Parti politik baru dikatakan dalam proses penubuhan

Sebuah parti politik yang baru dikatakan dalam proses penubuhan dan akan disertai ahli-ahli politik tanpa parti.Menurut sumber, parti itu akan mempunyai 33 ahli majlis tertinggi iaitu 22 daripada ahli politik Dayak dan sembilan Cina.
Menurutnya, daripada sembilan ahli majlis daripada kalangan Cina, tiga dari Miri, dua dari Sibu dan empat dari Kuching.
Parti itu yang masih belum mendaftar dengan Pendaftar Pertubuhan (ROS) dikatakan mendapat sokongan kuat daripada Barisan Nasional (BN) Negeri dan dipercayai diketuai ahli politik terkenal bergelar ‘Datuk’.
Sumber itu menambah, parti itu perlu untuk ‘menempatkan’ ahli-ahli politik tanpa parti seperti bekas menteri muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri Larry Sng, yang juga bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Pelagus.
Berikutan pemecatannya daripada Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) kerana masalah dalaman parti pada 2007, Sng turut digugurkan daripada menyertai pilihan raya negeri April lalu.
Beliau bagaimanapun dilantik oleh Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud sebagai penasihat khas belia di Pejabat Ketua Menteri.
Setiausaha Agung BN Negeri Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom ketika dihubungi berkata, usaha mewujudkan parti baru di Sarawak hanyalah satu spekulasi.
“Saya tidak tahu menahu mengenai (kewujudan) parti politik baru tetapi setiap kali pilihan raya semakin hampir (diadakan), spekulasi seperti ini adalah perkara biasa,” katanya yang ketika ini melakukan tugas rasmi di Singapura.
Berita mengenai penubuhan parti baru itu dilaporkan buat pertama kalinya dalam akhbar tempatan berbahasa Cina.

DAP Dayak Consultative Council calls for two-party system

Dayak Consultative Council (DCC) of Democratic Action Party (DAP) is of the view that a two-party system is good for the country.

It said the system would act as a check and balance to keep politicians on their feet.

“We in the Dayak Consultative Council support the emerging two-party system in the country for the benefits it will bring to the people,” said Dr John Brian Anthony at a press conference in DAP Piasau service centre yesterday.

He pointed out that the previous system of having many different opposition parties and independents does not provide sufficient competition to Barisan Nasional (BN), which enabled the coalition to win every general election easily.

“Having so many symbols or party flags to choose from is confusing, so a two-party system simplifies their choice, and ensures that the alternative has sufficient ability to rule should they win the mandate,” said Brian, who comes from Sebauh, Bintulu but is now based in Kuala Lumpur.

He introduced two new members of DCC from Miri, namely businessman Naga Tang who was present and a specialist advisor working in the oil and gas industry Martin Entamin.

Together with Kuala Lumpur-based Duwen Babat and Dr Murni Serit, Kuching-based Edward Luak and Ben Diomedes Ujai, there are currently seven members, with another four vacancies left in the council.

“Dayaks have been with BN for many years, but realised the need for an alternative platform in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to address outstanding issues confronting Dayaks,” he said.

Now that DAP is reaching out to Dayaks through initiatives such as the DCC, Brian considered it a good platform for Dayak professionals to push their cause through politics.

“DAP provides the best platform due to its proven strength at national level with its base in the Penang state government, and because it’s the best established opposition party in Sarawak with two MPs and 12 Aduns,” he added.

Meanwhile, Piasau assemblyman Alan Ling Sie Kiong welcomed DCC as a useful collaboration between the Chinese and Dayak communities in achieving their common goals of addressing long-standing problems not addressed by BN.

Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck believes DCC will help DAP answer accusations that DAP is not qualified to tackle Dayak issues now that they have qualified Dayak professionals in their midst.

Also present were DAP Senadin chairlady Lim Su Kien and DAP Miri Legal Aid Bureau chief Chang Choon Yee.

PPP claims entry into state wish of many Sarawakians

People’s Progressive Party of Malaysia (PPP) yesterday issued a statement to emphasise that the party’s entry into the state was the wish of many Sarawakians.

According to the statement issued by former state chairman Zamiran Ujang, information chief Roy Mani and vice chairman Charles Liew, PPP Sarawak was formed by 500 friends in 2007 who wanted a multi-racial political party.

“We would like to emphasise that it is the Sarawakians who requested PPP to form branches in Sarawak and it was never the intention of the national party leadership to spread its wings here,” they stated.

They statement also claimed the party’s entry was also due to the fact that most political parties in Malaysia were race-based.

“We founded PPP in March 2007. We heard that a lot of Sarawakians are members of PPP in Johor,” they said.

