Baru Bian slams Awang Tengah, James Masing over NCR land issue, says PR government will not abolish native rights over customary land

KUCHING, April 29, 2013: Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Awang Tengah Ali Hassan has been accused of telling lies against Pakatan Rakyat (PR) on the issue of native customary rights land.

“His statement that PR will abolish the rights to NCR ownership fills me with disbelief and revulsion,” Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian told reporters today.

He said Awang Tengah, being a senior minister, would resort to telling lies to win over the people is extremely unbecoming and undignified and it certainly reflects poorly on him.

Baru also found Land Development Minister James Masing’s statement that the Dayaks would lose their NCR land if the people do not vote for the BN in the May 5 polls as baseless and another example of fearmongering by politicians bankrupt of better ideas to offer to the people.

He said that PR, when it comes to power at the Federal level after the general election, will not abolish rights of the natives over their customary lands as claimed by two State senior ministers.

“The special privileges of the natives in Sarawak are safeguarded in the Federal Constitution and PR has no intention of abolishing these rights,” he explained.

Baru, who is also the Ba’Kelalan State Assemblyman, said he finds the claims by the two ministers as lies and seditious.

He said that Sarawak PKR election director See Chee How and Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Cheing Jen have already lodged police against Awang Tengah last Friday for making seditious statements.

On Masing’s statement that the Dayaks would lose their NCR land if PR becomes the new government and implement the “Malaysian Malaysia” concept, Baru said that such statement is baseless and another example of fearmongering by politicians lacking of better ideas to offer to the people.

He assured that PR has no intention to abolish the rights of the natives over their customary rights.

“It is safe for me to just state that my record of defending the NCR landownership of downtrodden people speaks for itself.

“It has been and still is my life’s work and indeed my calling to ensure that the NCR lands of the natives are safeguarded,” he said, adding that his law firm has over 200 active files on cases of land grabs by logging, plantation and construction companies, almost all of them having connection with the BN politicians and their families.

He stressed that none of the Opposition leaders, be they from PKR or the DAP, or their family members, are the defendants in any NCR land cases.

He said that most of the NCR land cases which have been decided by the court are in favour of the natives.

“The courts have recognized NCR ownerships of the people in over 20 cases but the problem remains that the Sarawak state government is showing its contempt of court rulings by refusing to abide by the courts’ decisions, especially with regard to the definition of NCR land,” Baru, who is also a NCR land law expert, said.

“It is very well for the Sarawak ministers to make promises about resolving NCR land issues by carrying out perimeter surveys, what is the state government’s definion of NCR land? Up till today, they refuse to include the “pemakai menoa” (territorial domain) and “pulau galau” (communal reserve land), but restrict their definition to the temuda (cultivated or farmed land), in clear breach and disregard of the decision of the courts,” he said.

Baru also questioned the state government’s persistence in conducting surveys of NCR land under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code which only grants a communal reserve status on the surveyed land, instead of Section 18 which grants title.

“Do the people know that the government can decide to degazette their communal reserve land, in which event it becomes state land and not NCR land? he asked.

Baru urged the NCR landowners to ask Awang Tengah on the use of Section 6, not Section 18 of the Sarawak, when undertaking perimeter survey on NCR land, the next time he visits them.

“They can also ask him about his personal wealth and his own family’s shares in big companies which are profiting from Sarawak’s wealth,” he said.

Baru also reiterated PR’s promises to set up a Land Commission to investigate NCR land claims and to right the wrongs done to the people by those in authority, including ministers and their families and cronies.

“The PR government will act in accordance with the law against those who are found to have obtained their wealth through illegal means,” he said.

“The people have hoodwinked for far too long. My social contract with the people of Sarawak is to protect what is their birthright, their life and their livelihood,” he said. The Sematong Express

SPDP will be fighting an uphill battles in the four parliamentary seats it is contesting

An analysis on SPDP’s chances in the parliamentary election

Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is facing the toughest battles in the four seats it is contesting in the parliamentary election on May 5.

Only party deputy president Tiong King Sing is a good bet to retain his Bintulu seat.

However,  party president William Mawan is fighting an uphill battle in Saratok after the resignation of a large number of party members to protest against  candidacy.

Those who resigned include the party’s grassroots leaders.

 It is even reported that deputy transport minister Jelaing Mersat is opposing Mawan’s move to contest in Saratok.

