It was on 4 Nov, Thursday when Pak John told me to join the above course, to be held in Jabatan Tata Negara training facility in Sempadi.
On Friday, 5 Nov, Pak John and I drove to Serikin to pick up Luwis Gihon, our assistant treasurer. It was only when we reached his house that he told us that he was not able to attend the course. "Why didnt he tell us earlier, so that we need not have to waste time and fuel driving all the way from Kuching to Serikin?", I said to myself.
Raymond Akew, the Deputy JKKK Chairman and Pak Pung could not attend as well.
Finally on 5 Nov, we reached the facility at 2.30 pm. We registered ourselves, paid RM20 key deposit and checked into the dormitory. The dormitory reminded me of my boarding days in Bau Government Secondary School, which we fondly nicknamed as Bee Gees. The Bee Gees was very famous then.
After tea at 3.30 pm, we attended the briefing by the facility pengetua, Tuan Mohamed.
Back home, only District Officers and army officers are addressed as 'Tuan'. All of us, Bidayuh community leaders were quite taken aback when we were all addressed as Tuan. "That's for equality", answered Tuan Mohamed.
Indeed all the Ketua Kampungs, Pemancas and Penghulus were advised that their respective titles were being relieved and left at the Guard House. They may claim it at the guard room when exiting the facility on Sunday, 7 November.
The first lecture that evening, delivered by Tuan Roslan predominantly empahasised on the dangers posed by the Malayan opposition politicians and the deadly consequences faced by Sarawakians, should Pakatan Rakyat came into power.
I was quite disturbed, as all the while I was thinking and agreeing that community leaders should be politically impartial, though ofcourse they have the right to their own ideological belief.
It is basically due to the fact that villagers subscribe to different political ideology. To uphold peaceful coexistence amongst his folks,the village head therefore must not force his ideological belief onto his subjects. That is BiDoyoh culture.
The purpose of that lecture was primarily to convince the JKKKs that it is their paramount duty to make sure that Barisan Nasional government be retained during the upcoming Sarawak election.
The following morning, 6 November, another lecture was delivered by Dr Sofian, who is also a UNIMAS lecturer. He deliberated on the mechanism of a succesful political structure in a village, zone or a district.
This is a great paper and is very useful for party workers and political parties. To me, I will use it for the purpose of improving the village organisation.
This paper also teaches you to be a bad person, an unethical politician, a lousy Christian and an immoral leader. The ultimate aim is to do anything to win to retain your political position.
After I told Tuan Lee that 'The God will be angry', he explained that to achieve your 'noble mission', one has two choices: the soft strategy and the hard strategy.
You will have to use the hard strategy if the soft strategy failed.
For instance as elaborated, if you know that the bus load of voters heading to your kampung is voting for the opposition, you may puncture the tyres, to delay them.
We touched a little bit on Gerak Saraf Perang Saraf (GSPS), a pschological warfare, to counter attack or counter defend your camp.
It was quite funny standing in attention and singing Negara Ku and Lagu Askar everytime the new session starts and every morning before entering the lecture hall.
Fortunately for me, having been very active in scouts and Red Crescent while in secondary school, marching drills was pea nuts.
Being elderly and comminuty leaders, we were exempted from the morning runs, press ups and exercise.
Well, I learnt a lot from the short course. Unfortunately I am very doubtful if I should be included as it is against my faith. It is ofcourse not due to the RM20 allowance for the whole duration of the course.
Although I believe that I am not qualified to be one of them, I hope to be included in future similar courses, for experience and extra knowledge.
