Hadi’s ‘cawat’ remarks degrade Dayaks: Mawan
By Samuel Aubrey
KUCHING: The ‘cawat’ (loincloth) issue continued to become a hot topic with Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Dato Sri William Mawan becoming the latest Dayak leader to lash out at PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for making the remark.
He said the comments made by Hadi were very degrading to the Dayaks and a reflection of the opposition’s ignorance of the real situation in Sarawak.
Speaking at the launching of SPDP Muara Tuang Division Saturday night, he was very fiery and animated in his speech especially during the part when he slammed Hadi.
Using hand gestures, the Social Development and Urbanisation Minister said the ‘loincloth were at least put at the right place’ and not at other parts of the body.
But in the present modern times, he went on to say that loincloth is no longer practised and he blamed the PAS president for not understanding the standard of living of the people in Sarawak.
“Our cultural dancers only put on loincloth when performing traditional dances … (That is why) I wonder if he (Hadi) had ever visited Sarawak to understand the lives and living standard of the people.
“(To Hadi), don’t sidestep the main issue (on the factors leading to the loss in Batang Ai by-election) and talk about something else to distract the people, like talking about the loincloth,” he added.
Hadi, in a Malaysiakini report on July 11, was quoted as saying: “In all previous by-elections, the results favoured us. Only in Batang Ai did we lose because they did not know how to vote, still wearing ‘cawat’ (loincloth). I am not trying to insult, but those places dressed nicely, vote for PAS.” The Batang Ai by-election was held on April 7 following the demise of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president Datuk Dublin Unting on Feb 24 after a heart attack. It was held simultaneously with the Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections.
A political greenhorn from PRS, Malcolm Mussen, defended the seat for the Barisan Nasional (BN) after he won with by a convincing majority of 1,854 votes over Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Jawah Gerang, the former five-term Lubok Antu MP.
It was the only by-election won by the BN after six by-elections following March 2008 general elections.
On a related matter, Mawan also likened the opposition parties to Western folklore legend Pied Piper as they were only good in enticing the people, but yet to prove they could do better than BN.
“On the opposition parties drumming for support in Sarawak, I have great conviction that they will not get anywhere.
“They are just like Pied Piper - playing the flute, entice and lure people to listen to that beautiful music yet leading them down the ravine and to the sea,” he said.
In his advice to the SPDP Muara Tuang Division, he hoped the members could work together with other BN components and form a strong BN front for the coming state election.
Although Samarahan parlimentary and Muara Tuang state constituencies are not represented by SPDP, he said the party could still play a vital role by consolidating the position of the BN in the area and ensuring the victory of BN candidates.
Muara Tuang is currently represented by Dato Sri Mohammad Ali Mahmud of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
The adjacent Asajaya seat is held by Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, while the Samarahan parliamentary seat is represented by Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, both from PBB. Sulaiman is federal deputy tourism minister.
“If you look at the area, SPDP does not have any YB (elected representatives) here. But it is down to us to demonstrate our role as a fellow component in the BN by managing to rally our support in an area that does not have our YB.
“This is the spirit I call for in SPDP Muara Tuang Division - to demonstrate and put ourselves as example to others. Together we can form a strong Barisan team, a united front that will ensure victory in the next election,” he said.
He was happy to see that SPDP had members of all racial backgrounds in Sarawak.
“SPDP is one of the component parties in Malaysia that is truly multi racial. Our committees are multi racial. Our outlook, stand and principle are all multi-racial,” he added.
Copyright 2009 © The Borneo Post Sdn Bhd. All rights Reserved.
Showing posts with label Pas Leader. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pas Leader. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Why so Racist?
Hadi’s remarks reflect PAS, PR leadership: PRS women chief
KUCHING: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) can forget about making any headway in Sarawak, particularly in the Dayak majority areas, if its leaders continue to talk like PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Expressing anger over Hadi’s remarks about Batang Ai voters recently, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) women chief Doris Sophia Brodie said yesterday the remarks reflected the type of leaders PAS and PR have.
“Obviously, PAS and Pakatan are not ethnic-sensitive, thus they can forget about making their existence felt in Sarawak especially in Dayak dominant areas. On top of that, it is such remarks that stir racial tension,” she said.
“I think what Hadi said should hit the nail squarely for Dayak opposition leaders. Clearly, Pakatan and PAS do not have them or the Dayak at heart, to them the Dayaks are just to make the numbers and their laughing stock.”
In this respect, she said the PRS women of Batang Ai, Simanggang and Bukit Begunan divisions would come out in full force to support PRS Batang Ai youth in its plan to burn PAS flags in Engkilili town today to protest Hadi’s remarks.
Hadi, in a Malaysiakini report on July 11, was quoted as saying: “Semua pilihanraya kecil sebelum ini keputusannya memihak kepada kita. Cuma di Batang Ai sahaja kita kalah sebab mereka ini tidak reti undi, pakai cawat lagi. Saya bukan nak hina tetapi tempat yang pakai molek, undi PAS. (In all previous by-elections, the results favoured us. Only in Batang Ai did we lose because they did not know how to vote, still wearing loincloth. I am not trying to insult but those places where people dress nicely, vote for PAS).”
Hadi made the remarks in the run-up to the Manek Urai by-election, which PAS eventually won.
The Batang Ai by-election was held on April 7 following the demise of PRS vice-president Datuk Dublin Unting on Feb 24 after a heart attack.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) had picked Malcolm Mussen Lamoh to defend the seat.
He won by a convincing majority of 1,854 votes over Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Jawah Gerang, the former five-term Lubok Antu MP.
