[RE: DAYAK COMMUNITY MUST WAKE UP, SAYS MINOS – BORNEO POST 31.05.12]

The lamentation by Peter Minos viz: (quote) “with so many parties and leaders, many of my KL friends are saying that the Dayak are asking for trouble and heading for self-destruction”  is a display of archaic mentality, one trying to portray nothing more and nothing less he is supporting UMNO.

To “his UMNO mates were of the opinion that the Dayaks would bemoan and complain about everything” Peter Minos and those thinking like him should better realize it that indeed the Dayaks are complaining, and rightly so.

Yes, complain we must. Given the fact that Malaysia, after almost 50 years of formation, has not brought about better changes to the people of Sarawak, and let alone to the Dayaks, there is nothing wrong in complaining and bemoaning.

The people want the promises of Malaysia which, for the majority of them, are yet unrealized, unfullfilled.

The rights under article 153, benefits to the bumiputras, which term should include Dayaks, in term of ranking appointments in civil service, GLCs, and other Government Agencies, Army and Police, in foreign service, and contracts, licences, quotas, timber concession, land, scholarships,  and many more have not been accorded us.  In the civil service, army and police the Dayaks are mostly of junior rank.

Peter Minos asking of the Dayak community to emulate the Melanau that “had fully utilized political unity” and “making a success in their social and economic development” is very pathetic while unrealistic.

The reality in its proper prospective is the fact that the State of Sarawak has been led, after Kalong Ningkan was toppled and after a short stint of Tawi Sli, by two (2) successive Chief Ministers, Tun Rahman Yakub followed by Pehin Sri Taib, for the better part of almost five (5) decades since Independence.

Both are Melanau although they would probably prefer to be called “Malay”.  From these facts the Melanau Community can be better appreciated in term of “their social and economic development”. The all-powerful office of the Chief Minister has been seeing to it how Sarawak is developed over the years.

The fact that (or if) Dayaks are in so many political parties is not necessary a bad thing. In fact Pehin Sri Taib referring to Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) he said “the more the merrier”. 

And when he was asked if he considered it an act of betrayal for Larry Sng, who is special advisor (Youth Matters) to lead an opposition party, he replied that was not the case because the country practiced democracy and “everyone has the right to form a party”. 

And when “Barisan Club” was formed by the defected former members of SPDP, Pehin Sri Taib was reported to have said that “they are still supporting Barisan by being in Barisan Club” and “that is what matters”. 

So who is Peter Minos who all the years has expressed full complete loyal support to Pehin Sri Taib as Chief Minister of Sarawak to question the “Group of 5” that started the Barisan Club.

Peter Minos’s call for the Dayak community to be under one party and under one leader is ‘utopian’.  It cannot be achieved. Rather more political parties will see Dayaks becoming their members will be on the card, moving forward. Nothing is wrong in that. 

Like Pehin Sri Taib was reported to have said in referring to SWP that “the people will make their choice”. And one thing is true the Dayaks will keep on asking for more. Sarawak has contributed a lot to the Federal Revenue.

Example: our oil and gas and our tax revenue. And returned each year to us is very small amount. And all of that goes to SCORE and to the other of Chief Minister’s pet projects.   And despite Dayaks are well represented in Barisan, the larger of the community is not served well. Our NCR lands remain untitled, unsurveyed, and unalienated, and otherwise state land.

When these lands are resumed by State Government “for public purposes” the compensated values are very small compared to that of a mixed zone land in a same locality which normally could fetch very high and current market prices.  Their participation in land development schemes through SALCRA and Pelita has brought very marginal returns.

Otherwise in truth our community has been fending for themselves.  Maybe as apparent in the state of things, due to the blind loyal support given to Barisan Nasional all these years what the Dayaks get are no more than in the form of minor rural projects, which mostly would come during the period preceding election times only.

Another thing is also true: that is despite the diversity of parties and the Dayaks are found in almost all of them, the Dayaks are still united. In particular in their quest for better representation in government, better share of the bite of the economic cake, and for the right to be heard of their quests as such.

Like they did not weep when Peter Minos was defeated when he tried to bring PBB to Bau and was defeated by Patau Rubis of SNAP in 1983 general election, the Dayak community including those in Bau and Lundu will survive the coming GE13.

STAR will offer itself likewise other parties and including maybe a member of the “Gang of 5”, and or maybe DAP and PKR as well.  Rest assured, like Pehin Sri Taib has said it “the people will make their choice”.

And Peter Minos is better advised to not to be in haste to praise everything of “UMNO”. And certainly it is not for him to call upon the Dayaks to support or emulate of those Malays in Malaya that support UMNO. This time is not opportune. UMNO has nothing to offer to the Dayaks because in Sarawak the Chief Minister is from PBB. And UMNO will not contest in Sarawak as well.

Patrick Anek Uren

Vice-President STAR

Dare Mawan face off with Taib?

(Taken From Free Malaysia Today)

January 28, 2012

The next general election may see more of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's party members contesting under the banner of SPDP, PRS or even SUPP.

KUCHING:  Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is not out of the woods yet despite the sacking of its five errant elected representatives, better known as the SPDP 5.

In fact word has it, that party  president William Mawan may now be faced with a bigger and more complex problem.

The five have declared themselves BN friendly and whilst they may be out of SPDP, they are not out of Barisan Nasional. They were all elected under a BN ticket, albeit under SPDP banner.

The question sifting through the party’s rank and file is: ‘Does Mawan have the political mettle, skill and courage to deal with this ‘new’ challenge’?

Because Mawan will be up against a political megamind – Taib Mahmud.

Will he dare face-off with Taib?

The four ex-SPDP assemblymen – Sylvester Entri (Marudi), Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau) and the MP for Mas Gading Tiki Lafe are not ordinary elected representatives.

They are ‘PBB men” planted in SPDP and allegedly backed by Taib. PBB or Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu is Taib’s political vehicle.

Following their expulsion, they are now going to register a BN club with the Registrar of Societies to justify or sustain them as BN representatives.

This will also ensure that they continue to receive minor rural projects for their respective constituencies.

