PBDS Baru to champion Dayak interests — Pro tem chief

KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) Baru will be more relevant to the natives as there is a lack of “real and effective” representation for them in the state.

Saying this, PBDS Baru pro tem chairman Louis Jarau added his newly-registered party intended to home in on economic and rural development issues affecting the Dayaks. He opined that the Dayak community was experiencing social and economic burdens due to massive rural-urban migration, and there was no real help coming.

Louis said in a statement yesterday that they had been left behind in many sectors, and are considered one of the poorest communities in the country today. They top in terms of rate of malnutrition among school children and school dropouts.

The Dayaks are also lagging in terms of the “knowledge economy”, and only a small percentage of them are in the corporate world and small and medium scale industries.

“We are not interested in any blame game. We must take this new opportunity afforded by the re-registration of PBDS to really connect with our people and represent them instead of merely executing undertakings in their name, which later turn out to be of dubious value to our people.”

Louis, who is a practising lawyer in Sibu, said those who had attempted to represent the Dayaks had been ineffective at times.

“Indeed, it has been alleged that many measures have been perceived to be for the benefit of a few. Their activities have created a class system, whereby there is a very small class of the favoured rich and then there is the rest of our society.

“The gap between the rich and the poor must be reduced in a substantial way. If given the chance PBDS Baru intends to work hard and effectively in the country’s poverty eradication programme.”

Louis said PBDS Baru is a genuine and legitimate representative for the Dayak people, despite the scepticism of some quarters over the years.

“We maintained our silence because there was nothing we could do. Now that we are legitimately re-registered, it is only natural for us to want to get back what is rightfully ours, and that means our political place.”

On whether PBDS Baru would join the Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Rakyat, Louis said the party was expected to lean towards the BN as PBDS was part and parcel of the BN at the federal and state levels before its deregistration.

However, he said democratic principles dictate that the party consult and listen to its members on matters of future directions.

PBDS Baru’ political position, he stressed, is one of moderation. It is a mass-based organisation as opposed to being an elitist. The party believes in working together with its political allies.

“In this multiracial country and state, let it be said again that no one racial or ethnic group can exist in isolation to govern. Ethnic groups must be given a chance to participate and there must be plenty of give and take.

“I believe we can put our position on the governing table, so to speak, and explain them well and fully. What we need is the chance or opportunity to be present at the table.” - theborneopost

SWP compelled to join opposition – Sec-gen

KUCHING: The decision by Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) to align itself with the opposition front is natural, says its secretary-general Dr Ong Lak Sai.

He explained though the party started off as Barisan Nasional-friendly party, it had to change its stance due to attacks from BN leaders and reaction from the people on the ground.

“We started off as BN-friendly because traditionally we were BN supporters. But after seeing the reaction from people on the ground and BN leaders’ position against us, it is only natural for us to align with the opposition front.

“When we were BN-friendly, how friendly was BN towards us, and did they open their doors and welcome us with open arms?” he said in a statement yesterday.

It was issued most probably in response to recent comments made by certain BN leaders against SWP’s recent stand that it was willing to work together with the state Democratic Action Party (DAP), a party under Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Dr Ong said SWP was formed after supporters of a faction in Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), who were clearly marginalised and forced out of the party, needed another platform to further their political struggle.

As such, he said it came as no surprise that today the party is being attacked by BN for aligning itself with PR.

“As far as we are concerned, we have not compromised our principles but will continue serving our people with the best of abilities,” he said.

SWP president Larry Sng reportedly said they and DAP were in consensus on the need to work together to maximise their strength in numbers.

State DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen even said a few informal meetings had been held between them and SWP after the May 5 general election for a possible cooperation.

State BN leaders including secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom had said recently that SWP’s decision to align itself with DAP was an act of desperation in its political survival.

PRS deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu said the willingness of SWP to work with DAP revealed its true colours, and it will not affect BN’s chances of winning in the next state election.

SWP contested in six parliamentary seats held by PRS, a BN component, in the May 5 general election. All the candidates including Sng lost. - theborneopost

SUPP to discuss ROS-related matters at upcoming CWC meeting

Tan Sri Peter Chin

KUCHING: The Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) silence on the status of SUPP will be discussed during the party’s central working committee (CWC) meeting by the end of this month.

For now, the party will not make any statement, said party president Tan Sri Peter Chin.

He said he would present a report during the CWC meeting.

“I will report it at the CWC meeting by the end of this month, and then you (reporters) will have an answer,” he told reporters when met at SUPP headquarters here yesterday.

Chin was believed to have held at least one meeting with the ROS in Kuala Lumpur recently.

SUPP’s future is on the line following complaints lodged with the ROS by several branches over allegations of irregularities during the run-up to the party’s triennial delegates’ conference here in December 2011.

The allegations split the party into two. One faction is led by Chin and the other by SUPP Sibu chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

The ROS had recently sent show-cause letters to the party and SUPP had replied, but thus far ROS had not announced its decision.

