Sibu Women Committee was revived after more than 15 years of slumber. The committee was newly elected on 3 March 2010 and was officially installed during the DAP CNY dinner held at Catholic High School on 6th March 2010. The line-up of office bearers are as follows:

Chairperson                              : Alice Lau

Vice Chairperson                      : Chin Ngeng Fung

Secretary                                  : Wong Yii Ping

Assistant Secretary                   :  Christina ak Lonkok

Treasurer                                  : Tang Dai Fang

Political Education Director       :  Irene Chang

Organising Secretary                 :  Tang Ing Ha

Publicity Secretary                    :  Yong Hie Ying

Committee members                 :  Lau Hie Ting

                                                   Tang Hui Hoon

                                                   Tang Hui Chieng

                                                   Wong Siew Ling

                                                   Roseline ak Itam

                                                   Jonai ak Jamban

                                                   Doris ak Clement

                                                   Florence ak Berudang

                                                   Silang ak Ujoh

                                                   Viviani Paran

Auditors                                   :  Wong Hee Kiew

                                                   Tang Ping Ching

The DAP Sibu Women Committee must take the lead in the recruitment, education and the development of women in Sibu to be strong rank-and-file and strong leaders to serve the needs of our fellow women in Sibu. We hope to give women a forum to express society concerns and issues pertinent to our lives. We aim to give educational programs that build self-esteem among our sisters and encourage political participation among women in our society, to have educational programs in leadership, politics and political action and to assist and support women in our society on issues that confront them on a daily basis.

While these are our aspirations, we need funds, time, energy, motivation and plenty of guidance to achieve them. We are starting from scratch because none of us are very experienced in politics. Hopefully under the chairpersonship of Ms Alice Lau, we will soon achieve a respectable platform.

In the meantime, we shall be grateful for some advices and suggestions on how to kick start the “project”. A very Happy International Women’s Day to all the ladies out there.

Irene Chang

UCS - 10 Questions for SUPP to Answer
The United College of Sarawak (UCS) has its name changed to Laila College yesterday. A grand ceremony was held at the College to mark the change where all the good words were said about the late Laila, wife of Taib Mahmud, the Chief Minister of Sarawak. The Chief Minister was also there.

Why the name change? Will Laila College become a university in 2012 as promised by the SUPP? Or, will the promise be another cloud at the edge of the skies, as had been the SUPP’s promise for TAR College in 1996 and 2008 and the promise of University of South Australia (UNISa) in Sibu in 2001?

The SUPP leaders in Sibu, led by the paramount leader of the self proclaimed Wawasan Team, Wong Soon Koh, must answer all pertinent questions relating to UCS, TAR College in Bintangor and UNISa in Sibu.

On behalf of DAP Sarawak, I challenge Wong Soon Koh to a public debate on these pertinent questions relating to UCS, TAR College in Bintangor and UNISa in Sibu, including the following 10 questions.

1. Leaders of SUPP Sibu branch said that the United College of Sarawak (UCS) was a private college and it has nothing to do with the SUPP.

The claim shocked the whole Chinese society in Sarawak, in particular, in Sibu. SUPP members were in total disbelief and were in anguish too.

When Dr. Wong Soon Kai was the Party President, UCS was one of the 5 pilot projects and SUPP planned to make the Rahman College in Sarawak. SUPP in many General/State Elections had glorified UCS as its beacon of its achievements. How could it now turn around and say UCS has nothing to do with SUPP?

2. If SUPP and UCS really are unrelated, when was the relationship severed? Why was the relationship severed?

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砂州民主行动党有关砂拉越人民联合党以一零吉的价钱出售砂拉越联合学院的评论 

主题：砂拉越人民联合党多次的国州选举中，大肆的宣扬砂拉越联合学院（UCS）是人联党伟大的产品，今天为何却说砂拉越人民联合党和砂拉越联合学院完全没有一点的关系？为何出尔反尔？ 

砂拉越联合学院终于易手了，它的名字也换成了“箂拉学院”。 

砂拉越人民联合党诗巫支部的领袖最近频频的向媒体喊话，并不断的解释为什么砂拉越联合学院需要易手。很多的群众告诉我们，虽然有看到砂拉越人民联合党诗巫支部领导的言论，但是在他们的心中，仍有很多的疑问，希望砂拉越人民联合党诗巫支部的领袖们回答： 

（1）砂拉越人民联合党诗巫支部的领袖说：砂拉越联合学院是私人界创设的，这与砂拉越人民联合党没有关系，这是真的吗？ 

全砂拉越的华社特别是诗巫的华社以及砂拉越人民联合党的很多党员都说看到这个声明之后，他们都感到大吃一惊并旦忿忿不平。几乎每一个砂拉越人民联合党党员都知道，砂拉越联合学院是砂拉越人民联合党5个大计划的首要计划。当年的砂拉越人民联合党主席黄顺开医生说要把砂拉越联合学院发展为砂拉越拉曼学院，为莘莘学子开创一个新天地，为砂州的父母减轻经济的负担扮演一个有意义的教育角色。 

