Khamis, 24 Mac 2011

PRN Sarawak : NGO 1M'sia kini di Kuching, ditaja jutawan

Menjelang pilihan raya negeri Sarawak, NGO 1Malaysia mengumumkan bahawa ia akan menganjurkan siri jamuan makanan percuma dan pertandingan untuk penduduk Kuching - semuanya ditaja oleh seorang jutawan.

Menurut satu laporan dalam akhbar harian berbahasa cina, China Press, perkara itu diumumkan oleh penyelaras NGO tersebut, Sia Teck Keong dalam satu kenyataan semalam.

Sia berkata, objektif aktiviti tersebut diadakan adalah untuk menggalakkan konsep 1Malaysia yang diperkenalkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Kumpulan tersebut, tegasnya lagi, adalah sebuah NGO bebas tanpa sebarang kaitan politik, dan kos operasinya ditanya oleh seorang jutawan yang menyokong konsep 1Malaysia.

Beliau tidak mendedahkan identiti jutawan tersebut.

NGO itu akan menganjurkan satu pertandingan bola keranjang di Batu Lintang pada hari Sabtu, satu majlis makan malam mega di Kenyalang keesokan harinya dan satu jamuan makanan Indonesia di Pusat Maklumat Islam di Kuching pada 2 April.

Semua majlis tersebut adalah terbuka kepada orang ramai.

MP Sibu kesal 'Iklan' kerusi Dudong

Adakah satu lagi krisis dalaman menyelubungi Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (SUPP) cawangan Sibu berhubung pemilihan calon bagi pilihan raya negeri akan datang?

Ini susulan iklan satu muka penuh dalam akhbar harian berbahasa Cina bertarikh 21 Mac, yang mengeluarkan 'amaran' terhadap pihak yang 'mengganggu' kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Dudong.

Penyandangnya ialah Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck yang menyuarakan hasrat untuk mempertahankan kerusi itu sungguhpun Presiden parti Tan Sri Dr George Chan telah mengumumkan bahawa beliau dan Dr Soon bercadang untuk bersara.

Khabar angin bertiup kencang bahawa Anggota Parlimen Lanang Datuk Tiong Thai King bakal menggantikan Dr Soon.

Mengulas mengenai iklan itu, Tiong berkata beliau kesal kerana beberapa pihak tertentu bertindak melakukan taktik kotor seperti itu.

"Ia bertujuan mencemarkan imej politik saya dan ini amat mengecewakan. Ia ada motif yang terselindung," katanya kepada pemberita di Sibu hari ini.

Tiong berkata beliau masih memikirkan sama ada untuk bertanding bagi kawasan Dudong meskipun, menurutnya, Dr George Chan dan Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud telah memaklumkan kepadanya tentang hasrat mereka supaya beliau bertanding bagi kerusi Dudong.

"Bukanlah sifat saya untuk menuntut kerusi itu. Terpulang kepada kepimpinan pusat parti untuk membuat keputusan berhubung semua kerusi dan calon, bukan hanya kerusi Dudong sahaja. Kami akan akur dengan apa jua keputusan yang dibuat," katanya.

Tiong, Setiausaha SUPP cawangan Sibu, juga adalah pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Sibu.

Baru-baru ini, Persatuan Chiang Chuan di sini menyatakan sokongannya kepada Dr Soon - satu-satunya anggota daripada komuniti Hokkien yang dipilih sebagai wakil rakyat di wilayah tengah negeri ini - supaya dikekalkan untuk mempertahankan kerusi berkenaan.

Kerusi Dudong turut menjadi tumpuan kontroversi apabila Dr Soon ingin menubuhkan cawangan Dudong namun gagal memperoleh kebenaran SUPP cawangan Sibu yang menentang cadangan itu kerana menurutnya, tidak dilakukan mengikut prosedur yang betul.

- Bernama

SNAP: Dakwaan S'wak Report hanya satu 'rekaan'

Parti Nasional Sarawak (SNAP) menyifatkan laporan blog Sarawak Report yang mendakwa wujudnya perjanjian sulit antara parti itu dengan BN di Kuala Lumpur sebagai satu cerita rekaan yang paling teruk.

