Keruah Usit

Pakatan's political tweaks for rural votes

Pakatan's political tweaks for rural votes

COMMENT It should continue to strengthen its multicultural and ‘welfare state’ policies, not get into ethnic politics or vote buying.
'BN=perintah' formula wins Sarawak rural seats

'BN=perintah' formula wins Sarawak rural seats

NONE COMMENT If Pakatan Rakyat is to progress in the next election, it must expand its support among rural and suburban communities.
TI divided over Taib's dam congress

TI divided over Taib's dam congress

ANTIDOTE Transparency International is facing flak over its support for the World Congress of the International Hydropower Association.
Why the 'urban tsunami' stopped at the coast

Why the 'urban tsunami' stopped at the coast

ANTIDOTE The BN choke hold on the rural communities can't be sustained through exploiting their resources with little in exchange.
Sarawak BN 'poised for victory', but is still desperate

Sarawak BN 'poised for victory', but is still desperate

ANTIDOTE Signs of desperation emerges in S'wak in this parliamentary election, with state BN ministers fearing their fate is out of their hands.
Let's 'Ubah', urges wounded land rights defender

Let's 'Ubah', urges wounded land rights defender

ANTIDOTE 'We must all change, open our eyes now,' says a Sarawak NCR land activist savagely attacked by encroachers into native land.
Why MACC's probe on Taib has been fruitless

Why MACC's probe on Taib has been fruitless

ANTIDOTE The anti-graft panel has claimed that weaknesses in the MACC Act 2009 are impeding investigations into the Sarawak CM.
NCR lifeline for Sarawak's natives

NCR lifeline for Sarawak's natives

NONE A new scheme by the state PKR pledges true partnership for native landowners in inclusive, participatory development.
Can Taib hold on if Pakatan wins?

Can Taib hold on if Pakatan wins?

ANTIDOTE A small-majority Pakatan win will have Taib under intense pressure to resign his chief minister post, although he would probably cling on.
Sarawak CM expects to lose four to eight seats

Sarawak CM expects to lose four to eight seats

Taib Mahmud's prediction for BN contrasts with PKR state leader Baru Bian, who feels Pakatan will win 11 to 13 parliamentary seats out of 31 at stake.

NCR assault victim's family remains defiant

NCR assault victim's family remains defiant

NONE Sarawak land right activist Surik Anak Muntai will not give up his cause despite being attacked with machetes and clubs.
Attacker of Sarawak NCR defender walks free

Attacker of Sarawak NCR defender walks free

Iban native customary rights defender Surik anak Muntai is furious that police have released an oil palm firm executive who had caused him injuries.
Sarawak Pakatan aims to bag a dozen seats

Sarawak Pakatan aims to bag a dozen seats

ANTIDOTE Young Dayaks, with smartphone access to websites like Malaysiakini and Sarawak Report, have brought dissent home to the longhouses.
Baram dam dampens Sarawak BN's spirits

Baram dam dampens Sarawak BN's spirits

NONE Sarawak BN is likely to lose Baram parliamentary seat to PKR in the polls, due to the fallout from the Baram dam project.
Iban furious at attack on land rights defender

Iban furious at attack on land rights defender

Surik anak Muntai, 66, was slashed and beaten while waiting to pick up his son from school and this could be a factor in the GE.
BN's 'jingoism dividend' from Sabah invasion

BN's 'jingoism dividend' from Sabah invasion

COMMENT Incumbent governments do well in elections held around the time of an armed conflict, which can give a weak cabinet a flattering facelift.
Who are the dogs of war in Sabah?

Who are the dogs of war in Sabah?

COMMENT M'sia has been incompetent in dealing with the Sabah conflict. Ending it requires dialogue with all warring parties involved.
Would Sarawak be Godless without Umno?

Would Sarawak be Godless without Umno?

NONE COMMENT Religious affronts are likely to turn Sarawakian non-Muslim voters - and some Muslim voters - against the BN, in a tight GE.
Can palm oil fuel a Molotov cocktail?

Can palm oil fuel a Molotov cocktail?

NONE ANTIDOTE Police must establish if the Molotov attack on See Chee How's home was related to his work as a land rights lawyer.
The Penan and the 'richest man in M'sia'

The Penan and the 'richest man in M'sia'

NONE While the Penan are among the poorest people in Malaysia, the Sarawak chief minister is said to have RM45 billion in his name.
Taib's hard-won apology a pyrrhic victory

Taib's hard-won apology a pyrrhic victory

NONE ANTIDOTE Winning this libel campaign over the HK firm Regent Star affair may resemble shifting deck chairs on the Titanic.
National carrier's version of national history

National carrier's version of national history

ANTIDOTE Malaysia Airlines' inflight magazine gives a potted history of Malaysia Day, with a couple of howlers standing out.
A Penan chief at the Merdeka parade

A Penan chief at the Merdeka parade

ANTIDOTE Nearly twenty years later, Tua Kampung Jawa recounted the Independence Day parade like a strange dream.
Net censorship climbdown - until the next time

Net censorship climbdown - until the next time

ANTIDOTE The Najib Abdul Razak administration is teetering through another legislative U-turn, thanks to a revolt in cyberspace.