请问；为什么砂拉越人民联合党诗巫支部的领袖会说砂拉越联合学院和砂拉越人民联合党一点都没有关系？ 

（2）假如砂拉越联合学院真的跟砂拉越人民联合党没有关系，请问这是什么时候，砂拉越联合学院和砂拉越人民联合党脱离关系？以什么理由脱离关系？为什么要脱离关系？ 

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The son of late DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock was issued with a birth certificate today. Teoh was named as the father. The baby has been named Er Jia. Baby, you are different even before you were born. Grow up. Go do what your father couldn’t. Bring honour and pride to your mum and all those Malaysians who love you. Somehow, someday, the culprits of your dad’s sudden death will be punished, either in this world or the next. Do not let your dad die in vain.

Recognise Independent Secondary Schools

I am in Miri. I had heard the drum for lion troupes since 8a.m., and now it is 7p.m. and they are still drumming away and performing the lion dances. Yesterday, I saw them as well. They are the lion troupe from Riam Rd (Independent) secondary school. They were going shop to shop visiting to collect angpows to keep the school going.

It is totally disgusting and unacceptable that the govt does not give allocation to independent secondary schools and these students had to work so hard to raise fund themselves.

Despite their quality education, the certificates from these independent secondary schools are not recognised by the govt. Yet, they are recognised by many universities outside Malaysia. Many of these students are being offered scholarships in Singapore Universities. Many of these students are scooped up for employment even before they graduate. Naturally, they do not return to the country. How can Msia progress without being able to keep and retain talents?

Sad isn’t it?

The BN, especially the SUPP, had been harping that the govt will recognise these certificates, and that it is a matter of time. The parents and students had been cheated for many decades now. There is no sincerity in the SUPP in fighting for recognition for the examinations and certificates of these independent secondary schools throughout Malaysia. It is all rhetoric.

It is time to change all these. Enough is Enough.

23/2/2010

Malaysia has 11.2 million registered voters. Not a very big number. Hope one day the govt will allow automatic voter registration. In Sarawak, 470,000 ppl have not registered themselves as voters. Pls, be registered to be BOSS. Your destiny lies in your own hands. Can you give your children what u have today?

The electoral roll of the 4th quarter of 2009 will be gazetted tomorrow and will be displayed soon. Let’s see how many voters have been moved from some safe rural areas to hot constituencies such as Bukit Assek, Kota Sentosa, Pelawan, Pending and other Chinese areas. In other words, the question will have to be asked soon, how do some political parties, politicians and aspiring candidates move voters?

23/2/2010

Day 5:

We had been busy visiting for 4 days now, and many of us had been complaining of exhaustion. This is the day where stamina matters. We (myself, David Wong, Stephen Lu, Alice Lau, Yap Hoi Liong and Alice Lau together with many members) visited the Sibu Municipal Council Hawker centre – the biggest in Malaysia – with more than 1000 stalls. Not a single stall was missed. They were very pleased by our New Year greeting and gestures

Picture 1: Myself, David Wong, Lau Hui Ung, Alice Lau and Wong Chin Yong greeted the patrons

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CNY 2010 - Day 4:

We visited the shophouses at Bukit Assek, including the Tiong Hua Road Market. However, most hawkers were still in New Year mood and were off. For the 2nd time this CNY my wife came along and extend her well wishes. We were received very well.

Picture 1:  Myself, my wife (Irene – behind me) and Alice Lau (with a strap) greeting Tiong Hua Road Market patrons

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Day 3:

We visited Durin and the west bank of Sibu. Though targeting 15 we actually ended up visiting 27 houses. At 4:45pm we landed at my parents’ home in Bukit Igu (behind Sungai Bidut) where all of us enjoyed delicious “meesua” – the longevity noodle - laced in chicken soup. This was my first time since involvement in politics that I was back “home” to visit my parents on the 3rd day of CNY. Of course I would always be “home” on New Year’s eve but I would have to stay at my own home to welcome visitors from the first day onward or I would go out visiting.

Picture 1: Our first ever visit to Durin Bazaar during the CNY. David Wong, Yap Hoi Liong, Alice Lau, Wong Chin Yong and myself greeted and sent our best new year wishes to the shopkeepers and customers at Durin Bazaar before holding  a brief meeting with the members. They were instructed to form a committee to revive Dudong branch by 6.3.2010.

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Day 2:

Picture 1: The Lion from a temple paid us a visit in the afternoon of Day 2

Picture 2: The Lion had completed displaying an auspicious word “吉”

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