Sarawak's Post-Election Good and Bad

If I am to go into campaigning in Sarawak for the elections, there is a baseline rule that you need to keep in mind before I even start any campaign speeches - which is to understand the race mindset. It is important to establish the fact that a voter's mindset varies on races. From my basic understanding, the voter mindset pattern is at:

1. The Malays would always think back of the past as past histories - which implies of unwillingness to change out of possible repercussions.

2. The Chinese are the opposite: they would try to think ahead in the future.

3. In the Peninsular - the Indians are minding more on the present issues.

The base rule above is basically how you approach the target of voters in a voting area.

It took me a while to go through the whole news post Sarawak state-election, which is why I was not ready to comment on this immediately after the last week elections. On the night of the results, a friend of mine asked me of my comment and opinion on the results. From the first glance, when I saw the results shown, my first impression on the results was that I remarked, "People succumbing to the Devil's Temptation." 

Why would I say that is simply although there is a strong sentiment on "Hate Taib", but people are not willing to change, particularly those in the rural areas. Most of them would vote the same line out of fear of repercussions. Secondly, since Sarawak is mostly comprises of a Christian community, I was sure that they do believe in the stories of Temptation, being the third main canon (sequential order) of the life of Jesus. There are similar lines running along the story of Temptation and what happens during the campaigning period of Sarawak.

However, the results is a good and bad thing. A double-edge sword. The good thing is that Taib, being a wily man have managed to prevent UMNO from taking over Sarawak - i.e Kuala Lumpur intervening with one of the autonomous states of Malaysia. In the process, Taib has shown himself that he's a wily man and no pushover for Najib. Secondly, as predicted, the number of opposition presence in the state is higher, no thanks to DAP's sweeping almost the urban area spots that they have contested (80% success rate), although I admit that giving them 3 more seats could give them a better chance. Thirdly, it shown that there tag of "fixed deposit" doesn't work anymore, with the walls of divisive politics starting to crumble, if not broken yet.

Obviously the bad thing is that there's still money and threats playing the big part of the wins - since some of the seats contested and won by BN are based on bags of money offered to voters and threats, notably the case of Alfred Jabu's constituency that according to the longhouse chief, they voted because they were told that if Jabu finds that one of them do not support him, they risk losing assistance. Secondly, it clearly demonstrates that voters, particularly in the areas of Malay-Melanau popularity are not keen for change -hence the mindset point that I mentioned above. Third, it clearly shows that PKR's approach towards contesting the areas is inadeaquate, ill-prepared, lack resources and wrong.

Anwar's maverick approaches that I've watched in some speech videos that I've watched can work well in urban areas partly because of the Chinese population there, in whom my friend Aspan said that are people who are realistic and dare to take the risk of what will happen, unlike the other communities there. As the result SUPP, got whacked up badly in the Chinese areas, except for Meluan and Bawang Assan. 

However, Anwar's approach don't work in rural areas mainly because people don't understand well on the scandals, sensational issues and so on, but on B n B. (bread and butter matters). Look in contrast of how Najib goes down to those areas and used subtle approaches and concentrating on the B n B approach. Because the mindsets are in contrast with those urbanites, people might not be able to buy to Anwar's idea of governing a.l.a Penang / Selangor model.

Obviously throughout the show, the credit must go to DAP who have done adequately well in campaigning and winning. Of course the risk from threats posed by BN parties saying that the Chinese would be sidelined do not work on them. The Penang model seems to have impressed urbanites desire of changing things in addition to hating Taib Mahmud. 

I obviously thought that the opposition can go scramble a few more seats by a possible chance of re-election since there are countless of police reports reported over voting irregularities. For the case of Senadin and in Muara Tuang, the fault was lying on the EC's side. In Senadin, the EC official refused to sign the returning form, and hence provides implications of rigging of votes there - with the 58 razor thin margin. In Muara Tuang, the BN candidate came late to submit the nomination papers although nomination time ends at 11 a.m, thus violating own rules. 

