SARAWAK LIVE: Michael Manyin

Bidayuhs angry with Manyin over change of school name

COMMENT: Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Michael Manyin, who recently announced SK St. Teresa in Serian would be moved out from its present site and its name changed to SK Sri Sadong, is at the receiving end of his own Bidayuh community who are very unhappy with him.

When he made the announcement, he had hoped that it would be greeted with applause and cheers.

He had also hoped to score a political mileage among the Bidayuh community since the state election is around the corner.

He was dead wrong. Instead the Bidayuhs, who are mostly Christians of Catholic denomination, reacted angrily.

Some even condemned him.

Leading the attack on Manyin is Edward Andrew Luak who is an alumnus of the school.

“We are dismayed upon learning the announcement to rename SK St. Teresa’s Primary School, Serian by the minister,” said Edward.

The minister had no regards for the history and legacy of the school, he said, adding: “While Serian achieves a new milestone on its upgrading, (into a division), it would be a black mark in its history if the historical name of St Teresa’s Primary School is changed without seeking the approval of the local population.

“There is a rallying call from many ex-students to appeal to the state government and the Ministry of Education to put the plan on hold,” he said.

He said that if the government was sincere, it should build a new school at the new location, and then it can name it SK Sri Sadong.

“The most important thing is for SK St. Teresa’s Primary School to retain its name and location.

It has produced many Bidayuh, Chinese, Iban and Malay leaders since it was established 83 years ago.

Edward, who is the Serian DAP branch chairman, said that he would appeal to the Chief Minister Adenan Satem to put a stop to this change of name and relocation of the school.

He said the Christians in Serian would soon launch a campaign and collect at least 10,000 signatures.

They are also considering holding a demonstration.

When the issue was published in social media and Facebook, it went viral.

The following are selected comments from FB users:

Boniface Edwin: As I understand it the school building and the land belong to the church. Meaning they are church properties under the control of the Archbishop. This means the school cannot be relocated elsewhere without the consent of the church authority. The only thing that can be relocated will be the teachers and students. After all, the teachers are the government employees and are subjected to government directives.

El Pete: Leave the school alone. I don’t see DAP naming Penang Free School to SK Seberang Prai. Politicians like Manyin make me sick.

Peter Chee: Someone is eyeing the land.

Peter Koh: It is not a good idea to rename the school when so many memories in history have been written. It does not serve any purpose.

John Ogawa: Is there anyone doing anything about this? Something needs to be done. The school is a national heritage.

Roger Tay: Stupid! Is Putrajaya trying to change every history in Sarawak? What’s wrong about retaining the name? In no time all the mission schools will be wiped out by them.

Sandi: A new word for our expanding vocabulary … ‘manyin’. St. Teresa School has been ‘manyined’ and take a new identity. Soon all Christian schools in Sarawak shall be ‘manyined’.

William Ting: This is all part of the government’s plan to remove Christian involvement in education. First, they claim Hang Tuah is a Malay. Then they found out that he is actually a Chinese. Now they said Hang Tuah never existed. See what I mean.

Daniel Patrick: Why change the school? Put it under Manyin’s name is better.

Chegu Peterson Ribai: If agama schools are fully funded by MOE, why can’t mission schools? Mission schools are on the brink of extinction from history of Malaysian education. Sad but it will happen, if nothing is done now?

Mary Amoi: Change the name of St. Teresa, Serian. NEVER! A politician gone senile.

Charles Joseph: Fight it. Don’t allow it … it’s the people’s.

Francis Ngu: No one can give us any name other than the name we want for ourselves, whether it is our personal name, house name, pet’s name. In this case the name of the place of our worship.

Stephen Engkabi: Don’t surrender the school to the government. Maintain it as a mission school. I don’t believe that RC church in Serian is so poor that it cannot maintain the school as a mission school. Surrendering it is easy but taking it back is impossible.

Raymond Sului: This is insane to do. Why change a legendary name? Absolutely absurd.

Jenny Maria Subeh: This is outrageous and absolutely insane. Please Minister you can’t do that and do what you like. Remember who put you in your current position. Without the people, you are nothing. So please listen to the voice of the people who are responsible for your bread and butter. Oh not “bread and butter” but your periok nasi. You have not gone made, are you?

James Dublin: Chase them away. Vote BN out.

Rose Bong: it’s a shame and disgrace to simply change the original name as it is long legacy where I think even some of the VIPs come from this school.

Judging by these angry comments, Manyin’s popularity in Tebedu where he is going for his fourth term is certain to be affected.

Likely to be affected are also the PBB candidates in Kedup and Simuja, the newly created constituency.

So far Manyin has remained silent over the issue.

What’s up Manyin? Speak up, will you?

