Taib (fourth left) and Ragad (fourth right) at the ‘Majlis Mesra Saudara Kita’ dinner organised by the Orang Ulu National Association Sarawak (OUNA) at Pullman Hotel here last night.
MIRI: The Orang Ulu community has become more open to other races and this has helped the community to be more successful compared to other minority groups in the state.
According to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, it was now easier to communicate with the Orang Ulu community compared to some other Bumiputera communities.
“They are more open and they do not limit themselves to their own community.
“I the 1980s, when I visited their longhouses, sometimes it took about three days. They would not sleep but stayed awake to talk to us. From there, I learned that Orang Ulu will not be left behind in Sarawak even though they are a minority because of their openness,” he said in his address at the ‘Majlis Mesra Saudara Kita’ dinner organised by the Orang Ulu National Association Sarawak (Ouna) at Pullman Hotel here last night.
Also present were his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib; Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin; Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail; Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau; Miri Resident Mustapha Julaihi; Baitumal general manager Datu Abang Mohamad Shiblie Abang Mohamad Nailie and Ouna president Dato Abu Bakar Abdullah.
Taib pointed out that the ability of the Orang Ulu community to mix and mingle with other races and not limiting themselves to their own community was what enabled them to learn from one another and become successful.
“That is why we need to know people from other races and even encourage or children to mix around with children from other races as well.”
Taib said this attribute could also be obviously seen among the Bidayuh community.
“For this reason, the Bidayuh has achieved development which we can refer to as ‘top’. Both the Bidayuh and the Orang Ulu communities share this same attitude of openness.
“They eat, work and mix with other races and are willing to contribute in fostering closer ties among the multiracial community,” he added.
Taib also cited the Melanau community as an example, where he said that they learned to work with other races because they knew that there were various opportunities awaiting for them through such collaborations.
“This is the attitude that makes us ‘anak Sarawak’; willing to learn from others in order to have a successful career,” he said.
Taib pointed out that, it was for this reason that he was not worried that there would be community who would be left behind in terms of development in the last 10 years, as the Iban, Melanau, Bisaya communities and others could feel the sense of equality as there was no more discrimination.
“Only if you are scared to mix with others, you will think that you will get discriminated. Otherwise, wherever you are, you work like everybody else and you will be able to progress according to your ability and desire to work harder.
“This is part of our life now, the whole society is changing. As you go and industrialised, you will find that different kind of talents and professional qualifications will be needed, and thank God for our school system, we have now the ability to participate in what others can offer, as a way to change our life and become part of a changing society with a better job and better reward,” he said.