Any PGB recipient in Sabah?

The following story by JOHNSON KADAM of the Kuching-based Eastern Times caught my eyes and wished to share with Aki Momogun's regulars.

KUCHING: The name Dato Patinggi Mohd Najib Tun Razak will always bring a smile to the face of Corporal (RTD) Paul Nyopis ak Noyead, the only Bidayuh Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB) holder.
The reason is simple. It was Najib who, during his tenure as Minister of Defence, proposed to the Federal Cabinet to give all PGB holders a special allowance. Prior to that, the nation did not have any incentive or scheme for these brave men.
"In February 2002, the proposal got the nod from the Cabinet and from then onwards we (PGB holders) started receiving a monthly allowance of RM300 until today. If you compare it to today's living standard it (quantum) is nothing...not even enough for our motorcycle petrol, but it's still better than nothing.
"Anyway, there's a rumour floating around that our Prime Minister is going to announce a new scheme this Friday. What I heard is that the allowance will be dramatically increased to RM1,500 a month. If that is true, it is indeed great news to all of us (PGB holders)," remarked the 67-year-old ex-Field Intelligence Officer (FIO).
Nyopis, a grandfather of 14, from Bau, said he joined the Ranger Regiment in 1966 and in 1972 he confronted communists in an ambush at 10.45 am on April 15. His heroic act earned him the PGB which was presented to him by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1973.
Asked about the treatment accorded by the government to PGB holders like himself, Nyopis told Eastern Times that the treatment extended by the Federal Government could be categorised as "fair". Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be said of the State Government.
"I would say that the Federal Government has been quite concerned with people like us but as for the State Government they have totally forgotten about our services.
"It is like �kacang lupakan kulit'. We are not expecting the government to give us the sun and the moon but at least give us some kind of recognition for our contribution, as PGB holders.�
"What hurts me most is when former terrorists like Bong Kee Chok are given very nice treatment but not us," he lamented.
Asked to comment about the government's decision to ask PGB holders from Sarawak to foot their own bills when attending the Warrior's Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, Nyopis said: "It is a sad thing.
"Initially, we were informed that our trip will be paid for but suddenly yesterday (Tuesday) they said if we want to go to Kuala Lumpur we have to pay for our own airfares and accommodation, or else we can attend a similar ceremony to be held at the Warrior's Monument at the Sarawak Museum," he said.
There are 14 surviving PGB recipients in Sarawak, 12 of whom are ex-soldiers, and the other two are ex-police officer, ASP (Rtd) Wilfred Gomez Malong, and Sub-Inspector, Mohd Salim, who is still in service.
Gomez's case is the worst among the lot because while invitation letters have been extended to the rest in most ceremonial occasions, such as to attend the Warrior's Day celebration in KL tomorrow, he had never received such invitations.

Ex-Sabah Police Chief Acquitted

Former Sabah Police Commissioner Ramli Acquitted

KOTA KINABALU:The Sessions Court here Monday acquitted and discharged former Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Yusoff on a charge of ordering the use of a police aircraft for his personal interest two years ago.

"The prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case and the accused deserves to be acquitted and discharged," judge Supang Lian said.

Ramli, 56, was charged on Nov 19, 2007 with abusing his power as Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Department director for his pecuniary gain by ordering and using a Royal Malaysia Police Cessna Caravan aircraft to take him on an aerial surveillance of two lots in Ulu Tungku, Lahad Datu, in which his real estate company Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd had an interest.

The offence was allegedly committed at about 7.50am on June 15, 2007 at the Sabah Police Air Unit, Tanjung Aru near here.

Ramli pleaded not guilty to the offence which, upon conviction, carries a jail term of not more than 20 years and a minimum fine of RM10,000 under Section 15 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, and was released on bail of RM20,000 with one surety.

The prosecution, represented by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutors Kevin Morais and Joyce Blasius, called 75 witnesses in a 59-day hearing between May 13 last year and July 6 this year.

Ramli was represented by Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and James Tsai.

-- BERNAMA

SC was talking about me 2 days before he dies

Sarawak veteran and much respected journalist S C Chan (pix from http://www.malaysiakini.com.my) was talking about me two days before he went for his by-pass surgery at the Normah Specialist Hospital, Kuching two days ago. He did not make it as he passed away yesterday morning.

