Year 2003

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Source	Publication Date	Subject
Sarawak Tribune	Mon Aug 04, 2003	Be progressive in your thinking, Bidayuh told
Sarawak Tribune	Mon Aug 04, 2003	Bidayuh must brace for challenges
Sarawak Tribune	Mon Aug 04, 2003	Bidayuh must upgrade and update themselves
Sarawak Tribune	Sat Mar 08, 2003	Don't stop seeking knowledge, Nansian tells Bau youths
Sarawak Tribune	Sat Mar 08, 2003	Land allocated for Bandar Mutiara industrial estate
Sarawak Tribune	Thu Jan 09, 2003	Unified Bidayuh spelling system out early this year

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Sarawak Tribune, Mon Aug 04, 2003 (Be progressive in your thinking, Bidayuh told )

Kinston Albert

KUCHING- Dr Frank Kiong has advised the Bidayuh to more progressive in their thinking.

While presenting his paper on "Bidayuh Culture and Education at the Bidayuh Culture Symposium here yesterday, he pointed out that education was necessary for the maximum utilisation of one's potential.

He reiterated that economy and politics achievements would not be achieved until illiteracy was eradicated and education made available to all Bidayuh.

Urged all Bidayuh to use their talents and resources to spread knowledge and wisdom to their community, Frank advised those who were more educated to guide and lead others to acquire the correct ideas and core values.

He, however, told the Bidayuh not to abandon their tradition and culture in their pursuit of knowledge.

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Sarawak Tribune, Mon Aug 04, 2003 (Bidayuh must brace for challenges)

Nathan Achuk

KUCHING-The Bidayuh community has no other option but to brace for the challenges of the 21st Century and adopt a culture of change in order to carve out a better future.

In his paper presented during the 4th Bidayuh Cultural Symposium a prominent Bidayuh figure Dato' Peter Minos reminded the Bidayuh of the reality of the inevitable challenges and threat brought about by forces of globalisation, liberalisation of global market, information communication technology boom and knowledge based economy.

"We have to do everything to catch up with the world and those who do not do so or do it very slowly and reluctantly will be sadly left behind and even cast aside or marginalised. This is the modern day reality; a stark reality facing the Bidayuh," he said.

He said it was time for action to match the rhetoric, like taking drastic measures in order to rise up and catch up with other groups who had made numerous sacrifices for the prosperity of the progeny.

Minos proposed three strategic directions as possible solutions and called on the Bidayuh to contemplate on requesting for mixed zone land status for some land, new village development and political unity.

"It is high time for the Bidayuh to request the government to change the legal status of some parcels of land near or within the periphery of the urban areas like Kuching City, Lundu, Bau, Siburan and Serian from its present status Native Customary Rights (NCR) to Mixed Zone land" he suggested.

With mixed zone status, Bidayuh land would appreciate in value in many folds overnight. The landowners could then use the land as collaterals to set up businesses, borrow money for the education of their children or other investments.

"This is a controversial step but we should not stop exploring strategic ideas at improving ourselves as some groups of Bumiputera have done so and benefited from the process," he said.

The second strategy called for the centralisation of the scattered villages into a few strategic areas.

"This move calls for talks and negotiation with the relevant government agencies and other economic development on a mutual benefit," he added. "his is again something drastic but why don't we think of it and see the merits and effects on the Bidayuh?" he noted.

Lastly, he suggested the Bidayuh follow the example of a few smaller Bumiputera groups by uniting under one political party.

"As long as we are split into so many political parties as we are now, even in the grand coalition of Barisan Nasional, we shall never have any group political voice respected by others," he stressed.

Minos pointed out the Bidayuh should not be naive in underestimating the force of group political strength in achieving their social and economic progress which was vital for any racial group in Malaysia. "A community that is politically divided would suffer dire consequences," he cautioned.

