by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 11: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) underscores the urgent need for political unity among the Dayak people, asserting that such solidarity is important for safeguarding indigenous rights, enhancing political relevance, and ensuring equitable participation in Malaysia’s development.
As part of its effort to unite the Dayak people, PBDS is currently drafting a ‘Dayak Political Charter’ as a blueprint for unity, outlining common principles, goals, and policy commitments.
“Without unity, our voice remains scattered, and our issues – such as Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, rural development, education, and fair economic inclusion – struggle to gain proper attention or redress. Unity amplifies our voice, consolidates our demands, and enables us to influence national policy meaningfully,” PBDS permanent chairman Dr John Brian Anthony said in a statement today.
“Despite being the largest indigenous population in Sarawak, the Dayak remain politically fragmented. Internal divisions, divergent party affiliations, and historical distrust have weakened our collective strength.
“Many Dayak leaders hold positions across various political platforms, but the absence of a cohesive agenda has diluted our impact at both the state and federal levels,” he asserted.
He further highlighted that a politically united Dayak community strengthens Malaysia’s democracy and national unity.
“It guarantees better representation from Borneo’s indigenous population and reinforces the spirit of inclusion and fairness in policymaking. Unity among the Dayak can serve as a national example of how diverse ethnic identities can work together peacefully and purposefully.
“It is a step towards a Malaysia that is truly representative of its people – East and West, urban and rural, indigenous and non-indigenous,” he added.
He therefore called upon all Dayak leaders, civil society actors, and citizens, regardless of party affiliation, to treat political unity not as a matter of choice, but of duty.
“Unity is not surrender. It is strength. It is the foundation of our future.”
John Brian also affirmed PBDS’s commitment to re-establishing a common platform for Dayak leaders to collaborate across party lines, to promote inclusive leadership that embraces the community’s rich ethnic diversity — including Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and others — guided by common values and aspirations.
The party also aims to empower youth and grassroots participation through political education and community engagement, while fostering reconciliation and dialogue to bridge divisions and restore trust within the Dayak community. – DayakDaily
