More PKR members resign, Lubok Antu and Selangau branches crippled

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, May 28, 2020 -  Sarawak PKR’s two branches have been crippled following the resignations of their committees today.

PKR members say they resign from the party after losing confidence in Anwar Ibrahim as president

They cited losing confidence in party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the mass sackings of party members in the state as reasons for resigning.

The branches, which have been crippled, are Lubok Antu and Selangau.

Also resigning are acting Betong chairman Noel Changgai Bucking, a member of Limbang branch Ricardo Baba and Marudi chairman Engga Sageng.

Simon Joseph, who resigned as deputy chairman of Selangau branch, along with 11 committee members, said:”We have come to this decision in full support of Baru Bian, our Member of Parliament for Selangau who has been unfairlyand unjustly treated by PKR president.

“The constant undermining by the president of Baru’s position is disappointing, especially when it was Baru’s intention to secure autonomy for Sarawak within PKR.

“We also resign in protest against the arbitrary termination and suspension of PKR members throughout Malaysia.

“These events indicate to us that there is no justice in PKR despite its name “Keadilan”.

The right to disagree and or have difference in opinion no longer exist in the party, further the Sarawak PKR leadership have been replaced totally with “yes men” and sycophants.

“This is a great disappointment to us in Selangau,” Simon said.

Noel said he resigned as acting Betong chairman after consulting the committee and party members.

“In my 10 years as a member of this party, I have had utmost respect for leaders like Baru Bian and See Chee How whose vision of a hope for a greater Sarawak is in line with my own belief as well.

“Thus, with Baru no longer in PKR, I consider my season in PKR to be complete and I will consider my next move for the best interest of the people of Betong and Sarawak,” Noel said.

Ricardo,who is a university lecturer, said he resigned from PKR because he has lost faith in Anwar and the direction of the party is heading to.

He said only those who support Anwar as president benefit from the party.

Numpang Suntai, Nurina Utot resign from PKR with immediate effect

KUCHING, May 26, 2020 - PKR Stakan branch chief Numpang Suntai, his deputy Wilson Jebly Saing and committee members resigned from PKR today, saying they have lost faith in the party for deviating from its orginal principles in fighting for all.

 

Numpang Suntai

Numpang said he joined PKR because he had so much faith in PKR applying the principles of truth and justice on which it was founded.

“Instead, I see that the party had deviated from those principles and is now focused on the personal interest and ambition of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and certain other individuals.

“PKR’s overriding objective was to propel to the office of prime minister, such that they are blinded by their personal ambitions and willing to let the party split,” Numpang said in a statement.

“As a result the party fell from its position of being the most powerful party to one of a mere bystander.

Nurina Umoi Utot

“I had so much hope that the election result on May 9, 2018 becoming the turning point on the path of true democracy and justice for the nation.

“But now I am bitterly disappointed and disgusted that all that hope is trampled by the personal ambitions of PKR’s president and certain individuals in the party,” he said.

Numpang said the split in PKR enabled the formation of a back-door government made up of the very same parties that led this nation to the despicable gutters of corruption, racism, religious fanaticism and mis-governance.

“At the state level we have seen PKR’s president and certain individuals in the party shown disrespect to the Kuching Declaration 2012 signed by opposition leaders including Anwar himself.

“Sarawak’s autonomy via the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) within the party was never taken seriously, as party matters continued to be decided from Peninsular Malaysia.  

“The first time that I knew Baru Bian and See Chee How was in 2010 when they offered their legal services in fighting for our NCR land at Ulu Sebangan.

“And this is one of reasons I joined PKR with them. I did not know it at that time, but the two of them have been helping with hundreds of NCR land cases in the state before that.

“The people of Sarawak knows and are thankful for their services. But now blinded by personal ambitions, PKR leaders see the need to remove them,” Numpang said.

Apart from being the Stakan chief, Numpang was also a member of the State Leadership Council, State Election Committee and the communications chief of Kota Samarahan branch.

In Sri Aman, Nurina Umoi Utot also announced her resignation from PKR with immediate effect.