In the statement which also explained the party’s history in the state, the trio added that they met party president Datuk M Kayveas to discuss the possibility of them joining the party and at the same time form branches and recruit members in Sarawak.

“It took us almost 10 months before the approachable and understanding party president agreed to our proposal. Datuk M Kayveas has also written to Barisan Nasional (BN) state chairman Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud several times seeking permission for the party to come to Sarawak,” they claimed.

They added that since there was no response from Taib, they proceeded with the party’s formation in Kuching in 2008.

“We formed a protem committee under the chairmanship of Zamiran. After the launching, there were a lot of objections from political leaders in Sarawak. It took us almost 20 months to form the first branch,” they said, adding that the beginning was tough as many could not understand their intention to help BN and contribute towards BN’s success.

According to them, it was after June 2009 that the party began to grow and spread its wings to Kuching, Bau, Serian, Sri Aman, Sibu, Meradong, Mukah, Pakan, Bintulu, Kanowit, Kapit and Selangau after Sarawakians who were PPP members in Johor returned to the state.

In his visit to the state last month (July), Kayveas stated that PPP would contest as independents in the state during the coming general election if state BN continued to reject them.

He declared that the party would be targeting seats traditionally won by the opposition and those which BN found difficult to win.

When asked to comment on the issue at a function on July 27, Taib said he was okay with PPP’s entry into the state because Malaysia was a free country.

“It’s okay…what can we do? It’s a free country…up to the people to choose,” he said when asked whether PPP’s entry would encourage other peninsula-based parties to enter the state.

Meanwhile, party leaders such as state BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Itom spoke against PPP’s entry into the state.

Dr Rundi said the presence of the party here would not help BN because it did not even do well in Semenanjung.

Chief political secretary to the chief minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah commented that PPP would just be an ‘excess baggage’ if it proceeded with its intention to establish itself and put up election candidates in Sarawak,

During PPP’s recruitment drive at Kota Sentosa wet market in late July, it was reported that an angry man threw a plastic bag said to be filled with human faeces at one of PPP’s national leaders.

“The man walked towards him and threw the plastic bag before making a quick dash,” said a party member who witnessed the incident.

The leader was identified not to be Kayveas who was officiating at a function in that area.

Prove your worth in coming polls, PKR tells PPP

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Central Leadership Council (CLC) member Zulrusdi Mohd Hol has issued a challenge to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to contest in the state in the next general election.

He said this would be a way to prove to Sarawakians that PPP vice-president Datuk Nik Sapeia Nik Yusoff was not talking rubbish when he said that PPP could whack peninsula-based opposition parties in the state.

Zulrusdi, who is also PKR Petra Jaya divisional chief, said Nik Sapeia’s statement held no ground at all when the party itself was rejected by the rakyat in Semenanjung.

“The support towards Pakatan Rakyat (PR) (in Sarawak) is increasing day by day,” he claimed.

The CLC member also suggested that PPP get seats from PBB if the party was serious in contesting in the state during the coming general election.

Asked why he particularly mentioned PBB and not other state BN component parties, Zulrusdi said it would be logical for PBB to give its seats to PPP as the party had the most parliamentary seats. Out of the 31 parliamentary seats in the state, PBB has 15.

Last Saturday, Nik Sapeia said PPP, by virtue of being a peninsula-based party, was in a better position to fight PKR, DAP and PAS which are also based in Semenanjung.

“PPP is the only party (in BN) that can outwit the peninsula-based opposition parties (in Sarawak). You (the state BN) cannot fight them, but PPP can.”

“‘Ayam sama ayam’ (chicken and chicken) can fight, but ‘itik sama ayam’ (duck and chicken) cannot,” he said, adding : “I know how to play the game against Anwar (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) because I was with him (during our Umno youth days) before. You don’t worry about that.”

PRS dan SPDP hanya 2 timbalan menteri kerajaan persekutuan. kenapa tidak beri kedudukan menteri penuh 1 kepada kedua2 dayak base party ini?????

