Parti Rakyat Sarawak - tearing at the seams?

I wasn’t protagonist of Projek KMS (Ketua Menteri Sarawak): Masing

By Churchill Edward, Tuesday November 18, 2008 The Borneo Post

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing yesterday brushed aside talks that he had been harbouring the hope of becoming chief minister since the heyday of the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

Yesterday Masing, also Land Development Minister, denied that he was the protagonist in the so-called Projek Ketua Menteri Sarawak (Projek KMS), asserting that it was “someone else” in PBDS who had harboured such thought.

Responding to allegations by rival leader Larry Sng that Projek KMS was Masing’s plan to become the chief minister, Masing said: “I have never dreamt of becoming CM even during PBDS days. Someone else did. Not me. Larry (Sng) of course doesn’t remember.”

He said Sng was probably too young to recall correctly the then political situation involving PBDS.

He said Sng should not go into PBDS history which he knew very little of “because it only shows his ignorance and naivety”.

“During the days when PBDS was in the opposition Larry was still young and in school. He did not know what was going on then. I now suggest to him that he should not be mentioning things (political situations) during the time he was in school. It will simply show his ignorance of the political situation in those days,” said Masing who is the Baleh assemblyman.

Sng is assistant minister in the chief minister’s department and Pelagus assemblyman.

Masing was asked to explain the circumstances surrounding the so-called Projek KMS to clear the air.

“The Projek KMS was an attempt by the Dayak community in 1991 to be the chief minister of Sarawak. PBDS was in the opposition and it was led by (Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo) Moggie, (Dato Sri Daniel) Tajem and (Dato Sri Edmund) Langgu,” he said.

The Projek KMS claim suddenly cropped up yesterday when Sng was talking to The Borneo Post alleging that some of PRS members aligned to Masing were present at the ‘Friends of PKR’ dinner in Sibu on Saturday night.

“Ask him (Masing) if he still harbours the hope of becoming the chief minister? Since the PBDS days there was this project called Projek Ketua Menteri which James was interested in so that he can become the chief minister,” Sng had said.

Masing also said yesterday that he had received a name list of PRS members associated with Sng, who attended the ‘Friends of PKR’ dinner.

The list which Masing shared was entitled ‘Narna kaban PRS ke enggau makai begulai enggau PKR kena malam 15.11.2008 di Sibu’ (Name of PRS members who attended the Nov 15 PKR dinner in Sibu) and subheaded, ‘Kaban PRS Pelagus (Penyukung kuat Larry Sng - ke betanda celum agi)’ (PRS Pelagus members - Larry Sng’s strong supporters in bold lettering) and ‘Kaban ari Baleh’ (Members from Baleh).

The names listed were:

TR Cr Rabar Nasat,
TR Kendawang Ujan,
TR Lanting, TR Lugum,
TR Along Kik,
Jangi Jemut,
Sengiang Anjan,
TR Melintang Leng,
TR Jengging,
Donald Ding,
Anding Bangai,
Nyambong Rape and
Cikgu Minggu (from PRS Pelagus) and
Deo Kusan (PRS Baleh).

Under the sub-head ‘Kaban ari Baleh’, names like TR Jamit, Johnson Nabau, Ugul and Banggau also appeared.

The names of Ugul and Bangau were followed by initials SPDP which referred to another Barisan Nasional (BN) component Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party. It did not indicate which political party or PRS faction, TR Jamit and Johnson Nabau belonged to.

Masing said he was revealing the names in the hope that Sng would in turn reveal person or persons aligned to him (Masing) who attended the PKR dinner.

“I bet he (Sng) can’t find any. I will be surprised if he can find one,” Masing said.

In response, Sng said even though he had the names of Masing’s men who were present at the PKR dinner, he could not reveal them to the press.

“Kapit is a small town whereby news travels fast. I will submit the names of James’ supporters who attended the dinner direct to the BN leadership. The BN chairman (Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud) ought to be informed first,” Sng said.

“It is not proper for him (Taib) to find out (about the list) through the press. Besides I am not in any rush to grill these small potatoes (ordinary members). I have bigger fishes (party leaders) to catch,” he said.

In response to this, Masing said: “I am sure Larry has bigger fishes to grill - like his (faction) deputy president Jimmy Donald, Women chief Josephine Mawat and Youth Chief Leon Donald as well as vice- president Munan Laja.”

If there is anything in the world which both Masing and Sng can agreed upon it is to sack PRS members who went to the PKR dinner. On Sunday, both leaders said they would take action against these disloyal members.

The King

What can you say?

A range of this species will be gone when they flood the jungles for the Bakun Dam. It's locally called "Durian Tembaga Isa". I doubt the EIA ever mentioned this. Was told this came from the Bakun area. You'll find them right now in Sibu. Season ends December!

It could make you forget we have a world crisis, for a while!

Makan hatilah! Berulam jantunglah!

UPDATE

12:45 AM 11/23/2008

I was mistaken about the name of this Durian.

This evening my brother-in-law said it was Durian "Isa", not "Tembaga"!

Only one way to find out tomorrow at Sunday Market! :D

Sarawak - Change in the Making

Anwar Ibrahim at Friends of PKR and Gabriel Adit's Sibu Dinner, 15 Nov 2008

The initial foray of Parti KeAdilan Rakyat into Sarawak received it seemed was met with a cold shoulder, although there was no mistaking the responses from ardent believers of change. It struggled on and in the last Sarawak State Election won one State seat in the Sarawak DUN in the representation by Dominique Ng.

Thereafter, as the State BN dug its heels in making sweeping changes in land leases, the Dayak community became more fractured as the PBDS-PRS debacle strenthened Taib Mahmud's grip on the political landscape. In the last 8 weeks this changed with the first real stirring of dissent manifest in Beginda's call for the CM of Sarawak to quit. Gabriel Adit, the Independent DUN member for Ngemah followed next building more and more confidence, embolding otherwise nascent support to a culmination of the event last Saturday 15th November, 2008.

