By Mengga Mikui
Dayak National Congress [DNC] greets the Dayak community
and Sarawak generally its warmest greetings. Today we welcome the new Season in
life by walking in the year 2017. Yes, we have walked through the year 2016 -
it was a year full of challenges and experience.
DNC president Mengga Mikui (seated, centre) with other board members
The year 2016 ended with a trauma of the Dayak Community
when the highest court in the land ruled against the rights and life of the
Dayak Community – territorial domain [pemakai menoa] engineered by the ruling
government. It was a day when we felt betrayed. We lost our rights to life,
prosperity and happiness.
For a long time, we have also fought for our identity as
Dayaks be recognised and identified as such in the Malaysian Government forms.
This year, there were so many promises of it going to fulfilled, but the year
2016 ended quietly.
The election promises this year 2016 remains as mere
promises. The demand from the Dayak community for the State Civil Service to be
inclusive to include all races, particularly including the Dayaks, at all
levels from the top to bottom seems to fall on deaf ears. The hope of changes
under the new state leadership is just a thunder bringing no rain.
In spite of all the losses and bitter passing of 2016, we
must not succumb to the madness and hopelessness facing the Dayak community.
We must resolve that this New Year 2017 is our year and
God willing we will make it a success. The many problems facing the Dayak
community in the past must be resolved now. We must resolve that our livelihood
and economy must be improved.
We must ensure that the future of our children must be
secured-through education. We must learn how solved our problem with the least
possible help from others. We must learn not to be dependent on assistance
because many at times become the stumbling block to our creativity,
entrepreneurship, skills, capacity and capability.
As the world keeps on innovating, the Dayak community
must also adapt to changes. To succeed today, learn and get into business. Send
our children to the highest possible educational achievements. Commercialise
our farm and produce commercial goods on large scales to sell to the markets.
We must dare to venture into new things even if we fail many times.
We must try again
until we succeed. Perseverance is a quality that is lacking among the Dayak
community and must be acquired. That is what we need to succeed.
To the Dayak in position of leadership, be humble and
hear what the community has to say. Gone are the days when the community is
always on the receiving ends all the time. Times have changed and the position
has also changed – leaders must now listen and serve. Stop the practice of
making false promises. Stop telling the people one thing and do the opposite.
Learn humility and sincerity. No more threats to the
community because of the difference in political alignment, instead respect
your people. Leaders must repent and lead by example. Learn to accept criticism
with humility; instead do the simple task of leadership – speak for the people.
We in DNC once again wishes all the whole Dayak Community
prosperity, hope, health and wealth, happiness, long life and the best of
years. God bless the Dayaks, Sarawakians and Malaysians. We hope that everyone
can find its place in the big Malaysian family. - December 31, 2016
Administrator's note: The write is the president of the Dayak National Congress
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