Jelaing was strongly tipped to defend his Saratok seat. He was said to have been replaced as the SPDP-BN candidate at the last minute as it was felt that he would not stand a chance against Ali Biju of PKR.

It was Ali who defeated SPDP deputy president Peter Nyarok in Krian in the 2011 state election.

Mawan, in response to reporters’ questions, had stressed that his move to contest in Saratok was to take the lead in the party’s battle in the four seats.

As president of the party, he said he would be responsible for whatever the outcomes of the contests in the four seats would be.

He claimed that the BN leadership decided to pick him to replace Jelaing  after getting  “unfavourable”  ground reports.

In Mas Gading, SPDP’s Anthony Nogeh will be fighting for survival should incumbent Tiki Lafe decides to enter the fray.

With the support of BN Club members, Tiki would have an edge over Nogeh, a political novice.

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) members in Mas Gading are also backing Tiki, who was sacked from SPDP in 2011, along with four other senior members, who are also elected representatives, for alleged breaching party discipline.

The others four are Bekenu State Assemblywoman and Assistant Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Rosey Yunus, Batu Danau State Assemblyman Paulus Gumbang, Marudi State Assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Sylvester Entrie and Tasik Biru State Assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Peter Nansian.

After they were dismissed from the party, they formed BN Club as a channel for them to air their political views.

DAP’s Modi Bimol and State Reform Party’s (Star) Patrick Anek Uren are also expected to contest in Mas Gading.

SPDP is also facing a tough fight in Baram after incumbent Member of Parliament Jacob Sagan Dungau is not picked to defend the seat.

Over 100 influential SPDP grassroots leaders in Baram have rebelled against the candidacy of Anyi Ngau, who has been assigned to retain the seat for BN.

They claimed that they were not consulted when SPDP and BN leadership decided to pick Ngau instead of Sagan.

They were also  unhappy that Ngau is not a party supporter, but is closely associated with the PBB leadership.

Apart from the anti-Anyi stance by the community and grassroots leaders, SPDP has to face to the anti-Baram dam protesters.

At least five Miri-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are spearheading the anti-dam campaign as well as to campaign for the PKR candidate.

Over 20,000 people from 25 villages are to be displaced once the construction begins.

One possible reason for replacing Sagan with Anyi is to secure the support of the Iban voters from Marudi, one of the two state seats under Baram parliamentary constituency. The other is Telang Usan, which is held by Dennis Ngau of PBB.

In the 2008 parliamentary election, Sagan won because more Ibans,- the largest single race in Baram - were giving their support to him. However, he received lesser votes from the Kenyah, Kayan and Kelabit communities.

He managed to get the Iban support largely due to the influence of Sylvester Entrie, the Marudi State Assemblyman.

Now that Sylvester Entrie is no longer with SPDP after he was sacked, the support from the Ibans for Sagan would be weakened.

Sylvester Entrie has indicated that he would stay away from Baram if Sagan is nominated again to contest, but pledged to campaign for the BN if other candidate is chosen.

Baram is expected to see a three-cornered or even a four-cornered fight.

PKR is fielding lawyer Roland Engan and it is believed that a PKR member may contest as an Independent.

PKR and DAP make last minutes changes to their candidate line-ups, involving Mas Gading, Sri Aman and Miri

KUCHING, April 19, 2013: PKR and DAP have made last minutes  switches to their candidate line-ups, involving Mas Gading, Sri Aman and Miri.

DAP is now given Mas Gading, but giving up Sri Aman and Miri to the PKR.

DAP has picked Modi Bimol for Mas Gading.

Last night, PKR handed over Letter of Authorisation to Boniface Willy Tumek to contest in Mas Gading,  but this afternoon, the party central leadership withdrew the letter to allow DAP to contest seat on behalf Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

However, DAP surrendered Sri Aman to PKR.

With the surrender, DAP has withdrawn its selection of  Sri Aman branch chief Leon Jimat Donald to  allow PKR to nominate human rights activist and Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) secretary general Nicholas Mujah to contest.

PKR is also given Miri to contest. It is fielding its Miri chief Dr Michael Teo.

DAP has earlier named Lim Su Kian to vie for the Miri seat.

The switches were announced by Sarawak PKR vice chairman See Chee How, who is also the Batu Lintang State Assemblyman, at a press conference at 4pm, two hours after the federal leaders from DAP and PKR made the changes.

