James Masing and his logic of defending "Jangan Lawan Tauke" remark

This is his logic of defending "Jangan Lawan Tauke" remark he made against physically handicapped man for supporting the Opposition in the April16, 2011 state election. Welfare aid to disabled Frusis anak Lebi was stopped following an instruction from Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture Datuk Mong Dagang to the State Agriculture Department and the Welfare Department.

On May 23, 2012 at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Masing, when winding up the debate on his ministry, explained the logic of stopping the aid - of course, many people found the stopping of the aid as inhuman especially to an OKU.

POLITICAL RESPONSES

Jangan Lawan Tauke (Do Not Fight the Boss)

Finally, Tuan Speaker, I would like to respond to the issue raised by Ahli Yang

Berhormat for Dudong, Ahli Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa, Ahli Yang Berhormat for

Bukit Assek and Ahli Yang Berhormat for Meluan on the phraseology of “Jangan Lawan

Tauke”, or in English its simply means “Do Not Fight the Boss”.

The argument on this phraseology is whether a polemic exercise “the go to nowhere to me” but since some members of the opposition as hooked on these phrase I shall deal with it in some lane.

While I am having this floor I would like to advise member of the opposition, I was about to say especially member for Bukit Assek but he is not here. Please do not speak for the sake of speaking, do not stand for the sake of standing. Please listen. May be along the way you may learn something new.

Tuan Speaker, I have to do my refill, I have to do my refill. Mesti isi minyak dulu

lah.

Tuan Speaker: Honourable Minister I think you better address the chair. So there is no

direct obligation and any Members of Opposition who want to raise that is the proper

procedure.

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Tan Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): Thank you,

Tuan Speaker. Sorry, I was isi minyak dulu, I lupa tadi, thank you. Tuan Speaker, I want

Members of the Opposition to realize, once and for all, that Ahli Yang Berhormat from

this side of the House understand the interplay of power between the voters, elected

representatives and the administrators; administrators in this case refer to the Ministers

or Government of the day.

Members of the opposition especially those from DAP, cannot pretend to be ignorant of the consequences of fighting the boss; nor can they claim to be non participants of this complex inter play of power within the practices of parliamentary democracy.

When I hear this phrase of Do not Fight the Boss (Jangan Lawan Tauke), I cannot help thinking of Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, a very well respected Malay politician, who was until a few days ago, a DAP National Vice-Chairman. He fought the boss in DAP by daring to be different. Consequently, he was reprimanded.

Being a man of high integrity, he could not stand it and finally quit. There is also a case

of a State Assemblyman of Bentayan in Johor, YB Gwee Tiong Hiang, who fought the

boss and was suspended for 6 months. And there is also another case of six, keep quite

first, please. And there is another case of six DAP branch leaders from Bentayan

Branch, (namely: Lim Kem Wat, Khoo Ah Huat, Tay Kee Yan, Gwee Suh Mei, excuse

my pronounciation, most of them are Chinese by the way, Stephen Lim Yong How and

Teo Choon Sieng) also from Johor who were suspended for two years for fighting the

boss.

Closer to home, Tuan Speaker, there is also a case of the former state

assemblyman of Batu Lintang, Voon Lee Shan, who dared to be different. And he was

not nominated to stand.

My colleague, since DAP has been quite, please, give the floor first. There are strings of credible elected representatives from the opposition who dared to be different and were either sacked from the party or forced to quit in disgust.

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Tan Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): Ooi Kee

Beng.

Tuan Speaker: Ooi Kee Beng.

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Tan Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): Ooi Kee

Beng wrote a biographical sketch of Lim Kit Siang entitled: The Right to Differ. In this

book Lim Kit Siang said in the first parliament sitting one year after the racial riot of

1969. These is what he said, these is what he wrote:

“... despite our fears and despite the threat, we had to go in there do our duty, and say

what we had to say”

Then Lim Kit Siang continued to say that “DAP, must fight against any form of

curtailment of criticism and dissent”. However Tuan Speaker, with strings of sacking by

DAP and resignations from the party, it appears that leaders in DAP do not walk the talk.