Edmund-Stanley-JugolSebaliknya, tegas setiausaha agung SNAP, Stanley Jugol (kiri), kebenarannya 
ialah tidak pernah ada sebarang perjanjian antara SNAP dan BN.

Di samping itu, katanya, juga tidak pernah ada sebarang pertemuan antara ketua penerangan Umno, Datuk Ahmad Mazlan dengan pemimpin atau wakil SNAP baru-baru ini.

"Ataupun terdapat sebarang perjumpaan dengan mana-mana wakil BN untuk berunding," kata Stanley dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Katanya, artikel tersebut adalah jelas satu perbuatan kotor untuk melemahkan SNAP ketika parti itu sedang bangkit semula dan bersiap sedia untuk menghadapi pilihan raya negeri.
“Penulisnya mahu menghancurkan SNAP sebagai sebuah parti politik berdaya maju. Ini (perbuatan) nakal dan jahat.

“Hakikat sebenarnya ialah SNAP adalah sebuah parti politik bebas yang berjuang untuk kepentingan rakyat Sarawak khususnya dan rakyat Malaysia amnya. 

"Objektifnya ialah untuk menyatu-padukan penduduk asal, terutama masyarakat Dayak di bawah satu payung politik.

“Terdapat banyak sebab mengapa Dayak perlu bersatu di bawah satu parti. Kami tahu masyarakat Dayak pada umumnya mahukan perpaduan kerana mereka kini sedar bahawa mereka telah dipecahbelahkan selama empat puluh tahun, dan menyebabkan tanah dan harta mereka dirampas oleh pentadbiran tamak.

“Punca kemiskinan masyarakat Dayak ialah perpecahan politik di kalangan mereka dan SNAP berazam untuk menghentikan perkara itu. 

"Parti pilihan di kalangan masyarakat Dayak adalah SNAP. Kita mahu bertanding di semua kerusi Dayak adalah diasaskan premis ini," tegasnya.

PKR-DAP front crumbles in Sarawak

Joseph Tawie

 | March 24, 2011
Sarawak DAP is toying with the idea of contesting on its own in the upcoming state election after talks over seat allocations with PKR broke down.

KUCHING: The hope of a united Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat coalition going into the 10th state election has crumbled with the latest announcement that talks between DAP and PKR on over-lapping seats have broken down.
DAP wants 18 seats but PKR is insisting that DAP contest in 13 seats.
With the failed negotiations, hopes of bringing down Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud also crashed.
Speaking to reporters here today, DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said: “I have been entrusted to make a very sad announcement on the seat negotiation.
“You know that I have been keeping quiet on seat allocation.
“Our chairman Wong Ho Leng just met Azmin Ali (PKR deputy president) for the final round of seat negotiations and the bad news is that the talks have broken down.
“In our last attempt to keep Pakatan together, DAP conceded Padungan and Senadin to PKR.
“We have been asking for 18 seats out of 71, which are Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang, Batu Kawa, Kota Sentosa, Simanggang, Balai Ringin, Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Dudong, Bawang Assan, Repok, Meradong, Kidurong, Senadin, Piasau, Pujut and Bukit Kota.
“These are the seats that we are asking. And during the meeting and in the spirit of Pakatan, we conceded Padungan and Senadin to PKR hoping that we can hold Pakatan together.
“After giving out the two seats, we are left with 16.
“Yet after we made the final offer, PKR demanded Batu Kawa, Dudong, and Balai Ringin as well Padungan and Senadin.
“That will leave us with 13, which is one more than we contested in 2006.”
No agreement
Sarawak Pakatan coalition comprises DAP, PKR, PAS and local party Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP).
PKR and SNAP have also failed to reach an agreement over seat allocations.
SNAP wants to contest in 40 seats, especially in the 29 Dayak majority seats. It has already conceded two seats in deference to Sarawan PKR chairman Baru Bian.
PKR is targeting to contest in 52 seats.
Said Chong: “I think there is a limit to DAP making concessions for the sake of Pakatan. We cannot be reduced to a negligible party…
“I think that if there is such a demand, it should be reasonable. We give them an inch, but they want a foot.
“As a result of such a demand, the negotiations have broken down,” he said.
A disappointed Chong said the party has “no choice” now but to consider going it alone, adding that it would stick to its plan to contest in 18 seats.
“We have no choice. All this while, throughout the negotiations, despite the attacks by PKR on DAP at branch level, we have been keeping silent hoping that it will not affect the negotiation.
“Since the goodwill is not reciprocated, we cannot agree to PKR’s request for three more seats despite we conceding two to them,” said Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa state assemblyman.
According to Chong, Sarawak PKR had made its position very clear that it had no authority to negotiate seats as the real power lay  with the PKR central committee, which made decisions.
“I hope they can come to their senses before nomination day, otherwise we will go on our own.
On the question of a coalition with SNAP, Chong said that the two parties have yet to discuss it.
“There is a possibility,” he added.

