SARAWAK LIVE: Sarawakians

Time for Sarawakians to wake up – politically that is!

COMMENTS by Theantdaily readers

Thomas Chin: Most Sarawakians are best described by the Malay idiom, "Katak di bawah tempurung”. Sad but true!

They are like a frog that lives under a coconut shell, and believes the shell to be its entire world.

Sarawakians don't know what the hell is going on in their state and country, and they just couldn’t care less!

Aaron Ting: This is the time Sarawakians must stand up and give hope to Malaya. I am surprised by the lack of election issues being brought up in the newspapers or portals.

This is as though Sarawak elections do not have an intellectual side to it…

Tc Ling: Vote for whoever you like and accept the consequences of your vote.

If the ruling government is corrupt, will it affect the country as a whole?

Make no mistake about it, it will! Whatever happens in the Peninsula will affect East Malaysia too.

Leong Chin Wye: Wake up all Sarawakians. Vote without fear.

Ntchwaidumelaa James: I can expect Sarawakians to choose the ruling coalition again!

Billy CF Lee: I think it is because most West Malaysians are "clever" and East Malaysians are “politically dumb”.

Jimmy Foo: We Sarawakians do not have to stand so low as to hate anyone as we are peaceful enough to keep everything disgusting within ourselves for now.

We are intelligent enough to read the truth and the corrupted facts, but we do not display our hatred for anyone…it is not our culture.

After all, victory will be shown via the ballot box. For now, we will remain patient and remain calm.

Ashok Pattu: Sarawakians will yet again be overwhelmed by BN’s promises of development and stability.

These comments are in response to the article, Are Sarawakians unperturbed by politics in Malaya? published on March 6. However, these views from our readers should not be represented as fact.

-The Ant Daily

BN likely to field more youths, women

MIRI: More youths and women candidates are expected to be fielded in the coming state election as part of the Barisan Nasional’s efforts to add vigour to the state BN leadership.

Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment and Minister of Public Utilities, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this when officiating at the opening of Pesta Lambir 2016 at Kampung Bakam here yesterday.

“Youths are the hope of this nation, and with guidance from experienced leaders, they will take over the mettle of leadership to lead the state and country,” he said.

Awang Tengah thus called on voters from all walks of life to give the people-centric chief minister and state BN chairman their full support by returning his chosen candidates such as incumbent Ripin Lamat in Lambir with a resounding victory in the coming election.

He said Ripin was among youth leaders in the state BN capable of charting the future of the state and thus called on the voters to re-elect him.

Awang Tengah went on to say that the state government was aware that still much had to be done despite the huge leaps and bounds in rural development, and would continue to respond to the needs and aspiration of the people.

Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Industrial Development, also called on Sarawakians to give the chief minister a bigger mandate this election so that he would have the voice to negotiate for the state rights and more funds from the federal government.

Ripin also spoke at the function.

He said the government had approved RM22 million for tourism development in Lambir including RM5 million which had already been spent for the Kampung Bakam waterfront.

Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education and Community Development and Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Limbang MP and chairman of Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Sarawak Hasbi Habibolah, Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis and Subis District Officer Husini Bakir were also present at the function. –Borneo Post.

Chong: S'wakians are not fools; they'll know what to do

COMMENT: State BN leaders like to single out opposition leaders from Malaya as “trouble makers” and “dangerous” with their political culture, but frankly, Umno leaders are more extreme in their religious and racial views.

Now, who are talking about “ketuanan Melayu”, calling for the ban on the use of the word “Allah” by Christians or the seizure of the Malay version of the Bible? The list goes on.

Such words cannot be uttered by the opposition leaders from DAP, PKR and even Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

Thus, the warning from Wong Soon Koh, senior minister in the state cabinet that Sarawakians should be wary of the rhetoric and propaganda that might come from the opposition parties from Malaya is rather hollow.

Being a Sarawakian, Wong, who is the president of United People’s Party (UPP) said that he does not wish to see that sort of political culture brought to the state.

“I know some are of religious and racial extremism and we do not allow such things to dilute or pollute Sarawak culture,” Wong was quoted as saying.

