A group of Dayak intellectuals, senior civil servants and activists are embarking on a state-wide roadshow on Dayak rights.

The workshops set to discuss challenges and opportunities faced by the community are organised, following unhappiness with their political leaders.

The series of workshops, jointly organised by Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) and Dayak National Congress (DNC), will be organised in major cities and towns in the state.

The aim is to collect ideas, experiences and knowledge of participants on economic, educational, social, cultural, land and other issues that have direct bearing on the Dayak community.

The final outcome of these workshops will be collected in a memorandum, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem.

The memorandum will be called 'New Deal for Dayaks in the 21st Century'.

The first workshop, attended by the top ‘brains’ of the Dayak community, former top civil servants and activists kicked off in Kuching yesterday.

Cowards

An organiser of the workshops said: "They need to do this as they see in Dayak politicians as cowards who do not dare raise critical issues affecting the Dayaks resulting in the Dayak community being one of the most neglected communities in the country.

"They only look after their personal political interests," he said.

The Dayaks, who form more than 50 percent of the state’s population of 2.6 million, had been unfairly treated and overlooked in development, education, recruitment into the civil service, business opportunities and government contracts, he lamented.

Meanwhile, SDGA president Dusit Jaul told workshop participants that in order to ensure the future direction of the Dayak community, the Dayaks need to be bold and aggressive on issues affecting the community.

"Issues like our economic backwardness, job discrimination, cultural degradation, social ills and political fragmentation need to be addressed with utmost thought and professionalism.

"To me, all these are serious issues that merit serious attention by serious people.

"I am suggesting that we take a more active and aggressive steps to change the course of our community amidst the multitudes of 21st century challenges that become stumbling blocks in our drive towards becoming a progressive community,” Dusit said.

'Politics is like a football game'

He said: "Arising from this, we need to work like we are in politics. Politics is like a football game - there are no time-outs.

"We are either on the offensive or defensive move. Right now, we are playing too much defence,” he said.

He also pointed out that in the past 50 years the mood of the Dayak community had gone from too much optimism to too much pessimism.

"If my observation is right, then we, who are here today, play crucial role in inspiring the Dayaks with the promise and excitement of the future,” he said.

Dusit said that the community is confronted with three critical choices.

"First, do we have the wisdom to avoid the mistakes of the past?

"Second, do we have the determination and discipline to stay on course?

"Third, will we have the courage to stand tall against those who try to undermine us?” he asked.