This was related a minute ago to me in an email by Sulok Tawie, the New Straits Times bureau chief for Sarawak.

Sulok's email to me.

`Two days before he (SC) died, SC and I (Sulok) were attending a Press conference by Sarawak People Democratic Party's president Datuk William Mawan after the party's supreme council meeting in Kuching.'

`While waiting for the PC, reporters talked on various issues and topics of interest. Then he (SC) asked me (Sulok) about you (JB) and my (Sulok) answer was "I heard he is no longer with the Daily Express."

`Then he (SC) told us (reporters) that he (SC) met you (JB) after your (JB) posting (as NST news editor for Sabah and Sarawak) in Kuching and brought you (JB) to Hilton Hotel.'

`I (SC) did not not he (JB) was a great drinker. In about 10 minutes he (JB) finished 18 glasses of beer. I (SC) should had brought him (JB) to a coffee chop where the beer was cheap."

My Say:

Such was a great man in SC, he remembered and like me in his own way which I appreciated and will forever be in my mind. That was only the first encounter with him. What follows were happy memories at all of the watering holes in Kuching, also with Sulok, Martin Yee, Johannes Ridu, Patrick Joseph, Joseph Tawie, Jonathan Bullet just to name a few.

Farewell Mr SC Chan and May Your Soul Rest In Peace.

Mr SC Chan, my friend, passed away

This is an update to my earlier posting. This story is from http://sarawakupdate.com.my

Sarawak’s top notch journalist passed away

posted on July 22nd, 2009 @ 09 : 16 am by Moderator

malaysiakini pix

Veteran journalist SC Chan, 61 passed away at Normah Medical Specialist Centre here early this morning after undergoing a heart surgery.

The Borneo Post editor in chief, M Rajah when contacted described SC as a “Top Notch” journalist who would go all the way to compile the best report. SC wrote for many news organisations both International and local publication.

“We have been friend and colleague for a very long time, he will be missed dearly,” Rajah told Sarawak Update.

Rajah said the remains would be brought to SC residence in Rainbow Drive (opposite Datuk Effendi Norwawi house) for his family and friend to pay last respect.

Sabah and Sarawak journalist loss a friend

“I was really shocked and sad on hearing the news of his demise. SC Chan and many from that era are a rare breed today.” said Toman Mamora, ex-group editor of an English daily, now a communication and media research consultant.

“We have been friends for more more than 30 years and we share a lot of common interest,” he added.

SC Chan and I grew up in the old school of journalism, where the power of the word and the art of communicating the message were the hallmark of true-blue journalism, Toman explained.

On the field, on the desk, and sometimes off the beat, SC Chan had been a friendly motivator and source of information to me.

“Of course, we shared another passion: music. We jammed a lot together. SC, we’re gonna miss you a lot. Rest in peace,” Toman concluded.

Malaysia National News Agency (BERNAMA) editorial adviser, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang said SC had been a great journalist for Sarawak and one of the pioneers of modern day journalism in the state.

He could be described as an unsung hero, having written extensively and passionately about many significant developments especially in the political arena in Sarawak’s recent history.

“I’ve known him for about 40 years and although most of the time I’ve been in Kuala Lumpur we kept in touch regularly. The last time we met was when I had breakfast with him and Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi at a hotel in Kuching early this year. Condolences to his family,” he said.

Kuching Division Journalist Association president, Alice Wee was shocked when the news was first broke out.

“He was optimistic of his operation, docs said he got 90% chance..anyway I am glad I met him at SPDP’s PC last Saturday and got to see him for the last time..may he rest in peace,” Alice commented in FaceBook.

Bernama Miri Bureau Chief, Hamdan Ismail said he had lost a friend and a guru.

“Sarawak lost another humble person. I learn a lot from him as a journalist. Rest In Peace SC,” he said.

Meanwhile, former New Straits Times news editor, Joseph Bingkasan said SC was among the first person he met when first appointed to the Kuching-based post in Nov 2000.

“It was this great man who created my networking with the rest of the Press in Sarawak and Brunei,” he said.

He was the best of friends I had in Kuching during the four years tenure of duty in Sarawak. After I was transferred to Kuala Lumpur and finally retired in Kota Kinabalu, we had been in contact via email, SMS and telephone calls, JB added.

“My condolence to the family of the late Mr S C Chan who passed away this morning. SC, as the Press called him, you will forever be in my memory,” he concluded.

