Lesson in Dayak politik:
Very easy a Chinese become a Dayak. But a Dayak to become cunning like a Chinese…very rare lah!
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Sng: My loyalty to PBDS should never be questioned
by KS Paul, Malaysia Kini, 6 June 2003
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) vice-president Sng Chee Hua said today that he is a party loyalist and that his loyalty to PBDS should never be questioned by anyone within or outside the party.
“I have been through thick and thin with PBDS since I won the Pelagus state seat in 1991 when the party was still wandering aimlessly in the opposition in Sarawak. Even through those difficult years, I had never wavered in my support for PBDS,” he stressed.
Sng said that even when he was dropped at the last minute as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the parliamentary seat of Julau (although he was the incumbent then) in the 1999 general election, he went all out to ensure victory for his successor.
Julau victory
“I utilised my machinery, resources and mobilised all my supporters in Julau to make sure that the candidate (PBDS treasurer-general Joseph Salang) secure a handsome victory,” he recalled.
“A lesser man would have abandoned the party upon being dropped. But I stayed on and toiled tirelessly for PBDS and the BN during the election campaign,” he added.
Sng was responding to recent criticisms against him in recent weeks questioning his loyalty to PBDS and his ability to serve the interests of members of the predominantly Dayak party as he was a Chinese.
Sng is now the running mate of party’s information chief Dr James Masing in their quest to wrest control of the PBDS top posts at the party’s triennial delegates’ conference next month.
They are currently embroiled in a factional feud with their rivals for the president’s and deputy president’s posts, Daniel Tajem and Joseph Salang.
Sole Chinese winner
In the 1991 state election, Sng was the lone Chinese candidate to win on the PBDS ticket. He was then an associate member of the party. Several other Chinese candidates who also contested under the PBDS banner were defeated. The party won seven state seats that year.
When PBDS amended its constitution to open its doors to non-Dayaks, Sng became a full-fledged card carrying member of the party. He made his parliamentary debut in the 1995 general election and won the Julau seat for the party.
Sng also secured the second highest majority votes among BN candidates in Sarawak in that elections – and this, for a Chinese contesting in a Dayak-majority constituency, was no easy feat.
In the 1996 state election, Sng retained his Pelagus seat unopposed. He did not contest in the 2001 state election to make way for his son, Larry Sng, in Pelagus.
‘Seditious’ remark
On party president Leo Moggie’s recent remark that he preferred Dayaks to be the president and deputy president of PBDS, Sng responded: “Moggie is entitled to his opinion”.
“In fact, I am quite surprised that Moggie (for his standing and stature) had made those remarks which can be described as ‘racial’ and which even bordered on ‘sedition’.”
Sng also asked whether by his remarks, Moggie meant that only the Dayaks can help the Dayaks and that a Chinese cannot help his fellow countrymen from another race.
“If this is the case, then Moggie had run foul of the BN’s concept of promoting multi-racialism and the creation of a Bangsa Malaysia.
“Even as we speak, there is a proposal to turn the BN into a single multi-racial party and that proposal is being seriously bandied about by top BN leaders in a move to promote and strengthen multi-racial politics,” he said.
Sng said that he advocated multi-racial politics as it was the best concept to ensure that the state and nation attain greater heights in all spheres of development.
“Racial politics is a thing of the past. It cannot work anymore. We have to bury it and look forward to multi-racial politics which is about caring, compassion and sharing among the people”.
Petty and vindictive
Sng also pointed out that PBDS leaders must practise what they preach.
“It is a fact that PBDS subscribes to the BN policy of power-sharing among people of all ethnic groups.
“Yes, PBDS leaders have also been preaching multi-racialism all along. It is wrong and even dangerous to be ‘racial’ just because of one party election. It is also petty and vindictive.”
Sng stressed that he would not be unduly distracted in his political belief of upholding multi-racialism to enable the working of a vibrant democracy in the state and nation.
“All of us have since learnt that a multi-racial concept of power-sharing requires immense patience and tolerance.
“And in the run-up to the party election, I will continue to be patient and tolerant,” he assured.
Right to contest
Asked why he wanted to go for the deputy president’s post, Sng said he felt he could continue to serve the best interests of the party better in a more senior position.
“There is also nothing in the party constitution to prevent any member from contesting party posts, so why should anyone try to stop me,” he asked.
“From Day One, Moggie never told me that I cannot contest for this post or that post. PBDS is a democratic party and a member’s right to go for any party position should never be curbed,” he added.
Another reason why he agreed to be Masing’s running mate was because Moggie had repeatedly told him (Sng) that Masing was his choice as successor.
“In fact, I agree with Moggie all these while that Masing should take over as party president once he (Moggie) decides to step down.
“Of course, Moggie can change his mind in mid-stream but I am staying by Masing. It is also because I feel Masing is an experienced and qualified administrator and a person whom I can trust to do a good job”.
Speak Iban like an Iban
Sng 59, hailed from the Iban heart-land of Kapit in central Sarawak. He is a long-time businessman and corporate player.
One distinct advantage he has as an elected representative in a Dayak-majority constituency is his ability to speak the Iban language. He is well-known as a Chinese who speaks Iban like an Iban.
On public perception that he was the sole financier of PBDS, Sng was modest in his reply, “let’s just say that I contribute to the party just like everybody else”.
However, Sng said that the PBDS education foundation was something close to his heart and he would continue to support it for the sake of the future generations of Dayaks.
He revealed that since the foundation was set up, he had contributed RM1.4 million towards it.
“Of the 150 students who had benefitted from the foundation so far, only three were Chinese”, he said.
“Just take education as an example. Don’t tell me that a Chinese cannot help the Dayaks here,” he added as a matter-of-fact.
