Bidayuhs urged to support GSB through PBDS Baru
KUCHING: Party Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru ( PBDSB) is appealing to the Bidayuh community to rally their support towards Gabungan Sarawak Baru (GSB) through the party.
Its vice-president Andrew Puro said the newly- formed opposition coalition is an alternative platform for Sarawakians to make their voices heard, especially in state legislative assembly ( DUN).
He said the Bidayuhs, which make about 7.8 per cent or 217,800 of Sarawak’s total population, should give PBDSB and GSB a chance to break through into the assembly.
“The next state election is only about two years away and I appeal to our fellow Bidayuh men and women in Sarawak to rally behind PBDSB and GSB so that we can effectively participate in the socio- economic and political development of Sarawak.
“The Bidayuhs, and Dayaks in general, are seemingly left behind in almost every aspect. We, in PBDSB, are not racist, we want fairness and equality in business participation and also in the public service,” he said.
Andrew, who has been tasked to handle the Bidayuh areas, believed that PBDSB could only become more effective in the struggle for equal rights if they were elected into the assembly.
He said PBDSB’s agenda for the young generation include social, politics, economics, education, heritage, agro business, Dayak talents, leadership and integrity, parenting, Dayak township and NCR land ownership.
“It is very sad to see that those in the corridors of power are not sincere in granting us the rights to our land.
“Why go around the circle? Why introduce Section 6A when there is already Sect 18 of the Sarawak Land Code, which entitles the landowner to have individual land title?”
Andrew believed that with the ‘amalgamation’ of Sarawak-based parties, PBDSB representing the Dayak communities would ensure they would not be left out in all aspects of development.
He said if GSB were given the mandate to govern Sarawak, PBDSB would push for the Sarawak Land Code to be amended so that the native rights could be honoured by the issuance of land titles.
Andrew said efforts had been made to increase PBDSB’s presence in the Bidayuh areas.
The ex- senior banker, who is PBDSB vice-president, said he had been tasked to strengthen PBDSB in terms of presence and membership in the Bidayuh areas.
He said the party’s top leadership was motivated by the netizens’ positivity towards PBDSB; many began to see PBDSB as a new hope for political unity among the Dayaks, namely Bidayuhs, Ibans and Orang Ulus in Sarawak.
PBDSB, registered on Sept 2, 2013, is keen to enter the electoral fray and seek and hold political office this time around.
Andrew said the party had begun to make its way forward, recruiting Dayak intellectuals to join the party and make it not a mere spectator in elections.