By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 16: The late Datuk Amar Dominic Andrew Dago Randan has been a source of inspiration to many in the Bidayuh communty, says analyst Dato Peter Minos.
In a statement, Minos said he heard of Dago back in 1963, when Minos was a Form 1 student at SMK Bau. It was where he heard of Dago’s involvement in Malaysia’s formation as a member of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC).
Minos went on to say that Dago has accomplished many things to make the community proud, such as being the former Serian MP and the first Bidayuh elected to the Dewan Rakyat.
He also said Dago was the first to be elected as an MP and the first Bidayuh chairman of the State Public Service Commission, as well has having spent time in the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
“As a Bidayuh, I am very proud of the late Datuk Amar Dago. He inspired the rest of us Bidayuhs to be involved and active in communal and societal activities.
“In the early years in the 1960s, life was not easy. Communication was very difficult. Income was little and scarce, particularly for those rural folks. Yet, Dago could be a member of the IGC and an MP. Truly an incredible feat. Truly admirable.
“I went to his house at Kampung Pichin in Serian this morning, and I saw his photos from way back in the early 1960s, showing his active involvement in politics and public activities and service, as well as the people he met in his life.
“It is like a museum of a great man. An outstanding man. One above many in a difficult and trying time of the 1960s,” he said.
Dago passed away at the age of 91 at 4am in his village home at Kampung Pichin, Serian.
Dago was one of the founder members of Malaysia for being instrumental in persuading the Bidayuh community to accept the proposal of Sarawak joining Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia.
After serving one term as both MP and assemblyman, he retired from politics and was later appointed as Temenggong.
Before entering politics, Dago had a career in education and was once a dedicated teacher. — DayakDaily