In several other places like in Tamin and Layar, voters are subjected to intimidation, where there should be police cases of vote buying. If the EC doesn't act at all, it still doesn't change the perception that EC is BN's unofficial component party and a stooge. Jabu's case clearly mirrors to the same way Tengku Adnan did that in Putrajaya. If you recall how voters in Putrajaya were told of sack threats for voting against BN by Ku Nan personally, then Jabu's one is no different matter. (See also the case of Joseph Muah's vote buying by fraud here as well)

The fault actually lies on the people themselves. The bad news and implication is that  by refusing to change they are willing to enslave themselve for 5 more years, risking more daylight theft of lands, false promises and discrimination, coupled with risk of more increment in cost of living by voting for the wrong party - partly because they have succcumbed to the temptations of not changing things.

PKR in particular have misjudged many things and in this case, perhaps Anwar may want to take a step back personally and let the rest of people help his work out rather than stressing himself out by doing double-duty work as MP and party head. As for PAS, many still think PAS as a Taliban-style party particuarly with Hadi and Nasaruddin running the organization, and as what Husam said recently, there is a need for refresh. 

I still believe that in the battle for which political fronts, neither side wins. - a stale mate Both sides win on several aspects, but BN still have internal squabbles that are never reported in particular out of fear of Home Ministry calling in. In the end, it's the voter mindset that determines the election outcomes.

Recruiting God for Politics

It's only that that the Peninsular MCA has come over to Sarawak to help George Chan and co to get Chinese support that seems to be heading towards the DAP. The writing is already on the wall for George for they are about to be whacked very hard enough on the elections, except that they don't even know about it. 

But what was funny yesterday is was about the emcee for Wong Soon Koh's dinner in Sibu started to talk about BN being "God", righteous and the only savior of Sarawak. How pathetic that guy is. 

Excerpt from Malaysiakini:

8.30pm: Sibu Wong Soon Koh arrives at the SUPP dinner, with the crowd shouting in support and chanting "1 Malaysia".

The over excited emcee keeps on praising the BN government as "God of Righteousness", the only government that can serve the people.

I too also find Pornstar Chua's statement of Chinese vs Chinese statement a little illogical or nonsense. The statement seems to fall in the lines of the sentiment of  "UMNO represents all Malays and Islam" thing, although it is actually not. This is what Khalid Samad said yesterday:

“Umno is trying to make Islam look more Malay,” he said to shouts of agreement from the floor. “And this is when you get funny rules like the stamping of the BM bible.”

“They are going about the ‘Allah’ issue as though Malay is an Islamic language. Umno is creating the impression that Islam and Malay are synonymous and that Malay is even more Islamic than Islam.”

“They say non-Muslims should be banned from using the word ‘Allah’ so as not to create confusion. Don’t tell me that God only understands one language. But these are the idiocyncracies in BN."

-Umno Does Not Represent All Malays and Islam - FMT 

This is what Malaysiakini reported on Pornstar said in Kuching:

8.45pm: Kuching Chua Soi Lek accuses DAP of being a party that pits the Chinese against one another. He said that by contesting only 15 out of 71 seats, DAP was on a mission to reduce Chinese representation in the state government.

He also claimed that DAP's purpose was to prop up PAS, citing the example of how DAP had helped install a menteri besar from PAS in Perak, despite PAS being a minority party in the then state government.

"If I had 18 seats (the majority) I would tell PAS 'Lim Pek is the boss'," he said.

If you look above - it's the indirect statement of only MCA and SUPP represents all Chinese in Malaysia. But defending against who or representing who really? World War II was over 65 years ago, Communist insurgency was over 50 years ago, then what?

Does that above mean recruiting God for political purposes? To point out of holier than thou?

No Fear: Wading Through BN's Repression

 The rakyat are fearful of the instruments of repression.

The presence of army personnel or police near and around long houses are sufficient to induce pliant behavior.

But let the people of Sarawak be reminded – you have the greatest weapon of all – YOUR VOTE.

You also have the law on your side.

Sarawakians must celebrate the victory of the 640 villagers from Kuala Nyalau and Ulu Nyalau who were awarded RM66.75 million by the Bintulu High Court recently.

The laws can’t be twisted forever by the powerful oligarchy – for that is what the Sarawak government has become.

It’s no longer a party for the people. It’s a party for the elite and the rich.

The people of Kuala Nyalau and Ulu Nyalau are just common people, driven by the desire to correct an injustice.

Sarawakians have only to focus on this mission – to correct the injustices brought upon them by Taib’s government.

