I refer to the Malaysiakini report Dayaks furious over Entulu proposal.

As a Dayak Bidayuh I find the proposal by the Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Joseph Entulu Belaun as preposterous and incredulous.

The very thought of a fellow Dayak making such a proposal is unimaginable. The three reasons he gave in support of his proposal are completely baseless and unacceptable.

The first reason he gave was because the term ‘Dayak' conveyed negative connotations like being uncivilised, uncouth and ‘low class'. Is this a fact? The concise Oxford Dictionary simply describes the Dayak as ‘Aboriginal of Borneo or Sarawak'.

True, we have been described as the ‘wild man of Borneo' by some colonial writers but don't forget that it is in the nature of the imperialists to treat their subjects as inferiors and describe them in an unflattering manner. This is part of their overall strategy.

But are they themselves completely civilised, without any tinge of uncouthness? Were they not descendants of cave-dwellers and so called savages? I have lived in many countries and interacted with people of different races and I can confidently say that we Dayaks are as good as any other people in all respects.

Indeed, while we have a lot of catching up to do, considering the many obstacles we have to overcome but our achievements thus far should be a source of pride. We can have Dayaks at the top of any profession in the world if we really want to.

The second reason Entulu gave in support of his proposal is to let other major races in Malaysia to acknowledge the Dayaks as equal partners and specially, to ensure that we (Dayaks) cease to be classified as ‘others' in official forms.

He suggested that instead of using ‘Dayak' before ‘Iban', ‘Bidayuh', ‘Kayan', ‘Kenyah', ‘Kelabit' and so forth the terminology ‘Dayak' should be dropped altogether. I have to say that the proposal is both illogical and absurd.

Surely, the other races are likely to treat another group as equal if they belong to a bigger group (Dayaks as whole) rather than Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Penan as separate and distinct groups.

Also, if you want to get the Dayaks to be classified as a group on their own and not just come under the classification ‘others' I think the thing to do is quite simple, that is, to get the cabinet or Parliament to decide so. But sadly hitherto no Dayak leader has taken the step to do so.

The third reason Entulu gave in support of his proposal is to stop some federal government agencies from denying Dayaks their bumiputera rights and privileges as some in these agencies think Dayaks are not bumiputera.

Again, I think getting rid of the terminology ‘Dayak' is not the appropriate way to solve the problem. Having lived in the Peninsular for quite some time, I am aware that there exists a considerable gap of information as well as bigotry in the federal agencies.

This problem has to be resolved through policy and/or administrative measures. Our Dayak political leaders should not hesitate to bring up such an issue to the relevant channels, including the Parliament and the cabinet.

Resolving this type of problem is not only for the good of the Dayaks but it is also for the good of nation as a whole. It will help enhance understanding, unity and solidarity between our various peoples and hence our overall political stability.