COMMENT: Many say the 11th state election may be held in the first quarter of next year or at the latest, April, even though the term of the current government ends in June.
It means Sarawakians will be going to the polls when Chief Minister Adenan Satem is hardly two years in the job that was handed over to him on Feb 28 last year.
Two years are really a short period but there is no taking the credit off the man who has done wonderfully well in committing himself to fulfilling his promises to Sarawakians.
He has impressed many with the way he addressed issues that had been left outstanding for years – issues that before he arrived looked to have no answers.
Chinese private schools had been left to struggle on their own since the days of their establishment. Their managements not only struggled with rising costs but at the end of it all their Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) continues to be rejected by the federal government.
Adenan has injected new life and hope to Chinese education, giving funds in the millions to the private schools and declaring the state government’s recognition of the UEC.
Adenan, it would seem, is willing to take a stand opposite that of Putrajaya if it is in the general interest of Sarawakians.
“My main concern is Sarawak and I don’t care what the ministers in West Malaysia think because I know Sarawak and they don’t. They may not be happy, but it is their problem to think otherwise,” was what he said before a crowd of 40,000 people at the launch the 8th Miri Christmas Parade on Dec 5.
That pretty much sums up Adenan’s policy style behind the many decisions he made in the last 22 months – money to Chinese schools, state’s recognition of UEC, no more bridge tolls, lower electricity tariff, reduced ferry charges, yes to ‘Dayaks’ in place of ‘Lain-lain’ and his accommodating stand towards other religions like this pronouncement he made at the Miri Christmas parade:
“As far as religion is concerned, the people here (Sarawak) are free to exercise their own choice of religion.
“Similarly, when Muslims are granted land to build a mosque here, the Christians too should enjoy the privilege.”
In fact, Adenan was saying he wants people “to bear witness to the promises he has made, as he shall fulfil all of them for the well-being of Sarawakians”.
SMK Sg PaohSMK Sg Paoh
With the state election coming in a matter of months – perhaps three or four months, or maybe even less – the Opposition might feel this is all election talk.
Of course, it is election talk, but that does not mean Adenan is lying about what he wants to do.
Adenan knows his shortcomings and he readily admits it as this Borneo Post’s quote shows:
“However, the only promise I have yet to fulfil is to claim the 20 % oil royalty, and I have to admit that I have not succeeded yet.”
But wait, the oil royalty issue is not THE only promise.
Adenan has another promise where he has yet to achieve any measure of success – the issue of autonomy and devolution of power.
Autonomy in what areas? Devolution of power to achieve what? Borneonisation of the civil service? Giving greater participation to Sarawakians so that all the ethnic groups feel they are fairly represented in all sectors?
Ninety per cent local-born teachers in schools in the state, but what is the state doing to achieve that target? Or rather, has Putrajaya really begun any serious and solid move?
Clearly, as much as Adenan wants all his promises fulfilled, he is not the only player in the game.
He can only do so much, when the crunch comes he may find that while his hands are not tied, his reach is limited.
If the issue of ‘pemakai menua’ and ‘pulau galau’ – Dayak traditional claims to land – cannot be dealt with satisfactorily in the immediate future, Adenan would have gained the confidence of many Dayaks and Christians if he had just said Kelantanese Ustaz Roslin Che Mood should not be posted to SMK Sg Paoh.
Unfortunately, state Education Department director Rakayah Madon was reported as saying she had received a directive from Adenan to let Roslin Che Mood to discharge his duties as usual in the school.
Rakayah went on to say that “As educationists, we are all colour blind. We don’t really look into where we should serve. As a teacher, we should serve well everywhere we are.”
No one questions that of educationists but it did not end the issue.
On the contrary, a statewide protest is being planned and all because “we are all colour blind”?
“We are planning a big protest statewide. We will invite Dayak NGOs, people’s elected representatives, political parties and other civil societies to join us,” said Clement Hillary, the prime mover behind the planned protest.
“The argument whether the Dayak community should be less sensitive towards the issue does not hold water because the issue itself is indeed sensitive,” he was quoted as saying.
While the recognition of UEC and the millions he has given Chinese schools may have warmed the Chinese to him, Adenan has yet to placate the Dayaks and Christians.
Adenan has failed the Dayaks over the posting of an ustaz, which makes his Iban ‘Hoooha’ greeting or call to the gods of the Iban forefathers sounding like claps of thunder that never could bring the rain.
The claps of thunder he creates among the Chinese rain down money, but his Iban ‘Hoooha’ is causing the Dayak land to crack and dry due to severe drought that does not seem to end.-The Ant Daily
