Isnin, 30 Mei 2016

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog


Chong files motion for clear agenda on autonomy

Posted: 28 May 2016 06:01 PM PDT

KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) state chairman Chong Chieng Jen has filed a motion with the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) secretary to set a clear agenda on autonomy for the state government.
According to him, the 13 points of autonomy that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem successfully obtained from the federal government were merely administrative powers.
"Administration power is only the power to carry out policies set down by the policymakers whereas autonomy is the power to decide the policy," he told a press conference yesterday.
He said as BN's landslide win in the 11th state election – 72 out of 82 constituencies – has fulfilled Adenan's call for a strong mandate, it is imperative for the Chief Minister to honour his electoral pledges. According to Chong, areas on the devolution of power negotiations that should proceed include autonomy of taxation – 20 per cent oil and gas royalties and 50 per cent of all taxes collected in Sarawak – and autonomy of education – having the power to fully determine all matters in relation to education including teaching syllabus and the setting up of English-medium schools.
"The right to allocate more Sarawakian teachers to teach in Sarawak is a mere administrative power in education whereas autonomy in education is the power to decide how many teachers should we have, whether there should be English-medium schools and include the power to write our own syllabus," he said.
According to him, autonomy of healthcare and the power to determine all matters in relation to hospitals, medical and healthcare services, as well as autonomy of internal affairs would enable the state to run its own police force.
-TheBorneoPost May 29,2016 Sunday

张健仁:呈动议通知书 促州政府与联邦谈判

Posted: 28 May 2016 05:59 PM PDT



(本报古晋28日讯)砂行动党主席兼国州议员张健仁称,该党目前向砂州议会提呈一项动议通知书,内容是促请砂州政府尽速向联邦政府争取并进行谈判几项的权力下放给砂州;并据其所知,目前所了解到即将辩论的法案只有一项,即2015年附加供应法案。
他是于今日所召开的新闻发布会上表示,本身在昨日下午以传真和电邮方式,向砂州议会提呈动议通知书。
据悉,该动议通知书如下:
基于在刚举行的砂州选举,首席部长要求有更大的委托以便他可为砂州争取更多的自主权。
也基于在2016年5月7日,砂州国阵获得更大的委托,在全州82个议席中赢取了72个议席。
也基于首席部长之前从联邦所争取到的所谓的13个自主权,只是行政管理权而非真正的自主权。
也基于现在是时候首席部长兑现其选举的承诺,并在今届州议会的第一个会议率先定下自主权的议程。
因此,谨此动议砂州议会议决:
砂州政府尽速向联邦政府争取并进行谈判以下几项的权力下放给砂州:
1. 税务自主权,即,归还砂州政府,20% 石油和天然气开采税以及50% 从砂拉越所征收的所有税收。
2. 教育自主权,即,砂州政府全权处理砂州的教育事项,包括教科书的题材和成立英语为媒介语的学校。
3. 医药自主权,即,砂州政府全权处理砂州的医院、医药及保健服务。
4. 内政自主权,即,砂州政府管理自家的警队。
张健仁指出,将在6月7日召开的砂州议会,是本届砂州议会的第一个会议。
行政权当自主权
"既然首长阿迪南在州选时以自主权作为其竞选的主轴宣传重点,并要求砂州人民给予他更多的委托,以便他可更有力的向联邦争取更多的自主权,而砂州人民也在投票日给予他更大的委托,那这是他兑现选举承诺的时刻了。"
因此,他希望,在这今届议会的第一个开会,砂州议会就应明确的订下,砂州政府所必须争取的自主权的议程,而非任由阿迪南以天马行空式的把行政权当自主权,来误导砂州人民,把冯京当马凉。
"行政权只是局限于执行上头所制定的政策,而自主权是制定政策的权力。就以阿迪南之前所提的编排教师的权力,要90%以上在砂州执教的教师是砂州人为例,这只是行政权,并非自主权。但阿迪南却把它当成教育自主权,误导人民说他已成功争取到教育自主权了。"
他强调,行动党作为在野党的责任,就是在州议会监督和施压,确保政府履行他们的承诺。
"因此,我们必须在议会上制定哪一些是真正的自主权,而那一些只是浑水摸鱼的行政权,并督促阿迪南争取真正的砂州自主权。"
《转载自 诗华日报》

伊刑法动议无反对声 土保党没有表明立场

Posted: 28 May 2016 05:56 PM PDT

(本报古晋28日讯)对于国会挪前伊斯兰党主席哈迪阿旺在前日所提呈的伊刑法私人动议,砂行动党主席兼国州议员张健仁今日表态,相关做法将带来种种"恶果",特别是砂国阵兼土保党主席丹斯里阿迪南沙登之前一直表示不会让伊刑法在砂州出现,但国阵成员党却皆没表明明确立场!
他是于今日所召开的新闻发布会上抨击,挪前伊刑法私人动议之举,是直接越过官方法案以及多达14个私人动议,这是在国阵政府及伊党"串谋"之下才会发生的情况!

