KUCHING, January 26, 2022 - Bersih Sarawak has slammed Assistant Minister II of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden over his statement that it is awkward and absurd for longhouse chief who oppose the government to receive allowances or salaries from the government.
Its spokesperson Ann Teo said his views as expressed in such ‘lectures’ to the Tuai Rumah are not new, saying that it is the perpetuation of politics of patronage and the ‘Don’t bite the hands that feed you’ or ‘Anang Ngelaban Perintah’ mentality or narrative.
“It is appalling that this latest reminder is issued by a six-term term state assemblyman that speaks volumes of how entrenched this culture or mindset is,” Teo said in a statement.
She said the appointment of headmen and community chiefs in Sarawak is under the Community Chiefs and Headmen Ordinance 2004.
“There is nothing democratic about this manner of appointing community chiefs who are supposed to serve their respective community first and foremost and in the old days chosen by the people whom he/she serves, and by which he/she assumes and has the legal and moral authority to settle disputes and manage the affairs of his people in general and is responsible for their welfare.
“By this Ordinance too, they become mere public servants, receiving allowances from the government to serve the government of the day,” she said.
“It is also well known that such appointments will not be a reality unless it is with the blessing of Member of Parliament (MP) or State Assemblyman of the constituency.
“There have been past reports of State Assemblymen asking Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) and their secretaries to quit if they do not support the government of the day.
“At election time, they would be expected to do the bidding of the party in government or its candidate.
“As they are in charge at village level, they can wield great power and influence and have been known to stop any campaigners of other non-government parties or candidates.
“This is unacceptable given the fact they are prohibited to hold political party positions as stated under the Ordinance,” Teo said.
She said during the recently concluded Sarawak state elections, one of the federal ministers announced when visiting Sarawak that secretaries of JKKK and their committee members would be given meeting allowances.
She said this is certainly a breach of the caretaker convention as well as enticement or vote-buying except that it was not yet campaign period.
“We wish to remind Francis Harden of SUPP in case he has not kept up to date, that we still practice democracy in this state and country and the longhouse or community chiefs and their ‘anembiaks’ should be free to not vote or choose the incumbent if he/she has not served them well or have differing views on issues deemed important to them.
“Just like civil servants who are free to vote for whoever they desire to be their representative despite receiving salaries from the government, so too these chiefs.
“So too these village chiefs, they should be receiving their allowances as long as they serve their community or charges,” she said.
Teo said the chiefs should not be subjected to condescension or worse, threats of stripping them of posts or some other reprisals.
“Perhaps it is time to return to village level elections by the people, rather than appointed so that the elected Tuai Rumahs will be free from such unwarranted coercion and hegemony,” she suggested.
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