Chua Soi Lek”Su Hock Ee”

It was like any other Hari Raya Visitations to an old school friends house. The usual greetings and pleasantries were exchanged plus also the delight to see so many familier faces. Whats more the food laid out was…. Oooh SOoo appetising. There were many voices of different opinions especially as school mates meet they will be like old times in school eventhough that was nearly 20 years ago “all trying to be No.1 and be heard” Familiar..??

Of course each will try to say their own piece,”The economy,the political scenario (BN vs Pakatan) the educational system but the one that LIGHTED THE FIRE was the MCA No.2 deputy President Chua Soi Leck. One of my school mate hit the right chord when he said,”This Chua really Su Hock Ee ( Lose to Him translated from Hockien). He also seems so thick skinned and would not just disappear silently like most politicians of yesteryears would have. Would anyone of us fight like he does..?”

The MCA saga has gone overdrive and most of us gave the THUMBS UP to Chua for his perserverance and never say die attitude. One of them even say like Josephians never know when they are defeated. We will fight to the last drop of our blood. Surprisingly,most of us were very unhappy too with Ong Tee Keat for not being steadfast and be more accomodative towards a person who has already paid for his sins in being shamed. Even God forgive the sinners they say and why would Tee Keat not make use of the No.2 man to his advantage.

Has he forgotten about the rule book. Never question the No.1 but if the No.1 does not show respect and bulldozzes through without even telling the No.2 that is a sign of WEAKNESS. Even Najib consults Muhyddin on certain things before he moves his agenda. Im sure Anwar also does that said an old school mate. What makes Chua Soi Leck so prominent its because Ong gave him the PLATFORM and the OPPORTUNITY to hit back. Chua was already shamed with the video sex scandal but one of us added another phrase  in Hockien,” BIN POI KOW-meaning Thick skinned.

You all might be WONDERING WHY MCA…?? Why are we not touching on local politics or even UMNO,PKR ,DAP or PAS? Surely the PKFZ scandal and Tiong King Sings issue is worth a conversation.  Moreover there were about 20 of us and in a Malay friends house. The answer was in our year we were taught the right meaning of DIPLOMACY (Ong needs to learn from us hik hik hik ) and since some of us are from different political divides there was a NEED to follow the LINE OF NEUTRALITY. Chua Soi Lecks purported EGM and the possibility of the ouster of the MCA President is the TALK OF THE TOWN. Who is going to be the AYAM MASAK MERAH in this fight..??

We could go on and on on how this fight will pen out but like the good old days some one just “Detonated  a very good quiet atomic gas”It was signal and the wives in the other room were too happy that it was cut short. One of them even cheekily said ,” Got any steps learnt from each other and what about  the Booster or Viagra used by Chua Soi Leck. Just then one of them showed us this article and how ironic it was as we were talking about our friend Chua.

Posted and copied for all to make their own judgement.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 — Just when the MCA seemed all set to hold its extraordinary general meeting (EGM), in the wake of deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s dismissal, the party’s central committee (CC) has flexed its muscles to overturn the decision and suspend him for four years instead.

This begs the question of whether the power of the CC was overlooked, or even underestimated, in the fractious past weeks which saw more than a fair share of barbs traded between rival supporters of party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Dr Chua.

“They overlooked the CC as an independent body and pre-empted us by going straight for an EGM which should be called only as a last resort, and not the first resort. Members should not have jumped the gun,” CC member Datuk Ti Lian Ker, of Pahang, told Bernama.

He said disgruntled members should have waited first to see how the CC would act before pushing for the EGM, now fixed for Oct 10, after the presidential council sacked Dr Chua for tarnishing the party’s image over a sex video scandal.

Ti said the party constitution empowered the CC to take disciplinary action  against any elected party official including to suspend or to expel with the support of two-thirds of the CC members present at the meeting.

Under Article 128 of the constitution, the CC has the final say on disciplinary matters and that cannot be challenged, even in a court of law.

Ti said he had insisted that Dr Chua’s issue be discussed at the marathon seven-hour CC meeting last Saturday, to show that the party president could not act arbitarily, or that the CC was just a rubber stamp.

Currently, there are 43 CC members, with 25 elected, seven appointed by the president while the rest are party office-bearers.

Ti denied that the CC’s move was tantamount to a lack of confidence in the presidential council, saying that at the same meeting the CC had overturned other disciplinary decisions as well.

Party sources said Dr Chua’s issue was brought up by Senator Datuk Wong Siong Hwee from Kelantan and all were given the opportunity to express their views, including the most senior CC member, Datuk Wong Mook Leong.

Wong re-told his experience when he was sacked during the party crisis in the 1980s, saying that a suspension would have a similar effect as an expulsion, the source said.

“Some CC members sympathised with Dr Chua. They felt there was no need to push an already broken man and believed he should be given a chance to salvage a bit of his shattered honour,” it added.

Ong, who chaired the meeting, had to “eat humble pie” in the face of the check and balance on his leadership by the CC, the source noted.

Enraged supporters of Dr Chua, however, hit back that it was not appropriate and an act of disrespect to the central delegates for the CC to discuss the matter as the rival factions had already agreed to the EGM and agenda.

Even Dr Chua spoke up: “Are they trying to say the CC is more supreme than the EGM?”

Party veteran Datuk Yap Pian Hon maintained the CC had the mandate because all decisions, including disciplinary matters, must go through both the presidential council and CC, the two decision-making organs in the party.

“If we stop at the presidential council level, it can be argued later that the decision is invalid because the due process was not complete,” he said.