Chin remained mum about the future of SUPP when pressed, reiterating that “some responses” could be expected during the coming CWC meeting. - theborneopost

Naroden apprehensive about five new parties

KUCHING: A senior politician views the approval of five new political parties in the state by the Registrar of Societies with mixed feelings.

Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, who is Simunjan assemblyman and Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputra Entrepreneur Development), said democracy dictates that everyone was free to form political parties.

“But the concern of the Barisan Nasional (BN) is that having so many parties in the state will further split the people,” he told reporters after launching Anugerah Usahawan Bumiputra Sarawak 2013 in his office here yesterday.

The names of these new political parties were announced by ROS in Putrajaya yesterday.

They are PBDS Baru, Parti Tenaga Sarawak (Teras), Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (PERSB), Peace Party and Parti Bumi Kenyalang.

Naroden said if leaders of these new parties were sincere in wanting to serve the people, then the presence of these parties ought to be looked at positively.

“If they were formed just to split the people, then I think the impact later on will not be favourable on the whole state.”

Naroden said he was not aware who were behind these new parties.

“If they are a disgruntled group and urged their supporters not to support the government, then there is not much we (BN) can say.”

Naroden said his hunch was that these parties would most likely split the people. That would be bad for the people, but not the government.

“Thats how I see it. There are pros and cons on the matter.”- theborneopost

BN can rule for decades to come — Taib

LAWAS: Barisan Nasional (BN) can rule for many more decades as it has the capabilities to adapt to change, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday.

He said the people had benefitted from transformations brought about by the BN in the last 50 years, and this could be seen from the mandate given to the ruling coalition in every election since the state’s independence through Malaysia.

Taib said the rakyat’s political maturity had helped create a conducive and stable environment for the government to develop the state in a holistic and systematic manner.

“The confidence of the people for the next five to 10 years has enabled us to plan ahead. Some of our plans could take up to 20 years to come to fruition,” he said at the launching of LawasMallShoppingComplex-StateGovernmentOfficeBuilding cum Hari Raya gathering here yesterday.

The project costs RM210 million and is undertaken by state government-linked company Borneo Development Corporation (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd (BDC) and Lawas Mall Sdn Bhd of the Sendayan Group of Companies.

Taib said leadership, politics, jobs and everything would change, but leaders must be able to adapt to all these changes.

“We have that capability in BN, which can rule for many more decades.”

Taib said the rise of per capita income from RM660 in 1963 to over RM41,000 presently reflected well on the government-people cooperation in the state.

As the fate of the people lies in the hands of the people, he stressed the importance of consensus in resolving problems.On the Bumiputera community, he said they had remained united and true to the real spirit of Sarawak.

Alluding to infighting in SUPP that is threatening to destroy the party, Taib said he hoped squabbles in the Chinese community could be resolved through consensus.

On the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), he said its impacts and benefits would be felt throughout the state even though it was implemented in the central region of the state.

“For Limbang and Lawas, it may be felt after 10 years when the dams are built to meet the demand of power in our industrialisation drive.”

Earlier on, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said Taib was the father of the state’s transformations.

“There is no one more qualified than our chief minister in talking about the fruits of independence as he has been a member of the first state cabinet after achieving independence.”

Awang Tengah said the transformations were undeniable, and the present and future generations should be grateful to the politics of development.

Also present were Taib’s wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Assistant Minister of Housing cum Borneo Development Corporation (BDC) chairman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah, assemblymen Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (Bukit Kota), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Ripin Lamat (Lambir). - theborneopost

Peace Party and PBDS Baru ‘to receive ROS certificates in KL’

KUCHING: At least two of the five new parties in Sarawak have confirmed they will be in Putrajaya to receive the Certificates of Registration today.

The two parties ‘Peace Party’ and ‘PBDS Baru’ revealed they were invited to the event where they would receive certificates that will make them legitimate political entities.

Peace Party protem deputy president Marcus Kanyong said the presentation of the certificate will end the wait of more than four years to have its application approved by ROS.

He revealed the party’s protem president Petrus Julin and secretary Pok Ungkut will be going to Kuala Lumpur.

“They were informed of the event through SMS (short message system), and they will be going on behalf of the party for the function which is expected to start at 2.30pm (today),” said Marcus when contacted yesterday.

Marcus, however, declined further comment on the good news for the party, saying he preferred such comments to be made by Peace Party leaders upon their return with the certificate.

“Personally, I feel happy because we have been waiting for it for so many years. We did not contest in the last state election (in 2011) and the parliamentary election in May this year because we were not a legal entity,” he said.

Meanwhile, a source from PBDS Baru also indicated a group of them is going to the Putrajaya event to receive the certificate.

