Dompok setting the stage to exit?

 

March 2, 2014

 

This articles is from Borneo Insider

His deputy Wilfred Tangau is taking on more of his boss’s responsibilities as the former federal minister takes a back seat on party matters.

Dompok

KOTA KINABALU: All eyes are on Bernard Dompok, the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president, ever since he started delegating duties to the party’s second-in-command, Wilfred Tangau.
Will he step down as party president? Is he planning a career change? Is he disgusted with Barisan Nasional’s increasingly divisive brand of politics? What’s his next move?
Having lost in two general elections Dompok seems to be fighting a lonely battle to keep the party relevant and in the forefront of Sabahans demands for a more equitable federation.
It’s been a long hard struggle. First he lost his Moyog state seat in 1999 when he was Sabah Chief Minister and in last year’s general election, he was unseated by PKR’s Darrel Leiking from the Penampang parliamentary seat. He was then the  Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister.
Another blow to his leadership was when his choice of Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau join the Federal Cabinet went unheeded. Instead Ranau MP Ewon Ebin was made Science, Technology and Innovation Minister.
In the party election last year, Tangau then secretary general defeated Ebin for the deputy president’s post.
With Dompok’s eminent retirement, the focus is now on Tangau and whether there will be a leadership tussle in the party.
Dompok has already shown that he favours Tangau and delegated his powers to the Tuaran MP when he sent him to attend the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Tangau was accompanied by secretary general Donald Mojuntin to the meeting chaired by the national coalition chairman and Prime Minister Najib Razak.
“Transition plan appears to be on the cards … he has to leave at some point because what else is there for him to do,“ said a party insider. Dompok also visited Ranau, his old parliamentary constituency.
Upko will be holding meeting later this month were Dompok is expected to delegate powers again to Tangau to take charge the party. Dompok is said to be travelling to Taiwan to attend to some personal matters.
Speculation is also rife that eventually the party leadership under Tangau will push for another federal cabinet post or even replace Ebin should the Prime Minister reshuffled his cabinet. – BI

Bumburing and Jeffrey in face-off

By Joseph Bingkasan of Free Malaysia Today

| December 18, 2012

STAR is being accused of splitting the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut (KDM) communities' votes in Sabah and handing BN a measure of confidence that it can prolong its hold.

 

KOTA KINABALU: Two Kadazandusun opposition leaders here are going toe-to-toe over who has the more credible solution to what they claim is the great rip-off of Sabah and its people.

Maverick Sabah politician Jeffrey Kitingan has taken a hard line on ‘Malayan’ parties and has accused opposition leaders of being turncoats no better than the all-dominating Barisan Nasional ruling coalition they are castigating for rejecting his Borneo agenda that focuses exclusively on the rights of Sabah and Sarawak.

On the other side is Wilfred Bumburing, a MP who has turned independent and is leading Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), a opposition-friendly grouping that sees Jeffrey’s brand of Borneo-centric politics as out of touch with reality.

APS has not taken Jeffrey’s State Reform Party (STAR) all-or-nothing, Sabah for Sabahans and accusations of pandering to ‘Malayan’ parties lightly in its battle to unite voters in the state under one opposition grouping.

Using Jeffrey’s own words against him, the APS publicity machine went to work to show how Sabah has always been ruled by the doctrine of divide and rule used by the Barisan Nasional and that the STAR leader’s Borneo agenda was like minded.

Making the case against Jeffrey, who on Sunday walloped rival Sabah opposition leaders as traitors, was APS information chief Lesaya Lopog Sorudim.

Sorudim told FMT today that Kitingan was only making matters worse by not making common cause with the Malayan-based opposition to oust the Umno-led BN coalition.

He said that by going its own route, STAR is disregarding the fact that it is also splitting the crucial votes of the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut (KDM) communities of Sabah and handing the BN a measure of confidence that it can prolong its hold on power through the coming general election.

He said that contrary to what the STAR leader was saying, Bumburing’s movement was established with the aim of restoring the dignity, sovereignty and independence of Sabah as a state within the Federation of Malaysia.

“So when Bumburing held that the natives, especially the KDM community should reject STAR’s strategy he was basing his opinion on facts,” Sorudim said.
Pakatan manifesto not Malaya Agenda

Last week STAR deputy chairman Daniel John Jambun had lashed out at Bumburing for saying that the natives of Sabah should not pin their hopes on his party, calling it “patently mischievous, misconceived and misleading”.

Jambun added that “it should be condemned in no uncertain terms by all right-thinking Sabahans, deplored and exposed as the mother of all lies by a political has-been who shamelessly continues to be a stooge of the local proxies of the peninsular masters.”

Sorudim pointed out that there was nothing ‘mischievous, misconceived or misleading’ when Bumburing made the statement which he said was reflective of the sentiment of the majority of the natives.

“Who would pin their hopes on an organisation that is bent on splitting the Sabah into five regions and moving the state capital from Kota Kinabalu to Keningau should they come to power,” Sorudim said of a controversial statement made by Jeffrey which the later claimed was taken out of context.

Jeffrey had said that if STAR was voted into power, the state would be divided into several states – West Coast, Sandakan, Tawau, Kudat and Keningau – each headed by a Chief Minister.

