SNAP all for transparent, democratic and corruption-free government — Dundang

Kuching
Monday, 26th Sep 2011

SNAP which produced the first Chief Minister of Sarawak through Dato Stephen Kalong Ningkan should not perish. Eventhough it performance during the just concluded state election held in April 2011 was not that something in which the party members should not be proud whit but it does not mean that the party is weak. The new blood in the party should work hard in order to return the supports of the Dayak thus return the party past glory. Datok Seri Daniel Tajem presence last night truely indicated that the party will get the supports of the Dayak ....www.Bukittunggal.Com

Edwin Dundang.

KUCHING: 25th Sep 2011 (Grand Continental Hotel)

Sarawak National Party (SNAP) will continue to uphold its political struggle of ensuring a transparent, democratic and corruption free government, assured its president Edwin Dundang.

Delivering his speech at a dinner to welcome delegates to the party’s 17th triennial general assembly at the Grand Continental Hotel here on Saturday, he called on members to support this struggle, which he labeled as “the struggle of the majority of people in the state”.

“SNAP is a multiracial and the only local-based political party in the opposition. We have every reason to rejoice and celebrate as SNAP is alive to continue its political struggle of ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’.

“I urge and assure those who wish to carry on with the struggle of the party to be astute in pursuing the noble objective of the party. The strength of the party is what we all make it to be, as the party belongs to all of us,” added Dundang at the dinner which was also held to celebrate the party’s 50th anniversary.

He also advised all members to continue to be responsible and accountable to ensure the party’s survival and success.

Touching on the turmoil that SNAP had endured in its 50-year history, Dundang called on all members to put the bad episodes behind and focus on the future and rebuilding of the party.

“Now is the time to put this harrowing experience behind us. We have shown much resilience in the face of trouble.

“If we can go through all these crises, there is no reason why we cannot go forward to a more successful future. We have gone through the worst rock bottom scenario. We can’t go further down but to rebound upwards. The pendulum of ‘what goes down must go up back again’ is the law of nature,” he pointed out.

Dundang explained that in the last half century, SNAP’s political enemies had been resorting to many tactics to weaken and destroy the party.

These, he said, included the invocation of the Emergency Rule, the removal of the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan from the chief minister’s office, the use of ISA on the late former deputy chief minister Datuk Amar James Wong (and other leaders of SNAP) and the splitting of the party via mass desertion.

Ningkan, the state’s first chief minister, founded the party on April 10, 1961.

As a member of the winning alliance, SNAP formed the first state government in 1963.

So immense was the support for SNAP that when it pulled out of the Sarawak alliance and became an opposition party, the party managed to win 18 out of 48 seats in the 1974 state election.

“SNAP has touched so many lives in the state and these people will remember. I hope that these people will support and help the party one way or another. This great party is here for all Sarawakians to work on and realise their hopes and dreams.

“I believe no political party in the state can equal SNAP in all these experiences, be they bitter or sweet, painful or glorious and also ‘dead and alive’ again all in the name of politics and nation building,” continued Dundang.

Also present among the 500 guests on Saturday were SNAP advisor Dato Sri Daniel Tajem and secretary-general Stanley Jugol.

Mupok Aku

This article was first published in Borneo Post Online this morning

Malachi Ningkan is new SNAP Youth chief

Kuching
Sunday, 25th Sep 2011

The Main Aim of the Party is
 to Protect Sarawakian : SNAP Youth

In any political party, the main function of the youth wing is to defend the party from its opponents. SNAP the original party of Sarawak should be defended from any effort by any party to discredit it. It is hope the new committee lineup will be able to do this!

KUCHING:Saturday, 24th Sep 2011.

Malachi Dennis Ningkan, a relative of first chief minister the late Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan, has succeeded Dayrell Walter Entrie as SNAP Youth chief following the latter’s decision to make way for young blood.

The new line-up, which came about after the party’s Youth and Women triennial general meeting (TGM) yesterday, saw Yong Choo Kong elected as deputy Youth chief, Semijie Janting (secretary), Collin Uyut (vice-chairperson I) and Mading Balit (vice-chairperson II).

Dan Giang, who was earlier reported by the mass media as eyeing the vice-presidents post, was elected as the Youth wing’s treasurer at the 9th TGM held at the Grand Continental Hotel here.

The Past and Now :Dayrell Walter (L) and Malachi (R)

The Old and the New Guns

The six committee members are Edwin Luta Munan, Aderly Gon, Raju Sang, Patrick Giring, Atin Lamat, and Capt Ayong Entili.

