黄培根：公务员违背服务宗旨 人民受气 有口难言

黄培根：公务员违背服务宗旨　人民受气 有口难言
砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周三, 2009年 06月 24日 09:23
　　（本报诗巫23日讯）砂行动党宣传秘书黄培根表示，公务员的数目与人口的比例，马来西亚是最高的国家，政府的原意是要有更多的公务员，为人民提供更好的服务，但是，公务员却违背了政府的意愿，来自民间对政府公务服务态度的投诉不胜枚举。
　　他说，去到政府部门，人民受气，但却有口难言，许多年长者怪自己没有学问，没钱没势。
　　他于今早举行的新闻发布会上说，这是错误的观念，公务员拿的是我们的钱。
　　对于许长发日前被公务员动粗对待，他说，诗巫人民感同身受，这也意味着，人民遭到公务员不公平的对待时，不能投诉，也不能愤怒，否则会被打。
　　在许长发事件上，他表示遗憾，除了行动党外，没有其他的政党替人民讲话。
　　在这事件上，黄培根表示，王是盟县长也没有作出公平的交待，殴打许长发的公务员也没有表现出歉意。
　　公务员就是代表政府，他相信，打着一个马来西亚口号的新任首相纳吉，也不要看到这样事件的发生。

人联党领袖失责,祸及后代

黄培根：寻求首相协助　应提高罗马安桥身
砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周三, 2009年 06月 24日 09:23
　　（本报诗巫23日讯）罗马安大桥将于本月衔接，影响到高过廿公尺的货轮进入诗巫拉让海港局，行动党砂州宣传秘书黄培根认为，这将影响到诗巫人民的生活，因此吁请马上停止衔接工程，并寻找解决方案，如提高桥身，以使大船能够进入诗巫。
　　他说，我们可以等6个月、12个月，而不要往后影响诗巫几千年、几万年。
　　他指出，诗巫的国阵领袖，包括黄顺舸与刘会洲，应该要立刻去会见首相纳吉，向首相解释，为何要提高桥身。

影响诗巫几千年

　　他于今早举行的新闻发布会上说，既然这是联邦的计划，应该要给首相知道，他相信，首相将会协助解决这问题。
　　黄培根表示，诗巫人民不管人联党领袖如何做，他们只要罗马安桥不会影响到他们的生活与诗巫的经济情况。
　　他同时也吁请商会及公会，对此作出表态，关注这项对诗巫经济带来深远影响的工程，并通过集体的力量，向政府施压。

为何桥身仅廿公尺

　　人联党领袖承认，廿公尺的桥身，大船将不能驶入诗巫，黄培根也感到不解，为何他们知道这问题，而没有做高桥身。
　　他指出，这是在第八大马计划下申请，并在第九大马计划下批准的工程，旨在于加强中区与外界的联系，协助中区的经济发展，如今，却适得其反，大船不能进诗巫 ，严重的影响到诗巫的经济。

错误决定付出代价

　　他表示，从6月30日起，中区的人民，子子孙孙，几千几万年都要为国阵的这项错误的决定付出惨重的代价，他问道，这是国阵帮助中区人民吗？
　　他指出，在这事件上，出现一间公司安排转载货物，这是否是早已安排，使该间公司受惠，而这间造桥承包商，是否是免费服务，抑或是垄断的生意，任由出价。
　　他也要诗巫的国阵领袖交待，这是否已有议程，即为了丹绒马尼而牺牲拉让海港局。
　　他认为，若经过转载，舶来品的价格将会提高，届时将转嫁消费者，该党预测，从外输入货品的价格将会因此而提高10%。
图:起为卢增国、黄培根及刘会文指人联党领袖失责,祸及后代。

星洲日报新闻
羅馬安橋應停建
火箭吁社團施壓
updated:2009-06-24 05:30:04 MYT
(砂拉越•詩巫）民主行動黨呼籲本地社團組織和民間團體就羅馬安大橋“大船不過，商家恐慌”事件上，透過報章公開表態他們對這項不利于民政策的看法，向當局施壓。