A Malay proverb says; “Cakap tak serupa bikin”

Elected Representatives cum Voters

Tuan Speaker, if I may continue, allow me to quote you these numbers, this is

not 4D, these numbers: 216/56/02, 202/25/05 and 202/26/03/. These are numbers in the

electoral roll which belongs to a James Jemut Masing, Mong anak Dagang and Frusis

anak Lebi, respectively.

These three people, Tuan Speaker, are voters in Sarawak.

As I am a registered voter under 216/56/02 and hence as rakyat of Sarawak, I do

have my rights. I have the right to vote for a political party, I have the right to vote for the

leader of my choice. I have the right to criticize on things I do not agree with.

Allow me then, Tuan Speaker, to exercise those rights and express my opinions on manners in

which this Barisan Nasional Government discharges its responsibilities to its citizens.

These rights are not alienated only to Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU)! Such rights

are alienated to all Malaysians including members of this administration and members of

these august House.

The voters of Rumah Anyai (Entulang, Sri Aman) where Frusis anak Lebi resides, are happy in the manner in which the Barisan Nasional government has given OKU Frusis anak Lebi, assistance over the years (since 1982) with a total sum of more than RM72,000. With this generous assistance from the Government, Frusis anak Lebi, is now earning an income of more than RM2000/month. Today he has a good house, he has a van and other facilities made available to him.

As a voter and a citizen of this country, I am proud of what Barisan Nasional

Government has done to make it possible for OKU Frusis anak Lebi to earn a decent

income. This is, Tuan Speaker, a sign of a responsible Government, administered by

responsible elected representatives.

However, what make me as a voter very unhappy, is that this Barisan Nasional

Government continued to give assistance to this Frusis anak Lebi even though he earns

more than RM2000/month. He was no longer in need of welfare assistance.

There are more deserving cases which need Government assistance. Therefore, when Barisan

Nasional Government stopped giving assistance to Frusis ak Lebi last year, I, as a voter

thought that it was a reasonable decision.

What I cannot understand however, as a voter and a rakyat, Tuan Speaker, is

why Members of the Opposition create such a fuss when the Government stopped

giving assistance to a person who does not deserve it any more.

Kapit OKU Case

Tuan Speaker, allow me to continue along this line by relating to this House of

one OKU case in Kapit by the name of Valentine Ali anak Bubong. Ali is 68 years old. He

stands at 109 cm (just over three feet tall) and weight 26 kg. He is a midget. He lives

alone. A few years ago he was found sleeping in a card board box at a market place in

Kapit. Do you know why sir? Because he has no place called home.

Ali was not always this poor. In his younger days he earned for himself a decent

income. He had a Class F company which earned for him a reasonably good income

until one day his partner cheated him resulting in his Class F Company being blacklisted.

Consequently, Ali has no company, he has no income and he is no place to stay.

A few years ago I was told of Ali‟s predicament. So I rented him a place, helped

him to apply for monthly financial assistance of RM300 per month from the Welfare

Department, and through my help and with the help of some kind hearted souls,

Valentine Ali is now a proud owner of a house.

When I offered Ali a help, I never asked for his political affiliation. He needed help, so I offered him my help.

Over the years, Tuan Speaker, I had rendered assistance to many people, one of

which was to a young Chinese family in Kota Sentosa whose business was in serious

trouble with the authority for illegally trading at a wrong location, and a shopkeeper in

Kuching who was in need of street lights.

In rendering this assistance, I never asked for their political affiliation. I offered my help because help was asked.

Tuan Speaker, all of us in this august House are wearing two hats: both as Wakil

Rakyat and a voter; and short we are boss and voter rolled up in one.

There is, however,Tuan Speaker, a marked difference between Members of the Opposition and Barisan Nasional elected representatives. Barisan Nasional elected representatives are chosen

by the voters to look after their (voters) welfare for the next 5 years, while members of

the opposition are forced by the voters, for lack of majority support, to be in the

opposition and that what you are today.

In carrying out your responsibilities as opposition, you must do it with proper

decorum, dignity, sincerity, and above all do not make a Public Nuisance of yourselves,

in or out of this House. We from this side of the House will listen to your problems and

arguments and will act on them if we found them to be reasonable and beneficial to the

rakyat.

I am pleased to note, Tuan Speaker, that there are members of the opposition

who speak well and make well meaning criticisms and suggestions. This government will

listen to these suggestions and take appropriate action.

