Another take on `why rural Sarawakians vote BN?’

There are 2 schools of thoughts on the sources of social change: elite split/top-down or bottom-up. Where the urban elites are clearly split in Sarawak, the rural majority (at least where the majority seats are) is left fending for themselves in a situation where the ruling parties remain the only tune in town. Blaming the rural folks for `addicting’ to that `old records’ may have missed the point: where are the alternatives? Unless the rural folks are empowered to derive their own strength to assert themselves they remain chained to the manipulation from the top. Should there be pity the urban folks who don’t see their interests in giving the rural folks a helping hand-even out of self-interests? The source of the problems seems mis-located often enough…

Why rural S’wakians keep voting ‘feudal’ Taib

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:02(Freemalaysiatoday)

By Joseph Tawie

KUCHING: Chief Minister Taib Mahmud runs a ‘repressive’ government, one that is ‘worse than the communist’, says a local activist. Yet the rural people of Sarawak continue to vote him in. Why is that?

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Govt blame land disputes for delaying parameter survey

Actually many excuses had been tried to not survey NCR lands: no money(but PM had allocated  RM20mil), no human power (but Land and Survey Dept can hire more for its already bloated rank), no time (election is coming up!) etc etc. Now the last try: land disputes among the NCR land owners! Actually there are only a small percentage of the land matters that come up in the court. The bulk of them are land acquisition by the state government. So why don’t the state govt do something about this real stumbling block to NCR land ?

Selesai pertelagahan bagi mudahkan kerajaan sukat sempadan tanah NCR

August 17, 2010, Tuesday(Utusan Borneo)

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Bloated civils service: too many cook spoil the soup?

It is no longer a secret that Malaysia has about the biggest civil service -1.4mil of them, for a tiny population of about 27mil! This is about 10% of the workforce at about 10mil. Why? It seems that-as implied by the column below, the civil servants are employed to make up for failed economic strategy to put many unemployable graduates into gainful private employment. But the problem cannot be allowed to continue for decades as it had. It has a huge cost to the country-if not contribute to its prospect of being bankrupted! When the people who regulate the workforce dominate over those who waork/create income there is less to go around-no matter how the cake is to be cut! The too many cooks in this situation will make everyone an economic `libertarian’ to trim the civil service. Except the current ruling party who still want to buy these civil servants as supporters. That may explain everything.

The civil service is not an ivory tower

August 8, 2010, Sunday(Borneo Post)

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UMNO still veto automatic voter registration to block voting rights of 5 mil citizens

The Borneo Post column below reflect another ignorance on automatic voter registration: The EC -despite its many weaknesses, had at least brought up the proposal twice before. Both shot down by UMNO leaders-who are fearful of the 5 mil new voters who may not support them! But can that be a good reason for stopping the voting rights of 5  mil citizens? Claiming that they don’t want to `force’ voting rights on the citizens is not convincing: the Constitution laready give voting rights to all citizens-only the administrative requirement of registering as voters is holding them back from enjoying that important right. UMNO must answer the question or face backlash from the registered voters over the issue.

Automatic registration and compulsory voting — an effort to put democracy on firm footing in Malaysia

August 15, 2010, Sunday(Borneo Post’s column-no author)

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Dompok: Top civil servants monopolised by Penisular Bumis-part of BN’s package

Struggle for equal rights continues

by Peter Sibon
August 14, 2010, Saturday

Sarawak, Sabah Bumis should enjoy position as enshrined in federal constitution — Dompok

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Murum Dam resettlement a challenge for BN in state election

By denigrating the Penan elders’ way of life the PRS has create a gap between the party and the Penan community. See what the result could be at the elections!

Focus on young Penans

by James Ling

August 16, 2010, Monday

Masing says Penan elders  will be left alone to do what they have been doing

KAPIT: The government is going to resolve the issue concerning the 3,000-strong Penans affected by the proposed Murum hydroelectric power dam project in Ulu Belaga in two ways.

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State elections after Raya?

It is easy to make claims -but the claim that compensation issue, NCR and house payment by resettled Sg Asap residents need prove-where it is? But the election will be an occasion for the truth to come out!

Winning Belaga would be a breeze — Entulu

by Conny Banji
August 17, 2010, Tuesday

SIBU: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is upbeat about winning the Belaga state seat comfortably in the next state election.

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