KUCHING, Nov 13: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president Bobby William today expressed his party’s support to Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) deputy president Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem for the latter’s request for special allocation for the Dayak community under the Budget 2021.
He added that since other communities such as the Malays, Indians and Chinese are given special allocations, the Dayaks too should be given a similar allocation.
“We agree with Datuk Seri Richard Riot because the Dayaks too really need help. PBDS opposed, not for the sack of opposing. PBDS welcomes any proposals that help the Dayak community,” Bobby told DayakDaily here today.
He pointed out that the Dayak community needs continuous assistance from the government as they have been side-lined for many years.
“Most Dayak MPs know this issue. And everybody knows that the poorest among the poorest are the Dayaks. And perhaps we are just as good as the Orang Asli community in West Malaysia,” he pointed out.
Bobby said, since there are special allocations for other communities in the country, the Dayak community too would need a similar allocation.
“The allocation for the Dayak community could be channelled to the various Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Sarawak, Malaysia (FORUM), Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and the Sarawak Dayak Graduates’ Association (SDGA),” he said.
Bobby also hoped that other Dayak MPs will continue to voice the needs of the community in Parliament.
“At least Riot dares to voice something for the Dayaks. Where are other Dayak MPs? Bumiputera is not a good term for Dayak community because it is too broad. Thus, the budget allocation the Bimuputera is not transparent as the Dayaks are making up the number.
“So, hopefully more Dayaks will come up in support of Riot’s statement,” he added.
On separate issue, Bobby also hoped that the Dayaks be given the chance for higher grades for the top posts in the civil service both at the national and state levels.
“Besides that there is still more needed to be done to improve the livelihood of the Dayak community in terms of education, clean water, healthcare,” Bobby added.
Yesterday, Riot who is also Serian MP had requested the federal government to allocate special allocation for the Dayak community in Sarawak as part of the “Vision of Shared Prosperity” policy of the present Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
He said, the allocation for the Dayak community in Sarawak was crucial as they too need special attention from the government similar with other communities in the country.
As such, Riot who is special envoy to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, requested the government to also assist the Dayak community with special allocation similar to the allocation for other communities such as the Indian community which is given a special allocation of RM170 million; the Chinese community RM100 million and the Orang Asli through the Department of Orang Asli Affairs (JHEOA). — DayakDaily
