If Mambong Youth Could Think.

A Youth's Hidden Voice 
  
1. Unlocking Janji Setiap Generasi

Generation Y could change the election this year with many of them are registered voters. It is now that the current government has put youths in the election agenda with many one-off payments have been given out. Smartphone rebate, Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia, 1 Malaysia Book Voucher and so much more. The initiatives have been carried out to champion the heart and mind of the Gen-Y as they were neglected in Penang, Kelantan and Kedah. In Selangor the Gen-Y are survived by development and job opportunities. The great migration of youths from Kelantan to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor is not a prove that PAS has failed to develop Kelantan, but the failure of Federal Government to increase the oil royalty to Kelantan.

Nevertheless, the failure has been diverted to a humble political party (PAS) as a incapable and weak party for the Malay Gen-Y. There were gathering of migrated Kelantanese to persuade them to reject PAS and embrace UMNO who could develop Kelantan and it youths. The one-off payment to the Gen-Y nationwide is not an answer to gain support for current government but a desperate move to persuade the neglected youths, who are not involving in Barisan Nassional youth’s movement such as UMNO Putera and other youth wings in BN component parties. These “neglected” youth are working hard to compete in the most challenging job market with high demand in private sectors and quota system in public service.

Although there are many programs provided by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, we are yet to get the best talent of youth in Malaysia, as they are not keen in government agenda as there is always political agenda to corrupt the youth.

And the golden question is; are me the Mambong youth affected or benefited from all those programs and agendas?

2. The Poor, Desperate and Determined.

I always say that the Mambong youths are poor, desperate and determined, yet helpless. I’ve been to many villagers and have many friends over there namely they are Tibia Bi’Annah, Bisitang, Penyawa, Biperoh, Bisapug, Braang and Biatah. I have yet to see our best and successful entrepreneurs from Mambong after years under the rule of Barisan Nasional. Maybe, there is but they are unseen. What I know the most is there are entrepreneurs; class F contractors survive under YB patronage and small project from counsels, district offices and direct tender from government.

I believe that there are many talented Mambong youths who need helps and guidance to develop their talents and commercialize them.  We have lawyers, engineers, doctors, business study graduates, farmers, mechanics and many more.  Those groups of people need sustainable programs and help to improve their living and at the same time compete among them to be the best in their field of talent. Yes, being an employee is the best choice to avoid business hazards and risk but we need to improve our living standard and eradicate the poverty line among the Mambong constitution.

Aung San Su Kyi has seen years of desperation of youths during Junta government. She knew that youth will take over the country’s rule but, without knowledge, skill and talent the country future will never change under the next rulers and care-takers. That is why during her visit to UN assembly, she begged for foreign investors to develop youth talent under vocational programs skill development and technology transfer program to Burma. She hoped that foreign companies who are interested to invest in Burma will not only reap the wealth and go away but to help the Burmese youth to develop their skill and knowledge in certain field of technologies.

We are less fortunate in Mambong because our Gen-X are mostly farmers, laborers, civil servants and employees. We are not expose to entrepreneurship because we have no Bidayuh businessman/business women who could guide us on their business expertise. What made the Chinese successful in their business is their unity and determination to develop the next generation of business person to sustain their legacy through family apprenticeship, business chambers and associations. Yes, there are disputes, conflict in their business and sometime it claims their live. But that is business risk that they have to take to success in life.

Although there are entrepreneurship programs under the government agencies such as MARA, SEDC, PUNB and so much more, we are could not make it happens to be a successful entrepreneurs due to lack of skills and the most needed, 10% start-up capital. Can we have that from Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia?

3. Great Migration.   

The reasons why our youths migrated to Johore, Kulala Lumpur and oversea are because of job opportunities, wages and family survival. SCORE  has promises thousands of job opportunities but it seems to be too good to be true as we seen one after another factory are closing down in Sarawak. Our graduated youth chooses to stay in Peninsular because there are better opportunities and job offer compare to Sarawak. Some of them are mangers in multinational companies with good pay. Although we have many richest state-own companies, the high positions are given to a beneficial holders kin and not to the most suitable and capable person. It happens in SALCRA, SAINS and CMS.