The Rajang Exhibition Centre was packed to capacity with more outside unable to get places and donate to the event. Some 7,000 and more in and out of the venue listened to Anwar's message.

Diners had come from all around the outskirts of Sibu, from their farms and kampungs and as many were from Kanowit and Kapit. Sibu City Chinese and Malay citizens came out and many were found among the diners. Others came from far off Kuching. Most were Dayaks in the Rejang heartland, disenchanted with the present sense of disarray and dismay at Dayak and the overall leadership.

They came and they heard Anwar Ibrahim as he declared Sarawak, the frontline in the challenge for Pakatan Rakyat to bring change as he themed "Sarawak: Change in the Making".

Earlier in the afternoon, he had officially declared open the Lanang Division Center and Dudong Branch, at 52, Jalan Chengal, Sibu.

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• Sarawak state rep leads 12,000 into PKR


• Anwar: Sarawak holds key to PKR government


• Should Taib step down? All, but one disagrees.

DAP PERAK Representative stole the thunder from self-proclaimed Guardians of Islam

All Malaysian Muslims should be humbled by believers of universal Islamic values. These believers of values may not have to be Muslims or Malays. They are what ordinarily Malay Muslims call "kafir" or "unbelievers" of the Faith. To members of UMNO, the self-professed Guardians of Islam, this may shatter quite a few things. The general one is the "Guardians of Islam" notion attributed by UMNO members upon themselves. It may be hard to swallow, but that sounds like some sky has fallen down: non-Muslims understand and profess the universalism of Islamic values.

Let's not quibble on this. Both the UMNO members and DAP members are learning. Nothing can be more worthy than that.

In the ensuing weeks or months let's see how the Landas Season fare.

It's raining outside my window and the leaves rustle gently among the branches.

News report from the Newspaper of the Islamic Party, PAS

Khamis 13 November 2008 | 14 Dzulka'edah 1429 Hijrah

Adun DAP baca ayat al-Quran ulas bajet
Johari Jaafar
Thu | Nov 13, 08 | 12:45:56 pm MYT

IPOH, 13 Nov (Hrkh) - Wakil Canning dari DAP yang juga merupakan Setiausaha Kelab Penyokong Kerajaan Negeri Perak telah dua kali menyelitkan ayat al-Quran semasa membahaskan Bajet 2009 Negeri Perak sebentar tadi.

Wong Kar Woh mendapat perhatian daripada semua yang hadir bila beliau menyebut ayat ke-12 dari Surah Al-Hujurat.

Beliau menekan bahawa kita semua adalah adik beradik berdasarkan dari ayat tersebut.

Sekali lagi sebelum beliau menghabiskan ucapannya beliau membaca kalimah "Takmuru nabil maaruf watan hau anil mungkar" dari surah Al Imran ayat 110. - mns_ +

HarakahDaily.net

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TRANSLATION of the News report from the Newspaper of the Islamic Party, PAS

DAP Representative debated Budget and quoted Qur'an

IPOH, 13 Nov (Harakah) - DAP Canning Legislature Representative, who is also Secretary of Perak State Supporters Club quoted the Qur'an twice whilst debating Perak State 2009 Budget.

Wong Kah Woh, drew the attention of all members present when he recited Verse 12, Surah Al-Hujurut.

He emphasized that "all are brothers" according to the Verse.

In his closing remarks, he concluded his speech and recited the verse "Takmuru nabil maaruf watan hau anil mungkar" from Verse 110, Surah Al Imran.

The Qur'an verses quoted

§ 12. O ye who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother ? Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)! And keep your duty (to Allah). Lo! Allah is Relenting, Merciful.

Al-Hujurat

[The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'ân, by M.M. Pickthall]

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§ 110. Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the People of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers; but most of them are evil-livers.

Al Imran

[The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'ân, by M.M. Pickthall]

Abang Jo - a politician and a gentleman

Johari gets good words from DAP-Pending

Wednesday November 12, 2008 The Borneo Post [ Print Edition ]

Although Johari did say the tribunal may be ‘ad hoc’ -- meaning that because the number of complaints may not be enough to warrant a full tribunal -- it’s still better than not having one in the State.
...Violet Yong, DAP assemblywoman for Pending

KUCHING: Violet Yong (DAP-Pending) is pleased that the Sarawak government may set up a Housing Tribunal as soon as next year, modelled after Sabah’s version.

Yong, commenting on Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg’s reply to her clarification a day earlier, said she was “looking forward” to the tribunal.

“Although Johari did say the tribunal may be ‘ad-hoc’, meaning that because the number of complaints may not be enough to warrant a full tribunal — it’s still better than not having one in the state,” Yong said.

In Johari’s response to Yong on Monday, the minister told the august house the state government had already began “studying” Sabah’s Housing Tribunal.

A tribunal would allow disgruntled house buyers to voice out complaints against developers, without the need to launch a court case.

Besides legal proceedings, under present practices, house buyers can approach the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developer’s Association, but action can only be taken against association members.

“Once a suitable model is found,” Johari was quoted as saying, “the state government will make an amendment to the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Ordinance 1993 and the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Regulation 1998.”

Meanwhile, Yong also told The Borneo Post at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday that she was “pleased” the minister had allowed her an opportunity to seek a clarification.

“He’s a gentleman in the Dewan,” Yong said.

“At first after he had answered the tribunal question I asked earlier I stood up, wanting to seek clarification on (whether) a time frame (has been set for setting up the tribunal), Johari said he would allow me a question later. So before he concluded his speech, he let me have my question.”