"因为此私人动议是排在所有私人动议的第15个,却直接越过前面14个私人动议,这是很明显的串谋!"

他深信,一旦伊刑法通过提呈,所将带来的"恶果",包括导致伊斯兰法庭的刑罚权力扩大,各项的刑罚都被扩展;同时,虽然国阵成员党一再表明对此反对,但在当天却没有发出任何反对的声音。

违反建国契约

"伊刑法是违反宪法的,也违反了砂沙参组大马合约的基本建国契约。"

他狠批,砂沙两州的国阵国会议员都没有反对声音,倘若伊刑法通过,最终变成法令,不只是吉兰丹受到影响,全国都会受到影响。

"截至目前,土保党都没有表明立场。"

他认为,土保党应该表明明确立场,特别是砂国阵兼土保党主席丹斯里阿迪南沙登之前一直表示不会让伊刑法在砂州出现,相关人士一直在报章上宣扬反对伊刑法的立场是没有意义的,如果他们在国会里面都没有表明立场,尤其是土保党作为砂国阵"大哥",就该是必须率先在国会表明反对伊刑法的立场。

《转载自诗华日报》

7哩老港下水管爆裂没水供

Posted: 23 May 2016 06:03 PM PDT

(古晋23日讯)古晋7哩老港下一带昨夜因水管爆裂而没有水供,造成该带居民许多不便。
古晋市国会议员兼哥打圣淘沙州议员张健仁透露,自昨天傍晚到今早,因为水管破裂,老港下一带的居民没有水供。
他在接获投诉之后联络古晋水务局,被告知水管破裂的问题,而水务局今早才能进行修补。
张氏表示,既然水管昨天傍晚就已破裂而没有水供,水务局应尽早通知那一带的居民并提供水车服务到该区派水,而非等到今早接获投诉之后才开始派水。
"水务局不应有这种怠慢态度。毕竟水供对任何人都非常重要。整个晚上十几个小时没有水,在今天的社会是不可接受的。"
张氏也表示,7哩一带包括老港下的水管已非常陈旧,是时候政府全面的更新。

揭露中央医院停车场工程,3亿5100万令吉变3亿7800万令吉

Posted: 22 May 2016 06:08 PM PDT

(古晋22日讯)民主行动党古晋市国会议员兼哥打圣淘沙州议员张健仁揭露,所谓的"古晋中央医院停车场的3亿7800万令吉工程",是超出合理价格至少2倍以上,即超过200%以上。



张健仁指出,这就是政府工程在没有公开招标的情况下批工程的结果。 最终,人民被逼还更双倍以上的钱,而且,工程也因为太贵而被耽误了。

张氏透露,根据卫生部长于2015年11月在国会下议院给予民主行动党实丹宾国会议员陈国彬的书面回答,这停车场工程包括:
1. 1750停车位的多层停车场。
2. 160房间的廉价旅店。
3. 日间护理大楼,设有7间手术室和4间内窥镜检查室及门诊设备。
4. 病理学大楼,设有化验室及血库设施。
卫生部的预算,整个工程将耗资3亿5100万令吉。

短短6个月,3亿5100万令吉变3亿7800万令吉
张健仁指出,在2015年11月,卫生部对于该工程的预算开支是3亿5100万令吉。 6个月后,沈桂贤所公布的工程数额却已增加到3亿7800万令吉,无端端增加2700万令吉。 如何解释?

他也说,这2700万令吉也不可能是6%的消费税(GST),因为3亿5100万令吉的6% 是2100万令吉。 还有那600万令吉又如何交代?

"另外,就算是3亿7800万令吉,6%的消费税也只是2268万令吉。 沈桂贤说需要2600万令吉的消费税。他是怎样计算出来这2600万令吉的? 难道这工程还有其他隐瞒着的开支现在不讲出来?"