They have nothing to lose excerpt a Taib’s brutish rule.

-- Sakmongkol - Rakyat Fearful of Instruments of Repression

I have read several instances which points to how BN politicians use their way of coercing the Sarawakians for votes, in the most common form used - intimidation in speeches. These politicians have been threatening people of withdrawing goodies if the people would vote for the opposition instead of BN. Intimidation is not a new tactic really. The only thing from here is that people do not know that they have the right and the freedom to decide who they want without being threatened by either side of the political divide.

In Peninsular Malaysia, the one case of point above would be testimonies from several civil servants voting in Putrajaya back in 2008. They have revealed how the BN candidate, Tengku Adnan had visited several government departments there and said that their votes are being traced and whoever found to vote for the opposition risk being moved cold storage or sacked. (Note: this was affirmed by the PAS candidate contesting there and it was documented in Malaysia Today, except the archive link was lost to me at time of writing)

Back now then, there were a few instances to that thing that includes:

1. Peter Nyarok, SPDP No 2, said "useless for the Indian to be here, kill him then he knows”, referring to Xavier Jeyakumar, the Selangor Exco member. He was also caught uttering intimidating things about voting quoting from Free Malaysia Today:

Nyarok, feeling the heat of campaign against him, is warning longhouse chiefs that if their ‘anembiaks’ (followers) choose to vote for the opposition, he will use his ministerial power to withdraw minor rural projects promised to the longhouses.

He is suspicious of every one including civil servants, teachers and pensioners if they do not express their open support for him.

Six civil servants have been transferred from Saratok to other parts of Sarawak as a warning to others. He is also threatening pensioners that their pensions will be withdrawn.

“Nyarok never behaved like this in previous elections. The reason is that he has not kept the many promises he made to the people.

“In the 2006 state election he promised a number of projects including road repair projects in Ulu Krian and sent three trucks to deliver the stones and promised to send more if he were to win the election.

“However, after winning the election, he failed to keep his promises. The stones were removed and taken back,” said Bungan.

He also promised to deliver rubber sheet machines, chainsaws and work tools, but at the end of the day the people did not receive anything.

2. MCA's common battle-cry for support is basically calling those who vote for opposition as ungrateful. True, I have a few friends who used to tell me of how party people would chastise people for not being grateful to the party for protecting the Chinese. Question is protecting and representing Chinese against who? 

I really want the name of the reporter from Bernama who wrote this thing because it is basically a right to know as a citizen - I have stated several times the need of the agency to reveal their names of reporters who wrote it, in the light of the Penang state government getting the wrong picture due to wrong writing by that person.

Kong said: 

"A Chinese district officer is unheard of in any other part of the country. Ande nowhere else in Malaysia do you have a Chinese mayor," Kong noted, alluding to the administrative structure where Chinese hold positions not open to them in other states.

"And it is only in Sarawak that you have a Chinese ketua kampung, penghulu, pemancar and Kapitam," Kong said in reference to the community leadership set-up.

They have to understand that should they decide not to give their votes to the Chinese representatives, the other parties in the ruling coalition may use the defeat of SUPP as an excuse to change everything."

Kong said the opposition will not be able to form the next Sarawak state government.

"They may succeed in getting rid of SUPP in some constituencies, but this would only mean diluting Chinese representation in the government," he added. The Chinese make up 20 per cent of the population of Sarawak. SUPP, the Chinese-dominated BN party, is contesting 19 of the 71 seats.

SUPP lost six of the 19 seats it contested in the last election to the DAP, one to PKR and another to a SNAP candidate, who later joined SUPP.

SUPP publicity chief Daniel Ngieng said:"Whether you like it or not, BN is going to form the government after April 16, with or without Chinese representation as the Bumiputras are solidly behind them," he said.

"The Chinese have to vote BN-SUPP for representation in the government. We (SUPP) have shortcomings, but we are changing," he said.

My response? Fuck you.  

Teresa Kok called him a "narrow" - which is what he is.

Today, the bigwigs from MCA have come over, and Chua Soi Lek is singing the same tune as Kong's.

