Ground Assessment & Visit to Serian DAP District

I and a few comrades from Kuching before Christmas went to Serian to make ground assessment of public support for the Party. The people were poor and needed much help. It was a bleak Christmas for them.

It was also our finding that the people in Serian District were not happy with the BN incumbents in the District. Few months ago I received complaints from villagers in the district that they were not given agricultural subsidies because of their support for the DAP, which, led to my intervention. I was told that a state minister was not happy with them in supporting the DAP. The relevant authorities responded immediately and subsidies were then given to them after some protests made.

Despite having ruled the country since independence, the Alliance (now BN) government has failed to uplift the standard of living of the rural people. The poor had remained poor and in each election, the BN government will just come with subsidies to please the rural people to retain their allegiance to the government The people were at the mercy of the government and if the people remains poor, the BN government will forever able to rule this country.

The support for the DAP was overwhelming and the people asked for change. Sdr. Tay Wee Wee has done a good job in the district and he has good influence among the natives in the district. With just a few phone calls, people came to swarm at us and were pleased at our presence.

Public Reaction of my Exclusion from the Sarawak DAP State Committee

I seldom failed to visit my Batu Lintang constituency during weekends since elected in 2006. Last Saturday and Sunday, when I was visiting my Batu Lintang constituency inspecting the roads and drains in the Sg. Maong and Poh Kwang Park areas, I was swarmed by people there who showed their concern about my exclusion from the Sarawak DAP State Committee. Without first listening to me, many when they shook hands with me cursed the Party and some party leaders. I felt sad at their outburst without knowing what actually went on in the Party. One group was very aggressive and call names, cursing people in the Party. I am thankful to their reaction and support for me, but, of course, nothing could I tell them and I just had to calm them down. I had to sit down with them in the coffeeshop for about a hour listening to them and trying to cool them down. I told them that Party members and leaders do at times, including myself made mistakes in the past, but, we have to correct our mistakes and leave all bad things behind and move forward to face challenges ahead.

People must understand that in Kuching, the Party will be nothing without the Chong Siew Chiang, Chong Chieng Jen and Violet Yong and due to my commitments I was in the past just playing a supporting role. In Sibu and northern region, the Party badly needs Wong Ho Leng and company to expand the DAP territories. I was also nothing in the Party without them supporting me all these eleven years in the Party and I appreciate that. The Party’s survival depended on them very much and my exclusion is not at all important because the Party must come first, not leaders in the Party.

I had to tell them to give full support to the Party and Party leaders and should not go out to derail them. I told them, if there are people who wanted to derail me or any party leaders, forgive them. After all, they know not what they are doing. The most important thing is to see that the Party could be part of the next government.

REVIEW ALL LAWS ON DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL

REVIEW ALL LAWS ON DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL

The BN government should heed to the voices of the people and table in Parliament to review all laws where detention is allowed without trial in Malaysia. These laws could easily be abused by the officers on ground. The officers who initiated cases against citizens can easily call or threaten others to give 4-6 statements to give basis to get the Home Minister to issue certificates to send a person to detention in places like Spg. Renggam and Kemunting Detention Camp. IF you don't give statement to the tune of the officer, the officer can threaten to arrest you and send you to Spg. Renggam and Kemunting. To the detainee, the officer simply said that it was within the officer’s power to recommend for the issue for such an Order and also recommend the place and period of detention. He would not say that only the Home Minister has overall power over the matter. Those who have no counsels or could not understand the law were normally made victims. They were just ordered to sign documents presented to them. Most often that not, these documents were never been read and explained to the detainee, but, when affidavits filed for habeas corpus proceedings, the officer would say that everything had been done in accordance with the law.

Sources of information were normally not known and information for detention to the Minister was normally very vague. The Home Minister is under a duty to issue the Detention Order based on the information before him. He needs not call for evidence and the Courts also have no power to call the authorities to produce evidence to determine the truth or the correctness of the information.

This morning my client's case failed. The court said since the Minister has already issued the Detention Order, the Court could no more see into the illegality of the detention prior to the issue of the Detention Order because the issue of the Detention Order has rendered the matter academic. So my client's habeas corpus application in High Court Kuching, failed. Miserable law! You could not see what had happened behind the curtain. You can be sent to detention centres only based on vague or false information as in way could these information be verified.

