Dayak leaders are ‘blind, deaf and dumb’

(The story was first published in Free Malaysia Today)

KUCHING: The current Dayak elected representatives have eaten “taju remaung” (forbidden fruit) so much so that they are suffering from “blind, deaf and dumb” syndromes when issues involving the Dayak community are raised, said Dr. John Brian, a well-known Dayak Baru blogger.

“For example, they are just blind, deaf and dumb on native customary rights (NCR) landsthat are forcibly taken away from the native owners and given to the cronies and companies linked to the powers that be.

“They don’t hear their cries of help,” Brian told residents of longhouse at Nanga Bidat, Julau.

“We have never heard them talking and protecting about hundreds of thousands of Dayak land that have been submerged by Bakun and Batang Ai dams,” he said.

“They have never protested when the government changed the Land code so that it is easier for the government to take away NCR land. Have they?” he asked.

He said: “What I heard of (Deputy Chief Minister) Alfred Jabu talkingis about developing your land by Sarawak Land Custody and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra). He asks you to give your land to Salcra to develop so that you can become millionaires.

“Don’t trust Jabu, because I have not seen anyone from his own Layar constituency becoming a millionaire for taking part in Salcra. They have been with Salcra for more than 20 to 30 years.

“If the Dayaks in Betong defend only on Salcra for a living, they would be classified as hardcore poor when their monthly dividends are between RM200 and RM300 per month,” he said.

“Fortunately, they have other sources of income to rely on,” he explained.

Brian, who has been very vocal lately in Meluan, is expected to contest the seat on a Pakatan Rakyat ticket. The incumbent rep is Wong Judat of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

The Dayak leaders should think of ways how to improve the people’s health, economic well-being and their livelihood by setting up clinics, rubber and cocoa factories, introduce small holdings for oil palm, pepper and rubber rather than distributing minor rural development projects worth from RM3, 000 to RM5, 000, he said.

Such projects need not involve elected representatives to distribute, he said, pointing out that these projects are not development per se.

He noticed that the majority of longhouses in the constituency lack treated water supply and 24-hour electricity as compared to some of villages in the coastal areas.

“Go to the coastal villages in SCORE. Even farm houses are given electricity,” he said, pointing out that development is not equally distributed in the state.

As a result of lack of economic activities in the State, many of the Dayaks have left for Peninsular Malaysia and overseas to seek employment, he said.

On education, Brian said: “Chinese, Malays and Indians have their own respective universities, but where is a Dayak university? And where is an Iban school?”

“None, but why our Dayak leaders are not asking for them, this is because theyhave eaten the ‘forbidden fruit’ fed by their political masters. They have become blind, deaf and dumb,” he stressed.

Brian said: “You have been voting for Barisan Nasional for 46 years,and what you get in return are only threats. They warn you that if you vote for the opposition, then your children cannot go to schools, because these schools are owned by the Barisan Nasional.

“You will not be given development projects if you go against government.

“How come you are against government? Have you rebelled against government? Have you taken armed like communist terrorist against the government? Of course it is a big NO.

“So you are not against government. What you are against is a Barisan Nasional government.

“However, if you still like them, then you vote for them during election times, and if you don’t like them, vote them out. Don’t be afraid to vote for Pakatan Rakyat for a change in the coming election,” he said.

“Why should you be afraid of the BN leaders?All these are mere scare tactics to frighten all of you,” he said, adding that the BN leaders are scared that the next government could be the Pakatan Rakyat government.

“Give Pakatan Rakyat comprising Parti Keadilan, DAP, PAS and Sarawak National Party a chance to prove their capability to form the next government,” he added.