KUCHING: A former senior civil servant and long serving DBNA supreme council member finds the comments by Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah on the controversial statement by Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik “very confusing”.
He told The Borneo Post here yesterday that he did not quite agree with the Asajaya assemblyman’s view as reported in the newspaper.
“When YB Karim said Pahon’s statement must be seen from the right context he has to first of all remember that DBNA is a non-political organisation and therefore the leaders are not supposed to mix the association with politics.
“Because of that Pahon’s statement can never be seen from the right context. It is already wrong in the perspective of DBNA when the association, under its constitution, is supposed to be non-political,” he said.
He said under the DBNA constitution the objectives of the association were to promote unity, mutual help, cooperation, understanding and friendship among the Bidayuh community, foster cooperation and goodwill with other races, inculcate self-reliance among Bidayuhs and encourage them to raise their standard of living.
“Other objectives are to instill among the community a sense of devotion and undivided loyalty to the country, to promote the spiritual, mental, physical and social well-being of its members and the community as a whole, to encourage Bidayuhs to take full measure of responsibility in civic affairs and to participate actively in nation building; and to work in close cooperation with the government and other relevant agencies for the welfare and socio-economic progress of the community,” he said in quoting the DBNA constitution.
Wishing to be known as Sukuh Manggeng, he said Pahon’s statement that the three incumbent Bidayuh MPs should give way to young blood was not only wrong in his capacity as president of DBNA but also against the general orders in the civil service.
“As a senior civil servant, I don’t think he can make political statements publicly and by saying that Pahon’s statement must be seen from the right context seems to me that YB Karim is encouraging more civil servants to involve in politics,” he said.
He added that it could only be right if Pahon had made the statement in his personal capacity, not as DBNA president or permanent secretary to the Tourism and Heritage Ministry.
He explained that he was not trying to make a fuss over the matter but said if left uncorrected it could cause lots of confusion and conflict among members of the community.
In this respect, he suggested that all members of the community should always be careful when making public statements to avoid causing tense situation and unnecessary conflicts among them.