bidayuh dotcom [Bidayuh Millennium Forum 2001]

Bidayuh Millennium Forum 2001 - Papers Commentary by RWS

1. Bidayuh Social And Cultural Issues In The Development Of the Bidayuh Socio-Economic Charter

2. Some Early Thoughts On The Bidayuh Community Readiness And Awareness On Embracing Information And Communication Technology (ICT)

3. The Bidayuh Economic Status - Past Performance And Strategies For the Future

4. Steps And Strategies Towards A Highly Skilled And Educated Bidayuh People (comming soon)

1. Bidayuh Social And Cultural Issues In The Development Of the Bidayuh Socio-Economic Charter (delivered YB Dr. Tiki Ak. Lafe)

This paper is divided into the four parts.

Part One: Performance Review/Introduction
Raised some interesting questions such as "How many percent of Bidayuh is in the mainstream of development ? How many percent of the Bidayuh still live in areas without basic amenities ? How many percent of Bidayuh eat proper and balanced diets ? Will the 21st century trample the Bidayuh to oblivion (just as the ancient Aztec, Inca and Greek civilisation) ? Is there any hope for the bidayuh ?"

This section called upon us to dream and envision our future.

Part Two: Shortcomings/Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat (SWOT) Analysis
Some points are highlighted here such as:
o We have land available (Strength) but still dependent on subsistence argiculture, land are not titled and unware of rights under common law (Weakness). Land may be taken over for development at any time (Threat).

o Bidayuh are hard working (Strength) but not business oriented, exploitation by other groups and not willing to take risks in new trade (Weakness).

o We are more united then before (Strength) but have many dialects (Weakness).

Part Two: Shortcomings/Current Social Problems Faced By Bidayuh
Nothing new here. The current social problems of the Bidayuh, amongst other thing:
o Excessive drinking, Smoking, Vandalism and mejeng.

o Women folks overworked relative to men, unwed mothers, Vice activities.

o Poverty, insufficient food supply, poor housing, communication and transportation.

o Bidayuh forgetting their roots.

Part Three: Strategies/Solutions To Current Social Problems
The paper recommends the following strategies that may be taken to reduce if not solve these problems:
o discipline for our children.

o raising the economic level of Bidayuh to a certain sustainable level so that they can become self-sufficient.

o emphasizing the value of education.

o emphasizing the value and practice of religion.

o teach parenting skills.

o to adhere to the leaders (point not in the list).

2. Some Early Thoughts On The Bidayuh Community Readiness And Awareness On Embracing Information And Communication Technology (ICT) (delivered YBhg. Datu Wilson Baya Dandot)

A very long title indeed.

For the record, this is the first time that ICT is included as a topic in a State-level Bidayuh forum. And as the title suggests, the objective of this paper is to propose that ICT be a major agenda for the Bidayuh community to ponder in the near future. This paper also attempt to identifies some practical and feasible measures that can be implemented to expedite the propagation of ICT in the community.

Based on a table provided (called Stages of societal development), the Bidayuh is poise in the stage of "Developing Society" (rank 4) with Agriculture as the main activity and Labor, Land and some Capital as the main resources.

Other advanced group is poise in the stage of "Post-Industrial/Advanced Industrial Society" (rank 1) with main activities such as Manipulating and Control Knowledge Services and Labor, Land, Capital, Entrepreneurs, Information, R&D, Technology and Knowledge as their main resources.

So that should illustrate our distance or pace in comparision with other groups.

The paper also attempts to guage the involvement of Bidayuh in ICT with 4 arbitrary indicators as follows:
o Involvement in the local ICT and high technology industries.
o Bidayuhs taking ICT as vocation.
o Number of Bidayuh knowledge workers.
o Bidayuh home PC ownership.

No statistic was available for an accurate measurement. Regardless of sound data, the figure as a whole is definitely very low.

A framework of action in this paper called for:
o the setting up of Focus Group confining to a selected group in the short term and the young students in the long term.

o Mobilising existing resources to promote ICT including the teachers and all levels of the community leaderships.

o Setting up of Community ICT clubs and centers in rural areas. A noble point but not feasible until those areas are equiped with electricity and telephone lines.

o Development of a Bidayuh e-community.

o Show and demonstrate ICT usage.

o Address basic issues.

As an "early thoughts", the community leaderships if not in their agenda must put their extra efforts to upgrade those basic requirements (i.e. Electricity and Telephone) before implementating ICT to those rural areas. Forget about the "Information Superhighway", without these, ICT on "Information Gravelroad" will also not materialised.

However, as a start, pilot ICT plan could be implemented in areas where electricity and telephone exists such as Kuching, Kpg. Quop, Siburan, Kpg. Taee, Serian Town, Bau Town and Lundu Town.

Futher to this, future paper on ICT should highlight the following issues as well:
o Approaches by the community leaderships to implement ICT plan.

o ICT and Schools.

o Who have access to ICT.

o Key ICT statistics.

o Overviews of research on the effectiveness of ICT.

o Articles on ICT resources.

o ICT initiatives.

o ICT funding programs (you need money for all these).

3. The Bidayuh Economic Status - Past Performance And Strategies For the Future (delivered YB Dr. James Dawos Mamit)

The Executive Summary mentioned that Bidayuh participation in both the traditional and modern business are poor. Some small sized firms made some inroads in small-scale construction sectors. However, none appears to be able to sustain their business due to easy entry and hence are very competitive. A gloomy picture is also found in other sectors (where most participation are through employment only).

This section also highlights that there are some aspects of our culture that continue to negate any efforts for active participation in the economy. Low confidence, deep rooted negativism, aversion to risk, low need for achievement, and easily blinded by success are prevalent. Equally destructive are poor business management, planning and inability to expand their business. Coupled with these, Bidayuh participation in business and modern economy is hampered by limited business opportunity, highly dependent on public spending and projects and poor networking.

The second part of this paper presents various statistical figures and tables covering a variety of sector of the economy. Some analysis and insights are made therein but since the statistical information does not cover the Bidayuh participation or performance in a particular sector of the economy, it is almost impossible to rate Bidayuh achievement. The closer rating would be based on Bumiputera achievement which for that matter is generally far from statisfactory.

Reviewer's Note: Please note that due the nature of categorisation in the official record/statistics, it was difficult for the team authoring this paper to properly pin-point our community standing in those selected sector of the economy.

Section three of this paper highlights the contributing factors for poor performance which centred on two main issues. These are Degree of participation and Level of performance
o we are not showing any progress in the level of participation
o lacking confidence
o high level of uncertainity
o poor saving habits
o low need for achievement
o poor networking
o "dependency" syndrome

The last section of this paper discussed on the proposed Strategies for the future. Among them are:
o The Development of Human Resources.
   [] A need to nuture a new breed of community with junkyard-dogged determination and grit.
   [] A need to have Bidayuh entrepreneurs who are not risk averse
      and prepared to embrace failures and learn from it.
   [] Education and training, therefore continue to be an effective tool
      in developing the human resources.

o Creating Resilent, Successful and Competitive Bidayuh Entrepreneurs.
   [] To provide business opportunities as well as supporting infrastructure
      including suitable shophouses in strategic location in new developement
      areas.

o Optimum Utilisation of Land

o Smart Partnership

o Promote and Develop Business Networking Click for definition of Business Networking
   [] A need to create and develop excellent business networking through
      membership in various business associations.

Click for BUSINESS NETWORKING CLUB, Malaysia

4. Steps And Strategies Towards A Highly Skilled And Educated Bidayuh People (delivered YB Encik Michael Manyin Ak Jawong)

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