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Wilful timing or coincidence? BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Wilful timing or coincidence?

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 09:28 AM PST

by Lian Cheng and Jonathan Chia, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

Pujut assemblyman says his sacking purposely timed to make it difficult for him to appeal

KUCHING: Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck says the DAP disciplinary committee purposely announced his expulsion on the first day of the current state assembly meeting to deprive him of his rights to appeal.

"They made me choose between my own personal interest and that of the people. I cannot sacrifice the people's interest for my personal interest, so I chose to focus on my official duties during the state assembly sitting to ensure that I fulfil my duty as an elected representative," said the first term assemblyman.

Breaking his silence over his sacking, Fong said although he had been given 14 days to appeal, the judgement was already made public which to him was tantamount to pronouncing him guilty before trial.

"Although I have 14 days to appeal, this state assembly sitting takes 10 days. The disciplinary committee did this (announcing his expulsion) to me on the first day. That means they only gave me four days to respond.

"What they have done shows that they disregard the people's interest and deprive me of my right to appeal," said Fong through a sms in Chinese here yesterday.

When asked if he would pay up his outstanding debt to DAP central, he said he had started paying up the outstanding mandatory monthly contribution on Nov 7 and that he had also informed the disciplinary committee, state DAP leaders as well as party central leaders.

Earlier yesterday in the state assembly, Fong when met by the media said he would continue to use his position as a DAP assemblyman to debate during the present sitting despite being sacked by the party.

"For the time being, I will use my position as a DAP assemblyman to debate in the rest of DUN sitting because I still have 14 days to appeal," he told reporters at his office after the morning session of DUN sitting yesterday.

Since the expulsion, there were rumours that in the event his appeal was rejected, Fong would either join another political party or contest as an independent candidate in the next state election.

Fong's sacking by DAP had caught the attention of BN backbencher Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who stood up at the onset of the assembly sitting yesterday morning and commented whether speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar should make rearrangement of Fong's seat considering Fong had been sacked by DAP.

Fong immediately responded that he still had 14 days to appeal against the decision and he should remain where he was.

The party Disciplinary Committee chairman Tan Kok Wai issued a statement on Monday, announcing the party's decision to expel Fong with immediate effect after the disciplinary committee reached a unanimous decision on his expulsion.

In the statement, Tan explained Fong has been sacked for insubordination and the Pujut assemblyman has also been instructed by the party to give up his Pujut seat to pave way for a by-election.

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PRS chief dismisses state DAP leader’s dare as silly

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 09:27 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing describes State DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen's challenge to him to support a motion to review Sarawak's position in the federation of Malaysia as "silly" and "playing to the public gallery".

Masing who is Land Development Minister said yesterday he would not support the motion by Chong because he could not support the move that would spell the end of his political career.

"Opposition tactic is to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN). How can I support a party (DAP) which wants my demise? That is a bit silly. It is better for the opposition to table a motion supporting Sarawak BN and not play to the public gallery," said Masing who is Baleh assemblyman, when contacted yesterday.

He pointed out that his criticisms of BN through the issue of the state's position in the federation were constructive and to strengthen BN administration and to make it stronger and better.

Later when asked about a Facebook (fb) Like page dedicated to him for his call for Sarawak's position in Malaysia to be reviewed, Masing said since he has not seen it he could not comment on the page.

Entitled "Jutaan rakyat Borneo menyokong Dr James Masing memperjuangkan hak hak Sarawak dan status Sarawak", the page was created on Nov 17.

The page also posted a mug-shot of Masing in full state legislative assembly (DUN) attire as its fb profile photograph. Appearing on the page is a combo image of him complete with a caption suggesting that he is "Prime Minister of Republic of Sarawak" and a photograph of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud with the caption "Bapak of Republic Sarawak".

As at 9.30 last night the page had garnered 841 "Likes".

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Chong challenges Masing to support motion on Malaysia Agreement

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 09:26 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

KUCHING: Opposition leader Chong Chieng Jen has urged Tan Sri Dr James Masing and other BN backbenchers to support his emergency motion to review the state's position in Malaysia.

Chong, who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman said he submitted the notice of the motion yesterday and it would be due for determination by State Legislative Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar on Thursday.

In his notice of motion, Chong said after 50 years of Malaysia, Umno, the main party in the ruling BN coalition has forgotten that under the Malaysia Agreement, Sarawak joined Sabah and Malaya to form Malaysia as an equal partner in the Federation. and the special rights and autonomy are enshrined in the agreement "On November 11, 2013, a state minister Tan Sri James Masing, openly lamented that 'when they (Umno) talk to us, they make themselves feel as if they are superior while we in Sarawak, are their coolies'."

He said there is no point for Masing to make statement outside the House but refuse to support his motion.

