Dawos goes to church

“YB Dr James Dawos goes to church,” defended my cousin’s husband, Joe.

Joe is a permanent secretary to a ministry, a Dayak Iban and will retire next year. Therefore I believe him when he defended Dawos by saying that he did see Dawos a couple of times going to church.

We were at my auntie’s house last Saturday evening, attending a Praying Over Catholic praying session. My auntie slipped in her bedroom and fell, fracturing her hip. She is about 60 years old.

She is very hardworking, or rather a workalcoholic. She does not need to work actually. Her needs are all met both by her years of hard work and savings and contributions from her nine children. She and her husband are well known in Jagoi for having given birth to nine graduates who are all professionals.

After prayer, we helped ourselves to the Dayak food. That was when I remarked to Joe saying it was a pity that James Dawos was not able to enjoy ‘kau doot’, dish of doot and pork ribs, being among the food served.

My uncle is famous for serving these types of dish : doot, bodoh, bidiek, kau doot, kau ikian and other traditional Dayak delicacies, during Christmas and Gawia Sowa. I am always looking forward to visiting his house.

“Was he not acting? Did he receive Holy Communion?” I asked Joe. Joe answered that he was not sure himself, but reaffirmed that he did see James in church at Kota Padawan.

Hi James ! I am pleased to have heard that you are not a ‘tulang bidou’ after all. All the while I have heard that you are a ‘tulang bidou’. By converting to a Muslim, I consider such former Bidayuhs ‘tulang bidou’, because they normally cast away Bidayuh names, religion and cultures.

I will still propagate the issue that you must be voted out though. You sold our dignity by being a party to Bidayuh Cultural Genocide, by naming a Bidayuh settlement Kampung Tun Abdul Razak.

Please change it to Kampung Manyin, or Kampung Dawos, or any Bidayuh names and words.

It is time to change.

Naik Dango di Sebangki, Senakin

Selasa, 29 April 2008
Naik Dango XXIII di Sebangki
Tampilkan Budaya Bermartabat

Sebangki,-  Upacara Adat ‘Naik Dango’ 2008 di Kecamatan Sebangki, Kabupaten Landak resmi dibuka. Gubernur Kalimantan Barat, Cornelis hadir langsung membuka pesta masyarakat Dayak tersebut.

Ribuan masyarakat di Kabupaten Pontianak, Kubu Raya, dan Landak hadir merayakan ritual adat tersebut. Mereka datang dari berbagai desa. Beragam lomba digelar. Mulai dari ritual adat hingga permainan tradisional. Tiap kecamatan menyertakan kontingennya.

Naik Dango dimulai dengan ritual nyangahatn oleh tetua adat Dayak Kanayatn. Selain ritual, Naik Dango juga menggelar pameran kerajinan budaya khas Dayak. Beragam manik, kerajinan tangan, juga aneka produksi usaha kecil menengah.

Gubernur Kalimantan Barat Cornelis meminta kualitas penyelenggaraan Naik Dango semakin ditingkatkan setiap tahunnya. “Kalau dikemas secara apik, tentu akan menarik minat pengunjung. Minimalisir kegiatan yang sifatnya negatif,” katanya di Sebangki, kemarin.

Ia menambahkan, pada masa mendatang pagelaran naik dango harus dikemas seapik mungkin. “Harus dikelola dengan profesional sehingga Dayak bisa dikenal orang. Setiap ritual harus disertai dengan narasi sehingga orang mengerti,” ujarnya.

Kata Cornelis, orang Dayak harus menunjukkan bahwa budaya Dayak memiliki nilai yang bermartabat. Prilaku negatif haruslah dihilangkan sehingga tidak memunculkan image yang tidak baik. “Mari kita tunjukkan kalau Dayak itu bernilai dan bermartabat,” katanya.

Cornelis juga mengajak masyarakat menghidupkan kembali lumbung. Sebab dengan lumbung, masyarakat bisa menabung hasil pertaniannya. Hal ini sangat sejalan dengan semangat Naik Dango, yang mengungkapkan rasa syukur atas hasil panen padi. Namun ada harapan untuk masa mendatang, sehingga usaha pertanian masyarakat semakin berhasil.

Kepala Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Kalbar, Rihat Natsir Silalahi juga meminta agar penyelenggaraan Naik Dango pada masa mendatang dikelola dengan baik. “Ini bagian dari wisata budaya. Kalau dikemas dengan baik, akan membuat orang menjadi tertarik untuk melihatnya,” kata Rihat.

Ia menambahkan, masyarakat Kalimantan Barat mestinya memiliki satu ikon budaya, termasuk budaya Dayak. Karenanya, budayawan Dayak harus urun rembug mengenai ikon tersebut. (mnk)

Crossovers: We’ll do something, says Najib

Najib not only realised that Barisan Nasional is vulnerable, but also is taking the threat of the crossovers seriously.

