‘1 country, 2 systems’ - Divisive and Dangerous?

August 19, 2011

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing described United Borneo Front (UBF) founder Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s advocacy for Malaysia to be “one country, two systems” as divisive and dangerous.

He said the proposal was against the objective of the formation of Malaysia and should be rejected outright by all peace-loving Malaysians.

“His (Dr Jeffery) view is very dangerous for nation building because we already are moving forward as one nation under 1Malaysia.

“To think otherwise means that he wants to break up this country. This, we should never allow,” Masing told The Borneo Post here yesterday.

Jeffery had said that the federal government should allow Sabah and Sarawak to be developed based on their own capitalist economic and political systems.

He explained that the two states should be allowed to have their own systems as they were different from Peninsular Malaysia.

“Our rights are not the same as theirs. Our geographical condition is different and we do not have economic growth as the other states in the peninsular have,” said Jeffery, adding that the 20 Point Agreement had clearly stated that Sabah and Sarawak were equal partners with Malaya and not one of the states in Malaysia.

MoCS rally a cheap publicity stunt — Karim

Posted on August 9, 2011, Tuesday

KUCHING: Call it by any other name, this Saturday’s planned rally by Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS) is just a cheap publicity attempt by its prime movers, said Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday.

Asked to comment on MoCS’ decision to tone down their rally, Karim said this showed that those behind MoCS were a confused political group who would flip-flop in order to achieve their aims.

“MoCS better make up their mind on what they want. Their first call was for Chief Minister to step down by August 13 or they will call a massive rally in Kuching ala the demostration in Tunisia or Egypt.

“Now after the Bersih 2.0 rally in KL and the state election which saw Barisan Nasional winning three quarters of the total state seats, they had changed their slogan and theme.

“Better for them to just shut up and let BN run the State with the present DAP and PKR opposition reps doing their part as responsible oppostion members,” he said.

Yesterday, MoCS leader Francis Siah issued a statement saying that it would tone down its rally to a peaceful gathering without any march or procession.

Siah also said that instead of anti-Taib Mahmud rally, the rally will be called Walk for Democracy and Reform’ in order to appear less confrontational and more civil during the holy month of Ramadan.

A political era ends

 July 19, 2011

Wong’s demise was a very big loss to Sarawak. -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min (1922 — 2011)

KUCHING: Former president of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and the state’s first Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min, passed away at Normah Medical Specialist Centre here at 2pm yesterday.

His son-in-law Dennis Liew said Wong’s remains would be flown to his hometown Limbang, either on Thursday or Friday.

Until then it will lie in state at his home at Jalan Temgah here. Wong had complained of feeling unwell and was brought to the hospital around 10.30am.

He is survived by his wife Datin Amar Valerie Bong, eight children and many grandchildren.

Born on Aug 6, 1922 in Limbang, he received his primary and secondary education at St Mary’s School and St Thomas School here before going for further studies at Serdang College of Agriculture in Selangor but his tertiary education was interrupted by the Second World War and he had to return to Limbang.

He became the pioneer of the hill logging industry in Sarawak in 1949 and in 1953 began his long and distinguished political career with his appointment as member of the Limbang District Council.

He was appointed a member of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee which negotiated and formulated the terms for Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak in the formation of the new nation.

MoCS patut ukur baju di badan sendiri

July 14, 2011

Ia pertubuhan tidak berdaftar yang tidak layak mempersoalkan sistem demokrasi

KUCHING: Gerakan Mengubah Sarawak (MoCS) wajar ‘mengukur baju di badan sendiri’ sebelum mempertikaikan amalan demokrasi di Sarawak.

Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber Kedua Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan berkata, MoCS perlu sedar kedudukannya sebagai pertubuhan tidak berdaftar yang tidak layak mempersoalkan sistem demokrasi yang diamalkan di negara ini secara keseluruhannya.

Katanya, MoCS tidak mempunyai mandat untuk memerintah tetapi cuba bercakap mengenai transformasi Sarawak.

“Sebelum itu siapa MoCS ini? Difahamkan ia satu organisasi tidak berdaftar pun.

“Kita (Barisan Nasional) telah pun memenangi 55 daripada 71 kerusi dalam pilihan raya negeri lalu dan ini diadakan menerusi proses demokrasi pilihan raya, jadi MoCS harus sedar siapa mereka,” tegasnya.

Beliau diminta mengulas kenyataan dalam sebuah blog mengatakan MoCS akan mengadakan rapat umum bertema ‘Berjalan untuk Demokrasi dan Reformasi’ pada 13 Ogos ini di Kuching.

Awang Tengah berkata, rakyat telah pun membuat pilihan dalam pilihan raya negeri lalu dan mandat sepenuhnya diberikan kepada Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud sebagai Ketua Menteri.

SUPP sentiasa berkhidmat kepada rakyat

July 9, 2011

Kerap turun padang amat penting terutama dalam usaha mendengar dan menyelesaikan masalah rakyat. -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) merupakan sebuah parti yang sentiasa berkhidmat kepada rakyat, mendengar kesusahan mereka dan berusaha mencari jalan penyelesaian kepada masalah yang dihadapi rakyat.

“Bagi kami di Sibu, kita sentiasa turun padang untuk bertemu dengan rakyat,” ujar Pengerusi SUPP Cawangan Sibu, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh kepada pemberita, semalam.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditanya berhubung persediaan SUPP bagi menghadapi pilihan raya umum akan datang, lebih-lebih lagi berhubung kenyataan Pengerusi Kelab Penyokong Kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pada majlis makan malam kelab, baru-baru ini.

Abdul Karim dalam majlis itu memberitahu, memandangkan pilihan raya semakin hampir, semua wakil rakyat BN yang dipilih harus turun padang ke kawasan masing-masing untuk bertemu serta menyelesaikan masalah rakyat.

Menurut beliau, kerap turun padang amat penting terutama dalam usaha mendengar dan menyelesaikan masalah rakyat.

Ditanya mengenai calon yang berpotensi bagi merampas kembali kerusi Parlimen Sibu, Wong berkata, perkara itu masih dibincangkan.

“Kami masih membincangkan siapa calon yang sesuai,” ujarnya yang juga Menteri Alam Sekitar dan Kesihatan Awam merangkap Menteri Kewangan Kedua.