ACTIVE: Anthony (seated centre), flanked by SDNU publicity chief Ganchai Jinta (left) and executive secretary Spencer Birai, in a photo call with some SDNU members and associates.
KUCHING: Sarawak Dayak National Union’s (SDNU) on-going roadshows to get 100,000 Dayaks to apply for government jobs are not an election gimmick.
The initiative is to help the Public Service Commission (PSC) to replenish their data base, said Anthony Banyan, vice-president of SDNU, during a lunch gathering here yesterday.
He said the roadshows were also aimed at dispelling accusations and misperceptions that Dayaks were not interested in joining the civil service, as ‘evidenced’ in the relatively low number of applications from this community.
Anthony said thus far, 10 roadshows had been held, with the first one in Pakan last month.
On the number of 100,000, Anthony explained that it did not denote the number of vacancies available in the civil service nor was it a target etched in stone.
“The figure 100,000 is a sort of encouragement from PSC for Dayak NGOs to assist them,” he clarified.
“The government is trying its best to increase the number of Dayaks in the civil service. Previously, the number of applications was relatively low, hence contributing to the very low number of Dayaks actually getting civil service jobs.
“However, when the number of applications is great, it would help to increase the probability of us (Dayaks) becoming civil servants.”
Anthony opined that the on-going registration exercises through these roadshows had helped to change the attitude and perception of most Dayak youths towards the civil service.
“Previously, after applying for jobs, they sit back and waited for a response. Some gave up hope along the way. But thanks to PSC’s initiative, they (applicants) are now doing follow-ups and getting updates online.”
The first SDNU roadshow kicked off on Nov 15 at Pakan and its last one for this year was held at Selangau on Dec 23. In between these two dates, roadshows were also held in Sri Aman on Nov 16, Skuau (Nov 18), Saratok (Dec 1), Bintulu (Dec 12), Kanowit (Dec 15), Betong (Dec 16), Kapit (Dec 18) and Sibu (Dec 22).
Other Dayak NGOs which are assisting PSC to register Dayak applicants are the Dayak Bidayuh National Association, Orang Ulu National Association, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association and SDNU’s women wing Sarakup Dayak Indu Sarawak.
SDNU initiated these roadshows following a dialogue with PSC chairman Tan Sri Mahmood Adam on Oct 30 at Pullman Hotel here where he challenged the Dayaks to get at least 100,000 job applications before year-end following complaints that there were so few Dayaks in the federal civil service.
During the dialogue session, Mahmood also urged SDNU to become the bridge between the goverment and rural youths.
Based on PSC’s record, it received a total of 66,699 applications for various vacancies as of September this year. Out of the number, 26,233 or 39 per cent of the applications were from Malays, followed by Iban (16,578), Bidayuh (8,327), Melanau (6,218), Chinese (5,062) and Orang Ulu (3,315).
Out of this, only 2,997 were selected – Malay (849), Iban (722), Chinese (535), Bidayuh (475), Melanau (257) and Orang Ulu (96).
On a related matter, Anthony thanked the government for appointing an Iban from Betong, Isaka Kana, as a member in the PSC at federal level in May this year, and for appointing another Iban, Mohd Sungkih Abdullah, as secretary of PSC Sarawak branch.
He pointed out that the appointment of Isaka was significant because it was the first time that a Dayak or Iban became a member of PSC at federal level.