He added: "Our culture of always wanting to maintain our status quo is outdated and does not do us any favour at all"

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Sarawak Tribune, Mon Aug 04, 2003 (Bidayuh must upgrade and update themselves )

Kinston Albert

KUCHING- The Bidayuh community has to change some aspects of its culture in order to keep abreast of and partake in developments around it.

This was stated by Datu Wilson Baya Dandot in his paper presentation on "A New Cultural Identity For The Bidayuh Community: Moving From Personal And Entrepreneurial Development To Wealth Creation" at the Bidayuh Culture Symposium.

He noted environment, education, external influences, changing perceptions, values and mindsets were the prime-movers for changing the Bidayuh culture.

According to Baya, the Bidayuh community has progressed from a rural community of farmers and rubber-tappers to government and private sector employees and has seen the emergence of a few entrepreneurs. However, he continued, the modern society and economy imposed ever-changing rules and constraints on the community.

"This is the challenge facing us today. We need to not only change elements of our culture in order to progress in the new world, but we need to continuously upgrade and update ourselves as well," he said.

He urged the community to develop as entrepreneurs and acquire a "money culture" as well as change their attitude towards their assets.

He said the Bidayuh community had some good assets and that the community was located in the Kuching and Samarahan Divisions where the seat of government and the business centres of the State were located. Many members of the community own properties and houses in the urban and semi-urban areas in Kuching and Samarahan, which could be monetized, and the money derived could be transacted or invested to earn more money, he continued.

Baya was of opinion that the Bidayuh should target individuals rather than try to change the society en masse. He reiterated the Bidayuh community was becoming more heterogeneous and individualistic.

"Under such circumstance, it is difficult to address the community as a block. Individuals will have to develop, and it is the sum and value of these individuals that define the wealth and success of the community,"he added.

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Sarawak Tribune, Sat Mar 08, 2003 (Don't stop seeking knowledge, Nansian tells Bau youths)

by Nathan Achuk

BAU - Youths here have been told to grab every opportunity to further their studies so that they would have a competitive edge when applying for jobs.

Tasik Biru State Assemblyman, Peter Nansian Ngusie gave the advice when launching Akademi ITC, the district's first college, here yesterday.

He said with the opening of the college, school leavers could pursue certificate-level studies like computer application courses, information systems and booking-keeping without leaving the district.

"Under the MLVK programme, students will have the opportunity to study first and pay later and this is indeed an excellent opportunity for all school leavers.

"Education has come knocking on our door and it is up to us to make it happen. With the availability of the infrastructure and funding, there should not be any more complaints and excuses for them not to study," he said. Nansian pointed out that it was crucial for today's generation to equip themselves with basic computer skills, which were now regarded as a prerequisite for employment.

He urged students to continue in their academic endeavours. "Use this opportunity as a stepping stone to higher qualification and don't stop seeking knowledge," he added.

Meanwhile, principal of the college, Lilian Chin said the Aitc would be expanding to more rural areas if the response from the district was good.

" We want to make the training relevant to the people so that they can find good jobs after their courses here," she said. The college is offering courses in information system that incorporate bookkeeping, English language and computer application courses.

Successful students will receive the Malaysian Skills Certificate from the National Vocational Training Centre.

Related Sites:
National Vocational Training Council (MLVK)

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Sarawak Tribune, Sat Nar 08, 2003 (Land allocated for Bandar Mutiara industrial estate)

by Peter Sibon

by Peter Sibon SERIAN - The government has allocated 150 hectares of land for the development of general industrial estate in Bandar Mutiara in Tebedu, some 35 km from here, said Housing Minister Datuk Michael Manyin yesterday.

Basic infrastructure, he said, would be built to attract investors to the estate. "Included in the Bandar Mutiara masterplan are a district office, police station, fire station, school, stadium and community hall. Some of the facilities are already available in the estate to enhance its development," Manyin told reporters after presenting cheques to 92 land owners at the community hall here.

He said tenders had been called for the construction of key government agencies like the Police and Fire departments.

