The six Bidayuh ketua kaum or village chiefs whose services were terminated allegedly for campaigning against the Barisan Nasional during the March general election today challenged two senior state leaders to specify their allegations of not co-operating with the government on development projects.

The challenge was issued to Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu and the BN state assemblyperson for Tasik Biru Peter Nansian who raised the ire of the village chiefs by calling some of them gila-gila (mad) for opposing the government following their sacking as ketua kaum.

demand bn rep to apologize for gila gila remark 220908 The six - Rinyod ak Ragin, 78, of Kampung Segong, Singai, Bau, Yasin@Mohamad Yasin Abdullah@Josin ak Nuing, 56, of Kampung Tembawang Baru, Bau, Tayron Galan, 48, of Kampung Bobak Sajong, Singai, Bau, Ajom Noyep, 66, of Kampung Stenggang, Bau, Moslim ak Taim, 48, of Kampung Skiat Lama, Bau and Sylvester Bungas, 66, of Kampung Daun, Singai, Bau - in a joint signed statement said: “We have always asked for development projects for our villages, especially those promised during election time.”

“But when these are not delivered, as promised, we get the blame from both the government and the people.”

They said that some ketua kaum were even blamed for the small bonus and dividends to their land development schemes under the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra).

Jabu heads Salcra

alfred jabu The village chiefs also requested Jabu ( right ) to make public Salcra’s accounts in the Bau-Lundu areas, as was done during the time when the late Denys Lang was Salcra general manager.

"During Denys Lang’s time, bonus and dividends paid out made every landowners very happy. But now the accounts are ‘secret.’ Why be so secretive?", they asked.

The six regretted that the government had openly interfered with the people’s right to choose their leader at the kampong level.

They said the government should allow the Bidayuh to elect their own kampong leader to protect them from being exploited by representatives of the government of the day.

“We should not be political tools of anyone but be guided by our beliefs and needs to look after the welfare of our villagers.”

The village chiefs said the attitudes and statements by Jabu and Nansian were a cause of concern to the community and showed clearly why the Dayaks are still backward today, economically and socially.

They said village chiefs are elected by the kampong people themselves and not by BN supporters alone.

“We are supposed to serve the people concerned, without fear or favour. We also act as their official representatives in disputes regarding our rights and ownership to our NCR land which are now under threat," they added.