She was the Sri Aman branch deputy chief.

“I have submitted my official resignation letter to PKR headquarters,” Nurina, who works in an oil and gas industry, said.

Other committee members of Sri Aman branch, including its chairman, have resigned from the party earlier.

Sri Aman branch is now disbanded with the resignations of the branch committee.

Ends

Sarawak PKR suffers big blow with the resignation of NCR land expert Nicholas Bawin

KUCHING, May 20, 2020: Sarawak PKR suffers yet another huge loss with the resignation of the Lubok Antu branch chief Nicholas Bawin anak Anggat, who is also the native customary rights (NCR) land expert, from the party with immediate effect today.

Nicholas Bawin

Bawin, a founding member of Sarawak PKR, had been the branch chief since 2009, a member of the state leadership council since 2009 and state party vice chairman since 2018.

In a statement, the branch’s permanent chairman Enggang anak Sandam said it is not an easy announcement for the committee to make as  Bawin is the founding member of the Lubok Antu branch, and has been the backbone and guiding light of the branch since its inception.   

   

“His contribution to the Iban community cannot be lightly stated, indeed, he had served as Deputy President of the Majlis Adat Istiadat , and served in that capacity for 13 years.

“Bawin has wide working knowledge of  Native Customary Laws in Sarawak including Adat Iban, Adat Bidayuh, Adet Kayan-Kenyah, Adet Kelabit, Adet Lun Bawang, Adat Bisaya, Adet Kajang and Adat Melanau Liko.   

   

“With the knowledge he had testified  as an expert witness in the landmark cases  of Nor Anak Nyawai & Ors v. Borneo Pulp Plantation Sdn Bhd & Ors [2001] 2 CLJ 769, Muli Anak Baya & Anor v Everight   

Enterprise (21-6-2009, Sibu High Court), Nicholas Mujah Anak Ason &   Ors v Hock Tong Hin Sawmill Co. Bhd (22-118-2007-I, High Court  Kuching), Agi Anak Bungkong & 2 Ors v Ladang Sawit Bintulu Sdn  Bhd

& 4 Ors (22-93-2001-III(I), High Court Kuching).

“In addition to these cases he also testified in many more other cases during the last 20 years.   

   

“His evidence in all these cases were found to be credible and accepted by the Court, and indeed he had helped established the matrix that has led to recognition of NCR throughout Sarawak.   

   

“Bawin’s experience in state administration and Sarawak Native affairs is well recognised, has also been invaluable to our branch and the party.

“His experience includes Deputy Chairman of Lubok Antu District Council. (1988 – 1992; Member Board of Director of Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (SESCO). 1987 – 1997 and President of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) ( August  7, 2004 – November  30, 2007,” Enggang said.

He added Bawin had actively participated and contributed in various national and international forums, seminars/conferences, such the conference of Legal Pluralism, the roles of Customary Law  in preserving indigenous heritage organized by the Faculty of Law, University Malaya on 11th – 12th November 1997;    and Kongress Kebudayaan Rumpun Melayu ( a member of panel in the discussion) organized by the Yayasan Warisan Johor on 12th September, 2004.    

He had also presented a paper entitled Land and Natural Resources during the 6th session of Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues from 14th to 25th May 2007 at the United Nations, New York; a paper on the topic of Globalization and Impacts it had to the Indigenous Peoples at the Strategic Planning  Workshop in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 10th to 13th July 2007.    

Enggang said Bawin had also addressed the House of Commons, British Parliament in  March 2010, on issues and problems affecting the Dayak Communities (suppressions, oppressions, and marginalization of Orang Asal – (Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak).    

   

He said Bawin had informed the committee that his resignation is based on the unfulfilled and unitiated promises of autonomy within the party, along the lines of Malaysia Agreement 63 and his support for leaders and members, who have been recently terminated without just cause and excuse.    

   

“ Bawin’s resignation is no small measure and it has far reaching implications amongst the grassroots in Lubok Antu , and also the Ibans of Sarawak.

“Thence PKR Lubok Antu branch will convene an emergency meeting to discuss our next course of action,” Enggang said.