The unfair treat in job opportunities could be the reason to stay in peninsular and settle down for better living. This great migration is denied by our politician and this phenomenon has put Sarawak as sluggish state in economic development after Sabah and Perlis. Patronage job market produces incompetent work force and professional to boost Sarawak’s economy. And what we get is a fat lazy rich manager in an office who punch card at 8.00 am and 5.00 pm while the rest of the workers are toiling hard for less pay.

4.    The Homeless.

The price is house in Sarawak in the most expensive after Labuan F.T. In Labuan the price of house is expensive because of land scarcity. In Sarawak, the price of house is expensive because there are no price regulations made by either state government or federal. The reason will always be on the increase price of building material and labor. A small terrace house now is about RM 200,000.00 per unit and the average income of the youths is about RM 2000.00 per month with 5-6 years of working experience. Can they afford a house? Yes. A low cost or PPRT which are built far away from their working place such as Semariang, Muara Tebas, Lundu, Serian and Siburan.

The great increase of house price is not due to material factors but the corrupt law and regulation in controlling house price. The monopoly of building material buy our politician’s companies give no choice to developer to sell an affordable price of house as they have to make profit from every single house they built. Therefore, we cannot blame on the price of land and the developers’ cost themselves but all aspect of house constructions themselves such as steel, concrete, timber and land price.

The increasing price of house and sluggish increment of wage leave no room for the youth to own a house but leaving them homeless and desperate to survive with high living cost. 

The Winners and Losers.

The youths are the losers in every government policy to develop a prosperous nation. Politic of cronyism and patronage have put Sarawak into great brain-drains and unproductive youths as the next leader and care-takers. If youth could not think and change, we will have a copycat of corrupted and incapable generation as what we have now. 

A Divine Cause

People say that politic should never mingle with religion because religion may corrupted by politic. These two entity could not match well as they are solely contradicted in their practices. 

For me, politic and religion should mixed equally so that both entities can work well for better community. There must be equalily mixtures of understanding, belief and morale value in both politic and religion. It cannot be too much politic and too less religion or vice versa. When there is too much religion, economic development might be retarded by religious restrictions and customs such as development of amusement park for tourism. It applies to a scenario when there is too much politic and too less religion, as a government will easily corrupted by low morale leaders and politicians.

Imam Ruhollah Khomeni cause has proven to the Islamic nations that religion is needed to neutralize corruption in Iran during Islamic Revolution in January 1978 - February 1979. As an political exile in Turkey and sometime in Iraq, he never stop thinking of the importance of good religion value to save Iran from corrupted Shah Mohammad Reza.

Divine cause also should applied to the world second largest religion; Christianity. Some churches forbid politic in their organizations but they cannot clean-up "corruption and scandals" that tarnished the church's reputation. That is why Pope Benedict resigned because he cannot save the Catholic from all those "issue".

In every religious institutions there must be corruptions since the institutions are governed by ordinary people. We lost zakat contribution few years and we could not do anything about it because we are forbid to talk about the issue. And it happened to our chapels where tight and contribution are not audited. Churches never perform financial and asset audit because they are non-taxable organization. In many cases, chapel are not maintained and the congregation get lost in faith and hope.

All those politics and religion issue have only one; what is the divine cause in politic as a religious person?

I believe that a cause against corrupted politic is the answer. Every religion teaches us to be a good person and to serve our God and country with a clean hands and heart. We must reject politic of hatred and corruption. If we put religion value first in every causes, we will win our political battles because we are well prepared spiritually.

Defining who God is for and putting judgement on other people as sinners is a mere immature politic. As a politician, we should encourage good behavior, equality, good governance and most importantly; love of peace and freedom. 

