Where will the Dayak be after PRU 13
January 4th, 2013 at 2:34Written by: Dr. John Brian Anthony
This would be my first article for 2013 and I am glad to be back and writing down my thoughts. I read all the comments and try to gauge what is the level of our thinking and what are we thinking about. I would like to address both questions in order that we can move forward in our discussion. The intention is not to conclude who is right or wrong but it is important to recognize that our thinking do indicate changes in our perception and our action.
A little recap
Before going any further, let me summarize the little things that has happened around me. The preparation for PRU 13 has stepped up in tempo despite continued indecision by the Prime Minister. There are still a lot of uncertainty but all the same, planning and work have to continue for the election. I cannot say that the approach to the coming election is normal because of the gravity of the consequences to Malaysia if PR do not win Putra Jaya. So many things are stack against us Dayak and it is choking to say the least when we have enough evidences that the wealth of our land is being taken away from us for the creation of personal wealth by the country’s BN leaders.
Appointment to DAP as central Executive Committee member
Then I was appointed to the Central Executive Committee of DAP at the December 15th 2012 Convention and frankly I felt that I have to up the level of my political contribution and also to take a new role as a team member of the DAP national leadership. Thus, there are new expectation to be met. I even ponder on new political strategies to bring PRIDE and even COURAGE back to the Dayak in order for them to take action if they want to see change take place in Malaysia and specifically for the community.
Reinforcing Dayak pride and courage
The Gawai Kelingkang Batu Tempan Balang kena Nempa Ketuai Dayak ngiring bansa is very much on my mind. The Gawai will be on the 9th January till 11th ( 3 days and nights of timang) by a bard man from Ngemah, a lemambang Muyan. All are welcome. There will be no drinking and feasting but a series of ritual to invoke the fighting spirit of Dayak and to gain back our lost pride as the renowned Headhunters of Sarawak. We need this pride and courage today to make the change that we want. Fighter Balang of Batang Rejang fought the Raja because he refused to submit to the Raja tax. He was later betrayed by the Iban themselves, captured through trickery and killed.
Are we facing the same predicament but at a different time and situation? This lead us to the subject of thinking and wisdom – are we on the right track by fighting for change of Government from BN to PR?
Level of our thinking
Do we still look at the small insignificant things that BN has taught us? (1)That the Chinese are not to be trusted because they will take advantage of us Dayak. Is this the BN approach to split the Dayak from the Chinese. Why? If the Dayak and Chinese come together that will pose a serious threat to the power that is in Sarawak today. We should be not play race against race politics in Malaysia.
(2) That national parties is not relevant in Sarawak because that will mean we will surrender Sarawak to DAP, PKR and PAS.While in the same breathe we want change. Can any of the local opposition parties for now challenge the might o BN? If not, then we must be pragmatic enough to align ourselves with opposition national parties to effect the change.By the way, is BN not led by a national party (UMNO)?
(3) We always felt that Sarawak is different and that our issues are different from Malaya. But is our system of Government the same or different? If it is, why do we think that we can change the rule and system of Government. All these has contributed to our lost of focus in our objectives of wanting to see change and our politics generally.
In what context?
On a personal context, many people see my involvement with DAP as difficult to accept. That is what change is all about, moving toward a new environment and even to a certain extend an unknown quantity and quality. If you cannot take that ONE important step forward you will never know what could happen because you are sitting in your comfort zone.
For me, it is a golden opportunity to bring change to Malaysia’s politics where the Dayak take an active role in shaping the national agenda. DAP is also the second biggest party in Malaysia after UMNO with 29 MPs. After all, DAP is a ruling Opposition party ( Penang ) and part of the Government in other Pakatan controlled states and also in Sarawak, DAP is the second strongest party after PBB. DAP is a strong principle party and will never sell out to BN. It is historical that DAP is majority Chinese but the party has now reposition itself as an active multi-racial party representing all Malaysian not withstanding their race, religion and region.
I used to think that Sarawak is for Sarawakian but our political structure say otherwise. We have to be Malaysian first otherwise this country is not going to work.
What are we thinking about?
What will be in stored for Dayak if PR win Putra Jaya? Next question is what will Dayak get if BN win and remain in Putra Jaya? My other question is WHAT IS THE DAYAK GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? That is where you in discussion come in.
Some of you are even looking for a Dayak saviour! Can one single leader take the responsibility of saving the Dayak from the situation they are in today? My answer is NO. It is a collective effort and it requires all of us to work closely together. It is just not one person sacrifices, but all of us Dayak who see the need for change and we want to make the changes. In all my years of working toward the Dayak cause and struggle through the Dayak agenda, there is no safe ground when you are committed and there is NO FREE progress without putting your money where your mouth is.
How do we expect to gain something without investing in taking risk, time, money and sacrifices?? That would be a helpless and hopeless mentality because we cannot wait to be served and that others will do the work for you.
I am appealing for unity among us and not bickering and cynical remarks. I am looking for action from each of us for the suggestion that we have discussed. If there is NO action, we will get nothing my friends. There is NO charity for people who do not put up a decent effort into the work of making the political change.
Conclusion
I have said enough and now I will leave it to all of you to gauge what you can do and is willing to do it. In my limited experience, other communities would even donate $50 to the cause if they felt that they cannot do the ACTION themselves. We cannot stand around wrapping our hand across our chest, give nothing, do nothing and still expect to benefit from the work of others – when you want everything free, you will get nothing at the end of the day. Politics is not a comic book story where super heroes will come and save the little girl from being crushed by a monster.
Let me remind all of us again, please do not post a ONE LINER as it contribute nothing to the body of knowledge that we are trying to create in this blog. One liners are for tweeting and fb.
Aram meh kita sama berubah and Change WE Must.
January 6th, 2013 at 8:09 am
God willing,and Should PR form the next government and God willing and should Dr John win as I’m proud to see your poster hanging here and there together with your idol Lim Kit Siang as I passed Bintulu from my almost 1 week travel from Tanjung Datu to Sungai Tujoh bordering Brunei and Sarawak to find out the major achievements for the Dayaks in 2012 but sad I could not find one to share here.
However, let 2013 turns my dreams into realities. My dreams and wishes especially for Dr John. Should PR forms the next government and should another Deputy Prime Minister post is created for Sabah and Sarawak. My prayer number 1.Let that post belongs to Dr John.
If that post is not created than tells Anwar Ibrahim to revive the post Minister For Sarawak Affairs which Jugah once held but change a bit its name like Minister For Sarawak Affairs And Dayaks Progress.My prayer number 2.Let that post belongs to Dr John.
Next being an educationist. I would like to see improvement in our school infrastructures from primary schools to secondary schools and don’t forget to build a Dayak University as being mentioned here. One Dayak University is indeed a major achievement for us and let us not forget UMNO have built more than 10 universities which cater for almost 80 % Malays and almost 90% professors are Malays.
Of course to me education is important but I put it to be number 2, now in our priority list. Number 1 should be on how to uplift the standard of living of the Dayaks. How to fill their pockets with money. In simple English if 500,000.00 out of 700,000.00 thousands Ibans in Sarawak now can be made rich like Datuk Linggi and the Self Proclaimed Paramount Chief I think on personal basis I wish if there is any place better than Heaven that is the place where his soul should be.
I stop here as I know the beloved readers of this blog will pour streams of dreams,wishes and hopes worth to ponder upon. However, I keep on repeating none of the present Dayak politicians in BN can do much better especially those in PBB who wear “kain kebat” the proxy of UMNO long dream to weaken Dayaks physically,morally and spiritually.
January 6th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Dr John,
The Malayan people regardless of race or political parties always not agree with slogan “Sarawak for Sarawakian”, why? Because they worried Sarawak will demand for full autonomy and Malayan people nowhere to survive because their country “MALAYA” sooner or later will be over populated.
What we believe the difference between BN/UMNO and PR/PAS are their policies and agendas. The BN/UMNOs struggle to ensure that they will remain the Government until end of the time because to them no other political parties capable to govern this country effectively only BN/UMNO. For PR/PAS they plan to change the policies and the agendas in order to rules this country with the support from educated Dayaks.
I believe, either BN/UMNO continue conquered Putra Jaya or PR/PAS manage to form the new FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, the fate and future of the Dayak may not change much because PR/ PAS will never allow Sarawak for Sarawakian as well due to the important of natural resources to generate their revenue to rules the country effectively otherwise the people will question them the same. Sarawak for Sarawakian is important to Dayak because special attention by the ruling government should be considered due to Dayak situation for almost 50 years being neglected and treated similar to second class citizen. Dayak should be given more attention in Education, development in skill and knowledge, support and initiative to release them out from the current situation and expose them to the new era of human development.
