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Monday, May 23, 2011
SNAP condemns call to rally against CM
Posted on May 20, 2011, Friday
KUCHING: Sarawak National Party (SNAP) is calling on all its urban and rural Dayak members to not support a street protest if Chief Minister Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud did not step down by Aug 13 as proposed by the Movement of Change Sarawak (MoCS).
SNAP publicity committee spokesperson Chemegi Kalong said the call made by MoCS leader Francis Siah was merely to further his personal interest and ulterior motives. He recalled that Siah had attacked SNAP bitterly during the last state election, especially after the party withdrew from Pakatan Rakyat.
“Siah attacked us like hell, saying all sorts of things. So I call upon all Dayaks in Sarawak, old and young not to join the street protest, “he said in a press statement issued yesterday.
Chemegi said when Siah attacked SNAP, he was also attacking the Dayak community. “SNAP is a Dayak organisation. Attacking Snap means attacking the Dayak community. To all the Dayaks in Sarawak, Francis Siah is our enemy.”
He said the party must not be lured by Siah into supporting his call for demonstration to oust the chief minister as he believed that Taib was still the right man to lead the state.
“He brought development to us so why should we remove him? He should continue to do the job to bring in development to us,” he added.
He reminded Dayaks not to be hoodwinked by Siah’s sweet talks and remain united to fight for the rights of the Dayaks.
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=131478Saturday, May 14, 2011
‘SNAP needs to re-invent itself to become relevant again’
by Peter Boon. Posted on May 13, 2011, Friday
Felician Teo
Dr Gregory Hii
SIBU: SNAP today only has residual value which unless it re-invents itself will continue to be on the sidelines of mainstream Sarawak politics.
A councillor in Bintangor, Felician Teo, said yesterday that SNAP’s leaving PR had minimal impact since it had been regarded as a spent force.
“It needs revitalisation of its party and leadership, rebranding of its image (they are not going to win many votes just reminding Sarawakians that they are the party of Sarawak’s first Chief Minister) and most importantly, start to build grassroots political machinery,” Teo told The Borneo Post.
He was asked if SNAP’s move to severe its ties with PR would have impact on the united front.
Its secretary-general Stanley Jugol was quoted as saying that SNAP could no longer work with PR as it had been sidelined during and after the nomination prior to the just concluded state election.
Jugol was also reported to have said the proposed merger talks with DAP would cease automatically, following them severing the ties with PR.
Teo figured that would be a win-win outcome for both parties if that ever happens.
The way he saw it, DAP needs to expand its political base from urban Sarawak.
“This is because the move will make them seen to be supported by more than one racial grouping, though the reality is that they have gained support from other races other than the Chinese to win in some seats during the recent state election,” he quipped.
And what better way than to forge strategic alliance with SNAP, which represents an immediate platform for them to build a support base among the rural electorate, he noted.
Added Teo: “SNAP would have gained a new lease of life by riding on DAP’s well oiled political machinery, team of first class political strategists and strategy executers and other resources at their disposal now that they are in government in some states.”
He also did not discount the possibility that SNAP was knocking on BN’s door since without political alignment with either BN or PR, SNAP would head into political oblivion.
In an earlier interview, veteran political observer Dr Gregory Hii said while SNAP’s leadership was entitled to its own decision to reflect best interest, “constant changes to its affiliation/position in PR will give an impression that it is not a committed, reliable partner and disciplined organisation. And that is not good.”
Dr Hii reckoned that if SNAP wanted to build itself, it needed disciplined leaders, clearly defined goals, good and efficient organisation with solid grassroots support, committed and hardworking members, willing to sacrifice themselves.
“They must have adequate financial means to work towards its goals,” he opined.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Call to purge SNAP of opportunists
Responsible political leaders should 'atone for their sins by honourably resigning', said a former SNAP deputy president.
A former deputy president of the party, Ting Ling Kiew, said if these “opportunists” refused to resign voluntarily, they must be pushed out.
“If they should refuse to resign voluntarily, SNAP members should immediately initiate an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to legally change the current leadership.
“As a strong supporter of SNAP for the last 30 years, I call upon the entire central working committee members to immediately resign and give way to new blood to revive and rejuvenate the party.
“They should take full responsibility for the humiliation it has brought to SNAP.
“They should not regard the party as their family’s personal property and make use of the party to make a living,” said Ting.
Ting was sacked as the deputy president of the party after the Sibu by-election last May when he called on SNAP members to support the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Robert Lau Hui Yew instead of the Pakatan Rakyat candidate Wong Ho Leng.
At that time, SNAP was a member of Pakatan comprising PKR, DAP and PAS.