Sorudim said APS objective was to help the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim win the coming election by ensuring victory in all KDM majority constituencies.

Pakatan’s manifesto, he said, does not in anyway outline a Malayan Agenda as alleged by STAR, but instead contains a comprehensive development plan specifically designed for Sabah.

“It is therefore on the basis of this struggles that generated interest among the natives of Sabah, and along with this scenario, the non-natives Malaysians of Sabah origin are also coming out in support of this agenda.

“APS’ struggles is about change … change in policy that are no longer applicable to Sabah, changes in the delivery system and changes in the distribution of wealth namely the oil royalty, management of tax and tariff,” Sorudim said.

STAR’s contradictory stand

APS youth leader Denis Gimpah also hit out at Jambun and STAR for not explaining their contradictory stance.

“Who is STAR trying to fool? Where does STAR come from anyway?

“Would the so-called STAR Sabah-chapter explain why the Sarawak-based party is not even contemplating putting up any candidates in their home state in Sarawak?

“Can they categorically deny the story about a meeting between their leader and Tun Daim Zainuddin in Nexus here sometime ago,” Gimpah asked.

Gimpah also raised the matter of Jeffrey’s ‘willingness’ to work with BN in the event it wins the polls in Peninsula Malaysia.

“Jeffrey Kitingan in May said that STAR was willing and would be ready to talk to BN. Does this not show who is actually being used as a BN tool here?

“How would STAR be able to solve the PTI problem without sound working relationship with a new in-coming federal government?

“They owe Sabahans an explanation,” he said.

Sarawak general elections around the corner

New party to join Swak's political fray

By Roselind Jarrow of http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com

KUCHING: A new political entity, Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB), has announced that it will be contesting in the coming Sarawak state election. In introducing the PERSB’s pro-tem committee to the media, Native Land Owners Association Sarawak (Tahabas) chairman Michael Jok said although the party is yet to be registered it already has big plans for the future of Sarawakians.

He said PERSB will contest in 71 seats in the coming state election and 31 parliamentary seats in the general election.

“Our candidates are ready to contest as PERSB members or as United Independents,” he added.

Jok said PERSB applied to register the party on Jan 21 this year but the Registrar of Societies Sarawak returned the forms after disapproving its name.

“We resubmited the application on April 20 and we called ourselves Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu. We urge the ROS to approve our application without further delay.

“Failure to do so will be a breach of the principles of democracy, respect and rights of the people of Sarawak to determine their own future leadership through the election process,” he said.

Economic might

PERSB is closely linked to the Project Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak or Pers.

According to Pers website (www.pers.com.my) a shared-plantation scheme involving the cultivation of the Jatropha Curcas plant has enabled hundreds of thousands of Sarawakians to develop a sustainable income.

Jok said some 200,000 planters and workers are involved in the planting of the jatropha, and the projects were planned based on five years short-term projections and 30 years long term.

He said that financial allocations for the implementation of all programmes under the Pers would be channelled through Koperasi Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Berhad.

Jok said two press mill plants have been set up in Sri Aman and Sibu and nine more plants would be built to process the produce.

KERSB would also market crops, livestock, handcrafts and commodities produced by the people such as rice, cassava, coffee, pepper, fish, chicken, goats, weaving products, beads and so forth.

Jok said money from the profits and dividends would be used to raise the earning power of the people, to finance the party, as well as the candidates.

He added that elected representatives of PERSB however would not be allowed to engage in personal businesses except to carry out the Pers programmes.

Unhappy PBB members

Meanwhile, a number of PERSB protem committee members, who were former grassroots leaders of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), said they left their previous party due to unhappiness.

Two of them, David Mathew and Salleh Mahadi, who is the pro-tem president of PERSB, have been with PBB for more than 30 years. Mathew had been with Lawas PBB whereas Salleh was with the Dalat division.

Salleh said: “I left PBB because I am not happy with the party especially when I notice that PBB leaders are neglecting the interests of the grassroots and ordinary members. They are more concerned with business of their own family members and cronies.”

Have Poewer to Putrajaya

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional craving for Putrajaya,at whose expense?

By Ronnie Klassen at http://advocateviews.blogspot.com

On one hand UMNO/BN will do anything to stay in power, while Pakatan Rakyat is working towards replacing them in Putrajaya. This is neither a celebrity contest nor another American idol search. This is seizing the opportunity to be the next government at any cost, but at whose expense?

Has it occurred to these two political parties that they are gambling with the lives of the very people who voted them into office? Who cares two hoods how they win, as long as they get to Putrajaya? Well, the people do care, and if anyone feels otherwise, perhaps migration would be the best option.

Let us examine Sabah, which should be one of the richest "states" in Malaysia but now is the second poorest "state" in Malaysia. How did this happen to a "state" rich in natural resources? Sabah is still till this day rich in oil. Who in their sane mind would think this is possible? And UMNO/BN and Pakatan Rakyat are only keen in racing for their jewel prize... PUTRAJAYA.

If Putrajaya is ultimately the place to govern Malaysia for Malaysians, then UMNO/BN has miserably failed in governing the country, because Sabah is still the second poorest state in Malaysia.

