A former parliamentary secretary, Patrick Anek Uren, has lodged a police report against Barisan Nasional Bengoh State Assemblyperson Dr Jerip Susil for allegedly making a seditious statement.

Speaking at a press conference, Anek, a Bidayuh lawyer and Sarawak National Party (Snap) member, said he lodged the report at the Kuching central police station following Jerip's alleged statement that those from the Dayak community who criticised the lack of development in Supp-held Dayak-majority seats were advocating 'Dayakism' and were 'anti-Chinese.'

"The police report was lodged because his (Jerip's) wild allegation of Dayakism and anti-Chinese sentiment is to me and all right thinking Dayak people tantamount to labelling a Dayak as anti-Chinese.

"Whenever any member of the Dayak community voices out his or her feeling of wanting to be treated equal in terms of development opportunities, he is condemned as anti-Chinese," said Anek.

"He is implying that any otherwise legitimate political expression by any member of the Dayak community within the ambit of democratic norms but is against Supp as a political party would be construed as anti-Chinese sentiment."

Lack of progress

Supp's four elected representatives in Dayak-majority seats have taken strong exception to talk on the ground with campaigning appearing to have started for the forthcoming state elections due between now and the end of next year. The say that the Chinese-based party is only using them as window dressing and not giving much priority to development in Dayak areas.

Supp, of which Jerip is assistant secretary-general, is one of the four component parties of the state ruling coalition and has 17 elected representatives.

Anek, who had served as an Independent member of Parliament and a state assemblyperson, said it was wrong for anyone to accuse any member of the community of Dayakism or of being anti-Chinese just for raising questions on the lack of progress in Dayak constituencies represented by Supp.

He pointed out that in the Tanjung Datu state constituency, the road had remained in bad condition for so long despite the fact that it served so many Bidayuh villages. He said the road itself was built by the British Army in the 1960s and its condition was deplorable.

Jerip is the elected representative for the largest Bidayuh majority state seat of Bengoh which under recent changes to its constituency now includes part of Tasik Biru state constituency and represents the Biatah and Jagoi dialect speaking Bidayuh who are covered by two separate government administrative units (7th Mile and Bau).

The Bidayuh medical practitioner was formerly the deputy secretary-general of the opposition State Reform Party (Star) but he crossed over to the BN just before the 2001 Sarawak state election. He is a first term assemblyperson.

Not exonerated

The opposition has been harping on the issue that Supp Dayak elected representatives have not been effective in delivering development projects to their areas with priority being given to non-Dayak areas. Supp secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui, who is also assistant state minister, has denied this, saying all constituencies were treated equally.

Anek said Jerip was preparing to face what he described as 'the ups and downs of the coming general election'.

"He should not be allowed to say anything he likes as if being from the Barisan Nasional, he is to be exonerated from any responsibility of making such a statement," he said. Jerip's comments were reported by the Borneo Post today.

Anek said Jerip should be asked to explain himself and also apologise to all Dayaks.

"If he does not, it is my humble prayer to the authorities that they put at work against him existing relevant laws for the maintenance of peace and harmony in our country," he said.