But in the run-up to the recent April 16 state election, SNAP became embroiled in a seat tussle with PKR and has since pulled out.
‘Leaders must atone’
Ting said that many young professionals and qualified political aspirants have openly expressed their concern and their interest to join the party if the leadership changes were effected immediately.
“There is no more reason for the current SNAP leadership to hold on. By now, they should realise that they are incapable of helming the party and should give way to others.
“By holding on to their positions, they only prove that they are greedy, selfish and power-crazy people.
“Their continued presence in the party will eventually lead to the death of SNAP,” Ting warned.
The results of last month’s state general election was something for SNAP leaders to ponder seriously.
He said being wiped out and losing their deposits in all except in one of the 27 seats contested was the most humiliating “trauma” ever experienced by any political party.
“Responsible and decent political leaders with moral credibility should humbly atone for their ‘sins’ by honourably resigning en bloc to give way to new, young and responsible leaders to take over.
“Only then can the party be relevant and worthy enough for DAP to negotiate and come to terms with in the Sarawak political context,” he added.
Dundang may seek re-election
Meanwhile, SNAP president Edwin Dundang told The Star that he is considering seeking a fresh mandate as party chief in the party election in August.
He took over as president after James Wong stepped down in 2002 after helming the party for more than 20 years.
Under Dundang, the party had taken part in two parliamentary elections and two state elections.
Except for winning a seat in the 2006 state election, the party did badly, and the worst was the recent state lection where its 26 candidates lost their deposits out of 27 seats it contested.
Dundang himself lost his deposit in Marudi, a former SNAP stronghold.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
BN allies wooing SNAP members
Barisan Nasional partners, PRS and SPDP, are competing to win over disgruntled Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP) members.
This call came from the party’s former central executive committee (CEC) member Sylvester Enteri.
Urging disappointed members, Enteri, a former Marudi SNAP branch chief, said: “It is no longer SNAP of the old days; it is SNAP that has been rejected by the people.
“You can decide for yourselves to which political parties you want to join in this democratic country.”
Enteri is hoping to convince unhappy SNAP members to join his Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), a Barisan Nasional ally. SPDP won six of the eight seats it contested in the recent state election.
Enteri, who is now SPDP vice-president and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities, had contested in Marudi against SNAP president Edwin Dundang. Enteri polled 4,578 votes in this once SNAP stronghold, as against 281 votes obtained by Dundang who lost his deposit.
Close shop
Yesterday Enteri asked SNAP to close shop following its disastrous outing in the April election. SNAP lost its deposit in 26 of the 27 seats contested.
Enteri said it was now clear that Sarawakians had rejected the party and its candidates.
He said SNAP leaders had hung on to their past glory and had been harping on the fact that the party was the oldest in the state and that it had once reigned supreme.
“But SNAP’s past did not go down well with the present generation of voters….the party is no longer relevant,” he said.
Last week another BN partner, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) called on SNAP members to join PRS in order to strengthen the voice of the Dayak community.
The once proud party’s fortunes began to sharply decline in early 2000 after a bitter quarrel between its then MP for Bintulu Tiong King Sing and the party leadership over a failed TV3 project which was supposed to have been built in Bintulu.
The quarrel led to the expulsion of Tiong and nine CEC members party. Enteri was one of them because he disagreed with the expulsion.
Enteri, together with the other expelled members, then went on to form SPDP in November 2002.
William Mawan was made the president of the party, with Enteri as secretary-general and Tiong as the treasurer-general. The party was immediately accepted into the BN fold at state and federal levels.
Monday, May 9, 2011
SNAP leaders must resign
Beleagured SNAP's 'pullout' from Pakatan is 'immaterial' as its current leadership has 'lost all credibility', said a former top party offical.
Declining to reveal his name, the former Sarawak Assistant Minister said: “They know who I am … they should all resign.
“They should be courageous enough to claim responsibility for the dismal performances of their candidates who all except one lost their deposits,” he said adding that it was irrelevant whether the party remained in Pakatan Rakyat or not.
The former Julau assemblyman described SNAP’s ties with Pakatan as ‘immaterial’ as party had ‘lost its credibility.’
“Whether SNAP is out of the Pakatan Rakyat or not is immaterial.
“The most important thing is for the CWC members – from the president downward – to resign and elect new committee members in order to bring credibility and integrity to the party.”
He was commenting on reports quoting SNAP secretary-general Stanley Jugol who on Friday said the party had severed its ties with Pakatan.
Jugol was quoted as saying that the 50-year-old SNAP had decided to quit Pakatan after it was sidelined following disagreements on seat allocation.
“We are no longer in Pakatan. We are now on our own,” he had said adding that it was meaningless for the party to remain in the coalition as it was no longer invited to attend any functions or meetings organised by the opposition alliance.
