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

Four are possible as Taib’s successor?

Is Abdul Taib Mahmud really anxious now to look for a successor? This seems to be the hint when he made reference to the criteria of his successor in a speech read by George Chan at the annual general meeting of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) in Sibu 10 January 2009.

Previously he would be furious with reporters when the question of his stepping down or his successor being asked. But at the SPDP function he seemed to be anxious when he included the subject of successor in his speech. Could he be hard-pressed to look for one knowing that he is now in the twilight zone of his career?

Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak Chief Minster since March 1981, has been saying it now and then that he is still looking for his successor. Since he expressed his intention to step down more than 10 years ago, he had identified a number of politicians who should take over from him. Unfortunately, one by one of them have now disappeared into political oblivion. Among the politicians were Bujang Ulis, Abang Abu Bakar, Effendi Norwawi and Adenan Satem.

At that SPDP function, Taib clearly stated that ANYONE regardless of race could be supported to take over from him as the chief minister.

“He must be trained to do the job from now. The criteria are that he must be smart and sincere in the struggle to develop the state and raise the living standard of the people.”

Immediately coming into our focus are two deputy presidents of PBB the back-bone of the State Government: Alfred Jabu anak Numpang, deputy president (I) and deputy chief minister and Abang Zohari Tun Openg, deputy president (II) and Minister of Housing.

No one can deny that Jabu has all the experience and the expertise to be the chief minister of Sarawak. There is no necessity for him to be trained NOW to hold the highest office in the State the way the Police personnel are being trained for promotions to higher ranks. A graduate in Agriculture, he has been tutored by two Sarawak’s greatest politicians, Abdul Rahman Yakub and Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Like Taib, Jabu who had been elected as State assemblyman for Layar since 1974 has been holding various ministerial posts including deputy chief minister, first under Abdul Rahman Yakub, and then under Abdul Taib Mahmud from March 1981.

Jabu’s main problem is that he has been picking quarrels with those who do not share his political views or see the things the way he sees them. Thus the majority of educated Dayaks and Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) do not support him as their leader.

He is only being regarded as the Dayak leader from Betong where he concentrates his development and political efforts. He has no ideas to develop other districts or divisions. Even projects meant for other divisions have been ‘hijacked’ to Betong.

These are Jabu’s minus points. In the words of Taib Mahmud that someone who takes over from him must be “smart and sincere in the struggle to develop the State and raise the living standard of the people.”

Still, Jabu can enhance his position as the undisputed Dayak leader if he knows how to tackle the educated Dayaks and Dayak NGOs such as calling for a dialogue and seeking their advice and opinions as how to improve the Dayak community. They can be his “think tank”.

Another chief minister material is Abang Zohari. An MBA graduate from a British university, he has shown to be a very effective and capable minister. When Taib appointed him as industrial development minister, he was able to bring billions of ringgit worth of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to Sarawak.

After he left and moved to the tourism ministry, the amount of FDIs to Sarawak declined sharply. In the tourism ministry, he turned it into a machine-making money earning billions of ringgit from tourists who came from Japan, Korea, China, Arab and European countries.

In the last cabinet reshuffle, Abang Zohari was moved from the tourism ministry to the ailing housing ministry which he still holds till this day. He was shocked to find out that the ministry was nearly “bankrupt” and was no fund to build even a single house. And what he did was to meet his federal counterpart and discussed his problem. From the discussion, he was able to secure RM200 million to carry out people’s housing projects in the State.

Abang Zohari’s other quality is that he is kind-hearted and approachable and earns the respect of the people. The Malays in Kuching are his bastion of support. In the party he has strong support from the party members especially the Ibans as evident by the support they gave him when he contested against Adenan Satem in 1998 PBB election for the post of deputy president. Despite Adenan Satem receiving the full support of the chief minister, Abang Zohari defeated him hands down.

Another person who can be considered as a possible successor to Taib Mahmud is Awang Tengah Ali Hassan. He appears to be the most powerful minister after Taib holding very important portfolios. Like Adenan, the Dayaks are suspicious of him, especially the way he handles the NCR land issues. To be an effective chief minister, he needs the support of the Dayaks.

