Local council elections be held?

MANY would still remember the large gathering of supporters from both political divides, the SUPP and DAP, at the compound of Kuching City South Council (MBKS) building prior to the March 8 general election over the appointment of MBKS mayor. The appointment of mayor had been one of the contentious issues during the general election as far as Bandar Kuching constituency is concerned. The issue then was whether a Chinese would be appointed to the post. The mayor issue popped up after the vacant post was left unfilled for several months following the demise of the late Mayor Chong Ted Hsiung and this had been seized quickly enough by some politicians to score political mileage.

To refresh everyone’s mind, several years ago, former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk M Kayveas caused a furore when he called the local authorities ‘secret societies’ for their lack of transparency and accountability. There was also corruption accusation hurled against the local authorities in Parliament then that corruption was widespread at all levels of the government. And in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting when it first sat right after the 2006 state election, the issue of local authorities was again brought to the centre stage when the opposition called for the reintroduction of local council election.

The local authorities have always been the centre stage in Malaysian politics as it is the local government which deals with the livelihood of people, thus creating a bearing or effects in mainstream politics. The local council election was abolished in 1970 after the eruption of racial riots in the aftermath of 1969 elections, giving rise to the perception that party politics if allowed to continue as the basis of local government would be against national interest as the government then was anxious to prevent the spread of further outbreaks of violence elsewhere. Since then, mayors and councillors are appointed by mentris besar and chief ministers where names are submitted through political parties for consideration.

Local authorities in Sarawak were established under the Local Authority Ordinance 1996 and the state Ministry of Environment and Public Health is responsible for overseeing the running of local councils. Over in the peninsula, the local authorities are governed Local Government Act 1976 which outlines the form, organisational structure, functions and responsibilities of a local authority. After so many years, the issue now is should local council elections be reintroduced and brought back to Malaysia’s political scene? There are of course many arguments on this issue depending on what one believes in.

An argument which is constantly voiced is that the current system of appointment of mayors and councillors has made the appointees responsible only to those who appointed them. That means to say they are only answerable to their political masters and not the people or the taxpayers. In this age where people have become sophisticated, well-read and well-travelled, this kind of arrangement may not go down well as what the people demand is transparency and accountability in the management of local authorities. To them, they want a say in the running of local authorities as whatever rulings or policies made by the local authorities would have impact on them and thus, the local council election would be a channel for them to elect representatives whom they feel serve them better. But on the other hand, many people would not know that serving councillors in state local councils are only paid allowances for meetings attended and the amount should not exceed RM350 a month.

Such a meagre sum has raised the concern that how many people out there are willing to sacrifice their time to serve in the local authorities to formulate policies knowing for sure that they could earn much more if they devote their time wholeheartedly to their professions or businesses. The amount and time spent in running the local authorities are tremendous as being councillors, people expect them to attend to their problems no matter how petty those problems, from clogged drains to tree trimmings. For those who strongly believe in the reintroduction of local council election, their argument may well centre on the ideals that the election would create transparency and accountability and that the councillors would be responsible for the people and not their political masters. Thus, whatever policies formulated in the local authorities are detected by the people since the councillors are now answerable to them. But again, a differing view is that to hold the local council elections may well eat too much into the government’s coffers and this may hamper the development effort as too much fund will be channelled to the holding of the elections.

In the end, a lot of development initiatives could not take off as funding from the government may be lacking and as such a lot of development initiatives may have to be stalled. Bringing back the local council elections will definitely give a sigh of relief to the serving MPs or assemblymen as they will be rid of the tedium of having to attend to the people’s many problems. MPs or assemblymen are supposed to be lawmakers drafting laws at the national or state level but their tasks have been significantly reduced to attending those problems which have greatly eaten into much precious time. With the reintroduction of local council elections, this will be the responsibility of councillors who have to answer to their electorates for their actions, inactions and other shortcomings.

Another foreseeable problem will be that by electing councillors to the local authorities, are these so-called rightfully or democratically elected representatives having the tendency to make populist policies despite knowing that such policies may not be beneficial in the long run, all in the name of securing their position? To many people out there who are fence sitters on the issue, the local council elections may not be their main concern as what they want to see is effectiveness and efficiency of the local authorities in dealing with people’s problems. Their only demand perhaps is for swift actions from the local authorities in settling their problems, be it clearing drains or fixing street lamps or trimming trees.

No doubt transparency and accountability must well be the mission of all local authorities to give the people the faith and confidence in them. Whether or not local council elections be reintroduced after so many years of abolishment is not yet known and this issue will definitely be one of the many issues to be raised in the local political scene. Whether or not the people are ready for local council elections, only they themselves could tell as at the end of the day, they are the ones who dictate how a country or a state should be run and what is good or bad for them.

When will these talks end fruitfully?

KUCHING: There seems to be no positive end to the talks on the proposed merger of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). At least that is how it looks like for now. SPDP deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok Entrie, who heads the party’s merger committee, said as much when he told reporters yesterday that the two Barisan Nasional (BN) components “are still talking about it”.

A none-too convincing sounding Nyarok said it was his hope that a stronger merged entity would surface before the next state polls but in the same breadth blurted out: “There is no conclusion on the merger talk yet because at the moment we are still talking.” Nonetheless, with the next state election at least two years away, Nyarok and company certainly have no less than 24 months to continue talking. “I think it is possible depending on our discussion. Hopefully it will come into reality before the state election. We still have plenty of time to talk because the election is still far away,” he said when met at the State-Level Secondary School Cooperatives Quality Award presentation at the Civic Centre here yesterday.

But how much have the negotiating parties covered? The answer to that may not be clear cut as yet but if SPDP-PRS meeting on the night of June 18 is any yardstick, there is indeed very little to indicate progress. On that night, it was said that the two parties “took a major step” towards their merger process when they agreed to shortlist three out of seven names proposed for their new merged entity - Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (Beras), Demokratik Rakyat Sarawak (Deras) and Bersatu Progresif Rakyat Sarawak (BPRS). The three names were announced at a press conference after a brief meeting between the merger committees of the two parties at Toh Yuen Restaurant in Hilton Kuching Hotel about 10.30pm.

SPDP secretary-general Sylvester Entrie Muran said they hoped to get feedback from the grounds on which of the three names was most suitable for their merged party. Nothing, however, has been heard of the result of that ground feedback that was supposed to be gathered. In fact, as soon as the proposed three names were bandied around, observers responded saying they were skeptical about the whole merger proposal because of the existence of “too many generals inside the (two) parties”. They even went on to say that the very process of the merger would bring about unhealthy politicking. In fact, they said, there was no urgency for any of the two parties to merge.