This is not about mere Politic.

For the Bidayuh Young Generation. 

I always get some “sour” advice from my fellow friends and family to tone down my political understandings and perception especially in Padawan area. They always ask me “who are you comparing to the politician?”. Sometime, there is discouragement and a pause in my thought. Yes. I am just a small boy in a pool of developing surrounding with many scholars and philanthropist either they are professionals, politicians, entrepreneurs and successful people of Bidayuh.

The truth is that the marginalized never feel how it likes to be marginalized because they like to be I such a comfort zone, deny change and ignore hardship. The only group that feel they are marginalized are those who working very hard and have a great curiosity for themselves and the people; those with good talents, aware of changes and have a dream for better future. I don’t blame others as we are living according our best ability and capability. If not, there is a desire to be the best but out of “ability”.
Few years back, when I decided to come back home for good I wrote to a proposal to our representative office to ask for his opinion on a youth program for the youth in my area (Simuti, Sibuang and Sibakar). The idea was to have a sustainable program for us to have some financial aid to plant commercial crops like pepper, cocoa and rubber. I also proposed for fish and chicken farming program to reduce malnutrition problem in those villages. After one month, I made a phone call and ask for the out-coming. Sadly, there the feedback was dato is busy and we will let u know about your proposal. It has been 5 years now that I did not get any phone call or at least a SMS on that.

It’s my “stupidity” to ask from him as those programs must be applied though JKKK (Jawatan Kuasa Kampung) or club and organization; with working committees and team. That is not the issue as what I need is a guideline or comment on how to make it happened rather than no reply at all. I deserve the “knowledge” and not the grant or fund.

This experience makes me to be more relevance and realistic in doing thing. Somehow, what are needed are guidance, advice and comments from all those good people especially in the representative office.
The youth are easily attracted to amusement and games such as football and live band. That is a whole world favorite often thinking about making or having a “productive” life. Such as involving in entrepreneurship, planting high produce crops and have a good job. Maybe we are living in such a moderate environment (village) where there is low economic pressure and demand.
For me, this is not a live is all about. I have a dream to be the best Bidayuh with all I have. And to be so, I need support from my surrounding to understand my dream and desire. If I want to be a successful entrepreneur, I need a financial support and training. In order to market my product, I need marketing networks and coverage.

As a normal bumiputera with no business capital, it is very hard to start something especially business. Yes, there is government agencies to help bumiputera entrepreneurs but with very strict requirement. Such as; 10% startup capital from own saving, must have working staff and business premise. How to do that with no start-up capital? This is a hindrance for a Bidayuh embark into entrepreneurship as business angel and investor among them doesn’t exist.

So my hope for the representatives or next representatives is; that the young generation is exposed to entrepreneurship. Get their talent developed and help them to the right path to success. Not by patronizing and one-off financial support but a sustainable plans for the youth. We don’t need season program because we have to survive our daily life and the most important thing is; we want to escape from our poverty. We have many jobless graduate and desperate talented youth and yet ignored and couldn’t survive the tremendous economic changes and challenges. So here we are; scare to compete and transform our dream and talent into reality and success.

To the youths; we are the next generation to sustain the community. We will decide either to remain poor or better living. This isn’t mere stupid politic but a hope and change that we need for better future; to be the best among the rest. Vote for a change and not inactive and incapable candidate as future is never theirs’. I am tired to be poor and oppressed and so I think that you are have the same in mind. Unless you are rich, easy-life and ignorance; then this is not relevant to you.

The Videos and The "Weapons".

Nobody Want to Be Poor!!

Global Withness (GW) on shady Land deal by the Sarawak chief minister's family and alliances is a "hot" video with thousands of comments and view in Youtube. After series of videos and "proves and evidences".

I believe that this is the right time to persuade the people of Sarawak to swing their attention on a bigger picture of Sarawak politics. Nevertheless, we have seen many videos, Al-Jazeera 101 on Sarawak Native Land issue, independent news and so forth. Could it be the best for a change in Sarawak?

