BN leaders have failed to look after the interests and rights of Sarawakians, charges Baru Bian

Kuching, Sept 16, 2012: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has accused the Barisan Nasional leaders of falling asleep when they are supposed to look after the rights and interests of Sarawakians.

“Those leaders who were meant to take care of our interests have been asleep on their watch,” he said in his speech at the Malaysia Day celebration at Chonglin Park here.

He said the rights and interests of Sarawakians, which the founding fathers were so eager to safeguard and which were inscribed in the Malaysian Agreement,  had been insidiously chipped away over the past years.

He stressed that when Sarawak and Sabah agreed to form the Federation of Malaysia, along with Malaya and Singapore some 49 years ago, our forefathers had a firm belief that this federation would be a real partnership, striving together for their mutual security, development and prosperity.

“Our forefathers greeted that day with huge dreams and mighty aspirations.

“Sarawak and Sabah being lands rich with oil, timber, gold, fertile lands and a harmonious and hardworking people, they had everything to look forward to.

“The future was brimming with the promise of a federation of vibrant, thriving countries, populated by happy, healthy and secure peoples of various races and ethnicities,” he added.

“But after 49 years we ask ourselves:

“Does every citizen benefit from the immense wealth of our country? Does everyone have access to the basic amenities of this modern era such as electricity, clean water and proper healthcare?  

“Are our lands and heritage being protected for the future generations? Are our children receiving the best educational opportunities? Are our Sarawakian and Sabahan workers highly skilled and meaningfully employed?

“Have the dreams of our founding fathers been realized?  Or have those dreams turned into nightmares for countless people who call this once ‘fair land’ Sarawak home?

“Why are we constantly saying ‘Barang naik, barang naik’ and finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet?

“Why are the Malays of Kampung Sampadi unhappy that the surrounding lands where they ‘cari makan’ were included in a lease issued to a company owned by outsiders?

“Why are the Ibans of Melikin still struggling to defend their ancestral lands from the marauding plantation companies?

“Why are the Kayans  and Kenyahs of Baram fighting to stop the drowning of their lands by the dam builders?

“Why are the people of Bakun still waiting for compensation for the lands taken from them almost 13 years ago?

“What happened to our lands, forests, our trees and natural resources?” he asked.

“Tragically, the betrayers of the people are not strangers but our own leaders,” he said.

“And so today, the native landowners have lost their lands, their heritage and their birthright. The citizens of Sarawak and Sabah have lost the elements of control over their own destiny, elements for which our founding fathers meticulously negotiated,” Baru added.

He said he has a vision of a government led by humble leaders who serve the rakyat with integrity,never forgetting that they are but the servants of the people on whose goodwill and co-operation they are entirely dependent.

“In my vision, our schools teach a first rate curriculum and our children are given every opportunity to acquire skills and qualifications to properly prepare them to face the challenges of life.

“In my vision, the government provides safe and adequate infrastructure for the people and sound policies for economic development and growth.

“In my vision, the airwaves and television screens carry balanced and accurate news so that the people are properly informed.

“In my vision, the people are free to practice the religion of their choosing without any interference from the authorities.

“In my vision, the sick and infirm are given the best medical care.

“In my vision, Sarawakians and Malaysians of all races who have the determination and drive are given equal opportunity to succeed and prosper.

“I am told by the nay-sayers that I can only continue to dream about bringing a change to the lives of the poor and the marginalized. Those who have the most to lose are fearful of change and therefore pour scorn on my dreams, my hopes and my vision.

“But I know all of you who are standing here today share my dreams. I know that the people in the far reaches of the interior hills, from Long Semadoh in Ba’ Kelalan to Kampung Rejoi-Nyegolin the Bengoh ranges share my dreams.

“I know that the people of the rivers, from Kapit on the Rejang River to Marudi on the Baram River share my dreams. I know that the people of the towns, from Lundu in the East to Limbang in the West share my dreams.

“The dreams of our forefathers may have been crushed by the ruthless and greedy pretenders who came in the night. But we, the people of Sarawak are a resilient people.

