Well, now you know where it is…!
Everyone is talking about Bukit Gantang, Batang Ai and Bukit Selambau – but do you know where they are? Here are a few images to help you get your bearings.
And this is Bukit Gantang, close to Taiping and Kuala Kangsar
A blog reader has mentioned the following in the comments section, which I thought was worth highlighting. When you consider the immense resources that Sarawak and Sabah have at their disposal, you have to wonder why their poverty rates are higher than the other states with around the same household income:
The core issue in Sarawak is governance and distribution within Sarawak. Don’t fall for the federal-state ploy, although there are of course serious issues there.
This can be seen, e.g., when one compares the average household income in Sarawak with that in other states. Below are the numbers for 2004 as published in the 9th Malaysia Plan, and sorted by average household income from highest to lowest:
Just spoke to a media source just now and he said the crowd last night at Bukit Gantang was closer to 20,000. (My other media contact had said 10,000 while blog reader Gantangian estimated it at 15,000). Whatever, it was a huge turnout. The ceramah was held in a kampong near Bukit Gantang.
The Pakatan candidate is now expected to be revealed only on Thursday, according to my source. PR leaders are probably delaying the announcement after seeing how the BN lured three of their assembly members into jumping ship.
According to my source, the word is that Pakatan is likely to cruise home with a 3,500-5,000 majority (among 55,471 voters), improving on its 1,566-vote margin in GE2008.
Part One of Al Jazeera’s 101 East first screened last night
The PKR’s S Manikumar, a 35-year-old marketing consultant, has been revealed as the Pakatan candidate for Bukit Selambau. According to a source, the multilingual (he knows some Spanish, apparently!) businessman is a party newbie, having joined PKR only a couple of years ago.
Blog reader Mary, who says she was one of the victims of the resettlement in Sungai Asap, shares with us the plight of those displaced in Sarawak. Much of what she says ties in with what NGO activists have reported in the past. I reproduce her comments verbatim:
I am one of the victim that had been replaced in the new place (Sg Asap). I was still small that time which i don’t understant what really going on. My dad agree and my mum disagree made them fight like hell over it and made them splits. So, my dad follow those people who moved and my mum join the rest not to move and fight for more benefits. I really don’t understand the situation, most of people seems to get so excited to move. Now…. I must say that my mum were right!! Sg Asap’s villagers start to complains over a lot of things (Basic Needs) and my mum in the old place has no problem with anything.
In case you missed it, this is an excerpt from last night’s Al Jazeera’s 101 East. Watch James adjusting his tie when the going gets hot…
2356: The ceramah is over now with no announcement of the candidate made. My contact is on his way out, wondering when they will reveal the candidate. His final estimate of the turnout is around 10,000.
2328: Gantangian adds:
There are shouts of support from the crowd and cheers for Nizar and Anwar. Looks like it’s gonna be an easy win for Pakatan.
Hi folks, did you see the Al Jazeera focus on Sarawak over its 101 East programme just now? And how they highlighted the 12-dams overkill in Sarawak.
The programme spotlighted the role of Taib Mahmud’s family owned company, CMS. It also interviewed the CEO of Sarawak Electricity, who is Taib’s brother-in-law.
It was fun to watch Fauziah, the interviewer, roasting James Masing with a smile on her face. Did you notice James making some vain attempts to adjust his tie when the going got a little too hot?
The Borneo Bulletin is reporting that Brunei is denying that Limbang was discussed during talks between Abdullah Badawi and the Brunei Sultan on Monday. Wisma Putra and the local media need to clarify what’s going on:
Brunei denies Limbang story
YB Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Awg Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, yesterday said claims on Limbang were never discussed during Monday’s deliberations between Brunei and Malaysia.
He was responding to YB Dato Paduka Hj Puasa bin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Tudin’s query on the contents of the “Letter of Exchange” signed between Brunei and Malaysia, which also touched on Brunei’s claims over Limbang at the Legislative Council meeting yesterday.