The party’s acting deputy president Kebing Wan, who is also former Telang Usan assemblyman, officiated at the meeting.

Also present at the meeting was SNAP long-serving secretary-general Stanley Jugol.

“The Youth members must work hard to bring strength to the movement and SNAP. Do take note that the party’s strength lies on the number and commitment of the members,” said Dayrell in his address before the meeting.

New Office Bearer: Ice-Breaking

He also advised the members to take full advantage of the social online media to attract youths to join the party and promote more activities on the ground.

He urged them to help promote the party’s cause and struggles online by becoming cyber troopers. This would help the party combat bad reputations and allegations posted online.

Meanwhile, in the Women wing, former acting chief Magdaline Paya Anyi made way for new chairperson Melissa Anne Inddu.

Appointed vice-chairperson is Betty Munji while the two elected vice-chairpersons are Christina Janisah Jeranding and Sabriah Junaidi.

Corrine Labang and Joriah Lada Ding became secretary and assistant secretary respectively, while the treasurer is Valarie Luhong. The four elected committee members are Rabiah Gelieng, Margaret Bugak, Angela Bugak and Cynthia Beatrice Maggie.

Advisor for the women’s wing is Karina Sijun.

Magdaline, who addressed the members before the TGM, said: “Now is the time to strengthen what is left of the party for the people. SNAP, as a local party, should be at its strongest to serve the people. Although finance remains an issue now, we must continue to work hard to build up the party so that it could stand on its own two feet.”

She also advised members not to close the party’s door to those who could bring the party forward.

The Youth and Women’s line-up would serve the party from 2011 till 2014.

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Kit Siang Proposes DAP and SNAP Merger

Kuching
Tuesday, 19th April 2011

After directly involved in the campaign for SNAP I now realised that SNAP is lack of infrastructure and Coordination. In order to wrest Sarawak from BN, SNAP must partner itself with the strong and established party like DAP. PKR with it internal problem has failed to unite the Ibans. DAP compare to PKR is more stable thus will be able to guide and unite the Iban. I strongly supported Lim Kit Siang proposal for SNAP and DAP merger.

DAP parliamentary leader and MP for Ipoh Timor Lim Kit Siang today proposed that DAP and the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) merge in time for the next general election in order to better serve the Iban-Dayak community.

He said that such a merger would accelerate the Iban-Dayak political awakening following the recently concluded Sarawak general election.

“Sarawak DAP cannot rest on its laurels having won 12 seats in the Sarawak state election, but must prepare immediately for the next general election which is not far off.

“From now till the next general election, DAP leaders, members and supporters must work with Pakatan Rakyat partners to reach out to all Sarawakians including Ibans-Dayaks and Malay-Melanaus,” he said in a statement today.

He added that in the next general election, Pakatan parties must avoid multi-cornered contests which can only benefit the Barisan Nasional (BN).

“For this reason, I would even suggest that DAP and SNAP should seriously consider a merger of the two political parties to accelerate Iban-Dayak political awakening,” he said.

In the run-up to the Sarawak polls, DAP’s Pakatan ally PKR and SNAP failed to solve seat arrangements, resulting in the two parties contesting in 24 seats together with BN.

SNAP which contested in 27 seats lost all, with all but one of its candidates losing their deposit. PKR contested in 49 seats and won only two. The party blamed SNAP for being the spoiler.

DAP emerged as the biggest winner from Pakatan by winning 12 of the 15 seats it contested, all of which were in the urban and Chinese-majority areas.

Inroads in rurals seats too

Lim also brushed aside talks that DAP was only interested in the interest of urban Chinese.

“Thanks to enemy propaganda in the controlled mass media in the past decades, DAP is projected and perceived by some as a Chinese party.

“This is a perception that the DAP must eliminate so that all Malaysians can accept and support us as a political movement committed to the betterment of the welfare of all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region,” he said.

He also pointed out that Pakatan also won rural (Ba’Kelalan and Krian) and semi-rural (Batu Kawah, Dudong and Piasau) seats in Sarawak.

These victories, he said, smashed the myth that the opposition received support only in urban areas.

He quoted political scientist Bridget Welsh’s analysis that Pakatan’s gains in semi-rural seats were more than in the other areas: 19.7% compared with 14.8% in the rural areas and 13.4% in the urban communities.

He added that the Bidayuh seats were most impressive – for although Pakatan failed to win a single one of the Bidayuh seats, there was a 17.9% swing in the Bidayuh votes in favour of the opposition.

Lim said that there were encouraging statistics and inspiring pointers for Pakatan in the next general election in Sarawak.

