Power 140 to 82 ‘Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban”

I would like to reiterate that the PM knows what he is doing. This morning in our monthly PRS divisional breakfast gathering in a members “kopitiam of course“ the (35 out of 44)  wanita wing and youth wing members had this to say to the PM.

140 to 82 “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban” which means “If I still live I’ll fight” Why.? Malaysiakini article,”Federal gov’t shows who is boss” http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85150 is indeed timely and appropriate as the 5% oil royalty for Sarawak was mentioned besides the Penang Monorail and PORR which was shelved.

In our kopitaim talks members  brought up and discussed on a wide range of topics in relations to the local political scenario ( mergers,haha), price hikes (avoid expensive,unreasonable shopping and eating outlets), Pak Lah( his reforms), Fuel increase (cutbacks and tightening on travels) and component parties unhappiness.  We could have had 31 out of 31 Wins for BN in the General Elections. DAP won Bandar Kuching and till today fingers are still pointed.

Sure, we did help the our component party in the last GE but it was not enough to wrestle Bandar Kuching for reasons which we had earlier covered ( https://audie61.wordpress.com/2008/06/14/159/ ) The 5% percent royalty was a hot issue as the members had a dig at the Penang Government especially on the monorail.

Some members of the youth wing said that Sarawak has been producing oil since 1902 but the Federal government gives us only a 5% royalty. There has been too many avenues for news and they said that Pakatan Rakyat’s de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim promised higher oil royalty to court BN MPs from Sabah and Sarawak. If Anwar can do that why not BN government?  5% to 10%  “pun boleh” one of them said.

A vice chairwoman of the wanita wing Winnie chipped in, “Give to us Sarawak 20% and we can built a  “Railway from Lundu to Lawas” You know, we only have dual carriageway from Kuching to Limbang( Trans-Borneo Highway hehe.) What lah! Penang talking of just a monorail to solve the transportation system of the state before it reaches critical stage ? 

 Colin, the youth chief praised the the PM eventhough he comes from Penang there are no “Preferential Treatment“.  Thats more like it. Dont just bend for the sake of bending, there are other ways to overcome a problem. The way I see it weblog has this ,”I bet you that you will not get special treatment like Sabah and Sarawak, due to that there are not many BN MPs from the state to the Penangnites he said. (Well at least not many leaping frogs)

Imagine we have a railway track from Lundu to Lawas. Wouldn’t it be a romantic journey passing through all the beautiful countryside passing through all the major towns. As if this would happen during our lifetime we all laughed. Hold on… I interjected… tourism boosting for the state don’t you think?

I remember in 1986 when I was in the Sarawak Tourist Association,I mentioned painting the “sampans” (a small flat-bottomed boat with oars) with different colours and get advertisement on them. Well,being a “freshie graduate” I had to swallow and take the negative arguments. At least today the Kuching Waterfront looks bright and colourful. So I told them maybe when a few of you get into the Council Negeri  as assemblyman this “rail project” would take off. Ruffling a few feathers again….

Oh yea!  Absolutely power corrupts absolutely as KJ said in Parliament. Is there a point here? 140-82 is power to many other government but Malaysia seems to want “Absolute” which is 2/3rd. To end our kopitiam meeting our wanita chief Cilla (neuro science graduate) said on March 8 Malaysians gave a “Bloody Nose” to BN and there were calls for the PM to resign or go for reforms. She further added that the previous government under Tun really did more developments than any other PM.It was good and we were all very contented with all the facilities,subsidies and benfits which followed it. We had settled in our “Comfort Zones” Now its shaken and there are a lot of discomfort and worries.

There are three ways a person can react to this situation:-

1. Accept the situation,complain and then retaliate
2. Accept it and consider the current situation as a catalyst to do and try to earn more.
3. Don’t care as they think they are not affected by it as much.

But we have to take note that the majority of Malaysians falls in the poor and middle class. Of course the “rich’will not be affected.Now its up to the government. It’s back to the basics,back to the people.The deferred project of the RM2 billion Penang monorail and RM1.5 billion Penang outer Ring Road is a good example that there will be more people centred projects. It’s not vinditive, she says as many have said.  We have to hear our people cry and we know infrastucture development is good but these funds are needed more urgently.

