Posted on February 26, 2011, Saturday
KUCHING: The Chinese community in Jelukong, Engkilili, has joined the fray, pledging their support for former SUPP candidate Jonathan Krai Pilo to contest in the next state election.
Despite losing by a mere 426 votes to then SNAP candidate Johnical Rayong in 2006, Krai not only remained popular but has gained more support through his hard work in serving the community.
Since winning the Engkilili seat, Dr Rayong has claimed to be a Barisan Nasional (BN) friendly assemblyman and last October was admitted to the SUPP fold.
However, the recent call of Jelukong’s Chinese community was “due to the people losing confidence in the current incumbent,” as stated in a press statement sent to The Borneo Post yesterday.
“Many people, especially the Chinese communities in Jelukong, are not happy with failed promises and numerous issues not being ironed out by the current Engkilili assemblyman.
“Apart from land issues in Jelukong, proper infrastructure such as road access and drainage and irrigation system are lacking from the Lubok Antu junction area to Meridun,” Krai was quoted as saying in his speech during a Chap Goh Mei celebration dinner organised by Jelukong To Pak Kong.
He recalled that many promises were made to help the people, such as the announcement of the RM29 million rural electricity supplies (RES) and road infrastructure projects to connect rural areas, but to date they had not materialised.
Krai also claimed that the Engkilili assemblyman told the people of Semanju, Lidong and Batang Ai about the proposed projects but when nothing seemed to be happening, Dr Rayong resorted to blaming certain agencies and even the state government for not implementing the projects.
Additionally, Krai said he received reports from numerous longhouse chiefs in the constituency, claiming that many of the longhouse development and safety committees (JKKK) had yet to receive minor rural project (MRP) funds that had been announced in the past including those for schools and associations.
On the voters’ call for SUPP to nominate him to contest in the next state election, Krai said he was prepared and confident.
Kapitan Bong Jin Choon who was also present at the dinner said Krai remained a strong and influential SUPP representative in Engkilili.
He believed the voter swing in favour of Krai was big despite Rayong’s claim that he could command a landslide victory for the BN in the next state election.
Bong said: “The Chinese community in Jelukong, Engkilili wants the party (SUPP) to give Jonathan Krai another shot in the coming state election.
“He is close to all races and despite losing in the last election, he continues to work hard on the ground and is politically more matured now. He is undoubtedly loyal to SUPP and BN.”
Bong said Krai was considered a local by many, considering that his late mother was from Lio, Engkilili.
This clearly contradicted Dr Rayong’s 2006 election campaign touching on the ‘local boy’ angle.
The Kapitan expressed his amazement on Dr Rayong’s recent admission to SUPP’s fold, stating that during the last state election, Dr Rayong had accused SUPP of being a (political) party for the Chinese only and that his battle cry back then was “Throw SUPP out from Engkilili”.
“Most of the community has lost their respect and confidence for the incumbent.
“Added to his personal problems and scandals which surfaced online, he certainly has lost his credibility,” Krai commented.
During the dinner, Krai presented a personal donation to the Jelukong To Pak Kong, represented by its chairman Bong Kee Soon.
The Borneo Post
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Krai will stand with who? SUPP already declare that Rayong will stand in Engkelili. Will krai will stand as independent and if WIN will do what Rayong has done in the pass that is knocking the BN door?
Radio Free Sarawak, which has gained extensive ground in rural Sarawak with its stories about Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's plundering ways, has finally revealed its owners.
KUALA LUMPUR: Until a few hours ago, the identities of those behind Radio Free Sarawak (RFS) were a closely-guarded secret.
Now a British tabloid has unmasked the duo as Clare Rewcastle Brown, the sister-in-law of former British prime minister Gordon Brown, and Peter John Jaban, the grandson of a Dayak headhunter.
London-based RFS was launched last November on the promise of bringing alternative news to the people of Sarawak.
Controversial blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin, came on board as a regular contributor a month later.
According to news tabloid, Evening Standard, Rewcastle Brown, 51, was born in Sarawak to British parents and lived in the region until she was eight.
She returned 38 years later and was shocked by the extent of the deforestation taking place in the rainforest.
It was while covering a 2008 by-election there that she met Jaban, 46, and proposed that he become the voice of RFS.
In her interview with the tabloid, Rewcastle Brown, who is also the author of the blog Sarawak Report said: “I use my blog and broadcasts to expose the outrageous deforestation which has seen 95% of Sarawak’s rainforest cut down and replaced by logging and palm oil plantations which have enriched Taib and his family.”
“What’s more, my investigations indicate some of the Taib family money is right here in London and includes a lucrative property portfolio in the heart of our capital. My work is about giving the 2.5 million oppressed people of Sarawak a choice.”