Mawan refuses to acknowledge the club as a political entity.

But that is his problem. The five have Taib’ s blessings to start the club.

SPDP ‘powerless’

Once registered, the BN club has the legal entity of a political party. In other words, Mawan cannot say that they are ‘partyless’.

This will justify Taib’s decision to retain Entri, Nansian and Rosey as assistant ministers.

The appointment of Paulus Gumbang as chairman of the Miri Port Authority effective next month is the latest indication that Taib is not supporting Mawan.

The chairmanship of the authority has always been allocated to SPDP.

Mawan recommended his own man to replace Rosey who has been appointed assistant minister.

But Mawan’s recommendation was rejected indicating again that SPDP is now ‘powerless’.

The formation of the BN club has two immediate effects:

Firstly, by recognizing the formation of the club, Taib may want them to defend their seats as they are still considered ‘winnable candidates’. 

Under the BN spirit of understanding, Mawan should oppose it.  But does he have the courage to protest?

If he is strong enough to defend the rights of SPDP in BN, it is possible that the seats may be returned to the party.

Taib may chose to re-use the formula he adopted to solve the problems between SNAP  and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in the 1983 state election.

In this formula, both parties were allowed to use their own symbols for a ‘free-for-all’ in the disputed constituencies.

Setting a precedent

PBDS which broke away from SNAP demanded to contest in 16 state seats. SNAP strongly opposed them.

In order to show which of the two had the support of the people, Taib then proposed a ‘free-for-all’ in the disputed seats. Both SNAP and PBDS won eight seats each.

But the ‘danger’ in this solution is that the BN leadership may be forced to take sides in the midst of the electioneering as it did to PBDS.

After all BN has nothing to lose. Whichever party wins is still a victory for Barisan Nasional.

The party which allies itself with BN would also see financial and logistical support from the Barisan Nasional.

But such an action would further worsen the animosity between the two parties and this can cause a major problem for BN.

Secondly, with the formation of the club, every time there are internal problems in a Barisan Nasional component party, the disgruntled members may quit the party and join the BN Club.

The BN club would set a precedent. This is the danger the Barisan Nasional coalition may face later on.

Such scenario can happen to any party in the Barisan Nasional. It can even happen to PBB itself.

What would Taib say if PBB members who are not happy with him quit the party and join the club?

Then there are the seven elected representatives from Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) who are also in limbo.

Fear of political backlash

The six are – former SUPP deputy secretary general Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Asan) Tiong Thai King (MP for Sibu), Ranom Mina (Opar assemblyman), Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Francis Harden (Simanggang), Johnichal Rayong (Engkilili) and Lee Kim Shin (Senadin).

In the event that SUPP is deregistered due to breaches in party elections or if they are unable to reconcile with the newly elected president Peter Chin, Wong and his group have made it very clear that they will not form a new party for the time being.

It is, however, possible they may join the BN club and remain BN friendly.

As a UNIMAS lecturer Jeneri Amir said: “By allowing individuals who have been sacked from a Barisan component party to form or join a BN club, the implications are far-reaching.

“If such a club is being condoned by BN, It will create confusion, cause splits and weaken the coalition,” he said.

For the coming general election, it is anticipated by other leaders of BN component parties that more ‘PBB people’ will be contesting under the banner of SPDP, PRS or even SUPP.

This is based on what Taib said that he alone will determine who will be the winnable candidates.

For the time being no one dares to speak out their minds for fear of political backlash, but murmurs of dissatisfaction have getting louder in SPDP.

“What is the point of having our own political parties with our own presidents, if they cannot nominate their own party members to be candidates?

“We may as well dissolve our parties and join PBB or even join the Opposition?” said an angry senior SPDP leader who did not wish to be identified.

Join SNAP, Dayaks urged

SIBU: Former President of the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) Daniel Tajem called on all Dayaks especially the ex-PBDS members in the State to join Sarawak National Party which is now undergoing a process of rebranding.

“The policy, principle and the objective of SNAP are similar to those of the defunct PBDS,” he said at the SNAP symposium in Sibu.

“What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for all our native customary rights land to be taken away to be made as estates of certain Barisan Nasional leaders and their cronies and family members with little pittance given to the land owners?

“Do you wait until your individual rights whittle down to nothingness?” he asked.

Tajem, who was also former deputy chief minister, said that SNAP is the right avenue for the people to support.

He said: “We want to play an important part of a machine of politics that will churn the wheel and I can see that with the death of PBDS, we have no alternative but to support SNAP.”

Earlier in his opening g remarks, SNAP President Edwin Dundang said that the party’s symposium is to put SNAP back into the “factory” once again with the hope that it may churn SNAP out as either an old product with a new casing like an old wine with a new bottle or even become a different product with a new brand that will attract new sets of customers in addition to the previous Dayak and rural based set of customers.

“Inputs are needed from all of us present as to how we can together move SNAP once again,” he said.

He said that SNAP which was deregistered eight years ago by the Registrar of Societies has become legally operative since 23 June 2010 following the decision of the High Court of Appeal, which affirmed no legal reasons why SNAP was to be deregistered.

“SNAP was almost dead, only surviving through a very thin thread of so-called ‘stay of execution’ otherwise legally SNAP is dead.

“It was deserted almost over night as members left the party leaving behind some 70,000 members,” Dundang said, calling on all members who had left the party to return in order to make the party stronger once again.

The party at that time had a membership of 123,000.

SNAP was regietered on 10 April 1961 and had played a major role in the formation of Malaysia. Its Secretary General Stephen Kalong Ningkan was made Sarawak’s first chief minister.

During the height of its electoral successes in 1974 SNAP won 18 state seats and nine parliamentary seats.

Today it has no elected representative either in Parliament or in the State legislative assembly.

(The story first appeared in Free Malaysia Today)

Without fear or favour

The Broken Shield will always highlight problems and policies that negatively affect the Dayak community without fear or favour. It will also heap praises on government policies if such policies bring benefit to the people.

Truth is bitter and no doubt such exposure will hurt those who implement such policies, but the intention is good and a part of a democratic process where the freedom of speech should prevail.

