Digest on Malaysian News

In his Gawai message to the Dayaks this year, Taib urged the Dayaks to work as a team, not to split and execute their duties.

It's an open secret that the Dayaks knew that Taib all along condone the breakup of Dayak parties into smaller parties. Of course he will publicly declared that those issue are internal and he has no right to intervene because by being a bystander, it became an advantage to him so that "Divide and rule" applied. Disunity among Dayaks will not threaten his political grip on Sarawak. Can't blame Taib really, it's the Dayaks mentality that each one of them want to be the Tuai Rumah or the Chieftain.

However, with the recent development after the General Election and the mounting threat from PKR to dislodge Barisan Nasional from Sarawak Cabinet, Taib may have changed his strategy and is advocating the Dayaks to be united. United to support him instead of PKR.

That's political game. One day you divide and rule, the next day to unite and rule.






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Below is what William Mawan said:
“Our priority now should be to forge unity among the Dayak communities, particularly in the rural areas or at the grassroots level."

I'm not missing anything but William Mawan is stressing for unity among the Dayak communities but not at the leadership level.

How come? The Dayak communities have been splinted into various political groups such as PBB, SPDP, PRS, SUPP, SNAP, STAR and PKR. You can find Dayak leaders in a Malay party, in a Chinese party and in a few Dayak based parties. If there is an Indian party in Sarawak, you probably will find a Dayak leader inside as well. Fortunately, Dayak are not keen to be in an Islamic party like PAS.

So what is the point of uniting the Dayak at the communities level when those grassroots report to a leader and that leader report to his or her party president ? This means the Dayak leader interest on the party comes first and the communities come later.







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In the current Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak sitting, all the Bidayuh YBs kept quite and it make a news. They did not pose any question, not involved in debates or discussion. In short they were mere silent observers. But the silent Bidayuh YB's is giving Taib a cold shiver.

Taib, Awang Tengah and Asfia asked Manyin (the senior Bidayuh YBs) on their "silent protest". Being courteous lots, the Bidayuh YBs gave excuses ranging from not feeling well, not enough time to prepare their questions and thought the other YB will raise the question.

If you look at Sabah, their MPs are beginning to be very vocal about issues in Sabah. In Sarawak, the Bidayuh YB's are keeping mum. Taib, Awang Tengah and Asfia are worried that their silent protest is a sign. In another word, if the Bidayuh go left (read; switch alliance to Pakatan Rakyat), the Iban YBs may follow and it may create more political domino effect. Probably a bigger wave that can push the tide to Sabah and all the way to Putra Jaya, West Malaysia.

Being a minority race in Sarawak, Bidayuh may not be marginalized but they were also not given enough recognition, due and attention. In previous Sarawak DUN sitting, Bidayuh YB's have raised several issues and some are being solved. It just proved that, only when the dog barked, the master will feed the dog.

Others may think that all Bidayuh YB caught the same sore throat virus and could not speak, others may think that all Bidayuh YB are shy and timid or they are not happy for not being given additional ministerial post in Sarawak Cabinet. It's not. All the Bidayuh YBs are seasoned politicians and not strangers in the DUN.

So, this time around, their silent could be on purpose and a signal. If Badawi played mum on their requests and Taib is also silent on their requests, the Bidayuh YBs might as well as keep their mouth shut and keep their distance and let Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat kill each other and pledge their support for the last man standing.






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There is no roads but logging tracks in Sarawak highlands. The only land passage connecting the natives in Sarawak northern highlands to Miri is through timber tracks or logging tracks.

Yes, dirt tracks passable only by heavy timber trucks or 4WD drive vehicles. The logging tracks are not maintained and even during dry weather, it is treacherous for the driver.

So imagine the suffering of the natives who stayed in the interior of Sarawak, who are deprived of any form of modernization and basic amenities. An ill patient transported from the interior may not even make it to hospital in time due to the distance and condition of the tracks.

Yes, I keep mentioning tracks because those land passage are not fit to be called roads. For 45 years, Sarawak has been part of Malaysia and still there is no roads in the interior of Sarawak. I guess Taib and Badawai still want to see the natives walk through jungles tracks to get to the nearest town.

Billion of Ringgit from logging activities has been poured into the timber tycoon coffers and Taib money vaults, yet the jungles of the natives have been left bare and scarred with logging tracks which is not even fit for normal vehicles. Literally not a single sen is been given back to the natives.



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Bidayuh putih tulang lagi. Through Richard Riot, the Bidayuh have been fooled again after being given another broken promise, another lie and another insult from the Barisan Nasional. Or was it Richard Riot own fancy to be in Cabinet ?

On Apr 17, 2008, Member of Parliament for Serian Datuk Richard Riot Jaem (SUPP elected representative) is very optimistic that a Bidayuh will be appointed to the federal cabinet. On Apr 19, 2008, the Prime Minister has decided on the last 3 Deputy Ministers. None of the new Deputy Ministers are Bidayuh.

Bidayuh has been taken for free ride. Immediately after PM announcement for new Cabinet ministers line-up, Richard Riot disappeared and left the country. It was speculated that he may party-hop to another party after being disappointed that he was not in the list. SUPP has promised him a position in the Cabinet. Unfortunately, PM also down-size his Cabinet with fewer ministers. However, Richard Riot has a changed of heart and came back to Malaysia and re-pledge his undying loyalty to PM and the Barisan Nasional.

Some may question if it is relevant to have a Bidayuh representative in the administration of the government. Well, it is relevant if the Malays also whined that they need to uphold their rights and privileges. If the Malays want to uphold their rights and privileges, who is going to protect the Bidayuh rights (or the rights of other minority race) ? No body else other than the Bidayuh themselves.

