Where is my birthday present?

“It’s my 44th birthday, where is my present?” Sarawak asked. Sarawak has been asking the same questioned since 16th September 1963 and no reply came from the federal government and through its cronies in the Sarawak government, the question has been depressed for the last 44 years.

As the BN government prepares to launch its 50th Merdeka, it forgot the history of the formation of the country, namely Malaysia, or else it should really celebrate our 44th birthday as a nation. History pointed out that the Malay Federation achieved its independent on the 31st of August 1957 without Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

Tunku Abdul Rahman then called for the formation of a bigger Malaya in Singapore in 1961, which eventually led to the formation of Malaysia. On the 16th September1963 Sarawak, Sabah, Singapore and the Malay Federation formed a new entity, and Malaysia was born. We did not join the Malay Federation and thus we are of equal partners on equal footing. However, it was not so as the federal treats Sarawak as the lesser brother and it has since been left far behind in term of development and opportunities. Let us take a comparison between Sarawak and the peninsular, nobody would question that we are some 20 years behind in term of development.

It is important to put history right on what was distorted by certain groups as history would put everything into the right prospective, including the Sarawak identity and what it truly deserve. Thus the question “where is my birthday present?” Some might ask, “why asking for the present?” The answer lies in the heart of most Sarawakian as we felt that we have been treated like the “adopted sons” and since we can’t demand and we can’t threaten, than at least we can beg or may be we even lost the right to beg?

Independence means more than shouting slogans or playing lips services and patriotism is more than flag waving on the street tonight or joins the parades at the Merdeka stadium. It means liberty to search for equal opportunity and happiness, freedom to speak out for our rights, daring to take the political reform necessary and equality for every Malaysian. Let all of us be the “prince” or “princess” of this land and let nobody subject to any kind of discrimination. All of us can play a part in taking this country to a greater height and let our Jalur Gemilang(national flag)fly high not only on the lamp post or poles or buildings but also in the heart of every Malaysian. Then everyone can truly shout “Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!” from the bottom the heart and our forefathers will smile down on us.

David Wong on the eve of the 50th Merdeka
30-08-2007

Rukunegara or National Principles

Many of the parents saw the Rukunegara at the back cover of our kids exercise books and yet do not "recognise" it at all. The phrases sound so hollow and empty and we thought it was there just for the sake of not leaving the back cover looks empty, well it is time to look at it from the historical prospective. Even the government of the day forgot the third principle of the Rukunagara, the supremacy of the Parliament, as it has turned the Parliament into the rubber stamp of the BN government.

We seldom see important issues being fully discussed in the Parliament, the most recent example was on the 27th August 2007 when the Speaker of the lower house turned down the motion of the opposition leader, Mr. Lim Kit Siang to debate the government's RM 4.6 billion bail-out of the Port Klang Free Zone.

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity secretary
29-08-2007

Below is from www.referenceencyclopedia.com for your reading pleasure.

The Rukunegara or sometimes Rukun Negara (Malay for "National Principles") is a philosophy and national ideology — the de facto Malaysian pledge of allegiance — was instituted by royal proclamation on Merdeka Day, 1970, in reaction to a serious race riot known as the May 13 Incident which occurred in 1969. The incident proved at that time that Malaysian racial balance and stability was fragile at best. Immediately thereafter, the Malaysian government immediate sought ways to foster unity among Malaysians. One of the methods used to encourage unity is the Rukunegara. The Rukunegara was inspired in part by the Indonesian Pancasila, and like the Pancasila, is based on five guiding principles.

The word Rukunegara can refer to the whole declaration, the words after the preamble (beginning Maka kami...) or the five principles alone.

Malay text
BAHAWASANYA NEGARA KITA MALAYSIA mendukung cita-cita hendak :

mencapai perpaduan yang lebih erat di kalangan seluruh masyarakatnya ;
memelihara satu cara hidup demokratik ;
mencipta satu masyarakat adil di mana kemakmuran Negara akan dapat dinikmati bersama secara adil dan saksama ;
menjamin satu cara liberal terhadap tradisi-tradisi kebudayaannya yang kaya dan berbagai corak ; dan
membina satu masyarakat progresif yang akan menggunakan sains dan teknologi moden.
MAKA KAMI, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip berikut :

KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN

Literal translation
WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY MALAYSIA nurtures the ambitions of:

achieving a more perfect unity amongst the whole of her society;
preserving a democratic way of life;
creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner;
guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions; and
building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.
NOW THEREFORE WE, the people of Malaysia, pledge to concentrate the whole of our energy and efforts to achieve these ambitions based on the following principles:

BELIEF IN GOD
LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
THE RULE OF LAW
COURTESY AND MORALITY

Alternative English version
Our nation, Malaysia, being dedicated :

to achieving a greater unity of all her peoples;
to maintaining a democratic way of life;
to creating a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared;
to ensuring a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions;
to building a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology;
We, her peoples, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends guided by these principles:

BELIEVE IN GOD
LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION
RULE OF LAW
GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY

Recitation
It is a norm for primary and secondary public schools in Malaysia to recite the pledge weekly during a compulsory assembly. Pledge reading follows immediately after the singing of the Malaysian national anthem, Negaraku. Of some interest, the Rukun Negara could usually be found behind the cover of every exercise book that is typically used by primary and secondary Malaysian public school students. This is primarily a move recognised to have been formulated to emulate the similar tactic introduced by the Singapore government immediately after her departure from the Malaysian Federation in 1965.

Recently on December 8, 2005, the Malaysian government has made reading of the pledge as a must at every official function. The announcement was made a few months after the government made singing of the national anthem as compulsory at every official function. (Bernama)

Be our own masters in Sarawak, fight for our land

Photo above showed DAP's land issue signature campaign in the remote district of Durin.

DAP Sarawak urge the SUPP and the state BN government to stop fooling the people again about their rights to properties ownership. The new policies announced are not only unfair, unjust and unethical but outright outrageous in every sense.

Sarawak people deserve better! We deserve to be treated as the true masters of Sarawak and truly be treated as such. We are not begging for our own rights but demand that such rights be honored by the government that was put in place by the people. As the government is by the people, it has to be of the people and for the people. Our CM and his cabinet have to understand that we are living in a democratic country and they were elected to serve the people and the state and not the other way round.

The basic rights of all Sarawakian have to start from property’s ownership as the land is our “roots”, without true ownership, how could we call ourselves the masters of Sarawak. How could we call ourselves Sarawakian if we can’t even able to defend our properties against the policies of our elected government?

We do not want any nonsense policies that treated us as fool. The voice of the people have to be heard and they are all crying out “NO” very loudly to the new land policies announced by Sarawak’s second minister of planning and resources, Datuk Sri Awang Tengah on the 26th of May 2007 in Miri.

NO! We do not want and we do not have to “buy” back our own properties after 60 years or 99 years. It is absolutely ridiculous and barbaric for the government to ask the people to buy back what they already “owned”. It is like robbing the people in broad day light.

The DAP stand is very clear and firm, that the Sarawak Land Code must give unconditional and automatic renewal to all the land leases upon their expiry. The 1958 Sarawak Land Code must be amended to protect the rights of properties ownership such as SS. 26-27(renewal and compensation) and SS. 47-48(red line).

The people of Sarawak must stand firm on this issue and must not have any disillusion that the SUPP can stand up for their rights. We must stand united and the ballot papers must be fully utilized to make our stand known. Only through political pressure would be able to see a change in the government’s policies, towards this end, the equation of check and balance is critical.

DAP Sarawak publicity Sec.,
David Wong

Properties without titles, what happened and who cares?

诗巫松柏西端（PINE SEDUAN)乌也路10里处，拥有二百户已居住7年的居民，至今仍没有获得地契。当地的居民有70％是土著，75％是公务员。他们以辛苦打拼赚得的血汗钱在该住宅区买屋，以为买了个安乐窝，怎知住了7年，却迟迟都无法取得地契。

彼等居住在一个毫无保障的屋檐下，真是欲哭无泪。根据了解土地局是因为该住宅区的沟渠设计不合规格，而拒绝发出地契。松柏西端住宅区的住户，曾在2004年及2005年向地方代议士，部长及土地测量局发表过有关情况，但却都没有得到任何的回应。

众居民在投诉无门的情况下，唯有向行动党求助。行动党在接获投诉后，先后两次前往该住宅区了解实况，并且和当地居民进行交流，寻求对策。在8月20日，住户代表在行动党砂州联委会宣传秘书黄培根及数位党领袖的陪同下前往土地测量局要求发放地契。

