By Baru Bian
I am amused that the group of community leaders should
feel compelled to defend Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing’s
miscalculation in sending 160 of them in a military plane to Putrajaya to
pledge support for the PM.
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| Baru Bian |
Temonggong Wilfred Billy Panyau is entitled to his opinion
that it was not disrespectful to be flown in a military plane instead of a
commercial plane. If he is happy to be treated like that, so be it.
However, Wilfred cannot claim to speak for all
ex-servicemen.
He and his other community headmen friends may be doing
fine, having been appointed headmen and getting allowances from the government,
but what about the other retired servicemen who have not been so lucky?
It had been reported in 2012 that 60% of ex-servicemen
live in poverty and are struggling to make ends meet. What does Wilfred have to
say about these 60%? Are they being taken good care of by the government?
[http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/26/60-per-cent-of-sarawak-veterans-live-in-poverty/]
[http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/03/29/army-veterans-want-their-pensions-raised-retiree-were-struggling-to-make-ends-meet/]
As for his claim that he and his friends were appointed
because the government recognises their sacrifice and commitment to protect the
country, that is just illogical.
All the existing ex-servicemen made the same sacrifice
and had the same commitment, where are their appointments? Many of them are
just struggling to survive.
If Wilfred claims that he and his friends deserve to be
respected for their sacrifice and commitment, where is the respect for the rest
of the retired servicemen? How should this respect be shown?
I am sure they would also like to know the answer.
In fact, last year, I had made a statement about the
appointment of community leaders after I had received numerous calls expressing
concern that the recent appointments of community chiefs and headmen had been
of individuals who are chosen because of their affiliation with BN component
parties.
I had said in my statement, ‘Many of these appointees do
not have the standing in the community, which is essential for those who hold
this position.
Many do not have the respect and support of their local
communities that they are expected to represent.’
Masing’s initial statement was that he could not afford
to fly them all on the commercial plane – that in itself implies that the
commercial plane is the preferred option.
He also said that the community leaders were there to
pledge support to the prime minister.
Only after the criticism levelled at him did he come up
with the story about the flight being a reward for fighting communists.
Which brings me to
ask – exactly how many of these community leaders fought the communists in
those days?
Whatever these community leaders may say, the fact
remains that there was blatant abuse of power by the DCM in using a government
asset for his political purpose in flying these people to Putrajaya. Moreover,
it was disrespectful of him for using these political leaders this way.
Finally, I wish to say to Wilfred and his friends, who
are ‘warning’ critics not to use them for political mileage, to please look at
themselves square in the face and ask themselves what Masing was doing, if not
using abusing his powers by using them for political mileage?
They have been politicised, no matter how much they deny
it. When we in the opposition see something unethical, it is our duty to point
it out.
Sometimes the truth hurts, and it is easier for them to
deny rather than to face the uncomfortable truth.
Wilfred and other community leaders would do well to
remind themselves of the Community Chiefs and Headmen Ordinance 2004 which
prohibits them from being affiliated with any political party.
They are meant to be politically neutral, and their
duties are to speak and act in the best interests of the people they
represented.
Why should they allow themselves to be used by a BN party
to go to KL and pledge support for the PM?
It is a sad day indeed when community leaders cannot see
that they are being exploited by political parties, and an even sadder day when
they insist that they are being rewarded and respected even when others see it
as blatant disrespect and an abuse of power.
Worst of all, they do not even care that the law
prohibits them from being affiliated with political parties. We again reiterate
our call for community chiefs to be appointed by the communities and not by the
government, so that the position can again be accorded the respect it once
enjoyed. - October 8, 2017
Note: Baru Bian is chairman Sarawak PKR.
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