Explosive: must he do this before going for Sarawak State Elections?

Taib will become the center of attention tonite at his reported wedding to someone very much junior to him!

There is no end to the weird things that can happen in Sarawak when the Chief Minister hold power for close to 30 years! The following reported `marriage’ between the Taib and someone with an age closer to his grand daughter,  must count as one which do not add credit to his electability!

The Grapevine newsagency has it that the wedding will be held at Pullman Hotel tonite and has no link to rumoured package for Taib to step aside in favour of Jabu the Iban DCM to warm the seat for Effendi Nawawi to take over finally. Ibans’ discontent that they, as majority community in Sarawak, has been ruled by a minority leader from Melanau descent, has been a factor closely watched by the ruling parties and it is not out of character that some appeasement as the one sketched out above could be considered ala Badawi’s seat-warming act.

Taib weds Arab woman, says report

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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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Water transport on Rajang can only hope to resume in July 2010-after state elections?

It is coincidental or what-water transport in Rajang can only resume after July 2010-when the state assembly’s mandate runs out? The water level is lowered due, in large part, to the impoundment of Bakun Dam. Apparently they are rushing to finish the impoundment to start producing power and make money-oblivious to the tens of thousands of interior folks whose livelihood depend on the Rajang’s water transport. Kapit remain a town without road transport to the outside world-thus have to rely on water transports for its daily needs. But their problems have to wait for some one to make enough money before anything can be done to restore their river to their use. Perhaps the state elections will be the people’s other option?

Electricity for Bakun resettlers ‘only’ if state provides lines

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:47(Freemalaysiatoday)

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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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JOAS’ meeting denied venue at Petronas Games Village Hall

JOAS’s press statement:

Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia Press Release (JOAS) – Indigenous representatives denied used of public hall to meet with SUHAKAM

From: Borneo Independent News Service

11 December 2010

MIRI – The Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS) representatives today were denied the use of the Petronas Games Village Hall by the officers of Dewan Suarah Miri for a consultation with the Commissioners from the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM), citing reasons that it was a directive from the higher authorities.

According to Christina David, who is one of the organising committee members for the event said that the Dewan Suarah officers only told her that the venue cannot be used yesterday when the day before they said the booking was already confirmed.

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