行动党希望土地局可以正视此事，早日发放地契，以安民心。毕竟，千错万错不是当地居民的错，而是相关单位行政上的偏差。所以不应该把所有的后果转嫁到无辜买家的身上。

图1.行动党率领居民向当局和国阵人民代议士发出和平请愿

Towards forming a new government in Sarawak

David Wong’s speech delivered on the 21/12/2006 in the west bank of Sibu at the dinner organized by the DAP’s Sg. Bidut branch. (Certain portion of the speech was not delivered as I have a bad flu that night)

We are here tonight to celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival which symbolized the beginning of winter and time of reunion. Of course when we reunite; we talk about unity and the spirit of sharing and cooperation. This truly represents the spirit of DAP, where the party’s leaders stand in unity with their grassroots and the rakyat in general. Tonight we are here in total unity not only in persons but in the spirit of comradeships and the spirit of Anak Sarawak. There is no power struggle, no back stabbing and no hidden agendas for DAP Sarawak but only the peoples’ agendas in mind.
Certain political party shouts “Sehati” without content and spirit. Its “Sehati” is meaningless not only to the rakyat but for most of its loyal followers, among them were Kapitams, Penghulus, even some MPs and Aduns. Its recent leadership struggle showed its true color and that it was sorely for its leaders’ personal interests and power struggle. The recent “show” put up by SUPP was indeed a Class 3 performance by any standard. Its ending was not only an anti-climax but truly buried the spirit of democracy. At first, the leaders of the so called reform camp came out to put fault and blame on George Chan for the lost of the Mayor ship of Bandar Kuching South and the humiliating defeat of the SUPP in May 20th state election. Then all the dirty laundry were put on public display as print media gave both camp the front page coverage although they were non-deserving. The reform camp started in the central region where Soon Koh’s power is based. Both the Sibu and Bintagor branch launched a “down with George” campaign in kuching where many of its CEC members and MPs and Aduns also attended. Altogether, more than 25% of the SUPP joined the reform camp and banners with the slogan “SUPP unsafe if George is not down” were seen everywhere. They called George to resign from the party’s top post or else face the non-confidence motion to be tabled at its 10/12/2006 EGM.

Its deputy Chairman spearheaded the attack on George Chan and he said that George stabbed him from behind that caused him the lost of his federal cabinet post in 2004. He further claimed that he was the one who let George took over the Chairmanship after Tan Sri Wong Soon Kai lost his bukit Assek seat in 1996, and this insinuated how generous he was and how ungrateful George is. This got George fuming and it was reported in the press that his lawyer filed a defamation suit against Law Hieng Ding. According to Law, his intention to bring down George Chan was for the sake of the SUPP and not because he was dropped as a federal minister. Of course, Soon Koh came out and defended his action to bring down George because it was George who betrayed the party by suing Law when he talked about party unity.

When everyone expected a power struggle on the 10/12/2006, Law brought Soon Koh and our “beloved” Robert Lau to a closed door meeting with the representatives of the George’s camp. Then it was all over and the Sibu and Bintagor branch dropped its motion unconditionally. What Happened? What transpired in the meeting? Nobody knows and not even those who shouted the slogan for Soon Koh know. They were all being played out by their own leaders. How that could happen if the leaders are responsible? One Adun was so worried that he told his friends that he regretted joining the reform camp but he was forced to join or else he might be sidelined.

But one thing for certain is that someone interfered. Was it Taib? I would not know but I do know that both George and Soon Koh are merely puppets and Taib is the true puppets’ master just like the SUPP is the puppet of the PBB in the state BN. I would suggest the reform camp to kick start a campaign to kick Taib out of the the CM office and the slogan should be “Taib not down, nobody is safe”. If they truly want SUPP to survive, they should channel all their energy to bring Taib down and not only to bring down George “the brother-in-law”.

Alas, I would never believe in the politics of the SUPP and I never have any faith in any of its leaders to stand up to what the people want them to do. They are all for themselves, the top brass of the SUPP and never for their grassroots and the rakyat. They are all rich and famous while those who supported them suffered in dismay because they might not be able to keep their homes once their land leases expire and their children might not have the luxury of receiving mother tongue education because the BN is definitely against Chinese education.