-The Ant Daily

Bidayuh strongman Manyin looks set on 63-year-old Kajeh

SARAWAK FOCUS: The race for BN candidacy in the new state seat of Bukit Semuja got clearer when 2015 came to a close and 2016 arrived.

A day after Christmas, village chiefs and community leaders were gathered at a house of a senior civil servant for a Christmas lunch.

He didn’t openly say he was vying for candidacy. But then again, there was really no need for that because you don’t throw a lavish party for nothing, surely not when the grapevine has been sending out signals.

Besides if he didn’t make any public declaration, his guests, apparently feeling special because of the exclusive lunch invitation, were too happy to say it on his behalf.

Food certainly has a way with stomachs and people. When the stomach is full, a person is happy, and a happy person doesn’t mind sharing his secrets.

In any case, the candidacy of this senior government servant is an open secret.

On the evening of Dec 31, another Bukit Semuja’s potential candidate, Gabriel Kajeh, made his appearance in Kampung Sorak Dayak to join folks for the New Year countdown.

Kampung Sorak Dayak is no happy hunting ground for any politicians, but strangely the more than 300 who played host to Kajeh and his wife Elisabeth gave the couple a rousing welcome.

The master of ceremony, the village chief, and several other speakers of the evening declared him “the BN candidate in waiting”.

Kajeh, clearly happy but humbled, asked to be blessed, which the village priest proceeded to do with gusto.

He only left the party after the midnight big bang with a lot of handshakes and well wishes.

Kajeh, a councillor with the Serian District Council, looks to have won the hearts of the stonehearted. He has clearly started on a firm footing.

Less than 24 hours later, on the first day of the new year, Frederick Bayoi threw wide open the gate of his double-story house in Serian town to receive friends, relatives and well-wishers.

The party started at 9.30am and streams of guests came in and out almost non-stop until well past 2pm.

The former five-term assemblyman, now 71, insisted he be considered to contest Bukit Semuja, telling reporters specially invited to the party that he knows the seat like the back of his hand.

Later in a press conference, about half a dozen of his staunch supporters said they wanted no one else but him – for his easy-to-approach style and helpful nature.

While a couple of them declared to the press that they would stick by him even if he decides to stand as an independent, the others said the issue of fighting against the BN does not arise.

But is Bayoi ready to contest as an independent?

Only he can answer that, but more than 25 years of life in active politics, he sure is capable of a fair decision, to him, his party and supporters.

He should be capable of recognising not only his current strengths but past weaknesses as well.

Twenty-five years as assemblyman is no short period and does speak volume of the man’s plus points.

Still it would be most unwise to totally ignore the minus points – the shortcomings, which aren’t few.

It couldn’t have been all perfect, anyway. Indeed there were weaknesses, but before they come out of another person’s mouth, in private Bayoi must be brave and honest enough to give more weight to the cons than the pros. For while he has the experience behind him, he emits little freshness.

On the other hand, the next serious contender, Kajeh, at 63, is no political greenhorn either. He ran campaigns in every election that Tebedu assemblyman Michael Manyin contested. He also did the same for Serian MP Richard Riot.

At one time he was chairman of the Serian branch of Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), a highly respected NGO whose current patron is Manyin, who is a member of Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s Cabinet and a vice-president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

It is understood that Manyin has formed an “interim BN committee” which has been tasked to assess the Bukit Semuja ground for its “winnable” candidate.

Interestingly, Kajeh is a member of this committee, which draws members from the local chapters of PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

Of course, United People’s Party (UPP) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) aren’t in the picture as they are not members of BN. They are neither here nor there, so they are non-starters, to begin with.

Anyway, during his visit to Serian early last month, Adenan was saying Bukit Semuja was created as a gift to the Bidayuh community for the excellent rapport they have with the government.

Manyin, in response, said he would ensure Bukit Semuja and all the other Bidayuh-majority state seats will be convincingly won by BN’s winnable candidates.

If there is anyone who very badly wants all these seats won by BN, it is Manyin. In other words, Manyin will pick only the best.

For Bukit Semuja, the best will have to be the one closest to him.

Your guess is as good as mine.-The Ant Daily

BN akan menang besar di empat kerusi negeri di bahagian Serian.

SERIAN: Menteri Pembangunan Infrastruktur dan Perhubungan Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong penuh yakin bahawa Barisan Nasional (BN) akan menang majoriti besar di empat kerusi negeri di bahagian Serian.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Tebedu berkata, ini kerana rakyat di kawasan berkenaan mengenang budi kerajaan BN yang telah banyak melaksanakan pembangunan di kawasan terbabit.

