When the governor of Central Kalimantan province, His Excellency Bapak Augustin Teras Narang, who is chairman of Majlis Adat Dayak Nasional (MADN), visited Sarawak and Sabah last week with a delegation of 150 MADN members, he just regarded the visit as an ordinary one. Little did he realize that it marked a new chapter in the relationship between the Dayaks of Kalimantan and the Dayaks of Sabah and Sarawak.
As guests of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) and Lembaga Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah (LKNS), they discussed many things of common interests. And out of the discussions came proposals to enhance Dayak cultural heritage, to promote Dayak culture and arts and to form a World Dayak Federation.
It is anticipated that the proposed federation will go along way not only in helping to strengthen the Dayak brotherhood and promote social and cultural interactions among the Dayaks of Kalimantan, Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah, but will also help to open a new chapter, a new beginning in providing global linkages and networking.
In today’s borderless world, such a body is more than just networks of Dayaks of Borneo, but one that helps to reach out to those who have similar aspirations in far flung countries of Northern Asia from where Dayaks are believed to have migrated to Borneo and nearby islands some 3,000 years ago.
Other than creating political, cultural and social awareness, it will also provide avenues and opportunities for business cooperation such as in tourism and joint venture projects. With more than 13 million Dayaks all over Borneo, and the development of Dayak human resources and capital, it is certainly a huge market that is waiting to be tapped and harnessed into a source of networking and strength.
Another equally important aspect of the proposed federation that it must look into is the codifying and collating of all customs and laws of the major Dayak tribes in Borneo as such an effort will not only help to preserve our culture and Adat for posterity, but also help to promote them globally.
It is felt therefore that there is an urgency for SDNU, MADN and LKNS to form a committee to look into details, the constitution, objectives and aims of the federation. The sooner this is formed, the better it be for the future well-being of the Dayaks in the Borneo Island.
And with leadership provided by two Dayak icons – Dato Sri Daniel Tajem and Bapak Augustin Teras Narang – the federation is going to play a very important role towards the promotion of understanding, peace and harmony among the Dayaks of Borneo in a world full of conflicts, racial and religious bigotry. Indeed the federation will be the roadmap to stronger ties among the Dayaks.
Knowing the importance of the proposed federation, Bapak Augustin Teras Narang has thrown a challenge to members of MADN, SDNU and LKNS when he says: “Who should do it, if we don’t do it?”
As guests of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) and Lembaga Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah (LKNS), they discussed many things of common interests. And out of the discussions came proposals to enhance Dayak cultural heritage, to promote Dayak culture and arts and to form a World Dayak Federation.
It is anticipated that the proposed federation will go along way not only in helping to strengthen the Dayak brotherhood and promote social and cultural interactions among the Dayaks of Kalimantan, Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah, but will also help to open a new chapter, a new beginning in providing global linkages and networking.
In today’s borderless world, such a body is more than just networks of Dayaks of Borneo, but one that helps to reach out to those who have similar aspirations in far flung countries of Northern Asia from where Dayaks are believed to have migrated to Borneo and nearby islands some 3,000 years ago.
Other than creating political, cultural and social awareness, it will also provide avenues and opportunities for business cooperation such as in tourism and joint venture projects. With more than 13 million Dayaks all over Borneo, and the development of Dayak human resources and capital, it is certainly a huge market that is waiting to be tapped and harnessed into a source of networking and strength.
Another equally important aspect of the proposed federation that it must look into is the codifying and collating of all customs and laws of the major Dayak tribes in Borneo as such an effort will not only help to preserve our culture and Adat for posterity, but also help to promote them globally.
It is felt therefore that there is an urgency for SDNU, MADN and LKNS to form a committee to look into details, the constitution, objectives and aims of the federation. The sooner this is formed, the better it be for the future well-being of the Dayaks in the Borneo Island.
And with leadership provided by two Dayak icons – Dato Sri Daniel Tajem and Bapak Augustin Teras Narang – the federation is going to play a very important role towards the promotion of understanding, peace and harmony among the Dayaks of Borneo in a world full of conflicts, racial and religious bigotry. Indeed the federation will be the roadmap to stronger ties among the Dayaks.
Knowing the importance of the proposed federation, Bapak Augustin Teras Narang has thrown a challenge to members of MADN, SDNU and LKNS when he says: “Who should do it, if we don’t do it?”
