Dr Dusit Jaul
KUCHING: The Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) welcomes with cautious optimism the appointment of Special Functions Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office Tan Sri Adenan Satem as the state’s fifth chief minister.
Its president Dr Dusit Jaul said the association noted that under the present political system, the sitting chief minister (Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud) has the prerogative to choose his successor.
In this context, and taking into consideration party hierarchy, it saddened association members that a person holding the second most senior position in the party hierarchy, who happened to be a Dayak, was not even mentioned, let alone considered as a possible candidate for the post.
Dusit added that to most Dayaks, this was considered a challenge, if not a setback to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who strongly advocated a policy of 1Malaysia and inclusiveness.
Dusit was referring to Deputy Chief Minister and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu who was not among the candidates considered for the chief minister’s post.
Others in the running for the state’s premier post prior to Taib naming Adenan as his successor on Wednesday were Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg who is PBB deputy president II and PBB senior vice-president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan who is the Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister.
“Now that the process is over, SDGA takes a firm stand that the state government should take a breather, have a re-look and re-appraise its philosophy of politics of development.
“How much have the people, especially the rural communities, gained from this approach to development?
“The government needs a timely reminder that, the people, the Dayaks especially, are not against development. The core issue that needs to be addressed is; what does development mean to the rural community?
“What this means is that the economic and social impact of any development project implemented in rural areas must not only be seen to benefit rural communities but yield positive tangible outcomes in terms of economic empowerment and social progression,” Dusit said in a statement to The Borneo Post yesterday.
The association, as a starting point, called upon the state government to review existing policies and laws that are unfriendly to the Dayaks. SDGA believed some of them, such as the one pertaining to NCR land development had caused not only hardship, but to a large extent, deep anger among the Dayaks.
“The many cases of land disputes being filed in the court by Dayaks aggrieved by NCR land development policy is a clear testament to this fact. We suggest the state government treat this matter seriously before it becomes a destabilising factor for the state.
“Our new chief minister is a man of wisdom brought about by his long experience in politics both at state and federal level. Thus, in him, we see a leader, with the political will to resolve pressing issues affecting the rakyat,” he continued.
Dusit mentioned that people-friendly policies and resources equally shared by all would ensure bright future for the state.
The association hoped that all would live in harmony in the state, guided by the wisdom and fair-mindedness of the new chief minister.
Adenan who is PBB publicity chief, is expected to be sworn in as chief minister on Feb 28, the same day that Taib’s resignation take effect.