"Baseless Allegation" seem to be the best reply to all those scandals; even the highest authority could not has a glimpse on it. I've seen " Native Land grab and Bulldozed long house" video on last state election by Parti Keadilan Rakyat. The hottest topic in Sarawak will always be "Lands, Corrupts Politicians, gangsterism and marginalization of the Sarawak Natives". They seemed to be the "tool" to end the "corrupt"  government but it does not change anything at all. Few constitutions fell on DAP and one to PKR (Ba' Kelalan). My question is, how far is the video integrity? Are those video are made jut for political purpose? I wish for political doom in Sarawak or at least a flood.

We have been living in such a corrupted state but yet, I see strong support to the corrupted government; especially the natives. We are living as squatters in our very ancestral lands. How could we let the contractor to demolish our longhouses and graveyards?

Have we ever learn to change? Have we ever thing of our position in the political arena? We are scattered away in every fraction of political parties. New SWP (Sarawak Worker's Party); yes. GOLKAR; yes. PPP (Pakistan People's Party); yes. China Communist Party; yes. Whenever there is a political party, they are the Sarawak natives. People will blame me for perplexing the "freedom and right to join/form political party".  No. I am not. In fact, this is who we are; friendly, humble, mild, inoffensive people...(Hilda Morrison:-Sarawak, P.245). That is why we are easily oppressed by the others.

To me, issue arises in a specific season. Perhaps, this is what politic is all about; strategy, game-plan, resources and manipulations. We forget thing when it is not necessary to remember. We lost our home, weep for a while and live a happy live. No "vengeance" and long grieves as there is always instant "cure" for all those. We stop talking when we are tired and leave the "lost" as time consuming.

I am sure that corrupted government will still rule Sarawak although they might be the opposition; if God's willing. The videos are just a strategy; nothing more but a temporary motivation to reject corrupted government. Who am I to change it? I am just one vote to many votes. The strongest weapon is always money politic. We cannot resist money. That is the fact. Money is not a root of evil but a compensation to the native's "lost"; lands, rights, opportunities and voices.

Pakatan Rakyat might win big in Peninsular but not in Sabah and Sarawak. The strategy of the corrupted government intact firmly and there is a tough road ahead to bring change to the Natives. They are poor, divided and naive. There is a social gab between the "elite" and the low-class natives in which the elite seem to ignore the fate and need of the low class. We can see it in every "organizations" when the low-class are excluded from the current development and changes. In a simple meaning; nobody want to teach the "unintelligent" as they might overpass their wealth ad power. Thus, the lower class remains struggling and the elite multiply their wealth through alliances and monopoly.

Perhaps, the video of chief minister misdeed will change the voters 180 degrees on their perception of corrupted governance. We hope that the youth will cast their vote to challenge the hardcore elders who are royal to the current representatives since change seems to be impossible for them. After all, what change is all about if we are not dare to step forward and change ourselves? Change not by the video CD but by the knowledge and wisdom in deciding who should take lead and serve the natives better.

The politicians are the most richest people in Sarawak and they have the weapon to turn a spectacular video into delicious food and additive shows. It is up to us to position our integrity, hope and ambition to be at least respectful native; not because we are rich but a minor change in our political knowledge. Video is just a video as money cannot be resisted. Nobody wants to be poor.  

Those Who Knows the Best.

The “heat” of 13^th General Election is on as political parties have finalized their candidates list. In some towns, there are talk and gatherings by the political parties. Some “candidates” have gone to villages to give speech and inspiration of their party’s foundation and causes. The Bidayuh’s “organizations” is also making their preparation for a “dinner” functions with their representative as a channel for political campaign. I’ve been to two dinners which were patronized by the Bidayuh politicians. They were fun and interesting as there are many Bidayuh gathered around with delicious kind of food served. Listening to politician speech and promises is such a pampered evening as money allocation are declared and given in cash.