This was despite Nyarok’s earlier contention that after several meetings between the merger committees, “we both agreed on the merger in the best interest of our parties.”Nyarok is assisted by Entrie and SPDP senior vice-president Peter Nansian Ngusie in the SPDP merger committee while his PRS counterpart is vice-president Datuk Billy Abit Joo, who is being assisted by vice-president John Sikie Tayai and secretary-general Wilfred Nissom.

Abit is in fact a new introduction, replacing vice- president Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot, who is indisposed since falling into a coma last May 22. SPDP and PRS are both rural-based, claiming multi-racialism but insisting on being led by Dayak presidents. Both delivered 100 per cent performance for the BN in the last parliamentary election. SPDP is headed by Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom who is Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation while PRS, by Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing who is Minister of Land Development.

A Pakatan govt will fail?

KUCHING: The government that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is planning to set up - should he succeed in convincing some Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives to join him - could be doomed for failure.

Dr. James Masing

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing said yesterday: “Any government formed by a group of turncoats will never be stable.” Anwar, the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Pakatan Rakyat, had been claiming for several months that he had the numbers to take over the government in September. After the March 8 polls, the BN government has 140 members of Parliament as against Pakatan Rakyat’s 82. For Anwar to take over the government, he would need at least 30 BN MPs to cross-over. Masing said any coalition members who hopped over to the opposition side of parliament would be committing a “betrayal of trust”. He felt that if Anwar were serious about forming a government he could wait until the next general election.

“The fact is that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is the duly elected leader of the country. Give him a chance and let him do his work. Until then he should serve his term as the duly elected leader. Anwar is just 61, what is another five years. He can seek the mandate of the people during the next general election. That is the proper thing to do,” said Masing, who is the Sarawak Land Development Minister. On Wednesday night, Sarawak BN chairman Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Sarawakians felt offended when rumours surfaced of state BN members contemplating hopping to other parties for the sake of positions and other benefits.

“Sarawak people may have been poor at one time but I can tell you that we cannot be bought and we will not hop blindly when other people ask us to do so. I can assure the prime minister that the people of Sarawak will never forget what the BN leadership has done for our state,” he said at a dinner held in connection with the BN Elected Representatives’ Wives Annual Programme here, which was officiated by Abdullah. In turn, Abdullah assured that Sarawak would get more value-added development and thanked Sarawak for its continuous support for the ruling coalition.

“Tan Sri Taib said thank you to us but I must say this: You may thank us for whatever little things that we have done for you but I have to thank Sarawak for not forgetting the BN,” said Abdullah, who is the national BN chairman. Reacting to Abdullah’s comment, Masing said he was touched that the premier had acknowledged Sarawak’s support for the BN. “I hope the federal government will also reciprocate by giving us development projects that the state is in need of,” he said.

‘Headless’ MDC scouts for replacement

Vacant posts of pro-tem committee president and deputy president to be filled soon

KUCHING: The vacant posts of pro-tem committee president and deputy president of the Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) will be filled soon. According to a statement issued by MDC pro-tem information chief Joseph Tawie here yesterday, several persons had offered to serve and replace those who had abandoned the struggle and aspirations of the yet-to-be registered party.

Former pro-tem president Nicholas Bawin is now Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak deputy chief while former deputy president Dr Johnical Rayong, the Engkilili assemblyman, has expressed interest to join Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP). Joseph, when contacted for further information, refused to reveal further details of the persons expected to replace Bawin and Dr Rayong.

He nonetheless did not discount the possibility that one of the three MDC pro tem vice presidents – Henry Brauh, Chiba Abu and Francis Gider, may go up the ladder. Louis Jarau, a lawyer, is expected to retain his post as pro tem secretary general.

“The remaining members of MDC have not given up hope of getting the party registered,” he said in the telephone interview. Joseph in the statement also said the pro-tem committee of MDC is still pursuing its registration with the Home Affairs Ministry and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) despite several committee members having abandoned the MDC struggle.

“Those committee members who still believe in the objectives and struggles of MDC will continue to pursue its registration and will be approaching the authorities again soon regarding the status of their appeal and registration,” he said. He also said that the pro-tem committee had also received many queries and feedback from former members and supporters of the now-defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

“We had assured them that the committee had discussed various options to be taken pertaining to the MDC registration,” he said. MDC first submitted its application for registration on May 6, 2005 but was rejected by the ROS on July 19, 2006. In August that year, the pro-tem committee filed a formal appeal to review the decision. It has yet to get any reply. In the statement, Joseph also expressed his disappointment over the unfair treatment by the authorities against the Dayaks who wished to form their own political party.

PRS leadership crisis far from over

Sng asked to disassociate himself with ‘sacked’ officials and stop giving ‘wrong signal’

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has asked one of its members, Larry Sng, to stay clear of those whom the party has “sacked”. Sng, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, has been told to do so otherwise he would be sending a wrong signal — that the party is still divided by factions and that he is still the “president”.

PRS secretary-general Wilfred Nissom said it would not be good for Sng to be associated with those already “sacked” including Sidi Munan and Munan Laja. Nissom said what was already clear was that the Registrar of Societies (RoS) had approved Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing as the president. Masing is also Land Development Minister.

“The so-called Sng’s faction is a non-entity following RoS’ recognition (or approval) of Dato Sri Masing’s sacking of Sidi Munan and Munan Laja with several others on May 25 2006,” Nissom told The Borneo Post yesterday. “Sidi Munan, Munan Laja together with a number of others, have already been sacked from PRS and this is recognised by RoS. It is therefore not good for Larry Sng to be associated with them,” he reiterated.

Nissom said he was making this very clear because he was unhappy with a recent development in Sibu where Sng appeared to have sent the wrong signal to members when he addressed himself as a faction leader. Nissom said if Sng continued to address himself as a faction president he could spark another round of quarrel among members.

Yesterday The Borneo Post reported Sng as saying that: “As for me, my mission and vision as a faction leader is to bring all factions in the party together, forge greater unity and create greater stability. I will continue to be in PRS, to be in BN.” He was quoted when closing a Ngiling Bidai ceremony jointly organised by five PRS divisions namely Nangka, Pelawan, Bukit Assek, Bawang Assan and Katibas on Friday night in Sibu.

