Dayak Informal Group (DIG) rebuts Daud Abdul Rahman's claims

 By Richard Lias

1.            Accusations that the Barisan Nasional ( BN) government marginalised certain races in its development policy are not true and unfair on the state BN government.

DIG:       The government must be transparent by publishing the fact on the allegation to prove its sincerity and honesty. A mere statement in today’s world is hard to believe without hard evidence which we find hard to accept. That’s why in today’s world, transparency is being pursued as the standard procedure to guarantee that truth prevails. There is no necessity for the Minister to deny without facts. The fact that we have points to the contrary. We have quoted the management of Yayasan Sarawak as a case in point, where Dayak are marginalized. Another case that we wish to highlight and to which the Minister’s should pay attention is Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA), a state statutory body set up in 1981 with the stated objective to be the catalyst in land development. If you look into the management line-up of LCDA as published in its website, you will see that ALL Senior Managers are from one ethnic group. With this kind of exclusiveness, we could have used a stronger word other than marginalization. However, we chose not to, out of respect for the Chief Minister whom we believe is fair minded and inclusive.  

2.            In pointing this out, PBB vice -president Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman said raising racial issues would only create tension among the races and disturb the political stability in Sarawak that had enabled the state to progress and develop.“No race is marginalised and it can be proven with the existence of all races represented in various ministerial and important decision-making posts in government departments.

DIG:       This is not raising racial issues but promoting justice to all races. Contrary to the warning of the honourable minister, by exposing injustices and promoting good governance, it will strengthen and enhance political stability in the state in an otherwise unstable global environment wrecked by wars and conflicts. The Minister need not be reminded that what causes political instability is the continued marginalisation of a section of society and its deliberate perpetuation inspite of its negative consequences.

3.            “Claims by certain groups that they were marginalised were made because they had not done enough nor worked hard for success,” said Daud. The Tupong assemblyman also said many ministers and party leaders from the rural areas proved that they could succeed in their fields by working hard while representing their race and becoming the voice of the government.

DIG:       This allegation by the honorable minister reeks of political rhetoric and is not a factual statement. He has not substantiated his allegation that the marginalised people are not hardworking.  He overlooks the fact that the process of marginalization is meant to deprive a society of its potential to progress and succeed. 

4.            “This is the concept we want to maintain and there is no divide and rule policy. We want unity in the state to ensure the state continuously prospers,” he said. Daud was speaking at the Taman Allamanda Indah Hari Raya open house on Sunday night.

DIG:       The honorable minster either does not understand political strategy or is just sidestepping the issue or even denying the obvious. When a section of society is favoured with benefits while the other sections are not, then that society has been divided. A society divided is susceptible to any threat of social disorder. This is why the government must be sincere to the people.

5.            He further elaborated that everyone must understand that no one can be a majority and claim that they deserve to be winners.“There is no such thing as winner takes all as everyone has a fair share of the economic cake and I again stress that efforts to influence people to believe in such unfair policy will only ruin the state and country,” he said.

DIG:       The issue is not about who wants to get more. We are not asking for what belongs to others. It is a simple issue of all races to be provided for and treated fairly by the government of the day. When this is allowed to prosper, then all races are happy and will surely support the government.

6.            He warned that such approach is a dangerous way of politicking and will in the end affect the effort of the government to provide development and continue to reach and serve the people. On the event, Daud lauded the effort by Taman Allamanda Indah PBB branch and neighbourhood committee to organise the open house and set residents of other religions to come and participate.

DIG:       The honorable minister must not jump the gun by saying that it is dangerous way of politicking. Firstly, we are not a political party. We’re just voicing our concern on behalf of the Dayak community. It seems that the “stoking racial tension’ has been the standard lame excuse all the time for avoiding issues of social justice. 

7.            “We must learn to accept that we live in a multi-religious country and what is important is for us to learn to respect each other and everyone will be happy,” he pointed out.

Among others present at the event was Taman Allamanda Indah PBB branch chief Ahmad Nahap.

DIG:       The honorable minister himself must not forget that “respect is earned and not forced”.  When we are honest with each other, when the government is honest with the people, when the members of the society respect each other, the by product is harmony in the nation. Unless that is practiced, no matter how much we preach on respect, it will not happen.

Perhaps if the honorable minister wants our respect he can start by providing hard facts on the following:

(i)            The members of the Board of Directors of Yayasan Sarawak;

(ii)           The top 40 management  staffs of Yayasan Sarawak;

(iii)          The complete list of recipients of Yayasan Sarawak Scholarship from the time it was set up until today.

What we are trying to promote here is openness in our society and to encourage those in position and authority to always bear in mind that society expects them to be accountable. This is not meant to run down anyone but to start a new era of a responsible and accountable government.

 Note: Richard Lias is the spokesman of the Dayak Informal Group.  He is commenting on a clarification by Assistant Minister Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman on accusations that the Dayaks are allegedly being marginalised. Lias is also the secretary general of the Dayak National Congress.