Media Statements

On Duplicate ICs - Issued by
Dr. Jerip Susil, Deputy Secretary General

A Common Symbol - Issued by
Francis Siah, Secretary General

04/06/99 - Issued by
Francis Siah, Secretary General

27/05/99  Issued by Francis Siah, Secretary General

Kuching -- STAR calls on the National Registration Department and the Election Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the claim by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) at the double and triple identity card numbers shared by foreigners in the general electoral rolls. (Borneo Post, July 3, 1999 – Page 23).

According to PBS president Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitigan, there are 64,701 ‘common’ ICs of the total 9,694,156 registered voters in the country. And out of the 859,150 voters in Sarawak, 4,800 are said to possess duplicate ICs.

STAR views with great concern this revelation by the PBS. Although the issue is a long standing problem which was also admitted by the National Registration Department in the past, it is regrettable that it has not been resolved.

Even though the problem is not that widespread in Sarawak, the relevant authorities in the state should also take pains to rectify it. If foreigners are permitted to vote in the general elections in Malaysia, it is tantamount to foreign intervention in the electoral process of our country and hence, usurping the democratic rights of Malaysians to choose their government. This will have serious repercussions on the system of parliamentary democracy which all Malaysians hold dearly to.

STAR also urges voters in Sarawak who have reason to believe that they are in possession of duplicated ICs to report the matter to the NRD and the Election Commission in order to help them resolve the problem expeditiously.

DR. JERIP SUSIL

Kuching

4 June 1999 - Borneo Post

SKY still a force to be reckoned with: STAR

KUCHING, Thurs. – Former State DAP chief Sim Kwang Yang is still the best man to contest in Bandar Kuching for the opposition front in the next general election, the State Reform Party (STAR) said today.

Its secretary general Francis Siah believed that Sim, who switched to Parti Keadilan Nasional, had still a lot to contribute to Sarawak politics. "He may not be as influential as before but he is still a force to be reckoned with in Kuching.

"If he is keen to make a comeback to active politics, STAR will support his candidacy for Bandar Kuching," he said.

Yesterday, Bernama quoted Sim as telling reporters that "even if they (Keadilan) tie me up and put a knife on my neck, I will not become a candidate in the next election".

On what he perceived as the sore point for Sim, Siah hoped that the former DAP strongman could cut down on his smoking and drinking.

"But seriously a politician has to be healthy in order to last the tumultuous pace in politics, particularly in the opposition," he added.

On the reported scramble for Bandar Kuching by some leaders of an opposition party, Sia advised the younger aspirants to be humble and not to get emotional over the candidacy issue.

"Believe me, there is nothing great about becoming a candidate. Great politicians do not necessarily make good frontline men.

"Above all, humility is a virtue that will get one far in politics," he said.

On whether Star was also keen to contest in Chinese majority seats, he replied: "Why not. Ours is a multiracial party not dominated by one race. We need the support of all races.."

Meanwhile, Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Amar Dr Sulaiman Daud said Keadilan’s entry into the State would not create any major problem for the Sarawak Barisan Nasional.

Commenting on Keadilan’s recruitment of Sim, he said as far as the opposition party was concerned, it had no future in Sarawak, adding that the people would reject it just as they had rejected other opposition parties. - BP

4 June 1999 - Borneo Post

STAR proposes common symbol for polls

KUCHING, Thurs – The State Reform Party (STAR) today proposed that opposition parties in Sarawak share a common symbol and manifesto in the coming parliamentary elections.

Its secretary general Francis Siah said today the concept would be much easier to implement "as there was less racial polarisation and fewer political parties in Sarawak compared to Peninsular Malaysia.’

Even though facing the Barisan Nasional (BN) would be an up-hill task, such a cooperation among the various opposition parties in Sarawak could work, he told Bernama.

At present two out of the 28 parliamentary seats in Sarawak are held by the opposition, one by the STAR and the other by the Democratic Action Party (DAP).

The Parti Keadilan Nasional (Keadilan) which has just formed a state liaison committee here last month has yet to make its presence felt although it claimed to have some grassroots support.

Asked if the STAR had been approached by any opposition party for some form of a pact, he said the party would welcome the move and in fact, official discussions were in the pipeline. "It’s only a matter of time before we sit down and talk. We are friendly party with any friendly party," he said.

