With or without PR leaders from Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysia Day do at Chonglin Park is still on

Kuching, Sept 15, 2012: Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has expressed its concern that PR leaders from Peninsular Malaysia may be stopped from entering Sarawak to attend tomorrow’s Malaysia Day celebration at Chonglin Park, Tabuan Road.

The fear was expressed following the ban on the entry of 14 PR leaders, without any reason given,  from entering Sabah yesterday.

They were to attend the countdown of the Malaysia Day celebration in Kota Kinabalu tonight.

After attending the countdown, they were to fly to Kuching for celebration in Kuching.

 “We are extremely concerned that these leaders, who will be flying to Kuching tomorrow,  may be denied entry to Sarawak as well.

“We want to inform the public that even if these leaders are banned from Sarawak, our Malaysia Day celebration tomorrow is still on as planned at Chonglin Park, between 3pm and 7pm,” said Sarawak PKR information chief Vernon Kedit to reporters today.

“We are prepared for the worse,” he said.

Sarawak DAP secretary and Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Chong Chieng Jen said that one of the most biggest ironies in the history of Malaysia is  that on the eve of Malaysia Day celebration, “our friends from Peninsular Malaysia were denied entry into Sabah.”

“I surely hope that such idiotic move or action will not be repeated by the Sarawak state government.

“We, from PR, surely uphold the principle of the Malaysian Agreement whereby Sarawak and Sabah have autonomy over immigration, but such autonomy should not be abused to deny political leaders from Peninsular Malaysia from entering the two states.

“The authorities must show evidence that these people have criminal records or past criminal convictions before the authorities can deny them to come.

“If these people do not have records or the tendencies to do criminal acts, then why should they be denied the entry?” he asked.

“If it is purely for political reasons, then the autonomy on immigration is not intended to be used just to consolidate the political power of the Barisan Nasional, and I think that this is surely an abuse of the immigration autonomy,” he said.

Chong said denying people from entering Sarawak or Sabah for legitimate political activities is against the intention of the signatories  of the Malaysian Agreement.

“I am quite sure, by doing so, the Barisan will antagonise more people, and I urge the Sarawak government not to repeat the folly of the Sabah government.

“I call upon Sarawakians to come to the Malaysia Day celebration at Chonglin Park tomorrow afternoon,” he said.

Sarawak PKR vice chairman See Chee How said it is important that this celebration must be a success as Sarawak is the host.

He said guests from as far as Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah are most welcome to attend.

“But, of course, we uphold the principle of the immigration autonomy. There are safeguards provided under the Immigration Act for Sarawak and Sabah, but people coming in for legitimate social events or activities should not be stopped.

“I hope that the Sarawak State Security Office will not abuse the immigration powers by denying PR leaders from coming to Sarawak,” he said.

Kedit, meanwhile,  said that it is grossly unfair to deny PR leaders who want to come and celebrate Malaysia Day in Kuching, but the Barisan Nasional are allowed to come and celebrate Malaysia Day in Bintulu.

He said that the organising committee has some plan ready in case the PR leaders, including PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Pas president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang are not allowed to enter Sarawak to attend the Malaysia Day celebration.

“Regardless of what happen, the celebration will still be on,” he said.

Kedit said a special area will be allocated for the bloggers and another area for the media.

Chong said the unveiling of the Kuching Declaration will still take place and that “other ways” will be available for the three top leaders of PR to sign the declaration before releasing it to the public and through social media and the Internet.

“The signing could be done electronically,” he said.

The declaration will be made available in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Iban.

He said  Chief  Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, having over 30 years experience in politics, will not be so silly as Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman to deny PR leaders from entering Sarawak.

Asked whether the Sarawak and Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders are scared of the PR leaders, Chong said that is an understatement.

“If the Barisan is not scared of PR forming the next federal government,  the 13^th general election would have been held a long time ago. Reading at the sentiments of the Barisan leaders, they are certainly scared,” he added.

“That is why you see a lot of irrational actions by the BN supporters, like promoting political gangsterism and  splashing of the PR van and the DAP headquarters with red paint,” he said.

Chong said when the Barisan was strong, there was nobody to splash red paint or any underhand tactics against PR.

“Then suddenly, we have these political underhand tactics happening. Why? Because we have become strong and the Barisan leaders are scared of us,” he said. By Sematong Express

Chong puts the blame on Umno-friendly cyber troopers for the hate postings on Facebook

Kuching, Sept 12, 2012: Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen has accused Umno-friendly cyber troopers behind the hate postings on the Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak Facebook page.

But Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian expressed his hope that the police will prove themselves to be efficient in conducting their investigating into the hate postings.

 Picture right: Simon Siah (left) talking to reporters after lodging the police report.

“They must immediately start their investigation. Lately, they are very quick on matters involving Opposition politicians,” Baru, the State Assemblyman, said today.

He said both Barisan Nasional and Opposition politicians should act together to call for a speedy police investigation and action against those involved in the hate postings.

“The postings depict Sarawakians as a whole in a bad light,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chong put the blame on pro-Umno cyber troopers for creating ill-wills and tensions with the hate postings.