I had fought many habeas corpus cases in Courts and this one this morning was a case of clear abuse of authority. My client was prosecuted for a dangerous drugs offence, but, evidence seems lacking. The prosecuting officer told the lower court that an application has been made to the Minister to send my client for detention for a period of two years and since an application has been made, the prosecuting officer was instructed to apply for a stay of proceedings, in which I objected. The court was told that if the Detention Order would not be forthcoming or that the Minister objects to the issue of the Order, only then the prosecution would seek to continue with the prosecution against my client. The authorities had wanted two bites at the cherry! Upon arguments by me the court allowed the charge on the dangerous drugs offence to be discharged.

Pending the issue of Detention Order, my client was detained in the police lockup for 60 days as allowed by the law. Then, an application to the High Court was made for the issue of a Writ of Habeas Corpus. The authorities only produced the Minister’s Detention Order at about 23hours on the 60th day of detention. My client being Chinese educated was just asked to sign all documents presented to him. When the matter was for hearing of the Application for the issue of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, the Court has no choice, but, to rule that the application for the issue of the Writ of Habeas Corpus based on grounds prior to the Detention Order has rendered the application to become academic. This caused my client’s application failed.

Should I leave the People of Batu Lintang?

I was elected by the people of Batu Lintang and I had served them wholeheartedly. After the seat fell to DAP, Batu Lintang saw many roads had been resealed or upgraded. Street lighting and drainage system had been improved and we could also observe that the grass along the roads were well trimmed. In all, everything in Batu Lintang has improved. DAP has already stamped a good name in Batu Lintang and with my good work in Batu Lintang and also in the Dewan Undangan Negeri, I had expected comrades would return me to the DAP State Committee. To my surprise, I could not even get in the final 15! Why was I being dumped by the comrades? What went wrong?

Later on, I was told words spread around that I wanted the Chairman post from Wong Ho Leng. I never harboured that intention. Who am I to replace Wong Ho Leng. To my opinion, persons who are capable to replace Wong Ho Leng are Sdr. Chong Siew Chiang and his son, Sdr. Chong Chieng Jen. Therefore, to say that I wanted the Chairman post was a very vicious whispering campaign against me. I was unaware of the matter. It was very sad and by the time I knew it, it was too late for me to do anything. Even if I could know about this venom early, I could not also do anything because I do no belong to any team and neither, I wish to be in any team. I prefer to be a loner. To have teams in a Party creates infighting and factional politics could not then be avoided.

To my surprise, the votes of our Chairman, Wong Ho Leng was not better from what his secretary got. My Batu Lintang Chairperson, Sdri. Winnie Kuan, did extremely well to get the highest votes, beating all YBs including Sdr. Chiew Chiu Sing, who normally was top in almost every DAP state elections. Chong Chieng Jen, being an MP and also an ADUN was expected to do well, but, he could not find himself among the top ten. Instead, many little known comrades got good votes. Why? DAP Sarawak should conduct a post-mortem why heavy weights in the Party could not do well in the election. Myself was dumped and was let drown!

After the convention was over, I received many phone calls from the delegates who expressed their shock for my exclusion in the state committee. Many of them disclosed that they were not happy with what was going on in the Party. They said there were many protest votes because of how things were run in the party. Many said they did not back the heavy weights. They also said that there is also no reason why I should not been co-opted into the state committee.

Whatever set back I have in the Party, one thing is clear, I shall still serve the people of Batu Lintang to the best I can like the past. I pray that the people of Batu Lintang will give me strength to move on. Without the people of Batu Lintang, I could not have won Batu Lintang and I shall see that the interest of the people of Batu Lintang be protected at all times. The people of Batu Lintang is above the Party! DAP is nothing without the people! I did not take a break and I had been back to my Batu Lintang constituency to carry on with my work as usual.


To serve the people, my strength in the Party is not important. I believe my political strength lies with the people of Batu Lintang.

DAP - Let us focus on Teamwork

I was told our State DAP Chairman, Sdr. Wong Ho Leng, has in the press said that he would not mind if Sdr. Chong Chieng Jen can be the Chairman. It seems that the Chairman has loose steam, which, he should not. To me, whoever is the Chairman, Secretary and so forth, makes no difference.