Dr Chua’s supporters are pointing fingers that it was Ong who first called for an EGM on Aug 31, when they had barely started their signature campaign to push for one to annul Dr Chua’s sacking.

A political observer, who declined to be named, views the CC’s decision as a “smart tactical move” by Ong’s side to neutralise the sympathy factor towards Dr Chua for the EGM.

The suspension may cause some of the 2,377 delegates to reconsider their views and swing away from Dr Chua as he would only be a party member after four years.

After all, Dr Chua had said he wanted to die an MCA member, the observer noted. — Bernama

Anwar,”Muhyiddin will say this Tomorrow..!!”

Call it a  ”Shake-Up” “Political re-alignment’ “Re-organisation” of PKR Nationally but in Sarawak it will still and remain the BN bastion. The people have spoken and the people have rejected PKR eventhough there was a lot of Hoo-Hahs. There were also significant numbers reported that many have turned their backs on BN. But did it happen when it really mattered?

These WORDS and the TEXT of the political speech by Muhyiddin will be positively energised to drum up the spirit of Barisan National. Of course as always he will humbly thank the State Government for delivering Batang Ai and also to the people who made it happen. This will be cheered feverishly by all those who will be at PRS ‘Batang Ai by-election thanksgiving ceremony”

An emeritus professor has said this to me at breakfast today,”BN just won a battle but the war will have its twists and turns.” A PKR Sarawak  sympathiser couldn’t agree more and he chipped in with this,”The people of Sarawak has turned their backs and failed PKR but this is just the appetizer. The MEAL is not being served yet.” 

The re-organisation is expected so says a Divisional PKR member who has been with the party since its early days in 1999 as the people who were responsible for Batang Ai did not deliver and it was a rather futile effort on PKR. Losing is alright but losing the WAY WE DID when we are divided in the seams is bad.

The thousands who joined where were there? We needed them or are they just playing watching from the sidelines? It just cannot be figures as window dressers.This is politics and its the numbers game. He even says that it will take Anwar and PKR many more years still to wrestle Sarawak if this continues to happen. A management committee in the offing to guide Sarawak?

Meanwhile PKR Stampin Division Chairman See Chee How said that the Shake Up as we put is that the party needs all its political maturity, management  and awareness to realise its FULL POTENTIAL.

Unless if we work as a TEAM and all petty internal political issues are addressed and defined Sarawak PKR will stay stagnant. We need more spine and we need to pick it all up from the ashes. Just Like a Phoenix. Tough,Hard Work,Sincerity but of course Achievable says See Chee How.

Malaysian Innsider has this ARTICLE  headlined ,”Anwar prepares PKR for long battle with Najib’s UMNO.” So where does this leave Sarawak PKR? Adit supposedly to lead the charge of PKR to win the rural seats has been dropped but there are new faces in Paul Kadang in the disciplinary committee and Baru Bian as Assistant Secretary General. Dominique Ng and Hafsah Harun remains as Supreme Council members.

There is a strong undertone of Sarawak paying the brunt of the failure in Batang Ai. The controversy surrounds three main pointers in the post mortem which will leave a bad taste in the mouths of some but its the reality of losses twice doubling that achieved by Nicholas Bawin against an Assistant minister in the late Dublin Unting. 

• 1. The Hidden Hand which promised so much but did not deliver as expected.
• 2. Dr Ambrose Labang reversal role from PKR to supporting BN ( Good Propaganda for BN)
• 3. Dis-organisation of party machinery due to  internal disputes regarding candidacy where TEAMWORK was absent.

PKR has to be accountable and they need to face the reality in Sarawak. Its not a small state unlike in Peninsular where Bloggers have been a much needed help to Pakatan. Ask any Barisan blogger who was here in Sarawak during the Batang Ai campaigning period and they will tell you how difficult it is and the differences in methods of campaigning. Rural Sarawak  audie61 has said that Helicopters provides the edge and it will remain that way unless if ………..complete my statement. 

A former journalists told me the people have made up their minds and will vote for PKR come the State elections Helicopter or not. But I will maintain my stand that he is dreaming like many others.Sure,dreams will come true but in politics its not just dreaming but working DAMN BLOODY HARD.

Grassroots of PKR matters and they need to be  INSTTUTIONALISED to be a party member and not only joining a party for positions and involve in factional political infighting. Will PKR Sarawak turn over the STONES that has been too long embedded on the ground? Will the familiar faces be asked to take another look into other  roles? Will Anwar know what is bests for Sarawak?

Muhyiddin will take a swipe nonetheless on Anwar if not tomorrow it will also be another day. Try, as he may but Anwar and his PKR team needs to encamp themselves in Sarawak. Its never easy but Sarawak will stay a fortress for BN for many years to come still. Will it not? Not Unless Sarawak voters wake up with a BAD HEADACHE…??

We say as always,”Let’s just wait upon what Muhyiddin will say tomorrow.? BN will celebrate long into the night but they know they have a long road ahead and they will not let their guard down…

N29 “Its the System & KWA HONG, SAI CHUN”

The most obvious question before the nomination day in Batang Ai N29 is:-,”Can anyone change the mindset of the dayaks..?” ‘Its already in place the system says  a local Engkilili resident but votes in the N29 State constituency”

 He wants to remain anonymous and he went to school with the BN candidate Malcolm Mussen and there were only 16 of them and Malcolm was the only bumiputra in the class. 

