Joseph Tawie | November 24, 2011
Free Malaysia Today
A landowner has accused the deputy chief minister of twisting the truth over a joint-venture project.
KUCHING: A native customary right (NCR) landowner gave Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang a verbal slap yesterday for twisting the truth and claiming that the government was supportive of native rights.
Declining to be named, the landowner said he and many others were present during the “Kanowit incident” in 1996 which Jabu had referred to at the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.
“We were there in 1996. We know about the joint-venture (JV) concept. We were cheated of our rightful dividends,” he said in reference to Jabu’s accusation that DAP was the stumbling block to poverty eradication programmes among the rural community.
Jabu, during his debate on the state’s 2012 budget yesterday, revisited the 1996 Kanowit incident and recalled that some 20 to 30 DAP members had objected to the government’s NCR joint-venture poverty eradication programmes to assist rural Sarawakians.
“In 1966, about 1,500 landowners turned up for the launching of the NCR joint-venture concept at the Dewan Suarah Kanowit. We then saw some 20 to 30 DAP members climbed on stage to protest against the programme,” said Jabu.
He also pointed out that Machang assemblyman Gramong Juna and Land Development Minister James Masing were also witnesses to the incident.
“NCR landowners and the people of Sarawak can never and will never forgive DAP for its selfish attitude,” he added.
“DAP is the stumbling block to poverty eradication programmes in the rural communities.
“The rough and dirty political tactics by the opposition are very dangerous because they can incite racial feelings… they can also deprive the rural people of the opportunities to benefit from the programmes of the Barisan Nasional to eradicate poverty,” Jabu said.
‘We’re suing the government’
Jabu’s verbosity in the state assembly, however, could not match the anger spewed by the landowner who said 100 of the JV project participants were now suing the government for failing to pay them dividends.
“More than 100 of us are suing the government and the company for not paying us dividends since the launching of the JV project (15 years ago).
“We have engaged Baru Bian (Ba’Kelalan assemblyman) to sue the government and the company. We want to withdraw from the JV.
“Now who is suppressing the NCR landowners – DAP or the state BN government?” asked the frustrated landowner.
#1 by dcasey on Monday, 10 September 2012 - 8:51 pm
Another janji ditepati victim rising up to hound the BN govt?
#2 by Dipoh Bous on Monday, 10 September 2012 - 8:51 pm
Could Jabu cling so long in the cabinet or in his party if he was to go against his master?
The Ibans (natives in general) have been taken for a ride for far too long by this ‘very loyal’ politician. We only have ourselves to blame for voting him for the past so many terms ( I can’t even remember how many terms!).
He still thinks we are stupid by blaming DAP. Lets us show him who we really are come GE13…
INI KALILAH !!
#3 by Winston on Monday, 10 September 2012 - 9:02 pm
Giving him a tongue lashing is one thing.
But spreading the word around is even better.
And if it’s from the mouth of those who have been cheated, even better.
#4 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 11 September 2012 - 7:55 am
I have said it before. the issue of Taib’s retirement while necessarily, is not really the main issue. The main issue is the succession which look completely hopeless.
All the successor of Taib looks likekly will be as corrupt or even more so and the Taib family is STLL going to accumulate wealth after Taib leaves.
Worst still, the successors mediocrity means that when Taib leaves, it will be the beginning of UMNO entry and eventual colonisation of Sarawak.
Sarawakian don’t have a choice. Taib has failed them in the end already. They need to take back their govt or UMNO will..