There is another untold and unpublished story in the saga; I was approached by one person who told me that the Sibu SUPP intended to form a new political party if the reform camp lost out in the power struggle. He told me that they are all ready for war but in the event that George wins, then they are ready to start a new party and came out to challenge the SUPP and the DAP in the next parliamentary election. I was asked very discreetly about the prospect of me teaming with them in that eventuality. Of course my answer was not in question at all. But this event shows us the true color of the SUPP’s leaders.

My dear comrade, our Chairman has on the 17/12/2006 delivered his policy speech that DAP Sarawak intends to cooperate with the right political entities to from the government in 2020. That is a dream that our chairman has and it is a dream for the DAP as well not only to be contented with the present scenario. It is s dream I and many of our state leaders also share. It is like what Mr. Martin King of the US African congress has said earlier “I have a dream”.

Is it possible? Yes, everything is possible with the right mindset and as the saying goes “if you believe you can, then you can”. I would like to call on all our comrades to go for the common goal and to make it a reality. For a start, we must have the following essential ingredients:
1) Self-believe – we must believe in ourselves and our goal and only then we have the confidence to face the world. Only the self-believer is the end winner.
2) Self respect or self-love- we must love and respect our selves and stand guard against any personal behaviors that might tarnish our reputation and the party’s image. Bear in mind that the people look up to us and their respect can only be won and not bought. This is the single most important criteria for any party leader.
3) Self-improvement- we have to keep on improving ourselves and the quality of service we provide. The people expectation is our basic scale and our leaders must live up to the expectation and learning is the key to self-improvement.

Regards,
David Wong
DAP Sarawak Publicity Sec.,
21/12/2006

Suaram calls for an explanation from the government

Dr Kua Kia Soong, a director of SUARAM was denied entry into Sarawak at 9pm, 23 August 2007. Kua, who is also principal of the community-funded New Era College, was on his way to officiate the graduation ceremony of teachers who have attained the New Era College Diploma in Education at Kuching and Sibu.

After screening Kua's MyKad, the immigration officer at Kuching airport informed him that he had been refused entry into Sarawak because he is on the "blacklist for involvement in anti-logging activities". From the computer reading of Kua's MyKad, the officer also knew that Kua is a former member of parliament.

Dr Kua has been an active campaigner against the Bakun Dam project and was a member of the fact finding mission to enquire into the conditions faced by indigenous peoples displaced from the Bakun area to Sungai Asap resettlement camp in 1998

Below is our reply to Mr. 郑文辉(MoonHui), Coordinator, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

Our Mr. Fong Pau Teck forwarded your message about Sarawak government refusal to grant Suaram's Dircetor, Dr. Kua entry into our state.

We feel that the state government has abused its power to refuse entry to a law-abiding citizen land well-known personality like Dr. Kua. Although it was stated in the 21 points agreement when Sarawak joined the Federation to form Malaysia that we have the special right in the matter of immigrations, but that was to safeguard the people interests in Sarawak and not that of the state government. We also believe in the freedom of movemnet of peace loving and law abiding citizen and Sarawak surely welcome Malaysian form the penisular to travel here not only for the tourism industry but also in promote mutual understanding and national integration as well. Please be informed that we have several leaders who have been subjected to Dr. Kua's similiar treatment, noteably among them is of course our Opposition leader in the Parliament, Mr. Lim Kit Siang.

However, i wonder how Dr. Kua could enter the state earlier with the old IC card as previously passport was required instead of the the identity card. Furthermore, the JPN never admitted that other infomation was stored in Mykad apart from the identities and maybe the religious of the Mykad holder.

If your goodself could produce us the proof that the state and federal government have stored other informations apart from the identities, we would be much oblige to highlight this matter as it is surely against our basic human rights, such as our right for privacy. We are even more concerned that the government has used Mykad to identitfy certain group of Malaysian because of the their anti-government stand or because thi

We are happy that you sent us this email and we hope that we would be able to work together to make the government accountable for its actions.

Happy 50th Merdeka.