What is the system as Natasha asked him? Its like no one goes against the ‘ Government ‘ and the Ibans who are under the government system will always vote for the BN dacing and no one else. Now with the youths factor and fence sitters PKR maybe stand a chance but its an uphill tasks.

He says the local chinese community who does business are as usual the ones who always ‘ KWA HONG SAI CHUN “. They must not be seen to favour any political parties and they only make up 297 of the voting strength. DAP and PKR members are making inroads he said but can the local chinese community just shun BN.

This is not like the URBAN AREAS in the Peninsula and will the Chinese here in Batang Ai just ‘ COMMIT SUICIDE ” Don’t think so but the opposition can try to convince. Natasha of audie61 was giving him all the issues which has been used by the Pakatan group somehow or rather it doesn’t convince him.

Just then a phone call was received from Engkilili and it was a confirmation that 3000 specially prepared food for election workers are to be handed to Lubok Antu. This was ordered by BN and they have distributed it accordingly to 4 contractors. ”It’s like projects fairly distributed in this Parliamentary seat of Lubok Antu,he said”

Engkilili and Batang Ai make up this Parliamentary seat in Sarawak.One must realise that politics of development still counts and the convictions are still very much strong for BN. The dayaks are stillvery much in this SYSTEM and it will still take years to change their mindset.

He even said,Anwar can win the cheers from the crowd in his ceramah (campaign talk). However, here in Sarawak, winning cheers doesn’t mean that you are winning their votes.Though PKR Jawah will present a formidable opponent but it seems that BN campaign will withstand all and has a fair chances of defending the seat N29.

As it stands the ground zero is still not very noticeable eventhough SB has given PRS a headstart and  PKR is not lagging behind. The dayaks will still go for PRS-BN says the local confidently.

 Its the usual bombardment which holds the key to this rural constituency unlike the urban voters. This I have NOTHING TO HIDE. What has PKR got to counter when BN does in the last few days with their aerial bombs and swift forces penetrating the interiors…??

You will remember the song,” To know Malaysia,is to love Malaysia” so how will PKR make this Dayak Sentiment  to turn to votes for them. Sentiments can also change when the COLOURS OF $$$$$$ are shown in their faces.PLEASE dont be hypocritical and say that ‘I have my ” PRINCIPLES “ Come on,its all B.S.

Even a former PRS dayak SC  said to me when we met,”Dayaks can be bought” and this sentiment will not lasts. THe PBDS dayakism era is long gone and it has not really caught fire just yet. PKR represents not a local party and if there is another local based dayak party which is not PRS or SPDP or even SUPP maybe the challenge thrown to capture the dayaks imagination that the fire is still burning. If not,let’s just forget about dethroning the present BN government.  

So has Anwar or PKR done enough to change the dayaks mindset? BN Sarawak is so strong that even when 916 was proclaimed no dayak leader even dared to cross the line. So PKR making inroads,please says the former SC member.?    

All is not losts though for PKR as this comment from Mata Kuching in audie61 comments gives some HOPE..”All that the BN give just take…take and take but vote PKR. Show no mercy to all BN leaders who betrayed your trust elections after elections. It is time to change all Dayak leaders who chose to continue to betray our trust and use government projects as a commodity in exchange for our votes.

We say as always,” The truth hurts but many are shutting their ears to it.At least the Lubok Antu Chinese KWA HONG SAI CHUN “Do you think they believe in CHANGE..??What about the SYSTEM..?

“All Soldiers BN or Pakatan making their way to Batang Ai”

Though its only about 4 hours journey from Kuching to Batang Ai the return trip and stoppages would have wasted at least 10 hours of the day. The troops or soldiers of both coalition have made last minute arrangements as they will spend a good two weeks away from home.

Knapsacks,toiletries,medicines,mosquito repellants and other personal items are all packed up by their loved ones as the ground forces starts to make N29 their home away from home. Without the advance parties the party machineries would be considered useless. Preparations and all the contacts to the longhouses where the polling stations are nearby have all been earmarked.

Both sets of supporters or party members would try to avoid each other at these longhouses eventhough they crossed paths quite often as they crisscrossed the rivers.

The word though is that N29 would see amongst the biggest turnout of both sets of supporters and party members from  BN and Pakatan Sarawak. The estimated figures according to Special Branch is that at least 15000 people would converge on this little town of Lubok Antu. Seems that Lubok Antu would be overcrowded and security measures would be tight to avoid any untoward incidents.

It is confirmed that amongst the many names who will be in Sarawak Lubok Antu for the nomination day are newly appointed UMNO Vice President Shafie Abdal together with his counterparts from Sabah parties of PBS,UPKO,PBRS.Meanwhile Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim and a strong team from PKR would also be making their presence felt.

Nothing though beats the political boys or soldiers who will be camped out to be on the call twenty four hours and on the move as and when they are required for BEAT DUTY.

These troops are not in any way the exco’s of the parties but usually like the ‘mercenaries’ or ‘rent a waiter’ types who are unknown in the political fields. They are amongst the most effective of the political machinery. In my early years I had a stint as one and was airdropped(excuse my political jargon) more than once into the rural battlefields.

Sometimes we just received immediate instructions and just vroom, vroom,vroom and of we go into the interiors. The dangers or political landscape could either be friendly or at times scarry. N29 is also a constituency where the unknown lurks if you are a visitor from outside Sarawak.Of course the nomination centre is in the town but real battles are waged in the interiors and in the longhouses of N29.

We say as always,” The battle has already begun and April 7th we would know the outcome. For now the troops and soldiers are all awaiting their instructions. 

