MoCS rally: Taib’s outburst telling
(FMT) – KUCHING: Is ‘safely enthroned’ Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, whose Barisan Nasional coalition swept 55 seats in the April 16 state elections, ruffled by the possibility of a Bersih-styled march in Kuching? It would appear so going by his sudden outburst here on Friday.
The usually unaffected Taib pounced on Movement for Change Sarawak’s (MoCS) call for a ‘Walk For Democracy and Reform’ on Aug 13 when asked to comment by reporters.
“MoCS rally!…You find out who MoCS represents, whose voice they are carrying and by what authority is Francis Siah claiming to be the leader.
“People can see why I am a leader and who I represent … and you can ask him (Siah) the same question..who does he represent,” lashed out Taib.
Inspired by the success of Bersih 2.0′s ‘Walk For Democracy’ march on July 9 and the fact that some 100 Sarawakians had taken part, Siah had on Wednesday anounced that MoCS would hold its own ‘rally for democracy and reforms’ here on Aug 13.
He said the movement’s leaders had decided to organise the peaceful walk instead of an anti-Taib Mahmud rally (their original idea) which had also been planned for Aug 13.
Siah said the rally would be a citizen’s initiative with no political affiliation or involvement and urged Sarawakians to join the walk or hold their own activity wherever they are.
He also said that the rally would be a compromised version of the original street protests planned by MoCs to force Taib to step down.
Following the April 16 state elections which alleged widespread money politics aiding BN’s victory, MoCS had called for Taib to step down by Aug 13, failing which the movement would mobilise a mass protest.
On Wednesday Siah was reported to have said: “For too long, the state has been trapped in a quagmire of widespread corruption and the politics of fear and intimidation.
“We wish to educate all Sarawakians that politicians whom they elected to public office should be there to serve them and not vice-versa.
“The people are the masters, not those who govern.”
MoCS as legit as Freemasons
Following this, Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Awang Tengah Ali Hassan hit out at Siah’s plans.
“MoCS should be conscious of its own position. What mandate do they have?
“MoCS is a movement which is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS). As such illegal,” he had told reporters in an immediate reaction to Siah’s announcement of the ‘Walk for Reform’ rally.
Veteran politician and ex-PBB leader Salleh Jafaruddin then jumped in to slam Awang Tengah, saying that MoCS was as legit as the Freemason secret society which Taib was a member of.
“Does Awang Tengah realise that not all unregistered societies are considered illegal?”
