Umno surrogates in Sarawak state elections?
Tony ThienPublished: Mar 20, 2001 8:15 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Former Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) deputy president and former defence minister Abang Abu Bakar knows the great odds he is up against in trying to remove his political nemesis, PBB president and chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud of the Barisan Nasional, from power.
Yet, he remains unperturbed. Why? Back in the limelight after months of silence in what is seen as a tell-tale sign that the Sarawak state elections may be around the corner, Abang Abu has been quoted by the Malaysia Today daily as saying that "it is the spirit of the people that drives me to fight on, including standing up for their rights."
Observers are quick to add that "for their rights" refers mainly to what he sees as the marginalised Malays in Sarawak politics. Abang Abu Bakar is not just a Malay, he is considered an Abang, part of the old aristocratic Malay clan closely identified with the powers of the White Rajahs in the pre-colonial days, and earlier still with the Brunei sultanate.
Like other fellow opponents from the Barisan Alternatif comprising PAS and Keadilan , the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the small Bidayuh-based Sarawak Reform Party (Star), he admits it is not going "to be easy against the Sarawak Barisan Nasional". But he added that "with the people's support we can pull through".
Dr Mahathir's friend
Although he has now repeatedly said he is not making use of Umno's name in his campaign, some people are already referring to the men and women that he is going to field in all 62 state constituencies as Umno-Independents.
He has not aligned himself with any of the Barisan Alternatif parties or set up his own party because, according to him, this would otherwise be construed as another opposition party by the federal Barisan Nasional.
He confirmed that he will be standing in the much-talked-about Asajaya seat irrespective of whether Taib is defending the seat or not. There has been a lot of talk that the PBB chief may eventually settle for one of the five Melanau-majority seats along the coastal region of central Sarawak.
Abu Bakar was reported as saying that his group is not against the Federal Barisan Nasional but only against Taib and the state Barisan Nasional. "I am a friend of Dr Mahathir. We only oppose the state government."
He said his present position is similar to that of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), led by Energy, Multimedia and Communications Minister Leo Moggie in the early 1980s when it opposed Taib's government at the state level but remained a member of the ruling coalition at the national level.
Abang Abu Bakar said his list of candidates would be a mix of professionals and non-professionals, they could be easily differentiated from other independents, and the candidates would be widely publicised "at the right time."
Family-linked businesses
Meanwhile, PBB incumbents in the Malay/Muslim constituencies in Kuching appear to be getting more active on the ground with the apparent stepping-up of house-to-house campaigns by PAS and Keadilan. "They are also feeling the heat," according to a keen political observer.
Although PBB deputy president and Tourism Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg is in no imminent danger of losing in Satok where he won easily in previous elections, the incumbent appears to be concerned at the opposition making new inroads.
In recent ceramahs in Kuching's Malay kampungs, he spoke of politicians who are going around "to create tension and disunity."
The opposition has been seen particularly in the Malay kampung and the issues include Taib's leadership, his land policies and his family-linked businesses. "The Malays also feel they are being marginalised in favour of Taib's own kinsmen and the Melanaus (of which he is one)," said observers.
These are among the areas where the Malay-based opposition is said to have reasonably good chances of causing some upset.
Limbang tiff
Taib's PBB appears to have run into some flak with its own partner, the Sarawak National Party (Snap). PBB branch leader in Limbang, Abdullah Mohd Noor last week on behalf of the division petitioned the party's leadership to get the Limbang seat back from Snap and swap it with the Telang Usan seat.
Limbang has been represented by Snap president James Wong Kim Min since the 1970 but he is calling it a day and has recommended his son Richard, 49, as candidate. Abdullah said Wong and Snap have not done much for Limbang adding that it is the aspiration of the majority of the people of Limbang that PBB should represent the BN in the constituency of Limbang.
The suggestion has, however, met with immediate opposition for PBB's own division in Telang Usan in Ulu Baram, northern Sarawak. The division head there, former education officer and former senator Ding Seling, said the party leadership should not acquiesce to the Limbang division's request to give up Telang Usan for Limbang.
Ding Seling is said to be among several potential candidates frequently mentioned for Telang Usan, an Orang Ulu constituency. The present incumbent is an Independent, Kebing Wan, a former PBB local leader and former political secretary to the chief minister.
According to reports, former member of parliament and former NGO leader Harrison Ngau is likely to stand on a Keadilan ticket in Telang Usan which is part of his former Baram parliamentary constituency. He won last time on the strength of local dissatisfaction on government's timber policy and native customary rights land.