So, Dayak you have nobody to rely on except your own people who can understand well your problems, priorities, struggle and course. We cannot expect the Chinese, Malays or Indian from Malaya to tell us what to do or how to rules our own country Sarawak. These people are very complex, they are very smart in manipulation, they can talk very well, they can convince and promise you the star, the moon and sky, they are too advance compared to Dayak in Sarawak, we Dayak are very far left behind in term of modern knowledge and mentality, we were 50 years behind them in all areas, we have no exposures and limited in experienced, all this are mainly due to BN/UMNO government treated us very unfair in giving the opportunities to pursue our studies overseas and scholarship, even in the local government universities, Dayak were given very limited opportunities but however, they are the majority in this country of SARAWAK. Education, knowledge, exposure, skill and experience are our priorities besides the rural development, land infrastructure, and the basic amenities. We must protect and defence our right practising our religion and culture, we must defence our land, our properties, our river, our mountain as all these are ours right from beginning of the time which defended by our ancestor with blood and tears.
Whoever the true and capable Dayak paramount chief in the future respected by the majority of the IBANS and the rest of the Dayak people must be ready to sacrifice and defence us exactly as RENTAP did during the Brooke era. Dayak are badly split in the current era, we were cheated and blind, and we cannot differentiate the true and the false leader due to our greediness, selfish, materialistic. So, what is wrong if Sarawak is for Sarawakian?
January 6th, 2013 at 1:45 pm
policy PR/PAS manah agi ngagai rakyat sarawak bebanding BN/UMNO.
January 6th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
IF …PR wins, its a blessing and new lease of life for the oppressed indigenous Dayaks. We should control Sarawak and whatever the outcomes we support the CHANGE. Prospective candidates (Raja Berani) must work extra hard to make themselves winnable. BN/UMNO/Najib is quite fragile with series of allegations, revelation in scandals. I must say that PR victory looked promising.
January 8th, 2013 at 2:42 am
Before the last ADUN election, rumours were that the two TOP men in UMNO flew to Kuching to arrange for a graceful exit of Sarawak BN supremo. The said supremo was really cornered but he managed to strengthen himself with dignity and mentioned (promised?) “within the next three (3) years.” The result, as we know was the general shift of Chinese voters to the Opposition.
What will happen to Dayaks after this GE13?
In the news, we read stories after stories of underground juicy deals related to one of the two top men of UMNO. The sentiment now is NOT a shift of Chinese voters, but a shift of ALL voters into the opposition side. For example, there is a real danger that voters of Johor, Negri Sembilan and Perak are expressing real anger at corruptions in high places.
Like the Chinese of Sarawak, there is no actual affinity to Opposition. I am not, certainly. The reason why opposition is popular is not because of their capability, promises or personalities. The real reason is simply that corruption, both in the Federal and State levels are sky high. The present government is imploding.
This is where I fear for the Dayaks of Sarawak. Until today we just can’t differentiate between the rights from the wrongs. Our definition is so much influenced by lies and shallow promises. We Dayaks are afraid to face the truth and real work. So when a C4 or TNT implosion occurs, we have nowhere to hide. Freedom is completely alien to us – we will resurrect the old bondage of BN into our brain. Our ADUN is not due until another 2 years, thus when we win Putra Jaya (strong possibility), in Sarawak we hide behind the old regime of Bondage.
Our brain can’t think. For example: Free air ticket, free water tank, free this and free that – why is it so difficult to give us land titles? Datuk this, Tan Sri that; why is all Heads in government ministries are dominated by one race? Promise this, promise that: when is the delivery going to happen? Inclusive this, inclusive that, why is the divisive policy on religion, conversion and support for house of worship?
We Dayaks can’t think before. After the GE13, we will still be under bondage – that is UNTIL WE ALL WAKE UP to face the truth and ready to do real work.
January 8th, 2013 at 5:00 am
You said: “………..So many things are stack against us Dayak and it is choking to say the least when we have enough evidences that the wealth of our land is being taken away from us for the creation of personal wealth by the country’s BN leaders……….”
Dayak grievances had been highlighted over and over but we should not be tired to list them again. In fact for me they are already in my head, right or wrong such perceptions remain:
1 – Dayaks, particularly Ibans are lagging behind in social economic. To me this is the real issue. Rural Dayaks lacked of modern infra-structure esp. roads to their lands. Dayaks are still predominantly farmers and many still in poverty. Despite so ruling for so many years, the BN Gov’t haven’t done much to change our situation. Their sincerity is now glaringly questionable. As you keep on repeating, at best, they only give pre-election Maggie mee and MRPs or at its worst election bribery with BR1M (which rumored to be increased from RM500 to RM1000 should BN win again). Dayaks, particularly Ibans simply unable to get out of the current BN control because of very strong local government BN culture that has deeply penetrated our community.
2 – No one Dayak, even if he/she is a current BN supporter would deny the fact that we are 2nd class bumiputras. This means a lot in term of who is getting what from every aspect of progress and development in our daily life. The contradiction is of course 2nd class bumi is still even better than non bumi like the Chinese or the Indians and yet Dayaks remain backward. Is it a curse or is BN mismanagement of Dayaks as the sole reason this is so. Whether you like it or not Dayaks have something to ponder.
3 – Whoever the Government is and whatever the treatment s are such results are because Dayaks themselves. I would completely agree with you that no one person can be a savior or behaving like a superman rescuing a damsel in distress. Every Dayaks are responsible, first to oneself, a second for his race and third as a responsible citizen. Sadly most Dayaks are with the BN. So why complain when the pain is your own making?
~~~
You said: “….The Gawai Kelingkang Batu Tempan Balang kena Nempa Ketuai Dayak ngiring bansa is very much on my mind. The Gawai will be on the 9th January till 11th ( 3 days and nights of timang) by a bard man from Ngemah, a lemambang Muyan. All are welcome. There will be no drinking and feasting but a series of ritual to invoke the fighting spirit of Dayak and to gain back our lost pride as the renowned Headhunters of Sarawak. We need this pride and courage today to make the change that we want. Fighter Balang of Batang Rejang fought the Raja because he refused to submit to the Raja tax. He was later betrayed by the Iban themselves, captured through trickery and killed. Are we facing the same predicament but at a different time and situation? This lead us to the subject of thinking and wisdom – are we on the right track by fighting for change of Government from BN to PR?…….”
I am still learning our migration history but I have known that Balang had migrated to Katibas, where he built the longhouse at Nanga Selirik about 15 minutes boat ride inside Katibas river. According to the elders, that longhouse was attacked and burnt by the tribal enemy while the Iban men were away. This led to revenge and tribal war expedition where Balang himself as their leader, they defeated the enemies and brought slaves back. I am not sure if the longhouse was re-built or if they relocated further lowers the river as in Nanga Sepadi. Balang was well known for bravery and headhunting that caught the attention of the Brookes, who wished to conquer and control all headhunters. Accidentally if you go to Maritime and Aquarium in Singapore Sentosa – universal studio, at the entrance you would see a portrait of James Brookes with a title “Pirate hunter”. You would also another portrait of “Balangi Pirate” that looked like an Iban wearing sirat and holding an ilang sword, etc. as best as the artist could imagine. Headhunter , pirate and Sea Dayak, Balang was one and became the enemy of Brookes.
Of course there are many others “pengingat tuai” on this Iban warrior. One was the believe that he was “Tolong nabau” and kebal. Story was that he didn’t die due to steel but due to be beaten to death during capture and interrogation. That made him as undisputed Iban warrior and your Gawai Kelingkang Batu using him as your inspiration is indeed commendable.
I wish stop here for now and comment on the rest of your write as time permit. Terima kasih.
January 8th, 2013 at 6:58 am
Warlock and the likes, Mind Revolution?
When we go to the battle front, we want to outwits the enemy at all cost possible.
Let us just be receptive and positive in the Change to happen soon, like the scorpion song; WIND OF CHANGE, for it must happen at any time, any moment. But of course we, ourselves need to CHANGE first before CHANGE can be a realized. Its a matter of educating others on who to votes and what not. Dont be too pessimistic, be optsimistic. Whatever the consequences,weaknesses in BN camp is another victory in the blessing for opposition pact (PR)
I’m overwhelmed and Najib is perplexed and disillusioned by the tragedy that befalls him and his ‘Black Rose. Read the Malaysia Chronicle and Free Malaysia for more updates……
The Stinger aka ME.
January 8th, 2013 at 8:35 am
IF BN WIN GE13.
Taib & Co. will continue business as usual. More misery for Dayaks. More dams built and more ncr land taken with the blessing of the federal gov’t for at least 2 more years.
IF PR WIN GE13.
1. PR promised more autonomy for Sarawak. But Taib & Co. will still be there for 2 more years enjoying more autonomy. They can plunder more and the fed cannot stop them because they have been given more autonomy.
2. PR promised more funds for Sarawak. But Taib & Co. will still be there for 2 more years! Guess where the extra money will go? I bet you it will not be for us Dayaks. Remember, they have been given more autonomy!
CONCLUSION.
Sarawakians in general and Dayaks in particular will be in a “CATCH 22″ position. Whoever win GE13, Dayaks lose……….
Unless,
1. PR find a way to bypass the state gov’t to disburse funds….can backfire (colonising, what autonomy?).
2. Delay promises for 2 years…..also can backfire (promises unfulfilled….janji tak ditepati).
That is my thoughts with my limited knowledge of politics in regards to Federal/State standard operating procedures(SOP).
I hope kita bukai bisi penemu ke lebih manah.
Regards.