Al-Kitab a weighty issue in Sarawak

Stephanie Sta Maria
 | March 24, 2011
But how heavy Al-Kitab will weigh on the Christian minds may be reflected on their ballot papers.
FEATURE
Pastor Melai Belingau’s voice was low but steely as he reflected on the first religious controversy to crash upon Sarawak shores. But by now his chagrin had moved beyond the stamping of the 30,000 Al-Kitab copies and was levelled at the Christians instead.
“The ordinary Christians are unaffected by this matter because they don’t understand it nor do they seek to understand it,” said the Sidang Injil Borneo pastor. “But as leaders we can’t turn the other cheek because if we compromise today, who knows what will surface tomorrow.”
For now the face of tomorrow is that of the 10th Sarawak state election in April where compromises are bound to be required. Yet religion could come between many such invisible handshakes. And if this happens, it will make history in a state where religious tolerance is a practice rather than a privilege.
Racial and religious tensions are unfamiliar terrain for East Malaysians, and they have watched in close and quiet bewilderment as these tensions crackled in the Peninsula over the past year. Three weeks ago it was their turn to grapple with the fine line between religion and politics.
Tens of thousands of Al-Kitab copies were released after being impounded for almost 18 months at the Kuching Port. Christian joy was fleeting though when the Home Ministry ordered the Malay-language bibles stamped with the words “For Christians Only” and marked with serial numbers.
The Christian leadership in Sarawak swiftly condemned these restrictions but the true weight of the Al-Kitab issue will only be known when Sarawakians go to the polls on April 16. And herein lies the root of Belingau’s private distress.
Christians account for 43% of Sarawak’s 2.4 million population. A united stand against the government’s heavy-handed approach to their religion could well see a massive vote swing favouring the opposition. Yet this may not happen.
“I’m worried about the ignorance in the rural areas,” Belingau confessed. “The Dayaks, in particular, are not well-informed. They only fight once they are victimised but the critical time is now.”
He will therefore be heartened to learn that Dayak social activist, Dr John Brian Anthony, has more faith in his community.
Shifting stance
Anthony pointed out that the Sibu by-election last May revolved around the “Allah” issue and despite Barisan Nasional’s (BN) generous offers to fund the refurbishments of churches in Sabah, it wounded up losing the seat.
“The Al-Kitab issue has made Sarawak churches very angry,” he stated. “The Dayaks take religion very seriously and this recent issue has made them more inclined to support the opposition.”
“For the Dayaks this is the last straw after being marginalised in the civil service and losing their land. The parts are starting to fall into place to create a picture of a colonised Sarawak.”
Anthony, who helms the blog Dayak Baru, claimed that BN support has steadily decreased among the 95% of Dayaks in his village of Kemena. A mark of this change, he observed, lay in the shifting stance of the longhouse heads.
“They are always known to be fence-sitters but lately they have hinted at their support for the opposition,” he said. “The young educated Dayaks have been pressuring them for the past six years to look in a different direction and they are finally doing it.”
“In this past year, religion has taken root in politics with PKR functions in non-Muslim areas beginning with a prayer. And this is because PKR Sarawak doesn’t have the Muslim brand like it does in Peninsular Malaysia.”
Another social activist, who only wanted to be known as Peng, noted that the startlingly vocal reaction by Christian groups was indication enough of BN’s precarious position in Sarawak.
“Christians in Sawarak are normally conservative and reluctant to rock the government boat,” he explained. “But the Al-Kitab issue has prompted strong statements from the community’s top leadership. I don’t remember them ever publicly taking the government to task over an issue.”
Peng also warned of the political clout among the indigenous people particularly that of the Kelabits. Despite being a minority tribe, they possess strong political influence and good government connections (being former and current civil servants).
“The most obvious flexing of these political muscles are the statements made by (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department) Idris Jala supporting the release of the Al-Kitab,” Peng pointed out. “Jala is a Kelabit himself and the tribe is using him as a link to the federal government.”
Daring approach
But Belingau is far from encouraged by John and Peng’s words. He still believes that the wool must be snatched from over the eyes of Christians in rural areas.
“They see voting the opposition as biting the hand that feeds them,” he said. “But what they don’t see is that the hand is intentionally keeping them hungry so that they will always be grateful to be fed.”
Belingau has thus opted for a more daring approach – he now laces his sermons in church with a dash of political flavour.
“I tell my congregation that the way this country is run has a direct impact on their lives,” he said. “First was the Allah issue and now this. Before long the government will be deciding what we should and shouldn’t believe in.”
“The problem is the separation between theology and politics. Politics is seen as a dirty word when it is actually something that people should understand because it involves them. And because of this separation, our theology isn’t developed enough for Christians to state their stand on national issues.”
In a move to expedite this understanding in light of the looming polls, Belingau has dispatched evangelists to reach out to Christians in remote areas. His efforts may be applauded by some while others may view it as an overreaction to a non-issue.
Francis Sia, the leader of the Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS), is among the latter. According to him, religious issues, no matter how controversial, will take a back seat to corruption and abuse of power in Sarawak.
“I have attended various ceramahs and the people are not interested in debating the Al-Kitab issue,” he said. “It will have little bearing on votes and I strongly advise the opposition not to include religion in its campaign because Sarawakians will not appreciate a ruckus over a non-issue.”

