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.

Entulu under fire

THE PANEL SPEAKERS (left to right): Sidi Munan, Dr Elie Luhat, Datuk John Tenewi Nuek, Assoc. Prof. Dr Andrew Aeria (moderator), Mering Wan & Dr John Brian

Deputy Minister for rural and regional development Joseph Entulu was severely criticised at a forum today (11 July 2009) for suggesting that the term “Dayak” be dropped as its connotation was uncivilized, uncouth and low class.

The forum, should the term ‘Dayak’ be dropped, was organised by The Borneo Post in collaboration with the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU).

Five panel speakers addressed some 150 participants, the majority of them were professionals, pensioners, businessmen and university students.

SDNU publicity chief Dr. John Brian Anthony said that the term “Dayak” was used anthropologically to describe the natives of Borneo.

He said: “It is sillier to suggest dropping the term ‘Dayak’. He must be drunk. Otherwise he is playing to the gallery of those who are against the term ‘Dayak’.

“It is our intention to bring all the natives together under the name of Dayak, but there are people who think that the Dayaks are threat. That is why Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) cannot be registered because it is considered a security threat to the nation,” he said.

SDNU which was formed in 1956 was considered as opposition organisation and because this organisation was being punished and no financial aids were given to it, he said, pointing out that the government gave funds to Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Orang Ulu National Union (OUNA) and other NGOs in order to spite SDNU.

It seemed, he said, that Entulu was given the job of bashing the Dayak community.

Next speaker was Sidi Munan, president of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA), who said that the dropping of term to say the least was stupid and lack of understanding of history.

“I am wondering whether it is a government proposal. It looks like it. It may be slip of the tongue, but coming from the heart,” he said.

Sidi recalled an incident in 1967 in which someone suggested that the term ‘Dayak’ be dropped.

“And there is something more than meets the eye,” he said, and warned of the legal, political and cultural implications and consequences especially in respect of I Malaysia concept.

“There will be no gawai Dayak and the Federal Constitution need to be amended. Thus it is more good than harm to retain the name in this context,” he said.

Presenting his views next was Dr. Elie Luhat, deputy president of Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA).

He said: “If you want to get rid of the word ‘Dayak’ we are doing the work of others, that is, ‘ethnic cleansing’.

“And my advice to politicians is that if you proceed with the proposal to remove the word ‘Dayak’ you are creating problems and issues that will cause you to commit political suicide," Elie said.

Former Ambassador to Myanmar, Venezuela and Mexico, Datuk John Tenewi Nuek said that he was proud to be a Dayak and had never been humiliated for being so, pointing out that he traveled to several countries in his capacity as an officer of the foreign service.

He said that it was politically wise to retain the name as it provided a common umbrella for the various native groups to work and strengthen their political unity.

“Why should we change the word ‘Dayak’ which is already a brand name which gives us the best marketing strategy? Dayak is synonymous with Borneo.

“Dropping the name will be a step backward from the political, economic and cultural point of view,” he said.

Mering Wan from the Orang Ulu community said that he was proud to be a Malaysian, and prouder still to be a Dayak.

When the forum was opened to the floor, several participants spoke against the decision to change the term ‘Dayak’. - The Broken Shied

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Dr. John Brian Anthony, publicity chief of SDNU and owner of Dayakbaru.com receives a memento from Mr M. Rajah of The Borneo Post

Deepest sympathy to Dr. John Brian

CONDOLENCE

Although I have smsed my message of condolence to Dr. John Brian on the loss of his mother, nevertheless I would like on behalf of The Broken Shield and its administrators to express our profound sorrow and deepest sympathy to him. May her soul rest in peace and may her spirit inspire you, Dr. John, to work harder and unselfishly for the vision and mission that you have set for – CHANGE WE MUST!!

And for those people like you, Dr. John, who dare to dream are the ones who will make their dream a reality. May God bless you.