Of late, UMNO/BN Sabah leaders have been at each others’ throats, to see who should be rightfully given a specific seat in a constituency with strong words such as "stop bullying fellow Barisan Nasional component parties”. In retaliation, UMNO says "this is a Muslim seat and was only given to you on loan".

In my last posting, I stated that Sabahans are Beggars in their own land; soon Sabahans will be fugitives in their own land. The root of the matter is, this is all about UMNO … UMNO and only UMNO? Barisan Nasional component members have now become pariah's in the eyes of UMNO.

Recently the UMNO Supreme Council convened a meeting to deliberate the Sports Betting issue on a license that was purportedly issued to Vincent Tan, and chaired by non other then the Prime Minister himself, Najib Razak.

At the press conference immediately after the meeting, Najib blatantly said "the government has decided not to issue the license to Vincent Tan”. In a nutshell it was UMNO that decided and not the Federal Government. This is arrogance of the highest order, there again tell me what else is new.

Pakatan Rakyat in Sabah on the other hand is another sob story. Parti Keadilan Rakyat(PKR) has not shown anything concrete either, to say the least. DAP on the other hand has been rather active of late with the numerous visit by the 'Father of Opposition" Lim Kit Siang. I had the opportunity to have had breakfast with him recently, and in his twitter he labeled me as "an interesting fella".

Some have called me worst like "shit stirrer".

Recently I accompanied 5 Sarawakians to the MACC office at Shah Alam, Selangor, where a report was lodged against Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister of Sarawak on his wealth beyond comprehension. The Deputy Director, Yip Pit Wong later however REFUSED to provide a copy of the report. What bullshit. The photo shows me wondering ….. Who’s next to be thrown out the window at MACC?

Another interesting event that took place recently as well was, a Police report that was lodged against me by the President of MAJAP, Datuk Clarence Bongkus Malakun over the Allah issue. This is the very man that asked the Christian community in Sabah to abandon the word Allah. The charge was framed under the Multi-Media Act section 223, under which if found guilty one is liable to a fine of RM50,000 or a year's jail or both.

Clarence B.Malakun must have gone "Bonkers" to have thought that intimidation would tickle me. I will fight to the very end to ensure that the people will not be hoodwinked by government stooges out to con the people, for their own personal agenda?

To my recollection the Holy Father is Pope Benedict and not POPE CLARENCE?

I call upon Sabahans and Sarawakians to rise and seize what rightfully belongs to them. The 13th General Elections is fast approaching and UMNO/BN must be shown the exit door.

We must now strengthen Pakatan Rakyat and if need be take control of change, for the current "leaders"don't appear to understand or seen as wanting to CHANGE or bring about CHANGE.

Posted by Ronnie Klassen

Tukar Baju says Kalakau

'It's time to 'tukar baju' and kick out BN'
Sun, 04 Apr 2010 12:08

This story and more in http://freemalaysiatoday.com/

KOTA KINABALU: Newly-minted opposition politician Kalakau Untol is bent on helping the Kadazan Dusun and Murut (KDM) communities of Sabah to 'tukar baju' (change shirt) in the next general election.
Kalakau, the United Sabah Dusun Association (Usda) president, said he was confident the indigenous community, comprising more than 30 ethnic groups, other natives and the Chinese communities could topple the BN government.

"They have booted out four Sabah state governments before," he said. "Tukar Baju was our battle cry. We ousted the Alliance-led Usno, Parti Berjaya, Barisan Nasional and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) state governments," he told FMT in an exclusive interview recently.

Kalakau, a former state deputy labour minister, ditched BN last month to join PKR and declared that he would be working hand-in-glove with Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and other KDM leaders.

He also said he would ensure that the community which formed the majority of the state's population would vote for Pakatan Rakyat in the next general election.

He said he expected several KDM leaders now holding important posts in the BN government, both at state and federal levels, to leave the coalition for Pakatan Rakyat.

Kalakau said he quit BN as he could no longer tolerate a life of being 'a great pretender.'

"What the BN was offering and had given out thus far was just window-dressing, but the people are politically matured now and know what is going on around them," he said.

Until he left BN, Kalakau was chairman of a state government-owned money making company and a director of several government subsidiaries companies.

"The last straw was when a university student approached me and asked if I believed in all the high praises I had heaped on the BN government during a speech I made.

"She asked me if I really meant what I said about the present government," said Kakakau.

"I was floored. It was awakening. Never in my life did it occur to me that I had been praising the government without justification.

"After a meeting with my supporters, a month later I decided to quit BN," he added.
"
These two states have been taken for granted by BN for too long. We in Sabah have changed the state government four times … it is not an impossible task.
"I travelled to far flung villages in Sabah and the response and support for PKR from the KDM was overwhelming. (It was the same when) I was in Kota Marudu, Kudat recently."

Sabah, Sarawak taken for granted by BN

The Dusun leader said the general election would the be best avenue for all Malaysians, not only for the people of Sabah 'to put on new clothes.'

"If we want to change the policy of the nation, it can only be done if you change and form a new federal government."