PKR Underdog for Batang Ai..??

It’s simple,”You reap what you sow” Whoever works hard and has reached out to the voters will have more than 85% chance of wooing their votes. The 15% window of opportunity will very much depend on the change of allegiance to that party symbol or the coalition it represents.

Malaysiakini in its earlier posting states that PRS pledges”honest campaigning” Today we were on a whirlwind tour together with some press boys in Lubok Antu town itself.

One of the journalists uttered,” PKR will indeed be an UNDERDOG to face the might of BN-PRS.”  Thats no too doubts about it and if this was an election trial by the mass media personnels PRS has already secured a win of some sorts. Could it be so simple.? Surely,PKR has a fighting chance.

One of the local voting residents when interviewed said,”It’s an interesting tussle but we know that the sentiments of the people has changed greatly and PKR or PRS candidate will have to be accepted by the people not by the leaders.  The constituents are the voters and it is only them that can mark the X he concluded.

Meanwhile we gathered that the people are eagerly awaiting the big boys of BN and Pakatan to make their way here and flood the town. Business will thrive and many businessman are stocking up the bottled mineral water,canned, plastic drinks ,titbits and local delicacies. Of course,election time is like a mini celebration to mosts towns in Sarawak let alone this little town in the interior and remote area of Sarawak.

Issues its a plenty says a dayak voter. The sentiments have changed and we are tired of promises. We wondered what he meant and he just said you will see it in the POLLING RESULT. Is he a BN or Opposition voter..Good question..??

There are a lot of interesting issues to be highlighted in N29 Batang Ai and it is up to BN or the opposition to address them. From our field trip on the ground and with a nod on the head from the press boys,’It’s the candidate that needs to win and woo the votes to him/her. 

PKR might be an underdog now with the limited resources at its disposal but it’s only the results that matters at the end of the day. One of the press boys said he received an sms which does make sense ,”Bolasepak ada 90 minutes dan tambahan masa..Sama2 dengan Batang Ai.Belum Tahu.Siapa Menang..!!” We do not need to know who its from but its obviously debatable and open for opinions. 

In the latest posting from Malaysiakini by SKY former MP 1982-1996  he talks about the hospitality of the Ibans but he did mention one thing,”On paper, the chance of an opposition victory looks quite remote.  That is partly why the Sarawak BN feels and looks so confident.” Obviously this is just an extract which fits in nicely with what we are writing after our gruelling field trip. Just a day trip.!! ADOoo Ai..!!

We say as always,” It’s not over till the FAT LADYsings and both parties will have their work cut out in N29 Batang Ai. I campaigned for 3 weeks with the late Datuk Dublin in 1991 in this remote constituency and if my memory serves me right he said to me the night before polling,” We have a CHANCE”   

ANWAR..’Hidden Hand” Invincible Cloak Revealed”

Today as like any Mondays is one hell of a day. Some people just cannot accept that the weekend has just passed us by while others just can’t wait to start a new week. PRS Batu Lintang Wanita Chief was indeed very happy that,”A new week has begun as her new brochure finally will make its debut in the Advertising World” It is indeed a very creative concept of a profile and if one is to get hold of it one would certainly ask,”Why a Fish..?

This is no ordinary Fish as like the hidden hand in politics this is well meant to capture the imagination and creativity of graphic designers at work. PKR and Anwar has long harped on the people that makes the party and its only fitting if we could posts this Malaysiakini extract from the PKR SG,” “We have to deepen our talent pool, we have to attract members from the spectrum of the professions and occupations.” 

Unfortunatedly,as per our earlier articles we have mentioned that the HIDDEN HAND has infiltrated into the ranks of PKR and vice versa. Anwar during his speech in so many words,” hit out at opportunists and it was well meant.Could someone has whispered to him,”their invisible cloak’ has been revealed unlike the one used by Harry Potter(series and film)

How far can the Hidden hands go..? Very,very far and the way the conduct their agendas will leave no stones unturned. Eventhough their cloaks might be revealed and we do not want to name names here they will still strongly deny.

Their fingers are always pointing at others while no blame is attached to themselves. Has BN and Pakatan woken up to this third party hidden hands..? Their whole agendas are not for the BN or Pakatan parties concerned but only their own selfish survival. Politics is never dirty but it can get very dirty and ugly if we allow it.   

Here in Sarawak on the first monday in the month of March the Batang Ai by election fever has certainly raised a hosts of guesses aimed at who will be the PRS candidates..? Many names are thrown into the hat and everyone will have their favoured candidate and there will be many lobbyists.

Datuk Sri James Masing’s is certainly keeping the name under wraps and his lips are sealed. Masing will be well pleased that his party is also full of young and enthusiastic members unlike what the opposition has professed that young people are running away from BN. That is certainly not the case as many amongst the young professionals are looking at options clearer now rather than before 308 in the peninsula.

How could Masing go wrong with this statement? “If PKR puts up a candidate,then it would be a by-election between a Semanjung party and a local based party from Sarawak BN.”  He has also been assured by the State BN Chairman Pehin Taib that the candidate will be a PRS nominee. This augers well for the party after what it has gone through and its time to consolidate the forces from within.

PRS certainly has credible,creative and potentially good politicians within their ranks and Masing would be very well pleased that he is also leading a charge in changes. A PRS supreme council member said,”We are refocussing,reengineering and rebranding and even OBAMA needed all the help in his political quests and his success to the WHITE HOUSE.