"The Immigration and Customs departments are already operating. Commercial centres have also been built. So to ensure better security in the area, a police station will be built very soon," he said, adding that the government would ensure availabilty of basic utilities like electricity, water and telephone to enhance the development of the industrial estate.

Manyin, who is also Tebedu assemblyman, disclosed that the industrial activities for Bandar Mutiara would be wood-based industries (both upstream and downstream). "The new industrial estate would also be ideal for transit of goods between Sarawak and Kalimantan."

Earlier, the minister advised recipients of cheques to deposit them safely in banks and to be wary of conmen.

"Deposit your cheque in the banks and invest in Amanah Saham Bumiputra where you can get good dividend every year," he advised.

He also advised the local people, especially the Bidayuh community, to grab opportunities provided by the government.

"When the government set up industrial estates, there would be employment. The people should be more committed to their jobs once they are employed so that employers do not have to engage foreigners because the government will always give priority to locals."

According to Manyin, employment opportunities in the industrial estate would help check rural-urban migration and reduce social problems arising from the migration.

He said: "Many youths including married men have moved to cities both in the State and in West Malaysia, like Johor, Selangor and Penang, in search of better job opportunities. The setting up of more factories in our own area would certainly prevent rural-urban migration and help married men to stay put with their families to ensure that their children education is not affected."

Some RM3.897 million were paid yesterday to 92 landowners whose lands were affected by the development of the estate in the first phase of compensation. The land-owners were from five villages - Kampung Entebeh, Kampung Temong Putah, Kampung Temong Mawang, Kampung Temong Mura and Temong Bangan.

In a related development, a Bida-yuh paramount chief for Samarahan division, Datuk Temeggong Michael Ben, welcomed the setting up of the industrial estate in Tebedu.

"The setting up of an industrial estate here will help to prevent rural-urban migration. Before, we have to look for jobs outside our area. But now the factories are coming right to our backyard. I hope the locals, especially the Bidayuhs, will take advantage of the opportunities and be committed in their work once they are employed," said Ben.

Among those present at the function were Kedup state assemblyman, Frederick Bayoi Manggi, and heads of various government departments and agencies.

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Sarawak Tribune, Thu Jan 09, 2003 (Unified Bidayuh spelling system out early this year)

by Peter Sibon

KUCHING - A research on a unified Bidayuh spelling system is expected to be completed early this year, said a Singaporean linguistics researcher who is heading a team to preserve the community's culture and traditions.

Dr Grace Tan said the unified Bidayuh spelling system, implemented under the Bidayuh Language Development Project (BLDP), was being tested and refined.

The project, which began in 2001, was to survey and analyse the phonologies (sound systems) of the various dialects. Dr Tan is heading a team from the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Malaysia branch, which has been entrusted with the task of helping to preserve Bidayuh cultures and traditions under the Bidayuh Language Development Project (BLDP).

The State Planning Unit approved the project in December 2000 and work on it started the following month.

Dr Tan said the Bidayuh people spoke over 25 dialects (many not mutually intelligible), traditionally in four major clusters. "In the early days, some individual dialects were developed for church use. However, the Bidayuhs feel a desire for further development of their language in order to preserve their rich linguistic and cultural heritage in the modern world," she added.

Dr Tan said after the project to fine-tune the unified orthography was launched, activities focused on workshops to encourage Bidayuhs in the four regions (Bau, Kuching, Serian and Lundu) to write stories and produce books in their own mother tongue for new readers.

"These curricula will introduce reading to young Bidayuhs and encourage literate Bidayuhs to increase usage of their language in written form," she added.

She warned that the community might lose its identity in the absence of conscientious efforts to preserve its cultures and traditions.

"The risk is there if the community does not come up with some concrete preservation and conservation plans," she said. "What the community needs is a group of committed and capable people who can work full-time as a team to draw up research programmes and other related works aimed at preserving and perpetuating the Bidayuh identity," she stressed.

Related Sites:
Summer Institute of Linguistics

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