page 19

Sarawak Government will wipe off blood-spitters (?-Ed)

There is a time for criticism and another for praise. If 'Patriot' (Satlient No. 9) had read my latter without being so highly emotionally charged he would have realised that I did not deny the inflation problem in Sarawak (and throughout the world for that matter), and indeed it was agreed on the point. My stress was on the fact that a developing country like Sarawak could match well with even developed countries like New Zealand. Putting a side as to what la meant by his vague phrase "ordinary workera". there has been, panalleling with or crossing the admitted inflation, a general increase in wages tor all — ranging from domestic servants through to workers labourers, gardeners, to public servants and what not.

As I have pointed out previously, Sarawak has an immense area of undeveloped land and it is obvious that the trees therein, not being Christmas trees, do not need electricity and the orang utangstoilet seats! In the sparsely inhabited areas, the people have found it more rewarding to shit into the rivers where fishes we ready beneficiaries and the splashes of such 'boombs' moat melodical to the ears (stereo effects too). If 'Patriot' who seems to like figures and percentages, could tell me how many families do not possess a car, I would be happy to enlighten him with the number of those who do own one. So, please do some investigations himself first. And friend, get the fact straight: there are no such souls by the names of Lim Pang Siaw. Wong Kee Hui, and Yacob. Apart from a coincidence of three typing errors, it indicates that he it anything but well versed in affairs of my state. With due respects, his statements purporting to be tactual on the coats rising by 100%. 150% and 250% is all a cock and bull story.

Oh! So the struggle has been going on for 12 years in Sarawak. No doubt there will be 12 more and 12 more...perhaps here I am putting too much confidence that it could last that long. When will those disillusoned guerillas put on their 1974 glasses and see that theirs is a futile exercise? If they had the people's support, why is this struggle taking so long to achieve victory? 'Patriot' wonders if three million communist supporters form the majority of the people in Indonesia. My conclusion is that he is either blind or can't even count properly. Why not try adding one plus one for over 140 million times. It is with much amusement that he refers me to an article in Salient No. 6. No doubt the opinions expressed there will carry much weight in the Privy Council: the last last word. He says tens of thousands were massaored and still thousands are being inhumanly tortured in the prisons in Chile and Indonesia. But he chose not to mention the inhuman acts of the terrorists in Sarawak who did not even allow the corpse of a police detective to rest in peace. Instead after digging up bis coffin they let him rest in pieces. Nor the slaylngs of civilians. It makes one wonder whether the guerillas are fighting for the people or against the people.

I respect differing opinions and welcome disagreement. No doubt 'Patriot' and myself differ in our approaches to achieving social progress. That is the price we pay for being humans, not machines.

Reference la also made to the letter "Only government spokesmen can sign their namea", where the writer expressed the windy opinion that I can only speak for the government. That virgin and immature confused mind first agrees with one person; then he suddenly finds another's contrary view more convincing. In short, he cannot even think or speak for himself. Hence he is ashamed to use his own name. He might as well not have one. I agree be is but a first year BCA student.