They are going to do something to counteract.

Although I have repeatedly include them in my previous posts, I will keep on repeating till they are granted. The followings are what we want Najib to implement:

1. The status of Sarawak as equal partners, together with Sabah and Malaya, in the Fereation Of Malaysia, be given back.

2. The oil royalty be raised to 30%.

3. The 20 Points agreement be reinstated.

4. Come up with official definition of Dayaks of Sarawak and Sabah, whether we are natives (bumiputera) or ‘Dan Lain Lain’. If yes, all privileges should be distributed as such. Currently we are only bumiputeras during elections and whenever privileges are distributed, it is the Malays Muslims who are bumiputeras.

5. Christians should be allowed to utter ‘Allah’ to refer to God The Father Almighty.

6. Stop the demolishings of places of worship.

7. Stop Dayak Cultural Genocide.

8. The government of Sarawak must be audited to make sure that the cakes are divided equally, not always benefiting certain cronies and related companies. The present politic of patronage must stop.

9. The application for registration of Malaysian Dayak Congress must be approved immediately.

10. Posts of Deputy Prime Minister I for Sarawak and Deputy Prime Minister II for Sabah be created.

There are many more Hisham. You were born with a silver spoon. Come to Sarawak as a private citizen and I will show you more.

Unless you fulfill the above, this blog and many more blogs will always be against Barisan Nasional.

It is time to change.

“What’s done cannot be undone” – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

That was Anwar’s answer referring to some past episodes involving former Prime Minister Tun Dr Makathir and former Inspector Of Police Tan Sri Rahim Noor, at Kota Padawan last Thursday.

That phrase is also apt for Datuk Seri Hisahamuddin Tun Hussein’s apology for wielding the keris at the UMNO Youth General Assembly.

We can forgive, but we cannot forget.

Yes Hisham, your boastful action contributed to a certain degree, to the loss of Barisan Nasional during the last parliamentary election.

Though you have realised the fact that the rakyat want some changes, you still do not agree that the oil royalty should increase.

Lets all vote out Barisan Nasional again and again, if the oil royalty is not increased to 30%.

It is time to change.

Mambong embraces PKR – not the answer

Together with another friend, I  boarded my friend’s Harrier for the 12th  Mile restaurant, the rendezvous. Anwar only turned up at about 4.20 p.m., greeted by a great applause, Bidayuh maidens in traditional costumes and ofcourse the Bidayuh gong-music.

The crowd comprised about 95% Bidayuh and Chinese and Malays made up the balance.

I could see familiar faces, a mixture of sympathisers, members, or former members of SNAP, STAR and PBDS. The obvious difference from normal political gatherings are the presence of Bidayuh professionals: lawyers, bankers, pensioners, businessmen, contractors and even a few serving government officers.

There were BiSerikin, BiDuyoh, BiBogag, BiSerasot, BiSkibang, BiSibobog, BiStass, BiTonggang, BiRasau, BiTugag, BiStungkur, BiSlampit, and many from Penrissen and Siburan areas. 

Like myself, they all must be frustrated with the current government and were searching for a way out. I am sure sincerely they want to help the Bidayuhs, and perhaps they thought that PKR is another way.

I have quickly given my opinion to a few friends there that joining PKR direct is similar to us being a drop in the ocean. PKR in Pakatan Rakyat is very similar to UMNO in Barisan Nasional. Bidayuhs are too little in numbers to cause a ripple in PKR, and therefore not even a ripple in Pakatan Rakyat.

I still believe that it is more practical and effective for Dayaks to join a Dayak based political umbrella, and later join Pakatan Rakyat, as members of that umbrella. We have a selection of SNAP, STAR and MDC. Soon SNAP will be deregistered, meaning we will still have a choice of either STAR or MDC.

It is natural that people are attracted to winners, thus the attraction to PKR and Anwar. By doing so, will the Dayaks’ political mission be achieved?

NO! As Majen, he will never be able to effectively bargain for 30% oil loyalty, for Deputy Prime Minister I for Sarawak & Deputy Prime Minister II for Sabah, for Sarawak and Sabah to be reverted to their original status of equal partners as Malaya in Malaysia and the regaining of the loss from the 20 Points Agreement as per The Cobbold Commission and many more.

But being united as members of a Dayak Political Party, WE CAN!

The ultimate answer is : All Dayaks become members of STAR and join Pakatan Rakyat.

It Is Time To Change.

Professional Dental service for RM1

I registered myself at Tanah Putih Government Clinic at 8.16 a.m. Due to the huge public turn out, it was only at 10.12 that I was given an anesthestic injection, with very little pain.

