Ban on PH reps to attend Miri MSSR Games a ‘childish, irrational directive’
MIRI: The recent directive by the Sarawak government prohibiting Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders or representatives to officiate at the closing ceremony of the divisional Primary Schools Sports Council (MSSR) Games, slated for today at Miri Stadium, has been regarded as ‘childish and irrational’.
Senator Alan Ling said he was informed by SK Sungai Bakas headmaster Henry Madai, who is also chairman of Bakong Zone Headmasters Council and organising chairman of the division-level MSSR Games championships, about the directive that was received from Miri Division Youth and Sports Office.
“We (PH) have been rejected of officiating at the championships. The state government has blocked and barred us from using the stadium facility, so we cannot officiate at this event.
“To me, this is very childish in terms of politics. We have to be rational; we should instead compete in ideas, services to the people, as well as in results and policies,” he told reporters when met at his office here yesterday.
“Do not resort to such narrowminded kind of politics, because those facilities are built using the people’s money – they do not belonging to GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak)-led state government.
“It belongs to the people, so the public should have the right to use it (stadium), including us – the representatives of Pakatan Harapan,” he added.
It is learnt that the PH representatives who had been invited to the closing ceremony included Miri MP Dr Michael Teo and former Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon.
On a related matter, Ling pointed out that prior to this, the Sarawak government had also prohibited community leaders from attending events and functions held by the federal government’s departments and agencies.
“That’s why we have formed the Federal Village Community Management Council (MPKKP) so the federal government policies could reach out to the people, especially to the rural people.
“Now things are getting worse – they are barring us from using Miri Stadium and Miri Civic Centre. “This is totally unacceptable – it’s not the right way because it has nothing to do with the students, as we are going to these places just to officiate at the sports event, or to to distribute digital TV decoders; unfortunately we’re not allowed to do so.”
Ling regarded such prohibitions as ‘GPS using bully tactics’.
“This is a desperate move that they (GPS) want to bar us from using such facility and also cutting off the means for us to reach out to the people.
“But this is a new era with free flow of information, I believe that the people would make an informed decision come the next election,” he added.