This is the stand of The Broken Shield:-

The writer’s story on “Masing disowns Salcra” and the comments that follow have made some officers in Salcra management unhappy and have threatened to send the owner of the blog to jail under ISA. If they think the facts are not true The Broken Shield stands to be corrected and it will publish its version in the blog.

But to threaten the writer and to put the blame on the writer’s brother in Salcra and accuse him of giving the writer any information on its problems, weakness, etc. is not only unfair, but it is also very unprofessional, because that is not true.

My information comes from those who are close to the Minister of Land Development and Salcra board of directors. Even the writer’s brother does not know some of the most sensitive information about Salcra, about the general manager, his background and background of some of the contract officers.

I have also some information passed to the writer on certain staff in Salcra sending their personal cars for servicing and repairing to a car workshop company in Serian, the costs for which are allegedly paid by Salcra.

Salcra staff and management as well as the scheme participants should read Dayak Baru blog by Dr. John Brian and remarks and comments that follow. What is written in the Broken Shield is paled in comparison.

Thus threatening the writer of The Broken Shield with ISA does not intimidate him.

The Broken Shield can assure the readers that it will continue to highlight and expose mismanagement and abuse of power either by Salcra, Land and Survey Department, Agriculture, or by ministers and politicians. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Taib challenges NGOs to form political parties

KUCHING – Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has challenged NGOs to form their own political parties in order to confront him over land and environmental issues.

Launching Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s Orangutan Adoption programme over dinner on Friday night (13 Nov '09), Taib said he was unhappy with some agencies and NGOs which had constantly raised issues pertaining to wildlife and environment in the State.

Taib particularly singled out Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) which is supposed to fight for human rights, has a lot of issues on land, which later jumped into orangutan talks.

“Why don’t they just form a political party rather than fighting in disguise?” he asked.

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What the Malays say: "Cakap tidak serupa bikin". This expression is aptly applied to Taib. When a group of Dayaks wanted to form a political party way back in 2005, Taib, according to the Registrar of Societies was among Sarawak leaders who strongly objected to the registration of Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC). Here he wants NGOs to form a political party.

His Deputy Alfred Jabu, who had earlier on welcomed any one to form “a political party, or any party or even a tea party ka” labeled MDC as “mai Dayak charut”. Apparently because of Jabu’s remarks, the Federal authorities refused to register MDC on grounds of security that it (MDC) would bring chaos to the country. What stupid reasons for the authorities not to register MDC!

The question we want to ask is: Does Taib really mean what he says and supports the registration of any political party in the State in the near future either by any of NGOs or a group of people? - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

News and Views: Crab and snail mentality

Henry Harry Jinep, a Bidayuh intellectual and entrepreneur, spoke of crab mentality among the Bidayuhs, saying that the Bidayuhs had no one to blame, but their crab mentality of pulling down those on top when they lost a representation in the federal cabinet.

The community lost a federal cabinet post of deputy minister when Tiki Lafe was not reappointed as a result of the ”community’s internal politicking to pull him down.”

The politicking against Tiki was so bad to the extent that Barisan Nasional leaders feared the community was heading towards disintegration with leaders going separate directions.

“From the first day that Tiki was made a deputy minister, there was a lot of politicking to pull him down or to ensure that he would not go up again,” he said.

The crab mentality reminds me of a woman selling two types of snails in a market. A man came enquiring what was the woman selling. Replying the woman said she was selling snails. The man looked into an open pail and asked what was inside the other pail that was covered. The woman said both pails contained snails. Curious the man asked again why she needed to cover the pail.

The woman said that she was selling two types of snails. The one side the covered pail was the “town” snails and it must be covered, because if one of the snails escaped, it would pull up the rest so that they all would escape. The other pail was open, because if one snail tried to escape, the rest would pull it down, so that nobody would escape.

Is there any similarity to the crab mentality of the Bidayuhs as mentioned by Henry Harry Jinep?


Financial grants to small-scale pepper cultivation

The Ministry of Plantation, Industries and Commodity has allocated a grant of RM4.09 million to encourage pepper cultivation among small-scale farmers in Sibu, Kanowit and Selangau.

The allocation has been channeled through the productivity and income enhancement programme for pepper smallholders, said Nangka Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah.

He was speaking at the launch of a three-day pepper production and marketing technology course in Sibu. Forty participants from Sibu attended the course organized by the Malaysian Pepper Board Sibu branch.

Due to low prices of pepper and high costs of production, Sarawak has slipped into fourth position in the production of pepper in the world after Vietnam, Brazil and Indonesia. Decades ago Sarawak occupied top position.

In order to stimulate the pepper industry the Ministry of Plantation, Industries and Commodity should extend such grants to farmers in other division, so that Sarawak farmers can produce from the current production of 4,000 to 10,000 metric tonnes by 2020.

We know in the past the government did not really care about the problems faced by the farmers otherwise Sarawak would not have fallen into poor fourth position. Incentives should have been given as the government did to oil palm smallholders.

It is suggested that the government should buy back both black and white pepper say at RM700 per ton for black and RM1200 per ton for white. In this way the pepper prices will not only be stabilized but will not go down below the government prices.

But has the government the political will to do it? – The Broken Shield

(See SNAP story from Malaysiakini below)

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Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/102542

Snap at it again: No 2 vs No 1

The latest crisis in the Sarawak National Party (Snap) is reaching a point of no return with Ting Ling Kiew, its deputy president, threatening to sue the party leadership if they pursue with their show-cause letter against him.

“I have not received the letter and I do not know what the contents and the allegations against me,” he said when contacted today.

“Tell them, they should withdraw the show-cause letter. Otherwise they will feel sorry for their actions. Don’t play with me. I will sue them,” he warned.

Ting accused Edwin Dundang, Snap president and Stanley Jugol, its secretary general, of not following procedures when they called an emergency meeting to discuss the show-cause letter, alleging that there was no notice of meeting and there were no text messages to the members.

“How can they do this?” he asked.

Snap had sent the show-cause letter to Ting and Augustine Sating, appointed vice- president and a CEC member.

