Who is the reluctant politician?
In a post in November, 2007, I suggested that such a person “has what it takes, who doesn’t want to get into Parliament, but gets in out of love for his country and his people, does the best he can, and can’t wait to have someone take his place”.
I met and spoke to one last Saturday in Sarawak.
I am, of course referring to PKR’s candidate for the forthcoming Batang Ai by-election, Jawah Gerang.
Doesn’t want to get into Parliament, but is now willing to stand in this by-election out of love for his country and his people?
Jawah told me that after 22 years of active politics, and after being dropped from the list of nominations in the last general elections, he felt that he had had enough, more so after being sidelined by the BN leadership in Sarawak for no reason other than speaking up for the marginalised Ibans.
“Was that not why I was elected? To look out and speak up for my constituents? In BN, you get punished if you try and do what’s right, if what you try to do runs against the interest of the leadership”, Jawah said.
“Why PKR”, I asked.
He replied that he believed that the PKR leadership, together with the other Pakatan component parties, were sincere in wanting to bring about the many reforms that were much needed to improve the lot of the marginalised in Sarawak.
“The marginalised in Sarawak, or just the marginalised Ibans? And what about the other marginalised anak Bangsa Malaysia who have long suffered at the hands of BN? Ought he not to look out for them as well?”, I asked.
He replied that he had heard of anak Bangsa Malaysia but was not quite sure what the phrase meant.
I explained that more and more of us in Semenanjung recognise that the BN government has long failed to foster a sense of oneness amongst the citizenry. Instead, BN continues to try and divide and sow discord between the people to perpetuate its rule.
I explained that the anak Bangsa Malaysia initiative is a society-driven endeavour to build a nation of a single people : anak Bangsa Malaysia.
I explained further that whilst Malaysians will always be culturally diverse, as citizens under a supreme constitution, we are all equal.
The anak Bangsa Malaysia initiative, I explained, whilst still very much in its infancy, hopes to slowly begin the process of undoing the ill-effects of over 30 years of BN’s divide and rule.
Jawah said he liked the idea and that it was a good initiative.
“Would you help us bring this initiative to Sarawak if you are nominated and win this by-election?”, I asked.
“Yes”, Jawah replied.
“What can you do for the people of Batang Ai if you are nominated and elected?”, I asked.
He replied that if he was nominated and elected, he felt that would be in a position to help Pakatan make serious inroads into the other constituencies when the next state elections is called for. Helping to get Pakatan into the state government, he said, was the best thing he could do, not just for the people of Batang Ai, but for all the people of Sarawak. In this regard, he said, he would not only be helpi
Does Jawah have what it takes to do the job?
Both before and after speaking to him, I made time to get the views of people on the ground on this man.
He’s much respected.
The day before, I also briefly met the other prospective candidate, Nicholas Bawin, and then inquired from others of and about him.
Also very much respected.
For the record, that Saturday evening, I put in a call to a contact at the PKR HQ and said that, for whatever it was worth, my sense was that Jawah was the man for Pakatan.
I reproduce below this excerpt from a report in Malaysiakini today to help you make your own assessment if indeed Jawah has what it takes.
“Jawah was the member of parliament for Lubok Antu for five terms. He is a graduate in economics from University of Malaya. He worked with a bank in Kuching before being recruited by the now defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) to contest the Lubok Antu parliamentary by-election in 1987. He was then returned unopposed in 1990 and 1995 elections. This is Jawah’s first time contesting for a state seat. His opponent is Malcolm Mussen who was named last week by BN as its candidate. Noted for his fiery speeches, Jawah has become something of a symbol or even an icon in Batang Ai for his courage in articulating Iban issues which did not endear him to the top leadership of the state BN”.
Would Jawah be looking to get someone young and groom the person to take his place in Parliament as soon as possible?
Truth be told, I did not tackle the man on this but, Jawah, if you’re reading this, please believe me when I say now that if you are lected to office come 7th April, we’ll be the first to tell you if and when it’s time for you to go.
koolgeek
March 24, 2009
PKR? I don’t think so!
http://www.thenutgraph.com/zulkifli-moves-to-amend-federal-constitution
Ghifari X
March 24, 2009
May Allah throw it back to their faces!
There is a growing sense that UMNO’s new regime will be intolerant of not only opposition but any thing anyone not being UMNO.
I have a strong feeling MCA MIC PPP and even Gerakan will suffer the arrogance and state of vengeance that await us.
UMNO at this moment isn’t and is incapable of straight thinking.
UMNO have taken cue from Myanmar Thailand Cambodia and possibly Singapore in which they feel that they can still come out looking better than the rest ASIAN style.