An opposition candidate invited me to his talk in several villages but I cannot make it due to parenting obligation as kids need me a lot during weekend. I politely informed him and wished him good luck to pledge my support to him. I wish I can be there for him although there is no food and drink provided. I like to listen to people’s inspiration and so to the political propaganda as they are quite interesting in the making.

This year will be a crucial election for the Bidayuh in all constituencies as there are few issues that might stern the support of the Bidayuh. Barisan Nasioanal politic of development might be their subject of loyalty with many Bidayuh have benefited from them; such as Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia and infrastructure projects. Nevertheless, there is a challenge for them to win the Bidayuh young generation as they are more “aggressive” in their thinking and behavior toward current political “theater” in Malaysia. They are the generation of change since they are aware of current issue in politic. They read independent news and like to express their opinion in social media, blogs and SMS.

There is a “clash” between the elders and youngsters in Bidayuh political understandings. The elders normally prefer the current government as minor “development” are seen in their villages. They are electricity supply, fresh water supply, community halls and not least; money hand-outs from the current government. For them, changing the ruling parties might be hazardous to the Bidayuh’s future. As a hardcore audience to the mainstream media, they are convinced by what they watched and listened to. The power of media has overcome their fear and curiosity towards the political uncertainties. Most of them read local news paper as they are not familiar to social media and alternatives independent news.

Somehow, the Bidayuh youngsters are IT savvy and hardly influenced by the mainstream media. They are connected with other people in the virtual world where information are shared with no boundary. The independent news is their alternative to “seek” the truth of the mainstream media. Their curiosity toward political uncertainties is answered by their knowledge and thought of the current political events. They are not the ‘easily influenced” group especially by the opposition, but they are aware by the current government’s “flaws” in policies implementation. These Bidayuh youngsters believe in good governance, equality and justice. They are normally live in town area and working as professionals, government servants and entrepreneurs.

Their representative also plays a crucial role to convince the Bidayuh’s vote. There are hate-and-love relationship between the representative and the colony of Bidayuh. Favoritism seems to be the disadvantages if the representatives to win the youngsters vote. In several rural project implementations, they are less Bidayuh contractors involved. Their representative already have their own “team” to get project nevertheless they are qualify or not.  There are some breeches in minor projects implementation but seems to be ignored by their representatives. Those who are connected to the representatives directly will always get their project with some amount of incentives pocketed to the politicians and high positioned officers. This “tradition” has been practiced by the “parties” to strengthen the influences of the politician in some Bidayuh constituencies by “patronization” for support. It is not only a corrupted practices but it affects a quality of services and products by the contractors. To simplify that; let say there is a RM 1 million funds allocated for 7 km Kampung Padawan road. The 7 km road is completed but after 5 month, the road is dented due to thin asphalt. A RM 1million project is not equivalent quality of finished product; the road. Why it is so? In every awarded project, there is some amount has to be paid to the representatives as a favor of their approval. Then the remaining amount is distributed among the main contractors and sub-contractors. In some cases, incentives are given to the district officers for their approval of work progress.    

The government always in delusion to understand the people needs. They always claim that they know and care buy giving incentives and money. But, the fact is that we need a better future especially the Bidayuh who is always caught-in-between by their dilemma. They have to support the Barisan Nasional hoping that their future will be brighter but they have to support the opposition seem their representatives are fail to carry out their duty; to listen to their struggle.

Politic of intimidation is not relevant to the Bidayuh as they are getting wiser in the sense of politic. There is always substation to a lost. No development is anything to lose or to gain as they are aware of current issue of politic. Their perception to the politician has change since they are not awarded by the political stability but their hard work. There is no more master-slave relationship between their representative and the Bidayuh. In fact, the Bidayuh politician must equipped themselves with the best skill to win the people as they are not the slave to the politicians but the power to decide. The People are the one who knows the best for the future and not a single politician.