He said if Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had tagged Sabah and Sarawak as BN's fixed deposit, Pakatan Rakyat could also rightfully lay similar claim to these two states.

Kalakau said the opposition could have won in the last general election if there had been a better understanding among the parties, particularly between PKR and DAP.

According to him, in all the constituencies where both PKR and DAP fielded candidates, BN emerged the victor by a slim majority of votes.

In the election, the state constituencies of Kepayan, Luyang, Inanam and Likas showed that the votes garnered by DAP and PKR were more than the votes polled by BN.

"The people of Sabah and Sarawak are aware of this and will ensure that their support will be for Pakatan Rakyat in the coming general election.

"These two states have been taken for granted by BN for too long. We in Sabah have changed the state government four times … it is not an impossible task," said Kalakau.

On his working relationship with other Sabah PKR leaders, he said he is a friend to all. Whenever he travelled, PKR leaders whether KDM or Muslims are always with him.

He said he was overwhelmed by the support for him when he was invited as a guest speaker at a gathering organised by the PKR Selangor at Stadium Malawati Shah Alam recently.

"I was relatively new in PKR but I was accepted as one of them. This is something new to me."

Made entry into politics in the 70s

Kalakau stepped into politics by forming the United Sabah Action Party (Usap) in early 1970s during Tun Musthapha's Usno-led Alliance state government.

Usap acted as an opposition party and was dissolved when he joined Pekamas in 1974, heading the Tuaran Division.

Pekamas failed to match the might of Usno so Kalakau formed another party called United Sabah Assembly Party (Pusaka) in 1977. He was made its deputy secretatry general.

Pusaka also closed shop and Kalakau joined Parti Berjaya in 1978. He joined Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in 1985 and was a political secretary to then deputy Chief Minister (late) Mark Koding.

He did not last long in PBS and five years later in 1989 he resigned and formed Angkatan Keadilan Rakyat Sabagh (Akar) with Koding.

In 1994, after the PBS governmeng was toppled by BN, Kalakau joined forces with current federal minister Bernard Dompok to form Parti Demokratik Sabah (PDS), now renamed United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Party (Upko).

Kalakau was Tuaran MP as well as state deputy labour minister when PBS was ruling Sabah (1985-1994). In Upko, he was its youth chief for 12 years and was also a senator.

Kadazans and Dayaks plans new political party - Parti Rakyat Borneo

My friend, Joseph Tawie in Kuching posted this HERE.

Someone from Sabah inquired from me today whether it is possible for Kadazans and Dayaks to form a regional party, say Parti Rakyat Borneo. Or is there any other suitable name?

“The party will be based in Sarawak and to be headed by a Dayak Christian with a fair representation from both sides,” he said, and added that it should preferably be a multi-racial party.

He said: “We must try the never tried before one party and I want to shatter all mentality blocks among us in East Malaysia.

“I admit it is not easy to accomplish it, but let us give ourselves a chance to ponder on our broken brotherhood,” he said.

The idea was not the first. Daniel Tajem made a suggestion in 2000 soon after he returned from New Zealand where he spent five years as Malaysian High Commissioner. But his suggestion was shot down by Leo Moggie, then the president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and James Masing. At the time, Moggie and Masing were like inseparable twins.

Tajem also made a suggestion that if a regional party between Sabah and Sarawak could not be formed, then they should seriously consider merging PBDS with SNAP in order to strengthen Dayak unity.

That idea was also shot down by the two men, claimed Tajem and pointed out that they disliked the idea as they were living in “comfortable zones” at the time, (and still are today).

In view of the recent calls for justice and equality for the people of Sabah and Sarawak as promised in the 20/18 points in the Malaysian Agreement it is good that we explore this suggestion further. Without Sabah, Sarawak cannot fight for justice and equal partnership alone. Likewise, without Sarawak, Sabah cannot do it alone.

Now, what is our response to the Sabahan's suggestion?

Many wants to register new political parties in Sabah

Following my posting on Berjaya Baru, I received lots of comments and one of them is from Jen Ken and Abang Arjuna.

Jen Ken said he, too, have all the documents ready to register a new political party in Sabah which he said would be known as Parti Perpaduan Sabah/Unity Parti/Paati Pisompuuvan Sabah.

But he does not trust the Registrar of Societies or the Home Ministry so he is waiting for a clear signal from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to allow it to happen (to register new parties.

"When Najib gives the signal, I shall forward my application," Jen Ken said.

Form One students can't read and write: How true can this be???

This story is from HERE.

KENINGAU: Despite having completed six years of primary education a number of students in Trans Pegalan still do not know how to read and write. More alarmingly, their number has increased.
An educational activist, Garius Pukin, when revealing this yesterday claimed that based on statistics in the last five years at least 40 students who entered Form One bridge class had been identified having no ability to read and write.
“This is a serious matter,” he said.
Garius, who is also the Village Development and Security Committee chairman of Kg Ambual, lamented that the situation had forced 20 worried parents to relocate their children to other schools.
“It’s impossible that they still don’t know how to read and write after having spent six years in the primary school…but this is a reality and it’s happening in Trans Pegalan,” he said.
But Garius claimed that the causes were obvious, one of which is that some teachers are over-preoccupied with political and business commitments.
“Many teachers who are holding political positions frequently abscond from their teaching duties for weeks especially when their parties are having activities like divisional and national meetings,” he alleged.
He urged the Education Ministry to investigate the matter or better still, ban teachers from any involvement in politics.
“Their job is to teach.”

