner expected of them by the Party and the electorates. The Party should not hesitate to replace underperforming wakil rakyat.


I have occupied the state Chair for 13 years. This is the time that I must let go and a new leadership takes over.I wish to thank the state committee and all the members for the cooperation rendered to me in the past 13 years. With the people’s support, the Party has achieved tremendous success, and I hope that the Party will scale greater heights under the new leadership. 

Friday 31 May 2013

Gawai speeches of CM Taib and DCM Jabu

UCAPAN GAWAI OLEH YAB KETUA MENTERI 2013
DIBACA OLEH DATUK PATINGGI TAN SRI JABU
DI RTM KUCHING PADA 31 MEI, 2013

SELAMAT GAWAI, SALAM 1MALAYSIA.
I give thanks to all the rakyat moreso those from the rural areas who fully understandand strongly rally behind the BN government which continue to win in the 13th GE on May 5 .
The win strongly reflected the strong support of Sarawak towards DatukPatinggiDato Seri Mohd. NajibTunRazak  as our Prime Minster to continue leading the country. This is the sign of the strength of the Sarawak people who are united, stable and understand that more and more funds will come from the Federal Government to pave the way for more developments for the benefit of the rakyat as promised by the Prime minister.
In Sarawak, the BN government allocated 70 percent annually to development from the overall budget  to expand the development programmes for the benefit of the rakyat especially those in the rural sector.
The objectives of the development programme is to enhance economy and eradicate poverty in the rural areas.
I am also very pleased to note that the rakyat in the rural sector is aware of the importance of education moreso when each year the performance of students increases and more achieved better results in the UPSR,PMR, SPM and STPM examinations.
These students will be the ones who will become highly educated to become future leaders to lead others towards better progress.
The state of Sarawak needs more man power and human resource who are highly educated to meet the demand of jobs being offered in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and other jobs statewide.
This is the reason why the government established six universities, technical colleges, vocational schools,  training institutes, youth training centers with the private sector to provide technical education and trainings to the people.

I believe that the new generation will compete with each other to attain higher education in order to contribute to the development of the state and the nation.-ENDS


UCAPAN GAWAI OLEH TIMBALAN KETUA MENTERI DATUK PATINGGI TAN SRI JABU
DI RTM KUCHING PADA 31 MEI, 2013

SELAMAT GAWAI, SALAM 1MALAYSIA

I notice that the rural community fully understand the need to strongly support the BN Government which has good programmes and strategy to develop the state and uplift the people’s living standard and to ensure the young generation have the opportunity to be educated up to the tertiary level including in technical education to guarantee their future.
As our state is stable, I am very pleased that rural parents acknowledged the importance of continuous support to the government and thank you for the increasing support from the rural areas.
The BN government would not despair the people and would repay their good deeds with the relevant development plans and programmes which beneficial to you all.
We are very lucky as we have the Prime Minister DatukPatinggiDato Seri Mohd. NajibTunRazak   and the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud who are both talented and kind in the BN to understand the kind of hardship being faced by the people living in the rural sector.
The government is committed to enhance the income of the people in the rural sector and as such, the people must sustain the prevailing peace and harmony that we enjoyed now so that the development programmes could be expedited in the rural sector.
We have eight years to reach the year 2020, and so the people must work harder, give education to your children and grandchildren and to maintain our peace, harmony and political stability. -ENDS



Three law bodies condemn Sabah govt for banning Nurul Izzah's entry

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Respect the Federal Constitution:
Sabah State Government Must Cease and Desist from Imposing Entry Bans
The three Bars of Malaysia —Sabah Law Association, Advocates’ Association of Sarawak
and Malaysian Bar — deplore the denial of entry of NurulIzzah Anwar, a Member of
Parliament, into Sabah, upon landing in Kota Kinabalu on 30 May 2013, which was during
the PestaKaamatan celebrations.
By deploying this drastic measure, the Sabah State Government is flouting the guarantee of
freedom of movement that is enshrined in Article 9 of the Federal Constitution, which
provides that “every citizen has the right to move freely throughout the Federation”.
Although the Sabah State Government has the statutory right to restrict entry, this power
must be used sparingly, and only with justifiable cause.
The three Bars of Malaysia call on the Sabah State Government to immediately rescind the
entry ban that it has imposed, and to cease and desist from resorting to such action without
any justifiable cause. We urge the Malaysian Government to take concrete measures to
safeguard each citizen’s right to travel within his or her own land without hindrance.
G B B Nandy @ Gaanesh
President
Sabah Law Association
Khairil Azmi bin Mohamad Hasbie
President
Advocates’ Association of Sarawak
Christopher Leong
President
Malaysian Bar
31 May 2013

