DEMOCRACY DIED IN BINTULU

By Joshua Jabeng

On 8th July 1978 BDA (Bintulu Development Authority) was born.  The "baby" came with many promises of speedy industrial development, unobstructed by the normal administrative bureaucracies.  Bintulu bloomed with mushrooming modern industries like MLNG, ABF, Shell-MDF, Bintulu Port and numerous timber-related industries.

But the fast growing propsperity of the belacan town of Bintulu soon caught the attention of the Rahman-Taib imaginations. One thing led to another and today BDA has in actual fact become a State within the State of Sarawak.  Why not? Ever since that day, 32 years ago the role & function of BDC (Bintulu District Council) ceased.  That effectively was the saddest day, the basic principle of democracy (the basis of our National Constitution) died in Bintulu. 

Today, the people of Kemena, Tatau and Bintulu districts knows nothing about "Councillors" -- the district YBs.  Gone were their right to be represented or heard at district councils. Local Authority don't exist here in BDA! 

What have the 205,000 population of Bintulu Division got which is better than anywhere else in Malaysia?  What is so special for being administered and managed by BDA Board of Management?  How is the General Manager of BDA Tn. Hj. Mohidin Ishak better than Residents & DOs in bringing development to the rural people of Tatau and Kemena?  Is Bandaraya Kuching, Sibu & Miri worse than Bintulu?  Is Julau, Kapit, Bau, Marudi and all the other districts in Sarawak worse of than Tatau and Kemena because they are not managed by managers like BDA? 

All companies have one common objective ie. to minimize expenses to maximize profit.  Is there any wonder why BDA do not care enough about bad roads, dirty water, poorly-maintained environment all over Bintulu Division?  Even then, who will BDA listen to when people complain?  There is no councillor...no representative in BDA.  There is no democracy in a corporation.  You cannot elect BDA Chairman.  You cannot fire the the Tauke no matter how oppressive he is.  This is the case with BDA!

How long will BDA be?  Dato Celestine Ujang says "Perhaps until 2020."  Admitting BDA is not good for the people of Bintulu he conceded that he cannot do anything despite being the current Deputy Chairman of BDA.   When asked further, he answered, "Tusah, laban kitai dibaruh kuasa orang." And of course it is obvious when the Boss of BDA is non other but "Pangiran Taib" who was recently crowned by the reigning Javanese monarch Hamangkubowono III. 

If BDA is getting too small to contain his greed, the pangiran has tactfully extend his domain from Tj. Manis to Similajau called SCORE.  Who cares...both BDA and SCORE need not be transparent like  CMS, NAIM CENDRA, PPES WORKS, TITANIUM, Trinekken, Sakti & Sakto Corporation (USA) and God knows what else.....

Isn't enough enough?  How long more shall we tolerate Pak Uban? 

Out with BN-Uban.  Change we must.