Joseph Tawie | November 11, 2011
Free Malaysia Today
Dayaks who have been ‘deprived of convenience’ by the ruling Barisan Nasional regime can expect to be prioritized under a Pakatan Rakyat rule.
KUCHING: Should the opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, be elected to power, the Dayak community in Sarawak can expect to see RM1 billion set aside to specifically look into their needs.
From this amount, some RM100 million will be channelled towards the Dayak Welfare Fund.
The RM100 million fund will look to providing medical aid and care for the poor and infirm Dayaks, help facilitate the supply of water tanks, pumps and pipes to longhouses and to repair and rebuild dilapidated houses or those destroyed by fire and other natural disasters.
Announcing this today, Pakatan’s shadow finance minister Chong Chien Jen said the Dayak Welfare Fund will be parked at the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation.
“The fund aims to reduce and mitigate some of the problems faced by the Dayaks.
“We must not shut our eyes to the plight of the Dayaks like what the BN (Barisan Nasional) ministers have done.
“The Dayaks have all along been marginalised and left out from the main stream of development in our country.
“As such, Pakatan must take action to help the Dayaks in terms of their education, and cultural and social levels,” he said.
Educating Dayaks
Chong, who is also DAP-Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said that of Pakatan’s RM4.285 billion alternative state budget, RM20 million will be channelled to the Tourism and Heritage Ministry to preserve the Dayak cultural heritage and traditions.
This sum will include the building of a Dayak cultural centre, and the collection and publication of oral cultural traditions and history.
He said it would also include development grants for academic research into Dayak cultural practices, traditions and incentives for the publication of Dayak literature.
‘We have also allocated RM80 million to the Ministry of Planning and Resource Management to carry out perimeter survey and to issue land titles to these landowners.
“We will also provide legal assistance to landowners in legal disputes with plantation groups and other companies which may also want to stake claims to this land,” he said.
Chong said that an additional allocation of RM250 million will be allocated to the Modernisation of Agriculture Ministry to provide financial and technical support to the Dayak community for crop planting activities on native customary right (NCR) land.
He also proposed setting aside RM80 million to establish a SADA Entrepreneur Development Unit under the Chief Minister’s Department.
The unit aims to enhance the entrepreneurial skills of the Dayaks in the marketing and sales of agriculture produce and retail goods.
The unit will also set up a RM10 million SADA Education Fund to uplift the education level of Dayak students and to ensure Dayaks are competent in various professional and technical fields.
Chong said that a sum of RM30 million has been proposed to send Dayak students overseas and another RM10 million for tuition for both primary and secondary school Dayak students.
Deprived of convenience
Asked to elaborate on these funds, Chong said that many within the Dayak community, especially those living in the longhouses, are deprived of conveniences which many others, especially those in the urban areas, take for granted.
“For example, Dayaks almost never have medical insurance and as such, are not able to pay for specialist treatment when struck down by certain illnesses.
“For example in 2008, a pair of twin sisters who were diagnosed with degenerative kidney disease was sent from Miri to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment.
“But a lack of funds delayed their trip, and as a result, one of the twins passed away,” Chong said.
“Also, Dayak homes and other properties such as boats are usually not covered by insurance.
“Dayak longhouses are particularly vulnerable to fire since wood stoves are still commonly used in many longhouses for cooking.
“These homes are also particularly vulnerable during floods and other natural disasters.
“The famous logjam affecting the Rajang River in October 2010 had destroyed many jetties and longboats.
“Uncontrolled and under-supervised logging activities pollute the rivers and drinking waters of the Dayaks.
“Many Dayaks still rely on wells and on rain water because of the gaps in the coverage of piped water,” Chong said.
Empowering Dayaks
Commenting on the same issue, Dayak Consultative Council chairman Dr John Brian Anthony said the budget placed special focus on culture, education and agriculture which was important to the community’s growth and success.
“The fund will help Dayak students to be trained overseas to acquire skills and experience, because they will one day become not only the leaders of the community, but also of the state and country.
“Another interesting thing in the budget is the strengthening of the Dayak culture. You see culture is a strong unifying factor.
“If we improve our cultural development, then we Dayaks will be able to keep our identity as a race and that will become a good product for tourism.
“This will also mean other people could understand and learn the Dayak culture,” he said.
He also said that the budget acknowledged the importance of modernising and enhancing the community’s skills in agricultural activities.
