Tuesday, December 16

MDC letter to the British Government

Representatives from the Dayak community of Sarawak should have been invited to attend a briefing at the House of Lords regarding the plight of the Malaysian Indians on 8 December 2008. After all, the plights of the Dayaks and Indians are almost the same.

British Conservative Shadow Minister for Education and a Member of the House of Lords, Baroness Verma of Leicester hosted the briefing on the plight of minority Indian rights of Malaysia. The briefing followed a letter written to the British Government by the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) in November last year and later HINDRAF demonstrations to highlight their problems.

Held at the House of Lords on behalf of the friends of minority communities in Malaysia, the purpose of the briefing was for members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to obtain a true picture on the plight of the ethnic minority Indian community in Malaysia.

Giving the briefing were the Director of Public Policy of Hindu American Foundation Ishani Chowdhury, Director of Centre for Public Policy Studies Malaysia Tricia Yeoh, Human Rights Advocate Malaysia P. Waythamoorthy and Editor of Malaysiakini K. Kabilan.

It is sad that Malaysian Dayaks have not been invited to attend the briefing even though we wrote a letter to the British High Commission. In fact the protem secretary general of the yet-to-be registered Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) wrote a letter a month earlier than the HINDRAF, to the British High Commission.

Copies of the letter were sent to Foreign Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, Registrar of Societies and American Embassy regarding the gross injustices and discrimination by the authorities against the Dayaks who were once the British subjects before Sarawak, Sabah, Singapore and Malaya formed the federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Our letter was apparently ignored as we did not organise “strikes to highlight our problems” as the Indians did or that we were/are a coward lot; or that we have become irrelevant.

Let me produce excerpts of the letter for all of us to see. (Full details of the letter are published in The Broken Shield – The Dayak Dilemma due to be out soon). The letter dated 18 October 2007 said: -

"We feel that we have the right to bring to the attention of Her Majesty Government, as our former colonial masters regarding our plight, hoping that Her Majesty can advise the Malaysian authorities to accord the Dayak community the privileges and rights as enshrined in the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) report and the Malaysian Agreement.

“Our customary rights over land, with the passing of amendments to the Land Code
have been taken away from the Dayaks and are being given to rich businessmen or
companies under the guise of Provisional Lease for the cultivation of oil palm in big scales. While other communities have progressed by leaps and bounds, the Dayaks have remained mired in the doldrums of poverty, little better, if at all, as they had been under the British tutelage. There is a difference, however, while the British Government guaranteed the rights to land held under customary laws, but in our present situation the opposite seems to operate adversely against the Dayak community.

“As if these discriminations are not enough, the Dayaks are not even allowed to
form a party of their own to articulate their political, educational, cultural, economic and social aspirations. What Dayak-based parties they had in the past were being deregistered one by one – first the authorities deregistered Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and then Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) both on flimsiest reasons. The Dayaks who number about 60% of the State population are encouraged to be members of every political party by the BN leaders. This is a subtle way of ‘divide and rule’ community.

“Following the deregistration of PBDS in October 2004, some ex-PBDS members on 6 May 2005 submitted an application to register Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC).
After more than one year of submission, the application was rejected by the Registrar of Societies on 19 July 2006 under Article 7 (3) of the Societies Act giving reasons that MDC would be a potential threat to national security for its rejection.
“It is in this light that we the protem committee members and the Dayak community who were once Her Majesty’s subjects appeal to Her Majesty Government to put pressure on the Malaysian Government.”

Strange it may seem, the Indians have also taken a similar course of action against the British Government, except that they were more aggressive, more demanding and took their problems to the streets. So on 25 November 2007, they launched what is famously known as the HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) march to the British High Commission handing a note to Her Majesty Government.

Although the Dayaks have missed the first briefing, it is hoped that another briefing may be called specifically to hear the grouses of the Dayaks. Through this blog we appeal to the British High Commission to arrange for the protem committee members to meet any British leader, British MP, or staff of the High Commission so that the committee members can brief any one of them on the plight of the Dayaks. – The Broken Shield

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The following article was posted in Malaysiakini in response to the article "MDC letter to the British Government" by Jetty.

-------------------------------

Dayaks too want to go before House of Lords

Tony Thien | Dec 16, 08 5:15pm
-----------------------------------
The pro-tem committee of the Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) is “disappointed” that the community’s representatives were not invited to a briefing on the plight of Indian Malaysians, held at the House of Lords in London on Dec 8.

Sandip Verma, a member of the House of Lords and the Conservative Party’s shadow minister of education, had hosted the briefing organised by Friends of Minority Communities in Malaysia.