Regards,
David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.
24-08-2007

Freedom of the press is the key to our democracy

民主行动党砂州宣传秘书黄培根说，在新闻自由与民主前提下，该党甚关注诗巫警方与传媒之间的紧张关系。 他说，在警方也许会采用官方机密法令对付采取警方新闻的记者事件曝光之后，经引起了公众人士极大的反弹，假如警方真的严正利用官方机密法令对付记者，这将是新闻自由的终结，也是马来西亚民主的结束。

他说，传媒是社会的支柱，正如汤玛杰菲逊的名言：“我们的自由（权）依据在新闻自由上”以及瓦尔特（Walter Cronkite）的“新闻自由不仅对民主是重要的，它就是民主”。 他说，1972官方机密法令（OSA）是马来西亚的一条禁止被列入官方机密资讯的揭露，它是源自于英国的官方机密法令。 他说，官方机密法令广受抨击，认为减低了政府的透明度，将新闻变成了另一种的政府宪报，而它的执行标准亦受到置疑。

我国新闻不自由 “我们发现到许多的资讯与文件受到官方机密法令的保护，而无法让公众人士获知，在2006年，我国的新闻自由在世界194个国家的排名中名列141，落在香港（65），印度（81），菲律宾（89）及泰国（107）之后，官方机密法令经使我国的地位被列其中一个不自由的国家。” 有关法令的部分内容是：被鉴别为高度机密、绝对机密的文件与资讯可经过联邦部长或州务大臣或首席部长或授权的官员列入机密。同时有关文件必须是关于国家安全、国防与国际关系。

“如果我们进一步了解这条法令，我们会发现官方机密法令不能够用作来抵制新闻，除非有关文件或资讯在法令之下被鉴别为机密。” “难道传媒采访诗巫的犯罪新闻，危害到国家安全与外国关系？如果我们回头看传媒与警方之间的冷淡关系，我们看到没有任何新闻违反法律。当然，我们了解黑帮问题在国会中被揭露出来之后，警方所面对的巨大压力，但是警方是否也指责那些翔实报导的传媒呢？”

传媒是警民桥梁 总警长丹斯里哈出慕沙多次强调，公众与警方合作是打击罪犯的要素，而寻求公众的合作，行动党相信，传媒在彼此间的合作上扮演重要的角色。 他说，我们无法想像，有朝一日，当传媒杯葛警方新闻，而运用他们本身的方式获取新闻，会使社会变成一种怎样的现象，就因为警方仇视新闻界。

他说，行动党相信诗巫的传媒具有高度的专业精神来获取新闻与资讯。 他表示，警方与传媒之间的良好关系需要在公众利益之下继续的维持，行动党希望警方在未来不要在未经授权的情况之下，对传媒发出警告，而须将传媒当作是警方的朋友看待。

Below is the original post in English:-

DAP is very concerned with the tense relationship between the Police of Sibu and the media. The front page coverage of the whole episode had received much criticism and concern from the general public especially when the police issued the warning that the OSA might be used against the press. If indeed the police are serious in using the OSA against the press for reporting the news, then that would be the end of press freedom and indeed the end of democracy in Malaysia.

The press is the pillar of a society, as the following famous quotes show;
“Our liberty depends on freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost.”
-Thomas Jefferson
“Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.”
-Walter Cronkite

The Official Secrets Act 1972 is a statute in Malaysia prohibiting the disseminating of information classified as official secrets. The legislation is based on the Official Secrets Act of the United Kingdom.

The OSA has been criticized as reducing government transparency and made the press into another Government Gazette and its implementation has been questioned for the classification standard. We have seen many information and documents been withheld from the general public through the use of the OSA. The Global Press Rankings 2006 ranked Malaysia at 141 out of the total of 194, behind Hong Kong (65), India (81), Philippines (89) and Thailand (107). The OSA surely contributes much towards our nation’s status as one of “not free” nations.


The act defines an "official secret" as:
“ ...any document specified in the Schedule and any information and material relating thereto and includes any other official document, information and material as may be classified as 'Top Secret', 'Secret', 'Confidential' or 'Restricted', as the case may be, by a Minister, the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister of a State or such public officer [as may be authorised to classify such documents by a Minister, Menteri Besar or Chief Minister]. ”
The Schedule to the Act covers "Cabinet documents, records of decisions and deliberations including those of Cabinet committees", as well as similar documents for state executive councils. It also includes "documents concerning national security, defence and international relations".
If we take a closer look at the act, we can see that the OSA cannot be used against the press until such time that a certain document or information has been “classified” as ‘Secret” as defined in the act.
Is press coverage of the crimes’ news in Sibu a threat to the national security and foreign relations? If we look at the standoff between the police and the press in Sibu, we would be able to see there was nothing to the nature. Of course we understand that the police has been under tremendous pressure earlier when the triads issues were brought up in the parliament and received front page coverage in the national dailies. But should the police point their fingers at the press for truthful reporting?
The IGP Tan Sri Hassan Musa has stressed many times that the cooperation of the general public with the police is the key to crime fighting and has praised the general public for their support and we believe that the press plays the key to this cooperation. We can’t imagine the day when the press boycotts the news of the police or goes their own ways in informations gathering or news reporting because of the police’s perception of the press as their enermy.
DAP trusts that the press in Sibu has been very professional in gathering information and news reporting. The press has on numerous time assisted the police in disseminating information to the general public that were found helpful to the general public as well as the police. The good relationship between the police and the press should continue for the interest of the general public and we hope that the police should not issue unwarranted warning to the press in the future and should treat the press as the “friend of the police.”
Let it be known to all quarters that the people will be the judges and no act or government policies can overshadow the principle that “the press is democracy.”

