I read books about the power of positive thinking, the secret, the magic of thinking big and the science of getting rich and some others books related to the power we have within. To break the ice, if I can’t speak and write good English, I will never be able to change the way I think and gradually be an extraordinary Iban. Before I proceed, let me tell you that I am an Iban. My father is from Simunjan while my mother is from Ensengei. We moved to Kuching when I was 4 years old. In iban that is called “belelang” or moving to a new place for better opportunities. Based on the books that I have read and my own experiences and observation, the more we talk about the WEAKNESSES of the Ibans, THE WEAKER WE WILL BE!!! The ministers and important figures including “I know everything” individuals, always say about the NEGATIVE THINGS about the Ibans. Do you know that all of us are human beings who share the same weaknesses and strengths regardless of RACE?
Take Chinese for example. They know all the bad things that they have done especially in business but they DID NOT HIGHLIGHT IT. But the Ibans highlight it. That is the reason why the negativity multiplies. If we wish to make the Ibans a great race, stop talking about HEAVY DRINKING, PROSTITUTION AND GAMBLING because ALL RACES in this world ARE DOING THAT. When the white, Japanese, European and Chinese have drinks, they talk about OPPORTUNITIES. They talk about the “HOW”. How to start up this business? How to apply for this license? How to open up a franchise? How can I sell my products to foreign countries? These are their TOPICS. So, I suggest we start talking about OPPORTUNITIES. If you want to know why the Ibans are not doing quite well politically, economically and socially today, let me begin with history.
In the past, the white used the divide and rule system to make sure the Chinese stay in the CITIES, the Malays in coastal areas and the Ibans /dayaks deep in the forest. I am not going to talk about the first groups of ibans who lived in kuching at that time such as the rich ibans of the Tabuans and BDC. This divide and rule system has denied the iban’s opportunities to know about development. They have been left in the dark. The government only needs the IBANS during war especially when they failed to defeat the communist. They didn’t know about sewing, trading, logistics, medicine, good education and etc as they have been kept in the dark for too long. Let me tell you this. Do not condemn the Ibans just because most of them are not RICH and not well-educated. Go back to the bible. The bible says, those who have been marginalized will always rise to the top. I prefer that all of us talk about solutions because those who practice fault finding are those who are LAZY and SELFISH!!. Let me tell you how we can make the Ibans one of the greatest race in the world. Let me teach you and free you from your prejudice, blind judgement and SOLID LAZINESS and negativity.
1. POLITIC: Politic is money, money is politic. Why? Because the party is the first to receive the allocation given by the ruling party or the government. Do the Ibans have a party? No. They are just passengers, or scavengers or dogs, hoping for something throughout the waging tails. Why is UMNO financially strong? Because the country’s revenue goes to their party first. Understand? The Malays can talk and ask about anything that they WANT as they have a PARTY. So, instead of talking about HEAVY DRINKING and GAMBLING, let us talk about forming a party. I will be very happy if PBDS is alive again. If PBDS is alive, and we have our own building, we can discuss about anything that we can to improve our position in this country. Without a party, we will never be able to voice out our CONCERNS and great ideas. If we have a party, we can learn about how to argue PROFESSIONALLY through a debate session instead of arguing with swords and “antu palak” if you know what I mean. All the IBANS/DAYAKS should talk about a party now instead of talking about petty issues because petty issues will never finish until the end of day. Let me give you a stupid example. Why did the government appoint Tan Sri Datuk Leo Moggie to be the chairperson of Tenaga Nasional Berhad? Because they know that He has the power and courage to unite all the IBANS/DAYAKS in Sarawak because he is courageous, intelligent, rich, and determined. Therefore, they will try their best to keep him there so that the Ibans/dayaks will never be united. They want the ibans/dayaks to be sleeping forever. If you don’t know that, start with reading a book entitled ” A Malaysian Journey’ by Rehman Rashid. You can buy this book at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1561546.A_Malaysian_Journey
2. ECONOMY: How do improve the economy of the Ibans/dayaks? Very easy. How many workshops about the importance of GOOD EDUCATION are done for the dayaks in a year? How many workshops about bakery, shipping, logistic, family planning, business matters , internet business, investment, scholarships, business tips, trading, commodities, international links and business opportunities, government contracts and etc are conducted for the ibans/dayaks? HOW MANY? You tell me. How many? Most of the time, I heard about the deejays promoting singing competition, dinner and “poco-poco events on the radio and in the newspaper. Is this the right approach to help the Ibans? Is this correct? I always wish that one day I will be a land and agricultural minister or a chief minister because I know exactly how to make the IBANS/DAYAKS RICH. You must be laughing right now perhaps. Let me tell you how. First of all, we have to understand logistics. The chinese have everything as long as logistic is concerned. Logistic is very important in business. Do we have shipping companies? Do have internet access? Do we have proper roads or roads built by loggers who are forever backed up by gangsters, tycoons and vvips? Do we have electric supply? Do we have clean water supply? The basic law of economy is about supply and demand. “Supply and demand” activities will never happen without efficient and sufficient logistics. The Ibans love terung dayak. Let say, the ibans in lubok antu have a lot of terung dayak. Can they sell their product “terung dayak” to the ibans in kuching if they have no lorries, no roads and the worst part no financial assistance from the government? Can they? If the ministers and the “genious” really want to help the Ibans, don’t pity them. Do something. Educate them. Share with them what you know. If you don’t educate them, don’t expect changes. If you cannot help, don’t write CONDEMNATION in this holy website. We need to have our own buildings to learn about business. We must have at least one. Tun Jugah building is not meant to help the IBANS. That building is strictly meant for business. That building is not meant to educate the Ibans/dayaks about business. We need a place. Talk about that place now and always.
3. SOCIAL: If the ibans/dayaks are politically and economically strong, their social status will increase automatically. If they drink langkau before, they can start drinking the bacardi, jack daniel, hennesy, chivas, red wine, heineken and etc. They can also live in a better house instead of living in a crowded flat or low-cost houses. They can also buy a vios, altis , camry, mercedes, audi, and etc. instead of a second hand motorcycle or a kancil. They will also be well fed as they can afford to buy beacons, whole meal bread, cheese, olive oil, grade A milks for the kids and etc. They will also be able to sell their products at a proper place or perhaps in Ibans/dayaks very own building instead of selling “midin”, pineapples, wildboar, vegetables by the roadside. They will also be able to send their children to local and international universities instead of waiting for someone rich to marry their daughters if you know what I mean.
Let us remember what MAHATMA GANDHI said, “Be the change of what you want to see”. Let us stop talking about the IBAN’S weaknesses because I am an Iban and I am not an ordinary Iban. I teach at the best school in Sarawak. Understand this law, if we expect the best, we must also give the best instead of throwing CONDEMNATION. Thank you for reading.