Among the 500 people present at the Sibu event were Sidi Munan whom the group (Sibu event) addressed as “secretary-general”, Munan Laja (organising chairman), Jimmy Donald “deputy president” and his son Leon Jimat, “Youth chief”. When contacted yesterday, Sng said PRS leaders should not misconstrue the Sibu event or even feel threatened by it. Asked whether he recognised Masing as president, Sng responded: “As far as my supporters are concerned, they still recognise me as a leader and want me to work with other PRS leaders.

“I hope the Sibu event is not misconstrued. And I don’t want the others to feel threatened by it. After all we are working in BN.” Sng said the BN should worry more if PRS supporters started joining PKR or other opposition and that was not in his, Masing’s or BN’s best interest. “What I want to say is that, there is no denying that PRS has 19 divisions which are aligned to me. At the moment, they want me to lead.

“Their members are also registered members of the party and they are also looking up to me as a leader and want me to continue leading them. I would like to see PRS united because at the end of day we (BN) are going to face a stronger opposition in the coming election. At the moment we would not want any of our supporters being marginalised or being neglected. In Sibu we reaffirm our group of supporters that we remain intact. I’ve sent a strong message to them that we are supporting the government,” he said, adding that Masing did not try hard enough to unite all party members.

Sng said: “Although RoS has issued a vague letter in support of Dr Masing, there has not been any initiative on his part to reunite the party, which in the opinion of my supporters, is like marginalising them from the BN as a whole. So this has resulted in a power vacuum which the opposition can capitalise on. This is what I am totally against.

Since April or May 2008, things seemed to be so quiet for PRS until Friday. The RoS had apparently issued four letters to PRS, including one addressed to “deputy president” Datuk Sng Chee Hua, Sng’s father, on April 1, 2008. The original letter containing the decision of the Registrar, Datuk Alias Md Kalil, not to deregister PRS was sent to the PRS “secretary” at the party’s registered headquarters at Green Heights Commercial Centre.

Three others were ‘cc’ to Sng, the “president” Dato Sri Dr James Masing and “treasurer” Clement Eddy. Only the “secretary” was not named. There were actually two pages with the Registrar’s decision on the first page, while the second page contained the people the letter was copied too. Masing then claimed that senior Sng was no more party deputy president even though the letter was addressed to him as such. He said that senior Sng’s position in the letter was just an administrative matter.

“You must remember the showcause letter was addressed to him too when he was the deputy president and so when the reply came back, it must go to who the letter was sent to. These are administrative matters, it is not political. To think that it is still the same, you must be dreaming,” he told reporters after a private meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, along with four of his supreme council members.

The April 1 letter contained Alias’ decision on a showcause letter his predecessor had sent PRS on Sept 7, 2006, following the sacking of six principal office bearers by Masing in May that year. Those sacked included junior Sng, who was then the deputy secretary general. Senior Sng and several others had complaint to the RoS and this led to the issuance of the showcause letter.

Alias decided on April 1 that he was satisfied with the reply given by Masing on Sept 15, 2007 as to why he had sacked the office bearers and, therefore, PRS would not be deregistered. The registrar had also told The Borneo Post later on that Masing was PRS president. Then Alias said Masing was still the PRS president and explained that the April 1 letter, which contained his decision not to deregister PRS, was written in response to the reply given by Masing in his capacity as PRS president on Sept 15, 2006.

“That’s how it is. Dato Sri Dr James Masing is still the president. I think my explanation in the letter is already clear enough and I do not want to add anything more,” he said when contacted in Kuala Lumpur. When the PRS crisis first erupted, the battle was between Masing and senior Sng. Eventually senior Sng stepped aside after his group held a delegates’ conference in which his son was elected as president. Masing too held his own delegates conference and subsequently, there were two presidents in PRS with separate supreme councils. Masing’s deputy president is Joseph Entulu.

PRS was born out of the demise of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak on Oct 21, 2004, following a leadership crisis. Until today Masing has not decided to expel Sng from the party, saying he wanted to check the feeling on the ground about the matter. In April, Sng said he would only recognise Masing as the president if this is indeed the decision of RoS Alias. He said he would abide by the registrar’s decision even if that meant that he was expelled from the party by Masing and his supreme council after he did not reply to a showcause letter from them earlier last year.

“If the RoS’ decision stands, then I will urge members to support Dato Sri James Masing. I hope they will also maintain their support for the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership. “If such chain of events stands, I am now partyless,” Sng said then.

Cabinet reshuffle prelude to major one

KUCHING: The state cabinet reshuffle on Thursday was yesterday confirmed to be a prelude to a major reshuffle, which will also see the inclusion of new faces. Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday said he would carry out ‘a proper reshuffle’ early next year. The minor reshuffle announced earlier was only meant to assist the state government at the political level.

“We don’t have enough people to work at the political level so I put someone who can help at that level, and provide new input. The reshuffle next year will see several new faces, but not this time around,” he told reporters after launching the Sarawak Regatta and Sarawak Regatta Trade Fair 2008 at the Kuching Waterfront. Taib said he might consider splitting certain ministries like the Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism given that tourism was a major revenue earner for the state.

On Thursday, the Chief Minister’s Department announced that Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh was to take over from Datuk Michael Manyin as Minister of Environment and Public Health, while the latter takes over Wong’s position as Minister of Urban Development and Tourism. Wong is Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) deputy secretary-general and Bawang Assan assemblyman while Manyin is PBB vice-president and Tebedu assemblyman. Wong still retains his Second Finance Minister’s post.

Simunjan assemblyman Mohd Naroden Majais who is PBB Supreme Council member has been given the post of Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource Management. Naroden retains his Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) post but his post as Assistant Minister of Land Development is now taken over by Marudi assemblyman and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) secretary-general Sylvester Entrie. Entrie now holds two portfolios as he also retains his post of Assistant Minister for Water Supply, which is now restyled to Assistant Minister for Public Utilities (Water Supply).

On July 12, Taib, who is the state Barisan Nasional chairman, told reporters that he would carry out the reshuffle after the SUPP delegates conference later this year. He reasoned that he did not want to distract the SUPP delegates in their mission to strengthen and revive their party. Meanwhile, Wong said he was looking forward to visiting all the 24 local authorities in Sarawak to familiarise himself with his new duties and responsibilities.