“Kami akan terus me-nyokong Yang Amat Berhormat Ketua Menteri (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) untuk meneruskan pembangunan lima tahun akan datang kerana sejak menerajui negeri ini ba-nyak keputusan dibuat yang memberi keuntungan kepada rakyat.

“Kami dengan ini memberi jaminan bahawa kami akan berusaha dan mendapatkan majoriti lebih besar dan anda (Adenan) akan berada di sana (sebagai Ketua Menteri) untuk lima tahun lagi…itu janji kami,” katanya ketika berucap pada Majlis Penyerahan Warta Rizab Guna Sama Bumiputera Seksyen 6 Kanun Tanah Negeri (KTN) di bawah Insiatif Baharu Tanah Hak Adat Bumiputera (NCR) serta penyampaian Surat Hak Milik Tanah Kampung Tradisi Seksyen 18 KTN yang disempurnakan Adenan di Dewan Masyarakat Serian di sini, semalam.

Empat kerusi DUN di bahagian Serian adalah Tarat, Kedup, Tebedu dan kerusi baharu Bukit Semuja (Triboh).

Manyin menegaskan bahawa antara sumbangan dan pengiktirafan signifikan oleh Adenan kepada komuniti Bidayuh adalah mengisytiharkan Serian sebagai sebagai sebuah bahagian selain daripada pembangunan lain oleh kerajaan.

Sehubungan itu katanya, tidak ada sebab untuk Bidayuh tidak memberi soko-ngan penuh kepada BN pada pilihan raya akan datang.

Berhubung isu tanah, beliau menggesa kepada masyara-kat agar tidak tepengaruh dengan propaganda sesetengah pihak yang menyatakan kerajaan mahu merampas tanah rakyat.

“Kerajaan bukan mahu merampas tanah rakyat sebaliknya untuk mengiktiraf tanah dan memberi mereka surat hak milik.

“Saya kesal kerana ada segelintir kampung di Serian telah menolak untuk disukat tanah kerana salah faham oleh sesetengah pihak bahawa kerajaan merampas tanah rakyat dan ini menyebabkan kerja-kerja penyukatan di kawasan Serian agak lambat,” katanya.

Sementara itu Penguasa Jabatan Tanah dan Survei Bahagian Samarahan Rozlan Putit dalam taklimat ringkasnya menyatakan sebanyak lapan kawasan di bahagian Serian telah diwartakan di bawah Seksyen 6 KTN melibatkan keluasan 22,315.93 hektar akan diserahkan kepada 68 penerima daripada 60 kampung.

“Namun setakat 30 November tahun ini secara ke-seluruhan di kawasan Serian 39 kawasan telah diluluskan dengan keluasan 91,909.38 hektar dan daripada itu jumlah yang telah diwartakan sebanyak 15 kawasan dengan melibatkan 16,695.32 hektar sementara tujuh kawasan telah diwarta dan diserahkan yang melibatkan 4,379.39 hektar.

“Bagi seluruh negeri pula, kawasan yang telah diluluskan sebanyak 653 melibatkan lebih 1.11 juta hektar di mana 443 kawasan yang melibatkan 683,171 hektar telah disukat dan sebanyak 312 kawasan dengan 454,073 hektar telah diwartakan,” katanya.

Mengenai surat hak milik kampung tradisi, semalam JTS kata Rozlan menyampai-kan kepada 429 penerima daripada dua kampung iaitu Kampung Pichin dan Kampung Rasau.

Secara keseluruhan di bahagian Serian, JTS telah meluluskan 11 kampung untuk kampung tradisi dengan melibatkan 1,565 lot rumah kediaman dengan 1,388 surat hak milik Seksyen 18 KTN.

Sementara di seluruh ne-geri sebanyak 284 kampung diluluskan dengan melibatkan 48,500 lot rumah kediaman dengan 42,848 surat hak milik Seksyen 18 KTN.

Turut hadir Timbalan Speaker DUN merangkap ADUN Tarat Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, ADUN Kedup Martin Ben dan Residen Serian Dahim Nadot.

- Borneo Post Online

Penyediaan Perkhidmatan Bas Percuma Perlu Perancangan Teliti dan Menyeluruh

KUCHING: Perancangan yang teliti dan menyeluruh perlu dibuat sebelum kerajaan dapat menyediakan perkhidmatan bas percuma kepada orang awam.

Menteri Pembangunan Infrastruktur dan Perhubungan Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong berkata banyak aspek yang perlu diteliti sebelum idea ini dapat dilaksanakan.

Antaranya laluan bas, sistem pemantauan, kebajikan pemandu bas, kebersihan dan keselamatan bas, ketepatan serta liputan jaringan bas secara keseluruhannya.