Its hook line and sinker and they taking prisoners to boot.
Once the Malay Chinese and Indians believe in the relevance of retaining their racist preference then they will never be free of UMNO’s extreme racist excuse. Racism is an excuse which breeds protectionism that necessitates hatred jalousie and avarice.
The people must not be afraid! rather we must qualify ourselves for change.
Our racism is atrocious out of step and illiterate. We are regressing not progressing and all the modern structures around us reveal our falsehood and our insecurity.
We are in a state of Zionism yet the good part is we have no big brother to prop us up. We have liberals and conservatives we have extremist too, where the latter holds the reign.
Indeed Malaysia can change.
Sembian
March 24, 2009
koolgeek,
We are moving to a modern political system, as in US, MPs can move motions according to their believe. The imporant thing is to know PR stand on this. PR is not like BN where only one person can talk. Zul belives it is good for Muslims and it is his personal view
mei1
March 24, 2009
koolgeek, that’s only one of the rotten apples in PKR. If I were the voter in Batang Ai, I’ll still go for PR. After all don’t you have enough of Taib???
Kenny
March 24, 2009
“In a post in November, 2007, I suggested that such a person “has what it takes, who doesn’t want to get into Parliament, but gets in out of love for his country and his people, does the best he can, and can’t wait to have someone take his place”. – Harris
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Harris, this also describes Anwar’s wife, Datin Wan Azizah perfectly!
Kenny,
I’ve never heard of Wan Azizah going around spewing racist bile!
BT Lee
March 24, 2009
The battle for Sarawak starts in Batang Ai. Let’s hope that the people of Sarawak will catch the Bangsa Rakyat fever which augurs well for the nation and its people.
Let’s come together to bring down those who are corrupt and win back the rights of the rakyat.
It’s time for Taib to go and everyone believe so.End of the Taib dynasty begin in Batang Ai.Wake up and vote for change ,our brothers/sis in Sarawak.
Tampinai
March 24, 2009
Being a bumiputra residing in Sarawak’s neighbour state glamourly known is the Land Below the Wind, and who spent three years (1985 – 1988 ) staying in Sarawak, I urge my fellow Sarawakian bumiputras (especially the Ibans)to opt for a better change by wholeheartedly throwing your undivided support to apai Jawah Gerang, the PKR candidate in Batang Ai by election. It’s time for Sarawakians (and Sabahans too) to make sure that the rights, socio economic, and future of our people (orang kitai) are well looked after and protected. AGI IDUP AGI NGALABAN…anang takut. Tuhan tu bisi Penggering kitai.
dayakbaru
March 24, 2009
Being a part of the whole Malaysian, we dayak suffer in silence for the past 45 years after helping to form Malaysia. Our Sarawak rangers fought the communist in Malaya, fought the confrontation war with Indonesia, and the Sarawak Rangers save West Malaysia from May 13 1969 mayhem. Today the Dayak are “main stay” of the Malaysian Army combat fighting force. We sacrifice our life for Malaysia.
Today we want to take our place to help develop Malaysia by bringing down corrupted BN leaders, racialist UMNO policy treating us Native Dayak as “lain-lain” in all official form as our race.
We Dayak populated Sarawak through many generation, we fought pitch battle -”head hunting” ways against the Rajah in the battle of Beting Maru. Rentap fought in Bukit Sadok. Penghulu Asun fought in Kanowit to resist colonization.
Today we are treated like dirt by BN and many Malaysian are not aware of Dayak history in fighting for Sarawak independence at that point in time.
Sarawak did formed Malaysia to have its people marginalized by BN policies. Their land taken and given to Tabung Haji, Golden hope, Boustead etc and by Taib’s own family.
We ask this question – why is Sarawak, blessed with OIL and Gas, Timber and Land the fourth poorest State in Malaysia? This is all because of injustice carried out by BN policies.
DAYAK ARISE – take your proper place in Malaysian society by joining Pakatan Rayaat.
Kenny
March 24, 2009
Harris, you misunderstood me. What I meant was Wan Azizah was also a reluctant MP. I’m puzzled where you get the racist bile from. I’ve re-read my post and there’s nothing to suggest it.
Kenny,
yes, I misunderstood you.
Sorry, tk cukup tidur, lah
Ex Neutral
March 24, 2009
Please to read the intent of Mr Jawah Gerang. In all his sincererity, I sincerely wish him and PR the best.
Also expect the dirty, and I think it’s gonna be very dirty tactics from Taib and co. They are not going to give you guys any oppurtinity to make inroads into Taibland.
rhyder
March 24, 2009
I too have never heard Wan Azizah spewing racist bile.
