Adenan assures state to seek legalisation of ‘Dayak’ in constitution
Masing (left) briefs Adenan (second left) on the Bukit Mabong District as Morshidi (right) and Ugak look on.
KAPIT: The state government will make efforts for the word ‘Dayak’ to have legal sanction.
This assurance came from Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who said he agreed with senior minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing on the matter.
“We have made the first step that is for the word ‘Dayak’ to replace ‘lain lain’ in official forms.
“We will make the second step for the word to have its legal interpretation in our constitution.
“So far there is legal interpretation for Iban but none for Dayak which would cover the whole of Bumiputera besides the Malays in the state,” he said when officiating at a ceremony to declare Bukit Mabong as a new district at the civic centre here yesterday.
The Federal Cabinet recently approved the word ‘Dayak’ to replace ‘lain lain’ in government forms.
Adenan, who is also Tanjung Datu assemblyman, said it was one of 45 things he had done since helming the state as chief minister 20 months ago.
He also mentioned about the state government’s negotiation with Petronas to increase the
oil royalty, devolution of power with federal government, abolishment of tolls, reduction of power tariffs and combating illegal logging.
He reiterated that he needed five years more so he could do more for the people and the state.
“Two years is not enough. There will be more things we can do for ourselves.
“I want to make money for Sarawak because we are the biggest producer of raw materials,” he said.
Masing had said three steps needed to be taken before the word ‘Dayak’ as a race has legal force.
He said the recent Federal Cabinet’s approval of the term Dayak as one of the recognised races in the country represented step one.
“The second step is to table an amendment in Parliament for it to have legal sanction. The third step is for the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) to endorse Parliament’s decision.
“Once that is done, then Dayak as a race has the force of law,” said Masing, who is also Land Development Minister and Baleh assemblyman.
Covering an area of 11,976 square kilometres, Bukit Mabong is the fourth district in this division after Kapit, Belaga and Song.
The new district comprises 117 longhouses with a population of about 22,000.
With a total area of 38,934 square kilometres, Kapit is the largest division in Sarawak and bigger than Pahang (35,960 square kilometres).
Sarawak now has 40 districts after the declaration of Bukit Mabong as a district, which is one of the nine new districts declared since last Aug 1.
Others present at the function included Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Masing, Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, Kapit Resident Fedrick John George, Temenggong Datuk Kenneth Kanyan, Temenggong Datuk James Jimbun Pungga and PRS Supreme Council member Datuk Kristoffer Nyuak Bajok.
Adenan performs a gimmick to declare Bukit Mabong as a district as (from left) Ugak, Nanta, Jabu, Masing and Morshidi (second right) look on.
(From left) Abdul Halim, Douglas, Elvis, Nanta, Masing, Adenan, Jabu, Morshidi, Ugak and Fedrick in a group photo.
The map of Bukit Mabong district.
Adenan signs the Bukit Mabong souvenir book after the ceremony to declare Bukit Mabong as a district.
At the same function, Adenan witnessed the handing over of duty from Kapit district officer Elvis Didit and Belaga district officer Abdul Halim Abdullah to the new Bukit Mabong district officer, Douglas Pungga.
Meanwhile, it was reported that some 3,000 people from all walks of lives turned up to welcome Adenan and to witness the declaration of Bukit Mabong as a district.
The early morning heavy rain did not dampen the spirits of political leaders from far and near who gathered patiently at the Sri Baleh VIP Guesthouse for Adenan’s arrival by helicopter.