Batang Ai By-Election - SNAP Stands Firm On Contesting

As at the date of this post, both fronts have yet to thrash out the sticky candidate issue. It keeps the supporters and political watchers in suspense.

Dato Sri Dr. James Jemut Masing of PRS sounded confident that the party's nominee would cross the hurdle of State BN.

PR, on the other hand, is on a bleaker outlook. While PKR is quite definite to run the race, SNAP came in with a twist.

Today, it came out in Sin Chew Daily that SNAP would not give up easily. Johnny Wong made it clear that the party stood firm to take on the by-election.

This caused a stir to the scene, making the opposition front seem to dwell on factional conflict.

Johnny Wong, Vice-President of SNAP, spoke with no uncertain term that the constituency was the stronghold of the party and SNAP would not let go the seat freely.

The fight for the seat would be tabled for deliberation during the SNAP's Central Executive Committee meeting scheduled on March 21.

"We have to sit down with DSAI to thrash it out for the good of PR", Johnny Wong told me over the phone this afternoon.

As I said earlier, SNAP is striking a deal with the opposition strongman.

(Photo: Steve Ling)

Batang Ai By-Election - Politics of Development Versus Politics of Change

Batang Ai by-election is a hot, hot topic now in coffeeshops. In Sibu, you may not feel strongly the fever of it, but in the northern part of the state where Batang Ai is located, the by-election is almost the most-talked about market gossip.

As I said before, the constituency is vastly spread out, with majority of the electorate in remotely located longhouses where living conditions are still backward. To them, sometimes daily subsistence means a lot more than democratic principles and doctrine of social justice in a modern society.

This is where BN is coming in. The ruling front's strong card in this by-election is again the politics os development. This ages-old tactic worked wonder in the past, but now it stands to tough test with the wind of change gusting all over and the rampant upsurge of Anwar syndrome in Sarawak.

But, to those Dayaks in far-away longhouses, does a politics of change appeal to them at a time of such economic hardship when commodity prices are slumping?

On the other hand, after years of lip service, is the piecemeal election promise going to work again? And, how about the burning NCR land issue? The question now on hand is: How well are Dayaks prepared to convey a strong message to the ruling front by way of voting in an opposition candidate?

This by-election may prove to be a mind-boggling exercise for the voters there!

The photo shows a scene in Batang Ai. (Photo: Steve Ling)

Batang Ai By-Election - SNAP's Intriguing Move

When Batang Ai by-election was declared by EC, most political watchers called it a straight fight between PRS and PKR. This view was based on the current political circumstances in the constituency.

Then, out of the blue, SNAP (Sarawak National Party) jumped out to make a fight for the party to represent the opposition front in this by-election.

Calling it a tough by-election, SNAP called on the opposition front to keep it a straight fight with BN to avoid a split of votes.

SNAP is now at best a mosquito party with little muscle to flex. Standing on the same line with PKR and DAP , SNAP has been very much sidelined. The frustration was so much that SNAP found it time for the party to burst out.

By laying the card on the table, SNAP was not without basis. Batang Ai was one time the party's stronghold. Even after dropping out from the mainstream, SNAP continues to command good grassroot support to back up its claim.

But it is dubious whether the party has a credible candidate to stand for SNAP in the by-election.

The intriguing move by SNAP has aroused curiosity. The local pundits interprete it as SNAP raising its ante in dealing with DSAI

Standing sidelined in the opposition front is certainly not in the interest of SNAP. Batang Ai by-election threw in a golden opportunity for the party to bargain with Anwar for a better term in the coming state election.

I believe there would be an amicable settlement in the spirit of PR!

The picture shows Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort.

MAF of Sibu East District - Bowling Competition

A light supper was served after the event - God's provision was sufficient to our needs!

The competition in progress - don't give too much stress to yourself!

A moment of joy to praise God.

DS Rev. Wong Koi Foh, Rev. Wong Tuong Toh and Rev. Kong Chong Lin standing ready to kick-start the competition.

Mdm. Ling seemed to have a point to make!