My first teeth extraction was when I was in Primary Six. I asked the dentist to extract two teeth at the same time. It was very painful.The bleeding lasted the whole day, that I jumped and bathed inside my brother’s well hoping that if my body tempertaure cooled down then the bleeding would stop. It was only years later that I learned that that Chinese dentist from Bau was not a qualified dental doctor. Due to the social needs and inavailability of qualified dentist, the experienced apprentice ‘dentists’ were given license to practice. It cost me RM40 for two teeth extracted.

My second painful experience was when I was in Form two in Bau Government Secondary School. A tooth was extracted by a mobile dental clinic on their visit to the school. The principal was then Mr Wilfred Nissom.

One hour twenty four minutes ago (10.25 a.m.), I had another tooth extracted. After a 15 minutes wait from the anaesthestic injection, my name was called.

That Malay lady doctor proved that not all Malay lady doctors are fanatic, racialist and think negatively of their non-Muslim patients. She performed the procedures to my satisfaction. Finally she took out a plier which she took out from a sealed transparent plastic bag. She tried to grip. I heard that the tooth gave way. Broken I suppose. I realised that she passed the broken pieces to the nurse standing nearby.

She tried again. I could feel that she dug deeper inside. I expected pain. There was non. Only the ‘cracking’ sound, or perhaps the ‘cracking’ feeling. She pulled hard, invain. I could feel that her grip was shaking sideways, while at the same time pulling. Finally out came my tooth. I wanted to raise my head to see and say farewell to my body part. No. I might be disturbing her rhythm. So I changed my mind.

Finally she gave me an instruction, which I did not quite catch. “Gigit kuat,” I finally heard. She “gigit” too, looking at me, to allow me understand better.

I clenched my jaws hard to lock the bandage in between my teeth. I was asked to sit up and to leave. I managed to see my missing part. The four roots seem to be longer then the upper tooth itself. Only after the nurse threw it into the dustbin then I left.

Till now, that is two hours later, there is no pain. That is a pretty good service for only RM1.

Taib’s cows used to intimidate the rural voters to go to their own school, and not make use of government facilities, if they vote for the opposition. Even though I vote for the opposition, but free dental service is my right as Sarawakian and as tax payer.

Eventhough I am grateful for that satisfying dental service, but I will still vote for Pakatan Rakyat during the next state election.

It is time to change.

Sarawak Dayak National Union

Lately SDNU has been always in the news. William Mawan is getting more interested in SDNU. Datuk Alfred Jabu was mad because his horse lost to Mengga Mikui for the presidency.

What’s up? Well we just realised that we have been divided all along by political force. DBNA was formed. SADIA, OUNA followed. Now even smaller splinter Dayak ethnics have their very own association as well.

The segregation of us Dayaks was believed to have been masterminded by certain politicians and political group. The smaller our grouping is the easier for them to control us, under the pretext of a more proper system for the government to channel us funding. In actual fact, it is the political system in the Script of Divide And Rule.

The Dayak YBs-turned Taib’s cows would form and lead these smaller associations. Please do care to check it out yourself and you will find out that the Dayak YBs-cows are actually Taib’s ideological agents of fear; they represent Taib and not the Dayak members; they instill fear amongst the members so that the members will blindly vote for Barisan Nasional.

In the past we were proud as Dayaks. Now we are drilled to be called Ibans, Bidayuhs, Orang Ulu and lately Kenyah and Kelabit. It is exactly the process of dividing us Dayaks.

Lets be proud again as Dayaks. Though one may be an Iban, but lets be Dayaks together with other ethnics.

IN SDNU now there is no more Bidayuhs, Ibans, Kenyahs, Kelabits, Penans and others: we are all Dayaks. Though Bidayuh language may be used in SDNU meetings amongst Bidayuhs in Bau, English or Bahasa Malaysia will be used in bigger meetings, such as Annual General Meetings.

Lets give Dayak Unity a chance. Lets join SDNU. It is a non political social organisation.

It Is Time To Change.

Learn from Sarawak: dumb Keng Yaik

Keng Yaik was reported to have advised Pakatan Rakyat to learn from Sarawak regarding how multiracialism was nurtured and kicking right from independence.

“I have learned a lot on how Sarawak manages its multi-racial politics and provides stability with the feeling … the perception of being fair and just to all races in the state,” continued Keng Yaik.

He added that he befriended Taib since 1972 and often visited and met Sarawak Barisan Nasional leaders, from whom he learnt a lot about Sarawak multi racialism.

Dear Keng Yaik, you are a dumb Orang Malaya. Learning from Sarawak Barisan Nasional leaders is not only incomplete but a fictitious prententious tuition. You should read TBS, tiyungdayak, DayakSpeaks and other Dayak blogs. You should go down to the villages and longhouses, those Dayaks whose land are being legally robbed; who collect muddy water for cooking; who have to buy fish and pork, chickens because there is no more hunting ground; who have to go to town instead to buy a few pieces of planks, because there is no more forest nearby.

