KUCHING: A leader of Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat has described as most “stupid and senseless” a suggestion by a state minister who wants the Bidayuhs to move to town even if they are paid lowly.
A PKR vice chairman Granda Aing said that by asking them to move out of their villages “is tantamount to putting the general Bidayuhs to become coolies, waiters and waitress earning a salary below the poverty line.”
Aing, a Bidayuh from Bau, was reacting to a statement made by Michael Manyin, State minister of infrastructure development and communication.
Last Tuesday Manyin, who addressed Kampung Krusen Bidayuhs, told them to leave their villages and go to towns for jobs in the towns in order to improve their livelihood.
“If they are unwilling to do so, they may be left far behind by other communities.
“Even if they have to struggle now it does not matter as it would provide their children the right exposure to improve themselves in the future,” Manyin had said, citing the Kelabits from the Bario Highlands as the best example.
“That is the most stupid advice coming from a minister,” said Aing.
What the government should have done is to increase the wages of the Bidayuh workers in Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) from RM8.00 or RM10.00 per day per worker to RM30.00 per day in its oil palm plantations.
“Why can’t you pay Bidayuhs RM30.00 per person when you pay Indonesian workers RM30.00 each?” he asked.
“That does not make sense. Does it?” Aing asked, pointing out that the government must look and revamp Salcra.
He warns: “If you leave your villages, the State government will take away your native customary rights land and lease it to its cronies for the planting of oil palm.
“By the time you return home, you have no more land left. I think the minister has been asked to say it, because lands in the Bidayuh villages are good for the oil palm cultivation,” he said.
The minister should not compare the Bidayuhs with the Kelabits, as most Bidayuh villages are nearby to towns, while the Kelabits a far away in the highlands.
“What the minister should have done is to get more roads and basic amenities implemented in the rural areas.
“Help them to plant cash crops in their land so that they can generate more incomes in order to sustain their life in the villages,” he said.
What Granda Aing said is correct. Look at some of the Iban small holders involved in the planting of oil palm. Many are earning between RM3,000 and RM10,000 a month. There are many examples of these successful farmers along the Serian/Sarikei Road. And their incomes much are better than those who allowed their land to be used by Pelita and other private companies. Some have not been paid any dividends even after 10 years of operation.
SALCRA is still better than all these Pelita-linked companies. But still compared to small holdings whereby you plant oil palm in your own land, and do it yourself the income is much better than the income of those who joined Salcra.
Food for thought. – The Broken Shield
A PKR vice chairman Granda Aing said that by asking them to move out of their villages “is tantamount to putting the general Bidayuhs to become coolies, waiters and waitress earning a salary below the poverty line.”
Aing, a Bidayuh from Bau, was reacting to a statement made by Michael Manyin, State minister of infrastructure development and communication.
Last Tuesday Manyin, who addressed Kampung Krusen Bidayuhs, told them to leave their villages and go to towns for jobs in the towns in order to improve their livelihood.
“If they are unwilling to do so, they may be left far behind by other communities.
“Even if they have to struggle now it does not matter as it would provide their children the right exposure to improve themselves in the future,” Manyin had said, citing the Kelabits from the Bario Highlands as the best example.
“That is the most stupid advice coming from a minister,” said Aing.
What the government should have done is to increase the wages of the Bidayuh workers in Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) from RM8.00 or RM10.00 per day per worker to RM30.00 per day in its oil palm plantations.
“Why can’t you pay Bidayuhs RM30.00 per person when you pay Indonesian workers RM30.00 each?” he asked.
“That does not make sense. Does it?” Aing asked, pointing out that the government must look and revamp Salcra.
He warns: “If you leave your villages, the State government will take away your native customary rights land and lease it to its cronies for the planting of oil palm.
“By the time you return home, you have no more land left. I think the minister has been asked to say it, because lands in the Bidayuh villages are good for the oil palm cultivation,” he said.