The wanita chief of PRS Batu Lintang is asking a very simple question just like her brochure.”WHY US…??” Because we are a fresh,we’ve got bags of idealism and energy that wouldn’t be replaced by the usual cynicism and world weariness for a good while yet. That means we’re always looking to find new directions,new angle and new ideas.  

PKR SG doesn’t this stike a chord in your pursuit for the new politicians with new ideals for a better Malaysia? Masing has lately been unleashing the potential to even up the playing fields. He knows that PKR is gearing up on a rural charge and assault at his PRS constituencies.

He is ready and a step ahead at times. His lips are now closed and his candidate for the Batang Ai N29 by election will not let him down. He has the trusts of his Commander in Chief in the CM. As  a General he will command his forces and troops to counter all that PKR or SNAP opposition parties for that matter will try to unseat his nomiated candidate.

The Fish brochure is awesome and PRS will also be awesome and inpenetrable in the elections. The machinery is all ready and the rural voters will know that BN PRS will not let them down.

The opposition in this case PKR of course will beg to differ and they will unleash their’AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN war cry and also a “NEW DAWN FOR SARAWAK” CHANGE IN THE MAKING” .SNAP themselves if they decide to contests will try to build on OLD Sentiments. 

We say as always,” Though some PRS supreme council members are saying it going to be tough but isn’t everything in POLITICS  not easy? Anyway,the HIDDEN HANDS are all tied up NOW.

Oooh Ai..!BN Sarawak Will still be Government after 2011..

BN Sarawak will still be the State Government after the next State elections.You don’t need to be a Harvard or Oxford Politically trained analysts  to see it happening. Realistically speaking yes but the opposition figures in Sarawak will beg to differ. On what grounds are we saying this? Do we need to substantiate the above statement? 

Even Sim Kwang Yang MP for Bandar Kuching from 1982 to 1995 posting his article in Malaysiakini “The fighting cocks in Batang Ai” has this,”But the newly emergent PKR in Sarawak is a rag-tag rainbow coalition of sometimes very unlikely allies, and Dayak politics in Sarawak has been nothing less than divisive traditionally.”  

A political lecturer who teaches in a local university said this is apparently what the opposition leaders are fighting for to gain political mileage but knowing that they are against the mighty machinery of the BN government. 

They need to realise that BN is a united front while the opposition seems a loose front in Sarawak. In Peninsular Malaysia its delicately put together as ‘Pakatan front” but in Sarawak its still VERY DIVIDED. The lecturer said it will be true come the Sarawak elections and if the by election in Batang Ai is a gauge the metaphor,”United we stand,Divided we fall” will be more than an indicator for the opposition.

 The groundswell is apparent with PKR/DAP making inroads into the interior and rural BN Bastions. Are the rural  areas ready for PKR or DAP? It’s another new political vehicle in which the rural folks seems confused with. There was the 1987 PBDS Dayakism and Permas platform in which 20 seats were wrestle out of a possible 48 seats.

The rural and interior landscape has changed dramatically since those volatile times. Would the voters just change and go against BN for something that they are unfamiliar with? 1987 represents the best time for the state to be in the opposition Maju group but it failed to materialise though the whole state was gripped with the ‘DAYAKISM FACTOR”.

What chances then does ‘KEADILANISM” or “AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN” warcry adopted by top PKR leadership in its quests to take Sarawak  from BN have..? Maybe a sprinkling of seats here and there in the 71 State seats. We have to be realistic and this article in Malaysiakini where Sarawak National Party (Snap) is believed to be keen to field a candidate for the forthcoming by-election in Batang Ai is already an indicator. What’s more even DAP is saying that they are keeping out of Batang Ai but they must have an eye on the seat too.

Is this happening to BN? No,no,no Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) by concensus in the BN family is given the right to claim the seat. In the opposition front in todays tabloids headlined,”We’ll contest Batang Ai:SNAP committee” William Sirai Atom a central executive committtee member did not mince his words and this is politically very damaging to say the least ,” WE ARE READY FOR A THREE-CORNER FIGHT.SNAP WILL TRY TO WIN THE SEAT ON OUR OWN.”

In Malaysiakini report Kuching PKR division chief Dominique Ng said that PKR and Snap will have to agree on a single candidate as it was important to engage the BN in a straight fight. So in todays tabloids SNAPs statement must have thrown a spanner into the seemingly fragile political coalition of the opposition front.Is this formula still relevant..?

IMAGINE if  PBB has an interests and was to say this to PRS? What will happen? This would obviously not happen as the CM Taib has a firm grip on the state and the leaders know when and where not to meddle or dirty their fingers. The former CM Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub statement below  just about sums up the WHY..? WHY..? Oooh AI. BN Sarawak will still be governement after the 2011 State elections.

He said,”Only local leaders understand the situation in Sarawak because our scenario is different from that of the peninsula.The opposition does not understand this.”

Do wee need to elaborate further? The harsh terrain and vasts landscape of Sarawak is another factor which will ensure the BN stays on as governement. We already covered the PAKATAN BLOGGERS issue and also the HELICOPTERS. Also the HUGE WAR CHESTS  that the BN has is another determining factor.

However, of course all is not losts. The opposition will have to turn to the PEOPLES MINDSET to vote for them. But what chances are there when they can’t even field a United Front candidate?

The advertisement ‘It’s your Choice” It’s Ali cafe” should be practise by the opposition if they even have the slightest thought of wrestling the State of Sarawak from BN.   

We say as always,” This is the reality of Sarawak politics and the tsunami of 308 is just a one- off Peninsula happening. Here in Sarawak the opposition is still not UNITED.