After all, we are elected to this House with one sole purpose that is for the

betterment of this country. Methods of achieving it may differ, but the end goal is the

same. Let us do it in manners which are amicable, manageable and goal achieving

methods.

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Tan Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): Thank you,

Opposition you are being very nice and very quite. Okay now you, I tell you do not stand

do for the sake of standing. No speak for the sake of speaking. Not yet, I haven‟t. I

haven‟t finish yet … (Interruption)(Inaudible) (Laughter)

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Tan Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): A few days

ago Tuan Speaker, I read a book with a very sadistic title by Andy Andrews entitled:

“How do you kill one million people”. However there is one section in this book on Hitler‟s

rise to power in Germany that I would like to share with members in this House, since

PRU 13 is just round the corner and many speakers will say their piece in trying to

influence the voters.

All of us know that Hitler was one of the most powerful and  influential speakers of his time. How did he do it? According to this book Hitler used tailored his speeches according to his audience. This what the book says, I quote from the book:

“In agriculture areas, he pledged tax cuts for farmers and new laws to protect food prices. In working class neighbourhoods, he talked about redistribution of wealth and attacked the high profits generated by business owners. When he appeared before financiers or captain of industry, Hitler focused on his plans to destroy communism and reduced the power of trade unions. Hitler then said to his inner circle. This is what he said:

“How fortunate for leader, that men do not think. Make the lie big, make it

simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it. The great

masses of people will more easily fall victim to a big lie than a small one.”

Finally, Tuan Speaker, to conclude. Now is your turn, don‟t make it too long.

Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Thank you, Tuan Speaker, thank you, Honourable

Minister.

Tuan Speaker: No speeches. What he said, you want to clarify?

Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Yes, clarify. At least the Honourable Minister understands the principle of fair play. Give me a chance to ask question, unlike the others. Alright, my question is all the reasons that have been given by the Honourable Minister in respect of the cancellation of subsidy. It is not a talk because there is a letter here written by Menteri Muda Pertanian, Y.B. Datuk Mong Dagang to Penolong Pengarah Pertanian asking for, requesting for the cancellation of the subsidy on the

ground of his open support for opposition.

So if this letter is issued ,written by, Tuan Speaker, I would like to verify with the Honourable Minister. Give me a few more minutes Minister whether he actually sign this? And what he is saying now is not only after a talk, number one.

Number two, on the party members quiting all this, that is party line, party principle and I believe Honourable Minister understands that very much. Members that do not go along party line is either quit or you... (Interruption)

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Dato Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): Tuan

Speaker.

Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: But the rule is different between elected reps and

people. The people are the “tauke” not the elected reps or Minister.

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Dato Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): Okay,

thank you. Thank you Ahli Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa, I can see that. I am quite

interested, how do you get that letter you know, although that is an official secret act

letter? Those are official letters, I am interested on how you get it. That is the issue now.

The issue I am going to answer you.

Tuan Speaker: Let the Minister reply.

Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, Honourable Minister asked me how I

get this letter? I can tell this House there are people with conscience. When they see

something unfair they want it to be exposed. That is how I get it from someone with

conscience, unlike the Barisan Nasional bunch, no conscience.

Tuan Speaker: I think the reply by the Honourable Minister was clear just now. He‟s the

general policy of the administration. That may be just an individual opinion.

Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, I think Members of the Opposition must

understand. I want to ask who is the boss. We are the boss, you are the boss because

you are the elected representative but at the same time, no, no, I haven‟t finish yet. You

sit down.

Tuan Speaker: No, no, let the Minister response.

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Dato Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): We are the

voters, at the same time Frusi anak Levi is a voter too and I am a voter, that you must

understand. We are voters also, we work, and we have been elected. The problem with

you... (Interruption)

Tuan Speaker: No, no, no.

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Dato Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): Sit down,

sit down.

Tuan Speaker: Members of Opposition, you had your say. This is the Minister‟s right to

rebut.

Menteri Kemajuan Tanah (Y.B. Dato Sri Dr. James Jemut anak Masing): Right.

What you must understand that you are voters so am I voters but the different between

you and me is that we are voted to rule, to govern, to look at how the people should

work. That is ours. Alright, before I close, please, you don‟t argue. That is your opinion.

