Stateless Dayak
Written by Dr John Brian Anthony
The numbers of stateless Dayak has never really being accounted for and the government has no interest to even know how many. The more Dayaks are without Mycard, the better it is for the BN government because there would be lesser number of people to serve. Politically, it will benefit non Dayak bumi group.
Leaving politic aside, what are the reasons for this situation – where the Dayak are made stateless – is it through policy or because of poor implementation by government department?
Root Cause of the Problem
Many people in the city and those “civil servants” who are not Dayak and dominating government post in Sarawak do not understand the real situation in the rural areas. Since becoming part of Malaysia 45 years ago, nothing much has changed in rural Sarawak.
The changes if any are dirty rivers from logging and plantation, less food from the jungle, more sickness due to leeching and overflowing of chemical into rivers. As far as road and basic amenities are concerned, nothing much really change. Meaning rural Sarawak is 45 years behind in their outlook, thinking and way of life.
The income of rural Dayak has also not improved in tandem with the rising cost of living in Malaysia. The government has failed to uplift their economic well being through increased household income and therefor rural Dayak are living in poverty still.
What is the priority to get a Mycard for rural Dayak one may ask – when you have no means (money, transportation etc) to get it with.
Poverty is link to Stateless Dayak
The cost of rural transportation by rivers are still expensive – with no money how are you going to pay go to urban town just to get a birth certficate and Mycard?
There used to be abundant jungle produced including meat and fishes for the rural Dayak to consume and sell – today they are almost none. Without cash crop this jungle produce has always been the source of income. Now the logging and plantation activities has taken that all out. Where does their income come from?
The failure of the government to implement rural development – no feeder road, village road, small bridges, clean water, electricity, medical clinincs – not much has been put in place to help rural Dayak. This restrict their movement today to what it was 45 years ago. How are they going to make it a priority to go to town and spend their money to get a birth certificate and Mycard?
Urban Perspective
Urban people think that it is in comprehensible that at this day and date in modern time many Dayak are still Stateless.The people who sits in the comfortable government office of the national registration – by my observation are mostly “girls, ladies and men” who are dressed in a manner that they are even not equip to go to walk into a football field and much less sitting in long boat, sleeping on timber floor, spending time with jungle insects and service rural Sarawak?
These government servant in National registration are limited by many factors ( lodging, food, dressing, language, lack of knowledge on culture etc) – there are not ready to serve rural Dayak and yet the government expect rural Sarawak to address their own problem.
The government need to be awaked and sensitive. Do not be distracted by the good life provided by people who pursue self interest in business and position for themselves. Serve the people who voted you first.
When the Ybs and community leaders help this Stateless Dayak with their Mycard application the National registration would asked a thousand questions to verify, follow strict requirement, correct procedure etc while they are limited in the ability to serve Stateless Dayak. It just make getting a Mycard (citizenship in your own country) a distant dream.
Why is there a need for Mycard?
It seems that only those in town and those with intention to work in town need Mycard. The rural Dayak who remain Stateless – they do not need Mycard. They do not go to school, there have no employment to talk about, not paying SOCSO and much less EPF and Income Tax. The government has failed to create a need for them to get their Mycard.
These Stateless Dayak will remain where they are for many more generation to come, unless the Government accepted the fact that the number of hard core poor in Sarawak is 4 times higher than the official statistic.
Why do the government wanted to deny this fact is a mystery by itself – maybe they just want to feel good about themselves. Thus, titles – Datukship is more important to these politician rather than fact of the large numbers of Stateless Dayak in Sarawak.
Going to School without Mycard
What percentage of the population applying for Mycard from rural areas are suspected “immigrant”?. I would say very little. But that is the “perception” and “approach” of NRD in processing their application.
Do they go to school? YES – now Hisham syas they can go up to Secondary school. What happen if they can make to tertiary education – without a Mycard would that be a problem? How about after graduatiuon – without a Mycard which mostly mean malaysian citizenship can they find work?
Even Muslim immigrant are given Mycard
How many immigrant Muslim Bugis / Jawa/ Achehnese etc are given Mycard in urban Sarawak. In Bintulu specifically, these immigrant Muslim are given “kampong”of their own – land given by Saate government while the Sarawak Dayak not only remain Stateless but without land that has been demarcated for them. If there is, why do you think we have NCR issues with plantation and logging?
BN State government performance should be measured by Mycard issuance
The BN State government should be measured in their performance to give Mycard to Stateless Dayak. We can appreciate the NRD effort to carry out sporadic effort to solve this problem but it is not enough. The NRD department should recruit more Dayak into their department to enable them to carry out their work. Urban employee is not suitable by any measures to do rural work due to their many constraints.
Conclusion
We must understand that Stateless Dayak is directly link to “HARD CORE POVERTY”. When the government acknowledged that many Dayak are still stateless – it means many Dayak are hard core poor.
By the way, Dayak are only found in Borneo. They do not come from Java, Sumatra, Celebes, Mandanao etc – why is it very difficult to identify them. Almost 100% of Stateless Dayak are also non – Muslim. The criteria to identify them could also be made the criteria not to give them Mycard. It is the government choice and as loyal citizen of Malaysia, we can only voice our opinion in the coming ballot boxes.
Dayakbaru – the large number of Stateless Dayak is not acceptable.The Kuching seated YBs and Ministers should push for this situation to change instead of “singing and doing poco-poco” dancing when they visit rural longhouse.
WE Dayak must make the change.
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3 Responses to “Stateless Dayak”
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Inspirational word from gkm2020
I salute you and your group `Dayakbaru’ for struggling so hard to fight for the stateless Dayak. Please be reminded that there are thousands out there in the rural and urban who support your struggle even though they might not be as vocal as they would like to be due to constrain of some sort. So keep fighting and God willing we will make the change someday. Be patient.
Dear Mr Anthony, thank you.
I can confirm what you said especially after visiting some longhouses recently. They just look at me, frail, white hair and yet they can’t believe this is the man who help Dr John to create so much awareness on land issues.
It goes to prove that we must raise the standard of our comments. It also goes to show there are many positive impacts that we can achieve. Please be part of the team.
It is very ashamed that some (or many) ‘Malaysians’ are still without IC (MyKad)up to date. The card is an important document for every Malaysian. Please if anybody don’t have one, get it soon and the relevant authority should look into this matter seriously…go to people in remote area, issue the card as soon as possible….this is a serious matter…a national BIG issue!