Ibans make veiled threat if their demands are not met

(TPT) – BATANG AI: The by-election that is due on Tuesday for Batang Ai constituency has turned out to be a bonanza for the Ibans as both the Barisan Nasional and opposition Pakatan Rakyat stepped up to woo the tribal vote. A recent example is today’s visit by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid to hand out birth certificates and MyKads to three dozen stateless Ibans.

However, some quarters of the Iban community have voiced their discontent at the efforts to buy garner their votes.

“What is the point of fattening up voters with promises of projects, subsidies and incentives that we know will never happen anyway? Giving out birth certificates and MyKads are just another way of saying that they weren’t doing their jobs in the first place,” said an Iban village head who did not wish to be identified.

“The opposition is not any better. They are shamelessly trying to benefit from our unhappiness by telling us that we can see through BN’s insincerity. We don’t need anyone to tell us that (Chief Minister) Abdul Taib Mahmud’s plan to spend RM 70 million on the constituency is insincere. We can see that all on our own. We are Iban.

“We the indigenous peoples of Sarawak have more reason to be called Bumiputra than the Malays themselves. I don’t see why we are considered “lain-lain” and deprived of our privileges, rights and opportunities. Let this be a warning to every politician who pay lip service to the welfare of the Dayaks – we have long memories and sharp spears.”

When asked if his last comment was a reference to the infamous headhunting traditions of the Iban, the village chief was non-committal.

“You people from the Peninsular always think the worst of us. We don’t do that anymore. If we really wanted your head you wouldn’t even be sitting here talking to us.”

The village chief proceeded to let out a hoot of (not very convincing) laughter.

Related posts:

1. Panca Warisan keris will be unsheathed ahead of Indonesian invasion
2. Fairus resigns for further studies (after his Certificate, Degree, MA and MBA)
3. MIRCM – Legal department faces lawsuit, bars and whip for using ‘A***h’
4. Many Sabah leaders unfazed by foreigner statistics
5. Chua Jui Ming having a pounding time