Picture left: Simon Siah (left) and Wong King Wei with their police reports.

“The style of writing and presentation (found on Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak Facebook page) is very similar to (the ones done by) Umno-friendly cyber troopers,” he said.

He said he is giving the authorities three days to complete their investigations into the reports lodged by Sarawak DAP Youth and Sarawak PKR Youth wings with the police .

“In the cyber world, three days are equivalent to a century,” he added, stating that if the authorities fail to nab the culprits, the conclusion is that the postings on the Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak Facebook page come from Umno-friendly cyber troopers.

“I hope that there is no cover up in the investigation,” he said.

In a statement after lodging the police report, Sarawak PKR Youth vice chairman Simon Siah said the contents of postings are racist and discriminatory in nature, aimed at Sarawakians and in particular, the Dayak community and Christians.

He said several comments referred to Sarawakians as animals, like pigs and monkeys, and the administrator of Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak event suggested that Sarawakians are smelly and living an immoral lifestyle.

“The Sarawak PKR Youth takes this issue seriously and urges the authorities, especially the police to investigate into the hate postings before they become dividing factors between Sarawakians and Peninsular Malaysians,” Siah said.

Siah, who is a personal assistant to Batu Lintang State Assemblyman See Chee How, noted that one of the postings seems to suggest that the admin could be UMNO cyber trooper or an UMNO supporter.

“The posting states “at the next election, people should vote for the party UMNO Sarawak…this is not a threat, if you do not choose your UMNO party, we will remove it from the Federation of Malaysia…realised you could be poorer without Malaysia.”

Siah said PKR Youth called upon the people to assist the police to ensure that the mastermind behind the hate postings can be apprehended regardless of their political inclinations.

He said that the hate postings must be stopped “because we are living in a country which is multiracial and everyone has high respect for each other.”

Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP Youth chief Wong King Wei said the contents of Semenanjung ANTI Sarawak can create ill-feelings in a multiracial society, and between the people of Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

“For example, drawing a crucifix and writing the word “Babi” on the Sarawak flag are seditious.

“It is also seditious to ask Sarawak to go out of Malaysia,” Wong, who is also the Padungan State Assemblyman, said, adding that the admin of the Facebook also posted words deemed as insulting the Sarawakians. By Sematong Express

A test of will between Najib and Taib - who will last longer politically?

 

 

 

Bau, Sept 9, 2012: Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang analysed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is importence and inability to enforce the timetable for the stepping down of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud.

 

"This is one noteworthy consequence from Najib's continuous vacilation and postponement of the general election," Lim said at a DAP political gathering here last night.

 

 

He recalled that Najib had invested a lot of energy and political capital to get Taib to agree to a timetable to pass the baton of Sarawak Chief Minister before the Sarawak state general election on April 16, 2011.

He said that on March 19 last year, for instance, Najib made the announcement in Serian that Taib would step down as Chief Minister when the time was right, that he and Taib had reached an understanding on when the transition of power would take place.

He quoted Najib as saying:" Leave the succession plan to me and the Chief Minister. We know when time is right to make the change in Sarawak.  We know and I can assure you that the Chef Minister is ready.

"When the time comes, he is ready to leave the stage and we have a very good understanding when that is going to happen., : Lim quoted Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, as telling reporters.

Three weeks later, Najib was more specific, promising Sarawak voters at a Barisan Nasional election function in Kuching that Taib would step down as promised, declaring: "I have discussed with the Sarawak CM and he has agreed to have a leadership change in Sarawak. Believe me, in me, at the right timing, this will be done."

When pressed at the time, Taib equivocated although he finally mentioned "two years" as the timeframe of his stepping down as Sarawak Chief Minister after the Sarawak state general election on April 16, 2011.

Taib's two-year timeframe to step down as Sarawak Chief Minister will be up in seven months' time but there are absolutely no signs that he is prepared and ready to honour his understanding and undertaking with Najib to effect a transition of power in Sarawak.

In fact, all the signs point to the opposite, as Taib seems to be ensconced to complete his full term as Chief Minister.

This explains Taib's speech earlier yesterday that there is no need to speed up leadership change as the people of Sarawak were able to "enjoy peace, political stability and organised development".

It would appear that Taib's speech yesterday is specially meant for Najib's ears, with the unmistakable message that he is not going to honour his understanding with the Prime Minister on stepping down as Chief Minister.

A test of will between Taib and Najib is currently underway, with Taib thumbing his nose at the Prime Minister, defying Najib to see who could last longer politically.

Taib is confident that Najib is too weak politically to try to enforce their understanding before the 416 Sarawak state general election to be Sarawak Chief Minister for only two years.

Najib will be leading the entire Federal Cabinet to Bintulu for the Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16.  

This will also be the most appropriate occasion to clarify whether his understanding with Taib on the latter's stepping down as Sarawak Chief Minister two years after the Sarawak state general elections still stands, so whether it has "Gone with the Wind"!

Lim, meanwhile, urged the people to make Bau history in the general election for Pakatan Rakyat.

