TURN BUNG BRATAK INTO HISTORICAL CENTRE: TIKI

KUCHING, Wed. - The Federal Deputy Minister for National Unity and Social Development, Dr. Tiki ak Lafe had proposed that Bung Bratak, an ancient Bidayuh settlement in Bau District, be eventually turned into a full-fledged historical and cultural centre for the Bidayuh community. The proposal was prompted by the fact that Bung Bratak has been long recognised and appreciated as a historical site and symbol for the community, a physical evidence that the Bidayuhs were once of the ancient and original peoples of Borneo.

Tiki made the above proposal while officiating at the Jagoi-Bratak Day on 1st May at Bung Bratak, which was attended by over 500 Bidayuhs and some non-Bidayuhs. The Deputy Minister also approved a government grant of RM30,000 to improve basic facilities at Bung Bratak at the function. He expressed the opinion that the Bidayuhs, while proud of their history and culture, must also think of how they must upgrade their educational standard and attitudinal outlook with positive mindset akin to that of the "Bidayuh Baru".

"The Bidayuhs must seriously consider how to improve their skills and attitude such that they can contribute more to the attainment of VISION 2020 objectives," he said. "Negative habits such as excessive drinking of alcohol and gambling have to go if the Bidayuhs want their economic status to further improve" he added. Tiki also reminded the Bidayuhs to continue on with solidifying their social and political unity and not to allow petty and personal differences to split them. "I am made painfully aware that there still exists a tiny group of ill-motivated individuals in the community who do nothing but pretending to be friendly and at the same time finding faults in others and who go on instigating individuals against individuals and leaders against leaders," said the minister. "This small group is vicious and up to no good and it is wise for all to be aware of them and avoid them for this group is capable of confusing and making innocent people angry over nothing," he added. "This small group had no agenda but intending only to create trouble and simply envious of what others are doing," he said.

The Advisor of Jagoi-Bratak Committee, Peter Minos, also spoke at the function. He mentioned that history always taught everybody some useful lessons in life. "History and experiences, whether good or bad, are mothers of wisdom," he commented. Properly applied, history helps in guiding and giving good directions to communities, he said. The former DBNA President, who revived Bung Bratak in 1988 with the Jagoi-Bratak Committee representing 30 Bidayuh villages in Bau and Lundu District, said that with a new century and a new millennium the Bidayuhs should find appropriate aspirations to do more for themselves and the country. "If in the last 100 years we have not achieved much, let us make this new century a period of awakening and a time for flourishing and actualising new ideas and positive mindset," he said. Peter Minos mentioned that the Bidayuhs had made a new fresh start by unifying themselves in the Barisan and by trying their best to improve their education and developing their NCR land with government agencies. "I can see that our people are now appreciating the importance of political unity and also the need for improving their skills and expertise in order to catch up with the other races in the country and the world at large," he concluded.