January 8th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Several comments to your write up above:
1) To trust Chinese as a partner?
Kalong Ningkan was half Iban, Half Chinese.
When SNAP led by Kalong to form the Sarawak Govt, SUPP chose to pack with PBB. Probably not to trust SUPP but not Chinese.
2) To revoke pride and courage among Dayaks?
After reading Dayaks’ history esp’ly the Iban one via Iban migration stories, can we refrain from referring to the headhunter culture?
Headhunting is actually quite about seeking revenge.
In fact, headhunting was exploited by white man to conquer Sarawak and Dayaks.
There are other better ways to show or reinvoke pride and courage among Dayaks.
Should there be a cultural revolution among Dayaks to forget about the glory of headhunting in the past?
3) Team work among Dayaks esp’ly within DAP
Is there an internal org chart led by your goodself upon your appointment into DAP CEC?
What happens to the DCC?
January 8th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Anyway, wish you all the best in DAP. At least we have one option to further Dayaks’ and Sarawak’s interests.
January 8th, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Yes, give Doc a chance to prove himself the Bujang Berani among Dayaks. Its now or never or we must walk the talk and believe in ourselves, what we think is just and right.
Better late than never!!!
And to us all, dont delay our action, Keep up the struggle.
January 9th, 2013 at 1:18 am
js@kbn said: “…….After reading Dayaks’ history esp’ly the Iban one via Iban migration stories, can we refrain from referring to the headhunter culture?……”
I beg to differ with you on this as I, on the other hand am proud to be a decendant of headhunters. In my work I interract a lot with Europeans some are very senior managers and particularly interesting to note Scottishs tend to know more about Dayak tribes and headhunting than others. When they realise that I am an Iban and my great great grandparents were headhunters, I could tell you they treat me differently, not with scorn but with greater respect. That helps in managing and negotiation. Their arrogance drop noticeably. So, thank you grandfathers for doing the headhunting.
You know, there could be only a few braves in each civilisation, we had the Red Indians, Samurais, Chinese Warriors during the dynasties era, Vikings, etc..and here in Borneo, the Ibans. So I say, go and be proud to become a headhunter as long at it is not against the current law.
January 9th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Warlock
Headhunting like other wars was uncivilized at least to some views.
We should not be proud of headhunting because it means killing others, mostly for seeking revenge or raiding other places for material gains plus the head of course.
Brookes and North Borneo Company in Sabah seem to use and take advantages of Ibans for territorial expansion and subduing rebellions due to this culture of headhunting, not only against others but also to their own fellow Ibans.
Chinese under Mao Tze Tong did a cultural revolution to get rid of bad practices among themselves.
If headhunting is really beneficial, why are Ibans now living under one minority race?
Iban raja berani who are descendents of headhunters seem overmanipulated and controlled by Malaya when forming Malaysia.
Scots may respect Ibans because they themselves fought so hard as well against English in the past, didn’t they?
Only Dayaks can kill Dayaks?
January 9th, 2013 at 4:52 pm
Some of us would liekt o proud of headhunting but here is the origin of headhunting which is not so nice, is it?
Serapoh learn the correct rules of mourning:
It was while they settled at Bila Dua that a chief named Serapoh started a war with the Kantu tribe. Serapoh, as mentioned earlier was the son of Retak Dai and Kelitak Darah Menyadi. Retak Dai was a direct descendant of Bejie through Telichai, whose story was mentioned earlier. Serapoh was also a first cousin of Keling, whose father, Si Gundi or Gila Gundi married, settled and eventually became leader of the Panggau People.
The war with Kantu tribe came in the following manner. At the death of his parents, Serapoh buried them in their burial ground. Misfortune soon followed, for shortly after the burial many more deaths took place in the longhouse. During this period, a stranger from an unknown country arrived at their longhouse and asked them why they looked so sad and discontented. They told the stranger that it was because of so many deaths, which caused them much despair. The stranger then asked them how they paid respect to the bodies of their dead when they buried them. They told him the things that they had done and the rules they had followed.
“It is not surprising that many of you have died, as you have no proper rules to observe mourning and burying the dead.” the stranger told them.
He said that he was a spirit named Apai Puntang Raga, and he advised them of the proper way to pay respect to the dead and the rules which they should follow in future in connection with burial and mourning. These rules, attributed to Apai Puntang Raga, are as follows:
6. The sacred mourning jar is not to be opened except by a warrior who has managed to obtain a head; or by any man who can present a human head which he obtained in a duel; or by a man who has returned from a sojourn in enemy country.
Having thus advised them, Apai Puntang Raga vanished, and Serapoh began to observe the burial procedures and mourning rules as instructed by the spirit Apai Puntang Raga.
He also began to worry about obtaining a human head so that they can perform the ritual to end the mourning period.
With that in mind, Serapoh decided to go to other Dayak country in the region.
He took with him a menaga jar in order to stake a wager with any man who might wish to engage him in a death combat for it.
The search for challenger was fruitless as there was no one who would accept his menaga jar and the challenge.
In those days, there were no enmity between the Iban people and the other Dayak tribes he visited.
Finally, Serapoh reached a certain country belonging to the Kantu tribe, where he met a man and his son. He enquired from the father whether he would be willing to exchange his son for the jar. To this suggestion the man blindly agreed, and Serapoh happily returned to his country with the young boy on his back.
On his arrival, while still some distance from his longhouse, Serapoh killed the boy. After burying the body in the forest, Serapoh went up the ladder of the longhouse and shouted victoriously, while holding the boy’s head on one hand and pointing his sword skyward with the other hand. The longhouse resident woke up to rejoice the opening of mourning jar and to mark the end of mourning period. There was no more despair due to death caused sickness or supernatural calamity or disaster. Very soon, unknown to Serapoh, he was to suffer from the fate of losing his three sons in a war he already waged with the Kantu tribe.
Dayak War with Kantu Tribe:
When the Kantu people heard of what Serapoh did to a Kantu boy he had adopted in exchange for a valuable menaga jar, they got very agitated by the act and at once gathered themselves to form a troop to invade the Iban country and take their revenge on Serapoh. At this time, the Iban were in the middle of their farming season and Serapoh farm had been badly damaged by wild boar. He ordered his three sons, Chundau, Sampaok and Bada to go out to the farm to assess the damage. At first all his sons refused to go out to the farm and told their father that they had bad dreams the previous night. Their father was adamant to their excuses and ordered them to their farm at once. His three sons did as their father had instructed and proceed to the family farm. While they were inspecting the padi field along the edge of the farm, the Kantu warriors who had laid an ambush fell upon them and none escape.
When the brothers did not return for midday lunch, his father sent her daughter named Remi to take food to her brothers. As she came to the edge of the farm, she called for them, but no one answered. She went to the top of the hill and found the corpse of one lying headless. She ran on down the hill and midway, she found another corpse lying headless. From there she ran down to the bottom of the valley and found the last one lying headless. She then went home in terror to tell her father of the tragedy. The longhouse resident then sounded an alarm by beating brass gongs to warn the other longhouse member who were working in their respective farm of the intruders. When they have all returned home, Serapoh organized a search party to bring his three dead sons back and to track where the intruders had came from. Once they knew that the intruders had come from a Kantu territory, they returned home to organize a funeral for the three slain brothers.
During the funeral that evening, Remi took a nyabor sword and climbed to the roof of their longhouse. In her sorrow, she sat there and wailed out calling for her brothers as follows:
“Oh! Indeed it is sad that my elder brother Chundau was killed and is lost; he will no doubt turn into a great nabau snake, whose back is piebald!”
“Oh! Indeed it is sad that my elder brother Sempaok was killed, whose legs had sunk in the mud; he will no doubt take the form of a gibbon (empliau arang)!”
“Oh! Indeed it is sad that my brother Bada was killed, he will soon become a crocodile which opens its wide mouth!”
That night when everyone was quiet and asleep, a man came quietly to Remi’s bed and woke her. In surprise, Remi asked who the stranger was. She felt that his hair was as sharp as the quill of a porcupine; his nails were as sharp as knives, and his legs were as strong as a weaver’s beam. The stranger told her that his name is Damu (“hairy in the nostril”), and that his nickname was Rukok (“cobweb in the hollow of a bamboo”), a spirit that inhibits the sugar cane plant, whose smell is that of sinang. “I am Bujang, a great leader on the war path. I am also called Bujang Bula who carries his belongings in a basong basket; also known as mischievous bachelor who often goes first at the head of warriors. I came here because I heard you crying inconsolably late in the night.” (Damu ke bebulu idong nensang ka lubang, Rukok ke bejulok apok papong tengkiong, nempuah bau sinang, Bujang pasak jalu, pematak bala nyerang)
In her soft, gentle voice, Remi replied, “I am bound to weep sorrowfully, since I am now left helpless after the death of my three brothers who were killed in a raid by the Kantu people.”
“Oh! You need not worry about it,” said Rukok. “I am here in order to marry you, if you will consent.”
“How can I marry you when I am in sorrow,” replied Remi.