It is understood that the allegation against Ting was that he was 'selling' the party to the Barisan Nasional when he met the newly elected Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak early this month. He did not consult the CEC members.

For Sating, he was given the show-cause letter because he campaigned for the BN candidate Malcolm Mussen Lamoh against Jawah Gerang of PKR during the Batang Ai by-election. The Snap leadership had earlier declared its solidarity with Pakatan Rakyat and PKR.

The show-cause letters which give them 30 days to reply will expire on May 6 . But sources close to the party leadership did not expect the duo to reply to the show-cause letters.

It is said that the dispute in the party started to flare up when Dundang and his deputy Ting did not see eye to eye on the Batang Ai by-election. While Ting wanted Snap to contest the by-election, Dundang and Jugol insisted on supporting the PKR candidate Jawah Gerang.


Disagreement over Batang Ai

According to Ting, he was directed by the president to form a committee to gauge whether the party should contest in the by-election.

“After I formed the committee, suddenly I found out that the president and secretary-general threw their support to PKR and Jawah and insisted that Snap would not be contesting” he said.
Ting said he was furious that Snap had aligned itself with PKR as he saw no future for the party in PKR and called for an emergency CEC meeting. According to him, all members attended, except Dundang and Jugol, as they were campaigning for Jawah in Batang Ai.

The meeting agreed that Ting should see the newly elected Umno president and convey the party’s support for his leadership.

Ting had said that he did this for the love of the party. “We want to save the party and we don’t want to leave the BN.”

He also sought Najib’s help to resolve Snap’s problem with the Registrar of Societies which had de-registered the party on November 5, 2002. Snap has been granted a stay of execution pending an appeal.

In 2002, the party faced a similar leadership crisis between the then president James Wong and his deputy Peter Tinggom and eight other CEC members, resulting in the de-registration of the party and the formation of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party now led by William Mawan.

In 1983, Snap faced its first major leadership crisis, also involving the then president James Wong and a team of Dayak leaders, led by Leo Moggie and Daniel Tajem. Moggie fought Wong for the party’s presidency but lost. Together with Tajem, Moggie founded Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak the same year.

Virtually reduced to a skeleton today, the party which can take pride in producing Sarawak’s first chief minister Stephen Kalong Nngkan is slipping further down the road of oblivion.

Where are the Iban Warriors In Politics?

Written by YB Encik Voon Lee Shan *

Rentap, the most famous Iban warrior in Sarawak

Iban people were traditionally brave people. They feared no one and were well known for their bravery. History told us that they also had good leaders, who were capable to enter into military alliances with one another and able to moblilize hundreds of followers under their direction for territorial expansion.

For newly opened region or territory during their head hunting days, their tuai menoa allocated settlement areas to their followers and their young men who displayed courage in the battlefield were entitled to called bujang berani or “brave bachelor”. In the old days, they were truly warriors and they led and were never wanted to be led by other people. So, they fought against the Rajahs.

Their bravery helped young Malaysia grew to what it is today. Malaysia needed them in early years and in time of peace, they still served the nation well. Iban were good trackers and their service in the Royal Malaysian Rangers was exemplary and many were awarded with bravery awards for their prowess in fighting the insurgencies. Their display of bravery was consistent with their motto, “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban”.

In Rangers, they also displayed not only exceptional courage, but, also exemplary leadership and discipline.


Brookes Changed Iban Leadership

Things now changed. They no more led, but, were led by others through their leaders. Why and how could this happen?

One thing for sure about the Iban people was that, the Iban or Dayaks in general were good, honest and obedient followers. The Brookes were smart and when they ruled Sarawak, they appointed Iban warriors as native chiefs. It was through these native chiefs that Brooke’s rule became more peaceful and Sarawak’s territory then expanded.

The British who took over from Brookes also did the same thing and this strategy worked well to keep the Iban in peace with the government. Iban people lived simple lives and were never demanding and it was their culture taught them to respect and be obedient to their elders or tuai.

In the longhouses, their tuai who headed their longhouses were called tuai rumah. These tuai rumah were powerful figures and they provided the link with the government.

The anembiaks in the longhouses in return for their loyalty and obedience to their tuai rumah will get some subsidies in terms of fertilizers, some granite for their roads which normally were distributed to them as “election installments”. That is, these subsidies will only normally be distributed when elections were around.

However, the Iban could not simply get these subsidies unless their tuai rumah were obedient and loyal to the government. The BN government held them under 'political ransom' and the present system will continue to make them so.

Therefore, until today the system of tuai rumah has been maintained and given the few hundred ringgits as monthly allowances, these tuai rumah had then been instrumental in controlling and influencing their anembiaks to be obedient and loyal to the government.

With the exceptional loyalty as trademark and embedded as a culture, the Barisan Nasional government has until now since independence ruled Sarawak through Iban patronage. That also prolonged Pehin Sri Taib, a Melanau and a Muslim as the Chief Minister of Sarawak. With that, Taib may wish to perpetuate the Melanau dynasty which began from his uncle Tun Rahman, in ruling Sarawak, by making his son, Sulaiman as the next chief minister.


Kuala Lumpur followed Brookes

When Malaysia was formed in September 16, 1963, the federal government in Kuala Lumpur also followed Brooke. They knew, Apai Jugah was too influential among the Ibans and other Dayaks. They respected and were loyal to Apai Jugah.

So as not to rock the peace already established through Brookes’ rule, the federal government then appointed Apai Jugah as a Federal Minister. With Apai Jugah, the Iban just continued to get some subsidies. The Iban together with the Melanaus and Malays in Malaysia were Bumiputera, but, the Iban until today could not enjoy what the Malays could get.

Gone was Apai Jugah, the BN government perpetuates Iban loyalty to the government by absorbing Iban leaders and politicians into the government. These leaders were given posts and many perks.

The few leaders, like Jabu, Moggie, Masing, Mawan, Entulu, were said very rich. So, the story continues. The Iban never then led, but, was led through their leaders. What the Iban got until now were subsidies and not capitals for the development of the community.