Chong stated that Umno's utter disregard of the state's equal partner position in the federation takes the form of unfair allocation of development fund for Sarawak and even the ban on the use of word 'Allah' by Christians to refer God.

"Though there is a federal cabinet decision allowing Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use the word 'Allah' to refer to God, there continues to be harassment by some government sectors in this regard."

He said that this stance had undermined Sarawakians' rights under the Malaysia Agreement and the federal constitution.

"It is thus pertinent that this August House makes a clear stand to remind those in power in West Malaysia of the equal partner status of Sarawak in Malaysia and the special rights and autonomy of Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement and our constitution."

Chong hereby resolved that the equal partner status of Sarawak in the federation of Malaysia should in no way be undermined.

He also called for a special select committee comprising representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties be appointed to consider the terms of Malaysia Agreement and to recommend measures to make good and restore at the special rights of Sarawak that have been eroded over the past 50 years.

Chong also called for a demand be made to the federal government that oil and gas royalties payable to Sarawak to be increased to 20 per cent.

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No place for Perkasa in Sarawak — Karim

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 09:18 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

KUCHING: Radical Malay group Perkasa has no place in society, especially in Sarawak.

Assistant Youth Development Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak's racial and religious harmony must not be shaken by such extremism.

"They (Perkasa) are not welcome in Sarawak and so are those other organisations that propagate likewise views.

"Our harmonious inter-racial and inter-religious fabric that has been built up in the state must not be disturbed by those with extreme racial views," he said in a text message yesterday.

He was commenting on a recent news report that Perkasa plans to set up a chapter in Sarawak.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Housing Minister, cited the example of the former country known as Yugoslavia.

"We have seen Yugoslavia disintegrate because of extreme views on race and religion and we do not want the same to happen in Malaysia or Sarawak," he asserted.

The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member said Perkasa should be aware that Malaysia is a multi-religious country where their extreme views do not belong.

Perkasa's reported plans to set a chapter in the state have also received strong objections from Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.

Bung Bratak Heritage Association president Datuk Peter Minos has also spoken against racial and religious extremism, while Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud also hinted that such negative elements should not be spread to multiracial Sarawak.

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SWP up in arms against Perkasa’s entry, says not needed

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 09:18 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

KUCHING: Sarawak Workers Party is strongly against the setting up of Perkasa branch in the state.

Its deputy information chief, Nancy Nais, said Sarawak did not need Perkasa at all. In fact, the state was better off without them.

"We are against the setting up of a Perkasa branch in the state. If its intention is so noble and its existence is to benefit Bumiputras in general then why is it that Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak are not keen to welcome them?

"And, what about the calls to burn the Al-Kitab (Bibles) and the anti-Christian war cry? Has Perkasa ever thought of the feelings of Christian Bumiputras in East Malaysia when they do that? Do you really expect Christian Bumiputras to join Perkasa? she asked.

The call to burn the Bible is strong enough to make Perkasa the invisible enemy, she added.

"What has happened in Peninsular Malaysia will eventually happen in Sarawak if we allow this group of trouble makers into Sarawak.

"We have to constantly remind ourselves and everyone else that unity and harmony will make a strong nation.

"So, let us (especially every Sarawakian and Sabahan) show what tolerance and mutual respect are all about, and they lead to unity and harmony," she said.

She said the claim that they wanted to protect the interest of Bumiputeras here was not true – they had other agenda because "Perkasa is a Malay organisation that upholds the rights and dignity of the Malays".

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Sng shoots down Masing’s call for review

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 09:18 AM PST

Posted on November 20, 2013, Wednesday

KUCHING: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) criticised Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing's public outburst in wanting a review of the state's position in the Malaysian Federation.

In a statement yesterday, SWP president Larry Sng described Masing's rhetoric as "just a big smokescreen to divert attention from the real issues that PRS should be addressing."

He said one of the issues is in regards to land where Penans reside as well as native customary rights (NCR) land matters.

"They position themselves as a Dayak-based party but they are silent when Dayaks are bullied off their land. As the Minister of Land Development his silence on the issue is deafening," said Sng, who was sacked from PRS for gross insubordination a few years ago.

"As for PRS Youth outburst on Sabah and Sarawak not being the 12th and 13th states, the PRS president should be putting a motion in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and his YBs (elected representatives) do also the same in Parliament. Do not divert people's attention," he said.

On Nov 15, Masing told The Borneo Post that Sarawak's position in the Malaysian Federation should be reviewed from the historical aspect.

He said unless the issue was addressed urgently, Barisan Nasional (BN) might have to fight an uphill battle in the next state election scheduled in 2016 and the parliamentary elections scheduled in 2018.

"Is Sarawak one of the 14 states or one of the four regions which signed the Malaysia Agreement? If federal leaders cannot answer this question, the people of Sarawak will continue to be left out in terms of development funds," Masing had said.

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