SARAWAKIANS DO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON – MAY BE JUST POWERLESS
The statement by “RC” may be correct to an extent. However, you could see TV Sarawak Bebas on You Tube or listen to Radio Free Sarawak on how ordinary people are talking about their plight and miseries under the current political system.
Many often ask aloud what has the 48 years of Malaysia brought them? This is the most basic and legitimate question.
What is there to show for the promises of incorporating Sarawak (& Sabah) into Malaysia?
They can and we can see that there is a trail of broken and unfulfilled promises since 1963….because of abuse of power, corruption and land grabs by those in power.
As the article points out it does not matter if you are a Melanau (or even a Malay) you could end up losing your land to the Taib greed machine. A padi project which would feed many mouths magically transforms into a more profitable oil palm plantation owned by a Taib linked company. You cannot eat oil palm alone.
Independence should bring “development and prosperity” which the people expected as a price for becoming part of Malaysia.
What they got has been an imposition of greater poverty grief and real sufferings from loss of means of survival from the land grabs. Judging by the large scale land grabs, the majority of ulu land owners have become more impoverished than before 1963 the watershed year.
A self-reliant and self-sufficient way of life has been made to disappear by government policy and unnecessarily creating a mass poverty stricken class of unemployed or job seeking people.
Sarawak people must realise that they are not “powerless”. They have people’s power.
In recent time with Radio Free Sarawak and on the ground TV Sarawak Bebas the rural people have begun to open their minds to the years of government propaganda. Down the years there have been mass people action as seen in the series of actions to defend NCR land whether by blockades or legal action.
This alone is insufficient.
Many Sarawakians still watch for the sidelines. The Penan case illustrates this point. They have fought for over 30 years and are still alone demanding justice from the land grabs. There seems to be more international support for the Penans than locally.
This is a great shortcoming and a shame!
The people not affected by land grabs and even those affected must show their support for those fighting for their rights by either joining the blockades or turn up to show solidarity when court cases are heard. They could also organise material and financial support if they do not want to directly involved.
Many of us have first to overcome the fear of authority and repression. Sarawak has not yet made a breakthrough as seen in the collapse of the MOCS organised demonstration last August. Only when such people cast aside their fears and start to join in the struggle will we see any change on a large scale. In Malaya the people have become more empowered following success of their recent Bersih movement which has yet to burst forth in Sarawak.
Uniting everyone for action is major task which the grass roots leaders must overcome before there will be any Sarawak Spring. This is People’s power!
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