The new leadership of the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) has vowed to turn the union's long-cherished dream of constructing its own building in Kuching into reality.

"We're taking the steps to resolve whatever problems (that have hindered the project thus far) as we want to see it (the building) get off the ground as soon as possible,' said SDNU president Nicholas Bawin today.

The union's plan to put up a 12-storey commercial-cum-office block on its 32,000 square feet site in a prime area in Jalan Satok hit a snag during the second half of the last decade after the developers/contractors ran into financial trouble due to the economic downturn.

This led many members to question the reasons for the delay and there were also allegations that the deal between SDNU and a RM2 -paid-up company Canjaya Sdn Bhd was shrouded in secrecy.

The union was then led by senior politician Daniel Tajem ( photo ), who also heads the Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

Power of attorney

According to Bawin, the union had in the 1990s issued an irrevocable power of attorney, signed by Tajem, then secretary-general Sidi Munan and another union official, in favour of the property development company.

However, the company was badly hit by the 1997 regional financial crisis.

"We want to sort it out once and for all with the contractors," stressed Bawin, who is the chairperson of the union's building committee.

"The land is still in the union's name, although a power of attorney has been signed to allow the company to put up the building," he added.

It is learnt that the contractors are asking for a 'few million ringgit' in compensation to release the power of attorney if the union plans to seek another joint venture partner.

"The contractors have alternatively proposed to carry on and have asked for three months to start up again," sources told malaysiakini .

However, it is understood that after considering several conditions, including the financial circumstances, the building committee is not in favour of going back to the same contractors.

SDNU is the biggest single union/association of any community and its memberships exceeds 100,000. The building is supposed to symbolise Dayak unity and pride.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.