Tony Thien, my friend dies

Sarawak veteran journalist S C Chan passed away this morning at the Normah Specialist Hospital after a by-pass surgery. My friends in Kuching alerted me on this sad news this morning.

He was 61, better known as Tony Thien in th Malaysiakini portal where he was a correspondent. He was also contributing to several other publications. He helped build up my networking with other Press and the State Government when I was News Editor of New Straits Times based in Kuching (2000-2005).

My condolence to Mr SC's family.

to be up-dated.

I'm still here

I moved to a new working environment and is enjoying every minutes of it. I hope to keep on posting from my new base.

Thank your very much for regularly visiting Aki Momogun.

Berjaya Baru - a new Sabah political party

A group of young local leaders are grouping to revive Parti Rakyat Jelata Sabah (Berjaya). Following the latest development in this movement, it look like this will add more colours to Sabah's politics.

The following is the party's introduction in its website.

A new dawn is upon us my fellow Sabahan,that is a dawn for CHANGE..Long have we been play out for 2 decade and been subject to politic manipulations by irresponsible politician just because they wanted to protect their bowl of soup.Ever Since our inception into Malaya federation.Time and again we are been subject to harassment by federal politician. Before we came into Malaysia federation.We were told that we will be partner rather then a state status like the other state's in Malaya.But today were are considered to be a state in Malaysia and not a partner.But we must strong and united; so as we can protect and serve our Sabah interest.Maybe there is nothing that we can do the set things Right.But we can still make a greater CHANGE,To Change for the better state government,who do not just make empty promised and cheat the state of its resources. The poor are getting poorer but the rich become richer . In order for us to gain of dignity and freedom, let us UNITE and band together to form this NEW PARTY who once defeated a authoritarian government in 1976. Let us again awake!! and united!! to do the same now to created a new Utopia state government.tell everyone let us join together and free Sabah from an oppressive state politician. NOW ITS THE TIME TO STRIKE!!!

Sarawak's Natives wants Dayak stay

This posting is adopted from HERE

Federal Deputy Minister for Rural and Regional Development Joseph Entulu was severely criticised at a iforumn KUching on 11 July 2009)for suggesting that the term “Dayak” be dropped as its connotation was uncivilized, uncouth and low class.

The forum, should the term ‘Dayak’ be dropped, was organised by The Borneo Post in collaboration with the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU).

Five panel speakers addressed some 150 participants, the majority of them were professionals, pensioners, businessmen and university students.

SDNU publicity chief Dr. John Brian Anthony said that the term “Dayak” was used anthropologically to describe the natives of Borneo.

He said: “It is sillier to suggest dropping the term ‘Dayak’. He must be drunk. Otherwise he is playing to the gallery of those who are against the term ‘Dayak’.

“It is our intention to bring all the natives together under the name of Dayak, but there are people who think that the Dayaks are threat. That is why Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) cannot be registered because it is considered a security threat to the nation,” he said.

SDNU which was formed in 1956 was considered as opposition organisation and because this organisation was being punished and no financial aids were given to it, he said, pointing out that the government gave funds to Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Orang Ulu National Union (OUNA) and other NGOs in order to spite SDNU.

It seemed, he said, that Entulu was given the job of bashing the Dayak community.

Next speaker was Sidi Munan, president of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA), who said that the dropping of term to say the least was stupid and lack of understanding of history.

“I am wondering whether it is a government proposal. It looks like it. It may be slip of the tongue, but coming from the heart,” he said.

Sidi recalled an incident in 1967 in which someone suggested that the term ‘Dayak’ be dropped.

“And there is something more than meets the eye,” he said, and warned of the legal, political and cultural implications and consequences especially in respect of I Malaysia concept.

“There will be no gawai Dayak and the Federal Constitution need to be amended. Thus it is more good than harm to retain the name in this context,” he said.

Presenting his views next was Dr. Elie Luhat, deputy president of Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA).

He said: “If you want to get rid of the word ‘Dayak’ we are doing the work of others, that is, ‘ethnic cleansing’.

“And my advice to politicians is that if you proceed with the proposal to remove the word ‘Dayak’ you are creating problems and issues that will cause you to commit political suicide," Elie said.