行動黨砂州委員會宣傳秘書黃培根今日在新聞發佈會上強調，行動黨立場是羅馬安大橋必須立即停建。在不影響拉讓江船只川行為前提下，找出合適方案來解決橋身高度問題。

同時，行動黨認為人聯領袖應該即刻飛往西馬會見首相拿督斯里納吉，向首相闡明羅馬安大橋高度問題。相信這項聯邦工程將會引起首相關注，同時首相也有權利知道事情真相。相信在他倡導的“一個馬來西亞”理念下，將設法幫助砂中區人民解決難題。

黃培根相信，民眾寧可看到羅馬安大橋延遲完工，也不願意見到這座設計上帶有缺陷的大橋建竣，導致詩巫後代子孫需要承擔永遠的痛苦。

“詩巫人民只希望大橋工程的建竣，不會對他們生活構成影響就心滿意足了。所以，社團組織和民間團體應該挺身而出，為了全民利益透過報章表態立場，向當局施壓。”

禁大船川行羅馬安橋
火箭抨人聯領袖失責
updated:2009-06-24 05:29:50 MYT
（砂拉越•詩巫）針對羅馬安大橋將於7月1日禁止高過20公尺的大船途經該處前來詩巫一事，民主行動黨強烈抨擊人聯領袖失責，並挑戰他們應該集體辭職向人民謝罪。

行動黨砂州委員會宣傳秘書黃培根說，羅馬安大橋是在峇旺阿山州選區又是聯邦工程計劃，當地的州議員拿督斯里黃順舸和詩巫區國會議員拿督劉會洲不應將“高過20公尺大船無法駛進詩巫”的問題置之不理，直到詩巫中華工商總會代表要求解決問題時，才出面交代。因此，人聯黨對於本身領袖失責的問題是毫無妥協的餘地，應該呼籲他們辭去職位。

他指出，日前行動黨透過報章將有關事件公諸於世後，讓羅馬安大橋計劃的問題逐漸浮出台面。

“雖然商會代表昨日與當局對話尋求解決方案，但行動黨仍呼籲拉讓海港局主席吳春祥必須在這事件上負責並辭掉主席職位，以表現一名人民代議士該有的責任感。”

他說，當局針對有關問題所提出的“建用平底船”解決方案，意味著當局承認羅馬安大橋一旦建竣，高過20公尺的大船將不能駛過該處前往詩巫。

貨物轉運引通膨危機

對於當局獻議詩巫商家可用丹絨瑪尼綜合海港局作為貨物轉運站，黃培根認為這不僅無法推動中區經濟，也將扼殺詩巫的經濟發展，影響詩巫對外的競爭力。

他是今日在新聞發佈會上質問黃順舸，既然強調羅馬安大橋將為中區發展帶來正面效應，為何商家日前提出調整橋身高度至33公尺，方便大船駛入的要求，卻不作正面回應？

黃培根表示，據知詩巫商家若將貨物從丹絨瑪尼綜合海港局轉運詩巫，每個貨櫃（20尺大）就要支付1千500令吉的轉運費，導致詩巫將面對通貨膨脹的危機。

Rejang Port Authority, another scandal not smaller than PKFZ

Lat week I challenged RPA's Chairman, YB Vincent Goh, to resign from the Chair of the port because of his failure to protect the interest of the Port Authority and his failure to safeguard the interests of the people in central region of Sibu.

The height of the Lebaan bridge of 20 meters is insufficient to allow oil vessels and bigger container ships to dock at RPA.That means bigger vessels will instead be docking at Tg. Manis port and our goods will be directed to Tg. Manis before we use containers to ship them to Sibu. The cost of each container is reported at RM 1000.00 and without doubt that would be paid by the end consumer( people of Sibu, upper Rejang and smaller townships around Sibu.

If Vincent God feels that he can remain quite and let the matter dies down by itself then he can not be more wrong. Under the DAP's watch,the scandal will not be go unexposed. We will do every thing we can to bring the scandals to light as a lot of the people are being kept in the dark.

A few local newspapers did not publish the news last week due to pressure from certain quarters and that shows how cowardice is the BN and its controlled media. But we are ready to use other resources if the print media is not doing its parts in exposing the issues that affect everyone of us in sibu and other townships.