“The Dayaks have assets such as land which has not been fully utilised by the current government.
“The government has been talking about modernisation of agriculture, and I do not see any modernisation taking place.
“Once Pakatan takes over the government, it will give titles to the landowners and will help them to develop their land. This will further enhance the Dayak economy,” he said
#1 by monsterball on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 4:37 am
Now the ‘shadow government’ has shown their plan what to do…..if they get elected in Sarawak.
Had BN done all that…Sarawak should have been a richer State.
PR is grabbing BN by the noose and exposed what they did not do and should have done long ago.
The wealth of Sarawak…from their natural resources ….especially timber and oil.. are all sucked up by blood suckers..making the riches State to be the poorest State in Malaysia.
#2 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 6:50 am
FOR SALE:
6,744-square-foot penthouse at 15 Central Park West. The asking price is $88 million.
OWNER: Sandy Weill, Wall Street Maestro.
Hello, calling Rosmah and Shahrizat – better investment to buy this exclusive condo than gems or cows-lah!
#3 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 6:52 am
Oops, US$88 million-lah. That’s peanuts for hardworking ministers who have deep pockets from ‘lifetime savings’-lah.
#4 by k1980 on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 7:44 am
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/11/nation/20111111163822&sec=nation
Hey, you dayaks, grab some trishaws and then demand RM100 monthly from your CM. Perkosa will help you get the free money.
#5 by k1980 on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 8:05 am
Recently, Sharizo aka fat mamak lady poured scorn on the Penang CM’s RM100 annual award for senior citizens, describing it as “not enough”. Now we know why RM100 is not enough because she has a RM10,000,000 condo given free to her because she managed to rear some cows with a RM500 million loan
#6 by yhsiew on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 8:34 am
The RM10m taxpayers money used to fund the “cattle condo” could have been spent to improve the Dayaks livelihood, after all, the condo owner is already rich and does not need that kind of treatment. It is a sad case of wrong use of taxpayers money for the wrong purpose and for the wrong person.
#7 by Jeffrey on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 10:20 am
I understand PR’s budget was unveiled at 11 minute passed 11 on the 11/11/11. Is that true? PR takes the pains to formulate a Budget for Dayaks that scrupulously allocates to different areas and sectors that will genuinely help uplift Dayaks. The question is whether there is the means for this message to be meaningfully conveyed to and understood by the broad masses of this community when their headmen; Temengong, Pemancar, Penghulu, Tua Kampong etc are supportive of and taken care of by BN/Taib’s PBB people. Then we have people like the former premier who without studying the specific proposals of the alternative budget, at one swipe, sweep it aside with derision. According to Maclean Patrick( 6th Oct 2011) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that -“It’s easy when we want to spend the money which we don’t have It’s always easy to spend the money which is not under our control…. We can do anything like promising to give 20 per cent oil royalty. Yes, we can make the promise as we are not the government. Make promises, so long you win the elections.” Maclean Patrick then countered: “But the same can be said of the Barisan Nasional government currently led by Prime Minister Najib Razak. In fact, it is worse. Pakatan does not have money because it is not in control of the federal purse strings yet. But why is the GOM spending money that it does not have? Why is that the BN federal government always does not have enough money?”
[Note: How intriguing if it is true that the Sarawak Alternative Budget was released on “11 minute passed 11 on the 11/11/11”, but no, its not true. The Budget was released earlier yesterday, which was why FMT could put up a report on it earlier yesterday evening. Admin]
#8 by monsterball on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 10:42 am
I have a strange feeling there will be Rockets strapped up with HORNBILLS …a bird found only in Sarawak…no where else in the world…will fly high and mighty all over Sarawak.. freeing Sarawakians to be all equal Malaysians soon.
The first thing needed are more jails to caged all corrupted and real good schools to educate all.
Give 8 years….you will see the stark differences for the better.
#9 by Loh on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 11:25 am
///KUALA LUMPUR: Allowing Malaysians overseas to vote in the general election will create a “logistical nightmare”, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He said this was due to the fact that there were 800 constituencies in the country.
“So if Malaysians were to vote from abroad, it is only fair that 800 ballot boxes be prepared overseas,” he said after attending the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting at Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.
“After voting, we must also make sure that nobody tampers with the votes.”
He said independent witnesses should also be present to monitor the voting process to avoid claims of third party involvement.