“Saya bersetuju dengan Wong King Wei (DAP-Padungan) untuk kerajaan menyediakan perkhidmatan bas percuma dan bukannya pemberian subsidi.

“Inilah yang kerajaan sedang lakukan ketika ini di bawah program SBST (Stage Bus Service Transformation), kerajaan akan menentukan dan menetapkan bilangan dan jenis bas, laluan dan kekerapan serta pengusaha yang akan dibayar.

“Untuk maklumat ahli yang berhormat Padungan, perancangan bagi pengangkutan awam bukan sahaja bagi bas tetapi termasuk yang lain seperti teksi, kereta sewa, perahu tambang dan lain-lain,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian dalam ucapan penggulungannya bagi Kementerian Pembangunan Infrastruktur dan Perhubungan pada Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di sini semalam.

Tambah Manyin, kerajaan negeri menyedari keperluan perancangan bagi pengangkutan awam secara keseluruhannya.

Bagi tujuan itu, kerajaan negeri telah melaksanakan beberapa kajian untuk mengatasi perkara ini seperti Kajian Pengangkutan Awam Kuching (2005), Pelan Induk Infrastruktur Pengangkutan Bersepadu Bagi Sarawak (2006) dan Kajian Mengenai Trafik Bandar di Kuching 2010-2030 (2012).

SBST adalah program menyeluruh negara inisiatif kerajaan persekutuan di bawah Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD).

Banyak bandar yang terlibat dalam perancangan ini, bagaimanapun kebanyakannya di Semenanjung Malaysia dan pada Disember 2013 kerajaan negeri menerusi kementerian Manyin melobi untuk perkongsian dalam program ini.

Malah Manyin sendiri telah mempengerusikan siri mesyuarat perancangan dan penyelarasan bersama semua agensi yang berkaitan berhubung pengangkutan awam di negeri ini.

- Borneo Post Online

RM16 billion not enough for Pan-Borneo Highway project — Manyin

KUCHING: The allocation of RM16 billion by the federal government to upgrade the whole of Pan-Borneo Highway is too small to implement the project as planned.

Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin told The Borneo Post recently the Pan-Borneo Highway is 1,096 km long and RM16 billion was ‘chicken feed’ for the project.

“If we want the quality of the highway in Kuala Lumpur, it will cost minimum RM20 to 30 million per km.

“With RM16 billion allocated to us for the whole stretch, we can have a road that costs about RM10 million per km. It is definitely not enough for a road of real highway standard.”

To tailor the implementation of the project to the limited budget, Manyin said some stretches of the highway might have to remain two-lane instead of the planned four-lane road.

One stretch that would be two-lane is the 33 Km Sematan- Teluk Melano road which is at the southern tip of the state.

“We will commence construction work on this stretch this month. Meanwhile, the stretch from Bintulu to Nyalau has
already started on March 31 this year,”

Manyin stressed that RM16 billion was for the upgrading of the road rather than building a new one though some new stretches might have to be rebuilt for better linkage.

On possibility of giving the state the RM16 billion to allow the state to have a free hand in handling the project, Manyin who is Tebedu assemblyman said that would be quite impossible.

“The RM16 billion is spread over six years. The money will only be paid upon the completion of each section of the project,” said Manyin.-Borneo Post

Dakwaan Chong hanya bermotifkan politik

KUCHING: Dakwaan Pengerusi Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) Sarawak Chong Chieng Jen akan kaedah pemberian projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo hanya menumpukan satu kumpulan kaum sahaja adalah bermotifkan politik.

Menteri Pembangunan Infrastruktur Dan Perhubungan Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong berkata, projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo adalah projek kerajaan persekutuan bukannya projek mengikut bajet negeri.

"Sekiranya Chong jujur dan benar-benar ingin bertanya mengenai perkara ini (Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo), mengapa beliau (yang juga Ahli Parlimen Kuching) tidak membawa perkara ini ke parlimen?"

"Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo merupakan projek kerajaan Malaysia dan Chong, sudah salah gelanggang bagi menyuarakan perkara ini."

"Chong hanya berniat untuk melaga-lagakan pelbagai kaum dengan membangkitkan perkara ini namun, saya percaya, ianya takkan berjaya kerana kita di Sarawak sudah lama hidup bersama dalam keadaan aman damai."

Manyin di temui pemberita di pejabat pada hari kedua Persidangan DUN Sarawak di DUN Sarawak, Petra Jaya hari ini.

Chong sebelum ini dipetik dalam sebuah akhbar tempatan hari ini sebagai berkata, projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo yang bernilai RM27 bilion dengan jalan sepanjang 1,663 kilometer itu hanya diberikan kepada syarikat kontraktor yang didakwanya 100 peratus kaum Melayu. - Sarawakiana