3. Even the Iban longhouse chiefs are too not spared from this kind of scenario. A tuai rumah elected must be pro-BN or else all benefits will be stripped. Quoting from this blog - Broken Shield:

Today, the criteria for Tuai Rumah have changed; he must be educated at least up to Form Three, be pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) and not necessary having deep knowledge of Iban Adat (this he can learn from The Tusun Tunggu, a book containing all the customs, traditions, taboos, fines, etc.).

After being elected, his appointment must be endorsed by the government so that an allowance of RM450 per month can be given to him. His duties include being “eyes and ears” of the BN government, a judge, a law enforcer, tax collector, consultant, and chairman of JKKK (Village Security and Development Committee) through which government funds are being channeled.

During election times, he is much wanted by the BN parties. This has become very pronounced in the 2006 State and 2008 parliamentary elections.

As concluded - But the worst effect is that the system will create a government full of corrupted and dishonest elected representatives as well as inculcating into the people or voters a culture of corruption and a dishonest syndrome where money determines the election.

It is very comforting to listen to what Sak was saying above because the decision of voting is no one but yourself and the very assuring thing is that no one is actually intimidating you to vote for that person or not. The whole thing is a bluff, like playing poker in casinos. You can actually snub the hand that feeds you if the hand is not proven to help you a lot and if you think you need change after so many years sticking to the same old person, then you are welcome to do so. The choices are spread out on the table -  in front of us. 

We can actually wade through BN's tools and methods of repression. 

This has become a dilemma. How can we get out of it really?

Ok, the first thing is just to be who you really are by yourself and choose wisely as you are in control of deciding whether suffer another 5 more years under the same party that robs and cheats you all or go for something that will put back things properly like in Penang and Selangor. No one demands you on this.

Sometimes you have to do something a little evil, being the little devil, all for a better good.

An eye for an eye perhaps? 

Remember how Berita Harian got embarassed over the Ultraman cartoon? 

Remember how Rosmah was quoted that Japan was negligent over the nuclear plants - A statement that is considered an insult to the morals of the Japanese?

How both things ended up on international press that in turn makes Malaysia a laughing stock online? They are both shown on CNN's iReport. The point here is to tell to the international press about the truths. With video and audio testimony from witnesses, you have solid proof of voter intimidation. Of course since CNN is being watched worldwide, it will attract mass attention.

I know that some people and politicians would describe this as badmouthing the country, but sometimes you have to do that for a better good if our own institutions is unwilling to buckle up or do nothing even being promising people of fixing things.

That's number 2.

The third thing is doing the opposite of silence presumes consent. If we are quiet don't do anything, then bad would triumph over evil - Edmund Burke's famous saying. It's worth of holding the fact that there are justice loving-people that will help out if things go south.

As I have mentioned in my recent Robin Hood post: you can be any of  Robin Hood's merry men and take on the quest to rid corruption and tyranny on Sarawak that is Nottingham - your adventure in the making that you should seize the advantage. This time, there is no more - "Another 5 years then change" thing. By that time, it will be already too late, never to go back and take what would be lost.

The Flip-Flop Statements

On Sunday, Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa told Christians not to test their patience, for "the Malays have been patient for far too long and have allowed non-Malays to make excessive demands". To further add to his elaboration, (as quoted in The Malaysian Insider:)

“How many Malays are Christian? Why do you have to have bibles in Bahasa? Why not use bahasa Iban, or Kadazan?

“This is a problem of national security ... we (Malays) have been far too giving, I want to remind them to not be excessive in their demands,” said Ibrahim.

“They are not the majority of the country,” he stressed.

The Pasir Mas MP said that the reason why the Christian community were making demands now was because Sarawak elections were underway.

“They are taking advantage of the elections, they raise these things and we cannot object ... they are trying to exploit sensitive issues,” added Ibrahim.

“We have not brought up the issue of our rights,” he said.

This statement above has the clear shades of those things that were written below. Back in 2008, just before the general election, this is are the common things that the real Malaysian menaces would talk about. Take a look at the list below, and you would find that Ibrahim Ali's statement is just like one of those below.