PRN Sarawak, ambil semangat Badar

Di antara pengajaran yang paling agung tatkala Rasulullah s.a.w dan kaum Muslimin menghadapi peperangan Badar adalah pertolongan Allah s.w.t.

Syeikh Safiyurrahman al-Mubarakfury di dalam Sirah Ar-Rahiq al-Makhtum  menyatakan, kemenangan besar yang diperolehi adalah daripada bantuan dan pertolongan secara ghaib kepada umat Islam.

Selain itu, ia membawa peringatan bahawa kaum Muslimin tidak terpesona  dan tertipu dengan keberanian dan kejaguhan mereka yang akan menjebakkan mereka dalam perasaan angkuh dan sombong.

Antara pertolongan yang diceritakan oleh Abu Dawud al-Mazini, beliau berkata: “Aku sedang mengikuti (mengekori) untuk menyerang lelaki Musyrik untuk membunuhnya. Tiba-tiba kepalanya jatuh sebelum pedangku sampai kepadanya. Maka tahulah aku bahawa dia dibunuh oleh orang lain.”

Ibnu Abbas meriwayatkan bahawa: “Ketika seorang lelaki dari kalangan tentera Islam mengasak hebat seorang Musyrik di hadapannya tiba-tiba dia terdengar bunyi pukulan rotan di atasnya serta suara seorang pahlawan yang berkata: “Ayuh maju wahai Hayzum!”

Kemudian dia datang kepada Rasulullah s.a.w menceritakan apa yang disaksikannya, lantas Baginda bersabda: “Kamu benar, itulah bantuan yang datang dari langit ketiga.”

Dalam riwayat lain pula, oleh Ibnu Sa’ad menyebutkan daripada Ikrimah: “Pada hari itu (perang Badar) ada kepala orang Quraisy yang gugur tanpa diketahui siapa yang memenggalnya dan ada tangan yang terpelanting tanpa diketahui siapa yang mencantasnya.”

Di samping itu, ada kaum Muslimin yang turut dibantu Allah s.w.t. Pada hari peperangan itu, pedang seorang sahabat Nabi Ukasyah bin Mihsan al-Asadiy telah putus. Lalu dia datang kepada Rasulullah s.a.w. Baginda memberikannya sebatang kayu yang biasa dibuat sebagai penggaru unta perang.