Alleged assault by government servant 领水患援助金 官员动粗

图:。在黄培根(右)的协助下，许长发向媒体显露了胸口的瘀伤。

领水患援助金 官员动粗伤许长发 砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周日, 2009年 06月 14日 06:15
(本报诗巫13日讯)诗巫一名57岁的市民许长发，投诉昨天前往诗巫县公署领取水患援助金的时候，遭到官员的粗暴对待，并在警员的护送下，由县公署前往中央警署报案，之后到医院验伤。
许长发今早在行动党总部向新闻界述说了整个事发过程。
在场者包括其夫人、兄弟、妻舅及行动党的黄培根。
他说，本月13日下午，他前往县公署查询名单，并发现他也是其中一名的援助金领取人，但当局告诉他当天下午没有发出援助金，要他次日再来。
本月12日上午9 时30分，许长发再度只身来到县公署，发现到查询处排了长龙，而且他亦已经证实了自己是合格者，故而不想再花时间去排队，就直接到柜台去领取号码。
双手揪衣领猛力推
当时，其中一名官员以不耐烦的态度就直接写了一张的字条给他，要他进入领取援助金。到了领取柜台，出了一名体格高大的官员，就很粗暴的抓住他的手。在越抓越紧之下，许长发要求他放手。
虽然是放了手，但他还是不罢休，用双手揪住许长发的衣领，一直把他推出了逾5 尺的距离。这时，县公署内有数名的官员见状即刻出来将这名动粗的官员劝阻。
许长发说，现场除了约10名的官员目睹情况外，还有逾10名的公众也目睹了整个事件的过程。
院方无发验伤报告
许长发表示，对这突如其来的动粗，他一时受到惊吓，就在现场拨电报警，以策人身的安全。
警员在较后时前来县公署了解情况，并护送许长发前往诗巫中央警署落案。
这时候，闻讯而来的行动党黄培根，也赶到警察局协助许长发报案。
到了警署，许长发仍然受突发事件而惊魂未定，到场见状的黄培根向警员作出要求，陪他去喝杯茶压压惊。
在落案后，许长发依据警方的指示，前往诗巫中央医院验伤。虽然院方没有发给许长发医药报告，但有告诉他在身体上发现外伤。
胸腰瘀伤饱受惊吓
许长发在记者会上，也出示了身上的伤痕，包括胸口和左腰部份有瘀血。
许长发表示希望警方能够尽快处理此案，并公平的去处理。
他也表示，虽然昨天已经成功的领到水患援助金，但仍然就此粗暴事件，保留起诉这名官员和政府部门的法律权利。
他说，到目前为止，他还没有接到任何方面就此事的电话和消息。



官员对市民动粗 巫县公署受促交待
砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周日, 2009年 06月 14日 02:26
(本报诗巫13日讯)民主行动党，就市民许长发在县公署领取水患援助金时，受到官员动粗一事，认为该部门应该给人民一个交待。
该党砂州宣传主任黄培根说，当政府公务员可以在办公时间，在政府办公室内以暴力行为来对待任何一个大马公民，试想我们的国家，是一个怎样的国家。


他说，市民在政府部门办公室内受到暴力对待，却无法受到安全的保障，这是很危险的，也毁了政府部门的形象。
他说，更严重的是此举已直接的挑战了警方的威严。
黄培根今早在行动党总部，向新闻界发表这项谈话。
中止动粗官员职务
他说，行动党要求县公署应该即刻中止这名被指动粗官员的职务，直到警方的报告出炉为止。
他说，行动党也要求砂州务秘书本身，应该介入内部调查，到底砂州有多少这类暴力倾向的公务员。
同时，行动党认为诗巫县长王是盟，应该公布整个事件的真相。
他说，许长发经声明保留起诉这名官员和部门的法律权利，因为这已经造成了他的身体和心理上的伤害。
保留起诉法律权利
黄培根也说，他不知道当时的情况是怎样发生的，但是没有人可以动粗。假如警方不处理的话，他将会把事件带到武吉安曼警察总部去。
他说，行动党严正看待此事，绝不让此事发生。
他说，许长发将会等待警方的报告出炉之后，若是有证据，将采行法律行动。*


