PBB start campaigning: 2000 hectare of land allocated to independent Chinese Secondary Schools

The campaign for Sarawak State Elections has almost started with the PBB president, through his role as Chief Minister in the State government, announced the allocation of 2000 hectare of land to Independent Secondary Chinese schools, and the Bako land acquisition being slowed down to look for a better `formula’ of compensation.

On the other hand the Opposition Baru Bian announced his reply in the form of thousands of CDs and tons of leaflets which will flood the long houses and urban areas.

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Taib ask for Parliamentary elections to synchronise with Sarawak state elections-1st sign of election jittery?

The prove is here:
2010 merupakan tahun di mana pemerhati politik membuat teka teki mengenai tarikh pilihan raya negeri akan diadakan, walaupun tempoh Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) berakhir pada Julai tahun depan.

Tetapi sebagai parti pemerintah Barisan Nasional (BN) dan pembangkang gigih dengan spekulasi pilihan raya bahawa pengerusi BN negeri Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, akan menyambut ulang tahun ke-30 sebagai Ketua Menteri Sarawak pada 26 Mac tahun depan, hanya beliau yang mengetahui tarikh itu.

NONEHanya bayangan yang diberikan oleh Taib setakat ini, beliau telah
menerima inspirasi tetapi enggan menyatakan tarikh itu apabila ditanya mengenai perkara tersebut setelah beliau pulang dari menunaikan haji pada bulan lepas.

Empat parti campuran negeri, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) dan Parti Maju Demokrat Sarawak (SPDP), kata beliau yang sedia menerima sebarang permintaan daripada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak untuk mengadakan pilihan raya negeri dan pilihan raya umum secara serentak jika ada keperluan untuk berbuat demikian.

“Jika Najib ada inspirasi untuk mengadakan pilihan raya itu tidak lama lagi, ia mungkin lebih baik untuk kedua-dua pihak mengadakan serentak dengan pilihan raya negeri,” kata Taib, yang menyokong cadangan keanggotaan terus BN sebagai jawapan untuk meletakkan terus calon BN pada pilihan raya akan datang.

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Baru Bian re-appointed national V-P & Sarawak’s chief in PKR’s new line-up

Baru Bian the land rights lawyer has been re-appointed the PKR’s national Vice-president and Sarwak’s state liaision chief today when the new PKR leadership line-up is announced. The re-appointment reflect that the party see the value in continuity in the state leadership ahead of the imminent state elections which has serious  national implications. Earlier the failure of Baru to squeeze into the elected leadership line-up has been used by the BN to show that the opposition party at Federal level did not value Sarawakian leaders, though Baru reportedly took that easy as part of the normal outcome of a democratic process.

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Jaringan Orang Asal practice what they preach-just elected a new Exco line-up

Jaringan Orang Asal advocate the return to elected Tuai Rumah for the long houses-so they elected their own Exco line up for the coming year:

Senarai AJK JOAS 2011-2012

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By-election in Johor-a test of PR’s challenge to go south instead of east

Malaysian voters  seems to depend on unhealthy elected representatives to have mid-term review of their ruling parties whether at state assembly or Parliamentary levels-wonder if there should be a better system for doing it. Now a special opportunity emerged when an UMNO Assemblyperson Datuk Sulaiman Taha(condolences to the family of the deceased) passed away this morning to test the preparation of PR to win seats in Johor-UMNO’s strong hold. It has been argued that PR is better placed to fight in Johor than in Sarawak based on logistic and other reasons-despite the fact that there are seats in Eastern Malaysia with lesser majority of victories for BN in Sarawak and Sabah.  This informal `policy’ seems to have been validated circumstantially by the constant complaints of lack of support from the Eastern PKR members as well as by the lack of appearance of the West Malaysians PR leaders in the Eastern states compared to the BN counterparts. So may be a test of how `easier’ this challenge to go to Johor can be provided by the coming by-election. The fact that the seat is in the northern tip ie nearer to PR’s north-bound sphere of influence may give some leverage to PR supporters who could come all the way from the capital to support the campaign. They only need to dent the huge majority (more than 24%) to show how far it is worth the effort to invest more campaign capital in the stronghold of UMNO. In going for UMNO’s strong holds PR is going against normal campaign logic which dictate that inroads are easier made in the areas with weakest winning majorities of your opponent rather than their strongholds.