“My first job is to visit the 24 councils in the nearest time possible. I want to understand what the councils have done, what they are doing and what must be done,” he told reporters at the opening of Sarawak Regatta yesterday. He said during his visits, he would like to meet with the chairmen and councillors to look into areas that were influencing the people. Wong said the swap between him and Manyin was Taib’s prerogative and the new portfolio was very challenging to him. He said he would work harder.

“I will carry on with the good job left by Manyin, and two major things I want done are the introduction of independent environmental auditing and transparent system of informing the public on the councils’ collection in an itemised format,” he said. Manyin meanwhile said independent consultants had already been appointed to carry out auditing work and this would make the Environmental Impact Assessment practices in the state an independent process.

Also, with the transparent system of informing the public on the councils’ collection, people would not simply accuse the councils anymore, said Manyin, who was present with Wong during the interview. On his new job, Manyin said connectivity remained the main problem in getting more foreign tourists to visit the state.

Sng vows to continue leading PRS

SIBU: The leader of a faction in Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Larry Sng Wei Shien reiterated his commitment to lead the party with greater zest and vigor to help Barisan Nasional achieve a bigger win in the next state election. He said that PRS, as a member of the ruling BN coalition, needed to work harder and smarter for the developments of Sarawak, particularly in helping Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to meet the vision, mission and objectives of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

END OF GAWAI: Sng (third right) leads together with (from third left) Munan, Ho Mung Theng PRS Nangka chairman, Jimmy and others close the Gawai by rolling the mat. Sidi stands at second left.

“As for me, my mission and vision as a faction leader is to bring all factions in the party together, forge greater unity and create greater stability. I will continue to be in PRS, to be in BN. To me, the March 8 polls is a milestone for the opposition, but the next state election which is due in two to three years’ time will be a milestone for the BN,” Sng said at the Gawai closing (ngiling bidai) jointly organised by five PRS divisions in the central region - Nangka, Pelawan, Bukit Assek, Bawang Assan and Katibas – last Friday.

Members from six ‘outstation’ divisions - Lingga, Simanggang, Meluan, Balai Ringin, Pelagus and Ngemah, former Sri Aman MP who is also deputy president Jimmy Donald, vice-president Cr Munan Laja (organising chairman), secretary-general Sidi Munan and Youth chief Leon Jimat Donald were among the 500-odd people present. Sng said: “PRS leaders and members also need to reflect on their roles and purposes in BN, taking into consideration the results of the last general election, as well as the implication of the letter given by ROS recently. Where do we go next?” He however did not specifically mention which ROS letter he was referring to.

In his welcoming speech, Munan expressed gladness at the big attendance, saying: “This reflects the strong unity and support for Larry Sng, an Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Department, from PRS members throughout the state.” Jimmy, who also spoke, said that he would continue his political struggle and serve the people through PRS and BN even though he was no longer an MP. Sidi meanwhile reminded party members to abide by the party constitution at all times.

Reshuffle just prelude to major one

KUCHING: Will there be a major reshuffle before the year is out? Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing believes there could be one.

“There may still be a major one. I think it is normal that every now and then the CM would want to re-align his crew,” the Land Development Minister said when met at a function yesterday. Indeed Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud did say on one occasion that a major reshuffle may be made after the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Triennial Delegates’ Conference (TDC) in December. On July 12, Taib told reporters at the Kuching International Airport that he did not want the cabinet reshuffle to distract SUPP’s TDC delegates during a meeting he considered crucial for the party’s future.

“It (cabinet reshuffle) will have to wait until after the SUPP TDC. I do not want to create any issue before the TDC because I would like to see SUPP thinking of their future and how to strengthen and renew the party above all other issues,” Taib said. Therefore, watching out for a date after SUPP’s December TDC does look proper, and this is probably why Masing is confident of another reshuffle. For the PRS chief, Thursday’s reshuffle was not just minor but could be “a prelude to a major one later this year”.

MAJOR RESHUFFLE COMING? Masing speaking to reporters after the function. At left is Yap.

“I was quite surprised, I must admit it. But then it is normal that every now and then the CM needs to realign his crew so that each one of us (state cabinet members) fits into the mould. It’s not unusual,” Masing said. Asked if the switch of portfolios between Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and Datuk Michael Manyin Jawong suggested anything, Masing said something to the effect that it could be that Wong’s new post of Minister of Environment and Public Health had something to do with local government matters involving the urban Chinese.

Masing promptly added: “Each one of us is given a chance to perform certain duties and after a while the CM will see where to fit us. The longer you are in certain areas, the more experience you would acquire.” Before the reshuffle Wong who is SUPP deputy secretary-general was the Urban Development and Tourism Minister which Manyin, a PBB vice-president, now holds beginning yesterday. Thursday’s minor reshuffle also saw PBB supreme council member Mohd Naroden Majais appointed as the Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource Management while retaining his Assistant Minister of Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development portfolio.

SPDP secretary-general Sylvester Entrie Muran takes over Naroden’s previous post of Assistant Minister of Land Development while retaining his Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) portfolio. Sarawak minister and assistant minister posts are divided among the four state coalition parties according to their representation in the State Legislative Assembly. Even after Thursday’s reshuffle, there are still nine full ministers and 16 assistant ministers. Twelve of them hold either two or three portfolios each.

SUPP, the state’s oldest party, had lost two assistant ministers post after the May 2006 polls, the party’s worst election outing so far. It lost eight out of its 19 contested seats and among the casualties were the two assistant ministers and the then mayor of Kuching City South. It presently has two full ministers and four assistant ministers. It is no secret that SUPP wants the two posts back, thus would certainly welcome a major reshuffle. SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan is a deputy chief minister as well as the Modernisation of Agriculture Minister and the Industrial Development Minister. Wong is Second Finance Minister the Environment and Public Health Minister.

The assistant ministers are Datuk David Teng (Modernisation of Agriculture and Local Government), Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck (Housing), Lee Kim Shin (Infrastructure Development and Communication) and Francis Harden Hollis (Land Development). The May 2006 election left SUPP reeling. Cracks started to appear and the party had spent much of 2006 trying to put things right. The party now appears to be rejuvenating itself though there may still be some unresolved issues. The coming TDC is especially important for SUPP because delegates need to seriously consider how to move forward.

As for the other coalition parties, PBB has five full ministers and eight assistant ministers, while PRS and SPDP each has a full minister and two assistant ministers. SPDP would like to believe that it still has one vacancy to fill following the demise of Datuk Dr Judson Tagal in July 12, 2004. The former Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department died in a helicopter crash in Bario.