Taib Mahmud's winding up speech at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly on May 29, 2013

Tuan Speaker, this year, marks the 50th Anniversary of Sarawak‟s Independence
from Britain by joining with Malaya and Sabah together with Singapore to form the
federation of Malaysia. Sarawakians, on Malaysia Day is the 16 September 1963 were
freed from colonialization.
From that day, we Sarawakians are in charge of our own destiny. We adopted a system of parliamentary democracy with elections for the State Legislative Assembly and Federal Parliament conducted at regular five year‟s interval.
During each election, there have been free and enthusiastic participation by all political
parties including those from the Opposition. The citizens in Sarawak make their choice
and give their mandate to the political party that wins a majority to govern the state of
Sarawak.
The electoral choice before the rakyat has since the first direct election in 1970,
been between the service or track record of the governing party, namely Barisan
Nasional seeking a renewed mandate from the people. Hence, the promises and
grouses from the Opposition parties. The voting preferences made by the citizens of this
country, free from the control of any external influences. The political parties involved
are all registered as Malaysian organizations. That is the essence of the exercise of
sovereign power by the people of a free and independent nation like Malaysia.
Since the State Election of 2006, however, a new phenomenon has surfaced.
External groups without any mandate from the people of Sarawak have carried out
activities intended to influence the outcome of our general election, both at State and
Parliamentary level to undermine or cause to collapse of the elected leadership of the
State Government. Their motivation is purportedly their concern about the governance of
the state and the alleged plight of the indigenous people but if what they do is subjected
to impartial and careful analysis, their hidden agenda could clearly be discerned and that
is to cause political instability, halt the development momentum and the economic
growth that Sarawak has achieved since Malaysia Day, under its own democratically
elected Government. And above all to install a Government in Sarawak that would be
indebted to them and those who funded their despicable activities behind the fascade of
these external forces is their plan to make Sarawak subservient to their agenda and
those of their financiers.
To me, this is a disguised attempt to introduce a disgust form of a
recolonialization. This external group, I am referring to include the Global Witness, the
Bruno Manser Fund, Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak. None of these
organizations are registered in or are operating in Sarawak.
They are not established by Sarawakians or at the request of Sarawakians. These groups together with their cohorts specialize in making malicious allegations to smear the State Government and its
leaders including myself. Their scandalous publications normally appear just before a
state election or a federal election. Such timing cannot be just pure coincidence, Tuan
Speaker.
From December 2010 till April 2011, that is in the run up to the state General
Election in May 2011. A series of articles were published in a Sarawak Report a news
portal publishing from England by residents of that country. These articles made
sensational allegations about „land grab‟, wealth accumulations and indulgence in
corrupt practices by myself and some of my Ministers.