1. Do not provoke us! The Malays know how to amok!
2. Don't mess with our rights! Time has come for us to act against those who question Malay special privileges!
3. There is no religion above Islam, don't challenge us! Whatever is required for Malay development, we will push for it!
4. Bangsa Malaysia is the Malaysians with Malay as the pivotal race!
5. Malays are marginalised in Penang and they have the right to express their feelings!
6. New Economy Policy (NEP) is the social contract, it will never end!
7. Do not question and challenge the position of the Malays and Islam in this country!
8. Use the Internal Security Act (ISA) to jail those who question our rights!
9. Raise the bumiputera equity target to 70% to reflect the actual population ratio!
10. They (the non-Malays) are manipulating the bumiputera equity figures. If we want to use the ASLI figures, let’s set a new target.
11. Let’s make it 70% for the Malay equity!
12. We want to rotate the post of the Penang Chief Minister! We know who they are. We know where they are and what they say!
13. Force the government-linked companies (GLCs) to set-up Malay special-purpose-vehicles (SPVs) to break the monopoly chain of
14. the Chinese companies!
15. Since the racial riots in 13th May 1969, UMNO and the Malays have been too patient and tolerant!
16. We should defend Malay rights to the last drop of our blood!
17. We warn against anyone who attempted to incite religious and racial sentiments!
18. When tension rises, the blood of Malay warriors will run in our veins! UMNO willing to bathe in blood!

If you are one of those who feel that People's Declaration is what you need, BN's answer is definitely no to Bangsa Malaysia. The late Tunku Abdul Rahman mooted the idea of Bangsa Malaysia but was objected by the late MCA president Tan Siew Sin. This was shown in the list of quotes mentioned by BN:

1. - BN can easily solve the people’s problems
2. - BN will protect the rights of everyone
3. - BN needs more time to develop the country
4. - BN is very fair to everyone, is the best choice
5. - The Chinese should be grateful - (This is what Kong Cho Ha said today)
6. - Vote for BN for your own future
7. - The bloggers are liars, opposition are liars
8. - If you don’t like Islam Hadhari, get out!
9. - We are Islamic state, never been a secular state
10. - BN cares for the people
11. - We can never accept Bangsa Malaysia
12. - PM is the saviour of Chinese schools

I noticed that the day after that, Muhyiddin would try to deny that BN is anti-Christian. If you can look at some of the text excerpts there, it is as if it is trying to cover up many things. For instance:

“When have we ever been anti-Christian or anti-religion? It’s all a big lie. The Barisan Nasional has always upheld the Rukun Negara.

Look closely - the religion dispute where the husband or spouse converted without the knowledge of the others or children converted without consent, what does that tell you? If there is another case in point, you can see at times how indiscriminate religious officials would go raiding public places just because it was alleged reported of proximity? Isn't actions speaking louder than words that they are thumbing down on other minorities? Al-kitab - isn't that against your statement, Malikul Sembab?

 

“What they are spreading is provocation because they know people will be worked up and angry. We have resolved it (the dispute) through the BN spirit,” Muhyiddin (picture) told reporters during a Sarawak election campaign stop here.

Here, this is wrong as well. If MCA and MIC is Class 2 party, Class 1 is UMNO, Gerakan and others are Class 3. This is unlike in the pre-Mahathir years where there is no class 1, class 2, but in the same pool. So who's really lying now? Or are the bigwigs being misadvised?

In actual fact - the reality will speak for themselves, all would point to the shades of Ibrahim Ali's statement on Sunday. So what Muhyiddin said doesn't make sense, if you are that smart enough and not to be fooled.

The New Robin Hood Playground: Sarawak!

I have read many exposes of the corruption and mismanagement under the Taib Mahmud administration in Sarawak, that Sarawak Report has prominently spoke of. Someone called Taib as somewhat "immune" or in Malay "kebal" meaning that no one, not even the MACC nor even Najib is able to touch Taib Mahmud mainly because he amasses more money that could even match the amount of reserves available in Malaysia alone.

I find this state elections very interesting though it brings back memories of the 2008 election campaign though not as big as it is right now. It also allows to test the change effect that will happen with the main factor being the "Hate Taib" factor. After all, people have pointed Taib in many parallels to the deposed Hosni Mubarak, with two things in common: both men have been running the state for 30 years and have amassed a huge fortune that gets stashed in other places including the Swiss bank. The "Hate Pak Lah" factor was the main reason why PR won unprecedentedly that year, and denied Barisan Nasional 2/3rds.