The minister should not compare the Bidayuhs with the Kelabits, as most Bidayuh villages are nearby to towns, while the Kelabits a far away in the highlands.
“What the minister should have done is to get more roads and basic amenities implemented in the rural areas.
“Help them to plant cash crops in their land so that they can generate more incomes in order to sustain their life in the villages,” he said.
What Granda Aing said is correct. Look at some of the Iban small holders involved in the planting of oil palm. Many are earning between RM3,000 and RM10,000 a month. There are many examples of these successful farmers along the Serian/Sarikei Road. And their incomes much are better than those who allowed their land to be used by Pelita and other private companies. Some have not been paid any dividends even after 10 years of operation.
SALCRA is still better than all these Pelita-linked companies. But still compared to small holdings whereby you plant oil palm in your own land, and do it yourself the income is much better than the income of those who joined Salcra.
Food for thought. – The Broken Shield
11 comments:
Thank goodness Granda was able to pick up the fine prints spitting out of Manyin's "stupid" (underrated)statement. Once you the villagers are out of the way working as "coolies" earning $6/day they grab your NCR lands to harvest the trees, set up plantations or even build another dam ......damned dam obsession serving no purpose but to rob the treasury coffer.
If Indonesians are paid $30/day and locals $10, our question is,
Why are Sarawakians discriminated in favour of foreigners?????? Is this part of BN policy?
There must be a motive for Manyin to suggest Bidayuhs to migrate to big towns. In my opinion, the reasons could be;-
Firstly, to abandon their NCR land for reasons best known to him.
Secondly, the villages have no basic amenities, even though BN has ruled the state for 47 years.
Thirdly, the community in some areas is facing short of food and water in view of the construction of dam.
I just could not believed that such words should came out of the mouth of the Senior Bidayuh Minister when i tuned to RTM Iban section a week ago. This shows his true colours and senile old man of low intergrity.
And that would be good enough – ambush marketing is in progress!
Preferably all the native landowners and rural people move to the towns so that the lands can be taken over and managed properly by some state linked body.Landowners will be paid a couple ringgit maybe a job in a kopitiam or construction site or something like that.Good deal is it not?
Grateful supporter.
Of course Manyin's statement is stupid,what do you expect from our so called Dayak leaders like Manyin jabu,masing and mawan.They are dogs,not to bark for their community but to bite them in order to please Taib.Almost half of a century since forming Malaysia,has they barked enough for the community,hundreds of longhouses still do not have basic amenities like water and electricity.They are not politicians,they are businessmen,filling their own pockets,so not a surprise to me if these dogs are being asked to bite their own races.
Why shout and waste your saliva. Since this gov't have marginalized all the natives, why are you all still voting for this corrupt gov't. Every now and then we hear your land been stolen, been make a fool, polluting your rivers, raping your children,been sidelined etc.But then, like Batang Ai,people are still voting for this gov't. Is it that you all are been bought. If so then blame yourself for been too cheap. The money have blind your future.
Datuk Manyin also suggested the Bidayuh to continue supporting the BN govt for continued developments; like water supply and electricity. If basic facilities like water supply and electricity are still an issue even after 47 years, who are we kidding?
We must be stupid enough to continue supporting this govt.
It’s the same old stories – all over again!
And now we are seeing the ADUNs are really “busying” themselves with the “site visits”. Well, the real reason is pretty obvious.
But what is their contribution and how is their performance since May 2006?! Well, I can’t deny that they might look(ed) good on local dailies...
The space and time are due to arrive to say “Goodbye!; but NO, thanks!” to all these “magpie robins”...
------------------
I went for a sight-seeing last week to Kampong Bengoh. The access road to Kampong Bengoh (and Kampong Danau) is badly damaged; but, upon reaching Kampong Bengoh, there is a junction on the left (about 2 Km) leading to Bengoh Damn, which is of high standard!