Forget about the political and hidden agendas the government is correct in going for rural development and seeing that clean piped water is available,solving the woes of the natives, electrification projects instead of mega projects. Peoples daily requirements needs to be addressed and when people are happy they will be less trouble and less stress. We were all stitches as everyone been chirpy and well fed called her YB. Priscilla our secretary said we have a “Hannah’ in our midst. Hannah of course is the Subang Jaya YB from DAP.

Wow..!!! such strong words after taking Laksa ( favourite breakfast dish for Sarawakians ). I haven’t finish she said as this is an eye opener to our usual thinking and spending habits and its up to the people to work with the government. Better than a question,”What kind of spouse do i desire to have?” is the question,What kind of spouse do I aspire to be?” 

An Assistant Minister in the State Cabinet once told me the first term as a YB the 1825 days will be easier than the following term. I’m positively sure that the PM is feeling this syndrome and as always I say he knows what he is doing. 

We are expecting between now and  Dec 16th the PM will go for the reforms as he prepares for the UMNO General Assembly. However he needs to consolidate,strengthen,secure his position within the party before he goes on with his reforms he promised Malaysians in 2004. Kopitiam was a good morning as we spend within our means. To our PM we agree he needs all the powers to stay in Office and we say “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban” 

Deregistered Pasok? SUPP,PRS,SPDP-Dissolved..?

The fate has been sealed by the Registrar of Societies(ROS) under the Societies Act 1966(Act 335) Section 13(1)(c)(ix) & regulations for Pasok. Malaysiakini’s report http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85097 one of Sabah’s oldest political party (30 years), United Pasok Nunukragang National Organisation (Pasok), has been deregistered effective May 27th so says ROS Md Alias Kalil today. Why…? How come SUPP,PRS.SPDP involved ? There are explanations of course forthcoming for these.

Firstly, According to Md Alias, he issued the revocation order following the party’s failure to resolve the leadership stalemate involving Cleftus Mojinggol, John Richard Jayasuria and Hendry Sabagang Rumpit who all had claimed to be the legitimate president of Pasok. The ROS stated that the party is at liberty to submit an appeal under Section 18 of the Society Act 1966 against the decision to the home minister within 30 days from the date of deregistration. Well this takes care of Part 1.

Part 2– On April 1st (ROS) chief Md Alias Kalil said the agency had decided not to de-register PRS after explanation from its leaders.The party has been embroiled in a bitter leadership feud for the past two years, has been operating with two presidents and two separate headquarters.Moreover,ROS had found the sacking of the six supreme council members by Dr James Masing, the party president, had contravened both the party constitution and Societies Act. Is the ROS so powerful or is it the Home Minister who makes the decision? Could it be that PRS has 6 MPs and 8 Aduns and it turned out to be a political decision?

Many questions needs to be answered and I do feel sorry for Pasok too. Many in the law fraternity are in agreement that the ROS letter to PRS has been widely interpreted to mean in effect the party’s supreme council with Masing as president prior to the sacking of the six SC members has reverted to status quo.

Is justice being served….? it must be noted that the Registrar of Societies comes under the purview of the Yang di Pertuan Agong while the Minister in charge of this supposedly independent ministry is the Home Minister. Call me “EVIAN” Bottled water or if you spelt it backwards “NAIVE” but we need written answers especially now with Judiciary being put to the sword and the Attorney Generals Office should be able to assist in helping with an explanation in writing.

Political or not the country needs to know how the decision is arrived at. It will be just another waste of public funds if the aggrieved members bring the “ROS to Court” since they are not given a true reflection of the ROS decision. The answer came when a reporter with a local daily gave a call to seek for more from the officer and he says.”Its all in the letter. Just through a Phone Call. Cannot be can it…?

Politics we know are not won by the rule of the thumb in this day and age and the Government under PM should be more transparent in handling political solutions. I have been consistent in that the PM is working his reforms but it is not all followed through.

Part 3– 19 out of 28 Parti Rakyat Sarawak Divisional leaders met in the party headquarters on 8th April 2008 and wrote a letter to ROS to demand the following:-

1.  A written letter from ROS who is the “Legal President of PRS”. 
2.  In respect of a confirmation from the Registrar of Societies on 7th September 2006 of YB Datuk Sri James Jemut Masings violation of Article VIII(15) (b) of the constitution of PRS.