It has become public knowledge that Taib used bomohs (read black magic) as a part of the play dirty way to win elections. Even one of his relatives, Salleh Jafaruddin have started to make noise the moment the blonde bomoh, which was brought in by Raziah Mahmud to her brother Taib makes the appearance last night. This too, not only does seen in Taib's circle, but in Alfred Jabu's. Whenever a PR ceramah that happens in Jabu's territory, the police was hell bent on stopping ceramahs there. It gives a tell-tale sign that they were acting under Jabu's directive - a baruah, shall I say.

No, that's not the main point I would want to say. I came to notice, that as we've gone into the second day of campaigning in Sarawak, it has already started to become the playground that harks to the days of the legend of Robin Hood and Nottingham. In Sarawak, it is very similar to the legend, where the people of Sarawak must undertake the quest to free the country from the tyranny of despots. In this case, Taib Mahmud was very similar to King John himself. And as the story goes like John, Taib would robbed the natives land rights, people's wealth, and give it to the rich barons allied to him and in the process, people were poor and the state never prospered where people would reap its rewards. Not at all.

A conventional main villain always has its number twos and Taib always has his deputies - George Chan, also one of his brother-in-laws, and Alfred Jabu whom is very similar in role, capacity like the Sheriff of Nottingham. Any child or those who remembered stories and tales would know that the Sheriff would do the dirty work, going out with crew under him to harass the poor people, rob the riches and whack people who do not conform to their definition of norms.

George Chan and SUPP recently said the Chinese that they would lose representation if Pakatan Rakyat were voted into power. DAP there's it down, saying it is equivalent to harassment. Don't you notice that George Chan is like the Sheriff? Like MCA, SUPP are playing second fiddle behind PBB, which means if SUPP gets whacked out all together (29 seats) - there will be no 2/3rd majority that Taib wants. DAP is right on one thing - SUPP is selling out the Chinese as it was reported here.

And this of course leaves to the Sarawakians that they can play stock characters from the protagonist faction. People can play Robin Hood, Little John or the other merry men, Christians, recently muddled in the Al-Kitab bible crisis with the federal government can play as Friar Tuck if required, while the ladies can play as Marion. But as the story goes, the struggle to win the fight against King John's army and the bandits cannot be done alone - it must be done in the unified fashion, and in this case - a 60 seat win for PR would be very much convincing, and overwhelmingly send a message to Najib and Co that 54 years of BN is enough already, and at the same time Taib could end up the same fate as Hosni Mubarak. Again, it only happens if people are not swayed by BN's words and temptations (some might mirror it as the Devil's temptation).

The Magna Carta signing in 1215 is very unique as it is a starting point of a charter and it also points out that the role of king is not absolute like an Egyptian Pharoah. It is only through the struggle of Robin Hood, as the story says that the Magna Carta was finally forced on John to sign it, explicitly saying that no man can be punished by other means except by the law of the land.

If you see from top to down, it is very same. The only problem is there are people who are not willing to listen and would want to keep it again and again. No, the conventions have changed, that kind of mentality must be stopped and shed. I have observed how the campaigning is going on the first two days and PR's campaign was very similar as to Robin Hood leading citizens. It is also agreed and noted that PR is very hard in debunking such claims that BN would say here and as to answer the claim that "Opposition has no track record" the answer is clear: they can't show the record because they were never put into office for once and remained in opposition. If you want to see it, you have to put them to judge it!

Oh, it's going to be a Robin Hood style play right now in Sarawak!

The Billon Dollar Bride

Note: 

Sarawak Report has been subjected to a cyber-attack, which has knocked it temporarily off-line.  This follows a number of death threats sent through our mail, which have been notable for their creepy, ‘black-magic’ format.

Disabling websites by using millions of hits is a very expensive process, even more expensive than hiring top lawyers. So this limits our list of suspects in this case to people who are both very rich and have a direct interest in shutting us up, but who would rather not face the scrutiny of an open court.

Billion Dollar Bride

Meanwhile, we have exclusive pictures of Sarawak Chief Minister, Taib Mahmud’s, new young bride.  Kuching has been aflame with interest and amusement at the leaked information that the 74 year old has found himself a second wife who is still in her 20s.

