Unbecoming of the headman to assault PKR worker, says Baru Bian

KUCHING, Feb 25, 2016: PKR Sarawak chairman Baru Bian expressed his disappointment and concern over an assault by a village headman on an assistant of PKR candidate for Marudi, Elia Bit, recently.

Bujang Gama was reported to have been physically and verbally assaulted by the headman of a Nanga Ajoi longhouse.

 Baru: What the headman did was clearly wrong

"A Tuai Kampung must uphold the culture and tradition of his native community, and remain apolitical. This has been a requirement of the adat since time immemorial," he said in  a statement today.

"Traditionally, the people of a native community would welcome anyone who comes in peace, so it is indeed a sad thing when a headman slaps a person who has come on a friendly visit.

"Also, the law, specifically the Community Chiefs and Headmen Ordinance 2004, requires all community chiefs and headmen to remain apolitical," said Baru, adding that the Nanga Ajoi headman clearly showed a political bias when he refused entry to Elia Bit’s assistants and assaulted one of them.

He called on the Minister in Charge and the Residents Offices to issue a directive to all community chiefs and headmen throughout Sarawak that members of any political party should be free to enter their villages or longhouses if they come peacefully and with good intentions.

"These people are there to exercise their democratic rights to reach out to the communities and at the same time, to inform the villages of their democratic rights to freely choose their leaders.

"Community leaders and headmen have no right to bar them from entering, much less to use physical force on them. These leaders should keep in mind that they are paid to be the bridge between the community and the world at large, including the government and the opposition.

"I hope the police will take swift action to investigate this matter and to hold the Tuai Rumah accountable for his actions," he said, adding that what the Tuai Rumah did could be tantamount to criminal assault, for which charges could be laid.

"This incident must not be repeated in any village or longhouse. The peace and harmony in our communities must be maintained and our adat upheld at all times," he said.