KOTA KINABALU: Parti KeADILan Rakyat deputy secretary general, Darell Leiking regrets the fact that Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretary general Datuk Henrynus Amin had insinuated that the former was associated with the article on Sumazau which was published in the website ‘suarapakatanrakyat.com’.
The PKR Penampang divisional chairman pointed out that PKR and its partners in Pakatan Rakyat had clearly and unequivocally stated that it (article) had nothing to do with Pakatan Rakyat and/or Parti KeADILan Rakyat.
“In fact, that same website had previously also caused so many other controversial statements whilst masquerading as a Pakatan linked website and we at Parti KeADILan Rakyat have made scores of condemnation and exposes of this same website’s malicious and recalcitrant intent and mission.
“Pakatan Rakyat had also made many previous condemnation of the same website some months ago,” Darell said, adding that it literally takes only a second or two to ‘Google’ the website and find that it is a website created to cause deception and havoc.
To him the Sumazau dance is unique to the Kadazans and Dusuns of Sabah and like any cultural dance from all other cultures and no one should have the audacity to criticize such cultural dance.
“I take the opinion that the Sumazau has played a huge role in unifying our people and people from other cultures and has in fact been danced to everywhere internationally today.
“The fact that the Prime Minister had danced to it as shown in the website (before it was taken down by the administrator of the controversial website) goes to show that the Sumazau is a beautiful dance which is also appreciated by other cultures,” he stressed.
According to Darell, the Kadazans and Dusuns have always associated the Sumazau with the celebration of joy, happiness and success for and of our people.
“I am certain, those who had lived to witness the Proclamation of Malaysia on 16th September 1963 as a mark of that joyous occasion at that material time had also performed the Sumazau.
“Therefore and in no uncertain terms will I or anyone of us in Pakatan Rakyat will ever agree to condemn or demean such rich and dignified dance like the Sumazau or of any dance or culture at all,” he said.
Being that Henrynus should at all times be entitled to his opinion just like any other person, such opinion however must be one that is credible and with direct evidence, he stressed.
Of course, he and others like him can continue with their political accusations but they must also be ready for the political repercussions once the eventual results of the investigations by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission have been revealed, Darell said.
If Henryanus has any evidence at all linking Pakatan Rakyat to the controversial website, he should not wait any longer and produce the evidence accordingly and just not hearsay, he opined.
“Parti KeADILan Rakyat and likewise Pakatan Rakyat have not and will not politicise this matter at all and, like any decent and dignified Sabahans and Malaysians, we have felt that same insult and anger towards the article and the malicious intent that the author had designed the article to be.
“This issue transcends any political leanings and we should all be united in pursuing the author and administrator/beneficiary of the controversial article and website.
“However, despite our feeling of being insulted and our anger as mentioned and unlike some politicians who have taken maximum political publicity on this matter, we take the opinion that this issue is a serious matter and one that should not go unpunished.
“With that, we had in fact made and lodged the appropriate online complaint report against the website and article on the 12th September 2012 to the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission,” he disclosed.
Darell was of the opinion that the controversial article goes only to show how freedom of speech has somehow been abused and hijacked by bigots like the author of the article in the controversial and non-Pakatan Rakyat linked ‘suarapakatanrakyat.com”.
The danger today with the Internet, is that anyone can masquerade as the messenger of any organization, persons or industry what more of a political party, he said, adding that PKR has faith in the officers of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission and that they will utilize the laws and powers under the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 to investigate as well as reveal the actual administrator and beneficiary of the recalcitrant website including the author of that malicious, offensive and demeaning article.
“Meanwhile and whilst not wanting to lose the gist of this statement, I take the opportunity to wish all Sabahans, Sarawakians and Peninsular Malaysians a Happy 49th Malaysia Day and may we strengthen our bond in this partnership of Malaysia with that equal and mutual respect that our forefathers had planned and agreed upon as set out on this partnership of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsula Malaya in the formation of Malaysia,” Darell added.