BETONG: The Dayak community has been asked not to wait for the government to spoon-feed them by not taking any initiative to improve themselves.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said history has shown that Dayaks are tough people and as such should not lose those traits and qualities.
“I have also advised Dayaks in the past to be resilient when it comes to self-improvement and making ends meet for themselves. I am proud of the fact that Dayaks are indeed so, and I hope those values will remain in the community for as long as they can,” he said during a pre-Gawai celebration here on Friday.
He called on those present to remember the sacrifices made by Dayaks who did all they could to improve themselves and the Dayak community in the past.
“(Former Chief Minister) the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan was one of them. He was one Dayak who did all he could to bring development to our community and he should be remembered and be made an inspiration for those who believe in wanting to improve a community,” he said.
Jabu added the Dayak community is never left out of the country’s development agenda.
Meanwhile Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas called on Dayaks to play their part in the community’s development.
He admitted that some government programmes do require fine tuning.
“Going back to the drawing board sometimes does not mean that we have failed. It is good news as the government is always listening to what the people want,” he said.
He also called on the community to support Jabu as the Deputy Chief Minister would never let Dayaks in the state be left behind.