“It is sad that Malaysian Dayaks were not invited to attend the briefing even though we had written a letter to the British High Commission,” said pro-tem information chief Joseph Tawie, writing today in his blogspot ‘thebrokenshield’.

“After all, the plight of the Dayaks and Indians is almost the same.”

Copies of MDC’s letter, dated Oct 18, 2007, were sent to foreign affairs minister, home minister, Registrar of Societies and the US Embassy.

It alleged gross injustice and discrimination by the authorities against the Dayaks, who were British subjects before Sarawak, Sabah, Singapore and Malaya formed the federation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.

“Our letter was apparently ignored because we did not organise strikes [sic] to highlight our problems, as the Indians did, or (because) we were/are a coward lot, or (because) we have become irrelevant,’ Tawie wrote.

He was referring to an unprecedented street protest in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year, as Indian Malaysians gathered to support the handing over of a memorandum to the British High Commission, by leaders of the since-banned Hindu Rights Action Force.

Tawie said that, although the Dayaks had missed the briefing, they are hopeful that another briefing can be called specifically to hear their grouses.

In this respect, MDC would like the High Commission to arrange for the pro-tem committee to meet any of its officials in Kuala Lumpur or a British leader or MP, so that the predicament of the community can be explained.


‘Discrimination against Dayaks’

Tawie produced excerpts of the MDC letter, edited here for language:

"We feel that we have the right to bring (our plight) to the attention of Her Majesty’s government, as our former colonial masters, hoping that Her Majesty can advise the Malaysian authorities to accord the Dayak community the privileges and rights as enshrined in the Inter-Governmental Committee report and the Malaysia Agreement.

“Our customary rights over land, with the passing of amendments to the Land Code, have been taken away and are being given to rich businessmen or companies under the guise of Provisional Lease for the cultivation of oil palm on a big scale.

“While other communities have progressed by leaps and bounds, the Dayaks have remained mired in the doldrums of poverty, little better, if at all, as they had been under the British tutelage.

“There is a difference. While the British government guaranteed the rights to land held under customary laws, in our present situation, the opposite seems to operate adversely against the Dayak community.

“As if this discrimination is not enough, the Dayaks are not even allowed to form (their own) party to articulate their political, educational, cultural, economic and social aspirations.

“Whatever Dayak-based parties they were in the past are being deregistered one by one - first the authorities deregistered Sarawak National Party and then Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), both on flimsiest reasons.

“The Dayaks, who (make up) about 60percent of the state population are encouraged to be members of every political party by the (Barisan Nasional) leaders. This is a subtle way (to) ‘divide and rule’ community.

“Following the deregistration of PBDS in October 2004, some ex-members on May 6, 2005 submitted an application to register MDC.

“After more than one year, the application was rejected by the Registrar of Societies on July 19, 2006 under Article 7(3) of the Societies Act, giving the reason that MDC would be a potential threat to national security.

“It is in this light that we the pro-tem committee members and Dayak community who were once Her Majesty’s subjects appeal to Her Majesty’s government to put pressure on the Malaysian government.”

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/94957

jumpover said...

Ia ka manah agi, MDC nya asuh nyadi NGO bebas ka bejako pasal kepentingan( memantau) hak kitai dayak.

Dalam politik, kitai dayak perlu bergempung dalam pkr. Pkr udah ditemu pengaruh ia maya bepilih besai ka bedau lama tu tadi. Pia mega kitai anang enda ingat ka “pala buban nya”. Ia sigi sentiasa ngiga jalai enggau peluang mecah belah ka kitai.
Enti kitai dayak ka enda rindu ka ” pala buban nya” nyau pecah bebagi dua ngagai MDC enggau PKR ..ketawa meh ia. Nadai ia nangi ka kitai.

Lalu enti kitai dayak begempung dalam pkr , dipelaba ka aku bisi susah "mesin taip" ka sebotas . Nadai jalai ia ka mecah belah kitai agi.

Aram meh kitai berati ka jako….. tu bala wai..kaban..mit besai,tuai biak, lelaki indu...
1." Yang dikejar tak dapat , yang dikendong (dipegai) pula berciciran"

2."Nama guna semina gaga maioh parti enti suara kitai nadai didinga"

3."Ada apa pada nama ,kalau hidup menjadi sengsara"

***Baca meh cerita “ Kualiti enggau Intergriti” ba Dayak Leaders

jumpover said...