Coming distant fourth is perhaps Taib’s own son, Sulaiman who is now a deputy minister in the federal cabinet. It appears that he is being trained and groomed NOW to take over the PBB leadership.

All the four politicians have every chance to be the next chief minister. But Sarawak’s book-makers are predicting that Sulaiman is the hot favourite to take over as chief minister and to continue Taib’s legacy, assuming that BN still wins in the next election.

Is there any taker?

However, to sum up, the Dayaks especially the Ibans do not mind who is being appointed as the next chief minister be he Chinese, Malay or Iban as long as he is able to solve the problem of NCR land that has haunted the native landowners since the State government’s amendments of the Land Code in 2000. –The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

'Tuai Rumah' beware of MACC

It is heartening to note that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has swung into action against corrupt UMNO leaders. And from the actions that have been taken, MACC seems to mean business. So far 13 UMNO leaders and members have been arrested over money politics. And more are expected to be hauled in.

The MACC actions are bringing hope to our society that is infested with corrupt practices. And the action is taken without fear or favour. Supporting the action taken by the MACC, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said: “The law of the country is the law of the country. No one can escape from it.”

And Najib’s comment is also a welcome news and an assurance to us in Sarawak as it is also bled by the evil of corruption.

But our main concern is the rampant corruption during election times when the use of money clearly puts the Opposition at a great disadvantage.

In two previous elections, the 2006 State and 2008 parliamentary elections, we witnessed a large amount of money being pumped into critical constituencies in order to influence voters and the money was passed through 'Tuai Rumah' (longhouse chiefs).

For instance in the Bukit Begunan and Batang Ai constituencies in the 2006 State election, Tuai Rumah were summoned to district offices two or three days before polling to a “meeting” during which they were handed goodies and ang pows.

When they returned to their own longhouses, the longhouse chiefs distributed the 'ang pows' to their respective “anembiaks” (followers) who were voters and warned them that any one who did not vote for the BN candidates would not be given shares of the goodies and ang pows. The “disobedient” voters might be kicked out from the longhouses.

It is a normal practice for the BN candidates to promise this project and that project for this longhouse and for that longhouse, and warn the longhouse people that the projects may be withdrawn if they do not vote for them. Is this allowed under the law?

The Opposition candidates had evidence of all these and had even lodged reports to Police and to the Anti-Corruption Agency. As usual no action had been taken.

But in the coming election, it is hoped that the recently reformed anti-corruption agency which is now armed to the teeth should play an important role in ensuring a free State election and should take actions against anyone, be they 'Tuai Rumah', Penghulu or ordinary voters for infringing the election law. 'Tuai Rumah' and their “anembiaks” should beware of this as both the givers and receivers are equally guilty under the law.

In MCAA we trust; it is the hope of the Opposition that the next State election will be run fairer, cleaner and smoother. - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Revive role of Home Demonstrators to help rural economics

When prices of rubber, pepper and timber are down and prices of agriculture produce are up, and when many factories are closed down and workers forced to quit, what a better way is than to involve ourselves in agricultural activities. The decision of some 250 families in Kapit and 75 persons in Sarikei participating in a Bumi Hijau programme is not only a wise decision, but one that others should emulate.

While the programme is involved in the planting of vegetables around the house compound mainly for home consumption, extra produce can be sold to supplement household incomes. Under this programme the participants among others will enjoy subsidies of fertilizers, vegetable seeds, fish fry, chicks and other garden paraphernalia.

The Green Book programme introduced more than 30 years ago is being revived to reduce the rate of inflation by raising the people’s incomes through involvement in agriculture either as a part time or full time basis.

Through this programme the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has introduced a “kitchen farming” concept whereby households involve in vegetable farming, chicken and fish rearing in gardens of individual homes. Last year alone, the ministry had allocated RM20 million for the purchase and distribution of selected vegetable seedlings, fertilizers and manuals to all strata of society.

Sadly not many of our folks know about the existence of this scheme; perhaps there was little publicity or perhaps our so-called Dayak Yang Berhormats were ignorant or couldn’t be bothered about government policies that could benefit the Rakyat.