Former Ambassador to Myanmar, Venezuela and Mexico, Datuk John Tenewi Nuek said that he was proud to be a Dayak and had never been humiliated for being so, pointing out that he traveled to several countries in his capacity as an officer of the foreign service.

He said that it was politically wise to retain the name as it provided a common umbrella for the various native groups to work and strengthen their political unity.

“Why should we change the word ‘Dayak’ which is already a brand name which gives us the best marketing strategy? Dayak is synonymous with Borneo.

“Dropping the name will be a step backward from the political, economic and cultural point of view,” he said.

Mering Wan from the Orang Ulu community said that he was proud to be a Malaysian, and prouder still to be a Dayak.

When the forum was opened to the floor, several participants spoke against the decision to change the term ‘Dayak’. - The Broken Shied

UPKO and Perak

Sabah-based political party, UPKO, on Saturday established four divisions in Perak. Although the party headed by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok has every right to spread its wing to any State in Malaysia, some Barisan Nasional's component party members are not happy.

Umno Tanjung Malim Division, where the four UPKO new divisions are located, is not happy as they claimed that the Sabah party came in from the `back door'. UPKO did not consult nor `knocked at the door' before coming in.

It will be interesting to know/hear what other BN leaders has to say about this latest development in politics.

Orang Asli in Perak joins Sabah-based UPKO

KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah-based Barisan Nasional component party launched five divisions in Perak today. The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation (Upko) is spreading it wings to help provide a voice for the Orang Asli community there.

Upko president and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok is expected to launch the five pro-tem divisions in Tapah, where he is attending the Perak Orang Asli Land Development Convention.

Upko supreme council member Albert Bingkasan said yesterday the Orang Asli of the Semai group had expressed their interests in joining the party for the past two years.

"The community wanted a vehicle in the country's political mainstream and it appears they are attracted to our struggles in the party, which is focused on the indigenous communities.
"Many of them being Christians and indigenous also find it hard to expand, politically, with other BN parties which have different priorities for the communities they represent," Bingkasan said.

Under Upko's Constitution, membership is open to all Malaysians who subscribe to the party's struggles, he added.

The party opened a division in Shah Alam, Selangor, two years ago where most of its members are from Sabah.

Upko, which has 44 divisions, is merging the divisions into 25 in line with the number of parliamentary seats in the state.

Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia president Adrian Lasimbang said estabishment of the branches would be a positive political development for the Orang Asli community.

"Presently in Parliament, the Orang Asli has only one representative, Senator Osman Bujang. They also do not have any political party to represent them."

Lasimbang said in Peninsular Malaysia, there were more than 100,000 Orang Asli people from 18 groups, with the majority being the Semai community. Adopted from HERE

Stateless Sabahans

The story that I am reproducing below is from HERE.

Such a story is common in Sabah. Parents are both Sabahans but they were born outside the country. Kadazans from Penampang who went to Brunei to work will testified that although they are Malaysians, their children born while they were in the sultanate are now classified as `Stateless'.

Its awkward to know that in a family of four siblings, some will have Mykads while the others are green identity card holders.

I know for a fact a friend of mine who was born in Brunei, now back in Sabah and is a `Stateless' person. Though highly qualified, this friend was unable to secured employment in the government service.

The friend of mine was to travel abroad last month but getting a passport was a problem with lots of requirements to be met, and told that meeting what the authorities wanted was not a guarantee that a passports will be issued.

All eyes will be on the new announcement by the government in easing out the problems faces by `Stateless' citizen of this country.

One applicant who is not impressed

2009/07/10

KOTA KINABALU: Alice Chui Pee, who regards herself a "stateless Sabahan", is hardly impressed with the Home Ministry's assurance to citizenship applicants that their long wait will end soon. Until she gets her citizenship, Alice remains as frustrated as she was, having waited almost all her life for it.

Born in Singapore in 1957, Alice returned with her parents to Sabah two years later.

Two of her three siblings were also born in Singapore and are now Malaysians, two with MyKad and the other a permanent resident, while she remains stateless based on the green identity card she holds for more than 30 years now.

Alice last sought help from a special committee formed by United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation (Upko), a component party of the Barisan Nasional, to look into the plight of Sabahans with citizenship problems.

Her application remains unchanged.

Speaking through her daughter Melissa Lim, Alice said the statement made by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was one of many she had heard in the past although she was thankful that something was being done about it.