Let me Tuan Speaker, may I just give one quotation before I continue with this. It says, I

would like to read a quotation from Abraham Lincoln. Let me read to you since

opposition Member for Kota Sentosa would like to talk, let me read this out. “Better to

remain silence and be thoughtful than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”.

Finally to conclude, Tuan Speaker, ok I repeat. “Better to remain silence and be

thoughtful than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”. Finally, to conclude, Tuan

Speaker, I wish to congratulate you as you have not only been firm but fair as well.

Baram folks expressing strong objection to Baram Dam

Workshop participants giving the thumb down to the Baram Dam project.


LONG SAN, BARAM: The workshop, entitled "Empowering the Community to Assert their Rights", objective is to educate the communities affected by the proposed dam project on their fundamental rights under the Federal Constitution, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the concept of Native Customary Rights (NCR) under the Sarawak Land Code.
The workshop also touched on the topic of good governance, government policy on customary land development and encouraged the participants to voice out their concerns and demands with regards to the proposed dam project.
SAVE Rivers is happy to note the positive response to the workshop which began last Thursday evening (17 May) and ended on Saturday (19 May).
During the group discussions, most of the participants raised the issue of not being consulted by the relevant authorities or from Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) and their consultants.
The participants were also angry with the way their community leaders, elected representatives and Senator Lihan Jok are "bulldozing" their way through with the said project and lying to the public that the people of Baram have accepted it.
Equally appalling to the participants of the workshop is when they found out through the local media that Sarawak’s Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu announced that the resettlement site for the affected villagers have been identified somewhere near Murum and Bakun area when only a few weeks ago, Senator Lihan was quoted as saying that the proposed dam is still a proposal and the decision to approve the said project is still pending.
From the outcome of the workshop, the resolution made by the participants are:
1) They strongly oppose the proposed Baram Hydro-electric Dam Project and demand that the project be scrapped;
　
2) They demand that all the survey and drilling works done by SEB or their contractors or their agents be stopped immediately;
3) They want their voices to be heard and their rights to be respected;
4) They totally disagree with their community leaders or community associations such as the Federation of Orang Ulu Association Malaysia (Forum) which says that the people of Baram have already accepted the proposed dam project;
5) They do not want people who are not affected by the proposed dam project to make statements and decide on behalf of their community;
6) They do not want their customary lands, crops, properties, burial grounds, and ancestral sites to be flooded;
7) They do not believe that the proposed dam project will benefit them as the issues of Batang Ai, Bakun, Bengoh and Murum have yet to be resolved by the authorities; and
8) They demand that community leaders who are only interested to listen to their political masters and not the voices of the people to resign immediately
The participants have also signed a protest letter and will forward it to SEB and the relevant authorities.
SAVE Rivers will continue to conduct workshops and roadshows throughout Baram District to educate the people of the proposed dam project.
The villages that were represented were Long San, Long Liam, Long Na’ah, Long Selawan, Long Anap, Long Selatong Dikan, Long Selatong Tanjung Tepalit, Long Tap, Long Je’eh, Long Beku, Long Bee, Long Apu and Long Moh. – About 60 participants, representing their respective villages from Upper Baram, Patah, Akah and Silat rivers strongly voiced their objection to the proposed Baram Hydro-electric Dam Project after attending a 11/2 day workshop organised by Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers) at Long San village.

Anthony Nait retains his post as SADIA Kuching branch chairman

Kuching, May 12, 2012: The Kuching branch of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) held its extraordinary general meeting today, among others elected a new committee for the year 2012-2013.

Datuk Dr Anthony Nait Mani was re-elected chairman for another term.

Other office bearers:
Deputy chairman - Peter Morni
Secretary - Maureen Bernabas
Assistant secretary - Lucy January
Treasurer - Stephen Jenang
Assistant treasurer - Edward Ulok
Committee members:
1. Edwin Rabong Tawie
2. Johnny Jalin
3. Lamina Jintang
4. Enggoi Aji
5. Tuai Rumah Mathew anak Bandan
6. Philip Sampurai
7. Tuai Rumah Jijah Simanggang
8. Ricky Tujoh

Co-opted into the committee:
1. Tuai Rumah Sanggi Abu
2. Tuai Rumah Lia Mudet
3. Mabong Unggang

Auditor - Nyalau Jeli

Resolutions adopted at the EGM.
That the Kuching branch allows the branch chairman to speak and raise issues concerning 10 community leaders in Kuching district who have been made acting Tuai Rumahs without any appointment letter and allowance for the last 10 years;

That the branch write letters to the government to appoint a second temenggong for the Iban community in Kuching Division and appoint more pemancas and more penghulus for the Iban community in Kuching district.