Cerita “Kualiti enggau Intergriti” Ba Dayaks Leaders

Sida leaders kitai dayak ari bn nya ukai nadai kualiti tang sigi sida iya ngaga diri empu nadai kualiti.
Ia ke bendar sida nya nadai intergeriti.."keikhlasan".
Baka nyema dalam pengawa ba politik sida "mawannnn,jabuun,masin" ukai enda nemu ,ukai enda sedar kitai dayak tu dipecah-pecah ka "mesin taip" tang laban ka amu, kelalu enda puas dia meh sida ta meda mata, ta ningga aja meh maya "babun tuai" nya meridai ka kitai bangsa.

Nya alai baca meh cerita kenang tu......bala kaban
(Lakonan I)

Ba SNAP suba ,laban meda kitai dayak begempung nya meh babun tuai nya balat bendar irau ati. Ia mula ngacau ngirau ketuai kitai dayak . Di sabung ditulak diasak ia leaders kitai dayak ba SNAP. Laban ka mata nya blur kena duit leaders kita dayak lalu enda ingat ka sumpah darah sida. Lalu senjata ka tajam bendar ka dikena babun tuai@mesin taip ngelabuh ngeruntuh SNAP ia nya datukkk j. wooong lintung.

Drama ka dimain seduai ,ia nya datuuuuk wong lintung ditelai” babun tuai” ngasuh wooong lintung diau lama mendam nyadi ketuai snap. Ba sepiak leaders kitai dayak babun tuai nya ngasuh sida ngelaban wooong lintung. Nah...pecah parti snap. Bisi kita merati utai tu wai.....??? DIVIDED AND RULE 1


(lakonan II)

PBDS siti parti kitai ka dipelaba ulih niri, negi ,ngenan, ngetan ka kitai bangsa dayak jauh tinggi ka agi. Leaders kitai dayaks udah begempung, begulai baru dalam parti nya.
Tang penyai pengirau ,cemburu “babun tuai” enda badu
naka mecah belah ka snap. Nya alai ia lalu ngiga cara nentu maya kena ngelingkup nungkup ka PBDS.
Maya Ming Court menya, enti enda salah serakah sida jabuuuuun dipelaba engka labuh ga babun tuai nya. Tang ari sukung tampung team jabuuuun, “babun tuai “sekali agi ulih ngetan ka kuta dynasty ia.

Ati ka deka ngancur parti PBDS nyau meluap-luap .
Babun tuai lalu ngiga senjata ba bisa. Dia ia lalu bulih siti runding baru sama cara maya mecah ka SNAP suba. Buban tuai lalu nupi antu ..ukai antu kamba tang antu Tuyol . Ia lalu meri nama antu tuyol nya Jin Masinn@Muusing. Ditupi, diberi ia makai bebendar meh jin nya tadi ngena lauk manuk,lauk tanah lauk lintah, lauk kambin, lauk lesen, buah puak, buah balak.
Nyah...kenyang udah Jin Masinn.

Ba maya ke ka betukar ketuai parti nya meh maya babun tuai nya ngasuh jin masin ngacau ngirau mecah belah PBDS. Laban ka udah gemuk,besai nyamai lantang terang,dia meh antu jin masinn lalu ngelaban bala D Tajem. Nadai daya meh tudah D Tajem. Leaders dayak lalu pecah dua. Laban takut ka PBDS angkat baru ketegal maioh bala nembiak dayak ,prosfesional dayak agi deka ngetan ka parti perau nya , babun tuai lalu nginjau " bunga ros" ajaib kena ngancur ka PBDS.
Nah...bisi kita merati utai tu wai....DIVIDED AND RULE 2

(Lakonan III)

Antu jin ka ti tupi babun tuai lalu ngaga siti gerempung ka dikumbai prs. Maya nya pecah belah meh ketuai kitai dayaks. Antu jin masin ka sebedau nya siko tuyol ka manah dulu suba lalu bisi minit sedar. Ia nyau ka udah ngelala ni batu ni permata ,ni ka bula ni ka rangka ni seduai ni ka amai. Pasal ngiga pengawa ,jin masin udah meda kitai bangsa kena lansa kena perinsa. Pasal tanah ia mega nemu..tanah buah ,temuda rimba kitai udah maioh diambi,dirampas dipunas ka babun tuai enggai kaban ia.
Nya alai antu jin masin nya lalu ka bebali baru nyadi tuyol ka manah.
Tang babun tuai sigi berate ka ia. Ba ati babun tuai ,jin masin nya meh” babi ka ditupi nganti ke disembelih”

Besambung …..DIVIDED AND RULE


Ditulis : nembiak@jumpover
Penganalisis politik amatur

Anonymous said...