水患援助金欠透明 火箭频接市民投诉

砂拉越新闻 - 诗巫
周日, 2009年 06月 14日 02:25
(本报诗巫13日讯)民主行动党砂州宣传主任黄培根说，就诗巫水患援助金的处理与发放，行动党接获了许多的投诉，认为整个计划没有透明度，从第一次报名申请到领到钱，市民最少需要跑4 次。
他说，领取援助金不应该大排长龙或是在台上拍照亮相。


他说，整个过程没有一个透明度，既然这是以纳税人的钱来发给，就应该在网络上公布完整的受益者名单，让每一个人都可以上网查询，或是在各大媒体上公布，人民根本就不用去排队。
黄培根今早在行动党总部，向新闻界发表这项谈话。
发现金易遭冒领
他说，政府赔给人民的钱，应该通过政府的支票支出，而不是现金，因为在过程中将免不了会有混水摸鱼的情况产生，有遭人冒领的风险。
他说，行动党要呼吁县公署，第二期的援助金受益者名单，应该更具透明度，并通过网络和媒体公布，并以支票付出。
黄培根也表示希望拿督斯里黄顺舸介入，将事件透明化、简化及合法化。

Sibu is without High court judge?

I was told this afternoon that Sibu is currently awaiting a high Court Judge as the previous Judicial commissioner, has been transferred away. In the mean time, all cases that await High Court decision will have to wait.

We are not in the legal fraternity but we all know that a High Court without judge create unnecessary delay and problems for businesses as well as the society at large.May be the Bar Council should address this issue with the judiciary to come up with a speedy solution.

The new PM should address this issue as his department and the AG and the CJ are responsible to see that Malaysian are not been deprived of the basic in a democracy,i.e an efficient judiciary.

Album for the Gawai Dayak celebration 2009

Party hopping in Malaysia(Mandarin text)

A good article about political frogging in Mandarin which is worth reading.

在308我们目睹了执政党在一夜之间丧失半壁江山、五州政权易手的惊人事实。不到一年的时间，我们看到霹雳州政权的戏剧性变化。206和506在我国政治史上堪称最重要的分水岭。个中发生的政治事件牵连了执政党、反对党、司法、行政（公务员、警方）和立法权的斗争，但是如果把事情简单化，整个事件的起因，就是——跳槽！

历来我国西马政治人物不乏跳槽举动。举例几个比较著名的，包括行动党的何文翰跳槽至马华，官至内阁部长，曾永森马华至民政再回到马华的草裙舞，沙巴团结党议员跳巢导致该党主政的州政府垮台等，以及牵连最广的霹雳州三剑客退出民联，成为亲国阵独立人士的跳槽事件。

纵观国内政治跳槽事件，绝大多数都是从反对党跳槽至执政党，或者在执政联盟内部更换政党。记忆中，国内只有一次显著的从执政党跳槽至反对党的现象，那就是安华在1998遭马哈迪革职后，安华的亲信和巫统党员大举退出巫统加入公正党或回教党的浪潮。从西马个别或集体跳槽原因加以分析，就会发觉起因总是围绕在几个主要的因素：不受主流派系接受而成为党内政治斗争的失败者，或者是以跳槽换取更好的政治权利。而且青蛙们对政治气候预测很有一手，选择跳槽的时机，都是风起云涌的政治环境，他们往往在那个时候是奇货，可以待价而沽。这样我们得出一个小总结，跳槽无关政治理念，而是利益关乎。

历来从行动党跳槽至马华的，不乏国会议员、州议员。他们都是有了一定党龄的行动党党员，也绝对不是政治初哥。不过，他们跳槽时往往忘记了行动党和马华在理念上有本质上很大的分别。行动党一路来的政治理念，莫过于贯彻“马来西亚人的马来西亚”，和马华党章“确保马来西亚宪法内华裔之合法权益和利益”何止南辕北辙。加盟马华无异典当一向来持有的政治理念，昔日在敌对政党争锋相对，不过加盟时却可以互相拥抱一笑泯恩仇。这个现实其实提醒我们，道德常常都必须让位于利益。

