Adenan does not have to fear, as neither Chieng Jen nor Baru Bian will be the Sarawak Chief Minister on May 7th

Tan Sri Adenan Satem does not have to fear, as neither the DAP Sarawak Chairman Chong Chieng Jen nor the PKR Sarawak Chairman Baru Bian will be next Sarawak Chief Minister on Polling Day on  May 7.

Only one person will be the Sarawak Chief Minister on May 7 – Adenan Satem.

The Gerakan Youth chief said yesterday that Chieng Jen or Baru Bian might be the next Sarawak Chief Minister.

May be the Gerakan Youth Chief, who is undoubtedly the chief political ignoramus among the Barisan Nasional leaders and members, is the only person in the country  who believes in such garbage, but I wonder whether Tan Sri Adenan is not  a bit influenced by him as causing Adenan  to talk as if he might not be the Sarawak Chief Minister on May 7.

Adenan should have more confidence in himself, especially as I have honestly and sincerely said that his position as Sarawak Chief Minister on May 7 is utterly secure and completely unshakeable.

In fact,  I would say that Adenan’s position as the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years is even more secure than Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s position as Prime Minister of Malaysia until the 14th Parliamentary General Elections in 2018.

The Sri Aman parliamentary seat is the 115th parliamentary constituency I am visiting since my six-month suspension from Parliament in October last year for demanding that Najib must not continue to avoid and evade responsibility and accountability for his twin mega scandals.

When I was suspended from Parliament, we were talking about RM2.6 billion donation  and RM42 billion 1MDB twin mega scandals, but in a matter of six short months, we are now talking about RM4.2 billion “donation” scandal and RM50 billion 1MDB scandal.

This means a shocking escalation of 62% in Najib’s “donation” scandal and an increase of 19% in the 1MDB scandal in a matter of half a year while the two basic questions have continued to elude public accounting for the past six years – Where the billions of ringgit came from and where the billions of ringgit have gone to!

I am utterly shocked by two statements on the 1MDB scandal  made by Sarawak Barisan Nasional leaders in the Sarawak state general election.

The first was the statement by the Sarawak Chief Minister, Adenan Satem that the 1MDB has no relevance to Sarawak and should not be an issue in the Sarawak state general election on May 7.

This is most shocking – imagine a global financial scandal which is continuing to shock the world capitals including Washington, London,  Berne, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canberra but Barisan Nasional leaders want Sarawakians as well as Malaysians to disregard it as it is none of their business.

Are we to accept and believe that the RM50 billion 1MDB and RM4.2 billion “donation” twin mega scandals are only concerns of Americans, Swiss, Britishers, Australians, Singaporeans or people of Abu Dhabi but of no concern to the people of Sarawak and Malaysia.

Let the voters of Sarawak vote on May 7 whether they  agree or not!

But even more shocking is the second statement on 1MDB  by the BN candidate for Dudong and MP  for several terms Tiong Thai King who said something which is completely “out of this world” – blaming the Opposition for the 1MDB scandal.

DAP MP for Sibu, Oscar Ling, hit the nail on the head when he said it was ridiculous for Tiong to blame the opposition for the 1MDB scandal by failing to keep the government in check, reminding Ting he was serving Lanang MP from 2009 to 2013, the first four years when the 1MDB committed its worst scam involving tens of billions of ringgit against the people of Malaysia.

Is Tiong therefore claiming responsibility for the 1MDB global scandal, since he was Lanang MP from 2009 to 2013?

Can Ting explain why he dared not ask Najib to assume responsibility and accountability for the 1MDB scandal when the Prime Minister had visited Sarawak over 50 times before the present Sarawak elections?

If Ting dared not ask Najib about the 1MDB scandal a single time despite the Prime Minister’s over 50 visits to Sarawak, will Ting be  more than a yes-man in the Sarawak State Assembly if he is voted as Assemblyman on May 7?

(Speech at DAP Sarawak State general election ceramah at  Kampong Tingkak in Simanggang  on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 12 noon)

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 April 2016, 7:01 am and is filed under
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Call on Simanggang and Sarawak voters to unite to “create miracles on May 7” to deny the new Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan two-thirds majority in State Assembly by voting 28 Opposition Assemblymen

I do not know why Tan Sri Adenan Satem wants to give out the impression that he may be knocked out as the Sarawak Chief Minister in the 11th Sarawak state general election, when it is as clear as daylight on Nomination Day on Monday that there is  100 per cent certainty that he will continue as the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years.

This is why I am prepared to do what is not my practice, to  bet with anyone who said that Adenan will not be the Sarawak Chief Minister on May 7. In fact, I am prepared to bet even with Adenan himself!

Does Adenan really believe that he might not be the Sarawak Chief Minister after May 7? I will like to know the reasons why.

The issue on May 7 Polling Day is not whether Adenan will become the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years, but whether he can be denied two-thirds State Assembly majority to ensure that he keeps his election promises to the people of Sarawak and does not abuse his powers as the Sarawak Chief Minister.

I call on the voters of Simanggang and Sarawak to unite to achieve the objective of “May 7 – Create Miracles” to deny Sarawak Barisan Nasional two-thirds State Assembly majority by voting at least 28 State Assemblymen into the Sarawak State Assembly.

This magic figure of 28 can e achieved if DAP wins 20 to 22 State Assembly seats and the PKR wins six to eight State Assembly seats.

This is a very tall order, but we must be prepared to scale impossible heights  to secure the future for our children and children’s children.

Malaysia has been formed for over 52 years but Sarawak remains a very rich state with the poorest people in the country.  This state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue, as the people of Sarawak regardless of ethnicity, religion or political beliefs are entitled to the fundamental right of development and must be able to share in the wealth of Sarawak.

This is why there must be political change in Sarawak and Malaysia.

The first two steps had been taken in the 2006 and 2011 Sarawak State General Elections. The May 7, 2016 vote will be a critical third step to show that the politics of change is not just the aspiration of the people of Kuching, Sibu, Meradong, Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri but also of Sarawakians all over Sarawak, whether Simanggang, Serian, Tasik Biru, Mambong, Mulu, Murum, Samalaju, Pakan, Ngemah, Katibas  or Bukit Goram.

If this third step for “political change” in Sarawak is achieved in ten days’ time on May 7, then the stage will be set for the fourth step for political change in the Sarawak state general election  in 2021, where DAP and like-minded Sarawakians can aim for the first time to form the Sarawak state government.

In five years’ time I will be 80 years old.  Even if I cannot campaign actively in the 12th Sarawak State General Election in 2021, at least I will feel satisfied that I had played my part in the first three steps of political change in 2006, 2011 nd 2016 Sarawak state general elections to lead to the Great Electoral Contest in the 2021 Sarawak State General Election.

May 7, 2016 will decide whether Sarawak DAP and Sarawakians can keep to this 15-year trajectory for political change from 2006 to 2021!

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak State Election ceramah in Sri Aman in Simanggang constituency on Thursday, 28th April 2016 at 9 pm)

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 April 2016, 7:12 am and is filed under
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Four issues of the 11th Sarawak state general election

I want to discuss four issues of the 11th Sarawak state general election.

The first issue is Sarawak Chief Minister after the May 7 Polling Day.

This question is as good as decided on Nomination Day on April 25, because there is no doubt whatsoever that the Sarawak Chief Minister of Sarawak after the May 7 Polling Day will be Adenan Satem and nobody else.

Only the mentally weak or deficient would think that Adenan would not the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years.

In Siburan yesterday, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Adenan should be given five more years as Sarawak Chief Minister and it is not fair if Adenan is only given two years.

I fully agree with Najib and there is no doubt whatsoever that Adenan would be given five more years as Chief Minister of Sarawak.

The second issue is whether there will be a strong and effective Opposition in the Sarawak State Assembly to ensure that Adenan will keep to his promises to serve the people of Sarawak, ensure that Sarawak recover the autonomy rights and powers from Putraja, and most important of all, ensure that Adenan would not abuse his powers.

DAP fully supports Sarawak state autonomy but we cannot agree with any  abuse of power, and there can e no doubt that barring  DAP and PKR leaders from coming to Sarawak during the state general election to carry out “legitimate political  activities”, which is guaranteed in the Malaysian Constitution and the Immigration Act, is an abuse of power.

This should be a salutary reminder of the need to have a strong and effective opposition in the Sarawak State Assembly to provide the necessary checks-and-balance against abuses of power, bearing in mind the  famous axiom of Lord Acton that “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely”.

The ideal situation is to deny Adenan two-thirds majority in the State Assembly, which will require a total of 28 out of a total of 82 seats. This will not easy to realise  – but it may be achievable  if the DAP wins 20 to 22 State Assembly seats and PKR wins from six to eight State Assembly seats.

The third issue is the effect of the Sarawak state general elections on Najib’s tenure as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

In the past 52 years, no Prime Minister of Malaysia is campaigning as intensively as Najib in the 11th Sarawak state general election. He is not only the first Prime Minister to be present on Nomination Day for Sarawak state general election, but  is campaigning as hard Adenan in the Sarawak general election.

Why?

Thd answer is simple. The Sarawak general election result will be used as a barometer of the popularity of Najib as Prime Minister, whether it could  be used to counter the growing national and international campain that he should step down as Prime Minster  because of his twin RM50 billion 1MDB and RM42 billion “donation” mega scandals.

The voters of Sarawak should be fully aware of this reality, and decide whether they want their vote on May 7 to be used by Najib as a vote for endorsement and confidence of his premiership of Malaysia.

The fourth issue is whether the 2016 eleventh Sarawak state general election could pave the way for a new Sarawak state government in the  12th Sarawak state general election.

DAP has fielded 31 State Assembly candidates – 14 Chinese, 16 Dayak (four Bidayuh, three Orang Ulu and nine Iban) and one Malay.