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Half the voters represented by less than 10% reps…

More female politicians needed	Share
Chris Reubens(Malaysian Mirror) Wednesday, 15 December 2010 14:39
FEATURE When singer Helen Reddy bleated out her song, “I can do anything, I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman” in the 70s, a large number of women in Sarawak were still confined to the duty of a housewife and mother. Thirty years down the road, women are helping to contribute double-income for the family, and to ease their spouses’ burden to put bread and butter on the table.

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Dec 15th-all roads lead to Serian Magistrate court where NCR defender Numpang will be charged!

Numpang Suntai

The stage for NCR fights is set -the opening will play out at Serian Magistrate court tomorrow, Dec 15th, where Numpang Suntai will be charged for defending his NCR land. Scores of friends, relatives and supporters will congregate as though the state justice system is the one in the dock! Natives lands have been seized by the State through the issuing of a piece of paper -the Provisional Lease, which seems to weigh heavier to claim ownership of the land lived in through many generations by the natives. Should the natives do anything to insist on the ownership of the land in such `disputes’ they will be charged by the `law enforcers’. But most of the land owners are not convinced that their land ownership can be extinguished without their consent or satisfactory compensation. They know from numerous previous cases that the land acquired by the state will soon be sold at market price-thus enriching the politicians and CM’s relatives who are sold the acquired lands at rock bottom price. So fight they must-beginning from Serian tomorrow. We’ll send you reports from the focal point of Serian Magistrate court tomorrow. A letter from Numpang’s sister Christina is here:

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The scent of State Election is in the air!

Since CM Taib said he has got the `inspiration’ for going for the state poll the media has been featuring election attacks on the Opposition and claims that vital state issues have been `solved’. There is no doubt that such media frenzy cannot go on forever lest the public may consider the exerciseas that of a boy who keep crying `wolf while none is in sight’. If the election is around the corner-most likely to be after the X-mas, the preparations for the elections seems to be a bit slow in picking up. But pick-up they must. Current state of play: BN is quietly announcing projects (reviving agriculture stations) and allocations (more fund for perimeter surveys) while party members meet to form campaign machinery in the quiet. PKR will kick start a state wide road show from their meeting in Bintulu last weekend. And DAP is tackling its traditional rival SUPP, who is making claims of support whether they have it or not…the show down is coming soonest. Don’t be caught without being ready for it. The country’s future in democracy depends on whether the state return a more balance state assembly than before!

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More millions for perimeter surveys-inducement for supporting BN in coming state poll?

The addition of Rm60mil to do perimeter survey on NCR lands has been reported by Borneo Post-which also add that the surveys will be for `next year’ ie most likely to be after the state poll. The government funded surveys will prioritise `cooperative’ landowners-leaving no imagination as to who they will exclude. By making the survey a political carrot to induce partisan voting the Minister Awang Tengah expose the policy as one which do not give fair treatment to all-as almost always the case with the ruling party policies before this.

NCR land survey gets RM60 mln boost

by Philip Kiew. Posted on December 12, 2010, Sunday

BAKONG: Another RM60 million would be made available for conducting perimeter surveys of NCR land for 2011-2012, bringing the total amount for carrying out the exercise to RM80 million.

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Taib try to deflect anti-Taib sentiment as anti-Government?

While the prevailing sentiments in Sarawak-especially among the urban folks are anti-government the focus of their sentiments undoubtedly is on the longest staying Chief Minister Taib Mahmud himself. Sounding like he is self-conscious Taib made a spin by claiming that the sentiments are anti-government as though the public are unhappy with the rest of the Cabinet but not him!But the more he tries to hide his position it in the bigger picture the one he make himself noticed…

Taib: Anti-govt sentiments not helping country’s economy	Share
Saturday, 11 December 2010 11:26
SIBU – Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said it was futile for for anyone to think they could get the best out of the government by applying pressure and organising anti-government demonstrations, Bernama reported.

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