Cabinet breakdown

1. Umno:  22 Ministers* 16 Deputy Ministers 2. MCA 4 Ministers 6 Deputy Ministers 3. MIC 1 Minister 3 Deputy Ministers 4. Gerakan 2 Deputy Ministers 5. PBB 1 Minister 3 Deputy Ministers 6. SUPP 1 Minister 2 Deputy Ministers 7. SPDP 2 Deputy Ministers 8. PBS 1 Minister 9. UPKO 1 Minister 10. PRS 2 Deputy Ministers 11. LDP 1 Minister 12. PPP 1 Deputy Minister 12. IND 1+ Total 33 Ministers* 37 Deputy Ministers * Datuk Shahrizat Jalil appointed as special adviser with full ministerial ranking + Datuk Amirsham Aziz considered an independent appointment

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi  Umno Penang Kepala Batas Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Umno Pahang Pekan Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok UPKO Sabah Penampang Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz Umno Perak Padang Rengas Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi Umno Perak Bagan Datuk Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz (senator) Special Appointment: Economic Planning Unit (Maybank CEO) Deputy Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Johari Baharom Umno Kedah Kubang Pasu Senator Dr Mashitah Ibrahim Umno Kedah Ex-Baling K. Devamany MIC Pahang Cameron Highlands Datuk Hasan Malek Umno Negri Sembilan Kuala Pilah Y.B. Sen. Tuan Murugiah a/l Thopasamy PPP Senator Finance Minister - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Umno Penang Kepala Batas Second Finance Minister - Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop Umno Penang Tasek Gelugor Deputies - Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah Umno Perak Tambun Datuk Kong Cho Ha MCA Perak Lumut Defence Minister - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Umno Pahang Pekan Deputy - Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop  Umno Malacca Masjid Tanah Internal Security and Home Affairs Minister - Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar Umno Johor Kota Tinggi Deputies - Datuk Chor Chee Heong, MCA Kedah Alor Star Senator Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh Umno Terengganu Housing and Local Government Minister -Datuk Ong Ka Chuan MCA Perak Tanjung Malim Deputies - Datuk Robert Lau SUPP Sarawak Sibu Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin Umno Perak Larut Works Minister Minister - Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad Umno Selangor Sepang Deputy - Datuk Yong Khoon Seng SUPP Sarawak Stampin Energy, Water and Communications Minister - Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor Umno Negri Sembilan Tampin Deputy - Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum PRS Sarawak Julau Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister - Datuk Mustapa Mohamed Umno Kelantan Jeli Deputy - Datin Paduka Rohani Abdul Karim International Trade and Industry Minister -Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Umno Johor Pagoh Deputies- Datuk Liew Vui Keong LDP Sabah Sandakan Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan SPDP Sarawak Baram Foreign Affairs Minister - Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim Umno Negri Sembilan Jelebu Deputy - Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar Umno Pahang Jerantut Education Minister - Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Umno Johor Sembrong Deputies - Datuk Wee Ka Siong,  MCA Johor Air Hitam Datuk Razali Ismail Umno Terengganu Kuala Terengganu Higher Education Minister - Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin Umno Johor Pasir Gudang Deputies - Dr Hou Kok Chung MCA Johor Kluang Datuk Idris Harun Umno Malacca Tanjung Batu Transport Minister - Datuk Ong Tee Keat MCA Selangor Pandan Deputy - Datuk Anifah Aman Umno Sabah Kimanis Human Resources Minister - Datuk S. Subramaniam MIC Johor Segamat Deputy - Datuk Noraini Ahmad Umno Johor Parit Sulong Women, Family and Community Development Minister - Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen MCA Pahang Raub Deputy - Noriah Kasnon Umno Selangor National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister - Datuk Shafie Apdal Umno Sabah Semporna Deputy - Datuk Teng Boon Soon MCA Johor Tebrau Science, Technology and Innovation Minister - Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili PBS Sabah Kota Marudu Deputy - Fadilah Yusof PBB Sarawak Petra Jaya Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister - Datuk Noh Omar Selangor Umno Tanjung Karang Deputy - Datuk Saiffuddin Abdullah Umno Pahang Temerloh Natural Resources and Environment Minister - Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas PBB Sarawak Betong Deputy - Datuk Abu Ghapur Salleh Umno Sabah Kalabakan Rural and Regional Development Minister - Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib Umno Selangor Deputy - Tan Sri Joseph Kurup PRS Sabah Pensiangan Joseph Entulu Belaun PRS Sarawak Selangau Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister - Datuk Shahrir Samad Umno Johor Johor Baru Deputy - Jelaing Mersat SPDP Sarawak Saratok Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister - Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui SUPP Sarawak Miri Deputy - Senator A. Kohilan Gerakan Selangor Youth and Sports Minister - Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaacob Umno Pahang Bera Deputy - Wee Jack Seng MCA Johor Tanjung Piai Health Minister - Datuk Liow Tiong Lai MCA Pahang Bentong Deputy - Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad Umno Johor Mersing Information Minister - Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek Umno Terengganu Kemaman Deputy- Datuk Tan Lian Hoe Gerakan Perak Grik Tourism Minister - Datuk Azalina Othman Umno Johor Senggarang Deputy - Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abu Taib PBB Sarawak Kota Samarahan