天文数字的超贵建筑费
"无论如何,不论它是3亿7800万令吉,还是3亿5100万令吉,这天文数字根本就是超贵价格。 以上工程的合理价格最多也不过是1亿令吉。"

张氏列出多层停车场和廉价旅馆的普遍建筑成本:

1. 根据古晋南北市的标准,一个停车位的尺寸是2.5公尺乘5公尺,即12.5平方公尺。 1750个停车位总共是21875平方公尺,再加上同等面积供该停车场内的车行道,总面积是大约43750平方公尺。 建多层停车场的平均成本是大约700令吉每平方公尺。
以此方程式计算,该多层停车场的建筑费是大约3060万令吉,再加点预算以外15%的费用,该停车场最多也只是耗资3500万令吉。

2. 至于那160房的廉价旅店,根据马来西亚建筑业的指南,建3星级酒店的成本大约是每平方公尺5000令吉。 一间旅店的房间大约是32平方公尺。 160房的3星级旅店面积是大约5120平方公尺。
5120平方公尺乘于每平方公尺5000令吉,总数是2560万令吉。 这是一间拥有160客房的3星级旅馆的建筑成本。廉价旅馆的建筑成本最少便宜30%以上。

3. 至于那日间护理大楼和病理学大楼的建筑成本,是否包括仪器还是未知数。 但是,若大家以最近KPJ在古晋BDC一带建一间300病床的大医院,包括全部最新的仪器(甚至包括最贵的治疗癌症的化疗和电疗仪器),只需要1亿3000万令吉的成本。

相比中央医院这工程中的日间护理大楼和病理学大楼,只是增设多几间手术房和化验室,又没有包括购买治疗癌症的电疗和化疗仪器。 它又如何能和建整个300病床的大医院相比。

若以这KPJ新医院的建筑费来做指标,这两座日间护理和病理学大楼,顶多也只是这KPJ新医院建筑费的30%,即4000万令吉。

张健仁指出,以这种简单的计算法,建这4项建筑,即,多层停车场、廉价旅店、日间护理大楼和病理学大楼,顶多只需要1亿令吉。 如何会用到3亿7800万令吉,而且还要人民替他多还2600万令吉的消费税,这简直是让人匪夷所思。

张氏也透露,这项工程是在没有公开招标的情况下批给国阵的朋党公司,甚至是国阵领袖家族公司。 因此,价钱超出合理预算的2倍以上。 如今这些朋党还贪不知足,连消费税也要砂州人民去负担。

"这些超贵的开支,最终都将会由砂州人民来负担。 因为那多层停车场将是向民众收费的,廉价旅馆也是向民众收费的。 今天工程的不合理昂贵,将是今后几十年砂州人民必须承担的费用。 就好像西马的过路费一般,西马人还了几十年还被迫继续的还。"

张健仁也抨击沈桂贤,身为医生,应该很清楚这些开支合不合理。 为何他不敢针对这不合理的工程开支发言解决问题,却只是一味的要政府给更多的钱还朋党公司?

"我们必须清楚的一点就是,政府的钱是有限的,而联邦给砂州的拨款也是有限制的,在这中央医院停车场工程上,多花了2亿7000万令吉的钱,在其他方面就会相对的减少2亿7000万令吉的拨款。 最终,原本应该用在人民身上的2亿7000万令吉的拨款,却变成朋党银行户口的存款。"

张氏也指出,人民被逼还消费税,就是因为长期来,政府在批工程时的胡乱开支和贪污。 最终人民被逼买单。 阿德南上台后,这些朋党官商勾结的黑箱运作还是马照跑,舞照跳。

The RM378 million Sarawak General Hospital Multi-storey carpark project exceeds all reasonable construction costing by more than 200%, ie. at least triple the reasonable standard industrial costs.

Posted: 21 May 2016 06:11 PM PDT



This is a consequence of Government awarding project without going through open tender. At the end of the day, the people are forced to pay more and project gets delayed because of the never-ending greed of the BN crony.

According to an answer given to the MP for Stampin, Julian Tan, the Health Minster said that the said SGH Multi-storey carpark project include the following:
1. a multi-storey carpark building with 1750 parking bays
2. a budget hotel with 160 rooms;
3. a day-care block with 7 operation theatre, 4 endoscopy rooms and some day-care wards;
4. a Pathology block with laboratory testing facilities and blood bank
And that the whole project with costs RM351 million.

