DNC calls on all Dayak NGOs to come for a meeting on June 13

By  Edward Edwin

KUCHING, May 27, 2015. - Dayak National Congress (DNC) is calling on all Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to attend a meeting to discuss and form committees with regards to the resolutions  adopted at a public forum on native customary rights (NCR) land on May 9.

The meeting has been scheduled to be held at DNC meeting room at Batu Kawah new township on June 13, starting at 2.30pm.

Paul Raja speaking to reporters on the passage of the resolutions at the forum

DNC vice president Paul Raja, in a statement today, said in pursuance to those resolutions, the committee is now in the process of setting up of two other committees to pursue the proceedings.

"In order for us to fill up the new committee to steer the proceedings, we are now inviting all Dayak NGOs [including ethnic group associations] from the Bidayuh, Iban and all Orang Ulu communities  to send their representatives to attend the meeting," he said.

During the forum organised by the DNC,  Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association [SDGA] and Sarawak Dayak Iban Association [SADIA], four resolutions were adopted.

These are:

- That we shall apply to the Federal Court of Malaysia to Intervene in the appeal by the Government of Sarawak against the recognition of the Iban Adat of pemakai menoa and pulau galau;

- We beseech that the State Government of Sarawak do recognise the Iban Adat of pemakai menoa and pulau galau and the similar customs of all the Dayak Communities in Sarawak; and

-That all Dayak Ministers, Honorable Members of Parliament and State Legislature must voice their support for the recognition of the Iban Adat of pemakai menoa and pulau galau and the similar customs of all the Dayak Communities.

- THAT a committee be set up to pursue the intervener proceedings.

"We wish to point out that this Intervener Proceeding that we intend to pursue is very important to the Dayak community.

"As we have already said earlier, our pemakai menoa and pulau galau are important and parcel of our NCR land rights.

"The deprivation of these two rights will tantamount to deprivation of right to life of the Dayak Community.

We also hope that the State Government lead by the Honorable Chief Minister must recognise these rights of the Dayak community. We also advise our Dayak MPs and ADUNs to voice our their support for this application," he said.