However, the government has refused to issue official confirmation of the wedding ceremony that was celebrated at the weekend in the Chief Minister’s vast mansion (the financing of which remains a mystery, like the rest of his properties).  Even senior Government Ministers are scouring the web for details of the new “Thief Lady”, who has yet even to be announced by name.

In desperation calls have been made to Sarawak Report and so we feel honoured to oblige.

Sarawak’s wealth around her neck

Sarawakians will not fail to notice that several thousand hectares of irreplaceable jungle must have been felled and turned to oil palm to adorn this lady’s neck.

One top London jeweller today gave the opinion that the rubies in her diamond tiara, necklace, ring and broach are “likely to be fake glass”.  His reason was that if they were genuine cabochon rubies, like they appear to be, then they would be “priceless at such a size as that”.  When pressed the jeweller hazarded that they would be worth at least RM150 million.

Since the Chief Minister has yet to release details about his bride we will leave Sarawakians to decide amongst themselves whether the Chief Minister has adorned his new wife in glass or cabochon ruby.

Christmas is a time for sharing

As they depart for their Christmas honeymoon, doubtless utilising one of the Hornbill jets funded by Sarawak’s hard-pressed taxpayers, we hope the happy couple spare a thought for the many hungry children in the longhouses who are hoping for a nice present this year.

However, times are hard because more and more land has been snatched away from these communities by the Chief Minister’s BN government, so their parents will have already told them not to expect too much.

As ever, these parents will have to remind their children that the Chief Minister’s favourite advice to the rural folks is that they “must learn to wait”.  Apparently, Taib is promising that at some stage he will begin to share his wealth with the people he took it from!

Do You Want The Leeching of Sarawak to Go On?

Watch this video. Time to wake up. Give the shit out of the leeches, even if they threaten you with many things.

Royalty Coincidences?

Today I went for a second round of notebook browsing and I just the only notebook that fits the bill of what I want:

Sony Vaio SZ44GN/B. It has the exact configuration that I wanted but the commanding price tag is $1997 USD which is way worth over my budget and will surely burn a hole in my wallet! The reason, as I've explained in yesterday's post is due to the licensing cost of Windows Vista Business. There is a possibility of having a rebate deduction during the next PC fair in K.L mid next-month. Also, there was another model that caught my eye today: ASUS-8JE. It has everything but instead it only has 512MB RAM. Today's well-oiled notebooks do use 1GB of RAM to perform well as to complement the processing power of the Menroe processor.

When I went to the Sony shop, it was like going to Wieldstrom Museum, the climatic mission of Thief III: Deadly Shadows. Except, it is located in a shopping mall; you don't have to wander around the mall after 11 p.m - (when it's closed); but you still have to deal with security if you wish to loot all the precious stuff including a Playstation 3 prototype there!

So, thieves, are you up to the challenge of raiding that shop at midnight?

Well, back to the point: I happened to visit my favorite bookshop today and just found one of the new Star Wars novels called Exile by Aaron Allston. Allston wrote Rebel Stand, a NJO series book that I bought a few years ago. The cover art can be found at Google images.

Here we are talking of Princess Leia being at late-50s - we are following Mark Hamill's present age of 56 (September), so we are seeing out favorite Star Wars characters having more white hairs; aging; more wrinkles; no longer have that smooth and silky voice as it was 30 years ago. But Troy Denning - who wrote The Dark Nest trilogy revamped her character significantly, giving her chance to become something that she could not do 20 years ago. Hint: The cover art will tell you.

What I really wish to present in today's entry is the coincidences and comparisons that I've studied between two women. Firstly is Leia of course and a real-life counterpart. The northwestern part of the Borneo archipelago, now known as Sarawak, the largest state of Malaysia was once ruled by the family of the White Kings of Brooke (White Rajah) for one century (1841-1946). They are the only English family to rule an Oriental nation until today.

This is one of the pictures of Sylvia Brooke (The Queen of the Headhunters) nee Brett (1885-1971), the second and last Ranee of Sarawak. She was tutored by George Bernard Shaw and event her godfather Sir James Barrie (Peter Pan). You would not find one of those in Google or even Yahoo. I managed to trace this image from one of the few books around town and this was one of them. By right the picture above is the official royal portrait of Sylvia. This was taken circular 1932, which makes her approximately at 47. How she became the Ranee was by an accidental choice by her husband Vyner. She was a drummer in her youth playing in a female band accompanied by two others together with her mother-in-law, the Ranee Dowager Margaret(1849-1936).

