Mawan: Don’t use SDNU as political platform, for personal agenda

Mawan (left) presenting a souvenir in the form of a 'Baju Burung' to Abang Johari (second from left) as Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas (second from right), SDNU deputy president Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi (right) and others look on.

By Nigel Edgar

KUCHING, March 9: Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom has advised members not to use the organisation for politicking purposes or personal interest.

“As I’ve said, this is an organisation in civil society. It is not a political party. Our members, please come over to SDNU but leave your political shoes outside. This is not politics per se.

“Our direction is different. But having said that, we know our role, we know what we should be doing, and I think we don’t have any other options besides supporting the government of the day. That we must,” he said at SDNU Dinner and Triennial General Meeting Opening here last night.

Mawan speaking during SDNU Dinner cum Triennial General Meeting Opening on
Saturday (Mar 8, 2019).

Mawan said all SDNU members had a role to play in ensuring the Dayak community is united. If members were to quarrel among themselves, there was no point for those involved to be part of the union

“The reason is as you are setting out to service, to play the role, there are so many other things you would want to do, to sustain yourself, to keep motivating the members, to keep members interested to join, but if you are running counter with the government of the day, keep quarreling with the Chief Minister, quarreling with each other, you just simply would fall.

“You do not appear to do the job. There is nothing coming for you. So, I just don’t see any other options besides playing a role positively, happily and seriously supporting the government, if you are truly members of SDNU,” said Mawan.— DayakDaily