Dayaks want bigger share in devt projects
KUCHING: The Dayak business community wants to have bigger participation in Sarawak’s development projects.
They made their feelings known during a business dialogue held after the opening of Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s ( DCCI) 17th annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday.
Those who stood up and spoke at the dialogue raised matters concerning the need for fairness in the awarding of contracts, lack of high-ranking Dayak officers in government departments and agencies, suggestions for better procedures and other issues.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing was one of the panellists at the dialogue session carrying the theme ‘ Maximising Dayak Business Community’s Participation In Sarawak Development’, which was moderated by DCCI president Datuk Joseph Salang.
Other panellists were Assistant Minister of Industries and Investment Malcolm Mussen Lamoh who represented Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and permanent secretary to the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datu Ik Pahon Joyik who represented Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, said he took note of the issues raised, and would bring them up to the attention of his ministry and also the state Cabinet.
He also suggested that Dayak companies come together and form joint ventures in bidding for and implementing government projects.
Salang later presented Masing with a DCCI membership certificate before he left to attend a state banquet for the visiting Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al- Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah.
According to DCCI secretariat, a similar DCCI membership certificate has also been issued for Uggah.
Meanwhile, Mussen in his presentation, talked about programmes and assistance provided by the Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development. He also suggested that the ‘ Rumah Asap’ eatery concept be promoted outside the country.
Ik Pahon, on the other hand, spoke about programmes and assistance provided by the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, now that the Sarawak government’s focus was on agro-business.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg officially declared open the AGM, which was attended by more than 300 people, who were mostly DCCI members.
Prior to giving his speech, Abang Johari listened to presentations from DCCI vice presidents Leonard Martin Uning, Dato Winsel Ahtos and Peru Balan Ding who spoke on behalf of entrepreneurs from the three Dayak communities, namely Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu respectively.
Abang Johari responded to some of the matters raised during his speech. He also performed a symbolic handing over of RM10 million allocation to DCCI and Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF). Both DCCI and DCF are jointly developing office tower on land at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee allocated by the Sarawak government.
A delegation from Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( KCCCI) from Sabah led by its president Datuk Bonipasius Bianis was also present as guests.