Ngarap ka ROS ulih ngerejista MDC sebelum pengawa bepilih ila. Enti MDC udah direjista ila, nyamai kitai Dayak laban bisi ‘perau’ kitai empu.

Ukai kitai enggai nyukung sida PKR, tang manah agi enti kitai bisi parti Dayak kitai empu. MDC ila ulih masuk dalam “Pakatan Rakyat” lalu sama-sama ngau DAP & PKR ngelaban ‘Be End’…

Arap meh kitai besampi awak ka MDC ulih direjista enggau jampat…

Anonymous said...

The chances of being heard in the the house of Lords is, but a dream. Why? Simply, the likes of Jabu, Mawan and Masing will tell the British that all is well in Sarawak because they were elected by the majority of dayaks to form the government and that MDC is just a small group of discotented dayaks. There is absolutely no comparison with Hindraf. MIC is irrelevant and Samy didn't give a damn. Unless we vote the three stooges out an opportunity to be heard stands as ZERO! The bottom line is, MDC is a political party to be and Hindraf is a social movement. About time we learn to differentiate between party politics and social justice.

NEIL said...

That's what I have been saying,they are dreaming big.They refuse to admit that they are not putting in effort to initiate change of their mindset among the dayaks before they can start saying we want to change the gov't.
The British gov't wouldn't be so stupid to interfere in the affairs of a sovereign state.
Lets not bark at the wrong tree.It's those few power hungry leaders that wants a shortcut to power and thinking by going to UK,they will be make instant boss here.You are all still in Dream Land!
Come on,now what is more urgent is go down to the people and start your homework right now.Spread the words and help those who are in needs.You have to start from the bottom and not from the top.
With PKR going to make a big impact in Sarawak,the dinner on the 14 Jan 2009,it's time the dayaks start laying the foundation by going round the rural areas that you all are familiar with.
STOP DREAMING!

Anonymous said...

sapa bala kitai dayak bisi duit kena niri ka mdc? uji lupakan sahaja MDC madik , uji nuan berati semoa kitai dayak diatu , iban kayan bedayoh malayu cina . semoa diatu udah masuk PKR bado nuan bemimpi ka MDC anang agi kitai ngerindang diri ketawa JABU ngau TAIB nti nuan agi mai dayak pecah baru

Anonymous said...

There's nothing wrong for the Protem Committee to pursue the registration of MDC as a political party. It is their constitutional rights to set up any political party as enshrined on the Federal Constitution.

It may be a dream but it can also become a reality one day. Only time will tell...who knows when Anwar takes over the Government one fine day, they will register MDC...

Although there are obstacles along the way, well, no pain no gain right? God willing, if MDC is to be registered one day, it can still join forces with PKR, DAP & SNAP in PAKATAN RAKYAT to topple the 'Be End'.

Let's fixed our fingers crossed shall we...

jumpover said...

Ngagai bala kaban...

MDC nya sigi manah, aku pen nyukung ..tang awak ka MDC nya nyadi NGO ka bebas memantau kepentingan dayaks ba pakatan tauka bn.

Bala kaban semua...
Diatu maioh amai kitai dayak udah joined PKR terutama ia bala ka profesional. Pia mega orang rumah panjai maioh mega udah puas ati enggau parti PKR.Lalu begempung meh kitai dalam nya.

Bala kaban semua...
Enti MDC nyadi parti politik kitai dayak nyau pecah baru. Udah ga ba bn kitai maioh parti .Anang agi kitai praktik nya ba pakatan. Belajar meh kitai ari kesilapan nya.Enti maioh parti kitai nadai utai ulih menyadi.

Bala kaban semua...
Uji kitai meda ka diatu ba bn...bisi nya yb dayak ba PBB bisi nya ba SPDP lalu bisi mega ba PRS lalu bisi agi ba SUPP.
Ta nadai utai ulih sida wai menyadi...nama kebuah laban nadai sama penemu amai pen dalam BN. Senang disabung belaya ulih orang ka dengki.

Aram meh kitai maju ke depan. Anang agi bepusin-pusin agi . Orang udah jauh ninggalka kitai.
PKR mega udah bisi didingga kitai rita berjuang ka kitai dayaks. Nama utai ka deka kitai agi deh.

Bala kaban semua....
Anang kitai semina "menang ba manuk tang alah ba tui"
"Anang semina gaga meda pemaioh parti enti suara kitai nadai di dingga org."

Pala buban nya sigi gaga ia meda kitai pecah baru dalam pakatan. Ketawa ia...

Aku setuju MDC direjister tang anang nyadi parti politik.

Tq
nembiak@jumpover