环顾国内政党，我们不得不对回教党的政治教育工作刮目相看。回教党是最为鲜少发生跳槽事件的西马国会反对党，党员拥有很强的向心力。我们尝试把这个现象分为两个阶段来解释。1980年代至2004年安华事件发生前后，回教党诉诸宗教意识来贯彻党内的政治教育以凝聚党员，结果回教党呈现给群众的是保守、宗教极端的面貌。2004年回教党在全国大选大败，掀起改革风，多名专业领袖打入领导层，取代以宗教师为班底而逐渐把回教党带入另一个新面貌——以回教为基础的中间温和路线——所谓的“埃尔多安集团”。回教党在308大选过后爆发党内路线之争，党主席哈迪倾向和巫统合作，欲走回马来民粹和宗教路线，不过立刻引来大多数党员的抨击而作罢。相比其他政党纯粹为了个人利益的斗争，回教党的路线之争相对就比较有建设性。我们看当回教党一党之首在欲脱离轨道与巫统合作时立刻受到党内的讨伐，相比之下，马华在蔡细历呛声跳槽时的处理方式就显得窝囊许多。平心而论，蔡细历采取的手段无异政治勒索，除了出发点是为了自己的政治前景，还绑架其他追随他的基层，以及把儿子押上作为政治赌注。这是一种很不负责任的行为。马华并没有勇气采取果断的手段来解决，反而劳烦巫统领导层开声理清蔡细历刻有的政治立场。华裔选民听在耳里，看在眼里，马华的软弱再一次展露无遗。曾经我对彭亨州马华坚持，就算少一个州议席也不重新接纳（或何启文所谓的“解冻”）丹那拉打州議員何业嘉成为马华议员的立场感到鼓舞。这种不畏的立场，才显得马华是一个重纪律、显党纲的政治平台。不过这个印象过后就因为蔡细历的草裙舞蒙上了阴影，严重破坏了马华的形象，如果马华会长理事会或纪律委员会不采取果断的决定，让事情得出一个结论，以后定然还有更多类似恐吓跳槽的勒索事件，马华的内讧只会无日无夜的延续下去。

我们看到历史上也不乏跳槽的著名人物。但是真正跳槽的并不是他们的躯体，而是跟随他们的政治理念和思想学说。他们寻求发挥他们学说的平台。把秦国改造为战国时代超级强国的公孙鞅，出生于卫国，前期在魏国从事政治工作，但是真正重用他的是秦国君主嬴渠梁。苏秦，合纵对抗政策的提倡者，在燕国获得重用，他本身是周王国人。范惟，秦国远交近攻外交策略的发明人，曾经是魏国的低级官员。还有很多诸如张仪、乐毅、吴起、孙膑等都是带着他们的政治理念投奔他国，而不是以宰相的宝座为他们的目标。他们当中很多也不是宰相甚至政府高级官员，只是君主的客卿（类似幕僚）。

比较和今日的政治青蛙，其中有认为副议长的职位不到喉而跳槽寻求更上一层楼、有些则认为没有部长职就不足以发挥作用。他们说出以上谬论作为跳槽的凭借，证明他们忽略历史、欺骗民众。用意就是为了掩盖贪婪的欲望。

我国两线制正处在酝酿的关头，此时此刻政治立场在权位、利益前面显得多么的无力。为杜绝青蛙政治，各个政党是时候重审个别的政治理念和路线。52年过去，无论执政党或反对党都没有重新审核创党至今的宗旨和目标，它们是否仍符合现今人民的物质和精神要求？是否仍然和现有的国际时势接轨？现在是时候开启引擎来反思。正确的政治路线辅以适当的政治教育是杜绝贪婪的青蛙最有效的方法。严明的党纪、严谨的党员招收将有助减少跳槽事件的发生。政党应该重质不重量，政党从权威政治体制转换为理念路线体制已经是一个无可逆转的步伐，越早转型可以帮助政党取得制高点，更容易获得人民的信任。

让我们拒绝跳槽，拒绝青蛙！

注：作者部落格http://thooi.blogspot.com/

JPA 奖学金的问题年复一年

As the table left clearly shows, JPA has made it a specific point to award 80% of overseas scholarships to bumiputera students and the balance 20% to non-bumiputera students every years since 2000. Nothing was disclosed prior to that year.

