‘Candidate congestion shows many Bidayuh intellectuals want to serve community’

Posted on March 26, 2011, Saturday

BAU: The fact that seven potential candidates are vying for Kedup seat is a good sign that there are now many Bidayuh intellectuals interested to serve the community, said Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.

Kedup seat fell vacant following the announcement by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud last Saturday that its incumbent Frederick Bayoi Manggie had decided to call it a day. Bayoi has been Kedup assemblyman since 1996. Before that, Bayoi was Tarat assemblyman for two terms. He was fielded in Kedup after the delineation exercise in 1995.

The seven potential candidates who are now actively lobbying for the seat are PBB Kedup deputy chairman Martin Ben, vice-chairman Alexander Ganyang, information chief Bernard Phillip and youth chief Mohd Jofaizal @ Joseph Entup, educationist Joseph Tiyam, Edward Luwak and radiologist Dr Eric Marcel Munjan.

“All of them are well qualified to be candidates and become YBs to represent the Bidayuh community but unfortunately they only one seat are vying for. We hope that when one of them is picked later on, the rest will continue to give their support and put their differences aside,” Manyin told the media after presenting land titles to Salcra participants of Bau/Lundu at Salcra community hall in Kampung Stenggang near here yesterday.

Manyin, who is also the incumbent for Tebedu, rebutted a statement from PBB Kedup which only wanted candidates from its own rank and reject the so-called outsiders. “We cannot say that because many of us were outsiders when we were nominated before. This includes me, Datuk Peter Nansian and many others,” he stressed.

On Thursday, PBB Kedup submitted and recommended only four names to PBB president Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. The four are Martin, Alexander, Bernard and Jofaizal. Manyin, who is also PBB vice-president, disclosed that only the top BN leadership will know who will be finally selected. “Even I myself am not sure whether I will be nominated for the coming state election. But that doesn’t matter because what matters is for the BN candidate to win and we must all give our support,” he said.

No chance for PR to form state government: Ho Leng

Posted on March 26, 2011, Saturday The Borneo Post

Wong Ho Leng

KUCHING: Chances of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) forming the next government in Sarawak is almost none, conceded Democratic Action Party (DAP) state chairman Wong Ho Leng. As of now (yesterday), the chance is zero until DAP, PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat), PAS (Parti Islam SeMalaysia) and SNAP (Sarawak National Party) sit down to discuss,” he told a news conference here yesterday.

The Sibu MP and Bukit Assek incumbent said DAP had a list of 18 candidates although it was willing to give up Padungan, Senadin and Balai Ringin to its PR coalition parties. “DAP state committee will decide whether to contest in all 18 seats as planned before negotiations break down. “We have finalised all 18 candidates but the list will be revealed latest by 8am April 6,” he said, without disclosing their names.

Wong said he would have to sign letters of authorisation earlier as they would be handed out by either himself or DAP national secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to the candidates in Sibu on
April 4. “We have not notified any of our candidates except myself, as I am in the negotiation team,” he said when replying to a question.

On whether all DAP incumbents would be retained, Wong said it depended on their respective performance and acceptance by the party. He added that seat-swapping might be inevitable as the party works on the principle of best chance of winning.

“Some incumbents’ seats may be switched or they may have to give way to new blood as we may need them for parliamentary election,” he said. He believed that DAP incumbents had been all over the ground instead of servicing only their respective constituencies.

He said the party did consider voices from the communities throughout the state as he cited Padungan as an example: “People say we shall take back the seat as we have higher chances of winning.” He also reiterated that DAP never wanted to see a three-cornered fight in Padungan.

“We hope to avoid a three-cornered contest but we have no control over it. Moreover, we do not find seat-swapping with other coalition parties acceptable. “For instance, if you let us contest in Muara Tuang, which DAP has no chance of winning at all, it is pointless,” added Wong.

Opposition free-for-all

by Jacob Achoi. Posted on March 25, 2011, Friday

ADDRESSING MEDIA: Chong (right), joined by Sarawak DAP treasurer Violet Yong, speaking to reporters in Kuching yesterday.