DS Rev. Wong giving away the prize to the best female player.

Peter Tang of Wesley Methodist Church emerged the best male player. DS Rev. Wong shared a light moment with him.

.....and the first runner-up goes to MAF of Wesley Methodist Church.

MAF of Sin Fu Yuan Methodist Church grabbed the championship. They deserved it!

It was a lot more than just coming together under one roof for a stressful competition on March 9 at 7:00 pm - in fact, it was a true fellowship that we gathered in His name!

As Rev. Kong Chong Lin put it aptly, competition was really a character-building exercise. "As christians, uphold your moral qualities in the match to testify God's love," Rev. Kong concluded in his opening address.

As the saying goes, you are your own greatest enemy. By the grace of God, we had had this wonderful opportunity to partake of this bowling competition. If we took it as a platform for us to beat ourselves, then we would have won this competition.

Give less stress to yourself, instead sing more praise to God, then you would bowl with a thankful heart!

MAF of The Masland Church ended up the runner-up.

Sarawakiana And Yan With The Tea Gang

Today is Prophet Muhamad's birthday and it is a public holiday in Malaysia. We are mostly off for a break, stealing some precious moments away for some personal pursuits. I thought the gang meet would be called off similarly.

But a text from Meng Lei pulled the gang together for a tea on this public holiday. It was perfectly nothing unusual, but little did I know that the host was actually expecting a guest - somebody I have read about and heard of, but never met in person.

And it was none other than Changyi, a popular blogger and writer who is enthusiastic in the history of Sibu Foochow. A retired teacher, Changyi's zeal extends beyond writing about Sibu Foochow. She blogs wonderfully about the oldies - those past age things that I still cherish so much. Wow! At times, I can't resist to dwell in memories reading her posts.

Coming together with Changyi was Yan, a stronglady with The Borneo Post, a local popular English daily. Yan has been keeping fit pretty well - she doesn't look her age at all. Her blogging zeal is equally admirable - she maintains well two blogs, one in English and another in Mandarin.

When Meng Lei proposed a lard-laced kampua at a well-known coffeeshop on the following morning, Yan was fast to put it on hold first, saying " let me add on a few extra rounds of jogging first before we come to it". Wah, there is little wonder that she is getting fitter!

We posed for a group photo with the two guests ( Changyi, seating second from left ; yan, standing fifth from left).

(Photo: Liong)

Batang Ai By-Election - There Are Strong Undercurrents In This By-Election

If all parties ngajat according to the drumbeat, then BN is almost certain to be represented by PRS. On PR side, PKR is at the forefront to call shot and the party is more likely than not to represent opposition front.

But contestants are keen within both PRS and PKR. This is typical in most of the other political parties. However, in Batang Ai, both PRS and PKR are more fractionally divided as far as candidates are concerned. This means in the coming by-election, disgruntled members may pose threat to the respective parties in back-pulling.

There is already buzz all over in PRS over the nomination. PKR, on the other hand, is facing a nasty twist by SNAP in fighting for the party to stand in the by-election.

The leaders of both parties would have to be astute enough to resolve the clamor. Otherwise the impact would be quite unpleasant!

Batang Ai By-Election - From Longhouses To Blogsphere

The drumbeat is getting louder as the nomination and polling draw near. Both BN and PR tread along with caution, knowing very well that this by-election is a stiff fight in the wake of the political wind of change sweeping all over Malaysia.

An all-out campaign has kicked off on both sides, stretching from door-to door longhouse visit to propaganda in blogsphere to drum up for support.

Representing the new generation of Dayak, the elite group has been very vocal in their comments about the backwardness of the race. They are sceptical about their own political representatives in taking the race onto the mainstream developments. The elite's political attachment is not made known, but their tone sounds like they are orientated to PKR.

One blogger (http: batangai.dayakbaru.com ) has gone up to the blogsphere to solicit for political donations from supporters. Never belittle the power of blogsphere in Batang Ai by-election.

The whole campaign looks pretty exciting now!