以下的一篇新闻报告是2008年5月29日新洲日报刊登的，过了一年同样的优异生的不到奖学金的问题又重复。现在政府要把JPA奖学金交给内阁去决定，表面上是为了公平和透明，事实是我国的政府没有办法和能力去公平的对待各人民族。

政府的政策应该透明和要不分种族的培养国家人才。就好像首相说“1个马来西亚”，政府应该言而有信的推行任何利国的政策而不应用固打制来制造有损国民团结和国家繁荣的政策。

依斯邁阿當：提高透明度‧或公佈獎學金得主名單
依斯邁：考慮向學生說明失敗的原因

（布城）公共服務局總監丹斯里依斯邁阿當說，公共服務局將考慮為無法成功申請公共服務局獎學金的優異生說明失敗的原因，並交由政府決定是否公開展示成功申請者的名單，以提高透明度。
他說，公共服務局目前只是通知學生申請結果而已，但並未說明原因，但緊隨各方的質疑，公共服務局將探討其可行性。

他說，政府在今年將撥款17億令吉來資助2000名優異生到海外留學，另外撥出5億1800萬令吉給在國內就讀的優異生 。
他週三（28日）在公共服務局召開新聞發佈會，針對公共服務局（JPA）獎學金缺乏透明度和不公平的問題，作出澄清和解釋。
国内1万个奖学金
他也促請那些無法成功申請海外獎學金的優異生不要灰心，他們還可在6月份開始申請政府所提供的1萬個國內獎學金。
他說，優異生只要考獲至少9個2A（6個必修3個選擇科）就能申請由大學先修班至考取一等學位的津貼，大學的津貼一般是每月700令吉，而先修班預料可獲每月200令吉的津貼。
他說，扣除了2000名成功申請海外獎學金的優異生，共有4262名學生可申請上述額外的贊助。
他說，政府每年預料會撥出4000萬令吉來資助這項計劃，而整個計劃則須花費1億2000萬令吉。
他否認公共服務局在分配獎學金方面缺乏透明度，一般上，來自富裕家庭，或在面試時表現欠佳的學生，自己心裡有數。

不排除有優異生被遺漏
他不排除可能有一些很優越的學生被遺漏，因此，當局讓學生上訴，以便將遺漏者重新歸納。
他也說，當局也有管道或促申請者提供家庭收入的證據，避免學生刻意隱瞞真實狀況。
依斯邁也說，當局在保送學生到海外醫學方面也面對一些限制，不能把學生送到不受大馬醫藥理事會承認的國家如美國、日本等兩大國留學，而一些大學也設有海外學生固打。
他也說，儘管這次有55%的土著學生獲得獎學金，但他否認設有土著固打，因為土著學生也包括東馬的土著，而且成績也很優越。星洲日報‧2008.05.29

"Malaysia Zero-burning policy." Peter Chin on 15th August 2006

Above are some of the photos taken yesterday by us and NGO to show the effect of open-burning.

"For years, fires ignited by palm oil plantation workers in Indonesia to get rid of oil palm wastes had contributed to the spread of cross-boundary haze. Malaysia, a few years ago, banned these burnings in its plantations."
15 August 2006

Peter Chin-Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities

Sibu peoples have every right to be angry that the Natural Resources and Environment Board had issued permits for the open-burning in Sibu in defiance of the ban imposed by the federal government. The air quality must has reached a hazardous level yesterday as the photos above show.

We have had a press conference today urging the state government to immediately put a ban on any open-burning for the plantation industry. There simply isn't any "acceptable" standard when it comes to open burning, it causes health hazards as well as environmental destruction that is far beyond the extra cost of using other methods of handling the plantation waste.