KUCHING: The opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) seems to be in disarray, with a free-for-all expected during the April 16 polls, as the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) clash over seats.The two opposition parties failed to reach a consensus on seats during a negotiation meeting yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, which lasted for about an hour.

At the 2pm meeting, DAP was represented by state chairman Richard Wong Ho Leng and election bureau Tan Kok Wai, while PKR was represented by deputy president Azmin Ali.

State DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen related the outcome of the meeting during a press conference at the DAP headquarters here. “I am entrusted to tell you about the sad news in that the meeting for a seat negotiation has broken down,” he said. As a result of the meeting, Chong said DAP was standing firm with the decision to contest in 18 seats. The seats are Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang, Batu Kawah, Kota Sentosa, Simanggang, Balai Ringin, Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Dudong, Bawang Assan, Repok, Meradong, Kidurong, Senadin, Piasau, Pujut and Bukit Kota. He blamed “PKR’s insincerity” for the failed final round of negotiations.

“In a last attempt to keep both parties together and in the spirit of Pakatan Rakyat, DAP had agreed to give way for PKR to contest in Padungan and Senadin.”

However, he said, PKR still demanded to contest in Balai Ringin, Batu Kawah and Dudong, which was the final straw for DAP.

“We give an inch; and they want a foot. Our goodwill was not reciprocated, and that gives us no other choice but to stick to the initial 18 seats,” said Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP.

He dismissed the possibility of eleventh hour negotiations as he said “there is no point talking and talking”.

Chong, who is widely tipped to defend his Kota Sentosa seat, said the allocation was actually determined by PKR’s central committee and not the party’s state committee as had been assured earlier by PKR’s top leadership.

On whether DAP would discuss seat allocation with the Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Chong replied: “Whether we discuss or not, we will stick to the 18 seats.” He stressed there was no logic for PKR to demand the Batu Kawah seat as statistics showed DAP obtained 34 per cent voter support during the last parliamentary election while PKR only had a mere four per cent. Chong added that DAP’s list of candidates would be announced soon.

Sarawakians go to the polls April 16

by Johnson K Saai. Posted on March 24, 2011, Thursday

IT’S HERE: Abdul Aziz showing returning officers and reporters a map of Sarawak during the press conference.

The Election Commission in a meeting in Kuching yesterday set April 6 for nomination

KUCHING: Polling for the 10th Sarawak election will be held on April 16, while nomination will be on
April 6.

Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof announced the dates after chairing an EC meeting here yesterday.

He told a press conference that the EC received the official notification concerning the dissolution of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) from the Yang di-Pertua Negeri on March 21.

Abdul Aziz said 71 returning officers (ROs) and 165 assistant returning officers (AROs) would be appointed to assist the EC conduct the election.

“For the purpose of monitoring all campaigning activities, the EC has decided to establish 80 Election Campaign Enforcement Teams (ECET), and each will be headed by a chief enforcement officer.”

There would be 24,379 election officers and staff, 1,749 polling centres and 2,606 polling stations (streams).

“Our budget to conduct this election is estimated at RM50 million,” said Abdul Aziz.

He added that the Principal Electoral Roll 2009 and Supplementary Roll (for the four quarters of 2010), which would be gazetted tomorrow, would be used in this election.

The electoral roll has a total of 979,796 registered voters, comprising 961,433 ordinary voters and 18,363 postal voters.

Abdul Aziz said the electoral roll would be put on sale the latest by March 28. Voters could also look up for information concerning polling centres and voting streams at http://www.spr.gov.my or through the short messaging service (SMS) by typing SPR SEMAKMy Kad No. and send to 15888 from March 28 onwards.

Information could also be obtained by calling EC headquarters in Putrajaya at 03-88856500 or the Sarawak Election Office at 082-254867.

“Political parties, candidates, staff and party supporters, as well as any individuals involved in campaign-related activities, must comply with existing laws and regulations. This also applies to the Code of Ethics as prescribed by the EC.

“The EC would like to remind all contesting candidates and parties regarding election offences under the Election Offences Act 1954 (Act 5). Part III of Act 5 lists all corruption activities, whereby if someone is convicted of such offence he may be fined and imprisoned in accordance with the law,” he pointed out.

