SERIAN: The adventurous and brave Bidayuh who have wandered the face of this earth seeking greener pastures have earned the praises of Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot
“I am happy that the Bidayuh are now making their living in many major cities of the world.
“As a Deputy Foreign Minister, I have travelled far and wide. And I have met the Bidayuh in major cities including Buenos Aires (Argentina) where I never thought I could find them,” Riot told the media at the closing of the Gawai celebration at Kpg Krusen Mawang near here on Saturday evening.
He said though the community was small, they had come out of their cocoon to spread their wings in search of greener pastures.
On May 16, there was a big Gawai celebration in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur where over 2,000 Bidayuh turned up.
“I am very happy that we are still able to maintain our unique cultures and practices and not forgetting our identity,” said Riot.
While praising the community’s adventurous nature, he also told them to be wary of drug trafficking syndicates who were known to lure and use young women as drug mules with total disregards for their safety.
“The latest case which involves a woman from Padawan is a very sad case as she was forced to do it because she was pregnant with the drug pusher’s child.
“I cannot disclose any further details because the cases are still under investigation.
“The women are lured by easy money through social network such as Facebook,” said Riot who is also Serian MP.
He added that those women finally ended up being the ones taking the blame where the brains behind it were left off the hook and continued to enjoy the money earned by the mules.
On another note, he said employers were very happy with their hardworking, loyal and obedient Bidayuh employees.
“These traits have enabled us to go far, so I hope we continue to do so that our work force continue to be in high demand in the work place,” said Riot.
He said the community was now on a par with other advanced communities judging from their achievements.