The majority of the Iban will continue to be poor. While their leaders lived in big towns and cities could enjoy piped water and driving luxurious cars with oil palm plantations from Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands giving them perpetuating income and wealth, the majority of the Iban will see themselves poor and to live without proper water and electricity supply.

In return for their wealth they got from their positions in the government, these Iban leaders who presently are in the government will continue to tell the Iban people that only BN government could give the Iban subsidies in the longhouses.

This was of course true, but, the Iban did not realize that the giving to them subsides will continue to make them poor. It would be different, if Pakatan Rakyat takes over the government. Instead of subsidies, the Iban will get capitals to start their lives.

The Iban now has no political warriors who are capable to lead the community against the Barisan Nasional and against the dominance of the Melanau-Malays in Sarawak politics.

Ningkan an Iban from Betong who was supported by many Chinese tycoons in his days was too aggressive. His display of the typical Dayak arrogance and bravery was seen a threat by the federal government led by the Malays from UMNO, who then politically kicked him out of his chief ministership.

Ningkan who displayed exceptional political courage and leadership of an Iban warrior, Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban, was seen a threat to UMNO rule in Sarawak through Melanau-Malays. These Melanau-Malays were mostly Muslims, but, is not a large group in the state.

Had Ningkan not been toppled, Iban today would be under a better umbrella had enjoyed better lives. Maybe, it was and still is the policy of federal government to see that Iban should not become the governor and chief minister of Sarawak.

This was made more difficult in recent years after the amendment of the State Constitution because, it seems that to be a governor, the governor must be a Muslim and in the case of Iban, this would be something almost impossible as most Ibans are Christians.

Due to the amendment of the State Constitution, the Iban, like the Chinese, would also find themselves difficult to become Speakers of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).

Peter John (centre), is he our modern Iban Warrior?
Picture Credit: www.dayaknation.com

Iban Must Change

DAP and PKR are here to change the Iban lives, but, if Iban people refuses to change nothing much DAP and PKR could do. Iban leaders like, Jabu, Masing, Mawan, Sylvester Entri, Peter Nyarok and Francis Hardin, being senior Iban politicians could bring better change to the Iban community, but, it seems that they prefer to be led and not to lead.

They should be the Iban political warriors taking lead to bring the Iban to greater heights. They should realize that Iban being the largest race in Sarawak should lead and not be led by the minorities.

Never, at anytime I heard them speaking against any of the policies put up by the government. They lacked political courage to speak against the evils of the government and when they saw Taib coming to the Dewan Undangan Negeri, they all rushed towards him, trying to get Taib’s attention. Sometimes, I observed that when Taib saw them coming, Taib just shook their hands with them, but, with his face turning away looking at others around!

So if Iban people want to change themselves, they should no more be dependent on their present leaders. Instead, they have to take the lead themselves, throw away their present leaders and change the government.

The Iban people have lost its grip in power and the only way to overcome this is to change the government. So, the coming Batang Ai by-election will a testing ground for Iban Baru or New Iban. Whoever be fielded by the Opposition against the BN in Batang Ai, the Iban people, please rise up to the occasion to support the candidate for a change. He is your Iban Baru!

Good luck, my Dayak friends! DAP are with you!

14th day of March, 2009

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* YB Encik Voon Lee Shan is a member of Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Sarawak, N. 11 Batu Lintang

Can we defeat the arrogant “kingfisher”?

The more we try to be united, the more we become divided. Dayaks especially the Ibans must learn from past political miscalculations in order to build a better future.

In Japan, homogeneity is a unifying force. Here in Malaysia, despite the Ibans being homogeneous, why are they so divided, so much so that the unity is so elusive? asked Dr. Dusit Jaul, a senior INTAN Program Coordinator.*

Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) which tried to group the various Dayak tribes under its umbrella was about to achieve that unity. But certain forces both within the party and outside were determined to see that the party not only failed to achieve its objective, but also wanted the party destroyed and at the same time sabotaged the unity among the Dayaks.

The Dayaks should be united to fight these forces and should ponder and learn a lesson from a story of a race between “burung ensing” (kingfisher) (read BN) and “kuyong kerikap” (fresh water snail) (read the Ibans).

The kingfisher is always poking fun at the snail for its sluggishness. Angered by the daily taunts, the snail, despite its handicap challenges the kingfisher to a race. The kingfisher cynically laughs off the challenge knowing very well that the snail in no way can beat it in the race.

And when the snail looks very serious the kingfisher smilingly accepts the challenge with a condition. If the snail loses the race, the snail and its descendents will become the slaves of the kingfisher and its descendents. The snail accepts the condition also with its own condition that if the kingfisher loses the race, the kingfisher and its descendents will also likewise be their slaves. The agreement was sealed.

Before the race begins, “kuyong kerikap” asks several other “kuyong kerikap” for a meeting and tells them of the pending race, a very important race that will determine their future well-being.

To save their kind, the snail wants each and every one of them to cooperate and asks each one of the “kerikap” to station itself at a strategic point along the river starting from the estuary to the very “ulu”. The duty of each one of them is to answer when the kingfisher calls.

On the day of the race, both the snail and the kingfisher start the race from the estuary and follow the river upward. Smiling arrogantly, the kingfisher begins the race and flies along the river, while the snail slithers its way.

At the first ‘tanjong’ (point) the kingfisher calls for the snail’s whereabouts, the snail replies “here I am ahead of you”. Startled the kingfisher flies faster and at the second tanjong, it calls for the snail, the snail says that it is ahead of the kingfisher. The kingfisher tries to fly faster and faster and every time it calls for the snail, the snail is always ahead. The kingfisher becomes frustrated and tired until it cannot fly anymore. It collapses.

The kingfisher concedes defeat and from that day until today, the kingfisher and its descendents, according to the tale, become the slaves of the “kerikap” snails. The kingfisher’s job is to daily forewarn the snails of the coming of tide and it flies all the way from the river mouth to the very “ulu” shouting at the top of its voice. Hearing the voice of the kingfisher, the “kerikap” snails know that the tide is coming and so they will quickly climb to a higher ground to avoid being drowned.