When I was still playing football, I was a player, captain and coach and even though I held three tasks at the same time in the field, I could not play the game if not for team work. Maradona could not play the game alone! Likewise in politics, the Chairman and Secretary could nto led the party alone, unless, supported by the grassroots. Therefore, a party or an organization is like a football team, and every player has to play their part to make things work. At times, the more experienced player may just lapse and this is where we may need another player to tell him. In a football game, we could not afford to lapse, else our opponent will score a goal against us. We need to stay focused on the game.

In politics, which is like a football game, we have to be very focused against our opponents and we could not afford to lapse and everyone has to play their part to their level best. Of course, not everybody is perfect and for better performance, practice is needed and we also need a good coach, but, a good coach could not work, unless the players give their fullest co-operation for strategies to work. This happened to me as coach many times, because players especially when playing against weaker teams, may try their own strategies to just want to play a flowery game against the opponents instead of concentrating on the game to win. It may be entertaining to the spectators but, in the end it is the results that count.

In whatever situation, DAP is still a team to watch in the coming election and I hope I may be able to play my part well.

Sulaiman Resigned, Opposition Still Sliping?

I have forewarned some Opposition leaders not to slip anymore as there are signs that the state election is coming very soon. Will the nation watch a “Tsunami” coming to this direction and sweep the state Barisan Nasional government away? This is what people in coffee shops are talking about. Opposition can only do this if all are prepared and if all could work together and start working now. The signs that state election is near is very imminent and it could be as early as during 1st term school holiday next year 2010. The Election Commission has met the chief minister recently and this has enhanced the suspicion of an early election. It was unprecedented for the Election Commission to have met the chief minister and unless it was something to do with elections there was no good reason for the Election Commission to have an audience with the chief minister.

The battle will be in the dayak areas and the dayaks are growing impatient each day. Educated dayaks are more daring these days to stand up and fight for their people and this may spell danger to the chief minister Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud. So the chief minister has to no choice, but, to please the dayaks. The things to tame the dayaks are simple and BN knows how to do this. The trick is to give a few influential dayak leaders some benefits and then splash some money in their areas. This will keep the dayaks and their leaders happy and with that their opposition against Taib will again just fizzle out.

In this strategic planning to retain power in the state, the Barisan Nasional government was forced to appoint Datuk Idris Jala, an orang ulu of Kelabit tribe, in August 2009 as Minister to the Federal Cabinet. Why appoint Idris Jala when there are many to choose from? This was nothing more than to please the Orang Ulu people. Among the orang ulu, Idris Jala is the only one so far been appointed to hold such a high office. The appointment of Idris Jala will see the Orang Ulu stay behind the Barisan Nasional government.

Then came the approval in September 2009 by the federal government RM50 million for the construction of the first phase road fom Lawas to Ba’Kelalan.

This was followed by the announcement by Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan on 22 November, 2009 at Buduk of a proposed road at RM1 billion from Lawas to Bario in the North Sarawak.

With the recent cabinet reshuffle which led to the appointment of 4 dayaks to the state cabinet is no doubt a strategy by the chief minister, Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud to stay in power with the help of the dayaks.

Taib may retire soon and may wish to see his son, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib take over as chief minister. Sulaiman has tendered his resignation to the Prime Minister and this will give him enough time to build his grass root support before entering the fray and take over from his father as chief minister of Sarawak.

Opposition Applied Wrong Strategy
In strategic planning, the Opposition has made a grave mistake of competing with each other for publicity in their discussions for seat allocations. Are the leaders all too eager to topple Taib or were competing with each other to become chief minister? Why wants so much publicity? Leave the issue who leads the state, fight the war first! Win first, talk that later! A strategy once wrongly executed will be disastrous. This has alerted the BN. BN took the cue from the publicity and before an Opposition pact could be formed, BN has to reorganize their machineries and strike first. BN has also now started the smear campaign against the Opposition camp in the blogs and SUPP has already set a team to compile information and facts about weaknesses of the DAP in the hope that these will be turned into weapons against the Opposition. Dr. George Chan has already fired his first shot in the Dewan recently.

Now, the Opposition has to work fast. The dayaks have to wake up and form a movement like Hindraf and go to Parliament to demand for their rights or the King to seek protection of their rights and to do this they must seek the cooperation of our neighbours, Sabah.

