By Lian Cheng
SIBU, April 24: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) acting president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum calls for greater Dayak participation in the civil service especially at executive level, as well as in business and commerce.
He said imbalance in positions and posts especially at executive levels in Sarawak’s civil service is very obvious and has been an issue for some time now.
The former Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications thus called on the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to seriously look into ways to improve Dayak participation in the civil service to reflect Sarawak’s demographics.
“PRS would like to suggest that the GPS government seriously look into ways to improve the Dayak participation to reflect the population composition of Sarawak.
“The tasks of the public service commission need to be revamped so that there is greater transparency in the recruitment exercises. A similar situation also exists in the government-linked corporations (GLCs). As political masters, GPS must find ways to address this issue,” said Salang during the PRS Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) opening ceremony held at a local hotel here.
Apart from the civil service, Salang also requested for more Dayak participation in business and commerce.
He said the rural population is just growing to realise that business, like farming, is also a way of life except it is much more lucrative.
He said the Bumiputera, especially Dayaks, are far behind in business and industry as apart from a small group, the Dayak community did not have time to apply for and get concessions given by the government.
“Like being left behind in feasting, we now only see the bones left behind.
“We are made to understand that the next thrusts in our economic development are property development, exploration, quarrying, and mining.
“As a former President of the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), I am acutely aware that not many Dayaks are aware of the many opportunities in the field,” he said.
He said similar opportunities are also found in agriculture and plantation sectors which have such vast potential.
It is thus his hope that Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will ensure that the ministries involved will give due consideration if there are applications from the Dayak community.
In terms of infrastructure, utilities and telecommunication development, Salang also called for a balance between urban and rural development by making these available in the rural areas.
On the issue of Yayasan Pendidikan Teknikal Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), a foundation providing education assistance to the needy established in 1994 by Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Salang said the foundation has do e its fair share in assisting many Dayak leaders who were present at the opening ceremony.
As Teras’ fund is depleting, Salang requested assistance from Abang Johari who promised that upon returning to Kuching, he would look into how much the government could contribute to it. — DayakDaily