This answer was given by the Health Minister in November 2015. 6 months later when Dr Sim Kui Hian announced the project on 19-5-2016, it has escalated to RM378 million. Why the increase of 27 million in construction costs in only a short span of 6 months?

This RM27 million cannot be the Goods and Services Tax (GST) because the 6% GST on RM351 million is only RM21 million.

Dr. Sim claims that there is an additional RM26 million GST component which was not included in the initial costing of the contractor and now is causing the delay in the implementation of the whole project.

Even if we accept the price to be RM378 million, 6% GST on RM378 million is only RM22.68 million, NOT RM26 million. Unless there are some huge hidden costs which was not disclosed.

No matter which figure one uses, either RM378 million or RM351 million, it is an astronomical over-inflated amount for the whole project.

Let me give a simple breakdown on the construction for those 4 items as follows:

1. The Multi-storey carpark


According to the Kuching city Councils, the standard measurement for parking bay in a multi-storey carpark building is 2.5 metre width and 5 metre length. Therefore, the surface area of a parking bay is 12.5 m2.
For 1750 parking bays, the total surface area is thus 21,875 m2.
Given another equal surface area for the driveway within the building, the total surface area for the said Multi-storey carpark is thus 43,750 m2.
The average costs of building a multi-storey carpark building in Malaysia is RM700 per m2.
Therefore, the costs for the 1750 parking bay multi-storey carpark building is thus RM30.6 million. Given another 15% for contingency expenses, it will costs at most by RM35 million only.

2. The 160-room Budget Hotel


According to Malaysia's Construction Industrial Guideline, the costs of building a 3-star hotel is approximately RM5000 per m2.
The standard hotel room in Malaysia is 32 m2.
Therefore, for a 160-room hotel, the surface area is only 5120 m2.
Multiply this by RM5000 per m2, the costs for building a 160-room 3-star hotel is approximately RM25.6 million. For a budget hotel, the construction costs is cheaper by at least another 30%.

3. The Daycare and Pathology Blocks


Whether the construction costs include equipment is not known, but let us make a simple comparison with the proposed new KPJ hospital currently under construction near Kuching BDC area.
The new proposed KPJ Specialist Hospital consists of 300 beds, facilities for chemotherapy, radiation oncology, heart surgery, ICU/HDU/CICU, etc. costs only RM130 million.
As compared, the proposed Daycare and Pathology blocks in the SGH carpark project do not include any radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment equipment. It does not include the ICU/HDU/CICU which are very expensive to equip. It is surely a lot smaller and less equipped than the 300-bed KPJ Specialist Hospital.
If the building of a whole new 300-bed KPJ Specialist Hospital from scratch will cost only RM130 million, surely it is too generous to give an estimate of 30% of that amount for the Daycare and Pathology blocks, which is RM40 milion.

Therefore, going by the above calculation, the SGH project comprising the multi-storey carpark building, budget hotel, daycare and pathology blocks will cost at most RM100 million. The RM378 million suggested by Dr Sim is ridiculously high.

This over-inflated construction costs will ultimately be borne by Sarawakians who will at one point of time be using the facilities over the next few decades.

This is similar to the tolled highway in West Malaysia where the people in West Malaysia are paying for the over-inflated highway construction costs for decades and are still paying.

As a doctor himself, Dr Sim ought to know the estimated figure is ridiculously high. Why is he keeping mum on this and allow the BN crony company to rip off the people.

One point that we must be clear, money is limited resources and there is always a limit on the allocation for Sarawak. If we over-spent RM270 million on this project, we have to give up projects in other aspect to the amount of RM270 million.

At the end of the day, the people in Sarawak are deprived of some facilities that we could have enjoyed with RM270 million allocation which ended up in the bank accounts of the BN cronies.

22-5-2016
Chong Chieng Jen
MP for Bandar Kuching
ADUN for Kota Sentosa
Sarawak DAP Chairman

Rabu, 25 Mei 2016

MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION


From Malaysiakini news:- ‘Jamil Khir trying to make aberrant normative’

Posted: 24 May 2016 11:02 PM PDT

From Malaysiakini news:- Dr M: We must act like we have no parties to defeat Najib

Posted: 24 May 2016 10:50 PM PDT

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MY VOICE FOR NATION

MY VOICE FOR NATION


Malaysia Kini :- Kula: Citizens’ Declaration now has a momentum all its own

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Selasa, 17 Mei 2016

MY VOICE FOR NATION

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Malaysia Kini :- Ex-judge: Courts must not fear syariah agencies in conversion cases

Posted: 16 May 2016 08:15 PM PDT

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MY VOICE FOR NATION


How serious is the Malaysian Election Commission in bringing about free, fair and clean elections?

