Gira (second left) handing out study incentives.
SIBU: Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here have been told to emulate the aboriginal Maori people of New Zealand in fighting for the development of their culture and ethnicity.
The advice came from Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang who said he had noted the progress of the Maori people in New Zealand when he visited the country recently.
“When the British arrived in New Zealand, their (Maori people) land was used by the New Zealand government for various developments. Today, the government has given back their land through negotiations between Maori NGOs and the British government headed by Queen Elizabeth II,” he said.
He was speaking at a pre-Gawai Dayak dinner jointly organised by the Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS), Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) and the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) at Skuau Community Hall on Saturday.Gira added that the Maori people in New Zealand are among the richest aborigines in the world today.
“So, I hope the Dayak, especially the Iban in Sarawak, can learn and emulate the Maori’s fight. This means, with SDNU and SIDS, you can fight for your rights through proper channels,” he said.
He also expressed his appreciation to the people in Skuau for their support during the last election. At the function, Gira announced an allocation of RM5,000 from SDNU president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom and another RM5,000 minor rural projects (MRP) grant to the organisers of the dinner. The Tamin assemblyman also handed out study incentives to students during the dinner.
Also present at the dinner were SIDS Skuau branch chairperson Rabiah Balang, Penghulu Michael Jenali and Tuai Rumah Andrewson Ngalai.