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BN Reminds Not To Use RTM as Campaign Tool

Kuching Tuesday, 12th April 2011

This is How I See Nala!

Today while having my dinner with my family, I was surprised to Notice that RTM has been used by BN to spread their Lies to the people of Sarawak especially to the dayaks in the interior. Three days from now, the people of Sarawak are going to choose their leaders. Those who live in the urban areas like Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu can attend their leaders speeches be it BN or the Pakatan Rakyat or SNAP. Based on the report from the ground, the differences between BN and Pakatan Rakyat organised rallies were that the Pakatan Rakyat will attract thousands of people where as the BN rallies, most of the people that came were will only attracted and eager to get free T-Shirt and food.

But for the people in the rural areas they only can follow the election news by watching RTM channels. This opportunty has been manipulated by BN who used RTM to spread their lies to the people of Sarawak especially those who live in the interior.

Tonight the RTM 1 aired the interview with Nalakaruppan. As usual, Nala who has been working as "kuli" by Najib and makes living by condemn Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) tonight had done the same thing.

Hi nala Thamby ! we Sarawakian dont need your lies. Go and help your own people who have been marginalised by BN since Tun Razak time until to the time of his Mongolian murderer son Najib.

We Sarawakians in dire need of someone who can help us to oust the BN government leads by the most corrupt leader in the worl Taib Mahmud.

Hi Nala Tambi..please come and visit our people in the longhouse so that you see by yourself how we the Iban have been marginalised and robbed of our NCR lands by Taib Mahmud.

To all the BN leaders from Semenanjung please shut up your mouth if you dont know anything about us and our suffering as a result of BN Sarawak rule for the past 48 years!

I am a bit emotional today as I was very angry with Nala whom moral value is as low as a robber, kidnapper and the mother fucker..

To all Sarawakians, I urge all of us to Vote BN OUT of Petra Jaya.. Lets VOTE for SNAP and Pakatan Rakyat.

Mupok Aku

Program Sejiwa-Senada RTM1 Ngakal Peninga Rumah Panjai

Kuching
Saturday, 2nd April 2011

RTM Mantai ke pemula sida pasal pemansang di Kanowit. Bala orang di rumah panjai enti kitai ke bukai tu nadai madah ngagai sida deka ngarap ke pemula utai ditusi RTM1 tu!

Cukup Pandai Barisan Nasional Mansut Ke Pemula Ngagai Peninga di Rumah Panjai Kena Ngambi Ati Sida Awak ke Nyonteng Barisan Nasional maia pengawa bepilih negeri Sarawak ke sekali tu.

Lemai tu enda sengaja aku tebuka ke RTM1 lalu tepeda ke Program Sejiwa Senada. Lalu sebetul ia baka saritu RTM nabur ke pasal pemansang di menua Kanowit. Antara pemansang ti dipansut ke ianya pasal pemansang kelapa sawit lalu aku tabur ke baru nama ti disebut perantara RTM1 ko iya :-

Orang ke diau di rumah panjai di genturung menoa Kanowit maioh pemansang ngelama ti udah  nitih ke skim nanam kelapa sawit. Skim tu ngenatai ke maioh penguntung ngagai sida ari rumah panjai lalu pia mega maioh sidanya udah nyadi orang ke nyamai serta bisi penatai pemisi. Pemansang tu mega ngenyamai ke sida ari rumah panjai ari segi pemansang jalai besai ngagai rumah sida.....

Nya iya di antara pemula RTM1 ke nyadi propaganda BN kena narit sokong ari orang Iban. Uji kitai ngagai Kanowit, berapa ribu udah diterima sida ari projek kelapa sawit ngelama ke udah masuk skim JV Pelita-Kompeni Semenanjung? Berani aku nilat burit bini Taib enti sida di Kanowit bisi nerima dividen sampai beribu-ringgit anang sebut ka nyadi orang kaya baka jako pemula ti dipansut ke RTM1. Iya ke bendar, orang ti nyadi nyamai ari projek JV di Kanowitnya kompeni besai ari Semenanjung tauka Geramong Juna ke bisi diberi orang komisen laban ti nipu orang rumah panjai awak ke masuk JV.

RTM1 anang nyadi utai ti mantai ke pemula BN kelebih agi pemula ngagai orang rumah panjai.

Tu bala pemesai BN ti ngemula ke orang Iban awak ke masuk JV ke ngujung sida deka lenyau tanah sida!