The moral of the story is that although the snails appear to be stupid and sluggish, they are able to defeat the fast flying and arrogant kingfisher simply because of unity and cooperation among the snails and strategically use their numerical strength and a bit of intelligence to outsmart the kingfisher.

Do we Ibans have the esprit-de-corps of “kuyong kerikap” among us to beat the BN in the Batang Ai by-election? - The Broken Shield


* An excerpt from the second volume of The Broken Shield – The Dayak Dilemma, which will be published very soon.

Have we been fooled all this while?

Kelantan Menteri Besar, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat is one kind of a leader who dares to say a “spade is a spade” when he labels the term “Bumiputra” as a smack of racism. But to us Dayaks, bumiputra is an illusory word, the application (or non-application) of which has made us Dayaks as the losers in terms of development, business opportunities, contracts and tenders, educational opportunities, recruitment into and promotion in the civil service.

In the political terminology, Dayaks together with Malays, Kadazandusuns and other natives are grouped as Bumiputras. What it means here is that when UMNO needs our support to strengthen its policy on “ketuanan Melayu” the Dayaks are considered as Bumiputras so that bigger “Merdeka cakes” (a.k.a. economic opportunities, rights and privileges) should be accorded to reflect the larger composition of Bumiputras (Malays, Dayaks, Kadazandusun, etc) and as Bumiputras our rights are said to be included in the term.

But in actual implementation of the “Bumiputra policy” the Dayaks have been sidelined or not considered at all for all those privileges, rights and economic opportunities; in fact the Dayaks are officially known as “lain-lain” (others). And as “lain-lain” what do we get? Even Article 153 of the Federal Constitution cannot protect us. In fact, illegal immigrants have better treatment than us.

I recall a friend of mine who is now a member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Supreme council complained that his application for a business was rejected because he was not a bumiputra. Imagine a Dayak Iban’s application for business opportunities is not considered on ground that he is not a Bumiputra. His case is a tip of the iceberg.

The term of “Bumiputra” and “non-Bumiputra” first came into use when the government introduced New Economic Policy (NEP) following the 13 May 1969 racial riots in West Malaysia. That is about 30 years ago.

Following a special meeting with the then Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad with Dayak leaders like Tan Sri Leo Moggie from the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and Dayak non-governmental organisations as well as Kadazandusun leaders like Tan Sri Bernard Dompok of UPKO, Sabah some time in 2000, it was agreed by the Federal government to give a special attention to Sarawak and Sabah people in terms of financial allocation and business opportunities.

And arising from that meeting it was decided to form the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to look after the interests of the Dayak and Kadazandusun communities. Since then a new terminology, Bumiputra minorities, has been coined to refer to the Dayaks and Kadazandusuns. Legally, of course, there are no such words.

The current debate on the privileges of “Bumiputra” was brought up by an Opposition leader, Dr. Boo Cheng Hau in Johor State Assembly last week when he likened “bumiputralism” as another form of apartheid policy which was experienced by the black Africans.

Nik Aziz labeled it (bumiputralism) as racism and wanted it drop, while the Information Minister, Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the Opposition did not understand the meaning and the history of the word.

It is obvious that we have been lulled into belief that as Bumiputras we enjoy all the rights. What a fool we have been for the last 30 years for continuing to elect BN government? This issue should be one of the issues to be highlighted at the forthcoming Batang Ai by-election. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Is this not another evidence of cruelty?

Source: Utusan Borneo, 28 Feb 2009

The latest destruction of a number of houses by the Land and Survey Department at Mile 15, Mukah-Selangau Road has been described as yet another evidence of cruelty on the part of the state BN government.

Mensekar Banyau, aged 70, has lodged a report with the Police at Selangau Police Station two days ago accusing the enforcement officers from the Land and Survey department of being “zalim” (cruel) against the occupants of three houses when they came and destroyed the houses and their properties.

“We tried to stop them from destroying our houses and properties, but we were helpless. Their actions made us very angry and we lost about RM60,000 worth of properties," he said to a reporter from Utusan Borneo.

“They should have notified us,” he said and added that they were now staying with their relatives in other longhouses.

According to him, the enforcement officers on 16 October last year destroyed a number of houses in the area.

“Before the case is settled, the enforcement officers on Thursday, 26 February 2009 at 10.30 a.m. destroyed three more houses. At that time only me and my wife were at home; the rest had gone to work. We tried to salvage our properties, but could not do it as they used a bulldozer to destroy the houses,” he said.

Mensekar claimed that they had not been notified by the Land and Survey Department nor informed that their houses were to be demolished.

He admitted, however, that he had partially dismantled his house when they told him that a public road passed through the part of the house. And he was also told by the staff of the department that the other half of the house could still be occupied as it did not obstruct the proposed road.

That was why, he said, that they did not move out.

“They clearly cheated us,” said another villager, Nyunkin Renjau and listed their possessions being destroyed included paddy, fertilizers, motorcycles, antiques, bedding, clothing and cash.

The victims are known to be strong supporters of the MP for Selangau and Deputy Minister Joseph Entulu Belaun who is deputy president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

Why couldn’t Joseph Belaun help them? Or for that matter Joseph Mauh, State Assemblyman for Tamin? After all this is what our elected representatives are supposed to do – help their supporters.

Anyway the latest incident which is one of the many cases where Dayak longhouses have been destroyed should open the eyes of the voters of Batang Ai who will soon witness a by-election. They are given a choice: vote for BN and condone the destruction of longhouses or vote for PKR for your rights, fairness and justice. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Unting’s death a big loss to PRS

Dublin Unting Ingot, aged 56, passed away at 1.30 a.m. this morning, leaving behind his wife, Florin and their three children, the youngest of them is 4 years old.

Unting, a young agriculture officer, was brought by Tan Sri Leo Moggie, then president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) into politics to contest in the 1991 State election against Mikai Mandau of BN-PBB. Unting won with a majority of 83 votes.

Mikai, who was the incumbent, was a PBDS man; he defected from the party to PBB in 1987 soon after winning the seat. His defection opened the way for Unting to contest.

