Don’t dwell on past success, PBB Pantai Damai branch reminded

KUCHING: The Pantai Damai branch of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has been reminded to guard against complacency and not dwell on its success in garnering a large majority in the last state election.

The reminder was issued by Pantai Damai assemblyman Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi when urging branch members to begin preparing for the next state election which he said could be called at any time.

“Do not be complacent and dwell on past success. PBB Pantai Damai needs to always be ready because the state election can happen any time from now,” he said when closing a leadership seminar organised by the branch, here yesterday.

The PBB vice president, who is Assistant Minister of Water Supply and also Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and Kuching North City Commission), also stressed the importance of working ‘as a team and as family’ in continuing the branch’s excellent performance.

“If we could strengthen our relationship among ourselves, it will be a lot easier for us as a team,” he said.

Dr Abdul Rahman also reiterated PBB Pantai Damai’s support for Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in fighting for and claiming back Sarawak’s rights.

PBB Pantai Damai deputy chief Drahman Jaladin was among the 200 members who attended the seminar. KUCHING: Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has claimed that his office continues to receive complaints from local fishermen that foreign vessels are violating Sarawak’s maritime borders and plundering the state’s marine resources.

He said these boats, believed to be from Vietnam, boldly make their way to the exact spots where local fishermen are plying their trade and carry out acts of intimidation without fear of legal repercussions.

“It is beyond infuriating that these local fishermen, who had filed numerous reports of these intrusions to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Miri police, were not taken seriously.

“Ignored by these authorities, the fishermen had turned to me and obviously, I was disappointed to say the least. As past events have shown, these so-called maritime authorities only act with piecemeal actions when faced with public pressure,” said Tiong in a statement yesterday.

He said the maritime authority and police need to explain why local fishermen continue to file these complaints if such events did not take place at sea, adding the plight of those affected must not be ignored.

“Furthermore, since these complaints come with video evidence, how can the authorities continue to ignore them?” said Tiong, who is also Progressive Democratic Party president.

He also called on the MMEA to answer for the lack of effective action to contain the constantly-reported threats.

Tiong pointed out that the federal government must also be held responsible over these threats, more so if these foreign intrusions should one day take a deadly turn.

“It is a basic matter to instruct the various agencies to carry out their duties effectively but obviously, even this is insurmountable for the federal leaders.

“The only thing they can do is to continue to heap blame on the previous government over their own failure to carry out improvements now that they have formed the government.”