Dato Idris Buang
KUCHING: There are better avenues than taking such a matter to a live debate, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information Chief Dato Idris Buang.
He was reacting against the challenge put up by the so-called NGO Dayak Round Table to Minister of Integrity and Ombudsman Datuk Talib Zulpilip over the racial composition of the civil service.
“I do not think we all are ready for that in view of the many intertwining ramifications, repercussions and endless polemics, none of which could satisfy any debating minds,” Idris told The Borneo Post tonight.
“I guess, to start something on a lighter tone, I would suggest the group that calls for such a debate should instead have a friendly pow wow with the ministry or the State Public Service Commission which is made of multiracial composition, the latter giving them a comprehensive briefings with facts and figures.”
“They (the NGO) could in cordial and respectable setting, ask any reasonable questions they feel relevant and appropriate. I believe this is the right way to go.,” he added.
To have it in any other way would just create unnecessary and unfair perception speculation and conjectures which could be capitalised by irresponsible people to jeopardised our racial harmony, he pointed out.
Idris said he was confident that an amenable mode of engagement can be agreed upon if everyone together take heed of the need to preserve Sarawak’s racial harmony.
“I beg all concerned to respect appreciate and protect our harmony and solidarity, and the commonality of appreciating its value, in the best possible manner,” said Idris.
Dayak Round Table is giving Talib two weeks to respond before they take further action.
According to its leader Alim G.A Mideh, in a press conference today what triggered them to challenge Talib to the live debate was because Talib had said civil servants were employed by the state government because of merits.
Talib, Jepak assemblyman from PBB had commented on meritocracy in the civil service at the side of the just concluded state legislative assembly (DUN) sitting when responding to a query by a local news portal reporter.
In his comment, Talib had defended the composition of the civil service in the Sarawak government by claiming it was based on meritocracy.
The group could not believe Talib and therefore challenged him to justify what he had uttered, Alim said.
“Instead of quietly submitting to him facts and statistics in his office, which is likely to be set aside, we would like to hold a direct debate directly with YB Talib Zulpilip with the title of the State Public Service Composition debate based on Meritocracy.
“We give YB Talib Zulpilip 14 days to answer this challenge starting from November 13,” they said in a previous statement.
The live debate is understood to be intended for live broadcast on social media.