Look at the open-burning in Sibu Yesterday by some plantations and we will get a feel of the truthfulness of the above statement by the government. Unless of course Peter Chin can come out to clarify that Sarawak is exempted from the above "Zero open-burning" policy and that the SUPP is in support of the open-burning policy.

David Wong

04-04-2009

Batang Ai, no surprise at all

DAP Sarawak leaders were in Batang Ai yesterday to show our support for the PKR on polling day. We went day before dawn in order to reach Batang Ai early. Sibu team reached there earlier , at around 9:40 am and we went straight to one of the polling station which was a few kilometer from Lubok Antu town. We saw long queue waiting outside the polling centre which was quite abnormal. We talked to a few voters who told us that they have voted already and when asked which party did they choose, they answer without hesitation "memang BN".

We then asked them "ada duit kah?". Some turned away while one woman told me "ngadai duit" but her companion gave her away saying "sepulu aja untuk belanja". I told them that that can not be true because money seems to flow freely in this by election but they kept their mouth shut then.

I told Law Hui Ung, the special assistance to Wong Ho Leng, that the majority would at least be 1000 and above which he agrees readily. He told me that the people gathered there were very suspicious of our group of outsiders and some of them were taking our photos as well.

Our state chairman, who lined up with the other voters jokingly told us he wanted to vote as well. But he and 2 other guys presence were immediately been noticed by some of the voters there and told them " Are you guys making a mistake? You guys are not suppose to vote here." Ho Leng then told me "David, your rocket t-shit is selling our identity away." But I knew that the BN's guys there already notice us before we enter the compound and they do know the outsiders from the locals.

Anyway, we did meet up with our Kuching comrades who were led by our state secretary in Lubok Antu town and we proceed to visit a few other polling centres around Lubok Antu town. At SMK Batang Ai, we were told that 70% of the voters had voted although it was only 12:45pm. That reinforced my believe that the BN 3M (machinery, man power and money) are running smoothly and that the margin of BN's victory would further be increased.

Something note mentioning here is that a few PKR's MPs were at Lubok Antu and joined us in our ride to the polling centres. But not many Batang Ai folks even recognise them at all and they presence were most obviously been ignored by the BN campaigners. But they were the darling of the local media though who surrounded them for their views about the by election in Batang Ai. They were quick to respond that the circumstances and political landscape here is totally different from the peninsular Malaysia.

We then went back to the sleepy town of Lubok Antu at around 1:30pm as the heat, thirst and hunger were catching up on us. There we met James Masing, the chairman of Party Rakyat Malaysia, whose gang of around 12-15 were at the same food stall which we intended to visit. James Masing seen relax and they were still there after we left which shows that they were in no hurry and must be confidence of a victory.

The outcomes of the Batang Ai election did not surprise us at all. Like i said in my last posting here, the results are expected and the people have made their decision. It is their chioce (under any undue influence?) and that was what matter in Batang Ai. The rest of Sarawakians have to come to their sense that "money does matter" and it is money that makes the BN in Sarawak.

Great Expectations by Batang Ai folks?

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens must be quite fitting a play to account for the lives of the people living in the sleepy border town of Batang Ai. Many might not have really cared for the Great Expectations as the plot is not only complicated and winding but down to earth boring. Although those well articulated in the English language might be able to find the moral themes of affection, loyalty, self-improvement and ambition.

Batang Ai the modern replica of the Great Expectation? Many would say “You must be out of your mind.” But if one is to go to Batang Ai and look at the living conditions of the folks there one would really feel that the “class” differences between the people there and those living in the modern era. 90% of the people in Batang Ai do not have the basic infrastructures such as piped water, electricity, medical facilities, fire station and sewage system just to mentioned a few. They have been deprived of the developments and they have always been the forgotten ones except during this by election. But because of their simple and innocent nature, they are yet ready to fight for what are rightfully theirs.

So, what are the expectations of the people in Batang Ai? Do they have the same expectations of the people living in KL or Kuching or Penang? The answer to the questions would tell us the results of the 407 by election, no more and no less!

Many Sarawakians (not the local folks) have a lot of expectation for the Batang Ai by election. Many who met me in Sibu would ask questions such as How id Batang Ai? Are you going there? Why are you not there?