The presentation of certificates would end the wait of three years since PBDS Baru applied to register the party. The news of ROS giving the ‘nod’ to PBDS Baru first appeared in The Borneo Post on Aug 24, and it had excited sympathisers of the old PBDS since PBDS Baru is seen as replacement to the now-deregistered party.

Its protem chairman is Louis Jarau, a practising lawyer in Sibu, although it is widely believed that some leaders of the old PBDS have given their backing for it to revive the party.

ROS director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman had said on Aug 24 the department had approved 20 out of 30 applications for new political parties.

When contacted by The Borneo Post few days later, Abdul Rahman declined to reveal how many applications from the state had been approved.

There were five applications received from Sarawak. Apart from Peace Party and PBDS Baru, the other proposed new parties are Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (PERSB) and Party Bumi Kenyalang.

Not much is known about Teras, except for the constant link with the Group of Five (G5) – an informal grouping of five former leaders who were sacked from BN component Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) – but this connection has been denied by G5.

As for PERSB, it was linked to farmers and submitted its application in January 2010. They fielded 15 independent candidates in the 2011 state election but all lost their deposits. Party Bumi Kenyalang submitted its application in 2011. Again, not much is known about this party except it is being formed by a group of Dayak and Chinese politicians.

The news that new parties had been approved by ROS had not been warmly received by politicians of both divides in Sarawak. Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy publicity chief Dato Peter Minos said it is puzzling that Malaysia would have many political parties despite its small population.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak vice chairman See Chee How had said the possible formation of more Dayak-based political parties would further split the Dayak community. - theborneopost

New parties: Anxious wait ends today

KUCHING: Sponsors and promoters of five new Sarawak-based political parties that are speculated to have been approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) may be present at the ROS Hari Raya cum certificate presentation at its headquarters in Putrajaya today (Sept 2).

Several promoters of PBDS Baru, one of the five parties, when contacted yesterday, said they would be going to Kuala Lumpur for Hari Raya.

On Aug 29, ROS issued an invitation to the mass media to cover their Hari Raya gathering and certificate presentation for new political parties at the headquarters at 3pm today.

Previous reports suggested that 20 new parties might be issued certificates, and many local observers believed five of them are Sarawak-based.

Besides PBDS Baru, the other four parties might be Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (PERSB), Peace Party and Parti Bumi Kenyalang.

But word from the grapevine is that there could be a United Peoples’ Party (UPP) too.

As far as PBDS Baru is concerned, it is an open secret that partyless Dayaks who are sympathisers of the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) are behind its formation.

PBDS was formed on July 17, 1983, by a splinter group from the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) who was at loggerhead with the then SNAP president – the late Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min.

PBDS, however, did not last long. It failed to resolve a leadership crisis and was deregistered on Oct 21, 2004. This led to the registration of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which then `replaced’ PBDS in the Barisan Nasional (BN).

SNAP too was deregistered after it failed to resolve a leadership dispute. It led to the registration of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) on Nov 11, 2002. SPDP went on to replace SNAP in the BN.

As for Teras, partyless Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie recently issued a ‘total denial’ statement when asked if Teras was sponsored by him and three other partyless elected representatives. He, however, said Teras might be initiated by members of the Sarawak BN Club.

Nansian, who is also Assistant Minister of Community Services and Assistant Minister of Industrial Development, conceded that he preferred joining any one of the state BN component parties, other than SPDP of

course. SPDP had sacked him and four others for gross insubordination more than a year ago.

Prior to the last general election, Sarawak BN Club members were said to be loyal to the four partyless assemblymen, namely Nansian, Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran (Marudi), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau). Their other member is former Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe.

As for UPP, some believed UPP is meant to replace SUPP in the event the 54-year-old SUPP is deregistered by the ROS in relation to alleged irregularities during the run-up to the triennial delegates’ conference (TDC) in December 2011.

However, SUPP Sibu chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh recently denied he was behind the setting up of UPP. SUPP Engkilili chairman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa was coy when asked whether UPP’s existence is for real.

Wong, who is also Bawang Assan assemblyman, and Dr Rayong, who is Engkilili assemblyman, said their faction were very much with SUPP even though they questioned the party’s handling of the TDC.

Others in Wong’s faction are assemblymen Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (Simanggang), Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh) and Ranum Mina (Opar).

In terms of elected representatives, Wong’s faction outnumbers the faction led by SUPP president Tan Sri Peter Chin. Chin’s faction only has Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot Jaem, who is also Human Resources Minister, on his side.

PERSB are said to be sponsored and promoted by some Jatropha entrepreneurs in 2010.

Peace Party is initiated by politicians like Marcus Kanyong and Pok Ungkut. They are familiar names whenever elections are around the corner.

Not much is known about Parti Bumi Kenyalang, but word from the grapevine in 2011 speculated that several Dayak and Chinese politicians with no political affiliations were behind its promotion. According to talks then, the party was keen to take on PRS and SPDP. - theborneopost