“The offences under Part III of Act 5 are prescribed offences under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (MACC) which has the power to investigate in accordance with the laws,” he pointed out.

Abdul Aziz revealed that the MACC would be monitoring the election closely to ensure that everyone toe the line.

Barisan is listening to the people, says PM

SERIAN: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has assured the people that the Barisan Nasional government is listening to them. The Prime Minister said that through the past elections, the people’s desire to see change in the government had been acknowledged and this was what the Barisan had been working on.

“During the last (2008) election, the people gave us a message. It is not that they rejected us but they want us to change.

“The people still have confidence in Barisan but they want us to be brave to reform and transform so that whatever it is we are doing, they will benefit from it,” he said when launching the Sejiwa Senada programme for the Samarahan Division here yesterday.

Addressing some 10,000 people, mostly from the Bidayuh community, Najib said Barisan was steadfast in strengthening ties between the states in order to have 1People, 1Nation with 1Vision.

He reiterated that the Federal Government fully supported the Sarawak government and the presence of three Umno vice-presidents – Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – at the event proves this.

Najib then approved projects worth over RM300mil for the Serian people.

These projects comprised RM105mil water supply projects to benefit 2,910 houses in Tebedu, RM116.5mil to upgrade and improve water supply in Serian as a whole, RM18.7mil rural electrification scheme to connect 408 houses, RM120,000 to air condition the community hall here, RM60mil to build the Munggu Kopi road and RM30mil for the Terbat-Mapu road.

He also approved RM12.5mil to build a clinic in Padawan.

He later presented 100 well-deserving students with an incentive of RM500 each.

SNAP snubs PKR over seat allocation

2011/03/15 By Nancy Nais nancynais@nst.com.my

KUCHING: Sarawak National Party (SNAP) has defied Parti Keadilan Rakyat by announcing it will field candidates in 40 state seats, 29 of which will be in the interior, where natives form the majority. This comes after an announcement by PKR that it would contest 52 seats, leaving SNAP with three seats in the coming state election.

SNAP president Edwin Dundang said yesterday the party would prefer a straight fight against Barisan Nasional in all the seats and as such, was willing to work with DAP and Pas. However, he said, it would not deal with PKR. "Sadly, we have been informed that PKR, without mandate, took the role of the leading opposition party by announcing that it intended to contest in 52 seats and leave SNAP with a miserable three seats to contend with."

He said a recent announcement by PKR that the opposition in the state had reached an agreement over seat allocation was inaccurate. "PKR's attempt to gloss over this major problem and riding roughshod over SNAP is unwarranted and unbecoming. "Since PKR does not agree with our stand (to contest more seats), we are now considering all options, including getting out of the opposition front."

Dundang said PKR also eyed areas where DAP and Pas would like to contest."If PKR contests 52 seats, that leaves 19 seats to be contested by SNAP, DAP and Pas. "DAP wants to contest in 16 or 17 Chinese areas, so what is there left for SNAP and Pas?" Party secretary-general Stanley Jugol said there had been no agreement nor any attempt to negotiate and PKR's lackadaisical attitude towards native political issues was obvious.

"It is worth noting that after 12 years and participating in three federal elections and two state elections, PKR has managed to win only one seat. "It is also a fact that PKR has had little impact in native-majority areas ever since it first contested in Sarawak." To underscore SNAP's commitment, Dundang named 16 of its candidates in the coming election, adding that the remaining 24 would be announced later.

The 16 are Stephen Sigar (N1 Opar), Frankie Jurem Nyumboi (N2 Tasik Biru), Richard Peter Munai (N16 Bengoh), Sylvester Belayong (N19 Kedup), Abang Othman Abang Gom (N23 Lingga), Dan Giang (N25 Balai Ringin), Joe Unggang (N31 Layar), Dayrell Walter Entrie (N32 Bukit Saban), Anthony Liman Sujang (N34 Krian), Tedong Gunda @ Jamal Abdullah (N41 Pakan), Augustine Liom (N44 Machan), George Lagong (N56 Baleh), John Bampa (N57 Belaga), Johari Bujang (N62 Lambir), Edwin Dundang Bugak (N66 Marudi) and Kebin Wan (N67 Telang Usan).