If the DAP can defend the 12 state assembly seats won in the last general election and  make a breakthrough among the 19 new constituencies, showing that Kuching, Sibu, Maradong, Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri have the support of other areas like Tasik Biru, Mambong, Serian, Simanggang, Pakan, Murum and Mulu for politicl change and meanuingful development,  then the Sarawak DAP will be able to plan to work with other like-minded Sarawakians to aim to capture the Sarawak state government in the 12th Sarawak state general election in 2021.

(Media Conference Statement in Sarikei on Friday, April 29, 2016 at 3 pm)

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 April 2016, 4:46 pm and is filed under
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Najib is fighting for his political life in Sarawak state general election, which is why he supports Adenan in the abuse of  immigration autonomy powers and is bringing the whole Cabinet  of 37 Ministers to meet  in Kuching and campaign in Sarawak next week

The Prime Minister, Datuk Sri Najib Razak is fighting for his political life in the Sarawak state general election on May 7.

This is why he is campaigning as if the 11th Sarawak state general election is the 14th Parliamentary general elections, as he himself had declared on Nomination Day that  the Sarawak polls on May 7 will be a “precursor” to the 14GE in two years’ time, which will decide his future as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

This is also why he has  aided and abetted the Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem in the abuse of Sarawak immigration autonomy powers although Najib should know more than anyone else that it is unconstitutional, illegal and against both the word and spirit of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement to ban Malaysians who are not Sarawakians from entering Sarawak for the sole purpose of carrying out “legitimate political activities”.

Najib is doing a third thing in the  “fight for his political life” in the Sarawak state general election – bringing the entire Cabinet of 37 Ministers to campaign in Sarawak under the guise of holding the Cabinet meeting in Kuching next Wednesday.

In fighting for his “political life” in the Sarawak state general election, Najib has done three things which  had never been done by anyone of the previous five Malaysian Prime Ministers whether Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak (his father), Tun Hussein, Tun Mahathir or Tun Abdullah:

*Personally attending the Sarawak state general election Nomination Day accompanying Adenan in filing his nomination papers;

*Personally involved in a hectic campaign in the Sarawak state general election – as if his whole political future is dependent on the May 7 polling outcome; and

*Bringing his entire Cabinet to Kuching during the short 13-day campaign period, so that the 37 Cabinet Ministers can fan out to campaign for Sarawak Barisan Nasional in the various parts of the state in the  last few days of the campaign period.

I have been wondering why Adenan had gone out of a limb to so callously and recklessly abuse his immigration powers as Sarawak Chief Minister by banning DAP and PKR leaders from coming to Sarawak to carry out “legitimate political activity” when these are  their constitutional rights, especially as there is  no need for him to commit  such blatant abuse of power as his position as the Sarawak Chief Minister after May 7 is absolutely secure  from the political scenario presented on Nomination Day.

I had thought that the only reason for Adenan’s abuse of powers is the result of the pleas of SUPP or other Sarawak BN parties and leaders who feared the participation of DAP and PKR leaders in the Sarawak election campaign – but this does not seem to be powerful enough as the  reason even if there are such pleas.

There is something amiss as  Adenan’s position as Sarawak Chief Minister is not in danger in any form.

But now, Najib has provided the missing link as the reason why the Chief Minister is so blatant in his abuse of  Sarawak immigration autonomy powers.

Suddenly, the 11th Sarawak state general is no more about who is going to be Sarawak Chief Minister or form the Sarawak State Government (which in any event, had as good as been decided) but the fate of Najib as the Malaysian Prime Minister – hounded and haunted by the his twin global financial scandals which have refused to disappear but have becoming bigger and bigger as a result of international developments on the 1MDB scandal.

Adenan is abusing the Sarawak state autonomy powers to protect Najib’s political future.

If Najib, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi and the entire Cabinet of 37 Ministers want to make the 11th Sarawak state general election as a verdict on his premiership, the DAP is prepared to take them on  – but let there be a level playing field and he should advise Adenan to stop abusing his powers under Sarawak immigration autonomy by lifting  all prohibitions and restrictions on DAP and PKR leaders from campaigning in the Sarawak state general election.

Are Najib and Adenan prepared for such a democratic contest for the hearts and minds of the people?

Is Adenan’s Team and Adenan’s Way nothing but Najib’s Team and Najib’s Way?

(Media Statement in Bintangor, Sarawak)

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 30 April 2016, 5:28 pm and is filed under
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Najib is only echoing his father’s pledge some half-a-century ago when Tun Razak’s pledge should have been achieved  more than one generation ago

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in his campaigning for the Sarawak Barisan Nasional in the 11th Sarawak state general election, promised that he is committed to bringing Sarawak to greater heights so that it will be on par with Peninsular Malaysia.

Before Malaysia was formed in 1963, many missions and study tours  from Sarawak and Sabah were organised to visit Peninsular Malaysia to convince Sarawakians and Sabahans that   Sarawak and Sabah would benefit if they agree to form Malaysia with Malaya and Singapore, promising  that Sarawak and Sabah would enjoy the type of development in the rural areas in Peninsular Malaysia if they chose to federate with Peninsular Malaysia to form Malaysia.

The series of study tours and fact-finding visits by Sarawakians and Sabahans  to Malaya succeeded because Malaysia was formed on Sept. 16, 1963.

One clear promise that  Tun Razak, father of Najib,  made on becoming the second Prime Minister at the end of 1970 was that Sarawak and Sabah would be developed on par with Peninsular Malaysia.

I am therefore surprised to read of Najib echoing his father’s pledge some half a century ago, when Tun Razak’s pledge should have been achieved more than a generation ago, and not be used as a campaign pledge in the 11th state general elections in Sarawak more than 52 years after the formation of Malaysia.

Najib’s repeating of his father’s pledge some half a century ago is a testimony of how Sarawak and Sarawakians had been neglected in  Malaysia in the past decades although Sarawak  was firmly under Barisan Nasional Sarawak rule and control all the time.

The Sarawak Barisan Nasional had failed the biggest challenge of Sarawak in the past half a century –  how to resolve the conundrum of Sarawak as one of the richest states in the country, but Sarawakians among the poorest in Malaysia!

Why is Sarawak such a rich state but the people of Sarawak so poor?

I have said that the 11th Sarawak State General Elections on May 7 have already resolved on Nomination Day the question as to who is to be the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years and who will form the Sarawak the government.

Nobody else apart from Adenan Satem is going to be the Sarawak Chief Minister, and the Sarawak State Government will come from Sarawak Barisan Nasional.

The only question is whether DAP will make a breakthrough to send to the Sarawak State Assembly not only Chinese State Assemblymen/women, but also Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu and even Malay State Assemblymen and women  to make the Sarawak State Assembly the most important and critical forum  in the next five years for resolving the conundrum of Sarawak being such a rich state but the people of Sarawak being among the poorest in the country.

DAP has fielded 31 candidates, 14 Chinese, 16 Dayaks (four Bidayuhs, nine Ibans and three Orang Ulus) and one Malay candidate.

This have debunked the lie that DAP is a Chinese party, as it proves the DAP is a party for all Sarawakians and  Malaysians regardless of ethnicity or religion.

The year 2016 is my 50th year in Malaysian politics, and my hope and wish on my 50th anniversary in Malaysians politics is to see not only Chinese, but also Dayak and Malay State Assemblymen and women representing the DAP in the Sarawak State Assembly on May 7.

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak State General election ceramah at  Rh Unjar, Pakan on Friday, 29th April 2016 at 10 pm)

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 30 April 2016, 11:25 am and is filed under
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Salleh should stop making asinine statements like I have said  its a waste to vote for the Opposition

The Minister for Communications and Multimedia Datuk Salleh Said Keruak should stop making asinine statements like I have said its a waste to votethe Opposition in the Sarawak state general elections.

Salleh was trying to be “little clever” when he twisted my admission that Adenan Satem will be the Sarawak Chief Minister and that the Sarawak Barisan Nasional will win the 11th Sarawak state general election into saying that in the circumstances its a waste to vote for the Opposition.

In fact it is an argument for voters to vote for the Opposition to ensure that there will be effective check and balance to ensure that Adenan will fulfill his election promises and not commit abuses and excesses of power.

For the past 50 years that I have been in Malaysian politics, while I started and continued my role in Parliament, at times as virtually a tiny Opposition, I had continued to call on voters to support the Opposition until it could grow into a powerful force capable of providing an alternative to the Government-of-the-day.

If i had said what Salleh claimed I had said, i would be repudiating my life work for 50 years.

I would advise Salleh to be a more intelligent Minister.

He had.been making quite a few asinine statements lately especially in his series of attacks against Tun Mahathir bur he does not seem to have realised that he has only succeeded in making a fool of himself.

(Speech by  at the DAP Sarawak State election ceramah at Repok on Friday 29th April 2016 at 7pm)

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 30 April 2016, 3:41 pm and is filed under
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Seven of the 13 seats carved out of the 12  State Assembly constituencies won by DAP in last general election are in “danger list” for the May 7 poll

This is the mid-point of the 12-day 11th Sarawak State General Election, and the four-prong strategy of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional campaign must not be underestimated as seven of the 13 seats carved out of the 12 State Assembly seats won by the DAP in the last general elections are in the “danger list” for the May 7 poll.

The four-prong strategy of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional election offensive are:

1. The Adenan effect.

2. The Najib effect.

3. Politics of Money.

4. Politics of Fear and Intimidation.

The Sarawak DAP strategy in the 11th Sarawak State General Elections are two-fold:

(I) to defend and win  the 13 State Assembly seats carved out of the 12 DAP seats won in the last general elections; and to achieve a breakthrough by winning a few of the Dayak-dominated seats in the other 18 constituencies contested by the DAP;

(2) to prepare Sarawak DAP for a major plan to win the Sarawak State Government in the 12th Sarawak State General Election in 2021 if the DAP succeeds in demonstrating that it is not only capable of defending its state assembly seats in the urban areas in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri but also to get support outside the urban areas like Tasik Biru, Mambong, Serian, Simanggang, Pakan, Mulu and Murum.