“We now reject the nightmare inflicted upon us by those who have stolen from us. We have begun to revive the dreams that were dreamt for us by those who came before us.

“Your presence here today is testament to my unshakable belief that we all share the same dreams, that we will play our part to ensure that our beautiful country is a place where peace and prosperity prevails, where justice and fairness and equality are the right of every citizen,” he said.

He said that the leaders from Pakatan Rakyat have wholeheartedly consented to honour the Malaysian Agreement that was signed by our forefathers which, up until today, the government has preferred to ignore.

He added that spirit of the Kuching Declaration is ignited and will continue to glow in our hearts as a constant hope and indeed of the promise, of better days to come. By Sematong Express

 

The Kuching Declaration signed by Pakatan Rakyat leaders

THE KUCHING DECLARATION

L

EST WE FORGET, AND LEST ALL THE PEOPLES OF OUR GREAT NATION OF MALAYSIA FORGET, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, DO ONCE AGAIN FIRMLY, RESOLUTELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY PLEDGE AND PROMISE BEFORE THE WHOLE NATION OF MALAYSIA AS OUR WITNESSES, ON THIS HISTORIC DAY THE 16^TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2012, IN THE CITY OF KUCHING, AND ON BEHALF OF OUR RESPECTIVE PARTIES AND PAKATAN RAKYAT AS A WHOLE, THAT WHEN WE FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA, PAKATAN RAKYAT WILL HONOUR ALL ITS PLEDGES AND PROMISES TO THE PEOPLES OF MALAYSIA.

W

E WILL HONOURABLY EXECUTE ALL THE POLICIES SET FORTH IN THE BUKU JINGGA SO THAT MALAYSIA WILL ONCE AGAIN  BE A GREAT NATION, HER PEOPLES PROSPEROUS, HER FUTURE SECURE AND PEACEFUL, AND HER NAME CELEBRATED BY ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD.

W

E WILL HONOUR THE SPIRIT OF THE MALAYSIA AGREEMENT OF 1963 WHICH OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PUT THEIR HANDS TO, AND AS A SIGN OF OUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLES OF SARAWAK AND SABAH, CONSISTENT WITH DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND JUSTICE FOR ALL MALAYSIANS, IN PARTICULAR:

ARTICLE ONE: EQUAL PARTNERS

We will restore the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement and the position of Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners within Malaysia by restoring autonomy to Sarawak and Sabah within the framework of the Federal Constitution.

ARTICLE TWO: FAIR REPRESENTATION

We will increase national integration between Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia through a fair power-sharing arrangement that fully upholds the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement.

ARTICLE THREE: CITIZENSHIP

We will set up a Royal Commission to solve the perennial national problem of illegal immigration and citizenship, particularly in Sarawak and Sabah.

           

ARTICLE FOUR: RESTORATION OF NATIVE CUSTOMARY RIGHTS OVER LAND

We will endorse the authority already vested in the State Laws of Sarawak and Sabah to set up Land Commissions to investigate, resolve disputes, redress, survey and restore Native Customary Rights over Native Customary Lands.

ARTICLE FIVE: COMPETENT SARAWAK AND SABAH

We will endorse the appointment of Sarawak and Sabah citizens to head Government Departments in their own respective States and by the powers vested in the State Secretaries of both States as well as give first priority to the appointment of Sarawak and Sabah citizens at Federal Government level functioning within Sarawak and Sabah.

ARTICLE SIX: OIL JUSTICE

We will raise the royalties paid on petroleum and hydrocarbon resources to Sarawak and Sabah to 20% from the present 5%.

ARTICLE SEVEN: EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT

We will bring the level of infrastructure development in Sarawak and Sabah up to par with Peninsular Malaysia.

           

W

E, the undersigned, MAKE THIS DECLARATION AS AN INCONTROVERTIBLE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PAKATAN RAKYAT AND THE PEOPLES OF MALAYSIA, THIS HISTORIC DAY OF 16^TH SEPTEMBER, 2012, ON MALAYSIA DAY, SO THAT IT MAY RING OUT RESOUNDINGLY From MALAYSIA’S high forest hills Down to the open sea; SO THAT freedom MAY ever reign; AND OUR PEOPLES Live in Unity!