Perak,Kedah and Now Sarawak DUN Seats

“B” seems to be the appropriate word for the upcoming by- elections be it in Perak (Bukit Gantang) ,Kedah(Bukit Selambau) and now Sarawak (Batang Ai)

There has been speculations on who the candidates will be in the above seats. Obviously there will be jostling amongst the parties and intense lobbying that their candidates will be the most WINNABLE ONE.  

The groundswell in Sarawak especially with PKR making waves with many ex-PRS members aligned to Larry Sng joining PKR. The reasons being the most obvious that they have lost confidence in PRS and also seeing their powers in PRS taken away from them being councillors and directors who were seen and known to be aligned to Larry.   

It must also be noted that after coming off a bitter internal PRS struggle and seeing that their struggles with Larry did not bear the full fruition. They chose otherwise to go back to PRS and instead jump on the bandwagon of the PKR vehicle which is seen as the alternative. So PKR will be in a direct tussle with PRS on who has the right to represent the 7997 constituents of N29 Batang Ai.

Wow.! Is it true that Nicholas Bawin has joined PRS..? My ears cannot be failing me as the wax has been cleaned up. No,no,no it seems TV3 has made a mistake at 8.06pm when one of the announcers mentioned that Nicholas Bawin is with PRS and not PKR.

Or could have Nicholas irked the HIDDEN HANDS of the powers who have a say in the financial activities and movement of PKR Sarawak. Or could they be a more WINNABLE CANDIDATE besides Bawin.? This extract from the Malaysiakini correspondent is an interesting read and it could have been written to “appease certain power brokers’ in PKR Sarawak.

PKR state assemblyperson Gabriel Adit, who won the Ngemah state seat in 2006 as an Independent, told Malaysiakini: “PKR is strong and there is growing grassroots support for the party.”

“We are looking for a winnable candidate,” he said, adding that Bawin is among the frontrunners.Bawin is former president of the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) as well as former vice-chairperson of the Majlis Adat Istiadat, a state government agency.

Another name mentioned as a likely candidate is popular local Iban politician Jawah Gerang, the former Lubok Antu MP who first won the parliamentary seat on a PBDS ticket.

A grassroot PKR member has this to say,” Both the PKR mentioned candidates have their strengths and weaknesses. But the weaknesses can be overcome as this is a new vehicle flying the FLAG OF PKR in this rural remote constituency.

Nicholas was defeated twice in his attempts for a seat while Jawah has a flawless record of 5 terms as MP and twice unopposed. Could Bawin be given the chance as a Third Time(3) lucky candidate or could Jawah be given a passport for the 6th Time.? If its up to the member he would have to pick one who has the record but in this case its up to the leaders in PKR to choose. 

As for the BN candidate according to our sources the frontrunners seems to be between former immigration officer Naga Alam or senior civil servant Nelson Mujah Giri, currently the district officer of Lubok Antu.
Will this be the level playing field for these two candidates? Or could BN once again HELICOPTER another new face/skeleton free candidate in order not to incur the wrath of supporters of both these two wannabe candidates.

Potentially there will be troubles ahead if PRS is once again deprived of her PREFERRED candidate. Naga has been a serving P.A. for the late YB Dublin for the last ten years and he is a well known figure amongst the PRS faithful and constituents in Lubok Antu area. 

Mujah is by virtue a heavyweight too being the brother of senior Federal Minister Douglas Uggah who is also a senior PBB Vice President. If he is chosen he will be asked to join PRS who is the party which has the rightful claim to the seat.

Both Pakatan and BN will have to make the right choice to wrestle or retain the seat of N29 Batang Ai. It seems that and it is confirmed though audie61 was uncertain earlier on  that a by-election in Batang Ai is “compulsory” because the term of the present assembly has not completed even three years.

We say as always,” Who will have the EARS,the Potential and the Prerequisites to be chosen as Candidates in the  3 “B”s? Where will the Hammer fall? Who will be manouvering to see who FITS the Bill of the WINNABLE Candidate? Who will fit the final JIGSAW in their quest to be given the chance to run for Office?

 

In Memory of the late YB Datuk Dublin

 PRS president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing praised Unting as a dedicated assemblyman who was committed to improving the socio-economic standard of his constituency and the state as a whole.

“He is a person who does not hold any grudges or ill feeling against anybody as far as I know.

* The Church service will be held on Thursday Morning the 26th of February 2009 at St.Thomas’s Cathedral Kuching, Sarawak.

 

“Keadilanism to Katakism..add ISM” Ini seluruh Malaysia

“Justice to Frogs” No,no,no it all started in in 1967 the first Katak and 1987 with Dayakism and today we have the euphoria of Keadilanism and also the dreaded Katakism. The first thing when I read in the english tabloids together with the columnists sections the Hottest topic covered is Perak and its defectors. DAP National Youth Chief Anthony Loke does not have kind words for her ex-comrade YB Hee,”Defections from DAP are not new but she caused the Governmnent to collapse and no one can forgive her.

Wah! Even YB Hannah Yeoh in her statement which appeared in Malaysiakini http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/98317 in which i feel the following quote is significant and will add more weight to our “KATAKISM“.She said“Those who argue that the political crisis in Perak now is a taste of Pakatan Rakyat’s own medicine – a reference to Sept 16 – fail to see the key differences between the two,”

Also in this Malaysiakini article Hannah said “Anwar exhausted every constitutional means available to him. If Pakatan were to act unconstitutionally and lure defections, then we will be having a new government today. So, you can’t say that Najib’s coup in Perak and the Pakatan plan – Sept 16 – were one and the same.”