Meanwhile, the branch will launch a membership drive to attract more Ibans to join in as members.\
The membership drive should be directed at school teachers, civil servants and private sector employees. - By Sematong Express

BN a saviour of the Lun Bawangs, in the sense that Jesus was to the Christians? asks Baru Bian

Kuching, May 10, 2012: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said today Lawas Member of Parliament Datuk Henry Sum Agong is wrong for declaring that the Barisan Nasional is the saviour of the Lun Bawang community, in the sense that Jesus was, to the Christians.

“I find that ludicrous, if not blasphemous. If, as he says, the BN government has done so much for the Lun Bawang community, he has not one thing to worry about.

“Our people are sensible and discerning enough to know how much exactly the BN government has actually done for them.

“They should be allowed to choose their next MP freely, without any threats and intimidations from those who have vested interests in holding on to their positions,” Baru said when referring to a news article in the Borneo Post yesterday, quoting Sum as saying that the Lun Bawangs must not act as Judas of the Barisan Nasional.

Baru, who is also the State Assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan, said:” It is extremely disappointing and disturbing that the BN politicians have started their politics of fear in Lawas and Limbang.

“The people must be given their freedom to choose the candidate they wish to have as their MP. They are not obliged to state their stand to anyone,” he said, adding that Sum branding the opposition supporters, as ‘Judas’ is extremely insulting and most unbecoming of an incumbent politician.

He said politicians must bear in mind that they are chosen to serve the rakyat, and that the rakyat do not owe them anything - if anything, the BN politicians should be grateful to have been given the chance to hold their positions for so long.

He added that Malaysia is a democratic country and the constitution allows the people to elect their leaders once in every five years.

“The rakyat will again have to choose their leaders to form the next Government and I trust in the supremacy and the wisdom of the rakyat. I believe the rakyat will have the record and performance of the BN for the last 50 years to review and finally make another decision.

“Leave it to the rakyat, they are the ‘boss’. I humbly urge not only the Lun Bawangs in Lawas or Sarawakians in Limbang, but all Malaysians, to remember it was not that we the rakyat betrayed the BN Government, instead the BN Government had betrayed and short-changed the rakyat for the last 50 years.

“Leave the people to choose freely without any political intimidation or threat, and may the best man win. God’s will be done for Malaysia,” Baru said. By Sematong Express.

Journalists hold World Press Freedom Day gathering at the Kuching Waterfront today

Press statement issued by the Federation of the Sarawak Journalists Associations (FSJA) in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day gathering held at the Old Court House, Kuching, on May 5, 2012.

We must commend the efforts of some journalists in organising this historic gathering, in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day, and at the same time, to show our displeasure at the physical attacks on our fellow colleagues while covering the Bersih rally on April 28, 2012 in Kuala Lumpur.

It is important that we must show our solidarity when faced with a certain situation that affects the media fraternity, not only in Kuching, but also in other parts of Sarawak, in particular, and Malaysia, in general.

We call upon the authorities, non-governmental organisations, political parties and individuals to respect journalists who are discharging their professional duties.

We consider any attempt to prevent them from discharging their duties, by whatever means, as a show of disrespect.

We do not expect them to be beaten up nor verbally assaulted when they are on their assignments on the field.

We expect them to be respected, and if needs be, to be assisted by providing them with information that they seek for a full and comprehensive reports.

We abhor any attempt to prevent them or to issue threats when they are seeking information or possessing information that may not be favourable to the authorities or parties or individuals.

The journalists should be given some space in discharging their duties, in the interest of the public.

However, we are mindful of the national interest and public security when the journalists are discharging their professional responsibilities.

We are very much aware of avoiding writing on sensitive issues, which, if published, could spark racial or religious disharmony or strife.

 FSJA wants journalists to respect the laws of the country. We cannot go beyond what are allowed by the laws.

If we do, we will find ourselves being sued for libel by the aggrieved parties or charged in court for false reporting.