These allegations were repeatedly aired by Radio Free Sarawak, a radio station founded by a British woman and broadcasting from outside Malaysia. At that time I did not want to dignify these
irresponsible purveyors of malicious falsehoods by responding to their allegations which
I am fully aware were entirely baseless. As example, it was a less that I have bank
accounts in Switzerland but at my request even the Swiss Authorities have not been
able to find any account. That is attributed to me.
Then when Petronas awarded a contract to a company within the Rimbunan
Hijau Group, which was allegedly friendly to me, to explore oil and gas of Bintulu, I was
accused for being involved in the award of that contract. As everyone knows Petronas is
not under my control or subject to my authority.
Yet such frivolous accusations were made against me very much in defiant of what the truth was. However, the opposition particularly the DAP and PKR decided to use these false allegations in an attempt to gain political mileage even to the extent of freely distributing thousands of transistor
radios and leaflets to the people especially in the rural areas so that there could be wide
dissemination of these foreign generated falsehoods.
In view of this, like any true believer in democracy, I decided to submit myself to
the judgment of our voters, who know me and what I am like, through my service to this
state for more than 30 years and after undergoing at least Seven State Election beside
the federal elections.
The outcome of the State Election 2011 was that the State Barisan Nasional won
not only the popular votes but more than two third in fact more than three fourth of the
seats of this august House. By any standard this cannot be dismissed as anything but a
super majority itself. The party that I belong to PBB recorded 100% success in all the
seats it fielded candidates. The State Election of 2011 must have been free and fair
because there was not a single election petition filed to challenge any of the results for
the seats won by the State Barisan Nasional.
The rakyat of Sarawak had in 2011 election given unequivocally their verdict on
the allegations made by this foreign organization and media. They had comprehensively
rejected these allegations and the blatant attempts inspired by foreigners to cause the
downfall of the State Barisan Nasional leadership. These foreigners not only failed, but I
think they failed miserably. They should have realized what they are doing particularly to
paint a very bad picture of the State government and cast it leadership in very poor light,
had been unconvincing and largely ignored by the voters who know better about our
leadership here in our government from person‟s knowledge.
The State government under my leadership had clearly mandate to govern until the next State Election. I am grateful for the support of the people of Sarawak and will continue to serve them based
on the mandate they have given to me and my government in 2011.
I have every right to reject the shameless and unethical campaign by some of the
opposition Members that I should resign as Chief Minister. The DAP does not have the
mandate and the blessing from the people of Sarawak to make such a call and therefore
I chose to ignore it, as it deserve to be.
Just before the recent Parliamentary Election in March this year, Global Witness, a London based organization which links to Bruno Manser Fund and a Foundation promoted by an internationally renowned currency speculator, broadcast video tapes on conversations between its hired so-called
“investigator” Andrew Stewart, and some Sarawakians including two of my cousins.
Through an unscrupulous process of entrapment and leading questions from the hired
investigator, opinions were expressed by individuals about how land for plantation were
alienated in Sarawak and the schemes by those who obtained such land to maximize
quick profits and fraudulently avoided Malaysian income tax. Even a newly qualified
lawyer would understand that such illicitly procured evidence from unsuspecting third
parties could not stand up to the basic standard of proof of guilt before judicial tribunal
against any person they were referring to. We can in fact, dismiss it as pure hearsay if
you are a trained lawyer.
The opposition, especially the DAP gleefully disseminated these tapes and their contents. Again, I permitted myself to be judged by the people through their votes which is eminently going to be casted in the Parliamentary Election.
In the recently concluded Parliamentary Election, the State Barisan Nasional, led
by myself, won 25 out of the 31 seats, more than two-third of the Parliamentary seats in
Sarawak. Three Oppositions… (Interruption)
Tuan Speaker: The Chief Minister is making a defense. Let‟s hear the Chief Minister
first. Listen to Chief Minister first. Proceed, proceed.
Ketua Menteri Sarawak (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): You listen
to what I say first, and you will know where you will be. Three opposition candidates who
were fond of making land grab allegations against the Government and launching NCR
land cases in Court relating to plantation land, failed by wide margins to be elected in
Limbang, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman.
The only interpretation of the result of the parliamentary votes, is that the people of Sarawak overwhelmingly rejected the allegations made by Global Witness and had expressed their utter disgust against foreign interference and manipulation in their affairs of an independent and free people
of Sarawak. The voters have also shown that those who willingly allowed themselves to
be conduits for foreign malicious falsehoods, cannot be entrusted with the powers to
govern and independent sovereign country like Malaysia.
After the release of the Global Witness tapes, there were calls by the Opposition
that I should be investigated for so-called crimes revealed by those tapes. Whilst I do
not fear investigation, so that the truth can be fully unearthed, the Opposition who
claimed to champion civil or human rights, do not even feel that I am entitled to that well
and entrenched legal principle-the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a
Court of Law. At the behest of the foreign forces, they wanted to proclaim guilt by
staging their political drama that I must immediately resign so that the State Government
would be thrown into the dis-array and the agenda of the foreign forces be accomplished.
Notwithstanding the electorate‟s emphatic rejection of what was revealed in the
Global Witness tapes, DAP Members, in particular the Honourable Member for Kota
Sentosa, have continued to refer to those tapes as if they contained the gospel truth. In
the past, I gave him the benefit of the doubt due to his lack of understanding of State