See explained that Mujah and Dr Teo are PR candidates.

With the latest development, PKR will be contesting in Mambong (Willie Mongin), Batang Lupar (Abang Zulkifly Abang Engkeh), Sri Aman (Nicholas Mujah) , Lubok Antu (Nicholas Bawin), Betong (Cecilia Siti Una), Saratok (Ali Biju), Julau (Andy Wong Hong Yu), Kanowit (Thomas Laja), Hulu Rajang (Abun Sui Anyit), Selangau (Joshua Jabeng), Baram (Roland Engan), Miri (Dr Michael Teo), Limbang (Baru Bian), Petra Jaya (Ahmad Nazip Johari) and Santubong (Zulrusdi Mohd Hol).

DAP will contest in Bandar Kuching (Chong Chieng Jen), Julian Tan (Stampin), Mas Gading (Modi Bimol), Sarikei (Andrew Wong), Sibu (Oscar Ling), Lanang (Alice Lau), Kapit (Ramli Malaka), Bintulu (John Anthony Brian), Serian (Edward Andrew Luak), Mukah (Hai Merawin) and Lawas (Dr Bob Baru).

PAS will contest in Kota Samarahan, Batang Sadong, Igan, Tanjung Manis and Sibuti.

Meanwhile, Boniface Willy, speaking at the press conference with See, said he would consider taking legal action against PKR if the DAP candidate for Mas Gading is using PKR logo in the election.

He said he was given to understand that the DAP candidate would be using PAS logo in the election.

“I will be asking my men and supporters to video record the DAP activities, starting from nomination, whether they are using PKR logo in their campaign or using PKR logo in the contest,” he said.

“I was rather shocked and surprised when the party leadership told me to stand down and surrender the Letter of Authorisation and to give way to candidate from PAS, not candidate from DAP.

“I am greatly saddened by these turns of events and a deep regret and a big disappointment caused to the PKR members and supporters in Mas Gading.

“As a partyman, I have agreed to abide by the decision of the top leaders and I have surrendered the Letter of Authorisation and that is because I am looking at a bigger picture, and think of the long term interests of PKR in Mas Gading,” he said.

Boniface Willy called on PKR supporters and members to remain calm and on this matter, he left it to their good judgment to make the decision.

He said he and his family suffered a “a certain amount of humiliation” after he was forced to withdraw from contesting.

“I am very disappointed and very troubled as it appears that Mas Gading was sacrificed in the greater interest of Pakatan Ra

Chong to Taib: Your last day in office is on April 15

KUCHING, April 13, 2013: Kota Sentosa State Assemblyman and Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen has reminded Chief Minister Taib Mahmud that his last day in office is on Tuesday next week.

“I am giving him the reminder in case he forgets about his promise he made two years ago that he would step down after the April 16, 2011 state election,” Chong told reporters.

He said that the long-serving chief minister had pledged to step down within two years of the current term of the State Assembly.

“Using a simple calculation, Taib’s last day in office is on April 15 this year,” said Chong, a former Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament.

He said if Taib wants the people to respect him, then he should honour his pledge by gracefully resigning from his post which he has held since March  1981

“If he is remains in office, then he is a leader who has eaten his word,” said Chong, who had already asked Taib twice in the Sarawak Assembly sitting whether he would keep his promise.

He said that if Taib remains in office, despite the promise, then he is unwittingly and unintentionally helping the Opposition to win more seats in the coming general election.

Chong added that Taib will be the number one campaign tool for the DAP and the Opposition to garner support from the rakyat.

He said many rakyat have a very negative and dim view of Taib for his alleged massive abuse of power and corruption.

“The longer he remains in office, the more people hate him,” Chong said, adding that Taib should understand how the ordinary rakyat feel towards him.

“With him continuing to be in office, more people will throw their support for the Opposition in the general election,” he added. By Sematong Express.

Ahmad Nazip is surprise inclusion in PKR's list of candidates announced by Anwar Ibrahim

KUCHING, April 11, 2013: PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced the names of six more of the party’s candidates in Sarawak for the May 5 general election, bringing the total number to 11, thus far.

The six are Syarie lawyer and Sarawak PKR Youth head Ahmad Nazip Johari (Petrajaya), accountant and college lecturer Zolrosdi Mohd Hol (Santubong), social activist and former deputy president of the Dayak Council of Customs and Traditions Nicholas Bawin (Lubok Antu), Sarawak PKR deputy Wanita head Cecilia Siti Una (Betong), former secondary school headmaster Thomas Laja (Kanowit) and insurance agency unit general manager and Christian activist Joshua Jabeng (Selangau).