"My sister Marjorie is graduating in Johor sometime in August this year and my mother is hoping to attend the ceremony.

"She had only left Sabah once some years back after making a special application to visit my sister who was then hospitalised in Kuala Lumpur.

"She hopes to make the same application to attend the ceremony but it would be nice if she could travel using a document that states she is a citizen of Malaysia," she said.

Alice's case is one of many received by the committee called the Upko Citizenship and Security Bureau led by Moyog assemblyman and assistant Finance Minister Donald Mojuntin. -- By Roy Goh

Race/Bangsa: Others/Lain-lain

When I left school years ago, my friends and I applied whatever posts advertised vacant by the various government departments and its agencies. I still remember that the application forms had, and I think it still exist, a column on Race/Bangsa.

Listed in prints were Malay, Chinese, Indian and Others. I am not a Malay, Chinese nor an Indian, so I fell under Others. So my friends and I marked our race as Others and in the dotted line we wrote Kadazan or Dusun. There was also a Bajau friend of mine who also opted for Others and listed his race as Bajau.

When I was called for interview for a government post in 1973, the three interviewers looked at my application form and asked me to confirm if I am a Kadazan or Dusun. I told them there was no difference but was told that a Kadazan spoke Kadazan and a Dusun spoke Dusun. I insisted that I was a Kadazan but they said my birth certificate showed that I am a Dusun.

That also I was asked to prove that I am a Dusun, to which I sang to them a Dusun song entitled `Aiso Koruhang Modop' a song by Ambrose Mudi of Tambunan. Now I am sure that I was employed because of the that song which confirmed that I am a Dusun to them. But I was not long in government service. Training for two years and worked for only eight monhts.

I left because that Dusun song did not help me in the place to which I was posted. I ventured into journalism and here I am sitting down in front of my computer's monitor after 30 years in this field.

As in my earlier posting, I left the print media. I am saying here that I am going into electronic media in two months time. And for the time being, I am resting in a way I deserved after having served with various newspaper, including the New Straits Times which I left four years as a News Editor.

And on the race issue, I hope the latest announcement by the government can resolved the matter that the next time my grandchildren filled up application forms there will be Kadazan, Dusun listed in the column for Race/Bangsa.

The announcement by the government yesterday as reported HERE.

NRD To Resolve Status Of Applications In Five Categories Soon

PUTRAJAYA, July 8 -- The National Registration Department will resolve status of applications in five categories soon, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said the five categories were citizenship, permanent residency, absence of birth certificates, those concerning people of Sabah and Sarawak and street children.

"These matters must be resolved quickly as there have been cases where applicants have waited years for an answer. This is not a good situation, especially for stateless people," he told a press conference here Wednesday.

He added that if the people concerned passed security vetting, the government would approve their applications.

Time to move on.....trying something new

Top editors of the New Straits Times who had left at the same time as me are now almost all back at the NST, holding even more senior posts. Congratulations to all of them. I also found out that a numbers of Federal ministers' press secretaries are my former workmates in NST.

I left NSTas a news editor four years ago and went unemployed for about a year. I joined Daily Express in July 2006, on contract for a year. I was signed again for another two years and that contract is due to end this week.

The management had called me to disscuss (to sign) a new contract. After a thinking for a long time, I now decided not to renew my contract. I decided to move on to something new, one that I had never had the opportunity to do during my 30 years in journalism.

To all my friends, thank you very much indeed for all the supports, we will not be far from each others for I `once a journalist, will always be a journalist'.

Pakatan Alliance is just not working out

Reading the New Straits Times today's edition (July 3rd, 2009), I came across an interesting article by my former workmate ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR which I like to share with Aki Momogun's visitors.

With the rising political discontent in its fold, writes ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR, Pakatan Rakyat may find itself in for a rude shock sooner than its leaders may realise

IT was way off target. Barely 4,000 people were at the Kelana Jaya MPPJ stadium for the Pakatan Rakyat "unity rally" on Tuesday night, when it was supposed to have been a "gathering of 100,000" to project a united alliance.
The poor turnout was a stark contrast to the opposition coalition's last mass gathering at the same venue, on the eve of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's much publicised (and botched) Sept 16 "takeover" of the Federal Government last year.

Has the opposition coalition lost its lustre? Or has political fatigue set in because there's just too much politicking and squabbling among Pakatan components? It might seem so.