It would be a major setback if the DAP makes a breakthrough in the rural areas but suffers  setback in the urban areas, by losing several of the 13 seats which had been carved out of the 12 DAP State Assembly seats.

Seven of these 13 seats are in the “danger list” in the mid-point of the campaign, and there is an urgent need for DAP supporters and voters to give fully mobilise and  support  Sarawak DAP’s five-year plan, together with other like-minded Sarawakians, to aim for Sarawak State power in the 12th Sarawak State General Elections in 2021.

In Batu Kitang, for instance, although the DAP candidate, Abdul Aziz Isa, is in the lead, there is the danger of  the Barisan Nasional candidate  slip in to grab victory because of split Opposition votes.

The  challenge  is whether the DAP election campaign machinery could reach out to all the Opposition  voters of Batu Lintang to impress on them  on the importannce of uniting their votes behind the DAP candidate and not to split their votes to allow the Barisan Nasional candidate to slip in.

Similarly, there should be a general mobilisation of support to ensure that the DAP can defend all the 13 seats carved out of the 12 DAP State assembly constituencies won in the last general election, to pave the way for the major DAP Sarawak plan for the 12th Sarawak general election to aim for Sarawak state power with a breakthrough by winning several Dayak-dominated seats on May 7.

(Media Conference Statement at the Meradong Operations Centre on Saturday, 30th April 2016 at 12 noon)

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 30 April 2016, 6:20 pm and is filed under
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How can Adenan doubt that his position as Sarawak Chief Minister is completely safe and  unshakeable when he expects to win 70 of the 82 state assembly seats on May 7?

The caretaker Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem has said that he is confident that the Sarawak Barisan Nasional will win at least 70 out of the 82  seats in the 11th Sarawak State Election on May 7.

lf this is the case, how can Adenan doubt that his position as Sarawak Chief Minister is totally secure and  completely unshakeable?

This is the ninth Sarawak state general elections contested by Sarawak DAP since it was established 38 years ago in 1978.

For 17 long years, DAP Sarawak struggled in five Sarawak state general elections  to “break the egg” and make the breakthrough to get one Sarawak State Assemblyman elected into the Sarawak State Assembly.

This was achieved in the seventh Sarawak state general election in 1996 when for the first time, DAP was represented in the Sarawak state assembly – by three DAP Assemblymen.

In the eighth Sarawak state general election in 2001, our Sarawak State Assembly representation was slashed  to one, and it was only in the ninth Sarawak general election in 2006, DAP created the second historic breakthrough of winning six DAP Assembly representatives, leading to the 12 Sarawak Assemblymen and women won by the DAP in the 10th Sarawak state general election in 2011.

Now, in the 11th Sarawak state general election on May 7, 2016, can Sarawak DAP continue to “write history, create miracle” with the double objective to defend the 12 seats won five years ago as well as to achieve a new breakthrough  by winning a few of the Dayak-dominated seats in the 31  constituencies contested by the DAP.

On Nomination Day on 25th April, I spent my day in Tasik Biru; on 26th April I was in Mambong; on 27th April in Serian where there are two seats, Bukit Semuja and Keduk; on 28th April in Simanggang and last night, I spent my night at the Rh Unjar longhouse in Pakan – an itinerary which bespeaks of our determination to achieve a new breakthrough in Sarawak and Malaysian politics to demonstrate that it is not just Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri who want political change and meaningful development, but vast areas outside the townships as well.

This is why Sarawak DAP has fielded 31 candidates – 14 Chinese, 16 Dayak (four Bidayuh, nine Iban and three Orang Ulu) and one Malay-Melanau.

If Sarawak DAP succeeds in its mission in the present Sarawak state general election to defend its Assembly seats in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri and make a breakthrough to win a few seats in Tasik Biru, Mambang, Serian, Simanggang, Pakan, Mulu and Murum, then the stage will be set for a titanic battle in the 12th Sarawak state general election in five years’ time in 2021.

This is because the Sarawak DAP will then be engaged in the great challenge in the fourth decade of its history in Sarawak to prepare to capture state power and the Sarawak State Government in the 12th Sarawak State General Election in 2021, for DAP would have succeeded in demonstrating that it has the  support from all ethnic groups and all parts of Sarawak.

All this will  depend on the Sarawak DAP’s results in the May 7 polls, as Adenan and the Sarawak Barisan Nasional are doing their utmost to block the DAP from such new historic breakthroughs and even to win back some of the DAP seats won five years ago, particularly the Repok and Meradoing state seats.

It would be a major setback if the DAP makes a breakthrough in the rural areas but suffers  setback in the urban areas, by losing several of the 12 State Assembly seats won five years ago.

Sarawak DAP is facing the  four-prong attack of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional election offensive, viz:

1. The Adenan effect.

2. The Najib effect.

3. Politics of Money.

4. Politics of Fear and Intimidation.

These are powerful strategies and some of 13 seats carved out of the 12 State Assembly seats won by the DAP five years ago are in the “danger list”, as Adenan and Sarawak Barisan Nasional is staging a herculean battle  using these four prongs of attacks to win back the seats from the DAP.

DAP supporters and voters must urgently mobilise and  support  Sarawak DAP so that  it could work on the Five Year Plan after the May 7 Polling Day  to aim, together with like-minded Sarawakians,  for Sarawak State power and government in the 12th Sarawak State General Election in 2021.

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak state general election ceramah at Sarikei on Saturday, 30th April 2016 at 9.30 pm)

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 1 May 2016, 8:02 am and is filed under
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The Cabinet must take the opportunity to explain the 1Malaysia Development Bhd and the RM4.2 billion donation scandal after its specially arranged meeting in Kuching

In a Sarawak state election where a record number of top opposition leaders have been barred or placed with travel restrictions in Sarawak, the Barisan Nasional ministers and leaders have had a free run to campaign throughout the state.

In fact, never before in the history of Sarawak elections, had the Prime Minister practically “camped” in the state since nomination day, as if his personal survival is wholly at stake from the outcome of the elections.

The weekly Cabinet meeting has even been shifted temporarily to Kuching on Tuesday to fit itself into the hectic campaign schedule of the Federal Ministers. Under the circumstances, it becomes especially relevant and pertinent for the Cabinet to discuss the exploding 1MDB crisis, especially to the Sarawakian voters who are now increasingly concerned that their tax-payers’ monies are being used to bailout the scandal-ridden firm.

The Cabinet must discuss, decide, announce and explain:

1. The acceptance of the resignation of the 1MDB Board of Directors who have been found to have failed to exercise diligently their fiduciary duties to protect the interest of the shareholders by reining in a rogue management.

2. The acceptance of the recommendation by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the Board of Advisors chaired by Dato’ Seri Najib Razak to be dissolved with immediate effect.

3. The acceptance of the recommendation by the PAC for Article 117 of 1MDB’s Memorandum and Articles of Association which provides for the ultimate decision-making authority to be placed in the hands of the Prime Minister be abolished.

4. The US$50 million claim by International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC) against the Ministry of Finance (MoF) based on the indemnity provided by MoF under the binding 1MDB-IPIC debt-asset swap term sheet.

5. The default of US$1.75 billion of bonds which were guaranteed by IPIC, and the resulting cross default on RM7.4 billion of borrowings by 1MDB which means that the tax-payers are already staring at an immediate bailout of more than RM14 billion.

6. The impending default of another US$1.75 billion of bonds guaranteed by IPIC in October and a RM800 million loan from SOCSO which will further burden the tax-payers with a RM7.8 billion bailout.

7. How the Management of 1MDB made payments of US$3.51 billion to a fictitious “Aabar Investment PJS Limited” set up in the British Virgin Islands which is completely unrelated to the real “Aabar Investment PJS” of Abu Dhabi, which was the underlying cause of the breakdown of the debt-asset swap agreement with IPIC.

8. The allegation by the Wall Street Journal, whose previous allegations have proven true, that the US$681 million which was deposited into Dato’ Seri Najib Razak’s personal bank account originated from 1MDB and were transferred from the fictitious “Aabar Investment PJS Limited” via intermediaries. Furthermore, Wall Street Journal have subsequently alleged that the total deposits into Najib’s personal bank accounts exceed US$1 billion or more than RM4.2 billion.

Finally, given all the damning recent and new developments, the Cabinet must direct the Royal Malaysian Police to immediately expedite investigations into the above matters, granting the Auditor-General full powers to write to all 1MDB’s banking institutions to request for documents and for the Public Accounts Committee to extend its investigations into 1MDB.

The Cabinet must explain all of the above in Kuching because the people of Sarawak have risen to ask these questions to the BN Government as the wealth of Sarawak will be exploited to bailout 1MDB, whether in the form of oil and gas royalties and duties, or income taxes or the painful GST.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 1 May 2016, 5:54 pm and is filed under
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If DAP can win  in Bawang Assan, which was not won by DAP in previous general election in 2011, then Sarawak is ready for DAP Sarawak Plan to capture Sarawak state government in 2021

The battle for Bawang Assan in the 11th Sarawak state general election is very significant, for it was not one of the 12 State Assembly seats won by the DAP in the 2011 Sarawak general election five years ago.

If DAP can win in Bawang Assan on May 7,  then it will be one powerful evidence that  Sarawak is ready for DAP Sarawak Plan to capture Sarawak state government  with like-minded political forces in the next Sarawak state general election in 2021.

The political journey of Sarawak DAP for a more just, equal and democratic society had not been an easy one. It had been an arduous struggle since the establishment of Sarawak DAP 38 years ago in 1978.