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Declaration, and all the peoples of Malaysia being witnesses thereof.

Done at Kuching, this 16th day of September, 2012, in six copies of which one shall be deposited with each of the signatories.

For People’s Justice Party (KEADILAN)

Y.B. Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Ketua Umum

For Democratic Action Party (DAP)

Y.B. Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Leader

For Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS)

Y.B. Dato’ Seri Hj. Abdul Hadi Awang, President

For People’s Justice Party (KEADILAN)

Y.B. Baru Bian, Chairman, PKR Sarawak

For Democratic Action Party (DAP)

Y.B. WONG HO LENG, Chairman, DAP Sarawak

For Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS)

tuan haji adam BIN AHID, State Commissioner, PAS Sarawak

With or without PR leaders from Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysia Day do at Chonglin Park is still on

Kuching, Sept 15, 2012: Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has expressed its concern that PR leaders from Peninsular Malaysia may be stopped from entering Sarawak to attend tomorrow’s Malaysia Day celebration at Chonglin Park, Tabuan Road.

The fear was expressed following the ban on the entry of 14 PR leaders, without any reason given,  from entering Sabah yesterday.

They were to attend the countdown of the Malaysia Day celebration in Kota Kinabalu tonight.

After attending the countdown, they were to fly to Kuching for celebration in Kuching.

 “We are extremely concerned that these leaders, who will be flying to Kuching tomorrow,  may be denied entry to Sarawak as well.

“We want to inform the public that even if these leaders are banned from Sarawak, our Malaysia Day celebration tomorrow is still on as planned at Chonglin Park, between 3pm and 7pm,” said Sarawak PKR information chief Vernon Kedit to reporters today.

“We are prepared for the worse,” he said.

Sarawak DAP secretary and Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Chong Chieng Jen said that one of the most biggest ironies in the history of Malaysia is  that on the eve of Malaysia Day celebration, “our friends from Peninsular Malaysia were denied entry into Sabah.”

“I surely hope that such idiotic move or action will not be repeated by the Sarawak state government.

“We, from PR, surely uphold the principle of the Malaysian Agreement whereby Sarawak and Sabah have autonomy over immigration, but such autonomy should not be abused to deny political leaders from Peninsular Malaysia from entering the two states.

“The authorities must show evidence that these people have criminal records or past criminal convictions before the authorities can deny them to come.

“If these people do not have records or the tendencies to do criminal acts, then why should they be denied the entry?” he asked.

“If it is purely for political reasons, then the autonomy on immigration is not intended to be used just to consolidate the political power of the Barisan Nasional, and I think that this is surely an abuse of the immigration autonomy,” he said.

Chong said denying people from entering Sarawak or Sabah for legitimate political activities is against the intention of the signatories  of the Malaysian Agreement.

“I am quite sure, by doing so, the Barisan will antagonise more people, and I urge the Sarawak government not to repeat the folly of the Sabah government.

“I call upon Sarawakians to come to the Malaysia Day celebration at Chonglin Park tomorrow afternoon,” he said.

Sarawak PKR vice chairman See Chee How said it is important that this celebration must be a success as Sarawak is the host.

He said guests from as far as Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah are most welcome to attend.

“But, of course, we uphold the principle of the immigration autonomy. There are safeguards provided under the Immigration Act for Sarawak and Sabah, but people coming in for legitimate social events or activities should not be stopped.

“I hope that the Sarawak State Security Office will not abuse the immigration powers by denying PR leaders from coming to Sarawak,” he said.

Kedit, meanwhile,  said that it is grossly unfair to deny PR leaders who want to come and celebrate Malaysia Day in Kuching, but the Barisan Nasional are allowed to come and celebrate Malaysia Day in Bintulu.

He said that the organising committee has some plan ready in case the PR leaders, including PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Pas president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang are not allowed to enter Sarawak to attend the Malaysia Day celebration.

“Regardless of what happen, the celebration will still be on,” he said.

Kedit said a special area will be allocated for the bloggers and another area for the media.