Bisi dipansut ke RTM1nya pasal pengidup orang rumah panjai ti berubah laban ke bisi datai jalai raya ngagai menua sida, Aku ka nanya pengentara RTM1 ti beli tu, sapa ti ngemaju tauka meri jalai ngagai sida..perintah ke orang rumah panjai? BN anang bula jalai tu digaga ari rega gadai tanah NCR orang rumah panjai ngagai bank kena ngemansang ke skim/projek JV tu. BN anang nempap dada diri lalu madah ke pemansang jalai raya di bai sida....Jalai raya tu digaga oleh orang rumah panjai ari rega tanah NCR sida. Sepatut iya BN berasai malu laban ti nual tanah orang rumah panjai kena ngemansang ke sida. Geramong Juna, menteri Iban ti Engkecit maia Ming Court sepatut iya dibai ngagai court laban ti nipu orang rumah panjai masuk JV ti nadai penguntung lalu ngujung ke sida deka lenyau tanah sida dalam kandang 60 taun ti ka datai tauka sida mega tau lenyau tanah sidanya seumur idup sida.

Ngagai bala pemaca Bukittunggal, padah ngagai bala ti agi diau di rumah panjai  pasal program Sejiwa Senada RTM1 ti nipu serta semina mantai ke pemula BN.

lalu pia mega padah ngagai bala ti diau di rumah panjai, ARAM KITAI BERUBAH diatu lalu anang ngundi tauka nyonteng BN laban kitai Iban ngelama ti dipegai BN nyau ka pengelama 50 taun tang lalu nadai pemansang!

Mupok Aku

Kuching
Wednesday, 16th March 2011

SNAP's Media Statement & List Of First 17 Candidates

MEDIA STATEMENT
For immediate release

Date: 15 March 2011

SARAWAK STATE ELECTIONS 2011


Sarawak National Party (SNAP) has always been, since the inception of Malaysia 47 years ago, the party that speaks out, defends and fights for the welfare of the people of Sarawak especially the interior native population. It must be reiterated that SNAP will remain so now, and in the future, in response to the popular requests and desires of the people of Sarawak. SNAP is synonymous with the political development of Sarawak and intends to play its role in positive nation building within the ambit of the Federation of Malaysia Agreement 1963. SNAP it should be remembered was one of the political parties which were signatories to the Malaysia Agreement.

The forthcoming state elections this year will be a watershed in the political history of Sarawak and it is imperative that SNAP, being the traditional party of choice among natives play a meaningful role in the shaping of Sarawak’s political future.

In this context, the Select Committee after being given the mandate by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of SNAP met this weekend and agreed among other things that SNAP’s participation in these elections will reflect its historic role and its presently reignited dynamic role, as requested by our membership. Consequently SNAP has decided to put up a total of 40 candidates, 29 of which will be in interior native-majority constituencies and the rest will be in areas where natives form the largest single grouping.

To underscore our seriousness and commitment to the above, SNAP hereby announces our candidates for the first 16 seats.

They are as follows:

1. Stephen Sigar - N. 1 Opar

2. Frankie Jurem Nyumboi - N. 2 Tasik Biru

3. Richard @ Peter M. Munai - N. 16 Bengoh

4. Slyvester Belayong - N. 19 Kedup

5. Abang Othman Abang Hj Gom - N. 23 Lingga

6. Dan Giang - N. 25 Balai Ringgin

7. Joe Unggang - N. 31 Layar

8. Dayrell W. Entrie - N. 32 Bukit Saban

9. Anthony Liman Sujang - N. 34 Krian

10. Tedong Gunda @ Jamal Abdullah - N. 41 Pakan

11. Augustine Liom - N. 44 Machan

12. George Lagong - N. 56 Baleh

13. John Bampa - N. 57 Belaga

14. Johari Bujang - N. 62 Lambir

15. Edwin Dundang Bugak - N. 66 Marudi

16. Kebing Wan - N. 67 Telang Usan


The candidacies for the remaining 24 constituencies will only be finalized and announced at a later date. This is because SNAP feels that its present effort to invite other native leaders who are currently partyless or dispersed in other political parties to come back to contest under the SNAP banner in order to avoid the dilution of native votes in these constituencies, will bear positive results. The present aspiring SNAP candidates for these constituencies are willing to sacrifice and accommodate these native leaders as candidates in favour of the desire not to split native votes.


The Select Committee having decided on the above also reiterates that it is SNAP’s fervent desire that there will be throughout Sarawak one-to-one contests against the ruling coalition. Common wisdom tells us that it is wise not to split the anti-BN votes to ensure opposition victory.


