Bidayuh Forum Night to drum support for BN

KUCHING: Infrastructure Development and Communications Datuk Seri Michael Manyin made it clear when he said the series of dinners organised under the Bidayuh Forum Bidayuh Night 2012 was to drum the Bidayuh support towards Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in the coming parliamentary election.

Manyin predicted that the 13^th general election will be held in June this year.

He said the Bidayuh community should be united in BN so that they are able to move forward in term of development, on par with the other communities by 2020.

"If we Bidayuh want to go forward together with other communities, we must correct our political struggle, and make sure our children are given adequate education, including skills training," he said at the second Udung Bidayuh dinner at Kampung Sinjok community hall near Siburan during the weekend.

Hence he urged the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) and Bidayuh Graduates Association (BGA) to continue efforts to promote education among the Bidayuhs.

He said the Bidayuh Forum which comprises of all the Bidayuh elected representatives and political secretary has been successful in its efforts to unite the elected representative and political leaders to work together for the betterment of the community.

He said under the Bidayuh Forum all the elected representatives from different political parties could sit down and discuss how to solve the problems affected the community.

The Bidayuh community should discard clans and regional politics for the community stronger representation in politics.

He said the Bidayuh shouldn’t be looking at the candidates from Bau, Lundu, Serian or Penrissen and whether from the Jagoi Bratak or Singai group.

"Bidayuh candidates can contest in any of the Bidayuh areas regardless from which area and clan he or she comes from,” said Manyin.

He said what is most important was to unite the Bidayuhs in politics.

Manyin was referring to the struggle between the Beratak Jagoi and Singai clans over the Mas Gading parliamentary seat.

There was a written agreement signed by several leaders of two clans where it was mutually agreed that the candidate for the Tasik Biru state seat should come from among the Singai people whereas candidate for the Mas Gading parliamentary seat from the Bratak Jagoi people.

The present MP for Mas Gading Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe is a Bratak Jagoi while the Tasik Biru representative Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie is a Bisingai.

"Do not look at our dialects differences and area of origin but look at our common culture to unite us as a strong community," said Manyin.

Meanwhile chairman of the dinner organising committee Temenggong Datuk Stephen Jussem said the last two dinners with the first one in Dewan Suarah Bau in February has received good attendance from the Bidayuhs in the districts.

He said the third dinner will be held on May 5 at Dewan Suarah Serian.