Do you not realise that Sarawak Dayak YBs are cows tied on their noses and pulled by unseen hands? They are all caught in the trap of politics of patronage. All movements by them them are painful, except “Yes Datuk Sri”. They do not represent us the voters, but the CMS group.

Since independence, the Dayaks have been brain washed by the politic of fear. These cows being Taib’s agents of fear, propagate that only BN can help us.

Yes indeed these cows over the years have successfully indoctrinated us: we accept the fact that Islam can be preached to us, but we cannot preach our Adat Gawia to the Malays. The Malays monopolise public service. Our NCR is taken away. Christmas Day Holiday reduced by one, but Muslims holidays increase. Government contract works? Scholarships and grants?

Birth control was propagated amongst us Dayaks, but to the Malays it is haram. Not only are Malays allowed to have four baby factories, but each factory can churn out an average of 5 babies. Many Indonesian Muslim Bugis and Javanese in Miri and Bintulu oilpalm estates are easily given MyKad so long as they are Islamised and remain no-question-asked Barisan Nasional voters. The stupid and coward Dayaks just watch, sabung, and drink not to realise that soon Dayaks will be minority in Borneo.

Are the Dayaks stupid and cowards? Yes we are.

Perhaps, No ! We are not. Our parents taught us to be hospitable. Our new faith, Christianity taught us to rather turn and give another cheek.

Taib capitalised on these weaknesses. That is what makes multiracialism works in Sarawak.

Do we have to give the other cheeks till we are squaters in our parents lands? Till all Dayaks are coolies of Malays in Borneo, the Land Of Dayaks? Till all Dayaks are ex-Dayaks and become kafir saudara baru? 

Wake up Dayaks! God gives us brains. It is OUR PRIBUMI RIGHTS that matters. Remember ‘Coward Of The Country’? No, not guns but pencil and an ‘x’ is our weapon.

Vote out Taib and his cows. Lets just do it.

It is time to change.

“Please don’t go”, KC And The Sunshine Band

President Habibie is a political saint. He allowed major political changes in Indonesia for the good of Indonesia and her people. If the trend of democratic reform and press freedom continues, Indonesia can easily beat Malaysia in 15 years in political and social developments.

He allowed the East Timores their well deserved democracy and homeland of their own.

He allowed the Kalimantan Dayaks to have finally realised their cherished dreams of having  Dayaks as their paramount leaders in Kalimantan Barat and Kalimantan Tengah. Soon  Kalimantan Timur and Kalimantan Selatan will have Dayak governors as well.

Pak Lah, please don’t go yet. You job is not completed. Penangites have won their well deserved political rights. What about us Borneons?

In Borneo, you have just started the ignition key. The momentum is gaining speed. Stay on for another two years till we Sarawakians and Sabahans have our own Dayak Chief Ministers.

‘Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian political saint’ will then appear at Dayak Speaks. That will be my recognition for you.

Lets save other Mongolian beauties. Help us to save Bidayuh Culture from Najib, Taib, Dawos and Manyin.

We do not want the tyranical Mahathir either. Just because Mahathir’s skeletons start to protrude from his closets, it does not mean that you have to go. Complete the noble job as a stateman.

Though I do not quite like you now that you deserted us Dayaks for having rescued you from the Pakatan Rakyat onslaught, I am feeling sad that you have to go. That is what Pontianak Post says on her front page today.

Pak Lah, please don’t go. Till we have our Dayak Chief Minister In Sarawak and Sabah.

It is time to ignore Mahathir. It is time to change.

Another Good Samaritan

“Where the hack have you been?”, asked one regular reader.

He said that he is now my fan of sort. He will not call it a day without checking DayakSpeaks, even in the wee hours in the morning after a long drinking session. Suddenly he realised that he sort of ‘missed’ me. He claimed that I was absent for a month, even though I was actually absent from 3rd to 8th April.

I explained that I was away for the Borneo Wedding of The Year in Pontianak. I too poured out my regrets for not being able to record my wonderful experience witnessing a three-day grand wedding of the princess of The Dayak Rajah of Kalimantan.

At home, now that my two kids are university students, we have to schedule our turns on our home table top. So many a times I have to miss my daily blog, giving way to their assignments. I told him that I need a lap top of my own, which I can bring everywhere, so that I can blog anywhere and anytime.

He understands my needs and my deficiencies. He has read that my other cousin has donated a digital camera. He assured me that an internet-ready lap top is on its way.  

“Make sure the Irrelevant Jabu is ousted by your words”, he sternly smiled at me.

Oh dear! Am I being bribed to blog? No I am not. I just have to do my part to nurture the Wind Of Change amongst the Dayaks. All Dayaks have to play their part.

Sarawak must be under a Dayak Chief Minister. Since Jabu does not want to be one, then Jabu the Irrelevant must go.

It is time to change.