A Dayak university proposal hotly debated on social media: Should or should not we have a Dayak university?

KUCHING, March 31, 2015. - A growing interests in setting up a Dayak University is being hotly debated on the social media.

It comes about with  a press statement of Dr Ellie Lihat being posted on March 28 last year. Ellie issued the statement after expressing his interest to vie for the top post of the Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association at its annual general meeting (AGM) 2014.

He said the idea to set up the university was achievable if Dayak community had the political will.

The Dayaks, he said, must have a bigger stake in the tertiary education.

Although the posting was one year old, the idea of setting up a Dayak university resurfaced recently.

Mani Jack, among the first to comment, said:"This(Dayak University) has been proposed a long time ago. The only problem is we have Dayaks who still don't understand their rights as natives.

"Dayaks are not bumiputeras. If Malays can have their own special schools, universities, international links and banks, why can't the Dayaks have the same facilities?"

Ricky Pudang commented:"The idea is very....very....good but sometimes we Dayaks only can talk from behind, but we cannot lead and make thing materialised."

Noel Simot:"Why not just (we just) upgrade the semi- abandoned Rumah Dayak at Satok to college  first than plan later for something higher?

"I am sure all Dayaks don't like to look at anything like that relates to their community standing in the middle of the city," he said.

Edwin Lana Rangga Sly:"Excellent...go ahead as it is workable and feasible including funding and siting. `Happiness begins when expectation ends.

"It depends on where we want to build the Dayak University."

Endu Dara Sidan:"I totally agree with you brother Edwin Lana. We Dayaks have vast areas of NCR land. The problem is to find funds to make it materialised."

Semuel Belawan:"How about we fight for more Dayak seats in all public universities and more places for Dayak students first?"

Entrie Dorsie:" All Dayak leaders and educated Dayaks including Dayak non-organisations should know that when it involves the benefits for the Dayaks, there must be no political boundary.

"The Chinese will set aside all feuds ( politically / in business rivalries) when doing things for their own community benefits. That's why they are far ahead of us in everything. Berserakup ke siti juluk and focus on that only one purpose until it is achieved.....then move on for the next purpose."

Francis Ahok:" We should have started during the Brooke times. However, it is not too late if we start now. We look for the future and our next generations to come."

Cedric Choo:" If UMNO wants UITM (formerly MARA) just for Malays and bumiputras, why can't we Dayaks in Sarawak and KDM in Sabah have our own university... priority given to intake of Dayaks but some places allocated to non-Dayaks or Chinese and Indians.

"We are a sovereign state and under the 18/20 Points agreement the state have the prerogative over education matter.

Keligit Lirong: "The Dayak university must have ample funding for the master blueprint and continuous costs of operations and needs licence from the government, regardless whether it is under IPTS or ITPA."

Fabian Anna Wong:" With money, Dayaks can build not one but more than one universities."

Paul Stuart:"We should start with Dayak College first, if it lifts off the ground nicely then we go for university."

Elli Luhat:" Paul Stuart, perhaps my present Institute in Smartfarming - DLT Institute - can be upgraded to a University for the Dayak. The DLT ( Dr. Luhat Technology) can also means, " Dayak Learning Technology University?"

"By the way,  a university can start relatively on a small scale first, perhaps with two or three faculties. If I recall correctly, that was how UPM started in late 1970s in Semonggok, Kuching.

"I was the student there, then, at Agriculture & Forestry faculties only in those days.

"The Government should help providing the necessary infrastructures . The Dayak scientists, academicians, professionals will help to manage or do the administrations."

Francis J Lian:" I think we should focus on the basics first. Why not doing something to ensure that our students at primary and secondary school perform well so that they qualify for higher education?

"This is far easier to do than thinking about setting up a university.

"If it can be done. Very good. I am speaking on behalf of those poor folks around me. Also I don't know when such good proposal will materialize.

"Meanwhile before it materialises, we must have some short and medium term plans to raise the educational standards of the Dayak students before setting up a university.

"Who among the Dayaks can qualify to manage the university. All rural schools in Dayak areas.

"So focus on ensuring that these school, the bed rock of the Dayak education performing well. Monitor the teachers performance. If the Dayak students perform well and qualify for higher education even on merit, then the number of graduate will increase.

"So focus on the basics than on the fairy tale (at least for the time being) of having a Dayak university."

Joe Tawie:" Dr. John Brian first mooted the idea of a Dayak university in 2009 during a seminar in Bintulu- the challenges of the 21st century to the Dayak community.

"But our problem is that the moment we are initiating this idea, then someone else will come and suggest a Bidayuh university. It started with SDNU, followed by DBNA; SDGA followed by BGA; DCCI and then BCCI, and so on.

"Where and when we can agree and be united into a 'Dayak race'? "

Patrick Anek Uren:"Why talk of a Dayak university when we are yet to have millionaires in our midst, let alone rich philanthropies, who could finance such an enterprise?

"If this notion of a university is based on a supposition that the Government could finance it, I think that is an impossible dream: Dayaks don't control 1% of the government. Although I want to be proved wrong in this perception of mine. Thank you."

Joing Mideh:"If the idea of setting up a university can be realised, it is very positive as knowledge is one of the vehicles of high performing people.

"I always dream of seeing an Academy of Arts and an Academy of Science perches on the top of Gunong Singghai or Bung Bratak or Bung Serambu...alas! like what Patrick Anek Uren said, we don't have the financiers to see that happening...but that should not stop us from having the dream."