Single BN party not ideal in Malaysia

Masing: Current structure of many component members allow everyone an equal say

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing did not think a single Barisan Nasional (BN) party would work in a multi-racial and multi-cultural Malaysia. He said the current BN structure of many component members allowed everyone an equal say in the policy making of the country and the state. As such, he pointed out that the current BN structure was still the best because it catered for everyone.

“I don’t think we are ready for it (single BN party) due to the fact that we are very multi-racial and multi-cultural. If we have a single party, the smaller ones will be submerged and their voices will not be heard. Just because we fail in one election, it doesn’t mean BN doesn’t work. It can work and it will work,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Masing was commenting on the suggestions made by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M Kayveas for all 14 BN parties to be dissolved and a new BN party formed. Asked to comment on the ongoing talks between BN backbone party Umno and opposition party PAS, he said PRS was not against it for as long as the existence of other racial groups were not ignored.

“I am not offended by this, because to me, that (the talks) is basically among Malays who are of same culture and same religious background, so let them talk. I think the other BN component parties that are non-Malays should not be offended by it. Let them talk among themselves provided that they do not ignore the existence of other racial groups,” he added.

“If MCA were to talk to Gerakan and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) on Chinese unity, they also have the right, and let them do so but do not ignore the others. That is very important in a multi-racial society like Malaysia.” Masing earlier attended the Discussion on Poverty and Development in Sarawak held in connection with the visit by the first holder of the Royal Professor Ungku Aziz Chair, Professor Jeffrey D Sachs.

Merger for greater leverage : Mawan

PAKAN: The main intention of merging Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is to prevent them from being pitted against each other by irresponsible quarters in future. This was pointed out by SPDP president Dato Sri William Mawan when he replied to a question from the floor during a dialogue session at Rumah Abi Gayan, a 16-door Iban longhouse by Amut Tengah River in Pakan yesterday. After requesting anonymity, the questioner asked Mawan about the progress of the proposed SPDP-PRS merger which he said was widely reported in the media and had caught the attention of many longhouse people. Mawan said the committees from both parties were still engaged in negotiations. The SPDP committee was headed by deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok while PRS’ was headed by Datuk Dublin Unting. They were supposed to report to their respective party presidents.

SEEDS OF UNITY

Mawan (sixth left) plants a tree to mark his visit to Rumah Abi Gayan, Sungai Amut Tengah, Pakan as (from second left) Sylvester, Paul, Inting, Abi, Dundang and others look on

“As far as I know, there has been no concrete action yet. I hope nobody would get offended if I describe the process at this point as ‘only lightning and thunder, but no rain’,” said Mawan. On the possibility of being pitted against each other, he said if it happened it would be aimed at destabilising the BN at both state and federal levels.

“Mathematically, SPDP and PRS are politically weak although we are part of the ruling BN government,” he said. Singly, he said, the parties have a small number of MPs and assemblymen, which is “weak representation and leverage” and, therefore, puts them in a ‘risky position’ as the more dominant quarters can exploit them easily. If we merge and have a united voice, our increased strength due to greater representation and political leverage would shield us from unscrupulous elements,” he said.

Currently SPDP has four members of parliament (MPs) - Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Jacob Dunggau Sagan, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Industry Jelaing Mersat, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe. The party has eight assemblymen - Mawan himself, Assistant Minister of Cooperative Development Datuk Peter Nyarok, Assistant Minister of Public Utility (Water Supply) Sylvester Entri, Peter Nansian, Rosey Yunus, Wong Judat, Nelson Balang and Paulus Palu Gumbang.

PRS has six MPs - Deputy Minister of Water, Energy and Communications Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum; Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Joseph Entulu; Datuk Billy Abit Joo; Aaron Dagang; Masir Kujat; and William Nyallau. The party’s eight assemblymen are Land Development Minister Dato Sri Dr James Masing, Assistant Minister of Youth Datuk Dublin Unting, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Planning Larry Sng, Joseph Mauh, John Sikie, Liwan Lagang, Mong Dagang and Snowdan Lawan.

If a merged entity comes into being, it would have at least 14 MPs and 16 assemblymen, thus becoming the second biggest BN component party in Sarawak after Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headed by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. It was reported recently that Taib suggested the new entity could then merge with PBB in future for a stronger BN. Another BN partner is Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP). Among those present at the dialogue yesterday were a political secretary to the chief minister Paul Igai, Acting Pakan District Officer Inting Nyami, Special Affairs Department (Jasa) coordinator for Julau Sylvester Embuas, Penghulu Dundang Jalin, host Tuai Rumah Abi Gayan and nine other longhouse chiefs from Sungai Amut-Sungai Genega area.

Don’t fear merger, says Mawan

KUCHING: The proposed merger of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) should not alarm any party, said Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom. “Nobody need to fear about the proposed merger of SPDP and PRS as we are in for good purposes and intentions,” the SPDP president told reporters at his office at Bangunan Baitulmakmur in Petra Jaya yesterday.

Mawan : Proposal to merge SPDP and PRS should not alarm any party as it has good intentions

He said SPDP, as a multiracial party, was committed to be always loyal, friendly and a team worker as far as unity in the country and unity in the government was concerned. Mawan said the merger was a serious effort and something that was broad-based and a long-term planning to consolidate not only BN component parties in the state but also the Dayak community.

“We have given a very thorough thought into this merger as a party and that’s why we put a very solid and deep commitment into it long time ago by forming our committee which is headed by our deputy president and a lot of senior members,” he added. He said PRS were also very keen on the merger - except for their problems.

“After they got their problems solved, they revived the idea in full force and the committees met,” Mawan said. According to Mawan, it was very important for both parties to focus on areas that they have common understanding and not areas of disagreement, which could further confuse them and members of their parties.

“I think the vehicle, the venues and a few of the areas where people will unite together are very important. What we have highlighted all this while are the areas where we can work together, where members who are probably not in agreement now will be able to congregate and know one another. So I guess those are good platforms where unity can be achieved,” said Mawan.

“But we can’t presume things because if you presume things by analyzing things here and there then you will confuse and scare the people. If the majority feel that it is good and in the interest of the community and the Dayaks… and also in the interest of BN solidarity especially with the sort of political scenario we have, and that the election is coming, we need to focus on some areas where we have a lot of understanding and agreement,” said Mawan.

Mawan said the party had put a lot of trust and confidence in its committee and he would not intervene in its activities. “We have heard their presentations, progress reports during our supreme council meetings,” said Mawan. “It’s not as the party president that I jump overboard. We do have a few positions of hierarchy in which we will be guided by the findings of various committees,” he added.