After a long conversation, Remi told the man that if he wished to marry her, he must seek permission from her father. Rukok then went outside to the gallery (ruai) where he waited for the aged Serapoh to come out from his room. In the early dawn, Serapoh came out and lit a fire at his fireplace on the gallery to warm himself. Rukok moved over and sat close to the old man, who immediately asked him who he was and the purpose of his visit. Rukok told him that he had came to ask permission to marry his daughter Remi. This request surprised Serapoh very much.
He immediately related to Rukok his sorrow after the death of his three sons. “If you are willing to pay me an honorable bride-wealth, then I will consent to your marriage with my daughter,” Serapoh said.
Rukok then asked Serapoh what should be an honorable bride-wealth for the marriage. Serapoh then said that he would give his consent to the marriage after he had collected as many Kantu head as possible. Hearing this, Rukok told Serapoh not to worry, as he is obliged to fulfill his wishes.
A few days later, Rukok set out with his brother-in-law named Sampar, the only surviving brother of Remi, and a few selected warriors to attack the Kantu people. Under Rukok leadership, the Iban successfully defeated the Kantu tribe and looted their country. The enemy heads were presented to Serapoh and with it the ritual to end the mourning period for his sons were performed and thereafter, Rukok and Remi’s marriage were solemnized.
After a very successful first raid, Rukok led three more major raids to other Kantu longhouses. Besides these wars, he also led numerous kayau anak, or smaller scale raids, against other tribe who allied themselves to the Kantu people. The Kantu, as well as their neighboring allies, were subjugate by Serapoh’s men and surrendered.
After the submission of the Kantu tribe, Rukok then started to teach Sampar on the proper conduct of war by a war leader as follows:
1. If a war leader leads a party on an expedition, he must not allow his warrior to fight a guiltless tribe which has no quarrel with them.
2. If the enemy surrenders he may not take their lives, lest his army be unsuccessful in future warfare, fighting empty handed war raids (balang kayau).
3. The first time that a warrior takes a head or captures a prisoner, he must present the head or captive to the war leader in acknowledgement of the latter’s leadership.
4. If a warrior takes two heads or two captives, or more, one of each must be given to the war leader; the remainder belongs to the killer or captor.
5. The war leader must be honest with his followers in order that in future wars he may not be defeated (alah bunoh)
When Rukok had finished giving those instructions to Sampar, he presented him with various charms for war expeditions.
Some days afterward, Remi gave birth to a son whom they named Menggin or Meng. Immediately after the birth of their son, Rukok told his family that he wished to return to his own homeland, because all of their enemies had surrendered. He told them that Sampar was old enough to become their leader in his place. Before he left them, he taught the Iban to observe strictly the following rules:
1. No one is allowed to commit adultery
2. If a man commits adultery with the wife of a war leader, he is to be fined fourteen jabir, which is equivalent to $14.00 and the woman is to be fined the same.
3. If a man commits adultery with a well known warrior’s wife (bini manok sabong) he and the woman are to be fined 12 jabir, which is equivalent to $12.00 each.
4. After a person’s death, the wife or husband of the deceased is to be known as balu, widow or widower.
5. If a person has sexual intercourse with a widow or widower it is a great sin called butang antu. The offenders are to be fined in accordance with customary law.
6. No widow ar widower may remarry until after his or her deceased spouse has been honoured by the payment of a small fine made to the relatives of the deceased, later given back, in a ritual called ngambi tebalu mata’ within about six months; or ngambi tebalu mansau after the feast of Gawai Rugan or Gawai Antu.
7. If a widow has sexual intercourse with a widower, it is a great sin, berangkat antu. The offenders are to be fined in accordance with customary law.
8. Any person marrying a widow or a widower is also committing a great sin, also called berangkat antu. They are to be fined heavily too.
9. If a widower marries a widow within the tungkun api period, that is within a week after the death of their partner, this union is called berangkat tulang, which is the greatest of all matrimonial sins. The offenders are to be fined heavily.
10. When a man marries a woman, her family must always demand a marriage fee from him, called the bunga pinang.
Before he finally left for his own homeland in the spiritual world, he then begged them to look after his son as he was growing up. Menggin grew up, half-human half-demon, during the peaceful era after the Kantu-Iban war. He was an adventurous person and known to be able to travel between human world and the domain of Iban God of War, Sengalang Burong, at Tansang Kenyalang, a daughter whom he met and married and begot a son named Sera Gunting. Their adventures will be told in another chapter of this article.
Taken from:
http://gnmawar.wordpress.com/jerita-lama/iban-migration-peturun-iban/early-iban-migration-part-1/
January 9th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Sera Gunting Joins a War Expedition:
Sometime during his stay at Sengalang Burong’s longhouse, his uncle Ketupong held a meeting to plan a foray. After it had been agreed that an expedition would take place, Sengalang Burong told Sera Gunting to join his uncles in order to study the omens that warriors observed while on an expedition. In addition to that, Sengalang Burong lent Sera Gunting his own charms called Pengaroh Mali Balang Kayau, the most effective charms for a war expedition. Besides this, he also gave him a boar tusk charm (taring babi), a sugar cane shoot stone (batu tebu) and a deer horn (rajut tandok). Having equipped Sera Gunting with these charms, Sengalang Burong gave him his most ancient “nyabor” sword of which he said, “no one who has ever used this sword before has failed to obtain an enemy head”..
Early in the evening, they reached the enemy longhouse where they halted and observed their enemies until midnight. At midnight they moved in and surrounded the enemy longhouse. Finally, at dawn they attacked, while most of the inhabitants were still sleeping. Sera Gunting killed three enemies within a very short time. After the enemies had surrendered, the warriors looted the house and returned home victorious.
After Sera Gunting had returned from this successful expedition, Sengalang Burong told him that it was not necessary to teach him about the omens of war. “You have seen and learnt enough about these omens used in war expeditions,” he said. This war omens which Sera Gunting learned have been observed by successive generations of Dayak war leaders.
http://gnmawar.wordpress.com/jerita-lama/iban-migration-peturun-iban/early-iban-migration-part-1/
January 10th, 2013 at 5:03 am
The rest of the Iban migration stories are about ngayau to other etnics (intertribal war) and among Iban themselves (intratribal or even civil war). Can we be proud of this?
January 10th, 2013 at 5:09 am
Having said that, there is a strong urge among Ibans to gain material wealth.
Can we capitalized on this? What options or ways available to them to achieve this aim better?
January 10th, 2013 at 5:48 am
Here is the story of Balang referred to in the above article:
Iban unrest in the Katibas Rivers.
From Nanga Lubang Raya near the source of the Batang Ai, Naga and his brothers Sumping, Maoh, Api and Murap migrated to the Kanyau in Indonesian Borneo. Before they left the country they invited Temenggong Simpi Pala of Rantau Panjai to come with them. But the Temenggong refused as he was reluctant to leave behind his guardian spirit who lived at Bukit Kaong.
On their arrival in the Kanyau, Naga and his followers lived at Emperan Kawat and subsequently at Kerangan Labu. Here they were raided by lower Batang Ai Iban from Kumpang. Due to this trouble Naga led his followers to the headwaters of the Katibas on the Sarawak side of the border. In this new country they first settled at Jekelan and then later moved to Emperan where they were attacked by joint forces of Kantu’ and Embaloh Dayaks. These enemies came from the Kanyau and Ketunggau tributaries of the Kapuas River. To escape this danger they moved to Batu Gong, and then settled at Tekalit. While Naga was still living in the Katibas he transferred his chieftainship to his sons Unggat and Gerinang.
In 1868 when Mr. J.B. Cruickshank was serving as Resident in the Rejang, Unggat and Gerinang came to see him at Nanga Ngemah. When the Resident asked them of the general affairs of the Katibas, Unggat replied that all was tranquil with the exception of a senior warrior chief named Balang who had returned victoriously from the warpath against a tribe called the Lusum. Unggat told Mr. Craickshank that Balang and Ringgau had come to him and his brother Gerinang twice to invite them to join them to murder the Resident. He told Mr. Craickshank that Balang was to hold a feast next day in honour of his recent victory over the Lusum. Mr. Craickshank, upset by the news, told Unggat and Gerinang that he personally would attend Balang’s festival next day.
Early next day Mr. Cruickshank went to Balang’s longhouse. When he reached the longhouse landing place, he called for Balang to come down to fetch him up to the house. Balang was surprised by the arrival of the Resident whom he had not invited to the feast, but he reluctantly agreed to fetch him to his house. When Balang greeted him at his boat, Mr. Cruickshank ordered that he should be arrested, chained and brought down immediately to Sibu for detention. Later in the month it was said that Balang had been executed at Pulau Selalau near Sibu because of his reported plot to murder the Resident.
In retaliation Balang’s son-in-law, his uncle Enjop and the latter’s son publicly declared that they would fight against the rule of the Rajah of Sarawak in the Katibas River. The reason they gave was Balang’s execution without trial, by a court of justice.