Todays headlines in the the local tabloids,”DAP-PAS-PKR pact on the verge of break-up..?” Will this influence the voters and the people of Sarawak to look at the BRAND “PAKATAN” differently? Will they still maintain their loyalty to the brand symbol “BN..?” Politicians are a brand in themselves. We will follow a politician who not only enlightens us in this day and age but also one who exudes the confidence of his people.

In Sarawak, we have Taib Mahmud,love him or loathe him he has seen it,done it and lived it in his 27 years at the helm as Chief Minister. Where did he get his brand?

It has been said that Tun Mahathir got his branding from JOHN WAYNE the Cowboy Myth. Its just a concept whereby Tun maximised it to the fullest with,”I am the person you love to hate,hate to love and I will stick to my guns eventhough I might be wrong.” Familiar..??  

There is another major player a certain prominent Datuk and as a one of the “HIDDEN HAND” in Malaysian Politics his Brand of politics will and may never in surface in the syllabus of Harvard nor Oxford. His ‘Confrontational” stand of Politics has even the harshest political critics and analysts in a quagmire till today. He is the absolute master if you are to categorise his Brand. He seems to have perfected “The culture of Katakism”and used it in Sabah and in Sarawak with the new found brand “Keadilanism” he has infiltrated and created enough ripples and waves to disrupt and create distrusts amongst the Sarawak PKR leadership. Has he succeeded..? Of course,but the top Sarawak PKR and DAP leadership is still very much in denial mode. He moves when all of you are charmed and he plays the enemies game too well even the CIA has to SALUTE  him.

If I may an extract from a  Malaysiakini report on February 9th this appeared http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/97915 ,” The Sarawakian businessmen managed to get a lot of federal contracts in Sarawak and also Sabah after the BN formed the state government in 1994.”"Subsequently, he was involved in the de-registration of another political party in Sarawak and the near de-registration of another one. These people are mercenaries who use legislators as errand boys, commission agents and gatherers of commercial intelligence available from the government.”

He is not Mr.Perfect brand but being with him one learns way above all the “POLITICAL DEGREES OFFERED”. “ISM” if there is a doctorate available we have to add to his name. He is not only a major political player in Sarawak but as we say “INI SELURUH MALAYSIA” You can now even add to your names,Simonism,Peterism,Fuadism,Lesternism..immediatedly we will know you have achieved a doctorate in Politics..Just a thought in Malaysia only though (John Wayne..hmmm.. )

Just where did the first frog ‘KATAK” appeared.? As Bugi Wijaya our correspondent in Sabah puts it after researching the history books Datuk Payar Juman was the first original and conferred FROG or KATAK.He was from UPKO Momugan.He defected to USNO and caused the collapse of UPKO government and subsequently resulted in the dissolution of UPKO.

We posts here some insights from Sabah,” The first incident of induced frogging was in 1967 when UPKO ADUN Payar was abducted from his home in the middle of the night and enticed to join Mustapha’s USNO(United Sabah National Organsisation) to give it a single seat lead majority with SCA(Sabah Chinese Association).With the crossover USNO managed to managed to grab the government from Stephen’s UPKO. Payar Juman was given a ministerial post and his abductor Halik Zaman was made his political secretary.

As for the Perak Queen Katak  YB Hee according to innsider sources from Perak to give YB Hee a State Exco posts would be almost an impossibility as she must also know where she stands. Did she bargain enough..? She played here cards whether wrongly or rightly but she has paid for it and things have fallen nicely for the BN administration to take over eventhough DAP and the Pakatan partners says there are POTENTIAL PERFECT STORMS coming.

The biggest mass defections of politicians was in 1976 when the federal sponsored Berjaya party was formed to topple the then Chief Minister Dato Mustapha Harun. The exodus was led by Harris Salleh and discreetly supported by Donald Stephens who had converted to Islam and changed his name to Fuad Stephens and was the TYT (Governor) at that time. Berjaya won the 1976 elections and formed the state government with Fuad as chief minister. Later Fuad and some of his cabinet colleagues died in an air crash.His deputy, Harris Salleh was installed as chief minister.

In the 1994 state elections PBS won with a slim majority of 2 seats.Within a month majority of PBS assemblymen had switched side. They were offered hard cash, cabinet positions and other inducements.The then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad denied the allegations and said the crossover was due to PBS slim majority with which they will not be able to govern effectively and may cause political instability.

Party hopping is not illegal but is considered an evil act from moral point of view. It also set a bad example and sending wrong message to the younger generations who aspire to be politicians.Those who are for sale are usually of questionable character, selfish, greedy and are there purely for status and money.They don’t give two hoots about serving the people and country, their priority is to serve themselves.

The federal government have used this shameful method to grab power on several occassions from the oppositions in Sabah .Should they complain if Anwar goes round trying to entice potential frogs from the BN camp ?

The Sarawak story we have to turn to our fellow blogger Broken shield who has posted an article which is connected with KATAKISM. His article Double Frogged Politicians..Who were the first..? The full extracted version When Bota assemblyman Nasarudin Hashim defected to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and 10 days later rejoined UMNO, some people claimed that he was the first double-frogged politician.