There is stil a QUESTION MARK on the above. It will be three months soon. Meanwhile,the merger story continues.

Part 4– Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan does not rule out the possibility of all four components of Sarawak Barisan Nasional would one day merge into one political entity.“If there is a possibility, then why not! If this is the better way for all of us, then we (should) do it,” Dr Chan, who is DCM, said when asked to comment on the planned merger between Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS)and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), and the possibility that a merged PRS-SPDP entity could one day join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

Also because I think racial politics are less important today. People don’t make racial issue a critical issue (any longer), and they are being more and more open and do not feel racial politics are that important in Malaysia today especially in Sarawak,” A keen observer  put it as why not adopt a short-cut measure and invite the YBs and members of the three  parties SUPP,SPDP and PRS join PBB straight away?  The next stage which is …

Part 5-Dissolve all the 3 parties.Some members from all 3 parties concerned questioned the viability of GC’s plan? Or is it a plan carefully worked out to ensure that “CERTAIN TOP” people benefit from this exercise. To dissolve a party its not just like the ROS giving a letter to be dissolved. There are a lot of steps to be adhered to. If I may PRS Article XX states with regards to dissolved/merged:-

1. A resolution passed at the triennial delegates Conference attended by not less that 3/5ths  of the delegates eligible to attend under the provisions of article V11 Clause 1(a) of this constitution and
2. A 2/3rds of votes of the members present at such TDC as provided under Clause1(a) of this article
3. Notice of dissolution shall be submitted to the Registrar of Societies,Mlaysia within 14days from the date of dissolution.
4. All debts legally incurred on behalf of the Party shall first be settled in full before any balance of the assets may be dealt with as the TDC decided.

Of course members of the component party will say its easy as we are the Government but all actions are being fully covered and scrutinised by the opposition parties. Simple..? Yes, but all laws and bylaws are to to be followed. It has been said previously that when one is unhappy with another just start a party of your own. Gone are those days and if there is a properly conceive plan the party should be able to withstand any eventualities for at least 10-15 years. Previously all “foot soldiers” do not mind to be put in a boot camp. Ian Chin the High court Judge must have influenced me here. With the influx of young members,mostly professionals they do not want to be treated anymore like their forgotten “Brothers of yesteryears.”

When Pasok was hammered with the news of the deregistration one of the top aides in SAPP gave me a tinkle. He was saying that the PM has overcome the storm and news surrounding SAPP has quietened down. It led me to say to him ” Be Very Afraid and I Fear for SAPP ” as before the next wave there is calm. PM has not forgotten what SAPP has done to him. Could the ROS be coming after SAPP…?

“PBDS Baru”

Dr John Brian Anthony wrote a letter to Malaysiakini http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/85039 to inform us the reasons why ,”Dayaks may have to set up their own party?” I received a number of emails and calls from various dayak leaders specially in my article”milking the cow” when I included in the lists of eight reasons especially (no.2) why history will record SAPP’s daring act. In Dr John’s letter he has something similar that “they are more like political cowards with loyalty to their self-interests only”

Why has this suddenly happened in the political landscape of Sarawak? Could it be just the merged entity of SPDP-PRS? Obviously not but, Sarawak BN chairman and CM Taib Mahmud who  spoke of the possibility of a merged PRS-SPDP entity one day “joining” Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), of which he is the president. A member of the component party said very bluntly,”What CM says you have to read in between the lines,meaning he is against a merged entity as he still wants to practise the divide and rule policy.”   

A keen observer who send us a letter since Taib has expressed the wish for the two parties after their merger to  join his party PBB, why not adopt a short-cut measure and invite the YBs and members of the two parties SPDP and PRS) join PBB straight away. Was Taib really serious? Or was he being influenced by other events such as the political tsunami after the March 2008 elections, the expansion of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to Sarawak or the promises made by PKR and DAP for a Dayak to be made the chief minister of Sarawak?

However, the past few days there has been calls by members of the BN coalition coming up to echo the CMs call for a merged entity amongst who were the father and son “team” of Donald and Snowdon Lawan. Donald a local entrepreneur and a former YB for Bukit Begunan he said it is high time for the Bumiputras to unite under one political party. Snowdon currently assemblymen for Balai Ringin meanwhile said that he shares his father’s view but he added that the whole idea is to remain relevant to represent the people. One might argue these are just their personal views in support of Taib while the other dayaks beg to differ.