This is the ninth Sarawak state general elections contested by Sarawak DAP since  1978.

For 18 long years, DAP Sarawak struggled in five Sarawak state general elections  to “break the egg”  of zero representation in the Sarawak State Assembly  and to make the breakthrough in the Sarawak state elections.

DAP succeeded in getting the confidence of Sarawak voters since the 1982 Parliamentary elections, winning both Sibu and Kuching parliamentary seats, but our efforts to get DAP representatives elected into the Sarawak state assembly eluded us for 18 long years through four state general elections.

In the third Sarawak state general election in 1979,  DAP contested in 11 seats but did not win a single seat. In the 1983 Sarawak state general election, we fielded seven candidates but again ended up with zero seat. In the 1987 state election, we fielded 11 candidates, but was again rewarded with zero result. In the 1991 state general election (DAP’s fourth state election effort), we were even more ambitious and fielded 18 candidates, but ended up empty-handed.

It was only in the fifth Sarawak state general election campaign after 18 long years in the 1996 general election, when we fielded six candidates, that we succeeded in achieving a breakthrough with “three Wongs” from DAP elected into the Sarawak state assembly for the first time – Wong Ho Leng (Bukit Assek), Wong Sing Nan (Pelawan) and Wong Sing Ai (Kidurong).

In the 2001 Sarawak state general election, DAP Sarawak fielded 13 candidates, but we were nearly totally demolished, slashed to only one DAP State Assemblyman  – Chiew Chin Sin of Kidurong seat.

It was only in the ninth Sarawak general election in 2006 (DAP’s seventh participation in Sarawak state election) that  DAP created the second historic breakthrough of winning six DAP Assembly representatives, preceding and causing  the “political tsunami” in the 2008 Parliamentary general elections which  saw Barisan Nasional ousted as the state government in five states – Kelantan, Kedah, Perak, Selangor and Penang – and UMNO/BN losing two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time in Malaysian electoral history.

In the 10th Sarawak state election in 2011, Sarawakians continued to “write history, create miracle” with the DAP State Assembly representation doubled to 12, and which saw Miri joining Sibu, Kuching, Sarikei, Bintangor and Bintulu to demand for political change and meaningful development

Now, in the 11th Sarawak state general election on May 7, 2016, can Sarawak DAP  and Sarawakians continue to “write history, create miracle” with the double objective to defend the 12 DAP Assembly seats won five years ago as well as to achieve a new breakthrough  by winning a few of the Dayak-dominated seats in the 31  constituencies contested by the DAP.

If these two objectives could be achieved, and DAP also win Bawang Assan state assembly seat, then Sarawak will be on the threshhold of a new political history – as Sarawak DAP will be empowered to work with like-minded Sarawakian political forces and justice-loving Sarawakians for a Five Year Political Plan to capture and form the Sarawak State Government in the 2012 General Election – putting into practice in Sarawak the concept of two-party or two-coalition politics.

Is it possible for Sarawak DAP and like-minded political forces to aim for Sarawak State Government in the next Sarawak state election in 2021?

The answer is why not – if Penang and Selangor can continue to be governed by Pakatan Harapan state governments, and not by UMNO/BN governments.

The real answer lies on the outcome of the May 7 Polling Day!

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak state election ceramah in Bawang Assan constituency on Sunday, 1st May 2016 at 7.30 pm)

                This entry was posted on Monday, 2 May 2016, 11:00 am and is filed under
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My three wishes for the 11th Sarawak state general election on May 7

I have three wishes for the 11th Sarawak state general election on May 7.

Firstly, that the DAP will be to defend the 12 State Assembly  seats won five years ago in the 10th Sarawak state general elections – which have now been turned into 13 state assembly seats as a result of increase and redelineation of constituencies.  This is to demonstrate that  DAP’s support among the people of Sibu, Bintanggor, Sarikei, Kuching, Bintulu and Miri remains as solid and powerful as in the past decade.

Secondly, that DAP succeeds in its “political offensive” in the 11th Sarawak state general election to make a breakthrough to win seats in the Dayak-dominated areas like Tasik Biru, Mambong, Serian, Simanggang, Pakan, Mulu and Murum to demonstrate that it is not only in the urban areas, but also in the rural areas, Sarawakians support the DAP mission to create a more just, equal and more democratic society.

Both these objectives are not easy to accomplish.

The caretaker Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem has said that he is confident of winning at least 70 out of the 82  seats in the 11th Sarawak State Election on May 7.

Adenan is spearheading an election  campaign employing a four-pronged strategy  to demolish and slash the DAP  numbers in the Sarawak State Assembly, viz:

1. The Adenan effect.

2. The Najib effect.

3. Politics of Money.

4. Politics of Fear and Intimidation.

I have described the worst-case scenario in Sarikei last night where the DAP could lose up to seven of the 12 State Assembly seats won by DAP five years ago.

But we must prove Adenan wrong on May 7, that instead of worst-case scenario emerging on Polling Day on May 7, the voters of Sarawak are capable of bringing forth the best-case scenario for the DAP.

What is the best-case scenario for DAP on May 7?

The 11th Sarawak state general election is not about who is going to be the Sarawak Chief Minister on May 7, and which political party is going to form the Sarawak state government for the next five years.

Both these issues have already been decided on Nomination Day, as Adenan Satem will be the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years and Sarawak BN will form the new Sarawak state government.

The issue to be decided is whether there is going to be a strong, effective and principled Opposition in the Sarawak state assembly to ensure that Adenan will deliver the election promises he has made to the people of Sarawak and that the disease of “Power Corrupts, Absolute Powers Corrupt Absolutely” will not afflict the Sarawak State Government in the next five years.

The best means to ensure that Adenan will not succumb to abuses and excesses of power is to deny him two-thirds State Assemby majority, which is not an easy target, as it will mean the Opposition collectively winning 28 out of the total of 82 seats in the Sarawak State Assembly.

DAP has fielded 31 candidates in the 11th  Sarawak state general election – 14 Chinese, 16 Dayak (four Bidayuh, nine Iban and three Orang Ulu) and one Malay-Melanau – the largest number in the 38-year history of Sarawak DAP.

I will be elated if DAP can win 20 to 22 State Assembly seats, hoping that PKR can win six to eight state assembly seats,  to make the total of 28 “magic figure”  to deny Adenan two-thirds State Assembly majority.

The most important question, however, remains as to whether DAP can make a breakthrough on May 7 to demonstrate that Sarawakians outside the urban areas like  Tasik Biru, Mambong, Serian, Simanggang, Pakan, Mulu and Murum are standing up with  their brothers and sisters  in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri to demand for political change and meaningful development.

These are my first two wishes for the 11th Sarawak state general election on May 7 – firstly, for DAP to  defend the 13 State Assembly seats carved out of the 12 DAP constituencies won by DAP five years ago; and secondly, to make a breakthrough in the non-traditional DAP strongholds outside the urban areas, which is why I had spent  the first five days of the Sarawak election campaign in Tasik Biru, Mambong, Serian, Simanggang and Pakan. I was in Mulu before Nomination Day and I will be visiting Kapit and Murum before Polling Day.

My third wish is dependent on the fulfilment of my first two wishes – that Sarawak DAP, together with Sarawakians all over the state, can embark on a  Five-Year Grand Vision and Plan  on  Polling Day for Sarawak DAP, together with like-minded political forces in the state, to plan and prepare to capture power and the Sarawak State Government in the next Sarawak state general election in 2021!

I am now 75 years and this is my 50th year in Malaysian politics.

I do not know whether I will be around or whether I could actively campaign in the historic 12th Sarawak state general elections in 2021, but my third wish is dependent on the fulfilment of my first two wishes – that DAP is able to defend the 13 seats carved out of the 12 DAP Assembly constituencies won five years ago as well as able to make a breakthrough in the Dayak-dominated constituencies on May 7.

It is only then that my third wish for DAP to work for the capture of Sarawak State Government in the next five years like what we have done in Penang  comes into play.

Will my three wishes come true?

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak state general election ceramah in Sibu on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 11 pm)

                This entry was posted on Monday, 2 May 2016, 8:05 am and is filed under
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Request to PM Najib  for me to appear before Cabinet meeting in Kuching on Wednesday to present case why Cabinet must take a stand on the 1MDB scandal and to give a briefing of my visit to 120 Parliamentary constituencies in six months

I am writing to the  Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to appear before the Cabinet meeting in Kuching on Wednesday to present the case why the Cabinet must take a stand on the RM50 billion 1MDB scandal.

There are at least eight recent developments which make a Cabinet stand on the 1MDB scandal urgent and imperative, viz:

1. The acceptance of the resignation of the 1MDB Board of Directors who have been found to have failed to exercise diligently their fiduciary duties to protect the interest of the shareholders by reining in a rogue management.

2. The acceptance of the recommendation by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the Board of Advisors chaired by Dato’ Seri Najib Razak to be dissolved with immediate effect.

3. The acceptance of the recommendation by the PAC for Article 117 of 1MDB’s Memorandum and Articles of Association which provides for the ultimate decision-making authority to be placed in the hands of the Prime Minister be abolished.

4. The US$50 million claim by International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC) against the Ministry of Finance (MoF) based on the indemnity provided by MoF under the binding 1MDB-IPIC debt-asset swap term sheet.

5. The default of US$1.75 billion of bonds which were guaranteed by IPIC, and the resulting cross default on RM7.4 billion of borrowings by 1MDB which means that the tax-payers are already staring at an immediate bailout of more than RM14 billion.

6. The impending default of another US$1.75 billion of bonds guaranteed by IPIC in October and a RM800 million loan from SOCSO which will further burden the tax-payers with a RM7.8 billion bailout.

7. How the Management of 1MDB made payments of US$3.51 billion to a fictitious “Aabar Investment PJS Limited” set up in the British Virgin Islands which is completely unrelated to the real “Aabar Investment PJS” of Abu Dhabi, which was the underlying cause of the breakdown of the debt-asset swap agreement with IPIC.