In the 1996 State election, Unting contested the seat on a BN-PBDS ticket and won with a majority of 2,555 votes. In 2001, he won the seat uncontested.

However, he faced a strong challenge from Nicholas Bawin in the 2006 State election. This time around, he contested on a BN-PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) against Bawin, a Malaysian Dayak Congress/SNAP candidate, and won with a reduced majority. He polled 3,295 votes as against 2,489 votes secured by Bawin.

Unting could have lost the seat, if only Bawin had got the money to sustain his campaign and cover the ‘ulu’ and remote parts of the constituency.

Soon after he joined PBDS, Dublin’s quality as a leader was noticed by the party leadership. After the 1997 TDC, he was appointed as Secretary General of the party. When PBDS rejoined the BN State government 1996, he was appointed an Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s office.

Later he was appointed Assistant Minister of Modernization of Agriculture and Assistant Minister of Tourism. In a cabinet reshuffle in July 2004, he was appointed as Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Assistant Minister of Sports. And he retained the post after the 2006 State election.

Dublin played an important role in the 2003 PBDS leadership crisis, helping Dr. James Massing to challenge Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem for the top post of the party. Although Tajem and his men won the leadership of the party, Masing, Unting and Sng Chee Hua disputed it and lodged a complaint to the Registrar of Societies. The protracted leadership crisis led to the deregistration of PBDS in October 2004 and at the same time gave birth to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

While Masing became PRS president, Unting was elected as vice president of the party. His loss will be greatly felt by PRS leaders and members as well as his supporters of Batang Ai Constituency. His body has been brought to his house at Stutong, BDC. Funeral has been arranged to take place on Thursday, 26 February 2009. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Neutrality of Police questioned

Are the police siding timber or oil palm companies in any dispute between the companies and the poor rural people?

This was the question that was posed during the first Dayak symposium held on 31 January 2009 in Sibu where some 200 Dayak professionals, intellectuals, pensioners, NGO leaders and community leaders were present.

In a paper presented to the symposium, Paul Raja, a leading NCR land lawyer, said that in the event of conflicts between the natives and timber companies, the natives could not do much because the companies had the entire government machinery to support them.

“The natives are only watching helplessly the timber companies plundering their timber wealth found in their native customary rights lands. They can’t do much.

“The police are always siding with the companies in the event of conflicts. The natives who lodge reports of abuse and trespass on their lands are either turned away from the police stations or no action at all is taken by the police,” Paul said.

On the other hand, when the companies made police reports, most of the time, false reports of purported criminal intimidation, the police sprung into action instantaneously and arrested anyone mentioned in the reports.

“This is a common tactic used by timber and oil palm companies to subdue any resistance from the natives. This has become so common that the natives are reluctant to lodge police reports against companies encroaching into their lands because they are well aware that lodging police reports do not make any difference at all. In short the people do not trust the police and the government authorities,” he said.

Paul also said that the Forest department and the Land and Survey Department were equally unhelpful to the natives who viewed the relevant government departments as “only serving the companies and the government but not the people”.

He went on to say that to compound the natives’ miseries, most of the time, the people who were being used as front men to subdue and subjugate the natives in collusion with the government departments were shadowy figures from the underworld.

The climax of this modus operandi was at Batu Niah resulting in a murder incident, he said, alleging that it was also normal for a government department to be used by a private company to enforce a civil claim in the event of disputes with the natives.

The Police, Land and Survey Department and the Forest Department were the usual enforcement agents used to enforce claims over NCR lands. The shooting of the villagers by the Police at Tinjar oil palm estate was an example of many such cases.

Paul suggested that “all forest and timber found on native customary rights lands shall belong to the land owners who shall be authorized to cut, sell and trade in the forest produce or timber in accordance to the regulations established by the Native Land Council.

In addition to that permit from the Forest Department may be required for the purpose of facilitating the transaction with no restriction. There shall only be minimal administrative fees.” - The Broken Shield

(Note: This is the last article on the Dayak Symposium)

Form Native Land Commission, symposium suggests

The Dayak symposium held in Sibu over the weekend (31 Jan 2009) has suggested the set-up of a Native Land Commission for the purpose of investigating all complaints, any abuse and malpractices by the government under the Barisan Nasional and its partners in issuing land titles, provisional leases, timber licence, licence to plant forests involving or affecting Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands whether communal or otherwise.

Upon establishment of proof of complaint, the Commission shall be duly empowered to excise out the Native Customary Rights land out and to issue either a perimeter title or individual as the case may be.

All lands acquired by the State government for dam purposes but are not used or affected or inundated shall be returned to the land owners for their own purposes and they are free to occupy it as they may wish, the symposium agreed.

The suggestion was made based on a paper presented by a lawyer at the symposium where some 200 Dayak professionals, intellectuals, community leaders, leaders of non-government organisations and politicians were present.

The one-day symposium, which was aimed at triggering and provoking thoughts among the Dayak community was to find remedies to solve the NCR land problems. Some of these issues which are to be compiled will be used as campaign materials for the next State election.

On the untitled NCR lands, the symposium was told that previously titles to native lands were issued pursuant to a settlement exercise which was normally carried out when an area was declared as Native Area Land. Titles to native lands were issued within this area under Section 18 of the Land Code.

The paper said: “However, the present government policy that there shall NO more settlement exercise because that would mean there will be no land remaining for oil palm and tree planting schemes. So the government has stopped issuing out land titles to native lands.

“As the majority of native lands are untitled, the native lands have no market value and significance; they can not be valued for any form of investments and cannot be used in any commercial dealings.

“Not only the natives are deprived of opportunities to develop their lands through joint-ventures or partnerships, they are also unable to fully develop their lands themselves. This is because without any land titles and in the absence of the much needed capital, they are unable to raise the needed funds to develop their lands. This is seen as a hindrance to the native lands to be developed.

“One main reason used by political leaders for not issuing land titles to Dayaks is the risk of the Dayaks selling away their land to non-Dayaks and therefore losing out their lands. But this is mere front to the sinister motive of keeping the Dayaks poor. It does not matter whether they sell their lands, as who does not sell their lands for economic reasons? Everyone does.

