I WAS a guest at the 17th annual general meeting (AGM) of the Dayak and Industry (DCCI) held in Kuching on Thursday. The chief executive of a state does not attend an annual meeting of ju unless he thinks it is politically correct; so we were proud to see that t was graced by the presence of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Jo As I was listening to pleas for government’s help from the speakers p the Iban, the Bidayuh and the Orang Ulu business interests within the Dayak Participation in Sarawak’s Development’, my memories ooded of Malaysia. I used to accompany ministers on ocial travels in the in This meeting with the Chief Minister in a luxurious convention centre of an after-dinner dialogue in a longhouse. In this connection, I must of the event for somewhat arranging a similar format of discussion – guests, followed by addresses by representatives with requests for pr for welfare aid. The last to speak was the honoured guest himself. In a longhouse set would come depending on the length of speeches of the previous spe minister starting to speak at about midnight when everybody, he incl exhausted. Any private secretary to a minister would feel relieved for not having when he visited a longhouse. You cannot predict what the speakers b talking about, so a prepared speech would not be useful except for th policy statements. That is why leaders like the late Tun Temenggong Jugah, aectionatel more eective in getting their messages across than a minister with a drafted by his private secretary. Back to the DCCI meeting – in the segment under the theme ‘Maximis in Sarawak’s Development’, papers were presented by businessmen p the commercial interests of the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu commu Their common complaint was that it had been dicult for them to su big government projects as a result of stringent terms and conditions constraints and lack of technical knowhow. And they pleaded for inte Minister to see to it that they would be able to successfully compete i government tenders. In his speech reacting to the appeals for help, the chief minister anno a 30-per cent quota of government contracts reserved for tendering f companies only. Umrah & Haji Be kabin, Sandang, We supply umra and customize lugga TOP BAG SDN BHD Learn more Ad Applause. Details of these were vague; no doubt these would be mad   During the dialogue with the three deputy chief ministers, (two of th an assistant minister and a permanent secretary respectively), there w of lack of technical knowhow; for example, the scarcity of engineers w availability of sucient funds. I wish the speakers had attributed this handicap to the failure of the N (NEP) or New Economic Model (NEM) and the many interventions tha the poor Dayak participation in commerce and industry. No one men Federal Constitution and Article 39 of the Sarawak Constitution as dir to possible interventions, or as bases of government policy in the pas provisions, having been inequitably applied to the Dayak economic d directly or indirectly contributed to poor showing of their economic a My opinion – they have missed the boat, and the bus, for many years constitutional provisions may be assumed to legitimise the reservatio of Sabah and Sarawak in trade and business other than for quotas in and other similar educational or training privileges or special facilities While these special privileges have been fully exploited by the Malay peninsula, the provision of Article 39 of the Sarawak’s constitution ha been used by successive governments since the formation of Malaysi business for the natives in Sarawak. Prove me wrong. I don’t understand why this provision of the Sarawak constitution has line with the spirit of its federal counterpart. 25% I was expecting someone from the DCCI, especially the presenters of matter with the Chief Minister so that he could have a close look at th legitimate basis to reserve business quotas or contracts for governme Government policies are all right if the same government retains pow elections, but we have learnt a lesson that government can change ha However, a policy enshrined as a constitutional provision is not easy t new government – unless the constitution is amended. And that requ vote in Parliament, or the State Legislative Assembly to be eective le In the context of ghting for Sarawak’s rights, this one move to help im participation in big scale development, the government is expected to else would help? That’s one of the questions that the Iban, Bidayuh and the Orang Ulu could have discussed thoroughly with the government; not only at on intervals. Otherwise, we will miss it again – this time around, the plan

Source : Dayak Daily by Sidi Munan