She said Taib and his family also had property empires in Canada, the US and the UK and that Taib derived his funds by “selling off rainforests” and channelling some of the money “through the British Virgin Islands”.
Death threats
Rewcastle Brown further explained that her decision to go public followed death threats on the Sarawak Report website and the mysterious death of her chief whistleblower and Taib’s former US aide, Ross Boyert, last December.
Jaban, who goes by the moniker Papa Orang Utan, meanwhile expressed pain at having to leave his family behind but asserted that he was prepared to “die for this cause”.
“In the days of my grandfather, you had to bring a decent clutch of heads as a sign of your masculinity when you got married…
“Today things have changed but you still have to be a man,” he was quoted as saying.
While Rewcastle Brown acknowledged the high likelihood of Taib intimidating the voters during the next Sarawak election, she also believed that RFS had had a huge effect on Sarawakians and that there was a strong movement towards change.
Her words were confirmed by prominent Dayak-Iban social activist and blogger John Brian Anthony.
“A change is definitely taking place and it’s very real,” he told FMT.
“RFS has brought about a sharp awareness among the people here. These days they are talking about topics that they would not normally discuss like abuse of power, Taib’s wealth and NCR land.
“I’m taken aback at how much public perception has changed recently in both the urban and rural areas. And those in the urban areas are now looking to those in the rural areas to supply them with information on what is really going on in the Sarawak interiors.”
Angry government
John, who is behind the Dayakbaru.com blogsite, added that those who were able to receive the RFS frequency were loyal listeners.
A group of activists distributed CDs of the shows podcasts to those who weren’t able to tune in.
“The Dayaks especially are very audio-inclined people what with their extensive oral history.
“The fact that Peter (Jaban) speaks fluent Iban is also a big plus point.
“So now we have Sarawak natives coming forward to share their personal stories with RFS,” he said.
When asked about the Taib administration’s reaction, John laughed: “They are very angry of course.
“Just a few days back two activists were arrested for distributing the CDs but they were released without charge because the content was issue-based and not anti-government.”
FMT
MY THOUGHTS OF THE DAY
As the State General Election is closing by (this month or next or soon), we really do not have much times and time is an essence.
First Thing First: We ‘should never break’ the momentum on highlighting our Native issues and/or demoralize voting objective. We need to enforce, employ and empower: “Dayak P7” (Patriotism, Persistency, Productivity, Progressiveness, Perseverance, Prudent & Proactive measures).
Our “Key Vision” element must be developed along the fourfold agenda;
• Rights to Ancestral Domain/Native Customary Land
• Rights to Self-governance & Empowerment
• Rights to Cultural & Adat integrity
• Social Justice and Human Rights
1. Our Mission is to “Defeat BN & Secure PR Government”.
2. Our Primary Objective is to “Win Majority Votes & Seats” for Pakatan Rakyat.
3. Our Secondary Objective is to “Secure Native Rights”.
4. Our Supplementary Objectives includes securing and empowering “Native E5” (Equity, Equality, Economics, Employment & Education).
5. Our “Strategic Priorities” includes:
• Education, Innovation and Individual Capabilities
• Advancing Native Employment & Income
• Business and Entrepreneurship
• Financial Security and Independence
• Reconciliation & Strengthening Foundations
• How will we measure success and “KPI”?
6. Our “Native Community Seven Capitals” resources:
• Natural Capital
• Cultural Capital
• Human Capital
• Social Capital
• Political Capital
• Financial Capital
• Built Capital
7. Our framework for “Action Plan and Transformation Initiative” (APTI)
The “Action Plan & Transformation Initiative” is a basic ‘Roadmap’ which will provide overall direction and guidance for the progressive improvement of governmental services and good governance programs for our communities. Improvements will build over time as communities become more ready, governments coordinate efforts more effectively and broader support becomes available. This “Action Plan & Transformation Initiative” will leverage off existing programs and services, and kick start a more integrated approach.
8. Our “Native Development Project Agenda (NDPA)”: Building Capacity & Capability, Project, Research, Evaluation and Monitoring
The general objective of the “Native Development Project Agenda” is to ensure that the project process recognizes the individual needs of all Dayaks and to equally ensure that, if any negative impacts occur, they are quickly identified and mitigation measures are immediately put in place.
9. Our “VOTE Principles” is to encourage citizen ownership of transparent, participatory, and vibrant democracy. Our VOTE is our secret and should focus on promoting the followings:
• V – Empowering our “Voice(s)”
• O – Empowering our “Opportunity(s)”
• T – Empowering our “Trust”
• E – Empowering our “Equity”
Notes: It is about time that we view Voting, Elections, and the Roles and Responsibilities of citizens and our representatives with new eyes based on our founding principles.
For now and shall be continued…. “Idup DayakBaru, Maju Bansa Dayak”…Hoo…Haa!!
VOTE “X” PR GOVERNMENT!