Posted: 13 May 2016 09:20 PM PDT

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog


阿德南不应身兼二职

Posted: 14 May 2016 01:10 AM PDT

(古晋14日讯)阿德南不应该兼任首长和财长职。
民主行动党古晋市国会议员兼哥打圣淘沙州议员张健仁指出,首长和财长职集于一身,不是一个健康的民主议会规律。 因为,财长在内阁的角色是控制开支和避免滥用拨款。 如今,首长和财政职集於一人,这内阁的内部控制制度就失去作用。
张氏说,最佳例子证明这种安排对国家和政府所造成的破坏就是纳吉。 纳吉也是集首相和财长于一身的国家领导。
张氏也说,将首长和财长这两个最重要的职位集於一人,是在制造滥权和贪污的温床。
"更甚的是,阿德南不只是身兼首长和财长职位,他更是第一天然资源和环境部长,管理砂州的森林和土地,两个砂州最大的资源。 这根本就是集极权於一身。"
张健仁表示,任何有基本民主意识的砂拉越人,也不愿看到砂州最重要的3个部长的职权,集於一人身上。
"如果阿德南有诚意要落实一个透明的行政,那他至少应该委任其他人做财政部长的职位。"

Adenan should not hold both the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister posts.

Posted: 14 May 2016 12:55 AM PDT

Adenan should not hold both the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister posts.
It is never a healthy democratic practice to have both the Chief Minister post and finance minister post held by ONE single person. The role of a finance minister is always to provide a check and control within the cabinet on the spending by the cabinet. With the Chief Minister post and finance minister post held by one person, such internal control mechanism is removed.
The most obvious example of such unhealthy practice causing damage to the country is Najib who holds both the Prime Minister post and the Finance Minister post.
To have one person holding both the portfolios is to open oneself to abuse of the power and even corruption.
It is even worst in the case of Adenan because he is not only holding both the Chief Minister and Finance Minister posts but he is also holding the First Resource Planning and Environment Minister position (who controls the forest and land resources, the two largest and richest natural resources of the State).
All the 3 most powerful ministries are held by ONE person, Adenan. This is surely not what right-thinking Sarawakians want to see.
If Adenan truly wants to implement a more transparent system in his administration, he should not be holding all these 3 most power portfolio.
14-5-2016
Chong Chieng Jen
MP for Bandar Kuching / ADUN for Kota Sentosa
DAP Sarawak Chairman

阿德南欺骗选民

Posted: 14 May 2016 12:49 AM PDT

(古晋14日讯)石角选民被阿德南耍,也被国阵骗了。
民主行动党古晋市国会议员兼哥打圣淘沙州议员张健仁是针对昨日公布的内阁成员,没有一个华裔副首长被委任之事,如是表示。
张健仁指出,在州选期间,阿德南在其言论中,误导石角选民,制造一个假象让石角的人民都认为,如果要有一位华裔副首长,就必须让国阵人联党华裔候选人胜出。 这番话是阿德南在替沈桂贤拉票时说的,他甚至用沈桂贤之父沈庆鸿来加强那'副首长'的诱饵。
张氏也指出,阿德南讲了那番话之后,人联党的宣传重点也放在"要选一个副首长",而整个焦点人选就是当时人联党石角区候选人沈桂贤。
张氏说,如今投票过后还不到一个星期,阿德南居然反口不认账,说他没有说过要委任沈桂贤为副首长。
"对于那些今次投选国阵的石角华裔选民而言,他们感到被骗和被耍。"
"更甚的是,阿德南居然还厚颜说,若要人联党有华裔副首长,需有像以往19席一般。 在如今人联党只出战13席的情况下,阿德南讲这番话根本就是在消遣人联党和华社。"
张氏也指出,就连委任沈桂贤的部长职,也比以往委任人联党部长的权力更小,从原本的'地方政府与社区发展'部,缩小为只有'地方政府'部而已。
他深表遗憾,受到这种待遇,沈桂贤身为人联党主席,不但没有抗议,还沾沾自喜的认为有部长职就好,更还感谢首长的厚待。
"如此的华裔部长,连自身的权利也不敢和不会争取,又如何敢替人民争取权益?"
"有如此的所谓华裔部长在内阁,可想象,砂州华裔的权益和地位,在过去10年行动党逐渐强大期间的逐步提升,将在507之后,就如2006年前一般,跟着行动党的势微,华裔的权益和地位,也会逐步的滑落和被侵蚀。"
图中张健仁出示4月29日华文报章的复印和今日报章头条,彰显选前选后的矛盾