“I hope all of us will be on the lookout for such propaganda or rhetoric perpetuated by members of the opposition,” he said in Sibu recently.

What Wong said has been said several times before by Chief Minister Adenan Satem.

Wong’s remark is indeed in line with Adenan’s policy of barring opposition leaders from entering Sarawak.

Last month Nurul Izzah Anwar, PKR vice-president and MP for Lembah Pantai, was the latest opposition leader to be barred from conducting political activities in Sarawak.

She was told that the directive to bar her came from the office of the chief minister.

Others who are also barred from entering Sarawak include Rafizi Ramli, PKR strategic director and MP for Pandan; Tian Chua, PKR vice-president and MP for Batu; Zuraida Kamaruddin, PKR women chief and MP for Ampang; Teresa Koh, DAP MP for Seputeh and Tony Pua, DAP MP for Petaling Jaya Utara

It will not be a surprise if more opposition leaders are barred from entering Sarawak for the coming state election.

Now the chief minister is blaming the state opposition parties for pouring cold water on the state government’s efforts to seek greater autonomy.

According to him, such actions by the opposition give the perception that they (opposition) want his government to fail in its discussions with Putrajaya over the devolution of power because the public would come to the conclusion that they never wanted the extra power for Sarawak.

In the end, the people would be the ones who would lose if the discussions do not succeed, he said.

Reacting to Adenan’s allegation, a furious Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen accused the chief minister of reducing himself to gutter politics by making baseless accusations that the opposition were scoffing the fight for autonomy.

“Such an accusation by Adenan is merely to try to cover up his failure in getting the federal BN to agree to more autonomy for Sarawak,” said Chong, who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching and the state assemblyman for Kota Sentosa.

He said that on the contrary, it was the Sarawak DAP which had initiated and set the agenda for the autonomy movement when it launched its “2014 Bintulu Declaration – Towards Equal Partners”.

Chong said that among the things mentioned in the declaration were state autonomy in education, health, internal security and taxation.

“The most important aspect of the autonomy is the autonomy in taxation where we advocate for 20% oil and gas royalties and 50% of all taxes collected in Sarawak to be returned to the state government,” stressed Chong.

The DAP leader also slammed Wong for attempting to pit local parties against Malayan parties.

“This is typical of state BN leaders and their strategy harping on issues of regionalism and racism,” he said, adding that Sarawakians should look at the policies of a party whether it was from Malaya or from Sarawak itself.

As far as opposition parties were concerned, they did not pose any danger to the people in the state.

“Look at the plight of Sarawakians, especially the Dayaks. Who are taking away their native customary rights (NCR) land? Who are destroying their livelihood through timber and logging activities?

“Who have oppressed and suppressed the natives, and who have neglected the welfare of the rural people?

“These problems are created by the local parties and not the opposition parties,” said Chong.

He said state BN leaders were “hypocrites”.

Although they knew that the majority of Umno leaders were racists, they gave them “red carpet” welcome, treated them to sumptuous dinners and even hugged them passionately, he said.

Sarawakians are not blind nor are they stupid.

“When election day comes, they will know who to vote for and they cannot be bought with sweet promises.

“They are too smart,” Chong said.-The Ant Daily

Adenan also stands tall among the Chinese in Malaya

FOCUS: By now, many can readily agree that Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem has managed to garner a lot of support among Sarawakians.

But what many may not know is that he seems to have also won the support of a large cross section of the Chinese community in Malaya as well – that is if these words of a prominent Chinese community leader from Kuala Lumpur is any indication.

“I have not met Adenan personally but from what I’ve read in the newspapers, the chief minister has been doing all the right things,” said Ter Leong Yap, president of the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM).

“I can’t help but to say openly that I envy Sarawakians that they have such an open-minded leader like Adenan as their chief minister,” Ter told his audience at the 50th anniversary of the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry dinner in Kuching early this month.

A few months ago, Adenan made heads turn among the Chinese community when he announced that the state would recognise the United Examination Certificate (UEC), a public exam sat by Chinese independent school students.

He is even willing to persuade the federal government to do so, and he had walked his talk.

