Letters From Batang Ai

Freelance Writer (FW) would like to say thank you to all for joining
in the ’special mission’ for the Btg Ai by-election

FW’s participation through ” Letters From Batang Ai” has been
rewarding and meaningful. Hopefully, the readers would have found the
articles useful, in some ways or perhaps provocative, or perhaps
enlightening. Of course, viewpoints and presentation may differ.
That’s the whole idea, anyway-  we can share, we can debate and we can
even ‘condemn’ but with civility.

FW would like to thank all bloggers for being on the same mission.

FW would like to thank the readers for feedbacks and comments.

FW  would especially like to thank someone ‘behind the scene’ for
making this possible.

The ‘Btg Ai Chapter’  for FW is now closed. And FW hopes to
‘resurface’ with ‘other chapters’ on other occasions.

Thank you very much.
Sincerely
Freelance Writer

From the Admin

My special thanks to all that have contributed and updated on the ground. Without them we would have not gotten uptodate news to be published here.

As FW has said, this chapter ends here and we will resurface soon with other chapters.

Cheers

Admin
Lettersfrombatangai.com

By Freelance Writer

The Btg Ai by-election result is known with BN coming out victorious,
doubling its previous majority.

I will not dwell to analyse in detail the result, including the votes
of each polling station. But suffice to say that this time BN managed
to maintain their strongholds and more so it managed to ’siphon-off”
votes in areas which, in the last election, were won by the
opposition.

Perhaps, I would only venture to summarise what perhaps could have
been the cause for PKR’s defeat.

1. The Tuai Rumah and their’ anak biak’ are probably worried that
development would pass-by them. Here was an opportunity to again
demand from the government - despite the failure of BN to deliver on
earlier promises.

2. The ‘threats’ given to the community leaders (Penghulu, Tuai
Rumah)- for them to support/vote BN. Remember that they are paid
monthly allowances. Worse still, if they don’t follow, they may even
be ’sacked’ !

3. Choice of candidate- is it an issue? It is always easy to say now
that this could have been a problem.Perhaps so, with so much
‘missiles’ fired at Jawah for his statements( pro-BN) , the PKR
campaign was always on the defensive. Or perhaps Bawin could have done
better ( bearing in mind he lost only by 800+ votes in the last
election). Or perhaps, PKR could have put up a ‘new face’ - with a
clean slate to spar against Mussen ( a new BN face).

4. Are the people ready to accept PKR into Sarawak - especially in the
rural areas? Perhaps, PKR should do a lot of ’soul-searching’ on how
to prepare itself for the next state election.Find a credible leader (
a Sarawakian) to lead PKR Sarawak. Find suitable candidates NOW to
contest in the next election with thorough screening of prospective
candidates ( not just anybody who want to contest), devise a ’solid
strategy’, strengthen ties with other opposition parties for a
formidable Pakatan Rakyat

Of course, the other obvious factors include: BN’s powerful machinery
( aided by government depts/agencies), ‘bottomless’ financial means
and the many, many ‘promises’ made by Ministers at both Federal and
State levels.

Despite all these, if only we only could emulate Bkt Selambau and Bkt
Gantang, then PKR could also have won. But, alas, it was not to
be.Still, there should be no excuses for the defeat.There’s no point
crying over spilled milk (as it were) but for PKR and other opposition
parties to continue with  thier struggle , and to come out victorious
in the next election.

By Freelance Writer

Congratulations

First of all congratulations! to Mussen for having won the Btg Ai
by-election rather convincingly, having doubled the majority obtained
by the late Datuk Dublin Unting. The people have spoken and we have to
accept that. So now we can call you (unofficially) Yang Berhormat
Malcolm Mussen Lamoh.

Congratulations! also go to BN as a whole for having retained Btg Ai.
All BN leaders- Taib, Jabu, Masing in particular - must be very
pleased with the result.

Well done especially to Jabu and Masing for being able to coax the
people of Btg Ai  with plentiful of promises inorder for them to
support BN. Lets hope that these promises are delivered very soon, and
not wait until the next election , to make similar promises yet again.
Both Jabu and Masing must be really relieved that the outcome went BN
way and at the same time handed the new PM a special gift. Both must
be on ‘cloud nine’ now and together with the others, would be having a
big celebration tonight and for many days to come. And why not, after
all the hard work Jabu, Masing and others deserve that.In addition,
both will be trumpeting their success splashed over all the print
media.

But just imagine had the result gone the other way ( to PKR), where
would they be? what would both be saying? And , of course, no special
gift for Najib.

