OPEN LETTER TO JACOB SAGAN AND LIHAN JOK

Surat terbuka di bawah, saya terima melalui email daripada kenalan yang telah memperjuangkan kepentingan penduduk Baram.

Dear

"YB Dato Jacob Dungau Sagan and YB Lihan Jok.

Without prejudice.

Are you defending us your voters in Baram or defending Taib?"

YB Dato Jacob Dungau Sagan our MP for Baram during a visit to Kampung Long Banyok, Baram recently told his audience not to listen to those who opposed the proposed Baram hydro project or dam sited between Kampong Long Nahah'a and Kampung Long Kesseh in the middle Baram. YB Jacob even said that he has been forewarned by the authorities that the dam will be implemented elsewhere and the billions of ringgit worth of projects associated with it will also be channelled elsewhere if the Baram people opposed the dam.

YB Lihan Jok on the other hand has said that the proposed dam is "God's gift" to the people in Baram.

But then, Dato Jacob, what is the worth of all the timbers from Baram extracted by the big companies all these years? Surely, they were worth hundreds of billions of ringgit. And the remaining timbers? Surely, they are at least worth tens of billions of ringgit too. And what about our NCR lands in Baram now illegally alienated by your BN boss, Taib Mahmud, also to the big companies for oil palms and acacia trees? Surely, they are not only worth hundreds of billions of ringgit but will generate tens of billions of ringgit in time to come.

For many terms now you are our wakil rakyat, our MP. Now you are even a Deputy Minister. Do you understand what the roles of wakil rakyat are? You are holder of a master degree. Surely you know that.

As a wakil of the rakyat of Baram, surely you know it is your most important role to act, speak and fight for and to defend the rights and interests of the rakyat of Baram without whose vote you would not have been what you are today.

So why is it that you have to go along with Taib and the BN govt threatening the people of Baram that if they do not support the proposed dam, the dam will not only be relocated elsewhere but so-called projects worth so-called billions of ringgits associated with the dam will be channeled elsewhere?

Is it because you want to save your post as Deputy Minister that you so readily support Taib and the BN to threaten our Baram people on the dam? If you do, that means you have abused our trust, mandate and votes as your real purpose is not to be our wakil rakyat but wakil your own personal pocket, agenda and interest!

If you are scared to stand up to speak, fight and defend the rights and interests of the Baram people then you are definitely UNFIT to be our wakil rakyat. A wakil (leader) must be courageous like our ancestors warriors!

There is no point that you became Deputy Minister and enjoy all the many perks and privileges from it but your rakyat in Baram who had steadfastly voted for you for many many terms are continually bullied, humiliated, threatened or held to ransom (with withdrawal of socalled projects) robbed of our NCR lands and all our resources in it.

If you do not speak out, fight and defend us, then, you are not only failing us as our wakil rakyat but are also consciously SIDING with Taib and the BN and the big companies who robbed and are still robbing us of our rights, our NCR lands, our resources, etc.

Surely, you are fully aware of the continual and aggravating problems faced by the settlers of the Batng Ai and the Bakun dam! If not pay a personal visit there and talk to the settlers directly about their situation. And don't talk out of ignorant or worse still just simply parroting what your boss Taib and Jabu (who caused his own Iban people to continue to be the poorest in Malaysia today)say.

Remember! Taib, Jabu, James Masing and the BN also said or promised the same thing before that the Batang Ai and Bakun dams will bring progress and development! But today they all have abandoned the people affected. SUHAKAM commissioners who personally visited Bakun recently reported that the problems faced by the settlers are worsening!!!!!And the penans in Belaga are even facing food shortage!!!

YB Lihan Jok, don't simply sells God's name especially when it involves something that destroys HIS blessings, gifts and creations to the people of Baram, namely, the mighty Baram river, our NCR lands and its resources and environment which all have supported our people for many many generations without which you and YB Dato' Jacob won't be what you are today.

Remember, it was not Taib, Jabu or the BN that provided your parents the means and resources to send you to school. It was the NCR land that God blessed your parents with and its resources in Baram that enabled your parents to send you to school.

