Exploring Situation of Accountability Relationship of Councilors in Multiparty Politics

This research paper explored the situation and challenges facing politically elected Councilors from different political parties on how to implementing accountability in multiparty politics. Accountability relationship plays an important role in understanding behavior and attitude of the local actors from different political institutional background, and experience towards implementation of accountability practices. Qualitative methods and approaches were utilized in data collection and analysis. The study adopted a case study approach where four (3) municipalities of Kinondoni, Temeke, and Ilala of the Dar es Salaam city council in Tanzania were involved in the study. The overall sample of 44 respondents involved in the study through in-depth interviews. Documentary review was considered necessary, where different documents complementarily to the study were rationally reviewed. The results of this research paper revealed that there was a poor relationship that resulted into accountability disagreement practice in most of political governance matters due to patronage politics and policy preferences. This research paper recommends reforms on accountability framework in Dar es Salaam municipalities

Indigenous knowledge among Iban Kua' in Samarahan District, Sarawak : some observations

This paper presents some findings of a study and observations on indigenous knowledge (IK) among Iban Kua’ and uses of natural resources in Samarahan District, Sarawak. Like the other Iban in Sarawak, Iban Kua’ in Samarahan is also rich in indigenous knowledge. As Samarahan has the fastest growing population in Sarawak with an average annual population growth rate of 6.0% in the year of 2000 to 2010, the study tries to examine the state of IK among Iban Kua’ in Samarahan. A qualitative research design which involves semi-structured questionnaires to the 165 respondents was used. This paper discusses some of the findings and observations based on the fieldwork at 14 Iban Kua’ villages in Samarahan in February 2017. This study also reveals the effect of physical development projects to the IK practice and to the natural resource management. Modernisation and Christianity are the key factors that affect the state of IK practices that are now diminishing

Politik penaungan dalam pilihanraya di Sarawak : kajian kes di DUN N.34 Batang Ai semasa pilihanraya Negeri Sarawak ke-11

Kajian ini menjelaskan tentang peranan politik penaungan semasa pilihan raya DUN ke-11 Sarawak pada tahun 2016. Kajian ini juga bertujuan untuk membuktikan sama ada unsur-unsur politik lama masih dominan dalam proses politik pada hari ini terutamanya di kawasan pinggiran di Sarawak seperti di DUN N.34 Batang Ai. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk membincangkan variasi-variasi politik penaungan yang telah digunakan oleh calon untuk mendapatkan sokongan politik semasa pilihan raya. Di samping itu, untuk menganalisis sama ada kegagalan pengagihan RTP dan MRP kepada penduduk setempat memberi kesan kepada sokongan politik. Objektif ketiga ialah untuk menjelaskan tentang hubungan amalan ritual dengan politik penaungan yang selalu digunakan oleh calon semasa pilihan raya di kawasan majoriti Iban. Dalam kajian ini, pendekatan kualitatif digunakan bagi menjelaskan tentang politik penaungan semasa pilihan raya berfokus kepada pilihan raya di DUN ke-11 N.34 Batang Ai pada tahun 2016. Metod lain ialah metod temubual, pemerhatian umum dan pemerhatian turut serta juga telah digunakan. Ketiga-tiga metod ini amat relevan dalam pengumpulan data untuk menjawab objektif kajian. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa landskap politik di kawasan kajian masih lagi dipacu oleh dominasi politik penaungan. Variasi politik penaungan seperti RTP dan MRP, Lawatan Sambil Belajar, Projek Baik pulih Rumah, Tungkus Asi, Pelantikan Ketua Kaum dan Ketua Masyarakat, Ahli Majlis Daerah dan penggunaan Amalan Ritual Miring masih digunakan sebagai alat politik penaungan. Paling ketara ialah penggunaan variasi baharu politik penaungan lokal iaitu Tungkus Asi dan Ritual Miring. Kesemua variasi ini merupakan sebahagian daripada timbal balas mendapatkan sokongan politik semasa pilihan raya

Preliminary Observations on Indigenous Knowledge and the Uses of Natural Resources in Banting and Padawan

This paper discusses preliminary findings of the study on indigenous knowledge of various cultural, religious, medicinal and culinary uses of the natural resources found in two different indigenous communities in Sarawak, namely the Iban of Banting and the Bidayuh of Padawan. Structured interviews were carried out with each household head in the selected villages to determine indigenous knowledge of these communities on the usage of and reliance on natural resources. Through focus group discussions, indigenous knowledge on the various uses of identified natural resources is still available in these two communities. Their dependence on natural resources as building materials, food and, in the economic aspects still exist. However, their dependence on natural resource is diminishing. The indigenous knowledge gap between the old and younger generation of both Iban dan Bidayuh areas has also been identified. Most of the young people are no longer practicing traditional way of life because they are more comfortable with the modern way of life today. In addition, most Iban people in Banting, and the Bidayuh in Padawan have embraced Christianity and practiced modern way of lif