Sarawak Election Rant
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Yo people!
Baillieu is open till 3am now! Woohoo! Let the NERDING begin! Bleah anyways posted below is our first ever blogpost submission! It's about the recent Sarawak elections... so those of you who are not from the BEST state in Malaysia *grin* may not know what the hell she's on about. Well, in short SUPP (Sarawak United People's Party) the state's Barisan National component party got a massive wake up call.
By the way, if anyone is interested in blogging for us on anything from current issues to their hometown to food to... aiya whatever lah, please mail it to us at club_momu@yahoo.com.au =) Many thanks to Patient for her submission!
August - Proud Mirian
Dear Malaysians in Melbourne,
Last Saturday marked an important date for Sarawak Elections. Opposition party – the Democratic Action Party (DAP) garnered 6 seats out of a possible 12 setting the BN coalition branch of Sarawak United People Party (SUPP) back in a 11/19 finish. This is SUPP’s largest loss since.. well.. forever. To put it in terms of our language, the outcome of the Sarawak Elections consisted of an SUPP ass-whooping lash by DAP. Chinese majority constituencies - Batu Lintang (KCH), Kota Sentosa (KCH), Padungan (KCH), Bukit Assek (Sibu), Meradong (Bintagor), Kidurong (Bintulu) and Pending (KCH) were captured by DAP and Keadilan.
An extra victory for MoMU-ans :
Presenting Violet Yong (Pending), 29 year old law graduate from Melbourne University managed to defeat 63-year-old BN seasoned veteran and Assistant Minister Datuk Sim Kheng Hui by a whooping 4,372 votes in her first ever electoral debut. Violet also garnered the highest amount of votes - 11,632 in the whole State.
I truly applaud the actions of the Kuchingnites who dared to voice their frustrations with BN by voting for the opposition parties. It's hard enough that our state government is not doing its job, but to have them confused as to why we have lost confidence in them is downright scary. God help us.Pictures taken from http://sarawakelection2006.wordpress.com/
First he's smiling
And then he's stumped.
It is a concern however, that sentiments shown by Kuchingnites are not shared by fellow Mirians. The only difference seems to be a reasonably moderate gap between DAP candidate Fong Pau Teck who lost by 1,370 votes to SUPP’s Andy Chin in the new constituency of Pujut. Understandably, Mirians have been getting the better end of the "development" as promised by the government and mainly because George Chan has been a prominent figure in what used to be a sleepy town for as long as I can remember. Ask yourselves this question : Has SUPP acted upon our concerns within BN?
Here are some of the points I would like to raise:
1) I wish Mirians are not blinded-sided by the "Miri Resort City" theme. Which part of the town seems like a resort city to you? Believe me, it isn't just a game of numbers or memorable dates that the declaration of this town as a CITY coincides with 20.05.2005. What do you know? A year and a day later, it's the General Elections! And the Marina Bay is no where near completion.
2) What happened to Miri Oil Town? Why replace it with RESORT? Well, where's the oil? Or more specifically, where's the bloody low oil price? 30 cents hike when Sarawak procudes one third of the country's oil products? Everyone, start sniffing around in Petronas. There's something fishy going on.The government can’t explain where the revenues have gone!
3) So you're thinking, what did we have to gain? Think carefully. A petroleum museum? Some building a hotshot was invited to declare open? The new Lutong bridge constructed so quickly that no one's hardly even had the time to whisper "the elections are approaching"?
4) Baram Bridge - this has to be the most expensive bridge in Malaysia and it costs RM20 to get to and fro, and you want to talk about promoting tourism in Miri? Penang bridge is only RM 7 one way for 13km. How long have we waited for the completion of this project and where is the suspension bridge as proposed?
Arguments, yes. But the opposition needs to find stronger representatives!
