THE IBAN DILEMMA – (Enda nemu tuju tunga)

Vernon Kedit

Why is the majority ethnic group of Sarawak, the Iban, easily divided and ruled? The answer is found within the Iban mindset and psyche.

By numbers alone, the Iban should be leading the state. This is not racist politics, this is not factionalism. This is plain mathematics and statistics. Yet, the Iban are found in EVERY political party in Sarawak; divided and ruled.

The closest the Iban have ever been united was in SNAP, and then later in PBDS. Yet both experiments failed miserably, despite a glorious start. Why? Again, the answer is found within the Iban mindset and psyche.

As an Iban looking in, I can speak bluntly, frankly and without fear or favour. I speak the truth which many, if not all Iban, will agree with me. I would also expect many Iban to disagree with me. That is their right. We agree to disagree, but we cannot deny the truth.

Our biggest obstacle is our mindset. From this mindset stems all our failings; it is the root of our division. I could write a book, like how Dr. Mahathir Mohamad wrote “The Malay Dilemma”. I would most likely be branded a rebel, a traitor, even a racist. Worse case scenario would be I get incarcerated. Let it be. At least I have the stomach to write the truth. But writing a book takes time, research and these two are luxuries we do not have, if we are to extricate ourselves from the mire that we find ourselves in now.

What is wrong with our mindset?

1. KEPAPAS or translated into English: covetous, greedy and selfish. The Iban are largely egalitarian in nature. Embedded in our psyche since time immemorial is that each man and woman is expected to excel and rise above the others, and to make a name and mark for themselves. The English call this the “Better than the Jones” syndrome. Malaysians call this the “Crab Mentality”; climbing over one another to get to the top. Every bilek in a longhouse will try to outdo the other. Every longhouse in a river system will try to outdo the other. And every river system will try to outdo the other. This egalitarian drive to better oneself, noble in itself, unfortunately, does not unite when selfishness and KEPAPAS creeps in. It divides. Herein lies the dilemma for the Iban; in endeavoring to rise above the others, are we willing to step on others or lend them a helping hand and work together to rise together? Does it matter where our leader comes from? Must every riverine system claim to have the sole right to be the Paramount Leader?

2. PENEMU or knowledge or opinion. Every Iban has an opinion, which is neither a good thing nor a bad thing. Democracy has two very important limbs: (i) Everyone to have a right to his or her own opinion. (ii) Everyone else must respect the other persons’ opinion, even if they disagree with it. Herein lies the dilemma for the Iban; do we respect the other person’s right to his opinion, or is our opinion the only right opinion? Which leads us to the next factor.

3. MALU or shame or the loss of face. Once an Iban has been wronged or proven wrong, is he or she willing to accept the fact? How many Iban would readily admit his or her mistake and make amends? Herein lies another dilemma. We are not a forgiving race. We keep grudges as well as we remember our tusut (genealogies). You may have the facts and figures clearly stated but once an Iban has decided his facts are correct, nothing in the world will move him or her. Losing face is too great a shame. And many Iban would prefer to cut off their nose just to spite their face. Which then leads us to the reason why.

4. BINGKING or stubborn. We know we are wrong, but we refuse to accept the fact. Worse still, we do not realise we are wrong and insist we are right. Herein lies our dilemma. Bingking also stems from an blinkered, narrow and introverted mentality, refusing to accept change or accept that there is a better way. We prefer to remain in our old ways and doing things as we have always done them. We fail to see the forest for the trees. We miss seeing the bigger picture and the greater good. We are stuck in the mud because we don’t dare cross the wide river just in case there are crocodiles. We prefer the safety of what we know, what we have been taught and what we are comfortable with. Why? This leads to the final factor.

5. RUNDING PANDAK or short-sightedness. Let’s face it – our way of life, since time immemorial, is to survive year by year. We cultivate just enough rice for the next year. Unlike the Chinese who save and invest for the future, we live in the present, we spend in the present, we drink in the present and we enjoy the present. Saving or investing is not a strong characteristic of our race. And when the drought comes, we find ourselves hungry. This is a fact that exists to today. Statistics do not lie. The Iban are still the poorest race in Sarawak.

Upon first reading, my very short note may come across as simplistic. Precisely. The problem is a simple one. But many Iban like to complicate matters to sound clever. Herein is another dilemma that creates a huge stumbling block.

If and when we can find the courage to accept our inherent and deep rooted flaws, only then can we solve our dilemma. How do we do this? The solution is not easy, but it is not insurmountable either. And it is within us all if we only have the courage to look honestly in the mirror.

I have my answers, and you have yours. Solutions are not general; they are unique and subjective. As an Iban, I have taken the first steps of changing my mindset. It calls for a total paradigm shift. When is your turn?

As the saying goes, “Mansang parai apai, surut parai indai.” But it does not need to be so.