Sarawak Chinese cheated, claims state DAP

Posted: 13 May 2016 12:44 AM PDT

The Chinese in Sarawak have been "cheated" since Chief Minister Adenan Satem did not appoint a Chinese as deputy chief minister in his new cabinet, says Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen.
"I think the whole thing is the Chinese community, especially the Batu Kawah voters have been cheated. Less than a week, and well, the betrayal of the Batu Kawah voters by Adenan," Chong told Malaysiakini.
The Borneo Post reported that Adenan, when campaigning in Batu Kawah during the Sarawak election, offered the carrot of a Chinese deputy chief minister to the Chinese electorate if they voted for SUPP.
However, after the elections, the English daily quoted Adenan as saying that while he is happy that Chinese voters had swung back to BN, it would be up to him whether or not to appoint a Chinese deputy chief minister.
Adenan has also denied making the promise.
Asked to comment on the cabinet lineup, Chong said that nothing much had changed from the days when Sarawak Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud helmed the administration.
"Nothing much has changed, except for one or two new faces," he said.

The new lineup, announced after a swearing-in ceremony in Kuching today, saw Adenan appointing three deputy chief ministers - federal minister Douglas Unggah, PRS president James Masing and PBB deputy president Abang Johari Abang Openg (photo).
Of the Chinese in Adenan's cabinet, the highest position went to former UPP president Wong Soon Koh, who is now Sarawak's second finance minister.
SUPP president Sim Kui Han was made the state's local government minister.
Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has two posts. He is the second resource planning and environment minister and industrial and entrepreneur development, trade and investment minister.
Also on the state cabinet are youth, sports and solidarity minister Michael Manyin; welfare, women and community development minister Fatimah Abdullah and public utilities minister Stephen Rundi.
- http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/341452


Isnin, 9 Mei 2016

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog


'Adenan could predict polls outcome due to gerrymandering'

Posted: 07 May 2016 09:25 PM PDT

 Sarawak DAP lost five out of its 12 state seats it held before the just concluded state election, and the party blames this to, among others, the recent redelineation exercise by the Election Commission (EC).
The redrawn electoral boundaries, said DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, were the reasons why Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem could predict BN's victory in the state polls.
"It is because of such gerrymandering that Adenan could predict during the election campaign that the BN would win at least 70 of the 82 seats, which turned out finally to be 72," said Lim in a statement today.
Lim cited political analyst Bridget Welsh, who had predicted the state poll's outcome yesterday, in how the EC had stacked the system in BN's favour through the redelineation exercise.
Nevertheless, Lim stressed that the DAP is still committed to political change through the democratic process and it had to be prepared to face victories and defeats through the ballot box.
"Despite our disappointments and setbacks, DAP will not be deflected from our objective to elect a full slate of Chinese, Dayak and Malay state assembly representatives in the Sarawak state assembly.
"It has taken DAP Sarawak 18 long years to be elected to the Sarawak state assembly. The Sarawak DAP is prepared for the long haul together with like-minded Sarawakians to achieve the next target - to elect a new state government which will give top priority to the needs and rights of the people, instead of just to the cronies of the powers-that-be."
'Don't fear losing'
The Gelang Patah MP reminded his party not to be afraid to lose in elections, saying its members must learn from the Sarawak state election to become stronger.
"The test of a political movement dedicated to the highest ideals of justice, freedom and human empowerment, is the ability not to be crushed by a defeat, but to rise, to be stronger and more committed, to fight another day," he said.
Lim, meanwhile, took the opportunity to congratulate Adenan for his re-election and appointment as Sarawak chief minister for the next five years as well as his promise of 'Adenan's Team and Adenan's Way' instead of 'Najib's Team and Najib's Way'.
The DAP, in the 2011 Sarawak state election, had won in 12 out of 15 seats it contested, mostly in urban Chinese-majority areas.
This time, however, it only managed to win seven of the 31 seats it contested. Apart from losing five seats it previously held, the party also lost all new seats it contested in.
The Sarawak state polls, which concluded yesterday saw the BN capturing 72 out of the 82 state seats contested, achieving 87.8 percent of the state legislative assembly.
- http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/340731