8. The allegation by the Wall Street Journal, whose previous allegations have proven true, that the US$681 million which was deposited into Dato’ Seri Najib Razak’s personal bank account originated from 1MDB and were transferred from the fictitious “Aabar Investment PJS Limited” via intermediaries. Furthermore, Wall Street Journal have subsequently alleged that the total deposits into Najib’s personal bank accounts exceed US$1 billion or more than RM4.2 billion.

The Cabinet must also direct the Royal Malaysian Police to immediately expedite investigations into the above matters, grant the Auditor-General full powers to write to all 1MDB’s banking institutions to request for documents and for the Public Accounts Committee to extend its investigations into 1MDB.

I hope to get a positive response so that I can appear before the Cabinet at its meeting in Kuching, as I have not been able to present an urgent and imperative case for the Cabinet to take a stand on the 1MDB scandal in the recent meeting of Parliament.

This is because I had been suspended from Parliament for six months in wanting the Prime Minister to assume full responsibility and give accountability for his twin mega scandals.

As I had made clear when I was suspended from Parliament, I would make up for my “forced” absence from Parliament for six months in a nation-wide tour of parliamentary constituencies to seek public feedback whether Malaysians want Najib to answer two simple questions: Where the monies from Najib’s twin mega scandals came from, and where the monies have gone to.

I can now state with authority that in my visit to 120 Parliamentary constituencies, the  overwhelming majority of Malaysians want Najib to answer these two simple questions.

Had Najib or anyone of the Ministers visited 120 Parliamentary constituencies  in the past six months to seek the views of the people about the 1MDB scandal as well as Najib’s donation scandal, as I had done?

If I can appear before the Cabinet at its meeting in Kuching, I would also brief the Prime Minister and all the Cabinet Ministers about the public feedback I received in my visit to 120 parliamentary constituencies in the past six months.

(Media Statement in Kapit on Monday, 2nd May 2016)

                This entry was posted on Monday, 2 May 2016, 11:47 am and is filed under
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Great Sarawak Debates on 1MDB  and email to PM Najib  for me to appear before Cabinet meeting in Kuching on Wednesday to present case why Cabinet must take a stand on the 1MDB scandal

I have yesterday emailed the  Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for me to appear before the Cabinet meeting in Kuching tomorrow  to present the case why the Cabinet must take a stand on the RM50 billion 1MDB scandal.

I will give a briefing of the public feedback I have received from 121 parliamentary constituencies I had visited since my six-month suspension from Parliament because of my insistence that Najib should give full accountability for the RM50 billion 1MDB and the RM4.2 billion ‘donation’ twin financial scandals.

I await for Najib’s reply and although I will be going to Song and Kanowit from Pelagus and Kapit, I am prepared to rush down to Kuching to appear before the Cabinet tomorrow because of the critical importance of the 1MDB scandal not only to the economic development of Malaysia but for Sarawak as well.

The situation for the 1MDB is getting more and more grim and storm signals are going off all over the world that the end-game for Malaysia’s first global financial scandal may not be far off.

Bleak and pessimistic analysis appearing about  the fate of the 1MDB scandal, to the extent that one article on the 1MDB today is entitled “Game over 1MDB and Najib?”

The problem is that even if the answer is “yes” to the the article  “Game over 1MDB and Najib?”, it is not 1MDB or Najib who will pay for the RM50 billion debts of 1MDB, but the 30 million people of Malaysia including 2.6 million Sarawakians who will have to pay this garganrtuan bill – including their children and children’s children.

The people of Malaysia do not have an opportunity to express their concerns and fears about the 1MDB scandal, and although it is most unsatisfactory  for this  to be one of the main issues in the Sarawak state general elections as there is no proper presentation of all sides of Malaysia’s first global corruption scandal in the campaign, the outcome on May 7 Polling will be  regarded as a verdict by the people  of Sarawak  whether the approve or disapprove of the 1MDB scandal.

Sarawakian voters must decide whether they want the Barisan Nasional to win a landslide victory in the Sarawak state general election on May 7, and for the landslide BN victory to be hijacked by Najib so that he can tell Malaysians and the world that he has been given a landslide endorsement  by Sarawakian voters for his twin global mega scandals, even Sarawakian support for his continuing as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Regardless of whether Najib will give the green light for me to appear before the Cabinet meeting in Kuching tomorrow, I suggest that the last three nights of the Sarawak election campaign be devoted to a series of Great  Sarawak Debates on 1MDB in Kuching on Wednesday, Sibu on Thursday and Miri on Friday.

DAP representatives will get in touch with the Prime Minister’s Office on the  Great Sarawak Debates on 1MDB in Kuching on Wednesday night, Sibu on Thursday night and Miri on Friday night.

The Prime Minister, Dastuk Seri Najib Razak himself is the best candidate to appear at all three Sarawak Debate on 1MDB scanal in Kuching on Wednesday night, Sibu on Thursday night and Miri on Friday night – so that  Sarawakian voters  can fully understand the ins and outs; the origin, causes, development and solution of Malaysia’s first global financial scandal.

However, Najib has the liberty to appoint any nominees to the Great Sarawak Debates on 1MDB.

I am appointing the DAP National Publicity Secretary and MP for PJ Utara, Tony Pua to liaise with the Prime Minister’s Office to finalise details on the Great Sarawak Debates on 1MDB.

(Media Statement in Kapit on Tuesday, 3rd May 2016 at 12.30 pm)

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 3 May 2016, 12:23 pm and is filed under
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Just as DAP took 24 years before trying to go for power in Penang State, Sarawak DAP is ready to go for power to form Sarawak State Government in 2021 if DAP Sarawak makes  headway in May 7 polls

DAP took 24 years before trying to go for power in Penang State to form the Penang State Government.

DAP was formed in 1966, and the first time DAP declared its intention to form the Penang State Government was in the 1990 General Election when I led the campaign of “Tanjong 2” to go for power in the Penang State.

DAP did not succeed in the 1990 General Election, nor in the subsequent General Elections in 1995, 1999 and 2004; but we finally succeeded in the 2008 and 2013 General Elections, heading the Penang State Government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for the past eight years.

In fact, in the “political tsunami” of the 2008 General Elections inspired by the first political “earthquake” caused by the 2006 Sarawak General Election which had started the series of political shocks and earthquakes in Sarawak and Malaysia in the past decade, Barisan Nasional lost power in five states – Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Kelantan.

Just as DAP took 24 years before trying to go for power in Penang State, Sarawak DAP is ready to go for power to form the Sarawak State Government in 2021 if DAP Sarawak makes headway in the May 7 polls in five days’ time.

Sarawak DAP was established 38 years ago in 1978, and DAP had contested in nine Sarawak  state general elections since 1979 and eight parliamentary elections since 1982.

It was only in the fifth Sarawak state general elections contest in 1996 after 18 years ceaseless and heart-breaking toil and unremitting commitment  that DAP Sarawak succeeded in the breakthrough to be represented in the Sarawak State Assembly although  DAP Sarawak had an easier innings in at the parliamentary level – succeeding to secure the election of DAP Members of Parliament  in Sarawak right from the first parliamentary elections contested by DAP in 1982.

And I am very glad that the very first Sarawak DAP MP to be elected, Ling Sie Ming who was elected MP for Sibu in 1982, is with us working day and night in Sibu  to achieve a new DAP Sarawak  breakthrough  in the current election campaign.

After 38 years in Sarawak politics, nine Sarawak State Elections and eight Palriament elections, DAP Sarawak is ready to make a bid to form the Sarawak State Government together with like-minded Sarawakians in the 12th Sarawak state general elections in 2021, provided Sarawak DAP can make headway in its double objectives in the 11th Sarawak state general election in five days’ time.

These double objectives are for the people of Sarawak to continue to be in the vanguard for political change in Malaysia to “write history, create miracle”  to defend the 12 seats won by the DAP  five years ago as well as to achieve a new breakthrough  by winning a few of the Dayak-dominated seats in the 31  constituencies contested by the DAP.

On Nomination Day on 25th April, I spent the first day  of the Sarawak election campaign in Tasik Biru; on 26th April I was in Mambong; on 27th April in Serian where there are two seats, Bukit Semuja and Keduk; on 28th April in Simanggang and on the fifth day, I spent the night at the Rh Unjar longhouse in Pakan – an itinerary which bespeaks of our determination to achieve a new breakthrough in Sarawak and Malaysian politics to demonstrate that it is not just Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri who want political change and meaningful development, but vast areas  in Sarawak outside the townships as well.

This is why Sarawak DAP has fielded 31 candidates – 14 Chinese, 16 Dayak (four Bidayuh, nine Iban and three Orang Ulu) and one Malay-Melanau.

If Sarawak DAP succeeds in its mission in the present Sarawak state general election to defend its Assembly seats in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri and make a breakthrough to win a few seats in Tasik Biru, Mambong, Serian, Simanggang, Pakan, Mulu and Murum, then the stage will be set for a titanic battle in the 12th Sarawak state general election in five years’ time in 2021.

If DAP Sarawak can achieves in two objectives in the 11th Sarawak state general elections,  Sarawak DAP will be empowered to work with like-minded Sarawakian political forces and justice-loving Sarawakians on  a Five Year Political Plan to capture and form the Sarawak State Government in the 2012 General Election – putting into practice in Sarawak the concept of two-party or two-coalition politics.

The question is whether Sarawakians are ready for this new political challenge!

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak State General Election Ceramah at the Empawi Longhouse in Bukit Goram on  2nd May 2016 at 9 pm)

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 3 May 2016, 6:29 am and is filed under
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Sarawak BN is running  the most schizophrenic election campaign in Malaysian election history

Only eight days into the 11th Sarawak state general election on May 7, Sarawak Barisan Nasional is running the most schizophrenic election campaign in Malaysian election history, painfully reflecting the confusion, “double vision” and split personality of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional campaign.

