LEBOR MENOA REINCARNATED?

YB JAWAH GERANG, according to blogger Broken Shield will be nominated as PKR's candidate against BN's Malcolm Mussen Lamoh. Although this has not been officially announced, that is, Jawah Gerang's candidature, I too would go with this prediction.

With blogger Cobbolt John and his nephew Robert Dunn, Haris, Danny and I left the hotel at 5.38am for the 3 hour drive into Batang Ai. Our itinerary was to be in Batang Ai to get a feel of BA, visit some longhouse, visit the PKR Op Centre and if time permitted take in the BA Hydro Dam. When we made pit stops for pee break and some oxygen intake we chanced upon YB Jawah and his charming wife at Sri Aman. Jawah, a graduate in Economics from the University of Malaya, had won the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency five times. He was returned unopposed in 1990 and 1995 elections.He was not nominated in the last election, presumably, for not being a team-player.

True to Iban hospitality, he invited us to HIS longhouse. (It is now 3:07am Sunday and Haris and Danny have not put up the photos they took at the longhouse......and Ireland leads Wales 14-12 in the 6 Nations Rugby Finals.....(.I will have to talk to these two young men over Sarawak Laksa, for dereliction of duty.)

Why did I volunteer that Jawah will be the chosen one? DSAI will be visiting this same longhouse today (Sunday) and what better time than to announce Jawah's candidature at a ceremah, hosted by YB Jawah. As expected, there are rumors galore about him. He was BN all along. Being abandoned, why is he in PKR now? If he is giving BN the middle finger why would he be "sponsored" by a known BN tycoon? If he wins Batang Ai, will he do the Perak trio's somersault? I have been here for two days but I can't help but listen. Remember, hearing is a natural function, but listening has to be an acquired skill. I will continue to listen until we return to KL this evening.
What's with the title of this posting? Who is Lebor Menoa? Who are these IBAN people? And what's all this fuss over Batang Ai?

The Ibans were unfortunately branded for being pioneers of headhunting. Headhunting among the Ibans is believed to have started when the lands occupied by the Ibans became over-populated. In those days, before the arrival of western civilization, intruding on lands belonging to other tribes resulted in death. Confrontation was the only way of survival.

In those days, the way of war was the only way that any Dayak tribe could achieve prosperity and fortune. Dayak warfare was brutal and bloody, to the point of ethnic cleansing. Many extinct tribes, such as the Seru and Bliun, are believed to have been assimilated or wiped out by the Ibans. Tribes like the Bukitan, who were the original inhabitants of Saribas, are believed to have been assimilated or forced northwards as far as Bintulu by the Ibans. The Ukits were also believed to have been nearly wiped out by the Ibans. Whilst several legendary leaders gained their place in Iban history, none was as famous and idolised as Lebor Menoa.

Today, some 80% of Iban Ancestral Land have been robbed by the long-reigning government of Mohd. Taib. Compensation was promised to land requisitioned for "development" were suspect, to put this mildly. There is a new wave among the Ibans that if they do not take back what has always been theirs, another time may not come! Is YB Jawah the reincarnation of Lebor Menoa?

That is for the Ibans to decide on April 7. Can they decide? YES THEY CAN, AND THEY MUST......just like Ireland did a few minutes ago against Wales......after 61 years!

Over to you YB.

Agi idup

agi ngelaban!