To the people of Btg Ai, well, the decision was in your hands and that
decision was to vote for BN. So hopefully all those demands made, and
promises by BN, would be given. Undoubtedly, Btg Ai would ,over the
next few years, be experiencing a lot of development which would never
be dreamed of previously.Btg Ai, for sure, would be well- advanced and
developed than a lot of other areas in Sarawak. How very fortunate
that the people of Btg Ai  would be getting all those goodies and that
their standard of living would be much better than th rest. Keep it
up, keep voting BN.

To the people of Btg Ai, please DO NOT complain and grumble again in
the event that BN promises were not met/delivered. This was the
scenario before the by-election - the people were unhappy and angry
that they had been neglected and all those earlier promises were also
not delivered. But somehow, BN did a wonderful job in convincing the
rakyat, to again listen to the sweet BN talks and promises.

Maybe- only maybe- the Ibans ( being the majority in the area) have
very short memory and are very forgiving. Or maybe the Ibans are just
palin stupid and can be easily fooled and swayed by all those (BN)
sweet talks and promises. Or maybe the Ibans just don’t have the guts
to stand up against the arrogant, corrupt BN and ‘ nyembah bala sida
menteri/YB - baka meda  petara. Or maybe the Ibans can be easily
‘bought’ with just a couple of ringgit - enough to buy ‘ langkau’ to
make them happy. Or maybe the Ibans just don’t care about the future
of future generations. Maybe and many more ‘maybes’.

To PKR, to Jawah and Bawin  and to all supporters , do not despair and
don’t give up just yet. Treat this as the beginning of a long and hard
struggle.Keep working hard and go all over Sarawak to spread the
message. Sooner or later, the majority of the people will listen and
realise that BN must be defeated and for the Pakatan Rakyat to form
the next State Government. God willing, that will happen.

Whatever it is, with the by-election over, all can now go back doing
their normal daily chores. Don’t worry about Btg Ai anymore. The
people would be well taken care of by BN. And if not, never mind- just
let them be. let them suffer, let them grumble.

Be rest assured  that the people in Btg Ai , with all the’ durian
runtuh’, would surely be having a fiesta . Hope their ‘ durian’ can
last them a lifetime.

To the rest of us in Sarawak, this is a period of mourning ( For how
long its up to the individual).

Click here to view the result details

For the lastest in Batang Ai go to http://www.linasoo.com/batangai.html

Thanks

Admin

By Freelance writer

Today is the final day of campaigning. Both BN and PKR will go all out
in the next couple of hours to convince voters to vote for their
respective candidates.

Actually, nothing much can be done with most of the voters having made
up their minds, except those ‘fence-sitters’ who may decide until
polling tomorrow whom to vote. Even so, things may well change in the
next couple of hours, especially with BN’s mighty financial means by
‘enticing’ or ‘rewarding’ voters on the eve of polling .( Note: MAFREL
should monitor and that no such things will happen. PKR must also be
very alert))

Even nearing polling ,BN has admitted it may not fulfil all those
promises made or be able to meet the demands of the people of Btg Ai.
Taib himself said that being a rural area Btg Ai doesn’t deserve to
have an hospital,Not enough doctors? What a lame excuse. A rural area?
So it means all other rural areas in Sarawak can forget about having
hospitals. So much so of BN’s promise to look after the welfare of the
people.

Then,why did Taib offiiate the groundbreaking of Giat Mara? Isn’t that
also not worth having, since Btg Ai is rural, with a small
population.What if there were not enough trainers/personnel? Then it’d
be another ‘white elephant’ or would it be just another groundbreaking
project. Afterelection, nothing - gone with the wind!

Now, it seems that there will be more roads to be built (promised) in
a space of weeks ,if not, days. That’s quick as lightning approval.
Suddenly, BN become so effcient or is it that only now BN realised Btg
Ai deserve roads.

There so many other promises made.( need not mention them here) The
people of Btg Ai have never had it so good. Not sure whether to be
elated and applaud BN for such good deeds. But perhaps, one would be
more inclined to feel sorry for the people of Btg Ai. No doubt, Btg Ai
has been truly neglected all these years.The great pretenders in BN
are in ‘top gear’ and full of ‘action ‘ once again!

Oh well, that’s BN way of holding on to power by whatever means,
including pouring money, lying to the people and bombarding ‘threats’
against the people if they don’t vote BN.