My Say:

I have my reservation about the truth of this story. But coming from a teacher and a community leader, I assume that something must be done to correct the situation. Kampung Ambual is in Keningau (Interior Division of Sabah).

We have had Yang Dipertua Negeri (Two), Ex-Chief Minister (Two), Ex-Deputy Chief Minister (two and another one is still in that position now), Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Members of Parliament and Assemblymen from this area.

It is impossible that they did not know about this thing happening in their own area. Teachers should be at schools teaching students, not out there in politics and business.

By-election: Lobbying to be candidate in Batang Ai

Although Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has submitted a name for the Batang Ai by-election to be held on 7 April, there is another list allegedly submitted by Alfred Jabu to the Chief Minister, according to coffee-shop politicians at BDC Stampin, Kuching.

“You know who Jabu wants to be the candidate? It must be that senior civil servant” said one political observer answering his own question. He did not name the civil servant.

It is also learnt that Jabu wanted to be the director of operations for the by-election, but PRS has its own man.

The civil servant referred to is Nelson Mujah, the Lubok Antu district Officer. Although for now, he has been named as the Returning Officer, thus putting to rest his chance to contest.

However, William Nyallau Badak was also in a similar position when he was appointed the Returning Officer for the Lubok Antu Parliamentary seat in the 2004 Parliamentary election; he resigned at the eleventh hour to contest against Jawah Gerang of the then Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

Meanwhile, PRS has submitted the name of its candidate for the by-election. Speculation is rife that he is a senior agriculture officer.

However, some PRS members in Lubok Antu are skeptical, as they suspect that the officer is leaning more towards Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) having a very close relationship with Donald Lawan.

Some PRS members do not want another “Masir” or “Nyallau” in the making. They want Unting’s private secretary to represent the party, whose loyalty to Unting and to the party was undoubted.

The Agriculture officer referred to had been noted for his keenness to contest in every election even against PBDS candidates in the 1980s. But each time, he was not selected by, in particular PBB, or SNAP.

He had often been seen in the company of those who were pro-PBB.According to one political observer, he had already like a cock started to crow by organizing a BBQ function at his longhouse a few days ago.

But such a function soon after the death of Dublin Unting made Unting’s relatives unhappy as if the officer and his supporters did not respect the mourning period. It is also said that the officer had met with Jabu last week.

PRS members recalled that Donald Lawan who is a PBB member was behind the candidacy of Masir Kujat for the Sri Aman parliamentary seat in the last election, ignoring Doris Brodie, the number one candidate of PRS and James Masing.

In the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency, Masing’s nomination of Desmond Sateng was also put aside; instead Jabu recommended William Nyallau Badak as the candidate to contest donning PRS shirts.

The selection of Nyallau and Masir who are known to be supporters of PBB had made PRS members unhappy as well as making Masing very unpopular.

Some members openly came out accusing PRS and Masing as being bullied by PBB.For now, the BN is still short listing the candidate for the by-election. But will a PBB man contest on behalf of PRS in the Batang Ai by-election? Let us all wait and see. The Broken Shield

Double-frogged politician born in Sarawak

Joseph Tawie of The Broken Shield

When Bota assemblyman Nasarudin Hashim defected to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and 10 days later rejoined UMNO, some people claimed that he was the first double-frogged politician.

That is not true. I believe the first double-frogged politician was “born” in Sarawak.

It was in Sarawak where this culture of double-frogging began when Ulu Rajang MP Justine Jinggut elected unopposed on a SNAP ticket in the 1982 parliamentary election defected to Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in 1983.

In 1986, he contested on a PBDS ticket and won with a big majority. He leap-frogged back to SNAP before 1987. In 1990 he stood again on a SNAP ticket and was soundly defeated by Billy Abit Joo of PBDS.

Before the State election in April 1987, 28 State assemblymen resigned from their parties to defect to PBDS and Persatuan Rakyat Malaysia Sarawak (Permas).

Those from Sarawak National Party (SNAP) joined Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and they were SNAP deputy president Edward Jeli, SNAP secretary general Joseph Balan Seling, SNAP vice president Michael Ben Anak Panggi and SNAP CEC member Geman Anak Itam.

Their defections prompted Sarawak’s Chief Minster Abdul Taib Mahmud to call for a fresh election which was held on 15 and 16 April 1987.

PBDS won 15 seats, while Permas won only five seats. Edward Jeli, Geman Anak Itam, Balan Seling and Michael Ben won with big majorities in their respective constituencies.

On 14 July 1987, Edward Jeli and Geman leap-frogged back to SNAP, while Balan and Michael Ben hopped to PBB. Sora Anak Rosah defected from PBDS to PBB.

PBDS seats were further reduced to seven when months later Gramong Juna, Mikai Mandau and Bolhassan Kambar defected to PBB.