By the way, if you really believe and trust in GOD, then, protect and defend God's creations, gifts and blessings, namely, our Baram river from being dammed by Taib!

Don't be afraid but stand courageous and put your complete trust in God's protection of your position as YB, as wakil rakyat or as Deputy Minister post (like what God did to Daniel when he was thrown into the lions den)

Also do not be worried of being blackmailed or held to ransom with threat of projects and billions of ringgit to be withdrawn from Baram if we do not support the Baram dam. Those are but only human or worldly threat from Taib, Jabu and the BN! GOD is still the ALMIGHTY one above them. GOD will still provide all our needs according to what we deserved to get from HIM.

Unless you do not trust GOD but your boss Taib and Jabu!

Hope to hear an early response from our two YBs soon on this.

BARAM VOTERS

UNDI BN DAPAT JAMBATAN

Begitulah tektik lapok BN yang nampaknya masih dimainkan di Manik Urai. Umpan dengan pembangunan melimpah ruah merupakan cara memancing undi yang boleh dikatakan berkesan terutama pengundi di luar bandar.

Beberapa pengalaman peribadi saya mendapati tektik ini berjaya mengaburi mata pengundi. Sewaktu bertanding DUN 2006 lalu, calon BN telah berjanji membina Bandar Baru Sadong Jaya jika terpilih menjadi wakil rakyat mereka.

Begitu juga janji membina masjid baru untuk menggantikan masjid lama di Kpg Semera yang telah berusia lebih 40 tahun. Mei 2006 lalu seorang Menteri Muda dengan bantuan Baitulmal Sarawak menyerahkan replika cek RM1 juta untuk tujuan tersebut selepas solat Jumaat dalam Masjid tersebut. Konon proses pembinaan akan dimulakan Disember 2006.

Begitu juga Mac 2008, Ketua Menteri Sarawak sendiri telah melakukan upacara pecah tanah untuk masjid yang sama dan kononnya juga akan dibina mulai Disember 2008.

Kedua-dua situasi ini menyebabkan ramai pengundi beralih arah dan memihak janji kosong BN tersebut. 2006 saya kalah tipis kepada calon BN dan salah satu faktor adalah pengundi terpikat dengan janji bandar baru dan masjid tersebut.

Sewaktu membantu Sdra Jawah Gerang di Batang Ai lalu pun, janji-janji seperti ini lebih hangat bergema. Sehinggakan Taib Mahmud terpaksa melakukan upacara rasmi mengorek tanah bukit di tepi jalan sebagai tanda pecah tanah Pusat Giat Mara, Lubok Antu.

Di Manik Urai, Muhyidin telah menabur janji dan mengugut pengundi, jika calon BN menang, maka sebuah jambatan baru berharga RM5 hingga RM7 juta akan dibina. Jika kalah tidak ada jambatan.

Adakah ini bukan penyalahgunaan kuasa dan rasuah pilihanraya? Sudah beberapa kes dibawa ke mahkamah berhubung janji-janji seperti ini, tetapi biasalah selagi perundangan masih dibelenggu sindrom 'takut', maka kes tetap memihak BN.

SEJARAH GAMBIER 100 TAHUN MUSNAH

YB Dominique Ng dan papan tanda 1935, Pasar Sayur

Jalan Gambier, Kuching begitu sinonim dengan penduduk Sarawak. Dulu di situlah pusat pertemuan masyarakat pelbagai kaum yang datang dari pelosok Sarawak. Penduduk dari kawasan pesisir pasti akan singgah di sini untuk membeli keperluan. Di situlah jantung bandar Kuching.

Kini atas desakan politik pembangunan, beberapa bangunan bersejarah terpaksa dikorbankan oleh pihak yang mempunyai kepentingan. Difahamkan tapak tersebut akan dibangunkan untuk projek sambungan Tebingan Sungai Kuching.

Di sini juga akan dibina hotel, pusat membeli belah serta pelbagai projek lagi yang tentunya akan dimiliki oleh individu tertentu yang rapat dengan ahli politik Sarawak.