In less than two years under Adenan as chief minister, Sarawak has become the first state in the country to recognise UEC besides allocating funds for Chinese independent schools.

Adenan may not be able to convince the federal government to follow suit but he is taking the lead and now Selangor is also following the move where state-run universities are opening doors to Chinese independent school graduates with UEC.

For years, Chinese education activists in the country have been trying to get similar recognition from the government but their efforts have been in vain.

Adenan’s reason for recognising UEC is simple: Stop the brain drain.

He even called the federal government “stupid” for not accepting UEC while he is prepared to recruit UEC holders as civil servants in Sarawak.

For this, Adenan has surely won the hearts of Chinese education activists for finally giving UEC its long overdue recognition.

Education has always been the prime motivator among the Chinese and Chinese education activists are seen as leaders in the community.

Ter also mentioned at the function that he was grateful to Adenan for having repeatedly stressed that no one is allowed to call the Chinese “pendatang” in the country.

The chief minister’s bold statement of “no hudud law in Sarawak” also put the Chinese and other non-Muslims at ease. His stand of religious moderation resonates well with all.

Another prominent Chinese community leader, Pheng Ying Huah, has also praised Adenan for his fair and far-sighted views and policies.

Pheng, president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong), recently described Adenan as the most popular politician among the Chinese community now.

Pheng led a Hua Zong delegation to pay Adenan a courtesy call in Kuching in May last year.

With Ter and Pheng praising Adenan and Chinese education activists feeling grateful towards the chief minister, Adenan is certainly well respected by the Chinese community throughout the country.

With racial politics and religious bigotry getting more entrenched in the country, Adenan’s moderate policies bring new hope.

Hopefully, we will see more state executives in Malayan states going the Adenan way.

-The Ant Daily

Make it a Sarawakian affair, Malayans better stay out

QUICK TAKE: Chief Minister Adenan Satem will get the strong mandate he wants from Sarawakians but only if he heeds the one biggest taboo of all – don’t let Umno be seen to be involved in the coming state election.

Umno is a no-no to Sarawakians as much as all those opposition parties coming from Malaya are a no-no to the majority of Sarawakians seeking to regain their originals rights as per the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Be it the main Umno or Wanita Umno or Puteri Umno or Umno Youth, keep them out of the 11th state election because Sarawakians will not accept any form of Umno fighting alongside Adenan who has, on a number of occasions, appealed to be given the chance to rule this state for the next five years to do what Sarawakians can and must do as Sarawakians.

Whichever way one sees it, central to Adenan’s struggle this time is Sarawak for Sarawakians.

How many times has he said who know better how to rule this state than Sarawakians? Who know better what Sarawakians need than Sarawakians?

Adenan has repeated in front of Sarawakian audiences he will continue to negotiate for a higher O&G royalty.

He has also repeated a number of times that if he gets the right mandate this time, there are things he wants to do for Sarawakians before his new term is over – devolution of power so that services to the people will not find hurdles in federal bureaucracy, and autonomy in such areas as education which has suffered due to flip-flop Putrajaya policies and decisions.

For Adenan, a fight for Sarawakians by Sarawakians must, therefore, not involve Umno or he will only be giving his political opponents the ground they need to prove their accusation that he and his state BN coalition partners are but mere Umno stooges.

But an Umno stooge he surely isn’t, not when he dares to take a different stand from Umno on a number of issues like having English as another official language of the state, and recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and calling Putrajaya ‘stupid’ for not doing the same.

Hardly a year in office, and despite having done things that Sarawakians have not seen since the formation of Malaysia, there are those who remain unconvinced that Adenan is here not to do Umno’s bidding.

Well, Adenan must not be perceived as carrying Umno. He must avoid being seen to be dependent on Umno.

Or rather, he should show his detractors that in Sarawak he is in total control, and total control also means he will win the 11th state election without Umno raising a finger.

If Adenan can do all that, DAP, PKR, Amanah and PAS will have to go into the 11th state election without their Malayan bosses; if they do, they will be accused of the very accusation they have been throwing at Adenan!

