Dayaks circulate Petition in signature campaign

The Orang Asal in Sabah will either consolidate their Petition with that being launched in Sarawak or have a separate campaign.

KOTA KINABALU: The UK-based Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (Bopim) has received a Draft Petition, drawn up by Orang Asal activists spearheading the Dayak National Congress (DNC) in Sarawak, for submission to the Governments of Sarawak and Malaysia.

“We are circulating the Draft to the Orang Asal in Sabah for their comments,” said Bopim President Daniel John Jambun in a phone call. “The Orang Asal in Sabah, the Dusunic (including Kadazan) and Murutic Groupings, are also part of the Dayak Nation in Borneo.”

“We know who we are. We decide how we are called. We don’t want the Government to pin labels on us. They have no right to do that.”

Briefly, the Petition reads:

WE, THE DAYAK OF SARAWAK who consist of various ethnic groups comprising of the Iban [originally Sea Dayak], Bidayuh [originally Land Dayak], Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit [originally spelt Kalabit], Penan, Bisaya, Beketans [originally spelt Bukitan], Bisayah, Berawan, Dusun, Sabup and Sipeng, Sekapan, Kejaman, Lahanan, Punan, Tanjong and Kanowit [originally classified as Kajang], Lugat, Lisum, Melanau [originally spelt Melano], Lun Bawang [originally known as Murut], Penan, Sian, Tagal, Tabun, Tering, Ukits PETITION the GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA and the GOVERNMENT OF SARAWAK THAT OUR OFFICIAL RACIAL IDENTITY SHALL BE DAYAK.

Therefore, in pertinence to that, WE PETITION FOR THE FOLLOWING:

1. In all Government Forms, [be it Federal or State Government] the racial column for us shall be just DAYAK; NOT LAIN-LAIN; &
2. We Also DO NOT want ‘Bumiputera’ as our racial identity because IT IS NOT AND HAS NEVER BEEN OUR RACIAL IDENTITY.

WE AFFIX OUR SIGNATURES HERETO AS OUR COMMITMENT AS TO OUR RACIAL IDENTITY.

Explaining the difference between the terms Dayak and Orang Asal, Daniel stressed that the latter reinforced the former’s indigenous or Native status. “We are Dayak by Nation,” he said. “We are Orang Asal by Adat, the law and the Constitution.”

He could not confirm whether the Orang Asal in Sabah will consolidate their Petition with that being launched in Sarawak or have a separate campaign.