On Aug 26, it was reported that the Election Commission was amending regulations to allow Malaysian voters living and working overseas to cast their ballots by post.///–StarOnline
Chua SL did not explain why it was not a nightmare for those who are overseas and yet allowed to vote, to continue voting. Surely the same reasons he gave against is relevant to allowing civil servants overseas to vote. MCA is not known to have objected to civil servants overseas voting. Why is it that when all Malaysians abroad would be allowed to vote can become a nightmare? Clearly CSL does not have the mental capacity to solve the overseas voting problems, and yet pretends to speak as if he only knew the problems but not the solutions.
CSL knows very well that those Malaysians who are not allowed to vote now are mostly non-Malays and Chinese form the majority among them. MCA claims to represent Chinese and now it is trying hard to prevent Chinese Malaysians overseas from voting. The reason is obvious. CSL knows that these Chinese will not vote MCA because they know that MCA is in government for their own benefits and MCA is not representing Chinese interests. CSL considers that allowing overseas Chinese Malaysians to vote would only make MCA lose more seats!
///Dr Chua denied that the party had said Malaysians abroad were not qualified to vote as they were “out of touch” with current affairs in the country.
“My men did not explain properly,” said Dr Chua, adding that MCA opposed the move because of logistics and the possibility of abuse.///–StarOnline
It is clear that MCA would use whatever argument they can think of to go against overseas Chinese Malaysians voting against them. The ‘out-of-touch’ argument was stupid because the constitution did not demand that voters must be in touch with government propaganda. So CSL’s men did not explain properly how MCA lied to the public. Logistic problems are for the Election Commission to sort out, and they are paid for the job. MCA should just concentrate on what it claims to do, the logistic problems if they exist are not for MCA to solve; though MCA has the right to demand that clean and fair election is being carried out.
#10 by Loh on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 11:33 am
///3. Malaysians who live overseas should not be allowed to vote, said MCA. This is because when they live overseas they do not get to watch TV3 or RTM or NTV7 every night. So they do not know what is happening in Malaysia. Only those who watch TV3 or RTM or NTV7 every night will know what is happening in Malaysia.
If these Malaysians who live overseas and who do not watch TV3 or RTM or NTV7 every night are allowed to vote, they may vote for the wrong party. It is crucial, therefore, that only those who know who to vote for should be allowed to vote. If they do not know who to vote for they should not be allowed to vote.///–RPK, http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/no-holds-barred/44888-philosophy-as-taught-by-universiti-teknologi-mara-uitm
MCA knows that overseas Chinese Malaysians will not vote for their candidates.
#11 by monsterball on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 12:35 pm
Chua Soi Lek…whatever he speaks …not worth to paying attention.
Just read them and observe how low MCA has become.
Hornbills should seek him out and peck his mouth if he ever visit Sarawak.
Penang folks are ready for him too.
I think he will hide in Muar…Johore feeling safe.
#12 by monsterball on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 12:37 pm
Will not be surprised he travel everywhere.. with Rosmah bodyguards protecting him.
#13 by monsterball on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 1:10 pm
The red Indians are the real original people of America.
For decades…it is nice to note American governments..be it Democrats or Republicans….both trying to help the Red Indians.
In Sarawak..Dayaks and Hornbills are the originals.
Both are recognized by DAP…and both are going to be taken cared for by DAP.
Why are BN minister so blind…cannot see who see two species are?
Simple….they can only see trees and oil wit $ sign at their heads.
Anyway….in West Malaysia UMNO b also like that.
Big brother show small brother how to focus and make MONEY.
#14 by monsterball on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 1:19 pm
Make MONEY not for the country but for their own pockets…to become the riches people in Malaysia.
Yes…support BN….you will be a millionaire…so all are dreaming….without realizing they can keep on dreaming.
It’s always the chosen lucky ones and the relatives.
And then….can prove they are relatives..with no roots…just sex here sex there…all babies from cousins..sisters…no care…just produce and produce so much so….so many look alike.like twins.
And all demand for a share and that’s here 12th GE showed eyes are opened and know BN can never be fair to all.
#15 by monsterball on Saturday, 12 November 2011 - 1:28 pm
Under BN…so many “twins” are produced.
They cannot handle the problem…because they never educate people not to marry relations.
They are only smart to improve their stealing techniques …improving yearly.
After 12th GE….all hands are tight.
All eyes are watching.
All are exposed.
Magic show like David Copperfield….out-dated.