SNAP does not see any problem towards an electoral understanding with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) of Sarawak. We are urged by our membership to go further than electoral pacts and work towards greater understanding and mutual support with the DAP. Our leadership has been and shall be meeting DAP leaders over these matters in due course.


We also do not see any problems in our relationship with Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).


However, sadly, we have been informed that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has on its own initiative, and without mandate, took on the role of the leading opposition party by announcing that they intend to contest in 52 seats and leave SNAP a miserable 3 seats to squabble over. We also note that PKR has overlapping claims with the DAP. The very recent announcement by PKR that an agreement has been reached on the opposition electoral pact in Sarawak is totally inaccurate. PKR’s attempt to gloss over this major problem and ride roughshod against SNAP is unwarranted and unbecoming. There has been no agreement, no attempt to negotiate and PKR’s lackadaisical attitude towards native political issues is now becoming obvious.

We reiterate that such presumptuousness on the part of PKR is unwarranted and unmandated. We believe that PKR after reviewing its influence in Sarawak for the last 12 years should only concentrate in the mixed areas where we feel they can do better than SNAP. It is worthy of note that after 12 years and participating in 3 federal elections and 2 state elections over these years involving 74 candidates which they have put up, PKR has only managed to win 1 state seat. It is also a fact that can be verified that PKR has had little impact in native-majority areas ever since it first contested in Sarawak.

With that background, we hope that PKR will co-operate to ensure the opposition electoral pact will be a reality based on actual representation of the various political groupings. Its problems over overlapping seats with DAP should also be solved as fast as possible.

The above has been communicated to PKR in the various meetings but to no avail. It is sad that at this eleventh hour, PKR still insists on contesting in 52 seats at our expense, and without substantive grounds to support their insistence.

In this state elections of 2011, SNAP is taking back its rightful role as the leading opposition voice in Sarawak.

SNAP is conscious of its role and intends to fulfill it without reservation.

God bless the people of Sarawak.



EDWIN DUNDANG
President
Sarawak National Party (SNAP)

Dayak Must Go back To basic By Joining SNAP

Kuching
Thursday, 20th January 2011

"The New SNAP in the making...Starting Point in SIBU"

Is PKR The Right Party For Dayak/Iban?

About three years ago I decided to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) because I could not find any party that fit to my struggle at that time. 
But lately I saw the party has diverted from its original struggle. Greed and power has become the norm among leaders in the party. The resignation of Zaid Ibrahim and Jefferrey Kitingan has weaken the party further. Thing became worst with both leaders forming-up their own party and NGO; Zaid formed Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA) whareas Jeffrey Kitingan formed  United Borneo Front (UBF).


Just like UMNO, Internal bickering, politicking, back-stabbing, treason, sabotage have begun to rear its ugly head within the party. I don't have to go far to provide an example. During the party election in P202, one can see how the three candidates Jimmy, Ibi and Cubbold could not see face  to face with each others. 




Why Iban/Dayak Should Join SNAP


In December 2010, the same friend that influenced me to join PKR had talked to me about the plan by SNAP leadership to rejuvenate (as I preferred to call it, even thought the party leaderships called it rebranding) the party


At first I was not interested to join the party because  the party crisis in 1983 which resulted in the formation of the PBDS still very clear in my mind. Just like the majority of the dayak/Iban ( eventhought I was still studying in Form 3 at the time of the  crisis ) my family was the strong supporter of SNAP and its young aspiring politician Datuk Daniel Tajem. 

But with the new development especially with Datuk Daniel Tajem returned to the party by becoming its advisor, has changed my feeling towards the party. 


Other than that I have been looking at PKR as not very serious with Sarawak. The party is
more focused on the general election in the peninsula. It is not interested in Sarawak. If the party is not intetrested with us, why we should stay cling to the party?


I Urge the Iban/Dayak to Join SNAP


Most if not all the Dayak/Iban that are  in the PKR nowasaday are from the supporter of  the unregistered Malaysia Dayak Congress. Since SNAP has rebranding itself  similar to the MDC or PBDS. Romours have been flying around that SNAP is a BN tool to sebotage People Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) cooperation in Sarawak. I guarantee that SNAP presence will fill-up the vacuum left by PBDS. 


I hope that all partyless ex-PBDS members, all dayak leaders and supporters in PKR, DAP and PCM, and also to all the dayak in BN component parties to come together and join this new SNAP.

I am extending this invitation especially to Sdra Baru Bian (who himself was the strong supporter of the unregistered MDS) to join SNAP so as not to split the dayak strength. Let vacant  PKR  because the party is  more suitable for the Malay/Melanau.

Hopefully with this new SNAP, the interests of the dayaks will be assured off... 

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