PAKATAN RAKYAT LOGO

MIRI: The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is throwing a dinner on 9 January 2009 to celebrate the registration of the alternative alliance to the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the launching of the party's logo tomorrow. (Saturday 19 December).

The launching of the logo will be in Shah Alam before about 500 delegates.

“ This is a historic occasion for the alliance because this is the first dinner under PR in Sarawak, for that matter in the country. And with the registration of the opposition political alliance of PAS, DAP, PKR and at the state level SNAP the country is witnessing the emergence of a two-party system in the country,” said the PKR Miri branch chairman Dr Michael Teo.

The venue for the dinner is the Boulevard restaurant and it is scheduled to start at 6:30pm,disclosed Teo.

The organising committee is targeting about 90 tables for guests and tickets for the dinner are on sale now. The price is RM38 per person.

He told this to reporters during a press conference at the party's office yesterday.

Also present were the DAP Miri branch chairman Fong Pau Teck, the SNAP president Edwin Dundang, the PAS Miri branch chairman Suan Sambas, PKR bureau chief from KL Dr M.R. Summugam.

Teo said the alliance political leaders will feature during the dinner giving political talks. Among the speakers are the former Perak state assembly speaker Sivakumar, former health minister Dr Chua Jui Meng who is now in PKR, newly appointed PKR state chief Baru Bian and PKR advisor Daniel Tajem. From SNAP, speaking to the crowd will be Dundang himself and senior vice president Kebing Wan.

“This will be one of the many avenues which we willuse again and again to promote, popularise and strengthen PR as a new political alliance between PKR, DAP, PAS and SNAP. The birth of PR after more than 50 years of democracy in the country is the birth of the two-party system in Malaysia.PR is a loyal opposition of the DYMM Agong's government. It is established to operate and behave within the limits of democracy and freedom as provided by the Federal Constitution. It is not against the government. Those who allege so does not understand how a parliamentary democracy operate. Therefore, PR is to provide the people with the choice which political party they want to rule the country. Now with the era of a two-party system on the horizon, the people have a clear choice between BN and PR,” said Dundang.

During the press conference, Teo also explained the meaning of the PR logo.

He said the logo with the orange colour depicts sunrise which means the dawning of a new day for Malaysian politics. The five petals symbolised the five major races in Malaysia that is Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusuns and Dayaks.

On another matter, the PR is gearing up for the state election which is due in 2011 but most political observers believe it will be held next year.

“We definitely will work on consensus as far the choice of candidates from the alliance is concerned,” pointed out Teo. ENDS.

Caption: PR LOGO: Teo showing the logo with from left Fong and Dundang.

Calling OKU from Orang Ulu community

The “We Love, We Care, We Share” programme launched collaboratively last year by PBB Wanita & Pemuda Telang Usan and PDK Eda Beran continue its project of helping the needy in society specifically in the Baram parliamentary constituency by giving out Christmas goodies to registered special people or known as Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) locally this Saturday 19 December 2009.

“We invite the target groups to come to the venue which is at Dynasty Hotel from 9am until 5pm to register themselves. Please bring along relevant documents like IC, birth certificate and OKU certificate from the Welfare Department. This project is for the hardcore poor in the huge Baram district,” said the organising chairlady Elizabeth Deng who is also the PBB Telang Usan Wanita chief.

She told this to the Borneo Post during a press conference yesterday. Also present were the PBB Telang Usan youth chief councillor Dennis Ngau Jok.

The main objective of this programme this year is to register the target group who are from Baram district but currently staying in Miri.

"This is to enable the target group receive assistance from the government through the Welfare Department. There are a lot of OKU from the Orang Ulu community who have yet to register themselves with the department. By not doing so, they deprive themselves from receiving government assistance," explained Dennis.

Last year this programme saw the organising committee receiving hundreds bags of rice from generous members of the public in Miri for distribution to the OKU in the Baram district.

Next year, the organising committee may take a different approach to assist the needy in society.

The Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok is expected to officially launched the programme at 4pm on the same day. ENDS.

Caption: Dennis Ngau Jok