DTTAS wants special provision for all races in a fair, equitable manner
MIRI: Dayak Think Tank Association Sarawak (DTTAS) hopes that the new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would not marginalise any race in the distribution of allocations from the federal government.
Its founder and advisor Wellie Henry Majang and financial advisor Nelly Tawai, in a joint statement, said DTTAS would want the 10th Prime Minister to set up a special provision for all races in a fair and equitable manner.
Among the fundamental issues in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is the equality of development between Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah, with the diversity of races also receiving attention in the distribution of the federal government’s budget, DTTAS pointed out.
It said although there were special funds allocated for the Orang Asli, Indians and Chinese, there was still an imbalance in terms of the distribution of allocations to all races in Malaysia. It said there had never been any funds allocated or distributed to the Dayaks in Sarawak.
“We have also never come across any allocation or special funds for the Kadazan-DusunMurut-Rungus people (KDMR) in Sabah,” the statement read.
According to Wellie, DTTAS does not want any race to be left behind in terms of distribution of allocations as ‘shared prosperity’, which is always bandied about, should be enjoyed by all Malaysians including the ‘Orang Asal’ (indigenous) of Sabah and Sarawak.
“One of the important demands on which the people of Sabah and Sarawak agree to form Malaysia is to guarantee the special rights of the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak. The important claim is enshrined in Article 153 (1) of the Federal Constitution, which states that it shall be the responsibility of the Yang diPertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Therefore, Anwar who leads the unity government needs to create a special provision for the Dayaks of Sarawak.
“We believe that federal grants and allocations should be in accordance with the original promise of MA63 when Malaysia was established and can be implemented more transparent ly ,” added DTTAS.
In line with the Federal Constitution, which contains the conditions of MA63, DTTAS also wanted the Dayaks to be officially recognised in all official government forms to replace other terms, or ‘Bumiputera Sarawak’.
Regarding the 2023 Budget to be presented by the federal government, DTTAS also hoped that the new leadership would make a good start by distributing the ‘Dana Khas Dayak Sarawak’.
“Let the Prime Minister make history by being the first Malaysian Prime Minister to set up a Peruntukan Dana Khas for the Dayaks of Sarawak and the KDMR of Sabah. Consider our request of this ‘Special Fund’ allocation as part of the demand from MA63, which is currently under government discussion for implementation,” added DTTAS.