Report from Batang Ai: Is this not corruption?

1. Is this not corruption?

Reports have been received by PKR operations room in Lubok Antu that Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing visited Rumah Sandah, Sg. Ara on 21 March 2009 (Sat). During the visit he allegedly promised each of the 946 people a sum of RM500.

By now, some money has been paid. And what was the money meant for is not very clear. But giving money during election time is tantamount to enticing people to vote for the BN candidate, and it is wrong in the eyes of the law.

Any one of the receivers can come up and lodge a report with the Police, Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC), the Election Commission and Malaysians for Free and Fair Election (MAFREL) so that action can be taken.

2. What Bank account?

The residents of Batang Ai were never asked to give their bank account details to the Land and Survey department as claimed by Anwar Ibrahim, de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). They were only asked to give copies of their identity cards because the department wants to update its data and records, said Masing.

Masing described Anwar’s accusation as very serious and pointed out that it was the opposition’s tactic to stir emotions in the run-up to the Batang Ai by-election.

When contacted today, Dominique Ng, a PKR State leader said that it was a “day light lie” and described it as a “part of pack of tricks” to fish for votes. Masing should explain to the people why they asked for the people’s bank account numbers.

The Broken Shield received a faxed copy of the letter (pics below) from the Land and Survey department. It is clearly stated in the page two of the letter a column was meant for the Bank Account number of the land owner.

The questions here are: “Why is the Land and Survey Department so suddenly interested to update the data and records of land owners during the by election? Why not 25 years ago? Is there any “prawn underneath the stone”?

3. Masing promises to tar-seal Batang Ai roads

The people of Batang Ai are happy to hear that the Minister of Land Development James Masing is going to tar-seal their roads that have been neglected for more than 25 years. The value of the projects is RM50 million for the tar-sealing of 7km Lemanak Road and the survey and design of a 60km road from Lemanak to Ulu Engkari. These projects, he said, and the RM12 million tar-sealing of 10km ring road in Batang Ai would be implemented by JKR.

Upon completion of these roads, the many longhouses in Ulu Engkari would no longer be isolated; they would be linked to Lubok Antu and other major towns and cities in the state.

While the people of Batang Ai are happy to hear about the promised road projects, the people of Kapit especially from Masing’s own Baleh constituency are sad and have called on Masing to do something about their road linking Kapit with other towns like Kanowit, Sibu, Miri, Kuching etc.

Like Ulu Engkari, Kapit has also been waiting for the last 45 years for the road to be constructed. Should not charity begin at home?

4. No Police permits required in longhouses

Political gatherings which are held in enclosed areas or on private property such as longhouses do not require Police permits, says Sarawak deputy commissioner of police Datuk Hamza Taib. Police, he said, will take action against any party that organizes political gatherings in public places without a permit.

In view of the coming by-election in Batang Ai those found to have flouted the rule could face action under section 27 of the Police Act. Fair enough.

5. Johnny Chuat may not contest

Johnny Chuat, an Iban blogger and producer of Iban magazine called Pegari may not offer himself as an independent candidate, if information received by The Broken Shield is correct. It is understood that he has booked his ticket to go to an African country following his gas and oil company.

This makes the PKR camp happy as BN candidate was not doing well in last election in Engkari and the surrounding areas. Up-todate, eight nomination forms have been taken from the Election Commission.

6. Masing is questioning Jawah’s about turn

Masing today questioned Jawah’s about turn from BN to PKR and said that two years ago in which Jawah the MP for Lubok Antu had expressed his undivided support to BN at a longhouse gathering. But in the space of less than two years Jawah is now with the Opposition and has been picked as its candidate in the by-election.

At that time Jawah also praised the chief minister who had brought tremendous development to Sarawak. Jawah also praised Jabu, a Dayak leader who had done so much for the people especially the Dayaks in the fields of education, culture and economy.

Masing should not have raised this issue of Jawah joining PKR, because Masing himself was in a similar situation, although in a different scenario. In 1991, Masing was launching the “KM project 1992” of PBDS. The project, Ketua Menteri Sarawak ‘92, was the key plan in its campaigning strategy to topple Abdul Taib Mahmud’s government.

If PBDS won, Masing would have been the Chief Minister of Sarawak. Unfortunately the plan failed. And now Masing is praising the Chief Minister and even defended his policies that are the sources of Dayak problems during a TV interview.

On why Jawah was praising Jabu, Jawah’s close friends said that it was to please Jabu because Jabu and the late Unting had “detained” Jawah’s MP projects worth about RM1.6 million. Jawah was given MP projects because he was a BN MP through PBDS in 2004 parliamentary election. We were told after praising Jabu, the funds were released.

7. Mussen’s low key campaigns

Reports from Batang Ai described Malcolm Mussen’s campaigns were up to now in a low key. Just released from the Civil Service, he has still retained the civil servant attitude, the “yesman” type of attitude.

Furthermore, Mussen is being surrounded by some civil servants who act as his “body guards” or PR men who do not allow people to see him. These people who could be Mussen’s supporters are not only angry but have also joined Jawah’s camp. Assuming that Mussen is elected, can he become an effective YB?

From: Broken Shield