It must be noted that both Presidents of PRS and SPDP are supportive of joining PBB one day but there are just a “hint of cold feet.” Besides that many Chinese and Indian politicians within the ranks of both parties are upset and unhappy with the statement of CM. Everyone knows that Multi-racialism is the way forward and that racial parties should be phased out which is in keeping with the trends in Malaysia like Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

These are some other interesting points put forward by Dr.John and they include 

1. Some promoters of the Malaysian Dayak Congress Party have joined PKR. This is due to necessity, not choice. ( MDC unable to be registered)
2. The current Dayak-based party working within BN is filled with well-fed representatives with comfortable lives.( They rather keep quiet as being too vocal they might jeorpadise their positions.Rule of the thumb)
3.  The parties which claim to represent the Dayaks are too mindful of hurting the feelings of other races while other race-based parties champion their own race agenda (MCA and MIC)
4. The preservation and development of the Dayak language and culture has to be prioritised
5. Dayak participation in the civil service has to be increased and they should be able to occupy top positions. A Dayak should have equal chance of becoming chief minister ( When was the last Dayak CM..? )   

Are this enough for a basis for a new party. PRS faction leaders came up with a new entity when they were engaged in infighting. The name,”GOLD- Gegasan Organisasi Landasan Dayak.” It has not seen the light of day just yet. “MDC-Malaysian Dayak Congress.” ROS has delayed its registration for various reasons. So what about Parti Bangsa Baru Sarawak(Baru) like UMNO (Baru).

There are calls by the dayak community for the government to look into the “real” plight of the people or the dayaks will pursue their own political party which is according to Dr. John a Dayak party that truly serves the Dayak community. All is not well on the ground and there are a lot of unhappiness amongst the dayak community. Will it happen………?

“It hasn’t stop yet.Penang and Bakun.Next.?

It seems that our Government under PM Abdullah is going through a really HOT and  shaky ride. I want to keep track but it has been more than 100 days after the General Elections things should have stabilised. We have had the rice dilemma, Mahathir leaving UMNO, Tengku Razaleigh’s challenge to PM, fuel price hike, 129 BN to 78 Pakatan in Parliament, SAPP threat of no confidence vote against the PM, Altantuya denials and to cap it up the press and media boycotting the Parliament’s lobby in protest of a new ruling. There are others though….but hope we don’t get fried by then…

Malaysiakini reported today that the government is postponing two major projects in Penang – the RM2 billion monorail and RM1.5 billion Penang Outer Ring Road (Porr) and this can be read in details at :-http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85072 .

Not to be outdone Sime Darby drops costly Bakun Project. Why..? It will not take an equity stake in the controversial Bakun hydro-electric dam project as the board is of the view that the project economics do not fit in with their business strategy.

Sime Darby’s group chief executive Ahmad Zubir Murshid said “We are withdrawing our proposal to take up an equity interest in the project but will continue in our role as a contractor to complete the construction of the dam.”He went on to say that Sime Darby will not participate in the costly plan to supply energy from the Bakun dam through undersea cables to peninsular Malaysia.

Sime Darby leads a consortium in the construction of the six billion ringgit (1.8 billion dollars) project in the eastern Sarawak state on Borneo island. The 2,400 megawatt dam was approved in 1993 and is expected to be completed in 2010. Mahathir was quoted back then as saying,”Bakun will not only provide the cheapest source of energy,but will also serve as a catalyst for the country’s industrialisation programme.”

Its 3 months before September 16th for Pakatan to fulfill its takeover bid date and 5 and half months before UMNO General Assembly. Will Pak Lah and BN be able to sustain an avalanche of more dramatic events in the coming months. So far he is able to fend off all attacks and BN is holding up well. Next please…

PBS betrays SAPP for MCA..Where is UPKO.?

Payback time..!! Though its 14 years later after the PBS fiasco where Yong left to form SAPP Pairin, today was ready to thrust the sword back at Yong. Tony Thien Sarawak and Sabah Malaysiakini correspondent files this report http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85010 ” Pairin Kitingan has moved a motion for Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) to be expelled from Barisan Nasional during the ruling coalition’s management committee meeting yesterday.”