Chong said the unveiling of the Kuching Declaration will still take place and that “other ways” will be available for the three top leaders of PR to sign the declaration before releasing it to the public and through social media and the Internet.

“The signing could be done electronically,” he said.

The declaration will be made available in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Iban.

He said  Chief  Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, having over 30 years experience in politics, will not be so silly as Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman to deny PR leaders from entering Sarawak.

Asked whether the Sarawak and Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders are scared of the PR leaders, Chong said that is an understatement.

“If the Barisan is not scared of PR forming the next federal government,  the 13^th general election would have been held a long time ago. Reading at the sentiments of the Barisan leaders, they are certainly scared,” he added.

“That is why you see a lot of irrational actions by the BN supporters, like promoting political gangsterism and  splashing of the PR van and the DAP headquarters with red paint,” he said.

Chong said when the Barisan was strong, there was nobody to splash red paint or any underhand tactics against PR.

“Then suddenly, we have these political underhand tactics happening. Why? Because we have become strong and the Barisan leaders are scared of us,” he said. By Sematong Express

Chong puts the blame on Umno-friendly cyber troopers for the hate postings on Facebook

Kuching, Sept 12, 2012: Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen has accused Umno-friendly cyber troopers behind the hate postings on the Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak Facebook page.

But Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian expressed his hope that the police will prove themselves to be efficient in conducting their investigating into the hate postings.

 Picture right: Simon Siah (left) talking to reporters after lodging the police report.

“They must immediately start their investigation. Lately, they are very quick on matters involving Opposition politicians,” Baru, the State Assemblyman, said today.

He said both Barisan Nasional and Opposition politicians should act together to call for a speedy police investigation and action against those involved in the hate postings.

“The postings depict Sarawakians as a whole in a bad light,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chong put the blame on pro-Umno cyber troopers for creating ill-wills and tensions with the hate postings.

Picture left: Simon Siah (left) and Wong King Wei with their police reports.

“The style of writing and presentation (found on Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak Facebook page) is very similar to (the ones done by) Umno-friendly cyber troopers,” he said.

He said he is giving the authorities three days to complete their investigations into the reports lodged by Sarawak DAP Youth and Sarawak PKR Youth wings with the police .

“In the cyber world, three days are equivalent to a century,” he added, stating that if the authorities fail to nab the culprits, the conclusion is that the postings on the Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak Facebook page come from Umno-friendly cyber troopers.

“I hope that there is no cover up in the investigation,” he said.

In a statement after lodging the police report, Sarawak PKR Youth vice chairman Simon Siah said the contents of postings are racist and discriminatory in nature, aimed at Sarawakians and in particular, the Dayak community and Christians.

He said several comments referred to Sarawakians as animals, like pigs and monkeys, and the administrator of Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak event suggested that Sarawakians are smelly and living an immoral lifestyle.

“The Sarawak PKR Youth takes this issue seriously and urges the authorities, especially the police to investigate into the hate postings before they become dividing factors between Sarawakians and Peninsular Malaysians,” Siah said.

Siah, who is a personal assistant to Batu Lintang State Assemblyman See Chee How, noted that one of the postings seems to suggest that the admin could be UMNO cyber trooper or an UMNO supporter.

“The posting states “at the next election, people should vote for the party UMNO Sarawak…this is not a threat, if you do not choose your UMNO party, we will remove it from the Federation of Malaysia…realised you could be poorer without Malaysia.”

Siah said PKR Youth called upon the people to assist the police to ensure that the mastermind behind the hate postings can be apprehended regardless of their political inclinations.

He said that the hate postings must be stopped “because we are living in a country which is multiracial and everyone has high respect for each other.”

Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP Youth chief Wong King Wei said the contents of Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak can create ill-feelings in a multiracial society, and between the people of Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

“For example, drawing a crucifix and writing the word “Babi” on the Sarawak flag are seditious.

“It is also seditious to ask Sarawak to go out of Malaysia,” Wong, who is also the Padungan State Assemblyman, said, adding that the admin of the Facebook also posted words deemed as insulting the Sarawakians. By Sematong Express

A test of will between Najib and Taib - who will last longer politically?

