The Dayak Political Direction
Posted by Maramat Tajak
The recent PR election success is evidence of Malaysians political maturity.
For once, the alliance is not based on race but on political ideology. And for the first time, a national-level multi-racial PKR party, garner significant (same as Sarawak) parlimentary seats. Added to this: it is also significant that the alliance is made up of strong leaderships and equally passionate party loyalists;conventional wisdom will tell us such marriage would be explosive if not for the strength of the organisational and politicking skills from all sides.
PR is good for Malaysian politics
No doubt, the advent of PR is a force for good in Malaysian politics. But would I support the notion that Dayak should immediately change course and stake their political fate on PR? No – I don’t see how that will make any difference to the Dayak future – just yet.
The reasons are quite simple.
1.Oil/Gas Royalty:
History has shown us political promises are broken regularly.Its not that politicians are liars. In the case of Sarawak,and Dayak in particular, its in the numbers: let me illustrate. On specific issue like the Petroleum Act, any change in percentage of royalty will reduce the Federal government’s income. If PR were to form the next government of Malaysia, will the party be so kind as to give away an additional 15% (from existing 5%) of the royalty to Sarawak ? I think that will be unlikely. The numbers doesn’t favor that shift.
PR legislators will remain beholden to their constituencies, and if the royalty increases for Sarawak will result in an indefinite delay of a flyover in Puchong, or the second Penang bridge, or the dual-track rail project in West Malaysia, these legislators will fight the incr with tooth and nails.
I don’t believe the PR legislators (and cabinets) are made of different stuff than the BN legislators, and suddenly willing to sacrifice/defer their material progress for their poor distant cousins in Borneo. 1Malaysia notwithstanding, and although PR has more liberal democatic tendency than BN, I still believe in the frailty of man -esp politicians.
2. Chief Ministership for the Dayak.
Besides point no 1, this offer need to be looked at in the right context. I don’t think its really important for the Sarawak CM to be a Dayak.It would be more important that the CM will address Dayak issues.Dayak politicians do not necessarily champion the Dayak cause above his own-even if he/she can. It is common knowledge, that some of our very own Dayak politicians accumulate unrealistic wealth after their tenure in office.Besides,the presumption-perhaps from Dayak leadership themselves, that Dayak is power hungry and their political objective is for the CM position-will work against the Dayak political interest viz relationship with non-Dayak in the state.
3. Change Will Takes Time.
In a scenario where PR beat BN in Federal and State,any change at the state and federal legislature will take a long time. Promises such as the Petroleum Act will require 2/3 majority parliment vote. Even if approved, the policy implementation can easily take 5 years to take effect.
Similarly for the proposed NCR land reform- which by the way-as stated by Iban Abroad, is a promise to review (not to enact specific changes).Any change, will likely not retroactive-unless there is a landslide in the ADUN as well.And so, Dayak voters has to be educated on the prospect: that change,if it comes at all, may still be too late for the present generation.
Don’t Reject PR outright
All said, I don’t favor Dayak to prematurely reject PR either, esp on flimsy grounds such as the character of individual PR politicians.The party members dicates, not not individuals. Furthermore, the state PR leadership structure has just been formed, so there’s no real basis to evaluate.
Can we Dayak talk openly of our political Direction
What I favor, as some has said it in many ways, is for true political synthesis and discourse to take place among Dayaks from all levels, taking into account the advent of PR politics. What has persistently happened is that Dayak voters follow their favorite politician, and the politician themselves, change party and drop their political causes as they see fit to keep their career.The followers – got to follow, like sheep or risk not getting their infamous zinc roof sheets.
Dayak do not know what they really want in politics
As a final thought,I think we Dayaks do not really know what we want from the Federal and State politics.Its about time that we talk or write frankly what Dayak should aim to get from politics.
Just as we appear to have no clue why we want to unite, we also don’t have any clear idea what Dayak should negotiate for from the politicians and political parties.This synthesis of wants/desires has to take place. Then that can be thrown to the likes of PR and BN politicians to come back with precisely HOW (not just empty promise) they will help the Dayak to achieve that aspiration.
Dayak should not sell themselves
As much as I enjoy reading this Iban Baru’s article, I can’t help feeling that this is a Pascal Wager. Even if ultimately the intention is to wager a political future, I still think the Dayak should not sell themselves short but to come up with clear demands and ways to get there.
If PR can deliver it, so be it: but don’t necessarily discount BN (since they will have to respond to PR) as well. If the Dayaks fail to synthesize, then it won’t help whether we are with BN or with PR.
I for one, will study the PR structure,the personalities and to keep an eye on their pronouncements, and any legislative agenda.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Related posts:
- DAYAK: IN SEARCH OF NEW DIRECTION 2020 Written by gkm2020 General Overview Pursuing the impossibilities; we only...
- Dayak Political Leaders are without political cause Posted by: Meramat Tajak KM, Well put on learning from...
- Dayak Political leaders prefer to be “Mr. Clean” Posted by: Cikgu Iban DB, Reasons for political party to...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Comments
One Response to “The Dayak Political Direction”
Leave a Reply
-
-
Total Hits
-
Inspirational word from gkm2020
That is your suggestions and opinions.