Sunday, August 3, 2008

‘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.

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