For us in Sarawak, the State government should go one step further to ensure the success of this “kitchen farming” concept by reviving the department of agriculture extension programme. Under this extension programme, Home Demonstrators (HDs) go to longhouses to teach Dayak women about home economics including advising them how to plant vegetables and fruit trees, the use of pesticides and fertilizers, how to make compost and to prune fruit trees, teach them sewing, cooking, handicrafts, cake making and healthy living, etc. Likewise, Junior Agriculture Assistants (JAAs) help their menfolk in maintaining their pepper or rubber gardens, chicken, sheep or cow rearing, etc.

This extension programme was actively carried out when Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem was Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Community Development from October 1980 to March 1987.

Working closely with the Home Demonstrators were members of the Women’s Institute resulting in many housewives establish cottage industries selling various kinds of handicrafts including “pua kumbu”.

But when Adenan Satem took over as Agriculture Minister and Community Development in mid-1987, the agriculture extension programme was discontinued, the monthly visits by Home Demonstrators were stopped, and the name of Home Demonstrators was changed to Community Development Assistants having entirely different duties.

Even Farmers Training Schools where the menfolk were trained to be progressive farmers were closed and now they become white elephants. Since then the home economics programme was left to disappear into thin air.

The Women’s Institute which was under the leadership of Rugayah Majid, wife of Abang Yusof Puteh also became dormant.

Could actions against all these institutions and programmes have something to do with the Ming Court Affair 1987 during which Permas (a Malay party) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) were trying to topple Taib Mahmud’s government? Why were rural people, especially the housewives made to suffer due to political harassment and victimization?

However, for the Green Book programme to be effective, we must not play politics and deprive the rural women from playing an important role in economic development. Therefore it may be necessary as far as rural Sarawak is concerned to revive or activate the agriculture extension programme.

This is where the role of Home Demonstrators is not only an important tool towards enhancing home or rural economics, but one that helps produce healthy families that are essential in nation building efforts. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

KT by-election: a BIG eye-opener for Sarawakians!

Once again a candidate of Pas-Pakatan Rakyat (People’ Alliance), Abdul Wahid Endut has won in a by-election, the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election. About five months ago, Anwar Ibrahim of PKR-Pakatan Rakyat won the Permatang Pauh by-election.

The Pakatan’s victories at the two by-elections clearly show that the March 2008 elections were not a fluke, when Pakatan Rakyat comprising Pas, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Democratic Action Party (DAP) retained Kelantan, captured four States and reduced the two-third majority of BN in parliament.

The West Malaysians are fed-up with the BN government with its promises, its arrogance and with its supremacist policies. So the people really want change.

To us in Sarawak, which is about to witness the coming State election, the just concluded by-election is indeed a big eye-opener.

Despite hundreds of millions of ringgit worth of goodies and development projects handed over by the BN government to the people of Kuala Terengganu, yet they still voted for Pas-Pakatan Rakyat candidate.

This is the lesson for all of us, the voters, be you Dayaks, Malays or Chinese that we must learn from and follow the footsteps our fellow Malaysians in Terengganu: it is nothing wrong in accepting the BN goodies and projects, but vote for the Opposition. (Nadai tulah kitai). That is if we want change.

For the past 45 years we have been suffering and complaining: Chinese and Malay businessmen are robbed of their business opportunities, as businesses are only given to cronies of powers-that-be; the Malays and the Dayaks have their NCR land taken away and leased to giant companies for oil palm plantations, so much so that they do not have land to tilt; and some of Dayak villages and longhouses have been destroyed by these companies and others drowned due to the construction of dams, not one, but 12 dams; and how the people have suffered as a result of them being resettled in new areas. The people of Sungai Asap are a case in point.

This is a critical question before us: Do we want change or not? If we do not want change then we continue to elect Taib’s government and continue to suffer. If this is the case, then we must not complain; then we must allow the companies to encroach into our NCR land, and then we must not take the government and companies to court.

Don’t waste time and money. Take your rewards of RM20 or RM30 and MINOR rural development projects for voting them and with open arms welcome them and let them rape your land, destroy your properties and blur your children’s future.

But if we want change, then we must vote this land-grabbing government OUT and give Pakatan Rakyat a chance to govern the State. After all we have been suffering, suppressed, oppressed and marginalized for the past 45 years, and what is that if we are to suffer for another five years under Pakatan Rakyat if it is also equally bad like the BN government? Think about it. - The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com