DAP has no heart for NCR landowners — Jabu

Posted on June 30, 2011, Thursday


IN DISCUSSION: Political secretary to the Chief Minister, Paul Igal (left) sharing a light moment with Krian assemblyman Ali Biju of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat before leaving the DUN lobby yesterday.

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu yesterday lambasted the DAP for “suppressing and oppressing” NCR landowners from participating in poverty eradication programmes.

He did not hide his disappointment with DAP Meradong assemblywoman Ting Tze Fui for alleging that Dayak leaders in the government did not care about the Dayak community.

“I find the remark made by Ahli Yang Berhormat for Meradong that Dayak leaders in the government do not have the heart for the Dayak people very insulting. It contains element of inciting and provoking the Dayak people to hate the Dayak leaders in Barisan Nasional (BN) government,” Jabu said.

He told Ting that her remark was “very irresponsible” because Dayak leaders cared deeply for their community.

He added that Ting was in no position to make such a remark because she and some of the DAP elected representatives were too young to remember or know the sacrifices that Dayak leaders had made.

Jabu referred to the Rascom (Rejang Security Command) areas which was terrorised by communist in the early 70s, whereby he and other Dayak leaders toiled in the government camp to protect the people, including the Dayak, from being brutalised and murdered.

He added that when Dayak leaders convened with NCR landowners in 1996 to assist them in the BN poverty eradication programme, DAP members were the ones who went against the effort.

“In 1996 in Kanowit, when Dayak leaders led by myself, YB for Baleh, YB for Machan and former YB Dato Sri Celestine Ujang, who was also Minister of Land, met with Dayak NCR landowners to assist them in the poverty eradication programme, it was the DAP members who stormed up the stage of Dewan Suarah Kanowit to object this programme.

“Therefore, DAP cannot run away from the fact that they had suppressed and oppressed the opportunities of landowners from participating in the state BN government’s poverty eradication programmes.

“This is a reflection of the selfishness and cruelty of DAP. They have no heart for the poor NCR land owners, the majority of them are Dayaks.”