Before the revolt began, the relatives of Balang already knew that Balang’s execution was due to Unggat’s jealously and the false story he had told the Resident about Balang’s intention to murder him. So Enjop and his relatives went to Unggat’s house, to force him and Gerinang to join their rebellion against the Rajah. Hearing this, Unggat said that the reason why Balang was executed was because he had raided the Lusum in the upper Rajang. They replied to Unggat that Balang would not have been sentenced to death for this, for the Lusum were enemies of the Katibas, and had not submitted to Brooke rule. Besides this, they said that the government should not sentence Balang to death without a trial.
Gerinang asked Enjop and his relatives to give him and Unggat time to discuss among themselves whether they agreed to join them in rebelling against the govern¬ment. He said that to fight against the government was dangerous and required very careful consideration. Enjop and Balang’s son-in-law said that they already had asked the people of Kanowit and Julau to support their rebellion.
Later Unggat and Gerinang told Enjop and his relatives that they could not reinforce them since, as they put it, they could not seek victory against the warleaders of the Saribas and Skrang Iban who were their relatives, and were now siding with the government.
Due to the joining of Unggat and Gerinang with Enjop and Balang’s relatives in their enmity against the Rajah, fighting suddenly broke out in the Katibas in 1868.
While Naga and his people lived at Batu Gong they were twice attacked by the Rajah’s force during the first and second Katibas expeditions against Enjop, the brother of Balang, in 1869 and 1870. In his wrath against the government for executing Balang unjustly, Lintong ‘Moahari” of Kanowit attacked the Sibu fort in 1870, the year of the second and third expeditions launched by the Brooke government against the Katibas Iban.
During the first Katibas expedition, Manggi’s bong tekam boat defeated the Rajah’s boat; thereby causing the latter’s troops to retreat unconditionally. But during the second expedition this same boat of Manggi’s was driven back and Manggi and many of his warriors were killed.
Enjop and his followers were reinforced by Iban from Julau, Kanowit and Kanyau in Indonesian Borneo. This trouble continued until 1871 and involved three successive punitive expeditions.
After Manggi’s death, Naga ordered a warrior of his, named Ridun to lead a migra¬tion into the Baleh River. Ridun and his followers settled temporarily at the mouth of the Selidong stream near the mouth of the Baleh. There they met with a lot of trouble. They were attacked by the Logats and Ukit tribes. To avoid this Ridun moved to Resa in the Yong stream, where he died of old age. Around the same time Naga died in the Katibas.
Due to the revolt of the Katibas Iban, the upper Batang Ai Iban under chief Ngumbang, while reinforcing their relatives, were attacked by the Rajah in 1868. These troubles were the first signs of what became continuing unrest in the headwaters of the Batang Ai and the Batang Rajang which was to last until 1919.
http://gnmawar.wordpress.com/jerita-lama/iban-migration-peturun-iban/early-iban-migration-part-3/
January 10th, 2013 at 5:57 am
Crita Balang tu ditusoi lebih silik agi ditu:
Datai ba tubuh peturun Temenggung Simpi Pala ke benama Balang ke bensumbar Balai Nyabong, Balang matak bala pindah ari Emperan Kawat tauka Emperan Engkeraju di Batang Kanyau, Kalimantan, Indonesia nengah Penyangkai Piang di ulu Bangkit, pati Batang Katibas sereta diau ba sebengkah endur ke dikumbai Bukit Tunggal. Maya nya kelia Batang Katibas empai diwan bansa Iban, semina dikemeranka bansa Kayan. Tang laban bala Balang tu sigi pugu Raja Berani sereta balat dikarung antu, ari nya bansa Kayan nadai tan dilaban bala Balang ti ngujungka sida rari pansut ari Batang Katibas laban takut diserang Balang.
Ari Bukit Tunggal di ulu Bangkit, bala Balang pansut ke Batang Katibas sereta berumah ba emperan besai di Tembawai Balang, seberai Nanga Ririk ke diatu. Udah rumah Balang di Nanga Ririk nya retung ditunu bansa Kayan ke betuaika Taman Tanduk ari ulu Batang Rajang tinggal sida Balang sampal ngabang gawai ngagai rumah Ubong (Unchat) di Melipis, Batang Kanowit, Balang matak bala iya pindah baru ngili Batang Katibas, pansut ke Batang Rajang sereta berumah di Nanga Ngemah.
Udah nirika Gawai Gerasi Papa, renggat ti kesemilan sereta pemadu tinggi dalam ripih Gawai Burung tauka Gawai Kenyalang, Balang pindah baru kili agi iya nya ba pulau pendam antara Nanga Ngemah enggau Nanga Ensengai ke diatu. Lebuh iya berumah dia mih Balang ditangkap Rajah sereta digayang di Pulau Selalau, seberai pasar Sibu laban dipetenahka Unggat deka munuh Rajah Muda Charles Brooke nyadi ke babi belang lalu Residen di Sibu (Rejang) ke benama J.B. Cruickshank nyadi ke manuk labang lebuh Balang deka begawai besai, ngayang babi belang tujuh iku, munuh manuk labang tujuh iku dikena iya makai selamat ngambi sida aya iya Keling ari Panggau Libau datai ngabang dalam taun 1866. Balang ke diukum gayang tu nadai dipansik sereta nadai dipecharaka perintah ti ngujungka menyadi iya Ranggau (Enjop) enggau kaban belayan iya enda puas ati sereta angkat ngelaban perintah Rajah Brooke ari taun 1868 di Nanga Bangkit, Katibas nyentuk ngagai taun 1919 di Gaat, Balleh, Kapit.
Diatu, tembawai Balang ari ili Nanga Ngemah nya udah nyadi pulau pendam. Ba tembawai Balang tauka pulau pendam tu, orang ke bidik lansik ke mansa endur nya kala meda batu bedilang niang Balang tang lebuh sida betesau sereta datai bebala mayuh deka meda batu bedilang nya, dia batu bedilang niang Balang nemu lesap, nadai dipeda sida agi.
http://pegari.com.my/?page_id=1328
January 10th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
“Aku ukai enda pechayaka Gawai Kelingkang Gawai Kenyalang kena nempa Ketuai Kitai Dayak unggal Bunyau, tang manah agi kitai ngena jalai orang kemaiaritu.” Ko Mujap bejako enggau Bunyau ngenang orang ke ngaga Gawai Kelingkang kena nempa Ketuai Dayak.
“Nya meh… pengawa tak tambap. Kitai ngumbai Masing tambap, miring ke menoa Balleh ambih bah. Tu sida PR ga ngaga pengawa bakanya. Ni ke betul.” Ko Bunyau nyaut.
“Uji ketuai PR bangsa Dayak mupuk berunding enggau sekeda ketuai ari BN awak ke oleh nunda sida di Sabah. Enda ga manah agi. Ukai ka tu nempa Ketuai Dayak.” Ko Mujap nyaut.
Udah nya seduai nyau bejalai.
January 10th, 2013 at 7:07 pm
I believe Dayaks still can begawai and keep this begawai culture.
However, reference to headhunting should be minimized if not avoided at all.
Headhunting or bejalai right now should be focused on education and seeking better means to improve own family.
January 11th, 2013 at 3:13 am
Dayaks need soul-searching to move forward: Tajem
Bernama News, Aug, 2000
KUCHING, Mon.- The Dayak community in Sarawak need to do a deep examination of themselves if they wish to overcome their weaknesses and catch up with the other races.
Only by identifying their own weaknesses could the Dayaks, who form the majority of Sarawak’s estimated two million people, gather their strengths to move forward.
These were among the first words of newly re-elected Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) deputy president Datuk Daniel Tajem when asked on the achievements of the Dayak community.
“The Dayaks comprising Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu are still lagging behind in all fields, and they need a paradigm shift to be on par with other races,” he told Bernama after the end of the PBDS general assembly here yesterday.
Tajem beat state Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Masing in a straight fight for the number two post which saw a contest for the first time in the party’s 17-year history.
Tajem polled 360 votes against 278 votes obtained by Dr Masing.
Datuk Amar Leo Moggie was returned unopposed as president, a post he held since the party was formed in 1983.
Tajem said the Dayaks clearly lagged behind in the economic, education and social sectors, among others.
The majority of the estimated 3,800 longhouses and Dayak villages in the state were still without electricity and water supply, said Tajem, 64, a former deputy chief minister.
He said the party should have the vision to expand the middle class among the community.
“I am happy if several Dayaks have become millionaires but to strengthen the community’s economic position, the creation of more middle-class Dayaks should be the objective of PBDS this century,” he said.
He said if more Dayaks become entrepreneurs and businessmen, they could set up a Dayak Chamber of Commerce like what has been done by the other communities.
Tajem, who completed his tenure as Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand in the middle of this year, said the achievements of Dayaks in education also pale in comparison with those of other races.
He said all Dayak leaders irrespective of which party they are from should make concerted efforts to help improve the performance of Dayak students so that more of them could enter universities.
“I am worried because in the field of information technology, which has become a requirement for every kind of endeavour like studies and business, the Dayak community will continue to be left behind,” he said.
Tajem said whatever the vision for the Dayaks, he could not run away from pondering over the fate of a big section of the community who still live in longhouses and villages in the interior. “With the programmes drawn up by the state government, they can progress but the Dayak community must be given sufficient information on development projects, especially land development,” he said.