Sarawak has seen many political frogs since independence, the majority of them were Dayak politicians; and among the first were Nelson Kundai Ngarieng and Stephen Ngelambong from SNAP to PBB, Simon Dembab Maja and Penghulu Abok Anak Jalin from Pesaka to PBB in 1970. Years later Serian MP Richard Riot resigned from PBDS and defected to SUPP.

After partyless for some time, Jawah Gerang joined Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and after only a few months he hopped to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

As for Johnichal Rayong who contested on a SNAP ticket in the Engkilili state seat secretly joined SPDP, and following the objection of other BN parties, he wanted to leap-frog to SUPP and his acceptance in SUPP should be announced before June 2008.

Until today his application to be a political frog is put on hold. Nevertheless, he behaves like one of them.The ugly culture of political frogs will not only promote the evil of corruption, but it is also the betrayal of the worst kind to those people who voted for them.

Unless the government does something such as introducing the anti-hopping law, political frogs will breed more political frogs, and we as Dayaks should support this law as the majority of political frogs come from our community.

But the question is: Why are Dayak politicians so easily succumbed to temptation to become political frogs and to forsake their honour (if they have any way), the honour of their family and their generation to come?

My Say:

First-singled frog politician was born in Sabah in 1976?

Sarawak the Land of "Hornbills and Frogs"?

When Dr. James Masing commented that no BN members of parliament from Sarawak would jump over to the Opposition as “political frogs” and described Sarawak as “Bumi Kenyalang” (the land of the hornbills), and not “Bumi Kataks” (the land of the frogs) he was not quite right. In fact Sarawak and Sabah were once the “lands of the frogs”.

PBS government was toppled because some of its elected members leap-frogged to the Barisan. In Sarawak we have several “political frogs” and one of the most unforgettable episodes was after the Ming Court affair. According to a book, The Broken Shield (page 149), seven PBDS’ newly elected assemblymen turned “frogs” when they joined SNAP and PBB, reducing its elected representatives to eight only. Since then, PBDS never recovered its strength. Finally PBDS was deregistered on 21 October 2004 due to leadership crisis, when some of its members turned “frogs” following the demise of the party.

At the time when they leap-frogged, they were considered as “heroes” by the BN leadership and their jumping over was “in the interest of the people”. But to the PBDS supporters, they were “traitors”.

Now is Masing right to say that Sarawak is “Bumi Kenyalang” and not “Bumi Kataks”? To me Sarawak is both “Bumi Kenyalang” and “Bumi Kataks”. Sarawak is indeed a multi-racial State made up of “hornbills and frogs”. After all, the “political frogs” are still alive and they have their descendents.Adopted from HERE

Politics Malaysia - Anwar vs UMNO

Posted by/in mindspring on September 3, 2008. Worth reproducing it as post on its own.

Looking at the comments flying through blogshpere, it is apparent that the battle line between Anwar and UMNO will be drawn on the basis of race. UMNO the protector of the Malay’s and Anwar the sell out of the Malay’s.

I think - UMNO and its supporters in particular have a conceptual flaw in their thinking an it is a flaw that Anwar is capitalizing on.

Elections is truly a battle of perceptions - perception of which candidate has a better deal to offer. The challenge with perceptions is that it changes with sociographics change. And these are irreversible changes. Unfortunately for UMNO it is trying to relate to a voter base that has shifted - in terms of understanding, in terms of education, in terms of wealth and in terms of aspirations. In a way it is like the dog that bit the master’s hand - because these are the very malays who became what they are because of UMNO policies.

The flaw in the thinking is that UMNO expects this new sociographic to hold on to values of the past. While the past was described by rural poverty, lack of access to basic education, but balanced with abundance of open spaces and clean air, the present scenario is completely different.

The urban Malay is confronted with Urban poverty, lack of access to quality in education, living in fairly confined spaces and a degrading environment.

The fact that remains the same today as it was 50 years ago is that the Chinese are still in control of commerce and a large portion of wealth. The Malays are richer than before but probably still a gap behind the chinese. The difference between today and then is that in todays world. money speaks louder than ever. Anything that you wish can be bought - even kidneys! And this is credit to the NEP whose goal was to enlarge the pie and accordingly enlarge the bumi share of that pie, thus not robbing the chinese to pay the malays.

What the Malays - especially the urban malays are finding is that after so much of material advancement, life is still hard. Policies are not being put out to address the urban issues. The urban issues are being left to consumerism and wealth to dictate. Worst still, consumerism as pushed by Khazanah and the gods of capitalism will only bow to money. And the more everything becomes oriented to money, the more we will the chinese fingerprints - simply because that is where the money is.

Take the fuel price hike. That increase hurt the urban malay much more then the rural malay. The rural malay probably doesn’t travel as much to get on with his life - hence less usage of petrol. Whereas the urban malay has no choice but to cover all those miles by car or bike - going to work,sending kids to school, doing groceries on top of that having to pay for tolls, sit in congestion etc. Telling the urban malay that he cant drive anymore and should now take public transport - is like asking him to take a step backwards. And then at the same time UMNO says be grateful for all we have done.

No lah… people look at today only. Yes, people are 100% grateful for the past, but our reality is what is happening today. Unfortunately UMNO has not been able to move into the present.