 

 

 

Bau, Sept 9, 2012: Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang analysed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is importence and inability to enforce the timetable for the stepping down of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud.

 

"This is one noteworthy consequence from Najib's continuous vacilation and postponement of the general election," Lim said at a DAP political gathering here last night.

 

 

He recalled that Najib had invested a lot of energy and political capital to get Taib to agree to a timetable to pass the baton of Sarawak Chief Minister before the Sarawak state general election on April 16, 2011.

He said that on March 19 last year, for instance, Najib made the announcement in Serian that Taib would step down as Chief Minister when the time was right, that he and Taib had reached an understanding on when the transition of power would take place.

He quoted Najib as saying:" Leave the succession plan to me and the Chief Minister. We know when time is right to make the change in Sarawak.  We know and I can assure you that the Chef Minister is ready.

"When the time comes, he is ready to leave the stage and we have a very good understanding when that is going to happen., : Lim quoted Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, as telling reporters.

Three weeks later, Najib was more specific, promising Sarawak voters at a Barisan Nasional election function in Kuching that Taib would step down as promised, declaring: "I have discussed with the Sarawak CM and he has agreed to have a leadership change in Sarawak. Believe me, in me, at the right timing, this will be done."

When pressed at the time, Taib equivocated although he finally mentioned "two years" as the timeframe of his stepping down as Sarawak Chief Minister after the Sarawak state general election on April 16, 2011.

Taib's two-year timeframe to step down as Sarawak Chief Minister will be up in seven months' time but there are absolutely no signs that he is prepared and ready to honour his understanding and undertaking with Najib to effect a transition of power in Sarawak.

In fact, all the signs point to the opposite, as Taib seems to be ensconced to complete his full term as Chief Minister.

This explains Taib's speech earlier yesterday that there is no need to speed up leadership change as the people of Sarawak were able to "enjoy peace, political stability and organised development".

It would appear that Taib's speech yesterday is specially meant for Najib's ears, with the unmistakable message that he is not going to honour his understanding with the Prime Minister on stepping down as Chief Minister.

A test of will between Taib and Najib is currently underway, with Taib thumbing his nose at the Prime Minister, defying Najib to see who could last longer politically.

Taib is confident that Najib is too weak politically to try to enforce their understanding before the 416 Sarawak state general election to be Sarawak Chief Minister for only two years.

Najib will be leading the entire Federal Cabinet to Bintulu for the Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16.  

This will also be the most appropriate occasion to clarify whether his understanding with Taib on the latter's stepping down as Sarawak Chief Minister two years after the Sarawak state general elections still stands, so whether it has "Gone with the Wind"!

Lim, meanwhile, urged the people to make Bau history in the general election for Pakatan Rakyat.

"Bau is famous when Pandelela Rinong, a Bidayuh from Bau, won a London Olympics bronze medal in diving. So next let Bau make history in this upcoming election," Lim, who is also the DAP adviser, said.

He said that the whole country, including Bau, has been waiting has

been waiting impatiently for the 13th General Election for close to two years, with many expecting it to fall on 11.11.2011 or "11.11.11" in view of Najib's special preference for "11".

Lim said he did not think that the prime minister is ready because of the BN's internal problems, the latest being the defection of two MPs in Sabah at the end of July.

"Najib feared and has a total lack of confidence in his own ability to lead UMNO/BN to victory in Putrajaya  in the 13th GE, hence the postponement," he said.

"Now, all speculation of 13GE date is again focused on Najib's favourite number of "11" - November this year, ranging from Nov 3 to Nov. 29.  

"There seems to be greater credibility this time, as the de facto Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir has given his blessings for November general election although he had earlier warned  of dire consequences to UMNO if the13th General Election was called before UMNO was ready.

"But whether the 13th GE is called in November or not, time is running out for Najib. Under the Constitution, the present Parliament will stand automatically dissolved on April 27, 2013, or in less than eight months' time - i.e. five years from the first sitting of the present Parliament on April 28, 2008 - with new elections held within 60 days," Lim added. By Sematong Express