Mawan: SPDP stance on merger unchanged

KUCHING: President of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom declined to comment of the proposed merger with Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) with the latest statement from PRS President Datuk Seri Dr James Masing.

“I can’t comment on the issue now otherwise the members will get confused,” Mawan told the Eastern Times here yesterday. However, he assured that SPDP’s stance on the merger remains unchanged.

Masing had said in Miri over the weekend that the proposed merger of Sarawak’s two largest Dayak political parties had met with a hostile reception from many grassroots members of both parties. Masing added that the unhappiness among the Dayaks, who comprise 1.5 million of the state’s 2.3 million population was caused by misunderstanding among grassroots members of the two parties, and the merger would not work unless the issues of discontent were resolved.

Masing : Grassroots must accept the meger for the sake of Dayak

“Grassroots members of the two parties must accept the merger or else it cannot work. It is not enough for the leaders of the two parties to agree to the merger. A merger sealed only by the top leaders cannot last. Because of this, PRS will approach the merger plan with caution. But we will not put a time table to it. We want the grounds (party divisions) to meet first (at their annual general meeting) and express their opinion on the merger. Once we have that, then it goes up,” said Masing.

The merger between PRS and SPDP had been discussed since the last state election in 2006 and the idea had recently been welcomed by the State Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud as a move to strengthen the coalition.

Masing led PRS after its registration on Oct 21, 2004, a day after a trouble-ridden Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) was deregistered. The then new party was admitted into the BN coalition on June 20 the following year. SPDP, meanwhile was registered on Nov 8, 2002.

PRS, SPDP chiefs cautious about tri-party merger

KUCHING: A marriage is not something anyone should rush into and it should be no different for political parties although the prospect of having a well-to-do spouse is very enticing. That is one way of looking at the reactions of the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) presidents yesterday to the possibility that their parties’ merger could be a step towards a greater political union.

PRS president Dato Sri Dr James Masing and SPDP president Dato Sri William Mawan were certainly supportive of the idea of joining Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) one day but there was just that slight hint of “cold feet”. “It needs a lot of thinking. Rational thinking and not emotional thinking,” said Masing, the Land Development Minister, when contacted in Kapit. But having said that, he believed that a merger with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) would be a step in the right direction given the current political climate in the country.

“The Chief Minister’s (Abdul Taib Mahmud) comments will strengthen Sarawak based parties against the onslaught of peninsula-based parties in the next state election. The political landscape has changed so we must change too to stay relevant,” he added. Taib, the state BN chairman, had on Friday spoken of the possibility that the merged PRS-SPDP entity could one day negotiate to join PBB, the state coalition’s backbone party of which he is the president. He had said there were suggestions in the past that PRS and SPDP should join PBB but he did not agree then because the parties were not growing at the same pace.

However, he said that could change if the PRS-SPDP merger was realized as the new party, which would have an understanding of the demands of a merger, would be in a better position to negotiate with PBB. If the tri-party merger is realized, it would be a major consolidation of Bumiputera based coalition parties in Sarawak. Indeed, it would be one of the largest parties in Malaysia.

Mawan, when interviewed by reporters after a function here yesterday, spoke a great deal about taking things a step at a time and obviously, the first step would be to make sure the PRS-SPDP merger happened smoothly. He said the main objective of the merger was to enhance the political stability of the state and he agreed with Taib that it was difficult to negotiate if their parties were not in order. He conceded that in their meetings, SPDP and PRS realised that they had issues to overcome first.

“So if we can merge in a very peaceful manner and we become solid, the next step will be to go a step further in achieving solidarity of the government with regards to Bumiputera politics as envisaged by the Chief Minister. But you have to polish yourself up first, you have to get yourself united and have a lot of common stand in a lot of things,” said Mawan, who is Social Development and Urbanisation Minister. He pointed out that it was Taib’s wish for the Bumiputera leaders to be united and in so doing, Mawan felt that Bumiputera leaders must be prepared to make sacrifices.

“I don’t mind stepping aside. I can’t just say let’s merge, let’s go for it and I’m not prepared and make myself a stumbling block. That’s not commitment,” he said. Asked if Taib’s comments would speed up the SPDP-PRS merger, he replied: “I’m sure it gives a lot of assurance and confidence among members of the grassroots especially. For us leaders, we know from time to time he (Taib) has been encouraging us but at the same time, he also realises there is a lot of problems that we have to solve. He reminded us about setting aside our own personal things and that we must rise above it even beyond ourselves. That is very very important for me.”

SPDP and PRS do not have a timetable for their merger. It was only Wednesday that the merger committees of both parties agreed that a merger ‘would be in their parties’ best interest.” The committees also announced that they have shortlisted three names for their new party - Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (Beras), Demokratik Rakyat Sarawak (Deras) or Bersatu Progresif Rakyat Sarawak (BPRS). But naming the new party is only a small part of the process. The biggest challenge would be the new leadership of the party and that is something the two committees are apparently not looking at yet.

Merger can alter political scene : Taib

KUCHING: Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, yesterday suggested that the political landscape in Sarawak might change if Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) merged and then joined Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) to form a larger political party. He emphasised, however, that this could happen only if the parties involved shared common political objectives and achieved a deep level of understanding. The Chief Minister made this comment in response to a question on the proposed merger between PRS and SPDP after officiating at the opening of the newly renovated EPF building here, yesterday.

“If they want to join PBB, it is up to them. But if they are ready for that after their merger then the procedure of another merger is realistic. So it is up to them if they want to join PBB later. We will welcome them if they want to be successful. If they want a stronger party then we will negotiate with them,” he said. Taib, who is also PBB President and State BN Chairman, was happy that both SPDP and PRS were serious in their efforts to merge.

Abdul Taib Mahmud (third left) being welcomed by EPF officials upon his arrival to officiate at the opening of the newly renovated EPF Building

“It is a good step. My advice initially was when you have a merger, you have to go through a process like a marriage and therefore, you ought to learn what your partners are like and try to understand them. The merger must not be rushed until there is sufficient understanding. When you have that understanding of each other, only then the question of compromise and even sacrifice is possible because you can see the future benefit to both sides,” he said. According to Taib, political merger in Sarawak was nothing new as PBB had had such experience in the past.