"Bau is famous when Pandelela Rinong, a Bidayuh from Bau, won a London Olympics bronze medal in diving. So next let Bau make history in this upcoming election," Lim, who is also the DAP adviser, said.

He said that the whole country, including Bau, has been waiting has

been waiting impatiently for the 13th General Election for close to two years, with many expecting it to fall on 11.11.2011 or "11.11.11" in view of Najib's special preference for "11".

Lim said he did not think that the prime minister is ready because of the BN's internal problems, the latest being the defection of two MPs in Sabah at the end of July.

"Najib feared and has a total lack of confidence in his own ability to lead UMNO/BN to victory in Putrajaya  in the 13th GE, hence the postponement," he said.

"Now, all speculation of 13GE date is again focused on Najib's favourite number of "11" - November this year, ranging from Nov 3 to Nov. 29.  

"There seems to be greater credibility this time, as the de facto Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir has given his blessings for November general election although he had earlier warned  of dire consequences to UMNO if the13th General Election was called before UMNO was ready.

"But whether the 13th GE is called in November or not, time is running out for Najib. Under the Constitution, the present Parliament will stand automatically dissolved on April 27, 2013, or in less than eight months' time - i.e. five years from the first sitting of the present Parliament on April 28, 2008 - with new elections held within 60 days," Lim added. By Sematong Express

Baru slams Mahathir over his blatant statement

Kuching, Sept 8, 2012: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian slammed former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his blatant statement in the people of Sarawak and Sabah to be patient with the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

“The blatant statement perfectly demonstrates what the BN government thinks of us in Sarawak and Sabah,” the Ba’Kelalan state assemblyman said in a statement today.

Baru stressed:”We are regarded as the ignorant and unquestioning fixed deposit states that are in this country to be milked dry to fund the excessive spending crazes in Peninsular Malaysia.

“We have been patient for 49 years.  How many more years does this old man thinks he can fool us to wait?

“What does he mean by saying  “just be patient and wait for the resources to be extracted and soon your earnings (and development)” will increase?

Baru said that UMNO and BN have been making huge ‘withdrawals’ from Sarawak and Sabah’s oil and gas resources via Petronas for over 30 years now, while giving the two states crumbs to keep them quiet.  

“I wish to ask him in his capacity as Petronas advisor what Petronas has been doing in Sarawak and Sabah all these years if not extracting our precious resources?

“I wish to ask him as the former prime minister how much money from these precious resources of ours that the federal government has taken for their lavish spending and crony bailouts in Peninsula Malaysia over the years while Sarawak and its people continue to lag behind in all aspects.

“Thus it is all the more outrageous that Mahathir should say in his next breath, “In truth, I think that the development of Sabah and Sarawak has outstripped the peninsula. Sarawak has the highest foreign direct investment and Sabah has the largest reserves of petroleum in the country.”  

“As Chairman of PKR Sarawak, I challenge Mahathir to come to Sarawak and tell this to the people who still have no access to electricity, clean water, health care, education and jobs in the deepest reaches of sarawak.

“Tell this to the numerous families who have lost loved ones in accidents along our killer Pan-Borneo Highway.

“Tell this to the people who are now waking up to the fact that Sarawak has been taken for a ride all these years by the Federal BN government. Come to Sarawak, Mahathir, and say this to our faces,” Baru challenged. By Sematong Express.

Disclose statistics of successful applications into civil service, Shiak Ni to Mahmood Adam

Kuching, Sept 8, 2012:  Public Service Commission Chairman Mahmood Adam has been challenged to disclose details of successful applicants in the civil service for the public’s consumption.

PKR National Wanita vice head Voon Shiak Ni today said:”Let the public knows the statistics of successful applications, instead of arguing that the public service commission has been trying to be fair in the allocation of job opportunities for all Malaysian in the civil service in the past years.”

Picture: Voon (right) with (from left) Sarawak PKR secretary Stanny Embat and Sarawak PKR chief Baru at a press conference.

Voon dismissed Mahmood’s claim that the Chinese do not want to work in the civil service because of the low salary and other benefits.

“That statement is not true,” she said, adding that many school leavers have applied to join the civil service because it is stable.

“Moreover, most parents want stability in jobs for their children, which the civil service can provide,” she said.

Voon stressed that Mahmood should not mislead the public that more Chinese have applied to join the civil service following a series of campaigns by the commission.

“But the issue is not about the number of applications so Mahmood should not mislead the public.

“We are more concerned about the percentage of successful applicants among the Chinese by the commission,” she added.

She stressed:”If the government is sincere, as claimed by Mahmood in providing equal job opportunities for all Malaysians, then he should prove it by giving out the statistics of all successful applicants.”

She asked whether the government has been fair in taking the applicants from other Malaysians into the civil service.

Voon said that the government should come up with better policies for all Malaysians, instead of stating the number of applications as it does not lend any weight or voices to the people’s concerns.

On Mahmood’s claims that there are 7000 vacancies in the civil service, Voon urged him to publish the racial break-downs of those who have been accepted. By Sematong Express