Anwar has seized this position - Anwar is about the present and it is a position that works for him - right time, right place. Anwar may be the devil in disguise but that is not the issue, The issue is that politics and elections is a battle for peoples minds. Its a battle of perception.

The more UMNO tries to push the “protector of malay’s” agenda, the more it will backfire. Assumes that of 100% Malays - 50% are true muslims and 50% are liberal malays. The first lot will always be with PAS and PAS’s position is clear - the islamic way. Forget if PAS can run the country or not, that is not the issue. What is interesting is that more Malays professionals are in PAS that in UMNO (I think) and PAS itself in its line up has a much more professionally qualified leaders than in UMNO. These professionals are unfortunately for UMNO, the urban Malays.

OF the other 50% liberal malays - what do they do? Well they either stay in UMNO , become enlightened and join PAS or go mainstream and be with PKR. the decision of where they throw their support is truly a function of the proposition of the respective parties. So UMNO is indeed fishing from a diminishing pond.

Worst still, UMNO’s real strength has been the BN coalition. But that itself is gone. The Indians woke up and said what has MIC done for us and literally decimated MIC at the polls, likewise for the chinese MCA. So the issues we are facing is not just a MALAY UMNO issue. The county as a whole has grown up, and it is ready for a new politics.

UMNO has failed miserable to present itself as UMNO Baru Baru while PKR, DAP and even PAS have presented themselves with youthful candidates - high on energy and idealism. Just look at the contenders for the UMNO VP position and see if you can find anyone below 50 years old?

So my suggestion to UMNO and its supporters, the real battle is a battle of perception. Right now you have lost every round to Anwar. The only way you will win back support is when people see UMNO Baru Baru - No Pak Lah, No Najib, No Khairy, No Mukhris, No Hishamuddin. UMNO has to put forth an Peoples UMNO and not an UMNO that has been inherited by birth right of marriage.

For now you can't touch Anwar!

No way says Maximus

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the PBS Kiulu division was intact, despite claims to the contrary by division chief Sindin Ranggangon that it was dissolved.

"It is nonsense for Sindin to announce the dissolution of the Kiulu division when proper procedures were not followed.

"Sindin has no power to dissolve branches or division," he told Bernama here Monday.

Dr Maximus, who is also science, technology and innovation minister, was asked to comment on Sindin's claims today that the PBS Kiulu Division was dissolved at a special meeting in Kampung Pukak Sunday, with the majority of its office-bearers reportedly resigning their posts.

Sindin, who was issued a show-cause letter recently for suggesting party president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan hand over the leadership to another leader, resigned from the party with immediate effect.

He also declared his intention to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Dr Maximus said the support of the party, especially in Kiulu, remained solid.

"Sindin is not a real loss to the party. He has saved time for the disciplinary committee from holding its next meeting and take the necessary action on him," he said, adding that the party headquarters would appoint an acting division chief among the remaining members of the division soon.

On Aug 14, the PBS disciplinary committee issued a show-cause letter to Sindin for asking Pairin to hand over the reins of the party to other PBS leaders.

He had suggested Dr Maximus as the most appropriate.

Meanwhile, PBS secretary-general Datuk Radin Malleh said there was no provision in the party constitution that allowed an individual to dissolve a division.

Sindin quits, dissolves division

Sindin Ranggangon, who had called on Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (Pix) to step down, had quit the party Saturday. Some 3,000 members of the party in the Kiulu Division followed him.

"We had also dissolved the Kiulu PBS Division," he said Monday. He had been called up by PBS disciplinary committee to explain his action against Pairin but no decision was made apart from issuing him a show cause letter.

Sindin headed the division after defeating the Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Louis Rampas during the party's last election.

Sindin said he was seriously considering joining the opposition party - Party Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Responding to Sindin, Rampas said he respected his decision to resign from the party. "Now it look like I have to start all over again, fillng up membership forms," he said.

Just a show-cause letter

Kiulu Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) divisional chief Sindin Ranggangon who called for party president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to step down was yesterday issued a show-cause letter by the party's disciplinary committee.

PBS secretary general Datuk Radin Malleh said Sindin was given two weeks to reply why action should not be taken against him for his action which was against the party's interest.

Radin said the committee noted that Sindin's action was not in the best interest of the party but at the same time acknowledged his right to be heard.

In an immediate respond, Sindin said he would reply the letter within the stipulated time. He reiterated his stand to stay put with PBS.

My Say:

I am optimistic that Sindin is not alone in wanting Pairin to step down as PBS president. The others remain silent for reason best known to them only.

Anwar Ibrahim in Sabah

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrives Kota Kinabalu this afternoon for a two days working visit. Soon after arrival, he is giving a Press conference at the VIPs Lounge of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Immediately he will proceed to Hongkod Koisaan (Hall) at the Kadazandusun Cultural Assocation's HQ in Jalan Penampang (Kampung Bahang) to give a talks in conjunction with a thanksgiving ceremony for Anwar's return to active politics.

Anwar is now free to be active in politics, including to contest in elections, following his release from political restriction on April 14.

He will also to accept applications from new members joining PKR, one of them ex-Tawau Municipal Council President and also former State Printing director Datuk Hamzah AMir.

