5 A NEW DAWN IN BUMI-KENYALANG - A CROSSING OF THE RUBICON
In a way I am aware of the fact what I am about to perform is a step that is as significant and symbolic as a crossing of the Rubicon, as was done by Julius Caesar in 49 BC. This is but a political crossing thereof, perhaps of the Sarawak River, albeit with just a humble army of 1, but with the full knowledge and confidence that legions of Sarawakians are forming behind me!
Mr. Speaker, my heart cannot be more joyous, my mood more elated than today. Making my 5th speech since 2006, I share with the people of Malaysia and Sarawak in witnessing the momentous turning point in the history of this beloved land of ours!
After the long decades of darkness, our countrymen, women and children now revels in the clearest of blue sky which has been brought about by Parti KeADILan Rakyat, and Pakatan Rakyat, which is but a new kid on the political block.
Need I recapitulate the facts and events of this glorious Malaysian Spring which occurred on 8 Mar 2008, which is a celebration of god-blessed Malaysian Peoples’ Power!
Even some of you on the other side would marvel at the scale of the victory of the combined political and civil forces for democracy, human rights, equality, social justice and good governance. The peoples’ victory over the forces of evil. corruption and nepotism, racism and oppression has culminated in the emergence of a new political force, the Pakatan Rakyat, on the centre stage of Malaysian national life.
8 Mar 08 testifies to the stature and wisdom of the one man who wrote “The Asian Renaissance” in the mid-1990s. And 15 Apr 08 marks the legal return of that man, DS Anwar Ibrahim to public life, who is now our Ketua Umum, and is also now the undisputed Malaysian Prime Minister-in-waiting. Malaysians of all races are overjoyed, and I count myself as the fortunate few from Sarawak to witness the fervour of over 20,000 Malaysians of all races who gathered on that historic night the 14 of April 2008, to welcome his return. That was in a way, his crossing of the Rubicon towards an ‘eventual conquest’ of the Malaysian Parliament.
Believe me not, he was even given a rousing welcome by some UMNO friends when he attended the opening of Parliament on April 28th! Baffled if you need be, at how the world regards DS Anwar, who is now our Prime Minister in waiting.
Time magazine has picked Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2008. The citation for his nomination reads: “His future role can be determined only by Malaysians. One can hope that they will embrace his brand of tolerance, valuing dialogue across political differences, and that this courageous leader will continue to play a leading role on the world stage."
The world largest Muslim website: Islamonline.net celebrates Anwar's inclusion in the list along 10 other Muslims, as thus:
"Malaysia's former deputy prime minister and current opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim led the Muslim figures, ranking ninth coming in the world's most influential leaders."
Far away in UK, the Economist reports on May 2nd “AS MALAYSIA'S new parliament opened this week, a mood of change was in the air not felt since the country's independence from Britain in 1957. The governing coalition, led since then by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is panicking----A change of government in Malaysia—a fanciful notion until recently—now seems a real possibility.”
Peoples’ Power have thus, through the stature of Anwar Ibrahim, put our country on the world stage for noble reasons.
If Malaysian people, and the world at large, are able to see the good and the inevitable, we must now ask ourselves “How long should we continue to pretend not to see the a New Dawn that has begun in Malaysia, and also in Sarawak?”
The multi-ethnic, multicultural spirit championed by Parti KeADILan Rakyat has now found expression and substance through numerous peoples-centred actions of the young Pakatan Rakyat state governments. The over-riding principle of Ketuanan Rakyat as distinct from Ketuanan Malayu, as freshly enunciated by no less than DS Anwar Ibrahim, has by the day, captured the imagination of even the skeptics among the rakyat.
As the leader of Parti KeADILan Rakyat, DS Anwar has pledged to raise the oil and gas revenue for Sarawak from 5 to 20%. Yes to 20%. When the BN in Sarawak has been unable to raise the paltry 5% to a miserable 10% despite many so called appeals, over several decades. In one fell swoop, PKR has promised an increase to 20%, quadrupling that of the original and double of what the BN in Sarawak would dare to imagine. Are we morally correct as leaders entrusted by the people to act on their best interest, to deny Sarawak of this unprecedented benefit. Are we not always very pragmatic about funds for the development of Sarawak?
PKR, esp via its Tambunan Declaration, has also pledged of a post a 2nd Deputy Prime Minister for East Malaysia. And I and Doctor Jeffrey Kitingan, the PKR Vice President and leader in charge of Sabah and Sarawak, have come to the agreement that the post should be rotated between Sabah and Sarawak. Imagine that, a Deputy PM eventually coming from Sarawak! Shall we now deny a Sarawakian the long-overdue right to hold the post of a second Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia? We therefore need not shout about getting an additional paltry post of the Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat. That said, it is my pleasure to heartily congratulate YB Datuk Wan Junaidi b. Tuanku Jaafar, who is a personal friend of mine, for his appointment to the post, as he truly deserves it.
I am thus not encouraging anyone to be an opportunistic party-hopper, for vested personal interests. I am appealing to a higher moral imperative, in the interest of Sarawak, Malaysia and her people whom we are elected to serve. Any BN YB crossing to join Pakatan Rakyat, is told in no uncertain terms that there is no personal benefit to be gained, no government position to be reserved.
You will be crossing as a matter of public-spirited conscience in the interest of the people, State and Nation. You will be hailed by the Rakyat, the final arbiter of history, as wise leaders setting Sarawak and Malaysia on the course of wholesome development and revival in all spheres.
I wish to humbly and most solemnly recommend to the BN State DUN members and Sarawak BN MPs, to join the ranks of Pakatan Rakyat to fulfill the phenomenal expectations of the Rakyat after 8 Mar 08.
This is the crucial moment for you to help the people of Sarawak realize the full meaning and dimensions of Merdeka in Malaysia, after decades of hardship and unjust subservience. You shall raise Sarawak to centre stage in our nation; to a respected position in the Asean Region and even beyond!
I shall now whisper in my softest but clearest voice in this August House, yes we ie the Pakatan Rakyat, have the numbers to take over the Federal Government, and there is a very great possibility in due course of the First Female PM of Malaysia! How fitting, as the Malaysian political tsunami had occurred on 8 Mar, which is International Women’s Day. When is this great deed or event going to take place? Its very, very soon and it will not be one moment sooner!
And how many MPs from East Malaysia are going to cross over to join us? I am only at liberty to reveal that there are over 10 from Sabah. From Sarawak, yes there are, but I am not at liberty to reveal even the number!
Besides the increase in Oil Royalty to 20% and the post of a 2nd Deputy PM for East Malaysia, we in Sarawak promises to overhaul the Land Policy of the BN government by Returning Land to the People of Sarawak!
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