A former secretary-general of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) - the backbone of the three-member state Barisan Nasional (BN) - has come under fire for his 'zero Dayak corporate equity' statement.

Sarawak Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SDCCI) president Leonard Linggi Jugah's made the remark at a recent seminar in Miri.

However, he was taken to task by three Dayak businessman in a front-page report in the Sarawak Tribune daily owned by a business group closely linked to the state leadership.

According to the daily, the Dayak business community has benefitted from the New Economic Policy and the Politics of Development (as advocated by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud).

"Although the Dayak were late starters in business compared to the other bumiputera business groups, many have been successful in earning their way up the economic ladder and establishing their niche in commerce and industry in the past three decades," the paper quoted Iban businessman Donald Lawan as saying.

Lawan, a former member of SDCCI, was also a former state assemblyperson and former political secretary to the chief minister.

Linggi clarifies

In response to the report, Linggi today clarified that his statement was in reference to Dayak ownership of corporate equity in Malaysia overall.

According to published figures, he said the Malay bumiputera owned 19 percent of corporate equity in the country.

"The percentage of corporate equity normally refers to equity in public-listed companies. As far as I know the percentage of Dayak ownership of public-listed company equity is still zero," he said in a statement.

Linngi's earlier comment was said to have offended Dayak leaders in the state government, who interpreted it as the government not having taken the effort to help the community.

Dayak leaders closely linked to the state leadership are said to be keeping their distance from the

SDCCI. A number of state Barisan Nasional leaders of Dayak origin sit on the SDCCI committee.