YB DOMINIQUE NG CALL SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN: SAVE GAMBIER STREET HERITAGE.

“The old markets were housed within some of the city’s earliest concrete buildings, including a handsome high-ceilinged edifice with open archways that would not look out of place on a waterway in Venice.

Old Kuching will lose some of its greatest charm if such priceless architectural relics are sacrificed on the altar of commercial redevelopment in the name of urban progress.” John Teo, NST Online, 2008/07/04.

Responding to widespread community sentiments, such as the above, the ADUN for Padungan, has launched a community signature campaign in a last minute effort to save the Gambier St. heritage buildings from demolition squads of the authorities which have moved in. The signature petition would take place at the Gambier St. site on Thursday, 25th June 2009.

On the 23rd, YB Ng had met DBKU authorities at the Commissioner’s Office, but were informed that DBKU had to carry out the instructions of the State Government. The passionate appeal of YB Ng to the Government in the recent sitting of DUN to save the site as a major prong in applying to UNESCO for the Historical and Cultural Heritage Listing of Greater Kuching has clearly been ignored.

“ I have reached the limits of my personal and my supporters’ influence; I am now in desperation and for the sake of Kuching and Sarawak historical treasure, I can only as final resort, summon the greatest political force left, that is the collective will of the entire people!” he exhorted.

“I am pained to my bones to witness the beginning of senseless destruction of our proud historic edifices, and so are the people of Kuching sharing the shame of this monumental State folly and wanton contempt of state heritage” he lambasted.

He calls on the people of Kuching, so proud of their city and State, to stand up to declare that we will not take this villainy against our historic heritage in submissive silence. He applauds the Sarawak Heritage Society and the Sarawak Tourism Association for expressing their stand on the matter in their respective petitions to the authorities.

“ This is a campaign of the people for the community and State, and should surpass political party loyalties; and this is certainly not my one-man campaign,” he said. He cited Malaysia Pollster which found that over 90% of respondents support the preservation of the Gambier Street heritage site and old buildings there sited.

“ The community including myself are not anti-development or redevelopment, but it must be smart development respecting community aspirations and heritage significance, in addition to other interest such as tourism and broader service economy.”

“Smart preservation of the site, and judicious modification to include an esplanade along the site, as extension to the Heritage Walk on the Main Bazaar side would be consistent with the broad based interests. Restoration of the historic buildings to house souvenir and handicraft trading, display galleries for history, culture and nature would not only help tourism, services economy but would serve as an educational asset for young Sarawakians. The site encapsulates 200 years of Kuching history.”

“Let us inform our guests to this proud city during the coming Rulers’ Conference that we are going to have an even more enriched Heritage Walk with the Gambier Street buildings restored, not and heritage-stripped history-impoverished Kosong Heritage Walk ! Come back to this city, to see its full heritage restored !” he concluded.

Proposed development to take over the Gambier Street Old Market plus the Brooke Dockyard area, up to the Malay Mosque and Cemetery.

This building proposed to be building in current Gambier market, across of Astana Negeri. This building will be known as Sanctuary Hotel and Mall, where as the building consisting of Shopping Complex, cafe and hotel. This building is part of the new waterfront extension in Kuching whereas the next phase of Kuching waterfront stretched from this Ceko market to Brooke Dockyard.

• Built-Up Area – 1,200,000 sq ft
  
• Retail Space – 500,000 sqft
  
• Entertainment & Shopping – 6 levels
  
• Cineplex – 980 seats (10 screens)
  
• Convention Centre – 50,000 sqft
  
• Office Space – 30,000 sqft
  
• Department Store & Hypermarket Anchors
  
• Retail Outlets – 200
  
• Restaurants, Pubs & Cafés – 15
  
• Boutique Hotel – 180 rooms
  
• Serviced Apartment Suites – 128
  
• Car Park Bays – 1,400 bays
  
• Motorcycle Bays – 280 bays
  
• Escalators – 32
  
• Lifts – 12

by Dr. Francis Ngu