DAP Sarawak publicity sec.
David Wong
24-06-2007

David Wong's blog: negarakuku

David Wong's blog: negarakuku

negarakuku

The song that touches the nerve of the Malaysian politicians and rakyat has unfortunately become the central issue of the country as we prepare to celebrate our 50 years of Merdeka. It is most unwarranted that the government forgot the nation building’s Social Contract (社会契约), which should be all forgiving and understanding as it was built on equality, justice and fairness for all. Our forefathers had intended that the Social Contract be the instrument that preaches mutual respect and forgivingness for our multiracial and multicultural society in our nation building. As we enter our 50th Merdeka, we should use our patriotism to lead this country into the next 50 years. It is timely that the leaders of the country from all political spectrum to promote racial harmony and nation building instead of scarifying and prosecuting this poor youth for their own political mileage. Wee is just a scapegoat for the politicians in their need to hunt for cheap publicity as the general election looms near. The government on the other hand is seen by many to blow this issue out of proportion to divert the attention of the nation from the social injustices, crimes, corruptions and mismanagement of the country’s economy. Its controlled print and electronic medias are going all out as if Wee is the No. 1 enemy of the state and as if his song would topple the nation which we have built for 50 years. If we take a closer look at the song, which titled “Negarakuku” or “我爱我的国家” in mandarin, it is not meant to insult the national anthem or propagandize any racial overtones. Furthermore, the poor youth has apologized (arranged by the ruling BN’s Chinese based MCA) to the whole nation for his unintended and misappropriated action although many believe that most if not all in his lyrics do reflect the truth and echo the sentiments of many, especially the youth, in this country. As we enter our 50th Merdeka, I think the nation and its peoples have achieved the maturity and wisdom to differentiate the truth from the mischievous. We should be able to “forgive and forget” (包容 和谅解) as what is been preached in our “social contract”. Political leaders in Malaysia, especially the ruling UMNO is seeing and trying to draw “red” in this issue and will not let go of it and they are trying to outmatch “Negarakuku” in their search for self political mileage. It is most unwarranted while the government tries to prosecute the poor youth after the PM and his cabinet members have accepted his apology; many of its leaders have shown even worse by raising sensitive racial issues such as the May 13 incident, drawing the “Keris” out in their party’s general assembly, or youth leader threatened to burn down the Selangor Chinese Hall (雪华堂) and member of Parliament challenging those disgruntling Malaysian Chinese to “go back to China.” These leaders’ statements and actions are 100 times more potent than Wee’s to our national integration and racial harmonious relation but they are not been warned or reprimanded by the UMNO and the government. The government should not channel all its energy and use all its machineries, such as the print and electronic medias, against Wee and his song. It should instead focus on many pressing issues such as 1) corruptions of its top officials, 2) mismanagement of the economy, 3) brain-drain and racial tension caused by unfair and unjust educational policies, 4) crimes and security of the peoples, 5) unfair distributions of government projects and funding and 6) rubber stamping of the Parliament. Who is Wee as compared to all these issues? On behalf of DAP Sarawak, I urge the government and all the politicians to rest Wee’s case and show our forgivingness. On the eve of this 50th Merdeka, let us concentrate our effort to build a nation that our forefathers and our children would be proud of, a nation builds on equality, fairness and justice for all. Without these ingredients, this multiracial and multicultural society will be stagnated in our search for prosperity and advancement and the government has the duty and responsibility to lead by example.

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity secretary
19-08-2007