That is not true. I believe the first double-frogged politician was “born” in Sarawak. It was in Sarawak where this culture of double-frogging began when Ulu Rajang MP Justine Jinggut elected unopposed on a SNAP ticket in the 1982 parliamentary election defected to Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in 1983. In 1986, he contested on a PBDS ticket and won with a big majority. He leap-frogged back to SNAP before 1987. In 1990 he stood again on a SNAP ticket and was soundly defeated by Billy Abit Joo of PBDS.

Before the State election in April 1987, 28 State assemblymen resigned from their parties to defect to PBDS and Persatuan Rakyat Malaysia Sarawak (Permas).*Those from Sarawak National Party (SNAP) joined Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and they were SNAP deputy president Edward Jeli, SNAP secretary general Joseph Balan Seling, SNAP vice president Michael Ben Anak Panggi and SNAP CEC member Geman Anak Itam. Their defections prompted Sarawak’s Chief Minster Abdul Taib Mahmud to call for a fresh election which was held on 15 and 16 April 1987.

 

PBDS won 15 seats, while Permas won only five seats. Edward Jeli, Geman Anak Itam, Balan Seling and Michael Ben won with big majorities in their respective constituencies. On 14 July 1987, Edward Jeli and Geman leap-frogged back to SNAP, while Balan and Michael Ben hopped to PBB. Sora Anak Rosah defected from PBDS to PBB.

PBDS seats were further reduced to seven when months later Gramong Juna, Mikai Mandau and Bolhassan Kambar defected to PBB.

Sarawak has seen many political frogs since independence, the majority of them were Dayak politicians; and among the first were Nelson Kundai Ngarieng and Stephen Ngelambong from SNAP to PBB, Simon Dembab Maja and Penghulu Abok Anak Jalin from Pesaka to PBB in 1970. Years later Serian MP Richard Riot resigned from PBDS and defected to SUPP.

After partyless for some time, Jawah Gerang joined Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and after only a few months he hopped to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

As for Johnichal Rayong who contested on a SNAP ticket in the Engkilili state seat secretly joined SPDP, and following the objection of other BN parties, he wanted to leap-frog to SUPP and his acceptance in SUPP should be announced before June 2008. Until today his application to be a political frog is put on hold. Nevertheless, he behaves like one of them.

The ugly culture of political frogs will not only promote the evil of corruption, but it is also the betrayal of the worst kind to those people who voted for them. Unless the government does something such as introducing the anti-hopping law, political frogs will breed more political frogs, and we as Dayaks should support this law as the majority of political frogs come from our community.

But the question is: Why are Dayak politicians so easily succumbed to temptation to become political frogs and to forsake their honour (if they have any way), the honour of their family and their generation to come? – The Broken Shield 

We say as always,” Dayakism,Keadilanism to Katakism these three words will be used frequently in the coming months as Sarawak will have their State elections very SOON. According to a columnists  today,He said,”Party-hoppers are setting up a dangerous political precedence because it can create a culture which can effectively NEGATE the POWER OF THE PEOPLE.How the political parties look after their YBS or MPs remains an OPEN DEBATE and there are many DIFFERING OPINIONS. Have your say today ….You are …. INI SELURUH MALAYSIA

Fairus (PKR) and Dr.Soon (SUPP) in Hot Soup..

Is SUPP  in HOT SOUP or is it  just lukewarm.? Definitedly,Fairus as this Malaysiakini suggests http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/97027 and this,” Penang Deputy Chief Minister (I) Mohd Fairus Khairuddin has been dropped as the state PKR deputy chairperson following a reshuffle last night.

However, Talking to Malaysiakini later, Zahrain (State chief)said the reshuffle was part of the party strategy to strengthen its operations and separate the state PKR leadership from the Pakatan Rakyat state government.”We just reshuffled to separate party leadership from that of the state government.

He further added that ,”This will enhance our state party operations and improve performance of our government leaders.” There is no need for any concern unlike the next story that we are going to posts here.

It concerns SUPP in which in todays tabloids Publicity and Information secretary Alfred Yap said,”that a management committee is expected to submit a formula to resolve the conflicts on the formation of Dudong branch. 

Yap also said to reporters that the controversy over the formation of Dudong branch would eventually be resolved. The conflict of the Dudong branch set-up cropped up last year when two protem committees were set up,one with Dudong assemblyman Dr.Soon as the Chairman and Lanag MP Tiong Thai King leading the other.

In a twist of events this evening this internet portal reported and we have it extracted and posts in full,”Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) veteran Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck today announced his resignation as its assistant publicity secretary, a post he had been holding since 1991.

He told reporters here that he resigned as he could no longer function effectively in the post.He said he was very unhappy over the treatment he had been getting from certain quarters within the party for the past two years. “In the last two years my efforts to form the Dudong branch have met with a lot of interference from them.

“As an elected representative for SUPP, I have also been excluded from any meaningful participation in the Sibu Barisan Nasional Visionary Team,” he said.

He said had been excluded from the traditional SUPP Chinese New Year open house organised by its three other elected representatives here within the same period.Dr Soon, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health, has been the Dudong state assemblyman since 1991.

He is also a member of the party’s Central Working Committee, its highest decision making body.

In todays tabloids the party leadership has targetted to resolve the conflict by may this year.

• Has Dr.Soon jump the gun?
• Has he got the party into unwanted publicity again?
• Has he landed himself in Hot Soup?

 Many will want to know more and the vultures will be waiting just to pounce on this controversy. These two reports one in Malaysiakini concerning Fairus and Dr.Soon in the local tabloids will be followed closely by all concern especially it concerns one with BN and the other with Pakatan. Politically its getting tastier and analysts will have their own opinions and views. What’s yours…?