See how she looks? There's some physical resemblance of her to Princess Leia or even Carrie Fisher herself except Carrie's shorter - if I am not mistaken it's 5'5. For instance, she is a decent socialite like Leia; even she did dressed like a Muslim royal in the King George V's court - but it triggered some murmuring among other noblemen. What about Leia? Now she's a Jedi Knight, she's not wearing a politician's wardrobe but an order's robe.

I saw a picture of her dressing in that situation particularly when she introduced her youngest daughter Nancy (Princess Baba to the media) (1915-1993). Second: Both women went to the top of the ruling hierachy. Sylvia was the consort until Sarawak's abdication in July 1946. Leia was the Chief of State of the Galactic Republic for 8 years. They are mothers, but Sylvia has three daughters whereby none could take over the stewardship of Sarawak (according to Muslim law) except for her nephew Anthony whom Vyner had a falling out.

Shortly after her marriage in 1911, her mentor George Bernard Shaw wrote this quote about her:

Ride a cock to Sarawak Cross to see a young Ranee consumed with remorse. She'll have bells on her fingers, And rings through her nose, And won't be permitted to wear any clothes.

Which explains her appearance mentioned above.

However, the main differences were that after Leia left public office, she still helps out but now she fights with her brother's organization the Jedi particularly with the current Second Corellian Insurrection. She went through tragedy and all sorts of drama including currently dealing with her son Jacen on the fact that he becomes the new Sith Lord after his grandfather Anakin! But Sylvia went to literary career, ignored Vyner but still keep in contact until his death in 1963 and stayed in St. James, Barbados with her daughter Elizabeth Vidmer (Princess Gold, 1913-2002) at times with her until her death in 1971.

Phillip Eade, in his upcoming book, Sylvia, Queen of The Headhunters documented some facts through some witnesses including her brother Oliver. Oliver described her youngest sister as a female Iago - a despot, a dangerous woman (The Colonial Office) and a witness testified her dancing with two prostitutes in one cocktail party, vulgar in behavior. Sylvia kept repeating the ship voyages of traveling back and forth of London and Kuching in her autobiography. And according to Elizabeth herself, Daddy (Vyner) keeps mistresses that even Sylvia accepted and mingle with them. If she doesn't like one, she would force Daddy to throw her off. She only forced Vyner to throw three out. The fact to add more insult, something which I find it is true is that her two daughters, except her oldest one Leonora, married commoners. Valerie married a wrestler Bob Gregory, Elizabeth married Harry Roy - the Hotcha king. It turned Sarawak into a sick joke just as the fall of the French monarchy.

In World War Two, she was in New York, doing press interviews, book signings, and even keeps on writing books. She was not with Vyner. He was in Australia. Elizabeth was in Canada. She did not return to Sarawak after 1935 when she wrapped up a film which starred her husband's band.

When the war was over, she went back with Vyner until the state was handed over to the Colonial office in 1st of July 1946. I saw some pictures, unfortunately, I do not have it right now, of an older Sylvia - being at the present age of Leia. Make no mistake though...at that time, she's just resembles Leia.

As a side note, what is discussed above coincides with Alice Ebbing, the whore who was backstabbing her husband Harry (think Kenneth Lay of Enron) and scheming with upcoming star executive Dermot Leary to make billions of profits for Dynaco by sabotaging the Florida electrical system. Writer Garth Ennis - an Irishman whom I loved some of his works characterizes Alice as the flip-side of Mary Jane Watson in The Punisher's novel Barracuda.

But they appear the same, thanks to Goran Parlov, whose drawing of Alice a nod to John Romita Jr sketch and Sal Buscema's inking!

A few years ago, I was watching some movies a while including the flap biographical film Sylvia and Sky Captain. When I saw Gwyneth Paltrow on those two movies, I just suddenly exclaimed to myself and said, from far, she looks like the two Sylvias. But then again, if it is worthwhile to ponder of the comparison, go to google, grab an image of a present-day Carrie Fisher (I bought one of her books - The Best Awful as a gift) and compared it.