Government financial procedures and system.
But, his repetitious harping on allegations made by external media and organizations just before the State General Election of 2011 and the recent Parliamentary Poll has convinced me that his plain malicious intent to cause considerable damage to the reputation of the Government and the integrity of
its financial system.
Through his abrasive style of politicking, he not only lowered the dignity of this
august House, but also tries to create distrust amongst the people for those who have
been legitimately given the mandate by the Rakyat to govern this State. By the manner
he continuously articulated his arguments inside and outside this august House, based
on their allegations in the foreign media and promoted by foreign organizations, he
maliciously sought to achieve what he miserably failed to attain at General Elections to
change the Government.
To Honourable Member for Kota Sentosa … (Interruption)
Ketua Menteri Sarawak (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): Sit down, I
don‟t give way to you. You have proven yourself not to be a fair and level headed
Speaker in this House. To the Honourable Member for Kota Sentosa, I would asked him
to seriously reflect in the spirit of Sarawakian patriotism on what I have said about the
blatant and continues interference and manipulation by foreigners and foreigner
organizations in the affairs of our state and to hit the unmistakable message of the vast
majority of our people to reject the sinister activities of these people who have no
mandate to publish all these malicious false hoods against the State Government and its
duly elected leaders.
So long as they are Sarawakians like you guys in the Opposition who persist in
being willing tools for the dissemination of these false and or exaggerated allegations,
the State is at risk of becoming subservient to these foreign manipulators with potential
dire economic, social and political consequences. The State Government has already
instituted … (Interruptions)
Ketua Menteri Sarawak (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): Listen to the
next one. Listen to the next one. The State Government has already instituted legal
action against the Honourable Member for Kota Sentosa for declamanation pertaining
for what he said outside this august House on the State Budgetary and Financial
system. I hope you remember that.
For myself, I will consider filing court proceedings against him unless within the next three months he apologises for the defamatory words uttered against me outside and inside this august House, which containined false and malicious allegations about my administration of the State. He must be aware of what he had said about me and I will leave it to the good conscience, to his own good conscience
to decide if he would withdraw those allegations and duly apologise.
Tuan Speaker, I have now decided to deal with the activities of the external
forces and the elements after the Rakyat in Sarawak has passed the judgment at the
2011 State General Election and the recent Parliamentary Election, against these
foreign interference and manipulation of our affairs by overwhelming rejecting the
allegations made against me and my Government.
I fully understand that as a Member of the Executive arm of Government and as
an elected representative for the people of Balingian, I am accountable to this august
House. Hence, on 14th May, 2007, I made a Personal Statement in this Dewan under
Standing Order 22 on allegations published in the Japan Times but reproduced in
Malaysiakini that I had been a beneficiary of illegal payments made by members of a
Japanese Shipping Cartel for the shipment of timber logs from Sarawak to Japan. In my
Personal Statement I categorically denied these allegations. Japan Times subsequently
published a clarification that the Inland Revenue Service in Tokyo had confirmed that
these payments were legitimate expenses and not illegal payments and withdrew the
allegations against me.
Consequently, Malaysiakini, in January 2012, tendered an unqualified apology to me in the KL High Court for publishing these baseless allegations against me. I have been vindicated when the truth was exposed!
Also, when issues such as the award of Government contract to Titanium Sdn.
Bhd, a company wherein one of my sons has an interest, for the replacement and
building of rural bridges, and the payments made to the Company by the Government,
were raised in this august House, my Ministers gave detailed explanation in response to
those issues which rejected compressively any improper practice. This can be seen from
the Dewan;s Hansard dated 28th November, 2006, 27th November, 2007 and 21st May,
2010.
I wish to inform and assure this august House that I have not placed myself in
any position or situation of conflict of interests; and in cases where my family or relatives
were involved, I have consistently refrained from participation in the making of decisions
affecting them.
I do not favor relatives in matters involving them and the State. An example is the case concerning the revocation of Timber Licence T/2079 issued to Keruntum Sendirian Berhad. My cousin, Norlia binti Tun Abdul Rahman, has an interest in this company and in the management of its logging operations. Neither the Government nor I agreed to any compromise over the case when the matter came up
for hearing in the Court of Appeal in March this year. As a result, the appellate Court
upheld the Judgment of the High Court which ruled that the revocation of the said was
valid and lawful. Keruntum has now decided to take its case to the Federal Court.
In respect of Keruntum case, the Law must be allowed to take its course even though it
involves my own cousins.
I will respect and honour the principle of my accountability to this august House
and to the people of Sarawak who have repeatedly given me the mandate to lead the
Government of this State since 1981 over a period of seven State Elections. Neither the
State Government nor I am accountable to the foreign NGO‟s and foreign reporters or
broadcasters. Neither would I allow them to try to hold me accountable for matters
concerning my administration of the State. To respond or react to what they wrote about
me would be to acknowledge that they have a right to interfere in or participate in the
affairs of this country.
I cannot compromise the sovereignty of the country by engaging with these
foreign elements, and I hope this is understood by most of or if not all my colleagues
who have been elected to this House, perhaps to Parliament.

Friday 17 May 2013

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.





Thursday 16 May 2013

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

Wednesday 8 May 2013

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