No credibility
Speaking to FMT yesterday, the former SNAP vice president said: “SNAP has lost its credibility and cannot claim itself to represent the Dayaks anymore.
“The recent state election clearly showed that the Dayaks have rejected the party especially under the current leadership.
“SNAP cannot rely on history and its past glory to win back the Dayaks’ support for the party, especially the young Dayaks who do not know even who SNAP’s Stephen Kalong Ningkan was.
“These young people cannot be bothered with past history as they are more interested with what the party can offer them in the future,” he said.
In 1974 SNAP won 18 state seats and nine parliamentary seats in the Dayak majority constituencies. Its leader, Ningkan was made Sarawak’s first chief minister. But their immaculate pedigree was of little use in last month’s polls.
Going into the election SNAP was already at loggerheads with PKR over seat allocation.
Refusing to compromise SNAP went ahead and contested in 27 Dayak majority constituencies with Dundang boastfully declaring they had the support of Dayaks.
In the end 26 candidates including Dundang lost their deposits. (NYAU CENGKERAM!!!)
Personal opinion
Meanwhile, Jugol today clarified his Friday statement.
He said it was his personal opinion that SNAP should pull out of Pakatan.
“The CWC members have not met to discuss the issue (pulling out), but I believe it is the general feelings of the CWC members as well as members of the party that it should leave the Pakatan Rakyat.
“What appeared in the local press that the party has severed its ties with the Pakatan Rakyat was my personal opinion,” he added.
Meawnhile Sarawak PKR information chief See Chee How when contacted said that it was not surprising that SNAP pulled out of Pakatan considering what its leaders did and acted before the state election.
He said SNAP had some good grassroots members, whom he thought would be good SNAP leaders in the future.
“But now some of them have started to join PKR… now they realised that the party is only an empty vehicle which is not able to serve the interests of the party and members of the Dayak community,” he said.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Anonymous Letter
SNAP is a party with a lot of frogs who fantasize and dream that somehow, someday they will turn into handsome princes, which they never were in the first place.
It is a party that had been mutilated beyond recognition over the years through the selfish acts of their own members with their respective agenda.
That internal divisions were well exploited by their political rivals through divide and rule, leading to the party's eventual de-registration by the ROS, only to be given a new lease of life after a few leaders met Najib just before the Batang Ai by election of April 2009.
One of those who met Najib, including Ting Ling Kiew, who was the Deputy President, was however sacked by the party. SNAP was then hijacked by a few fellows who initially thought the PKR could be their vehicle for a Dayak agenda (when SNAP's fate still being in limbo at that point).
This include people like Paul Kadang, who once worked at the PKR HQ and who ran down the PKR just before the recent Sarawak election, trying to rationalize the rebranding and revival of SNAP! Even Daniel Tajem who was once PKR adviser was roped in as a member of the new team.
The money flowed at the initial stage but when the well wishers realised that the SNAP revival was Najib backed and not contributing to the Pakatan cause, the taps went dry. The president, Edwin Dundang, who only managed to get 281 votes in Marudi, however brags that SNAP is now like a young lady with a number of potential suitors, DAP included.
The results of the recent Sarawak election where all the SNAP candidates, except one, lost their deposits suggest what the voters, even in Dayak majority seats, think of these fellows. So the Dayaks aint't no fools after all.
It is a party that had been mutilated beyond recognition over the years through the selfish acts of their own members with their respective agenda.
That internal divisions were well exploited by their political rivals through divide and rule, leading to the party's eventual de-registration by the ROS, only to be given a new lease of life after a few leaders met Najib just before the Batang Ai by election of April 2009.
One of those who met Najib, including Ting Ling Kiew, who was the Deputy President, was however sacked by the party. SNAP was then hijacked by a few fellows who initially thought the PKR could be their vehicle for a Dayak agenda (when SNAP's fate still being in limbo at that point).
This include people like Paul Kadang, who once worked at the PKR HQ and who ran down the PKR just before the recent Sarawak election, trying to rationalize the rebranding and revival of SNAP! Even Daniel Tajem who was once PKR adviser was roped in as a member of the new team.
The money flowed at the initial stage but when the well wishers realised that the SNAP revival was Najib backed and not contributing to the Pakatan cause, the taps went dry. The president, Edwin Dundang, who only managed to get 281 votes in Marudi, however brags that SNAP is now like a young lady with a number of potential suitors, DAP included.
The results of the recent Sarawak election where all the SNAP candidates, except one, lost their deposits suggest what the voters, even in Dayak majority seats, think of these fellows. So the Dayaks aint't no fools after all.
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