Can’t say the same for DSAI, though. I remember vividly seeing him on TV screaming “Kalau tak suka boleh balik!” (referring to the “pendatang”, of course).
He may have changed.
I sincerely hope he has.
rhyder,
i hope so, too.
If he hasn’t, though, we’ll know what to do, won’t we?
stingray
March 24, 2009
Jawah,
You know very well when you stand as a candidate for BN that this corrupted gov’t wants you to sing along with them .They want you to praise them and tell the world that they are not corrupted.That’s is what the component parties still do and so you always see yes man barking out praise for this corrupted gov’t.
A slight change in your tune will cause them to panic and so that’s why you are sidelined.It’s your duty to tell all the dayaks after what you have gone through.You are the best example to show how this corrupted gov’t can do when you don’t sing to their tune.
Vote PKR !
wandererAUS
March 24, 2009
The innocence of Sawarak has long been raped by this Taib govt. When will the people stand up and bring back sanity and good governance back to the State?
Mafia rule has no place in our civilized society.
JUST VOICES
March 24, 2009
Dear sting ray,
If my memory doesnot fail me Jawah stood under PBDS ticket as a result of a splinteritis infecting SNAP. Then later PBDS went into opposition with the likes James Jemut Masing in protest against PBB policies in the early eighties. PBDS went back into BN dragging people like Jawa Gerang who were not so comfortable with the policies of PBB politics of Development. The rural poor suffered in silence because of the might of PBB in Sarawak politics. PBB managed to hold on to power because of the support UMNO . One by one the communities fell. First it was in the timber politics which was in fact started by SNAP through the Niah Native logging company.
SNAP fell as as result of infighting in the Sarawak alliance and removed wtih the helping hnds of UMNO. Then came the land development which in fact was an extension of the timber politics , a convenient loophle to escape the logging quota and forest regulation to ensure sustainable logging industry. It now seems to seep to establishing planting forest. All these at the expense of the rural population which by coincidence comprised of the Dayaks. The dayaks took this as a direct targeting of their community . This to me is a misconception and many of our progressive non dayaks had in one way or another expressed their sympathies. One very clear example is the tycoons use of gangsters to intimidate local resistances. The urban population put the blame on the thugs. They very know that in order for thier business in towns to survive the hinterlands must have the puchasing capacity whereas the money from timber and big plantations goes offshore. The dayaks have to look for jobs all across the globe to escape low wages in the so called Politics of development.
PR to me meets the right criterias as the vehicle for unity to harness sufficient strength to match the might of PBB which in fact gets their strength from UMNO.
Now BN is branding PKR as a Semenanjong party. Is it not a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
My message to my dayak brothers is to wake up grow up and take stock of the task at hand. Do not forget to remember that our problems arose from a disease which our MANANGS AND LEMAMBANGS, OUR DR. PENGAP GAVE THE WRONG DIAGNOSIS. Modern sciences diagnosis : Splinteritist . Treatmnent to be prescribed; Vote for one party only . one vote for BN or independents equals two votes against your own community.
Asianeconomies
March 25, 2009
May God bless Sarawak with a fairer government. Having said that, I believe people power may not be strong enough for PKR to win Batang Ai, let alone for PR to make a second tsunami come next GE.
What we need is to look at Msia’s acute problems from God’s perspective. I am not trying to be holy or clever but I believe that real change can only succeed with the power of God coupled with the right action and mental state of mind and heart in Malaysians.
Taking note of the present mood of political bloggers, I feel there is no use for bitterness, anger, hate, cunning strategies, new alliances to continue to be vented (although capable and God-fearing leaders are surely needed). The pessimism of the victim/oppressed mentality is self defeating.
Pls read my latest post “How God & Man Can Change Msia’s Destiny” at:
http://jeremiahliang.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-god-man-can-change-malaysias.html
ahmadneil
March 26, 2009
Jawah will be the best man to say whether BN is the party that can be voted back to power in Batang Ai. After what he have gone through,he must have agonies ,seeing the sufferings of his communities in Batang Ai.
Every effort must be make to ensure Batang Ai is won.
Gabriel Adit,YB for Ngemah is working very hard to ensure victory for Jawah.
All PKR supporters must play their part by spreading the news about how change must be urgently be realised in Batang Ai.
Nicholas must also hold more ceramah in the longhouse so that more folks will have a clear mind about PKR .
It’s in my prayers that PKR will take Batang Ai.We are the silent supporters and all we can do is to ask God for his help.Vote PKR to kick out BN.