Undoubtedly, all those hardworking BN Ministers/YBs will be
well-rewarded after this by-election.More businesses, new and bigger
houses, and all other precious things. But the people will remain as
they are now - living from hand to mouth.

That’s the sad fact of the real situation in Sarawak.The continued
rule of BN will lead to further miseries to the people.The gap between
the rich and powerful, and the poor will be greater.

All Sarawakians - wake up! Let’s topple BN. Lets start that with the
defeat of BN in Btg Ai.

Vote PKR- Vote Jawah.

By Freelance Writer

The people of Btg Ai will be going to the polls on 7/4. That’ll be the D-Day !

1. Vote BN- The people will continue to be given promises after
promises during elections

2. Vote BN- The people  will continue to dream of all those promises
and ‘instant noodles’.

3. Vote BN - The people will not get what they wanted, because BN live
on ‘fooling ‘ the people.

4. Vote BN- The people will continue to be manipulated and exploited.

5. Vote BN- The people will make the BN leaders  more arrogant and richer..

On the other hand:

1. Vote PKR- The peoples’ rights will be safeguarded.

2. Vote PKR- The people will be given due respect and care.

3. Vote PKR- The people will be able to stand proud and tall as other
races in terms of development.

4. Vote PKR- The people will be able to ensure a better future for
generations to come.

5. Vote PKR- The people will command better respect for having the
guts to rid-off BN’s corrupt rule.

The choice is very clear : VOTE PKR. - VOTE JAWAH AK GERANG

By Freelance Writer

The BN leaders have been saying of a perfect gift for the new PM
(Najib) with the win at Btg Ai by-election. Most notably among them
are Jabu and Sallang.
What kind of Iban leaders we have? Most pathetic !  What are they
saying about perfect gift? Most disgusting!

Ths is the problem with BN ‘finger-licking’  ( not the same as KFC)
leaders. It seems that the people must be ever grateful to the
political masters. Shouldn’t that be the other way round. The leaders
should, instead, be grateful to the rakyat, because it is the rakyat
who made it possible for them to be where they are now.That’s why,
when already in power, these BN leaders become very arrogant and
expect people to ’sembah’ them.After being elected and put in
positions of power, they ignore the people, they abuse their power and
they ‘rape’ the state of its wealth and resources.

Come on , all Sarawakians,  lets make it a WIN for  PKR ,  a WIN for
JAWAH AK GERANG….AS A PERFECT GIFT for the PEOPLE OF BTG AI.

By Freelance Writer

When the result of the Btg Ai by-election is made known and should BN win :

1. The Dayaks should not complain anymore that there’s no development,
that their interests are not taken care of and their land rights are
not resolved.

2. The  Dayaks should just let BN do as they wish - why should we
worry anymore, thats what the Dayaks want.

3. The Dayaks can remain as they are now - majority remain poor, their
areas remain backward and underdeveloped,

4. The Dayaks can just continue to suffer and be further ‘exploited’.

5. The Dayaks can forget about wanting to be on par with the other
races in terms of social and economic well-being.

6. The Dayaks can forget about wanting to be a group that command the
respect of others , because the Dayaks are now the laughing stock of
other Malaysians.

7. The Dayaks can remain as being easily being ‘bought over’ by  BN
money and whatever other promises.

8. The Dayaks can just let BN  plunder all the state’s wealth and resources.

9. The Dayaks can just continue to follow blindly what BN say .

10. The Dayaks can just let BN and its leaders to become richer. Its
alright the Dayaks suffer.

11. The Dayaks , as a group,will be forever condemned.

Thats what will happen to the Dayaks, the Ibans in Btg Ai, in particular.

There’s another day left, spread the message that this will not be the case.

Think wisely, think of the future.

VOTE JAWAH AK GERANG.

By Freelance Writer

The people of Btg Ai should REJECT BN, and instead VOTE PKR. That
means voting for JAWAH AK GERANG.

Why so?

1. BN not sincere in helping the rakyat. Can only TALK, NO ACTION.

2. BN only makes promises..and more promises. Promise during election,
but after election, NOTHING !

3. BN leaders are great LIARS and HYPOCRITES of the highest
order.Don’t ever believe what they say. They are seen and heard only
during election.

4. BN  and its leaders have become too ARROGANT and POWER CRAZY.

5. BN leaders only care to ENRICH themselves at the EXPENSE OF THE RAKYAT.

6. BN and its leaders are abusing their power, plundering the state’s
wealth and resources. And the RAKYAT still SUFFER and remain POOR..

