University of Malaya Economics Graduate Jawah Gerang is our PKR man for Batang Ai, Sarawak
Kuching, Sarawak
March 23, 2009
KENYATAAN ANWAR IBRAHIM
Sabentar tadi, di Hotel Grand Continental, Kuching saya telah mengumumkan Jawah Gerang sebagai calun Pakatan Rakyat dari KeADILan untuk bertanding dalam pilihan raya kecil DUN Batang Ai, 7 April ini.
Pengalaman saudara Jawah yang sebelum ini berkhidmat sebagai Ahli Parlimen Lubok Antu selama lima penggal jelas memperlihatkan kredibiliti beliau sebagai pemimpin rakyat di DUN Batang Ai yang komited. Turut hadhir dalam majlis ini termasuklah saudara Dominique Ng, YB Violet (mewakili DAP) dan juga YB Gabriel Adit.
Juga diumumkan ialah pemilihan saudara Nicholas Bawin sebagai Pengarah Operasi Pilihan Raya. Ini jelas membuktikan betapa fitnah perpecahan yang dilempar BN sekadar omongan kosong yang berlalu ditiup angin.
Dengan sokongan masyarakat di Batang Ai yang begitu mengagumkan, ditambah pula dengan dukungan para bloggers yang komited memperjuangkan nilai pemberitaan seimbang dan telus, BN Sarawak pastinya terus gusar meranduk iltizam rakyat.
Harapan rakyat di seluruh Malaysia khususnya di Sarawak kepada Jawah Gerang adalah sangat tinggi. Kepada jentera petugas, ayuh perkemas dan tingkatkanlah usaha demi menggarap agenda perubahan!
ANWAR IBRAHIM
www.malaysiakini.com
PKR names Jawah Gerang for Batang Ai, Sarawak
by Joseph Tawie
March 23, 2009
After a number of delays, the de facto leader of PKR Anwar Ibrahim today named the former member of parliament for Lubok Antu Jawah Gerang as its candidate for the Batang Ai by-election which is to be held on April 7.
Anwar was supposed to have announced the name of the candidate on arrival at the Kuching International Airport yesterday, but adjourned the announcement to today. He made the announcement at the Kuching airport just before leaving for Kuala Lumpur this morning.
Anwar told reporters that he decided on Jawah after gathering various views and feedback from several longhouse elders who came to meet him at Rumah Lepang, Sayat, Lubok Antu. He said that he found that Jawah was not only the favourite choice to face Malcolm Mussen Lamoh of the Barisan Nasional, but also had every chance to win the seat for Pakatan Rakyat.
In introducing Jawah to the press, Anwar also appointed Nicholas Bawin as the director of operations for the by-election.
A former banker with economics degree
Anwar also called on Bawin’s supporters to work together in order to ensure victory for the party and to fight BN’s cash-rich machinery. Also present at the press conference were DAP state assemblyperson for Pending Violet Yong and veteran DAP state leader Chong Siew Chiang. Jawah, 55, was the member of parliament for Lubok Antu for five terms. He is a graduate in economics from University of Malaya.
He worked with a bank in Kuching before being recruited by the now defunct Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) to contest the Lubok Antu parliamentary by-election in 1987. He was then returned unopposed in 1990 and 1995 elections.
This is Jawah’s first time contesting for a state seat. His opponent is Malcolm Mussen who was named last week by BN as its candidate. Noted for his fiery speeches, Jawah has become something of a symbol or even an icon in Batang Ai for his courage in articulating Iban issues which did not endear him to the top leadership of the state BN.
The Batang Ai constituency which fell vacant following the death of Dublin Unting on Feb 24 is part of the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency and it has about 8,000 voters. The other state constituency is Engkilili.
Masing confident of victory
Meanwhile, state minister and Parti Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing said BN’s candidate for the by-election Malcolm Mussen was a good choice for the coalition as he had a better chance of winning the seat, and with a bigger majority.
Malcolm Mussen was nominated by Masing’s PRS. “We will still fight. For me, two-cornered or three-cornered, it does not make any difference.I am confident that BN will win with a bigger majority,” he said after having dialogue with the people of Rumah Jumat.
Masing is the BN director of operations for the by-election.
Finally. But will Bawin’s supporters go along with the choice? I hope that they do. As a consolation, Bawin can be fielded in a seat of his choice in the next GE.
_________
juni,
Bawin is a senior member of PKR Sarawak and was consulted before Anwar Ibrahim made his decision. It was a close call, but the decision was based on strategic considerations, motivated by a genuine desire to win the Batang Ai state seat. We need fresh blood and after heeding the advice of Dayak elders, the de facto PKR leader made his choice. I have not met Jawah personally, but I trust Anwar’s judgement.
I know Bawin and he is a good man and will have his chance. Sometimes, it is good to take two steps backwards before moiving forward (Mao) and that is what Bawin is doing while he chalks up campaign management experience.—Din Merican
juni - March 23, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Batang Ai?? Batang Ai semua OK.
Mr Bean - March 23, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Nicolas Bawin,
We are counting on your campaign leadership. Overcome your initial disappointment and support Jawah. I know your turn will come, only be patient.
Let us win this one. To do that, we must be united in our struggle for Justice and rally behind Anwar Ibrahim and Parti KeADILan Rakyat. When you are in Kuala Lumpur, Nicolas, please drop by in my office. You know, you are always welcome. —Din Merican
dinobeano - March 24, 2009 at 12:48 pm