“We have that kind of merger in PBB. In fact, we have had two mergers before. One was between Berjasa and Parti Negara in 1966 to Parti Bumiputera, and the other between Parti Bumiputera and Dayaks' Parti Pesaka in 1972 to form the present PBB. It was done like that. A lot of adjustments had to be made and that is why PBB is very close and very cohesive. I told them at one stage that there would be a lot of feelings that we should bring to these two parties into our party. So I thought the best thing for them is to go through their own merger procedures so that when they negotiate with us, they will understand what we are trying to achieve,” he said.

On another issue, Taib, who is also Minister of Finance, hoped that the mid-term review would further boost the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). On Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee’s proposal to table a motion of no confidence on the Prime Minister, Taib said it was against the spirit of BN.

Sarawak’s Dayak parties to merge

KUCHING: Thursday, June 19th, 2008 Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) have mutually agreed to merge to consolidate the Dayaks’ political strength. The breakthrough came following several rounds of talks between top officials of the two Dayak-based Barisan Nasional component parties.

With the agreement, the two parties have shortlisted three names for the merged new party: Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (Beras), Demokratik Rakyat Sarawak (Deras) and Bersatu Progresif Rakyat Sarawak (BPRS). The merged new party, which has 16 state assemblymen and 10 MPs, will beat Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) to become the second biggest component in the state coalition. SUPP has 11 assemblymen and six MPs.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) led by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is the state Barisan backbone. SPDP's secretary-general Sylvester Entrie said his party and PRS had agreed to merge as it would be in their best interests.He said the two parties would get feedback from the grassroots on which of the three proposed names should be picked for the merged entity.

PRS & SPDP making headway

KUCHING: The long-talked about merger between Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) seems to be making headway. This followed a “positive meeting” between officials of the two Dayak-based Barisan Nasional component parties last week. Talks on a merger had been on hold after an internal leadership crisis occurred in PRS two years ago.

Factions led by Datuk Dr James Masing and Larry Sng Wei Shien were engaged in a bitter tussle to take control of the party leadership. The tussle however abated after Sng, who is Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, said last month that he recognised Dr Masing as party chief.

However, Sng’s key supporters have yet to heed his calls to accept Dr Masing as the party president. Dr Masing said PRS and SPDP were now in the “right mood' for the proposed merger following the meeting.

“There is a common understanding between us. The grassroots must first agree to merge and understand why we (both parties) need to come together,” he told reporters after launching a road safety campaign in conjunction with the Gawai Dayak festival at the waterfront area here.

Dr Masing said for the merger to be officially sealed, both parties had to get the approval at their respective general meetings. He said the merger would consolidate Dayak unity, with the native community making up over a million of Sarawak’s 2.3 million people.

PRS & SPDP to merge for Dayak unity

Dato Sri Dr James Masing, the PRS president claimed that now is the right time and mood for PRS and SPDP to merge. He however stressed that grassroots members from both parties need to understand for the need to merge and support the merger.

Once PRS and SPDP merged into a single entity, the new party will be the largest Dayak based party in Sarawak Barisan Nasional party components. It will have large voices and supporters. The new party can also lead the Dayak into a stronger unity. But first, leaders from both parties, need to sit down and formulate when to merge, how to merge and the million dollar question is who will lead the new party.

Relinquish one power is very hard to do. That will happen to James Masing and William Mawan. For the merger to be successful, either James Masing or William Mawan give way to one another (which can lead to faction and is very unlikely) or both of them step down and let another figure become the president of the new party. Only then, the new party will be stronger.

Kicks Off Campaign PKR

Malaysiakini report PKR kicks off campaign to win Sarawak

Does Sarawak need a new party, given the fact that if PKR forms the next state government, this will open the door to other Malayan parties like Umno to come in? Can the present state PKR leadership garner the support of the Dayaks, the Orang Ulu and the Malay/Melanaus, given that most of the Chinese majority seats will be contested by DAP? Is it capable of doing so?

If PKR or Pakatan Rakyat comes to power in Sarawak, this will mean that for the first time, Sarawak politics will be directly determined by Malayan-based political parties (PKR and DAP, maybe even PAS) instead of Sarawak-based political parties themselves. Is this a better alternative to the present situation where even Umno cannot come into Sarawak directly? Sarawakians have to ask themselves whether Sabahans are better off under direct Umno rule? The answer is probably ‘no’.

Sarawakians will therefore also have to ask themselves whether Sarawak will be better off under direct PKR rule or under a new Sarawak-based party which will take the place of PBB, Snap, MDC, PRS and SPDP as part of Pakatan Rakyat? I have a preference for the latter because this will mean that to a great extent Sarawak's autonomy will be better preserved than having to kowtow to the Malayans, even under Anwar Ibrahim.

At the same time, Sarawak will still have a say in the federal government through Pakatan Rakyat. Otherwise, independence is or should be the ultimate solution. Based on feedback, I will soon be coming out with an open letter to all Sarawakians to determine the direction Sarawakians should or want to take to achieve the goal of political, business, economic, administrative and land reform (amongst others) for Sarawak.

Once this is determined, then Sarawakians can discuss constructively and decide the strategies and practical policies and moves to be implemented to achieve a change of government for the betterment of all Sarawakians, irrespective of race, creed or religion.

Gramong Frustrated

NGO officials instigate landowners, leaders to pull out from Kanowit oil palm project: Gramong

KANOWIT: Some individuals who are officials of a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) are said to be involved in a conspiracy to close down Sarawak’s first commercial oil palm plantation on native customary land (NCL) here. Assistant Rural Development Minister Datuk Gramong Juna said they had met and instigated landowners, longhouse chiefs and other grassroots leaders to pull out from the Kanowit Oil Palm Project (KOPP), which started in October 1996.

“They have demonised me over the failure to pay them their expected bonus and dividends from the project. They have also told the people not to support me if I am re-nominated to defend the Machan state seat in the next state election,” he told Bernama here yesterday. Gramong, who is credited with the implementation of KOPP, said he was very disappointed with the accusations and threats.

Embrose Blikau Enturan, Gramong Juna (Man In Black) & Joseph Entulu

“I am not easily intimidated politically. I am prepared to go, but please do not close down the plantation. The NCL development concept was not my decision alone. The Dayak top leaders, intellectuals and grassroots leaders had deliberated repeatedly on it in forums, meetings and workshops. They all agreed it was good for the community,” he said. He said as far as he was concerned it was the best way to eradicate poverty within the Dayak community and to bring better infrastructure and amenities into the rural areas.

