Gathering highlights perennial issues faced by local community
KUCHING: A peaceful gathering was held in front of the Sarawak Museum in conjunction with the Sarawak Day celebration on Saturday to highlight the perennial issues faced by the ordinary folk.
Organised by Sarawak for Sarawakians ( S4S) and the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association ( Sadia), among the issues which were publicly voiced out were on stateless individuals, land, freedom of religion, civil service workforce and the demands for equal partnership in the Malaysia Federation.
“This gathering is not to show our dissatisfaction to the government. It is merely to voice out our displeasures on certain issues which are affecting the people of Sarawak,” said organising chairman Bill Jugah to reporters.
“We are not choosing the revolutionary way. We want to work together with the government,” said Bill who is also a Sadia member.
Touching on the issue of stateless individuals, many genuine Sarawakians, he said, have yet to be granted their Malaysian citizenship. The other recent issue affecting Sarawakians was on the warning of the Royal Malaysia Police ( PDRM) regarding their officers with tattoos.
“Tattoo is a culture for the Dayak community. When such instructions are given, it affects their morale and prevents aspiring Dayak youths with tattoos to apply for the police force,” said Bill.
On the land issues, he hoped that Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah who is spearheading a taskforce on issues relating to Native Customary Rights ( NCR) land can expedite the definition of the Pulau Galau and Pemakai Menoa.
Meanwhile, Sadia president Sidi Munan said the association will continue to support any groups who are fighting for the rights of Sarawakians.
“There is nothing wrong with this (gathering) as it is a way for the people to express their feelings, practise freedom of speech and freedom of expression,” he added.
When asked if the gathering will be held on a bigger scale next year, he said it will all go down to the volunteers themselves who have taken the initiatives to spend time and money in making it possible.