Adenan has said Umno will never be allowed in, so Umno Youth better stay out of the coming election if only to prove that Umno is not trying to show that it is the master party.

Yes, the Sarawak chapters of the Malayan parties will be contesting, and this election should tell us if these parties are out to win on the strength and reputation of their Malayan bosses.

In this election, it better be a contest among Sarawakians because Sarawakian voters will reject those who seek the involvement of Orang Malaya.

-The Ant Daily

Sarawak polls has everything to do with being Sarawakians

OUTSPOKEN: Yes, a vote for Chief Minister Adenan Satem is a vote for Prime Minister Najib Razak.

It is also a vote for Umno, the party that Najib heads, and which struggles for Malay supremacy or ketuanan Melayu.

It is also a vote for Barisan Nasional, a coalition of parties that includes Adenan’s very own Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

Therefore a vote for Adenan is a vote for all those parties that subscribe to the BN concept, parties like MCA, Gerakan and MIC in Malaya, and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party in Sarawak.

Yes, a vote for Adenan is a vote for Malays, Dayaks, Chinese, Indians, etc.

That is what a vote for Adenan means, and I don’t see anything wrong with that. In fact, I am proud that any vote for Adenan is going to affect Malaysians of all races and religions.

Never had a vote for any leader in Malaysia had such far-reaching effect!

Yet it is for this very reason that some Malaysians say come the Sarawak state election, Sarawakians should not vote for Adenan.

They talk about a so-called bigger picture, that a vote for Adenan is a vote for Najib, a vote for 1MDB, and a vote for the RM2.6 billion donation that went into Najib’s personal account.

A vote for Adenan is a vote for Malay supremacy and a vote for some insidious and methodical conversions of Christians to Islam.

So, if Sarawakians must not vote for Adenan, who should they vote for?

Is there a party or a coalition of parties that does not speak of being a Malay, or Chinese or Indian or Dayak or ‘Lain-lain’?

Are there parties out there that truly neither discriminate nor differentiate between creed and religion?

Are these parties those that make up Pakatan? Are DAP, PKR, PAS and Amanah truly colour blind?

Are we to believe that if we vote Pakatan, race and religion will no longer be an issue among Malaysians? That Sarawakians need not lose sleep over forced conversion to Islam? That Malays will overnight say, let’s share and share alike, we are all Malaysians and equal before the King and the Constitution? That Malaysia is a secular nation? That those contentious religious departments will be done away with? That English will replace Bahasa Malaysia in the education system? That the next PM will be a Eurasian? That Sarawak will see a longhouse chief made Governor for the first time in the state’s history?

Is this the big picture?

And the big picture requires Sarawakians to vote for DAP because it means voting for the Lims who control DAP from Penang.

It also requires Sarawakians to vote for PKR because it means voting for Dr Wan Azizah who didn’t qualify to be Selangor menteri besar because she is a woman.

The big picture requires Sarawakians to vote for PAS because the Pakatan people want us to believe that this PAS is not the PAS that disqualified Wan Azizah from becoming Selangor MB. Or the PAS that finds Christmas and Christians abominable.

Sarawakians, they say, should also vote for Amanah because this is the moderate Islam.

Of course we wonder, if Amanah is moderate then who are the extremist Islam?

There is one thing about voting for Adenan that some would like us Sarawakians not to ponder on – that a vote for Adenan is a vote for Sarawak as an equal partner at the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

I, for one, don’t believe in the so-called bigger picture because that is not putting the state election in its proper perspective.

If you insist a vote for Adenan is a vote for Najib and his 1MDB fiasco and RM2.6 billion Arab donation, you are as right as the other person who insists a vote for DAP is a vote for PKR that can never foresee itself existing without PAS and its brand of grotesque Islam.

This coming state election is about Sarawakians determining the future of Sarawak as an equal partner in the formation of Malaysia.

Sarawakians better be told that when they go to the polls, if they vote for Adenan, they will be voting for someone who will be Sarawak chief minister for the next five years, and during those five years he hopes to accomplish a few tasks aimed at making sure that Sarawak will have better control over its resources and the administration and running of the state.

