Merotai is gradually transforming into a reformist area after Kuala Merotai UMNO Wanita Chief Aisha Mohammad led her predominantly Muslim Tidong community to ditch UMNO and join DAP on 13th February 2011. She has seen how her people has struggled to make ends meet and worked extra hard to ensure their children get the education they require for their future. There were 71 of them and were each promised 8.75 acre plot for oil palm by SLDB in 1965. They paid for the survey but till today they never see the land title. They continue to work on the land with a worried mind, thinking that one day their land will be acquired by someone else. Such incident is rampant and looking at the their grandchildren’s future at stake, they decided to make the right decision by standing up, be brave and embrace an alternative political party that will give them a glimmering ray of hope.
UMNO has forgotten about them. In the e-Kasih program to assist the people, UMNO is using the “pilih-Kasih” program where the new Bumiputra are given priority. For Aisha and her people, enough is enough. The publication of her resignation and embracing DAP in the main stream media together with her people the UMNO representative and officials came running to their door steps promising to help them to solve their problems. Now Aisha and her people can see the power of a two-party system.
Tanjung Batu Assemblywoman Hamisa Samat should now look into this matter seriously after having pledged that the government will look after the people especially the poor and treat them fairly without looking at their political, religious and racial background.
DAP Sabah Merotai Chief Robert Penggai said 47 years ago Merotai used to be a logging area with a small township. Today, nothing has changed much except that the forest is gone. Merotai is still a small township with negligible development and very much behind from other townships. The then LDP representative of Merotai Liew Yun Fah had enough money from logging to provide the necessary development in Merotai. Unfortunately, it was purely a public relation (PR) exercise.
Liew who is now a Gerakan and a Tan Sri only managed to build a multi-purpose town hall in Kg Kijang and few “balairaya” here and there. The condition of these facilities are deplorable due to poor maintenance. The piping in Merotai was not completed where in Kg Iban a 2-km pipeline has never reached the people. At least 60 families are deprived of wholesome treated water and like the others, depended on God-given rain water. During the drought season, Tan Sri Liew did not even bother to send lorry water tankers to supply the people with clean water and this is the same with the current Assemblyman.
Robert added that the power supply in Merotai is in short supply. He joked that if there is no blackout in Tawau you are not in Tawau but if the blackout is long duration then you are in Merotai. He said candles are selling very well in these areas. Many entrepreneurs in Merotai have purchased their own generator sets taking no chance with SESB. After Liew, there is a slight improvement in power supply according to Robert however the voltage is too low to allow workshops to operate satisfactorily. He said, when someone is doing welding work, our lights in the houses become “fireflies”.
The Tawau-Kalabakan road which passes through Merotai is in sorry state, uneven and dotted with potholes and depressions thus making it one of the most dangerous roads in the country. Liew did nothing to repair the landslips between Merotai and Kalabakan. There is no streetlights in Merotai causing many fatalities involving pedestrians. Robert said the best thing that Liew did was to provide street lights for the only one cemetery in Merotai. When Liew was dropped as a candidate in 2008, the people thought things will get better with a new Assemblyman but he is no better than Liew.
Liew did supply a van to carry the body of dead people but it was only meant for the Muslim. Robert said Liew had forgotten about the other non-Muslim populace. Such is the double standard practiced by Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah. After been dumped as a representative, the van is now parked permanently in Kg. Muhibbah.
Robert said Liew has an opportunity to help the Iban community in Landau by excising the forest reserve but missed it. Today, the land has been confiscated and the farm destroyed without any compensation. Robert said Liew is now trying to repent though Gerakan and is assisting the people to grow carrots. To this Robert said he (Liew) is fishing using carrots to catch the rabbits. According to Robert, Liew has an issue with LDP President V K Liew and his activity in Merotai and Tawau is basically to “revenge” LDP for dumping him during the 2008 election.
Robert added that Tan Sri Liew’s comment on Pakatan Rakyat is irrelevant. Instead, Liew should ask what UMNO and BN have done for Merotai and Tawau. Gerakan has lost everything in West Malaysia and is a dying party. What can Tan Sri Liew offer this time round? Liew was given an opportunity to help the people of Merotai when he was the representative but he blew it. Tan Sri Liew cannot hoodwink the people in Merotai and Tawau anymore. Robert said the people know him well and are fed up with his “colourful” lies and promises.
The people are slowly losing the fear factor that UMNO and BN have instilled in our society. They can see the advantages in having a two-party system. The Iban and Tidong people of Merotai are no more stooges. They have stood up and decided to change to save Sabah and Malaysia. For this, Merotai is the forefront of reform and change.
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