KUCHING: The three Bidayuh MPs should stand aside and let younger candidates come forward during the next general election, said Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datu Ik Pahon Joyik yesterday.
He added that if they were re-nominated to defend their respective seats, then they should identify their successors to ensure there was continuity.
“Looking at the three MPs at the moment, we can consider them as seniors. Probably it is high time for them to get younger people to take over from them.
“Personally, if they do come in (re-nominated) it should be their last term, and they should indicate clearly that they are now in transition so that there is continuity,” Ik Pahon told the sundaypost at Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan’s Hari Raya open house here recently.
Ik Pahon said these MPs should be young and effective.
“If you look at the interest of the community, of course we want effective, robust and vibrant leaders.”
The three MPs are Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Richard Riot in Serian, Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit (Mambong) and chairman of the National Service Training Council Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe (Mas Gading).
Riot is a five-term MP while both Dawos and Dr. Tiki are third-term MPs. Both Riot and Dr Tiki are in their late 50’s, while Dawos is 60.
However, Ik Pahon said he was aware that the final decision on candidates was the sole prerogative of the BN top leadership.
“But the grassroots must also be given the opportunity to voice out their stance because if you look at the Bidayuh community now, we can be considered as semi-urban, compared to the 60’s and 70’s.
“Now, they are not just looking for minor rural projects but rather for business opportunities.”
On another matter, Ik Pahon, who is also the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage, urged the elected representatives to train at least a few individuals in their respective areas to become successful entrepreneurs while they were still in office.
“At the moment the number of successful entrepreneurs from the Bidayuh community could be counted, especially those who possess class A and B business licences.”
On another issue, Ik Pahon said only a few from the community had been appointed to top posts in the civil service.
He said the government had to rectify the situation as it could be used as fuel by the opposition in the 13th general election.
The 12th general election was held in 2008 and the next one is only due in May 2013, but soothsayers from Pakatan Rakyat believed that Parliament would be dissolved in November this year.