One way to further develop the Dayak community was to set up nucleus land development programmes and open up plantations by leasing out Native Customary Rights (NCR) land belonging to Dayaks, he said.
“For a Dayak with 120 acres of land, for example, he can only work on 20 acres the most and the rest can be rented to plantation companies for development of oil palm estates or other crops.
“I am not anti-development but I want every planned development project to be fully understood first by the Dayaks so that they can reap the full benefits,” he said.
Asked on his victory in the party election, Tajem said it was a healthy contest as it offered a new kind of experience to the Dayaks to make them more mature politically.
It afforded them an opportunity to evaluate candidate and pick who they considered the best, and this education process was important as the state election was not far away, he said.
“If we do not allow contests it means we are not giving party members a choice,” said Tajem, adding that he was just defending his post.
“I had served as a state assemblyman, High Commissioner and deputy chief minister, and now I am really free and able to strengthen the party machinery,” said Tajem, a founder of the party.
He dismissed allegations that his decision to defend the post was prompted by his desire to contest the next state election, and hopefully make a return to the state Cabinet.
“My intention is to strengthen the party so that anyone holding a post, like Datuk Moggie, can focus on government duties and not worry about the party,” he said.
Tajem said he wanted PBDS to remain as the vehicle for the Dayak community to unite and contribute to the country in the spirit of cooperation practised by the Barisan National (BN).
Asked on his determination to retain the post as seen from the unveiling of his term for the contest, Tajem said those in his camp comprised professionals in various fields.
“They included businessmen, bank officers, lawyers, housing developers, plantation managers, economists and private company senior executives with vast experience to contribute to the country,” he said.
Tajem, a lawyer knows for his oratorical skills, said the party needed leaders with expertise in various fields to draw up programmes to develop the Dayaks.
“I also want to gather the Dayak intellect and professional groups regardless of their party so that they can server as the think tank to bring the Dayak community to greater heights and contribute to the development of Sarawak and Malaysia,” he said. -BERNAMA
January 11th, 2013 at 3:17 am
Dayaks lagging behind other bumiputeras: Moggie
by Tony Thien, Malaysia Kini,17 Feb 2003
The launch of the Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud last weekend is seen as a move to bring in all Dayak leaders and intellectuals together on a non-partisan platform to discuss policies and issues affecting the community.
It is also seen as a bridge across the political divide among the Dayak community, recognised as a minority group in Malaysia, to address the problems facing the community in joining the mainstream of economic development.
The association, whose president is Professor Dr Dimbab Ngibang of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, has received overwhelming response from Dayak intellectuals representing the various groups such as Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.
In Sarawak, the Dayak form the largest single racial group, followed by the Chinese, Malays and Melanaus.
In his paper delivered at a SDGA-organised forum on the social transformation of the Dayak, Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Multimedia Leo Moggie – who is also Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president – highlighted some of the difficulties facing the Dayaks today.
Minimal equity shares
He said: “The achievements of the Dayak, being a minority bumiputera group in the country, are relatively lower than that achieved by other bumiputeras.
“Bumiputera minorities have the highest incidence of poverty, the largest number of poor households, the highest rate of unemployment, and the lowest in educational attainment,” said Moggie.
“In the corporate sector, bumiputera minorities equity share is very minimal.”.
Moggie said the Dayaks must acquire sufficient knowledge to manage the challenges of the new era and benefit from the opportunities available.
However, based on the population census data, he said the Dayaks have yet to respond to the demand of the new economy as reflected by the limited number of skilled and professional Dayaks in all sectors of the economy.
No knowledge of ICT
Equally alarming, he added, was the result of a study on information communication technology (ICT) awareness among the Dayaks.
The study, involving 1,500 Iban “biliks” (individual units of housing in longhouse) in Kuching and Sri Aman, showed that 86 percent have no knowledge of computers, and 88.7 percent have never used a computer.
The study also revealed that 62 percent of respondents do not consider knowledge of computers as a relevant skill for employment.
Moggie also said that the number of Dayaks enrolled in tertiary education and skill-training institutions is relatively low compared to other Malaysians.
He cited the high incidence of school dropouts among the Dayaks as one of the major contributing factors.
“Poor households, and especially those in the rural areas, where students often travel long distances to get to school, are most vulnerable to pulling their children out of school,” said Moggie.
He added: “The low educational level of parents and guardians also contributed to the high incidence of school drop out.”
Parental control over their children, particularly among school boarders, is also weakening because of their sojourn away from their home, he said.
Leonard Linggi Jugah, the former secretary-general of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), said during the forum’s questions-and-answers session that Dayak political leaders from different parties must sit down more often to discuss the problems affecting the community.
“Examine policies, look at the weaknesses and take them up with the authorities,” he said.
Be more united, Dayak leaders told
His remarks were greeted with loud applause as he named several Dayak leaders who he said should meet more often and discuss matters affecting the Dayak community in Sarawak.
“Dayak leaders in Sarawak should get their act together and identify ways to synergise for the betterment of the bumiputera minority in the new millennium.”
“I would like to call upon all Dayak leaders to take cue from the chief minister’s call and set aside our differences for the common goal of uniting and bringing the community to greater heights.
“I would like to call upon (PBB deputy president and Deputy Chief Minister) Alfred Jabu, LeoMoggie, (Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party president) William Mawan, PBB vice-president and Housing Minister Michael Manyin, (SPDP secretary-general and Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications) Dr Judson Tagal to sit down together more often,” he appealed.
Linggi said the Dayak could have achieved greater success if their leaders had been more united, adding that the “community would not be able to fully capitalise on the privileges if they were to continue to do things in their ways.”
Need not depend on family name
In his opening speech, Taib told the Dayaks that they could achieve success in their undertakings without having to depend on family name and influence.
“You don’t have to be the children of an Abang, Wan, Tuanku or Penghulu to be successful in life because intellectual prowess and opportunities do not recognise this,” the chief minister said.
He urged the Dayak community to broaden their social and intellectual horizons by grabbing the opportunity
to acquire a good education that would enable them to become part of the globalised world.
“That is why it’s important we create mobility in society, both physically and socially so that we can move in tandem with changing times and make adjustments to meet the needs of our ever changing world,” he added.
“Every race can look after itself now and people can feel the change creeping in… faster and faster by the day.”
Reminding the people of the challenges posed by the borderless world and emerging new economic dragons, he said changes had to come from within the people “because government efforts alone are not enough, reaching only the very select group that lies on the surface of interaction.”
January 11th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
WE HAVE “crocodile” AS OUR TOP POLTICAL LEADERS, by: Dr. John Brian Anthony,15th June 2010.
1. Taib: Rejects “barking” politicians. Very interesting indeed that CM Taib has gone down to a low level to say that certain politicians are only good at “barking”. An animal that “barks” usually is a dog. The dog guards the master and the property of the master. So Opposition is guarding the people of Sarawak and its property from getting swallowed. The swallowing is already happening in large scale and the dog is trying to save whatever can be saved.
2. What animal is a “swallowing” animal? Many. To name a few; one is a snake and the other is a crocodile. In Sarawak, we do have a snake and a crocodile that swallows our forests, our lands, our development funds, Federal projects etc. Otherwise, how could so many politicians be so rich when they are not full time businessmen?
3. Crocodile Tears. This “crocodile” says many things to lure support for them, including shedding tears. Many crocodiles are old already: like the Bujang Senang the Croc but they refuse to step down from power because they have still not completed their job. What job do you want to complete in this country? Does it mean that we let the crocodile swallow Sarawak lock stork and barrel?
This country hopefully will last many hundred years and the old crocodiles really think that they will last as long as this country. The old crocodile really thinks that they are the only people who can solve this country’s problems and these crocodiles really think that they can swallow more of Sarawak riches.
Nay, we should not allow all the above to happen. If it takes us “The people of Sarawak” to bark to stop the crocodile, we will bark like a dog but we will never allow this country to go down the bellies of the crocodiles.
4. The roles of an elected Government. I do not want to dwell on the many roles of Government. I want to focus on and say that the Government should bring development to the people. They must keep the country rich and the people happy. The Government is elected by the people and entrusted with power to organize, plan, execute and monitor the deployment of resources in the country, eg taxes and excise duties.
Why is CM Taib talking silly by saying Opposition talks only but cannot bring progress to Sarawak? The Opposition is fighting hard to win and govern Sarawak because they have a strategy and plan to make Sarawak more progressive through better use of the State resources and executing better leadership than the Government today.
CM Taib cannot blame the Opposition if Sarawak is not progressing as fast as it should and the people as happy as the morning sun. Sarawak Government has a total majority to run and develop Sarawak. It is not the Opposition duty to run this State yet until elected to be so.
5. Why are we not progressing as we should be? It boils down to LEADERSHIP. Do we have good leadership -no, we don’t have. We have crocodiles as leaders that serve to enrich themselves with State resources and Federal development fund allocation.
We have leaders that play a “racial agenda “in tandem with UMNO.
The Malaysian agreement gave many special “rights” to Sarawak. Most of these rights have not been properly used by the Government. What the Government used are those “rights” that make them rich – rights over land and Forest, mining, port, sales tax etc.