DAP has no regrets in trying to make inroads into rural heartland

Posted: 07 May 2016 08:57 PM PDT


Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen today stressed the party made the right decision in trying to make inroads into the state's rural heartland even though it fared poorly in the Sarawak election.
"We will continue to penetrate the rural constituencies; we have made the correct decision.
"DAP needs to get out of rural areas to become a multi-ethnic party.
"How are we going to do that, (we need) to study and do introspection before deciding our strategy," he said at a press conference after the state poll results were announced.
Apart from losing in all the rural seats it contested in, DAP also lost five out of the 12 urban seats it held.
Chong acknowledged that DAP's poor showing at the election yesterday had set the party back to its 2006 strength in the state assembly.
Back then, he said DAP only won six state seats, one less than what it won this round.
Beside defending 12 of its Chinese-majority seats, DAP also contested in 17 Dayak-majority seats and one Malay-Melanau-majority seats.
It lost all the bumiputera seats and five of its Chinese-majority seats, including Batu Kawah, Repok, Meradong, Dudong, and Piasau.
It lost in Batu Kitang, an urban seat in Kuching where there was a clash with PKR.
"We were set back to 2006; we won six seats then. We need to study and review how we are going to start again," he added.
Low turnout rate of voters and money politics were among the reasons behind the party's defeat, Chong elaborated.
Also present were elected Padungan state assemblyperson Wong King Wei and Pending state assemblyperson Violet Yong.
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/340697

Selasa, 3 Mei 2016

Charles Santiago

Charles Santiago


Sarawak Elections: Legitimate Political Views and Limiting the Role of MPs?

Posted: 03 May 2016 10:13 PM PDT

 

Charles Santiago 1 Day Sarawak

4th May 2016

A popular science fiction writer, Ramez Naam, said: We’ve seen over time that countries that have the best economic growth are those that have good governance, and good governance comes from freedom of communication.

It comes from ending corruption.

It comes from a populace that can go online and say, ‘This politician is corrupt, this administrator, or this public official is corrupt.’

His words hold true for me today, where upon landing in Bintulu, Sarawak the immigration officer said I need to leave tomorrow.

Clearly the Chief Minister, Adenan Satem, doesn’t believe in freedom of information and is terrified that Opposition politicians will reveal the truth to the people of Sarawak in our election campaigns.

Furthermore he has violated the Constitution, which says a citizen can enter the east Malaysian state for purposes of legitimate political activity.

In direct contrast Barisan Nasional leaders are allowed to freely campaign in Sarawak until the polling day on May 7.

Many of my colleagues and other Opposition politicians have either been barred or had their stay in Sarawak restricted.

This shows the federal government, Prime Minister Najib Razak and the state government of Sarawak are frightened of losing the elections, if the Opposition’s echoing cries for reforms are allowed to be heard.

And by doing so, Adenan and the Barisan Nasional have hijacked the state election.

It’s a clever plot or so Adenan thinks, as it’s a preconceived strategy. Names of “unsavoury” characters, as Adenan calls them, are on a blacklist. The immigration officer looked through the list before announcing that I need to return in 24 hours.

Although we all know that elections in Malaysia are far from being free and fair, the blatant disregard for law displayed by Adenan, in cahoots with Najib and the Barisan Nasional administration, is shocking.

He has denied the people of Sarawak access to alternative political views, is playing dirty politics and abusing his powers as the top guy in the state.

In beginning his election campaign, Najib called the Sarawak election a "precursor" of the next general election, scheduled for 2018. He said a victory "will certainly form a very strong momentum for us moving forward”.

The Sarawak vote this Saturday is the first test of Najib’s popularity since the 1Malaysia Berhad scandal broke. The Prime Minister has also failed to convince the rakyat about the origins of the billions of ringgit that was deposited into his personal bank account.

So as allies, Adenan is doing a trapeze artist act to keep information away from Sarawakians, and particularly those in the rural areas.

Victor Hugo said “When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right”.

While Adenan and Najib may have government machinery and fear tactics at their disposal, real power lies in the hands of the people.

They may win this election but the people and the rest of the world will know they cheated their way through it and in doing so, have lost the legitimacy to rule.

Charles Santiago
Member of Parliament, Klang.

 

 

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