Whats more it was reliably told to us that VK Liew (President of LDP) had a hand on the sword when he seconded the motion. DPM Najib who chaired yesterdays meeting was not forthcoming in his interview with the media on the actions taken but most would agree that a show-cause letter is likely to precede for the expulsion of Sapp.

Where was UPKO….? Interests generated and gossips gathered momentum in the “Land below the Wind”. However it is not known whether the party, which is led by Minister in the PM’s Department Bernard Dompok, was invited to the meeting or whether it had chosen to stay away. Our correspondent Bugi Wijaya was quick to point out that though the fuel rumours hit Sabah yesterday the sentiments of the people is,”I can bear without fuel for 3 days but I cannot bear for not voting against the BN.”

UPKO has been quietly supporting SAPPs motion as it is known that their grassroots have voiced out openly that it takes a non KDM person to voice SAbah’s unhappiness and where are our leaders like Dompok? The people of Sabah are happy for SAPP but they seems to be unhappiness with MCA jostling for higher positions in the State Adminstration. Meanwhile,Gerakan Sabah has also issued a statement to ask SAPPs to withdraw the threat of motion of no confidence vote against PM. Why the sudden upsurge of support to the Sabah State BN?

It must be the anticipated expulsion of SAPP from BN. The lobbying for the “to be vacant positions previously held by SAPP” has indeed intensified. It has been speculated that MCA sole representative for Sabah Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai the current assistant minister to the Chief Minister cum assemblyman for Kepayan will be the ideal choice to replace Tan in his ministerial post.

The presence of Khoo’s Kepayan constituency People Development Leader Lu Yan Tong MCA (front dark blue with yellow sleeve tshirt) at a Sepanggar BN protest over their MP Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun’s support for the no-confidence motion against the PM shows the close relationship between UMNO and MCA.

Why has PBS and LDP betrayed SAPP too? It is most likely LDP will get a Assistant Minister’s post replacing YB Melanie Chia Chui Ket of SAPP. However, the real kingmaker Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will most probably be the first to stake their claim on whatever positions they want before the others.

On this note, Bugi Wijaya says the mosquito party will moved from the bungalow to be a squatter unless they are welcomed into a terrace house. Well, that’s the price to be paid and in politics only the strong will survive. There is more excitement to come from Sabah and we are waiting for the ACA to move in on Yong. According to a party member as we await the GUILLOTINE , SAPP has moved its machinery towards the interior in the meet the people sessions and they have had big crowds attending their functions.

Rubber Stamped-129-78..Done deal

Fauwaz abdul aziz filed a late report for Malaysiakini http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84931 and he questioned,” Why the debate when the decision has already been made and executed? Parliament approved of the restructuring of unsustainable fuel subsidies, including the June 5 petrol and diesel price hikes.The government motion was carried with 129 voting in favour and 78,all from the opposition, voting against.

I was having coffee late today as usual $1.20 now(up 20cents) with my petrol station operator and he was very unhappy with the Government. We still get the same commissions 9% and the 23000 litres from the tanker costs us everyday $60000 “cash” to pay the oil companies. If only we were informed that prices would go up in August we would have made the necessary provisions. What to do..? Decision already made 129-78.

However he supports the declination of credit facilities by credit card. Its a business decision. After the fuel price hike we, petrol station operators have to cut costs. I feel sorry for some of my friends in this business especially in KL. 80% of their clienteles are using credit cards. WE know,and the real reason (it takes 3 days for the merchant houses to process the payment) Shhhhsss!

He told me and I for one missed out on Musings with Marina Mahathir on June 18th “You Walk the Talk First”. After going through it I do feel its worth re-posting her full article and I appreciate it if she does not sue me for copyright infringement. Hehehe. By the way ,Marina binti Mahathir is the daughter of the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Mahathir Mohammad. She is well known as a leader in many non-governmental organizations and is currently an active socio-political blogger.

You Walk the Talk First

WITH the recent hike in fuel prices and the Government’s exhortations for us to change our lifestyles in order to cope, may I provide here some suggestions for the Government and those who work for it to “share our burden”.

1. Stop having meetings, especially out at resorts, far enough away to be able to claim transport allowances. Have online meetings instead or teleconferences. Use Skype or chat.