The best example is the reaction of the PBB Deputy President Abang Johari Abang Openg who warned Barisan Nasional not to be lulled into a false sense of security by my statement that DAP risks losing seven seats.

Abang Johari should not be accusing me of employing a  “ploy”, but should direct his attack on the Sarawak Chief Minisrer, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, as I was only taking   Adenan  seriously when he declared two days ago that Barisan Nasional would win at least 70 of the 82 seats in the May 7 polls.

This would leave at most 12 seats to be won by the Opposition. Baru Bian predicts five seats for PKR, which leaves only some five to seven seats for the DAP – which fits exactly the worst-case scenario described by Adenan, and why I had warned in Sarikei on Saturday night that DAP risked losing more than half of the 12 seats won in the 2011 general election.

If I am wrong, then it was Adenan who was wrong in publicly declaring that BN would win at least 70 out of 82 State Assembly seats on May 7.

It is open secret however that Sarawak Barisan Nasional is embarking on an incessent and intensive four-prong strategy to eliminate or at least halve the DAP State Assembly representation, viz:

1. The Adenan effect.

2. The Najib effect.

3. Politics of Money.

4. Politics of Fear and Intimidation.

In fact, I have received disturbing reports that the money politics employed in this election campaign in some areas is on a scale which would put to shame past blatant use of money to win votes and seats.

The politics of fear and intimidation in this campaign is  also unprecedented and the DAP candidate, Larry Asap; is a victim where he is warned not to enter and visit a kampong in the Bukit Goram constituency.

Adenan and BN are  working very hard  to achieve a worst-case scenario for DAP, but all DAP supporters and voters must embark on a full mobilisation in the last four days of election campaign to achieve the two-fold DAP objectives:  firstly, to defend and win  the 13 State Assembly seats carved out of the 12 DAP seats won in the last general elections; and secondly, to achieve a breakthrough by winning a few of the Dayak-dominated seats in the other 18 constituencies contested by the DAP so as to send a multi-ethnic group of  Chinese, Dayak and Malay State Assembly representatives into the Sarawak State Assembly.

This is not the only example of the “schizophrenic” nature of the Barisan Nasional election campaign in Sarawak.

Another example of the “schizophrenia” and even hypocrisy of the Sarawak BN campaign  is the abuse of power of immigration autonomy by the Sarawak Chief Minister by denying DAP and PKR leaders their basic rights to carry out “legitimate political activities” as guaranteed by the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, the Malaysian Constitution and the Immigration Act.

If Adenan is so confident of winning at least 70 of the 82 State Assembly seats on May 7 polling day, why must he blemish and blot his image as a democrat and reformer to deny DAP and PKR leaders their democratic and legitimate constitutional rights?

Or is this at the plea of SUPP and other Sarawak Barisan Nasional parties and leaders?

Or is this to protect the Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has hijacked the Sarawak general election campaign from Adenan, turning the 11th Sarawak general election into a popularity vote for Najib,  although without informing the Sarawak voters that a vote for BN on May 7 would be trumpetted to the nation and the whole world as a vote for Najib?

Adenan bars DAP and PKR leaders from entry into Sarawak to carry out legitimate political activities to campaign in the Sarawak general election.

Would he dare to bar the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister or even the entire Cabinet of 37 Ministers to enter Sarawak to campaign for the BN in the Sarawak general election?

I am not for a moment suggesting that Adenan should bar the PM, DPM and the 37 Ministers entry into Sarawak to campaign in the Sarawak general election, for this would be an abuse of power by the Chief Minister which is completely wrong and unjustifiable. But such a ban would be completely unthinkable!

The treatment of the PKR Vice President Nurul Izzah Anwar is most shameful, disgraceful and unfitting of Adenan’s  “gentleman” persona.

Adenan publicly said that he would consider allowing Nurul  into the state if she asked him ‘politely’ to be allowed entry into Sarawak.

This is what Nurul had done but she found herself barred in Miri from entry into Sarawak.

I just cannot understand why Adenan is so afraidd of Nurul that he prepared to abandon his code of conduct as a gentleman – another example of the schizophrenic character of the Barisan Nasional   election campaign.

It will be interesting to organise a contest for participants to cite the many examples of the schizophrenic character of the Barisan Nasional election campaign in Sarawak  in the 12 days from Nomination to Polling Day to fathom the depth of schizophrenia of the Sarawak BN strategists and campaigners.

(Speech  at the DAP Sarawak state general election ceramah in Kapit on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 8 am)

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 3 May 2016, 8:06 am and is filed under
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Call on Sarawak voters to cast their vote on Saturday to ensure that the DAP can campaign to capture the Sarawak state government in the next Sarawak State Election in  five years’ time in 2021

Two issues in the 11th Sarawak state general election on May 7 are already decided – that Tan Sri Adenan Satem will be the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years and that the Sarawak Barisan Nasional will form the next Sarawak State Government.

The real issue about  the Sarawak State Assembly to be decided on Sarawak Polling Day is whether there is going to be a  strong, effective and principled Opposition grouping in the Sarawak State Assembly to ensure three things: (i) that Adenan keeps his election promises to serve the people; (ii) Adenan does not abuse his powers as Chief Minister; and (3) to prepare for a new non-Sarawak BN government in five years’ time in the next Sarawak state general election in 2021.

With the situation very clear that Adenan will be the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years with Sarawak Barisan Nasional as  the State Government, the most ideal result of the May 7 Polling is for the denial of Adenan’s two-thirds majority in the State Assembly which is the best safeguard to protect the rights and interests of Sarawakians.

However, I do not think this is likely to be achieved on Polling Day on Saturday as I do not see the signs that the Opposition collectively will be able to win 28 State Assembly seats, the “magic figure” to deny Adenan two-thirds majority in the 82-seat Sarawak State Assembly.

I hope  more than 20 Opposition State Assembly representatives could be elected on May 7, which would be a resounding setback for  the many high-handed actions taken by the Sarawak Barisan Nasional in the election campaign,  aimed at reducing the DAP to  a “mosquito” presence of about half-a-dozen seats in the State Assembly.

Through the four-pronged strategy of Adenan effect, Najib effect, politics of money and politics of fear/intimidation, Adenan hopes to crush the DAP in  our strongholds in Kuching, Sibu, Sarieki, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri.

There are analysts who believe that DAP had adopted a wrong strategy of “over-reach” in the 11th Sarawak state general election as we should be defending the 12 seats which we won five years ago instead of over-stretching our resources campaigning in the Dayak areas all over the state.

DAP Sarawak has adopted a very high-risk strategy, as there is no doubt that it would be easier and safer to concentrate on defending the 12 DAP seats in Kuching, Sibu, Bintangor, Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri instead of more than doubling our candidate numbers requiring DAP leaders to try to cover all the 31 constituencies where we have fielded candidates.

However, the Sarawak DAP decision is right as the DAP is a principled political party which want to represent all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region. DAP had never wanted to be a Chinese or a peninsular party, as right from the formation of DAP, we are committed to be a Malaysian political party to serve all races, religions and regions in the country.

This is why Sarawak DAP has embarked on the two-fold objective in the 11th Sarawak state general election to firstly, defend the 12 State Assembly seats we won five years ago; and sceondly, to make a breakthrough outside the urban areas to demonstrate that the political change and meaningful development espoused by DAP have the support not only of the Chinese in Sarawak, but also the Dayaks and Malays; and that it is not only in the urban areas in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri that the DAP message for change and renewal finds resonance and support, but also in the rural areas as well.

I admit  that DAP Sarawak is taking high risks and may fall between two stools – failing to  defend the 12 seats we won five years ago and also failing to achieve any success and breakthrough in the 18 Dayak-dominated seats DAP is contesting on May 7.

Adenan and Sarawak BN are doing their utmost to ensure that Sarawak DAP fail in May 7, and only the voters of Sarawak can save the DAP from the four-prong attacks from Sarawak BN.

I call on the Sarawak voters to fully mobilise to save DAP so as to save Sarawak. In particular, I call on  Sarawak voters to cast their vote on Saturday to ensure that the DAP can campaign to capture the Sarawak state government in the next Sarawak State Election five years’ time in 2021 – for this is the only way to ensure real change and improvement in the lot of Sarawakians!

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak state general election ceramah in Song on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 9 pm)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 4 May 2016, 7:29 am and is filed under
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The battle cry in the next Sarawak state general election in 2021 is that a new Sarawak State Government involving the DAP and like-minded Sarawakians will be able to achieve more  in 20 years what Barisan Nasional failed to do in 60 years in terms of development and upliftment of the poor and needy

Dayak DAP State Assemblymen will demand a full explanation by Sarawak Barisan National Government the reasons for 53 years of development backwardness and failures in Sarawak and  to give a final warning that DAP Sarawak State Government will take over in 2021 unless there is meaningful remedy of these basic failures.

This will undoubtedly be the main thrust of the agenda of Dayak DAP State Assemblymen  elected on Saturday on May 7 when they take their place in the Sarawak State Assembly.

I have visited more than a dozen Dayak constituencies in the past two weeks – including Mulu, Marudi, Tasik Biru, Mambong, Bukit Semuja, Kedup, Simanggang,  Krian, Pakan, Bukit Goram, Katibas and Ngemah, and will visit Samalaju, Kemena and Murum.

I find the tour of the Dayak constituencies most enriching  and eye-opening experience,  learning not only about Dayak  hospitality, the rich cultures and even the  long history of the Dayaks –  over a hundred years of the Kelabit high-achievers  in Bario and  the some two centuries of the Bidayuh in Bau surroundings – but I am also  shocked by the backwardness of many Dayak communities, especially in terms of basic infrastructures and basic human needs which are not being met.

