Joseph Tawie
While Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders welcome the appointment of three “senior ministers” in the state cabinet of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak DAP not only ridiculed it, but also described it as “shock sendiri” (self-satisfaction).
“It is a ‘shock sendiri’ and so ridiculous and meaningless,” said DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, when asked to comment on Taib’s cabinet reshuffle.
The reshuffle was announced after the April 16 state election which saw the defeat of one deputy chief minister and a number of assistant ministers.
All in all, the BN lost 16 seats – 13 of them are from SUPP.
Taib named seven legislators as new assistant ministers.
These include Len Talif Salleh, Julaihi Narawi, Abdul Karim Hamzah, and Robert Lawson Chuat (all from PBB), Rosey Yunus (SPDP), Dr. Jerip Susil (SUPP) and Liwan Lagang (PRS).
Taib did not name anyone to replace George Chan as deputy chief minister, but promoted Wong Soon Koh (SUPP deputy secretary general), James Masing (PRS president) and William Mawan Ikom (SPDP president) to “senior ministers” holding more or less the same portfolios.
It’s a ‘trick’
Asked to comment on the senior ministers’ appointment, Chong, who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said: “It is meaningless and ridiculous. What is most important is the scope of work rather than what you are being called.
“Does it mean you have more responsibility than the ordinary minister? Does it mean that now you are a senior minister and before you were a kindergarten minister?”
“I will not be surprised if you have super ministers or even ultra ministers when the next reshuffle comes.”
He described the “new” post as a “trick” to keep his ministers happy.
“The whole thing reflects the BN mentality. It is a trick used by the chief minister to make his ministers happy.
“After all, the work is the same. You are still the head of the ministry.”
Not so ‘sad’ issue
On the non-appointment of a deputy chief minster, Chong did not agree that it was a sad day for the Chinese community when the community does not have a deputy chief minister.
He said even when there was a Chinese deputy chief minister, the concerns of the community have never been addressed or solved.
He cited the annual allocations to the independent Chinese schools that have never been solved as one example.
Other examples include the non-recognition of independent Chinese schools examination results, the unsolved land issues, and unfair treatment of Chinese businessmen in terms of government contracts, in education, and so on.
“With or without a Chinese deputy chief minister, it is a non-concerned issue. The Chinese deputy chief minister in the BN can only play a decorative role and not a decision-making one.
“He has no power. And the only good thing is that we have one less person to cut off the ribbons,” said Chong, commenting on a statement by Wong that he is sad that SUPP is not given a deputy chief minister’s post.
Reality lesson
Wong, who is now Local Government and Community Development Minister, described as “sad” SUPP’s loss of the deputy chief minister’s post which was left vacant following Chan’s defeat in the April 16 election.
Said Wong: “Yes, I feel sad, and not for myself but for the party and the community as a whole.
“But then again, I suppose we should know where we stand because based on our representation, we got only six in BN, particularly the ethnic Chinese elected representatives of whom there are only two.”
His supporters who have been lobbying for Wong to be appointed as deputy chief minister see that his chances of being elected as the party president in the party election in November may be jeopardised.
His is likely to square off with David Teng, the party’s treasurer for the number one post in the party.
Larry Sng should be made the new DCM2
Comment by Tiger YK — September 30, 2011 @ 10:36 PM |
Enough is enough……we all knows Sarawakian is NOT stupid, born smart. The only problem when come election no all Sarawakian knows that the spend money is from our contribution of our EPF. What we can do is to STOP using this money…I call all the Dayaks close your ears and be of yourself. Election is about to come….. if again we give the chance BN to rule….I caN TELL YOU ALL THAT you have to stop the dream from getting anything from Taib….Masing, Ikom, Dawos, Nansian, Ugah, Jabu, Tiki, Jerip who ever they are ..THEY CANNOT SAY ANYTHINGS Taib has given his stern warning and SHUT up.
Dayak wake up
Comment by Johnson K.M — September 30, 2011 @ 9:10 PM |
Just the same rotten ketchup in new bottles. Taib is trying to pull a fast one on us because he thought we are stupid like his ministers. But some people are fooled. Look at how the Bidayuhs are overcome with emotion now that they have a paramount chief what’s his name.
Comment by KapitCM — September 30, 2011 @ 8:52 PM |
Old fools in PRS, SUPP and SPDP are very easy to appease. Give them any sense of seniority they will be grinning from ear to ear and forgotten that their community had been marginalised and impoverised by the paramount thief minister Taib Mahmud.
Comment by Mata Kuching — September 30, 2011 @ 7:41 PM |
The Ministries like Finance and Planning and Resources are still clawed by Taib because these ministries “GOT KANTAUs”. The rest are supporting or just decorative only. All the Ministers are stooges and clowns and rubber stamps. This is Taib’s democracy.
Comment by Lano — September 30, 2011 @ 6:08 PM |
There are much to say, every Sarawakian is talking about ATM, when come election all close their mouth just because they were being tircked by giving projects…..has anyone ask themself from where the money come from? ATM has 5 generals to safe guard his interest, to name a few: NAIN, HSL, RIMBUNAN SHIN YANG, CMSB. These are ATM powerful Generals…he will give anything that they ask from ATM….ATM has NO Say.
All the moniese come from Dayak areas eg. Timber, Mining, Rocks, Oili Plam etc, now the Dayak remaining land is approximately 700,000 ha…ask ourself, is this sufficient for the next generation certainly NOT Sufficient.
Today news the promotion of the asst ministers…..all are ATM camourflash knowing this weak he can just wink his eyes they are gone.
TO ALL SARAWAKIAN, PARLIMENT ELECTION IS COMING SOON….DICIDE FOR YOURSELF, IF YOU WANT CHANGE MAKE THE CHANGE HAPPEN DON`T JUST TALK . IT IS OUR DUTY TO CLEAN ALL THE RUBBISH..NOT DBKU, WE DON`T NEED RECYCLE BUT PRINCIPLE.
Comment by Johnson K.M — October 1, 2011 @ 9:53 PM |
Congratilations to YB Len Talip for his appointment as Asst Minister. Remember also Taib’s statement that it is his BN govt policy not to appoint a first term assembly man as minister. So, we have to dream on as Taib will never keep his words to step down and make way for new blood. He is king in S’wak and his words goes. Dream on Jabu, Tengah, Masing and Abg Jo.
Comment by Sir Noet — September 30, 2011 @ 5:12 PM |
Yeah.. what happened to Taib’s policy of not appointing first term assemblymen.
Sarawak Tribune, Oct 12, 2001reported following a cabinet reshuffle:
“It reflects the kind of solidarity built over the years. All of these people (appointees) have served more than two terms, and I don’t appoint those serving their first term,” he (Taib) added.
Comment by ibat — October 1, 2011 @ 10:13 AM |