Dayaks allege extreme marginalisation

“Stoking racial tension” has been the standard lame excuse used all the time to avoid issues of social justice.

KUCHING: The Dayak Informal Group (DIG) is taking issue with a statement by Assistant Minister Daud Abdul Rahman last Sunday at a Parti Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB) event that there’s no marginalisation or a divide-and-rule policy in Sarawak, no winner take all mindset, and that to maintain otherwise would be to indulge in a dangerous form of politicking which would disrupt the existing state of racial harmony in the state.

DIG Spokesman Richard Lias, also Dayak National Congress (DNC) secretary general, charged that Daud was simply sweeping the dirt under the carpet by getting into rhetoric.

For starters, he urged the Assistant Minister to disclose the figures on the following “proverbial tip of the iceberg”:

1. who made up the members of the Board of Directors of Yayasan Sarawak;
2. the names of the top 40 management staff of Yayasan Sarawak; and
3. the complete list of recipients of Yayasan Sarawak Scholarship from the time it was set up until today.

“We have already cited the management of Yayasan Sarawak as a case in point, where Dayaks are marginalised,” said Richard in a statement.

He stressed that the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA), working on NCR land, is another case in point.

“If you look into the management line-up of LCDA as published in its website, you will see that all Senior Managers are from one ethnic group,” fumed Richard.

The Minister need not be reminded, he continued, that what causes political instability is marginalisation of a section of society and its deliberate perpetuation despite its negative consequences.

“When a section of society is favoured with benefits while the other sections are not, then that society has been divided,” said Richard. “A society divided is susceptible to any threat of social disorder. This is why the government must be sincere with the people.”

He hastened to assure that the issue was not about who wants to get more or asking for what belongs to others.

“It is a simple issue of all races to be provided for and treated fairly by the government of the day,” said Richard. “When this is allowed to prosper, then all races are happy and will surely support the government.”

“Stoking racial tension”, he pointed out, has been the standard lame excuse used all the time to avoid issues of social justice.