It is only a myth and false hope by PKR that the Dayak Iban in the rural areas of Sarawak are slowly shifting their support to the opposition what with all sort of so-called unhappiness and general unsatisfaction towards the BN government purportedly in robbing of their NCR land, perceived corruption, nepotism, bad governance and you name the rest of them.
The Batang Ai by-election last year was a glaring example. At that time innumerable excuses were given. PKR Jawa Gerang was soundly beaten by Malcolm Mossen. Batang Ai comprised of almost 100% Dayak Ibans. They overwhemingly voted for BN. The brute force of BN’s war chest of dishing out promised development projects and cash admittedly attributed to the embarrassing loss, so they reasoned.
In the recent Sibu by-election, how did the Dayak Iban voting pattern go? Well, the chinese votes went an almost 30% increase towards DAP. The Dayak Ibans? An increase of 3% to the BN!
The majority of Dayak Iban voters are in Pasai, Sg. Aup, Penasu, Rassau, Rantau Panjang, Tutus, Sg. Pinang and Sg. Sebedil areas within the State constituency of Bawang Assan.
- In Sg Sebedil, only 5 voted for DAP while 151 voted for BN. Comparatively in 2008, 19 voted for DAP and 141 voted for SUPP’s BN.
- In Rantau Panjang, 74 voted for DAP and 339 voted for BN. In the 2008 election, 101 voted for DAP and 271 voted for BN.
- In Sg Pasai, 128 voted for DAP while BN got 368 votes, a majority of 240 votes.
- Similiarly, in Panasu, 130 voted for DAP and 470 voted for BN.
- Even in Aup, where certain PKR Dayak personalities and leaders come from, lost to the BN. DAP ganered 235 and BN obtained 304.
In total, in those Dayak Iban areas mentioned, the BN won by 1394 votes. (DAP/PR 1113/ BN 2507).
It must be noted that almost all PKR Dayak leaders were in those areas in the campaign, yet to no avail.
DAP/PR won the Sibu by-election but the opposition cannot claim that the Dayak Ibans are behind them, not yet anyway. This demonstrate, at least for now, that the Dayak Ibans are still wanting in terms of basic infrastructures and of course the cash strewn around in any election in Sarawak and everywhere too, a proven but dirty tactics of the BN.
The PKR, and notably their Dayak Leaders must be scratching their heads on how to convince the Dayak Ibans that PKR is a viable, honest, democratic, good and responsible government that can bring progress, stabiliity and prosperity to this country.
With the State election in Sarawak looming, its going to be a herculean task indeed. It is back to the drawing board.
Borneo-Warrior
After more than 40 years of neglect by the government of the day and the Dayak Leaders, they have resigned to the fact that all of them are the same, that is whether they are from Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional.
To them it is their daily survival and bread and butter issues that matters and a hand out of a few hundred bucks goes a long way to having some hard cash in their hands.
In most elections, promises and more promises are made, but sadly to note not many of the promised projects are implemented with urgency due to a variety of reasons offerred by the incumbant government, among them is funding and planning.
When we talk about funding and planning, we can safely say it is a load of bullshit afterall if there is a will, there is a way.
The most important agenda of a responsible government is to ensure proper basic infrastructure, health care and school is provided irrespective of how difficult it is, especially in rural areas.
With the slow pace of honouring election pledges, the Dayaks are actually under Sarawak Barisan Nasional and UMNO’s bondage.
Unless this mindset can be changed, the Dayaks would continue to be Barisan Nasional Fixed Deposit.
How do Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak and in particular Parti Keadilan Rakyat play their role than?
Merely organising functions and gatherings will not do!
Merely questioning the incumbant government will not help either. (With all the noise made, they now sound like empty milo tins!)
Instead, more proactive programmes have to be formulated and Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak and Parti Keadilan Rakyat should start adopting winnable consistuency and implement minor projects that would benefit the rural voters.
With minor projects, at least something tangible can be seen and this would convince the rural dayak voters and show how capable they are.
GLC’s within the Pakatan Rakyat controlled States should exercise their discretion by implementaing projects or undertake commercial activities through their “Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes (CSR)”.
We are also quite sure civil society groups and ngos in West Malaysia will mobilise support of the urban voters to undertake something for the benefit of the neglected rural dayaks.