Siah said the party was definitely eyeing at least a few seats in the general election but had yet to confirm the constituencies or candidate lineup.

On whether STAR would also field candidates in Sabah as part of its aim to become a national party, he said it was up its Sabah coordinators to make certain recommendations on the matter.

Last week three Sabahans, two former Akar members and a pensioner who officially joined STAR, had also submitted another 470 membership application forms to party president Dr. Patau Rubis here.

The forms were from people in the constituencies of Marudu and Tuaran. - BERNAMA

(In reference to an article printed in the Borneo Post on 25^th May 1999)

I refer to your story, "State opposition expected to forge electoral pact too", dated 25^th May, 1999 and wish to respond to your speculation and the statements made by a so-called former high-ranking Star official, specifically the following:-

1. "Not many are giving the party any chance of winning any seat in the election, the main reason being the lack of suitable candidates."
2. "Other than Dr Patau himself, who is losing support among his own party members, there are no credible or proven politicians who can take up the party’s cause."
3. "There are talks of the party planning to cross the border to Sabah to try its luck there – Perhaps it’s a political exchange programme."

I would like to inform STAR members and supporters that whether the party has any chance of winning any seat or not in the elections depends on them and the voters of Sarawak and not on a few armchair critics whose agenda is to create disharmony among the opposition parties and to stifle the voices of dissent in Sarawak.

Contrary to the report of the lack of suitable candidates, I wish to inform the people that STAR as a stable of suitable candidates to chose from to contest all 28 parliamentary seats in Sarawak – if the ‘suitability’ of a candidate means a sincere, committed, unselfish and incorruptible person. Surely the people of Sarawak have not forgotten that an ice cream man defeated a Deputy Chief Minister in Kuching in the seventies and that in recent memory, a Bintulu hawker defied all odds to send a veteran politician packing. If anyone dares claim that the voters of Sarawak are politically immature and stupid, then they have a lot of soul searching to do.

On the question of credible and proven candidates vs. "big guns", let us not also forget that the voters of Sarawak and Sabah had sent two former Yang di-Pertuas Negeri to the gutters of public life when they were soundly beaten by relatively unknowns – one even lost his deposit at the polls. STAR has learnt that big names do not really matter; what matters are sincerity, commitment, unselfishness and the ability to last even when the chips are down.

STAR concedes that most of its leaders and members are materially poor. The party has survived the past three years through sheer commitment, sacrifices and spiritual strength. We believe it is not a sin to be poor but it is a sin to allow injustices, persecution and corruption to continue without doing anything about it. STAR leaders would rather starve than sell their souls. That is our commitment to the people of Sarawak.

Of course, some have fallen by the wayside. We do not condemn them. People are free to come and go. I am proud to mention here that STAR is a party where nobody can be sacked. We subscribe totally to the democratic principles of freedom. Our party’s constitution is such that we are not allowed to sack any member even if he were to betray the party. That, we leave it to his conscience and God.

Our president, Dr. Patau Rubis, is a politician who prefers to work quietly and far from the glare of publicity. For the past three years, he has seldom appeared in the newspapers nor has he called for unnecessary press conferences. If Dr. Patau is losing support among his own party members as claimed by the so-called former high ranking STAR official, then how can one explain the increasing number of applications to join STAR? We have never embarked on any major membership drive and yet, applications pour in daily. Surely that is not an indication of a leader who is losing support.

It is true that STAR has crossed the border to Sabah. A few months ago, a group of Sabahans who declared their support for the party’s struggle decided to establish the party in their state. We are proud indeed that although STAR is a young and poor party, others outside Sarawak are also keen to join us. In fact, STAR is in the process of turning itself into a national party to accommodate all Malaysians. It is the belief of STAR leaders that all Sarawakians, being Malaysians, should seriously start thinking of the national good instead of remaining parochial.

As to your speculation of STAR fielding candidates in Sabah in the coming general elections, nothing has been finalised but it is possible. For that matter, it is also possible that one day, STAR will also be fielding candidates in Semenanjung as well. After all, in politics, anything is possible isn’t it?

FRANCIS SIAH

Kuching

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