Baginda berkata: “Gunakan ini untuk berperang wahai Ukasyah”. Apabila diambilnya kayu itu daripada Rasulullah s.a.w, Ukasyah melibas-libaskannya. Tiba-tiba ia bertukar  menjadi sebilah pedang yang panjang, kuat dan berwarna putih. Lalu dia gunakan pedang itu untuk berjuang sehingga diberikan kemenangan kepada umat Islam.

Demikianlah pertolongan Allah s.w.t. Dari segi kekuatan persenjataan dan kelengkapan umat Islam ketika itu memang tidak dapat menandingi kekuatan musuh yang sangat hebat.

Begitu jua kekuatan PAS hari ini tidak setanding BN. Mereka punyai wang, media massa dan seluruh jentera kerajaan. Lalu, PAS harus berbangga jika memiliki pertolongan Allah s.w.t.

Justeru, pertolongan Allah s.w.t ini telah melahirkan pahlawan yang hebat ketika peperangan Badar. Misalnya apa yang berlaku kepada Muawwidh bin Afra’.

Diceritakan oleh Muadh bin Amru: “Aku melihat Abu Jahal (ketika perang) dalam satu kepungan di rimbunan pokok. Maka aku pahatkan cita-cita untuk mendapatkan Abu Jahal, lalu apabila ruang terbuka segera aku menyerbunya dan melibasnya dengan satu libasan yang memutuskan separuh betisnya.”

Beliau berkata: “Ketika itu, anak Abu Jahal iaitu Ikrimah menetakku di bahagian bahu, sehingga terputus sebelah tanganku. Lalu tanganku itu berjuntaian dengan kulit di sisiku. Aku tidak menghiraukan apa yang terjadi dan terus berperang.

“Tatkala semakin sukar pergerakanku, maka aku letakkan kakiku di atas tanganku (yang hampir putus), kemudian aku pijak-pijak hingga tertanggal. Kemudian Muawwidh bin Afra datang kepada Abu Jahal dan melibasnya hingga kaku dan membiarkannya tinggal nyawa-nyawa ikan. Kemudian Muawwidh terus berjuang hingga terbunuh.”

Demikianlah semangat Badar yang perlu diteladani kepada ahli-ahli PAS untuk menghadapi BN di dalam Pilihan raya DUN Sarawak yang bakal menjelang tidak lama lagi.

PRN Sarawak: Kerusi PAS selesai, umum esok

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Mac: Timbalan Presiden PAS, Nasharudin Mat Isa (gambar) berkata pembahagian kerusi PAS bagi menghadapi pilihan raya negeri Sarawak sudah selesai.
Katanya, keputusan pembahagian kerusi itu dimuktamadkan selepas pertemuan dengan pimpinan PKR hari ini.
Bagaimanapun beliau yang juga Pengarah Pilihan Raya Sarawak berkata jumlah dan kerusi Dun mana yang ditandingi belum boleh dimaklumkan dan akan diumumkan secara rasmi esok.
"Tadi kita selesai bincang dengan PKR dan bagi pihak PAS, perbincangan pembahagian kerusi kita sudah selesai," katanya ketika dihubungi Harakahdaily.
Sehubungan itu jelasnya, arahan telah dikeluarkan kepada pimpinan PAS di kawasan yang akan ditandingi untuk meneruskan gerak kerja yang telah dimulakan sebelum ini.
"Soal calon, kita akan bincang selewat-lewatnya awal minggu depan," katanya lagi.
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) semalam menetapkan pilihan raya negeri Sarawak yang ke-10 diadakan pada 16 April, manakala penamaan calon ditetapkan pada 6 April.
Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man seperti dilapor Harakahdaily sebelum ini membayangkan PAS akan bertanding sekurang-kurangnya tiga kerusi pada pilihan raya Sarawak kali ini.
Bagaimanapun menurutnya, beberapa kerusi masih dalam perbincangan dengan parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat yang lain dan mungkin berlaku penambahan untuk beberapa kerusi lagi.
PAS dijangka akan meletakkan calon mereka salah satunya di N24 Beting Maro, iaitu satu-satunya kerusi yang pernah ditandingi mereka pada pilihan raya lalu.
Calon PAS, Alem Din pada waktu itu hanya tewas kepada calon BN dengan majoriti 895 undi.