By William Isau
SIBU, July 1: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) remains relevant and wants to ensure that its candidates win in the 13th State Election (PRN13).
Stating this at a ‘Ngiling Bidai Gawai Dayak 2024’ event last night, its president Major (R) Moses Ripai said with representatives in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, the party’s voice could be heard.
“We want to continue with our struggle. Thus, we have to compete in the State Election,” he stressed.
The event was jointly organised by PBDS P215 Kapit and PBDS P211 Lanang.
On strengthening the party, Moses emphasised it would need to recruit more members. This would enable it to serve in a better capacity.
“PBDS in the next 10 to 20 years should have between 100,000 to 200,000 members for us to be a strong voice for the Dayaks,” he said.
Moses said PBDS is now actively going around the State to recruit new members with the first destination being Opar in Bintulu.
“On our previous series of tours, the reception was very good and the Dayak community was very proud that PBDS is still surviving to this day,” he said.
Moses emphasised that PBDS will continue to use three slogans, which are ‘rebuilding the party’, ‘regaining Dayak rights that have been eroded’ and ‘re-conquering by defending Dayak rights’ in an effort to strengthen the party and serve as well as possible.
“We are fighting for native customary land (NCR), Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and many other Dayak-related issues.
“At the same time, we will oppose what is not right and policies that are considered unfair to our society,” he stressed.
The event’s guest-of-honuor was former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and former Selangau MP Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun.
Also present were PBDS’ Deputy Presidents Julius Enchana Jaspher Ancho and Dr Bego Sepop@Bego Sapok, Secretary-General Kipli Ayom, Treasurer Emperan Baba, Youth Leader Abraham Buja, Women’s Leader Alpha Dragam, and event organising committee chairman Muking Amut. — DayakDaily
