Jabu backs DAP to reduce electricity tariffs?

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, May 16, 2014: Did Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang know what he was talking about or did he unconsciously give his support to the DAP signature campaign to reduce electricity tariffs in Sarawak?

If he does not support the campaign, why did he question the DAP for excluding the Iban language in the signature campaign pamphlet?

This is puzzling, to say the least.

Many state legislators and the media covering the last day of sitting of the State Legislative Assembly yesterday were surprised at the way he condemned the DAP for not using Iban as one of the languages in the pamphlets for the signature campaign.

"We have heard Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa (Chong Chieng Jen) in his speech in this august House on May 7, 2014 where he has said, throughout DAP signature campaign on electricity tariffs reduction, purposely omitted the use of Iban Language from the pamphlets.

"It appears on this Hansard...English, Bahasa Malaysia English were used but not Iban.

 "The Iban community has expressed to me as to why DAP has purposely neglected the use of Iban Language in their signature campaign for electricity tariff reduction.

"It is, therefore, very clear that Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa does not respect the Iban Community, hence he has chosen to ignore the importance of Iban Language to be used in the form

for their signature campaign.

"The Iban Community has every reason to be angry with DAP because DAP does not respect the use of Iban Language.

"I must remind the Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa that Iban Language is recognised by our Malaysian Government as a language which has the same status as Mandarin as secondary langugage that can be taught in school and yet Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa and DAP have blatantly chosen to ignore the inclusion of Iban language in their pamphlets.

"Where is the so called sincerity of DAP to the Iban community? This is downright ridicule and the part of DAP to the Iban community. The big question is why does DAP purposely choose to exclude Iban language from their signature campaign.

"The Iban community now fully understand the elusive attitude, the discriminative attitude of DAP against the use of Iban language," Jabu said.

Jabu said that it is very clear that DAP, especially DAP leader Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa, does not respect the importance of the use of Iban language in his signature campaign for electricity tariff.

"The Iban community feels deeply hurt by this irresponsible act by the DAP.

"I recall the DAP Yang Berhormat for Repok, in the past sitting at Dewan Undangan Negeri, has been reminded by me for his lack of concern and lack of DAP concern for the use of Iban language to put on labelling a pesticide when he is only concerned that only Mandarin to be additional language to be used on pesticide labelling.

"A repetition omitting the used on Iban language by DAP especially on his public campaign is a gross insult to the Iban community.

"Because of blatant neglect and insulting attitude party DAP by not respecting the importance of the use of our Iban language, I have been assured by the Ibans and Dayak Communities that the Ibans will reject any attempt by DAP to bring DAP brand of negative politics into the rural areas.

"The Dayak people know how to defend their political fortress against DAP and the Dayak people will continue to work together with all the multiracial peace loving people including peace loving people

from the Chinese community throughout Sarawak for stability, peace, harmony to achieve progress and prosperity throughout Barisan Nasional," Jabu said.