Richard Riot has ruffle PM's feather by making a show to do party hopping, SUPP then panic and announce another promise package for Riot, Riot re-pledge his loyalty to PM, George Chan, and Taib and as reward, get the Bidayuh being fooled again. This just add to the list of Dayak delima.



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The Sarawak National Party’s (SNAP) despite being in existence for the last 46 years has become irrelevant and turning into a nuisance mosquito. SNAP has been losing members and leaders. It has been broken into pieces and each pieces turned into a arch-rival such as PBDS, STAR, MDC, SPDP and PRS. So instead of being lost in the messy political landscape of Sarawak, might as well as SNAP hardcore members join PKR and become PKR Sarawak representatives.

PKR in Sarawak right now lack good candidates but PKR have the fund. SNAP do have some caliber candidates but the party is broke. So the right choice, is to bury SNAP and join PKR.

So far, PBB is too Malays/Melanaus, SUPP is too Chinese, PRS is too Iban, SPDP is too Iban, DAP is too Chinese.

PKR offer a balance mixed as it not too extreme in their composition of racial members and leadership.

Current leaders of SNAP can continue their political struggle. What political struggle eh ? But they must be prepare to be an outcast and be obliterate into thin air with the emergence of PKR and other stronger opposition parties.

SNAP is mati tidak, hidup tidak. If you can't beat them, join them.


Extract from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/31/nation/20798272&sec=nation (Mar 31, 2008)

SNAP leaders in favour of dissolving party

KUCHING: The Sarawak National Party’s (SNAP) top leadership is supportive of a proposal to dissolve the 46-year-old Dayak-based party in a move to consolidate the state’s opposition political strength.

Party president Edwin Dundang described the proposal as “a good idea.” “If it is good for the people and country, it is worth to consider,” he told The Star yesterday.

Party secretary-general Stanley Jugol agreed that it was time to consider SNAP’s position – either to continue with its own political struggle or join a bigger group under the opposition alliance or Barisan Rakyat Sarawak.

SNAP has failed in its attempts to make a political comeback after opting out of the Barisan Nasional six years ago. In the recent parliamentary polls, all its three candidates were defeated.

Dundang, who took over the party leadership from Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min (a former deputy chief minister) in 2003, said there were suggestions that the party should consider various options, one of which was to dissolve or merge with other parties, to ensure sustainability in its political struggle.

SNAP has a glorious history as it produced Sarawak’s first chief minister, the late Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan, in the 1960’s.

Its political influence was significantly weakened in two major political crises in 1993 and 2002.

Dundang said SNAP’s next central executive committee meeting, the date of which has not been fixed, might discuss the party’s dissolution proposal.

On news reports that several SNAP division leaders have applied to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Dundang said he was not aware of this.

Mawan the president of SPDP said "We have the tendency to find fault with those already elected, always having the mentality that we can do a better job than them."

Apparently he have forgotten that he play a big part in the splitting and downfall of Sarawak National Party (SNAP). SPDP is born as a result of divorce of SNAP leaders (when Mawan was among the leaders).

To be the new leader, Mawan has a hand (maybe more) in the infighting in SNAP that caused SNAP to break-up. The breakdown of SNAP means the Iban and other Dayaks has been divided and this make it easier for Taib to divide and rule the Dayaks.

So why is Mawan so scare that his party members is envious of him? He were in their shoes last time what. It's not like he never overthrow his previous boss last time.

Party members are usually not envious of the leader because he is a leader. It is due to the style of managing the party and keeping promises to their members and the voters that many times have been a disappointment.



Extract from: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=33333 (Mar 31, 2008)

Dayak ego battlegrounds

By Lucas Jalong Bato

Dayak bodies become battlegrounds of egos as envious members undermine leaders they elected: Mawan

MIRI: The so-called ‘crab mentality’ prevalent among members of Dayak and Dayak-based associations have turned the organisations into ‘battlegrounds of egos’, the Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation Dato Sri William Mawan observed.

“When we elect individuals to lead an association, no matter how noble its objectives and good the intentions of the elected leaders, the association is doomed to fail if the members do not support the committee,” he said.

“The ordinary members have the obligation to support the elected leaders. But sad to say, this is not the case. We have the tendency to find fault with those already elected, always having the mentality that we can do a better job than them.”

There is no need to go into high intellectual discourse on ‘crab mentality’ because no one actually knows the mentality of crabs.

The phrase was simply coined by local people who have observed the collective behaviour of crabs when placed in a confined space such as a basket.

In their efforts to get up the sides of the basket they tend to crawl over one another and in the process weigh down the ones at the top.

Unable to carry the weight and the constant struggle below, the top crabs eventually lose their grip and fall.

“Because of this crab mentality, we become envious of those leaders we ourselves elected to office, and we undermine their leadership with the intention of bringing them down,” said Mawan.

He spoke during the installation of the supreme executive council members of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) and dinner on Saturday.

Its president Mengga Mikui and organising chairman Dr John Brian Anthony were among those present.

Regarding SDNU which was formed in 1956 with the aim of uniting the Dayaks in the state under one umbrella, Mawan said its next 50 years would be more challenging than the last 50 years.

“The challenges will be varied and challenging. Our community will live in an entirely different environment from what we are experiencing now,” he said.

Mawan said due to the dynamism within the association, the Dayak Iban played a prominent and dominant role in the association resulting in other Dayak communities like the Orang Ulu and Bidayuh staying away and eventually forming their own associations.

“The challenge before the SDNU present leadership is to find a unity of purpose, to get that cohesiveness so as to be able to draw the other Dayak communities into the association to give it greater leverage.

To the members of the supreme council, Mawan has this to say: “Victory goes to those who know which rivers not to cross, which roads not to travel and which walls not to climb.”