KAPIT: The parting of ways between PRS president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing and his former comrade who later led SWP, Larry Sng, has a detrimental effect on the Chinese community here.
The Chinese here have in fact been divided in two obvious fractions; one supporting Masing and the other, Larry.
This can be seen from the appointment of community leaders whereby a new batch of leaders siding Masing have taken over the position of the older ones who are Larry’s supporters, resulting in a whole group of disgruntled Chinese leaders who still wield significant influence among the community.
The rift between the two politicians over the years eventually penetrated into local clans and associations, initiating another wave of power struggle within these non-profit organisations and further frustrating those who were already ousted in the first wave of power play.
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| Ma Tian Ho |
This led to the disgruntled local leaders, some of whom were formerly Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters, casting emotional and irrational votes to protest against the government for ignoring their plights and voices.
Former councillor Ma Tian Ho who is president of Kapit United Chinese Association is one of them.
He claimed that many in Kapit like him were ‘forced’ to vote for the opposition because the government had unwisely intervened in local community affairs, especially in the appointment of community leaders, citing the case of Kapit Chiang Chuan Association (Chiang Chuan).
When Chiang Chuan Kapitan Teo Boon Kiat retired, a vacancy he left behind needed to be filled. Being democratic, Chiang Chuan president Ma Tian Kok called for an election for the post, where he himself had the highest vote.
However, with government’s intervention, the election result was ignored and Kapitan Yap Hui Lee was appointed instead.
“All this while, we have been supportive of PRS and Larry. But that incident turned all my families into opposition. The government should not just shove their decision down our throat just like that.
“I hope the Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) could help us solve the problem. If the situation is not resolved and things are not made right, I am afraid in the next state election, we would continue to vote for opposition,” said Tian Ho.
Commenting on the root of all problems now faced by the Chinese community, Tian Ho said all quarrels among the Chinese leaders started, following the fallout between Masing and Larry.
“We had no such problems before the two fought. We were like leaders of other rural towns where we enjoyed good relationship. I hope they could reconcile and work together again like before. The quarrels among the Chinese leaders will stop and the whole of Kapit Division will benefit.”
Tian Ho said apart from Chiang Chuan, Kapit Kwang Tung Association (Kwang Tung) and Kapit Foochow Association were also affected.
A spokesperson of Chiang Chuan who preferred to be known as ‘Mr C’ echoed what Tian Ho said, confirming that politics had infiltrated into the association and almost broke it.
“Now both Kwang Tung and Chiang Chuan are having women as presidents. This is the result of politics interfering into clans and associations. We were all retired, but as our association was on the verge of being destroyed, some of us could not help but decided to be involved again,” he lamented.
On appointment of new community leaders, he said the way community leadership was elected was as if the whole community was run by a private company whereby decisions were made within and among the elected ones, and the government without considering the voices of the grassroots.
“We don’t mind if the community leaders chosen are fair-minded, educated, presentable, competent and who know at least Bahasa Malaysia or English, who are able to vocally raise local issues to the relevant authorities. To our disappointment, the ones chosen are not very qualified people,” said Mr C.
To Tian Ho, the government’s intervention in Chinese community affairs and the disunity among the Chinese here had been the reason why the Chinese support for BN dwindled.
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| Sia Shui Pau |
But to Sia Shui Pau, the special Chinese affairs officer to Kapit MP and Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, the decline of Chinese support had been due to the anti-government sentiments propagated on social media, which engendered a general swing of Chinese supporting the opposition. Like all urban areas, this town was not spared.
“The thing is this. Ramli Malaka (DAP candidate for Kapit in 2013 general election) did not do anything for the community here. Even during campaigning, he did not do much. He just came and appeared suddenly and was able to get more than 3,000 votes,” Sia pointed out.
That was the reason for Sia to predict the return of Ramli in the next state election.
In 2013 general election, out of the four polling stations in the Chinese area, Nanta lost three. In that election, Ramli managed to garner 3,715 votes against Nanta’s 13,446. There were 26,195 eligible voters in this constituency, out of which 10 per cent were Chinese.
Here, it has been a known fact that the Sng family, which has been established for a century, commands solid Chinese support.
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| Sng Chee Eng |
Larry’s uncle, Sng Chee Eng, believed that if Larry were to stand in the next state election as opposition candidate, Larry would still command 80 per cent of Chinese votes; but if he were to stand as BN candidate, his majority would even be higher.
In the 2011 state election, George Lagong, known to be the seat-warmer for Larry who contested as an Independent, managed to garner 5,740 votes in a three-cornered fight against Stanley Nyitar Malang from PRS who polled 2,903 votes and Edward Sumbang Asun of PKR, who got 1,171 votes.
The number of eligible voters was 15,322.
Chee Eng believed that Larry, who comes from the deep-rooted Sng family – known for their welfare services here – is still a winnable candidate.
“Even George, who is known to be a proxy of Larry could win; what more to say Larry himself. What is most certain is that, if Larry could go back to BN, definitely Larry would win. He is still the most winnable candidate here,” said Chee Eng.
For Sia, Larry’s performance in the next state election would depend on other factors such as the PRS candidate, delineation of Pelagus and the voting pattern of young voters.
“If Larry stands for BN, there is no doubt that he would win. But if he were to stand for the opposition, then it would be hard to predict.”
If it is a straight fight, the situation would be much easier to predict, with both PRS and Larry having a 50-50 chance of winning; whereby Larry might have a higher chance due to the solid support from the Chinese. But if DAP and PKR were to join the fray, the situation could be harder to gauge as the opposition would split the Chinese votes.
There are about 3,000 Chinese voters here which is under the Pelagus state constituency.
- Borneo Post
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