My wild guess is that Jack the Ripper would make the matter worst by “earnestly” asks for a grant (if any) for the road repair!
The six Bidayuh majority constituencies are Opar(N1), Tasik Biru (N2), Benggoh (N16), Tarat (N17), Tebedu (N18)and Kedup (N19). IF the Bidayuh should listen to the good advice of our beloved Bidayuh minister, then one day there is likelihood that these six constituencies may cease to be Bidayuh majority constituencies. The impact needs no explanation. Manyin's god advice has no economic, social and political consequences. Until we hear any valid reason for his good advice, I don't blame the unkind comments being targeted at him. So Mr. Manyin, please have a pleasure to elaborate your good advice. I am sure this good issue will be brought forward to the in-coming state election. This will make a good folder for Dr. Chris and Mr. Mexlian. Shalom.
Sarawakians have only themselves to blame
(Hornbill Unleashed) - "Whose fault is it that Barisan Nasional wins at every election giving Abdul Taib Mahmud the chance to continue ruling Sarawak as chief minister?”
After 47 years of Merdeka, said Kayan Cultural Association president Miku Loyang, it is the fault of the Sarawakians themselves that their communities are now unable to even step foot into their ancestors’ land because of the Bakun Dam development.
“Who is wrong? No one but us, even though the government (BN) is like this, we still vote it in every general election,” said Miku, 68, from Balui Liko, Ulu Bakun, who is now resettled in Sungai Asap.
“I am angry. I want to vote against them. We will quietly and nicely place our crosses in the right slots,” added Miku, who was a civil servant and became Belaga councillor before his retirement.
However, Miku, who has been a polling agent before, conceded that it was massive challenge to register voters in the interior of Sarawak due to the blockades placed by logging companies along the roads leading to the villages.
He said that many were not registered as voters and that change could come about only when there were enough young voters casting their ballots.
Miku and three others, including his spouse Saran Juna, 61, a traditional Ngajat dancer, son-in-law Bengo Telang, 56 and Kuit Kilah, 55, from the Penan community, were in Penang to perform several songs and dances at an event organised by Malaysian Elections Observers Network (MEO-Net).
Voter registration, a sign of the times
MEO-Net coordinator, social activist Ong Boon Keong, said the performance, attended by about 100 people, was also part of the group’s Sarawak Road Show first anniversary celebration.
The road show organises monthly trips to the state’s interior to conduct voter registration and education and is supported by other groups, including Malaysian Trades Union Congress, Tanjung Bungah Residents Association, Suaram Penang, Penang Graduates Youth Association, Penang Chinese Journalists Association and Kenyalang Power Intiatiive.
The performers are in Kuala Lumpur today and will be performing at the Central Market Annex before leaving for Sarawak tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Kiut, formerly from Murum and now resettled in Sg Asap with 40 other Penan families, said he has not met with any YBs (parliamentarians or state assemblypersons) although he has been voting for years.
“Where are they, the chief minister and the YBs? They do not seem visible though I have been voting for them before,” said Kiut, who nows lives in a makeshift chicken coop and has untold sad stories to share about his life in Sarawak.
Telang, a Kayan farmer resettled in Sungai Asap, shared his heart-rending tale about the daily sufferings of the indigenous communities since the Bakun Dam project shattered their lives.
He said Malaysia Day held no meaning for him, although he should be very happy that Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak, had gained independence from the British 47 years ago.
“I cannot begin to tell you how sad our stories are, words cannot describe our sadness, we have been cheated over and over again,” said Telang, who sings traditional Kayan songs.
“Our homes have disappeared and we cannot even hunt or gather food for our families; we have not been compensated when they took our homes away and now we are asked to pay for a poorly constructed house in Sungai Asap,” he lamented.
“There is no point for Sarawak to be independent within Malaysia (if the situation is like this for the indigenous communities), there is no difference from being under the colonial rule of the British,” Telang added
Post a Comment