Failure to legalise ‘Dayak’ part of govt’s isolation process – PBDS Baru

KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru) is of the opinion that the failure to legalise the word ‘Dayak’ is part of the process of isolation by the government of the day.

Its secretary-general Anthony Nais made the remarks when reacting to the recent statement from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, who is of the view that giving the term ‘Dayak’ the force of law is important but not urgent and that its inclusion in the Malaysian Constitution ‘does not ensure anything’.

Anthony said he was not surprised with Entulu’s reaction as he knew him well when he was a Youth exco and publicity chief under Entulu during the era of the nowdefunct PBDS.

He said he was upset with Entulu for saying that should he remain as Selangau MP after the next general election, and also if the Barisan Nasional (BN) manages to get a twothirds majority in Parliament, it is highly possible that he could talk to the Prime Minister on having a Bill to legalise the term ‘Dayak’ tabled in Parliament.

“We’ve gained independence well over 50 years now. What have our elected Dayak leaders done all this while to address the matter? It is only when other Dayak leaders raise issues that are detrimental to the welfare and existence of the Dayak, that these leaders come out with comments merely for window dressing.”

“I would like to remind Entulu, the Dayak community is now split into pieces. For the sake of Dayak unity and integration, please do something (to legalise word ‘Dayak’) instead of pursuing it after the general election,” he said.

According to Anthony, the Interpretation Ordinance 2005 divided the race ‘Dayak’ into ‘Iban or Sea Dayaks’ and ‘Bidayuh or Land Dayaks’.