I would have failed Masing, says university don

Kuching, April 18, 2012: A political scientist with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Associate Professor Dr Andrew Aeria said he would give a fail to Sarawak Land Development Tan Sri Dr James Masing for claiming that ordinary people are subservient to the elected representatives in a democracy.

“If he is in my class and if he gives me the same answer, I will give him 10 points and he will fail,” Aeria said at a public forum here last Sunday.

Masing, who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, had said that the elected representatives were the “towkays” or the bosses and that the people are subservient to them.

He made the remark when defending PRS Youth chief and Assistant Minister of Agriculture Datuk Mong Dagang in cancelling a welfare aid and agriculture subsidies to disabled man, Frusis Lebi.

Masing was said to have told Frusis to “Follow the rule – Jangan Lawan Towkay”.

Frusis had lodged a police report last month against Mong for ordering the cancellation of a welfare aid and agriculture subsidies.

Frusis, who was born with deformed hands and feet, had been receiving the welfare aid since 1982 and the agriculture susbsidies since five years ago.

Mong wrote a letter to the Welfare Department and the Agriculture Department to stop the aid and subsidies on allegations Frusis had supported an opposition in the April 16, 2011 state election.

The public forum, attended by over 100 people, entitled “Who’s the boss?” was to get the opinions from the public on Masing’s remarks.

Apart from Aeria, the other panel speakers were Independent State Assemblyman for Pelagus, George Lagong and PKR State Assemblyman for Batu Lintang, See Chee How.

Masing was invited to come and speak at the forum, but he declined.

Aeria said he was surprised at Masing’s remark which was widely published in the local newspapers.

“I was surprised because the cancellation of welfare aid and agriculture subsidies was in violation of  the Malaysian constitution and against the UN Charter on Human Rights.,” he added.

He said he was disappointed with Masing for rejecting the invitation to come to the forum.

“It will be good if he has come because it will enable him to explain his position with regard to who is the boss in a democratic country,” he said. By Sematong Express