Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Balleh division publicity chief Beginda Minda has been removed from his post for referring to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Umno as ‘bullies’ in his statement to Malaysiakini last Saturday.
However, he remains a party member.
“I was told that as a result of my statement, my party president Dr James Masing was hauled up by Chief Minister and PBB president Abdul Taib Mahmud for a meeting.
"At the meeting in which PBB deputy president Alfred Jabu was also present, Masing was asked to take action against me. As a consequence of that meeting, I was relieved of my position as publicity chief,” said Beginda (left) in an interview with Malaysiakini today.
He further revealed that he was informed of the matter on Oct 27 by Dr James Masing. He was also told that Masing was instructed to not only relieve him (Beginda) of the post but also terminate his party membership.
“Again, this is another clear case of bullying. Taib and Jabu, as senior PBB leaders, are bullying Dr James, only from a small party PRS to take action against me. If this exertion of pressure against Dr James is not bullying, then you tell me what it is!”
Beginda said that Masing is a democratic leader and would not simply sack members from the party.
“What I learnt is that Masing considers my statement not as serious as the racial rants of Ahmad Ismail of Umno. Even then, Ahmad was not sacked from Umno. He was only suspended.
“Luckily for us in PRS, Masing is no fool. He knows what action to take and what not to take,” he added.
Beginda had said in his statement last Saturday that “it is my view that in Sarawak, PRS, a component party inside the state and federal Barisan Nasional has been bullied by what could collectively be called the 'BN leadership'”.
He had then alleged that the workings of Barisan had created a state-level entity with one dominant party which is PBB - led by Taib Mahmud, who has been a chief minister of Sarawak for the past 27 years.
He had cited examples where PBB was allowed to choose its candidates to contest on PRS seats during the March general election.
“Where is the principle that component parties ought to be free to conduct their own affairs and make the selection of candidates themselves? Is this not a case of dominance and bullying?” he asked.
Not permanent entitlements
Beginda also said today that he was not fearful of giving up his party post.
“I am perfectly comfortable with that for what is really important is the message which I want to convey, not so much my position,” he stressed..
“I have been a loyal PRS member, and through it a loyal BN member as well and it is in this spirit of loyalty that I fully accept the verdict handed down to me.
Moreover, Beginda explained that “elective positions in politics are not permanent entitlements but placed on individuals for fixed terms or until compelling circumstances point to the need for one to sacrifice one’s position for the greater good of society”.
“In our democratic practices, like much of those in the rest of the world, those politicians holding public and elective posts should relinquish their posts when required to do so,” he advised.
He said that giving up positions may not be easy as the “sense of duty is normally strong among politicians”.
“Indeed some politicians work and plot to remain in power for as long as possible.
“Excuse to do so they may say, for instance, that they have some unfinished business or that they are still needed or that they have the political strength to remain in power.
“However, in the more mature section of Malaysian society such longevity is rare indeed. There is truly a sense of public spirit mindedness which calls for retirement when time is up,” Beginda said - malaysiakini.com
I smell a split!
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