I was in Kapit and Song the last 24 hours and it is most shocking that although the multibillion-ringgit Bakun Dam is in the Kapit Division, the majority of the long-houses in the three districts in the area – Song, Kapit and  Pelagus – do not enjoy electricity let alone piped water.

A DAP Sarawak State Government will ensure that the longhouses in the Kapit Division of Song, Kapit and Pelagus districts will enjoy electricity in view of the vicinity of the multibillion ringgit  Bakun Dam project. Why can’t the Barisan Nasional government do the same thing?

In every general election, the voters in Kapit and Song will be promised the “mythical”  road to connect the two towns, as well as the road to connect Song to Kanowit, but such a road to connect Kapit to Song, and Song to Kanowit,  remained “myths”  after 53 years of Malaysia – with the promise to build them  recycled over and over again as a vote-getter whenever general elections come around.

Dayak DAP Sarawak State Assemblymen will not  allow such developmental neglect in Sarawak to continue without constant challenges, reminders and even warnings. In fact, I have no doubt that they  will make this subject one of their top priorities if they are elected to  the Sarawak State Assembly on Saturday.

I would expect the  Dayak DAP Sarawak State Assemblymen to give the Sarawak Barisan Nasional the final warning that unless the Sarawak Barisan Nasional State Government reforms itself, changes its total mindset to put the interests of the ordinary Sarawakians above all other agendas, and seriously embark on a programme to make up for the five to six decades of developmental neglect of the ordinary Sarawakians, DAP Sarawak will campaign in the next Sarawak State General Election in 2021 for a change of government.

The battle cry  in the 2021 Sarawak state general election will be the promise that a new Sarawak State Government involving the DAP and other like-minded Sarawakians will be to do better in 20 years in terms of development and upliftment of the poor and needy in  Sarawak than the failures of the  Sarawak Barisan Nasional government in 60 years – as the Sarawak  Barisan Nasional would be in power in Sarawak for six decades by the time of the next Sarawak state general election.

However, for the DAP to be able to campaign in the next Sarawak state general election in 2021 for a change of government and the end of Barisan Nasional rule in Sarawak – as has happened in Penang and Selangor – DAP must achieve our two objectives in the May 7 polls.

This is to defend the 12 DAP seats in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri won five years ago and to make a historic breakthrough by winning several Dayak-majority seats, like Ngemah (N. 49) where our candidate Richard Lias, the Secretary-General of Dayak National Congress, is contesting as a DAP candidate.

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak general election ceramah at Rh Merikan in Ngemah state assembly constituency on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 2 pm)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 4 May 2016, 7:33 pm and is filed under
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Time for Katibas voters to have a young, dedicated and idealistic State Assemblyman instead of a seven-term incumbent who became Assemblyman even before Paren Nyawi was born and could not build the road from Song to Kapit and Kanowit after more than three decades

It is time for the Katibas voters to have a young, dedicated and idealistic State Assemblyman instead of a seven-term incumbent, Datuk Ambrose Blikau,  who became  Assemblyman even before the DAP candidate Paren Nyawi was born and could not build the road from Song to Kapit and Kanowit after more than three decades as government representative for the area.

Before the formation of Malaysia, numerous  fact-finding missions from Sarawak visited Peninsular Malaysia and were promised that if Sarawak, together with Sabah and Singapore, agreed to form Malaysia, the people of Sarawak particularly in the rural areas could expect a standard of development and living comparable to those in the rural areas in the peninsula.

We now have the third generation of Sarawakians, after 53 years of the formation of Malaysia, but the promises made in the early sixties have still to be fulfilled or the road from Song to Kapit and from Song to Kanowit would have been completed one generation or two ago.

The three districts of the Kapit division, viz Song, Kapit and Belaga, are among the most backward in terms of development infrastructure not only in Sarawak but in the whole of  Malaysia as well.

The Bakun Dam is in the Kapit division but most of  the long-houses in the division are still without basic amenities and infrastructures, like electricity, piped water, rudimentary roads and the most health and education facilities.

What is being done to ensure that with Bakun Dam in Kapit division, the districts of Song, Kapit and Belaga will able to benefit and that the longhouses in the area would have the highest percentage of households with electricity supply?

Another example of the 53-year government  failure is the large number of Sarawakians who have to go outside the Sarawak state to find jobs to eke out  a living, as the Barisan Nasional state government is unable to perform its most basic duty – to creat enough jobs to keep step with the population increase in the state so that Sarawakians can find gainful employment in their own state.

This is why the time has come for a change of mindset, culture and governance in Sarawak, starting with the election of young, dedicated and idealistic Sarawakians like Paren Nyawi in Katibas, Larry Assap in Bukit Goram and Rinda Alexander in Pakan.

Paren, who  had won the Mr. Borneo Hornbill Festival 2011 title, is a 35-year old local Iban from Rumah Jarop, Song, with a bacherlor’s degree in accountancy from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam. He had worked in Kuala Lumpur as an auditor for 10 years before returning home to take up politics full-time to serve his community and Sarawakians in Katibas and Sarawak.

The May 7 Sarawak general election is an important electoral test, for it is to lead to the great  electoral contest in the next Sarawak state general election in 2021, when DAP  will for the first time in over four decades  campaign to capture and form  the Sarawak State Government with mutli-ethnic and multi-religious team of Dayaks, Chinese and Malays.

(Speech at the DAP Sarawak state general election ceramah at Rh Nganga Beguang. Song in the N62 Katibas state assembly seat on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 5 pm)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 4 May 2016, 6:26 am and is filed under
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Call on voters of Sarawak to solidly vote for DAP  to deliver two powerful “Yes” and one  even more powerful “No” on May 7

I call on the voters of Sarawak to solidly vote for the 31 DAP candidates to deliver two powerful “Yes” and one even more powerful “No” in the 11th Sarawak state general election on Saturday on May 7.

The May 7 Polling Day will decide the success or failure of the two-pronged  DAP objective in the 11th Sarawak state general election  to defend the 12 State Assembly seats won five years ago and to achieve a breakthrough in Dayak-dominated constituencies and  to send a clear, categorical  and unmistakable message that a new political era has arrived in  Sarawak where  rural areas like Samalaju, Kemena, Murum, Mulu, Tasik Biru, Mambong, Bukit Semuja, Kedup, Simanggang, Pakan, Bukit Goram, Pelagus, Ngemah have joined their brothers and sisters in the urban areas in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri to demand for political change and meaningful development.

The message of the two powerful “Yes” and the even more powerful “No” which the voters of Sarawak must send out to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the caretaker Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Malaysia and the world are:

The first loud and clear “Yes” is to Adenan as the next Chief Minister of Sarawak for the next  five years. Adenan himself said many a time that he is 72 years old and wanted only another five years as Sarawak Chief Minister as he wants to retire and play with his grand children.  The first “Yes” includes a “Yes” to Sarawak Barisan Nasional forming the Sarawak state government for the next five years as the issue of who is going to be the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years was as good as decided and resolved on Nomination Day on April 25, 2016.

The second loud and powerful “Yes” is to have a strong, effective and principled Opposition in the Sarawak State Assembly to ensure that Adenan deliver his promises to give top priority to the rights and interests of Sarawakians, and even more important, to check him from any abuses and excesses of power, bearing in mind Lord Acton’s maxim: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely”!

The ideal result on May 7 is to deny Adenan two-thirds State Assembly majority, which will require a collective Opposition strength of 28 out of the total of 82 State Assembly seats.

This appears very difficult to achieve, and I will personally be delighted if DAP can win over 20 State Assembly seats on May 7 – which will also start the Sarawak DAP on the new journey to aim to form the Sarawak State Government with like-minded Sarawakians in  the next 12th Sarawak State Government in 2021.

Adenan said he would not be around for the next 12th Sarawak state general election as he would have retired.  It should be a time for the resetting of Sarawak politics as it will decide who will be the next Sarawak Chief Minister. Why should he be from the Sarawak Barisan Nasional only.

Then there is the third and even more significant verdict by the voters of Sarawak, to be heard loud and clear not only in Sarawak and Malaysia, but throughout  the world – a powerful  and ear-splitting “NO” to Najib to hijack the  11th Sarawak State General Election as an endorsement of his premiership and in particular approval for his role and responsibility in the RM55 billion 1MDB global financial scandal.

This is why Najib has done what no other Malaysian Prime Ministers had done before – virtually hijacking the Sarawak general election into a mini-referendum for his premiership and  mishanding of the RM55 billion 1MDB scandal, even more concerned about the outcome of the May 7 Polls than Adenan to the extent that Najib was in Sarawak on Nomination Day, visited Sarawak more than 60 times by now, directed his Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers to campaign in the Sarawak state general elections and even shifting the Cabinet meeting from Putrajaya to Kuching yesterday!

We are not seeing Adenan’s Team or Adenan’s Way but Najib’s Team and Najib’s Way.

Najib wants the Sarawak voters on May 7 to say “Yes” to his premiership and the RM55 billion 1MDB scandal – but the voters of Sarawak must do the opposite, deliver a powerful and ear-splitting “NO” which will not only resonate throughout Malaysia but the whole wide world that Sarawakians want Najib to step down as Prime Minister unless he could give a full and satisfactory accounting of the 1MDB scandal by before Polling Day on May 7.

Yesterday, coinciding with the shifting of the Cabinet meeting from Putrajaya to Kuching, the Ministry of Finance announced that it is fully implementing the various recommendations contained in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on 1MDB, like the abolition of the 1MDB Board of Advisers with the Prime Minister as the chairman, the removal of Article 117 and to change all references from the Prime Minister to the Minister of Finance in the 1MDB memorandum and articles of association,  the transfer of ownership of Bandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, TRX City Sdn. Bhd, Air Itam lands and Pulau Indah land to the MOF Inc, etc.