2. No need to order special pens, bags, T-shirts, notepads and other goodies for those same meetings.

3. No need to order kuih for mid-morning or teatime meetings in government offices, or nasi briyani lunches for those meetings that happen to end just at lunchtime.

4. Cancel all trips for government servants to conferences overseas unless they return with full reports of what they did there, who they met and what they learnt and how they mean to apply what they learnt at home. Ask them to do presentations to colleagues who did not get to go, on the most interesting and important papers that they read.

5. Scrutinise invoices for contracts to make sure they are truly reflective of what those projects or supplies cost.

6. Stop elaborate launches for government programmes. In particular, stop the buying of souvenirs, special batik shirts, corsages, bouquets and caps.

7. Make all civil servants and politicians travel economy class. That means really travelling at the back of the plane and not buying full fare economy class tickets that allow them to be upgraded to Business Class.

8. Stop having the full complement of police escorts to cut down on petrol costs. If they need to be somewhere by a certain time, start earlier like the rest of us. Wouldn’t be a bad thing for them to also experience a traffic jam.

9. Once a week (or more), have ministers use public transport so they know what everyone else has to suffer. This might provide them with the incentive to improve them.

10. Once a week, let ministers go to a market to buy food for their families with instructions to not spend more than RM100.

11. Get ministers to carpool. They might get more work done just by being able to talk to each other to see what can be coordinated between their ministries. For instance, the Ministers of Health and Women could discuss what to do about women’s health issues in the car on the way to work. Maybe have a secretary to travel in the front seat to take down notes on what was discussed. By the time they get to their offices, things can get implemented.

12. Once a month, get civil servants to work with one disadvantaged group in order to be better able to appreciate their problems. It could be blind people one month, hearing disabled people the next, orang asli the following month and people living with HIV/AIDS after that.

We could start buddy systems which pair one civil servant with one disadvantaged person and at the end of it, ask each pair to make recommendations on how to make life better for each other. This might get rid of the problem of desk jockeys, people who never stray very far from their desks yet make policies for people they know nothing about.

13. Have PA systems that shout out the name of the officers who have to serve people at government offices so that people get the services they came for and don’t have to keep coming back just because the officer was out having coffee.

No counter should be left unmanned for more than five minutes before the officer is paged to go back to their stations. This should cut down waiting time for the public and save them transport costs in having to keep returning just to get one thing done.

14. Government officers who lose people’s files should be fined and have their names publicised for being careless and causing inconvenience to the public. Instead of making the public travel to their offices several times to deal with their problems, they should travel to go see their client and deal with it right there and then.

And every officer who goes out of the office should be given a reasonable time to get his work done after which he is expected back in office so he doesn’t waste time doing something else.

15. And newspapers should save paper by reporting real news rather than non-news that they carry, particularly nonsensical utterances by politicians.

As they say, we need to do this all together in order to make a difference. So if the Government and politicians make these lifestyle changes, I will do my part and change mine.

Cheerio!! We feel that No. 11 should be practised more by our YBS. Very True……..

Bicycles Oh Bicycles…An issue..?

Minister in the PMs department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz dismissed the protest as “childish.” Rahmah Ghazali filed a report for Malaysiakini,”MPs pedal plight to Parliament” http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84890

“They shouldn’t make a gimmick and this is not in line with their status as (MPs),” HOLD ON..!!!Recognise the above picture. Looks like his colleague and Minister Of Youth and Sports Sabri rode a bicycle from Kuching Hilton to Kuching Waterfront together with Hamden and Dr.Abdul Rahman.It looks like the government’s latest cost-cutting measure is taking a foothold here with several ministers riding bicycles to ‘work’ yesterday morning says the Borneo Post. Cheap Publicity..?

In an interview this morning at 10.30am Datuk Marcus Mojigoh said it again,”Cheap Publicity”. Politics as we know is all about Perception. Give them a chance to show that they care as the whole of Malaysia feels the after effects of the price hike.

Politicians will try whatever means to stay in Power and once they have ascended that “throne or chair” coming down is a hard to take. MPs have an avenue to talk for the people and the Parliament house is where all issues are to be deliberated and thrashed out.

Tian Chua (Batu), N Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai), Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim) and Hee Loy Hian (Petaling Jaya Selatan) below was actually delivering a couple of messages.