7. BN leaders AMASSING WEALTH, obtain all the BIG BUSINESS, and making
millions for themselves.

8. BN and its leaders TAKING AWAY PEOPLES LAND for their own self interest.

9. BN leaders are CORRUPTED.

10. BN practised the highest form of CRONYISM and NEPOTISM.

11. BN are worried of their diminishing support in Btg Ai. That’s why
Federal and State Ministers and BN YBs are all busy ( or pretending to
be)
and making ALL SORTS OF PROMISES. WHY ONLY NOW?
12. BN pour in millions just for the BTG Ai by-election. Why SUDDENLY
A LOT OF MONEY available?

Vote for a better future. Vote for an equitable society.Vote for
justice. VOTE PKR. VOTE JAWAH AK GERANG.

Dead voters `living’ in electoral roll of BATANG AI

Mafrel’s investigation found 3 dead voters still “alive” in the electoral roll of Sarawak state N29 Batang Ai. The oldest voter in the constituency, Dayang Utat binti Kamaruden(981231-13-0146) was born in 1898, 111 years ago, died on the 29th of May 1981. She was buried at the Muslim cemetery of Kampung Ulu Sri Aman . Another question is why Dayang Utat’s name appears differently in the previous electoral roll? Her name was Dyg Bt Abg Kam in the electoral roll dated 05.02.2008, but her name in the current electoral roll is Dyg Utat Binti Abang Kamaruden . Both names are under the same IC number, 981231-13-0146

According to the ‘Kapitan Cina’of Lubok Antu, Mr Tay Chow Ming (who is also the nephew of Timah), Timah ak Ambal(001231-50-5984), born in 1900, was buried many years ago at the Chinese Cemetery next to her husband, behind the Lubok Antu Bazaar with the traditional tajau (jar) and gongs that marks her grave, the only iban grave at the Chinese cemetery .

The other name, David Aling ak Usit (born in August 1942) who died more recently in 2007, also found as one of eligible voters in the coming by-election on 7 April.

The finding by MAFREL team of 11 local observers led by Chief Peter John Jaban on the 2nd of April 2009, of a dead person whose name is still in the electoral roll and no longer active within the JPN system. So MAFREL is now questioning why this name is still in the electoral roll of daerah mengundi Lubok Antu and the pusat mengundi is SMK Lubok Antu. The gravesite was found by Seli ak Bedil.

David Aling ak Injan , a retired police officer (420819-13-5327)was born in 1942, and died on the 24 of March 2007 and was buried in the Christian Cemetery behind the Jabatan Penerangan Lubok Antu building.
As a matter of fact, the electoral roll of N29 shows 26 people with ages 99 and above. It is possible that some of them are living today. However, the investigation reveals that Election Commission (SPR) has done very little to update the list. Despite the exposure of Mafrel on one 108 years old voter, Sadiah Binti Taha of N49 Nangka (Sibu) during the state election in 2006, SPR has not proved its competency. Since the various government departments are well equipped with e-administrative capacity, it is a matter of minutes, if not second, to check the on the records of the National Registration Department (NRD).
Instead, the blame was put on people who do not report the dead. SPR secretary Datuk Haji Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor told the media that Sadiah’s name would remain on the roll as long as her death was not reported to the NRD (The Sunday Star, May 14, 2006). He was quoted that NRD had provided SPR every month of its latest status of death record for SPR to delete names of voters who had died (The Borneo Post, May 13, 2006). The claim was not true as some Mafrel observers found, they’re own parents whose death were duly reported with NRD, but their names are still in the roll.

In a specific case Mafrel had verified that the name of David Aleng ak Usit has been removed from the NRD’s record of living citizens. And yet the SPR’s roll still contain his name as an eligible voter! This seems to cast doubt on the efficiency of the SPR to clean up its roll consistent with the NRD records.

Mafrel urges SPR to immediately clean up the electoral roll. It is amazing that the non-existing voters, including those who died long before the national new identification card system was introduced, are all efficiently given a new 10-digit IC number.

Mafrel views that a clean electoral is a must for ensuring a free and fair election, where there is no room for `phantom voters’ to operate.’ Contend Mafrel’s Batang Ai election Observation Mission Coordinator Peter John Jaban.

If it has been proven that SPR cannot provide a clean and updated electoral roll Mafrel recommend that SPR do away with its redundant and inefficient registration of citizens as voters. All citizens as already registered by the much more efficient NRD, should automatically be accepted as voters once they achieve sufficient age. It will be saving a lot of expenditure for the country and also save the voters a lot of mistakes to adopt the automatic system.

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