Meanwhile, Snap secretary-general Justin Jinggut has warned that PBB would be courting trouble if it insists on Snap giving up Limbang.
TONY THIEN is a freelance writer based in Kuching.
Yet, he remains unperturbed. Why? Back in the limelight after months of silence in what is seen as a tell-tale sign that the Sarawak state elections may be around the corner, Abang Abu has been quoted by the Malaysia Today daily as saying that "it is the spirit of the people that drives me to fight on, including standing up for their rights."
Observers are quick to add that "for their rights" refers mainly to what he sees as the marginalised Malays in Sarawak politics. Abang Abu Bakar is not just a Malay, he is considered an Abang, part of the old aristocratic Malay clan closely identified with the powers of the White Rajahs in the pre-colonial days, and earlier still with the Brunei sultanate.
Like other fellow opponents from the Barisan Alternatif comprising PAS and Keadilan , the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the small Bidayuh-based Sarawak Reform Party (Star), he admits it is not going "to be easy against the Sarawak Barisan Nasional". But he added that "with the people's support we can pull through".
Dr Mahathir's friend
Although he has now repeatedly said he is not making use of Umno's name in his campaign, some people are already referring to the men and women that he is going to field in all 62 state constituencies as Umno-Independents.
He has not aligned himself with any of the Barisan Alternatif parties or set up his own party because, according to him, this would otherwise be construed as another opposition party by the federal Barisan Nasional.
He confirmed that he will be standing in the much-talked-about Asajaya seat irrespective of whether Taib is defending the seat or not. There has been a lot of talk that the PBB chief may eventually settle for one of the five Melanau-majority seats along the coastal region of central Sarawak.
Abu Bakar was reported as saying that his group is not against the Federal Barisan Nasional but only against Taib and the state Barisan Nasional. "I am a friend of Dr Mahathir. We only oppose the state government."
He said his present position is similar to that of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), led by Energy, Multimedia and Communications Minister Leo Moggie in the early 1980s when it opposed Taib's government at the state level but remained a member of the ruling coalition at the national level.
Abang Abu Bakar said his list of candidates would be a mix of professionals and non-professionals, they could be easily differentiated from other independents, and the candidates would be widely publicised "at the right time."
Family-linked businesses
Meanwhile, PBB incumbents in the Malay/Muslim constituencies in Kuching appear to be getting more active on the ground with the apparent stepping-up of house-to-house campaigns by PAS and Keadilan. "They are also feeling the heat," according to a keen political observer.
Although PBB deputy president and Tourism Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg is in no imminent danger of losing in Satok where he won easily in previous elections, the incumbent appears to be concerned at the opposition making new inroads.
In recent ceramahs in Kuching's Malay kampungs, he spoke of politicians who are going around "to create tension and disunity."
The opposition has been seen particularly in the Malay kampung and the issues include Taib's leadership, his land policies and his family-linked businesses. "The Malays also feel they are being marginalised in favour of Taib's own kinsmen and the Melanaus (of which he is one)," said observers.
These are among the areas where the Malay-based opposition is said to have reasonably good chances of causing some upset.
Limbang tiff
Taib's PBB appears to have run into some flak with its own partner, the Sarawak National Party (Snap). PBB branch leader in Limbang, Abdullah Mohd Noor last week on behalf of the division petitioned the party's leadership to get the Limbang seat back from Snap and swap it with the Telang Usan seat.
Limbang has been represented by Snap president James Wong Kim Min since the 1970 but he is calling it a day and has recommended his son Richard, 49, as candidate. Abdullah said Wong and Snap have not done much for Limbang adding that it is the aspiration of the majority of the people of Limbang that PBB should represent the BN in the constituency of Limbang.
The suggestion has, however, met with immediate opposition for PBB's own division in Telang Usan in Ulu Baram, northern Sarawak. The division head there, former education officer and former senator Ding Seling, said the party leadership should not acquiesce to the Limbang division's request to give up Telang Usan for Limbang.
Ding Seling is said to be among several potential candidates frequently mentioned for Telang Usan, an Orang Ulu constituency. The present incumbent is an Independent, Kebing Wan, a former PBB local leader and former political secretary to the chief minister.
According to reports, former member of parliament and former NGO leader Harrison Ngau is likely to stand on a Keadilan ticket in Telang Usan which is part of his former Baram parliamentary constituency. He won last time on the strength of local dissatisfaction on government's timber policy and native customary rights land.
Meanwhile, Snap secretary-general Justin Jinggut has warned that PBB would be courting trouble if it insists on Snap giving up Limbang.
TONY THIEN is a freelance writer based in Kuching.
View Comments0