Adenan wants Sarawakians to be proud of themselves, to have self-confidence in themselves and to believe that Sarawak will be better governed if Sarawarakians are in control – with minimum federal involvement.

He knows PBB is not as big as Umno; neither is he as big as Najib, but he knows if Sarawakians think like him and move in unison with him, Najib and Umno can be made to feel less condescending.

Adenan is a man with a clear mission. Unlike the Opposition, he is not out to change Malaysia.

All he wants to do is empower Sarawakians, so why would I not vote for him?- The Ant Daily

Support CM Adenan as a New Year Resolution: Soon Koh

SIBU: Sarawakians have been urged to continuously support Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Adenan Satem and make it as their new year 2016 resolution.

Local Government and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said the since assuming leadership of the state about two years ago, Adenan had introduced at least 50 new policies, part of them had been implemented, for the benefit of the people.

“I am confident that under his leadership, there will be more development to be implemented through the state and federal government agencies,” he said.

Wong said this during the 2016 Countdown held at the Sibu Town Square (Dataran Bandar Sibu) last night.

The event, organised by the Sibu Municipal Council, attracted some 10,000 people and was made merrier with on stage performances and a fireworks display.

On another matter, Wong expressed his satisfaction with the SMC for its performances throughout 2015, where it had not only managed to upgrade the infrastructure and public facilties in Sibu but had also strengthened the unity of the people through various community development programmes.

“SMC had managed to utilise an allocation of RM25 million to improve roads and public facilties in Sibu and most importantly it had created solidarity among the people of various races and religions,” he said.

He urged the people in Sibu to join the government in bringing a sustainable development and make the town a conducive place to earn a living for the future generation.-BERNAMA

Sarawakians back Adenan on English, others can shut up!

LETTER: This “Letter to the Editor” section is aimed at providing an opportunity for readers to air their opinions on current issues and other subjects of interest. Send your letters toeditor@theantdaily.com Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

FULL BACKING FOR ADENAN: I’m actually very amused to read news reports of groups in Malaya chastising Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem for declaring that English will be used, alongside Bahasa Malaysia, as the official language in Sarawak.

They seemed to miss one important point – English will only be one of the official languages. Bahasa Malaysia still remains, as Adenan has made very clear.

So what these Malayan groups are demanding is that there must be one official language, Bahasa Malaysia. English can never be allowed to be an official language in any state in the Malaysian Federation.

How narrow-minded and how selfish is that!

According to news reports, Malay-based groups in Kuala Lumpur have protested against Sarawak’s adoption of English as an official language, alongside Bahasa Malaysia.

The Malay Economic Action Council and the Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce questioned the Sarawak government’s reasoning, while the Malay-rights group Perkasa said the Sarawak decision was an insult to the Federal Constitution.

The council’s chief executive, Mohd Nizam Mahshar, said the use of language different from their day-to-day conversation would turn away those in the lower middle-income and lower-income groups.

He suggested that the state first carry out a study on language usage.

I’m afraid I don’t understand what Mohd Nizam is talking about. Does he mean to say that when one is so used to conversing in Bahasa, others will run away when one starts talking to them in English. What kind of an argument is that?

Incidentally, Mohd Nizam also mentioned that the lower middle-income and lower-income groups would be turned away. Why? Affluent Malaysians do not speak Bahasa?

Why stigmatise the lower-income groups as the ones who only speak Bahasa? And for heaven’s sake, why not get them to learn English so that they can get out of the lower classes of society? Has Mohd Nizam ever thought of that?

Then, KL chamber’s honorary secretary Aslah Abdullah questioned the need for change.

“There has never been any language barrier. Why try to change? Everyone already speaks Bahasa Malaysia, from city folk to people in the kampung (villages),” he was quoted as saying. “Iban and Kadazan people also speak Bahasa Malaysia as well. This decision will only push more people away.”

Such a statement only proves how little Malayans like Aslah Abdullah know about Sarawak and Sarawakians. I dare say that no Sarawakian is ever pushed away because of any language barrier.

Take for example, in Kuching, the old Chinese Ah Pek will attempt to speak bazaar Malay to a Malay friend while his Indian friend can even converse in fluent Hokkien with him.