Under the NCR development concept sanctioned by the state government, the developer holds 60 per cent equity, the landowners 30 per cent and the state Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA), as the monitoring body representing the landowners, the remaining 10 per cent in such joint venture projects. After a period of 60 years, which is to allow the developer to recoup their capital and make some profit, the lands used will be returned to their respective owners.

Gramong blamed poor work ethics, negative attitude, and misunderstanding on the part of the landowners for the failure of KOPP to produce bonus and dividends as expected. “You have caused the problems yet you expect the profits. No business or management gurus in the world can tell you that you can make profit without any dedicated or committed hard work,” he said. He said he had brought up the matter with the state government and Boustead Holdings, which is developing such lands through Kuala Sidim Bhd.

He advised the landowners comprising some 1,685 families in 111 longhouses that although they had rights over their lands, they should not abuse them. It was not too late to turn the project around based on the current market price of crude palm oil provided all parties involved were prepared and sincere to come together to seek solutions to the problems, he said, adding that Kuala Sidim Bhd had spent more than RM200 million to develop the project plus another RM35 million on a mill.

Merger easy at Grassroots uncertainty at Top

KUCHING: May 17, 2008 Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing yesterday said the biggest challenge to a merger between his party and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is to convince the grassroots. Masing claimed that the merger process was “progressing smoothly”, but refused to divulge much information, except to reiterate that both party leaderships were taking the matter seriously”. Asked regarding grassroots feedback, the PRS president said: “Not yet, I’ll tell you when the time comes. I know what their position is, but I will not reveal it now”.

Dr. Masing, Tajem and Salang

Masing brushed aside a reporter’s comment that the merger “at the top” (leadership) was the hardest part, saying: “The merger at the top is the easiest at the moment. I can tell you that. “Now we have to go to the grassroots. We have to explain to them why we need to merge. Once we have their support, then only can the merger last.” He said to him the merger was akin to a marriage. “If we don’t get the grassroots support, the marriage will end up in divorce in no time should we not be careful.”

So far a committee has been set up to facilitate the merger, and according to Masing, the committee is given full authority “but up to a certain extent”. “The committee will still have to get the endorsement of both supreme councils of PRS and SPDP. But we give them all the authority to decide what they want to do, pending the endorsements.”

Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry

KUCHING: Dayak entrepreneurs with the knowledge and means to compete in a globalised environment will soon make their presence felt if the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) realises its goal of drawing more aggressive members of the community to go into big time business.

Ujang, Moggie and Linggi

Towards this end, DCCI has set up various sub-committees to be headed by vice presidents and senior members who will submit to the supreme council reports of their respective programmes by next month. DCCI president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie told a press conference here yesterday that bringing more Dayaks into business was a challenge to the chamber, and called for greater efforts done to realise the objective. He admitted that the Dayaks still had limited experience in the business field.

“DCCI being an umbrella body to encourage greater participation of the community (Dayak) in commerce and industry will always find ways to help and prepare the community to go into business,” Moggie said after a supreme council meeting, yesterday. Arranging more business courses and disseminating information pertaining to loan facilities available from the government were among steps to be undertaken by the DCCI to help its members, he added. Established in 2003, DCCI now has about 430 members, and Moggie urged more young people from the community to join them.

He added that DCCI’s main function was similar to other race-based chambers in the country, which was to help their communities to prosper in business. He said that since its set-up many Dayaks were now doing quite well in various business endeavours such as construction, and oil and gas industries. With the implementation of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), and large-scale planting of rice in the state, he called on the community to grab all opportunities available. Deputy president Dato Sri Celestine Ujang and a member of the advisory panel Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah were also present at the meeting.

Be The Largest

KUCHING: May 9, 2008 The merged Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) will become the second largest party in Sarawak going by the number of its elected representatives. SPDP president William Mawan said: “It’s going to be the second biggest entity to represent Dayak, and probably bigger than what you can mathematically perceive when it merge with Pesaka Wing of PBB.”

Mawan Anak Ikom

Apart from SPDP and PRS there are two other Barisan Nasional parties in the coalition, with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB - consist of Bumiputera Wing and Dayak's Pesaka Wing) as the backbone party, and Sarawak United Chinese People’s Party (SUPP) as the second largest party now. PRS and SPDP have eight assemblymen each, while SUPP has 11. In Parliament, PRS has six members, SPDP (4) and SUPP (6).

“We see it as a process of consolidating unity amongs the Dayak as a whole and also strengthening or reduction PBB and SUPP,” he said when met at the Dewan Undangan Negeri yesterday. Mawan and PRS president Dr James Masing yesterday unanimously agreed that the committee undertaking the merger exercise had to garner ground support to realise the (merger) plan.

Dr. Jemut Anak Masing

“We must go to the ground because merger at the top won’t last. Merger on the ground is more vital though it may take longer time to realise,” said Masing. The Minister of Land Development said no time frame had been set though leaders of the merger committee - SPDP deputy president Peter Nyarok Entrie and PRS vice-president Dublin Unting - on Wednesday said the merger would be realised by end of this year or before the next state election at the latest

“Merger is not easy. I cannot tell how soon it will be completed as it’s going to take a while to convince the grassroots to agree to the merger. It depends on the effort of Dublin Unting and Peter Nyarok on the ground to explain why they want to merge. This will definitely take some time and that is why we don’t give any timeframe,” he said. The top leadership of the two parties could talk about anything but if the ground support was not there, it would be pointless, he added. On the merged entity, Masing said: “It will play a role to consolidate rural areas and this is what we must strive to do.”

Unting and Nyaruk

Concurring with Masing, Mawan said: “We’ll leave it to the committee to work on the mechanism that unites not only people at the top but also at the ground.” He asserted that they had to let go of the old names once the merger was completed. “A new name is not a problem. Once we are one, we shall look forward to new things and begin with an open heart. It will take time and we don’t have to rush.

“When you merge the two parties, there must be far-reaching political outlook and programmes for it to have more impact on the political scenes,” he said. Mawan, also Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation, reckoned that members of the two parties must set aside vested interest and place the party above all after the merger. “The idea seems to be very good but let the committee work out the details.” He said the merger was a process of trying to put the interest of the people and government beyond the party, and this involved sacrifices and understanding.

“We are very happy that we are able to rise up and it will be explained to all our members at the grassroots. I guess after the due process is completed, we will be able to realise the merger objective, which is to consolidate the two groups that came from the same origin,” he said. He said a lot of personal re-engineering needed to be done and members must never put their own interest above the community and the BN’s interest.