Held simultaneously with the Batang Ai by-election were by-elections in Bukit Gantang, Perak, and Bukit Selambau, Kedah.
In both seats, BN lost by a majority of more than 2,000 votes.
Leaders from all Sarawak BN parties, including Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and PRS president Dato Sri Dr James Masing have condemned the remarks.
They have demanded a public apology from Hadi as they felt that the remarks were an insult to the dignity of the Dayaks.
So far, there have been no opposition Dayak leaders who have voiced their dissatisfaction over Hadi’s remarks.
PKR Sarawak advisor Dato Sri Hafsah Harun, in fact, had defended Hadi, saying that he could have been misquoted by Malaysiakini and if indeed he had said the voters still wore ‘cawat’, he meant their old thinking in supporting the BN.
Doris yesterday also dared Hadi to come to visit Sarawak and especially Batang Ai to see the development and the lifestyle of the people for himself.
“When he comes he better be dressed ‘molek’, in case he might feel embarrassed if our people ‘outdress’ him,” she said.
Copyright 2009 © The Borneo Post Sdn Bhd. All rights Reserved.
KUCHING: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) can forget about making any headway in Sarawak, particularly in the Dayak majority areas, if its leaders continue to talk like PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Expressing anger over Hadi’s remarks about Batang Ai voters recently, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) women chief Doris Sophia Brodie said yesterday the remarks reflected the type of leaders PAS and PR have.
“Obviously, PAS and Pakatan are not ethnic-sensitive, thus they can forget about making their existence felt in Sarawak especially in Dayak dominant areas. On top of that, it is such remarks that stir racial tension,” she said.
“I think what Hadi said should hit the nail squarely for Dayak opposition leaders. Clearly, Pakatan and PAS do not have them or the Dayak at heart, to them the Dayaks are just to make the numbers and their laughing stock.”
In this respect, she said the PRS women of Batang Ai, Simanggang and Bukit Begunan divisions would come out in full force to support PRS Batang Ai youth in its plan to burn PAS flags in Engkilili town today to protest Hadi’s remarks.
Hadi, in a Malaysiakini report on July 11, was quoted as saying: “Semua pilihanraya kecil sebelum ini keputusannya memihak kepada kita. Cuma di Batang Ai sahaja kita kalah sebab mereka ini tidak reti undi, pakai cawat lagi. Saya bukan nak hina tetapi tempat yang pakai molek, undi PAS. (In all previous by-elections, the results favoured us. Only in Batang Ai did we lose because they did not know how to vote, still wearing loincloth. I am not trying to insult but those places where people dress nicely, vote for PAS).”
Hadi made the remarks in the run-up to the Manek Urai by-election, which PAS eventually won.
The Batang Ai by-election was held on April 7 following the demise of PRS vice-president Datuk Dublin Unting on Feb 24 after a heart attack.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) had picked Malcolm Mussen Lamoh to defend the seat.
He won by a convincing majority of 1,854 votes over Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Jawah Gerang, the former five-term Lubok Antu MP.
Held simultaneously with the Batang Ai by-election were by-elections in Bukit Gantang, Perak, and Bukit Selambau, Kedah.
In both seats, BN lost by a majority of more than 2,000 votes.
Leaders from all Sarawak BN parties, including Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and PRS president Dato Sri Dr James Masing have condemned the remarks.
They have demanded a public apology from Hadi as they felt that the remarks were an insult to the dignity of the Dayaks.
So far, there have been no opposition Dayak leaders who have voiced their dissatisfaction over Hadi’s remarks.
PKR Sarawak advisor Dato Sri Hafsah Harun, in fact, had defended Hadi, saying that he could have been misquoted by Malaysiakini and if indeed he had said the voters still wore ‘cawat’, he meant their old thinking in supporting the BN.
Doris yesterday also dared Hadi to come to visit Sarawak and especially Batang Ai to see the development and the lifestyle of the people for himself.
“When he comes he better be dressed ‘molek’, in case he might feel embarrassed if our people ‘outdress’ him,” she said.
Copyright 2009 © The Borneo Post Sdn Bhd. All rights Reserved.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Why so Racist?
Today in Borneo Post Online, I was shock with some of the statement that being given by the Pas president to the Dayak community in Sarawak.
"Semua pilihanraya kecil sebelum ini keputusannya memihak kepada kita. Cuma di Batang Ai sahaja kita kalah sebab mereka ini tidak reti undi, pakai cawat lagi. Saya bukan nak hina tetapi tempat yang pakai molek,undi PAS," katanya." -MalaysiaKini-
The statement above has make Dato Sri Dr James Masing who is the president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) upset and angry. Maybe to the PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awan, that statement sounds like it an ordinary statement but to Sarawakian it is very sensitive. Please, be respect with each other.
After all, it is very upset to hear it and not keep the sensitivity issue of other races in Malaysia.
You can read it yourself from the link below (if it still available):
Borneo Post
MalaysiaKini
"Semua pilihanraya kecil sebelum ini keputusannya memihak kepada kita. Cuma di Batang Ai sahaja kita kalah sebab mereka ini tidak reti undi, pakai cawat lagi. Saya bukan nak hina tetapi tempat yang pakai molek,undi PAS," katanya." -MalaysiaKini-
The statement above has make Dato Sri Dr James Masing who is the president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) upset and angry. Maybe to the PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awan, that statement sounds like it an ordinary statement but to Sarawakian it is very sensitive. Please, be respect with each other.
After all, it is very upset to hear it and not keep the sensitivity issue of other races in Malaysia.
You can read it yourself from the link below (if it still available):
Borneo Post
MalaysiaKini
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