All Opposition leaders with dayak traditional clothes and war head gear have to show some solidarity and march to Parliament and to the Palace to hand a Memorandum to Parliament and the King. Alternatively, the dayaks should march with full force to demand their rights from Taib Mahumud. International media must be called to give as wide coverage as possible. Only by doing this a wave for the Tsunami can be created to sweep the state Barisan Nasional out of power.

What’s brewing up in Sarawak DAP?

A blog said I am a loner and is fighting my toughest battle to survive. What ever it is, I believe in what I am doing and do the right thing. To me, in the DAP there is no Team A or Team B. Every comrades at whatever level they are, they are the same to me. As long as they do the right thing for the Party, they should be supported. Likewise, I believe that as long as I do the right thing, I believe comrades will support me, but, if I do the wrong thing, they have every right to condemn me. That is my principle and I struggled on the strength of this belief. It was a belief that I had been preaching all these while. The rule of marginalistion and the fear of my own shadow were never always on my mind. Every "big" and "small" people in the Party have a role to play and I am not scared of people following my shadow or people overtaking me in popularity or wanting me replaced. In a war against enemies, we even need "prostitutes" to get our enemies.

I only talked about politics and party matters with few people, but, I listen to as many people as possible before I make a comment.

Maybe this was the reason I was seen as a loner, but, that was the view of the blogger.

To me, politics is just a social work and I had spent much time in it and I know at anytime, I could be replaced and if replaced, I shall have no sore, although, when one day I retire, I may reflect back the many good and stupid things I did in life and in politics. Every person has his own strength and his own weakness and I am no exception. I had been in DAP for quite sometime and had followed the Party since school days, but, I regret that I still could not play a very major role in the Party as expected by many. Given my vast experience in leadership and in the civil service, I was supposed to play a major role in DAP, but, time and money was not with me. Those who have the time and money should fill in the vacuum. It is like football, when a player is weak in a certain position, some one has to work harder and cover him in the team.

So, I just chip in whatever I could and get the Party going. At least, my strategies for DAP Kuching worked in the last three elections. Had we decided not to contest Stampin Parliamentary recently because of the St. Martin issue and that I could not create any impact, DAP Sarawak, could spell danger to retain its bases. (Note: St. Martin issues includes land, the spread of christianity and tresspass to property of a helpless landowner)

I had done my part for the Party and let it be that way and I am not seeking to be remembered by the Party, but, I pray my family will remember me. Yes, I always did things, “MY Way” and I am not distracted by what people say about the coming State Convention in Sibu. Come what may this 13th December 2009 DAP Sarawak still have to survive against the Barisan Nasional. I can be out, but, I don’t’ care. The Party shall not be out!

2nd Police Report Against BN YBs Under Sedition Act 1948

Publications in local newspapers including The Borneo Post on Thursday November 19, 2009 had indicated that YB Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (BN – Asajaya) together with YBs from the Barisan Nasional, among others, YB Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi, (BN-Panatai Damai), YB Snowdon Lawan (BN-Balai Ringin), YB Andy Chia Chu Fatt (BN-Pujut), Dr. Jerip Susil (BN-Bengoh) and YB Vincent Goh Chung Siong (BN-Pelawan) had jointly made a complaint against me for uttering words which they deemed seditious inside the Legislative Assembly. They later on (note sure whether Dr. Jerip Susil BN-Bengoh was present during the press conference) jointly called a press conference and had caused to publish and or had published by making known to public or to announce publicly through the press words which were allegedly spoken by me and of which they alleged were seditious. The publications in the local press had also indicated YB Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and these YBs to have read for publication from the Hansard three paragraphs which they claimed were seditious.

If they claimed what were seditious then, they could not publish it and to do so they themselves were committing another offence against the Sedition Act 1948. I have no choice, but, to lodge the police report. Their offices and homes could also by searched by the police under the Act. They could not claim any immunity under the law to have done so.

I am thankful to PAS, SNAP and KeAdilan members who were present with me at the Central Police Station Kuching, when I lodged the police report. They came because they were concerned about my safety after they came to know the mentioining of ISA in the press which may affect my liberty. I hope good sense prevail and it is a wakeup call to all quarters to be more serious in looking into the flaws of the federal constitution which affected the rights of the ibans, bidayuhs and local malays of Sarawak. The matter need to be raised so that better protection should be given to these races. I am not sure whether other races indigenous to Sarawak could also been left out.