Ahmad Nazip is a surprise inclusion as it was earlier speculated that Sarawak PKR Wanita chief Norhanim Mokshen was strongly tipped to contest in Petrajaya.

It is understood that the stunned Sarawak PKR leadership had proposed Norhanim to be the candidate.

Norhanim, although shocked at her exclusion, told reporters that she and her supporters would give their support to Ahmad Nazip, who contested and lost to Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg in Satok n the 2011 state election.

The name of PKR candidate for Petrajaya was supposed to be announced at a political gathering in Semariang last night, and that reporters were told that Anwar would make the announcement.

However, Anwar left without making the announcement, prompting speculations to arise that something was still unsettled.

In the case of Betong, there was a very intense lobbying for the seat by at least three aspiring candidates. Among them is a former senior state government officer Noel Bucking, now a businessman, a front-runner.

Noel has even set up his operation room in Betong.

In the end, it was Siti who was named as the candidate.

Anwar had last month announced the first batch of five candidates.

They are State assemblyman for Krian and engineer Ali Biju (Saratok), businessman Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh (Batang Lupar), native customary rights land lawyer Abun Sui Anyit (Hulu Rajang), lawyer and pastor Roland Engan (Baram) and Sarawak PKR chief and State Assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan Baru Bian (Limbang).

Speaking at a packed press conference at Grand Continental Hotel here, Anwar said the names of the rest of PKR candidates in Sarawak will be announced later after the three component parties of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have resolved their overlapping seats.

The seats are Kota Samarahan, Stampin, Mambong, Mas Gading, Julau and Miri.

“I try to avoid announcing the names of PKR candidates for areas which are also being claimed by our friends,” he said.

He said that it does not mean that PKR surrenders the seats to either Pas or DAP, but out of respect of the spirit of consultation between PKR, Pas and DAP, the announcement is being delayed for now.

“We will only the announcement once all the overlapping claims have been amicably settled,” he explained, adding that as of last night, the negotiating teams from PKR, Pas and DAP were still working hard to resolve the overlapping claim issues and that he has requested PKR team leader Azmin Ali to complete the negotiation as soon as possible.

He said that the views from the state leaderships of the three component parties are being considered and taken into account by the negotiation teams.

In the case of Mambong, Anwar said that he needs to seek clarification from the DAP whether it is staking its claim on the seat.

“I could have announced the name of the candidate during a political gathering in Siburan last night, but it has to be delayed because we want to make sure that the DAP has no claim on Mambong,” he explained.

He said he does not want two or three incidents in Peninsular Malaysia to happen in Sarawak where PR component parties both announcing the names of their respective candidates for the same seats.

“An example is Sungai Acheh in Penang, for which both PKR and Pas have named their candidates,” he said, adding that the seat was contested by PKR in the 2008 general election.

He said PKR and Pas will discuss the matter in an amicable manner.

Anwar said there is a strong possibility that PKR will contest in Mambong, Mas Gading and Julau.

PKR has proposed IT consultant Willie Mongin for Mambong, insurance consultant Boniface Tumek in Mas Gading and chemist Andy Wong for Julau.

Anwar denied allegation that he only chosen people close to him to be PKR candidates.

“Well, that’s the interpretation…some of them I hardly know…. frankly not all of them are very close. But in this case, I work on the lists from the branches and state committees and hardly any name, one or two after consultation, some adjustments are made….otherwise, the entire lists are recommended by the states,” he said.

On allegations that he and Sarawak Workers’ Party (SWP) adviser leader Datuk Sng Chee Hua have been working “very closely” in Sarawak, Anwar said such rumours have been going on for the last five years.

“But we have fielded candidates in Lubok Antu and Selangau where SWP is also contesting,” he said, adding that he does not exclude or preclude friendship with anyone, being they from Umno or SWP.

“At the personal level, anybody is welcomed…I don’t take this arrogance BN’s view of relationship or former US president George Bush’s view of either you are with us or against us…I don’t take that kind of position. Friend, yes. You ask me whether I support Bawin or Joshua, yes, of course.

“We will make sure that our candidates win,” he stressed.

Ends