“Nevertheless the owner will still benefit because the income derived from the sale of the land will go to improve his well-being. He may need to sell some of his lands to raise capital to start business. This is normal economic practice.”

The paper alleged that the main reason for not issuing land titles to native lands was to ‘keep the natives within the poverty cycle’ so that they remained dependent on the government handouts and therefore loyal voters for the ruling party.

“The hidden fear of the ruling party if Dayak voters break out of the poverty cycle is that they no longer depend on the ruling party and therefore under no obligation to vote for them come election times.

“This is a major grievance of the Dayak community. The other communities will always get their titles due to them. But when it comes to Dayak lands, all sorts of excuses are being used to avoid giving him titles to his native lands,” the paper stressed. – The Broken Shield.

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Dayak Symposium Resolutions: State Government unjust and unfair!

Picture credit: http://dayaknation.blogspot.com/

Dayak professionals, political leaders, retired senior civil servants, businessmen and members of Dayak Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from Bidayuh, Iban and Orang Ulu communities have come up with a united voice saying that the actions of the BN government have forced the Native customary land owners into confrontation with plantation companies and with the police and have in many instances created adverse public order situations and the blame for the emergence of such situations lies with the BN government.

This was one of the resolutions adopted at the Dayak Symposium held on Saturday, 31 January 2009 in Sibu where issues pertaining to NCR land had become the focal point of discussions.

The symposium agreed “That as a long term and wholesome solution to the injustices and unfairness and the undesirable public order situations the symposium is urging the people of Sarawak of all races to strike at the root cause by effecting a change in the leadership in government, that is, to remove the State BN government from power through the democratic process at the next general election.”

Other resolutions include:-

# That the Sarawak BN government under the leadership of the present Chief Minister has formulated and implemented polices relating to land that are unjust and that are burdening land owners;

# That the Sarawak BN government policy of freezing the survey of NCR land and freezing the issuance of native titles and its amendment of Land Code placing the burden of proving native customary rights on the land owners are unfair and unjust and, by design or otherwise, will result in Dayaks gradually and eventually to be dispossessed of their NCR lands;

# That the extinguishment of NCR lands without adequate and proper notice is resented as being unfair and unjust;

# That the Sarawak BN government does not pay due recognition and respect to Dayak customs and traditions relating to land rights and land use and does not recognize “Pemakai Menoa” and “Pulau Galau”;

# Grant of state leases which are now on the increase involving large tracts of State land and NCR lands to relatives, nominees and cronies of or companies belonging to BN leaders without due regards to customary rights over these lands and without regards to the consequences to the NCR land owners is unjust, abuse of power, irresponsible, a breach of fiduciary duty as a government and tantamount to corruption;

# That the word “Dayak” to be reinstated in the definition of “Natives”.

# That the Dayaks be identified and called according to their respective ethnic groups instead of being classified as “Lain-Lain” in various government official forms and documents;

# That the Dayaks being a minority Bumiputra group ought to be allocated special quotas in the award of scholarships and study loans, in placements and colleges, in appointment and promotions in the civil service, Police and Army;

# That in the delineation of the State electoral constituencies, the number of Dayak majority constituencies is to be proportionate and commensurate with the Dayak population in Sarawak.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, PKR vice president and Sabah’s deputy PKR chief, when closing the symposium, reminded the Dayak professionals and leaders that changing the State government was not good enough.

“We must strive hard to change the Federal Government too. It is not good enough to change the State Government. We must learn a lesson from Sabah.”

Dr. Jeffrey was referring to the change of government from BN-Berjaya to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in the 1990s.

“The Federal Government sent ACA and ISA to undermine the PBS government. They created a Federal department through which federal money was to be channeled; they deprived the State of financial assistance and they even bought over PBS elected representatives to defect so that PBS government would collapse,” he said.

He stressed that the Dayaks together with Sabahans and Pakatan Rakyat must change the Federal government.

The symposium was opened by Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem, a prominent Dayak leader and former Deputy Chief Minister.

Some 200 professionals and Dayak leaders attended the symposium. The next symposium is likely to be held in Kuching. - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Read comments from The Dyaks blog >> http://dyaksblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/misc-dayak-resolutions/

This government must be changed, says Tajem

Datuk Seri Daniel Tajem

A prominent Dayak leader today called for a change of government if the Dayaks want to remedy the injustices that have been meted against the community.

“For the past 45 years the Dayaks have suffered injustices, have been marginalized and have been sidelined in education, scholarships, business opportunities and our NCR lands have been taken and given to big companies,” Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem (pic above) said.

Tajem, who was former Deputy Chief Minister and president of the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) was opening a one-day Dayak symposium at a leading hotel in Sibu.

Some 200 professionals and members of the Dayak organisations coming from through the State attended the symposium.

“The only remedy or option open to us is to change the State government,” he said and added that failing to do so would further disenfranchise and disempower the Dayaks.

Tajem said that the State government had introduced a bill to change “Sea Dayak” to “Iban”, the “Land Dayak” to “Bidayuh” and “Murut” to “Lun Bawang”.

The governor has not signed the bill into law, but once it becomes law it means that “Iban”, “Bidayuh” and “Lun Bawang” are no longer natives and will not enjoy the rights and privileges as embodied under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

“Even forming a party of our own as provided for under Article 10 (1) (c) we are not only not allowed to form one, we are being accused of likely to cause a threat to national security, public order, peace and harmony.

“During insurgency, we are made heroes and during peace time, we are considered as a threat to national security. Can you believe that?” he said.

Tajem also touched on the amendments to Section 5 (a) (2) of the Land code that have eroded our rights over land.

Earlier the chairman of the Dayak symposium, Augustine Liom said that the ultimate aim of the symposium would endeavour to expose and deliberate on the many sins of the Barisan Nasional Government that have caused miseries, grievances and frustrations to the Dayak communities, be they Bidayuh, Iban or Orang Ulu. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Picture credit: http://www.tvantara.com/

See a video report of this story http://www.tvantara.com/v1/video?id=127