Dayak Informal Group (DIG) hits back at Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office Daud Abdul Rahman, accusing him of lying if he thinks that the government has not marginalised certain races, especially the Dayaks, in its development policy.

"There is no necessity for the assistant minister to deny without facts as the facts that we have point to the contrary," said Richard Lias, a DIG leader in a statement.

The statement was to counter one from the assistant minister who had said that the allegations that the BN government marginalised certain races in its development policy were not true and unfair to the state government.

Daud had also warned that raising racial issues would only create tension among the races and disturb Sarawak’s political stability that had enabled it to progress and develop.

He added that all races represented in various ministerial and important decision-making posts in government departments is prove that no race is marginalised.

Claims by certain groups that they were marginalised were made because they had not done enough nor worked hard for success," Daud had said.

The assistant minister must have referred to earlier statements from Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association and DIG on certain departments or government agencies which have one single-race management to the exclusion of other races.

    

Pulling out facts to prove point

Responding to Daud, Richard said: "We have quoted the management of Yayasan Sarawak as a case in point, where Dayaks are marginalized.

"Is the assistant minister ignorant or pretending to be ignorant?  If he is pretending to be ignorant, then he is not honest with himself.

"The assistant minister himself must not forget that 'respect is earned and not forced'. 

"When we are honest with each other, when the government is honest with the people, when the members of the society respect each other, the by product is harmony in the nation.

"Perhaps, if the assistant minister wants our respect, he can start by providing hard facts on the members of the Board of Directors of Yayasan Sarawak; the top 40 management staffs of Yayasan Sarawak; and the complete list of recipients of Yayasan Sarawak Scholarshipd from the time it was set in 1971 up until today," he said.

Richard said that another case that DIG wished to highlight which the assistant minister should pay attention to is the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA), a state statutory body established in 1981 with the stated objective to be the catalyst in land development.

He added that a look at LCDA management line-up as published in its website reveals that all senior mangement staff are from one ethnic group.

"With this kind of exclusiveness, we could have used a stronger word other than marginalization. However, we chose not to, out of respect for the chief minister whom we believe is fair minded and inclusive.

    

Nurturing openness in society

"What we are trying to promote here is openness in our society and to encourage those in position and authority to always bear in mind that society expects them to be accountable,” said Richard.

He urged the government to be  transparent by publishing the facts on the allegation to prove its sincerity and honesty.

"A mere statement in today's world is hard to believe without hard evidence which we find hard to accept.

"There is no necessity for the Minister to deny without facts. The fact that we have points to the contrary," he added.

On the warning by the assistant minister not to raise racial issues, Richard said: "This is not raising racial issues but promoting justice to all races.

“Contrary to the warning of the assistant minister, by exposing injustices and promoting good governance, it will strengthen and enhance political stability in the state.

"We are not asking for what belongs to others. It is a simple issue of all races to be provided for and treated fairly by the government of the day.

Pointing out that DIG is not a political party, Richard said: "We're just voicing our concern on behalf of the Dayak community.

"It seems that the 'stoking racial tension' has been the standard lame excuse all the time for avoiding issues of social justice," he added.