They are sending us a very clear message that they want change and they are hanging their hopes on the voters of Batang Ai. Many would regard the 407 by election as a referendum on “Change” and hoping that the Dayak community in Batang Ai would take the lead in Sarawak. They all know that if Sarawak is to change, we can not do it without the participation of the Dayak communities.

Many cynics would say “Do you really think that the rural folks are ready for change? How many voters can resist the temptation of money politics? The natives can not be trusted as they are cheaper to buy than Belacan (shrimp paste). These are insults to the natives here as they deserve better than the BN government and we are all responsible to the state of their affairs. They need our guidance and counseling as how they may empower themselves to be the agent for change and they can make a difference for themselves.

Do we all not have our great expectations? We all have our own dream, dream for better things in lives such as self improvement and ambition to achieve success, demanding good governance and justice for all. The problem is the conflict of our short term needs with our dream. Sometimes although we are know that we must do something for our future but our present circumstances demand that we have to do certain things in conflict with our long term goals. That is the problem faced by our fellow Sarawakians in Batang Ai, they have a lot of frustration and disappointment with the BN government but they simply have to accept the fact that the BN is the keeper of the resources that they are so in need that they can’t afford to offend.

On this note, I am to condemn the BN for the state of backwardness of Batang Ai as they are fully responsible as the only state government since we are part of Malaysia. They have the thick cheeks to come to Batang Ai and tell the folks that only the BN can bring development to them when the area is as developed as the undeveloped African nation.

If you ask me “Who is going to win in Batang Ai?”, then the above should give a good indication of the outcomes of the election tomorrow. Let the Batang Ai folks prove me wrong tomorrow.

In any event, the by election and the strong opposition challenge have made the poor folks in Batang Ai the real winners as the area has not seen such development candies for the past 45 years. But democracy and the dream of good governance would take the back seat if the voters are willing to trade long term prosperity with election candies. May be Charles Dickens would will able to write another great play out of the Batang Ai if he is alive today.

David Wong
6-4-2009

Batang Ai, a 1st in many ways

DAP branches in Sibu sent a delegation of around 60 people to Batang Ai yesterday in support of the PKR for the Batang Ai (N. 29) by election. We went there in a bus and several 4WDs and left at 4.00 am sharp in order to be in time for the nomination which was set at 9:00 am.

We reached there at around 8:10am and the road leading to the nomination centre was packed with vehicles and we have to alight from the bus and marched to the nomination centre. I called up a comrade who reached there earlier and could heard the shouting of slogan in the phone and he told me that the supporters from the PKR out strength the BN. We were a group of 37 and we held our Rocket flags high walking into the stadium and the BN’s supporters and were booed by the large BN crowd. I waved back to them in contempt and our group held and waved our flags even higher and the PKR’s lead contingent welcome us with shout of approval. The tension ran high as both camps shouted at each other but the riot police and the steel barricades separated the two.

As I said, there were many 1st for today nomination; 1st, the small and sleepy town of Lubok Antu was made known to many Malaysian for the first time as RTM and many national media were there to broadcast the nomination LIVE, 2nd, 800 strong police force was dispatched to Batang Ai, which means 1 police officer for every 10 eligible voters and many observers think it is a waste of resources which could be better utilize to fight rising crimes in the state, 3rd, this is the first time the DAP sent a full force of state leaders and supporters in support of the PKR which shows the bonding of the opposition in the state, 4th, this is also the first time that the businesses in Lubok Antu are overwhelmed by bustling visitors especially from all over the country.

But I hope the most important and crucial 1st will be made on 407, that is the first time that the people of Batang Ai shall reject the BN. Sarawakian are all eyeing Batang Ai as the crucial test before the coming state election. Many Chinese are skeptical about the PKT chance as money politics and development promises are flying all over the place and they feel that the result is a forgone conclusion.

But lets there be hope that the people are seeking for change, after all after 45 years under the BN the people are still been depriving of the basic facilities such as clean pipe water and electricity and healthcare facility. Change is coming and the people of Batang Ai shall decide for themselves on 407!