In the busy Medan Selera near the Satok Bridge, the Malay selling ikan bakar will gladly converse in Iban with anyone he meets, Dayaks, Chinese or even his own Malay kin.

So what decision will only push more people away? Aslah Abdullah, please understand this uniqueness of Sarawak and its people. Do not be condescending in your ways when talking about Sarawak.

Yes, there is a need for change – beginning with the KL Chamber's narrow perception about the Borneo states.

Then, we hear of Perkasa Youth leader Irwan Fahmi Ideris saying that Adenan was insulting the country’s Constitution by placing English on par with Bahasa Malaysia.

Whoever this Perkasa fella is, I think he is not only insulting the intelligence of the chief minister but of all Sarawakians. The problem is probably because he does not understand English and hence, does not know the meaning of “insult”, nor is he able to fully comprehend the Federal Constitution.

In any case, what is Perkasa anyway? Perkasa what? Is that the name of the bird which we used to shoot with our homemade catapults in the jungle clearing behind our homes when we were little kids?

My final message to outsiders is this. Our chief minister knows what he is doing. Adenan is a qualified lawyer and a veteran political leader.

On this English issue, the chief minister has the support of all Sarawakians.

Others please shut up.

To Adenan’s detractors, please try talking in Bahasa Malaysia to President Obama or to President Xi Jinping or President Putin. Bahasa just does not work on the world stage. Please drum that into your head!

If you are unhappy for whatever reason, do not drag your miseries over to us in Sarawak. Just stay out of Sarawak affairs. You have a lot of problems to resolve in Malaya. Just go and clean up your own backyard.-The Ant Daily

Warga Sarawak perlu menjaga ‘halaman’ mereka sendiri

KOMEN pembaca Semut Harian

Andrew Nyabe: Perdana Menteri Najib Razak pasti berada dalam keadaan keliru ketika mengumumkan Malaysia (bukan Najib) akan menerima 3,000 pelarian Syria.

Beliau tentunya sedar bahawa negara perlu sediakan tempat tinggal, pekerjaan dan pendidikan untuk anak-anak mereka.

Ahli Parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua pula tidak bebas untuk bergerak kerana pihak berkuasa merasakan beliau adalah ancaman keselamatan. Tetapi bagaimana dengan 3,000 warga Syria ini?

Pastinya kesan mengambil 3,000 orang luar jauh lebih besar!

Jeguk Ngamo: Hanya 3,000 sahaja! Kita sudah pun ada berjuta pekerja Indonesia, beribu pembantu rumah Filipina dan Suluk, lebih 100,000 pekerja Bangladesh, dan beribu pekera China dan “China dolls”.

Tambah pula dengan beribu warga Kemboja, Vietnam, Myanmar dan Korea Utara.

Bagaimana pula yang tidak dikira? Dan semua masih di bawah kawalan?

Apa-apa pun, kita menjaga sendiri ‘halaman’ kita. Itulah maksud “Sarawak untuk orang Sarawak”.

Daniel Liew: Bukankah Umno mentadbir Sarawak melalui proksi mereka – PBB, PRS, SUPP dan lain-lain – dalam BN?

Walaupun perkara sama boleh dikatakan tentang DAP, PKR atau PAS selaku parti dari Malaya, saya tidak tahu bagaimana atau dari mana persepsi ini boleh timbul.

Semua parti PR ada satu matlamat bersama, iaitu membantu rakyat melawan kerajaan BN. Tetapi mereka tidak akan menjadi proksi antara satu sama lain.

Siapa lagi yang akan diundi warga Sarawak sebagai alternatif kepada kerajaan BN jika tidak PKR atau DAP? Ada siapa yang boleh jawab?

Tc Ling: Ia sudah terjadi sekian lama tetapi ketua menteri masih lagi dengan sikap “tidak apa”.

Siapakah musuh sebenar? Pembangkang atau kerajaan pemerintah?

Komen-komen berikut adalah respon kepada artikel, Sarawakians should be wary of the ‘Trojan Horse’ yang disiarkan pada 6 Oktober.-The Ant Daily