The posting has kicked up a row between Dayak leaders and two assistant ministers Abdul Karim Hamzah and Fatimah Abdullah, who are senior PBB leaders.
The Dayaks are anxious to know if Adenan shares the same views as the two PBB leaders or if he shares the views of Dayak leaders.
Adenan has promised to issue a statement on the issue.
Karim and Fatimah have said the Dayaks are being too “sensitive” over the appointment of Ustaz Ruslin Che Mood.
Karim has also said that the Dayaks should not portray “extreme and racist views” and should stay out of the fray.
“Let this extreme, racist and unbecoming outlook be erased from all Sarawakians and we give respect to the teaching profession for their tireless effort to teach our children. Look at the case in depth.
“It is just unfortunate that after so many years of being Malaysian, we still have this mentality around and unfortunately even among those who sit in the chair of power,” he said in obvious reference to comments by Land Development Minister James Masing.
Masing, who is the president of PRS, had said that recent reported cases of Muslim teachers converting Dayak students in government schools had led to apprehension among parents over the appointment of an ustaz to head SMK Sungai Paoh.
The school is not an Islamic religious school and the majority of the students are non-Muslims, therefore it is inevitable that the students and parents are disturbed by the appointment of Ruslin.
“Besides, the Islamisation of non-Muslim native students has been quite rampant in Sarawak lately,” said Masing, pointing out that the position of the ustaz as head of the school was looked upon with suspicion.
When Masing was chided for his views by Karim, several Dayak politicians and non-governmental organisations defended him.
“What are his (Karim’s) motives? We notice that of late, when it comes to issues affecting the Dayak community, he is always in the fray.
“He needs no reminder that he is a non-Dayak and should not brood around and give uncalled for statements pertaining to the Dayak community lest his statement can be misconstrued as interference in the affairs of the Dayak community,” said Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association president Dr Dusit Jaul and Dayak National Congress vice president Paul Raja in a joint statement.
“We want to make it clear that the Dayaks including Dr Masing are not racist. But if we are pushed to the wall, being dragged and forced to be on the defensive mood in defending our rights, culture, integrity, religion and not least Dayak identity and pride, we will rise to the occasion when challenged,” they said.
Dusit and Paul took offence when Karim accused them of being overly sensitive.
They said that the stand of SDGA and DNC was clear – that it was not appropriate for an ustaz to be sent to administer a Dayak Christian-majority school.
They said Karim had failed to understand and respect the sensitivities of the Dayak community. He failed to gauge the pulse of the Dayak community.
“How could they be so blunt in calling the Dayaks ‘bigots’ when they are voicing out and fighting for their rights as a community and Sarawak in general?” he asked.
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) secretary general Nicholas Mujah said that Karim should apologise to the Dayak community for accusing them as racists.
His statement was contrary to the efforts made by Adenan who tried his best to win over the support of the Dayak community.
Karim’s statement could “derail” Dayak support for Adenan, he said.
Adenan needs the support of Dayaks who constitute the largest ethnic groups in Sarawak and in fact he has called on them to give him another five more years to helm the state government so that he could do more for the rural areas.
More than 80 per cent of the Dayaks live in the rural areas.
Dayaks are now questioning the racial composition of the state civil service and agencies like the Sarawak Foundation, Land and Survey Department, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation and Land Custody Development Authority where Dayaks, despite being the state’s biggest ethnic group, rarely hold key positions.
As PBDS Baru leader Patrick Anek Uren said, “Nowadays it is very rare to see Dayaks holding important posts in these departments.”
With the latest issue concerning the posting of an ustaz from Kelantan to a predominantly Dayak-dominated school, Adenan’s popularity rating among the Dayaks which was 74% in April this year may see a drop if the matter is not handled delicately.-The Ant Daily
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