Certainly, many who voted for opposition candidates in the last general election are now wondering if they made the right decision, what with the inter-party and intra-party bickering over national and state issues and the administration of states under Pakatan rule.

To their dismay, the voters have found that they had chosen candidates of questionable backgrounds and track records, out of anger at the perceived arrogance and abuses of Barisan Nasional.
The March 2008 general election may have changed Malaysia's political landscape with massive defeats of BN candidates, but many Malay-sians have begun to realise that their lives have not improved much under Pakatan rule.

Given the economic slowdown, compounded by their lack of experience, the Pakatan state governments are struggling to meet voters' expectations while maintaining unity within their alliance, a problem that is growing in Penang, Kedah and Selangor.

A communication breakdown between DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was displayed over the construction of the second Penang bridge: Anwar objected to the bridge being proposed for the south of Penang, claiming that there were less expensive options, but Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he was fine with the proposal and was unaware of the objection.

Kedah DAP's announcement that it was withdrawing its support for the Pas-led state government is another indication of the deteriorating Pakatan alliance.

Kedah DAP chief Thomas Su said the move was due to the state government's failure to give "equal treatment to all Kedahans" -- the two major sticking points being the demolition of an illegal pig abattoir at Kampung Berjaya and the imposition of a 50 per cent Bumiputera housing quota in the state.

Although Lim said the decision was not final until and unless it is endorsed by the DAP central executive committee, the fact remains that there is little trust between DAP and Pas in Kedah.

There are also issues Pakatan partners are unhappy about in Selangor, such as the sale of liquor.

As Pakatan is still licking its wounds from the damage caused by the now aborted plan by Pas to hold unity talks with arch-rival Umno, the feeble attendance at the rally spoke volumes. The organisers blame the low turnout on short notice, but some opposition leaders did not stop short of calling the event a failure.

Could this be a reminder that Malaysian voters, now more informed on the goings-on in Pakatan Rakyat, are not as politically gullible as they were a year or more ago? The rally was seen as an attempt to shore up support for the opposition ahead of the Manik Urai by-election scheduled for July 14 and Anwar's sodomy trial, which could see him jailed for 20 years.

Some say it was to keep the momentum going on the constitutional impasse in Perak.

"There is no question of the Pakatan Rakyat surviving," Anwar, confident as always, told wire service AFP after the rally. "It will continue to defend the rights of the people and challenge the government, gaining strength from any conviction made against me.

"In fact, I think a conviction against me will enrage a lot of people."

Leaders who took the rostrum strenuously denied there were major cracks in Pakatan following Pas' flirting with Umno. But instead of pacifying and convincing supporters, they went on to bash BN, Umno, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia.

The crowd was expecting more, such as leaders offering alternative solutions to political challenges and social and economic woes, as expected of a government-in-waiting.

It could have been a ploy to divert attention from Pakatan's shortcomings and buy time to build better understanding and stronger bonds among the component parties.

This could backfire, however, as it would be tantamount to challenging the political maturity of Malaysians.

Pakatan may be a marriage of convenience, but so are all coalitions to greater or lesser degrees. Its birth was encouraged after its three component parties -- Pas, DAP and PKR -- collectively won 82 of the 222 parliamentary seats contested in last year's general election and jointly took control of the state assemblies of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.

For the first time in 40 years, the opposition had denied BN a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Some political analysts view the forging of a loose electoral pact among the three parties as a personal triumph for Anwar, whose negotiation skills helped bring the rival groups together on the basis of principles held in common by the three parties, such as freedom, justice and democracy.

But the indications now are that all is not well within Pakatan Rakyat.

zubaidah@nst.com.my

On Leave...

I was on leave from posting here from June 25, 2009 to prepare for the engagement of my only daughter, Clarice Mary Bingkasan to Danny Lee of Kibarambang, Ranau. It was on Saturday June 27 at my kampung (village) house in Kionsom Inanam.

There was so much little things to do and was happy that the ceremony went through with both side happy. Wedding will be within two years but it all depend on my oldest son, Leslie Joseph Bingkasan, who is now in Jakarta.

Should Leslie come back home in June 2010, the wedding will be held during that time. To all my friends who attended the ceremony last Saturday, I say Thank You Very Much Indeed. God Bless, we will meet again.