Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has hit back at critics of his policies, saying the state government does not discriminate against Dayaks as alleged by certain politicians and business persons from the indigenous community.

Taib claimed he has helped many Dayaks, by involving them in forestry and oil palm business ventures.

While he did not mention his detractors by name, he was obviously reacting to jibes by some Dayak academicians who had claimed that the state government had done little to provide assistance.

"They are moaning over their (own) failures and trying to blame others," Taib countered, at the opening of a Proton dealer's workshop in Kuching this morning.

Among those present were all the senior Dayak state ministers - Alfred Jabu, Dr James Masing and William Mawan, as well as Jabu's wife Empiang, who is the first Iban woman Senator.

'Pessimistic outlook'

Taib has been annoyed about what he has previously described as a "pessimistic outlook" that has recently been spread among the Dayak community.

Dayaks are being given opportunities, he said, but it is up to them to prove that they are hard-working and professional in their attitude.

He cited Donald Lawan, chairman of MD Motors Sdn Bhd - the newly-appointed Proton dealer - as an example of a diligent entrepreneur who has dared to take risks and venture into various fields of business.

Taib advised the Dayaks not to listen to those who say one thing and do another. He said such people appear to champion the Dayaks when they are only looking for opportunities to further their own interest.

He added that the state's policy to develop native customary rights land - and see that Dayaks hold a 30 percent stake in this - is to ensure that the land is not left idle but instead becomes an economic asset.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.