These  MOF measires  are too little and too late, totally inadequate to the enormity of the heinous crimes committed in Malaysia’s first global financial scandal which has now placed Malaysia among the top most corrupt nations in the world.

What the MOF is doing is the classic case of “locking the stable door after the horse has been stolen”!

Are there no gross corruption, rampant criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of funds or is the 1MDB scandal to go down in Malaysian and world history as among the leading corruption scandals which fall under the category of   “heinous crime without criminals”?

What is the use of change of reference to Prime Minister to the Finance Minister whether in 1MDB Memorandum and Articles of Association or elsewhere when these two posts  are held by the same person, i.e. Najib or will Najib announce before Sarawak polling day on May 7 that he will relinquish the post of Finance Minister?

Further, the MOF is guilty of conflict of interest in deciding what to do with the PAC report on 1MDB, as the Finance Minister is none other than the Prime Minister, who is the person behind all major decisions of 1MDB under Article 117 of the 1MDB M&A.

The Ministry of Finance is in the dock, but it is now acting as judge and jury!

The PAC report on 1MDB is studded with fundamental flaws.

For instance,  the PAC Report on 1MDB did not append the Auditor-General’s Interim Report on 1MDB submitted to the PAC in June last year; nor did  it attach the Auditor-General’s 300-page final audit report on the 1MDB submitted to the PAC in March.

Furthermore, it has now been disclosed that the PAC Chairman, Datuk Hasan Arifin had committed a serious breach of parliamentary privilege when he unilaterally and arbitrarily edited the PAC report to hide reference of the key role of one of the masterminds of 1MDB scandal – the Penang billionaire Jho Low.

Clearly, the PAC report on 1MDB scandal is only the tip of the iceberg, as anyone who  have read the 106-page PAC report will find that it is a “Whodunnit” mystery with  the mastermind behind Malaysia’s first global financial scandal  fingered, but  still to be openly identified.

Malaysians do not have an opportunity to express their dismay and disgust about the 1MDB scandal.  Sarawak voters must therefore speak on behalf of Malaysians to deliver a powerful “NO” on May 7 to declare their rejection of Najib’s handling of the 1MDB scandal so far and to demand that Najib step down as Prime Minister if he cannot provide a full and satisfactory accounting of Malaysia’s first global financial scandal before Polling Day on May 7.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 5 May 2016, 8:07 am and is filed under
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Mystified why Najib gave Adenan an open slap-in-the-face by rejecting Sarawak Barisan Nasional request for 20 per cent oil royalty for Sarawak on eve of May 7 Polling

I must confess I am mystified why the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak had given Tan Sri Adenan Satem an “open slap-in-the-face” by rejecting the Sarawak Barisan Nasional’s request for 20 per cent oil royalty for Sarawak on the eve of the May 7 Polling.

Why could’nt Najib wait until after the 11th Sarawak state general results on May 7 to deliver such bad news to the people of Sarawak?

Is it because  it is finally not Adenan’s Team and Adenan’s Way but Najib’s Team and Najib’s Way as far as the 11th Sarawak State General Election is concerned?

The reason given by the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for Najib’s announcement after the Cabinet meeting in Kuching yesterday that this would not be the right time to consider raising the state’s oil royalty to 20 percent is too patronising and an insult to the intelligence of Sarawakians.

Zahid said that the total RM20 billion allocations handed to Sarawak by the federal government is more than the 20 percent oil royalty to the state.

Zahid claimed that Najib’s allocation for the Pan Borneo Highway, as well as those from other federal ministers, have exceeded RM20 billion.

Zahid had said that the weekly Cabinet meeting had been switched from Putrajaya to Kuching to support Adenan’s leadership in Sarawak.

This a very strange and funny  way for the Cabinet to  support Adenan’s Chief Ministership in Sarawak, as the Cabinet should have approved Adenan’s request for 20% oil royalty.

Instead, the Cabinet meeting in Kuching decided to reject Adenan’s 20% oil royalty request and claimed  this is to support Adenan’s Chief Ministership!

How can this be taken as a way to support Adenan’s Chief Ministership?

This is not the first time that Barisan Nasional federal and state leaders have insulted the intelligence of Sarawakians by making the most dumb statements and claims.

One such example is the incredible statement by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak purportedly urging the voters in Simanggang not to “sell” their rights for money but to retain their votes as a prized possession that can be used to decide their future.

The Election Commission has so far been “blind, deaf and dumb” to the massive election abuses in the 11th Sarawak state general elections, especially in  the politics of money and politics of fear and intimidation employed against DAP candidates.

In fact, the politics of money appeared to have exceeded previous elections, with voters being bribed to vote for Barisan Nasional ranging from a few hundreds per voter to as high as RM2,000 per voter.

Voters should pocket whatever is offered them, but  vote for change and the sake of future generations.

Federal and State Ministers have openly flouted elections laws to ensure a clean, free and fair elections by announcing allocations and approvals for development projects during the campaign period, but the Election Commission is blissfully “blind, deaf and dumb” to such election malpractices and offences,  not lifting a single finger to ensure that the 11th Sarawak state general elections is fair, free and clean.

The Election Commission has failed  its constitutional duty to conduct, not just an election, but one which is free, fair, clean and democratic!

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 5 May 2016, 12:25 pm and is filed under
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Call on Sarawak voters to think “2021” in  next five years for  Sarawakians to  change  political course in the next state general elections and to vote in a new State Government which gives priority to the interests of people and not just  to cronies

I call on the Sarawak voters to think “2021” in  next five years for  Sarawakians to  change  political course in the next state general elections and to vote in a new State Government which gives priority to the interests of the people and not just to cronies.

The 11th Sarawak State general election  is one of the most challenging elections ever experienced  by the Sarawak DAP since its formation 38 years ago in 1978.

In a way, its a “Do or Die” battle for the DAP.

The Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, and the Sarawak Barisan Nasional election juggernaut are doing their utmost to destroy or reduce the DAP to a “mosquito” party with only half a dozen seats in the State Assembly with their four-pronged strategy of Adnan effect, Najib effect, the politics of money and the politics of fear/intimidation.

Adenan would want to see the worst-case scenario for DAP after the May 7 Sarawak state general elections, reduced to at most half-a-dozen seats in the Sarawak State Assembly.

DAP Sarawak is not cowed and is not prepared to play according to the Sarawak Barisan Nasiona’s rules of the game.

DAP Sarawak is working to achieve the best-case scenario in the 11th Sarawak state general elections, with DAP winning over 20 State Assembly seats with Chinese, Dayak and Malay Sarawak State Assemblymen and women.

This is why  Sarawak DAP has decided on a two-pronged strategy to “defend” and to go onto the “offensive” in this state general election  – to defend the 12 State Assembly seats won five years ago and to achieve a breakthrough in Dayak-dominated constituencies to send out the strong and powerful message that the people outside the urban areas are standing up with the people in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri to demand political change and meaningful development.

Even more important, the 2016 Sarawak state general election is a “warming up” for the 2021 Sarawak State general election where Sarawakians can change political course  by voting in a new State Government which gives priority to the interests of the ordinary people in the state and not just to cronies.

For some sixty years,  Sarawak is a state of great contrasts –  a very rich Sarawak  but with  very poor Sarawakians.

From 2021 onwards, there must a new political direction for  the whole of Sarawak to ensure that Sarawak’s rich resources are used to eradicate poverty, backwardness and development neglect among Sarawakians and not used to build personal empires and fortunes of the cronies of the powers-that-be.

Najib’s Team – no more Adenan’s Team

In this election, the voters are told to give Adenan’s Team a chance to perform, but it is very clear  righrt from the beginning, it is not  Adenan’s Team but Najib’s Team.

Sarawak voters must be very confused that the Sarawak state general election is being turned by the Prime Minister into a mini national election with Najib campaigning even harder than Adenan.

Furthermore, Adenan and his team are now hard at work apologising  for or explaining away   Najib’s lapses and decisions which are  inimical to the interests of Sarawak or the cause of Sarawak autonomy.

The latest example is Najib’s rejection of the Sarawak government’s claim  for 20% oil royalty, declaring after the Cabinet meeting in Kuching on Wednesday that this was not the appropriate time to talk about the oil royalty as the oil price had collapsed.

I had described this as Najib’s  “slap in the face” for Adenan, but Adenan said at a press conference last evening that I had misquoted Najib, as  Najib did not dismiss the Sarawak government’s request but merely stated that now was not the right  time to  discuss the matter.

Adenan said he was sitting next to the Prime Minister at the time, and Najib said that if the oil price stabilised later on, “then we can start negotiating again”.

Adenan made the gratuitous remark that “we don’t expect Kit Siang to mention that”, when what Adenan’s claim about Najib’s clarification was never reported by the media.

May be only Adenan heard Najib’s clarification, but not the media.

In any event, Adenan should blame the media,  both mainstream and online, if Najib had made such an explanation which was omitted by the media.

What is clear is that Adenan and leaders of Sarawak Barisan Nasional, like the caretaker Sarawak housing and tourism minister Abang Johari Openg are now busy trying to cover up Najib’s tracks and explain away the Prime Minister’s rejection, making them part of Najib’s Team rather than Adenan’s Team.

Sadness at the missing helicopter with five Barisan Nasional campaigners aboard

I wish to express sadness and concern at the tragic episode of the missing helicopter with five Barisan Nasional election campaigners aboard – including the Plantations Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon, her husband Asmuni Abdul and the Kuala Kangsar BN MP Wan Muhammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad. We pray for their safety.

(Media Conference Statement at the Bintulu Sarawak General Elections Operations Room on Friday, 6th May 2016 at 10 am)

                This entry was posted on Friday, 6 May 2016, 4:44 pm and is filed under
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