The Government sold out on other “rights” to the Federal Government in order to gain Federal contracts and decorative “titles”.
Conclusion. For 47 years we lack good leadership. The leadership even tries to hold on to power through whatever means. But the people are fed up with this Government. The people want a change. The Government can call the people political platform by any name, as the people already know that the Government of today is a: crocodile Government” aka Bujang Senang.
Change WE Must – “out” with crocodiles and “in” with progressive and fair Malaysian.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Related posts:
1. Tropical forest – crocodile tears Written by: Dr. John Brian Anthony The Government is trying…
2. Dayak Political Leaders are without political cause Posted by: Meramat Tajak KM, Well put on learning from…
3. What Dayak Political leaders can do for SCORE Posted by: Seliong ak Wau Dayakbaru comment: “I would not…
4. Dayak Political leaders prefer to be “Mr. Clean” Posted by: Cikgu Iban DB, Reasons for political party to…
5. Dayak leaders are afraid to voice out the truth Written by Dr. John Brian Anthony Leadership with helpless mentality…
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
June 15, 2010 • Filed Under Politic
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The state mentstill holds its truth till today. Resubmitted for our costant reminder on how those people continue to corner us. Cheers…
January 11th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
TG
The two articles seem to support my point about forgetting the Dayaks’ past glory due to headhunting and move forward in other better means.
The latter path is of course easier said than done by Dayak politicians and Dayaks.
January 13th, 2013 at 5:54 am
Semua Kaban DB
Lutor Rundi enggai enda mansut ka jako ti nunjukka pengurang penemu iya dalam politik.Iya ka siko aja tang orang ti nyerta HKR 112 lebih setengah juta (800,000) mensia ti betugong dalam Stadium Merdeka enggau ngelingi tempatnya. Nya alai penemu iya agi sendat nadai berunding ka penyampau orang ti enda setuju engga BN party ti dititihka luturnya.
49 taun udah kelalu lama enda ibuh nuan, Lutur ngemeli ka orang maioh agi. Manah nuan main golf or FLY KITE.
January 17th, 2013 at 1:00 am
The dayaks will remain the same, the rich getting richer whereas the poor getting poorer.
If no attention is taken to the field education,only way to uplift the standard of one living,it,s not surprise to see many dayak youths will end up as cheap labourers in this country.
January 20th, 2013 at 5:21 am
PRU 13 offers the best opportunity for the people of Malaysia to effect a regime change from BN to PR because for the first time in history the opposing groups (BN/PR) provide a clear choice for the people to choose to form the next government based on their respective political ideologies.
So for the Dayak..where are we after PRU 13:
(1) To me, that choice is solely ours to make and our choice should be made based on rational decision and should never be on sentiment. This is because decision made based on sentiment only focuses on the past and more importantly makes us forget about the future. The future is what we are after, so being sentimental is detrimental to the Dayak’s progress. I’m afraid a lot of us have this tendency to use more of our heart (emotion) than our head when making decision.
(2) Regardless of which party forms the next government, the Dayak must be brave enough to take charge of their own destiny in whatever they do to eke out a living. This means changing our mindset. At this juncture, I would like to congratulate Dr JB for leading the way in this regard. To me, changing mindset means not thinking of or expecting special privileges, such as I’m a Bumi, therefore the government must help me to move forward because a Bumi-mindset is self defeating. I’m sure one will not be able to survive especially in real business with a Bumi-mindset. Changing mindset also means expanding own networking by doing something different or diversifying one’s activities. It also means changing our role model to motivate us to do better in whatever we do. For example, for those of us doing business, if your role model is a successful Alibaba businessman, this must be changed to successful Baba businessman.
(3) I have no issue with whatever each one of does to uplift our own perseverance, morale or fighting spirit be it by traditional means such as organizing specific Gawai or whatever, as long as it contributes positively to the common good of the community.
January 23rd, 2013 at 8:08 pm
Ngubah runding ukai semina ngubah cara kita ngelaban sereta ngetan ka bansa dayak,tang mih ubah cara berunding ke ulih nyaga kebajikan bansa dayak.
Ngubah runding ukai semina ngubah parti ke di undi, tang belajar numbuhka parti diri empu. Enti agi nepan perau urang nya ukai berubah tang ngelubah ka ubah.
Ngubah runding ukai semina ngubah chara kitai nekul penemu urang tang kitai empu nemu nerima anak runding urang bukai enti sema pekara nya bekaul enggau bansa dayak.Mesti enda EGO.
Ngubah runding ukai semina ngubah cara kitai mantai ka sebana tauka pengeringat ngagai parti ke merintah tang kitai mupuk ngajar diri empu begempung enggau perintah tauka penyakal lebuh ba pekara ke senutuk enggau bansa.
NYA BARU UBAH RUNDING KE BETUL.NYA BARU INTELEKTUAL KE AMAT AMAT NGELEDA ARI MIMPI.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:44 am
Give no chance for any sweet promises by any parties that the dayaks will be well taken care of after the next election. Let us use our brain wisely now instead of allowing our heart to allow history to repeat itself. It is time for us to leave. Otherwise, we still believe that we cannot move forward without other’s help. I believe that we can run this ship by ourselves. Why should we be a slave if we have all the reasons to become great leaders and great nation?
January 25th, 2013 at 12:50 am
To the dayaks especially the Ibans, if we still fail to learn about how to debate or argue professionally, we will be shattered into pieces again. History has taught us that the Ibans will use sword or black magic if they failed to win an argument. If they are not happy, they will leave the ship because the Ibans are well known as a race who who uses their heart to the maximum as to why they are chosen to hunt the COMMUNIST before, as their determined heart was used to the maximum by the previous white and brown lions to help them win the war against communism. We have to learn how to use our STUBBORNNESS wisely. Please stop the mentality of “I am better than you or my idea is better than yours…” . We should learn how to compromise. Use the power of our brains this time. I believe that we can shake the world if we can combine the power of our brain and heart.
January 29th, 2013 at 5:47 am
I m not concern where would the dayak be after PRU13. Things that bother me is that opposition elected MPs will in split second turn into millionaire after Rayonging- betrayed their supporters like the Engkilili state assemblyman. That really hurts! That make people really lose trust on politicians, their only choice is then BN. BN are known devils to the rakyat but opposition could be a thorn in their flesh.
We have enough of lessons whereby opposition/ independent elected wakil rakyat suck BN cock. To name a few; Rayong, jawah gerang, Billy abit, Richard riot, mandau, gramong, late jeli. Election time they cursed taib, once elected they crawled in between taib’s legs.
I suggest the opposition candidates in Sarawak should make to swear by the bullets, never again betray their supporters!
February 6th, 2013 at 3:14 am
Dayak patut bisi org ngiring (kering, berani enda alah ketegal penguji) kitai patut angkat!!
kitai Sarawak patut ngasai ke hasil bumi kita empu, mesti dipedua sama sebaka / semananjung tau nerima mimit gik ari kitai empu menua.
harga barang ba semananjung jauh gik murah ari ba Sarawak, tang nama kebuah.. gaji minimum orang sarawak lebih mit gai ari semananjung.. orang Sarawak ditindas secara tidak langsung… aku semina nyokong orang ke Nolong Rakyat Sarawak jak…
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:53 am
Not where the Dayak be after PRU-13, but where Sarawakians be after PRU-13?
Read this and you will see some pictures of what they have done in the West at this moment, you think they care about us? Only our $$ they want from us!
Expect nothing from them.
Open Letter From Deepak to Tun Mahathir
Appeared in HarakahDaily today
http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/16676–deepak-buat-surat-terbuka-untuk-dr-mahathir
Open letter to Tun Mahathir 13/02/2013
Dear Tun,
I refer to your statement “Ignore Deepak” as your advice to DS Najib & DS Rosmah, I also take heed of your advice to me to seek the courts involvement and not use political channels to claim my rights and remedies.
Tun,
For your kind information, this is exactly what I have been doing the last 2 years from 2010 till to date and the courts have been fair and granted Judgment in my favor, however Najib’s administration is “ignoring” these Judgments and evidence produced in Courts and almost all the Government Institutions have either swept DS Rosmah dirt under the carpet or just not replying to our various written testimonies and Courts Judgment; as such I would like to seek Tun’s advice. What would Tun do in my place? Being of similar paternal ancestral background I am sure what I put forward in this letter would be exactly what Tun would have done in my situation or already done under different circumstances when Tun wrote the “historic 17th.June 1969″ open Letter to Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Tun,
I was raided by Bank Negara Malaysia in 2010 for foreign currency exchange through money changers amounting to substantial amount of Singapore Dollars and US Dollars. The investigation was for a period of six (6) weeks and we divulged that the foreign currency was delivered to DS Najib & DS Rosmah as payments for various deals that I had acted on as their conduit including Bangunan Angkasa Raya, Bukit Raja Land and Glomac Tower (Now known as Wisma Prestige).The matter was not pursued any further.
I was also asked to be part of an investigation by MACC into the sale of an office Building at KLCC to an International Islamic Bank, we had proved through payment slips, video statements and written testimony that I was merely acting as a conduit for DS Najib and DS Rosmah and monies were given by hand to both of them in various occasions over a period of two (2) years, Dato’ Jamidan a senior Director of MACC who was also involved in the Sime Darby case.
