There is no need for the state DAP to try to champion for the recognition of the Iban language, said Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu.

He said the Ibans themselves, for the past 30 years, had taken care of the “survival, development, usage and the official recognition” of the language.

“It is now on the same status or at par with the Mandarin language for the Chinese community and Tamil for the Indian community,” he said in his winding-up speech for his ministry at the Sarawak state legislative assembly sitting in Kuching today.

Jabu said the Iban language was now a subject taught in 641 primary schools in the state involving more than 20,000 students.

“It is also taught in 63 secondary schools involving more than 5,000 students,” he said.

He said the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim, Perak had also launched the usage of Bahasa IBan Kus Elective for its diploma course in 2008.

“The Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Rajang has also launched a degree  course in the Iban language last year,” he said.

Jabu said DAP had been using the Iban community to advance their political cause on a number of occasions.

- Bernama