In Miri, I must say, I am disappointed about the alternative choices of candidates. The opposition must groom and send candidates worthy of the people's trust. Otherwise, why do you think so many Mirians stuck with BN instead? NO OTHER CHOICE! <-- Could this then explain the low turnout of voters? Because people simply couldn’t decide?I did not get a chance to vote this time round since I only turn 21 in August, however I find myself asking, IF I had the chance to vote, who would I have voted for? DAP just because it is not BN? Or BN because I've seen enough of George Chan's face to get "familiar" with his presence in Miri?That's BN's advantage I guess. As long as the opposition candidate does not :
(a) have more experience (that’s why we must not hold everything at face value)
(b) have enough funds to carry out an impressive campaign
(c) provide a convincing enough platform
Then, BN is home free.
My dilemma : I wouldn't vote for the opposition if I don't believe in the candidate's platform. But I sure as hell do not want to vote for the corrupted BN. Maybe it's not the issue of not voting for the right party, it's not having the right people to vote for! I think the Kuchingnites have shown that given the right alternative candidate options like Violet Yong and Voon Lee Shan, Sarawakkians will vote for the right party!
Think outside the box my fellow Mirians. Think BIG and ask yourselves whether your voice is heard in the Government. Don't leave it till they have used our land for their own benefits. Show them we are not followers of 31st August independence. Let them know 13 September marks the rise of an equal state. Come Parliamentary Elections in 2008, vote for a MALAYSIAN Malaysia! Power to the people!
Signed,
Patient
Extras:
(1) Here's DAP's website for more info: http://www.dapmalaysia.org, particularly DAP's Manifesto for the Elections (see what made Sarawakkians tick!): http://www.dapmalaysia.org/english/2006/may06/bul/bul2998.htm
(2) Lim Kit Siang's (President of DAP) blog : http://blog.limkitsiang.com
(3) Of course, Kenny Sia has some good comments to make : http://kennysia.com , ( http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2006/05/sarawak_electio.php ) There are other links on his post too.
(4) Articles from Malaysia-Today which might be of interest : http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/2006/05/message-from-voters-loud-and-clear.htm
http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/2006/05/it-was-chinese-revolt-against-supp.htm
http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/2006/05/ruling-coalition-lose-ground-in.htm
http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/2006/05/supps-loss-is-daps-gain.htm
"G'day! How are we all going? First of all I feel that comments by a Kuchingite on Miri's political scene unfair since he lacked understanding for the Miri community in general.
Secondly, as Mirian we have come to an undertanding that by standing united with Miri SUPP we can not only guarantee a constant and stable development but also the Chinese ethnic group in Sarawak can be well represented. Honestly speaking, they are our only representative in our state BN and also federal BN. If you let DAP and Keadilan win in Chinese seats, who are going to voice our opinions in future? these opposition parties are till today too weak to command any respect from the mainstream gov and their views are not short of extreme. DAP does not represent all ethnic group like other natives and malays. Whereas PAS only knows religion.
So who loses out? the chinese Kuchingites. Do you think you can scare Taib off with that stunt? I mean his party won all their seats contested and other rural component parties almost won all theirs too, meaning they still have much over 2/3 of the votes needed to form a full BN state gov and perhaps without the Chinese ministers from BN since they LOST.
So really in my perspective, Miri has chosen well. Since many SUPP ADUN lost, they loose their post in the state gov esp those from Sibu and KCH. All Miri ones will get a post and Miri's development will further be protected don't you think?
Another issue, Kuching South mayor used to be from SUPP traditionally, now we have a civil servant since all bandar KCH SUPP lost. So does that mean that taib will put up a malay in future as KCH mayor? Again chinese loose out.
I applaud Kuching voters for their concerns, intentions and thoughts but have you guys kinda back-fired your own good willed intentions?...think about it.................i dare not comment"
"A note on this: I am Mirian, not from Kuching.
After this past 12th GE, here are my thoughts: Miri is good to go at the moment, but the country is at stake.
Do you vote for your constituency, or do you vote for your country? That, is my question."