Now why it is after such clear incriminating evidence till to date there has been no investigation on DS Rosmah, DS Najib or D.Nazim? This takes selective prosecution to an entirely different level doesn’t it? How does Tun suggest I seek duress then? Let’s talk about my Court experience now.
Tun,
I had bought a 200 acres piece of land from Raja Ropiah in 2007 who is now UMNO Selangor Wanita Chief and BN Wanita Chief. We paid her cash RM 13,000,000.00 and issued a Land Bond (Bank Guarantee) of RM 72,500,000.00 to complete the purchase consideration. Raja Ropiah after collecting the money, purposely delayed the issuance of the Land Title to us by completely neglecting her responsibilities to deliver this Land Title and in the sly by committing CBT sold the land to another company at a higher price and also collecting close to RM 90,000,000.00 in cash and Bank Guarantees from them, this too while our “Land Bond” was still valid and collecting Rm 13,000,000.00 from us in cash. We also paid as disclosed in open court RM 8,000,000.00 to DS Najib family. I have lodged police reports and to date zero action has been taken on Raja Ropiah and the other “R”
Instead I had to go through a harrowing experience of receiving a Foreclosure notice called a “16 D” by non other that DS Najib brother’s; D Johari Razak law firm Shearn Delamore exactly 24 hours after my press conference informing the media of the corruption and malpractice of this couple. Tun, pray advice me which bank does a foreclosure without even going through the legal process involved?
Anyway by sheer “coincidence” their foreclosure was for RM 30,000,000.00 and Boustead Holding suddenly appears out of nowhere to agree to Purchase our Company that owns this 200 Acre letter under the name of Asta Canggih Sdn Bhd for the same RM 30,000,000.00 !! Wonders of Wonders right ? The best part is Boustead also paid us in “advance” before signing the Agreement on condition that we withdraw the case from the courts immediately as the open court date was in the same week, Now Tun, please advice me what you would have done in this circumstances?? The best part is that Raja Ropiah was paid a further RM 29,000,000.00 as her “sentence” for the CBT.
Tun,
We had sold a building to a subsidiary of an International Islamic Bank in 2008 and they defaulted in the payment to us in 2010 when the new shareholders came in, now we won this landmark case in court via a Judgment on 07th November 2012 and the Court Judgment found that an International Islamic Bank;-
a) used unlawful means to conspire against us with the predominant purpose of injuring us
b) Committed breach of the Letter of Undertaking they issued to us
c) Involved in the issuance & release of fraudulent letters to injure us and our business
The bank was also exposed in open court of:-
i) Cheating its Depositors by purchasing Assets using an “associate” company where they initially claimed ownership of 19% but in actual fact owned 100% through A “Declaration of Trust Deed” which they later were forced to admit in open Court upon the presentation of the “Declaration of Trust Deed”
ii) Cheating the various statutory bodies like Bank Negara Malaysia, SC, FIC and ROC by using these Malaysian nominees’ shareholders to circumvent foreign ownership declarations and Approvals required.
iii) Cheat Bank Negara Malaysia, by showing loans exceeding its own Paid up Capital at the material time as loans to third party Companies when in fact it was loans to its own subsidiary.
Tun,
We had written to Bank Negara Malaysia to take necessary action against this International Islamic Bank as per the Banking Laws:-
a) Removing the CEO immediately
b) Limiting or revoking the Bank’s License to prevent the Bank from taking Depositors
c) Having the Bank announce this unlawful conspiracy and breach to depositors and share holders in Malaysia & the middle east where it is a Public Listed Company and also Governed by a Board of Trustees.
Tun,
My numerous letters to Tan Sri Zeti and the Board of Directors of Bank Negara Malaysia till to date have remained unreplied, why? Because Bank Negara knows that D Rosmah and D Nazim was involved in the Building sale, why? Because our written and video testimony to MACC in 2011 has confirmed the involvement of both D Rosmah and D Nazim in the transcript including evidence of payments made.
Hence, Tun, having a court Judgment is not enough today in Malaysia where even our most sacred Institution Bank Negara Malaysia sings to the tune of D Rosmah and no longer “I did it my way” anymore.
May I ask Tun, do you want to see Barisan Nasional and Malaysia destroyed by these blatantly corrupt couple, I seek your advice, What do I do after going to Court and winning the case? All the institution is under the control of this Bonnie & Clyde couple? Where do we go from here? The International Court of Justice? The Media? Or The Opposition? Please advice me through your Wisdom Tun as I am both perplexed and disgusted with what has happened to Malaysia the last 11 years through the paralysis of our Government
I am sadly disappointed with Tun’s press statement asking that I be ignored, how can I be ignored when we are defending the same country’s dignity and integrity. Maybe Tun is listening to the wrong people who tell Tun that I am working with the opposition to topple the Government, Tun I am a nationalist, I won’t help anyone topple my country’s dignity, No ONE.
Tun, you yourself have said that Najib is very weak, which is a reality, the Chinese know the level of corruption is not going to end and the Malays know that only a handful of “elite” Malays get very rich and the rest rely on scholarship, KR1M, BR1M and DR1M, eventually we all will become beggars or maids at the rate things are going where our debt will hit RM 1 Trillion by 2014. Everyone knows that Najib is Santa Claus PM giving “cash” to everybody to win by BRIBING THE NATION!! Everyone knows the real PM is Rosmah and Najib is just the happy Santa Claus PM.
My concern is not only about the country going into riots during or after election but also if the military takes control in all the chaos that will precede a dirty election. With the risk of facing the severe consequences of my words, I ask that Tun M propose that Najib be asked to resign and his deputy to lead a refreshed BN into the election mode which must happen in the next 60 days.
Tun,
I hope that my letter is accepted by Tun in as sincere a manner that it is written for and that no matter how bitter the truth is, it will still remain the truth and will always prevail over the lies and denials of Plunderers and Murderers.
Yours Sincerely,
DEEPAK J TEKWANI
February 22nd, 2013 at 5:55 pm
After PRU 13, life will still be the same for the Dayak. Other races might be gaining something for themselves but Dayak will bits of the country,s wealth. Jabut is bloated and need some ‘fine-tuning to be done, and same to those greedy and self-centred Dayak YBs’, lacked integrity, ‘froggies’ and thieves, robbers among us…..?
February 23rd, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Udat pesok bisi guna ia mega!
If BN still wins the next GE13, then more Dayaks will be suffering and their sufferings would be getting more in magnitude. Will their sufferings open their heart and mind to reawaken them?
February 23rd, 2013 at 6:39 pm
I, you, we hope that things will never be the same again after PRU13. But for now we need to help our candidates with all our efforts to achieve victory. Its the mission to fulfill an obligation for the DB warrior to meddle with the naive and pathetic dayak voters esp. In the rural areas. Rest assured, I’m moving to the grassroot level to help wherever I can. JS Kaban must walk the talk, we can’t just sit and watch things happening, we must mobilise our strength. I hope more Dayakbarus are willing to help spread the words of wisdom……THE CHANGE….FOR THE…..BETTER!!!!
February 24th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Yes, Walk the talk! Why not? Can be in many ways.
One is for aspiring politicians to declare publicly their genuine interests to help other people and not to self-enrich or enrich cronies via politics.
Second, can bring some people to visit Brunei who was invited to form Malaysia but declined or Singapore which was expelled by Malaya to see how successful these two nations by now with GDP and per capita much higher than Malaysia.
In case of Brunei, the country is rich due to its oil and investment overseas.
The exchange for Brunei dollar now is 2.45 Malaysia ringgit.
Thirdly, can discussing some ideas in PDB be considered walk the talk as well?
February 24th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Is this view relevant to Sarawak?
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has accused national opposition front, Pakatan Rakyat, of applying the same ‘divide-and-rule’ tactic applied by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which puts their parties and personal interests over the people’s interest.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/24/pakatan-looks-like-bn-to-sabahans/
February 24th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
This video seems interesting, isn’t it? About bercakap benar dan amanah:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvXcTosgtlo
February 25th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Will Dayaks benefit from these PR’s manifesto policies?
http://www.pakatanrakyat.my/files/ENG-Manifesto-LEAFLET.pdf
February 25th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Should Dayaks vote for public interests or politician’s interests?
Barathidasan affirmed that WargaAMAN was non-partisan, saying it would continue to work in the interest of the public instead of for the benefit of politicians.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/25/ngo-backs-vell-paari%E2%80%99s-ultimatum/
February 25th, 2013 at 9:43 pm
Raban@Kaban….
Its an hearsay,perceptions of individuals, propagandist at work. Nothing else matters most but, CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. Borneon politics must be reformed and restructured to free us from the kleptocrats, the corrupt elites good at squandering , plundering the wealth of the nation. Taib, Musa Aman are a threat…with billions losts in the state coffers. WHO IS ANSWERABLE ????? WHO IS LIABLE for the crime of TREASON ?
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS MOST NOW…….TO REFORM AND BE REFORMED!!!