Tomorrow, Anwar will attend a gathering an open dialogue with community leaders at Pacific Sutera Hotel, Kota Kinabalu before leaving for Kuala Lumpur in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, PKR Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan today denied that PKR was not allowed by KDCA to use Hongkod Koisaan for the talks by Anwar. He said John Paujik of KDCA's business arm Sumuni Sdn Bhd had given them the approval via a letter sent to him (Jeffrey) yesterday.

"We are allowed to use the hall from 7pm to 11pm," he said.

Dr Jeffrey made the denial after several quarters said that Hongkod Koisaan was closed for PKR, an opposition party, as KDCA is headed by Barisan Nasional's Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Political Secretaries

Ex-Assistant Minister Jornah Mozihim is one of the 11 Political Secretaries sworn-in before Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman in Kota Kinabalu yesterday afternoon. She was assigned to the Community Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry, the ministry she was the Assistant Minister before the March 8, 2008 general elections.

Musa announced Jornah to defend her Matunggung seat in the general elections but her candidacy was revoked by her party Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan two days before nomination day.

In her place to contest Motunggung was Sarapin Magana who won and was also among the 11 who was made Political Secretary yesterday. Sarapin is now Political Secretary to the Chief Minister.

The others who took their oath of office yesterday as Musa's Political Secretary were Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Umno) and Jimmy Wong (SAPP).

The others are Political Secretary to Finance Minister Datuk John Ambrose (UMNO), Political Secretary to Rural Development Minister is Wilfredoline Jakil and Political Secretary to Minister in the Chief Minister's Department John Chin (Gerakan).

Haji Mahlan Zinin (Umno) is Political Secretary to the Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, Abdul Kassim Razali (Umno) is with the Minister of Local Government and Housing while the Political Secretary to the Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology is John Lim (PBS). Isnin Haji Aliaseh (UMNO) is Political Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure Development.

My Say:

Jornah from Assistant Minister to Political Secretary in the same ministry. Interesting what the Rungus community have to say about this as when she was dropped as a candidate, the Rungus had voiced their unhappiness to Pairin and PBS.

Demotion for Jornah? I do not know but Ex-Minister Datuk Kadoh Agundong was in previous State Government was appointed People Development Leader which is a step lower that of a Political Secretary.

How many election petitions?

After the March 8, general elections several political leaders had openly declared that they would file petitions in the High Court seeking orders to nullify the nominations/results of several parliamentary and State constituencies.

The results of the 12th general elections had been gazetted on April 8, those leaders are now free to file their suits. According to the Election Commission, petitions must be filed not later than April 29, this year.

My Say:

The Kota Kinabalu MP seat was won by DAP's Dr Hiew King Cheu. Will Christina Liew of another opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) challenged Dr Hiew's victory? The DAP and PKR are both opposition parties and are coalition government in Perak, Selangor, Kedah, Penang and Kelantan.

Nominated Assemblymen

Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, the president of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), had proposed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman to invoke a provision in the Sabah Constitution for the appointment of Six Nominated Members of the State Legislative Assembly.

Kurup, Pensiangan Member of Parliament and Federal Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister, made the proposal during a meeting with Abdullah in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Monday.

The Sabah Constitution stated that the party that has majority members in the Assembly can nominated six Nominated Assemblymen/Women. The provision is, in spirit, to nominate individuals whose community is not represented in the Assembly.

My Say:

Is such appointment so necessary now that the State BN Government controlled the Assembly with 59 members against a sole DAP Assemblyman Jimmy Wong of Sri Tanjung?

Yes! Prime Minister

Yes, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did have as hectic day-long working visit to Sabah yesterday (Monday - April 7). On arrival in Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur (a distance of 1,018 miles across the South China Sea) about 10am, he met with Sabah Umno leaders for about three hours.

Abdullah then met State Barisan Nasional component party members for another three hours.

The meeting with Sabah Umno who was led by its chief and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) headed by its President Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by its President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, UPKO was headed by President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) by its President Datuk V K Liew and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup led his Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).

All the party's leaders had raised about Sabah's less representation in the Federal Government, illegal immigrants issues, the issuance of Malaysian identity cards to illegal immigrants, amongst others.

Abdullah said:"I met with them separately because I want to give the opportunity to the leaders to speak up on the issues that they feels strongly about. But despite the separate meetings, the issues raised by them were similar. I do recognise that some of it merits consideration."

The Prime Minister's visit to Sabah was the first after the March 8, general elections where the National Coalition Government (Barisan Nasional) suffered the worst elections since the Federation of Malaya gained Independence in 1946 (correction 1957)and the formation of Malaysia when Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya merged on Sept 16, 1963.

Barisan Nasional won 140 of the 222 Member of Parliament seats, less than eight seat for a two-third majority, the remaining seats were won by the Opposition. Abdullah's Government is now ruling the country with only a simple majority in Parliament.

Abdullah's parting promised to Sabah before he went back to Kuala Lumpur was `Sabah will be duly rewarded', a promise that the people of Sabah will be looking forward to be fulfill.


My Says:

Fulfilled before the next general elections is what the people of Sabah want the Prime Minister do now.