1. We are concerned of the price hike and we show the public that we care.
2. Public Perception and Getting the media attention will keep them in office as the public “loves” an MP that goes on the ground and delivers.
3. They have achieve their aims when BN MPs question this particular move. It’s a well planned “Publicity Bicycle Stunt” from both sides of the divide.

We just hope that they do not forget why they are elected into Parliament.

Burn!!… Lundu District,Sarawak

Tony Thiens Malaysiakini story “Angry NCR landowners act against company” says it all. For full writeup check out the report http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84914

Pictures always says a “thousand” words and we were stunned to say the least. The government agencies and private investors cannot do just what they want? It does look like cheating the local natives, and they are unhappy with the treatment as the company has encroached their Native Customary land.

The government should not wait until it turns into an inferno like the guard house (pondok) which was set alight in Batu 11 Sematan Road. Much as we condone this actions somethings needs to be put right. They always say if you so much tries to break my “rice bowl” I will fight back. We do not want to see confrontational methods being applied but tactful negotiations are needed here……Don’t you think..??

Political Threats

When I was in England way back in the 80s I thought that hanging round, mixing, watching the Italians and English topboys using their intimidation tactics and threats against any “moles or rats” was bad. Times have move on but still when one told me a scorpion is a scorpion I beg to differ. The reality is such politics is who wants more wins or if you can’t take it just leave. Or is it, when you feel that it’s unjust..?

Tony Thien Malaysiakini correspondent http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84913 writes “events in the last 24 hours have taken a disturbing turn”. “SAPP has taken extra caution for the safety of the MPs by calling them back to the party HQ in Kota Kinabalu for consultations on the next course of action, including the safety of their persons and families and the security of their offices,” he said

I for one has receive a lot of these threats especially when even within your own party there are some who portray themselves as the peoples representative but the words and sms they used are no better than the thugs or football hooligans that roam the football grounds just for kicks to get a high.

Politics is never dirty as I always say to my members in my PRS Batu Lintang division but some uses “dirty tactics and no holds barred ways” in the name of politics to achieve their own selfish aims. Business is no different and as in politics it is always,” who conducts the orchestra..?

Which party holds the power decides everything? The question of power cannot be evaded nor can it be brushed aside. The attainment of power is such that both sides of the divide will go all out to get to maintain or the complete transfer of the country’s adminstration and there is no middle course.

Yong, as a political scholar puts it has taken a calculated risks and he knows better what is coming. SAPP afterall fired the first rounds and it must be willing to take what comes after…

Isn’t this the name of the game..? Just to make more juicy at press time the votes count in were 129 to 78. Would the 2 SAPP MPs have made the difference…? The ”rats” ha ha will now be subjected to more political intimidation………..

Merger Letter -PRS and SPDP

By A Keen Observer

 

Re : The proposed merger between the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS)

 Since the Chief Minister and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has expressed the wish for the two parties after their merger to  join his party PBB, why not adopt a short-cut measure and invite the YBs and members of the two parties SPDP and PRS) join PBB straight away?

If Taib’s intention is ultimately to bring UMNO into Sarawak , leaving SUPP in the lurch (anyway Supp is becoming increasingly irrelevant unless it follows the same footsteps as SAPP in Sabah), this short-cut process will make UMNO’s official entry into Sarawak faster.(This will of course please the UMNO protem Sarawak)

I am sure the majority of leaders of SPDP and PRS are not thinking beyond the merger of the two parties, because they are mindful that their origin was SNAP which Iban leaders like the late Tan Sri Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan started in the early 1960s before Malaysia was formed.

Both PRS and SPDP are multi racial parties and they can accommodate both Muslims and non Muslims. Multi-racialism is the way forward.Racial parties should be phased out.

Perhaps PBB should be turned into a multi-racial party that will take non Bumiputeras in keeping with the trends in Malaysia – like Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

This letter is interesting and we have had our own analysis and we feel that this is timely. As a politician i practise multi racialism and with the CMs strong worded statement it has open another avenue for discussion and meddling into other parties affairs. The divide and rule way is the rule of law in the past and it should be just be enbedded in the seabed.  Please read:- https://audie61.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/join-me-join-us-dap-sarawak-malaysiakini/